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Phenomenon
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
What goes around comes around! When John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963
Black American leader Malcolm X observed that "the chickens have come home to
roost" implying that the US having exported political violence including assassinations
abroad was now faced with it domestically. Violence however is corrosively contagious
and some years later the very same Malcolm X was assassinated.
The spectre of political violence has loomed large over Sri Lanka in many ways. One
of its most virulent manifestations has been in the Tamil community. The arms raised
proudly at one time in defiance of the "oppressive" Sinhala state later turned inward.
The militant groups engaged in internecine warfare that debilitated the Tamil polity.
Sadly this ecology of intra - Tamil violence continues to this date.
The latest such violence was in the East on Feb 7th when six people including tiger
political commissar for the East and a former Parliamentarian Chandranehru
Ariyanayagam were assassinated. The LTTE has accused "paramilitary" elements of
being responsible. It is widely believed that cadres belonging to the Karuna faction of
the LTTE were aided by some sections of the armed forces in this.
The LTTE however considers it infradig to even acknowledge openly that a "Karuna
Amman phenomenon" exists. As far as the LTTE is concerned its erstwhile Eastern
regional commander Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan alias Karuna Amman is not a
factor worthy of reckoning. The tigers therefore emphasise the alleged complicity of
armed forces in the killing as being the vital factor in the Kausalyan assassination.
Tiger propaganda organs at home and abroad amplify and echo this charge ad
nauseam.
This singular focus on alleged security force involvement in the killings appears a
weak argument when offset against some ground realities. The LTTE has sought and
obtained helicopter transport for some of its senior cadres to move about in the North
- East. It also procured security force escort for several cadres travelling to and from
the Wanni to the East for Kausalyans funeral, The security forces also provided aerial
transport for tiger leaders to go to Trincomalee. It does seem incongruous that an
organization accusing security forces of being responsible for assassinating comrades
could request and utilise transport and protection from the same.
This blatant contradiction however does not diminish the threat perception of the
LTTE in the East. This was patently visible in the conduct of its political wing head
Thamilselvan. Having obtained helicopter transport to reach Batticaloa Selvan also
wanted aerial transport to go to Thirukkovil in Amparai from Kokkatticholai in
Batticaloa to attend the funeral of Chandranehru. The unavailability of a helicopter
resulted in Thamilselvan being a conspicuous absentee at the funeral ceremony.
Thamilselvan is one who has finetoned his survival skills over the years. His obvious
reluctance to risk a road journey in Eastern territory denotes the insecurity he
experiences in the East. The custom of sympathisers calling on the bereaved family to
express condolences was reversed because of the paranoid Thamilselvan.
Chandranehrus wife and son travelled up to "safe" Palugamam to meet Thamilselvan
who conveyed his sympathies. A photograph of the meeting showed Tamilselvan
having a firearm strapped to his waist. This again demonstrated the security
consciousness of the political commissar.
Thamilselvans obsession with security also exposed the hollow emptiness of the LTTE
claim that all was quiet on the Eastern front after the Karuna revolt. It revealed clearly
the beleaguered feeling of top echelon tigers in the region. In a replay of the chickens
coming home to roost the predator had now become prey. The invincibility myth of the
LTTE has been badly undermined. There is no doubt that the tigers face a serious
threat from what may be termed the Karuna phenomenon.
When the Karuna revolt occurred this column was one of the few voices urging
rapprochement in the larger interests of the Tamil people. Even the LTTE English
Journal published in London "The Tamil Guardian" changed its earlier stance of
advocating a settlement. This column pointed out then that Karuna could not fight the
LTTE and the state simultaneously and that he would have no choice other than to
throw in his lot with Colombo if the mainstream LTTE drove him up against the wall.
This column also said that there could be no military solution to what was essentially a
political question. The pro - LTTE elements fired up by fairy tales of "superman" type
special forces were in no mood to countenance moderate counsel and could only vilify
this column. One tiger sycuphant went to the extent of urging the LTTE to "spit" on
this column. Today this column has been proved right. Karuna and his followers are
compelled to seek security force protection and in return function as catspaws.
There are around 200 to 300 Karuna loyalists actively opposing the LTTE in the
East. The presence or absence of Karuna is immaterial to this development. The
LTTE betrayed the terms of its understanding with Karuna when it executed erstwhile
commanders of Karuna who surrendered. The witch hunt for Karuna loyalists and the
arrest of over 200 cadres suspected of having supported the Karuna revolt has
worsened the situation. The fate of these cadres taken to the Wanni for interrogation
is unknown.
The tigers were unwilling to even let Karuna loyalists seek safety elsewhere. Ex - tiger
cadres considered Karuna loyalists were killed mercilessly in many parts of the East
and Colombo. The most horrible massacre was in Kottawa. Eight persons including
Karunas treasurer Kuganesan and chief bodyguard Castro were drugged and then
massacred in cold blood as they lay in their beds and mats in a stupor. The tigers are
now shouting about the cowardly killing of Kausalyan. If one is to talk about cowardly
killings the Kottawa massacre has no equal.
The tigers talk of treacherous killings in the context of Kausalyans murder. Again it
must be pointed out that the LTTE cannot take moral high ground on this. The
treacherous killing of Karunas brother Sivanesathurai alias Reggie as he was sleeping
by someone he thought was trustworthy is a glaring example. So too was the killing of
Satchi master in the Batticaloa jail by a man who had wormed his way into his
confidence. The killer had done menial tasks like massaging Satchis feet and pouring
water for bathing etc. Treacherous killings are a tiger hallmark. If the Karuna faction is
now doing it then one can only say that both are same "mattaigal " (husks) soaked in
the same "kuttai" (puddle).
The LTTE also talks of unarmed cadres being killed at a time of ceasefire in a
government controlled area as being reprehensible. Certainly that is true. Again the
tigers are the people who started this practice. Nearly 200 unarmed activists
belonging to groups like the EPDP, EPRLF and PLOTE were killed in Government
controlled areas including Colombo. Robert, Mohan, Varathan, Sinna Bala,
Bawan,Singham the list is exhaustive. A suicide killer was sent to assassinate a
cabinet minister Douglas Devananda. People who kept silent about this killing spree
have suddenly found their voices when LTTE gets a taste of their own medicine.
Against this backdrop Karuna loyalists had no choice other than to throw in their lot
with the security forces. It was sheer survival. Today these men are holed up mainly in
areas north of Chenkallady in Batticaloa. They are also living in the areas on either
side of the Batticaloa - Polonnaruwa border. Some stay in jungle areas. Others take
refuge with Sinhala and Muslim people. Most Karuna cadres are careful in staying
close to security force camps. They may even be frequenting those places often.
There is no doubt that some sections of the security forces are helping to sustain
them. Security personnel are mopst probably turning a blind eye to their movements.
Like the snake ensconced in safety around Lord Sivas neck insolently inquirig after
the health of its nemesis the kite bird the Karuna loyalists too engage in anti - tiger
attacks. In this tragic climate of mutual bllodshed several tigers regarded as "Praba
loyalists" have been exterminated. Notable among these are Senathi, Bawa, Yoga and
now Kausalyan, Pugalan and Senthamilan. Two notable civilians executed by the
Karuna faction are journalist Nadesan and politician Chandranehru.
The killing of a political leader like Chandranehru has to be condemned firmly. There
is no doubt about that.His TULF and TNA colleagues have protested loudly. But then
what an exhibition of hypocrisy! A fellow candidate on the TNA list for Batticaloa
Rajan Sathiyamoorthy and his brother in law were gunned down in cold blood while
praying at the shrine room in their home. Later Sathiyamoorthy's buried corpse was
dug up and thrown elsewhere in a half burnt state. The LTTE defiled a person it killed
even after death.
Then take the case of another TNA ex - Parliamentarian Kingsley Rajanayagam. This
man who won an election was intimidated into resigning his seat. He was taken into
LTTE custody and "effectively" persuaded to resign his seat. Later he was brutally
assassinated to issue a warning to anyone desirous of joining Karunas political party.
The TNA that beats its breasts now kept silent when all this was happening.. This is
the lamentable state of Tamil politics today. The politics of terror is applicable both
externally and internally.
When the Karuna revolt occurred this column predicted that at best Karuna would be
like the Afghan warlord Rostom and that at worst he would be the leader of a group
affiliated to the security forces like those led by EPRLF Razeek, PLOTE MOhan and
TELO Varathan. That has now come true. The so called Karuna faction is now an
appendage of the state fighting as the running dogs of majoritarian hegemonism. In
what may be a pleasant irony to security forces both segments are in need of them.
The Karuna faction needs security force patronage to survive. The LTTE needs
security force protection to move about in Tamil areas. O Tempora! O Mores!!
The salient aspect of the Karuna phenomenon is that his followers do not need his
physical presence. Karuna is now a brand name taken under a bizarre franchise by
loyalists. The five main groups fighting as autonomous units un the east are led by
Pillaiyaan, Iniyabharathi, Sinnathamby, Mangalan master and Markan. They are
scattered in different areas of Northern Batticaloa and border areas of Polonnaruwa.
The two strongholds are in Omathiyamadhu and Senaitheevu. The Vadamunai
jungles are also areas of habitation for these cadres. There is no doubt that these
elements will continue to fight for their survival under the Karuna brand name
regardless of whether Karuna wants it or not. The consequences have overtaken the
cause.
The mainstream LTTE that failed to resolve the Karuna crisis through dialogue and
discussion earlier is showing no signs of a reappraisal on this front even now. Too
much of water or blood has flown under the Valaichenai bridge for the LTTE to revise
its approach now. It is a case of the junglle law prevailing now. Jack London's Buck in
his "call of the wild" put it best. "kill or be killed; eat or be eaten".
The LTTE while obtaining security force protection for its top notch leaders has also
been quietly sending additional cadres to the East over the past few weeks. A squad
of 35 men from Pottu Ammans dreaded intelligence wing is now in the East to help
discover the Kausalyan killers wherabouts and also places where Karuna faction
cadres are located. Two units of leopard commandos and special forces trained in
jungle warfare are also in Batticaloa now. 125 men are under Tharan and 75 under
Jegan. In a disturbing development it is also reported that assassins have been sent
to Europe to kill Karuna supporters engaged in propaganda through the internet.
On the other hand Karuna's supporters in the East are claiming that Karuna is back
with a vengeance. April 12th will be the first anniversary of his ignominious exit from
Batticaloa. April 14th will herald a new year. It is said that Karuna has sworn to
transform the Eastern situation before by these significant dates. He and his loyalists
can only do this by violent mode. The tigers too will resist this by violence. The
hapless Eastern Tamils have suffered a military tsunami and a natural tsunami. Now
they are in for a third tsunami of intra - tiger violence. [Sunday Leader]
aspect of the
Karuna
phenomenon
is that his
followers do
not need his
physical
presence.
Karuna is now
a brand name
taken under a
bizarre
franchise by
loyalists."
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Eastern Tamils
have suffered
a military
tsunami and a
natural
tsunami. Now
they are in for
a third tsunami
of intra - tiger
violence. "
