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By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The latest episode in the cycle of intra - tiger violence in the Eastern province was
the murderous assault on three woman tigers of the political wing on Feb 28th at
Thambiluvil. Though wounded critically all three currently undergoing treatment in
Colombo are now pronounced out of danger.
The Karuna revolt last year depleted the Eastern mainstream tigers of thousands of
woman cadres including frontline leaders like Nilavini, Premini, Lavanya, Theenthamil
etc. Some of the middle - level Pirapa loyalists went up the ladder as a result. The
new Batticaloa - Amparai Political wing Woman tiger leader is Kuveni. She has
participated in some political discussions and came out publicly at Kausalyans funeral
at Thandiyady where she made a rousing address. Her deputy is Sasimathy.
Kuveni, Sasimathy and another tigress Ahanila were travelling by a three - wheeler
from Kokkatticholai in Batticaloa to Thirukkovil in Amparai district on Feb 28th
evening. According to Kuveni the Special Task Force officials at the Akkaraipattru
camp had not checked in their details on the usual form as was the practice but only
on a piece of paper. While proceeding on tha Akkaraipattru - Thirukkovil road they
had observed a person standing close to his parked motor cycle. He had been
looking intently at the vehicle and its occupants.
According to Ahanila the man was wearing a red shirt and somewhat stocky. He was
dark complexioned. In her account of the attack Kuveni went on to say that the motor
cyclist had been following their threewheeler at a distance thereafter. When their
vehicle had travelled about five kilometres and going along the roadway stretch near
Thambiluvil cemetery the motor cyclist had accelerated ahead. He stopped his motor
bike across the road and sitting straddled across, signalled the three - wheeler driver
to stop.
When the driver sped on without attempting to stop the man had pulled out a gun.and
waved. At this point the driver suddenly braked, jumped out and ran for safety. The
road and surrounding area was deserted at the time. The man had then ridden up
slowly to the three - wheeler and opened fire. All three girls were hit with most bullets
piercing the abdomen area. He then sped away in the direction of Thirukkovil where
the STF camp was about seven km away. The bleeding woman tigers slowly lost
consciousness. The time was around 6.30 pm.
Later all three were taken to the Akkaraipattru and later the Kalmunai base hospital.
Thereafter Kuveni and Sasimathi were airlifted to Colombo. Ahanila was brought
down the following day. All three are receiving treatment at the Apollo Hospital. They
are pronounced out of danger and are able to articulate their thoughts. Fearing an
attack by Karuna cadres even in Colombo extra security has been provided.
The first casualty of Kuvenis statement was Tiger sponsored propaganda led by its
Amparai political wing chief Kuyilinban. The district political commissar who was
fortunate to survive the attack that killed Bawa and Yoga had come out with the
charge that two persons on motor cycles had chased the three - wheeler and uttered
threats in imperfect Tamil like how a non - Tamil would speak it. What Kuyilinban
implied was that it was some "Sinhala" security operative who was responsible. Once
Kuyilinban provided the cue it was taken up with gusto by the tiger propaganda
machine. STF personnel were accused openly. Kuvenis authentic account has now
nailed Kuyilinbans canard.
In a contradictory move that is typical of tiger double speak the LTTE after charging
the STF aimed its gun barrel at an Eastern Tamil staying at Thirukkovil. The man was
28 year old Johnson Jeyakanthan alias Pradeepan of Periyakallaru. A former tiger
Pradeepan had left the movement some years ago and went abroad for employment.
He had returned some months ago and was visiting Thirukkovil. The tigers now
zoomed in on him and tried to abduct him for an inquiry. He escaped and ran away
from his pursuers to Kalmunai. He then stayed at the refugee camp at Kalmunai
Fatima Carmel convent. The exact circumstances of how he did this are unclear.
Later the LTTE in Kalmunai complained to the STF and Police that the man
responsible for the shooting of three woman tigresses was staying at the refugee
camp. Pradeepan was arrested. He complained that he was being wrongfully accused
and that he had taken refuge in Kalmunai to escape the murderous LTTE. The
security personnel however produced him at the Akkaraipatru courts and have
detained him. It is reported that he will be produced at an identification parade next
week. The STF is no doubt glad to be cleared of the earlier accusation and are
actively pursuing the line of inquiry around the man from Periyakallaru. The tiger
propagandists abroad have now come out with the charge that Pradeepan is an army
informant.
Violence in the east as is well known is not a one way street. The LTTE may be the
aggrieved party in the latest attack but the tigers are guilty of a lot of violence too. In
fact the LTTE track record is far more than that of the renegade faction in this. The
LTTE continues to gun down persons suspected of being Karuna supporters or those
considered enemies because they hold divergent views. While breast-beating about
violence against LTTE cadres on the one hand tiger assassins continue their violent
spree with unconcealed glee on the other.
On Feb 19th two men supporting Karuna were ambushed by the LTTE in the
Welikande region. They were travelling by motor cycle between Muthukkal and
Karappalai. 26 year old Villiasingham Manoharan was killed. Vinayagamoorthy
Jeganathan alias Suthagaran was seriously injured. All the people who were
condemning Kausalyan’s murder on Feb 7th in the same region were curiously silent
when the tigers were assassinating people.
In another incident 20 year old Poopalapillai Haridhas of Aaraiyampathy was shot and
injured near the Narasimmhan temple by the LTTE. He had been defying a tiger
order to report to their office and keeping aloof for many days. No one including the
Norwegian monitors are protesting the shooting. The SLMM will say that it is a Police
matter not connected to the ceasefire. But when LTTE men get attacked the
Norwegians run about like headless chickens complaining loudly.
In another incident last week a militant veteran Thayanithy was killed the Batticaloa
Railway station. Thayanithy was one of the pioneering group of Eastern militants and
belonged to the Easstern forerunner "Nagapadai" or Cobra force. He later joined the
TELO. In 1989 he created a lot of trouble for former opposition leader Appapillai
Amirthalingam when contesting the Batticaloa district elections. Thayanithy was
supporting Karunakaran alias Jana of the TELO then.
Later Thayanithy went to the middle - east and was gainfuly employed for many years
there. He also got married to a girl from Mandoor. Returning to Sri Lanka he led a
normal life at Kalladdy in Batticaloa. He and his family were affected by the tsunami
disaster. They moved to a refugee camp. The LTTE affiliated Tamil Rehabilitation
Organization has foisted itself upon most refugee camps in the Tamil areas and has
become the self - appointed administrator of these places. The TRO role leaves
much to be desired and there is much friction between the helpless refugees and
their "Masters".
Thayanithy with his militant past was not one to accept these high handed acts and
corrupt deeds meekly. He therefore objected to TRO conduct and engaged in many
verbal diels.With more and more refugees rallying around him he was perceived as a
dangerous nuisance. Thayanithy also went to the TRO main office in Batticaloa and
threatened to expose their maladministration and corruption. He was warned not to
do so. Within a few hours he was gunned down near the refugee camp.
Apart from these incidents the LTTE is also conducting a "search" operation in the
Batticaloa - Polonnaruwa border areas. As stated in these columns earlier a
contingent of 200 cadres have come from the Wanni for this purpose. The tigers
have surrounded several areas and done cordon and search operations. Many
civilians have been assaulted. Some have had guns pointed to their heads. The idea
is to terrorise the people and get details about Karuna cadre whereabouts.
In a related development 25 cadres were escorted by the security forces from the
Wanni to the East last week. All of them belonging to the special intelligence unit
headed by Sivakumar alias Newton came by bus. Newton whose wireless code sign is
November Whiskey 4 is currently on special assignment in the East. Newton a
communications expert trained in India is also in charge of a special intelligence unit
involved in electronic surveillance and telephonic eavesdropping. It is presumed that
the tigers are setting up a sophisticated surveillance and wire tapping system in the
East to monitor Karuna cadres.
March 3rd was the day of Karuna revolting openly last year. April 12th was the day of
his departure from the East. Karuna has sworn that the Eastern situation will be
transformed by the first anniversary of his departure. Five units led by Mangalan
master, Sinnathamby, Markan, Iniyabharathy and Pillaiyaan are said to be active in
the region. It remains to be seen whether Karunas cadres will succeed in this
endeavour or not.
At the same time the tigers too are not simply plucking flowers. Their brand of
violence too continues unabated. The Eastern situation is taking a violent turn for the
worse. The situation can be reversed only if the violence regardless of who
perpetrates it is condemned vehemently. For starters the Norwegian mediators could
hold the scales evenly between the mainstream LTTE and the renegade faction.
They should react to both types of violence even handedly.
It is also time to explore whether Karuna and his cadres should be recognized as a
viable entity in the current equation. From the time of his revolt he has been treated
as a political "pariah". The LTTE position that Karuna is a single individual without
any support was accepted. It was also assumed that Karuna would be wiped out
within a short time frame like how JR Jayewardene instructed bull Weeratunga to
eliminate terrorism in Jaffna 25 years ago. Karuna or more importantly his cadres
have withstood a tiger onslaught and refuse to capitulate despite reversals.
Meanwhile the Eastern violence continues. So is it time then for Karuna to be brought
into the ceasefire officially and be made responsible and accountable? Will that be
feasible and how will the LTTE react? If not are matters to be allowed a dangerous
drift that can ultimately result in full scale war? Troubling questions that need firm
answers in these troubled times [Sunday Leader].
and shooting of our
senior political leaders
is a very serious and
disturbing matter", said
Mr. S.P Thamilchelvan
- TamilNet
situation is
taking a
violent turn for
the worse.
The situation
can be
reversed only
if the violence
regardless of
who
perpetrates it
is condemned
vehemently.
For starters
the Norwegian
mediators
could hold the
scales evenly
between the
mainstream
LTTE and the
renegade
faction. They
should react to
both types of
violence even
handedly. "
cannot
disclaim
responsibility."
- TamilWeek
Feb 13, 2005
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