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Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)[1][2] (Tamil: தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகள், English: Tamil Peoples Liberation Tigers) also know as Karuna Group is a political party and paramilitary[3] group in Sri Lanka. The group is believed to be working with the Sri Lankan army[4]. They have been accused of recruiting children to combat the LTTE and for violating human rights.
[edit] History[edit] Break up with the LTTEThe break-up between the LTTE and the Batticaloa-based Karuna group happened during 2004.[5]Together with Indian-based Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front, TVMP has formed Tamileela Iykkiya Viduthalai Munnani as a united front. The purported aim and the motive of the party are to safeguard the rights of Tamils within the district of Batticaloa. The party president has consented his willingness to contest the forthcoming elections, and to enter the democratic political process.[6] Karuna led a split in LTTE in 2003, breaking away a chunk of the organization in the eastern part of Sri Lanka and adding another organization to the long-running Sri Lankan civil war. The president of TMVP was Kumaraswamy Nandagopan[7] until he was assassinated in November 2008[8] and the general secretary G.E. Gnanarajah. The third in command is Mangalan Master[9] The group is believed to be working with the Sri Lankan army[4]. They have been actively recruiting children to combat the LTTE and have committed many human rights violations. [10] [edit] Internal affairsThe TMVP has been affected by internal struggles between Colonel Karuna and Pillaiyan. Small skirmishes broke out between the Pillaiyan and Karuna factions with some fatalities in May 2007[11], October 2007[12], and in May 2008. However, Dheeban the Trincomalee district leader of the TMVP, denied a split claiming "the split between Karuna and Pillaiyan is a mere media fabrication"[13]. In mid-October 2008, Karuna cadres ransacked the office of Pillaiyan, leading to government consternation and intervention[14]. That same week, the Karuna faction took over the "Thamil Alai" newspaper, the organ of the TMVP, which had been run by Pillaiyan in Karuna's abscence[15]. However in late October, Karuna "made it a point to emphasise that there were no differences between them"[16] [edit] Human Rights Violations[edit] General Rights ViolationsThe group has been accused by Human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and NGOs of recruiting children , torture, assassinations and engaging in extortion in its war against the LTTE. Human Rights Watch has claimed that from June 2006 to December 2006 they have forcefully recruited several hundred children [10][17][18]. TMVP was also involved in kidnappings for ransom of wealthy, predominantly Tamil, businessmen to raise money in Colombo and other towns. Some businessmen were killed because their family could not pay the ransom. Media has reported that these abductions were linked to the Security forces in these abductions, either directly facilitating them or providing a cover and not taking any action against them. One such abducted man reported that while he was being transported, from his workplace in Colombo, his abduction vehicle came across Army checkpoints but was not rescued. [19] RSF (Reporters Without Borders), has accused the TMVP of acting as death squads to muzzling local journalists and to silence those who oppose his point of view. [20]. The group is also accused of taking part in death squad activity against civilians[21] [edit] Connection with the Sri Lankan StateThe group is also believed to be actively working with the Sri Lankan Army. According to Human Rights Watch in one incident, the children who were abducted by the TMVP cadres were being held in a store across a Sri Lankan military camp. The parents of the abducted children pleaded with the military but no actions were taken. It was reported that two army men talked to the TMVP cadres and then walked away [4]. Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch said, “The government is fully aware of the abductions but allows them to happen because it’s eager for an ally against the Tamil Tigers”. The Human Rights Watch further added that it would be impossible to transport abducted children without the complicity of the Sri Lankan Army. In addition, civilians claimed seeing many TMVP cadres at Army checkpoints and claimed that they checked ID's of the people. [22]. The Human Rights Watch further claimed that they saw a top Karuna Eastern commander riding atop an army personnel carrier. They also claimed that Armed Karuna cadre openly roamed the streets in Batticaloa district in sight of security forces, and in some cases they jointly patrolled with the police. [19].According to UTHR, a locl Human rights organization, two children who escaped from the TMVP later surrendred to the Sri Lankan Army. The children were taken back to the TMVP camp by the Sri Lankan Army and was later beaten to death. [23]. Another such incident happened in Trincomalee where the abducted children by the TMVP were taken to a Sri Lankan Navy check point. Soon the Sri Lankan Navy personnel came on motorcycles and escorted the Karuna men and their abducted children to the TMVP office. TMVP has also been alleged to have killed INGO workers. Ragunathan Ramalingam, a worker for the International INGO (World Concern), was asked to come to a Navy checkpoint. He was shot dead when he reached the check point. [24]. SLMM claimed that they saw TMVP pass through a chekpoint unchecked. It claimed that a white van, belonging to TMVP cadres, was transporting two 15 year old boys and four armed civilians passed through an Army check point unchecked. However, the police maintned that they were instructed to check all vehicles and arrest any armed civilians[25]. [edit] Political[edit] Batticaloa local council elections, March 2008The local council elections of the Batticaloa district was held on March 10, 2008 after 10 years. The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) party won all the 9 councils with 70% of high majority of votes also the polling reported as peaceful. The Batticaloa town was the only local council that TMVP contested under the banner of ruling United People's Freedom Alliance.[26] The largest Tamil party Tamil National Alliance totally boycotting these polls. United National party (UNP) also boycotted the polls by telling candidates not to run but some UNP candidates names' showed up on the voting list. Both groups claim unfair elections took place. TNA claimed it wasn't safe for them to operate in the east because the TMVP group was armed. TMVP threatened TNA MP's and also captured alive family members of TNA MP prior to the elections. Human rights groups claim that TMVP used violence before the election and therefore the elections were "tainted". An independent candidate also claimed that people voted out of fear for the TMVP.[26] [edit] Eastern Provincial Council elections, May 2008The Eastern Provincial Council elections was held on May 10, 2008. The 37 member provincial council election won by the ruling UPFA with the highest number of 20 seats, UNP 15 seats, JVP and other Tamil party 1 each. The TMVP members were contested under the UPFA banner and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) members contested under the UNP banner. The present TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan has gained the highest number of 41,936 preferential votes from Batticaloa district.[27][28] [edit] See also[edit] References
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