Photograph TamilNet

Tamil diaspora organisations have been voicing shock at the death of French TCC (Tamil Coordination Committee) co-ordinator and ex-LTTE commander, Colonel Parithi, who was shot dead in Paris on Thursday night.

50-year-old Nadarajah Mathinthiran, more commonly known by his noms de guerre Reagan and later Parithi, left the LTTE in the early 90s and took responsibility for mobilising the French Tamil diaspora in the early 2000s. Mathinthiran had been targeted in police crackdowns on LTTE fundraising activities in 2007 and had served a three year prison term until 2010.

Expressing outrage, TCC’s UK branch who accuse Sri Lanka of perpetrating the assassination, said in a statement:

“[Sri Lanka’s] genocidal program is now being calculated directly into the Tamil diaspora.”

“Sri Lanka is trying to break the unrelenting desire for freedom and spirit of the people and it is time for us Tamils to come together as one to put an end to this.”

“TCC-UK joins with the British Tamil community in conveying our condolences to those family members mourning the loss of Parithi and to TCC France.”

Mario Arulthas from the TYO-UK said:

“We are very shocked and saddened by the death of Eelam Tamil activist Nadarajah Mathinthiran, who was murdered in Paris last night.

Tamil activists and the wider community are yet to come to terms with his death. We are in disbelief and are outraged by this appalling crime.

Mr Mathinthiran was a prominent figure in the Tamil national struggle and a widely respected leader within the community.

We are in no doubt that this crime is one of a political nature, and we urge French police to ensure it is fully investigated and the perpetrators are brought to account.

At this terrible time, the thoughts of all our members and the Diaspora community at large are with Mr Mathinthiran's family and friends.”

Vigils are expected to be held across the Diaspora as tribute to Mr Mathinthiran, who is survived by his wife and daughter.