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LTTE
chain of command decisively weakened!
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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