Daughter blames Lankan gov’t for murder in Paris

The daughter of a slain former commander of the Tamil Tigers rebel group believes the Sri Lankan government was responsible for her father's death in Paris.

Nadarajah Mathinthiran was gunned down on November 8 as he was leaving the headquarters of the Tamil Coordination Committee in France (CCTF), an organisation regarded as a front for what remains of the Tigers.

"There is every chance that it was the Sri Lankan government," Saarrah Mathinthiran said late Monday, adding that the two men involved in the attack "knew how to shoot very well."

Saarrah's comments were made at an impromptu memorial service held near the site of the shooting and attended by about 400 people.

Many Tamils at the ceremony agreed with her.

"Who benefits from this? The Sri Lankan government. I'll believe they are guilty until proven otherwise," said Thiru Thiruchchoti, president of a Tamil rights group.

French police have two men in custody in connection with the murder, but their involvement in the killing has yet to be determined, sources close to the investigation said Monday.

Born in Sri Lanka in 1963, Mathinthiran was a leader in the Paris division of the CCTF, and in February was sentenced to five years in prison for extortion and financing terrorism.

He had served more than three years in prison after being arrested in 2007.

The Tamil Tigers fought for the independence of the Tamil state in Sri Lanka, and at one point controlled one third of the island.

Their 37-year campaign ended in 2009 when their leadership was obliterated by government forces.

 

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