ID :
11192
Tue, 07/01/2008 - 10:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/11192
The shortlink copeid
LTTE will be finished within a year: Army chief
T. V. Sriram
Colombo, July 1 (PTI) - Sri Lankan Army chief Monday said
his forces have inflicted heavy losses on Tamil Tigers and the
militant outfit's capability to wage a conventional war will
be wiped out within a year.
Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said LTTE had lost
9,000 of its cadres since 2006 and the outfit was now
resorting to conscription by forcibly recruiting students in
the Northern region of the country.
"LTTE will lose its conventional capability within a
year. I think within a year LTTE will lose their present
capability," Fonseka told foreign correspondents here.
"The LTTE is using young recruits as their eyes and ears
and give them no choice than to die in their positioned places
as they have to inform about the army movements without moving
from there," he said.
The army claimed huge success after the liberation of
East in 2007. The army also brought the Madhu Church in
North-western Mannar to government's control recently.
Fonseka said the Sri Lankan army, which sends 800 of its
officers to India every year for training, had perfected in
the jungle warfare which had been LTTE's strong point. Fonseka
said the army had almost captured North-western Mannar.
"Initially the LTTE had taken us for a good ride. We were
taken by surprise. We are now fighting the Tiger militants
according to a plan," Fonseka said.
Fonseka said the Sri Lankan army had lost 1,700 soldiers
in the last few years. Out of 4,000 soldiers who suffered
injuries, 2,000 had returned after treatment in the last two
years.
The army chief, who survived an assassination attempt in
April, 2006 in Colombo, said he would like to fully wipe out
the LTTE before he retires.
Though he is scheduled for retirement by the end of 2008
he is likely to get an extension as the war against LTTE has
reached a decisive stage.
Fonseka said the army was on a massive recruitment spree
and had inducted over 50,000 personnel since August 2006.
"We have already seen a change in LTTE capability during
the last two years," he said adding he was no magician or
astrologer to give an exact prediction of their fall.
Fonseka said after the LTTE loses its conventional
capability, it could still resort to hit and run tactics in
the form of claymore blasts or attacks on vehicles.
He said the LTTE was going on an all out war against the
Sinhala community in Sri Lanka which would not be tolerated.
PTI
Colombo, July 1 (PTI) - Sri Lankan Army chief Monday said
his forces have inflicted heavy losses on Tamil Tigers and the
militant outfit's capability to wage a conventional war will
be wiped out within a year.
Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said LTTE had lost
9,000 of its cadres since 2006 and the outfit was now
resorting to conscription by forcibly recruiting students in
the Northern region of the country.
"LTTE will lose its conventional capability within a
year. I think within a year LTTE will lose their present
capability," Fonseka told foreign correspondents here.
"The LTTE is using young recruits as their eyes and ears
and give them no choice than to die in their positioned places
as they have to inform about the army movements without moving
from there," he said.
The army claimed huge success after the liberation of
East in 2007. The army also brought the Madhu Church in
North-western Mannar to government's control recently.
Fonseka said the Sri Lankan army, which sends 800 of its
officers to India every year for training, had perfected in
the jungle warfare which had been LTTE's strong point. Fonseka
said the army had almost captured North-western Mannar.
"Initially the LTTE had taken us for a good ride. We were
taken by surprise. We are now fighting the Tiger militants
according to a plan," Fonseka said.
Fonseka said the Sri Lankan army had lost 1,700 soldiers
in the last few years. Out of 4,000 soldiers who suffered
injuries, 2,000 had returned after treatment in the last two
years.
The army chief, who survived an assassination attempt in
April, 2006 in Colombo, said he would like to fully wipe out
the LTTE before he retires.
Though he is scheduled for retirement by the end of 2008
he is likely to get an extension as the war against LTTE has
reached a decisive stage.
Fonseka said the army was on a massive recruitment spree
and had inducted over 50,000 personnel since August 2006.
"We have already seen a change in LTTE capability during
the last two years," he said adding he was no magician or
astrologer to give an exact prediction of their fall.
Fonseka said after the LTTE loses its conventional
capability, it could still resort to hit and run tactics in
the form of claymore blasts or attacks on vehicles.
He said the LTTE was going on an all out war against the
Sinhala community in Sri Lanka which would not be tolerated.
PTI
