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Mr Gilligan,

Ever heard of the phrase 'Innocent until proven guilty?'

Your title 'Ken talks to 'front' for banned Tamil Tigers', already ASSUMES that BTF is a 'front'. Do you have any solid proof? All I'm reading in your article is, 'accused' not PROVED. Why would someone in your position want to name and shame an organisation without first getting your proof?

Did the BTF not say they do not agree with the Tigers methodology? What is with the picture? Was he (Mr V Pirabhakaran) present at the meeting? The meeting was between British Tamils and Ken, why bring the Tigers into it?

I don’t understand, all I am seeing in this article, are attention seeking key words and pictures, to attract readers. Do you not know the truth, or is it the sad fact that, the truth no longer sell papers?

Leave the Tamils be. Let us speak and let the world listen to our point of view. Right now, BTF is the only thing we have going for us. They sure are no LTTE 'front' but merely the voice of the discriminated Tamils.

Rathy.

- Rathy, London, UK

This is my question to the western countries whose saying they are fighting against terrorism so they banned LTTE, it is a greatest foolishness ever in the history. Because the LTTEs are not terrorists, they fighting for their people who are minorities in srilanka.
They are not fighting against monorities, they are fighting for lives of tamil minorities in srilanka.
The world community should look this matter seriously, they are never bother about the tamils. In the first time in the world history a government using all war tactics against their citizens yes particularly against the minorities. As an indian i am very proud about that the minorities in india have all their rights even the marriage act, property law and everything they r getting as per their own believes. One minority person can become prime minister of india, but in srilanka the tamils not even treated as a secondary citizens. At the same time i am very ashamed about the india's double standard in srilanka matter and the bangladesh matter.
They not even worry about the indian fishermen have been killed by the srilankan army, they never take any serious action against it. This brutal marders are still continuing, so india looks the tamils (in tamil nadu) as the secondary citizens. The whole nation worried about sarabjit singh who is in pakistan jail and the prime minister requesting the pakistan govt. to release him. SO one thing is obvioues FITTEST SURVIVES. Time will answer this problem.

- Rameshkumar, chennai, south india

I see emotions running high. Anybody who wants to know the history of violence should know the back ground of this conflict since independence in 1948.
When did the LTTE and the aspiration of an independent state come into question? Not until 1977, when the TULF (Tamils United Liberation Front) became the opposition party in SriLanka demanding a separate state as the only solution for the Tamils. Do you know what happened in 1958, when the "Sinhala only" law was enforced, and how many Tamils were murdered and chased away to the North and East? What happened to the peaceful protests by the Tamil leaders who were brutally tortured by the government forces. In 1977 yet again the Tamils were murdered and sent back to the North and East in ships.
So the North and East of SL has been seen as a Tamils State also by the government of SL. Why not give the Tamils a Federal state? LTTE is already running a government and if the Tamils want, let them decide whether to live under the LTTE or move away from the North and East.
This will save a lot of lives of innocent people.

We have got to find a solution to the problem and not to dwell in the past anymore. If any one really cares about peace in SL, then let us get to gether in finding a peaceful solution to this bloody war which has killed more than 100,000 lives since independence.
Let us give the people in SL a taste of what we enjoy in the name of freedom here in England.
I love peace and don't call me LTTE.

- Johannes, Cheltenham

Your report has fundamental inaccuracies. Surely, Ken is entitled to listen to all voters of London and form his own judgement, than be biassed by misleading headlines at the seeming behest of Sri Lanka's Ambassador, a country steeped in bad governance over several decades based on ethnic and religious grounds, and open bloodshed over 22 years. No one in his right senses would wish to be tainted by such propaganda. When more than 75,000 Tamils have been killed, 5000 in the past year alone, and 1300 abducted and gone missing, does this not deserve an international outcry especially when even UN Observers are barred by that Government? Several Reporters have been killed while a number are under indefinire detention. Your News media might wish to give publicity to the killing of even Tsunami aid workers which was independently reviewed by an International Panel of ten Eminent Persons (IIEE) which wound up disillusioned by the state of justice in the country. Incidentally, more than 3000 Tamils were killed or burnt in the Black July 1983 race riot. The ambush you refer to was said to have been preceded by crimes against women by the military. It's a long, long tale of woe which deserves serious bipartisan investigation, not unilateral biassed approach. Thank God, UK has race relations laws. I believe Ken has been fully dedicated to its implementation.

- Saravanamuttu, London,UK

Go through the comments and they prove one thing-

Livingston has made this election a mockery. It is already not about London but whether it is ethical to support foreign terrorists or not. And that is in exchange of votes.

Issues about London? Who cares, there are suicide bombers to sponsor!

- Murali, Reading

This is bad policy, bad imagery and bad politics by Ken. I hope this old socialist finally loses on the first.

- Zach, London

I am not a nationalist! But I do respect right to life in a decent human society regardless ethnic origin. Who ever violate that basic right should be brought to justice instead of approving them. If Mr Livingston associate with extremist/terrorist groups merely to win an election that in itself explain a great deal about him to a wider public. Surely he cannot expect my vote!

- Dr. Nilantha Dharmasena, United Kingdom

I am disappointed that the reporter has become the mouth piece of Mr Walter Jayawardne ,the spokes person for Sri Lankan High Commission.Tamils who are the minority in Sri lanka fled Sri Lanka due to indiscriminate violence and persecution by the Sri Lankan state. Tamils living in U.K are well aware of their kith and kin suffering in Sri Lanka due to the policies of the Sri Lankan state.
I salute the BTF who are trying to make the U.K public aware of the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils and the genocidal policies of the Sri Lankan state.

- Sathy, London,U.K

British Tamils are grateful to His Excellency the London Mayor Ken Livingston for ignoring the ‘interfering letter’ apparently written by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner (as per the Evening Standard report) and to have shown courage in engaging with all London communities. However, as a democrat I feel that unintentionally Mr. Andrew Gilligan has given Mr. Ken Livingston and the Labour Party an unfair advantage over the rest of the candidates and their respective parties as the London Tamils (c 250,000) may feel loyalty and gratitude towards Mr. Livingston for engaging with them.

- Thanam Suren, Harrow

At a recent meeting (25/02/08), F.Minister Lord M Brown said “The British Tamils Forum has been labelled ‘terrorists’ and there had been some smear campaigns. I can draw parallel to my own experience. I have lived in the US for 21years. My wife is Irish American. We have been in the same position as you are. How do we support the change that we want in Northern Ireland while making sure that one doesn’t actually support violent acts against the British or the British Army? There is always a case for freedom struggle and self determination.” The noble Lord further said that all immigrant communities in the UK should know that UK Tamils are a ‘model’ for being organised so well politically and that he sometimes mentions to other such communities that they should follow the Tamil’s approach and establishment. “It is extremely important and absolutely correct for you as British citizens to organise and demand sympathy and support for your objectives from your local MPs. This is how the British democracy works. I wish the Sri Lankan democracy also worked that way. I want to register that point.”
It is ironic that the Evening Standard, a ‘respectable’ British news paper should carry an article yesterday quoting the SL H.Commissioner to the UK as the ‘highest diplomatic level’! Just as the noble Lord wanted to register the point of how a modern democracy works, British Tamils would like the SL H.Commissioner to know that in Britain,the Tamils have democratic rights unlike in S.Lanka

- Thanam Suren, Harrow

The comment by Mr Jayadevan is riddled with very poor grammar and factual errors. He is nothing but a joke in the Tamil community, a man who was allegedly incarcerated by the LTTE for siphoning off funds. The British Tamil forum is not an LTTE front and Mr Jeyadevan, a washed up has been, can only resort to these antics because he no longer can usurp LTTE funds for his own needs. I think that Ken will be concerned that he was ever supported by Mr Jeyadevan.

- Mr Raj, Enfield

For the GOSL and their High commissioners(whose job these days are mainly to propaganda for the government and against Tamils)any legitimate movements who voice for the Tamils are branded as LTTE or its front organisation. They can only close the doors for any such voices by branding them as LTTE because, unlike in Srilanka, most of the countries have the freedom for the people to voice. I know this forum very well and attended few meetings too. They are purely, like Dr Jeyadevan earlier commented, UK Tamils who voice for the suffering of the Tamil people in the hands of the brutal government in successive years since independent. The voice of these suffering people had been systematically tied up the same goverment. The people are living in a closed prison by the government. Therefore, there are many groups or charitable organisations working all over the world to voice for these people and to support their welfares.
So Mr Gilligan you probably have no idea about the situation or the background but decided to take this opportunity have a go against Mr Ken's campaign. I also heard that GOSL is spending a huge money for its campaign and wonder whether this is part of that!

- Nathan, Harrow

Connection between Tamil greviences in Sri Lanka and London Mayoral election is a bit murky. Under the banners of 'Political Correctness' and 'Ethnic Diversity', Mr Livingston cunningly dividing the people along ethnic lines.

No minority ask for Special Treatments, (if one asks it should be wrong) what needed is equal treatment to all. Mr Livingston planting the idea within these communities that there was a historical injustice carried out by the British and this is the time of pay back. So minorities should get preferential treatments in UK.

One of these special concessions is 'right to help proscribed terrorists organisations' under his Mayorship.

This looks more like bribery rather than a democratic campaign. People who lose out due to this 'transaction' are people who wanted genuine local issues to be debated during the mayoral campaign.

- Murali, Reading (Formerly London)

When London was blown by suicide bombers the whole world rallied around the Mayor to sympathise, here Ken Livingstone is a sympathiser and a mouthpiece for a banned terrorist outfit asking for a separate state(through violence) of somebody else’s country. LTTE recently killed a Tamil, Educated and democratically elected MP to the parliament of Sri Lanka using a suicide bomb. LTTE is run by an uneducated bunch of thugs who would do nothing other than to kill for a living. They kill anybody who would oppose their leader’s ideas no matter whether they Tamils, Muslims or Singhalese. Their activities in London, collecting funds, extortion and gang violence are bothering the law enforcement agencies, very soon they will run their little towns.
The Sri Lankan government is doing what any government would to protect the sovereignty of the people of the land, LTTE use schools and hospitals to house their hideouts and still the Gov troops are careful with the civilian casualties. LTTE would use pregnant women, children as their carriers for the bombs and they supply material and training for other terrorist organisations in the world to kill and create mayhem. Ken Livingstone will do anything to secure the votes, he is an opportunist & has no ethics or love for life of the others.

- Rasaputhram, London, UK

This is a one sided story. Do you know Sri Lankan Government sends its criminals to UK using diplomatic passports? May be you should investigate bit more about the criminal activities by Sri Lankan High Commision.

We sell your news paper at our shops so watch what you put in their about Tamils.

- Sathyan, UK

"The forum is accused by the Sri Lankan government" – well I think that says it all - the fact that the editor will base this article on the words of the Sri Lankan high Commission. It is particularly suiting for someone who didn't even Attend the meeting himself but will take the word of the Sri Lankan High Commissioner – the same person who dodged summons by the UK Foreign Office to discuss how a Tamil paramilitary leader - detained on suspicion of immigration offences and being investigated for possible war crimes - entered Britain on a forged diplomatic passport?! Unfortunately even Tamils in the UK are not out of reach of the oppression by the Sri Lankan Government. The British Tamils Forum is an organization which aims to convey the struggle faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka to the decision makers of Britain. There is nothing illegal about it…. Unless of course British citizens who are Tamil are not allowed to express their aspiration for freedom for their brethren back home who are facing open genocide by the Government of Sri Lanka? We may be thousands of miles from there but the desire for a peaceful homeland is very close to the hearts of the Tamil Diaspora – unfortunately you mention ‘Tamil’ and many people will brand us terrorists – but the actions of people who are charged with governance who terrorize an ethnic group are somehow justified or you turn a blind eye?

- K Nathan, Harrow, London, UK

It is a safe world for terrorists as far as cheap politicians like Ken Livingstone run the show. We need a change from these crooks.

- Frank Perry, London

The main problem & the issue here is British politicians try to win their own elections supporting these small groups, but without knowing the real motive of these groups. The so called BTF , whether they are British Tamils or Sri Lankan Tamils, they are directly and indirectly involved in supporting & encouraging terrorism in Sri Lanka. Mr Kandiah, above writer says 'BTF encourage British Tamils to enter British way of living' The British people wonder & ask the question, a. Credit Card Fraud throughout the UK.
b. Murders at least 5-10 per year, among Tamils.
c. Benefits Fraud
d. Bank Frauds

Are these part of British way of life? Not at all, this is robbing British Tax Payers money.

Majority of Sri Lankan, including Tamils living in Sri Lanka, now believe the only meaningful way to resolve this matter is to eliminate Tamils Tigers. The so called freedom fighters have become a sole destroyer of the Tamil population. Therefore, BTF can do a one favour, that is not to destroy your own Sri Lankan Tamils who are living in Sri Lanka.

- K De Zoysa, N11, UK

Ken is a failed-to-grow-up rebellious child. Where ever there is a rebellious movement, he will be there. I agree with another poster here, London deserve so much better, keep the rebels out.

I am shocked by the Tamil poster (Kandiah Rajamanoharan) here, I quote, 'They [Tamils] have the right to kill anybody in order to protect the Sovereignty of Eelam.' I can see with that ideology of the Tamils, London will have a bigger problem in years to come.

- Peter Raine, London SW13

For the Tamils living all over the world to escape from the Sri Lankan Government's State Terrorism, the Tigers are their Freedom Fighters. They are only protecting the Tamils inside Eelam and Sri Lanka.

- Eelamranjan, Huyton, liverpool

I wonder how come a foreign diplomatic mission, which is according to Sri Lankan press, full of Sinhalese nationalists who are anti-Tamil, can interfere into the internal affairs of a sovereign country of United Kingdom and its Tamil Citizens. Meeting between Tamils citizens and their current Major is certainly an internal matter. When our last high commissioner in Colombo, Mr Silcot delivered a speech there on the ethnic issue he was savagely attacked as interfering into that country's affairs. A UN diplomat who is a British was called as a terrorist for commenting about the Sri Lankan government. Is our foreign office sleeping on this matter? This is not the first time that the high commission does it. We have a wonderful world class Police force which knows who is what. Dear Mr Gilligan please request the high commissioner to make sure that her country and its government to consider ensuring human rights of Tamils who are not so lucky enough to escape that country.

- Ravi Manim, London, UK

If this is forum a front to the banned organisation, the right thing is to take legal action according to the Law of the Land. However, it is unwise to brand the organisation because it was branded by the Sri Lankan High Commission branding them as the front of a banned organisation for the reason that the members of the forum are Sri Lankan Tamils and voice for their own community in their country of origin.

- K Arul, Harrow

Mr Livingston participated event organised by Srilankan High Commission and Srilankan tourist board when I attended a rally against Srilankan government atrocities against innocent Tamils.

- Bala Sribavananthan, London

Tamils are long suffering ethnic race in south east Asia. All because of racist Srilankan government policy towards Tamils. Yes Tamils in UK support ltte, but not their activity. Because we can't able to live with the murderess Sinhala thugs.

- Ravi Xavier, london

Mr Kabdiah
Do you speak from your heart. You are trying to keep dust under the carpet. LTTe is a terrorist organisation whokls Sinhalese and heir own people who oppose to them. They have killed more Tamils than who are died in the war. Yo have said that their is no tigers in Harrow. Of course you are right no tigers but LTTE terrorist are there.

- Sam De Silva, London

British Tamil forum, White pigeon, Tamil youth Forum, TRO etc are all LTTE front organisations. Well done Anderw Gilligan for reporting the folly of Red Ken. LTTE has been described as the most ruthless terrorist outfit by the FBI. The LTTE have pulled the wool over the eyes of the unsuspecting and generally sympathetic British public for over 30 years. It is refreshing to see the occasional media person helping to dispel the myths and propaganda of the racist Tamil tiger war machine.

- Ranjan Fernando, Milton Keynes

London Labour Mayoral candidate supports a terrorism! Has he also solicited support from Al-Qaida to win this election? The bankrupt Labour Party and British Politicians in general seem to support terrorism overseas, in return for ethnic votes and funding. This is a combination of British democracy and hypocrisy at its best. Is this the unknown agenda of the War on Terror Mr Brown?

- Suranimala, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Mr Giligan, the reporter of this news is not properly informed of the subject he is writing about. Ken is a marvellous man who against all odds advocated talking IRA, well before any one. The rest is history. John Major and Tony Blair followed it by talking to IRA. Now we have peace as a result.

British Tamil Forum is not a front of LTTE. LTTE itself although banned inappropriately for dirty political reason in the UK are freedom fighters for Sri Lankan Tamils.

Most Tamils will vote for Ken. Andrew Giligan has done a great service to publicise this to all Tamils in London. I hope they all will vote for him!

- M Vasan, London

Great mayor who could provide better services to London because he attented tamil forum which criticised by people who oppose the eelam. This is obvious. How much we suffered from srilakan government state terrorism. Tigers are freedom fighters. I believe the mayor and the British people always support the Tamils right to live peaceful.

- Ramesh, london

Srilanka is ruled by a former thug and terrorist. In ruler's view, freedom fighters are terrorist!
And don't exaggerate 50 tourist caught is cross fire. Unlike the government, Tigers never ever killed any innocent civilian, let alone a foreign tourist.

- Brin, London

I see this as a very much a balanced account of the situation in Sri Lanka.

Some UK politicians like Mr Livingston keep deepening the misery of the minority communities in Urban UK rather than working towards settlements. Mr Livingston's misplaced Political Correctness claiming to help the 'Ethnic Diversity'infact damages the ethnic harmony in the City.

Minorities do not want special treatments but equal treatment. We do not want international dirty politics used here in local elections too.

Urban Labour politicians are seem to be very good at exploiting this vulnerability of migrants to gain votes.

Real losers in this game is genuine local residents who wants local issues addressed and discussed during these elections.

- Murali Ganeshan, Reading (formerly London)

I welcome Ken to speak for the voiceless victims in Srilanka. This speaks great volume of an integrity of the honourable mayor of London to the noble cause even though unpopular by certain vested interest to discuss the plight of Tamils in Srilanka. There is an ethnic genocide against the Tamils in Srilanka by the 99% sinhalese srilankan army. Please visit the Asian Human Rights website (AHR) to educate yourself.

- James Silva, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Claim by Andrew Gilligan that Tamils in the UK are behind Tamil Tigers (LTTE) or even BTF is a superfluous assumption and degrading journalism. He has used the language of the Sri Lankan (SL) High commission all through and represented one-sided view of the SL high commission against the interest of the British Tamils.

However, LTTE is the only party which the SL government has chosen to negotiate politically for the last 23 years and only LTTE matters to the government. They are NOT banned in Sri Lanka and regarded as legitimate representative of the Tamils, though they are at war. They have parallel government and run a government administration and has a state structure – incl independent judiciary, ….,Police, Army, Navy and air force. Without LTTE, the Rajapakse government could not have come to power. Will the High commission confirm/deny this crime against democracy?

I, for one being a supporter of Conservative party and only voted for parliament elections. After reading your article in ES, you have enlightened to see that Ken supports the weaker people and needy community.
Thanks Andy, now I will urge every oppressed minorities to support Ken on the 1st of May!

- C. Anna, London

I could not attend the meeting in personally but my agent informed me about Mr Ken speech, Sri Lankan government and their agent based in London tried very hard to stop this meeting in Rayners lane Harrow and failed. I am a strong labour party supporter for Brent borough for over period of twenty years and they allow me to run Siva temple in Wembley in their office with out paying any money I have worked so hard many years as agent for the LTTE representing in UK and I brought Anton Balasingham (LTTE) official spoke person to united kingdom. Mr Ken never spoke about the LTTE or any other organisation and his pledge was Tamil people to vote for him in the coming London mayor election.
I have worked with British Tamil Form for long time and they only represents the Tamil in UK.

- Dr Jeyadaven London, London Kingsbury

I used to support the LTTE and I now vehemently oppose it. LLTE is not a liberation organisation. Thirty years of its existence has only brought death and destruction for the people in Sri Lanka. Of the total number of people killed in the conflict majority of them were killed by the LTTE.

I was incarcerated for 62 days when I visited Sri Lanka in 2005, lucky to be alive to reflect the truth about the LTTE.

I am saddened the Tamil people are sandwiched between the government forces and the LTTE. LTTE is only a military/terror organisation. It has no political base. LTTE is fighting only for its survival and the very Tamil people have become fodder for its survival.

British Tamil Forum is an LTTE front. The Diaspora LTTE supporters are (one of) the major hinderence to bring peace in Sri Lanka. They are very emotive and lack the political will like the LTTE. They fund the LTTE to use our bretherns children back in Sri Lanka to fight a proxy war for them. There is no record of one child of the Diaspora Tamils engaging in the LTTE terror campaign.

It is a tragedy. Ken must see beyond grabbing votes. I always supported Ken in the mayoral elections in the past. I have my reservations this time.

- Rajasingham Jayadevan, Mill Hill, London

Ken will even try to get Al Qaida's support if it means earning him a few more votes. It is well-known among Sri Lankans that British Tamil Forum is one of many fronts for the LTTE terrorists to "legitimately" operate on British soil. Of course the they will never admit they are terrorists. Tamil Tigers are the number one terrorist group in the world, and that is precisely why they are banned the world over. Peace can only be dawned when terrorists are completely wiped out.
I was going to vote Ken, but from today on I will actively campaign against him. He stooped to the level of wanting support from a terrorist front. End of story.

- Yas, London

I am British and my origin Sri Lankan TAMIL. When my people are slaughtered by vicious Sri Lankan Army I will raise my voice in support of those people. I will exploit every possible avenue to support them. I don’t have a life as such when my blood line is on the firing line…....

- Elanko, London, UK

Does Ken think that if he backs enough minorities (whose interests and opinions are often at a complete juxtaposition) that eventually he might have enough supporters to get re-elected. It doesn't work that way Ken but keep trying!

- Sj, London

Isn’t it amazing what a bit of innuendo can do. An organisation vilified by certain branches of the Sinhalese press is instantly branded, either explicitly or implicitly, as a terrorist front organisation because it helps the obsessive anti-Ken cause of Mr Gilligan. Quite clearly the Sri Lankan High Commission, which is hardly angelic in its governance, is going to denigrate any organisation that is critical of the Sri Lankan government and the best way to do that is to claim it to be an arm of the Tamil Tigers. And there’s Mr Gilligan, tail wagging, tongue hanging out, all excited at the opportunity for yet another treat, without considering the need to check on the ‘ingredients’ of this treat or who put it together. So the Mayor quite legitimately sought the support of the Tamil community in his election campaign at a meeting at which only one fifth of those present were from an organisation which Gilligan condemns by innuendo.

Mission statements can say many things but the British Tamils Forum’s states explicitly its support for a democratic forum to achieve its aims. This, however, clearly doesn’t support Gilligan’s aim.

- Brian Capaloff, Falkirk, Scotland (Formerly London)

Tigers are banned in the UK, EU and in USA, etc. mainly because of the wrong decisions made by Western Leaders. For the Tamils living all over the world to escape from the Sri Lankan Government's State Terrorism, the Tigers are their Freedom Fighters. They are only protecting the Tamils inside Eelam and Sri Lanka. They are the only hope that the Tamils have. There is no point in telling a one sided story all the time. Tigers make the official Army of Eelam. They have the right to kill anybody in order to protect the Sovereignty of Eelam. They do not function in anybody else’s soil. They fight the enemy within their own soil.

Mr Ken Livingston does not support Tigers and there were no tigers in the gathering in Harrow. The British Tamil Forum is a political organisation working towards a successful Britain. They always encourage British Tamils to enter the British way of living

- Kandiah Rajamanoharan, London, UK

Ken's a nasty little man. London deserves so much better, vote this nutter out.

- Diane Benjamin, London

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