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Wednesday 22 May  
Tamils protesting against the war
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The Hague, Netherlands
The Hague, Netherlands

Tamil war machine runs in the Netherlands

Published on : 30 September 2011 - 11:21am | By International Justice Desk (Photo: RNW)
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The Tamil community in the Netherlands (between 9,000 and 13,000 people) has been “largely annexed” by the Tamil Tigers to the violent conflict in Sri Lanka. Through extortion and sedition, a “climate of fear” has been shaped among Dutch Tamils.

By Marcel Haenen, NRC Handelsblad

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This was the argument of Public Prosecutors (OM) Ward Ferdinandusse and Maartje Nieuwenhuis yesterday to The Hague court in a trial against five Tamils living in the Netherlands who were arrested in 2010.

According to the prosecutors, the suspects have been operating a base in the Netherlands for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE). The prosecution showed the defendants have overseen an international criminal and terrorist organisation involved in arson, bombings, murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault.

The chief suspect, 52-year-old Schagen resident Ramaschandran S. was the international accountant for the LTTE, said the prosecutors. He is suspected of sending couriers around the world with cash to buy weapons for the Tigers. The OM is seeking a 16 year prison sentence for his crimes. Ten year sentences were demanded for three other Dutch Tamil Tigers, as well as a 12 year term for the alleged leader of the Dutch branch, 46-year-old Srirangam R. from The Hague.

Since 1983, the Tamil Tigers have been fighting against the Sri Lankan army for control of an independent homeland in the north of the island. Because of the LTTE’s frequent attacks on civilian targets and their use of suicide bombers and child soldiers, the European Union has listed the group as a terrorist organisation. Two years ago, the Tigers were defeated by the Sri Lankan army. “But here in Europe, the LTTE is alive and well,” said Ferdinandusse.

He called it “shocking” that Tamil children in the Netherlands “from their youngest years are brainwashed with the violent ideology of the LTTE.” In the Netherlands, the Tigers have 20 classrooms where children are bombarded during the weekend with propaganda. They make pictures of bombs and grenades. “They are told from childhood that their future lies not in the Netherlands, but in an independent Tamil state and that suicide bombers are heroes.”

According to the Dutch prosecutors, the Tamil Tigers are busy raising funds for the conflict 8,500 kilometres away. In the Netherlands, they run organisations like the Tamil Youth Organisation and the Dutch Tamil Arts and Culture Organisation, which seek municipal subsidies. It is money that, according to the prosecutors, is used to lubricate the war machine. For example, the OM found that the municipality of Zeist financed a sporting day for the Tamils with 2,000 euros. The money ended up going to the LTTE.

The suspects also demanded war taxes for the Tamils in the Netherlands. But if they could not pay, their family in Sri Lanka was forbidden to visit and they could not travel to the island.

The suspects stoically listened to the indictment, which took all day yesterday. Ramachandran, who has lived in the Netherlands since 1985, sat motionless at the hearing, muscular arms folded across his chest. He allowed only a glance at images prosecutors showed on a screen in the courtroom. Among other things, they depicted recordings of marching Tamil child soldiers in Sri Lanka, an “inflammatory speech” commemorating a fallen comrade from defendant Srirangam in 2007 and a photograph of Ramachandran posing with LTTE founder, Velupillai Prabhakaran in Sri Lanka.

Prosecutors said the defendant’s attitude in court matches the descriptions of the charges against him.

According to Ferdinandusse, “the defendants lack regret, guilt or any opinion of the punishable character of their acts.” As he put it, they were “happy to point the finger at the alleged crimes of the Sri Lankan government, but lack self-reflection over their own crimes.”

The OM is seeking long prison sentences over suspicions the suspects will commit crimes again. “Given the conscious, ideological and stubborn character of the criminal acts of the suspects, we should fear they will be repeated.”
 

Discussion

Simon Gurunathan 1 October 2011 - 2:23am / UK

Ennoda karachaal LTTE baadu kandaara oli? Ommala Okka LTTE terrorist pareh theyvidiya! dank u!

Vis8 30 September 2011 - 3:50pm / USA

Tamil terrorists, who used the war they created, to gain access to the greener pasteurs of the west as "refugees" have effectively bought western politicians with their "campaign donations" (aka terror-money) and promised votes. These Tamil tiger terrorists have been designated by the FBI as the most ruthless terrorists in the world.
I hope that the western politicians who are welcoming these terrorists in sheeps clothing with open arms for their own gains will realize sooner than later the danger of these 'refugees'. The same thing happened in Canada, and now these terrorists have colonized in suburban cities, and are competing in elections: recently, a woman who openly supports the tiger terrorists was elected into the Canadian parliament. her first few 'actions' as an MP: asking the Canadian parliament to impose sanctions on Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is safe from these megalomanic terrorists. But is the west?

Varun Selvanathan 30 September 2011 - 3:15pm / Sri Lanka

LTTE have terrorized whole Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Still they are trying to start their barbaric acts again and working for that from outside Sri Lanka. They present FRICTIONS like that 40,000 story to get the mercy of the international community. But all peace loving Sri Lankan Tamils know the truth. If the government killed that amount WHY DIDN'T THEY KILL THE REMAINING AMOUNT...? Today also government released 1800 former LTTE TERRORISTS after rehabilitating them. Don't forget LTTE TERRORISTS are brutal than any other TERRORISTS groups in the world.

EuroBary 30 September 2011 - 2:16pm / Canada

Well what I do not understand is why the world is so into putting Tamils in Jail, while the Srilankan president is set free.

The Government of Srilanka killed more than 40,000 just in 2 days and more than 250,000 Tamils since 1980. I think Srilankan President Mahinda should be punished first for killing more than 40,000 innocent Tamils.

Evidence: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri-lankas-killing-fields

Simon Gurunathan 1 October 2011 - 2:30am / UK

What an IDIOT you are. One is a horrific TERRORIST organization banned by over 32 "primary" countries on this planet (LTTE) and the other is a respected member of the UNO as having one of the longest democracies in Asia (Sri Lanka and Govt. of Sri Lanka)! With this kind of brain, no wonder your Terrorist lot lost the war - lock stock and barrel!

Anonymous 30 September 2011 - 11:48pm

how many innocent people have been killed in IRAQ and afghanistan.
If they are considering true human rights, then the USA & UK leaders should also be taken to war crime. But everyone knows this wont happen

Therefore i believe there is no such things called human rights, only politics.

Anonymous 30 September 2011 - 8:13pm

bary I am sure you must fed by the LTTE otherwise you will never make a comment like this come to srilanka and see the truth.You better mind your own business as you stupid ****** you dont what you are talking.

NoEalamInSL 30 September 2011 - 5:00pm / Sri Lanka

EuroBary, United Nation's officials who appear as UN Spokes persons are liars giving false statements. Their names are Gordon Weiss and Benjamin Dix who worked as UN staff-Killinochchi.

In video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2alJvzSeAU&feature=BFa&list=ULV2alJvzSeA... they give false statements based on staged civilian protest (timeline 1:55) which later revealed (timeline 2:25) by participants of those protests confessed as staged protest by force/order/request by LTTE and UN to gain sympathy of international community.

UN officials systematicaly setup ground works to protect and defend terrorists and let civilians to live in carnage. UN officials and pro-LTTE NGO/Politicians live like maggots in those carnages. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmfUTv_U2HE They not only annouced false statement of 'blood baths' and exaggerated civilliang casualties of 40,000 deaths 4:37 (denied by UN 5:08), they were actually protecting terrorists in international platforms.

FACTS of False 40,000 civilian killing: (timeline 5:29) Fomer UN spokesperson Gordon Weiss claim "up to 40,000 civilian casualties" during the Humanitarian Operation. At various times, during the Humanitarian Operation, various estimates were made by various parties about the overall population figure in the North.

Total population according to following records:
Humanitarian Agencies 75,000 - 150,000.
UN Resident Coordinator 120,000 - 180,000.
UN World Food Programme 210,000.
Government Agent in Mullaitivu 305,000.

The largest population estimate given is the last one (305,000), by the GA Mullaitivu. The registered number of IDPs at the end of the Humanitarian Operation(after war)was 294,000. So, 305,000-294,000= 11,000 missing or killed(including LTTE cardes. HOW CAN 40,000 PEOPLE BE KILLED IN SRI LANKA WAR? Sri Lanka, You Will Never Walk Alone in the international community. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K78FKEXdM0g

So do your maths EuroBary!!!

NoEalamInSL 30 September 2011 - 4:31pm / Sri Lanka

Euro Barry, The reason for not understanding "why the world is so into putting Tamils in Jail, while the Srilankan president is set free?" is given in this article. The reason is brain wash given by LTTE.

You must also watch these videos which give answers to all false accusations allegations thrown by Channel and UN spokes persons including false allegation of killing of 40,000 civilians:

Lies Agreed Upon. Respond to Channel 4 Sri Lanka's Killing Fields
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2alJvzSeAU
play list of five parts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2alJvzSeAU&feature=BFa&list=ULV2alJvzSeA...

Description:
"Lies Agreed Upon" documentary critically reviews the contents of "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields". In Part 1-5 of Lies Agreed Upon' reveals how Channel-4 Sri Lanka's Kiling Fields' dress up with lies of UN officials, staged dramas(2:00), civilian deaths, bombimg of hospitals IDP facilities. "This film contains very disturbing images" thats how Channel-4 journailst Jon Snow begins the dramatic opening of documentary "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields ". Jon Snow presents a poor forensic investigation based on "staged war situations" and biased evidences into the final weeks of three decades of war between Government of Sri Lanka and most ruthless terrorist organization LTTE. Sri Lanka's Killing Fileds (First Broadcasted on Tueday 14th June 2011by Channel4: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri-lankas-killing-fields/episode-gui......) a doctored footage and deliberate lies are presented as authentic. Numbers are pulled from thin air and presented as facts. Sources are not mentioned faces are hidden, voices are distorted just like the truth unmensioned, hidden and distorted. The very title itself represents outlandish and cynical attempt to revoke memories of Cameroush. Channel-4 does not claim ownership of any footage, facts or figures, faces or names; yet to an uninformed audiance (high ranking officials of United Nations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_p1TfTguW0 ) C4' Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" appeared to be a great story. It is said that the trust of the innocents is the liars most useful tool. Thats what Channel-4 production begs in its reveal.

You may also watch many more videos on LTTE attrocities at WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NoEalamInSL

About jailing Tamil Youths, the latest update is: Sri Lanka releases 1,800 ex-LTTE guerrillas after rehabilitation... The former Tamil Tiger guerrillas were among about 11,000 LTTE fighters who underwent vocational training in military-run rehabilitation centres after they surrendered following the end of the civil war in May 2009. link: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/world/asia/sri-lanka-releases-18...

DEMALA HUTTA Thanks for revealing truths.

Vis8 30 September 2011 - 3:56pm / USA

Here's another terror-supporter with the familiar 'genocide' wail. Go to Jaffna and see how happily Tamils are living, free from terror, free from the fear that their children will be abducted by terrorists, free from extortion.
"Refugees" like this terror-supporter are hell-bent to discredit SRi Lanka so that they can claim "harassment" if they are deported back. All this just to stay in the greener pastures of the western countries.

Anonymous 30 September 2011 - 5:57pm

Sorry Brother - Go to jaffna and see how the population is terroised by " Grease devils" and many other atrocites. As for refugees there are singhalees also in the same pot.

Anonymous 30 September 2011 - 5:45pm / Srilanka

i am living in jaffna under a military regime. We are harrased every single day by the goverment forces, because we are tamils. Why the international media come to Jaffna and report the ground situation? Please Come to jaffna and see it for your self. Safe us from Genocide..

DEMALA HUTHTHA 30 September 2011 - 7:24pm / Eelam

Hey LTTE terrorists only committed genocide of Sinhalese! I know you are so frustrated now cos your LTTE angels cant blow up suicide bombs in Colombo anymore and murder innocent Sinhalese! Get lost your stateless faggot.

Anonymous 30 September 2011 - 3:38pm / Srilanka

Please stop talking about C4 and AI, They all are working for money.. LTTE is collecting money for HR .. What a joke?

DEMALA HUTHTHA 30 September 2011 - 3:07pm / EELAM

Pure rubbish! Killing 40,000 LTTE terrorists is not a crime! LTTE terrorists only murdered over 1,000,000 innocent Sinhalese for the past 60 years! Now trying to show that LTTE are pure angel saints after committing all atrocities against Sinhalese.

kari demala 30 September 2011 - 3:51pm / Canada

These used the war in sri lanka to enter and get asylum in western countries, then they spend donate money to LTTE to kill both innocent peoples in Sri Lanka, all of them should hang

DEMALA HUTHTHA 30 September 2011 - 1:50pm / EELAM

So what is the solution?
Blacklist the GTF, BTF, TGTE, USTPAC and TAG as terrorist organizations as they are a billion times worse than AL Qaeda!

DEMALA HUTHTHA 30 September 2011 - 1:07pm / EELAM

As usual the LTTE terrorists in EU such as Father SJ Emannuel and Suren Surendiran will be busy licking the boots of the whites BEGGING for help as Eelamists are PURE COWARDS who cant fight by themselves. LTTE terrorists begged the West to save them in 2009 COS THEY ARE PURE COWARDS AS USUAL!

DEMALA HUTHTHA 30 September 2011 - 12:51pm / EELAM

We LTTE terrorists are DESPERATE TO MURDER INNOCENT SINHALESE like we did before May 2009 and DRINK SINHALA BLOOD! LTTE terrorists only committed in GENOCIDE in Sri Lanka for the past 60 years by killing over 1,000,000 innocent Sinhalese by blowing up daily suicide bombs!

DEMALA HUTHTHA 30 September 2011 - 12:43pm

A BIG THANK YOU TO RADIO NETHERLANDS for EXPOSING THE GENOCIDE OF LTTE TERRORIST GENOCIDAL MANIACS!

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