Jungle Telegraph

11th April 1999

Deliberate fiasco?

Did an Indian Navy operation last month at the request of Sri Lankan authorities) to intercept "MV Mariamma", a heavily laden LTTE trawler trying to smuggle military cargo through eastern waters, end in a fiasco as reported in the Indian media ?

Some well informed western intelligence channels in Colombo say otherwise. They believe the Indian Navy seized the cargo first and destroyed the vessel later.

Reports of the fiasco, these sources say, were deliberately leaked to the Indian media to ward off Sri Lanka claims for the cargo or LTTE accusations against India.

More so in the backdrop of the tussle between Defence Minister, George Fernandes and ousted Navy Chief, Admiral Vishnu Bhagawat.

The latter has accused his former political boss of consorting with the LTTE.

However, Indian diplomats in Colombo frown on the claim and say their Navy had not seized the cargo. It is now confirmed that the trawler in question was "MV Mariama" -a Senegalese registered vessel.

Like in the case of the MV Yahat (where the LTTE deleted the word Y to make it read Ahat), it seems they added letter "M" to make it read Mariamma, a familiar Tamil name.

If the western intelligence claims are correct, kudos to the Sri Lanka Navy which initiated the Indian action after the trawler was spotted.

How come?

How did the LTTE smuggle a yoghurt cup full of explosives to blast an electricity transformer in Katugastota ?

The man who was asked to execute the assignment literally walked with it from Polonnaruwa to Katugastota.

Lucas Fernando, who is now in custody after he failed in his mission, has told Police he received a pair of slippers with the explosives concealed in the heel. That was handed over to him in Polonnaruwa and he boarded a bus to Katugastota where he lived in an estate.

Bossy problem

There are rumblings in the top echelons of the Army over the recent field promotions to the rank of Major General.

It's not over the efficacy of those promoted or over others being overlooked.

Insiders say a top slot in a non operational command (after promotions) has been given to a Major General who has to boss over four senior Brigadiers !!

Torture chamber

Did the special investigative arm of a service outfit run its own torture chamber ?

Evidence of its existence have come to light after reports from some men who complained they were subjected to degrading and inhuman treatment.

Insiders say a bigger scandal will explode when big bosses order a probe into this activity.

Special Assignment

Editorial/Opinion Contents