Buckshot06 (talk | contribs) →Preparations: link |
IceUnshattered (talk | contribs) m →Timeline: I have an aversion to refs in the middle of sentences... |
||
Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
==Timeline== |
==Timeline== |
||
The army began attacking Kilinochchi from three directions on 23 November 23 2008.<ref name="army begins attack">{{cite news |first= |last= |coauthors= |title=Sri Lanka rebel HQ 'to fall soon' |work=BBC News |page= |date=26 November 2008 |accessdate=13 January 2009|quote= |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7749475.stm }}</ref> Throughout the month of December, the army conducted three offensives in an attempt to take Kilinochchi. Heavy [[monsoon]] rains affected both sides during the months of November and December,<ref name="Sri Lanka Says It Enters Rebel Capital ">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/02/world/AP-AS-Sri-Lanka-Civil-War.html|title=Sri Lanka Says It Enters Rebel Capital |date=January 2, 2009 |work=THE ASSOCIATED PRESS|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2009-01-02}}</ref> |
The army began attacking Kilinochchi from three directions on 23 November 23 2008.<ref name="army begins attack">{{cite news |first= |last= |coauthors= |title=Sri Lanka rebel HQ 'to fall soon' |work=BBC News |page= |date=26 November 2008 |accessdate=13 January 2009|quote= |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7749475.stm }}</ref> Throughout the month of December, the army conducted three offensives in an attempt to take Kilinochchi. Heavy [[monsoon]] rains affected both sides during the months of November and December, with floods covering a large area in and around Kilinochchi.<ref name="Sri Lanka Says It Enters Rebel Capital ">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/02/world/AP-AS-Sri-Lanka-Civil-War.html|title=Sri Lanka Says It Enters Rebel Capital |date=January 2, 2009 |work=THE ASSOCIATED PRESS|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2009-01-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alertnet.org/thefacts/satelliteimages/UNOSAT/a85e20ac16dbf6c1f501bdf2ae359141.htm |title=Overview of Flood Waters in Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka |accessdate=13 January 2009 |work=Thomson Reuters Foundation |publisher=Reuters AlertNet |date=3 December 2008}}</ref> Troop movements were limited by this, and mines had been scattered around the area by the flood waters.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sunil |last=Jayasiri |coauthors= |title=Fierce fighting amidst heavy casualties |work=Daily Mirror |page= |date=19 December 2008 |accessdate=13 January 2009|quote= |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=35521 }}</ref> |
||
On 10 December, the LTTE claimed to have blunted the first SLA offensive and killed 89 soldiers. However, the SLA claimed to have lost only 20 soldiers and killed 27 rebels.<ref name="of1">{{cite news |first=Bharatha |last=Mallawarachi |coauthors= |title=Web site: Tamil rebels kill 89 Sri Lankan soldiers |work=The China Post |page= |date=11 December 2008 |accessdate=13 January 2009|quote= |url=https://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/other/2008/12/11/187250/Web-site:.htm }}</ref> |
On 10 December, the LTTE claimed to have blunted the first SLA offensive and killed 89 soldiers. However, the SLA claimed to have lost only 20 soldiers and killed 27 rebels.<ref name="of1">{{cite news |first=Bharatha |last=Mallawarachi |coauthors= |title=Web site: Tamil rebels kill 89 Sri Lankan soldiers |work=The China Post |page= |date=11 December 2008 |accessdate=13 January 2009|quote= |url=https://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/other/2008/12/11/187250/Web-site:.htm }}</ref> |
Revision as of 00:49, 14 January 2009
Battle of Kilinochchi | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Sri Lankan Civil War, 2008 SLA Northern offensive | |||||||
Kilinochchi | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Military of Sri Lanka | Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka | Velupillai Prabhakaran | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
SLA sources : heavy[2], between 25-100 casualties[3] 300 injuries[4] | LTTE sources: minimal casualties[5] |
The Battle of Kilinochchi was a land battle fought between the Sri Lankan Mililtary and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the control of the town of Kilinochchi. It was fought as part of the Northern Theater of Eelam War IV, during the Sri Lankan civil war. The battle was fought between November 2008 and January 2009 when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) assaulted the Tamil Tiger stronghold.
The town of Kilinochchi, was the de facto capital of the LTTE's proposed state of Tamil Eelam. On January 2, 2009, the SLA announced that it had taken control of the town and the LTTE had taken positions in the nearby jungles.
History and background
The Sri Lanka Army withdrew from Kilinochchi in 1990, enabling the LTTE to take control of the town for the first time. The SLA recaptured it during operations Sathjaya I, II, and III in September 1996. The LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves II in September 1998 and captured the town again, forcing the army to vacate it. This battle caused heavy casualties to both sides, and the loss was described by the then military spokesman, Brigadier Sunil Tennakoon, as "the largest blow after Mullaitivu"[6] Since the capture of the town, the LTTE used it as the administrative hub of the area under its control. Kilinochchi housed the headquarters of the Tamil Eelam Police Force, Peace Secretariat and banks.[7]
Although Kilinochchi is not a strategically important location in terms of military operations, it bears a symbolic importance because of the LTTE using it as the de facto capital of Tamil Eelam, the separate state that the LTTE is fighting for.[8] The government claimed that all civil administrative affairs were handled by government authorities despite the LTTE being in control of the town.[9][10] Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Colonel Karuna claimed that the town of Kilinochchi was important for the LTTE because it was the showcase of the organization [11]
Preparations
Since the Sri Lankan military captured the Eastern Province from the LTTE, it advanced rapidly into LTTE held territory in the Northern Province. The town of Kilinochchi was a major target for the troops during this offensive.[8] With the army advancing on several fronts, the 57 Division and Task Force 1 (now 58th Division) operated on the Kilinochchi front with the objective of capturing the town. The overall operation was led by Major General Jagath Jayasuriya, the Wanni Security Forces Commander. Both divisions advanced from the west of the country, with 57 Division approaching Kilinochchi from the south and west, while the Task Force 1 advanced further northwards, capturing other key strongholds of the LTTE in order to converge on Kilinochchi from the north.[12]
57 Division, led by Major General Jagath Dias, captured Akkarayankulam on 18 October 2008,[13] a large village located to the southwest of Kilinochchi. The capture of this village enabled the army to attack Kilinochchi from the southwest.[14] The Iranamadu junction, located to the south of Kilinochchi was also captured later, enabling the army to advance towards Kilinochchi from the south.[15] Troops from the 57th Division earlier captured several LTTE strongholds such as Adampan and Kokavil[16]
The Task Force 1, led by Brigadier Shavendra Silva, advanced along the western coast, capturing several strategically important locations including the Mannar "Rice Bowl" area, Viddathalthivu, and Nachchikuda. The Task Force 1 launched an attack on Pooneryn on 15 November 2008, spearheaded by troops from the 2nd and 3rd Commando Regiments and a squadron of Special Forces, and captured the area.[17] From there, the Task Force 1 moved west and captured Paranthan on 31 December 2008, enabling the army to attack Kilinochchi from the north.[18]
The LTTE constructed earth bunds and trenches around the town to halt the advance of the army. One such earth bund was constructed to the south. Another stretched across the B69 Pooneryn – Paranthan road, along the western side of the town.[19] The LTTE had deployed their elite units, the Charles Anthony and Imran Pandiyan brigades along with other regular units under the command of Theepan, Bhanu and Lawrence for the defence of Kilinochchi.[20][21] Meanwhile, the army began launching artillery attacks, while the Air Force launched air raids against LTTE positions in and around Kilinochchi. One such attack targeted the LTTE office complex in Kilinochchi.[22] The government declared in October 2008 that it was ready to capture Kilinochchi.[23]
Timeline
The army began attacking Kilinochchi from three directions on 23 November 23 2008.[24] Throughout the month of December, the army conducted three offensives in an attempt to take Kilinochchi. Heavy monsoon rains affected both sides during the months of November and December, with floods covering a large area in and around Kilinochchi.[25][26] Troop movements were limited by this, and mines had been scattered around the area by the flood waters.[27]
On 10 December, the LTTE claimed to have blunted the first SLA offensive and killed 89 soldiers. However, the SLA claimed to have lost only 20 soldiers and killed 27 rebels.[28]
On December 16, the SLA launched a multi-front offensive against Kilinochchi. This assault was defeated by the LTTE. According to the LTTE claims, the SLA casualties were 130 soldiers dead and more than 300 wounded. They also claimed to have captured 28 bodies of army soldiers.[29][30] The SLA denied this and claimed to have had only 25 soldiers killed, 18 missing and 160 wounded while they killed 120 Tigers[31] Heavy artillery and mortar fire was exchanged between both sides during the battle. Fighting continued for 10 days after this battle, during which period the army managed to capture some parts of the earth bund to the west of Kilinochchi.[32]
On December 20, the LTTE mounted a counter-offensive as SLA forces were preparing an attempt to attack and capture the village of Iranamadu, just south of the city. The LTTE claimed that at least 60 soldiers were killed in the battle. These claims were disputed by the military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, who claimed that the army's losses were 12 killed and 12 missing.[33][34]
Capture
LTTE started to withdraw its personnel from Kilinochchi with the fall of Paranthan on 31 December 2008.[35] On 2 January 2009, the Sri Lanka army entered the town of Kilinochchi from two sides.[36] The army claimed they encountered only minimal resistance once it entered the town, as the rebels had withdrawn to positions in nearby jungles.[25] Later, President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially announced the capture of Kilinochchi. He also called for the LTTE to lay down their arms.[37]
The town has been largely abandoned, with the LTTE shifting its civil and political administration further to the northeast, with Tharmapuram hospital taking over from the abandoned Kilinochchi hospital. B. Nadesan, political head of the LTTE giving an interview shortly before the fall of the city, stated that the LTTE would continue to fight, even if Kilinochchi fell. He said "losing land and recapturing it is common. It is not the real estate that matters. Our freedom struggle will continue to create war towns until our struggle reaches its goal -- until we win." Some observers, such as MDMK leader Vaiko have speculated that the LTTE mounted a strategic withdrawal from the town.[38]
Aftermath
Following the capture of Kilinochchi by the army, the Colombo Stock Exchange recorded a rise of around 5 percent on the news and the Sri Lankan rupee became steady.[39] A few hours after the President of Sri Lanka declared the victory, a suicide bombing was carried out outside the Air Force headquarters in Colombo. Two air force police officers and a member of the bomb-disposal unit was killed in the attack, while 30 people were wounded.[40] On 3 January 2009, an explosion occurred in Pettah Market, triggered under a parked vehicle. The explosion injured at least 3 people.[41]
The LTTE's political head, Balasingham Nadesan, observed that the loss of Kilinochchi was an insignificant setback in the context of their liberation struggle. He claimed that:
Kilinochchi town was captured more than once by the Sri Lanka military earlier. Similarly, we have also recaptured the town on earlier occasions.[42]
Soon after the capture of Kilinochchi, the government decided to ban the LTTE.[43] The ban was put into effect from midnight, 7 January, for "using civilians as human shields in uncleared areas and endangering their lives, despite requests by the government to release them".[44]
Reactions
- United States
On 2 January 2009, the United States Department of State urged the Sri Lankan Government and Tamil Tigers to start negotiating over the "legitimate issues" of the Tamils.[45]
- Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan has supported the Sri Lankan military actions against the Tamil Tigers and regards it as its internal matter of its affairs.[citation needed]
In a separate development, the British government in a joint press statement issued by Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government, Lord Malloch Brown and Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander said the fall of Kilinochchi makes it even more urgent that all parties achieve progress on setting out a political solution that addresses the legitimate concerns of all communities.
“This development makes it even more urgent that all parties achieve progress on setting out a political solution that addresses the legitimate concerns of all communities. This is the only way to achieve a strong and sustainable peace in Sri Lanka in which all communities can prosper. We remain concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict and call on all parties to abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law; in particular the need to ensure the safety of civilians, to allow their free movement in the Wanni and to enhance access for humanitarian agencies to facilitate the delivery of adequate supplies of humanitarian aid,” the British statement said.
Meanwhile, India reiterated that the military option would not resolve Sri Lanka’s long-standing ethnic conflict but instead the Sri Lankan government should look at a political solution.
"There are several aspects to the Sri Lankan problem. Addressing them in isolation is not sufficient to resolve the problem," Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told journalists when asked to comment on the Lankan military offensive in Sri Lanka.
However it is unlikely that these statements will result in either side enforcing either a ceasefire or a call for a political solution. The LTTE, amidst the current offensive by the SLA, have called for a break in hostilities several times but have failed.
The SLA believes that the previous ceasefire which lasted approximately 6 months enabled the LTTE significantly to bolster their position.[citation needed]
A dozen heavily-armed men badly damaged the studios of the Maharaja Television/Broadcasting Network (MTV/MBC) in Pannipitiya, near Colombo, after charges that the network’s reporting of the war between the government and Tamil insurgents was not “patriotic” enough (according to "Reporters without borders").[46]
References
- ^ "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Army closes in on key Jaffna pass". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cnotes5%5Cnote490.html
- ^ http://www.stratfor.com/sitrep/20081217_sri_lanka_heavy_casualties_kilinochchi_offensive
- ^ http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/dec2008/sril-d19.shtml
- ^ "LTTE concedes Kilinochchi defeat". Rediff.com. 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ "Rebels launch heavy assault on Sri Lankan army". CNN. 7 October 1998. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Jayasiri, Sunil (3 January 2009). "Kilinochchi falls". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ a b Buerk, Roland (17 September 2008). "Sri Lanka's push to take rebel HQ". BBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Kilinochchi Liberated – LTTE leadership further cornered in pockets of Mullaitivu District". news.lk – The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ Reddy, B. Muralidhar (3 January 2009). "Kilinochchi captured in devastating blow to LTTE". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Perera, Amantha (14 September 2008). "Trench war looms in the Wanni". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Wijayapala, Ranil (2 January 2009). "All fronts close in on Kilinochchi". Daily News. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Sri Lanka army 'breaks' Tiger lines". Al Jazeera. 19 October 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Wijayapala, Ranil (9 November 2008). "LTTE in total disarray as troops reach Pooneryn". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Wijayapala, Ranil (2 January 2009). "Fall of Kilinochchi imminent – Iranamadu Captured". Daily News. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Army claims Kokavil also captured". Daily Mirror. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Wijayapala, Ranil (16 November 2008). "Pooneryn Falls". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Wijayapala, Ranil (4 January 2009). "End of the road for the LTTE". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Lanka pounds LTTE bastions". Deccan Herald. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Perera, Amantha (12 October 2008). "Tiger administrative structure hit". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Ground fighting one-sided". The Nation. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "LTTE Kilinochchi complex bombed". BBC Sinhala News. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Sri Lankan military attack stalls". The Times. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Sri Lanka rebel HQ 'to fall soon'". BBC News. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ a b "Sri Lanka Says It Enters Rebel Capital". THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. New York Times. January 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ "Overview of Flood Waters in Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka". Thomson Reuters Foundation. Reuters AlertNet. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ^ Jayasiri, Sunil (19 December 2008). "Fierce fighting amidst heavy casualties". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Mallawarachi, Bharatha (11 December 2008). "Web site: Tamil rebels kill 89 Sri Lankan soldiers". The China Post. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "SLA death toll hits 170 in Vanni, hundreds wounded, 36 bodies recovered - LTTE". Tamilnet.com. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ "LTTE releases photos of SLA debacle". Tamileelamnews.com. 2008-12-18. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ "(Update-2) Sri Lanka loses two battalions troops in the latest battles". Tamileelamnews.com. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ Wijayapala, Ranil (28 December 2008). "Troops closing in on Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu". The Sunday Observer. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Buerk, Roland (21 December 2008). "'Heavy fighting' near Kilinochchi". BBC Sinhala News. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ The Earthtimes (2008-12-21). "12 soldiers killed, 16 missingin Sri Lanka combat : India World". Earthtimes.org. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ Jayasiri, Sunil (2 January 2009). "Paranthan falls: Muhamalai, Elephant Pass untenable for LTTE". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Sri Lankan forces take over last LTTE bastion". CNN-IBN. January 02, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Sri Lankan troops seize rebel HQ". BBC News. 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
- ^ http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/CFCB6D35F096A1EC652575330055B459?OpenDocument
- ^ "Sri Lankan troops march into rebel headquarters". Reuters. January 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ From Iqbal Athas CNN. "Suicide blast in Sri Lanka as rebel stronghold falls - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has generic name (help); no-break space character in|author=
at position 5 (help) - ^ "Minor blast in Sri Lanka capital". Colombo Page. 2009-01-03. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
- ^ "Army 'takes more Tiger territory'". BBC News. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Kamalendran, Chris (4 January 2009). "LTTE to be banned; decision next week". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Govt bans LTTE". ReliefWeb. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ^ AFP (2009-01-02). "US renews call for peaceful dialogue in Sri Lanka". AFP. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ "Reporters sans frontières - Sri Lanka". Rsf.org. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
External links
Kilinochchi: A Stalingrad in the making? – Blog post by B. Raman