30 January, 2006 - Published 17:20 GMT

Karuna "voice of democracy"

The defected faction of the LTTE led by Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna has become the “voice of democracy” of the people in the eastern Sri Lanka, Jathika Hela Urmaya (JHU) has said.

JHU parliamentary group leader Athuraliye Rathana thero told BBC Sandeshaya that Tamil Tigers should themselves be disarmed if they demand the disarmament of the Karuna faction.

He stressed that any disarmament should include the LTTE and they should be banned as a terrorist organisation, if they violate the agreement by starting killings again, should they agree to disarm.

Disarming paramilitaries

He denied that the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) pledged to disarm paramilitary forces in their territory in Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed with the Tamil Tigers in 2002.

Paragraph 1.8 of the CFA states : Tamil paramilitary groups shall be disarmed by the GOSL by D-day + 30 days at the latest.

Karuna, a former senior commander of the LTTE, was accused of masterminding major attacks against Sri Lanka security forces and civilians, before defecting in March 2004.

Karuna truce

A close confidante of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, he also represented the military wing of the Tigers in peace talks held in Japan.

The Sinhala nationalist, all Buddhist-monk party said separate militant groups are emerging in the east among Tamil and Muslim communities against the Tamil Tigers.

Rathana thero warned that militant groups might emerge from Sinhala community also against the “activities of LTTE.”

Meanwhile, Asian Tribune (AT) website reported that Karuna group has unliterary declared a cessation of their attacks against Tamil Tigers.

In a statement published in AT, Karuna has decided to help President Rajapaksa to engage in talks with the LTTE by creating a “conducive environment.”