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Aussie
lawmaker here to fund TRO? Australian parliamentarian Virginia Judge representing Strathfield in New South Wales, arrived in Colombo on Friday with some reports claiming she was to make a donation to pro-LTTE Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation. Australian High Commissioner Greg French told The Sunday Times the Australian High Commission was aware that Ms. Judge was undertaking a private visit to Sri Lanka. When asked about her mission in Sri Lanka, Dr. French said: “Australia has legislation which prohibits the provision of assets, directly or indirectly, to the LTTE. The Australian Foreign Minister had stated in Parliament on May 11 that the Government was aware of credible reports that the TRO has links with the LTTE.” Dr. French said the LTTE had been listed in Australia as an entity associated with terrorism pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations (Terrorism and Dealings with Assets) Regulations 2002 and accordingly Australia had not provided direct funding to the TRO. “As soon as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade became aware of the intention of Ms. Judge to visit Sri Lanka and donate funds to an orphanage for tsunami children in an LTTE-controlled area in the North and East, it had advised Ms. Judge of the legislation and the Australian Government’s position with respect to the provision of assistance to the LTTE. The Department has also provided MP Judge with alternative ways of providing funds to relieve the suffering of Sri Lankan children affected by the tsunami,” Dr. French said. In an interview with the Asia Tribune, Ms. Judge was quoted as saying that funds were collected by the Asia Pacific Friendship Group of NSW Parliament and a part of it would be personally carried by her to Sri Lanka. |
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