Army offensive in the east
Tigers hit-and-run
OVER 500 Tigers launched an assault on remote Pulukunawa Special Task Force (STF) camp, 20 miles north-west of Amparai on 11 December, killing 38 security personnel and wounding 40 others. The LTTE intercepted Army reinforcements at Kohongastalawa and destroyed two armoured vehicles.
There is growing concern within the government after the attack, over the capture of long-range artillery by the LTTE. Security forces in the east have been considerably weakened after troop withdrawals for northern operations and the closure of a number of military camps.
The Army began Operation Singing Fish on 12 December to evict the LTTE from jungle bases in Paduvankarai, west of the Batticaloa lagoon. Troops advanced in a five-pronged attack. Airforce planes bombed the area damaging a building in Vinayagar School. Three injured Tigers in the building receiving treatment were killed. A soldier died and four others were injured at Ayithiyamalai on 14 December. Food supply to
Paduvankarai was restricted and a Reuter report says advancing troops found only women and children in villages.
According to the military the Tigers had withdrawn from several camps including the large Nissan base. On 17 December the LTTE struck back when a suicide bomber crashed a motorcycle on to a jeep killing senior STF officer in the east, Upali Sahabandu. Reports say the Army launched another operation named Rivijaya (Sun Victory) in Paduvankarai on 31 December.
As fighting intensifies civilian suffering continues. After the Tigers ambushed an Army patrol killing a soldier in Kiran on 19 December, the village was shelled damaging a temple and four houses. The body of student R Maharajah, 17, taken into custody on 22 December was handed over to the Batticaloa hospital. The Batticaloa magistrate has ordered an enquiry into the killing.
Local people say six year-old Michael Niranjala was killed by an unprovoked gunshot from the Eravur police station on Christmas day. Following a LTTE attack on Vellaveli STF camp on 27 December, three civilians were injured in Army shelling and over 500 families fled from the area.
In Trincomalee District, two Black Tigers on a mission to attack the port on 8 December were killed by the Navy outside the harbour. Nine soldiers died in a Tiger ambush at Pangurugaswewa on 22 December. Reports say the LTTE abducted four villagers from Andankulam on the same day and one man was shot dead.
Trincomalee Town Council has requested the Fisheries minister to pay compensation to thousands of fishermen who have lost their livelihood following the ban on fishing. Recent heavy rains have destroyed crops and farmers are also demanding compensation.
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