Interpol net closing in on international Tiger operatives: Report
July 18, 2010 05:59 pm
The government has sought help from Interpol and the international police in its bid to dismantle the remaining international network of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Interpol has already taken steps to apprehend two of the most wanted persons in connection with the funds belonging to the Tigers, according to Tamil news reports.
The investigations to trace these two suspects living overseas are being based on evidence collected when the Sri Lankan military unearthed vital information after capturing a Tiger base in the North during the final battles. This base in the Vanni is believed to have been used by a Tiger cadre ‘Castro’ said to have been the international coordinator of the terrorist outfit.
One of the two suspects is said to be 60-year-old Ponnaiah Ananda Rajah, alias Aiyah alias Rajah, domiciled in the United States of America. He is originally said to be from Chenkanai in Jaffna. He has been involved with the LTTE’s arms procurement and shipping activities since 2003, according to the reports.
The other person under Interpol probe is said to be Atchchuthan Sivarajah, alias Brinthavan Atchchuthan. He is said to have obtained pilot training from an aviation school in France. Later he had obtained French citizenship, married and is currently said to be living with his two children in a West Asian country.
Atchchuthan Sivarajah has allegedly been involved in procuring planes and parts for the LTTE while being involved with several commercial organizations where the LTTE had invested heavily.
The Sri Lankan military is reportedly in possession of voice recordings and other data which have been sent to the Vanni by Sivarajah. According to Vanni sources, he has also helped in the training of Tiger suicide cadres.
Apart from these two persons, information has been revealed of some others as well. They include one Narendran from Europe, Ruben who is said to be operation from South Asian countries and another name Bavinthran. They have been involved in purchasing of arms and ships on behalf of the LTTE, according to reports.
The media reports state that the arrests of all or a few of these suspects are inevitable and that the Sri Lankan government has already requested the international investigating arms to provide further information on the three LTTE groups which have been operating from the UK, Norway and the United States.
The US group is said to be headed by V. Rudrakumaran, the UK group by Aruththanthai Emmanuel of the World Tamil Forum (WTF) and the Norway group by Nediyavan.
Meanwhile, eight persons in the Netherlands and five in Germany have been arrested recently by the respective government agencies on suspicion of having links with the LTTE.
