LTTE holds to 1 sq km

Rafik JALALDEEN

Security Forces on the verge of completing the humanitarian operation in the Vanni, have confined the LTTE to one square kilo metre in the battle field.

The fight against terrorism is going on successfully. The LTTE cadres are restricted to a mere 21 square km and 20 square km out of the 21 square km was demarcated as a No Fire Zone by the Government. Therefore, the LTTE cadres have been isolated to One square km, Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

He said since the Tiger cadres have been effectively restricted to one square km they have taken shelter and cover among civilians by infiltrating the No Fire Zone demarcated by the Government.

“The LTTE cadres have infiltrated the No Fire Zone where humanitarian assistance is taking place. The Tiger cadres are carrying out their terror activities in the NFZ instead of humanitarian actions,” he added.

Minister Rambukwella referred to the recent incident of the LTTE firing missiles from inside the NFZ targeting two Bell 212 helicopters evacuating wounded soldiers in Puthukudiyiruppu as a violation of the NFZ.

“The LTTE cadres are firing fleeing civilians in the NFZ and they are violating the principle of the NFZ by using the safe zone to launch missiles,” he added.

He said that the Tigers are carrying out their activities in the NFZ by taking cover among civilians to tell the world that the Security Forces are targeting civilians.

Rambukwella said the Security Forces are making all endeavours to rescue trapped civilians, adding that they are making strategic moves to bring back all civilians safe.

He noted that the world had changed and the LTTE are now tagged as terrorists instead of freedom fighters. “It’s a time where the world has come to realize the LTTE’s brutality. They killed aid workers, attempted to recruit a UN aid worker and his daughter and many other terror activities carried by the LTTE in the NFZ had been unveiled to the international community.

LTTE cadres earlier were pronounced as freedom fighters and rebels and now the LTTE is a well-known terrorist outfit in the world,” he added.

Minister Rambukwella said Sri Lanka has set an example by defeating terrorism and made the mission impossible, possible.

“Terrorism is a cancer spreading all around the world. Our country is an example of defeating terrorism.

Our soldiers are better than any soldier fighting terrorism. We can fight terrorism and will continue to wipe out terrorism,” he said.