Forces launch humanitarian mission to liberate 6,000 population in Silavatura

Wanni people awaiting liberation:

The security and the protection of the citizen of a country is the prime responsibility of the Government. No Government can deviate from this responsibility under any circumstances. Ignoring the security of citizens of the country risking their lives would definitely irk the anger of the public towards any Government.

The prime difference between the policies of Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the President Mahinda Rajapaksa was on the subject of national security. National security was the top priority of his administration, since he became the fifth executive President of this country defeating UNP Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2005.

Majority of people voted for the policies of Mahinda Rajapaksa as they believed that the country they live in would be a secure place under his administration.

President Rajapaksa turned his words into deeds on the subject of national security without leaving any room to put the national security at risk even when he was making fresh attempts to resume peace negotiations with the LTTE.

National security

One key factor contributing towards increasing the national security, under the present administration was the shutting down of all the possibilities available with the LTTE to bargain on issues threatening to keep the national security at a risk.

The Tiger outfit first gambled with the life of Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka attempting to take his life deploying a female suicide cadre in the guise of a pregnant mother.

But the LTTE received their just returns from the Government with Air Force launching its first air raid after signing of the Ceasefire Agreement targeting the LTTE installations in Sampur on the eve of April 25, 2006.

The reaction of the Security Forces in the aftermath of the closure of the Mavil Aru waters was a clear proof to demonstrate the attitude of the Government towards national security that led to the humiliating defeat of the LTTE in the East.

The prime aim behind the Eastern military operations was to liberate the civilian population from the clutches of the LTTE and to secure the population living in other parts of the country.

With the liberation of the LTTE, the security threat on Colombo was lessened from more than 75 per cent with the LTTE losing many of the ground they used to send human bombs, and other explosives to put Colombo security in jeopardy as many of the bombs transported to Colombo were from the Eastern province.

Even many of the suicide cadres the LTTE used to send to the South were from the East as the Tiger leadership used Eastern cadres in the front lines of the battles to achieve their goals. With the entire Eastern population coming under the control of the Security Forces and the Police the LTTE lost the chance of using these civilians to achieve their goals.

But East was not the only place the Tiger outfit used to launch their clandestine operation to put the national security at risk.

With the LTTE movements confined only within the Wanni the Tiger outfit made use of the areas in the South of Mannar, the only area that comes under their control outside the main areas in the Wanni, to pose threat to the South using it as the main route to send explosives to the South.

With the liberation of the Eastern province the activities along the coast from Puttalam to Silavatura in the South of Mannar was frequently used by the LTTE for their logistic operations. The sea route from Silavatura to Kalpitiya has been used by the LTTE to transport their goods to the land and then transported them to Colombo or South.

The recovery of two claymore mines along the Kalpitiya road on last Sunday was a clear indication to say that the LTTE was using this route to transport explosives.

Under these circumstances Security Forces and the Police increased the cordon and search operations in Puttalama area to dismantle the safe houses run by the LTTE and to arrest suspected Tiger operatives.

Wilpattu National Park

Apart from this with the suspicion that the LTTE had infiltrated into the Vilpattu National Park the Army Special Forces troops and the Commandoes screened the Park inducting troops into the jungle. During this search operations troops have not found any clue to prove the presence of Tiger cadres within the Park.

The search operation was carried out with Security Forces receiving reports that LTTE was making use of Vilpattu National Park to land their aircraft. But this fact too was proved wrong after the search operation conducted by the troops.

However, the strong presence of Tiger cadres in the south of Mannar continued to be a tricky situation for more than 6000 population living in and around Silavatura as their lives come under threat with frequent claymore attacks by the LTTE targeting both civilians and the troops.

It was under these circumstances the Security Forces launched fresh operation to liberate more than 6,000 civilian population living in Silavatura area from the clutches of the LTTE in the early hours of yesterday.The area also include, Kondachchi, Silavaturai, Arippu.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the nod for the operation at the Security Council meeting held on Friday after his arrival in Colombo from Kandy.

The area subjected to the Security Forces operation came under the LTTE control after Security Forces removed their camps from the South of Mannar in early 1990s to attend to the requirements in the North as it happened in the Eastern theatre.

The capture of this area will definitely benefit the Security Forces to maintain the security along the Vavuniya Mannar road and also to clear the Puttalam Mannar road famously known as 'Mutu Road' which has remained closed for nearly two decades.

The security of the Sinhalese settlements in Tantirimale, Mahawilachchiya in the Anuradhapura, and Gangevadiya and Eluvankulama will also be increased once Tiger cadres are evicted from the area.

The humanitarian operation launched by the Security Forces in Silavatura will also help to block Sea Tiger activities in the Gulf of Mannar region as they made use of this territory to harass innocent fishermen in the area forcibly using them to transport their goods and to obtain fuel as they experience severe shortage of fuel.

The detections made by the Navy in Mannar area during the past few weeks clearly shows how LTTE was using these innocent fishermen to collect fuel for their needs.

Naval troops deployed for fishing marshalling duty on August arrested a suspicious fibre glass dingy transporting contraband fuel to the LTTE in the seas off Pesalai in Mannar.

There were 210 litres of diesel and 230 litres of kerosene on board the boat at the time of detection.

The two suspects manning the FGD were residents of Pesalai and were engaged in transporting contraband fuel for the LTTE operating in the Vedithalativu area.

The FGD fitted with a 15 horse power out board engine and the two persons along with the fuel were handed over to the Police.

The Indian Navy and the Customs on August 21 busted an LTTE racket of obtaining fuel from Indian fishermen in the seas of Mannar in exchange for Sri Lankan currency.

On another occasion on August 19 Naval troops on foot patrol detected 250 litres of sulphuric acid at the Katupalliya beach in Mannar.

The acid in 10 plastic cans, each can weighing 10 kilograms, was found with other items loaded on a bullock cart by the troops.

Therefore the liberation of the area would definitely be a relief for the people in the Silavatura area as they are free from all sorts of burdens once they can be released from the LTTE grip while relieving a heavy burden on the Navy to patrol the area from Battalangunduwa to Silavatura to block Sea Tiger operations since the area has turned out to be a hot bed for Naval battles for the past one year..

Though not linked to the operation in Silavatura the Security Forces while engaged from the Eastern battles in March this commenced small team operations in the West of Omanthai to prevent LTTE infiltration into Vavuniya and Mannar areas.

Running short of cadre

That was after the experience the Security Forces earlier gathered in the Jaffna peninsula prior to the LTTE attack on Muhamalai, Kilali and Nagar Kovil defences with the induction of their cadres into cleared areas.

To prevent this type of LTTE operation troops engaged in search operations ahead of the Forward Defence Lines in the West of Omanthai for the past few months.

The troops attached to 57 Division of the Sri Lanka Army engaged in this operation confronting the Tiger cadres infiltrating into cleared areas.

So far the Security Forces have been able to kill more than 1200 cadres a number that exceeds the total number of LTTE cadres killed in all Eastern battles.

However, the LTTE continue to harass the civilian population in the Wanni to defend their territory from the Security Forces operations.

Due to increased harassment by the LTTE the number of civilians returning to the Wanni after crossing the Omanthai entry exit point has come down drastically.

According to defence authorities only 30 per cent of civilians reach cleared areas via Omanthai entry exit point are returning back to Wanni.

According to these sources the civilian population in Wanni has reduced almost to 300,000 over the past few months with many civilians fleeing uncleared areas despite the claims by the LTTE that over 450,000 population are still living in the Wanni area at present.

Therefore, the LTTE is now not allowing the entire family to leave Wanni under any circumstances, as they are sure that they would not return back to Wanni.

Owing to this situation the LTTE is running short of cadres compelling them to force the civilians to send two members from each family to the outfit to continue their fight for Tamil Eelam.

If the LTTE recruit at least one member from each family they need to have at least 60,000 cadres with them in the Wanni if 300,000 people from 60,000 families live there in Wanni at present.

By forcing the civilians to give another member from their families to the LTTE indicates that they do not have even that much of strength to face the Security Forces.

Under these circumstances the legitimate right for the LTTE to claim for Eelam is fast distancing from the Tiger leader as they are fast losing the control over the Tamil population.

The recent cases of rape reported in Wanni has made the LTTE unpopular with many senior Tiger cadres proved guilty of rape whilst they were engaged in recruitment of youth to the organisation.

Therefore, a public uprising against the LTTE has become imminent in the Wanni with the resentment developing against the LTTE.

Contrary to this situation the Security Forces are becoming more popular among the public especially in the East after the province was liberated from the clutches of the LTTE.

According to sources in the East the LTTE is fast becoming an non-entity in the East as people have forgotten the presence of the LTTE in the province.

However, the Security Forces are continuing their strong presence in the East despite diverting troops for other commitments in the Wanni.

Strategies adopted by the Security Forces in the process of liberating the areas under the control of the LTTE has increased the confidence of the people unlike in the past where the civilian factor was totally ignored by the Security Forces when launching offensive operations against the LTTE.

The manner in which the civilians were resettled in the Eastern province has helped to built confidence among the public living in the Wanni and Security Forces have now received signs that people in the Wanni too are awaiting the Security Forces arrival to free them from the iron grip of the LTTE.