The
British authorities are considering charging a breakaway
Tamil Tiger leader for war crimes, media reports say.
The
British prosecutors are investigating war crimes allegations
levelled against Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna,
newspapers in London said.
London's
The Guardian and The Times said the British authorities
are looking at options to charge the renegade rebel leader.
Arrested
in UK
British
immigration authorities said Karuna was arrested at an
unidentified location in the UK, on 02 November, the same
day senior LTTE leader Tamilselvan was killed in Sri Lanka
air raids.
He has entered the UK in September using a diplomatic
passport bearing the name of Kokila Gunawardene according
to the main opposition, United National Party (UNP).
The
visa was reportedly issued after the Sri Lankan government
sent a 'third party request' with the passport of Gunawardene,
a senior official of the Environmental Affairs ministry.
Karuna's
'war crimes'
Karuna,
who broke away form the main stream LTTE in March 2003,
later formed a separate group called Tamil Makkal Viduthalai
Puligal (TMVP), widely known as 'Karuna faction'.
International
human rights campaigners said his faction was used by
the government for widespread abductions, killings, taking
ransom and other rights abuses.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Coalition
to Stop Child Soldiers have called on the British authorities
to charge Karuna for war crimes which includes recruiting
child soldiers.
The
Sri Lankan High Commissioner in London, Kshenuka Seneviratne,
was called into the British Foreign Office on Tuesday
to express concern over issuance of a diplomatic passport
to Karuna by the Sri Lankan government.
Using
dplomatic passport
The
High Commission (HC) in London did not deny or confirm
the discussion took place.
First
Secretary at the HC, Maxwell Keegel, earlier told BBC
Sandeshaya that HC and British authorities "are engaged
in routine discussions".
However,
"it is not our practise to reveal the details of
these discussions," he added.
The
HC has told the London newspapers that the Sri Lankan
government was "unaware of any issuance of a diplomatic
passport to Karuna".
If
Karuna is charged in London, it would lead to a serious
rift between the two countries, The Times said.
Courtesy - BBC