The MP who heads the parliamentary body scrutinising Britain’s counter-terrorism laws addressed a rally at which a plea for support for suicide bombers was broadcast, The Times has learnt.
Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, addressed the annual Tamil rally in the ExCel centre in East London.
He spoke after partipants watched a televised address by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terrorist organisation banned by the Home Office.
Mr Vaz, the MP for Leicester East, was joined by a fellow Labour MP, Joan Ryan. Their presence drew an angry response from the Sri Lankan High Commission, which released a statement claiming that the event was a “clear violation of the UK terrorism laws”.
The rally was organised by British-based Tamils on the birthday of the Tamil Tiger leader. In his address, Mr Vaz told an audience of more than 10,000 people: “I understand the demands made by some for an independent Tamil state. They will grow, unless there is justice.”
Ms Ryan, the MP for Enfield North, told the rally: “I am sorry to have to remember the 70,000 innocent Tamils who lost their lives in the struggle. We must pursue the aims and values for which they lost their lives.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Prabhakaran, in full military dress and in front of the LTTE flag, appeared on six giant screens calling for “the entire Tamil-speaking world to rise up for the liberation of Tamil Eelam”.
In a reference to the LTTE’s use of suicide bombers, he said: “The immeasurable dedication and sacrifice of our heroes is delivering a message to the Sinhala nation.”
The Sri Lankan High Commission accused Mr Vaz yesterday of being “partisan to a proscribed terrorist group” and claimed that the event was organised by apologists for terrorists. “This event was organised by a front organisation of a terrorist group for fundraising and propaganda purposes,” a spokesman said.
When told of the contents of the LTTE leader’s speech and of the criticisms of the Sri Lankan Government, Mr Vaz, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, responded: “I’m not really interested in [the contents of Mr Prabhakaran's speech].
“I was there to deliver a message from the all-party group, which is what I do. I was there to deliver a message from my constituents. I have many Tamil people in my constituency.” Mr Vaz said he was unaware that the Tamil leader was going to speak.
Under the UK Terrorism Act, the Tigers are banned from raising funds, holding property or operating in any form. It is an offence to glorify their activities, or incite others to support them.
Ms Ryan also said that she did not realise that Mr Prabhakaran had spoken. “I told the meeting that we need to find peace through peaceful means and, as is the case in all such conflicts, a negotiated settlement needs to be found urgently,” she said.
As well as watching a speech by the Tamil Tiger leader, people at the event displayed LTTE symbols, and remembered LTTE suicide bombers.
The Sri Lankan High Commission alleged that the rally served as a fundraising event for the group. On arrival all guests, including a reporter from this newspaper, were approached and asked to purchase a single glorylily (the LTTE “national” flower) for £5.
A Times investigation earlier this year discovered that Tamil shopkeepers were being asked to contribute up to £50,000 towards the cost of “the final war”, with threats made against relatives in the country if they failed to comply.
The date of the rally, November 27, Heroes Day, is linked with the LTTE. It falls on the birthday of Mr Prabhakaran, and it is marked by Tamil Tiger sympathisers around the world. Mr Prabhakaran’s speech from the Sri Lankan jungle has been televised at every previous UK Heroes Day.
The British Tamil Forum, which helped to organise the event, says that the funds went towards covering the costs of hiring the venue, and says it is the victim of a smear campaign by the Sri Lankan Government.
Mr Vaz, 51, has been vocal in his desire that UK restrictions on the Tamil Tigers should be lifted.
Mr Vaz, the former minister for Europe, was suspended from Parliament for a month in 2002 for obstructing an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been fighting a separatist war for an ethnic Tamil homeland in the north of Sri Lanka for 25 years.
Since then, the LTTE has formed its own de facto one-party state in the north of the country, becoming one of the best-organised rebel groups in the world.
Its “Black Tiger” brigades pioneered the art of suicide bombing, and were linked to the 1991 assassination of the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
In 2004, Amnesty International said that LTTE fighters were beating up parents who refused to give up their children as child soldiers.
The police, who recorded the gathering, told The Times that they were “assessing material from the event to ascertain if there is any evidence of criminal offences being committed”.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Muslim Fundamentalism in Sri Lanka
The island nation's Muslim minority was driven into camps 17 years ago. Rising frustration over their plight raises concerns they'll turn to radical forms of Islam.
Ten-year-old Haris is told regularly by his father that home is a rice farm in Mullativu, in northern Sri Lanka. But the child was born in a coconut-leaf shanty in a camp in Puttalam, on the west coast, where he has lived ever since. When asked where he is from, Haris replies, quick as a dart: "This place."
Seventeen years ago, all the Muslims from Sri Lanka's northern province, at least 75,000 of them, were expelled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers. Fleeing the rebels, most ended up in Puttalam, already a predominantly Muslim region, where thousands still live in basic leaf huts, depending on charity and the odd day of manual labor to survive.
The Tigers' anti-Muslim campaign of 1990 is a largely forgotten chapter in Sri Lanka's long ethnic war between the Tigers, who are fighting for a northeastern homeland for the minority Tamils, and the government, which mostly represents the Sinhalese majority. The conflict has heated up in the last several weeks. On Wednesday, in restive northern Sri Lanka, a roadside bomb killed 16 people on a bus. That attacked followed twin bombings in Colombo, the capital, last week that killed 20 people.
As Sri Lanka's Peace Secretariat, a body established by the government to find a peaceful solution to the war, noted in a statement on Oct, 29 "comparatively little concern was being paid by donors and the international community to this long-standing tragedy."
And yet it is one of the nastiest of the war – and it continues to do lasting damage. In the east, up to 1,000 Muslims were slaughtered by the rebels in a two-month killing spree in 1990, according to a recent report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). Here, where Tamils and Muslims coexist in neighboring villages, animosity has replaced their once cordial relationship.
Observers worry that some of the displaced Muslims here are channeling their frustration – over their poverty and living conditions and their inability to return home – into more fundamentalist versions of Islam. Most Sri Lankan Muslim women cover their heads with their saris, but in the east, women have started to wear the long black abaya for the first time. More fundamentalist Islamic groups – like the Jamaat-i Islamiya and the Tabligh al-Jamaat – are growing more popular here, according to the ICG.
Part of the problem is that, due to the geographical dispersal of Muslims in Sri Lanka, there is little sense of a Sri Lankan Muslim identity; indeed, this is in part why their suffering has received so little attention from the international community.
While Tamils and Sinhalese define themselves in terms of their language and history, Muslims are only distinguishable from their fellow Sri Lankans by their religion. This, as well as a global resurgence in more orthodox forms of Islam, has intensified the religious beliefs and practices of some Muslims here.
Muslims are also the island's smallest minority: Tamils constitute 12 percent of the population; Muslims 8. And yet Shahul Hasbullah, senior lecturer in geography at the University of Peradeniya in Kandy, says a disproportionately high number of those currently displaced by the war are Muslim – "perhaps as many as 25 percent."
The ICG report notes: "In this context of rising nationalism and a constant search for identity and differentiation, the growth among Muslims of ultra-orthodox groups is not surprising. Yet, for the most part, Muslims remain moderate in their views and tolerant of difference."
Ripe for radicals?
Some worry that the young people in Puttalam – who know only the difficult life of the camps – are the ones most likely to be drawn to more radical versions of Islam, says Mujeeb Rahaman, who was evicted from his home in Mannar, Sri Lanka, when he was 14. He now runs the Muslim Information Centre, a human rights group.
"It hasn't happened yet, but there is a lot of anger, especially among young people," he says.
Currently, the biggest problems in the area concern the original Muslim inhabitants and the displaced Muslims. Relations between the two are growing dangerously tense, says a report published by the Campaign to Restore the Rights of the Ethnically Cleaned Northern Muslims, an organization formed by displaced Muslims, on Oct. 27.
The 75,000-plus internal refugees, many of whom have had children since they arrived, has doubled the original population of this area, putting heavy pressure on jobs, housing, and education. Puttalam's original residents are quick to agree.
"We did all we could for them when they first arrived," says Shahad Muhammed, an amiable businessman. "But they're placing an unbearable strain on resources. They work cheap, so they've taken people's jobs. They take education, healthcare, too. The situation has created a lot of hate."
Abdullah Mahmood Alim, the white-haired principal of a local madrassah, says: "In the mosques, our imams stress Islamic brotherhood to prevent clashes. But I worry about the future."
Neighbors turned enemies
Only two decades ago, Sri Lanka's Muslims and Tamils, who are mostly Hindu, shared a common grievance over their discrimination at the hands of the Buddhist Sinhalese majority. A number of Muslims in the north and east even joined the Tigers as fighters.
"I remember the LTTE guys walking through our village with their guns and radios," says Rizni Mohammed, who is from Mullativu and now lives in Puttalam. " Back then, they seemed quite glamorous."
But by the late 1980s the Tigers had decided that the presence of Muslims in their would-be homeland threatened their eventual control of it. This belief was bolstered when the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) contested the 1988 North Eastern provincial council election despite Tiger demands they boycott it.
Since then, however, the SLMC has failed to gain sway over most Muslim voters – highlighting the community's lack on unity. In the south, many Muslims vote for Sinhalese-dominated mainstream parties. At the last parliamentary elections in 2004, the SLMC won a mere 2 percent of the votes.
The war, meanwhile, rages as fiercely as it has ever done. In the camps of Puttalam, many older people seem miserably resigned to the fact that they will never, now, make it home.
After a cease-fire agreement was signed in 2002, several did return to the north. The few who found their houses standing or uninhabited were once again kicked out by the rebels when the ceasefire folded last year.
Mohammed Fareed found his farm destroyed when he went home to Mullativu in 2003. Sitting in the miniscule front room of his leaf shack, which is closed off from the family bedroom by a cardboard wall, the impeccably mannered former farmer says he thinks of home every day. "I lost everything," he says. "I miss everything."
Ten-year-old Haris is told regularly by his father that home is a rice farm in Mullativu, in northern Sri Lanka. But the child was born in a coconut-leaf shanty in a camp in Puttalam, on the west coast, where he has lived ever since. When asked where he is from, Haris replies, quick as a dart: "This place."
Seventeen years ago, all the Muslims from Sri Lanka's northern province, at least 75,000 of them, were expelled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers. Fleeing the rebels, most ended up in Puttalam, already a predominantly Muslim region, where thousands still live in basic leaf huts, depending on charity and the odd day of manual labor to survive.
The Tigers' anti-Muslim campaign of 1990 is a largely forgotten chapter in Sri Lanka's long ethnic war between the Tigers, who are fighting for a northeastern homeland for the minority Tamils, and the government, which mostly represents the Sinhalese majority. The conflict has heated up in the last several weeks. On Wednesday, in restive northern Sri Lanka, a roadside bomb killed 16 people on a bus. That attacked followed twin bombings in Colombo, the capital, last week that killed 20 people.
As Sri Lanka's Peace Secretariat, a body established by the government to find a peaceful solution to the war, noted in a statement on Oct, 29 "comparatively little concern was being paid by donors and the international community to this long-standing tragedy."
And yet it is one of the nastiest of the war – and it continues to do lasting damage. In the east, up to 1,000 Muslims were slaughtered by the rebels in a two-month killing spree in 1990, according to a recent report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). Here, where Tamils and Muslims coexist in neighboring villages, animosity has replaced their once cordial relationship.
Observers worry that some of the displaced Muslims here are channeling their frustration – over their poverty and living conditions and their inability to return home – into more fundamentalist versions of Islam. Most Sri Lankan Muslim women cover their heads with their saris, but in the east, women have started to wear the long black abaya for the first time. More fundamentalist Islamic groups – like the Jamaat-i Islamiya and the Tabligh al-Jamaat – are growing more popular here, according to the ICG.
Part of the problem is that, due to the geographical dispersal of Muslims in Sri Lanka, there is little sense of a Sri Lankan Muslim identity; indeed, this is in part why their suffering has received so little attention from the international community.
While Tamils and Sinhalese define themselves in terms of their language and history, Muslims are only distinguishable from their fellow Sri Lankans by their religion. This, as well as a global resurgence in more orthodox forms of Islam, has intensified the religious beliefs and practices of some Muslims here.
Muslims are also the island's smallest minority: Tamils constitute 12 percent of the population; Muslims 8. And yet Shahul Hasbullah, senior lecturer in geography at the University of Peradeniya in Kandy, says a disproportionately high number of those currently displaced by the war are Muslim – "perhaps as many as 25 percent."
The ICG report notes: "In this context of rising nationalism and a constant search for identity and differentiation, the growth among Muslims of ultra-orthodox groups is not surprising. Yet, for the most part, Muslims remain moderate in their views and tolerant of difference."
Ripe for radicals?
Some worry that the young people in Puttalam – who know only the difficult life of the camps – are the ones most likely to be drawn to more radical versions of Islam, says Mujeeb Rahaman, who was evicted from his home in Mannar, Sri Lanka, when he was 14. He now runs the Muslim Information Centre, a human rights group.
"It hasn't happened yet, but there is a lot of anger, especially among young people," he says.
Currently, the biggest problems in the area concern the original Muslim inhabitants and the displaced Muslims. Relations between the two are growing dangerously tense, says a report published by the Campaign to Restore the Rights of the Ethnically Cleaned Northern Muslims, an organization formed by displaced Muslims, on Oct. 27.
The 75,000-plus internal refugees, many of whom have had children since they arrived, has doubled the original population of this area, putting heavy pressure on jobs, housing, and education. Puttalam's original residents are quick to agree.
"We did all we could for them when they first arrived," says Shahad Muhammed, an amiable businessman. "But they're placing an unbearable strain on resources. They work cheap, so they've taken people's jobs. They take education, healthcare, too. The situation has created a lot of hate."
Abdullah Mahmood Alim, the white-haired principal of a local madrassah, says: "In the mosques, our imams stress Islamic brotherhood to prevent clashes. But I worry about the future."
Neighbors turned enemies
Only two decades ago, Sri Lanka's Muslims and Tamils, who are mostly Hindu, shared a common grievance over their discrimination at the hands of the Buddhist Sinhalese majority. A number of Muslims in the north and east even joined the Tigers as fighters.
"I remember the LTTE guys walking through our village with their guns and radios," says Rizni Mohammed, who is from Mullativu and now lives in Puttalam. " Back then, they seemed quite glamorous."
But by the late 1980s the Tigers had decided that the presence of Muslims in their would-be homeland threatened their eventual control of it. This belief was bolstered when the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) contested the 1988 North Eastern provincial council election despite Tiger demands they boycott it.
Since then, however, the SLMC has failed to gain sway over most Muslim voters – highlighting the community's lack on unity. In the south, many Muslims vote for Sinhalese-dominated mainstream parties. At the last parliamentary elections in 2004, the SLMC won a mere 2 percent of the votes.
The war, meanwhile, rages as fiercely as it has ever done. In the camps of Puttalam, many older people seem miserably resigned to the fact that they will never, now, make it home.
After a cease-fire agreement was signed in 2002, several did return to the north. The few who found their houses standing or uninhabited were once again kicked out by the rebels when the ceasefire folded last year.
Mohammed Fareed found his farm destroyed when he went home to Mullativu in 2003. Sitting in the miniscule front room of his leaf shack, which is closed off from the family bedroom by a cardboard wall, the impeccably mannered former farmer says he thinks of home every day. "I lost everything," he says. "I miss everything."
Felines and Felonies
"The Lankan Tigers have little support now"
"Rajiv's killing sealed the LTTE's fate...they were seen as killers out to destroy everyone." Cho Ramaswamy, political commentator
"But for Rajiv, they wouldn't even have a Tamil province. Why did they then kill him?" S.R. Balasubramaniam, Congress leader
"Rajiv is the one who sent the IPKF to Sri Lanka. Why is that part of the story kept out?" M.S.S. Pandian, social scientist
"The tsunami was our chance to reciprocate and some 600 refugees went out to help." Chandrahasan, NGO Officer
In the innocence of the '80s, Tamil Nadu had a penchant for forming human chains to show its solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamil cause. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at the forefront of the liberation war in Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka, had the backing of every political party in the state. Fallen and living LTTE leaders were celebrated as revolutionary icons. Not anymore. Cut to 2007 and the killing of Thamilchelvan, one of the top three leaders of the rebel organisation, last fortnight. While die-hard LTTE supporters like Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko courted arrest, there was no groundswell of public sympathy or protest in the state.
In fact, on November 30, the Tamil Nadu police even issued an advertisement warning those who "put up posters, hold meetings, condolence gatherings and rasta rokos in support of a banned movement or individual". In the past, such a public warning would have aroused strong passions and public wrath. In fact, one could not have imagined a DMK government allowing its police to put out such a warning.
So why did chief minister M. Karunanidhi, who likes to project himself as a Thamizh ina Thalaivar (leader of the Tamil race) and who penned an elegy to Thamilchelvan, allow it? Cynics say the ad was meant to mollify the Congress, which had taken strong exception to the CM praising the leader of an organisation responsible for former PM Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Rajya Sabha MP and political commentator Cho Ramaswamy says "Karunanidhi had to make amends for hurting his ally, so the advertisement was issued for the record."
Or perhaps the CM knew the police warning would not raise a public outcry. Cho points out: "In the early '80s, the people of Tamil Nadu believed that only the LTTE could deliver the goods. The killing of Rajiv Gandhi sealed the group's fate." According to him, even before that the Tigers' resonance had begun to wear thin. Ordinary citizens were becoming victims in the crossfire between warring Chennai-based Lankan Tamil groups. There were also disturbing media reports of gun-running and drugs smuggling.
The Tigers' ruthlessness really struck home in June '90, when the state woke up to headlines saying EPRLF (Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front) leader Padmanabha and 14 of his men had been gunned down in cold blood in a Kodambakkam flat in the heart of Chennai. "The LTTE began to be seen as killers out to destroy everyone," recalls Cho.
The tipping point was Rajiv's assassination, though. The complete alienation of the people was evident in the fact that even Vaiko found little sympathy despite being jailed for close to 18 months under POTA in July '02. Ex-Union minister and Congress leader S.R. Balasubramaniam makes a point: "Twenty-five years ago, the LTTE may have evoked sympathy but much water has flowed under the bridge since.Why did they have to assassinate Rajiv? But for him, they wouldn't have got a Tamil province."
Chandrahasan, who runs the Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation, an ngo that caters to the needs of Lankan Tamils, has been witness to the LTTE's alienation. Today, there are over 80,000 refugees living in 117 camps all over Tamil Nadu. Recalls Chandrahasan: "When militancy got out of hand, many refugees could not find accommodation because locals became suspicious. Until Rajiv's assassination, the locals were kind, but suddenly they did not know who was who, whether the person renting his premises was militant or victim."
He says the rehabilitation work done by the refugees—including burial of dead bodies—after the 2004 tsunami has helped earn back some of the people's trust. "It was our chance to reciprocate and 600 refugees came forward to help. Now the locals draw a distinction between militants and refugees and have begun to treat the latter in a more humanitarian way," says Chandrahasan.
V. Geetha of Tara publications is not so sure. "In the absence of any other voices, it was once assumed the LTTE represented Tamil interests," she says but points out that the Tigers have polarised the debate because "no other voices" percolate down. "People here are put off by the bomb culture, the lack of internal democracy in the LTTE and the forced conscription of young boys. While they do not agree with Thamilchelvan's killing, they are still wary of the LTTE," says Geetha.
Social scientist M.S.S. Pandian, visiting Fellow at Delhi's Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), argues that there is no political space now for those who express sympathy with the LTTE. As he puts it: "It's treated as sedition. Ever since the Rajiv assassination, there's been a police crackdown." The LTTE may have blotted its copy book with the incident but the blame game works both ways, he feels. "Sympathy for Rajiv Gandhi is fine, but let's remember he was the one who sent the ipkf to Sri Lanka. Why is that part of the story not taken on board?" he asks.
But for now, just how far the LTTE is removed from people's consciousness is evident from the observation made by Justice S. Ashok Kumar of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. On December 3, while releasing seven LTTE sympathisers accused of looting a branch of the erstwhile Bank of Madura in 1988 (allegedly for buying arms), the judge made a point about the Eelam movement's fall: "Exhibitions were conducted in praise of Eelam leaders and donations collected and sent to the LTTE and other Tamil activists in Lanka. Even the state donated Rs 3 crore for the Tamil movement." That's an old story now.
"Rajiv's killing sealed the LTTE's fate...they were seen as killers out to destroy everyone." Cho Ramaswamy, political commentator
"But for Rajiv, they wouldn't even have a Tamil province. Why did they then kill him?" S.R. Balasubramaniam, Congress leader
"Rajiv is the one who sent the IPKF to Sri Lanka. Why is that part of the story kept out?" M.S.S. Pandian, social scientist
"The tsunami was our chance to reciprocate and some 600 refugees went out to help." Chandrahasan, NGO Officer
In the innocence of the '80s, Tamil Nadu had a penchant for forming human chains to show its solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamil cause. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at the forefront of the liberation war in Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka, had the backing of every political party in the state. Fallen and living LTTE leaders were celebrated as revolutionary icons. Not anymore. Cut to 2007 and the killing of Thamilchelvan, one of the top three leaders of the rebel organisation, last fortnight. While die-hard LTTE supporters like Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko courted arrest, there was no groundswell of public sympathy or protest in the state.
In fact, on November 30, the Tamil Nadu police even issued an advertisement warning those who "put up posters, hold meetings, condolence gatherings and rasta rokos in support of a banned movement or individual". In the past, such a public warning would have aroused strong passions and public wrath. In fact, one could not have imagined a DMK government allowing its police to put out such a warning.
So why did chief minister M. Karunanidhi, who likes to project himself as a Thamizh ina Thalaivar (leader of the Tamil race) and who penned an elegy to Thamilchelvan, allow it? Cynics say the ad was meant to mollify the Congress, which had taken strong exception to the CM praising the leader of an organisation responsible for former PM Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Rajya Sabha MP and political commentator Cho Ramaswamy says "Karunanidhi had to make amends for hurting his ally, so the advertisement was issued for the record."
Or perhaps the CM knew the police warning would not raise a public outcry. Cho points out: "In the early '80s, the people of Tamil Nadu believed that only the LTTE could deliver the goods. The killing of Rajiv Gandhi sealed the group's fate." According to him, even before that the Tigers' resonance had begun to wear thin. Ordinary citizens were becoming victims in the crossfire between warring Chennai-based Lankan Tamil groups. There were also disturbing media reports of gun-running and drugs smuggling.
The Tigers' ruthlessness really struck home in June '90, when the state woke up to headlines saying EPRLF (Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front) leader Padmanabha and 14 of his men had been gunned down in cold blood in a Kodambakkam flat in the heart of Chennai. "The LTTE began to be seen as killers out to destroy everyone," recalls Cho.
The tipping point was Rajiv's assassination, though. The complete alienation of the people was evident in the fact that even Vaiko found little sympathy despite being jailed for close to 18 months under POTA in July '02. Ex-Union minister and Congress leader S.R. Balasubramaniam makes a point: "Twenty-five years ago, the LTTE may have evoked sympathy but much water has flowed under the bridge since.Why did they have to assassinate Rajiv? But for him, they wouldn't have got a Tamil province."
Chandrahasan, who runs the Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation, an ngo that caters to the needs of Lankan Tamils, has been witness to the LTTE's alienation. Today, there are over 80,000 refugees living in 117 camps all over Tamil Nadu. Recalls Chandrahasan: "When militancy got out of hand, many refugees could not find accommodation because locals became suspicious. Until Rajiv's assassination, the locals were kind, but suddenly they did not know who was who, whether the person renting his premises was militant or victim."
He says the rehabilitation work done by the refugees—including burial of dead bodies—after the 2004 tsunami has helped earn back some of the people's trust. "It was our chance to reciprocate and 600 refugees came forward to help. Now the locals draw a distinction between militants and refugees and have begun to treat the latter in a more humanitarian way," says Chandrahasan.
V. Geetha of Tara publications is not so sure. "In the absence of any other voices, it was once assumed the LTTE represented Tamil interests," she says but points out that the Tigers have polarised the debate because "no other voices" percolate down. "People here are put off by the bomb culture, the lack of internal democracy in the LTTE and the forced conscription of young boys. While they do not agree with Thamilchelvan's killing, they are still wary of the LTTE," says Geetha.
Social scientist M.S.S. Pandian, visiting Fellow at Delhi's Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), argues that there is no political space now for those who express sympathy with the LTTE. As he puts it: "It's treated as sedition. Ever since the Rajiv assassination, there's been a police crackdown." The LTTE may have blotted its copy book with the incident but the blame game works both ways, he feels. "Sympathy for Rajiv Gandhi is fine, but let's remember he was the one who sent the ipkf to Sri Lanka. Why is that part of the story not taken on board?" he asks.
But for now, just how far the LTTE is removed from people's consciousness is evident from the observation made by Justice S. Ashok Kumar of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. On December 3, while releasing seven LTTE sympathisers accused of looting a branch of the erstwhile Bank of Madura in 1988 (allegedly for buying arms), the judge made a point about the Eelam movement's fall: "Exhibitions were conducted in praise of Eelam leaders and donations collected and sent to the LTTE and other Tamil activists in Lanka. Even the state donated Rs 3 crore for the Tamil movement." That's an old story now.
EROS Condemns the Savage Attack in Anuradhpura
We the Eelam Democratic Front (EDF) condemn the vicious attack on innocent civilians who were passengers of a bus killing 16 innocent people and injuring many more. The EROS extends its heartfelt deepest sympathies to the many families who have lost their loved ones in this horrendous terrorist attack. We also extend our sympathies and concerns to those that were injured as a result of this terrorist attack in Anuradhapura.
The fact that innocent civilians were deliberately targeted show’s the desperate lengths that these terrorists will go to by purposely targeting innocent civilians. This attack re-emphasizes the fact and need for serious measures to be undertaken by the Government of Sri Lanka with the possible assistance of India in order to tackle this continued threat of bomb attacks on innocent civilians by these barbaric terrorists.
The Government of Sri Lanka cannot continue to think that the LTTE will be defeated militarily; the LTTE must be annihilated politically as well by EROS. The Government of Sri Lanka must transition from defensive to more pro-active offensive measures in order to tackle the LTTE and put a stop to these appalling acts of terrorism in our country.
EROS appeals to the Sri Lankan people to come forward, and help us eradicate this terrorism, resolve differences that our communities have amongst one another amicably through a final and just political settlement and restore peace and harmony back in our country, our beautiful country, "Sri Lanka".
The fact that innocent civilians were deliberately targeted show’s the desperate lengths that these terrorists will go to by purposely targeting innocent civilians. This attack re-emphasizes the fact and need for serious measures to be undertaken by the Government of Sri Lanka with the possible assistance of India in order to tackle this continued threat of bomb attacks on innocent civilians by these barbaric terrorists.
The Government of Sri Lanka cannot continue to think that the LTTE will be defeated militarily; the LTTE must be annihilated politically as well by EROS. The Government of Sri Lanka must transition from defensive to more pro-active offensive measures in order to tackle the LTTE and put a stop to these appalling acts of terrorism in our country.
EROS appeals to the Sri Lankan people to come forward, and help us eradicate this terrorism, resolve differences that our communities have amongst one another amicably through a final and just political settlement and restore peace and harmony back in our country, our beautiful country, "Sri Lanka".
Gratitude of the Nation:SLN at 57th
Sri Lanka Navy, which emerged victorious in the last year as never before in the battle against the terrorism, commemorates its 57th anniversary today, heralding its past achievements and progress, giving more weigh up to the religious rituals of all the faiths, in order to invoke blessings to those who made the supreme sacrifice, their limbs and liberty in the battle for the sake of the nation and for the honour of the navy.
The customary naval parades and inspection of the parades by the senior most officers present is of no change this time as well followed by all ranks and rates dinner traditionally known as Barakana.
An all night Pirith Chanting (chanting of sacred cantos of Buddhism for benediction/ blessing) ceremony was held at the naval base SLNS "Gemunu" at Welisara on 30th November 2007 followed by a Dhana Kamma (offering of meals and other necessities to the order of Buddhist monks) to 57 Bikkhus next day. A joint Christian service was held on at the All Saints Church in Borella in Colombo on 03rd December 2007 at 0930 hrs. Hindu religious rituals were held on at the Kovil in Captain’s garden in Maradana by 0930 hrs on 06th December. Muslim religious rituals were conducted at Jumma Mosque in Colombo by 1000hrs on 05th December. Concurrently a blood donation campaign was too held on at the naval hospital, Colombo, on 04th December. The final religious ritual to be held on was offering of "Gilan pasa" (offering of cool or natural drinks to the order of Buddhist monks) in the evening on 08th December followed by Dhana Kamma to 25 Buddhist monks next day morning.
Sri Lanka Navy, originally raised as Royal Ceylon Navy, was sanctioned and formed on 09th December 1950 with the passing of the Navy Act no 34 0f 1950 in the chapter 358 of the legislative enactment with Captain WE Banks, CBE, RN, as the Captain of the navy. Commander GRM De Mel was sent to the United Kingdom for training to steer the navy that was emerging. The officers and sailors of the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who were not demobilized were retained to form the nucleus of the upcoming navy.
However, it would have been incomplete, if no references to the incidents that led to the formation of the navy were at least touched upon.
Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, a British colony was assigned the task of safeguarding its own territories due to a decision made in the defence conference held in 1932 that any country whether a colony, a dominion or a protectorate should find its own method of security; and it paved the way for the enactment of the Volunteer Naval Defence Force ordinance no 01 0f 1937. Ceylon Naval Volunteer Naval Force (CNVF) was thereafter raised in 1938 under the commanding officer Captain Beauchamp VRD, CBE. With the outbreak of the world war II CNVF was called out for active service on 31st August 1939 for war duties. Three years later, Royal Navy accepted CNVF to the admiralty and renamed Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (CRNVR) and deployed for duties such as escort, guard, search and rescue operation at sea, patrolling and light house relief duties.
With the victory of the World War II by the Allied forces, CRNVR was again handed over to the Ceylon government though the same name continued. .Lt Rajan kadirgamar, with 17 sailors, went to the United Kingdom to participate in the Victory Parade.
In 1948 February, a new chapter in the history of Sri Lanka unfolded, and it gained dominion status independence, and the Ceylon government had plans to raise three forces of its own. The ship HMS "flying Fish’ was handed over to the government and commissioned as HMCyS ‘Vijaya’.
From 09th December1950 till 08th November 1955, under captain WE Banks, Captain JRS brown, and Commodore PMB Chavasse, navy progressed slowly but steadily. One important feature during this period was that navy was deployed mainly for aid to civil power and for the security of the Colombo port During the period 1950 and 1956 several bases were established and several craft and boats were acquired out of which Lihiniya, Hansaya, Seruwa, Diyakawa, and korawakka stood out.
During the phase of 1956 to 1960 too, it marks some important milestones in the history of the navy as well as in the country as the Trincomalee harbour, Katunayake Airbase and some camps at Diyatalawa were acquired from British administration. The navy, which had been comprised of 48 officers and 510 sailors in 1951 – 1952, grew to 136 officers and 1,650 sailors in 1957 – 1958. In1950, HMCyS Parakrama HMCyS. Mahasena and HMCy.S Gajabahu, strengthening the fleet, were added to the navy. Mahasena & Parakramabahu, proving the blue water capability, were sent to Singapore.
Navy thrived even under limitations in 1965-1970. Enlistment of officers and recruitment of sailors started. Naval and Maritime Academy was established in Trincomalee in 1967. Controlling of nationalized ports, opening of agricultural & livestock project, providing training commenced and training and technical aspects advanced steadily. 1971 April insurgency had a greater impact on the navy. Unprepared, under-manned and under-equipped services took by surprise. Crews on board SLNS Gajabahu too had to be sent for fighting on land. Navy's condition grew better and recruitment drive was faster.
With the dawn of a new era in 1972, the country gaining full independence from dominion status to a Republic and the remnants of imperialist decoys being removed, Ceylon became Sri Lanka and Royal Ceylon Navy became Sri Lanka Navy and Captain of the Navy changed to be the Commander of the Navy. Her Majesty's Ceylon ship turned out to be Sri Lanka Navy ship.
Shanghai River Class Fast Gun Boats (FGBs) SLNS Sooraya and SLNS Weeraya were acquired from china in 1972. Some craft of the same type, Dakshaya, Ranakamee, and Balawatha were purchased from China in 1975. In 1980 Samudra Devi was donated by the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republic of Russia (USSR) to SLN. Offshore patrol craft Jayasagara & Sagarawardana built in Colombo dockyard LTD too were taken over. New roles and duties assigned and new bases were established. Coordinating officers from navy were appointed to Polonnaruwa, Ampara and Rathnapura. SLNS Vijaya in Kalpitiya was established in 1973. Navy basically focused on anti-smuggling and anti-immigration (e.g. Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration- Tafaii)
The 08th decade of the 20th century changed whole scenario of the country as the vicious tentacles of the terrorism was growing and budding with robberies of state banks, looting of public property and sporadic attacks on police constables on duty .
A sea patrol from SLNS Elara ‘Karainagar’ detected a suspicious boat and when it landed ashore; navy apprehended an occupant who was trying to shoot himself. Later he was handed over to police. It was Kuttimani, the then de facto leader of terror outfit. Jegan, another terrorist leader, also was apprehended by the Navy.
1983-1987 period marks the escalation and burgeoning of separatist terrorism even with purported clandestine support from some interested sections of India .with terrorists being trained and military hardware being supplied. Killings and Robberies were rampant. The Forces too were small in sizes thereby making the way for them to expand considerably including the Navy. Operation liberation (Vadamarachchi Operation) was launched. Navy engaged in transportation of troops and logistics, support and relief activities in the operational area.
The Indo Lanka Peace Accord was signed in July in 1987
SL Army was confined to barracks. But SL Navy carried out naval patrols and continued with Indian Navy. SL Navy apprehended two LTTE leaders, Kumarappa and Pulendran, two deadliest terrorists responsible for massacring some innocent civilians too along with many other terror acts, when they were transporting a large consignment of arms and ammunitions and later it ensued in plunging the whole affairs into havoc as pulendran and Kumarappa swallowed cyanide. Operation ‘Pawan’ was launched by the Indian Peace Keeping Force.
IPKF was finally withdrawn in 1990.
Peace talk between GOSL and LTTE un-ceremonially collapsed, LTTE keeping some police stations in the east and north under siege and taking captives and killing many of them, in 1991. SLA bases were too under siege .However, security forces fought back confining the terrorists into their own dens in the operations Thrivida Balaya, Balavegaya in which Navy actively participated in holding the ground, transportation of troops and logistics.
The unforgettable incident of killing the most senior officer to die in the terrorists’ attack by a suicide bomber, the Commander of the Navy, Admiral W.W.E.C Fernando took place in 1992. Peace talks began in 1994 which too ended up being violated by LTTE again.
However, capture of whole Jaffna Peninsula in 1995 by the security forces in the Operation Riviresa marked the superiority of the government forces. Naval involvement in holding the ground, transportation and sea operations were remarkable in this endeavour.
There was a dramatic change of the scenario after 2005. There were innumerous violations of CFA by LTTE, though security forces kept mum and silent adhering to the Ceasefire agreement. The building up of new bunkers and camps were visible. In spite of the Geneva Peace talks Ceasefire Violations were continuing. Child conscription was alarmingly higher.
LTTE cadres made attempts to hit naval craft, bases and men from Sampur where they built and fortified during the ceasefire agreement. Illegal transportation by sea was continuing and some LTTE craft blew themselves when the navy approached to investigate.
During the period, 2006 and 2007 the Sri Lanka Navy has been able to achieve remarkable victories unequalled and unparalleled ever before, over the enemy. It has been able to destroy eight arms ships and eleven trawlers belonging to the LTTE and inflict heavy losses to the enemy at sea and in ground confrontations.
For over one and half years, Sri Lanka Navy has been aware of the modus operandi of the LTTE tigers after having scrupulously analyzed the intelligence gathered on the LTTE's clandestine activities across international waters violating the international maritime laws. LTTE had 08 rogue merchant vessels in their possession which were between 45 to 75 meters in length and had the capability of carrying 1000 to 1500 tons of cargo on board. The vessels were deployed on clandestine arms smuggling missions across international waters. Due to the successes of the naval operations conducted to date, Sri Lanka Navy has been able to destroy all 08 LTTE arms smuggling ships, thus drastically reducing the LTTE’s arms smuggling capabilities. The Navy took the battle into sea tiger territory and effectively denied the freedom of operation to the LTTE sea tiger fleet, on several occasions even at distances exceeding a thousand kilometres away from Sri Lanka. Thus, the Navy was able to surface itself victorious in many sea confrontations and inflict heavy losses to the enemy.
The LTTE ship which was destroyed off Kalmunai on 17th September 2006 was on its way to deliver the artillery shells and ammunitions to the sea tiger bases located along the eastern coastal belt. It was destroyed by the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and FAST (FGBs) in a major sea confrontation which erupted 195 nautical miles off Kalmunai resulting in heavy losses to the enemy. LTTE lost 14 of their cadres in this battle.
The LTTE ship, "Kyoi", which was destroyed 185 nautical miles south of Dondra on 28th February 2007, was carrying 152 mm, 130 mm and 122 mm artillery shells and 120 mm mortars to the LTTE. LTTE accepted the loss of 13 of their cadres recently when this ship was destroyed. However, intelligence sources confirmed that the LTTE had 18 cadres on board the ship.
The Navy destroyed two LTTE ships 195 nautical miles south east of Arugambay on the 18th March 2007. One LTTE ship was named "Seiyoo" while the other ship did not carry a name with her. Both were transporting arms and ammunitions to the LTTE. LTTE lost approximately 24 to 28 cadres in this battle.
On the 10th and 11th September 2007, the Navy was able to destroy three large LTTE ships which were carrying arms and ammunitions to the LTTE in the high seas; about 1200 kilometers (600 nautical miles) south east off Sri Lanka's southern most tip, Dondra, foiling their attempt in smuggling lethal weapons in to un-cleared areas. The naval task force formed of four SLN ships, namely SLNS Sayura, SLNS Suranimala, SLNS Samudura and SLNS Shakthi supported by two logistics vessels, A 520 and A 521 destroyed the enemy vessels, depriving the LTTE three of their remaining four merchant vessels. The destruction dealt a severe blow to the LTTE’s international arms shipments network and drastically reduced its fire power.
SLNS vessels had initially detected two ships on the10th 0f September. The LTTE ship, "Manyoshi" was the first ship to be destroyed. It was sunk on the 10th around 7.00 a.m. The second LTTE ship to be destroyed was "Seishin". It was sunk on the same day around 5.00 p.m. Seventy-two explosions had been observed on board "Seishin" alone, before it finally went down. The last LTTE ship, "Koshia", was destroyed after a hot pursuit, which lasted well over four hours, on the 11th around 3.30 a.m. The destroyed LTTE ships were sailing towards the seas south-west of Sri Lanka with the intention of making a mid sea trans-shipments of their priced cargo in to smaller vessels that were awaiting their arrival. ‘Sri Krishna’, one such small vessel, hijacked by the LTTE from Indian fishermen, was used in carrying out similar transactions in mid-sea, when it was tracked down and destroyed last May at the same location by the Maldivian defense forces. The ill-fated LTTE ships were "floating arms warehouses" that were loaded with approximately 4000 tonnes of military cargo. They consisted of three light aircraft in knock-down condition, speed boats, a bullet proof vehicle for the LTTE tiger supremo, Vellupillai Prabakaran and a large quantity of 152 mm,130 mm and 122 mm artillery shells and 120 mm mortar rounds in addition to other arms and ammunitions on board. The 10th LTTE ship, which was the largest ever arms smuggling vessel that belonged to the LTTE, was sunk by the Navy about 1700 km south of Dondra point, the southern tip of Sri Lanka, on the 07th October 2007, around 0930 hrs. Initially, the Navy had received credible information about the LTTE arms shipment bound towards Sri Lanka consisting military hardware which included Electronic Warfare (EW) Equipment, communication equipment, high-powered Outboard Motors (OBMs), water scooters, jet skies, swimmer delivery vehicles, radars, Geographical Positioning Systems (GPSs) and other war-like materials. The interception and destruction of the enemy craft was carried out by the naval task force which consisted of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV's), SLNS Sayura and SLNS Sagara, one Fast Missile Vessel (FMV), SLNS Suranimala and two logistics vessels A 520 and A 521.
The loss of the ships is expected to be a major blow to the LTTE which is facing a severe shortage of arms and ammunitions at present as a result of their international arms procurement and smuggling activities are being systematically destroyed by the Sri Lanka Navy in their successful naval operations against the terror outfit. It would, in the long run, completely cripple the LTTE's supply of illegally smuggled weaponry and explosives along international waters. The meticulous coordination maintained by the Navy High Command, the team effort displayed by the naval personnel on the naval task forces and the expertise of its improved naval intelligence network have enabled the Sri Lanka Navy to achieve this victory over the enemy. His Excellency the President commended the naval task forces involved in the naval operations to destroy the last four LTTE arms ships and awarded a ceremonial welcome upon their return after accomplishments of their tasks.
Apart from the destruction of those floating arsenals engaged in gun running and transportation military hardware, navy destroyed some trawlers engaged clandestine movement in the same manner out of which followings stand out.
The Navy’s P 497 detected and subsequently destroyed the LTTE Multi-Day Trawler, "Kusum" north east of Mannar on the 11th February 2006.
The LTTE trawler, "Biyanka Duwa" was apprehended by the Navy off PPD on the 21st March 2006.
On the 25th March 2006, an LTTE trawler blasted itself off Baththalangunduwa.
On the 15th October 2006, an LTTE trawler was destroyed off Arippu.
An LTTE logistics boat was destroyed at 5th Sand Bank on the 31st October 2006.On the 14th November 2006, an LTTE trawler was destroyed off 40 nautical miles west of K point.
On the 27th November 2006, an LTTE trawler was destroyed 50 nautical miles west of Udappuwa.
Without being complacent and contended with those of stopping LTTE’s movement, the navy launched many offensive operations to cripple its sea movement capability which were hilariously successful.
On the 06th October 2006, an LTTE craft was destroyed off Vakarai.
On the 18th October 2006, five LTTE suicide boats were destroyed while attempting to enter the Galle Harbour.
On the 19th October 2006, an LTTE suicide craft was destroyed
On the 20th October 2006, seven LTTE boats were destroyed and four of their boats damaged off PPD.
On the 10th November 2006, an LTTE suicide boat was destroyed and the dead body of the Trincomalee Deputy LTTE Leader and a suicide boat were recovered.
An LTTE attack on the naval base was repulsed and an attack on the LTTE crafty was launched north of Thalaimannar on the 14th November 2006.
An abortive LTTE attempt on the Colombo Harbour was repulsed on the 27th January 2007.
On the 12th February 2007, two LTTE boats were destroyed off Kallarawa and two LTTE bodies were recovered.
On the 16th February 2007, two LTTE craft carrying war like material was destroyed off Kalpitiya.
On the 22nd February 2007, an LTTE craft was recovered with 14.5 mm weapon off Baththalangunduwa.
On the 28th March 2007, three LTTE boats were destroyed off Alampil.
On the 19th June 2006, the largest LTTE craft ever to be captured was apprehended by the Navy off Point Pedro.
On the 22nd June 2007, an LTTE suicide boat was destroyed off Nilaweli.
Sri Lanka Navy dared to take the LTTE terrorists on the land as well in which the terrorists lost approximately 850 cadres. Nearly 40 senior LTTE cadres above the self-styled rank of lieutenant colonel are believed to be among those killed during the ground confrontations with the navy. It is said that this to be a major blow since most of their well-trained cadres were killed by the Navy in theses battles. To name a few followings can be cited.
The Navy foiled the LTTE attempt to trap troops from the 2nd to the 5th August 2006 in Muttur and repulsed their attack on the naval deployment inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE.
The LTTE attack on the naval deployment at the Thalaimannar Pier was successfully repulsed by the naval troops on 18th and 03 LTTE boats were destroyed during the confrontation. November 2006.
The LTTE attack on the SBS personnel attached to the SLNS Walagamba was repulsed at Kaddukulum Paththu on the 28th November 2006. Three LTTE bodies were later recovered.
The navy repulsed the LTTE attack on the naval deployment in Delft on the 25th May 2007 and killed 07 LTTE cadres.
Other than fighting the most ruthless terror organization in the world, the navy is burdened with the heavy responsibility of transporting of civilain passengers, consumer products and other items to the north by sea as the land route has been closed and blocked by the LTTE. The civilians are being relieved of the heavy taxes imposed by LTTE due to this sea transportation.
The Navy transports service personnel of other sister forces and police and logistics to the north as well.
All the harbours and ports of the country are being protected by the navy and the terrorists had been unable to cause any damage to any port of the country.
Sri Lanka navy has established a unit for research and development which carries out research and development to improve the efficiency and capabilities of the navy.
Seva Vanitha Unit of the Navy comprises of the ladies of the officers and sailors of the navy. They implement many welfare projects such as building houses to the families of the personnel those killed and wounded in action. They have launched a law interest/ interest free loan schemes to such personnel who are in need.
The civilians serving and served in the Sri Lanka navy, in many naval establishments, deserve ‘a big thank you’ in this moment of commemorating the 57th Anniversary.
However, finally Sri Lanka Navy thriving with meagre available resources and hardships, which continues to safeguard the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the motherland working laboriously and shedding blood and sweat, deserves the gratitude of the nation.
The customary naval parades and inspection of the parades by the senior most officers present is of no change this time as well followed by all ranks and rates dinner traditionally known as Barakana.
An all night Pirith Chanting (chanting of sacred cantos of Buddhism for benediction/ blessing) ceremony was held at the naval base SLNS "Gemunu" at Welisara on 30th November 2007 followed by a Dhana Kamma (offering of meals and other necessities to the order of Buddhist monks) to 57 Bikkhus next day. A joint Christian service was held on at the All Saints Church in Borella in Colombo on 03rd December 2007 at 0930 hrs. Hindu religious rituals were held on at the Kovil in Captain’s garden in Maradana by 0930 hrs on 06th December. Muslim religious rituals were conducted at Jumma Mosque in Colombo by 1000hrs on 05th December. Concurrently a blood donation campaign was too held on at the naval hospital, Colombo, on 04th December. The final religious ritual to be held on was offering of "Gilan pasa" (offering of cool or natural drinks to the order of Buddhist monks) in the evening on 08th December followed by Dhana Kamma to 25 Buddhist monks next day morning.
Sri Lanka Navy, originally raised as Royal Ceylon Navy, was sanctioned and formed on 09th December 1950 with the passing of the Navy Act no 34 0f 1950 in the chapter 358 of the legislative enactment with Captain WE Banks, CBE, RN, as the Captain of the navy. Commander GRM De Mel was sent to the United Kingdom for training to steer the navy that was emerging. The officers and sailors of the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who were not demobilized were retained to form the nucleus of the upcoming navy.
However, it would have been incomplete, if no references to the incidents that led to the formation of the navy were at least touched upon.
Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, a British colony was assigned the task of safeguarding its own territories due to a decision made in the defence conference held in 1932 that any country whether a colony, a dominion or a protectorate should find its own method of security; and it paved the way for the enactment of the Volunteer Naval Defence Force ordinance no 01 0f 1937. Ceylon Naval Volunteer Naval Force (CNVF) was thereafter raised in 1938 under the commanding officer Captain Beauchamp VRD, CBE. With the outbreak of the world war II CNVF was called out for active service on 31st August 1939 for war duties. Three years later, Royal Navy accepted CNVF to the admiralty and renamed Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (CRNVR) and deployed for duties such as escort, guard, search and rescue operation at sea, patrolling and light house relief duties.
With the victory of the World War II by the Allied forces, CRNVR was again handed over to the Ceylon government though the same name continued. .Lt Rajan kadirgamar, with 17 sailors, went to the United Kingdom to participate in the Victory Parade.
In 1948 February, a new chapter in the history of Sri Lanka unfolded, and it gained dominion status independence, and the Ceylon government had plans to raise three forces of its own. The ship HMS "flying Fish’ was handed over to the government and commissioned as HMCyS ‘Vijaya’.
From 09th December1950 till 08th November 1955, under captain WE Banks, Captain JRS brown, and Commodore PMB Chavasse, navy progressed slowly but steadily. One important feature during this period was that navy was deployed mainly for aid to civil power and for the security of the Colombo port During the period 1950 and 1956 several bases were established and several craft and boats were acquired out of which Lihiniya, Hansaya, Seruwa, Diyakawa, and korawakka stood out.
During the phase of 1956 to 1960 too, it marks some important milestones in the history of the navy as well as in the country as the Trincomalee harbour, Katunayake Airbase and some camps at Diyatalawa were acquired from British administration. The navy, which had been comprised of 48 officers and 510 sailors in 1951 – 1952, grew to 136 officers and 1,650 sailors in 1957 – 1958. In1950, HMCyS Parakrama HMCyS. Mahasena and HMCy.S Gajabahu, strengthening the fleet, were added to the navy. Mahasena & Parakramabahu, proving the blue water capability, were sent to Singapore.
Navy thrived even under limitations in 1965-1970. Enlistment of officers and recruitment of sailors started. Naval and Maritime Academy was established in Trincomalee in 1967. Controlling of nationalized ports, opening of agricultural & livestock project, providing training commenced and training and technical aspects advanced steadily. 1971 April insurgency had a greater impact on the navy. Unprepared, under-manned and under-equipped services took by surprise. Crews on board SLNS Gajabahu too had to be sent for fighting on land. Navy's condition grew better and recruitment drive was faster.
With the dawn of a new era in 1972, the country gaining full independence from dominion status to a Republic and the remnants of imperialist decoys being removed, Ceylon became Sri Lanka and Royal Ceylon Navy became Sri Lanka Navy and Captain of the Navy changed to be the Commander of the Navy. Her Majesty's Ceylon ship turned out to be Sri Lanka Navy ship.
Shanghai River Class Fast Gun Boats (FGBs) SLNS Sooraya and SLNS Weeraya were acquired from china in 1972. Some craft of the same type, Dakshaya, Ranakamee, and Balawatha were purchased from China in 1975. In 1980 Samudra Devi was donated by the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republic of Russia (USSR) to SLN. Offshore patrol craft Jayasagara & Sagarawardana built in Colombo dockyard LTD too were taken over. New roles and duties assigned and new bases were established. Coordinating officers from navy were appointed to Polonnaruwa, Ampara and Rathnapura. SLNS Vijaya in Kalpitiya was established in 1973. Navy basically focused on anti-smuggling and anti-immigration (e.g. Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration- Tafaii)
The 08th decade of the 20th century changed whole scenario of the country as the vicious tentacles of the terrorism was growing and budding with robberies of state banks, looting of public property and sporadic attacks on police constables on duty .
A sea patrol from SLNS Elara ‘Karainagar’ detected a suspicious boat and when it landed ashore; navy apprehended an occupant who was trying to shoot himself. Later he was handed over to police. It was Kuttimani, the then de facto leader of terror outfit. Jegan, another terrorist leader, also was apprehended by the Navy.
1983-1987 period marks the escalation and burgeoning of separatist terrorism even with purported clandestine support from some interested sections of India .with terrorists being trained and military hardware being supplied. Killings and Robberies were rampant. The Forces too were small in sizes thereby making the way for them to expand considerably including the Navy. Operation liberation (Vadamarachchi Operation) was launched. Navy engaged in transportation of troops and logistics, support and relief activities in the operational area.
The Indo Lanka Peace Accord was signed in July in 1987
SL Army was confined to barracks. But SL Navy carried out naval patrols and continued with Indian Navy. SL Navy apprehended two LTTE leaders, Kumarappa and Pulendran, two deadliest terrorists responsible for massacring some innocent civilians too along with many other terror acts, when they were transporting a large consignment of arms and ammunitions and later it ensued in plunging the whole affairs into havoc as pulendran and Kumarappa swallowed cyanide. Operation ‘Pawan’ was launched by the Indian Peace Keeping Force.
IPKF was finally withdrawn in 1990.
Peace talk between GOSL and LTTE un-ceremonially collapsed, LTTE keeping some police stations in the east and north under siege and taking captives and killing many of them, in 1991. SLA bases were too under siege .However, security forces fought back confining the terrorists into their own dens in the operations Thrivida Balaya, Balavegaya in which Navy actively participated in holding the ground, transportation of troops and logistics.
The unforgettable incident of killing the most senior officer to die in the terrorists’ attack by a suicide bomber, the Commander of the Navy, Admiral W.W.E.C Fernando took place in 1992. Peace talks began in 1994 which too ended up being violated by LTTE again.
However, capture of whole Jaffna Peninsula in 1995 by the security forces in the Operation Riviresa marked the superiority of the government forces. Naval involvement in holding the ground, transportation and sea operations were remarkable in this endeavour.
There was a dramatic change of the scenario after 2005. There were innumerous violations of CFA by LTTE, though security forces kept mum and silent adhering to the Ceasefire agreement. The building up of new bunkers and camps were visible. In spite of the Geneva Peace talks Ceasefire Violations were continuing. Child conscription was alarmingly higher.
LTTE cadres made attempts to hit naval craft, bases and men from Sampur where they built and fortified during the ceasefire agreement. Illegal transportation by sea was continuing and some LTTE craft blew themselves when the navy approached to investigate.
During the period, 2006 and 2007 the Sri Lanka Navy has been able to achieve remarkable victories unequalled and unparalleled ever before, over the enemy. It has been able to destroy eight arms ships and eleven trawlers belonging to the LTTE and inflict heavy losses to the enemy at sea and in ground confrontations.
For over one and half years, Sri Lanka Navy has been aware of the modus operandi of the LTTE tigers after having scrupulously analyzed the intelligence gathered on the LTTE's clandestine activities across international waters violating the international maritime laws. LTTE had 08 rogue merchant vessels in their possession which were between 45 to 75 meters in length and had the capability of carrying 1000 to 1500 tons of cargo on board. The vessels were deployed on clandestine arms smuggling missions across international waters. Due to the successes of the naval operations conducted to date, Sri Lanka Navy has been able to destroy all 08 LTTE arms smuggling ships, thus drastically reducing the LTTE’s arms smuggling capabilities. The Navy took the battle into sea tiger territory and effectively denied the freedom of operation to the LTTE sea tiger fleet, on several occasions even at distances exceeding a thousand kilometres away from Sri Lanka. Thus, the Navy was able to surface itself victorious in many sea confrontations and inflict heavy losses to the enemy.
The LTTE ship which was destroyed off Kalmunai on 17th September 2006 was on its way to deliver the artillery shells and ammunitions to the sea tiger bases located along the eastern coastal belt. It was destroyed by the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and FAST (FGBs) in a major sea confrontation which erupted 195 nautical miles off Kalmunai resulting in heavy losses to the enemy. LTTE lost 14 of their cadres in this battle.
The LTTE ship, "Kyoi", which was destroyed 185 nautical miles south of Dondra on 28th February 2007, was carrying 152 mm, 130 mm and 122 mm artillery shells and 120 mm mortars to the LTTE. LTTE accepted the loss of 13 of their cadres recently when this ship was destroyed. However, intelligence sources confirmed that the LTTE had 18 cadres on board the ship.
The Navy destroyed two LTTE ships 195 nautical miles south east of Arugambay on the 18th March 2007. One LTTE ship was named "Seiyoo" while the other ship did not carry a name with her. Both were transporting arms and ammunitions to the LTTE. LTTE lost approximately 24 to 28 cadres in this battle.
On the 10th and 11th September 2007, the Navy was able to destroy three large LTTE ships which were carrying arms and ammunitions to the LTTE in the high seas; about 1200 kilometers (600 nautical miles) south east off Sri Lanka's southern most tip, Dondra, foiling their attempt in smuggling lethal weapons in to un-cleared areas. The naval task force formed of four SLN ships, namely SLNS Sayura, SLNS Suranimala, SLNS Samudura and SLNS Shakthi supported by two logistics vessels, A 520 and A 521 destroyed the enemy vessels, depriving the LTTE three of their remaining four merchant vessels. The destruction dealt a severe blow to the LTTE’s international arms shipments network and drastically reduced its fire power.
SLNS vessels had initially detected two ships on the10th 0f September. The LTTE ship, "Manyoshi" was the first ship to be destroyed. It was sunk on the 10th around 7.00 a.m. The second LTTE ship to be destroyed was "Seishin". It was sunk on the same day around 5.00 p.m. Seventy-two explosions had been observed on board "Seishin" alone, before it finally went down. The last LTTE ship, "Koshia", was destroyed after a hot pursuit, which lasted well over four hours, on the 11th around 3.30 a.m. The destroyed LTTE ships were sailing towards the seas south-west of Sri Lanka with the intention of making a mid sea trans-shipments of their priced cargo in to smaller vessels that were awaiting their arrival. ‘Sri Krishna’, one such small vessel, hijacked by the LTTE from Indian fishermen, was used in carrying out similar transactions in mid-sea, when it was tracked down and destroyed last May at the same location by the Maldivian defense forces. The ill-fated LTTE ships were "floating arms warehouses" that were loaded with approximately 4000 tonnes of military cargo. They consisted of three light aircraft in knock-down condition, speed boats, a bullet proof vehicle for the LTTE tiger supremo, Vellupillai Prabakaran and a large quantity of 152 mm,130 mm and 122 mm artillery shells and 120 mm mortar rounds in addition to other arms and ammunitions on board. The 10th LTTE ship, which was the largest ever arms smuggling vessel that belonged to the LTTE, was sunk by the Navy about 1700 km south of Dondra point, the southern tip of Sri Lanka, on the 07th October 2007, around 0930 hrs. Initially, the Navy had received credible information about the LTTE arms shipment bound towards Sri Lanka consisting military hardware which included Electronic Warfare (EW) Equipment, communication equipment, high-powered Outboard Motors (OBMs), water scooters, jet skies, swimmer delivery vehicles, radars, Geographical Positioning Systems (GPSs) and other war-like materials. The interception and destruction of the enemy craft was carried out by the naval task force which consisted of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV's), SLNS Sayura and SLNS Sagara, one Fast Missile Vessel (FMV), SLNS Suranimala and two logistics vessels A 520 and A 521.
The loss of the ships is expected to be a major blow to the LTTE which is facing a severe shortage of arms and ammunitions at present as a result of their international arms procurement and smuggling activities are being systematically destroyed by the Sri Lanka Navy in their successful naval operations against the terror outfit. It would, in the long run, completely cripple the LTTE's supply of illegally smuggled weaponry and explosives along international waters. The meticulous coordination maintained by the Navy High Command, the team effort displayed by the naval personnel on the naval task forces and the expertise of its improved naval intelligence network have enabled the Sri Lanka Navy to achieve this victory over the enemy. His Excellency the President commended the naval task forces involved in the naval operations to destroy the last four LTTE arms ships and awarded a ceremonial welcome upon their return after accomplishments of their tasks.
Apart from the destruction of those floating arsenals engaged in gun running and transportation military hardware, navy destroyed some trawlers engaged clandestine movement in the same manner out of which followings stand out.
The Navy’s P 497 detected and subsequently destroyed the LTTE Multi-Day Trawler, "Kusum" north east of Mannar on the 11th February 2006.
The LTTE trawler, "Biyanka Duwa" was apprehended by the Navy off PPD on the 21st March 2006.
On the 25th March 2006, an LTTE trawler blasted itself off Baththalangunduwa.
On the 15th October 2006, an LTTE trawler was destroyed off Arippu.
An LTTE logistics boat was destroyed at 5th Sand Bank on the 31st October 2006.On the 14th November 2006, an LTTE trawler was destroyed off 40 nautical miles west of K point.
On the 27th November 2006, an LTTE trawler was destroyed 50 nautical miles west of Udappuwa.
Without being complacent and contended with those of stopping LTTE’s movement, the navy launched many offensive operations to cripple its sea movement capability which were hilariously successful.
On the 06th October 2006, an LTTE craft was destroyed off Vakarai.
On the 18th October 2006, five LTTE suicide boats were destroyed while attempting to enter the Galle Harbour.
On the 19th October 2006, an LTTE suicide craft was destroyed
On the 20th October 2006, seven LTTE boats were destroyed and four of their boats damaged off PPD.
On the 10th November 2006, an LTTE suicide boat was destroyed and the dead body of the Trincomalee Deputy LTTE Leader and a suicide boat were recovered.
An LTTE attack on the naval base was repulsed and an attack on the LTTE crafty was launched north of Thalaimannar on the 14th November 2006.
An abortive LTTE attempt on the Colombo Harbour was repulsed on the 27th January 2007.
On the 12th February 2007, two LTTE boats were destroyed off Kallarawa and two LTTE bodies were recovered.
On the 16th February 2007, two LTTE craft carrying war like material was destroyed off Kalpitiya.
On the 22nd February 2007, an LTTE craft was recovered with 14.5 mm weapon off Baththalangunduwa.
On the 28th March 2007, three LTTE boats were destroyed off Alampil.
On the 19th June 2006, the largest LTTE craft ever to be captured was apprehended by the Navy off Point Pedro.
On the 22nd June 2007, an LTTE suicide boat was destroyed off Nilaweli.
Sri Lanka Navy dared to take the LTTE terrorists on the land as well in which the terrorists lost approximately 850 cadres. Nearly 40 senior LTTE cadres above the self-styled rank of lieutenant colonel are believed to be among those killed during the ground confrontations with the navy. It is said that this to be a major blow since most of their well-trained cadres were killed by the Navy in theses battles. To name a few followings can be cited.
The Navy foiled the LTTE attempt to trap troops from the 2nd to the 5th August 2006 in Muttur and repulsed their attack on the naval deployment inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE.
The LTTE attack on the naval deployment at the Thalaimannar Pier was successfully repulsed by the naval troops on 18th and 03 LTTE boats were destroyed during the confrontation. November 2006.
The LTTE attack on the SBS personnel attached to the SLNS Walagamba was repulsed at Kaddukulum Paththu on the 28th November 2006. Three LTTE bodies were later recovered.
The navy repulsed the LTTE attack on the naval deployment in Delft on the 25th May 2007 and killed 07 LTTE cadres.
Other than fighting the most ruthless terror organization in the world, the navy is burdened with the heavy responsibility of transporting of civilain passengers, consumer products and other items to the north by sea as the land route has been closed and blocked by the LTTE. The civilians are being relieved of the heavy taxes imposed by LTTE due to this sea transportation.
The Navy transports service personnel of other sister forces and police and logistics to the north as well.
All the harbours and ports of the country are being protected by the navy and the terrorists had been unable to cause any damage to any port of the country.
Sri Lanka navy has established a unit for research and development which carries out research and development to improve the efficiency and capabilities of the navy.
Seva Vanitha Unit of the Navy comprises of the ladies of the officers and sailors of the navy. They implement many welfare projects such as building houses to the families of the personnel those killed and wounded in action. They have launched a law interest/ interest free loan schemes to such personnel who are in need.
The civilians serving and served in the Sri Lanka navy, in many naval establishments, deserve ‘a big thank you’ in this moment of commemorating the 57th Anniversary.
However, finally Sri Lanka Navy thriving with meagre available resources and hardships, which continues to safeguard the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the motherland working laboriously and shedding blood and sweat, deserves the gratitude of the nation.
Major LTTE fund raising event in London announced
The LTTE front White Pigeon which succeeded the activities of the now defunct UK charity Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) is holding a major fund raising event on 12 January 2007.
The fund raising programme titled ‘Mega Musical Festival -2008’ has been organised at the 10,000 seating capacity Alexandra Palace in early January 2008.
Some Tamil Nadu cinema stars and musicians costing over £30,000 are expected to perform at the event. The hall hire cost itself isexcess of £25,000. The organisers have pitched the prices of the tickets at £25 (single) £75 (family) and £100 (VIP).
Since the clamp down on the TRO by the UK Charity Commission, its front line activists have formed another charity in the name of ‘White Pigeon’ which is functioning as the UK arm of the TRO in the LTTE controlled Vanni. White Pigeon’s founder and present chairman is Dr N Sathiyamoorthy also known as Dr Moorthy was the chairman of TRO in the UK at the time of Charity Commission’s regulatory intervention which lead to its closure.
The White Pigeon Chairman is said to be a former armed cadre of the LTTE in the Trincomalee area in Sri Lanka before he claimed asylum in the United Kingdom. He is one of the frontline activists of the LTTE in the UK giving political commentaries in the LTTE front media and involved in the fund raising activities. He was given the honour to garland the picture of LTTE’s Thamilchelvan at a remembrance event at the Harrow Leisure Centre. Thamilchelvan died under suspicious circumstances in the LTTE controlled Vanni in November 2007.
In a report ‘The Home Office & HM Treasury’s Review of safeguards to protect the charitable sector (England and Wales) from terrorist abuse and the Charity Commission’s response to the consultation’ the Charity Commission has made reference on the closure of Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation in the UK. The report stated: ‘Further investigation concluded that the charity’s representatives had liaised with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000) to make decisions about where funds should be applied’.
The White Pigeon is accused of proving funds for LTTE sanctioned projects in the LTTE controlled area. It has so far not given details about large sums of money collected in the UK for Tsunami Relief work in 2004/2005. Following Tsunami tragedy, White Pigeon dominated the fund raising activities to the extent of sending the LTTE cadres to collect funds from the public on the streets and major city centres.
The fund raising programme titled ‘Mega Musical Festival -2008’ has been organised at the 10,000 seating capacity Alexandra Palace in early January 2008.
Some Tamil Nadu cinema stars and musicians costing over £30,000 are expected to perform at the event. The hall hire cost itself isexcess of £25,000. The organisers have pitched the prices of the tickets at £25 (single) £75 (family) and £100 (VIP).
Since the clamp down on the TRO by the UK Charity Commission, its front line activists have formed another charity in the name of ‘White Pigeon’ which is functioning as the UK arm of the TRO in the LTTE controlled Vanni. White Pigeon’s founder and present chairman is Dr N Sathiyamoorthy also known as Dr Moorthy was the chairman of TRO in the UK at the time of Charity Commission’s regulatory intervention which lead to its closure.
The White Pigeon Chairman is said to be a former armed cadre of the LTTE in the Trincomalee area in Sri Lanka before he claimed asylum in the United Kingdom. He is one of the frontline activists of the LTTE in the UK giving political commentaries in the LTTE front media and involved in the fund raising activities. He was given the honour to garland the picture of LTTE’s Thamilchelvan at a remembrance event at the Harrow Leisure Centre. Thamilchelvan died under suspicious circumstances in the LTTE controlled Vanni in November 2007.
In a report ‘The Home Office & HM Treasury’s Review of safeguards to protect the charitable sector (England and Wales) from terrorist abuse and the Charity Commission’s response to the consultation’ the Charity Commission has made reference on the closure of Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation in the UK. The report stated: ‘Further investigation concluded that the charity’s representatives had liaised with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000) to make decisions about where funds should be applied’.
The White Pigeon is accused of proving funds for LTTE sanctioned projects in the LTTE controlled area. It has so far not given details about large sums of money collected in the UK for Tsunami Relief work in 2004/2005. Following Tsunami tragedy, White Pigeon dominated the fund raising activities to the extent of sending the LTTE cadres to collect funds from the public on the streets and major city centres.
LTTE fund raising ‘Murasam’ out
The LTTE directory ‘Murasam’ giving details about Tamil businesses and activities have been released to the public at the Hero’s Day celebrations at the ExCel Centre on 27 November 2007.
Compared with previous editions of the ‘Murasam’, the 2008 directory include much lesser advertising pages. The advertisers are mainly LTTE front and sympathising businesses and organisations. The advertising cost for the colourful directory is said to run into many hundreds of sterling pounds per page.
The directory is also filled with free listing of businesses and organisations extracted from the independent ‘Tamil Directories’ which has a much greater appeal due to its popularity and reasonable charges for advertising.
The editorial, its mission statement and political slogans published in the Murasam directory confirm the relationship between the LTTE and the Murasam. The Murasam website states: ‘Murasam information directory is published annually and launched during the Tamil Remembrance Day events held in London every November. Murasam incorporates comprehensive classified listings of Tamil businesses in the United Kingdom, advertisements and useful information about the UK and our homeland, including maps, fact & figures, travel information and pictures’. The Tamil Remembrance Day is the title used to overcome the controversial ‘Hero’s Day’ of the proscribed LTTE.
The Murasam Directory is the brainchild of Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias A C Shanthan who is the UK head of LTTE’s main arm British Tamil Association-BTA (Formally United Tamil Organisation). First two of the issues were published by BTA and when adverse publicity appeared in the media of Murasam’s link to the LTTE and about the funds it generated for the LTTE, a private company Murasam Publication Ltd was formed to run the directory.
The Company House records reveal a private company Murasam Publications Ltd was formed under registration number 05563059 on 14 September 2005. The registered address of the company is recorded as 132 Stokes Road, East Ham, London E6 3SE. Companies Annual return made up to 14 September 2006 and the annual accounts to 30 September 2006 are not filed with the Companies House as yet. Since then 2007 Annual Return and the Accounts are due for submission.
It is expected the Murasam Publication Ltd will face the same fate of Tamil Guardian Ltd and its name stricken off from the Companies House register for non submission of the statutory documents.
Murasam printed directory confirms its operating address as PO Box 2203, Ilford, IG1 9RY whilst its website edition states its address as 135 Vansittart Road, London E7 0AA.
Compared with previous editions of the ‘Murasam’, the 2008 directory include much lesser advertising pages. The advertisers are mainly LTTE front and sympathising businesses and organisations. The advertising cost for the colourful directory is said to run into many hundreds of sterling pounds per page.
The directory is also filled with free listing of businesses and organisations extracted from the independent ‘Tamil Directories’ which has a much greater appeal due to its popularity and reasonable charges for advertising.
The editorial, its mission statement and political slogans published in the Murasam directory confirm the relationship between the LTTE and the Murasam. The Murasam website states: ‘Murasam information directory is published annually and launched during the Tamil Remembrance Day events held in London every November. Murasam incorporates comprehensive classified listings of Tamil businesses in the United Kingdom, advertisements and useful information about the UK and our homeland, including maps, fact & figures, travel information and pictures’. The Tamil Remembrance Day is the title used to overcome the controversial ‘Hero’s Day’ of the proscribed LTTE.
The Murasam Directory is the brainchild of Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias A C Shanthan who is the UK head of LTTE’s main arm British Tamil Association-BTA (Formally United Tamil Organisation). First two of the issues were published by BTA and when adverse publicity appeared in the media of Murasam’s link to the LTTE and about the funds it generated for the LTTE, a private company Murasam Publication Ltd was formed to run the directory.
The Company House records reveal a private company Murasam Publications Ltd was formed under registration number 05563059 on 14 September 2005. The registered address of the company is recorded as 132 Stokes Road, East Ham, London E6 3SE. Companies Annual return made up to 14 September 2006 and the annual accounts to 30 September 2006 are not filed with the Companies House as yet. Since then 2007 Annual Return and the Accounts are due for submission.
It is expected the Murasam Publication Ltd will face the same fate of Tamil Guardian Ltd and its name stricken off from the Companies House register for non submission of the statutory documents.
Murasam printed directory confirms its operating address as PO Box 2203, Ilford, IG1 9RY whilst its website edition states its address as 135 Vansittart Road, London E7 0AA.
Top Sea Tiger held in Chennai
The city police in Chennai arrested a Sea Tiger along with his accomplices when they were allegedly in the process of sending a boat to Sri Lanka to be used to smuggle essential commodities from India.
According to a press release issued by the State police on Sunday, Chennai city Q Branch, Crime wing police were engaged in routine surveillance on Saturday at the Chennai international airport. By 8 pm, three men were spotted moving around suspiciously in the car parking lot.
They were taken into custody and and investigation revealed that one of them was a sea tiger, other was a Lankan Tamil and another person was a Chennaite.
The Tiger cadre was identified as Jayakumar (34) of Velvettithurai, Jaffna and his accomplices as James alias Raja (46) belonging to Mannar Chinnakadai in Srilanka and Ravikumar (42) a resident of Subbarayan Nagar, Choolaimedu.
Jayakumar alias Gowri Shankar was on the rolls of LTTE’s naval wing Sea Tigers and had fought the lankan government from 1995 to 2006 and had come to India in February last. He was assigned by Soosai his tiger boss in lanka to procure a trawler for use at home shores.
Accordingly, Jayakumar landed in Tamilnadu and camped in Thanjavur and bought a boat with the help of Rs 4,80,000 sent by Soosai and Karuppaih — another LTTE man based at London. The purchased boat was parked at Mallipattinam in Thanjavur district.
The arrested LTTE man revealed that he had planned to send the boat to Srilanka with the help of James, also in custody now.
James had travelled to India three times in this year alone on valid papers. When he was here in October he had procured computer spare parts, swimming accessories and GPS devices and smuggled it to the war torn nation.
A sum of Rs 4,78,290 Indian currency and Rs 4140 Srilankan rupees and four mobile phones were confiscated. James said they had planned to give this to one Raji towards the cost of the boat.
The Chennai man is said to have helped the lankan Tamil to buy a boat. Police said further investigations are on to apprehend others who had helped the trio in their operation.
According to a press release issued by the State police on Sunday, Chennai city Q Branch, Crime wing police were engaged in routine surveillance on Saturday at the Chennai international airport. By 8 pm, three men were spotted moving around suspiciously in the car parking lot.
They were taken into custody and and investigation revealed that one of them was a sea tiger, other was a Lankan Tamil and another person was a Chennaite.
The Tiger cadre was identified as Jayakumar (34) of Velvettithurai, Jaffna and his accomplices as James alias Raja (46) belonging to Mannar Chinnakadai in Srilanka and Ravikumar (42) a resident of Subbarayan Nagar, Choolaimedu.
Jayakumar alias Gowri Shankar was on the rolls of LTTE’s naval wing Sea Tigers and had fought the lankan government from 1995 to 2006 and had come to India in February last. He was assigned by Soosai his tiger boss in lanka to procure a trawler for use at home shores.
Accordingly, Jayakumar landed in Tamilnadu and camped in Thanjavur and bought a boat with the help of Rs 4,80,000 sent by Soosai and Karuppaih — another LTTE man based at London. The purchased boat was parked at Mallipattinam in Thanjavur district.
The arrested LTTE man revealed that he had planned to send the boat to Srilanka with the help of James, also in custody now.
James had travelled to India three times in this year alone on valid papers. When he was here in October he had procured computer spare parts, swimming accessories and GPS devices and smuggled it to the war torn nation.
A sum of Rs 4,78,290 Indian currency and Rs 4140 Srilankan rupees and four mobile phones were confiscated. James said they had planned to give this to one Raji towards the cost of the boat.
The Chennai man is said to have helped the lankan Tamil to buy a boat. Police said further investigations are on to apprehend others who had helped the trio in their operation.
Why they support the LTTE?
Keith Vas MP – He claims he represents his constituents when address in support of the LTTE. Leicester East constituency is his electorate in the middle England. A constituency with reasonable count of Indians is not one like in London where there is sizeable Tamil population. If Keith Vas could prove there are more than twenty five Tamils living in his constituency to make his hue and cry in support the LTTE and that all of them are LTTE supporters, some sympathy could be shown for him. His contact point is the LTTE is its dihard activist Kandia Senthilkumar of the British Tamil Forum- only buddy who gives input to his LTTE support. Rumors are ripe that LTTE’s dirty money is playing its due role in Senthils work.
Joan Marie Ryan MP- A Labour Party MP from a marginal seat of Enfield North. Her constituent Dr Vinayagamoorthy known as Dr Moorthy who is currently held by the FBI in the USA for his involvement in the purchase of arms for the LTTE. He was arrested with others in a FBI sting operation. It is now known Dr Moorthy actively worked during the last General Election for the victory of Joan Marie Ryan MP.
Virendra Sharma MP- Former Councillor and Mayor of London Borough of Ealing. He was elected to replace the long serving Pierre Khabra MP who passed away few months ago. During the by-election, LTTE activists were tirelessly working for his election. The LTTE support was spearheaded by its regional finance head Vasanthan who lives in Southall. Vasanthan worked closely with Late P Khabra MP, but the late MP who was a regular soldier in the Indian army maintained a distance from the LTTE.
Simon Hughes MP- A Member of Parliament from Southwark and Burmondsey (London) constituency. Hardly any Tamils are living in his constituency. His constituency was where one time LTTE head quarters Ealam House was located. Well known as LTTE’s Cllr Miss Mann’s man, he has been cultivated to support the LTTE cause by her for many years now. He gave a message of support for the Hero’s Day celebrations at the ExCell Centre.
Joan Marie Ryan MP- A Labour Party MP from a marginal seat of Enfield North. Her constituent Dr Vinayagamoorthy known as Dr Moorthy who is currently held by the FBI in the USA for his involvement in the purchase of arms for the LTTE. He was arrested with others in a FBI sting operation. It is now known Dr Moorthy actively worked during the last General Election for the victory of Joan Marie Ryan MP.
Virendra Sharma MP- Former Councillor and Mayor of London Borough of Ealing. He was elected to replace the long serving Pierre Khabra MP who passed away few months ago. During the by-election, LTTE activists were tirelessly working for his election. The LTTE support was spearheaded by its regional finance head Vasanthan who lives in Southall. Vasanthan worked closely with Late P Khabra MP, but the late MP who was a regular soldier in the Indian army maintained a distance from the LTTE.
Simon Hughes MP- A Member of Parliament from Southwark and Burmondsey (London) constituency. Hardly any Tamils are living in his constituency. His constituency was where one time LTTE head quarters Ealam House was located. Well known as LTTE’s Cllr Miss Mann’s man, he has been cultivated to support the LTTE cause by her for many years now. He gave a message of support for the Hero’s Day celebrations at the ExCell Centre.
Vaiko flays Naval officer’s remarks
Pro- LTTE Tamil political party in Tamil Nadu, the MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Sunday said the remark of Naval officer in-charge of Tamilnadu Commodore P E Van Halteren that Sri Lankan Navy had never deliberately fired at Indian fishermen in Palk Straits was ‘unwarranted and unjustified’ comment.
Flaying the statement of the Naval officer that Indian fishermen fell prey to the crossfire between the Lankan Navy and LTTE in the international waters, Vaiko charged in his letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that since 1970's there were more than 900 attacks on fishermen who were killed, their boats and fishing nets destroyed by the Lankan Navy.
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Vaiko accused the Naval officer Van Halteren of defending and supporting the Lankan Navy.
Though the Indian government has admitted in Parliament that Tamil fishermen were killed by the Lankan Navy, ‘I am pained to point out there is a nefarious nexus between Lankan and Indian Navies,’ Vaiko said in the letter to the Prime Minister.
Moreover, it was a proven fact that the Lankan Navy had entered into Indian waters and attacked Tamil fishermen many times without number, he stressed.
He said the ‘arrogant utterances’ of Indian Navy officers reflected a ‘clandestine assistance of Indian government to the racist Sri Lanka in their military attacks against the Tamils.’
Vaiko further charged that Indian Navy had never attempted to protect Tamilnadu fishermen by warding-off attacks of the Lankan Navy all these years.
In the letter, Vaiko requested the Prime Minister to stop forthwith the supply of arms to Sri Lanka and give instructions to the Naval officers not to pursue their ‘nefarious game’.
Flaying the statement of the Naval officer that Indian fishermen fell prey to the crossfire between the Lankan Navy and LTTE in the international waters, Vaiko charged in his letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that since 1970's there were more than 900 attacks on fishermen who were killed, their boats and fishing nets destroyed by the Lankan Navy.
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Vaiko accused the Naval officer Van Halteren of defending and supporting the Lankan Navy.
Though the Indian government has admitted in Parliament that Tamil fishermen were killed by the Lankan Navy, ‘I am pained to point out there is a nefarious nexus between Lankan and Indian Navies,’ Vaiko said in the letter to the Prime Minister.
Moreover, it was a proven fact that the Lankan Navy had entered into Indian waters and attacked Tamil fishermen many times without number, he stressed.
He said the ‘arrogant utterances’ of Indian Navy officers reflected a ‘clandestine assistance of Indian government to the racist Sri Lanka in their military attacks against the Tamils.’
Vaiko further charged that Indian Navy had never attempted to protect Tamilnadu fishermen by warding-off attacks of the Lankan Navy all these years.
In the letter, Vaiko requested the Prime Minister to stop forthwith the supply of arms to Sri Lanka and give instructions to the Naval officers not to pursue their ‘nefarious game’.
MP Sharma criticised over Tigers charge
Newly elected MP Verendra Sharma has been forced to defend himself after sharing a stage with the leader of banned terrorist group the Tamil Tigers.
The Ealing Southall MP has provoked outrage by speaking at the Tamil Remembrance Day event held at the Excel Centre in Docklands last on Tuesday last week to pay tribute to the thousands who have died in the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka.
But on the same stage the annual Heroes Day address from Tamil Tiger leader Vellupillai Pirapaharan was broadcast to the crowd of thousands, angering critics who say politicians should not align themselves with a group banned as a terrorist organisation in Britain.
Mr Sharma, who was joined by MPs Keith Vaz and Joan Marie Ryan, denied knowing that the separatist military leader's analysis of events in war torn Sri Lanka would be shown at the event, but organisers have rubbished this claim.
Mr Sharma told the Gazette: "Along with my many colleagues from Parliament we went along to pay tribute to all these people who died, irrespective of their creed or colour.
"It's not a question of support for the Tamil Tigers. It was just a straight forward tribute meeting.
"That is my interest and that is what I said. I have a large number of Tamil people in my constituency and they expect their MP to be there."
But Vijay Jeyan, of the British Tamils Forum, which represents around 88 Tamil organisations in the UK, said not having Pirapaharan's speech broadcast would be like Remembrance Day without the Queen.
But he insisted the event was not linked to the Tigers, also known as the LTTE.
He said: "A lot of local Tamils went down on the streets and helped him in his election campaign. I think he felt obliged."
Southall resident and labour supporter Tony Whittle said Mr Sharma had been 'silly' to speak at the event.
But some Southall residents who were scared to be named for fear of reprisals went further and accused Mr Sharma of supporting the Tamil Tigers, which they say has a sinister presence in Southall Letters have been written to Labour chiefs including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, complaining.
Nesan Shankar Raji of the Campaign for Peace and Unity in Sri Lanka, slammed the event as propaganda and said: "If any banned Islamic group did this it would not be allowed and the police were just there watching."
The Ealing Southall MP has provoked outrage by speaking at the Tamil Remembrance Day event held at the Excel Centre in Docklands last on Tuesday last week to pay tribute to the thousands who have died in the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka.
But on the same stage the annual Heroes Day address from Tamil Tiger leader Vellupillai Pirapaharan was broadcast to the crowd of thousands, angering critics who say politicians should not align themselves with a group banned as a terrorist organisation in Britain.
Mr Sharma, who was joined by MPs Keith Vaz and Joan Marie Ryan, denied knowing that the separatist military leader's analysis of events in war torn Sri Lanka would be shown at the event, but organisers have rubbished this claim.
Mr Sharma told the Gazette: "Along with my many colleagues from Parliament we went along to pay tribute to all these people who died, irrespective of their creed or colour.
"It's not a question of support for the Tamil Tigers. It was just a straight forward tribute meeting.
"That is my interest and that is what I said. I have a large number of Tamil people in my constituency and they expect their MP to be there."
But Vijay Jeyan, of the British Tamils Forum, which represents around 88 Tamil organisations in the UK, said not having Pirapaharan's speech broadcast would be like Remembrance Day without the Queen.
But he insisted the event was not linked to the Tigers, also known as the LTTE.
He said: "A lot of local Tamils went down on the streets and helped him in his election campaign. I think he felt obliged."
Southall resident and labour supporter Tony Whittle said Mr Sharma had been 'silly' to speak at the event.
But some Southall residents who were scared to be named for fear of reprisals went further and accused Mr Sharma of supporting the Tamil Tigers, which they say has a sinister presence in Southall Letters have been written to Labour chiefs including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, complaining.
Nesan Shankar Raji of the Campaign for Peace and Unity in Sri Lanka, slammed the event as propaganda and said: "If any banned Islamic group did this it would not be allowed and the police were just there watching."
Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka
On December 5, 29 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in fighting in Sri Lanka. The country is fast sliding into a civil war as fierce clashes between Tamil rebels and the military have escalated in the wake of a Tamil chief’s death. On November 2, the Tamil Tiger’s political wing leader Thamilselvan was killed in an air force raid. It has been estimated that the sea clashes, ambush and other military attacks have killed about 5,000 people since last year. The deadly ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has hit the country over a long period of time.
Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural polity. The main conflict is between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority. The Sinhalese, about 74 percent of the population, are the largest ethnic group and are concentrated in the central, western and southern provinces. They consider themselves to be the original inhabitants of the island. They belong to the Aryan stock and speak the Sinhala language. Sinhalese are mostly Buddhist and follow a culture rooted in Buddhism. The Sri Lankan Tamils who constitute 12.6 percent of the population primarily inhabit the northern and eastern parts of the island and are in large numbers in Colombo.
The factors that have widened the Sinhalese-Tamil rift are complex. Broadly speaking, there have been five major and often interconnected areas of contention between the two parties. These are: language rights, employment, university admission policy, irrigation policy and access to state land and devolution of power to the regional centres. The conflict on language between the Tamils and the Sinhalese became a springboard of ethnic conflict. Up to 1955, it was the policy of the major Sinhalese political parties to provide for the recognition of the Sinhalese and Tamil languages as the official languages of the island. However, in 1955-56 the two major Sinhalese political parties — the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) — reversed their position to supporting the Sinhalese language as the only official language. Thus, the linguistic nationalism of the Sinhalese deepened Tamil nationalism and, in the long run, gave an extra boost to the forces of Tamil separatism.
The Bandaranaike (1956-59) and Dudley Senanayke (1965-70) governments entered into agreements with the Federal Party leader Chelvanayakam to accord limited status to the Tamil language. Intense political competition and pressure from Sangha (Buddhist clergy) frustrated such attempts. In 1965, another pact was signed between PM Senanayke and Chelvanaykam promising that measures would be taken under the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Act (No. 28 of 1958) to make provision for the Tamil language to be the language of administration and record in the northern and eastern provinces. The agreement, however, fell through due to the opposition from Sinhala-Buddhist forces. The 1972 Constitution unequivocally consolidated the "Sinhala only" policy and emphasised the essentially subordinate role of the Tamil language.
Likewise, the economic grievances of the Tamils greatly sharpened the ethnic conflict. Tamils and Sinhalese competed over employment in the state sector and over equitable distribution of the benefits of development. Before independence, and until about 1960, Tamils enjoyed a share considerably higher than their population ratio. But after that the discriminatory "Sinhala only" policy led to a sharp decline of Tamils in public sector employment. The proportion of Tamils in the state sector further declined in the post-1984 period. By the mid-1980s, Sri Lankan Tamils accounted for about 12 percent of those employed in the government corporations.
The economic alienation of Tamils was further deepened by the fact that all mega economic projects were located in the Sinhalese-dominated areas and benefited mainly the Sinhalese population.
The question of state land, involving the official settlement of Sinhalese families in areas claimed as "the traditional Tamil homelands" in the north and in the east, has been highly controversial. The Tamils argue that since independence, state-aided colonisation has contributed towards the changing of demographic composition of the homeland of Tamil-speaking people. It was unquestionably true that in the 1950s and 1960s, a great many Sinhalese have been settled in the eastern province through irrigation schemes.
The land settlement policy of Colombo led to a significant change in the ethnic composition in Trincomalee and Ampara districts in the eastern province. The problem was aggravated by a multi-purpose river development project called the Mahaweli Development scheme, which opened up new lands for the Sinhalese settlers. The Tamils oppose land colonisation on several grounds.
First, they feel that they have a prior claim to land in their homeland areas. Second, they fear that they would be swamped by the Sinhalese. Third, they apprehend that it would alter the electoral balance in these areas against them. And fourth, they believe that a homeland in which the Tamils predominated would give them security from ethnic violence. Colombo’s land alienation policy continues to be at the heart of ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
This ethnic conflict has taken a heavy death toll in the preceding decades and its cost is mounting day by day. The protracted ethnic strife has led to an increase in the defence expenditure and decrease in social expenditures. This had a negative impact on the human and social development indicators of Sri Lanka. This conflict has weakened Sri Lanka’s commitment to civil liberties and freedom. Today, Sri Lanka’s society is marked by low tolerance, desensitisation to violence, high crime rate and draconian laws. The credibility of the government has taken a dip due to its failure to curb violence, protect minorities and deliver social goods. Further, ever since the intensification of the conflict, the Sri Lankan government and the militants have been found responsible for human rights abuses, disappearances and curbing of the local media.
The continuing conflict has created thousands of internally-displaced people who have been driven out from the war zones of the north and east. In this context, children have become the worst victims of the ethnic strife both as combatants and orphans. The LTTE is one of the first insurgent groups to use children as combatants and suicide bombers from 1983 until now. Assessments of the LTTE soldiers killed in combat during the 1990s found that between 40-60 percent of the dead combatants were children under the age of 17. In addition, there are large numbers of children who have lost one or both parents. As of today, more than 10,000 children live in orphanages.
The past attempts at an acceptable accommodation of the demands of the Tamil minority for equality and identity have remained unsuccessful. On February 22, 2002, Norwegian facilitators brokered a ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE. But this third ceasefire agreement too could not ensure peace in this region and the inhabitants of the island continued to suffer. Nowadays, India is playing a hands-off policy because of having a bad experience of the killing of Rajiv Gandhi at the hands of the Tamils. It is high time for the international community, especially the UN, to play a key role in restraining the parties and coercing them into surrendering to serious discussion for a political settlement that can help in bringing the country back from the brink of disaster.
Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural polity. The main conflict is between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority. The Sinhalese, about 74 percent of the population, are the largest ethnic group and are concentrated in the central, western and southern provinces. They consider themselves to be the original inhabitants of the island. They belong to the Aryan stock and speak the Sinhala language. Sinhalese are mostly Buddhist and follow a culture rooted in Buddhism. The Sri Lankan Tamils who constitute 12.6 percent of the population primarily inhabit the northern and eastern parts of the island and are in large numbers in Colombo.
The factors that have widened the Sinhalese-Tamil rift are complex. Broadly speaking, there have been five major and often interconnected areas of contention between the two parties. These are: language rights, employment, university admission policy, irrigation policy and access to state land and devolution of power to the regional centres. The conflict on language between the Tamils and the Sinhalese became a springboard of ethnic conflict. Up to 1955, it was the policy of the major Sinhalese political parties to provide for the recognition of the Sinhalese and Tamil languages as the official languages of the island. However, in 1955-56 the two major Sinhalese political parties — the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) — reversed their position to supporting the Sinhalese language as the only official language. Thus, the linguistic nationalism of the Sinhalese deepened Tamil nationalism and, in the long run, gave an extra boost to the forces of Tamil separatism.
The Bandaranaike (1956-59) and Dudley Senanayke (1965-70) governments entered into agreements with the Federal Party leader Chelvanayakam to accord limited status to the Tamil language. Intense political competition and pressure from Sangha (Buddhist clergy) frustrated such attempts. In 1965, another pact was signed between PM Senanayke and Chelvanaykam promising that measures would be taken under the Tamil Language (Special Provisions) Act (No. 28 of 1958) to make provision for the Tamil language to be the language of administration and record in the northern and eastern provinces. The agreement, however, fell through due to the opposition from Sinhala-Buddhist forces. The 1972 Constitution unequivocally consolidated the "Sinhala only" policy and emphasised the essentially subordinate role of the Tamil language.
Likewise, the economic grievances of the Tamils greatly sharpened the ethnic conflict. Tamils and Sinhalese competed over employment in the state sector and over equitable distribution of the benefits of development. Before independence, and until about 1960, Tamils enjoyed a share considerably higher than their population ratio. But after that the discriminatory "Sinhala only" policy led to a sharp decline of Tamils in public sector employment. The proportion of Tamils in the state sector further declined in the post-1984 period. By the mid-1980s, Sri Lankan Tamils accounted for about 12 percent of those employed in the government corporations.
The economic alienation of Tamils was further deepened by the fact that all mega economic projects were located in the Sinhalese-dominated areas and benefited mainly the Sinhalese population.
The question of state land, involving the official settlement of Sinhalese families in areas claimed as "the traditional Tamil homelands" in the north and in the east, has been highly controversial. The Tamils argue that since independence, state-aided colonisation has contributed towards the changing of demographic composition of the homeland of Tamil-speaking people. It was unquestionably true that in the 1950s and 1960s, a great many Sinhalese have been settled in the eastern province through irrigation schemes.
The land settlement policy of Colombo led to a significant change in the ethnic composition in Trincomalee and Ampara districts in the eastern province. The problem was aggravated by a multi-purpose river development project called the Mahaweli Development scheme, which opened up new lands for the Sinhalese settlers. The Tamils oppose land colonisation on several grounds.
First, they feel that they have a prior claim to land in their homeland areas. Second, they fear that they would be swamped by the Sinhalese. Third, they apprehend that it would alter the electoral balance in these areas against them. And fourth, they believe that a homeland in which the Tamils predominated would give them security from ethnic violence. Colombo’s land alienation policy continues to be at the heart of ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
This ethnic conflict has taken a heavy death toll in the preceding decades and its cost is mounting day by day. The protracted ethnic strife has led to an increase in the defence expenditure and decrease in social expenditures. This had a negative impact on the human and social development indicators of Sri Lanka. This conflict has weakened Sri Lanka’s commitment to civil liberties and freedom. Today, Sri Lanka’s society is marked by low tolerance, desensitisation to violence, high crime rate and draconian laws. The credibility of the government has taken a dip due to its failure to curb violence, protect minorities and deliver social goods. Further, ever since the intensification of the conflict, the Sri Lankan government and the militants have been found responsible for human rights abuses, disappearances and curbing of the local media.
The continuing conflict has created thousands of internally-displaced people who have been driven out from the war zones of the north and east. In this context, children have become the worst victims of the ethnic strife both as combatants and orphans. The LTTE is one of the first insurgent groups to use children as combatants and suicide bombers from 1983 until now. Assessments of the LTTE soldiers killed in combat during the 1990s found that between 40-60 percent of the dead combatants were children under the age of 17. In addition, there are large numbers of children who have lost one or both parents. As of today, more than 10,000 children live in orphanages.
The past attempts at an acceptable accommodation of the demands of the Tamil minority for equality and identity have remained unsuccessful. On February 22, 2002, Norwegian facilitators brokered a ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE. But this third ceasefire agreement too could not ensure peace in this region and the inhabitants of the island continued to suffer. Nowadays, India is playing a hands-off policy because of having a bad experience of the killing of Rajiv Gandhi at the hands of the Tamils. It is high time for the international community, especially the UN, to play a key role in restraining the parties and coercing them into surrendering to serious discussion for a political settlement that can help in bringing the country back from the brink of disaster.
MP in charge of anti-terrorism scrutiny speaks at event linked to Tamil tiger suicide bombers
The MP who heads the parliamentary body scrutinising Britain’s counter-terrorism laws addressed a rally at which a plea for support for suicide bombers was broadcast, The Times has learnt.
Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, addressed the annual Tamil rally in the ExCel centre in East London.
He spoke after partipants watched a televised address by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terrorist organisation banned by the Home Office.
Mr Vaz, the MP for Leicester East, was joined by a fellow Labour MP, Joan Ryan. Their presence drew an angry response from the Sri Lankan High Commission, which released a statement claiming that the event was a “clear violation of the UK terrorism laws”.
The rally was organised by British-based Tamils on the birthday of the Tamil Tiger leader. In his address, Mr Vaz told an audience of more than 10,000 people: “I understand the demands made by some for an independent Tamil state. They will grow, unless there is justice.”
Ms Ryan, the MP for Enfield North, told the rally: “I am sorry to have to remember the 70,000 innocent Tamils who lost their lives in the struggle. We must pursue the aims and values for which they lost their lives.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Prabhakaran, in full military dress and in front of the LTTE flag, appeared on six giant screens calling for “the entire Tamil-speaking world to rise up for the liberation of Tamil Eelam”.
In a reference to the LTTE’s use of suicide bombers, he said: “The immeasurable dedication and sacrifice of our heroes is delivering a message to the Sinhala nation.”
The Sri Lankan High Commission accused Mr Vaz yesterday of being “partisan to a proscribed terrorist group” and claimed that the event was organised by apologists for terrorists. “This event was organised by a front organisation of a terrorist group for fundraising and propaganda purposes,” a spokesman said.
When told of the contents of the LTTE leader’s speech and of the criticisms of the Sri Lankan Government, Mr Vaz, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, responded: “I’m not really interested in [the contents of Mr Prabhakaran's speech].
“I was there to deliver a message from the all-party group, which is what I do. I was there to deliver a message from my constituents. I have many Tamil people in my constituency.” Mr Vaz said he was unaware that the Tamil leader was going to speak.
Under the UK Terrorism Act, the Tigers are banned from raising funds, holding property or operating in any form. It is an offence to glorify their activities, or incite others to support them.
Ms Ryan also said that she did not realise that Mr Prabhakaran had spoken. “I told the meeting that we need to find peace through peaceful means and, as is the case in all such conflicts, a negotiated settlement needs to be found urgently,” she said.
As well as watching a speech by the Tamil Tiger leader, people at the event displayed LTTE symbols, and remembered LTTE suicide bombers.
The Sri Lankan High Commission alleged that the rally served as a fundraising event for the group. On arrival all guests, including a reporter from this newspaper, were approached and asked to purchase a single glorylily (the LTTE “national” flower) for £5.
A Times investigation earlier this year discovered that Tamil shopkeepers were being asked to contribute up to £50,000 towards the cost of “the final war”, with threats made against relatives in the country if they failed to comply.
The date of the rally, November 27, Heroes Day, is linked with the LTTE. It falls on the birthday of Mr Prabhakaran, and it is marked by Tamil Tiger sympathisers around the world. Mr Prabhakaran’s speech from the Sri Lankan jungle has been televised at every previous UK Heroes Day.
The British Tamil Forum, which helped to organise the event, says that the funds went towards covering the costs of hiring the venue, and says it is the victim of a smear campaign by the Sri Lankan Government.
Mr Vaz, 51, has been vocal in his desire that UK restrictions on the Tamil Tigers should be lifted.
Mr Vaz, the former minister for Europe, was suspended from Parliament for a month in 2002 for obstructing an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been fighting a separatist war for an ethnic Tamil homeland in the north of Sri Lanka for 25 years.
Since then, the LTTE has formed its own de facto one-party state in the north of the country, becoming one of the best-organised rebel groups in the world.
Its “Black Tiger” brigades pioneered the art of suicide bombing, and were linked to the 1991 assassination of the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
In 2004, Amnesty International said that LTTE fighters were beating up parents who refused to give up their children as child soldiers.
The police, who recorded the gathering, told The Times that they were “assessing material from the event to ascertain if there is any evidence of criminal offences being committed”.
Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, addressed the annual Tamil rally in the ExCel centre in East London.
He spoke after partipants watched a televised address by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terrorist organisation banned by the Home Office.
Mr Vaz, the MP for Leicester East, was joined by a fellow Labour MP, Joan Ryan. Their presence drew an angry response from the Sri Lankan High Commission, which released a statement claiming that the event was a “clear violation of the UK terrorism laws”.
The rally was organised by British-based Tamils on the birthday of the Tamil Tiger leader. In his address, Mr Vaz told an audience of more than 10,000 people: “I understand the demands made by some for an independent Tamil state. They will grow, unless there is justice.”
Ms Ryan, the MP for Enfield North, told the rally: “I am sorry to have to remember the 70,000 innocent Tamils who lost their lives in the struggle. We must pursue the aims and values for which they lost their lives.”
Earlier in the day, Mr Prabhakaran, in full military dress and in front of the LTTE flag, appeared on six giant screens calling for “the entire Tamil-speaking world to rise up for the liberation of Tamil Eelam”.
In a reference to the LTTE’s use of suicide bombers, he said: “The immeasurable dedication and sacrifice of our heroes is delivering a message to the Sinhala nation.”
The Sri Lankan High Commission accused Mr Vaz yesterday of being “partisan to a proscribed terrorist group” and claimed that the event was organised by apologists for terrorists. “This event was organised by a front organisation of a terrorist group for fundraising and propaganda purposes,” a spokesman said.
When told of the contents of the LTTE leader’s speech and of the criticisms of the Sri Lankan Government, Mr Vaz, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, responded: “I’m not really interested in [the contents of Mr Prabhakaran's speech].
“I was there to deliver a message from the all-party group, which is what I do. I was there to deliver a message from my constituents. I have many Tamil people in my constituency.” Mr Vaz said he was unaware that the Tamil leader was going to speak.
Under the UK Terrorism Act, the Tigers are banned from raising funds, holding property or operating in any form. It is an offence to glorify their activities, or incite others to support them.
Ms Ryan also said that she did not realise that Mr Prabhakaran had spoken. “I told the meeting that we need to find peace through peaceful means and, as is the case in all such conflicts, a negotiated settlement needs to be found urgently,” she said.
As well as watching a speech by the Tamil Tiger leader, people at the event displayed LTTE symbols, and remembered LTTE suicide bombers.
The Sri Lankan High Commission alleged that the rally served as a fundraising event for the group. On arrival all guests, including a reporter from this newspaper, were approached and asked to purchase a single glorylily (the LTTE “national” flower) for £5.
A Times investigation earlier this year discovered that Tamil shopkeepers were being asked to contribute up to £50,000 towards the cost of “the final war”, with threats made against relatives in the country if they failed to comply.
The date of the rally, November 27, Heroes Day, is linked with the LTTE. It falls on the birthday of Mr Prabhakaran, and it is marked by Tamil Tiger sympathisers around the world. Mr Prabhakaran’s speech from the Sri Lankan jungle has been televised at every previous UK Heroes Day.
The British Tamil Forum, which helped to organise the event, says that the funds went towards covering the costs of hiring the venue, and says it is the victim of a smear campaign by the Sri Lankan Government.
Mr Vaz, 51, has been vocal in his desire that UK restrictions on the Tamil Tigers should be lifted.
Mr Vaz, the former minister for Europe, was suspended from Parliament for a month in 2002 for obstructing an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been fighting a separatist war for an ethnic Tamil homeland in the north of Sri Lanka for 25 years.
Since then, the LTTE has formed its own de facto one-party state in the north of the country, becoming one of the best-organised rebel groups in the world.
Its “Black Tiger” brigades pioneered the art of suicide bombing, and were linked to the 1991 assassination of the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
In 2004, Amnesty International said that LTTE fighters were beating up parents who refused to give up their children as child soldiers.
The police, who recorded the gathering, told The Times that they were “assessing material from the event to ascertain if there is any evidence of criminal offences being committed”.
New Axis of Democracy in Eastern Sri Lanka
People in East joining with mass protest against the LTTE Terrorism and it's Teddies organised by TMVP.
Thousands of Tamils and Muslims are flocking to weber Stadium in Batticaloa town today (December 10) with slogans and banners condemning alleged LTTE, TNA coalition's obstruction of resettlement and development work, in a demonstration organized by the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP).
Latest reports said that an estimated crowd over 10,000 people participated in the event to stage their strong protest against the self-claimed Tamil representatives.
People were seen coming in from all parts of the recently liberated Eastern Province including Chenkallady ,Valachena, Oddamawadi, Welikanda, Ampara , Wakare , Thoppigala to stage a mass protest against the LTTE - TNA axis.
"TNA has no right to bellow on the grievances of us Tamils. They are neither our representatives nor democrats. They dwell under the sympathy of the LTTE and only fiddles its tribal ideologies”, were according to people who are participated with the demonstration.
"We urge all parties including the international community to reject the TNA's duplicity and force them to renounce pampering LTTE's separatist cause. TNA is just a mouth piece of the LTTE. It is astonishing that they have never raised issues concerning in accelerating the development and resettlement in east. We need education for our children, a future free of violence as once we stood along with the Sinhala and Muslim communities", they added.
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More than 10,000 people joining with TMVP's demonstration in Batticaloa
The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulighal (TMVP) is expected to stage a demonstration against the LTTE's terrorism in Batticaloa on Monday, December 10 with the support of the government which would be providing police protection for the event, while several state and private media from Colombo have also been invited to provide extensive coverage.
According to spokesman Azad Maulana , "Mass demonstration against the LTTE and their puppets started in the morning at the Feber Stadium in Batticaloa."
"More than 10, 000 people were participated with the mass protest also more people are joining with us ", he told.
Meanwhile the TMVP's cadres were seen this morning loading civilians on buses to take part in a mass demonstration in Batticaloa, source in the area said.
Thousands of Tamils and Muslims are flocking to weber Stadium in Batticaloa town today (December 10) with slogans and banners condemning alleged LTTE, TNA coalition's obstruction of resettlement and development work, in a demonstration organized by the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP).
Latest reports said that an estimated crowd over 10,000 people participated in the event to stage their strong protest against the self-claimed Tamil representatives.
People were seen coming in from all parts of the recently liberated Eastern Province including Chenkallady ,Valachena, Oddamawadi, Welikanda, Ampara , Wakare , Thoppigala to stage a mass protest against the LTTE - TNA axis.
"TNA has no right to bellow on the grievances of us Tamils. They are neither our representatives nor democrats. They dwell under the sympathy of the LTTE and only fiddles its tribal ideologies”, were according to people who are participated with the demonstration.
"We urge all parties including the international community to reject the TNA's duplicity and force them to renounce pampering LTTE's separatist cause. TNA is just a mouth piece of the LTTE. It is astonishing that they have never raised issues concerning in accelerating the development and resettlement in east. We need education for our children, a future free of violence as once we stood along with the Sinhala and Muslim communities", they added.
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More than 10,000 people joining with TMVP's demonstration in Batticaloa
The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulighal (TMVP) is expected to stage a demonstration against the LTTE's terrorism in Batticaloa on Monday, December 10 with the support of the government which would be providing police protection for the event, while several state and private media from Colombo have also been invited to provide extensive coverage.
According to spokesman Azad Maulana , "Mass demonstration against the LTTE and their puppets started in the morning at the Feber Stadium in Batticaloa."
"More than 10, 000 people were participated with the mass protest also more people are joining with us ", he told.
Meanwhile the TMVP's cadres were seen this morning loading civilians on buses to take part in a mass demonstration in Batticaloa, source in the area said.
“Tamilchelvan killed by Prabhakaran”, Indian Congressman Confirms
"TN Congress functionary SR Balasubramanian says it was LTTE chief Prabhakaran who was responsible for the elimination of Tamilchelvan. Tamilchelvan had led bilateral and multilateral peace talks that successive Sri Lanka governments have held with LTTE."
Tamil Nadu Congress functionary SR Balasubramanian says, “According to the information I have, it was LTTE chief Prabhakaran who was responsible for the elimination of Tamilchelvan.” Tamilchelvan had led bilateral and multilateral peace talks that successive Sri Lanka governments have held with LTTE in 1985, 1987, 1989/90, 1994, 2002 and 2006. The talks, facilitated by Thailand, Germany and Japan and coordinated by Norway, can fructify anytime.
“India should keep this in mind that it is only the Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka who can be truly friendly with neighbouring India,” said MK Sivajilingam on November 29, urging New Delhi to play an active role in solving the ongoing ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka.
Going by the fact that India’s ‘buffer’ countries to the North, West and East (and South) are none too friendly with New Delhi, this is a perspective worth looking into. But tragically, there are indications that the IFS (Indian Foreign Service) babus are not yet ready to come out a time warp.
This call was not from one of the small-time Tamil Nadu politicians, shedding tears for the Tamil-speaking population in Sri Lanka, only to cajole New Delhi into currying out favours to a business associate.
(The practice – negotiating quid pro quo in return for keeping quiet after once creating a din – is a common occurrence is even used by rival TN politicians to settle scores with each other.)
MK Sivajilingam is a member of Sri Lankan Parliament belonging to TNA (Tamil National Alliance), who is considered pro-LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).
Around the same time that the MP was appealing for good senses, a member of a political non-entity of Tamil Nadu, came out with a startling discovery, “According to the information I have, it was Prabhakaran who was responsible for the elimination of Tamilchelvan.” TN Congress functionary SR Balasubramanian did not clarify if he had established reliable communication channels to have such information.
Apparently keen to gain some personal publicity to get his faction one up on the numerous factions of the party in the state, he told the media, “It was the LTTE chief who let the (Sri Lankan) army know about the whereabouts of Tamilchelvan.” He reasoned that there was no other way the Sri Lankan Air Force could have known where he was!
Thamilchelvan lost his life in an SLAF (Sri Lankan Air Force) raid on November 2. He was considered the right hand of LTTE’s chief commander Vellupillai Prabhakaran, who conferred him the rank of Brigadier even as he was the head of its political wing. He led bilateral and multilateral peace talks that successive Sri Lanka governments have held with it in 1985, 1987, 1989/90, 1994, 2002 and 2006. The talks, facilitated by Thailand, Germany and Japan and coordinated by Norway, can fructify anytime. They aim at ending the longest civil war in Asia between displaced Tamil-speaking rebels and the rampaging armed forces of the government at Colombo.
The dispute has its origins to a pact in 1964 between former Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, a Congress leader from the Hindi heartland, and Sri Lanka’s Sirimavo Bandaranayke.
Inhuman oppression was let loose on Tamil-speaking people, with 700,000 having to flee after the army massacring over 1000 Tamils in 1983, abusing the pact. LTTE took up the cause of the people robbed of home and hearth, its cadres, sporting cyanide capsules as pendants and ready to commit suicide if caught alive, could not be silenced till date.
Upon failure to work out a political settlement, the outfit is pursuing the goal of Tamil Eelam, an independent homeland. It is branded as a terrorist organisation in many countries, including India. But, LTTE already commands de-facto recognition. The massive international funds for Tsunami relief are being administered by the organisation in areas it holds.
This is not the first time that the Congress party, with little following in the state ever since CN Annadorai-led DMK wiped it out of the state legislature in 1966, is pouring out vitriol against the organisation. Historically, politicians from North India’s cow-belt region, dominating ‘national’ parties, have been apprehensive of any advancement by Tamil people anywhere.
The erroneous notion that assertive, economically strong, regional ethnic identities may undermine pan-India identity still prevails at New Delhi and Balasubramanian is an appointee with a brief to blunt ‘Provincial’ sentiments. There are any number of selfish elements within TN, who have been exploiting this folly to their own benefit.
His death was grieved over by most people and political parties of Tamil Nadu. Union Health minister Anbumani’s father and the chief of PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi) S Ramdoss said that Tamilchelvan’s killing exposed the hollow nature of Sri Lankan enthusiasm to end the civil war going on there.
He described the government’s handling of LTTE’s struggle as “ongoing genocide” of Tamils on the island. MDMK’s Vaiko said that the air attack showed that the Sri Lanka government had no faith in resolving the ethnic issue through negotiations. Actor Vijaykant, who has recently established yet another very popular Dravidian party, also condemned the attack and condoled the death of Thamilchelvan.
D Pandian, state secretary of the Communist Party of India, said in an official message that the party categorically condemned the Sri Lanka government, claiming that it was trying to annihilate the Tamil race. He wanted the Indian Government to help find a solution to the ethnic issue through negotiations with the Sri Lankan government.
Chief minister Karunanidhi, a talented Tamil scholar, wrote an ode by way of an obituary in honour of the departed leader. His poem describes Tamilchelvan’s sterling qualities as “A man with an ever-smiling face, but also with a fearless heart that could annihilate the opposition. His supreme sacrifice has etched his name in the hearts of all Tamils, living anywhere in the world.”
The only discordant note on the solemn mood of tragedy was struck by former TN CM, Jayalalithaa, controlling AIDMK. Hers is the only TN regional party to have any truck with the BJP, which advocates a barbaric brand of Hindutva and wants to establish an Akhand Bharat Hindu Rashtra (Greater Hindustan) lording over the region as a nuke-armed superpower. She criticised Karunanidhi for penning the poem of tribute, saying that the act went against Indian constitution.
Writing in praise of a person belonging to a banned organisation was condemnable, and the LTTE is a banned organisation in India, she said. As TN’s CM in the past, she had charged the most vociferous advocate of LTTE in Tamil Nadu, Vaiko of inciting India’s Tamils against the New Delhi.
She made him cool his heels in jail for sedition despite being a Union minister. Vaiko has somehow been converted into becoming her strange bedfellow at the moment. Local leaders of the Congress party at that time preferred to keep a stoic silence over the obituary politics. The “national” party hardly has any followers in TN and everyone joining it is a leader. These leaders, including Union Finance minister Chidambaram, know only too well that they have ride piggyback, after shelling out a fortune, on one of the Dravidian parties to retain their deposit in elections.
Balasubramanian has only now found it appropriate to criticise DMK and said Karunanidhi’s ode to the slain leader was “wrong and unacceptable.” He told mediapersons, “We (Congress Party) have our own ideology, just as the DMK has its own. Though we work with them, we will oppose ideologically unacceptable things!”
The TN Congress chief’s disapproval of Tamil peoples’ eulogy for the LTTE stalwart and his ‘revelation’ about Prabhakaran eliminating his deputy have come two days after his Hero’s’ Day speech on Nov 27. The day is observed to remember slain victims in the civil war and happens to be Prabhakaran’s birthday. According to LTTE sources, over the past 24 years till August 31, 2007, 19,538 young men and women were killed in the conflict or had to bite their cyanide capsules.
Prabhakaran declared in his annual Hero’s Day speech on his 53rd birthday, “Thousands of our fighters are standing ready to fight with determination for our just goal of freedom and we will overcome the hurdles before us and liberate our motherland.” It cannot however be denied that the outfit has been experiencing its worst setbacks lately.
SLAF has been incessantly bombing LTTE-held areas leading to huge civilian casualties. In August 2006, SLAF even raided an orphanage Sencholai Children’s Home in Mullaitivu in the Northern Province and killed over 100 schoolgirls. Following the morale-shattering attack, it has lost several bases to advancing Sri Lankan forces supported by ruthless bombing of civilian areas. Just before the Hero’s Day, the Army’s Deep Penetration Unit mounted a Claymore attack to kill 13, including 11 school children, in Wanni. Voice of Tigers, a radio station in the North was bombed, killing 10 people, to coincide with the Hero’s Day.
UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura condemned the attack, saying, “Regardless of the content of the broadcasts aired by the VoT, there can be no excuse for military strikes on civilian media.” But, Colombo maintained that the radio served as a propaganda organ of the LTTE and was a legitimate target for attack.
Some 2500 Tamil-speaking people residing out of the war zone in Colombo were picked up following a bomb blast in the city on November 28 and the authorities took two days to check identity papers and release 2300. More than 200 have been held back under emergency regulations “on arbitrary or discriminatory grounds using sweeping powers” not complying with international human rights law, according to Amnesty International.
Although Sri Lanka itself has refused to ban LTTE, New Delhi has banned the outfit in India as it holds its chief Prabhakaran responsible for the death of its former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in a suicide bomb attack.
A judicial commission headed by Justice Jain, in its interim report, allegedly fixed, even accused Karunanidhi of treason and the Tamils of a role in his assassination. It cannot be denied that the Rajiv Gandhi trial under the draconian TADA provisions was a hush-hush affair. It relied on extracted confessions that cannot stand judicial scrutiny according to civilised procedures. It had gaping holes and perhaps the only crime of those convicted (and hanged) was that they had come to the country illegally.
Rajiv Gandhi had many enemies among Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans, who bore the brunt of military intervention by 100,000 - strong IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) that he had ordered. It is likely that the killers were also LTTE members and murdered him on their own accord. LTTE has only said on its part that it was “great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy which we deeply regret.”
The theory that LTTE is too punctilious and calculative an organisation to be interested in and waste resources on an assassination unlikely to bring it closer to its goal cannot be easily dismissed. Rajiv was also hated by the kin of IPKF soldiers who were pushed into the obviously suicidal operation against a determined militia whose cyanide-capsule carrying fighters had nothing to lose.
The impulsive, possibly immature, Indian politician forced the most humiliating defeat for the mighty Indian military machine, resulting in heavy casualties. Unconfirmed rumours have also linked Rajiv’s successors to the assassination, as well as his close relatives, who arguably derived immense benefit from the sympathy wave it generated. Be that as it may, the whole assassination plot is bogged down in mystery.
It is not clear why the TN Congress Chief has chosen to come out with revelation demonizing LTTE at this time. Is it a ploy to exhume the ghost of Rajiv Gandhi and settle scores with rivals who kept all the benefits to themselves?
Is it a part of larger international conspiracy that includes a vociferous PR exercise drawing Malaysia to the conflict in Sri Lanka?
India’s Hindutva zealots, as well as the government, have come to the aid of HINDRAF in Malaysia, which has issued oblique threats to turn to LTTE. This has ominous portents as the outfit may be attempting to destabilise Malaysia. It must be realised that a crowd control exercise, using tear gas and water canons, cannot be equated to the Black July massacre of more than 1000 Tamils in Sri Lanka that resulted in an exodus of 700,000 people.
Tamil Nadu Congress functionary SR Balasubramanian says, “According to the information I have, it was LTTE chief Prabhakaran who was responsible for the elimination of Tamilchelvan.” Tamilchelvan had led bilateral and multilateral peace talks that successive Sri Lanka governments have held with LTTE in 1985, 1987, 1989/90, 1994, 2002 and 2006. The talks, facilitated by Thailand, Germany and Japan and coordinated by Norway, can fructify anytime.
“India should keep this in mind that it is only the Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka who can be truly friendly with neighbouring India,” said MK Sivajilingam on November 29, urging New Delhi to play an active role in solving the ongoing ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka.
Going by the fact that India’s ‘buffer’ countries to the North, West and East (and South) are none too friendly with New Delhi, this is a perspective worth looking into. But tragically, there are indications that the IFS (Indian Foreign Service) babus are not yet ready to come out a time warp.
This call was not from one of the small-time Tamil Nadu politicians, shedding tears for the Tamil-speaking population in Sri Lanka, only to cajole New Delhi into currying out favours to a business associate.
(The practice – negotiating quid pro quo in return for keeping quiet after once creating a din – is a common occurrence is even used by rival TN politicians to settle scores with each other.)
MK Sivajilingam is a member of Sri Lankan Parliament belonging to TNA (Tamil National Alliance), who is considered pro-LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).
Around the same time that the MP was appealing for good senses, a member of a political non-entity of Tamil Nadu, came out with a startling discovery, “According to the information I have, it was Prabhakaran who was responsible for the elimination of Tamilchelvan.” TN Congress functionary SR Balasubramanian did not clarify if he had established reliable communication channels to have such information.
Apparently keen to gain some personal publicity to get his faction one up on the numerous factions of the party in the state, he told the media, “It was the LTTE chief who let the (Sri Lankan) army know about the whereabouts of Tamilchelvan.” He reasoned that there was no other way the Sri Lankan Air Force could have known where he was!
Thamilchelvan lost his life in an SLAF (Sri Lankan Air Force) raid on November 2. He was considered the right hand of LTTE’s chief commander Vellupillai Prabhakaran, who conferred him the rank of Brigadier even as he was the head of its political wing. He led bilateral and multilateral peace talks that successive Sri Lanka governments have held with it in 1985, 1987, 1989/90, 1994, 2002 and 2006. The talks, facilitated by Thailand, Germany and Japan and coordinated by Norway, can fructify anytime. They aim at ending the longest civil war in Asia between displaced Tamil-speaking rebels and the rampaging armed forces of the government at Colombo.
The dispute has its origins to a pact in 1964 between former Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, a Congress leader from the Hindi heartland, and Sri Lanka’s Sirimavo Bandaranayke.
Inhuman oppression was let loose on Tamil-speaking people, with 700,000 having to flee after the army massacring over 1000 Tamils in 1983, abusing the pact. LTTE took up the cause of the people robbed of home and hearth, its cadres, sporting cyanide capsules as pendants and ready to commit suicide if caught alive, could not be silenced till date.
Upon failure to work out a political settlement, the outfit is pursuing the goal of Tamil Eelam, an independent homeland. It is branded as a terrorist organisation in many countries, including India. But, LTTE already commands de-facto recognition. The massive international funds for Tsunami relief are being administered by the organisation in areas it holds.
This is not the first time that the Congress party, with little following in the state ever since CN Annadorai-led DMK wiped it out of the state legislature in 1966, is pouring out vitriol against the organisation. Historically, politicians from North India’s cow-belt region, dominating ‘national’ parties, have been apprehensive of any advancement by Tamil people anywhere.
The erroneous notion that assertive, economically strong, regional ethnic identities may undermine pan-India identity still prevails at New Delhi and Balasubramanian is an appointee with a brief to blunt ‘Provincial’ sentiments. There are any number of selfish elements within TN, who have been exploiting this folly to their own benefit.
His death was grieved over by most people and political parties of Tamil Nadu. Union Health minister Anbumani’s father and the chief of PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi) S Ramdoss said that Tamilchelvan’s killing exposed the hollow nature of Sri Lankan enthusiasm to end the civil war going on there.
He described the government’s handling of LTTE’s struggle as “ongoing genocide” of Tamils on the island. MDMK’s Vaiko said that the air attack showed that the Sri Lanka government had no faith in resolving the ethnic issue through negotiations. Actor Vijaykant, who has recently established yet another very popular Dravidian party, also condemned the attack and condoled the death of Thamilchelvan.
D Pandian, state secretary of the Communist Party of India, said in an official message that the party categorically condemned the Sri Lanka government, claiming that it was trying to annihilate the Tamil race. He wanted the Indian Government to help find a solution to the ethnic issue through negotiations with the Sri Lankan government.
Chief minister Karunanidhi, a talented Tamil scholar, wrote an ode by way of an obituary in honour of the departed leader. His poem describes Tamilchelvan’s sterling qualities as “A man with an ever-smiling face, but also with a fearless heart that could annihilate the opposition. His supreme sacrifice has etched his name in the hearts of all Tamils, living anywhere in the world.”
The only discordant note on the solemn mood of tragedy was struck by former TN CM, Jayalalithaa, controlling AIDMK. Hers is the only TN regional party to have any truck with the BJP, which advocates a barbaric brand of Hindutva and wants to establish an Akhand Bharat Hindu Rashtra (Greater Hindustan) lording over the region as a nuke-armed superpower. She criticised Karunanidhi for penning the poem of tribute, saying that the act went against Indian constitution.
Writing in praise of a person belonging to a banned organisation was condemnable, and the LTTE is a banned organisation in India, she said. As TN’s CM in the past, she had charged the most vociferous advocate of LTTE in Tamil Nadu, Vaiko of inciting India’s Tamils against the New Delhi.
She made him cool his heels in jail for sedition despite being a Union minister. Vaiko has somehow been converted into becoming her strange bedfellow at the moment. Local leaders of the Congress party at that time preferred to keep a stoic silence over the obituary politics. The “national” party hardly has any followers in TN and everyone joining it is a leader. These leaders, including Union Finance minister Chidambaram, know only too well that they have ride piggyback, after shelling out a fortune, on one of the Dravidian parties to retain their deposit in elections.
Balasubramanian has only now found it appropriate to criticise DMK and said Karunanidhi’s ode to the slain leader was “wrong and unacceptable.” He told mediapersons, “We (Congress Party) have our own ideology, just as the DMK has its own. Though we work with them, we will oppose ideologically unacceptable things!”
The TN Congress chief’s disapproval of Tamil peoples’ eulogy for the LTTE stalwart and his ‘revelation’ about Prabhakaran eliminating his deputy have come two days after his Hero’s’ Day speech on Nov 27. The day is observed to remember slain victims in the civil war and happens to be Prabhakaran’s birthday. According to LTTE sources, over the past 24 years till August 31, 2007, 19,538 young men and women were killed in the conflict or had to bite their cyanide capsules.
Prabhakaran declared in his annual Hero’s Day speech on his 53rd birthday, “Thousands of our fighters are standing ready to fight with determination for our just goal of freedom and we will overcome the hurdles before us and liberate our motherland.” It cannot however be denied that the outfit has been experiencing its worst setbacks lately.
SLAF has been incessantly bombing LTTE-held areas leading to huge civilian casualties. In August 2006, SLAF even raided an orphanage Sencholai Children’s Home in Mullaitivu in the Northern Province and killed over 100 schoolgirls. Following the morale-shattering attack, it has lost several bases to advancing Sri Lankan forces supported by ruthless bombing of civilian areas. Just before the Hero’s Day, the Army’s Deep Penetration Unit mounted a Claymore attack to kill 13, including 11 school children, in Wanni. Voice of Tigers, a radio station in the North was bombed, killing 10 people, to coincide with the Hero’s Day.
UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura condemned the attack, saying, “Regardless of the content of the broadcasts aired by the VoT, there can be no excuse for military strikes on civilian media.” But, Colombo maintained that the radio served as a propaganda organ of the LTTE and was a legitimate target for attack.
Some 2500 Tamil-speaking people residing out of the war zone in Colombo were picked up following a bomb blast in the city on November 28 and the authorities took two days to check identity papers and release 2300. More than 200 have been held back under emergency regulations “on arbitrary or discriminatory grounds using sweeping powers” not complying with international human rights law, according to Amnesty International.
Although Sri Lanka itself has refused to ban LTTE, New Delhi has banned the outfit in India as it holds its chief Prabhakaran responsible for the death of its former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in a suicide bomb attack.
A judicial commission headed by Justice Jain, in its interim report, allegedly fixed, even accused Karunanidhi of treason and the Tamils of a role in his assassination. It cannot be denied that the Rajiv Gandhi trial under the draconian TADA provisions was a hush-hush affair. It relied on extracted confessions that cannot stand judicial scrutiny according to civilised procedures. It had gaping holes and perhaps the only crime of those convicted (and hanged) was that they had come to the country illegally.
Rajiv Gandhi had many enemies among Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans, who bore the brunt of military intervention by 100,000 - strong IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) that he had ordered. It is likely that the killers were also LTTE members and murdered him on their own accord. LTTE has only said on its part that it was “great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy which we deeply regret.”
The theory that LTTE is too punctilious and calculative an organisation to be interested in and waste resources on an assassination unlikely to bring it closer to its goal cannot be easily dismissed. Rajiv was also hated by the kin of IPKF soldiers who were pushed into the obviously suicidal operation against a determined militia whose cyanide-capsule carrying fighters had nothing to lose.
The impulsive, possibly immature, Indian politician forced the most humiliating defeat for the mighty Indian military machine, resulting in heavy casualties. Unconfirmed rumours have also linked Rajiv’s successors to the assassination, as well as his close relatives, who arguably derived immense benefit from the sympathy wave it generated. Be that as it may, the whole assassination plot is bogged down in mystery.
It is not clear why the TN Congress Chief has chosen to come out with revelation demonizing LTTE at this time. Is it a ploy to exhume the ghost of Rajiv Gandhi and settle scores with rivals who kept all the benefits to themselves?
Is it a part of larger international conspiracy that includes a vociferous PR exercise drawing Malaysia to the conflict in Sri Lanka?
India’s Hindutva zealots, as well as the government, have come to the aid of HINDRAF in Malaysia, which has issued oblique threats to turn to LTTE. This has ominous portents as the outfit may be attempting to destabilise Malaysia. It must be realised that a crowd control exercise, using tear gas and water canons, cannot be equated to the Black July massacre of more than 1000 Tamils in Sri Lanka that resulted in an exodus of 700,000 people.
Detonators from Kerala finding way into the LTTE?
State Police in Kerala probing the recovery of a large quantity of detonators at a bus stand here suspect that the explosives were to be smuggled into LTTE controlled area in northern of Sri Lanka.
A gunny bag containing 10,000 detonators, placed in 100 boxes, was found at a bus stand on Sep 06. Two people were arrested in connection with the incident soon after.
It was the investigation into the dealings of Najeeb, one of those arrested, that helped police in unraveling the LTTE connection. Kerala police conducted the probe along with the Tamil Nadu police.
'Najeeb used to take the detonators to Meenakshipuram in Tamil Nadu and hand it over to a person called Biji. From the description we got from Najeeb, we presume that this person, a Sri Lankan refugee, is a notorious criminal who has many criminal charges against him,' Circle Inspector T.C. Venugopal of Thrissur East police station said Monday. Thrissur is 70 km north of Kochi.
Venugopal said Najeeb had been transporting detonators to Meenakshipuram for 10 months before being arrested.
'He had delivered around 150,000 detonators to Biji. These detonators are usually used in quarries but Najeeb says that these were purchased for fishing purposes. But we have reasons to suspect that the detonators were smuggled into Sri Lanka.'
'We can't tell for sure who the end user is. For this we have to get Biji,' said Venugopal.
Kerala police have also arrested another person, Hafiz, a license holder for dealing in detonators, who supplied detonators to Najeeb.
A gunny bag containing 10,000 detonators, placed in 100 boxes, was found at a bus stand on Sep 06. Two people were arrested in connection with the incident soon after.
It was the investigation into the dealings of Najeeb, one of those arrested, that helped police in unraveling the LTTE connection. Kerala police conducted the probe along with the Tamil Nadu police.
'Najeeb used to take the detonators to Meenakshipuram in Tamil Nadu and hand it over to a person called Biji. From the description we got from Najeeb, we presume that this person, a Sri Lankan refugee, is a notorious criminal who has many criminal charges against him,' Circle Inspector T.C. Venugopal of Thrissur East police station said Monday. Thrissur is 70 km north of Kochi.
Venugopal said Najeeb had been transporting detonators to Meenakshipuram for 10 months before being arrested.
'He had delivered around 150,000 detonators to Biji. These detonators are usually used in quarries but Najeeb says that these were purchased for fishing purposes. But we have reasons to suspect that the detonators were smuggled into Sri Lanka.'
'We can't tell for sure who the end user is. For this we have to get Biji,' said Venugopal.
Kerala police have also arrested another person, Hafiz, a license holder for dealing in detonators, who supplied detonators to Najeeb.
Indu – Malay Relations
A summit of the Group of 15 nations of the Non-Aligned Conference, which discusses economic issues, was to be held in New Delhi in 1993 when Shri Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. The administration of Mr.Bill Clinton, then in office, mounted an exercise through President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to sabotage this summit. Some leaders of member-countries, including Mr.Mubarak, informed Shri Rao that they would not be able to attend the summit due to domestic preoccupation. The real reason was the US pressure not to attend. The summit had to be postponed since it would not have had the minimum quorum of 12. It was held next year after reducing the quorum requirement to five heads of State or Government and three deputy heads. This came to be known as the five plus three formula.
"How many of us remember the campaign carried on by the Clinton Administration against Malaysia and Dr.Mahatir Mohamad? Dr.Mahatir became a persona non grata with the Clinton Administration because of his independent political and economic policies. He was one of the very few Asian leaders not invited to the US so long as Mr.Clinton was the President. He followed independent policies not only vis-a-vis the US, but also against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other US-dominated international financial institutions."
The postponement of the 1993 summit due to US machinations and the collusion of Mr.Mubarak with the US caused considerable embarrassment for Shri Rao and India. Despite the postponement, Dr.Mahatir Mohamad, the then Malaysian Prime Minister, and President Suharto of Indonesia visited Delhi to express their solidarity with the Government of India at the time of its discomfiture. Policy-makers in Delhi even now remember the role played by Mr.Mubarak in sabotaging the proposed New Delhi summit of 1993. That was one of the reasons why, when a subsequent summit of the Group was held in Cairo, Shri A.B.Vajpayee, the then Indian Prime Minister, did not attend it.
How many of us remember the campaign carried on by the Clinton Administration against Malaysia and Dr.Mahatir Mohamad? Dr.Mahatir became a persona non grata with the Clinton Administration because of his independent political and economic policies. He was one of the very few Asian leaders not invited to the US so long as Mr.Clinton was the President. He followed independent policies not only vis-a-vis the US, but also against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other US-dominated international financial institutions. When the economies of South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines collapsed in 1997, the Malaysian economy remained largely unaffected, thanks to the vision of Dr.Mahatir.Even after the crisis broke out causing panic and demoralisation across South-East and East Asia, he maintained his independent line and resisted many of the ideas emanating from US-dominated financial institutions.
After having realised that Malaysia and its leaders could not be bullied, the US administration changed its policies after Mr.George Bush took over as the President in 2001. Dr. Mahatir was invited to Washington DC after 9/11. The relations have since improved, but even now the Malaysian political leadership resists US-inspired ideas, which it fears could be detrimental to its national interests. A good example is its opposition to US-inspired ideas for strengthening maritime security in the Malacca Strait.
What I had stated above would illustrate two things. Firstly, it is not correct that Malaysia as a State has been ill-disposed towards India. Secondly, it has a proud political leadership, which has not hesitated even to defy the world's sole super-power when it felt it was necessary to do so in its national interests.
It is important to remember this because in the wake of the recent demonstrations by a large number of Malaysian citizens of Indian origin in Kuala Lumpur and the visit to India of an important leader of the Hindu Rights Action Front (HINDRAF), a coalition of Indian-origin organisations in Malaysia, all sorts of bizarre ideas have been floating around for being tough with Malaysia in order to protect the interests of the Indian-origin Malaysians. Any idea of using the big stick against Malaysia---- even the very talk of it--- could not only damage the State-to-State relations between the countries, but prove detrimental to the relations of the Indian-origin Malaysian citizens with the Muslim Malay majority. If we think we can cow down Malaysia through such strong talk, we are mistaken---- as the US and China learnt in the past.Let us not hurt the sentiments of the proud leadership in Malaysia by indulging in such talk, even if we don't follow this up.
India has four main interests with regard to the Indian-origin Malaysian citizens: Firstly, that they progress economically and get their due share of the national cake; secondly, that the Malaysian authorities refrain from actions such as the demolition of Hindu temples and idols, which hurt the sentiments of Hindus not only in Malaysia, but also all over the world; and thirdly, that the Indian-origin Malaysians maintain harmonious relations with the Malay Bhumiputras and the Chinese-origin Malaysians. These interests should be taken up informally through back channels anbd not through public statements.
India should not give any impression that it has been showing belated interest in these issues--- after having remained oblivious of them for years--- because of the agitation of the HINDRAF. The HINDRAF is not the only representative of the Indian-origin Malaysians. One does not even know the background of its leaders and the extent of following they have in the Indian-origin community. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), which is part of the ruling coalition, and some non-political opinion-makers of the Indian-origin Malaysians have shown signs of discomfort and concern over the manner in which the leaders of the HINDRAF have been agitating and projecting India as the mother country, which should come to their help.
A group of Malaysian Tamil writers, which had recently visited Tamil Nadu, had disagreed with the kind of picture being painted by the HINDRAF leaders. It would be unwise for India to let itself be influenced by the rhetoric of the HINDRAF leaders. The Malaysian Government has been unwise in trying to project the HINDRAF leaders as sympathisers of the LTTE and as acting at the behest of Hindutva elements in India. We will be equally unwise if we treat them as the sole and genuine representatives of the Indian-origin people and let ourselves be influenced by their rhetoric.
Hindus all over the world have genuine reasons for anger over some of the policies of successive Malaysian Governments as pointed out by me in my previous article titled "Root Causes of Hindu Anger in Malaysia". As good friends and well-wishers of Malaysia, we have a right to expect that Kuala Lumpur will address these causes. But we have no right under international law to act as the de jure protector of the interests of the Indian-origin Malaysians.
During the Cultural Revolution in China under Mao-Zedong, the Chinese authorities assumed aggressive postures as protectors of the interests of the overseas Chinese all over the world. The ultimate result: The overseas Chinese population was viewed in many countries as having extra-territorial loyalties to China. By our words and statements, we should not unwittingly create similar suspicions about the Indian-origin communities abroad.
When Mr.Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, many felt concerned over the high-profile interest taken by his Government in cultivating the Indian-origin diaspora abroad and over its implications for India's relations with countries where these people live and for the future well-being of the Indian-origin communities themselves. A well-argued article on this subject was written in 2003 by the late Shri J.N.Dixit, former Foreign Secretary, who subsequently became the National Security Adviser to Dr.Manmohan Singh. A copy of his article is annexed.
"How many of us remember the campaign carried on by the Clinton Administration against Malaysia and Dr.Mahatir Mohamad? Dr.Mahatir became a persona non grata with the Clinton Administration because of his independent political and economic policies. He was one of the very few Asian leaders not invited to the US so long as Mr.Clinton was the President. He followed independent policies not only vis-a-vis the US, but also against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other US-dominated international financial institutions."
The postponement of the 1993 summit due to US machinations and the collusion of Mr.Mubarak with the US caused considerable embarrassment for Shri Rao and India. Despite the postponement, Dr.Mahatir Mohamad, the then Malaysian Prime Minister, and President Suharto of Indonesia visited Delhi to express their solidarity with the Government of India at the time of its discomfiture. Policy-makers in Delhi even now remember the role played by Mr.Mubarak in sabotaging the proposed New Delhi summit of 1993. That was one of the reasons why, when a subsequent summit of the Group was held in Cairo, Shri A.B.Vajpayee, the then Indian Prime Minister, did not attend it.
How many of us remember the campaign carried on by the Clinton Administration against Malaysia and Dr.Mahatir Mohamad? Dr.Mahatir became a persona non grata with the Clinton Administration because of his independent political and economic policies. He was one of the very few Asian leaders not invited to the US so long as Mr.Clinton was the President. He followed independent policies not only vis-a-vis the US, but also against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other US-dominated international financial institutions. When the economies of South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines collapsed in 1997, the Malaysian economy remained largely unaffected, thanks to the vision of Dr.Mahatir.Even after the crisis broke out causing panic and demoralisation across South-East and East Asia, he maintained his independent line and resisted many of the ideas emanating from US-dominated financial institutions.
After having realised that Malaysia and its leaders could not be bullied, the US administration changed its policies after Mr.George Bush took over as the President in 2001. Dr. Mahatir was invited to Washington DC after 9/11. The relations have since improved, but even now the Malaysian political leadership resists US-inspired ideas, which it fears could be detrimental to its national interests. A good example is its opposition to US-inspired ideas for strengthening maritime security in the Malacca Strait.
What I had stated above would illustrate two things. Firstly, it is not correct that Malaysia as a State has been ill-disposed towards India. Secondly, it has a proud political leadership, which has not hesitated even to defy the world's sole super-power when it felt it was necessary to do so in its national interests.
It is important to remember this because in the wake of the recent demonstrations by a large number of Malaysian citizens of Indian origin in Kuala Lumpur and the visit to India of an important leader of the Hindu Rights Action Front (HINDRAF), a coalition of Indian-origin organisations in Malaysia, all sorts of bizarre ideas have been floating around for being tough with Malaysia in order to protect the interests of the Indian-origin Malaysians. Any idea of using the big stick against Malaysia---- even the very talk of it--- could not only damage the State-to-State relations between the countries, but prove detrimental to the relations of the Indian-origin Malaysian citizens with the Muslim Malay majority. If we think we can cow down Malaysia through such strong talk, we are mistaken---- as the US and China learnt in the past.Let us not hurt the sentiments of the proud leadership in Malaysia by indulging in such talk, even if we don't follow this up.
India has four main interests with regard to the Indian-origin Malaysian citizens: Firstly, that they progress economically and get their due share of the national cake; secondly, that the Malaysian authorities refrain from actions such as the demolition of Hindu temples and idols, which hurt the sentiments of Hindus not only in Malaysia, but also all over the world; and thirdly, that the Indian-origin Malaysians maintain harmonious relations with the Malay Bhumiputras and the Chinese-origin Malaysians. These interests should be taken up informally through back channels anbd not through public statements.
India should not give any impression that it has been showing belated interest in these issues--- after having remained oblivious of them for years--- because of the agitation of the HINDRAF. The HINDRAF is not the only representative of the Indian-origin Malaysians. One does not even know the background of its leaders and the extent of following they have in the Indian-origin community. The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), which is part of the ruling coalition, and some non-political opinion-makers of the Indian-origin Malaysians have shown signs of discomfort and concern over the manner in which the leaders of the HINDRAF have been agitating and projecting India as the mother country, which should come to their help.
A group of Malaysian Tamil writers, which had recently visited Tamil Nadu, had disagreed with the kind of picture being painted by the HINDRAF leaders. It would be unwise for India to let itself be influenced by the rhetoric of the HINDRAF leaders. The Malaysian Government has been unwise in trying to project the HINDRAF leaders as sympathisers of the LTTE and as acting at the behest of Hindutva elements in India. We will be equally unwise if we treat them as the sole and genuine representatives of the Indian-origin people and let ourselves be influenced by their rhetoric.
Hindus all over the world have genuine reasons for anger over some of the policies of successive Malaysian Governments as pointed out by me in my previous article titled "Root Causes of Hindu Anger in Malaysia". As good friends and well-wishers of Malaysia, we have a right to expect that Kuala Lumpur will address these causes. But we have no right under international law to act as the de jure protector of the interests of the Indian-origin Malaysians.
During the Cultural Revolution in China under Mao-Zedong, the Chinese authorities assumed aggressive postures as protectors of the interests of the overseas Chinese all over the world. The ultimate result: The overseas Chinese population was viewed in many countries as having extra-territorial loyalties to China. By our words and statements, we should not unwittingly create similar suspicions about the Indian-origin communities abroad.
When Mr.Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, many felt concerned over the high-profile interest taken by his Government in cultivating the Indian-origin diaspora abroad and over its implications for India's relations with countries where these people live and for the future well-being of the Indian-origin communities themselves. A well-argued article on this subject was written in 2003 by the late Shri J.N.Dixit, former Foreign Secretary, who subsequently became the National Security Adviser to Dr.Manmohan Singh. A copy of his article is annexed.
Link is with Tamil Tigers and India’s RSS, says Nazri
The Government has identified the overseas groups linked to Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the groups are Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the RSS, a militant organisation in India.
Speaking to reporters yesterday after presenting gifts to UPSR excellent students at Kati, near here, Mohamed Nazri said this was from statements of Hindraf leaders who went overseas to garner support that they would meet LTTE leaders.
“As we know, the LTTE has been declared a terrorist group by the United Nations and the United States.
“If it is true that Hindraf leaders have links with them, Hindraf is also a terrorist group,” he said yesterday, adding that the Government was closely monitoring the activities of Hindraf leaders.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan was reported to have said yesterday that there were signs lately that Hindraf was trying to garner support from terrorist groups.
He said Hindraf had also set up a fund by misleading the public into believing that the money was to finance its activities.
On accusations by Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran that the A-G was pressuring the judiciary by leading the prosecution team charging Hindraf supporters, Mohamed Nazri said being the country’s top lawyer, the A-G could act for the Government in any court in the country.
“The A-G’s job is to prosecute. The fact that the A-G is involved shows the seriousness of the matter as it can affect the country’s peace,” he added.
On calls by the Pertubuhan Pembela Islam (Pembela) that Hindraf be banned, Mohamed Nazri said the Government would do so if the group was linked with the LTTE.
In Shah Alam, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patil said detailed investigations would be carried out to determine the alleged link between Hindu Rights Action Force and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam.
He told reporters that a police report had been lodged that Hindraf members were going out to contact the LTTE.
“These are serious allegations and we believe that investigations have to be done,” added Abdul Gani.
In Penang, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force should be given the opportunity to explain the reasons behind the demonstration.
He added that the presence of thousands of Indians at the demonstration was cause for concern and reason enough to assume that the problems of the community ought to be addressed.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the groups are Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the RSS, a militant organisation in India.
Speaking to reporters yesterday after presenting gifts to UPSR excellent students at Kati, near here, Mohamed Nazri said this was from statements of Hindraf leaders who went overseas to garner support that they would meet LTTE leaders.
“As we know, the LTTE has been declared a terrorist group by the United Nations and the United States.
“If it is true that Hindraf leaders have links with them, Hindraf is also a terrorist group,” he said yesterday, adding that the Government was closely monitoring the activities of Hindraf leaders.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan was reported to have said yesterday that there were signs lately that Hindraf was trying to garner support from terrorist groups.
He said Hindraf had also set up a fund by misleading the public into believing that the money was to finance its activities.
On accusations by Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran that the A-G was pressuring the judiciary by leading the prosecution team charging Hindraf supporters, Mohamed Nazri said being the country’s top lawyer, the A-G could act for the Government in any court in the country.
“The A-G’s job is to prosecute. The fact that the A-G is involved shows the seriousness of the matter as it can affect the country’s peace,” he added.
On calls by the Pertubuhan Pembela Islam (Pembela) that Hindraf be banned, Mohamed Nazri said the Government would do so if the group was linked with the LTTE.
In Shah Alam, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patil said detailed investigations would be carried out to determine the alleged link between Hindu Rights Action Force and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam.
He told reporters that a police report had been lodged that Hindraf members were going out to contact the LTTE.
“These are serious allegations and we believe that investigations have to be done,” added Abdul Gani.
In Penang, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force should be given the opportunity to explain the reasons behind the demonstration.
He added that the presence of thousands of Indians at the demonstration was cause for concern and reason enough to assume that the problems of the community ought to be addressed.
Hindraf 'has links with Tigers'
SHAH ALAM: Hindu Rights Action Force leaders may face criminal charges over their links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam of Sri Lanka.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said police had started their investigation following a report lodged by a member of the public.
"The danger is that this group has been officially declared a terrorist organisation," he said outside the Shah Alam High Court yesterday.
Abdul Gani said the LTTE had been declared a terrorist group even in the United States, the United Kingdom and India.
"There is a United Nations resolution that no one should provide any form of support, including financial assistance to this group."
The A-G had on Wednesday told the court that he had reports Hindraf members had connections with the LTTE.
"It is a cause for concern. I believe the matter must be probed thoroughly."
Abdul Gani said anyone, including himself, would be in a state of apprehension about Hindraf's links with the LTTE.
"I think everybody in the world will be worried about such connection."
He said he would wait for the police to complete their investigation before deciding on the next course of action.
Hindraf leader P. Waytha Moorthy, in an interview with the Indian Express last Saturday, warned that Malaysia could become another Sri Lanka.
Waytha Moorthy's brother, Uthayakumar had also told The New Paper in Singapore that he could not rule out violence if the demands of the Indian community were not met.
The LTTE, fighting for a separate state, had been engaged in violent activities with government security forces for several decades.
Meanwhile, the High Court adjourned to Monday a criminal revision application made by the public prosecutor following a discharge given to Uthayakumar, Waytha Moorthy and T. Ganabathirau for allegedly making seditious remarks in public.
Judicial commissioner Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said he was allowing the application only on grounds that the counsel representing the three needed more time to prepare its submission.
"I am only allowing the adjournment because one of the counsel had raised an important legal issue of whether a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by a lower court could be reviewed by a High Court."
Earlier, counsel M. Mano-haran, who is appearing for the three, told the court that he had sent a letter to Chief Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad yesterday, seeking direction that the application be heard by another judge.
Manoharan said this was because Abang Iskandar was once a subordinate of Abdul Gani in the Attorney-General's Chambers.
Abdul Gani said the counsel's submission was a ploy to seek an adjournment pending a reply from Abdul Hamid.
On Nov 26, Sessions Court judge Zunaidah Mohd Idris, who gave a discharge, had ruled that the charge against the three was defective as the original speech made in Tamil was not attached to the charge sheet.
That decision is now being contested by the prosecution led by Abdul Gani who, on Wednesday, had submitted that the charge was valid although the Tamil text was not attached with the translated Bahasa Malaysia copy.
In Kuala Kangsar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the LTTE and Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh in India were supporting Hindraf.
He said the government had information which linked Hindraf to these foreign groups.
"We are monitoring Hindraf and if the links are confirmed, then it is clear that Hindraf is a terrorist organisation."
Earlier, Nazri, who is Padang Rengas MP, presented bicycles sponsored by Putera Umno Malaysia to 100 pupils from 16 schools in Kati who scored 5As in the recent Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah examinations.
He said Hindraf had collected RM70,000 to fight its cause, including travel expenses.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said police had started their investigation following a report lodged by a member of the public.
"The danger is that this group has been officially declared a terrorist organisation," he said outside the Shah Alam High Court yesterday.
Abdul Gani said the LTTE had been declared a terrorist group even in the United States, the United Kingdom and India.
"There is a United Nations resolution that no one should provide any form of support, including financial assistance to this group."
The A-G had on Wednesday told the court that he had reports Hindraf members had connections with the LTTE.
"It is a cause for concern. I believe the matter must be probed thoroughly."
Abdul Gani said anyone, including himself, would be in a state of apprehension about Hindraf's links with the LTTE.
"I think everybody in the world will be worried about such connection."
He said he would wait for the police to complete their investigation before deciding on the next course of action.
Hindraf leader P. Waytha Moorthy, in an interview with the Indian Express last Saturday, warned that Malaysia could become another Sri Lanka.
Waytha Moorthy's brother, Uthayakumar had also told The New Paper in Singapore that he could not rule out violence if the demands of the Indian community were not met.
The LTTE, fighting for a separate state, had been engaged in violent activities with government security forces for several decades.
Meanwhile, the High Court adjourned to Monday a criminal revision application made by the public prosecutor following a discharge given to Uthayakumar, Waytha Moorthy and T. Ganabathirau for allegedly making seditious remarks in public.
Judicial commissioner Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said he was allowing the application only on grounds that the counsel representing the three needed more time to prepare its submission.
"I am only allowing the adjournment because one of the counsel had raised an important legal issue of whether a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by a lower court could be reviewed by a High Court."
Earlier, counsel M. Mano-haran, who is appearing for the three, told the court that he had sent a letter to Chief Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad yesterday, seeking direction that the application be heard by another judge.
Manoharan said this was because Abang Iskandar was once a subordinate of Abdul Gani in the Attorney-General's Chambers.
Abdul Gani said the counsel's submission was a ploy to seek an adjournment pending a reply from Abdul Hamid.
On Nov 26, Sessions Court judge Zunaidah Mohd Idris, who gave a discharge, had ruled that the charge against the three was defective as the original speech made in Tamil was not attached to the charge sheet.
That decision is now being contested by the prosecution led by Abdul Gani who, on Wednesday, had submitted that the charge was valid although the Tamil text was not attached with the translated Bahasa Malaysia copy.
In Kuala Kangsar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the LTTE and Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh in India were supporting Hindraf.
He said the government had information which linked Hindraf to these foreign groups.
"We are monitoring Hindraf and if the links are confirmed, then it is clear that Hindraf is a terrorist organisation."
Earlier, Nazri, who is Padang Rengas MP, presented bicycles sponsored by Putera Umno Malaysia to 100 pupils from 16 schools in Kati who scored 5As in the recent Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah examinations.
He said Hindraf had collected RM70,000 to fight its cause, including travel expenses.
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