Are We on Course? : The Pesalei
Incident
Dilrook Kannangara
The Pesalei incident is not in anyway an isolated incident. This is
part of the LTTE’s bitter struggle to win back the North-West which
is crucial to sustain its weapons flow now reduced to a tickle from
Tamil Nadu. Due to the absence of any major obstacle toward the North,
the LTTE also fears an easy passage to their Northern strongholds if
the security forces are allowed to roam in Mannar.
Although the government claims that the tigers were beaten, it is obvious
that they were not. MOD announced that about seven tiger boats ‘escaped’-
escaped to where? To Sri Lanka of course to fight another day! According
to the news report, one damaged tiger boat was towed away by the tigers.
What was the SLN doing? The success rate of the SLN counter-attack was
0% as no LTTE boat was sunk. It is imperative that these escaping tiger
boats are pursued and destroyed with their crew. Else, they would use
the same devices with added experience to launch an attack soon.
This incident substantiates the biggest weakness of the Sri Lankan security
forces- not following an extermination strategy which is essential at
this stage of the war. The days when we could sigh in relief when LTTE
attackers were chased away are over. Suppose after the war is won if
seven tiger boats appear from somewhere and escaped into the shores
of Sri Lanka what would be the repercussions? We are slowly approaching
that stage of the war. Its time that no mercy is shown to our enemies.
There are many desperate attempts made to save the tigers. However,
it is impressive how the government has conduct on the UNICEF matter.
For a long time LTTE sympathizers had infiltrated into the local missions
of the UNICEF, UN, the Canadian Embassy, NGOs and other organizations.
The Defence Secretary pointed this out in May this year and no action
was taken then. Banning the TRO in the US and in Sri Lanka coupled with
the punishment levied on the terrorists based in the UNICEF-Sri Lanka
mission surely suffocates the tigers as never before. Quite appropriately
the tigers have said that banning the TRO is the last nail in the ‘peace’
coffin. LTTE’s version of peace is the surrender of the Sri Lankan
state as it happened in 2002-2005 and hence the end of such ‘peace’
effectively means the end of surrender. These uncompromised political
victories must translate into similar military victories marked by annihilation
of the tigers.
The aggressive foreign policy adopted by the government has paid off
well. For the first time the international community was made to understand
that we want peace on our terms and not on their terms. Sri Lanka’s
unwavering commitment to sovereignty forced the international community
to recognize that there are other races living in Sri Lanka apart from
Tamils and they too have aspirations. On top of that Sri Lanka as a
nation has an own set of aspirations. This led to the US to freeze TRO
assets which did not happen in 2001 contrary to expectations. Now it
is the anaconda at work to strangulate the tigers.This is backed by
a strong military campaign in the last terror bastion in Wanni.
To compliment all these, a massive defence budget is passed in parliament
that will nail the tigers as never before. The precision execution of
Tamilchelvam also played a significant role in destroying the LTTE’s
window to the international. It was estimated that USD 20-60 million
was lost to the SLAF due to the terror attack on the Anuradhapura Airforce
Base. Funds lying in TRO and its agencies when their assets were frozen
(and banned) ran to a few hundred million dollars. The assets freeze
and the ban will eliminate billions of dollars that would otherwise
flowed to the tigers through the cause of time. What a fitting and clever
retaliation it was in return for the Anuradhapura airforce base attack
by the terrorists? Kabithigollewa (where more than 30 children were
inhumanely killed by the LTTE) to Chencholei (where the SLAF banged
a well monitored child suicide bomber training base killing more than
60 child terrorists) as Anuradhapura to TRO asset freeze and ban!
According to government sources it is considering a total ban on the
LTTE as well. The only bad effect of a total LTTE ban would be that
there won’t be anymore ‘peace talks’ during the term
of the ban. However, having vanquished the chief (and the only experienced)
negotiator of the LTTE, there is little, if at all, is lost by not having
further ‘peace talks’. A total LTTE ban would annul some of
its agents as well which would turn to a big political victory for the
government on one hand and a crippling blow to the tigers.
However, as stated above these clever chess board tactics must be translated
into military gains soon. The Cowards Week of the LTTE has started with
an unsuccessful terror attempt, but this would not be the last; the
fox-hole cowards must be bashed mercilessly to win this cruel war where
numbers have dictated who wins and who loses. Cowards day celebrations
must be turned into moorings for the tigers so that Sri Lanka can celebrate
in turn. A few priced targets including Parabakaran and Pottuamman will
be the icing on the cake!
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