Interpol issues red notices on two hardcore terrorists:

Fresh moves to break LTTE ‘backbone’ abroad

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

Fresh moves are under way with the assistance of Interpol and other intelligence agencies abroad to break the `backbone’ of the LTTE’s international terror network which is believed to be still active in certain countries, according to informed sources.

Interpol has already issued red notices on two hardcore LTTE terrorists. The Interpol action is based on the secret documents which were recovered from the LTTE’s international link spot known as ‘Castro’ office in the Wanni by Sri Lankan authorities recently, the sources said.

The two prime LTTE hardcore terrorists who were issued with red notices by Interpol are Ponniah Anandarajah alias Rajah alias Ayyah of the USA. Rajah is sixty years and hails from Chankanai, Jaffna. He had been the head of the LTTE financial procurement and shipping network since 2003.

He holds a US passport and has travelled extensively to negotiate the purchase of arms and ammunition for the LTTE outfit.

Sri Lanka had sought the assistance of Interpol to arrest him with regard to his international links and Interpol issued a red notice on him, the sources said.

Another hardcore LTTEer who had been issued the Interpol red notice is Achudan Sivarasa-Pirundaban Achudan. He was born in 1972 in Jaffna. He had been trained as a pilot at a flying school in France.

Later he became a citizen of France. He is married and has two children and lives in a Middle Eastern country.

He had travelled frequently to several European and African countries and was responsible in purchasing aircraft for the LTTE.

He engaged in several business activities with the investments of the LTTE in foreign countries. He was also responsible in developing contacts with political figures and business magnates abroad in support of the LTTE, the sources said.

The video clippings of this hardcore LTTE member which were sent to the LTTE in the Wanni when the outfit was active are now in the custody of the Security Forces, the sources said.

He had also conducted training classes for suicide cadres according to the evidence collected in the Wanni.

Apart from the two prime LTTEers, the names of Narendran from Europe, Bhavindran and Rooban operating in South East Asian countries have also surfaced recently with regard to the LTTE’s procurement of ships and arms.

These suspects are also believed to be engaged in business activities involving the LTTE, the sources said.

Following the investigations carried out by the Sri Lankan authorities on LTTE documents recovered, the details of more LTTE hardcore members are likely to surface shortly, the sources said. The Sri Lankan authorities have also sought more information from intelligence agencies abroad on the three LTTE factions currently active in the USA, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The Rudrakumaran faction is based in the United States while the Nediyavan faction is in Norway and the Global Tamil Forum of Fr.Emanuel in the UK.

Meanwhile, Germany has arrested five LTTE suspects and the Netherlands has rounded up eight LTTEers so far this year.

Several countries have also expanded their intelligence network following the request by the Sri Lankan authorities, informed sources said.