Troops poised to capture more crucial Tiger strongholds

Thrust into heart of Wanni intensified:

As the South is enmeshed in a political turmoil over the soaring Cost of Living and over time frames to see an end to the ongoing military operation to get rid of LTTE terrorism the troops engaged in Operation Wanni Liberation entered into a speedy phase last week following the fall of the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ and many strategic Tiger strongholds including Michael Base in the Mullaitivu jungles.

According to defence authorities and military officials the speediest momentum in the military thrust on the LTTE in the Wanni liberation operation is set to be reached in the coming two months as crucial Tiger strongholds are set to fall to the hands of the Security Forces.

The significance of these achievements by the Security Forces have been taken lightly by some politicians undermining efforts by the troops to liberate these lands from the clutches of the LTTE simply saying that the war is dragging on without reaching any successes.

But they have forgotten the fact that the Security Forces are engaged in an effort to see an end to a conflict which had dragged on for exactly two and half decades without seeing either a political or military solution enabling the LTTE to strengthen themselves from a guerrilla outfit to a level of a conventional Army.

The other factor they have so conveniently forgotten is that the Security Forces have achieved these successes within a time frame of just two years after the Security Forces launched a humanitarian operation to liberate Mavil Aru sluice gates to ensure water supply for more than 30,000 civilians.

What is most surprising to note is that many of the politicians are lacking understanding on the ongoing military operation as they take things so lightly complaining that Security Forces cannot achieve the task within the imaginary time frames they have set to end the ongoing conflict.

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday evening came out with strong criticism over the manner in which the Security Forces are engaged in military operations in the North. He made these remarks at the launch of the book ‘My Belly is White’ written by Austin Fernando who was the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence during the UNF regime of which Wickremesinghe was the Prime Minister.

Austin Fernando had written a 928 pages book about his personnel experience as Defence Secretary during the time the UNF Government engaged in peace negotiations with the LTTE, most appropriately about the the failed negotiations with the LTTE.

In his address to a jam packed audience, the Opposition Leader said that conventional warfare involving Battalions, Brigades and Divisions and Armour tanks cannot bring results and expressed his dissatisfaction on the Security Forces inability to complete the mission quoting the Army Commander as saying Lt. General Sarath Fonseka telling that the Army cannot complete the war within this year.

He had come out with these either due to ignorance of the facts about the ongoing military operations on the Northern front or either without making a simple effort to study the ongoing military operations as troops are engaged in these military operations deviating from the conventional warfare like the way they engaged in operation ‘Jaya Sikurui’ in late 1990 ‘s which saw an abrupt end without reaching its objective.

Therefore, it is advisable for these political leaders to have an in depth study about military operations and make public statements on the ongoing military operations as such statements can make a deep impact on the morale of the troops who are making sacrifices in the battlefronts in their fight against LTTE terrorism.

The Security Forces however are unaffected by all these discouraging remarks and attitudes of disgruntled politicians towards their achievements. They are engaged in this task in a more committed manner as they have realised for the first time in the history of the two and half decade long conflict that they can overpower the LTTE militarily on the Northern battlefront.

What they need at this decisive juncture is correct political leadership and military leadership to continue their military thrust against the LTTE entrapped in the Wanni. The liberation of the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ has given a new vigour to the troops engaged in the Wanni liberation operation as they have liberated one of the crucial land stretches from the LTTE which had been considered as an impregnable stronghold.

But the troops attached to the 58 Division under the command of Brigadier Shavendra Silva made it a realistic dream with the capture of nearly 105 square kilometres of the ‘Rice

 Bowl’ amidst a number of challenges.

With the capture of this ‘Rice Bowl’ troops are now in a more strong position to capture the Sea Tiger stronghold Vedithalthivu from the LTTE. Currently troops are advancing towards Vedithalthivu from three directions which had never been expected by the LTTE.

The LTTE expected troops from the South of Vedithalthivu as they have strengthened their defences from the south of Vedithalthivu facing the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ direction. The Commando troops operating ahead of the defences last week made a major blow to the Tiger defence line south of Vedithalthivu destroying nine Tiger bunkers.

The Commando troops were able to kill at least 24 Tiger cadres amidst fierce fighting. It has also been reported that Commando troops have collected some 16 Tiger bodies during this battle but they could not be brought to Security Forces defences due fierce resistance from the LTTE. Three Commando troops were killed during this battle and another who went missing was later found dead.

During the past few days the troops attached to 58 Division further advanced towards Vedithalthivu on the Mannar Pooneryn A-32 road towards 13th mile post area operating just one to one and half kilometers South of Vedithalthivu.

Meanwhile, the 582 Brigade which operated under the command of the 57 Division until the two Divisions were linked up in the South of Periyamdu on June 30 with 12 Gemunu Watch battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Nandana Dunuwila and 6 Gemunu Watch Battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Kamal Pinnawala made contacts through one defence line, once again came under the command of 58 Division this week.

With this change troops operating in the west of Periyamadu and the east of Vedithlathivu captured nearly four square kilometres between Periyamadu and Vedithalthivu further advancing towards towards Vedithalthivu from the eastern direction.

Therefore, the task before the LTTE to defend this stronghold is becoming a challenging one as they are not in position to identify from which direction the troops will challenge their defences in Vedithalthivu.

According to intelligence reports Tiger leader Bhanu operating north of Mannar is facing a bigger challenge as he has not been receiving the required support from the leadership in Kilinochchi. He is running short of manpower to defend Vedithalthivu.

However, the LTTE will have to use more manpower to defend the North Western coastal belt since it was the sole life line they are now having to depend on the logistic support from the South Indian coasts.

The LTTE will have to depend on their other Sea Tiger bases in Illuppukadaveli, Iranathivu, Devil’s Point and Pooneryn once they lose Vedithalthivu. Therefore, troops are expecting fierce fighting in the North Western Coast as the LTTE is ready for a do or die battle in defending their strongholds on the coastal belt.

According to the latest reports the LTTE is planning for a different game in the North Western coast as reports indicate that the civilians who had been displaced from Mannar and Vavuniya districts and later shifted to Thunukkai area with the advancement of troops deeper inside Wanni have now been shifted to the coastal area in Vellankulam.

The LTTE is trying to achieve multiple objectives from this move. First they can prevent displaced civilians from entering the cleared ares once the troops advance into Thunukkai area. On the other hand the LTTE can make maximum use from these displaced civilians to exert pressure on the Indian Government at the forthcoming general elections in India.

The LTTE can send scores of these civilians to India to get sympathy of Tamil Nadu and get Indian involvement into the North East conflict at this decisive juncture to stop the military thrust on them.

If they keep these civilians in the centre of Wanni they would miss this opportunity once Security Forces take control of the entire North Western Coast.

The LTTE made this move reportedly last week as troops attached to the 57 Division under the command of Major General Jagath Dias reached some six kilometres South of Thunukkai the single civilian settlement in the Western part of the Mullaitivu district west of A-9 road.

Three battalions attached to the 571 Brigade and 573 Brigade are heading towards Thunukkai which was abandoned by civilians due to pressure from the LTTE. They have done this as they felt that they cannot defend this town too from the advancing troops.

According to Security Forces, LTTE is fully dominating this town after civilians vacated the area. For the first time Thunukkai came under Security Forces artillery fire after they got the confirmation that only Tiger cadres are dominating the area.

Therefore, troops attached to 57 Division who captured Periyamadu for the first in the two and half decade history of the Northern conflict are now speedily heading towards capturing many more LTTE strongholds in the coming months putting the Wanni Liberation on a fast track.

Captured bases reveal their secrets

The Mullaitivu jungle is supposed to be the main hideout of the LTTE which had been used by the top Tiger leaders as their safe haven. Whatever the secrecy the LTTE tried to maintain about their Bases they are now being discovered by the troops attached to the 59 Division operating in the north of Weli Oya front.

Discovering the 1-4 Base inside this thick jungle is the main task ahead of the troops operating in the Mullaitivu jungle. With the capture of the Michael Base the troops have so far have captured three bases coming under the LTTE 1-4 Base in the Mullaitivu jungle.

Though troops thought that Munnagam Base was the first LTTE base captured from the 1-4 Base the troops last week discovered that it was not the first Tiger base they have captured. Troops engaged in search operations found last week they have passed another Tiger base before their move towards Munnagam Base.

Earlier they have recovered only a mortar position located in front of this Base which has been identified as Kamal Base which is located some 800 metres South of Munnagam Base. This was captured by the troops attached to the 7 Gemunu Watch Battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Priyantha Perera.

Now they have discovered a structure similar to the Munnagam base inside the Kamal Base too.

The same battalion captured Michael Base last week which is located some one kilometre north of Munnagam Base after identifying its location by weeks long reckie missions.

After the troops identified the location troops attached to the 7 GW deployed teams to cut off supply routes to the Base. The 11 Gemunu Watch Battalion under the command of Lt. Colonel Priyanka Fernando also gave them a close support to them by deploying their Alpha Company from the West of Michael Base.

The Alpha Company of the 7 GW, operating under the Officer Command of Captain Premachandra deployed his teams from the west of Michael Base. Meanwhile the Delta Company of the 7 GW operating under the Officer Command of Lt. Arangalla deployed their teams from the south of the Michael Base.

The Alpha Company passed the Base from the West to cut off the supplies into the Base from the North and entered the Base from the North when the Delta company was advancing towards the Base from the South to North to enter the Base from the Southern edge.

Platoon Commanders Lt. Saparamadu attached to the Alpha Company and Lt. Jayasuriya attached to Delta Company sustained injuries during the battle. Lt. Saparamadu got caught to an AP mine while Lt. Jayasuriya sustained gunshot injuries as they tried to enter the Base.

However with the backing of the artillery and mortar support and the support extended by the engineering troops, the 7GW troops were able to capture Michael base which had been stretched in an area of 200 square metres, under the leadership given by 593 Brigade Commander Colonel Palitha Fernando and under the command of General Officer Commanding 59 Division Brigadier Nandana Udawatta.

It was on July 4 , troops declared that they have captured Michael Base after Intelligence officers confirmed that the Base they have captured was the Michael Base. Compared to the Munnagam Base the Michael Base has four entrances and an underground bunker similar to that of the Munnagmam Base with a tiled floor.

But it had a better ventilation system.

The Base had been covered with a good canopy so that it cannot be observed from the air.

The troops initially believed it was a medical base. But it was meant for more than 350 cadres being well equipped with water supplies.

With the capture of the Michael Base the troops are poised to capture a few more bases within the next few weeks including Suganthan and Jeewan Bases.