LTTE Human Element Saves Srilankan Army New Recruit’s Life

"Most soldiers are economic conscripts—young men and women, mainly from rural Sinhala areas, who have joined the military because of the lack of jobs and educational opportunities." [Image:LTTE female cadres at the War Front in Kilinochchi.]

by Arush from Wales for Sri Lanka Guardian

(December 27, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) He could have breath his last in few minutes or would have tucked with other dead bodies of his colleagues. Founded among eight dead bodies, he was sustaining serious injuries in the neck and the arm, had the luck to live thanks to the humanitarian nature of a LTTE cadre, who is fighting a battle to push back thousands of SLA still suffer for the sake of a Mahinda regime’s political dream to have a single majority.

The fighting escalated at 1.30 am on 16th of December as the LTTE was still holding ground at the Kilaali – Mugamalai – Nagargovil front line. Two brigades of the 53 division, led by Brig. Kamal Kunatatne was taking its maximum effort to capture the front line bunkers at Kilaali front. After nine hours long heavy fighting, the LTTE managed to push back the SLA with heavy casualties.

While recovering dead bodies of the SLA soldiers, the LTTE cadre found a soldier was still breathing at 7.00 p.m. The field medics gave him first aid. After regaining consciousness he pleaded for some water. Honouring the moral values, the LTTE medic copes did not let him die and they treated him as one of their colleagues and were given proper treatment at northern front field hospital. He was then brought to the nearest Ki'linochchi hospital for further treatment where he was treated.

The young soldier R.A. Nishan Ranasinghe (22), who was attached to the "Sinha Regiment" and he was a resident of Anurathapura. Trained in Diyathalawa Army Training Centre, the young soldier was brought down to battle front forcibly. The blindfolded soldier was just dropped at battle fronts and forced to fight.

Most of the soldiers are sent to battle without proper training. In the modern military, every soldier received basic infantry training before any other training. There, they learn how to be a strong member of their new team, the standing orders that they need to follow, and how to keep themselves battle ready.

But Ranasinghe was sent to the forefront of the offensive immediately after completing his military training on 25 November. The Prisoner of War (PoW), who was allowed to talk to media while he was in Ki'linochchi hospital, said he had studied up to 7th standard and joined the SLA considering the economic benefits, but did not expect that he would be sent to the battle front immediately.

R.A. Nishan Ranasinghe, further said he joined the SLA on 25th of July, 2008 and He was sent to training on handling weapons and facing the battle with 659 new recruits. Following his three months crash training, Mr. Ranasinghe was dispatched to 53 Division, which is in Kilaali front. He had been involved in major military operation within fifteen days of completion of his training.

On the night of 09th of December, he was amongst those sent to the offensive and was ordered to move forward at 2:30 a.m. Amid heavy LTTE resistance, they were then ordered to retreat, but he was wounded and lay on the field for nearly 12 hours from 6:30 a.m., without any effort by the SLA to rescue him.

"I was abandoned in the field by my colleagues after I was wounded. I was lying amongst the dead soldiers when the LTTE found me, treated me and eventually saved my life.
I joined the military because the salary was high and I was promised that I will not be taken to the battle field for two years. But shortly after joining they brought me to Jaffna and within six days they throw me in this front line.

There are many Sinhalese youths who have been fooled in this fashion to join the army. I was one of 35 members of the platoon with which took part in this battle. I only knew the situation after I joined the army.

We were brought to the Kilaali battle field, there were four of us together in the team of 35. I do not know what happened to the other three at the battle" he has said in an interview in the Wanni.

Know nothing about the strength or the fighting capacity of the LTTE, the young soldiers were shown heroic political pictures of the government and have misled by saying that the SLA would confront any battle against the LTTE. The young soldiers were given an assurance that the SLA would win the battle and they are fighting a wining battle. Still recruiting young soldiers to keep the battle going, the SLA which is fighting a losing battle with an inexperienced and poor man power to control the vast territory, gives hopes for a winning state for Sinhalees while shutting down all the possible media links to know the truth about the battle.

No independent reporting from the war zones is permitted. The government’s efforts to whip up patriotic fervour are designed to drown out widespread discontent over war and its economic burdens. The actual number of army casualties is likely to be far higher than the government information, most of the injured soldiers are without legs, hands, sight and others their hearing. Many of them had been engaged in the fighting for Kilinochchi. Most were reluctant to talk, about glimpse of the ferocity of the battles, because possible victimisation by the military and associated thugs.

Arriving at a very decisive stage, the SLA is still maintaining their propaganda tactics. According to the information, has become very hard on those who try to flee the battle zone. The outfit does not spare even children and the sources said the SLA now recruit small children to employ them in the other work, but some time they are also being sent to battle fronts.

Most soldiers are economic conscripts—young men and women, mainly from rural Sinhala areas, who have joined the military because of the lack of jobs and educational opportunities.

The soldiers had told their parents that "Do not worry mum and dad we will not be put straight into the battle." But the events are other way around, new recruits were blindfolded and drop at the front lines and as they have no option they are forced to fight for their survival. In this war nearly twenty five thousands of soldiers have deserted the military as a result of harsh conditions and abuse. The military police raided their homes randomly and detained them at the Boossa detention camp.

Ranasinghe had wanted to live. His story will be the best example to show the difference between a professional army and a political motivated army. "The war is for the government’s survival" a soldier’s neighbour said regarding this war.

But other side, the government treated the Tamil civilians in an inhumane way in not only for Wanni but also in government controlled area as well, there were thousands of civilians killed, disappeared and kidnapped. President Mahinda Rajapaksa brothers' military campaign had been uprooted over 275,000 civilians from their homes in Wanni. While they struggle to survive the Sri Lankan military has bombed and shelled their villages, schools, hospitals. An official of the World Food Program told the BBC recently that conditions for displaced people in the northern conflict zone are "as basic as in Somalia".

But, the fate of Ranasinghe turned a new leaf in his life and he will live to tell the difference. The mission to rescue another ‘human’ at the battle front was a success due to immediate actions by the overall counter Wanni operation Commander Colonel Theepan, the young soldier was given a new lease of life. It will be a show piece to tell the world that the LTTE is carrying a liberation struggle for Tamil’s rights and not even a battle against those who misled by the government. Not only Ranasinghe but many SLA soldiers who captured previously with serious injuries were given medical treatment alike the LTTE fighters wounded in the battle fronts.

The highly discipline LTTE cadres carried Ranasinghe, more than several kilo metres from the point that they were fighting simply to save a life of another human being. They did not disregard the international humanitarian laws and even the LTTE cadres at the front lines are well aware about those values - not to kill even an enemy who is fighting for life.

Already suffering from bleeding Ranasinghe was carried by a stretcher to the nearest Northern front Medical field hospital (MFH) where he was given immediate treatment. Then he was transported in an ambulance for more than twenty kilo metres to Killinochchi hospital where the doctors gave him treatment for the neck injuries.

Then his journey for freedom as well as for life was ended at the Killinochchi Hospital, where he is now given special medical treatment and care. But Killinochchi Hospital also has came under artillery fire by the Sri Lanka Army despite the Sri Lankan army POW is getting treatment. Its mean, the Srilankan government do not regard the international humanitarian laws forever.- Sri Lanka Guardian