Switzerland pledges action against “illegal activities” of LTTE new Secretariat

Despite the LTTE not being banned in Switzerland, the Swiss government has pledged to crack down on any “illegal activities” related to the proposed new Secretariat of the outfit to be se up in Geneva.

“Illegal activities would in any case be prosecuted by the criminal prosecution authorities,” Head of Chancery and Counsellor of the Colombo based Embassy of Switzerland, Franz Schneider told Asian Tribune today.

His comment came in response to the LTTE’s proposed new Secretariat of its Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE).

Militarily defunct terrorist outfit in Sri Lanka, the LTTE issued a statement last week following its Oslo-based talks announcing plans for the formation of the PTGTE.

It also said that a secretariat of its Transnational Government would be set up in Geneva, Switzerland.

The LTTE is not a banned organisation in Switzerland.

Hence, “the question of an office in Geneva would have to be seen in the light of the specific circumstances,” Schneider noted.

Although Switzerland has “signed all important conventions against terrorism, it doesn't list the organisations and instead follows the UN resolutions,” according to Schneider

He added: “As the UN is not banning the LTTE, Switzerland adopts the same position.”

However its policy of not listing organizations does not prevent the Government from cracking down on LTTE’s illegal action.

“If there is suspicion about illegal activities preventive measures will be taken,” he assured.

Asked if the particular issue of the LTTE’s new secretariat has been discussed between Swiss and Lankan authorities, he refused to specify saying: “Switzerland and the Embassy in Colombo maintain regular contacts with representatives of the Sri Lankan government.”

- Asian Tribune -