(November, 11, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The June meeting also discussed funding and business expansion for...yes, you've guessed it, the Asian Tribune. Here's how it went. Rajasingham proposed that he was willing to make use of the news feeds and other Sri Lanka material put out by Rupavahini and ITN in a new satellite TV transmission simultaneously so that viewers in Asia, Europe, Africa and America would be able to see the official position of the government. Of course he explained this would cost a tremendous amount of money to make use of the Hot Bird satellite platform. Nearly 22,000 Euros per month per continent he told Rajapakse. He explained the footprints of this satellite were only seen clearly within a particular continent.
Child soldiers
Coomaraswamy in an official statement from her office welcomed Karuna's move stating "This is a major step forward that will help to prevent children from being used by armed groups in Sri Lanka. I hope that this will lead to effective action on the ground."
Be that as it may Rajasingham tells President Rajapakse in this June discussion that Karuna had assured to him as well as Coomaraswamy that he will not recruit under age children and will allow his bases to be inspected by the UNICEF representatives to ascertain that there are no underage child recruits with him.
Rajasingham also informed Rajapakse that he had taken part in a conference call with Advocacy Director, Children's Rights Division, Human Rights Watch together with Karuna where Karuna had given an assurance again that he will not recruit underage children and in turn Rajasingham too gave an assurance on behalf of Karuna.
Note: The very fact that Rajasingham finds he can speak on behalf of Karuna vis-a-vis the international community on the one hand and on behalf of the government on the other is damning in itself.
Rajasingham then told Rajapakse that on May 4 this year after Karuna attacked his own cadres and ordered Pillayan's supporters to be killed he had also got to know that Thileepan and Jeventhiran were ordered by Karuna to have their own teams. Among them said Rajasingham, they have 190 underage recruits. Even to Inniyabarathy Karuna had instructed to recruit underage children.
By this Rajasingham was effectively telling the President that Karuna had underage children among his cadre which even if Rajapakse did not know upto that point he was from that point on aware of.
Ironically it is the very man Rajasingham, who had given such assurances to the likes of Radhika Coomaraswamy on behalf of Karuna in December 2006, who now in June 2007 admits that Karuna in fact has underage recruits.
Rajasingham explains to Rajapakse that the Asia Tribune supported Karuna because he was to enter mainstream politics and had promised not to get involved in abductions, collecting ransoms, killings and recruitment of children as cannon fodder.
A stick to hit Pirapaharan
Rajasingham explained that Karuna with his parochial political approach looked down on those from Jaffna using pejorative terms like Yarlapani but Rajasingham supported him despite hailing from Jaffna as he wanted to use him as a 'stick to hit at Pirapaharan and LTTE.'
Rajasingham lamented that while he supported Karuna thinking that though he started his career as a terrorist he could be rehabilitated, he was mistaken. He tells the President that while Karuna speaks vociferously about wanting to enter mainstream politics he follows his erstwhile leader Pirapaharan and is bent on ethnic cleansing and driving the Jaffna Tamils who have lived for three-four generations in the east.
Murder most foul
Rajasingham now says; "I was told that he is the one responsible for the abduction and killing (yes he has killed him according to unconfirmed reports) of Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ravindranath of the Eastern University."
Karuna is then described to the President as a liability to the Rajapakse government and a spent force who should be got rid of.
Vital to note is that Rajasingham says to the President, "We have already made use of his narration about the LTTE's atrocities, plans and targets. It is now nearly three years has lapsed (sic) since he came out of the LTTE and he has no more real stories to narrate and he will be of no use to anyone."
Limited knowledge
Rajasingham also says that though Karuna was a regional commander of the LTTE for the Batticaloa-Ampara districts his knowledge of the Wanni and Jaffna terrain is limited.
Of Pillayan, Rajasingham says he was also a child recruit at the tender age of 14 years and today is only 30 years of age (infact 29) as an ordinary cadre he has roamed in Jaffna and Wanni and knows the terrain better than Karuna.
But listen to this well. For it reflects not only the warped thinking of the government but its callous attitude towards those it uses to further its own ends. For now Rajasingham tells President Rajapakse that in fact neither Pillayan nor Karuna will be of any use to the security forces. And if the top brass think they can use them in the battle against the LTTE in the north, it is wrong.
In fact it is now suggested that it is better to cause another split within the LTTE from the Jaffna District itself to work with the security forces in the north.
Karuna useless
Rajasingham suggests strongly that the government gets rid of Karuna who is a liability and work with Pillayan and his men who are more popular in the east than Karuna. As far back as in June he tells the President that Pillayan is planning the arrest of Karuna, but only hesitate as they are unsure of the reaction of the Defence Ministry.
Rajasingham also states that if there is going to be an election in the east and if Karuna's faction is pitted against the LTTE's proxy party, TNA or any independent groups led by leading personalities, the Karuna Group would not even be in a position to retain their deposits. But he says they can of course "use their lethal weapons and through threat and intimidation rig the election and stuff the ballot boxes."
It is in that context, Rajasingham tells the President Karuna should be got rid of if the Defence Ministry agrees.
To this President Rajapakse agrees and according to the minutes promises to take the matter up with his defence people and 'do the needful.'
Rajasingham then informs Rajapakse that Karuna has threatened him, Rajasingham, through his side-kick Inniyabarathy and has sworn that he will give a contract to kill him and his family.
Devananda stabbed in the back
Ironically however, in his October 24 report to Sunimal Fernando of the June meeting with the President, where Devananda was also present, Rajasingham questions in bold print and in parenthesis the usefulness of Minister Douglas Devananda himself.
At one point he states in the written minutes having in June suggested Devananda's name in his presence as a minister in charge of overseas Sri Lankans as follows:
"(At Present Mr. Rajasingham is of the view that Hon. Douglas Devananda has never come forward to promote the government other than promoting his EPDP politics. Therefore Mr. Rajasingham suggests that best person to take up the portfolio as minister in charge of overseas Sri Lankans is no other than Mr. Basil Rajapakse.)"
Thus Rajasingham demonstrates he is no spring chicken in the dirty game of politics.
Devious
In fact with regard to Indo Lanka relations when Rajasingham in June suggested Sri Lanka must try its best to find out what India expects from her, Rajapakse had responded by stating that he had told Douglas Devananda to visit New Delhi on his way back to Colombo from Geneva and discuss certain aspects that had been raised.
Rajasingham then suggested he was prepared to go along with a Sinhalese and a Muslim person and suggested to include H. L.D.Mahindpala in the delegation who will be able to convey the Sinhalese aspirations to the Indian leaders.
Rajapakse agreed with the suggestions according to the report and conveyed to Devananda to make the necessary arrangements while it was also agreed to keep this decision highly confidential.
Deviously however Rajasingham in his report of October 24 to Fernando says again in Parentheses, "(It was unfortunate that Hon. Douglas Devananda has failed to show interest in this project. Therefore I am of the opinion that he should not be entrusted with the arrangement of this meeting with the Indian leaders.)"
But back to the meeting in June. The Asian Tribune Editor and Rajapakse now discuss diplomatic representation.
Bad diplomats
Rajasingham condemns the Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom as uncooperative with the Asian Tribune. He states that the lady High Commissioner Kshenuka Seneviratne and First Secretary Maxwell Keegel are uncooperative and avoid responding to telephone calls.
He suggests that the entire London High Commission be completely revamped right from the lady High Commissioner downwards.
The Asian Tribune Editor who seems to have been elevated to Presidential Advisor at Large next turns his vitriolic eye on Sri Lanka's Embassy in France as well, castigating the lady ambassador as a woman very hesitant to divulge information. She is to leave at the end of 2007, Rajasingham confirms at the meeting.
Funnily enough recall that Ambassador Wagiswara was recalled by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama recently in a surprise move and another person appointed in her place. The jigsaw pieces held up against the master plan drawn up in Geneva in June seems to now slowly fall in to place.
Be that as it may Rajasingham continued to grumble wanting Rajapakse to secure its sources for stories. 'If the Diplomatic mission fails to come forward to work and cooperate with us then how it is possible for us to fight the anti-government elements in Europe?' he asks Rajapakse.
But France and England were not the only offenders. Rajasingham points out that Sri Lanka's Embassy in Oslo, Norway was not coming forward to talk with other Tamil groups in Norway. He also said that Ahmed A. Jawad who was the ambassador earlier had been accused of being very close to the LTTE in Oslo and with Erik Solheim and others.
Missions a failure
Even the new ambassador, Rajasingham complains is the same.
The discussion also focused on Sri Lanka's embassies in the West which Rajasingham said were concerned only with country to country diplomatic affairs. He said missions were sending weekly reports by interacting with a handful of the diaspora but there was no machinery available to interact politically and otherwise with these diasporas and churn them into diaspora organisations in favour of the government to promote the interests and welfare of Sri Lanka.
New diplomatic position
Suggesting a new position in the overseas mission Rajasingham said there should be officials from the Ministry with a crash course in foreign diplomacy who may be appointed as counselors with independent charge in all our missions abroad. These officials he said could function according to instructions of the Ministry of Overseas Sri Lankans.
Rajapakse had at the June meeting agreed with Rajasingham that such a portfolio was good to embrace the Tamils, Muslims and the Sinhalese in the West and in Australasian countries.
Funding for Asian Tribune
The June meeting also discussed funding and business expansion for...yes, you've guessed it, the Asian Tribune. Here's how it went.
Rajasingham proposed that he was willing to make use of the news feeds and other Sri Lanka material put out by Rupavahini and ITN in a new satellite TV transmission simultaneously so that viewers in Asia, Europe, Africa and America would be able to see the official position of the government.
Of course he explained this would cost a tremendous amount of money to make use of the Hot Bird satellite platform. Nearly 22,000 Euros per month per continent he told Rajapakse. He explained the footprints of this satellite was only seen clearly within a particular continent.
President Rajapakse agreed saying it was prudent to begin the transmission of the TV in the beginning to one continent and gradually expanding the transmission to other continents. Rajapakse promised Rajasingham he would extend all the assistance and support.
According to minutes of the meeting sent to Presidential Advisor Sunimal Fernando President Rajapakse had granted the necessary permission to Rajasingham to transmit the programmes from Rupavahini and ITN.
Rajapakse had also said that necessary instructions would be given to the officials of the two TV stations to assist Rajasingham in his new media programme.
No govt. advertising
Of course Rajasingham was quickly to slip in that he had not obtained any sponsorship from any government organisations such as SriLankan Airlines, Tourist Board, Tea Board, Bank of Ceylon, People's Banks etc., etc. He pointed out that so far none of those government corporations had come forward to advertise in the Asian Tribune.
President Rajapakse helpfully promised to look into the matter forthwith.
Rajasingham also informed Rajapakse of Asia Tribune's grandiose plans to launch the EuroAsian satellite radio explaining it would be a satellite radio which would be a new media outlet of the World Institute of Asian Studies (WIAS) that publishes the Asian Tribune.
EuroAsian Radio will be accessible through satellite receivers and internet initially. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, Rajasingham said he was planning to have it broadcast through FM radio throughout the island and requested Rajapakse to grant FM radio licences to cover the entire island for the EuroAsian Radio and also transmitting tower facilities.
Behind the breakup
Be that as it may, in other communication in our possession Rajasingham claims he was instrumental in getting rid of Karuna on behalf of the government and was also behind his breakaway from the LTTE. Rajasingham claims he promoted Karuna and encouraged him to spike the LTTE but fell out with him when he got involved in a fratricidal war in May this year with his second in command Pillayan.
It is Rajasingham who had been doing the ground work for the registering of the new party and for making Pillayan the new leader of the Karuna Group. According to taped telephone conversations he was in touch with Pillayan and other eastern cadres in order to register a new political party and find a new logo for the party.
Rajasingham in fact was to speak to Pillayan before Karuna registered his political party the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) and push for Pillayan to quickly get in on the act.
Rajasingham advises Pillayan to quickly draft a constitution and make a members list but Pillayan is apprehensive saying the other faction may register themselves sooner with the help of Krishnan, Karuna's deputy.
Sinister soul
It is then that Rajasingham's sinister soul is bared. "We must do something there to Krishnan before he comes," he says. And just for a minute the human face of Pillayan takes over. 'Paavam' he says in a moment's weakness. 'Sin.. I feel sorry.'
But Rajasingham, Editor of Asian Tribune is adamant. 'No .No,' he says. 'He is a dangerous man. If he comes he should be locked up.'
Be that as it may the Asian Tribune Editor, according to communications under his hand reveal, not only met President Rajapakse in June but has also been in close touch with Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle in order to get the Pillayan faction registered as a new political party.
As recently as November 1, 2007 Rajasingham in written communication states that Pillayan will not trust anyone in his outfit but that he is in the process of getting the names and addresses of 2000 people and drafting a constitution in Tamil as he has to outsmart Karuna by registering the political party very secretly and consolidate his hold.
For this purpose Raghu, a man purporting to be Pillayan's lawyer with the full backing of Rajasingham devises a scheme to cook up party minutes and even get approval of the political party from the elections commissioner by fax.
In touch with the top
Rajasingham has also been in touch with government lackeys, defence officials and top Foreign Ministry officials including persons close to President Rajapakse in order to implement the tangled plan hatched in the cool climes of Switzerland in June.
It is to top all this that the publishers of Asian Tribune WIAS has launched into another project that would stoke the ego of President Rajapakse on the one hand and give WIAS a firm platform in the south on the other. That is to write the biography of President Mahinda Rajapakse called 'Power of Southern Grassroots - Journey of Mahinda Rajapakse.'
The ego centric Mahinda Percival Rajapakse who gets his photograph plastered not only on every billboard but also on monuments to the 2008 Olympic Games in China is not likely to reject such an exciting prospect for the sake of posterity.
But for Rajasingham it was not all about Mother Lanka. He was determined to link this entire sordid mess together with funding for his business. To this end he sent a large funding proposal prepared by him and dated May 9, 2007 on November 1, 2007 to the government.
But of course as seen the matter of funding and advertising had already been discussed by Rajasingham at the highest levels in Geneva.
Funding
As part of its funding efforts with the government Rajasingham and the Asia Tribune liberally used in its document the names of several persons such as H.L.D. Mahindapala, head of its Australian Bureau, Daya Gamage, US Bureau head, and Sugeeswara Senadheera, head of the Sri Lankan Bureau,
As contributing columnists he cites Dayan Jayatilleke who is also Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative for the UN in Geneva and Tisaranee Gunasekera and Leel Pathirana, an ex jailed JVPer.
Rajasingham estimates according to his proposal that his budget for 2007 would be a conservative USD 518,000. Remember this is an on-line edition and therefore there are no recurrent costs.
It is as a culmination of this elaborate plot as enumerated above hatched in the Presidential Suite of the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva that on September 17, Karuna was smuggled out of the country on a diplomatic passport in the name of Kokila Gunawardena.
Rajasinghan phones Pillayan
An English translation of a taped conversation in Tamil between Editor, Asian Tribune, K.T.Rajasingham and Pillayan that took place a few days before Karuna's arrest in London. Pillayan also talks of a Padmini. Krishnan who is spoken of is Karuna Amman's deputy who it is said will be coming down from London to Colombo shortly.
Rajasingham: Hello
Pillayan: Hello
R: Now the time is 10:15, today is Friday.he might go out (third person)
P: Yes
R: You'll have to draft a constitution and members list
P: OK
R: Meanwhile I will try to contact him before that
P: How long will it take you because I think they will draft one before us. How can we block that?
R: Who will give them support to register
P: I think Krishnan
R: Before Krishnan comes we can do it. But we must do something there to Krishnan before he comes
P: Sin.I feel sorry
R: No No he is a dangerous man. If he comes he should be locked up..Paper called Theepoli says that Padmini has run away, have you heard about it.
P: Yes, Yes I heard
Sunimal has a memory lapse
The Sunday Leader contacted Presidential Advisor Sunimal Fernando who said he could not recollect an email sent to him by Rajasingham but would check his mail box on Monday. When it was pointed out the email contained a very important report on a meeting Rajasingham had with President Rajapakse he said his subject as an advisor was very limited and confined mainly to the teaching of English and he was unable to understand how a report of this nature would be forwarded to him. Fernando did not deny receiving the email nor knowing Rajasingham. Sources close to the Asia Tribune Editor however told The Sunday Leader K.T. Rajasingham claimed he was a close friend of Sunimal Fernando.
KT declines to comment
The Sunday Leader wrote to Asia Tribune Editor K.T.Rajasingham on the matter and asked to speak to him but he replied as follows; "Vanakam.
Regret, unable to speak on the subject you have mentioned in your e-mail. Thanks and regards. K.T.Rajasingham www.asiantribune.com"
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