‘We are two miles away from Kilinochchi’!

"Machan, the army was advancing through the Akkarayan Road and they did not know the LTTE fellows have placed a trap for them by putting a false road over a huge hoe and these idiots without realising dropped their tanks into the ditch. It is believed, the rain also playing panthu’s with them."

-Poddi Malli (from Nochiyagama) and Sinna Thamby (from Kilinochchi)

(Part 1)

(November 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Hello Malli can you hear me?

Yes! Yes!! Thambi, I can hear you. It is very bad line Thambi
Thamby. Where are you? What is happening in Kilinochchi?

Oh machan Malli, I am in the heart of Kilinochchi. Kilinochchi is deserted. Some LTTE cadres are moving about. They are very helpful to me. The LTTE fellows are saying that they have moved all their Kilinochchi operations to the Vanni and are saying they are waiting to trap the army when they enter Kilinochchi.

Thambi. Speak loudly! speak loudly!!, I can hear you only lightly. Ok Machan, the government is saying the army is two miles away from Kilinochchi. Is it true?

Malli, the army is bogged down in Akkarayan Kulam about six miles away from Kilinochchi. My Tiger sisters are saying army’s two tanks have ditched into a trap in Akkarayan and they are unable to move forward. The rainy weather is playing havoc for the army.

Thambi what is this new tanks story. I did not read anything in the Colombo press.
Machan, the army was advancing through the Akkarayan Road and they did not know the LTTE fellows have placed a trap for them by putting a false road over a huge hoe and these idiots without realising dropped their tanks into the ditch. It is believed, the rain also playing panthu’s with them.

Thambi. This is real news. Tell me when they going to capture Kilinochchi.

Machan, I asked the LTTE cadres the very same question. They laughed and told me to go and get the answers from the Army Commander Fonseka and the Defence Secretary Gothabaya.

Does it mean it will be a long drawn effort for the army to capture Kilinochchi Thamby?

It looks like it Machan. The LTTE has booby trapped the whole area. The Tigers took me to an unknown point yesterday. Over 50 bodies of the soldiers were found there. It was dreadful to see the sight of it Machan.

Really!

Malli believe me I saw it myself.

Machan this story is not reported in the Colombo or in the LTTE media.

Yes Machan, I asked the very same question with the Tiger boys, and they said they are playing cool to bleed the army.

Thambi there are lots of talks about civilian casualties and sufferings in Vanni in the media. Did you see anything like that?

After going to see the dead bodies of the soldiers, the Tigers drove me to Darmapuram, a place close to Puthukudiyiruppu. Machan the situation is bad Machchan there. People are living like beggars on the street. They got something over them to cover themselves from the rain. People are complaining about insects and reptile bites and are fearful of random bombing of the army and the air force falling on their heads. There is some help provided to them, but they are not adequate Machan. I went to the Tigers Ponnambalam hospital in Pudukudiyiruppu. The hospital is unable to cope with flooding people. People are there with bomb injuries and to get treatment for insect bites and viral infections. You can’t look at their faces Machan. They look sick and tired of the whole thing.

Thambi. Did you tell them that Karunanithy is going to send essentials to them?

Machan. The people don’t know what is happening outside their surroundings. When I told that Karunanithy is going to send relief supplies to them, they said they are very happy but they said it is not enough and they want peace.

Machan, I even told them the President has asked Karunaiththy to visit Sri Lanka. Their mood suddenly changed and they asked me whether he will make a visit to see them. I had no answer for them Machan.

Thambi, do you think Karunanithi would visit Vanni?

Machan, he must come with the President and take a first hand note of all what is happening here.

Now tell me Machan, what is the latest in Colombo.

Thambi, I heard some inside news from a government circle. The JHU is said to be very unhappy that President extended an invitation to Karunanithy. Apparently, JHU’s Champika has phoned the President to tell JHU’s anger on this. Do you know what President has said Thambi?

Umba harima modaya. Hithanawathe Karunanithy meha paththata enda puluvan kilyala. (You are a fool. Do you think Karunanithy will be able to come here). Machan the President has told Champika to keep quite and allow him to play his ping pongs with India. Champika is apparently pleased with the President’s remarks and has given him all the support to play his ping pongs.

Machan, I can hear a missile hovering over me and I am asked to leave by the fellows. I will phone …….

With the bang the conversation ended. - Sri Lanka Guardian