Intelligence reports say

Mass burials of 196 LTTE cadres

During the past few weeks, security forces monitored a heavy LTTE build up in the Northern theatre. The Tigers had been fortifying their defence ahead of the security forces forward defence lines in Killali, Nagar Kovil and Muhamalai.

This was after the security forces pushed back the Tigers from their original forward defence positions in Pallai from where the LTTE carried out its failed offensive to lay siege to the city of Jaffna during mid August. Since the security forces pushed the Tigers to their secondary defence line in the first week of September, the LTTE had been fortifying its positions.
The LTTE began its failed offensive to lay siege on the city of Jaffna on August 11.

First day

During the first day of the Tiger onslaught on the security force’s Northern forward defence lines, troops pulled back from several of its forward defence bunker lines as a tactical move.

After two weeks of fierce fighting, during which the Tigers made several abortive attempt to overrun the security forces FDL, troops regained its lost bunker lines.

Later in the first week of September, troops in a decisive push into Tiger territory, captured the forward defence line of the LTTE, pushing Tigers in to their secondary defence line.

Since then, the LTTE fortified its new positions to mend off against a possible security forces advancement. While fortifying its defence, the LTTE stepped up artillery and mortar attacks on the security forces FDL positions. Early this week a soldier was killed and three others injured in a LTTE artillery strike on a FDL position in Muhamalai.

Israeli built Kfir fighter jets conducted daily sorties on the LTTE artillery and mortar positions. Though such measures could contain the LTTE build up, it could not totally neutralise the Tiger artillery attacks on the security forces positions. Artillery dual between the security forces and the LTTE had been a daily routine in the Northern front in the past few weeks.

In the early hours of Wednesday, this week, ground troops advanced from three fronts in Kilali, Nagar Kovil and Muhamalai.
Security forces said they retaliated after repeated harassing attacks by the LTTE attack on the security forces forward defence line.

Troops advanced one km into the Tiger territory. The plan was to neutralise the first line of LTTE defence, which was used to conduct frequent harassing attacks on the FDL positions of the security forces. Heavy fighting erupted as the troops advanced.

In the Kilali front, Three companies of infantry troops, supported by armoured tanks broke through the first line of the LTTE defence. The troops in the Kilali front pushed towards the secondary defence line of the LTTE. What caused the troops to advance further contrary to initial plan is not clear.

In the meantime, heavy fighting raged in the Muhamalai and Nagar Kovil fronts with the infantry troops and the LTTE cadres defending a well entrenched first line of the LTTE bunkers.

As the troops in the Nagar Kovil and Muhamalai fronts were locked in combat, troops in the Kilali front advanced further in to Tiger held area.

They came under stiff resistance from the second line of the LTTE defence.

As they fought the heavily entrenched Tiger cadres, the infantry troops came under heavy volume of mortar and artillery fire directed from Pooneryn, on the other side of the Kilali lagoon.

The troops were locked, fighting the Tigers on three fronts. Air support was of little use as fighting turned to be a close combat. Heavy clouds further affected the impact of air attacks on the artillery and mortar positions.

Fierce battle

The troops fought under extreme conditions. They were locked in a fierce battle, almost surrounded by three fronts. They could expect little help as troops were bogged down in the other two fronts.

They fought valiantly, amidst a rain of shell fire. Their valour would be remembered for years to come by the nation and their comrades of arms. They were an embodiment to professional soldiers who stood by their vow to the nation in the face of extreme conditions. They fought against one of the most entrenched enemy positions. Disengaging from the battle, they pulled back to their original positions. Many died in the battle and many more suffered serious injuries.

Later on Thursday, ICRC handed over to the security forces, bodies of 74 soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice.

Two hundred and eighty declared as Wounded in Action, which included P1 and P2 injuries. Two hundred others, suffered minor injuries. Several tanks and armed personnel carriers were disabled in the enemy fire.

Set against this backdrop, Wednesday’s battle was a costly confrontation. It was the largest number of casualties suffered in a single day by the troops since the signing of the ceasefire agreement.

The LTTE initially down played its battle losses and then went in to a deep silence. However, one senior LTTEer had admitted -speaking to a journalist off the record- of serious casualties on the LTTE.

According to intelligence sources, the LTTE had buried 196 fallen cadres on Friday in mass burials held in several locations. Mass burials have been held in Thunnukai, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Omanthai.

According to local sources, the LTTE requested locals to donate blood for the large number of LTTE cadres wounded in action. According to the local sources as quoted by intelligence sources, 312 LTTE cadres were undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the Wanni as of Friday.

Wednesday’s battle was decisive to the LTTE. It had mobilised all available resources to counter the advancing troops. The strength of a number of fighting formations of the LTTE — including Charlce Anthony ‘Brigade’, the all female Malathi ‘brigade’, the all female Sothiya ‘Brigade’ and Ellalipadai (border guards)— were depleted by the security force’s counter offensive in the month of August.

The Sunday Observer reported a few weeks ago, quoting intelligence sources that Imran Pandiyan, a unit specially assigned for the security of Tiger supremo Prabhakaran was not mobilised for the August offensive and could be used for a future attack. It has now transpired that it was Imran Pandiyan, led by Theepan, a ‘Colonel’ in LTTE ranks, which fought the security forces on Wednesday.

Indirect fire, both mortar and artillery was instrumental for the greater part of the security forces casualties on Wednesday’s battle. Since the Operation Rivirasa which recaptured Jaffna peninsula, 81 mm mortar was the main cause for the greatest number of security forces casualties.

81 mm mortar can be fired up to a distance of 5 km.

However, according to the security forces, the LTTE on Wednesday used much heavier 120 mortars known as arti-mortars. Since, its failed August offensive, an LTTE build up is observed in Pooneryn, on the other side of the Killali lagoon. The LTTE had set up mortar and artillery positions in Pooneryn. During its bid to lay seige to Jaffna, LTTE targeted the Palali Military Airport with the 130 mm long range artillery guns positioned in the Pooneryn point.

How LTTE came to possess 130 mm artillery is a mystery. Though security forces had lost several pieces of 122 mm artillery when LTTE overran the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi military camps in 1997 and 1998 respectively, no 130 mm artillery guns ever fell into the hands of the LTTE during the 20 years of secessionist war.

The LTTE, however, first used 130 mm guns when it overran the EPS military garrison in 2000. It is believed that the Tigers had purchased the guns from East Asian source and smuggled them to the Wanni.

LTTE is believed to have three pieces of 130 mm guns, according to the intelligence sources. 130 mm artillery gun has an effective range of 27 km. The Pooneryn Point known as K point holds a unique importance to the LTTE due to its geography. Of all the areas held by the LTTE in the South of security Forces forward defence lines, it is only the Pooneryn point which comes within 27 km radius from the Pallali Military Air port.

Defence lines

However, the size of the Pooneryn point, it is a 400 meter wide strip, imposes severe restrictions on manoeuvrability of the LTTE.

Artillery positions are vulnerable to the air strikes. When the Tigers attempted to overrun the security forces forward defence lines in August, the LTTE strategy, as analysed by a senior security forces official was, to bring its artillery guns upwards from its current locations in Pallai and Pooneryn, having pushed troops up to Kodikamam during the first phase of the offensive.

Had the LTTE succeeded doing so, it could have brought the Kankasanthurai Harbour, the Karainagar Naval Base and the Pallai Military Air Port within its artillery range.

But the troops fought back, repulsing Tiger onslaught and inflicting heavy damage on the enemy.

Distinctive strategies

According to a senior military official, there are two distinctive strategies put in place by the LTTE in the East and the North. The LTTE did not opt to hold the ground in the East, even during the peak of its hold, which was during the time of Eastern Tiger commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna. That was despite the fact that during the height of Karuna, LTTE had 5,000-6,000 fighting cadres in the East.

The LTTE carried out attacks on the camps, but did not opt to hold the ground. Whereas in the North, Tigers had been fiercely fighting to halt advancing troops since the Operation Jayasikuru.

The LTTE strategy in the North is a different one. The LTTE has shown a fierce will to fight despite heavy casualties in order to hold ground under its control and also keep its morale intact.

Government’s position is outlined by the Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who has repeatedly vowed to retaliate whenever the national security is at stake.

Indeed, what the Tigers fought in their defence lines was a battle of paramount importance for the existence of the LTTE, militarily and politically speaking. Had it given up easily, it could have severely negated the bargaining power in the next round of peace talks, at least speaking on the LTTE thinking which view military strength as the core of its bargaining power.

Deep silence maintained in the aftermath of the battle is further proof for the heavy casualties of the LTTE.

However as a senior military official analysed the priorities in the aftermath of the Wednesday’s clash, the paramount task at the moment is to consolidate the current FDL positions of the security forces, there by preventing the LTTE from exploiting the situation.

Having done that, the security forces could decide the next course of action considering on the outcome of the peace talks set for end of this month.