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Attack on Parithy in Paris: Intra-Tiger power struggle
(By: D.B.S. Jeyaraj)
The October 30th nocturnal attack on senior French tiger leader Parithy in Paris is a symptom of a malady currently afflicting Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora politics. Overseas structures of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) are currently experiencing a power struggle between leading stalwarts of the movement. The Paris attack on Parithy was due to this factional fratricide.
Parithy and two of his aides came out of the Tamil Coordinating Committee(TCC) office in Paris and were heading out to their parked vehicle when a gang of six surrounded them.
Three were wearing balaclavas ,a form of cloth headgear covering the head and exposing only the eyes,mouth and parts of the face.The balaclava wearers had weapons and began using them.
The other three simply watched. Parithy has identified two of them as "former"members of the LTTE in Paris.The assailants did not intend killing Parithy but wanted to inflict wounds.
Apart from steel rods the assailants also used a "katana" a type of Japanese Samurai sword. The Katana is a moderately curved, slender, single edged blade with a circular or squared guard, and a long grip to accommodate two hands. The blade length is usually greater than 60 cm or 23.6 inches
The assailants slashed Parithy with the Samurai sword and also dealt a few blows with rods. The two aides were also beaten with rods but not hacked . Parithy sustained deep cuts and had to be hospitalised incurring 27 stitches.
MATHEENTHIRAN
The attack on Parithy is considered to be of serious significance because he was a high ranking tiger leader who headed the LTTE in France for many years. Nadarajah Matheenthiran alias Parithy a.k.a.Regan had been compelled to "quit" the leadership overtly because he had been arrested by French authorities and sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
Parithy who has appealed against his sentence is currently out on bail.Since his case was pending before courts ,Parithy had nominally ceased to be de-jure tiger chief in France. Nevertheless he continued to be politically active and was the de-facto LTTE leader in France.
Against that backdrop the attack on Parithy was a serious development as he was the most senior LTTE leader to be attacked due to overseas intra-tiger rivalry.There have been several such attacks elsewhere but the assault on Parithy assumes greater importance because of the victim's seniority in the movement.
The incident also effectively illustrated the nature and scope of the power struggle going on within the overseas LTTE. There are two broad factions swearing allegiance to two senior tiger operatives. One is Perinbananaygam Sivaparan alias "Nediyavan" based in Norway. The other is Segarampillai Vinayagamoorthy alias "Vinayagam" who operates from France and Germany.
A brief re-run of events after the fall of the LTTE in Sri Lanka is necessary to understand the current intra-tiger power struggle going on within the Tamil Diaspora.
The military debacle in May 2009 at Mullaitheevu saw LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and a very large number of senior commanders being killed. Thousands of other LTTE cadres and supporters surrendered to the Armed Forces. This resulted in the virtual decimation of the LTTE in Sri Lanka.
PATHMANATHAN
The overseas structures of the LTTE however remained intact. The LTTE's former chief arms procurer Selvarasah Pathmanathan who had been appointed head of LTTE international relations donned the mantle of leadership. KP's attempt to become overseas LTTE leader on account of his seniority was strongly opposed by sections of the LTTE within the Diaspora.
Earlier the various branches and front organizations of the overseas LTTE were controlled by Veeragathy Manivannan alias Castro who was based in the Wanni.When the war escalated and communication between the headquarters in Wanni and the Diaspora LTTE structures became difficult, Castro appointed Nediyavan in Oslo as his representative. The overseras structures came under Nediyavan's control.
KP had been at one time in charge of the overseas tiger branches. So when KP tried to take over LTTE leadership after Prabhakaran's demise, Nediyavan and his cohorts resisted it as they did not want to relinquish control of the overseas structures. After much feuding and haggling a temporary truce was effected mainly through the efforts of some influential tiger leaders from the LTTE intelligence division stationed abroad.
The new arrangement saw KP assume leadership in a re-structured overseas LTTE. With the LTTE defunct in Sri Lanka the overseas LTTE was now "The LTTE".The new leadership comprised several secretaries in charge of different departments and functions. KP was "Thalaimai Seyalar" or chief secretary with a "Thalaimai Seyalagam" or Chief Secretariat. Nediyavan was the secretary in charge of administering the LTTE branch network called "Kattamaippu".
Even before he could assert his leadership forcefully in the re-structured LTTE,KP was captured in Malaysia and brought to Sri Lanka. This was a windfall for Nediyavan.With KP out of the way , it was easy for him to re-establish his hold over the overseas structures or "kattamaippu" of the LTTE again.The Nediyavan faction now condemns KP as a traitor and tries to undermine him through false allegations.
VINAYAGAM
There were however some hiccups. Chief among them was the emergence of Vinayagam in Europe. Segarampillai Vinayagamoorthy alias Vinayagam was a senior leader of the LTTE intelligence division. He was not in the Wanni when the Mullaitheevu debacle occurred.
Vinayagam later escaped from Sri Lanka and after spending some time in South and South -east Asia made his way to France where he reportedly applied for political asylum. He now shuttles between France and neighbouring Germany
Vinayagam was one of those responsible for the temporary truce between Nediyavan and KP and also helped re-structure the overseas LTTE.He was then operating under the alias Kathirgamathamby Arivazhaghan. Vinayagam began interacting with various LTTE intelligence operatives scattered throughout the world and moulded them together as a cohesive group.
Initially Vinayagam and Nediyavan worked together but soon the alliance fell apart. The main reason for this was that the finances, businesses, properties and money-making ventures of the LTTE were under the overall control of Nediyavan who refused to "share" these with Vinayagam.
Vinayagam now revived the re-structured LTTE set up under KP's leadership. He claimed that the "chief secretariat" set up then was the accredited hierarchy of the overseas LTTE. From that position Vinayagam and his group are now trying to establish greater control over the entire tiger overseas structure. Naturally Nediyavan and his loyalists resist.
POWER STRUGGLE
This then is the crux of the power struggle. It seems to be an LTTE variation of Bill Clinton's famous campaign phrase "It's the economy stupid".
This intra-tiger power struggle has seen several LTTE leaders being attacked in various parts of the world. Some are reported but many go unreported. The attack on Parithy is not only the latest but arguably the most high-profile assault.
Unlike some other overseas LTTE leaders Parithy has a colorful history behind him. He is not one of those who became a "tiger warrior" after relocating safely to the west. Parithy was a tiger steeled in the battle-fields of Sri Lanka as a full-fledged member of the LTTE.
Nadarajah Matheenthiran hails from the Jaffna off-shore Island area Naranthanai which forms part of the Kayts electoral division.He studied at Jaffna Central College where he completed his GCE advanced levels but failed to gain University admittance.
When the anti- Tamil pogrom of July 1983 occurred a number of Tamil youths were emotionally roused and joined the various Tamil militant movements. Matheenthiran threw in his lot with the LTTE. He formed part of the LTTE second batch of cadres to receive arms training in India. Matheenthiran along with persons like Bhanu and "Ideas" vasu received traiing in the North Indian state of Himachala Pradesh.
Matheenthiran assumed the nom de guerre Regan after the then USA President Ronald ReaganHowever he spelled his name Regan without the "a". After a brief stint in Tamil Nadu , Matheenthiran alias Regan returned to northern Sri Lanka.
REGAN
Regan was assigned to the Mannar district commander under Victor. He participated in the legendary Adampan battle where Victor was killed and the LTTE captured two soldiers alive as prisoners of war. After Victor's death, Radha took over the Mannar LTTE command. Regan served under him too.
Radha was moved to Jaffna in 1987 after the bomb attack on ex-Jaffna LTTE commander Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar alias Kittu in which the ex-Jaffna LTTE chief lost a leg. Regan too went to Jaffna with Radha. Regan was injured in combat in May 1987 during the "Vadamaratchy" operation.
After the Indo-Lanka accord was signed on July 29th 1987 and peace prevailed Regan went over to Tamil Nadu for treatment. He had suffered injuries to the top of his calf behind the knee resulting in damage to his peroneal nerve. This in turn led to the condition known as "foot drop" or "drop foot".
This is a condition that presents a limp-like, weak foot that causes difficulty when walking. With foot drop a person loses the ability to raise the foot at the ankle. The condition causes the person to lift the afflicted foot high to allow the toes to clear the ground.
While Regan was in Tamil Nadu he stayed with Castro who was in charge of the LTTE office in Chennai. They became close friends. War broke out between the LTTE and the Indian Army. In 1989 all the LTTE members in India were rounded up and brought to Sri Lanka by the Indian authorities.82 of them were detained in Kankesanthurai. Matheenthiran alias Regan was one of them.
All LTTE detenues were released after the complete withdrawal of the Indian army in 1990.The short-lived peace ushered in through talks with Ranasinghe Premadasa was shattered in June 1990. Full -scale war erupted.
"OPERATION MAJOR"
At this point of time Regan was assigned military command of the Northern Islands region .His regional political commissar was Castro. The LTTE was driven back from the Islands in August-September 1990 through a combined Army-Navy assault codenamed "Operation Major".Regan was injured again.
He was clandestinely ferried across to India for medical treatment in Tamil Nadu.He stayed for many months there. It was then that the LTTE assassinated former Indian Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21st 1991. There was a huge crackdown. Regan moved to Kerala and maintained a low profile.
Disgusted over these post -Rajiv developments,Regan decided to quit the movement.He cut off contacts with the leadership and reached France through his own initiative. He maintained a low profile in Paris and did not associate with the LTTE branches in France.
It was then that the former LTTE deputy -leader Gopalaswamy Mahendrarajah alias Mahathaya was charged with treachery by the Prabha-Pottu Amman duo and incarcerated. Later he was executed.Some LTTE dissidents in France protested at the treatment meted out to Mahathaya and put up posters in Paris. Regan was also involved in this.
The LTTE international spokesperson at that time was Lawrence Thilagar who was based in Paris. Thilaghar complained to the leadership in Sri Laka about Regan's involvement. This resulted in Regan becoming insecure and moving away from Paris.Thereafter he led a reclusive life without any involvement in politics.
This stay away from Paris proved to be beneficial. After some years a "blemishless" Regan obtained citizenship entitling him to a French passport.
The Oslo facilitated ceasefire brought about conditions of peace in 2002. Matheenthiran now wanted to visit Sri Lanka particularly the LTTE controlled Wanni. He contacted his old comrade Castro who obtained approval from the LTTE leadership and provided a guarantee of safety
Matheenthiran alias Regan then travelled to Sri Lanka from France. He stayed for some days in Kilinochchi where he met the LTTE police chief Balasingham Mahendran alias Nadesan. While conversing Nadesan came to know that Regan was a French citizen.
VACANCY
The overseas LTTE administration responsibility had been transferred to Castro from KP. Castro in turn was removing the existing branch officials as he felt they were all KP loyalists. The LTTE head for France Velummayilum Manoharan alias Mano had also been removed.There was a vacancy in France.
Nadesan suggested to LTTE chief Prabhakaran that Regan could be appointed in charge of France. Castro too concurred. Despite the circumstances of Regan quitting the LTTE and the Mahathaya protest poster episode ,Prabhakaran felt Regan would be suitable.
Nadesan and Castro met Regan and made the offer but Matheenthiran was reluctant.Later his former comrades and senior commanders Bhanu and Jeyam met Matheenthiran and persuaded him to accept. Regan wanted to hear directly from Prabhakaran.
A meeting was arranged where Regan met the leader one to one. When Prabhakaran made the offer directly,Matheenthiran could not refuse.He accepted and became the new LTTE chief for France.
The LTTE due to the efforts of Ilankumaran and Thamilendhi was now "Tamilising" names and nomenclatures in the movement. So when Matheenthiran was re-absorbed into the movement the nom de guerre "Regan" was replaced with "Parithy" meaning sun.
PARITHY
Matheenthiran now known as Parithy returned to the city of lights in 2003 and assumed control of the LTTE in France.The LTTE functioned under the front organization Tamil Coordinating Committee(TCC) in France. Its headquarters was at 341, Rue des Pyr‚n‚es in Paris.Parithy became the new TCC head in France.
In a significant departure from earlier norms,Parithy threw caution to the winds and began to issue news releases ,make announcements and stage events under the title of LTTE -France instead of using TCC as cover. This was welcomed by Prabhakaran and Castro who failed to realize the long -term implications of such rash moves.
But this was not all.The LTTE in France began acting in an unprecedented manner. Oblivious to the fact that they were in France the country which made the concepts"Liberty ,Equality and Fraternity"universally famous the tigers began replicating methods and tactics used in North-eastern Sri Lanka. A "reign of terror"sans the guillotine of revolutionary France was unleashed on the Tamil population
The Tamil population in Paris is said to number around 60 -65,000 while the overall number of Tamils in France is reportedly 70 -75,000. Of them, 25 per cent are supposedly hardcore LTTE supporters, while 25 per cent are firmly anti-LTTE. The remaining 50 per cent do not have any hard,firm positions either pro or anti on the LTTE.
OUTSOURCED
The LTTE in Paris under Parithy used threats, intimidation, physical violence and illegal confinement to suppress perceived anti-Tiger activity and coerce Tamil people into giving money. The job of raising funds was outsourced to Tamil gangs; 20 per cent of the money collected was given as "commissions" to them. The two prominent gangs were the "Vennilaa" group and the "Mukkaabalaa" group.
Every family had to pay a minimum of 2,000 euros annually. Businesses had to pay 6,000 euros. But there were special collections from time to time when massive amounts were demanded. It was estimated that six million euros was collected annually and 20 million euros in each special collection.
Much of this money was paid in instalments. The gangs as well as hyperactive LTTE activists heaped pressure on potential victims to extract money. They often went with rods, sticks and bottles to houses to intimidate people. Dealing out a few blows, using foul language, threatening harm to family members in Sri Lanka, and damaging vehicles and furniture were the oft-used tactics.
The worst was abducting people and holding them illegally. A farm was purchased on the outskirts of Paris for this. Tamils abducted by the gangs or LTTE activists would be taken there. Huge sums of money would be demanded from the family members of the victims for their release.
The victims detained at the farm were beaten and tortured. It is astounding that the LTTE thought it could replicate in Europe what it was doing in Sri Lanka's North-East.
SDAT
The Tamil diaspora hesitated to complain to the police for a variety of reasons - fear of consequences, lack of confidence in the police, and a sense of misguided loyalty to the Tamil cause. But the bubble burst when a Tamil man, who was beaten up severely at the farmhouse, confessed to his physiotherapist how he got his injuries. The physiotherapist alerted the police and soon the SDAT came into the picture.
The SDAT is the Sous-Directorate Anti-Terrorist, the special anti-terrorist directorate of the French Interior Ministry . Soon SDAT officials were able to convince the victim and two other fellow victims to lodge a "confidential" complaint in November 2006.
This set in motion a systematic, intensive investigation into the LTTE in France. Parithy had overreached himself. The LTTE in France had a great fall when the law-enforcement authorities cracked down hard in April 2007.Parithy himself was arrested.