Troops march towards last Tiger terrain
The
LTTE which has been isolated locally and internationally after tens of
thousand civilians leaving behind their leader Prabhakaran in a small
strip of land in the `No Fire Zone', (NFZ) showed up its peak of
desperation this week as they come out with their desperate bids to
survive with a series of suicide attempts, seven attempts within 24
hours as troops rapidly advanced towards the last ditch of battle to
rescue the remaining civilians from the Tiger grip.
They were engaged in a weird battle with the advancing troops of the
58 Division who have already confine the LTTE into a five km strip of
land in the `No Fire Zone'. Although there had been many attempts to
rescue the remaining Tiger cadres including its leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran, the most wanted terrorist, by some international players in
the guise of offering a Ceasefire to rescue the remaining civilians the
Government strictly maintained the policy not to offer a last minute
Ceasefire despite numerous pressures on it internationally.
However, the Government showed up its commitment to safeguard the
safety of the civilians trapped inside the `No Fire Zone' after
officially declaring its decision to stop combat operations using heavy
caliber weapons, combat aircraft and other aerial weapons which could
cause civilian casualties.
The
decision was taken on Monday by the President, following specially
convened Security Council meeting. That was to show up its deeper
commitment to safeguard the lives of the civilians trapped inside the
`No Fire Zone'.
Although, there was no need to come out with such a statement, as
troops have so far displayed their excellent commitment to protect the
civilian lives during this biggest hostage rescue operation, it came up
with this statement to prove its official commitment toward this task.
But it was not aimed at appeasing the undue demands from the
international community to go for a Ceasefire to rescue the remaining
civilians as Sri Lanka Army is not engaged in an inhumane operation to
achieve their final goal of defeating terrorism after putting the lives
of thousands of civilians at risk, like the Western world did it in
Afghanistan, Iraq and few other countries where tens of thousands
civilians died in vain.
The Sri Lankan government indeed maintains the policy of zero
casualties in the war, unlike the Western nations like US and UK who did
not count civilians casualties in their bid to catch the prize which was
worth more than the civilian lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not only the Sri Lankan Security Forces maintained this policy, but
had also shown to the entire world after rescuing more than 115, 000
civilians out of the `No Fire Zone' safely without causing any harm to
them.
The Sri Lankan State is very much concerned about the plight of the
civilians trapped inside the `No Fire Zone' and are making every
possible effort to rescue them without causing any harm. Not only that
the Sri Lankans mostly the Sinhalese people have extended their hand of
friendship towards the civilians fleeing from the `NFZ' after gathering
all required things for these civilians voluntarily and donating them to
the Government to be distributed among them.
Therefore, the Tamil Diaspora sowing the seeds of hatred between the
Sinhala and the Tamil communities saying that the Sri Lankan Security
Forces are engaged in genocidal attacks against the Tamil community of
Sri Lanka can feel what they are doing at present is totally wrong by
supporting the Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran who put the lives of
thousands of these innocent civilians in such a misery. What they should
do at this moment is to come up to the help of these innocent, civilians
who had escaped from the death trap of the LTTE in side the `No Fire
Zone' as they need a moral support to rise from the agony they had
undergone under treachery of Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. The
Tamil Diaspora across the globe, should exert pressure on the Tiger
leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to release the remaining civilians without
putting their lives in danger.
But since Sri Lankan Army which has proven its skill to rescue such a
large number of civilians at once, there is no need to go for Ceasefire
at the tail end of the battle giving into the clandestine bids by vested
interested parties to rescue Prabhakaran and the remaining leaders like
Pottu Amman and Soosai from the `NFZ'. Therefore, the Security Forces
believe that they can achieve the final goal of capturing the last inch
of land which is under Tiger control inside the `No Fire Zone'. For this
task two offensive Divisions the 58 Division under the command of
Brigadier Shavendra Silva and 53 Division under the command of Major
General Kamal Gunaratne is now ready to advance towards the remaining
areas in Vellamullivaikkal and Kariyamullivaikkal.
The 58 Division which first entered the `NFZ' on April 20 after their
advance towards the South linked up with the 53 Division which was
operating along the Pooneryn-Paranthan road in the south of Rettavikkal
on Thursday preparing the ground for their advance towards the South.
It was after the capture of the northern part of the `No Fire Zone'
in Puthumattalan and Ampalavanpokkanai , infantry battalion attached to
the 58 Division commenced their operations towards the southern part of
the `NFZ'. Initially the 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Battalion advanced
towards the Valayamadam North area amidst stiff resistance from the LTTE.
Although, Special Forces and Commando troops supported this mission at
the initial stage they were later withdrawn from that mission and has
been kept as a reserve to be deployed in the battle at a critical stage.
Thereafter, the 10 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Battalion and 12 Gemunu
Watch battalion were deployed to that mission and they captured
Valayamadam area on Sunday following a successful attempts they made
during their advance.
During these operations the infantry troops had to be more concern
about the civilians who were held captive by the LTTE and to avoid
firing artillery and mortar into the zone the LTTE was firing their
heavy calibre weapons, including artillery, mortar, pedal gun and battle
tanks.
The troops who have been advised not to use any heavy calibre weapons
under any circumstances during this operation had to take the brunt of
the Tiger fire but managed to advance further southwards amidst troops
sustaining injuries.
They were successful in their mission as they were able to rescue
more civilians from the Tiger grip as more than 2,500 civilians were
rescued from that area on Sunday alone.
But the most challenging task of capturing heavily fortified earth
bund which separated the `NFZ' into two from the South of Valayamadam
came on Monday night. The LTTE had constructed this earth bund soon
after they were defeated in Puthukudiyiruppu as they took every possible
avenue for the Security Forces to reach the most sensitive area in the `NFZ'.
The earth bund which was constructed from the beach front to lagoon
front right across the No Fire Zone from East to West in the South of
Valayamadam was 10 feet in height and 700 metres in length. There was a
6 feet deep ditch behind that earth bund so that troops attempting to
cross this earth bund end up in falling into that ditch.
Since the situation was quite challenging, the General Officer
Commanding of the 58 Division Brigadier Shavendra Silva took a decision
to cross this earth bund during the night as the resources which can be
committed to this operation was limited with the latest decision by the
Government.
Strict instructions were given to the troops not to fire artillery,
mortar and other heavy weapons during this operation. Therefore, troops
were equipped only with their small arms during this operation.
Troops also had to bear the heat during the day light hours and to
engage in their operations during the nights amid all the constraints
they have to face within this narrow stretch of land.
Despite this situation infantrymen attached to the 58 Division were
able to capture the earth bund following a close quarter fighting with
the LTTE cadres holding on to the earth bund.
But, the real fighting began after troops dominated the earth bund.
The LTTE leaders, who were totally disappointed with the situation, sent
an explosive laden truck into the earth bund around 1.30 a.m in the
morning. Soldiers who were ready to face any eventuality displayed their
gallantry firing RPGs on the truck which was moving fast towards the
earth bund. Troops, managed to blow up the explosive laden truck even
without an iota of regard for their safety, knowing they would also
perished in the explosion.
But it was not the end. On Wednesday too the LTTE made several
suicide attempts to recapture the earth bund in Rettavaikkal. According
to military there had been six suicide missions by the LTTE to recapture
the earth bund between 2.30 a.m to 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Three suicide cadres, two explosives laden motorbikes and a double
cab were blown off by the troops before they reached the military
controlled areas. It was a display of gallantry by the troops, even
though they were aware of the fact that they too will be blown off once
they fire RPGs to those moving vehicles but they did it for the sake of
the country.
A number of soldiers sacrificed their lives and some were wounded but
managed to withhold to all suicide missions by the LTTE which had become
the sole weapon of the LTTE at this moment.
Even under the circumstances the 58 Division troops managed to
advance further south of the earth bund and had linked up with the 53
Division troops operating in the South of Valayamadam. The 58 Division
along with the 53 Division are now heading towards the junction which
links the Puthumattalan-Mulluaitivu road onto the Paranthan - Mullaitivy
A-35 Road.
Even on Friday the LTTE made desperate attempts to launch a sea borne
attack on the ground troops during the past few days. However, ground
troops supported by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Air Force managed to
destroy quite a number of Tiger suicide boats and armed boats which
tried to land on the beach front.
During the past one week the Sri Lanka Navy has intensified their
patrolling in the Mullaitivu seas as there were possibilities for the
LTTE leader and cadres to flee from the country by boats.
The main concern of the Navy, now is to capture Tiger leader
Prabhakaran if he makes any attempt to flee the country with the ground
troops advancing towards his hideout. Amidst this situation, the visit
of UK Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State David Miliband
and French Foreign and European Affairs Minister, Dr. Bernard Kaouchner
also became a hot topic among the international media as there were
speculations that they had arrived here to exert pressure on the
Government to go for a Ceasefire to get the civilians out of the `NFZ'.
However, during the briefing given to the visiting foreign ministers
at the Foreign Ministry, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has
stated that there is no need to go for a Ceasefire at this juncture to
liberate the civilians as more than 85 per cent civilians trapped inside
the `NFZ' has already arrived in military controlled areas.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
have maintained the position that there is no need of a Ceasefire to
rescue the remaining civilians inside the `No Fire Zone'.
Diplomatic sources also indicate that many more countries are trying
get the Government to offer a Ceasefire for the remaining civilians to
flee from the No Fire Zone.
But reliable sources indicate that it was after LTTE's newly
appointed Chief Negotiator K.P. Pathmanathan's (KP) discussions with the
Norwegians, a suggestion was made for the LTTE leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran to surrender to a third party.
That suggestion made by United States was totally rejected by Defence
Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa saying that if they was a surrendering by
the LTTE, it should be done to the Security Forces but not before any
third party.
According
to diplomatic sources the suggestion for Prabhakaran to surrender to a
third party had emerged after Tamil Tigers operating inside the No Fire
Zone had made a desperate plea from KP to do something to rescue the
remaining Tiger cadres including Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
However, it has been reported that the KP has suggested that
Prabhakaran and the remaining Tiger cadres surrender to the Sri Lankan
Government as there is no other option available for them. But that
suggestion has been apparently rejected by the LTTE leadership
But KP had prolonged discussions with the Norwegians to get a third,
party, most probably a Nordic country, to be involve in the Tiger
leaders surrender. However, the third party involvement has been totally
rejected by the Government.
Meanwhile, intelligence report indicate that following the suggestion
made by KP for the remaining Tiger cadres to surrender, the Tiger cadres
trapped inside the No Fire Zone has been divided in their opinion.
Majority of the Tiger cadres are making appeals to the Tiger leadership
to surrender to the Security Forces whilst another section of Tiger
cadres numbering less than 100 are suggesting that they should fight
till the last cadre killed.
So, a desperate situation has arisen among the Tiger cadres trapped
inside the NFZ at present whether to surrender or to continue their
fight till the last inch of land is captured by the Security Forces.
Amidst this situation intelligence reports also indicate that the
LTTE leadership is getting ready to flee the country thus preparing six
high powered boats and another five boats packed with ration packets.
But they are displaying their desperation within this week as they
have resorted to all out suicide attempts to avoid their defeat. It
gives a strong indication that their days are numbered inside the no
Fire Zone as 58 and 53 Divisions are now ready to speedily move towards
the last goal to capture Prabhakaran dead or alive and to see an end to
this problem very soon.
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