LTTE Tamil Diaspora involved in human smuggling
Posted on February 11th, 2012
Shenali Waduge
Europe knows, Canada knows, the US & UK Government knows, India knows and so does AustraliaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.but the biggest question is apart from making a few arrests what have these Governments realistically done about the LTTE Tamil DiasporaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s involvement in international human smuggling or any of the LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s other illicit & illegal activities which all these nations & their authorities are aware about?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So with LTTE fighting force now eliminated why does the LTTE need so much of funds. More than ever before it is now that the LTTE needs money. They need to pay rent for their offices, they need to travel more to lobby people and to bribe them, they need to hire lawyers, lobbyists, politicians, diplomats, they need to influence media personnel & media houses, they need to lobby the human rights organizations & pay them to keep mum and they need to maintain the same lifestyle they led all these years. For all this Money is needed. The best solution is to turn towards human smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigration, human slavery ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” call it what you like it all implies the same. It is a business more lucrative than the drug trade.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is believed that the LTTE has been smuggling thousands across the world. In groups these people pay to be assembled in Thailand and then to be put aboard vessels that head for Canada, Europe or Australia. How these people get the money is another good question.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LTTE is quick to pick up where authorities have weak policies & they know how policies & systems can be manipulated. The Tamil Diaspora is exploiting & manipulating all social service systems in all the countries it has presence in. In other words they are eating up the tax payers money & these Governments are just watching. Irony is that millions of dollars get spent to investigate into the human smuggling networks as well as processing the immigrations of those proclaiming to be asylum seekers. Canada has been burdened with such.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The facts about human trafficking is simple. 80% of human trafficking is for sex while others are trafficked for their organs or labor. 30,000 victims of sex trafficking die each year as a result of sexual abuse, disease, torture. It is estimated that there are 27m adult & 13m children who are victims of global human trafficking. A 2003 study in the Netherlands found that a single sex slave could earn her pimp at leastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ $250,000 a year! Human traffickers are trafficking pregnant women for their newborns where these babies are sold in the black market & profits are divided between traffickers, doctors, lawyers, border officials & others. Liberated Kosovo is filled with sex slaves. NATO soldiers, UN police, Western aid workers are all exploiting these sex traffickers. UNICEF estimates that over 3 decades 30m children have been sexually exploited through human trafficking. Reports aside what has the world done to stop this? Countries that provide humans to be trafficked are Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Albania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, China, Thailand & Nigeria. Favored destinations for sex traffickers are Belgium, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey & the US. In the US these sex workers will be in strip clubs, peep& touch shows, massage parlours, sweatshops etc. What type of families would sell their children into slavery, knowing they would be sexually abused & then sold for sexual favors? What type of humans would pay to have forced sex with handicapped children even young girls suffering from Downs Syndrom? Human trafficking today surpasses the drug trade & generates profits between $9billion to $31.6billion. FBI estimates that over 100,000 children & young women are trafficked in America. Brazil & Thailand are considered to have the worst child sex trafficking records. Nearly 7000 Nepali girls are sold annually to brothels in India. It is estimated that over 200,000 of Nepali girls are sexually exploited in India. Even in Sri Lanka brothels cater to customers by offering children as young as six years old.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That the LTTE Tamil Diaspora are involved in human smuggling is nothing that the Governments of Canada, US, UK, Europe & Australia do not know about. These Governments are all aware of the connections. Our biggest issue is why are these Governments not attacking the root of the entire nexus?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ All these Governments know the leaders of the LTTE & Tamil Diaspora ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” they know where the live, what they do, how they earn and if these Governments & authorities also know that they are involved in human smuggling alongside other illegal & illicit activities why are these people not being rounded up like Raj Rajaratnam. Do thousands of humans need to be smuggled & turned into slaves or made into sex workers & prostitutes for the West to take action against the LTTE Tamil Diaspora?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In a wikileaks expose of a US embassy cable sent by then US Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead in 2002 reveals that the US was very much aware of the following. That the LTTE was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-engaging in numerous fundraising activities worldwideƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, that $200m had been raised from their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-organized crimeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to finance ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-illicit weapons procurementƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, Lunstead even goes on to state that the LTTE & related organizations may be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-raising significant amounts of money in the USƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. So the question is what happened to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-turning up the heat on the LTTE?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Lunstead also states that the TRO ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Tamil Rehabilitation Organization raises as much as $40m annually. The 2002 cable also suggests that the US Government should ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-examine the activities of the Tamil National AllianceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ since the TNA was planning to open an office in the US. The US cable is also aware that 10m UK pounds is raised by the LTTE through extortion, credit card frauds, borrowing money from UK banks & absconding, human smuggling & illegal immigration. The cable also reveals that in Canada the LTTE raises between $10 to 20m through organized crime. The US is also aware that the LTTE levies ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-taxesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in areas that the LTTE controlled & these taxes bring the LTTE $2m annually. Taxes imposed onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ business account for $15m to 18m annually. The US is also aware of the LTTE banks (Bank of Tamil Eelaam with 10 branches).ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So when Lunstead has practically all information available with him, when he has informed his bosses about the LTTE, the Tamil Diaspora, the LTTE front organizations ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” we would like to know why the US government allows fund raising to continue, allows TNA to visit the US, had dialogue with the TNA when the US specifically states it does not ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-talk with terroristsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.something is just not right.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So if the US knows, Canada knows, UK knows and the EUROPOL report confirms that the LTTE is actively involved in activities that range from extortion, money laundering, running illegal lotteries, credit card frauds through LTTE owned petrol sheds, retail outlets can we please know why the Tamil Diaspora is not held accountable, why the Tamil Diaspora is able to exert influence, why the Tamil Diaspora leaders are treated like VVIPs, why the TNA has credibility among Governments/NGOs & even the UN, why the TNA is forced to hold discussions with Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s democratically elected Government?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There have been some attempts to curb the LTTE Tamil DiasporaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s illicit activities. In 2010, 27 Tamils were arrested for terrorist offences linked to financing LTTE in France, Germany & NetherlandsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦over 100 officers from Finland, France & Belgium were involved in a joint operation to investigate criminal networks in Europe. The investigations discovered the business human smuggling using counterfeit passports produced in Thailand.but can these nations be happy that with these arrests that LTTE financing has stopped?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Canadian authorities have identified 32 smuggling syndicates with ties to the LTTE. The price of a passage to the West varies from $20,000 to $30,000. The agents collect 10% of this fee with the rest to be paid in Canada. Most of these people do not even know where they are destined to be living in. Without a doubt, human smuggling is one of the most lucrative businesses. LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s human smuggling operations is headed by a sea tiger ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” S. Kanthaskaran who holds a UK passport. LTTE uses ships to smuggle humans. Some of these ships used were MV Princess Easwary disguised as MV Ocean Lady, MV Sun Sea, MV Alicia, In 2009, MV Princess Easwary posing as MV Ocean Lady was to dock in Victoria, Canada. Princess Easwary turned out to be a ship belonging to the LTTE. Similarly, the MV Sun Sea had collected 225 charging them $22,000 to $45,000. The amounts being quoted as fees to be smuggled is really atronomical considering the earning capacity in Sri Lanka. If people had this much of money they could have easily gone as tourists or better still they would have been able to lead good lives in Sri Lanka itself. More over the oft used excuse is that these people are fleeing Sri Lanka Government forces. Why did they not flee to India or to closer countries. Why do they only wish to go to Western countries?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ France has not banned the LTTE but its authorities have arrested 18 Tamils involved in illegal immigration. But are these arrests sufficient to actually solve the reality that the LTTE Tamil Diaspora is making millions out of transporting humans, selling them & extorting money from their families?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When Governments send emissaries to question Sri Lanka, we need to in turn demand answers from these Governments starting with what they are doing about LTTE Tamil Diaspora living on their soil and attempting to create disharmony in Sri Lanka. Just as Sri Lanka are made to give explanations we need answers from the Governments of the US, UK, Canada, Europe & Australia ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” we demand to know what your Governments are doing about LTTE Tamil DiasporaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s illicit & illegal activities and we are not satisfied with simple arrests.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Shenali Waduge
February 11th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Indians in creating terrorism in the island had two aims.
One to pump out as many Indian coloial parasites to the West. They have acived this as you can see from numbers of the so called Tamil diaspora.
Second to continue priviledges enjoyed by Indian colonial parasites and to kill and destroy the locals.
India is still managing to to be successfull.
February 12th, 2012 at 2:14 am
Human smuggling is part of Terrorism. If any Tamils who really afraid of his life in Sri Lanka don´t spend many thousand of Dollars and risk to go to western countries. Easy money without hard working is mentality of young
generation of this world. Tamils aren´t expection. LTTE use this weakness for their criminal activities.
LTTE-Terrorism and their criminality see no differences Tamils or Sinhalese. Their propaganda is
the only way to keep Tamils against Sinhalese and cheat the world.
February 12th, 2012 at 2:34 am
Dear Shenali Waduge!
Thanks again for a valuable contribution about LTTE & their ILLEGAL momey making ventures. These countries who pay lip service to OUR govt. is wholeheartedly support or turn a blind eye to Human Smuggling, Prostitution, CREDIT card frauds, maniplating the Internet, money laundering to name a few. All bringing in valuable foreign currency to LTTE.
If the leaders of Tamil Community pours money into re-election or supports one individual it is with ulterior motives. Once the supported leader or MP is elected, they come back to ask favours. Pointing out that our money, our voters as a bloc suuported you, now its time to pay back.
Former British Foreign Secretary, with the backing of LTTE couldn’t get elected this time. So it stands to reason, why even with all intentions TAMILS failed & so was the TALKATIVE, Threatening Foregn Secretary.
I commend Shenali for exposing this myth about “WE ARE AGAINST TERRORISM” slogan but do little to curtail their activities. In Netherlands, under the guise of educating children born un Holland, schools are set up & nurthured by Tamil community.
NOW Govt. of Netherlands says they are schools BREEDING hatred against Sinhalese & other communities in Sri lanka. As Taliban had Madrsee TYPE schools, these tamils are promoting hatred & trying to breed another innocent tamils into terrorism.
Thanks so much for exposing these hypocritical Govts. who managed to ban LTTE but still alows them to conduct illegal activties in ther countries.
Looking forward to more articles of this nature to open some eyes of the so called Int. Community, maninly India.
Just expressing my views as citizen of our motherland Sri lanka……….~ Gamunu Alahakkone. retd Engr-Canada
February 12th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Thank you dear Shenali for the nth time for your valuable comment – My question is, with all this overwhelming evidence you have unearthed why is the GoSL not challenging the West in return every time when they point fingers at SL and sue for compensation for example countries like Norway for aiding terrorists? Why? – is the GoSL so dim and incompetent? Sadly and probably so! – S de Silva – London
February 12th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I have raised this point many a times i.e. Why Sri Lanka is not assertive in raising the question in UNO and other forums of direct assistance and ivolvement by countries like UK, Norway, Australia, Canada, USA in providing safe havens for illegal immigrants brought to their countries by the human smugling agents. The authorities in these countries are aware that their social assistance programmes are milked to the maximum by these bogus refugee calimants and their agents. These authorities are fully aware that these refugee claimants are not able to prvide 40 to 50 thousands dollars per head to be brought to these countries. So how do they pay it? It is simple. The claimants from the time they are let out to the society, they register with the social assistance programmes and that money is in return paid to the smuggling agents as promised. So in other words they pay the agreed sum in instalments on a monthly basis. On top of being receipients of these social assistance money, they are also provided with jobs paid on an hourly basis on a cash basis, which money is not accounted in the annual income declarations. There are so many businesses and industrial units established for this purposes and conveniently solid cash is paid out to those so emplyed. So the syestem is so designed to assist the human smuggling operations.
The question is why our missionns in these countries undertake a study of the operations in place and compile reports with concreate information so that the Government could easily take up with authorities. We do not see it happening and it will never bo done too.
February 12th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
Many writters and posters in the LANKAWEB bark frequently that TAMILS in Sri Lanka have nothing. If they ask any rights, they are simply asked to go to Tamil Nadu.
So, why are you Sinhalese crying like fools whenever Tamils go to the West?
Are you all jealous when Tamils endup in the WEST?
Why did you all Sinhalese leave your beloved nation?
February 13th, 2012 at 2:20 am
Mu Dalit
Your racism shows! Cover up!
Why do you howl here? Just continue your human smuggling operation.
February 13th, 2012 at 4:03 am
Well Mr Mudali my friend – you have got this one wrong!! – The Sinhalas are NOT moaning on the Tamils in jealousy for going to the West and claiming asylum! What the Sinhalas are concerned in fact is the basis of their claims for asylum – ie on a bogus claim of nationwide official discrimination by the GoSL and the very negative publicity and consequences that automatically gets attached to Sri Lanka as a result. Also we are not talking here on individual instances of discrimination which could be found in any multi-racial country in the World, including the UK dare I say. That is also not to say that no improvement is possible and the present government is genuinely making that effort. So, instead of moaning at Lankaweb you might try educating yourself on the subject by reading the many comments on ‘discrimination’ therein including that by Shenali Waduge titled “Where in the world is there no Discrimination? “ In regard to your comment on Tamil Nadu, I too would say to Tamils asking for Elam in Sri Lanka that the proper place for that is in fact in Tamil Nadu – the place of racial origin of the Tamils and not anywhere else! – S de Silva – London
February 13th, 2012 at 5:53 am
One of the objectives of Indian Tamil terrorist outfit was to send as many Tamils to the West.
All most all the Tamil terrorist who went to the West after 1983 went through India. There were a significant number of Tamils from India joined them.
February 13th, 2012 at 7:24 am
Human Smugglers will take their pitiful cargo anywhere (preferably west or any other affluent country) where their ‘cargo’ is accepted. It is up to each country to protect themselves against such smugglers.
Another point : Tamil Diaspora who ran to the west, should at this point request their own settlements in Tamil Nadu Nilgiri mountains surrounds, to start a new life in Tamil culture environment, and show a progressive way of life for all Tamil Nadu folk who want a change for the better.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Canada is the only G-7 nation allows 250,000 immigrants every year. When people come and knock the door Canada happily recieve them. After 1983 Canada took who ever come to Canada from Sri lanka. Those “refugees” include many Muslims and some Sinhalese as well!
If Sri Lanka roundedup the criminals involved in the 1983 riots and prosecuted them, Shenali Wadge can have more ammunition for her points. Alas! not a Single Sinhala criminal was arrested or prosecuted. Then what kind of “civilization” Shenali and other Sinhalese try to teach others?
Bogus asylum is not the problem of the Sinhalese. That is the problem of the governments who accept them. Why are you Sinhalese create a “reason” believable by others to qualify the asylum? Better try to stop it first!
February 15th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Mu Dalit,
Stop your racist ranting.
There are 500,000 Tamils in Canada most of them went there as refugees. Others migrated under professional catogories.
If Canada takes 250,000 every year why not it takes Tamils fully. Then others can live in peace in SL.
July 1983 riot was done by Tamils against Tamils.
February 16th, 2012 at 9:06 am
The pro-LTTE guys claim 300,000 Tamils are in Canada but we dispute it. But Parangi Lorenzo cries 500,000 Tamils are here. Did he send the other 200,000?
Tamils are happy if Canada take them all. Why cannot Lorenzo ask the Canadian government to do so? Tamils will have a STATUE for you in Toronto if it happens!
1983.. hahahaha…