An appeal to the body reviewing the listing of LTTE entities and personalities overseas

By Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada 

The LTTE attempted to revive overseas after it was dismantled in Sri Lanka in May of 2009. However, the Government of Sri Lanka under UN Security Council Resolution 1373 proscribed 15 LTTE entities and 424 individuals with effect from 1 April 2014. The order enabled funds, assets, economic resources belonging to or owned by the designated persons and entities to remain frozen until the removal of their names from the designated list. 

The designated persons and entities were identified by reviewing documents recovered from LTTE archives. They were the facilitators, propagandists, recruiters, fundraisers, procurement officers and shipping managers of the LTTE. Today, they are prohibited from moving, transferring or dealing with frozen assets without the permission of the Competent Authority. 

The seriousness of the Order was conveyed to nations where these foreign terrorist organisations and persons are now domiciled. In 2015, the new Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera announced a review to de-proscribe the LTTE entities and individuals overseas that supported the campaign of terrorism in Sri Lanka.

The entities and individuals listed having vast resources of funds raised mainly through illicit means that funded the Tamil Tiger terror network still remain a threat both to Sri Lanka and their host countries. While some of them continue to engage in human smuggling, drug trafficking, credit card, bank, and cheque fraud and a range of other activities, others function under the guise of human rights groups lobbying international organisations and foreign governments. 

They distort history and portray a twisted picture of what is taking place in Sri Lanka. They are using their votes and funds to influence politicians, media and INGO in the west to paint a totally negative story highlighting a multitude of minor issues. They ignore the giant steps taken in resettlement, rehabilitation, and economic development of the predominantly Tamil areas in the north and the east. Sri Lanka has achieved far more than any other countries faced with similar situations.

De-proscription of the entities and individuals will release a large volume of resources that are currently frozen which will be directed towards reviving the terror movement that could engage in acts of sabotage and assassination of key leaders and officials to once again create an era of fear and destabilisation. 

The entities and individuals have started to work with the political proxy of the Tigers, the Tamil National Alliance, that regarded the Tigers as the sole representative of the Tamils. The Tiger entities and individuals will have greater control over the TNA, dependent on funds from overseas for their political activities. The Tiger leaders living abroad who play the piper’s role will call the tune, and will unleash a renewed violent campaign for separatism.

The designated persons and entities have been identified from records captured from the LTTE hideouts and foreign intelligence sources. In addition to the Interpol Red Notices served on them, they remain on security databases shared with immigration authorities. The listed entities and individuals have functioned in various capacities with the LTTE terror network. 

Their background data have been furnished to countries where these organisations and individuals are now domiciled. We earlier experienced the Gobi, Appan and Theivihan episode where an attempt was made to recruit former terrorist cadres for sabotage with funds coming from LTTE sources overseas. 

Even today, we understand that the unemployed rehabilitated terrorists are being funded by LTTE sources overseas. They were recently activated in acts of public mischief such as stoning of the Jaffna courthouse and police station making up the majority of the 127 persons arrested, following an incidence of rape and murder of a young Tamil female from Pungudutivu by an expatriate Tamil visiting the Jaffna peninsula from Europe and his local associates.

Western countries are beefing up their legal framework to counter the likely threats from various terrorist groups. During a period when terrorism presents the most severe global threat, we appeal to the Sri Lankan Government under President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe not to compromise Sri Lankan security. 

The recent passing of a resolution in the Northern Provincial Council demonstrates that the TNA remains a political proxy of the Tigers. The TNA leaders work with the four main LTTE overseas groups known as the Global Tamil Forum led by Fr. S.J. Emmanuel, the Trans-National Government of Tamil Eelam headed by Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, the Tamil Eelam People’s Assembly headed by Perinbanayagam alias Sivaparan alias Nediyawan and headquarters group headed by Sekarampillai Vinayakamoorthy alias Vinayagam. 

They have not in any way signalled their intent to abandon their present goal of breaking up the unitary state of Sri Lanka. They remain fully committed to the establishment of a separate state for the Tamils comprising the northern and eastern provinces.

Having assessed the continuing threat from these LTTE entities and individuals for the security and stability of Sri Lanka, it is our considered view that the existing safeguards should not be arbitrarily repealed for short term political objectives. We recommend that in the alternative, the status of each individual and group entity be reviewed based on appeals made for changes to their respective designation on a careful re-assessment of each case in consultation with both domestic and foreign intelligence services. 

We appeal to the body appointed by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government to review the listing in the light of the global threat, and the continuity of LTTE activities overseas and the Northern Provincial Council Resolution by the TNA. 

In contrast to appeasing those who have not abandoned the separatist ideal, Sri Lankan authorities should have charged the personalities and their front, cover and sympathetic organisations for supporting three decades of violence including terrorism. 

Any hasty move to de-proscribe entities and individuals without a proper assessment could lead to another era of instability and chaos marked by death and destruction as already experienced over the previous 33 years ended May 2009.