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[Mathan]

<b>The Clash Of The Tamil Warlords</b>

Even if Prabhakaran succeeds in having Karuna eliminated, will he be able to re-assert his control over the East? Will his authority remain as strong as before?

B. RAMAN

Summary

Ever since the ceasefire accord between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE was signed two years ago, there were persistent reports of unhappiness amongst the Tamils of the East over what was seen by them as unjustified overtures to the Muslims by the northern leadership of the LTTE, over the lack of recognition of the Easterners, who had fought and won most of the battles of the LTTE against the Sri Lanka Army and over the perceived discriminatory treatment meted out to them in the North.

Did this unhappiness force Karuna, the Eastern warlord, to act against Prabhakaran against his will or did he take advantage of it to defy Prabhakaran and assert his independence? Will he succeed in his defiance? Will the fighters of the East carry out his orders or disobey him? If they obeyed his orders, will there be a military conflict between the North and the East, leading to a resumption of the violence and damaging the peace process? Even if Prabhakaran succeeds in having Karuna eliminated, will he be able to re-assert his control over the East? Will his authority remain as strong as before?

These are very relevant questions, but it would be difficult to answer them at present. All one could say is that Karuna's position is not as strong as he seems to think it is and not as weak as Prabhakaran seems to wish it is. Even presuming that the overwhelming majority of Karuna's followers remain loyal to him, which is doubtful since they may not wish to contribute to a weakening of the struggle for Tamil Eelam, the two forces would be evenly matched and the outcome uncertain.

The Text

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) disseminated the following statement on the morning of March 6, 2004:

"Today the 6th March 2004, at 10.20 a. m. a Press Conference was held at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi,in which Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing of the LTTE, along with Mr. Ramesh, Special Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Ram, Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Piraba, Deputy Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Gihaththan, Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai District, Mr. Ramanan, Head of the Military Intelligence Wing, and Mr. Kausalyan, Political Head of the Batticaloa-Amparai District, were present.

"Mr. Karuna who was Commander, Batticaloa-Amparai, instigated by some malicious elements opposed to the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle, acting traitorously to the Tamil people and the Tamil Eelam National Leadership, has planned to secede himself from the liberation organization.

"The Commanders, Divisional Heads and cadres under him, unable to acquiesce with this traitorous act, have refused to comply with his orders and met with the National Leadership, explaining the ground reality prevailing there. In accordance with this, Karuna has been discharged from the Liberation Tigers organization and relieved of his responsibilities.

"The Tamil Eelam National Leadership has appointed Mr. Ramesh as Special Commander, Mr. Ram as Commander, Mr. Piraba as Deputy Commander and Mr. Kausalyan as Political Head of the Batticaloa-Amparai District.

"It is hereby informed that these officials will assume their positions and functions as the official representatives of our organization."

It has been reported that simultaneously with this announcement Prabhakaran has ordered that about 500 cadres from the Eastern Province working in Kilinochi, whose loyalty to him was suspect, should be disarmed and placed under house-arrest. Karuna has retaliated by appealing to the fighters from the East deployed in the North to get those under house-arrest released and to help them to return to the East.

Thanx: Outlook India