A Rescue Mission by SLAF

Video Source,
http://www.youtube.com/user/kkair



Video Source,
SLRC

Original Source,
http://www.defence.lk/videos/20080815Rescue.wmv

Read more about the mission,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/08/lrrp-recue-video-posted-on-defencelk.html
and
http://www.rivira.lk/2008/08/17/ranabima.htm

Striped Icarus’ airstrip

An accelerated project the LTTE has launched to build a clandestine airstrip capable of taking heavy aircraft in Mullaitivu has raised many an eyebrow in defence circles. LTTE cadres, as we reported yesterday, are said to be carrying out construction work like beavers with the help of heavy machinery day and night, paying scant regard to their vulnerability to airstrikes. Why are the Tigers in a mighty hurry to build such an airstrip at this juncture?

There are several possibilities. The LTTE is trapped in the Wanni with its sea and land supply routes being severed effectively. The on-going military onslaughts to clear the A-32 land route on the North-western seaboard and to block the LTTE’s access to the sea on the North-eastern littoral are a frightening proposition for Prabhakaran, who is also facing a military thrust targeting the soft underbelly of his Kilinochchi bastion. The army is poised to launch an offensive on the Muhamalai front anytime. Therefore, it may be argued that the LTTE may be trying to have an aerial escape route open for its leaders, should push come to shove.

It may also be that the LTTE is expecting an emergency consignment of military material to be delivered by a huge cargo carrier for the final battle in Kilinochchi. The possibility of a rescue operation with help from an external source cannot also be ruled out. It could also be that the LTTE has in its possession larger planes than the ones it has unveiled and it is planning to take them out as the last resort for some unknown mission. The runway project could even be a ploy to distract the SLAF from other targets or to lure it into a trap.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/08/16/editorial.html

AUSTRALIAN LTTE FRONT TO SCREEN A FILM TO PROMOTE SUICIDE TERRORISM

A Brisbane front organization of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will be screening a documentary film promoting suicide terrorism in the Australian city, the Brisbane Activist Center has announced.

The center announced, “This fascinating documentary is an exceedingly rare, inside look at an organization that most of the world has blacklisted as a terrorist group.”
Made by the Norwegians , who are extremely sympathetic to the LTTE , the film has been described a strong argument for the suicide terrorism, which has been condemned flatly in the other parts of the world.

Entitled ,”My Daughter the Terrorist” the documentary film justifies the existence of the suicide terrorists called “Black Tigers” and is accused of telling one sided story about the most feared walking bombs whose most famous victim had been India’s former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was killed by a woman suicide bomber at a place called Siriperumbudur, in the outskirts of the Tamil nadu city of Chennai.

Many suicide bombers have been found to be former child soldiers who had been kidnapped or taken without the will of their parents from their homes and schools, human rights activists have accused. The desolate children then eventually will be trained to be suicide bombers.

Read more,
http://www.spur.asn.au/

LTTE downfall imminent as more strongholds fall

*Tigers in propaganda campaign to halt Forces' advance;
*Civilians forcibly kept for use as human shield

There were many predictions two years ago when the Security Forces commenced military operations against the LTTE, that the Security Forces were going after the illusionary task of defeating the LTTE militarily.

But those predictions have become invalid with today's status quo of the military operations as troops go ahead with their military operations, unaffected by criticism and dire predictions, capturing those 'impregnable' fortresses one after the other.

There is a miraculous change in the attitude of those critics, within the past few weeks with reports indicating that the downfall of the LTTE is imminent at the hands of the Security Forces.

This sudden change of attitude came after the Security Forces stepped into the Kilinochchi district along the Mannar Pooneryn A-32 road after completing their mission of liberating the Mannar district.

Statistics indicate that the area under LTTE control has been reduced from 15,000 square kilometres two years back to 4,000 square kilometres reducing its fighting strength to 5,000 cadres.

Not only are they facing defeat in the North East but also facing setbacks internationally too losing their international support base with many countries banning the LTTE as a terror organisation and stopping funding sources of the organisation.

As the humiliating defeat of the LTTE is imminent it has commenced a desperate campaign to tarnish the image of the Security Forces, risking the lives of the innocent civilians trapped in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.

Read more,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/15/fea03.asp

Tunukkai about to fall

The strategic town of Tunukkai is about to fall. Sources indicated to this site that the town will fall within the next day or two. Already, small groups of Tigers are trying to escape the town as the army bypassed it and lay in ambush behind the town. Defence sources say that Tigers might abandon Tunukkai to fight another day and defend Kilinochchi.

If Tunukkai falls in the next few days, it won't take long for Mallavi to also fall. The fall of Mallavi will result in the fall of Mankulam on the A9. If the Army reaches the jungles at Mankulam and Kokavil, Kilinochchi will become untenable.

The Army took over control of the Vellankulam Tunukkai road last month. They are now in control of the Mulangavil-Tunukkai road. Units have also ventured into the Mallavi-Murugandi road. There is a famous Pullayar/Ganesha Kovil at Murugandi.

Read more,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2008/08/tunukkai-about-to-fall.html

Security forces positioned in striking distances to Kilinochchi: LTTE loses grip over Administration hub at Mulankavil

The valiant troops of the 58 Division flanking the Western coastal boundary of the Wanni battlefront advancing in the Kilinochchi District along the A-32 Mannar -Pooneryn trunk road yesterday (Wednesday) gained control over a main terror bastion township, Mulankavil.

The LTTE garrison town of Mulankavil came under security forces control following intense fighting between troops and LTTE over days reportedly killing 20 terrorists including an area LTTE leader Thennaman. Security forces came victorious as no fatalities were caused during the pitched battles.

Mulankavil was the second most important administrative hub next to Kilinochchi for the last decade and a large township in the western coast, 58 Division Commander Brigadier Shaveendra Silva said speaking to defence.lk.

The Mahaviru day celebrations last year was held in the central ground at Mulankavil he said adding that the Pongu Tamil festivals were also consistently held at the location. This was also declared as the 'Mahaviru Town' by the LTTE security sources said.

Read more,
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080814_04
Videos,
SLRC

“Nobody Dares to Speak Against LTTE in Wanni” – Surrendered LTTE Cadre

“TIGER LEADERS are using thousands of child soldiers for war. They recruit children directly from schools. Parents and teachers are helpless and nobody dares to speak against LTTE orders or their diktats. Wanni people are now fully disgusted with the LTTE and they do not trust them any longer,” so says a 21 year old Tiger surrendee to the Army troops in Jaffna.

The surrendered Tiger cadre, identified as “Thileepan” in the organization was nineteen years of age when he was forcibly taken away by Tigers during a pilgrimage he has made to Madhu in the company of his mother and sisters in the year 2006. The surrendee who claimed that he was for peace and does not want to resort to violence, further told the Army in his confessions, the following;

“Senior LTTE men, operative from the rear of their defences are used to send new recruits to the front as canon fodder. Tigers are not capable of resisting attacks of the troops. LTTE members are now tired of fighting against well-trained government troops. They are now withdrawing. Their “Eelam Dream” is confined only to a dream. They will never achieve it.”

Read more,
http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=15278

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ACCUSES TAMIL TIGERS OF USING CIVILIANS AS A BUFFER, VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW

The London based Amnesty International accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who are in control of Sri Lanka’s Northern Wanni area, of designing measures to use civilians as a buffer against government forces - a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

Amnesty International, in a statement said, “In the LTTE-controlled Wanni area, the Tigers have hindered thousands of families from moving to safer places by imposing a strict pass system and, in some instances, forcing some family members to stay behind to ensure the return of the rest of the family. These measures seem designed in part to use civilians as a buffer against government forces - a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”

Amnesty International also accused the Tamil Tigers of recruiting people to fight unwillingly in its statement: “The LTTE has also engaged in forced recruitment.”

The organization also criticized the Sri Lanka government of keeping the refugees in camps and not allowing them to go freely, except for children to go to school. “Amnesty International has also received reports that the government is housing those who have been able to leave LTTE areas in temporary shelters that often operate as de facto detention centers. Witnesses from Kalimoddai camp in Mannar district told Amnesty International that more than 200 families who are held there cannot exit the camp for any reason (except to go to school) without obtaining a pass from the government's security forces.”

While seeing to the shelter, food and sanitary needs of the people, the government forces also have to see to the security of the refugees and the surrounding areas, since it was the practice of the LTTE to send saboteurs with refugees in the Eastern Province, military sources said.

Read more,
http://www.tothecenter.com/news.php?readmore=6758

Cheap Kills

The LTTE is losing the support of expatriate Sri Lankan Tamils. Even in India, where the Tamils originally came from, more and more LTTE operatives are being hunted down and arrested. In the last two years, India has arrested 55 LTTE operatives. In the last week, key members of a gunrunning operation were arrested. In Europe, there are now public demonstrations against the LTTE, something that would have been impossible a few years ago, because LTTE enforcers were present to punish those Tamils who were "unpatriotic."

The casualties have been low this year (a few hundred dead and wounded a week), but consistently in favor of the army (about ten LTTE dead for each government one). Every week, the LTTE loses ground. Three years ago, the LTTE controlled over fifteen percent of Sri Lanka, now they have only about six percent (4,000 square kilometers). The Tamil population in this area numbers about 200,000 (a little over one percent of the national population).

The government continues to allow food and other supplies to pass into LTTE controlled territory, as it always has, and the LTTE tries to force civilians to move with them when the army advances into LTTE territory.

Read more,
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/srilank/articles/20080810.aspx

Chintana Vidanage in action this morning

CHINA: Commonwealth Games and South Asian Games gold medallist Chinthana Vidanage will be seen in action in the weight lifting competition on day four of the XX1Xth Olympic Games here today.

Vidanage, who created Sri Lanka history with back to back medals at the South Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, will have a tough task when he competes under Group C in men’s 69 kg category of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games weightlifting competition at Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium (BUAA) Gymnasium here at 10 a.m. today. The Lankan weightlifter looked determined on the eve of his pet event. “I have been training hard, putting a lot of effort to prepare for the Olympics.

But I know Olympics is a big event and the things are highly competitive here. It is not going to be easy but I am focused on my event to do my best,” Vidanage said after a light work out.

Sri Lanka shooter Edirisinghe M. Senanayake, placed 48th in the men’s 10m air pistol event on Saturday, is making preparations for his pet event - the men’s 50m pistol. Senanayake is due to have his final training session today before he fires at the men’s 50m air pistol qualification round at the Beijing Shooting Range commencing tomorrow from 6.30 a.m.

Tomorrow will be a D-day for Sri Lanka as boxer Anuruddha Ratnayake will take on Latin American silver medallist Robeniison Vieira of Brazil in the first round of the men’s 51kg flyweight event at the Workers’ Gymnasium here.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/11/news30.asp
Photo,
http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news%5C2006%5C3%5C6054_image_headline.html

Mendis sets record as India slump

Spin sensation Ajantha Mendis broke a 62-year-old record to help Sri Lanka close in on a series win over India.

India lead the hosts by just 14 runs after being reduced to 161-5 in their second innings on day three of the third and final Test in Colombo.

Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara was finally out for 144 in Sri Lanka's 396.

Mendis's two wickets, which included Sachin Tendulkar, took his series total to 25 and broke Alec Bedser's record for the most wickets in a debut series.

"It is a phenomenal achievement. He came in when Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) needed support and he rose to the occasion well," said Sangakkara.

"He has gone beyond our expectations and the important thing for him is to keep learning."

Read more,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/7552523.stm

Assassinating Rajiv Gandhi was a big blunder by a short-sighted LTTE

The newly elected chief minister of Sri Lanka’s eastern provincial council was a child soldier in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), only 15 years old, when former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in May 1991. In his first interview with an Indian newspaper, S. Santira Kanthan, alias Pillayan, calls the assassination a big mistake on the part of LTTE. Edited excerpts:

What made you join the LTTE and what do you think about it now?
I joined the LTTE in 1991 when I was 15 years old and I thought that through the armed struggle, we could achieve the rights of the Tamil people.

One time the LTTE was very strong, the people believed that it was the only hope for the Tamils, but now they are struggling. That is why the people ended up voting for us.

Why did you leave the LTTE?

In 2004, differences between the northern and eastern provinces became accentuated. I am very attached to the Eastern Province people because I was born there and I know how they were discriminated by the LTTE. I knew that it would be difficult to get Tamil Eeelam (independent homeland for which the Tamil rebels are battling) because the LTTE started killing their own Tamil people. The killing of Rajiv Gandhi was a big blunder which we will never be able to rectify. We lost the dream of Tamil Eelam and left the LTTE and thought better to start a political party through which we can get the aspirations of the Tamil-speaking people (fulfilled).

Where were you when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated?
I was in the LTTE training camp.

Read more,
http://www.livemint.com/2008/08/10234519/Assassinating-Rajiv-Gandhi-was.html

Most Tamils are not Tigers

It has often been said that while all Tigers are Tamils, all Tamils are not Tigers. However threadbare the cliché may be, this is almost wholly true although it is increasingly evident that some Sinhalese are very much in the pay of the Tigers. But it is a fact of life in this civil war-torn country, where a terrorist strike by the LTTE at anytime, anywhere, is a stark possibility, extraordinary security measures that burden ordinary people, have to be taken. Yet it is not acceptable that when such restrictions, checks and investigations are enforced, that people of one community are singled out for special attention.

We carry an article today about one such instance of a woman who has worked for many years in two garment factories in the outskirts of Colombo, who while headed for her home in Badulla, suffered the nightmare of being held for nearly two days in a police station until her employer was able to establish her bona fides and get her released. The story also indicates varying degrees of kindness to the detainees in the police station that would have certainly helped blunt the bitterness such incidents inevitably create.

Reading the report of the travails of those held for checking, a problem that too many Tamils mostly from the estate areas often suffer, there is a clear impression created that these checks are replete with a great deal of unnecessary bureaucratic procedures. Sometimes the so-called ``suspects’’ are produced in court or, more commonly, a lot of time is spent in deciding whether they should be produced. Meanwhile they continue to be held by the police in stations that are not equipped to hold large numbers.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/08/10/editorial.html

6 suspected LTTE operatives held in Chennai

At least six suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) operatives were arrested here on Saturday, the police said.

A number of fake number plates and other materials were seized from the suspects, according to the police.

The detentions were the consequence of the 10-day-old arrest of LTTE operative Thambinna alias Daniel, police sources said.

Extracted from,
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14737182