A brief analysis of the auxiliary forces of the LTTE

Analysis by International Centre for Strategic Defense (ICSD)

Continued from last week

...LTTE also have been using the MP explicitly to fulfill their strategic objectives.

These objectives are: A shadow force, bridging cadre gap, dispose the disposable, save regular cadres, restrict enemy movements, training the community, promising recruitment base, defending the community and harness support. These strategic objectives are explained below in detail.

As shadow force. At the initial stages, MPd was configured as an independent movement operating without the knowledge of the LTTE and this was a mirror image of Karuna fraction/TMVP claiming to have no connections whatsoever with the SLA. There was a period of 'tit for tat' killings and exploding of Claymore mines both by MPd and TMVP. The MPd and TMVP were the players during the cold war between the LTTE and the GoSL.

Bridging cadre gap. With the prolonged peace process, the LTTE lost many of their fighting cadres as it was with the warring days with SLA. Many got married to higher caste women, (some went abroad for better prospects and the remaining was fed up with not having to enjoy the luxuries of life.

Therefore this gap has to be filled quickly. The MPd offered the best solution and had to be given a rapid training".

The LTTE enjoyed an unabated supremacy on lands they controlled with no significant requirements for internal defences.

Dispose the disposable. In the recent battles many of the dead were from the MPd. The opportunistic LTTE was sending less trained 'disposable' MPd to the battlefront in order to save their best cadres for the final push. This caused severe MPd casualties yet they managed to inflict significant damage on the SLA's well-trained Commandos and Air Mobile Brigade men.

Save regular cadres. On the other hand, the trained fighting cadres are at the final phases of the guerrilla warfare and using them will violate the CFA, which the LTTE leaders do not want at this point of time.

Restrict enemy movements. The violence by the MPd with the help of the civilians could be used to canton the SLA to barracks and create a 'chaotic' situation. This will put the SLA in a defensive position.

In training the community. By ongoing recruitments to the MPd the LTTE will be having a large militarily trained community and this will help their so-called 'final war'.

Promising recruitment base. While the MPd recruits were undergoing training and performing in actual combat operations, the LTTE is said to have manipulated conditions and persuaded the best ones to join the LTTE's regular forces.

In defending the community. The MPd serves as a local level security provider as well. It was observed that the MPd was fighting in protection of Tamil villages at the time of the Trincomalee 'riots' in March this year.

Harness support. The members of the MPd could be used to manipulate the passive or neutral elements of the population to procure active support.

(Concluded)