The Situation Report

22nd March 1998

Mankulam: so close and yet so far

By Iqbal Athas

LTTE artillery rain stalls Jaya Sikurui thrust Startling details of deals with Zimbabwe begin to emerge.

For the troops manning a check point at Chavakachcheri in the Jaffna peninsula, it was an unexpected shock.

As the tractor loaded with bales of hay approached the barrier last Friday afternoon, they thought the farmers were moving their produce home. A cursory check and they may have waved at them to proceed.

But the troops could not do that. The bales of hay rose and armed men emerged and opened fire. They were hiding behind rows of sand bags with their automatic weapons until the tractor pulled up at the check point. The bales of hay had concealed them.

In the gun battle that ensued, two soldiers were killed and five were injured. Troops also shot dead two LTTE cadres. The remaining guerrillas made good their escape with four automatic weapons belonging to the soldiers. A 42-year-old woman who was a bystander was also killed.

That was the latest in a string of incidents the LTTE was triggering off in the peninsula. Just three days earlier, they booby trapped a house and expected troops to walk in. Instead two children who were at play were caught up. One died and the other was injured badly.

A week earlier, at Puthur, they set a claymore mine to a tree. It exploded killing five soldiers and a civilian-a mother of two children.

Despite these incidents, which have seen a marked rise, life goes on apace. The Commander of Security Forces, (North), Major General Lionel Balagalle and his men were on a two pronged approach. One was containing infiltration and attacks. The other, continuing with the restoration of normalcy.

The latest in the process of restoring normalcy will come later this month when the security forces introduce a hot line. That will enable Jaffna residents to telephone a 24 hour Operations Room to inquire about arrests of persons or other problems. Located at the Security Forces headquarters, officers manning this system will take down the complaint, the name and address of the caller. Once their inquiries are verified, the caller will receive the answers to his or her queries through the nearest security forces camp.

Last week, a Magistrate's Court and a District Court were established in Point Pedro. Until then Court houses functioned only in Jaffna.

Senior security officials say it is not the efforts of normalcy alone that is drawing in LTTE infiltration and attacks. They are convinced the LTTE wants to divert the attention of the security establishment from the ongoing "Operation Jaya Sikurui" (Or Victory Assured) which is now on its eleventh month. The operation began on May 13, last year.

After weeks of consolidating their defensive positions, security forces resumed "Operation Jaya Sikurui" on Saturday, March 14. Their major thrust was to seize the strategic town of Mankulam, a virtual stepping stone for a link up with Kilinochchi. It seemed Mankulam was so close and yet so far. The closest flank was only a kilometre and half away when a string of incidents temporarily stalled the advance the next day, Sunday.

That Saturday, security force's advance was stalled by the heavy rain of mortar and artillery fire. Brigadier Sisira Wijesuriya, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) at the Vavuniya based Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) received minor injuries to his right shoulder from exploding artillery. He had just emerged from a bunker after talking to some officers when the explosion took place just outside. The former Director, Operations at Army Headquarters had to be flown to Colombo for treatment.

The next day, Sunday, five rounds of 120 mm artillery fire fell on the tactical headquarters of the 55 Division. Lt. Col. Priyantha Ranasinghe, who had assumed duties as General Staff Officer 1 of the 55 Division was killed on the spot. The officiating General Officer Commanding the 55 Division, Brigadier Sarath Fonseka and his deputy, Brigadier T.M. Bohran were injured. They were both flown to Colombo for medical attention.

During the two days alone, one officer and six soldiers were killed. Another officer and three soldiers were declared missing in action. Five officers and 52 soldiers were brought down to Colombo for medical attention whilst nearly a 100 were treated for minor injuries.

Army Headquarters named Brigadier Nihal Marambe as immediate replacement for Brigadier Fonseka. Taking over as Deputy GOC, 55 Division was Brigadier K. B. Egodawala.

Artillery shells also fell near an artillery gun position. It soon became clear that LTTE cadres had infiltrated the area and were on radio contact with their artillery positions. That was how they were able to direct artillery attacks with accuracy on the 55 Division's Tactical Headquarters. It also became clear that the LTTE had a very large stock of not only 120 mm artillery but also 81 mm mortars.

More than 6,000 rounds of 120 mm artillery shells were seized when the LTTE over ran the Mullaitivu military base in July, 1996. The LTTE seized a ship load of 32,400 mortars which the Sri Lanka Army ordered from Zimbabwe.

As exclusively reported in these columns last week, it has now become known that the mortars, though ordered from the state owned Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), was in fact loaded on to an LTTE vessel from the Croatian port of Rijeka. The vessel bore the name "Stillus Limmasul", which, it has now transpired, is a fictitious name. Intelligence sources believe the LTTE had acquired additional stocks of both 81 mm mortars and 120 mm artillery shells too.

Since the artillery attack on the 55 Division Tactical Headquarters on March 15, the advance of "Operation Jaya Sikurui" troops have been temporarily halted. The defences of the newer areas re-captured are being secured whilst the new GOC and his deputy are assessing the ground situation and the manpower requirements.

Since there are no political deadline compulsions now, Overall Operations Commander (OOC), Major General Srilal Weerasuriya, has adopted a more cautious approach. He has told his field commanders of the need to not only consolidate the areas they re-capture but also to ensure casualties are at a minimum level.

Since "Operation Jaya Sikurui" was launched on May 13, last year, more than 1300 soldiers have died and over 5,500 were injured, a third of them being left out of battle. The main aim of the ten month old operation is to open a land based Main Supply Route (MSR) from the south to the Jaffna peninsula.

Military officials have admitted that 65 per cent of the deaths and injuries during the operation have been caused by mortars. Government's intelligence services have confirmed that the LTTE have seized the 32,400 rounds of 81 mm mortars ordered by the Sri Lanka Army from Zimbabwe and used them extensively to counter the ongoing operation.

Major breakthrough

I reported in these columns last week on how the Government has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct a full inquiry into the matter. The probe has come six months after it was known that the mortars have fallen into LTTE hands. Earlier, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, maintained that all what was ordered from Zimbabwe have been received by the Government.

CID investigators had another major breakthrough in their investigations on Thursday when they arrested the son of a leading businessman owning an optical concern. The man, who is described as a businessman himself, is also a leading member of a social club and is said to have associated closely with high ranking military officials. He is said to be in the know of how the Zimbabwe deal originated.

The Sunday Times learns that startling details of how the arms deals with Zimbabwe including the purchase of 32,400 rounds of 81 mm mortars have now begun to emerge. The coming weeks will undoubtedly see more revelations.

As 'Operation Jaya Sikurui" continued, manpower requirements have been the subject of primary concern for the security establishment in the past many months. Since the operation began, there have been reports in the media of troops being thinned out from other areas and redeployed in the Wanni.

In a bid to woo back over 19,000 deserters in the Army alone, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, offered an amnesty to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Independence last month. When it ended at midnight on February 25, only 3930 had given themselves up. They will retain their ranks and will not be liable to any inquiry or punishment.

The amnesty announced on February 7 covered the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police. It is the seventh such one during the three years of PA Government.

SEALS end training

Whilst carefully redeploying troop strength in the Wanni, the security establishment is also conscious of exposing officers and men for specialised training, both locally and abroad.

Whilst military academies in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are taking in substantial numbers every year, the US Government's Joint/Combined Exchange Training Programme (JCET) in the Pacific has led to specialised training being imparted in Sri Lanka itself.

Last month, US Navy SEALS ended a comprehensive training programme in Galle and Tangalle for Navy personnel. This training stint from January 15 to February 13, is the third such stint to be carried out by the SEALS (a commando arm of the US Navy).

The JCET programme is a series of joint and combined Special Operations Forces (SOF) deployments for bi-lateral training conducted in the US Pacific Command (USPACOM) area of responsibility. Camp H.M. Smith, located above Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, is the starting point for the JCET in the Pacific.

US Military officials say though the primary focus of their programmes are combat readiness, the JCET programme directly supports regional stability throughout the theatre. Training typically focuses on foreign internal defence, humanitarian assistance operations, disaster assistance/relief operations and humanitarian and civic assistance projects.

The officials say SOF are flexible and can work effectively across the broad spectrum of military operations, from peace through general war. An example they say is one where SOF can assist other countries in countering internal threats to their security.

With the United States imposing a ban on the LTTE, the JCET programmes for Sri Lankan security forces assumes added significance.

As another Sinhala and Hindu New Year is only a few weeks away, the conclusion of "Operation Jaya Sikurui", is not only the biggest pre occupation.

It is also one of deep anxiety with more troop strength committed to the Wanni at the expense of security considerations in other areas, both in the theatre of conflict as well as the City.

This has not only denied to the security forces the possibility of staging another major military offensive elsewhere.

More importantly it has increased the burden of their having to maintain security in other areas.

Taraki's Column

Editorial/Opinion Contents