21,051வீரர்களை இழந்துள்ளதாக புலிகள் அறிவிப்பு

LTTE lists 21,051 as Fallen Heroes

Friday, June 06,2008

COLOMBO: The LTTE in the latest release by its Hero’s department has claimed that the rebels have lost 21,051 carders in the quest for a separate state for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The 21,051 carders include 16,516 males and 4,535 females. The period cited for the deaths cover 26 years from November 27, 1982 to 31 May 2008. The Tamil Tigers lost their first carder Lt. Shankar on November 27, 1982, widely celebrated by the LTTE as Heroes’ Day.

The death list also include 348 Black Tigers, of which 256 are males 97 females, with 102 being killed in land operations and 251 in sea operations. The release said the Sea Tigers are considered an effective conventional arm of the LTTE, capable of crippling Sri Lanka’s sea operations.

The Hero’s release also lists 279 auxiliary forces members, 47 Police personals who died on operational duties in the death list, and adds that another 490 civil society members who were killed by the government forces or the Para military forces for their commitment for the Tamil Cause have also been listed as Heroes. This includes 19 Mamanithar, a title often conferred posthumously by LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran.

In the first five months of 2008, the Tamil Tigers lost 918 carders- 616 males and 302 females –the Hero’s release said, adding that since the current pace of the war intensified in 2006 the Tigers had lost 1004 carders, of which 745 males and 259 and in 2007 they had lost 1196 carders including 1037 males and 159 females

The Hero’s Department also claimed they never hide the deaths of the LTTE cadres, announcing the heroes name over the radio broadcast, and updating figures on a monthly basis.

Meanwhile intense fighting continued in the North, with the LTET claiming Thursday they had killed 10 soldiers, while security forces said they killed 35 rebels.
The LTTE said their fighters had beaten back an army attempt to break through their forward defence lines near Vavuniya during a six-hour battle on Wednesday.
"The Sri Lanka army has suffered casualties, at least 10 killed," the LTTE was quoted as saying by the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website. The rebels did not disclose details about their own casualties.

The country's defence ministry countered by saying a total of 46 rebels had been killed on Wednesday -- 20 in the Vavuniya area, and 26 others in Weli Oya, Mannar and Jaffna. One soldier was killed, the ministry added.
"It is clear confrontations throughout areas in Vavuniya have been successful for security forces. LTTE have suffered major setbacks throughout the area," the ministry said.

Israel-built MiG-27 fighter jets were active in the northern regions of Mannar on Thursday, giving air cover to ground troops, air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nannayakkara said.

According to the defence ministry, 4,081 Tamil Tigers and 337 government troops have been killed since January. The figures cannot be verified as journalists and rights groups are barred from frontline areas.
The military also said troops had on Wednesday captured a one-kilometre stretch of the main defence line of the LTTE covering the Mannar 'Rice Bowl' as they reached the edge of the 'Rice Bowl' north of Adampan.
According to Military sources troops operating in the North of Adampan captured this one kilometre stretch of a strongly built defence line after a fierce battle with the LTTE killing at least 30 of them.

"This was the first time the troops in Mannar front captured a stretch of LTTE main defence line stretching from Pappamoddai in the north of Manthai from the seaside towards Parappakadaththan in the north of Giant Tank for more than 11 Kilometres covering the Mannar 'Rice Bowl'," a senior military official said.
The LTTE constructed this defence line with a six to eight feet high earth bund, a water canal and a trench line forcibly using the civilians living in the uncleared areas a few months back to face the advancing troops.
"This is a clear example how the LTTE exploits the labour of the civilians entrapped in uncleared areas to construct these bunker lines and trenches on this solid land," a `military official added.

The heavily fortified defence line with LTTE bunkers came under heavy attack of the ground troops for more than three days in their bid to capture this one kilo metres stretch. According to Security Forces nearly 30 Tiger cadres have been confirmed killed during the three-day battle.
Troops are continuing in their operations to fully capture this strongly built defence line while engaging in search and clear operations.

southasianmedia