Two Aussie Tamils Produced in Courts for Allegedly Funding the LTTE
May 1st, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Two Tamils of Sri Lankan origin currently residing in Australia were arrested and produced in courts on May 1st for allegedly funding the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Two Melbourne residents were produced in courts charged with providing material support and funding to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers.
Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, 32, of Mt Waverley, and Sivarajah Yathavan, 36, of Vermont South, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on May 1st afternoon after their arrests earlier in the day .
They were each charged with intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation and providing support and making funds available to a terrorist organisation.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between July 6, 2002, and May 1, 2007.
Commonwealth prosecutor Mark Dean SC said the defendants collected money in Australia that was sent through various channels in Asia to the Sri Lanka-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers.
Mr Dean also said the pair supported the organisation by providing electronic and marine equipment.
He said authorities searched the mens’ homes where further evidence was obtained.
However, defence lawyer Rob Stary said more information on the nature of the charges the men faced was needed so they could apply for bail.
The men were remanded in custody until July 24 for a committal mention.
Australians may have been duped into giving money to fund a bloody civil war by two men accused of providing material support and funding to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers under the pretence of raising money for tsunami relief appeals, police alleged .
Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Frank Prendergast said prior to the men appearing in court that police would allege that tsunami relief appeals were used as a vehicle for some of the fund-raising for the Tamil Tigers.
Both men arrested Tuesday for raising money for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels, were not planning an attack in Australia, police said.
“There is no evidence that these two men were planning to carry out a terrorist attack in Australia,” Frank Prendergast, a senior counterterrorism officer with the Australian Federal Police, said in a statement.
“It will be alleged in court that these men are members of an organization engaging in terrorist activity overseas and they have been providing active, material support to that group,” he said.
Australia list the rebels, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as a terrorist group in accordance with a U.N. charter relating to financing terrorism.
Both men, one aged 32 and the other 36, were arrested in Melbourne on Tuesday in a joint operation by federal police and Victoria state police.
Both men were charged with being a member of a terrorist organization, with providing support to a terrorist organization and with intentionally receiving making funds available to a terrorist organization.
They face a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment if charges are proved.
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19 Comments Add your own
1. leo | May 1st, 2007 at 8:33 am
If only this was done by all the western governments long ago, the terrorist problems the world faces today would not have been in existance.
2. shan | May 1st, 2007 at 6:15 pm
The issue here is not tigers or the lions.It is the issue tamils are facing now.First settle the problems the tamils are facing then call the LTTE a terro group.At the moment LTTE is fighting for a cause.elliminate the cause first,untill then we all will sympathise with the LTTE.
3. John Smith | May 1st, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Instead terrorist states would have had free reign, one can lable another gorup terrorist, however if not for the LTTE would the world even talk about the Tamils of Sri Lanka?
4. Arvinth | May 1st, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Dear Shan,
LTTE is fighting with what cause? can u explain it in this forum (comment section)? I think Tamils problem & LTTE’s problem r different.
5. Raf | May 1st, 2007 at 11:11 pm
There are two important issues in this.
1. I agree that the LTTE is a terrorist organisation because they have killed a lot on civilians arbitrarily, political leaders of the TULF and the UNP. They have been involved in ethnic cleansing. Therefore the international community needs to take whatever action it can to stop the funding of this organising.
2. On the other hand a political solution needs to found for our ethnic issue which is satisfactory to all the parties to the conflict. Even if the LTTE is destroyed the ethnic conflict will not go away. Our leaders all communities should realise this and work towards a political solution. THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.
6. Ran Che | May 1st, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Mr Jayaraj
The Australian Police have caught only two. There are many in Australia who have visited homes and demanded money. What is happenning to them?
We are also made to understand that all monies collected have not reached for the cause received. The collectors have invested the sums by building and buying houses.
I am sure those who cheated and did the wrong are now getting worried.
We should report to the police of our notes and observations.
7. Sam | May 2nd, 2007 at 12:33 am
Well done Australian Police
Investigate further and bring those crooks behind bars
8. Sam | May 2nd, 2007 at 1:16 am
lets treat the root cause, not the symtoms
9. Suresh | May 2nd, 2007 at 2:57 am
It is going to be one of challenge we, tamils, have to face.
If Australia thinks they can go against the tamils, tamil tigers, so be it. We will prevail.
Tiger support never will stop and this kind behavior will only increase the support for the LTTE.
Morover why cannot the world understand, LTTE is not a terrorist?
OR
They entertain the problems facing Sri Lanka, and keep the problem on, so that we all are superior.
Time will tell
Suresh
10. Priyanga | May 2nd, 2007 at 3:42 am
LTTE has created(and continue to do so) more problems for tamil civilians than anyone. Prabha will be doomed if this war stops.Also is his group of back sctratchers.
As a Singhalese I sometimes sympathise with his younger fighters. They are boys and girls like any other who knew nothing but violence and hatred. They never had a chance to see other side of the world. They grew up in a different world and this sayanide lead life for them, is ‘normal’. Prabhakaran, at least you made sure that your children are well off. Shame on you!
11. Hela | May 2nd, 2007 at 3:45 am
The Tamil cause has been hijacked by a terror project long time ago mainly with the active support of a sizeable number of diaspora. Judging by the responses in lot of related web sites, it appears they continue to support this terror project.
They don’t seem to understand the use by date of this terror project has expired.
Until they realised that and stop supporting the terror project, Tamils will suffer.
12. David | May 2nd, 2007 at 3:50 am
I am afraid that Shan is putting every Tamil in Danger by his stupid claim that all Tamils support LTTE. Terrorism should not be allowed to acheive political gains, no matter how noble the cause is. Our government classified LTTE as a terror group.
13. Chan Wan | May 2nd, 2007 at 8:08 am
World should get to gether to wipe off all these terrorists. Who says LTTE is fighting for Tamils. It looks like Sri Lankan government should openly call for US support as it appears that India is not extending their support to wipe off these ruthless murderers, may be the Central government is control by some Southern Indian politicians.
It’s high time to destroy LTTE who appears more dangerous than Al-Qaeda. We Australians fully support wiping off these terror groups.
14. Sachi | May 2nd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
To kill one LTTE, Government killed ten Tamils. People who writing comments here have to feel it rather than writing. Tamil politicians made first mistake that for their parliament dream the have used Tamil youths, but their son and daughters was in good jobs, enjoyed wealth and power, after that so many arms group formed every cast and every village had different armed group that was biggest mistake by Tamils. For Tamils, I never thing they will govern them self one day, because Tamil never happy hearing other Tamil doing well. I thing that, LTTE wasting time for Tamil. LTTE have more enemy in Tamils than Sinhalese. because we Tamils always forgetting why we are fighting for and every Tamilan think that he knows everything and he is better than other Tamilan. This is will destroy our community. For example Mr. Douglas Revenant, I know he hates LTTE but when innocent Tamils were killed by Sri Lankan Government, he never make any statement against it. Do you think people like this will let Tamil be happy, never? Like I told you before, LTTE wasting their life for selfish and jealous community. I am not a Sri Lankan Tamil but some time I think I know about Sri Lanka better than Sri Lankan Tamil.
God help Sri LankanTamils.
15. Arvinth | May 2nd, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Suresh,
Australian government against only to the terrorist & terrorist organizations, not against to Tamils or any other citizens. Here please don’t mix up the peace loving Tamils & the LTTE terrorist.
LTTE’s cause is different & Tamil cause is different. What happened to Paris based TTN television network?
Who killed our fishermen in Kanyakumari Sea on 29-3-2007 & who kidnapped our 12 fishermen on 4-3-2007? Who killed our prime minister? Still we support the Eelam Tamils & we welcome all refugees as our brothers & sisters, because we know Tamils problem is different & the LTTE’S problem is different.
And yesterday the LTTE try to kill other Tamil political group members in a May Day parade in Swiss.
One times our people, the state & central governments all political parties supported the LTTE & other Tamil liberation organization, but not now. Now only few political parties in the LTTE pay roll support them for their foreign travels & dollars.
Dear LTTE sympathizers/ supporters/ tails please read these links:
UK warns of ‘Tamil Tiger fraud’
Top ‘US Tamil Tiger’ is arrested
Tamil Nadu CM gives Tiger warning
Britain rules out lifting LTTE ban
Cargo boat ‘looted off Sri Lanka’
Tamil support hit by death, arrests
Madras HC bench rejects pre-arrest bail to “LTTE associate”
Kerala approaches Centre to rescue fishermen in LTTE custody
Why all these?
Suresh! Time will tell all.
16. Nedunchezhiyan | May 2nd, 2007 at 9:47 pm
A comment to all the learned souls who comment in this web site. Could any one of you properly define the usage of the word “Terrorism” and Terrorist Organization”, specifically indicating what act defines it, and when and under what circumstances the definition stands.
For example, the definition should address not only the actual defining of the term but also the severity, time, duration and circumstances etc. For example, once you define what act constitutes terrorism then does one organisation that conducts 99% conventional war and 1% terrorist acts compared the same as another which conducts 99% terrorist acts and 1% conventional war?
You go ahead an define it and I will be more than gald to demonstrate that the majority of the Governments / states in the UN are also terrorist Organizations.
Until we understand what exactly the word terrorism constitutes you are all simply wasting your time and using this forum space to vent your personal feelings.
Then consider the human rights implications as Alexander Downer himself has stated on national television that it may be impossible to prove that the two arrested had directly supplied funds to the LTTE. So they were arrested on suspicion… sounds familiar like the situation in SL? The implication to personal freedom is far greater in this context.
17. Arvinth | May 4th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Eelam Tamils struggle / Liberation now in LTTE’s control & our citizens paying the price becaz of helping / sympathize them…..we need this. First they killed our loving prime minister & now our fishermen…….we need all this.
“LTTE shot dead five fishermen” – The Hindu
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu `Q’ branch police on Thursday reiterated that it was the LTTE which shot dead five fishermen off Kanyakumari on March 29 and also abducted 12 fishermen some days prior to the shooting incident.
A `Q’ Branch official said involvement of the banned outfit was confirmed from statements given to the police by Sea Tigers who were nabbed by the Coast Guard on April 11 and later handed over to the Tamil Nadu police for further investigation. The reiteration by the police came in the wake of the reported denial by LTTE that it was involved in the incidents. The special unit also released portions of, what it said, were statements of three islanders, Robinson, Bonipas and Arul, which were recorded.
The official said following the interrogation of one of the arrested Sea Tigers it was now strongly suspected that he was among those involved in the abduction.
A few days ago, Director-General of Police D. Mukherjee said that the arrested Sri Lankans had told the `Q’ branch that prior to the shooting, 12 Indian fishermen were abducted along with their boat by a Sea Tigers group. The hostages were in the custody of the Tigers in one of their camps.
As per the statement released, Bonipas had said that the 12 fishermen were put on a (LTTE) boat. When the fishermen were questioned, they had said they were from Muttom.
Arul had said that he had heard a telephonic conversation that the fishermen, who were shot, had come by the side of a Sea Tigers boat and had insisted that they be given fish when they were fired at by one Manalan (a Sea Tiger).
According to Robinson, Michael (another Sea Tiger) had said that the name Maria on the Sea Tigers boat should be erased to evade detection by authorities.
18. H | May 9th, 2007 at 1:40 am
Some information about the situation:
The arrest of these two men is also being condemned by groups concerned about Civil liberties in Australia. The prevention of Terrorism act gives extra powers to the police and ordinary Australians are concerned about this.
The LTTE are not a proscribed terrorist organisation in australia but it is illegal to provide funds to the organisation. For example, even a bus timetable sent to the North/East of Sri Lanka could be used against someone, since the law says you cannot provide “material suport” to the organisation.
With relation to these two men, they were detained under the new prevention of terrorism act for 48 hours and I was told they didn’t have access to lawyers. The defence lawyers did not have enough information about the two men when they were taken to court. I was told that the magistrate demanded that the two men be given proper access to lawyers and the details of the charges laid against them be given to them. Even though the police said the men are not a threat to austalian security the men could not be released on bail because the new prevention of terrorism act in australia is related to the threat of “global” terrorism.
The Defence lawyer criticised the police for having a press conference about the arrests before the men faced court. People think it is a coincidence that the arrests were made when Mr. Kohana (who has connections in the department of foreign affairs in australia), was visiting this country. Maybe it was a publicity stunt that would give him and/or the Rajapakse government brownie points with the Sri Lankan public? Mr. Kohana was all over national TV, here in australia, and made a claim (http://tinyurl.com/2×7dw6) that 30% of funds came from Australia. Mr. Downer’s (the minister of foreign affairs), statement on the other hand implied it could be an exaggeration. In fact Mr. Kohana has made a statement in January this year that it was 1/6th of the total (http://tinyurl.com/2ehojg). Looks as though there has been a jump by 100% related to funding from Australia in just 3 months.
Yesterday I was told a public statement was made by the Police that the men appear not to have had carried out any activities after 2005. I am not sure what the implications of this are.
Fortunately, the Tamil community in Australia, is low key and generaly has a reputation for being law abiding. They also have the advantage of having lawyers in the community as well as people with English skills who can interpret the law. It is much more difficult for the arab Australians who don’t have these advantages who get detained under this act.
A high profile campaign to free a young anglo-australian man called David Hicks, who is being held in Guantanamo bay by the Americans on charges of terrorism is being carried out, so the public is accutely aware of the problematic nature of the prevention of terrorism act (http://www.fairgofordavid.org/,
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2007/s1884546.htm). John Howard has been facing a great deal of pressure from the public to bring David Hicks back to Australia.
19. Shane Peterz | March 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
People were discriminated historically based on cast and money and fluency in English language, in Sri Lanka. Poor Tamils and Sinhalese both were victims of this culture. However, the effect was more on Tamils coz they were a minority. They got hammered by their own people and by the Sinhalese majority. It also accelerated due to Tamil politicians who used this community as a target market. As a result the LTTE from the Tamil pro North and the JVP from Sinhalese pro South were formed. That’s the history.
What is the situation today.? The educated and the rich Tamil class is still living happily outside northern part of Sri Lanka and outside the country while the poor uneducated community is still fighting for a never ending war. LTTe is not willing to accept anything other than a separate state. So the answer to the problem of the Tamil community is only a a separate state according to LTTE and extreme Tamil parties. All these comments about “address the problems of the Tamil community” is all about a separate state!!
OK ,if the Sri Lankan gvt decide to separate the country will this problem be over? Will all the Tamils in Colombo and up country move to north? (approximately over 1.5M people).
Will this educated high cast Tamils accept the rabels as their leaders? Can the rabels give 500,000 jobs to the up country workers?
This is a dream!!
Let’s not be a part of supporting this never ending war. This has taken over 80,000 lives and may be it will take another 100,000 at the going rate. All the young energetic future leaders are dying from both ends. We are pushing the poor, uneducated youth to the war. Countries like India and Singapore and many other Asia Pacific countries are gaining from this.
What can all the Sri Lankans do,
As Sinhalese I think they have to accept the Tamils as part of their community and the Tamils should feel that they are accepted. TV programs and political programs will not help on this. It has to come from the general public.
As Tamils let’s now give up this Eelam dream. LTTE is now struggling to manage a very small area, while all the other Tamils re taking the democratic path way.
Lets hope for a better Sri Lanka. The reason is the rich and high class of both (Sinhala and Tamil)communities survive within the country or outside, while the poor and uneducated class will fight forever and ever until this land becomes a truly forsaken land.
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