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The war plan that backfired
Friday, 18 August 2006 - 1:14 PM SL Time
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The Rajapaksa-administration, misguided by JVP theoreticians and a section of the military leadership, has driven Sri Lanka towards an unwinnable war already inflicting untold suffering on people. Hopes for a quick victory are fast receding, and Sri Lanka is getting bogged down in a long, atrocious conflict with catastrophic economic consequences to follow.
The Tigers, on the other hand, may see the developing scenario as a God-given opportunity to get rid of the Sinhala troops stationed in Jaffna, restore its dented image following the `Karuna rebellion` and win much-needed global sympathy for its cause.
Recent LTTE attacks have virtually cut off aerial/naval supply routes to some 40,000 troops in the Jaffna peninsula. (The Tiger-controlled Vanni belt of jungle terrain effectively blocks all land links to the north). The Tigers` overall scheme is apparent in their rocketing of the Palaly airbase and the Trincomalee harbour.
Disconnecting all lifelines to Jaffna troops from the south, opening up several warfronts to confuse and drain them, and forcing the military to overstretch its capacity in the south ?all appear parts of a well-thought-out strategy.
Successful attacks within high-security zones have shown the vulnerability of southern military/economic targets to Black Tiger strikes. The LTTE attack on the Pakistan ambassador`s military convoy allegedly engaged in a `suspicious mission` to see Sri Lanka`s president and the bombing of the military high command before that are all indicative of an effective intelligence network in place.
These are ominous signs indeed of what could be in store for the Colombo administration in the coming period.
The tense atmosphere engulfing the entire country will only deepen the economic mess and exacerbate spiralling living costs. In this climate, the JVP`s efforts to keep the lid on smouldering trade union unease may not work for long.
The labour unrest that broke out just before the military`s `Watershed Operation` was temporarily halted thanks to JVP intervention. The president threatened to bring in troops to break up the strike wave in the energy sector.
How long the JVP would be able to control growing trade union discontent remains to be seen. If strikes eventually do break out and troop-mobilisation to counter a labour unrest becomes indispensable, then the military`s burden could reach unbearable heights.
The message is simple: The JVP-guided government strategy to reap quick results with pin-point aerial bombing is clearly failing; in all probability, the war will drag on. And the implications for the JVP and the Rajapaksa administration are dire.
If, on the other hand, global pressure forces both sides to revive the ceasefire agreement and negotiate, the LTTE is likely to emerge with an enhanced image, having overcome the reversals Karuna split had caused.
By contrast, the government`s way of handling the peace process - with an overtly hostile attitude towards the global players ? has considerably damaged its image internationally. The whole world knows the government wanted to push the Tigers to the limit and start the war with ulterior motives.
The president`s trusted ally, the JVP, has publicly said everything the president was reluctant to say. But then the government`s actions have spoken louder than the JVP`s words.
Clearly, the government is loosing the propaganda war in relation to the present conflict, just like what happened to the Israeli government recently. And if there is going to be a globally-sponsored ceasefire and talks, the Tigers will emerge triumphantly, just as the Hezbollah did.
Whether in Lebanon, Iraq or Sri Lanka, wars perpetrated with hidden agendas are bound to backfire. Honest efforts to tackle the root causes of social conflicts are the key to peace ? just as the efforts of Mandela and De Klerk once proved in South Africa.
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samanj
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18 Aug 2006 06:58:23 GMT Report for Abuse
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Backfired on whom ? Up to now, backfired on the writer & the LTTE from which ever diversionary attack they embarked on.
Ltte had never expected to experienced such resilience within the ranks of the armed forces.I assume, they too are tired of LTTE rhetorics. Its time to call off the bluff.
They have used all the false propaganda available to them but now they find to hide the true picture.
Last straw was the killing of alleged school girls in Mullaitivu. How much explanation we have had who they were & what they were doing before they could arrive at a single theme?
Troops in Jaffna are there to stay until LTTE renounce violence on all forms , lay down their arms, kick in the bud the Norwegians who are now forced to let them down to cover their nakedness, accept an amnesty from the GOSL, appoint Ranil as their leader & sit down to talks. |
wijeyesinghe
Joined: May 2005
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18 Aug 2006 07:21:51 GMT Report for Abuse
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What are you saying
You cannot be form this planet
Did you not know that the army is in control of the North and and East.
May be you are referring to CBK Premadasa and JR era. Since it has changed quite a lot |
TamilLankan
Joined: Aug 2006
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18 Aug 2006 07:39:15 GMT Report for Abuse
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Thank you for the wonderful article on our present conflict.
This is my first post on here and hence would like introduce myself--33yr old Sri Lankan(Tamil) professional who has been living in London for over 16 years. My parents moved to London ,UK due to the conflict in the late 80s'.
In the article there was a comparison between the Israeli -Hezbollah conflict and our situation in Sri Lanka. I would like to point out that I believe our situation is quite different.
It is true over the years the Tamils have been discriminated on jobs and higher positions. However a '40 year' war is pushing the cause far too much!!??
It is time for us to understand one point----- Sri Lanka (and Tamil Eelam) is becoming irrelevant in the global scheme of things.
Our island's health, education and economy is in great turmoil and will NOT recover with the present war. Moreover the only people to be affected by this war are the poor people of the North and South. The LTTE cadre, who was born in Jaffna believing that carrying a gun is the only prospect of obtaining any respect in 'northern society' and The Sri Lankan soldier born Matara who does not have a job to go to simply joins the army for a steady income for the sake of his parents and sister.
I'm trying to point out that the people fighting this war and shedding their blood have got nothing to do with the politics of the situation. The politicians will continue to be in power, the LTTE establishment would continue be in power with security better than the security for the US president and the rich Tamils and Sinhalese living in Colombo would continue to drink 'coffee for over 5 pounds per cup' in the exclusive cafes of Colombo.
If we are not careful in about 20years our country would would become the only 3rd world country surrounded by economic mega countries. There will be a super rich class in Colombo and the rest of the country would be in poverty.
Let me give you an eg. A 3 bedroom flat in a good residential area in madras in 1980 was less than $10,000 and now even if you have the money you will find it difficult to buy a property for $200,000.
Moreover the current room rate/per night in a 5 star hotel in madras is around $250( Min.)and with most of these hotels being fully booked throughout the year. These rooms are being occupied by businessmen from the UK,US and Europe investing millions of dollars into the Indian economy.
Why am I saying all this? While we are fighting away in our little island the rest of the world is prospering!
Enough is enough!! Lets put away our differences and find a peaceful solution to this conflict. If we don't, in less that 25 years our country and war would become irrelevant. 'Live Aid' concerts organised in London to help Sri lankan poverty will become our only life-line!!???
Edited By - TamilLankan - 18 Aug 2006 07:48:53 GM |
ajan
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18 Aug 2006 09:12:21 GMT Report for Abuse
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Tamil Lankan , welcome to this forum , i too had the same view when i came to this forum. and i even said we must forget the past and look forward for the future. just like yourself i am similer age as you and possibly simmiler profession.
but having come to thhis forum my views are changed and i started to look things differently.
as you said they world had passed miles away and srilankans are still struck in this conflict mode. i had travelled to srilanka within the last two month and saw the situations at first hand.
we tamils can forgive and forget about 100,000 tamil community members killed by this sinhala forces, and those 2,000,000 people face displaced. and all horrific crimes commited by this sinhala racisit government, i didnt even mention the economic damamge to our community.
this 61 school childrens killed and 129 injured by SL airforce bomb should be a eye opener to all of our tamil community.
i myself have been from a conflict zone have seen and experiance the atrocities. and i just like those students killed by this air attack had studied First Aid when i was living there. because of this large shell attack from army camps and Navy rockets and air attacks we faced countless casualty, anyday anyone might get injured, it could be your mum that may get injured on the to market or your a shell that may fall in your home and your family may get killed or injured .
that was the situation we all had lived in. therefore the need of First Aiders is important and Hospital,and NGO with LTTE had organised this First Aid classes to all GCSE ,A level students there were many clases that we attended.
cut wounds,fractures,and many typical cases we likely to see. and then there are first aid centres opened in every miles or so and maned with couple of people. and in war time we GCSE,A level students sent to different centres,
it did help hospitals , because local hospitals can just concentrate on Major injurys.
now that the war is starting and shell are coming and people are beeing get killed,now almost war started therefore First aiders are needed. that is what those childrens were doing. and government killed those students. who meant to help the community.
now people like me and you need to see government is justifying this killing.
and no word of condemn from major countries. what does this tell you??
it tell you
when 10,000 sinhala peoples and farmers water is cut for 20 days 600 tamils killed by government.
there are over 1,500,000 Tamil peoples , farmers and fishermans land is blocked from farming, and ban from fishing by this same sinhala government ,
what message do they send you??
you said you are a professional and let you calculate what is justifiable.
and if intenational comunity accept what sinhala government done within the last days is acceptable then we must follow the same sinhala route.
only that way we can win our rights,
you may see me as pro LTTE ,it is because i have seen and experiance the state terror.
Edited By - ajan - 18 Aug 2006 09:18:44 GMT |
TamilLankan
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18 Aug 2006 09:33:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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Thank you Ajan!
I do understand the atrocities committed by the government and the reciprocal attacks by the LTTE.
My point is that--war breeds war!! We will never find a soloution if we all think of revenge and further revenge.
Re: the international community--do you really think anybody cares what happens to an tiny island in the indian ocean? Sri Lanka does not have any valuable resources. trust me---no western country is going to settle our problem. it s simply not in their best interest. We have to do it ourselves.
If we dont---our brothers and sisters in both north and south would suffer economically for generations and we living in the west wil simply debate these issues on forums like this!!
No offence intended Ajan! |
ajan
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18 Aug 2006 09:39:31 GMT Report for Abuse
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Sencholai air-strike killed 55, details released
TamilNet, August 18, 2006 09:25 GMT
Director of Education for Kilinochchi district, T Kurukularaja, and Director of Education for Mullaitivu district, P Ariyaradnam, have informed their respective Government Agents the details of the 55 victims killed in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing on Sencholai campus in Vallipunam Monday.
The final tally of those killed in the Vallipunam school camp aerial bombing (55 killed of which 51 are students and four are staff)
Names of students killed and the school they were attending from Mullaitivu district compiled by the Director of Education for Mullaitivu district, P Ariyaradnam, and sent to the Government Agent for Mullaitivu:
School: Puthukkudiyiruppu Mahavidhyalayam
Thambirasa Lakiya DOB: 26-03-89, Mullivaikal west
Mahalingam Vensidiyoola DOB: 07-10-89, Mullivaikal west
Thuraisingam Sutharsini DOB: 28-07-89, Ward 10, PKT
School: Visuvamadu Mahavidhyalayam
Nagalingam Theepa DOB: 29-03-87, Puthadi, Visuvamadu
Thambirasa Theepa DOB: 07-02-87, Valluvarpuram, Redbarna
Thirunavukkarasu Niranjini DOB: 29-11-88, Puthadi, Visuvamadu
Raveenthirarasa Ramya DOB: 14-11-88, Thoddiyadi, V. madu
Kanapathipillai Nanthini DOB: 05-10-88, Koddiyadi, Visuvamadu
Vijayabavan Sinthuja DOB: 24-05-88, Koddiyadi, Visuvamadu
Naguleswaran Nishanthini DOB: 11-04-89, Thoddiyadi, V.madu
Tharmakulasingam Kemala DOB: 09-09-87, Kannakinagar,
Arulampalam Yasothini DBO: 18-01-88, Puththadi, Visuvamadu
School: Udayarkaddu Mahavidhyalayam
Muthaih Indra DOB: 08-08-88, Suthanthirapuram centre
Murugaiah Arulselvi DOB: 14-07-88, Suthanthirapuram centre
Sivamoorthy Karthikayini DOB: 13-02-88, Vallipunam
Santhanam Sathyakala DOB: 20-08-86, Vallipunam
Kanagalingam Nirupa DOB: 11-02-89, Visuvamadu
Kanagalingam Nirusa DOB: 11-02-89, Vallipunam
Navaratnam Santhakumari DOB: 28-05-88, Kaiveli
Nagalingam Kokila DOB: 12-02-87, Vallipunam
Sivamayajeyam Kokila DOB: Kuravil
Shanmugarasa Paventhini DOB:
Balakrishnan Mathani DOB: 09-05-88, Vallipunam
School: Mullaitivu Mahavidhyalayam
Sivanantham Thivya DOB: 30-05-88, Vannankulam
Thambirasa Suganthini DOB: 18-02-88, Alampil,
S Vathsalamary DOB: 20-11-86, Manatkudiyiruppu
Thanabalasingam Bakeerathy DOB: 03-02-87, Mullivaikal west
Thanikasalam Thanusa DOB: 02-12-87, Kallappadu
Pathmanathan Kalaipriya DOB: 23-09-88, Kovilkudiyiruppu
Markupillai Kelansuthayini DOB: 14-07-88, Vannankulam
Rasamohan Hamsana DOB: 29-05-87, Alampil
School: Kumulamunai Mahavidhyalayam
Vivekanantham Thadchayini DOB: 31-01-88, W 10, PTK
Santhakumar Sukirtha DOB: 08-08-87, Ward 7, Kumulamunai
Uthayakumaran Kousika DOB: 22-08-87, Kumulamunai
Nallapillai Ninthija DOB: 03-03-88, Ward 6, Kumulamunai
Veerasingam Rajitha DOB: 28-02-88, Ward 5, Kumulamunai
School: Vidhyananda College, Mulliyavalai
Thamilvasan Nivethika DOB: 02-12-88, Ward 2, Mulliyavalai
Suntharam Anoja DOB: 12-09-89, Kumulamunai
Puvanasekaram Puvaneswari DOB: 06-06-89, W 4, Mulliyavalai
Kiritharan Thayani DOB: 28-12-89, Thannerutru, Mulliyavalai
School: Chemmalai Mahavidhyalayam
Mahalingam Vasantharani DOB: 23-03-88, Alampil, Chemmalai
Thuraisingam Thisani DOB: 06-12-88, Alampil, Chemmalai
Vairavamoorthy Kirithika DOB: 12-07-87, Alampil, Chemmalai
Chandramohan Nivethika DOB: 04-01-89, Alampil, Chemmalai
School: Oddusuddan Mahavidhyalayam
Sellam Nirojini DOB: Koolamurippu, Oddusuddan
Names of students killed and the school they were attending from Kilinochchi district compiled by the Director of Education for Kilinochchi district, T Kurukularaja, and sent to the Government Agent for Kilinochchi.
School: Muruhananda Mahavidhyalayam
Tharmarasa Brintha DOB: 06-01-89, 189/1 Visuvamadu
Thevarasa Sharmini DOB: 09-03-89, 90, Periyakulam, Kandavalai
School: Tharmapuram Mahavidhyalayam
Varatharaja Mangaleswari DOB: 24-07-89, 577, 13 U, T.puram
Rasenthiraselvam Mahilvathani DOB: 04-12-88, Tharmapuram
Nilayinar Nivakini DOB: 04-04-89, Kaddakkadu, Tharmapuram
School: Piramanthanaru Mahavidhyalayam
Kubenthiraselvam Lihitha DOB: 05-02-87, Kalaveddithidal, Puliyampokanai
Names of staff killed
Chandrasekaran Vijayakumari (Age 27)
Kandasamy Kumarasamy (Age 48)
Solomon Singarasa (Age 65)
S Jeyarubi (Age 20) |
TamilLankan
Joined: Aug 2006
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18 Aug 2006 09:47:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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I'm disgusted by the loss of life! and do feel genuinely sad----BUT how can we solve this problem?
Is it only by war? and do we really believe we could solve it by war! |
mRNOTRacist
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 62
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18 Aug 2006 10:08:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Dear TamilLankan - I'm glad to find another person who shares similar sentiments to me. War breeds war - hate and anger. You will find alot of extremists on this site from both sides. Those who believe in peace and a negotiated settlement are routinely shouted down and heckled. However those that believe in peace must keep the faith and hope that one day SL bears the fruit we all know its capable of producing. |
nale
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18 Aug 2006 10:17:56 GMT Report for Abuse
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TamilLankan,
No tamil,including LTTE want war.That was the reason LTTE declared unilateral ceasefire twice within 13 months,the first one 9 months before 9/11.Then they signed a CFA with Ranil govt.Inspite of several violations, starting from first few months of the CFA,when the army refused to move out of public places, places of worships and peoples home,the LTTE maintained the CFA and requested the govt and the IC to implement the CFA in toto.But the govt refused and wanted the CFA to be amended and tried to sabotage it by various acts of violations of the CFA.Then LTTE went as far as Geneva in April and requested the govt to fully implement the CFA and not to amend it.The govt agreed to implement the CFA at the talks but reneged after returning to the island.Then the govt killed Wickneswaran, who was about to fill the vacancy created by the murder of Joseph Pararajasingham.And the confrontation flared up againg and war.It is not the LTTE or the tamils want war it is the sinhala state terrorist govt and its racist and facist supporters.FYI please. |
JohnA
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 325
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18 Aug 2006 10:35:57 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Nale : The LTTE are not the doves you paint them to be. In 2002 they were desperate for a ceasefire.....more fool Ranil for entering into it. Post 9/11 George W declared his war on terror and your mates would have done anything not to be put in the same basket as the Taliban and Sadaam Hussein. As people who use children to fight wars and turn women into human bombs, they are quite rightly seen by the world as a terrorist organisation. They belong in the same basket as the Taliban, and Prabakharan belongs in a court facing charges like Sadaam Hussein. |
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