To the list of already existing Sri Lankan Tamil political parties there is now a new addition in the form of Karuna's Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) - Tamileela People's Liberation Tigers. But the moot question is what is the difference TMVP will make? In answering this question, it is pertinent to notice some features of the Party evident from its "Tamil People's Manifesto of the Party":

Support Base

Men and material are the two basic resources to run any political party. Given the background of Karuna's dissent from the LTTE, Batticaloa is expected to be the support base of his party. But the basic document of his party wishes "to achieve the Tamil speaking people's aspirations". By this appeal he is trying to project the TMVP as a party of all the Tamils rather than that of section of the community. Reading between the lines, one comes to the conclusion that his aim is to get the support of the diaspora of which the Jaffna Tamils are in a majority, and whose financial contribution to LTTE's kitty is enormous. Given his tirade against Jaffna Tamils in the not so distant past, it is doubtful whether he would get their support. There is an attempt to rope in the Muslims by highlighting their woes. There are already many Muslim parties vying for the Muslim votes. What Karuna could probably get is some financial backing from Muslim businessmen. As far the cadre base is concerned, he has to content with Tamil support from pockets on the east of the Island.

Policy towards other Parties

TMVP is ready to work together with all parties in the Island, except the LTTE, to achieve the rights of the Tamils. The party strongly opposes the LTTE as the "sole representative" of the Tamils since the Tigers have "killed more Tamils than the Sri Lankan security forces." It therefore opposes handing over the interim administration (ISGA) to the LTTE. But, despite vitriolic attacks on the LTTE, the TMVP surprisingly retains, with modifications, most of the features of Tigers' emblem (crouching tiger) and colours (yellow and red).

Road Map for "Liberation"

According to Karuna, "hitherto all existing" parties have failed the Tamils; and TMVP would be different in achieving "liberation". The first step is "to relieve the liberation struggle of the Tamils from the cruel clutches of Prabakaran," leader of the Liberation Tigers. "Prabakaran never had a firm political or military strategy to attain the Tamil Eelam goal" and his "leadership qualities is questionable". Being with the Tigers is therefore "tantamount to more defeats." It resulted in the killings of "18,000 militants and 80,000 Eelam civilians". Hence it requires "maximum support to make the liberation struggle victorious." Unity of the people is the basis for liberation. The struggle "for the liberation of the Tamils would be based according to the valuable democratic principles." The "sympathy and support of the international community" is also crucial.

The roadmap of the TMVP, however, is ambiguous. If the first step is to get the Tamils freed from the LTTE, then, what is the second step; and third? This is not spelled out clearly. At least some plan of action would give credence to the party. Without providing its formulations, it surprisingly looks for the "advises and aspirations of the Tamil people" to "formulate our proposals and policies."

Overall, it is commendable that Karuna has renounced armed struggle and joined the political mainstream. But, in the process, he should not either go into oblivion or play second fiddle to the LTTE like other Tamil militant-turned political groups. There is one aspect where Karuna's TMVP could make a marked difference. Instead of nursing political ambitions Karuna could take up developmental works that are being sought by the Tamil community. Mending roads, de-mining the area for agriculture, relieving unemployment problem, rehabilitation of the displaced, developing educational institutions, and building-up intra-ethnic harmony (between Muslims and Tamils on the one hand and Tamils and Sinhalese on the other) are some of the promising areas he could explore. If he is successful in changing the face of the Northeast in any or all these areas, support - man power and financial - would automatically come in instead of his asking for it. Such an exercise would help transform the presently negative atmosphere that prevails on the ground and provide a base for durable settlement of the ethnic issue. Karuna would then be accepted by all sections of the Tamil community.