Colonel Karuna
Encyclopedia
Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (nom de guerre: Colonel Karuna Amman; , born 1966) is a Sri Lanka
n politician and former militant. After fighting for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
for over 20 years, he rose to prominence as the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), a breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers.
After giving up arms and entering politics, he was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament for the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance
(UPFA), the party of President Mahinda Rajapakse, in 2008 and sworn in as Minister of National Integration on March 9, 2009. He later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
, the largest party in the UPFA, and on April 24, 2009 he appointed a Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
, a village in the Batticaloa
district in eastern Sri Lanka to Vinayagamoorthy, an agriculturist from the parayan caste. He joined the LTTE in 1983 and became a top commander of the Eastern Province
. He was a former bodyguard to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran
and effectively number two in the Tamil Tiger military organization.
has been hailed as being instrumental in Karuna renouncing terrorism, who in turn joined the democratic mainstream.
The LTTE alleged that the real reason he broke way was because the LTTE's intelligence wing was closing in on him for alleged financial and personal misconduct, terming his break a "temporary aberration". The Tigers reacted to his defection by launching attacks against Muralitharan's forces, and heavy clashes ensued. They claimed to have fully evicted his forces from the area he controlled in mid-2004.
However his group, dubbed the Karuna Faction by the media, continued to maintain a stronghold in the southeast of Sri Lanka with a force estimated to number a few hundred. They also regularly attacked the LTTE. In 2006 the Sri Lankan armed forces launched a major campaign to evict the LTTE from the east of the country, with the assistance of the Karuna Faction. They succeeded in clearing the east of Sri Lanka by July 2007.
Karuna has alleged that Prabhakaran intentionally dragged out peace talks so that the rebels could use the cessation in hostilities to re-arm for further combat.
He has said that the LTTE has lost 70% of its fighting capacity due to his TMVP group separating from the LTTE.
At the same time the TMVP announced that it was setting up a "special attack force" and a "spy attack force". Internal cohesion within the TMVP has been a problem, particularly disagreements between Pillaiyan and Karuna over finance. In May–June, a number of cadres were killed in factional clashes, most notably an intelligence operative named Senthujan Senthamorthanan. Another TMVP cadre named Seelan was also badly beaten but escaped. Pillaiyan was reportedly also targeted but escaped to Trincomalee
with about 200 supporters although he has since been reconcilled to Karuna.
When Colonel Karuna was part of the LTTE, he was also implicated in the massacre of Muslims, including the Kattankudy and Erovar massacres in the eastern province. According to Sri Lankan military intelligence sources, "Karuna was not in the East province but in the Wanni during the time of the attacks on Kattankudy and Eravur Muslims. He was however intercepted giving orders to his cadres in the East in relation to various activities.".
RSF (Reporters Without Borders)
, has accused him of muzzling local journalists by forming death squads to silence those who oppose his point of view.
His armed group has been accused by human rights
groups in the increasing involuntary disappearances of civilians
in the Jaffna
peninsula. They have been accused of taking part in death squad
activity against civilians. They are also accused of child soldier recruitment by UNICEF, Human Rights Watch
, and others. Additionally, a report by the United States Department of State
claims that Karuna's group "was believed also to have killed 20 civilians."
Karuna has categorically denied these allegations in interviews claiming the LTTE is trying to discredit his party.
and the Border and Immigration Agency
. It is thought that he was found in possession of a forged passport and firearms. According to the Sunday Times, a weekly English newspaper published in Sri Lanka, the British authorities have claimed that they have enough evidence to show that the Sri Lankan government was complicit in helping Karuna receive a diplomatic passport.
Karuna said in court that the government, through Permanent Secretary for Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
, had given him the passport. On January 25, 2008 he was sentenced to nine months in prison. He was transferred to an immigration detention centre in May 2008.
A number of human rights
groups, led by Amnesty International
, urged the Metropolitan Police
to investigate Karuna for war crimes including torture
, hostage-taking and recruitment of child soldiers. The Met Police did not respond and Karuna was deported back to Sri Lanka on 3 July 2008.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n politician and former militant. After fighting for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
for over 20 years, he rose to prominence as the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), a breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers.
After giving up arms and entering politics, he was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament for the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance
United People's Freedom Alliance
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance is Mahinda Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha is the general secretary of UPFA.The alliance was formed by:...
(UPFA), the party of President Mahinda Rajapakse, in 2008 and sworn in as Minister of National Integration on March 9, 2009. He later joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in...
, the largest party in the UPFA, and on April 24, 2009 he appointed a Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
Biography
Muralitharan was born in KiranKiran, Sri Lanka
Kiran is a town in the Batticaloa District of Sri Lanka. It is located 25 km north-west of the district capital Batticaloa.-See also:* Karuna Amman* Poopathy Kanapathipillai...
, a village in the Batticaloa
Batticaloa
Batticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. It is on the east coast, south by south east of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island.-Etymology:...
district in eastern Sri Lanka to Vinayagamoorthy, an agriculturist from the parayan caste. He joined the LTTE in 1983 and became a top commander of the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
. He was a former bodyguard to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
and effectively number two in the Tamil Tiger military organization.
Break with LTTE
In March 2004, Muralitharan broke away from the Tamil Tigers after he alleged they were ignoring the interests of the eastern Tamil people, and claimed to have renounced violence at this point. This move by Karuna, to break away from the LTTE and renounce terrorism has been claimed to be one of the major turning points that brought about the end of the two and a half decade conflict. Former Member of Parliament Seyed Ali Zahir MoulanaSeyed Ali Zahir Moulana
Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana is a popular Sri Lankan politician. He has been politically active since 1988, and was Member of Parliament from August 19, 1994 to December 5, 2001, and from April 9, 2004 to June 23, 2004, under the label of the United National Party...
has been hailed as being instrumental in Karuna renouncing terrorism, who in turn joined the democratic mainstream.
The LTTE alleged that the real reason he broke way was because the LTTE's intelligence wing was closing in on him for alleged financial and personal misconduct, terming his break a "temporary aberration". The Tigers reacted to his defection by launching attacks against Muralitharan's forces, and heavy clashes ensued. They claimed to have fully evicted his forces from the area he controlled in mid-2004.
However his group, dubbed the Karuna Faction by the media, continued to maintain a stronghold in the southeast of Sri Lanka with a force estimated to number a few hundred. They also regularly attacked the LTTE. In 2006 the Sri Lankan armed forces launched a major campaign to evict the LTTE from the east of the country, with the assistance of the Karuna Faction. They succeeded in clearing the east of Sri Lanka by July 2007.
Karuna has alleged that Prabhakaran intentionally dragged out peace talks so that the rebels could use the cessation in hostilities to re-arm for further combat.
He has said that the LTTE has lost 70% of its fighting capacity due to his TMVP group separating from the LTTE.
Publicity
In March 2007, Colonel Karuna accompanied by Supreme Commander Pillaiyan, Senior Commander Jeyam and other TVMP officials spent two days at a TMVP base in the east. A number of his statements there were widely reportedAt the same time the TMVP announced that it was setting up a "special attack force" and a "spy attack force". Internal cohesion within the TMVP has been a problem, particularly disagreements between Pillaiyan and Karuna over finance. In May–June, a number of cadres were killed in factional clashes, most notably an intelligence operative named Senthujan Senthamorthanan. Another TMVP cadre named Seelan was also badly beaten but escaped. Pillaiyan was reportedly also targeted but escaped to Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
with about 200 supporters although he has since been reconcilled to Karuna.
Allegations of human rights violations
Colonel Karuna was the LTTE head of the Eastern province in 1990, when between 113 police officers who surrendered to the group were subsequently massacred.When Colonel Karuna was part of the LTTE, he was also implicated in the massacre of Muslims, including the Kattankudy and Erovar massacres in the eastern province. According to Sri Lankan military intelligence sources, "Karuna was not in the East province but in the Wanni during the time of the attacks on Kattankudy and Eravur Muslims. He was however intercepted giving orders to his cadres in the East in relation to various activities.".
RSF (Reporters Without Borders)
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
, has accused him of muzzling local journalists by forming death squads to silence those who oppose his point of view.
His armed group has been accused by human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups in the increasing involuntary disappearances of civilians
State terrorism in Sri Lanka
Various non-governmental organizations and individuals have accused the Sri Lankan government of committing state terrorism. These claims allege that much of the Sri Lankan government's handling of insurgent groups dating from 1956, including the civil war against Tamil militant groups and the...
in the Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
peninsula. They have been accused of taking part in death squad
Death squad
A death squad is an armed military, police, insurgent, or terrorist squad that conducts extrajudicial killings, assassinations, and forced disappearances of persons as part of a war, insurgency or terror campaign...
activity against civilians. They are also accused of child soldier recruitment by UNICEF, Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, and others. Additionally, a report by the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
claims that Karuna's group "was believed also to have killed 20 civilians."
Karuna has categorically denied these allegations in interviews claiming the LTTE is trying to discredit his party.
Imprisonment in the United Kingdom
Karuna was arrested in London on November 2, 2007 following a joint operation between the Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
and the Border and Immigration Agency
Border and Immigration Agency
The Border and Immigration Agency was an executive agency of the British Home Office, created on 1 April 2007. The Agency assumed the responsibilities of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for managing immigration control in the UK...
. It is thought that he was found in possession of a forged passport and firearms. According to the Sunday Times, a weekly English newspaper published in Sri Lanka, the British authorities have claimed that they have enough evidence to show that the Sri Lankan government was complicit in helping Karuna receive a diplomatic passport.
Karuna said in court that the government, through Permanent Secretary for Defense Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR is a retired officer of the Sri Lanka Army and the current Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka. After serving through the early parts of the country's civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, he retired from the Army in 1992...
, had given him the passport. On January 25, 2008 he was sentenced to nine months in prison. He was transferred to an immigration detention centre in May 2008.
A number of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups, led by Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, urged the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
to investigate Karuna for war crimes including torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, hostage-taking and recruitment of child soldiers. The Met Police did not respond and Karuna was deported back to Sri Lanka on 3 July 2008.
External links
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7657668.stm
- Official Party Website
- Voice of East
- BBC interview with Karuna 4 March 2007
- Interview with Karuna, Asian Tribune
- BBC profile of Colonel Karuna, BBC News, March 5, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2007
- "US slams police, Karuna, LTTE", BBC News, March 10, 2006. Retrieved April 6, 2007
- "A documentary about Col. Karuna", Video Documentary about Col. Karuna