மட்டு.,அம்பாறையில் வதந்தியால் மக்கள் பீதி, இயல்பு நிலை பாதிப்பு

மட்டக்களப்பு அம்பாறை மாவட்டங்களில் நேற்று திங்களன்று இயல்பு நிலை பெரிதும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. மட்டக்களப்பு நகரில் பெரும்பாலான வர்த்தக நிலையங்கள் மூடப்பட்டிருந்ததுடன் வழமையான சனநடமாட்டமும் காணப்படவில்லை.

வெளிமாவட்டங்களுக்கான போக்குவரத்து வழமைபோல இடம் பெற்றிருந்தாலும் உள்ளூர் போக்குவரத்துகள் பெரிதும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

மட்டக்களப்பு நீதிமன்றங்களில் நேற்று திங்களன்று இடம் பெற்ற விசாரணைகளுக்கு பெரும்பாலானவர்கள் வருகை தராததால் வழக்குத் தவணைகள் பிறிதொரு தினத்திற்கு

ஒத்திவைக்கப்பட்டன.

பொதுத்தேர்தலுக்கான பிரசாரங்களும் இடம் பெறவில்லை. மாவட்டத்தில் இனம் புரியாத அமைதி நிலவி வருகிறது. இதேவேளை அநாமதேய வதந்திகள் காரணமாக மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்திலுள்ள வேறுமாவட்டங்களை சேர்ந்த தமிழர்கள் பீதியடைந்த நிலையில் உள்ளனர்.

அம்பாறையில்

விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் உள்வீட்டு முரண்பாடு காரணமாக அம்பாறை கல்முனைப் பிரதேச தமிழ் மக்களிடையே ஒருவகை அச்ச உணர்வும் சோகமும் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

நேற்று திங்கட்கிழமை இப்பிரதேசத்தில் அரச அலுவலகங்கள், வங்கிகள் எதுவும் இயங்கவில்லை. மாணவர்கள் பாடசாலைகளுக்கு வருகை தராததால் பாடசாலைகள் அøனத்தும் மூடப்பட்டிருந்தன. தமிழ் வர்த்தகர்களின் கடைகள் மூடப்பட்டிருந்தன.

நன்றி - வீரகேசரி

சங்கரியைஆதரித்து சுவரொட்டி

யாழ்.மாவட்ட சுயேச்சைக்குழுவின் முதன்மை வேட்பாளரும் தமிழர் விடுதலைக்கூட்டணித் தலைவருமான வீ.ஆனந்தசங்கரியின் தேர்தல் சுவரொட்டிகள் யாழ்.மாவட்டம் எங்கும் பரந்த அளவில் ஒட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன.

உதயசூரியன் பின்னணியில் தந்தை செல்வாவின் மிகப்பெரிய முகப்புப் படத்தின்கீழ் சங்கரியின் சிறியளவிலான புகைப்படம் பிரசுரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. சங்கரியின் முகத்தில் சாணி தப்பிய நிலையில் பெரும்பாலான சுவரொட்டிகள் காணப்படுகின்றன

நன்றி - வீரகேசரி

அநாமதேய தகவலையடுத்தே பல்கலைக்கழகத்தைவிட்டு வெளியேறினோம் கிழக்கு பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்கள்

மட்டக்களப்பில் உள்ள கிழக்குப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் பயிலும் 80க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பட்டதாரி மாணவர்கள் அங்கு நிலவும் அசாதாரண சூழ் நிலையின் விளைவாக திருகோணமலை திரும்பியுள்ளனர். பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் பயிலும் வெளி மாவட்டங்களைச் சேர்ந்த மாணவர்கள் உடனடியாக வெளியேற வேண்டும் என விடுக்கப்பட்ட அநாமதேய செய்தியைத் தொடர்ந்தே தாங்கள் பல்கலைக்கழகத்திலிருந்து வெளியேறி திருகோணமலை திரும்பியுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். இதேவேளை வன்னிப் பெரு நிலப்பரப்பைச் சேர்ந்த 40 பட்டதாரி மாணவர்களும் வன்னிக்குத் திரும்பிச் சென்றுள்ளதாகவும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்நிலையில் கடந்த ஞாயிறன்று மட்டக்களப்பில் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் அதியுயர் பீடத்தினால் எடுக்கப்பட்ட தீர்மானத்திற்கு எதிராக கிழக்குப் பல்கலைக்கழக சமூகம் என்ற பெயரில் வெளியிடப்பட்ட துண்டுப் பிரசுரத்திற்கும் தங்களுக்கும் எதுவித சம்பந்தமும் இல்லை எனவும் பல்கலைக்கழகத்திலிருந்து வெளியேறிய மாணவர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

இந்தத் துண்டுப் பிரசுரத்தில் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ள கருத்துக்கள் ஒட்டுமொத்தமாக கிழக்குப் பல்கலைக்கழக சமூகத்தின் கருத்துக்கள் அல்ல என்பதனை தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கின்றோம். இதனை முற்றாக மறுக்கின்றோம் எனவும் பல்கலைக்கழகத்திலிருந்து வெளியேறிய மாணவர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். குறிப்பாக கடந்த ஆறாம் திகதியிலிருந்து பரீட்சைகள் ஒத்திவைக்கப்பட்டமையின் விளைவாக அன்றைய தினமே தாங்கள் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தை விட்டு வெளியேறியுள்ளதாகவும் இவர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்

நன்றி - வீரகேசரி

தனிநபர் ஒருவரின் தன்னிச்சையான செயற்பாட்டால் விடுதலைப்புலிகள் இயக்கத்துள் எழுந்துள்ள பதட்டத்தை தணிக்கும் முகமாக குறிப்பிட்ட தனிநபரும் கொடும் பிரதேசவாதியுமான கருணாவிற்கு பொதுமன்னிப்பளித்து கிழக்கு மட்டக்களப்பு அம்பாறை மாவட்டங்களில் நிலவும் அசாதாரண சூழலை நீக்க தமிழர்களின் தேசிய தலைமை முடிவெடுத்திருப்பதாக BBC செய்தி வெளியிட்டுள்ளது...!

இந்தப் பொதுமன்னிப்பு பற்றிய அறிவிப்பு மட்டக்களப்பு மறைமாவட்ட றோமன் கத்தோலிக்க பிரதமகுரு கிங்ஸ்லி சுவாம்பிள்ளை மூலமாக கருணாவிற்கு அனுப்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும் செய்தி சொல்கிறது....! இந்த மன்னிப்பை ஏற்று கருணா தனது தன்னிச்சையான செயற்பாடுகளை நிறுத்துவதுடன் பொதுவாழ்வில் இருந்தும் விலகி சொந்த வாழ்க்கையைக் காப்பாற்றிக் கொள்ளவும் சந்தர்ப்பம் அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது....!

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Tamil Tigers try to close ranks

The Tamil Tigers accuse Colonel Karuna (right) of disloyalty

Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have offered an amnesty to a renegade commander whose actions threaten to split rebel ranks.

A spokesman for the Tigers told the BBC the amnesty for Colonel Karuna had been offered by Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

It was on condition the colonel cease all his current activities immediately.

The news came as a Norwegian envoy flew in to review the two-year ceasefire between the rebels and the government.

Dissatisfaction

Erik Solheim's visit is likely to be dominated by the crisis among the rebels which erupted last week.

The commander, Colonel Karuna, was expelled for reportedly expressing dissatisfaction that the bulk of the rebel fighters come from eastern Sri Lanka, and yet all the top leadership comes from the north.

He remains in his eastern stronghold of Batticaloa, and correspondents say it is not clear if he will meet Mr Solheim although he has expressed a willingness to do so.

In an interview with the Associated Press news agency, the rebel group's political chief, SV Thamilselvan, said that the amnesty had been offered to enable Colonel Karuna to lead a private life.

"There seems no necessity to take military action as Karuna stands only as a single individual," he said.

He said the amnesty offer had been conveyed to the renegade commander through a delegation led by Roman Catholic Bishop Kingsley Swampillai.

It is not clear how many rebels are loyal to Colonel Karuna

Security was meanwhile strengthened in Batticaloa throughout Monday.

"We have extra police in the street, but there is no tension," senior police superintendent, Lasantha de Silva, said.

A spokesman for Colonel Karuna told the AFP news agency that everything possible would be done to avoid violence.

"We don't want to see any more bloodshed on our soil, but it depends on the [northern] leadership," he said.

The apparent split among the Tigers mirrors divisions within the Sri Lankan government, where the president and prime minister are at loggerheads over the best way of moving the peace process forward.

Their disagreements have meant that no formal peace negotiations between the government and the Tamil Tigers have taken place since April.

Parliamentary elections are due to be next month, and talks to end the 20-year-old conflict - which has claimed 60,000 lives - will be a central part of the election campaign.

'Death threat'

On Sunday, Colonel Karuna - whose real name is Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan - said he had received reports that death squads had been sent to kill him.

And hundreds of his supporters in eastern Sri Lanka took to the streets.

In one town, they even burned a large effigy with a photograph of the rebel leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, in a show of defiance that would have been unthinkable even a week before, said the BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo.

Tamils in the area fear they may be asked to choose whether they are loyal to the mainstream of the movement or the breakaway commander, our correspondent said.

A top defence ministry official said on Friday that the government could not agree to Colonel Karuna's request for a separate defence pact.

BBC.com....!

கருணாவிற்கு பொதுமன்னிப்பு வழங்க விடுதலைப்புலிகள் இணக்கம்?

விடுதலைப்புலிகள் அமைப்பிலிருந்து விலக்கப்பட்டுள்ள திரு. கருணாவிற்கு பொது மன்னிப்பு வழங்க தயாராகவுள்ளதாக விடுதலைப்புலிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

தற்போது கருணா ஈடுபட்டுள்ள விரோத நடவடிக்கைகளை முற்றாக நிறுத்துவாராயின் அவருக்குப் பொதுமன்னிப்பு வழங்க தேசியத் தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் தயாராகவுள்ளதாகத் தெரியவருகிறது.

அசோசியேட் பிரஸ் செய்தி ஸ்தாபனத்திற்கே மேற்படி தகவலை தமிழீழ அரசியற்துறைப் பொறுப்பாளர் சு.ப. தமிழ்ச்செல்வன் தெரிவித்ததாக இன்று பி.பி.சி. செய்தி வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. கருணா தற்போதைய நடவடிக்கைகளை நிறுத்தினால், அவர் தனது தனிப்பட்ட வாழ்க்கையைத் தொடரும் வகையில் அவருக்கு பொது மன்னிப்பு வழங்கத் தயாராகவுள்ளதாக அவர் மேலும் தெரிவித்துள்ளதாக தெரியவருகிறது.

கருணா ஒரு தனிமனிதனாக இக் காரியங்களில் ஈடுபட்டு வருவதால், ஒரு இராணுவ நடவடிக்கைக்கான தேவையேதும் இல்லையென தான் கருதுவதாக மேலும் தெரிவித்த திரு.சு.ப.தமிழ்ச்செல்வன், மட்டக்களப்பு பேராயர் அதிவணக்கத்திற்குரிய கிங்ஸ்லி சுவாம்பிள்ளையினூடாக இப் பொதுமன்னிப்புப் பற்றிய விபரங்கள் கருணாவிற்குத் தெரியப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன எனவும் தெரிவித்தார்.

நன்றி -புதினம்

புலிகள் இயக்கத்தில் இருந்து வெளியேற வேண்டும் கருணாவுக்குபொது மன்னிப்பு பிரபாகரன் அறிவிப்பு

கொழும்பு, மார்ச். 9- இலங்கையில் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் இயக்கத்தில் பிளவு வெடித்து உள்ளது அல்லவா? கிழக்கு மகாண கமாண்டர் கருணா இயக்க தலைவர் பிரபா கரனுக்கு எதிராக போர்க்கொடி தூக்கி உள்ளார். துரோகி என்று முத்திரை குத்தி கருணாவை விடுதலைப்புலிகள் இயகத்தில் இருந்து பிரபாகரன் நீக்கினார்.

நேற்று முன்தினம் தமிழர்கள் நிறைந்த மட்டக்களப்பில் பிரபாகரனுக்கு எதிராக, கருணாவை ஆதாpத்து ஊர்வலம் நடந்தது. இதற்கு முன்பு தமிழர் பகுதியில் பிரபாகரனுக்கு எதிராக ஊர்வலம் நடந்தது இல்லை.

வடக்கு மாகாணத்தில் வன்னிபகுதியில் இருக்கும் பிரபாகரன், கருணாவை பிடிக்க 2 கொலை படை பிhpவை கிழக்கு மாகாணத்துக்கு அனுப்பி உள்ளார். அதனால் கருணா ஆதரவாளர்கள் உஷhர்படுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளனர் கிழக்கு மாகாணத்துக்குள் ஊடுருவிய பிரபாகரன் ஆதரவாளர் சிலர் சுட்டுக் கொல்லப்பட்டதாக ஒரு தகவல் கூறியது.

புலிகளில் இரு கோஷ்டிகளில் ஒன்று தாக்குதல் நடத்தகூடும் என்ற பயத்தில் இலங்கை ராணுவம் உஷhர்படுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளது. ராணுவ அதிகாhpகள் பாதுகாப்பு ஏற்பாடுகளை அதிகாpத்து உள்ளனர்.

இதற்கிடையில், பிரபாகரனுடன் உடன்பாடு செய்து கொண்டு பிரச்சினைக்கு தீர்வு காண்பதற்கு கருணா நிபந்தனை விதித்து உள்ளார். அதாவது விடுதலைப்புலிகள் இயக்கத்தை சேர்ந்த உளவு படை பிhpவு தலைவர் பொட்டு அம்மன், நிதிதுறை தலைவர் தமிழேந்தி, போலீஸ் பிhpவு தலைவர் நடேசன் ஆகியோரை நீக்கவேண்டும்.

கோடிக்கணக்கான ரூபாயை கருணா வீணடித்துவிட்டார். அதுதான் பிரச்சினைக்கு காரணம் என்று பிரபாகரன் தரப்பில் கூறப்படுகிறது. கருணா சவாலை சமாளிக்க பிரபாகரன் தனது சகாக்களுடன் ஆலோசனை நடத்தி வருகிறhர். மேலும் மட்டகளப்பு- திhpகோணமலை பிஷப் nஜhசப் கிங்சிலி சுவாமிப்பிள்ளை தலைமையில் ஒரு உயர் மட்டக்குழு வன்னிப்பகுதிக்கு சென்று பிரபாகரன் மற்றும் ;அரசியல் பிhpவு தலைவர் தமிழ்ச் செல்வன் ஆகியோரை சந்திக்க விரைந்து உள்ளனர்.

நேற்று காலையில் இலங்கை அரசுக்கும் விடுதலைப்புலிகள் இயக்கத்;துக்கும் இடையே சமரச பேச்சில் ஈடுபட்ட நார்வே அமைத்திக்குழு சிறப்பு பிரதி நிதி எhpக். சோல்கைம் கொழும்பு சென்றுள்ளார். இலங்கை ராணுவமும் புலிகளும் போர் நிறுத்தம் செய்து 2 ஆண்டுகள் நிறைவடைவதையொட்டி அவர் இலங்கை சென்று உள்ளார். வடக்கு- கிழக்கு நார்வே அமைதிக்குழு போர் நிறுத்தத்தை கண்காணிக்கிறது.

நார்வே பிரதிநிதி எhpக்சோல்கைம் புலிகள் கோஷ்டி சண்டையில் தலையிட்டு சமரசம் செய்வாரா? என்பது உடனடியாக தொpயவில்லை.

பொது மன்னிப்பு

நேற்று நள்ளிரவு வந்த தகவலின்படி கருணாவுக்கு புலிகள் இயக்க தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் மன்னிப்பு வழங்கினார். இதை கிளிநொச்சியில் அரசியல் பிhpவு தலைவர் தமிழ்செல்வன் நிருபர்களிடம் கூறினார். மேலும் அவர் கூறியதாவது„-

எங்கள் இயக்க தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் நீக்கப்பட்ட கமாண்டர் கருணாவுக்கு பொதுமன்னிப்பு வழங்கி உள்ளார். அவர் இயக்கத்தை விட்டு பிhpந்து சென்று குடும்ப வாழ்க்கையில் ஈடுபடலாம்.

அதுபற்றி ஒரு கத்தோலிக்க பிஷப் மூலம் கருணா என்கிற முரளிதரனுக்கு தகவல் அனுப்பப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

இவ்வாறு தமிழ்ச்செல்வன் கூறினார்.

நன்றி - தினகரன்

"மோதலைத் தவிர்க்க விரும்புகிறோம்': புலிகளின் கிழக்குப் பகுதி தலைவர் கருணா

பிரபாகரன் (49) தலைமையிலான வடக்குப் பகுதி விடுதலைப் புலிகளுடன் மோதலைத் தவிர்க்கவே விரும்புகிறோம் என்று கிழக்குப் பகுதி விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் தலைவர் கர்னல் கருணா என்று அழைக்கப்படும் வி. முரளீதரன் (37) தெரிவிக்கிறார்.

கருணா சார்பில் வரதன் என்பவர் தொலைபேசி மூலம் நிருபர்களுடன் பேசினார். அவர் இத்தகவலைத் தெரிவித்தார்.

வடக்கு, கிழக்கு இரண்டையும் சேர்ந்த தமிழர்கள் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் இயக்கத்தில் இருந்தாலும் முக்கிய பதவிகளுக்கெல்லாம் வடக்குப் பகுதி தமிழர்களை மட்டுமே நியமித்து வந்தார் பிரபாகரன். இதை ஆட்சேபித்த பிறகும் அவருடைய போக்கு மாறவில்லை. எனவே தான் அவருடைய தலைமையின் கீழ் செயல்பட விரும்பாமல் தனித்துச் செயல்பட அனுமதி கோரினார் கருணா என்றார் வரதன்.

கருணாவுக்குப் பதிலாக பொறுப்பேற்பார் என்று விடுதலைப் புலிகள் இயக்கத் தலைமை அறிவித்த நபர் இன்னமும் பொறுப்பை ஏற்கவில்லை. மட்டக்களப்பில் ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை ஊர்வலம் சென்ற கிழக்குப் பகுதி தமிழர்கள் பிரபாகரனுக்கு எதிராகக் கோஷமிட்டனர். அவருடைய உருவ பொம்மை கூட எரிக்கப்பட்டது.

கருணாவுக்கு ஆதரவாக திங்கள்கிழமை கடைகளும் பள்ளிக்கூடங்களும் மூடப்பட்டிருந்தன. சாலைகளில் வாகனங்கள் ஓடவில்லை.

பிஷப் சமரசத் தூது :

இதனிடையே மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்ட பிஷப், சில பிரதிநிதிகளுடன் வடக்குப் பகுதிக்குச் சென்றிருக்கிறார். அங்கு விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் தலைவர்களைச் சந்தித்து சமரசத் தீர்வு காண அவர் முயற்சிப்பார் என்று தெரிகிறது.

"எங்களுடைய அரசியல் தலைவர்கள் பிரதிநிதிகள் குழுவைச் சந்தித்துவிட்டனர்; வடக்குப் பகுதி தலைவர்களின் கீழ் செயல்பட நாங்கள் விரும்பவில்லை என்பதைத் தெரிவித்துவிட்டோம்' என்று கருணா சார்பில் வரதன் தெரிவித்தார்.

விடுதலைப் புலிகள் இயக்கத்தில் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள இந்த பிளவில் இலங்கை ராணுவம் இதுவரையில் எந்தப் பிரிவுடனும் சேராமல் நிலைமையை உன்னிப்பாகக் கவனித்து வருகிறது. விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கிடையே சண்டை மூண்டாலும் கூட அலட்சியமாக இருந்துவிடாமல் கவனமுடன் இருக்குமாறு அது அனைத்துப் பகுதி படைப்பிரிவுகளையும் எச்சரித்திருக்கிறது.

இலங்கை அரசியல் வட்டாரங்களும் இந்த மோதல் எப்படி முடியும் என்று கவனித்து வருகிறது.

எரிக் சோலைம்... :

விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கும் இலங்கை அரசுக்கும் இடையே முன்னர் சமரசம் செய்துவைத்த நார்வே சமரசத் தூதர் எரிக் சோலைம் கொழும்புக்கு புறப்பட்டுவிட்டார். அவர் அரசையும் விடுதலைப் புலிகளையும் சந்தித்து, சமரச ஏற்பாடுகள் எந்த அளவில் இருக்கிறது என்று ஆய்வு செய்வார். விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கு இடையிலேயே புதிதாக இப்போது ஏற்பட்டுள்ள பிளவு குறித்தும் அவர் ஆராய்வார். அவர் கிழக்குப் பகுதியின் புலிகள் தலைவர் கருணாவைச் சந்திப்பாரா என்று தெரியவில்லை.

நன்றி - தினமணி

நன்றி - டெய்லி மிரர்

Karuna revolt may have a wider impact on Lanka

CHENNAI, MARCH 8: The revolt of Karuna, the eastern command leader of the LTTE, will not mean a vertical split, but is certainly a huge embarrassment to its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Traditionally the east has been a relatively less prosperous region while Jaffna in the north has been known to be the cultural capital of the Lankan Tamils. It is still not clear to which caste Karuna belongs, but the Vellalars of the north are the Brahmins of the Lankan Tamil society, putting on all kinds airs and generally lording it over in the civil society. They might be acknowledging the supremacy of Prabhakaran even though he hails from a fisherman’s caste, but otherwise they are acutely conscious of their caste status and tend to turn up their noses at their lesser brethren.

There are many sayings highlighting the northerners’ affected sense of superiority. It is the general resentment among the non-Vellalars, specifically among the non-northeners, that Karuna seeks to exploit in his moves against those around Prabhakaran.

In an interview to the Tamil service of the BBC on Sunday, Karuna demanded that three senior leaders including intelligence chief Pottu Amman be withdrawn from the east without any further ado. A couple of days ago he had charged Amman with masterminding some recent political killings in the east. Amman is a key accused in the Rajiv assassination.

For Karuna, if he gets away with his current rebellion and survives as a warlord on his own right, is sure to wreak a terrible havoc. During the IPKF period and when the truce with Premadasa regime broke down, Karuna was behind large-scale massacres.

நன்றி - indian express

ஐ.பி.சி. தமிழில் ஒலிபரப்பாகிய திண்ணையில் - கருணாவின் பின்னணியில் இந்தியா!?

http://www.ibctamilradio.com/audio/thani0804.smil

Protests were held in Batticaloa in support of Karuna and against his expulsion from the LTTE. Pictures courtesy Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation

Batticaloa and key towns in East at standstill

Life in Batticaloa, Ampara and Valachchenai in the East, came to a standstill yesterday as shops, schools and government offices were closed reportedly as a mark of support to breakaway LTTE Eastern Commander Karuna, Police and Security reports stated.

Reports stated that there were several mass demonstrations in Batticaloa,Ampara and Valachchenai in solidarity with Karuna.Effigies of LTTE leader Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief Pottu Amman were burnt.

However, according to Police, the situation remained calm despite he demonstrations Reports also said that the students attending the Eastern university from the North were leaving the university in fear.

Sources from the LTTE controlled areas in Batticaloa now under Karuna said the LTTE areas were under tight security in fear of possible infiltration of Wanni cadres.

LTTE Eastern Commander "Colonel" Karuna yesterday ridiculed the Wanni leadership's moves to restore its control in Batticaloa and Ampara districts as unrealistic, while offering the LTTE leader a "friendly partnership" on equal footing. "Karuna welcomes Mr Prabhakaran for a friendly partnership based on an equal footing for the development and well-being of our people," a spokesman for Karuna's office told the Daily News.

He shot down statements by the LTTE's Wanni leadership that it would retake control of the breakaway group.

"Those who know the ground reality realise how impossible it is," he said. He however said that Karuna will try hard to avoid clashes between his forces and cadres loyal to the Tiger leader.

Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan alias Karuna now controls 5,000-6,000 cadres which once made the core of the LTTE.

"We are not for war, we do not want fresh bloodshed," the spokesman, Varathan said.

The LTTE's newly appointed Batticaloa-Ampara Commander T. Ramesh and political chief Kaushalyan are still in Kilinochchi as Karuna took control of the LTTE in the East replacing Ramesh with Robert and Kaushalyan with Vishu.

Meanwhile, the LTTE's Wanni leadership moved to restore control in Trincomalee, after arresting Trinco Tiger commander 'Colonel' Paduman, who was inveigled to Kilinochchi where he is now under detention.

Reports reaching Colombo from Trincomalee said LTTE senior officials Swarnam, 'Balaraj' and Puleethevan who arrived in Trincomalee had taken over the Tiger ranks in Trincomalee .

This was a precautionary move intended to prevent Karuna from taking control of the Tiger ranks in Trincomalee.

Unconfirmed reports said the LTTE political chief in Trincomalee, Thilak had been arrested.

There were unconfirmed reports of clashes between the cadres loyal to the Wanni leadership and the breakaway faction on the A-5 road.

However, a spokesman for Karuna's Eastern headquarters, Varathan ruled out any clashes saying the A5 road was under its control.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) also said there were no reports about killings or any clashes in Batticaloa.

Thanx: Daily News

ரொம்பத்தான் லொள்ளு வசி

No Meeting with Solheim- Karuna's LTTE

Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 8.15 A.M Tuesday 9 March. Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim has not requested a meeting with rebel LTTE leader in the east Karuna Amman, according to his Spokesman Varathan. Varathan said that even Karuna did not make any request for a meeting with Solheim. Solheim arrived in Sri Lanka last night. He is scheduled to meet with government officials and LTTE's political wing leader Thamil Chelvan during his short visit

Varathan also denied that killings have taken place in Batticaloa and areas under the control of Karuna. He said "All our areas are calm. There are no killings. No fights in the area."

LTTE plot to kill Karuna?

Pottu Amman allegedly arrives in Batticaloa with crack team

LTTE Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman has allegedly arrived in Batticaloa with a crack team of fighters to assassinate LTTE's Eastern rebel leader Col. Karuna, a top rebel source claimed last night.

Varthan, the spokesman for Col. Karuna, yesterday alleged that a 21-member group led by Pottu Amman had come from the Vanni two days ago on an assassination bid, but stressed that they were "ready" for the inevitable, despite expressing displeasure at having to draw the country back to war.

"They can try any of their dirty moves, but it means nothing to us," said Varthan maintaining that they were fully aware of Pottu Amman's military moves. He said they were fully confident of their own prowess because of their knowledge of their own military strength as opposed to that of the Northern administration.

"We know how impractical their actions are because we are better aware of the ground situation than them. We are fully confident because we know our strength. We have no suspicions about our ability to look after our safety," he said adding that they will try their best to prevent the situation from becoming violent.

"It won't be good to have another bloodshed," he added.

Varthan also rejected claims by the LTTE Political Chief on Sunday that they were probing the possible existence of a hidden force backing the rebel group, maintaining that such claims were only made to "hide" the flaws of the LTTE from the outside world.

"They are just saying these to cover up their faults and find some alternative to get out of the situation. They are in a pathetic situation because the world has started questioning the allegations that are coming out," he added.

He however noted that they were ready to extend their hand of friendship in becoming partners with the Prabhakaran administration in running the East, stressing that there would be no possibility of coming under the orders of the Vanni administration in the future.

"We cannot go under their direct administration again, but we can consider cooperating with them for the benefit of the people and their needs. But because of their recent moves it doesn't seem to be happening," he said.

He was however quick to note that the arrival of Pottu Amman and his group had sent "negative" signals to them.

Varthan also maintained that the situation in the East will return to "normal soon" and the Tamil National Alliance candidates will resume campaigning shortly.

நன்றி - டெய்லி மிரர்

பொது மன்னிப்பை ஏற்க கருணா மறுப்பு!

மறத்தமிழன் அல்லவா ?

Tamil rebel rejects amnesty offer

A breakaway Tamil Tiger rebel in Sri Lanka is reported to have rejected an offer of amnesty by the group's leadership.

Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran made the offer in an attempt to end a split in rebel ranks.

It was on condition the colonel cease all his current activities immediately.

Diplomats have warned that the rebel crisis threatens Sri Lanka's faltering peace process and an existing ceasefire agreement.

On Monday, Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim flew into Colombo to review the situation ahead of the second anniversary of the truce between the rebels and the government.

But Mr Solheim's visit is likely to be dominated by the crisis among the rebels which erupted last week.

Dissatisfied

In an interview with the Associated Press news agency, the rebel group's political chief, SV Thamilselvan, had said that the amnesty was offered to enable Colonel Karuna to lead a private life.

A spokesman for Colonel Karuna said the commander would not accept the offer.

Reports say the Tamil Tiger leadership may be trying to isolate the commander from rebel fighters under his command.

Colonel Karuna, was expelled for reportedly expressing dissatisfaction that the bulk of the rebel fighters comes from eastern Sri Lanka, and yet all the top leadership comes from the north.

He remains in his eastern stronghold of Batticaloa, and correspondents say it is not clear if he will meet Mr Solheim, although he has expressed a willingness to do so.

Mr Thamilselvan ruled out resorting to military action against Colonel Karuna because he said he was only "a single individual".

He said the amnesty offer had been conveyed to the renegade commander through a delegation led by Roman Catholic Bishop Kingsley Swampillai.

Tension

Security has been strengthened in Batticaloa throughout Monday.

"We have extra police in the street, but there is no tension," senior police superintendent, Lasantha de Silva, said.

A spokesman for Colonel Karuna told the AFP news agency that everything possible would be done to avoid violence.

"We don't want to see any more bloodshed on our soil, but it depends on the [northern] leadership," he said.

The apparent split among the Tigers mirrors divisions within the Sri Lankan government, where the president and prime minister are at loggerheads over the best way of moving the peace process forward.

Their disagreements have meant that no formal peace negotiations between the government and the Tamil Tigers have taken place since April 2003.

Parliamentary elections are due to be held next month, and talks to end the 20-year-old conflict - which has claimed 60,000 lives - will be a central part of the election campaign.

On Sunday, Colonel Karuna - whose real name is Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan - said he had received reports that death squads had been sent to kill him.

From: www.bbc.co.uk

பொது மன்னிப்பை நிராகரித்தார் கருணா

கொழும்பு: விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் தலைவர் பிரபாகரன் அளிக்க முன்வந்த பொதுமன்னிப்பை ஏற்க மறுத்துவிட்டார் புலிகளின் கிழக்குப் பிரிவு தலைவர் கருணா என்கிற முரளிதரன்.

இதன்மூலம் பிரபாகரன் மற்றும் கருணா இடையே சமரசம் மேற்கொண்ட பிஷப்பின் முயற்சி தோல்வியுற்றது.

பிரபாகரன் அளிக்க முன்வந்த பொதுமன்னிப்பு தொடர்பாக கருணாவின் செய்தித்தொடர்பாளர் கூறுகையில், புலிகள் அமைப்பிலிருந்து டிஸ்மிஸ் செய்த பின்னர் பொதுமன்னிப்பை ஏற்பது என்ற கேள்விக்கே இடமில்லை என்றார்.

From: Dinamani

"This is what we always wanted"- LTTE's Batticaloa Office

Bandula Jayasekara in Colombo, SLT 10.15 A.M Tuesday March 9. Kannan, a spokesman for the LTTE's Batticaloa political office said that the people living in Batticaloa/Ampara were very happy about the new developments in the LTTE and Karuna's control over the east. Kannan said "This is what we always wanted and we are very happy about this" Kannan emphasized the fact that the people were happy about the new developments. He also said that life was normal in the area and the usual political and other training activities were being carried out and LTTE's all political and other offices were under Karuna's control. He insisted that Batticaloa area was peaceful and election work could be carried out without any problems. Kannan confirmed that they continued to support the TNA in the coming elections.

The Clash Of The Tamil Warlords

Even if Prabhakaran succeeds in having Karuna eliminated, will he be able to re-assert his control over the East? Will his authority remain as strong as before?

B. RAMAN

Summary

Ever since the ceasefire accord between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE was signed two years ago, there were persistent reports of unhappiness amongst the Tamils of the East over what was seen by them as unjustified overtures to the Muslims by the northern leadership of the LTTE, over the lack of recognition of the Easterners, who had fought and won most of the battles of the LTTE against the Sri Lanka Army and over the perceived discriminatory treatment meted out to them in the North.

Did this unhappiness force Karuna, the Eastern warlord, to act against Prabhakaran against his will or did he take advantage of it to defy Prabhakaran and assert his independence? Will he succeed in his defiance? Will the fighters of the East carry out his orders or disobey him? If they obeyed his orders, will there be a military conflict between the North and the East, leading to a resumption of the violence and damaging the peace process? Even if Prabhakaran succeeds in having Karuna eliminated, will he be able to re-assert his control over the East? Will his authority remain as strong as before?

These are very relevant questions, but it would be difficult to answer them at present. All one could say is that Karuna's position is not as strong as he seems to think it is and not as weak as Prabhakaran seems to wish it is. Even presuming that the overwhelming majority of Karuna's followers remain loyal to him, which is doubtful since they may not wish to contribute to a weakening of the struggle for Tamil Eelam, the two forces would be evenly matched and the outcome uncertain.

The Text

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) disseminated the following statement on the morning of March 6, 2004:

"Today the 6th March 2004, at 10.20 a. m. a Press Conference was held at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi,in which Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing of the LTTE, along with Mr. Ramesh, Special Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Ram, Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Piraba, Deputy Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Gihaththan, Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Ramanan, Head of the Military Intelligence Wing, and Mr. Kausalyan, Political Head of the Batticaloa-Amparai District, were present.

"Mr. Karuna who was Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai, instigated by some malicious elements opposed to the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle, acting traitorously to the Tamil people and the Tamil Eelam National Leadership, has planned to secede himself from the liberation organization.

"The Commanders, Divisional Heads and cadres under him, unable to acquiesce with this traitorous act, have refused to comply with his orders and met with the National Leadership, explaining the ground reality prevailing there. In accordance with this, Karuna has been discharged from the Liberation Tigers organization and relieved of his responsibilities.

"The Tamil Eelam National Leadership has appointed Mr. Ramesh as Special Commander, Mr. Ram as Commander, Mr. Piraba as Deputy Commander and Mr. Kausalyan as Political Head of the Batticaloa-Amparai District.

"It is hereby informed that these officials will assume their positions and functions as the official representatives of our organization."

It has been reported that simultaneously with this announcement Prabhakaran has ordered that about 500 cadres from the Eastern Province working in Kilinochi, whose loyalty to him was suspect, should be disarmed and placed under house-arrest. Karuna has retaliated by appealing to the fighters from the East deployed in the North to get those under house-arrest released and to help them to return to the East.

Thanx: Outlook India

Behind Karuna's revolt

Karuna's ire seems to stem from the perception that he was being sidelined following the ceasefire and the subsequent emphasis within the LTTE shifting from the military to its political unit.

TWO YEARS years ago, when Velupillai Prabakaran addressed his first press conference in a decade, sharing the dais with him in that makeshift hall in Killinochchi were those he considered his closest confidantes. On his right, Anton Balasingham, who described himself as the "theoretician" of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, S. P. Thamilselvan, the leader of the political wing of the LTTE, and Balasingham's wife Adele. On his left, V. Muralitharan, better known by his nom de guerre Karuna, his military commander in Batticaloa and Amparai, and Paduman, the military commander in Trincomalee. Conspicuous by his absence was Karikalan, the political head of the LTTE in Batticaloa and Amparai.

The presence of the two military leaders at that event was perhaps the earliest sign of the recent developments within the LTTE in which Karuna, a "colonel" in the LTTE's military hierarchy, the topmost rank it offers, broke away from the group with an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 armed cadres. At the time of the April 2002 press conference, the ceasefire between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE was barely two months old. In eastern Sri Lanka where the Tigers controlled large swathes of territory without a formal boundary, and where Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese each form one-third of the population, the truce had unleashed a new dynamic, particularly in Batticaloa. Using the no-war situation to advantage, the LTTE went on a recruitment spree, vacuuming Batticaloa's young, and intensified its "tax" collection, especially among Muslims, who control trade and business in the region.

Faced with an international outcry against the LTTE's unabashed recruitment of children and harassment of a religious minority, and under pressure from the ceasefire monitors, Prabakaran issued directives to the eastern leadership of the LTTE to stop but nothing changed. At the press conference, neither Karuna nor Paduman uttered a word, but their presence on the stage with Prabakaran seemed to be aimed at allaying suspicion that the LTTE's eastern military leadership was out of control. Prabakaran was also sending out the message that he considered them important enough to share the stage with him. Later Karuna was in the LTTE delegation for peace talks with the Sri Lankan Government. The exclusion of Karikalan from the event, on the other hand, triggered speculation that the eastern political leadership had taken the rap for embarrassing the firm, even though both he and Karuna must have worked in tandem.

Seen against this background, Karuna's recent "secession" from the LTTE seems to have been brewing for at least two years. While the tipping point for this unprecedented schism in the LTTE is still unclear, it is a safe assumption, at least for the moment, that Karuna's revolt does not represent an ideological break with the LTTE, as evident in his call for a "southern Tamil Eelam." Karuna's ire against the top leadership of the LTTE seems to be more about a bruised ego, the perception that he was being sidelined and not given the importance due to him as one of the LTTE's most successful military strategists in recent years.

Since 1995 until the ceasefire of February 2002, the Government and the LTTE were constantly at war, triggered first by the Tigers when they broke off from a ceasefire and a peace process with the then newly elected President, Chandrika Kumaratunga. President Kumaratunga hit back with an all-out war, promising to defeat the LTTE. By then Karuna was already an established military leader of the LTTE in the East. In the mid-1990s, his importance to Prabakaran grew in direct proportion to the escalation of the war. After the Sri Lankan armed forces wrested the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE in 1996, Prabakaran no longer had a ready-made territorial base from which to draw his manpower. He looked to eastern Sri Lanka, where his cadres controlled entire villages. Karuna was his pointman for this. When the Government launched a military operation to take control of a highway in northern Sri Lanka, Karuna moved thousands of cadres from the East for the counter-offensive, successfully thwarting the advance, inflicting hundreds of casualties on the Sri Lankan armed forces on what came to be known as the Highway of Blood. Karuna also led the LTTE's Unceasing Waves offensives through which the group regained all the territory it had lost to the Government in the northern Vanni mainland.

The LTTE too suffered huge casualties. Tamils in eastern Sri Lanka have always chafed against what they perceive as domination over them by northern Tamils. Even before the Tamil struggle in Sri Lanka turned militant, the top hierarchies of the Tamil United Liberation Front, the main political party of the Tamils, and its forerunner, the Federal Party, were packed with Jaffna Tamils. The LTTE was no different, and Tamils in Batticaloa resented that the group looked east only for cannon fodder without taking into consideration the political aspirations of the region. While engaged in battle, Karuna seems to have been untouched by this sentiment, employing ruthless tactics to recruit children as young as 10 or 11 years into the LTTE's fighting force. With the ceasefire, and the subsequent emphasis within the LTTE shifting from the military to its political unit, Karuna was no longer as important as other LTTE second-rungers such as Balasingham and Thamilselvan, and the eastern Tamil's resentment against the northern Tamil seems to have finally surfaced in him.

While the split has for the first time shattered the LTTE's monolithic image, how this drama plays out depends on Karuna's staying power. In the past, Prabakaran has physically eliminated anyone perceived as posing a challenge to his leadership. Mahattiya, his second-in-command through the war with the Indian Peace Keeping Forces, met with such a fate. But there are some aspects to the present challenge that are different from the Mahattiya episode and perhaps to the advantage of Karuna. For one, with Karuna deciding to take the feud to the press, it is all out in the open. In such circumstances, killing Karuna will not be as easy as killing Mahattiya. It is certain to burn a hole in the image Prabakaran has been trying so hard to build for himself as a safari suit-wearing, peace-loving, tolerant and democratic leader. The ceasefire too makes such elimination complicated, though by no means impossible.

Evidently, Karuna would not have taken such a bold step as to break away unless he was sure of his support. He is said to have the sworn loyalty of at least 1,000 cadres that he commands. Whether these cadres stay with him will depend on what resources are available to him to maintain them. That might mean an all-out fund-raising drive by Karuna's outfit. Among the people of the East, the response to Karuna's challenge to Prabakaran has been mixed, with widespread fear of a war between the two sides.

First reactions to the feuding within the LTTE have cast it as an unfavourable development for the peace process in Sri Lanka. But should Karuna survive, he may serve the purpose of making the peace process more inclusive on the Tamil side than it is at present. More importantly, Prabakaran will not be able to easily plunge into a war against the Government once more without the help of Karuna and his cadres. In that sense, there is perhaps no danger to the ceasefire between the LTTE and the Government. However, it is important to recognise that Karuna, no longer a member of the LTTE, may not consider himself bound by the 2002 ceasefire anymore. Although the Sri Lankan Government's first reaction was to dismiss Karuna's demand for a separate ceasefire agreement, it may have to acknowledge the need for such an agreement soon.

The infighting in the LTTE is bound to have repercussions for the April 2 parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka. Although not directly in the electoral contest, the LTTE is a participant in it through its proxy, the five-party coalition the Tamil United Liberation Front is its main component known as the Tamil National Alliance. Members of the Alliance have pledged allegiance to the LTTE and have bowed to its demand that they acknowledge it as the "sole representative" of the Tamil people. With the LTTE's help, the TNA hoped to make a clean sweep of all the seats in North-East Sri Lanka. It is early yet to predict the exact impact of the split in the LTTE for the TNA's chances. But it certainly poses a dilemma for candidates of the TNA contesting the election in the East where the situation on the ground is one of hostility to the LTTE.

Thanx: The Hindu

Need to promote peace in Sri Lanka

By Mohammad A. R. Galadari

9 March 2004

TAMIL Tigers in Sri Lanka have broken up. A new faction led by a renegade leader does not listen anymore to the rebels' top leadership. And the new faction is threatening to unleash violence if the government does not recognise it and sign a pact. The minority Tamils' fight seems unending.

Nobody says, dear readers, that minorities should not have equal rights. All Sri Lankans have freedom in equal measure to live and work in the country, whether they are the majority Sinhalese or the minority Tamils. There is no discrimination now, though such complaints in the past had led to the rebel problem, especially in the northeastern parts of the country. Rules apply to all people, though in practice, on the ground, it might not always be the case. But that does not mean the aggrieved party has a right to carry the gun and mess around with the majority that rules the country. The rebels will have to realise that the best way to exist is to exist side by side, and live as Sri Lankans, not as Tamils or the Sinhalese.

Sri Lanka, I know, is a beautiful island nation. There is no reason why it should be turned into a fighting field, leaving the people in misery. Tourism had been a thriving business there before the rebel fighting erupted. But security concerns were keeping tourists away for the past two decades. This has affected the economy largely. However, the tourism industry has posted some recoveries since the Norwegian-initiated peace process gained ground in the past two years.

The ceasefire had helped integrate the Tamil-dominated northeast with the rest of the economy, increasing agricultural production. It had also helped the government to cut down on defence expenditure, and divert money for welfare and developmental programmes.

Those who suffer from the fighting are not the MPs or ministers or businessmen. It is the poor people who bear the brunt. Even the casualties are high. More than 65,000 people have been killed and 1.6 million displaced since the Tigers began the fight in 1983 for an independent homeland. The resultant downturn in the economy has affected the lives of the large sections of the poor from both sides.

The peace process in Sri Lanka is already hit by a fight between the prime minister and the president. The process should be carried forward, irrespective of the differences at the political level. With elections slated for April 2, it is time to sort out things and patch up. But, see, the Tigers are a divided house now. If you are not united, how can you meet your demands? There has to be genuine unity of purpose to achieve objectives. Artificial unity will not last for long.

And majority opinion matters. When the Irish people demanded freedom, Britain said let the majority in Northern Ireland say what they want.

I wish the rebel split does not complicate the peace process. Sri Lanka has to regain its image as a peaceful country

Thanx: Khaleej Times

Beware when Tigers fall out

BANGALORE - Another complicating dimension has been added to Sri Lanka's beleaguered peace process following a formal split in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). While the division is expected to weaken the LTTE's military capacity, it could lead to the organization hardening its position at the negotiating table.

On Saturday, the LTTE "discharged" its eastern military commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (aka "Colonel" Karuna), accusing him of "acting traitorously to the Tamil people and the Tamil Eelam national leadership" "at the instigation of malicious elements". Karuna's discharge came a couple of days after reports from the island's Eastern Province indicated that simmering differences between Karuna and LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakaran had exploded into a nasty rift.

Karuna, who has been with the LTTE for two decades, is the only regional commander in the LTTE to hold the position for 17 years. Until recently, he was in charge of the LTTE's Batticaloa-Amparai area. A hardliner, he is known for his military prowess and ruthlessness, and is credited with chalking out the strategy for several Tiger operations against the Sri Lankan armed forces over the years. He was part of the LTTE negotiating team at last year's peace talks with the Sri Lankan government.

Karuna hails from the eastern district of Batticaloa and has battled to further the interests of Tiger cadres from the Eastern Province in the Northern Province-dominated LTTE. His revolt against the LTTE leadership is not surprising as it has its roots in long-festering grievances against the northern Tamil leadership.

It appears that Karuna's revolt was triggered by a demand from northern leaders, based in Wanni, that he send 1,000 of his combat troops to Wanni. Karuna is said to have turned down the request on the grounds that the redeployment would weaken the LTTE in the Eastern Province.

In a letter addressed to Prabakaran on March 2, Karuna, while describing Prabakaran as a "god" for Batticaloa-Amparai cadres, demanded complete autonomy for the Batticalao-Amparai district within the LTTE administration.

Prabakaran's response was swift. He discharged Karuna and replaced him with Ramesh, the special commander for the Batticaloa-Amparai district and a Prabakaran loyalist.

While admitting the crisis in the organization, the LTTE described it as a temporary one. Tamilchelvam, the leader of the LTTE's political wing, dismissed the split as "a problem concerning a single leader". But it is much more.

Unlike the overwhelmingly Tamil Northern Province, the Eastern Province is an explosive mixture of Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims. The eastern districts have seen some of the worst bloodshed since the start of the armed conflict two decades ago. For years, Karuna and the LTTE's eastern wing have nursed the grievance that while it is the eastern cadres that do most of the fighting - most of this fighting has been to defend LTTE positions in the north - and dying, it is Tigers from the north who occupy the top decision-making posts in the organization. Around 60 percent of the LTTE's "martyrs" are from its eastern wing; most of them were killed fighting in the north.

Of the LTTE's 32 departments or divisions, only one was headed by an easterner - Karuna. It is said that eastern Tigers have always resented the fact that all important decisions were made by the northern Tigers, even on those issues that were of central concern to the east - such as relations with Muslims, for instance.

Karuna's breaking away from the LTTE has dealt a big blow to the LTTE's monolithic image. While this is not the first time that the LTTE has faced dissension, the implications of the current rift are far-reaching. Few have dared to defy Prabakaran. Those who have differed with him simply quit the organization or were killed. Any seeming challenge to Prabakaran's leadership has been swiftly crushed. Rifts within the LTTE have never resulted in a chunk of the organization breaking away. That has become a real possibility today.

Some analysts believe that the current crisis is likely to split the LTTE along regional lines, with the eastern wing rallying behind Karuna. Karuna controls a third of the LTTE's approximately 18,000 strong cadre. He is said to have considerable support in the east and is seen as someone who has raised issues of concern to eastern Tamils. There have been large demonstrations in Batticaloa town protesting his dismissal. For the first time, Tamils in Batticaloa burnt effigies of Prabakaran and his intelligence chief, Pottu Amman.

However, there are early signals that things might not work in Karuna's favor. Most of his leaders have deserted him and thrown in their lot with Prabakaran. Funds remain under the control of the northern leadership. Karuna is up against the LTTE's formidable intelligence wing, which again remains under the control of the northern leadership.

While the Sri Lankan government has refrained from taking sides in the feud, it has turned down Karuna's request for a separate ceasefire agreement with him. And the army has refused to stop Prabakaran loyalists based in the east from fleeing to the north with their families. Nor has it allowed his supporters based in the north to return to the safety of the east. As the Hindustan Times' Colombo correspondent P K Balachanddran points out: "The armed forces have thus sided with Prabakaran."

Karuna might have built up a political-administrative structure in the east that is almost on par with that in the north. And while he is a leader of considerable standing, he is no match for Prabakaran. The LTTE cadres, indeed many Tamils in Sri Lanka and in the diaspora, look up to Prabakaran, who enjoys demi-god status among the Tigers and Tamils. They are unlikely to shift loyalties to Karuna.

A section in Sri Lanka seems to believe that the split in the LTTE is a positive development for the peace process. According to them, a divided LTTE will be weaker and hence less intransigent at the talks table. For instance, the Daily Mirror's Keith Noyahr points out that the "current rift, unprecedented in the regimented control of the LTTE, like an act of providence, could force the Tigers to be more flexible at future negotiations on the ISGA [interim Self Governing Authority] as well as a final solution."

Another argument is that if the LTTE were to split along regional lines, it would weaken the Tamil demand for the merger of the two provinces. Karuna has spoken to the Associated Press about "full self-administration" in the east in the future. This raises the possibility of the demerger of the north and east - something that the LTTE has traditionally opposed, but Sinhalese and Muslims living here would support as it would make them less of a minority.

The split in the LTTE will no doubt weaken its military capacity in the short run. Karuna's exit is a loss to the LTTE. And if the LTTE cannot isolate Karuna quickly, it is likely that the two sides will seek to eliminate each others' fighters, and the coming weeks could see much bloodletting. Karuna has already complained that death squads are hunting him down.

The likely fratricidal fighting could draw the Lankan armed forces into the conflict, and that in turn could result in the ceasefire agreement unraveling.

The current crisis can be expected to push Prabakaran into adopting a more hardline position if and when the suspended talks are resumed. Karuna is even less compromising than Prabakaran, especially on the eastern question. Previous attempts at a political solution to the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict have usually crumbled over the eastern question. And Karuna's unwillingness to compromise is believed to have been behind the LTTE intransigence.

Karuna is said to be opposed to the present peace process too. It is believed that Prabakaran included him in the LTTE negotiating team not only because of the significance of the eastern question, but also to prevent him from subverting the talks.

In an opinion piece in the Sunday Leader, D B S Jeyraj points out that "the first discordant note" in the present peace process "was struck by Karuna. After functioning briefly as co-chair of the sub-committee overseeing de-escalation of military activity, the frank Karuna discovered that the committee was simply not moving because the armed forces were not budging from the high security zones.

"Karuna walked out of an 'aimless' meeting and announced publicly that he will not be participating in the sub-committee any more as it was pointless. He reiterated his stance at subsequent rounds of talks and the sub-committee became defunct. This was more or less a harbinger of subsequent events."

Karuna outside the LTTE is likely to criticize the peace process even more. He can be expected to project any concession by the LTTE, especially on issues of significance to the east, as a sellout and a betrayal of Tamil interests.

The impact of Karuna's exit from the peace process will depend on how quickly Prabakaran is able to isolate or eliminate him. The fate of previous Tiger dissidents shows that Karuna's chances of surviving Prabakaran's wrath are near negligible. (The Tigers have already likened Karuna to Cambodia's Pol Pot, who caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people in his country's "Killing Fields".)

Infighting within the Colombo government severely undermined the outlook for the peace process. The biggest revolt ever within the LTTE has now further jeopardized the already ailing peace process.

Thanx: Asia Times

Analyst sees frustrating possibilities and destructive scenarios emerging from elections

Mar 9, 2004, 00:16 [TNS]

Sri Lankan political scientist and analyst, Jayadeva Uyangoda in his weekly column in a Sri Lankan daily said that regardless of which party succeeds in forming a government, the post election scenario will be a frustrating and destructive one.

Whoever succeeds in forming a government, by hook or crook, the scenario of disaster can stay on for some time in other forms as well, he says.

According to the analyst, if the UNF is successful in outbidding the Alliance, then the former will have to work with an even more hostile president than they did during the past two years. If we interpret the signs that are visible at present, he says, President Kumaratunga and her colleagues would be utterly reluctant to let a new UNF administration to work in peace.

He added that the UNF might try to impeach the president in a pre-emptive and retributive move.

Similarly, if the president is successful in outbidding the prime minister after April, 02, Uyangoda said, the Alliance government is quite likely to make every attempt to make life difficult for Wickremesinghe and his friends, particularly those who crossed over from SLFP in 2001.

He says a disturbing scenario will develop if neither the Alliance nor the UNF obtain an adequate majority to form a government. A divided legislature would mean a continuation of political instability and uncertainly according to the University Professor.

The Professor had harsh words for the Presidents call for general elections and the election rhetoric of the two major parties. He called the president summon for the polls as an, absolutely self-centric push for power.

Commitment to making Sri Lanka ungovernable seems to be a quality shared at present by both the UNF and the Freedom Alliance, he said. The election campaign does not seem to create conditions for any healing among political forces, or among the people who are divided along party loyalties, he further said.

Key figures with the two parties, Kadirgammar, Peiris and Weerawansa, have all begun to project that element of hatred with all their skills in verbiage, he said. This I think is the source that is likely to provide much impetus for a period of ungovernability after April parliamentary elections, he added.

Minorities have cause for concern according to the Colombo University professor. In fact, some of the frontline propagandists and spiritual advisors for the Alliance, who are linked to the Patriotic National Movement, are essentially Sinhala supremacist ideologues who are pathologically anti-minoritarian, xenophobic and culturally vindictive, he said.

He slammed the Alliances founding document, the MoU between the SLFP and the extremist JVP, as an ideologically backward and intellectually uninspiring document, said that the document testifies that the Alliance appeared to be the highpoint of contemporary Sinhalese nationalist resurgence.

It also gives the impression that the Alliance was keen to obtain a mandate mainly from the Sinhalese electorate, he said.

If the Freedom Alliance is serious about forming a government after the April 02 election, there has indeed to be some fundamental re-thinking within the Alliance about its ideology, its promise, its understanding of the world and its agenda, he further said.

In our exceptionally corrupt electoral political culture, the period surrounding the April New Year would be one in which political corruption might reach awe-inspiring and scandalous proportions, he further said in his weekly column

Thanx: Tamil Eelam News