By Dushi Ranetunge
With the possibility of the proscription of the LTTE in Britain hanging in the air, key LTTE leaders and lobbyists in London organised on Monday a meeting at Westminster to lobby British parliamentarians.

The meeting which was titled 'Peace in Sri Lanka' and the invitees included, British and Euro MPs: Robert Evens (European Union Foreign Affairs Committee), Dr. Jenny Tong MP (Foreign affairs Spokesman, Liberal Democratic Party) Andy Love MP (secretary Parliamentary Sri Lanka Committee) Andrew Dismore MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Linda Perham MP, P.S. Khabra MP, Bridget Printice MP. It was chaired by Barry Gardiner MP.

A press release, mistakenly dated 21st January, 2000from the Confederation of Tamils UK was received by this correspondent which states: In the backdrop of international interest to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sri Lanka, a meeting had been organised at the Members of Parliament office building at Atleee Suit, Portcullis House, Westminster....

The press release also said: The meeting will also consider the unassailable relationship between the Tamil people and their relationship-the LTTE and will urge the British government to deal with both conflicting parties with equal respect.'

The E- Mail number given was that of Rajasingham, Jayadevan, a well known LTTE activist who was Director of and Secretary of Melrose House Publications Ltd.

Melrose Publications was a LTTE front that published the LTTE magazine " Hot Springs". Its editor S. Sivanayagam was imprisoned in India follwing the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

Rajasingham Jayadevan had also been a locum co-ordinator of at the Tamil refugee action Group. It is currently being investigated by the British Charity Commission for being a LTTE front and raising funds for terrorism under the guise of charity.

Among the prominent LTTE leaders were: Ramalingam Vallipuran Ramachandran, alias Anton Rajah who has appeared as a LTTE spokesman on CNN and BBC, Rev. S.J. Emmanuel, LTTE's premier propagandist,

When I entered the Atlee suite, a speaker was on his feet accusing the Sri Lankan government of various atrocities which included the killing of Ponnambalam, journalist Nirmalarajan, aerial bombings causing mass destruction. He welcomed talks with the Sri Lankan government and said that these talks should be take place with the presence of international facilitators throughout. He attacked Buddhist monks and said that they had destroyed the B-C Pact, the 1965 Pact and had been bribed by President Kumaratunga with Mercedes cars. Where Sri lanka was concerned, religion had become the opium of the masses, he said.

Rev. Emmanuel accused the Sri Lankan government of genocide. Western nations, including Britain had accepted the propaganda of the Sri Lankan government and was providing financial assistance and weapons to kill Tamil people. The international community and Britain in particular should pressurise the Sri Lankan government to hold peace talks, he said.

'If you can't find a solution within Sri Lanka, leave us alone and let us be a nation', Rev Emmanuel said amidst applause

All British MPs who were present spoke, emphasising the need for dialogue and peace. All of them were one side apparently to appease the audience with the exceptions of Dr. Jenny Tong and Andy Love. Dr. Tong steered a middle course and highlighted LTTE's use of Tamil soldiers and said it was unacceptable. Andy Love was guarded and balanced in his speech andwhen an LTTE activist spoke of a ' Tamil nation" he replied in terms of the

' Tamil Community'. Both Dr. Tong and Mr.Love are in the Sri Lanka Parliamentary committee. Other MPs chose to highlight human rights violation by the Sri Lanka government and did not refer to such violations by the LTTE or criticise in the LTTE in any aspect.