Doomsday at hand for LTTE

“As the Commander-in-Chief, I am very proud of our Army” -President

“As the Commander-in-Chief, I am very proud of our Army, and they are the world’s number one, as have been proved by their deeds. 99%of the LTTE, its leaders, cadres and infrastructure have been destroyed. There is no way the LTTE can raise its head again. I ask the remaining LTTE cadres to surrender. We will look after them and rehabilitate them. We will make them good and productive citizen of this country,” said the President.
This column, in an earlier issue, published an exclusive interview with anti-terrorism researcher Prof. Rohan Gunaratne, in which, he too, declared that, Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces are the number one in the world. They have destroyed the myth that V. Prabhakaran’s LTTE, the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation was unbeatable. The Armed Forces have defeated the only terrorist outfit that possessed land, sea and air fighting capabilities – which no other terrorist organisation in the world possessed. This myth was well and truly dispelled within a matter of two years. The entire Nation should salute the Armed Forces, regardless of differences in their political agenda. 

Security Forces (SF) plan further moves
Meanwhile, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka is discussing further plans with his Ground Commanders for the final push on the LTTE, now cornered in the government declared ‘No Fire’ Zone (NFZ) intended for civilians. The remaining LTTE cadres and leaders are said to be mingling with the civilians, to avoid confronting the advancing SF.
According to reports, the Army is planning a major tactical offensive, to save the civilians in the NFZ from the Tigers’ clutches. This operation is to be like no other carried out anywhere in the world.
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) UAV took photographs of the NFZ, and it appears that, the LTTE has constructed earth bunds in the West, North and South, as well as dug trenches for shelter.
 Prabhakaran, a dejected and forlorn leader
The LTTE leader, once the most ruthless terrorist leader in the world, is an utterly disenchanted and desperate person, as this column is being written. Most of his top and middle level leaders have been killed by the SF. His greatest love, his elder son Charles Anthony Seelan is injured and reportedly, receiving treatment at a makeshift hospital in the NFZ.
Intelligence reports indicate that Prabhakaran was in Puthukkudiyrippu, commanding the battle in the last square kilometer on March 30. When the LTTE was surrounded, Prabhakaran, along with a few others, had managed to escape into the NFZ, leaving behind Prabakaran’s birth certificate and other important documents. Top level leaders Soosai, Pottu Amman, Kapil Amman and Ratnam Master of its intelligence division, are said to be with their leader.
Prabhakaran may escape
The LTTE has built a significant support base in Malaysia. KP’s original operational headquarters was in Penang. A few weeks ago, KP visited Malaysia to prepare for Prabhakaran.
A desperate Prabhakaran is said to have ordered Sea Tiger leader Soosai to get 15 small but fast boats ready for Prabhakaran and his son Charles Anthony to flee to the deep seas, and from there, to board a ship, chartered and kept ready by the LTTE’s procurement head KP. This is reminiscent of the manner in which LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham fled the island in the late 1990s, for medical assistance in a foreign country.
 When this columnist inquired of the possibility of Prabhakaran escaping this way, acting Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Spokesman Commander Mahesh Karunaratne said that this was a very difficult task, even for the LTTE chief, as the naval blockade is very, very competent.
 LTTE’s mysterious weapon uncovered
During the battle on April 4, for the last remaining square kilometre under LTTE control, the 58 Division recovered a 30mm anti-aircraft gun. This was of a type that even the government forces were not in possession of. This paddle operated four-barreled gun has been identified as the ‘mysterious weapon’ often cited by the SLAF fighter pilots, as having fired at them during their missions. How did this weapon arrive in Sri Lanka, is the million dollar question. This weapon, with a capacity of at least 600 rounds per minute, was used by the LTTE to fire at troops, causing untold casualties.
The LTTE  too, captured  Artillery belonging  to the Army in Mullaitivu and Elephant Pass in early 1990, but the LTTE  has other Artillery guns, not captured from the Army.  
Army Chief goes north
On April 4 morning, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, along with his senior officers flew to Vavuniya SF Headquarters onboard a MI-17 helicopter. He attended a conference with his ground  commanders, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 53 Division Maj. Gen Kamal Gunaratne, GOC 59 Division Maj. Gen. Nandana Udawatte, GOC 58 Division Brig. Shavendra Silva, Director Operations- Brig. Chargi Gallage, Director- Military Intelligence, Brig. Udaya Perera, Task Force VIII Commander Col. G.V. Ravipriya and two Brigade  Commanders of the Special Forces and Commandos. 
Vavuniya SF Commander Maj. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya briefed his commanders, followed by the rest of the GOCs and the Elite Forces. Brigade Commanders briefed the Army Chief on the ground situation. After the briefing from the ground commanders, Lt. Gen. Fonseka told his officers that according to his estimate there were more than 200 LTTE cadres trapped inside Puthukkudiyirippu.
In operations carried out after the briefing by the Army Chief, the entire group of Tiger leaders were trapped , after the Special Forces and Commandos bypassed their defenses and cut them off from the rear. The operation was launched by a combined 53 Division, 58 Division and Task Force 8, when they crept into LTTE areas on two flanks. The two infiltrations joined-up at the rear of the LTTE defences, right up to the NFZ, and boxed in the Tigers.
Special Forces are number one
In Eelam War IV, the Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Teams infiltrated LTTE territory and killed middle level leaders and distanced the top leaders from the normal cadres. This tactic had rendered a tremendous impact on the battle. Losing a leader for the LTTE is a serious blow. This has been a breakthrough in winning the battle, when north of Puthukkudiyirippu was counterattacked by the LTTE. During this battle, the Special Forces were airlifted to the area. They successfully repulsed the counterattack and killed more than 32 LTTE cadres.  
The Special Forces were stationed inside Tiger controlled areas and their outskirts. They were the first to attack the LTTE cadres, as well as give necessary fire support for the infantry troops. The Special Forces alone were able to kill more than 127 LTTE cadres in this battle.
Only a few Tiger leaders remain
 By April 5, Prabhakaran was a shocked man, as most of his senior leaders were dead or critically wounded, except Sea Tiger Leader Soosai, Pottu Amman, military intelligence head Ratnam Master and his deputy Kapil Amman. These are the only top rung leaders now with Prabhakaran. Sornam too is said to be seriously wounded with one leg amputated, according to the military Intercepted LTTE communication revealed that, Adithyan, the LTTE’s former Welioya in-charge, was also among the dead, while Lawrence and Bhanu are reportedly seriously injured. The latter, who was in over-all charge of the LTTE’s artillery and mortar unit, has sustained severe injuries, according to intercepted LTTE communication.
What will Prabhakaran do?
The question now is what will Prabhakaran do? Surely, he will not commit suicide, say military sources, pointing out that, he is a multi-billion dollar person, and would want to live longer. Nor will he surrender to the government, as it would open the way for India to ask Sri Lanka to extradite him for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi. 
Prabhakaran’s health and the rumours  
There were rumours that LTTE intelligence head Pottu Amman and Prabhakaran were in very poor health. But a senior military officer said they were able to capture one of the doctors, who had treated LTTE cadres, and he said that, he had seen Prabhakaran in Puthukkudiyirippu and in good health. Prabakaran escaped from Puthukkudiyirippu on April 30.  
To go in sequence, the battle for the last square kilometre under LTTE control proceeded as follows:
LTTE sunk
Special Forces, Commandos and Task Force 8, along with 681 Brigade under Lt. Col. Lalantha Gamage and 682 Brigade under Lt. Col. Subash Welikala, were led by Col. G.V. Ravipriya. The 58 Division had 582 Brigade led by Col. Sanjaya Wanigasinghe and 581 Brigade led by Lt. Col. Deshapriya Gunawardane.
During fierce fighting on April 5, east of Puthukkudiyirippu, over 400 terrorists were reportedly killed, including senior LTTE rankers Theepan (LTTE’s former ‘northern region’ chief), Ruben, Nagesh, Gaddafi (Prabhakaran’s former bodyguard), Vidusha (Malathi regiment female wing head), Durga (Soothiya female wing head) and Kamalini, military sources said.
April 1: Special Forces, 53 Division, Task Force VIII and 58 Division troops pushed remaining LTTE cadres into vulnerable positions, killing dozens of them and seizing a large haul of weapons. Reports from 53 Division troops confirmed over 120 LTTE bodies scattered in the area. Over 400 Tigers were killed since the Military began fresh advances towards the remaining LTTE defences.
The LTTE faced utter defeat with the loss of its longstanding ‘military’ presence at Puthukkudiyirippu, losing over 420 fighting cadres, including over a dozen ‘high rankers’, during four days of pitched battles.
According to reports, 53 Division and Task Force VIII had recovered over 130 bodies of LTTE cadres, including those of Theepan, Panjan, Keerthi and Mahindan (a senior Sea Tiger). The 5 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (VIR), 6 Gajaba Regiment (GR) infantrymen and Special Forces had recovered 64, 23 and 43 LTTE bodies respectively, during subsequent search operations, security sources said.
April 5: The LTTE’s ‘artillery wing’ head Manniwannan was killed in fighting, hours after troops seized control of Puthukkudiyirippu. The remaining LTTE cadres were forced to fight the Sri Lankan Army outside the NFZ and faced total annihilation, as the soldiers engaged in hand to hand combat against them in certain instances in Puthukkudyiruppu East.
The 5 VIR led by Lt. Col. Kalpa Sanjeewa, operating under 53 Divison, recovered 34 bodies of Tiger cadres, along with a haul of weapons during operations. Among the other items recovered were a 30mm anti-aircraft machine gun, three 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns, seven multipurpose machine guns (MPMG), three light machine guns (LMG), 43 T-56 rifles, six T-81 rifles, two x 40mm grenade launchers, four x 5.56mm weapons, three RPG launchers, 28 radio communication sets, one disposable RPG launcher, three improvised explosive devices (IED) and a stock of tools for heavy weapons.
Elsewhere, the 6 GR under Lt. Col. W.R.M. Manindra, operating under 53 Division, found the body of an LTTE cadre, 3 T-56 rifles and 1 RPG launcher. Snipers at the forward defence lines confirmed four successful targets.
Troops of 20 GR under Maj. T.W.M.G.K. Peris and of 12 GR under Maj. Saliya Amunugama recovered 48 bodies of Tiger cadres from the Anandapuram area. Troops of 20 GR recovered 23 bodies with 6 T-56 rifles, 1 RPG launcher, a 12.7mm anti-air machine gun and a 16mm weapon, while the 12 GR soldiers recovered 25 bodies.
The 8 GR, under Lt. Col. M.C.B. Wickremasinghe, attacked and captured a terrorist base inside the Anandapuram area, after a day-long battle. Troops recovered ten LTTE bodies, along with one US made M-16 rifle. Among the other items found were a luxury jeep, an armour plated container, a van and two motorbikes.
Troops of 14 GR under Maj. P.K. Pallekumbura. were the first soldiers to capture a 130mm artillery gun while in combat. Soldiers braved gunfire directed at them and captured the gun. They also recovered four T-56 rifles, two claymore mines, 40 improvised bombs, 55 hand grenades, radio communication sets, ammunition etc.
Troops of 4 Gamunu Watch (GW) led by Lt. Col. E.W. Senarath recovered 34 T-56 rifles, five T-81 rifles, five RPG launchers, a MPMG, a claymore mine, 20 radio communication base stations, and weapons accessories during the day. Two barrels used for RCL weapons were also found by the 6 GW under Lt. Col. Kamal Pinnawala.
The last of the LTTE leaders are now hiding among the civilians in the NFZ, with the civilians as a human shield. Majority of the battle hardened LTTE leaders were killed in action, while the most senior cadres of the outfit are now getting ready to send the child soldiers to the frontline, while the SF is getting ever closer to the NFZ, sources added.
Sources also say that the civilians in the NFZ are fed up with their so called liberators, and sometimes retaliate against the Tiger cadres. Several incidents were related by those who had arrived into government controlled areas, where parents and neighbours had attacked or killed Tiger cadres who tried to forcibly take away their children. So, the LTTE, led by its ‘powerful’ leader or ‘Maha Veerar’, who was supposed to lead the Tamils to a Utopia called Eelam, has now to take refuge behind those same civilians whom they claimed to represent, but only led them into destruction. At least, at this final critical juncture, most people hope that reason will dawn on Velupillai Prabhakaran, and that, he will allow the civilians in the NFZ to move to safer areas.