Tigers Get Ready to Face the Mechanized Infantry of the Army in North
March 25th, 2008
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj
An important militaristic development is unfolding in the Northern theatre of war!.
The 57, 58 and 59 divisions of the army continue to battle it out with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) within the Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitheevu districts in the North – west, south and South – east of the Northern Province while the 53 and 55 divisions are engaging in combat along the Kilaly – Muhamaalai – Nagar Kovil axis inside the Jaffna peninsula.
While fighting goes on almost on a daily basis in the Northern mainland known generally as the Wanni the Peninsula witnesses intense exchange of artillery fire each day.
There are also occasional skirmishes and minor offensives of a limited nature.
Line of control
As of now the initiative is with the security forces who are frequently launching attacks along the Kilaly – Muhamalai – Nagar Kovil axis.
The time, place and intensity of such attacks is decided and determined by the security forces.
The LTTE for the time being is merely reacting and responding to military initiatives by fighting what is essentially a defensive war.
The greater part of the Jaffna peninsula and outlying Islands are under the control of the armed forces. The LTTE controls the under – developed, sparsely populated areas in the South, South – west and south – east of the peninsula.
These areas consist of the Pachchilaippally AGA division and parts of the Thenmaratchy and Vadamaratchy – east AGA divisions. Some of these areas fall under the Jaffna district while others come under Kilinochchi district.
All areas of the Peninsula south of Nagar Kovil on the east coast, Muhamaalai in the middle and Kilaly in the west are under LTTE control.
Thus the effective line of control is along an axis comprising Kilaly – Muhamaalai – Nagar Kovil.
This is a “rekha” that both sides have been trying to cross for many years.
The LTTE conducted phase – four of its staggered “unceasing waves” (Oyatha Alaigal) operation in 2000 to extend this line further north but failed.
The tigers also made an abortive attack in Muhamalai in August 2006 to reach the defences at Muhamaalai.
The armed forces conducted “Operatio Agnikheela” in April 2001. It was a colossal disaster. Security forces also made a determined push in October 2006 that failed.
There were also two limited offensives in November and December last year.
Retaking Elephant Pass
The strategic objective as far as the security forces are concerned is to drive the LTTE away from the peninsula and re – take the Isthmus of Elephant Pass that links the Peninsula and mainland.
For this the armed forces need to progress southwards about 10 to 12 miles from where they are located now.
[near Elephant Pass:pic by Oliver van Straaten]
The terrain consists of plains, grasslands, fields, marshes, scrub jungle, coconut and palmyrah groves etc.
Despite the overwhelming military superiority of the armed forces they have found it difficult to dislodge the LTTE from entrenched positions.
The tigers holding on to territory are engaging in positional warfare like a conventional army to defend and retain it
The army is determined to push forward and re- take Elephant pass in the near future.
A key element of the military plans to push forward in the peninsula is the large – scale deployment of its newly created Mechanized Infantry Division.
The MID is a brainchild of Army commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka . It was formally “raised ” on Feb 14th 2007.
The MID is in actuality the 53 – 4 brigade that was designated later as the mechanized infantry brigade.It consists of three battalions called the first, second and third mechanized infantry regiments or MIR
The military personnel deployed in these MIR’s come from the 3rd light infantry battalion,10th Sinha regiment, 4th Gajaba Battalion, and 5th and 6th reconnaissance regiments of the Sri Lanka Armoured corps.
The MID has a variety of armoured vehicles including BTR-80A, BMP-2 , Type 63 and WZ551 for operational purposes.
Baptism of fire
The MID had a baptism of fire , literally.
It was on 14th February 2007, at the Regimental Headquarters of the 53 Division located in Kodikamam that the Mechanized Infantry Regiment was ceremonially inaugurated.
While the ceremony was in progress the LTTE fired its artillery accurately from across the lagoon in Poonagary on the mainland.
The Brigade Commander Lt Colonel Ralph Nugera , Lt. Col. Sumith Atapattu, Major Harendra Peiris, and two staff officers were injured.
A major factor that led to the establishment of the MID was the military debacle on October 11th 2006 when the army tried to push southwards to Elephant pass.
The LTTE allowed the soldiers to proceed to some extent and then counter attacked.
[Abandoned armoured vehicle at Elephant Pass: pic by Thomas Berg]
An important highlight of the fighting on that day was the severe losses of armoured vehicles by the army. At least twelve armoured fighter vehicles (AFV) and Armoured personnel carriers (APC) were put out of action by the tigers in three hours of fierce combat.
Even as fighting progressed, GOSL troops backed by artillery went forward. The advance was slowed down to some extent by tiger artillery as well as mines.
Two Main Battle Tanks (MBT) were hit by anti – tank “monster” mines. These mines were placed and triggered by the Victor unit of the LTTE which specialises in anti – tank and anti – armoured vehicle warfare.
After the first MBT tank was hit and rendered non – operational the second MBT overtook it and proceeded ahead. This too was hit in turn by a “monster” anti – tank mine.
A third armoured vehicle moved in a different direction and fell into a deep, waterlogged ditch. It was a pit dug and covered up with vegetation.
It was a well camouflaged tiger trap.This too was laid by the Victor unit and demonstrated that the LTTE excelled in both using modern weaponery as well as engaging in comparatively “primitive” yet effective warfare tactics.
LTTE’s Victor Tank Unit
The LTTE’s Victor anti – tank and armoured unit continued engaging in action during intensive fighting too. Despite having lost its founder – commander Lt. Col Akbar to a random army shell on Oct 7th members of the unit fought fiercely.
In addition to the earlier losses of two armoured vehicles to “monster” mines and another to a camouflaged pit – trap , three more Armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) were hit by anti – tank RPG’ s and destroyed.
Six AFV’s comprising 4 Czhech built T – 55 ’s and two Russian built ones were put out of action by the Victor unit.
The Victor anti – tank and armoured unit also fired at Chinese built Armoured Personnel carriers with success. Three APC’s were totally destroyed while another three were extensively damaged .
Altogether the Victor unit had put six armoured fighting vehicles and six armoured personnel carriers out of action within a few hours of fighting.
The armed forces had never sustained such massive losses in this manner before.
Significantly the LTTE had suffered a major loss four days before the fighting.
On Oct 7th Lt. Col Akbar of the LTTE was killed along the Muhamaalai FDL as a result of an army shell.
Akbar, a Batticaloa Tamil was the head of the Victor anti – armoured artillery unit.
Akbar who joined the LTTE in 1990 got married in 2003. He was from its inception the chief of the Victor unit.
It was named after former Mannar tiger commander Victor.
This unit known generally among LTTE cadres as the “RPG Commando” had its roots in the “Col” Kittu artillery unit and had its baptism of fire during “operation Sathjaya” in Kilinochchi.
It then became a sub – division of the “Imran – Pandian” unit named after two of Prabakharan’s trusted bodyguards.
‘Blood sacrifice’
By 1997- 98 the anti – armoured artillery unit began functioning independently under Akbar.
Members of this unit have vertical and not horizontal stripes on their uniforms.
Though many stalwarts of this unit like Maj. Navachandran, Lt.Col Manivannan and Lt. Col Chutta are no more Akbar had survived despite being a veteran of many “Jayasikurui: and “Oyatha Alaigal” battles.
Lt. Col Akbar’s death at a critical time may very well have affected LTTE fortunes as the Victor unit was of crucial importance in countering army advances.
His death however seemed to have inspired his unit members to perform well during war. Instead of being a bad omen it seemed to have become the “blood sacrifice” made to the Gods before war to ensure victory.
This was a practice in the lost martial tradition of the Tamils that has been revived by the Liberation Tigers.
Incidently R. Pageerathan alias Illango who led the attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force base in Saliyapura last October was also a stalwart of the Victor Unit
Illango’s greatest military achievement prior to the A ‘pura attack had been at Ithavil during the Elephant pass operation. LTTE cadres brought by sea had landed at Vadamaratchy east and moved inland.
They had penetrated Ithavil along the A – 9 highway at interdicted military movement along the road to Elephant pass/Iyakkachchi.
The security forces were fighting hard to drive the tigers away and clear the road so that supplies could reach beleagured troops at Elephant pass. The use of tanks and armoured cars placed the LTTE at a disadvantage.
It was then that the Victor anti – tank unit named after former Mannar LTTE commander got into action. Two armoured cars were hit by Light anti Tank weapons.
At one stage Illango is said to have jumped on top of a Buffel tank and shot dead the gunner. Illango had then turned the tank ’s weapons on the security forces. This act helped turn the tide of war it is said.
Deployment of the MID
The deployment of the mechanized infantry division is expected to turn the direction of the war in favour of the armed forces. Massive destructive power is to be unleashed on a terrific and widespread scale as the MID gets going.
The earlier role of Infantry advancing with the aid of armoured vehicles will be reversed with the armoured vehicles advancing with the infantry behind.
On Jan 31st this year the MID had its first taste of success. Thanks to the rapid deployment of the MID the armed forces overan the first line of LTTE defence along the Muhamaalai front. Around 25 bunkers were destroyed.
In mid – March the armed forces undertook another major push. The tigers quietly retreated and waited. Smelling a rat, the armed forces also opted to stay put for several hours and then withdraw.
Consequently military intelligence uncovered the LTTE strategy.
Apparently the tigers in anticipation of the mechanized infantry had embarked upon classical trench warfare.
In a bid to entrap the advancing tanks and armoured vehicles the LTTE had constructed a wide, deep ,and long trench behind their second line of defence.
Two other defence lines consisting of a network of trenches had been constructed behind the major trench.
The giant trench is wide and deep so the tanks could not bridge over the top but instead would fall into the trench and not be able to get out.
Welded “stars” of steel or specially designed blocks of concrete have also been placed in the way of the tanks so they could not get over or around.
The LTTE has forced a large number of civilians to engage in digging trenches and bunkers as part of defence preparations.
Every able – bodied man was required to do a minimum of seven days enforced “shramadana” in digging in one stretch.
If anyone wanted to opt out of it they had to pay a “fine” of 5000 rupees per week. The LTTE used that money to pay people doing manual labour to do the digging.
The LTTE kept 1000 rupees of the fine and paid the hired help 4000 Rs for a week’s work.
Trench warfare
It is noteworthy that the LTTE is engaging in trench warfare to confront the mechanized infantry formations when they advance.
Earlier the familiar tactics of the LTTE was “in – depth defence” where the security forces were encouraged to advance deep into tiger territory and were then counter – attacked.
Interestingly “tanks” were developed during world war one to overrun trench based defences.
During world war two trench warfare was modified to prevent defences being overrun by the mechanized and armoured divisions.
The French for instance constructed the famous Maginot line trench complex to stop German invasion but Hitler’s Panzer divisions just rolled around the end of it and kept going ahead.
A recent event of significance in the annals of trench warfare has been the construction of deep trenches in Western Golans by the Israeli defence forces.
Massive trenches are being dug by troops and civilians behind the slopes of the Golan heights in anticipation of a possible advance by Syria.
Meanwhile the Sri Lankan armed forces have also “delayed” their plans in the aftermath of knowing the trench warfare plans of the LTTE.
The Mechanized infantry division is being put through different types of tactical training to surmount anticipated trench based warfare of the tigers.
The unusually long rainy season is also a deterrent to the MRD as soggy, muddy terrain is not very conducive to forward movement by heavy vehicles.
In any event both sides are getting ready for the inevitable “big” bang.
There is no doubt that the mechanized infantry will play the decisive role in breaking down LTTE defences.
On the other hand the Victor anti – tank and anti – armoured vehicle unit will play a crucial role in countering the MID advance.
Ultimately the renewed battle for Elephant pass could be a novel form of trench vs tank warfare or. mechanized infantry vs anti – tank unit confrontation.
(D.B.S. Jeyaraj can be reached at djeyaraj@federalidea.com)
Entry Filed under: transCurrents NewsFeatures
52 Comments Add your own
1. j.veera | March 25th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Come My Borthers and Sisters,
Liberate our land from sinhala terorrist force. We salute your sacrifies. Do not think myself as a selfish and living free country, I sacrificed myself for our struggle. Now i cant fight for my people, I injured and I cant fight any more. We liberated elephant pass, now my belove fighters your turn through all sinhala terrorist from jaffna. Keep on you will succseed.
GOD BLESS TAMILS AND THEIR STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.
2. Maraththamizhan | March 25th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I am wondering how many “surprises” will be there for SLA. This is a do or die battle for LTTE. May be after that, Mr.Raman may write some ‘bravo” articles on that battle.
After these battles Tamils struggle will move forward one step further. Thats what happened in the past.
3. S.Rasalingam | March 25th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Isn’t this preparation for more killings on both sides mere madness?
These are young kids, tamil or sinhalese, who will get killed. Prabakaran has demonstrated his great abilties as a general and fighter.
It is time now, for him to join the
call of Mr. Anandasangaree and call a halt to all this, and declare that he is for a peaceful solution. He can electrify the whole country, the whole diaspora, the whole world, and show that he is a hero not only in war, but also in Peace. No politician will be able to refuse to heed his call for peace, if he were to JUST DO IT
He has the key, and this is a great chance to produce a political solution which would fit in with the dignity of the Tamil people and the fact that the Tamils and Sinhalese have lived in this land from Time Immemorial.
4. Subra S.Massey | March 25th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
In three days the Government will run out of hospital facilities and that will be the end of the war.
A war is simple art, its essence lies in it accomplishment.
Napoleon Bonaparte.
The employment of too many forces in combat may be disadvantageous; for whatever superiority in may give in the first moment, it will have to pay dealry for in the next.
Karl Von Clausewitz
The war will be over in three days. It is not the war itself is the problem. Dealing with the dead and wounded and the supplies. We will know it in the next 3-6 months.
5. Suranga | March 25th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Mr Jeyaraj job well done
6. chad | March 26th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Well, for all the ex tamils who are wrting comments from over seas, it is sad to but ture that, the time has come for praba and the ltte in Sri lanka.
2008 is the year for SL forces. They will come up wih solutions to over come ltte. This is do or die situation
for GOSL as well. Even though, those refugee tamils live in north (ltte areas) and the east are useless for Sri lanka.
So, all the tamils; keep up the propaganda for international community, and keep sending money for ltte arms.;0)
7. Devinda Fernando | March 26th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Subra Massey Barking more rhetoric again. You quote Von Clauswitz so therefore you must be right, but if and when the Sri Lanka army succeeds who will you be quoting to save face for your miscalculation?
8. SAm | March 26th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Subra is talking about chemical war fare!
9. pina kaludava | March 26th, 2008 at 2:17 am
Great, Sinhala racist army is going to learn a lesson this time around. No doubt about it. All tigers’ units will do a real massacre on the Sinhala Army. Racist army is going to be driven out from entire Tamil Eelam including the East.Then the tiger units will unleash it’s tremondous power to the South and will start attcking bases un South and raise Eelam Flag in Colombo.Then our great ‘Sun Goat’ will take over the leadersip as the leader entire Eelam land.
10. David Blacker | March 26th, 2008 at 3:16 am
DBS, the Buffel is not a tank, but a lightly armoured truck
11. Mandy | March 26th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Tamils hold the key save their race not Sinhalese. If diaspora push VP for peace as mentioned by S.Rasalingam, the IC will come forward to stop killings and will make sure a just solution to all. but desire for a separate, mainly of elite Tamils, will facilitate the way for destruction like VP helped Mahinda to win.
12. gihan | March 26th, 2008 at 5:07 am
Dear Innocent tamil Young Generation,
You all are become madfull generation from Crual Prabakaran Power maniya. Donot be another Died terrist of Sri lanka. Prabakaran is in Dream which will never be relistic. More than 22 years he couln’t come out from that dream. Therefore come forward as Sri lanken who has proud histry. Don’t be another target for cynide.
Think about past, present and future
Thank for read this
13. tm | March 26th, 2008 at 7:04 am
you l soon find out what will happen to the LTTE & its leadres.
14. theeran tamilakam | March 26th, 2008 at 7:10 am
while reading articles like these ,one can understand and appreciate the determination and will power of the tamils who are fighting to get their dream homeland even though they are a minority fighting against the army in lakhs.
there is no doubt the tigers will improwise step by step.whether it tis MID or any other thing.
the ultimate aim is not victory but to acquire military superiority.
there are thousands of fighters like lt.col elango who have sacrificed their lives all these years and there are many more who are ready to do it.with fighters like these no one would be able to defeat the tigers militarily.this is a simple fact the sinhala leaders dont want to accept.
if the sinhala govt is adamant ,they can either run this war for hundreds of years and continue the horror in the island,or if they want to live in peace and think with the stable mind,they should let the tamils live with peaceand honour and by doing this they themselves can find peace.
they should try to remove the ” some people never learn” tag from their face.
15. Irumporai | March 26th, 2008 at 9:54 am
In the event of LTTE’s total defeat will Mr.Jeyaraj will you sue the canadian tiger agents who broke ur leg?
16. Ratna | March 26th, 2008 at 10:32 am
It’s matter of time before Tigers (or another Tamil rebel group) get hold of weopons of mass destructions (WMD).
Tamils have nothing to lose, they lost almost everything from 1977 to 1983. But from 1983, it’s the South which is losing.
Will capturing Elephant Pass and Killinochi solve the problem???
17. Imran | March 26th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
S. Rasalingam,
please do not mention Anandasangaree in the same breath as Prabhakaran. What did Anandasangaree so for for the Tamil people? Where were Anandasangaree last year when Colombo forced Tamil people to the north? There are so many examples. Instead of telling Prabhakaran what he should do, he would better do to shut up!
18. Shanthi | March 26th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
DBS can hear the war-cry of the war-lords.
Both sides have loads of experience. But, still a lot of surprises in store.
Guided missiles, long distance trajectories, the final batch of air defences, under water jet-propellers, etc
The Intelligence is the vital part. SL govt has already won hands down with the help of TMVP initially. That is only half the victory.
LTTE functions in the need-to-know basis. Operation Ellara established that dissention in LTTE / people does not provide sufficient information to eradicate/preempt LTTE moves by SLA.
Ludicrously, LTTE chose to fight the defensive war! It is a bitter lesson of worldwar-1 that was abandoned. The technology is available but both parties can employ that. The success depends on who adopts the technology first and train them.
For instance, the terrain of the north – under ground passage ways and infrastructures – beneath the top soil.
Best surprises are expected to take place above the surface levels – when the political musical chair takes place to form the new alliances and allegiance.
Who will consider the people in their effort to conclude the matter? No one will. Will the people be ready for the next phase?
Wake up people. Come out of your cocoon!
19. CakeBoy | March 26th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
It is amazing. Abso-bloody-lutely amazing how some LTTE supporting diaspora tamils continue to live in their own, private fantastical worlds!
Witness the comments above. Quote
Ratna – ‘It’s matter of time before Tigers (or another Tamil rebel group) get hold of weopons of mass destructions (WMD).’ – WMD’s my friend are not something you can buy in Walmart or just knock up in your kitchen
Subra – ‘In three days the Government will run out of hospital facilities and that will be the end of the war.
A war is simple art, its essence lies in it accomplishment.’
Er what Subra? 3 days and counting. A great accomplishment for you would be to remember to take your medicine , which might hopefully cure your mindless, delusional, psychosis
Marthimaizan or whatever – ‘After these battles Tamils struggle will move forward one step further. Thats what happened in the past.’
Would these be the one step forward in the past where the LTTE was kicked out of Jaffna and the East? The only struggle tamils are having these days is to survive. Not ‘Eelam’. Ask Marthaman above for his prescription.
Thank god there is still some sanity left among tamils such as DBS and Rasalingam and Mandy above. Otherwise the whole race will be doomed
20. Suresh M | March 26th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Ref #16 Ratna,
WMD! Careful. Dubya might read your posting, and would send his army from Iraq, or Afghanistan.
Ref #3 S.Rasalingam
First of all, can you ask Rajapakse brothers, and Fonseka to stop their aggression, as all civilized nations have been pleading with this group of thugs.
VP, rightfully, has been defending Tamil territory. He has all our support in defending remaining Tamil territory. Who is Anandasangaree ha?
21. Oru Manithan | March 26th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Out of BTR-80A, BMP-2 , Type 63/YW 531 APC and WZ551
BTR-80A and WZ551 wheel based ( 6 Tyres), will not withstand any RPG fire. BMP2 ( Rusian) and YW 531 ( Chinese) are chain based, BMP2 is the most advanced but still these are only with stand small arms fire.
A RPG fire or Aniti tank weapon will put these overly trusted machines to rest.
MID is a overly hyped division .
Victor Brigade is well prepared for it.
The Battle field victory is determined by the determined fighters and their strategy.
Not solely by arms, if so GOSL should have won the war 25 years ago.
22. Gayan | March 27th, 2008 at 3:36 am
SLAF and LRRP is more important than MID to the outcome of this war and already caused more casualties to the LTTE terrorists than MID & SLA regiments since 2005
SLA aim is not to hold ground in the north .Of cource if the oppotunity arise they would love to .Specially Paranthan Junction or even EP or poonaryn.
23. Harshana Somapriya | March 27th, 2008 at 3:46 am
So everybody is eagerly waiting to see the final ‘Big’ battle! It is surprising that some Tamils do not understand even after 25years that by resorting to violance, you are creating a conducive environment for GOSL to kill ‘terrorists’ & their supporters in large numbers.
God bless you! (I mean those who suffer at ground)
24. nspirabu...norway | March 27th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Both sides say they are ready for talk! But UN/SC shd come with a proposal(GANES-Governing Authority of NES)
and and impose it.” Tamiler Nalladsi” in NESL(Federal)
without Sinhala involvement in NESL is a very reasonable
and acceptable solution.If not we will witness KOSOVA type
solution(UDI) very soon! by TNA/ LTTE.
GOSL shd declare unilateral peace/CF within 1 month and putforward solution within 2 mnths.Then we can avoid unwanted deaths of young poor Lankans and find unity and progress! GOD bless all in SL!
I requested Hon.P.Chitamparam(Finance Minister,India; Hon.Jonas G.Store(FM,Noway)Hon.Erik Solheim(DM, Norway ) and other VIPs of IC to do the same!Hope for MR/GOSL new thinking soon!
25. nathen | March 27th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Jeyaraj good article but inaccrate regarding the tanks please read the Isreali government’s report on their failiure to dilodge the palesteinians from lebanone The mightiest army with sofiticated air force could not match 2000 fighters the GOSL is now where near the isreali’s and the palestentians are no were near the LTTE so please tell 60 % people in the south that they are going to dis lodge the LTTE
26. nspirabu...norway | March 27th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Both sides are using valuable hardcurrency to buy weapons and ammunition while all poor Lankans are suffering in poverty,hunger,mental agony,fear,uncertainty and malnutrition.They don’t want any war!They want only justice,equality,freedom,normalcy,safety,properity and happiness! If these valuable values are respected by all parties,then no need for war!
27. Surya | March 27th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Dear DBSJ
thank you for one more very analytical article about the field situation in Sri Lanka. But I wondering there is any end in sight for the conflict in Sri Lanka? At least for the military conflict? I have been following the conflict over 25 years and LTTE never been marginalized as now. But do you think the West ever allow the LTTE dissappear? It seems LTTE will get it’s lifeline from the West very near future in a secret form. Because without conflict in Sri Lanka the West loose highly skilled Tamil workforce from their own countries and loose control of the region. For them conflict in Sri Lanka is a opporturnity to put their noose back again.
28. Ram the 2nd | March 27th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
he, he, he….
Dear tamils living outside the Wanni, please send your donations to the LTTE.
The real battle is yet to come.
LTTE had already captured most parts of the tamil Eelam and only 5% to go.
29. Ram the 2nd | March 27th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Dear SL tamil expats, our struggle in SL has come to the last stage.
We will bring the Singala terrorists to their knees soon.
We did that in the east and we will do it in the north.
Please support us all the way with your little sacrifice to the wanni tamils.
SEND your DONATIONS to us.
hee, hee, hee
30. ernest macintyre | March 28th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Mr. Jeyaraj, this piece may be grasped by some to say that you are a keen rival to Iqbal Athas as a military analyst.
The comparison is unfair, as that unenviable man carrying the name of a very great poet tells us regularly and unfailingly , he is under “personal constraints”, which in short is the difference between living in Colombo and living in Toronto.
Despite my preface above, I appreciated this “military” piece of yours. Thanks.
DBSJ RESPONDS-Mr.Macintyre, no one except you has made this suggestion.I am a journalist and not a military analyst.I write on a number of issues and the war is but one topic.Iqbal and I are friends and colleagues with a lot of respect and regard for each other. Please do not try to bring up this non – existent “rivalry” thing between Iqbal and myself.This seems to be a factor existing only in your mind.As for personal constraints all of us have them in our own way.
I have not been subjected to some of the problems underrgone by Iqbal. Likewise he has not suffered some of the problems I have gone through and am going through. I have been kept incommunicado at the 4th floor, interrogated, had passport impounded, charged in courts, had to go through many trial dates etc for my journalism. I have been assaulted in front of my wife and had my head cracked and leg broken by LTTE goons. The weekly paper that I edited and owned was stopped by LTTE thugs in Toronto who intimidated Tamil shopkeepers and advertisers.
Even now I get hate mail and threatening telephone callers on a daily basis. I dont raise it as an issue and treat it as an occupational hazard nowadays. I write for newspapers in Colombo on Sri Lankan matters from Toronto.
This is something unique and is appreciated by my editors and fellow journalists including Iqbal. Only journalists know how difficult it is to cover a subject from afar for a local newspaper and excel. As a dramatist and artiste I would have expected you to be sensitive to these things. But I am disappointed to see you making this type of unnecessary comment about Iqbal and myself. Only you have done so and not any other reader as you imply.
Apples and Oranges are fruits but can they be compared?How graceful you could have been if you had refrained from your “preface”. By the way this is not a “military” piece as you describe it.
This is my column (DBS Jeyaraj Column) that I write for the Nation on Sundays and The Bottom Line on Wednesdays. These newspapers and their editors are to be commended for publishing what I write without any cuts and also for standing up to the powers that be ( state, LTTE, TamilPara – military and Sinhala supremacists) in continuing to publish me.
31. gnanakiddu | March 28th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Hi
everybody
what you all talking ?Nocivilisied socity cant live under guns foreever whter Army OR LTTE having it .Guns always givingauthrity on the peoples rights.Army shoud have guns but they shuld stay in camps and protect the demogratic governments.but in srilanka ,especially in N&E now and in south during JVP period what army did?So we have to talk about living without arms from both sides.Can we talk about that?Are we ready to talk about that? withdawal of SLA to the bases while Laydown of Arms of LTTE.Until these things happen no war success gong to bring any peace to this country.
32. ATL | March 28th, 2008 at 8:21 am
GOSL has another option to win this war. Implement a just solution for the tamil people, that is acceptable by ALL Srilankans. (Not somethig to show the IC and is not acceptable by Tamils)
To implement this solution fight the LTTE. Even tamils will support the fight against LTTE.
GOSL can never win until a just solution is on the table and Tamils have an alternative. Think about it what hope do the tamils have, if GOSL wins this war against LTTE. Where do they go from there?
Only and only when the Tamil people see a future even after the defeat of LTTE, they will consider themselves as Srilankans and support the GOSL.
Till then the war and killing will have to continue.
33. Jaffna Vellalan | March 28th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Irumporai,
DBSJ can’t sue the Canadian Tiger Agents because they will go back to their fishing business in VVT.
34. Govigama Sinhalese | March 28th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
The country is ruled by southern sinhalese, unlike the kandyan sinhalese, and are leading the entire country to pariah failed state.. it time for the royal blooded sinhalese to stand up and redeem our ownership, by getting rid of the corrupt lazy southerners from Hambantota
35. hv | March 28th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
As DBSJ says, he knows what the results of writing the thuth are in this conflict: getting accused by both sides (up to be assualted) and their supporters. It is time that also supporters of both sides understand that propaganda and lies can never win from the truth! THANK YOU mr DBJS
36. Ram the 2nd | March 28th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
The MID is a brainchild of Army commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka .
We are awaiting for the brainchild of Prabakaran;
The mechanical Tigers!!!
37. Ramesh Sinniah | March 29th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Mechanised or Infantry, the S.L Army is the unique S,L Army. Please remember the quote of the infamous Israeli author in the 1980’s that , S.L. Armed forces are nothing but the Army of Monkey’s.
Look at the ratio of S.L Forces against the LTTE. Have they able to achieve anything during the past 1 year of battle to capture Mannar? Nope, Nada, Zip[!
It’s all an illusion of Sarath Fonseca, the mastermind of Chavakackeri Town’s destruction after the town’s inhabitant’s withdrawal in 1990’s. He will be rewarded by higher authorities (I’m not sure which side) for his war crimes,
Sri-Lanka got and gets help from Mohammed believing Pakistan( Quran says, If you are a pious moslem, Allah will provide you with 72 virgins and Booze in Heaven), Tibet occupying China, Mercenary Pilots from Ukraine and our beloved and back stabbing fellow Hindu india and yet bogged down in the Mannar Desert.
What can I say, the S.L armed forces are good at executing innocent Tamils but when it comes to confronting the LTTE, not a chance, barely pussy cats!
Those who believe in Astrology, please refer to Kumudam Jothidam A.M. R. Rajagopalan’s prediction of Sri- Lanka’s predicament in 2008 and LTTE’s Successe’s in 2008. This has been already proven in the mannar war Theatre.
Pity you M.R, Sarath Fonseca, Bertie Gooonetileke, Dayan Jayatilleke. Dream on and your dreams are just plain day dreams!
“Every dog has it’s day”
38. vinivida | March 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I want to tell something to Tamil Diasporas, your kids and women fighting for so call Elam state
And die for nothing. You people enjoying your sophisticated modern life with your families in
Developed counties. And talking bullshit here. If your are real people go back there and fight for your
So call Elam state which you can only get in your dreams.
39. kumar | March 29th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I hope the freedom fighters continue to use their brains
tactfully against the mighty (but brainless) tanks.
Good luck.
40. Velupillai Rajapakse | March 30th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Ref #30# Well said and well done DBSJ. Good to see that you are responding in kind nowadays when in earlier times you let many remarks go into a black hole.
I am a loss to understand what Mr EM is trying to get at from a few remarks he has made to date on this site. Could it be that he is trying to make amends to some Tamils for being perceived to be more pro-Singhala and less Tamil consious in the plays he has staged. May be no more plays to write? or is it pure envy at your good penmanship? Will he please come out and explain himself to your response.
41. Political Observer | March 30th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
The heavy equipment by itself will not win the SLA much. Military commanders would know that most of these are very vulnerable to RPGs and other anti-tank weapons that the LTTE would have devised.
The notion of attempting to capture Elephant Pass without neutralising Pooneryn peninsula, with its heavy LTTE artillary, is silly.
What the SLA is likely doing is keeping the pressure on the LTTE on the Northern front forcing its better cadre to be there. Mean while on the Southern front, the SLA is moving up three to four division level strength slowly but surely.
I had written on Lanka Academic about six months ago, the best option for the SLA is use the Mannar coast and push up towards Pooneryn.
Neutralising Pooneryn is essential to keep Jaffna and its immediate areas safe from LTTE guns, and to advance down towards Elephant pass.
DBS describes the tactics of the past… in war the longer the forces know each the better the learning curve.
The LTTE will have to dig more than large trenches in this fight. The SLA is far more patient than in the past, and their main objective is not territory, but capturing or eliminating the LTTE cadre. Digging trenches will only mean commiting more LTTE cadre to defend them, hence more targets for the SLA.
Much of this can be solved if the Thamil diaspora ask a simple question: will Eelam solve their problems or make it worse. The answer is obvious: leader like Prabakaran cannot give up power and will seek to keep it in the family. What ever the promises being made now, they will never give up power.
As the Thamil women in the trenches say, most people want the good old times, when they could just blame the government in Colombo for for simpler ills than what the LTTE carries out on a daily basis.
42. ernest macintyre | March 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
“This piece may be grasped by some to say that you are a keen rival to Iqbal Athas as a military analyst”, I wrote.
Surely this does not mean that the writer of it ( I ) am saying that there is rivalry between Athas and yourself ! (”this non existent rivalry between Iqbal and myself”–”unnecessary comment about Iqbal and myself”-quoting you).
Were I to write , “Considering the scope, imagination and depth of Bertolt Brecht some may say that he is a keen rival to Shakespeare, in European drama”, it surely cannot mean that I’m saying that there is rivalry between two writers who lived about 400 years apart. What is conveyed is that Brecht may be thought of by some as rivaling Shakespeare in European drama, not that there is a rivalry between the two of them.
Your piece gave me the perception that your work, in the case of this piece , places you as a keen rival to Iqbal Athas, as a military analyst, in the same way I posed Brecht against Shakespeare in my illustrative example above.
It does not in any way mean rivalry between the two people, in a particular field .
The weight of your feeling, expressed in your rejoinder, is that I have conveyed to the column readership, that in the comfort of Canada you have the advantage in writing “military” pieces or any pieces, which your journalistic counterparts in Colombo cannot, and that as a reader I have not taken your biography into account, which contains travails of assault from both sides, as much or more than any current Colombo domiciled journalist. Also that writing from overseas is most difficult and that you have done well despite this.
I do not and did not, in the brevity of my sentences contest any of this. All open minded readers I’m sure appreciate you contribution to the journalistic side of the long war. My point was that at this moment in time the military tactical details you provide in this piece, would not be attempted by a Colombo domiciled journalist (a situation similar to your assertion about the killing by an arm of the army, of a Tamil MP recently). My example was Athas, because he writes as a military journalist.
There is a story that near the Kondavil railway station stood a sign reading, ” Kochai kavanam”. A well known local poet wrote underneath it,” Kopenayum”. That was good humour, but it throws light , in that you seem to have overwritten my brief, purely benign comment.
DBSJ RESPONDS:You are now trying to backtrack. It seems pointless to read out the riot act after Rasanayagam has had his last riot.
43. KTR | March 30th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Looks like some Political Pundits are fighting arm chair battle here.
LTTE is the most inovative rebel movement in the world and has good spy network withing SLA thanks to the diaspora’s funding they were able to buy some “good soldiers” within the ranks of all three services.
Per the above comments, SLA is more patience than before ? I doubt this and it is evident from recent Northern war front. They were patience in the East and LTTE was learning what SLA has to offer in the Eelam War 4.
With the Hype from East, SLA is making terrible blunders in the North and unfortunatly no independent media/ journalist is at the war front.
Now with the mistry blast of the naval vessel off Nayaru, sea supply lines are in danger of cutting off to the north.
44. R.goonetilake | March 31st, 2008 at 1:11 am
The Forgotten FACT is that the SL Forces are bogged down in the North-West and North-East especially around Janakapura for more than a year now.
Is this due to lack of trying another of the Thoppigala Liberation of Mannar? I doubt it!
SL Forces are facing the Real Tiger in the Wanni. No progress in the Northern Front despite having placed 50000 SL Forces.
The war has to be finished by August according to Sarath fonseka’s previous deadline!! huh haha..
Gothabahya Rajapakshe + 10% mahathwaru katte Pittu these days!!
Dumb fighting a war with aimless recruits who just want to earn some money joining the army.
Enthusiasm, Zeal, and a Purpose will win the war for those who got it.!!
45. Nimal Jayanetti | April 1st, 2008 at 1:20 am
This war is a sad story in our history.
Sri-Lankans are killing fellow Sri-Lankans and the Multinational Defense contractors are having a field day.
All the Defense Ministry and Higher Echelon Armed foces are reaping millions of rupees if it’s not dollars through armed purchases.
Poor peasants still strugling and our President is advising us to eat cake when we get hungry.
Long live this war so it will eventually topple the present government and awaken the Sinhalese Mass!
:Let us live and let othes live”, Life is too precious to be taken at the early stage.
46. A.PASUPATHY | April 1st, 2008 at 2:13 am
hi everybody
you can’t predict the LTTE plan now. Write and discuss It after the mastermind operation like anuradhapura attack or elephant pass attack. The nayaru naval attack was by a submarine which recently added to the LTTE naval wing.
47. mirage` | April 1st, 2008 at 3:33 am
One thing common in this war is poor people suffering for their leaders mistakes. Wether Tamils, Singales or Muslims why cant they learn from previous mistakes and move one.
Shame to see on 21 century killing each other like’s animals.
48. Ram the 2nd | April 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 am
When LTTE kils and abuses the SL citizens, it is a liberation struggle.
When GoSL fights the LTTE in its occupied land it is a human rights violation.
This is a big propaganda carried by the tamil diaspora living in the west.
Longer you continue to mislead the facts, longer we all have to suffer.
49. Dingirii | April 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
When the 99% sinhalese srilankan army kills innocent tamils it claims fighting terrorism..when LTTE tries to prevent a tamil genocide it is called terrorism.. the hatred of sinhalese for the tamils will destroy the failed country
50. Velupillai Rajapakse | April 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 am
Ref#42# “Importance Of Being Ernest” is that “its better to be silent and thought fool (or even wise) than to clear all doubt about it”
51. T. Thayaparan, Canada | April 4th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Comment #45
Very well said Nimal. When we will end this madness, by means tamils have suffered enough.
Recent study shows US lawmakers have as much $196M invested in defence firms.
War all over the world benefits politicians and military hierarchy! even war analysts living on it. War needed in some instances to restore justice. But mainly for tamils in Srilanka they have enough suffering since independence from britain in 1948. It has been toooooooooooo long.
Wake up people enough sleepin! throw these blood thirsty war mongers out of power and let everyone live in peace with dignity.
52. Mahul.C.Spencer | April 6th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Ref # 51 #
If the article in response to the above comment was too long you can edit and put the gist of it as it gives the much larger picture of the real powers that are controlling world affairs. In the alternative send me the e-mail address of T.Thayaparan to forward same to him.
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