By Colombo Telegraph –
“As previewed by Foreign Secretary Kohona’s comment, this will likely be cast as a major success by the government. KP was seen as the last top LTTE leader still at-large since the end of the war, and the government will likely feel they have tied up the last loose end with this capture. KP had a much higher level of international notoriety than the few other remaining LTTE leaders, and had worked to cast himself as the successor to Prabhakaran upon his death in May. He was allegedly in control of a significant portion of the LTTE’s fundraising network, and its arms procurement abilities during the war. In his public statements since then, KP had argued that now was the time to transform the LTTE into a political organization that fights for Tamil rights through peaceful means. Although it is too early to tell the impact of this capture on remaining LTTE organization, it has to be considered a major blow to efforts to re-establish the LTTE as any sort of cohesive force, political or otherwise.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Kumaran Pathmanathan
A Leaked ‘Confidential’ US diplomatic cable, dated August 7, 2009, updated the Secretary of State regarding the arrest of Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP). The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable was signed and written by the charge d’affairs James R. Moore.
The US embassy wrote; “Reports indicate that top LTTE official Selvarajah Pathmanathan, also known as KP, has been apprehended and is now in the custody of Sri Lankan security officials. Embassy sources were tight-lipped today, with no military intelligence officials willing to comment on the details of his apprehension and current whereabouts, although it appears that he is being held in or near Colombo. Media and government sources have given conflicting accounts of where he was apprehended, with some saying in Thailand and others saying in Malaysia. Thai officials reportedly have denied any involvement, and said he was not arrested there. Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told Charge that he had no details on the arrest other than that he was now likely in Colombo. Kohona added, ‘KP’s arrest should close the chapter on the LTTE.’ Late this afternoon, military spokesman Brigadier General Nanayakkara held a press conference about the arrest and then spoke with Charge. He confirmed that KP was being held in Colombo and undergoing interrogation. He said legal action would be taken against KP, but formal charges had not yet been filed. Nanayakkara confirmed that KP was apprehended on August 5th, but would not say whether it was in Malaysia or Thailand. He said KP holds a Sri Lankan passport among others.”
“One version of the arrest story claimed KP was apprehended in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A news report by journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj claimed two UK citizens had been meeting with KP at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur when he received a call on his cell phone. He excused himself, left the room and did not return. This report goes on to say that once he was picked up in Malaysia, he was then brought to Bangkok due to the lack of an extradition treaty between Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Unverified reports suggested that the Government of Sri Lanka was tipped off about KP’s location by other LTTE members unhappy with the non-violent approach that he had been advocating the LTTE now adopt.” charge d’affairs further wrote.
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000779 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: CAPTURE OF SELVARAJAH PATHMANATHAN, AKA KP Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE. REASONS: 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Reports indicate that top LTTE official Selvarajah Pathmanathan, also known as KP, has been apprehended and is now in the custody of Sri Lankan security officials. Embassy sources were tight-lipped today, with no military intelligence officials willing to comment on the details of his apprehension and current whereabouts, although it appears that he is being held in or near Colombo. Media and government sources have given conflicting accounts of where he was apprehended, with some saying in Thailand and others saying in Malaysia. Thai officials reportedly have denied any involvement, and said he was not arrested there. Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told Charge that he had no details on the arrest other than that he was now likely in Colombo. Kohona added, "KP's arrest should close the chapter on the LTTE." Late this afternoon, military spokesman Brigadier General Nanayakkara held a press conference about the arrest and then spoke with Charge. He confirmed that KP was being held in Colombo and undergoing interrogation. He said legal action would be taken against KP, but formal charges had not yet been filed. Nanayakkara confirmed that KP was apprehended on August 5th, but would not say whether it was in Malaysia or Thailand. He said KP holds a Sri Lankan passport among others. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) One version of the arrest story claimed KP was apprehended in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A news report by journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj claimed two UK citizens had been meeting with KP at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur when he received a call on his cell phone. He excused himself, left the room and did not return. This report goes on to say that once he was picked up in Malaysia, he was then brought to Bangkok due to the lack of an extradition treaty between Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Unverified reports suggested that the Government of Sri Lanka was tipped off about KP's location by other LTTE members unhappy with the non-violent approach that he had been advocating the LTTE now adopt. ¶3. (C) Comment: As previewed by Foreign Secretary Kohona's comment, this will likely be cast as a major success by the government. KP was seen as the last top LTTE leader still at-large since the end of the war, and the government will likely feel they have tied up the last loose end with this capture. KP had a much higher level of international notoriety than the few other remaining LTTE leaders, and had worked to cast himself as the successor to Prabhakaran upon his death in May. He was allegedly in control of a significant portion of the LTTE's fundraising network, and its arms procurement abilities during the war. In his public statements since then, KP had argued that now was the time to transform the LTTE into a political organization that fights for Tamil rights through peaceful means. Although it is too early to tell the impact of this capture on remaining LTTE organization, it has to be considered a major blow to efforts to re-establish the LTTE as any sort of cohesive force, political or otherwise. End Comment. MOORE
gamini / February 21, 2013
See how the Americans conniving with MR to give the impression that KP was captured when he was really escorted from Malaysia to Bangkok to Sri Lanka, just like that avoiding all Immigration Laws and Extradition Laws. KP gave himself in for his own safety, as otherwise he would have been killed by a remaing LTTEer for betraying VP and the surrenderees.
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Srimani Perera / February 21, 2013
How can the corrupt Regime arrest KP? The corrupt family robbed all the LTTE funds after he was arrested. This is why he was kept in Luxury Hotels and given all the luxuries of life while keeping the War Hero in Jail. Anyone aware of what happened to the large sums of LTTE Funds that was the hot topic after the arrest of KP? Those responsible should rot in hell. God save former democratic Sri Lanka, current lawless Banana Republic.
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kp / February 21, 2013
wonder where all the BBS and JHU-defending “pure sinhala buddhists” are now… when the man that killed monks at anuradhapura and another that bombed the dalada maligawa got into bed with MR, none of these patriots made a squeak… aney aney…
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gamini / February 22, 2013
After VP with his LTTE cadre and the civilians numbering around a three hundred and fifty thousand moved to Puthukudiirippu from their last strong hold Kilinochchi,for the final stage of the drama, where VP was assured a way out, was met with a fierce attack by the Sri Lankan forces, by land , sea and air. VP and the LTTE had no heavy weaponry to defend themselves as they had buried all as agreed before, except may be a few small arms for their personal safety. That is why in this war from Jan 2007 to May 2009 the Forces had almost zero casualty and the entire LTTE cadre was wiped out. If there was a real war as stated all that heavy weaponry the was unearthed by the Forces and shown at Deyata Kirula Exhibitions would have been found scattered all over the area, which was never the case.
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