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Message: <blockquote data-quote="navi" data-source="post: 6193803" data-attributes="member: 6174">The Sri Lankan army and the LTTE gave official figures of their respective causalities - the army 202 and the LTTE 573, but no one gave the figures of the civilian causalities. It was unfortunate that, in every battle that took place, the civilians were on the receiving end and they became prey and cannon fodder by being caught up in the middle of the military campaign. Many hundreds died without any requiem masses and they simply disappeared without being taken into account of their deaths.After the battle at Elephant Pass, the theater of war opened up along the jungle terrain of Vanni. On August 28, 1991, the Sri Lankan army under the command of Denzil Kobbekaduwa, launched "Operation Lightning" at Weli-oya - in Tamil - Manal Aru (sand river) - (Oya in Sinhala and Aru in Tamil mean one and the same thing - river). Many thousands of war-weary Sri Lankan troops with the support of the air force were drawn into this massive military campaign, ostensibly launched with the view to wipe out the LTTE bases in the Vanni jungle area.However, the real reason was to occupy the jungle terrain to physically dismember the northern province from the eastern province. This Weli-Oya region is strategically located along the northern coastal region, linking Mullaithievu and Trincomalee districts.The Weli-Oya was a Tamil area, but the Sri Lankan Government over the years was involved in setting up Sinhala colorization schemes in the traditional Tamil territory, with the aim of changing the demographic structure of the region and also to break the continuity of the Tamil region from the Northern province. Therefore, the operation constituted all these hidden aspects and was launched with such a grand design.More than 4,000 Sri Lankan troops, backed by heavy armor and with air cover from bombers and helicopter gunship, were in the operation. The army units advanced from Gajapura headquarters and launched a three frontal attack on Nithikaikulam, an LTTE controlled area. The LTTE forces, which were already positioned along the river embankment at Nithikaikulam, resisted the advancing troops and blocked the advance. The Manal Aru battle dragged on for 28 days.After four fays of intense fighting, the LTTE fighters, it was reported, tactically withdrew from the Nithikaikulam area to the adjoining jungles and established a new defense perimeter.After four weeks of fighting, according to the LTTE version, the Sri Lankan army was able to occupy a few abandoned LTTE bases in the periphery area, and then it claimed victory. Subsequently, the Sri Lankan forces suddenly withdrew.Major-General Sarath Munasinghe, wrote in his Soldier's Version, "Operation Ashaka Sena was launched simultaneously with Operation Balavegaya with dual aims. One was to divert the attention of the LTTE from the EPS. The other was to destroy whatever facilities at 14 base complex of the LTTE. This operation launched from Welioya, was not all that successful, but it achieved the primary aim of diversion to an extent."A few weeks later, operation Akuna Pahara was launched from Welioya, as a continuation of the operation Ashaka Sena. Troops had to operate in thick jungles south of Mullaithievu for over a month. Sathees, Michael, Suganthan, Kamal, and other LTTE training camps and bases were destroyed during this operation. Although we lost 150 men, over 800 terrorists including the 14th base leader Anbu were killed. Besides, this was the first offensive operation since 1990, in which troops were not advancing to protect our own camp." - page 120.But according to LTTE reports, more than 300 Sri Lankan troops were killed and hundreds more were injured and maimed. The LTTE also lost over 200 cadres, out which 56 were women fighters.The last major confrontation of 1991 with the LTTE was on October 16, 1991, when hundreds of Sri Lankan infantrymen from the Kokkilai army camp in the Mullaithievu region, moved along the coastal route that lies between the sea and the coconut palms and walked into a Tiger trap. The advancing columns of soldiers, unaware of the LTTE presence, walked into a hailstorm of bullets and they withdrew in total disarray. Thirty soldiers were killed, including three officers, and 70 were injured. The LTTE lost 14 fighters, three of them women.By November 15, 1991, army commander Lt-General Wanasinghe was promoted as a full three-star general and appointed as general officer commanding of the Joint Operation Command (JOC). Meanwhile, President Premadasa appointed Lt-Gen Waidyaratne as the new commander of the army."Lt-Gen Waidyaratne on assuming command addressed the senior officers at army HQ conference hall. I still remember him saying during his speech, 'Think LTTE, breath LTTE, drink LTTE, eat LTTE, sleep LTTE' etc." A Soldier's Version by Major General Sarath Munasinghe - page 122In April 1992 the army high command decided to reduce Denzil Kobbekaduwa's area of command and confine him only to Mannar, Puttalam, Anuradhapura. No reasons were given for this sudden action, but it was rumored that it was done consequent to his growing popularity in the country.Subsequently, Kobbekaduwa met the army commander and protested and told him that he wanted to submit his retirement papers. The commander refused to let him leave the army and restored his Northern Command, which included Mullaithievu, Pulmodai, Palaly and the Jaffna islands, Mannar, Anuradhapura, Welioya etc. Kobbekaduwa was upset, but he continued with his duties.During the first half of 1992, the Tigers massacred hundreds of Sinhala and Muslims civilians, mainly in Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts. On April 10, 1992, a civilian bus was blasted at the Ampara bus stand, killing 28 and injuring 36 civilians. On April 29, over 50 civilians were killed when the LTTE attacked Alinchipotana village. On the same day, 58 Muslim civilians were hacked to death at Karapola. On July 15, at Kirankulam, Batticaloa the LTTE attacked a passenger bus and 19 Muslims were killed.Meanwhile, General Kobbekaduwa and his team, including Brigadier Vijaya Wimalaratne, were busy planning a major operation to be launched in Jaffna. It was told that, the aim was to liberate the entire top half of the Jaffna peninsula. Kobbekaduwa was in Colombo in the third week of July to attend his father's funeral.It was later reported that, Kobbekaduwa was in Colombo again on August 2, 1992, to finalize the proposed operation with President Premadasa. Reports further suggest that the President had approved the operation and given the green signal. Kobbekaduwa returned to Plalay and had a meeting with his subordinate officers, on August 3, 1992.In the proposed operation to wrest part of the Jaffna peninsula, the navy had a role to play, to ferry troops from Kayts island to Araly, on the western side of the peninsula.Subsequently, on August 7, General Kobbekaduwa and his party left for Karainagar naval base by helicopter and spent the night there. Kobbekaduwa, together with Brigadier Vijaya Wimalaratne and Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha had conferred far into the night of August 7. Since the navy officer had some doubts, it was decided to proceed to Kayts the following day. The final decision was delayed until they could reconnoiter a particular area to finalize troop movements, which required a visit to Araly point the next day.On August 8, 1992, at about 8.00 am, Denzil Kobbekaduwa and his party, including Brigadier Wimalaratne, Palipana, Major Rupasinghe, Induruwa, Corporal Upali, Private Samarasinghe and naval officers Jayamaha, Wijepura, Lankatilaka, Ambepitya and Sam Perera, set out from Karainagar to go to Kayts island. Kobbekaduwa, Jayamaha, Wimalaratne and a few others boarded a new naval boat and went towards the mainland before returning to Kayts pier.At Kayts, three Land Rovers awaited the party. The naval party used the car bearing No: 5959, driven by a navy driver. Kobbekaduwa invited Brigadier Wimalaratne to get into the driver's seat and drive the vehicle in which he was traveling, Land Rover No: UHA 8752. The rest of the army personnel traveled in Land Rover No: UHA 8785.While proceeding towards Araly Point, about one-and-a-half kilometers from Araly Point, General Kobbekaduwa stopped all three vehicles. About 100 meters ahead was a wide open area, grassland without trees, where the explosion that occurred on the return trip happened. Kobbekaduwa suggested that they should proceed in one vehicle, otherwise the LTTE could observe them from the mainland, which was just half a kilometer away, separated by the sea. The general reported to have said that the LTTE had the firepower - mortars etc, which could be used to good effect from that distance. When they reached Araly Point, they had a discussion. But, it was while they were returning to be taken back to the base by helicopter, that the tragedy occurred. An explosion was heard by two majors who were watching the jeep in which the military leaders were traveling. Major Rupasinghe and Induruwa were 400 yards away from the jeep. When they came running up, they found that except for two persons, whose bodies were mutilated, had died instantaneously. It was reported that, when the two majors reached General Kobbekaduwa he said, "I am OK. What about others? Go and take care of them."Kobbekaduwa and Jayamaha were loaded onto the waiting helicopter, which took off immediately for Palaly, where the Rear Admiral was found to be dead. Though he was mortally wounded, Kobbekaduwa said, "I'm all right, see what can be done to the others." As the doctors were unable to do more for him at Palaly, Kobbekaduwa was taken to Colombo, where a team of leading specialists battled to save his life, but they were unsuccessful.The death of Denzil Kobbekaduwa and nine others, including senior army and navy officers, sent shock waves all over the country. It was reported in the Sinhalese language newspaper 'Sulamina' and in the 'Observer,' the English language evening daily, dated August 9, 1992, that President Ranatunge Premadasa, at a meeting held in Moratuwa on August 8, had said that the vehicle drove over an LTTE mine.Again, on August 18, Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Leader of the House, made a statement in parliament. He said that the media had reported that the deaths took place as a result of the vehicle going over a pressure mine. He also stated that the site of the explosion had already been videoed and the army had taken necessary steps to secure the evidence. The wreckage of the vehicle was still at the site. He also stated that there was an attempt by certain sections of the opposition to create doubts as to the manner of the death. Though provided with an opportunity, they had ot made any representation to a tribunal established to report on the explosion.Already three inquiry commissions regarding the death of Kobbekaduwa and nine others have been held, but still the truth has not come out. The first inquiry was by a one-man committee, consisting of a retired judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Ismail, appointed by General S C Ranatunga, Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, by letter dated August 11, 1992.The second inquiry was held by a Commission of Inquiry appointed by President D B Wijetunga, by warrant in terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 8 of the Legislative Enactment, held by three foreign (sitting) judges selected by the government.The third Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the assassination of Lieutenant-General Denzil Kobbekaduwa and nine others and causing serious injury to another at Araly, Keats on August 8, 1992 was appointed on December 7, 1994, by President Chandrika Kumaratunge. She appointed Justice George Randolph Tissa Dias Bandaranayake (chairman), Justice Dasanayake Padmasiri Swaarnajith Gunasekera and Rajasuriya Appuhamilage Nimal Gamini Amaratunge as commissioners.At this juncture, it is worthwhile to refer to an excerpt of the third commission: 23. Medical attention for General KobbekaduwaAt Palay General Kobbekaduwa was treated by Dr John Samarasinghe, anesthetist and Dr Roy Gunawardene, surgeon. General Dr Thurairajah says that Dr R Gunawardene said that the patient could be moved to Colombo. A neuro-surgeon and a thoracic surgeon were needed to attend on him - hence the transfer. Dr Samarasinghe accompanied Kobbekaduwa in an Avro (airplane) with nurses, oxygen, blood and equipment to Colombo. Samarasinghe wanted to transfer to Sri Jayawardenapura (hospital). On reaching Ratmalana, however, at midday, the general was taken out and put on a stretcher first and then placed on the tarmac in the burning sun, although the helicopter was ready waiting to take him to hospital.Atapattu, (a major) of the Defense Ministry, rushed to the tarmac. Attapattu said that there were people in civilian clothes. One person examined Kobbekaduwa's eyes, one person gave an injection close to his heart. He assumed that they were army surgeons. Dr Samarasinghe said that, when the plane landed, Kobbekaduwa was alive. There was talk as to which hospital the patient was to be taken to. Both Samarasinghe and Atapattu did not know why Kobbekaduwa was not rushed to the General Hospital, without being kept on tarmac for 15 minutes. He was finally taken to the Air Force grounds by helicopter and by ambulance to the accident service.The cause of death was given by the hospital doctors as death due to blast injuries. No post mortem examination was held. The coroner was not even informed of his death. As Kobbekaduwa was admitted to the General Hospital, we must assume that he was alive. The Criminal Procedure Code requires an inquest to be held in cases of sudden death. It would appear that the emergency regulations have been misused in this case and ante-mortem injuries taken into account to give cause of death. Gen Kobbekaduwa was cremated without an inquest. According to Dr Samarasinghe, there was no smooth evacuation process of Kobbekaduwa from Palaly to Colombo and treatment was delayed. There was much confusion regarding which hospital he was to be taken to. No one explained about the injection given at the tarmac. Who gave this injection? General Thurairajah says no injection was given as far as he knows. He did not go to Ratmalana. This conduct is consistent with a continuing conspiracy to secure Kobbekaduwa's death. We accept Major Atapattu's evidence that an injection was given to Kobbekaduw'as heart. Notes of the treatment given to Kobbekaduwa have not been made available.There was unnecessary delay in evacuating him by helicopter to hospital. Kobbekaduwa had remarked once that he wanted to die in his boots. Perhaps he had a premonition about the manner of his death. With him the hopes of a nation seemed to die. Since then the war has continued for six long years. Yet, his legacy lives on. The men who were trained by him now follow in his footsteps and slowly but surely are taking the trail he blazed.</blockquote>

Verification: Hath warak paha keeyada? (hatha wadikireema paha)

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