Hypocrisy of LTTE ‘liberation’

Kavimal Sooriyarachchi, MCNS

The Security Forces have already recaptured vital areas, which were considered landmarks of the Tamil Eelam. It shows the duplicitous nature of the so-called liberation struggle. The best example is the recapturing of the so-called administrative hub Kilinochchi where these Tiger leaders have enjoyed the luxury of life in their mansions.

The Security Forces took over full control of Kilinochchi on January 2 thus bringing forth the hope of peace among all the Sri Lankans for 2009.

Advancing Troops

The multi-storied white palace erected in Kilinochchi town is a living monument of this luxurious life to the entire world. Prabhakaran has confirmed to lead an extravagant life at the expense of his own people’s misery and over their dead bodies. The Tigers have destroyed the buildings and other structures owned by the ordinary people there. However, they have hardly inflicted any damage to their own ones including the TRO office there.

Entrapped people at Vishvamadu

In the face of the military offensives in Kilinochchi, these Tigers have left the town after demolishing the water tower, which is a testimony to their callous disregard for people’s basic needs - water. Their alleged use of the Kilinochchi School for military activities speaks well of their so-called concern towards the education of future generation in their own area.

At a time when the Security Forces thrust forward their offensives, Prabhakaran is making every effort to protect himself using the Tamils as human shields. While the troops were engaged in pushing forward their thrust on Kilinochchi on January 2, the LTTE had attempted to take the Tamils living in uncleared areas to Mullaitivu, Vishvamadu and Dharmapuram areas.

Accordingly, there is a huge population of well over two-lakhs of entrapped people in this area who are unable to flee these areas.

The Forces consider these areas as a demilitarised area where these innocent people are also entrapped and, have therefore restrained themselves from launching any military offensive, which would inevitably harm these innocent people.

People freed from Tiger clutches

In this background, the Security Forces have requested the Vanni people to ensure their Security by entering into Government held areas.

These entrapped people have now faced the risk to their life and begun to flee into Government held areas after the fall of Kilinochchi to Government Forces.

Those fleeing from Vishvamadu-Mullaitivu area have said that they have ventured out of these areas amidst dangerous situations which would result in grave harassment by the Tigers if they are caught.

They have also stated that the Tigers have shot at one such groups of fleeing people. Those people further state that a large number of LTTE cadres are willingly waiting for an opportunity to surrender to the Forces.

Fourteen families consisting of 27 members have come back to Government held areas through the Omanthai checkpoint on January 5 followed by 16 people belonging to seven families who surrendered to Forces at Vavuniya-Omanthai checkpoint on January 6. Same day, another group of civilians consisting of 17 members came to Welioya, Jayasinghepura area by boat and surrendered to the Forces.

Harsh punishment by LTTE

This was followed by a surrender of 25 civilians from Diyarukulam, Kilinochchi area. On January 7, 55 families consisting of 140 civilians have entered into Government held areas through the Omanthai checkpoint.

They belong to Murusamothai, Ramanadapuram, Wattakachchi, Jayanthinagar, Uriyam, Pannankade, Vannerikulam and Thiruweyyaru Grama Seva Divisions. Same day, another group of 18 people have reached Dryarukkulam in Kilino-chchi.

With the Security Forces’ steady thrust into LTTE held areas step by step, the hardcore LTTE cadres including its leader Prabhakaran are making frantic effort to make themselves secure among the mass of people used as human shield.

There are also reports to suggest there is growing agitation among the entrapped civilians against the LTTE leadership.

Several confrontations between the civilians and the LTTE during the recent past speak well of disenchantment.

The LTTE leadership will be faced with a grave situation with the increasing exodus of civilians from their remaining areas. Badly shaken by this new scenario, the LTTE is making every effort to build a safe fortress for their safety. This has caused immense hardships to the civilians trapped there.

The final phase of Eelam war is nearing to an end. The facade erected by the LTTE at the expense of its people is about to crumble to the ground.

The mask worn by the so-called liberators will be removed with the waning sign of the Eelam dream.

Translated from Sinhala