Why it was necessary for Sri Lanka to ban LTTE fronts
- Maya Anthony
- Aug 18, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 19, 2021
The recent designation of the LTTE and its 14 fronts under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1373 refocused international security and intelligence community’s attention by the LTTE remnants to reorganize. Through LTTE branches and front organizations concentrated largely in Europe, Canada, US and Australia, the LTTE international network sustained the LTTE killing machine. In keeping with the call for accountability, a senior government official said: “Not only those who perpetrated the terrorist-crimes but those who financed and supported terrorism will be brought to justice.”
The LTTE was dismantled in Sri Lanka in May of 2009, but its international leadership that engaged in propaganda, lobbying, financing, procuring, shipping and other support activities remained intact. Although Tamil expatriate support for LTTE diminished to less than 10 percent after May 2009, the directing figures and remnant leaders reorganized LTTE to reengage in political, criminal and militant activity. To stabilize Sri Lanka, the government invested in humanitarian assistance, socioeconomic development and political engagement. After demining the Wanni with its international partners, Sri Lanka resettled nearly 300,000 Internally Displaced Persons taken hostage by the LTTE and rehabilitated an reintegrated almost 12000 surrendered and captured LTTE leaders and members. Sri Lanka also invested resources in developing the north and east and holding elections. Nonetheless, by reorganizing terrorist cells in country and propaganda and finance cells overseas, the LTTE international network continued to challenge Sri Lanka’s post War progress and undermine its stability.
Masquerading as human rights activists, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) led by Father S. J. Emmanuel in the UK drew together existing LTTE fronts to exercise constituency and electoral pressure on Western political parties and politicians, disseminate propaganda and finance human rights NGOs, and even lobby at the UNCHR sessions in Geneva. As terrorists are the worst human rights violators, the infiltration of the UNHRC by the terrorist fronts make the august human rights platform a circus. Although western nations clashed with Sri Lanka over geostrategy and geopolitics, they were angry at the scale of lobbying and penetration of the UN organizations by the LTTE fronts. Under the facade of community organizations, the LTTE branches controlled by Nediyawan in Norway, the LTTE collaborated with GTF but also supported the revival of LTTE in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka by providing funding. In addition to supporting the revival, the Headquarters Group led by Vinayagam in France also collaborated with the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) led by the New York based Rudrakumaran. Rudrakumaran took over TGTE after its founder leader Selvarajah Pathmanathan alias KP was arrested overseas and deported to Sri Lanka in August 2009 for his role in LTTE international arms smuggling.
The designation of LTTE and its fronts under UNSCR 1373 on March 20, 2014, criminal justice officials say will enable Sri Lanka to bring not only the perpetrators who conducted the unlawful killings and injuries but those who supported LTTE’s three decade campaign of violence. With the designation, the Tamil expatriate community coerced by the LTTE has further distanced itself from the LTTE branches and fronts overseas. The bulk of the Tamils have invested and support the social economic progress in Sri Lanka except LTTE established and infiltrated organizations mostly active in North America and Europe. For example, on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) called for sanctions against Sri Lanka. Former CTC Director Sahilal Sabaratnam is serving a 25 year sentence in the US for arms procurement for the LTTE. Similarly, another designated front, the National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) successfully lobbied Canadian politicians to suspend aid to the Commonwealth. Dependent on minority votes and campaign contributions, the LTTE fronts continues to lobby the Liberals, Conservatives and the New Democratic Party. In Canada, LTTE’s largest support base, its fronts infiltrated the schools and universities. The recently designated Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) former President Satha Sarachandran is serving a 26 year sentence in the US for arms procurement. Although Canada belatedly banned the LTTE, as a wikileak confirmed Canada, Ottawa was reluctant to ban the LTTE fronts due to domestic politics.
While the misinformation and disinformation campaign against Sri Lanka grew, the LTTE branches and fronts led by Nediyawan-Irumporai and Vinayagam reorganized the LTTE using Tamil Nadu as a platform. The Sri Lankan law enforcement, military and intelligence services prevented the revival by identifying the LTTE propaganda, intelligence and military cells. Nonetheless, Sri Lanka faces a long term threat from unrepentant LTTE leaders, members and supporters living overseas. To avenge the death of their leader Prabhakaran and the dismantling of the LTTE, their life-long hope and investment, they seek spread propaganda and radicalize another generation of Tamil youth. Although the terrorist fronts faked as peace makers, they function as peace wreckers. Designation of the persons and entities is the first step in a new effort by Sri Lanka to disrupt the spread of hatred, raising funds through deception, crime and coercion, and the revival of the LTTE. The designated names and organizations in the current gazette will be reviewed periodically and new names and organizations will be added. Giving hope for those who wish to turn a new life, Government sources remarked, “Those who reject violence and embrace peace will be delisted.”
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