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US ambassador Robert Blake today said that the purpose behind the freezing of TRO assets in the US was to block funds to LTTE and not for Tamil civilians. He reiterated the US stand that the final solution to Sri Lanka’s conflict should be a negotiated one. He said The U.S. will continue to support efforts to stop human rights violations against Tamils.

And “the U.S. will continue to vigorously support efforts to stop human rights violations against Tamils, including abductions and threats against Tamil journalists,” the embassy press release emphasized yesterday.

[US ambassador Robert Blake was forced to walk along Galle Road from the US Embassy premises to American Centre near Galle Face Hotel this afternoon when that section of the Galle Road was temporarily closed due to VIP movement. Blake came to American Centre to brief media on US decision to freeze TRO funds. Pic by Indraratne Balasuriya-Courtesy: Daily Mirror.lk]

Full Text of Statement by Ambassador Robert Blake on the TRO at a press Conference at the American Center - November 16, 2007:

I want to welcome all of you today to the American Center.

The purpose of this press conference is to explain in more detail the announcement yesterday by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that it is freezing the assets of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization because the TRO acts as a front to facilitate fundraising as well as arms and other procurement for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

As you all know, the United States in 1997 designated the LTTE as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Since then, it has been a felony under U.S. law to provide material support or resources to the LTTE.

In August 2006 and April 2007, the FBI arrested a total of 9 people who the U.S. Department of Justice subsequently charged with various crimes, including conspiracy to provide material support and resources to the LTTE.

3 of those arrested have pled guilty to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization. 3 more have pled guilty to bribery charges related to alien smuggling. Prosecution continues against the others, and the overall investigation is continuing.

Those arrests made clear once again that the United States is committed to enforcing its laws against support for designated terrorist groups wherever they may operate.

Those arrests also led to discovery of operational and financial links between the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization and the LTTE.

The TRO, as you all are well aware, is a charitable organization with offices here in Sri Lanka and in a number of countries abroad.

The U.S. Government has concluded that, in the United States, the TRO has raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of individual representatives. According to sources within the TRO, the TRO is the preferred conduit of funds from the United States to the LTTE in Sri Lanka.

The TRO also has facilitated LTTE procurement operations in the United States. Those operations included the purchase of munitions, equipment, communication devices, and other technology for the LTTE.

The LTTE oversees the activities of the TRO and other LTTE-linked organizations in Sri Lanka and abroad. Directives issued by the LTTE suggest that LTTE-affiliated branch representatives are expected to coordinate their efforts with the respective TRO representatives in their locations and report all activity to the LTTE.

That is the extent of what I have to say about TRO links to the LTTE, but as you can see those are very serious charges.

It was on the basis of these links that the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington DC yesterday designated the TRO under Executive Order 13224, which is aimed at financially isolating terrorist groups and their support networks.

Designations like this are an important tool to not only block illicit assets, but also shut down channels used by terrorists and other dangerous groups to raise, move and store money.

Upon designation, any assets of the designees held under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from dealing with the designees.

I would like to emphasize that this designation is an action against the LTTE, not against the Tamil people.

The United States continues to support a just, negotiated political settlement to the conflict that meets the aspirations of all communities, including Sri Lanka’s Tamils.

The U.S. will continue to support efforts to stop human rights violations against Tamils.

The United States also believes that a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and respect for the rights of the Tamil people can only be found through peaceful negotiations.

That concludes my remarks. I would be pleased to take your questions.

Thank you.

[Source: US Embassy, Colombo, Sri Lanka]