No time for ceasefire: time yet for surrender - President

We have at no time gone for a ceasefire. We will not do so now. There is no time for that now. In the five or six days remaining we have given the opportunity for the LTTE to lay down their arms and surrender to the Armed Forces and, even in the name of God, free the civilians held by them. If they have no regard for their own lives they should even consider the lives of others.

So said President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 50th Anniversary of the commissioning of the Chandrikawewa at Embilipitiya, today (30).

All television channels of the world are now directed towards Sri Lanka. With satellite technology the whole world can now see how the LTTE uses tanks to fire at the Tamil people fleeing from them. Of what need special observers to know of this? Why do we need special representatives to study this? This is known the world over, the President said.

However it is a great surprise that some members of the international community do not see this. I must warn the world that this lack of vision could leads to a international tragedy, he added.

You would have seen how our troops rescue mothers, carrying their little children at Puthumathalan. How they carry the aged, yet even seeing this, some international forces point accusing fingers at us.Daya Master says that he was carried to safety like a child carrying one's father. Some parents go on their knees to respect our troops for saving them from terror.

The world must see and know all this. That is why we call this a humanitarian operation. This is not how wars are fought in other countries. We have seen how Iraq was bombed. We have seen how Afghanistan is bombed. Those who come to preach to us seen how Afghanistan is bombed. It must be made clear that before accusing others, you must have the strength to know what you do yourself.

Courtesy : Presidential Media Unit

'War won't stop until Prabhakaran is taken, dead or alive' says Secretary Defence

"My problem is not what the LTTE will do to you," the Defence Secretary said, "instead it is that should such a thing happen, we would not be able to take Prabhakaran as planned!". He said after thirty years, the time had come finally for Prabhakaran and other terrorist leaders to be captured dead or alive and the government would not stop until that end was achieved.

Defence Sectary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday(Apr 29), rejected visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband's call for a ceasefire, and told him that the government would not stop its war on terror until the LTTE was crushed and its leader Prabhakaran captured, dead or alive.

Briefing a British delegation that included the British Foreign Secretary, British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Peter Hayes and two other diplomats, at the Foreign Ministry, yesterday morning the Defence Secretary did not mince his words, when he said it was Sri Lankan troops and civilians who had perished in the conflict and therefore the government was determined to finish off the LTTE. He said humanitarian concerns were only a ploy employed by some people to extricate Prabhakaran and his top leaders from the mess they had got into. He said a truce would only help the LTTE to regroup.

"The only person who could stop this war," a plain-spoken Defence Secretary told the British dignitaries, "is only the President of Sri Lanka." The military had orders to either capture or destroy Prabhakaran and other top LTTE leaders, he added.

Mr. Rajapaksa told the British delegation that since March 2009, over 200,000 persons had been rescued by the army. "On April 20 alone we secured the release of over 100,000 men, women and children from the clutches of the LTTE," he said promising to rescue the others shortly. He said the whole world had witnessed that rescue operation that the army had conducted without firing a single shot.

When Miliband interrupted him to say that Britain had information that civilians had been harmed due to the army's firing, the Defence Secretary said Britain should not be duped by the disinformation campaign the LTTE was carrying out. "Even BBC is dishing out LTTE propaganda material without verification," he told Miliband.

Miliband said his claim was not based on BBC reports but credible information elicited from sources in the LTTE-held no fire zone. Apparently annoyed, the Defence Secretary said anyone who knew the LTTE would not believe that any reliable information would emanate from that area under its jackboot. All the stories that were disseminated from the no fire zone, he told the British delegation, were all doctored by the LTTE for the consumption of the international community and the western media. "Do you think a terrorist group like the LTTE will allow anyone to express independent views detrimental to its cause?" he asked.

The Defence Secretary said it was up to the British delegation to decide whether it should believe what a terrorist group said or what a responsible officer of a legitimate government told them. "The choice is yours," he said.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner requested that the UN be given access to the civilian zone held by the LTTE. The Defence Secretary said no one was safe in that area and the government could not guarantee anyone's safety. Kouchner replied that he was prepared to visit the area himself. He said he would take the risk and go there.

A smiling Rajapaksa told the French Foreign Minister that the LTTE was so desperate that he, too, would be taken hostage. "I don't mind that risk," Kouchner said.

"My problem is not what the LTTE will do to you," the Defence Secretary said laughing, "instead it is that should such a thing happen, we would not be able to take Prabhakaran as planned!" He said after thirty years, the time had come finally for Prabhakaran and other terrorist leaders to be captured dead or alive and the government would not stop until that end was achieved.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Attorney General Mohan Peiris and Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona were also present at both meetings.

Courtesy : The Island

"Some countries who oppose talks with Taliban, propose talks with Tigers! "

Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva briefs Swiss press on Sri Lankan situation

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva, in collaboration with the Geneva Press Club - Club suisse de la presse -, organised a press conference on the topic of the 'Current Situation in Sri Lanka', on 24 April 2009 at 'la pastorale,' Geneva.

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary to the Ministry of Human Rights and Disaster Management and Secretary General, Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process, and Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva were the two main speakers at this press meeting.

At the outset, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha explained the events that took place from 2002 to 2005, providing a brief sketch of the situation. Briefing the gathering on the political means to address the issues that the government has proposed before, during and after the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), Prof. Wijesinha outlined the key incidents that took place during the CFA. He said that while there had been only about 350 recorded violations by the government, the LTTE had violated the CFA about 3800 times. After the election of H.E. Mahinda Rajapakse, President of Sri Lanka, despite the government's efforts to politically negotiate a settlement, the LTTE not only walked away from the peace talks but also launched two major attacks in the North and East and also attempted to kill the army commander of Sri Lanka using a pregnant suicide bomber.

The government then launched its military offensive in the East and liberated the East from the LTTE in 2007. An ex-LTTE cadre, who had been recruited as a child soldier and had become the leader of a political party formed after a group of fighters broke away from the LTTE in 2004, was made the chief minister of the eastern province after a democratic election. Prof. Wijesinha maintained that despite the fact that the government has launched 400 air strikes until December, only 78 civilian casualties were reported. He further elaborated and said that major civilian casualties were from the LTTE.

Prof. Wijesinha also highlighted as extremely helpful, the visit to Sri Lanka by Mr. Walter Kalin, Representative of the UN Secretary General on Human Rights of IDPs which took place in early April. With the help of the ICRC the government and the LTTE allowed the elderly, sick and wounded civilians to be transported to the government controlled areas. Nevertheless, the LTTE prevented a large number of civilians from moving into the government controlled areas. As the military engagements progressed and the government troops continued advancing on the LTTE, the latter, as they were retreating, took the civilians along with them. Even then, around 30,000 civilians escaped and came to those areas controlled by the government in January 2009.

In the second week of April, taking in to consideration the suffering of the civilians, the government declared a pause in fighting so that the civilians could come out of the fighting area. During this time, as in the past, LTTE built a wall around the area that they were holding on to in order to prevent the civilians from escaping. This was confirmed and criticized by the UN. Sir John Holmes, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who said that the LTTE was very active in preventing civilians from crossing the area of fighting to the no fire zone.

In the latter part of April, the government troops were able to destroy the wall built by the LTTE, which allowed the entrapped civilians to escape into the government controlled areas. Since last week, 110,000 civilians have come out of the LTTE controlled areas. The government has been taking measures to address the welfare and well-being of these civilians. Prof. Wijesinha also praised the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP), both of whom have helped the government to put up shelters and provide food to these civilians in great numbers. Local NGOs have also been very helpful in providing food for these escaped civilians. Several local NGOs are providing lunch for the civilians in the camps, while the WFP and the government are providing them with the other two meals.

Last week there was another major development when two LTTE intellectuals who were members of the LTTE political wing, surrendered to the government. According to them, there remain only about 20,000 civilians with the LTTE.

After this initial briefing, questions were called for. A journalist from AFP asked how accurate the figures of civilians coming out of the LTTE area are. Prof. Wijesinha said that so far around 200,000 civilians have escaped and come to government controlled areas. Certain people estimate the number of civilians held by the LTTE to be 400,000, but this is due to double counting.

A journalist from Le Temps, a Geneva based news paper asked whether the government will take revenge when refugees and ex-soldiers of the LTTE come to government controlled areas. Prof. Wijesinha replied that around 3000 of those who have surrendered to the Sri Lankan armed forces have said that they had been fighting against the government for the LTTE, and that these former LTTE cadres have been directed to legal authorities. Only 32 out of these were proved to be strong LTTE fighters and they have been sent to rehabilitation camps. Most of the other cadres were underage children who had been forcefully recruited by the LTTE.

Addressing the issue of civilians crossing into government controlled areas, while acknowledging that families are divided, Prof. Wijesinha highlighted that the process of reuniting families in the camps, though initially slow, has sped up and has been successful.

A journalist from the AFP asked whether there will be a humanitarian pause to allow the civilians to come out. Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka said that such a pause was not necessary and that the facts speak for this. He pointed out that already without such a pause, 180,000 civilians have escaped from the LTTE held area. Dr. Jayatilleka further pointed out that if there is a pause in fighting, the LTTE will only use it to launch attacks on the armed forces and escaping civilians. Highlighting further atrocities committed by the LTTE, Dr. Jayatilleka highlighted that the LTTE have already launched two suicide attacks on civilians trying to escape and built a wall around their stronghold to prevent people from crossing. In addition, they have also seized the food rations sent by the government and resold them to destitute civilians held by them. Therefore, Dr. Jayatilleka emphasized that what is needed is not a humanitarian pause but a surgical military operation, similar to that carried out by the armed forces a few days ago, to liberate these civilians from the clutches of the LTTE.

Prof. Wijesinha also evoked the conflict in Angola and said that after the leader was killed, the terrorist movement died and it fell in to place.

Ambassador Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka said that it is important to understand the nature of the LTTE. He quoted Pulitzer Prize winner John F. Burns, who said that Prabhakaran is the Pol Pot of South Asia. Barbara Crossette of New York Times has also said that the LTTE is the most lethal and totalitarian contemporary armed movement in Asia. The LTTE is a fanatical movement like Al Qaeda and with such movements, humanitarian pauses will not work.

Ambassador Jayatilleka said that Sri Lanka is partially dismayed but also partially amused by the fact that certain countries who are against talking to Taliban have suggested that the government should talk to the LTTE, an internationally banned terrorist organization.

The Security Council has clearly said that the LTTE should lay down arms. The Tigers have a clear cut record of rearming themselves during a ceasefire. Since 1985, the LTTE did not accept any peaceful solution. During the Indo-Lanka accord, the LTTE did not accept the peaceful solutions presented by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka. Instead, they started fighting with the Indian Peace Keeping Forces. In 1987, a proposal was made to grant provincial autonomy to the North and East through a provincial council system. At the same time, about 70,000 troops of the Indian Peace Keeping force were deployed in northern Sri Lanka. Due to this, the Sri Lankan forces were confined to the barracks while the Indian Army was maintaining the security and the peace in the North and the East. Without accepting the political solution proposed through the Indo-Sri Lanka peace accord, LTTE fought the Indian peace keepers. In 1991, in Tamil Nadu, an LTTE suicide cadre blew herself up and killed the then Indian Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, grandson of Nehru, first Prime Minister in India and the son of Indira Ghandi.

In 1990, President Premadasa engaged in direct talks with the LTTE and 14 meetings were convened. In 1993, President Premadasa was blown up by an LTTE suicide attack. After that, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was elected and she exchanged 45 letters with the leader of the LTTE. In 1999, an LTTE suicide bomber attempted to kill President Chandrika and left her blinded in one eye.

Ambassador Jayatilleka further said that LTTE not only killed leaders of the government but also killed their own community members. Anita Pratap, a journalist and the author of The Island of Blood, who was a sympathizer of the LTTE, interviewed Mr. Prabhakaran in 1990s. She requested from the LTTE to see Mahaththaya, deputy leader of the LTTE, who was at that time in the custody of the LTTE. A weakened and demoralized Mahaththaya was shown to Ms. Pratap, who asked from Mr. Prabhakaran as to why Mahaththaya was being punished and Prabhakaran told her that it was because he had been too soft when negotiating with President Premadasa. Later in 1994, Mahaththaya was killed by the LTTE.

A question was asked how the surgical military operation would bring a solution to the problem. Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka said that this is the best available option. The armed forces sliced in to the territory held by the LTTE in order to allow the trapped civilians to escape the LTTE and come to the area controlled by the government. However, he added, the operation may not have been perfect, although the forces did their best.

The journalist of Le Temps asked the two speakers what they could say about the great numbers of Tamils protesting in the streets.

Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka said that the LTTE is not the sole representative of the Tamil community. They have killed all the moderate Tamils, to name a few, Neelan Thiruchelvam and Rajini Thiranagama, who followed the footsteps of her elder sister Nirmala Rajasingham. Nirmala Rajasingham has written an article criticizing these Tamil demonstrations in favour of the LTTE. Rajini's two daughters who are studying in Oxford and Cambridge are still traumatized by their mother's death because they heard the LTTE gunshot that killed their mother, who was on her way home from the University. Rajini was a medical doctor who had a PhD and who fought against the army, LTTE and the Indian peace keeping forces.

If the protestors who lead comfortable lives in Western countries, are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, they should demand that the LTTE release the sick, hungry and wounded civilians that they are forcibly holding. Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha said that not only the UNHCR and WFP, but also local and international NGOs are present in the camps and liberated areas. As already mentioned, these NGOs are providing mid day meals to the refugees.

Hon. Minister Douglas Devananda, who has been targeted 13 times to be assassinated by the LTTE, addressed the Durban Review conference last week. He lost the sight in one of his eyes due to an attack by the LTTE. While addressing the Conference, the Hon. Minister said the following: "Although over 70, 000 of those held initially succeeded in getting away, despite being shot at by the LTTE as they escaped, there are still a large number held in captivity. Yet even as I speak today, thousands managed to get away to refuge with the government. If the international community can pressurize the LTTE to surrender or at least to release the rest of these civilians unconditionally, that will go a long way in ending the suffering of the Tamil minority."

Prof. Wijesinha also said that he had been appealing to the UN to publicly state that the LTTE was taking civilians as hostages from September 2008. But the UN, even though they knew it was happening, did not say it openly because they were afraid that the UN staff and their families may be harmed by the LTTE. However, in November, the UN at last acknowledged that the LTTE was taking civilians as hostages. Although the government appreciates this late action by the UN, it feels that the call to release the civilians by the UN should have made much earlier.

The Sri Lankan government admires the encouragement given by the Japanese government. The Japanese government asked the LTTE to surrender, while asking the government to continue its military operation of zero civilian casualties, which they openly hailed.

Dr. Edward Perera, a member of the Sri Lankan diaspora asked what the speakers' opinion was on the Bishop of Jaffna's comparison of the LTTE leader to Jesus. Both Ambassador Jayatilleka and Prof. Wijesinha said that the Bishop of Jaffna has not supported terrorism and that they are not aware of his making such a comparison. They queried the sources of the alleged statement.

Referring to the incidents happened in 1981 and 1983, Prof. Wijesinha said that he will not try to defend such indefensible incidents which were backed by certain elements in the Government of the time. However, what is important to keep in mind is that such incidents have not been repeated ever since.

LTTE unilateral ceasefire a bluff - Defence Spokseperson

The Unilateral Ceasefire declared by the LTTE is a total bluff as Tiger terrorists have made seven suicide attempts within 24 hours using human bombs, explosive laden truck, motorbikes and a double cab against the troops operating in Rettavaikkal, Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday (Apr 29).

Minister Rambukwella said Tiger cadres have blown off three human bombs, one explosive laden truck, three explosive laden motorbikes and a double cab to recapture the Rettavaikkal earth bund captured by the troops on Tuesday.

The Minister also pointed out that these attempts by the LTTE was a clear proof that the unilateral ceasefire declared by the LTTE was a total bluff.

On the contrary, Minister Rambukwella said the capture of the earth bund by the troops was clear indication that the Government has not ceased its humanitarian operation to rescue the remaining civilians trapped inside the No Fire Zone. "Our primary target is to rescue civilians and the Government will continue with that process. We have not offered any ceasefire," the Minister added.

Minister Rambukwella said the Government took a decision to stop using heavy calibre guns and air raids, considering ground realities first as the use of heavy calibre weapons does not arise since troops are operating in a small area and secondly it was not practical to use those weapons at present. The Minister said the Government believes that there are about 10,000 to 15,000 civilians trapped inside the No Fire Zone.

Courtesy : Daily News

'LTTE beat or shoot at Tamil parents, snatch 12 year olds' says London Guardian

(By: Walter Jayawardhana)

London's Guardian newspaper charged that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, now cornered in a five square kilometers in the North East of Sri Lanka forcibly make 12 year old children snatched from their parents, sometimes beating and shooting at them, to take guns and fight the Sri Lankan forces.

"Children as young as 12 being forcibly removed from families as Tamil Tigers make last stand against Sri Lankan forces," the newspaper said.

Guardian said children as young as 12 are being given guns and forced to fight on the frontline alongside desperate Tamil Tiger rebels cornered inside Sri Lanka's no-fire zone, quoting UN sources.

Those forcibly recruited included the 16-year-old daughter of a member of the UN staff, who had stayed inside the narrow strip of coast where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are making their last stand. It added.

Gordon Weiss, the UN spokesman in Sri Lanka, said there had been credible reports of clashes between LTTE members and families on the beaches who had tried to prevent their children being taken. Some of those who resisted had been beaten or shot, he said. "They are sitting there on the sand and groups of armed LTTE come along and demand a member of the family joins them. They ask for one or two children and they are running around grabbing people," Weiss was quoted having said.

"They have been taking children as young as 12, handing them a gun and marching them off and putting them to work. They are not being seen again by their families." As the fighting intensifies, the LTTE is running short of experienced fighters and is relying once again on children to boost its numbers, the Guardian said.

Weiss said many children living in areas controlled by the LTTE before the latest offensive received military training as part of their schooling. He added that the 16-year-old UN family member had now managed to escape from the fighting

Navy thwarts LTTE offensive bid: destroys 5 LTTE boats off Mullaittivu

Sri Lankan Navy elites have thwarted a pre-dawn LTTE offensive bid, destroying 4 LTTE suicide boats while sinking another attack craft in the seas off Mullaittivu, today (Apr 29).

According to defence sources, LTTE terrorists have launched the initial attack with 2 craft targeting ground troops. Identifying the LTTE attempt to disrupt the ground advances, Navy's fast attack craft (FACs) have engaged rapid gunfire sinking an LTTE attack vessel.

4 more suicide craft launched by sea tigers were also destroyed following a fierce gun battle that ensued from 4.30a.m., till 6a.m., the sources said. Navy special boat squadron (SBS) and rapid action boat squadron (RABS) elites were also deployed, navy sources said.

Meanwhile, during subsequent search operations conducted navy personnel have found a body a sea tiger killed during the confrontation.

Pictures of the armor plated vehicle found by troops

United Kingdom - Stop the Tamil Tigers

Humanitarian operations continue: 53, 58 Div troops advance through mined earth bunds

LTTE terrorists suffered double blows losing two heavily fortified defence positions as 53 and 58 Division troops made predawn incursions at identified terror strongpoints located South of Valayanmadam today (April 28).

According to ground reports, 58 and 53 Div infantrymen have respectively gained total control over two LTTE built earth bunds located South and Southwest of Valayanmadam. 58 Division troops advanced Southwards from Valayanmadam, and gained control over a 600m long LTTE built earth-bund running across the coast from West to East, the sources further said.

Terrorists have put-up heavy resistance to stall the two frontal military advance before fleeing further South, towards Mullivaikkal, security sources said. "The earth bunds were heavily mined, made to restrict both flow of the remaining hostages and military advances", a defence official said.

Human Rights Watch uses barbed missiles against Sri Lanka

(By: Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha- Secretary General, Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process)

Like the proverbial pig sticking its snout into swill, Human Rights Watch has leapt with glee onto the recent declaration by the Sri Lankan government that its security forces 'have been instructed to end the use of heavy weapons'. HRW has immediately concluded that "By finally admitting it has been using heavy weapons all along, the Sri Lanka government has shed light onto its official deception as well as its brutal military tactics."

This was the delightfully dense Brad Adams, who does not understand that not only was the government using heavy weapons, it has indeed reported regularly on its achievements through such means. The point the government had been making was that it was not using heavy weapons on civilians, and indeed its recent magnificent achievement in breaching one of the walls the LTTE had built up, and thus ensuring that over 100,000 civilians could get to safety, was without the use of heavy weapons as pointed out at the time.

Had Brad Adams understood the use of the English language, he would have realized that the government has made clear that it will continue with its efforts to rescue civilians, and this will involve the use of appropriate, and proportionate, weaponry. Though this had been the principle it had adopted in rescuing civilians from the safe zone and elsewhere, previously it had not eschewed the use of heavy weapons in defence. Just a couple of weeks back it had publicized its removal of LTTE heavy artillery which had been firing out of the safe zone. This was not done by snipers or even catapults, but involved precision bombing by the air force, and there was no reason whatsoever to conceal such action.

Similarly, when the LTTE used its tank to fire on fleeing civilians, the forces had an obligation to stop such action. Unfortunately they do not seem to have succeeded in this, but this means that, if at any point the LTTE resorts to such tactics again, the forces too will have to respond in kind to save civilian lives.

However, since the LTTE has now announced a unilateral ceasefire, it is to be hoped that they will refrain from using such heavy weaponry against civilians and against the aid that is being sent in - there were reports a couple of weeks back, it will be remembered, of firing on a food ship, and all the ICRC said then was that they did not think the ship had been actually targeted. If the LTTE sticks to its word, there will therefore be no need for government to use heavy weapons at all. However, if the LTTE does use heavy weapons, it would not make sense for government to nevertheless continue with its moratorium, and try to deal with anti-aircraft guns or tanks with the slingshots and catapults that Mr. Adams might advocate.

Offensive operations have stopped, as they should be while so many civilians are being used as human shields. However that does not take away from the moral obligation to release those civilians, and that is what the government has said it will continue to attempt. Mr Adams may think this his cue to engage in tendentious interpretation that betrays his ignorance of facts, and his Luddite understanding of what war means in the modern age. We can only hope that the visiting Foreign Ministers, Mr. Kouchner and Mr. Miliband, the current Castor and Pollux of NATO and of Western operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere, will not fall in with this sanctimonious finger-pointing.

London based LTTE mobs attack Indian and Sri Lankan High commission buildings

LTTE mobs during a protest demonstration have turned violent and smashed the windows of the Indian and Sri Lankan High Commission buildings in London today (April 27). By stone throwing two Metropolitan police officers have been injured at the Sri Lanka High Commission premises and admitted to hospital.

An LTTE mob engaged in a demonstration in Central London became violent and demolished windows of the Indian High Commission building at Aldwych in Central London. Meanwhile, a smaller mob demonstrating in front of the Sri Lanka High Commission in Hyde Park Gardens were also involved in stone throwing to break windows. Police said the mob at the Indian High Commission tried to enter the building through the reception area but were pushed back.

In their earlier demonstration, the London based LTTE mobs beheaded a Jawaharlal Nehru statue put up by the Westminster City Council close to the Indian high Commission about two weeks ago.

The second demonstration in front of the Indian High Commission saw a participation of about 150 hardcore LTTE supporters. The violent demonstration brought traffic to a standstill, with the mob throwing small missiles at the High Commission Building, situated in a busy spot in Central London. The mob reported to have smashed up eight windows on the ground floor.

The demonstration in front of the Sri Lanka High Commission at the Hyde Park Gardens was a smaller one with the participation of 30 odd LTTE supporters . The mob has reportedly smashed one window of the Sri Lanka High Commission .

The supporters of the LTTE think the survival of Prabhakaran is vital for movement to sustain and carry on with the separatist movement with terrorism, a political analyst said.

The Metropolitan Police said, "Three people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at the Indian High Commission, and at the Sri Lankan High Commission, one person has been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, one on suspicion of criminal damage and one on suspicion of a public order offence. Two police officers, on duty outside the Sri Lankan embassy, have been taken to hospital with injuries.

The Humanitarian Mission will continue

Sri Lankan security forces will continue with their humanitarian operations aimed at rescuing the remaining 15,000 to 20,000 people held hostage by the LTTE terrorists despite the decision taken to refrain from using heavy calibre weapons, said a senior defence official. The measure has been taken to ensure proper implementation of the Zero Civilian Casualty Policy, so far adapted by the Sri Lankan armed forces during their counter terror mission, he further said.

Speaking further he said that the conclusion of combat operations should not be misinterpreted as a ceasefire offered. "It is a decision that signals the nearing victory of one of the world 's most successful battles against terrorism. It is a decision that displays the genuine will of the Sri Lankan government to rescue its citizens from terrorism", he said.

Finally he said that government decision was not a result of any international pressure but a timely and professional strategic decision taken to ensure the achievement of the overall mission of the operation.

Surrendered Tiger cadres say they saw Charles Anthony

• Cornerstone of military success was accurate intelligence

 By Ranga Jayasuriya

On Monday morning , civilians began to pour into the military controlled areas after the security forces punctured a hole in the 12 km long trench cum earth bund of the guerrillas. The breach of the earth bund, well fortified with bunkers built at every 50 meter distance and fitted with medium calibre weapons was a tactical military manoeuvre in its own right.
The cornerstone of the military success was accurate intelligence collected through extensive reconnaissance missions. For weeks, small teams of Special Forces and Commandos conducted surveillance and reconnaissance missions on the 12 km longearth bund constructed by the guerrillas to fend off military advance. A four- man- team of commandos monitored day and night the build- up of the guerilla earth bund . A lone commando, Lance Cpl Gunasekara of the second commando regiment sneaked into the guerrilla held area disguising as a Tamil civilian. Upon his return, during his debriefing he prophesied the exodus when the troops breached the earth bund. The Third Special Force Battalion well versed with Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) operations were also deployed in the reconnaissance mission. Based on intelligence provided by the recon team, troops built a dummy of the LTTE’s trench cum earth bund out of an earth bund captured during a previous operation and conducted extensive rehearsals before the final mission.

Assault

An hour before midnight of Sunday, troops were poised for the assault. A commando regiment was assigned to Puthumathalan and the Special Forces were deployed in Ampalawan Pokkalan, facing the Nanthikandal lagoon. In between the 9 Gamunu Watch and 11 Ceylon Light Infantry battalions were deployed. Under the cover of darkness, troops crossed the lagoon and waited till their comrades took positions. At 2 am, they received the go ahead. 
Heavy fighting flared up as the troops went hunting for the guerrillas well entrenched in their bunkers. The battle continued for 4 hours as Tigers dislodged from the bunkers put up stiff resistance. By sunrise, civilians in the thousands began to head towards the security forces. Aerial footage taken by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle showed Tigers firing at fleeing civilians with a medium calibre weapon. Young Special Forces officer Captain Ajith Gamage, who led the Alpha team fell dead when he was shot by a Tiger cadre mingling with civilians. Four of his comrades who plunged to rescue the young officer met with the same fate. Yet, even in death, they saw a camaraderie which lasted through the military missions in Mavil Aru, Sampur to Vakarai. The valour of the Alpha team deserves a special place in the history of the military operation in the fourth Eelam War. They led the military mission to capture the sluice gates of the Mavil Aru. Capt. Ajith Gamage was the then acting OIC of the Alpha team. They trekked a mine filled river bank in the military mission to capture Sampur and later played a pivotal role in the military mission to liberate Vakarai. 
On the fateful Monday morning, having captured the earth bund, they were pushing deeper into Tiger territory in order to neutralize Tiger cadres firing at civilians. Later in the day, two Tiger cadres wearing explosive jackets exploded themselves killing 17 civilians. As of yesterday, 110,000 civilians have entered government controlled areas since Monday. This brings the total number of civilians in the IDP centres to 200,000. 
An estimated 15,000-20,000 people are still held by the LTTE in the south of Vellamullaivaikkal. Numbers are contentious; however, some military sources yesterday put the figures as high as 50,000. Some weeks back, two local UN workers fleeing the guerrilla held pocket told the military official that there are about 150,000 held in the area. Their estimates appeared to be close to the truth against government figures which earlier put the numbers at 75,000. 
Late last week, the 55 Division which advanced southwards from Puthumathalan linked with the 58 Division. As of yesterday, Commandos and Special Forces have entered a 10 km2 area of Vallaimadam, the last remnant of the guerrilla held territory. Prabhakaran is still holed up there, according to the former LTTE media spokesman Daya Master who surrendered to the security forces along with Geroge Master, who was the translator of the former political commissar of the LTTE, the late Thamilselvan. Military intelligence sources told this newspaper that briefings by surrendered Tiger cadres tallies with this information. One cadre had confessed seeing Charles Anthony, the son of the Tiger chieftain early this week.

300 hardcore Tiger cadres

A military official citing intelligence sources said that Prabhakaran is believed to be left with an estimated 300 hardcore Tiger cadres. According to intelligence briefings two weeks back, an estimated 2000 members of Makkal Paddai had been forced into combat by the LTTE. How many of them have fled to government controlled area with the exodus of civilians is not known. Military officials claim the final phase of the military operation has been complicated by the heavy concentration of civilians in a narrow stretch of land. The troops have been instructed to refrain from using indirect fire. How the military copes with this challenge would decide the nature of peace as well as the Tamil perspective in the post LTTE context.
The government is grappling with new challenges in other spheres as well, most notably the provision of immediate housing and basic amenities for IDPs. The government last week appointed Major General G.S. Chandrasiri as the Competent Authority to oversee IDP Centres. The United Nations have requested access to the registration and screening points of civilians, which the government had not yet granted.
There are other emerging concerns. Military sources say about two thousand, Tiger cadres had been identified among civilians who entered the government controlled area, of them seven hundred cadres have been identified during the first two days. Among them there are 15 senior cadres in the rank of Lt Colonel. Many of them have surrendered, while the rest have been identified while they tried to sneak into government controlled areas amidst civilians.

Basic warfare

Thousands of civilians had been trained in basic warfare by the LTTE in an effort to induct them as members of the civil militia, Makkal Paddai. Makkal Paddai was more to do with rhetoric than any form of effective civilian military mobilization in the latter part of the Eelam war. The members of Makkal Paddai who were deployed in the bunkers to supplement the shortage of regular Tiger combatants had their life expectancy measured by days, if not hours.
However, while these members may not be the ideal in a high intensity war, the same group can be effective in a low intensity war. It was the Makkal Paddai members who were instrumental in a series of claymore mine explosions which rocked the Jaffna peninsula in the immediate aftermath of the election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Basic military training was made compulsory by the LTTE in its heartland, Therefore, there was no escape from it. However, perhaps most important is the degree of radicalization of cadres. That stands true especially for 2000 Tiger cadres who are identified among civilians. Surrender equals betrayal in the LTTE’s code of conduct, but, it is not always; Kennedy, the hardcore Tiger guerrilla who surrendered in an abortive mission to blow up aircraft at the Pallali Military Headquarters in the late 90s was handed over to the LTTE in a prisoner swap during the peace process. He later went to head a crack LTTE team , which was sent to the East after the split of the former Eastern Commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna the current Minister of National reconciliation of Rajapaksa government. Kennedy was later assigned the security of the LTTE’s air assets. 
Therefore, the surrender does not necessarily translate into a break-up of the past loyalties to the LTTE. This poises the challenge of an effective rehabilitation program. However, not every such effort did succeed in the past. Washington Post recently reported quoting CIA officials that 12 per cent of former suspects held at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre went back to Al Qaida, including the current second in command of al Qaida’s Yemeni Branch. These are the problems the government would have to grapple with in the immediate future. Meanwhile, The Hindu newspaper yesterday quoted India’s National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan as saying that President Rajapaksa was “receptive” to Indian concerns about the civilians trapped in the no-fire zone. He was refering to his visit to Colombo. In a statement, Mr. Narayanan said they had conveyed concerns of the Government of India at the evolving situation in the north, especially over the casualties among Tamil civilians as a result of the ongoing operations.
“We also expressed the Government of India’s concerns about the humanitarian situation as a result of nearly hundred thousand Tamil civilians coming out of the conflict zone since early this week. The President of Sri Lanka was receptive to our concerns. We are hopeful of a positive outcome,” The Hindu reported.
As conventional combat was coming to an end, Sri Lanka must invest heavily to transform military gains into a sustainable peace. That requires a concerted program aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the Tamil people through redressing the root course of conflict.
The centre of gravity of insurgencies/terrorism is the people. Unless they are won over, hard gained military gains would be doomed.

'Sarath Fonseka has displayed qualities of a great military leader' says Indian express

(By: Walter Jayawardhana)

Writing in the Indian Express newspaper, Satish Nambiar said, Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka "has displayed the qualities of a great military leader nations are blessed with from time to time."

Nambiar is a retired Lieutenant General in the Indian Army who headed the United Nations Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia (1992-93).

Writing on the Army Chief Nambiar further said, "Resurrected from the grave as it were after the attack on him some years back, he has displayed a single-mindedness of purpose in pursuing his goal of decimating the LTTE. Needless to say, he has been able to achieve his objective because of the full support and encouragement provided by the political establishment led by President Rajapaksa.

"The demise of the LTTE is possibly," said Nambiar, " now only a matter of days. The total demolition of the once universally feared organisation that introduced suicide terrorism and the use of improvised explosives (IEDs) as a form of insurgency warfare is a tribute to the determination of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces under its intrepid commander, Sarath Fonseka. General Fonseka has displayed the qualities of a great military leader nations are blessed with from time to time."

He further said, "As someone who was briefly involved with the peace process in Sri Lanka in 2002-2003, I have already acknowledged the outstanding performance of the SL security forces and the efforts of General Fonseka, a person I met on a number of occasions during my visits to Sri Lanka during 2002-2003 and developed great respect for, both as an individual and as a soldier."

No surrender to third party - Defence Secretary

Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa stressed that the Government cannot let the LTTE to surrender to a third party and emphasised that LTTE should be made to surrender only to the Government of Sri Lanka.

The Defence Secretary, speaking to the Sunday Observer said this while commenting on the United States’ request for the LTTE to surrender to a third party.

“Sri Lankan people had suffered from terrorism and it is our people who were killed by the LTTE. It is not fair for a foreign country to request that the LTTE be allowed to surrender to an outside party,” Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said speaking to the `Sunday Observer’. “This is an internal matter and we, as the Government, can assure that the problem can be settled internally,” he added.

At a daily press briefing on Friday US State Department spokesman Robert Wood had stated, “”The Tamil Tigers must stop holding civilians and thus placing them in harm’s way. We call on the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms and surrender to a third party.” Yet, the US State Department has not specified who the third party is, media reports stated.

Wood had further stated that, the international community needs to provide assistance to a large number of displaced persons and they should be prepared to play a role to end the fighting. Commenting further the Defence Secretary said that US concern about the displaced civilians could be understood but their concern for the safety of a group of terrorists is questionable.

Meanwhile, reports from the Sri Lankan office of the United Nations state that the LTTE is recruiting children as young as 12 years and have been forced to fight in the frontline as terrorists are getting further cornered in the `No Fire Zone’, several Colombo based news agencies stated. A spokesman from the Sri Lankan UN office has stated that the civilians are sitting there on the sand and groups of armed LTTE come along and demand a member of the family to join them and ask for one or two children and that LTTE cadres are running around grabbing people. Accordingly these children were not seen again by their families.

Assuring the evacuation of each and every person trapped inside the `No Fire Zone’, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that the ongoing military operations will continue until Prabhakaran is caught and till the Army completely captures the land. “Almost 98% of the civilians trapped inside the `No Fire Zone’ have reached the cleared areas and the humanitarian operations of the Sri Lanka Army will be to liberate these people as their first priority,” Rajapaksa added.

The Defence Secretary further confirmed that irrespective of LTTE propaganda taking place locally as well as internationally, the mission to rescue people trapped in the `No Fire Zone’ will continue. Condemning the allegations on the Government of mass scale civilian casualties Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said, “The Sri Lanka Army planned the operation in a very professional manner, totally avoiding attacks on civilians. It is proven that the LTTE attack civilians as well during their defensive manoeuvres.”

He further stated that during interrogations the escaping civilians have stated that they were attacked by the LTTE for various reasons. “With the visuals we received from the UAVs of the Sri Lanka Air Force it was proved beyond doubt that it is the LTTE who have killed and injured innocent civilians who were trying to escape,” Gotabhaya Rajapaksa added.

Navy thwarts LTTE bid to attack ground troops by Sea

Sri Lanka Navy foiled a desperate attempt made by the LTTE terrorists to attack ground troops during wee hours today (Apr 26), navy sources said.

According to the sources, navy patrol craft deployed in the Northeastern coastal waters of the Island detected a cluster of LTTE attack boats setting off from Vellamullaivaikkal shore around 1 AM. The Navy boats having identified that the terrorists were trying to attack ground troops now concentrated on the narrow stretch of land, in the Valayarmadam area, intercepted and attacked the terrorist boat.

Navy claimed that three of the LTTE boats were sunk and at least 12 terrorists were killed in the confrontation that lasted for few hours. The rest of the LTTE boats fled with the casualties, the sources added.

Sri Lanka Navy maintains four blockades in the Northeastern waters of the Island to prevent the terrorist use of sea lines of communication. The blockades extend from the coastal waters to deep sea and manned by Fast Attack Craft (FACs), Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), Fast Gun Boats (FGBs), the Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and the Special Boat Squadron (SBS)

UPFA sweeps Western Province polls

The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the ruling coalition in Sri Lanka led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, retained control of the Western Provincial Council with a larger majority at the election to the Council held April 25.

The UPFA won a total of 68 seats in the 102 seat Provincial Council with the Opposition United National Party (UNP) coming a distant second with only 30 seats. The People's Liberation Front (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna - JVP) with a radical nationalist policy won just 03 seats and the sectarian Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won 02 seats.

The United National Party (UNP), the main opposition party, fared badly in the largely urban areas of the country which is generally concerned its strongholds. It won in only 05 electoral districts in metropolitan Colombo city, but with reduced majorities. The UNP lost in all other electorates in the Colombo District, while the UPFA won all electoral districts in the Gampaha and Kalutara Districts. The 30 seats it won in the Provincial Council is due to the election that is conducted on the system of proportional representation.

The success of the UPFA in the populous Western Province, with a large percentage of minority votes, follows a trend of support for it in all polls to provincial councils held in the past months beginning with polls to the new Eastern Provincial Council in September 2008, after the liberation of the East from LTTE terror. This was followed by successes in the provincial elections in the North Central, mid-country Sabaragamuwa, Central Province and North Western Provinces.

Political observers are agreed in the view that the success of the polls is due largely to the personal popularity of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a national leader, and to the of success his government in driving the separatist LTTE from the East, and later from all its strongholds in the North, including is administrative centre Kilinochchi, in January this year, until it is now on the verge of defeat, holed up in a tiny stretch of land in the North.

The was also much public support for the government and the President when several thousands of Tamil civilians defied the LTTE that was holding by force both a human shield against the advancing Sri Lankan forces and for purposes of political bargaining, and surged into Government held areas in the North from April 20, and are still coming in thousands.

President Rajapaksa has promised early local government elections in the northern city of Jaffna and later in other areas of the North, and has pledged to let the people of the North liberated from the LTTE to also elect their own provincial council when conditions are suitable for such an election, as it was done shortly after the liberation of the East, last year.

Courtesy : Presidential Media Unit