Much has been written of the capture of Thoppigala since then and throughout the months-long operation that was technically divided into two phases that began on February 24 and April 25.
The Commando Regiment has been instrumental in many offensives since the Mavil Aru operations began in the east on July 26, last year. The Thoppigala operation, involving the 2 and 3 Commando Regiments, is no exception and Brigade Commander, Commando Regiment, Brigadier Charlie Gallage has done tremendous work.
He was at hand on Friday to receive Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka and the Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera in Thoppigala.
Elite forces used
From the inception Eelam War IV, the Army used its elite forces – the Commandos and the Special Forces – for the many operations that gave it a tactical advantage over the LTTE. These specially trained forces braving the elements, deprived of regular baths and surviving on dry rations, even capsules for nutrition, made the difference.
The regular infantry troops did their part, while the deep penetration teams brought on the element of surprise and contributed towards the resultant victory in the first stage of Eelam War IV.
The invaluable intelligence and support of the ‘Karuna’ faction, in terms of information on terrain and places he once controlled, also gave the forces more than an edge in this phase.
The LTTE, smarting under the loss of Karuna and his men, failed to make an impression in this phase of the war, where the security forces won almost all the battles.
Salt in the wound
The military won round one in the east, with the last battle at Thoppigala, which it secured on Wednesday, July 11. The Tigers warned that there would be a trap but, in the end, there wasn’t any.
As if to rub it in, the military announced that it would use the Tigers’ Thoppigala training bases to train its soldiers, obviously for the battles ahead in round two in Wanni and the north.
The trend has been that of the LTTE warning of greater bloodshed, if this or that area in the east is captured. But, in the end, it turned out to be a non event.
On other hand, the government had been saying it would stop with Sampur but, in the end, continued its thrust. Finally, with the east liberated, the military is not happy until it forges ahead in the Wanni and the north, claiming that its military positions are threatened by the LTTE artillery and mortars.
The action started several months back, even as Tiger control of the east was beginning to fall apart.
Ready to fight
The LTTE has always withdrawn from the east, when confronted, which is true, even when Col. Karuna held sway for the Tigers there.
But, in the north, as we said before, the forces should not expect a cakewalk, as the Wanni Tigers are well entrenched and will fight it out on their own terrain.
The Tigers have signalled that they are ready for the fight, by performing military drills before the international media, in rebel-held territory in the north.
Drills apart, the Tigers, equipped with artillery and mortars, struck yesterday, killing a soldier and wounding another 11, putting a dozen troops out of action in one go in northern Vavuniya. The military retaliated and killed scores of Tigers, according to Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.
Tiger fighter S. Kadalarasan, on the sidelines of a practice assault, said, “The main objective on the battlefront is how to destroy the enemy’s battle tanks and armoured vehicles.”
Tank territory
The military would not hesitate to put its armoured corps to good use in what is seen as tank territory. But, the military should be reminded that the last time it tried using tanks in Muhamalai on October 11, lost several owing to the LTTE’s ingenuity.
They were, of course, routed from the Jaffna peninsula in 1995, during Operation Riviresa, which, however, drew troops from the liberated east, allowing the Tigers to infiltrate and control the east again. From the peninsula they moved into the Wanni, where they are well entrenched.
Locked out of the Jaffna peninsula and the east, the LTTE is fully concentrated in the Wanni and would be more than a match for the security forces even in a conventional battle, as we saw west of Omanthai, a few weeks back.
As for the military, to its advantage, troop morale is high, following the capture of Thoppigala, marking the liberation of the entire east, with pockets of Tigers likely to be targetted in the mopping up operations.
Air threats
But, the real fear of the Tigers is the role played by the air force in ‘Eelam War IV’. The air force wreaked havoc on Tiger infrastructure including training camps, bunkers, fuel and ammunition dumps and gun positions.
“We can’t keep a training base for a long time in this area,” said LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan, alluding to the threat of air strikes.
Round two would largely depend on the air force destroying more of these bases, with yesterday’s attack on the Mannar base being just the beginning.
“We successfully bombed the LTTE camp in Mannar with many casualties,” declared Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Ajantha De Silva.
While the LTTE conceded defeat in the east, for the first time, LTTE political head S.P. Thamilselvan, who has warned of a bloodbath before, has threatened to hit, not only military targets but also, economic ones.
Wanni war on the cards
Thamilselvan also declared that peace was not possible as long as Mahinda Rajapaksa remained President and the role of the international community was futile. However, again it was the Tigers who wanted Rajapaksa as President, in the first place, by enforcing a boycott of the election in the cleared areas, with or without a bribe.
Was the threat and the ‘no faith’ confession an announcement that the Tigers were giving notice they were withdrawing from the five-year truce, which, anyway, is in tatters and would ignominiously be buried unless a miracle occurs? If it doesn’t, war in the Wanni is very much on the cards.
The Wanni Tigers, no doubt, have known to be stronger in the north and Wanni, than in the east but, the series of reversals it faced during the past year, was likely to have a dampening effect on the morale of its cadres, even to defend these strongholds.
While the hardcore LTTEers who withdrew from the east to the Wanni, would fight to the last, the ones recently conscripted would not be motivated to stay on and would escape in the face of the recent reversals. Some have even surrendered to the security forces. The security forces estimate that a little over 2,000 Tiger cadres have been killed.
Casualties
The LTTE admits that a little more than 1,000 have died in the one-year of fighting. What about those injured? The wounded in action (WIA) is usually much higher than the number killed in action (KIA). Given the dead, the wounded and those who escaped, it would be difficult for the LTTE to put up a good fight in the Wanni and the north. However, it could be argued that the LTTE, entrenched in its positions, does not need those fleeing from the east, to defend the Wanni and the north.
What would make the difference in the second stage of the war in the Wanni and the north is, which side first springs the element of surprise. As we have seen, it would not be easy to repeat the same strategies as in the east, as the Wanni is well fortified.
In this second round, it is the air force, as we said before, that could destroy LTTE infrastructure, training camps, ammunition dumps and gun positions and make a material difference by wreaking havoc. However, it would have to be done carefully, avoiding, as it did in the east, the teeming civilians.
Psychological advantage
While some may question whether there was a tactical advantage as opposed to a strategic advantage in capturing Thoppigala, the psychological advantage of getting at the ‘nerve centre’ of the LTTE in their last bastion in the Eastern Province, is worthy of mention.
According to the military, troops gained total control of Narakamula and Tharavikulama areas, where the LTTE had its eastern headquarters and other fortifications. Troops advanced from three directions namely, Karadiyanaru northward, Sittandi westward and Welikanda southward.
In the backdrop of this success, the Security Council met on Wednesday – sans Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who is overseas but, sent his message to mark the occasion.
Unlike previously, when a cake was cut at the Security Council meeting, this time around such celebrations were on a low key, as bagging Thoppigla was expected, since the LTTE was up against it and it was only a matter of time before the Tigers’ supplies would be cut off.
Lines of control
It must be mentioned that the east was demarcated with strict lines of control at the time of the February 22, 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. It must also be mentioned that the LTTE did entrench itself in the east, during the truce.
Major General Lucky Algama (killed by the LTTE at an election rally), together with then Brigadier Janaka Perera, helped wrest control of the east in the early nineties, under then Army Commander Lt. Gen. Cecil Waidyaratne who stepped down after the Pooneryn debacle.
The Special Task Force (STF) has been entrusted with the security of the eastern coast from Batticaloa down up to Pottuvil, Siyambaladuwa and up to Amparai and Maho Oya. The total strength of the STF is 6,000 personnel, with the recruitment drive adding 600 new recruits. The biggest obstacle for recruitment is the requirement that the six passes include mathematics in one and the same sitting.
The STF moved from Kangikadichchi Aru northwards, overrunning LTTE bases up to Pillumalai, while soldiers moved westward form Vavunativu, capturing Kokkadicholai, Ayittimalai, Unnichchai and Karadiyanru LTTE bases. By April 2007, the troops were able to clear the A-5 highway completely, by capturing the section of the road between Chenkaladi and Mahoya. This enabled operations in Thoppigala to flush out Tigers from their last stronghold in the east.
Development
We have dealt with the resettlement in the east, after the many operations conducted in the past year. This must be coupled with development as an alternative for the people to be the beneficiaries, after two decades of deprivation. On Thursday, the Government is scheduled to announce its ambitious plans, despite the Treasury coffers being sapped by military expenditure.
According to government statistics, the Eastern Province is 9,965 sq. kilometres in extent, which is approximately 16% of the total land area of the island. At its longest, it is 286 kilometres, from Kumana in the south to Pulmoddai in the north east, while at its widest, it is 89 kilometres, from Ulhitiya in the west to Kirankulam in the east. It has a 420-kilometre coastline (Ampara 110 kilometres, Batticaloa 100 kilometres and Trincomalee 210 kilometres).
The chances are that development would also take into account the tourist potential of the eastern coast. Scuba diving and other forms of maritime leisure activities are likely to figure prominently in the development plans. Already, the government has announced a buffer zone along sections of the coast.
Need of the hour
Resettlement was effected after flushing out the Tigers who attacked camps in Kattaparichchan, Muttur, Toppur, Selvanagar and Mahindapura. Resettlement in Sampur is yet to commence, while in Vakarai it is almost complete.
Speedy resettlement of civilians is the need of the hour. They must be allowed to earn a livelihood after decades of deprivation, loss of loved ones and a fear psychosis that has gripped them, as they were often caught between the Tiger and the deep blue eastern sea.
(http://www.nation.lk/2007/07/15/militarym.htm)
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Gallantry medals for armed forces
The government is seriously contemplating decorating all military officials who took part in the successful Thoppigala and eastern liberation offensive. The armed forces have presented a proposal to decorate all military persons with a gallantry medal for their achievement in the east.
(http://www.nation.lk/2007/07/15/news7.htm)
(http://www.nation.lk/2007/07/15/news7.htm)
The capture of Thoppigala Rock Fortress
The march that commenced in Mavil Aru last year ended last Wednesday with the capture of Thoppigala by the security forces, marking the end of a campaign to liberate the Eastern Province. Here the army’s elite Commandos ascended the cap shaped mountain, Baron’s Cap, to hoist the flag of the nation and that of their regiment (Pic by Ishara S. Kodikara)
Friday, July 20, 2007
15 killed in fighting in Sri Lanka
Commandos of the Sri Lankan army march during a celebration ceremony held to mark the captivity of the last stronghold of Tamil Tigers in the Eastern Province, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, July 19, 2007. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said Thursday he will not be deterred by threats by separatist Tamil Tiger rebels and vowed to continue to weaken them militarily. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
Separatist Tamil rebels attacked a military post in northern Sri Lanka with mortars and gunfire early Friday, sparking an hourlong battle that killed at least 12 combatants. Later, soldiers killed three rebels in the country's east.
The attacks came a day after the government held a formal military ceremony celebrating its recapture of the east from the rebels. The Tamil rebels, who still control a virtual state in the north, have vowed to retaliate for the military's offensive in the east.
About 2:30 a.m. Friday, the rebels struck, attacking soldiers guarding the front lines in the Mannar district separating government-held areas from rebel territory in the north.
The military repelled the attack, which killed three soldiers and wounded four others, said Lt. Col. Upali Rajapakse, a senior military officer. He said troops killed at least nine rebels and wounded 24.
However, rebels said they killed 10 soldiers and lost only four of their fighters. It was not possible to reconcile the conflicting death tolls given by the two sides. Each often inflates the other's casualties and lowers its own.
Rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said the attack on the army post was meant as a pre-emptive strike. "This camp was causing a lot of harassment to our fighters," he said.
Steinar Sveinsson, a spokesman for the Scandinavian mission monitoring a tattered 2002 truce, said he had no information about the latest clash.
Also Friday, army troops killed three rebels in the eastern Batticaloa district, said a military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The official said the insurgents were fleeing the Thoppigala wilderness, which was captured by government forces last week.
Fighting between the government and the rebels has spiked over the last 20 months, though neither side has formally withdrawn from the 2002 cease-fire.
The rebels have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, a predominantly Hindu group that has faced decades of discrimination by the majority Sinhalese-controlled governments. About 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting.
Heavy fighting grips Sri Lanka after victory parade
A handout photo released by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence shows a soldier standing guard in the backdrop of the Thoppigala jungle area, 13 July 2006. Government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels were locked in combat in northwest Sri Lanka with both sides claiming they had inflicted heavy casualties on the other.
Government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels were locked in combat in northwest Sri Lanka on Friday with both sides claiming they had inflicted heavy casualties on the other.
The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched the pre-dawn attack on army defences in Mannar district, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Three government soldiers were killed and another four were wounded, the ministry said. It placed rebel losses at nine killed and 20 wounded.
The Tigers said they mounted the attack against a military base which had been shelling nearby villagers, and claimed they had killed at least ten soldiers.
"The mini-camp (of the military) had been harassing the civilians by shelling nearby villages," the LTTE said in a statement.
"The Sri Lanka armed forces personnel manning the mini-camp fled the scene, leaving behind 10 dead bodies, weapons, military equipment and ammunition."
The latest attack came a day after the government celebrated the capture of the final bastion of the LTTE in the east of the island with a victory parade.
The Tigers have been fighting for a separate state for minority Tamils for 35 years, a conflict that has claimed over 60,000 lives.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070720/wl_afp/srilankaunrestattack_070720093008;
_ylt=Aklhevh3l39pMMa0kFhhIbWROrgF)
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Army finds LTTE Multi-Barrel at Thoppigala
Troops conducting search operations in the Thoppigala jungle have found a Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) of the LTTE terrorists in the Omunugala area at around 12:00 noon, today ( July 18).
The MBRL is one of the important items of heavy armour of the LTTE terrorists, and had been used against both troops and civilians.
According to Defence sources in the East, the troops had dug up the MBRL which was found dumped at a location close Omunugala, West of Narakamula. This is a part of the heavy armour the LTTE had abandoned when it fled the Thoppigala jungle as troops moved in for the final assault on Baron's Cap.
The LTTE terrorists had damaged some of heavy armour and vehicles they left behind as they fled Thoppigala. It is believed that some more heavy guns of the terrorists could be lying hidden in the jungle terrain of Thoppigala. More search operations will be under way to recover these.
The troops made today's find amid the campaign by certain political elements in the South to bring disgrace to the soldiers who won an important victory against the terrorists in the Eastern province. Some of these politicians have even gone to the extent of insulting the soldiers by raising ill-informed questions about the fate of the LTTE's arsenal in Thoppigala.
(http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070718_06)
Make or break? Osprey prepares for first operational deployment
If all runs according to plan, September 2007 should see the maiden operational deployment of the Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Responsibility will be entrusted to US Marine Corps (USMC) Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263), which is to vacate the security and sanctuary of its home base at MCAS New River, North Carolina, for the rather more spartan and considerably more hostile surroundings of Al Asad, Iraq.
This event has been a long time coming, with the development history of the V-22 Osprey spanning more than two decades, during which it has endured more than its fair share of trials and tribulations, as well as some moments of tragedy. Even today, with operational introduction imminent, the Osprey tiltrotor continues to generate controversy, opponents arguing vehemently that it should be scrapped on grounds of safety and unsuitability while supporters are no less forthcoming in singing its praises.
As always, the truth probably lies somewhere between these two extremes and while it may not be 'make or break' for the MV-22, it is clear that the next few months will provide an acid test for both the personnel and equipment of VMM-263, with those on opposing sides of the debate looking for 'ammunition' to support their arguments and terminate the debate once and for all.
The subject of this debate has not exactly enjoyed the smoothest development history since it originated as the Joint Service Advanced Vertical Lift Aircraft (JVX) back in Fiscal Year 1982 (FY82). At that time, it was anticipated that at least 900 examples of the chosen design would be produced for all branches of the US armed forces and management of the JVX programme was initially a US Army responsibility.
However, US Army interest soon waned, with overall control of the programme passing to the US Navy (USN) in January 1983, shortly before award of a preliminary design contract in late April of the same year. This was followed by a seven-year Full Scale Development (FSD) contract on 2 May 1986, by which time the JVX proposal had evolved into the V-22 Osprey, as a joint venture between Bell and Boeing.
First flown in prototype form on 19 March 1989, the V-22 showed significant promise from the outset, but the programme soon encountered difficulties, foremost among them being an attempt at cancellation in December 1989. On this occasion, the US Congress came to the rescue when it elected to restore funding to the programme, but further troubles followed, with one of the five flying prototypes being destroyed on its maiden flight in June 1991 as a direct result of the miswiring of key avionics systems. Worse followed in July 1992 when another prototype was destroyed after one of the nacelles caught fire, resulting in loss of control with fatal consequences for the seven occupants.
Despite these setbacks, work on the programme continued to make slow but steady progress throughout the remainder of the decade, culminating in a successful maiden flight by the first production example of the MV-22B on 30 April 1999 and formal acceptance of this aircraft by the USMC on 14 May. Trials with this and other early production examples appeared to be going well, despite another unfortunately fatal accident in April 2000, this time involving the fourth LRIP (low-rate initial production) MV-22B. This was induced by the so-called vortex ring state, a phenomenon peculiar to helicopters, whereby recirculating air from rotor downwash makes it difficult to check the rate of descent.
Changes to operating techniques did much to alleviate the problem and allowed the grounding order imposed on 8 April to be lifted six weeks later, on 25 May. Since then, provision of a sink-rate warning system providing audible and visual indications of a potentially hazardous flight condition have also been incorporated as part of the measures aimed at addressing this problem.
The MV-22 was nevertheless moving closer to achieving operational status, with a recommendation that it be adopted for fleet service being made on 8 November 2000, while authorisation to proceed with full-rate production was expected to be granted before the end of the year. Not surprisingly, confidence was undoubtedly high but was to experience a severe knock when the eighth LRIP Osprey was involved in an accident near New River in December 2000. On this occasion, the problem was far more serious, originating with failure of a hydraulic line and compounded by problems encountered with the flight-control system that ultimately induced a stall and subsequent fatal crash.
An immediate grounding order was imposed and the future of the programme appeared in grave doubt for the next year, while various studies were undertaken. In December 2001, however, it was decided to continue and following modification of a handful of aircraft, flight testing eventually resumed with the fourth EMD example on 29 May 2002.
Five years on, that decision looks set to be vindicated with a key milestone being passed on 13 June 2007 with achievement of initial operational capability (IOC). This effectively means that both the MV-22B and VMM-263 are perceived as ready to undertake expeditionary operations alongside other Marine aviation elements.
(http://www.janes.com/news/defence/naval/idr/idr070713_1_n.shtml)
This event has been a long time coming, with the development history of the V-22 Osprey spanning more than two decades, during which it has endured more than its fair share of trials and tribulations, as well as some moments of tragedy. Even today, with operational introduction imminent, the Osprey tiltrotor continues to generate controversy, opponents arguing vehemently that it should be scrapped on grounds of safety and unsuitability while supporters are no less forthcoming in singing its praises.
As always, the truth probably lies somewhere between these two extremes and while it may not be 'make or break' for the MV-22, it is clear that the next few months will provide an acid test for both the personnel and equipment of VMM-263, with those on opposing sides of the debate looking for 'ammunition' to support their arguments and terminate the debate once and for all.
The subject of this debate has not exactly enjoyed the smoothest development history since it originated as the Joint Service Advanced Vertical Lift Aircraft (JVX) back in Fiscal Year 1982 (FY82). At that time, it was anticipated that at least 900 examples of the chosen design would be produced for all branches of the US armed forces and management of the JVX programme was initially a US Army responsibility.
However, US Army interest soon waned, with overall control of the programme passing to the US Navy (USN) in January 1983, shortly before award of a preliminary design contract in late April of the same year. This was followed by a seven-year Full Scale Development (FSD) contract on 2 May 1986, by which time the JVX proposal had evolved into the V-22 Osprey, as a joint venture between Bell and Boeing.
First flown in prototype form on 19 March 1989, the V-22 showed significant promise from the outset, but the programme soon encountered difficulties, foremost among them being an attempt at cancellation in December 1989. On this occasion, the US Congress came to the rescue when it elected to restore funding to the programme, but further troubles followed, with one of the five flying prototypes being destroyed on its maiden flight in June 1991 as a direct result of the miswiring of key avionics systems. Worse followed in July 1992 when another prototype was destroyed after one of the nacelles caught fire, resulting in loss of control with fatal consequences for the seven occupants.
Despite these setbacks, work on the programme continued to make slow but steady progress throughout the remainder of the decade, culminating in a successful maiden flight by the first production example of the MV-22B on 30 April 1999 and formal acceptance of this aircraft by the USMC on 14 May. Trials with this and other early production examples appeared to be going well, despite another unfortunately fatal accident in April 2000, this time involving the fourth LRIP (low-rate initial production) MV-22B. This was induced by the so-called vortex ring state, a phenomenon peculiar to helicopters, whereby recirculating air from rotor downwash makes it difficult to check the rate of descent.
Changes to operating techniques did much to alleviate the problem and allowed the grounding order imposed on 8 April to be lifted six weeks later, on 25 May. Since then, provision of a sink-rate warning system providing audible and visual indications of a potentially hazardous flight condition have also been incorporated as part of the measures aimed at addressing this problem.
The MV-22 was nevertheless moving closer to achieving operational status, with a recommendation that it be adopted for fleet service being made on 8 November 2000, while authorisation to proceed with full-rate production was expected to be granted before the end of the year. Not surprisingly, confidence was undoubtedly high but was to experience a severe knock when the eighth LRIP Osprey was involved in an accident near New River in December 2000. On this occasion, the problem was far more serious, originating with failure of a hydraulic line and compounded by problems encountered with the flight-control system that ultimately induced a stall and subsequent fatal crash.
An immediate grounding order was imposed and the future of the programme appeared in grave doubt for the next year, while various studies were undertaken. In December 2001, however, it was decided to continue and following modification of a handful of aircraft, flight testing eventually resumed with the fourth EMD example on 29 May 2002.
Five years on, that decision looks set to be vindicated with a key milestone being passed on 13 June 2007 with achievement of initial operational capability (IOC). This effectively means that both the MV-22B and VMM-263 are perceived as ready to undertake expeditionary operations alongside other Marine aviation elements.
(http://www.janes.com/news/defence/naval/idr/idr070713_1_n.shtml)
USD200 million profit margins maintain sophisticated Tamil Tiger war
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has created one of the most sophisticated insurgencies in the world, largely due to a complex global network of financial resources and weapons that are integral to prolonging its campaign for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
In a unique report on the financial operations of the LTTE, Jane’s Intelligence Review reports that with financial and procurement structures well organised and strategically positioned around the globe, the group has a profit margin that would be the envy of any multinational corporation – some USD200 to 300 million per year.
The Tamil Tigers is consequently the only known insurgent organisation with its own army, navy and now even a rudimentary air force, with access to financial resources and weapons giving it the luxury of introducing bold, new dimensions to the conflict.
The report details two overarching financial and procurement bodies that provide the main source of LTTE money, manpower and weapons; the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases (nicknamed the KP Department).
The Aiyanna Group functions as the group’s intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organisation’s financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the LTTE’s procurement arm.
In addition, the LTTE creates and staffs some charitable organisations, projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and, ultimately, convert the gains into arms.
The Jane’s Intelligence Review report says that the system works as an efficient way to move funds wherever investment or procurement opportunities arise while utilising a charitable façade’s tax-free status and legitimacy.
Geographically, the LTTE use a myriad of methods to maintain this formidable, non-state support structure. The southern province of Tamil Nadu in India plays a pivotal role in LTTE procurement and has become an essential transit point in the LTTE arms, narcotics, contraband and possibly human smuggling.
Beyond Sri Lanka’s neighbour, Cambodia is one of the most significant single sources of weapons for the insurgent group. The remainder of internationally procured weapons are believed to originate from the rest of Southeast Asia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Ukraine.
The report adds that the procurement of anti-aircraft technology, given the destruction wrought by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces' aerial assets, will be the primary driver of the LTTE’s continued international fundraising campaign.
(http://www.janes.com/press/press/pc070719_1.shtml)
In a unique report on the financial operations of the LTTE, Jane’s Intelligence Review reports that with financial and procurement structures well organised and strategically positioned around the globe, the group has a profit margin that would be the envy of any multinational corporation – some USD200 to 300 million per year.
The Tamil Tigers is consequently the only known insurgent organisation with its own army, navy and now even a rudimentary air force, with access to financial resources and weapons giving it the luxury of introducing bold, new dimensions to the conflict.
The report details two overarching financial and procurement bodies that provide the main source of LTTE money, manpower and weapons; the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases (nicknamed the KP Department).
The Aiyanna Group functions as the group’s intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organisation’s financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the LTTE’s procurement arm.
In addition, the LTTE creates and staffs some charitable organisations, projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and, ultimately, convert the gains into arms.
The Jane’s Intelligence Review report says that the system works as an efficient way to move funds wherever investment or procurement opportunities arise while utilising a charitable façade’s tax-free status and legitimacy.
Geographically, the LTTE use a myriad of methods to maintain this formidable, non-state support structure. The southern province of Tamil Nadu in India plays a pivotal role in LTTE procurement and has become an essential transit point in the LTTE arms, narcotics, contraband and possibly human smuggling.
Beyond Sri Lanka’s neighbour, Cambodia is one of the most significant single sources of weapons for the insurgent group. The remainder of internationally procured weapons are believed to originate from the rest of Southeast Asia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Ukraine.
The report adds that the procurement of anti-aircraft technology, given the destruction wrought by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces' aerial assets, will be the primary driver of the LTTE’s continued international fundraising campaign.
(http://www.janes.com/press/press/pc070719_1.shtml)
Reverberations of the Thoppigala Liberation - How it Silenced the International Interferers
There are wide ranging aftershocks of this historical victory. One reason why the East is more important for the LTTE than Wanni is that it frustrates potential attempts by the international community to intervene in SL with a forced solution. This needs further elaboration as it is one of the most strategic repercussions of the Thoppigala affair cunningly avoided by the UNP controlled media and the foreign media.
When the doomed CFA (Cease Fire Agreement) was singed in 2002, the two parties had to accept the ‘de facto’ ‘line of control’. Each party had to, thereafter, honour each others’ ‘line of control’. While the LTTE always tried to expand their terror network, the Sri Lankan government gave up the administration of justice. The starting point was therefore the most important thing and the LTTE rapidly expanded their eastern front from December 2001 to end February 2002 in time for the CFA. Even when the CFA was being singed, there were clashes in the Eastern waters between the terrorists and the Navy.
What would happen if a similar endeavour is made now? The LTTE will never accept the new ‘line of control’ which comprises only the land area from Omanthai to Muhamalai and not a square inch in the East. First thing they would do is to grab a chuck of the East before such a ‘ceasefire’ comes into being. That means the attempt would hit an impasse at the inception. On the other hand, if the LTTE is prevented from recapturing the East, they will not come for this new ‘ceasefire’. There is a third option. It would be to follow the same strategy as they did after the 2002 agreement; to wage a one-sided war. However, it is going to be almost impossible to do it without violating the ‘agreement’. There are no further options available to the LTTE. LTTE must accept the same fate as Jaffna for the East.
For these reasons, the international community would be very reluctant to interfere. The only way they can interfere is by reinforcing the ramshackled 2002 CFA agreement. Such an attempt would spark court cases that will annul the illegal CFA. The attempt of the international community to tighten the ‘peace’ screws on Sri Lanka has failed. Any new attempt would hurt the LTTE and not the GoSL as it is disadvantageous to them.
The results are silent, but clear and immediate.co-chairs went silent with their attempted engagement
appeals to the UN, etc. by various Elamists stopped abruptly the British attempt to interfere with the conflict stopped on the track Indian interest in interfering also stopped.
Silencing all interferers is a strategically important achievement of the Thoppigala liberation. No amount of money-wasting celebrations could match this feat.
It also frustrates UNP’s “Surrender for ‘Peace’” strategy. This is the real reason why the UNP tries to belittle the victory. If Ranil becomes the president and Mangala the PM, the second thing they do (first thing being celebrating their victory in each other’s company) is to come to another surrender agreement with the LTTE (or revive the 2002 agreement). Reviving the 2002 agreement means pulling back the forces from Thoppigala, etc. If people consider Thoppigala to be strategically important, reviving the 2002 CFA is going to be impossible. On the other hand, if a new agreement to be reached with the LTTE, still, the forces got to be pulled back from Thoppigala, etc. Either way it is a surrender. Therefore, the UNP does everything possible to paydown the real importance of the East and Thoppigala knowing very well that the tigers only need Thoppigala to roam the complete East.
What the government should do to frustrate these LTTE cum UNP aspirations?
1. Hold the Provincial Council election in the East ASAP
2. Retain the East by whatever means necessary
3. Catalyse economic growth and investment
4. Improve school attendance rates
5. Build coexistence with the Karuna-group ironing out any differences that may emerge peacefully, because the ‘restive East’ needs peace at least now; definitely not another war.
6. Bring in tough laws to protect reserves (including jungles) vesting it upon the government to protect these with severe punitive deterrents. If rainforests are unimportant by themselves, Ranil may handover the ‘Sinharaja’ forest to the LTTE!!
The strategic importance of the East is growing by the day. Real celebrations would begin when Thoppigala and the East becomes an obstacle to any future surrender endeavour. That is when the real aftershocks of our MBRL barrage, the sonic booms of SLAF jets and the sighs and laughter of our gallant soldiers would be felt loudest by the Elamists, separatists and their henchmen.
It is a sad saga for the UNP that Ranil surrenders to the LTTE which was defeated by Lalith. The need for Lalith in the UNP helm was never so desperate than today when we celebrate a strategic turning point in the 24 year-old conflict.
(http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/200707-1.html)
When the doomed CFA (Cease Fire Agreement) was singed in 2002, the two parties had to accept the ‘de facto’ ‘line of control’. Each party had to, thereafter, honour each others’ ‘line of control’. While the LTTE always tried to expand their terror network, the Sri Lankan government gave up the administration of justice. The starting point was therefore the most important thing and the LTTE rapidly expanded their eastern front from December 2001 to end February 2002 in time for the CFA. Even when the CFA was being singed, there were clashes in the Eastern waters between the terrorists and the Navy.
What would happen if a similar endeavour is made now? The LTTE will never accept the new ‘line of control’ which comprises only the land area from Omanthai to Muhamalai and not a square inch in the East. First thing they would do is to grab a chuck of the East before such a ‘ceasefire’ comes into being. That means the attempt would hit an impasse at the inception. On the other hand, if the LTTE is prevented from recapturing the East, they will not come for this new ‘ceasefire’. There is a third option. It would be to follow the same strategy as they did after the 2002 agreement; to wage a one-sided war. However, it is going to be almost impossible to do it without violating the ‘agreement’. There are no further options available to the LTTE. LTTE must accept the same fate as Jaffna for the East.
For these reasons, the international community would be very reluctant to interfere. The only way they can interfere is by reinforcing the ramshackled 2002 CFA agreement. Such an attempt would spark court cases that will annul the illegal CFA. The attempt of the international community to tighten the ‘peace’ screws on Sri Lanka has failed. Any new attempt would hurt the LTTE and not the GoSL as it is disadvantageous to them.
The results are silent, but clear and immediate.co-chairs went silent with their attempted engagement
appeals to the UN, etc. by various Elamists stopped abruptly the British attempt to interfere with the conflict stopped on the track Indian interest in interfering also stopped.
Silencing all interferers is a strategically important achievement of the Thoppigala liberation. No amount of money-wasting celebrations could match this feat.
It also frustrates UNP’s “Surrender for ‘Peace’” strategy. This is the real reason why the UNP tries to belittle the victory. If Ranil becomes the president and Mangala the PM, the second thing they do (first thing being celebrating their victory in each other’s company) is to come to another surrender agreement with the LTTE (or revive the 2002 agreement). Reviving the 2002 agreement means pulling back the forces from Thoppigala, etc. If people consider Thoppigala to be strategically important, reviving the 2002 CFA is going to be impossible. On the other hand, if a new agreement to be reached with the LTTE, still, the forces got to be pulled back from Thoppigala, etc. Either way it is a surrender. Therefore, the UNP does everything possible to paydown the real importance of the East and Thoppigala knowing very well that the tigers only need Thoppigala to roam the complete East.
What the government should do to frustrate these LTTE cum UNP aspirations?
1. Hold the Provincial Council election in the East ASAP
2. Retain the East by whatever means necessary
3. Catalyse economic growth and investment
4. Improve school attendance rates
5. Build coexistence with the Karuna-group ironing out any differences that may emerge peacefully, because the ‘restive East’ needs peace at least now; definitely not another war.
6. Bring in tough laws to protect reserves (including jungles) vesting it upon the government to protect these with severe punitive deterrents. If rainforests are unimportant by themselves, Ranil may handover the ‘Sinharaja’ forest to the LTTE!!
The strategic importance of the East is growing by the day. Real celebrations would begin when Thoppigala and the East becomes an obstacle to any future surrender endeavour. That is when the real aftershocks of our MBRL barrage, the sonic booms of SLAF jets and the sighs and laughter of our gallant soldiers would be felt loudest by the Elamists, separatists and their henchmen.
It is a sad saga for the UNP that Ranil surrenders to the LTTE which was defeated by Lalith. The need for Lalith in the UNP helm was never so desperate than today when we celebrate a strategic turning point in the 24 year-old conflict.
(http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/200707-1.html)
Target Colombo
In light of the severe reverses suffered by the LTTE in the East, there are apprehensions that the outfit will bring the war to the capital city and target both civilian and government establishments.
A day after President Mahinda Rajapakse declared that the military had captured Thoppigala, the last remaining pocket of influence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the East that has been under its effective control since 1994, the outfit warned that it is aiming to cripple the country with major attacks on military and economic targets. In an interview on July 12, 2007, the LTTE political wing leader, S.P. Tamilselvan, declared,
Our targets would be in the future major military and economic structures of the government of Sri Lanka as peace was not possible with President Mahinda Rajapakse. They will be targets which help the government sustain its military operations and military rule. For instance (our) attack on the oil installations. That is one of the targets that will cripple the economy of Sri Lanka as well as the military capability of Sri Lanka, so such will be the tactic.
The capital city of Colombo has long been a target of LTTE terrorist strikes, and is a natural object for this strategy of economic attrition. In light of the severe reverses suffered by the LTTE in the East, consequently, there are apprehensions that the outfit will bring the war to the capital and target both civilian and government establishments. The government has, therefore, not only beefed up security to defend its forward defence lines in the operational areas, but also all potential political, military and economic targets in Colombo. In fact The Nation reported on July 1, 2007, "Never before have security checks being so stringent in Colombo and the suburbs than during this past year."
According to Institute for Conflict Management data, while 10 persons--seven civilians, one security force (SF) trooper and two terrorists--were killed in 2005 in Colombo, the number of casualties increased to 50--25 civilians, 17 SF personnel and eight terrorists--in 2006. As on July 2, 2007, the death count for the current year was already 21, including 13 civilians and eight soldiers.
The first major LTTE attack in Colombo dates back to July 24, 1995, when 70 persons were killed and approximately 600 others injured as the LTTE bombed a passenger train. On January 31, 1996, 91 persons were killed in a truck bomb attack on the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Later, on October 15, 1997, 18 persons were killed as LTTE suicide bombers drove a truck packed with a large quantity of explosives into the twin tower World Trade Centre building.
The first major incident recorded in Colombo after the 2002 cease-fire agreement (CFA) was on July 7, 2004, when a suspected woman LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up at the Kollupitiya Police Station next to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's official residence killing herself and four police personnel and injuring nine persons. Again, at least two persons were killed and 15 others wounded in a bomb blast at the end of a concert by Shahrukh Khan in Colombo on December 11, 2004. The August 12, 2005, killing of the then foreign affairs minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, near his private residence on Bullers Lane was the first major political assassination after the CFA.
2006 witnessed a significant spurt in violence in Colombo. On April 25, 2006, the Army Commander, Lt. General Sarath Fonseka, was injured while eight persons were killed when a female suicide cadre of the LTTE, disguised as a pregnant woman, blew herself up in front of the military hospital inside the Army Headquarters. The attack on the Army Commander, many believe, and this was recently admitted by the Sri Lankan government, really transformed the state’s policy towards the LTTE, tilting it towards a final assault against the rebels.
Defense spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stated, on July 4, 2007, that, despite the LTTE’s highly provocative acts since the first Geneva talks in February 2006, the government did not fire a single shot or violate the truce until the abortive attempt on Fonseka’s life; "Only then did the government make a shift to use its military power, targeting the terrorists if national security is threatened."
A suicide bomber killed the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Parami Kulathunge, the third highest appointment in the SLA, and three others, at Pannipitiya, a Colombo suburb, on June 26, 2006. Kethesh Logananathan, Deputy Secretary-General of the government's Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process and a former Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front member, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near Vandervet place in Dehiwela on August 12, 2006. On December 1, 2006, in another suicide attack, the LTTE targeted the Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, who is also the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, at Dharmapala Mawatha, killing two soldiers and injuring 12 persons.
On March 26, 2007, the LTTE carried out their first ever air attack on the main Sri Lankan Air Force base in Katunayake at Colombo, killing three Air Force personnel and injuring 17. A light wing aircraft manned by the outfit dropped two bombs near the engineering section of the base. There were no damages to the fighter jets stationed at the Air Base. This, incidentally, is the same Air Base which a 14-member LTTE suicide squad attacked on July 24, 2001, destroying 11 aircraft and damaging three.
Again, on April 29, 2007, an LTTE aircraft bombed oil and gas storage facilities in and around Colombo. One of the two bombs dropped on Shell’s Muthurajawela Gas Storage Facility caused minor damage to the fire guard equipment while the other damaged the water supply. The two bombs dropped on the Kolonnawa Oil Storage Depot failed to explode.
On May 24, 2007, a suspected LTTE suicide bomber on an explosive-laden motorcycle rammed a bus carrying Army personnel on the First Cross Street in Colombo, killing two soldiers and wounding five persons. And on May 28, 2007, seven civilians were killed and 42 persons, including 36 civilians, sustained injuries, in an LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion at Belekkade Junction in the Rathmalana area of the capital.
On June 1, 2007, Police seized a truck destined for Colombo, with 1,052 kilograms of C-4 explosives hidden under a pile of coconuts, at a Police Checkpoint in Kurunegala District. Later on June 10, Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka disclosed that the LTTE had sent another truck with over 1,000 kilograms of explosives into Colombo.
Amidst all these developments, the Colombo Police on June 7, 2007, started eviction of Tamils from the capital as part of a crackdown against the LTTE. 376 Tamil men, women and children, lodged in low-budget hotels, were forced out of their rooms, ordered into buses and driven off under armed escorts. Rohan Abeywardene, Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Colombo, later said the ethnic Tamils were being sent back to their own villages for their own safety amid a series of abductions blamed on state security services and the LTTE, and to avoid insurgents infiltrating the capital. On June 9, IGP Victor Perera stated that recent events had shown that the LTTE terrorists were operating without much difficulty in Colombo. The government later apologized for the involuntary deportation of the Tamils, after the Supreme Court stepped in and criticized the move.
Colombo has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population and, according to the 2001 Census, the Sri Lankan Tamil population in the Colombo Municipal Council limits was 29.7 per cent.
The total population of Colombo District is 2,251,274, which comprises 1,724,459 (76.6 percent) Sinhalese, 247,739 (11 percent) Sri Lankan Tamil, 24,821 (1.1 percent) Indian Tamil and 11.3 percent of Sri Lanka Moor, Bergher, Malay and others (2001 Census).
Police sources have revealed that lodges in the Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya, Messenger Street, Pettah and Wattala areas of Colombo have provided safe havens to the LTTE. In Pettah alone, there are 68 lodges, owned by Tamils and catering to fellow Tamils from the North-East and from the tea plantations in Central Sri Lanka. Pettah is the city's main wholesale market and, traditionally, it has had a strong Tamil and Muslim presence. Tamil sources say that, on any day, there would be at least 5,000 Tamils from the North-East in the lodges in and around Colombo. Reiterating the allegation that the lodges were being used by the LTTE, defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said on June 26, "The primary investigations have revealed that the chief suspects of the Rajagiriya bomb case was residing in a lodge in Colombo. Experience in the past 10-years shows that LTTE operatives use the lodges in the city to stay and plan out terrorist strikes." He also disclosed that 90 per cent of the recent terrorism-related incidents in and around Colombo were hatched in these lodges.
Although the government initially backed the Police action against the Tamil residents, it eventually had to retract following the Supreme Court’s interference on June 8, when the Court issued an injunction directing the Police to stop the evacuation of Tamils from Colombo’s lodges. Responding to a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Chairman of the panel of Judges, Nimal E. Dissanayaka, said that the action was based on wrong advice. Subsequently, Prime Minister Wickramanayaka, on June 10, expressed regret over the eviction of Tamils from Colombo. Further on June 15, President Rajapakse, while regretting the eviction, stated further that the government had to keep extra vigil over the lodges since almost all suicide bombers had operated from these.
It is not only the upsurge of violence in Colombo, but also the rampant occurrence of abductions and disappearances, which have attracted the government’s attention towards the grim security scenario in the capital city. For instance, two Tamil members of the Red Cross from the east were abducted in the presence of their colleagues at Colombo’s main Fort Railway Station and their dead bodies were later recovered in the Kiriella area in Rathnapura District, far to the South East of Colombo.
The LTTE has, unsurprisingly, developed a deep network in Colombo and its suburbs. Colombo’s demographic composition with its large base of Sri Lankan Tamils, Hill country Tamil (Tamils of Indian Origin) and Muslim Tamils makes it relatively easy for the LTTE to infiltrate the city to carry out their subversive activities.
On June 4, 2007, the government introduced a new security plan for Colombo city, dividing the capital into three security zones. Additional troops from the SLA and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have been deployed to check all vehicles and movement of civilians. Anti-aircraft guns have reportedly been fitted on top floors of about 58 storied buildings in Colombo to counter an LTTE aerial strike. Each key junction in Colombo is to be manned by SLA and SLN troops. According to Sunday Observer, many of the sleeper LTTE cadres waiting in Colombo and suburbs have had to flee the city, as they feared being arrested with the intensified surveillance in an around the capital after the revelation that many suicide cadres were waiting in the capital, disguised as Muslims, while engaged in various jobs under false identities."Investigations revealed that the suicide cadre who made an attempt on the life of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa lived in Colombo for many years, disguised as a Muslim three-wheeler driver."
Despite these new measures being taken, it will be an uphill task for the Security Forces to completely secure Colombo, as the increasingly beleaguered LTTE will certainly intensify efforts to strike at the heart of the country in order to draw attention of the international community. Such efforts are also intended to provoke the government to take radical measures such as forcing Tamil civilians to leave Colombo, which, in one way or another, helps shore up the LTTE support base in the Tamil community, a base that has been shrinking over the years. Colombo, consequently, remains under, and deeply vulnerable to, imminent and intense threat of terrorist attack.
(http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070719&fname=srilanka&sid=1&pn=3)
A day after President Mahinda Rajapakse declared that the military had captured Thoppigala, the last remaining pocket of influence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the East that has been under its effective control since 1994, the outfit warned that it is aiming to cripple the country with major attacks on military and economic targets. In an interview on July 12, 2007, the LTTE political wing leader, S.P. Tamilselvan, declared,
Our targets would be in the future major military and economic structures of the government of Sri Lanka as peace was not possible with President Mahinda Rajapakse. They will be targets which help the government sustain its military operations and military rule. For instance (our) attack on the oil installations. That is one of the targets that will cripple the economy of Sri Lanka as well as the military capability of Sri Lanka, so such will be the tactic.
The capital city of Colombo has long been a target of LTTE terrorist strikes, and is a natural object for this strategy of economic attrition. In light of the severe reverses suffered by the LTTE in the East, consequently, there are apprehensions that the outfit will bring the war to the capital and target both civilian and government establishments. The government has, therefore, not only beefed up security to defend its forward defence lines in the operational areas, but also all potential political, military and economic targets in Colombo. In fact The Nation reported on July 1, 2007, "Never before have security checks being so stringent in Colombo and the suburbs than during this past year."
According to Institute for Conflict Management data, while 10 persons--seven civilians, one security force (SF) trooper and two terrorists--were killed in 2005 in Colombo, the number of casualties increased to 50--25 civilians, 17 SF personnel and eight terrorists--in 2006. As on July 2, 2007, the death count for the current year was already 21, including 13 civilians and eight soldiers.
The first major LTTE attack in Colombo dates back to July 24, 1995, when 70 persons were killed and approximately 600 others injured as the LTTE bombed a passenger train. On January 31, 1996, 91 persons were killed in a truck bomb attack on the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Later, on October 15, 1997, 18 persons were killed as LTTE suicide bombers drove a truck packed with a large quantity of explosives into the twin tower World Trade Centre building.
The first major incident recorded in Colombo after the 2002 cease-fire agreement (CFA) was on July 7, 2004, when a suspected woman LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up at the Kollupitiya Police Station next to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's official residence killing herself and four police personnel and injuring nine persons. Again, at least two persons were killed and 15 others wounded in a bomb blast at the end of a concert by Shahrukh Khan in Colombo on December 11, 2004. The August 12, 2005, killing of the then foreign affairs minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, near his private residence on Bullers Lane was the first major political assassination after the CFA.
2006 witnessed a significant spurt in violence in Colombo. On April 25, 2006, the Army Commander, Lt. General Sarath Fonseka, was injured while eight persons were killed when a female suicide cadre of the LTTE, disguised as a pregnant woman, blew herself up in front of the military hospital inside the Army Headquarters. The attack on the Army Commander, many believe, and this was recently admitted by the Sri Lankan government, really transformed the state’s policy towards the LTTE, tilting it towards a final assault against the rebels.
Defense spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stated, on July 4, 2007, that, despite the LTTE’s highly provocative acts since the first Geneva talks in February 2006, the government did not fire a single shot or violate the truce until the abortive attempt on Fonseka’s life; "Only then did the government make a shift to use its military power, targeting the terrorists if national security is threatened."
A suicide bomber killed the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Parami Kulathunge, the third highest appointment in the SLA, and three others, at Pannipitiya, a Colombo suburb, on June 26, 2006. Kethesh Logananathan, Deputy Secretary-General of the government's Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process and a former Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front member, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near Vandervet place in Dehiwela on August 12, 2006. On December 1, 2006, in another suicide attack, the LTTE targeted the Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, who is also the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, at Dharmapala Mawatha, killing two soldiers and injuring 12 persons.
On March 26, 2007, the LTTE carried out their first ever air attack on the main Sri Lankan Air Force base in Katunayake at Colombo, killing three Air Force personnel and injuring 17. A light wing aircraft manned by the outfit dropped two bombs near the engineering section of the base. There were no damages to the fighter jets stationed at the Air Base. This, incidentally, is the same Air Base which a 14-member LTTE suicide squad attacked on July 24, 2001, destroying 11 aircraft and damaging three.
Again, on April 29, 2007, an LTTE aircraft bombed oil and gas storage facilities in and around Colombo. One of the two bombs dropped on Shell’s Muthurajawela Gas Storage Facility caused minor damage to the fire guard equipment while the other damaged the water supply. The two bombs dropped on the Kolonnawa Oil Storage Depot failed to explode.
On May 24, 2007, a suspected LTTE suicide bomber on an explosive-laden motorcycle rammed a bus carrying Army personnel on the First Cross Street in Colombo, killing two soldiers and wounding five persons. And on May 28, 2007, seven civilians were killed and 42 persons, including 36 civilians, sustained injuries, in an LTTE-triggered claymore mine explosion at Belekkade Junction in the Rathmalana area of the capital.
On June 1, 2007, Police seized a truck destined for Colombo, with 1,052 kilograms of C-4 explosives hidden under a pile of coconuts, at a Police Checkpoint in Kurunegala District. Later on June 10, Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka disclosed that the LTTE had sent another truck with over 1,000 kilograms of explosives into Colombo.
Amidst all these developments, the Colombo Police on June 7, 2007, started eviction of Tamils from the capital as part of a crackdown against the LTTE. 376 Tamil men, women and children, lodged in low-budget hotels, were forced out of their rooms, ordered into buses and driven off under armed escorts. Rohan Abeywardene, Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Colombo, later said the ethnic Tamils were being sent back to their own villages for their own safety amid a series of abductions blamed on state security services and the LTTE, and to avoid insurgents infiltrating the capital. On June 9, IGP Victor Perera stated that recent events had shown that the LTTE terrorists were operating without much difficulty in Colombo. The government later apologized for the involuntary deportation of the Tamils, after the Supreme Court stepped in and criticized the move.
Colombo has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population and, according to the 2001 Census, the Sri Lankan Tamil population in the Colombo Municipal Council limits was 29.7 per cent.
The total population of Colombo District is 2,251,274, which comprises 1,724,459 (76.6 percent) Sinhalese, 247,739 (11 percent) Sri Lankan Tamil, 24,821 (1.1 percent) Indian Tamil and 11.3 percent of Sri Lanka Moor, Bergher, Malay and others (2001 Census).
Police sources have revealed that lodges in the Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya, Messenger Street, Pettah and Wattala areas of Colombo have provided safe havens to the LTTE. In Pettah alone, there are 68 lodges, owned by Tamils and catering to fellow Tamils from the North-East and from the tea plantations in Central Sri Lanka. Pettah is the city's main wholesale market and, traditionally, it has had a strong Tamil and Muslim presence. Tamil sources say that, on any day, there would be at least 5,000 Tamils from the North-East in the lodges in and around Colombo. Reiterating the allegation that the lodges were being used by the LTTE, defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella said on June 26, "The primary investigations have revealed that the chief suspects of the Rajagiriya bomb case was residing in a lodge in Colombo. Experience in the past 10-years shows that LTTE operatives use the lodges in the city to stay and plan out terrorist strikes." He also disclosed that 90 per cent of the recent terrorism-related incidents in and around Colombo were hatched in these lodges.
Although the government initially backed the Police action against the Tamil residents, it eventually had to retract following the Supreme Court’s interference on June 8, when the Court issued an injunction directing the Police to stop the evacuation of Tamils from Colombo’s lodges. Responding to a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Chairman of the panel of Judges, Nimal E. Dissanayaka, said that the action was based on wrong advice. Subsequently, Prime Minister Wickramanayaka, on June 10, expressed regret over the eviction of Tamils from Colombo. Further on June 15, President Rajapakse, while regretting the eviction, stated further that the government had to keep extra vigil over the lodges since almost all suicide bombers had operated from these.
It is not only the upsurge of violence in Colombo, but also the rampant occurrence of abductions and disappearances, which have attracted the government’s attention towards the grim security scenario in the capital city. For instance, two Tamil members of the Red Cross from the east were abducted in the presence of their colleagues at Colombo’s main Fort Railway Station and their dead bodies were later recovered in the Kiriella area in Rathnapura District, far to the South East of Colombo.
The LTTE has, unsurprisingly, developed a deep network in Colombo and its suburbs. Colombo’s demographic composition with its large base of Sri Lankan Tamils, Hill country Tamil (Tamils of Indian Origin) and Muslim Tamils makes it relatively easy for the LTTE to infiltrate the city to carry out their subversive activities.
On June 4, 2007, the government introduced a new security plan for Colombo city, dividing the capital into three security zones. Additional troops from the SLA and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have been deployed to check all vehicles and movement of civilians. Anti-aircraft guns have reportedly been fitted on top floors of about 58 storied buildings in Colombo to counter an LTTE aerial strike. Each key junction in Colombo is to be manned by SLA and SLN troops. According to Sunday Observer, many of the sleeper LTTE cadres waiting in Colombo and suburbs have had to flee the city, as they feared being arrested with the intensified surveillance in an around the capital after the revelation that many suicide cadres were waiting in the capital, disguised as Muslims, while engaged in various jobs under false identities."Investigations revealed that the suicide cadre who made an attempt on the life of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa lived in Colombo for many years, disguised as a Muslim three-wheeler driver."
Despite these new measures being taken, it will be an uphill task for the Security Forces to completely secure Colombo, as the increasingly beleaguered LTTE will certainly intensify efforts to strike at the heart of the country in order to draw attention of the international community. Such efforts are also intended to provoke the government to take radical measures such as forcing Tamil civilians to leave Colombo, which, in one way or another, helps shore up the LTTE support base in the Tamil community, a base that has been shrinking over the years. Colombo, consequently, remains under, and deeply vulnerable to, imminent and intense threat of terrorist attack.
(http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20070719&fname=srilanka&sid=1&pn=3)
Lanka says war or peace option with LTTE
As security forces wrested the last bastion of rebels in the island's east, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that it was up to Tamil Tigers to decide between war and peace.
"War or peace, we are ready. It is in their hands. It is now up to the Tigers to decide which path they want to tread on," the President told the state-run Daily News today.
The interview was published on the day the President chaired ceremonies here marking the military victory in Thoppigala, in the east of the island last week and the "Eastern Reawakening" programme.
Asked if the military wanted to extend action to the North in the aftermath of gaining total control over the East or whether he intends to negotiate with the LTTE from a position of strength, the President said the Government would act in accordance with the option that is chosen by the LTTE.
"LTTE has no desire for peace
"We have never hesitated to negotiate and we never left the negotiating table. It was the LTTE which always abandoned talks midway. This happened in Geneva, Oslo and on many other occasions. It is the LTTE which has no desire for peace," the President said.
He said an All Party Conference was already trying to evolve a consensual political solution to the island's drawn out conflict which has claimed over 60,000 lives in the past 35 years.
"It will not be a proposal initiated by the Government alone. It will be a collective effort of all political parties. All political parties must make a healthy contribution... to make this a reality. They must not shirk this responsibility," Rajapakse said.
Reiterating the government's commitment to a political solution, he, however, pointed out that the government would never betray the nation in evolving such a solution.
He said the fall of Thoppigala, the last Tiger bastion in the East, marked not only the total domination of the East by the Security Forces and the Government, but also a new era for the people of the East who were oppressed by the LTTE.
He attributed the success of the humanitarian operation in the East to correct political as well as military leadership.
Priorities
"Our immediate priority is establishing civil administration in the area. We will develop infrastructure facilities, health, education and welfare measures. Later on we will be holding local and provincial elections so that Easterners can elect their own representatives. Such democratic rights were stifled by the LTTE," the president said.
The Eastern Reawakening programme which begins today will address all these issues, he added.
Security was stepped up in Colombo as Rajapakse viewed a military parade at Colombo's Independence Square where the National Day celebrations are usually held.
(http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200707191140.htm)
"War or peace, we are ready. It is in their hands. It is now up to the Tigers to decide which path they want to tread on," the President told the state-run Daily News today.
The interview was published on the day the President chaired ceremonies here marking the military victory in Thoppigala, in the east of the island last week and the "Eastern Reawakening" programme.
Asked if the military wanted to extend action to the North in the aftermath of gaining total control over the East or whether he intends to negotiate with the LTTE from a position of strength, the President said the Government would act in accordance with the option that is chosen by the LTTE.
"LTTE has no desire for peace
"We have never hesitated to negotiate and we never left the negotiating table. It was the LTTE which always abandoned talks midway. This happened in Geneva, Oslo and on many other occasions. It is the LTTE which has no desire for peace," the President said.
He said an All Party Conference was already trying to evolve a consensual political solution to the island's drawn out conflict which has claimed over 60,000 lives in the past 35 years.
"It will not be a proposal initiated by the Government alone. It will be a collective effort of all political parties. All political parties must make a healthy contribution... to make this a reality. They must not shirk this responsibility," Rajapakse said.
Reiterating the government's commitment to a political solution, he, however, pointed out that the government would never betray the nation in evolving such a solution.
He said the fall of Thoppigala, the last Tiger bastion in the East, marked not only the total domination of the East by the Security Forces and the Government, but also a new era for the people of the East who were oppressed by the LTTE.
He attributed the success of the humanitarian operation in the East to correct political as well as military leadership.
Priorities
"Our immediate priority is establishing civil administration in the area. We will develop infrastructure facilities, health, education and welfare measures. Later on we will be holding local and provincial elections so that Easterners can elect their own representatives. Such democratic rights were stifled by the LTTE," the president said.
The Eastern Reawakening programme which begins today will address all these issues, he added.
Security was stepped up in Colombo as Rajapakse viewed a military parade at Colombo's Independence Square where the National Day celebrations are usually held.
(http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200707191140.htm)
Sri Lanka rebels forcing Tamils to join war effort
In Tamil Tiger territory, youths like Rajathurai Ponnambalam are living in hiding to avoid being forcibly recruited by the rebels and sent to fight in a Sri Lankan civil war they don't believe in.
Many residents Reuters spoke to during a rare visit to the rebels' heartland in the north said the Tigers are demanding every family contribute at least one member to a movement widely banned as a terrorist organisation by the likes of the United States, Britain and the European Union.
They tell of how brothers, sisters, sons and daughters have been taken against their will to camps to be trained as fighters. They say they are helpless to prevent it.
"They said: 'Your family does not have an LTTE member, so you must join," said Ponnambalam, who is in his 20s and gave a false name for fear of retribution from the rebels. "I did not agree, so they took me away in a vehicle."
"They took me to join the group as a fighter. They showed me about training, about fighting," he added. "I don't want to join. My family depends on me."
He managed to get away. Many others have not been so fortunate, or live in constant fear that they will be next.
The Tigers deny they insist on recruiting one person from each family, but aid workers say the demand was made earlier this year and that the rebels have promised their staff will be exempt.
"There is no strict compulsion as to every family should give a single member," Tiger political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan said in an interview during a visit to the rebel's de facto state.
"There are families from which you have two or three members (who have) already opted to serve in the LTTE ... but we are very keen to ensure that not more than one person from one family is in the LTTE, because that would be minimizing their family work."
AID STAFF TARGETED
Families receive letters from the Tigers with names of members who must join underlined. Most international aid agencies are having to keep some local staff indoors. Some of them have not been able to leave their compounds for months.
"All the NGOs in the area have great concerns towards recruitment policy. We do experience that staff of all the different NGOs are getting abducted or have tremendous pressure towards them because they want to recruit them," said Arne Bangstad, programme manager of Nordic aid agency FORUT.
"We have been promised by the political wing that such recruitment should not take place and that the humanitarian status of the NGOs would be respected. But in practicality, we find that this is not really the case."
Recruitment posters are pasted around Kilinochchi town. Pictures of the rebels' elite Black Tiger suicide wing pepper bus-stands and shop fronts.
"Join with us. Protect our land from the Sinhalese army," the posters say next to a photograph of a rebel fighter in characteristic Tiger-striped fatigues taking aim with an assault rifle.
A giant billboard in the town shows a montage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa holding a noose around the neck of a child slain in the grisly massacre of a family in the northwestern district of Mannar last year, which the rebels and military each blame on the other.
The distant sound of heavy artillery fire across the front lines that separate rebel from government territory serves as a permanent reminder of what awaits those recruited.
FAMILIES HELPLESS
"One of my sons is in the LTTE. He joined 63 days ago. He did not join voluntarily," one elderly man confided, insisting on anonymity. "His mother is not well. After they took him her sickness got worse. What can I do, even if I get angry?"
Another man says his underage daughter joined to meet the quota so that her elder brother could continue to be her family's main bread winner in a district where 70 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, earning less than a dollar a day.
Similar stories abound, and fear is palpable as a new chapter in a two-decade civil war that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983 deepens. However families say married couples are generally exempt.
The United Nations Children's agency UNICEF says the Tigers are still recruiting children despite pledges not to. UNICEF listed 1,591 outstanding cases of underage recruitment by the Tigers at the end of May. One child on its records is aged nine.
A United Nations envoy and aid groups have also accused elements of the military of helping to abduct children as soldiers for a band of breakaway rebels called the Karuna faction, which is seen as allied to the government.
The Tigers deny they are recruiting children -- defined as youths under the age of 18 -- and say some youngsters lie about their age to join up and fight.
But not all recruitment is forced.
While many ordinary Tamils say they do not agree with the Tigers' violent methods, some have been polarized by the endless cycle of death and say war is the only way to make their case for wide autonomy.
(http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1132332007)
Many residents Reuters spoke to during a rare visit to the rebels' heartland in the north said the Tigers are demanding every family contribute at least one member to a movement widely banned as a terrorist organisation by the likes of the United States, Britain and the European Union.
They tell of how brothers, sisters, sons and daughters have been taken against their will to camps to be trained as fighters. They say they are helpless to prevent it.
"They said: 'Your family does not have an LTTE member, so you must join," said Ponnambalam, who is in his 20s and gave a false name for fear of retribution from the rebels. "I did not agree, so they took me away in a vehicle."
"They took me to join the group as a fighter. They showed me about training, about fighting," he added. "I don't want to join. My family depends on me."
He managed to get away. Many others have not been so fortunate, or live in constant fear that they will be next.
The Tigers deny they insist on recruiting one person from each family, but aid workers say the demand was made earlier this year and that the rebels have promised their staff will be exempt.
"There is no strict compulsion as to every family should give a single member," Tiger political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan said in an interview during a visit to the rebel's de facto state.
"There are families from which you have two or three members (who have) already opted to serve in the LTTE ... but we are very keen to ensure that not more than one person from one family is in the LTTE, because that would be minimizing their family work."
AID STAFF TARGETED
Families receive letters from the Tigers with names of members who must join underlined. Most international aid agencies are having to keep some local staff indoors. Some of them have not been able to leave their compounds for months.
"All the NGOs in the area have great concerns towards recruitment policy. We do experience that staff of all the different NGOs are getting abducted or have tremendous pressure towards them because they want to recruit them," said Arne Bangstad, programme manager of Nordic aid agency FORUT.
"We have been promised by the political wing that such recruitment should not take place and that the humanitarian status of the NGOs would be respected. But in practicality, we find that this is not really the case."
Recruitment posters are pasted around Kilinochchi town. Pictures of the rebels' elite Black Tiger suicide wing pepper bus-stands and shop fronts.
"Join with us. Protect our land from the Sinhalese army," the posters say next to a photograph of a rebel fighter in characteristic Tiger-striped fatigues taking aim with an assault rifle.
A giant billboard in the town shows a montage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa holding a noose around the neck of a child slain in the grisly massacre of a family in the northwestern district of Mannar last year, which the rebels and military each blame on the other.
The distant sound of heavy artillery fire across the front lines that separate rebel from government territory serves as a permanent reminder of what awaits those recruited.
FAMILIES HELPLESS
"One of my sons is in the LTTE. He joined 63 days ago. He did not join voluntarily," one elderly man confided, insisting on anonymity. "His mother is not well. After they took him her sickness got worse. What can I do, even if I get angry?"
Another man says his underage daughter joined to meet the quota so that her elder brother could continue to be her family's main bread winner in a district where 70 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, earning less than a dollar a day.
Similar stories abound, and fear is palpable as a new chapter in a two-decade civil war that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983 deepens. However families say married couples are generally exempt.
The United Nations Children's agency UNICEF says the Tigers are still recruiting children despite pledges not to. UNICEF listed 1,591 outstanding cases of underage recruitment by the Tigers at the end of May. One child on its records is aged nine.
A United Nations envoy and aid groups have also accused elements of the military of helping to abduct children as soldiers for a band of breakaway rebels called the Karuna faction, which is seen as allied to the government.
The Tigers deny they are recruiting children -- defined as youths under the age of 18 -- and say some youngsters lie about their age to join up and fight.
But not all recruitment is forced.
While many ordinary Tamils say they do not agree with the Tigers' violent methods, some have been polarized by the endless cycle of death and say war is the only way to make their case for wide autonomy.
(http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1132332007)
Sri Lanka says 12 dead in clash with rebels
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers launched a pre-dawn attack on an army detachment in the northwestern district of Mannar on Friday and three soldiers and nine rebels were killed in the ensuing clash, the military said.
The incident came a day after the government staged a show of military might in the capital with a parade of tanks and troops and a fly-past by fighter jets to celebrate the capture of vast swathes of eastern territory from the rebels.
It also comes after a rash of land and sea clashes, ambushes and air raids that have killed an estimated 4,500 people since last year alone.
"There was a confrontation in the early morning in Mannar. The LTTE fired mortars and artillery. We lost three (soldiers), and four were wounded," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.
"Ground troops observed nine LTTE cadres killed, and sources say 24 were injured."
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who are fighting for an independent state in north and east Sri Lanka, were not immediately available for comment and there was no independent confirmation of what had happened or the death toll.
Analysts say the foes have tended to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own in a war that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983.
And while losing their foothold in the east is a significant military defeat, the rebels have vowed to switch to guerrilla warfare tactics in a bid to cripple the economy with attacks on major military and economic targets and analysts see no clear winner on the horizon.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSCOL8426720070720)
The incident came a day after the government staged a show of military might in the capital with a parade of tanks and troops and a fly-past by fighter jets to celebrate the capture of vast swathes of eastern territory from the rebels.
It also comes after a rash of land and sea clashes, ambushes and air raids that have killed an estimated 4,500 people since last year alone.
"There was a confrontation in the early morning in Mannar. The LTTE fired mortars and artillery. We lost three (soldiers), and four were wounded," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.
"Ground troops observed nine LTTE cadres killed, and sources say 24 were injured."
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who are fighting for an independent state in north and east Sri Lanka, were not immediately available for comment and there was no independent confirmation of what had happened or the death toll.
Analysts say the foes have tended to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own in a war that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983.
And while losing their foothold in the east is a significant military defeat, the rebels have vowed to switch to guerrilla warfare tactics in a bid to cripple the economy with attacks on major military and economic targets and analysts see no clear winner on the horizon.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSCOL8426720070720)
Soosai caught in boat blast
The LTTE Sea Tiger leader Soosai was critically injured in a boat explosion off Mullaitivu seas yesterday morning, military sources said.
According to the Military sources an LTTE suicide boat exploded in the seas off Mullaitivu yesterday morning. "We believe that the sea Tiger leader Colonel Soosai was in the exploded boat and critically injured", sources added.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/20/sec01.asp)
According to the Military sources an LTTE suicide boat exploded in the seas off Mullaitivu yesterday morning. "We believe that the sea Tiger leader Colonel Soosai was in the exploded boat and critically injured", sources added.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/07/20/sec01.asp)
LTTE has huge profits - Report
: The London-based Jane’s Intelligence Review says the LTTE has not only created one of the “most sophisticated insurgencies in the world” but also has an annual “profit margin” of $200 to $300 m illion.
A report released on Wednesday says the Tigers have succeeded in establishing one of the sophisticated insurgency networks, largely due to a complex global network of financial resources and weapons that are integral to prolonging its campaign for a separate Tamil state.
In a rare report on the LTTE’s financial operations, Jane’s reports that with financial and procurement structures well organised and strategically positioned around the globe, the group has a profit margin that would be the envy of any multinational corporation.
The report details two overarching financial and procurement bodies that provide the main source of LTTE money, manpower and weapons: the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases (nicknamed the KP Department).
As per Jane’s, the Aiyanna Group functions as the group’s intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organisation’s financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the procurement arm.
The LTTE creates and staffs some charitable organisations, projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and, ultimately, convert the gains into arms, it reports.
The report says the system works as an efficient way to move funds wherever investment or procurement opportunities arise while utilising a charitable façade’s tax-free status and legitimacy.
(http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/19/stories/2007071956371400.htm)
A report released on Wednesday says the Tigers have succeeded in establishing one of the sophisticated insurgency networks, largely due to a complex global network of financial resources and weapons that are integral to prolonging its campaign for a separate Tamil state.
In a rare report on the LTTE’s financial operations, Jane’s reports that with financial and procurement structures well organised and strategically positioned around the globe, the group has a profit margin that would be the envy of any multinational corporation.
The report details two overarching financial and procurement bodies that provide the main source of LTTE money, manpower and weapons: the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases (nicknamed the KP Department).
As per Jane’s, the Aiyanna Group functions as the group’s intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organisation’s financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the procurement arm.
The LTTE creates and staffs some charitable organisations, projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and, ultimately, convert the gains into arms, it reports.
The report says the system works as an efficient way to move funds wherever investment or procurement opportunities arise while utilising a charitable façade’s tax-free status and legitimacy.
(http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/19/stories/2007071956371400.htm)
10 SLA killed in raid on minicamp in Mannar - LTTE
Liberation Tigers launched a pre-dawn raid Friday on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) minicamp at Neelachcheanai in Mannar, killing 10 SLA soldiers and seizing all the weapons from the camp, located near Uyilangku'lam entry/exit point. Four LTTE fighters were killed in action. A Medium Machine Gun (MMG), a Light Machine Gun (LMG), a 60 mm mortar, four automatic rifles, 25 hand grenades and an ammunition cache were seized by the Tigers, according to LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan.
LTTE fighters returned to their positions after "succesfully neutralizing the threat posed by the hostile enemy camp from which infiltration units were operating," Mr. Ilanthiryan said.
The raid took place at 2:35 a.m.
(www.tamilnet.com)
LTTE fighters returned to their positions after "succesfully neutralizing the threat posed by the hostile enemy camp from which infiltration units were operating," Mr. Ilanthiryan said.
The raid took place at 2:35 a.m.
(www.tamilnet.com)
Where is this Ramesh now?
The story of the above photo is one of the reveals made by one Vedan, a LTTE cadre who was arrested when he was admitted to the Trincomalee hospital with a fracture in his leg.
The one consuming food on the left of the photo is the second-in-command of the LTTE military wing of the Eastern Province, Colonel Ramesh. He was also the deputy of Colonel Jeyam who was the leader of the Eastern Province after the Karuna's break away. The one in conversation with Ramesh is a disabled LTTE area leader. The photo has been taken in the last week of April this year and Ramesh is seen consuming food in a certain place in the jungle away from war tension with his firearm behind him.
Vedan who was arrested at Trincomalee hospital was fleeing to North with his leader Baskaran. Injured Vedan stopped at Thambalagamuwa on the way. Baskaran and his group retreated to the Peraru jungle. They exchanged fire with a group of home guards while crossing the Trincomalee-Habarana Road. Baskaran and the group had to leave behind a laptop and some other equipment. Security forces found this photograph from that laptop.
Vedan who was arrested at the Trincomalee hospital later revealed the story behind it.
The government security forces officially announced the capture of Thoppigala on 11th. Ramesh and the other LTTE leaders are believed fled to North without being caught by the security forces.
(www.lankaenes.com)
Sri Lanka armed forces search for small groups of Tamil Tigers in Thoppigala
Sri Lanka security forces continued the search and clear operations to wipe out the small groups of Tamil Tiger cadres in newly captured Thoppigala jungles in the Eastern Province.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) cadres are reportedly fleeing the area in small groups. The government security forces have confronted them in several occasions.
Government security forces officially announced the capture of Thoppigala on July 11.
Meanwhile the opposition United National Party Media Chief Lakshman Kiriella yesterday charged the government stating it has information from Army internal sources that 800 cadres including LTTE leaders were allowed to safely escape by orders from the top to Mullaitivu via Welikanda, Serunuwara, Muttur and Manirasakulam with multi barrel rocket launchers.
(http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/July1645433SL.html)
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) cadres are reportedly fleeing the area in small groups. The government security forces have confronted them in several occasions.
Government security forces officially announced the capture of Thoppigala on July 11.
Meanwhile the opposition United National Party Media Chief Lakshman Kiriella yesterday charged the government stating it has information from Army internal sources that 800 cadres including LTTE leaders were allowed to safely escape by orders from the top to Mullaitivu via Welikanda, Serunuwara, Muttur and Manirasakulam with multi barrel rocket launchers.
(http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/July1645433SL.html)
Raising of the special mechanized infantry regiment
The Commander Security Forces (J) , Major General G.A.Chandrasiri addressed ALL RANKS in Jaffna, in the Indoor Sports Complex, Pallaly, on Tuesday (10) morning prior to the raising of the 3rd Special Mechanized Infantry Regiment. The Commander Security Forces took the opportunity to speak to the participants regarding not only the raising of a "new Arm" to enhance the fighting capability of the Infantry and the Army in general by the introduction of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment but also on the role and aspects of the "new" concept and deployment.
The Commanding Officer and Other Ranks of the Mechanized Regiment consists of Officers and men who had field experience both here and abroad in the Armoured Corps as well as those with specialized training from allied services. They had also completed a course of training in Jaffna.
(http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=6596)
The Commanding Officer and Other Ranks of the Mechanized Regiment consists of Officers and men who had field experience both here and abroad in the Armoured Corps as well as those with specialized training from allied services. They had also completed a course of training in Jaffna.
(http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=6596)
Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military
A large number of civilians detained as prisoners in LTTE custody in Thoppigala revealed they were used as slaves and were forced to set up landmines which killed nearly 100 of them.
Eleven such detainees, who escaped from the LTTE custody before the capture of Thoppigala, told the military that more than 80 detainees were killed for not obeying orders, a senior military official said.
These civilians, residents of Mavadivembu, Valaichennnai, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa, Illupdichenai and Kannankuda were able to reach the military on Saturday at Kinniyadi in Batticaloa.
The official said all these detainees had been held in dark torture cells, which were later found by the military.
“The LTTE had forced them to bury landmines and in some instances they had been asked to gather intelligence on behalf of the Tigers,” the official said. Their tasks also included burying of anti – personnel mines and constructing ‘booby’ traps.
“Some of these victims who had protested to Tiger harassment were killed,” he said. The civilians had confessed the Tigers had kept the victims starving for days before killing them.
Two teenagers, seven in their twenties and two in their late thirties were among those who surrendered to the troops. The official said these detainees had burn injuries, scars and other bruises on their bodies, proof of the suffering they had under gone under LTTE detention.
(Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military)
Eleven such detainees, who escaped from the LTTE custody before the capture of Thoppigala, told the military that more than 80 detainees were killed for not obeying orders, a senior military official said.
These civilians, residents of Mavadivembu, Valaichennnai, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa, Illupdichenai and Kannankuda were able to reach the military on Saturday at Kinniyadi in Batticaloa.
The official said all these detainees had been held in dark torture cells, which were later found by the military.
“The LTTE had forced them to bury landmines and in some instances they had been asked to gather intelligence on behalf of the Tigers,” the official said. Their tasks also included burying of anti – personnel mines and constructing ‘booby’ traps.
“Some of these victims who had protested to Tiger harassment were killed,” he said. The civilians had confessed the Tigers had kept the victims starving for days before killing them.
Two teenagers, seven in their twenties and two in their late thirties were among those who surrendered to the troops. The official said these detainees had burn injuries, scars and other bruises on their bodies, proof of the suffering they had under gone under LTTE detention.
(Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military)
Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military
A large number of civilians detained as prisoners in LTTE custody in Thoppigala revealed they were used as slaves and were forced to set up landmines which killed nearly 100 of them.
Eleven such detainees, who escaped from the LTTE custody before the capture of Thoppigala, told the military that more than 80 detainees were killed for not obeying orders, a senior military official said.
These civilians, residents of Mavadivembu, Valaichennnai, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa, Illupdichenai and Kannankuda were able to reach the military on Saturday at Kinniyadi in Batticaloa.
The official said all these detainees had been held in dark torture cells, which were later found by the military.
“The LTTE had forced them to bury landmines and in some instances they had been asked to gather intelligence on behalf of the Tigers,” the official said. Their tasks also included burying of anti – personnel mines and constructing ‘booby’ traps.
“Some of these victims who had protested to Tiger harassment were killed,” he said. The civilians had confessed the Tigers had kept the victims starving for days before killing them.
Two teenagers, seven in their twenties and two in their late thirties were among those who surrendered to the troops. The official said these detainees had burn injuries, scars and other bruises on their bodies, proof of the suffering they had under gone under LTTE detention.
(Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military)
Eleven such detainees, who escaped from the LTTE custody before the capture of Thoppigala, told the military that more than 80 detainees were killed for not obeying orders, a senior military official said.
These civilians, residents of Mavadivembu, Valaichennnai, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa, Illupdichenai and Kannankuda were able to reach the military on Saturday at Kinniyadi in Batticaloa.
The official said all these detainees had been held in dark torture cells, which were later found by the military.
“The LTTE had forced them to bury landmines and in some instances they had been asked to gather intelligence on behalf of the Tigers,” the official said. Their tasks also included burying of anti – personnel mines and constructing ‘booby’ traps.
“Some of these victims who had protested to Tiger harassment were killed,” he said. The civilians had confessed the Tigers had kept the victims starving for days before killing them.
Two teenagers, seven in their twenties and two in their late thirties were among those who surrendered to the troops. The official said these detainees had burn injuries, scars and other bruises on their bodies, proof of the suffering they had under gone under LTTE detention.
(Civilians say LTTE used them as slaves - Military)
Five die as LTTE and Special Forces clash in Vavuniya
The LTTE and government Special Forces clashed in Vavuniya yesterday resulting in casualties on both sides.
LTTE military wing spokesman Rasiah Illentheriyan, in an emailed statement, claimed that a team of Sri Lankan Special Forces were confronted by the LTTE at the Palamoddai fortification in Vavuniya last afternoon and 4 troopers were killed and at least 6 others injured in the fighting.
He added that following a search of the area the LTTE recovered one dead body of a government trooper, three T-56 assault rifles, ammunition, night vision scopes and other military equipment. He said that one LTTE cadre was also killed in the confrontation. The dead body of the soldier is to be handed over to the ICRC today.
However the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said that an attack had taken place in Navatkulam, Vavuniya last morning when a military foot patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed one.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/17/news/09.asp)
LTTE military wing spokesman Rasiah Illentheriyan, in an emailed statement, claimed that a team of Sri Lankan Special Forces were confronted by the LTTE at the Palamoddai fortification in Vavuniya last afternoon and 4 troopers were killed and at least 6 others injured in the fighting.
He added that following a search of the area the LTTE recovered one dead body of a government trooper, three T-56 assault rifles, ammunition, night vision scopes and other military equipment. He said that one LTTE cadre was also killed in the confrontation. The dead body of the soldier is to be handed over to the ICRC today.
However the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said that an attack had taken place in Navatkulam, Vavuniya last morning when a military foot patrol confronted a group of LTTE cadres and killed one.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/17/news/09.asp)
4 SLA elite soldiers killed, 6 wounded in Mannar border - LTTE
Liberation Tigers confronted a team of the 2nd Battalion of Sri Lanka Army Special Forces (SF), killing four and wounding 6 when the SLA SF team attempted to breach into LTTE territory in Paalamoaddai in Mannaar-Vavuniyaa border, Monday around 4:00 p.m., according to the military spokesman of the Tigers. A body of a SF soldier was recovered by the Tigers together with 3 T-56 rifles, explosives and military hardware including a night-vision equipment.
Arrangements were underway to hand over the dead body of the SF soldier to the ICRC, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
The SF team that sustained casualties was withdrawn by the SLA and a search operation by the Tigers was going on, he said.
Tigers have handed over 4 SLA dead bodies to the ICRC in Mannaar on Sunday. The body of a Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) soldier, killed Sunday, was handed over to the SLA through the ICRC on Tuesday.
(www.tamilnet.com)
Arrangements were underway to hand over the dead body of the SF soldier to the ICRC, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
The SF team that sustained casualties was withdrawn by the SLA and a search operation by the Tigers was going on, he said.
Tigers have handed over 4 SLA dead bodies to the ICRC in Mannaar on Sunday. The body of a Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) soldier, killed Sunday, was handed over to the SLA through the ICRC on Tuesday.
(www.tamilnet.com)
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tamils in rebel-held Sri Lanka sick of civil war
Thamalin Thirvakumar and her baby son live in a camp for war-displaced in rebel-held north Sri Lanka. Her husband is stuck across an impassable frontier in territory held by the Sri Lankan army.
Her husband has missed all but the first few weeks of his son's life after the "border" that separates government from rebel territory in the northern Jaffna peninsula was suddenly shut last year following a renewed escalation of civil war.
As fighting between the state and Tamil Tiger rebels deepens, there is no hope of them being reunited any time soon.
Like many impoverished families repeatedly displaced in government and rebel territory alike by two decades of war, Thirvakumar longs for an end to fighting that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983 and displaced hundreds of thousands.
"I haven't seen my husband since the road was closed. He hasn't seen the child. I'm very sad," she said mournfully.
"Both sides must stop the war," she added. "We hope there will be peace so we can go back to our village and live a normal life. If this war continues, what future will my son have?"
Civilians are paying a high price on both sides in a war that pits the majority-Sinhalese government against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority Tamils in the north and east.
Forced from one camp to the next as fighting spreads, they must often leave their worldly belongings behind. There are few work opportunities, which means no income and dependency on food handouts from aid agencies.
While the Tigers claim to be the sole voice of Sri Lanka's Tamils, and vow all those living in their territory will fight to the last, civilians here overwhelmingly want peace. They blame both sides for the war and for their misery.
"The problem is there's no water, there's no work to do, so I can't earn any money. It's very difficult to live here," said 57-year-old Kanavathipallai Thavamani, who is living in the camp with two of her grown up children and two grandchildren.
"Army shells and LTTE shells -- that's why I came here. It is the innocent people who die in war," she added. "So as long as the war is there, we will suffer."
DESPERATELY POOR
Around 70 percent of the more than 190,000 people in the northern district of Kilinochchi, the heart of the Tigers' northern stronghold, are below the poverty line - earning $22.50 a month or less -- making it the poorest district in Sri Lanka.
The United Nations estimates around a quarter of the estimated 350,000 people living in the Tiger's de facto state in the far north have been displaced by the war. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced in the government-held south too.
Compounding the misery, thousands of families who survived the 2004 tsunami and were trying to rebuild their lives, have had to abandon homes in various states of reconstruction because of shelling. A government embargo on construction materials such as cement, steel and fuel, has forced aid agencies to halt or abandon development projects in rebel areas.
"Projects funded by the World Bank and ADB (Asia Development Bank) are unable to continue without construction materials," said Nagalingam Vethanayahan, the central government's representative or 'Government Agent' in Kilinochchi.
"Most of the people are living in small huts due to these restrictions. They are unable to do anything. We have to give up development work, no?" he added, lamenting the restrictions imposed by his own government and the military.
At another nearby settlement housing tsunami and war displaced, a new school funded by UNICEF has progressed no further than its foundations because of lack of building materials. The architect's model sits inside a nearby hut gathering dust.
Fishing, one of the main livelihoods in the area, is too dangerous.
"We only go 1 mile out to sea because of the navy, but there are no fish close to shore because of the season," said 22-year-old fisherman Sanmugamoorthy Nishan, idling in the camp with friends.
"When they see the boats, they don't know if we are fishermen or the LTTE, so they open fire," he added. "I know of four fishermen who have been killed by the navy in the past month."
Back at her hut, with little more than a few clothes, pots and a plastic mirror to her name, Thirvakumar lives in constant fear of shells booming in the distance and the sporadic growl of fighter jets flying overhead on bombing raids.
"I will only see my husband again if there is peace and the war ends," she said.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070717/wl_nm/srilanka_war_dc_1&printer=1;
_ylt=AoJ.SE_rRMdz0gUU71RQWWJn.3QA)
Her husband has missed all but the first few weeks of his son's life after the "border" that separates government from rebel territory in the northern Jaffna peninsula was suddenly shut last year following a renewed escalation of civil war.
As fighting between the state and Tamil Tiger rebels deepens, there is no hope of them being reunited any time soon.
Like many impoverished families repeatedly displaced in government and rebel territory alike by two decades of war, Thirvakumar longs for an end to fighting that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983 and displaced hundreds of thousands.
"I haven't seen my husband since the road was closed. He hasn't seen the child. I'm very sad," she said mournfully.
"Both sides must stop the war," she added. "We hope there will be peace so we can go back to our village and live a normal life. If this war continues, what future will my son have?"
Civilians are paying a high price on both sides in a war that pits the majority-Sinhalese government against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority Tamils in the north and east.
Forced from one camp to the next as fighting spreads, they must often leave their worldly belongings behind. There are few work opportunities, which means no income and dependency on food handouts from aid agencies.
While the Tigers claim to be the sole voice of Sri Lanka's Tamils, and vow all those living in their territory will fight to the last, civilians here overwhelmingly want peace. They blame both sides for the war and for their misery.
"The problem is there's no water, there's no work to do, so I can't earn any money. It's very difficult to live here," said 57-year-old Kanavathipallai Thavamani, who is living in the camp with two of her grown up children and two grandchildren.
"Army shells and LTTE shells -- that's why I came here. It is the innocent people who die in war," she added. "So as long as the war is there, we will suffer."
DESPERATELY POOR
Around 70 percent of the more than 190,000 people in the northern district of Kilinochchi, the heart of the Tigers' northern stronghold, are below the poverty line - earning $22.50 a month or less -- making it the poorest district in Sri Lanka.
The United Nations estimates around a quarter of the estimated 350,000 people living in the Tiger's de facto state in the far north have been displaced by the war. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced in the government-held south too.
Compounding the misery, thousands of families who survived the 2004 tsunami and were trying to rebuild their lives, have had to abandon homes in various states of reconstruction because of shelling. A government embargo on construction materials such as cement, steel and fuel, has forced aid agencies to halt or abandon development projects in rebel areas.
"Projects funded by the World Bank and ADB (Asia Development Bank) are unable to continue without construction materials," said Nagalingam Vethanayahan, the central government's representative or 'Government Agent' in Kilinochchi.
"Most of the people are living in small huts due to these restrictions. They are unable to do anything. We have to give up development work, no?" he added, lamenting the restrictions imposed by his own government and the military.
At another nearby settlement housing tsunami and war displaced, a new school funded by UNICEF has progressed no further than its foundations because of lack of building materials. The architect's model sits inside a nearby hut gathering dust.
Fishing, one of the main livelihoods in the area, is too dangerous.
"We only go 1 mile out to sea because of the navy, but there are no fish close to shore because of the season," said 22-year-old fisherman Sanmugamoorthy Nishan, idling in the camp with friends.
"When they see the boats, they don't know if we are fishermen or the LTTE, so they open fire," he added. "I know of four fishermen who have been killed by the navy in the past month."
Back at her hut, with little more than a few clothes, pots and a plastic mirror to her name, Thirvakumar lives in constant fear of shells booming in the distance and the sporadic growl of fighter jets flying overhead on bombing raids.
"I will only see my husband again if there is peace and the war ends," she said.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070717/wl_nm/srilanka_war_dc_1&printer=1;
_ylt=AoJ.SE_rRMdz0gUU71RQWWJn.3QA)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Black July turns to gold in Toppigala
We visited the Toppigala region just prior to Wednesday’s capture together with colleagues from Lankadeepa. During the greater part of our stay, the two teams covered different areas, separately.
Last Sunday afternoon on reaching the region, the first place we visited was the Karadiyanaru base complex of the LTTE on the Chenkalady-Maha Oya A-5 highway. It had been captured from the Tigers only two weeks earlier. For the capture of Toppigala region proper it had finally become the forward base of the security forces and by Sunday it was becoming a hive of activity with the arrival of media teams, mainly from electronic media, sensing the imminent fall of Toppigala to the security forces. After enjoying some military hospitality we proceeded down the A-5 highway, accompanied by military media liaison officer Wasantha Siriwardena.
We visited the Toppigala region just prior to Wednesday’s capture together with colleagues from Lankadeepa. During the greater part of our stay, the two teams covered different areas, separately.
Last Sunday afternoon on reaching the region, the first place we visited was the Karadiyanaru base complex of the LTTE on the Chenkalady-Maha Oya A-5 highway. It had been captured from the Tigers only two weeks earlier. For the capture of Toppigala region proper it had finally become the forward base of the security forces and by Sunday it was becoming a hive of activity with the arrival of media teams, mainly from electronic media, sensing the imminent fall of Toppigala to the security forces. After enjoying some military hospitality we proceeded down the A-5 highway, accompanied by military media liaison officer Wasantha Siriwardena.
A top eastern commander, who did not want to be identified, said they were not seeking individual publicity or rewards for what they have achieved, but others should not humiliate the brave soldiers who captured the LTTE’s main eastern training base that served as the incubator for the terrorist organization.
“They can get-together and address the long neglected grievances of Tamils, but do not belittle the accomplishments of our fighting men,” was his parting comment.
Besides, another senior military officer said if the area was not cleared of Tigers, Batticaloa town would once again come under LTTE artillery fire as happened on February 28, when a group of diplomats were taken to see the development work being carried out there. Our tour of some of the captured areas on Monday and Tuesday clearly showed that this was a major staging area for the LTTE.
The area had been so important to the LTTE that it had built a road, better than most roads in the country, from Karadiyanaru right up to Toppigala rock, stretching at least 21 kilometres. While retreating the Tigers had blasted two of the bridges on this route, but army engineers have partially restored them for vehicular traffic.
We were able to proceed about 15 kilometres down this road from Karadiyanaru and come within sight of Toppigala. We were not allowed to proceed any further as the area beyond that point had not been cleared.
The Toppigala complex certainly had been an incubator of a sort. In one abandoned Tiger mini camp, which also housed their main jail, we saw a short firing range where they had trained their pistol cadres, who are responsible for so many assassinations in civilian areas. We ourselves managed to pick up a few empty 9mm bullet casings from this firing range as souvenirs. And some of the targets drawn on metal sheets were yet standing, while others had been knocked down by the soldiers.
After a bone crushing ride on a Buffel troop carrier on a gravel road, which was just beyond the second blasted bridge, we reached an army artillery base at one of the Narakamulla hills (Renamed as the LTTE’s Tora Bora complex by Karuna). The hill itself had been the headquarters of Tiger Leader Nagesh. Though it had been such an important location, because of the heavy tree cover nothing could be seen from the air or open ground on its approaches. Nagesh’s headquarters is now home to one of the military units guarding the artillery. Among the comforts Nagesh had enjoyed, though it was in the middle of no where, was a fairly modern tiled toilet with running water, with even a bath tub made of bricks and again tiled. He also had a choice of a squatting pan and a commode.Thanks to much of the facilities left behind intact by fleeing Nagesh and his men, the place also serves as a main field kitchen. According to Lt. P.K.R.U. Rupasingha, who is the welfare officer of this unit, he prepares as many as 600 meals at a time for soldiers serving within a radius of 15 kilometres. The jovial and obliging man certainly served a wonderful rice and curry meal for the visiting journalists and their crew on Tuesday. We couldn’t believe the army could do so much despite it being so close to the front. The previous day we were served equally delicious short eats from the same camp.
We also saw fighting units going through some trying conditions. A group of commandos who had just cleared one of the last Narakamulla hills early on Monday were seen eating meagre field rations. Some of the men who had been spearheading the fight were surviving for days on field ration packs. A young sergeant major who had led the unit in the operation was obviously taking a nap under a bush and hanging near him was a Mickey Mouse bag, probably given to him by his girlfriend as a good luck charm. On being informed about our arrival, he quickly sprung from his perch and readily organized some drinks for us.
In that Monday early morning operation one of the men lost a leg to an anti-personnel mine as he had stepped outside a jungle path. Later that afternoon we too were taken on that route with strict instructions not to step out of the trail as army engineers had still not cleared the area.
As we passed the place the victim’s half blown boot was lying there with dried blood on it and just beyond that point soldiers had unearthed a similar mine. Unlike the earlier anti-personnel mines, which were turned out by the LTTE, the present ones are a much more lethal imported variety. Whereas in the past only ankles were blasted, the present mines blast away up to the knee of a soldier and its shrapnel can also damage the other leg or even upper part of the body.
Fleeing Tigers have left not only anti-personnel mines neatly concealed, like under a tree, where a soldier might go to answer a call of nature or to escape the unbearable heat from the sun, but they have left far lethal booby traps. One such monster that was shown to us before being blasted had been detected in the nick of time. It comprised two 120mm mortar shells and a claymore mine rigged to explode together by wiring it to a car battery and concealed in a fox hole. The trip wire had been placed across a path by the side of the fox hole. When it was blasted we were at least two hundred metres away, but the noise alone could have pierced the ear drums of anyone nearby.
Just few metres away from this deadly booby trap was a cage, about eight by eight feet made of heavy steel and painted red, but well covered by foliage. It probably held some of their most secret prisoners. It had no roof, unlike their other main prison we found by the side of the Karadiyanaru-Toppigala Road. So the prisoners were clearly left exposed to the elements.
In this godforsaken place, we also saw lot of fighting men finding it difficult to move from place to place especially while going on leave or coming back from leave due to obvious shortcomings in transport facilities. With the army being preoccupied with an operation at such a crucial stage it was quite understandable.
Some of the units like the one at the artillery base had been thoughtful enough to obtain several CDMA phones for soldiers to be in touch with their loved ones while serving in the remotest of places.
The brutality of the war was seen in the way Tigers had tortured to death a sergeant who had been caught by them while on a reconnaissance mission. Fleeing civilians in this sparsely populated region had seen the serviceman being dragged along the road, while his captors had cut his neck little by little till it was completely severed. By Tuesday morning the Karadiyanaru-Toppigala Road, the pride of Tigers and on which they had brutally killed the captured sergeant had been named after him by his colleagues.
At the same time a top ground commander appealed to any remaining Tigers to surrender as continuing to resist would be a futile exercise. He referred to them as “our brothers and sisters”.
According to intercepted Tiger communications, 444 LTTE cadres were killed in the entire operation to capture the region and 327 were wounded. The army has handed over bodies of 55 Tigers to the ICRC. On the side of the army, 13 officers and 206 soldiers had been injured and two officers and 20 soldiers had been killed.
Since many an armchair pundit in Colombo is arguing that it is not worth holding onto the granite hills of Toppigala committing large number of troops, the next best thing to prevent it from becoming a fortress to Tigers once again would be to blast all that rock away as metal, now badly needed to rebuild the East, suggested an ordinary soldier who travelled with us in the Buffel for our security.
May be it is better to build new barracks for the soldiers here once elections are held in the East so that civilian rule can take root without there being any irritants arising from so many soldiers being present in congested civilian areas.
If the need arises they can always be rushed to surrounding towns from Toppigala, it being such a central location vis-Ã -vis Punani, Vakarai, Pasikudah, Kalkudah, Sittandi, Chenkaladi, Eravur and Batticaloa.
(http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070715/News/nws22.html)
Fierce fighting as troops launch operation in north
Immediate push to the Wanni after victory in the east
Hard on the heels of their victory at Toppigala in the East, security forces yesterday launched a military offensive in the Wanni to re-capture guerilla held areas. At the crack of dawn, troops broke out of their defended localities towards Tampanai and Periya Tampanai, east of the Madhu area, to advance forward. Ahead of this advance, from midnight artillery, multi barrel rockets and mortars were fired at rebel positions.
Later in the day, Air Force jets bombed guerilla positions in the area. Army spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told The Sunday Times last night ten soldiers were killed and 32 injured in the confrontation. The wounded were airlifted to hospitals in Anuradhapura in Air Force helicopters.
A military official said they inflicted heavy casualties on the guerrillas. Independent verification of counts on both sides was not possible. However, other sources claimed that the guerillas were offering stiff resistance to moves by troops to advance.
The Army official said troops had pushed the Tiger guerillas further into the Wanni area from the defense lines. He said the troops were now consolidating in the defended localities held by the guerrillas until yesterday. However, LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said last night that Government troops, assisted by the Air Force, MBRL and artillery cover had tried to enter
LTTE-controlled areas from two fronts at Piraiyanlakulam and Iranailluppaikulam but were driven back at Tampanai by their cadres. He claimed that the troops had begun their forward movement around 6.00 a.m. yesterday but were pushed back to their original positions by last evening.
Mr. Ilanthirayan also claimed that 15 army personnel were killed and more than 45 were injured. He said they had recovered the bodies of four soldiers and they would be handed over to the ICRC today. The guerillas had recovered one RPG, three T 56 guns and ammunition, he said adding that three LTTE cadres were also killed in the confrontation.
The new offensive in the Wanni comes just two days after Security Forces declared they had re-captured Tiger guerrilla strongholds in Toppigala and thus cleared the area of their presence in the East.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already declared that with the completion of the re-capture of the east, the Government would launch military offensives in the North. He said this was to weaken the LTTE. President Rajapaksa’s assertion, political observer say, meant that the Government will not engage in peace initiatives until military offensives in the north are completed.
(http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070715/News/nws1.html)
Hard on the heels of their victory at Toppigala in the East, security forces yesterday launched a military offensive in the Wanni to re-capture guerilla held areas. At the crack of dawn, troops broke out of their defended localities towards Tampanai and Periya Tampanai, east of the Madhu area, to advance forward. Ahead of this advance, from midnight artillery, multi barrel rockets and mortars were fired at rebel positions.
Later in the day, Air Force jets bombed guerilla positions in the area. Army spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told The Sunday Times last night ten soldiers were killed and 32 injured in the confrontation. The wounded were airlifted to hospitals in Anuradhapura in Air Force helicopters.
A military official said they inflicted heavy casualties on the guerrillas. Independent verification of counts on both sides was not possible. However, other sources claimed that the guerillas were offering stiff resistance to moves by troops to advance.
The Army official said troops had pushed the Tiger guerillas further into the Wanni area from the defense lines. He said the troops were now consolidating in the defended localities held by the guerrillas until yesterday. However, LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said last night that Government troops, assisted by the Air Force, MBRL and artillery cover had tried to enter
LTTE-controlled areas from two fronts at Piraiyanlakulam and Iranailluppaikulam but were driven back at Tampanai by their cadres. He claimed that the troops had begun their forward movement around 6.00 a.m. yesterday but were pushed back to their original positions by last evening.
Mr. Ilanthirayan also claimed that 15 army personnel were killed and more than 45 were injured. He said they had recovered the bodies of four soldiers and they would be handed over to the ICRC today. The guerillas had recovered one RPG, three T 56 guns and ammunition, he said adding that three LTTE cadres were also killed in the confrontation.
The new offensive in the Wanni comes just two days after Security Forces declared they had re-captured Tiger guerrilla strongholds in Toppigala and thus cleared the area of their presence in the East.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has already declared that with the completion of the re-capture of the east, the Government would launch military offensives in the North. He said this was to weaken the LTTE. President Rajapaksa’s assertion, political observer say, meant that the Government will not engage in peace initiatives until military offensives in the north are completed.
(http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070715/News/nws1.html)
Fall of Thoppigala–Not Even Dr. Goebells Could do This
“After …months of war, pains and grieves; after … years of ‘tiranny’ and inhumanity, after have the innocent victims of the most ‘perverce’ gang….; today……., we can cry at full voice our joys our enthusiasm for your coming".
An anti fascist leaflet of the Italian resistance in September 1943 welcoming the Allies after Italy joined the Allies in WW2- reproduced in its original English
The Fuhrer betrayed again
The real traitor in the whole hostile clique in the East is Karuna
(With apologies to Dr Goebells)
The above may well may be the sentiments of the 2 sides and their apologists to the conflict in the East after the fall of Thoppigala to the SL forces on 11 June 2007
The fall of Thoppigala presages the end of the LTTE hold in the East.
The imminent fall of Thoppigala after a carefully, well planned and superbly executed military operation saw a rush of political adventurers feverishly dishing out propaganda to the public hoping to diminish or neutralise the effect of the victory and apply field dressings to the LTTE's psychological wounds. Having no concern for the fortunes of the forces, their only thought was what effect the fall out would be to them. Their side was certainly not Sri Lanka's. First amongst them was Running Wicks (RW). He was backed by his judge advocate. Together they sang a strange if not shameless duet to denigrate and ridicule the efforts of the servicemen who in the service of their country, fought, were wounded and died at Thoppigala in the service of their country.
RW took it upon himself to announce at a public meeting that Thoppigala was not worth fighting for. He connected it with some disdainful theories of his about Mavil Aru too. He said Thoppigala was simply a rock set in a jungle environment of X square miles, which he worked out in Y acres, where there were also 5 irrigation tanks. He counted all this in public to get his figures absolutely straight but had not failed to count how many trees, leaves, boughs and rocks there were too to complete his statistics. As usual he had got lost in the woods for the trees. (The area commonly called Thoppigala which includes Narakamulla completely dominates the surrounding countryside. It gave the LTTE a secure rear base from which its artillery including a TBRL, mortars and ubiquitous snipers who despite all technological advances are still irreplaceable in modern battle, were directed. Kochalacholai and Kiran were their forward bases where their rampaging cadres were able to take a toll of our troops for over 20 years. They also terrorised the nearby villages with murder attacks and kidnappings directed at women, children and places of worship and novice monks. The duo also invented a myth of the main objective Narakamulla being 'captured' once before by the SLA 15 years ago by referring to it as Thoppigala - when RW was riding side saddle. There was no explanation as to where the rocks were then. They had also forgotten to mention what the LTTE if not the army had been doing there all this while and why. Surely they were not breaking rocks.
RW's only connection with campaigning is that he has been making an art of losing political battles with abandon. Having started as a directly commissioned officer without any training in the Beira and then Diyawanna corps, he made it to second in command twice with not a little bit of supporting and overhead fire from and sapping and mining by relatives and friends. But he never made it to Commander. RW has lately failed to prevent a mutiny in his own ranks and lost his seasoned frontline campaigners who deserted en masse. He is now left with odd bods and sods, the ear, nose, mouth and stomach ache troops. To make matters worse he has supported the Fuhrer's propaganda goons.
This is the first time in history that any political leader in the world has taken upon him to belittle his own armed services in battle even though the decision to begin (battle) was with his acquiescence. He also got his disordered cronies to imitate him.
When the WW2 battles were being fought in the Western desert were there any politicians from Britain or Germany to count the grains of sand in it to prove its worth? When the war spread to Russia no one strained himself to count the blades of grass on the steppes or tried to measure it in terms of square miles. There is no truth that Napoleon had tried to either earlier, just in case this man an expert in diverting attention from the battlefield by liberally tingeing history with addled war stories. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour was he there to fathom the depth of the sea or how many fish there were? Who found fault with either the Japanese or the British Fourteenth Army for not counting the trees in the jungles or the lengths of the rivers of Burma before engaging in battle. In Imphal a battle was fought across the tennis courts of a former planters' club but was there someone complaining that there were no tennis balls on it? When the Allied troops in WW2 fought bitterly to take Monte Cassino, the key to the Gustav line in Italy, neither Field Marshal Kesselring nor Generals Patton, Bradley, Clarke and Alexander had to answer to their political leaders as to why they were fighting over a large rock over 7000 feet high.
Why then this denigration by this duet of a hard battle truly won by the grit, guts, skills and with the blood of the SL soldiers who were simply carrying out their duties as laid down by their commanders?
Could it be that, as in 1983, RW favours attacking Colombo with his spearhead forces, the notorious national SS even if they were not Himmler's own? Then of course the counting would not have been trees, irrigation tanks and rocks but loot, rapine and murder and not with guns but with petrol bombs, axes, swords and knives against innocent Tamils. We succeeded in burning down a major part of our capital city as the political leaders looked on petrified at the monsters it had cloned; not knowing that the seeds of hatred it created would give rise to strident militant Tamil nationalism and nearly 25 years of ignoble strife.
What happened again in 1988/9? Who went around registering 60,000 heads and burnt bodies? How did RW quantify those blood drenched 'victories'?
Where were his buddies then? They did not get on platforms or even onto the streets to speak so blithely and with comic looks as they do now. Instead they locked their doors and peeped through the key holes to look at the carnage. Fortunately the governments that came after them did not give the SS and the police a 'holiday'.
The duet also began to strike a falsetto and claim that Thoppigala (was it not just a rock then?) had been captured about 15 years ago to belittle its actual capture by the armed forces in July 2007. The truth is that in 1992/3 when the present army chief was commanding a Brigade in Welikanda there were many LTTE hit and run attacks and ambushes on the Batticaloa - Polonaruwa road. The military response was to pull out the troops of the division in Batticaloa from their nearby camps including Vakarai and patrol the roads to keep them clear. The camps on the coast were denuded The whole strength of the LTTE in the East, armed then only with T56 mm rifles machine guns and RPGs was about 200 in 1992. Their bastion was and remained at Narakamulla, the capture of which was signaled as the fall of what is commonly referred to as Thoppigala. The Special Forces (SF) which then had only one regiment at the time had a strength of about 400 men and dominated the area including Thoppigala. Yet the SF bold and steady as they were and are did not 'capture' or attempt to capture Narakamulla then. They sent out regular fighting and ambush patrols to the area which had the habit of attracting the LTTE 'like bees to honey' as the Colonel commanding officer the SF used to state. Why did this duet then seek to distort history that Narakamulla which was denied by the LTTE to the IPKF had been in government hands about 15 years ago and was abandoned in 1995? It was not simply to mislead. It was deliberately hypocritical and dishonest. However even Goebells the master of all propagandists would not have stooped to shame his country's soldiers even to save his life. This duet couldn't care to what depths its propaganda digs down to.
After this where then could RW be running to now? Surely not Iraq where he had hopes of sending our troops to score brownie points with Bush. Lately he has shown a fascination nay obsession with Hitler, the original Fuhrer and not missed a single opportunity to make comparisons, not with the death camps which killed 12 million people for good personal reasons, but just the eviction of Jews from Germany. He appears to have forgotten what happened to the Tamils in 1983 in front of his eyes as he stood firm with all the other ministers of the time behind locked doors until it was all over. So could he now be aiming to go to a bunker like Hitler to call it a day? Surely not to Berlin? Where then is the other bunker? Only a cyanide carrier will know.
No one can take away from the armed forces the honour and glory they earned with their blood, guts and disciplined valour, defeating the LTTE in what was thought to be impregnable Narakamulla. This time the LTTE unlike in 1992 had TBRLs, artillery, medium and heavy mortars, anti tank guns, anti tank and anti personnel mines, and 2000 seasoned cadres armed with AK 47s. They fought against 6 infantry battalions and the Commando Regiment, supported by profuse artillery, some armour including APCs, first in and still there Engineers lifting mines, excellent comms provided by SL Signals and the pin point strikes by the intrepid SLAF from April to July, before conceding defeat and conducting a fighting retreat to the Wanni in their normal style.
Deranged politicians have a choice. They can plead insanity to charges of treachery and avoid becoming the state's guests or join the Fuhrer where ever he may be. But History will record their perfidy for eternity.
We Sri Lankan soldiers
For our freedom and yours
Have given our souls to the Gods
Our bodies to the soil of the East
And our hearts to Mother Lanka
(With apologies to the Polish II Corps which took Monte Cassino in May 1944)
(http://www.army.lk/morenewsfet.php?id=2128)
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