The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is losing the fourth Eelam war, but is planning for its next phase. Though the guerrillas have been unrelenting in fighting last week, it is planning on the next phase of the Eelam war. Behind the radars, the LTTE leadership is relocating hand picked cadres and their families out of the war zone. According to local and foreign intelligence reports, at least 21 boats have smuggled LTTE cadres to Tamil Nadu during the month of March. In the month of February, 12 boats have smuggled LTTE cadres. Four boats have been intercepted by the Navy. The rest ended up at their destination. This information has been verified with a foreign intelligence source. Intelligence officials believe that the modus operandi of the Tigers is to bring back these cadres in exile after the resettlement of civilians. The LTTE, which fears annihilation at the hands of the forces, would like to increase the cross strait smuggling in the coming week as the troops encircle the No Fire Zone.
Tamil Nadu, given its demography and growing pro-LTTE sentiments have all the characteristics to function as a rear base for the LTTE, but, intelligence officials raise concern at the increasing LTTE activities in Malaysia.
Ethnic Indian Tamils in Malaysia, which account for 8 per cent of the population, have become increasingly politically active since the departure of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, whose rule was marked by the contradictory legacies of spectacular growth in economy and political repression. Indeed, the most ardent proponents of the ethnic Indian sentiments, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) — which in 2007 held a massive rally of 20,000 against discrimination of ethnic Indians in Malaysia - has since been banned and its top five leadership was arrested and held in prison under the Internal Security Act.
During the height of these events, Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police, Musa Hassan charged that Hindraf “has been actively canvassing for support and assistance from terrorist groups”.
The links were discovered following intense police investigations in the past six months into Hindraf’s activities, he said in a report.
“They are also lobbying for international support from India, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Nations and Europe,” Hassan said in a statement, accusing the group of giving a “twisted and distorted picture” to the international community on the status of Indians in Malaysia.
This was followed by remarks from the country’s attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail who accused Hindraf of suspected collusion with Sri Lanka’s LTTE.
“Everybody in the world is worried if there is an LTTE connection,” he said, adding that police were investigating the issue.
However, the Hindraf leadership has denied links to the LTTE and the party has been on a low key since the arrest of its top leadership.
TRO
Recently a Tamil charity in Malaysia came under criticism after it was found it had funneled the large share of its tsunami aid to the Tiger front NGO, Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO).
Recent intelligence reports revealed that Mathivathini, wife of the Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran and his youngest son have been smuggled into Malaysia. The chief of the LTTE’s arms smuggling wing, KP alias Kumaran Pathmanathan alias Tharmalingam Shanmughan was reportedly operating from Malaysia. Intelligence Agencies have raised concern of the LTTE investing in local business ventures and building relations with local political and business interests. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government is restructuring the staff of the Sri Lankan High Commission in KL, by posting a number of military personnel in order to increase intelligence gathering capabilities.
Meanwhile, military sources say that Charles Anthony, the eldest son of Velupillai Prabhakaran has now recovered from wounds he suffered early last month. According to these sources, Charles Anthony was wounded in the LTTE counter attack at the security forces forward defence lines in Ampalavan and Pokkavan. The Tigers planned to breach the defence lines and advance upto Darmapuram and Charles Anthony was dispatched by the Tiger chieftain to beef up the morale of the cadres, say intelligence officials who monitored guerilla transmissions. On March 8, he was wounded when a shell exploded near him; however, his wounds were not serious.
Last week, the troops of the 58 Division and Task force 8 annihilated a group of battle hardened Tiger guerrillas, after encircling them in an area of two square kilometers in the east of Puthukudiyiruppu.
Troops of the 58 Division and Task Force 8 linked up at the Pachchapulmudai junction, virtually boxing a group of Tiger cadres in an area of 2 square kilometers. In the subsequent search operations, remains of the slain guerrillas were recovered along with 60 T 56 assault rifles and a large cache of weapons including four rocket propeller grenade launchers [RPG], two radio communication sets, one C-90 gun, 6 claymore mines, 15 hand grenades, 15 anti personnel mines [AP], one 60 mm mortar gun, four ammo drums of a 12.7 mm machine gun, 50 ammo used for a 25 mm machine gun and 28 military packs.
It was during this attack that leaders of the Charles Anthony Brigade, Amuthab and Gobith were killed. The death of the two battle hardened Tiger commanders is likely to have a severe drain on the morale of the Charles Anthony Brigade, the only fighting formation of the LTTE which is offering substantive resistance to the security forces. Military officials say the monitored guerrilla transmissions had revealed that Colonel, Vidusha, the commander of the all female Malathi Brigade was also injured in the last week. She was reported to have called for reinforcement before she sustained injuries. This information could not be verified. Meanwhile, troops fund a second 130 mm artillery gun in Anandapuram. Early this week the troops recovered the wreckage of another 130 mm gun which was destroyed by air attacks.
Meanwhile, a surrendered cadre of the LTTE’s intelligence wing had revealed that Ratnam Master, the leader of the Ratha Regiment, which was assigned for an air defence role had been killed in an air strike.
Air defence role
The Ratha Regiment, which was originally assigned for the security of Prabhakaran, was also tasked with an air defence role. Military officials say it was a Mig 27 ground attack craft, which was running sorties east of Puthukudiyiruppu in the last remaining LTTE held pocket that was the target of the two missiles launched from the No Fire Zone two weeks ago. A senior military official opined that the missile defence system protecting Prabhakaran’s hideout could have been activated.
Meanwhile, the 55 Division overran the fifth trench cum earth bund last week. Then they discovered a sixth trench being built 150 m southwards. Troops planned a pre-dawn attack on 29th March to dislodge the guerrillas from the sixth bund. However, a reconnaissance team which was sent early that night was detected by the guerrillas. The team retreated to the defence lines after a brief shootout. This however prompted military commanders to change the plan. However, on the early morning of the 29th, a Sergeant Major who was monitoring the guerrilla controlled pocket with a pair of binoculars observed two boats being launched. Div Commander Brigadier Prasanna Silva ordered the troops to use a wire guided missile newly acquired from Pakistan. The missile hit the boat, engulfing it in a ball of fire. The initial guerrilla effort to launch a sea borne attack was hence averted. However, later in the day Sea Tigers launched several boats fitted with 30 mm and 23 mm guns. Troops used several missiles with success. Later in the day, Navy’s Special Boat Squadron also spurred into action. According to the Navy Spokesman, SBS commandos destroyed four boats, killing 26 sea Tigers including a senior Tiger leader identified as Maran. Meanwhile, the navy destroyed two sea Tiger boats yesterday, preventing another guerrilla infiltration effort. Later troops recovered seven bodies of guerrillas, one Light Machine Gun (LMG), one M-16 rifle, one pistol, one Global Positioning System (GPS), one satellite phone and five man packs in a search conducted on the beach area.
The fourth Eelam is fast coming to an end. Five military Divisions are planning for what military planners call the “biggest rescue operation” since the World War II. The 55 Division has positioned 1 1/4 km from the No Fire Zone. In the southern front, guerrillas are still holding an area of 3 square kilometers. Once that area is gone, the LTTE would pull back into the No Fire Zone. It is where the last battle would flare up. We could only pray for the plight of civilians.
lakbimanews
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment