27.11.2007
The situation in Vanni continues to remain tense as Sri
Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse declared
that the Government forces are after Prabakaran –
“We are after him. We are specifically targeting their
leadership."
Gotabhaya
Rajapakse pointed out that Colombo now had the upper hand
in the long-running conflict, with the elusive guerrilla
chief limited in both his movements and ability to score
strategic victories.
To
add to the woes of Prabhakaran and the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka armed forces continues with
their offensives, aerial bombing high value targets within
Vanni, the jungle terrain controlled by the Tamil Tigers.
Yesterday,
Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed LTTE hideouts
in consecutive sorties made at locations northwest of
Puthukkudiyiruppu and west of Kilinochchi.
According
to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense heavy payloads
were dropped at the locations obtained through real-time
air reconnaissance and ground information.
The
pro LTTE website, Tamil Net confirmed that Sri Lanka Air
Force (SLAF) bombers attacked two densely populated areas
in Puthukkudiyiruppu and Ki'linochchi in Vanni on Monday.
The report revealed that 13 houses have sustained damages
in five rounds of air attacks.
Pro-LTTE
news website added “The first attack was reported
in Puthukkudiyiruppu, 150 meters from the town junction;
between 5:00 and 5:20 p.m. 7 houses have sustained heavy
damage. No civilian casualties were reported. The second
attack was reported between 5:30 and 5:50 p.m. in Jeyanthinakar,
a suburb of Ki'linochchi town, where six houses were damaged.
An 18-year-old youth was wounded in Jeyanthinakar."
“The
air strike on Puthukkudiyiruppu targeted a settlement,
2nd Ward, twice. The settlement is located along Paranthan
Puthukkudiyiruppu Road, which is a densely populated area
with four schools and the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital.
The explosion shook the hospital, “ the Tamil Net
reported.
In
the meantime in an interview with AFP news agency, Defence
Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, said, earlier this month
the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE), S.P. Thamilselvan, was killed in what the government
said was a precision air strike on the north and not a
mere lucky hit.
"The
killing of Thamilselvan sent a very powerful message:
they know we have good intelligence on their movements,"
Rajapakse told AFP in an interview Monday at the heavily-fortified
defence ministry in Colombo.
Monday
was also the day the LTTE chief marked his 53rd birthday,
and Rajapakse said that if all goes to plan it will be
his last.
"We are after him. We are specifically targeting
their leadership," he said.
"For
the last few months he (Prabhakaran) has been even more
restricted in his movements. We want to keep them under
pressure. We are gathering intelligence, information."
The
threat came as Prabhakaran was set to give his annual
speech from a jungle hideout in his northern mini-state
marking the end of "heroes' week", commemorating
around 20,000 Tamils who have died fighting for a separate
homeland.
Prabhakaran's
speech, due to be broadcast later Tuesday, will come at
the end of a year of several setbacks for the LTTE.
Government
forces regained full control over the east of the island
in July, and have also managed to sink what the government
says is the bulk of the rebels' fabled fleet of gun-running
ships.
The
outspoken defence secretary, who is also the brother of
the island's president, insisted that the tide of the
35-year-old conflict -- Asia's longest-running civil war
-- was finally turning in the government's favour.
In
the meantime, Asian Tribune learnt that though LTTE satellite
tower was bombed and damaged, LTTE Leader Prabakaran’s
speech would be telecast live in Britain, France, Canada
and Australia using ‘You Tube’ to transfer
the annual address of the elusive LTTE Leader, already
recorded from a jungle hideout in the Vanni.
The
address will be on the air today from 5.45 PM to 6.05
PM Sri Lanka time.
According
to sources, Prabakaran would be making a call to arms
for an all out war with Sri Lanka Government forces and
appeal to the Tamil diaspora for more funds as usual for
the Irrithi pore - the final war for separation.
Reports
further revealed that in Britain, British Tamil Forum
has already reserved the ExCel Conference Hall at Royal
Victoria Dock in London for November 27 to celebrate the
Heroes Day celebration.
In
Paris Tamil Coordinating Committee (LTTE) is making all
the necessary arrangements to hold the Heroes Day celebrations
today at 12.30 in the afternoon.
The
Heroes Day meeting in Paris is to be held at the hall
located at, 2007 Pavillon Baltard, 12 Avenue Victor Hugo,
94130 Nogent-Sur-Marne, Paris.
Tamil
Coordinating Committee has anounced that transport facilities
are made available from Chateau de Vincennes to the meeting
venue.
According to reports available, the two Heroes Day celebrations
which are to be held in London and Paris would be low
key events.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune