Vaiko Denied Entry Into Malaysia Over LTTE ‘Links’

Tamil party leader Vaiko was stopped at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Airport and refused entry into the country over his affinity with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko was questioned for several hours over his alleged links with the group.

Vaiko, who was visiting Malaysia to attend a Tamil Malaysian leader’s family wedding, will be flown back to Chennai tonight, Tamil news channels reported, citing Malaysian police sources. Malaysian police said the leader was in the country’s blacklist as he has a number of cases registered against him in Sri Lanka over the alleged LTTE links. According to the channels, he was subjected to a closed-door interrogation, denied visitors and his passport was seized.

Tamil Nadu Congress leader Thirunavukarasu condemned the Malaysian airport move and questioned why he was stopped despite holding a valid visa.

Vaiko was sent to 15-day judicial custody in April by a court in Chennai in connection with his speech in support of the LTTE. In 2009, he was booked by the Chennai police for charges including the Section 124 A (sedition) and 13(1)b of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004.