12.8.2008
Some
political analysts and media wiz kids try to defend Robert
Evans with more vigour and professed conviction than Evans
himself after Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama lashed
out at the team of European Union representatives led
by Evans for its one sided statement issued following
few meetings with few selected individuals with their
own agendas. These self-righteous analysts seem to take
the version of the EU delegation as gospel truth even
without trying to find out whether there was any truth
in the charges leveled against Evans and questions on
his alleged past links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE).
“The
delegates had confined themselves to a few doors in Colombo
and were not correctly assessing the ground situation,”
Minister pointed out. One of the professed objectives
of the EU mission was to visit the Eastern Province where
the people have voted in a new democratic provincial government.
However, the delegation cancelled the visit and skillfully
avoided the proposed meeting with the democratically elected
new Chief Minister of the Eastern Province due to Evans’
pre-conceived objective of blaming the government.
At
the same time, Evans has criticized Sri Lanka on human
right issues and has indicated that Sri Lanka is unlikely
to get duty concession under the GSP+ from the European
Union.
Although
the statement issued by Robert Evans on behalf of the
EU delegation prior to their departure maybe a surprise
to those who did not know about him but it is not at all
a surprise for people who knew about the past record of
Evans and his links with LTTE.
Evans
has maintained close links with the LTTE as far back as
late 1990s, if not before. The Organization of Federation
of Tamil association, a prominent front organization of
LTTE in UK had organized a conference under the theme
of ‘Tamil Eelam Towards Independence’ on 25th
April 1999 at Alexander Place in London. The aim of the
conference was to urge the international community to
accept the following:
•
Accept/recognize Tamil rights to self-determination.
•
Accept/recognize north and east as traditional homeland
of Tamils.
•
Accept/recognize LTTE as legitimate representatives of
Tamils in Sri Lanka.
•
Stop operations and withdraw security forces from north
and east.
Evans
was the most prominent LTTE sympathizer at the event and
he was entrusted with the prestigious task of delivering
the key-note speech. His opening address began with “greetings
from the European Parliament” and during the speech
he expressed his “support for the Tamil people”
and lamented that the situation in Sri Lanka has been
“forgotten” by the world. (Tamilnet 26th April
1999.)
Mr.
Evans has also visited the headquarters of the terrorist
outfit in Kilinochchi on October 15, 2002. The pro-LTTE
website tamilnet reported that “on 15th October
2002 two British MPs named G Thomas and Robert Evans met
LTTE leaders in Wanni.” According to sources, Mr
Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan TNA MP for Wanni had organized
this meeting. (Tamilnet on 16th October 2002.)
His
next key public appearance at an LTTE forum was in 2001.
Pro-LTTE Confederation of Tamils in the United Kingdom
had organized a conference on ‘Peace in Sri Lanka’
on 22nd January 2001 in order to enlist support of British
parliamentarians to protest against the proposed ban on
LTTE. Robert Evans has addressed the gathering, and talked
at length in support of the organizers. ( “Will
Britain ban LTTE?” –D B S Jayaraj –February
2006)
Mr.
Robert Evans met with an LTTE delegation at the EU parliament
on 10th October 2004. According to the pro LTTE website,
Mr. Evans expressed his support to the peace process and
to Norway's facilitation, and assured the delegation that
he will use his offices to obtain support from the European
community for the recommencement of talks and also would
emphasize to his European parliamentary colleagues the
need to address urgent humanitarian needs to the Northeast.
(Tamilnet on 19th October 2004).
Pro
LTTE Tamil website Tamilnet also reported that Mr. Robert
Evans has visited Sri Lanka along with other LTTE supporters
including Mr. Thaya Idaikkaadaar ( Councillor, Harrow,
UK) in February 2005 on a fact finding mission on equitable
distribution of international tsunami aid in the country.
It is reported that during his visit he has met prominent
LTTE activists and also attended LTTE sponsored events
in the North in the guise of promoting welfare of the
Tamils in the North. (Tamilnet 07 feb 2005)Evans with
TamilselvanEvans with Tamilselvan
Robert
Evans also attended a fund raising campaign organized
by ‘White Pigeon’, another front organization
of LTTE under the pretext of tsunami remembrance on 22
January 2006 at Trafalgar Square in London. Mr Evans,
who was guest of honour at the celebration, said White
Pigeon was one of the few charity organizations assisting
those affected by the war for years, and more recently
by the Asian tsunami in the north and east regions of
Sri Lanka. (Tamilnet on 25 Feb 2006.)
Evans
was a prime mover to defend LTTE whenever there was an
international action against the terrorist organization
or its front associations. He has not only condemned the
freezing of TRO assets, but walked out of the chamber
when he failed to get any support from any quarter in
the European Parliament. As reported by the Sunday Times
in Sep 2006, “Norway is peeved that its behind-the-scenes
efforts to have the European Parliament pass a highly
critical resolution condemning Sri Lanka did not find
favour in Strasbourg in September 2006. Two amendments
moved by British MEP Robert Evans condemning Colombo for
freezing the assets of TRO and calling on the EU to lift
its restrictions on the LTTE were defeated by a majority
of about 30 votes each time. Less than 60 members were
present in the chamber when the vote was taken. Evans,
apparently annoyed at his failure to do something for
the LTTE, left the chamber soon after his amendments were
defeated, sources in Strasbourg told The Sunday Times”.
(Sunday Times 10 Sept 2006)
The
Island revealed way back in 2006 about Evans’ close
links with the LTTE. According to the daily newspaper,
“those unfortunate Tamils who arrive in the UK as
refugees and have passed through these particular British
charities are also potential recruits, for LTTE political
lobbying and are mobilized for LTTE rallies, marches,
vigils, meetings etc. in London forming an LTTE overseas
constituency. They form an important "voting block"
in order to impress British politicians such as Simon
Hughes MP of the Liberal Democratic Party, and London
Euro MPs such as Robert Evans MEP and Barry Gardiner MEP
who are all frequent speakers at LTTE events. The LTTE
is abusing the liberal institutions in western democracies
to further its terrorist cause in Sri Lanka, in a similar
way to which NORAID raised funds in the United States
under the guise of "humanitarian work" to fund
terrorism in Northern Ireland. (Dushy Ranetunge. The Island
04 Oct 2006)
In
an article written on LTTE activities in Britain, Mr Domique
Whiteman, editor of the Westminster Journal on 18th October
2006 has clearly identified Robert Evans, Labour Party
Parliamentarian of EU as ‘another active supporter
of LTTE.’ (Global Politician, 18 October 2006.
Mr.
Robert Evans’ next key appearance on pro-LTTE stage
was the propaganda exercise titled ‘EU contribution
to the peace process in Sri Lanka’ on 7th March
2006. It is reported that, Mr. Evans had organized this
event at the EU parliament. The top LTTE members and pro-LTTE
activists at the event included Mr Kirubhakran –Head
of LTTE front organization named ‘Tamil Centre for
Human Rights’ based in Paris.(TCHR), Mrs D Mconnelle
– Director of TCHR also the wife of Mr Kirubhakaran,
Dr Brian Senvirathne – Pro-LTTE activist based in
Australia and Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam TNA MP. As
per an article written by Dushi Rantunga, London Correspondent
of The Island, although the event was organized under
the above heading, it was not clear what relevance the
contents of the event had to the title and also there
was no EU representative other than Evans. Ranatunga pointed
out that Evans’ constituency of north London has
a large Tamil population. He appears frequently on the
LTTE political platforms in UK until the anti terrorist
legislation listed the LTTE as a terrorist organization.(“Snubs
LTTE human right group” by Dushi Ranatunga , The
Island –10.03.2006)
Mr.
Robert Evans attended another propaganda event organized
by ‘Pungudithive Welfare Association’ (PWA)
along with other LTTE supporters such as Thal Thirumaval,
a south Indian politician and Thaya Iddaikarar, British
Tamil Councillor on 10th September 2006 in London. It
is learnt that this organization is linked to Madhumadhini,
wife of LTTE leader Prabhakaran who is hailing from the
village Pungudithive.(Asian Voice, 29 May 2006)
When LTTE was banned by EU, Robert Evans in a statement
mentioned, “The LTTE is outlawed in India but the
New Delhi government seems to still be recognising that
it is essential for both sides to communicate with one
another if solutions are going to be found.
Proscribing
the LTTE therefore, seems to be little more than a cosmetic
exercise. Having travelled widely in Sri Lanka, a splendid
island, I grieve over the current situation but remain
optimistic that common sense will prevail. The LTTE are
not going to be beaten and the Sri Lankan government are
not going to give up….one thing is certain. There’s
no military solution to the conflict. Equally it is difficult
to see how banning LTTE will make the peace process easier.
(Asian voice, 29th May 2006).
Pro-LTTE
elements in UK had organized an event titled ‘60
Years of oppression’ in February 2008 and it was
attended by Robert Evans. Mr. Evans attendance was highlighted
in pro-LTTE websites. (Tamilnet 5th February 2008).
According
to the pro LTTE website tamilnet, Mr Robert Evans is one
of the British MPs who has sent supportive message to
the recently held LTTE sponsored Pongu Thamil event in
London on 13 July 2008.(Tamilnet 12 July 2008)
The
above evidence is sufficient even to make the most skeptic
to come to the conclusion that Mr Robert Evans is not
the best suited person by any means to lead an impartial
fact finding mission to say the least.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune
