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EU will have to rethink 'flawed' proscription of LTTE says ECJ lawyer

The European Union decision to ban the LTTE in 2006 needs to be rethought after the recent European Court Justice (ECJ) ruling exposed “big mistakes” in the proscription outlined a lawyer representing LTTE at the ECJ.

Speaking to TamilNet, Victor Koppe, highlighting that the ECJ ruling had exposed that  proscription of the LTTE by EU was “flawed in various aspects,” said,

“I think it is up to the European Union to really ask itself the question, should we want to continue with this ban. The world situation is changed so much. I think this would be a very appropriate moment to rethink and reconsider this decision to put the LTTE on EU terrorist list.”

Stressing the need for the European Union to re-justify its LTTE ban, Koppe added,
 
“There should be a fundamental reconsideration in the position of the European Union. They made some – very strong – big mistakes. It is time to reconsider things with this decision in hand.”

Commenting on the prospects of Sri Lanka helping the EU rework a case to strengthen the argument for the LTTE proscription, the lawyer added,

“There is nothing they can come up with. There is nothing they can provide. It has been very silent for many years now. It is good that the European Union is forced to re-evaluate the situation. Let us just hope that they will do this and they would do it properly.”

Related articles:

EU court annuls LTTE anti-terror measures on procedural grounds (16 October 2014)

SL expresses concern over ECJ court ruling, warns of pressure from 'pro-LTTE activists' (16 October 2014)

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