criminals organizes itself into a rag tag terrorist group with a few
hand guns. In time with support of politicians and other interest
groups they become a group practicing political terrorism and end up
with a flotilla of old ships and small air craft resembles farm
tractors. This is the evolution of the LTTE in a nutshell.
Leaving aside the LTTEs 'air power', in resent times there has been a
lot of chanting and praising about the deep sea fleet of LTTE gun
running, drug smuggling ships. LTTE not only used to talk about its
strategic sea lift 'ability' but also the fact that the LTTE own more
ships than the Sri Lankan Government. They were considered one of the
crown jewels of the Overseas Tamils who overtly supported the LTTEs
murderous cause to carve out a LTTE Eelam in Sri Lanka.
These ships represented the LTTEs ability to move weapons and other
warlike material to sustain its campaign of terror without hindrance,
and in tern exert pressure on any elected Government in Sri Lanka or
overseas. utilizing the sojourns within different bogus 'peace talks'
and cease fires ,and by spreading misinformation about Sri Lanka all
over the globe , the LTTE amassed a massive global network of support
and acceptance, portraying them as a indestructible force and a major
power player to recon with.
Then there was the former leader of this country who at times not only
accepted this as a fact but also gave justification and legitimacy to
such claims and continued to follow a policy of non engagement with
the LTTE, recognizing a somewhat 'de facto' status of the LTTE
'controlled ' areas. In a twist of fate this quasi Eelam states all
powerful ground elements lost all its ground and strength, stating
with the closure of the Mavil Aru anicut .
Military operations to save the Eastern Province from the LTTE had
dealt a major defeat to the LTTE and, effectively sounded the death
knell of the LTTE as a force to recon with. The over estimate state of
the LTTEs land fighting power seems to diminish on a daily basis, with
the continuing operating of the Sri Lankan Security Forces.
However, the LTTEs 'sea power' was a totally different in context. It
was foreseen as a major player in both shallow and deep water
operations and boasted as more powerful than the Sri Lankan Navy by
some 'think tanks' and 'independent' experts. Successive Sri Lankan
Governments, including Chandrika and Ranil administrations at many
times had to resist stiffly to the SLMMs moves to recognize LTTE 'Sea
Tigers' as a legitimate force.
all that came to a sad end on Monday the 8th October 2007, with the
sinking of the last of the 10 sea lift ships of the LTTE. Not only the
ship went to the bottom of the sea, 1700km south of Sri Lanka but with
it took a considerable consignment of arms and war like material. But
more than the material it took with itself down to the bottom of the
sea , it also took the prestige and the false dream of LTTE Sea Power
to the deep bottom of the Indian Ocean.
the dreams and aspiration of the LTTE, its Tamil Diaspora sponsors and
International guardians (including Local Supporters from so called
'Civil Society') of having the LTTE dominate the waters surrounding
the Island of Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean that surrounds it and the
Sea Lanes that cross this Island went down the toilet when the Sri
Lanka Navy Spokesmen Commander D.K Dassanayake announced the
distraction of the last of LTTE ships on Monday.
by not having the anchorage rights at neighboring port around Sri
Lanka, its well known that LTTE ships acted as a network of floating
warehouses ,storing and ferrying arms and material for the LTTE and
disembarking as when required . This was thought the history of the
LTTEs 'sea power' and that was the very history that was put to an end
two days ago, 1700km south of Dondra head. Sri Lanka Navy should have
the full credit for ending this legacy and all the officers and
sailors of the Sri Lanka Navy must be commended for its actions.
Having said that, one must not expect that LTTE will not put and end
to its sea lift capability nor should the Navy not let off the guard,
expecting no more LTTE ships entering Sri Lankan waters. There are
many expatriate Tamils and other parties who benefit form the
prolonged conflict in Sri Lanka to the effect that LTTE will be able
to replace or may be may have already replaced couple of lost ships by
now. trained and experience crew, who not only are used to the waters
and arms smuggling may come hard to find for the LTTE and also crews
able to operate covertly in neutral ports and understand the Sri Lanka
Navy tactics will be a major hurdle the LTTE has to overcome in order
to restore the sea lift capability, knowing well the fact that all 10
shies the LTTE lost, had no single survivor.
After LTTE lost each and every engagement with the Sri Lankan Security
forces, in Land, Sea and Air the LTTE will call for a time out, just
so that it can get some critical rest and recuperation for its
fighters and sharpen its arsenal by replenishing its armory. they will
want to use this time out to chart out the prolonging this savage war
for another few years as it had happened in every 'Peace Talk' time
during the past couple of decades. unfortunate day for LTTE is that
this time that most wanted R&R is not possible due to a leader with
back bone within the seat of Government in Sri Lanka.MR has over and
over made his intentions clear , and his intentions for peace dose not
include granting a weekend and war weary LTTE re coupe rating/ re
arming period.
Added to this, there is the Sri Lankan Security Forces, who are with a
firm and strong resolve to give LTTE a permanent rest.
Question remains, despite these victories, why some quarters within
the Sri Lankan society want to play doom such victories.
State of the key rocketing cost of living and the continuation of war
against LTTE should not be mixed together and be considered as a
single issue. Any such linking of cost of living with war should be
considered a treacherous act , and should be seen as an act to destroy
the current march towards destruction of the LTTE and an attempt to
resuscitate the LTTE.
Annihilation of the LTTEs ocean going fleet is not a victory of the
Sri Lanka Navy nor a victory of MR, but a Victory of all peace loving
Sri Lankans, be it a Sinhalese , a Tamil , a Muslim or any other
community in Sri Lanka.
