Allegations of Human Rights Violations
Colonel Karuna was the LTTE head of the Eastern province in 1990, when between 113 police officers who surrendered to the group were subsequently massacred.
When Colonel Karuna was part of the LTTE, he was also implicated in the massacre of Muslims, including the Kattankudy and Erovar massacres in the eastern province. According to Sri Lankan military intelligence sources, "Karuna was not in the East province but in the Vanni during the time of the attacks on Kattankudy and Eravur Muslims. He was however intercepted giving orders to his cadres in the East in relation to various activities.".
RSF (Reporters Without Borders), has accused him of muzzling local journalists by forming death squads to silence those who oppose his point of view.
His armed group has been accused by human rights groups in the increasing involuntary disappearances of civilians in the Jaffna peninsula. They have been accused of taking part in death squad activity against civilians. They are also accused of child soldier recruitment by UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, and others. Additionally, a report by the United States Department of State claims that Karuna's group "was believed also to have killed 20 civilians."
Karuna has categorically denied these allegations in interviews claiming the LTTE is trying to discredit his party.
Read more about this topic: Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan
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