Dutch police arrest seven for alleged Tamil Tiger links

Police arrested seven men in the Netherlands on Monday who are suspected of raising funds for Sri Lankan separatist group the Tamil Tigers, a statement said. "They are suspected of raising funds for the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) through collections, fundraisers, the sale of DVDs and calendars and illegal lotteries," said a statement from the national police.

Investigators searched 16 homes and businesses in different towns and seized computers, telephones, photos, DVDs and a cash sum of more than 40,000 euros (53,000 dollars).

 The group, whose nationalities could not be immediately confirmed, included a 45-year-old man from The Hague who is suspected of being the organisation's main representative in the Netherlands, police said. The LTTE was placed on a European Union list of terrorist organisations in 2006. "Financial support of this banned organisation is an offence," the police statement said. Those arrested could also face charges of membership of a criminal organisation.

http://sify.com/news/dutch-police-arrest-seven-for-alleged-tamil-tiger-links-news-international-ke0wubgjbad.html

Netherlands arrest 'LTTE suspects'

Seven Tamil Tiger suspects were arrested by the authorities in the Netherlands, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Netherlands, Grace Asirvathan, confirmed to BBC Sandeshaya.

The arrest was made after an intensive study of the LTTE banned activities in the Netherlands, the National Criminal office said.

It said sixteen residences and businesses searched in the operation. Computers, paperwork, phones, documents, photos, DVDs and a sum totaling more than 40,000 euros were seized. "Among the suspects are the leaders of various organizations of Tamils in the Netherlands, which probably play a role in the international network of the LTTE," the justice ministry said in a statement.

 Leaders of the Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC), the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), the Tamil Women Organisation (TVO) and the Tamil Arts and Cultural Organization Netherlands (TKCO), are believed to be among the suspects.