The Embassy and Permanent Mission of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 
20. May 2010
by H. E. M.M. Jaffeer,
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
at the 19th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Item 4: Integration
and coordination of efforts by the UNODC and by Member States in the
field of
crime prevention and criminal justice
c) Ratification and
implementation of the
international instruments to prevent and
combat
terrorism
d) Other crime
prevention and criminal justice
matters
Mr. Chairman,
Since
this is the first occasion I am taking the floor, please allow me to
congratulate you on your assumption of Chairmanship of the Commission.
I also
wish to extend my congratulations to the other members of the Bureau.
My
delegation also appreciates the Secretariat for their efforts in
preparing this
session and background documentation made available. I will be speaking
on
agenda item 4 (c) & (d).
Mr.
Chairman,
From
the outset,
Mr.
Chairman,
We
are well aware of the inextricable and close nexus between terror
groups and
criminal gangs in carrying out terrorist and other criminal activities
that
include narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, gun running, extortion,
money
laundering and even seemingly innocuous fund-raising by front
organizations of
terror groups.
My
delegation strongly believes that the fight against terrorism and other
transnational organized criminal activities are a shared responsibility
of the
international community. In that sense, the need for concerted
international
action and cooperation are essential components at various levels for
the
effective implementation of the international instruments to tackle
these
menaces.
In
this respect,
Mr.
Chairman,
International
conventions relating to financing of terrorism and Security Council
Resolution
of 1373 of 2001 require collective efforts.
To
ensure the successful implementation of international obligations it is
essential that the UNODC assist Member States’ institutions
involved in the
exchange of financial information, monitoring of financial transactions
and
freezing of funds. Similarly there is a need for greater coordinated
efforts
among the Financial Intelligence Units of the Member States regarding
the
exchange of financial intelligence and information. In this respect,
Mr.
Chairman,
It
is our firm belief that there is a need for political will and joint
efforts,
in giving effect to the International Conventions in the field of
suppression
of terrorism. In this respect, I wish to highlight, that front
organizations of
the LTTE, a group banned by over 32 countries, are still thriving in
many
countries following the terrorist group was dismantled successfully in
Further,
the LTTE factions are rapidly adjusting to stay below the radar, and
taken
numerous covers such as “Provisional Transnational Government of
Tamil Eelam” (PTGTE)
to escape from legal scrutiny of the respective countries. My
delegation is
glad to see that some countries are more actively trying to tackle
these issues
by taking legal action and even securing successful conviction against
these
organisations. It is incumbent upon Member States particularly in
countries in
which the LTTE and its various front organizations continue to operate
with
impunity, to pro-actively take action to curb their activities.
Mr.
Chairman,
The
misuse of the internet by radical and terror fronts remains a concern
for
Mr.
Chairman,
Let
me also touch upon the UN Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime
(Palermo Convention) which
To enhance
our efforts,
Further
cooperating on international efforts in criminal justice,
Mr.
Chairman,
In
conclusion, I wish to note that we have effective tools to combat
terrorism and
other transnational organized crimes. But we need political will to
translate
commitment into tangible and meaningful measures to cooperate and
assist
members who face the challenges of terrorism and transnational
organized crime.
I
thank you for your attention.
