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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 2816864" data-attributes="member: 92282">The  possible take- over of Puliyankulam by the armed forces could also enhance offensive capability. The forces could use the Puliyankulam- Mullaitheevu road as an axis and strike out into areas east of the A – 9.The soldiers could reach the key town Nedunkerny via Nainamadhu. With the 59 division gaining momentum in  eastern Mullaitheevu there could be link – ups thus strengthening  the armed forces in that region.Apart from the offensive aspect there is also the defensive. With the armed forces rapidly moving  north – westwards  and northwards  the right flank is increasingly expanding and therefore  becoming increasingly exposed.When large areas of territory are  seized and occupied  too fast and too soon the armed forces would necessarily be spread thin over broad  regions. Since most army advances are on the west of the A – 9 and the LTTE controls  much of the A-9 highway the chances of infiltration and counter – strikes from the rear cannot be ruled out.Many LTTE propagandists  abroad are in fact attempting to convince the Tamil Diaspora that the tigers are deliberately retreating and letting the army advance in order to infiltrate  and attack in the future.This explanation does not correspond to battlefield actualities but theoretically such LTTE rearguard action is certainly possible as long as current status quo prevails in the ground situation.But the fall of Palamottai could expedite army advances  along the A – 9. If that happens the areas captured to the west of the A – 9 would be secured. The potential tiger threat of infiltration and counter – attack would be eliminated.If these are the  military  benefits derived through the fall of Palamottai on August 28th  another significant event  on the same day took place on the Mullaitheevu east coast.The 59 division  under the  command of Brigadier Nandana Tudawatte has been progressing steadily on the eastern littoral as well as  forested hinterland of the northern mainland.Troops have practically cleared all areas coming under the Manal Aaru/Weli Oya region and have entered areas of Mullaitheevu district.The recent past has seen the 59 gaining ground in the hinterland and reaching the general area of Nithigaikulam where LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakaran was holed up for long periods during the Indian army conflict.The 59 division has advanced further north of Aandaankulam in the hinterland and are about 3 km south of a village called Kumulamunai. Further to the north  and north – east  of  Kumulamunai are the villages of Semmalai and Alampil where the LTTE has several key installations.Troops have also  reached the southern  shore  of the Thannimurippukulam tank which is the fifth largest  irrigation reservoir in the Northern mainland. The army is in control of about one km  around the tank at present.The more  important military advancement along the littoral was on Thursday August 28th. It was a combined Army – Navy operation.Sixteen Naval gunboats trained their guns on the sea shore between  Kokkuthoduwai and Nayaru lagoons. With this shell barrage support,  soldiers of the 59 division  moved  east about two km to towards the coast and then advanced further north up to the south of Nayaru lagoon.Thus the 59 division for the first time has secured a coastal stretch of land between Kokuthoduwai and Nayaru.This area about 4 km long and 2 km wide is called Ulaathuveli in Tamil. The literal meaning is the “ open space for sauntering”The conquest of Ulaathuveli littoral is significantly important because it could be an indicator of the future.If the army aided by the navy and possibly the air force  moves forward along the coast as well as   maintaining a parallel track by gaining ground in the interior the LTTE would be hard pressed to prevent such forward movement.Given the fact that Mullaitheevu town is only about 12 – 15 km from  Alampil the prospects of the armed forces  soon  reaching that town loom large indeed.There is also the probability of the 59 division  linking up with the 56 division  at Nedunkerny if troops  move eastwards from the A – 9 at some stage in the future.If  Palamottai and Ulaathuveli were the military achievements of  August 28th the armed forces  were  came up with another feat on the previous day (August 27th).This was by the 57 division commanded by Maj – Gen Jagath Dias. The 57 succeeded in  smashing LTTE defences in an area called Aalankulam on Wednesday thereby linking up three separate areas and merging them together.It is necessary to delve into past  military developments in order to discern  the backdrop against which this event occurred. Hence a brief re- run of  recent events.The 58 division or Task Force – 1  commanded by Brigadier Shavendra de Silva has made rapid progress along the axis of A – 32 or Mannar – Pooneryn road. The 58 has progressed beyond Mannar district and has entered the Kilinochchi district littoral.As stated in these columns earlier the 58 division adopted innovative military tactics by circumventing the elaborate LTTE defences set up in the south of  besieged places . The soldiers cut across to the hinterland and then changed direction by turning again  towards the west thereby encircling the target area and coming up on the rear of the tigers.These simple yet effective manoeuvres worked well for the armed forces in taking Vidathaltheevu, Moondrampitty and Vellankulam in Mannar district.The same practice was followed after the Kilinochchi district border was crossed also. The 58 division took the coastal area of Kallikudah and then paused on the south of the  large ,agrarian village Mulangaavil.The 58 went eastwards and then turned westwards engaging the tigers in skirmishes in Adampankulam and Kariyalaimottai. Gradually Mulangaavil was  encircled and take on August 12th.Incidently Mulangaavil  had  a large agricultural scheme for educated youths  set up during the United Front government of 1970 – 77. The scheme was taken over by the LTTE and turned into a steady provider of agricultural produce for the tigers and dependents.Mulangaavil also has a large stadium and great heroes (Maaverrar)cemetery.Thereafter the army went further northwards on the A – 32. The next important target was the coastal area of Naachikudaah.There is a 3 km long by – road going westwards from the A – 32 that leads to Naachikudaah. The tigers have set up elaborate defences in and around it as there is another sea tiger base in N’kudah.The 58 has stayed put on the doorstep of Naachikudaah without trying to venture further westwards or northwards  for the time being. Instead of trying  to break through Naachikudaah LTTE defences or attempting to circumvent them the armed forces took the tigers by surprise. The 58 division moved  eastwards  deep into the hinterland heading for Vannerikulam which is almost parallel to Naachikudaah.Currently the 58 is engaged in skirmishes with the LTTE in the east and west of Vannerikulam.While the 58  adopts this tactic the 57 division too has deviated successfully from orthodox military procedure.On August 13th the day after Mulangaavil the 57 division troops  seized Kalvilaan about 3 km to the south – west of strategic Thunukkai.Kalvilaan had been a  tough nut to crack ever since 600 cadres belonging to an elite special forces fighting formation  of the LTTE was inducted into the area under Lt. Col Vithees.The elite special forces were re- deployed from the Muhamaalai front and comprised cadres from the Charles Anthony and Imran – Pandian infantry regiments and the “chiruthai” (leopard) commando unit.Vithees,  the right hand man of the LTTE’s northern commander “Col” Theepan was a battle – hardened veteran and was  assigned to disrupt the 57 division’s military manoeuvres.Vithees however was fatally wounded and died a few hours later on August 10th in the fighting to protect Kalvilan. He was promoted posthumously as “colonel” and buried in Kilinochchi.Vikkees whose real name was  Sathasivam Sathanandan was born on May 8th 1971. A native of Vavuniya, Vikkees joined the LTTE in 1991 .He married Jeevana , a woman cadre and had three sons  Pavithran,Yaarlanban and Kovarasan.Vikkees  was reputed for his skill in  planning and fighting defensive battles. His performance in various battles in Muhamaalai and during “operation Jayasikurui” were noteworthy and  so had been specially selected to “defend” Kalvilaan, Thunukkai and Mallavi.The death of Vikkees was a tremendous blow that de moralised the LTTE greatly. On August 13th LTTE defences at Kalvilaan crumbled and the 57 division took Kalvilaan.Thereafter the LTTE launched six counter – strikes to re-take Kalvilaaan but failed.Meanwhile the 57 began a protracted campaign to encircle Thunukkai and capture it.  With tigers resisting fiercely one troop contingent  went northwards and reached the outskirts of Uyilankulam (different to Uyilankulam in Mannar  dist).At a given point of time the army advanced from three directions towards Thunukkai. Troops near Uyilankulam  came from the north along a jungle track ; troops came from the east along the Vellankulam – Mankulam rd axis  from Kalvilaan;troops from the South came  from Ottakulam along the Panankamam – Thunukkai road axis.On August 22nd the 57 division succeeded in taking Thunukkai. A few hours later the tigers abandoned Uyilankulam which was also taken by the forces on the same day.Once Thunukkai along the Vellankulam – Mankulam road was taken the logical expectation was that the forces would proceed east on the same road and take Mallavi that was already under siege.Troops of the 57 were  already  stationed at two points close  to Mallavi. One detachment had proceeded along the Paandiyankulam – Mallavi road axis and was positioned in  Karumpullian to the south of Paali aaru.Another detachment  from the Vavunikulam area  had progressed  through Sivapuram, Paali nagar etc on the Mallavi road and reached Karuppikulam near the pattupoochi  (silkworm)junction. The LTTE lines  were behind the Vavunikulam tank’s first canal.While these positions remained static despite mild  frontline fluctuation troops had also attempted another tactic to take Mallavi. The  Mankulam – Vellankulam road goes eastwards through Mallavi and then  reaches Aninjayakulam about 2km east of Mallavi.Thereafter it turns  northwards  at a place called Ottaruthakulam and goes through Vadakaadu to Vannivilaankulam and thereafter Mankulam. In recent times troops have made forays into the general area of Ottaruthakulam. If successful the army could advance   beyond Ottaruthakulam and then do a “U” turn to close in on Mallavi from the rear.In this situation  the expected course after  seizing Thunukkai would have been  for the armed forces to head for Mallavi. But the 57 adopting unconventional tactics sprung a surprise on the LTTE.Instead of proceeding laterally to Mallavi from Thunukkai along the Vellankulam – Mankulam axis the soldiers  belied expectations by heading northwards. Thunukkai is a place where five  roads and dirt tracks converge. The tigers had a notorious detention cum torture camp there about a decade ago. More than 8,000 persons have been detained  by the LTTE at various times in Thunukkai of whom only a small number are among the living today. If an intensive search is conducted in the vicinity the probability of mass graves being unearthed would be very high .Once again   tiger inhumanity to fellow Tamils would be spotlighted .When soldiers of 57 division went northwards from Thunukkai they reached the south of another irrigation tank known as Akkarayankulam. Akkarayan town  is to the north of the tank and  is 14 km to the west of Kilinochchi townThus the 57 division has reached the closest point to Kilinochchi during this military campaign.The forces also detected a half – built trench near Akkarayan. Apparently the tigers  were  constructing it to strengthen Akkarayan defences but were taken by surprise when troops went off the beaten track.Meanwhile the LTTE forced to abandon Thunukkai re- grouped and consolidated defences at Aalankulam  about 3 km to the north – east of Thunukkai. 57 division troops however continued to battle the tigers at Aalankulam.On August 27th the soldiers overran Aalankulam and by evening had linked up together the three  geographically separate places of Thunukkai, Uyilankulam and Aalankulam. With territorial non – contiguity removed all three places are being amalgamated into a massive defence complex.This act of linking and amalgamating captured areas by the army shows that it is quite wary of the tigers infiltrating through gaps. Besides this manner of expanding control could help establish a viable and vibrant military presence in  captured areas .The army has set its sights on a number of places like Mallavi, Vannivilaankulam, Mankulam, Vannerikulam, Naachikudaah, Nedunkerny, Puliyankulam, Pallavarayankaddu, Poonagari, Kumulamunai, Alampil, Semmalai etc on either side of the A – 9. The prize target at present is Kilinochchi town the administrative capital of the LTTE.Given its overwhelming superiority over the tigers in manpower, firepower and armoured mobility and the manner in which  it has outmanouevred the LTTE it is a case of Advantage Army in the Wanni right now.By opening up multiple fronts on a widespread basis the military is somewhat like a gigantic octopus with tentacles spread far and wide.Usually guerrillas pick the time and place to launch attacks. But in the Wanni the army has the LTTE on the defensive by diversifying  targets and determining the time of attack.The tables have been turned on the tigers in the current phase of positional warfare in which the LTTE is basically defending and fighting a defensive war . It appears that the position would remain so for quite a while until and unless the tigers  change military  strategy and  strike back decisively.<a href="http://transcurrents.com/tc/2008/08/army_breaks_through_tiger_defe.html#more" target="_blank">transcurrents</a> </blockquote>

Verification: Hata thunen beduwama keeyada? (60 bedeema thuna)

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