LTTE ideology still poses threat: ex Malaysian IGP

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which was involved in decades of bloodshed in Sri Lanka may have been defeated, but its ideology and sympathisers still exist around the world, said former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

According to a report filed by Malaysia National News Agency Bernama, the former Malaysian IGP said that the group’s ideology and supporters still posed a threat to any country, including Malaysia, Musa told Bernama in an exclusive interview here recently.

The LTTE led by V.Prabhakaran started a separatist movement to create the Tamil Eelam autonomous region in the north of the island claiming that the Sinhalese-majority group suppressed the Tamil minority in the country. The LTTE terror campaign received moral support and funding from many including the Tamil diaspora who sympathised with the Tamil community in the country.

Musa said the threat of the  LTTE should not be taken lightly as the United States and the United Nations listed them as a terrorist group and it was also banned in Malaysia and 32 other countries.

Recently Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy received barrage of criticisms over  his alleged involvement with the LTTE. Ramasamy has denied this and said that he was only involved in peacemaking between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.

Musa said in 2004 and 2005, the Royal Malaysia Police arrested six Malaysians with professional backgrounds such as lawyers and accountants for their involvement with the LTTE.

“I received information from the Sri Lankan police then that the group was collecting funds and was assisted by our people, so we had to take action,” he said.

“It’s very likely that the LTTE ideology is still alive, similar to that of the communists, ideologies will not just disappear, and every extremist group is a threat to our country. “Now, even though its (LTTE’s) leader Prabhakaran is dead, I believe their networks still exist,” he said.