ATTACK ON NEWSPAPER OFFICES KILLS THREE AS DMK SUCESSION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000337

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CASC IN
SUBJECT: ATTACK ON NEWSPAPER OFFICES KILLS THREE AS DMK SUCESSION
TURNS VIOLENT


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Three people were killed in an attack on a
newspaper after it published a survey suggesting that the younger
son of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister has a huge lead over the older
son in popular support to succeed the patriarch of the ruling DMK
party. The violence, an infringement of press freedom, is also
rooted in the volatile mix of money, power, and media ownership in
the DMK succession struggle. Some observers point out that the
anger of the older son's followers was actually directed at the
owners of the newspaper - the family of Union IT and
Telecommunications Minister Dayanidhi Maran - for suggesting that
their family member is more popular than the Chief Minister's older
son. END SUMMARY


2. (SBU) On May 9, a group of supporters of M.K. Azhagiri, the older
son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi, went to the Madurai
offices of the newspaper "Dinakaran" to protest a survey published
by the newspaper that showed Azhagiri far behind the Chief
Minister's younger son, M.K. Stalin, in the struggle to succeed the
aging Chief Minister as leader of the DMK party. According to media
reports, the Azhagiri supporters (including the mayor of Madurai)
started by burning copies of the paper at the gate, but then a few
of them entered the newspaper building and went on the rampage,
allegedly hurling "petrol bombs." Two employees of the newspaper
and a security guard perished in the fire. The newspaper's staff
said that police were present but did nothing to prevent the mob
from entering the compound. (NOTE: Azhagiri has a history of
political violence and is facing prosecution for his role in a 2003
murder. Given that history, and the autonomy with which he has run
southern Tamil Nadu since the DMK came to power, allegations that
the police stood by are likely true. END NOTE.)


3. (SBU) Azhagiri's poor showing in Dinakaran's May 9 survey titled,
"Who should be the political successor to Karunanidhi?" set off the
violence. Three of the contenders listed in the statewide survey
were the Chief Minister's children: sons M.K. Azhagiri and M.K.
Stalin, and his daughter Kanimozhi. The newspaper poll said Stalin
had the support of 70% of DMK party members, while Azhagiri and
Kanimozhi got only 2% each. Journalist contacts said that the
survey's overall showing of 2% for Azhagiri, with only 6% in Madurai
District, is dubious on its face as it flies in the face of
Azhagiri's established popularity in Madurai and adjoining areas.



4. (SBU) The newspaper "Dinakaran" is owned by the Maran family, who
are close relations of the Chief Minister and his family. Kalanidhi
Maran runs the family's immensely successful media ventures, which
include south India's most influential television network, Sun TV.
Kalanidhi told post on April 27 that Stalin would undoubtedly
succeed Karunanidhi, clearly indicating that the Maran media empire
would support Stalin in the inevitable struggle for succession after
Karunanidhi leaves the scene. The poll not only has Stalin ahead of
Azhagiri; contacts interpret the Dinakaran survey's showing that 20%
of those polled supported "others" to be a coded message that
Kalanidhi's brother, Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, has more
popular support than Azhagiri and Kanimozhi.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: Local media highlighted the press freedom angle,
with the influential daily The Hindu calling the incident "a
murderous attack on press freedom." But family rivalry and internal
DMK politics played a huge part. Stalin, a minister in state
government, is no doubt the clear favorite. While Azhagiri seemed
to be resigned to the idea of Stalin succeeding Karunanidhi, the
ascendancy of Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, assisted by the media
influence of his brother, has clearly upset him. The dubious
newspaper survey rubbed salt in Azhagiri's wounds as it suggested
that he lacks support even in his home district. Dinakaran went
even further by implying that Dayanidhi is more popular than
Azhagiri. The resulting violence may be a precursor to things to
come when the 84-year old Karunanidhi eventually leaves the scene.


6. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED: Karunanidhi for his part seems to be
deeply embarrassed by the eruption of the family feud at a time when
the DMK party is preparing a May 11 celebration of the 50th
anniversary of his first election to the state assembly. Initial
media reports said that he asked to cancel the celebration in light
of the incident, but it appears that the event was too far along to
cancel. According to DMK insiders, the party is preparing to
transport a million people from all over Tamil Nadu to a massive
public meeting in Chennai that will be addressed by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. END COMMENT.


7. (U) On May 10 post issued a warden message (cleared by Embassy
New Delhi and CA/OCS) to advise Americans of the gridlock likely in
Chennai during the May 11 public meetings and the possibility of
disturbances, which seem more likely than usual given the events in
Madurai.


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