Friday, January 18, 2008

More Civilian Massacres as Mannar LTTE Bastion Prepares to Fall

At least nine civilians have been killed in Thanamalvila by the LTTE last night. The latest attack comes in the wake of a confrontation last morning between LTTE cadres retreating from Buttala Massacre. One soldier was injured in the attack. The soldiers were tracing the steps of the LTTE unit when they were attacked. The Tigers had laid AP (johnny) mines and booby traps along jungle treks to facilitate getaway.

Meanwhile the SLA's 58 Division and its three brigades are within one and a half kilometers of Adampan Junction. The Northern route from this junction leads directly to Veduthalthivu. The route to the west goes past the sacred Thiruketheeshwaram Kovil, which is now under partial SLA control. South of Adampan junction is Uylankulam and Palampiddi is to the east.

If SLA wrestles control of Adampan Town (Junction), LTTE activities in Palampiddi and Uylankulam will be immediately affected. If SLA advances further north, they will be able to capture the strategically important Veduthalthivu area. Currently LTTE is restrengthening its defences in Adampan, but has also begun constructing a new FDL along the Adampan Veduthalthivu line. This could be the first hint of a possible withdrawal from Adampan Town (Junction).

The ceaseless attacks by marauding SLA is launched almost purely by regular infantry. There are currently around 12 Avenues of Approaches of SLA advancing towards Vanni. Each Division (57, 58 and 59) has three Brigades each. Each Bridage has around 4 Avenues of Approaches. These are the advancing columns of men that are leading the infantry charge. The three Divisions, 57, 58 and 59 are called Mobility Corridors in military jargon. a Mobility Corridor comprises of one Division or 3 Bridges or 4 Avenues of Approaches.

The SLAF yesterday bombed an LTTE gathering place 3km west of Kilinochchi Town at Jeyapuram. SLAF also bombed a Mortar manufacturing plant in the general area Puthukudiiruppu. Damages caused to LTTE is unverified.

31 comments:

Sun Tzu's disciple said...

If these actions are done by Tigers, I presume they are living off the land? They may have built up a large dump of arms during the past 1 year of inactivity. Living off the land should not be difficult for elite squads in an area where game is plenty, fruits & wild vegetables presumably available and water abundant.

""SLAF also bombed a Mortar manufacturing plant""

Do they still manufacture mortars? I thought that was in eighties and early nineties. They are however known to still manufacture AP mines and IEDs.
***
Don't you feel a prolonged period of 'attrition war' and creeping advance happening now tends to bring-on war fatigue as well as increased laxity--a perfect target for an overwhelming Tiger attack at a time and place of their choosing?
I feel short,swift and explosive advances followed by a long period of consolidation would suit the conventional advantage of SL military?

Illegal.existence said...

Thanks for the update defensewire. Could you also provide some updates on the fighting elsewhere, in the Vavuniya and Mulathivu districts. Are we advancing there as well, or is it still hit and run attacks?

Illegal.existence said...

The LTTE is just shooting themselves in the foot killing all these civilians. All the criticism of late has been of the government pulling out of the CFA. But these attacks are turning the spotlight completely towards the LTTE.

IntelAttack said...

The obvious tactics of LTTE on this stage

1) Setting bombs in public places and commercial buildings mainly within Colombo City.
Aim: Threaten people, Hit economy as opposition and other parties crying that Sri Lanka is not a secure place
Outcome: This has not been a 100% successful tactic as people are now awear of LTTE tactics and they are more vigilant and intelligent.

2) Plant Bombs and killing people in rural villages
Aim: Threaten people in remote villages and make them, Human Rights Watch and International Community to blame Government on ending ceasefire.

3) Continue the media propaganda indicating that ending CFA caused all the violence.
Aim: Gain international support over LTTE activities and stop Liberating Vanni through SLA.

I think as people of Sri Lanka, our aim should be to study all coward tactics of LTTE Terrorists and make sure they achieve none.

Unknown said...

STD
baba mortars and pasilan mortars are still manufacture by the tigers

mohan said...

Looks there are member of civil defense forces. may be it time to re think about CDF. you can not put give weapon to civilian with out proper training.

Srilankan said...

Ranil..what are these mortars you speak about?

LKDOOD said...

LTTE planned to abduct Sri Lankan Tamil politician in India

LINK

Unknown said...

srilankan
the baba mortar was the first mortar round the tigers made locally and it was later upgraded to pasilan2000.

from lankalibrary.com
"This missile capacity revolves around the Pasilan 2000, a sophisticated weapon that is capable of carrying a 25kg gelignite warhead over a distance of 1km. When asked why the missile was named the “Pasilan 2000,” a LTTE cadre boasted, “another armed group will not be able to produce such a…weapon even by the year 2000."

Anonymous said...

DW,
1) If my memory is correct you said earlier (for a comment) sinking LTTE ships was the handy work of SLN and no foriegn naval assistance involved. But now it is said Indian navy assisted. Any comments? (when you have time; not a complain)

2) There were so many reports arresting tiger suspects (SL ciizens) in tamilnadu (/india). But what happened at the end of those inquiries is not known. What prevent SL officials at least questioning them? Do you know any related things?
Thank you.

Srilankan said...

Ranil..many thanks.

LKDOOD said...

iTRO urges countries to allow diaspora help

LINK

LKDOOD said...

Tamil Tigers strike terror in Sinhalese heartland

LINK

Unknown said...

NB
SLN did the offensives but we got intel from friendly countries and i thought that was the news sent out to public domain...
indian navy didn't fire a single shot nor did they hunted the tiger ships down...

LKDOOD said...

'Tirupur Mayor receives threatening calls from person in London'


LINK

LKDOOD said...

U.S.-Sri Lankan cooperation against LTTE terrorism. Admiral Willard reaffirmed the support of the United States to Sri Lanka in defending against terrorist activity through cooperation on maritime security. He noted that improvements in human rights protection could lead to enhanced cooperation.

LINK

jiffy said...

thank you defencewire for another excellent article. you make it very easy for the average reader to gain a sense of what's happening over there.

i have one question though. are there specific 'fronts' which the sla are advancing from or are the battlelines more fluid, without any clear demarcations? i believe a user earlier in here said there were 5 main zones (fronts?) where the sla were breaching ltte territory. where are these 5 lines (if they exist)? are they at mannar, weli oya, vavuniya (in the south)..and muhamallai (north)?

thanks again comrades

LKDOOD said...

Russian Foreign Ministry recommends Russians to cancel trips to Sri Lanka

LINK

how many Russians come to Sri lanka per year ?

10

LOL !

perein said...

Defencewire;
Is it possible you to mark our current positions in a map please.
That will help most of us to work out places.

Unknown said...

Dead Man Walking

Military operations against the LTTE in the north are increasing. The hundreds of kilometers of "front line" separating LTTE controlled terrain ......

LINK

Unknown said...

Dead Man Walking

Military operations against the LTTE in the north are increasing. The hundreds of kilometers of "front line" separating LTTE controlled terrain ......

this is the correct
LINK

Illegal.existence said...

"how many Russians come to Sri lanka per year ?

10

LOL !
"

7,985 in 2006 and 13,621 in 2007, making it our 9th largest market last year.

Srilankan said...

illegal.existence..how many of these are blond/f?

LKDOOD said...

Fighting kills 35 Tamil rebels, 1 soldier in embattled north

LINK

LKDOOD said...

Illegal.existence

ty for the info :)
WOW !
i did not know so many came to Lanka

Renegade! said...

hmmm...nice russian & former soviet-bloc prossies at colombo's 5-star hotels!!.."weapons & women"..go in tandem,i spose?>>:) :)

LKDOOD said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Srilankan said...

Renegade:This is good news...then there wont be such a slump in the number of tourists.

LKDOOD said...


UK calls for urgent ceasefire in SL


LINK

is Sri lanka under UK control ?
i thought Sri lanka is an independent
country

Defencewire said...

ninja bandara,
Where has the Indian Navy said they were the ones who provided intel to destroy the ships?

Navy Commander aknowledged a role they played, which was to monitor over a period of time, the movement of some of these ships in international waters near SL. But it was the Sea Tigers captured from a ships destroyed that 'pointed the way'.

LKDOOD said...

Defencewire

Tamilnet is reporting of a clash in Ma'nalaa'ru

any info ?

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