The new Tamil alliance formed under the leadership of former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran has been placed under close scrutiny by defence officials over fears the alliance may align itself with hardline Tamil Diaspora groups. The Thamizh Makkal Thesiya Kootani led by Wigneswaran’s Thamizh Makkal Kootanii (TMK), includes the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) led by Suresh Premachandran, Tamil Thesiya Katchi led by Attorney-at-Law Sri Kantha and M.K. Shivajilingam (Secretary), and Ananthi Sasitharan’s Eelath Thamilar Suyaatchchi Kalagam. The alliance members signed a memorandum of understanding last week and submitted documents to register it as a political party at the Election Commission (EC). Defence sources said that there are concerns over moves by the alliance to draw support from the Tamil Diaspora and Tamil Nadu politicians. Concerns revolve around the new alliance promoting a separate state for the Tamils. The alliance members have also noted that they will take forward the policies of the now militarily defeated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Speaking on condition of anonymity, defence sources said that the authorities will keep a close watch on the new alliance to ensure it does not engage in any activity which could pose a threat to national unity and the security of the country. The pro-LTTE Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) has been calling for the creation of a broad “Tamil National Movement” to take forward the Tamil struggle. – Easwaran Rutnam