Five Sri Lankan men accused of supporting the separatist Tamil Tigers, or LTTE, go on trial in The Hague on Thuraday. But their possible convictions are the tip of the iceberg in a case which will be interpreted in Sri Lanka as a decision about who is right and wrong in the country’s 30 year civil war.
By Richard Walker
As a bloody three-decade war raged in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, significant parts of the Tamil diaspora spread throughout the world kept themselves busy in supporting roles, one of the most important of which for the Tamil leadership was fund-raising. Only with millions of dollars flowing in from such groups could the LTTE keep itself adequately armed to fight Sri Lanka’s state military.
A Dutch police investigation team monitored Tamil meetings in the Netherlands. In its subsequent report, entitled Operation Koninck, it describes how certain Tamils raised funds for their ‘ultimate war’ with its goal of a free Tamil state in Sri Lanka known as Tamil Eelam. This remains no more than a dream following the death of the LTTE leader Villupilai Prabhakaran and the end of the military struggle in the spring of 2009. Operation Koninck eventually led to the arrest of several Dutch Tamils, five of whom are now being prosecuted in a specialist war crimes chamber in The Hague.
Terror organisation
The indictees are accused of being members of a criminal organisation with terrorist intentions and of raising funds for it. The first part of the indictment comes down to what the LTTE is and does - the prosecution will have to prove that it tried to terrorise the population using bombs and murder.
The court though is not an international body like the International Criminal Court (ICC), it is a regular domestic Dutch criminal court – and its prosecutors are working under Dutch ‘Universal’ jurisdiction.
One of the accused is 46-year-old Srirangam R. from The Hague. He fled to The Netherlands over two decades ago and is believed to head the Dutch division of the Tamil Tigers.
Victor Koppe, Srirangam’s defence counsel, recently applied to the European Court of Justice to have the LTTE removed from the EU’s list of banned terrorist organisations. The link to the current case in The Hague is clear – lift the ban and the Dutch prosecution falls apart. The likelihood of this happening soon enough to impact on the current case is unclear.
It is difficult to prove that the LTTE is a terrorist organisation. Assisting Victor Koppe in the case is defence counsel Tamara Buruma who explains that “the first part (of the indictment) isn’t so much about the raising of the money but is actually about what the LTTE has been doing in Sri Lanka… that is why, for us, the main issue isn’t whether or not they have been giving money - it is actually the question: Is the LTTE a terrorist organisation or are they freedom fighters?”
The court will have to define whether what the LTTE does and did constitutes terrorism under Dutch criminal law and, argues the defence, whether being on a politically drawn-up EU list is sufficient grounds to convict.
Show me the money
According to the Dutch police report, each Dutch Tamil family was expected to give €2,000 per year to the cause, a fee which would grant them access to the Tamil areas in Sri Lanka. If they refused to pay there would be severe consequences for relatives still living in Sri Lanka, it claims.
The accused argue their donations were for humanitarian causes and not channelled directly to fund the Tamil organisation. Since the LTTE was the de facto administrator in the north and east of Sri Lanka for many years, it funded many things from sanitation and schooling to army training and bomb-making. Distinguishing what money paid for what will be problematic.
The defendants say that even if they had given money directly to the LTTE it is not a terrorist organisation anyway, it is a liberation movement.
One man’s freedom fighter is another’s terrorist
How to describe what the Tamil Tigers were and did lies at the core of Sri Lanka’s bloody internecine war. For the government of President of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the LTTE fought a merciless campaign of terror against the Sinhalese majority using every illegal means of warfare, from suicide bombings to child soldiers. For many Tamils, the LTTE was the nearest they ever came to a legitimate government of a Tamil homeland.
The first hearing of the case will take place tomorrow in The Hague. After that, the court has three weeks to decide whether the Tamil Tigers were terrorists or a force for liberation.
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History will say they are Freedom Fighters. LTTE is Disciplined Organisation in this world. They never raped singala women. But Srilankan army done all those stupid things. They are fighting for only Eelam freedom. They don't try to grap Singala Place. They fight to save their Land. They fight to live with dignity like singala people. They don't like to destroy singala people. If they think like that imagine how many singala people may killed...may raped...may tortured...But they don't like until big massacre (GENOCIDE) happened in 2009. So First try to understand the system of LTTE.
How can anyone call the Tamil tigers as freedom fighters that are responsible for the killing of several thousands of freedom fighters?
If the killers are State they are war criminals.
If the killers are Tamils, are they innocent freedom fighters?
Tamil war criminals can’t be called themselves as the Tamil freedom fighters.
History will say they are Freedom Fighters. LTTE is Disciplined Organisation in this world. They never raped singala women. But Srilankan army done all those stupid things. They are fighting for only Eelam freedom. They don't try to grap Singala Place. They fight to save their Land. They fight to live with dignity like singala people. They don't like to destroy singala people. If they think like that imagine how many singala people may killed...may raped...may tortured...But they don't like until big massacre (GENOCIDE) happened in 2009. So First try to understand the system of LTTE.
We need same solidarity,same passion same commitment and energy.Tamils are not terrorists.but some blood thirsty monsters are terrorists. Now Tamils in Sri Lanka can not be made for ride. Europe countries need to destroy countries.it comes from their forefathers. I want to say seeds of communal unrest and terrorism have been sown and nurtured by USA.
I want to ask from USA government how many innocent people killed in Libya and Afghanistan?
Chaminda, when you write there should be some sense or truth. That's the problem with the Sinhalese who are trying to cover up war cromes and human rights abuses committed by the Rajapakse regime. But it is going to fail.
You are like the Rohan Gunaratna so called terrorism expert, but actually, he is a Sinhala Buddhist Apartheid war crimes expert who advises the Rajapakse regime on war crimes. Rohan has commented on an Australian newspaper about reconciliation and it shows that Rohan is trying hard to prevent international human rights abuses investigation and accountability.
Your writing does not make sense as US or any other International Community do not do the following that are committed by the Rajapakse regime:
1. Murder of Journalists. 34 Journalists are murdered already under the Rajapakse regime since 2005.
2. Do not deny access to Media, Journalists, NGOs and Human Rights Groups to visit any area. Rajapakse regime denies unrestricted access to the international community to Tamil areas. Can anyone believe that Robert Blake was humiliated by the State gangs in Jaffna and as a result Mr. Blake could not meet the Tamils?
3. Transparency; there is no trasparency in Sri Lanka and the Sinhala Buddhist Apartheid regime continues to unleash terror on civilians.
4. Rule of Law; There is no Rule of Law in Sri Lanka under the Rajapakse regime. There were so many cold blooded murders and war crimes committed and the regime is yet to investigate and charge anyone for the crimes.
5. Rajapakse left the UK like a RAT and now jegath Dias, an alleged war criminal has left Europe like a mouse!
6. The Rajapakse regime is appointng alleged war criminals to diplomatic posts overseas including alleged criminals Palitha Kohona and Shavendra Silva.
Finally, how long the International community can wait to see to take action to prevent state terror, war crimes and human rights abuses. The alleged criminal and corrupt Congress led Indian regime is collaborating and trying to block an open, transparent, independent investigation in Sri Lanka. This will end up India tarnishing their name from Gandhian to Pol Pot.
I like to ask from temil people you hate to prebakaran? as a some shinhala people hate to wijeweera
You may hate wijeweera. why did u ask us to hate Prabakaran?...He fight for freedom. He like to save EELAM Land. He construct LTTE Movement as disciplined Movement. If anyone have this attitude no one can hate such a Person. You are trying to put Poisonous Seed on Tamil People. That won't work...
chaminda is correct
and see the true here in sri lanka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM9cJOurAao
If what say is correct, why the Rajapakse regime denies unrestricted access to Journalists, Media, NGos and Human Rights Groups to Tamil areas?
Why 34 Journalists were mordered in Sri Lanak under this rgeime and no investigations or charges yet?
Why 17 French Charity workers were murderd in cold blood and where is the Rule of Law and justice to the victims families?
5 students werebrutally murdered by the state forces in Trincomalee;
Why Rajapakse regime had over 300,000 tamils in detention camps?
What happened to the Tamil POWs that were surrendered to the state forces?
Why deny for an independent international war crimes and human rights investigation? Where is accountability and justice process?
You are not a true Tamil and I am confident either you must be an agent of the Rajapakse regime writing for personal benefits or a Sinhala wiritng in fake name.
Dear tamilian brethren its all ways the TAMILS what about the MUSLIMS who were BOOTED out of their homes with only the clothes they had on themselves. It was your so called LEADER who did this, and this was done without any pre warning. I guess you TAMILS who found a COMFORTABLE life in the WEST in the PRETEXT of CONCOCTED TALES now have got used to the WESTERN life style, where by no body cares for the MUSLIMS. Any DEATH other than of a MUSLIM is a HUMAN RIGHT violation. So you TAMIL PEOPLE you all are still SRI LANKAN please ask yourself if the TAMIL TIGERS were MUSLIM TIGERS SRI LANKA would have been a SINGAPORE by now, no INVESTIGATIONS NO UN INTERFERENCE no INTERNATIONAL organization would have cared two hoots of what had taken place during the LAST STAGES of the WAR. Our BRAVE SOLDIERS fought the MOST RUTHLESS TERRORIST GANG in the world with outdated weapons whereas the WESTERN ARMY is EXPOSED of their ULTERIOR MOTIVE, with all the MODERN WEAPONRY they are BULLSHITTING the whole world. The world knows the TRUTH. Finally you TAMIL people want to keep these stories alive so that the COMFORTABLE lives you all are leading would not be snatched away from you all. You all are scared that after the 9/11 all the WESTERN GOVERNMENTS brought in a NEW RULE where by they can CANCEL YOUR PR and EVEN CITIZEN SHIP and DEPORT YOU ALL this is the ULTIMATE TRUTH.
If what say is correct, please write to the Rajapakse regime to allow for an independent international war crimes and human rights investigation that will bring all the information to the surface.
Please tell me why the Rajapakse regime denies unrestricted access to Journalists, Media, NGos and Human Rights Groups to Tamil areas?
Why 34 Journalists were mordered in Sri Lanak under this rgeime and no investigations or charges yet?
Why 17 French Charity workers were murderd in cold blood and where is the Rule of Law and justice to the victims families?
5 students werebrutally murdered by the state forces in Trincomalee;
Why Rajapakse regime had over 300,000 tamils in detention camps?
What happened to the Tamil POWs that were surrendered to the state forces?
Why deny for an independent international war crimes and human rights investigation? Where is accountability and justice process?
Mr Shiva here again you too are well exposed as you too have avoided the CRUX of my stated opinion. Again you are going along the same BANDWAGON as the west. Please give a straight forward reply AREN'T THE MUSLIMS WHO WERE BUTCHERED IN MASJID AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY WHO WERE CHASED BY YOUR BLOOD HUNGRY LEADER AREN'T these innocent people considered as HUMAN BEING. This proves what i stated you want to get some of these ORGANIZATIONS to interfere in our COUNTRY again so that you all could RAISE FUNDS and live a LAVISH LIFE STYLE which you cant find in JAFFNA. You should be ASHAMED of yourselves now its very difficult for you to LIVE IN THE HEAT with PANAM trees blowing, now you all have got used to the WINTER and the GOOD LIFE there. You may enjoy that life but DON'T enjoy it in other INNOCENTS PEOPLE'S expense. Last but not least if you have an ounce of SRI LANKAN dignity left in you please RAISE THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE MUSLIMS who were chased out and for people who are suffering in places where the WEST has invaded. Finally remember these INNOCENT people INCLUDING children are paying with their lives for your GOOD LIFE in the WEST.
Dear tamilian brethren its all ways the TAMILS what about the MUSLIMS who were BOOTED out of their homes with only the clothes they had on themselves. It was your so called LEADER who did this, and this was done without any pre warning. I guess you TAMILS who found a COMFORTABLE life in the WEST in the PRETEXT of CONCOCTED TALES now have got used to the WESTERN life style, where by no body cares for the MUSLIMS. Any DEATH other than of a MUSLIM is a HUMAN RIGHT violation. So you TAMIL PEOPLE you all are still SRI LANKAN please ask yourself if the TAMIL TIGERS were MUSLIM TIGERS SRI LANKA would have been a SINGAPORE by now, no INVESTIGATIONS NO UN INTERFERENCE no INTERNATIONAL organization would have cared two hoots of what had taken place during the LAST STAGES of the WAR. Our BRAVE SOLDIERS fought the MOST RUTHLESS TERRORIST GANG in the world with outdated weapons whereas the WESTERN ARMY is EXPOSED of their ULTERIOR MOTIVE, with all the MODERN WEAPONRY they are BULLSHITTING the whole world. The world knows the TRUTH. Finally you TAMIL people want to keep these stories alive so that the COMFORTABLE lives you all are leading would not be snatched away from you all. You all are scared that after the 9/11 all the WESTERN GOVERNMENTS brought in a NEW RULE where by they can CANCEL YOUR PR and EVEN CITIZEN SHIP and DEPORT YOU ALL this is the ULTIMATE TRUTH>
This is the truth Pls see this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM9cJOurAao
34 Journalists were killed in sri lanka since 2005 under the Rajapakse regime. 17 French Charity workers were brutally gunned down in cold blood. White Van abductions, Grease Devil, thousands of rapes and disappearences and noaction taken by the alleged war criminal Sri Lankan State.
ICC must be able to charge those responsible for war crimes and human rights abuses and issue international arrest warrants whether a nation has signed the treaty or not. Sri Lankan alleged war criminals are travelling freely as no action has been taken by the international cmmunity since May 2009.
Those leaders who collaborated and consented to the Sri Lankan regime without have complete information of the Tamils' struggle against the Sinhala Apartheid Buddhist racist regime, are nothing less than political criminals and showed the world about their barbarianism. The world is more dangerous to have these mockery leaders in power!
Tamils simply demanded for equality, human rights, rule of law, R2P, fundamental rights but the Sinhala Buddhist racist regime unlesh terror on them. LTTE was a product of State terrorism and Sinhala hooliganism and not a product of the ordinary Tamils. No malicious propaganda will work against the TRUTH!
You must be an agent of the Rajapakse regime or a partner of the war criminals KP, Karuna, Pullaiyan and Douglas.
Stop Genocide! Build Humanity!! Create Tomorrow Eelam Peaceful!!!
Sri Lanka is an Island country and it is located in Indian Ocean. Sinhalese speaking people, Eelam Tamil and Indian Tamil speaking people is the major civilization living in Sri Lanka. Eelam Tamils are first and native civilization of Srilanka. Singhalese are invaders while Vijaya king. Indian tamils are plantation workers brought by British to Srilanka. This country was ruled by British. After freedom, in 1956 Sinhala Only Act was law formed in parliament by majority singhala members. By this rule, the basic important rights have been rejected by Singhalese government and they started genocide against minority Tamil speaking people.
http://www.terminategenocide.com/
http://www.terminategenocide.com/images/truthslanka.pps
http://www.terminategenocide.com/html/reason_violence.html
Without people's support how can they survive for more than 33 years...SriLankan government says that world biggest rescue operation to save tamils from LTTE. That is absolutely false propaganda. By the name of rescue operation they done Mass Genocide against Tamils in North-East Srilanka. Who is LTTE? Who is Innocent Tamil People?...Both are Same...Tamils are LTTE...LTTE's are Tamils...
LTTE people great freedom fighters and they are fighting for tamil people. Srilankan Government is not supporting tamil people. Srilankan Army people are killing tamils. Where they will go ? I am supporting for separate Tamil Eelam country.
Thanks & Regards,
Sudalaimani
Bangalore
India.
tamil tigers freedom fighters
Srilankan Army only Grab the Eelam Country...
Although all Tamils were not the direct victims of the war 4 or 5 out of 10 Tamils left Srilanka. They live now in Europe, America, Canada and Australia as Tamil Diaspora. They are potential threat to the Srilanka’s future.
You are a sucking Sinhalese bitch/bastard writing. Tamils owned the entire Sri Lanka even before you suckers came from nowhere. LTTE is the only freedom fighters for the Tamils. Entire Sri Lanka belongs to the Tamil people.
By the Tamil Name some singala people writing comments here.. they should stop this kind of approach. We know all your conspiracy.
I'm a Tamil. And I've been robbed by LTTE may times over. They said it was for a Tamil home land. A promise they never delivered. All they delivered are dead bodies of our youth, and fear, pain and suffering for their families. Many of us in Jaffna hate LTTE. They were no freedom fighters. They enslaved us. Robbed and exploited us. Made us do and say things against our will. LTTE was drug dealers and gun runners. A mafia. Nothing more. They had no respect four our elders. No respect for the needs of us common people. The very same LTTE which said they stand for the Tamil people killed the whole family of my uncle because they refused to let LTTE take their son as a fighter. As a Tamil who suffered for decades due to a mad man's crazy dream, I only wished the singala army could have come sooner. If they had many of my relatives would still be alive. For those who hail LTTE from abroad, all I have to say it that YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO BRING LTTE BACK! YOU DID NOT SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE MAD DREAM OF TALAWAR!
All of us Tails in Jaffna, ask only to help us re-build what was destroyed due to war. Please help our people to get back to our normal life. Please, for heaven's sake please don't let LTTE to come back to Sri Lanka. We were happy before LTTE came. We had a life. They robbed it from us. Now we are getting back to our feet. Please don't let them destroy our lives again! We don't want eelam. We want to live our normal lives.
I'M sure Mr.Rasaiya is a fernando or perera (he is a sinhalese not a tamil)
...and I am sure Arul is a war criminal who jumped out of Sri lanka before he was caught and now trying to seek asylum in West by telling bull shit to those gullibles.
You are a sucking Sinhalese bitch/bastard writing. Tamils owned the entire Sri Lanka even before you suckers came from nowhere. LTTE is the only freedom fighters for the Tamils. Entire Sri Lanka belongs to the Tamil people.
Who do you think you are?
LTTE IS FREEDOM FIGHTERS, NOT A TERRORIST. Before England came to Srilanka, It was three separate countries. The Eastern side was managed by the Tamil kings, There are lot of evidence in Srilanka (Please refer history) Then, when it was controlled by British people. They united the three countries for management convenience. Tamil peoples were fight for freedom from British and they got, Even though they could not live peacefully with them. So the final way they are asking Separate County. But the government not gives. So they are fighting with them for their freedom.
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