School children protesting in Chavakachcheri town last Friday demanding the "school environment being free from military presence" and the government "fully implements the ceasefire agreement."

Troops undergoing training in a jungle area last week.

Stock taking after deadlines end on Friday

In the 19 year long sepa ratist war, the first guer rilla to die was "Lieutenant" Sathianathan alias Sankar. He was killed in a shoot-out with Army commandos on October 27, 1982 in the Jaffna peninsula.

Dawn that day also saw another significant incident.

A guerrilla unit led by Charles Anthony, a close confidant of their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, attacked the Chavakachcheri Police Station, killing three policemen.

They seized a cache of weapons - nine 303 rifles, two sub -machine guns, two shotguns and a revolver.

This incident was to signal the beginning of the closure of police stations in the Jaffna peninsula.

Nineteen years later, for a fourth time in succession, the guerrillas and a Government are locked in a peace process.

I have no bank accounts abroad (except one in LA) - Gen. Daluwatte

Former Chief of Defence Staff, the nation's top most officer in the defence establishment at one time and now Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Brazil, General Rohan de S. Daluwatte, has thrown an open challenge to his critics - If any one can prove that either my wife or I own any houses or school in the United States and have bank accounts in a foreign country (other than in Los Angeles), I am prepared to resign my diplomatic assignment.

"I have declared my assets correctly. It is available for scrutiny by any person who pays Rs. 250," he told The Sunday Times in an interview before flying to take up his ambassadorial appointment.

He said "I own a house on land in a housing scheme off Bullers Lane, obtained from the Government at Rs. 5000 a perch.

The house was completed in 1978 when I was just a Major. I own no other houses let alone palatial mansions in Sri Lanka or anywhere else in the world."

Angry that he had been subjected to "much mud slinging" during his tenure of office, Gen. Daluwatte added, "My savings are in fixed deposits in banks in Sri Lanka.

I have no bank accounts abroad except the current account opened in the United States for the education expenses of my daughter, after my wife arrived in Los Angeles. My wife does not own a school in the United States. She works as a teacher in a school in the US to support my daughter, who is attending a High School in the US."

Gen. Daluwatte answered questions put to him on various issues during his tenure as Overall Operations Commander or Chief of Defence Staff. Here are excerpts:

the loss of mullaitivu military base, just ten months after troops re-captured jaffna peninsula:

It was my opinion as Overall Operations Commander that the isolated Mullaitivu base could not be held in the face of a determined attack. I had recommended withdrawal from Mullaitivu.

This was countermanded by higher authority that also sent two long range guns quite useless for close fighting.

On being appointed Army Commander I intended withdrawing from Mullaitivu but sent re-inforcements, weapons and ammunition till a political decision was taken.

Mullaitivu could not be supported by land in case of sudden attack without a strong Air Force and Navy that we did not have at the time. Relief operations were in charge of Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera, GOC of 53 Division and co-ordinated by Deputy Defence Minister (Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte).

Fall of elephant pass:

I would say the second great crisis that posed a threat to the very survival of the Army in the North came with the disaster at Elephant Pass.

I had retired from the post of Commander of the Army and was just a civilian in an administrative capacity. The Joint Operations Bureau had no teeth and could not issue orders to anybody.

The President telephoned me from London and appointed me as Chief of Defence Staff. The Joint Operations Command was set up under Emergency Powers and I was given executive powers to give orders to the Army.

At a time when every one was talking of evacuating and extricating our troops from Jaffna and pleading for naval transport from India and the United States, I suggested that there were several other lines of action.

By this time, on my recommendation Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera and Maj. Gen. Sarath Fonseka were sent ahead for the operation. Soon after I was given the necessary powers I too proceeded to Jaffna.

The LTTE had captured Elephant Pass, Palavi, Thanankilappu, Ariyalai, Chavakacheri and Kaithadi Bridge and were at the very gates of Jaffna, only a kilometre from Jaffna town.

The line of no withdrawal was drawn (by me) and held. Lead by Majors General Janaka Perera and Sarath Fonseka right at the front lines, the Army responded magnificently and in fierce fighting to stall the LTTE advances.

Under Major General Anton Wijendra the LTTE was driven back once again into the almost unpopulated sandy scrub of palmyrah jungle beyond Muhamalai and the Army brought the population of Jaffna under government control once again. This I would consider the second most significant achievement in my career.

'Operation jayasikuru' was a practical setback:

The strategic objective was to destroy the LTTE main base, taking Mullaitivu and sealing off the East coast and cutting off supplies to the LTTE.

Disaster at pooneryn:

The LTTE had vastly improved in training and combat ability. Their numbers had also increased to match our garrisons. Their sea capability also had improved. They were capable of staging surprise sea borne attacks by night on small bases like Pooneryn.

When the night attack was made on Pooneryn, within minutes of being informed that communications between Pooneryn and Palaly had ceased, I was at the airport and the helicopter took off at first light and we were over Pooneryn at 6.35, where heavy fighting was going on.

The helicopter pilot thrice attempted to land and was driven off by heavy gunfire and landed at Palaly. The very next morning a relief force organized by the Palaly Commander attempted to land at Kalmunai Point but was unable to land due to heavy LTTE fire, and withdrew.

On Day Three a stronger relief force covered by Navy boats succeeded in landing at Kalmunai Point and early in the morning of Day Four the relief force including me entered Pooneryn where the fighting units had successfully repulsed the LTTE attack and driven the LTTE out.

With regard to criticism against me, I made an explanation to the Commander-in-Chief and I was "completely exonerated."

Main achievement

I consider the conduct of various phases of "Operation Riviresa" as my single biggest achievement. They brought the entire Jaffna peninsula under Government control.

We linked up with Elephant Pass and thereafter captured Kilinochchi. Jaffna came under Government control ten years after LTTE domination.

Since last December 24, when a cessation of hostilities came into effect and was formalised with an open-ended ceasefire on February 22, only a single soldier died in a stray incident.

That was when he chose to venture out against orders last Thursday. He fired at two female guerrilla cadres and was shot dead in the stretch of no man's land, or separation zone, that divides the Army and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) checkpoint at Muhamalai.

Whilst the dates for peace talks in Thailand, where outstanding matters and core issues are due to be discussed, still remains elusive, both sides have been busy.

In the months when guns felt silent in the battle zones of the North and East, the LTTE has launched a concerted recruitment campaign, particularly in the East. Whilst the new recruits are being put through a rigorous training campaign, the armed cadres have vacated their camps to undergo more intensive training.

Induction of weapons is going on at a pace, contrary to claims by the guerrillas. Both local and foreign intelligence sources have confirmed recent shipments have included "extended range" artillery and mortar shells among others.

There are serious concerns in the intelligence community that the guerrillas were also seeking missiles for use at land or sea.

Even if their fears are true, stepped up measures to track them down, like aggressive patrolling in the seas, are measures the Government may not want to embark now.

This is for fears it would derail the peace process. The sequence of events following the July 13 episode involving two trawlers (SITUATION REPORT - July 21) clearly underscores this fragile situation.

If military preparedness has continued to remain a priority with efforts to boost the guerrilla strength, which intelligence sources estimate to be at least 30,000 (inclusive of the now expanding police force), stepping up measures to generate higher income has also become a high priority. Varied levels of "taxation" the LTTE has put into effect is part of this effort. The expanding "civilian administrative machinery," a guerrilla "judicial system" and widening of their "police" network with the opening of new police stations, further bolsters measures. Tamil expatriates in the West, leading professionals in their field, have taken time off from their chores to visit Wanni to advise on specific development projects, which the guerrillas want to launch.

In this backdrop, the LTTE has not changed its standpoint in insisting on an Interim Administration for the North and East when the Thailand talks do begin.

Of course, the Government has made it clear it wants to insist on a guerrilla commitment to discuss core issues. And this week, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told The New York Times in an interview during his US visit "the Court system of Sri Lanka will operate, so human rights can be safeguarded, and it can be transparent. It will be difficult for the interim administration to operate otherwise.."

That assertion makes clear the Government expects the guerrillas to give up their own "judicial system" and consequently their own "Police" force too.Although there has been no formal response so far, it is almost certain that the guerrillas will not agree to abandon the systems they have developed, to accept an interim administration.

Though much after the Ceasefire Agreement of February 22, it has dawned on the defence establishment on the need to ensure the security forces maintain a high level of preparedness and are adequately equipped.If financial allocations to the security forces in particular were drastically pruned down with offensive military operations coming to an end with the Ceasefire, the Government has been forced to take a second look into priority areas.

Among them are the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) where there is an acute need for spares that have forced almost half the items on their inventories to idle.

Whilst training programmes are under way for troops, it is no secret that the Government has also successfully sought the help of other countries in this regard. Some one hundred commandos and Special Forces troops will receive specialised training in India, among other matters, on counter terrorism and anti-hijack techniques.

This is the first time India has offered such training since the arrival here of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) under the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987. However, India has continued to provide placements for officers of Sri Lankan security forces in military institutions in that country.

China has offered military assistance to Sri Lanka. During a visit to Beijing in June this year, Defence Minister Tilak Marapana discussed with the Chinese authorities a deal for the Sri Lanka Navy to procure gunboats. A contract for the procurement had been signed during the previous regime but Admiral Daya Sandagiri, who assumed office as Commander of the Navy, took strong objection to the deal on the grounds that the prices were high.

The Sunday Times learns that Mr. Marapana is now reviewing the deal on the basis of the findings of a Committee headed by the Interior Ministry Secretary M.N. Junaid. The Committee was appointed to examine the agreement in the wake of Vice Admiral Sandagiri's objections.

Assistance from the United States has been continuing under their Joint Combined Exercise and Training (JCET) programme. At present a US team is training its Sri Lankan counterparts somewhere in the South under "Operation Balanced Style."

A proposal is now before Cabinet for the signing of an agreement between the United States Air Force and the Sri Lanka Air Force for joint training exercises among other matters.

Assistance from the US has also been forthcoming for VIP security and improving intelligence services.

Enhanced military assistance to Sri Lanka is expected to be one of the subjects likely to be discussed when Pakistani President Gen. Pervaiz Musharaff arrives here on Tuesday on a two day visit.

The Government has also embarked on improving and strengthening the defence machinery.

One of the important measures in this regard will be the introduction of legislation to set up a Joint Services Command.

The Army, Navy and Air Force have already been told to come up with detailed recommendations in this regard including how the defence establishment should be structured.

Since the death of "Lieut." Sathianathan on October 12, 1982, the LTTE says 17,637 of its cadres (13,875 male and 3762 female) have been killed until June 30 this year. The largest number was killed in 1997 during "Operation Jaya Sikurui" (Victory Assured), which took a toll of 2103 cadres, 1596 males and 507 females.

Since 1983, according to Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne, Military Spokesman, 14,063 soldiers were killed and a further 2549 were missing in action.

Hence, when both the Government and the LTTE begin stock taking next week, that is after August 2, when all time frames in the Ceasefire Agreement come to an end, these factors will undoubtedly be at the back of their minds.
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