12.1.2008
Daya Gamage – US Bureau Asian Tribune
Washington,
D.C. 12 January (Asiantribune.com): U.S. District Judge
Catherine C. Blake in Baltimore, Maryland sentenced Thirunavukarasu
Varatharasa, age 37, a citizen of Sri Lanka, January 3
to 57 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised
release for conspiracy to provide material support to
a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam or popularly known as Tamil Tigers,
and attempted exportation of arms and munitions, announced
United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod
J. Rosenstein. He will be deported from the United States
after serving his sentence of incarceration.
United
States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “We are
using undercover operations targeting people who attempt
to obtain military weapons in violation of American law
and all other available legal tools to prevent terrorism."
"Combating
terrorism and protecting our critical technologies are
priorities for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service
(DCIS). The DCIS will continue working with our partners
in law enforcement to fully ensure that US Department
of Defense (DoD) weapons systems and technologies are
secure," said Robert Craig, Acting Special Agent
in Charge for the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
According
to his plea agreement, from April to September 29, 2006
Varatharasa conspired with Haji Subandi, Haniffa Osman
and Erick Wotulo to export state-of-the-art firearms,
machine guns and ammunition, surface to air missiles,
night vision goggles and other military weapons to the
Tamil Tigers operating within Sri Lanka, to be used to
fight against Sri Lankan government forces.
According
to the US Department of Justice the conspirators contacted
an undercover business located in Maryland about the sale
of military weapons. The defendants aided in the acquisition
and proposed delivery of military technology to the Tamil
Tigers by requesting price quotes and negotiating the
purchases. Subandi sent an itemized list of 53 military
weapons, including sniper rifles, machine guns and grenade
launchers that he wanted to acquire for the Tamil Tigers.
On
September 25, 2006 Varatharasa and Osman arrived in Saipan
to meet with undercover officers and inspect the weaponry
that had been ordered on behalf of the Tamil Tigers. They
were transported to Guam where, the next day, Varatharasa
and Osman inspected various machine guns, sniper rifles
and ammunition. They also inspected two surface to air
missiles and agreed to communicate to others within the
Tamil Tigers regarding the availability and pricing of
the missiles. After the inspection was completed, Varatharasa
and Osman agreed to arrange for the transfer of money
into an undercover bank account in Maryland as payment
for the arms and munitions. Varatharasa also purchased
food and provisions for his trip from Guam to deliver
the weaponry to the Tamil Tigers at a location in the
Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Haji
Subandi, age 70, a citizen of the Republic of Indonesia,
was sentenced on December 14, 2007 to 37 months in prison
for conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign
terrorist organization, money laundering and attempted
exportation of arms and munitions.
Erick
Wotulo, age 59, a retired Indonesian Marine Corps General,
and Haniffa Bin Osman, age 56, a citizen of the Republic
of Singapore, both pleaded guilty and face a maximum sentence
of 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material
support and 20 years in prison for money laundering. Their
sentencings have not yet been scheduled.
Founded
in 1976, the Tamil Tigers has advocated the violent overthrow
of the Sri Lankan government, employing acts of violence,
including suicide bombings, against both civilian and
military targets. Approximately 200 such attacks have
been attributed to the Tamil Tigers to date. The Tamil
Tigers relies heavily upon supporters throughout the world
to raise and launder money, acquire intelligence and purchase
military use technology. The U.S. Department of State
designated the Tamil Tigers as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
in 1997. As such, the Tamil Tigers cannot legally raise
money or procure operational equipment in the United States.
United
States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, the Defense Criminal Investigative
Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baltimore
City Police Department for their investigative work. Mr.
Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District
of Maryland James G. Warwick, and Harry M. Gruber, who
are prosecuting the case; and Assistant U.S. Attorney
Harvey Eisenberg, Chief of National Security, who is supervising
the case.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune