Emergence of ‘New Bargainers’ in South Asia III

Karuna’s TMVP as ‘new bargainers’ in Sri Lanka

The fall of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu earlier this year signaled for many the end of major combat hostilities by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forces in Sri Lanka. As the threat from the LTTE is receding there is hope for political reconciliation in the Island state ravaged by 25 years of civil war.  President Mahindra Rajapaksa has assured the Tamilian population of the Government’s reconciliatory  and welfare policies aimed at addressing the ethnic grievances. As the forces of reconciliation appear to take center stage certain disturbing developments continues to threaten Sri Lanka’s hazardous journey to peace.

Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) is the political party launched by LTTE breakaway leader Vinayamoorthy Muralitharan, popularly referred to as Karuna. In March 2004, Karuna left the mainstream LTTE on the issue that the latter were ignoring the cause of the Sri Lankan Tamilians. Though the LTTE referred to it as ‘temporary aberration’ and even claimed to have wiped out Karuna’s support base, the Karuna faction continues to thrive and is reaping political benefits. There were reports that Karuna deserted the LTTE as his forces in the eastern region were bearing the brunt of the hostilities with the Sri Lankan forces but were deprived of leadership positions in the LTTE hierarchy. This clearly connotes to the power ambitions of Colonel Karuna; ambitions that now need to be contended by the Sri Lankan government. Earlier this month Karuna has been appointed as the non-Cabinet Minister for National Integration and Reconciliation. Karuna’s journey from the wilderness of the Sri Lankan forests to the power center of the country has vital implications for indigenous peace process.

Karuna’s political opportunism and double speak continue to remain a matter of deep concern. He has deftly represented his TMVP as the mainstream party voicing the concerns of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. He has pledged to respect the country’s constitution and work out a political arrangement with the Sinhala majority parties. According to a recent statement by Karuna, the days of the LTTE offensive were numbered and he then hopes to emerge as the legitimate voice of the Sri Lankan Tamils. By reconciling to federal solution for addressing the demands of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, Karuna has found much favor with the Rajapaksa government.

Despite his intelligent maneuvers, Karuna doesn’t seem completely ready to renounce violence. The TMVP, his political outfit, continues to operate a military wing which is referred to as a self-defense force by its leader. The landslide victory by TMVP in Batticaloa city of eastern Sri Lanka was tainted with reports of use of violence by the party cadre. In the words of Col R Hariharan, “TMVP has a murky history that is almost wholly militant and non-political. It is a product of miscegenation of soured militancy and failed quest for power through the use of arms.” The Human Rights Watch Report in 2007 detailed the pattern of abduction and forced recruitment employed by the Karuna faction, including the deployment of young children among the TMVP cadres.

Karuna doesn’t shy from taking credit for the recent turn of fortunes against the LTTE where the Sri Lankan forces have allegedly defeated the Tiger forces. It is obvious that Karuna will soon demand a bigger share in mainstream Sri Lankan politics. What remains to be seen is that will Colonel Karuna genuinely promote the cause of the Tamil population or settle for piecemeal political gains for his narrow group of supporters? Moreover, it is ardently hoped that the self-defense of the TMVP does not turn into ‘self-defining peace’. Sri Lankans, Singhalese and Tamils alike, can ill afford another round of armed political bargaining.

[Karuna flanked by his cadres; photo courtesy: Asian Tribune]