As fresh fund raising campaign gets underway

LTTE factions on collision course

(By Shamindra Ferdinando)

The government believes that various LTTE factions are making an attempt to streamline fund raising operations for the separatist cause in the wake of a section of the international community turning the heat on Sri Lanka over accountability issues. The LTTE fund collection network collapsed in early 2009 even before the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. Intelligence and External Affairs Ministry sources told The Island that those pursuing the LTTE’s cause had cited their efforts to move the US judiciary against President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka’s No 02 at the UN Maj. Gen. Shavendra Silva over accountability issues as a main reason for fresh funds.

Sources said that the LTTE had launched an expensive campaign targeting Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth and the UN. The government is in the process of reviewing LTTE operations in several countries, including Canada where the group was making headway in its anti-Sri Lanka campaign, particularly in the Commonwealth in spite of sharp differences among key LTTE operatives based in Canada.

Responding to a query, sources said that there had been disputes among various factions based in Canada and US, with arrangements being made to resume collection of taxes. Sources said that one of the factions was in the process of organizing Pongu Thamil celebration this month in Canada ahead of LTTE’s heroes’ week scheduled for late November. The two major factions operating in Canada and the US are led by Norwegian and US passport holders of Sri Lankan origin.

Sources said that Canadian Premier Stephen Harper’s recent warning that he would boycott Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo now scheduled for 2013 unless the government took tangible action on accountability issues had given a major boost to LTTE.

The faction led by the Norwegian passport holder is also facing opposition in France by another group trying to assert its authority in the country. Sources identified the person now seeking control over LTTE operations in France as Vinayagamoorthi Sekara Pillai, alias Vinayagam, alias Arivalagan.

An intelligence official said: "Vinayagam is operating on his own and is strengthening his group by recruiting fresh supporters. He is in the process of collecting data on LTTE properties in Europe, and planning to take them over in the near future."

Sources said Vinayagam was likely to set up new NGOs to oversee LTTE properties in European countries. In spite of warning by the rivals, Vinayagam was going ahead with his operations, sources said.

Sources said that rivalry among senior LTTE operatives could lead to violence. Sources recalled the arrest of four Sri Lankan Tamils by the French police in early June last year in connection with the killing of Ramesh Sivarupan. Although the police hadn’t come across evidence to suggest that post-war rivalry caused the killing, the Tamil community blamed simmering disputes among various factions triggered the attack. Sources said that there had been a number of instances when newspapers published by various factions were set on fire by rivals.

Sources said that the situation had been relatively calm in Norway following a bloody clash between rival Tamil groups at a post-war kovil festival in Oslo on Aug. 7 last year caused injuries to six persons and led to the arrest of three men. Sivaganesh Vadivelu, a member of the Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamil (NCET) had been among the wounded.

Sources said that in Germany, too, the disputes had erupted over foreign assets belonging to the LTTE. Sources said that the group led by the Norwegian passport holder had been in collision course with LTTE groups in Canada, US, France, Norway and Germany.

Sources said that differences had emerged between two groups for control of Finances, leading to the closure of some schools run by them. Sources identified one of the groups involved in the dispute as a business organization which owned a small-scale chain of super market.