* ICRC warns of an exodus of IDPs
* Pooneryn, Kilinochchi within striking distance
Ranga Jayasuriya
Throughout the last two decades, many an act of valour of the men and women of the Sri Lankan armed forces went unnoticed. They are the unsung heroes who paid with their lives and limb in battling one of the most ruthless insurgent groups in the world.
Contrast this to the propaganda offensive carried out by the Colombian Forces, following their daring rescue of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen other hostages from FARC guerrillas.
Propaganda war
A war is fought in the battle front and the propaganda front. Every time the Sri Lankan forces won on the battle front, they lost the propaganda front.
That is contrast to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, whose assault teams are always accompanied by a cameraman. Their sea-borne suicide missions are videoed and used to feed the appetite of an insatiable Tamil diaspora, who are still the cash cows of the LTTE.
On July 29, a six man team of Army Special Forces, who were engaged in a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Mission (LRRP) were detected by members of the LTTE’s civilian militia deep inside LTTE territory between Mankulam and Kokavil.
Special Forces commandos easily neutralized the civilian militia, but soon a large number of Tiger cadres were dispatched to comb the jungles looking for the SF men.
Two commandos were killed in a firefight and two others wounded. Commandos were forced to leave behind a body of a slain comrade during their withdrawal. Four men trekked 25 kilometres, dodging the guerrillas while carrying the body of a dead comrade.
The rescue
The Special Forces Commander called for air support to rescue the four valiant men. A Bell 212 and a MI 24 attack helicopter took off from Anuradhapura Air Force Base. They flew hugging the thick jungle canopy of the Wanni, occasionally firing countermeasure flares to avoid LTTE’s Manpad.
Four Special Forces men were awaiting the rescue helicopter. After having secured a landing site, one of the men lit a fire as the helicopter approached and alerted the crew of their location. As the Bell 202 landed, the four men jumped on board. Half an hour later the helicopter landed at the Anuradhapura Air Base and the two wounded soldiers were rushed to the Anuradhapura Hospital.
This was not the first time the SLAF carried out rescue missions of this nature. On November 20, last year, an eight-man team of army commandos who were engaged in a LRRP mission in Periyamadu, twenty kilometres inside Tiger territory were detected by the LTTE. The LTTE had stepped up security on the eve of the approaching Mahaveer commemorations.
An army commando was injured after he stepped on an anti-personnel mine. The team sought air support to evacuate the injured soldier.
Torrential rains held off the rescue mission for two days. On 22 November, eight men were evacuated by a Bell 202 helicopter.
This time round, the SLAF decided to release a video of the rescue mission which has been posted on the defence ministry website.
Long Range Reconnaissance Missions and small team operations carried out by specialised army units are largely attributed to the recent success of military operations.
Other than the regular air strikes on guerrilla targets by the air force, rescue missions of this nature carried out by the SLAF is surely a morale booster to the infantry men who know that the SLAF would fly them out in an emergency.
Such missions are also a morale booster for the security forces as a whole and as we have narrated in our previous columns, reports from the battle front suggest that not only the specialised brigades, but also regular units have been infused with an enhanced vigour.
Missions like the one carried out last week are an example of increasing coordination between the three forces, which is vital for the successful execution of the Eelam war.
And they have paid off. Senior military sources say that Thunukkai, which is the entrance to the LTTE’s once administrative headquarters Mallavi, will collapse within days.
Some infantry units have bypassed the town and have been positioned at the south of the town. The LTTE is left with two options. Either fight to defend the town or pull back to save cadres for a future battle for Mallavi or Kilinochchi.
Last week, troops of 58 Division captured the strategically important Mulankavil located on A 32 Mannar-Pooneryn-Sangupiddy road. Two 8 man teams of 11 Ceylon Light Infantry, led by two young captains were the first to enter the town.
Mulankavil is a home to a massive cemetery of approximately 5000 Tiger cadres. According to military sources, there were about 500 freshly dug graves during the last two months.
Nachchikudah
Troops also captured a communication tower abandoned by the guerrillas. This town was also home to one of the largest stadiums in the Wanni, which the LTTE called the “Tamil National Stadium.”
After the capture of Mulankavil, troops are now advancing towards Nachchikudah, the last built up area in the army’s push towards Pooneryn.
Troops of 58 Division (Task Force One) are positioned one kilometre from Nachchikudah, which is also a launching pad for Sea Tiger craft. The strategic importance of Nachchikudah for the LTTE further increased following the collapse of Vidathalthivu, which was the main Sea Tiger base on the north western coast.
On Friday, MI 24 Attack helicopters raided a fortified LTTE bunker line at the southern perimeters of the Nachchikudha Tiger base. Following the capture of Mannar’s Rice Bowl, the 58 Division is steadily pushing towards Pooneryn on the A 32 road. Resistance is gradually waning though the guerillas carried out several daring counter-attacks during the last two weeks. Troops are now 20 kilometres from Pooneryn.
On the Mannar front, troops of 57 Division captured Kalvilan, two kilometres south west of Thunukkai. Two battalions attached to this division, 8 Ceylon Light infantry and 7 Ceylon Light Infantry launched a daring assault on the guerrilla defence line in Kalvilan. Troops took control of the town by noon.
Last week, we reported a major counter-attack on troops stationed in Kalvilan by several groups of LTTE cadres on August 5. Eight soldiers were killed in that attack. The Army claims 39 LTTE cadres were also killed.
However, resistance began to wane following august 5 attack which was repulsed by the Army’s Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers.
Humanitarian crisis
Meanwhile, a senior guerrilla identified as Vigneshaveran alias Vithish, who led an elite counter-attack unit of the LTTE has been reportedly killed by a military attack. Vigneshawaran took part in a number of military operations including countering military Operation Jaya Sikuru. His funeral was held in Kilinochchi last week.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that tens of thousands of people have fled fighting in the Wanni raising the prospects of an impending humanitarian crisis.
“Tens of thousands of people have fled areas affected by fighting in the Mannar and Kilinochchi districts following an escalation of hostilities between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in northern Sri Lanka. Among those displaced, most of whom have headed towards Kilinochchi, are people who have had to abandon their homes several times in recent months.”
“Access to food, shelter, sanitation and clean water is an urgent priority. Although health facilities in the area are struggling to cope with the increased demand, they have so far been able to meet the population’s basic needs. However, the evolving situation will require continuous monitoring.”
LTTE responded to Lakbimanews chemical weapon story
- Karuna
By Ramesh Warallegama
The former head of the LTTE’s eastern faction, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, fears that the LTTE could use chemical weapons in a last ditch effort to to save themselves from military defeat.
Final push
As the army advances into Kilinochchi, different views have been expressed as to how the LTTE will react in the decisive battle. Karuna is of the view that the Tigers will use chemical weapons as a last resort. As a former commander of the Tigers, he says that the Tigers do possesses chemical weapons.
“The LTTE is now fighting its final battle and is led by Deepan.
Presently around a thousand fighters are being trained by Deepan in the use of weapons in the jungles of Mullaithivu, Karuna revealed to LAKBIMAnEWS. Karuna is of the view that the LTTE cannot reverse its losses now.
“In around three months time the army can take Kilinochchi,” he said. “The time is right for the army to forge ahead.”
Ammonium nitrate
On the issue of chemical weapons, Karuna says, “Weapons that they could use are Ammonium Nitrate based. Ammonium Nitrate sends out a gas. When I was with the LTTE, these weapons were brought in but I have no knowledge of how they were to be put to use. As they have not been used in combat yet, I am not aware whether its use will be successful. These weapons were purchased for the LTTE on the instructions of their leader Prabhakaran. Prabhakaran leads the RPG unit, the long distance reconnaissance unit, missiles and other special units.”
Are the missiles used by the LTTE advanced ones, we queried “Missiles owned by the LTTE are not strong enough to destroy Kfir or MIG planes. Sam 11, Sam 10 and Sam 8 missiles are in their possession now. Helicopters could be brought down with these missiles,” he replied. Although the LTTE is ready for battle, the army will win the war says Karuna Amman.
“I’m sure Prabhakaran will be missing me now.” When LAKBIMAnEWS brought out the news of the LTTE’s possession of chemical weapons, the LTTE’s website Nitharsanam maintained by the head of the LTTE’s intelligence division, Pottu Amman, published a rejoinder on it. “ The website alleged that the government was to use chemical weapons on Tamil citizens with the help of Karuna Amman. This story was fabricated by the LTTE and there is no truth behind it,’’ says Karuna Amman. He also says that this story was posted to counter allegations which are expected to be made by the international community.
Facing the threat
Is the army prepared to face an attack by the LTTE using chemical weapons? LAKBIMAnEWS posed this question to Army Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
“Yes, even now we are prepared. If the LTTE uses chemical weapons it will affect the whole area. It will affect both the LTTE and the army. The LTTE too will not be in a position to evade it. It will also be condemned by the international community.”
Steps taken by the army to counter attacks by the LTTE using chemical weapons cannot be divulged due to security reasons, said the Brigadier.
The former advisor to the LTTE, Anton Balasingham was the first to mention that the LTTE was in the possession of chemical weapons. A few months prior to his death he had informed a website in England that the LTTE was in the process of manufacturing chemical weapons in the jungles of Mullaithivu.
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