Tactical manoeuvre launched to free civilians: Sri Lanka
April 6th, 2009 - 3:47 pm ICT by IANSColombo, April 6 (IANS) Sri Lankan troops Monday launched a “decisive tactical manoeuvre” to free thousands of civilians trapped in the Mullaitivu war-zone, a day after dealing a major military blow to the Tamil Tigers by capturing their last military bastion, defence authorities said here.
“Sri Lankan security forces have launched a decisive tactical manoeuvre to free hundreds of civilians held hostage by LTTE in the thin 17 sq km coastal land strip at Mullaitivu,” the defence ministry said Monday.
The operation to free civilians came a day after the advancing troops seized control of Puthukkudiyiruppu where the rebels have maintained several military and naval bases and armoury over the past three decades.
Describing it as the “largest humanitarian intervention by a conventional military force in modern times”, the defence ministry said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) “tasted the worst defeat” Sunday when it lost over 450 guerrillas, including a dozen top-rung battled-hardened leaders in its failed bid to defend Puthukkudiyiruppu.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Sunday night announced that the current fight-to-finish military campaign against the LTTE was about to end and urged the rebel leadership to set free thousands of civilians and surrender to the security forces to avoid total annihilation.
Speaking to party supporters at his tightly-guarded Temple Trees residence, President Rajapaksa said that the Tigers were unable to face the military thrust and were now hiding in the no-fire-zone holding thousands of innocent civilians as human shield.
“The only option available for the Tiger leadership is to lay down arms and surrender to our heroic troops if it wants to save the lives of the remaining cadres,” Rajapaksa said at the function amid loud applause from his party loyalists.
“The LTTE should allow the civilians to go free and surrender to the security forces,” said Rajapaksa, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
There was no reaction from the LTTE, which has been fighting to carve out a separate state in the island’s northeast over the past quarter century.
- Rajapaksa asks LTTE to free civilians, surrender before late - Apr 06, 2009
- Sri Lanka's holiday truce begins, LTTE kills soldier (Lead) - Apr 13, 2009
- Prabhakaran might be hiding in Mullaitivu: Sri Lanka army chief - Apr 06, 2009
- Tamil Tigers on last leg declare truce, Sri lanka wants surrender (Roundup) - Apr 26, 2009
- 35 killed as troops break through LTTE defence line: Sri Lanka - May 09, 2009
- War with LTTE rapidly nearing its end: Rajapaksa (Lead) - May 07, 2009
- Two LTTE leaders surrender, over 95,000 flee war zone (Second Lead) - Apr 22, 2009
- 23 Sea Tigers killed as Sri Lankan Navy foils suicide attack (Lead) - May 01, 2009
- 420 Tigers killed, troops seize key Sri Lankan area (Lead) - Apr 05, 2009
- Will get Sri Lankan Tamils their rights: Jayalalithaa - Aug 11, 2011
- Air Force choppers escape LTTE missile attack: Sri Lanka - Mar 25, 2009
- Confusion over LTTE and civilian casualties: Lanka Defence Secretary tells probe body - Aug 18, 2010
- LTTE faces annihilation, leadership hiding, says Sri Lanka - Apr 05, 2009
- Sri Lanka denies using chemical weapons against LTTE - Apr 09, 2009
- LTTE chief in shrunken war zone as 95,000 civilians flee (Roundup) - Apr 22, 2009
Tags: defence authorities, defence ministry, free thousands, innocent civilians, liberation tigers of tamil eelam, liberation tigers of tamil eelam ltte, loud applause, mahinda rajapaksa, naval bases, party loyalists, party supporters, president mahinda rajapaksa, puthukkudiyiruppu, sri lanka colombo, sri lankan president, sri lankan security, sri lankan troops, tamil tigers, temple trees, total annihilation