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2007 archives
Six child solder girls surrendered to Army
(26th May 2007 - 11:00 S.L.T)
Today six girls who claimed to be child solders surrendered them self to Siththandi Army camp. These six girls between 14 to 17 years explained that they escaped from Wanni Tiger camps around Thoppigala.
They have also revealed 100 of other child solders suffer without chance of escape. These girls were abducted from several areas of Batticaloa and they were given brief weapon training. Later they were also used as construction workers when setting of camps. Army spokesmen said that the girls will be handed over to Eravur POLICE. (Lanka Truth)
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Tigers used rough tactics to collect funds in France
(25th May 2007 - 09:15 S.L.T)
Tamils in France who refused to contribute money to tiger funds for procurement of arms for terrorist activities in Sri Lanka and toe the LTTE line were threatened, intimidated, abducted and even harassed according to confessions of Leading Tamil Tiger agents arrested by the French Police. According to their confessions to the Police they have revealed that those refused to give funds were taken to some remote corners outside Paris, where they have special safe-houses and used third degree methods to make them submissive.
14 Leading Tamil Tiger agents arrested by French Police have accepted that they were involved in illegal activities in Paris on behalf of the tiger terrorist organization. According to French Police more suspected tiger terrorists are to be arrested in France and among them are Sinna Mahes (Brother of ‘colonel’ Bahnu) who is involved in the collection of funds, Nagesh in charge of Tigers` Cultural affairs, Barani the newly appointed person in charge of LTTE activities in France and Subash, Editor of Etimalai, (Volcano) the propaganda journal.
Earlier, offices of the Tamil Coordinating Committee (LTTE Office), Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Tamil Television Network, the Mariamman Temple and the Makkal Kadai (People`s Shop) run by tiger terrorists in Paris were raided by French (anti-terrorism) Police. (Lanka Truth)
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Posters appealing all to participate in the rally
French Police raided several Tiger offices and shops and arrested 19 Tamil Tiger agents and today there are 14 of them in custody. French Magistrate refused them bail.
According to a reliable information, a team of a selected elite French police are now visiting some of the EU capitals and comparing notes and exchanging information based on the highly sensitive and shocking revelations they gleaned from the arrest of leading Tiger agents in France. The information retrieved from the confiscated computers found in the offices of Tamil Coordinating Center, Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, Tamil Television Network as well as from the residences of one or two leading Tager agents in Paris links the Tiger agents operating in other European capitals. This new information has alarmed the Police in oher EU countries and a further crackdown on the LTTE in their countries is expected soon. A highly placed source from an anti-Terrorist group in an European Country revealed that Police in Germany are expected to take follow up action against the Tamil Tigers.
Police in Germany have already begun discreet investigations into the activities of suspected LTTE agents and supporters in Germany. Fearing the impending attack the Tiger head in Germany has circulated a directive to the activists and supporters in Germany, majority of whom are German passport holders. They have been instructed not to cooperate with the German Police but to be loyal and faithful to Prabakaran and Vanni. The directive has instructed that in case German police contact any Tiger member or supporter they should immediately contact the Tiger office before disclosing anything to the police. Vakeesan, who is the head of the Tamil coordinating Committee in Germany, has directed them to contact one 'Sasi' on 01633178603 who is the administrative head of the Tamil Coordinating Committee in Germany dealing with this subject.
The Tiger directive states: "Our Enemy is doing his utmost very aggressively to bring to a grinding halt our activities. Therefore, it is best that we also take forward our activities discreetly and secretly. At present there are moves afoot to disrupt and dislodge our forward march in Europe. Arrests of our activists in France, USA, and Australia, suspension of our TTN (Television), Tamil National Television of Tamil Eelam channels are part of such a larger agenda by our enemies. “Furthermore, in case the anti-criminal Police or the Police intelligence personnel in Germany contacts you, immediately contact our office to get a briefing before talking to them. We are of the opinion that these meetings with the German police might lead to seditious activities against Tamil Eelam. (Full text of the Directive is given at the end of this news report).
In the meantime, Tigers are preparing to hold another protest rally in Paris today. The rally is to be held in the name of the Tamil Student organization. Posters appealing all to participate in the rally appear in all the websites of the Tigers. Also Tiger members and supporters from other countries too are urged to participate in large numbers in the protest rally. Here is a rough translation of the Tiger directive in Germany.
Tamil Coordinating Committee, Germany – Directive
This is a crucial period where every step taken towards our final liberation has to be done with measured precision. Our National Leader Of Tamil Eelam is making moves simultaneously for the final liberation. In this present juncture we too need to swiftly towards achieving our aims. Therefore we all have to take the following matters into consideration and expedite our liberation. On the forthcoming June 11 "Truimp of Tamil" procession is organized. Therefore make arrangements in your cities for large crowd of people and take them in vehicles to Switzerland for participation. Our National Leader who has examined a poem produced by the International Coordinating Committee has instructed it to be given to everyone. We are attaching that poem and we wants you to make a print out and put it in envelopes and hand over it personally to everyone. In future it is important that our activists should wear Black and White uniforms while participating in all events that are organized even by our branch committees. In the future this uniform issue would be adhered very strictly. You must ensure strict compliance.
A new scheme called 'National Duty" has been now introduced. Therefore all the activists individually or collectively must come forward to function to fulfil swiftly in accordance with our National Leader’s war agenda and appeal.
All the remaining arrears regarding publications have to be settled immediately to tide over our financial problems. Sasi has been appointed as the administrative executive of the office. (His telephone No: 01633178603)
"Our Enemy is doing his utmost to bring to a grinding halt our activities very aggressively.. Therefore, it is best that we also take forward our activities discreetly and secretly. At present there are moves afoot to disrupt and dislodge our forward march in Europe. Arrests of our activists in France, USA, and Australia, suspension of our TTN (Television), Tamil National Television of Tamil Eelam channels are part of such a larger agenda by our enemies.
We request you to serve our food items in the functions held in your streets to the German people and collect funds and send it to us. Furthermore in case the anti-criminal Police or the Police intelligence personnel in Germany contacts you, immediately contact our office to get the necessary counseling and briefing before talking to them. We are of the opinion these meetings with the German police might lead to seditious activities against Tamil Eelam.
The branches are part of our organization and it is our obligation to promote and propagate them. It is observed that a few activists look at others in the branches as enemies and function with animosity against others. It is important that they should give up such petty mentality and should come forward to work jointly in a constructive manner. In case if temporary receipts are issued to all money transactions only your financial contributions would be accepted and entered in our books. All those moneys received from the fund collectors without accompanying the temporary receipts would be returned through the regional organizers.
All those activists involved in the national obligations should understand that the financial targets have to be fulfilled within their concerned regions.
We use to send information through our regional organizers. As some of the organizers are irresponsible, we understand that our information does not reach the activists. Therefore kindly get in touch with the regional organizers at least once in a week and find out what information there is for you to know.. As our enemy is involved in waging a war against our news media, kindly take our press releases and information sheets personally and hand them over to our people in their houses. Furthermore, issue our literature and releases through our shops, Hindu temples, or else through other organizations of ours to the people. Ensure that our releases and literature reach the peoples' hand.
Till boxes placed in houses in connections with the collections of funds to children belonging to Chencholai and Kantarupan Arivu Cholai has not been collected. Kindly send the funds collected from those till boxes through the banks. Those who haven't got such till boxes, kindly contact our offices for the same. Rally in front of the French Embassy and agitate that it was wrong on the part of the French Government to have 'shut down' the TTN television channel. Send in your letters of condemnations through city councils and through other organizations.Not only be concerned in collecting funds alone from our people but contact them frequently as possible and establish a good relationship with our people. Try your best to maintain good relationship with our people by conducting sports and cultural events, tours and other recreations events, by providing our releases personally. Bear in mind to maintain good and healthy relationship with our people and keep them with us. Sankar has been appointed as person responsible for the Center as well as the Regions. I wish to point out that each one of your relentless efforts would help easily do away with all those roadblocks placed against our liberation.
Thanks.
'Thirst of Tamils is the Tamil Eelam Homeland.'
With affection,
Vakeesan
12 may 2007
-( Asian Tribune )-
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Peace could be achieved only if Sri Lanka divided into two Nations! – Tamilselvan
(21st May 2007 - 09:45 S.L.T)
Peace to Sri Lanka could be achieved on the day that “will mark the emergence of two peaceful, individually strong and economically powerful nations in this island,” said Tamilselvan, leader of the political wing of the tiger organization in an interview he held with a Tamil web site. He said a solution can be found with the efforts of the international community only if it accepts the balance of power of the two sides.
Thamilselvan said no acceptable solution can be found under the parameters of the current constitution. He justified the armed struggle of the tiger organization saying it “shattered the confidence of the Sinhala leaders that Tamils cannot be beaten militarily, and brought them to the talks. Therefore, only when Tamils are strong, there is a chance that the Sinhala leadership will come forward for a negotiated solution. The latest peace talks too occurred under such circumstances.”
A good foundation for peace was laid “after a long time with the facilitation of the Norwegian Government. It resulted in the signing of a ceasefire agreement. The Sri Lankan Government has destroyed this ceasefire agreement and poisoned the climate of peace,” said the leader of the political wing of the tiger terrorist organization and added that, “Sri Lankan Government has, through many attempts, destroyed the foundations of the peace talks and eliminated all efforts towards peace.” (Lanka Truth
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Buddhist monk who was close to Tamil people killed
(LeN-2007 May 13, 6.00pm) It is being reported that Chief incumbent of the Pabbatharamaya in Morawewa Venerable Nandarathana Thera has been gunned down by two unidentified gunmen at around 9 this morning. The murderers had arrived at the scene in a motor bicycle and fled the scene immediately after the attack.Sources say that the Thera had been associating Tamil people in the area well and that he had a good rapport with them. During the time which the CFA was in actual affect the Thera had participated even in the Pongu Thamil festival organized by the LTTE.The Thera had received a very good response from the Tamil people in the area this year from the Vesak celebrations and even had even ordained three Tamil children.However the Thera had told a local journalist who visited him recently that he had death threats and when the journalist took a picture of the Thera he had said that it could be the last picture one takes of him. (par Lankaenews)
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LTTE a killed and abducted Indian Fishermen: “Their denial not strong and convincing” - DGP Mukherjee
Fri, 2007-05-04 06:11
DGP Mukherjee
D.Mukherjee said that according to the statement made by Bony Bass, one of the six Sea Tigers, the 12 abducted fishermen are still in the custody of the LTTE. Chennai, 04 May, (Asiantribune.com): Tamil Nadu Police disclosed that that the 12 fishermen reported to be missing since March 4 are still in the custody of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and not convinced of the denial by the Sri Lanka's Tamil outfit. The Tamil Nadu Police Chief D. Mukherjee speaking to "Asian Tribune" told that LTTE's ‘denial was not a strong and convincing one Tamil Nadu Police chief said that LTTE also has told that they will check it up with their formations. He added that he is waiting for their positive response. In the meantime Mukherjee added, “I have already informed my government (Tamil Nadu State Government) to take up the matter with the centre.” He further added according to the statement made by Bony Bass, one of the six Sea Tigers, the 12 abducted fishermen are still in the custody of the LTTE. Earlier the Indian Coast Guard intercepted and captured the vessel 'Maria' when it was found drifting in the Indian waters on April 11 and arrested its crew of Indian and Sri Lankan nationalities. The Sri Lankans arrested in the vessel ‘Maria' were Robinson, Bony Bass, Arul, Selvakumar, Ravikumar and Gnanathas. They were transferred to Tamil Nadu police custody on April 20 and the matter was investigated afresh by 'Q' Branch CID, a unit of the state police that specializes in extremist-related violence. After sustained interrogation, it found that all six were members of the Sea Tigers, the police chief revealed. The investigation revealed that Robinson was the group leader of the six member sea Tiger unit arrested in the Tiger vessel ‘Maria,' and Bony Bass the deputy. According to Mukherjee, the Tigers were transferring arms and ammunition from one of their vessels to smaller boats to be taken ashore when it developed an engine trouble and began drifting towards Indian waters. Some Indian fishermen came across the Sea Tigers, who jettisoned their cargo into the sea and sought the fishermen's help. In the meantime, a Coast Guard ship in the vicinity spotted the Tiger vessel ‘Maria' and seized all of them. In the beginning the arrested Sea Tigers accepted that they were Sri Lankan Tamils. But during the investigation by the Q Branch Police they confessed the truth. The Sea Tigers admitted under questioning that the same vessel 'Maria' was involved in the March 29 firing, but that the killers were different. They revealed that prior to the shooting incident, 12 Indian fishermen had been abducted along with their boat by the Sea Tigers on March 4. The Indian craft had put out to sea from Sakthikulankeni in Kollam district of Kerala on March 4, and men are still missing. During the investigation Bony Bass admitted that his colleague Thirimeni from the Kokkupidichan LTTE camp located inside Arippu, Mannar told when he contacted him over satellite phone that the abducted 12 Indians were safe. In the meantime Robinson said that he has requested his colleagues to free those Indian fishermen without any harassment. It was the Sea Tiger Group led by Manaalan that was involved in the shooting down of the four Indian fishermen, Robinson said. According to Tamil Nadu Police Chief, Q branch police allowed Robinson and Bony Bass to contact Kokkupidichan LTTE camp. Then it was confirmed that the 12 Indian fishermen are kept in that LTTE camp only. It is further learnt as the issue of shooting and abducting the Indian fishermen has become a serious issue and LTTE leadership summoned Manaalan and questioned him. ‘Asian Tribune' learnt that Tiger leadership wanted to release the 12 abducted Indian Fishermen and end this issue. But according to some reliable sources,
some important peoples have advised the Tigers in case they release these fishermen, they may loose the support base in the Tamil Nadu.
- Asian Tribune -
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"LTTE stole 130,000 Norwegian Passports and sold some of them to Al Qaeda" - Sri Lankan Ambassador to
Washington Post Radio
Fri, 2007-05-18 16:33
By Walter Jayawardhana
Bernard Goonetileke,
Washington DC, 18 May, (Asiantribune.com):
the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington DC interviewed by the Washington Post Radio Thursday said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) operatives have stolen 130000 Norwegian passports and sold them to the highest bidders including the terrorists of Al Qaeda.
Bernard Goonetileke said that the LTTE had employed a corrupt police officer to steal the passports for them and when it sold the passports they also sold them to an Al Qaeda group in Algeria.
“One of them surfaced with 700 of the stolen passports in Thailand and got caught to the police,” the Ambassador told J.J. Green, the National Security Affairs Correspondent of the Washington Post Radio.
Green said due to the easy access of European Union citizens to the United States this could make a real risk for even this country.
The Radio Station introduced the LTTE as the assassins of the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and friends of the Al Qaeda terrorists of the Middle Eastern notoriety.
Goonetileke said that the LTTE had employed a corrupt police officer to steal the passports for them and when it sold the passports they also sold them to an Al Qaeda group in Algeria.
The Sri Lankan ambassador said the LTTE was banned in India in 1991 and the second country they were banned was the United States in 1997, about a decade ago. He said when these countries banned them they simply did it because they realized that the Tamil Tigers behavior was really dangerous to the world. He said the proscription of the group was thereafter followed by Canada and the 27 member European Union.
Answering Green Goonetileke reminded the grave terrorist acts they committed included the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India and said the pioneering acts of terrorism the LTTE gave to the world of terror included the devastating C-4 explosives laden suicide jackets currently used by the Middle Eastern terrorists. The Sri Lankan ambassador said after the USS Cole was blasted the Sea Tigers head Susai had boasted that it was their suicide boat method the Middle Eastern terrorists had copied. In fact, Goonetileke said the LTTE had done similar acts by blasting a Sri lanka Navy vessel carrying sailors and in blasting a Chinese fishing vessel in 2000. Their latest pioneering act of terrorism is to fly low flying aircraft and bomb places, the ambassador said.
Green: How did they manage to do that?
Goonetileke: It is nothing amazing. Once a small Cessna was flown by a German youth to the Red Square in Moscow with all its security and radar.
Green: How do they manage to buy all these aircraft and other weapons?
Goonetileke: If you have the resources there is no shortages of planes and weapons in the black market.
The Sri Lankan ambassador during the 30 minute interview said there were 800,000 estimated Sri Lankan Tamils spread in North America, Australia and Europe. He said money is being bilked from them using sophisticated methods of extortion. He said the terrorist group has forcibly taken over places of worship like Hindu temples to steal money given for charity. Goonetileke said narcotic sales, credit cards frauds of large scale, and owning businesses and shipping lines are some other methods they used to earn money. He said they maintained bank accounts like those of the Bhumiputra Bank of Malaysia to siphon money.
He said it was true the LTTE signed a Ceasefire Agreement in 2002 but soon after the agreement was signed they started showing the insincerity by killing Tamil opponents and continuing with child abductions and assassinating some members of the security forces. They started sitting down for negotiations and thereafter left the negotiating table showing that they would never be satisfied with anything else other than a separate state.
He said they kept on raising funds using front organization because of the proscriptions in the Western countries. He said when the pseudo charity called Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) was discovered by the Commissioner of Charity in UK they restarted it under the name White Pigeon. When White Pigeon was caught they transferred 500,000 sterling pounds to another one called International Tamil Rehabilitation Organization(ITRO). Then they were transferred to World Tamil Movement. He said it was always a name game to siphon off charity money for terror.
Goonetileke admitted that that Sri Lanka government and the US government exchange information about the terrorist organizations.
Goonetileke said mainly two teams related to the LTTE have already got caught trying to buy weapons and influence in the US and one team has already pleaded guilty. In those sting operations one LTTE team offered one million dollars as bribes to US officials, hoping to get the ban on the group lifted, as one of the expectations.
In the attempt to buy surface to air missiles and other military equipment to down airplanes 70,000 dollars exchanged hands as initial payments to undercover agents. Those figures would indicate, Goonetileke said, the kind of money the terrorist group was able to spend.
Answering questions the ambassador said due to the focus was mainly on Islamic terrorists the resources may have been limited in the past to catch the LTTE in the US. But he said he hoped the government would use resources as much as possible to bring them to books since it was one sure way of quelling the terrorism back at home.
- Asian Tribune -
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An international children's fund 'donates' Rs.12 billion to tigers to buy arms!
(18th May 2007 - 12:10S.L.T)
Information has been received that an international, Christian, fund raising NGO has made available Rs.12 billion to tiger terrorist organization, through Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), on the pretext of supporting rehabilitation of children affected by the tsunami.
However, there has been no investigation by the police yet. The amount of Rs.12 billion for the rehabilitation of children affected by the tsunami in the North and the East has been handed over to tiger terrorists through TRO in 2005. However, there has been no information regarding how this money was spent on children. It has been revealed that no money from this fund has been spent on the children but has been handed over to the tiger organization to procure arms. (Lanka Truth)
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Racket to send S.L. Tamils to Australia
(19th May 2007 - 09:42S.L.T)
Australian Police have revealed a racket to send Sri Lankan Tamils through Indonesia to Australia.
The modus operandi is to get the Sri Lankan Tamils to Indonesia first and then to send them to Australia. Two Indonesians have been arrested by Australian Police regarding the racket and according to information revealed 82 Tamils have been illegally taken to Australia by these two racketeers. (Lanka Truth)
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India concerned over recent Tiger activities against India
Recent killing of five Indian fishermen by Tamil Tigers off the coast of S. India and the Tigers bombing a petroleum facility owned jointly by Indian Oil Corporation and the Sri Lankan government and another petroleum depot owned by Shell have raised concerns about growing threat to India. Dr Subramanian Swamy, leader the Janata Party, has stated the Tigers had already committed three confirmed acts of war against India i.e. training ULFA and Naxalites in insurgency; killing five Indian fishermen and Tiger aero planes bombing Indian Oil Corporation's oil storage facilities near Colombo. He added: "India must declare war against the Tigers Organisation, and snuff out its miniscule air force, bunkers and camps by a massive retaliation by the Indian air force." A well known Sri Lankan sociologist Dr. Goonatilake said in his comments on the situation “The recent killings and bombings of the Tigers make it amply clear that Indian apathy, dithering or neutrality will be counter-productive. If the Indian think-tanks and the Indian authorities fail to read the emerging signs then it is India that will have to pay with interests in the long-term,” (LankaTruth)
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Indian fishermen abducted by tigers released
(21st May 2007 - 04:30S.L.T)
11 Tamil Nadu fishermen who had been abducted by tiger terrorists and detained for more than two months in jungle hideouts in Sri Lanka returned to Tamil Nadu on 19th.
The fishermen, released by tiger terrorists in two batches had been taken from one hideout to another. The fishermen, according
Clement, who alone was authorized by Tamil Nadu police to speak to the media on behalf of the abducted fishermen, were kidnapped by tigers while they were fishing in their trawler ‘Sri Krishna’
They were moved from one hideout to another to avoid attacks by Sri Lankan forces and said tiger terrorists celebrated the tiger attack on Katunayake Air Force base by lighting crackers and distributing ice-cream.
India concerned over recent Tiger activities against India
(02nd May 2007 - 11:50S.L.T)
Recent killing of five Indian fishermen by Tamil Tigers off the coast of S. India and the Tigers bombing a petroleum facility owned jointly by Indian Oil Corporation and the Sri Lankan government and another petroleum depot owned by Shell have raised concerns about growing threat to India.
Dr Subramanian Swamy, leader the Janata Party, has stated the Tigers had already committed three confirmed acts of war against India i.e. training ULFA and Naxalites in insurgency; killing five Indian fishermen and Tiger aero planes bombing Indian Oil Corporation’s oil storage facilities near Colombo.
He added: "India must declare war against the Tigers Organisation, and snuff out its miniscule air force, bunkers and camps by a massive retaliation by the Indian air force."
A well known Sri Lankan sociologist Dr. Goonatilake said in his comments on the situation “The recent killings and bombings of the Tigers make it amply clear that Indian apathy, dithering or neutrality will be counter-productive. If the Indian think-tanks and the Indian authorities fail to read the emerging signs then it is India that will have to pay with interests in the long-term,”
Tigers will not be allowed to use Tamil Nadu as a base –Indian defense minister
(02nd May 2007 - 15:10S.L.T)
India’s Minister of Defense A. K. Antony says that the Tigers Organisation will not be allowed to operate from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. "We are giving high priority to the coastal security. This will be done in three levels with the involvement of the Navy, the Coast Guard and coastal police of the states concerned. We will not allow the Tigers Organisation to function in Tamil Nadu. Indian soil will not be allowed to be used as base by any terrorist organization," said Antony.
India’s Defense Minister’s response came in the wake of the terrorist organization’s recent aerial bombing in Colombo, targeting a petroleum facility run as a joint venture of the Indian government.
Antony said that coastal police stations will be set up and surveillance and security will be stepped up in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
As part of strengthening the coastal surveillance and security in the south, more radar would be installed to closely monitor the situation, he said. (Lanka Truth)
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Tamil Tiger pleads guilty in U.S. Court
(11th May 2007 - 23:45 S.L.T)
A news story published in Asiantribune says that a Tamil Tiger terrorist has admitted in a US court that he was involved in procurement of arms to the Tigers Organisation in in violation of American law.
Varatharasa faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and 10 years in prison for attempted exportation of arms and munitions. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not given his ruling in this case.
Given below is the news in full.
Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, 37, a citizen of Sri Lanka, pleaded guilty May 10 to conspiracy to provide material support to a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam popularly known as Tamil Tigers, and attempted exportation of arms and munitions to that group to engage in terrorism against the Government of Sri Lanka, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, "Mr. Varatharasa is the last defendant to be convicted in this plot to attempt to obtain military weapons in violation of American law. We are committed to using all available legal tools to prevent terrorism."
"Today's case reflects ICE's commitment to keeping U.S. weapons and technology out of the hands of terrorists," said Julie Myers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary. "Every day our Arms and Strategic Technology Investigations are targeting profiteers who jeopardize national and international security by selling critical weapons and technologies. Those engaged in these illicit activities share a significant burden of responsibility for the instability and violence that can come from the sale of these items."
"Combating terrorism, as well as protecting our critical technology, is a priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. In working with our partners in law enforcement, DCIS is committed to ensuring our weapons and Department of Defense technology is secure," said Geoff Cherrington, the Special Agent in Charge for the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
Special Agent in Charge William D. Chase, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, said, "The disruption of the supply chain of this organization should reassure the public that the U.S. Government is committed to dismantling terrorist groups worldwide. The FBI will continue to work to prevent any person from using the United States to raise funds or procure arms to commit acts of terrorism."
According to the plea agreement, from April to Sept. 29, 2006 Varatharasa conspired with Haji Subandi, Haniffa Osman and Erick Wotulo to export state- of-the-art firearms, machine guns and ammunition, surface to air missiles, night vision goggles and other military weapons to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers) operating within Sri Lanka, to be used to fight against Sri Lankan government forces. The conspirators contacted an undercover business located in Maryland about the sale of military weapons.
The defendants aided in the acquisition and proposed delivery of military technology to the Tamil Tigers by requesting price quotes and negotiating the purchases. Subandi sent an itemized list of 53 military weapons, including sniper rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers that he wanted to acquire for the Tamil Tigers.
On Sept. 25, 2006 Varatharasa and Osman arrived in Saipan to meet with undercover officers and inspect the weaponry that had been ordered on behalf of the Tamil Tigers. They were transported to Guam where, the next day, Varatharasa and Osman inspected various machine guns, sniper rifles and ammunition. They also inspected two surface-to-air missiles and agreed to communicate to others within the Tamil Tigers outfit regarding the availability and pricing of the missiles. After the inspection was completed, Varatharasa and Osman agreed to arrange for the transfer of money into an undercover bank account in Maryland as payment for the arms and munitions. Varatharasa also purchased food and provisions for his trip from Guam to deliver the weaponry to the Tamil Tigers at a location in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka.
On Sept. 29, 2006 Wotulo arrived in Guam. Varatharasa, Wotulo and Osman met with undercover officers in Guam and discussed current and future sales of weapons to the Tamil Tigers, and were arrested.
Varatharasa faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and 10 years in prison for attempted exportation of arms and munitions. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has not yet set a sentencing date.
Haji Subandi, age 69, a citizen of the Republic of Indonesia, pleaded guilty on March 8, 2007 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; 20 years in prison on each of two counts of money laundering; and 10 years in prison for attempted exportation of arms and munitions. Judge Blake has scheduled Subandi's sentencing for June 15.
Erick Wotulo, age 59, a citizen of the Republic of Indonesia, and retired Indonesian Marine Corps General, and Haniffa Bin Osman, age 55, a citizen of the Republic of Singapore, both pleaded guilty and face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support and 20 years in prison for money laundering. Judge Blake has scheduled Wotulo's sentencing for May 25, and Osman's sentencing for June 25.
Founded in 1976, the Tamil Tigers has advocated the violent overthrow of the Sri Lankan government, employing acts of violence, including suicide bombings, against both civilian and military targets. The Tamil Tigers relies heavily upon its ethnic Tamil Diaspora throughout the world to raise and launder money, acquire intelligence and purchase military use technology. The U.S. Department of State designated the Tamil Tigers as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997. As such, the Tamil Tigers cannot legally raise money or procure operational equipment in the United States.
U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baltimore City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Maryland, James G. Warwick, and Harry M. Gruber, are prosecuting the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey Eisenberg, Chief of National Security, is supervising the case. (Lanka Truth)
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Maldives sinks LTTE arms vessel
Several suspects in Maldivian custody
Ranil Wijayapala
MALDIVES: The Maldivian Coastguard yesterday sank a suspected LTTE vessel believed to have been transporting weapons.
It was identified as the Indian registered vessel Sri Krishna, which was reportedly missing since March 12 along with 12 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Kerala after being abducted by the LTTE.
Four suspected LTTE cadres who jumped from the blazing vessel were rescued by the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) and held in custody, according to sources.
According to Maldivian Coast Guard sources they detected this suspicious fishing vessel when a Maldivian fishing vessel was reportedly fired upon around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, when it tried to gain information about an unidentified yellow coloured trawler of approximately 75 feet in length.
The Maldivian Government was quoted by agency reports that they had sunk the suspicious fishing vessel yesterday after a 12 hour stand off.
The Maldivian Coastguard vessel Huravee started the pursuit of the vessel on Wednesday afternoon at 14:00 hours, according to Maldivian sources.
A crew member of the suspected vessel jumped overboard when it was pursued by the Maldivian Coastguard/MNDF and he was later identified as Simon Soza, an Indian national from Cochin.
The Coastguard kept perusing the vessel since May 16 night and on May 17 morning it was ordered to stop.
When the vessel did not adhere to the instructions the Coastguard approached the vessel. The MNDF was fired upon by Sri Krishna and in self defence MNDF had opened fire, destroying the vessel.
Sri Krishna is an Indian registered vessel belonging to an Indian company. The vessel is suspected to have contained large quantities of ammunition and has been taken over by the LTTE around one and half months back, off Tuticorin.
The fishing vessel Sri Krishna left for fishing from Kodimunai-Kanyakumari on March 7 along with 12 crew members and was reported missing since March 12. On April 11 Indian authorities apprehended one trawler named Mariya and another two Vallams with six LTTEers and six Indian fishermen onboard.
Subsequent investigations have revealed, according to the Police Chief of Tamil Nadu, that the missing 12 fishermen of Sri Krishna were held captive by the LTTE in the Wanni.
The Maldives, which lies to the southwest of Sri Lanka, is a cluster of 1,192 coral islands scattered some 850 kilometres across the equator.
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Tiger run risky campaigns against Sarkozy, French Presidential candidate
Fri, 2007-05-04 02:40
Paris, 04 May, (Asiantribune.com): In alliance with the left-wing trade unions running the May Day rally in Paris the Tigers attempted to play French politics. They were trying to pretend that they could swing the French presidential elections by running campaigns against the right-wing Presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy. The second round of voting for the Presidential election is due to be held on the 06th of this month. In the second round of voting the Rightist Presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy from Union For Popular Movement will be challenged by the Left Wing candidate Ms. Segolene Royal from the Socialist Party. Out of the 44 million voters eligible for voting in the final rounds, only a small percentage Sri Lankan Diaspora, less than 0.7 percent of Tamils have the voting rights, but Tigers wanted make a show as if all the Tamil diaspora in France voted for Ms. Segolene Royal. This was the ploy normally adopted by Tigers in many EU countries as well as in Canada. It is also learnt that Tigers have put out some pamphlets supporting the Socialist candidate. Nicolas Sarkozy was the former Interior Minister. He was very adamant in curbing the illegal migration. Sarkozy promised to cut immigration flux and favour "chosen immigration" (i.e. "qualified immigration") Recently conducted surveys revealed that he had gained popularity because aggressive campaigns against the migrants. The Socialist candidate Ms. Segolene Royal is just the opposite. Royal declared herself in favour of granting residency papers (i.e. of regularization of the status of illegal aliens) if they have a work permit and reside in France for a sufficient time Her popularity is among the migrant communities in France. When the TTN was operating they sponsored left-wing candidates in their programmes. The Tamil community fear that the Tigers have put them in jeopardy if Nicolas Sarkozy wins in the Presidential elections. They expect Sarkozy to take stern action against them.
- ASian Tribune -
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2 Tamil Australians arrested for funding LTTE
(LeN-2007 May 01, 7.30pm)
Two Melbourne Tamil men were arrested today and charged with being members of and raising money for the LTTE.
'I want to make it clear that these men weren't involved in any possible attacks on Australia soil,' Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Frank Prendergast told reporters.
Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, 32, has been publishing a Tamil newspaper and Sivarajah Yathavan, 36, is his best friend. The court heard the LTTE is a Sri Lankan based terrorist organisation responsible for acts including political and military assassinations.
The men were arrested following raids in Melbourne and Sydney this morning.
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LTTE Aircraft fly sorties “Three times in One month”, targeting vital installations to the country's security and economy
Fri, 2007-05-04 02:13
By Geoffrey Evarts
The Solution – Island-wide blackouts without warning. Citizens suffer (while the country's ruling elite will have the use of their generators and air conditioners of course); tourists (now on the endangered species list) have to pull the curtains in their hotels shut and light candles. And the country's defence establishment fire wildly into the blackness of the night, causing panic and consternation among the public – Reports stated that armed soldiers and policemen on duty had even blindly fired their machine guns into the night sky! Such was the confusion and panic that reports indicated civilians had gotten injured in this unnecessary firing! The Tigers are flying Czech made propeller driven Air Craft with home made bombs, while the Sri Lanka Air Force uses fighter jets and helicopter gun-ships, using rockets and other advanced weaponry (amongst other armaments in the SLAF arsenal). Tiger sorties are always flown in the night. And the reason for this? SLAF jet interceptors do not have night sight equipment to chase them down! So what does our Defence bigwigs do about this? They go and purchase ‘More' jet Air craft at a cost of millions of Dollars, instead of upgrading the night vision and other capabilities of our existing fleet, which is (obviously) the cheaper option. And we don't even know if the new jets have night vision capabilities! Makes one wonder why the defence establishment cannot see the cheaper option, while any layman with half an intelligent brain can……! A couple of years ago, I attended the weekly defence press briefing at the information department, and the then Air Force Commander Air Vice-Marshall Donald Perera (Who has now been elevated to the rank of Chief of Defence Staff and Air Marshall) was also in attendance. To a question which was posed on the Iranamadu air strip and the Tigers Air capabilities, the then SLAF commander smiled condescendingly and replied that the SLAF has the capability to detect and destroy ‘Any' aircraft as soon as it takes off from the Wanni! Well, now it seems that the CDS will have to eat his words (Or his hat, whichever he prefers!) In most other countries, these types of costly mistakes will result in the downfall (i.e sacking or resignation) of the officers and civil servants responsible. However – like Sunil Perera of Gypsies fame implied in one of his songs – only in “Lankaaawe” can one get away with such ghastly errors, and actually thrive and get promoted for it! While the government claims that these attacks have caused minimal or no damage to their targets, the damage caused to the economy and the credibility of the Islands peace process (and its leaders) is extensive, if not terminal. Moreover, it has given the Tigers huge kudos in their propaganda war by portraying them as a small but resourceful and intelligent outfit bloodying the nose of an oppressive Goliath! And these Tiger propaganda victories are riding on the crest of reports of Human rights abuses and strong arm tactics against the media by the Government. One fact is, however, extremely disturbing. While the government and the LTTE have been at war for over 20 years, the LTTE has evolved in leaps and bounds, while the evolution of the politically controlled defence establishment rattles and creaks on at a much slower pace. With the Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups frantically trying to go nuclear - and seeing how resourceful and imaginative the LTTE is - it won't come as a surprise if Velupillai Prabhakaran has already flung his vast resources into acquiring a ‘Nuke!' The Tigers are vastly more resourceful and intelligent than any other terrorist outfit. Apart from the fact that they have evolved the art of suicide bombing into what it is today, they have their own Navy and Air Force, they have an international intelligence and procurement apparatus, a fleet of merchant vessels plying the worlds' seas, Mafia gangs on the streets of London (Which terror group can boast of that one!) and hundreds of millions of Dollars in overseas accounts. It is only the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers fighting on the frontline that have held back the advance of the Tigers. If not for them, the LTTE would have established a sperate state a long time ago. Oh yes, and stating the obvious, the peace process is dead. The question is should we, as a country, resurrect it? Or should we resort to all out war? That I will leave for wiser men to answer. But for now I know one thing for sure. We, the people of Sri Lanka definitely need to get ourselves a better set of leaders (and scrap all the current ones – Government and Opposition alike) to steer this wallowing ship called Sri Lanka towards what she is actually capable of achieving! Geoffrey Evarts was a former reporter for the ABC Radio network in Sri Lanka until December 2006, and now domiciled in Australia. He submitted this ‘Opinion piece' to ‘Asian Tribune.'
- Asian Tribune -
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Australian FM Downer admits that some funds were raised for LTTE
Fri, 2007-05-04 01:51
Sydney, 04 May, (Asiantribune.com)
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Wednesday May 2 said that "some" amounts were being raised in his country to finance the operations of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). "The Hindu" reporting on this said "Mr. Downer was commenting on the issue in the context of Tuesday's arrest of two Melbourne residents for their alleged fund-raising activities on behalf of the LTTE. The two accused were later produced in court." The Hindu added: "The Minister characterised the amounts that were suspected to have been transferred to the LTTE from Australia, over some time, as "small" quantities." On May 1, Sivaraj Yathevan (36), the Tiger agent in charge of Eela Murasu, a Tamil community paper, and Arooran Vignanamoorthy (32), the righ-hand man of Yathevan were arrested by Australian Federal Police today and produced before a magistate court in Melbourne, Australia. Both men were charged with intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation, knowing the organisation is a terrorist organisation, contrary to subsection 102.3(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995. They were also charged with providing support to a terrorist organisation, and intentionally receiving funds from or making funds available to a terrorist organisation, knowing the organisation is a terrorist organisation, contrary to sections 102.7 and 102.6(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
- Asian Tribune -
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Bomb in bus at Matara kills 11
[6th January 2007 - 15:20 S.L.T)
A Bomb has exploded in a private bus at Kahawa junction near Ambalangoda killing eleven. The incident has happened at about 2.30 p.m. today. The bus has been traveling from Colombo to Matara . Initial reports indicate that the bus has been completely ruined and unconfirmed reports say more than 15 people killed in the incident. The injured are being taken to Karapitiya and Balapitiya Hospitals . Security sections have got information that the bomb had been placed in the bus by a woman. The road is completely blocked and security forces have requested people to avoid Kahawa junction and use alternative roads as a massive search operation is being conducted by a combined policed and army personnel. More details will be pasted as soon as we reach them.
Photographes :- Gayan Amarasekara, Ganadasa Ranmuttu, Yasses G. Mendies, Janaka de Silva, Gamini Mahadura, K.A.S. Kumara & Jayantha Umahiliya
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Bomb Blast in a bus at Nittambuwa; 6 killed & 54 injured
(LeN-2007 Jan 05, 8.00pm) A bomb blast in a passenger bus in Nittambuwa Sri Lanka on today (05) evening at 6.45pm, death toll now increase up to 6 and 54 passengers were injured and 10 of them are critical. Among the critically injured are two children aged 9 and 15.
"There has been an explosion, the bus is burning, some one put the bomb under a seat," an official in the media center for national security, told LeN.
There were 80 people in the bus during the evening rush-hour when the blast occurred in the town of Nittambuwa, 36 kilometers (20 miles) north of Colombo.
Govt. sources said LTTE very responsible for this crucial attack.
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Summary
