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Sri Lanka navy claims it has nearly destroyed Tamil Tiger smuggling fleet
Tuesday, 11 September 2007 - 8:58 PM SL Time
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Sri Lanka sank three Tamil rebel ships packed with weapons and carrying light aircraft, the navy said Tuesday, nearly destroying what remained of the separatist smuggling fleet.
The rebels could not immediately be reached for comment, and the navy`s claims could not be independently verified. But if the military`s announcement is true, it would mark a significant loss for the rebels, who had built a sophisticated international smuggling network during their 24-year separatist war against the government.
`It`s a huge blow to the LTTE,` said Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, the naval commander, referring to the rebels by the initials of their formal name, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
The rebels had once possessed 10 large smuggling ships, but three of them were destroyed in recent years, according to military estimates. In February, the navy announced it had destroyed a fourth and in March said it had sunk two more. The three ships reportedly sunk this week would leave the Tigers with only one smuggling ship, the military said.
Foreign security experts and diplomats say the rebel fleet might still have numbered as many as a dozen ships before the naval battles began Monday, but the loss of three of them would still be significant.
The three large oceangoing ships were destroyed in separate incidents between Monday morning and early Tuesday about 700 nautical miles southeast of this Indian Ocean island nation, Karannagoda told reporters.
The military had been tracking the ships ? which were unnamed, flew under no flags and had no port of registry ? for two weeks before confronting the first one about 7 a.m. Monday, he said.
The naval ships fired a warning shot at the rebel vessel, which fired back, sparking a battle that ended when the smuggling ship was sunk, Karannagoda said. A second ship was sunk in similar circumstances Monday evening and a third about 2 a.m. Tuesday, he said.
An estimated 42 rebels were killed, he said.
The military believed the ships were carrying a bulletproof vehicle, artillery pieces and ammunition as well as three light aircraft. The Tamil Tigers used light aircraft to attack the capital, Colombo, in March and April.
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kankun
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 11 Sep 2007 14:02:16 GMT Report for Abuse
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Mr. Brown,
Isn't this the same news in Specialforce page? |
laliths
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 11 Sep 2007 14:13:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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VP must be having a friendly talk with his failed commanders.
Results of interrupted communications. Need to change the channels.
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specialforce
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 11 Sep 2007 14:13:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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Did sea tigers themselves spill the beans on KP who was ever elusive...and the ships...?
when velu attempted on soosei's life, fireworks were promised by the veteran sea tiger leader, and his hardcore loyalists...
Edited By - specialforce - 11 Sep 2007 14:16:47 G |
AstroLTTE
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 11 Sep 2007 14:15:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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The rebels could not immediately be reached for comment, and the navy's claims could not be independently verified. But if the military's announcement is true, it would mark a significant loss for the rebels, who had built a sophisticated international smuggling network during their 24-year separatist war against the government.
Rebels normally not comments at all.......they may say the ships tactically withdrew and they will sail again the same ships when one weeks time....
Illan will tell the ships never sunk..they just sailed to bottom of the sea to reposition.....
Edited By - AstroLTTE - 11 Sep 2007 14:17:08 GMT |
rahula27
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 11 Sep 2007 14:15:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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| I have strong doubts that LTTE supporter Nedumaran's covert adventure to cross the sea was to distract the Navy and give cover to these three LTTE ships so that they can unlaod the lethal cargo without hinder. |
Saint
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 11 Sep 2007 14:18:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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Sri Lanka navy claims it has nearly destroyed Tamil Tiger smuggling fleet
Then I would like to say: we are ALMOST there.
:-D
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specialforce
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11 Sep 2007 14:21:42 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Tigers have atleast seven more ships latest intel speaks...so more to go... |
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11 Sep 2007 14:17:24 GMT