Only the shores shall mark
the boundaries of Sri Lanka
Dilrook Kannangara
Sri Lankan defence authorities know what’s better. However, knowledgeable
public also air their views about future war front in the North. Also
when considering such acts like celebrating the Thoppigala victory with
a bang, one may seriously doubt whether some politico/defence authorities
are at times take matters lightly. When discounted for exaggerated claims,
LTTE supporters’ argument that the LTTE ‘always’ had
superior fighting capability in the North is based on their hitherto
superior firepower.
Heavy mortars
Use of 152mm mortars has given a tremendous advantage to them. Common
sense suggests the bet cause of action against these is to destroy LTTE
ammo dumps. For this purpose we need information on LTTE supply routes.
This is obtained by flying UAVs over Wanni and other corroborative means.
Effective destruction of LTTE weapons dumps will turn to competitive
battlefield advantages.
Air cover
Gallant Sri Lankan forces have beaten the tigers in their jungles; a
feat even the mighty Americans failed in Vietnam. However, few American
strategies used in Vietnam come in handy for the security forces. Real-time
bombardment of LTTE mortar positions from the air during a battle can
achieve so much as the tigers’ mortar deployment has always been
swift and affective, especially in the North.
Back to conventional warfare
The 2006 September battle, 2007 May and the recent battles in the North
suggest that the LTTE is aptly capable of conventional warfare. The
conventional rhetoric that the tigers are only good at guerilla warfare
has no meaning today as they have demonstrated face-to-face fighting
skills. Essentially we have to beat them in our battlefield.
Cut-off LTTE’s sea access
The 550km sea front in the Eastern province has been cut-off already;
this will be a great disadvantage for the tigers in brining-in weapons,
traveling and controlling the sea. However, Mulaitivu and many more
locations are still under tiger control. In fact, almost all the sea
fronts of Mannar and Mulaitivu districts remain with the tigers. Liberation
of Pooneryn to Mannar and Trinco to Point Padro equal the perfect strangulation
of the LTTE. Even without clashes, the LTTE will die a natural death.
It may be interesting to our defence authorities to consider such alternative
actions as well.
Attention diverters
Terrorists will engage in acts of terror in government controlled areas.
These should never divert the attention of the marauding forces in the
North. Retaliation should continue to be the responsibility of a different
group of the armed forces. Heavy retaliation on LTTE positions will
deter further attacks on civilians. It will also increase the tickle
of civilian outflow from tiger controlled areas to government controlled
areas. This will further deplete the LTTE fighting cadre and human shields.
Not carrying out timely retaliation will result in the tigers gaining
both psychological and terror upper hand. We should never forget that
the most effective weapon in the hands of the terrorists is “terror”
and should always convince them that given the circumstances, we can
beat them and there is no point in unleashing terror upon us as we will
return it manifolds on them. This has been very successful in the recent
past as we hope that it will continue. This strategy has protected Israel
from Biblical ages to modern day from enemies in all four directions!
Continue with innovative tactics
As we know the offensives in the East was different to the way we fought
in the past. Linear marching of soldiers was never seen in recent operations.
Besides they were small operations compared to operations Balawegaya,
Sath Jaya, Jaya Sikurui, etc. However, they were highly successful.
This has been the competitive advantage of our experienced forces. Though
tactically different, the spirit of innovation should continue in the
Northern front.
Absence of politics
We haven’t forgotten the promise of the Army Commander that by
March’07 the East will be free from terrorists. It didn’t
happen; instead it took four more months to achieve that goal. There
is nothing wrong with this as we have recorded a professional and a
safe victory in Toppoigala; even the Indian army failed in this endevour.
If Mangala talks politics about the event, he has conveniently forgotten
his Sudu Nelum and Samayang Thavalama movements launched concurrently
with military operations! Who played politics with military victories?
We would like to see the continued absence of politics from military
operations. Though there was a blunder due to absence of politics from
military/police operations (eviction of 350 lodgers), Sri Lankans have
forgiven this honest mistake. They don’t want politicos’ naked
dances in parliament or elsewhere over it!
Traitors
Unfortunately we have to battle traitors at home. They live and breathe
freedom ensured by our gallant forces, yet remain ungrateful. The government
should ensure that legal provisions in PTA, etc. are not made jokes
by enforcing the law. This is one area the government has failed. As
a result traitors have bred further traitors to such an extent that
there is a treacherous network of them today. They not only exploit
military losses, etc. but also other issues like the surge in cost of
living to make things difficult for the people. They spread the false
belief that surrender is the way to solve problems. If so, why on earth
the greatest, most popular and most educated UNPers ever (JRJ, Lalith,
Gamini) believed so firmly that only a military solution can solve the
terrorist problem? Can we even think of Ranil among Lalith/Gamini/JRJ?
No way; Ranil was only DB Wijetunga’s PM. Although political reasons
may allow Ranil to continue at the helm of the UNP for the foreseeable
future, other traitors should be punished.
Finances
Reason should prevail so as to ensure that we don’t waste money
as a nation. The additional 650-million-rupee-a-year jumbo parliament
is much better than going for undue elections (yes, never one without
two!!) which will cost the country around 45 billion rupees over three
years. (The 2004 election costed approx. 14 billion rupees for the nation).
Based on first hand information, some businesses were told not to pay
taxes by some bankrupt politicians; they have asked them to given part
of that money to them so that they can ‘buy’ some ministers
to topple the government. In turn a huge tax amnesty will be awarded
to them. This is the repetition of what happened in 2001 and the government
should ensure that such wasteful and corrupt acts are not tolerated.
Failure to take timely action will result in another undue election,
and yet another in 2 to 3 years. It is worthwhile to note that in the
21st century, the average life span of a parliament has been two and
a half years so far!!
We have learnt from past mistakes
The ‘Elam war 3’ that started in April 1995 over the government
refusal to take back the Poonaryn camp by 1 kilometre ended just 5 years
later with the loss of that camp and Mulaitivu and Elephant Pass camps.
We should continue to display maturity of learning from past mistakes.
It should be appreciated that the Sri Lankan army can one day show the
world the way to win the war on terror.
I remember a Catholic hymn we used to sing stating that the shape of
Sri Lanka resembles Holy Mary carrying infant Jesus. I’m fully
convinced like all true Sri Lankans, that ONLY THE SHORES SHOULD MARK
THE BOUNDARIES OF SRI LANKA. Parabakaran, Pottuamman, Ponnambalam, Pakasoththi,
Ranil, Mangala or any other ‘baron’ should not be allowed
to dictate otherwise.
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