Karuna feels humiliated by Gen. Sarath Fonseka's remarks

Karuna feels humiliated by Gen. Sarath Fonseka's remarks

Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP)leader and national list MP , Vinayagamurthy Muraleetharan alias “Colonel Karuna” is reportedly feeling humiliated by some remarks made by Army commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka to the media.

According to TMVP sources “Col” Karuna feels that General Sarath had deliberately humiliated him.

According to TMVP sources Karuna had been of immense assistance to the army in its fight against the LTTE by providing extensive information at many levels

TMVP cadres had also fought in eastern battles.

At present TMVP cadres along with EPDP cadres are functioning with military intelligence to abduct and kill suspected LTTE supporters.

But TMVP sources said that Karuna is unable to claim these actions openly as some of them amount to crimes against humanity.

Official acceptance of “collaboration” will also affect the TMVP in elections as Tamil voters could reject them.

“It was unfair for the Army chief to belittle us when he knows it is not correct and that we cant openly say so” said TMVP circles.

“Col” Karuna will however meet defence secretary Gota Rajapakse soon and protest about the Army commander.
Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka had gone on record saying it was ‘shameful’ for anyone to try connect Karuna Amman leaving the LTTE with the recent success of the Army on the battlefield against the LTTE.

The Defence Ministry website quoted the Army Chief as telling State electronic media that Karuna Amman and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran fell out because of ideological differences and that by the time the Sri Lanka Army started retaking the Eastern Province he was left with about 200 cadres.

He said ordinary people supported the Army to retake the Eastern Province from the LTTE. There were many Sinhala, Muslim and Tamil villages in the Eastern Province situated side by side whose inhabitants helped the Army. The Army was able to win the hearts of the people of the Eastern Province before capturing the land, he further said, according to the Defence Ministry.

Asked about whether he was trying to get the credit for the good work done by former Army commanders, he said neither had he asked for such undue credit nor had former commanders complained that he was trying get credit due to them. He said all commanders have to be responsible for their blunders and get praise for their achievements. There should be a reason why he should not get credit for his achievements, he said.

The Army Chief further said in the Eastern Province battles it was only a 20 kilometre distance the Army had to fight through, but in the North it was an 89 kilometre distance the troops had to handle. Today, the triangular area to which the LTTE hierarchy and others are constained is being attacked from multiple fronts. Before, Kilinochchi's fall everybody thought the attack there was only a dream of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. But the Army Commander said the continued attack on the LTTE, is also going to be a daydream to some likewise, but certain to become a reality soon.

Asked about how the LTTE had improved itself making use of the Ceasefire Agreement, the Army commander said, more than anything else the LTTE increased its combat force from 2,500 to more than 11,000 during the four years of the ceasefire agreement. The Tigers only possessed two artillery guns captured from the Army, he said.

Machine guns, Dvora-like fast boats and three fixed wing airplanes were added to their strength. They established banks, courts, police and customs to generate income, the Army Commander further said.
end:

Karuna deserves what he gets from the army commander.