teron
05-27-2007, 10:18 PM
“Defeating the LTTE’s conventional ability is a difficult task right now. But that should be the goal of the military. Defeating terrorism is a very, very difficult task. I believe the youth who indulge in terrorist activities have to be psychologically approached and we have to offer a political solution to the Tamil people to eradicate terrorism some day. But, in my opinion, that should be the second stage. The first is to defeat the conventional ability of the LTTE”Soldier-turned-politician Major General Sarath Munasinghe has predicted that the LTTE was planning a major onslaught to capture Jaffna peninsula. His prediction comes in the wake of his 30 year experience in the battlefield and he said the LTTE would strike where it could create an impact.He further said such an impact could be created only by capturing the peninsula as Jaffna had the highest Tamil population of some 800,000 people. The UNP Polgahawela Organiser and former Military Spokesman, Maj. Gen. Munasinghe was the Jaffna security forces commander in 1999.In an interview with The Nation he said it would be “very, very difficult” to defeat the LTTE militarily and added only a political solution could solve the ongoing conflict. “We are fighting a senseless war. The innocent lives of the Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims are killed because of this. We must find a political solution,” he reiterated.He also said the cadres of the Karuna faction must be enlisted into the army and should be recognised as government forces, instead of letting them operate as a paramilitary. “This is what the former government did to the EPDP cadres,” he added. He also said if Karuna had been properly used by the government, the results could have been better than what is has produced now in the battlefield.
Following are excerpts:
Q: How do you view the government’s military strategy to crush the LTTE?
A: At the moment I feel the strategy is not clear. They are leaving the northern factor by itself, and we are in a defensive mood in the north. Besides, there are occasional air attacks. I don’t see any offensive operations as such. But in the Eastern Province, the military has been moving forward and capturing areas without, I should say, direct confrontations. This clearly shows that the LTTE lacks numbers in the east. And I believe that the Karuna factor has also played a major role there.That does not mean that the LTTE has completely vacated the east. All they require is a group of only around 100 cadres which may be dispersed here and there to carry out terrorist attacks as and when they wish. On the other hand I see that the LTTE has a different strategy for the north. What I see is that they are concentrating right now in the north, more specifically the Jaffna peninsula. These events show some strategy in that direction.
Q: Given your military experience, are you of the view that the LTTE could be easily defeated militarily?
A: Very difficult. When I say very difficult, I am fully aware of the history of the LTTE; maybe a language problem brought about a terrorist problem, and they resorted to terrorist attacks. And that reached peak levels with the introduction of suicide killers. With suicide killers they have carried out many attacks all over the island targeting individuals, VIPs, VVIPs and economic centres and so on.However, now they have developed conventional ability. When I say conventional ability, that is when the army moves forward on ground, they are able to fire mortars, artillery, long range artillery and machine guns and so on. Now they have also developed air capability, although to a limited extent. Even out at sea they have the capability of attacking the navy.Therefore, what I have to say is that defeating the LTTE’s conventional ability is a difficult task right now. But that should be the goal of the military. Defeating terrorism is a very, very difficult task. I believe the youth who indulge in terrorist activities have to be psychologically approached and we have to offer a political solution to the Tamil people to eradicate terrorism some day. But, in my opinion, that should be the second stage. The first is to defeat the conventional ability of the LTTE.
Q: You are a soldier-turned-politician. Do you think war is the only answer to the ongoing ethnic crisis?
A: Definitely not. As I said earlier, Sri Lanka was a peaceful island. To my knowledge the Tamil people were the most peaceful people in the past. Even today Tamil people are very innocent and what they want is peace. But a group of Tamils who started agitating against whatever shortcomings by the governments in the past have resorted to terrorist activities.The final solution in any case has to be a political solution through negotiations from a position of strength and not weakness, which the armed services of Sri Lanka should achieve and help the politicians to give a final political solution to the problem.
Q: What is your assessment of the LTTE’s military strength? It is more or less than the days you were fighting in the field?
A: Numerically, it may be lesser. However, in comparison to those days, they have a sufficient number of well-experienced cadres. You see, they have been fighting conventional battles with the armed forces of Sri Lanka for a long time. They have overrun major bases of the army like Mullaitivu, Pooneryn and others. Through this they have gained a lot of experience. So I believe they have developed quality, rather than quantity.
Q: You have said that the LTTE is preparing for war. What is the evidence? If that is so, are you of the opinion that the government troops are prepared to face the enemy?
A: Well, to talk of evidence, let me put it this way. The LTTE is sharp enough not to give battle indications. They don’t divulge things but having known the LTTE, would they just hit and wait? They have to strike somewhere to show their strength to the Sri Lankan government and the world, and also to the Tamil populace.Then the question arises as to where they would attack. I believe they would select a place where there would be a terrific impact. Then the answer follows. I believe Jaffna was under their control until 1995. Now I am told that there are about 800,000 people there and if the LTTE could gain control over Jaffna, then they would be achieving the kind of impact that I was talking about earlier. Also I see that they seem to have withdrawn a number of cadres from the east. So where are they concentrating on? These are indications we should take seriously and be ready for any attack.
Q: The government’s strategy to use Karuna to defeat the Wanni Tigers maybe a war mechanism. But given your experience in the battlefield and in parliament, do you think this could be achieved without any hiccups?
A: I really don’t know whether the government has made use of Karuna. I have read media reports in this regard. I believe that in order to defeat the enemy, any government the world over would use whatever that is available. If Karuna had been made use of properly by the government, well, we could have achieved better results.I say that because Karuna is a man who has been in the LTTE for a long time and has been a close confidante of LTTE Chief Prabhakaran. So he knows how exactly the LTTE manoeuvres itself. I don’t know whether the government has made use of him and his cadres in the proper way and I don’t know whether he is acting on his own In addition, there is nothing wrong in enlisting the entire Karuna faction into the army and giving them some training and recognising them as Sri Lankan soldiers, because any citizen can join the armed services. In fact the EPDP cadres were enlisted in the army at one stage. They were given uniforms and food. Firearms were given too and they were looking after the entire Kyts Island under the leadership of Minister Douglas Devananda.
Q: Do you think an election in the east is possible right now in the backdrop of continuing military offensive in the north?
A: Elections are not due in any case. I, as an ex-solider, believe the ground situation is not conducive to hold elections in the east because we have not yet eradicated terrorism, although the government has announced that the east is cleared. I must say that conventional types of attacks still cannot be ruled out.Remember how the LTTE fired mortars when the VIPs landed at Weber Stadium? They may be having weapons here and there. If the government holds an election having spent a colossal amount of money and if the people were terrorised and prevented from voting, then it would be a huge waste.
Q: The UPFA government in no uncertain terms has said it would fight the war. What, in your view, would be the consequence of a military solution?
A: It is a serious thing. I believe if an offensive is launched with the intention of defeating the conventional ability of the LTTE with a guaranteed win, then that is a different matter. There again, if we were to achieve something, then we have to start negotiations from a position of strength.
Q: However, even such a war could seriously cripple the economy and bring the entire country to a standstill. Do you think it is worth it?
A: Whatever that has to happen to Sri Lanka has happened already. We are only dying a gradual death as opposed to an instant death. I am not promoting war. The UNP government approach in 2002 was the correct approach. We must cease hostilities, then the LTTE would not be able to develop its military any further, and we must get them to think politically.
http://www.telo.org/index1.html
Following are excerpts:
Q: How do you view the government’s military strategy to crush the LTTE?
A: At the moment I feel the strategy is not clear. They are leaving the northern factor by itself, and we are in a defensive mood in the north. Besides, there are occasional air attacks. I don’t see any offensive operations as such. But in the Eastern Province, the military has been moving forward and capturing areas without, I should say, direct confrontations. This clearly shows that the LTTE lacks numbers in the east. And I believe that the Karuna factor has also played a major role there.That does not mean that the LTTE has completely vacated the east. All they require is a group of only around 100 cadres which may be dispersed here and there to carry out terrorist attacks as and when they wish. On the other hand I see that the LTTE has a different strategy for the north. What I see is that they are concentrating right now in the north, more specifically the Jaffna peninsula. These events show some strategy in that direction.
Q: Given your military experience, are you of the view that the LTTE could be easily defeated militarily?
A: Very difficult. When I say very difficult, I am fully aware of the history of the LTTE; maybe a language problem brought about a terrorist problem, and they resorted to terrorist attacks. And that reached peak levels with the introduction of suicide killers. With suicide killers they have carried out many attacks all over the island targeting individuals, VIPs, VVIPs and economic centres and so on.However, now they have developed conventional ability. When I say conventional ability, that is when the army moves forward on ground, they are able to fire mortars, artillery, long range artillery and machine guns and so on. Now they have also developed air capability, although to a limited extent. Even out at sea they have the capability of attacking the navy.Therefore, what I have to say is that defeating the LTTE’s conventional ability is a difficult task right now. But that should be the goal of the military. Defeating terrorism is a very, very difficult task. I believe the youth who indulge in terrorist activities have to be psychologically approached and we have to offer a political solution to the Tamil people to eradicate terrorism some day. But, in my opinion, that should be the second stage. The first is to defeat the conventional ability of the LTTE.
Q: You are a soldier-turned-politician. Do you think war is the only answer to the ongoing ethnic crisis?
A: Definitely not. As I said earlier, Sri Lanka was a peaceful island. To my knowledge the Tamil people were the most peaceful people in the past. Even today Tamil people are very innocent and what they want is peace. But a group of Tamils who started agitating against whatever shortcomings by the governments in the past have resorted to terrorist activities.The final solution in any case has to be a political solution through negotiations from a position of strength and not weakness, which the armed services of Sri Lanka should achieve and help the politicians to give a final political solution to the problem.
Q: What is your assessment of the LTTE’s military strength? It is more or less than the days you were fighting in the field?
A: Numerically, it may be lesser. However, in comparison to those days, they have a sufficient number of well-experienced cadres. You see, they have been fighting conventional battles with the armed forces of Sri Lanka for a long time. They have overrun major bases of the army like Mullaitivu, Pooneryn and others. Through this they have gained a lot of experience. So I believe they have developed quality, rather than quantity.
Q: You have said that the LTTE is preparing for war. What is the evidence? If that is so, are you of the opinion that the government troops are prepared to face the enemy?
A: Well, to talk of evidence, let me put it this way. The LTTE is sharp enough not to give battle indications. They don’t divulge things but having known the LTTE, would they just hit and wait? They have to strike somewhere to show their strength to the Sri Lankan government and the world, and also to the Tamil populace.Then the question arises as to where they would attack. I believe they would select a place where there would be a terrific impact. Then the answer follows. I believe Jaffna was under their control until 1995. Now I am told that there are about 800,000 people there and if the LTTE could gain control over Jaffna, then they would be achieving the kind of impact that I was talking about earlier. Also I see that they seem to have withdrawn a number of cadres from the east. So where are they concentrating on? These are indications we should take seriously and be ready for any attack.
Q: The government’s strategy to use Karuna to defeat the Wanni Tigers maybe a war mechanism. But given your experience in the battlefield and in parliament, do you think this could be achieved without any hiccups?
A: I really don’t know whether the government has made use of Karuna. I have read media reports in this regard. I believe that in order to defeat the enemy, any government the world over would use whatever that is available. If Karuna had been made use of properly by the government, well, we could have achieved better results.I say that because Karuna is a man who has been in the LTTE for a long time and has been a close confidante of LTTE Chief Prabhakaran. So he knows how exactly the LTTE manoeuvres itself. I don’t know whether the government has made use of him and his cadres in the proper way and I don’t know whether he is acting on his own In addition, there is nothing wrong in enlisting the entire Karuna faction into the army and giving them some training and recognising them as Sri Lankan soldiers, because any citizen can join the armed services. In fact the EPDP cadres were enlisted in the army at one stage. They were given uniforms and food. Firearms were given too and they were looking after the entire Kyts Island under the leadership of Minister Douglas Devananda.
Q: Do you think an election in the east is possible right now in the backdrop of continuing military offensive in the north?
A: Elections are not due in any case. I, as an ex-solider, believe the ground situation is not conducive to hold elections in the east because we have not yet eradicated terrorism, although the government has announced that the east is cleared. I must say that conventional types of attacks still cannot be ruled out.Remember how the LTTE fired mortars when the VIPs landed at Weber Stadium? They may be having weapons here and there. If the government holds an election having spent a colossal amount of money and if the people were terrorised and prevented from voting, then it would be a huge waste.
Q: The UPFA government in no uncertain terms has said it would fight the war. What, in your view, would be the consequence of a military solution?
A: It is a serious thing. I believe if an offensive is launched with the intention of defeating the conventional ability of the LTTE with a guaranteed win, then that is a different matter. There again, if we were to achieve something, then we have to start negotiations from a position of strength.
Q: However, even such a war could seriously cripple the economy and bring the entire country to a standstill. Do you think it is worth it?
A: Whatever that has to happen to Sri Lanka has happened already. We are only dying a gradual death as opposed to an instant death. I am not promoting war. The UNP government approach in 2002 was the correct approach. We must cease hostilities, then the LTTE would not be able to develop its military any further, and we must get them to think politically.
http://www.telo.org/index1.html