By Udara Soysaudara@srilankaguardian.org
Interview with Commodore RS Vasan IN(Retd) presently Head, Strategy and Security Studies, Center for Asia Studies, Chennai
1. How do you see the current military balance in Sri Lankan conflict?
(March 11, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Current Military Balance. It is obvious that the SL Forces have an upper hand and are progressively advancing in the ever shrinking LTTE held territory by sustained ground and air offensive. The counters launched by the LTTE have not succeeded in repulsing the attacks; instead have only resulted in heavy losses. Many facilities created in its territory for sustaining the war machinery have been overrun and taken over by the SL forces.
The presence of the civilian hostages is posing a problem for the security forces. Many innocents continue to be killed as they would come in the cross fire in the current phase of the battle. There are allegations and counter allegations as to who is responsible for the killings of the civilians. The Government has maintained that the LTTE has been killing civilians who are trying to flee the LTTE held areas. The pro LTTE sites have been accusing the SL Forces of genocide of Tamils The LTTE would forcibly recruit any able bodied person with out qualms to extend the war even when there is hardly any hope of regaining lost territory or pride.
To the LTTE it is a fight to finish irrespective of the loss of lives. Conventionally defeated, the LTTE would continue to resort to bombings, suicide attacks and indiscriminate killings in the manner that it best knows. The LTTE would neutralize any one perceived to be acting against its interests.
2) Can you tell us more about how LTTE's naval network was operated and operates?
LTTE’s naval network. The statement of Prabhakran on the utility of the seas around Sri Lanka and the inextricable linkage for the success of the struggle underlines the maritime strategy which dictated even the tactical use of the seas as propounded by the LTTE. Having understood the nuances of maritime warfare, LTTE assiduously built up a full fledged force on the lines of a navy. Thus it created a full fledged maritime force with logistic /support ships, infrastructure, fast craft and underwater scooters. The LTTE also created a suicide squad known as the black sea tigers whose job it was to choose targets and destroy them by suicide attacks.
In addition, the LTTE also worked to a plan to optimize the knowledge base of the Tamil diaspora to invest in its own brand of Research and Development (R&D). There were many projects including the submersibles, new design boats, attack craft, innovative solutions to underwater warfare. If those were the results of its R&D efforts, it also went about training its cadres for warfare in the medium of the seas providing suicide attackers and divers.
The LTTE during its heydays also had set up an efficient system for scouting and procuring arms and military hardware from different corners of the world. The entire network was headed by KP(Kumaran Patmanathan) who masterminded the procurement from divergent sources from around the globe. He is now being redesignated in a new dignified assignment as International spokesperson/LTTE negotiator to be able to carry forward the same task in a new avatar.
3) What were the key strengths behind LTTE's naval strategy?
Key Strengths behind naval strategy. Simply put it is the clear understanding of the challenges at sea and the geographic limitations in an Island where every thing has to be imported. The compulsions of being totally dependent on the seas drove the LTTE to build its arsenal.
The key pillars of its maritime strength flowed from the use of Flags of Convenience ships that sailed around the world for both legitimate and illegal trade. Mostly, the voyages of these ships were aimed at loading of weapons and essential hardware for the LTTE. It has also been alleged that the LTTE routinely used the sea routes for drug running to Prior to the attack on the WTC, the monitoring of the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and the surrounding seas by various nations was not given a very high priority. It was easy for ships to gain entry to different ports of destination and load/unload any cargo with out drawing too much attention. The surveillance around many of the uninhabited Islands in Southeast Asia made it easy for the LTTE to ship its cargo from any chosen port/Island.
4. What were the key conceptual changes that helped the Sri Lankan Navy during the last several years?
The Sri Lankan Forces did learn from their past mistakes and losses definitely. In addition, it is obvious that they had the advantage of enlisting the support of certain nations who were willing to provide both overt and covert support. The military supplies to Sri Lankan forces from other nations including Pakistan and China also provided the necessary edge in combating the LTTE which hitherto appeared to score over its adversary by being better equipped technologically. There have been also reports of foreign advisors on the Sri Lankan soil who provided military advice to influence the course of events on ground and on the high seas. The split of the LTTE by which process, Karuna joined hands with the Government is another factor that helped the SL forces to get insights in to the strengths and weaknesses of the LTTE. The inputs from Karuna on force levels, training, and modus operandi would have greatly helped the SL forces to the enemy better and prepare accordingly.
There is one significant factor that has changed the entire course of struggle in the Island. That relates to the assertive action by western nations post 9/11. Various measures adopted to combat terror came in the way of the LTTE which enjoyed freedom of action at the military, political and international level. The branding of the LTTE as a terrorist organization by over 32 countries dealt a severe blow to the activities of the LTTE. In addition to preventing supply of military hardware to the terrorist groups, US and the Interpol intensified their efforts to trace the origins of various funding that was routed to the LTTE from front end organizations located in different parts of the world.
The attacks on the WTC led to fears of similar attacks through the medium of the seas. In a US sponsored initiative, International Maritime Organisation lost no time in implementing various measures for enhancing the safety of Ports, ships and infrastructure around the world. The most notable of these measures are International Ship and Port Security code (ISPS), Container Security Initiative (CSI), Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), Maritime Security Operations (MSO) and the Regional Maritime Security initiative (RMSI). With out going in to extensive details of all these measures, suffice to say that provisions of various measures as above severely restricted the unfettered freedom of the seas enjoyed by the LTTE.
As far as the concept of operations are concerned, the SL Navy became acutely aware of the need for all-round surveillance at extended ranges to thwart any attempt to land essential supplies from the seas to the terrorists. It has been reported that the movement of weapon carrying ships were reported by both US and Indian intelligence agencies alerting the SL Navy to such moves. The acquisition of off shore support vessels (OSVs) from India helped the SL Navy to develop its long legs at sea. It gave the SL Navy an opportunity to use these ships as command and control platforms to coordinate actions at sea. Along with the surveillance aircraft of the SLAF, it was possible to keep track of LTTE vessels attempting to land war material on Sri Lankan coast and destroy the vessels in coordinated gun battles.
The Sri Lankan navy was better prepared to take on the suicide attackers at sea. In fact, many of the determined attacks by the LTTE resulted in sinking of the attack boats, even though there were some losses notably of the Dvora class of attack craft on the Sri Lankan side.
Another notable conceptual change is related to the joint operations by the SL Navy and the SL Airforce. With out the advantage of an integral air component on the lines of India, any success at sea depended on active real time cooperation between the two forces. The attack aircraft and attack helicopters of Sri Lanka, ruled the skies and were able to attack targets both at sea and on the land with impunity due to lack of any opposition from the LTTE.
5) How did the Sri Lankan Navy implement these concepts in operational theater?
The simple rule of the game in a naval operation is to have the components of a C4I2SR
(Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Information, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) in place. SL Navy appears to have got its act together both by its own efforts as well as the weakening of the LTTEs potential due to coordinated decisive international action against terrorism as brought out earlier.
For many decades now, many Sri Lankan Naval personnel have also been training in India and exposed to the processes of planning and executing complex naval tasks. The top echelons in the Navy have been quick to assimilate the good practices from other navies and have been able to take on the threats in a commendable manner. So it is clear that the processes were in order and the execution therefore achieved their objectives.
6) How do you see the present interaction between Indian and Sri Lankan Navies?
There have always been very good relations at the working level as well as at the top echelons. Many officers and sailors continue to be trained and exposed to the ways of the working of Indian Navy, a regional power which has come of age. Specifically, in the Palk Bay, the Navies and the Coast Guards have a good understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
The periodic IBL meetings held on Indian and SL Naval vessels on an alternate basis allows both sides to frankly discuss the issues related to maritime security. Though there is no formal agreement on joint patrolling, there is a great degree of coordination in their respective areas of control.
7) According to your information, who do you think is behind the recent abductions and killings of the Indian fishermen?
This is one sensitive area that has been exploited by the LTTE as well as the politicians of Tamil Nadu. When one looks at the past, no one can dispute the fact that excesses were committed by both the warring factions when it came to abductions and firing at the fishermen. Many fishermen from Tamil Nadu routinely crossed the IBL quoting historical rights. Kachchativu has remained a bone of contention between the two sides. For the Indian fishermen, smuggling of items required for the LTTE has been a vocation for decades. LTTE is very much aware that the killing of any Tamil fishermen touches the sensitive chords in Tamil nadu and on many occasions, even with out any investigation, it is concluded that the death or injury is due to firing by the Sri Lankan Navy. The regional parties immediately protest the alleged killing by the Sri Lankan Navy. The case of fishing vessel Krishna which was taken over by the LTTE after killing of the Tamil fishermen clearly illustrates that for the LTTE it really does not matter if those killed were Tamil fishermen. Krishna was subsequently sunk close to Maldives while allegedly engaged in transporting essential items for its war effort.
8) What are some suggestions that you can give to present Sri Lankan naval policy makers ?
Presuming that the military phase would draw to a conclusion, the Sri Lankan navy would have a major task of assisting the Government in rehabililtation of displaced persons particularly along the coastal belts.
It would also need to work out practical solutions to the vexed problems of fishing in Palk
Bay areas. It needs to elevate its cooperation with the Indian Navy to promote collective security in the areas of interest. Sri Lankan navy which has displayed a very high degree of professionalism would need to work out its options in the region to combat maritime terrorism from non state actors, piracy. It would need to now start examining various peace time tasks being undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard with a view to engage itself actively in the process of Search and Rescue, Marine Pollution control and joint initiatives to ensure the freedom of the seas. Along with the Indian Navy, both the Governments would need to work on joint initiatives to ensure that peace and stability are promoted by well meaning coordinated action. -Sri Lanka Guardian
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