The Situation Report

9th May 1999

Tiger arms ship in high sea drama

By Iqbal Athas

Officials of a state intelligence agency monitoring Tiger guerrilla radio transmissions emanating from the jungles of Wanni last week were intrigued. The radio traffic was unusually high and the conversation centered around some planned movements in the high seas during next few days.

Some details of conversations, pieced together, suggested boat movements. Intelligence officials suspected senior Tiger cadres were planning to move to an unknown destination by sea. Both the Navy and Air Force Headquarters in Colombo were among those warned.

By forenoon, Saturday (May 1), Squadron Leader Udeni Rajapakse, rolled out a well equipped 'Beechcraft', once a VIP transport plane, from the Ratmalana Airbase on a surveillance mission. It was almost noon when he radioed, from above the sea some 80 miles east of Mullaitivu. He had located an unidentified ship. Four boats which appeared to have unloaded cargo from that vessel were heading towards land.

The news prompted the hurried exit of a fleet of Fast Attack Craft from the Navy's Eastern Command headquarters at Trincomalee. Some 53 miles east of Mullaitivu, they encountered the first heavily laden boat speeding towards land. A gun battle ensued. A Dvora made a direct hit. The boat sank spewing oil in the area. The Navy managed to retrieve two barrels of oil and two life jackets. The barrels were found to contain hi- octane fuel mix for use by outboard motors. The remaining boats managed to hit the shore with their booty and the vessel had begun to move out.

That was not without a protracted gun battle with the Navy as exclusively reported in the late City edition of The Sunday Times last week.

Even the Indian authorities were informed of the sighting of the unidentified vessel through official channels. A request was made for the Indian Navy to apprehend and hand it over to Sri Lanka Navy. Colombo's defence establishment later received confirmation that Indian Naval and Coast Guard craft, responding to their call, had also begun to monitor the unidentified vessel.

Colombo also learnt that the vessel was in fact one used by Tiger guerrillas. Soon more news began to flow. It was identified as 'Showa Maru,' a 45 foot long cargo vessel cum tanker. Defence authorities in Colombo made further checks and found there were 28 ships and seven tankers in the Lloyds Register by that name. There was another under the name 'Shomei Maru' - a vessel registered under what is suspected to be a spurious Three Star Shipping. That company bore no address. Did the LTTE change the name, as is the usual practice, in a bid to avoid detection ? Or was that another vessel ?

Military officials say that 'Showa Maru', built in Japan, was purchased in Singapore by the LTTE in 1990. It has been sailing in South East Asian and Far Eastern waters and the skipper was identified as Venkatesan Kartheepan @ Karthik, a resident of Valvettiturai. In the recent past it had been known to transport weapons and Tiger cadres in the Malacca Straits.

Although both the Air Force and the Navy were in radio and ground contact since the discovery of 'Showa Maru' and the four boats, various factors appear to have delayed engaging them either by air or by sea. After the Beechcraft sortie, an Israeli built Kfir jet fighter took off to bomb them. An Mi-24 attack helicopter followed. The Fast Attack Craft was in the region too. The Air Force and the Navy were locked in radio contact. It was soon nightfall. If the three boats returned ashore with cargo, suspected to be fuel and weapons, the fate of 'Showa Maru' which moved out, is now a mystery. Both the Air Force Commander, Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody and Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Cecil Tissera were personally supervising the operations of their respective forces.

But the Sri Lanka Navy had some good news by Wednesday. Tiger guerrilla radio intercepts confirmed eleven cadres had died - one senior rank ('Lt.Col.') Dharshan Thewathehan, two 'Majors', four 'Captains,' three 'Second Lieutenants' and a Rating. They had been on board the boat the Dvora fired at.

Did the Indian Navy or the Coast Guard, who were monitoring the 'Showa Maru', apprehend them? Or did the vessel manage to slip out? The answers are being awaited.

Needless to say that a two man Sri Lanka Navy team, who are leaving for New Delhi next Wednesday, (May 12) for their periodic consultations with the Indian Navy, will do a lot of fact finding. That is not only about the mystery behind 'Showa Maru' but also on the fate of 'MV Mariamma', a vessel that also brought military hardware (estimated by the Navy to be worth ten million US dollars or more than Rs 700 million) went down (Situation Report - May 2). This will be among most important subjects they will raise with their Indian counterparts.

The two member Sri Lanka Navy team comprising Director, Naval Operations, Commodore C.N. Thuduwewatta and Deputy Director, Captain T.S.G. Samarasinghe, I reported in these columns last week, would leave for New Delhi on Wednesday, (May 5). Though a departure was planned for this date, it has since been re-scheduled for next week. If the two member team's talks with their Indian counterparts center around a routinely periodic consultation, from Sri Lanka's point of view, the fate of the two vessels become both significant and relevant. A senior defence official who did not wish to be identified is emphatic it is of utmost importance to Sri Lanka's national security considerations. 'It is nothing but logical we would seek the help of our friendly neighbour, India to ascertain as many facts as possible. That is very much an integral part of consultations,' the official said.

Last week's remarks in these columns by ousted Indian Navy Chief, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, has, quite understandably, incensed the Indian Navy. They issued a strongly worded statement against their own former Commander. This came after sections of the Indian media filed reports based on this column last week. A copy of the news release is not available to The Sunday Times. However, reproduced below is a report based on the news release which appeared in the Chennai (Madras) based HINDU newspaper of May 4:

'NEW DELHI, MAY 3 - The Navy today described as 'false, mischievous and slanderous' allegations made by the sacked naval chief, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, that the Navy and Coast Guard were asked to 'let off the hook' a vessel, allegedly carrying arms to the LTTE in March.

'It also said that the high ranking Sri Lankan Navy Officers, who are to visit India, were coming as part of the ongoing process of strengthening co-operation between the Government and the two Navies and not to seek reassurance from New Delhi on its co-operation in maintaining vigil over the Arabian Sea and Palk Straits following the m.v. Mariamma incident.

'Newspaper reports, quoting a senior Naval official in Colombo, said Sri Lanka was worried as to what happened to the ship and its cargo after the Indian Navy confronted it.

'Admiral Bhagwat had told a Colombo newspaper that it was reasonable to conclude that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard were directly asked to let the vessel off the hook.

'In a statement today, the Navy said it was 'mysterious' how a retired officer, unconcerned with the operation, had been asked to comment on the matter whereas the Indian Navy was not asked for the correct version of the incident.

'The Navy said following the Sri Lanka Navy's request, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard took immediate steps to carry out surveillance of the m.v. Mariamma.

'On March 11, when the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard vessels closed in on m.v. Mariamma it was observed to be on fire. There was no sign of life on board. Despite an extensive air and surface search no survivors were found.

It seems comical that the Indian Navy, easily one of the most professional outfits in this Indian Ocean region, has attributed motives to The Sunday Times raising questions from Admiral Bhagwat. I can assure them, quite categorically, that there is no mystery whatsoever.

Admiral Bhagwat was a former Commander of India's Navy. He has publicly accused his political boss, Defence Minister, George Fernandes, of consorting with the LTTE. He professes to know about the LTTE's operations including gun running activity. His retirement does not preclude The Sunday Times from posing a question to a man who has, by making public things he is aware, pushed the BJP Government out of office.

The Sri Lankan public have every right to know what India's retired Navy Commader thought of the m.v. Mariamma episode. As for the claim that the Indian Navy was not asked for their comments, leave alone The Sunday Times, but none of India's own national newspapers had been given an account of the events. That apart, the defence establishment in Colombo, too had not received a fuller report. As I said last week,… there had been a specific assurance from Indian authorities that 'Mariamma' and her cargo should not be a concern for the Sri Lanka government any more.…….'However, there was no detailed explanation as to what has in fact happened.'

However, The Sunday Times will be glad to receive any information from the Indian Navy that will help throw light on the mysteries behind m.v. Mariamma and now on 'Showa Maru.'

How wrong conclusions can create confusion and even misunderstanding can be judged by an episode this week involving a senior Indian Naval officer, who is Defence Attache in Colombo. Last Wednesday. Colombo based Defence Attaches were at their regular official briefing at Army Headquarters. Director of Operations at Army Headquarters, Brigadier Nissanka Wijesinghe, had just ended giving a brief on the security situation including updates on activity in the operational areas when the question of m.v. Mariamma and 'Showa Maru' were raised. Rising to answer the queries was Captain T.S.G. Samarasinghe, (Deputy Director, Naval Operations).

The moment saw India's Defence Advisor, Captain G. Sondur, withdrawing from the conference. A few of those present asked why he 'mysteriously left the meeting' when those questions came up. In truth, there was no mystery. The amiable Capt. Sondur had another engagement for which he appeared to be late.

The crew of m.v. Mariamma ,it is claimed, escaped after setting the vessel on fire whilst the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard were closing in on the suspected ship, and that too after having maintained prior surveillance on it.

The allegation made by Admiral Bhagwat on it raises several questions. It touches the core question especially in the context of the broader allegation made by him that the Indian Defence Minister, George Fernandes, had links with several terrorist groups in the region including Myanmar. The serious implications of that allegation are questionable. Its political reverberations have already been felt in India. Its regional implications have to be assessed and joint measures implemented in the interests of the security of the littoral States.

Be that as it may, the question at political levels, the denial by the Indian Navy of Admiral Bhagwat's allegation that the Navy were asked to let these miscreants 'off the hook' then raises the question of whether there was lack of action or inaction by the Indian Navy in the Mariamma issue. With the very high reputation of the Indian armed forces, it would appear most unlikely that the Mariamma incident was an operational slip up.

The truth must prevail in the interests of mutual friendship and regional co-operation. As natural is the inclination to maintain national parochiality, it is also as important that there should be no grey areas which could cloud international relations, especially between neighbours with strong bonds of friendship as India and Sri Lanka.

In all circumstances of the Mariamma incident and now with Showa Maru intrusion, what is important is not to get ruffled in parochial pique but to evolve a pragmatic system of maritime co-operation that would benefit the security interests of both countries.

Another significant development this week was a directive Deputy Defence Minister, Anuruddha Ratwatte, gave senior government officials to expedite civilian re-settlement in the captured Wanni area. After a visit to the Madhu Church last Monday, he sat down for a conference with K. Ganesh (GA Vavuniya), Mariyadasan Cruz (GA Mannar) and other government officials. The focus was on an urgent re-settlement and rehabilitation programme for displaced civilians, easily a precursor to a string of upcoming elections in the area.

Later, Minister Ratwatte chaired a conference with the service commanders, the Inspector General of Police and other security forces officials at the Wanni Security Forces Headquarters in Vavuniya. SF Commander, Wanni (and Chief of Staff of the Army), Major General Lionel Balagalle, briefed them on the prevailing security situation and the recruitment drive currently under way.

Once more, conspicuous by his absence during Minister Ratwatte's tour of the Wanni last Wednesday was JOB Chairman, General Ratwatte.

Despite strong indications that the Joint Operations Bureau would be converted to a Joint Operations Command with full operational authority (Situation Report - April 25), there appears to be re-thinking on the matter once again. I understand that the subject has been discussed at the highest levels but a final decision has been put on hold. This means the JOB, whose headquarters is located in the Army headquarters complex, will continue to remain an advisory body, at least for some more time.

However, Gen. Daluwatte, was kept occupied throughout the week as JOB Chairman. Last Monday and Tuesday, he made an elaborate presentation to heads of Sri Lanka's diplomatic missions on the status of the ongoing separatist war and all other related aspects. Envoys have been called to Colombo for consultations and updates. Gen. Daluwatte also answered questions raised by them. He also gave a similar biefing to a French and Australian Academics

The past few days also saw the diffusion of a highly volatile situation that developed after the closure of the Uyilankulam checkpoint - the main link between controlled and uncontrolled areas in the Wanni. This came after the LTTE shot dead an Inspector and two Police Constables manning the checkpoint on April 16.

All movements - food supplies, travel by civilians and NGO representatives, transport of civilians from uncontrolled areas for treatment in Vavuniya - all came to a halt. Nearly 3500 civilians were stranded in Vavuniya after the Army shut down the check-point. Senior Army officials insisted that it would remain closed until there is an assurance from the LTTE that they would not attack security forces / Police personnel on duty at the checkpoint.

Military officials say such an assurance has now reached them after both ICRC and UNHCR officials intervened in the matter. The check-point was declared open for movements since May 3. Last Monday 15 lorry loads of food were moved to the uncontrolled areas followed by 30 lorry loads in the next two days.

However, there were fears that the prolonged closure may cause a shortage in food supply in the uncontrolled areas of the Wanni. The Government Agent, Vavuniya, Mr. K. Ganesh, has reported to authorities in Colombo that during the last two months, supplies had been reduced to a third. Among the items were rice, flour, dhall and sugar. He has expressed the view that the Government should continue to move food convoys and request the ICRC to help in escorting them. However, ICRC officials are hard put and say it is difficult for them to provide escorts to all food convoys in view of the shortage of personnel.

As security forces move in to annexe more areas and consolidate their positions, movement of supplies and personnel from controlled to uncontrolled areas and vice versa, is likely to get interrupted during the coming weeks too. However, military officials said they would try to minimise delays whenever they occur but that seemed a very difficult task since it involved the co-ordinated effort of several state agencies.

In more than one sense, it has been a week of mysteries. The fate of two vessels that smuggled in military supplies to the LTTE remains a mystery. So does the fate of the Joint Operations Bureau (JOB). How much the coming weeks and months will reveal, only time will tell.

Taraki's Column

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