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By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan alias Marshall is the replacement for Kausalyan in the East.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader Velupillai Pirapakaran has selected
the affable native of Arumugathankudiyiruppu in the Eravoor area as his new
"arasiyal poruppalar" or political commissar for the Batticaloa - Amparai districts.
The formal announcement was made by tiger political chief Suppiah Paramu
Thamilselvan at a meeting of LTTE officials in Kokkatticholai held prior to his
departure from the region.
Adhering to a request made by the LTTE financial division head Thamilendhi the
new eastern political chief will be called by his real name Ilanthiraiyan hereafter
and not by his nom de guerre Marshall. Thamilendhi and senior LTTE leader in
charge of education Ilankumaran have been in the forefront of the move to
change names from English and Sanskritised Tamil to "pure" Thamil. While many
complied with this a a few like Marshall did not. With his elevation he too is now
ready to change.
Interestingly enough Marshall had no need to discover a new name/ Apparently
the name bestowed by his parents - Ilanthiraiyan - is a pure Tamil name. So he
has reverted to it now. Some in the LTTE have done so earlier. Political wing
head Thamilselvan and LTTE overseas branches administrator Manivannan are
two people going by their original "pure Tamil" names. Earlier they were called
Dinesh and Castro respectively.
Ilanthiraiyan was functioning as the LTTE's Batticaloa - Amparai headquarters
administrator prior to his new posting. An old boy of St. Michaels College,
Batticaloa Ilanthiraiyan was involved in Tamil nationalist student politics with
Ramalingam Paramadeva in the mid seventies. Later he was involved in the pro -
TULF Tamil youth league politics. Paramadeva later went on to become the first
LTTE military commander for Batticaloa but died in the attack on Kaluwanchikudy
police station in 1984. Ilanthiraiyan too was a member of the LTTE team that
attacked Kaluwanchikudi unsuccessfully in the maiden venture commanded by
Paramadeva.
Ilanthiraiyan joined the LTTE officially in 1983. Earlier he had been on the fringes
helping out wherever possible. Like the former tiger Eastern regional commander
Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan alias Karuna, Ilanthiraiyan too was recruited by
tiger veteran Sinnathurai alias "Father" who is now an LTTE "Judge" in
Palugamam. After receiving arms training in Salem, Tamil Nadu Ilanthiraiyan
returned to the East and participated in several operations. He also received
special training in communications. Ilanthiraiyan has also functioned as am
instructor in LTTE training camps.
Ilanthiraiyan too went along with Karuna and other Eastern cadres to the Wanni in
the late nineties to fight against the Sri Lankan army in operations "Jayasikurui"
and "Oyatha Alaigal". It was around this time that he was "noticed" specifically by
Pirapakaran. The tiger supremo was impressed by his quiet efficiency and got
Karuna to "second" Ilanthiraiyan for service in the Wanni after the fighting was
over. One of his plus points is his fluency in English and Sinhala and of course
Tamil.
The LTTE leader appointed Ilanthiraiyan as coordinator of the LTTE
administrative secretariat in the Wanni. He reported directly to Velupillai
Pirapakaran. This was the only "high" central authority post given to an Eastern
Tamil in the LTTE at that time. When Karuna revolted and charged the hierarchy
with discumination against easterners he pointed out that none of the 30 top posts
in the LTTE was manned by a Batticaloa. Karunas successor Ramesh tried to
counter this by pointing out Ilanthiraiyan and boasting that an Eastern Tamil was
in charge of the entire LTTE administration.
After the Karuna rebellion was contained Pirapakaran needed trusted and
capable men from the East to serve in the region. Marshall or Ilanthiraiyan was
one such person. He was sent back to a comparatively junior position as
coordinator of the Batticaloa - Amparai LTTE secretariat. He was closely
associated with the political commissar Kausalyan and the overall special
commander for Batticaloa - Amparai "Col" Bhanu in recent times. When Kausalyan
was assassinated it was Marshall who formally took possession of his body. Now
he has taken over the post held by Kausalyan too.
Though Ilanthiraiyan will be in charge of the political section he will have another
'senior" from the North to help him for a while. Sithamparapillai Sivakumar alias
Newton will also be in Batticaloa for an indefinite period and function as a special
political commissar. Newton has been serving in Batticaloa for several years in the
nineties and was generally well - liked. He was tipped to be sent to the East as
political commissar after the Karuna revolt. The decision was reconsidered
because it was felt that a son of the Eastern soil was politically appropriate.
Newton is from Karaveddy in the North.
It is possible that Newton could have formally succeeded Kausalyan but for the
regional factor again. After Ramesh's transfer to the Wanni another Northern
senior Bhanu was apponted Batticaloa - Amparai special commander. Having
another Northerner as political chief could have been problematic. earlier the
LTTE may not have bothered about these matters but after Karunas charge of
Northern hegemonism the movement has become more sensitive.
Newton will therefore play a secondary low - profile role to that of Ilanthiraiyan.
Both will work together but the limelight will be on Ilanthiraiyan. Newton may be
recalled to the Wanni after a specific period. Newton was a communications expert
who received special training under the Indian Government in 1984. His wireless
codesign was New Whiskey 84 . Newtons brother Sooriyakumar a medical doctor
was of yeoman service in the LTTE medical unit. He is now abroad for higher
education.
The new Eastern political commissar and his Northern associate will have a
formidable task to accomplish. They will have to restore the LTTE politically to its
original position in the East. The LTTE is learning slowly that militarism is not the
answer to every problem. The Karuna challenge can be met militarily up to a
certain extent only. Ultimately what counts is to win the hearts and minds of the
Eastern people not to go for their "b---s" as some would want the tigers to do.
Kausalyan had already commenced and done much good work in this sphere. It is
now up to Ilanthiraiyan to continue in his footsteps.
Though the loss of Kausalyan is a void his death along with those of others
including former Amparai district MP Chandranehru Ariyanayagam has aroused a
sympathy wave in the region. The assassination by Karunas followers of a widely
respected political figure has angered many people. It is also widely believed in
the East that the killing was done by Karunas loyalists in collaboration with a
section of the armed forces.
Interestingly there are two theories floating around in the East about the killings. In
Batticaloa district most people feel that Kausalyan was the real target of the killers
and that Chandranehru who provided him escort was caught in the crossfire. In
Amparai district where Chandranehru has more influence there is a viewpoint
gaining currency that the former MP and not Kausalyan was the real target.
According to this view the killers were targeting Chandranehrus vehicle to bump
him off without knowledge of Kausalyan being in it.
The mariner turned politico lost the last elections but had earned the peoples
affection after his defeat through selfless service to the community. His chief rival
Pathmanathan was elected as MP but was not very effective in discharging his
duties some feel. The recent tsunami disaster for instance brought out the best in
Nehru who endeared himself to the affected people through dedicated service.
There had been a move to pressure Pathmanathn into resigning his seat to pave
the way for Nehru to be MP again. As for the Karuna faction Nehru was seen as a
traitor and would not have liked this reemergence much.
The funeral for Kausalyan held at Thandiyady in the Western sector of
"Paduvaankarai" was another opportunity for the LTTE to revive its sagging
fortunes. The tigers are in effective control of only certain areas in Paduvankarai.
They face a Karuna threat in other places. The funeral was held in the LTTE
stronghold areas. These are also places inhabited chiefly by the social group to
which both Kausalyan and ex - special commander Ramesh belong. The crowds
at the funeral consisted chiefly of this segment.
The highlight of the funeral orations was that made by Ramesh. He broke down
when relating how Kausalyan had ate lunch with him in the Wanni at his home
prior to departing. The local population came to see and hear Ramesh because
much propaganda had been done in the past that Ramesh was held prisoner in
the Wanni. The truth however is that Ramesh was found wanting in meeting the
Karuna challenge militarily and transferred to the Wanni. He is now in charge of
the "eastern component" in the Wanni numbering more than a thousand cadres.
The LTTE also sent Karikalan, Nagesh and some other Eastern tigers in the
Wanni to attend the funeral. A high profile tiger contingent including its political
chief Thamilselvan, financial head Thamilendhi, Judiciary head Para , senior
member Balakumaran and others to attend the funeral. This made a tremendous
impact on the Batticaloa people. The awarding of "Maamanithar" honour to
Chandranehru also helped in this regard.
Balakumaran the former EROS leader enjoys considerable clout in Batticaloa. He
was at one time the manager of Eravur MPCS . Later the EROS had a strong
base in the East. Balakumaran used the Eastern trip to revive old contacts.
Former political Commissar Karikalan also met with a lot of Tamil people. He was
not allowed to speak at Kausalyans funeral for fear of alienating the Muslims. An
unexpectedly large number of Muslims turned up at the funeral. There had also
been hartals in Muslim areas for Kausalyan.
The LTTE also had around 500 to 600 armed cadres on duty at the funeral. This
was no doubt to impress the people as well as provide security. Many people were
surprised to see so many armed tigers as the general impression had been that
the LTTE was badly depleted after the Karuna revolt.. A show of such military
strength becomes necessary at times to project a positive image. Kausalyan's
caste group is the single largest social entity among Eastern Tamils. The
sympathy wave in that community on account of his death could help the LTTE.
Kausalyans successor Ilanthiraiyan belongs to that group but is of a different
matrilineal clan.
The promise held out by Karuna to the East is now diminishing. When Karuna
revolted this column predicted that Karuna at best could become another Afghan
warlord like Rostom and that at worst he would be reduced to another pro -
government armed group like those led in the past by EPRLF Razeek, PLOTE
Mohan or TELO Varathan. It appears that a Karuna group has now emerged in
the East to do the "dirty work".
The fact that Karuna and his faction are now functioning as running dogs of the
State is a bitter truth for the Eastern Tamils to digest. The killing of beloved sons
of the soil like Kausalyan and Chandranehru has brought that truth closer to
home. There is some revulsion over this killing. There was much sorrow of a
genuine nature. The funerals were well attended without any LTTE coercion. The
people also paid their respects at viewing places voluntarily. If the LTTE conducts
itself carefully it could build up on this basis. If it engages in a clenched fist
approach again the LTTE would be squandering a valuable opportunity again.
There are three immediate tasks facing the LTTE in the East. Good relations with
the Muslim community must be firmly reestablished; People supportive of Karuna
must be weaned away; Victims of Tsunami must be rehabilitated. The LTTE must
address itself to this task urgently and diligently. This cannot be done by brute
force but only through patient political work. Mere words are not enough. Only
actual deeds will work.
The continuing persecution and oppression of Muslims must cease. The terms of
the agreement entered into by the LTTE chief Pirapajaran and Muslim Congress
leader Rauff Hakeem on April 13th 2002 must be honoured abd implemented. The
Muslims must be treated with genuine respect and equality.
Likewise the LTTE must stop its conscription activity in the East. The unforgivable
offence of hunting down former tiger "minors" disbanded by Karuna must end.
The killing of those holding different political opinion should also end. The LTTE
must comply with provisions of the ceasefire and desist from committing acts of
violence against civilians.
If the LTTE adopts a course correction and reorients its approach the tigers
stand a very good chance of political redemption in the East. The prevalent reality
is that the forces opposed to the LTTE will not let that happen. The voices of
alarm raised in various quarters over the perceived "affinity" between the LTTE
and Muslims is a clear illustration. The next few months will prove whether the
LTTE is capable of progressing positively or regressing negatively. [Sunday Leader]
plus points is
his fluency in
English and
Sinhala and of
course Tamil."
population
came to see
and hear
Ramesh
because much
propaganda
had been done
in the past that
Ramesh was
held prisoner
in the Wanni.
The truth
however is that
Ramesh was
found wanting
in meeting the
Karuna
challenge
militarily and
transferred to
the Wanni."
