SLAF Delay Gets LTTE Off-the-hook

A four-hour delay in a bombing run by the Sri Lanka Air Force resulted in a missed high-profile decapitation strike planned several days ago. The target was a conference attended by 'Colonels' Swarnam, Bhanu and Jeyam in north Mannar.

The SLAF usually takes four hours to prep the jets, from the point of receiving the Military Intelligence tipoff to the actual delivery of the designated payload to the target. As a result, by the time the bombs were dropped, the Tiger conference had concluded.

Minutes after the bombing, the three tiger leaders came back on air as they exchanged messages using codenames associated with them (example Karuna -Kilo Serra). The conference attended by all three tiger leaders was confirmed through both ground and aerial recon.

Yesterday's bombing of LTTE heavy gun positions in Mannar north has also been inaccurate for the same reasons. This is further compounded by the high speeds of the jet bombers. MI sources claim not every SLAF pilot is capable of running an accurate dive bombing run all the time.

Meanwhile the Intelligence Officer (IO) for Putlam is being overwhelmed as usual. He was to be replaced by a highly competent officer, who refused the job. The coastline from Kalpitiya to Wattala has traditionally been a difficult area to manage. Drug (narcotics) lords, supported by politicians and the police hold the sway in these areas. Their links with the LTTE runs deep.

Further complicating these matters, certain Muslim politicians from Puttlam, many of whom are originally from LTTE controlled areas, and their armed underworld goons, have developed relationships with the LTTE. It is believed that some may have even assisted the LTTE smuggle weapons into Colombo.

HRW Calls for Sanctions on LTTE, Karuna Group

Human Rights Watch has requested the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on the LTTE and the Karuna group for failing to end the forcible recruitment of children.

HRW's Human Rights Lawyers claim LTTE is holding by force 1430 child soldiers. They have requested UN Security Council to freeze all LTTE assets, movements and other activities with immediate effect.

HRW has also charged the government of failure to end forcible recruitment of child soldiers by the Karuna Group, which has now split into two. The Karuna and Pullaiyan groups have continued with brutal LTTE tactics even after leaving the organization. However, the group is to enter the democratic mainstream at the ongoing elections for the Eastern Province.