LTTE suspects army link in Batticaloa Killings - By D. B. S. Jeyaraj

The mysterious yet gruesomekilling of seven Tiger cadres - four of them disabled - by a group of "unknown" assassins on the night of Sunday, April 25 in Batticaloa has received widespread condemnation.

Though a concerted campaign is on to pin the blame on the renegade Tiger faction led by former LTTE eastern commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna for these killings, the LTTE is not rushing to do so.

While the Tigers have not ruled out the involvement of cadres belonging to Karuna's group in the killing, the LTTE is looking at other possible alternatives too instead of buying the glib explanation trotted out by interested parties.

One line of thought is that the killing could be the work of other ex-militant Tamil groups functioning as para-militaries in the east under army auspices. The other of course is that remnants of Karuna's forces now under army protection could have done so. The third is that it was a combined operation undertaken by erstwhile Karuna followers, ex - militant cadres and military intelligence operatives.

The perpetrators of these killings are only perceived as 'instruments.' The sinister hand of the army, presumably its military intelligence division, is suspected to be behind the crime.

The LTTE cancelled a scheduled meeting between the military top brass and the eastern Tiger hierarchy led by Karuna's successor Col. Ramesh Thambirajah on April 28th night.

Detailed complaint

Instead a detailed complaint was provided to Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Head Gen. Trond Furuhovde by LTTE political wing chief S.P. Tamilselvan at a meeting held on April 29 at Kilinochchi.

Though the LTTE was unable to pinpoint the culprits specifically, the Tigers were able to convey their seemingly well-founded suspicions.

Apart from asking the SLMM to take up this issue in detail with the government, the LTTE also promised to provide the monitors with all updated information on the subject as and when they get them. Apparently a team of LTTE intelligence operatives is currently engaged in unravelling the mystery behind the killings.

Even before meeting the SLMM Chief, Tamilselvan had written to him complaining about the incident and describing it as a ceasefire violation.

There is a contradiction here. When the LTTE launched a full scale attack on Karuna and his followers several ceasefire provisions were violated in letter and spirit.

Around 175 of Karuna's cadres were massacred in Verugal, Vaaharai, Kattumurivukkulam and Kathiravely.

Around 90 Tigers who fought on the side of Karuna and later surrendered to the LTTE have been taken to the Wanni for intensive interrogation by Pottu Amman's intelligence wing. Five of these were senior deputies of Karuna.

The LTTE is also engaged in a massive campaign to compel ex-Karuna cadres to re-join the movement.

A witch hunt has also been launched to arrest those civilians supporting Karuna and indulging in acts like burning effigies and destroying pictures etc.

The SLMM that kept mum and accepted the LTTE version that the Karuna affair was an internal matter not concerning the monitors at the time of conflict is keeping quiet even now about those matters.

A different set of standards however for the seven LTTE cadreskilled by unknown persons. There is no doubt that the killings were horrible and the perpetrators deserve punishment.

It is the SLMM attitude that is hypocritical. Any complaint by the LTTE is given full attention. Any complaint against the LTTE is neglected. The LTTE is to be kept happy no matter what the cost.

In the perennial struggle between the powerful and the powerless there is no doubt as to which side of the battle lines the monitors are on. This stems not because of the fault of the individual monitors themselves but due to a fundamental conflict of interests facing Oslo the mediator and Oslo the monitor.

The contrasting response of the SLMM to these killings and towards other incidents cannot take away the fact that Sunday's killings were indeed brutal and despicable.

According to the information available a bunch of assassins numbering seven (two in sarong, two in civvies, three in uniform) had proceeded from the direction of the Vavunatheevu army camp on the Aayithiyamalai road in a white van.

Vavunatheevu is on the western shore of the Batticaloa lagoon. Three Tigers manning the sentry post about 800 metres from the army camp forward line were shot dead. The sentry post was at a place called Puliyam- adhu near the Mullamunai junction.

Known Tiger

The three Tigers killed were Nadarasa Suresh alias Capt. Thiyaneswaran of Eravur; Lieut. Sellathurai Jaseetharan alias Thanesan of Mankerni; Second Lt. Sethunathapillai Pirabhu alias Selvaveeran of Sittandy. They were shot dead at point blank range.

It is assumed that someone known to the dead cadres had been in the van and that the Tigers had no reason to suspect anything till the killings began. Interestingly all seven cadres killed had been with Karuna during the split and later rejoined the movement. These killings took place at about 11. 35 p.m.

Thereafter the vehicle had proceeded along the Aayithiyamalai Road till it reached what was known as the Maayawaadi camp. The place belonged to a landowner known as Mayappodi and was known as Mayaa's Wadi.The nearby village is Ponnankanichenai.

This was about five kilometers from the Vavunatheevu camp. While two old men working as civilian watchers ran away, the assailants shot dead the four Tiger cadresat the site. Those killed were all disabled due to the war.

The Mayawadi camp had been an agricultural farm cum tax collection centre before the Karuna crisis erupted. It was also a rehabilitation centre for Tiger cadres maimed or disabled in the war. It had been a pet project ofKaruna himself. Even computers had been installed here.

When the attack took place only four cadres were staying there. The others had dispersed after Karuna disbanded his units and vacated the Batticaloa District.

The four persons killed by the assassins were Capt. Sasikumar or Kanapathipillai Thiruppatham from Periyaporatheev, Capt. Vaamakaanth or Ganesan Linganathan from Kiran; Lt. Vinoranjan or Selliah Mohanraj of Senkalladdy and Second Lt. Tharanan or Theivanayagam Santhirakumar of Aayithiyamalai.

Sasikumar and Vaamakaanth had lost both legs; Vinoranjan was blind in both eyes while Tharanan had lost one leg.

Vaamakaanth was from Krishnan Kovil Street in Kiran, the native place of Karuna himself. Vaamakaanth was a particular favourite of Karuna. He was a very good writer in Tamil and had authored several articles, short stories, plays , poems etc. for various Tiger media organs over the past years. He was also well versed in computers.

Apart from killing the four Tigers, the assassins had damaged 10 tractors, three motor cycles, one threshing machine and other agricultural equipment. They also damaged the computers and set fire to some buildings. The assassins left the place around 12. 30 a.m.

"Credible evidence"

The vehicle had returned the way it came and allegedly went out of sight in the vicinity of the army camp at Vavunatheevu.

The LTTE apparently has "credible evidence" of army complicity in the attack. They are still not sure of who exactly did the killings but are sure that they were "Tamil men" in league with the military.

There are three ex-militant groups now working with the army in Batticaloa as para-militaries or intelligence operatives. They are the Varathan group of TELO; Razeek group of EPRLF; and the Mohan group of the PLOTE.

Varathan and Razeek were killed by the LTTE but members continue to function. Mohan was moved to a South East Asian country by military intelligence to protect him after the ceasefire. His group is the deadliest of all three factions.

The LTTE targeted some of these men in the East and in Colombo after the ceasefire. These men along with the Mahattaya group comprise the nucleus of hit squads known as deep penetration squads or long range reconnaissance patrols.

The Mahattaya group consists of about 40 to 50 ex-Tiger cadres who surrendered to the army at various stages after former LTTE deputy leader Gopalswamy Mahendrarajah alias Mahattaya was detained and executed by the LTTE on charges of treason.

A witch hunt was conducted on a staggered basis against those cadre considered to be Mahattaya loyalists. Some escaped and went over to the enemy.

The state kept the Mahattaya group a closely guarded secret in view of its utility value and in the interests of their security.

The LTTE also did not publicise it because it was considered a "shame" for the Tigers that members of such a disciplined group could join the armed forces.

Most of the deep penetration squad hits in the north were done by the Mahattaya group while those in the east were done by the Mohan, Razeek and Varathan groups.

Logistical support

Though several "persons" in the south claim credit for these successes the actual risks and work was done by the Tamil groups. Those who provided logistical support now pretend to be the real McCoys for reasons of their own.

After Karuna's debacle several of his cadres took refuge in military camps in the east and Polonnaruwa District. Some of these men are being moulded into a new group known as Karuna group.

Karuna reportedly is not with these men but staying elsewhere in the south with around 150 men.

The LTTE suspects that the Maayawaadi killings were done by members of the ex-militant groups or the Karuna group or both.

Whatever the identities of the actual perpetrators, the Tigers regard the army or its military intelligence division as being responsible. Geographically it is impossible for anyone to pass through that road without the army knowing, alleges the LTTE. It also dismisses charges against the Karuna group alone.

"We are afraid that putting aside this incident as one carried out by elements closer to Karuna may be too simplistic. Making use of the Karuna factor, any para-military groups working alongside the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), whether with the blessing of the SLA or otherwise, may continue to act in this manner and create havoc and confusion" wrote Tamilselvan to the SLMM.

The army has officially denied any involvement in the incident. Military Spokesperson Col. Sumedha Perera has pointed out that the killings took place in Tiger controlled territory and not in government controlled areas.

This revives earlier memories of killings by the LTTE in government controlled areas after the ceasefire. Tamilselvan disclaimed responsibility then and said the killings had not occurred in LTTE territory. What was sauce for the goose then is now sauce for the gander.

The LTTE suspects that a campaign is on to create an impression that a massive confrontation is going on between Karuna's men and the LTTE in all parts of the island.

There have been several incidents in the recent past.One Tamil from Naavatkudah in Batticaloa died in a mysterious explosion in Kurunegala; two youths from Valaichenai and Eravur were shot dead by unknown persons in Maligawatte, Colombo. One died and the other is hospitalised.

Deliberate pattern

In another incident, a man and his wife were hacked with swords in Kallady, Batticaloa. The 53 year old man was a draftsman in the Irrigation Department and staying with his wife in the irrigation quarters. They were from Jaffna. The woman was the sister of former LTTE leader Kumarappah who at one time was Batticaloa Tiger commander.

The LTTE thinks there is a deliberate pattern to all these incidents including the Maayawaadi killings. The Tigers believe a sinister plot is being hatched to provoke them into rash action. Only time will tell whether LTTE suspicions are true or not.

LTTE political head for Batticaloa and Amparai, Kausalyan has issued a vehement denial to news reports that there was a shoot out between Karuna's cadres and the LTTE in the Thoppigala jungles. He says that Karuna has no one of any consequence with him who is knowledgeable of the jungle routes known as the Beirut trail.

It may also be that the LTTE is 'shy' to admit that segments of Karuna forces are alive and kicking in the Tharavai-Kudumbimalai-Vadamunai jungles.

For one thing the LTTE boasted that Karuna was a single man and that he was now isolated; Tiger propagandists claimed that Karuna and his men were terrorised by special Tiger forces who attacked and then melted back to the Wanni.

One story is about how the special forces penetrated Thoppigala and did two strikes near Karuna's secret camp. Apparently these made Karuna panic and throw in the towel. If this is indeed true, the simple question demanding an answer is the reason for not eliminating Karuna then and there instead of scaring him.

The LTTE also claimed that all of Karuna's cadres had deserted him and joined the LTTE again. This again is not true. Only about 600 to 800 cadres have rejoined the LTTE. The rest numbering around 3500 to 4000 have returned home, fled elsewhere, gone with Karuna or taken refuge in army camps. The Tigers are now trying to reinduct cadres.

LTTE propagandists also spread stories of Karuna fleeing to Australia. Tiger radio stated firmly that Karuna was now in Brisbane.

The truth is that the LTTE hierarchy simply does not know where Karuna is now.

Internal matter

To admit that and the fact that some members at least of the Karuna faction have taken to arms against the parent body is infra dig for the LTTE. Besides if recent developments are indeed intra-Tiger friction then the SLMM cannot be asked to intervene in an internal LTTE matter. It may also encourage further dissension in Batticaloa.

The LTTE also suspects that deep penetration squads will start targeting LTTE leaders again. The explanation will be that Karuna's men are doing so.

The LTTE and Karuna averted a lot of bloodshed by coming to an agreement to end the fighting. It appears now that both sides had ulterior motives for doing so. Bloodshed in installments is on the cards.

In any event the LTTE is of the view that Karuna has forfeited any right to clemency after the murders of LTTE intelligence personnel in his custody including Lt. Col Neelan Sinnathamby. Karuna was required to release them without harm.

The LTTE is now going all out for Karuna. At the same time the Tigers will not fail to avenge the killings of the seven in Batticaloa.

The recent editorial of the London based Tamil Guardian dated April 28th indicates the LTTE mindset. Relevant excerpts sound ominous indeed!

"The SLA's claim that Karuna loyalists are responsible for the attack, meanwhile, must be viewed in the light of the Sri Lankan government providing sanctuary for the renegade commander and his associates. Karuna's own cold-blooded killing of several LTTE intelligence officers before his flight from Batticaloa has already placed him beyond the pale, as far as the Tamil people are concerned. Colombo's sanctuary and the attack on Sunday must therefore be viewed in the light of the LTTE's warning soon after Karuna's rebellion began: 'We should let it be known to his contacts that they will cause irreparable damage to the peace process if they exploit Karuna's dissent.'

"As such, the ramifications of the attack go beyond the seven deaths. Those seeking to provoke a vehement reaction from the LTTE are deliberately seeking to reignite a cycle of violence which will eventually plunge the island back into a bloody war. The revulsion and outrage Sunday's killings have sparked in the Tamil community and, no doubt, in the LTTE is no less for recognition of their purpose. As this newspaper and other advocates of a negotiated solution have repeatedly argued, it is in the volatile Eastern Province that agent provocateurs have the greatest chance of success. Conscious of the objective of Sunday's attack, the LTTE is, for now, raising the matter through the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). Having said that, of course, those familiar with the LTTE's ethos on such matters know full well that the file on this matter will remain open for a long time. That four particularly helpless cadres who were amongst the victims will give particular impetus to its closure."