The Watchful Eyes of Governments: LTTE Fronts to Come Under Scrutiny

(By Maya Anthony )

Sri Lankan authorities disrupted a network planning and preparing to revive the LTTE last week. The terrorist leaders, Selvanayagama Kajeepan alias Gopi (in charge of intelligence), Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan (in charge of military matters) and Navaratnam Navaneethan alias Appan (in charge of propaganda), were killed in a confrontation with troops in the Nedunkerni jungle off Padaviya.in Sri Lanka on April 10, 2014.Together with INTERPOL designated Kumaran Pathmanathan, the LTTE leader Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran cofounded TGTE, a designated terrorist entity under UNSCR 1373. Rudrakumaran himself is a designated person under UNSCR 1373.

After LTTE posters appeared in the north, the police were able to identify Appan as the leader of the LTTE propaganda cell who relied on the mavira familes and the human rights activists for safe haven. When the police went to interview Appan in Dharmapuram, Kilinochchi on March 13, 2014, Gopi who hid under the bed of Jayakumari opened fire at a police officer.

Working with Balendran Jeyakumari from an LTTE family was co-opted by Appan and infiltrated the human rights groups in Sri Lanka.

The reaction to the arrest of Balendran Jeyakumari by Rukj Fernando and Father Praveen, linked to separatist networks overseas, demonstrated the extent of infiltration of the LTTE into the human rights community and the use of human rights activists with or without their knowledge to advance LTTE aims and objectives.

Thevihan, the leader of the cell was operating from Tamil Nadu, the traditional safe haven of the LTTE where Tamil Nadu politicians provide them support. In addition to working with Nediyawan in Norway, he had also worked with Vinayagam in France.

Ranjan Sri Ranjan, President of National Council of Canadian Tamils and former President, Canadian Tamil Congress, both designated terrorist entities under UNSCR 1373. He is steated next to David Poopalapillai, a designated person under UNSCR 1373 and Manjula Selvarajah, also of CTC.. Thevihan who participated in the Anuradhapura Air force Camp, the Kolonnawa Oil Refinery attack (2007) and other operations received funds fron the Nediyawan-Irumporai and other networks. The money moved through illegal system of Havala to buy safe houses, vehicles and other equipment to be used to unleash terrorist activities in Sri Lanka.

In the light of the new information that Nediyawan-Irumborai group funded the revival of the LTTE in Sri Lanka, both Canadian and other law enforcement and intelligence services will keep a sharp eye on the NCCT led-Tamil Community General Assembly.

The terrorist front organizations in Canada proscribed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1373 are creating a set of new groups. Of the two main LTTE fronts, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) and the National Council of Eelam Tamils (NCCT), the group aligned to the Nediyawan-Irumporai faction, NCCT is planning to create a “Tamil Community General Assembly” on Sunday April 13, 2014.

The inaugural meeting of the Tamil Community General Assembly is expected to be held at Toronto City Hall: Council Chamber between 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM, Sunday April 13, 2014.

Both CTC and NCCT activists, despite their differences, are expected to participate. Led by Ranjan Sri Ranjan, he was previously the President of another terrorist front, the CTC, recently designated under UNSCR 1373. The NCCT is the successor the World Tamil Movement (WTM), proscribed by Canada and listed by the US. Modeled on WTM, NCCT also divided Canada into national and provincial directors and regional councilors. For example, Sureka Selvaratnam Is Western Canada Director, Vice Chair for Western Canada, Majooran Manoharan , Eastern Canada Director (Including Quebec) and Vice Chair for Eastern Canada, Subitha Tharmakulasegaram, Eastern Canada Director (Including Quebec), Sebastiampillai Thomas, Eastern Canada Director (Including Quebec), Theiventhiram Selvadurai Ontario Provincial Director, Ashok Nithiananthan, Ontario Provincial Director, Nanthini Vijayapavan, Ontario Provincial Director, Treasurer, and Luxy Sritharan,Ontario Provincial Director, Secretary, Pirabha Nalliah, Ontario Provincial Director and Vice Chairman Ontario, and Deva Sabapathy Ontario Provincial Director, Regional Coordinator. Deva Sabapathy has been identified as an LTTE supporter who transferred funds and issued an online threat to assassinate the President of Sri Lanka. In addition to serving as one of the key figures of NCCT, Tamil Eelam Society of Canada, and he was previously with TGTE.

In their announcement, NCCT invited “Tamil community organizations” to participate in a democratic process to reaffirm-through dialogue - the political aspirations and interests of the Tamil community both within Canada and abroad. In classic LTTE style, NCCT stated: “ The general assembly will provide the opportunity for representatives of various Tamil community organizations to share their insights in relation to topics that concern all of us as a collective. In particular, this dialogue is initiated to further strengthen the collective voice of the Tamil community in Canada and build a common ground for communicating this collective voice to interested parties who seek engagement with the community.” Referring to a prepared message by the LTTE directing figures, the NCCT announcement added: “As a historic initiative, the General Assembly organizers have been undertaking extensive consultations with a wide spectrum of social, cultural and political based community organizations and their representatives to cooperatively construct a common message.

Through this process, the General Assembly organizers have drafted a common message to be discussed and ratified collectively by participant organizations on the day of the General Assembly.” In conclusion, the LTTE front disclosed that it will be a LTTE directed initiative. “The General Assembly will be facilitated by the National Council of Canadian Tamils. It is our hope that community organizations will whole-heartedly participate in this important initiative to display our strength in unity and build a common ground to further the interests of the Tamil community both within Canada and abroad. Government of Sri Lanka will work with their security counterparts to monitor events organized by the designated entities and persons for future designation.

While Nediyawan-Irumporai group work closely with Global Tamil Forum in the UK, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) led by Visvanathan Rudrakumaran in New Jersey/New York, works closely with the Vinayagam group in Paris. Meanwhile, TGTE organized a meeting in France on Sunday (Today) 13/04/2014 at 1800hrs at: 4-6 Place de le Rapublique, 93100 Montreuil.

Although TGTE leadership legitimized and supported the killings of the LTTE, TGTE directing figures today operate as human rights activists. The TGTE strategy is to lobby the committed the UN Human Rights Committee, UN Special Rapporteur for freedom of speech, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism and Anti-Terrorism Committee established under UN Security Council Resolution 1373. Despite the evidence linking TGTE to terrorist support activity, its leader Rudrakumaran plans to argue that “labeling the peaceful advocacy for an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam, which is based on the remedial right to self-determination, as terrorism is a denial of the freedom of speech.”

After forming three committees to coordinate TGTE response., TGTE is planning to take forward the “Say No to Sri Lanka” campaign. “In order to create a measurable impact on the economic base of the Sri Lankan state,” TGTE plans to take forward the “Say No to Sri Lanka” campaign and “vitalize it on many fronts”. Although TGTE is a designated as a terrorist entity, TGTE plans to hold a meeting in the UK “to strategize for this campaign, to collect the necessary data and to explore innovative/political/ legal strategies. The TGTE is planning to hold a conference in United Kingdom in the week of May 18. According to a TGTE announcement, “The TGTE will also accelerate and intensify the distribution of the Tamil Eelam National Cards, focusing on the task during the week of May 18,th” when the LTTE leadership was killed and peace restored in Sri Lanka.

Conclusion:

The designation under UNSCR 1373 came as a rude shock to the LTTE directing figures, leaders, members, supporters and sympathizers and some western governments tacitly hosting and neglecting their international obligations.

The LTTE activists overseas masquerading as human rights activists are planning to lobby the following organizations:

a) UN Human Rights Committee,

b) UN Special Rapporteur for freedom of speech,

c) UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism and

d) Anti-Terrorism Committee established under UN Security Council Resolution 1373.

Sri Lankan and expatriate Tamils worldwide were surprised with the designation of the LTTE fronts and persons. The LTTE activities had brought suffering and embarrassment and they are happy to see an end to it. Many Tamils, especially those who have business interest in Sri Lanka and those who wish to travel overseas have started to distance themselves from the designated entities and persons.

The flow of funds and communication between the designated fronts and rehabilitated LTTE cadres have stopped or decreased. Sri Lankan Tamils do not wish to be designated as their bank accounts will be frozen and their travel will be hampered. Even within Sri Lanka, rehabilitated LTTE cadres do not wish to maintain links with LTTE fronts overseas.

In the coming weeks and months, the Sri Lankan government with their foreign counterparts will proactively monitor LTTE entities and persons. After five years of observing the LTTE international network, the government has decided to act. Today, the message is crystal clear - if you or your organizations participate and support in meetings and events organized by designated terrorist entities and persons you too will be at the risk of designation. You may find your name in the next gazette!

Writer Maya Anthony is a Sri Lankan born human rights activist.

- Asian Tribune -