by
K.Mylvaganam
Karuna's
is
a
name
that
is
getting
fast
diminished
from
the
political
world.
His
biggest
fear
is
that
people
are
going
to
forget
him
very
soon.
He
knows
that
he
is
becoming
history,
hence
he
is
forced
to
do
something
to
prove
that
he
is
alive
and
kicking.
His
recent
interview
to
a
foreign
media
outlet
is
one
of
his
stunts
that
express
his
state
of
frustration
and
desperation.
The
media
that
caters
to
the
whims
and
fancies
of
the
Sinhala
masses
gave
wide
publicity
to
this
interview.
Some
wishful
thinking
Tamils
also
got
a
kick
out
of
his
blabbering.
The
question
is
as
to
whether
Karuna
has
the
power,
capacity
and
the
mass
support
to
achieve
his
ideas.
Even
he
is
fully
aware
that
he
has
no
military
might
to
stand
up
against
the
Tigers.
He
cannot
run
a
state
with
a
handful
of
trigger-happy
cadres,
who
hide
behind
trees
and
fire
at
unarmed
political
workers,
civilians
and
intellectuals.
An
army
camp
of
the
state
of
Sri
Lanka
has
to
provide
a
hideout
for
him
to
exist.
He
boasted
once
that
he
had
at
his
command
nearly
7000
fighters
armed
to
the
teeth
with
tanks,
120mm,
90mm,
50mm
calibre
artillery,
thousands
of
T-56,
AK-47
rifles
and
an
abundance
of
ammunitions
for
all
these
weapons.
But
he
could
not
stand
against
the
Tigers
when
they
marched
into
the
east.
Within
three
days
he
fled
to
the
south,
helped
by
the
Sri
Lankan
army.
He
could
not
match
the
onslaught
of
the
intelligence
section
of
the
Tigers.
He
was
beaten
not
by
the
bullets,
but
by
the
brains
of
the
undisputed
national
leader
of
the
Tamils.
There
were
rumours
that
Karuna
had
fled
from
the
country,
but
he
is
actually
asfely
tucked
inside
a
fortified
army
camp.
That
is
going
to
be
his
future
abode
for
the
rest
of
his
life,
just
like
a
bird
in
a
golden
cage,
well
fed
and
looked
after
by
the
army.
He
may
be
a
hen
laying
golden
eggs
for
the
army
but
what
is
in
store
for
him?
What
will
happen
to
him
when
he
becomes
worthless
to
the
army?
What
a
miserable
life
he
has
created
for
himself.
What
he
fails
to
understand
is,
even
though
he
voluntarily
walked
into
the
arms
of
the
army,
he
cannot
leave
them
on
his
own
accord.
The
army
needs
him
more
than
he
needs
them.
They
can
take
cover
under
his
name
and
cause
all
the
atrocities
that
are
taking
place
in
the
East,
especially
in
the
army-controlled
areas.
Karuna's supporters are on the run. Their defeat in Pullumalai brought shame on him. When Karuna fled from the East, he had some of his followers to accompany him. The rest of his army either deserted him to rejoin the Tigers, or left the movement to return to their parents, taking the option offered to them by the Tigers. Several high-ranking officials like Robert, Gymkali Thatha, Thurai who accompanied him realised their folly subsequently and returned to the Tiger camp. Even his most trusted leader of the women's front, Nilavini, and Premini, and others also left him and went back to the Tigers. The intelligence reports and various support activities he received from PLOTE Mohan and his group ceased with the elimination of Mohan and his followers. Some of his most ardent followers have even left the country in search of a safe haven.
At this stage Karuna had to accept, at least to himself, that his military might is no more and, hence, he resolved to go "open" into politics, stating that he was abrogating violence and getting into the political mainstream. To this end he is supposed to form a political party. Several names were in the air for the party. It was also said that his party was already registered in July 2004. The Sinhala and some English media from the south were making hay by giving wide publicity to this bogus claim.
The truth, however, is that no real party has been set up by him until this date. To run a political party one needs a large number of people who support it. You cannot manage a political party by remaining tucked away in a remote army camp. Several sincere volunteers are needed to work for it day and night. He cannot find a single individual to contest on his party ticket. It is widely believed that he sent his messenger to woo the former member of parliament, the late Mr.Rasanayagam, for this purpose. It is well known that the late Mr. Rasanayagam was a Karuna supporter and, after winning the election in April 2004, he submitted his resignation on the instigation of Karuna. That support was not forthcoming now. When Rasanayagam refused to toe his line, Karuna had him killed and blamed the Tigers for it. If the Tigers had wanted to kill Mr.Rasanayagam, he would have been an easy target for them long ago as he was moving freely in public.
Now
Karuna
has
lost
his
military
power,
his
political
clout
and
his
voice
to
the
Buddhist
Sinhala
chauvinistic
media.
The
only
voice
he
has
is
the
Voice
from
the
Past.