Intelsat to Stop Unauthorized Use of Intelsat 12 by Tamil Tigers
WASHINGTON DC, April 12, 2007 - Satnews Daily - Officials of global satellite communications provider Intelsat and its technical experts have met with Sri Lanka 's Ambassador to the United States, Bernard Goonetilleke, to discuss the steps Intelsat is taking to address the unauthorized use of one of its satellites by the rebel group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which the State Department lists as a foreign terrorist organization.
During the meeting, Intelsat's general counsel, Phillip Spector, said Intelsat does not tolerate terrorists or others operating illegally on its satellites. “Since we first learned of the LTTE's signal piracy, we have been actively pursuing a number of technical alternatives to halt the transmissions. We are clear in our resolve to ending this terrorist organization’s unauthorized use of our satellite.”
The Sri Lankan Embassy and Intelsat agree that these illegal transmissions by the LTTE are a violation of Sri Lankan and U.S. laws.
Ambassador Goonetilleke said he was satisfied that Intelsat is taking these unauthorized transmissions very seriously, and believe Intelsat would do all that it can to stop the terrorist transmissions. “I am confident that Intelsat will continue to cooperate with Sri Lankan authorities in this matter.”
LTTE began broadcasting illegally on the Intelsat 12 satellite last March. On March 4, the LTTE website reported that the Voice of Tigers, the official LTTE radio, had begun satellite broadcast to South Asian countries.
