LTTE forcibly retaining civilians - Strategy Page

The LTTE continues to interfere with the efforts of Tamils to flee to safer areas, the respected military website Strategy Page said yesterday.

“Partly, this is to keep potential military manpower handy, partly it’s for propaganda purposes. Civilians controlled are a sign of political power, and they can also be used as human shields, to provide some protection from artillery or air attack.

If civilians are hurt by artillery or bombs, they can accuse the Government of atrocities,” the website said.

The LTTE was also using NGOs (foreign Non-Governmental Organizations) for political purposes.

So the Government has ordered foreign NGOs out of LTTE territory, at least until this final battle is over, it added.

Strategy page said: “So far this year, nearly 6,500 LTTE fighters have been killed, about ten times more deaths than the Army has suffered. The Government Forces are coming up the northwestern coast of the island, the last bit of territory the LTTE controls. After 18 months and seven attacks, the small LTTE air force of single engine commercial aircraft, has lost one of its planes to an air force fighter.

Two LTTE aircraft had made a bombing attack on a Government controlled town in the North, but to no effect. The air force radar system spotted the LTTE aircraft, and was able to vector a jet for an interception. The LTTE are now staging counterattacks, but none strong enough to stop the Army advance.”