The recent battlefield success of the Sri Lankan Security Forces has dramatically changed the ground realities and dynamics of the Sri Lankan conflict. The Tamil Tigers have been dislodged from areas they dominated militarily for many years in the North and East of the island.
According to latest reports the Security Forces are less than 2km south of Kilinochchi, which is considered by the Tamil Tigers as the de-facto capital. The fall of Kilinochchi will have symbolic value to the Sri Lankan government. However, in terms of strategic value the Paranthan junction 5km north of Kilinochchi will be the jewel in the crown.
The fall of Paranthan junction will cut supply routes to Tamil Tiger defence localities in Poonaryn,
The success story of the Sri Lankan Security Forces has been built upon the combination of six critical events coming together at the right time over the last twelve to eighteen months.
a) For the first time in the history of the Sri Lankan conflict, the Sri Lanka Navy embarked on deep sea missions pursuing Tamil Tiger merchant vessels in international waters. The success of the Navy in completely destroying nine merchant vessels of the Tigers between March to October 2007, is in my opinion the single most significant factor that changed the tables on the Tigers. The supply chain capability of the Tamil Tigers was completely destroyed crippling the induction of weapons and supplies. Many have argued that the tide changed for the Tigers with defection of the Eastern Commander Karuna Amman. While this paved the way for improved intelligence on Tamil Tiger procurement and logistics operations, the destruction of the nine merchant vessels by the Navy is by far the crucial game changer.
b) The defection of Karuna Amman as the Eastern Commander and disbanding of young combatants in the east set the stage for the complete eviction of the Tigers from the
c) In the recent fighting the Sri Lankan Security Forces favoured a strategy of capturing coastline on the North Western and Eastern coast. This strategy of progressing along the coast had a twofold impact on the Tigers, firstly it constrained the supply channels especially regular inflows from
d) In May 2008, the Tamil Tigers suffered a significant blow to the command structure. The Overall Commander of ground operations Balraj died due to illness. Balraj was the senior most military commander within the Tigers with overall command over all infantry units. His demise created a major vacuum in terms of military planning for the Tigers.
e) Over the last twelve months the international network of the Tamil Tigers has been significantly disrupted in five key fundraising countries. In the
In addition to the setbacks to fundraising activities, the Tamil Tiger propaganda machine also faced major problems in
f) with regard to the international community, there is a sense of “LTTE fatigue” globally. The argument is that the Tamil Tigers had a run for two decades without achieving much for the Tamil people. Leader of the Tamil Tigers Velupillai Prabakaran will remain intransigent to any alternative other than a separate State, therefore the current situation may open up opportunities for moderate Tamil opinion to be heard and have a place at the table.
Furthermore, the international community has also been otherwise engaged over the past twelve months with a devastating cyclone in Burma, earthquake in China, elections in Zimbabwe, elections in Pakistan, Georgian conflict, an assertive Russia, nuclear aspirant Iran, Iraq/Afghanistan, US presidential elections and the financial meltdown in US/Europe for little Sri Lanka to get much attention.
The combination of these six factors coming together at the same time has had a devastating blow to the Tamil Tigers. This together with the re-energized Sri Lankan Security Forces have steadily advanced into Tiger dominated areas. The new offensive divisions and special forces created by the SL Army have demonstrated superior ground tactics in the current fighting. The fall of Naddankandal and Illuppaikkadavai is testimony to innovative ground tactics adopted by the Security Forces that baffled Tiger defences.
It is unlikely that the Tigers will be able to mount any major reversal to the offensive operations of the Security Forces. At present the Tigers have hedged all bets on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi in
Recently politicians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) a proxy of the Tigers agreed to the annexation of Kachchetivu island by
If the Sri Lankan Security Forces are able to reach Paranthan junction within the next 3-4 weeks, the senior leadership of the Tigers will need to re-assess their own future and that of the young combatants.
The Security Forces presence in Paranthan junction will also increase the vulnerability of Prabakaran. It is suspected that the primary hideout from which Prabakaran operates is approximately 10 km east of Paranthan, interior from the Paranthan –
The Tamil Tiger military hierarchy consists of five senior commanders namely Pottu Amman (intelligence), Soosai (Sea Tigers), Bhanu (Overall Ground Ops), Jeyam (Western theatre) and Theepan (Northern theatre). In addition, the Political unit, Finance unit, KP department and the International Secretariat provide supporting roles.
In a “Post-Paranthan Scenario” (PPS) the options for the Tigers are limited, they can continue fighting with the loss of lives, or transition to a political entity. Both Prabakaran and Pottu Amman are political liabilities given the indictments by the Indian courts for the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Sea Tiger head Soosai cannot gain the confidence of infantry combatants. Theepan lacks a charismatic personality and not popular within the group. Jeyam is originally from the reconnaissance units and not from infantry. He is also the junior most member of the inner circle. Some have suggested that Charles Anthony the eldest son of Prabakran is being groomed to take over the leadership, unfortunately age and maturity are not in his favour.
The only plausible option to save the lives of young combatants is for Bhanu the overall military commander of ground units to defect and disband all units under his command. This will provide an opportunity for options other than Prabakaran’s separate State to have a real chance at a political process.
Bhanu is well regarded within the organization as the artillery expert who inflicted the highest number of casualties among the Security Forces over the years. At present he is placed in the right position and commands the confidence of the rank and file to take a decisive decision and prevent further bloodshed to his people and have a real chance at peace.
The Tamil diaspora has been informed in advance of the heroes day theme this year, the theme is expected to be “our land may be taken but our aspiration cannot be defeated”. The international secretariat of the Tigers has sent out instructions to country representatives to organize the largest ever gathering of Tamil people in each country on 27 November to astound Western media and politicians. The theme indicates the Tigers have shifted from a real territorial model as seen in past heroes day speeches which used terms such as defend, attack and de-facto administration to accepting a virtual reality model.
Submitted to DefenceWire by Shanaka Jayasekara
Associate Lecturer, Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (PICT),
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High drama ended this way! What a joke
Just like Koolywwod film !
DMK drops Sri Lanka resignation threat
By S. Murari
CHENNAI (Reuters) - The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a key government ally, has withdrawn a threat to stop supporting the coalition over the escalating conflict in Sri Lanka, Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee said on Sunday.
Mukherjee was given reassurances by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi whose ruling party had threatened to pull out in protest against the Sri Lankan government's intensifying offensive against the LTTE.
"The Chief Minister assured me that he will not precipitate any crisis in the UPA government," Mukherjee said.
Withdrawal of support could have forced a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, ahead of elections due in 2009.
Mukherjee flew to Chennai from New Delhi to brief Chief Minister about his earlier discussions with Sri Lankan special envoy Basil Rajapaksa.
Karunanidhi's DMK has demanded a ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE, a militant group that has been fighting for a separate Tamil homeland since 1983.
Mukherjee called for patience, and ruled out any Indian involvement in solving the conflict, which the government says must be solved through dialogue.
"The problems, which are continuing for more than several decades, are not expected to be solved within a few weeks," he said.
n talks with the Sri Lankan envoy, Mukherjee stressed the need for an immediate "real devolution of power" for Tamils in areas cleared of the LTTE as a confidence-building measure.
Mukherjee said the Sri Lankan government had promised to give aid relief to an estimated 200,000 displaced Tamils, and said the Indian federal government would provide 800 tonnes of relief materials as well.
The escalating war in Sri Lanka has roiled Indian politics and prompted heated diplomatic exchanges between the neighbouring states.
Hundreds of Tamils marched in the streets of Chennai on Friday in a protest organised by the DMK, while two Tamil politicians were arrested on Thursday by the Indian police for speaking publicly in support of the LTTE rebels.
Experts had described the threats to resign as political posturing.
Hooooooo!
Now we can expect a few bombs going off in the south.
But of course it will be done by "unidentified" and "unnamed" persons as Prabhakaran has told that he doesn't bomb civilians....
can anyone explain why SLAF halted Air attacks/raids???
Thambala: Your reaction just sums it up.
PS, Sexually Transmitted Disease STD: I don't have an inferiority complex to be dressed in a "garb" unlike you my yellow friend, is that yellow an allusion to your Tiger colour or to your yellow race, I suspect that the former is true.
For god's sake Defencewire start a new thread.This is pathetic to say the least.
Even defence.lk is starting to maintain radio silence, I think he strategy is to not give much info, the war is at a crucial stage, if due to local preasure or foreign intervention the war is paused now, the whole operation will be invain. Maybe you never know even the SLAF maybe operating with radio silence, see the LTTE, lately even they are maintaining radio silence about casualty figures, ita a matter of time boys, althogh we dont know, we must trust in our leadership and the boys on the front line.
"Radio Silence"?
May be that is another way to discourage new recruits.
Shan,
If you are referring to the picture where VP is standing with the rifle pointed down in his right arm? There was a pic some time back on Asian tribune of him holding a Type-97 carbine.
This one is a Dragunov sniper rifle, better known as S.V.D. in the world (that is its official name from the Russian army). This one is most likely a NORINCO copy of the Russian one called Type-79/85.
It’s chambered for the wonderful (not to the guy who’s getting hit by it) 7.62x54R (rimmed) M1981 which was designed for the good old Mosin rifle. Good rifle, rugged and solid (at least the Russian ones, PRC ones are not too bad.. tigers use them often) cheap but very effective up to around 400~600M in the hands of a good sniper.
cheers
btw,
the 7.62x54R is also round which the PKM Mg series is chambered for, our armed forces and the tigers use it widely (commonly known as the MPMG because thats what NORINCO uses manual call the Type-80 which is a copy of the PKMS which we use)
cheers
thanks nemesis, gratefull as always
["We do not carry out attacks on innocent Sinhala civilians."
- Velu]
Hmmm... is that why you chose Tamils?
If you are thinking about recruits
Once the army topples Kilinochchi and the North Western front and places pictures,that all will be erased,recruits will start coming, you will see..
The Douche ball seems to in addition to his other illnesses becoming hysterical.
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