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Army
heading for LTTE’s HSZs
Sri
Lanka Army (SLA) troops are now moving towards the LTTE’s
High Security Zone (HSZ).
Progress is slow because the path ahead is lined with mines
and booby traps.
Troops have to traverse through jungle and open area as well
through some villages too.
A reliable source reported that, the LTTE had ordered the
villagers to vacate their houses and confine themselves to
LTTE controlled areas and used older civilians as human shields.
The LTTE has positioned snipers to attack troops, according
to a battlefront officer who said that this LTTE strategy
is well known to the SLA.
The Army’s main aim is to overrun the LTTE heartland,
so that, the innocent civilians could be freed from the grip
of the Tigers and then destroy their weapons, armaments, equipment,
ordnance and infrastructure.
To eradicate terrorism in any country, the main counter terrorism
method is to destroy terrorist infrastructure and raw materials
used for manufacturing explosives as well as to build up a
solid intelligence network.
SLA success within a year
While the war in the Eastern Province was going on, the SLA
Chief conducted limited operations on the Northern front with
Special Infantry Oriented Trained (SIOT) troops who infiltrated
enemy territory and eliminated the enemy under the maxim of
‘maximum deaths for the enemy and minimum deaths for
the troops.’
He set up additional Offensive Divisions 57 and 59, Task Force
1 or 58 Division, 56 Division and Task Force 2 to confront
the LTTE on many fronts. In future, more Divisions’ will
be created to counter the enemy and increase the strength
of the Elite Commandos and Special Forces
The targets were Kilinochchi and Mulativu.
Battle-hardened General Officer Commanders (GOCs) and Brigade
Commanders worked according to a perfect military plan while
Wanni Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya
supervised offensives on the instructions of the Army Commander.
Remarkable support from the Artillery and Armoured Corps with
their fire power destroyed LTTE military installations and
killed its cadres. The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) too, accurately
bombed and destroyed LTTE military installations.
Operation Jaya Sikuru The objective of Operation Jayasikuru
was to open the A9 Road. Operation Jayasikuru was the longest
operation in Sri Lanka, taking nearly two years, beginning
on May 13, 1997 and ending on November 5, 1999. Yet, the troops
were able to reach only Oddusuddan and a little further north,
after capturing Omanthai, Kanakarayankulam, Olumadu and Mankulam.
The operation kicked off from Vavuniya with only one front.
The lack of a military plan and unheeding intelligence warnings
by the then field commanders, led to troops marching on to
Oddusuddan.
In that time, LTTE leader Prabhakaran summoned eastern leader
Karuna and carried out two successful counteroffensives from
the rear at Oddusuddan junction, with the result that, the
entire operation ended in a debacle. Then President Chandrika
Kumaratunga ordered the Army Commander to set up a court martial
and punish the senior officers responsible.
Battlefront
‘Eelam War IV’ is now entering a decisive phase.
In the Mannar sector, the security forces have progressed
during the last two weeks to Mulankavil (south-east of Nachchikudah
on the Mannar coast) on the A32 Road to Pooneryn and entered
the Kilinochchi District. At the moment, they are positioned
northeast of Nachchikudah, five kms inside Kilinochchi District
at Vannerikulam.
They are linking the Tunukkai-Mallavi line, west of Mankulam
on the A9 Highway, increasing the threat to the LTTE’s
Pooneryn and Kilinochchi defences. This should put the LTTE
in a dilemma as the security forces have two options - to
strike along the A32 Road to Pooneryn withholding operations
along the Tunukkai-Uyilankulam-Mallavi sector, or proceed
the other way, to threaten Kilinochchi. Both options are viable,
as they have another Task Force guarding the eastern flank
of 57 Division operating close to the A9 Road. 57 Division
troops have moved to the west of Mallavi and east of Mankulam,
as well as to the west of Akkarayankulam tank.
The Vavuniya front is in the northern section of the Vavuniya
District lying between Omanthai and Mankalam, and also on
either side of the A9 Road. Troops of Task Force 2, 56 Division
and 61 Division are operating on the Vavuniya front at present.
61 Division troops are mainly engaged in clearing operations
in the recently liberated areas of both Mannar and Vavuniya
Districts. 56 Division troops maintain active defense on the
line that stretches from east to west across the A9 Road at
Omanthai as well as conduct offensive too.
Troops of Task Force 2 carry out counteroffensives along the
northwestern border of the Vavuniya District west of the A9
Road.
To date, they have liberated Navvi village and are now in
the process of liberating the Palamoddai area.
In the WeliOya sector, though 59 Division has managed to capture
the Andankulam bases, one by one, of One Four Base
Troops’ battlefront successes has been purely due to
leadership and military tactics, higher coordination of the
war involving multiple formations, effective use of Special
Forces and Commandos in tandem, with conventional operations
and retaining the military initiative at all times, with the
SLAF MI 24 helicopter gunships giving tremendous support to
the ground troops.
During the last six months, the LTTE has lost its operational
capabilities considerably, forcing the group to specifically
target military logistics.
LTTE leader Prabhakaran had three leaders specially trained
in counteroffensives and counterattacks. They were Balraj,
Karan and Thileepan, of who only Thileepan remains.
He was the Jaffna commander, but when the SLA advance intensified,
Thileepan was appointed overall commander and ordered to carry
out counteroffensives and counterattacks, which were successfully
repulsed by the Army.
The LTTE does not have reserve cadres for counteroffensives
because their cadres are limited and those cadres are defensive.
More critical has been the ground lost during this period.
The LTTE is now confined to a much smaller area than what
it previously controlled.
The SLA has entered Kilinochchi and Mulativu Districts. LTTE
supply lines have been crippled, one by one - first, on account
of the group being completely cut off from the rest of the
country by the SLA and second, due to the strict vigilance
maintained at sea, so that, most of the LTTE’s overseas
supplies were blocked. The LTTE has clearly lost its advantage
over the security forces and remain surrounded on all three
sides by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces
Reasons for LTTE setback
There are several reasons for the LTTE’s present state.
Firstly, Sri Lanka is not alone in fighting the rebel forces
this time. It has active support from its neighbours India
and the Maldives, besides the US and Canada.
It is clear that, without timely and effective assistance
from the Indian Navy and the Coastguard, the Sea Tigers could
not have been weakened. No less significant has been the contribution
of Tamil Nadu Police’s ‘Q’ Branch, which did
a commendable job in reining in the rebel activists and sympathisers
in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The LTTE’s capabilities to retain its hold over the areas
it traditionally claimed to be its own, has suffered, in part,
from the hostile attitude of the countries which once supported
its formation by providing training facilities to its cadres
and in part, from the leadership crisis within the group.
As most of the LTTE’s senior leaders were either killed
or are suffering from age-related problems, it faces an acute
shortage of well-trained and experienced leadership. Official
estimates put the figure at five to six experienced commanders.
It is widely believed that, the LTTE still has about 3,000
hardcore fighters, which it has reserved for its ‘final
battle’. Some observers say that a large number of these
foot soldiers are underage and are novices. No group with
such a shortage of men and commanders could hope to retain
territory or regain lost ground. Shortage of arms and ammunition
has only added to the LTTE’s growing difficulties. LTTE
cadres are demoralised.
To win a conventional war or for a successful guerilla campaign,
either side which dominates on the ground and produces result
has to have a very high morale. To win a battle, morale is
vital.
The LTTE today, is battling for survival. The mounting losses
have forced the group to retreat on several fronts. It is
now targeting the South, to ease the pressure from the security
forces in the North. It has turned to the time-tested method
of guerrilla warfare and its future strategy would be on similar
lines. It must, however, be said that, a complete decimation
of the group, despite the current setbacks, would remain a
remote possibility.
As earlier reported, intelligence has it that, Imran Pandian
Brigade provided bodyguards for Prabhakaran, his wife and
son.
In the aftermath of the capture of Tunukkai, he has reportedly
released 100 of his own cadres to the battlefront.
Are they to ‘Do or Die’ according to Prabhakaran’s
order? Or are they to surrender?
Pakistan promises ammunition
Pakistan has promised ‘one shipload of wherewithal every
10 days’ in the coming months, to help the SLA’s
fight-to-a-finish push against the LTTE. And are preparing
for their final push against the LTTE, to enter the LTTE heartland
within months.
Such an intensive military operation would need large quantities
of ammunition for an effective and decisive offensive. Sri
Lanka, traditionally, has been accessing weapons and ammunition
from China, Pakistan, and the East European countries. Pakistan’s
promised help was the result of the personal rapport between
Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and the Pakistan Army’s
Chief of Staff Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
Kayani has assured that, he would divert the ammunition from
his army’s own war reserves, rather than wait for the
ordnance factories to deliver, said a reliable source.
Pakistan had earlier, in 2000, helped Sri Lanka with Multi-Barrel
Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) and ammunition, when the SLA was
under LTTE siege in Jaffna. Significantly, early this month,
Pakistan had offered Sri Lanka a Defence Pact to strengthen
military cooperation between the countries.
Not only Pakistan, there are many other countries supporting
Sri Lanka to eradicate terrorism.
What is the next move from the SLA and the LTTE?
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