All is not quiet on the Eastern Front
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Sampoor has fallen!
The triumph of Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) soldiers is being celebrated in the power corridors of Colombo and Sri Jaywardenapura.An orchestrated campaign to project Sampoor as a famous victory to the “Sinhala” South is on. This campaign obviously has not taken some salient factors into account.
There is some confusion about Sampoor. The small town by that name was vacated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Sunday September 3rd night. The soldiers moved in cautiously on the morning of Monday Sep 4th and by noon had brought it under full control.
The LTTE had its Trincomalee district headquarters, military head camp, Political office iin Sampoor. There were also other tiger institutions like a Police station, courthouse, bank, tax office etc. By these standards the armed forces have certainly succeeded in delivering a powerful blow to the LTTE.But it is not a knock out punch. The tigers are down but not out.
[Sampur in pictures: BBC Sandeshaya]
The Sampoor region of more than 19 square miles is not fully under army control yet. The LTTE in its missive to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission(SLMM) states that 75% of Sampoor region has been taken over by the army. This means that 25% of the area is dominated by the LTTE still or has not been brought under the control of the army yet.
While most of the media accepted GOSL version of Sampoor being conquered and projected an impression that the LTTE was defeated the tiger political commissar for Trincomalee , S. Elilan said that the tigers were present in Sampoor region and that the fighting had not ended.
What has happened is that the armed forces have brought some seven places in the region under control. They are Sampoor town, Kattaiparichan, Senaiyoor, Kadatkaraichenai, Koonitheevu, Ambalnagar and Ganeshapuram. Most of these areas are in the littoral of Muthur East. Apart from remaining areas of Sampoor region (25%) most of the hinterland areas of the Muthur East division in Trincomalee district are still dominated by the LTTE.
The armed forces are still engaged in bringing the rest of Sampoor under control. They also have to take over much more territory in Muthur East and secure the region.
The tigers may have transported their artillery to the Verugal – Vaaharai region and also pulled out cadres and military assets from Sampoor region. But they have certainly not quit the place entirely. The LTTE has certainly not “fled” the area as the state media would have us believe.
The armed forces realised this when they went about the task of consolidating and securing the captured areas and outlying areas.Tranquility in the war ravaged Muthur East region was shattered on Tuesday September 5th as fierce fighting erupted again in three places including Sampoor .
GOSL troops and LTTE cadres were engaged in artillery and field – artillery fire intermittently for several hours. Sri Lankan navy personnel who landed at Foul Point and hoisted the Sword bearing Lion flag at the lighthouse were also involved in further operations to take over Ilakkanthai and Soodaikkuda. It is not known whether the tigers resisted these coastal landing attempts or not.
Even earlier on Monday Sep 4th when the LTTE vacated Sampoor and GOSL soldiers moved in to Sampooor town and outlying areas the tigers fired artillery at the Selvanagar camp and killed two security personnel and injured a few others.
On Tuesday Sep 5th morning at about 7. am troops from Selvanagar camp moved out but faced intense artillery fire from the LTTE . Soldiers fired back with field artillery and from battle tanks and armoured cars.
After heavy exchanges of fire the soldiers returned to base at about 8.30 am. They had suffered four deaths and thirteen injuries. The amount of LTTE casualties were not knowm
After a few hours of “lull” artillery firing commenced again in the afternoon at Selvanagar. This continued late into the night.
Meanwhile GOSL troops also commenced two ground based drives at about 8 am from Sampoor and Pallikkudiyiruppu. Troops from Pallikkudiyoruppu tried to move into Pattalipuram from one direction.
. Troops from Sampoor tried to move forwad in two directions. One formation tried to go around the coastal bend towards Ilakkanthai. The other formation thrust itself through Senaiyoor to Pattalipuram from another direction.
LTTE cadres who had supposedly vacated the region sprung a surprise when they commenced retaliatory artillery fire. Troops also fired back and returned to previous positions after a while. Both sides however engaged in sporadic artillery fire till evening.
The casualty rates of fighting in Sampoor and Pallikkudiyiruppu are not known. Fighting in these areas was restricted to artillery firing. There was no direct fighting.
On Wednesday Sep 6th both sides were engaged in sporadic artillery fire at Selvanagar and Pallikkudiyiruppu. According to Army sources about 30 to 35 soldiers were injured on both days. The condition of three was critical.
An entry in the official Sri Lanka Army website had this to say –
” AS SIXTEEN MORE BUSES with a few hundreds of displaced Muslims and Tamils in MUTTUR and its suburbs left for their original homesteads this morning (06) after they volunteered to return and resettle following entry of troops into liberated areas, troops were still actively engaged in clearing SAMPOOR and the east of SELVANAGAR areas in TRINCOMALEE
At the break of the dusk on Tuesday (05) terrorists operating from PALLUKUDIYARUPPU area began to fire shells on troops clearing the areas in SAMPOOR.
Terrorist fire struck soldiers in the area claiming the life of a soldier.
At least 31 members of the Armed Forces received injuries in LTTE direct and indirect fire in hostilities on Tuesday (05) but troops repulsed the enemy attacks with retaliatory fire. “.
What the euphoria (both spontaneous and engineered) surrounding Sampoor’s fall has failed to realise is the actual ground condition in Muthur East.
The security forces need to bring a swathe of territory ranging from Kattaiparichan to Ilakkanthai under full control. Thereafter a high security zone (HSZ)has to be established. This is the only way for the security forces to retain control of the Muthur – Sampoor – Foul Point – Ilakkanthai coastline.
If safeguarding Trincomalee and China Bay from LTTE long range artillery attacks is the objective of the Sampoor operation then setting up a HSZ becomes essential. Otherwise LTTE infiltration would be possible. The negative aspect of this highly militarised perspective is that the displaced 17.000 Tamils from the area have little chance of returning home.
Like the original and rightful inhabitants of lands coming under HSZ areas in the North – East these people too would be “permanently” displaced persons. Their traditional homeland would be usurped by interlopers in uniform. State sponsored “ethnic cleansing” continues in the name of security.
Interestingly the GOSL troops were engaged in fighting with the tigers on three fronts including Sampoor when cabinet spokesperson on Defence Affairs Keheliya Rambukwella was stating in Colombo that there would be no war in Sampoor. He said that there would be no more offensives and that the Government was only interested in peace. Rambukwella however seems to have stated a bitter truth when he said at the press briefing that taking control of Sampoor was not a “Victory”.
Given the recent past where GOSL troops managed to drive the LTTE away through superior manpower and firepower there seems little doubt that they will at some point succeed in clearing target areas of tigers and Tamils and set up a high security zone. The moot question however is whether that “success” would bring peace and normalcy back.
In the first place normalcy can never be achieved until the displaced people are back in their habitat. This seems impossible as setting up a HSZ means the displaced can never return. With an increase in security camps being very likely perpetual conflict is very much on the cards.
Lasting peace can be achieved only when the Tamil National question is resolved on the basis of justice and equality. The inalienable Tamil right to self – determination, nationhood and historic homeland has to recognized . Likewise the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka has to be recognized.Sovereignty could be “shared”.
The structure of the Sri Lankan state has to be altered where Federalism is enshrined. . Democracy, pluralism and Human Rights have to be guaranteed .The Muslims have to be granted equal statusUnless this “distant dream” is achieved there can never ever be lasting peace on the Island.Until then strife is certain with interspersed phases of “no war no peace”.
As for the current reality of the East the “conquest” of Sampoor does not guarantee peace or tranquility. The clearing and consolidation of captured areas as well as attempts to acquire fresh adjacent areas will be resisted by the tigers. Since the LTTE vacated Sampoor with almost all its personnel and military assets intact the tigers launching fresh assaults or infiltration attacks cannot be ruled out.
If this is the micro – situation there is the macro – situation too. This column has on previous occasions referred to the hidden agenda of the Rajapakse regime. That agenda envisages greater control of the East. Therefore prolonged war is a definite prospect.The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has called for the expulsion of the LTTE from the Eastern Province
Though President Mahinda Rajapakse assured the four co – chairs that Sampoor was a limited operation intended to remove the security threat to Trincomalee subsequent events are proving that Colombo is on a military push in Muthur East.Despite taking control of LTTE vacated Sampoor the GOSL seems determined to continue the war until more areas are captured and consolidated.
Signs of spreading conflict can be seen in other areas of the Seruwila and Eechilampattru divisions. Both the GOSL and LTTE are firing long range artillery at each other in the Maavilaaru – Kallaaru and Verugal – Vaaharai regions.
Forces from the Kallaru camp in Seruwila division of Trincomalee district commenced Multi – Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire at noon on Tuesday September 6th killing three and injuring eleven Tamil civilians.Kallaru is the premier army installation in the region with Deputy military commander Maj. Gen Nanda Mallawaratchy being stationed at Kallaru to oversee the Sampoor military campaign.
Troops fired MBRL barrages at 12. 30 pm towards the Trincomalee – Batticaloa border areas.Firing continued for about 40 minutes.Rocket shells hit the Verugal area in Trincomalee district and Kathiraveli, Paalsenai and Vaaharai areas in Batticaloa district.
The region is full of people displaced from other areas in Trincomalee who fled here in search of refuge due to intense bombardment and artillery attacks.More than 50,000 displaced persons have sought refuge in Batticaloa district and Verugal.
Two women were killed and seven other displaced civilians injured when shells fell on a makeshift refugee camp in Verugal.The names of affected persons were not known.One person was killed and four injured when MBRL fire hit another makeshift refigee camp in Kathiraweli in Batticaloa district. Fortunately a team of ICRC Red Cross was nearby and provided prompt assistance.
The ICRC took the injured Internally displaced persons to Vaalaichenai hospital in their vehicle. Of these three critically injured people were taken by ICRC officials to Batticaloa hospital.One person succumbed to his injuries.
His name was Subramaniam Mahendrarajah. The 45 year old man had worked as a lorry driver at Eechilampattru cooperative before displacement.The injured people receiving treatment at Batticaloa are M. Arulchelvam (38) and S. Inthira (32).
The Government on the other hand has accused the LTTE of firing artillery from Verugal region towards newly established camps in the Maavilaaru region. Two men were killed and 18 injured in two days of shelling by the tigers.It appears that some of the artillery shifted from Sampoor to Verugal – Vaaharai are being used by the LTTE.
The shelling from Kallaru camp came as a shock because the fighting was expected to subside after Sampoor was retaken by the GOSL. The shelling makes people fear that some more military offensives seem to be on the cards. The Government may intend clearing the Verugal – Vaaharai region of tigers in the days to come.
As in the case of Maavilaaru where shelling and bombing continued even after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had opened the sluice gates GOSL attacks on civilian targets are likely to continue despite Sampoor being retaken. The raison d’etre would be that of “neutralising’ the LTTE artillery in the Verugal – Vaaharai region. Advances could be made from the Batticaloa side too.
More than 50,000 displaced are living in the region. A major humanitarian tragedy is on the cards if the GOSL continues with its genocidal war against the Tamil people under the pretext of combatting the LTTE. The JVP has called for the expulsion of tigers from the Eastern Province cannot be treated lightly.
Another indication that all is not quiet on the Eastern front came when a combined operation was launched against the LTTE in Amparai district. On Tuesday 5th evening security personnel from the Army, Special Task Force (STF) and the Karuna faction moved through jungle areas to attack the Paavattai LTTE camp. This is the chief tiger camp in Kanchikudichaaru region.
Clashes continued till 10. 30 pm as the tigers reportedly resisted. The LTTE says that about 25 “enemy” personnel were killed and/or injured. Ruthra alias “Thooyavan” of the Karuna faction speaking to media on a cellular phone from an army camp claimed that the operation was a success and that the LTTE had been chased away from the region. “Col” Karunas TEMVP was in full control of the area he boasted.
Sections of the media have as usual reported the clashes as being among rival factions of the LTTE. Karuna’s men have hammered the LTTE it is believed. Security Force involvement is not reported. Interestingly enough the Kanchikudicharu and Rufuskulam areas dominated by the LTTE were shelled intensely from the STF camps at Kanchirankudah and Thandiaddy camps and also the Army camp at Aranthalawa before, during and after the so called “Karuna” operation.
It is indeed “puzzling” as to why the SLA and STF are getting involved in what is supposed to be an internal affair of the LTTE. After all the GOSL has denied the LTTE charges that the Karuna faction is being supported by Colombo. If only the Karuna faction was involved in the attack the question that arises is has the TEMVP acquired artillery?When will Ruthra aka Thooyavan escort media personnel from Colombo on a guided tour of areas captured from the LTTE?
Whatever the claims and counter claims one sure reality about the Kanchikudichaaru clashes is that injured persons were admitted to Akkaraipattru hospital and the Ashraff memorial hospital in Kalmunai. Some were also taken to Amparai and also Colombo National hospital it is reported. Who were these injured persons? is another interesting question.
The International community (IF) was “blind, deaf and dumb” while the GOSL conducted savage operations in the Muthur East, Eechilampattru and Seruwila divisions. These operations were ostensibly directed at the LTTE but in practice affected innocent civilians drastically. Large scale deaths, destruction and displacement occurred.
The IC felt perhaps that the GOSL had a point in trying to retake Maavilaaru and Sampoor. One was a” humanitarian” war to restore blocked water. The other was a “strategic ” war to ensure protection of the International harbour at Trincomalee. Besides the LTTE by its stupid, boorish and faithless conduct had annoyed the IC very much. The tigers deserved a “knock” it was felt. Sadly and unjustly the terrible fate that befell innocent Tamil civilians was ignored or overlooked.
Unfortunately for the IC and even some members of the human rights/ peace activist lobby the true nature of the Rajapakse regime is yet to be comprehended fully. The tacit green light given to “Maavilaaru and Sampoor” operations has been interpreted as a go ahead to launch total war by the Rajapakse brothers. They and their cohorts think carte blanche has been given to do anything they like in the Tamil areas and to Tamils.
The LTTE is not going to pluck flowers for Mahinda’s Malthattu while this happens. They will fight back. Also the tiger is deeply wounded by Sampoor. Political Commissar SP thamilselvan has informed Norway that peace talks cannot be a possibility unless status quo is restored at Sampoor. Given the “jayawewa”s around Sampoor Colombo will not oblige. The LTTE also needs to prove a point that they are not powerless without Karuna. So they will hit hard too.
Against this backdrop the conflict is certain to spread and escalate across the Country in general and the Eastern province in particular. Under these circumstances all cannot be quiet on the Eastern Front at present and the whole country in the future.Only the IC including India can reverse this. Will they act forcefully and decisively?
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September 9th, 2006