Arrest of Nanthagopan:

Turning point in battle against LTTE remnants

By Manjula Fernando

The recent arrest of key LTTEer Nanthagopan while attempting to flee to UK and his repatriation by Malaysian authorities for questioning in Colombo, is claimed to be a turning point in Sri Lanka's second war with the LTTE on the diplomatic front.

International Terrorism Expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratna based in Singapore said that Subramanium Kapilan (45) alias Nanthagopan was the senior most leader of the LTTE international secretariat and is even senior to Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyawan who heads one of the major LTTE international factions today.

At the time of his arrest the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had been processing his application for refugee status not knowing his background as a key member of the LTTE.

Excerpts of the interview with Prof. Rohan Gunaratna:

Q: The Nanthagopan (who was arrested in Malaysia) is said to be one of the two deputy leaders of Nediyawan faction of the LTTE. How important is this arrest for the Sri Lankan Government in its objective to dismantle LTTE international network and do you believe that the LTTE is trying to make a comeback in Sri Lanka and revive its military wing?

A. With the centre of gravity of the LTTE shifting to the international arena, the international law enforcement and security and intelligence services are concerned about the regrouping of the LTTE.

They do not want their host countries to be exploited by the LTTE to target another country. To fight the revival of the LTTE, there is extensive counter-terrorism cooperation and collaboration. After the return of Selvarajah Pathmanathan alias Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, the head of International Affairs in 2009, the return of Nanthagopan is the most significant operation.

After Castro committed suicide, Nanthagopan was the senior most leader of the LTTE International Secretariat. Nediyavan was junior to Nanthagopan. There has been half a dozen plots targeting Sri Lanka since May 2009. The security platform during the three phases - humanitarian assistance, socio-economic development and political engagement - prevented a revival.

The LTTE overseas lobbying focused on dismantling the security platform in Sri Lanka to make a surreptitious come back. Like terrorism returned in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism will return if government dismantles the security platform. Committed to long term stability, Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa understands separatist sentiments, intentions and strategy and has resisted external and internal pressure.

Q: Was Nanthagopan playing a pivotal role in the international wing?

A: Subramanium Kapilan (Date of birth: November 4, 1969) alias Nanthagopan was the key advisor to the LTTE after its defeat in Sri Lanka. Previously, he served as deputy leader of the Wanni-based LTTE International Secretariat under Castro. In addition to managing LTTE branches and fronts overseas, the Secretariat also had a Media House that churned out propaganda.

The Secretariat coordinated political and financial activity, and also procurement. Nanthagopan was involved in a full range of activities.

Q: From where was he operating?

A: Nanthagopan was active in Southeast Asia but travelled to the Middle East.

He came to the attention of several governments and was under watch for a considerable period before arrest.

As Nanthagopan did not disclose he was a member of a terrorist group, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was processing his claim for refugee status.

International organisations and governments must honour claims for genuine asylum seekers. This is one of the many recent examples of how the existing international system is exploited by terrorists and terrorist groups.

The gaps, vulnerabilities and loopholes of the system needs to be closed.

Q: Was he in Sri Lanka during the LTTE era and when did he migrate?

A: As a trained member of the LTTE, Nanthagopan served in Jaffna until the Sri Lankan security forces cleared the peninsula. Thereafter, Nanthagopan operated in the Wanni directly reporting to Castro until the LTTE was dismantled in May 2009. One of the many functions of Nanthagopan was to run the Media House of the LTTE where they produced large volumes of misinformation and disinformation that fed diplomatic missions in Colombo, western governments, INGOs, NGOs, especially human rights organisations, mass media and the expatriate community.

Instead of surrendering to the authorities and undergoing rehabilitation - like over 11,000 cadres did - Nanthagopan illegally left Sri Lanka and continued to revive the LTTE.

He linked up with the LTTE network that had supported terrorism for three decades.

He engaged in attempts to revive the LTTE in Sri Lanka.

Q: What is Nanthagopan's background? How did he join the LTTE ?

A: Nanthagopan came from a respectable family. His father Subramaniyam from Jaffna was a middle level government servant or a grama sevaka.

Reasonably well educated, Nanthagopan was politicised and radicalised by the environment.

Q: Could there have been a connection between his arrest and the issuance of the extraordinary gazette notice banning LTTE and 15 fronts, and 422 people for having terrorist links?

A: The designation of the LTTE, its entities and people under UN Security Council Resolution 1373 is a dynamic process. The Ministry of Defence under Secretary Rajapaksa will continue to review people and institutions engaged in terrorism periodically.

The process will continue as long as the threat persists. The process is assisted multiple streams of information. The Sri Lankan authorities recovered a huge LTTE archive including Castro's holdings. This included Castro's diaries where he maintained meticulous records of people, organisations, events, conversations, visits and finances.

The designation is based on a review of multiple streams of raw and processed information, past and present.

In addition what foreign governments have shared, access to high value detainees and others transformed and reintegrated, helped to verify existing data banks. When the existing gazette is revised, Nanthagopan's vast knowledge of LTTE branches, fronts and individuals will be useful.

Q: Will this arrest lead to more overseas arrests in the near future?

A: Nanthagopan's arrest and deportation is a process that will end when the threat diminishes. The worst is over but remnants seeking to regroup is a common feature.

The Sri Lankan government will focus on dismantling the LTTE network as long as there is a threat to the country.

After the end of terrorism in May 2009, the LTTE network started with propaganda and gradually supported the building of cells to mount attacks. Despite the geopolitical differences and strategic challenges, governments will continue to cooperate on security as long as terrorism remains a tier one threat.

Q: Are we seeing good progress in the diplomatic front to win our other crucial war with the LTTE?

A: Sri Lanka has won the war on the ground but lost the media war. The LTTE has largely transformed from a terrorist group to a propaganda organisation disseminating misinformation and disinformation.

The impact of this transformation is manifested in resolutions against the government in Colombo and a hostile human rights lobby. Sri Lanka defeated one of the most brutal terrorist groups in the world but the international narrative is influenced by negative reporting about the huge progress and development.

This is a direct result of Sri Lanka failing to counter the terrorist and separatist information campaign and its missions oversees neglecting the Tamil expatriate community driven and hijacked by LTTE propaganda.

Sri Lanka should proactively engage those living abroad, inviting Sri Lankan expatriates to invest and participate in the development and peace building process. Sri Lanka should work with the Tamil media, both training and retraining and mainstream their reporting.

Sri Lanka should groom a young generation of political leaders who are not racists. Ultra nationalism whether by Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, has no place in history.

There should be a harmony act and laws to punish those who insult others religions and ethnicities. While building upon the sound security platform, government should recruit more Tamils and Muslims to the security forces.

To counter false news and promote the truth, a strategic communication ability should be built throughout government departments. By strengthening its diplomatic service, Sri Lanka should engage the human rights NGOs and restore relations with the West.

Prof. Gunaratna is the head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, one of the largest counter terrorism research and training centres in the world.