PARALLEL Perspectives

Interpol on his back, KP acting like a slumlord billionaire

The infamous Kumaran Pathmanathan or KP, born on April l4, 1955 in Maliyaddy near Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, is in the news again with a scheme to lobby Western governments against Sri Lanka, reportedly ready to spent billions. He is tapping into the Diaspora's hard-earned contributions-like a slumlord billionaire, a source in Toronto said. KP once provided the vital key to Rajiv Gandhi's death-the ammunition used for his murder on May 21, 1991 in Sriperumbudur in Chennai. It had been purchased by KP.

Rajiv Gandhi	Kumaran Pathmanathan

Led by India, Interpol is ready to put the noose round KP's neck. His links, networks, procurement operations and drug smuggling as revealed by the Gandhi assassination commission report reads like an explosive detective novel. Interpol intelligence reports on him indicate that he has one of the largest narcotics and weapons procurement networks in the world, operating in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Panama (Honduras and St. Vincent) and the United Kingdom.

Gullible LTTE remnants

His moves to spent billions of his ill-gotten money against Sri Lanka is his bait to the LTTE remnants still screaming about the vanquished leader of theirs who came to a dismal end on May 17 of this year. Sri Lankan Government has already requested Interpol to apprehend KP and to hand him over to the Sri Lankan authorities.

KP is walking a dangerous line carrying several passports and operating from several countries under cover and is a great survivor, an obvious attraction to the now demoralized Tamil Diaspora still dreaming of Eelam. To the gullible, his innate ability to keep the LTTE armoury well supplied provides a replacement for the failed Prabhakaran.

Days are numbered

But KP's days are numbered because arms procurement is now targeted by at least a dozen countries. He is the top chief procurer of arms and ammunition, telecommunication equipment, explosives and electronic equipment for the LTTE. He has funded purchases of these materials through gold and drug smuggling. He has spread his wings far and wide.

Escaping the Interpol dragnet will not be easy this time. KP's area of operation is in the international market, mainly the Far East i.e. Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Burma; Europe, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece and UK; America- Panama and the Caribbean - St. Vincent. But the key players are now scared for their safety after Prabhakaran's death. In fact the wing of the LTTE which arranges funds and supplies had been named as the 'KP Department' has several challengers.

Like how the sources of procurement of explosives used for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, arms (AK47 and 9 mm pistol) carried by the accused and the wireless equipment used by them was traced to KP, his latest billion dollar lobbying stunt against Sri Lanka would be cracked wide open.

These are what the Interpol has in their possession now. He first resided at No. 130, KKS Road, Jaffna and said to be related to Velupillai Pirapaharan. His original name is Dharmalingam. He graduated in Arts from Jaffna University. KP is in possession of one Sri Lankan and two Indian passports. He holds a Sri Lankan Passport No J-803500 and Sri Lankan Identity Card No: 550971231V. He holds two Indian Passports - No. E 432432 in the name of Dharmalingam Shanmugham Kumaran. This passport was issued from London on 9.8.89. The other Indian passport used by him is in the name of Selvaraja Pathmanabhan. Number of this Passport is E-277582.

Common-or-garden smuggler

He still a common-or garden bank robber and a smuggler. He has not stopped doing what he did best: he robbed the People's Bank in Tiruneveli (Jaffna) in 1981 and then in 1983 was arrested for smuggling gold worth Rs. 40 lakhs from Singapore to Bombay in collusion with Vakil Kandasamy.

He was then operating in the name of Kutti alias Padmanabha. He was again arrested for smuggling in 1984. He has evaded the law for over decade.

During the period 1986-88 he floated a shipping company at Singapore called 'Playmouth Shipping Company' in partnership with Capt. Vijayakumar. This ship also was used exclusively for the supplies of the LTTE.

In 1989 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, KP floated a company 'Vikram Holdings Pvt. Ltd' in partnership with three Malaysians of Sri Lankan origin. Capt. Piraisoodi was also one of the directors of the company. During the same period, KP opened another company - 'Point Pedro Shopping,' registered at Panama. His company was operating two ships 'Sun Bird' and 'Elicia.'

Two close associates of KP in India were Eason Singaraya and Kumar. Eason was arrested in 1991 January by local police and is presently lodged at Vellore jail. Vakil Kandswamy was another close associate of KP who had been used by KP for smuggling of gold from Singapore and arranging for LTTE members in going abroad on forged travel papers. Communication equipment for the LTTE is the prime clue in the Rajiv Gandhi case.

It pointed to the culprit who would have supplied the explosives used for the assassination, AK 47 and 9 mm pistol used by Sivarasan and the wireless sets used by Sivarasan, Kanthan, Dixon and others. So far no evidence has come to suggest any alternative method of procurement and supply.

KP believes that he could subvert the peace process that emerged after the death of Prabhakaran. His ploy to be head of the Eelam provisional government would not succeed because no country in the world would recognize him as a legitimate leader of the Tamils.

His record is too blatantly conspicuous and would not pass muster under any international norms of acceptance. De Gaulle was once the obvious provisional head of France when Hitler invaded France. But the LTTE is universally condemned as a terror outfit. KP is just trying to keep LTTE gold in his custody, but not for long.