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96-hour
war suspense There are increasing signs of a violent campaign against him, his guerrilla cadres and supporters. The puzzle for the defence establishment in Colombo is whether such a crack down would come in the next 96 hours thus marring elections in the East. They are nervous it may happen. If it does, it will place both the Security Forces and the polls machinery in the East in a quandary. That no doubt will cause serious concern over the outcome of the polls. Over the weeks cracks have begun to appear in the tight security cordon "Col. Karuna" placed in the Batticaloa district, both to prevent infiltration of Wanni cadres and to ensure his own security. Groups that infiltrated areas controlled by Security Forces as well as "Col. Karuna's" men distributed leaflets condemning the actions of the renegade eastern leader. They contained details of charges which the Wanni leadership levelled against him. Around 8.45 pm on Tuesday night, Thevanayakam Tiruchelvam, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Eastern University was at his residence in Mariamman Kovil Road, Kallady. Two men walked into his house. Mr Thevanayakam asked them to sit down. Hardly had he finished making those remarks when one of them pulled out a Czech built 9 mm automatic pistol and fired three shots at him. The men fled. The Dean was rushed to hospital with leg and back injuries. He survived. It soon became clear that the intelligence boss of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Pottu Amman (Shivasankaran) had succeeded in infiltrating groups into the Batticaloa district. Mr Thevanayakam was chosen as one of the first targets because he was a close associate of "Col. Karuna." Attacking him was to send a message to intellectuals and learned segments of society to beware. Similar attacks, intelligence sources say, are also being planned on leaders of the business community in the area who have been providing funds to the renegade group. Others include Government officials in the district. "Col. Karuna's faction has already launched retaliatory measures. Some groups that infiltrated from the Wanni have been rounded up together with their weapons. One group in particular was seized by the renegade leader's men from a Security Forces-controlled area and taken into guerrilla-held territory. The move is sure to draw an angry reaction from the Wanni. Two days after the shooting incident, some 3000 demonstrators staged a protest in Vantharamoolai. An effigy of Mr. Prabhakaran was burnt to protest against the attempt on the life of Mr. Thevanayakam. Protestors chanted slogans against the Wanni leadership. Yet, psychological operations followed by the attack on the University Dean have sparked off a fear psychosis. Exacerbating these fears was an official statement in Tamil from the Wanni leadership addressed to cadres in the East which the LTTE distributed in some parts of Batticaloa. "To safeguard our nation and our people, it has been decided to get rid of Karuna from our soil," the statement said. It warned that "anybody who opposes disciplinary action against Karuna, will be considered as a traitor to the Tamil National cause." The strongly worded statement to "get rid of Karuna from our soil" quite clearly meant he would be killed. So would all others who oppose "disciplinary action" against "Col. Karuna." The renegade guerrilla leader has already moved to a secret location and is said to be in touch only with his most trusted cadres. He has avoided radio communications and only a handful of his close confidantes are in daily contact with him. An English translation of the LTTE's official statement appeared in Friday's edition of Tamilnet website. This is what it says: "Dear fighters and Divisional Heads in Batticaloa-Amparai: "It's time now that you realise the truth surrounding Karuna's actions that have brought disgrace our soil and our martyrs, and take the correct stand. Karuna who was commander of Batticaloa-Amparai, in order to cover-up the offences committed by him, is engaged in an attempt to create regional differences and fratricidal war. " In order to cover up his offences, Karuna has prevented the people of Batticaloa and the cadres from meeting the National Leader nor did he allow them to communicate with him. Karuna's immoral conduct, fraudulent financial transactions and arbitrary assassinations were proved with substantial evidence and he was called for an inquiry. " Karuna who feared that the charges would be proved and disciplinary action taken against him, refused to comply with the Leadership's command and went on levelling false accusations against the Leadership. "In the presence of a few civilians and some cadres in "Meenagam" complex he proclaimed his decision to secede from the LTTE and that he would be the leader of the Eastern Province. He had prevailed upon the cadres not to take the oath of allegiance, a noble sentimental oath that has been, for years together, pronounced by thousands of martyrs and black tigers. "Karuna has acted in disrespect to our national flag, one that embraces the mortal remains of our martyrs and worshipped by the Tamils all over the world. He has forced the cadres to break and burn the photographs of the National Leader. In his various interviews to the media, he has ridiculed Tamil nationalism. " Karuna, for the benefit of his selfish motives has developed intimacy with traitors and enemy commanders who were responsible for several assassinations and destructions in the Batticaloa-Amparai District. By setting on fire, national news papers that bring out the truth, Karuna has prevented the Batticaloa-Amparai people from knowing the truth. "You all are aware that the above actions of Karuna are in violation of the disciplinary code that we all affirmed when we enrolled ourselves as fighters and are offences punishable under the said code. Our leader granted an amnesty which Karuna did not avail of. Deceiving the Batticaloa-Amparai people by instigating regionalism, Karuna is planning to continue his life in luxury. "Our National Leadership is no more prepared to allow Karuna to cheat the people in Batticaloa-Amparai. Standing before the humanity today as an offender and a traitor, Karuna, in order to exculpate himself from the charges, is trying to make use of you as shield and as a result and make you all disposables. Please understand that the noble intention of our leader is that no single cadre should fall prey to this deceitful move. "Making use of cadres and people who are not aware of the truth, Karuna is planning to betray the freedom struggle and our national spirit and thereby falling into the hands of traitors and enemies. The blood that was shed and at the sacrifices made are being bartered by Karuna. To safeguard our nation and our people, it has been decided to get rid of Karuna from our soil. "Our cadres should comprehend Karuna's treachery and keep away from him. Anybody who opposes disciplinary action against Karuna, will be considered as a traitor to the Tamil National cause. Based on the understanding that all the cadres enrolled themselves in the movement accepting the leadership of Mr. Velupillai Prabaharan and that the parents entrusted their children on this basis, we request that the cadres who are with Karuna now, without knowing the truth, should abandon him. Our National Leader has granted permission to those cadres who abandon Karuna to go home and join their families. "In spite of the above advice, if any of the cadres decide to arm in favour of Karuna, he/she would be deemed responsible for the consequences. The demise of such a cadre will not be with the honour of a martyr. "Should freedom fighters of Tamil Eelam die for Karuna and his henchman to prosper? Those division heads who show allegiance to Karuna now, should think responsibly and distance themselves from Karuna and circumvent a historical blame. "The heroic history of Batticaloa-Amparai should not get clouded with Karuna's treachery. Let us all work with commitment and unity so that we can raise our heads with price and dignity." In the aftermath of this special statement to guerrilla cadres in the East, the leadership in Wanni also put into effect various other measures. On Friday, they began jamming radio communications in the East by "Col. Karuna's" men. Radio operators in many camps complained they were unable to make contact. In some cases they could only hear garbled noises. On the banks of the Verugal river where Wanni cadres have positioned themselves (south of Trincomalee) and cadres loyal to "Col. Karuna" at the other end (north of Batticaloa), the numbers were increasing. Besides cadres who were moving in from the Wanni with the approval of the Ministry of Defence and help from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), there were also large groups that were finding their way "unofficially." A significant development this week was the presence of Sea Tiger vessels in the Verugal Bay where the river merges with the Indian Ocean south of Trincomalee. These vessels have "sealed off" the area to prevent cadres loyal to "Col Karuna" from moving out. According to intelligence sources heavy radio traffic between Sea Tiger bases in Wanni indicated that more guerrillas were being inducted into the area, particularly at Ilakanthai from where cadres were also being moved to Sampur. These developments have also drawn the attention of the Sri Lanka Navy. Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, Navy Commander had a lengthy meeting on the matter with Commander of Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Upali Ranaweera. The meeting at Navy Headquarters on Thursday focused on immediate counter measures to any threats posed to the Trincomalee Harbour and Naval establishments. According to one source, Ramesh who has been named by Mr. Prabhakaran as the new leader for Batticaloa-Amparai and his deputy Prabha had already arrived at a location south of Trincomalee. They are to cross the Verugal River into Batticaloa district. The continuing build up recently prompted the Ministry of Defence to urge the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to bring it to the attention of the Norwegian facilitators. This followed a conference chaired by Defence Secretary Cyril Herath and attended by SLMM Chief Maj. Gen. (retd.) Trond Furuhovde, Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle (Army), Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri (Navy) and Air Marshal Donald Perera (Air Force). The Sunday Times learns the SLMM Chief was told that outbreak of clashes may force the Security Forces to get entangled. Such a move, it was pointed out, would pose a serious threat to the peace process. Hence the request to keep the Norwegian facilitators apprised of the developments. Apprehensions about a possible crack down on "Col. Karuna" in the days ahead of the elections, intelligence sources believe, is because of fears by the LTTE leadership in Wanni that he may influence the outcome. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has fielded eight candidates in the Batticaloa district out of which seven are solidly behind "Col. Karuna." The only exception is Joseph Pararagasingham who has refused to toe the line and is staunchly backing LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran. Mr. Pararajasingham said yesterday he rejected appeals by "Col. Karuna's" group to toe the line or withdraw his candidature. He said he was now under "house arrest." See box story on this page for a telephone interview he gave The Sunday Times. In the Amparai district where the TNA has fielded six candidates, "Col. Karuna's" group has succeeded in exerting similar influence. If "Col. Karuna" had not broken ranks, LTTE leader Mr. Prabhakaran would not only have been in a position to claim that the victory of TNA candidates both in the North and East made his organisation the sole representatives of the Tamil people. It would have also come as a unanimous "yes" vote from the Tamil voters at the upcoming elections which the LTTE is treating as a referendum to achieve its ideals of "Eelam." (See Mr. Pararajasingham's interview). "Col. Karuna" has put paid to all the LTTE intentions and has now inherited a death sentence. For Mr. Prabhakaran executing such a sentence before the elections is the only way he can still hope to achieve his intentions during Friday’s elections. Otherwise it will be too late. In the aftermath of the elections, "Col. Karuna" no doubt will emerge strong. He will have a parliamentary team and thus the leverage to bargain with whatever Government that gets elected. That will be the biggest threat for Mr. Prabhakaran and the biggest poser for the future of the peace process. Hence, without doubt the next 96 hours will be crucial moments in Sri Lanka's history. It comes six months after the defence portfolio changed hands from the United National Front Government to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Since the take over, she has been saddled with many political issues that have taken almost all her time. That includes the upcoming elections on Friday. If the take over was on the grounds that national security interests were seriously impaired, very little or nothing changed. There has been no Defence Minister or a Deputy in the past six months. Nor has there been any professional bureaucratic leadership or command and control over the security establishment. The state intelligence arms have not been able to successfully keep tabs on the multitude of dangers posed by the recent developments. Consequently no contingency measures have been in place. Like all previous disasters, a nation will be awakening to a serious situation only after it has taken place. Postal
poll: Raw deal for soldiers Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle told Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake last Thursday that it was not possible for troops deployed in Jaffna, Wanni and the East to cast their votes on Friday, the polls day. This is both in view of their operational commitments and the limited transport facilities available. According to Lt. Gen. Balagalle the numbers eligible for postal votes are: Jaffna (20,592), Wanni (16,007) and East (16,386). Election officials have rejected a total of 6555 applications and accepted 29,995.
Pararajasingham under “house arrest” "They have restricted my movements and confined me to my house. I cannot campaign in the field for Friday's election," Mr. Pararajasingham, a one time journalist, told The Sunday Times in a telephone interview yesterday. He spoke from his residence in Batticaloa. Mr. Pararajasingham said TNA candidates for Batticaloa district were summoned by Karuna's men for a meeting at their base in Thennaham. "There we were asked to follow Karuna's policies. Seven of them accepted. I said I cannot for I have during my 14 year political career advocated a different policy, both in and out of Parliament," he said. Thereafter he had been told to leave the meeting and carry on with what he was doing. "But yesterday they telephoned me and said that I am not falling in line. They said they were warning me not to do so. I refused," Mr. Pararajasingham said. He disclosed that armed cadres of Karuna were preventing him from moving out of his house. "Their excuse is that someone will harm me and put the blame on them. “This is utter nonsense. The people are with me. My supporters are coming home and meeting me. They are doing the election campaign for me because I cannot go out," he added. "Some people advised me to go down to Colombo since my life is in danger. But I cannot abandon my people. I will remain with them for they will always back me," he said. Mr Pararajasingham said he was strongly opposed to Karuna's policy of regional politics. He said the TNA was using Friday's elections as a referendum for the Tamil voters to endorse four important principles. They are:
Mr Pararajasingham said he had been in politics for over 14 years. He said any Government that comes to power after Friday's elections would have to speak only to the LTTE and not to any others. |
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