03-27-2004, 10:54 PM
Prabha-Karuna crisis at flashpoint
<b>Rebel leader orders Pararajasingham to stop campaign and leave Batticaloa. Wanni leadership vows to get rid of Karuna, tells his cadres to go home</b>
By N. Parameswaran
The crisis between the LTTE's Wanni leadership and the rebel Karuna faction in the East reached flash point yesterday with the Wanni leadership vowing to get rid of Karuna and the Eastern faction retaliating by asking the TNA's Batticaloa leader Joseph Pararajasingham to stop campaigning and leave the area.
Reports from the East said Karuna Group cadres warned Mr. Pararajasingham that he would face dire consequences if he did not withdraw from the election campaign and leave the area. They accused Mr. Pararajasingham of supporting the Wanni leadership.
As the crisis blew up, there were also reports that an attempt on Karuna's life had been prevented yesterday. Unconfirmed reports said Karuna's driver had tried to kill him but swift action by Karuna resulted in the killing of the driver. Though spokesman for the Karuna faction rejected the reports, LTTE spokesman Daya Master said Karuna had shot dead his bodyguard in self defence.
Karuna responded after the LTTE threatened yesterday to kill the breakaway leader following a split that jeopardises the strength of the rebel group and the peace process.
The first open warning against eastern leader Karuna was accompanied by a similar threat to any fighter who continued to support him in a large area of the east.
"To safeguard our nation and our people, it has been decided to get rid of Karuna from our soil," the LTTE said on its official www.lttepeacesecretariat.com Web site.
The warning is unlikely to mean just expelling Karuna from LTTE-controlled areas as the Tigers have a history of showing little tolerance to internal challenges. The split with Karuna is the worst internal threat to the LTTE and comes at a crucial stage in the general election campaign.
The Tigers said more than 6,000 cadres supporting Karuna should abandon him and return to their families. "If any of the cadres decide to arm in favour of Karuna, he or she would be deemed responsible for the consequences. The demise of such a cadre will not be with the honour of a martyr," the LTTE said.
Karuna's faction was not immediately available for comment. Although military officials say there is no sign the two sides are getting ready to fight, there have been some movements of rebel troops.
The statement repeated accusations that Karuna broke from the group to avoid facing charges of "immoral conduct, fraudulent financial transactions and arbitrary assassinations".
Karuna says he was forced to break away because Tamils in the east were being mistreated by northern Tamils, who make up the majority of the LTTE leadership, including top leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
நன்றி - டெய்லி மிரர்
<b>Rebel leader orders Pararajasingham to stop campaign and leave Batticaloa. Wanni leadership vows to get rid of Karuna, tells his cadres to go home</b>
By N. Parameswaran
The crisis between the LTTE's Wanni leadership and the rebel Karuna faction in the East reached flash point yesterday with the Wanni leadership vowing to get rid of Karuna and the Eastern faction retaliating by asking the TNA's Batticaloa leader Joseph Pararajasingham to stop campaigning and leave the area.
Reports from the East said Karuna Group cadres warned Mr. Pararajasingham that he would face dire consequences if he did not withdraw from the election campaign and leave the area. They accused Mr. Pararajasingham of supporting the Wanni leadership.
As the crisis blew up, there were also reports that an attempt on Karuna's life had been prevented yesterday. Unconfirmed reports said Karuna's driver had tried to kill him but swift action by Karuna resulted in the killing of the driver. Though spokesman for the Karuna faction rejected the reports, LTTE spokesman Daya Master said Karuna had shot dead his bodyguard in self defence.
Karuna responded after the LTTE threatened yesterday to kill the breakaway leader following a split that jeopardises the strength of the rebel group and the peace process.
The first open warning against eastern leader Karuna was accompanied by a similar threat to any fighter who continued to support him in a large area of the east.
"To safeguard our nation and our people, it has been decided to get rid of Karuna from our soil," the LTTE said on its official www.lttepeacesecretariat.com Web site.
The warning is unlikely to mean just expelling Karuna from LTTE-controlled areas as the Tigers have a history of showing little tolerance to internal challenges. The split with Karuna is the worst internal threat to the LTTE and comes at a crucial stage in the general election campaign.
The Tigers said more than 6,000 cadres supporting Karuna should abandon him and return to their families. "If any of the cadres decide to arm in favour of Karuna, he or she would be deemed responsible for the consequences. The demise of such a cadre will not be with the honour of a martyr," the LTTE said.
Karuna's faction was not immediately available for comment. Although military officials say there is no sign the two sides are getting ready to fight, there have been some movements of rebel troops.
The statement repeated accusations that Karuna broke from the group to avoid facing charges of "immoral conduct, fraudulent financial transactions and arbitrary assassinations".
Karuna says he was forced to break away because Tamils in the east were being mistreated by northern Tamils, who make up the majority of the LTTE leadership, including top leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
நன்றி - டெய்லி மிரர்
<span style='font-size:20pt;line-height:100%'>Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.</span>