War within war
SHADOWY Tamil militant death squads are once again on the rise in Batticaloa.
The Mohan group aligned to PLOTE has terrorised Batticaloa for several years
and has been linked to former intelligence officer Richard Dias alias Captain
Munas, implicated in the disappearance of 158 Tamils from the Vantharumoolai
refugee camp in 1990. The Raziq group associated with EPRLF has recently
surfaced. Observers believe EPRLF, which kept aloof from military activities for
several years, has decided to throw in its lot after the fall of Jaffna and the
apparent weakening of the LTTE. The Tamil militant cadres ostensibly provide
translation service to the military and act as scouts and spotters during security
operations. Both EPRLF and PLOTE deny that they have links with death squads.
But reports from Batticaloa say these two groups are involved in detention,
torture and execution of people suspected of links with the LTTE. Observers say
that at least ten incidents of torture and execution in the last three months are
known to human rights groups. Analysts say the Mohan group has an extensive
intelligence network in Paduvankarai area and has been successful in checking
Tiger operations by killing several key Tiger leaders in ambushes. Eastern Sri
Lanka has become a war within a war. The LTTE constantly targets members of
PLOTE, TELO and EPRLF. The Tigers have killed around 100 people including
those who have left the militant movements many years ago. Tigers shot and
injured a TELO member on 16 June at Kaluvanchikudy. Vavunativu Village
Headman T. Karthigesu was shot dead outside his home by some youths on the
night of 20 June. The following day Rasiah Ganesh was killed by the LTTE at
Malligaitivu two miles south of Thoppur in Trincomalee District.
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