From paradise lost to purgatory
My dear Mahinda Aiya,
Ayubowan, vanakkam asalamu alaikkum and best wishes along with deepest sympathies as we move into a decisive November with the spirit and soul of the nation burning in a self-inflicted purgatory with the LTTE threatening helfires.
One week after the devastating LTTE attack on the Sri Lanka air force?s biggest logistical air base details are now emerging to indicate that the attack at Anuradhapura might be the most costly with catastrophic consequences. According to defence analysts as many as 24 of the 27 aircraft in the Anuradhapura air base hangars were either destroyed or damaged.
Some 27 Black Tiger suicide cadres including at least three females are believed to have been involved in the operation which was planned for months and reportedly executed with push-button precision. Evidence indicates the attack squad had occupied an abandoned house in a land adjoining the air base and significantly, the land is believed to be owned by a military officer. The suicide bombers apparently chose to launch the attack around 3 am on Monday. For several reasons including that night?s diversions like the military motor cross rally and the live superstar show on TV. The fully armed suicide squad carrying automatic weapons and grenades had reportedly been able to prowl along for a long distance inside the air base without being checked or even spotted by anyone. If the number of attackers was 27 then it means one Black Tiger suicide bomber was assigned for one aircraft. They reportedly reached the hangar and started blasting the aircraft and only then was there retaliation from within the camp.
The battle went on for several hours and reports say some of the attackers were in the hangar till as late as 9 am that morning. Reports also say that at about 4 am at least two light aircraft of the Tiger air wing attacked the Anuradhapura base. Since aircraft from the base itself could not take off help was sought from adjoining areas. Reports say that a Bell jet fighter with four men took off from the Vavuniya air base but it was shot down reportedly by what is referred to as ?friendly fire?. The cost of the attack is colossal but the exact amount is not clear. Some reports estimate the damage at around 40 million US dollars but that is based on the cost when the aircraft were purchased years or decades ago. The main opposition UNP made statements in parliament claiming the cost was as much as 440 million US dollars, which would be only 60 million dollars less than the controversial bond deal between the government and a consortium of international banks.
The UNP demanded the resignation of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Air Force Chairman Roshan Gunathilleke, but in a TV interview on Sunday Mr. Rajapaksa said there would be no turning back from the battle to militarily crush the LTTE terrorists. However UNP front-liners are also expressing confidence that November could mark the beginning of the end of what they are blasting as the Rajapaksa Junta.
Most analysts believe that the current political battles in parliament, are plunging towards economic bankruptcy and the warning by the LTTE of a bloody November before the Mahavirar Day put together turn the coming weeks or months into a make or break period for the government. With politicians switching camps regularly and largely for personal gain or glory and with so many divisions within divisions or agendas within agendas, the key factor ultimately might be what the LTTE does or does not do.
Edited By - Berty - 31 Oct 2007 08:55:54 GMT |
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