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Inside the Karuna fortress
We entered the LTTE-controlled area in Batticaloa after obtaining permission from Varathan, who serves as secretary to Karuna, the renegade rebel leader who was expelled from the LTTE by the Wanni leadership.

With possibilities of an imminent clash in the air, the atmosphere in east, especially the Batticaloa-Ampara area, was getting more and more tense, though we witnessed an uneasy calm.

We were told that we would be guided by two Karuna cadres. Armed with an M-16 machine gun, the two young cadres were waiting for us as our vehicle approached the eastern LTTE-controlled area.

They told us to follow them along the muddy and pot-holed track running through thick jungles, waterways, paddy fields and marshy lands. The recent rains have made the condition of the road worse.

As we drove through the tough terrain, young female cadres carrying T-56 rifles and manning sentry points allowed us to proceed after they got a signal from the motorcycle cadres. We noticed that all sentry points had been reinforced by watchtowers. The arrangement seemed to display the military acumen of the LTTE's eastern command.

Eastern LTTE cadres in areas under their control appeared to be calm as though the split in the movement, which they served with diehard loyalty, had not made any impact on them.

Hundreds of male and female LTTE cadres were seen engaged in farming in fields expanding over hundreds of acres. Some were attending to vegetable beds, banana trees and thousands of coconut trees, while others were engaged in livestock and dairy farming.

The last 90-minute drive through the thick jungle on our way to the base of 'Colonel' Karuna, we did not meet any civilians, though it was around 3 in the evening. It would be difficult for any intruder to arrive at the Karuna base alive.

As we approached the base, we noticed a gradual increase in security. A heavily fortified security cordon had been set up around Karuna with artillery, Five-Zero guns and mortars being placed in position.

More than 50 personal guards ringed Karuna. They were armed with three weapons - an M-16 strung across their chest, a pistol in the holster and a T-56 or AK 47 in hands with their finger on the trigger.

Despite the heavy guard around Karuna, his cadres in the camp are in a relaxed mood. We saw some male cadres playing soccer and female cadres volleyball. Others were involved in day-to-day work. There were no signs of tension or agitation.

Shortly after we arrived at the base, Karuna, dressed in military uniform came out of his office to talk to us. We decided to have our interview outside, though he said we could also have it in his office.

Karuna appeared as though he had not been ruffled by the recent events. Enjoying the support of thousands of eastern LTTE cadres, he displayed a posture that beamed with confidence and determination that he could lead an independent group within the LTTE.

The man, who joined the LTTE 20 years ago and led more than 75 battles, including the decisive offensive on the Elephant Pass and the counterattack against Operation Jayasikurui launched by the security forces, began the interview on a note of gallantry. He said it was he who helped the LTTE arm itself to the teeth, by attacking army camps and seizing security forces' weapons.

Commenting on his expulsion from the LTTE, he said it was a ridiculous move because five days before he was relieved from the movement, he had informed the Wanni leadership that he would no longer be taking orders from them and would be operating independently.

Denying allegations that he was being backed by a third force or a foreign hand, Karuna said that he had been expressing his concern over the eastern province to the Wanni leadership for the past four years. He said the main problem was centred on his objections to the north being given preferential treatment over the east.

"A classic example is that the Kilinochchi town which was devastated by war has been rebuilt in a short period, but no such rebuilding has taken place in the Eastern Province. Electricity has not been restored, no new roads have been built and no new building has come up," he said.

Karuna said he also advised the Wanni leadership that eastern cadres should be given a respite to enjoy life with their loved ones as it was they in the past few years who did much of the fighting.

"Instead of allowing our cadres to enjoy the fruit of the peacetime, the command in the north wanted more cadres from the east. "I asked them why couldn't they recruit cadres from the north. They couldn't do this because they did not have a strategic plan to do so. Last year, too, they demanded that 1000 cadres be sent from the east to the north. I questioned them why did they want cadres from the east when there was no war going on. Eventually I sent 600 cadres," Karuna said.

He said parents who allowed their children to join the LTTE on the basis that they would be deployed in the east, were not happy when they were sent to north. He said he had no longer trusted his leader as he had been misled by intelligence chief Pottu Amman, LTTE Police chief Nadesan and LTTE Financial chief, Thamilanthi.

"If these three persons are removed from the movement I will negotiate with the leader," he said. Blaming Pottu Amman for the recent violence in the east, Karuna said he had objected to the Wanni leadership, condemning the killing of an old UNP candidate who was a former schoolmaster and an EPDP activist. Asked what his next steps would be, Karuna said he and his cadres would be working as an independent group and expressed hope the crisis could be solved through negotiations.

He said that in future peace talks, he would insist on the participation of a separate delegation from the east. However, he added that a decision in this regard would be taken after the April 2 general election. Karuna said the crisis in the movement should not affect the elections and he too extended his support to the TNA.

The eastern strongman said that during the peace talks, most of the matters raised pertained to the Northern Province while the East was neglected. "We fear that the eastern province will be overlooked in the event of a settlement," he said. Commenting on the changes and new appointments made by the Wanni leadership for the Batticaloa-Amparai command, Karuna said Ramesh and others could come, but they had to follow his orders.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Province an uneasy calm prevails with the civilians not certain about the situation. The Eastern Province based northern businessman had voiced their concern about the possibility of an outbreak of fighting and had approached the Bishop of Batticaloa, Kingsley Swamipillai, to get an assurance from the LTTE that the crisis would be solved without bloodshed. The Bishop before leaving for Wanni also met with a delegation of Karuna.

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