great commitment. Impact of war into civilian life Because of the clashes between LTTE and the Sri Lankan army at Eastern province there were around 35,000 people of 10,000 families internally displaced from Sampoor (Muthur), Seruvilla, Verugal (Echchalampattu) and Vakarai areas. The period of heavy clashes happened from December 2006 to April 2007, many people left their homes and arrived in Sri Lankan government controlled areas. Political situation in East After the Sri Lankan military gained control in the eastern province, the political situation within the Tamil society there dramatically changed. The many people living in the area now internally displaced (IDP) due to the ongoing war. The LTTE breakaway faction led by former LTTE Colonel Karuna would be more influential among the Tamil people. The political party named the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) opened several political offices in the area. . The TMVP contested Batticaloa district local council election on March 10, 2008, and won all 9 councils with a high majority 70% of votes. The party also contested in Eastern Provincial Council election May 10, 2008 under the ruling UPFA banner and UPFA won the election. TMVP's current leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan sworn as the Chief Minister of Eastern Provincial Council on May 16, 2008. TMVP ideology Colonel Karuna addresses his cadres during his visit to TMVP eastern military bases in February 2007 and described his vision about the ongoing crisis of the area. Anti rebel Asian Tribute claimed that Karuna stated that, "When we left the LTTE on 3 March 2004 we decided to enter into the mainstream politics of Sri Lanka. When we left the LTTE, we also gave up the policy of Separate state or Tamil Eelam. We do not believe in such a utopian politics any more. We today believe in rule of law, democracy and pluralism. Sri Lanka is our Motherland. We want to live equally with the majority Sinhalese and minority Muslims. We consider that it is our duty respect the country’s constitution and also the President and the Government of Sri Lanka". See also Sri Lankan Civil War Eelam War IV Notes Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley's exclusive References External links Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka GoSL Peace Secretariat LTTE Peace Secretariat Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Lanka Academic, news site sponsored by Sri Lankan academics worldwide Sangam.org Texts of key agreements in the peace process and an analysis of the process by