Army makes steady progress

Army fire power is divided into five areas (Jaffna, North Mannar, North Vavuniya, South Vavuniya and Welioya) in Eelam War IV.

The LTTE has deployed their limited cadres and resources on five fronts. Therefore, the LTTE is targeting innocent civilians in the south. I mentioned in this column, two weeks ago, that the LTTE’s main intention is to withdraw troops from the battlefront for redeployment in the south.

But a senior officer said that it would never happen, as the Army has enough troops.

Double standards of Human Rights (HR) organisations

On January 16, 2008, the LTTE ambushed a bus with about 80 passengers, including school children, at Helagama on the Buttala-Moneragala Road, around 7:40 a.m. The bus was first attacked with a powerful claymore blast and then fired on by the terrorists.

Why didn’t the so called HR groups condemn this attack or make any statements? Is this because the victims were Sinhalese? Not only Sinhalese, even Muslims were killed by the LTTE, but why were the HR groups tightlipped? An NGO, working with children and women, was silent regarding the above incident. This raises serious doubts about HR INGO’s, both within and outside Sri Lanka.

HR should be applicable for the majority as well as the minority.

Some powerful countries condemned the attack, but they urged the Sri Lankan government to resume peace talks.

Jaffna battle
On the instructions of Army Commander Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka, Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri summoned a conference of field commanders at Palali military base.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 53 Div. Brig. Samantha Suriyabandara, his Deputy, GOC 55 Div. Brig Kamal Gunarathne Air Mobile Brigade Commander Col. Shantha Dissanayake, 552 Brigade Commander Col. Kapila Udalupola, 553 Brigade Commander Col. Athula Koddipili, 551 Brigade Commander Nissanka Ranawake and Artillery Brigade Commander Brig. Mahinada Hathurusinghe as well as engineering officers, were present at the high level conference.

The conference was to invade the LTTE’s forward defense line (FDL) with maximum damage and return to base.

On Monday (21) early morning, around 2:30 am, from Muhamalai, Nagar Kovil and Kilali FDLs, troops moved ahead. Small groups of soldiers crawled close to the enemy line and kept rest of troops behind, well informed of enemy movements.

LTTE cadres were taken unawares.
According to ground assessment, troops moved towards the LTTE’s FDL and attacked with RPG (rocket propelled grenades) from three areas Muhamalai, Nagar Kovil and Kilali, simultaneously.

At the same time troops requested artillery support to attack the LTTE’s second defence line. When troops attacked the LTTE’s second defence line, they weren’t able to send reinforcements and get their artillery support on a large scale. The LTTE fired 81mm mortars killing two soldiers and wounding nine.

The Army was able to destroy 24 well fortified bunkers in Muhamalai, Nagar Kovi and Kilali.

A battlefront officer said he had seen many LTTE bodies inside the bunkers.

According to LTTE transmissions many LTTE cadres died in this operation.

With strategic and tactical planning the Army were able to minimise their casualties while inflicting heavy enemy casualties, a senior military officer from Jaffna said.

The Army seems to have learned from past mistakes, when it suffered heavy casualties in similar operations in October 2006 and November 2007.

In this operation, the Army gave a clear signal of advancing toward Elephant Pass.

Area leader killed
During the ceasefire period, a powerful LTTE leader, Chengan, was operating in Jaffna. An expert in handling explosives and sophisticated weapons, he was responsible for claymore attacks on troops from time to time. He was constantly in touch with the LTTE leadership via satellite phone.

He was unable to comply with a request by the LTTE leadership to repot to Muhamalai or Pooneryn because of tight security.

Chengan was a driving force among the youth of Jaffna.

A woman he associated tipped off the Army. On January 20, troops were ready to apprehend Chengan, and went towards Thendamarachchi, north of Kaithady. The location was a chena cultivation of tobacco and beans. In a jungle 200 meters away there was a hut covered by black polythene. Troops surrounded the area and asked him to surrender. He opened fire at the troops. The troops returned fire. After a few minutes of the exchange of fire, firing ceased from the hut. On investigation, troops found a bullet-riddled body, along with a satellite phone, camouflage rifle, micro pistol, GPS and a stock of T.56 ammunition.

Mannar battle
GOC 58 Div. is leading the battle in Mannar. 581 Brigade Commander Col. Sujeewa is leading his brigade through Parappakandal, via Giant’s tank.

582 Brigade Commander Col. Heshan de Silva and 583 Brigade Commander Suraj Bansajaya are advancing with their troops towards south and west of Adampan.

From west of Adampan, it is only a km to Adampan town and from south of Adampan, it is only 2kms to Adampan town.

Yesterday, an LTTE female cadre was killed in action but troops didn’t remove the body. They waited in ambush, for the LTTE to collect the body. When the LTTE cadres arrived to collect the body, the troops opened fire and killed many LTTE cadres.

The LTTE attacked advancing troops with 81mm mortars and 2000 Pasilan (LTTE manufactured mortars), killing two soldiers and wounding 12, while troops killed around 10 LTTE cadres and recovered two bodies with weapons and radio sets.

LTTE leaders Banu, Swarnam, Luxman, and Jeam are in Mannar to coordinate the battle.

Today, early morning 2:30 am, the Army monitored ‘Tiger talk’ and fired MBRL (Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher). 57 Div. commanded by Brig. Jagath Dias advanced troops towards Madhu as well as north Mannar. Small groups and ambush teams were waiting for the LTTE to attack. Army recovered five bodies and two more in bodies in Vavuniya.

The Army handed over nine bodies to the Vavuniya Hospital and the ICRC is scheduled to hand them over to the LTTE.

In Welioya, 59 Div. troops commanded by Brig. Nandana Udawathe advanced in small groups and ambushed LTTE cadres.

“The Final War”: LTTE fundraising and extortion with in the Tamil Diaspora



The majority of Sri Lankan Tamils are found in Western Europe, India, Australia, and North America. The largest numbers are found in Canada (approximately 300,000-250,000), USA (200,000-300.000) India (approx. 150,000), UK (approx. 110,000), Germany (approx. 50,000), Switzerland, France, and Australia (approx. 30,000 each).

Although many Tamils unwillingly contribute money to the LTTE, many others do so because they feel they have little choice. The same fear that silences critics of the LTTE, prompt many members of the diaspora to provide financial support for the LTTE. In the US, Canada, the U.K., and other parts of Europe, and Australia,

LTTE representatives go house to house, visit Tamil businesses, requesting substantial sums of money, often using intimidation, coercion, and outright threats to secure pledges.

In Toronto, individual families, typically, are asked to pay between Cdn$ 2,500 and Cdn$ 5,000, while some families were reportedly asked for as much as Cdn$ 10,000. Businessmen were asked for amounts ranging from Cdn$ 25,000 to Cdn$ 100,000.

One Hindu temple reported being asked for Cdn$ 1 million.

In the US, LTTE agents maintain records of Tamils living in there. One well established Tamil businessman (IT trade, software developer) pays US$ 50,000 to LTTE, due to threats. Any Tamil living in the US, has to pay a minimum US$ 200 per month, depending on the income. If they earn more, they have to pay more.

In London, individual families were asked £ 2,000 and businesses were approached for amounts ranging from £ 10,000 to £ 100,000. Members of Tamil communities in France and Australia provide funding to the LTTE. LTTE agents maintain lists of Tamils living in Australia and their income and seek payment over the telephone.

LTTE imposed on every family a minimum of AUS$ 500 and above, depending on income.

Tamils businessmen are compelled to pay AUS$ 5,000 to 20,000

What does the LTTE spend this money on?

Purchasing -

Arms and ammunition

Communication equipment

Chemicals

Ships

Aircrafts parts and small Aircrafts

Medicines

War related materials

Funding -

Propaganda

Bribes for MPs in respective

countries

For various Media personnel

For Military officers in

respective countries

Billions flow into the LTTE coffers and it has its own business organisations such as restaurants, clubs, transportation and shipping network. They also invest in stocks in the respective countries.

LTTE can influence politicians and diplomats through funds. At the moment they are doing so and despite the Sri Lankan public being aware of it, the authorities turn a blind eye.

Although LTTE is banned in these countries, there is strong funding for the LTTE from the US, Canada, India and Euope.

Source: bottomline.lk