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Military versus 17,000 LTTE cadres in `Final Battle` or `Highway of Death`
Sunday, 3 February 2008 - 8:26 AM SL Time
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President Mahinda Rajapakse calls it the `Final Battle` while the LTTE speaks of a `Highway of Death` terminology apart, the North-East war should be over in about four to five months time, authoritative military sources said.
This takes us to the battle front and the much disputed LTTE strength or more precisely its manpower.
The sources speaking to the `Sunday Island`, said that the LTTE has between 15,000 to 17,000 cadres. `But, only a small percentage of this number is battle hardened. Their sea tigers add up to around 1,500. The others are mostly new recruits who have yet to face the litmus test.`
Arms and ammunition are hard to come by and the LTTE is banking on home-made mortar and artillery with a firing range of about two kilometers, they claimed.
`The LTTE lost about 80,000 tons of mortar and artillery when seven of its Wanni bound ships were sunk by the Navy in the recent past. Three of its aircraft were destroyed during raids by the Air Force and 25 of their self-styled lieutenants have been killed. Our intelligence units are spot on. The LTTE is cornered and can do nothing about it`, the sources asserted.
If the LTTE is on the run, what is delaying mopping up operations and why do you need five more months? `We want to minimise casualties`, the sources said.
Asked about LTTE idealogue, K. Balakumaran s belief that the security forces would use the A-32 to enter Pooneryn or the A-34 to advance through Oddisuddaan, the sources said `We have other routes and will surprise them with our moves.`
Balakumaran told the National Television of Tamileelam (NTT) recently that the LTTE will bring `clarity` to the ethnic conflict in 2008 through a demonstration of military strength.
`Whichever path the Sri Lankan government chooses to enter Wanni, they will have to directly confront our fighters. As a precursor to the anticipated battle, they are trying to chip away and also probe our strength through small-scale skirmishes at the periphery. We understand the tactics and haven`t underestimated their strength either.`
As the psychological war of words continue and the day of reckoning nears, the billion dollar question is whether the `Final Battle` or `Highway of Death`, will be fought or the international community will prevent the `bloodbath waiting to happen
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pharoah
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 3 Feb 2008 02:28:57 GMT Report for Abuse
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versus 17,000 LTTE cadres
number of troops is not a factor, it is their determination and public support that matters
Edited By - pharoah - 3 Feb 2008 02:29:21 GMT |
SatanKaBacha
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 3 Feb 2008 02:31:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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Ok.. We will have a ceasefire in 2009..!
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AnuD
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 3 Feb 2008 02:32:39 GMT Report for Abuse
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number of troops is not a factor, it is their determination and public support that matters
We have to let these Cadres know that Velu has run away leaving them to fight for the finish.
Get the defected cadres to influence those who are in Wanni.
Earlier reports said, in addition to 4000 - 6000 trained cadres, and 40,000 poorly trained or inexperienced cadres which included 50 - 65 year old men too.
So, the number is very low now.
Tin Can Air farce is also gone.
What Balakumaran talk is just repetition of what ThamilSelvan used to talk.
All forces have done an excellent job.
LTTE is hiding in the jungles,who want to march on A32, A34 and become sitting ducks. Periphery is highly mined.
Edited By - AnuD - 3 Feb 2008 03:00:13 GMT |
kanthun
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3 Feb 2008 02:36:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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17,000 LTTE vs 400,000+ GOSL Forces!
Hopefully this will be a battle of wits. |
cartoon
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3 Feb 2008 02:37:19 GMT Report for Abuse
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Finally, the END is near. I guess the planets have REALIGNED and the Tamils will continue to be the ONLY race on the planet without a place to call HOME since India is not allowing them to have a home in Tamil Nadu. Hmmmm? Perhaps the next gen of Tamils ought to think of starting their next 25 year cycle of independence struggle there?
I wonder who would end up being the Big Killer in that struggle after Prabha. Oh, wait a minute - Prabha is in Tamil Nadu now licking his wounds! |
kanthun
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3 Feb 2008 02:40:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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| 'Finally, the MOON is near' said the Monkey reaching from the tallest tree :P |
Pera
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 3 Feb 2008 02:43:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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Balakumaran strength enter Wanni the National periphery Television through battleof Tamileelam (NTT) haven't recently that the chooses to LTTE 'clarity' to the ethnic in 2008 a demonstration confront of the through military to chip probe.
'Whichever skirmishes will bring told path Sri Lankan government conflict, they will have to our fighters. As a understand precursor to underestimated the anticipated , they are trying away and also our strength small-scale at the . We the tactics and their strength either directly .'
Edited By - Pera - 3 Feb 2008 02:45:41 GMT |
cartoon
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3 Feb 2008 02:45:13 GMT Report for Abuse
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| You don't have to be a MONKEY to know that the moon is near when you are at the top of the tree than when you are at the bottom of the tree. Idiot. |
AnuD
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3 Feb 2008 02:49:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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If the LTTE is on the run, what is delaying mopping up operations and why do you need five more months? 'We want to minimise casualties', the sources said.
If we are patient a little bit more, we can have this with minimum casualties.
It is a fight between young professionals from SLA and old - not very agile, poorly maneuverable - experienced cadres.
Edited By - AnuD - 3 Feb 2008 03:11:22 GMT |
cartoon
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3 Feb 2008 03:07:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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Forget about human casualties, END the damn war in a few months! If we do NOT, then there will be a heck of a lot more dying in the next decade or so due to continued war. The selfish Tamils living abroad are worried that they may be asked to go back to their 'homes' in Sri Lanka!
Edited By - cartoon - 3 Feb 2008 03:08:04 GMT |
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