Public vigilance vital to defeat Tigers

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

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The second day of February started as usual. It was one of those slow and relaxed Saturdays. Yet to some hundred odd people travelling in a bus in the North Central Province it was a fateful day. The bus was plying from Kandy to Anuradhapura as usual. None of the passengers would have thought that this would be their last journey. No one would have thought the man next to him would face such a tragic death - paying the price by their lives for something they have not asked for. Have we forgotten this tragedy that took place just three weeks ago? I hope your answer would be a no.

I and two other colleagues of mine rushed to Dambulla that day to record the aftermath of the Dambulla bus bomb attack. The experience was horrific.

Couldn't this have been prevented? It was later revealed during post-attackinvestigations that some of the passengers have seen suspicious people were in that bus who got down on the way before Dambulla. Though this clue is yet to be confirmed these observers may have overlooked certain things. It would have been a miracle if this slight suspicion caught more attention. If so, little children would not have suffered?

And, just a week later in Anuradhapura a Navy Petty Officer, Shantha Bandara (36), without a single thought to what was going to happen to him, averted a major catastrophe by defusing a 1.5kg bomb. He became a real life hero within minutes. What did he do? Well of course 'Rambo 04' was not performed there. It was a sense of commitment, courage over fear, determination and dedication of our valiant soldiers. A normal man became a knight in shining armour, saving thousands of lives of children, men and women.

It is detection that makes the difference between the two incidents and not the presence of a member of armed forces. Detection is the most crucial preliminary step and the most difficult. We may tend to overlook suspicious items lying right under our nose, knowingly or unknowingly.

These incidents may disappear in the sea of time. You and I may assume worst cases that might happen in the future. This factor itself reflects the importance of recalling such instances. Avert a more dangerous situation that would take place tomorrow, day after or beyond that.

Winston Churchill said, "This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure." Well, this would be the time for us to dare and endure in the course of action in flushing out terrorism from our island. Terrorism is ruthless. Hence, it can approach you and me in any shape, colour, and size; in any unimaginable manner. Now it is high time for us to be more concerned about ourselves and our families. Saving lives of hundreds of men, women and children from such accidents is a miracle. Miracles do not demand extraordinary people. Miracles never happened like that. Simple people, like you and me, have saved many lives just by being a bit observant, cautious and being a little bit of inquisitive.

The LTTE is a terrorist outfit fighting for a mono ethnic separate homeland for the Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. Engulfed with ideologies based on extreme tribalism, the LTTE has carried out many civilian massacres against Sri Lankans, all over the country.

The bomb has no shape

The bombs set off by terrorists have no shape and no unique colour. It does not have a specific mode to trigger an explosion. Only the terrorist who had created the death device will know. But we all know one thing, the aim is hurting innocent unarmed civilians, creating mayhem in the society, and the economy of the country.

A bomb is a device capable of producing damages to material and injury or death to people when detonated or ignited. Accordingly bombs are classified into two categories - explosive or incendiary. An explosive bomb causes damage by fragmentation, heat and blast wave. The heat produced often causes a secondary incendiary effect. An incendiary bomb generates fire-producing heat without any substantial explosion when ignited.

A solid or liquid substance or mixture of substances, on the application of a suitable stimulus to a small portion of the mass, converts into other more stable substances largely or entirely gaseous with high pressure and temperature in a very short period of time, is an explosive.

Explosives are categorized as high and low. Low explosives are initiated by ignition and results low pressure and heat. These substances are mostly used as propellent charges for shells and ammunitions. High explosives are triggered by heat, friction, impact, shock etc and produce comparatively high pressure and heat. Shock waves that are created trigger violent shattering and blast effects. When a suspicious item is detected it is better to keep the window and doors opened, even of the nearby buildings, as the shock waves of the explosion can blow open the doors and windows if closed.

Most of the time terrorists would not use bombs as it is when their targets are within a busy city or a public place. These are improvised as day to day items which we may use. Any object can become an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). IEDs are formed using any object including explosives alongwith a suitable mechanism to detonate it. These can be designed to be activated in various ways posing a great challenge to detect and defuse. Hence, this has become a very effective weapon for the terrorists.

The devices can explode when someone tries to handle it - may be to see what it is, what is in it and so on. The mechanisms are such that the bomb can be triggered due to a pull, slight pressure, release or even a free swing. Some may trigger to the sense of temperature change, light, humidity or any change of the environment.

So the best thing one can do after detecting a suspicious item would be to inform the professionals to defuse the bomb.

Parcels and letters with unusual weight, thickness, with oil patches or colour changes, with wire pieces emerging out of the parcel, most probably, could be a bomb.

Vehicles abandoned at places, without registration numbers, with extraordinarily large fuel tanks may need careful attention. Check if the abandoned vehicle contains gas cylinders, large parcels, briefcases etc.

The most destructive and inhumane are the suicide attackers. Persons with extraordinary hasty movement, with loose attire or people hanging around places unnecessarily are suspicious.

But please remember bombs do not have limits. It can come in many shapes, moods, colours etc.

When a bomb or a suspected parcel is found:

* Do not touch or handle suspected bomb.

* Immediately inform the person in charge.

* Immediately inform the police and Military and request for Bomb disposal team(s).

* Keep all the windows and the doors open.

* Evacuate personnel from the location.

* Location should be guarded preventing people going closer to the object.

* If possible surround the object with sand bags.

* If possible remove valuable items which can be removed easily.

After a bomb explosion:

* Do not tamper with the debris (To obtain clues and to protect all foreign evidence)

* Evacuate casualties to the closes Hospital as arranged earlier.

* Attempt to control fire.

* Remove flammable items.

* Disconnect all electric appliances.

* Cut off power and gas.

Remember, Tigers have freedom of movement in South Lt. General Sarath Fonseka, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army

"When the LTTE is heavily defeated in the Wanni and in the North, they resort to attempts of any sort to divert the Security personnel deployed in the operational areas. By this they would expect to weaken the forces fighting in the Northern sector.

Though this would not happen as they expect strengthening the security of the southern parts of the country is of similar importance. Terrorists would always try to cause maximum damage with minimum effort. Terrorist elements existing in the southern part of the island have enough freedom to roam around anywhere. Hence, the public has a large responsibility in averting danger in the areas where they live, especially important places and vital service providers like transformers and reservoirs. People should be alert about their surroundings. Public help is badly needed for us to ensure maximum security in all parts of the country.

Keep ears, eyes open - Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda , Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy

"We have come to a stage where public awareness is considered of paramount importance in curbing Tiger terrorist activities outside the operational areas. It has been a common practice of the terrorists to target innocent civilians, irrespective of their race, religion, caste or creed when they are faced with defeats at the hands of the Security Forces.

'Importantly LTTE have adopted this as a tactic to divert the attention of Security Forces at a stage when their defeat is imminent. By carrying out such cowardly attacks, LTTE believe that they can reduce the present military pressure they face in the battlefronts.'

In this backdrop, the public has a larger role to play in order to avoid the desperate measures of the LTTE. The task of the Security Forces and the Police in countering such can be much more successful only with the support extended by the public.

We should understand that if we keep our eyes and ears open at all times, terrorists could never be able to achieve their sinister motives.

The Army bomb disposal units

The Sri Lanka Army bomb disposal units, stationed in many parts of the island, play a major role in disposing bombs and securing the public and the public places from destruction.

With professionals from the Engineering Regiment the Colombo Bomb Disposal Squadron was set up in 1991, the units were set up in many area headquarters islandwide, as per the necessity. Professionals for the field receive their training at the school of military engineering in Embilipitiya including training in foreign countries like India and Pakistan. Currently bomb disposal units are present in Kandy, Anuradhapura, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Kurunegala and Puttalam.

Special Task Force Bomb Disposal Unit

The Bomb Disposal Unit of the police elite force was formed after the terrorist bomb attack on Sri Lanka Parliament. The STF bomb disposal squad continuously inspects and searches the Parliament and its surroundings before each session, up to date. The professionals are currently get trained in India, USA and UK. In addition this squad assists the Government Analyst's Department in detecting explosives and in post blast investigations.

Bomb Disposal Units

Army : 0112- 434251

Police : 118, 119, 0112- 433333

STF : 0112 -580518