Defence

Intense battle for Wanni enters decisive phase

Strategic LTTE positions fall into hands of Security Forces:

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The long awaited battle to capture the Wanni has now reached a decisive phase with key positions of the LTTE falling into the hands of the Security Forces both in Mannar and Vavuniya fronts this week.

It is after almost one year of attrition the troops are now advancing into the Tiger territory in the Wanni in the west of Vavuniya and also in the famous ‘Rice Bowl’ area in the Mannar front.
 

The year long attrition has brought fruitful results for the troops operating in the 57 Division which is now advancing on three fronts towards the Wanni capturing strategic locations in the west of Vavuniya. They are now in full control of the West of Vavuniya pushing the LTTE further towards Mullaitivu district.

This correspondent was able to tour the areas to witness the key successes of the troops attached to the 57 Division under the command of Brigadier Jagath Dias during the past few days.

After almost a one year battle the troops attached to the 57 Division have been able to capture approximately 200 square kilometres under their control after intense fighting with the LTTE cadres there along a 45 Kilo metres long front from Kannaiadi to Navi on the North of the A-36 Mannar-Vavuniya road.

The strategic locations of Thampanai, Pandivirichchan, Mullikulam and Vilathikulam are located within the 45 Kilometres long front and were captured by the troops during the year long battle.

The 572 Brigade is now advancing towards the famous Madhu shrine area passing Thampanai village and advancing ahead of the Pandivirichchan area along the Madhu road which links to the Vavuniya Mannar road from Kannaiadi area and leads upto Palampiddy.

It was after a months long battle the troops were able to capture Thampanai village which was trapped by the LTTE. The final effort to capture this strategic village heavily trapped by the fleeing cadres was made by the troops attached to the 7 Sinha Regiment under the Command of Lt. Colonel Kithsiri Liyanage. It proved successful in late December.

Now the troops attached to 572 Brigade are moving towards Madhu successfully taking control of Pandivirichchan village. The bigger challenge ahead of them is the artillery guns located by the LTTE at the environs of the Madhu shrine and the trapping of the LTTE to deter the advancement of the troops.

Meanwhile, troops attached to 571 Brigade under the Command of Colonel Ravipriya are heading towards Palampiddy direction from Iranairuppaikulam junction.

They have now taken full control of the Mullikulam village which was ahead of Palampiddi in the North of Madhu.

Four battalions 9 Gajaba Regiment, 8 and 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiments and 12 Sinha Regiment are operating under the command of 571 Brigade.

The troops are positively engaged in the task irrespective of the prevailing weather patterns and also ground conditions.

The 573 Brigade under the Command of Colonel Lal Gamage is advancing towards Vilathikulam direction almost hugging the A-9 road. They are now operating north of Vilathikulam.

According to Security Forces the troops attached to 57 Division are now operating parallel to Thandikulam on the Jaffna - Kandy A-9 highway North of Omanthai.

But there is no hesitation on the part of the troops to capture the A- 9 road despite advancing ahead of Omanthai from the Western sector.

Four battalions - 4 Sinha Regiment, 8 Gajaba Regiment, 6 and 4 Vijayabha Infantry Regiment are operating under the 573 Brigade to consolidate the Vilathikulam front in the West of Vavuniya.

Troops have advanced more than 10 to 15 kilometres ahead of the original FDL dominated by the troops a year ago though the main focus of the troop was not the capture of territory. In some sectors the troops have trod their feet in the Mullaitivu district.

The troops attached to the 57 Division who faced severe resistance from the Tiger cadres at the initial stage are now facing no major resistance from the Tigers except for their trappings and mines to stop the advance of troops.

The major drawback on the part of the Tigers is that they are facing an acute shortage of manpower to man their bunker lines.

The LTTE used to deploy two well trained Tiger cadres along with civilians turned in to combatants after providing them with initial weapons training.

The key success of the 57 division lies due to the concept adopted by the Army to attract more and more Tiger cadres towards the FDL and kill them without advancing into the Tiger territory.

During the year 2007 alone 1,322 Tiger cadres have been confirmed killed in the West of Vavuniya battle front. Apart from this 1107 were reportedly injured in these battles during these confrontations.

During January 265 Tiger cadres have been killed. However, the LTTE is now maintaining secrecy on the figures on the number of Tiger cadres killed during confrontations and also by the Long Range Patrols of the Special Forces troops.

The only alternative left with the LTTE is to recruit more and more civilians into the organisation and to deploy them to man the bunkers.

According to sources the Tiger cadres are deploying only one or two well trained cadres among ten to 15 half trained cadres. Due to this situation they have to withdraw from their defences on a daily basis as their fighting strength is gradually coming down.

A seven member family from Vedithalthivu who escaped from the Tiger grip on Tuesday arrived at the Pallimunai fisheries harbour as they wanted to protect their 18-year-old daughter from the LTTE.

They confirm they have witnessed five to ten bodies of the Tiger cadres taken to their villages for burial and many Tiger cadres earned the wrath of the residents there due to this situation.

According to them they have demanded one more member from each family for the organisation to increase their manpower. Under these circumstances many of the youth completing the age of 18 have fled towards jungles to escape forcible recruitment by the LTTE.

Due to this situation the number of civilians fleeing the LTTE held Vedithalthivu in the North of Mannar has increased during January.

Saravanamuttu Thavarasa who fled Illuppukadaveli in Vedithalthivu along with five children and his wife revealed that hundreds of civilians are hiding in jungles awaiting to escape the Tiger grip seeking a better life in the Security Forces held areas.

This situation has developed after the troops attached to Task Force -I intensified their operations in the Mannar sector to liberate the highly fertile Mannar Rice Bowl from the Tiger grip.

Nearly 50 square kilometres in the Mannar Rice Bowl have already been taken under the control of the troops of Task Force -I and they will continue with their task of clearing an area nearly 250 square Kilometres to take the full control of the green belt in the Mannar district.

In that process troops are above to capture Adampan town as they were able to cut it off from Andankulam and Manthai road. The troops engaged in operations received proof to prove the current plight of the Tiger cadres from the diaries recovered from destroyed Tiger bunkers in Palakkuli area and Uyilankulam area.

Dozens of Tiger cadres were also killed within this week as troops advanced further towards Palakkuli on the Uyilankulam-Adampan road. Troops believe that many of the strategic locations in the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ will fall into their hands shortly.

With the beating received by Tiger cadres on the Jaffna front and also in the Weli Oya front the LTTE may face a more desperate situation in the Wanni taking the Wanni battle to a crucial stage in the coming month allowing the citizens of the country celebrate the 60th independence with hopes for a brighter future as the Security Forces are committed to achieve this task very soon.

A Tiger’s tale of woe

Tiger cadres manning the FDLs in Mannar and Wanni are facing untold hardships at the hands of the LTTE. They have been pushed to these bunkers mercilessly. They have been left with no chance to come out with their stories to the outside world during their lifetime.

It is only after their death that people can learn their untold hardships and the way they are getting killed at the hands of the Security Forces after being dumped in Tiger bunkers by their senior cadres.

The excerpts from a diary of a LTTE women’s wing cadre, recovered by troops attached to the 6th Gemunu Watch after they smashed an LTTE bunker at Pallakkuli reveals the true life of the Tiger cadres in the FDLs in Mannar and Vavuniya.

Female Tiger cadre Thamilvili has got this diary from senior cadre Thayabaran and maintained it on a daily basis during this year until she faced her death.

She was killed once the troops attacked her bunker in Palakkuli recently and recovered the diary from her bunker.

Rajaratnam Thamivili, Tholpuram East

2007.12.31

After staying at the 2P-10 bunker we woke up in the morning and after our ablutions I was playing FIX with Kadalthevan. Around 10.00 a group arrived with K-2. After deploying them in my area I sent my people with M-2 from time to time to Palampiddy to accomplish T3’s task and around 0700 I was with T-3 and E-4.

2008.01.01

Today I was at Sinnamadu. After wishing E-4 for New Year and enjoying refreshments I went with E-4 and Vendini to get bombs.

Thereafter I spent the new year watching the line. Since 74 called me to Palampiddy around 0700 I left for Palampiddy around 12.30 and on the way spent the night at Parappakandal.

2008.01.02

Since S-2s group was late to reach Parappakandal I assembled my platoon. Effected changes in the line from 0300. I saw SP-9 to SP-14. I stayed at SP-13 with four others. I sent my group to Pallakkuli.

2008.01.03

Woke up at 04.00 a.m. Finished my work. After preparation for battle I was sent to another station. Stayed inside the bunker ready for battle.

2008.01.08

S-2 came around 0700 to examine the line. I along with Vanmolin took S-2 from SP-14 to SP-01 and returned around 10.00 p.m.

2008.01.09

There was a skirmish in the morning. Three members injured among them were Pandyan and Anna. ZP-14 was attacked. After abandoning ZP-14 we retreated to a bunker about 100 metres away. Tharuna Anna was there.

2008.01.10

We were on alert. I attended to my day’s routine.

2008.01.11

Awakened this morning by gun shots. After inspecting my area I found that there was a battle in the jungle area.

Around 0900 a.m. four people including Wainganila were killed. At about 0300 three including Waranapiya were killed due to shelling. We could not retrieve their bodies. Ealamar’s platoon arrived at my bunker in the night with Carruebon. After placing people at points with Carruebon and giving my place to Ealamar I went with Tharuna Anna to his place at 12.00 midnight.

2008.01.12

Gunshots near SP-13 awakened me in the morning. A member who was at ZP-14 with Tharuna Anna was killed. In trying to retrieve his body Carruebon, Anna and another was killed. We could not recover the four bodies. The attack continued upto ZP-13 and stopped around 0230.

2008.01.13

Woke up at 0400 and readied for battle. There were one male and three female cadres with me. We launched attacks before the Army. We thwarted their attacks by aiming shells. They sniped at bunker 14.

2008.01.14

12.00 midnight abandoned ZP-13 and retreated to ZP-12. When I woke up in the morning there was a skirmish near the tank bund. I quickly went to Bunker No. 4 on the Una side. After laying LP with Carvannan Anna and Enidas I met Thahadu Ilappan. Aimed sniper attacks at 10.00 a.m. and the afternoon. Thereafter inspected the line. after providing details and information to SR I went to Elanila’s bunker.

After discussing about measures to recapture lost bunkers with Madhu Akka I returned around 12.00 midnight. 14 offered Kandos and Soda.

2008.01.15

Got up at 04.00 a.m. took the receiver and wished good morning. Spoke to Nihal Pardi and after sending him away attended to daily routine. After laying lP, MA came and met me. Went to meet 18 as he summoned me. From there went to Parappakandal for a meeting. After discussing strategy with leader Tharan went to 18 at 11.00. After that went and spoke to 14 and returned to bunker at 0200.

2008.01.16

Woke up at 05.00 a.m. took the connection and did an inspection. Battle started at 05.30 SP-12 and my bunker were attacked. SP-13 and we returned fire. After about 40 minutes of crossfire we ended the battle. Thereafter I finished my day’s work.