Operation to expel Karuna from Tamil homeland begun- LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 April 2004, 16:46 GMT]
The political section of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in a press release said that the LTTE has started co-ordinated operations to expel renegade LTTE commander ‘Karuna,' Mr. Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan, from the Tamil Homeland, Daya Master, media coordinator for LTTE, said from Vanni.

A translation of excerpts from the press release follows:

"Renegade commander Karuna is continuing to engage in activities against the leadership of LTTE and the public. Forces against Tamil nationalism are believed to be providing support to his actions.

We are taking all efforts to bring a closure to Karuna's actions and the resulting disturbances and anxiety caused in the east. We will take every effort to avoid bloodshed and loss of lives.

Karuna is also taking steps to prevent fighters from leaving his command to join their parents or to join with our movement.

LTTE has been forced to safeguard the lives of fighters and civilians living in affected area in the east. We have begun a co-ordinated operation to expel Karuna from Tamil homeland.

Several fighters under Karuna's command have deserted their posts and are returning to join us. To prevent unnecessary bloodshed, we urge other fighters also to leave Karuna to join with us.

We also urge the parents of fighters still under control of Karuna to obtain their children's release without allowing them to be used by Karuna for his traitorous acts."