Rain or shine, Military in their rhythm

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

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 Wanni front largest ever military formation against Tigers

LTTE will soon lose its all access routes to Kilinochchi

 Tigers' last desperate attempt - keeping civilians by force

With the start of the monsoon creating harsher and more difficult conditions for the soldiers, one would expect a slow-down in their advance. Yet, nothing can abort their strong willpower and courage for victory.

It is said that courage is the other name for life and a coward is like a dead person. Once what Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Be brave, and all the rest will follow," - suits in its true meaning to brave soldiers of our security forces as well.

Sri Lankan Armed Forces are engaged in a humanitarian operation to liberate the country as well as its people from the clutches of Tiger terrorists, one of the most brutal terror organizations in the world. This operation can be rated as one of the rarest in the war history of the world considering the lowest number of civilian casualties.

Minimum casualties

According to the data available with the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process, the findings heavily contradict the type of comments these so-called observers make. According to the reports during the entire period from June 2006 to October 2008, in which the Government had been responding to LTTE actions, the Tamil media have reported only 106 civilian deaths and 281 injured against hundreds of air strikes by the Sri Lanka Air Force on LTTE targets. When these are compared with the analysis done by the Human Rights Watch against the air strikes by the United States Army on Afghanistan and Iraq, the Sri Lanka figures are unimaginably low.

LTTE conduct direct offensives against the security forces in some areas of the Northern Province. In other parts of the country they resort to with the guerrilla tactics such as assassinations, acts of sabotage and intelligence gathering. The security forces have a heavy concentration in the northern region sabotaging the LTTE fighting capability in mainly focusing on a kind of war of attrition so as to weaken the enemy combat power. This strategy is a radical change from earlier concept of expanding land domination or engaging in "land grabbing" operations.

The Wanni theatre initially had a winding FDL stretches for about 120 km, on the mainland between the Mannar coast on the northwestern shores and the Kokkuttoduvai coast on the northeastern shores. However, the FDL often alters in shape and distance with the progress of the operations in the battlefield. The Kilinochchi battlefront remained active during the last few days as troops made further headway towards LTTE hiding areas in the south and the south-western areas of the Kilinochchi district.

LTTE's southward manoeuvring capability has been countered with 59 Division, 56 Division, 21 Division, 61 Division taking the lead.

Main battle fronts

Battlefield reports indicate continuing counter-terrorist operations by the Army's 57 division and the Task Force 1 (58 division); the two main operational elements deployed in the Kilinochchi battlefront. Whilst Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu remain the operational centrepiece of the LTTE. The 57 division commanded by Major General Jagath Dias have liberated a total of approximately more than 1300 sq.km. Troops of the 57 division captured the total area of the Akkarayankulam tank bund on 29 October. By the time this story reaches you they definitely would have leaped forward and have not retreated a single step. At the time the edition was going to press brigades attached to the 57 division were continuing their Northbound march. The LTTE will soon lose its all access routes to Kilinochchi town from the Western flank.

Troops of the 57 division having liberated the Western region of the Vavuniya district and the Madhu area in the Mannar district, are now moving along the western borders of the Mullaithivu district. It commenced its operations the opening up the Vavuniya front from Madhu road, Giant Tank East, Pandisurichchan and Thampanai areas and achieved the largest area domination by liberating Madhu, Palampiddi, Mundumurippu and Periyamadhu. Later, they combined with the Task Force 1 that was moving ahead on the Mannar front making the Mannar-Vavuniya front - the largest battlefront ever maintained against terrorists. Then, they entered the Mullaithivu district crossing the southwestern district border and have so far liberated Naddankandal, Chiraddikulam, Kalvilan, Thunukkai, Mallavi, Uyilankulam and Akkarayankulam areas in the Mullaittivu West.

Troops moved north of the Manniyankulam - Therumankandal road from the east of Akkaraynkulam tank bund and attacked LTTE cadres hiding in the area while flanking the Kilinochchi front from the east and continuing their thrust towards the A9 (Jaffna-Kandy) road. Troops have caused heavy damages to the terrorists.

Amidst the heavy rains and muddy roads soldiers have not lost their momentum. Task Force 1 or better known as the 58 division led by Brigadier Shavendra Silva operates in the western half of the Kilinochchi front - the latest after fully liberating the Mannar district. The front became active with troops entering the Kilinochchi district from the southwestern district boaders following the liberation of Vellankulam. Troops are now advancing further northwards along the Mannar-Pooneryn road (A-32) running along the northwestern coastal belt of the Island. Task Force 1 continues its march towards Pooneryn which they had initiated during the last week. Troops attached to the 58 division, were moving on the opposite direction of Mannar-Pooneryn (A-32) road capturing Nachchikuda which is another sea Tiger stronghold situated 10 km North of Vellankulam.

The most fertile Nachchikuda area was largely used by Sea Tigers as a main supply route for their logistics and the clandestine smuggling operations. This directly connects terrorists to Pooneryn and to the North as well as to the A9 road to the East through dense jungles. The severity of the blow levels up as Nachchikuda fell within a short period of time after the loss of Viduthalathivu. Troops advanced towards Nachchikuda from three fronts - i.e., one descending towards the target from Pallavarayankaddu, other from East of Nachchikuda and the other from the South of Nachchikuda. During the operation terrorists made unsuccessful attempts to breach the Army FDL in Pallavarayankaddu. Troops crushed the terrorists' attempt and claimed heavy damages to the enemy. Pooneryn is just 13 kilometres from Nachchikuda.

So far, troops have gained control over 55 km stretch of 82 kms long A-32 road. During their march troops have wrested control over Adampan, Andankulam, Parappakadattan, Vidattaltivu, Iluppaikkaddavai, Vellankulam and most recently the Molonkavil town. This is the first ever military operation planned to gain control over these areas.

The Task Force 1 and 57 Division are continuing their mission.

Troops of 59 division, commanded by Brigadier Nandana Udawatta are the first ever Army battle formation to venture in to the Mullaithivu jungles forming a battlefront north of Welioya.

Last Sunday troops successfully liberated the GAjabapura area in Welioya, following a fierce gun battle. Gajabapura is a traditional civilian settlement where both Tamils and Sinhalese were living in harmony. As the LTTE have threatned, these villagers have left their nativeland.

Initially, troops started to move into the Mullaithivu forest from the north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa and Kokkutoduvai areas have so far pushed their forward defence line Northwards from the initial position.

At present, troops are manoeuvring along the west of the Nayaru lagoon heading towards the Mullaittivu town situated on the Eastern border of the district.

The present defence lies south of the Mullaittivu main terror line. During their march, troops have dislodged hundreds of enemy bunkers and captured major terrorist camps such as Munagam Base, Michael Base, Sugandan Base, Castro Base, Nisam and Jeevan Bases.

Vavuniya front represents the Northern section of the Vavuniya district that lies between Omanthai and Mankulam, and also on the either side of the A-9 road. Troops of Task Force 2, 56 division and 61 division are operating on the Vavuniya front at present. 61 division troops are mainly engaged in clearing operations in the recently liberated areas of both Mannar and Vavuniya districts. 56 division troops maintain the active defence on defence line that stretches from east to west across A-9 road at Omanthai.

Troops of Task Force 2 carry out the counter terrorist offensives along the northwestern border of the Vavuniya district on the west of the A-9 road. They have so far liberated the Navvi village and are now in the process of liberating the Palamoddai area.

However LTTE has totally lost its initiative in the battle due to the high momentum and the fire power of the security forces.

As the last desperate attempt the LTTE are keeping innocent civilians by force for their advantage. These innocent people are the LTTE's human shield forcefully kept against the rights and the wishes of the Tamil community in Wanni region.