by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Responding to a suicide bomber attack targeting Army commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka in Colombo on April 25th at noon the Sri Lankan Government launched an undeclared war in the evening against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the Trincomalee district.
In a coordinated operation areas in the Muthur division of Eastern Trincomalee were bombarded by air and shelled from military camps and naval ships.
The Government also suspended all transport to and from tiger controlled areas in the Northern province shutting down entry – exit points in Muhamaalai, Omanthai and Uyilankulam.
The suicide bombing operation in Colombo killed at least eight persons and injured twenty – seven. Among those seriously wounded were Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and his aide de camp Major Priyal Wickremasinghe. Several soldiers were among the dead and injured.
Though the operation had the clear stamp of a tiger attack the LTTE denied responsibility. Some tiger media charged that it was due to internal differences within the army.
With growing resentment in the South at the Government’s perceived impotence the Sinhala public mood was getting increasingly sour. President Mahinda Rajapakse was under great pressure to retaliate effectively. His political allies like the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna wanted him to be tough with the tigers while the Jathika Hela Urumaya was for calling off the ceasefire and declaring open war.
The International community strongly condemned the suicide attack and expressed support to Rajapakse. Yet restraint was urged and appeals were made that Colombo should not resort to formal war.
Against this backdrop the Government decided to launch retaliatory attacks in the form of an undeclared war against the LTTE. Instead of attacking the LTTE headquarters in Kilinochchi operations were launched against tiger positions in the Eastern district of Trincomalee.
The district has been in the throes of a vicious cycle of racial violence since April 7th when Tamil political activist Vanniyasingham Vigneswaran was assassinated by Tamil paramilitaries.
Two Israeli made K – fir bomber jets flew out from China Bay airport and conducted five bombing sorties over the Muthur region of Eastern Trincomalee. The aerial bombing began at 5. 50 pm and went on till 6. 15 pm. After these K- firs had returned to China Bay two Russia made MIG 24 planes flew from Anuradhapura and conducted a sixth prolonged bombing spree at 6. 25 pm.
At 6. 35 pm five Israeli built Dvora gun boats sailed close to the Muthur coast and began shelling coastal areas. This naval shelling went on intermittently yet intensively till 8. 45 pm.About 80 shells were fired from the sea.
The army started its own artillery fire from the Kuranguppaalam or Monket bridge camp towards Muthur at 6. 45 pm. The shelling was consistent but sporadic with short intervals. The shelling was heavy till about 9. pm but continued with less intensity till midnight. Around 150 to 160 shells were fired. Many of the shells fired were deadly multi – barrel artillery shells obtained from Pakistan and China.
Areas like Kattaiparichhaan, Sampoor, Koonitheevu,
Kadatkaraichenai, Senaiyoor, Iraalkuli, Ilakkanthai, Paattalipuram, Uppaaru etc were bombed initially and then pounded incessantly by artillery from gunboats and army camp. The Senaiyoor Central College was badly hit with its primary school and laboratory buildings reduced to rubble. Much of the damage was due to aerial bombardment here.
More than 30 civilians were wounded in the air and artillery strike on civilian targets [TamilNet]
Though casualty figures were not known preliminary reports indicated that at least one family were affected when their house collapsed. A child was reported dead.
Power supply to Muthur was also affected and the region was in total darkness during and after the bombardment.
According to preliminary reports the bombing and shelling had not affected actual LTTE positions in the rehion much. LTTE camps, sea tiger bases and a newly constructed air strip were not damaged. Civilian homes and public buildings had been destroyed.
Preliminary reports stated that despite the intensive bombardment and shelling comparatively few lives were lost or people injured due to two reasons. One was that the people had taken proper precautions and sought secure shelters. The other was that the bombing and shelling was done at random with venomous fury with very little focus on actual targets.
LTTE political Commissar for Trincomalee S. Elilan has inquired from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission whether the ceasefire was over and war had been declared. The Trinco SLMM had informed him that the security force officials had not responded to the telephone calls and e – mails, faxes sent by them.
SLMM head Ulf Henricsson however has gone on record expressing the hope that the attacks were “limited retaliatory ” measures. Peace secretaria Director – General Palitha Kohona has also “hinted” that these actions would be of a limited nature in interviews to the media.
Colombo also maintains that the retaliation was necessitated by the LTTE attacking Lankan naval craft in Trincomalee. The bombing and shelling is supposed to be retaliatory measures.
Just as few people believe the LTTE statement that they had nothing to do with the Colombo explosion there are few who would grant credibility to these assertions by the Government. Though the LTTE had exploded a bomb in Colombo on April 25th and engaged in some violence in Trincomalee over the past week the tigers had not attacked the navy on Tuesday as alleged by the Government.
It is apparent that the Government launched its undeclared war first by conducting aerial bombardment and supplementing it further by artillery firing from army camp at Monkey Bridge and shelling from Naval boats
Political analysts however were concerned that Sri Lanka was backsliding to an open and fierce war. There were three concerns. Will the armed forces and defence establishment continue these reprisals to the extent of open war becoming inevitable? Will the LTTE angered by these reprisals raise the ante further by conducting more operations that would make the situation deteriorate further? Will rajapakse egged on by the hardliners around him bow down to populist pressure and declare war?
Despite the ceasefire the Country has witnessed an escalating shadow war in the past. Both the LTTE and Tamil paramilitaries assisted by the security forces engaged in that. The suicide bomb attack against Sarath Fonseka is actually a high water mark of the escalating shadow war.
Now it is seeing an undeclared war in the form of action by the army, navy and air force. Civilans are victimised. But neither the Government nor the LTTE have said so far that they are declaring war.Sections of the media on either side of the ethnic divide say that the other side has declared ed war. But both partiese have reiterated that they are committed to the ceasefire still.
It remains to be seen whether this position would change for the worse or the better in the immediate future.
Meanwhile in what seemed a knee – jerk reaction , Defence secretary Gothabhaya Rajapakse clamped down on transport through the Wanni. All transport to and from the LTTE controlled Northern mainland of the Wanni was suspended.
The entry – exit points at Omanthai In Vavuniya district and Uyilankulam in the Mannar district were shut down at 2, 30 pm. The Muhamaalai point in the Jaffna peninsula was closed down at 3. 00 pm. Hundreds of people and vehicles were stranded by the sudden move. Reports indicate that the closure would be temporary.
Recent events have shown that the Country is on the brink of an open, brutal war. Only effective International pressure could pull both sides back from the edge. Norway alone cannot do this. Greater coordinated action from the big players like USA, Japan and more importantly India is required to save the peace in Sri Lanka. [TamilWeek - Apr 23, 2006]
Related: Army chief seriously injured in noon attack by suicide bomber
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April 25th, 2006
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Sri Lankan army commander Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka sustained serious injuries in a suicide bomber attack on Tuesday April 25th that killed at least eight persons and wounded another twenty – seven. The suicide bomber was a woman pretending to be a pregnant woman.
The attack took place in broad daylight outside the army headquarters within a heavily guarded security precinct. Gen. Fonseka who received abdomen and chest injuries underwent three surgeries and is now pronounced to be in “stable condition”.But he is yet to be declared completely out of danger.
The battle – scarred veteran soldier is regarded as a” hawk” advocating a very hard line against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization. Fonseka was in his office at the Army headquarters in Colombo Two or Slave Island during the morning. At 1. 30 pm he had left office intending to go home for lunch.
The security convoy had just commenced the journey when a seemingly pregnant woman standing outside the military hospital ran towards his vehicle.One of Fonseka’s bodyguards accompanying the vehicle on a motor cycle had seen her and tried to stop her by kicking out.
An explosion then occurred hitting Fonseka’s and other vehicles in the convoy. The time was 1.35 pm. All eight of Fonseka’s motor cycle escort rider cum bodyguards were injured. So too was the army chief’s aide de camp Major. Priyal Wickramasinghe.
“I saw a fireball as I came out of my saloon,” S.A. Weerasinghe, told “the Hindu” newspaper. Weerasinghe works in the military saloon, which is also inside the sprawling complex.
Security forces then cordoned off the area and took the affected persons into the military hospital. At least four were pronounced dead upon admission. Thereafter at least ten ambulances arrived and took the seriously wounded persons to the National Hospital in Colombo 8 or Borella.
Speedy attention was shown in the case of the army commander..Under the direction of National hospital director Dr. Hector Weerasinghe a team of doctors attended to Sarath Fonseka. This included apart from the regular staff , ten additional surgeons. Fonseka had received injuries to his chest and abdomen.His lungs were pierced too. Fonseka was suffering from heavy internal haemorrage and was in critical condition. Surgery on him began at 2.00 pm.It was a very delicate situation as bleeding had not stopped fully.
Surgery in two phases was performed within a period of three hours. At one point Fonseka suffered a cardiac arrest and was thought a “goner”. But the tough Southerner from Ambalangoda fought death and clung on to life tenaciously. Hospital authorities said that the army commander’s health improved miraculously and that his condition was now stable. Yet he is not firmly pronounced out of danger. Fonseka is unconscious still.
Thirteen army men including Fonseka were admitted to the national hospital. Of these sgt. WAN Priyantha was found to be dead upon arrival. Sgt. Major Lasanthakumara had serious eye injuries and was later transferred to the eye hospital at 3. 30 pm.
Among the eleven officers in the national hospital three including the commander are in the intensive care unit.One has serious head injuries and the other heavy internal bleeding.The other eight are in ward 72. Two of them have serious injuries. Other injured persons are at present in the military hospital.
Those receiving treatment at the national hospital include the army commander’s ADC Maj, Wickremasinghe, Lance coroporals Jayasekera and Seneviratne. Woman sgt. Sithara Gunatilleke is also warded. Among army personnel confirmed to be dead are Sgt. Priyanka, Corp. Warusawitharne, lance corp OKPD Viraj, Pvt Devasurendra and army civian employee Ms. Niluka Priyangani.
The severed , disfigured head of the woman was found lying many yards away after the incident. Her legs were also recovered. The rest of the body was totally shattered.
According to official sources the woman had come to the military hospital for ante – natal tests relating to pregnancy. The military hospital is situated within the same security precincts where the army headquarters is in. It is well – fortified and tightly guarded. The military hospital caters to the needs of soldiers and their families.
Tuesdays was special maternity clinic day for those with concerns about pregnancy. . According to Police sources the woman had come the previous Tuesday (18th) and attended a seminar on pregnancy. She had then registered for tests the following Tuesday. She was accompanied by a man claiming to be her husband and a soldier. Her papers were in order.
A military bus is also made available on these days to take patients to their destinations. The woman was standing outside the hospital seemingly waiting for this bus. The man who had come with her in the morning was now missing. It is said that Fonseka always went home for lunch at 1. 30 pm sharp whenever he was in Colombo.
Even as the army commander started out for home to have lunch the woman had rushed towards the vehicle from its left side. Fonseka was in the right side rear seat of the vehicle. An alert bodyguard on a motor cycle had seen her and kicked out. The woman then detonated herself. It is said that Fonseka survived the attack due to this brave soldier receiving a direct hit. At least five of Fonseka’s bodyguards have been killed.
The national hospital was teeming with people after hearing of the army commander being admitted there. Additional troops were deployed to preserve law and order. Movement of people and staff was restricted. Restive crowds were anxious about Sarath Fonseka’s condition. People began dispersing only after Dr, Hector Weerasinghe announced at 5. 45 pm that the army chief’s condition was now stable.
Apart from the family members and close relatives of the army commander cabinet ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, AHM Fowzie, Mangala Samaraweera,Rohitha Bogollagama , Defence secretary Gothabhaya Rajapakse, Presidential adviser Ajit Cabraal and former first lady Hema Premadasa etc were also in the hospital. Nimal Siripala who came with his wife gave the slip to waiting journalists by using a side entrance.
One story going around was that Chief of Staff Nanda Mallawaaratchi was also seriously injured. Another story was that the man claiming to be the suicide woman’s husband was also killed in the blast. But these reports were not confirmed and largely rumours.
The suicide attack bearing all the hallmarks of a tiger operation was widely condemned. The USA, India and European Union condemned the attack and expressed support to the Colombo government.
With Indian Premier Manmohan Singh being in Germany seniormost minister and Defence minister Pranap Mukerjee telephoned Mahinda Rajapakse personally. The US state department said it was unfortunate that the LTTE had restarted the war instead of restarting the peace process.
The LTTE however denied that they were responsible. Tiger spokesperson Daya Master disclaimed all responsibility but did not comment further. An LTTE website abroad charged that the explosion was due to internal differences within the armed forces and said the explosion had occurred due to a bomb attached to Fonseka’s vehicle. There were few if any takers for the LTTE denial.
President Mahinda Rajapakse in a televised address to the nation appealed for calm and patience. Stating that he could not be frightened away Rajapakse also warned the LTTE that he and the Country would not bend their knees to terrorism.
A coordinated bombing and shelling operation by the Army. Navy and Airforce was launched as a retaliatory measure in Trincomalee district. The Govt also stopped all transport to and from LTTE controlled areas in the North. The entry – exit points at Muhamalai, Uyilankulam and Omanthai were sealed off.
Rajapakse also met a UNP delegation led by Karu Jayasuriya in the absence of Ranil Wickremasinghe currently in the USA. He asked for full cooperation by the UNP and received such assurance. Political circles were talking of a SLFP – UNP Government being a reality if full scale war commenced. Meanwhile the JVP wanted Rajapakse to be “tough” against the LTTE. The JHU wanted the Govt to call off the ceasefire and declare war.
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) is a press release issued from Colombo condemned the “suicide bomb attack that took place at the Sri Lankan Army Head Quarters,” and urged the “Sri Lankan Government to equally refrain from any retaliatory actions at this stage and remain committed to the Peace Process.” reported “Tamilnet”.
Excerpts from the statement were said – “The Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission strongly condemns the suicide bomb attack that took place at the Sri Lankan Army Head Quarters in Colombo earlier today resulting in death and injury of both army personnel and civilians. The attack was aimed at Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka who was subsequently rushed to hospital.
The Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission still has limited information about the attack and will for the time being refrain from drawing any immediate conclusions about the possible perpetrators. However we remain at the disposal for the Government of Sri Lanka to assist in making the necessary inquiries.
This attack is yet another serious blow to the Ceasefire Agreement and the Peace Process. It is likely to have very negative effects on the relationship between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers or Tamil Eelam and could jeopardize any possibility for future talks.
The Government armed forces have suffered countless attacks in the last few weeks but have shown restraint and refrained from massive retaliation. We sincerely urge the Sri Lankan Government to equally refrain from any retaliatory actions at this stage and remain committed to the Peace Process.
Almost 300 people have died in attacks and violence this year. More than 150 of those were civilians. War is not an option for this country as it will only bring human misery and death. There is a desperate need for the two Parties to resume talks at all levels if the situation is not to result in a serious conflict that could escalate out of control and lead to war.” [TamilWeek - Apr 23, 2006]
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April 25th, 2006