LTTE remnants still haunting from foreign soil

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

When Sri Lanka celebrated the first anniversary of its historic victory against the LTTE, with a show of its military might, the defunct Tiger outfit’s organisation abroad are giving indications that they have not abandoned their terror network internationally despite their defeat in Sri Lanka.

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the ceremony to open the Security Forces Headquarters in Mullaitivu on June 22, that although the LTTE has been eliminated in Sri Lanka, its international network is still active.

However, they do not have the capability to wage war, he said.

It is the responsibility of Sri Lankan Government and the Security Forces to be on vigil without allowing the LTTE to span its wings to Sri Lanka. The intelligence units of the Security Services have to be kept on alert.

“The Navy has a special role to play in protecting the country from rebels returning after receiving military training from other countries”, he said.

The statement made by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa came just few days after the media highlighted the arrest of three LTTE intelligence wing cadres by the ‘Q’ Branch of India’s Tamil Nadu police, when they attempted to smuggle explosives to Sri Lanka.

It was a clear indication that their terror network is still operating in neighbouring India.

Although, no further details were disclosed about the LTTE network operating in Tamil Nadu, the arrest of the three LTTE intelligence wing members, itself indicates that they are in the process of reorganising themselves and attempting to link up with their counterparts in Sri Lanka.

According to media reports from India the cadres had reportedly procured the explosive materials and stocked them illegally to transport to Sri Lanka.

A cache of arms including 4,900 ordinary detonators and 430 electric detonators was seized from them.

According to The Hindu, Siva alias Mahindan alias Ilaiya Mahindan (33) and Tamil alias Tamilselvan alias Sathish (38), identified as members of the LTTE intelligence wing and Selvam alias Painter Selvam (40), a LTTE cadre, were arrested when they were assembled for a meeting.

They had reportedly planned to smuggle explosives to Sri Lanka with Suri alias Kannan, a Sri Lankan Tamil in Chennai, and a few others.

Siva had been staying at Chennai for more than a year while Selvam had been residing at Erode, without registering themselves as required with the police. Tamilselvan had been staying in Tiruchi city.

Explosive were abandoned in Tiruchi as the trio could not smuggle them to Sri Lanka due to strict vigil in the coastal areas, the sources said.

Navy on alert

Asked how the Sri Lanka Navy could thwart such attempts to smuggle explosives to Sri Lanka, Captain Athula Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer that the Sri Lanka Navy is still continuing its patrolling and surveilances in the sea as was done during the period prior to the defeat of the LTTE.

“Our aim is not to allow anyone to leave or enter our territorial waters illegally, he said.

However, the situation in Tamil Nadu could have its impact on Sri Lanka as many Tiger cadres who had lived outside the conflict zone and those who managed to escape are still living freely in Sri Lanka despite thousands of others being detained by the defence authorities.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said during the Emergency debate in Parliament there were clear indications that the LTTE is attempting to re-establish itself in the country with the backing of its international network.

According to him last May, the Police and the Defence Authorities had arrested 77 die-hard LTTE cadres still moving among civilians . No one can therefore deny the fact that LTTE had not given up its terror operations, despite their humiliating defeat.

Military Spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said although the LTTE was militarily defeated their presence is still strong at international level.

“They have not yet given up the Tamil Eelam. Therefore, we should defeat them internationally as well”, he said.

The Sri Lanka Government is receiving support from the friendly nations.

“On a directive by Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Defence Ministry together with External Affairs Ministry is working with friendly nations to curb the LTTE activities at international level”, he added.

Bomb explosions in Tamil Nadu

The Indian media reported recently on LTTE elements threatening ‘bomb attacks’ on Tamil Nadu rail tracks and bridges.

The Tamil Nadu railway protection force had received messages from LTTE cadres as PRABHAKARAN BROTHERS, LTTE threatening ‘bomb attacks’ on tracks and bridges.

The Hindu, quoting highly placed police sources reported, that Inspector Ramasamy had received SMS twice in his mobile phone - one on Sunday and the other, the day before. He had immediately informed his higher-ups and registered a case in this connection.

Following the threats, the security has been beefed up in all railway stations and tracks. Patrolling was also intensified in the Salem Railway Division, including Coimbatore where the World Classical Tamil Conference would be held.

The police in the districts of Salem, Vellore, Erode, Namakkal, Villupuram, Tirupur and Coimbatore with the Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police had undertaken extensive track patrolling round the clock between Coimbatore and Jolarpet stations since Saturday night, The Hindu reported.

A special investigating team was set up and the origin of SMS was later traced to Tirupur. The team had already left for Tirupur to nab the sender, the Q Branch police said.

Gang men and railway employees were asked to be on alert and residents near the railway tracks were told to keep watch on any suspicious movements.

Recent incidents in Tamil Nadu and in some Western and Eastern countries corroborate the statement made by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

However, it is quite apparent that the international community which is vigilant on LTTE terror networks takes prompt action to curb them in their countries leaving no room for its expansion.

Many countries concerned with the ongoing LTTE activities in their soil take speedy action to curb them and initiate legal action against organisations supporting them.

In May 2010, in the first case of its kind in Canada under its terrorism laws, a Sri Lankan Tamil pleaded guilty to raising funds for the banned LTTE.

Appearing in the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver, Toronto-based suspect Prapaharan Thambithurai admitted raising money for the LTTE in 2008. Vancouver is a major city in British Columbia with a huge South Asian community.

The 46-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil, who came to Canada as a refugee in 1988, was arrested in 2008 for illegally raising funds for the LTTE.

In April 2010 seven suspected LTTE cadres were arrested in the Netherlands with the support of the information provided by the Sri Lankan Embassy in the Netherlands.

According to media reports, the Netherlands National Criminal office had searched 16 residences and business premises and seized computers, paperwork, phones, documents, photos, DVDs and 40,000 Euros.

“Among the suspects were the leaders of various Tamil organisations in the Netherlands, who probably play a vital role in the LTTE international network.

Leaders of the Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC), the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), the Tamil Women Organisation (TWO) and the Tamil Arts and Cultural Organisation Netherlands (TKCO), are believed to be among the suspects. The media reported quoting the Justice Ministry sources.

In March 2010, the German Police arrested six cadres suspected of raising funds for the LTTE. The German federal prosecution agency said that the Police arrested three German nationals and three Sri Lankan nationals aged between 22 and 58 during raids on eight premises including the Tamil Coordination Committee (TCC) in Oberhausen, in Essen.

The Malaysian Government also expressed its concern about the Tiger activities in Malaysia recently.

Malaysia’s Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein said that foreign militants, including remnants of the Tamil Tigers, are using Malaysia as their operational base for recruiting new activists.

Earlier, Inspector General of Malaysian Police, Musa Hassan was quoted in the media as saying that Malaysian police had detected the presence of several senior leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who were reportedly using Malaysia as a shelter and logistic base.

Though attempts are made at regional level to curb LTTE activities Tamil Diaspora organisations in different countries are still making desperate attempts to keep alive the concept of ‘Tamil Eelam’.