Australia opens the door to agents of Tiger terrorists banned in UK

by H. L. D. Mahindapala

(November 24, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) Suba Veera Pandyan, an academic from Tamil Nadu who was jailed for pro-Tiger activities, has been brought down by Eelam Tamil Association of Australia, (ETA) to preside over the Mahaveer Day (Heroes’ Day) of the banned Tamil Tigers.

Velupillai Prabhakaran has earmarked this day – November 27 -- to celebrate his cult of death in which thousands of under-aged children are forcibly recruited and sent to front as cannon fodder. ETA has organized celebration in Melbourne and Sydney. Hero-worshipping Prabhakaran, a terrorist leader wanted by Interpol, India and Sri Lanka for political assassination and running a global syndicate for drug smuggling, is the main event of the day. It is also an event for fund-raising to fuel the fires of terror in Sri Lanka.

Pandyan was sentenced to two years jail, for glorifying terrorism in a public place. He was also involved in assaulting a Sri Lankan film director who produced the film Prabhkaran in Chennai. The film director was assaulted and hospitalized because Pandyan objected to any criticism his hero Prabhakaran.

In the meantime, the British government stepped in yesterday and grounded Vaiko in Tamil Nadu by refusing to grant him a visa to attend similar celebrations in UK. The Times of India reported that Vaiko was denied visa to travel to London apparently for his pro-LTTE stand, forcing him to cancel his air ticket for Monday.

Times of India added: “While British Deputy High Commission officials here remained tight-lipped on the issue, police sources said that Vaiko cancelled his ticket following "denial of visa".

“They said the MDMK leader was denied visa for his pro-LTTE stand as the militant organisation was also banned in Britain. The vociferous supporter of the LTTE was to leave for London on November 24 to take part in a meeting of Tamils.

“Vaiko, along with party presidium chairman M Kannappan, was arrested recently in Chennai for making pro-LTTE speeches during a meeting and released on bail after the government did not press for extension of their remand. “

Ranjith Soysa, spokesperson for the Melbourne-based Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights (SPUR) told the Sri Lanka Guardian that the Australian government has not exercised proper vigilance to monitor the entry of agents of Tiger terrorism.

He said Pandyan is noted for his pro-Tiger activities and it was the duty of the Australian Foreign Office to vet the movement of terrorists coming into Australia. Australia banned the entry of Gerry Adams when IRA was listed as a terrorist organization. Australia also monitors suspected agents of Al Quaida. But it has an open door policy for Tamil Tigers.

He added: “This double standard must end. The celebration of Tamil Tiger terrorists Heroes’ Day is a celebration of terror unleashed in Sri Lanka against all communities. It is on record that Prabhakaran has killed more Tamils than all the others forces put together.

“Furthermore, Australia is yet to ban the Tamil Tigers with full force of the domestic law. Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd can no longer condemn terrorism abroad and let them play havoc in Australia,” he said. - Sri Lanka Guardian