The LTTE will
remain
on the EU blacklist together with 29 other international
rebel groups and more than 30 individuals, EU foreign
ministers at a two day meeting in Luxembourg said in a
statement yesterday.
The European Union however agreed to inform groups and
people why they were put on its list of terrorist
organisations, a move aimed at avoiding decisions being
overturned in court. The EU`s reasoning will be
officially published for the groups and individuals for
whom it has no address.
Those listed will then have 30 days `to present their
arguments` against the decision.
`The persons, groups and entities concerned will be
informed via a statement of reason of the specific
information that form the basis of the Council`s
decision,` it said, adding the groups would be allowed
to comment on the decisions.
The reasons for blacklisting would only be revealed if a
blacklisted group agreed to it, the statement said.
The European Union last May placed the LTTE on their
list of banned terrorists despite warnings from the
rebel at the time that this could lead to full-blown
civil war in Sri Lanka. The 25 member block unanimously
agreed to the ban last year after Britain and other
countries persuaded Sweden, Denmark and Finland to
overcome their reservations.
Scandinavian countries were showing solidarity with
Norway, which has acted as peace broker in Sri Lanka and
strongly believes that proscribing the LTTE will be
counter-productive.
The first direct casualty of the ban on the peace
process in Sri Lanka was the SLMM. The LTTE demanded all
EU representatives of the SLMM to withdraw resulting in
the cease fire monitors having to be crippled for a
short period.
Responding to the ban imposed last year the late rebel
chief negotiator Anton Balasingham said the move was
unfair, untimely and biased. He said the EU intervention
would thus emerge as a serious impediment to reaching a
just and lasting solution to Sri Lanka`s conflict.
The LTTE could not be contacted for a comment on the
extension of the EU ban.
Europe`s second-highest court last year
annulled an EU decision to freeze the funds of the
People`s Mujahideen, the armed wing of France-based
National Council of Resistance of Iran, for failing to
give it a fair hearing or adequate reasons.
The European Union has kept the group on its blacklist,
having sent a letter explaining its reasons.