LTTE propaganda farce and crocodile tears

The pro-LTTE media have consistently claimed that the Sri Lanka Air Force is bombing civilian settlements inside the NFZ. This is a baseless lie.

Aerial sorties are indeed carried out, but in carefully identified locations of the NFZ. The area being targetted is between Mullaivaikkal and the Vattuwan bridge north of Mullaitivu Town. This area is the confirmed location of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran. Not a single civilian is allowed entry into this area.

The other location being bombed is in Valairmadam where an LTTE earth bund has been constructed in recent times. The SLAF has got comprehensive evidence to disprove claims of targeting civilian settlements based on UAV footage.

As of today, close to 200,000 civilians had escaped to government controlled areas. 3000 escaped yesterday while today was an unprecedented low of only 50 as operations against the LTTe has died down. Civilian escapees are high when the Army engages the LTTE.

Given the 10km2 area, the self-isolation of the LTTE leadership and the now 40,000+ civilians in the area, the likelihood of actually hitting the civilians is low. Add to this the government has ceased the use of all heavy weapons.

Sea tigers

Despite 4 Naval cordons Sea Tiger activities have not ceased. Tensions were rising in the Army that the LTTE leader might attempt escape by sea. This possibility cannot be ruled out.

In a normal sea tiger VIP/VVIP movement, very much like any other VIP/VVIP movement, there is a convoy carrying the 'main body' (VIP/VVIP) and the security detail (Escort cars, outriders etc).

The outer periphery of the security detail in a sea tiger movement comprises of fast-moving fiberglass boats. Towards the inner core there are suicide boats and in the middle there is the VIP/VVIP body. If the outer periphery is breached, the suicide boats will engage and the 'main body' will escape along with remaining suicide boats until reaching safety.

A scenario like this could unfold in the event Prabhakaran makes a dash for it as the Special Forces and the Commandos, who fell back immediately after achieving their first objective, engage in phase-2 of their operations.

LTTE begs for mercy but no mercy for terrorists!

The once flamboyant and high-flying LTTE and its supporters are on their knees begging for mercy!

Military planners were up all night making final preparations to rescue over 50,000 civilians held hostage by the LTTE. The plans will not be changed for any reason.

Reading between the lines of the LTTE's appeal, it is quite clear that the Tigers were frustrated that the international community has not fallen for its pleas for intervention based on baseless lies of state-led genocide against Tamils unlike in the 1980s when, mainly due to a lack of accurate information, they did sympathize with them.

The IC should take note that the government issued a cessation of hostilities for 48hrs in mid April but the LTTE, which was still in possession of a large area of the NFZ and probably believing the Army will not succeed in its rescue missions, refused to reciprocate and release the hostages.

But now, with its back against the wall literally and metaphorically, oucomes a call for a unilateral cease-fire; a last minute effort for the LTTE leadership to buy more time in order to get away!

The appeal, a careful reading indicates, is actually a cry to save Prabhakaran and not necessarily to save the civilians. Last minute antics have not ceased. While government politicians categorically refused the cessation of hostilities the LTTE and its supporters were spreading rumours that 6000 civilians had died of starvation inside resettlement camps; an utterly baseless lie.

The terrorist group, which, under President Kumaratunga was offered a 10yr interim administration under the 1994 political 'package' went on to not only maim that same President but also to silence all political moderates and alternatives before the Tamil people. They are now on their knees, raving and ranting as Prabhakaran approaches his final days on earth.

Although exact details of the operation cannot be revealed, we can confirm that the operations will go ahead and elaborate plans have been made to rescue trapped civilians before getting at the Tigers.

However, in a recent radio communication recorded by the Army, Poddu Amman, LTTE intelligence wing head had appealed to LTTE black tigers to blow themselves up from amongst the civilians as soon as the operation starts to make it look like the Sri Lanka Army has done it.

DW & dA