Has the LTTE lost its chain of command? This question comes to any person’s mind because of the way the LTTE is losing its cadres and territory day by day with the military already in the heart of Tiger territory.
LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran, probably the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation leader, would be completing his 54th birthday if he lives till November.
Any leader, older than fifty years, should be in good health. Health will definitely have an effect on leadership.
A well informed source said the LTTE leader has the following health problems.
Blood pressure: Hypertension. His uncontrolled high blood pressure is said to be dangerous and could lead to a stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.
These days he is suffering great stress, because day by day he never ever hears good news from the battlefront. He has been given reports of how many of his leaders and cadres were lost and his aides have reported to him how much territory has been lost.
He has reportedly told his aides to update him on the news from the battlefront. He is said to be under constant supervision of a doctor working for the LTTE.
Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes, - non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Up to 2004, he has tried to control this disease through dieting. After that time, reports said he is taking pills. Although he is under medication, he has the habit of eating what he wants. That is his nature. Doctors have advised him to reduce his bulk and control the quantity and type of food he eats.
At the moment, he is looking forward to survive and to survive he is appealing to South Indian politicians through LTTE leaders, to pressure the Indian Central Government.
There are many more illnesses he is suffering from.
He is wearing spectacles all the time but, when he appears for photographs he removes his spectacles. When I get any information from my reliable source in the North regarding Prabhakaran’s health and where he lives, I will let The Bottom Line readers know.
Prabhakaran’s blood pressure has gone up due to the stress he is undergoing and so he has taken it out on the civilians.
Prabhakaran has given clear instructions to his cadres to mobilise all civilians for the final battle and LTTE cadres have given them training.
This was revealed to me when, in my tour of the battle front I visited an Internal Displaced Camp (IDP) of civilians who had escaped from the grip of the LTTE. Old and young and children have told me that the LTTE had forcibly given them training. Any civilians who do not want to be trained, do not get their food ration quota.
An old lady of 68 said the LTTE had given her weapons training. This means the LTTE is desperately trying to build up a Grandma Brigade.
I saw one girl with two fingers amputated. She told me she went to sit her exam but LTTE cadres wanted her to join them. When she refused, the LTTE had amputated her two fingers but she said she was determined to practice writing with her left hand.
Prabhakaran keeps civilians in the North as a human shield. It is high time to intervene and rescue the civilians from Prabhakaran’s grip.
The so-called human rights organisations must be asked the vital question why they have never appealed to the LTTE to give freedom to civilians to go where ever they want.
From the battle front
The SL Army’s 58th Division commanded by Brigadier Shavindra Silva has sent his brigades to the north of Mannar up to the border of Killinochchi district.
From July 1st to August 18th, the 58th Division has advanced 36 km north of Mannar.
The exact goal of this advance cannot be mentioned because that is a sensitive military secret which should not be exposed in this column.
As the LTTE’s main supply route via sea, still lies over the Gulf of Mannar, the battlefront is considered to be of the highest strategic importance. Thus, the damage done to the LTTE in terms of destroyed bunkers; strong points and the attrition rate remain at its highest, irrespective of the relatively low land domination achieved.
On August 17th, the Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunships raided an LTTE gathering point in the general area of Nachchikudah in Killinochchi district. Troops are now heading towards Nachchikudah.
According to Air Force sources, the Air Force launched this attack around 2.30 p.m. in support of the ground troops of Task Force 1 advancing along the Mannar - Pooneryn A-32 main road. With the fall of Vellankulam, the defeated Tigers fled the last LTTE stronghold in Mannar District.
The LTTE leadership had ordered Jaffna Commander Thileepan to command, because he is one of the Counter Offensive leaders to paralyse military operations. LTTE has implemented counter attacks, but troops repulse the battle and put up stiff resistance to stop the troops’ advance.
Thileepan radioed and mobilised cadres from the Charles Anthony and Imran Pandian Brigades but, Brigadier Shavindra Silva and his Brigade commanders adopted effective battle tactics which Thileepan was unable to counter and hold Vellankulam. He abandoned Vellankulam and withdrew with the dead and wounded cadres.
Thunukkai will fall
T55 armoured battle tanks fired towards the Thunukkai frontline bunkers and destroyed them one by one.
Thunukkai is an extremely important strategic point, as well as a junction and supply route for the LTTE. Thunukkai is a built up area as well as an LTTE logistics place.
The LTTE tried its level best to defend it but the LTTE intelligence itself had advised evacuation of Thunukkai. However, Thileepan said if the SL Army captured Thunukkai, there is only Killinochchi city and Irana from Thunukkai to the Killinochchi town area, where there is jungle in between. The SL Army is well-equipped and trained for jungle warfare.
Around Thunukkai, the LTTE has built up heavily fortified concrete bunkers to safeguard it with the area heavily mined.
A battle front officer had told his officers and soldiers to overcome booby traps and mines.
Our armoured tanks will destroy their bunkers within three or four days and we will take Thunukkai. At the moment, there is only two km to Thunukkai, he said.
When Thunukkai falls within the next few days, it won’t take long for Mallavi also to fall. The fall of Mallavi will result in the fall of Mankulam on the A9 road. If the SL Army reaches the jungles at Mankulam and Kokavil, Killinochchi will become untenable.
• Latest UAV footage suggests that the LTTE is expanding its smaller runway in Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu district. The exact reason for this is still unknown, but the situation is being closely monitored, as per military intelligence warnings.
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