Head of LTTE in Britain faces terrorism charges
 The head of an LTTE front organisation in Britain has
been charged for conspiring to supply military equipment to the LTTE
terrorists in Sri Lanka, Wednesday (Jan 28).
Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, 52, a "very prominent
figure" in the Tamil community in the UK, co-ordinated the acquisition
of material and funds for the benefit of the LTTE, British news sources
reported.
Arunachalan despite warnings received to put a stop to
his activities, the defendant continued to procure electrical components
for the LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers, some of which had "an
obvious terrorist purpose", news sources said citing jury reports.
Chrishanthakumar, known as Shanthan, is standing trial
at Kingston Crown Court, south-west London, where he denies one count of
conspiracy to receive electrical components for the purposes of
terrorism.
He is also charged with amassing a hoard of military
equipment including machetes, combat boots, camouflage clothes, spades
and handcuffs.
Another charge alleged that he received terrorist
documents including guides to underwater warfare systems, explosive
ordnance disposal and mine clearance.
He is also accused of two further offences - receiving
money and belonging to a proscribed organisation, namely the LTTE.
The five offences are alleged to have taken place
between January 2003 and June 2007.
Three other men, Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan (Muralee),
46, and his brother, Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan (Vithy), 40, from
Newtown, Powys, and Murugesu Jegatheeswaran (Jegan), 34, from Mitcham,
south London, are charged with receiving electronic items for use in
terrorism. Mr Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, told the jury that the
defendants, all Tamils from the island of Sri Lanka, were supporters of
the LTTE, with Shanthan a fully-fledged member of the group.
He said Shanthan, who has lived in the UK for many
years, was "quite openly" a LTTE member and head of the United Tamil
Organisation in this country, before it became a proscribed organisation,
in 2001.
In 2004, the police became aware Shanthan was buying
military clothing and equipment for shipment to LTTE forces in Sri Lanka
from an army surplus store in Southsea, Hampshire, the court heard.
He was not arrested but was told the authorities had
"become aware" of this aspect of his procurement activity and he was
told to desist.
But in July 2007, police carried out searches of
Shanthan's home.
"What became clear was that his procurement activity
had extended far beyond the equipment brought from the army surplus shop
in Southsea and, despite the warning when the police became aware of
that activity, he had continued with his support activity on the LTTE's
behalf," Mr Laidlaw said.
This included receiving money for funding purposes and
the procurement of more military equipment and military manuals, it was
alleged.
The court was told that the LTTE financed its
activities through taxation and membership fees collected in the regions
under its control. "There's also fundraising and some illicit business,"
Mr Laidlaw said.
He continued that in December 2005, the LTTE deployed
the first remotely controlled improvised explosive device.
The prosecutor told the court the initial police
investigation into Chrishanthakumar's activities uncovered evidence of
the procurement of electrical components including computers, printed
circuit boards (PCBs), remote control equipment, components associated
with radio transmitting devices and also satellite equipment.
At the home of each of the defendants, the police also
found evidence of their LTTE sympathies, their loyalty to the LTTE and
its separatist cause, "no doubt providing the motivation for their
involvement in these offences," he said.
The trial continues news sources further reported.
Courtesy : walesonline.co.uk
Related News >>
UK arrests Top two LTTE terror suspects [updated]
LTTE sponsored lectures cancelled in
London after speaker is refused visa to enter the UK
Sri Lanka Peace
Chief praises Nordic ceasefire monitors for good job under difficult
conditions
'Deepam TV' in
London has become voice of LTTE
Pro-LTTE London
Mayor Ken Livingston defeated by the Conservatives ending an eight year
regime
|
