Confession made by “Colonel” Karuna
February 2nd, 2008
The following is an extract from Crown Prosecution Advocate, Robert Meikle’s speech at Karuna’s sentencing hearing, wherein he reads out of Karuna’s statement to the Metropolitan Police:
He said he had been living in Sri Lanka and wanted to come to London as his family and children were in the United Kingdom. He told the investigating officer that the Sri Lankan Government gave him the passport and sent him to the United Kingdom.
He said that he told the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary that he wanted to visit his family in the United Kingdom and it was he, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, who arranged everything for him and he told him that he would get a six month visa for the United Kingdom. The Secretary also told him, no problem if he wanted to come again. He then said that he thought that the Sri Lankan Government had spoken to the British Government about this visit.
He said he had no involvement; was unaware of how the official got him the passport and he was only aware when the immigration officers arrested him.
He said the Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka was the President’s brother and he knew him as they had met before as when he broke away from the LTTE, which is the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and he had broken away and led a breakaway faction and apparently then became reconciled with the government.
When he broke away from the LTTE the government protected him and he then gave the name of the Defence Secretary to the officers.
He said he did not go after the passport and said that in Sri Lanka, without government assistance no one can get diplomatic passports.
He explained that in a meeting with the Secretary he told him of his intentions to visit his family in the United Kingdom; he had not seen them for a long time. Well, after that everything was arranged for him.
He said that he was taken to the airport and did not go through Customs and the agent who took him there went to the immigration official and he took them direct through the airport and he was then taken on board the plane, which flew to the United Kingdom.
As I say, enquiries with the Sri Lankan authorities dispute that they had anything to do with this passport.
On arrival in the United Kingdom, he went past the immigration official, had no questions of any note asked of him and took a taxi to the address in Kensington.
As far as his diplomatic status is concerned, he said: “No, I’m not a diplomat. I’m protected by the government.”
He said he had a genuine Sri Lankan passport in his name and date of birth that had been arranged for him by Norwegian officials. However, this had been given back to the Sri Lankan Government when they knew he wanted to come to the United Kingdom.
He was shown the passport on which he travelled. Stated the photograph was him. It was not his name and not his date of birth and again, said the government did it all and he said that the government said that he could not travel in his real name.
He said he did not go to the British High Commission or Embassy and was only travelling on the document that he travelled on because he was obeying government instructions, that being the Sri Lankan Government instructions, he was saying.
He was asked whether he had come to the United Kingdom to attend a wild life convention, as stated in the visa application, and said he knew nothing about the visa and that the government did not tell him anything.
He said that the agent in the airport again sorted everything out and he was taken on board the flight and before he left he was handed the passport. He said he was aware that the details on the passport were not his.
When he landed at Heathrow he gave it to immigration, he did not tell them anything regarding the details on the passport; they did not ask him anything. He says it was all down to the Sri Lankan Government authorities.
Entry Filed under: Full Text of Speech
8 Comments Add your own
1. R.Goonetilake | February 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 am
Will Col.Karuna make another confession soon in Hague for his war crimes. Killing 600 policemen who SURRENDERED in the 90’s?
Will Karuna confess to abductions and ransoms that he stashedin overseas banks prior to his arrival?
Will Karuna confess to forcible recruitment of child soldiers while in LTTE and out of LTTE?
Will Karuna confess to killing TRO members who were abducted and then murdered? Will he confess to the TRO members including women of their mass graves?
How funny is that Gothabhaya complaining about Human rights violation of not letting Karuna join his family in UK?
I sincerely hope that the British Officials will call Gothabhaya to testify in UK or Hague court to clear his implications…?????
2. Dingiri | February 4th, 2008 at 9:40 am
The poor fellow, why dont they just amputate his trigger finger, remove his larynx and then put him out to pasture to live with his wife and kids in this Kensington flat? The UK taxpayer is only too willing to foot the bill for his upkeep.
He could have come to the UK for a Tiger conference. Thats should surely count as “wildlife” shouldnt it?
The fake passport is only a minor issue. He should have asked the judge how many times MI6 smuggled people in and out of countries on bogus passports? But then MI6 doesnt exist officially does it? So there goes that strategy down the tube..!
Why not just put a notice out in the newspapers and make him earn his keep? “Former war criminal – slightly used. Free to a good home, Indian grocery store or Service Station.”
3. Devinda Fernando | February 4th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
With Britain Already CHOCK FULL of THOUSANDS of LTTE Terrorists who is going to complain about One more….?
Seriously?
London = New Jaffna.
4. Subra S.Massey | February 4th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Mr.Dingiri,
You seem to take a poke at the Tamils working in grocery stores, gas stations etc. That is how we start, I will tell you my saga. I was made a refuge in my own country. I came to France, slept on the streets of Paris, then A portugese lady helped me to get job in a house. I worked as a House boy, I was so good at my work. The General Motors Europe Manager came one day for dinner and my land lord introduced me to him and this gentle man said we need people like you in North America. So I came to Canada, worked as dish washer, security guard, factory worker, lead hand, foreman, technical manager, owner of my own business. Just opened my merchant bank. There are 5000+ people like me in business in Toronto alone.
We have to start some where and anywhere is okay as long as we start. Right? I want you to read about Rothschild family in Europe. What a humle beginning.
I hope you know the Rothschild Bank in Europe. They provided cerdit to all jews to start businesses. I guess you know where we are heading! We will make very Tamil as wealthy as any other nationality. As a small merchant bank we are providing funds to very tiny businesses but then that is how we start. You know why the world is listenning to us, beacuse we are democratic enterpreneurs. I hope you will do something to help your people instead of rubbing your shoulder with the Tamils. You cannot stop us, but I am, as a humble man suggesting to you go help your people. Light the lamp of enlightement so that your people may lead themself out of ignorance and darkness. I hope you know who said that………………………… Lord Buddha.
5. Ranjan | February 5th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Why didn’t he say anything as to how he was baited by the UNF leaders to breake away from the LTTE
6. dingiri | February 5th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Mr. Massey,
I have read your posts here and know you are a good man at heart but I think you have misunderstood me when you say I laugh at Tamils for working in grocery stores and service stations. I dont. I was merely trying to picture the irony of this once mighty war lord whose very name struk fear into people harmlessly serving behind the counter of a service station and asking “and would you like VAT receipt sir…?”. Anyway lets not be too sanctimonious about it as I have seen you referring to Gotabaya R in your own posts calling him “7/11″.as if it was relevant.
I am no fan of either Karuna or Gotabaya. Its just that the situation in Sri Lanka right now is so bad that it has almost funny.
7. Dr K C | February 7th, 2008 at 7:14 am
In the event of a trial for war crimes, I reckon Karuna would say that he simply took orders from his cheif Praba before he split from the LTTE and was taking orders from Percy & Bros after he left the LTTE!!
I sincerely hope that this trial will expose the true face of Praba and Percy to the whole world.
Also, this trial will strenthen the hands of those people who campaign for a nogotiated political solution in SL.
8. sam | February 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
” Quote: I’m protected by the Government”
What did the British Government do?
They exposed this confession to the public.
Is this the manner in which a Sovereign Government of the First World nation treat a Sovereign Government of a Developping Nation ????
it is shameful to the core of the diplomacy that exists between the nations.
Wish the UK Government will be as transparent once Karuna seek refuge under Complaints Against torture under the UN’s Geneva Convention where the UK Immigration will have to record a detail statement.
make it transparent too as the world needs to know how the Sun Goat and the ltte conducted their affairs & their actions being told first hand.
Leave a Comment
Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed