Karuna Amman

Muralitharan was born in Kiran, a village in the Batticaloa district in eastern Sri Lanka to Vinayagamoorthy who was an agriculturist. He joined the LTTE in 1983 and became a top commander in the Eastern Province.[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Prabhakaran-was-with-18-men-when-he-was-killed-Karuna/articleshow/4555923.cms Prabhakaran was with 18 men when he was killed: Karuna] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809101705/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Prabhakaran-was-with-18-men-when-he-was-killed-Karuna/articleshow/4555923.cms |date=9 August 2010 }} Times of India – 20 May 2009 He was formerly a bodyguard to LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

On 26 July 2004, Karuna broke away from the Tamil Tigers after he alleged they were ignoring the interests of the eastern Tamil people, and claimed to have renounced violence.[http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/04/2009428165514786905.html Interview: 'Colonel Karuna'] Al-Jazeera – 29 April 2009 The move by Karuna to break away from the LTTE and renounce armed struggle was considered one of the major turning points of the Sri Lankan Civil War that would eventually bring about the end of the 25 year-long conflict. Muralitharan joined forces with the Sri Lanka Armed Forces to capture LTTE bases. It has been claimed that the former Deputy Minister Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana was instrumental in convincing Karuna to renounce militarism, who in turn joined the government.{{cite news|last=Jayasuriya|first=Ranga|title=The Karuna affaire|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/06/27/fea09.html|access-date=4 September 2013|newspaper=The Sunday Observer|date=27 June 2004|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120715/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/06/27/fea09.html|archive-date=24 September 2015}}

The LTTE claimed that the real reason for Karuna's defection was because the LTTE's intelligence wing was closing in on him for alleged financial and personal misconduct, terming his break a "temporary aberration".{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090213192858/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2107/stories/20040409007200400.htm THE LTTE CRISIS]}} Frontline – Volume 21, Issue 7 The Tigers reacted to his defection by launching attacks against Muralitharan's forces, and heavy clashes ensued. They claimed to have fully evicted his forces from the area he controlled by mid-2004.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7393112.stm |title=Questions over renegade Tamil Tiger |publisher=BBC News |date=9 May 2008}}

However Karuna's group, dubbed the Karuna Faction by the media, continued to maintain a stronghold in the southeast of Sri Lanka with a force estimated to number a few hundred."[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/06/asia/AS_GEN_Sri_Lanka.php Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels warn of retaliation against Sinhalese]", Associated Press, 6 September 2006 The group regularly got into clashes with the LTTE. In 2006, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces launched a major campaign to evict the LTTE from the east of the country, with the assistance of the Karuna Faction. Together the coalition succeeded in clearing the east of Sri Lanka by July 2007.

Karuna has alleged that Prabhakaran intentionally dragged out peace talks with Sri Lanka to give rebels additional time to re-arm for further combat.Buerk, Roland. "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6524869.stm A date with a renegade rebel Tiger]", BBC News, 4 April 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007 He said that the LTTE lost about 70% of its fighting capacity due the TMVP separating from the LTTE.

In March 2007, Colonel Karuna, accompanied by Supreme Commander Pillaiyan, Senior Commander Jeyam and other TVMP officials spent two days at a TMVP base in the east. A number of his statements there were widely reported."[http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/4769 "Sri Lanka is our Motherland. We respect the constitution, the President and the government" – Col Karuna]", Asian Tribune, 4 March 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2007"[http://www.independentsl.com/cgi-bin/newsscript1.cgi?record=1408 Karuna's election Campaigne takes off]", [http://www.independentsl.com/ www.independentsl.com], Retrieved 5 April 2007

At the same time, the TMVP announced that it was setting up a "special attack force" and a "spy attack force". Internal cohesion within the TMVP has been a problem in the past before, particularly disagreements between Pillaiyan and Karuna over finance. Between May–June, a number of cadres were killed in inter-factional clashes, most notably an intelligence operative named Senthujan Senthamorthanan. Another TMVP cadre named Seelan was also badly beaten but luckily escaped. Pillaiyan was reportedly targeted as well but escaped to Trincomalee with about 200 supporters, although he has since reconciled with Karuna."[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200703041326.htm Rebel Tiger leader visits former bastion]", The Hindu News Update Service, 4 March 2007, Retrieved 5 April 2007

Colonel Karuna was the LTTE head of the Eastern Province in 1990 when 600 unarmed police officers who surrendered to the group were subsequently massacred.

When Colonel Karuna was part of the LTTE, he was also involved in the massacre of Muslims, including the Kattankudy and Eravur massacres in the Eastern Province.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} LTTE sympathizers, following Karuna's defection, often claim that the crimes he committed while under the LTTE were his personal responsibility and not "LTTE crimes".{{cite book|author=Amarnath Amarasingam|title= Pain, Pride, and Politics: Social Movement Activism and the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora in Canada|page=57|isbn= 9780820348148}}{{cite report|publisher=International Crisis Group|title = Sri Lanka's Muslims: Caught in the Crossfire|page=9|url= https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/134-sri-lanka-s-muslims-caught-in-the-crossfire.pdf|date = 29 May 2007}}

RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has accused him of muzzling local journalists by forming death squads to silence those who oppose his views.[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10956 Nine recommendations for improving the state of press freedom, Reporters Without Borders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529111246/http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10956 |date=2009-05-29 }} (19 July 2004)

His armed groups have been blamed for the increasing involuntary disappearances of civilians in the Jaffna peninsula by several human rights groups.Denyer, Simon. "[http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/09/14/disappearances_on_rise_in_sri_lankas_dirty_war/ "Disappearances" killing on rise in Sri Lanka's dirty war]". Reuters, 14 September 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2007University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), "[http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul41.htm The Wider Implications of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Crisis in Jaffna] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813071429/http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul41.htm |date=13 August 2017 }}", Information Bulletin No. 41, 14 September 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2007 They have also been accused of taking part in death squad activity against civilians.University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), "[http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport21.pdf When Indignation is Past and the Dust Settles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606133641/http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport21.pdf |date=6 June 2013 }}", Special Report No. 21, 15 May 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2007 Additionally, they are also accused of child soldier recruitment by UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, and others.UNICEF, [http://www.unicef.org/srilanka/media_2514.htm Statement on Sri Lanka from the UN Special Adviser on Children and Armed Conflict] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416112709/http://www.unicef.org/srilanka/media_2514.htm |date=16 April 2007 }}, 13 November 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2007{{Citation |title=Complicit in Crime: State Collusion in Abductions and Child Recruitment by the Karuna Group |journal=Human Rights Watch |volume=19 |issue=1(C) |date=January 2007 |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/srilanka0107/ |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-date=19 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819072826/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2007/srilanka0107/ |url-status=dead }}Ross, James. "[http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3512 When Ceasefire Fails] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109141837/http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3512 |date=2008-01-09 }}", Foreign Policy in Focus, 15 September 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2007 A report by the United States Department of State claims that Karuna's group "was believed also to have killed 20 civilians."U.S. Department of State, [https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61711.htm 2005 Human Rights Report], 8 March 2006

Karuna has categorically denied these allegations in interviews, claiming the LTTE is trying to discredit his party."[http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/3418 Solheim in the pay of Tigers: his house in Norway bought with Tiger money – Col. Karuna]", Asian Tribune, 27 November 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2007

Karuna was arrested in London on 2 November 2007, following a joint operation between the Metropolitan Police and the Border and Immigration Agency.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7076248.stm UK detains breakaway Tamil leader, BBC News, 2 November 2007] It is thought that Karuna was found in possession of a forged passport and firearms.[http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/AF9F3DBF8F290A8465257387006BD6BA?OpenDocument Karuna arrested]{{Cite web |url=http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4853&PHPSESSID=3f02801fed53f09a8e76f7f123fd4637 |title=Karuna arrested in London |access-date=2 November 2007 |archive-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225134344/http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=4853&PHPSESSID=3f02801fed53f09a8e76f7f123fd4637 |url-status=dead }} According to the Sunday Times, a weekly English newspaper published in Sri Lanka, the British authorities claimed that they had enough evidence to show that the Sri Lankan government was complicit in helping Karuna receive a diplomatic passport.[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/071223/News/news00015.html Britain unimpressed with government explanation on Karuna passport]

Karuna confessed in court that the government, through permanent Secretary of Defense Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had given him the passport. On 25 January 2008, he was sentenced to nine months in prison.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7209415.stm "Renegade Tamil rebel jailed in UK"], BBC News, 25 January 2008. He was transferred to an immigration detention centre in May 2008.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7392107.stm "UK transfers renegade Tamil Tiger"], BBC News, 9 May 2008.

A number of human rights groups, led by Amnesty International, urged the Metropolitan Police to investigate Karuna for war crimes including torture, hostage-taking and recruitment of child soldiers.[https://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17811 UK: Failure to protect witnesses allows suspected war criminals to avoid prosecution], Amnesty International, 3 July 2008 The Met Police did not respond and Karuna returned to Sri Lanka on 3 July 2008.

In an interview with The Washington Post in 2009, Karuna stated:

{{Quote

|text=“All the world knows that without me, they couldn’t win the war. I know all the hideouts and tactics. And without my manpower, the Tigers lost their grip. That’s why I am world-famous."{{cite news |last1=Wax |first1=Emily |title=Without Me, They Couldn't Win the War |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021003343_pf.html |access-date=22 September 2024 |agency=The Washington Post |date=February 11, 2009}}

}}

According to Sri Lanka's chief of National Intelligence, the wealth of intelligence on the LTTE gained from Karuna's defection was "pure gold".{{cite book |last1=Moorcraft |first1=Paul |title=Total Destruction of the Tamil Tigers |date=2012 |publisher=Pen & Sword Military |isbn=9781781591536 |pages=42-43}} A Sri Lanka Army commander later told Karuna in July 2010 that he was a more significant threat than Prabhakaran and the real mastermind behind the LTTE but also "a real hero because without you we would not have won the war".{{cite web |last1=Liyanage |first1=Jeremy |title=Karuna’s Split with Pirapāharan in 2004 in his Own Words |url=https://thuppahis.com/2017/02/27/karunas-split-with-pirapaharan-in-2004-in-his-own-words/#_ftn18 |access-date=22 September 2024}}

Upon his return to Sri Lanka, Karuna entered democratic politics and joined the SLFP alongside 1750 other ex-LTTE members. Karuna praised then-incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa, claiming that the Black July riots would not have happened if Rajapaksa was in power during the period. Karuna was then sworn in as Minister of National Integration.{{Cite web|title=Karuna joins SLFP, sworn in as Minister of National Integration {{!}} Asian Tribune|url=http://asiantribune.com/node/15989|access-date=2020-08-17|website=asiantribune.com}}

On 19 June 2020, Karuna made a publicity stunt by making a revelation that he was even more cruel and merciless than the COVID-19 virus saying "I am more dangerous than the coronavirus. Corona killed 11 people but I killed 2000-3000 soldiers within one day."{{Cite web |date=2020-06-19 |title=He stated that he had killed more soldiers at Elephant Pass than lives claimed by COVID in SL |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/06/19/karuna-amman-says-he-killed-more-soldiers-at-elephant-pass-than-lives-claimed-by-covid-in-sl/ |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-25|title=Former Sri Lanka rebel leader condemned as 'barbaric'|url=https://arab.news/mqrfs|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Arab News|language=en}}{{Cite web|title="I'm more dangerous than coronavirus, killed 2,000 – 3,000 soldiers on a single day" – Karuna Amman|url=https://www.hirunews.lk/english/243512/im-more-dangerous-than-coronavirus-killed-2000-3000-soldiers-on-a-single-day-karuna-amman|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Hiru News|language=en}} His insensible comments drew widespread criticism from political fraternity calling him a barbarian and he was summoned to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department to record statements according to the order by acting DGP C. D. Wickramaratne.{{Cite web|title=Sri Lanka : Statement made by Karuna Amman in Ampara cannot be taken lightly - former State Defense Minister|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20A/Jun21_1592678586CH.php|access-date=2020-06-25|website=www.colombopage.com}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-22|title=Karuna Amman summoned to the CID to record a statement|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/06/22/karuna-amman-summoned-to-the-cid-to-record-a-statement/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-22|title=Acting IGP orders CID to investigate Karuna Amman's statement on killing soldiers|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/06/22/acting-igp-orders-cid-to-investigate-karuna-ammans-statement-on-killing-soldiers/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst|language=en}}

Karuna later claimed that his speech was edited by the media and that he never made such comments. The UN Human Rights Commission called upon the government to start further investigations regarding Karuna's former alleged war crimes, however, the Karuna and the TMVP were close allies with the SLPP, the ruling party, which defended Karuna.{{Cite news|title=UNHRC calls Karuna on Human Rights|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/06/27/unhrc-calls-for-an-investigation-on-karuna-amman|publisher=NewsFirst}}

Karuna went through few trials by the courts. Several groups brought evidence of massacres he is said to have caused. Karuna called the incident a plot by the UNP, a prominent opposition party, to destroy the reputation of the TMVP and the Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/06/30/ven-omalpe-sobitha-thero-wants-karuna-amman-removed-from-polls-process|title=Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero wants Karuna Amman removed from Polls Process|date=30 June 2020}}

Following submissions by International Truth and Justice Project, in March 2025, the Government of the United Kingdom imposed travel sanctions, former Commander of the Army Shavendra Silva and Jagath Jayasuriya, former Commander of the Navy Wasantha Karannagoda and Karuna Amman as part of what the Foreign office called "UK travel bans and asset freezes, target individuals responsible for a range of violations and abuses, such as extrajudicial killings, during the civil war".{{cite web |title=More Sri Lankans recommended for target sanctions: ITJP says after UK’s action |url=https://economynext.com/more-sri-lankans-recommended-for-target-sanctions-itjp-says-after-uks-action-211784/ |website=economynext.com |access-date=26 March 2025}} The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this was a unilateral action taken by the UK government and such action does not assist but serve to complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka and went on to say human rights violations in the past need to handle by domestic accountability mechanisms.{{cite news |title=UK sanctions: Such unilateral actions only complicate reconciliation process: Foreign Ministry |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/UK-sanctions-Such-unilateral-actions-only-complicate-reconciliation-process-Foreign-Ministry/108-305259 |access-date=27 March 2025 |publisher=Daily Mirror}} The Wartime President Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected UK governments allegations of human rights violations, stating "We waged war only against the LTTE and not against the Tamil people".{{cite news |title=Wartime President Mahinda Rajapaksa tells off UK for sanctions against military leaders |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Wartime-President-Mahinda-Rajapaksa-tells-off-UK-for-sanctions-against-military-leaders/108-305257 |access-date=27 March 2025 |publisher=Daily Mirror}}

• Militant use of children in Sri Lanka

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite news|title=Ex-LTTE leader Karuna's claim to be probed|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ex-ltte-leader-karunas-claim-to-be-probed/article31892963.ece|date=22 June 2020|via=PTI|newspaper=The Hindu}}
• {{Cite AV media|title=Interview with Col. Karuna Amman|date=12 May 2009|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC47LzzAKBo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/BC47LzzAKBo |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|author=NewsX}}{{cbignore}}
• {{Cite news|title=Ex-commander Karuna Now Blames Prabhakaran Sting for Leaving LTTE|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2015/nov/01/ex-commander-karuna-now-blames-prabhakaran-sting-for-leaving-ltte-837120.html|date=1 November 2015|author=P K Balachandran|newspaper=New Indian Express}}
• {{Cite magazine|title=Karuna Vs Prabhakaran|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/karuna-vs-prabhakaran/223292|date=17 March 2004|first=Bandula|last=Jayasekara|authorlink=Bandula Jayasekara|magazine=Outlook India}}
• {{Cite news|title=LTTE: Karuna puts the clock back in more ways than one|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/ltte-karuna-puts-the-clock-back-in-more-ways-than-one/|date=10 March 2004|author=N Sathiya Moorthy|website=ORF}}

• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7657668.stm Renegade sworn in as S Lanka MP]
• [http://www.tmvp.org/ Official Party Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225141922/http://www.tmvp.org/ |date=25 February 2007 }}
• [http://www.voiceofeast.com/ Voice of East]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6524869.stm BBC interview with Karuna] 4 March 2007
• [http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10737 Interview with Karuna] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509184948/http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10737 |date=9 May 2006 }}, Asian Tribune
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3537025.stm BBC profile of Colonel Karuna], BBC News, March 5, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2007
• "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/03/060310_us_report.shtml US slams police, Karuna, LTTE]", BBC News, 10 March 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2007
• "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi1xc0eSTvU A documentary about Col. Karuna]", Video Documentary about Col. Karuna

{{Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}

{{Sri Lankan Civil War}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karuna Amman}}

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