The Situation Report

1st August 1999

City faces suicide bombers

By Iqbal Athas

Deteriorating food and medical supplies in uncontrolled areas of Wanni pre-occupied the defence establishment in Colombo for most of this week.

Their movement has been virtually stalled after Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) failed to reach accord on modalities of a Civilian Security Zone (CSZ) to channel supplies, humanitarian relief, travel of civilians, NGO staff and others. That is after nearly five weeks of contact between the SLA and the LTTE through the good offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The impasse continues. But fears of serious problems it may cause the already suffering civilian population in the uncontrolled Wanni has prompted the authorities to formulate emergency measures to move essential supplies. The move, which is likely to be followed by other things including civilian movement, is being kept a closely guarded secret until they are formally announced next week.

With this move, the focal point of attention turned from one of immediately opening a CSZ to that of rushing emergency supplies. Mounting concern in the international community over recent developments have prompted the urgent action.

Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, just back in Colombo after a foreign visit, is expected to explain to the Colombo based diplomatic community and international organisations tomorrow the reasons that have brought about this situation. The Government has accused the LTTE of using delaying tactics to prolong its offer to establish a route to uncontrolled areas via a CSZ, firstly northwards through Mankulam and thereafter westwards along the Thunnukai Road. Expected to be associated in these discussions are Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya and Security Forces Commander – Wanni (and Army Chief of Staff), Major General Lionel Balagalle.

The LTTE has rejected the proposals on the grounds that a five kilometre long and a kilometre wide CSZ , proposed by the Army, would force them to withdraw from existing land areas they dominate. This is after accepting Mankulam as most suitable from three different locations offered for such a zone. The other two were Vavuniya-Pooverasankulam- Moonrumurippu road and Vavuniya-Oddusuddan-Puthukudiyiruppu Road. The LTTE however has responded to an interim offer by the SLA to allow patients from uncontrolled areas to arrive by boat at Pallimunai in Mannar to be transported by road to the Vavuniya hospital for medical attention.

The first to sound a note of caution, both to the Sri Lanka Army and the LTTE, was ICRC's head of delegation in Sri Lanka, Max Hadorn (Situation Report – July 18).

Pointing out that "since the end of April the supply of food and other essential items have been seriously hampered," in a note dated July 16, Mr Hadorn said "the ICRC is deeply concerned that the health condition and nutritional status of large segments of the civilian population depending on GA's assistance will further deteriorate." He has said that this position has been corroborated by information received from Government Agents Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi, all "indicating that their stocks of essential items in the Wanni are extremely low, if not empty of commodities such as flour, sugar and milk powder."

The other major problem, Mr. Hadorn has said, is that "patients cannot be transferred to Vavuniya hospital. As a result four of them died during the last few weeks…." He asserted that "present situation is deeply hampering the services and activities in favour of the civilian population provided by the ICRC, other international organisations and government servants active across the line."

In the backdrop of the ICRC note of caution, some western diplomatic missions too are learnt to have raised issue with the Government. But most are unable to formally raise the same issue with the LTTE since their governments do not grant any official status to them. However, the United Nations office in Colombo is learnt to have taken up the matter both with the Government and the LTTE. UN agencies, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is actively involved in relief work in uncleared areas of the Wanni.

If messages and proposals to reach accord with the LTTE via the ICRC on a CSZ stalled, the Army made a widely publicised drive to send a different message to Tiger guerrillas through 2007 civilians who are stranded in Vavuniya for just over a month. This is after the route to uncleared Wanni through Uyilankulam (along Vavuniya-Mannar Road) was closed on June 25. Most had arrived in Vavuniya on short errands that included telephone calls to relatives abroad, encash foreign exchange remittances from banks, purchase drugs or essential items. Many were left stranded without a cent.

Government Agent, Vavuniya, K. Ganesh, had to obtain relief in the form of dry rations. In the past week, the stranded civilians demonstrated outside the Vavuniya Kachcheri demanding the opening of a safe route for them to return home. Mr. Ganesh was somewhat relieved when he learnt that problems of the stranded would soon be over. The Security Forces Wanni Headquarters had drawn up plans for it. But his sense of relief was short lived.

Soon after the crack of dawn, the 2007 stranded civilians were ushered into the Kachcheri for breakfast. Each received a package containing food items currently scarce or unavailable in the uncontrolled Wanni. That included two kilos of Dhal, two kilos of Sugar, five kilos of Rice and two cakes of washing soap. Some of them had managed to buy up cans of kerosene or coconut oil on their own.

A media contingent flown from Colombo were eye witnesses to the pre departure breakfast meeting of the stranded. This was after they were themselves entertained to breakfast and a detailed briefing by Maj. Gen. Balagalle at the Wanni SF headquarters.

The 2007 stranded civilians boarded 20 buses and nine lorries for their return journey. Some of the able bodied men among the group, who found no room inside the lorries, sat on the roof with the joyous thought that home was only few hours away. As the stranded began their move, media personnel left for their return flight to Colombo.

Army officials at Wanni SF headquarters contacted the ICRC Sub Delegation office in Vavuniya. Their help was sought to convey a message to the LTTE that 2007 civilians were set to cross Army defence lines any time in the next hour or two. In accordance with their role of maintaining strict neutrality, they conveyed the message. They were, however, not involved in the decision to send the refugees or in any other preparations connected with it. They were also unaware from which exit point in the defence lines the stranded planned to leave.

The 29 vehicle convoy, accompanied by officials of the Vavuniya Kachcheri and Military Police, drove past Poovarasankulam (westwards) through the rugged roads of Iranai Iluppai Kulam (northwards) to Moonrumurippu to arrive at the Pandiyankulam junction, that encompasses the northern most defence lines west of the A-9 Kandy-Jaffna highway. The junction lies along the Moonrumurippu-Panankamam Road.

When they alighted from their vehicles, there were gleeful faces, laughing and singing their cares away. They readily obliged the Military Police who were grouping them for the "border" crossing. The time was 3.30 p.m.

A young Army Officer reached out to a communications set and switched to a commonly used LTTE radio frequency. He shouted "Romeo Mike, Romeo Mike….." The response came within minutes. "I am Ramesh, 'Military Commander', for this area…."

The Army Officer identified himself with a nom de plume and announced he was alllowing 2007 stranded civilians to cross the defence lines and return to their abodes. Ramesh interjected. He said he needed permission from higher authority. He said he would respond (on the same frequency) no sooner there was word from his leaders. The reply was taking time and there was anxiety.

Army officials decided to move the first group of some 200 civilians. There were women carrying infants or children, elderly men and women among others. They had barely walked half a kilometre when the burst of small arms fire rendered the air. Pandemonium reigned as bullets whizzed over the heads of returning stranded civilians.

Screaming men, women and children fell on the ground in fear. There were a few who stood on their knees facing the north with their hands clasped in worship. Soon they turned and began crawling towards the security forces defences. Adding to the panic was the fall of a single mortar shell some 400 metres behind the enemy lines. Fear pervaded the area with men and women crying or wailing. "When they began to chant prayers, I felt I was in a large shrine," an Army officer at the scene, who did not wish to be identified, declared. He said he has never before seen such a large gathering panicking in fear.

As the mayhem continued, the Army radio at the defences crackled. It was Ramesh. His reply had arrived. "We cannot allow them to come," he told the young Army officer. A debate ensued. The officer explained he was following orders to allow the civilians to return. "If we send 2000 people at once, will you all accept it," asked Ramesh.

By then troops at a nearby location had intercepted another radio conversation. Rabat (an area leader operating from Thunukkai) was conveying a message from Wanni "field commander", Karuna to Ramesh. That was a request not to harm the civilians but to scare them away.

The radio exchanges between the young Army officer and Ramesh ended with the latter alleging that the Army planned to advance behind the civilians – a charge which was strongly denied as being absurd. The officer persuaded civilians who stood close to speak to Ramesh on the radio and allay his suspicions. They did. It was of no avail.

Later, he radioed Major General Sisira Wijesuriya, General Officer Commanding the Army's 53 Division in Kanakarayan Kulam. It was in his area of command that the human drama was being enacted. He in turn spoke to Maj. Gen. Balagalle and operation civilian cross over was called off. The stranded were brought back to Vavuniya with the exception of three. The trio who were beckoned to advance in their direction by the Tiger guerrillas were "arrested" evidently to be interrogated on the origins of their cross over drama. That was how the LTTE denied the Army a public relations victory.

But obscured by the controversy over the CSZ was another victory for the Army in the battleground. Without the glare of publicity, they had successfully executed Stage Three of Operation Ranagosa 4. It began at the break of dawn last Sunday. With no opposition, it was completed by late afternoon. The Sri Lanka Air Force has now consolidated positions in this newly re-captured area of 35 square kilometres in Manthai East, part of the Mullaitivu district. Soon after the re-capture, Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir jets strafed LTTE positions. Two Brigades of the Army's 55 Division and the entire 53 Division were deployed during Stage Three. The extension of land area is from Moonrumurippu to Naantankandal junction. The newly re-captured area is said to contain over 15 major irrigation tanks and is largely jungle area.

The first phase of Operation Rana Gosa began on March 6 and led to the capture of 538 square kilometres. Phase two on March 19 added 329 square kilometres whilst phase three on May 8 added a further 103 square kilometres. Phase four which began on June 10 led to the re-capture of 353 square kilometres. Stage two of the same phase launched on June 26 added a further 67 square kilometres whilst the latest (Stage Three) brought in a further 38 square kilometres.

Thus an extent of 1428 square kilometres have been brought under security forces control during the string of operations Rana Gosa. With the re-capture of 134 square kilometres east of A-9 highway in December, last year, through Operation Rivi Bala, the land mass brought under security forces control in the Wanni so far is 1562 square kilometres. All this was after Government announced on December 4, last year, that "Operation Jaya Sikurui" (or Victory Assured) to open a Main Supply Route (MSR) to Jaffna along A-9 highway was called off. The sequence of events since then clearly indicates a thrust towards re-capturing more land area and spreading troops thin on the ground than conducting a concerted campaign to weaken the Tiger guerrillas. Tiger guerrilla infiltration and attacks in re-captured areas is being continued to deny troops full dominance in the areas under their control. Needless to say that disrupts normalcy. That too at a time when the LTTE is known to be acquiring stand off weapons and raising a Civilian Militia, among other matters, in what are clear signs to escalate the ongoing separatist war into a newer phase at the turn of the century.

Apart from offering little or no resistance to security forces offensives in the past eight months, the LTTE has maintained stoic silence. There have been no major commemorative or other attacks since December, last year, though reports of fresh recruitment, training and preparations have been confirmed by intelligence and other channels. And yet, the unfortunate tendency to under-estimate the guerrilla capability of the LTTE persists in the country's defence mechanism.

The point was driven home once again last Thursday morning when a suicide bomber threw himself on the Nissan car in which leading TULF politician Dr Neelan Tiruchelvam was travelling. The incident at Rosmead Place-Kynsey Road junction meant instant death to a politician and scholar who was reputed, both locally and internationally, for his humanity and humility.

Ironically, the fact that the LTTE plotted to kill him was discussed in at least four different high level security conferences in Colombo just last week did not save his life. Nor did separate warnings from the Directorate of Internal Intelligence (DII) and Military Intelligence (MI).

In an intelligence warning on July 14, the Directorate of Internal Intelligence said……." the LTTE is determined to target the TULF leadership, especially Messrs. Neelan Tiruchelvam (National List MP/TULF)………within or outside Colombo." If there were warnings before, this one came in the aftermath an LTTE "decree" to TULF (and other) MPs in the Batticaloa district not to indulge in political activity in the east. The LTTE seemed bent on forcing TULF parliamentarians and supporters to abdicate politics.

The warning forced these MPs to return to Colombo and to seek enhanced protection. Additional Director General of the DII, retired DIG T.V. Sumanasekera, directed that the warning be conveyed to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD), which is responsible for Dr. Tiruchelvam's security. A Police strength equivalent to those assigned to Cabinet Ministers or more was tasked for Dr. Tiruchelvam's protection. The warning led to MSD officials deciding to assign motor cycle escorts in addition to a back up vehicle.

The Army's Directorate of Military Intelligence is also learnt to have issued a warning. It had also been personally conveyed to the late Dr. Tiruchelvam by Director, Military Intelligence, Brigadier Kapila Hendavithana. A third intelligence warning had come from the elite Special Task Force of the Police. Its Commandant, DIG Nimal Gunatilake, a one time top intelligence official and a personal friend of the slain TULF politician, is also learnt to received information. During dinner with the late Dr. Tiruchelvam just weeks before, he is learnt to have briefed him on the details in addition to passing down the information to relevant channels.

Other leading TULF members who have been identified as high profile targets have now been provided protection by another state agency. Police Chief, Lucky Kodituwakku, has called upon Senior DIG (Crimes), H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya, to ascertain where security lapses that failed to save Dr. Tiruchelvam's life occurred. Both the Criminal Investigation Department and the City Police are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. One clue that emerged yesterday was that the suicide bomber was a resident of Jaffna and was one of seven known to have infiltrated the City.

Thursday's suicide bomb attack on Dr. Tiruchelvam shifted the attention of Colombo's defence establishment from the Wanni to City security. The matter figured at the weekly cabinet meeting (held on Thursday on account of Wednesday being a Poya) and later that evening at the National Security Council.

Concerned by the developments, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who is now playing an increasingly important role in defence matters, summoned a top level conference at "Temple Trees" on Friday evening to review security in the City. In view of another engagement, she requested Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte to preside. Also taking part was Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. It was attended by high ranking intelligence officials, senior sector commanders in charge of City areas, top level security forces and Police officials. It began with an overview on the City security by Commander, Operations Command Colombo, Major General Susil Chandrapala. A series of enhanced measures to further tighten security in the City are learnt to have been taken.

State intelligence agencies are also yet to identify the suicide bomber. "It's a matter of a few days. We will soon know the man's name and where he came from," said one intelligence source. However, Police have established that the suicide bomber was alone and no accomplice was at the scene of the incident. Earlier, an eye witness at the scene spoke of a second Tiger guerrilla escaping in a motor cycle. His statement on tape was used by radio stations and TV channels world-wide. Police who checked at hospitals later found that the escaping motor cyclist was a passer by. He had admitted himself to Ward 72 of the National Hospital for treatment to minor injuries suffered.

Either by design or by a strange co-incidence, the suicide bomber's attack on Dr. Tiruchelvam came exactly 24 years and two days after the LTTE killed the first Tamil political leader, Alfred Duraiappah, then Mayor of Jaffna.

On July 27, 1975, he drove to the Krishnan Temple at Ponnalai with three others. He was alighting from his car when three persons armed with revolvers rushed towards him and opened fire. Mr. Duraiappah died on the spot. Tiger guerrillas then operated under the name Tamil New Tigers (TNT).

On May 6, 1976, the name Tamil New Tigers was changed to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In a press release dated 25th April, 1978 (copies of which were sent to all leading political party headquarters in Colombo), the LTTE published a list of its first line of assassins. The eleven names began with Alfred Duraiappah. "No other groups, organisations or individuals can claim this death (sic). Serious action will be taken against those who claim the above other than Tigers in Ceylon or abroad," the Press Release said. Details of this news release appeared in the leading Tamil national daily "Virakesari."

Over the years, the LTTE has changed its stance over killing of non military persons or attacks on non military targets. No formal statements are issued except denials on occasions when such incidents have received wide publicity, both in Sri Lanka and abroad. Until yesterday, there have been no formal word from the LTTE over the killing of Dr. Tiruchelvam.

Just weeks before Mr. Duraiappah was murdered, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, then Prime Minister, visited Jaffna. At a public meeting on that occasion Mr. Duraiappah appealed to Mrs. Bandaranaike to release 19 youth in Police custody for infringements during protest demonstrations against the Government. These youth were released in due course. The group included Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE leader.

The first act of these youth was to show their gratitude by murdering Mr. Duraiappah. Why was he murdered ? Why was Dr. Tiruchelvam murdered ? Why were many other Tamil leaders executed ?

It was purely because they were moderates giving leadership to the Tamil community to live in accord, political and social harmony with the other communities under an acceptable political system. This is anathema to the LTTE.

The murder of Dr. Tiruchelvam and other Tamil leaders together with the track record of the LTTE as a whole should be an eye opener to those who promote negotiations with the LTTE, without being assured that the Tiger guerrillas are prepared to accept a democratic path.

The Fifth Column

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