Three top LTTE arms smugglers network

According to recent media reports three LTTE operatives identified as Gunapalan (34) (Gunapala) from Thalayadi, Jaffna, Sasikaran Thevarajah (34) ( Sasiljaran Teverajah) from Nedunkerni, Vavuniya , and Satayaphavan Aseeravatham (38) ( Satiepawan Arseawatap) from Manipay, Jaffna had served a prison sentence of five years in Thailand .The three LTTE operatives were arrested in Ranong province on 12 May 2003 and detained by the Thai law enforcement authorities.

At the time of arrest, Gunapalan and Teverajah were both 27 years and Aseerwatham was 34 years . They were arrested with Ten 19.9mm Austrian Glock pistols ,Three German Heckler and Koch pistols - usually used by the Norwegian Special Forces and SWAT-, 25,000 rounds .45 ammunition, 15,000 rounds of .40mm rounds, 1500 rounds of .380 mm, 1500 rounds of .44mm 1000 rounds of .38mm , and 1000 rounds of.32 mm in their possession attempting to smuggle weapons to the LTTE.

Investigations reveal that the quotation for the purchase of Glock pistols and ammunition sought payment for 1,085,500 Bhats. They pleaded guilty and were jailed for five years . 14 Thai nationals were also arrested including eight "junior" police officers and "junior" military officers

The suspects were identified as members of a LTTE gunrunning "ring" operating in Thailand. At the time of their arrest the Government of Thailand was being informed at various levels including prominent Buddhist Clergy and by the Sri Lankan government initiated by the then Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakhsman Kadirgamar regarding LTTE "gun running" from Thailand.

The accused had wanted to live in Thailand but their applications were rejected by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and are in Sri Lanka since 14th August 2007. According to reports they were "served with detention orders " and are in the custody of the "Terrorist Investigations Division(TID). It is understood that the investigations are being conducted under International practices and there is sufficient evidence to investigate the International network of LTTE weapons procurement and maritime activities.

The investigations will attempt to get to the roots of the LTTE procurement and arms smuggling links and procedures and the role of the LTTE Arms procurement and smuggling "king pin", 48 year old Shanmugan Kumaran Tharmalingam aka Kumaran Pathmanadan or "KP". Yangon, Singapore, Bangkok and recently even Johannesbourg are his well known bases. He is believed to have bank accounts in London, Frankfurt Denmark, Athens and Australia and has over 200 passports for his use.

The Sri Lankan investigators will be interested to know the LTTE links with the "subscribers" and " financiers" as well as their Sri Lankan and other contacts including their cellular telephones. With the cooperation of the Thai investigators much information and intelligence will be available to bust the deadly network of the LTTE arms "ring".

Sasikaran is known as the owner of the "famous computer firm at 146, Street Pheath Sihanouk, Sangkat Boeung Kang, Pnom Penh, Cambodia and owns a livestock farm in Cambodia. Sasikaran has handled the purchase of weapons with Aseervatham Satyapavan.

A good understanding of smuggling weapons, ammunition and military hardware to the Sea Tiger base in Mullaitivu may be available with the evidence given by Gunapalan. The military hardware has been unloaded in mid sea from LTTE ships into boats operated by well trained Sea Tigers, some trained abroad by experts in foreign Sea Tiger bases.

Reports indicate that Gunapalan was trained by the Sea Tigers in "swimming , lifesaving, military operations and navigation". He could also handle AK 47 Rifles, 14.5 mm, 20mm and 23 stand off weapons and was trained by the Sea Tiger Saleem Master and was in charge of smuggling goods to Mullaitivu from mid sea. He had smuggled weapons many times to Vadduwan LTTE camp. His usual method was to go out about 80 nautical miles east of Mullaitivu with the help of a GPS. He unloaded from the LTTE Ship "KOI" 60 feet long with 10 crew. In 2002 May - July which was after the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in February 2002, over 20 boxes, each with two five foot shells and PKLMG weapons were brought to Mullaitivu. He has transported arms to Vakarai, Batticaloa prior to the peace talks including 60mm and 81 mm mortar shells. He acknowledges that he is "an expert in navigation". He was ordered by Sea Tiger Soosai to go to Thailand and be trained by Jackson the captain of the LTTE ship operating in the Andaman islands.

There is an interesting report by Dr Peter Chalk referred to by the Canadian Intelligence Service on 17March 2000 which refers to the importance of the Andaman islands: "A small island in the Andaman sea also seems as an important LTTE naval base used to train the Group's Sea Tiger wing. It is alleged that Norwegian ex – Special forces instruct LTTE frogmen at this base providing initially useful lessons in techniques and tactics of underwater demolitions".

The Andaman islands are a large group of "isolated" islands in the Bay of Bengal ideal for clandestine work. Recently due to sea piracy in the straits of Malacca area with the ever increasing number of vessels using it, sea piracy has also increased. The LTTE has long held bases i the area for their clandestine activities.

A Jane's Intelligence report stated that despite the Ceasefire Agreement the LTTE continued to re-supply LTTE cadres: "While Cambodia is the hub of the LTTE East Asia Network, Thailand continues to serve as the most important country for trans-shipment of munitions and coordination of logistics ..its excellent communications infrastructure, proximity to former war zones in both Cambodia and Myanmar and its western coastline facing the Bay of Bengal and Sri Lanka beyond have made Thailand the ancient interface between the LTTE's war zone".

Jane's review in March 2005 reports that the LTTE was again on a "shopping spree in Thailand".

According to reports available, the procurement of weapons was handled by Sasikaran supported by Satyapavan. Gunapalan seems to have had another mission of training Sea Tigers. Sasikaram according to investigations had traveled in the region "extensively" and "frequently", visiting Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore.

It is clear that the Sea Tigers have trained dozens of expert navigators abroad to manage their fast boats at sea so that their "supply lifeline" for future armed conflict can be maintained interruptedly. Moreover the area East of the Mullaitivu coast is the most critical LTTE dumping area for their military hardware from their own ships located in the eastern seas.

The three LTTE operatives are still under investigations. [MCNS]