January 18, 2009: The terrorist organization that popularized the use of suicide bombers, the Sri Lankan LTTE, is dying in a small patch of jungle, abandoned by the Tamil minority it killed in the name of, and hunted by Sri Lankan soldiers it tried to terrorize into submission for three decades. It's yet another example of how suicide bombings don't work. In fact, this particular weapon actually backfires. Consider the facts.
The Tamil separatists of Sri Lanka (the LTTE) pioneered the modern use of suicide bombers over twenty years ago. Between 1984 and 2006, the LTTE carried out 346 suicide bombing attacks (killing 3,262 civilians and wounding another 3,494). Through 2000, the LTTE accounted for most of the suicide bombing attacks on the planet. The LTTE was particularly effective at attacking senior politicians and security officials. But each attack just made their opponents angrier. The LTTE was eventually defeated, partly by an enraged Sri Lankan population, and partly dissention and demoralization within their own ranks.
Hezbollah was the next to pick up on suicide bombers. While Hezbollah claims to represent the Shia minority in Lebanon, it has brought itself increasing resistance from the majority of Lebanese by acting in support for foreign nations. Actually, Hezbollah has largely abandoned suicide bombing, apparently noting the downside of the tactic.
Palestinian terrorists adopted the use of suicide bombing against Israel in 2000. The Israelis eventually developed tactics that defeated this weapon, The Palestinian attacks destroyed the substantial support within Israel for a Palestinian peace deal, and increased support for stronger measures against Palestinian terrorism. The Palestinian terrorists are still at it, although many Palestinians admit that the tactic has failed, and has been counterproductive.
Al Qaeda also adopted suicide bomber tactics, particularly in Iraq. This turned out to be a major error. So many Moslems were killed, particularly women and children, that Arab public opinion turned against al Qaeda. Even Sunni Arabs in Iraq have been fighting al Qaeda in Iraq, despite the fact that al Qaeda is committing all this mayhem in the name of Sunni Arabs.
Al Qaeda began using suicide bombers in Pakistan six years ago, and were promptly taken apart by an enraged Pakistani government, with much public support. This, despite many Islamic conservatives in the government. Al Qaeda was largely driven out of most of Pakistan, and confined to the tribal areas along the Afghan border. Here, the Taliban had a lot of influence, and al Qaeda has convinced the Taliban to support a suicide bomber campaign in Afghanistan. This campaign has been even less successful than previous ones. The Taliban do not have the experienced support personnel (bomb makers and bomber handlers) to make most of the attacks successful by any measure. Meanwhile, most of the victims are Afghan civilians. Naturally, Afghans see these foreigners (Afghans are difficult to recruit as suicide bombers) as murderers who do not have Afghan interests at heart.
Suicide bombing is described as a weapon of the weak. What it cannot be described as is a weapon of the victorious. In the last few decades, whoever used suicide bombers not only failed to gain anything, but saw their cause harmed in the process. You can draw your own conclusions.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Suspected Tamil rebels attack civilians in southern Sri Lanka
Colombo (dpa) - At least two civilians were hacked to death, three injured and four more remain missing after Tamil rebels carried out an attack in the southern part of the country, a military spokesman said Monday.
The group of civilians had entered the woods as they tended their cattle in the Maligawila, Monragala, area, 360 kilometres south-east of the capital, on Sunday when they were attacked, the Defence Ministry said.
A search operation has been mounted in the area to locate the missing.
The attack came as government troops were in the final phase of their operation to capture the Tamil rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu in the north-eastern part of the country.
The military said that rebels may be trying to carry out diversionary tactics in the wake of heavy military pressure on them in the northern part of the country.
The group of civilians had entered the woods as they tended their cattle in the Maligawila, Monragala, area, 360 kilometres south-east of the capital, on Sunday when they were attacked, the Defence Ministry said.
A search operation has been mounted in the area to locate the missing.
The attack came as government troops were in the final phase of their operation to capture the Tamil rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu in the north-eastern part of the country.
The military said that rebels may be trying to carry out diversionary tactics in the wake of heavy military pressure on them in the northern part of the country.
INDIA WOULD NOT INTERFERE IN WAR; CORNERED LTTE IN MULAITIVU WILL HAVE TO FACE THE MIGHT OF THE ARMY WITH PRABHAKARAN “MISSING”
After meeting Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shanker Memnon Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in Kandy said India will not interfere with the present war conducted in Sri Lanka to eliminate terrorism from the island nation.
“During the talks the world ceasefire was never mentioned,” the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister told reporters in Kandy when he visited the Heads of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siamese sect of Buddhism to obtain their blessings
Some South Indian politicians had demanded that India should impose a ceasefire in the war in Sri Lanka and stop the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Although the Sri Lanka army commander, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka believe that the LTTE Supremo might have escaped the Mulaitivu area where he fled from Kilinochchi , when it fell into the hands of the Sri Lanka Army. He has also predicted victory sooner than he thought, at the time of planning of the long running Eelam war 4 . He said at an annual dinner he had hosted for war correspondents that the LTTE resistance in the war was weaker than he expected.
Judging from the LTTE leader’s attachment to his family and food the Sri Lanka Army Commander had said that Prabhakaran would not have stayed in Mulaitivu when the army was so close. He refused to speculate where he had fled but was sure he would have fled by the Mulaitivu sea.
Although Prabhakaran expected his followers to swallow the cyanide capsules the army commander said he would neither commit suicide nor get caught like Iraqi President Sadam Hussain did.
As Fonseka was speaking, Sri Lanka army troops were marching towards the heart of Mulaitivu where about 1000 trained fighters of the LTTE were cornered to an area restricted to 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) by 15 kilometers ( about 9 miles) by nearly 50,000 Sri Lankan soldiers.
In the forward march by the soldiers they captured a highly fortified garrison at Maruthampuvel, the army said. They ran over a Tiger boat-manufacturing factory there where troops found two fast attack vessels and seven small boats used by rebels for suicide attacks, Defence Ministry further said. Their naval wing called Sea Tigers rams small vessels packed with explosives into government naval ships in suicide attacks.
To demonstrate the sorry plight of the Tamil Tigers Army Commander further told reporters, “When the war started, I used 50 map sheets to plan it. Now I only need one sheet to plan it,”
Some local people have speculated that Prabhakaran would have been taken by a submarine of a Scandinavian country to give him refuge.
“During the talks the world ceasefire was never mentioned,” the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister told reporters in Kandy when he visited the Heads of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siamese sect of Buddhism to obtain their blessings
Some South Indian politicians had demanded that India should impose a ceasefire in the war in Sri Lanka and stop the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Although the Sri Lanka army commander, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka believe that the LTTE Supremo might have escaped the Mulaitivu area where he fled from Kilinochchi , when it fell into the hands of the Sri Lanka Army. He has also predicted victory sooner than he thought, at the time of planning of the long running Eelam war 4 . He said at an annual dinner he had hosted for war correspondents that the LTTE resistance in the war was weaker than he expected.
Judging from the LTTE leader’s attachment to his family and food the Sri Lanka Army Commander had said that Prabhakaran would not have stayed in Mulaitivu when the army was so close. He refused to speculate where he had fled but was sure he would have fled by the Mulaitivu sea.
Although Prabhakaran expected his followers to swallow the cyanide capsules the army commander said he would neither commit suicide nor get caught like Iraqi President Sadam Hussain did.
As Fonseka was speaking, Sri Lanka army troops were marching towards the heart of Mulaitivu where about 1000 trained fighters of the LTTE were cornered to an area restricted to 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) by 15 kilometers ( about 9 miles) by nearly 50,000 Sri Lankan soldiers.
In the forward march by the soldiers they captured a highly fortified garrison at Maruthampuvel, the army said. They ran over a Tiger boat-manufacturing factory there where troops found two fast attack vessels and seven small boats used by rebels for suicide attacks, Defence Ministry further said. Their naval wing called Sea Tigers rams small vessels packed with explosives into government naval ships in suicide attacks.
To demonstrate the sorry plight of the Tamil Tigers Army Commander further told reporters, “When the war started, I used 50 map sheets to plan it. Now I only need one sheet to plan it,”
Some local people have speculated that Prabhakaran would have been taken by a submarine of a Scandinavian country to give him refuge.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Jayalalitha deplores LTTE's use of human shield in Wanni
"Sri Lankan Tamils are being used as human shields by separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)", former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa said on Saturday (Jan 17).
"In Sri Lanka what happens now, Sri Lankan Tamils captured by the LTTE cannot move anywhere. Tamils were used as shield by LTTE. If LTEE keeps them there then there will be dire situation for Sri Lanka's innocent Tamils..." the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader said, addressing a public rally in Chennai.
"The Tigers in Sri Lanka figure on U.S., European Union and Indian terrorism lists for widespread bombings and assassinations. In 1991, they were charged with killing India's former Congress Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lanka has vowed to crush the Tamil Tigers militarily", she further said.
"In Sri Lanka what happens now, Sri Lankan Tamils captured by the LTTE cannot move anywhere. Tamils were used as shield by LTTE. If LTEE keeps them there then there will be dire situation for Sri Lanka's innocent Tamils..." the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader said, addressing a public rally in Chennai.
"The Tigers in Sri Lanka figure on U.S., European Union and Indian terrorism lists for widespread bombings and assassinations. In 1991, they were charged with killing India's former Congress Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lanka has vowed to crush the Tamil Tigers militarily", she further said.
Army 59 Div captures LTTE camp and a boat manufacturing factory- South of Puthukkudiyiruppu
Sri Lanka Army 59 Divisions soldiers lead by Brigadier Nandana Udawatta yesterday (Jan 17) entered into the South of Puthukkudiyiruppu jungle areas. According to the battlefield reports, troops have captured a highly fortified LTTE camp and a boat manufacturing factory from the Maruthampuvel area during yesterday's (Jan 17) operations.
Infantrymen of 12 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (12 SLLI) extended their forward boundaries further towards Puthukkudiyiruppu LTTE stronghold amidst intense resistance from the terrorists. Troops following heavy clashes, found 7 bodies of male LTTE cadres along with 7 T-56 riffles with 1000 ammunition and 1 light machine gun (LMG). Troops are now consolidating their positions about 6 km south of Puthukkudiyiruppu.
Meanwhile, infantrymen of 14 Gajaba Regiment (14 GR) captured a highly fortified LTTE camp located in the Maruthampuvel area following daylong clashes with the terrorists. Troops found 06 overhead bunkers, 02 permanent buildings, and 06 temporary huts inside the terrorist camp. Also, troops found 3 T-56 riffles and a radio communication set following clashes erupted elsewhere. Intercepted radio communications revealed heavy damages to the terrorists.
Infantrymen of 4 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (4 VIR) captured a sophisticated boat manufacturing facility of the LTTE located north of Maruthampuvel last night. Troops found 2 fast attack boats, 2 water jets and 7 small boats used for suicide missions inside the facility suspected to be funded by foreign NGOs. Elsewhere, troops engaged in daylong clashes with the terrorist and found a body of a slain LTTE cadre.
Infantrymen of 12 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (12 SLLI) extended their forward boundaries further towards Puthukkudiyiruppu LTTE stronghold amidst intense resistance from the terrorists. Troops following heavy clashes, found 7 bodies of male LTTE cadres along with 7 T-56 riffles with 1000 ammunition and 1 light machine gun (LMG). Troops are now consolidating their positions about 6 km south of Puthukkudiyiruppu.
Meanwhile, infantrymen of 14 Gajaba Regiment (14 GR) captured a highly fortified LTTE camp located in the Maruthampuvel area following daylong clashes with the terrorists. Troops found 06 overhead bunkers, 02 permanent buildings, and 06 temporary huts inside the terrorist camp. Also, troops found 3 T-56 riffles and a radio communication set following clashes erupted elsewhere. Intercepted radio communications revealed heavy damages to the terrorists.
Infantrymen of 4 Vijayaba Infantry Regiment (4 VIR) captured a sophisticated boat manufacturing facility of the LTTE located north of Maruthampuvel last night. Troops found 2 fast attack boats, 2 water jets and 7 small boats used for suicide missions inside the facility suspected to be funded by foreign NGOs. Elsewhere, troops engaged in daylong clashes with the terrorist and found a body of a slain LTTE cadre.
Hospitals in Northern Sri Lanka packed with unclaimed bodies of LTTE rebels
Jan 18, Vavuniya: The morgue in the Vavuniya hospital in Northern Sri Lanka is packed with the bodies of the slain LTTE cadres, hospital officials said.
According to the sources 31 unclaimed LTTE bodies are lying at the hospital morgue currently. Security forces have handed over another 12 LTTE bodies including five of female Tigers to the hospital this evening.
Vavuniya hospital officials said the morgue of the hospital is now filled to the capacity with the LTTE bodies.
The hospital officials meanwhile have buried 49 unclaimed LTTE bodies few days ago upon the approval from the Courts.
Reportedly dead bodies of the LTTE cadres are piling up in other hospitals in the region also including Trincomalee, Mannar and Anuradhapura hospitals.
More than 75 bodies of LTTE cadres have so far been buried with the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) last week in cemeteries of Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Mannar and Anuradhapura Districts as no LTTE officials have come forward to claim the bodies.
The ICRC resumed its transport duties on Friday (16) after a brief interruption due to the unavailability of security guarantee from both sides. As a result of this situation passage between the government and LTTE controlled areas was interrupted for few days and some missions such as exchanging of dead bodies did not take place.
According to the sources 31 unclaimed LTTE bodies are lying at the hospital morgue currently. Security forces have handed over another 12 LTTE bodies including five of female Tigers to the hospital this evening.
Vavuniya hospital officials said the morgue of the hospital is now filled to the capacity with the LTTE bodies.
The hospital officials meanwhile have buried 49 unclaimed LTTE bodies few days ago upon the approval from the Courts.
Reportedly dead bodies of the LTTE cadres are piling up in other hospitals in the region also including Trincomalee, Mannar and Anuradhapura hospitals.
More than 75 bodies of LTTE cadres have so far been buried with the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) last week in cemeteries of Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Mannar and Anuradhapura Districts as no LTTE officials have come forward to claim the bodies.
The ICRC resumed its transport duties on Friday (16) after a brief interruption due to the unavailability of security guarantee from both sides. As a result of this situation passage between the government and LTTE controlled areas was interrupted for few days and some missions such as exchanging of dead bodies did not take place.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Sirasa TV Studio Complex Attacked Sri Lanka: The Attack On Sirasa TV
Sri Lanka: The Attack On Sirasa TV An Early Warning Of Worse Things To Come
The massive attack on the Sirasa TV station brings gloomy predictions of things to come in the very near future to a country which is already bedeviled by lawlessness, violence and corruption. The leader of the opposition characterised the action as an act of state terrorism. Some of the leaders of the trade union movement have predicted a development towards dictatorship by the Rajapakse regime, in collaboration with the armed forces. The journalists have condemned the attempt to destroy media freedoms altogether whilst the United States characterised the incident as a blatant attack. However, there is no rational basis to expect things to become any better but, in fact, reason to believe that worse things are yet to come. If there was to be political assassinations of opposition leaders, trade union leaders, journalists, human rights activists and others who stand for democracy, rule of law and human rights it would be the natural course of things arising out of a buildup which has alre
The real issue is as to why the opposition political parties and other democratic forces in the country have still proved incapable of dealing with this massive lawlessness, widespread corruption and the ever-increasing violence? There has not yet emerged, in the country, a willingness to accept the depth of the collapse of the rule of law and the virtual loss of confidence in all public institutions. The opposition protest has remained as lifeless murmurs and a clear articulation of the grievances of the entire population is not taking place.
The failures of the opposition, which is the only force that could change the course of the present buildup towards complete lawlessness, remain in the inability of those who are parties to such opposition to make a clear declaration to the people on the following issues: the abolition of the executive presidency so as to make it possible for a rational government to emerge again to deal with all political issues politically and not by violence and military means as is happening now; immediately resuscitate all the public authorities by the elimination of politicisation and making the possibility for the functioning of these institutions in a rational manner; to legislate for an effective corruption control system which will overcome the legal and practical problems of the present system of control of bribery and corruption; a promise to review the situation of the Sri Lankan police as a matter of urgency and bring about radical reforms for policing to take place within the framewor k of the rule of law only
The pleas made to this regime for the conduct of investigations into blatant crimes and gross abuses of human rights have fallen on deaf ears. Under the formula of balancing human rights and national security, as often declared by the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the failure to carry out government obligations to investigate crimes and maintain law and order is justified. The simple explanation of this policy of balancing human rights and national security means the suspension of the law and human rights under the pretext of pursuing national security. The nation has never been more insecure and the cause of the nation’s insecurity is the ruling regime itself as it always happened in times of transition from a democracy into a dictatorship.
The attack on Sirasa TV is the culmination of many attacks on the media the opposition and human rights groups. The only difference this time is the massive extent of the attack. The attack was carried out by a large group of people who were technically aware of the task they had gone to perform. When the opposition is facing that kind of massive attack it is not enough to declare them as acts of state terrorism. It is necessary to provide clear leadership to the people to safeguard their basic democratic rights and to undo a legacy of lawlessness that has existed in the country for several decades. The opposition needs to accept its own contribution to this state of collapse. However, before more of the opposition institutions and individuals become victims of this process it is time to provide all the people with an alternative democratic solution on the basis of rule of law and respect for human rights.
ENDS
The massive attack on the Sirasa TV station brings gloomy predictions of things to come in the very near future to a country which is already bedeviled by lawlessness, violence and corruption. The leader of the opposition characterised the action as an act of state terrorism. Some of the leaders of the trade union movement have predicted a development towards dictatorship by the Rajapakse regime, in collaboration with the armed forces. The journalists have condemned the attempt to destroy media freedoms altogether whilst the United States characterised the incident as a blatant attack. However, there is no rational basis to expect things to become any better but, in fact, reason to believe that worse things are yet to come. If there was to be political assassinations of opposition leaders, trade union leaders, journalists, human rights activists and others who stand for democracy, rule of law and human rights it would be the natural course of things arising out of a buildup which has alre
The real issue is as to why the opposition political parties and other democratic forces in the country have still proved incapable of dealing with this massive lawlessness, widespread corruption and the ever-increasing violence? There has not yet emerged, in the country, a willingness to accept the depth of the collapse of the rule of law and the virtual loss of confidence in all public institutions. The opposition protest has remained as lifeless murmurs and a clear articulation of the grievances of the entire population is not taking place.
The failures of the opposition, which is the only force that could change the course of the present buildup towards complete lawlessness, remain in the inability of those who are parties to such opposition to make a clear declaration to the people on the following issues: the abolition of the executive presidency so as to make it possible for a rational government to emerge again to deal with all political issues politically and not by violence and military means as is happening now; immediately resuscitate all the public authorities by the elimination of politicisation and making the possibility for the functioning of these institutions in a rational manner; to legislate for an effective corruption control system which will overcome the legal and practical problems of the present system of control of bribery and corruption; a promise to review the situation of the Sri Lankan police as a matter of urgency and bring about radical reforms for policing to take place within the framewor k of the rule of law only
The pleas made to this regime for the conduct of investigations into blatant crimes and gross abuses of human rights have fallen on deaf ears. Under the formula of balancing human rights and national security, as often declared by the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the failure to carry out government obligations to investigate crimes and maintain law and order is justified. The simple explanation of this policy of balancing human rights and national security means the suspension of the law and human rights under the pretext of pursuing national security. The nation has never been more insecure and the cause of the nation’s insecurity is the ruling regime itself as it always happened in times of transition from a democracy into a dictatorship.
The attack on Sirasa TV is the culmination of many attacks on the media the opposition and human rights groups. The only difference this time is the massive extent of the attack. The attack was carried out by a large group of people who were technically aware of the task they had gone to perform. When the opposition is facing that kind of massive attack it is not enough to declare them as acts of state terrorism. It is necessary to provide clear leadership to the people to safeguard their basic democratic rights and to undo a legacy of lawlessness that has existed in the country for several decades. The opposition needs to accept its own contribution to this state of collapse. However, before more of the opposition institutions and individuals become victims of this process it is time to provide all the people with an alternative democratic solution on the basis of rule of law and respect for human rights.
ENDS
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