‘Tigers using ‘Sudan’ link to legitimise Eelam’

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=16454

‘Tigers using ‘Sudan’ link to legitimise Eelam’January 21, 2011, 9:04 pm by Shamindra Ferdinando
A section of the LTTE rump, headed by the US-based V. Rudrakumaran, is exploiting the inaugural sessions of the so-called Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), held in Philadelphia in May 2009, to promote its separatist cause, a highly placed official says.
In an interview with The Island, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out that in spite of the diminishing support among the Tamil Diaspora for its macabre ‘Eelam’ project, Rudrakumaran’s faction now had the advantage of the Philadelphia meet to pursue its strategy.
Rudrakumaran, who functions as the Prime Minister of the TGTE, in a statement issued on Jan. 17, 2011, after receiving an invitation from the Southern Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM), to attend Independence Day celebrations, revealed that the TGTE’s (Read Tigers) relationship with SPLM was nothing new. According to the US-based lawyer, SPLM had sent its Secretary General Domach Wal Ruach, to address the Philadelphia sessions. This was followed by another session in New York. Referring to President Obama’s op-ed article in New York Times, on the day of the Referendum in South Sudan(Jan. 10), "Millions of Sudanese are making their way to the polls to determine their destiny," Rudrakumaran said: "TGTE is applauding President Obama’s statement and calls upon the international community to give an opportunity for Eelam Tamils to determine their destiny the same way."
The official who was instrumental in destroying the LTTE leadership is of the view that the Rudrakumaran group poses a far more serious threat to post-war Sri Lanka than two or three other factions trying to undermine the country through military means. He says Rudrakumaran is seeking to strengthen his position among the Tamil Diaspora.
Referring to Rudrakumaran’s press statement, the official said that the LTTEer had offered to the new South Sudanese government what he called Tamil Diaspora expertise in selected fields. As the guests of the new government, the TGTE delegates would also meet leaders of other foreign governments, the official said.
The official pointed out that on the basis of the US sessions, Rudrakumaran had held elections in 12 Western Countries last June to show that he had received a mandate from the Tamil Diaspora to continue with the Eelam cause. In spite of his much publicised effort to secure political legitimacy, less than 10 per cent of those who voted were in support of his project.