Sri Lankans Await a Gloves-off
Response from the Government
Dilrook Kannangara
Within just nine days two legislators have been killed in Sri Lanka;
within eight days two claymore attacks have taken place. Tigers have
brought claymore bombs to Colombo thanks to the loopholes deliberately
created by the CFA.Apart from preventive measures, deterrent measures
also need to be taken to arrest the situation. Five legislators were
killed during the past two and a half years by the LTTE.
The government has to act decisively at this moment. There is widespread
belief that the abrogation of the CFA would lead to more violence. It
must be ensured that it is mostly the tigers that would fall prey to
this violence. Therefore it is essential that an unprecedented retaliation
strike is directed at the tigers, preferably at their remaining leaders.
The upper hand which the government obtained last year must be kept
continuously without any let up in order to keep that enviable position.
The recent assassination must be thoroughly investigated. N order to
carry out claymore attacks in suburban areas tiger operatives must be
reasonably assisted by other elements. All these elements must be unearthed
and punished commensurately. Many more claymore bombs may be stored
in the South for terrorist activities. It will become imperative to
use both military and paramilitary means to quash infiltrators and to
arrest their explosives.
From a political front the government must establish its insightfulness
by not giving into terror attacks immediately following its decision
to officially annul the failed CFA. It must also not let terrorists
hijack democracy by targeting legislatures. When all these relevant
facts are taken into account, there is a big score to settle; waiting
till the 16th to launch large scale offensive operations into the tiger
heartland is highly dangerous and allows tigers to instigate pre-emptive
attacks on important political, economic and military targets.
Saturday’s attack on a notorious tiger killer is a welcome gesture
in the war to eliminate terrorists. There was a notable absentee at
the fallen tiger’s funeral; tiger leader Parabakaran was absent
to pay last respects for one of his most valuable men. This is a clear
sign of tigers’ extreme desperation, fear and defeat. This event
would have provided the SLAF with valuable information on the whereabouts
of many other top tigers including its Number Two Pottu Amman. Bumping
off these perpetual terrorist leaders who had outlived so many governments
in Colombo hold the key to LTTE’s internal stability, policy consistency,
internal and external relationships, networks, morale of its cadres
and trust from its sympathizers. Fighting a headless tiger s going to
be much easier than a battle hardened one drenched with experience.
A good example is the vacuum created by Tamil Chelvam. Although Nadesan
was promptly appointed to the post, anybody can understand that Nadesan
is very mush inadequate vis-à-vis his predecessor. This abundantly
justify the claim that tiger leaders are irreplaceable; when killed
there are no saviors left to lead the child soldiers, at least to their
awaiting graves.
LTTE desperation has hit unprecedented levels as displayed by its acts.
Its decision to evict relief workers has made it very unpopular among
the masses in Vanni. A peoples’ Tamil organization has recently
agitated the masses against the tigers and the cut-off of relief supplies
means that more acts of disobedience are on the way. On another development
tigers had tried to seek medical assistance from Tamil Nadu doctors.
This substantiates the previous claims that the LTTE is crippled with
overflowing casualties due to persistent attacks by security forces
aimed at killing the maximum number of tigers. Tigers guarding their
bunkers just like the Sri Lankan security forces guarded these bunkers
in the North during 1999-2000 are paying the very same price - high
casualties. Security forces now have the luxury of playing the guerilla
game against the former guerillas successfully. The longer the tigers
have to face this attrition warfare, the more will be their casualties.
It is said that tractors that bring in fresh fighters into the bunkers
take away a similar number of dead tigers in the return trip.
The need for more pre-emptive, proactive assaults on the tigers looms
large after the abrogation of the CFA. Although tit-for-tat killings
must continue, proactive strikes must quickly take over. Using the same
tactics as tigers use such as claymore bombs is a very effective way
to rout the tigers in deep Vanni. Surveillance video footage on the
Sencholei terror camp showed many LTTE vehicles traveling to and from
that camp. This is indicative of the hyper activity surrounding tiger
camps which can be a blessing for claymore attacks near them.
Meanwhile no change should happen in the manner law and order and security
is maintained in Jaffna. Some terrorist elements are trying to undermine
Jaffna security by alienating the politico-military structure that is
firmly in place in Jaffna which has been extremely successful in maintaining
the Northern peninsula under government control for more than 12 years.
Peace loving Tamils who support these security initiatives wholeheartedly
risking their lives must be protected against all adversities. Similar
mechanisms must be considered for other parts of the country prone to
infiltrations.
By killing legislators tigers cannot achieve anything as the military
push is managed solely by the defence top brass unhindered by political
elements. However, a similar attack on the tigers would prove fatal
for the terror outfit which is already struggling without proper leadership.
No successful rebel leader hid himself in fear when his leading followers
were put to rest. Terror which was used by the LTTE to cripple the people
has now come to cripple it.
All patriotic Lankans demand from their elected government to meet out
justice without delay. That will help the tigers to associate their
crime with its due punishment.
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