Following the capture of Thoppigala in the East, the Police and more largely the Special Task Force (STF), is taking over responsibilities from the Security Forces. Thus, the Army will be relieved for deployment in areas in the Wanni. Contrary to Government claims that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters have been driven away, groups do operate in the East. Whilst some had moved out to areas in the Trincomalee district, others have taken up position in the Ampara district expanding their operations there. They had in fact shifted their intelligence base from Batticaloa to Ampara.
At the height of the military campaign to re-capture Toppigala, Military Intelligence (MI) reported that groups were making a gradual withdrawal from the area. They said the process was slow for two reasons - to allow cadres to exit with their military hardware and the need to inflict more damage to the advancing troops. LTTE cadres who fled from Toppigala, MI sources say, moved into villages of Kumburupiddy, Kandalkadu, Kadawana and Peraru, all in the Trincomalee district. "Some have returned to Wanni whilst the other groups are still hovering around. Small group military operations are under way to smoke them out," one MI source said.
The fact that groups of LTTE fighters have shifted to Ampara and even set up an intelligence base there has raised concerns for the Military Intelligence. They said two LTTE intelligence leaders who operated from Batticaloa, Throwner and Keerthie, have now moved to this new base. The loss of Toppigala, Vakarai and immediate environs, they fear, would lead to the LTTE once again trying to resume operations in the deep South. This is particularly by using Block II of the Yala national park as a staging area to re-supply their cadres in the Ampara district. Since LTTE activity in these areas receded some years ago, there has been lesser regular maritime surveillance in the deep seas off Yala. This is with the exception of Navy's interception of LTTE military hardware in the high seas upon receipt of credible information.
Thus, small groups of LTTE linger around in the East trying to attack vital targets including senior Government, military and Police officials among others. This is whilst the Government has drawn in both the Army and the Police to get directly involved in development activity at the grassroots level.
This shifts the main military focus to the North. Interesting enough, both the Security Forces and the LTTE are engaged in preparations for battles. The Army has stepped up its recruitment drive.
Army Headquarters launched a recruitment drive on July 1 to enlist 7500 soldiers to the regular force. This was part of the overall plan to enhance the Army strength by a further 25,000. By early this week, sources at Army Headquarters said only a total of 1800 had been enlisted. This is after recruitment procedures were relaxed. Earlier, regiments were allowed to recruit personnel only from locations where their headquarters were positioned. For example, the Sinha Regiment recruitment was from the Kegalle or the Gemunu Watch Regiment from Ratnapura. This time, however, they were allowed to recruit from any area in the country. Besides the 1,800 enlisted to the regular force, a further 950 have been enlisted for volunteer units. The recruitment drive will end on August 15.
Though a major Security Forces offensive in the North is yet to start, troops have been engaged in limited offensives in the Wanni sector. Three different attempts to seize LTTE held areas in the past weeks have met with stiff resistance. On Tuesday, a LTTE claymore mine hit a bus carrying troops killing 11 soldiers. Six others were seriously injured. The Air Force has been conducting several sorties with the Kfir and MiG-27 bombers in the North.
Still unaware from where the main thrust of the Security Forces would come, Tiger LTTE have been fortifying their defended localities in a number of sectors. According to NGO workers and civilians who returned from the North this week, the Tiger LTTE military leadership in Kilinochchi was busy intensifying security measures in the wake of feared offensives. From the accounts they gave, a picture of how such measures were falling into place emerged.
In the Government controlled-Jaffna peninsula, LTTE was stepping up its small group operations. Cadres were infiltrating the peninsula from the outlying islands and from the vast stretches at Ariyalai and Thannankilappu. They have been tasked to carry out IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) attacks on targets that include troops deployed at strategic locations. Intelligence groups had slipped in to obtain information on civilians who are helping the Security Forces by providing information. LTTE defences at Muhamalai and Nagar kovil were being strengthened. Additional cadres and weaponry were being moved in.
In the Wanni, east of the defended localities at the Omanthai Entry-Exit point, the stretch of "no man's land" before Security Forces defences, had been heavily mined. IEDs have also been placed at various points. Intelligence cadres have also infiltrated controlled areas, particularly in and around Vavuniya, to gather intelligence.
One of the biggest LTTE build-ups is in the Weli Oya sector. Some of the cadres who had returned from Toppigala are being positioned there. LTTE mortar positions have increased posing threats to Security Forces locations. In addition, a Military Intelligence source said LTTE recruitment teams have forcibly inducted school children in the area, mostly over 15 years, to undergo military training. The intention is to supplement them with LTTE cadres to strengthen their vulnerable points.
In addition, reports say, the Sea Tigers are also enhancing preparations. The western seaboard has seen enhanced Sea Tiger activity which senior security officials believe related to smuggling in military hardware, some of them from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Radio intercepts have revealed that Sea Tiger leader Soosai (Thillaiampalam Sivanesan) who was operating from his "headquarters" somewhere near Kilinochchi had been speaking to installations of his sea going arm at Pooneryn and to boats operating in the Gulf of Mannar regularly in the past week. Similar radio conversations had also gone on this week.
The Government now has a two fold responsibility in the East - firstly it would be to carry out the development work, most of it within 180 days. Secondly, it has to ensure the security situation remains favourable by preventing any attacks by the LTTE.
In the North, the military and the LTTE are gearing themselves for major battles. The coming weeks will show how the undeclared Eelam War IV will guide the destinies of a nation already rocked by an economic and political crisis.
In the North, the military and the LTTE are gearing themselves for major battles. The coming weeks will show how the undeclared Eelam War IV will guide the destinies of a nation already rocked by an economic and political crisis.
[Edited]
