With the Eelam dream of the LTTE fading Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka has called upon the LTTE leaders and other cadres to surrender to the advancing troops as the fighting intensifies into the Tiger heartland.

The soldiers have nearly two more miles to reach the LTTE’s administrative capital.

Gen Fonseka told the Sunday Observer that the LTTE leaders - Soosai, Theepan, Banu, Lakshman, Vidusha, Swarnam and Nadeshan - can surrender with their cadres to the army.

He has called upon all ordinary LTTE cadres to lay down their arms and cross over to the liberated areas.

“Instead of Velupillai Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman we can give protection to all cadres who are willing to surrender. Prabhakaran has been given a 200-year imprisonment term and he is wanted by the Indian government.” He said Pottu Amman, is also a wanted man under the law and added that they would otherwise have to die in fierce battles as the security forces have intensified their offensive in Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu.

The security forces lost control in Kilinochchi in 1998 and the LTTE built the area as their administrative capital where many of their offices and important camps stand.

“It is the best time for the LTTEers to surrender. Arrangements are being made for them to be rehabilitated”, he said.

The Army Chief who served as the General Officer Commanding at Elephant Pass before it fell into the hands of the LTTE said that the advancing troops could now see the LTTE’s buildings and the city is within the artillery and mortar range.

According to Lt. Gen Fonseka, the cadres who wish to surrender can cross at any point where the troops are stationed.

“They can coordinate with the intelligence sources. A significant number of cadres has already started negotiations with the security forces”, he said.

However, a group of 14 LTTE cadres who tried to surrender to the security forces last week were killed by the LTTE before they crossed over to the liberated areas.

The group had used an alternative route to cross over instead of what was given to them by the security forces.

Meanwhile, defence sources said over 100 LTTE cadres and ten soldiers were killed in clashes during the past three days while fighter jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) had destroyed some of the main bases of the LTTE including the office of the Head of the Political Wing P. Nadesan, at Driyarukulam, a kilometre away from Trirukulam.

Courtesy - Sunday Observer