Muslim – Tamil friction due to Karuna faction
January 13th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Friction with Muslims is on the rise in Batticaloa due to some acts by the LTTE Karuna breakaway faction known as the Tamil Makkal viduthalai Puligal. These problems surfaced after the TMVP got into the Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) re-settlement activity.
TMVP cadres have now engaged in relief work in some areas with official sanction. They are being used to check and monitor the activity of some NGO’s and INGO’s. TMVP cadres have reportedly blocked work done by the local NGO’s and are demanding that funds be given them directly. They are setting up an alternative to the TRO.
One consequence of this is friction with the Muslim people of Kathankudi. Muslim lands have been allegedly encroached and Muslim traders taxed. Clashes have ensued and some tents put up for Tamil IDP’s were reportedly burnt down by Muslim youths.
The densely populated Muslim township , Kathankudi, is sandwiched between the Tamil villages of Aaraiyampathy and Manchanthoduvaai. The Karuna faction has been assigned to put up tents by the government in order to resettle some Vaakarai and Trinco IDP’ s in these areas. They are reportedly working in Arayampathy and Manchanthoduvaai area putting up tents that were supplied by the SL Military.
The Karuna Group is particularly targeting the lands owned by Muslims on the borders of Kathankudi stating that these Tamil lands have been encroached over the years by Muslims. Some allege that those lands used to be owned by the government. The claim is that the Karuna group is in the process of regaining some of the land that have been occupied by Muslims in the last 05 years in Arayampathy areas. The TMVP is allegedly using resettlement activities for this purpose.
Muslims who returned to Ollikulum after the 2004 Tsunami have been living in temporary shelters there since then. After the Karuna group’s recent entry into Arayampathy these Muslims have been threatened and are moving to relatives and friends homes in Kathankudy. At least 30 – 40 such families have moved out from Ollikulum temporary shelters.
Besides deliberately using muslim owned private lands for resettlement Karuna group has also demanded money from Muslim traders in Arayampathy areas. One trader said he has been asked to payRs. 2million. He further said now” we the muslims of Kattankudy have two devils “Karuna and Praba” to pay taxes “.He went on to say fearfully “They can now easily kill us muslims and blame each other.” The TMVP also banned some Muslims from doing business in Tamil areas unless they paid up.Tension increased when some Muslim youths from Kathankudi burnt down some IDP tents in the night.
Former Batticaloa MP and leading Muslim Congress politician from Kathankudi MHM Hisbullah was quick to respond. A meeting between religious dignitaries of Kathankudi and the Karuna faction was held at the TMVP office”Meenaham” in B’caloa town. Hisbullah and senior Govt officials were present. A compromise was reportedly arrived at. The TMVP agreed to let Muslim traders carry on business and also promised not to settle IDP’s in lands owned by Muslims. It remains to be seen whether these pledges would be honoured. Meanwhile SLMC chief Rauf Hakeem complained about the Karuna faction antics in Parliament.
The TMVP has also requested aid assistance from INGO’s and NGO’s for their resettlement and other work .They have said that they are a political party now and that if INGO’ s can give money to TRO they (TMVP) should be also given a chance to under take development activities for the Tamil people. Attempts have allegedly been made to obstruct the work of some local NGO’s as a pressure tactic.The TMVP has opened its political/development offices in Kalladi and Arayampathy recently. The Kallady office was attacked by the LTTE a few days ago.The TMVP has sought state protection.
The minions of “Col” Karuna are also engaged in conscripting children.. It was only a few weeks ago that the UN Secretary – General’s Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Radhika Coomaraswamy expressed satisfaction over guarantees given to her over the telephone by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan a.k.a Karuna. But members of his outfit known as Tamil Makkal Viduthalaip Puligal (TMVP) continue “recruitment” merrily.
Many Karuna cadres can be seen in the vicinity of IDP camps . They eye these children like hawks hovering in the skies.Perturbed parents respond protectively like fowls tucking chickens under their wing.The biggest fear of parents is that their children would be conscripted. Many fled Vaakarai to avoid that evil at the hands of the LTTE. Now they fear the TMVP Compounding the situation further has been the official “inclusion” of the Karuna faction in IDP relief activity.
An important issue confronting IDP’s in B’caloa is that of a very vulnerable category – Children! Many of these children have had no schooling from April last year. With accommodation itself being a problem the opportunities for resumption of studies seems a distant dream currently.They are idling in a state of uncertainty. Some IDP children have been seen begging for food and money in the streets of Batticaloa and other coastal towns.
While those claiming to serve the cause of Tamils engage in disreputable antics the day to day problems of Tamils increase. In B’caloa Govt officials are finding it difficult to deal with this massive humanitarian crisis. If not for International aid and NGO assistance the problem could transform into a monumental tragedy.
The UNHCR and other agencies are able to address some basic immediate needs, including clothing, bedding and cooking utensils. The refugee agency has distributed more than 8,000 sarongs and saris as well as basic household kits – comprising mosquito net, bed sheet and mats, pots, pans, towels and soap – to more than than 90 percent of the displaced.UNHCR and partner agencies are preparing nearly 30 longer-term sites to accommodate up to 5,000 families and the process of moving people to the new government-proposed sites would be completed by the end of the month.
But this will only partially solve the problem. UNHCR has offered the authorities assistance in organising so-called “go and see” visits so community leaders and other volunteers can visit their former homes, many further north of Vaharai in Trincomalee district, and decide whether return would be safe and sustainable.
Recent statements made to the media by Yoko Akasaka, head of the UNHCR field office in the town of Batticaloa help spotlight the enormous problem.”Everyone we have spoken to has said their route out of Vaharai was extremely difficult,”But there are still many struggles ahead,” Akasaka noted. “Sites are hosting people at twice their actual capacity, the district is facing a potential food shortage and many families have been separated in flight or during transport to emergency sites.
“Even if all the sites proposed so far are suitable, they will provide less than two thirds of the space we need,” Akasaka said. “People tell us many more will be arriving. We are concerned about the condition of some 15,000 civilians remaining in Vaharai, who have endured months of fighting and limited humanitarian access”
“The humanitarian community can give basic relief, can help people find their families again, but there are bigger questions that also need to be addressed: the trauma people have gone through, the livelihoods and property they have left behind, and their fears for the future,” Akasaka said.”Many people first fled to Vaharai because of violence elsewhere and they are worried about whether it will be safe to go back. They simply don’t know where they will be safe. Even here, there are reports of abductions from displacement sites.”
This then is the humanitarian crisis of B’caloa. One segment of people is being targetted deliberately so that it would scatter and disperse. Another segment of displaced people is struggling to find a safe haven elsewhere. The cruel war game of politico – military chess goes on. The people are the pawns.Let us not forget that these pathetic pawns are real , flesh and blood humans undergoing immense suffering in a war that they never wanted or made .
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
Entry Filed under: transCurrents
