LTTE "intensifies" killings: Sri Lanka heading for war?

Colombo, 06 December, (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lanka is edging closer to war with LTTE further "intensifying" its violence in Jaffna and in the east. In Jaffna the LTTE launched its second attack today on a Sri Lankan Army (SLA) tractor in Irupalai (5 km North east of Jaffna town) killing seven soldiers and one seriously injured.

The victims of the incident have been identified as Lieutenant D V Muthugalage, Corporal B K Samarasinghe, soldiers S A Sumith Kumara, K M P Attanayake, K B Dayawansa, W G I N Wijetunge and H A Thilakasiri.

The seriously injured soldier, Private P.L. Senaratne was immediately airlifted to Colombo National Hospital for immediate surgery as his condition was deteriorating.

Simultaneously, LTTE "intensified" its attacks on the second front today in the east by attacking and killing Muslims and the rebel cadres of Col. Karuna.

Following the escalation of violence by the LTTE, the police and armed forces have been placed on high alert in and around Colombo city. The next step after attacks in Jaffna and in the east is for the LTTE suicide bombers to go on the rampage in the city of Colombo, according to security forces. .

As in the first attack on Sunday, today’s Claymore mine attack in Jaffna was launched on Sri Lankan soldiers returning in a tractor after delivering breakfast to the soldiers on the streets. The targeting of today’s SLA tractor has brought the total killed to fifteen soldiers.

In the east, LTTE cadres ambushed three of Col. Karuna’s cadres near the border of the Moneragala and Amparai Districts. In this ambush Iniyabarathy was killed with three other paramilitary cadres.

The military has blamed the Tamil Tiger rebels for attacks that killed the soldiers on Sunday and Monday. These two incidents are the most serious violence since the two sides signed a truce three years ago.

These unprovoked attacks violate the Ceasefire Agreement and Prabhakaran’s own pledge given at the Hero’s Day Speech (November 27, 2005) where he stated that he would "wait and observe" before "intensifying" his next round of violence, according to political analysts.

The United States has condemned renewed violence in Sri Lanka that threatens the country's fragile cease-fire.

In particular, the statement specifically condemned Sunday's attack, saying "such violence is inconsistent with (the Tigers') claims to be committed to the peace process.'' Amnesty International too has issued an urgent warning to deescalate the tensions .

In the meantime, DIG Colombo Pujitha Jayasundara said the city and its surroundings had been placed on alert after an LTTE cadre, amongst a number of suspects arrested, was found to be in possession of two passports bearing two different names and addresses.

The Tiger suspect had arrived in Colombo from Muttur, but the addresses and names in the passports were fictitious, DIG Jayasundara said.

Under the security alert, surveillance by the police and the armed forces has been increased at Orugodawatte, Bloemendhal Road and in the vicinity of the Kolonnawa oil storage tank complex. Special checkpoints manned by the police and armed forces personnel have been set up at important points of the city, he said.

- Asian Tribune –