LTTE holds Col.Kittu’s memorial celebrations in London

"Sathasivam Krishnakumar also known as Colonel Kittu was a well-known commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE had significant victories against the Sri Lankan army under Kittu. He managed to resist the military successfully with few LTTE cadres. Image: Sathasivam Krishnakumar alias Col Kittu."

(January 27, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The LTTE without any fear for the Terrorism Act that prohibits its activities is continuing to violate the very sprit of the law that proscribed them in the UK in 2001.

The UK Terrorism Act now incorporates ‘glorifying terrorism’ as a prohibited act in the country. Despite heavy clamp down on the operations of the LTTE recently, its activists without any fear are holding functions overtly and clandestinely in various parts in London.

The LTTE is holding its annual remembrance celebration for Col Kittu in Walthamstow in the East London on January 27, 2008.

Sathasivam Krishnakumar also known as Colonel Kittu was a well-known commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE had significant victories against the Sri Lankan army under Kittu. He managed to resist the military successfully with few LTTE cadres. Kittu badly wounded both legs and lost one of it in a grenade attack by rival Tamil group grenade attack and required an artificial limb to be fitted in Britain. In 1990 Britain ordered his deportation, prompting him to seek political asylum in Switzerland. But when it appeared that his request was unlikely to be granted, he left in 1992 for an undisclosed European destination.

After the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, the U.K. authorities served Krishnakumar a quit notice on the grounds that he engaged in extortion of funds from Tamils living in the country. Krishnakumar moved to France, and then to Switzerland, where he said to be lived for a year before boarding the LTTE arms ship m.v. Ahat (also known as Yahata), which was interdicted by the Indian Navy in January 1993. He committed suicide in a mid-sea confrontation on January 14 to avoid arrest by the Indian Navy.

Since his death, the LTTE hierarchy in the UK had held remembrance celebrations every year. LTTE men will be addressing and flower petals will be dedicated by the sympathisers throughout the event. There will be dance and music programmes and fund raising for the cause of the LTTE.

Leaflets confirming the event in Walthamstow are being placed in Tamil shops in London since January 25, 2008.