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The
informant said that Charles would be travelling by van, the colour
of the van and the weapons his bodyguards would carry. He usually
travelled in a blue Pajero. For this trip, he changed the vehicle
as a security precaution.
Immediately, an elite Special Forces team was dispatched to the
area Charles was to travel through.
The Special Force team arrived at the location in enemy controlled
area.
They stayed overnight waiting. They saw LTTE cadres in the vicinity,
but stayed put, since those LTTE cadres were not their target.
On 5th afternoon, they saw their target van approaching. When the
van was within range, the Special Forces opened fire, killing all
on board. After verifying that Charles was among the dead, the teams
returned safely to their base.
The LTTE leader must be at his wits end, as to how sensitive LTTE
information leaked to the Army? After Thamilselvan’s death,
Prabakaran instructed Charles to find out how sensitive LTTE information
leaked to Sri Lankan Forces and intelligence. Charles was killed
before accomplishing the mission.
The Intelligence official said that this is counter intelligence.
There would be pros and cons in any intelligence network in the
world.
Eminent terrorism researcher Dr. Rohan Gunarathne said that, to
win the war, intelligence should be accurate, and should originate
from the within the enemy itself.
In the battlefront
The Sri Lanka Army Commander said, “The battlefield is not
a cakewalk, but we will eliminate terrorism in this country,”
further adding, “Morale is very high among our officers and
soldiers at the battlefront. When there are good results and achievements
at the battlefront it helps keep soldiers’ morale high.”
In North Mannar, 58 Div commanded by Brig. Shavindra de Silva under
Vavuniya SF Commander Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya is advancing towards
North Mannar. There is an exchange of heavy artillery by both sides,
with the use of 152mm and 130mm cannon, as well as 81 mm mortars
and MBRLs.
Despite stiff resistance from the LTTE, the Army was able to take
control of Parapakandal and Adampan south and west around the lake,
while destroying an LTTE command position. A senior officer said
that the Army recovered a female LTTE cadre’s body in a destroyed
bunker. Several LTTE cadres were killed and wounded in the battlefront,
while Army losses were negligible.
Troops of 57 Division, command by Brigadier Jagath Dias, advanced
west of Vavuniya. Small groups attacked a line of LTTE bunkers and
overran them. A senior officer from the battlefront said, “There
is only 1.5 kms to Madhu. The biggest obstacle the Army faces is
Johnny ‘battas’ and the operation is tough but slow and
steady. The strategy is to minimise Army casualties. Rather than
control territory, our main objective is to kill as many terrorists
as we can.”
A well informed source from the Tiger den said that two top LTTE
leaders, Banu and Swarnam, have been dispatched to take charge.
They have been instructed to stop troops advancing towards Mannar
and north of Vavuniya.
He further elaborated that Swarnam was a Trincomalee leader stationed
in Sampoor when troops advanced there. The LTTE withdrew to Vakarai,
and Swaranam escaped by boat to Mulathivu.
In Jaffna, SF Commander Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri has ordered General
Office Commander (GOC) 53 Division Brig. Samatha Suriyabandara and
GOC 55 Division Brig. Kamal Gunarathne to advance on the LTTE defence
line.
Three battle hardened Brigade Commanders attached to Muhamalai,
Kilali and Nagarkovil, Col. Athula Kodippili, Col. Shantha Dissanayaka
and Col. Nissanka Ranawake, respectively are leading the troops
towards the enemy line.
Several bunkers have been destroyed by small groups infiltrating
behind enemy lines and, when LTTE resistance was high, directing
accurate artillery fire at LTTE bunkers. Consequently, there were
several LTTE deaths. Army too suffered casualties due to LTTE RPG
(Rocket Propel Grenade) attacks and mines.
The LTTE leadership has appointed Theelepan as Jaffna military commander.
Theelepan met with then Army Commander Lt. Gen. Balagalle during
a prisoner swap. At the time, tri forces commanders were reluctant
to sit with terrorist leaders, but were overruled by Defence Ministry
officials. A senior military officer said that to sit with the LTTE
was an insult to legitimate military officers.
In Batticaloa, from a civilians’ tip-off, troops recovered
a large number of weapons and explosives greased and packed in polythene,
buried in Thoppigala,
Among the arms cache was one 120mm mortar gun, one 12.7mm machine
gun, one 60mm mortar gun, 450 anti personnel mines, 160 kg of TNT
explosives, 30 claymore mines, each weighing between 2 kgs and 3.4
kgs of C4 explosives and 500 electric detonators.
Although the LTTE is taking a beating in the Wanni, they are still
intact in Colombo. After they exploded a claymore in front of Nippon
Hotel, it is evident they can still mange to smuggle explosives
into Colombo.
Missiles
On January 16 after the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) ceases, the LTTE
will launch the following attacks, intelligence have alerted authorities.
LTTE targets
History has shown that when they are being defeated, they will not
only aim for economic targets, but will also aim at civilians.
Sniper fire, as in the case of former Foreign Minister Lakshman
Kadirgamar assassination.
LTTE explosives in hand
CFA
expires on January 16, but already as I mentioned last week, war
was unofficially declared by both sides on April 25, 2005, when
an LTTE suicide bomber attempted assassinating Army Commander Lt
Gen Sarath Fonseka.
Eelam War IV is tipped to officially commence on January 16, 2008.
Complex contains anti-aircraft guided missile “Igla”,
loading device and friend-enemy identification system. Last mentioned
prevents guided missile hitting USSR made helicopters and aircrafts.
After missiles launch if identification system gots information
that solider was aiming it’s own sides target missile explodes
before it reaches target.
Complex control elements are mounted in the handle. There is also
placed identification antenna. Whole identification system consists
from request receiver, antenna and electrical supply source.
Anti-aircraft guided missile “Igla” has “duck”
aerodynamic scheme fitted with solid fuel engine. Missile has infrared
guidance warhead. Warhead is fitted with logical selection device
which ignores active countermeasures and infrared traps. Missile
is launched using initial start engine which separates after leaving
loading device.
Launching device consists from launching tube and electrical supply
source. Launching tube serves as missile carrying and transporting
container.
“Igla” is fitted with dioptrical sight which is used to
notice and to track target. It is used to find range targets and
to insert overtaking angle.
Sights body has indicator signalising when target is intercepted
by guided warhead. “Igla” portable air defense missile complex is used on helicopters as an air - to - air missile as well. Usually missiles in launching devices are hanged by two or four on helicopter’s hard points. A number of missiles depend from combat mission. Charles
the man behind many massacres: Shanmuganathan
Ravishankar alias ‘Charles’ was one of the most dangerous
criminals who had planned most of the civilian massacres and terrorist
attacks in the island’s south. The most heinous civilian massacre
planned and executed by Charles was the bombing of the Central Bank,
Colombo in 1996. In this attack, 86 civilians died and over 1400
injured.
According to Defence intelligence sources, Tiger Chief Velupillai
Prabhakaran had presented a “Pajero” jeep to Charles for
his success in the Central Bank bomb attack. Charles was also known
to have been involved in terrorist attacks on the Kolonnawa fuel
depot, Kelanithissa Power plant, JOC headquarters in Colombo, and
assassinations of key political figures and armed forces personnel
in the country.
Further, it has been reported that Charles had been able to win
the confidence of Prabhakaran due to his specialised knowledge of
Colombo. According to intelligence reports, he was the principal
handler of the terrorist network in Colombo and briefed Prabhakaran
of terrorists’ attacks in the south. He was also responsible
for recruiting moles within the security forces.
However, defence.lk, through its sources in the Wanni has learnt
that there had been a long standing rivalry between Pottu Amman
and Charles. Pottu Amman, being senior to Charles in the outfit,
is said to have become jealous of Charles for his ability to win
the confidence of the terrorist leader. Just before the 2002 ceasefire,
Prabhakaran had to move Charles to Batticaloa, due to the rising
hostility between his two intelligence leaders. It was only in 2005;
that Prabhakan could bring Charles back to the Wanni. Wanni sources further say that the loss of Charles is far greater to the LTTE than that of political head S.P. Thamilselvan in November last year. Soosai’s
eulogy Col.
Charles, a great loss to LTTE
Col.
Soosai, during the eulogy said, “It is difficult to accept
losses, but without losses we cannot achieve liberation.”
Extracts from his speech follow: “When
the enemy occupied Jaffna Peninsula and was roaming around freely,
it was difficult for our cadres to find accommodation and meals.
It was during that difficult time that Col. Charles, functioning
under the leadership of Captain Morris, who was in charge of Point
Pedro area, faced the military offensives of Indian Peace Keeping
Forces (IPKF). He was later sent to Ma’nalaa’ru, where
he coordinated a number of attacks. A short while later, he returned
to Jaffna Peninsula and continued his activities, together with
the LTTE Intelligence Unit Head, Pottu Ammaan. “In
1990, Col. Charles, who was in charge of Vadamaraachchi area, up
to the time of withdrawal of IPKF, was identified by Pottu Ammaan,
Head of our Intelligence Unit as the ideal candidate to prepare
a base in the south to stage attacks from there. Stationing himself
in the south, Col. Charles staged a series of successful attacks. “He
successfully led a number of daring attacks, but once he sensed
that he was being wanted by the enemy, he quickly changed his place
of operation to Batticaloa from where he continued to launch many
more successful attacks against the enemy. “Today,
this great hero is not with us. However, the fighters trained by
him will carry on his dreams and continue the military attacks. “He
was not only an expert in staging military offensives, but he also
had a talent of freely mixing with each and every one. He developed
a very cordial relationship with our national leader. “He
did not restrict his unique type of attacks to the south, but making
use of the cadres of the newly created Liberation Tigers Military
Intelligence (MI), he led attacks in Muhamalai, smashing the Forward
Defence Lines (FDL). “It
is difficult to accept losses, but without losses we cannot achieve
liberation. “Let
us carry forward the dreams of Col. Charles and continue our freedom
fight with greater vigour,” Special Commander of the Sea Tigers
said. TamilNet |
On
January 4, a military intelligence officer received an extremely
important message from an informant in LTTE territory. It said that
LTTE military intelligence head Shanmganadan Shankar alias ‘Charles’
was scheduled to travel to Vidattalivu, Mannar, the following day
(5). Vidattalivu is one of the main Sea Tiger bases, as well as
a strategic point for unloading cargo.
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