Dead man’s name in list of designated individuals

By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
Among the 422 individuals designated by the Sri Lankan Government through a Gazette Extraordinary issued on March 21st 2014, is included the name of a person who died two years ago, senior Premini herself was brutally raped and executed. Yet the gazette lists the name Thanuskodi Premini.

He says that Karunanithi Thurairatnam whose name appeared in the list had passed away in France on March 19, 2012. Apparently, notice of his death as well as obituaries had been published in several Tamil media organs at that time. The blog further says: The 86th name in the relevant gazette notification is that of Karunanithi Thurairatnam a.k.a Thurai. The notification states that Thurairatnam was born on March 15, 1969 and that he is living in France. It also says his passport number is F750320938.

According to the gazette Thurairatnam alias Thurai’s address in Sri Lanka is given as Vattukoddai West, Vattukoddai and his foreign address is stated to be 14 RUE MAURICE BUREAU, 93000 – BOBIGNY- Tel. No: 0664656395 What the authorities in Sri Lanka responsible for the Gazette seem to have been unaware of is the fact that Karunanithi Thurairatnam had passed away in France on March 19, 2012. Apparently, notice of his death as well as obituaries had been published in several Tamil media organs at that time.

The person concerned is the husband of Kamalambigai and father of Ilakkiya, Midhulan and Dharshika. He is the son of former Principal, Thirunavukkarasu Vidyalayam the late Mr. Karunanithi and Ms Selvamalar Karunanidhi.

The publication of Karunanidhi Thurairatnam’s name in the list of designated individuals by the govt. has aroused much amusement as well as indignation.

The sloppiness of the govt. in listing the name of a person who died two years ago among the living has raised questions of how accurate and responsible the govt. was in the entire exercise.

Another glaring error in the listing is to a woman named Thanuskodi Premini. I am aware of a woman by that name who was formerly an accountant of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). She was one of seven TRO employees abducted in Batticaloa and killed by the Tamil Makkal Viduthalaipp Puligal (TMVP) in 2006. Premini herself was brutally raped and executed.

I have written about this gruesome incident. Yet the gazette lists the name Thanuskodi Premini. I don’t think there were two women by the same name. If it is indeed the same woman then I begin to wonder about the accuracy of the listing.

The designation of 16 entities and 424 individuals as having alleged terrorist links or being involved in terrorism is a very serious matter.

The lives of many could be deeply affected. Their professional reputations could be irredeemably damaged. Grave travesties of justice could occur if action is pursued under faulty information.

Much as one understands the Sri Lankan Government wanting to overcome the threat posed in Sri Lanka by a resurgent LTTE fuelled by sections of the Global Tamil Diaspora, one must emphasise that careless action based on erroneous information could prove counterproductive, besides resulting in a travesty of justice. Sri Lanka is well within its rights to combat the violent renaissance of the LTTE.