LTTE fighting fiercely for its last bastion

Heavy fighting erupted at Puthukudirippu over the last two days. Around 200 casualties are reported from the Army, which includes around 25 soldiers KIA as the Army takes on close to 600 hardcore Tigers backed by a growing softcore comprising mainly of forcibly recruited civilians.

Fighting erupted particularly along the A-35 Parantan-Kilinochchi-Mulaitivu road on the western flank as TF-4 attempts to recapture the road from the Tigers. Fighting was also concentrated around an earth bund and trench line built by the Tigers to guard the strategically located town of Puthukudirippu.

Recent changes to the battle-hardened leadership in the Army's frontline fighting Divisions including 57, 58, 59, TF-2,3 and 4 at the Bridage Command-level and the fact that the Tigers are fighting for their last bastion have contrbuted to the complexities on the ground.

The Tigers, who have been fighting for the last 25yrs cannot be expected to fold particularly with its back against the wall that easily. However this IS the Tigers' last bastion and it WILL fall. The flow of civilians into government areas has been severely hampered by the fresh fighting, particularly after the attack behind the 59's line early this month. Both the Tigers and the civilians have nowhere else to go and right now, the fiasco can end only in the way the LTTE intend it to.