LTTE suspects army link in Batticaloa kilings
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
The mysterious yet gruesomekilling of seven Tiger cadres -
four of them disabled - by a group of "unknown" assassins on
the night of Sunday, April 25 in Batticaloa has received
widespread condemnation.
Though a concerted campaign is on to pin the blame on the
renegade Tiger faction led by former LTTE eastern
commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna for
these killings, the LTTE is not rushing to do so.
While the Tigers have not ruled out the involvement of cadres
belonging to Karuna's group in the killing, the LTTE is looking
at other possible alternatives too instead of buying the glib
explanation trotted out by interested parties.
One line of thought is that the killing could be the work of other
ex-militant Tamil groups functioning as para-militaries in the
east under army auspices. The other of course is that
remnants of Karuna's forces now under army protection could
have done so. The third is that it was a combined operation
undertaken by erstwhile Karuna followers, ex - militant cadres
and military intelligence operatives.
The perpetrators of these killings are only perceived as
'instruments.' The sinister hand of the army, presumably its
military intelligence division, is suspected to be behind the
crime.
The LTTE cancelled a scheduled meeting between the military
top brass and the eastern Tiger hierarchy led by Karuna's
successor Col. Ramesh Thambirajah on April 28th night.
Detailed complaint
Instead a detailed complaint was provided to Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Head Gen. Trond Furuhovde by
LTTE political wing chief S.P. Tamilselvan at a meeting held on
April 29 at Kilinochchi.
Though the LTTE was unable to pinpoint the culprits
specifically, the Tigers were able to convey their seemingly
well-founded suspicions.
Apart from asking the SLMM to take up this issue in detail with
the government, the LTTE also promised to provide the
monitors with all updated information on the subject as and
when they get them. Apparently a team of LTTE intelligence
operatives is currently engaged in unravelling the mystery
behind the killings.
Even before meeting the SLMM Chief, Tamilselvan had written
to him complaining about the incident and describing it as a
ceasefire violation.
There is a contradiction here. When the LTTE launched a full
scale attack on Karuna and his followers several ceasefire
provisions were violated in letter and spirit.
Around 175 of Karuna's cadres were massacred in Verugal,
Vaaharai, Kattumurivukkulam and Kathiravely.
Around 90 Tigers who fought on the side of Karuna and later
surrendered to the LTTE have been taken to the Wanni for
intensive interrogation by Pottu Amman's intelligence wing.
Five of these were senior deputies of Karuna.
The LTTE is also engaged in a massive campaign to compel
ex-Karuna cadres to re-join the movement.
A witch hunt has also been launched to arrest those civilians
supporting Karuna and indulging in acts like burning effigies
and destroying pictures etc.
The SLMM that kept mum and accepted the LTTE version that
the Karuna affair was an internal matter not concerning the
monitors at the time of conflict is keeping quiet even now about
those matters.
A different set of standards however for the seven LTTE
cadreskilled by unknown persons. There is no doubt that the
killings were horrible and the perpetrators deserve punishment.
It is the SLMM attitude that is hypocritical. Any complaint by the
LTTE is given full attention. Any complaint against the LTTE is
neglected. The LTTE is to be kept happy no matter what the
cost.
In the perennial struggle between the powerful and the
powerless there is no doubt as to which side of the battle lines
the monitors are on. This stems not because of the fault of the
individual monitors themselves but due to a fundamental
conflict of interests facing Oslo the mediator and Oslo the
monitor.
The contrasting response of the SLMM to these killings and
towards other incidents cannot take away the fact that
Sunday's killings were indeed brutal and despicable.
According to the information available a bunch of assassins
numbering seven (two in sarong, two in civvies, three in
uniform) had proceeded from the direction of the
Vavunatheevu army camp on the Aayithiyamalai road in a
white van.
Vavunatheevu is on the western shore of the Batticaloa
lagoon. Three Tigers manning the sentry post about 800
metres from the army camp forward line were shot dead. The
sentry post was at a place called Puliyam- adhu near the
Mullamunai junction.
Known Tiger
The three Tigers killed were Nadarasa Suresh alias Capt.
Thiyaneswaran of Eravur; Lieut. Sellathurai Jaseetharan alias
Thanesan of Mankerni; Second Lt. Sethunathapillai Pirabhu
alias Selvaveeran of Sittandy. They were shot dead at point
blank range.
It is assumed that someone known to the dead cadres had
been in the van and that the Tigers had no reason to suspect
anything till the killings began. Interestingly all seven cadres
killed had been with Karuna during the split and later rejoined
the movement. These killings took place at about 11. 35 p.m.
Thereafter the vehicle had proceeded along the Aayithiyamalai
Road till it reached what was known as the Maayawaadi camp.
The place belonged to a landowner known as Mayappodi and
was known as Mayaa's Wadi.The nearby village is
Ponnankanichenai.
This was about five kilometers from the Vavunatheevu camp.
While two old men working as civilian watchers ran away, the
assailants shot dead the four Tiger cadresat the site. Those
killed were all disabled due to the war.
The Mayawadi camp had been an agricultural farm cum tax
collection centre before the Karuna crisis erupted. It was also a
rehabilitation centre for Tiger cadres maimed or disabled in the
war. It had been a pet project ofKaruna himself. Even
computers had been installed here.
When the attack took place only four cadres were staying
there. The others had dispersed after Karuna disbanded his
units and vacated the Batticaloa District.
The four persons killed by the assassins were Capt. Sasikumar
or Kanapathipillai Thiruppatham from Periyaporatheev, Capt.
Vaamakaanth or Ganesan Linganathan from Kiran; Lt.
Vinoranjan or Selliah Mohanraj of Senkalladdy and Second Lt.
Tharanan or Theivanayagam Santhirakumar of Aayithiyamalai.
Sasikumar and Vaamakaanth had lost both legs; Vinoranjan
was blind in both eyes while Tharanan had lost one leg.
Vaamakaanth was from Krishnan Kovil Street in Kiran, the
native place of Karuna himself. Vaamakaanth was a particular
favourite of Karuna. He was a very good writer in Tamil and
had authored several articles, short stories, plays , poems etc.
for various Tiger media organs over the past years. He was
also well versed in computers.
Apart from killing the four Tigers, the assassins had damaged
10 tractors, three motor cycles, one threshing machine and
other agricultural equipment. They also damaged the
computers and set fire to some buildings. The assassins left
the place around 12. 30 a.m.
"Credible evidence"
The vehicle had returned the way it came and allegedly went
out of sight in the vicinity of the army camp at Vavunatheevu.
The LTTE apparently has "credible evidence" of army
complicity in the attack. They are still not sure of who exactly
did the killings but are sure that they were "Tamil men" in
league with the military.
There are three ex-militant groups now working with the army
in Batticaloa as para-militaries or intelligence operatives. They
are the Varathan group of TELO; Razeek group of EPRLF;
and the Mohan group of the PLOTE.
Varathan and Razeek were killed by the LTTE but members
continue to function. Mohan was moved to a South East Asian
country by military intelligence to protect him after the
ceasefire. His group is the deadliest of all three factions.
The LTTE targeted some of these men in the East and in
Colombo after the ceasefire. These men along with the
Mahattaya group comprise the nucleus of hit squads known as
deep penetration squads or long range reconnaissance
patrols.
The Mahattaya group consists of about 40 to 50 ex-Tiger
cadres who surrendered to the army at various stages after
former LTTE deputy leader Gopalswamy Mahendrarajah alias
Mahattaya was detained and executed by the LTTE on
charges of treason.
A witch hunt was conducted on a staggered basis against
those cadre considered to be Mahattaya loyalists. Some
escaped and went over to the enemy.
The state kept the Mahattaya group a closely guarded secret
in view of its utility value and in the interests of their security.
The LTTE also did not publicise it because it was considered a
"shame" for the Tigers that members of such a disciplined
group could join the armed forces.
Most of the deep penetration squad hits in the north were
done by the Mahattaya group while those in the east were
done by the Mohan, Razeek and Varathan groups.
Logistical support
Though several "persons" in the south claim credit for these
successes the actual risks and work was done by the Tamil
groups. Those who provided logistical support now pretend to
be the real McCoys for reasons of their own.
After Karuna's debacle several of his cadres took refuge in
military camps in the east and Polonnaruwa District. Some of
these men are being moulded into a new group known as
Karuna group.
Karuna reportedly is not with these men but staying elsewhere
in the south with around 150 men.
The LTTE suspects that the Maayawaadi killings were done by
members of the ex-militant groups or the Karuna group or both.
Whatever the identities of the actual perpetrators, the Tigers
regard the army or its military intelligence division as being
responsible. Geographically it is impossible for anyone to pass
through that road without the army knowing, alleges the LTTE.
It also dismisses charges against the Karuna group alone.
"We are afraid that putting aside this incident as one carried
out by elements closer to Karuna may be too simplistic. Making
use of the Karuna factor, any para-military groups working
alongside the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), whether with the blessing
of the SLA or otherwise, may continue to act in this manner
and create havoc and confusion" wrote Tamilselvan to the
SLMM.
The army has officially denied any involvement in the incident.
Military Spokesperson Col. Sumedha Perera has pointed out
that the killings took place in Tiger controlled territory and not
in government controlled areas.
This revives earlier memories of killings by the LTTE in
government controlled areas after the ceasefire. Tamilselvan
disclaimed responsibility then and said the killings had not
occurred in LTTE territory. What was sauce for the goose then
is now sauce for the gander.
The LTTE suspects that a campaign is on to create an
impression that a massive confrontation is going on between
Karuna's men and the LTTE in all parts of the island.
There have been several incidents in the recent past.One
Tamil from Naavatkudah in Batticaloa died in a mysterious
explosion in Kurunegala; two youths from Valaichenai and
Eravur were shot dead by unknown persons in Maligawatte,
Colombo. One died and the other is hospitalised.
Deliberate pattern
In another incident, a man and his wife were hacked with
swords in Kallady, Batticaloa. The 53 year old man was a
draftsman in the Irrigation Department and staying with his wife
in the irrigation quarters. They were from Jaffna. The woman
was the sister of former LTTE leader Kumarappah who at one
time was Batticaloa Tiger commander.
The LTTE thinks there is a deliberate pattern to all these
incidents including the Maayawaadi killings. The Tigers believe
a sinister plot is being hatched to provoke them into rash
action. Only time will tell whether LTTE suspicions are true or
not.
LTTE political head for Batticaloa and Amparai, Kausalyan has
issued a vehement denial to news reports that there was a
shoot out between Karuna's cadres and the LTTE in the
Thoppigala jungles. He says that Karuna has no one of any
consequence with him who is knowledgeable of the jungle
routes known as the Beirut trail.
It may also be that the LTTE is 'shy' to admit that segments of
Karuna forces are alive and kicking in the
Tharavai-Kudumbimalai-Vadamunai jungles.
For one thing the LTTE boasted that Karuna was a single man
and that he was now isolated; Tiger propagandists claimed
that Karuna and his men were terrorised by special Tiger
forces who attacked and then melted back to the Wanni.
One story is about how the special forces penetrated
Thoppigala and did two strikes near Karuna's secret camp.
Apparently these made Karuna panic and throw in the towel. If
this is indeed true, the simple question demanding an answer
is the reason for not eliminating Karuna then and there instead
of scaring him.
The LTTE also claimed that all of Karuna's cadres had
deserted him and joined the LTTE again. This again is not
true. Only about 600 to 800 cadres have rejoined the LTTE.
The rest numbering around 3500 to 4000 have returned
home, fled elsewhere, gone with Karuna or taken refuge in
army camps. The Tigers are now trying to reinduct cadres.
LTTE propagandists also spread stories of Karuna fleeing to
Australia. Tiger radio stated firmly that Karuna was now in
Brisbane.
The truth is that the LTTE hierarchy simply does not know
where Karuna is now.
Internal matter
To admit that and the fact that some members at least of the
Karuna faction have taken to arms against the parent body is
infra dig for the LTTE. Besides if recent developments are
indeed intra-Tiger friction then the SLMM cannot be asked to
intervene in an internal LTTE matter. It may also encourage
further dissension in Batticaloa.
The LTTE also suspects that deep penetration squads will
start targeting LTTE leaders again. The explanation will be that
Karuna's men are doing so.
The LTTE and Karuna averted a lot of bloodshed by coming to
an agreement to end the fighting. It appears now that both
sides had ulterior motives for doing so. Bloodshed in
installments is on the cards.
In any event the LTTE is of the view that Karuna has forfeited
any right to clemency after the murders of LTTE intelligence
personnel in his custody including Lt. Col Neelan Sinnathamby.
Karuna was required to release them without harm.
The LTTE is now going all out for Karuna. At the same time the
Tigers will not fail to avenge the killings of the seven in
Batticaloa.
The recent editorial of the London based Tamil Guardian
dated April 28th indicates the LTTE mindset. Relevant
excerpts sound ominous indeed!
"The SLA's claim that Karuna loyalists are responsible for the
attack, meanwhile, must be viewed in the light of the Sri
Lankan government providing sanctuary for the renegade
commander and his associates. Karuna's own cold-blooded
killing of several LTTE intelligence officers before his flight
from Batticaloa has already placed him beyond the pale, as far
as the Tamil people are concerned. Colombo's sanctuary and
the attack on Sunday must therefore be viewed in the light of
the LTTE's warning soon after Karuna's rebellion began: 'We
should let it be known to his contacts that they will cause
irreparable damage to the peace process if they exploit
Karuna's dissent.'
"As such, the ramifications of the attack go beyond the seven
deaths. Those seeking to provoke a vehement reaction from
the LTTE are deliberately seeking to reignite a cycle of
violence which will eventually plunge the island back into a
bloody war. The revulsion and outrage Sunday's killings have
sparked in the Tamil community and, no doubt, in the LTTE is
no less for recognition of their purpose. As this newspaper and
other advocates of a negotiated solution have repeatedly
argued, it is in the volatile Eastern Province that agent
provocateurs have the greatest chance of success. Conscious
of the objective of Sunday's attack, the LTTE is, for now,
raising the matter through the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
(SLMM). Having said that, of course, those familiar with the
LTTE's ethos on such matters know full well that the file on this
matter will remain open for a long time. That four particularly
helpless cadres who were amongst the victims will give
particular impetus to its closure." [Sunday Leader May 2, 2004]
May 2004:
The
perpetrators
of these
killings are
only
perceived as
'instruments.'
The sinister
hand of the
army,
presumably
its
military
intelligence
division, is
suspected to
be behind the
crime.
The LTTE
cancelled a
scheduled
meeting
between the
military
top brass
and the
eastern
Tiger
hierarchy led
by Karuna's
successor
Col. Ramesh
Thambirajah
on April 28th
night.
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