California Sri Lankan Expatriates Confront US Congressman Brad Sherman To denounce his association with Tamil Tiger Terrorists

Daya Gamage – US National Correspondent Asian Tribune

Washington, D.C. 26 August (Asiantribune.com): After years of writing letters and pleading to have their voices heard Sri Lankan expatriates in California launched a new strategy that they expect will be a catalyst for Sri Lankan expatriates throughout the United States who are fed up with American lawmakers who get succumbed to Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger terrorist lobby creating a distorted version of Sri Lanka’s national crisis: confronting U.S. Congressmen who are within the LTTE grip and influence one-on-one to tell their side of the story.

A sizable Sri Lankan expatriates on Saturday, August 23 with revealing political slogans condemning California Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman for his support to LTTE separatist/terrorist agenda walked in to his town hall meeting at Reseda High chool Auditorium in California to handover a petition giving him the true nature of the Sri Lankan crisis created due to LTTE terrorism. California Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman receiving petition from the Sri Lankan demonstrators.

They first held placards and shouted slogans at the entrance to the Auditorium, allowed Congressman Brad Sherman to enter it uninterrupted, and then walked in to voice their protest about his support to the cause of Tamil Tiger terrorism.

They handed over a petition which Mr. Sherman willingly accepted but left the Auditorium when the Sri Lankan expatriates, one by one, questioned his support to Tamil Tigers and accepting funds from its US front organization TRO.

Following is the narrative Gamini Edirisinghe, Co-Secretary, Sri Lanka Patriots gave to Asian Tribune:

“This is what happened on August 23, 2008, when California Congressman Brad Sherman, well known for his pro-LTTE stance, held a public meeting at Reseda High School for constituents of his 27th district.

”A large crowd of concerned Sri Lankan expatriates including the Buddhist clergy were gathered at the location from 1 PM onwards carrying placards. The yelling of slogans began around 2PM, the expected time of the congressman's arrival, attracting the attention of the attendees of the town-hall meeting, interested onlookers and passers-by not to mention the members of the neighborhood.After reading the placard implicating the congressman having accepted Campaign Funds from a terrorist group, Congressman Brad Sherman stated "No I did not accept funds from the LTTE.

”The congressman had of course stealthily moved to the hall avoiding confrontation with the protestors assembled at the main gate.

"Sherman must go"; "Sherman supports terrorism"; "Sherman for terrorism"; "Terrorists buy Sherman", "Sherman! Sherman! Shame on you!" were some of the slogans. The protestors chanted enthusiastically and loudly; non-stop, leaving no break time, for hours till around 4.45PM.

”The vociferous commotion led to continuous police attention. There was however no police action, as the protest was conducted lawfully and peacefully.

”Some protesters noting the congressman's presence at the auditorium began moving in there. Yet, the organizers did not allow the placards to be taken along, stating that it was illegal. Determined to show that the protest was about Sherman's links with the Tigers a participant managed to overcome objections by the congressman's jittery staffers and take into the auditorium a poster which he held up silently, in full view of Sherman and his audience. It said: "Congressman Sherman took campaign funds from a terrorist group."

”The Sri Lankan group that moved into the auditorium without carrying placards were occupying front seats and looking for an opportunity to voice their case. The initial opportunity dawned, when a written question on the Sri Lankan terrorist issue was taken up for discussion by the congressman.

”Bypassing the issue of receiving LTTE funds, he went on saying, "I note that there is a group outside the hall protesting my moves on Sri Lanka…….the black July came upon when 13 soldiers were killed and thousands….; the congressman was painstakingly attempting to simplify and blame the terrorist issue on the July riots that took place in Sri Lanka in 1983. The Lankans booed him and yelled, "you are misinformed" "LTTE has fed you with wrong info" "nonsense" etc.

”A petition signed by protesters demanding the congressman's resignation from the U.S. House Subcommittee on Terrorism & Human Rights was handed over to the congressman himself at the end of the town-hall meeting. The final moment of direct confrontation arose when the petition was presented to the congressman.

"We Sri Lankan Americans love our motherland. Congressman! Please help our motherland to move on devoid of terrorism", mentioned the lady presenter.

”Reading the placard implicating the congressman having accepted campaign funds from a terrorist group, Sherman stated "No I did not accept funds from the LTTE" at which point a Lankan expatriate retorted "Yes, you have; from the TRO!

”An exchange ensued when the congressman was disputing the issue. A Caucasian (White American) participant too interjected "Yes, there is proof that you have accepted donations from the LTTE. Another yelled; "Do you accept that the LTTE is a terrorist organization"! The commotion continued and the congressman was brisked away through the backdoor to his vehicle.

”The vociferous protestors outside the hall continued their chanting ofslogans even after the congressman's departure. A spokesperson for the"Sri Lankan Patriots" stated, "We confronted the congressman at allfronts! He was clearly embarrassed of his actions; siding with the
terrorists!”

- Asian Tribune -