Sri Lanka: “SURPRISE!”Seems To Be
The Wonder Weapon…By Chandi Sinnathurai
01 November, 2007
Countercurrents.orgSri Lanka’s President Rajapaksha and his armed forces have been concentrating primarily on one thing. And this, they have done with some limited success for some while, in their fight against Tamil Tigers. In the process, multitude of Tamil civilians have perished without a trace. The Government propaganda was that it is doing everything possible to combat the so-called threat of trafficking anti-aircraft weaponry into the island by the Tamil Tigers!
The October 23rd. attack by the Tiger Kamakazi-type commandos on the Anurathapuram air force base have proved the Government strategy and security systems to be wanting. A multi-million dollar spy fleet was totally devastated, in this dawn-combat while they were still grounded. Military analysts, both foreign and local, are of the mind that, the Tigers have effectively neutralised the intelligence gathering capabilities of the Sri Lankan armed forces.
The morale of the Sinhala armed forces, not surprisingly, have tragically hit the sand. It is understood, there is currently an enormous crisis of confidence.
People in the know of military science tell us, not to lose sight of what the enemy is doing. Always be on the look out; be vigilant; engage with the enemy; even if it is bogus peace-talks. Never under estimate the enemy. Rajapaksha regime was too quick to declare, that they are prepared to face the enemy in the Tiger heart land – that is Vanni in the North and run them over completely.
Lets leave this for one moment and look at the wider scenario. As for the Tamil Tigers, losing ground in the East – Batticaloa district and crucially Trincomalee was a severe blow - In terms of morale, political governance and public perception. But it must be noted, the Government forces gained all this ground in the east without much resistance. For some reason, strategic or otherwise, the Tamil Tigers held back their ferocity. Yet again another surprise factor.
Most importantly for the Government, even though the East might be effectively in their hands, they have however, hardly managed to win hearts and minds of the easterners. It is some what like the US in Iraq situation in its mind frame. There are reports of forced Government ‘colonisation’ (or importation) of Sinhala thugs into the Tamil lands in the East. From a psychological stand point, the Government is yet to prove them winning in the east. As for the Karuna faction, there has been a fatal split within the gang and it is rumoured Karuna has flown to take refuge in the West! Even from a political view point, every thing looks like a ready made flop. [Karuna faction is a militant splinter group of the Tigers formed in March 2004]
But the Rajapaksha regime wants to keep juggling balloons, namely pride and prejudice. The state-machinery is like a helium balloon flying over with unlimited punctures and hasty patch-up works in the air; here, there and every where. How long can Rajapaksha and brothers keep the show on the road is a high level threat.
President Rajapaksha
Rajapaksha will have to swallow his words with his pride, as he did on the recent Anurathapuram attack. Events could rapidly creep up and create a turning point, forcing him to eat the humble pie. God only knows.
The President must think its okay to be economical with the truth, as long as he does not swallow his tongue by mistake. As for the Tamil Tigers, there is much ground to cover. SURPRISE and strategic precision seem to be the winning formula.
Each time however, the Rajapaksha regime seem to miss the obvious point.APPENDIX:
Censorship on Press Freedom
The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Published by Authority)
PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL
Government Notifications
EXTRAORDINARY
CF 1/64.
THE PUBLIC SECURITY ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 40)
REGULATIONS made by the President under Section 5 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40).
MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA, President. Colombo, 29th October, 2007.
Regulations 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Emergency (Prohibition on Publication and Transmission of Sensitive Military Information) Regulations No. 6 of 2007.
2. The President may for the purpose of these regulations, appoint by name or office, any person or body of persons to be the Competent Authority.
3. No Editor or Publisher of a Newspaper or any other publication or any person who manages or operates a Broadcasting Station or a Television Station, shall print, publish, distribute or transmit whether by means of electronic devices or otherwise, or cause to be printed, published, distributed or transmitted whether by electronic means or otherwise, any material containing any matter which pertains to any proposed operations or military activity to be carried out by the Armed Forces or the Police Force (including the Special Task Force) or the deployment of troops or personnel, the availability or use of arms, ammunition or other equipment, including aircraft or naval vessels, by the Armed Forces or the Police Force (including the Special Task Force) and the proposed acquisition of arms, ammunition or other equipment, including aircraft or naval vessels by the Armed Forces or the Police Force (including the Special Task Force) which pertains to any operation or other military activity to be carried out by the Armed Forces or the Police Force (including the Special Task Force), for the purpose of maintaining or protecting national security, territorial integrity and the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
4. Where any person prints, publishes, distributes or transmits, or causes to be printed, published, distributed or transmitted, whether by electronic means or otherwise, any matter in contravention of the provisions of regulation 3, the Competent Authority may, after issuing such directions as he considers necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of such regulation, make order that the press or equipment used for such printing, publication distribution or transmission shall for such period as is specified in that order not be used for such printing, publication, distribution or transmission of any matter referred to in regulation 3 and the Competent Authority may by the same order authorize any person specified therein to take such steps as appears to the person so authorized to be necessary for preventing the printing, publication, distribution or transmission of any such material.
5. (1) Any person who prints, publishes, distributes or transmits any material in contravention of the provisions of regulation 3 shall be guilty of an offence shall on conviction after trial before the High Court without a jury or before a Magistrate, be liable to rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than three months and not exceeding five years and to a fine of not less than five hundred rupees and not exceeding five thousand rupees.
(2) Section 306 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979, shall not apply to any person found guilty of an offence under these Regulations.
11-498 PRINTED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, SRI LANKA.
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