Destroyed ships had valuable parts for Tiger Flying Wing

By Walter Jayawardhana

THE MOST VALUABLE HARDWARE DESTROYED WITH THE TWO SHIPS WERE AIRCRAFT PARTS THAT ALARMS DEFENSE EXPERTS

The cargo destroyed with the two LTTE ships by the Sri Lanka Navy off Sri Lanka’s Eastern coast has once again drawn the attention of the South Asian defense community to the Tamil Tiger’s attempt to build its air force.

According to intelligence reports some of the most expensive military hardware destroyed with the ships were aircraft spare parts or parts necessary to assemble light aircrafts.

By these shipments the LTTE has attempted to improve the airworthiness of its existing fleet of airplanes and military helicopters or add few more aircraft to its fleet. The LTTE is the only terrorist group in the world capable of flying, thanks to the Ceasefire Agreement that allowed them to build one although it violated the agreement and millions collected in the West to buy arms and ammunition.

Sri Lanka navy sources said that the first ship destroyed was 70 meters long and the second ship destroyed was 50 meters long. In the initial reports both ships were reported as 70 meters long erroneously.

Navy sources said according to the information of the Navy the first ship contained 1500 tons and the second ship contained 1000 tons of arms, ammunition and aircraft parts.

It is estimated by the Navy that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has lost about US $ 7.9 million dollars worth of cargo in both ships. Sources said the cargo ships are worth about US $ 15 million dollars. With the ships went down 24 Sea Tigers who were very much trained in arms smuggling and sailing activities who were of immense value to the Tamil Tigers.

Unlike in the LTTE arms ships destroyed by the Sri Lanka Navy off the Dondra head more than two weeks ago the boxes of cargo were packed inside the ship making the explosions inside that turned the ship upside down, before sinking navy sources said. That prevented the debris of the ship’s cargo floating in the sea like last time, the sources further said.

Navy sources pointed out, according to information received the ship contained a cargo of airplane parts, anti-aircraft missiles, rocket propelled grenades and other artillery missiles and tons of high explosives. Both ships were proceeding to Mulativu from the seas of Indonesia.

The destruction of the two ships is considered a further step started by the Mahinda Rajapaksa government to give priority to completely destroy the air power of the LTTE which had been untouched before, mainly due to religiously following the Norway brokered Ceasefire Agreement.

In 1998 , the semi official organ of the LTTE, the Tamil Net said the aircraft of the Air Tiger Wing of the LTTE spread flowers on the graves of the slain LTTE cadres in Mulliyawalai on November 27 1998. The Voice of the Tigers, a clandestine radio, that day broadcast that while the aircraft were flying LTTE cadres watched the ceremony with their anti-aircraft guns ready.

Following the assassination attempt on the life of Army Commander Sarath Fonseka the government sent its fighter jet aircraft of Mig 27 ‘s and Kfirs to bomb and destroy the Iranamadu airstrip South of the Iranamadu tank. Intelligence photos later showed pock marked craters along the airstrip. The Sri Lankan intelligence services knew that the Tamil Tigers possessed at least two light aircrafts and two small helicopters. In Indian intelligence reports they were identified as Czech built Zlin-143 aircrafts and two small helicopters of R44 type .

Later the Sri lanka Air Force jets pounded on the second airstrip in Pudukuduiruppu which is 1250 meters long. But intelligence report show even after the bombing the LTTE has been repairing the damages at both airstrips.

Fully using and violating the Norway monitored Ceasefire Agreement, the LTTE also has built a third airstrip at Pilaikudirippu in the South East of the second airstrip.

The LTTE’s attempt to bring in more aircraft parts and the airstrips still being repaired in the Vanni show the LTTE’s determination to build its Air Wings despite set backs. Indian intelligence has said that the LTTE possessing aircraft poses a grave security threat to the region. Those aircraft could be used in a skyjack situation to force down an aircraft or they could be used as a flying bomb for a terrorist attack on an important building like during 9/11, they have warned.

Ranil, Mangala and Chandrika coalition being contemplated say analysts

By Walter Jayawardhana

RANIL, MANGALA AND CHANDRIKA COALITION BEING CONTEMPLATED SAY ANALYSTS IN COLOMBO

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera have simultaneously called for unity among those who want to protect democracy to counter what they have called “an emerging government tyranny.”

This has led to some political speculation that both groups and former President Chandrika Bandaranaika are attempting to come together in an alliance to launch an attack on the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Ranil Wickremesinghe said at the last United National Party special sessions held at Sirikotha, the party headquarters, that it is time for all those who love democracy should come forward and be united against the Rajapaksa Company, a reference to the government.

He further said even there are differences between those who love democracy those differences could be eventually narrowed if those people come together on a united platform.

Meanwhile the former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has told Colombo’s Daily Mirror newspaper that a unity is necessary encompassing United National Party elements and SLFP elements together with former President Chandrika Bandaranaike.

The Daily Mirror newspaper said, “ Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday called on all democratic forces to come together to work against what he termed as `the emerging tyranny` in the country.”

Samaraweera said even though former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has expressed the view that she is not interested in politics there is room even for her in this coalition.

Despite Samaraweera’s denial, by all her activities and dealings the former President since day one after her Presidency ended has shown all proclivities to re-enter active politics.

Obviously angered by the new enmity created between him and his former friend, Mahinda Rajapaksa Samaraweera said that a small clique cannot be allowed to destroy democracy.

Colombo analysts said a link between the UNP and Samaraweera has been eased by the fact his close friend S. B. Dissanayaka is now the National Organizer of the United National Party. Like Dissanayaka, Samaraweera has also been an anti-war activist in the Sudu Nelum movement, funded by foreign NGO’s.

Their friendship was openly demonstrated during the crisis of Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe when the former Minister S. B. Dissanayaka was alleged to have been instrumental in lacing the urine samples of Jayasinghe with prohibitive drugs in retaliation of by her refusal of sexual favors to the Minister. Referring to his private life style and in contempt of the runner and inferring she is having a masculine physique Samaraweera openly said that if the allegations were against him, rather than against Dissanayaka who is supposed to be a ladies’ man, there could have been some credibility in the story. Since it was later proved the samples of urine were not sealed by the Ministry of Sports officials the runner was exonerated and proceeded to Olympics to win the country a medal after 52 years in the Olympic history.

During the crisis UNP led by Ranil Wickremesinghe promised a public inquiry but swept it under the carpet after S. B. Dissanayaka joined the UNP government. Jayasinghe made the sexual allegation in a Los Angeles Times interview made at Sydney, Australia.

Indo-Lanka joint patrols under consideration

By Walter Jayawardhana

INDIAN DEFENSE MINISTER REITERATES THAT JOINT PATROLS BY INDIAN AND SRILANKA NAVIES UNDER CONSIDERATION

The Indian Defense Minister A. K. Antony reiterated that the Indian government is still considering the introduction of India and Sri Lanka Navies to do joint patrols in the sea between both countries.

The Indian Defense Minister after a visit to India’s Southern Naval Command at Kochi in the State of Kerala said, “Joint patrolling by the navies of India and Sri Lanka has been suggested, to keep trouble-makers at bay.”

It is an obvious reference to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) who have been allegedly using the sea between both countries as a passage for gun and drug running.

Indian intelligence services have alarmed that the Tamil militants could be supplying guns not only for their armories but also for some Indian insurgent groups for money or in kind.

The Indian security establishment has been alarmed after large quantities of high grade explosives and other bomb making materials have been arrested in the hands of LTTE supporters from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka while such materials were being transported.

Answering a question at a media briefing, after the visit, by a reporter on the terrorist threat to the country from the seas, he said the Navy, Coast Guard and personnel of coastal police stations must act in coordination, to thwart attempts to attack India’s coastal assets.

“We already have unmanned aerial vehicles to do surveillance of the coast. Three offshore-patrol vessels and more helicopters will be commissioned into the Navy, ” he further said.

He said India, by incorporating the Integrity Pact in defence contracts will usher in transparency in the sector, and said the 12-member Defence Acquisition Council with him as the Chairman, takes joint decisions on defence purchases.

The Council has as members the chiefs of the three services and officials from related departments. The integrated Council was formed to counter corruption and speed up decision-making in military procurements