transcurrents

Four Factors Led to French Crackdown at This Time

April 7th, 2007

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Fourteen Tamils of Sri Lankan origin suspected of being linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization were placed in judicial custody under a preventive detention order in France on Thursday April 5th after being produced in Paris at a special counter – terrorism tribunal. A special four member panel consisting of examining magistrates Jean – Luis Bruguire , Thierry Fragnoli, Marc Trevidic and Philippe Coirre filed preliminary charges and ordered that they be held in detention for a period of 120 days pending further investigations.

[Eiffel Tower - Picture By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]

Under French law, preliminary charges being filed mean that the investigating magistrates have determined that there is strong and concordant evidence to suggest involvement in a crime. It gives the four examining magistrates further time to pursue their probe before they decide whether to send the suspects for further trial or drop the case. The Police will be authorised to continue with their investigations and gather more evidence .

Initially nineteen persons were arraigned on multiple charges including “extorsion, violences physiques et sequestration contre des Tamouls installes en France” ( Extortion, physical violence and illegal confinement against Tamils settled in France). They were also charged with “financing terrorism” and for “criminal association with a terrorist enterprise”. The LTTE was cited as the terrorist organization concerned.

Reputed anti – terror judge Bruguire once told the “Financial Times” newspaper “Our offence of ‘criminal association with a terrorist enterprise’ is much stiffer than the British offence of conspiracy. It includes any activity, whether logistics or financial, that helps a terrorist activity, whether or not the group or its objective has been identified.”.

Although nineteen persons were produced in court four of them were released unconditionally. Another person was issued a conditional release under judicial supervision. Thus proceedings will continue against fifteen persons comprising fourteen in custody and one on a conditional release.

Courts also authorised Police to search the homes, offices, business establishments , vehicles and all movable and immovable assets of the detaineded suspects. The detenues are suspected of raising funds for the LTTE from Tamils residing in France. Since the LTTE is a proscribed terrorist organization in France from May 2006 after the European Union ban last year anyone found raising funds for it is guilty under the law. In this case the alleged practice of extortion, physical violence and illegal confinement have further compounded the alleged offences.

The arrest , search, interrogation and detention of suspected LTTE members is part of an on – going investigation into LTTE activity in France launched by the French authorities as a preliminary exercise on February 2006. Thereafter in August a committee of inquiry was formally appointed.Both the French Police as well as Prosecutors of the Justice Ministry are involved in the investigation supervised and directed by the special anti – terrorist directorate SDAT (Sous – Directorate Anti – Terroriste) of the French interior (home) ministry.

It is learnt that the LTTE investigation is being co-ordinated personally by the famous French anti – terrorist examining magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguière himself. Bruguire who has a well – established reputation as a tough anti – terror judge was in Sri Lanka a few years ago. In a private lecture delivered in Colombo Judge Bruguire demonstrated that he had in depth knowledge of LTTE activity in Europe generally and in France particularly.

Bruguire who will be retiring next May is said to be keenly interested in cracking down on LTTE activity prior to his retirement. Fellow examing magistrates Thierry Fragnoli, Marc Trevidic and Philippe Coirre have also been appointed to the investigative panel that will probe the activities of the LTTE. This will ensure an element of continuity prevailing in the probe even after Bruguire steps down. For the tough anti – terror judicial activist the LTTE probe will be perhaps the swansong in a controversial yet effective career of making war on terrorism.

One reason for Bruguire’s keen interest in the LTTE case is attributed to a desire to prove that he is neither anti – Islam or anti – Muslim but merely anti – terrorist. Critics have accused him of being biassed personally against Islamic “terrorists”. The publicity surrounding the crack – down on the LTTE will help to dispel that view and project the image that Bruguire is simply against all types of terrorism and only wants to protect the citizens of France.

This image projection is deemed necessary as the 63 year old Bruguire after a hectic 30 year anti – terror career will be entering Politics. After retiring in May he will be contesting a seat to the legislature in June. Bruguire will be a candidate for the ruling Union for a Popular Movement, the party of Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy, the favorite to win the presidential election in May this year.The LTTE crackdown is expected to help him in the election.

With Bruguire evincing keen interest in the investigation the French authorities have been forced to be on their toes on the case. The investigation received a further impetus last year when the EU banned the LTTE and called upon the 25 member nations including France to curtail LTTE activity on their soil. A series of unacceptable excesses by the LTTE against Tamil residents in France aggravated the situation further. Evidence obtained in November 2006 from three Tamils who suffered at the hands of the LTTE strengthened the probe .

The timing for the crackdown was due to a combination of four factors. Firstly there is the French Presidential election and subsequent election to the legislature. The favourite Sarkozy is for controlled immigration.An anti – terror crackdown is useful in this campaign.

Secondly there is the personal interest of Bruguire who wants to dispel his anti – Muslim image and boost his anti – terror image. This would help him in politics.

Thirdly there was the air attack by the LTTE on March 26th. The international community particularly the Western nations are perturbed by the fact that a non – state actor like the LTTE possesses an air capability and has demonstrated its ability to conduct a successful air strike. Given the September 11th 2001 attacks this is not something the IC will be happy about. Despite the LTTE’s assertions to the contrary no Western Government can afford to remain complacent.

France’s concern about “aerial terror”was illustrated by the Charles de Gaulle Airport “purge” last year Seventy – two employees at the Paris airport having access to sensitive sectors were deemed security risks. Their employment was terminated in one stroke. Bruguire was supposedly behind this manouvre. Of the 72 one was a sikh from India,seven were Muslims from India, Fifty – four were Muslims from Islamic nations, ten were Tamils from Sri Lanka.

[L to R, Parithy alias Regan, Sinna Jeyam and Metha]

Against this backdrop the LTTE air attack has sent alarm bells ringing. Complicating matters further for France was the available information that the French factor had played a crucial part in this. It is believed that some components and spare parts for small aircraft were purchased in France. It is also believed that a significant number of pilots and technicians in the nascent “Tamil Eelam Air Force” or LTTE air wing were trained in France. Given this suspected French connection it was very necessary that some action be taken urgently against tigers in France.

The fourth and hithero unpublicised factor is the suspected involvement of eminent French nationals in LTTE arms acquisition. In what came as a shock to some French investigators the son of former President Francois Mitterand was allegedly implicated in clandestine arms sales with the LTTE. Sixty year old Jean – Christophe Mitterand was formerly an adviser to his father on African affairs. His habit of tossing his father’s name liberally caused many Africans to refer derisively to him as “Papamadit” (papa told me).

Jean- Christohe Mitterand was compromised in an arms for oil scandal known as L’Angolagate in the nineties . French businessman Pierre Falcone the head of Brenco International along with business colleague Mitterand were implicated in that. Also involved were former French Interior minister Charles Pasqua and the Russia – born Israeli Arkadi Gaydamak who is now an Israeli politician . French sleuths are said to be probing the alleged involvement of Jean – Christophe and some other French notables in selling arms clandestinely to the LTTE.

The French SDAT was also interacting with several anti – terrorist agencies while investigating the LTTE. Information was requested, obtained, furnished and compared. There was cooperation in this respect with authorities from the USA, Britain, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Canada , Australia and also Sri Lanka. Expert knowledge was supplied by the FBI, Scotland Yard and the RCMP.When the time was ripe to conduct a crack – down last week – end officials from some of the co-operating Countries were also present in Paris.

In what was perhaps an unexpected April fool’s joke the French police swooped down on suspected activists belonging to the LTTE on Sunday April 1st and took into custody thirty – nine persons for questioning.Suspected LTTE members were arrested from Seine-et-Marne, en Seine-Saint-Denis, dans les Yvelines,La Courneuve , le Val-de-Marne et le Val-d’Oise in Paris and also from the suburbs.The pre- dawn swoop began at 4.00 am.

210 French policemen acting under instructions of the SDAT were involved an a lightning raid on LTTE controlled establishments and residences of important tiger activists in Paris and the suburbs.Among establishments raided were the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee of France (Comité de coordination Tamoule France) headquarters at situé 341 rue des Pyrénées.The TCC of France is the acknowledged front organization of the LTTE in that Country.Other establishments including the TV station of TTN , Mariamman Temple , Makkal Kadai supermarket, Eelamurasu newspaper office, The Tamil Achagam printing press and also the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) offices were also raided.

Computers,correspondence files, documents. account ledgers, books, videos, pamphlets, books, booklets etc were seized.Also confiscated was a large amount of hard currency and cheques. Usually the LTTE fund – raising drives commence on Friday evening and go on till Sunday evening. So cash and cheques amounting to 235,00 Euros and 42,000 Euros were on the TCC and TRO premises. About 60, 000 cash and 25,000 worth of cheques were found in residences. Most of the arrested 39 were in their bed clothes when the raids took place.Twenty – two of them were released on Sunday after preliminary interrogation. On Monday another two were released.

On Monday April 2nd another operation was launched at 10.00 am. The bulk of Tamil owned businesses in Paris (around 60) are mainly in La Chappelle and Marcadet – Poissenniers areas. 120 Policemen cordoned off these areas in the morning. Thereafter Tamil owned businesses were searched. Owners, employees and some customers and patrons were quizzed. Materials and products connected to the LTTE like papers, magazines, CD.s, videos, DVD’s , books and photographs were seized. 20 persons were taken in for further interrogation. All but two were released that evening.

Tuesday April 3rd and Wednesday April 4th saw the French Police continuing their crack – down against suspected LTTE activists in Paris and the suburbs. The “Gare du Nord” area known as “Little Jaffna” came under particular scrutiny.Alleged members of the LTTE’s fund – raising network in France were interviewed and videographed at their homes. Houses, vehicles and other assets belonging to these suspected LTTE fund – raisers were also photographed and videographed. One person was detained on each day.The operation was planned, co-ordinated and executed by the anti – terrorism directorate known as SDAT. All 19 suspects were produced in courts on Thursday April 5th. Courts released 4 on unconditionally. One was issued a conditional release while fourteen were detained further.

It is also important to note that no Tamil of Sri Lankan origin was used for translation purposes during the investigation or arrests. The exhaustive wiretaps were translated by Tamils of Indian origin. Substantial numbers of Pondicherry Tamils are domiciled in France. This action prevented leaks to the LTTE it is said.

Among those remanded are the LTTE branch chief in Paris Nadaraja Matheenthiran alias Parithi alias Regan.Also arrested was politics / propaganda chief for Europe Duraisamy Aravindhan alias Metha. While Parithy has a French passport , Metha holds an Italian passport. Others include LTTE France – Finance secretary Thuraisamy Jeyamoorthy alias Sinna Jeyan aka Jeyan, “Makkal kadai” Supermarket manager Sellakkolunthu Ravikulan , Sinnathamby Suthakaran the private secretary of Parithy, and Kandiah Mohandas the Accountant of TRO:

Others remanded include LTTE France Sports secretary Venthan, Business secretary Mohan, , Temple trustee and TRO Secretary Vinayagamoorthy alias Bala master aka “thongal”, TCC office administrator Mahesh and Parthiban who owns a farmhouse in the outskirts. The farmhouse was allegedly used to illegally confine Tamils and extort money. Mahesh is said to be the brother of senior LTTE commander “Col” Bhanu while Mohan is said to be the sibling of former “Eelamurasu” editor Gajan who was shot dead at La Chappelle some years ago.

An unconfirmed story humming on the French Tamil grapevine is that a “white” man was also arrested along with the Tamils on Sunday. He was apparently on the premises of the TCC. One theory is that he was a French idealist who had tied up with the LTTE after seeing how Tamils were oppressed in Sri Lanka during a holiday there. Another story is that he was a paid employee looking after comouters and French correspondence. A third theory is that he was a Planted Police agent.

An interesting development after the raids and arrests was the willingness of many Tamils to be interviewed by the French mainstream media. Several came on TV and boldly stated that they were intimidated and forced into giving money to the LTTE. Some displayed receipts given in the name of the LTTE France branch with the printed signature of Tiger supremo Velupillai Pirapakaran. Police were reportedly garnering statements from many reported victims of the LTTE in Paris.

[The main entrance of the war momorial- Retour De L' Alsace Et De La Lorraine A La France in Paris - Picture By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]

The Tamil population in Paris is said to be 60, 000 while the overall number in France is reportedly 70, 000. Of these authorities feel that 25 % are hard – core LTTE and another 25 % firmly anti – LTTE. The balance 50% is of a mixed nature without hard political conviction. The LTTE in Paris has reportedly used threats, intimidation, physical violence and illegal confinement to suppress perceived anti – tiger activity and also coerce people into giving money.

Families were asked to pay up 2000 Euros and Businesses 6000 Euros on a regular basis each year. It is estimated that 6 million Euros were collected every year.In addition there were several Special collections where massive amounts were collected on a one – time basis. Each special collection was said to yield around 20 million Euros at a time. In recent times the LTTE had enlisted criminal elements to collect money on a commission basis. 20 % of the money collected was paid out as commission to the collectors.

Meanwhile pro – tiger elements in France were reportedly fighting a rear – guard action in the aftermath of the arrests. A petition is being circulated for signatures from people stating that they had given money willingly to the LTTE without any duress or pressure. More than 150 signatures had been obtained by Friday April 6th morning. Attempts are also being made to stage a protest march and rally over the arrests on Monday April 9th. LTTE supporters from all over Europe are expected to converge in Paris. Legal advice is also being sought to free the remanded suspects.

[The flame is lit twenty four hours to pay tribute to the heroes at Retour De L' Alsace Et De La Lorraine A La France in Paris - Picture By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]

The coming weeks will see a legal tussle taking place. There have been many earlier instances where scores of alleged “terrorists” were arrested with a bang and then released gradually without a whimper. If the French authorities are to make any headway in prosecuting the LTTE suspects clear and indisputable evidence will have to be presented by the Sri Lankan Tamil victims. It remains to be seen whether such a phenomenon will actually occur or not

What is certain however is that the LTTE network in Paris has received a severe jolt. An operation of this scale targetting the LTTE has not been conducted in any Western Country before. The French tiger network was the hub of European LTTE operations.The LTTE’s French connection will never be the same as before. France has set a precedent. There are signs that at least three EU members will follow suit soon. The tigers will soon discover that it cannot be business as usual in Europe any more.

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