Tigers Demonstrate Military Prowess at Muhamaalai Front
April 26th, 2008
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj
For many,many moons the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse has been projecting an image that everything is going well for the security forces on the military front.
The people of this country have been the targets of a sustained propaganda barrage claiming that everything was hunky-dory for the regime in the on going war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The scale of this propaganda has been so great that many people in the South were taken in and believed that “victory” over the tigers was imminent.
This focus about winning the war instilled a buoyancy in the public mood which has helped the Rajapakse regime to help contain resentment over the rising cost of living, inflation, economic decline , corruption, mismanagement, nepotism, economic decline etc.
Many faults of the government are being tolerated to some extent because of the perception that the Rajapakse regime was winning the war against the LTTE and therefore should not be hampered or obstructed in any way.
Apart from this the Government has the additional advantage of a feeble opposition and weak leader of the opposition.
There have been however some including this columnist who have consistently pointed out that all was not going well with the government’s military project in the north.
While the security forces certainly had overwhelming military superiority over the LTTE the beleagured tigers were not going to cave in meekly it was pointed out.
The Wanni was the last stronghold or rear base of the LTTE and it would not retreat or withdraw as it did in the East .
Besides the LTTE was not a spent force . The tigers may be down but were certainly not out.
There had been several occasions in the past where the tigers had displayed amazing military resilience and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
However these dissenting views were lost on a government whose vision and mission revolved around theobjective of military victory over the LTTE.
There was also a convergence between the Government and military hierarchy. Army commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka is determined to finish the war before his term of office ends.
Fonseka has gone on record that he would not leave war as a legacy for his successors.
It is against this backdrop that recent military manouevers in the North have to be looked at.
The army has five divisions on the northern and southern ends of tiger controlled territory in the North. The 55 and 53 divisions are in the peninsula while the 58, 57 and 59 divisions are in Mannar, Vavuniya and Manal aaru/Weli - Oya regions.
There has been intermittent fighting on all these fronts for many, many months. The tigers have been fighting a defensive war with dogged determination.
Another display of the LTTE’s military resilience was seen on Wednesday April 23rd in the northern theatre of war along the axis of Kilaly - Muhamaalai - Nagar Kovil..
On the day before (april 22nd) main battle tanks (MBT) and armoured personnel carriers (APC) of the army’s mechanized infantry division (53 - 4)advanced towards the South and south - east in a fan -like formation between Kilaly and Muhamaalai.
The MID commanded by Col. Ralph Nugera was formally raised in February last year.
The LTTE has its own anti tank and armoured unit named after Victor the former tiger commander for Mannar.
The LTTE has reportedly dug deep and long and wide trenches to combat and contain the mechanized infantry division.
There was however no deep advancement into tiger territory by the MID.
Tiger artillery fired back at the advancing armoured vehicles.
A Chinese built APC was hit by a RPG - 7 fired at close range by members of the Victor unit. The APC was put out of action.
Thereafter the MID withdrew.
There was a temporary lull which however did not last long.
A major military push commenced.
The military commander for Jaffna Maj - Gen Chandrasiri stationed himself at the 55 division headquarters in Kodikaamam to co-ordinate and direct the military operation.
Unconfirmed reports state that Army chief Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka was in Palaly to oversee the operation.
Both the 53 and 55 divisions were involved in the military push.
According to circles close to the Defence ministry the entire operation had been set in motion at very short notice.
There had not been much inter - service co-ordination and the Navy and Air Force were very much in the dark about the operation during its initial phases..
A major factor in the military decision to launch a quick but intensive operation was the “intelligence” received through intercepts of LTTE radio messages.
The gist of those intercepts indicated that the LTTE was in a difficult situation at the Kilaly - Muhamaalai - Nagar Kovil frontline and was hard - pressed to retain its positions.
Thus it was decided that a sudden, swift strike could make LTTE defences crumble and that the armed forces could make that long anticipated break - through.
These plans however went awry and subsequent developments turned sour for the armed forces.The LTTE displayed a ferocious resilience that belied the intelligence assessment of the tigers being vulnerable at the Muhamaalai front.
It is now suspected that the LTTE had “conned” the security establishment into thinking that they were weak and ill - prepared at the frontline.
The “intercepts” were of messages deliberately sent out to hoodwink the armed forces.They were apparently hoaxes to lure the armed forces into attacking.
Even as fighting progressed the armed forces found themselves subjected to more deceptive guile by the LTTE.
In fairness to the security forces it must be said that the entire operation was well - planned and had on paper bright prospects of success. It was the implementation that went wrong.
Kilaly, Muhamaalai and Nagar Kovil are in the western, central and eastern areas of the lower part of Jaffna peninsula. This is the axis, demarcating areas of control between the security forces and tigers.
The respective forward defence lines as well as the common “no man’s land” zone are situated along this axis
It was past midnight around 2. 30 am that the military operation commenced. Since it was in the wee hours of the morning the date technically was Wednesday April 23rd.
It was initially a stealth operation.
The 53 division commanded by Brig. Samantha Sooriyabandara was to break out in two formations from Kilaly and South Muhamaalai and proceed South of the A - 9 or Jaffna - Kandy road.
The 55 division commanded by Brig.Kamal Gunaratne was to break out from Nagar Kovil on the East and proceed north of the A - 9 highway.
The 55 division was set a comparatively formidable task as it had to move through the marshy land called “Kandal” in proximity to inlets of the Jaffna lagoon.
Both divisions were to set out at 2. 30 am and proceed. After breaking through they were expected to move towards the centre and link up with each other.
Once the breakthrough and link -up was effected a seven km stretch was to be secured as phase one of the operation.
For reasons that are yet to be known the 53 division under Brig. Sooriyabandara was late and broke out only around 3. 30 am while the 55 division began proceeding at the stipulated time of 2. 30.
There seems to have been a break - down in communications.
The 55 division clashed with the LTTE in the” Kandal” marshy lands and invaded into LTTE territory. The forces advanced more than 500 - 600 metres into tiger territory and took over the LTTE’s first line of defence in that region.
While around six LTTE cadre were killed in a bunker most of the remaining tigers retreated from the first defence line.
By 5. 30 am the 55 division had accomplished its preliminary task and was preparing to take on the second line of defence.
Effective linking up between both divisions was delayed because of the 53 division delay.
When the 55 division tried to proceed further towards the 2nd line of defence the troops found themselves facing stiff resistance.
The Ponnammaan mines corps of the LTTE had set up its mines and booby traps in key locations. They began to take a toll.
There was also another nasty surprise.
Unknown to military intelligence the LTTE’s Kittu artillery unit and Kutty Sri mortar unit had set up an artillery pad at Soranpattru.
From this position the LTTE began firing with deadly accuracy on targets that were just a few hours before part of its first line of defence.
Several soldiers were killed in the bunkers and trenches along this line.
Unable to link up with the 53 division the 55 division men soldiers were deprived of support from the 53 - 4 mechanized infantry. There was also no air support.
It appeared that the tigers had enticed the 55 division into their territory by withdrawing rapidly from positions along the first line of defence. It was a trap set by the tigers .
While this was going on the 53 division with its bungled start was not faring well either. LTTE cadre resisted their advance fiercely.
The LTTE used mortars, mines and snipers in many places to cause damage to the soldiers.
While the LTTE relied more on mines, booby traps artillery and mortars against the 55 division there was a lot of intensive combat with the 53 division.
Support for the LTTE came from its tactical rear base set up between Pallai and the Puthukaadu junction.
This base codemamed Tango - one was the virtual headquarters with senior northern commander “Col” Theepan stationing himself here.
Fighters from the Charles Antony, Jeyanthan, Imran and Pandiyan infantry divisions, Sothiya womens brigade, Kittu, Victor, Kutty Sri, Ponnammaan units and snipers from the leopard commando “chiruthaigal” were moulded together into a viable defence .
“Col” Lawrence was commander of the tiger cadre engaging the 53 division. Lt. Col Muhunthan was in charge of the fighters resisting the 55 division.
Three senior tigers directing operations at the frontlines of Kilaly, Muhamaalai and the Kandal areas of Nagar Kovil were Kutti, Jerry and Kumanan respectively.
Since the operation was initially meant to be one of stealth the mechanized infantry had not proceeded at the front of advancing troops.
The MID came up at the rear at one stage and began firing. Subsequently it moved up front.
But the Victor unit engaged in counter strikes.
According to some reports two T - 55 tanks were destroyed. Four other Battle tanks were damaged.
As the morning sun got hotter and hotter it became clear that the surprise operation was no surprise to the tigers at all.The surprise if any was to the army and quite shocking at that!
From around 10 am the 55 and 53 began withdrawing. By 11. 30 am the soldiers had gone back to their earlier positions.
At about 12. 30 pm there was an air strike over Soranpattru where the tiger artillery pad was located.
There was also an intensive artillery barrage towards the Pallai area for nearly five hours from 11. 30 to 4. 30.
Multi - barrel rocket launcher fire was directed against the Tango - one base. One MBRL can fire 40 rounds at a time.
All comunication from Tango - one ceased at about 2. 30 pm.
It is unclear whether it was hit or whether the tigers adopted tactical silence.
According to circles close to the Defence ministry more than 5000 shells were fired by the security forces during all stages of the fighting.
Though both sides downplayed their casualty toll there is no doubt that the combined losses were heavy.
Emergency Casualty evacuation (Casevac) measures were adopted. The security forces airlifted casualties by helicopter from Nagar Kovil to Palaly.
Casualties were also transported by road from Mirusuvil to Palaly.
Six buses were commandeered for this purpose.
A special transit facility was set up in Palaly to accomodate the injured before being sent by air to Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Colombo.
The LTTE also used its vehicles and also two buses to transport their dead and injured. All public transport along the A - 9 between Kilinochchi and Pallai and on the Paranthan - Mullaitheevu road was curtailed for six hours to facilitate LTTE casualty evacuation.
Apart from receiving treatment from the Thileepan medical unit many serious cases were admitted to the Kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu hospitals.
The LTTE announced initially that 16 of its cadre were killed. Later it revised it to 25. The figure for injuries was not released by the LTTE officially.
Informed Tamil sources revealed that 55 to 60 tigers were killed in the fighting. Of these only the names of the cadre with 18 months of experience would be eventually acknowledged.
Those with less than 18 months of experience are not regarded as full - fledged LTTE and will not be officially acknowledged.
The sources also said that around 80 LTTE cadre were injured. About 10 - 15 of these were serious cases.
The LTTE controlled radio “Tamil Eelam National radio” broadcasting from Kilinochchi stated that 178 soldiers were killed in the fighting. It said that 143 bodies were taken to Colombo in body bags by the authorities
These bodies were then embalmed and placed in coffins at three points and handed over to their families.
The three points were at Borella, Battaramulla and Madampe where 75, 38 and 30 bodies were respectively disposed of, the tiger radio alleged.
The LTTE radio also said that 35 bodies were recovered by the LTTE of which 28 bodies were handed over to the ICRC.
Thus the tiger radio claimed that a total of 178 were killed. The radio also claimed that more than 500 soldiers were injured. Of these 286 were undergoing intensive care. 20 of these were in critical condition. 51 had lost their legs or feet.
The LTTE military affairs spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said that more than a 100 soldiers were killed and more than 400 were injured.
As far as the security forces were concerned the official version stated by the army’s media director Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara to the BBC was that 149 LTTE men were killed and 196 tigers injured.
The figures for the army according to Nanayakkara was 43 dead and 33 missing in action. 163 were injured.
Circles close to the Defence ministry told this column of casualty figures that contrasted with the official version.
Of the 53 division one officer and 24 soldiers were killed ; one officer and 35 men were reported missing in action. Five officers and 184 men were injured.
Of the 55 division 20 were dead .Six officers and 114 men were injured. There were no missing in action from the 55 division.
According to these sources 120 of the injured were P1 (serious) and P2 (less serious). 169 of the injured had been brought to Colombo.
This column also received some details of casualties from informed sources in Colombo. These sources indicated that 88 soldiers in all were killed and 39 missing in action. Around 475 soldiers were injured of whom 160 - 200 were in the categories of P! and P2.
According to information received by this column injured soldiers are being treated at Palaly, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Colombo.
In Colombo the casualties are admitted to the military hospital, eye hospital , the Sri Jayewardenapura hospital and the National hospital at Borella. 122 soldiers were warded at SriJayewardenapura and 38 at the national hospital.
According to an AFP report that quoted Army sources 165 soldiers were killed and 20 others were reported missing making up a total of 185.
These casualty figures were obtained on Friday morning. The figures are fluid and subject to change as more authoritative and authentic information comes to light.
LTTE has also provided details of the arms and ammunition seized:
* Forty-one T-56 Type 2 assault rifles,
* Three T-56 Type-1 assault rifles,
* Five Light Machine Guns (LMG),
* Two PKT Tank machine guns,
* Five Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers (RPG),
* Three 40 mm Grenade Launchers,
* Seven anti-armour RPG shells,
* Twenty-one anti-personnel RPG shells,
* Twenty-six propellers for RPGs,
* 8500 inter-medium ammunition,
* 1500 chained ammo for machine guns,
* 104 magazines
* Twelve helmets
Meanwhile the LTTE returned twenty - eight bodies of soldiers to the International Red Cross at Kilinochchi. The bodies were displayed to the public at Kilinochchi in a violation of norms.
The handing over to the ICRC was done by Paavannan who interacts with NGO’s on behalf of the LTTE.
The Army too was making plans to hand over six bodies of the LTTE to the ICRC. These included three male and three female tiger cadre.
After it became obvious that the military push had ended in a debacle frantic efforts were on to engage in damage control. The most amusing aspect in this was the assertion that the LTTE had launched the attack and that the armed forces were merely defending their positions.
Apparently the armed forces were able to launch a full scale operation in the thick of night into tiger territory within minutes of being attacked by the LTTE.
It is indeed a pity that these propagandists do not realise how pathetic they appear to the discerning public. Surely the soldiers laying down their lives in the course of duty deserve better than these jokers and their jocular explanations.
Some changes in military command too are in the pipeline.Brig. Sooriyabandara commanding 53 division is to take up duties as defence attache in Washington as Brig. Athula Jayewardena the incumbent is due to retire.
Brig. Brig. Kamal Gunaratne who commands 55 now will take over 53 diision. Brig. Prasanna Silva of the special forces will be in charge of 55 division.
In a separate development the LTTE began withdrawing from Madhu and its environs.
Unconfirmed reports stated on Thursday April 24th that the armed forces were slowly encircling the Church environs and surrounding areas gradually. It remains to be seen what this portends for the future of Madhu and Madhu maadhaa.
The military push in the Muhamaalai region was but one more in a long list of similiar exercises.. It is perhaps the third biggest debacle in this series.
The first was Operation “agnikheela” on April 24th 2001; the second was on October 11th 2006; this is the third and also comparatively the lowest of all three in terms of casualties.
Still this is no consolation as the casualty toll for the armed forces is over 100 killed and over 400 injured.
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake added his own “two cents” to the annals of morbid humour when he compared the casualty toll to that of the Mullaitheevu debacle on July 18th 1996 where around 1200 soldiers were killed or reported missing.
According to the septugenarian PMm he is happy that the present figure is low when compared to that of Mullaitheevu.
The conflicting attempts by both sides to downplay their own casualty figures and gloatingly exaggerate figures of the other side seem comical but for the tragedy of the situation.
Be it the security forces or the LTTE the bulk of those being killed or injured are below thirty. Though they fight on opposing sides these youths (most of whom are from poor families) belong to this Country.
In different times they would have been the future of this land.
Sadly they are being mowed down in war and deprived of life even before they know what life is all about. Just as the light brigade rode into the valley of death because some had blundered these unfortunate youths go into battle, to do or die without reasoning why!
Let us not forget that the powerful leaders on both sides who send these sacrificial lambs into battle now were involved in a sordid underhand deal shortly before the Presidential elections of 2005.
When it suits them they share the spoils when it doesen’t the innocents are massacred on both sides.
LTTE circles are cock a hoop about having proved a point to the racist Rajapakse regime. But then it was the same LTTE which brought this government to power through its enforced boycott.
The failure of Jayasikurui and Agnikheela and the success of “Oyatha Alaigal” and the Katunayake attack etc demonstrated in the beginning of the new millennium that there was no military solution. This led to the ceasefire and peace talks of 2002.
Now the country seems to be undergoing a sense of deja vu. The fierce resistance put up by the LTTE on multiple fronts and the Muhamaalai debacle point once again to the simple truth that there can be no military solution.
[Bob Dylan’s “The answer is blowing in the wind” - featuring slides from Sri Lanka]
The tigers have shown that the Rajapakse regime’s calculations of winning the war and destroying the LTTE are misplaced.
Will this lead to a re-assessment of the situation nationally and internationally?
Is the Government and its hawkish supporters ready to shelve war and go in for talks?
Even if this happens and peace talks materialise is the LTTE ready to engage genuinely in negotiations for a viable solution within a united but not necessarily unitary Sri Lanka?
If these developments do not happen is the Country destined to see the blood of its youth flow continuously on the sacrificial altar of war?
Who has the answers?
As Bob Dylan twanged his guitar and sang in his nasal tones many decades ago
“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind”
Entry Filed under: transCurrents NewsFeatures
73 Comments Add your own
1. Kurudan1 | April 26th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
1. SLA did a “body check” on the LTTE front lines last week. This was planned as the prelude to the “big push” by Gen Fonseka. LTTE hi comd did not expect this “test” now, but the front line tigers organized themself locally, played a counter attack cleverly. The only real support these young cadres and local comd had was the precission mortar and arti support from the rear, which practically made the SLA arti non functional during the battle. Since there was , No Arti support from the rear to the SLA, troops confused,,, and young tigers played ” kili thattu” in their own trenches and game over for SLA.
3. Only 500-600 SLA soldiers removed from the battle field; SLA has around 20 000 troops on this 12 Km FDL. They will try again, but when ? Will it fit Basil Rajapakse’s political timetable.
4. Mechanized-Infantry did not play a major role in this battle, they are healthy and waiting for their day in the field. The area is dry and dusty at the moment, ideal time to use them. During the 5 years of CFA VP probaby built enough anti-armour capability in “Victor” to counter this.
5. I beleive the strategy of Srilanka and ( India) to weaken the Tiger by “Thousand small cuts” . Force the VP for a cock fight in Mannar, madu, vavuniya, manal aru, kilali-muhamalai-nagar kovil….and bleed him slowly..
I do not thing, VP will fall for this game. None of his special regiments are playing commited role in this phase. Current war effort mostly done by the ” Civilian Militia “. This “makkal paddai” plays a key role in ballancing the MPR. VP’s formations are waiting in the wings. VP’s strategy is to drag this phase of war for a long time…force the lions to get tired and dismayed.
When you are tired and could not execute the hunt successfully.. then all the “energy” you wasted on the hunt have no purpose and lions become weaker…
It is all about stamina.now. and more youth will die in Tamil Ealam and Srilanka.
2. kurikaatuwan | April 26th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Very good analysis Mr Jeyaraj ! However in my opinion if GOSL just keeps doing small operations and increases the intelligence network to do more accurate bombings and constantly harrass the tigers then the whole situation in Wanni will implode.
All that needs to happen now is a senior commander in LTTE to defect or rebel. Army should work more on LRRP operations and intelligence than open warfare.
LTTE must be wiped out of this country, for survival of our own race here.
3. N | April 26th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
A military solution was not possible in the past and it will not certainly happen anywhere in the near future.
4. Elallan | April 26th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
DBS,
I should remind you the history of racist Sinhala politics. The Sinhala state is not prepared to share power and that has not changed over the years. When the government seriously commits to a negotiations on good faith to solving problems and Tamil aspirations than the Tamils would sit down and talk. We cannot sit down with a government whose real aim is to buy time and commit itself to a military solution.
5. Metha | April 26th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Speaking about solutions within united SRilanka is immpossible. If GOSL- not Sinhalease- to come with a solution, then LTTE needs to be wiped out. Till such solutions Blaming the LTTE is absured.
6. Murugan | April 26th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Wow, amazing details in this article.
Also kudos to DSBJ because I think he had written about the Tiger feint tactic in his article about the Mechanized Infantry division from a month ago.
It is important to notice that the Tigers relied on deception in order to win this battle. But the Tigers can’t solely rely on tricks to achieve military parity.
The SL Army surely won’t fall for the ‘feint’ or the ‘misinformation from a Tiger transmission’ again, will it?
If the Army is just patient and plans a well-coordinated attack (with air support, heavy artillery, and the MID) , then honestly it seems like they should be able to win the next battle in Jaffna. But in general, Muhamalai is just not a good place for either side to launch an offensive. The terrain seems to favor the defensive army.
Also remember that even though the Tigers ‘won’ they still lost probably 50-60+ soldiers (or maybe a lot more who knows?) and had many injuries.
The Tigers will have to win many more battles before they can convince the Sinhala nation to stop seeking a military solution.
And the SL army could stlil win the war, this was just one battle.
7. Chennai_Analyst | April 26th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
The ‘Odhai’ that the cowards SLA received was telling. We call it as “Dharm-addi” in Chennai. This is only foretaste of things to come, if Rajapakse continues on his “Chintanaya”.
In the Hindian language, “Chinta” means ‘Worry”, and “Naya” is ‘’new'’, meaning ‘New-Worries” for the Rajapske Goon Brothers!
‘’Chintanaya’ also sounds like “Sindhanai'’ in Tamil, meaning Rajapakse should do some ‘’Sindhanai” and see where the hell he is taking SriLanka to?
After reading this writeup by DBS Sir, i am somehow reminded of T.Rajendar’s opening saying in Tamil Cinema when he smacks a guy saying: “Soola-Karuppan-Adida, Idha-Vaangikittae-Pudida”! The SLA just received this, also called in English as a Sound Thrashing!
8. aj | April 26th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Following the points and rationale established in DBSJ’s analysis I find kurikaatuwan’s (No.2.) points very interestings. His/Her remarks embody the very essance of this conflict and the reasons for its continuation.
Despite all the rational provided, he/she still manages to ironically congratulate the author and then remark the opposite of the analyses’ conclusion by applauding the need for absolute military solution based on race driven principles.
The perfect embodyment of why any solution that does not involve state seperation will not address the root cause of this political problem and not be a viable solution for the Eelam Tamils.
9. naasamarupaan | April 27th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Dear DBS,
This article made me think about two things. First it reminds me the proverb “Ooyata ooyata paranthalum oor kutuvi patunthakuma”. Looking at Battle history at Mukamalai, from April 24, 2001 to date, it’s been 7 years since Akinikeela. GOSL have raised military support from many countries along with military trainings but what is their gain overall? Nothing. Rajapakse went to China last year and gave a baby elephant as gift and brought back many military supplies in return. Recently Fonseka visited India to a Military workshop and visited Kashmir to view Indian military situation a lieu (in person). Anyone can compare GOSL and Tigers when it comes to military facilities and see that Tigers are able to with stand all the improved GOSL military ability. This reminded me the above mentioned proverb.
Like kurikaatuwan, comment number 2, who is our own race, wants the LTTE weaken and he worries about how to split the LTTE and destroy it. Just imagine, in one day SLA bombarded Mukamalai with 5000 artilleries and probably destroyed all the natural wealth in that area like coconut trees (which brings Tamils wealth). Who worries about these losses?
The second thing is about the state of Srilankan Media. In Mukamalai battle on Oct 11, 2006 tigers retrieved 75 SLA bodies but GOSL was reluctant to receive the bodies by saying its not SLAs. Later on Tamilnet reported this issue with scanned national and Army IDs which proved the identity of the dead which caused the relatives and family of those dead force GOSL to retrieve those bodies. GOSL didn’t have any option but to receive it. But after this incident GOSL banned Tamilnet in Srilanka because they want to control media not only Tamils but Sinhalese to remain in dark.
The reason to ban Tamilnet suddenly in Srilanka was solely due to this reason even though Tamilnet after 10 years. Anura Piriyatharsanayaapaa, Srilankan media minister, gave an interview to BBC about banning Tamilnet his reasons did not have any strong grounds and it seemed idiotic. This time the retrieved bodies didn’t have any IDs but there were some evidence like soldier number and a mobile phone this was reported by Tamilnet but Sinhalese in Srilanka can’t have this information due to ban on Tamilnet. This time GOSL received the bodies since Tamilnet reported the soldier numbers. In 1996 GOSL didn’t accept 1200 SLA bodies since there was no media facilities like now to report and pressure GOSL that reached Sinhalese too.
Finally I want to mention about the SLAs bodies being viewed by public before being handed over to ICRC. It is an issue worth criticizing but we must remember that after Anurathapura airbase attack GOSL did not respect the LTTE bodies. They undressed the bodies turned them naked and paraded with media covering it all. They burned those bodies without respect even though the court had ordered GOSL to give the bodies to LTTE who were willing to receive them.
10. Thunnalai | April 27th, 2008 at 12:36 am
MUHAMALAI THE GAYEWAY OF ANCENT JAFFNA KINGDOM.
HISTORY ALWAYS REPEATE
People say history always repeats. During the Eeelam war what ever you can say war 2 or 3 the sleepy village called Muhamalai become important place for power struggle between the Tamil and Singala forces and so many lives were lost during the battle between Tamils and Singalese.Even during the ancient times Muhamalai was the most southern security post for the Jaffna Kingdom. It was facing Vanni and Singala Kingdom from south. Vanni Kingdom was sandwiched between Jaffna Kingdom from north and Singala Kingdom from south. They played major balancing role during the power struggle between ancient Tamil and Sinhala Kings. Most of the occasions Vanni was part of Jaffna Kingdom. When ever Jaffna Kingdom becomes week they either supported the Singhalese Kings or rebel agansist the Jaffna Kings. Many occasions Jaffna Kings has to send forces to Vanni to subdued the Vannai Chiefs. Other than the south side Jaffna Kingdom was naturally guarded by sea. Its has remote chance to get invasion from north by sea because Jaffna Kingdom was that not attractive to South Indian Kings to make costly sea invasion. Most of the Jaffna Kings had very cordial relationship with south Indian royals such as Ramanathapuram Sethupathis and Puthu Kottai Kings. Some occasions they were paying taxes to South Indian Kings. When Muslims over run some of the south Indian Kingdoms Jaffna Kings stop paying taxes. But during the campaign against Portuguese they got some sort of military help from Tanjavor King.
In order to guard the southern side of the Kingdom Jaffna King developed the present sleepy village called Muhamali.It was located in the strategic place. Ancient road in the east side connects KKS-Point Pedro-Vallipura Kovil-Nagar Kovil-Chempiyan Pattru and Maruthan Kerni.North Side it connects Pallai - Chavaga Nagar (Present Chavaga Cheri) and Nallur and the west side it connect important Changupitty-Poonagari-Mannar/Maathottam road. South side it connects the Vanni and Kandy Kingdoms.Strigically it is very important place for northern Jaffna Kingdom. Subsequently it was become most southern security post for Jaffna Kingdom.
In order to protect the Jaffna Kingdom ancient Tamil King settled one of the most trusted Vanni chief in Muhamalai and entrusted the security to him and also he become the chief for all other surrounding villages such as Maruthankeny, Vattirayan, Uduththurai, Aliavalle, Pallai etc.They held the title called ‘Arasu Kaval’ (Protector of the Kingdom).Even after the fall of Jaffna Kingdom to Portuguese the decedents of Muhamalai chiefs called themselves Arasu Kaval Mudalis.
During later period Jaffna Kings married their daughters to the descendants of this Muhamalai Chiefs. Most of the times Jaffna Kings kept substantial number of Tamil forces in Muhamalai to safeguard the Tamil Kingdom.
When Jaffna Kingdom was overrun by Portuguese during 15th century they killed the last King of Jaffna Sangiliyan.His brother Pararajasegaran become powerless and neutral. Jaffna was ransacked and destroyed by Portguese.Royal house was also burnt. Royal house fire destroyed the written history of Jaffna and priceless old Tamil writings in Ola leaf. Most of the chiefs and ministers were beheaded. Famous Nallur Kandasamy Kovil and Sivan Temple were destroyed and they removed the foundation stones. Lots of Tamils migrated to India and settle down in present Vethar-niyam area. Last surviving King Pararajasekaran lived few years to witness the destruction.Pararajasekaran had seven daughters. He did not have male heir for future Thorne. One of her daughter married to Muhamalai chief. Jaffna Royalty comes to end. During the last 500 years Jaffna Tamils migrated thrice to other countries in large numbers. Firstly during Portuguese times to Tamil Nadu India, secondly early 19th century to Singapore and Malaysia Lastly 20th century mass migration to west.
11. Murugan | April 27th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Thunnalai wrote: ‘When Jaffna Kingdom was overrun by Portuguese during 15th century they killed the last King of Jaffna Sangiliyan.His brother Pararajasegaran become powerless and neutral.’
I always thought that Sangkili was the valiant King who fought off and defeated the Portugese during the 1500s. And I thought that Jaffna Kingdom only fell To the Portugese around 1619 when Cankili II was the king.
And Mudaliyar Paranirupa Pararasasingham had 7 sons not 7 daughters. And he was the son of Kumaran Pararasasekaran Paranirupasingham. And Paranirupasingham was the heir to the throne but Sangkili managed to get power. Sangkili gave the descendants of Paranirupasingham the special Madapalli (not sure spelling) caste. I remember reading that during Dutch rule of Jaffna there was acrimony between the Madapalli and Vellalas (I think this fact is from Yalpana Vaipava Malai). Eventually the Madapalli caste got absorbed into the Vellala caste. (I think this fact is from Ancient Jaffna). But there are plenty of Vellalas who are descendents of Jaffna Royalty. It really is common, but people are just unconscious of their lineage. For example many fair people from Manipay are probably descendants of the Arya Chakravarthis. There are also many people who are descendants of the Jaffna royal family (through Kumaran Pararasasekaran Paranirupasingham because his son had 7 sons. But anyways these descendants never had power after Sangkili took power around (1519?).
My point is that there are many descendants of the Arya Chakravarthis still alive today through Paranirupasingham. And that the Jaffna Kingdom lost sovereignty in 1619 when Cankili II was king. Sangkili the valiant was a different king, who was responsible for defeating the Portugese. And he was also the one who murdered 600 Mannar Catholics because he thought the Portugese were converting people to Catholicism to subvert Jaffna’s sovereignty.
Yeah i could be wrong about the details but I am pretty confident that I have the correct gist of Jaffna history. I am heavily relying on Yalpana Vaipava Malai and various internet sources such as the wikipedia page on the Jaffna Kingdom and www.ceylontamils.com
12. kurikaatuwan | April 27th, 2008 at 3:05 am
SLA can easily replace 100 or even a 10,000 soldiers. Every tamil boy or girl who gets forced by LTTE to die is a huge loss to our people who are less than 600,000.
LTTE is solely responsible for destroying Tamil race in Sri Lanka, in fact Prabhakaran must be on the JVP payroll since the way he is getting our people killed soon there won’t be any need for Tamil eelam since there will be no Tamils left.
I am also Tamil and have had bitter experiences in the struggle. However for a real solution, the LTTE and Prabhakaran must be removed.
All you arm chair Tamil activists can talk big words about LTTE, but you will never carry a gun or allow your kids to even just stand in battlefield for one day.
You are all living cosy lives in Toronto and Madras while we are suffering here in Wanni
13. KTR | April 27th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Final tally is GoSL… LTTE… So LTTE win.
By not wining the the war by GoSL is victory for the Tamils. A military parity is victory for the Tamils. Who said we can’t win. After all LTTE is now playing the defence only.. until ….
14. Nexus | April 27th, 2008 at 6:10 am
the Sri Lankan people know that a dangerous parasitic cancer cant be removed overnight after rubbing a bit of Sidhalepah balm, its going to be tough and painful and will require much sacrifice but it it must be done or the future will be bleak !
Make no mistake the LTTE are a parasitic cancer and they must be be removed, the continued callous and barbaric terrorist actions such as the bus of innocent bombing civilians will only embolden the people of Sri Lanka to forge ahead.
15. Tiger Balm | April 27th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I remember similar exposes by many war correspondents before retaking of the East
16. Jeyaraj | April 27th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Jeyaraj,
A very good article that gives the bigger perspective of the on-going war. Many neutral analysts like you and Iqbal have been saying this for many years “there is no military solution to this conflict” as the root cause of the issue is a political problem. This political problem was started by the sighala politicians in the south and they are the one needs to find solution.
The Srilankan Tamils like the Tamils in India should able to control their destiny on their own. Until then (it may take another 30 years), this war will NOT end. Even LTTE is gone (which is very very unlikely), there will be another force will come up from ashes because the root cause is not being addressed by the south. As long as the political problem exists, it will not take too long to organize the Tamils into a force.
The singhala politician from south needs to share the political powers, the wealth with the Tamils in north and east and more importantly they need to treat the Tamils equally. This will happen only if the folks in the south understand what the real issue is. Their inability to share any political powers surprise many people in the West.
Matter of fact, with lies, deception, racist attitude, manipulations of the people the Rajapaske brothers will go down in the history as the ones that helped to split the country with blind passion to defeat LTTE and keep the political issue as it is today.
-Jeyaraj,
(Madurai)
17. aratai | April 27th, 2008 at 8:20 am
When south is full of corpses, some pro-government websites are celebrating Madhu victory.
These Anti-Tamil websites are actually anti-lanka websites.
18. Lester | April 27th, 2008 at 8:44 am
As the old saying goes
‘You must first unravel the rope to pull the noose’ the DBS you are doing a good job in this front, the noose will tighten soon enough on the tigers Mr Jeyraj, thanks for the concern though.
19. Ram the 3rd | April 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Your strength is in terror.
Our strength ia is numbers.
Dig it.
20. Ramos | April 27th, 2008 at 8:51 am
In fairness to the security forces it must be said that the entire operation was well - planned and had on paper bright prospects of success. It was the implementation that went
21. ExRamos | April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
LTTE members count:
Beginning of the year = 3000
People joined = 0 (there is no support for LTTE)
LTTE killed by GOSL > 3000
Conclusion = LTTE doesn’t exit.
Ghosts have killed the soldiers in Muhamalai.
22. Naga UK | April 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Written like a master of the art!
Telling a truth and maintaining it easy over a period of time is easy. Telling half truths or lies and maintaining them is a really difficult task. The face saving disinformation often contradicted by various stakeholders of the same organization often backfires especially if they are manufactured for political public consumption.
People have now mastered the art of reading between the lines and the credibility of the authorities is at the lowest ebb. The irony of it is the people who repeat the lies over a period of time psychologically begin to believe them and that is where things start to go really wrong as the recent events have proved. They overestimate their own capability and underestimate that of the enemy – not once, so many times.
The food shortage leading to a virtual famine could not have come at a worst time for the government. Inevitably, this would apart from creating dissension among the mass, would hit the families of the valiant soldiers and thus the morale of the soldiers themselves. The result could be disastrous.
Isn’t it time every one took stock of the reality and look at real issues shedding the pseudo-sentiments and re-build this country. Playing party politics at this juncture is real recipe for disaster!
23. Hermann | April 27th, 2008 at 9:39 am
It is unfair to blame Sri Lanka Government on anything. How many times under different prime ministers they have been trying to bring about a settlement. Even Rajapaksa government kept the doors open for negotiation for a long period of time when the LTTE went on a bombing spree. Some only blame the government unfairly. What else a leigitamate government do with this kind of terrorist threats. LTTE gor all this military might due to goodwill shown by successesive governements. LTTE has used everyone, even the Tamil people for the grooming of King Prabhakaran and his son. The Tamil people should wake up and seek their leitamate rights through parliamentary representation, not through a thug who is not elected by any body.
24. Ram the 2nd | April 27th, 2008 at 11:25 am
What the writer should know is.
Their strength is in terror.
Our strength is in numbers.
(though sometimes we lie about the numbers for the tactical reasons.)
25. Ms Vani Kumar | April 27th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
We, the Tamil people are a distinct nationality. We the Tamil people have a distinct history. We are proud of our civilization. We are proud of our language. We, the Tamil people have to protect our ancestral Homeland and Language. Fighting against oppression is the birth right of every human being.
26. Jay Pee | April 27th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Mr.Herman and the likable people (who conveniently pretend to be demented) who have a short time memory need to go back to the history. Here is a quick recap not too far from 2000.
What has happen to ISGA when LTTE presented a proposal while GoSL has no plan in their hand to put on the table for talks?
Well we forget that CBK dismissed the then UNP government which she regrets now. It is too late madam.
In 2004 Parliamentary election, Tamil National Alliance contested asking the Tamil mandate
a) ISGA as a way to initiate the negotiation
b) LTTE as representatives
IT WAS A PARLIMENTARY DEMOCRATIC ELECTION. THOSE WHO PRETEND TO SLEEP AND WAKE UP NOW, “GOOD MORNING WE HAD AN ELECTION AND WE HAVE A MANDATE FOR ISGA AND POSSIBLE FEDERAL SOLUTION ON THE TABLE TO DISCUSS”
When Tsunami hit the island PTOMs was created to share the distribution of rehab funds. What happen to this minimal administrative arrangement? Forget it, it is all history and people are talking parliament, election, provincial council, etc, etc and how long are we going to rewind this old rotten tape.
As someone pointed in these (TC) columns, Every time there is a missed aerial bomb by deliberate or genuine (likely LTTE don’t care but when there is a civilian casualty in the LTTE control area) there goes again another deliberate claymore or parcel bomb in the south.
Its look like we have cheap nation where “HUMAN” as a commodity in the once beautiful and thriving island call CEYLON. We are now seeing that both sides are playing a deadly game such as Soldier for Soldier/ officer for officer/ political figure (Thamilchelvan) for political figure (Fernandopulle) and finally civilian for civilian game.
The only way forward to stop this self destructive path is “PARTITION” Or we may call “parka pirivinai”.
Yes, we have come long way down this rotten road that reconciliation between both Tamil speaking and Sinhala speaking people is next to nothing.
We can go in Quebec and East Timor (UN) way or we may go Kosovo (more violent in the beginning) way or we may still fight to finish and leave the land to be occupied by some Indian/ American or Chinese.
I don’t think that Rajapakse has courage, wisdom and any forward thinking to bring this country out of this mess nor UNP has any power to do so. JVP is in total disarray and this may be a good time for someone in the south to step on the plate and say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. NO MORE KILLING”
If we do hear some voice like this whom can change the history of this island, we may see some light at the end of the tunnel. Until such time look for your own six under.- Amen
27. D DAY | April 27th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
SLA & SLAF coordinated attack is not possible or more risky…Thats why it was not done… SLA is not so stupid to make such a silly mistake …
Guess why it is more risky !!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you send bombers to frontline where LTTE is fully armed with heavy and long range weapons…chances are very high for Bombers to get hit……..once one bomber is down …. whole psychology of the war will change …..
Nowdays helicopters are used in very high altitude wasing the bullets
One more key factor is forgotten….
Majority of LTTE cadres are ready to scarifice their lives..
How many percent of SLA is ready to scarifice their lives ?
Once SLA death increases , they will be running for their lives……
28. D DAY | April 27th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
SLA number is 10 times higher
But number of SLA who is ready to accept the death is not even 5 %
Thats why number does not matter..
LTTE’s purpose of bombing in south got may purposes..
- Damage the economy
- Make south also feel the pain of war
- to pressurise the SLA to move faster and earlier into booby trapped areas….
29. naasamarupaan | April 27th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Looking at all the comments remainds me of a proverb “entai thalai ponaalum paravayillai, ethitikku sakunappilalaiyaka itunthal sati”. Everyone is worried about how to get rid LTTE no-one really cares about how Tamils have been treated (with treachery) even before Thanthai Selva time by the Sinhala politicians. It seems that Tamils struggle only started after LTTE but this issue started way before LTTE. Even if we completely forget about LTTE, is GOSL ready to give a solution to Tamils struggle?
30. surya | April 27th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
DBSJ thanks for good article with many informative details! I start to wonder there is any end for the ethnic problem in SriLanka.
Some LTTE supporters celebrate this as a ‘victory’ without thinking of 50-60 poor Tamil boys and girls perished their lives. Same time SL Army tob brass and GOSL seems don’t care about poor Singhalese youth life and keep offering them as goats. So they can have comfortable life with all the state comforts and stolen money from people. Soon LTTE need babies and old people to fill up their depleting ranks. Sametime GOSL need to borrow like a beggar for their war effort same time people going hungry.
There are no body seems care about the country anymore. At thin juncture I feel like even God can’t help Sri Lanka.
31. Boston T-amilParty | April 27th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
GOSL’s latest brutal full-scale military war with its own minority citizens (forced or not) is only going to reiterate the inevitable, as the world watches. Last historic event of the similar scale happened in Chechnya when Russian forces unleashed brutal war with its then the same countrymen. What was the outcome? They can carpet bomb and kill all the current active LTTE members but that will be only a short term gain, if that happens at all. Within 5 years there will be an LTTE-2 with renewed support going after the same agenda and possibly starting a war with the EPDP likes first assuming these elements are now in control of the Tamil areas. GOSL political morons lack the insight of how LTTE was formed and how it recruited its early members and their mindset. As long as there is oppression which I am sure will continue, new leaders and fighters will emerge. They always have.
32. Ravanan | April 27th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
DBS provides very detailed facts in his articles.
33. Th | April 27th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
we may be sitting here in toronto and madras but we have not forgotten our race’s rights and needs. What ever the struggle may be living with pride is important no matter where we may be living. we shouldn’t forget what lots of our own people gave their life for us.
34. Gee | April 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
We know where “This Author” stands…and the government better go back and read everything this author wrote…there were many good intelligence and ground facts..
35. Thamilan | April 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
we may be sitting here in toronto and madras but we have not forgotten our race’s rights and needs. What ever the struggle may be, living with pride is important no matter where we may be living. we shouldn’t forget why lots of our own gave their lifes for. Living there in wanni but not understanding our own right is worthless compared to living abroad but remebering our own rights.
36. Gee | April 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind”
Well , the Answer maybe burried in the Muhamalai bungers too.
37. Devinda Fernando | April 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
The LTTE did not win this with Military Prowess, they won this Solitary Battle due to the Blunder and Hubris of the SL Armed forces.
This tactic was used in 2001 and in 2006, and the SLA fell for it both times. Seem SL army commanders have short memories. The LTTE did not come up with anything new it was the SLA that fell for something old. Obviously the LTTE will not be able to get away with it again anytime soon as the effects of Hubris that caused this blunder will have worn off in the SLA’s commanders (hopefully for good) who ordered the ambitious attempt to grab more land than they were able to secure.
What remains the truth is that the LTTE did win this round of fighting but in the grand scheme of this war, what have they really achieved? The Army continues to progress into LTTE territory and they continue to weaken as time goes by.
The SLA did advance and continue to Hold the 1st FDL position. I doubt the LTTE will recapture that land back. SL army lost many men in this round of fighting but as a percentage of their forces they did not loose much. The LTTE aircraft show is nothing more than a Propaganda piece to give the Diaspora supporters about the LTTE’s continued resistance but from a Militaristic Point of view those planes cost more in fuel to the LTTE than the damage they do to the SL forces.
The LTTE’s last major victory was in Oct of 2007 when they managed to infiltrated and destroy many SL Airforce planes in Anuradhapura AF Base. That victory is over 6 months old and the LTTE doesn’t have many of this Surprise attacks left… even the Attack itself though it did many millions of Dollars in damage did not cripple or set back the Air force…. The Air Force has many more planes and has many more coming… Also the Unmanned Surveillance Drones that were destroyed were really destroyed too late… the LTTE’s Arms Smuggling fleet continues to collect rust at the bottom of the Indian ocean due to these drones…. if only the LTTE had carried out this attack a year earlier then the usefulness of taking out those drones might have helped them. Too little too late…
Even the Propaganda Mileage the LTTE were supposed to gain abroad by this attack was robbed of them a week later when Brigadier Thamilchelvan met his unfortunate end at the hands of the very Airforce the LTTE claimed to have crippled…. The Celebration of the Victory over Anuradhapura was prematurely drowned out by the cries over his death…
This war was not going to be a cake walk for the SLA, only the Deluded believe that, but the LTTE continue to lose, it just seems that whenever they do win an occasional fight the celebration on the Diaspora side seems to be the truly Overrated ,…but then again, the LTTE has convinced the Diaspora of practically every Lie and Half truth they have told in the Past two decades so I for one am not surprised at all the Bru Haha over this battle.
38. Gee | April 27th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
23. Hermann
The Tamil people are awake up and seek their leitamate rights through military means because parliamentary representation, couldn´t work due to Sinhala thuggery as demonstrated during each and every communal riots by the “elected Sinhala politicians and governments” as again done by the Sinhala elected junta.
It will be helpful for Mr. Herman and the likes to learn a little history before embarking on elected democracy of Sri-Lanka.
39. Gee | April 27th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Here we go again
40. Jack Ranasinghe | April 27th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
naasamarupaan #9 - TamilNet and other so called “blocked sites” can be accessed in Sri Lanka using Google’s free proxy service (http://www.google.com/gwt/n?u=www.tamilnet.com)
thunnalai #10 & #11 - proof that its not just the Sinhalese who are so full of their past that they can’t see themselves being flushed down the toilet in the near future
41. Dr K C | April 27th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
The GOSL initiated this offensive and therefore the LTTE had to respond to protect the homeland that it governs. Against all odds the LTTE has retaliated decisively. It was a legitimate military response of the LTTE and I take my hat off.
In the past, if only the LTTE had not overstepped the legitimate scope of armed resistance it would have become today as the mother of all freedom organisations. VP would have been placed next to Nelson Madela as the most successful freedom fighter.
In order to be embraced by the international community I hope the LTTE will take the necessary political initiatives.
42. Santhirasegaran | April 27th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
A good article concluded with an apropriate You tube “Blowing in the wind” GOSL & LTTE are doing the same thing in the name of war GOSL kills Tamil Civilians
by air raids LTTE kills Singalese Civilians on land Why cant power be shared for the good of all in Sri Lanka & Eelam and live happily Presume C.F was cancelled and war resumed to pocket money to be taken to hell above in the coffin Who knows the undertakers may pocket Go on till all are perished and the top is enriched
43. Jay Pee | April 27th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I found this video stream very informative and I begin to think that this ill fated Muhamaalai operation was initiated to ease the tension created by the new war in Colombo. The :RICE WAR”. Correct me if I am wrong.
http://www.yarl.net/video/video_003.html
44. Crazyoldmansl | April 27th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Bringing the Rajapaksa regime to power was vital to finding a solution - hence the boycott. This my dear DBS I am sure you know very well.
Bringing Ranil and the UNP to power would simply have positioned him as a hostage to Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and the color based anti Tamilianism in India.
We all saw how the Sinhala Buddhists within the UNP went over to Mahinda under whose leadership the SLFP has become the political vehicle of Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism. There is no point in working out a solution with those who agree that one is needed. It is those who want a military solution - the Sinhala Buddhist Nationalists, The anti Tamil Indian Strategists and masters of covert operations, The Sarath Fonseka faction within the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, the Ajith Cabraal school of economists, The Jayatillake-Kohone-Wijesinghe school of diplomacy and the Rambukwella perspective on politics - that have to be engaged effectively and contained if there is going to be a political solution.
Arrogant, authoritarian, primitive in their cultural outlook and fascistic as the LTTE may be, one cannot but admit that they are up against a formidable task. I think that the international community must accept this reality and come to the aid of the Sri Lankan Tamil Community. Failure to do so will leave the LTTE to its own murderous devices which carry with them the danger of its becoming isolated and the danger of the Genocide of the Sri Lankan Tamil community at the hands of the Sinhala Buddhist Sri Lankan State.
45. mtharan | April 28th, 2008 at 2:52 am
“Meanwhile the LTTE returned twenty - eight bodies of soldiers to the International Red Cross at Kilinochchi. The bodies were displayed to the public at Kilinochchi in a violation of norms.”
“Meanwhile the LTTE returned twenty - eight bodies of soldiers to the International Red Cross at Kilinochchi. The bodies were displayed to the public at Kilinochchi in a violation of norms.”
transCurrents response:
This is an article about the Muhamalai attack; and not about Anuradhapura. The article is not comparative study on how bodies are displayed. DBS Jeyaraj has criticized and condemned what happened to LTTE bodies in Anuradhapura in a previous article. If you have not read that please read it, before making such comments.
http://federalidea.com/focus/archives/199
46. Mandy | April 28th, 2008 at 4:41 am
If the loss on Army is below 5% what is the % of loss on LTTE? 10? 20? or 4? nobody much talks about LTTE casualties, only DBJ says its 50 to 60 LTTE fighters. what i feel is, though the % loss on LTTE is higher than % loss on SL Army they were able to achieve more benefits via the media campaign. Capturing of arms and bodies helped them a lot. But what really matters in the long run is how sustainable they are to these % of losses.
47. S. Ananda Singham | April 28th, 2008 at 6:05 am
The state papers and “The Island” played a dirty game during this period. When the foreign media and other networks were flashing news of deaths of SLA at Muhamalai - the Island with banner headlines cried “Tiger Defences Fall at Muhamalai.” Are they thinking that Sri Lanka is a illetrate state to believe their story?
For God sake tell the truth or please get out!
Carolis
48. kurikaatuwan | April 28th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Prabhakaran and LTTE is best thing that has happened to Singhalese people. He is hell bent upon kidnapping young tamil girls and sending them to die in frontlines.
He is robbing our people of Tsunami aid and government grants to fuel the war.
Our people are now scattered over the world and we are a dying race in SL.
If LTTE cared about us, then they wouldn’t have escalated the war. They would have given us arms and then we can decide our future.
Now everyone in LTTE is a slave to Prabaharan and is not the rosy picture you have in your mind.
Being in LTTE is all about constant fear of people making ” thagadu” on you. Even within LTTE, the fighters are regarded as low class canon fodder. While the other officers live in luxury.
There is no single rule book in LTTE because it is just a pure terror machine. Prabakaran will do anything to survive. He is in constant paranoia about his safety, same with his wife and kids.
It is only us, who are commiting suicide trying to kill our Singhalese brothers and sisters
49. Dr. Ram the 2nd | April 28th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Muhamaalai debucle; The GOSL initiated this offensive and therefore the LTTE had to respond.
Piliyandala bus bombs and other killings of innocent civilians intiated by LTTE ; GoSL has to respond.
VP will reduce the SL tamils to nothing. A military victory by SLA will no doubt bring that to the SriLanka’s North.
Like somebody here already voiced, if LTTE gets back to talks abandoning the violence there is a faint hope for SL tamils.
Failing that the only tamilisation in SriLanka will be confined to Wellawatta and few other suburbs of Colombo.
50. Dr. Ram the 3rd | April 28th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I was wondering if LTTE not fighting….
-Tamils treated equally in SL?( university, health, building, hig tech…etc
-can we ever believed that jaffna(or tamils north and east) equal to colombo as in development comparison by any singala government
-can we believe that Tamils ever treated equally in SL by any singala government if the LTTE stop fighting?
51. Naga UK | April 28th, 2008 at 10:53 am
There is, for my mind, a disturbing news that bodies of four chinese nationals were among the Muhamalai casualties. If this is true, there could be other ramifications. Is the Government employing merceneries? This could raise many more eye-brows and the terrorists could get more covert assistance from powerful sources.
It is also disappointing that some readers are commenting on the intransigencies of the LTTE - for not coming to talk peace with the government. Talk what? Talking peace in Sinhala Budhist psyche is meekly accepting whatever offered after taking a good beating and be slaves for ever? No sir, not even a ultra-moderate and a person against terrorism would not accept it! All these overtures of peace talks are lip services for public and international consumption. Not that they do not like peace. They love it! the only negative aspect of it that the big-wigs and the terrorists will go out of business which is wart - more than a gold-mine.
The successive governments have demonstrated that they are incapable of implementing the reasonable use of Tamil language in administration. In fact, the present government, either by design or otherwise had taken measures to eliminate the use of Tamil in central administration. The occasional out-burst from minister Dew Gunasekera on the issue is silenced by powerful hands and that is as far as one could go after so many decades of democratic demands made by SJV, Amir et al. Now they are complaining about terrorist means being adopted for the purpose. IT IS A FOOL’S PARADISE isn’t it?
52. samuel | April 28th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Tamilnet can be accessed in sri lanka
53. Dr K C | April 28th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Dr. Ram the 2nd
When the GOSL unleashed its brutal military assault what would you have expected the LTTE to do? Get hammered?? Please note not a single member of the international community has condemned the LTTE for its Muhamalai retaliation.
How many times recently has the LTTE asked for the resumption of the talks? Why did not the GOSL respond?
OK, the GOSL might say they don’t want to to talk to the LTTE but where is the political solution? The GOSL keeps saying the final package is round the corner, then why did they have to launch a massive assault in Muhamalai at this juncture?
I have always condemned the death of civilians due to mysterious bomb attacks in the LTTE controlled areas and mysterious bomb attacks in the GOSL controlled areas.
54. manmathan | April 28th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
let the two people who have a problem fight it out.
When the third party intervenes the problem is misinterpreted due to lack of communication
55. RAJADURAI EMIL dE Fatima | April 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
let each “”leader”" occupy each other’s office for a week with a tape across their mouth and observe how the other leader is running his day to day operation.
Then each leader can understand why he cannot give what the other leader is asking.
May be we((or each leader) can learn something. Don’t you think so??
56. "ThottaKaattaan" | April 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Devinda Fernando is not correct in saying that SLA holding the LTTE FDL1 bunkers
57. Murugan | April 28th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
kurikaatuwan,
You are entitled to your own opinion, it is important to have some democratic dialogue and criticism of the Tigers from within the Sri Lankan Tamil community. But I think you need to be brought to political reason.
The LTTE is the only effective mobilization of Sri Lankan Tamil political demands. period.
The LTTE has laid infrastructure for international fundraising amongst Diaspora, black market international arms procurements, a fleet of ships to carry arms and other goods, a military command structure with many different divisions and groups, thousands of trained fighters, proxy representation in parliament through the TNA, internet/ radio / Television/ videos … Media infrastructure, physical control of the Vanni, lobbying groups in the West, a nascent airforce, a naval wing, the list goes on. The LTTE just held its own in Muhamalai. The LTTE has fought the Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army. They have fought Eelam War for 25 years. The LTTE has united the Tamils and all factions under one central command. The Tigers are carrying out the political will of the Sri Lankan Tamils who voted for secession in the 1976 under the TULF platform.
I am not praising the LTTE. I condemn their terrorist attacks. But I just want to bring you to reason.
You can’t just replace the LTTE all of a sudden. The LTTE is a huge organization. And you need huge organizations to mobilize political demands. As soon as the LTTE is defeated do you think the Sinhalese will just ‘give’ a power sharing solution? Your comments about the self-destructive path of secession would have been welcome 32 years ago, but now after 25 years of war, the Sri Lankan Tamils are too heavily invested in liberation war to give up now.
When the LTTE are defeated the Tamils will become like the Native Americans of the US. It is very easy for the government to ‘Sinhalize’ the Tamils in the Northeast, afterall we are essentially the same blood just with different cultures. Jaffna culture will be flushed down the toilet. History books will be rewritten.
It is important to recognize the shortcomings of the LTTE and diaspora Tamils can try to reform the LTTE from within by pressuring the Tigers to adopt more democratic tactics that are pallatable to Western Powers.
But there is no substitute for the massive organization the LTTE has provided for the Sri Lankan Tamils.
The LTTE is the only effective mobilization of the legitimate political demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils. You need to exert pressure on Colombo to get Colombo to ‘give’ Tamils their self determination through a power sharing structure. If you have no pressure, then your demands will never be addressed.
Basically Sri Lankan Tamils are getting flushed down the toilet either way. If the Tigers continue the stalemate war our numbers will dwindle and we will vanish. If the TIgers lose the war or give up their arms then Tamils will slowly become a minority within the North and East.
But if the Tigers win, then the culture will survive.
The Tigers are not fighting for the present. They are fighting for the future. At present Tamils suffer even in Tiger held territory (conscription and embargo). But in the future if the Tigers win, then the diaspora will build Eelam into a great country and our culture will flourish.
Again the Tigers do very stupid things, like the assassination of Fernandopulle was just plain stupid terrorism. And I condemn bus boms as terrorist attacks. I am just pointing out that after the Tamil Tigers are gone, the Sinhalese will never pay any attention to the political demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Look at the Palestinians, the Kurds, the Assamese, we will become like this. All our ‘pacts’ betrayed just like what happened to the Sioux. We will become like the pre-Israel Jews scattered across the world on a permanent refugee boat. And then the diaspora children will adopt the cultures of their host countries. So much for Jaffna Tamils and pride for their education based culture…
58. Maravan | April 28th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Who is terrorist? Remember what happened in 80s? Should we Tamils be patient with this kind of out showing terrorism
59. Khannan Ratnam | April 28th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Every time SL loose, you call it LTTE AMBUSH. WE STAND AND UNITE NOW. NO FORCES DARE TO DESTROY TAMILS GURDIAN LTTE.
60. Thangesh | April 28th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I am sorry for millions of Tamil refugees all over the world.
I am deeply sorry for thousands of tamil innocents being totured and killed by secret sevices.I am really sorry for thousands of tamil people killed indirectly by the civil war.
Rather than the youths died in the war front.
Will the SL Govt. genuenly come forward with a respectable political solution for tamils before we questioning LTTE.
61. kurikaatuwan | April 29th, 2008 at 12:55 am
I think Prabhakaran’s LTTE has committed too many acts of terror both to own cadres and our people. They should no longer be our representatives.
They have never been on path of Dharma.
Without dharma and righteousness there is no point of homeland and culture. We should be ashamed as Tamils to think about living in a “eelam” created by so much evil done to Singhalese, Indians and our own people.
We are ready to live under Singhalese than to live under dictator, self proclaimed sun god.
If 60 million tamils across the strait can live happily with 900 million Indians then why can’t we live with 18 million Singhalese who are truly one of the most peaceful and relaxed people in earth.
We tamils have much more rights in GOSL areas than in “eelam”
62. David Blacker | April 29th, 2008 at 4:23 am
This recent loss by the SLA is mostly a tactical blunder by the Muhamalai front command, rather than a strategic failure on the part of SLA HQ. It was a well-baited trap and the brigadier commanding fell for it. However, it isn?t the failure of an offensive or any such thing as the LTTE and its supporters are making out.
There will be no offensives by the SLA through the Muhamalai-Nagarkovil axis, and there never has been such an intention. The GoSL, MoD, and the Security Forces HQ understand that the centre of focus must be the Vavuniya-Mannar fronts. The Muhamalai-Nagarkovil front is rigid, and the situation a stalemate similar to the Western Front in WW1 ? neither side can break the deadlock due to territory and strength. Not without massive casualties. However, SFHQ must keep up the threat level at Muhamalai-Nagarkovil in order to bleed the Vavuniya-Mannar fronts of much needed LTTE troops. Similarly, the LTTE will try to inflict casualties on the peninsula in the hope of enticing the SFHQ to throw its full weight against the Muhamalai-Nagarkovil axis, thereby easing the pressure on the Wanni. It will be a cat-and-mouse game that will continue, with both sides giving Muhamalai-Nagarkovil the impression of false importance. Both sides must sacrifice lives on the peninsula for no real gain in order to save lives and gain ground in the Wanni.
The LTTE will try to inflict casualties on the peninsula to divert attention from their defeats in Mannar, such as the recent loss of the Madhu Church. As far as the GoSL is concerned, things are going more or less to plan, though it must avoid reactionary tactics such as this recent mistake.
63. Naga UK | April 29th, 2008 at 10:54 am
#53 Dr.K.C
I am inclined to agree with you. When LTTE with whatever international means available to them appealing for a cease-fire I had a feeling that they are upto something. We all know that the LTTE will not stop at anything short of a separate land of their own. Unfortunately the GOSL was engaged otherwise - they had no time for the nitty-gritty. To that extend (and perhaps more) the LTTE is clever. For an ordinary neutral citizen the writing was on the wall. Nobody in power cared to notice it. Why? that is the big question. I do not want to under-estimate the intelligence of the security forces. Are there deals???
64. Dolamy | April 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Budda is originally Hindu and came from India to Seelam(ceylon,thaprapene.. soory lanka etc)while tamils were living there.So lanka was belong to Tamils then.
65. Seelan | April 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Dr KC
who are these people arrested in London yesterday for LTTE fundraising. Can you spell out the names pleaseeee
66. raj | April 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
If you go by the number of air attacks on the installations by now they will not have any training camps, air fields, air crafts, boatyards, etc. etc. But the rea They have taken GOSL for a ride. The money wasted on all those bombs means they had information prior to all air attacks. They have bought the Singhalese population to even get rid of ministers. Money can buy anything and it looks they have no shortage. It is only a matter of time before they bring down one of those air crafts and GOSL will be on its knees. And every indication is GOSL is moving in that direction by welcoming all the mullahs, moahmeds, and ping pongs to SL with red carpets !
67. David Blacker | April 30th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Part of my last statement haas been deleted or (I hope not) censored.
transCurrents response:
Yes they were edited out.
68. TAMILEELAM IS NEAR | April 30th, 2008 at 10:33 am
I am laughing myself out at GOSL foolishness.They never learn anything from history.
69. RAJADURAI EMIL dE Fatima | April 30th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
THE Three parties are exhausted.
GOSL ,,TAMILS AND India.
I am sure that within 6 months we will have a solution .
God bless SRILANKA
70. Naga UK | May 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
“The romance of politics is best used to numb and quell the fears of the uninformed” - Goethe. Nevertheless the so called roamnce can only be stretched some extent. When overdone there will be neither romance nor politics. The current situation has come to such a ridiculous entent that the propagators of romance themselves are in an inextricable mess. Look at what happened to the JVP that was thriving on nationalism, anti-westernism. What goes around must come around 360 degrees.
71. Subra S.Massey | May 4th, 2008 at 8:43 am
The LTTE have about 100 Ph.Ds baking dosai in Wanni.
You will soon see these dosais in the battle field. It will shock the whole world. Where in the world a military has technology to fire artilery with pin point precision. It is not the number game any more.Two bombs in 1945 and in two days the war was over. Don’t underestimate the Tamils. They know exactly how to respond to the threat.
As far I am concerned the war is over and we want to rebuild Sri Lanka for all, not just Tamils.
72. Vijayabahu | May 7th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Tamil brothers…please keep fighting. Tamil pride is worth more than our lives.
Like the EAST….the Sinhela’s are coming for the ancient Sinhela lands which you colonized!
73. Vijayabahu | May 7th, 2008 at 12:25 am
1983 - TAMILS CONSTITUTE 12% OF SRI LANKA
2008 - TAMILS CONSTITUTE 7% OF SRI LANKA
2018 - WELL…..:) YOU DO THE MATH
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