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Kottegoda fires parting shot at LTTE
Tuesday, 6 December 2005 - 2:38 AM SL Time
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Outgoing Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda yesterday accused the LTTE of trying to provoke the military with a series of truce-breaking attacks that killed 12 people over the weekend.Addressing journalists after being accorded a farewell ceremony at Army headquarters, General Kottegoda warned the LTTE that the army could now defeat it, despite repeated failures in the past.
The General who was promoted to this highest rank with his retirement yesterday, said the LTTE had stepped up organised attacks against government forces in the former rebel stronghold of Jaffna in a bid to draw fire from the military.
'I am confident that with the training we have done in the past three years we are better prepared today than we were before the ceasefire,' the General said, referring to the February 2002 ceasefire agreement with the rebels.
'Our troops will be able to fight and defeat them.'
He said the Tigers may resort to more hit-and-run style attacks to minimise losses to their own cadres following a split in the rebel outfit in March last year.
'They could resort to more guerrilla tactics because they may want to retain their cadres,' he said.
General Kottegoda, who had earlier been an advisor to Sri Lanka`s peace negotiators, said the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, which was elected last month, must also push ahead with moves to try to revive direct talks with the Tigers.
'We have to make a move. We need to take some steps with regard to the peace process,' he said, adding the two sides should be able to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire.
His tough talk came as both the government and the Norwegian-led truce monitoring mission expressed fears for the peace process and efforts to jumpstart talks that have been stalled since April 2003.
President Rajapakse`s government has said it wants a new peace process and to 'revise' the truce, but the Tigers have maintained that any unilateral action on the process is unacceptable.
Despite the truce, 12 people including seven soldiers were killed in the North and East over the weekend, a military official said.
He said troops in those regions as well as other parts were asked to remain on high alert.
A soldier who survived a land-mine attack in the northern Jaffna peninsula on Sunday died yesterday raising the toll among soldiers to seven in the worst attack on the army since the ceasefire went into effect.
'It is obvious that through these violent acts, the LTTE is trying all possible means to provoke troops and create a volatile situation in Jaffna,' military spokesman Nalin Witharanage said in a statement.
'In the wake of these incidents, the security forces and the police will now intensify security duties to ensure law and order prevailed.'
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Vagabond
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 551
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6 Dec 2005 01:23:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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Now this Kotta claims, he can defeat Tamil Eelam Army. Its easy for him because he leaves.
He couldn't train the soldiers in 35 year now he has trained them in 3 years.
Dream on Kotta. Good Luck. |
kiwikanga
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 968
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6 Dec 2005 01:34:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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If the Army can defeat the LTTE why the heck don't they bomb the living daylights out of VP and his LTTE and end this problem? There are so many who talk about the almighty military power our Army is supposed to have but what about the military power that VP has? That fellow has also being upgrading during the 3 years. We remember how entire Army camps like in Mullaitivu were wiped out by VP and his LTTE and the Army was made to run. What is there to suggest that in these 3 years the Army has emerged the superpower of the 2. The problem with our people is that they always underestimate VP and the LTTE and end up at the receiving end.
Edited By - kiwikanga - 6 Dec 2005 01:41:20 GMT |
nada
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6 Dec 2005 01:41:09 GMT Report for Abuse
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Kiwi,
He can't, so what do you want him to do? He has just escaped and next another good posting and life goes on well for him. Once in a way a little 'talk' like this to keep the folks under control.
Life goes on.
Nada |
saliya
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 109
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6 Dec 2005 02:38:11 GMT Report for Abuse
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If you have trumps you have to play, just telling we have trumps and not playing them will lead to unexpected defeat. If you have confidence to defeat this brutal terrorist group why you did not at least stop killing your intelligence officers?. I think nearly 90% of your good intelligence officers including Directors, 2 ICs were killed by LTTEs. Now they kill your soldiers. We had a great respect to our forces though some of them involved with certain corruptions.
I know new Army Chief is a brave and intelligent officer who commanded northern troops several times. LTTEs hate him because he has a brain to destroy LTTEs. We will wait and see how he will tackle this problem |
nada
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1781
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6 Dec 2005 03:27:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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Thamil,
Does he belong to Perera & Sons? I respect their 'mixure', the best stuff in SL.
Don't blame him. He was wronglY quoted. It should have read as 'Kottegoda fires FARTING shots at LTTE'.
Nada |
tamilcanuck
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4643
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6 Dec 2005 03:45:16 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Isnt perera and sons in kollupitiya. I remember buying rolls there many yrs ago. IIRC there was news story (may a month back) about a col or gen who said the SLA ran away many times. Ofcourse on paper everyone looks good. |
Popeye
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 241
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6 Dec 2005 10:29:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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Crestfallen Gen.Kottegoda dozing in his arm chair.
?Huge load of sewage I am compelled to gobble since this unrefined Gamaya from Giruwapattuwa invaded my elite territory I was relishing in the company of my bosom colleagues CBK/Ranil/Brad/Marapone, through the ballot of illiterate native idiots, lest the Gamaya wouldn?t have bestowed me with the final star on my shoulder. O almighty you just saved my skin.
I missed the chance to prolong another 4years at the not so hot seat, at least for half of SL with ISGA given, by a hairs breath on that fateful day of 17th. Now that the boat has turned turtle, as usual we all do, I am playing the sonnet of last post to the fall guy. Hopefully, Gamaya would at least give me a cosy life in a far flung isle without more ado.
Good boy Velu did not scuttle my life plans except bumping off the undercover Thompson guys, after all a spent force with my shrewd scheme that did not make any difference. I issued a few warnings to Velu, of course with his sanction if not these JVP and JHU chauvinistic extremists would have cried for my flesh.
Nonetheless, all what I can?t bear up with is this other primitive Godaya from Bintenna, Foni who brought disrepute to my star studded class when he murdered the Queen over the HSZ with that Nambiar guy across Palk Strait, that my friend late Taraki taught a few scintillating grammar lessons to godforsaken modaya of all, now crowning my throne.
A downright insult to the impressive post held by me and a select band of my predecessors and the likes of Gen.Norm, Colin et al should admonish Gamaya from Giruwapattuwa through Cristina Rocca who sends forewarnings to all and sundry from her new desk.
God save Velu podian for all the patience he had till I left and I wish you all the best to send this fool Foniya soon to where Kobbe and them are eagerly waiting to receive him. Thats when we all can have a hearty laugh. Hah hah ha. |
Jillball
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 624
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6 Dec 2005 13:51:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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Kiwikanga,
Why don't they bomb? Because the government has singed a CFA with the LTTE and the government is observing it. So they can't bomb.
Military strength is no secret but yes there were problems in the past, hope they've got them sorted now.
iF you didn't notice, the military budget since the CFA was signed, has been no different to that during the war periods. With that lot of cash, of course the army must have been strengthening themselves since the CFA was signed, as there always has been provocations by the LTTE and the army is experienced enough to know LTTE has never been genuine in CFA's. |
kiwikanga
Senior Member
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Posts: 968
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7 Dec 2005 01:22:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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Jillball, the fact is that the army is weak tactically and otherwise. Are you aware what the new army chief has said? To face the facts we have no counter strategy to take on the tactics of the LTTE. Just think of the figures. We have in our forces more than 100,000 added to that the equipment. The tigers are supposed to have now according to the new army chief about 4000-5000. Earlier it may have been less than that but never out numbered our forces. We have an air force they don't, but still for all we with our 100,000 end up losing entire camps to their 3000-5000. Why?
Now the LTTE is breaking the CFA, why? They are ready for a full blown war and they know that the army is not ready. They are just testing to see what response the army is taking. It's just a matter of time when they unleash their fire power with all it's venom. The new army chief has said that upgrading, training etc etc is all needed to keep the army uptodate.He himself has said that the weaponry the army has is about 20 years old and that technology is out dated. What does all that suggest?
The LTTE cadres are brain washed to fight and sacrifice their lives for the sake of their Eelam. A majority of our people in the army have joined it for the simple reason that they cannot obtain employment elsewhere. Our people do not have the commitment like what the LTTE cadres have. We have just a few like Haslaka Gamini who are patriotic. The majority desert when they get the chance. Our people are paid salaries the LTTE cadres are not paid anything. What they have is shere determination and are driven by that. We have no tactics to counter that.
At various times various people come out with nonsensical talk about getting victory over the LTTE but it does not happen and seemingly will not happen. Interestingly the out going army chief and the new army chief have contradicted each other in relation to what the army is capable of. So if they themselves have no consistency or uniformity what can be expected if war breaks out? |
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