Dismantling LTTE's International Network

Although the LTTE has been decimated, and most of its leaders and cadre killed or surrendered, its external network remains more or less undisturbed. Using this network, the Tiger remnants are trying to regroup. They have recently set up a headquarters in an undisclosed location and also claim to have put in place “sector-based working groups” and an “executive committee” to take the struggle forward “vigorously”. According to the LTTE, about 1500 armed cadres are still hiding in Sri Lankan jungles to rekindle their armed struggle. They may make use of large quantities of arms buried in the jungles of the northeast. They are also awaiting the resettlement of the displaced to mix-up with civilians. Many LTTE ‘sleeper cells’ that exist all over the island is another potential source of perpetuating violence.

For various reasons the international wing of the LTTE wishes that the conflict perpetuates in Sri Lanka. It requires a rationale for continued existence; to disprove the claim of the Sri Lankan government that the LTTE has been decimated; and to sustain the aura of the group among the Tamil diaspora. Irrespective of factions, the external wing has been trying to revive the Eelam movement in the island. Even if it manages to carry on short attacks hither and thither in any part of Sri Lanka by making use of Tiger remnants, fundraising among diaspora may not be a problem.

However, any regrouping of the LTTE is not acceptable to Colombo. The priority for Sri Lanka, therefore, is to apprehend the LTTE leadership living abroad and dismantle the international wing of the LTTE completely. Several strategies have been adopted to achieve this objective:
• Appoint military officials in key Sri Lankan embassies especially in Europe as diplomats to personally oversee the operation and lobby the local government to prevail on LTTE activities.
• Direct appeal to countries where LTTE leaders are holed up for their deportation.
• Highlight to the international community that the international Tiger network could be used by other terror groups and mafia.

With the recent arrest of Selvarasa Pathmanathan (alias Kumaran Pathmanathan or “KP”), the Sri Lankan government has garnered more information on the LTTE’s international network. It was “KP” who was mainly responsible for building up the extensive arms and funding grid of the LTTE. He was till 2003 LTTE’s principal fund raiser and in January 2009 appointed as chief of LTTE’s International Affairs Wing. The detention, therefore, is significant. With this at least one faction of the LTTE’s international wing will be weakened. But, “KP” faction is a moderate one that announced “silencing of guns” and pursue its goals through non-violent means. The other faction led by Nediyavan wants to revive the armed struggle. The clash of ideas between the two factions actually led to the betrayal. Else, it would not have been possible for Sri Lanka to capture Pathmanathan, who successfully evaded two Red Corner notices of the Interpol for nearly two decades.

The Sri Lankan state has to consider this factor while deciding the fate of “KP”. It may like to use “KP” as it used Karuna. Of course, the aim of Colombo is to get hold of the leadership of the other faction as well. It may not be difficult if the host governments cooperate and their exact whereabouts are known. Depending on the quality of information from “KP”, the Sri Lankan government can more or less break the international network of the Tigers.

A million-strong Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora spread across all over the world is a crucial factor for any revival of the LTTE. However, the diaspora is divided on core issues like the end goal of Eelam and the means to achieve it. The majority of diaspora does not prefer a separate state but dignity of Tamils. And a great number of them also oppose revival of armed means in the island. Reconciling these differences is not going to be an easy task given the fact that Tamils in Sri Lanka are also not united on the future course of action in realising a political settlement to the ethnic issue. Most importantly, the LTTE can no more control diaspora as it did before.

To dismantle the remaining international network of the Tigers, Sri Lanka requires cooperation especially of the West where the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora are concentrated. Presently, however, Colombo is at loggerheads with the West over human rights issues. Most importantly, Sri Lankan government must make sure that there exists no justification for existence of any militant groups or its international wings. For this, ongoing rehabilitation of former LTTE fighters and resettlement of displaced civilians should be undertaken at a faster pace and with utmost dignity. Colombo should send positive and confident signals to the Tamil diaspora on a lasting political solution to the ethnic issue as well. If these steps are taken, the international network of the LTTE will be wiped off once and for all.

(Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the views either of the Editorial Committee or the Centre for Land Warfare Studies).