Following yesterday's daring operation where elite SLA units plunged into the NFZ, the government is now in charge of over 130,000 Tamil civilians held hostage by the LTTE. By the time this report is written, some 50,000 civilians have escaped in less than a 48-hour period.
The Army had previously rescued 70,000 civilians since January 2009. The best estimate is that another 25,000-30,000 civilians are being held hostage by the LTTE, which brings the grand total to 150,000 civilians. The 55 Division alone has received over 11,000 civilians by this evening.
The details of yesterday's operation are coming to light. We will share some of these details with our readers. One magnificent attack was launched by a 12-man team of the Special Forces immediately after the Puthumathalang LTTE bund was breached.
Their objective was to destroy a mortar and artillery launching pad positioned adjacent to a densely populated civilian settlement. This gun position had been a headache to the Army for quite sometime as its WLR systems could not engage the target for concerns of civilian safety.
The LTTE gun operators had detailed coordinates to the earth bund as was obvious in the first 1/2 hour of the operation. Military planners knew that the guns could destroy elite units attacking the earthbund in minutes. So the Special Forces were sent in.
The 12-man team from 1 SF infiltrated the NFZ immediately after the first attack on the bund. Carrying GPS equipment and trained to locate the position based on satellite and UAV images, the unit had no problem locating the guns.
The Tigers manning the position, totally unaware of their fate, had fired only 5 rounds when the SF stormed in. No one and no-thing was spared. The threat to the units attacking and securing the earth bund was completely neutralized.
As predicted by DefenceWire over a week ago, the military planners had in mind to dissect the NFZ, thus securing the release of around 50,000 civilians in one clean swipe and squeezing the LTTE to a narrow corner south of the NFZ. This move had proven to be highly effective and much credit has to go to the Director of Military Planning as well as all ground commanders.
LTTE is now trapped to the south of the NFZ. The 53 Division is also inside the NFZ and Task Force 8 is marching along the A-35 road towards the last remaining corner of the NFZ where the LTTE is hiding behind some 25,000 civilians. This area is called Mullaivaikkal and Vellamullaivaikkal.
TF-8 has to now cross a narrow causeway and is around 500m from this narrow patch, which is the southern edge of the NFZ separated by the Nanthikadal lagoon to the south. Below the lagoon is Mulaitivu Town occupied by the 59 Division. The bridge connecting Mulaitivu south from Mulaitivu north is booby trapped.
The area south of the current position of the 55 Division upto where the NFZ was dissected yesterday will soon be in complete Army control. The civilians who ran towards this area were the lucky ones. But the other remaining 25,000 will also be rescued. The Army expects the entire operation to end in victory by the end of the weekend.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
LTTE cornered but still covers behind civilians
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«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 211 of 211Finally I get an answer fro DW....ok....then do you know one Udumalagala from Galle?
Now that all patriots are in a thanksgiving mode....let me do the same......
First of all your blog is the only blog I write in from the time I discovered you blog by sheer chance.....not that my writing has any defense value .....
But from that day this is the first site I check before I start may day.
This site gave us expats some sort of connections back to beloved SL....
Lot of guys say they appreciate your updates and stuff....but for me this site gave a sense of pride....that we Sri Lankans can do stuff....in short made me glad to be from Sri Lanka....
Your reports made us part of the ongoing war effort to free SL from this terrorist menace....
So here is big THANK YOU on behalf of all the Patriots....TERIMAKASIH BANYAK BAPAK...(Moshe will understand this)
So DW bro....don't just fade away....you have more to contribute....we are not yet out of the doldrums.....
So Godspeed.....
God bless our SLDF.....
Long live Sri Lankan Lions
Cheers Wewa oba samata
DW,
I fully support the comments by Ms Samantha Perera...on AGG's suggestions......
.........It is absolutely essential to maintain the patriotic momentum we gained in past 3 years. Their heroism should become a beacons that guide us to a prosperous and strong future. Hopefully, their sacrifices will be the catalyst to pull us away from dependence on unsavory foreign elements..........
Well said Sister!!!
We should never forget our fallen heroes....
Cheers Wewa
CHAOS in East India: Is INDIA qualified to lecture Sri Lanka on containing TERRORISM?
Maoist violence rocks east IndiaApril 22, 2009
Maoist insurgents went on the rampage in the eastern states of Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal Wednesday, hijacking a train, blowing up buildings, setting trucks on fire, killing a truck driver and triggering landmine blasts.
Around 200 Maoist rebels hijacked a train carrying over 400 passengers at Hehegada railway station in Jharkhand's Latehar district. The train was going from Barkakana to Mughalsarai in Uttar Pradesh.
The guerrillas released the train more than four hours later, at about 11.40 a.m.
"Nobody was harmed at any point of time and all passengers are safe," said A.K. Chandra, chief public relations officer (East Central Railway).
"Maoists had hijacked the train to protest against the railways not stopping train services although the rebels had called for a shutdown in the state," Latehar Deputy Commissioner of Police Sarvendu Thathagat told IANS on phone.
Maoists had called for an indefinite shutdown in the state to protest the killing of five people in Latehar April 15. While security forces branded them rebels, Maoists said they were innocent villagers.
The guerrillas have demanded compensation of Rs.1 million for the families of each of those killed. They also want action to be taken against the security forces involved in the incident.
On Tuesday night, over 50 Maoist rebels bombed Utari Road railway station and also destroyed a nearby track in Jharkhand's Palamau district.
Police said the militants had planned to target the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express, which was to pass through the station 30 minutes after the blast. The route of the train was changed after the incident.
Maoist rebels also blew up a school and health centre in Narayanpur village in Chatra district of Jharkhand Tuesday night.
In Bihar, suspected Maoists killed a truck driver and set ablaze nine trucks in Gaya district and bombed a block office in Aurangabad district early Wednesday.
Over 100 armed Maoists attacked trucks on the busy Grand Trunk Road near Barachatti in Gaya at around 12.30 a.m. They stopped the trucks at gun point and torched nine of them.
A truck driver, Lakshman Yadav, was shot dead while trying to escape with his truck.
A group of armed Maoists also bombed the Dev block development office in Aurangabad district.
"They used explosives. The building was badly damaged," said Gaya Superintendent of Police M.R. Naik.
In West Bengal, Maoists triggered four landmine blasts targeting the police in Salboni area of West Midnapore district. However, no one was injured in the explosions.
Superintendent of Police (West Midnapore) Manoj Verma told IANS that the blasts occurred in the Salboni police station area when a police party had gone to fetch the bodies of the two Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists who were killed by the Maoists Monday.
"The blasts took place at a little distance from the advancing police party. It is clear the police were the targets of the Maoists," Verma said.
The second phase of the parliamentary elections will be held in Bihar and Jharkhand Thursday. The Maoists have called for a boycott of the elections but the places where the rebels struck Wednesday had gone to the polls April 16.
In West Bengal, the first of the three-phase poll will be held April 30.
wonder what's all THIS about now:
http://www.lankaenews.com/English/news.php?id=7516
Washburn69,
Wimal Weerawansa is absolutely right about the monkey Robert Blake, Mano Ganeshan, and other TNA sakkilies. As for Robert Blake, he needs to behave like a human being while respecting the democratic will of the people of Sri Lanka. Acting a bully on behalf of LTTE terrorist will not take him any where other than further distancing the people of Sri Lanka from USA. As for Mano G and other TN Sakkilies, they need to given the traitors punishment at a public square.
Ado Apino,
It is Mr. Sam Perera.
Sam,
Thanks for the comment.
god this is damn ANNOYING this Blake guy.
Was he in the group to whom the SLFA aerial footage was shown ?? Does Hillary even know about how many civilians escaped?
Someone at the SL embassy in DC needs to hold a meeting of some kind and brief US dept. of state of EVERYTHING if it hasn't been done, or at least submit a copy of the Ambassador's speech in Brussels that was posted here!
Blake needs to be formally questioned about making threats; Is Kohona still in Malaysia?
WHY THE HELL are our diplomats so damn SLOW in handling these matters?
Have these US jokers even read their own FBI's entry on LTTE?
This infuriates me.
Is there anyway we can put together an online petition INFORMING the US dept of state, like the one which opposed Oprah, which was a great success? Shall we request the same group who did that one, also to submit/prepare one for DC? or at least to the SL emb. in USA, so that TEHEY could forward it to DC?
SOMETHING must be done guys !!!
shit i can't even concentrate on my damn exams anymore !
Latest from BBC:
"UN call for Tamils to surrender"
"The UN Security Council has called on Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka to lay down their arms and let the UN help evacuate civilians from the war zone.
The council's president branded the Tigers a terrorist movement and said they should join a political process".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8013683.stm
That's great; I wonder if Tamilnet would post that piece of news on their home page...
I also read this:
"..."The fact that both sides have been shooting at civilians as they leave the safe zone is one gross manifestation of the apparent violation of international humanitarian law," Ms Rice said. ..."
BOTH SIDES shooting at civilians ??? is there no one who can issue a statement and correct this woman? where did she get this "BOTH sides shooting at people" crap?
I think some one in the GOSL really needs to RESPOND to such statements, and show these people the SLAF footage of TIGERS shooting at civilians !!!
why is it so hard to issue an official statement for the reason of countering false statements at a UN meeting like this?
Misinterpretation of "Sinhala Majority View" at DBSJ's Blog129. Ananda-USA | April 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Some have interpreted my Comments at this blog as the “Sinhala Majority View” that “the Island belongs exclusively to the Sinhala people.” This is a mischaracterization of what I have said here and elsewhere, and I very much doubt that Sinhala people as a whole espouse that view either. I reject that option, because it would imply disenfranchisement of minorities. In fact, that is precisely the reason the Tamil-only mono-ethnic aparthied racist agenda of the LTTE coupled to their ethnic cleansing activities in Sri Lanka was rejected by ALL OTHER COMMUNITIES. They united and resolved to defeat them, no matter what the cost. The LTTE’s facist attitudes towards the Tamil community accelerated their downfall.
My view, and I believe, that of the Sinhala majority as well, is that the Island belongs to all of us irrespective of our ethnicity and/or religion. As such, everyone in the country should have the right to live and settle wherever they please.
In order to root out separatism by leaf, branch, trunk and root, and prevent its resurgence in the future, the GOSL should adopt a program of ethnic integration as government policy leading to ethnic homogenization of the country. Cultural diversity will not vanish through such ethnic integration; it will exist in its
proper sphere in the personal private domain.
Existing laws, modified as needed to alleviate insecurities of minority communities, should be strictly enforced to assure equal rights AND equal responsibilities for all.
If, as the “Tamil grievances lobby” claims (note that I totally reject these claims as false and totally manufactured), lack of equal rights was the causal force behind the Eelam war, then Sri Lankan Tamils have nothing to worry about. They, and every other citizen, will be guaranteed equal rights under law. What they will not have, is a separate region of the country that they can govern as a Tamil Community-only Fiefdom
where people of other ethnicities are NOT WELCOME, NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE, AND CHASED AWAY FROM by overt and covert methods.
The federal solution, that some members of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, in the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora and in Tamil Nadu, are gearing up to advocate again, is only the first step towards ultimate partition of the country…I have no doubt about that. After 30 years of war, having been brought to the brink of partitioning the motherland, we instinctively recognize these moves for what they really are: attempts to achieve by strategy and stealth in peace the independent mono-ethnic state the separatists failed to win by murderous war.
INDIA backing Baluch Liberation Army within PakistanYou may recall that B.Raman was advocating further support by India for Tamil Rights within Sri Lanka, in parallel with Indian support for the Baluchs within Pakistan, as well as groups in other neighboring countries.
Apparently, the lesson that terrorism one sponsors in other countries will come home to roost, has still not sunk into the minds of the leaders of India.
India backing Balochistan Liberation Army: Rehman MalikBy Farzana Shah-AsianTribune.com
Islamabad, 23 April
Advisor to Pakistani prime minister on Interior, Rehman A. Malik on Wednesday informed the Upper House of the Parliament that India is backing the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) for fuelling insurgency in the province and creating unrest.
Winding up debate on an adjournment motion, to discuss the Balochistan situation in the wake of a recent killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat, Rehman Malik said "BLA was raised and funded by Russia during Soviet-Afghan war when Pakistan was supporting Afghans and now India is backing its activities."
"BLA remained dormant since the Afghan war ended, but it was reactivated after killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, whose grandson Barhamdagh Bugti has openly sought Indian and American support for independence of Balochistan in a recent interview," he added.
He said that Indian consulate in Iranian city, bordering Balochistan, was also involved in activities other than granting visa to people.
The BLA Chief Barhamdagh Bugti, in his recent interview to a Pakistani channel has openly sought Indian support for independence of Balochistan, he added.
"Barhamdagh Bugti is residing in Kabul just five kilometer away from President Karzai's palace and Pakistan has continuously been asking the Afghan government for access to Barhamdagh," he said.
However, he said, the Afghan Government has been denying Bugti's presence in Afghanistan, though Pakistan repeatedly raised it with Afghanistan that their soil was being used against Pakistan.
It is to be mentioned here that Pakistan blames Balochistan Liberation Army—a terrorist organisation being funded by India, for terrorist activities in Balochistan province.
Meanwhile the Upper House of Pakistani Parliament decided to hold an in-camera session to discuss Balochistan situation on Thursday (today).
The decision was made during the winding up speech of Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik when he was reading out some secret documents before the House.
Couple of members described it not in favor of the country and its relations with the neighbors. Malik proposed an in-camera session to inform the members on role of the neighboring countries in fueling insurgency in the province.
The House then decided with a consensus to meet in-camera Thursday at 1230 hours.
During his speech Malik had mentioned some of the developments regarding Brahamdagh Bugti, kidnapping of John Solecki and killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat.
PML-N Chairman Senator Raja Zafarul Haq objected on grounds that the Advisor must care for limitations and the country's relation with its neighbors.
"Every government has a right to defend itself but it is not necessary that all information it has, is always correct. When a minister issues a statement he should be cognisant of his limitation in broader regional perspective and its relations with neighbors," he said.
He said the minister was discussing all the neighbors and was even reading out the secret letters. "Let his statement not create problems for the country. We need to keep our national interest supreme," he said.
Senator Prof Sajid Mir also demanded to disclose the activities of all the countries involved in destabilizing Pakistan. "Let we also not give a clean chit to America, and if they are also involved, we need to name them."
Senator Haroon Akhter also supported Prof Sajid Mir's stance and said, "If any country is involved in destabilizing Pakistan, we should not be shy to name it."
After the debate the matter was put before the House that unanimously agreed to hold an in-camera session on the Balochistan situation today.
- Asian Tribune -
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