Tigers await the inevitable end

 Vavuniya Security Forces (SF) Commander Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya said, as this column was being written yesterday, that troops of 58 Division have captured Puthukudyiruppu junction after heavy fighting with the LTTE. He added that, his troops were advancing further into the LTTE’s last bastion. There are only 45 sq km remaining for the LTTE.

 Stalking the prey
 This soldier is a marksman. In other words, he is an expert sniper who has won several accolades for marksmanship in many a contests. He is from Task Force VIII commanded by Col. Ravipriya, and was on duty as a sniper a few days ago. This is how he and his comrade went about to bag an LTTE area leader recently.

The soldier (name withheld for security reasons), along with his assistant, climbed a tree to get one of the high profile LTTE targets that he has been ‘gunning’ for days. They settled down in the small hut they had built among the branches of a huge tree. They had their ration packs. They stayed put on the tree, and took turns to sleep. Their target was the high profile LTTE leader.

 On February 4, the duo woke up and monitored the Puthukudyirippu township. In the evening, two persons on motorcycles arrived, followed by a black double cab. A person, believed to be an LTTE leader, stepped out of the cab and started giving instructions to the rest of the cadres. He seemed to be instructing them on booby-trapping the entire Puthukudyirippu town before the Sri Lanka Army advanced on it. The entire episode was monitored through the binoculars by the sniper’s aide, giving the sniper the distance and range of his target. But, the other Tiger cadres moving about the leader, were covering the target, making it difficult to take a shot. Patiently, the sniper stalks his target through his ‘sights’, with his finger on the trigger. He waits. Suddenly, he gets a clear and undisturbed view of his target. He pulls the trigger. He sees the bullet hit the Tiger leader’s head and the victim fall to the ground. The two soldiers climb down from the tree and vanish.

The LTTE cadres evacuate the victim immediately, while maintaining radio silence for a few hours, indicating that the target was a high profile leader.

 Troops on the move
 Troops belonging to 58 Division commanded by Brig. Shavendra Silva, with 581 Brigade under Lt. Col. Deshapriya Gunawardane advanced from North to South in an open area, while 582 Brigade under Lt. Col. Sanjaya Wanigasinghe with 12 Gajaba Regiment (GR) under Maj. Saliya Amunugama, 10 GR under Maj. Janaka Udovita and 9 Gemunu Watch (GW) under Lt. Col. Lal Chandrasiri are on their way to overcome the earth bund and explosives trappings. Troops tactically overcame the obstacles and advanced further from West to East towards Puthukudiirippu town amidst heavy resistance. Troops backed by the 5 Armoured Corp. under Lt. Col. Sarada Samarakoon with their T-55 battle tanks, were able to destroy the well established LTTE concrete bunkers.

53 Division under Brig. Kamal Gunarathne, with his Task Force VIII, with 681 Brigade under Col. Lalantha Gamage and 682 Brigade under Lt. Col. Subash Welikala were advancing at the time this column was being written. The distance to Puthukudyirippu was only 200 metres. Task Force VIII was advancing from South to North towards the LTTE’s earth bund. Col. Ravipriya deployed his two battalions to demolish the earth bund and 14 GR under Lt. Col. Janaka Pallekumbura and 4 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (VIR) under Maj. Rohitha Aluvihare, successfully overcame the obstacles.

Battle  in Chalai
Advancing troops of 55 Division from South of Chalai, crossed the bay-mouth and landed north of Palamattalan on Saturday (28) morning and breached the LTTE’s earth bund and a bunker line across the strip. Heavy fighting erupted the previous day and continued until troops established their positions in the area after capturing the 2 km long earth bund.

 Sea Tigers counterattack
 In the wee hours of Monday (2), troops of 55 Division noticed by radar at least 10 Sea Tiger boats moving from the direction of the ‘Safe Zone’ southeast of Chalai, and alerted all troops along the coastline.

As the flotilla drew closer to shore in the darkness, a barrage of artillery burst, and 12.7mm machine gunfire was directed at it, forcing the Tiger boats to turn away while suffering extensive damages.

The artillery used a different tactic than on land to fire at the advancing Tiger boats. The gunners removed a fuse in the artillery shell before firing. This makes the ammunition explode in mid air, spreading the heated shrapnel and munitions over a wide area. This had caused extensive damage to the Tiger boats, thus forcing the remaining boats to flee. Ten LTTE boats were completely destroyed in the confrontation. Intercepted LTTE communications confirmed that a senior Sea Tiger ground commander was among the dead.

Troops found a large number of weapons including a 12.7mm anti-aircraft weapon from the area.

On Friday (27), from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., there were 15 counterattacks mounted by the Sea Tigers and almost all had been led by Sea Tiger Leader Soosai and Vidusha, as confirmed by intercepted radio messages.

On Sunday (March 1) troops of 55 Division detected three Tiger infiltrators, who had arrived by sea at Palamattalan, and cordoned off the area and opened fire. One female LTTE cadre committed suicide by detonating a suicide jacket, while the others fled amidst continuous fire by the troops.  

The final battle – Urban warfare 
In this final battle, troops engaged the LTTE in urban warfare, with house-to-house fighting. The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) deployed its commandos, like they did at Muttur in Trincomalee during and after the battle for Mavil Aru in 2005. At that juncture, the 1st Commando Regiment was flown from Jaffna to Trincomalee. These fighting men were led by then Maj. and presently Lt. Col. Ravindra Hadunpathirana, accomplished their mission in double quick time.

Compared to Muttur in Trincomalee, Puthukudyirippu is different, because this is the last bastion of the LTTE and it has no other place to withdraw to. They use their maximum firepower, which too, was depleting fast. The morale of its cadres too is currently very low, as they know very well that, they are going to be defeated by the SLA. Their last resort will be to carry out suicide missions in the battle, said a senior military officer in the battlefront.

“We are expecting that kind of attack. But troops are moving slowly as the LTTE has booby trapped the entire township with explosives. The Sri Lanka Army Field Engineers are in the process of defusing the mines and traps with the help of infantrymen and elite Special Forces.

 Prabhakaran trying to evade advancing forces
 LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran is said to be guarded by some 50 hardcore Black Tigers, some of whom are said to be relatives of his wife Madivadani. He is reported to be changing bunkers and is now directly commanding the battle, with Bhanu, Jeyam, Theepan and Vidusha commanding the frontline, while Sea Tiger Leader Soosai has been deployed along the coast.

 Well informed sources from Thailand revealed that the LTTE leader had made a call through his satellite phone to Kumar Padmanathan alias ‘KP’ and asked him to take care of Prabhakaran’s wife and the children. At the same time he has reportedly asked KP to lobby the international community to stop the war. Thereafter KP has had conversations with LTTE representatives in India, the USA, UK and the European Union.

When the LTTE mounted a counterattack in Mullaithivu, the target had been the 59 Division’s commandos. After foiling their attempt, the commandos said that the infiltrating LTTE cadres didn’t have enough supplies of arms and ammunition and their food too could not sustain a long stay in hiding.

Heavy weapons recovered
In Mullaittivu, 57 Division troops in Vishvamadu area conducted a search and clear operation in the general area of Verakulam, northeast of Vishvamadu on Monday (2) morning and recovered two 122mm artillery gun barrels, two 130mm artillery gun barrels, four 122mm artillery gun trailers and two 130mm artillery gun trailers concealed in the area by the Tigers who had vacated the area before it was captured.
 

Secret plans to safeguard LTTE international arms smuggler-KP

The LTTE has a strong international procurement link for arms and ammunition and also a shipping network. This network has been extensively used to smuggle items to Sri Lanka. These ships are used as floating warehouses and large stocks of arms and ammunitions said to be stored onboard these floating warehouses. The LTTE shipping network has operated from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, in Chinese waters and largely in the Bay of Bengal. In 2006 and 2007, the Sri Lankan Navy destroyed several LTTE floating warehouses operating in the Bay of Bengal.

 KP, wanted by Interpol and several intelligence agencies including the FBI, and blacklisted as an arms smuggler, is the key procurement agent of the outfit. He operates from Thailand and has been involved in many arms procurement missions for the LTTE. He has been seen almost all over South East Asia procuring arms and ammunition for the LTTE. These procurements range from small arms ammunition to SA – 14 type, Surface to Air Missiles, Chinese built 130mm, 152mm artillery pieces, and several cargo ships and Checz built Zlin 143 aircraft.

 Reports say that KP was recently arrested in Thailand, but had managed to escape. International reports recently said that the LTTE had announced that KP has been appointed as its negotiator cum international spokesman in place of Anton Balasingham and several communiqués too, had been issued under his name. The LTTE has urged several countries to accept KP as the chief negotiator and spokesperson of the LTTE. However, the response to this request remains unknown. KP has been instructed to procure arms and ammunition for the LTTE under cover of his diplomatic name. Moreover, KP is to overcome his present status as a blacklisted arms smuggler and wanted person by Interpol, by using his present position as negotiator. International sources reported that KP is now exploring procurements for the LTTE for its final battle. The LTTE is cornered and in its last stages of existence due to the successful military operations conducted by the Sri Lankan military. Reportedly, the LTTE hierarchy has urged KP to use his new appointment to visit all countries and procure arms and ammunitions to save the Eelam cause.

International sources have indicated that representatives of foreign supporters have made several attempts to meet with KP, and had even guaranteed him protection from capture by the authorities and intelligence agencies. 

It is learnt that these foreign supporters are continuously making attempts to bring pressure on Sri Lanka to agree to a ceasefire with the LTTE, in order to give time for KP to procure arms and ammunition to fight the Sri Lanka military.

 Puthukudyiruppu revealed as major LTTE arms base

 On February 27, 58 Division advanced towards Puthukkudyiruppu build-up area from the Northwest, East and South. Amidst heavy resistance, troops consolidated their positions. Search operations conducted by 10 GR troops under Maj. Janaka Odavita, revealed high-tech communication equipment, some of which were buried. The LTTE’s high tech communication were in a fully air conditioned building and the air-conditioning equipment had been removed or destroyed by the fleeing LTTE cadres. Troops also recovered a sound proof generator along with some air-conditioners.

(This column revealed the LTTE station on November 26, 2008)

Troops recovered a satellite uplink facility and some 40 terminals which could up-link LTTE video footage to Nidarsanam, a pro-LTTE television channel and also provide video footages to international television stations and pictures for news agencies, while at the same time transfer data. Troops recovered 12 fixed satellite phones and Norwegian donated radio broadcast equipment. These satellite uplinks help to communicate with the LTTE’s international network via email. Troops also recovered 12 desktop computers. Before its retreat, the LTTE had destroyed five of the computers. An intelligence officer had told the Asian Tribune that the LTTE may have in its possession more satellite equipment. This column had earlier pointed out the existence of satellite links through which Velupillai Prabhakaran kept in touch with his overseas contacts.

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