Jungle Telegraph

20th September 1998

Impenetrable

Snooping around to find out who talks what with whom, is becoming an increasingly important task for our sleuths.

After one batch was unceremoniously moved out for snooping on the wrong people, that too on very important persons, another has now taken over.

They have gone through not only extensive training but also stern warnings not to make the wrong connections. After a break of over three weeks in July, it is buzzing business as usual again.

Not to be outdone by the sleuths who are scanning the land lines, their counterparts in another service arm, wanted to snoop on the cellular varieties.

If they were able to periodically snoop on three different system providers, one which turned out to be digital was impenetrable.

So, they spent a tidy sum to bring down hand held equipment, not one but ten in all. They thought that would help them break in.

Alas, that was not to be. There was deafening silence every time they tried. The targets included members of their own tribe who had gone for the "non tappable" variety.

No wonder they call it GSM – a Great, Secure Medium.

'Maaraka apaley'

Some security forces top brass were in for a rude shock last week.

The Ministry of Defence has clamped down on their year end globe trotting.

They have been told that trips will have to wait until the ongoing "Operation Jaya Sikurui" (Victory Assured), now on its 16th month, is accomplished.

Talking of trips, another big gun who loves dark windows in his official car, was also a disappointed man. He wanted to enjoy Hawaiian delights once more but the trip went to a flying type. A colleague who loves astrology declared it was "maaraka apaley" ( a fatal period).

More fans

Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Cecil Tissera's fan mail is increasing after he wrote to registered suppliers with the Navy warning them against corrupt activity and impressing on them the need to follow laid down procedures.

A Navy Headquarters official said the response has come in letters where many have commended the Navy Chief for the unprecedented move.

Others have raised a pertinent question – why can't the other services and the Police follow the same procedure. The official declined to elaborate.

Agent's revenge

A disgruntled Jaffna businessman was at the bottom of reports that the LTTE had threatened private airline operators from operating flights to Jaffna.

Intelligence sources say that the man, who was first sacked by one airline operator from being their agent, and later by another, chose to take his revenge. He had produced a letter (addressed to his office) from a so called Eelam Administrative Service warning one airline against operating flights. "If anything happened to the 48 passengers (that is the seating capacity), we will hold you responsible," claimed the letter. The man is in trouble from both parties – the security authorities and the LTTE – intelligence sources say.

Editorial/Opinion Contents