Troops who are in the final phase of ending Sri Lanka’s three-decade-long separatist conflict, rescued an estimated 17,500 civilians during the past three days and are in the process of opening up more escape routes for the final batch of civilians being held hostage by the LTTE in Vellamullivaikal.
Early this week, troops steadily gained more territory as they advanced further into LTTE terrain after the guerrillas displayed stiff resistance. Pitched battles were fought in the coastal fronts of Kariyamullivaikkal and Vellamullivaikal.
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The Defence Ministry’s website yesterday posted photographs put out by the LTTE, which seek to tarnish the image of soldiers operating in the Northern battlefront. The first picture shows civilians allegedly fleeing for shelter from artillery fire of the Sri Lanka Army This picture has been given wide publicity in pro-LTTE websites. The second picture shows the scene which has been enacted by the LTTE to illustrate its false claims of military atrocities with the smiling girl photographing the scene clearly visible in the background along with some other LTTE
members. |
During the early hours of yesterday troops attached to the 58 and 59 divisions eventually linked up resulting in cutting off the northeastern coastal area.
The two divisions have started inching forward, towards the Tiger-dominated area of Vellamullivaikal which is said to be less than two square kilometres. However, the LTTE is using their Black Tiger suicide bombers to the maximum.
As fighting in the area intensified on Friday afternoon, the LTTE deployed a suicide bomber who drove a red explosives-laden double cab into the area where 58 division troops were operating, successfully managed to thwart the attack by firing a Rocket-Propelled Grenade which blew up the double cab.
After several days of fighting that prevented many of the civilians leaving, the influx resumed on Thursday. On Friday, as fighting broke out between the troops and the guerillas, within a matter of hours nearly 10,000 civilians crossed into the newly demarcated no-fire-zone. By yesterday, nearly 4,500 civilians had crossed over. Some of them took a risky journey of wading across the lagoon.
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakara told The Sunday Times that as the troops continued their advance more civilians began to cross into the government controlled areas. “Since Thursday nearly 17,500 civilians had crossed over. They are coming to the government controlled area amidst LTTE fire aimed at them. In the coming days, more civilians are expected to cross over. The Sri Lanka Army has made the necessary arrangements to rescue the final batch of civilians,” Brigadier Nanayakara said.
Some civilians crossed the lagoon on inflated tyre-tubes, raft, ropes and makeshift boats. Many of the fleeing civilians were shot at by desperate Tigers who were trying to prevent civilians from leaving their terrain.
By Friday evening, troops whohad captured the entire region of Kariyamullivaikkal had screened around 1400 civilians who had crossed the Nanthikadal lagoon. The 53 Division operating in the Vellamullivaikal area was carrying out the screening of about 10,000 civilians who had crossed over from the LTTE- controlled area of Vellamullivaikal, before moving them to camps in Vavuniya.
Among those who crossed over were LTTE “Maveerar” (Heroes) families and the army was in the process of identifying them and their links with the LTTE membership.
The Sri Lanka Air Force assisted the injured civilians by airlifting them out of the conflict zone to the Anuradhapura hospital.
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| Some of those who took a risky journey of wading across the lagoon on Friday. |
On Friday, heavy fighting erupted on the beaches of Vellamullivaikal. According to the military the LTTE now comprises about 400 guerillas who are confined to an area less than three square kilometers.
Sounds of heavy explosions were also heard inside the LTTE-dominated area. The guerillas had launched several waves of attacks to prevent the troops advancing into their terrain and were determined to regain their lost coastal stretch.
Meanwhile, in the early hours of Friday, the naval patrol that was on high alert prevented Sea Tiger leader Soosai’s family from escaping
Soosai's wife Sathyadevi, son Suresh (16), daughter Madhi (17), sister-in- law and her son were apprehended with six others off the coast of Vellamullivaikal.
The naval patrol had previously received intelligence reports that families of top-rung LTTE leaders would attempt to flee the area. The naval boats on detecting a suspicious craft, immediately managed to intercept it. Soosai’s family members were later brought to Trincomalee where they were further questioned about the LTTE leadership.
At the time of being apprehended the navy says the family had about by Rs.500, 000 in cash and jewellery worth Rs.2 million on them.
Brigadier Nanayakara said the arrest of Soosai’s family was vital as they had managed to get valuable information on the whereabouts of the Tiger leadership.
By Friday evening, troops of the 58 Division advancing southwards and the 59 division advancing northwards along the coastal line were just one km distance apart from each other. The linkup of the two divisions has now entirely crippled the Sea Tiger capability, resulting in the LTTE being surrounded from all corners.
Since last Sunday allegations and counter allegations were being traded about civilian casualties in the ‘safety- zone’ as well as in the area immediately outside it. However, these allegations were strongly rejected by the government which said it was all part of a disinformation campaign carried out by pro-Tiger proxies who were trying to save the LTTE.
The 59 Division made a significant gain earlier this week, opened a new front by starting their offensive operation from Vadduvakal causeway-area north of Mullaitivu town and advancing along the coastal line. After the capture of the Mullaitivu town the 59 Division did not engage in offensive operations and played a defensive role until they started operations to move ahead this week.
At the initial stages, the 59 Division troops faced stiff resistance from the LTTE as the biggest resistance came from the heavy weapons they had installed inside the Jordanian merchant vessel FARA III, a ship that got grounded close to the shores of Mullaitivu in 2006.
The Sunday Times last week disclosed how the LTTE was using the wreck of the FARA -III to launch attacks on the Sri Lanka navy. However, the troops by Thursday, neutralized the threat posed from this area as the 58 Division reached towards the FARA -III from the beach front and was in the process of completely capturing the safe-zone in the east of the A-35 Road by Thursday.
This week, troops of the 59 division managed to capture another strategic LTTE earth bund. They faced stiff resistance as the rebels fired from FARA III.
Last Tuesday night, Tigers launched a massive wave of attack targeting troops of the 593 brigade in a desperate bid to capture the earth bund and their lost coastal terrain. The Sea Tigers initially attacked the troops from the lagoon front by using suicide boats which had 500 horse power outboard motors. The boats were attempting to ram troop positions. However, the attack was eventually foiled with a large number of LTTE casualties.
The LTTE this week faced more setbacks as they lost the Deputy Sea Tiger leader Cheliyan and one time LTTE military spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthiriyan alias Marshal, who were killed in confrontations.
In search operations in the area this week, troops of the 58 Division, now dominating in Kariyamullivaikkal area captured a LTTE improvised Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on Wednesday morning.
Troops of the 57 division operating in the east of Puthukkudiyirippu unearthed parts of an LTTE light aircraft that was buried.
One four cylinder engine, three propellers, one aircraft radio set, five aircraft main wheels, three nose wheels, two partly-used main wheels, four pilot headphones, three battery chargers, three digital meters, three computer graphic manuals, ground marshalling torches, flying (aerial) computers, two flying simulation units, twenty-three runway lights, four head lights, two ordinary runway lights, bolts, transmitters, flying maps, three marine radars, 35 high-speed boat engines, one water scooter laden with explosives and one aircraft towing tractorwere part of the haul recovered on Wednesday’s by the 58 division.
As the curtain falls on the war theatre, the focus is now on the nearly 200,000 civilians living in welfare centres.
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