Features | Online edition of Daily News

The huge military pressure mounting on the LTTE strongholds in the Wanni from six fronts, from the Wanni battle front and from the Northern front has kept the Tiger outfit in a desperate and frustrating situation.

The Security Forces kept the troops in Jaffna peninsula on red alert during the past few weeks as they received intelligence reports of a possible LTTE attack on troops operating in the peninsula.

Indications were there that the LTTE was preparing to launch a massive assault on Jaffna FDLs within 24 hours. But none of those intelligence reports came to effect in the face of 100 per cent preparedness of the Security Forces to face any kind of Tiger assault.

Whatever, the indications about Tiger attempt to overrun Jaffna, it has become an extremely difficult task for the LTTE to achieve this.

If the LTTE failed in their attempt to overrun the Jaffna peninsula within 72 hours in August 2006 with the use of their maximum manpower and firepower built on for more than four years, taking the cover of a bogus ceasefire, now it is a real dream for the LTTE even to make such an attempt.

The Security Forces give this assurance not depending on mere assumptions, but taking into account the real efforts they made to strengthen the defences to face any threat by the LTTE.

Manpower

Given the diminishing manpower and the morale factor of the LTTE, chances are very low for them to launch a massive assault on Muhamalai and Kilali defences and make any attempt to overrun the Jaffna peninsula. But no one can give a 100 per cent guarantee on this due to the unpredictable nature of the LTTE.

However, there were many indications that LTTE would depend on an amphibious attack on the Jaffna peninsula to achieve their goal.

The recent incident at Cheerathivu islet located by the side of the Panway causeway connecting the Mundativu island and Jaffna town was a clear indication that the LTTE would go for such attacks just to build their image locally and internationally exaggerating what they have achieved during this attack.

In reality it was a just a desperate attempt by the Sea Tiger wing to boost their morale, by concentrating on a Army-Navy combined ambush on this islet covered with thick bushes.

According to Security Forces, the possibilities are very high that the LTTE would make another such desperate attempt to achieve a similar type of objective specially targeting Jaffna which had created a buffer zone covering the Jaffna mainland specially to Jaffna town, the most prestigious attraction for the LTTE.

In 2006, the LTTE made attempts through Muhamalai and Kilali fronts and also through Jaffna islands to infiltrate the Jaffna peninsula in their bid to make their 72-hour operation successful. The LTTE attempt to infiltrate Jaffna through Kayts island, after landing their boats in Marikumban area in the Kayts island was effectively foiled by the Security Forces.

Challenge

The capability of the LTTE to infiltrate Jaffna islands from their key launching pad in Kalmunai Point or famously known K-Point has now become a vital factor in the efforts taken by the Security Forces to protect the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE.

In this context maintaining proper security in Jaffna islands has become challenging task for the Naval troops who had taken over the security of these islands for the past few years.

Therefore, it is incumbent on the Naval troops operating in the islands of Karainagar, Kayts, Mandativu, Pungudutivu, Delft, Nainativu and Analativu islands located west of Jaffna peninsula to take effective measures.

Mandativu being the closest island to K-Point where a hive of Tiger activities are taking place, according to intelligence reports, has become the most crucial island in this context.

The LTTE’s capability to reach this island within a few minutes after launching their boats from K-Point or further South of Pooneryn gives a clear picture about the importance of this island. Apart from that the closeness of this island towards Jaffna town and Colombuthurai in the mainland of the peninsula is also a key reason to highlight the importance of this island towards maintaining security of the Jaffna mainland.

Any successful attempt to infiltrate and induct cadres into this island would result in destabilising the Jaffna mainland and also other islands in Jaffna.

Minimised

However, the steps taken by the Sri Lanka Navy in defending this island from possible Tiger threats, has minimised the chances for the LTTE to infiltrate these defences.

The concept of creating physical barriers and obstacles and the shifting from the concept from establishing detachments to establishing Forward Defences to maintain security has contributed immensely for the improvement of the security of these islands.

It was due to this improved security situation in Mandativu island that the LTTE carefully selected to attack Cheerativu islet which was secured only through an Army Navy combined ambush during night hours, as they were not in a position to infiltrate the defence in other islands.

The restrictions imposed on civilian movements is yet another factor that contributed for the improvement of security of Mandativu island which is now secured by the SLN Velusumana operating under the command of Lieutenant Commander H.S.K. Dissanayaka.

The maintenance of fishing marshalling points to monitor fishing activities by the civilians living in this island is yet another factor to control Tiger infiltration into Mandathivu island.

However, the prevailing security sensitive situation in the Jaffna peninsula has compelled them to confine fishing activities only to a one kilometre area surrounding the island, using only non-mechanised boats.

The SLN Velusamana is having 16 fishing marshalling points to monitor fishing activities of the civilian population living in this island. Similar measures are now being implemented in other islands too, depending on the number of civilians living in these islands.

Peaceful lives

Though the imposition of fishing restrictions on the civilian population appears to be unfair on the part of the civilians as a whole it was due to these fishing restrictions that they have been able to lead peaceful lives in these islands distancing from Tiger influences.

Therefore, fishing monitoring activities located in Kayts, SLN by Naval troops operating in Karainagar, Kayts, Mandativu, Pungudutivu, Nainativu and Delft islands have so far brought positive results, minimising the chances for the LTTE to bring in explosives and weapons into these islands.

The cordial relationship the sailors have developed with the civilian population in these islands over the past years has contributed immensely for the improvement of security in these islands.

Tiger cadres find it very difficult to infiltrate these islands due to the close relationship cemented for years between civilians and the Navy due to their mutual understanding over the security issues and about the daily requirements.

It was due to this cordial relationship that civilians in thousands attended the annual feast held at the Hindu Kovil located in Nainativu islands for the past two weeks, considered the most sacred pooja attended by Hindu devotees living in all corners of Jaffna peninsula.

Buffer zone

The maintenance of security in the islands has also become a key factor, since these islands provide a buffer zone not only to the Jaffna town but also to the key harbours which are located in the Northern edge of the Jaffna peninsula, like Kankesanthurai, Point Pedro and Mailadi and also to the Palaly airport.

Through the deployment of special boat squadrons to be used as a deterrent against any impending sea borne attack by the LTTE to these vital locations, considered to be the hub of activities to maintain supplies to the entire Jaffna population most vitally to the troops operating in Jaffna, security has been improved drastically for this requirement.

The oldest Naval Base the Jaffna peninsula, SLN Elara located in Karainagar island, under the command of Captain Kapila Samaraweera, providing much required security to ensure smooth operations of the Kankesanthurai, Mailadi and Point Pedro harbours and Palaly Airport, stands as a deterrent against any sea borne attacks, preventing the LTTE from reaching those security sensitive areas.

The domination of these islands by the Naval troops contributes towards the Troop Movements from Trincomalee to Jaffna by the Jetliner which is the biggest operation undertaken by the Navy committing all their assets and provides a safer passage for aircraft arriving at Palaly airport.

Security aspects

But rising above all these security aspects maintaining the security of the Jaffna islands which are creating a buffer to provide security to the mainland, the Sri Lanka Navy is now facing a threatening situation to their smooth security operations, from the Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters crossing the International Maritime Boundary between India and Sri Lanka.

A box story of this column will give a brief account on the pending threat on the islands and also to national security due to these fishing trawlers poaching our seas.

Except for the threat created by the Indian fishing trawlers, the Naval troops dominating the Jaffna islands are poised to face any challenge of the LTTE in their bid to protect Jaffna.

Indian fishing trawlers a security risk

The Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters in the North has become the number one security threat for protecting Jaffna islands from the LTTE.

Hundreds of fishing trawlers, roaming around Jaffna islands specially around Delft, Nainativu and Analadivu islands have given sleepless nights to Naval authorities in the North.

Rear Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe,
Commander Nothern naval area

“These Indian fishing trawlers have become a real threat not only to the security of the Jaffna islands but they have become a threat to national security,” Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Tisara Samarasinghe says.

The real threat raised through this issue is due to the possibility of the LTTE making use of this opportunity to mingle with these trawlers and launch a major assault on naval craft patrolling the Northern seas.

There had been many instances the LTTE used Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan seas as a shield to launch attacks on naval craft patrolling the seas off the coast of Thalaimannar and Delft.

Indian trawlers have now become the only way for the LTTE to smuggle arms and ammunition to the Wanni where they are facing a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Security Forces.

The question of the Indian fishing trawlers was once again raised at the 16th International Maritime Boundary Line meeting held aboard the Indian vessel INS Kirch on June 5, 2008.

Commander of the Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Tisara Samarasinghe leading the Sri Lanka Navy delegation made a strong and impressive representation at this meeting on the issue of poaching Indian trawlers, which was discussed among the other issues concerning the two countries.

The lack of a mechanism on the part of the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy to monitor the fishing trawlers launched from the Tamil Nadu coast was the main factor that hindered the process of controlling Indian fishing boats.

“But there was a positive response from the Indian side towards this which has become a real threat to our national security at this juncture,” Rear Admiral Samarasinghe says.

This biannual meeting held at the IMBL was represented by senior Navy officials from both countries.

“Allowing the Indian trawlers to poach in our seas is not a matter concerning us but also India as the LTTE can make use of this opportunity to infiltrate even into Tamil Nadu,” Rear Admiral Samarasinghe added.

Therefore, at this decisive juncture in the North-East conflict there should be a much bigger commitment to see that the issue of Indian trawlers poaching in Lankan waters is resolved amicably without putting the national security of both countries in peril.

Indian Fishing Trawlers in Lankan waters

The LTTE has made use of this situation to fish in troubled waters putting the blame on the Sri Lanka Navy once these fishing trawlers are caught in the crossfire between the Navy and the LTTE.

The series of incidents that unfolded off the coast of Thalaimannar in early 2007 were a classic example.

It has become an extremely difficult task for Naval troops operating in the Delft islands to identify the enemy boats among the clusters of fishing trawlers, exploiting the fishing resources in Sri Lankan waters, even daring to cross the channel between Delft island and Nainativu and also between Nainativu and Punkudutivu islands.

What concerns the Naval authorities most is the suffering of the local fishing community due to the strict restrictions imposed on them for fighting LTTE terrorism.

The local fishermen have to bear seeing Indian trawlers fish in the deep seas, while they are is confined to shallow waters and non-mechanised boats.