Police here is investigating the possible LTTE connection to the recovery of 10,000 non-electrical detonators from the Shakthan Thampuran bus stand on September 6.
The suspicion arose from the statement of the first accused, Najeeb, in the case registered by the police in connection with the recovery of the trigger devices.
Najeeb, hailing from Chevaramangalam in Kozhikode district, who was absconding, had surrendered in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on December 5 and was remanded.
The second accused in the case, Hafiz, hailing from Vilvattom, near here, was arrested on September 14.
According to police, Hafiz had bought 40,000 detonators from a firm in Kodungallur and had sold them to Najeeb on September 5.
Packed in two cardboard boxes and two jute bags, Hafiz transported these detonators in his car to Shakthan Thampuran bus stand here on September 5 night and had handed over them to Najeeb.
For transporting the detonators to Kozhikode, Najeeb had placed one of the jute bags in a Kozhikode-bound bus parked at the bus stand.
By the time he transported the rest of the luggage, the bus left the stand. Immediately, he hired a vehicle and chased the bus.
At Kunnamkulam, the employees of the bus told Najeeb that they left the jute bag placed in the bus at Shakthan Thamburan bus stand, as the baggage had no escort.
Later, the police recovered the jute bag containing 10,000 pieces of detonators from the bus stand.
Subsequently, a case was registered and the investigation as to where the 30,000 detonators were being taken to was in progress.
According to sources, during the interrogation, Najeeb had told the police that the detonators were sold to a criminal, Vijayakumar, who was known to Najeeb earlier.
Vijayakumar had come to India as a Sri Lankan refugee in 1990.
Police suspect that Vijayakumar has connection with LTTE and therefore, the investigation of the case is proceeding in that direction.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
49 LTTE cadres killed, LTTE claim 26 soldiers dead in clashes
At least 49 Tamil Tigers died in heavy gunbattles between Sri Lankan security forces and LTTE militants, while rebels claimed they killed over two dozen soldiers in island nation's embattled north.
"It has been confirmed from intercepted Tiger communication that the number of LTTE militants killed in confrontations in South-West Adampan in Mannar on Tuesday has increased to 32 with injuries to 20 rebels," the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said in a statement on Wednesday.
As many as 20 soldiers were also injured in the clashes, it said.
Meanwhile, LTTE claimed that "at least 20 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and 75 others were wounded during clashes in Paalakuli and Adampan in Mannar."
The rebel group said three Tigers were also killed in the fighting.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry said the two incidents of armed hostilities between army troops and LTTE militants in the general area of Muhamale on Wednesday left five rebels dead.
"It has been confirmed from intercepted Tiger communication that the number of LTTE militants killed in confrontations in South-West Adampan in Mannar on Tuesday has increased to 32 with injuries to 20 rebels," the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said in a statement on Wednesday.
As many as 20 soldiers were also injured in the clashes, it said.
Meanwhile, LTTE claimed that "at least 20 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and 75 others were wounded during clashes in Paalakuli and Adampan in Mannar."
The rebel group said three Tigers were also killed in the fighting.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry said the two incidents of armed hostilities between army troops and LTTE militants in the general area of Muhamale on Wednesday left five rebels dead.
Conflicting reports on war situation: Army claims 32 LTTE cadres killed against 5 Army losses, LTTE claims 20 Army killed
Heavy fighting reported in the frontlines of the Northern Province theatres of war yesterday, where a total of 32 LTTE cadres were killed. The Sri Lanka Army has lost 5 soldiers. Fighting erupted in South Adampan located in Mannar from 11 AM to 5.30 PM on Tuesday.
Radio monitoring of LTTE transmission has revealed that 22 LTTE cadres were killed and 30 others injured in this battle. In addition, three army soldiers were killed and seven others injured. The injured have been admitted to Mannar and Anuradhapura hospitals.
In another fighting, a group of soldiers crossed over the front lines in the Muhamalai, Jaffna peninsula north of LTTE held territory on Tuesday morning, in an attack that destroyed a bunker and killed 6 Tamil Tigers.
Troops in the area launched an attack against a second bunker Tuesday afternoon, killing at least four LTTE cadres the military said. In this battle 2 Sri Lankan Army soldiers were killed.
In the meantime, LTTE news release reveled according to LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan at least 20 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and more than 75 wounded when Liberation Tigers repulsed a two-pronged ground movement Tuesday in Mannnar
He further added that after heavy fighting that lasted from 12:30 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Sri Lanka Army began retreating in two fronts in Adampan and Paalaikkuzhi. At 6:00 p.m. the SLA was pushed back to its original Forward Defence Line (FDL) position.
He also said that Tigers have seized Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers, assault rifles and explosives, he said. Three fighters of the LTTE were killed in action.
The conflicting version of the LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan cannot be verified as he was not available for comments.
Radio monitoring of LTTE transmission has revealed that 22 LTTE cadres were killed and 30 others injured in this battle. In addition, three army soldiers were killed and seven others injured. The injured have been admitted to Mannar and Anuradhapura hospitals.
In another fighting, a group of soldiers crossed over the front lines in the Muhamalai, Jaffna peninsula north of LTTE held territory on Tuesday morning, in an attack that destroyed a bunker and killed 6 Tamil Tigers.
Troops in the area launched an attack against a second bunker Tuesday afternoon, killing at least four LTTE cadres the military said. In this battle 2 Sri Lankan Army soldiers were killed.
In the meantime, LTTE news release reveled according to LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan at least 20 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and more than 75 wounded when Liberation Tigers repulsed a two-pronged ground movement Tuesday in Mannnar
He further added that after heavy fighting that lasted from 12:30 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Sri Lanka Army began retreating in two fronts in Adampan and Paalaikkuzhi. At 6:00 p.m. the SLA was pushed back to its original Forward Defence Line (FDL) position.
He also said that Tigers have seized Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers, assault rifles and explosives, he said. Three fighters of the LTTE were killed in action.
The conflicting version of the LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan cannot be verified as he was not available for comments.
Continuous pre-emptive strikes cause heavy losses to LTTE - Mannar
Security forces continuous their pre-emptive attacks to neutralize the LTTE in the Mannar area causing heavy damages to the enemy, defence sources in Mannar said. According to the ground troops, at least twelve LTTE cadres were killed or severely wounded in two separate confrontations erupted in the Mannar area yesterday, December 12.
A bunker on the LTTE defence line at Karikkulam was destroyed when army troops launched a pre-emptive strike around 9.20 a.m yesterday. At least seven LTTE cadres were killed or severely injured due to this attack, sources added.
Meanwhile, five LTTE cadres were killed or severely injured when the security forces launched an attack targeting a group of LTTE infiltrators in Parappakandal area around 6.00 p.m yesterday. The LTTE group comprising five to six LTTE cadres were moving towards the security forces defences and launched an observed fire targeting them, ground troops further said.
A bunker on the LTTE defence line at Karikkulam was destroyed when army troops launched a pre-emptive strike around 9.20 a.m yesterday. At least seven LTTE cadres were killed or severely injured due to this attack, sources added.
Meanwhile, five LTTE cadres were killed or severely injured when the security forces launched an attack targeting a group of LTTE infiltrators in Parappakandal area around 6.00 p.m yesterday. The LTTE group comprising five to six LTTE cadres were moving towards the security forces defences and launched an observed fire targeting them, ground troops further said.
Disinformation :Deceitful Tigers Distort History
A recent program on Sri Lanka in "Unreported World" by Britain's Channel 4, focusing on the current situation in the conflict areas, interviewed Sri Lanka Army Commander Sarath Fonseka on Nov. 9. When asked why unidentified gunmen still run amok in the east, the lieutenant general responded, "it will happen as far as the LTTE and its operations are continued." Pro-Tiger media twisted his words and substituted it "will happen as far as the anti-terrorist operations are continuing," to make it appear he was admitting to government responsibility, when in fact, his actual response left no doubt he held Tigers responsible. Nevertheless, Tiger intention was to deceive the international community.
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington, inundated with inquiries from concerned individuals, who had taken exception to this distorted version of the interview, was left to explain, that this was the latest strand of a cunningly woven web of deceitful Tiger propaganda, spanning decades of creating and building nonexistent grievances on situations that never existed and incidents that never happened.
Take for example, the recent YouTube presentation, "Short History of Sri Lanka — Tamils Against State Terrorism." This bogus documentary is designed to ensnare members of the international community unfamiliar with Sri Lanka's conflict, and younger generations of Tamil diaspora, whose knowledge of Sri Lanka's history is scant at best.
That program starts thus, "When the British took over the island in 1796, there were two distinct kingdoms, one Sinhalese, and the other, Tamil. In 1948 British granted independence to the island, handing power to the Sinhalese majority." These falsehoods accompany a flag of a Tamil kingdom that never existed ( YouTube - Short History Of Sri Lanka - Tamils Against State Terrorism
Those who follow Sri Lanka's fortunes are aware that successive Sri Lankan governments tried to negotiate peace with Tigers in 1985, 1987, 1989/90, 1994/95, 2002 and 2006, but, the Tigers came to the negotiating table only to buy time to regroup and build its fighting capability, and never allowed discussions to focus on settling the conflict. Yet, the YouTube documentary accuses the government of employing "traditional methods of intransigence and foot dragging."
In deeper analysis, the very foundation of the LTTE demand for "Tamil Eelam" is fictitious, for at no time in Sri Lanka's history was there "a traditional Tamil homeland," comprising north and east as claimed by Tigers. The Vaddukkodai Resolution of 1976 of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) tried to establish a Tamil homeland (Eelam) in those two provinces, based on a paragraph from an ill-informed Minute by the first British colonial secretary, Hugh Cleghorn. Tamil political groups, selectively chose a section of the Minute to buttress their claims: "Two different nations from a very ancient period, have divided between them the possessions of the island: First the Cinhalese (Singhalese) inhabiting the interior of the country in its southern and western parts from the river Wallowe to that of Chilaw, and secondly the Malabars (Tamils), who possess the northern and eastern districts.
These two nations differ in their religions, language and manners." The TULF and LTTE conveniently ignored that then-Governor of Ceylon Fredrick North expressed reservations on the accuracy of Mr. Cleghorn's Minute, where Mr. Cleghorn had also erroneously stated that the Sinhalese derived their origin from Siam (Thailand). This statement was craftily left out by Tamil political groups as it would cast doubts on the veracity of their claims to a Tamil homeland. Tamil scholar Mudliyar C. Rasanayagam in his 1926 book, "Ancient Jaffna," says, "That Jaffna was occupied by the Sinhalese earlier than by the Tamils, is seen not only in the place names of Jaffna, but also in some of the habits and customs of the people."
Thus, Tigers have masterfully distorted history, demography and geography to mislead the world on a dubious claim of the existence of a "historical Tamil Homeland." According to Tiger sources, over the past twenty-four years, they have sacrificed 19,538 young men and women, including child soldiers, up to August 2007, in pursuit of a homeland. Tigers, who try to forcibly foist their will on Tamils as "their sole representatives," are the very source single-mindedly decimating the Tamil race in Sri Lanka.
On Nov. 28, Tigers used a disabled Tamil woman as a suicide bomber in an attempt to assassinate former militant-turned moderate Tamil politician and Cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda. It is obvious Tigers act with little consideration for Tamils. Thus, the international community in general, and the Tamil community in particular, need to recognize the Tigers for what they are — a group of ruthless terrorists, who demand sacrifice after sacrifice from Tamil youth, while rapaciously milking the Tamil diaspora, until their mythical "Tamil Homeland" becomes reality.
Bernard Goonetilleke is the Sri Lanka ambassador
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington, inundated with inquiries from concerned individuals, who had taken exception to this distorted version of the interview, was left to explain, that this was the latest strand of a cunningly woven web of deceitful Tiger propaganda, spanning decades of creating and building nonexistent grievances on situations that never existed and incidents that never happened.
Take for example, the recent YouTube presentation, "Short History of Sri Lanka — Tamils Against State Terrorism." This bogus documentary is designed to ensnare members of the international community unfamiliar with Sri Lanka's conflict, and younger generations of Tamil diaspora, whose knowledge of Sri Lanka's history is scant at best.
That program starts thus, "When the British took over the island in 1796, there were two distinct kingdoms, one Sinhalese, and the other, Tamil. In 1948 British granted independence to the island, handing power to the Sinhalese majority." These falsehoods accompany a flag of a Tamil kingdom that never existed ( YouTube - Short History Of Sri Lanka - Tamils Against State Terrorism
Those who follow Sri Lanka's fortunes are aware that successive Sri Lankan governments tried to negotiate peace with Tigers in 1985, 1987, 1989/90, 1994/95, 2002 and 2006, but, the Tigers came to the negotiating table only to buy time to regroup and build its fighting capability, and never allowed discussions to focus on settling the conflict. Yet, the YouTube documentary accuses the government of employing "traditional methods of intransigence and foot dragging."
In deeper analysis, the very foundation of the LTTE demand for "Tamil Eelam" is fictitious, for at no time in Sri Lanka's history was there "a traditional Tamil homeland," comprising north and east as claimed by Tigers. The Vaddukkodai Resolution of 1976 of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) tried to establish a Tamil homeland (Eelam) in those two provinces, based on a paragraph from an ill-informed Minute by the first British colonial secretary, Hugh Cleghorn. Tamil political groups, selectively chose a section of the Minute to buttress their claims: "Two different nations from a very ancient period, have divided between them the possessions of the island: First the Cinhalese (Singhalese) inhabiting the interior of the country in its southern and western parts from the river Wallowe to that of Chilaw, and secondly the Malabars (Tamils), who possess the northern and eastern districts.
These two nations differ in their religions, language and manners." The TULF and LTTE conveniently ignored that then-Governor of Ceylon Fredrick North expressed reservations on the accuracy of Mr. Cleghorn's Minute, where Mr. Cleghorn had also erroneously stated that the Sinhalese derived their origin from Siam (Thailand). This statement was craftily left out by Tamil political groups as it would cast doubts on the veracity of their claims to a Tamil homeland. Tamil scholar Mudliyar C. Rasanayagam in his 1926 book, "Ancient Jaffna," says, "That Jaffna was occupied by the Sinhalese earlier than by the Tamils, is seen not only in the place names of Jaffna, but also in some of the habits and customs of the people."
Thus, Tigers have masterfully distorted history, demography and geography to mislead the world on a dubious claim of the existence of a "historical Tamil Homeland." According to Tiger sources, over the past twenty-four years, they have sacrificed 19,538 young men and women, including child soldiers, up to August 2007, in pursuit of a homeland. Tigers, who try to forcibly foist their will on Tamils as "their sole representatives," are the very source single-mindedly decimating the Tamil race in Sri Lanka.
On Nov. 28, Tigers used a disabled Tamil woman as a suicide bomber in an attempt to assassinate former militant-turned moderate Tamil politician and Cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda. It is obvious Tigers act with little consideration for Tamils. Thus, the international community in general, and the Tamil community in particular, need to recognize the Tigers for what they are — a group of ruthless terrorists, who demand sacrifice after sacrifice from Tamil youth, while rapaciously milking the Tamil diaspora, until their mythical "Tamil Homeland" becomes reality.
Bernard Goonetilleke is the Sri Lanka ambassador
Lions of the Punjab and Jungle Lions by a soldier who remembers
Hakirat and our Singhes
Maj. Gen. Harkirat Singh who was General Officer Commanding (GOC) 54 Indian Division in Jaffna with the IPKF in 1987 has made a shattering revelation that the Indian High Commissioner in SL, JN Dixit "told him that Rajiv Gandhi wanted Prabakaran physically eliminated when he showed up in the IPKF chief’s office for a meeting on September 16 (1987) under the white flag, to discuss the formation of an interim administrative council," according to Mail Today, an Indian tabloid published on 7 December 2007. Maj. Gen. Hakirat apparently asked Dixit for time. He then spoke to the Overall Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Depinder Singh (located in Chennai), his boss, during which conversation he had stated he would not be "a party to cold blooded murder." He then called Dixit in Colombo and "calmly told him, I will not obey your directives." He explained to Dixit that "good soldiers do not shoot an adversary in the back."
Maj. Gen. Hakirat Singh expands on this in his book ‘Intervention in Sri Lanka’ to state, "Killing some one during war is fine. But killing under a white flag (flag of truce) is not done." Dixit then apparently threatened Hakirat saying that "Rajiv Gandhi has given those instructions to me."
Dixit did not impress the General. In Dixit’s book ‘Assignment in Jaffna’ he refers to Hakirat wanting him to come to Jaffna in mid September 1987
as he was getting increasingly perturbed by LTTE demos and agitations (orchestrated by Prabakaran). He also states that the General "even complained that the High Commissioner was unwilling to take on political responsibilities." This could have been a reference to Dixit refusing to accede to Prabakaran’s request to go to the temple where Thileepan was fasting and appealing to him to stop fasting.
Dixit says he refused because he knew Prabakaran would stage-manage the crowds and rub the Indians collective face in the dirt as Thileepan would never agree to give up his death fast.
Lt. Gen. Depinder Singh in his book ‘The IPKF in Sri Lanka’ says that the IPKF at the same time had "reasonable proof that the LTTE had ‘imported’ (a very strange word for a professional military man to use for ‘smuggling’), some 700 rifles, ammo and explosives from Singapore," (the country that is likened to heaven by some SL politicians and businessmen), but that Hakirat had become ‘emotionally attached to the LTTE, as indeed had all of us’.(Few who were familiar with the IPKF at this time will show surprise at this comment).
He goes on to state that there was chaos in their efforts to form an Interim Administrative Council (IAC), while the High Commission appeared to "drag its feet." He says Hakirat sent "a pretty rude signal to the High Commissioner."
Lt. Gen. Depinder then "immediately dashed off an apology" to the High Commissioner. There is no mention of Hakirat’s very serious allegation in either of these 2 books. However, in Dixit’s book, he says when he had hurried back to Colombo from Delhi on 1-2 October ‘87, he called Hakirat to request him to prevent the LTTE cadres including Pulendran who were captured by the SL Navy in the Palk Straits from being sent to Colombo. Hakirat bluntly told Dixit he did not figure in his (Hakirat’s) chain of command and Dixit should send his request to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, which would route it through the Defence Ministry, Indian Army HQ and GOC Southern Command etc. Dixit says Hakirat "being a disciplined soldier… was quite clear in his mind that he would only accept orders from proper channels."
This is the only hint of a mighty Dixit and Hakirat showdown.
Maj. Gen. Hakirat was later posted out of the IPKF and never promoted. Whether this was due to the General’s ‘last’ stand or for other reasons is not clear. "All the conversations between Hakirat and others are recorded in the war diaries of the 54 Division which are held in its HQ at Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh." The details were passed on to the Army Chief of Staff at General HQ in Delhi. There were no objections.
The conduct of Hakirat if he is to be believed, is in the highest traditions of professional men at arms. However, a new book ‘The Sky is the Limit’ by Maj. Gen. Jaswant Singh, the IPKF Signals chief gives major insights into the burgeoning differences on the conduct of operations that appeared amongst the key players including Hakirat.
It is not affected by the naivety that marks the earlier books on the IPKF. Like the book ‘Lightning War’ which came barrelling out after the 1971 Indo Pak war, these accounts suffered from being too quick to be credible.
Although there is no evidence to prove that Rajiv Gandhi ever gave such an order, Maj. Gen. Hakirat Singh’s revelations are bound to open fresh controversies, as the LTTE later killed Rajiv Gandhi using a suicide bomber. Will they now try to justify that murder and for ever believe that the Indian Government cannot wait to see the last of Prabakaran or for that matter the LTTE?
Mr. Dixit who later became India’s Foreign Secretary passed away two years ago, so there is no way to authenticate the General’s allegation. Unfortunately, if not purposely, the General did not consider confronting Mr. Dixit when he was alive.
Most, but not all Singhs are Sikhs, legendary warriors who ruled the Punjab for hundreds of years until the advent of the British in the 19th century to whom they lost two ferocious and closely fought wars, after the second of which the victorious British who then annexed the Punjab said "one more victory like this and we are finished."
The Sikhs constitute a very high percentage of the fighting strength of the Indian army. Its formidable regiments invariably spearhead Indian army battle groups in any conflicts in the Punjab. However, the Jat Sikhs, the rich land owners amongst them rebelled in the 1980s. Perhaps their worst atrocity was the bombing of a Canada bound plane carrying mainly Indians out of the skies. In the ensuing insurgency, the Sikh Holy temple in Amritsar was stormed by the Indian army after which the insurgency collapsed.
Later, Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India was killed by her own Sikh bodyguards and there were riots in Delhi during which Sikhs suffered.
The Sikhs are not only outspoken, they also prefer to hit hard when aggravated.
There are many examples of similar honourable conduct by SL officers. In the 1971 JVP insurgency, when illegal orders to kill arrested suspects were sent to military detachments, a major was sent to the Hanwella police station to order a very junior Engineer officer there to finish off the prisoners in the police cells. He refused and was roundly abused being told he was a disgrace to the officer corps but he stood firm.
A similar incident happened in Rambukkana. In 1989, during the 2nd JVP uprising the Commanding officer of the Gemunu Watch who had led his regiment to a famous victory at Vadamarachchi in 1987, refused to go along with orders to murder civilians whose names had been listed by a politician and given to the coordinating officer in Badulla to be passed on to him.
He was retired immediately by military signal by the then army commander who did not have the guts, backbone or sense of honour to stand up for his subordinate, whose deeds were even then legendary. Another commanding officer of the Gemunu Watch whose father was the founder of the regiment was also lambasted by a minister for not ‘eliminating’ about 30 suspect civilians that same year but stood his ground and refused to back down to betray his manhood to please a sinister and murderous minister.
That is how professional armies create traditions, uphold the law and protect their nation’s honour. There are many other examples, too many to recount here.
During the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950s, during which the Mau Mau committed unspeakable atrocities, a British Infantry Warrant Officer (Sergeant Major), when ordered to kill a Mau Mau suspect, refused his officer who was a national service conscript who then threatened to shoot him. The officer was later court martialled.
What then is the moral of this story? It is that no military officer can be compelled to carry out any illegal orders given by anyone, from murder to treason, and that there is no escape from the consequences of following such orders, even if it was done on the orders of a superior. Also the General Singhs of India are quite unlike General Singhes of SL. This are also about three Generals of the SL Army who did not have the courage of their convictions, little if any sense of personal honour or even a tinge of patriotism, who abused the trust of their subordinate, cared little for the men who served them and the country they served and did not share the standards of professional military men such as Maj. Gen. Hakirat and the SL officers mentioned above. The JVP leader, Rohana Wijeweera was captured and brought to Army HQ where he was interviewed on TV and confessed to his crimes. A short while later he was killed in ‘cold blood’, the very thing Gen. Hakirat refused to do.
Who gave the order to kill Wijeweera?
Was it the Army Commander or someone else? To whom was the order given and who carried it out? Where is the war diary of Army HQ? What is the legal position of military officers who obeyed orders from politicians? What happens to the chain of command then? Who is to blame for the subsequent breakdown of military discipline and its deleterious effects on the operational effectiveness, conduct and morale of the army?
Who will answer allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the future? Will only junior officers be brought to trial? Unfortunately, war diaries are not maintained by the SL army for reasons which need to be ferreted out.
The three Generals finally descended like Orpheus to the lowest part of hell and agreed to commit treason. They in 1989 ordered weapons and ammunition to be delivered to the LTTE, apparently on the orders of the President which were passed on without any objection by the Defence Ministry to SL Army HQ for execution. This was a betrayal of the SL nation and its army and the IPKF which was fighting as an ally of SL.
One General said he had protested against the order but gave in and cried. Another used to remind his listeners that as the President was not a man who tolerated dissent, he acceded to his request in fear. These were men who must have at one time proclaimed they joined the army to serve the country and if need be die in its defence, yet they were willing to betray the same country for fear of one man. They being caught in a vortex of extreme and shared guilt and having forfeited their honour, were later involved in passing on surrender orders to the troops and the police in the East at the start of Eelam war II.
All they thought of was their own survival. They had no sense of responsibility to the troops and police concerned or of any sense of shame. Neither did the deaths of 600 policemen who were bound, gagged and shot in cold blood stir any residue of conscience they may have had. The mainly infantry soldiers, right down to section level where just corporals were in command, given the lead by their officers, did not heed the call of the three frightened and treacherous Generals, though they were surrounded and fought until relieved with no outside contact, reinforcement or replenishment of ammunition and food for two weeks.
Two of the three generals were given diplomatic appointments and the third an appointment in the defence ministry. None of them had any sense of honour or the guts to refuse treasonable orders.
Two Generals survive, but they have still not asked to be forgiven. In time their shame will be buried with them after a funeral with full military honours. This is Sri Lanka which has suffered over 20,000 military and an equivalent civilian death toll, fighting a guerilla/terrorist war for the last 25 years.
It cannot still comprehend the enormity and consequences of that betrayal. Can this infamy go unheeded like so much else? Will only majors who committed treason pay the price? Who will write of the agony of the SL nation and protect its military from the traitors within?
The motto of the SL Army was Pro Patria (For Country). What was it for these three‘Generals’? Judas?
Maj. Gen. Harkirat Singh who was General Officer Commanding (GOC) 54 Indian Division in Jaffna with the IPKF in 1987 has made a shattering revelation that the Indian High Commissioner in SL, JN Dixit "told him that Rajiv Gandhi wanted Prabakaran physically eliminated when he showed up in the IPKF chief’s office for a meeting on September 16 (1987) under the white flag, to discuss the formation of an interim administrative council," according to Mail Today, an Indian tabloid published on 7 December 2007. Maj. Gen. Hakirat apparently asked Dixit for time. He then spoke to the Overall Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Depinder Singh (located in Chennai), his boss, during which conversation he had stated he would not be "a party to cold blooded murder." He then called Dixit in Colombo and "calmly told him, I will not obey your directives." He explained to Dixit that "good soldiers do not shoot an adversary in the back."
Maj. Gen. Hakirat Singh expands on this in his book ‘Intervention in Sri Lanka’ to state, "Killing some one during war is fine. But killing under a white flag (flag of truce) is not done." Dixit then apparently threatened Hakirat saying that "Rajiv Gandhi has given those instructions to me."
Dixit did not impress the General. In Dixit’s book ‘Assignment in Jaffna’ he refers to Hakirat wanting him to come to Jaffna in mid September 1987
as he was getting increasingly perturbed by LTTE demos and agitations (orchestrated by Prabakaran). He also states that the General "even complained that the High Commissioner was unwilling to take on political responsibilities." This could have been a reference to Dixit refusing to accede to Prabakaran’s request to go to the temple where Thileepan was fasting and appealing to him to stop fasting.
Dixit says he refused because he knew Prabakaran would stage-manage the crowds and rub the Indians collective face in the dirt as Thileepan would never agree to give up his death fast.
Lt. Gen. Depinder Singh in his book ‘The IPKF in Sri Lanka’ says that the IPKF at the same time had "reasonable proof that the LTTE had ‘imported’ (a very strange word for a professional military man to use for ‘smuggling’), some 700 rifles, ammo and explosives from Singapore," (the country that is likened to heaven by some SL politicians and businessmen), but that Hakirat had become ‘emotionally attached to the LTTE, as indeed had all of us’.(Few who were familiar with the IPKF at this time will show surprise at this comment).
He goes on to state that there was chaos in their efforts to form an Interim Administrative Council (IAC), while the High Commission appeared to "drag its feet." He says Hakirat sent "a pretty rude signal to the High Commissioner."
Lt. Gen. Depinder then "immediately dashed off an apology" to the High Commissioner. There is no mention of Hakirat’s very serious allegation in either of these 2 books. However, in Dixit’s book, he says when he had hurried back to Colombo from Delhi on 1-2 October ‘87, he called Hakirat to request him to prevent the LTTE cadres including Pulendran who were captured by the SL Navy in the Palk Straits from being sent to Colombo. Hakirat bluntly told Dixit he did not figure in his (Hakirat’s) chain of command and Dixit should send his request to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, which would route it through the Defence Ministry, Indian Army HQ and GOC Southern Command etc. Dixit says Hakirat "being a disciplined soldier… was quite clear in his mind that he would only accept orders from proper channels."
This is the only hint of a mighty Dixit and Hakirat showdown.
Maj. Gen. Hakirat was later posted out of the IPKF and never promoted. Whether this was due to the General’s ‘last’ stand or for other reasons is not clear. "All the conversations between Hakirat and others are recorded in the war diaries of the 54 Division which are held in its HQ at Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh." The details were passed on to the Army Chief of Staff at General HQ in Delhi. There were no objections.
The conduct of Hakirat if he is to be believed, is in the highest traditions of professional men at arms. However, a new book ‘The Sky is the Limit’ by Maj. Gen. Jaswant Singh, the IPKF Signals chief gives major insights into the burgeoning differences on the conduct of operations that appeared amongst the key players including Hakirat.
It is not affected by the naivety that marks the earlier books on the IPKF. Like the book ‘Lightning War’ which came barrelling out after the 1971 Indo Pak war, these accounts suffered from being too quick to be credible.
Although there is no evidence to prove that Rajiv Gandhi ever gave such an order, Maj. Gen. Hakirat Singh’s revelations are bound to open fresh controversies, as the LTTE later killed Rajiv Gandhi using a suicide bomber. Will they now try to justify that murder and for ever believe that the Indian Government cannot wait to see the last of Prabakaran or for that matter the LTTE?
Mr. Dixit who later became India’s Foreign Secretary passed away two years ago, so there is no way to authenticate the General’s allegation. Unfortunately, if not purposely, the General did not consider confronting Mr. Dixit when he was alive.
Most, but not all Singhs are Sikhs, legendary warriors who ruled the Punjab for hundreds of years until the advent of the British in the 19th century to whom they lost two ferocious and closely fought wars, after the second of which the victorious British who then annexed the Punjab said "one more victory like this and we are finished."
The Sikhs constitute a very high percentage of the fighting strength of the Indian army. Its formidable regiments invariably spearhead Indian army battle groups in any conflicts in the Punjab. However, the Jat Sikhs, the rich land owners amongst them rebelled in the 1980s. Perhaps their worst atrocity was the bombing of a Canada bound plane carrying mainly Indians out of the skies. In the ensuing insurgency, the Sikh Holy temple in Amritsar was stormed by the Indian army after which the insurgency collapsed.
Later, Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India was killed by her own Sikh bodyguards and there were riots in Delhi during which Sikhs suffered.
The Sikhs are not only outspoken, they also prefer to hit hard when aggravated.
There are many examples of similar honourable conduct by SL officers. In the 1971 JVP insurgency, when illegal orders to kill arrested suspects were sent to military detachments, a major was sent to the Hanwella police station to order a very junior Engineer officer there to finish off the prisoners in the police cells. He refused and was roundly abused being told he was a disgrace to the officer corps but he stood firm.
A similar incident happened in Rambukkana. In 1989, during the 2nd JVP uprising the Commanding officer of the Gemunu Watch who had led his regiment to a famous victory at Vadamarachchi in 1987, refused to go along with orders to murder civilians whose names had been listed by a politician and given to the coordinating officer in Badulla to be passed on to him.
He was retired immediately by military signal by the then army commander who did not have the guts, backbone or sense of honour to stand up for his subordinate, whose deeds were even then legendary. Another commanding officer of the Gemunu Watch whose father was the founder of the regiment was also lambasted by a minister for not ‘eliminating’ about 30 suspect civilians that same year but stood his ground and refused to back down to betray his manhood to please a sinister and murderous minister.
That is how professional armies create traditions, uphold the law and protect their nation’s honour. There are many other examples, too many to recount here.
During the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950s, during which the Mau Mau committed unspeakable atrocities, a British Infantry Warrant Officer (Sergeant Major), when ordered to kill a Mau Mau suspect, refused his officer who was a national service conscript who then threatened to shoot him. The officer was later court martialled.
What then is the moral of this story? It is that no military officer can be compelled to carry out any illegal orders given by anyone, from murder to treason, and that there is no escape from the consequences of following such orders, even if it was done on the orders of a superior. Also the General Singhs of India are quite unlike General Singhes of SL. This are also about three Generals of the SL Army who did not have the courage of their convictions, little if any sense of personal honour or even a tinge of patriotism, who abused the trust of their subordinate, cared little for the men who served them and the country they served and did not share the standards of professional military men such as Maj. Gen. Hakirat and the SL officers mentioned above. The JVP leader, Rohana Wijeweera was captured and brought to Army HQ where he was interviewed on TV and confessed to his crimes. A short while later he was killed in ‘cold blood’, the very thing Gen. Hakirat refused to do.
Who gave the order to kill Wijeweera?
Was it the Army Commander or someone else? To whom was the order given and who carried it out? Where is the war diary of Army HQ? What is the legal position of military officers who obeyed orders from politicians? What happens to the chain of command then? Who is to blame for the subsequent breakdown of military discipline and its deleterious effects on the operational effectiveness, conduct and morale of the army?
Who will answer allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the future? Will only junior officers be brought to trial? Unfortunately, war diaries are not maintained by the SL army for reasons which need to be ferreted out.
The three Generals finally descended like Orpheus to the lowest part of hell and agreed to commit treason. They in 1989 ordered weapons and ammunition to be delivered to the LTTE, apparently on the orders of the President which were passed on without any objection by the Defence Ministry to SL Army HQ for execution. This was a betrayal of the SL nation and its army and the IPKF which was fighting as an ally of SL.
One General said he had protested against the order but gave in and cried. Another used to remind his listeners that as the President was not a man who tolerated dissent, he acceded to his request in fear. These were men who must have at one time proclaimed they joined the army to serve the country and if need be die in its defence, yet they were willing to betray the same country for fear of one man. They being caught in a vortex of extreme and shared guilt and having forfeited their honour, were later involved in passing on surrender orders to the troops and the police in the East at the start of Eelam war II.
All they thought of was their own survival. They had no sense of responsibility to the troops and police concerned or of any sense of shame. Neither did the deaths of 600 policemen who were bound, gagged and shot in cold blood stir any residue of conscience they may have had. The mainly infantry soldiers, right down to section level where just corporals were in command, given the lead by their officers, did not heed the call of the three frightened and treacherous Generals, though they were surrounded and fought until relieved with no outside contact, reinforcement or replenishment of ammunition and food for two weeks.
Two of the three generals were given diplomatic appointments and the third an appointment in the defence ministry. None of them had any sense of honour or the guts to refuse treasonable orders.
Two Generals survive, but they have still not asked to be forgiven. In time their shame will be buried with them after a funeral with full military honours. This is Sri Lanka which has suffered over 20,000 military and an equivalent civilian death toll, fighting a guerilla/terrorist war for the last 25 years.
It cannot still comprehend the enormity and consequences of that betrayal. Can this infamy go unheeded like so much else? Will only majors who committed treason pay the price? Who will write of the agony of the SL nation and protect its military from the traitors within?
The motto of the SL Army was Pro Patria (For Country). What was it for these three‘Generals’? Judas?
Lanka seeks access to top LTTE agent in Indian custody
Although India has overlooked previous requests for access to LTTE operatives in her custody on, what a senior official called, domestic political reasons, Sri Lanka is confident that a chance to question Jayakumar (34) alias Gowrishankar, a senior Sea Tiger in Indian custody wouldn't be denied.
Jayakumar, believed to be one of the highest ranking LTTE operatives arrested in India after the Norwegian-arranged CFA came into operation in February, 2002, is widely believed to be a central figure in the LTTE arms procurement ring. Under interrogation, he has revealed the financial support received from the UK based LTTE organisations in support of the operations in Sri Lanka.
A resident of Valvettiturai, Jayakumar is believed to have joined Sea Tigers in 1995 and has some close relatives living at Thanjavur.
India didn't allow SLN to question three LTTE operatives arrested along with two Indians on February 13, this year and six others, believed to be a special squad deployed for arms smuggling operations arrested by her Coast Guard on April 11. Although India signalled that it could arrange two Sri Lankan intelligence personnel to meet investigators who interrogated the suspects, it never materialised.
India also blew up the vessel seized in February, 27 nautical miles South West of point Calimere claiming that it carried about 2,000kgs of high explosives and posed a danger to Chennai port.
Eyebrows were raised when a section of the Indian officialdom claimed that the explosives laden boat was on a suicide mission on Kankesanturai port.
The Island learns that Sri Lanka has sought access to Jayakumar shortly after Indian Police revealed the arrest on Sunday.
Interrogation of the suspect taken at the parking lot of Chennai International Airport terminal on Saturday night revealed that he had received funds from a London based LTTE operative identified as Karuppiah to procure a large trawler. Investigators have recovered the boat at Mallipattinam in the coastal Thanjavur district. Jayakumar had entered India last March illegally.
An Indian identified as Ravikumar (42) and another LTTE operative James (46) alias Raja have been arrested along with Jayakumar.
The arrest was made as James was about to confirm his air ticket to return to Colombo. James, a resident of Mannar had travelled to India thrice this year on valid travel documents. Authoritative sources revealed that he had procured computer spare parts, swimming accessories (goggles and pads) and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and had hidden them among a beedi consignment and smuggled it to the Vanni. The sources said that James had Indian Rs 478,290 to procure another trawler. The money has been confiscated. Chennai City Q Branch also recovered Sri Lankan Rs 4,140 and four cellular phones. He had last visited India in October.
An authoritative security official said that they haven't come across a case in which an LTTE operative had acknowledged receiving money from a supporter based in the UK in support of procurement. He expressed the belief that India would give Sri Lankan intelligence services an opportunity to interrogate Jayakumar who had direct access to a top level UK based contact.
At least a section of the officialdom believes that the Central Government is sincere in its attempts to curb LTTE activity, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
The SLN attributed the attempt to purchase Indian boats to a severe shortage of large craft available for smuggling of urgently needed arms, ammunition and equipment to the Vanni and also to avoid further trouble in Tamil Nadu by seizing Indian vessel as in the case of Sri Krishna and at least three other trawlers sunk by the SLN while being commandeered by the LTTE. The Maldivian Coast Guard rescued the Indian Captain of Sri Krishna commandeered by the LTTE while the SLN, too, rescued an Indian late last year.
The SLAF has successfully targeted LTTE boat building facilities in the Vanni over the past two years.
Jayakumar, believed to be one of the highest ranking LTTE operatives arrested in India after the Norwegian-arranged CFA came into operation in February, 2002, is widely believed to be a central figure in the LTTE arms procurement ring. Under interrogation, he has revealed the financial support received from the UK based LTTE organisations in support of the operations in Sri Lanka.
A resident of Valvettiturai, Jayakumar is believed to have joined Sea Tigers in 1995 and has some close relatives living at Thanjavur.
India didn't allow SLN to question three LTTE operatives arrested along with two Indians on February 13, this year and six others, believed to be a special squad deployed for arms smuggling operations arrested by her Coast Guard on April 11. Although India signalled that it could arrange two Sri Lankan intelligence personnel to meet investigators who interrogated the suspects, it never materialised.
India also blew up the vessel seized in February, 27 nautical miles South West of point Calimere claiming that it carried about 2,000kgs of high explosives and posed a danger to Chennai port.
Eyebrows were raised when a section of the Indian officialdom claimed that the explosives laden boat was on a suicide mission on Kankesanturai port.
The Island learns that Sri Lanka has sought access to Jayakumar shortly after Indian Police revealed the arrest on Sunday.
Interrogation of the suspect taken at the parking lot of Chennai International Airport terminal on Saturday night revealed that he had received funds from a London based LTTE operative identified as Karuppiah to procure a large trawler. Investigators have recovered the boat at Mallipattinam in the coastal Thanjavur district. Jayakumar had entered India last March illegally.
An Indian identified as Ravikumar (42) and another LTTE operative James (46) alias Raja have been arrested along with Jayakumar.
The arrest was made as James was about to confirm his air ticket to return to Colombo. James, a resident of Mannar had travelled to India thrice this year on valid travel documents. Authoritative sources revealed that he had procured computer spare parts, swimming accessories (goggles and pads) and GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and had hidden them among a beedi consignment and smuggled it to the Vanni. The sources said that James had Indian Rs 478,290 to procure another trawler. The money has been confiscated. Chennai City Q Branch also recovered Sri Lankan Rs 4,140 and four cellular phones. He had last visited India in October.
An authoritative security official said that they haven't come across a case in which an LTTE operative had acknowledged receiving money from a supporter based in the UK in support of procurement. He expressed the belief that India would give Sri Lankan intelligence services an opportunity to interrogate Jayakumar who had direct access to a top level UK based contact.
At least a section of the officialdom believes that the Central Government is sincere in its attempts to curb LTTE activity, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
The SLN attributed the attempt to purchase Indian boats to a severe shortage of large craft available for smuggling of urgently needed arms, ammunition and equipment to the Vanni and also to avoid further trouble in Tamil Nadu by seizing Indian vessel as in the case of Sri Krishna and at least three other trawlers sunk by the SLN while being commandeered by the LTTE. The Maldivian Coast Guard rescued the Indian Captain of Sri Krishna commandeered by the LTTE while the SLN, too, rescued an Indian late last year.
The SLAF has successfully targeted LTTE boat building facilities in the Vanni over the past two years.
"Lanka not targeting fishermen", Cmde PE Halteren
The Indian Navy on Friday defended its Sri Lankan counterpart saying it had never deliberately fired at Indian fishermen in the Palk Straits. Commodore PE Van Halteren, Naval Officer, in-charge (Tamil Nadu), told reporters that the Indian fishermen fell prey to the crossfire between the Lankan navy and LTTE whenever they crossed the international maritime boundary.
"As a matter of policy, they do not open fire on Indian fishermen but when the fishermen venture too close to their maritime boundary, especially in the dark, it is difficult for them to distinguish fishermen from the LTTE," he said. Commodore Halteren said the Lankan Navy never crossed into Indian territory to attack the fishermen who have alleged that they were frequently targeted by the Lankan Navy boats.
"We are in touch with them on such issues. It would be better if our fishermen do not cross the international maritime boundary and enter their territory," he said. The Commodore's views were in contrast to the allegations of political parties in the state which accuse the Sri Lankan Navy of indiscriminately firing at the Indian fishermen, charging them with crossing into their waters.
Commodore Halteren said eight Naval ships, the amphibious vessel INS Jalashwa, five missile firing units of the Khukri class among others would participate in the display of Naval vessels off Chennai on December 16. The display is being organised as part of the Navy week celebrations which will be inaugurated by Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala.
The highlight of the event will be the blowing up of mock-up oil by the Marine Commandos (Marcos) of the Indian Navy. Ships and aircrafts of the Eastern Fleet are scheduled to participate in the display. "The display will be a source of inspiration for the younger generation," he said.
"As a matter of policy, they do not open fire on Indian fishermen but when the fishermen venture too close to their maritime boundary, especially in the dark, it is difficult for them to distinguish fishermen from the LTTE," he said. Commodore Halteren said the Lankan Navy never crossed into Indian territory to attack the fishermen who have alleged that they were frequently targeted by the Lankan Navy boats.
"We are in touch with them on such issues. It would be better if our fishermen do not cross the international maritime boundary and enter their territory," he said. The Commodore's views were in contrast to the allegations of political parties in the state which accuse the Sri Lankan Navy of indiscriminately firing at the Indian fishermen, charging them with crossing into their waters.
Commodore Halteren said eight Naval ships, the amphibious vessel INS Jalashwa, five missile firing units of the Khukri class among others would participate in the display of Naval vessels off Chennai on December 16. The display is being organised as part of the Navy week celebrations which will be inaugurated by Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala.
The highlight of the event will be the blowing up of mock-up oil by the Marine Commandos (Marcos) of the Indian Navy. Ships and aircrafts of the Eastern Fleet are scheduled to participate in the display. "The display will be a source of inspiration for the younger generation," he said.
Prabhakaran Personifies Racism
In his 'heroes' day' speech Velupillai Prabhakaran (VP) chose to term his enemies as the Singhala nation. Through out his speech he attacks the 'Singhala nation' irrespective of the fact that Singhala nation includes friends of Tamils, relatives of Tamils, spouses of Tamils, saviors of Tamils, teachers of Tamils, good neighbours of Tamils and so on. In one red stroke he encircles all Singhalese into one circle and fires his bullets at them.
Hitler sent millions of Jews into gas-chambers irrespective of their personal details because of his racial hatred. Would Prbhakaran be any different given the slightest chance to annihilate the Sinhalese nation "Personal racism is manifested through the individual expressions, attitudes and/or behaviours that accept the assumptions of a racist value system". LTTE value system is inherently racist in that they want to create a mono ethnic state solely for Tamils. In order to achieve this VP led LTTE have massacred thousands of innocent villages of both Singhalese and Muslims communities to instil fear in others' minds for them to leave their habitat. The speech that is full of racially motivated genocidal tendencies is a glowing testimonial of VP's racial hatred.
"Sadly, the Sinhala nation is moving in exactly the opposite direction, on a path of destruction. It is trying to destroy the Tamil nation and, in the process, it is destroying itself. This beautiful island continues to soak in blood".
Look who is talking! In the recent history of Sri Lanka, it has not seen any person who is blood thirsty, ego centric, power hungry, unsympathetic, inhuman and brutal than Prbhakaran. His language has always been full of threats of murder, mayhem and blood shed. Such a person once cornered and responded in the language he understands tries to blame the blood bath on others.
"We are not terrorists, committing blind acts of violence impelled by racist or religious fanaticism".
Contrary to this claim all his actions have emanated from racial and religious fanaticism. He and his killers have massacred hundreds of people in the most venerated religious places of both Buddhist and Islam faiths. Some examples are the massacres at Sri Maha Bodhi, Arnthalawa, Dalada Maligawa and Jumma Mosque , yet he blames the Singhala nation for not showing Buddhist love to him.
Time and again VP has blamed the Singhala Nation for racial discrimination and highlighted it as the cause made them taking up arms. The Singhala nation is comprised masses who suffer from similar or worse economic and social deprivation to that of Tamils. Yet the Singahla masses have not started an arms struggle against certain Tamil communities for receiving favours from the rulers from time to time. The truth appears in VP's own words
"Although 80 million Tamils live all around the globe, the Tamils do not have a country of their own".
The world may not fail to understand this time the true motive of LTTE terrorism. It is not just a physical need of a homeland within tiny Sri Lanka but a psychological need of a Tamil country sans all other ethnic groups or at least a country in which Tamils are the vast majority.
The world should understand that the Singhalese cannot be held responsible for Tamils not having a country of their own. The Singhalese should not be allowed to be victimised just because it is a tiny nation that can be overrun with the help of 80 million Tamils all over the world.
Over 65 million Tamils live in Tamilnadu the traditional homeland of the Tamils from where they migrated to all parts of the world including Sri Lanka. If they want a separate country for the Tamils the ideal place for them is Tamilnadu. The Irony is that the Tamils of Tamilnadu are more than willing to live in peaceful united India. The Scottish population defeated the referendum to separate Scotland from the United Kingdom because they knew that as part of the United Kingdom they receive more recognition and resources. Tamils of Tanmilnadu are more intelligent than Prabahkaran not to be misled by a mono ethnic country concept in a modern world.
Looking from a different perspective what matters to LTTE is not that Tamils do not have a country of their. But most of the supporters of LTTE do not consider the countries they live in as their own because those countries have other communities other than Tamils. In other words they cannot cohabit with other people. Multiculturalism, pluralism etc are a no go zones in VP's racist ideology.
VP's call for 80 million Tamils to rise and support the creation of a Tamil Country does not mean a Tamil country within the tiny 8000 Square kilometres of Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka that LTTE hold to accommodate 80 million Tamils but a much larger space to be annexed later. India should be warned about the mono ethnic state concept of Prabhakaran. Prbahkaran personifies racism!!!
Hitler sent millions of Jews into gas-chambers irrespective of their personal details because of his racial hatred. Would Prbhakaran be any different given the slightest chance to annihilate the Sinhalese nation "Personal racism is manifested through the individual expressions, attitudes and/or behaviours that accept the assumptions of a racist value system". LTTE value system is inherently racist in that they want to create a mono ethnic state solely for Tamils. In order to achieve this VP led LTTE have massacred thousands of innocent villages of both Singhalese and Muslims communities to instil fear in others' minds for them to leave their habitat. The speech that is full of racially motivated genocidal tendencies is a glowing testimonial of VP's racial hatred.
"Sadly, the Sinhala nation is moving in exactly the opposite direction, on a path of destruction. It is trying to destroy the Tamil nation and, in the process, it is destroying itself. This beautiful island continues to soak in blood".
Look who is talking! In the recent history of Sri Lanka, it has not seen any person who is blood thirsty, ego centric, power hungry, unsympathetic, inhuman and brutal than Prbhakaran. His language has always been full of threats of murder, mayhem and blood shed. Such a person once cornered and responded in the language he understands tries to blame the blood bath on others.
"We are not terrorists, committing blind acts of violence impelled by racist or religious fanaticism".
Contrary to this claim all his actions have emanated from racial and religious fanaticism. He and his killers have massacred hundreds of people in the most venerated religious places of both Buddhist and Islam faiths. Some examples are the massacres at Sri Maha Bodhi, Arnthalawa, Dalada Maligawa and Jumma Mosque , yet he blames the Singhala nation for not showing Buddhist love to him.
Time and again VP has blamed the Singhala Nation for racial discrimination and highlighted it as the cause made them taking up arms. The Singhala nation is comprised masses who suffer from similar or worse economic and social deprivation to that of Tamils. Yet the Singahla masses have not started an arms struggle against certain Tamil communities for receiving favours from the rulers from time to time. The truth appears in VP's own words
"Although 80 million Tamils live all around the globe, the Tamils do not have a country of their own".
The world may not fail to understand this time the true motive of LTTE terrorism. It is not just a physical need of a homeland within tiny Sri Lanka but a psychological need of a Tamil country sans all other ethnic groups or at least a country in which Tamils are the vast majority.
The world should understand that the Singhalese cannot be held responsible for Tamils not having a country of their own. The Singhalese should not be allowed to be victimised just because it is a tiny nation that can be overrun with the help of 80 million Tamils all over the world.
Over 65 million Tamils live in Tamilnadu the traditional homeland of the Tamils from where they migrated to all parts of the world including Sri Lanka. If they want a separate country for the Tamils the ideal place for them is Tamilnadu. The Irony is that the Tamils of Tamilnadu are more than willing to live in peaceful united India. The Scottish population defeated the referendum to separate Scotland from the United Kingdom because they knew that as part of the United Kingdom they receive more recognition and resources. Tamils of Tanmilnadu are more intelligent than Prabahkaran not to be misled by a mono ethnic country concept in a modern world.
Looking from a different perspective what matters to LTTE is not that Tamils do not have a country of their. But most of the supporters of LTTE do not consider the countries they live in as their own because those countries have other communities other than Tamils. In other words they cannot cohabit with other people. Multiculturalism, pluralism etc are a no go zones in VP's racist ideology.
VP's call for 80 million Tamils to rise and support the creation of a Tamil Country does not mean a Tamil country within the tiny 8000 Square kilometres of Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka that LTTE hold to accommodate 80 million Tamils but a much larger space to be annexed later. India should be warned about the mono ethnic state concept of Prabhakaran. Prbahkaran personifies racism!!!
More Pakistan aid for Lankan defence
The Pakistan Government is considering another US $31 million military assistance to Sri Lanka for its fight against terrorism apart from the US $ 50 million assistance to the Sri Lankan Government to purchase military hardware, Pakistan Foreign Minister Inam ul Haque told the visiting Sri Lanka media delegation in Islamabad yesterday.
The Pakistan Foreign Minister, however did not elaborate what kind of military assistance they were going to provide Sri Lanka through this assistance. He said Pakistan has always assisted Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism and will continue with its assistance to eliminate terrorism from Sri Lankan soil.
He said Pakistan accommodates 250 to 300 military officials from Sri Lanka in various military training schools including the highest military training school, the National Defence University of Pakistan.
Sri Lankan military personnel are trained annually and the number can be increased if there is request from the Sri Lankan Government, the Minister said.
“If there is a request from the Sri Lanka side to increase the training slots, that can be arranged,” the Foreign Minister added.
He said a defence pact is not necessary for Pakistan to support Sri Lanka for its fight against terrorism since it is no longer a bilateral issue and it has become part of global terrorism.
Haque said the issue of suicide bombing started in Sri Lanka by the LTTE has spread to Iraq, Afghanistan and now Pakistan.
“There is an element of transnational terrorism and it is no longer a bilateral issue,” the Pakistan Foreign Minister said. Pakistan as a sovereign country is always concerned about the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and it will continue to support Sri Lanka to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Haque said.
“No third country can impose any limitations on Pakistan’s assistance to Sri Lanka for its fight against terrorism,” the Minister said.
Haque said Pakistan strongly backed Sri Lanka’s proposal to hold the 2008 SAARC summit in Sri Lanka in view of the 60th anniversary of Independence.
The Pakistan Foreign Minister, however did not elaborate what kind of military assistance they were going to provide Sri Lanka through this assistance. He said Pakistan has always assisted Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism and will continue with its assistance to eliminate terrorism from Sri Lankan soil.
He said Pakistan accommodates 250 to 300 military officials from Sri Lanka in various military training schools including the highest military training school, the National Defence University of Pakistan.
Sri Lankan military personnel are trained annually and the number can be increased if there is request from the Sri Lankan Government, the Minister said.
“If there is a request from the Sri Lanka side to increase the training slots, that can be arranged,” the Foreign Minister added.
He said a defence pact is not necessary for Pakistan to support Sri Lanka for its fight against terrorism since it is no longer a bilateral issue and it has become part of global terrorism.
Haque said the issue of suicide bombing started in Sri Lanka by the LTTE has spread to Iraq, Afghanistan and now Pakistan.
“There is an element of transnational terrorism and it is no longer a bilateral issue,” the Pakistan Foreign Minister said. Pakistan as a sovereign country is always concerned about the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and it will continue to support Sri Lanka to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Haque said.
“No third country can impose any limitations on Pakistan’s assistance to Sri Lanka for its fight against terrorism,” the Minister said.
Haque said Pakistan strongly backed Sri Lanka’s proposal to hold the 2008 SAARC summit in Sri Lanka in view of the 60th anniversary of Independence.
Nabbed Tiger turns out to be cop’s tenant
Much to the discomfort of the police department, it has come to light that Jayakumar, the LTTE member who has been nabbed, had been residing in the house of a traffic constable in Thanjavur as a tenant for seven months on the pretext of doing business.
It may be recalled that the sleuths of ‘Q’ Branch nabbed two LTTE militants, Jayakumar and James, at the international airport in Chennai on Dec 8.
Enquiries with the duo revealed that Jayakumar had been residing at Mullai Nagar of New Housing Unit in Thanjavur, as a tenant of head constable Ramalingam, attached to the traffic police.
It may be recalled that the sleuths of ‘Q’ Branch nabbed two LTTE militants, Jayakumar and James, at the international airport in Chennai on Dec 8.
Enquiries with the duo revealed that Jayakumar had been residing at Mullai Nagar of New Housing Unit in Thanjavur, as a tenant of head constable Ramalingam, attached to the traffic police.
Prabhakaran wants world to stop aiding Sri Lanka
Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran asked the international community to stop aiding Sri Lanka and instead take a new approach regarding the Tamil separatist campaign.
Blaming the world for Colombo’s war on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Prabhakaran said that it was his hope that other countries would end their military and economic aid to the Sri Lankan state.
The Tamil Tigers firmly expect that at least from now on the international community will take a new approach in relation to our freedom struggle.
The LTTE made available an English translation. “On this sacred day, it is the hope of our people that the international community will cease giving military and economic aid to the Sinhala regime and accept the right of self determination and the sovereignty of the Tamil nation.”
Prabhakaran, who turned 54, accused other countries involved in the Sri Lankan peace process of making “the same mistake India made many years ago” - believing that Colombo was capable of coming out with a political solution to a dragging ethnic conflict that has claimed some 70,000 lives since 1983.
The past 60 years have proven beyond doubt that no political party in the south (of Sri Lanka) has the political honesty or firmness in policy to find a just solution to the Tamil national question.
It has also been proved beyond doubt that none of the southern parties are ready to accept the core principles for a lasting peace: the Tamil homeland, the Tamil nation and the Tamil right to self determination.
All the Sinhala political parties are essentially chauvinistic and anti-Tamil . Prabhakaran accused Sri Lanka - whose chief military strategist has claimed the military is trying to kill the LTTE chief - of unleashing a “war of genocide” that he said had turned Tamils into refugees in their own areas of habitation.
The LTTE chief did not even spare Norway, the peace facilitator that helped broker a ceasefire agreement between the Tigers and the government in 2002. The truce has more or less collapsed, triggering heavy fighting.
Norwegian facilitators (have) remained silent despite Colombo’s war against the LTTE.
He said “ The countries that preached us peace also went silent and refused to speak out. This partisan and unjust conduct of the international community has severely undermined the confidence our people had in them.”
He alleged that the All Party Representative Committee, tasked with framing a package for devolution of power to minorities in Sri Lanka, had “gone on holiday” after dragging on without putting forward any solution.
Prabhakaran also blasted the co-chairs, which is made up of the US, Norway, Japan and the European Union and which oversees the now tottering peace process.
“The co-chairs, acting as the guardians of the peace process, have failed in their responsibility. If the co-chairs do not have a moral obligation to protect peace efforts, what exactly is the purpose of their meeting from time to time in different places? Is it their intent to assist the Sinhala regime to wipe out the Tamils?”
Prabhakaran asserted that “we are not terrorists, committing blind acts of violence impelled by racist or religious fanaticism.’’
He added that their struggle has a concrete, legitimate, political objective.
They were struggling to regain their sovereignty in their own historical land where they have lived for centuries.
The move has drawn criticism from other countries.
After criticizing the India-Sri Lanka accord of 1987 and the Indian military intervention, the LTTE leader said: “We explained to India on many occasions, at many locations and at many levels about the implacability of Sinhala chauvinism... India refused to accept the reality. LTTE had only “strategically withdrawn” the region and warned that “those who plan to destroy the Tamil nation will in the end be forced to face their own destruction.
Blaming the world for Colombo’s war on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Prabhakaran said that it was his hope that other countries would end their military and economic aid to the Sri Lankan state.
The Tamil Tigers firmly expect that at least from now on the international community will take a new approach in relation to our freedom struggle.
The LTTE made available an English translation. “On this sacred day, it is the hope of our people that the international community will cease giving military and economic aid to the Sinhala regime and accept the right of self determination and the sovereignty of the Tamil nation.”
Prabhakaran, who turned 54, accused other countries involved in the Sri Lankan peace process of making “the same mistake India made many years ago” - believing that Colombo was capable of coming out with a political solution to a dragging ethnic conflict that has claimed some 70,000 lives since 1983.
The past 60 years have proven beyond doubt that no political party in the south (of Sri Lanka) has the political honesty or firmness in policy to find a just solution to the Tamil national question.
It has also been proved beyond doubt that none of the southern parties are ready to accept the core principles for a lasting peace: the Tamil homeland, the Tamil nation and the Tamil right to self determination.
All the Sinhala political parties are essentially chauvinistic and anti-Tamil . Prabhakaran accused Sri Lanka - whose chief military strategist has claimed the military is trying to kill the LTTE chief - of unleashing a “war of genocide” that he said had turned Tamils into refugees in their own areas of habitation.
The LTTE chief did not even spare Norway, the peace facilitator that helped broker a ceasefire agreement between the Tigers and the government in 2002. The truce has more or less collapsed, triggering heavy fighting.
Norwegian facilitators (have) remained silent despite Colombo’s war against the LTTE.
He said “ The countries that preached us peace also went silent and refused to speak out. This partisan and unjust conduct of the international community has severely undermined the confidence our people had in them.”
He alleged that the All Party Representative Committee, tasked with framing a package for devolution of power to minorities in Sri Lanka, had “gone on holiday” after dragging on without putting forward any solution.
Prabhakaran also blasted the co-chairs, which is made up of the US, Norway, Japan and the European Union and which oversees the now tottering peace process.
“The co-chairs, acting as the guardians of the peace process, have failed in their responsibility. If the co-chairs do not have a moral obligation to protect peace efforts, what exactly is the purpose of their meeting from time to time in different places? Is it their intent to assist the Sinhala regime to wipe out the Tamils?”
Prabhakaran asserted that “we are not terrorists, committing blind acts of violence impelled by racist or religious fanaticism.’’
He added that their struggle has a concrete, legitimate, political objective.
They were struggling to regain their sovereignty in their own historical land where they have lived for centuries.
The move has drawn criticism from other countries.
After criticizing the India-Sri Lanka accord of 1987 and the Indian military intervention, the LTTE leader said: “We explained to India on many occasions, at many locations and at many levels about the implacability of Sinhala chauvinism... India refused to accept the reality. LTTE had only “strategically withdrawn” the region and warned that “those who plan to destroy the Tamil nation will in the end be forced to face their own destruction.
Sri Lanka Navy: the most experienced and efficient in combating unconventional warfare at sea
Sri Lanka Navy, the Island’s courageous first line of defence celebrates 57 years of silent service today (9th December 2007) with a vast amount of experience in combating unconventional warfare at sea. It is fair to say that the Sri Lanka Navy is the most efficient and experienced in the world in battling a separatist terrorist movement with extended sea born assets. The year 2007 is widely seen by defence analysts as the turning point of the Sri Lanka Navy’s transition process from a brown water Navy to a blue water Navy.
The SLN has much to celebrate on her 57th year of service with the sinking 7 LTTE arms supply vessels and 29 other sea tiger craft since January this year. Counter terrorism experts noted that the Sri Lanka Navy has destroyed around 75% of the LTTE’s logistics capability in blue water operations in the recent past. It is also believed that it would take another 12-18 months for the LTTE to regain at least 50% of its logistic fleet and re-establish supply routes. The sinking of LTTE arms ships or floating warehouses has proven that the Navy is capable of protecting Sri Lanka’s territorial waters and stave the Tigers of arms and other warlike material that would have boosted their offensive capability. It has also sent a strong warning to the LTTE that any new vessels acquired by them will suffer the same fate.
Navy’s resourcefulness
What is so remarkable about the Navy’s blue water operations is the innovation and the coordination involved in its preparations. Years of intelligence gathering and better coordination with friendly countries have no doubt strengthen the Navy’s capacity to keep Sri Lanka’s territorial waters free from arms smuggling, illegal drug and human trafficking and sea piracy. The Navy didn’t launch these deep sea missions with new vessels or added resources but with existing assets being utilized with innovation to gain the maximum that they could with it. The Navy’s two Offshore Patrol Oessels (OPVs) Sayura and Samudura assisted by the Fast Missile Vessels (FMVs) formed the strike capacity of the mission while the task of sustaining and replenishing this group called for some innovation. In a classic show of the Navy’s ingenuity and the ‘can do’ attitude, two commercial vessels and a landing ship (LST Shakthi) were outfitted to act as replenishment vessels carrying every thing from fuel to fresh water needed for the long endurance patrols which some times exceeded a 1000 nautical miles. These two vessels namely A 520 and A 521 also pitched in the battle to sink the LTTE floating warehouses.
Suicide terrorism at Sea
The Sri Lanka Navy is no doubt the most experienced and the only operational Navy in the world to have faced unconventional warfare including suicide missions at Sea. Engaging LTTE’s suicide threats at sea has taught the Navy painful yet important lessons on effectively combating the sea wing of a deadly separatist terrorist movement. Having effectively mastered the tactics of facing suicide boats, the Sri Lanka Navy’s strategies are now increasingly being analyzed by other Navies around the world.
In 2007 alone 29 LTTE craft and around 128 sea tiger cadres have perished in sea battles at the hands of the Navy. The remarkable performance at sea amidst limited recourses and other duties have elevated the status of the Navy as an efficient first line of defence of the Island Nation. It has also boosted its recruitment drive this year. Statistics show a marked increase in the number of recruits this year. The Navy has recruited 7513 men and women as at 11th November 2007 compared to the 4349 last year. In total, 13550 men and women have joined the ranks of the Navy since 2005.
It is truly a reassuring and encouraging thought to know that Sri Lanka has a Navy which braves against all odds and still seem to says ‘bring it on … we will send you all to a watery grave’ to the enemy.
The SLN has much to celebrate on her 57th year of service with the sinking 7 LTTE arms supply vessels and 29 other sea tiger craft since January this year. Counter terrorism experts noted that the Sri Lanka Navy has destroyed around 75% of the LTTE’s logistics capability in blue water operations in the recent past. It is also believed that it would take another 12-18 months for the LTTE to regain at least 50% of its logistic fleet and re-establish supply routes. The sinking of LTTE arms ships or floating warehouses has proven that the Navy is capable of protecting Sri Lanka’s territorial waters and stave the Tigers of arms and other warlike material that would have boosted their offensive capability. It has also sent a strong warning to the LTTE that any new vessels acquired by them will suffer the same fate.
Navy’s resourcefulness
What is so remarkable about the Navy’s blue water operations is the innovation and the coordination involved in its preparations. Years of intelligence gathering and better coordination with friendly countries have no doubt strengthen the Navy’s capacity to keep Sri Lanka’s territorial waters free from arms smuggling, illegal drug and human trafficking and sea piracy. The Navy didn’t launch these deep sea missions with new vessels or added resources but with existing assets being utilized with innovation to gain the maximum that they could with it. The Navy’s two Offshore Patrol Oessels (OPVs) Sayura and Samudura assisted by the Fast Missile Vessels (FMVs) formed the strike capacity of the mission while the task of sustaining and replenishing this group called for some innovation. In a classic show of the Navy’s ingenuity and the ‘can do’ attitude, two commercial vessels and a landing ship (LST Shakthi) were outfitted to act as replenishment vessels carrying every thing from fuel to fresh water needed for the long endurance patrols which some times exceeded a 1000 nautical miles. These two vessels namely A 520 and A 521 also pitched in the battle to sink the LTTE floating warehouses.
Suicide terrorism at Sea
The Sri Lanka Navy is no doubt the most experienced and the only operational Navy in the world to have faced unconventional warfare including suicide missions at Sea. Engaging LTTE’s suicide threats at sea has taught the Navy painful yet important lessons on effectively combating the sea wing of a deadly separatist terrorist movement. Having effectively mastered the tactics of facing suicide boats, the Sri Lanka Navy’s strategies are now increasingly being analyzed by other Navies around the world.
In 2007 alone 29 LTTE craft and around 128 sea tiger cadres have perished in sea battles at the hands of the Navy. The remarkable performance at sea amidst limited recourses and other duties have elevated the status of the Navy as an efficient first line of defence of the Island Nation. It has also boosted its recruitment drive this year. Statistics show a marked increase in the number of recruits this year. The Navy has recruited 7513 men and women as at 11th November 2007 compared to the 4349 last year. In total, 13550 men and women have joined the ranks of the Navy since 2005.
It is truly a reassuring and encouraging thought to know that Sri Lanka has a Navy which braves against all odds and still seem to says ‘bring it on … we will send you all to a watery grave’ to the enemy.
Thrissur bus stop explosives were to be smuggled to Lanka
Police probing the recovery of a large quantity of detonators at a bus stand in Thrissur suspect that the explosives were to be smuggled into Sri Lanka.
A gunny bag containing 10,000 detonators, placed in 100 boxes, was found at a bus stand. Two people were arrested in connection with the incident.
It was the investigation into the dealings of Najeeb, one of those arrested, that helped police in unravelling the Sri Lankan connection. Kerala police conducted the probe along with Tamil Nadu police.
"Najeeb used to take the detonators to Meenakshipuram in Tamil Nadu and hand it over to a person called Biji. From the description we got from Najeeb, we presume that this person, a Sri Lankan refugee, is a notorious criminal who has many criminal charges against him," Circle Inspector T.C. Venugopal of Thrissur East police station said. Thrissur is 70 km north of Kochi.
Venugopal said Najeeb had been transporting detonators to Meenakshipuram for 10 months before being arrested.
"He had delivered around 150,000 detonators to Biji. These detonators are usually used in quarries but Najeeb says that these were purchased for fishing purposes.
A gunny bag containing 10,000 detonators, placed in 100 boxes, was found at a bus stand. Two people were arrested in connection with the incident.
It was the investigation into the dealings of Najeeb, one of those arrested, that helped police in unravelling the Sri Lankan connection. Kerala police conducted the probe along with Tamil Nadu police.
"Najeeb used to take the detonators to Meenakshipuram in Tamil Nadu and hand it over to a person called Biji. From the description we got from Najeeb, we presume that this person, a Sri Lankan refugee, is a notorious criminal who has many criminal charges against him," Circle Inspector T.C. Venugopal of Thrissur East police station said. Thrissur is 70 km north of Kochi.
Venugopal said Najeeb had been transporting detonators to Meenakshipuram for 10 months before being arrested.
"He had delivered around 150,000 detonators to Biji. These detonators are usually used in quarries but Najeeb says that these were purchased for fishing purposes.
TN fast becoming haven of LTTE: Jayalalithaa
AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa on Wednesday alleged that Tamil Nadu was fast becoming a haven of the banned LTTE and asked the Centre to take stern action in the interest of the nation's security.
She said the recent arrest of LTTE cadres and their associates had vindicated her charge that terrorists had infiltrated Tamil Nadu and the law and order situation had deteriorated.
The confessions made by the arrested cadre that they were hiding in Tamil Nadu and secretly carrying out their works had shocked the entire country, she said in a statement here.
Jayalalithaa said a Sea Tiger, naval wing of the LTTE, had also confessed that 'Viduthalai Chiruthaigal' (a dalit outfit) leader Vanniyarasu was functioning as an LTTE agent and was indirectly aiding the outfit.
"I was labelled anti-Tamil when I revealed that there was a nexus between the LTTE and some political leaders in the state," she said in a statement here.
When Vanniyarasu was arrested in October last on the charge of supplying computer spare parts to the LTTE, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal president Thol Tirumavalavan called on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.On the same day, Vanniyarasu was released on bail, she said.
"As Viduthalai Chiruthaigal is supporting the minority DMK Government, he was immediately released. It only shows that Karunanidhi is directly offering support to the LTTE."
Stating that the LTTE's activities were being continued in the state without any hindrance,she said it would become a haven of the Tigers,posing a threat to the nation's security.
As the law and order situation would not improve in Tamil Nadu under the DMK Government, the Centre should take immediate action, she said.
She said the recent arrest of LTTE cadres and their associates had vindicated her charge that terrorists had infiltrated Tamil Nadu and the law and order situation had deteriorated.
The confessions made by the arrested cadre that they were hiding in Tamil Nadu and secretly carrying out their works had shocked the entire country, she said in a statement here.
Jayalalithaa said a Sea Tiger, naval wing of the LTTE, had also confessed that 'Viduthalai Chiruthaigal' (a dalit outfit) leader Vanniyarasu was functioning as an LTTE agent and was indirectly aiding the outfit.
"I was labelled anti-Tamil when I revealed that there was a nexus between the LTTE and some political leaders in the state," she said in a statement here.
When Vanniyarasu was arrested in October last on the charge of supplying computer spare parts to the LTTE, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal president Thol Tirumavalavan called on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.On the same day, Vanniyarasu was released on bail, she said.
"As Viduthalai Chiruthaigal is supporting the minority DMK Government, he was immediately released. It only shows that Karunanidhi is directly offering support to the LTTE."
Stating that the LTTE's activities were being continued in the state without any hindrance,she said it would become a haven of the Tigers,posing a threat to the nation's security.
As the law and order situation would not improve in Tamil Nadu under the DMK Government, the Centre should take immediate action, she said.
Sri Lanka objects to British envoy's remarks on Tamils
Sri Lanka Thursday expressed "deep displeasure" to Britain's top envoy here over his remarks that political aspirations for carving out a separate Tamil state was not illegal.
British High Commissioner (ambassador) Dominic Chilcott was summoned to the foreign ministry following his public speech on Monday in which he warned the country to clean up its human rights record or risk international sanctions.
"Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona drew attention to the High Commissioner's comment, 'I am not saying that the political aspiration for Eelam (separate Tamil state) is illegitimate' and expressed the government's deep concern," the foreign ministry said.
The statement said that Kohona made it clear that Chilcott's remarks were unacceptable "given the British government's categorical rejection of the creation of a separate State in Sri Lanka."
"At a time when the painstaking process of evolving a negotiated political settlement was under way, such sentiments would have a negative impact and send confusing signals," Kohona said.
Chilcott had said that Britain had a direct interest in ending the separatist conflict in its former colony, partly because of the law and order problems in London caused by rival Sri Lankan groups.
Chilcott, making his final public appearance before his posting as number two in the British mission in Washington early next year, issued thinly veiled warnings on the government to improve its rights record.
Sri Lanka has repeatedly resisted calls for United Nations monitoring of human rights amid allegations that over 1,000 people had been killed or disappeared at the hands of government forces fighting Tamil rebels this year.
Chilcott warned that it would be a mistake to view something as sensitive as human rights as a purely internal matter.
"Those who argue for the inviolability of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of a country are swimming against the tide of history," he said while adding that intervention may not always mean military action.
"There are many non-military interventions that a country can make -- from arguing and persuading, to economic and political sanctions," he said.
Chilcott said Britain was against the tactics adopted by the Tiger guerrillas, but did not consider their demand for a separate state as illegal.
British High Commissioner (ambassador) Dominic Chilcott was summoned to the foreign ministry following his public speech on Monday in which he warned the country to clean up its human rights record or risk international sanctions.
"Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona drew attention to the High Commissioner's comment, 'I am not saying that the political aspiration for Eelam (separate Tamil state) is illegitimate' and expressed the government's deep concern," the foreign ministry said.
The statement said that Kohona made it clear that Chilcott's remarks were unacceptable "given the British government's categorical rejection of the creation of a separate State in Sri Lanka."
"At a time when the painstaking process of evolving a negotiated political settlement was under way, such sentiments would have a negative impact and send confusing signals," Kohona said.
Chilcott had said that Britain had a direct interest in ending the separatist conflict in its former colony, partly because of the law and order problems in London caused by rival Sri Lankan groups.
Chilcott, making his final public appearance before his posting as number two in the British mission in Washington early next year, issued thinly veiled warnings on the government to improve its rights record.
Sri Lanka has repeatedly resisted calls for United Nations monitoring of human rights amid allegations that over 1,000 people had been killed or disappeared at the hands of government forces fighting Tamil rebels this year.
Chilcott warned that it would be a mistake to view something as sensitive as human rights as a purely internal matter.
"Those who argue for the inviolability of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of a country are swimming against the tide of history," he said while adding that intervention may not always mean military action.
"There are many non-military interventions that a country can make -- from arguing and persuading, to economic and political sanctions," he said.
Chilcott said Britain was against the tactics adopted by the Tiger guerrillas, but did not consider their demand for a separate state as illegal.
At least 18 killed in fresh Sri Lanka fighting
Fresh fighting between government forces and Tamil rebels across Sri Lanka's embattled north has left at least 18 dead
Fresh fighting between government forces and Tamil rebels across Sri Lanka's embattled north has left at least 18 dead, the defence ministry said Thursday.
A fragmentation mine targeting troops on patrol killed one policeman in the northern district of Vavuniya on Thursday, the military said, blaming the attack on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Elsewhere, troops reported killing 17 Tamil Tiger rebels in separate clashes across the northern regions during the 24 hours ending Thursday morning, the ministry said, placing government casualties at one soldier injured.
It brings to at least 265 the number of guerrillas the government says its forces have killed since the beginning of the month. Only a handful of government troops have been reported killed or injured in the same period.
No independent confirmation of the casualty claims were available, and there was no comment from the LTTE, who have been fighting for a Tamil homeland in the island's north and east since 1972.
Meanwhile, the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website accused Sri Lanka warplanes of bombing a civilian settlement in the rebel-held areas on Wednesday, injuring two people. There was no comment from the Sri Lankan airforce.
'Chief Minister Karunanidhi behind LTTE’s Sea Tiger in Tamil Nadu'
In what could be described as a very serious allegation against the State government, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday charged Chief Minister M Karunanidhi with 'open support to the banned LTTE' and slammed the police department under him for total inertia.
The AIADMK leader also wondered why the Centre was 'tolerant' and demanded it to take note and initiate stern action.
In a statement in Chennai, Jayalalithaa said the whole country was shell shocked by the 'confession' of the recently held LTTE operatives in Chennai. She claimed that they had confessed to operating tacitly in the State.
'When I said that LTTE had close links with local politicians here, I was only blamed,' she said and stressed that the arrests and their alleged confession as vindication of her stance that law and order situation in the State had gone to the dogs.
She also said that the confession of those apprehended led to the arrest of one more person who had revealed that 'he received shelter from a policeman' in Thanjavur.
The AIADMK leader also claimed that the Centre's intelligence unit cautioned the State government that Thirumavalavan-led Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Vanniyarasu was smuggling boats and its accessories for the LTTE.
She also alleged that the arrested LTTE men had confessed that Vanniyarasu had helped them in smuggling computer spare parts. Going a step ahead, the leader of the opposition claimed that the arrested former Sea Tiger Jayakumar alias Gowri Shankar had confessed to having had contacts with VCK spokesperson Vanniyarasu.
Recalling the arrest and subsequent release of Vanniyarasu on bail she said this only 'led to the interpretation that Karunanidhi was extending open support' to the proscribed organisation.
'When I was in power, law and order situation was in control and extremist elements were crushed. But now a person of the police department had given shelter to an LTTE man. The 'braveness' of the police man is testimony to the state of affairs of the State,' Jayalalithaa alleged.
Hitting hard at the police department which comes under the Home portfolio held by Karunanidhi, she wondered whether there existed an intelligence unit in the State police.
Claiming that thousands of LTTE men had infiltrated into the southern districts, Jayalalithaa brought the Chief Minister into the centre of her bag of allegations by saying that 'all this could have happened only with the counsel or blessings of Karunanidhi.'
She also charged that whenever the DMK assumed power anti-social elements had a field day besides organisations like the LTTE. The AIADMK leader urged the Centre to immediately take action.
The AIADMK leader also wondered why the Centre was 'tolerant' and demanded it to take note and initiate stern action.
In a statement in Chennai, Jayalalithaa said the whole country was shell shocked by the 'confession' of the recently held LTTE operatives in Chennai. She claimed that they had confessed to operating tacitly in the State.
'When I said that LTTE had close links with local politicians here, I was only blamed,' she said and stressed that the arrests and their alleged confession as vindication of her stance that law and order situation in the State had gone to the dogs.
She also said that the confession of those apprehended led to the arrest of one more person who had revealed that 'he received shelter from a policeman' in Thanjavur.
The AIADMK leader also claimed that the Centre's intelligence unit cautioned the State government that Thirumavalavan-led Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Vanniyarasu was smuggling boats and its accessories for the LTTE.
She also alleged that the arrested LTTE men had confessed that Vanniyarasu had helped them in smuggling computer spare parts. Going a step ahead, the leader of the opposition claimed that the arrested former Sea Tiger Jayakumar alias Gowri Shankar had confessed to having had contacts with VCK spokesperson Vanniyarasu.
Recalling the arrest and subsequent release of Vanniyarasu on bail she said this only 'led to the interpretation that Karunanidhi was extending open support' to the proscribed organisation.
'When I was in power, law and order situation was in control and extremist elements were crushed. But now a person of the police department had given shelter to an LTTE man. The 'braveness' of the police man is testimony to the state of affairs of the State,' Jayalalithaa alleged.
Hitting hard at the police department which comes under the Home portfolio held by Karunanidhi, she wondered whether there existed an intelligence unit in the State police.
Claiming that thousands of LTTE men had infiltrated into the southern districts, Jayalalithaa brought the Chief Minister into the centre of her bag of allegations by saying that 'all this could have happened only with the counsel or blessings of Karunanidhi.'
She also charged that whenever the DMK assumed power anti-social elements had a field day besides organisations like the LTTE. The AIADMK leader urged the Centre to immediately take action.
Compensating for political failure
"In his most recent speech Velupillai Pirapaharan, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, alleged that the Sinhalese nation was trying to eliminate the Tamil nation. This is an argument of the same genre as the crude logic that alleges that all Tamils are LTTE. Both are formulas to justify the targeting of civilians."
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has ordered the dismantling of permanent security checkpoints to facilitate the movement of traffic on public roads, suddenly changing the landscape of Colombo. The abandoned checkpoints at various entry points to the city have a desolate look.
In his judgment, Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said that waging war against the state is the severest of offences, punishable by death, and members of the security forces have full power to maintain public order and to take action against those who are waging war or committing related offenses. He observed however that when action is directed against persons who are not thus engaged in war or committing related offenses, every precaution and safeguard must be taken to minimize the resultant hardships.
In a time of escalating war, this decision is likely to cause a lot of heartburn. Despite the mass arrests of Tamils, stricter controls at checkpoints and night visits by military personnel to Colombo households, the security situation has been continuously deteriorating rather than improving. The question the government and the Sri Lankan people must now confront is whether attacks on civilians will be halted by a reliance only on increased security measures, even if more skillfully implemented than at present. There is also a need to deal with the issue of security through political means.
Unfortunately, due to the unwillingness of both the government and opposition to critically address the issue of national security through political means, there has been an abdication of decision-making to the defense authorities, which the judiciary has been compelled to deal with in order to uphold the human rights and democratic freedoms of the citizenry. But there is a constitutional limit beyond which the judiciary cannot be expected to go in remaking the political framework, which is the responsibility of the elected political leadership.
The worst feature of the present phase of conflict in Sri Lanka is the manner in which civilians have had to suffer. Civilians have been targeted by bombs left in public places, claymore mines that target public buses, air bombings that destroy civilian infrastructure and deliberate shootings. Civilians have been used as human shields and been forced out of their homes in large numbers to facilitate military operations.
In his most recent speech Velupillai Pirapaharan, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, alleged that the Sinhalese nation was trying to eliminate the Tamil nation. This is an argument of the same genre as the crude logic that alleges that all Tamils are LTTE. Both are formulas to justify the targeting of civilians.
Periodically there have been suggestions that Sri Lanka is heading toward increased militarization and military rule as a result of the government's seeming determination to engage in all-out war against the LTTE. But any such impression has been dispelled by the acquiescence of the defense authorities in the Supreme Court's decision. This was not the first instance of such acquiescence either.
In February 2002 when the government signed the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE, a similar order to dismantle security checks and barriers went out to the security forces from the government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Just as they deferred to the prime minister's decision to remove the checkpoints in 2002, the defense authorities have deferred to the judiciary today. Once again the resilience of the institutions of democracy in Sri Lanka has made itself felt with the latest Supreme Court decision.
Unfortunately, the weakness of democracy in Sri Lanka at the present time is that there is little or no political leadership for the large section of people who wish for a political solution to the ethnic conflict on a humanitarian and just basis. In the past two years, since the advent of the present government, it has been left to the Supreme Court to take bold decisions that are mindful of the basic human rights of the Tamil people. In June this year, when it seemed that an unstoppable security juggernaut had started to evict Tamil people who were temporary residents in Colombo, the Supreme Court stepped in to stop that mass violation of human rights.
The problem is that the main political parties are not playing their due role with regard to educating the people and standing up for the rights of the Tamil people in particular. In these bleak days, the main burden of providing a voice to the people's aspirations for justice, fair play and inter-ethnic harmony has fallen upon civil society organizations.
Members of civil society groups are generally best equipped to present alternative views at seminars, build networks of like-minded groups, and advocate through email and media campaigns. Despite their limited capacities they have kept alive the notion that there is indeed an alternative way of governance and conflict resolution, and that the people will give their backing to such leadership.
But in the final analysis it is the political leadership, with macroscale decision-making power, that must shift the parameters of society and take us to a better future.
(http://lankaguardian.blogspot.com)
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has ordered the dismantling of permanent security checkpoints to facilitate the movement of traffic on public roads, suddenly changing the landscape of Colombo. The abandoned checkpoints at various entry points to the city have a desolate look.
In his judgment, Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said that waging war against the state is the severest of offences, punishable by death, and members of the security forces have full power to maintain public order and to take action against those who are waging war or committing related offenses. He observed however that when action is directed against persons who are not thus engaged in war or committing related offenses, every precaution and safeguard must be taken to minimize the resultant hardships.
In a time of escalating war, this decision is likely to cause a lot of heartburn. Despite the mass arrests of Tamils, stricter controls at checkpoints and night visits by military personnel to Colombo households, the security situation has been continuously deteriorating rather than improving. The question the government and the Sri Lankan people must now confront is whether attacks on civilians will be halted by a reliance only on increased security measures, even if more skillfully implemented than at present. There is also a need to deal with the issue of security through political means.
Unfortunately, due to the unwillingness of both the government and opposition to critically address the issue of national security through political means, there has been an abdication of decision-making to the defense authorities, which the judiciary has been compelled to deal with in order to uphold the human rights and democratic freedoms of the citizenry. But there is a constitutional limit beyond which the judiciary cannot be expected to go in remaking the political framework, which is the responsibility of the elected political leadership.
The worst feature of the present phase of conflict in Sri Lanka is the manner in which civilians have had to suffer. Civilians have been targeted by bombs left in public places, claymore mines that target public buses, air bombings that destroy civilian infrastructure and deliberate shootings. Civilians have been used as human shields and been forced out of their homes in large numbers to facilitate military operations.
In his most recent speech Velupillai Pirapaharan, leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, alleged that the Sinhalese nation was trying to eliminate the Tamil nation. This is an argument of the same genre as the crude logic that alleges that all Tamils are LTTE. Both are formulas to justify the targeting of civilians.
Periodically there have been suggestions that Sri Lanka is heading toward increased militarization and military rule as a result of the government's seeming determination to engage in all-out war against the LTTE. But any such impression has been dispelled by the acquiescence of the defense authorities in the Supreme Court's decision. This was not the first instance of such acquiescence either.
In February 2002 when the government signed the Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE, a similar order to dismantle security checks and barriers went out to the security forces from the government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Just as they deferred to the prime minister's decision to remove the checkpoints in 2002, the defense authorities have deferred to the judiciary today. Once again the resilience of the institutions of democracy in Sri Lanka has made itself felt with the latest Supreme Court decision.
Unfortunately, the weakness of democracy in Sri Lanka at the present time is that there is little or no political leadership for the large section of people who wish for a political solution to the ethnic conflict on a humanitarian and just basis. In the past two years, since the advent of the present government, it has been left to the Supreme Court to take bold decisions that are mindful of the basic human rights of the Tamil people. In June this year, when it seemed that an unstoppable security juggernaut had started to evict Tamil people who were temporary residents in Colombo, the Supreme Court stepped in to stop that mass violation of human rights.
The problem is that the main political parties are not playing their due role with regard to educating the people and standing up for the rights of the Tamil people in particular. In these bleak days, the main burden of providing a voice to the people's aspirations for justice, fair play and inter-ethnic harmony has fallen upon civil society organizations.
Members of civil society groups are generally best equipped to present alternative views at seminars, build networks of like-minded groups, and advocate through email and media campaigns. Despite their limited capacities they have kept alive the notion that there is indeed an alternative way of governance and conflict resolution, and that the people will give their backing to such leadership.
But in the final analysis it is the political leadership, with macroscale decision-making power, that must shift the parameters of society and take us to a better future.
(http://lankaguardian.blogspot.com)
Murphy's Law of Combat
1. Friendly fire - isn't.
2. Recoilless rifles - aren't.
3. Suppressive fires - won't.
4. You are not Superman; Marines and fighter pilots take note.
5. A sucking chest wound is Nature's way of telling you to slow down.
6. If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.
7. Try to look unimportant; the enemy may be low on ammo and not want to waste a bullet on you.
8. If at first you don't succeed, call for artillery. When that doesn't work, for an airstrike.
9. The further you are in advance of your own positions, the more likely your artillery will fall short.
10. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than yourself.
11. Never go to bed with anyone crazier than yourself.
12. Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
13. If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.
14. The enemy diversion you're ignoring is their main attack.
16. "No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy."- Field Marshall Helmuth Carl Bernard von Moltke [1990's version: No OPLAN ever survives initial contact.]
17. There is no such thing as a perfect plan.
18. Five second fuses always burn three seconds.
19. There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.
20. A retreating enemy is probably just falling back and regrouping.
21. The important things are always simple; the simple are always hard.
22. The problem with taking easy way out is that the enemy has already mined it.
23. Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other people to shoot at.
24. Don't look conspicuous. In the combat zone, it draws fire. Out of the combat zone, it draws sergeants. [Corollary: For this reason, it is not at all uncommon for aircraft carriers to be known as bomb magnets.]
25. Never draw fire; it irritates everyone around you.
26. If you are short of everything but the enemy, you are in the combat zone.
27. When you have secured the area, make sure the enemy knows it too.
28. Incoming fire has the right of way.
29. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection.
30. No inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.
31. If the enemy is within range, so are you.
32. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
33. Things which must be shipped together as a set, aren't.
34. Things that must work together, can't be carried to the field that way.
35. Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support. (Corollary: Radar tends to fail at night and in bad weather, and especially during both.)
36. Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.
37. Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you won't be able to get out.
38. Tracers work both ways.
39. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will get more than your fair share of objectives to take.
40. When both sides are convinced they're about to lose, they're both right.
41. Professional soldiers are predictable; the world is full of dangerous amateurs.
42. When your fear of the plane overcomes your fear of the ejection seat, its time to "punch out."
43. Military Intelligence is a contradiction.
44. Fortify your front; you'll get your rear shot up.
45. The more a weapon costs, the farther you will have to send it away to be repaired.
46. Weather ain't neutral.
47. If you can't remember, the Claymore is pointed towards you.
48. Air defense motto: shoot 'em down; sort 'em out on the ground.
49. 'Flies high, it dies; low and slow, it'll go.
50. The Cavalry doesn't always come to the rescue.
51. Napalm is an area support weapon.
52. Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
53. B-52s are the ultimate close support weapon.
54. Sniper's motto: reach out and touch someone.
55. Killing for peace is like screwing for virginity.
56. The one item you need is always in short supply.
57. Interchangeable parts aren't.
58. It's not the one [bullet] with your name on it; it's the one [bullet or shrapnel] addressed "to whom it may concern" or "occupant" that you've got to worry about.
59. When in doubt, empty your magazine.
60. The side with the simplest uniforms wins. [Corollary: The army with the smartest dress uniform will lose.]
61. Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps...printed at different scales.
62. If the Platoon Sergeant can see you, so can the enemy.
63. Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can sleep.
64. The most dangerous thing in the world is a Second Lieutenant with a map and a compass.
65. Exceptions prove the rule, and destroy the battle plan.
66. Everything always works in your HQ, everything always fails in the Colonel's HQ.
67. The enemy never watches until you make a mistake.
68. One enemy soldier is never enough, but two is entirely too many.
69. A clean (and dry) set of BDU's is a magnet for mud and rain.
70. The worse the weather, the more you are required to be out in it.
71. Whenever you have plenty of ammo, you never miss. Whenever you are low on ammo, you can't hit the broad side of a barn.
72. The complexity of a weapon is inversely proportional to the IQ of the weapon's operator.
73. Field experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
74. No matter which way you have to march, its always uphill.
75. If enough data is collected, a board of inquiry can prove anything.
76. For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. (in boot camp)
77. Airstrikes always overshoot the target, artillery always falls short.
78. When reviewing the radio frequencies that you just wrote down, the most important ones are always illegible.
79. Those who hesitate under fire usually do not end up KIA or WIA.
80. The tough part about being an officer is that the troops don't know what they want, but they know for certain what they don't want.
81. To steal information from a person is called plagiarism. To steal information from the enemy is called gathering intelligence.
82. The weapon that usually jams when you need it the most is the M60.
83. The perfect officer for the job will transfer in the day after that billet is filled by someone else.
84. When you have sufficient supplies & ammo, the enemy takes 2 weeks to attack. When you are low on supplies & ammo the enemy decides to attack that night.
85. The newest and least experienced soldier will usually win the Medal of Honor.
86. A Purple Heart just proves that were you smart enough to think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.
87. Murphy was a grunt.
88. Beer Math -- "2 beers times 37 men equals 49 cases. "
89. Body count Math -- "3 guerrillas plus 1 probable plus 2 pigs equals 37 enemies killed in action. "
90. The bursting radius of a hand grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range. [Corollary: The effective radius of a hand grenade is greater the average grunt can throw it.]
91. All-weather close air support doesn't work in bad weather.
92. The combat worth of a unit is inversely proportional to the smartness of its outfit and appearance.
93. The crucial round is a dud.
94. Every command which can be misunderstood, will be.
95. There is no such place as a convenient foxhole.
96. Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last and don't ever volunteer to do anything.
97. If your positions are firmly set and you are prepared to take the enemy assault on, he will bypass you.
98. If your ambush is properly set, the enemy won't walk into it.
99. If your flank march is going well, the enemy expects you to outflank him.
100. Density of fire increases proportionally to the curiousness of the target.15. The enemy invariably
101. Odd objects attract fire - never lurk behind one. [Corollary: Odd objects attract fire -- you are odd.]
102. The more stupid the leader is, the more important missions he is ordered to carry out.
103. The self-importance of a superior is inversely proportional to his position in the hierarchy (as is his deviousness and mischievousness).
104. There is always a way, and it usually doesn't work.
105. Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when the General is watching.
106. The enemy never monitors your radio frequency until you broadcast on an unsecured channel.
107. Whenever you drop your equipment in a fire-fight, your ammo and grenades always fall the farthest away, and your canteen always lands at your feet.
108. As soon as you are served hot chow in the field, it rains.
109. Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.
110. The seriousness of a wound (in a fire-fight) is inversely proportional to the distance to any form of cover.
111. Walking point = sniper bait.
112. Your bivouac for the night is the spot where you got tired of marching that day.
113. If only one solution can be found for a field problem, then it is usually a stupid solution.
114. The buddy system is essential to your survival; it gives the enemy somebody else to shoot at.
115. The Quartermaster has only two sizes, too large and too small.
116. If you really need an officer in a hurry, take a nap.
117. The only time suppressive fire works is when it is used on abandoned positions.
118. There is nothing more satisfying than having someone take a shot at you, and miss.
119. All battles are fought uphill.
120. All battles are fought in the rain.
121. "Logistics is the ball and chain of armoured warfare." -- Heinz Guderian
122. What gets you promoted from one rank, gets you killed in the next rank.
123. "A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow." -- General George Patton
124. If orders can be misunderstood, they have been.
125. "War is like love. To triumph, you must make contact." -- attributed to Napoleon
126. "Boldness becomes rarer, the higher the rank." -- Karl von Clausewitz
127. Never reinforce failure. Failure reinforces itself.
128. "Only 5% of an intelligence report is accurate. The trick of a good commander is to isolate the 5%." -- General Douglas MacArthur
129. When a front line soldier overhears two General Staff officers conferring, he's fallen back too far.
130. It isn't necessary to be an idiot to be a senior officer, but it sure helps.
131. "No captain can do very wrong who places his ship alongside that of the enemy." -- Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson
132. "Only numbers can annihilate." -- Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson
133. Always know when to get out of "Dodge". [Corollary: Always know how to get out of "Dodge".]
134. Priorities are made by officers, not God. There's a difference.
135. Always honor a threat.
136. The weight of all your equipment is proportional to the cube of the time you have been carrying it.
137. "Hell hath no fury like a non-combatant." -- Charles Edward Montague
138. Fighter pilots make movies; attack pilots make history.
139. There are two kinds of naval vessels: submarines and targets.
140. "A lost battle is a battle one thinks one has lost." -- Ferdinand Foch (Principles de Guerre)
141. "Surprise is an event that takes place in the mind of a commander." -- Jerry Pournelle
142. "All warfare is based upon deception." -- Sun Tzu (The Art of War)
143. "A little caution outflanks a large cavalry." -- Otto von Bismark
144. The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
145. Radios function perfectly until you need fire support.
146. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share to take.
147. Parade ground inspections are to combat readiness as mess hall food is to cuisine.
148. "Snow is not neutral." -- Frunze Military Academy Maxim
149. The tank is a monument to the inaccuracy of indirect fire.
150. "Diplomacy has rarely been able to gain at the conference table what cannot be gained or held on the battlefield." -- General Walter Bedell Smith
151. "War is the unfolding of miscalculations." -- Barbara Tuchman
152. "Perfect is the enemy of good enough." -- Soviet Admiral Gorshkov
153. "He who wants to defend everything defends nothing." -- Frederick the Great
154. If they're shooting at you, its a high intensity conflict.
155. Artillery add dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.
156. Minefields are not neutral. They attack both enemies.
157. Your mortar barrage will put exactly one round on the intended target. That round will be a dud.
158. The mortar team will always have the correct number of safety pins to prove they armed all the rounds. [Corollary: To ensure this, the mortar teams always carry extra pins.]
159. More aircraft are incapacitated by a shortage of spare parts than by enemy action.
160. The enemy attacks on two occasions: 1) when they're ready, 2) when you're not.
2. Recoilless rifles - aren't.
3. Suppressive fires - won't.
4. You are not Superman; Marines and fighter pilots take note.
5. A sucking chest wound is Nature's way of telling you to slow down.
6. If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.
7. Try to look unimportant; the enemy may be low on ammo and not want to waste a bullet on you.
8. If at first you don't succeed, call for artillery. When that doesn't work, for an airstrike.
9. The further you are in advance of your own positions, the more likely your artillery will fall short.
10. Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than yourself.
11. Never go to bed with anyone crazier than yourself.
12. Never forget that your weapon was made by the lowest bidder.
13. If your attack is going really well, it's an ambush.
14. The enemy diversion you're ignoring is their main attack.
16. "No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy."- Field Marshall Helmuth Carl Bernard von Moltke [1990's version: No OPLAN ever survives initial contact.]
17. There is no such thing as a perfect plan.
18. Five second fuses always burn three seconds.
19. There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.
20. A retreating enemy is probably just falling back and regrouping.
21. The important things are always simple; the simple are always hard.
22. The problem with taking easy way out is that the enemy has already mined it.
23. Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other people to shoot at.
24. Don't look conspicuous. In the combat zone, it draws fire. Out of the combat zone, it draws sergeants. [Corollary: For this reason, it is not at all uncommon for aircraft carriers to be known as bomb magnets.]
25. Never draw fire; it irritates everyone around you.
26. If you are short of everything but the enemy, you are in the combat zone.
27. When you have secured the area, make sure the enemy knows it too.
28. Incoming fire has the right of way.
29. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection.
30. No inspection ready unit has ever passed combat.
31. If the enemy is within range, so are you.
32. The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire.
33. Things which must be shipped together as a set, aren't.
34. Things that must work together, can't be carried to the field that way.
35. Radios will fail as soon as you need fire support. (Corollary: Radar tends to fail at night and in bad weather, and especially during both.)
36. Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.
37. Make it too tough for the enemy to get in, and you won't be able to get out.
38. Tracers work both ways.
39. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will get more than your fair share of objectives to take.
40. When both sides are convinced they're about to lose, they're both right.
41. Professional soldiers are predictable; the world is full of dangerous amateurs.
42. When your fear of the plane overcomes your fear of the ejection seat, its time to "punch out."
43. Military Intelligence is a contradiction.
44. Fortify your front; you'll get your rear shot up.
45. The more a weapon costs, the farther you will have to send it away to be repaired.
46. Weather ain't neutral.
47. If you can't remember, the Claymore is pointed towards you.
48. Air defense motto: shoot 'em down; sort 'em out on the ground.
49. 'Flies high, it dies; low and slow, it'll go.
50. The Cavalry doesn't always come to the rescue.
51. Napalm is an area support weapon.
52. Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
53. B-52s are the ultimate close support weapon.
54. Sniper's motto: reach out and touch someone.
55. Killing for peace is like screwing for virginity.
56. The one item you need is always in short supply.
57. Interchangeable parts aren't.
58. It's not the one [bullet] with your name on it; it's the one [bullet or shrapnel] addressed "to whom it may concern" or "occupant" that you've got to worry about.
59. When in doubt, empty your magazine.
60. The side with the simplest uniforms wins. [Corollary: The army with the smartest dress uniform will lose.]
61. Combat will occur on the ground between two adjoining maps...printed at different scales.
62. If the Platoon Sergeant can see you, so can the enemy.
63. Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can sleep.
64. The most dangerous thing in the world is a Second Lieutenant with a map and a compass.
65. Exceptions prove the rule, and destroy the battle plan.
66. Everything always works in your HQ, everything always fails in the Colonel's HQ.
67. The enemy never watches until you make a mistake.
68. One enemy soldier is never enough, but two is entirely too many.
69. A clean (and dry) set of BDU's is a magnet for mud and rain.
70. The worse the weather, the more you are required to be out in it.
71. Whenever you have plenty of ammo, you never miss. Whenever you are low on ammo, you can't hit the broad side of a barn.
72. The complexity of a weapon is inversely proportional to the IQ of the weapon's operator.
73. Field experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
74. No matter which way you have to march, its always uphill.
75. If enough data is collected, a board of inquiry can prove anything.
76. For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. (in boot camp)
77. Airstrikes always overshoot the target, artillery always falls short.
78. When reviewing the radio frequencies that you just wrote down, the most important ones are always illegible.
79. Those who hesitate under fire usually do not end up KIA or WIA.
80. The tough part about being an officer is that the troops don't know what they want, but they know for certain what they don't want.
81. To steal information from a person is called plagiarism. To steal information from the enemy is called gathering intelligence.
82. The weapon that usually jams when you need it the most is the M60.
83. The perfect officer for the job will transfer in the day after that billet is filled by someone else.
84. When you have sufficient supplies & ammo, the enemy takes 2 weeks to attack. When you are low on supplies & ammo the enemy decides to attack that night.
85. The newest and least experienced soldier will usually win the Medal of Honor.
86. A Purple Heart just proves that were you smart enough to think of a plan, stupid enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.
87. Murphy was a grunt.
88. Beer Math -- "2 beers times 37 men equals 49 cases. "
89. Body count Math -- "3 guerrillas plus 1 probable plus 2 pigs equals 37 enemies killed in action. "
90. The bursting radius of a hand grenade is always one foot greater than your jumping range. [Corollary: The effective radius of a hand grenade is greater the average grunt can throw it.]
91. All-weather close air support doesn't work in bad weather.
92. The combat worth of a unit is inversely proportional to the smartness of its outfit and appearance.
93. The crucial round is a dud.
94. Every command which can be misunderstood, will be.
95. There is no such place as a convenient foxhole.
96. Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last and don't ever volunteer to do anything.
97. If your positions are firmly set and you are prepared to take the enemy assault on, he will bypass you.
98. If your ambush is properly set, the enemy won't walk into it.
99. If your flank march is going well, the enemy expects you to outflank him.
100. Density of fire increases proportionally to the curiousness of the target.15. The enemy invariably
101. Odd objects attract fire - never lurk behind one. [Corollary: Odd objects attract fire -- you are odd.]
102. The more stupid the leader is, the more important missions he is ordered to carry out.
103. The self-importance of a superior is inversely proportional to his position in the hierarchy (as is his deviousness and mischievousness).
104. There is always a way, and it usually doesn't work.
105. Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when the General is watching.
106. The enemy never monitors your radio frequency until you broadcast on an unsecured channel.
107. Whenever you drop your equipment in a fire-fight, your ammo and grenades always fall the farthest away, and your canteen always lands at your feet.
108. As soon as you are served hot chow in the field, it rains.
109. Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.
110. The seriousness of a wound (in a fire-fight) is inversely proportional to the distance to any form of cover.
111. Walking point = sniper bait.
112. Your bivouac for the night is the spot where you got tired of marching that day.
113. If only one solution can be found for a field problem, then it is usually a stupid solution.
114. The buddy system is essential to your survival; it gives the enemy somebody else to shoot at.
115. The Quartermaster has only two sizes, too large and too small.
116. If you really need an officer in a hurry, take a nap.
117. The only time suppressive fire works is when it is used on abandoned positions.
118. There is nothing more satisfying than having someone take a shot at you, and miss.
119. All battles are fought uphill.
120. All battles are fought in the rain.
121. "Logistics is the ball and chain of armoured warfare." -- Heinz Guderian
122. What gets you promoted from one rank, gets you killed in the next rank.
123. "A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow." -- General George Patton
124. If orders can be misunderstood, they have been.
125. "War is like love. To triumph, you must make contact." -- attributed to Napoleon
126. "Boldness becomes rarer, the higher the rank." -- Karl von Clausewitz
127. Never reinforce failure. Failure reinforces itself.
128. "Only 5% of an intelligence report is accurate. The trick of a good commander is to isolate the 5%." -- General Douglas MacArthur
129. When a front line soldier overhears two General Staff officers conferring, he's fallen back too far.
130. It isn't necessary to be an idiot to be a senior officer, but it sure helps.
131. "No captain can do very wrong who places his ship alongside that of the enemy." -- Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson
132. "Only numbers can annihilate." -- Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson
133. Always know when to get out of "Dodge". [Corollary: Always know how to get out of "Dodge".]
134. Priorities are made by officers, not God. There's a difference.
135. Always honor a threat.
136. The weight of all your equipment is proportional to the cube of the time you have been carrying it.
137. "Hell hath no fury like a non-combatant." -- Charles Edward Montague
138. Fighter pilots make movies; attack pilots make history.
139. There are two kinds of naval vessels: submarines and targets.
140. "A lost battle is a battle one thinks one has lost." -- Ferdinand Foch (Principles de Guerre)
141. "Surprise is an event that takes place in the mind of a commander." -- Jerry Pournelle
142. "All warfare is based upon deception." -- Sun Tzu (The Art of War)
143. "A little caution outflanks a large cavalry." -- Otto von Bismark
144. The enemy diversion you are ignoring is the main attack.
145. Radios function perfectly until you need fire support.
146. If you take more than your fair share of objectives, you will have more than your fair share to take.
147. Parade ground inspections are to combat readiness as mess hall food is to cuisine.
148. "Snow is not neutral." -- Frunze Military Academy Maxim
149. The tank is a monument to the inaccuracy of indirect fire.
150. "Diplomacy has rarely been able to gain at the conference table what cannot be gained or held on the battlefield." -- General Walter Bedell Smith
151. "War is the unfolding of miscalculations." -- Barbara Tuchman
152. "Perfect is the enemy of good enough." -- Soviet Admiral Gorshkov
153. "He who wants to defend everything defends nothing." -- Frederick the Great
154. If they're shooting at you, its a high intensity conflict.
155. Artillery add dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.
156. Minefields are not neutral. They attack both enemies.
157. Your mortar barrage will put exactly one round on the intended target. That round will be a dud.
158. The mortar team will always have the correct number of safety pins to prove they armed all the rounds. [Corollary: To ensure this, the mortar teams always carry extra pins.]
159. More aircraft are incapacitated by a shortage of spare parts than by enemy action.
160. The enemy attacks on two occasions: 1) when they're ready, 2) when you're not.
No Dying for Our land. Let them Die for Theirs
"He who wants to defend everything defends nothing." -- Frederick the Great
The Sri Lanka Army has advanced and spread across the entire Manthai Area by yesterday. The LTTE launched five counter attacks to retake the Manthai FDL which were all repulsed by the Army. The Army's motto for these undeclared and unnamed operations is 'Don't Die for Our Land. Let Them Die for Theirs'. The motto signifies the strategic objective of not fighting for control over land and forcing the Tigers to defend their own. The strategy has yielded significant successes.
Field Commanders are being pushed to kill as many LTTE as possible and not to hold on to the territory gained. The operations, spearheaded by the Commando Regiment, also has the backing of the 58 Division stationed in Mannar. On the 9th, these units destroyed a bunker manned by the LTTE's elite Charles Anthony Regiment. Six bodies recovered from the scene are to be handed over to the ICRC today. The Army's desire to confront as many LTTE as possible has proven successful with the majority of the LTTE casualties being from Charles Anthony Regiment.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Air Force is to take delivery of a sophisticated unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) within the next few days. Another three are to be delivered early next year by a middle-eastern Contractor.
In another important development, the Sri Lanka Army has quietly raised its 3rd Commando Regiment for special operations in the Deep Battle-space (LRRP). The Unit is Commanded by a Colonel (recently promoted) responsible for the successful capture of Thoppigala and a Major from the VIP protection team that guarded the late Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar prior to his demise. The Colonel is currently reorganizing the unit for better success.
The Sri Lanka Army has advanced and spread across the entire Manthai Area by yesterday. The LTTE launched five counter attacks to retake the Manthai FDL which were all repulsed by the Army. The Army's motto for these undeclared and unnamed operations is 'Don't Die for Our Land. Let Them Die for Theirs'. The motto signifies the strategic objective of not fighting for control over land and forcing the Tigers to defend their own. The strategy has yielded significant successes.
Field Commanders are being pushed to kill as many LTTE as possible and not to hold on to the territory gained. The operations, spearheaded by the Commando Regiment, also has the backing of the 58 Division stationed in Mannar. On the 9th, these units destroyed a bunker manned by the LTTE's elite Charles Anthony Regiment. Six bodies recovered from the scene are to be handed over to the ICRC today. The Army's desire to confront as many LTTE as possible has proven successful with the majority of the LTTE casualties being from Charles Anthony Regiment.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Air Force is to take delivery of a sophisticated unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) within the next few days. Another three are to be delivered early next year by a middle-eastern Contractor.
In another important development, the Sri Lanka Army has quietly raised its 3rd Commando Regiment for special operations in the Deep Battle-space (LRRP). The Unit is Commanded by a Colonel (recently promoted) responsible for the successful capture of Thoppigala and a Major from the VIP protection team that guarded the late Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar prior to his demise. The Colonel is currently reorganizing the unit for better success.
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