KajeebanaliasGobi

As is customary in situations like these, the youths both male and female are subjected to more intensive scrutiny. Most of the former LTTE cadres now leading different lives after rehabilitation are also under the spotlight. These wretched souls of the Wanni earth would be treated as the “usual suspects” in situations like the present. Many of the ex-Tigers are now required to report to the authorities. Their movements are being closely monitored. The search by the security forces in the Wanni is not only for the elusive Kajeeban alias Gobi but is also being conducted with the objective of crushing any possible revival of the LTTE in the North. Ex-Tigers who did not formally surrender and be rehabilitated are also being sought out now.

The LTTE ceased to exist as an organisation in Sri Lanka after the military debacle in May 2009 at Mullivaaikkaal in the Mullaithivu district. Tiger supremo Veluppillai Prabhakaran and numerous other frontline leaders were killed. More than 11,000 other leaders and cadres who had surrendered underwent rehabilitation at detention centres. More than 10,000 were released in stages. Less than a thousand remain in custody with somebeingproducedincourts.

The overseas structures of the LTTE however remained active though losing much of the earlier lethal venom. The bulk of LTTE branches, front organisations and business ventures in the global Tamil Diaspora remained under the overall hegemony of Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan or “tall man”. Nediyavan living in Norway adopted a low profile and relocated to a small town about 150 miles away from capital city -- Oslo from where he continued to direct the organisation through two trusted aides known as Ilamporai and Nanthakopan.

On another level many of the Tiger and pro-Tiger activists abroad transformed themselves into human rights champions. Ostensibly the name of the LTTE game was no longer an armed struggle to achieve national liberation. It was now a lofty quest for justice, accountability, reconciliation and equality. A tragi-comic aspect of the changed scenario was the spectacle of accredited representatives from respected human rights organisations associating with yesteryear Tigers gloating over their new avatar. The battlefront had seemingly shifted to the UN Human Rights Councilarenainthenewvenueof Geneva.