LTTE fund raise again in the UK

by Podi Malli and Sinna Thamby

(January 20, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The LTTE fundraising machinery has been activated once again in the United Kingdom. The fundraisers are approaching LTTE supporters and pleading with them to part with funds.

This time the fundraisers are asking for contribution of £100 per month and those who agree are signing standing order mandates for one of the LTTE front organisations. It is still not clear which LTTE front organisation is involved.

Many British Tamils have claimed they were threatened by the LTTE into giving money (Courtesy: Al Jaseera)

The fundraising activities in South London is said to have taken some momentum. A factory worker in North London during lunch break has said to his colleagues that he was approached by a known LTTE man and asked to contribute £100 per month. He had reflected his disappointment to the fundraiser that in the last round large sums were collected for ‘final Eelam war’ and ‘Eelam is still not in sight’. The fundraiser had explained the difficulties faced by the LTTE and asked for funds to maintain services for the people in the LTTE controlled areas.

The factory worker was convinced and had agreed to pay a reduced sum of £50 per month and have signed a standing order form.

LTTE operations in the UK have gone through different structural formations and those loyal to the LTTE head in the UK, A C Shanthan who is current under house arrest have taken control of the running of the LTTE events. The head of this group is a building maintenance contractor Ketheeswaran, also known as Kenthy. He is said to have outsmarted the other LTTE activists and is said to lead a formation with newcomers who have migrated from the EU mainland recently.

The British Tamil Forum (BTF) which succeeded the British Tamil Association (BTA) which was headed by A C Shanthan has successfully incorporated some of the former activists associated with Shanthan to work for them on the campaign front.