Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO59
2007-01-12 02:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
KARUNA GROUP AGGRAVATING TAMIL-MUSLIM TENSIONS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000059
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: KARUNA GROUP AGGRAVATING TAMIL-MUSLIM TENSIONS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000059
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: KARUNA GROUP AGGRAVATING TAMIL-MUSLIM TENSIONS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) Summary. A land dispute near Batticaloa led to
violence between the Tamil and Muslim communities on January
8 and 9. At a meeting on January 10, political party,
community, and government representatives agreed to allow the
Batticaloa Government Agent to take control of the disputed
land. If the Muslims can produce a legal deed, it will be
honored. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff
Hakeem has accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) breakaway Karuna group of landgrabbing. End Summary.
2. (C) The Muslim and Tamil communities near Batticaloa are
engaged in a dispute over land located in the town of
Arayampathy. Arayampathy, a predominantly Tamil area,
borders Kattankudy, a mainly Muslim area. The Tamil
community says the disputed land is Government-owned and
wants to use it as a cemetery, while the Muslim population
claims it belongs to them. In late December 2006, area
Muslims began building small huts on the land to occupy it.
In response, the Karuna group's political arm, Tamil Makkal
Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP),asked the Muslim occupants to
leave.
3. (C) The TMVP assaulted Muslims on the land on January 8
and moved them out of the area. On January 9, Tamils who
went to work in Kattankudy were attacked by Muslims. Muslims
displayed notices on January 10 instructing Tamils not to
enter Kattankudy. In response, the TMVP organized Tamil
protests in nearby Batticaloa. SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem has
accused the Karuna group of attempting to grab land from
Muslims in the East and of damaging relations between the two
communities.
4. (C) On January 10, senior SLMC leader Hizbullah, the
Batticaloa Government Agent, Tamil and Muslim community
leaders, senior police personnel, Special Task Force
personnel, and the TMVP's Batticaloa leader met and decided
to turn control of the disputed land over to the Batticaloa
Government Agent. Hizbullah told Pol FSN that if the Muslim
community can produce a legal deed to the land, it will be
honored. Otherwise, the land will be designated for public
use.
5. (C) Comment: The ongoing conflict and continuous
displacement of people in the East, both Muslims and Tamils,
continues to aggravate tensions between the two communities.
The Karuna group is taking advantage of this to grab land and
expand its influence. However, in pursuing this short-term
advantage, it is playing into the hands of the LTTE, which is
only too happy to see communal tensions inflamed.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: KARUNA GROUP AGGRAVATING TAMIL-MUSLIM TENSIONS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) Summary. A land dispute near Batticaloa led to
violence between the Tamil and Muslim communities on January
8 and 9. At a meeting on January 10, political party,
community, and government representatives agreed to allow the
Batticaloa Government Agent to take control of the disputed
land. If the Muslims can produce a legal deed, it will be
honored. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff
Hakeem has accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) breakaway Karuna group of landgrabbing. End Summary.
2. (C) The Muslim and Tamil communities near Batticaloa are
engaged in a dispute over land located in the town of
Arayampathy. Arayampathy, a predominantly Tamil area,
borders Kattankudy, a mainly Muslim area. The Tamil
community says the disputed land is Government-owned and
wants to use it as a cemetery, while the Muslim population
claims it belongs to them. In late December 2006, area
Muslims began building small huts on the land to occupy it.
In response, the Karuna group's political arm, Tamil Makkal
Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP),asked the Muslim occupants to
leave.
3. (C) The TMVP assaulted Muslims on the land on January 8
and moved them out of the area. On January 9, Tamils who
went to work in Kattankudy were attacked by Muslims. Muslims
displayed notices on January 10 instructing Tamils not to
enter Kattankudy. In response, the TMVP organized Tamil
protests in nearby Batticaloa. SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem has
accused the Karuna group of attempting to grab land from
Muslims in the East and of damaging relations between the two
communities.
4. (C) On January 10, senior SLMC leader Hizbullah, the
Batticaloa Government Agent, Tamil and Muslim community
leaders, senior police personnel, Special Task Force
personnel, and the TMVP's Batticaloa leader met and decided
to turn control of the disputed land over to the Batticaloa
Government Agent. Hizbullah told Pol FSN that if the Muslim
community can produce a legal deed to the land, it will be
honored. Otherwise, the land will be designated for public
use.
5. (C) Comment: The ongoing conflict and continuous
displacement of people in the East, both Muslims and Tamils,
continues to aggravate tensions between the two communities.
The Karuna group is taking advantage of this to grab land and
expand its influence. However, in pursuing this short-term
advantage, it is playing into the hands of the LTTE, which is
only too happy to see communal tensions inflamed.
BLAKE