A new threat looms over the advancing troops in the Wanni war theatre. The Sri Lanka Army, just five kilometres away from the administrative headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were pushing forward, when, on two separate occasions they came under unexpected non-lethal gas attacks in the Kilinochchi district. This situation has raised concerns among defence officials.
On Monday evening, troops from the 57 Division fighting in the Akkarayankulam area in Kilinochchi district noticed some soldiers behaving in an unusual manner Several soldiers had started vomiting and there were burn injuries on a few of them as well. All the affected soldiers developed breathing difficulties. Soon some six soldiers of the battalion were rushed to the Anuradhapura hospital and special attention was given to these soldiers with several doctors of the hospital examining them. Later it was revealed that these soldiers had suffered a gas attack.
Following this situation the Defence Ministry’s top brass immediately discussed the precautionary measures that should be taken to prevent this latest threat.
Twelve hours after the first attack, soldiers in Vannivilankulam in the Mullaitivu district on the next morning also came under a similar kind of gas attack . At least ten soldiers were evacuated after showing signs of exposure to a chemical compound which induced breathing difficulties, vomiting and tearing of the eyes.
It was later revealed that the LTTE had used two canisters with CS gas in grenade launchers to attack the military in the battlefield.
By Wednesday evening, gas masks were provided to frontline soldiers and as such ongoing military operations were not affected.
A special investigation however was launched into the incident and it is believed that gas canisters were used for this attack. Earlier there were no official comments in this regard but on Wednesday evening the Army Headquarters released a statement claiming that it was ready to face any kind of gas attack in the future.
The Army said:
The Sri Lanka Army, as one of the most professional and battle-hardened outfits in the South Asia region, is fully equipped and well geared to face any unacceptable ‘chemical or gas attacks of the enemy.
The assurance comes in the wake of allegations that Tiger terrorists, now struggling for survival in the Wanni are resorting to ‘gas attacks’ against the Security Forces and that some soldiers were already affected. A few soldiers in the Wanni during their encounters with the enemy in the most recent past developed breathing difficulties following emission of a gas, believed to have been directed by the Tigers towards the advancing troops.
Investigations into the incident soon after admission of those soldiers to the hospitals have affirmed that the Tiger terrorists have used CS gas, generally used for anti-hijack or hostage operations. Produced in 1928, the name CS gas came to be known after the death of its founders Ben Corson and Roger Staughton.
The Army while reiterating its capacity to challenge any such threats in the future has already distributed gas masks among the troops fighting in the Wanni.
It is also pertinent to note here that the use of any chemical or gas in warfare goes against UN stipulated Conventions and worldwide accepted norms, the Army said.
Meanwhile, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka in the state media stated that his troops were ready to face any such future attack and vowed if necessary it would use a more powerful gas against the LTTE.
“If the LTTE fires CS canisters at us we have the capability to fire more powerful gases against them as we have the mandate as a sovereign state to make use of these gases to curb any terror activity of the LTTE,” the Commander had told the paper. Despite reports that the LTTE is having chemical weapons and would use them to attack the advancing military, still there is no substantial evidence to prove that the Tigers possess such chemical weapons.
However in a recent statement Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said that the government believed that the Tamil Tigers do not have any chemical weapons. Sources also said that an international private investigation unit had informed Sri Lanka that according to their inquiries there were no reports of Tamil Tigers having chemical weapons. The said unit is also inquiring as to whether the LTTE has direct or indirect links with the Al- Qaeda.
Army Commandos and Special Force units are trained during their basic training to face any kind of gas attack and as such the frontline soldiers who comprise mainly of Commandos and Special Force units would be able to easily handle this situation.There have been no reactions so far from the Tamil Tigers about the gas attacks on the military .
During Wednesday’s Security Council meeting the latest LTTE gas attack was also discussed in depth. Army Commander Fonseka gave a detailed report on the attack including the precautionary measures taken soon after the incident to protect the military from such future attacks.
The government has put in place contingency plans for a possible chemical attack by the LTTE against the security forces fighting in the North.
Earlier in the week, Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva instructed officials to immediately dispatch extra health staff, medicines and equipment to the North to face any contingency situation that may arise in the event of a chemical attack on the security forces.
Troops closing in on Kilinochchi
Fierce fighting continued in the Wanni region during the past few weeks. On Wednesday the military claimed that the troops were now operating some one kilometre away from the A-9 road at Thirumurungavil, north of Kokavil.
Troops of the Task Force I (58 division), captured the entire 1.5 km-long Karambakulam tank bund, about 11 km northeast of Nachchikuda by Wednesday afternoon, consequent to a close fire fight that saw twenty-five Tiger terrorists killed and a similar number badly injured.
So far the troops have captured a total of nearly 8 kilometres of the 20 kilometres long earth bund that was built connecting Nachchikuda and Akkarayankulam in order to prevent the advancing troops.
Troops also captured another important area Mulungavil, located north of Nachchikuda. Though the troops were operating north of Nachchikuda, they were unable to enter Nachchikuda because of heavy fighting in the area. The military have now reached the Nachchikuda boundary and will soon be in the town area.
Currently, both the 57 and 58 divisions are operating together in Akkarayankulam, where during the heavy fighting that took place, a large number of fighters from both sides were killed and injured.
Another brigade of the 58 Division captured Vannivilankulam area, less than 2 kilometres away from Mankulam junction on the A-9 road.
The 57 divisions and the Special Forces unit also captured Murunkandi near Kokavil while Task Force II or the 62 Division was moving towards the A-9 from Palamoddai. Meanwhile, the 61 Division who were in Madhu area and not involved in an offensive role is now tasked to hold the areas which were cleared by the 57 Division .The 56 Division led by Major General Jagath Rambukpotha, which has also played no offensive role was tasked to carry out an offensive with Task Force II, that is moving towards the A-9 from Palamoddai area.
What is CS gas?
CS gas is the common name for 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, a substance that is used as a riot control agent and is generally accepted as being non-lethal. CS was discovered by two Americans, Ben Corson and Roger Staughton, at Middlebury College in 1928. CS was developed and tested secretly at Porton Down in Wiltshire, England, in the 1950s and 1960s. CS was used first on animals, then subsequently on British Army servicemen volunteers. Notably, CS has a limited effect on animals due to ‘under-developed tear-ducts and protection by fur”.
Many types of teargas and other riot control agents have been produced with effects ranging from mild tearing of the eyes to immediate vomiting and prostration. CN (chloroacetophenone) and CS are the most widely used and known, but around 15 different types of teargas have been developed worldwide. CS has become the most popular due to its strong effect and lack of toxicity in comparison with other similar chemical agents. The effect of CS on a person will depend on whether it is packaged as a solution or used as an aerosol; the size of solution droplets and the size of the CS particulates after evaporation are factors determining its effect on the human body.
Persons who have had contact with CS sometimes develop allergic contracted dermatitis, with blisters and crust. Studies show that most of the effects are of a relatively short term, but even after months some individuals may notice some mild effects.
Prabha was not there?
Last Wednesday morning a fleet of Mig-27 supersonic jets were airborne for another air raid on LTTE targets. Unlike on other occasions their task this time was to destroy a location which was frequented by LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran in the Vattakachchi area north of the Iranamadu tank.
According to the Air Force, the target was accurately identified and completely destroyed. The raid was carried out following reliable ground information that the LTTE Chief was to visit the place around 6.30 am on that day.
Though the target was destroyed, until now there is no confirmation about the damage caused by the attack. Intelligence sources are still unable to get any confirmation, but claimed that it was not likely that the Tiger leader would have gone there, since the security forces were operating some seven kilomtres away from the targeted location.
Houses of several senior LTTE leaders including Tiger intelligence Chief Pottu Amman are located in this area. Intelligence sources confirm that due to the air attack few senior cadres may have been killed.
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