WHEN it rains, it pours. Within a couple of weeks in spectacular succession Paranthan, Killinochchi and now Elephant Pass [EPS] have fallen. Though the assault on EPS was expected to cost hefty numbers in lives on both sides, the tigers managed to pull back systematically and with most of their heavy weapons intact, into the jungles of Mullaitivu. A remnent of defenders who were left behind to delay the military onslaught were overwhelmed easily by the combined might of the 55 and 53 divisions.
In the meanwhile, the assault on Mullaitivu has already commenced. Today's reports from Sri Lanka indicate early successes achieved by the spear head groups and commando forces in penetrating through an LTTE defensive earth bund and quick ingress into the areas in which the Tigers are struggling to hold ground. These successes have been achieved at brigade level, while the actual combat force has not arrived on the scene yet. Once they do, progress would be swift, since a force of upto 50,000 troops are expected to be deployed in the assault. Joining them would be the undivided attantion of the SLAF and the yet to be tested Mechanized division. Against these, the LTTE's days are numbered and the seconds are already counting down. It is truly the right time for the Tiger podiyens and thangachchis either to lay down weapons and surrender, or bend over and kiss their ugly asses goodbye.
Other yet to be conformed sources claim Pottu amman, the terrorist mastermind behind LTTE intelligence operations, has surrendered to the SL Special Forces. If this is factually correct, that opens the door to a treasure trove of information on not only the strategic, tactical and operational aspects of the LTTE, but also information on their intel operations, and overseas supporters. Sri Lanka will now have the valuable opportunity to harvest information that can be used to prosecute overseas Tamils who have provided services, finance and support to the terrorist group. SLG needs to implement the infrastructure and preparations to process such information for appropriate follow up and legal action against those individuals. At least making the right noises to that effect would be a great start, by giving nightmares to those who've for long thought they cannot be touched for supporting terrorism in SL.
I also found the following great article in the New Indian Express, which is worth reading;
...The initial public reaction in Sri Lanka to the proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been one of indifference. It is seen to be of little significance on the grounds that it will not materially change the ground situation in which the government and the LTTE are already fighting an all-out war.
But a closer look at the events leading to the ban would indicate that the move is an essential part of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government’s broad politico-military strategy to deal with the LTTE and its virulent brand of Tamil nationalism. If successive Sri Lankan governments had not reimposed the ban (lifted in 2002) despite relentless and grave provocations by the LTTE, it was because they believed that the Tamil Tigers would one day agree to a ceasefire, and come to the negotiating table to thrash out a political solution to the 60-year-old ethnic conflict, that would be acceptable to all the communities in the island.
It is only now, under President Rajapaksa, that the Sri Lankan government and the majority Sinhalese community are convinced that hankering for a peaceful settlement with the LTTE is like chasing a mirage. Right through the Norway brokered and internationallybacked peace process between 2002 and 2004, and also in the years that followed, the LTTE had shown scant regard for the ceasefire agreement; basic political norms, and the international community which was bending over backwards to bring peace, stability and justice to Sri Lanka.
The LTTE had feared that an internationallybacked peace process might result in its being made to abandon the goal of securing an independent Tamil Eelam which it would rule exclusively.
It therefore opted out of the peace talks in 2003; killed foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and came up with ludicrous excuses to scuttle the Norway-arranged talks in 2006, after Rajapaksa took over the Presidency. The outfit brazenly killed scores of unarmed civilians and services personnel, and made an attempt on the life of the army chief Lt Gen Fonseka, only to provoke the then peace loving President to go to war. Once Rajapaksa realised the true intentions of the LTTE, he stopped talking of negotiations, and asked his armed forces to decimate the LTTE. The re-imposition of the ban formally forecloses any possibility of talks with the LTTE, so long as it remains an armed, terrorist group. The ban also corrects an anomalous situation in which Sri Lanka had refrained from banning the LTTE, while vigorously campaigning for a worldwide ban...
In the meanwhile, the assault on Mullaitivu has already commenced. Today's reports from Sri Lanka indicate early successes achieved by the spear head groups and commando forces in penetrating through an LTTE defensive earth bund and quick ingress into the areas in which the Tigers are struggling to hold ground. These successes have been achieved at brigade level, while the actual combat force has not arrived on the scene yet. Once they do, progress would be swift, since a force of upto 50,000 troops are expected to be deployed in the assault. Joining them would be the undivided attantion of the SLAF and the yet to be tested Mechanized division. Against these, the LTTE's days are numbered and the seconds are already counting down. It is truly the right time for the Tiger podiyens and thangachchis either to lay down weapons and surrender, or bend over and kiss their ugly asses goodbye.
Other yet to be conformed sources claim Pottu amman, the terrorist mastermind behind LTTE intelligence operations, has surrendered to the SL Special Forces. If this is factually correct, that opens the door to a treasure trove of information on not only the strategic, tactical and operational aspects of the LTTE, but also information on their intel operations, and overseas supporters. Sri Lanka will now have the valuable opportunity to harvest information that can be used to prosecute overseas Tamils who have provided services, finance and support to the terrorist group. SLG needs to implement the infrastructure and preparations to process such information for appropriate follow up and legal action against those individuals. At least making the right noises to that effect would be a great start, by giving nightmares to those who've for long thought they cannot be touched for supporting terrorism in SL.
I also found the following great article in the New Indian Express, which is worth reading;
...The initial public reaction in Sri Lanka to the proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has been one of indifference. It is seen to be of little significance on the grounds that it will not materially change the ground situation in which the government and the LTTE are already fighting an all-out war.
But a closer look at the events leading to the ban would indicate that the move is an essential part of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government’s broad politico-military strategy to deal with the LTTE and its virulent brand of Tamil nationalism. If successive Sri Lankan governments had not reimposed the ban (lifted in 2002) despite relentless and grave provocations by the LTTE, it was because they believed that the Tamil Tigers would one day agree to a ceasefire, and come to the negotiating table to thrash out a political solution to the 60-year-old ethnic conflict, that would be acceptable to all the communities in the island.
It is only now, under President Rajapaksa, that the Sri Lankan government and the majority Sinhalese community are convinced that hankering for a peaceful settlement with the LTTE is like chasing a mirage. Right through the Norway brokered and internationallybacked peace process between 2002 and 2004, and also in the years that followed, the LTTE had shown scant regard for the ceasefire agreement; basic political norms, and the international community which was bending over backwards to bring peace, stability and justice to Sri Lanka.
The LTTE had feared that an internationallybacked peace process might result in its being made to abandon the goal of securing an independent Tamil Eelam which it would rule exclusively.
It therefore opted out of the peace talks in 2003; killed foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and came up with ludicrous excuses to scuttle the Norway-arranged talks in 2006, after Rajapaksa took over the Presidency. The outfit brazenly killed scores of unarmed civilians and services personnel, and made an attempt on the life of the army chief Lt Gen Fonseka, only to provoke the then peace loving President to go to war. Once Rajapaksa realised the true intentions of the LTTE, he stopped talking of negotiations, and asked his armed forces to decimate the LTTE. The re-imposition of the ban formally forecloses any possibility of talks with the LTTE, so long as it remains an armed, terrorist group. The ban also corrects an anomalous situation in which Sri Lanka had refrained from banning the LTTE, while vigorously campaigning for a worldwide ban...
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