The undeclared Eelam War IV took another major turn last weekend as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a massive assault against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Vavuniya district, leading to an apparent second debacle experienced by theSLA. It showed that the LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran and his organization’s fighting capabilities had not been paralyzed by the recent series of setbacks in the eastern province, where almost all areas are under the control of the government except those areas in the Thoppigala jungles. The Tiger leader launched this surprise attack on the military in the Vanni region after a long silence. Coincidentally, the LTTE launched this attack a few hours after Army Commander Sarath Fonseka had toured the area during the day, to inspect the security situation in the area. After this inspection, Lt. General Fonseka advised his senior officers about the imminent and possible threats to the area.
It is not confirmed whether these intelligence reports had been taken seriously by the commanding officers, when considering the death toll and casualty figure resulting from the Tiger attack.
The Tigers first launched their attack on Saturday (03) around 7.45 in the night on the Kalmadu Army Camp, where the 57 Division had been established. A barrage of 130 mm artillery shells fell around the camp for more than 30 minutes, leading the military to retaliate with powerful artillery guns.
Around 8.30 pm, the LTTE fired towards the Pompemadhu Artillery base, where several 130 mm Artillery guns had been located. The first shell fell some five kilometres away from the base. When that occurred, knowing that the purpose of the Tigers was to target the military’s artillery base, where the 16 Battery (Company) of the Sixth Artillery Unit was established, the Commanding officer of the base, a young Major ordered his men to fire back using 130 mm artillery guns. He also ordered his men to fire elsewhere, beyond the camp in order to target any LTTE cadres who had infiltrated the area.
A few hours after the exchange of artillery fire between both parties, a shell fell and exploded in one of the mini ammunition dumps where 130 mm artillery shells were stored, setting it on fire. Before the fire could spread to other two mini ammunition dumps in the camp, officers and soldiers started pouring water on the other two dumps in order to keep the artillery shells that were in them at a low temperature as they would automatically explode if the temperature exceeded a certain temperature.
Due to this fire in the mini ammunition dump, the firing of artillery guns had been stopped, as it was dangerous to operate them which were located near the ammunition dump. A few minutes later another Tiger shell hit the communication centre of the base, disconnecting its communications with other detachments and the bunker line. At that time as there were no artillery attack on the Tigers, more than 250 LTTE cadres stormed the bunker line of the military at Pokkaravani area, north of Madhu, situated few kilometres towards to the Tiger held areas and started to fire indiscriminately. Manning the bunker line were soldiers of the 9th Gemunu Regiment and 4th Sinha Regiment. This bunkerline had been the LTTE’s Forward Defense Lines a few months earlier and was now under the control of the military. Since there were no communication link with the base and the soldiers in the frontlines the Tigers were able to easily infiltrate the cleared areas.
With the breakdown in communications, the young Major used his personnel mobile phone to keep contact with his senior commanding officials as well as the ground commanders.
However, a fierce battle continued during the night until the next morning. The soldiers and officers meanwhile had managed to save the other two mini dumps. One dump however had been completely destroyed, though initially the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) denied such an incident.
Meanwhile, in the early hours of the next day, two vehicles, a Buffel (Personnel Carrier vehicle) and a Bollero jeep were sent to transport casualties. But they did not return and Tamilnet later carried a picture of the Buffel claiming that they captured it from the army.
It is also learnt that by Saturday night the LTTE captured Mullikulam and some other areas in the Pokkarawani areas. On Sunday the Army was able to communicate with other troops spread over the area and artillery attacks were launched from the Pompemadhu base targeting the Tiger artillery locations. Later in the day, the Special Forces of the Sri Lanka Army launched a surprise attack in order to clear the area and rescue trapped soldiers. After few hours of fierce battles, the Tigers who had infiltrated the military FDLs fled towards area under their control due to the heavy resistance by the SF soldiers.
During that military operation, the SF soldiers were able to recapture the two vehicles and also destroy some mortar launching pad locations. However, as a precautionary measure, troops pulled back few metres from their initial positions until the other areas where some LTTE cadres had gone into hiding were cleared and consolidated.
Until yesterday heavy exchange of artillery fire continued to be reported in the areas. Both sides have reportedly suffered heavy casualties, but neither party has given the exact casualty figures yet.
Since Sunday, the Sri Lanka Air force conducted at least eight air raids over Tiger targets in the area especially in the Palampiddi area, where the Tigers were firing artillery at the military since Saturday.
The military claimed that it had intercepted Tiger communications which stated that at least one LTTE artillery gun had been destroyed due to the series of air raids.
It had also been reported of a major military buildup around the Palampiddi area since Saturday.
Though the MCNS claimed that by Wednesday, only 15 soldiers were killed and 13 soldiers were missing during the fierce battle, the LTTE claimed that more than 30 soldiers were killed and it had lost only 18 of their cadres. But according to ground information the actual figure is very high. As at yesterday more than 94 soldiers were injured and around 30 soldiers were killed. Over 30 soldiers have gone missing after the battle. However some of these missing injured soldiers were returning to base. On the LTTE side, it is now reported that more than 60 LTTE cadres were killed and at least 50 cadres injured. However most of them were injured or killed due to air force bombing.
After this latest assault by the LTTE, it is relevant to consider as to why the army should go into the LTTE held areas north of Madhu. According to ground commanders although the army is able to capture Tiger FDLs north of Madhu, no one sees any advantage in regaining only the land. The latest LTTE attack was a clear example that as long as the military is holding the land the military casualty figures would be high.
Most of the ground commanders feel that the LTTE, who lost the east, is now making every effort to save the Vanni region from government forces.
It is now clear that the LTTE Leader had sent his top military commanders to lead the Vavuniya military operation. LTTE’s former eastern special leader Swarnam, eastern military leader Bhanu, Mannar Sea Tiger Leader Lakshman and another top military leader Wannakkali Master had led the latest operation.
When considering the eastern region, the troops from the beginning had a clear purpose to wipe out the Tigers due to the closure of the sluice gate at Mawil Aru. The military launched the operation to liberate some ten thousand in Vakarai from the Tiger grip.
But in the case of the area surrounding Madhu, there was no clear purpose unless the army intends heading to capture Kilinochchi or some other LTTE military base.
As done in the east, the military could easily reduce the strength of the LTTE by launching small team operations. But what has happened now is that even before completing the resettlement in the east, the military has suffered two major defeats in the north.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/06/08/opinion/02.asp)
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