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Govt. says attackers linked to group sympathetic to LTTE
View(s):Lankan HC attack at Kuala Lumpur Airport
By Sandun Jayawardana
The Government had received credible information which linked those behind the attack on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Ibrahim Ansar to the ‘Naam Tamilar Katchi,’ (We are Tamils Party) an extremist nationalist political party based in South India, Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva told the Sunday Times.
The party is known for its steadfast support of the LTTE.He said that the Government was following developments through the Foreign Ministry and was awaiting a report from Malaysian authorities.
A CCTV grab of the attack
He said, the Government, was confident that Malaysian authorities had identified the perpetrators behind last Sunday’s attack on Mr. Ansar at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Sri Lanka had no intention of creating a diplomatic rift.
“We trust the Malaysian authorities to do what needs to be done,” Mr. De Silva said.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday told Parliament that the assault was carried out by Malaysian citizens of Indian origin affiliated to the Naam Tamilar Katchi. On Friday, two of the five suspects arrested by Malaysian police pleaded not guilty to the assault after being produced in the Sepang Sessions Court. They were identified as A. Kalaimugilan (26), a businessman and V. Balamurugan (32), a taxi driver. Malaysian police are looking for four more suspects.
While Naam Tamilar Katchi’s founder Seeman has denied instigating the attack, the Sunday Times learns that Mr. Kalaimugilan is the ‘National Head Coordinator’ of the Malaysian ‘Naam Tamilar’ Organisation. The other suspects are also thought to be members of the group. Authorities in Sri Lanka say the group is affiliated to the Naam Tamilar Katchi in India.
The Malaysian Naam Tamilar Organisation had been at the forefront of protests against the visit of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Malaysia to attend the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).
Malaysian authorities however, have not publicly disclosed any political affiliations of the suspects.
The two suspects were charged with rioting and causing injuries to the victim. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of two years’ jail or a fine or both. The case will be taken up again on October 7.
Meanwhile, High Commissioner Ansar, after obtaining medical treatment for the minor injuries he sustained, is engaged in his official duties as normal. The High Commissioner was never taken off duties at any time after the assault and will not be recalled, Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman Mahishini Colonne emphasised.
The incidents in Malaysia show that although Mahinda Rajapaksa eradicated LTTE terrorism in Sri Lanka, that terrorism has now been ‘exported’ to various countries, Joint Opposition member A.H.M. Azwar opined. “This is very much evident in some of these countries,” Mr. Azwar noted.
He also claimed that they had been informed that a Sri Lankan national based in Malaysia played a key role in instigating protests against Mr. Rajapaksa’s visit. That person, who he claimed went by the name Kalaimugilan, had once been detained in Sri Lanka under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), but was released by the new Government.
Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha De Silva scoffed at the claims.
“I don’t know from which part of the universe Mr. Azwar is plucking these stories from. But, as a former MP, he should be more responsible when making such statements.”
Security at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has been tightened and Malaysian authorities continue their search for four more suspects allegedly linked to the assault on the Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian High Commission in Colombo has chosen to dodge questions submitted by the Sunday Times regarding the incident and the presence of pro-LTTE groups in the country.
We were first told on Friday that no officer was available to answer questions on the phone and to email the questions. An assurance was given that a response would be sent promptly. However, no such response had been received as of last evening.
However, in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malaysia, which was released by the High Commission on September 5, the Malaysian Government expressed regret over the assault.
“The Government of Malaysia expresses its sympathies to His Excellency Ibrahim Ansar and gives the assurance that the Malaysian authorities will investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice,” the statement stressed.