Karuna group well protected by authorities – SLMM

As ‘insecurity’ in East intensifies

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has warned of growing insecurity in the Eastern Province owing to the atrocities of the Karuna faction—also known as the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)—which included killing, abductions, and the extortion of money from local businesses in the province.

The SLMM, however, noted that despite the growing insecurity in these areas, “The TMVP/Karuna group was well protected by the authorities and thus even the police are reluctant to pursue them in certain areas.”
The mission, in its weekly report, disclosed that for the last week alone (September 10 – 16) six persons, including several minors, had been abducted by the TMVP, while another 14 year old boy had gone missing in Trincomalee. The boy’s whereabouts are still not known.

The SLMM had received three complaints regarding alleged abductions by the TMVP group by the week ending September 16.

According to the complaints, on September 13, an Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) member (27) was assassinated in Valachchenai while he was distributing news handouts. He was reportedly killed by the TMVP group.

On September 11, four youths (age 14-20) were reportedly abducted by the TMVP group. The complainant claimed they would be held until six missing TMVP cadres were returned.

On September 13, a man was reported abducted by an armed group in a white van and taken to the TMVP office in Trincomalee where the victim was assaulted and threatened with death. Although he was later released, he had reportedly received threats from the TMVP group afterwards.

On September 14, the TMVP group reportedly abducted a boy (16) in Sinnathotam, Ampara; they refused to release him, claiming he had been recruited.
“The TMVP/Karuna group is reportedly well protected by the authorities and the police are reluctant to pursue them in certain areas,” the SLMM said in its report.
Meanwhile, during the previous SLMM weekly report, which ended on September 9, the mission emphasized the growing insecurity in the province.

For that week alone a total of seven abductions were reported to the mission.
“In the area west of Batticaloa people are still afraid, and refrain from going outside at night,” it was stated in the report.

During the week that ended on the 9th, seven people were abducted, two reportedly by the TMVP. Six people previously reported abducted were released in the same period.
The SLMM had received a further three complaints on abductions, all pointing out the TMVP as the perpetrator.

(www.nation.lk)