KP, the LTTE’s new chief negotiator
Shanika Sriyananda
The military has unveiled a secret plan of the LTTE to shield the
identity of the LTTE’s international arms smuggler, popularly known as
KP (Kumaran Pathmanadan).
The disguised KP has been designated as the LTTE’s chief negotiator
and the international spokesman under the name Selvarajan Pathmanadan,
recently.
The LTTE is apparently trying to camouflage the identity of KP in an
effort to conceal his previous arms rackets. “ He has been instructed to
procure arms and ammunition for the LTTE using his new designation as
international spokesman as a cover”, the informed sources said.
According to sources, the LTTE leader has urged Selvarajan
Pathmanadan to use his new credentials to visit all countries and
procure arms and ammunitions to the LTTE which is facing its final
battle.
Earlier, the LTTE’s international spokesman was Anton Balasingham.
KP alias Kumaran alias Selvarajan Pathmanadan is a most wanted person
by the Interpol and several intelligence agencies including the FBI for
his involvement as the LTTE’s key arms smuggler.
According to sources, KP who has been blacklisted as a key
procurement agent of the LTTE operates from Thailand. “He has been all
over South East Asia procuring arms and ammunition for the LTTE. These
procurements range from small arms and ammunition to Surface-to-Air
Missiles (SAMS), Chinese built 130mm, 152mm artillery pieces, and
several cargo ships and Czech built Zlin 143 aircraft”, they said.
Informed sources said that several countries have refused to accept
KP as the LTTE’s chief negotiator and international spokesman despite
the LTTE’s repeated requests.
Meanwhile, the Norwegians have assured of the custody of Selvarajan
if he is caught by the international intelligence agencies, sources
claimed.
According to sources the LTTE has a strong international procurement
link to smuggle arms and ammunition into the country and operates a
shipping network in international waters. “These ships are used as
`floating warehouses’ to carry large stocks of arms and ammunition.
The LTTE shipping network has operated in Indonesian, Malaysian and
Chinese waters and largely in the Bay of Bengal carrying arms and
ammunition. In 2006 and 2007, the Sri Lankan Navy managed to destroy
several LTTE floating warehouses operated in the Bay of Bengal”, they
said. |