Warring with words over debacle

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti Our Lobby Correspondent

In the monthly ritual of debating ( or debasing) the extension of the emergency, members bashfully attack each other- while the weight is borne by the state coffers and the public.

Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte, speaking in the aftermath of the Kilinochchi debacle claimed the main objective of Operation Jaya Sikurui was to open the main supply route, but the last two weeks had seen many losses, and the planned operations had to be rescheduled somewhat.

But the Opposition MPs were determined to heckle the Minister, who responded fiercely. " Disgruntled officers and self confessed military strategists have been painting a gloomy picture and the UNP was loving it," he threw back, and immediately the Opposition ranks cried in unison _ 'Father of all lies, Chetiya Rajjuruwo".

According to newspaper reports, the Opposition Leader was in Washington briefing White House officials about the war situation. "Was Monica Lewinsky also there," he queried smilingly, reiterating the UNP should bear in mind that during its tenure only 71 square kilometres in the North were under government control.

Firing the first round of artillery was Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who said that according to the Minister, the main thrust of the Operation was to secure Kilinochchi and having lost it, the operation was now a total failure.

"This is the reversal of your entire operation with a fundamentally flawed strategy and the formidable enemy being underestimated.

The Minister would often claim that troops secured crucial areas and the importance lessened when they were lost.

The unpalatable truth was that the LTTE has finally built an air base and has enhanced air power, a new area of concern," he sniped.

Urging for the lifting censorship, he charged it was time to give priority to those competent to wage war- hard core military personnel with expertise, or otherwise, in the name of god, he cried, this disastrous government must go!

Speaking next was cherubic Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake- who sought to stoically defend his flock like advancing troops securing captured terrain.

"The Opposition Leader's heart obviously bleeds for troops today but not when the UNP generously fortified the armouries of the LTTE to fight our forces, a period during which the UNP had general amnesia," he charged.

And it was strange he noted, that the Opposition glossed over the casualty figures and did not even express concern over the recent attack on Minister Ratwatte's entourage- matters that would make even a man blush with shame but not the UNP.

"Come clean" said the politically wisened Devinuwara member Ronnie de Mel speaking next, quipping that the government disallowed the war to be apolitical and meddled with it so much that the war effort had become a blunder.

"Your pathetic fiasco has cost the nation too much. There's no joy in pinpointing your sins for the real concern was the ensuing consequences which have proved disastrous to this war weary nation," he opined.

Next TULF's silver haired and verti-clad R. Sampanthan began by criticising both main parties for trading insults than discussing issues.

His contention was that horrendous ordeals suffered by Tamils was the final outcome of this war, a war which served no purpose, violated rights and inflicted suffering and satisfied none.

" It is a stinking legacy of blood and mayhem. It has bled a once proud nation, hence time was ripe for imperative negotiations with facilitation," he said.

Zealously unleashing a verbal attack on Minister Ratwatte was Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, who claimed 'Prince Sapumal' of our times has scarified lives on the alter of wealth amassing mission by some.

"You have resolved to play 'pandu' with national interest. The East was handed over on a platter to the enemy and when Kilinochchi was lost, it became a less important area to defend. And the Minister with a penchant for theatrics ensured that lion flags were hoisted on barren land to mislead people," he thundered.

PLOTE's Y. Balachandran was a concerned man when he spoke, airing the view that the Lion Air flight carried mostly Tamil passengers and the government has done little to disclose details about it. And it implied there was no concern for the passengers as they were mostly Tamils. There were reports that the flight had fallen to the sea and exploded into pieces but none were keen to ascertain the truth, he said.

Making an uncustomary appearance on emergency day was PA firebrand Vasudeva Nanayakkara who spoke about the ill effects of emergency.

The LSSP as a policy was against this evil measure which disrupted civilian life and abstained voting for it, but the actual concern was there was re-emergence of state sponsored terror, a claim he substantiated with recent examples.

And then he fired a barrage of questions- What was the cost of war buy way of loss of military hardware and lives, damage to properties? It was time to have an anthropological work done which evaluated its effect in terms of economy, lifestyle and human psyche which summed up the total cost paid by this nation.

Dropping a bombshell in the House was CWC's V. Sennan who emotionally exclaimed unless the grievances of the estate Tamils were addressed, they would also be compelled to take to arms.

In a violent outburst, he thundered that both parties have deceived the Tamils leaving them no option but to seek solutions through non-peaceful methods.

Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was entrusted with the task of demolition as he gleefully lambasted the Opposition, accusing it of arming the LTTE, to holding dinner dances in Washington to raise funds for the party by immoral means .

" Cabaret dances to raise a few dollars!" he scoffed, claiming that the real purpose of the UNP was to find an international platform to deflate the government's popularity.

Appealing that compensation be paid to those listed missing in action was UNP 's John Amaratunga who said that non-payment seriously discouraged people from joining the forces. "Do anything, from amending laws to raising funds, but make sure they are adequately compensated," he said.

Concluding the long and weary debate was Bulathsinhala member Sarath Ranawaka who sarcastically declared no generals won wars, only worriors did. And this politically motivated war was fought at great cost to the nation serving ulterior motives of Generals.

And the Deputy Defence Minister who was absent during most of the day was a man deprived of speaking time, but did not miss the opportunity to claim he was hearing the voice of the LTTE in Parliament!

Thanks to our timely strategy, Mankulam is ours

General Ratwatte's opening statement on Friday:

The Motion relating to the state of Emer gency which was in force throughout Sri Lanka with effect from September 4 1998, was approved by this House on 10th September, 1998.

The operation 'Jaya Sikurui' reached a very decisive stage in the last two weeks. The re-opening of the main supply route to the North remains the main objective of the 'Jaya Sikurui' operation. Having planned out, the 'Jaya Sikurui' troops moved out on a major offensive on the 29th of last month to capture Mankulam and proceeded Northwards towards the objective.

Perhaps having received prior information of this operation the LTTE launched an attack on Northern FDL at Kilinochchi on the very early hours of the 27th morning. It was a massive attack concentrated with their maximum forces and they were able to do certain amount of damage to the line in the area.

The military strategists at this juncture had to decide as to whether to move our forces that were prepared to launch the operation at Mankulam on 29th to Kilinochchi by air and sea and to reinforce troops at Kilinochchi or whether to keep the troops and go ahead with the planned operation for the 29th. It was clear that one of the objectives of the LTTE in launching the Kilinochchi attack was to divert us from our planned Mankulam operation and to get involved at Kilinochchi, thereby, preventing us from conducting the planned operation.

After a quick assessment, it was decided not to move troops to Kilinochchi and to go ahead with Mankulam operation as scheduled on the 29th. The heroic troops at Kilinochchi who were fighting at great sacrifice to re-gain the area taken over by the terrorists were ordered to re-adjust the FDL and secure the area under their control. "In this re-adjustment, about 4 1/2 km of the road towards Mankulam that was in our control is now in the hands of the terrorists. This, of course, is a temporary situation.

At Kilinochchi neither large pieces of artillery nor any other large weapons were lost in this battle. Only some pieces of mortars and the personal weapons of soldiers and their quota of ammunition were lost —126 mortars lost; 180 light machine guns are also included in the personal weapons range.

There were heavy losses to LTTE — 222 were killed in action; 369 wounded in action. By today our forces have moved 11 kilometres from the position we occupied on the 29th on the supply route taking large areas on the East and West of this route under their control.

Although we lost 4 1/2km of the road in Kilinochchi, yet we were able to gain three times of that distance from the south towards Mankulam because of the correct decision taken at that time not to get troops involved in the Kilinochchi battle.

No doubt, the LTTE made big propaganda out of this Kilinochchi incident ably supported by the United National Party led by its leader from abroad. He issued a statement as usual without any knowledge of the situation listening to some misguided military advisers and disgruntled ex-officers of the services.

"The Island" Newspaper on 2nd October, 1998, in front page carried a headline "Ranil briefs White House, State Dept.. on current war situation." This has become a big joke among those who know anything about military strategy and tactics. I wonder which official in the White House and State Department listened to him.

I wish to remind this House that it was the Leader of the Opposition whilst being the Prime Minster, presided at National Security Council Meetings and directed military operations, of course, from an air-conditioned office in Colombo. We are now aware of the success of his directions, because, in August 1994, we had to take over a divided Sri Lanka with over 7000 sq. km. of land in the North given to Prabhakaran to rule. I am challenging now the Leader of the Opposition to explain to this House and the country what was the national policy that this government had militarily to solve the terrorist problem and explain military action that was taken during his period of governance.

We are aware, prior to 1994 the military action was only to react to LTTE military strategy. That means LTTE terrorised Eastern Province and villages bordering the Northern Province and North Central Province in order to deploy out military strategy to safeguard these areas. As a result, 45% of our military cadre was deployed in the Eastern Province and 27% was deployed in the threatened Villages in the North Central Province. Twelve percent were deployed in Colombo which included Navy guarding Rupavahini and Air Force guarding ITN. As I said before, when you handed over the government in 1994 to H.E. the President and the People's Alliance government the entirety of the Northern Province was controlled by the LTTE.

There was only an area of 171 sq. km. under the control of the government i.e. those areas where army camp Palali, Elephant Pass, Vettilaikerni, Pooneryn, Mullaitivu and Mannar were established. Rest of the areas were in Prabhakaran's control although the all public servants and central government agencies were paid their salaries and they took orders from Prabhakaran in executing their duties.

As you see this was exactly the desire of the of the LTTE. You played into their hands. With the development of the Sea Tiger force and the ground to air missile capability supply to the camps mentioned earlier by sea and air had to cease. As a result the camps naturally had to be withdrawn. Prabhakaran's Eelam was about to be given by you. Fortunately, in 1994, at the Parliamentary Election in August, and at the Presidential Elections in November, the people of this country voted in a leader of the calibre of Chandriaka Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as the President and the People's Alliance Government in Parliament.

The President and the PA government changed their policy to seek a solution to our on-going ethnic problem and took a political decision. As the separatist LTTE were not in a position to accept the proposal, a well planned military strategy to win back the areas lost in the North and to control and eradicate terrorism to bring about a peaceful environment to implement a political solution had to be launched.

This military action was started on October 17, 1995 having had a few military operations earlier in July and August to bring about confidence and training for our troops who had been for 13 years used to a bunker mentality.

A little over three years and few weeks have not passed and due to the excellent leadership given by the officers of our security forces and the valiant efforts of all the men involved in the military operation we have been able to reverse totally the position that was there in 1994 when the PA government took over.

Therefore, I appeal to the Hon. Members of this House not to be petty, not to be selfish, not to be politically selfish and not to be motivated only to get power even on the bodies of the dead and wounded heroes in the battle-front.

Please vote for this motion to extend State of Emergency throughout Sri Lanka for a further period and join in the efforts to protect our country on a good footing for the sake of your generation and those yet to be born.

End censorship and don't wage war for political ends

Extracts from Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's speech on Friday:

I will deal with the present operation 'Jaya Sikurui' which was launched to link up Thandikulam and Kilinochchi by capturing the main roads within a time frame of three months.

I said I am talking of the present, not of the past. You are always living in the past, you go back to 1977. The main objective was to finally destroy the LTTE. Seventeen months later, whilst you are still bogged down, halfway through. The LTTE has captured Kilinochchi bringing the Jaya Sikurui Operation to an end because the objective was to go to Kilinochchi which is now in the hands of the enemy.

There was no planning. There was no intelligence. It was politically oriented. It underestimated the LTTE and more than anything else, there was inadequate manpower for this operation.

So we gave up the East, to go into to Jaffna. We gave up over 90% of the areas in the east where the administration was by the government established both by morning and night. Today we control some of the cities fully. In many other areas of Batticaloa and Trincomalee, the LTTE controls administration by night.

Having gone to Jaffna, and through Operation Riviresa, we got control of Jaffna. Then we weakened Jaffna by launching Operation Jaya Sikurui. Over 30,000 in the army, more plus police, were all put onto Jaya Sikurui, which meant guarding the road, as you captured parts of it. This suited the LTTE fine. Finally, we weakened our capacity for Operations.

There was a plan to take over Mankulam by the army. It was mainly a political objective, because the officers on the ground said 'do not do it'. But the government decided that they should do it. They wanted to take over Mankulam, they launched the Operation by 29th September. Like they called the capture of Jaffna, the end of the war. They wanted to take over Mankulam and call it the end of the war, and start a big political propaganda so that they could face the provincial elections, in case they lost the case in courts.

To take Mankulam they had to deplete Jaffna. They had to deplete Kilinochchi. They had to deplete Elephant Pass. While the preparations were going on, the LTTE countered this, by massing its strength near the Paranthan and Kilinochchi camps. They reduced their troop strength in Mankulam, and withdrew between 700 to 1000 to Kilinochchi Paranthan area. They changed their objective from defending Mankulam to capturing Kilinochchi because Mankulam's importance for them, was less than their political and the military importance of Kilinochchi and having cut a new road to Mannar, using bulldozers captured from the army, they need not control Mankulam. They had other means of travelling to Mannar.

Therefore, they launched a surprise attack on the 27th. There were no reinforcements available. The army had to retreat. We had to give up Kilinochchi and we had to give up part of Paranthan. They captured Kilinochchi. In the meantime, the Army advanced to Mankulam. The LTTE inflicted casualties on the Sri Lanka army. Our army inflicted casualties on the LTTE, and the LTTE withdrew, having achieved the objective of taking over Kilinochchi.

Now, Jaya Sikurui has become a total wasted effort. And the architect of Jaya Sikurui today gets up in the House, and says that this is being done under the direction of the President. I don't know who is going to carry the baby, but the fact is that the whole effort has been wasted.

The bringing down of the aircraft belonging to LionAir, shows how the LTTE is trying to establish control over the air supply routes. And now they have taken over Mankulam. They have taken over Kilinochchi, and, they are putting pressure around Jaffna. Now, instead of the Sri Lanka army and the government putting pressure on the LTTE the LTTE is putting pressure on Jaffna.

This is a turning point, and however much we dislike it, it is an important stage in this struggle. The government's approach to ending the North East conflict was based on one factor — to defeat the LTTE militarily, which will then enable the government to marginalise the LTTE politically.

The military strategy has now failed, and this is the grave crisis we face. They have no other strategy, and this is a major question that this country has to consider This is the stark reality, however unpleasant it is.

Since the government has no option, they are resorting to lies. I would like to tell the Deputy Minister, the Cabinet, and through them the President, to take this nation into confidence and to take this House into confidence. Tell us what has happened. You can never conceal the truth. If you speak the truth, you build up confidence, and let us work out how to end this conflict. This is what we have to tell this government.

The Kilinochchi battle was the worst military disaster we have faced. It was bigger than the Mullaitivu battle. The equipment we lost included four 120 mm artillery guns, two T- 55 tanks. (Interruption). The LTTE figures are available on Tamil Net. These are lower than the LTTE figures. There were four artillery guns and two T 55 tanks which I am informed by the Air Force. It is a loss to the military. It may not be a gain to the LTTE. That is another matter. But we lost them. Then there were eight buffles. They claim that many of them were also bombed. There were about 70 odd jeeps, trucks and tractors, and eight military armoured vehicles. There were 81mm mortar launchers and 32 of them were taken, 2500 small arms, over 1000 rounds of mortar rockets, and a large quantity of artillery shells were all taken by the LTTE. This is the information I have, and I am placing it before the House.

Then the number of casualties. On October 1, the Military spokesman gave the figures as 492 dead, and 400 injured.

In 'The Sunday Times' of October 4, Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon has confirmed the death toll as being 623. I have the article with me. That was on last Sunday, October 4. Then in the Sunday Leader, they have produced a communique of the LTTE which has been passed by the censor, which said that 600 bodies were handed over to the Sri Lanka Army. The number has been given as 604 plus 74, which is 678, of which 401 bodies have been identified.

Today, the government informs us, and the minister tells the House also that the death toll is 186 and 426 injured and 789 missing. Now, the members of Parliament on my side alone said they have attended more than a 186 funerals. That is what I want to find out. The death toll of 623 given by Brigadier Tennekoon has now been reduced to 186. And the total death toll has been reduced to 437.

Mr. John Amaratunga told me that it is recounted in the bible how Jesus Christ had resurrected Lazarus. Now 2000 years later, this government has resurrected 437 soldiers. Is this what this House is asked to believe? Is this a miracle that you have performed?

You have converted the worst disaster in Kilinochchi into a miracle victory at Mankulam. Kindly give us the figures. You come here and talk of 186. This is what 'The Sunday Times' says (Quotes the paper). This is a big discrepancy. This is why we cannot believe you. (interruption).

The LTTE took over part of Kilinochchi town on February 4. They were still there when this attack took place. In between, having recaptured a part of it, some of the journalists were taken and they were shown one end of it.

Mr. Speaker, you know Kilinochchi is a very lengthy town. They were told Kilinochchi is in our hands, and they came back and published it.

This is why we have called for a Select Committee of Parliament. Then let us determine what the numbers are. On Mullaitivu, you had a Committee of Inquiry appointed by the Army, but the figures you have not released. If your figures are correct, and if what we say are wrong, then I tell the government, it is best that this House looks into what has happened at Kilinochchi.

We as the opposition when you have spoken to us, have acted in a responsible manner. One day we had the majority here in the House to defeat emergency, but we did not do so. When the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke to me about signing the Fox initiative, we agreed because we believed those were measures necessary.

The Government wanted to talk to the LTTE and then wanted an initiative. We agreed to it. recently we were suggesting that while the fighting was going on to consider having talks, but the government rejected it. We went beyond our duty on responding to the government and made a suggestion.

At this stage, we are not going to put forward any plans, I think it is the government's duty, and the government must put forward a serious plan on how to bring this conflict to an end. And we in the Opposition are ready to consider such a serious plan, but not otherwise. Not if you are coming and giving the false figures to the House, and going through the usual formalities, and talk of the last 17 years.

When I went to the White House, they asked me about the situation, I told them. I met Mr. Eric Schwartze who Professor G.L. Peiris is also meeting. You can find out from him. They would ask him the questions they asked me which he can answer.

But there are two conditions that we are going to insist on. First the removal of censorship on military news. This censorship is not for national security. The LTTE knows what is happening, they know what the results are, they know what is happening in battle. This is just to create a circle of lies around the people of the country by preventing them from getting to know the truth, by preventing them from knowing what is happening.

The soldiers go back, and they tell the villagers what is happening. Why are you creating this web of lies? For what purpose? Only for your political advantage. You come along and you call various reporters, you pressurise them, you say that they are giving information to the LTTE.

There is the famous case where you produced the man who said he was an LTTE intelligence officer and that he was getting information from The Sunday Times and the other papers. You tried to blacken a journalist who was exposing corruption in the armed forces. Corruption which the President had admitted in a TV interview.

Though the Minister said in Parliament, I was there that day when he told our General Secretary, 'I have a committee come and give evidence if there is corruption. There is no corruption. One week later we have the President on TV and she says there is corruption and she mentioned the Defence chiefs whoever they were. So how can we accept what you are saying? When your President says there is corruption why should I come before a committee? Tell the President to go before a committee. I am telling what the President said on Rupavahini.

The second condition we would like to state, is that we do not want a military operation which is conducted on a political basis. From now onwards, until the conflict is brought to an end, we want these military operations to be conducted and to be the responsibility of professional, competent, senior military officers.

For too long they have been ignored. For too long have those who have spoken against what the Minister wanted, being sent out of the Army. For too long have we suffered.

If you look at the figures, Honourable Speaker, since the round began in 1995, upto September 1998 the total death toll has been 11,500, and the injured 23,000. Between 1983 and 1988, the death toll was 1187. Between 1989 and 1994, the death toll was 2679.

Today, due to the incompetency and due to the disregarding of the advice of senior ground commanders, what has happened? The death toll has gone up to 11,500 and the injured is 23,000. That is what we are talking of. It is not only the death toll we are concerned about. Our defeat in Mullaitivu, our defeats in Jaya Sikurui, the capture of mortars which we ordered from Mozambique, and the capture of Kilinochchi has ensured that the LTTE has enough equipment for the next year or two.

The military strategy has been carried out by politicians for too long. I for one never ran the war. I was in the National Security Council. Today the Deputy Minister wants to run the war. After the blast at the Dalada Maligawa - not that we have anything personal against the Deputy Minister, we said he should take responsibility and resign.

But we said he should take the responsibility and leave. When Pooneryn was attacked one thing I ensured that there was an inquiry and then the then army commander resigned. We asked 'who is going to resign for Kilinochchi'? No one. No one has resigned for Mullaitivu.

We know we are facing a grave situation. I'm saying this not because I want to hammer the government, anyway the government is unpopular.

They could win the next election but we are facing a grave situation If the government is prepared to act responsibly, if the government is prepared to take this House into its confidence then certainly we will respond. We have always responded.

But if you are going to make these speeches, we cannot give the support and we will have to vote against this resolution. Because too long has the government fooled this country, too long have we paid this price. we cannot go on paying this price any longer.

You should either act responsibly or face the situation where the nation will ask you to go. To depart in the name of God. For God's sake go'.

Defeats have not dampened our spirits

In his concluding remarks, Gen. Ratwatte said that an Opposition which had so far made only a negative contribution to the resolution of the conflict should be ashamed of itself. Upon given seven minutes to wind up the debate, Gen. Ratwatte said:

Mr. Speaker, I think even eight minutes would be too much to reply to the military experts of the Opposition who said nothing all this time. Hence, I have no serious replies to make.

I see military experts quoting documents given by disgruntled officers which in fact appear to me to be more supportive of the LTTE. These are the people making passionate appeals from the floor of this House asking for statistics.

The Opposition Leader in his speech claimed that as the main objective of Operation Jaya Sikurui was to secure Kilinochchi and having lost that area, this war had no purpose anymore. This was strange logic indeed, but definitely reflected the manner in which the UNP conducted the war!

This government has given many people hope, secured areas and resettled people. Similarly, the government was honest about the operation's success and failures.

The UNP sent caskets to homes, filled with stones, and they were supposed to be a soldier's mortal remains. The PA did no such thing, and if people were missing, they were so declared.

The opposition only saw the negative side, and if this attitude persisted, the PA only had one way out.

Military defeats have not dampened the government's spirit, and it would wage this war to the end and re-establish peace.

To achieve this goal, the PA would work more determinedly than ever, and would achieve the noble goal with or without a petty Opposition's support.

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