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US CONGRESSMAN BRAD SHERMAN CONFRONTED FOR TIES WITH LTTE TERRORISTS
"Sherman, Sherman; Shame on you!" Yelled Sri Lankan patriots
By Lasantha Bogoda

"No, I did not accept funds from the LTTE"
Commented congress Brad Sherman loudly, reading a poster held above his head near the main podium at the conclusion of his town hall meeting with the constituents.

Yes you did! From the TRO!! Retorted a vociferous Sri Lankan, a member of the 'Sri Lankan Patriots".

A loud and long protest march and a petition. signing campaign was organized in the afternoon of Saturday the 23rd of August, 2008 by the Los Angeles based community organization "Sri Lankan Patriots"committed to preserving the territorial integrity and the unitary status enshrined in the constitution of The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The location was Reseda High School the venue of the town hall meeting with the constituents, arranged by congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA 27).

The protest was to express vehement opposition to congressman Sherman, of his association with the Sri Lankan Tamil terror group the LTTE, one of world's deadliest and brutal terror organizations, who is alleged to have links with other major terror organizations such as the Al-Qaida and Hamas. There had been wide speculation that the congressman had accepted campaign donations from the terror group's front organizations such as the TRO (Tamil Rehabilitation Org.) and other individuals."Sri Lanka Express"the only Lankan newspaper serving the Lankan expatriate community in the US and "Asian Tribune", the web news service had written extensively on congressman Sherman and some of other US law makers’ ties to LTTE money.

Sherman's submission of several resolutions to the Congress, which were critical of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), irked the Sri Lankan community and they logically concluded that the congressman’s resolutions may have been tied to his accepting campaign funds from LTTE front organizations and individuals. The GOSL is presently carrying on a very successful military campaign to combat terrorism at the failure of many peaceful attempts through dialog and negotiations during the past two and a half decades, including a five-year cease-fire agreement with the terror group.

Further more the congressman is alleged to have been attempting to take LTTE's name off the list of foreign terrorist organizations compiled by US authorities while Sherman himself being the chairman of the House Sub committee on Terrorism and Human rights. The same committee is entrusted with managing and coordinating the US efforts to combat terrorism.

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.

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

(photos By: Anton Rowel) Related News "Asian Tribune" "The Island"

'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 protestors noting the congressman's presence at the auditorium began moving in. Yet the organizers did not allow the placards to be taken along, stating that it was illegal. Endless and fruitless arguments ensued.

The Sri Lankan group that moved in without placards were occupying front seats, hunting 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.

'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.

There was yet another opportunity when a member of the audience, a female Caucasian, stood up at the side with a broad display denouncing the Bush-Cheney regime. If the consistent enthusiasm of the protestors outside the hall was jubilant, the Sri Lankan members inside the hall who were boringly listening to the long drab exchanges between the congressman and the constituents became lively again. A Sri Lankan brought in a placard, which read"Congressman Sherman took campaign funds from a terrorist group" The audience attention was quickly drawn to the embarrassing slogan at which point an organizer requested that it be taken away."Not until the other banner is" stated the Lankan pointing at the Caucasian female. Both banners stayed on at which point another placard supporting the Lankan cause was stolen in.

A signed petition demanding the congressman's resignation awaited delivery and the opportunity was afforded after 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 retorted "Yes, you have; from the TRO!

An exchange ensued when the congressman was disputing the issue. A Caucasian 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 of slogans even after the congressman’s departure. A spokesperson for the"Sri Lankan Patriots' stated,"We confronted the congressman at all fronts! He was clearly embarrassed of his actions; siding with the terrorists!".
( go2lanka.com)