Non-Subscriber Extract
The government's capture of the eastern Sri Lankan town of Thoppigala on 11 July has theoretically brought the entire east of the country back under its control for the first time since 1994. The ethnic separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) no longer runs the type of parallel administration it has established in the north and which it expanded into the east during the 2002-2006 ceasefire despite a major split in the movement and the damage wrought by the tsunami on 26 December 2004.
The fall of Thoppigala was the culmination of a series of ground offensives by the Sri Lankan Army and counter-insurgency units of the police Special Task Force in the east that began in July 2006. The security forces expelled the LTTE from the territories it held south of Trincomalee harbour in August-September 2006, then captured the key coastal town of Vakarai in January after prolonged shelling and the displacement of 30,000 residents. In March-April, the army and task force pushed west into the interior of Batticaloa district, an offensive that displaced more than 100,000 civilians, but brought key roads back under government control for the first time in more than a decade.
While the long-running insurgency's heaviest fighting has been concentrated in the north, control of the east (which comprises Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts) has been important to the LTTE and its loss will be a significant blow to the group. The area's coastline and harbours allowed the rebels to bring in supply ships from Southeast Asia, the source of most of their weapons, and launch maritime attacks against convoys supplying government forces stationed on the Jaffna peninsula to the north.
The loss of the east may not have a significant impact on the LTTE's operations in the north as it was already difficult to transfer supplies to the region from the east through government-controlled territory. However, it has limited both the LTTE's pool of potential recruits and the ability of its Sea Tiger naval wing to launch attacks on vessels sailing from Trincomalee.
The Sea Tigers can still operate from bases further north, but they will have fewer options with which to surprise the Sri Lankan Navy. They can use the northwest coast, where large numbers of fishing vessels provide their attack boats with cover. However, less government shipping travels along the western route and the Sea Tigers would also be exposed to greater maritime surveillance by India.
Despite these factors, the loss of the east does not spell the end of the LTTE or violence in the east. The government will be required to hold the territory gained with significant numbers of troops while simultaneously fighting the LTTE in the north. The rebels are unlikely to make life easy for the military in the east, promising a campaign of assassinations, economic sabotage and low-intensity warfare to hamper the promised government reconstruction and development efforts, part of Colombo's attempt to win over the support of the local population.
(http://www.janes.com/)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
LTTE kills Catholic priest in uncleared area of Mannar
A Catholic Priest, Rev. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith has been killed by LTTE terrorists in an uncleared area of Mannar late last evening.
Subsequent to the killing the LTTE launched a false propaganda campaign alleging that the killing was perpetrated by the Army, states the Media Centre for National Security in a press release.
The Government wishes to clarify that there are no troops operating in the uncleared areas of Mannar. The said the incident has taken place in an LTTE active area north of Mannar where the Security Forces have no access.
Update
The LTTE has accused the Army's Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol of killing a Catholic Priest attached to the Jesuit Refugee Service on the Mannar-Pooneryn road. The Sri Lanka Army has denied involvement in the incident, which occurred around 45kms ahead of the Army's FDL in Mannar. DefenceWire sources reveal that the priest Nicholaspillai Pakiyaranjith had had a long-standing relationship with the rebels and had received aid from numerous countries, including Norway, for relief work in LTTE areas. During the now concluded Thoppigala battle, the Sri Lanka Army saw first-hand how such relief items can end up in the hands of the LTTE.
Subsequent to the killing the LTTE launched a false propaganda campaign alleging that the killing was perpetrated by the Army, states the Media Centre for National Security in a press release.
The Government wishes to clarify that there are no troops operating in the uncleared areas of Mannar. The said the incident has taken place in an LTTE active area north of Mannar where the Security Forces have no access.
Update
The LTTE has accused the Army's Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol of killing a Catholic Priest attached to the Jesuit Refugee Service on the Mannar-Pooneryn road. The Sri Lanka Army has denied involvement in the incident, which occurred around 45kms ahead of the Army's FDL in Mannar. DefenceWire sources reveal that the priest Nicholaspillai Pakiyaranjith had had a long-standing relationship with the rebels and had received aid from numerous countries, including Norway, for relief work in LTTE areas. During the now concluded Thoppigala battle, the Sri Lanka Army saw first-hand how such relief items can end up in the hands of the LTTE.
Catholic priest on humanitarian mission killed in DPU Claymore attack
Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith, 40, the Mannaar district coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was killed when Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attackers launched a Claymore attack on his Hiace vehicle, riding on Mannaar - Pooneryn (Poonakari) Road, at Kalvi'laan in Ve'l'laangku'lam Wednesday evening, Tamileelam Police officials in Mallaavi said. Fr. Ranjth was bringing baby milk and essential humanitarian supplies for displaced children in his vehicle, JRS sources in Mannaar said.
The assistant of the priest, identified as Christopher Jujin, was injured and transferred to Ki'linochchi hospital, medical sources said.
Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith
Fr. Nicholaspillai was on his way to Vidaththaltheevu, via Mallaavi. He had entered the LTTE controlled area through Pu'liyangku'lam entry point to attend the needs of recently displaced people in the district.
Humanitarian and Health workers, attending the needs of civilians in Vanni, have been increasingly targeted by the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) Unit of the SLA, known as DPU.
The JRS is an international Catholic organisation with a mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.
(www.tamilnet.com)
The assistant of the priest, identified as Christopher Jujin, was injured and transferred to Ki'linochchi hospital, medical sources said.
Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith
Fr. Nicholaspillai was on his way to Vidaththaltheevu, via Mallaavi. He had entered the LTTE controlled area through Pu'liyangku'lam entry point to attend the needs of recently displaced people in the district.
Humanitarian and Health workers, attending the needs of civilians in Vanni, have been increasingly targeted by the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) Unit of the SLA, known as DPU.
The JRS is an international Catholic organisation with a mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.
(www.tamilnet.com)
Tigers bury decomposed body of SLA soldier
A highly decomposed body of Sri Lanka Army soldier, with Sri Lankan national identity card number 832963291V and SLA soldier number S317369, was buried with military honors by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) in Mannaar on Wednesday. LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media that the body was recovered in a clearing mission after thwarting a SLA ground operation Monday in Ku'risuddaku'lam area. In the meantime, a new operation was launched by the SLA Wednesday morning in Mu'l'likku'lam.
Heavy fighting was going on, according to LTTE military spokesman.
A Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and a T-56 automatic rifle were also recovered following the previous clash, on Monday, he said.
(www.tamilnet.com)
Heavy fighting was going on, according to LTTE military spokesman.
A Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and a T-56 automatic rifle were also recovered following the previous clash, on Monday, he said.
(www.tamilnet.com)
Military ops only to pressure LTTE
President insists terrorism is terrorism anywhere
President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the UN general Assembly yesterday the Government launched military operations against the LTTE as part of moves to exert pressure on the rebels and convince them that it would not be possible for them to obtain a military victory.
Speaking in Sinhala in the presence of world leaders at the 62nd UN General Assembly in New York the President stressed the ultimate goal of the Government remained to seek a ‘negotiated and honourable’ end to the conflict and said the All Party Representative Committee was working successfully towards that goal.
His comments came a day after the LTTE, in a statement, said the Government must end what it termed were deceptions, military oppressions, ethnic cleansing and serious human rights violations and accept the aspirations of the Tamil people and come forward to find a resolution that is based on the right to self-determination of the Tamil people.
“I am proud to inform you that despite the significant challenge posed by the ongoing conflict with a ruthless terrorist group in the North of the country, we have freed the Eastern Province from terrorism, and restored law and order there. My Government has already launched a massive program of rehabilitation and reconstruction in the East. We propose to make the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka a model for development and rehabilitation, essentially with our own efforts but also with the assistance of all donors,” President Rajapaksa said.
The President said the Government was taking steps to return the usurped rights of the people by conducting Provincial and local government elections in the East by early next year and added that there was a clear opportunity for the international community to play a vital role in breaking the cycle of conflict by focusing on development.
While stressing that terrorism was terrorism anywhere President Rajapaksa stressed on the importance of concluding negotiations on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which he said was for the moment limited to endless discussion.
“Sri Lanka has taken an upfront position in the global community’s efforts to deal with terrorism. We have become party to 11 of 13 UN Conventions for the suppression of various acts of terrorism…All terrorist attacks whether in New York, Mumbai, Cairo, London or Colombo are acts that threaten the democratic way of life and must be condemned unreservedly,” he said.
The President said Sri Lanka believed, as one of the founder members of the Human Rights Council, human rights was also too important to be used as a tool to victimize States for political advantage and it was essential that international action to facilitate compliance with human rights standards was fair and even handed.
“Human rights have to be protected and advanced for their own sake, not for political gain.”
The President further said that although the UN system has set up mechanisms to deal with many problems the capacity of the UN to address these challenges effectively has been brought into question. He said the UN must always remember that its primary function was to render assistance for the well being of its Member States.
“As resources received by the UN are limited, it has been only possible to deliver limited results. We need to focus on these as they have often been characterized by countless, poorly coordinated, ineffectively designed, ineptly staffed and overlapping programs, with unnecessary inter-agency rivalry,” he said.President Rajapaksa also said that the World Bank established for economic development, the IMF set up for financial stability, and other regional banks established at the same time as the UN need to implement new programs to assist the countries that are affected by several challenges.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the UN general Assembly yesterday the Government launched military operations against the LTTE as part of moves to exert pressure on the rebels and convince them that it would not be possible for them to obtain a military victory.
Speaking in Sinhala in the presence of world leaders at the 62nd UN General Assembly in New York the President stressed the ultimate goal of the Government remained to seek a ‘negotiated and honourable’ end to the conflict and said the All Party Representative Committee was working successfully towards that goal.
His comments came a day after the LTTE, in a statement, said the Government must end what it termed were deceptions, military oppressions, ethnic cleansing and serious human rights violations and accept the aspirations of the Tamil people and come forward to find a resolution that is based on the right to self-determination of the Tamil people.
“I am proud to inform you that despite the significant challenge posed by the ongoing conflict with a ruthless terrorist group in the North of the country, we have freed the Eastern Province from terrorism, and restored law and order there. My Government has already launched a massive program of rehabilitation and reconstruction in the East. We propose to make the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka a model for development and rehabilitation, essentially with our own efforts but also with the assistance of all donors,” President Rajapaksa said.
The President said the Government was taking steps to return the usurped rights of the people by conducting Provincial and local government elections in the East by early next year and added that there was a clear opportunity for the international community to play a vital role in breaking the cycle of conflict by focusing on development.
While stressing that terrorism was terrorism anywhere President Rajapaksa stressed on the importance of concluding negotiations on a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which he said was for the moment limited to endless discussion.
“Sri Lanka has taken an upfront position in the global community’s efforts to deal with terrorism. We have become party to 11 of 13 UN Conventions for the suppression of various acts of terrorism…All terrorist attacks whether in New York, Mumbai, Cairo, London or Colombo are acts that threaten the democratic way of life and must be condemned unreservedly,” he said.
The President said Sri Lanka believed, as one of the founder members of the Human Rights Council, human rights was also too important to be used as a tool to victimize States for political advantage and it was essential that international action to facilitate compliance with human rights standards was fair and even handed.
“Human rights have to be protected and advanced for their own sake, not for political gain.”
The President further said that although the UN system has set up mechanisms to deal with many problems the capacity of the UN to address these challenges effectively has been brought into question. He said the UN must always remember that its primary function was to render assistance for the well being of its Member States.
“As resources received by the UN are limited, it has been only possible to deliver limited results. We need to focus on these as they have often been characterized by countless, poorly coordinated, ineffectively designed, ineptly staffed and overlapping programs, with unnecessary inter-agency rivalry,” he said.President Rajapaksa also said that the World Bank established for economic development, the IMF set up for financial stability, and other regional banks established at the same time as the UN need to implement new programs to assist the countries that are affected by several challenges.
Controversial LTTE dissident leaves Sri Lanka
The controversial LTTE dissident, Col Karuna, is believed to have left Sri Lanka recently, following trenchant international criticism of the activities of his group, the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), in the Eastern Tamil-speaking district of Batticaloa.
Media reports said on Wednesday that Karuna had left for the UK. But independent sources could only confirm that he had left the country temporarily.
The Scandinavian-staffed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had both criticized the TMVP for forcibly recruiting children and extorting money from the people in Batticaloa.
Every UN and EU rights body had been urging the Sri Lankan government to disarm or rein in the Karuna group. And time and again, they had expressed dismay over Colombo's turning a deaf ear to these pleas. But the Sri Lankan government needed the Karuna group to help track down the LTTE and help police the area recently cleared of the LTTE.
Political clash
While the government needed the Karuna group for military purposes, it was ill at ease with its political ambitions. The TMVP had been nursing ambitions of emerging as the voice of the Tamils in the East, especially Batticaloa district, and winning the proposed elections in the Eastern districts in early 2008.
To prevent the emergence of any new popular Tamil group in place of the LTTE, and to win the hearts and minds of the Tamils, the Rajapaksa government itself started doing relief and rehabilitation work in the war affected areas.
All efforts in this direction began to be directed by Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Advisor and brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Government ministers were asked to make frequent visits to the rehabilitation centres and announce development programmes worth millions of rupees. "But no Tamils were, or are, involved in this task," a former Tamil militant who is now close to the government said ruefully.
The Karuna group itself is partly responsible for this. Though the TMVP had political ambitions, it was doing precious little to win the hearts and minds of the common Tamils. It had neither protected the common man against the Sri Lankan military, nor had it done anything to alleviate the suffering of the 200,000 war refugees in the past year and a half, local Tamil leaders said. On the other hand, it had been harassing the people.
Ground cleared for non-Tamil Parties
The TMVP itself got divided into the Karuna and Pillaiyaan factions, which started killing each other's supporters. When it went out of bounds, the government stepped in and restored peace, forcing Pillayaan to confine himself to Trincomalee district. But he is said to be breaking out of the confines now.
With no powerful, popular and credible Tamil group in the East ( the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance has already been weakened) the ground is now clear for the national or Sinhala majoritarian parties to establish themselves there ahead of the proposed local and provincial elections in early 2008.
(http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=56288197-6454-4720-ac44-85b9b12e780f)
Media reports said on Wednesday that Karuna had left for the UK. But independent sources could only confirm that he had left the country temporarily.
The Scandinavian-staffed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had both criticized the TMVP for forcibly recruiting children and extorting money from the people in Batticaloa.
Every UN and EU rights body had been urging the Sri Lankan government to disarm or rein in the Karuna group. And time and again, they had expressed dismay over Colombo's turning a deaf ear to these pleas. But the Sri Lankan government needed the Karuna group to help track down the LTTE and help police the area recently cleared of the LTTE.
Political clash
While the government needed the Karuna group for military purposes, it was ill at ease with its political ambitions. The TMVP had been nursing ambitions of emerging as the voice of the Tamils in the East, especially Batticaloa district, and winning the proposed elections in the Eastern districts in early 2008.
To prevent the emergence of any new popular Tamil group in place of the LTTE, and to win the hearts and minds of the Tamils, the Rajapaksa government itself started doing relief and rehabilitation work in the war affected areas.
All efforts in this direction began to be directed by Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Advisor and brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Government ministers were asked to make frequent visits to the rehabilitation centres and announce development programmes worth millions of rupees. "But no Tamils were, or are, involved in this task," a former Tamil militant who is now close to the government said ruefully.
The Karuna group itself is partly responsible for this. Though the TMVP had political ambitions, it was doing precious little to win the hearts and minds of the common Tamils. It had neither protected the common man against the Sri Lankan military, nor had it done anything to alleviate the suffering of the 200,000 war refugees in the past year and a half, local Tamil leaders said. On the other hand, it had been harassing the people.
Ground cleared for non-Tamil Parties
The TMVP itself got divided into the Karuna and Pillaiyaan factions, which started killing each other's supporters. When it went out of bounds, the government stepped in and restored peace, forcing Pillayaan to confine himself to Trincomalee district. But he is said to be breaking out of the confines now.
With no powerful, popular and credible Tamil group in the East ( the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance has already been weakened) the ground is now clear for the national or Sinhala majoritarian parties to establish themselves there ahead of the proposed local and provincial elections in early 2008.
(http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=56288197-6454-4720-ac44-85b9b12e780f)
Catholic priest feared killed by LTTE terrorists- Wanni
Pro-LTTE websites this evening (September 26) announced that a Catholic priest working for an NGO had been killed in a bomb blast that took place deep inside the terrorists dominated territory in Wanni. These websites have already made their usual accusation that SL Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) is responsible for the killing.
According to news reports, Reverend Father Nocholaspillai Packyyaranjith, Mannar District Coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was killed when his vehicle was caught in a claymore blast in the Mallavi area this evening. Another Catholic priest identified as Christopher Jujin was said to have suffered injuries in the incident.
When inquired about the alleged accusation on DPU involvement in the said incident, the defence officials said it is a blatant lie as no DPU team can go such a distance behind the enemy lines under the present circumstances.
"If the incident has happened in Mallavi as said, it means that it has happened at a location which is well over 60 Km from our Forward Defence Line (FDL)", a senior defence official said.
"It is true that we have an excellent Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team, but they are not like 'suicide' cadres in a terrorist outfit who are sent on 'never to return missions', he added.
Explaining further, he said that the primary task of an LRRP team is to do reconnaissance or to gather information on enemy locations secretly, but not to expose their presence by carrying out bomb attacks in the enemy's areas.
LTTE terrorists have stepped up their attacks at the security forces' FDL for the last two-three weeks and made several unsuccesful attempts to break the defence line at various locations. The defence officials noted that the first priority of the security forces at present is to strengthen and defend the FDL in Wanni than going into covert offensives.
Also, intelligence reports have revealed that LTTE has deployed their fullest strength along its defence line West of Omanthai, fearing a security forces' onslaught in the area. Therefore, the officials pointed out there is not much of room left for LRRPs operate in enemy area as it is almost impossible for a covert unit to cross the enemy FDL.
Meanwhile, defence observers pointed out that LTTE terrorists have demonstrated similar behaviour whenever the President or a Sri Lankan delegation is on an important official tour. Earlier too LTTE terrorists have carried out many crimes by killing innocent Tamil civilians, aid workers, or whoever whose killing that can draw the displeasure of the international community towards the government.
LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organization which has been fighting since 1983 for an ethnically pure separate homeland for Tamils living in Sri Lanka. Two decades of the LTTE's terror campaign against Sri Lankan citizens has cost over 65,000 lives.
(http://www.defence.lk)
According to news reports, Reverend Father Nocholaspillai Packyyaranjith, Mannar District Coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was killed when his vehicle was caught in a claymore blast in the Mallavi area this evening. Another Catholic priest identified as Christopher Jujin was said to have suffered injuries in the incident.
When inquired about the alleged accusation on DPU involvement in the said incident, the defence officials said it is a blatant lie as no DPU team can go such a distance behind the enemy lines under the present circumstances.
"If the incident has happened in Mallavi as said, it means that it has happened at a location which is well over 60 Km from our Forward Defence Line (FDL)", a senior defence official said.
"It is true that we have an excellent Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team, but they are not like 'suicide' cadres in a terrorist outfit who are sent on 'never to return missions', he added.
Explaining further, he said that the primary task of an LRRP team is to do reconnaissance or to gather information on enemy locations secretly, but not to expose their presence by carrying out bomb attacks in the enemy's areas.
LTTE terrorists have stepped up their attacks at the security forces' FDL for the last two-three weeks and made several unsuccesful attempts to break the defence line at various locations. The defence officials noted that the first priority of the security forces at present is to strengthen and defend the FDL in Wanni than going into covert offensives.
Also, intelligence reports have revealed that LTTE has deployed their fullest strength along its defence line West of Omanthai, fearing a security forces' onslaught in the area. Therefore, the officials pointed out there is not much of room left for LRRPs operate in enemy area as it is almost impossible for a covert unit to cross the enemy FDL.
Meanwhile, defence observers pointed out that LTTE terrorists have demonstrated similar behaviour whenever the President or a Sri Lankan delegation is on an important official tour. Earlier too LTTE terrorists have carried out many crimes by killing innocent Tamil civilians, aid workers, or whoever whose killing that can draw the displeasure of the international community towards the government.
LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organization which has been fighting since 1983 for an ethnically pure separate homeland for Tamils living in Sri Lanka. Two decades of the LTTE's terror campaign against Sri Lankan citizens has cost over 65,000 lives.
(http://www.defence.lk)
Sri Lanka says kills, wounds dozens of rebels
Sri Lankan troops killed and wounded dozens of Tamil Tiger rebels in a series of battles in the far north, the military said on Tuesday, the latest clashes in a quickening of the two-decade civil war.
Nine Tamil Tiger rebels were killed and 36 wounded in one battle in the northwestern district of Mannar on Monday, after at least 10 Tiger rebels and possibly more than 20 were killed in two other clashes in the north the same day.
In a separate incident early on Tuesday, a civilian was killed in a suspected rebel roadside bomb attack in the army-held northern Jaffna peninsula, the Defence Ministry said.
"The army confronted a group of Tamil Tiger cadres. They were firing artillery at civilians. The confrontation killed nine LTTE cadres," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, reporting one of the clashes a day after the fact.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, said on Monday 10 of their fighters were killed in two separate clashes. The military put the rebel death toll at more than 20.
However, rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said he had no immediate details of the other confrontation referred to by Nanayakkara.
There was no independent confirmation of how many people were killed in the fighting or what had happened. Military analysts say both sides tend to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own.
Around 5,000 people have been killed in fighting between the military and LTTE guerrillas since early 2006. Fighting is now focused on the north after troops this year drove the Tigers from eastern areas they controlled under the terms of a now-tattered ceasefire pact.
In all, nearly 70,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war erupted in 1983.
Nine Tamil Tiger rebels were killed and 36 wounded in one battle in the northwestern district of Mannar on Monday, after at least 10 Tiger rebels and possibly more than 20 were killed in two other clashes in the north the same day.
In a separate incident early on Tuesday, a civilian was killed in a suspected rebel roadside bomb attack in the army-held northern Jaffna peninsula, the Defence Ministry said.
"The army confronted a group of Tamil Tiger cadres. They were firing artillery at civilians. The confrontation killed nine LTTE cadres," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, reporting one of the clashes a day after the fact.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, said on Monday 10 of their fighters were killed in two separate clashes. The military put the rebel death toll at more than 20.
However, rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said he had no immediate details of the other confrontation referred to by Nanayakkara.
There was no independent confirmation of how many people were killed in the fighting or what had happened. Military analysts say both sides tend to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own.
Around 5,000 people have been killed in fighting between the military and LTTE guerrillas since early 2006. Fighting is now focused on the north after troops this year drove the Tigers from eastern areas they controlled under the terms of a now-tattered ceasefire pact.
In all, nearly 70,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war erupted in 1983.
The Siren, Dr. Jayalth Jayawardana and fleeing psychology
We all know the famous story of Madduma Bandara. While the true historical incident was pivoted around the cruelty of King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha, it is small Madduma Bandara that challenged this cruelty saying;
“Aiyandiya, biya nowanna. Marena hati mama penwami”
(Don’t be afraid brother, I will show you how to die (as a hero). )
It is names of this type of heroes that the history has written in gold.
While these historical reports applaud the heroic character of Madduma Bandara, those equally rebuff the character of his own elder brother Loku Bandara as feeble cry boy.
It is famous saying that ‘history repeats’, and therefore it is our duty to clearly identify parallel characters in modern society.
Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana is one of the mysterious characters in Sri Lankan political arena. He prefers to spend more time in Wanni jungle than in his electorate and most of his visits are secret and puzzling.
He occasionally come in front of media and states that he is concerned of killing of people due to war (He never call this as terrorism). His main endeavor in the last decade has been to distribute sirens among the Sinhala and Muslim people in so called border villages (in his own terminology) in North and Eastern provinces.
Throughout his political career, we have never seen him distributing even a club to defend the villagers from brutal attacks of tiger terrorists, nor we have ever heard him initiating the same approach (run away) in the LTTE control side.
The rational behind Dr. Jayalth’s campaign is crystal clear. It was LTTE who wanted to chase away Sinhala people who defend their home lands against the myth of Ealam and it is Jayalath Jaywardana who was co-coordinating this chase away from the south. He was very active facilitating the run away of Sinhala people when LTTE is brutally attacking the villagers.
It’s good to see that current government has completely turn this vicious agenda facilitated in south by Jayalath Jayawardana by forming new military unit named Nandimithra Balakaya that are no longer in mere defensive mood, but well capable of carrying out offensive against terrorists to defend their villages.
If modern Loku Bandara ever present in Bogambara ground, he would have cry and say;
“Malanuwani biya nowanna, duwana hati mama penwami.”
(Don’t be afraid younger brother, I will show you way to run away)
But luckily, we no longer need a trumpeter to run away, because at last we have found a true leadership to chase away the terrorists.
In the future, people of Sri Lanka will decide if they further need the service of these so called leaders only capable of facilitating fleeing, because they have finally realized that we need leaders only to march forward and defend our territory and not to run away in fear of terrorists.
(http://lankarising.blogspot.com)
“Aiyandiya, biya nowanna. Marena hati mama penwami”
(Don’t be afraid brother, I will show you how to die (as a hero). )
It is names of this type of heroes that the history has written in gold.
While these historical reports applaud the heroic character of Madduma Bandara, those equally rebuff the character of his own elder brother Loku Bandara as feeble cry boy.
It is famous saying that ‘history repeats’, and therefore it is our duty to clearly identify parallel characters in modern society.
Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana is one of the mysterious characters in Sri Lankan political arena. He prefers to spend more time in Wanni jungle than in his electorate and most of his visits are secret and puzzling.
He occasionally come in front of media and states that he is concerned of killing of people due to war (He never call this as terrorism). His main endeavor in the last decade has been to distribute sirens among the Sinhala and Muslim people in so called border villages (in his own terminology) in North and Eastern provinces.
Throughout his political career, we have never seen him distributing even a club to defend the villagers from brutal attacks of tiger terrorists, nor we have ever heard him initiating the same approach (run away) in the LTTE control side.
The rational behind Dr. Jayalth’s campaign is crystal clear. It was LTTE who wanted to chase away Sinhala people who defend their home lands against the myth of Ealam and it is Jayalath Jaywardana who was co-coordinating this chase away from the south. He was very active facilitating the run away of Sinhala people when LTTE is brutally attacking the villagers.
It’s good to see that current government has completely turn this vicious agenda facilitated in south by Jayalath Jayawardana by forming new military unit named Nandimithra Balakaya that are no longer in mere defensive mood, but well capable of carrying out offensive against terrorists to defend their villages.
If modern Loku Bandara ever present in Bogambara ground, he would have cry and say;
“Malanuwani biya nowanna, duwana hati mama penwami.”
(Don’t be afraid younger brother, I will show you way to run away)
But luckily, we no longer need a trumpeter to run away, because at last we have found a true leadership to chase away the terrorists.
In the future, people of Sri Lanka will decide if they further need the service of these so called leaders only capable of facilitating fleeing, because they have finally realized that we need leaders only to march forward and defend our territory and not to run away in fear of terrorists.
(http://lankarising.blogspot.com)
Zero tolerance and the fate of victims
Much has been said recently of zero tolerance of a number key areas of concern in this country. These include on corruption, waste, extra judicial killings, abductions, child recruitment, impunity etc. Much of these are in the terrain of regaling the readers of such assertions. It though is not so funny for those who meet such excesses. Much coffee has been poured, short eats consumed, workshops organized, submissions made on these issues. However, the pesty Sunday press continues to highlight as does on some Dailies that these excesses are part and parcel of our daily diet of horrors. It has come to the point at which discerning observers believe the reports are treated with disdain and dismissed with contempt by those who are responsible. Can this though go on without some volcanic eruption surfacing? See for example rumblings by monks in Myanmar. Who would have thought it likely. The final word on which has still not been cast but predictions are we are seeing an eruption likely to lead to change of the kind Aung San Su Kyi has stood for under house arrest.
The focus today is on the debates on Child recruitment and the statement of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy. “It is also important to point out the I have engaged in dialogue for the explicit purpose of child protection with all parties, both state and non-state, whose actions have a significant impact on children. However, such dialogue, particularly with non-state actors, does not imply or confer political recognition or legitimacy of such parties.
“Although a wide range of issues and themes have been covered during the course of my visits, I have made an effort to focus more concentrated attention on four primary concerns: the recruitment and use of children as soldiers; grave sexual violence against children; the safety and access of humanitarian personnel; and rehabilitation and reintegration of children.”
Sri Lanka
“The mission’s findings revealed that the LTTE has not complied with its commitments: underage recruitments continue and several hundred children as verified by UNICEF have not yet been released. It was also ascertained that the break-away Karuna faction of the LTTE abducts children in government-controlled areas of the East, with credible evidence that certain elements of the Sri Lankan army may have aided in this practice.
In addition, humanitarian workers have been killed and NGOs threatened in an increasingly militarized environment. “Following the visit by my Special Advisor to Sri Lanka, the following commitments were made: The LTTE gave assurances that they would work with UNICEF to accelerate the release from their ranks of all children under the age of 17, with the objective of completing this process by the beginning of 2007. (Unfortunately, the LTTE did not commit to the full release of children under the age of 18 years in contravention to applicable national and international law. They also committed to better training for their military commanders in relation to recruitment, and instituting a process to discipline those who do not comply; The Karuna faction undertook to publish formal policy statements forbidding under-age recruitment and to release children who may be in their ranks. The also agreed to work with UNICEF in an effort to trace the whereabouts and arrange the release of those abducted children whose families have notified UNICEF; The Government of Sri Lanka committed to undertake an independent and credible investigation into the allegations that elements of the Sri Lankan army have aided the abduction and recruitment of children by the Karuna faction and has recently announced the formation of a Committee to Inquire into Allegations of Abductions and Recruitment of Children for use in Armed Conflict.
“The Security Council Working Group on children and armed conflict has requested that a report on progress be submitted by October 2007. The continuing violence continues to exacerbate the problems of IDP children and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
“I must also say there are some positive steps with regard to the Government. The Government has adopted and we welcome its adoption of a zero tolerance policy on child recruitment, it has also voluntarily submitted itself to the 1612 process and it has set up a Committee to investigate allegations. And there are some positive steps with regard to the LTTE as well: for the first time the numbers taken in are less than those being released but of course there are many more to be released. But the Karuna faction continues to function with impunity, much of it in the Government-controlled areas so we welcome the notion of this Committee to investigate these abductions.
There are other areas as mentioned by one of the speakers, and as you know in October this year we will be presenting a report to the Security Council Working Group, the Secretary-General will presenting the report, monitoring the six grave violations and some of those violations relate to humanitarian access and to attacks on schools and hospitals.”
The words in bold are important to the extent of the commendations, expectations and the SG’s report on ‘six grave violations’ in Sri Lanka to the WG of the Security Council.
The substance of Radhika’s comments are derived from a visit by her representative which caused quite a storm. This was before Sir John Holmes became a ‘terrorist’ and an assortment of actors found themselves being named in unflattering terms by the ‘personal’ as well the ‘official’ view points of significant personas from Sri Lanka. So what did Alan Rock her representative say when he dropped by last time around?
Recommendations
The LTTE must
(i) immediately stop all recruitment of children, defined as all persons below the age of 18.
(ii) fulfill its commitment to me to release all children in its ranks and work with UNICEF towards the return of those children to their families;
(iii) train and discipline its command ers so that they are well aware that the recruitment and deploy ment of children will not be toler ated; and
(iv) allow access to all LTTE camps by UNICEF and other international protection agencies to determine whether child recruits are present.
TMVP/Karuna must
(i) immediately stop all recruitment of children, defined as all persons below the age of 18;
(ii) fulfill its commitment to me to release all children in its ranks and work with UNICEF towards the return of those children to their families;
(iii) train and discipline its commanders so that they are well aware that the recruitment and deployment of children will not be tolerated; and
(iv) allow access to all Karuna camps by UNICEF and other international protection agencies to determine whether child recruits are present.
Government of Sri Lanka
I would respectfully recommend that the Government of Sri Lanka should
(i) immediately commence a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of complicity by Government security forces in the abduction of children by the Karuna faction in such a way that
(a) complainants and witnesses will be protected from reprisal by any party;
(b) the results of the investigation will be made public; and
(c) the population of Sri Lanka and the international community will have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the investigation;
(ii) hold accountable any and all persons that might be found to have been complicit in such abductions;
(iii) secure the release and return to their families of all children abducted by the Karuna faction;
(iv) require that the police and Government security forces thoroughly investigate all complaints of child abductions, no matter by whom they were allegedly committed, and seek to find and return the abducted children;
(v) enforce the criminal prohibition against child recruitment under existing domestic law, and enact and enforce such additional measures as may be necessary to deter and punish the abduction of children in Sri Lanka;
(vi) make every effort to enable and facilitate humanitarian access to its population; and
(vii) assess and address the welfare and security of the Sri Lankan Muslim community, and especially its children and youth.
The Working Group of the Security Council
I respectfully recommend that the Working Group propose to the Security Council that it should :
(i) consider targeted measures against LTTE to address its continuing failure or refusal to stop recruiting and deploying children; those measures might include travel bans, asset freezes and an arms embargo;
(ii) call upon Member States to assist in the application of those measures; and
(iii) consider the adoption of similar measurers in relation to TMVP/Karuna should those parties not, by the time this matter is next considered by the Working Group, implement the recommendations made in respect of them and set forth above.
The Alan Rock report if one were to read in full is candid, damning in terms of evidence of horrendous and terrible acts of omission on the part those whose task is to provide for the safety and well being of civilians particularly children.
A discerning reader who may persuse the recommendations could reasonably arrive at conclusions on whether Radhika was correct in her diplomatic utterances on the positives she has observed. Point being ‘zero tolerance ‘true or false? This column thinks it is a charade of cynical proportions of all engaged in this enterprise.
The focus today is on the debates on Child recruitment and the statement of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy. “It is also important to point out the I have engaged in dialogue for the explicit purpose of child protection with all parties, both state and non-state, whose actions have a significant impact on children. However, such dialogue, particularly with non-state actors, does not imply or confer political recognition or legitimacy of such parties.
“Although a wide range of issues and themes have been covered during the course of my visits, I have made an effort to focus more concentrated attention on four primary concerns: the recruitment and use of children as soldiers; grave sexual violence against children; the safety and access of humanitarian personnel; and rehabilitation and reintegration of children.”
Sri Lanka
“The mission’s findings revealed that the LTTE has not complied with its commitments: underage recruitments continue and several hundred children as verified by UNICEF have not yet been released. It was also ascertained that the break-away Karuna faction of the LTTE abducts children in government-controlled areas of the East, with credible evidence that certain elements of the Sri Lankan army may have aided in this practice.
In addition, humanitarian workers have been killed and NGOs threatened in an increasingly militarized environment. “Following the visit by my Special Advisor to Sri Lanka, the following commitments were made: The LTTE gave assurances that they would work with UNICEF to accelerate the release from their ranks of all children under the age of 17, with the objective of completing this process by the beginning of 2007. (Unfortunately, the LTTE did not commit to the full release of children under the age of 18 years in contravention to applicable national and international law. They also committed to better training for their military commanders in relation to recruitment, and instituting a process to discipline those who do not comply; The Karuna faction undertook to publish formal policy statements forbidding under-age recruitment and to release children who may be in their ranks. The also agreed to work with UNICEF in an effort to trace the whereabouts and arrange the release of those abducted children whose families have notified UNICEF; The Government of Sri Lanka committed to undertake an independent and credible investigation into the allegations that elements of the Sri Lankan army have aided the abduction and recruitment of children by the Karuna faction and has recently announced the formation of a Committee to Inquire into Allegations of Abductions and Recruitment of Children for use in Armed Conflict.
“The Security Council Working Group on children and armed conflict has requested that a report on progress be submitted by October 2007. The continuing violence continues to exacerbate the problems of IDP children and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
“I must also say there are some positive steps with regard to the Government. The Government has adopted and we welcome its adoption of a zero tolerance policy on child recruitment, it has also voluntarily submitted itself to the 1612 process and it has set up a Committee to investigate allegations. And there are some positive steps with regard to the LTTE as well: for the first time the numbers taken in are less than those being released but of course there are many more to be released. But the Karuna faction continues to function with impunity, much of it in the Government-controlled areas so we welcome the notion of this Committee to investigate these abductions.
There are other areas as mentioned by one of the speakers, and as you know in October this year we will be presenting a report to the Security Council Working Group, the Secretary-General will presenting the report, monitoring the six grave violations and some of those violations relate to humanitarian access and to attacks on schools and hospitals.”
The words in bold are important to the extent of the commendations, expectations and the SG’s report on ‘six grave violations’ in Sri Lanka to the WG of the Security Council.
The substance of Radhika’s comments are derived from a visit by her representative which caused quite a storm. This was before Sir John Holmes became a ‘terrorist’ and an assortment of actors found themselves being named in unflattering terms by the ‘personal’ as well the ‘official’ view points of significant personas from Sri Lanka. So what did Alan Rock her representative say when he dropped by last time around?
Recommendations
The LTTE must
(i) immediately stop all recruitment of children, defined as all persons below the age of 18.
(ii) fulfill its commitment to me to release all children in its ranks and work with UNICEF towards the return of those children to their families;
(iii) train and discipline its command ers so that they are well aware that the recruitment and deploy ment of children will not be toler ated; and
(iv) allow access to all LTTE camps by UNICEF and other international protection agencies to determine whether child recruits are present.
TMVP/Karuna must
(i) immediately stop all recruitment of children, defined as all persons below the age of 18;
(ii) fulfill its commitment to me to release all children in its ranks and work with UNICEF towards the return of those children to their families;
(iii) train and discipline its commanders so that they are well aware that the recruitment and deployment of children will not be tolerated; and
(iv) allow access to all Karuna camps by UNICEF and other international protection agencies to determine whether child recruits are present.
Government of Sri Lanka
I would respectfully recommend that the Government of Sri Lanka should
(i) immediately commence a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of complicity by Government security forces in the abduction of children by the Karuna faction in such a way that
(a) complainants and witnesses will be protected from reprisal by any party;
(b) the results of the investigation will be made public; and
(c) the population of Sri Lanka and the international community will have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the investigation;
(ii) hold accountable any and all persons that might be found to have been complicit in such abductions;
(iii) secure the release and return to their families of all children abducted by the Karuna faction;
(iv) require that the police and Government security forces thoroughly investigate all complaints of child abductions, no matter by whom they were allegedly committed, and seek to find and return the abducted children;
(v) enforce the criminal prohibition against child recruitment under existing domestic law, and enact and enforce such additional measures as may be necessary to deter and punish the abduction of children in Sri Lanka;
(vi) make every effort to enable and facilitate humanitarian access to its population; and
(vii) assess and address the welfare and security of the Sri Lankan Muslim community, and especially its children and youth.
The Working Group of the Security Council
I respectfully recommend that the Working Group propose to the Security Council that it should :
(i) consider targeted measures against LTTE to address its continuing failure or refusal to stop recruiting and deploying children; those measures might include travel bans, asset freezes and an arms embargo;
(ii) call upon Member States to assist in the application of those measures; and
(iii) consider the adoption of similar measurers in relation to TMVP/Karuna should those parties not, by the time this matter is next considered by the Working Group, implement the recommendations made in respect of them and set forth above.
The Alan Rock report if one were to read in full is candid, damning in terms of evidence of horrendous and terrible acts of omission on the part those whose task is to provide for the safety and well being of civilians particularly children.
A discerning reader who may persuse the recommendations could reasonably arrive at conclusions on whether Radhika was correct in her diplomatic utterances on the positives she has observed. Point being ‘zero tolerance ‘true or false? This column thinks it is a charade of cynical proportions of all engaged in this enterprise.
A Priest Killed by the DPU
Mannar - A Christian Priest, Fr. Nocholaspillai Packiyaraj, the Mannaar district coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was killed today when Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attackers launched a Claymore attack on his Hiace vehicle, riding on Mannaar - Pooneryn Road.
An assistant of the priest, Juliyan, was rushed to hospital with injuries. The JRS is an international Catholic organization with a mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.
Under the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government rules in Sri Lanka for last two years, it is accused of being responsible for the numerous abductions, disappearances and extrajudicial killings of civilians, including aid workers, journalists, religious leaders and intellectuals.
In early this year, a 38-year old, a priest, Nallathamby Gnanaseelan, who lead the Tamil Mission Church in Jaffna was reportedly shot and killed in an execution style by the Sri Lankan security forces in Chapel Street after he had taken his wife and daughter to hospital.
On August 20th 2006, the Allaipiddy Pastor Rev. Fr. Jim Brown and his aid Mr. Vimalathas disappeared at the Sri Lankan Navy Checkpoint. Five months have passed since they disappeared and their wellbeing and whereabouts are still unknown.
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and its armed forces (SLA) are charged by many NGOs such as ICRC, AI, HRW, UNHRC, AHRC, and TRO as the worst human rights violators and called for international monitors and sanctions against Sri Lanka.
The year 2006 and 2007 were marred by a bloody upsurge in violence throughout the island Nation with over 5,400 people killed including 44 aid workers and 10 journalists, close to 500,000 people internally displaced (IDP) while thousands of people were abducted and hundreds are missing in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
(http://www.tamileelamnews.com/news/publish/tns_8704.shtml)
An assistant of the priest, Juliyan, was rushed to hospital with injuries. The JRS is an international Catholic organization with a mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.
Under the President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government rules in Sri Lanka for last two years, it is accused of being responsible for the numerous abductions, disappearances and extrajudicial killings of civilians, including aid workers, journalists, religious leaders and intellectuals.
In early this year, a 38-year old, a priest, Nallathamby Gnanaseelan, who lead the Tamil Mission Church in Jaffna was reportedly shot and killed in an execution style by the Sri Lankan security forces in Chapel Street after he had taken his wife and daughter to hospital.
On August 20th 2006, the Allaipiddy Pastor Rev. Fr. Jim Brown and his aid Mr. Vimalathas disappeared at the Sri Lankan Navy Checkpoint. Five months have passed since they disappeared and their wellbeing and whereabouts are still unknown.
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and its armed forces (SLA) are charged by many NGOs such as ICRC, AI, HRW, UNHRC, AHRC, and TRO as the worst human rights violators and called for international monitors and sanctions against Sri Lanka.
The year 2006 and 2007 were marred by a bloody upsurge in violence throughout the island Nation with over 5,400 people killed including 44 aid workers and 10 journalists, close to 500,000 people internally displaced (IDP) while thousands of people were abducted and hundreds are missing in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
(http://www.tamileelamnews.com/news/publish/tns_8704.shtml)
LTTE contracts underworld to kill Prisons Chief
TID to question LTTE suspects, prison guards
After the discovery of a 200 metre long tunnel from Kalutara Prison to the Kaluganga, a police probe has revealed of a plot by the LTTE to assassinate the Commissioner General of Prisons Major General Vajira Wijegunawardane by contracting the underworld
A top official of the Terrorists Investigations Department (TID), who is investigating both the discovery of the tunnel and the murder contract confirmed to the Daily Mirror the LTTE had given a 2.5 million rupee contract to kill the former top military officer.
“Already five lakhs had been given to a Colombo based notorious underworld figure to carry out the assassination,” he said. The TID is to question 53 LTTE suspects who were earlier at the Kalutara prison as well as 170 prison officials in connection with the discovery of the tunnel.
He also said that last week, the TID informed the Commissioner General of Prisons about the latest threat. Information that the LTTE is planning to kill Major General Wijegunawardane is what led the police to conduct a search in the Kalutara Prisons area leading to the discovery of the secret tunnel.
Meanwhile, special police teams are working round the clock to arrest the underworld figures, who had been given the contract to kill Major General Wijegunawardane. They also said that so far police were able to gather important information about the assassination attempt.
The discovery of a tunnel last week at the Kalutara prison, believed to have been dug by LTTE detainees has led to more startling revelations and investigators are now pointing fingers at some prison officials who are believed to have been directly involved in the attempted prison break out.
Investigations suggest that large sums of money could have been offered to the prison officials to ensure that some guards were not permitted to visit the particular cell from where the inmates planned their daring escape before they were transferred to another prison. It has now been revealed that the LTTE had managed to smuggle blunt implements, baskets and fertilizer bags into the cell with the assistance of some prisons officials.
In scenes reminiscent of the TV series ‘Prison Break’ officials of the Kalutara Prison on Horana Road discovered the nearly 200 metre long tunnel, complete with electqicity for lighting, leading towards the Kalu Ganga, dug by Tiger suspects in custody over a period of one year.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/news/06.asp)
After the discovery of a 200 metre long tunnel from Kalutara Prison to the Kaluganga, a police probe has revealed of a plot by the LTTE to assassinate the Commissioner General of Prisons Major General Vajira Wijegunawardane by contracting the underworld
A top official of the Terrorists Investigations Department (TID), who is investigating both the discovery of the tunnel and the murder contract confirmed to the Daily Mirror the LTTE had given a 2.5 million rupee contract to kill the former top military officer.
“Already five lakhs had been given to a Colombo based notorious underworld figure to carry out the assassination,” he said. The TID is to question 53 LTTE suspects who were earlier at the Kalutara prison as well as 170 prison officials in connection with the discovery of the tunnel.
He also said that last week, the TID informed the Commissioner General of Prisons about the latest threat. Information that the LTTE is planning to kill Major General Wijegunawardane is what led the police to conduct a search in the Kalutara Prisons area leading to the discovery of the secret tunnel.
Meanwhile, special police teams are working round the clock to arrest the underworld figures, who had been given the contract to kill Major General Wijegunawardane. They also said that so far police were able to gather important information about the assassination attempt.
The discovery of a tunnel last week at the Kalutara prison, believed to have been dug by LTTE detainees has led to more startling revelations and investigators are now pointing fingers at some prison officials who are believed to have been directly involved in the attempted prison break out.
Investigations suggest that large sums of money could have been offered to the prison officials to ensure that some guards were not permitted to visit the particular cell from where the inmates planned their daring escape before they were transferred to another prison. It has now been revealed that the LTTE had managed to smuggle blunt implements, baskets and fertilizer bags into the cell with the assistance of some prisons officials.
In scenes reminiscent of the TV series ‘Prison Break’ officials of the Kalutara Prison on Horana Road discovered the nearly 200 metre long tunnel, complete with electqicity for lighting, leading towards the Kalu Ganga, dug by Tiger suspects in custody over a period of one year.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/news/06.asp)
The price and addiction of war too high
Sri Lanka is missing out on a great development opportunity in Tourism
When the creator designed the world he gave some countries a dollop of oil. Others got gold and silver and mineral deposits and to some he gave great scenic beauty. Every country to make its people progressively better off has to develop the natural resources it has inherited. We got great scenic beauty. A country like no other as we say in some tourist brochures. Sadly we have been able to gain only a small fraction of the potential. What the creator gave lies undeveloped and generates a mix of anger and sadness. To get the missed opportunity into a realistic perspective we should look at what some other countries who got the same goodies of great scenic beauty have done to exploit the opportunity. A good comparison is Thailand. They got the same cocktail of sandy beaches temples, ancient civilisations beautiful green countryside and friendly people. Our cocktail is more accessible, as the distances between our attractions are shorter. We are arguably ahead of Thailand as a destination.
The Sri Lankan experience
“Sri Lanka’s tourism industry a casualty of the civil conflict could become a principal beneficiary of a sustained peace. After facing promising prospects in the 1970’s, with yearly growth in tourist arrivals surpassing 20%, tourism collapsed with the onset of the civil conflict.”(source ADB) In 1982 tourist arrivals were a little above 400,000. “And while Sri Lanka drew about half a million tourist arrivals in 2003 Malaysia had reached 10 million in 2000 and Thailand the same number in 2001-even though all three countries had started from a similar base in the 1970’s.” source ADB
The sad story continued and in 2006 tourist arrivals we claimed were 559000. (This number is an exaggeration as it includes all foreign passport holders who came and this will include Sri Lankans, NGO’s and other non tourist visitors) Our foreign exchange earnings were 410 million US dollars.
The story in Thailand
In 2005 tourist arrivals were 11.6 million. This meant they had 20 times the number that visited Sri Lanka.
Thailand earned 9.2 Billion US dollars from tourism in 2005.This was 22times what Sri Lanka earned in 2006.Thailand’s earnings from Tourism WAS GREATER than Sri Lanka’s total exports which were 7.2 Billion Us dollars in 2006!
The Thai experience relates an interesting story. They offer tourists a very similar mix of attractions. This basket of sights as a destination attracted visitors from all over the world. It is by no means a destination mainly oriented to Western Europe. The number of visitors from East Asia was more than double the number from Europe. The visitors from the Americas was nearly double the total number of tourists to Sri Lanka What all this means is that we have a great hand as a destination, as what we have to offer is relevant to people in all parts of the world.
It was war that ruined it all
Our pattern of arrivals over the years is like a temperature chart of a patient who every time he gets better has a relapse and gets worse. Every time the civil conflict scenario deteriorated the arrivals declined. This sensitivity to conflict was demonstrated this year in Thailand. The political turmoil in that country resulted in a massive 15% decline in tourist arrivals in the first 8 months of this year.
The ganja of war
Sri Lanka has suffered from the ganja of war. War is addictive like ganja. Prabhakaran is addicted to it, after all these years it has to be obvious to him that he cannot establish a separate state through war. But he cannot give it up even though this addiction is causing huge hardships to the people in the North. Like all addicts they are blinded to the path and suffering inflicted on others.We also have addicts to the ganja of war in the south. They too are oblivious to the damage caused by war. The combination of these two groups of addicts to the ganja of war has materially harmed the growth and development of this country. A major casualty is tourism a goose that that can lay the golden eggs. It is now being slowly strangled to death.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/feat/05.asp)
When the creator designed the world he gave some countries a dollop of oil. Others got gold and silver and mineral deposits and to some he gave great scenic beauty. Every country to make its people progressively better off has to develop the natural resources it has inherited. We got great scenic beauty. A country like no other as we say in some tourist brochures. Sadly we have been able to gain only a small fraction of the potential. What the creator gave lies undeveloped and generates a mix of anger and sadness. To get the missed opportunity into a realistic perspective we should look at what some other countries who got the same goodies of great scenic beauty have done to exploit the opportunity. A good comparison is Thailand. They got the same cocktail of sandy beaches temples, ancient civilisations beautiful green countryside and friendly people. Our cocktail is more accessible, as the distances between our attractions are shorter. We are arguably ahead of Thailand as a destination.
The Sri Lankan experience
“Sri Lanka’s tourism industry a casualty of the civil conflict could become a principal beneficiary of a sustained peace. After facing promising prospects in the 1970’s, with yearly growth in tourist arrivals surpassing 20%, tourism collapsed with the onset of the civil conflict.”(source ADB) In 1982 tourist arrivals were a little above 400,000. “And while Sri Lanka drew about half a million tourist arrivals in 2003 Malaysia had reached 10 million in 2000 and Thailand the same number in 2001-even though all three countries had started from a similar base in the 1970’s.” source ADB
The sad story continued and in 2006 tourist arrivals we claimed were 559000. (This number is an exaggeration as it includes all foreign passport holders who came and this will include Sri Lankans, NGO’s and other non tourist visitors) Our foreign exchange earnings were 410 million US dollars.
The story in Thailand
In 2005 tourist arrivals were 11.6 million. This meant they had 20 times the number that visited Sri Lanka.
Thailand earned 9.2 Billion US dollars from tourism in 2005.This was 22times what Sri Lanka earned in 2006.Thailand’s earnings from Tourism WAS GREATER than Sri Lanka’s total exports which were 7.2 Billion Us dollars in 2006!
The Thai experience relates an interesting story. They offer tourists a very similar mix of attractions. This basket of sights as a destination attracted visitors from all over the world. It is by no means a destination mainly oriented to Western Europe. The number of visitors from East Asia was more than double the number from Europe. The visitors from the Americas was nearly double the total number of tourists to Sri Lanka What all this means is that we have a great hand as a destination, as what we have to offer is relevant to people in all parts of the world.
It was war that ruined it all
Our pattern of arrivals over the years is like a temperature chart of a patient who every time he gets better has a relapse and gets worse. Every time the civil conflict scenario deteriorated the arrivals declined. This sensitivity to conflict was demonstrated this year in Thailand. The political turmoil in that country resulted in a massive 15% decline in tourist arrivals in the first 8 months of this year.
The ganja of war
Sri Lanka has suffered from the ganja of war. War is addictive like ganja. Prabhakaran is addicted to it, after all these years it has to be obvious to him that he cannot establish a separate state through war. But he cannot give it up even though this addiction is causing huge hardships to the people in the North. Like all addicts they are blinded to the path and suffering inflicted on others.We also have addicts to the ganja of war in the south. They too are oblivious to the damage caused by war. The combination of these two groups of addicts to the ganja of war has materially harmed the growth and development of this country. A major casualty is tourism a goose that that can lay the golden eggs. It is now being slowly strangled to death.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/feat/05.asp)
Army captures LTTE’s FDL near Yodha Wewa
The Military on Monday captured the LTTE’s first Forward Defence Lines on the western side of the Yodha Wewa (Giant Tank) in the north of Mannar, in a fresh military operation launched on Sunday to capture the area, military sources said.
They said that on Monday itself the military was able to kill more than 20 LTTE cadres and injure nearly 40. Clashes erupted between the advancing military and the LTTE on Monday on the west of the Yodha Wewa ( Giant Tank).
“During the clashes four soldiers succumbed to injuries while nearly 20 LTTE cadres were killed and 36 injured,” a military official said. He also said that the military established through LTTE radio transmission intercepts that a vehicle belonging to the terrorists had been completely destroyed during the clash.The official also said that there were heavy exchanges of artillery and mortar fire between the two parties for several hours.With the outbreak of fighting people in the area have started to flee and seek refuge at nearby churches and schools. “Only a few families moved from the area,” the official however said.Meanwhile, the LTTE said on Monday that they had thwarted military attempts to infiltrate into areas under their control . “After nine hours of stiff fighting, the Army troops were pushed back to their positions with heavy causalities,” the Tamilnet said quoting an LTTE spokesman.
He said that six Tigers were killed during the fighting.He also said, that the military casualties were airlifted from the battle field in Sri Lanka Air Force helicopters.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/news/03.asp)
EU defers resolution against Lanka
AI calls for special UNHRC session after Arbour visit
The European Union has decided to defer a resolution against Sri Lanka, an EU diplomat in Geneva told the Daily Mirror even as human rights groups, on Monday asserted that the situation in Sri Lanka had deteriorated to serious levels.
Speaking on condition of anonymity the diplomat said the EU, which under the presidency of Portugal, was contemplating putting forward a resolution against Sri Lanka both at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the EU Parliament in Brussels had decided to defer the move until the upcoming Lankan visit of Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour.
“The EU has decided to wait till the end of her visit next month and see the outcome before deciding on the next move,” the diplomat said. On at least three earlier occasions in the past two years the EU deferred similar resolutions against Sri Lanka following intense lobbying by the government.
The New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) presented a report to the EU Parliament and the UNHRC
in Geneva on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and subsequently the government carried out its own lobbying by presenting a report to EU countries on the efforts taken to deal with human rights concerns. Meanwhile addressing the UNHRC on Monday Amnesty International representative Peter Splinter urged the council to have a special session following the visit of Ms. Arbour to Sri Lanka early next month adding the government's denial of the gravity of the situation had not helped improve it.
“The special session will allow it to receive and discuss an urgently needed comprehensive assessment of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and explore measures that can assist the Government in improving that situation,” he said.
The AI said the severity of the violations and abuses requires that the Government address in the Council itself the need for investigations, prosecutions and other practical measures to end those violations and abuses.
Meanwhile Lukas Machon, of the International Commission of Jurists, also speaking at the session on Monday, said renewed violations by security forces and serious abuses by the LTTE demanded insistent condemnation and that the Human Rights Council should pressurize the Government to agree to establish a human rights presence.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/front/01.asp)
The European Union has decided to defer a resolution against Sri Lanka, an EU diplomat in Geneva told the Daily Mirror even as human rights groups, on Monday asserted that the situation in Sri Lanka had deteriorated to serious levels.
Speaking on condition of anonymity the diplomat said the EU, which under the presidency of Portugal, was contemplating putting forward a resolution against Sri Lanka both at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the EU Parliament in Brussels had decided to defer the move until the upcoming Lankan visit of Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour.
“The EU has decided to wait till the end of her visit next month and see the outcome before deciding on the next move,” the diplomat said. On at least three earlier occasions in the past two years the EU deferred similar resolutions against Sri Lanka following intense lobbying by the government.
The New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) presented a report to the EU Parliament and the UNHRC
in Geneva on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and subsequently the government carried out its own lobbying by presenting a report to EU countries on the efforts taken to deal with human rights concerns. Meanwhile addressing the UNHRC on Monday Amnesty International representative Peter Splinter urged the council to have a special session following the visit of Ms. Arbour to Sri Lanka early next month adding the government's denial of the gravity of the situation had not helped improve it.
“The special session will allow it to receive and discuss an urgently needed comprehensive assessment of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and explore measures that can assist the Government in improving that situation,” he said.
The AI said the severity of the violations and abuses requires that the Government address in the Council itself the need for investigations, prosecutions and other practical measures to end those violations and abuses.
Meanwhile Lukas Machon, of the International Commission of Jurists, also speaking at the session on Monday, said renewed violations by security forces and serious abuses by the LTTE demanded insistent condemnation and that the Human Rights Council should pressurize the Government to agree to establish a human rights presence.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/front/01.asp)
Govt. team and NGOs in war of words in Geneva
A government delegation attending the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva was involved in a heated debate with NGOs and human rights groups at a briefing organized by the Sri Lankan mission in Geneva on Monday, sources who attended the session told the Daily Mirror.
The debate erupted between Tamil Centre for Human Rights General Secretary S. V. Kirubaharan and Minister G. L. Peiris when Prof. Peiris insisted that the Interim Self-Governing Administration (ISGA) presented by the LTTE in 2003 was purely focused on self rule.
Mr. Kirubaharan recalled the LTTE was ready to discuss the proposal together with a government proposal with the government peace team which was led by Minister Peiris at that time. The government peace team at the time, including Minister Peiris, had acknowledged that the way forward lay through direct discussions of the issues arising from both sets of proposals, Mr. Kirubaharan said.
During the debate the government team was described by the panelists as a ruthless terrorist organization and the worst in the world. Mr. Kirubaharan questioned the panelists if that were the case why was it that America, the EU and the other Co-chairs were insisting on negotiating with the LTTE.
Geneva’s Sri Lankan Ambassador Dayan Jayatilake responded saying it was the views of the Co- Chairs and did not necessarily reflect the views of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.
A similar heated exchange of words erupted between the government delegation and human rights groups at the UNHRC last week as well as the government attempted to clear what it termed were misrepresentations made about the situation in Sri Lanka.
The most heated arguments took place during the session, titled ‘Misrepresentations of Sri Lanka: A Briefing on Human Rights’, between an HRW representative and government peace secretariat chief Rajiva Wijesinha.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/front/02.asp)
The debate erupted between Tamil Centre for Human Rights General Secretary S. V. Kirubaharan and Minister G. L. Peiris when Prof. Peiris insisted that the Interim Self-Governing Administration (ISGA) presented by the LTTE in 2003 was purely focused on self rule.
Mr. Kirubaharan recalled the LTTE was ready to discuss the proposal together with a government proposal with the government peace team which was led by Minister Peiris at that time. The government peace team at the time, including Minister Peiris, had acknowledged that the way forward lay through direct discussions of the issues arising from both sets of proposals, Mr. Kirubaharan said.
During the debate the government team was described by the panelists as a ruthless terrorist organization and the worst in the world. Mr. Kirubaharan questioned the panelists if that were the case why was it that America, the EU and the other Co-chairs were insisting on negotiating with the LTTE.
Geneva’s Sri Lankan Ambassador Dayan Jayatilake responded saying it was the views of the Co- Chairs and did not necessarily reflect the views of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.
A similar heated exchange of words erupted between the government delegation and human rights groups at the UNHRC last week as well as the government attempted to clear what it termed were misrepresentations made about the situation in Sri Lanka.
The most heated arguments took place during the session, titled ‘Misrepresentations of Sri Lanka: A Briefing on Human Rights’, between an HRW representative and government peace secretariat chief Rajiva Wijesinha.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/front/02.asp)
Karuna flees to Britain?
Former LTTE eastern commander Karuna Amman has fled to Britain, well informed sources told the Daily Mirror adding that it followed the escalation of the split within the Karuna faction also known as the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP).
Amman had reportedly fled around four days ago after receiving his visa from Colombo and is now with his family who have been in Britain for more than a year, the source said. His mobile phone is however on roaming for him to be in contact with his close associates in Sri Lanka.
The Daily Mirror learns that financial irregularities within the TMVP which resulted in the split forced Amman to flee the country until the situation was resolved. More cadres loyal to Amman are said to have offered allegiance to Pillayan who moved to Trincomalee from Batticaloa together with more than 100 cadres earlier this year resulting in both sides carrying out tit for tat killings which still continues. Some Pillayan cadres have now infiltrated Batticaloa, sources said.
Besides this development, there was also pressure from government circles with persistent allegations being levelled against the TMVP over intimidation and harassment of Tamil political parties operating in the East including the EPDP led by Minister Dauglas Devananda.
However when contacted by the Daily Mirror TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana, who himself was not contactable for several months following the reported split within the TMVP, dismissed reports of Karuna fleeing the country and declined to comment further on the issue.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/front/04.asp)
Amman had reportedly fled around four days ago after receiving his visa from Colombo and is now with his family who have been in Britain for more than a year, the source said. His mobile phone is however on roaming for him to be in contact with his close associates in Sri Lanka.
The Daily Mirror learns that financial irregularities within the TMVP which resulted in the split forced Amman to flee the country until the situation was resolved. More cadres loyal to Amman are said to have offered allegiance to Pillayan who moved to Trincomalee from Batticaloa together with more than 100 cadres earlier this year resulting in both sides carrying out tit for tat killings which still continues. Some Pillayan cadres have now infiltrated Batticaloa, sources said.
Besides this development, there was also pressure from government circles with persistent allegations being levelled against the TMVP over intimidation and harassment of Tamil political parties operating in the East including the EPDP led by Minister Dauglas Devananda.
However when contacted by the Daily Mirror TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana, who himself was not contactable for several months following the reported split within the TMVP, dismissed reports of Karuna fleeing the country and declined to comment further on the issue.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/26/front/04.asp)
Tamil Tigers call for international pressure on Sri Lanka
Tamil Tiger guerrillas called Tuesday for international pressure to be cranked up to force the Sri Lankan government to halt military operations and return to peace negotiations.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly referred to as the Tamil Tigers, accused Colombo in a statement of pursuing a military campaign and committing human rights abuses.
The timing of the statement was intended to coincide with President Mahinda Rajapakse's address to the United Nations in New York later Tuesday.
The LTTE wants the international community to push the Colombo administration to honour a 2002 ceasefire arranged by peace broker Norway. The truce is in tatters after an escalation of fighting since December 2005.
"Whereas the LTTE continued to respect and urge for a full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the Rajapakse regime eventually embarked on its war of occupation," the LTTE said.
"The government of Sri Lanka must end its deceptions, halt its military oppression, ethnic cleansing, and serious human rights violations, accept the aspirations of the Tamil people and come forward to find a resolution that is based on the right to self-determination of the Tamil people," the statement said.
"The international community must rein in the government of Sri Lanka to bring it in line."
It added military operations by Sri Lankan forces continued in the island's north and east, but said that the LTTE "continued to restrain itself, confining only to defensive operations."
The statement came a day after the Sri Lankan military said that at least 27 people, including 23 rebels, were killed in clashes over the weekend.
The fighting came despite an offer Sunday by the government's top defence official to halt military action in exchange for a resumption of peace talks, which stalled last October.
Troops would not go on the offensive if Tamil rebels agreed to talks, defence ministry secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told a newspaper amid pressure from the island's key foreign backers to halt the carnage.
Rights groups accuse the government and Tamil rebels of extra-judicial killings and scores of disappearances of civilians and political activists.
More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's long-running Tamil separatist campaign.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070925/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrestuneutigers_
070925050804&printer=1;_ylt=At7Vvt_FCftUq3nHfdO6AOfuOrgF)
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly referred to as the Tamil Tigers, accused Colombo in a statement of pursuing a military campaign and committing human rights abuses.
The timing of the statement was intended to coincide with President Mahinda Rajapakse's address to the United Nations in New York later Tuesday.
The LTTE wants the international community to push the Colombo administration to honour a 2002 ceasefire arranged by peace broker Norway. The truce is in tatters after an escalation of fighting since December 2005.
"Whereas the LTTE continued to respect and urge for a full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the Rajapakse regime eventually embarked on its war of occupation," the LTTE said.
"The government of Sri Lanka must end its deceptions, halt its military oppression, ethnic cleansing, and serious human rights violations, accept the aspirations of the Tamil people and come forward to find a resolution that is based on the right to self-determination of the Tamil people," the statement said.
"The international community must rein in the government of Sri Lanka to bring it in line."
It added military operations by Sri Lankan forces continued in the island's north and east, but said that the LTTE "continued to restrain itself, confining only to defensive operations."
The statement came a day after the Sri Lankan military said that at least 27 people, including 23 rebels, were killed in clashes over the weekend.
The fighting came despite an offer Sunday by the government's top defence official to halt military action in exchange for a resumption of peace talks, which stalled last October.
Troops would not go on the offensive if Tamil rebels agreed to talks, defence ministry secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told a newspaper amid pressure from the island's key foreign backers to halt the carnage.
Rights groups accuse the government and Tamil rebels of extra-judicial killings and scores of disappearances of civilians and political activists.
More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's long-running Tamil separatist campaign.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070925/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrestuneutigers_
070925050804&printer=1;_ylt=At7Vvt_FCftUq3nHfdO6AOfuOrgF)
Sri Lanka violence leaves 16 more dead
Sixteen people were killed and 39 others injured as security forces clashed with Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka's embattled north and east, the two sides reported.
Four soldiers died in the northern district of Mannar early Tuesday when the rebels tried to breach a security line, the military said placing guerrilla losses at nine killed and 36 injured.
A road-side bomb killed a university lecturer and a civil servant in the northern district of Jaffna also on Tuesday, the defence ministry said blaming the attack on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The ministry said the rebels had targeted soldiers on foot patrol. Three soldiers escaped with injuries while the two civilians died in the blast.
And a farmer was shot dead by unknown gunmen late Monday in the eastern town of Akkaraipattu, the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said.
More than 60,000 people have died since the LTTE launched a military campaign for an independent state for minority Tamils in 1972.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070925/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunresttoll_
070925152631&printer=1;_ylt=At7Vvt_FCftUq3nHfdO6AOfuOrgF)
Four soldiers died in the northern district of Mannar early Tuesday when the rebels tried to breach a security line, the military said placing guerrilla losses at nine killed and 36 injured.
A road-side bomb killed a university lecturer and a civil servant in the northern district of Jaffna also on Tuesday, the defence ministry said blaming the attack on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The ministry said the rebels had targeted soldiers on foot patrol. Three soldiers escaped with injuries while the two civilians died in the blast.
And a farmer was shot dead by unknown gunmen late Monday in the eastern town of Akkaraipattu, the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said.
More than 60,000 people have died since the LTTE launched a military campaign for an independent state for minority Tamils in 1972.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070925/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunresttoll_
070925152631&printer=1;_ylt=At7Vvt_FCftUq3nHfdO6AOfuOrgF)
Monday, September 24, 2007
Operation in Mannar
The Army launched a limited-scale offensive utilizing the 58th Division on Monday. Small teams of infantry, also comprising Commandos, have advanced between 800 meters to one kilometer into enemy areas and have captured an LTTE bunker-line. The Army has so far recovered 13 bodies of LTTE cadres. Casualty figures of the troops stood at 20 wounded and 2 killed as of today. The operation is still continuing left of the Yoda Wewa in the area between Uylankulam and Vankalai. LTTE has deployed an assortment of troops to counter the offensive including the 'Soothiya Regiment' comprising around 150 female cadres.
(http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2007/09/operation-in-mannar.html)
(http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2007/09/operation-in-mannar.html)
Sri Lanka battles claim 27 lives: military
Heavy fighting between security forces and Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka has left at least 27 people dead, military officials said.
The LTTE lost at least 20 men in pre-dawn clashes Monday on the Jaffna peninsula, according to the defence ministry. Another three Tigers were killed in the Wanni region further south, it added.
Government troops were attempting to break into territory in Wanni where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) run a mini-state.
The fighting also left two security personnel, including an officer, dead and 30 soldiers wounded on Sunday. Another two were killed and 15 wounded in Jaffna early Monday, officials said.
There was no immediate word from the LTTE about its losses, which could not be confirmed independently.
The pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said both sides traded artillery fire in the Mannar district, part of the Wanni region.
"The Sri Lanka army had suffered casualties in a ground operation launched Sunday in Thampanai area (in the Wanni)," Tamilnet said without elaborating.
The clashes came after the government's top defence official offered Sunday to halt military action in exchange for a resumption of peace talks stalled since last October.
Troops would not press ahead with an offensive if Tamil rebels agreed to talks, defence ministry secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told a newspaper amid pressure from the island's key foreign backers to halt the carnage.
"The decision (of war or peace) is theirs and I believe they wouldn't reject this opportunity," Rajapakse told the Sunday Island newspaper.
"We'll not take advantage of the ground situation," if the Tiger rebels agree to negotiate.
Rajapakse, who is also the president's younger brother, made the comments after the United States urged Colombo to abandon a military drive.
There has been no reaction from the Tigers to Rajapakse's offer of talks.
The ethnic conflict, in which the rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority on the Sinhalese majority island, has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070924/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrest_
070924111849&printer=1;_ylt=AixdTkHqG488Ejl5ldb6jTDuOrgF)
The LTTE lost at least 20 men in pre-dawn clashes Monday on the Jaffna peninsula, according to the defence ministry. Another three Tigers were killed in the Wanni region further south, it added.
Government troops were attempting to break into territory in Wanni where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) run a mini-state.
The fighting also left two security personnel, including an officer, dead and 30 soldiers wounded on Sunday. Another two were killed and 15 wounded in Jaffna early Monday, officials said.
There was no immediate word from the LTTE about its losses, which could not be confirmed independently.
The pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said both sides traded artillery fire in the Mannar district, part of the Wanni region.
"The Sri Lanka army had suffered casualties in a ground operation launched Sunday in Thampanai area (in the Wanni)," Tamilnet said without elaborating.
The clashes came after the government's top defence official offered Sunday to halt military action in exchange for a resumption of peace talks stalled since last October.
Troops would not press ahead with an offensive if Tamil rebels agreed to talks, defence ministry secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told a newspaper amid pressure from the island's key foreign backers to halt the carnage.
"The decision (of war or peace) is theirs and I believe they wouldn't reject this opportunity," Rajapakse told the Sunday Island newspaper.
"We'll not take advantage of the ground situation," if the Tiger rebels agree to negotiate.
Rajapakse, who is also the president's younger brother, made the comments after the United States urged Colombo to abandon a military drive.
There has been no reaction from the Tigers to Rajapakse's offer of talks.
The ethnic conflict, in which the rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority on the Sinhalese majority island, has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070924/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrest_
070924111849&printer=1;_ylt=AixdTkHqG488Ejl5ldb6jTDuOrgF)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Under fire Sri Lanka offers olive branch to Tamil Tigers
Sri Lankan security forces at Silavattura, an area captured from Tamil Tiger guerrillas. Sri Lanka offered to halt major military operations against Tamil separatists in exchange for peace talks following intense international censure.
Sri Lanka offered Sunday to halt major military operations against Tamil separatists in exchange for peace talks following intense international censure.
The military will not press ahead with a ground offensive if the Tigers agree to talk, Defence Ministry secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told a newspaper.
The country's top defence official said it was now up to the Tigers to decide if the military should keep up the offensive and urged them to resume peace negotiations which collapsed in October last year.
"The decision (of war or peace) is theirs and I believe they wouldn't reject this opportunity," Rajapakse told the Sunday Island. "We'll not take advantage of the ground situation," if the Tigers agree to negotiate.
Rajapakse, who is also the president's younger brother, made the comments after the island's key international backers led by the United States warned Colombo against pressing ahead with a military drive.
The surprise olive branch came just days after the defence secretary had vowed to crush the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Rajapakse had on Monday called for stepped up military action to finish off the rebels, which prompted the US ambassador to Sri Lanka to warn there was no military solution to long-running separatist conflict.
Ambassador Robert Blake's remarks came as the Sri Lankan government battled to avoid formal censure at the United Nations Human Rights Council which is reviewing the island's deteriorating rights record in Geneva.
Diplomats said Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse could also face tough questioning during his current visit to New York to address the UN general assembly.
The LTTE has been fighting for a separate state since 1972. More than 5,400 people have been killed in a new wave of fighting since December 2005, when a Norwegian-brokered truce began to unravel.
(http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8184198)
LTTE's Vishwamadu base hit hard
Sri lanka air force (SLAF) fighter jets carried out consecutive air strikes on LTTE's Vishwamadhu base yesterday (21st) and today (22nd). Initial bombing run was performed at 12.15pm yesterday and the base was hit again by SLAF bombers today at around 7.00 am. The second air strike targeted the LTTE cadres who were engaged in recovering usable items from areas targeted in the first raid. As with most air strikes, LTTE casualty details cannot be confirmed as of now.
Vishwamadhu base was frequently used by LTTE's Imran regiment. Several of their ammunition and fuel dumps were said to be located inside the base premises. UAV footage shows secondary explosions after the initial bombing run which suggest that at least one of the ammo or fuel dumps was hit.
Imran-Pandiyan is regarded as one of the most powerful fighting formations within the LTTE. This unit, along with Charles Anthony brigade, has not been used in any major battle since the 2002 CFA. The tigers seem to be keeping their two most experienced brigades in reserve. LTTE is most likely to use these brigades to defend Wanni from a possible army invasion but the possibility of these units being deployed in a major LTTE offensive to recapture Jaffna peninsula cannot be overruled either.
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/256719/forest-path)
Vishwamadhu base was frequently used by LTTE's Imran regiment. Several of their ammunition and fuel dumps were said to be located inside the base premises. UAV footage shows secondary explosions after the initial bombing run which suggest that at least one of the ammo or fuel dumps was hit.
Imran-Pandiyan is regarded as one of the most powerful fighting formations within the LTTE. This unit, along with Charles Anthony brigade, has not been used in any major battle since the 2002 CFA. The tigers seem to be keeping their two most experienced brigades in reserve. LTTE is most likely to use these brigades to defend Wanni from a possible army invasion but the possibility of these units being deployed in a major LTTE offensive to recapture Jaffna peninsula cannot be overruled either.
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/256719/forest-path)
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Full-scale war imminent on the northern front
If anyone thought that military operations were intended to pressurise the LTTE into coming to the negotiating table, such illusions were effectively dispelled by the Defence Secretary’s frank disclosure. It is no longer a case of bringing the LTTE to the negotiating table through military means for a political settlement. It is now a case of destroying or diminishing the LTTE as a pre-requisite for a political solution
It’s ‘unofficially’ official now! Three things are certain.
There’s going to be a big war in the Northern Province against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
There will be no let up until the objective of vanquishing the Tigers is achieved. Even if it is not feasible, an ongoing relentless attempt will be made.
There won’t be any political solution until and unless the military goal of eradicating ‘terrorism’ (read LTTE) is fulfilled.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emphasised the above three points unambiguously at Trincomalee last week. The occasion was the felicitation ceremony for the navy for reportedly destroying three ships, allegedly carrying arms for the LTTE.
The Defence Secretary’s elder sibling, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also present as Gotabhaya stated these views but maintained silence, indicating tacit consent. The fact that the Defence Secretary stated so in the presence of the Head of State, Head of Government and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces shows that the sentiments expressed were an ‘officially sanctioned unofficial policy declaration.’ So it’s unofficially official.
Calling the shots
It is also crystal clear now who calls the shots literally and metaphorically as far as war and peace is concerned. Mahinda Samarasinghe may say one thing and Rohitha Bogollagama another, but effective decisions are made and articulated elsewhere. The Minister who repeats these more lucidly than any other of his colleagues is Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.
It was only a few weeks ago that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa spoke forthrightly at a passing out parade about a proposed military advance into the LTTE held areas of the north. This was emphatically denied by some Cabinet ministers but within days the Musali region of Mannar District was taken over in a surprise manoeuvre.
If anyone thought that military operations were intended to pressurise the LTTE into coming to the negotiating table, such illusions were effectively dispelled by the Defence Secretary’s frank disclosure.
It is no longer a case of bringing the LTTE to the negotiating table through military means for a political settlement. It is now a case of destroying or diminishing the LTTE as a pre-requisite for a political solution.
There is a saying about an army marching on its stomach. The cost conscious sections of society might be appalled by the economic consequences of prosecuting a prolonged war. But Gotabhaya Rajapaksa thinks otherwise. “We cannot establish permanent peace in the country by winning only half or two-thirds of the war against terrorism,” he said in Trincomalee.
The Defence Secretary also said “President Rajapaksa cannot implement the desired political solution to the north and east conflict unless LTTE terrorism is defeated 100 percent.”
Defence Secretary’s stance
He said that President Rajapaksa, amidst the economic constraints the country is facing, has given all that is required for the security forces and the police to achieve their task of defeating LTTE terrorism.
On another occasion the Defence Secretary’s erstwhile Commanding Officer and present Army Commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka was posed a question by a media person about the impact of the escalating war on the economy. “It is better to have a bankrupt country than half a country,” was the answer.
This then sums up the military mood. The military option against the LTTE will be pursued relentlessly and diligently regardless of economic or any other consequences. The defence establishment has scented blood. It wants to go in for what it perceives to be an easy kill.
The Bard of Avon wrote of a ‘tide in the affairs of men.’ The defence establishment feels that the security forces are riding the crest of a victorious anti-Tiger wave. The wave has to be ridden until the LTTE is engulfed, it is felt.
There is a frenzy of populist euphoria in the air. It is a combination of the natural and artificial, spontaneous and contrived, real and imaginary. But it is there.
It was Talleyrand I think who warned that “war is too serious a matter to be left in the hands of generals.” But currently in Sri Lanka, that is exactly what is happening. The military and defence hierarchy runs the war and makes policy. The political establishment falls in line.
Some might say this is not healthy for a country but there are few takers for this in the upper echelons of the government. A feeble opposition with an unimaginative leadership is hopelessly unable or unwilling to check this militarisation of the government. Arguably, a national security state is in formation.
Puzzling conduct
The behaviour and conduct of the LTTE in recent times has been, at best, puzzling. The seeming helplessness of the LTTE in the face of Colombo’s military juggernaut has contributed to this new found confidence and determination on the part of the security establishment.
The LTTE is primarily a militant movement fighting for the goal of national liberation. The government depicts it as terrorist while the LTTE self-perception is that of being freedom fighters. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.
Fighting for the lofty objective of national liberation does not automatically remove the terrorist tag if terror tactics are adopted. Likewise, the adoption of terrorist tactics does not automatically disqualify a national liberation movement. One can be both a terrorist and freedom fighter. It is not a case of one or the other.
However, realistically, these distinctions do not manner any more in an increasingly uni-polar world where there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ terrorists. No matter what the ideal is, the use of terrorist methods makes a group or an individual, terrorist. The end does not justify the means after September 11, 2001. All terrorists are ‘evil.’
There is a lot of hypocrisy and double standards here. A state is allowed to adopt all sorts of underhand methods amounting to state terrorism but it is not labelled terrorist. An air force plane can kill innocent civilians by dropping a bomb from the air and get away with it by calling it ‘collateral damage.’
But woe unto a non-state actor planting a bomb that kills civilians intentionally or unintentionally – it will be automatically labelled terrorism and very often does deserve that label. But dropping bombs from an altitude allows greater latitude in getting away from the terrorist label. All states gang up in refusing to admit state terrorism.
Defining terrorism
How does one define the LTTE? Each violent action has to be scrutinised on its own merits to arrive at a definition. The Tigers have three salient aspects when it comes to engaging in violence.
It has the attributes of a conventional militia when it adopts positional warfare. The LTTE fights like an army when it captures or defends territory. The Tigers function as a guerilla force when launching attacks against security force installations or convoys. It is a terrorist outfit whenever it kills innocent civilians through bombs or massacres and assassinates political leaders and other civilians.
Thus, the LTTE can be loosely termed as a self-styled national liberation movement that engages in terrorism at times. Each LTTE action has to be specifically classified into categories of warfare, guerilla tactics or sheer terrorism.
After the LTTE withdrew from the Eastern Province, analysts predicted that all three dimensions of the Tigers would come into play in due course.
The LTTE would engage in positional warfare and fight like a conventional army to retain northern territory. The Tigers would adopt guerilla tactics against security forces in the east. It would assassinate political leaders and destroy economic targets through terrorist methods in Colombo and elsewhere in the south, it was expected.
However, so far, no target has been attacked in Colombo or elsewhere except for the diversionary thrills of a nascent air wing dropping bombs. The limited air strikes too have stopped for some months now.
In the east some limited landmine ambushes have occurred in the Ampara and Trincomalee District jungle adjacent areas, but few attacks were reported in Batticaloa District.
Defending territory
In the north, the LTTE has been stoutly defending areas on the Vavuniya-Mannar District borders and in the Weli Oya/Manal Aaru region. It is also defending territory in the Jaffna Peninsula along the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) of the Kilaly-Eluthumattuvaal- Nagar Kovil axis. But in the Musali region of Mannar South, the LTTE did not fire a single shot and allowed a walkover.
Even though a major offensive has not been launched by either side, there have been sporadic exchanges of artillery fire between both sides in the Vavuniya-Mannar District borders and also in the peninsula. There has also been regular aerial bombardment and strafing by the air force at positions in the Wanni. The navy too has shelled the coastal areas and also battled the Sea Tigers off the Mullaitivu coast.
It can be seen, therefore, that war related incidents have been happening since April last year. Many civilians in the Wanni have been killed, injured and displaced over the past 17 months.
Both sides are wary of the other launching an ‘invasion’ into their territory. Therefore, bombing and shelling is done by the armed forces on the one hand and shelling by the LTTE on the other to prevent major offensives. There are widely prevalent minor skirmishes. These activities are done to keep the ‘other’ side on its toes and to keep it guessing from where and when the big attack will come.
The preliminary limited strikes and offensives are no substitutes for the real McCoy. They cannot pre-empt or prevent the major offensive, counter-offensive or raid, if and when they are launched.
The armed forces can commence their ground based drives southwards from the peninsula, south-eastwards from Thallady in Mannar, northwards and north-westwards from any point along the Mannar-Vavuniya Road or from Omanthai or the Iranai Iluppaikulam Road or from Maamaduwa or the Weli-Oya/Manal Aaru region.
Sea-borne invasions across the Jaffna lagoon towards the Mannar-Poonagary coast or via the northern seas on the Mullaitivu-Chundikulam coast are also possible.
Defensive strategy
The LTTE too can commence major attacks on several possible targets. A sea-borne operation across the lagoon into the peninsula, a ground based offensive from Muhamaalai or Nagar Kovil points; attacks on army camps in Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli-Oya sector are also possible. A long shot could be incursions via jungles into Medawachchiya, Kebethigollewe, Padaviya, etc.
By all accounts the Tigers seem to be adopting a defensive strategy for now. LTTE Political Chief S.P. Tamilselvan said recently that the Tigers were maintaining “patience intentionally.” This strategy may have certain politico-military reasons.
In the first place, the LTTE is heavily disadvantaged vis-Ã -vis the armed forces in terms of manpower, firepower, airpower, naval power and armoured vehicle power. This places the Tigers in a very weak position.
Therefore, it would naturally be reluctant to hold on to extensive territory. The Tigers will yield some territory in order to prevent over stretching and dilution of personnel. To cite a phrase used by defence analysts, they will “trade space for time.”
What will this time be used for? Obviously, strengthening defences and recruiting cadres is one. This is happening now. But the Tigers will prolong the war in the hope that the time gained will work against Colombo. Rising defence costs will drain the Treasury and increase the cost of living and inflation. Economic problems can cause social and political unrest.
The armed forces may over extend themselves in the bid to gain more real estate. If they bite more than they can chew, the LTTE would like to make them choke.
The mounting tally of alleged human rights violations and civilian casualties caused by the armed forces can discredit the regime internationally. There may come a point where international intervention becomes inevitable.
The Tigers also expect stirrings in Tamil Nadu and related impact in New Delhi. There is also the expectation that the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and abroad will rally around the LTTE as the war escalates and civilian suffering increases.
Vital rear base
Even if the LTTE Political Commissar’s claim of exercising patience is true, the security establishment is in no mood to believe it. It will be seen as the LTTE making a virtue out of necessity as the view in defence circles is that the Tigers are weak and vulnerable. Therefore, the resolve to go on the offensive will gain strength.
However, there is a point beyond which the LTTE cannot retreat, lie low or exercise patience. This is because the Wanni heartland is, in guerilla parlance, the rear base of the LTTE. It is very vital to the Tigers that they retain control of a swathe of territory with access to the sea. The LTTE has to offer fierce resistance to preserve some territory at least.
The Tigers have strengthened defences and are ready to adopt positional warfare to defend this territory. Apparently, the Tigers have set up three ‘defence rings’ – A primary outer ring around most territory under their control, a secondary inner ring around key areas in Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu, and a tertiary line of defence around strategic areas of the north-eastern sector.
The fact that this primary defensive outer line has been able to prevent government incursions on the Vavuniya-Mannar borders and inside the peninsula shows the determination and grit of the LTTE to resist military advances.
Unlike what happened in the east or the peninsula when defeated, the Tigers have no place to go if the Wanni is overrun. So the Tigers, fighting a desperate battle to safeguard their rear base, will fight hard when the time comes.
The Tigers may even adopt their customary tactic of letting the enemy advance and then hit back swiftly and hard. This was well demonstrated during the conflict of the nineties.
Armed forces strategy
But the armed forces strategy devised by the Sarath-Gotabhaya duo is not likely to be a mechanical repetition of the disastrous approach under ‘Gen.’ Anuruddha Ratwatte during ‘Operation Jayasikuru’ in the nineties.
It is more likely that the government will adopt the ruthless double-track strategy adopted successfully in the east: A widespread campaign of bombing and shelling on a broad scale on points throughout the region on the one hand and on the other, a sustained campaign of intensive concentrated attacks on a limited target area.
The civilians are uprooted and their dwellings and infrastructural facilities demolished. After civilians leave a particular area and move to another place, the vacated place is shelled and bombed to saturation point. Then the army advances on ground, consolidates and establishes control of a limited area.
Thereafter, this process is repeated again and again. In a slow, systematic manner, the armed forces advance and hold target areas while the civilian population flees from place to place or to government areas. This is what happened in stages in the east and after 15 months, the armed forces dominate the province now.
Moreover, unofficial embargoes on food, medicine, fuel and essential items will be imposed as was done in the east. Transport and movement of people will be restricted. Payment of salaries of government employees, including teachers, will be suspended. Agriculture, fisheries and cottage industries will be reduced to a standstill.
If the armed forces have their way as they did in the east, this scenario is likely to happen in the north too.
This strategy will certainly cause immense hardship to the civilians. But judging from the apathy and silence of the international community towards the tragic civilian plight in the east, there seems very little chance of any foreign pressure to make Colombo call off the war or abandon its hard-line strategy.
Beginning of the end
Though Sinhala hawks would like the armed forces to go in quickly and finish off the Tigers, the defence establishment is not likely to rush in. Plans and preparations will be made carefully and cautiously.
However, it seems highly improbable that the Tigers will passively wait for the government to enfeeble, encircle and then engulf them. Contrary to optimistic assertions in Colombo, the LTTE is not both down and out. It is only down, but not fully out. Past experience has shown that the Tigers crouch to pounce.
If the armed forces succeed in dislodging the Tigers from their entrenched positions in the Wanni, it can only mean the beginning of the end. So the Tigers will fiercely resist such moves. It is a back-to-the-wall situation
This resistance is not likely to be reactive alone. There could be counter-offensives and counter-strikes that could change the situation drastically. Also, this counter-strategy need not be confined specifically to the battlefields.
Another moot point having a bearing on the war situation is the approaching ‘Maa Veerar Naal’ (Great Heroes’ Day) on November 27. What will Prabhakaran say on that day? Conversely, what will the armed forces allow him to say on that day?
Whatever the situation, full-scale war seems inevitable and imminent. Even the raging monsoon rains may not be able to deter its pace or intensity.
The fluctuating fortunes of war may be fickle and fluid. But one thing is certain. The civilians are going to suffer. The misery of the east will be repeated in the north. The tragic plight of recently displaced Tamils and Muslims from Mannar South is a sad pointer of things to come in this respect.
(http://www.nation.lk/2007/09/23/newsfe2.htm)
It’s ‘unofficially’ official now! Three things are certain.
There’s going to be a big war in the Northern Province against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
There will be no let up until the objective of vanquishing the Tigers is achieved. Even if it is not feasible, an ongoing relentless attempt will be made.
There won’t be any political solution until and unless the military goal of eradicating ‘terrorism’ (read LTTE) is fulfilled.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emphasised the above three points unambiguously at Trincomalee last week. The occasion was the felicitation ceremony for the navy for reportedly destroying three ships, allegedly carrying arms for the LTTE.
The Defence Secretary’s elder sibling, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also present as Gotabhaya stated these views but maintained silence, indicating tacit consent. The fact that the Defence Secretary stated so in the presence of the Head of State, Head of Government and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces shows that the sentiments expressed were an ‘officially sanctioned unofficial policy declaration.’ So it’s unofficially official.
Calling the shots
It is also crystal clear now who calls the shots literally and metaphorically as far as war and peace is concerned. Mahinda Samarasinghe may say one thing and Rohitha Bogollagama another, but effective decisions are made and articulated elsewhere. The Minister who repeats these more lucidly than any other of his colleagues is Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.
It was only a few weeks ago that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa spoke forthrightly at a passing out parade about a proposed military advance into the LTTE held areas of the north. This was emphatically denied by some Cabinet ministers but within days the Musali region of Mannar District was taken over in a surprise manoeuvre.
If anyone thought that military operations were intended to pressurise the LTTE into coming to the negotiating table, such illusions were effectively dispelled by the Defence Secretary’s frank disclosure.
It is no longer a case of bringing the LTTE to the negotiating table through military means for a political settlement. It is now a case of destroying or diminishing the LTTE as a pre-requisite for a political solution.
There is a saying about an army marching on its stomach. The cost conscious sections of society might be appalled by the economic consequences of prosecuting a prolonged war. But Gotabhaya Rajapaksa thinks otherwise. “We cannot establish permanent peace in the country by winning only half or two-thirds of the war against terrorism,” he said in Trincomalee.
The Defence Secretary also said “President Rajapaksa cannot implement the desired political solution to the north and east conflict unless LTTE terrorism is defeated 100 percent.”
Defence Secretary’s stance
He said that President Rajapaksa, amidst the economic constraints the country is facing, has given all that is required for the security forces and the police to achieve their task of defeating LTTE terrorism.
On another occasion the Defence Secretary’s erstwhile Commanding Officer and present Army Commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka was posed a question by a media person about the impact of the escalating war on the economy. “It is better to have a bankrupt country than half a country,” was the answer.
This then sums up the military mood. The military option against the LTTE will be pursued relentlessly and diligently regardless of economic or any other consequences. The defence establishment has scented blood. It wants to go in for what it perceives to be an easy kill.
The Bard of Avon wrote of a ‘tide in the affairs of men.’ The defence establishment feels that the security forces are riding the crest of a victorious anti-Tiger wave. The wave has to be ridden until the LTTE is engulfed, it is felt.
There is a frenzy of populist euphoria in the air. It is a combination of the natural and artificial, spontaneous and contrived, real and imaginary. But it is there.
It was Talleyrand I think who warned that “war is too serious a matter to be left in the hands of generals.” But currently in Sri Lanka, that is exactly what is happening. The military and defence hierarchy runs the war and makes policy. The political establishment falls in line.
Some might say this is not healthy for a country but there are few takers for this in the upper echelons of the government. A feeble opposition with an unimaginative leadership is hopelessly unable or unwilling to check this militarisation of the government. Arguably, a national security state is in formation.
Puzzling conduct
The behaviour and conduct of the LTTE in recent times has been, at best, puzzling. The seeming helplessness of the LTTE in the face of Colombo’s military juggernaut has contributed to this new found confidence and determination on the part of the security establishment.
The LTTE is primarily a militant movement fighting for the goal of national liberation. The government depicts it as terrorist while the LTTE self-perception is that of being freedom fighters. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.
Fighting for the lofty objective of national liberation does not automatically remove the terrorist tag if terror tactics are adopted. Likewise, the adoption of terrorist tactics does not automatically disqualify a national liberation movement. One can be both a terrorist and freedom fighter. It is not a case of one or the other.
However, realistically, these distinctions do not manner any more in an increasingly uni-polar world where there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ terrorists. No matter what the ideal is, the use of terrorist methods makes a group or an individual, terrorist. The end does not justify the means after September 11, 2001. All terrorists are ‘evil.’
There is a lot of hypocrisy and double standards here. A state is allowed to adopt all sorts of underhand methods amounting to state terrorism but it is not labelled terrorist. An air force plane can kill innocent civilians by dropping a bomb from the air and get away with it by calling it ‘collateral damage.’
But woe unto a non-state actor planting a bomb that kills civilians intentionally or unintentionally – it will be automatically labelled terrorism and very often does deserve that label. But dropping bombs from an altitude allows greater latitude in getting away from the terrorist label. All states gang up in refusing to admit state terrorism.
Defining terrorism
How does one define the LTTE? Each violent action has to be scrutinised on its own merits to arrive at a definition. The Tigers have three salient aspects when it comes to engaging in violence.
It has the attributes of a conventional militia when it adopts positional warfare. The LTTE fights like an army when it captures or defends territory. The Tigers function as a guerilla force when launching attacks against security force installations or convoys. It is a terrorist outfit whenever it kills innocent civilians through bombs or massacres and assassinates political leaders and other civilians.
Thus, the LTTE can be loosely termed as a self-styled national liberation movement that engages in terrorism at times. Each LTTE action has to be specifically classified into categories of warfare, guerilla tactics or sheer terrorism.
After the LTTE withdrew from the Eastern Province, analysts predicted that all three dimensions of the Tigers would come into play in due course.
The LTTE would engage in positional warfare and fight like a conventional army to retain northern territory. The Tigers would adopt guerilla tactics against security forces in the east. It would assassinate political leaders and destroy economic targets through terrorist methods in Colombo and elsewhere in the south, it was expected.
However, so far, no target has been attacked in Colombo or elsewhere except for the diversionary thrills of a nascent air wing dropping bombs. The limited air strikes too have stopped for some months now.
In the east some limited landmine ambushes have occurred in the Ampara and Trincomalee District jungle adjacent areas, but few attacks were reported in Batticaloa District.
Defending territory
In the north, the LTTE has been stoutly defending areas on the Vavuniya-Mannar District borders and in the Weli Oya/Manal Aaru region. It is also defending territory in the Jaffna Peninsula along the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) of the Kilaly-Eluthumattuvaal- Nagar Kovil axis. But in the Musali region of Mannar South, the LTTE did not fire a single shot and allowed a walkover.
Even though a major offensive has not been launched by either side, there have been sporadic exchanges of artillery fire between both sides in the Vavuniya-Mannar District borders and also in the peninsula. There has also been regular aerial bombardment and strafing by the air force at positions in the Wanni. The navy too has shelled the coastal areas and also battled the Sea Tigers off the Mullaitivu coast.
It can be seen, therefore, that war related incidents have been happening since April last year. Many civilians in the Wanni have been killed, injured and displaced over the past 17 months.
Both sides are wary of the other launching an ‘invasion’ into their territory. Therefore, bombing and shelling is done by the armed forces on the one hand and shelling by the LTTE on the other to prevent major offensives. There are widely prevalent minor skirmishes. These activities are done to keep the ‘other’ side on its toes and to keep it guessing from where and when the big attack will come.
The preliminary limited strikes and offensives are no substitutes for the real McCoy. They cannot pre-empt or prevent the major offensive, counter-offensive or raid, if and when they are launched.
The armed forces can commence their ground based drives southwards from the peninsula, south-eastwards from Thallady in Mannar, northwards and north-westwards from any point along the Mannar-Vavuniya Road or from Omanthai or the Iranai Iluppaikulam Road or from Maamaduwa or the Weli-Oya/Manal Aaru region.
Sea-borne invasions across the Jaffna lagoon towards the Mannar-Poonagary coast or via the northern seas on the Mullaitivu-Chundikulam coast are also possible.
Defensive strategy
The LTTE too can commence major attacks on several possible targets. A sea-borne operation across the lagoon into the peninsula, a ground based offensive from Muhamaalai or Nagar Kovil points; attacks on army camps in Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli-Oya sector are also possible. A long shot could be incursions via jungles into Medawachchiya, Kebethigollewe, Padaviya, etc.
By all accounts the Tigers seem to be adopting a defensive strategy for now. LTTE Political Chief S.P. Tamilselvan said recently that the Tigers were maintaining “patience intentionally.” This strategy may have certain politico-military reasons.
In the first place, the LTTE is heavily disadvantaged vis-Ã -vis the armed forces in terms of manpower, firepower, airpower, naval power and armoured vehicle power. This places the Tigers in a very weak position.
Therefore, it would naturally be reluctant to hold on to extensive territory. The Tigers will yield some territory in order to prevent over stretching and dilution of personnel. To cite a phrase used by defence analysts, they will “trade space for time.”
What will this time be used for? Obviously, strengthening defences and recruiting cadres is one. This is happening now. But the Tigers will prolong the war in the hope that the time gained will work against Colombo. Rising defence costs will drain the Treasury and increase the cost of living and inflation. Economic problems can cause social and political unrest.
The armed forces may over extend themselves in the bid to gain more real estate. If they bite more than they can chew, the LTTE would like to make them choke.
The mounting tally of alleged human rights violations and civilian casualties caused by the armed forces can discredit the regime internationally. There may come a point where international intervention becomes inevitable.
The Tigers also expect stirrings in Tamil Nadu and related impact in New Delhi. There is also the expectation that the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and abroad will rally around the LTTE as the war escalates and civilian suffering increases.
Vital rear base
Even if the LTTE Political Commissar’s claim of exercising patience is true, the security establishment is in no mood to believe it. It will be seen as the LTTE making a virtue out of necessity as the view in defence circles is that the Tigers are weak and vulnerable. Therefore, the resolve to go on the offensive will gain strength.
However, there is a point beyond which the LTTE cannot retreat, lie low or exercise patience. This is because the Wanni heartland is, in guerilla parlance, the rear base of the LTTE. It is very vital to the Tigers that they retain control of a swathe of territory with access to the sea. The LTTE has to offer fierce resistance to preserve some territory at least.
The Tigers have strengthened defences and are ready to adopt positional warfare to defend this territory. Apparently, the Tigers have set up three ‘defence rings’ – A primary outer ring around most territory under their control, a secondary inner ring around key areas in Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu, and a tertiary line of defence around strategic areas of the north-eastern sector.
The fact that this primary defensive outer line has been able to prevent government incursions on the Vavuniya-Mannar borders and inside the peninsula shows the determination and grit of the LTTE to resist military advances.
Unlike what happened in the east or the peninsula when defeated, the Tigers have no place to go if the Wanni is overrun. So the Tigers, fighting a desperate battle to safeguard their rear base, will fight hard when the time comes.
The Tigers may even adopt their customary tactic of letting the enemy advance and then hit back swiftly and hard. This was well demonstrated during the conflict of the nineties.
Armed forces strategy
But the armed forces strategy devised by the Sarath-Gotabhaya duo is not likely to be a mechanical repetition of the disastrous approach under ‘Gen.’ Anuruddha Ratwatte during ‘Operation Jayasikuru’ in the nineties.
It is more likely that the government will adopt the ruthless double-track strategy adopted successfully in the east: A widespread campaign of bombing and shelling on a broad scale on points throughout the region on the one hand and on the other, a sustained campaign of intensive concentrated attacks on a limited target area.
The civilians are uprooted and their dwellings and infrastructural facilities demolished. After civilians leave a particular area and move to another place, the vacated place is shelled and bombed to saturation point. Then the army advances on ground, consolidates and establishes control of a limited area.
Thereafter, this process is repeated again and again. In a slow, systematic manner, the armed forces advance and hold target areas while the civilian population flees from place to place or to government areas. This is what happened in stages in the east and after 15 months, the armed forces dominate the province now.
Moreover, unofficial embargoes on food, medicine, fuel and essential items will be imposed as was done in the east. Transport and movement of people will be restricted. Payment of salaries of government employees, including teachers, will be suspended. Agriculture, fisheries and cottage industries will be reduced to a standstill.
If the armed forces have their way as they did in the east, this scenario is likely to happen in the north too.
This strategy will certainly cause immense hardship to the civilians. But judging from the apathy and silence of the international community towards the tragic civilian plight in the east, there seems very little chance of any foreign pressure to make Colombo call off the war or abandon its hard-line strategy.
Beginning of the end
Though Sinhala hawks would like the armed forces to go in quickly and finish off the Tigers, the defence establishment is not likely to rush in. Plans and preparations will be made carefully and cautiously.
However, it seems highly improbable that the Tigers will passively wait for the government to enfeeble, encircle and then engulf them. Contrary to optimistic assertions in Colombo, the LTTE is not both down and out. It is only down, but not fully out. Past experience has shown that the Tigers crouch to pounce.
If the armed forces succeed in dislodging the Tigers from their entrenched positions in the Wanni, it can only mean the beginning of the end. So the Tigers will fiercely resist such moves. It is a back-to-the-wall situation
This resistance is not likely to be reactive alone. There could be counter-offensives and counter-strikes that could change the situation drastically. Also, this counter-strategy need not be confined specifically to the battlefields.
Another moot point having a bearing on the war situation is the approaching ‘Maa Veerar Naal’ (Great Heroes’ Day) on November 27. What will Prabhakaran say on that day? Conversely, what will the armed forces allow him to say on that day?
Whatever the situation, full-scale war seems inevitable and imminent. Even the raging monsoon rains may not be able to deter its pace or intensity.
The fluctuating fortunes of war may be fickle and fluid. But one thing is certain. The civilians are going to suffer. The misery of the east will be repeated in the north. The tragic plight of recently displaced Tamils and Muslims from Mannar South is a sad pointer of things to come in this respect.
(http://www.nation.lk/2007/09/23/newsfe2.htm)
Air strike on LTTE leadership confab
Site turned into inferno
Air Force fighter jets yesterday bombed a location where a leadership meeting of the LTTE was in progress in Mullaithivu inflicting large scale death and destruction on the outfit.
Security sources said the pilots had observed a massive inferno following the bombings of the building network which also served as an ammunition dump.
"The precise target was destroyed while the LTTE high rankers were gathered," Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. Fighter jets Mig27 and Kafir carried out the air strike targeting the key tiger position in Vishvamadu in the Tiger stronghold of Mullaithivu at around 12.15 p.m.
"The target was accurate and precise according to the ground intelligence and air based surveillance," the Brigadier said.
He said the air strike was carried out while the LTTE leaders were gathered at a meeting. This was a location where key LTTE leaders met regularly to discuss military strategy.
"We are yet unable to confirm the number of casualties as the target was located in the uncleared area", he added.
Air Force fighters also confirmed that the aim was accurate and that a huge fire was observed. The Vishvamadu base was one of the key LTTE bases in the North, Brigadier said.
"The air strike was carried out on the LTTE base complex also consisting of an arms an ammunition dump which exploded in the strike.
"The LTTE Headquarters 'Imran Pandian' regiment also was located in the vicinity. From this base the Tiger cadres were ferrying weapons to other locations," he pointed out. Meanwhile, three civilians were injured in an LTTE claymore blast targeting the STF foot patrol yesterday at around 2.05 p.m. in Chawalakade, Ampara.
According to Brigadier Nanayakkara the LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting the STF in Chawalakada, Ampara-Kalmunai road.
"Three civilians who were travelling in a cab got caught to the LTTE claymore mine and were severely injured in the blast," he added.
The injured civilians were admitted to the Kalmunai hospital.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/09/22/sec01.asp)
Air Force fighter jets yesterday bombed a location where a leadership meeting of the LTTE was in progress in Mullaithivu inflicting large scale death and destruction on the outfit.
Security sources said the pilots had observed a massive inferno following the bombings of the building network which also served as an ammunition dump.
"The precise target was destroyed while the LTTE high rankers were gathered," Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. Fighter jets Mig27 and Kafir carried out the air strike targeting the key tiger position in Vishvamadu in the Tiger stronghold of Mullaithivu at around 12.15 p.m.
"The target was accurate and precise according to the ground intelligence and air based surveillance," the Brigadier said.
He said the air strike was carried out while the LTTE leaders were gathered at a meeting. This was a location where key LTTE leaders met regularly to discuss military strategy.
"We are yet unable to confirm the number of casualties as the target was located in the uncleared area", he added.
Air Force fighters also confirmed that the aim was accurate and that a huge fire was observed. The Vishvamadu base was one of the key LTTE bases in the North, Brigadier said.
"The air strike was carried out on the LTTE base complex also consisting of an arms an ammunition dump which exploded in the strike.
"The LTTE Headquarters 'Imran Pandian' regiment also was located in the vicinity. From this base the Tiger cadres were ferrying weapons to other locations," he pointed out. Meanwhile, three civilians were injured in an LTTE claymore blast targeting the STF foot patrol yesterday at around 2.05 p.m. in Chawalakade, Ampara.
According to Brigadier Nanayakkara the LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine targeting the STF in Chawalakada, Ampara-Kalmunai road.
"Three civilians who were travelling in a cab got caught to the LTTE claymore mine and were severely injured in the blast," he added.
The injured civilians were admitted to the Kalmunai hospital.
(http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/09/22/sec01.asp)
Bus driver killed in claymore attack
One civilian was killed and two injured when LTTE cadres exploded a claymore mine targeting a bus carrying civilians along the Trincomalee-Sallisambaltivu area around 11.45 a.m. yesterday, military officials said.
The driver of the bus was killed in the incident which occurred when the bus was proceeding from Trincomalee to Irrakkandi Road. Meanwhile Air Force fighterjets launched another attack in the area around the LTTE Vishvamadu base in Mullaitivu yesterday morning, targeting LTTE cadres who were engaged in attempting to salvage what remained from Friday’s air attack on this site, the Media Centre for National Security said.
It said Friday’s attack had destroyed the LTTE base complex consisting of large arms and ammunitions dumps and which was also reportedly the location for the LTTE's special "regiment" (Imran Pandiyan). The Military said the LTTE facility was a regular visiting place for key terrorist leaders.The LTTE denied the claims and said what was attacked was a TRO office and several civilians were injured in the attacks.
(http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070923/News/news0004.html)
The driver of the bus was killed in the incident which occurred when the bus was proceeding from Trincomalee to Irrakkandi Road. Meanwhile Air Force fighterjets launched another attack in the area around the LTTE Vishvamadu base in Mullaitivu yesterday morning, targeting LTTE cadres who were engaged in attempting to salvage what remained from Friday’s air attack on this site, the Media Centre for National Security said.
It said Friday’s attack had destroyed the LTTE base complex consisting of large arms and ammunitions dumps and which was also reportedly the location for the LTTE's special "regiment" (Imran Pandiyan). The Military said the LTTE facility was a regular visiting place for key terrorist leaders.The LTTE denied the claims and said what was attacked was a TRO office and several civilians were injured in the attacks.
(http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070923/News/news0004.html)
LTTE targets Tamil bus passengers in Samabalthievu killing bus driver and injuring two passengers
Sri Lankan policemen inspect the scene of a roadside bomb explosion in Trincomalee, about 257 km (160 miles) east of Colombo, September 22, 2007. A suspected Tamil Tiger roadside bomb hit a civilian bus in the island's northeast on Saturday killing the driver, police said.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the separatist terrorist organization, continues to harass the Tamil civilians and this time by detonating a claymore mine targeting a private bus plying between Trincomalee and Irakkandi .
The bus driver Suntharam of the private bus was killed and two passengers were injured. The injured passengers are admitted to Trincomalee hospital.
The bus with its full capacity was proceeding along Trincomalee – Nilaveli Road when LTTE terrorists cadres detonated the claymore mine, most probably taking cover behind some buildings. The incident took place around 11.45 AM in Salli, a Tamil village, located in Sambalthievu, seven kilometers off the East of Trincomalee.
Uppuveli police are investigating the incident
LTTE’s strategic locations destroyed
For the second day in a row, the Air Force claimed to have bombed “strategic” locations of the Tamil Tigers in Mullathivu district.
The Defence Ministry said the jets “destroyed a strategically important LTTE facility in precision air strikes”. “The air sorties were carried out at an LTTE base complex consisting of large arms and ammunitions dumps which was also said to be a harbouring location for the LTTE’s special ‘regiment’ (Imran Pandiyan). The air strikes were based on accurate air and ground surveillance information.”
It said strikes were also launched on a place where high-ranking terrorists meet. It said the pilots had reported heavy activity in the camp.
Separately, three civilians were killed when suspected LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine in Ampara district.
(http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092256031600.htm)
The Defence Ministry said the jets “destroyed a strategically important LTTE facility in precision air strikes”. “The air sorties were carried out at an LTTE base complex consisting of large arms and ammunitions dumps which was also said to be a harbouring location for the LTTE’s special ‘regiment’ (Imran Pandiyan). The air strikes were based on accurate air and ground surveillance information.”
It said strikes were also launched on a place where high-ranking terrorists meet. It said the pilots had reported heavy activity in the camp.
Separately, three civilians were killed when suspected LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine in Ampara district.
(http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092256031600.htm)
Sri Lanka says jets bomb rebel leaders' meeting
Sri Lankan fighter jets bombed a Tamil Tiger military base in the rebel-held far north on Friday triggering multiple explosions, the air force said, while a suspected rebel roadside bomb killed one civilian in the east.
The air strike near the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the northern district of Mullaittivu was targeted at top leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and was the second such raid in the area in as many days.
"We got to know through intelligence there was a high ranking meeting of the LTTE, so we took the target," said Air Force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha De Silva.
"It was an LTTE military complex called Imbran Pandian regiment." He had no details of any casualties.
The LTTE who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, said in an email the bombs had damaged homes but caused no casualties.
However they were not immediately available for comment on a roadside bomb attack in the eastern district of Batticaloa, which killed one civilian and wounded two others. The army said the rebels were responsible.
Following another raid in the area on Thursday, in which the military said it destroyed a rebel munitions store, the Tigers said the bombs had damaged houses and wounded six civilians.
There was no independent confirmation of what the jets hit on Thursday or Friday, how many people were killed or what had happened and analysts say both sides exaggerate enemy losses amid a parallel The bombings come on the heels of a new offensive launched by the Sri Lankan military this month to drive the rebels from the northwestern district of Mannar, after pushing them out from jungle terrain they controlled in the east earlier this year.
An estimated 5,000 people have died since early last year alone in renewed fighting after a peace process collapsed. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war erupted in 1983.
(http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-29655320070921?pageNumber=2)
The air strike near the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the northern district of Mullaittivu was targeted at top leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and was the second such raid in the area in as many days.
"We got to know through intelligence there was a high ranking meeting of the LTTE, so we took the target," said Air Force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha De Silva.
"It was an LTTE military complex called Imbran Pandian regiment." He had no details of any casualties.
The LTTE who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, said in an email the bombs had damaged homes but caused no casualties.
However they were not immediately available for comment on a roadside bomb attack in the eastern district of Batticaloa, which killed one civilian and wounded two others. The army said the rebels were responsible.
Following another raid in the area on Thursday, in which the military said it destroyed a rebel munitions store, the Tigers said the bombs had damaged houses and wounded six civilians.
There was no independent confirmation of what the jets hit on Thursday or Friday, how many people were killed or what had happened and analysts say both sides exaggerate enemy losses amid a parallel The bombings come on the heels of a new offensive launched by the Sri Lankan military this month to drive the rebels from the northwestern district of Mannar, after pushing them out from jungle terrain they controlled in the east earlier this year.
An estimated 5,000 people have died since early last year alone in renewed fighting after a peace process collapsed. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war erupted in 1983.
(http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-29655320070921?pageNumber=2)
Sri Lanka Air Force strikes LTTE leaders' meeting in Northeast, claymore blast kills a civilian
Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets today struck and destroyed a LTTE meeting place and a strategically important LTTE arms facility triggering multiple explosions in the Mullaitivu area in the northeast while a civilian was killed in a claymore blast in the East, the military said.
Air attacks were carried out at a LTTE base complex that housed large arms and ammunitions following accurate air and ground surveillance information, a defence official said.
Air Force also effectively struck an LTTE meeting place in the area, where high raking LTTE leaders regularly meet inflicting heavy damages, sources said. Simultaneous explosions were observed from the site, following the air raid, pilots confirmed. However, the exact number of LTTE casualties is yet to be known, the sources added.
The air sorties were carried for a third day in the rebel held Mullaitivu area which has been identified as a key LTTE activity area.
Meanwhile a civilian was killed and two others sustained injuries when suspected Tigers detonated a roadside claymore mine targeting a delivery van along the Chavalkade- Mandur road , at general area of Chavalkade in Kalmunai, Ampara district, this afternoon. The driver of the van later succumbed to his injuries.
(http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/September21122450CH.html)
Air attacks were carried out at a LTTE base complex that housed large arms and ammunitions following accurate air and ground surveillance information, a defence official said.
Air Force also effectively struck an LTTE meeting place in the area, where high raking LTTE leaders regularly meet inflicting heavy damages, sources said. Simultaneous explosions were observed from the site, following the air raid, pilots confirmed. However, the exact number of LTTE casualties is yet to be known, the sources added.
The air sorties were carried for a third day in the rebel held Mullaitivu area which has been identified as a key LTTE activity area.
Meanwhile a civilian was killed and two others sustained injuries when suspected Tigers detonated a roadside claymore mine targeting a delivery van along the Chavalkade- Mandur road , at general area of Chavalkade in Kalmunai, Ampara district, this afternoon. The driver of the van later succumbed to his injuries.
(http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/September21122450CH.html)
Nedumaran phobia?
“I have been looking through binoculars but I cannot see any boats”. It was the latter part of 1983 after the notorious July riots that killed many Tamils. An executive, with at least half a dozen degrees to adorn his name in his business card, called me from his 6th floor office of a century old colonial company, bearing an English name, and opposite to the Central Bank of Ceylon. As I did not know how to answer, I controlled my laughter and wondered to myself how such a frog in the well could obtain so much excellence in his educational career. “He came to Dhanuskodi coast with his followers but he was arrested by the Tamilnadu police and the game is over” was my reply.
Seeing the hype created presently by the Sri Lankan politicians, government and the media, I may say Nedumaran has, after 24 years once again emerged as a ‘hero’ in Sri Lanka. Comments made by many alarmists about his venture, clearly exposed their ignorance of Indian politics – particularly Tamilnadu politics. One carried an opposition parliamentarian’s comments as; He also said that Nedumaran had the backing of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi. “The Central Government of India backs Nedumaran as the support of his party is needed for it to survive. Therefore the Sri Lankan government should act with circumspection.”
I did not know what to say except controlling my laughter and wondering to myself about their lack of knowledge of the immediate neighbourhood. To me this parliamentarian does not seem to be anything better than the binocular man of 1983. Karunanithi and Jayalalitha are at logger heads with Nedumaran and imprisoned him a few times during their tenure. I wish to ask the member in what way Central Government of India backs Nedumaran whose face the cabinet [except Tamils] might have not seen at all even in news papers?
In every political party there would be one or two dedicated to follow events of a particular country, and only that particular person would comment on the happenings there. In Lanka it looks such things don’t exist. Don’t worry even the present President of the most powerful country, six months prior to his election did not know where India was, what the Prime Minister’s name was. If you are a regular TV news viewer you would agree that nowadays, it is proved politics does not need intelligence only guns, sorry guts – to do any thing. Nedumaran started his political career with the DMK and later moved over to Congress with a group that collided with Karunanithi. In 1978 when Mrs.Indira Gandhi visited Madurai he was her escort. At one point when a DMK man threw a deadly weapon at Mrs.Gandhi, Nedumaran saved her. This incident gave him prominence in all India political circles, but strengthened the enmity with Karunanithi and the DMK. Even now on the 12th and before, he shouted anti Karunanithi slogans and accused him as, just because of his lack of concern for the Tamils of Eelam only, the people in Eelam suffer - starve to this extent.
Surprisingly Congress and the DMK formed an alliance for the 1980 state legislature election to fight MGR. Nedumaran who was against DMK left the party to form his own as Tamilnadu Kamaraj Congress Party and went along with MGR, winning three seats. In the meantime his friendship with Tamil militants especially the LTTE grew and his legislature hostel room in Madras [like Sirawasthi] became a safe house to LTTErs like Baby, Kittu and another one person who wanted to keep his presence secret. The Pondy Bazaar shooting incident made police arrest Uma Magheswaran who was injured and also the one who injured him, whose head carried Rs.300,000 rewards for killing Jaffna’s Mayor Alfred Duraiappa. As Baby sought help, Nedumaran visited the prison and was shocked to be introduced to a person hitherto was said to be in Jaffna. “Sorry” was the first word Pirabhakaran uttered to Nedumaran who took it easy with a smile. The court ordered Pirabhakaran to be in Madurai and this cemented the relationship between the two. The fugitive finally wanted to leave India on January 4, 1987. “Have you made all arrangements?” “Yes I am informing you only. Nobody else knows about my plans. If we remain here we will not be able to take independent decisions for our people’s welfare” he added. “There is a plan to have me killed in Madras or New Delhi. The danger will remain as long as I remain here. Our struggle will intensify if I return to Eelam”. Pirabhakaran left for Jaffna. As said Nedumaran was the one only Indian who knew about his exit.
Who is Nedumaran? He is a good orator, a lover of Tamil language and its culture, a simple living man who does not yearn for a Mercedes Benz, but a public commuter. Above all, he is a sympathizer of the LTTE leader and his struggle. That made him to give up national politics and become an admirer cum advisor to the Tigers. He helped the movement a lot at crucial times and took care of the Tiger boss too when he stayed in Madurai under court order. Well, no doubt Nedumaran commands the respect as the most trusted person of the LTTE boss. But what is his position today? Is he politically a mass leader or a spent force? Is he in a position to collect 50,000 people on a Monday morning to march towards the SL Deputy High Commissioner’s office in Chennai like the DMK did in March against the alleged shooting of TN fishermen by SL Navy? No he is not. Even last week only 300 volunteers gathered with him at Nagapattinan jetty even though over half a dozen least known associations expressed participation.
What prompted him to go on fast to death? September 27th is the 20th death anniversary of Dhileepan, 25, who went on fast to death. Younger readers may not know about Dhileepan who was the head of political wing of the LTTE in Jaffna. LTTE blamed India that many things that were promised in the Indo – Lanka Pact were not given to them. Talks in this regard with Indian High Commissioner J.N. Dixit were quite turbulent. Therefore to confront India in Gandhian way Dhileepan went on a hunger strike near a Hindu temple in Jaffna and died after few days. Actually Nedumaran was secretly in Jaffna with Pirabhakaran when Dhileepan died.
Now who blocked the food and medicine consignment? Whether it was Tamilnadu government, Delhi, Colombo or all three together I may consider it politically unwise. Delhi would just parrot what TN says. I wonder what instigated M.K. to go against it, may be not to give prominence to Nedumaran and his efforts? “We wanted to send them through Red Cross, which agreed to it. But the world organisation wrote to the Centre seeking permission. It was not given. Only then, we decided to take medicine and food directly to Sri Lanka through boats from Nagapattinam,” was his argument. Now Nedumaran broke his fast on Saturday with an assurance from the Chief Minister that he would take meaningful steps to fulfill his demand.
Lanka need not have any reservation to receive it through any official channel. We accepted Tsunami fund and goods from school children too while India and Thailand said no to foreign aid. Mind you if we are still shy, to save our face and honour, we should pay back to TN government what they spend on the Sri Lankan boat refugees. Minister Douglas Devananda who expressed his willingness to accept it through ICRC on BBC’s Tamil service, should inform Chennai and Delhi his readiness and save Tamilnadu CM’s embarrassment of approaching Delhi. Acceptance of this consignment will create some good will in both sides of the Palk-Strait. At times one will have to give in, to win.
An Indian senior journalist said last week in Colombo that, support to the LTTE in TN is zero. No it is not. That is the wish of his establishment. Brahmins do not like the prominence of low castes. When politicians like Vaiko, Thirumavalavan, and Dr.Ramdoss are openly supporting the Tigers, one can not opine against the reality. But it can be defined to a single digit. On the contrary people of TN are fully sympathetic to the plight of Northeast civilians.
Nedumaran is a politician of yesteryear, not a piper to arouse people to walk over water with him to Lanka or bring an Armada. Any such move will be stopped by law enforcing authorities immediately. Therefore here no one needs to use binoculars. The Opposition member now will understand neither Karunanithi nor Central government backs Nedumaran. Such acts of him will take place in future too, but don’t raise Tsunami signals. On the whole it looks Lanka or Tamilnadu, or both together made a mountain out of a molehill making him a hero.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/22/opinion/1.asp)
Seeing the hype created presently by the Sri Lankan politicians, government and the media, I may say Nedumaran has, after 24 years once again emerged as a ‘hero’ in Sri Lanka. Comments made by many alarmists about his venture, clearly exposed their ignorance of Indian politics – particularly Tamilnadu politics. One carried an opposition parliamentarian’s comments as; He also said that Nedumaran had the backing of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi. “The Central Government of India backs Nedumaran as the support of his party is needed for it to survive. Therefore the Sri Lankan government should act with circumspection.”
I did not know what to say except controlling my laughter and wondering to myself about their lack of knowledge of the immediate neighbourhood. To me this parliamentarian does not seem to be anything better than the binocular man of 1983. Karunanithi and Jayalalitha are at logger heads with Nedumaran and imprisoned him a few times during their tenure. I wish to ask the member in what way Central Government of India backs Nedumaran whose face the cabinet [except Tamils] might have not seen at all even in news papers?
In every political party there would be one or two dedicated to follow events of a particular country, and only that particular person would comment on the happenings there. In Lanka it looks such things don’t exist. Don’t worry even the present President of the most powerful country, six months prior to his election did not know where India was, what the Prime Minister’s name was. If you are a regular TV news viewer you would agree that nowadays, it is proved politics does not need intelligence only guns, sorry guts – to do any thing. Nedumaran started his political career with the DMK and later moved over to Congress with a group that collided with Karunanithi. In 1978 when Mrs.Indira Gandhi visited Madurai he was her escort. At one point when a DMK man threw a deadly weapon at Mrs.Gandhi, Nedumaran saved her. This incident gave him prominence in all India political circles, but strengthened the enmity with Karunanithi and the DMK. Even now on the 12th and before, he shouted anti Karunanithi slogans and accused him as, just because of his lack of concern for the Tamils of Eelam only, the people in Eelam suffer - starve to this extent.
Surprisingly Congress and the DMK formed an alliance for the 1980 state legislature election to fight MGR. Nedumaran who was against DMK left the party to form his own as Tamilnadu Kamaraj Congress Party and went along with MGR, winning three seats. In the meantime his friendship with Tamil militants especially the LTTE grew and his legislature hostel room in Madras [like Sirawasthi] became a safe house to LTTErs like Baby, Kittu and another one person who wanted to keep his presence secret. The Pondy Bazaar shooting incident made police arrest Uma Magheswaran who was injured and also the one who injured him, whose head carried Rs.300,000 rewards for killing Jaffna’s Mayor Alfred Duraiappa. As Baby sought help, Nedumaran visited the prison and was shocked to be introduced to a person hitherto was said to be in Jaffna. “Sorry” was the first word Pirabhakaran uttered to Nedumaran who took it easy with a smile. The court ordered Pirabhakaran to be in Madurai and this cemented the relationship between the two. The fugitive finally wanted to leave India on January 4, 1987. “Have you made all arrangements?” “Yes I am informing you only. Nobody else knows about my plans. If we remain here we will not be able to take independent decisions for our people’s welfare” he added. “There is a plan to have me killed in Madras or New Delhi. The danger will remain as long as I remain here. Our struggle will intensify if I return to Eelam”. Pirabhakaran left for Jaffna. As said Nedumaran was the one only Indian who knew about his exit.
Who is Nedumaran? He is a good orator, a lover of Tamil language and its culture, a simple living man who does not yearn for a Mercedes Benz, but a public commuter. Above all, he is a sympathizer of the LTTE leader and his struggle. That made him to give up national politics and become an admirer cum advisor to the Tigers. He helped the movement a lot at crucial times and took care of the Tiger boss too when he stayed in Madurai under court order. Well, no doubt Nedumaran commands the respect as the most trusted person of the LTTE boss. But what is his position today? Is he politically a mass leader or a spent force? Is he in a position to collect 50,000 people on a Monday morning to march towards the SL Deputy High Commissioner’s office in Chennai like the DMK did in March against the alleged shooting of TN fishermen by SL Navy? No he is not. Even last week only 300 volunteers gathered with him at Nagapattinan jetty even though over half a dozen least known associations expressed participation.
What prompted him to go on fast to death? September 27th is the 20th death anniversary of Dhileepan, 25, who went on fast to death. Younger readers may not know about Dhileepan who was the head of political wing of the LTTE in Jaffna. LTTE blamed India that many things that were promised in the Indo – Lanka Pact were not given to them. Talks in this regard with Indian High Commissioner J.N. Dixit were quite turbulent. Therefore to confront India in Gandhian way Dhileepan went on a hunger strike near a Hindu temple in Jaffna and died after few days. Actually Nedumaran was secretly in Jaffna with Pirabhakaran when Dhileepan died.
Now who blocked the food and medicine consignment? Whether it was Tamilnadu government, Delhi, Colombo or all three together I may consider it politically unwise. Delhi would just parrot what TN says. I wonder what instigated M.K. to go against it, may be not to give prominence to Nedumaran and his efforts? “We wanted to send them through Red Cross, which agreed to it. But the world organisation wrote to the Centre seeking permission. It was not given. Only then, we decided to take medicine and food directly to Sri Lanka through boats from Nagapattinam,” was his argument. Now Nedumaran broke his fast on Saturday with an assurance from the Chief Minister that he would take meaningful steps to fulfill his demand.
Lanka need not have any reservation to receive it through any official channel. We accepted Tsunami fund and goods from school children too while India and Thailand said no to foreign aid. Mind you if we are still shy, to save our face and honour, we should pay back to TN government what they spend on the Sri Lankan boat refugees. Minister Douglas Devananda who expressed his willingness to accept it through ICRC on BBC’s Tamil service, should inform Chennai and Delhi his readiness and save Tamilnadu CM’s embarrassment of approaching Delhi. Acceptance of this consignment will create some good will in both sides of the Palk-Strait. At times one will have to give in, to win.
An Indian senior journalist said last week in Colombo that, support to the LTTE in TN is zero. No it is not. That is the wish of his establishment. Brahmins do not like the prominence of low castes. When politicians like Vaiko, Thirumavalavan, and Dr.Ramdoss are openly supporting the Tigers, one can not opine against the reality. But it can be defined to a single digit. On the contrary people of TN are fully sympathetic to the plight of Northeast civilians.
Nedumaran is a politician of yesteryear, not a piper to arouse people to walk over water with him to Lanka or bring an Armada. Any such move will be stopped by law enforcing authorities immediately. Therefore here no one needs to use binoculars. The Opposition member now will understand neither Karunanithi nor Central government backs Nedumaran. Such acts of him will take place in future too, but don’t raise Tsunami signals. On the whole it looks Lanka or Tamilnadu, or both together made a mountain out of a molehill making him a hero.
(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/09/22/opinion/1.asp)
Friday, September 21, 2007
Sri Lanka air attacks injure 13: rebels
A Sri Lankan soldier at a checkpoint in Colombo. At least 13 civilians, including children, were wounded when Sri Lankan war planes staged three days of bombing raids over territory held by the Tamil Tiger rebels, the guerrillas said.
At least 13 civilians, including children, were wounded when Sri Lankan war planes staged three days of bombing raids over territory held by the Tamil Tiger rebels, the guerrillas said.
Sri Lanka's military said earlier it had identified and bombed guerrilla targets. It denied hitting civilians during the raids, which were staged over three consecutive days until Friday.
The rebels in a statement listed the names of 13 people they said had been wounded in the bombings, adding they had been admitted to hospital.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1972 for a separate homeland on the tropical island for minority Tamils.
Official figures say the conflict has claimed more than 65,000 lives, including more than 5,400 in the last 21 months.
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070922/wl_sthasia_afp/
srilankaunrest_070922055852&printer=1;_ylt=AtOb_s.DXzhl9ziUdEzcdgbuOrgF)
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