No one can disarm us: Karuna

The breakaway LTTE faction led by Vinayagamurthi Muralitheran, alias `Karuna Amman`, says no one can disarm them, be it the Government, the Norwegian facilitators or, the SLMM, as they were not armed by the Sri Lankan Government. The `Karuna` faction also warned that it was preparing ‘retaliatory’ attacks against the LTTE Wanni cadres in the east, after calling off its unilateral cease-fire with the rebels last week, which was earlier announced in support of the first round of Geneva peace talks in February.

`Karuna` spokesman Thooyavan, speaking to the Daily Mirror by telephone, from an undisclosed location, also dismissed allegations that the group was operating with the assistance of the Government security forces, claiming that 17 of its cadres are in Anuradhapura prison, for carrying arms in Government controlled areas.

‘We were not given arms by the Government. If the Government gave us arms, then they can disarm us. The Government has disarmed the groups it provided arms to. We are not a part of those groups. Our group is a splinter organisation of the LTTE. Nobody envisaged us splitting from the LTTE, so the CFA does not cover us. We will disarm only when our leader Karuna Amman tells us to do so. The Government, Norway, the SLMM or, the LTTE, cannot disarm us,’ Thooyavan said.

Karuna Amman is said to be overseas, while his followers operating in the east, identify themselves as the Thamil Eela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and recently opened a political office in Batticaloa town.

The LTTE`s Batticaloa chief Daya Mohan told the Daily Mirror last week that the LTTE had decided to wipe out the `Karuna` faction, the first phase of which was the ambush on three `Karuna` camps in the Welikanda area, recently.

Mr. Thooyavan, who kept insisting on referring to his group as TMVP and not the `Karuna` faction, said that his leader, last week, gave the green light to retaliate any LTTE attacks and announced the withdrawal from the unilateral cease-fire with the LTTE.

‘Karuna announced a one-month cease-fire, in support of the peace negotiations between the Government and the LTTE, that commenced in February. We showed restraint, despite attacks by the LTTE, even during our cease-fire. The LTTE has now begun a `seek and destroy` campaign against us. To prevent further attacks on our cadres, `Karuna` has told us to end the cease-fire and retaliate,’ he said.

The LTTE claims to have inflicted heavy losses on the splinter group during the Welikanda attack but Mr. Thooyavan insisted only 8 were killed, while another 9 were injured and added that 6 Wanni cadres were also killed, despite the LTTE`s denials.

‘The attack went on for around an hour. Five of our cadres were killed on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries later. Nine others are receiving treatment. This is the truth. We have no reason to lie about our casualty figures. Despite the LTTE saying that none of their cadres were killed, we buried 6 of their men and have the identification tags from around their necks to prove it,’ he said.

Mr. Thooyavan claims his group buried the bodies of the six Wanni cadres after attempts to locate their families failed and further said the six identification tags had the numbers 1520, 1519, 1210, 1701, 3001 and 1910 with Tamil alphabets prefixed to them.

He also refuted claims that a TRO vehicle was in one of the camps, saying instead, it was a TMVP vehicle that was damaged in the attack, adding that the TMVP camps which were attacked, were in the Katmuri jungles in no-man`s land dividing the Government and the LTTE areas in Batticaloa.

The spokesman said his cadres launched a retaliatory attack on the LTTE in Muttur and Trincomalee last week, killing several Wanni cadres. The LTTE, however, maintains that the attack was launched by the army.

‘Ever since we split from the LTTE, the Government forces continue to act against us. Seventeen of our cadres are in Anuradhapura prison, for carrying arms in Government areas. Some cadres have been shot dead by the army as well, so how can one say the army is assisting us. If what the LTTE claims is true, then the 17 cadres would be released by now,’ Thooyavan said.

The TMVP has been blamed for the abduction of seven TRO employees but, Mr. Thooyavan refuted the allegations, saying instead, he believes the LTTE has staged the abduction, with or without the knowledge of the victims` families, in an attempt to point the finger at Karuna Amman.

Mr. Thooyavan emphasized that the TMVP, as well as the other political parties, should be included in the final peace talks, in order to formulate a solution acceptable to all. He noted that talks, only with the LTTE will, result in the Wanni rebels using the outcome to wipe out its enemies and strengthen the organisation.

Tiger transport request is suspect: Karuna
The Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), led by Karuna Amman, believes that the LTTE has sinister motives behind its moves to transport top political cadres from the east, for a meeting with the rebel leadership in the Wanni. Issues on the transportation modalities for the eastern political cadres, has led to the second round of Geneva peace talks being stalled.

`Karuna` spokesman Thooyavan told the Daily Mirror that this is the first time, a large number of eastern political cadres are being summoned to the Wanni, for a central committee meeting, prior to peace talks with the Government.

‘The LTTE leadership never summoned so many eastern cadres, during previous talks. This is the first time a central committee meeting with the eastern cadres is being talked about as a preparatory meeting for peace talks with the Government. I think there is a sinister motive behind it and the Government should be cautious,’ he warned.

Mr. Thooyavan suspects the LTTE is re-grouping and re-organising, in order to, either launch attacks on the Government forces or, on the `Karuna` cadres in the east.

However, Mr. Thooyavan feels that the LTTE does not have the capability to launch an all out attack on Government forces but, admitted that their maritime strength is stronger than what it was.

‘The LTTE cannot get the upper hand, like it did during the `Jayasikuru` operation. They cannot survive by going out for war. But they do have a strong Sea Tiger force that can launch major attacks at sea,’ he said.

The spokesman further believes that the LTTE is not committed to peace and will continue with claymore attacks, while having peace talks, in order to survive.-Daily Mirror Easwaran Rutnam