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| Lanka moves to clip Tiger wings
The construction of a new airstrip in Kilinochchi and the acquisition of air capability by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), revealed exclusively in The Sunday Times (Situation Report) in the past weeks, have had its sequel. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has now written to Norway's Prime Minister, Kjell Magne Bondevik raising issue. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar handed over her letter to Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar for onward transmission. It is accompanied by an aide memoire and a set of colour pictures of the airstrip as well as an aircraft. The aide memoire (or aid to memory as it is known in diplomatic parlance) contains extensive documentation of matters relating to the new airstrip as well as acquisition of air capability by the LTTE. Foreign Ministry officials remained tight lipped over these Government-to-Government level representations. This is the third occasion during the three-year ceasefire that President Kumaratunga raised concerns with Norway's Prime Minister, Mr. Bondevik. The first was when the previous United National Front (UNF) Government helped clear radio broadcast equipment for the LTTE without duty and on most favoured terms. The second came when the former Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), retired Norwegian Major General Tryggve Tellefsen, sought "de facto" recognition for the sea going arm of the LTTE, the Sea Tigers. He was later recalled to Oslo for "consultations" but did not return to his post. The Sunday Times learns that authorities in the United States confirmed to the Government that one of the aircraft used by the LTTE was a two-seater Czech built Zlin Z 143. The identification came after the Government handed over photographs obtained by the Israeli built Searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and sought US assistance to identify the aircraft. It is not known whether US also used its resources for independent verification. It was only last week The Sunday Times (Situation Report) disclosed that the Sri Lanka Air Force has told the Government it now has irrefutable evidence that the Tiger guerrillas possess one light aircraft and an airstrip. As the report said, the quality of images obtained by the UAV on the second aircraft caused some difficulty. The Air Force is still unable to identify its broader characteristics. However, studies continue. Pointing out that that the development of an airstrip and acquisition of aircraft were not in keeping with the spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement, President Kumaratunga is learnt to have made clear that the Government fully reserved the right to defend Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity. She has expressed serious concern that there was now a direct threat to Sri Lanka's air space and sought Norway's help to dismantle LTTE's air capability and the airstrip. The Air Force has told the Government it possesses the capability to carry out offensive operations against the runway and the LTTE's air assets. But the ongoing Ceasefire Agreement prevented them from engaging in any offensive action. They have, however, pointed out that the only option available would be to prevent any enemy air asset from carrying out any activities detrimental to national security by intercepting and destroying them in the air. The Air Force views such a course of action as a defensive one. According to data made available to the Government, the Zlin Z 143 aircraft is said to have a range of 630 nautical miles and is capable of carrying an ordinance load of 240 kilogrammes. Such an ordinance load could be doubled or made more if only one pilot flies the aircraft as a "flying bomb" on a suicide mission. The name of the former Czechoslovakian (now Czech Republic) aircraft manufacturer Zlin has been associated with aerobatic aircraft since the firm was founded in 1934. The Z 143 was based on the successful Z 42, Z 142 and Z 43. Over 750 aircraft had been produced since 1992. President Kumaratunga's aide memoire has also provided details and photographs of the newly constructed airstrip located south east of the Iranamadu irrigation tank in Kilinochchi. It has been paved with threshold and centreline markings. In addition lights have also been placed alongside the runway. The document lists the length of the runway as 1.2 kilometres. The Sunday Times reports placed it at 1,250 metres (or 1.25 kilometres.) Recent investigations have revealed that construction of the runway began during the tenure of the previous United National Front (UNF) Government. Metal for the construction of the airstrip had been moved from suppliers in the Anuradhapura district ostensibly on the grounds that it was to be used for building the badly damaged Alpha Nine (A-9) highway. At one top level conference at the Ministry of Defence in Colombo during this period, a senior Army officer had raised issue. He had alluded to intelligence reports of how vast quantities of metal and cement were being moved into the Wanni. Though it was on the grounds that paving of the Kandy-Jaffna (A-9) highway was taking place, the quantities seemed too enormous. The Army officer had in fact cited the role played by a local Government official in the area in expediting metal and cement supplies. His protests, however, were ignored. That was during a time when the UNF leadership chose to ignore many such complaints or reports. Hence no remedial action was taken. This is not the only instance. One was the case of sophisticated radio broadcast equipment that was cleared with the full support and co-operation of a senior bureaucrat turned author. He used the authority of his position to clear all formalities without any hindrance when requests were made to him by the LTTE. Also cleared with this consignment was V-sat equipment which has now enabled the LTTE to transfer all voice and pictorial data in and out of Sri Lanka without being intercepted. During the same period several packages brought into the country by members of LTTE delegation returning to Colombo after peace talks abroad were cleared without Customs or security inspection. Such checks began only after instances were highlighted in The Sunday Times but UNF leaders were both angered and embarrassed by the disclosures. As repeatedly pointed out, it led to threats and intimidation of those who made the exposure. Confirmation that such unchecked packages contained radars in knocked down condition and other war like material came from a one time LTTE strongman and renegade eastern leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna. Whilst in the "protective custody" of the security forces, he gave details to those who debriefed him. He even identified former UNF officials who helped in the exercises. The bureaucrat who helped clear the radio broadcast equipment came in for special mention for his willingness to help the LTTE on a number of knotty issues. President Kumaratunga, The Sunday Times learnt, has decided that her Government should not go public immediately with the protest to Norway or on other matters relating to LTTE's acquisition of air capability. This is not only until Norway initiates action on the matter but also till the responses of several countries closely associated with the peace process are made public. She also feels an early official announcement would lead to the public being alarmed and a panic situation being created. The Government has already taken steps to brief friendly countries of what is being described as the "enormous threat to the region" caused by the LTTE building a new airstrip and acquiring air capability. Until these acquisitions, the air space over Tiger guerrilla held areas was dominated by the Air Force. One such country which has been given a detailed briefing was India. According to authoritative sources, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar is learnt to have apprised Indian leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. A similar brief, same sources said, had been given to the United States. Once India, United States and other countries that have been given the facts carry out a study and make their responses known, the Government proposes to place all the facts before the public, the source added. This, however, does not mean the Government is remaining silent in the interim period. A series of counter measures are now being adopted. This is not only to meet the new threats posed by LTTE's acquisition of air capability but also related threats on the ground. But ironic enough, the need to enforce these measures dawned on the Government only after the UAV pictures revealed the presence of aircraft over Kilinochchi skies. Until then, no positive steps were taken to deal with the new airstrip. Nor was the Government aware until then that the Tiger guerrillas had acquired aircraft. Taking a look at Israeli defence equipment in this regard during a visit there this week is the Commander of the Army, Lt. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda. He is accompanied by Major General Gamini Hettiaratchchi, Security Force Commander (East) and Lt. Col. Ruwan Kulatunga, Military Assistant to the Commander. Also in the delegation is Nimal Leuke, DIG, Commandant of the Police Special Task Force (STF). It was only in January, this year; Lt. Gen. Kottegoda led a high powered military delegation to Iran. The aim was to chalk out a US $ 140 million defence deal. Sri Lanka planned to obtain oil from the Islamic state on extended credit terms. The interest accrued on payments for the oil was not going to be accepted by Teheran. Instead it was to be set off by allowing Sri Lanka to purchase defence equipment to that value. Lt. Gen. Kottegoda forwarded a comprehensive list of procurements for the Army, Navy and Air Force to be obtained from Iran to the Ministry of Defence. The prices of items contained in the list were verified from other foreign markets to determine their competitiveness. But the move with Iran has ruffled feathers in Washington from where the Government was seeking spares for the Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and other military help. The Iran deal has thus gone into limbo at least for the time being. Meanwhile Norway's Ambassador Brattskar is learnt to have briefed the LTTE about the Government's concerns over the new airstrip in Kilinochchi and the acquisition of air capability by Tiger guerrillas. He held a meeting yesterday with Political Wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan. Among other matters top on Mr. Brattskar's agenda yesterday was the proposed "joint mechanism" between the Government and the LTTE to ensure the equitable distribution of aid to tsunami-affected areas under Tiger guerrilla control. According to diplomatic sources in Colombo, Mr. Brattskar has armed himself with a draft agreement on this "joint mechanism" for talks with Mr. Thamilselvan. It is not clear whether the talks had reached fruition for the guerrilla political wing leader to place his signature. He is due to lead an LTTE delegation to European capitals later this month. The main purpose is to raise funds in the aftermath of the tsunami catastrophe. Efforts are being made by Norwegian peace facilitators to expedite moves to establish the "joint mechanism" in view of this. The move has already met with tough opposition from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the UPFA Government's junior partner. Our Political Editor deals with this aspect in his column on the opposite page. The presence of a new airstrip in Kilinochchi and the acquisition of air capability by the LTTE, the Government believes, have tilted the military balance drastically during the ceasefire. It was on the morning of January 12, this year, the UAV obtained its first video footage. It showed an aircraft parked at the southern (05) end of the runway. A second UAV reconnaissance mission was carried out in the night on the same day. Infra red images showed another aircraft parked near a structure that resembled a makeshift hangar. These images showed that the second aircraft had been concealed under camouflage netting to hide its presence. On February 3, an Air Force UAV on a routine reconnaissance flight over Iranamadu during the night videod an aircraft touching down in the newly built airstrip. This came as the first confirmation through visual images that the LTTE was in possession of aircraft. If the previous UNF Government saw the birth of a new LTTE airstrip in the Wanni, the UPFA Government has seen the guerrillas acquire air capability. No longer can the Air Force claim supremacy over the skies in areas dominated by the guerrillas. During a ceasefire, whilst the UPFA leadership remained ill informed and unconcerned, the LTTE seized the military balance in its favour. There was little or no intelligence about these developments. And now, the UPFA Government awaits international reaction before it could tell Sri Lankans the grim truth - the Tiger guerrillas who had an "Army and a Navy" have now developed the nucleus for an "Air Force." Ancient Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu wrote in his classic treatise THE ART OF WAR over 2,500 years ago about intelligence. His words ring true even today. He said: "Raising a host of hundred thousand men and marching them great distances entails heavy loss on the people and a drain on the resources of the state. The daily expenditure will amount to a thousand ounces of silver. There will be commotion at home and abroad, and men will drop down exhausted on the highways. As many as seven hundred thousand families will be impeded in their labour. "Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for victory that is decided in a single day. This being so, to remain in ignorance of the enemy's condition, simply because one grudges the outlay of a hundred ounce of silver in honors and emoluments, is the height of inhumanity. "One who acts thus is no leader of men, no present help this sovereign, no master of victory. What enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge. Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits; it cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by deductive calculation……"
Army promotions and retirement blues The first to walk into his room in the Defence Ministry was Major General Nanda Mallawaratchi , Director General-General Staff. He was to have gone on retirement on March 24. This was the day he would complete his second extended annual term as a Major General. Thus retirement for him would have come much before he completed his 55th birthday on August 2, 2006. He was told that his term of office had been extended by one year, until March 24, 2006. When he completes this period, he would now qualify to serve a further five months until his 55th birthday. The good news reached him at least three weeks before he was set to say his farewell. The second to walk in was Major General Susil Chandrapala, Deputy Chief of Staff. He was to have gone on retirement on March 1, this year. Having served half his lifetime in the Army, he was facing the Defence Secretary on the very last day he would wear a uniform and remain in service. At least officially, he was not sure what was in store for him. He was also compelled to go on retirement since he was completing his third extended annual term. He was to reach his 55th birthday only on October 29, this year. He was told he could continue to serve until his 55th birthday on October 29. He has already served as a Major General for five years. The eleventh hour extension of his service underscored the dilemma of top officers in Sri Lanka's security forces. Despite accepted norms and procedures, ad hocism still reigned supreme at the highest levels of the country's defence establishment. Senior officers who are to retire are mostly uncertain of their future. They cannot plan a career after retirement. In the case of Maj. Gen. Chandrapala, it was worst. He did not know his future on the last day of his retirement. Hence he could not plan even to return to his private house from Army quarters. The tenant there could not be told. Luckily for him things worked out. The third to walk in was easily one of Sri Lanka's foremost frontline soldiers, Major General Sarath Fonseka, Chief of Staff. His third extended annual term as Major General was to have come to an end on April 2, this year. However, he would have reached 55 years only on December 17, this year. He was told he could serve until he reached his retirement age of 55 years on December 17. He will thus step into the seventh year as a Major General. Both Maj. Gen. Fonseka and Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda are from Intake Three of the Army. An extended term until December 17, this year, for Maj. Gen. Fonseka means he will remain in office after Lt. Gen. Kottegoda is expected to go on retirement on November 6, this year. That is if no extension is granted to him as Army Commander when he reaches 55 years of age on this date. The extended terms for these Majors General are once more proof of how records tumble in the country's defence establishment periodically leading not only to policy changes but also to comical situations. It is no longer the Army Commander who tells his top men when they should retire. The new precedent last Monday vests that responsibility in a retired Major General who is Defence Secretary. Those holding the rank of Major General (or equivalent rank in the Navy and Air Force) are mandated to retire after three years if they are not promoted to a higher rank. However, some received annual extensions whilst others were forced to retire prematurely before they reached 55 years. It was only on May 7 last year, President Kumaratunga laid down policy. In terms of this only one annual extension was to be granted to an officer in a rank equivalent to Brigadier and above. A second extension for a further period of one year, it was laid down, should only be considered in respect of officers of the rank of Major General and above. This again was to be on exceptional circumstances where services of such an officer is indispensable due to essential rare technical expertise or when considered for the position of a Service Commander. Just ten months after, this policy decision has now been changed. It is now clear that senior officers who have not reached their age of retirement would receive extensions until they reach 55 years. The granting of a third annual extension, which was banned since May 7 last year, is no longer applicable. Although the ceasefire has brought an end to fighting between the security forces and Tiger guerrillas, the question of extended terms for these three senior Army officers saw a hectic internecine war. Some in uniform at the highest levels and top bureaucrats lobbied strongly to prevent the grant of extended terms on the grounds that a policy decision prevented it. Both were deeply embarrassed when the changes came. Most senior Army officers complain that what is lacking is a uniform system and a consistent policy. If they were in place, they say, officers on the verge of retirement will know well ahead and could plan their future like in the Armies in India, Pakistan and many other countries. |
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