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Bull's Eye by a Special Defence Correspondent

Another episode of the LTTE's continuous killing spree ended last week with the gunning down of Lt.Col.Meedin who fell easy prey to the LTTE pistol group that reached him with the help of contract killers near his residence at Kiribathgoda.

The murder of Lt.Col Meedin has however given a determining signal to the top military authorities whether to reorganize the intelligence directorate in order to curb the new threat posed by the enemy or give way to the LTTE killer cadres to take the lives of the rest of the unit unabatedly. It is reported that Lt.Col Meedin was the 17th officer among over 200 informants fallen prey to the LTTE gun since the implementation of the CFA.

We reported in our recent columns about the LTTE's new strategy of using contract killers of Sinhala community as such gangsters in the city could reach the unsuspecting targets easier than Tamil speaking men from the North. The first instance of this nature was reported when Sinhalese were found among the suspects of Col.Muthaliff's murder but the threat was not given sufficient heed until they reached their second target within a spell of time.

Allegations were made against the Government for security lapse in the vicinity of the slain officer and the matter should be given serious consideration. It is a pity if such officers who dare to shoulder a national task risking their lives are not provided necessary facilities and protection to carry on their duty hassle free.

Funds and provision to change their residences, vehicles and so on are a must as they want to evade the eyes of the enemy's intelligent cadres and spies. If there is a lack in the part of the Government, it would definitely discourage the other aspirants in the service.

Intelligence is of paramount importance when it comes to the national security system of a country and it is a crucial need in this country as it is waging a war against terrorism for over 22 years. The death of Lt.Col.Meedin would call politicians concerned and relevant authorities responsible for national security and protection of the territorial integrity of the country to rethink and take concrete measures to prevent repetition of such mistakes.

Even the man in the street is aghast to learn that a person with a life threat such as Lt.Col.Meedin was living in an ordinary housing scheme exposed to the public and giving easy access to the enemy.

People wonder why he was allowed to live in such a risky location without providing him with a hide out in a more secure place such as the Army canton at Panagoda.

This would raise a question to the ordinary man whether the standard of the intelligence directorate has been shrinking or any negligence on the part of its authorities had taken place. To prevent this menace in the future and to protect the top intelligence officers - the live wire of national security - it is imperative to revamp and reorganize the intelligence directorate by adding much capable men and material to the unit with immediate effect.

Lt.Col.Meedin's murder has taught a grave lesson to the rest of his fellow officers that intelligence means not only observe the enemy movements but also protect themselves from the enemy onslaught.

Every lesson of the intelligence basics on offensive and defensive measures should be put into practice today as the enemy is waiting to take a chance at the least weak point. Accordingly, the enemy might have used Lt.Col.Meedin's friendliness and good faith as a free passage to send a death squad to him (Lt.Col.Meedin). He wouldn't have been caught in the trap had he not welcomed strangers to his private residence, left home in the dead of night and kept underworld members at arm's length.

Life threat to PM reaches its climax

Security authorities should not forget that the LTTE's past criminal acts of attempts on the life of top politicians especially during the last days of an election campaign. It is human behaviour that politicians and participants unintentionally forget the risk as their election spirit rises in the last days of the campaign. But everybody should remember one thing that the enemy is eagerly standing on target to reach members of its hit list and when the tiger decides that the time is correct, it is very difficult to prevent a huge damage to life or property.

When one analyses the previous incidents such as the suicide attempt on President Kumaratunga at the PA's final campaign rally at the Town Hall, Colombo in December 1999, murder of UNP Presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake and several others at an election meeting at Grandpas on October 24 in 1994, murder of Lalith Athulathmudali at an election rally at Kirillapona on April 23 in 1993, Ja Ela bomb explosion where UNP Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe was to address (Retired Major General Lucky Algama and a few others were killed by the explosion) are a few incidents where the LTTE reached the targets during election campaigns going in full swing.

It is a new dictum coined in this country that members of the Sinhala community forgetthings very soon and this syndrome of absence of mind where they forget the past should not let repeats by the security authorities who provide protection to the top political leaders irrespective of their party colours.

Because the LTTE has lost its war power and it has been using new strategies instead of face to face war, it is a long term tactic to hide under the shelter of CFA and eliminate every upcoming leader of the Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim communities and take every possible measure to dissipate the three security forces.

One such absurd tactic is LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P.Thamilselvam's assurance to certain election monitoring officials during his meeting in Vanni that the LTTE has no intention to upset the elections.

Though Thamilselvam assured not to upset elections, he was so careful not to give any assurance that his suicide cadres or pistol men would not kill any politician. Despite the UNP candidate Gamini Dissanayake's death, the election was held in 1993 so Thamilselvam would be right even though some untoward incident occurred.

Such is the logic probably used by the LTTE. History has taught us lessons one after the other including the assassination of Minister Kadirgramar. The arrest of six suspects at a rally in Ratmalana where Premier Rajapakse was scheduled to address last week provides sufficient evidence to the LTTE's diabolical lies.

If Thamilselvam is successful in duping the security authorities in this manner and similar crimes are repeated, it would be regrettable to give a free run to the tigers to destroy the entire democratic system and achieve the coveted separate state.

LTTE psychological war gains momentum in Colombo

According to military intelligence, the LTTE is not powerful enough to return to a war against the government forces at this juncture. This has been testified by the statement issued by the Jaffna University Teachers for Human Rights in their latest report last week.

This does not mean that one should not undermine the LTTE military capability and intelligence, but at the same time, it should also not be overestimated because the LTTE has faced a serious setback with the loss of its control in the Easter province after Karuna split away from the Vanni faction.

This situation further deteriorated with the tsunami devastation that rocked the LTTE controlled areas heavily. Heavy damage to sea tigers by the tsunami had decreased the strength of the Vanni faction to a considerable extent and to cover up this incapability, the LTTE's tactic was to increase the psychological war in the south to show people that they were still powerful to wage a war at any time.

They are using word and deed exaggeratedly towards this goal and that certain media houses, knowingly or unknowingly have become the tiger mouth pieces is a mark of regret.

Continuous child conscription despite international warning and protest bears clear testimony that the group is in direst need of cadres to fill the vacuum created during the devastation of tsunami. Action of the UNP and its followers who blow trumpets saying that a war would break out and certain media who give wide publicity to such irresponsible propaganda would only play into the hands of the LTTE needs. However, no person with a iota of brain would believe this type of propaganda that creates unfounded fears to gain cheap political mileage during elections.

Foreign aid and abetting operate freely in the guise of tsunami

It was a surprise that all ten policemen who witnessed the hacking of SSP Charles Wijewardena to death failed to identify his killers at an identification parade recently.

While releasing the suspect - Gobi - who was arrested by the CID after an exchange of gunfire in Jaffna, the judge raised eye brows over the junior officers' behaviour. It is also surprising to see such a suspect with criminal charges be released so soon while ordinary suspects with minor charges are being kept in remand for years. What is the invisible hand pressurizing behind this drama is still questionable.

It is a pity that none of the human rights organizations or such other amnesty organisations or the SLMM failed to utter a single word in this regard. However, these organizations hurried to appear for Gobi and misinterpret his arrest as abduction. Gobi was arrested on a court order after he was suspected in the killing of SSP Wijewardena.

The same fear psychosis may be the cause for the witnesses to deny identification of Gobi or were they influenced by some force to act accordingly is another investigative matter of concern. The policemen could have thought that they would be at death's jaw if they would be detailed on duty in Jaffna. This proves how strong the LTTE psychological war is fought in society.

Not only simple men but even the top police officials and political leaders could think in the same manner and avoid involvement in such incidents as they do not want to provoke a direct threat from the LTTE.

Isn't this pathetic and unfortunate? The arrest of Charles Gnanakoon who is believed to be a close sympathiser of the LTTE and a close associate of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in connection with the murder of late Foreign Minister Kadirgamar in Colombo and its aftermath has raised questions again whether the high authorities backing such people to operate freely in the country.

The couple, both Australian citizens who harboured Gnanakoon at the time of his arrest were armed with a set of credentials in respect of tsunami rehabilitation.

They had obtained the certifications from various Government institutions and even certification from certain Government Ministers to justify their stay. But the military officer who raided the hideout was smarter in his job and did not let Gnanakoon skip the arrest.

Urgency has become the prime need today to monitor all those engaged in tsunami rehabilitation activities in order to stop LTTE sympathizers operating in the city while supporting the LTTE to deploy its killer cadres and habour other activists such as Gnankoon.

This is one incident of such unscrupulous foreign forces operating in the country and there could be more such people busy with similar activities in the city. Military Intelligence and Police should pay more attention to this type of people and what they are doing in the country.

If they are humbly engaged in rehabilitation activities, they should be able to prove themselves, and their work should be given due publicity for the public to know or otherwise their stay in this country should be fully investigated in order to protect the national security and avoid major terrorist destruction in the city.

It is believed that hundreds of such people are overstaying and engaged in various unscrupulous activities including child abuse. Government Ministers and top officials giving credentials to such parties to enable them to operate freely are ridiculous and regrettable.

Gnankoon, as described in certain media, his tsunami rehabilitation activities in the south should also be thoroughly investigated particularly why he wanted to extend patronage to a project in Hambantota, the constituent district of Premier Rajapakse. This could be an unsuspecting hideout for him to harbour killer cadres in the area where they would have easy access to the Premier.

After the arrest of Gnanakoon, the military officer sought the assistance of two top police officers to hand over Gnanakoon but both had refused to take Gnanakoon into their custody. The military officer is said to have been discouraged instead by the respective officers.

Is this in fear of the LTTE threat, any political pressure or any money involved in such surprising behaviour of top police brass to reject the custody of a wanted man is a million dollar worth question to be asked.

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