Maya Anthony
Reporting from Geneva, March 22, 2014
When terrorist supporters masquerading as human rights activists appeared in Geneva, US and UK representatives canvassing for votes to move a resolution against Sri Lanka in Geneva distanced themselves. The presence of the LTTE activists operating through front organizations in the West embarrassed the US and European diplomats. After disseminating hate propaganda and funding violence over the years, these activists now function through the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, Global Tamil Forum, Nediyawan Group and Vinayagam Group. As the LTTE is legally banned in the US, Canada and in Europe, they function through organizations that appear non violent. Nonetheless, their main task is to legitimize the LTTE separatism and divide the communities.
Since the 1990s, the LTTE has a long history of attempting to infiltrate human rights organizations and the UN itself. This human rights lobbying and campaigning capability was originally created within the LTTE to expose the isolated atrocities of the Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka. The LTTE’s main organization for infiltrating the UN human rights system was the Tamil Centre for Human Rights (TCHR). Considered the human rights wing of the LTTE, TCHR raised funds primarily in Europe to promote the LTTE agenda.
Since the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, several other LTTE front organizations have appeared in Geneva. Chief among them is Global Tamil Forum (GTF) led by Father S.J. Emmanuel who equated terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to Christ and suicide bombers to martyrs. Turning 80 on January 6, 2014, Emmanuel said to lankasri on March 19, 2014: “International community will teach good lesson to Rajapaksa regime.” GTF’s affiliate organization in Canada, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) represented by Gary Anandasangaree said on March 3, 2014, “The overwhelming calls for an independent, international investigation in Sri Lanka can no longer be ignored. Incremental pressure on Sri Lanka has clearly failed, and it is time for the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an International Commission of Inquiry that will bring the victims justice. The UNHRC cannot continue to evade its duties and responsibilities under international law.” Attending every UNHRC since the defeat of the LTTE in May 2009, Gary was accompanied by Vani Selvarajah of Canadian Tamil Congress to paint Sri Lanka in black and advance the interests of remnant Tamil Tigers.
The former CTC President Ranjan Sri Ranjan also visited Geneva to lobby western governments, international organizations and Human rights NGOs. After CTC communications Director Sahilal Sabaratnam was arrested in the US for arms procurement, CTC funded Amnesty International Canada, invited Canadian politicians to its annual dinners, and deepened its influence within the community. After stepping down as the leader of CTC, Sri Ranjan has assumed the post of President of the National Canadian Council of Tamils (NCCT), controlled by Nediyawan, the LTTE faction determined to revive violence. In Geneva, Sri Ranjan addressed events together with M. K. Shivajilingam of TNA, a relative of Prabhakaran and Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam of TNPF, a LTTE supporter. They were protected by LTTE activists from CTC, NCCT and Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) another front controlled by Nediyawan.
Sri Lankan Tamils recovering from decades of conflict reject Gajendrakumar and Sri Ranjan who exploit them to further their political and personal agendas. At a time when stability is being restored, LTTE fronts such as GTF, CTC and NCCT threaten to revive conflict in Sri Lanka. In an article titled “Many in the Diaspora may Rally Behind Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam but in Sri Lanka his Support is Non-Existent” respected Sri Lankan academic Prof S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole wrote in Sunday Leader dated 17 February 2013, “Liberal Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the vast majority of ‘Tamil speaking peoples,’ will not find Gajendrakumar or anyone who justified the expulsion of Muslims and the conscription of children, an acceptable spokesperson in Geneva.”
The Sri Lankan government has started to investigate to links between LTTE fronts especially NCCT and TNPF after K.P. Selvanayagam alias Gobi, a LTTE cadre, shot a police officer in Kilinochchi. Hiding under the bed of Ms. Balendran Jeyakumari in Kilinochchi, Gopi opened fire at a police sub inspector investigating an arms caché including mortar and RPG type live ammunition, 3 hand grenades, 2.5 kg claymore bomb and ammunition for T-56 weapons. Funded by Nediyawan Group, Jeyakumari’s house was used by Gobi to build a cell to plan a terrorist attack.
Following the recovery of weapons, the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) has uncovered extensive links between LTTE overseas network and recently formed LTTE cells. Investigations reveal plans by the LTTE overseas network to revive terrorism. The stream of funds has came from the same LTTE activists that funded violence including terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. In the coming days and months, the government will place those individuals and organizations under close scrutiny. The government is also planning to proscribe LTTE front, cover and sympathetic organizations that funded terrorism from overseas and remains committed to reviving violence. These LTTE fronts now fund select politicians of Tamil National Alliance led by Rajavarothiam Sampanthan and Tamil National People’s Front led by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.
LTTE AGENTS 