Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal

Tamil Peoples Liberation Tigers
தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகள்
AbbreviationTMVP
ChairmanSivanesathurai Chandrakanthan
General SecretaryPoopalapillai Prasanthan
FounderKaruna Amman
Founded2004
Split fromLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Preceded byKaruna Group
HeadquartersNo - 91, Vavikkarai Road-01 Batticaloa.
National affiliationSri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance
Parliament of Sri Lanka
1 / 225
Sri Lankan Provincial Councils
1 / 455
Local Government
37 / 8,327
Election symbol
Boat
Website
tmvp.lk

Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP;[1][2] Tamil: தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலைப்புலிகள், English: Tamil Peoples Liberation Tigers), previously known as the "Karuna Group", is a political party in Sri Lanka. It was formed by Karuna Amman (Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan), a former leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, after he defected from the organization in 2004. Initially a paramilitary group that helped the Sri Lankan Government fight the Tamil Tigers, the TMVP was registered as a political party in 2007. Under deputy leader Pillayan (Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan), they contested their first provincial elections in 2008, winning a majority in the Eastern Provincial Council. Members of the TMVP continue to carry arms under the auspices of the Sri Lankan government, which they claim is for their own safety from the Tamil Tigers, who carry out repeated attacks against them.[3] The group is believed to be working with the Sri Lankan Army.[4] They have been accused of human rights violation by local and international human rights organization.[5]

  1. ^ "Ex-Tamil Tigers win local polls". BBC News. March 11, 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.slelections.gov.lk/lauthorities/2006_results/KORALEPATTU_PRADESHIYA_SABHA.html[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ TMVP president shot dead BBC News - November 14, 2008
  4. ^ "Sri Lanka: Karuna Group Abducts Children for Combat", Human Rights Watch, August 9, 2007
  5. ^ Renegade sworn in as Sri Lanka MP BBC BBC News - October 8, 2008