From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
Tamil Peoples Liberation Tigers Operation Poomalai · Indo-Sri Lanka Accord · Indian
Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal Peace Keeping Force · Operation Pawan · Rajiv Gandhi ·
Tamil name தமிழ் மக்கள் RAW
விடுதைலப்புலிகள் Militant & paramilitary groups
Leader Pillaiyan Tamil militant groups (List) · ENDLF · ENLF · EPDP ·
EPRLF · EROS · PLOTE · TELO · TMVP
Founder Karuna Amman
Other
Secretary E. S. Kaileswararajah
Battles · Casualties · War crimes · LLRC · State terror ·
Founded 2004 Human rights · Disappearances · Child soldiers · Assas-
sinations · Protests (Canada)
Split from Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)[1][2] (Tamil:
Preceded by Karuna Group
தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதைலப்புலிகள், English: Tamil
Headquarters 2 Anderawatta Road, Polhengoda, Peoples Liberation Tigers previously known as the
Tigers),
Colombo 05
Karuna Group",
"Karuna Group is a political party in Sri Lanka. It was
National United People’s Freedom Alliance formed by Karuna Amman, a former leader of the Lib-
affiliation eration Tigers of Tamil Eelam, after he defected from
Election symbol
the organization in 2004. Initially a paramilitary group
that helped the Sri Lankan Government fight the Tamil
Boat Tigers, the TMVP was registered as a political party in
Politics of Sri Lanka 2007. Under deputy leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakan-
Political parties than, they contested their first provincial elections in
Elections 2008, winning a majority in the Eastern Provincial Coun-
cil. Members of the TMVP continue to carry arms under
Sri Lankan Civil War the auspices of the Sri Lankan government, which they
(1983–2009) claim is for their own safety from the Tamil Tigers, who
Background carry out repeated attacks against them.[3] The group is
believed to be working with the Sri Lankan army.[4] They
Sri Lanka · History of Sri Lanka
have been accused of human rights violation by local and
Origins of the Civil War international human rights organization.[5]
Origins of the Civil War · Sri Lankan Tamil national-
ism · Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism · Riots · Black July History
Main phases
The break-up between the LTTE and the Batticaloa-based
Eelam War I · Indian intervention · Eelam War II · Ee- Karuna group occurred in March 2004.[6] Karuna and oth-
lam War III · Eelam War IV ers felt that Prabhakaran had become a dictator of a state
LTTE that used Northern Tamils to oppress the Eastern
LTTE (Divisions) · Black Tigers · Attacks · Expulsion of Tamils[7] and that Eastern Tamils were not given due
Muslims · Suicide bombings recognition for "laying down their lives in dispropor-
tionate numbers for the northern leadership".[8] Togeth-
Military of Sri Lanka
er with Indian-based Eelam National Democratic Libera-
Military · Civilian attacks · Army · Navy · Air Force · Po- tion Front, TVMP has formed Tamileela Iykkiya Vidutha-
lice · Home Guards · LRRP · STF lai Munnani as a united front. The purported aim and the
Major leaders motive of the party are to safeguard the rights of Tamils
M. Rajapaksa · V. Prabhakaran · C. Kumaratunga · A. within the Eastern Province.[9]
Balasingham · J. R. Jayewardene · Karuna The president of TMVP was Kumaraswamy
Nandagopan[10] until he was assassinated in November
Indian involvement 2008[11] and the general secretary G.E. Gnanarajah. The
third in command is Mangalan Master[12]
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
Since its formation, the group worked with the Sri
Lankan army to combat the Tamil Tigers.[4] They have
Human Rights Violations
been accused of using children to combat the LTTE and
have allegedly committed human rights violations in the General Rights Violations
East of the island.[13] The TMVP, in conjunction with the The group has been accused the Human rights organiza-
Government of Sri Lanka on December 1, 2008 signed an tions Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and
action plan stating that they would cease the recruitment NGOs of recruiting children, torture, assassinations and
of child soldiers and that they would also release from engaging in extortion in its war against the LTTE. Human
combat all child soldiers.[14] Rights Watch claimed that from June 2006 to December
2006 they have forcefully recruited several hundred chil-
dren .[13][28][29] The TMVP has also been accused of being
Internal affairs involved in kidnappings for ransom of wealthy, predom-
inantly Tamil, businessmen to raise money in Colombo
Internal struggles and other towns. Some businessmen were allegedly
The TMVP has been affected by internal struggles be- killed because their family could not pay the ransom.[30]
tween Colonel Karuna and Pillaiyan. Small skirmishes Media has reported that these abductions were linked to
broke out between the Pillaiyan and Karuna factions with the Security forces in these abductions, either directly fa-
some fatalities in May 2007,[15] October 2007,[16] and in cilitating them or providing a cover and not taking any
May 2008. However, Dheeban the Trincomalee district action against them.[30] One such abducted man alleged
leader of the TMVP, denied a split claiming "the split that while he was being transported, from his workplace
between Karuna and Pillaiyan is a mere media fabrica- in Colombo, his abduction vehicle came across Army
tion".[17] checkpoints but was not rescued.[30]
In mid-October 2008, Karuna cadres ransacked the In 2006, the Tamil Human Rights group UTHR also ac-
office of Pillaiyan, leading to government consternation cused the TMVP of taking part in death squad activity
and intervention.[18] That same week, the Karuna faction against civilians[31]
took over the "Thamil Alai" newspaper, the organ of the
TMVP, which had been run by Pillaiyan in Karuna’s ab- Connection with the Sri Lankan State
sence.[19] However in late October, Karuna "made it a The group is also believed to be actively working with
point to emphasise that there were no differences be- the Sri Lankan Army. According to Human Rights Watch
tween them".[20] Due to the internecine feuds between in one incident, the children who were abducted by the
varying factions of the TMVP, the Government of Sri Lan- TMVP cadres were being held in a store across a Sri
ka has decided it would begin the disarmament of the Lankan military camp. The parents of the abducted chil-
feuding groups in early 2009.[21] As tensions flared up in dren pleaded with the military but no actions were taken.
late 2009, the government began putting restrictions on It was reported that two army men talked to the TMVP
the placement of TMVP political signs in cities of the East cadres and then walked away .[4] Brad Adams, Asia di-
of Sri Lanka[22] rector at Human Rights Watch said, “The government is
fully aware of the abductions but allows them to happen
Proposed name change because it’s eager for an ally against the Tamil Tigers”.
"Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Koddani" (Koodani meaning The Human Rights Watch further added that it would be
alliance) is a new Tamil political party in Sri Lanka that impossible to transport abducted children without the
has been proposed by Colonel Karuna, as either a splinter complicity of the Sri Lankan Army. In addition, civilians
group of,[23] or a new name for the Tamil Makkal claimed seeing many TMVP cadres at Army checkpoints
Viduthalai Pulikal. However, Sivanesathurai Chan- and claimed that they checked ID’s of the people.[32] The
drakanthan has denied that this has proposed, stating Human Rights Watch further claimed that they saw a top
"When I met him (Karuna) and asked about this, he said Karuna Eastern commander riding atop an army person-
that there was no such thing".[24] The name change has nel carrier. They also claimed that Armed Karuna cadre
been floated around because Karuna and related figures openly roamed the streets in Batticaloa district in sight of
feel the word "Puligal" meaning Tiger, implies associa- security forces, and in some cases they jointly patrolled
tion with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.[25] The with the police.[33] According to UTHR, a local Human
TMVP 11 member politburo is currently deliberating on rights organization, two children who escaped from the
the issue, with Karuna threatening to start the new party TMVP later surrendered to the Sri Lankan Army. The
if it is not approved.[26] However Karuna spokesman D. children were taken back to the TMVP camp allegedly by
Kamalanathan denied both that a name change would the Sri Lankan Army and was later beaten to death.[34]
take place and that there was a rift within the party, at- Another such incident happened in Trincomalee where
tributing the rumours to those against the TMVP[27] the abducted children by the TMVP were taken to a Sri
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
Lankan Navy check point. Soon the Sri Lankan Navy per-
sonnel came on motorcycles and escorted the Karuna
See also
men and their abducted children to the TMVP office. • Military use of children in Sri Lanka
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
References
checkpoint. He was allegedly shot dead when he reached [1] "Ex-Tamil Tigers win local polls". BBC News. March
the check point.[35] SLMM claimed that they saw TMVP 11, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/
pass through a checkpoint unchecked. It claimed that a 7288942.stm. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
white van, belonging to TMVP cadres, was transporting [2] http://www.slelections.gov.lk/lauthorities/
two 15 year old boys and four armed civilians passed 2006_results/
through an Army check point unchecked. However, the KORALEPATTU_PRADESHIYA_SABHA.html
police maintained that they were instructed to check all [3] TMVP president shot dead BBC News - November
vehicles and arrest any armed civilians.[36] 14, 2008
[4] ^ "Sri Lanka: Karuna Group Abducts Children for
Combat", Human Rights Watch, August 9, 2007,
Political http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/01/24/
slanka15141.htm
Batticaloa local council elections, March [5] Renegade sworn in as Sri Lanka MP BBC BBC News -
2008 October 8, 2008
The local council elections of the Batticaloa district was [6] "Abuses during armed conflict", Human Rights
held on March 10, 2008 after 10 years. The Tamil Makkal Watch (1(C)), August 9, 2007, http://hrw.org/
Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) party won all the 9 councils englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/slanka14837.htm
with 70% of high majority of votes also the polling re- [7] Ex-Tigers vow to keep up attacks Taipei Times -
ported as peaceful. The Batticaloa town was the only lo- June 30, 2006
cal council that TMVP contested under the banner of rul- [8] Tigers tear each other apart The Guardian - May 7,
ing United People’s Freedom Alliance.[37] 2006
The largest Tamil party Tamil National Alliance total- [9] A date with a renegade rebel Tiger
ly boycotting these polls. United National party (UNP) al- [10] We need police powers - TMVP BBC - October 23,
so boycotted the polls by telling candidates not to run 2008
but some UNP candidates names’ showed up on the vot- [11] Top TMVP member shot dead in Sri Lanka The
ing list. Both groups claim unfair elections took place. Hindu - November 14, 2008
TNA claimed it wasn’t safe for them to operate in the [12] Kamalendran, Chris (July 6, 2008), "Pillayan ready
east because the TMVP group was armed. TMVP threat- to make way for Karuna", The Sunday Times,
ened TNA MP’s and also captured alive family members http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080706/News/
of TNA MP prior to the elections. Human rights groups timesnews003.html
claim that TMVP used violence before the election and [13] ^ "Sri Lanka", Human Rights Watch, August 9, 2007,
therefore the elections were "tainted". An independent http://hrw.org/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/
candidate also claimed that people voted out of fear for slanka14837.htm
the TMVP.[37] [14] Mullathivu vulnerable: Colombo The Hindu -
December 5, 2008
Eastern Provincial Council elections, [15] Karuna continues to threaten Editor, Asian Tribune
Asian Tribune - June 11, 2007
May 2008 [16] Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province tense due to internal
Main article: Sri Lanka Eastern Provincial Council elec- clashes of the paramilitaries Colombo Page -
tions, 2008 October 17, 2007
The Eastern Provincial Council elections was held on May [17] Karuna ’still our leader’ - TMVP BBC News -
10, 2008. The 37 member provincial council election won December 7, 2007
by the ruling UPFA with the highest number of 20 seats, [18] Karuna pulls ‘puli’ out of party Sunday Times.lk -
UNP 15 seats, JVP and other Tamil party 1 each. The October 19, 2008
TMVP members were contested under the UPFA banner [19] Karuna ’seizes’ TMVP newspaper SiberNews -
and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) members con- October 18, 2008
tested under the UNP banner. The present TMVP leader [20] In the east, a fragile peace India Today - October 31,
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan has gained 2008
the highest number of 41,936 preferential votes from Bat- [21] TMVP to be disarmed Daily Mirror - December 28,
ticaloa district.[38][39] 2008
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
[22] Pillayan-Karuna clash intensifies in East The [32] "Complicity in crimes" (PDF), Human Rights Watch
Sunday Times - September 20, 2009 (1(C)), August 9, 2007, http://hrw.org/reports/
[23] Karuna Drops ‘Pulikal’ Sri Lanka Army - December 2007/srilanka0107/srilanka0107web.pdf
23, 2008 [33] "Impunity reigns", Human Rights Watch (1(C)),
[24] TMVP name stands says Pillayan Lanka Times - August 9, 2007, http://hrw.org/reports/2007/
December 23, 2008 srilanka0807/1.htm#_Toc173322236
[25] TMVP to drop ‘Tiger’ label Sunday Observer - [34] "UTHR". University Teachers for Human Rights
October 12, 2008 (UTHR). 9 August 2007. http://www.uthr.org/
[26] Karuna Amman to register new party? Daily Mirror bulletins/bul42.htm.
- December 26, 2008 [35] "The Choice between Anarchy and International
[27] Karuna won’t form new party Lanka Times - Law with Monitoring". University Teachers for
January 4, 2009 Human Rights (UTHR). 9 August 2007.
[28] "Complicit in Crime: State Collusion in Abductions http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/
and Child Recruitment by the Karuna Group", spreport23.htm.
19,
Human Rights Watch 19 January 2007, [36] "SLMM WEEKLY MONITORING REPORT" (PDF).
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/srilanka0107/ SLMM (SLMM). 15 October 2007.
[29] "Sri Lanka: Armed groups infiltrating refugee http://www.slmm.lk/W_Report/
camps", Amnesty International, August 9, 2007, 2007%2010%2008-14%20SLMM%20Weekly%20Report.pdf.
http://news.amnesty.org/index/ [37] ^ "Ex-Tamil Tigers win local polls". BBC News. 11
ENGASA370072007 March 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
[30] ^ "Enforced Disappearances and Abductions", south_asia/7288942.stm.
Human Rights Watch, August 2007, [38] "Sri Lankan government wins vote". BBC News. 11
http://www.hrw.org/en/node/10799/section/6 May 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/
[31] University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), 7394488.stm.
"When Indignation is Past and the Dust Settles", [39] "’I am eligible’ says Pillayan". BBC News. 11 May
Special Report No. 21, May 15, 2006. Retrieved April 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/
5, 2007 2008/05/080511_pillayan_cm.shtml.
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