Opinion:

LTTE rump operates under various front organisations

By K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunga

Certain quarters, here and abroad, are making desperate attempts to pamper the LTTE rump and Tamil Diaspora which sympathises with the terror outfit. But the LTTE had been devastating Sri Lanka and its 20 million people with series of terror attacks.

If not for the untiring efforts of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, we would still have been subjected to those merciless attacks. As the nation celebrate the fifth anniversary of the defeat of the LTTE and the victory at the humanitarian operation which liberated over half a million people from the clutches of the LTTE terror next month, the 21st anniversary of highest Sri Lankan assassinated by the Tigers falls on Thursday.

None thought the LTTE would select the world workers day - the May Day, to assassinate a head of State. But for a barbaric terrorist leader such as Velupillai Prabhakaran, May Day was just another day to celebrate with human flesh. He showed no respect for human lives as the LTTE fired at their own people who attempted to run towards the Security Forces for safety.

Unexpected manner

Exactly 21 years ago, the LTTE was successful with its richest human target - assassinating the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa when he was taking part in the UNP's May Day procession in 1993.

Having assumed office as Sri Lanka's second Executive President on January 2, 1989, President Premadasa could serve little over four years before Prabhakaran's goons too his life in an unexpected manner with a suicide attack during the UNP's May Day procession.

Even after the LTTE was militarily defeat on May 18, 2009, the Tiger rump and a section of the Tamil Diaspora have been working undercover to resurrect the now defunct terrorist outfit. The LTTE rump has been operating under various front organisations and it is important that these organisations be banned immediately.

The government's recent action in designating 16 groups and 424 individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activities connected with plans to revive terrorism had been taken under United Nations Security Council Regulation 1373 which not only empowered governments to resort to such measures, but imposed on States an imperative duty to effectively suppress terrorist funding.

As External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris had pointed out to Colombo-based senior diplomats, the regulations had been framed for this purpose under Sri Lankan legislation, and timely action has been taken on the basis of these Regulations.

There has been compelling evidence regarding the remittance of substantial sums of money from overseas for planned terrorist activity.

Sixty five arrests

As a result of extensive investigations in recent weeks, the Government is aware of the sources of such funding in several instances and the bank accounts into which the money had been paid. Sixty five arrests have been made and 19 persons have been released after questioning.

A wealth of information, including documentary evidence and primary evidence of communications between the parties concerned, is now at the disposal of the government. Hence, the INGOs could not point an accusing finger on the Government.

The emerging picture indicates activity by several networks, including links between activists operating from broad and recipients of funds within Sri Lanka. Weapons, documents and other material have been found in consequence of information elicited during questioning.

It is crystal clear that the funds sent are intended to be used for military, intelligence and propaganda purposes, with groups of persons and others operating under their direction assigned responsibility in respect of each of these areas.

While the investigations are continuing, and further information is coming to light regarding the identity and role of other participants, the elaborate nature of the preparations revealed by the evidence already obtained, leaves no room for doubt that an intricate planning apparatus is sought to be established.

The government's foremost duty is to exercise the greatest vigilance and to nip in the bud attempts at resurgence of any form of terrorist activity. A country that has suffered anguish and pain inflicted by terrorism for three decades, expects no less from its government, according to Minister Peiris.

Timely and decisive action has been effective in warding off any threat of growing activity, and the government will continue to watch the situation closely and not hesitate to adopt such further measures as may be required.

Wild allegations

The considerable quantity of information emanating from people of the relevant areas, eager to prevent the disruption of their lives which they are now engaged in rebuilding, is a notable feature.

Certain quarters have attempted to paint a picture of a threat to tourism and investment though there is no truth whatsoever in those wild allegations. Such attempts are entirely unwarranted and mischievous.

The Government is in total control of the situation, and has every confidence of eradicating at the very inception any attempt to revive terrorism in any form, from any part of the country. The benefits flowing from the eradication of terrorism in Sri Lanka are by no means confined to the country, but accrue to the entire South Asian region. Considering the terrorist threats that have affected South Asia, Sri Lanka remains a shining example not only in the region but the world over.

Sri Lanka has made a significant contribution to maintaining the safety of sea lanes in the area and the control of a wide range of illegal activity including people smuggling and the proliferation of small arms. The importance of pre-emptive action to deal with the kinds of activity is well understood.

Hence, all nations must extend their fullest co-operation in preventing the inflow of funds for terrorist purposes and forestalling all forms of activity which these resources are intended to support.

Malaysia's role towards these goals has been commendable. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa's recent visit to Malaysia at the invitation of Dato Seri Hishammuddin bin Hussein, Minister of Defence of Malaysia, as a guest speaker at the Putrajaya Forum held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has further strengthened defence cooperation between the two nations.

Cooperation

It is heartening to see Malaysian Defence Minister showing a keen interest in further expanding the existing security cooperation with Sri Lanka. He has expressed the desirability of signing an MOU on security cooperation. As Defence Secretary has suggested, both countries should explore new vistas of cooperation.

Now that the INTERPOL has issued a red notice for the arrest of Perinpanayagam Sivaparan, alias Nediyavan, it is the duty of Norway to arrest and hand over the LTTE leader who is based in Oslo.

The red notice was issued on Nediyavan following a request made by the Sri Lanka Police. His profile and picture has already been uploaded to the Interpol database.

Sri Lankan police earlier this month sought 'red notices', effectively an international arrest warrant, for 40 members of the LTTE, including for Sivaparan.

Sri Lankan authorities sped up the hunt for Nediyavan and Vinayagam, another LTTE faction leader based in Europe, after three key operatives of the banned outfit were killed in a major operation last week and were believed to be attempting a revival of the LTTE.

Nediyavan and Vinayagam, who was already listed by the Interpol, had reportedly directed the action locally of three LTTE operatives - Gopi, Appan and Theviyan - who were killed in a shootout with the military.

Theviyan, a former LTTE member, had reportedly returned to Sri Lanka from a foreign country.

Funds for regrouping of the LTTE had come to Sri Lanka through illegal money transferring systems. These monies had been used to procure safe houses and vehicles to revive the LTTE locally. Names of over 400 individuals, who are said to be LTTE activists and contributors to the LTTE finances, have been gazetted.

Notorious terrorist

The Government has already sent an alert demanding the Norwegian government to arrest Perinpanayagam Sivaparan, who is based in Oslo, claiming that he is the new leader of the LTTE.

Morten Høglund, the incoming State Secretary in Norway's Foreign Ministry, told state broadcaster NRK that the foreign ministry was still evaluating how to respond to the approach.

Norway had briefly arrested Sivaparan in Oslo in 2011, interviewing him over his role in financing operations for the LTTE among the Tamil diaspora in the Netherlands and then releasing him on conditional bail.

But while the five Dutch Tamils were in October 2011 jailed for six months by a court in The Hague for raising money for an organisation on the European Union's banned list, Sivaparan has not been called back by Norwegian police.

Norway, which had acted as a facilitator during the so-called peace talks between the previous UNP-led Government and the LTTE, must prove its sincerity by arresting Nediyavan without further delay. There is no reason for Norway to think twice on arresting a notorious terrorist leader wanted for several killings, unless they have other intensions.

Hence, the Norwegian government must act promptly and help Sri Lanka in its determined effort to capture the remaining leaders of the LTTE terrorist outfit which had butchered thousands of civilians. Instead of preaching Sri Lanka on human rights, those who foster terrorism in the West must prove their honesty, devotion and sincerity to defeat terrorism.