Demise of LTTE commanders and its implications

By Satheesan Kumaaran

(May 22, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It’s been a year since the Eelam War IV ended. During the last days of the war, the LTTE leadership warned Tamils to not fall prey to the false propaganda of the Sri Lankan government. Now, the LTTE has confirmed that they lost precious and fearless commanders, like Brigadier Theepan and Brigadier Sornam.

Tamils have yet to recover from the wounds caused in the last phase of the war, in which nearly 50,000 Tamils were mass murdered. No other civilization has seen such horrible events in the current century. The international community promised the LTTE that they wouldn’t let the LTTE lose. But, the LTTE had to silence their guns, with the hope that the international community would secure their freedom.

The LTTE leadership, also, never realized the negative consequences in their 35 years of military history. The LTTE fought decades of war with the Sri Lankan and Indian armed forces. Even the Sri Lankan armed forces acknowledged the courageous fighting of the LTTE fighters, under the command of Sornam, Bhanu, Theepan, Soosai, Vidusha, Durga, Gadhapi, Gopith, Nagesh, Thamilini, Keerthi, Manivannan, Amuthaab, etc.

Acid test for the LTTE

The last phase of the war was really an acid test for the LTTE’s military prowess. Many military observers have wondered why the LTTE leadership did not diversify the fighting, as they used to. Despite the military capability of the LTTE, the LTTE leadership maintained silence, even after the Sri Lankan government withdrew from the ceasefire agreement, unilaterally. The LTTE leadership gave a two-week ultimatum to former President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, in 1995, either to enter into genuine talks with the LTTE, or resume war. Since Ms. Kumaratunga failed to consider the LTTE demand, the LTTE, as warned, launched attacks by destroying two ships in Trincomalee.

The LTTE maintained the upper hand militarily, even though they had lost their former stronghold on the Jaffna peninsula, in 1996. But, the LTTE fought hard for a year, causing heavy damages and casualties to the enemy. The LTTE tactically withdrew, along with hundreds, of thousands, of civilians, into Vanni. The LTTE held Vanni over a decade, as a de facto Tamil Eelam, until the Sri Lankan armed forces captured the LTTE’s stronghold last year.

Even before entering the peace talks in 2002, the LTTE was prepared to capture the Jaffna peninsula. They even captured the areas of Thenmaradchy, but the LTTE leadership had given the order to the LTTE fighters to postpone the operation. The LTTE entered into peace talks, and the LTTE fell right into the trap of the international community.

The LTTE leadership was not able to break the promises given to the international community, during the peace time. The LTTE also had to change their military strategy, in the aftermath of the 9/11 episode in New York. The American administration was becoming more vigilant about terrorist activities. After the LTTE entered into peace talks, the American administration saw the LTTE differently from the Al Qaeda. For example, the current U.S. Foreign Secretary Hillary Clinton said, in 2007: “You can’t lump all terrorists together.” She wanted to separate the militant freedom movements from radical and extremist terrorists, who fight for no definite cause.

Is the Tamil Eelam dream a reality?

The million-dollar question is whether the Tamil dream is a reality. When the LTTE was holding the upper hand militarily, there was a 99% possibility that Tamil Eelam was a reality since the LTTE, in their motto, said that their thirst was for nothing but the freedom of independence of Tamil Eelam, and they were well assured that they would not let the Eelam struggle get off that easy.

The LTTE was propagating, among the Tamils, that Tamil Eelam would be realised, even if only one Tamil was left alive. The doubt arises as to whether the sacrifices, so far, have been wasted, as the war of over three-decades took away the lives of over 150,000 people, and caused billions of U.S. dollars in damages to properties!

The question arises as to what happens to the LTTE commanders and the LTTE fighters? The LTTE leadership requested the Tamils to not believe the propaganda of the Sri Lankan government, but it’s been a year since the war ended. The LTTE has not yet confirmed the deaths of their commanders, and fighters, as they have an accountability responsibility.
However, the LTTE recently announced the martyrdom of Soosaipillai Joseph Anthonydas, alias Brigadier Sornam, on May 15, 2009. Brigadier Sornam was born on April 8, 1964, in Trincomalee. He served as special commander of the LTTE, in the East, and he took part in most of the military operations of the LTTE, including ‘Unceasing Waves’ and ‘Operation Leap Forward’.

The LTTE also has officially announced the death of Velayuthapillai Baheerathakumar, alias Brigadier Theepan. The LTTE’s International Coordinating Committee has acknowledged that the LTTE’s women’s wing political head, Thamilini, was also killed in action. The LTTE, also, officially announced that political wing leader, P. Nadesan, and deputy political head, Pulithevan were among the LTTEers who sought to surrender with white flags on the request of foreign diplomats, including UN senior officials, and eventually slaughtered.

Sections of Tamil media outlets carry stories that all the LTTE cadres, and their leaders, attained martyrdom, including their leader, V. Pirapaharan, and intelligence chief, Pottu Amman. Tamils around the world are eager to know the destiny of these leaders, as these Tamils are living in grief over what happened to their illustrious fighting commanders, as well as large numbers of cadres, and senior leaders, who are seen as god-gifted leaders for their freedom.

The majority of the Tamils still express their optimism that their commanders, and leaders, will resume their actions, with the same courage as before. They feel that this is not a time to weep, but a time to come up from the ashes.

The final phase of war that ended last year is, no doubt, a great scar on the Tamils. It was a great blunder of the LTTE’s military strategy. However, the next decision, for any freedom movement, is to give up their strongholds to the enemies, and then capture them again, until they obtain their freedom. The question of what happened to the LTTE leader, their most powerful commanders, and thousands of cadres, remains a mystery. Tamils wait to see whether the deaths of publicly announced commanders are the latest list of martyrs, or whether the list of deaths will increase as the days, or months, go by. In any event, Tamil Eelam is attainable, but not too soon. Many more returns of sacrifices are needed to make the dream a reality.

(The author can be reached at e-mail: satheesan_kumaaran@yahoo.com)