International Terrorist Selvarasa Pathmanathan Arrested In Bangkok

[george]

International Terrorist Selvarasa Pathmanathan arrested in Bangkok

By John Le Fevre

One of the few known pictures of Selvarasa Pathmanathan

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- Sri Lankan government and military officials are claiming that Selvarasa Pathmanathan, the newly self-appointed leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has been arrested in Thailand.

Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, 54-year-old Pathmanathan “has been arrested in Bangkok. That is all we know at the moment".

However, Basil Rajapaksa, senior advisor to and brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Pathmanathan, better known as KP during his decades running the LTTEs arms and smuggling networks, was arrested on Interpol warrants late yesterday and flown immediately to Colombo.

Pathmanathan is wanted in connection with the assassination of former Indian prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, and was the LTTE’s chief procurer of arms during its 25-year battle for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority.

Pathmanathan took over the terrorist group in May this year following a last ditched bloody battle between Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE which resulted in the groups founding-leader, V Prabhakaran, along with all senior cadre, being killed.

The LTTE was blamed for hundreds of suicide attacks and more than 70,000 people were believed killed in fighting over the years.

In India he is considered a fugitive, with arrest warrants issued for him for the Gandhi assassination, as well as for violation of the Terrorist Act and the Indian Explosive Act.

Security experts had long suspected Pathmanathan was hiding in southeast Asia but despite the high profile nature of Pathmanathan, there was no immediate comment from Thai officials.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-08-07

[george]

Conflicting information:

Tamil Eelam leader not arrested here

BANGKOK: -- Panithan Wattanayakorn, acting government spokesman, has denied a news agency report that the new leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka has been arrested in Bangkok.

“The Tamil Eelam leader was not arrested in Thailand as was reported by a foreign new agency,” Mr Panithan said on Friday morning.

He admitted that the person concerned had made visits to Thailand.

State security agencies were checking information relating to the case, he said.

Al-Jazeera news online reported that Selvarajah Pathmanathan was arrested in Thailand, quoting Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a Sri Lankan military spokesman.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-07

[george]

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's prime minister said on Friday he had information the new head of the Tamil Tigers, the separatist group defeated by the Sri Lankan military after a 25-year war, had been arrested -- but not in Thailand.

A Thai government spokesman could give no further details on where the arrest had taken place.

-- Reuters 2009-08-07

[george]

Other sources said that it looks like they just grabbed him and put him on a plane to Colombo -- no judges, courts, extradition appeals of anything. Conflicting information.

[george]

New Tamil Tiger leader 'arrested' in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The new leader of the Tamil Tiger separatist group defeated by the Sri Lankan military in May after a 25-year war, has been arrested in Thailand, Aljazeera news online quoted the military as saying.

Selvarajah Pathmanathan was wanted on two Interpol warrants and took charge of the remnants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after its defeat in May, declaring that the group would take the political route to achieve its goal of a separate state for Tamils.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a Sri Lankan military spokesman, said Pathmanathan had been arrested in the Thai capital Bangkok.

"That is all we know at the moment," he added.

Pathmanathan, better known as KP during his decades allegedly running the LTTE's arms and smuggling networks, was the first LTTE official to acknowledge the death of Tigers founder and leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

Prabhakaran, along with most of the Tigers' senior leaders, was killed in the closing days of Sri Lanka's offensive against the separatists in the country's northeast.

Pathmanathan is believed to have earned millions of dollars procuring weapons for the Tigers and running smuggling operations from bases across the region including Thailand, Cambodia and Burma.

As one of the most senior LTTE members remaining, he declared himself the secretary general of a revamped outfit which would try non-violent means to achieve its goal of a separate state for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils.

The announcement of Pathmanathan's capture comes as campaigning for Sri Lanka's first post-war election ended on Thursday.

Voting for local councillors is to take place on Saturday in Uva province and the towns of Jaffna and Vavuniya, on the outskirts of the area formerly controlled by the Tigers.

The government says campaigning has gone on without violence, unlike polls last year in the Eastern Province after the military drove the Tigers out of that area.

-- The Nation 2009-08-07

[Thai at Heart]

Other sources said that it looks like they just grabbed him and put him on a plane to Colombo -- no judges, courts, extradition appeals of anything. Conflicting information.

Maybe he had lifted something from KingPower.

[barry]

maybe it wasn't thailand

maybe it was a thai neighborhood in the U.S.

[londonthai]

- He was arrested in Thailand.

- Oh no, he wasn't.

Confused News Agency, Bangkok

[ianh68]

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's prime minister said on Friday he had information the new head of the Tamil Tigers, the separatist group defeated by the Sri Lankan military after a 25-year war, had been arrested -- but not in Thailand.

A Thai government spokesman could give no further details on where the arrest had taken place.

-- Reuters 2009-08-07

Other sources said that it looks like they just grabbed him and put him on a plane to Colombo -- no judges, courts, extradition appeals of anything. Conflicting information.

Which means he wasn't arrested in Thailand and so the PM is technically correct (yawn)

[Murf]

He's behind you!

Oh no he isn't!

Oh yes he is!

...etc...

[joskydive]

Makes me wonder why Thailand doesn't want the prestige of acknowledging such a man was apprehended and arrested here in Thailand. What are they scared of? Repercussions?

[cathyy]

Extradition is needed to transfer an alleged criminal between the jurisdictions of two different law enforcement agencies. Thailand to Australia, or California to Kentucky, for example. But the FBI can move somebody in their custody between states without extradition. Doesn't Interpol have international jurisdiction, just as the FBI has national jurisdiction in the US? If there were Interpol warrants, then they could indeed have simply apprehended him and bundled him off to face trial in Sri Lanka. He will be charged and all that once there.

Edited August 7, 2009 by cathyy

[Scott]

I hope he wasn't held in one of those secret prisons that don't exist here.

[clonetom]

International Terrorist Selvarasa Pathmanathan arrested in Bangkok

By John Le Fevre

One of the few known pictures of Selvarasa Pathmanathan

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- Sri Lankan government and military officials are claiming that Selvarasa Pathmanathan, the newly self-appointed leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has been arrested in Thailand.

Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, 54-year-old Pathmanathan "has been arrested in Bangkok. That is all we know at the moment".

However, Basil Rajapaksa, senior advisor to and brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Pathmanathan, better known as KP during his decades running the LTTEs arms and smuggling networks, was arrested on Interpol warrants late yesterday and flown immediately to Colombo.

Pathmanathan is wanted in connection with the assassination of former Indian prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, and was the LTTE's chief procurer of arms during its 25-year battle for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority.

Pathmanathan took over the terrorist group in May this year following a last ditched bloody battle between Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE which resulted in the groups founding-leader, V Prabhakaran, along with all senior cadre, being killed.

The LTTE was blamed for hundreds of suicide attacks and more than 70,000 people were believed killed in fighting over the years.

In India he is considered a fugitive, with arrest warrants issued for him for the Gandhi assassination, as well as for violation of the Terrorist Act and the Indian Explosive Act.

Security experts had long suspected Pathmanathan was hiding in southeast Asia but despite the high profile nature of Pathmanathan, there was no immediate comment from Thai officials.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-08-07

no wonder they are so confused! they don't even know who they arrested (or didn't)

check out this link, posted 2007

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1529224

same guy, different name

[henryalleman]

Extradition is needed to transfer an alleged criminal between the jurisdictions of two different law enforcement agencies. Thailand to Australia, or California to Kentucky, for example. But the FBI can move somebody in their custody between states without extradition. Doesn't Interpol have international jurisdiction, just as the FBI has national jurisdiction in the US? If there were Interpol warrants, then they could indeed have simply apprehended him and bundled him off to face trial in Sri Lanka. He will be charged and all that once there.

But the FBI can move somebody in their custody between states without extradition

But this is all inside US teritory.

Doesn't Interpol have international jurisdiction, just as the FBI has national jurisdiction in the US?

No they haven't, Interpol is an co- operation between police forces of the countries who are member of Interpol. Its the local law enforcement who does the investigations and the arrest. Interpol only give intelligence assistance. An extradition of the arrestee always have to be in accordance with the local laws.

[mango66]

Makes me wonder why Thailand doesn't want the prestige of acknowledging such a man was apprehended and arrested here in Thailand. What are they scared of? Repercussions?

Gvt - Police are scare, if he were " catched " and brought to Colombo - the GVT dont know anything - OK;

But if they would heve arrested him official - they would have put a trial on him, before to send him

to Sri Lanka - by law !

But who takes care in LOS for laws ?

He is not there in Thailand ! look for him !!

franz

[henryalleman]

Makes me wonder why Thailand doesn't want the prestige of acknowledging such a man was apprehended and arrested here in Thailand. What are they scared of? Repercussions?

Gvt - Police are scare, if he were " catched " and brought to Colombo - the GVT dont know anything - OK;

But if they would heve arrested him official - they would have put a trial on him, before to send him

to Sri Lanka - by law !

But who takes care in LOS for laws ?

He is not there in Thailand ! look for him !!

franz

An official arrest would only complicate thinghs, that's why the Thai government pretend to know notthing.

The same thing happend when the Mossad arrested the leader of the PKK and send him to stand trial in Turkey.

[craig123]

What do you mean? Their lying?

- He was arrested in Thailand.

- Oh no, he wasn't.

Confused News Agency, Bangkok

[ozzieman05]

Makes sense to me

Arrest him in Thailand

and this will start terrorist threats and chances of big problems for Thailand

Bst idea stick him on a plane and send him to a country that want him

once on the plane a quick phone call to their embassy

and the police will be waiting for the plan to land

Thailand has great face in the world countries that matter

and know nothing when the countries do no matter come knocking on Thai doors

All Hogan's Hero's fans from tv days will remember Sgt Shultz

I KNOW NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING

[anon467367354]

Darn shame they can't arrest (or "snatch", I could care less) the American terrorists currently "at large" throughout this world. You know, Bush/Cheney/Rice/Pelosi/Reid et al and send them to the International Court in the Hague for prosecution and incarceration/execution! And send all of the CIA agents and misguided christian missionaries back home before they infect Thailand with their fascistic tendencies!

oh I totally agree! I think in order to do such a thing, one would have to get a hold of the one that pulls the strings on the new puppet. He's got the whole world, in his hands, he got the whole ..........

[EmU]

International Terrorist Selvarasa Pathmanathan arrested in Bangkok

By John Le Fevre

One of the few known pictures of Selvarasa Pathmanathan

BANGKOK (thaivisa.com): -- Sri Lankan government and military officials are claiming that Selvarasa Pathmanathan, the newly self-appointed leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has been arrested in Thailand.

Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, 54-year-old Pathmanathan "has been arrested in Bangkok. That is all we know at the moment".

However, Basil Rajapaksa, senior advisor to and brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Pathmanathan, better known as KP during his decades running the LTTEs arms and smuggling networks, was arrested on Interpol warrants late yesterday and flown immediately to Colombo.

Pathmanathan is wanted in connection with the assassination of former Indian prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, and was the LTTE's chief procurer of arms during its 25-year battle for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority.

Pathmanathan took over the terrorist group in May this year following a last ditched bloody battle between Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE which resulted in the groups founding-leader, V Prabhakaran, along with all senior cadre, being killed.

The LTTE was blamed for hundreds of suicide attacks and more than 70,000 people were believed killed in fighting over the years.

In India he is considered a fugitive, with arrest warrants issued for him for the Gandhi assassination, as well as for violation of the Terrorist Act and the Indian Explosive Act.

Security experts had long suspected Pathmanathan was hiding in southeast Asia but despite the high profile nature of Pathmanathan, there was no immediate comment from Thai officials.

-- thaivisa.com 2009-08-07

no wonder they are so confused! they don't even know who they arrested (or didn't)

check out this link, posted 2007

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1529224

same guy, different name

thats incredible if they caught him then how can they catch him again now did he escape? or may be he has a twin brother

[johnefallis]

They arrested him, took him to the ATM, he was then un-arrested, then they promptly took him to the airport where he told them he was going to Colombo as a joke, just in case they decided they wanted more "tea". Now nobody knows where he is again.

Haha.

[thairay]

- He was arrested in Thailand.

- Oh no, he wasn't.

Confused News Agency, Bangkok

look he was behind you

oh no he wasn't

[Slaughterhouse]

Makes sense to me

Arrest him in Thailand

and this will start terrorist threats and chances of big problems for Thailand

Bst idea stick him on a plane and send him to a country that want him

once on the plane a quick phone call to their embassy

and the police will be waiting for the plan to land

Thailand has great face in the world countries that matter

and know nothing when the countries do no matter come knocking on Thai doors

All Hogan's Hero's fans from tv days will remember Sgt Shultz

I KNOW NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING

[Slaughterhouse]

It was the Eagle Eye'd Sgt Nop who first noticed that he dropped a cigarette butt on the sidewalk, then got him for jaywalking on Sukhumvit as he tried to get away.

+++++++++++++++++++

Arrest him in Thailand

and this will start terrorist threats and chances of big problems for Thailand

Bst idea stick him on a plane and send him to a country that want him

once on the plane a quick phone call to their embassy

and the police will be waiting for the plan to land

Thailand has great face in the world countries that matter

and know nothing when the countries do no matter come knocking on Thai doors

All Hogan's Hero's fans from tv days will remember Sgt Shultz

I KNOW NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING

[tokachinter]

I'm surprised that no-one here has made the obvious connection.

Hint: one of this man's aliases is Tony.

OK, TV super sleuths get to it and put the whole scenario of what really happened together!

Can't seen to find a 'tongue-in-cheek' smiley anywhere.......

[Screws]

Aljazeera saying arrested in Malaysia.

[barry]

Yahoo news reporting he was arrested in

KUALA LUMPAR !

Thats quite a distance from Bangkok

maybe he has a twin

[george]

Update:

Tamil leader not arrested in Thailand but where?

BANGKOK: -- High-ranking security official said Selvarasa was arrested in Malaysia while police claimed the arrest was made in Singapore.

Selvarasa Pathmanathan, a new leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was arrested Malaysia, not Thailand as earlier reports, a high-ranking Thai security source said Friday.

Selvarasa was arrested from his residence in Kuala Lumpur recently, the source said, adding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was already informed of the information.

Earlier foreign news reports said that Selvarasa, leader of LTTE, Sri Lanka's recently defeated Tamil Tiger separatists, was captured in Thailand.

The source said that he was whisked from Kuala Lumpur back to Sri Lanka for further questioning.

Selvarasa assumed the leadership of LTTE overall following the death of its supreme leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in the separatist organisation's last stand against Sri Lankan security forces in mid-May.

Meanwhile, Thailand's Special Branch police chief Theeradej Rodphothong said that the LTTE head was captured in Singapore, not in Thailand.

Lt Gen Theeradej noted that Thailand was mentioned in the news report becuase the LTTE head formerly had a Thai wife and he usually moved among three Southeast Asian countries--Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Thai premier earlier said that he was informed of the matter late Thursday night and he had assigned the security agencies to seek more details.

Acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said that an initial report said that Selvarasa had travelled in and out of Thailand but it was not identified where he was arrested.

Panitan, however, noted that Selvarasa reportedly was married to a Thai and lived in the northern part of the country.

-- The Nation 2009-08-07

[Scott]

I wonder if the security detail that helped Thaksin get out of Malaysia were the ones who put this guy on the plane to Sri Lanka.