Firing up the east over
Karuna-Pillayan battle

By Dashrath

The putsch within the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) came out in to the open last week in the wake of a controversial statement made by its Leader V. Muralitharan alias Karuna at Temple Trees last Tuesday (21).

TMVP Leader and newly elected Parliamentarian Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman had said last Tuesday that there was no necessity for police powers to the Eastern Province and what was needed was development. This statement had surprised the TMVP, which said that all powers should be devolved at provincial level.

This resulted in the TMVP General Secretary E. Kaileswararaja writing to Karuna, demanding an explanation as to why he had made that statement when the party he leads has a different view.

On Friday, October 17, Karuna loyalists reportedly barged into the TMVP head office, Meenagam and the adjoining press down Govindan Road, Batticaloa and had taken over the place while 'arresting' a few Pillayan supporters.

Tense situation

The press is used to publish the newspaper Tamil Alai run by the TMVP. The newspaper, which was earlier run by Karuna loyalists, was run by Pillayan cadres following Karuna's departure to the UK. Reports from the area said that a tense situation prevailed during the day. The situation however was brought under control the following day where that Karuna cadres had left the office premises.

The conflict within the TMVP is nothing new. It has been evident on several occasions in the past as well. Karuna and the current Eastern Province Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan were at loggerheads due to financial issues of the party before the former left for the UK.

The tension was kept under wraps by the TMVP.

Last year saw several clashes between Pillayan and Karuna loyalists in Batticaloa which resulted in many of the Karuna supporters being 'detained' by Pillayan. Pillayan had reportedly taken over almost all of Karuna's offices. This too was denied by the TMVP.

Not on good terms

The name Karuna Amman was not in the limelight as far as the TMVP was concerned for at least one year after he had left for the UK. Pillayan was recognised as the leader of the party. Despite reports that Karuna and Pillayan were not on good terms, the TMVP constantly said that Karuna was the leader of the party and Pillayan his deputy.

Following Karuna's arrival in Sri Lanka last June, the scenario changed dramatically with the attention shifting more towards Karuna. Though there were no clashes or confrontations reported due to the feud within the TMVP, there was always a doubt on how both would work together after Pillayan was made Chief Minister of the Eastern Province.

Karuna however said that he will continue to be the leader and would not interfere with the work of the Chief Minister. Little did we know at the time though that he would soon be made a lawmaker of the country.

Today however the gloves are off and the party has openly shown its displeasure over Karuna's remarks of not wanting police powers for the Eastern Province. TMVP Spokesperson Azath Moulana said that the party is 'shocked' to hear the statements made by Karuna Amman and considered it to be his personal view and not of the party.

This tension between the two loyalists have so far not affected the civilians directly. Though there was tension in Batticaloa when the TMVP press was taken over by Karuna cadres, no civilians were targeted or affected due to the feud.

The police have said that it had taken appropriate action to make sure the situation was brought back to normal.

Private issue

So far, the police had not taken anyone into custody on the TMVP press issue. Police Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekara said that it was a private issue concerning the TMVP and there was no violence reported.

The duty of the police is not limited to look into problems as and when incidents happen. It is also their duty to make sure that incidents of this sort in the future do not affect normal civilian life. "We cannot forecast about the future," says the Police Spokesperson. It seems that the police has still not taken steps to protect civilians from the internal feuds of armed groups functioning in the area. These former LTTE cadres are still armed to the teeth and roam freely.

The east is a sensitive region, being the home of all three communities. So far, there have been no communal clashes in the region.

The only time there were clashes were when there was confusion as to who would be appointed the chief minister of the east. The confusion began when Pillayan and M.L.A.M Hisbullah both claimed they will be appointed chief minister, following the UPFA victory at the Eastern Provincial Council polls on May 10.

It however turned out that Pillayan was appointed the chief minister with word in the grapevine being that India was in favour of Pillayan's appointment. Even after the appointment however there were clashes between the Tamils and the Muslims. The clashes were so intense that Tamils who were passing Muslim areas were stoned and vice versa. Both parties amicably settled the issue subsequently. Thankfully, no issues have cropped up since.

Different situation

Today, the situation has slightly changed and we find conflicts of opinion within the same party, the TMVP. Though this would not create ethnic disharmony in the region, it will definitely have an impact on the civilians who are now getting used to the environment after the east was liberated from the Tigers. The east may be liberated from the Tigers but the fact is that the guns continue to speak louder.

And how serious a crisis it is turning out to be is reflected in the planned October 26 anti Indian protest in Batticaloa led by Karuna who is now the government's point man for the east.

While Karuna has called on all Tamil parties and civilians to join in the protest, Chief Minister Pillayan and his supporters in addition to the likes of Anandasangaree of the TULF and the EPRLF have made it known they will have nothing to do with any anti Indian protests.

However Karuna was determined to proceed with the protest using full state security and this on the eve of Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapakse's visit to India is bound to add a new dimension to the crisis.