British Tamil sentenced for ‘supplying LTTE’

The founder of the British Tamil Association has been jailed for two years for supplying the Tamil Tigers group.

Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, 52, was sentenced at London's Old Bailey for illegally procuring equipment for the Sri Lankan group.

Chrishanthakumar, widely known as Shanthan in the Tamil community, co-ordinated the supply of materials for the Tamil Tigers between 2003 and 2006, according to the police.

Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, said he procured equipment for the group with an "obvious terrorist purpose".

Justice Saunders said: "This was a protracted, deliberate breaking of a law. These are very serious offences which warrant substantial sentences.

"The terrorist law has to be obeyed as part of our obligations internationally."

But the judge decided the case was "exceptional" as, at the time the offences were carried out, the Tamil Tigers were not banned in Sri Lanka and peace negotiations were taking place.

He paid tribute to the defendant's "humanitarian" work, which he said he hoped would continue once he had completed his sentence.

The judge told the Old Bailey: "He is a thoroughly decent man who deliberately broke the law in support of a cause he fervently believed in."

The defendant, was born in Sri Lanka but moved to London and became a prominent figure in the Tamil community.

He was convicted by a jury at Kingston Crown Court of receiving electrical components for terrorism and a second count of receiving documents for terrorism.

These included guides to underwater warfare systems, explosive ordnance disposal and mine clearance.

Shanthan was given a shopping list of goods to send to Sri Lanka by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – the Tigers' full name.

These included computers, electrical goods and high-powered torches which could have been used by fighters, although other items including speed guns were for the civilian administration of the part of Sri Lanka ruled by the LTTE.

The items did not include guns or explosives.

"He did not know and was not concerned whether the goods he supplied were to be used for civilian or military uses," said the judge.

"He was given an order by the LTTE and he fulfilled it."

The court heard that Shanthan was in contact with Special Branch for more than a decade but deliberately deceived them about what he was doing.

"Shanthan took steps to cover up the fact that he was exporting goods to the LTTE by the use of false invoices," the judge said.

"Although this was a time of peace, there was evidence that both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE were using the period to build up their resources in order to maintain their position of strength at the negotiations."

The trial heard evidence from Clare Short, the former international development secretary, that the British Government was giving aid to Sri Lanka at the time, some of which went to Tamil-controlled areas.

While there was a "clear distinction" between this and Shanthan's illegal actions, it did "reduce the seriousness" of the offence, the judge said.

He said that, if peace negotiations in London, in which Shanthan was involved, had been successful, there may have been no need for the prosecution.

The judge said of the defendant: "He is not a merely a man of good character, he has done a great deal of good work for Tamils in this country."

Shanthan's barrister, Mark Muller QC, said that, although the Tamil Tigers were banned in this country, the case should be differentiated from that of Islamic extremists who wanted to attack Britain.

The judge said: "The LTTE have been responsible for suicide bombings and for the killing of innocent civilians as well as being involved in conventional warfare. It is for Parliament to decide whether an organisation is proscribed."

But he added: "The proscribed organisation in this case at this particular time were not actively involved in any overt armed struggle against Sri Lanka."

The judge told Shanthan he hoped he would "resume the humanitarian work you undoubtedly do for Tamils in this country" on his release.

But he said the "deliberate breach of trust of UK authorities" meant a jail term was inevitable, adding: "I regret that but I fear that it is necessary."

(Edited for brevity)