First Take on LTTE Air raids on Colombo
By Col R Hariharan
The ability of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to shock and surprise once again came into play when two light aircraft of its air wing made a daring bid to bomb the headquarters of the Air Force in Colombo and the Katunayake air base near the capital around 9.45 PM on February 20, 2009. But unlike the LTTE's earlier six bombing raids this time the two aircraft did not return home. Both were shot down by the much maligned Sri Lankan air defence system that got into action quickly on spotting the aircraft.
The LTTE reported that the "successful" air raids were carried out by two elite Black Air Tigers Col Rooban and Lt Col Sirithiran, both decorated pilots having flown earlier bombing missions of the LTTE. The pro-LTTE TamilNet website reporting the news displayed a photograph showing the two smiling pilots standing with the LTTE chief V Prabhakaran in the middle with his arms around them. Of course, there was no smile on his face.
The army reported one of the aircraft dropped a bomb on the Internal Revenue building near Air Headquarters, but crashed between third and twelfth floors breaking into pieces. Body parts of the pilot and parts of the air craft debris have been recovered. . According to the government newspaper Daily News, 50 people injured (including two of them who died later) in the incident were admitted to a Colombo hospital.
The other aircraft on the mission to bomb Katunayake air base was hit and crashed nearby. It was later found in a badly damaged condition with the dead pilot inside the aircraft. Bombs and explosives it carried were found intact in the aircraft according to defence sources.
The air raid has come at a time when the operations weighted heavily against the LTTE so far are in the last lap. In fact, the security forces, encircling the last patch (less than 100 sq km according to defence website) northwest of Mullaittivu, reported further gains in nibbling into the LTTE territory both in the north and west of Puthukkudiyiruppu.
Though the missions appear to have failed they give some useful pointers into various aspects of the situation:
* Planning and carrying out an air raid after losing seven air strips shows that the LTTE has not lost its nerve yet. So any call to the LTTE to abandon its fight and surrender its arms is unlikely to yield any results. And that means the unwelcome baptism of fire of civilians trapped in the war zone is likely to continue. This is grim news for everyone. It also means the security forces operations will further be slowed down.
* The failure of the air raid has shown that the security forces air defence system was not lulled into complacency when the LTTE went on its last legs of fighting. This would indicate that the security forces had an inkling of residual air capacity of the LTTE as the aircraft were not recovered so far. More importantly they had factored in the possibility of the LTTE surprising them.
* One of the important question remaining to be answered is from where did the two aircraft emerge. I had written about the possibility of mothballed aircraft hidden in underground defences for future use. Apparently it was not done like that. That would indicate the LTTE had the confidence of safely taking them out and launching them on a mission, even though it might sound like its last hurrah.
* Lastly, the Vanni area east of A9 highway is saturated with troops. If the aircraft had taken off from one of the secret airstrips remaining in the jungle between the A35 Paranthan-Mullaittivu road and A32 Mankulam-Mullaittivu road it might have been detected early by troops on the ground. It is not known whether air defence got such a warning. If not, is there a secret airstrip outside the Vanni area say south of Mannar, which is lightly policed, from where they could have taken off? When the air force pieces the details together, would probably be in a better position to answer these questions in the coming days, I presume.
Even in this is the first take one thing appears to be certain. The war is not going to end so easily; so probably Karuna is correct in his assessment that it would drag on say for a year or more.
(Col. R Hariharan, a retired Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, served as the head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90.He is associated with the South Asia Analysis Group and the Chennai Centre for China Studies. E-mail:colhari@yahoo.com)
12 Comments
If the Tigers could prolong the war for an year or so, as Mr.Hariharan opines, Srilankan army would become the definite loser. By then Tigers would have done enough damage to wear them out and will strike back at the appropriate time, place and manner of their choice. Tigers are unpredictable and when they regroup & attack, it would cause severe blow to the army and its morale. Prabhakaran appears to be quiet confident & in control of things and not desparate. They do not seem to have lost much of their men and materials. Now there is a possibilty of Tigers getting volunteers even from Tamilnadu. When nine people have so far self immolated, will there not be room for recruits from there? Already Thirumavalavan and Vaiko have hinted at the possibity. Definitely the end of war is no where in sight.
Good article Col. H!
The Day time dreaming of Sri Lankan rulers that, finding military solution to Tamils right for self determiantion will come to an end soon. Those who are waiting to see the end our freedom strugle mistake repeatedly to learn from the history. The regional super power which already burned hands itself, tries hard once again completely ignorning it's own 70 million Tamil people feelings and sentiments.what else we may say for now.
Col,
LTTE is a deep rooted organization some call it a terrorist but many tamils call it fredom fighters. They are the most inovative organization and considered most wealthiest non governmental organization who posses military assests or Knowledge.
Whether they loose the territory, assets and hard ware is a secondary matter as long as they posses the knowledge " KNOW HOW".
Though they have links with many under ground arms dealers in the world, there exist no sharing of technology.
I often wondered how long they will keep this "knowledge and KNOW HOW" only confine to the Island only bofore it is spill into the "OPEN ELECTRONIC DATA BASE".
Only time will tell and it may be too late for the so called "WAR ON TERROR" to confine the knowledge to the Islnad before it crosses the Palk staright and Indian Ocean.
They posses tachnology to surprice in under water, air and land and it is matter of time the other gps around the world will bit for the " KNOWLEDGE".
The best thing anyone can do is solve the buring issue without chest thumbing who is right and who is wrong. Let speak for the side of the justice not the side for the strategic partner in Business of need.
The Justice is " TAMILS NEED THEIR HOMELAND WITH OR WITHOUT LTTE" with UN INTERVENTION because there is a calculated killing going on in the name of War which we will call GENOCIDE.
There is nothing surprising or shocking. I find it surprising that a 'military analyst' is surprised and shocked at this latest event. With nowhere to hide the planes, the tigers preferred action was to ride the planes into destruction without any regard for civilians around.
Also, no need for much planning, nerves or air strips. These take off a short stretch of road. This road streetch was in the bit of area they still 'control'.
Mr. hariharan, please start writing something we lay people do not know, or provide some aspect we cannot thing of. These articles are getting very stale.
.
You people are discussing this war as a cricket match. Just like how a caption changes the bowling attack and how batsmen faces it.
What you'll have to worry about is the future.
Today, the entire Tamil population around the world is becoming anti-indian. Not just the LTTE supporters, but anti-LTTE'ers too.
If Pakistan, China, Alqaeda, US, Srilanka or anyone else wanted to do 'anything' against India, I am sure they can easily hire people from Tamil expatriate community now.
This is not good for anyone and this is what all these 'analysts' doing and prevent this disaster.
:-)
NAM....... Sure, Tamils need their homeland..
But, you guys have selected the wrong lcation when taking into accunt the total Tamil Populatin in the World.
Don't waste time in Sri Lanka.... Look elsewhere like Tamil Nadu or Malaysia or South Africa.
There are larger Tamil populations in those regions and a mass land area as well.
Good luck in yours next sourjon.
Looks like Indian anti-aircraft system shot down the Tamil Tiger Planes.
The colonel may well be in for another surprise in the near future; when the govt calls for a ceasefire!
aratai
you comment shows how little knowledge you have on the issue. I don't think many Diaspora Tamils want to act against India. As I see you are an hardcore LTTE supporter. Until recently you look this war as a Cricket mathch. When the LTTE days are numbered and things moving against them you could not tolerate. Also I am shocked and dismayed to read that you encourage expat.Tamils to act as terrorists against India. As a Tamil diaspora I feel shame for these find of foolishness.
I would rather say the best thing can happened to Tamils in SL the LTTE out of picure soon and India get involved as in 1987. Even the home for most of the Tamils in the world Tamil Nadu I would rather say there may be 1% support for LTTE and it's activities.
Now cornered in a mere 87sq.km land patch in the Mullaittivu district the psycho terror chief Prabakaran may have thought to showcase a stunt out of his sleeves on Friday (Feb 20) in the Colombo skies pushing for a turn of tables, drawing skeptical analysis from the 'Colombian elites' and draconian media stooges, while simultaneously bluffing out the war mongering diaspora community with an action package for consumption. All, to his dismay ended in a failed note due to the resilience of a combined effort from the Sri Lankan security forces.
The two LTTE improvised Czech manufactured Zlin-143 aircraft were brought down within an hour from its initial detection at Puthukkudiyirippu around 8.40p.m., due to rapid and precision anti-air gun fire. The two LTTE craft were making a desperate flee, losing sight of the initially designated targets in total disarray under the flurry of anti-air attacks. Well coordinated communication, early detection and the preparedness of the forces paid off, denying LTTE what defence observers viewed as an abortive attempt to disrupt the prevailing normalcy in South, despite the continuation of military operations in Wanni.
In anticipation of air threat, the city of Colombo was plunged into darkness as security forces made contingency manoeuvres fortifying all vulnerable locations, with specially trained gunners taking on positions awaiting the sight of enemy aircraft.
Prabakaran's waning of fortunes continue as the end game for him and his outlaws have neared after three decades. According to defence observers, the LTTE chief's, strategic calculations have gone haywire with LTTE finally losing its stunt craft during a failed seventh mission into the heart of Colombo. Sri Lankan security forces have made it clear; 'no escape this time', a very prominent feature in the present military surge.
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaking to local media immediate to the destruction of the LTTE aircraft said, "We knew the LTTE was planning an attack, the moment the aircraft were airborne as troops in the area informed us of the air movement even before the radars had picked them up. LTTE may have used a straight road in their last stronghold for taking off as the outfit had lost all the airstrips to the troops during the past few months. "The Tiger craft flew over Mannar, Wilpattu and came to Colombo," he said adding that "it was their normal route."
"The troops would have captured the LTTE planes within days and the LTTE had acted before they lost the craft on the ground."They would have lost the planes anyway," he was quoted further saying.
Col Hari - you seem to know the full storey! So the SL had at last shot two aircrafts with the Indian help - congratulations.
You seem to worry so much for the civilians - the SL government has been on this for more than two years - they may have exceeded the numbers they managed in 1983 state terrorism.
But nothing worse than the the killing of doctors, patients and civilians in the Jaffna hospital by the Indian forces.
PLEASE TAKE A BALANCED VIEW.