Govt.should invite Rudrakumaran to visit north east

http://www.lakbimanews.lk/special/spe9.htm
Govt.should invite Rudrakumaran to visit north east
—Rohan Gunaratna
Prof.Rohan Gunaratna an international terrorism expert and head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, Singapore interviewed by LAKBIMAnEWS said that it is not the diaspora Tamils but the LTTE that has re-established the Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) and the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and that there is no difference between the TGTEand the LTTE or between the GTF and the LTTE. He said that the LTTE has historically operated in the West through fronts.Excerpts...
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Elements of the pro- LTTE Tamil Diaspora has set up a Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) last month. Is this just another re-branding of the LTTE international network or are there key differences? What kind of an impact would this have on us?
It is not the diaspora Tamils but it is the LTTE organization that has re-established the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) and the Global Tamil Forum. There is no difference between the TGTE and the LTTE or between the Global Tamil Forum and the LTTE. The LTTE has historically operated in the West through fronts. Both these terrorist fronts are radicalizing a segment of the Tamil community both abroad and in Sri Lanka. Those exposed to the false propaganda of the TGTE and theGlobal Tamil Forum will advocate, support and participate in violence. The Sri Lankan foreign ministry failed to work through its missions, to disrupt the LTTE’s creation of the TGTE and the GTF. Similarly, the government of Sri Lanka failed to persuade Western leaders in need of campaign contribution and ethnic votes from participating in the inauguration of the TGTE and the GTF.
You have said that the international network poses a grave challenge. Since it’s extremely difficult to operate inside the country militarily what kind of strategies will they use in the coming years?
The intention of the LTTE International network is to radicalize a new generation of Tamil youth. The LTTE international network headquartered in Norway is determined to disrupt the peace in Sri Lanka. Nediyawan, the leader, who is based in Oslo is advocating a return to violence. Unfortunately the legal framework in Norway is weak to take action against those spreading hatred and intolerance. Unless the Sri Lankan government proactively dismantles the LTTE organization overseas and counters the vicious propaganda, the LTTE international network will radicalize a new generation of Tamil youth. These youth will advocate, support and participate in violence including terrorism. The LTTE international network is funding LTTE operatives to conduct surveillences of Sri Lankan VIPS and other targets. The Sri Lankan government should scale down the military and increase the strength of its intelligence and law enforcement agencies and develop an operational capability to work overseas. The LTTE international network is also funding the families of dead LTTE members and families of LTTE inmates and detainees in Sri Lanka. To prevent re-generation, the government, in partnership with NGOs, must reach out to the families of LTTE inmates and detainees and those who have died and care for their wives and children. Otherwise, the cycle of misunderstanding, mistrust and hatred will continue.
Do you think that the international community takes the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam seriously?
The International community regards the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam as big joke. Like the concept of Tamil Eelam advocated by Prabhakaran, there is no legal basis for creating such a structure. There is no legal precedent. The TGTE is not representative of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Only about 10% of the Sri Lankan Tamils support it. Furthermore, most of them are not citizens of Sri Lanka anymore. They are Canadian, American, Norwegian, British, French, German, Italian Australian and New Zealand citizens. The TGTE is a creation of power hungry leaders who do not care for the suffering Tamils in the north east. Instead of helping the Tamils and rebuild the north east, these power hungry leaders want to follow the destructive vision of Prabhakaran. The TGTE is the new face of the LTTE. Unless Sri Lankan diplomats forcefully build a case and dismantle the TGTE, another generation of Tamil youth will be misguided into believing in the vicious ideology of the LTTE.The Government of Sri Lanka should convince Tamil leaders that the war is over and not to go down the path of spreading hatred. The government should take a bold step and invite Rudrakumaran to visit the north east and participate in the unprecedented development in the north east. The government should guide not only Rudrakumaran but other Tamils to come and help the Tamils who have suffered the most in 30 years of conflict.
It has been reported that the LTTE’s international network is divided into two and this virtual state has been created by one faction led by New York based Lawyer Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran. If so does the other faction led by Nediyawan recognise the TGTE and what are they doing?
Even when the LTTE was led by Prabhakaran, there was considerable infighting. Only a ruthless dictator like Prabhakaran could hold the LTTE and its support base together. Currently, there is a fight between the three LTTE factions - Rudrakumaran, Father Emmanuel and Nediyawan. If Sri Lankan leaders continue on the path of developing the northeast, rehabilitating the LTTE leaders, cadres and helpers, and reach out to the LTTE leaders overseas getting them to abandon extremism and violence, all these LTTE fronts will die a natural death.
How has this division affected their influence and resources and who do you think will emerge as the dominant force?
Nediyawan is the dominant and the most dangerous force. He is a criminal and a terrorist. Those associated with him - Ravi Shankar Kanagarajah and Shanmugasundaram Kanthaskaran- are engaging in criminal activity such as human smuggling, gun running, extortion, credit card, bank and cheque fraud. The Government of Sri Lanka should issue an Interpol red notice on Nediyawan and work with Norway and the rest of Europe to extradite him.