LTTE Leader on Sri Lanka's Military Campaign | SLA's Jayasikuru Anniversary - May 13th, 1998

The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Mr. V. Pirapaharan in a statement issued today (13.05.1998) to mark the anniversary of the Sri Lankan military offensive operation called "Jayasikuru" (Victory Assured) described the Government's military campaign as a monumental disaster. Sri Lanka suffered unprecedented casualty rate in the year long battle with over 3000 Sinhala soldiers killed and 7000 injured, Mr. Pirapaharan said. The Government of Chandrika Kumaratunga is driving the country towards the path of destruction impelled by a singular passion to dominate and subjugate the Tamil homeland by military means, he further said.

The following are extracts from Mr. Pirapaharan's statement:

Today is a significant day in the history of our national liberation struggle, it marks the end of a year during which we have resisted and fought against the biggest ever offensive operation launched by the Sri Lankan armed forces code named "Jayasikuru", This operation has not yet come to an end but dragging on for a year though it was programmed for three months and began with much publicity and propaganda. The battle has assumed historical significance as the longest military operation not only in the history of Eelam war but also In the global history of armed conflict. Our liberation movement has made this remarkable military achievement by putting up fierce resistance crippling the forward mobility of the enemy forces in the Wanni jungles.

"Jayasikuru" operation is not an ordinary battle, it has been the mother of all battles that flared up on our soil. In this confrontation, the enemy mobilised all his strength and resources at his command. We fought against a formidable force of thirty thousand troops belonging to three army divisions with its special forces and commando units, supported in the rear by thousands of navy and police personnel. The enemy forces used maximum fire power by utilising heavy artillery, tanks, super-sonic bombers and fighter helicopters. In the manner of an aggression on a hostile land, the Sinhala army invaded Wanni, the heart of the Tamil nation.

What is the strategic objective behind this military offensive? What are the underlying political motives of this military campaign? The Government claims that this military operation is aimed at opening the Kandy highway that will facilitate travelling of the Tamil people. But it is not the real objective. The Government has different motives which are sinister and dangerous.

The Kandy highway runs through the Wanni region. By capturing this strategic road, the Sinhala regime calculated that it could bifurcate the geographical unity of the Tamil homeland. Secondly, the Sinhala Government was well aware that Wanni was an LTTE controlled area where the headquarters as well as the military and administrative structures of our liberation movement operated. Therefore, the Government assumed that the LTTE would be compelled to confront the Sinhala army if an all-out offensive was undertaken in the Wanni heartland. In such a military confrontation the objective of the Sinhala chauvinists was to utilise maximum man power and fire power to destroy the military capability of the LTTE and to bring an end to the Tamil freedom movement.

The grand strategy of Chandrika's Government is to eliminate the Tamil Tigers and to effect a forced linkage between the North and South, thereby finding a permanent solution to the Tamil national question by military means. This is the hidden plan encapsulated in the Government's well known concept 'war for peace'. With this sinister strategy "Jayasikuru" offensive operation launched on the Wanni soil.

From the very beginning we realised that the offensive operation of the enemy has dangerous designs. We realised that this military campaign posed a serious challenge not only to the territorial unity of the Tamil homeland but also to the very existence of our liberation movement. Therefore, we were firmly determined to fiercely resist the offensive with all our power and potential. Accordingly we worked out our strategy and tactics to thwart the forward movement of the advancing columns and to inflict heavy losses on the enemy.

Before the launching of the operation "Jayasikuru" the Sri Lankan political and military high command miscalculated the military strength and determination of the LTTE. Based on our strategic withdrawal from Jaffna Peninsula and on our non-engagement in the 'Edibala' operation, Sri Lanka Government entertained a theory that the LTTE was militarily weakened. This misconception led the army high command to believe in an assured victory and made them to issue time-frames for the campaign. Ultimately the military establishment has had to face humiliation.

We were prepared to confront 'Jayasikuru' troops. We re-organised and re-structured our military machine to engage in a conventional mode of offensive. Our successful campaign at Mullaitivu strengthened our fire power. On the basis of our newly acquired weaponry we built up artillery and mortar units, anti-tank and anti-aircraft units to form a well integrated military structure capable of confronting a conventional military thrust. We had a long experience about the offensive maneuvers of the enemy forces. On the basis of such practical experiences we devised new offensive and defensive strategies and constructed impenetrable defense lines. By such method we prepared ourselves to face the biggest ever offensive undertaken by the enemy.

In the "Jayasikuru" military operation the Sri Lankan army has adopted various strategies and tactics. It experimented with new offensive maneuvers found in contemporary military sciences. Furthermore, it implemented war plans charted by foreign military experts. Yet, the armed forces could not break or weaken LTTE's determined resistance. Rather, such offensive thrusts resulted in serious setbacks and heavy losses to the army.

In this year long single military operation the Sri Lankan army suffered heavy causalities with over 3000 soldiers killed and about 7000 injured. Several specially trained commando units were annihilated and armoured units destroyed. Military stores and arsenals were wiped out. In this lengthy battle, the LTTE fighters secured huge amounts of arms and ammunition. The losses suffered by the enemy were massive. Having suffered such monumental damage, the army has not yet achieved its strategic objective.

In every confrontation during this prolonged battle we gained new experience and learned a lot in the art of war and that has helped to develop our fighting ability. It has further strengthened the commitment and dedication of our fighters. This battle was a baptism of fire through which we emerged strong with new vigor.

In terms of manpower, fire-power and resources, the enemy was strong and the balance of military power was in his favor. Yet we had an extra-ordinary weapon which was not in the arsenal of the enemy. The courage and commitment of our fighters was our most powerful weapon in the Wan battle.

From tomorrow the 'Jayasikuru'' military operation begins its second year and it will prolong further. The Government is determined to pursue this military adventure since it has political implications. Sri Lankan regime is making desperate efforts to regenerate the demoralised army by constantly changing the officers of the command structure and regularly announcing amnesty for its deserters. Sri Lanka's war machine will roll again and thousands of innocent Sinhala youth will be victims to the arrogance and short sighted policy of the Kandian aristocratic ruling elite.

Chandrika's Government has imposed media censorship to cover-up the ground realities of the war. It has deliberately concealed facts about military losses and engaged in a misinformation campaign to cheat the Sinhala people and the world. But the Government could not cover-up the historical truth that this military operation has been prolonged for a year and has been recorded as the longest battle in the history of armed conflict. This battle will be assessed as a monumental military debacle of the Sri Lankan armed forces. In this major military confrontation the LTTE has demonstrated its remarkable fighting spirit and proved itself to be the liberation army of the Tamil people.

"Jayasikuru' military operation has plunged the Government of Chandrika Kumaratunga in to a serious crisis. The Government is driving the country towards the path of destruction impelled by a singular passion to dominate and subjugate the Tamil homeland by military means,"

In conclusion, Mr.Pirapaharan pledges that the operation 'Jayasikuru" will not end until and unless the occupation army is driven out from the Wanni soil. The LTTE leader finally pays homage to 1300 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the defense of their motherland.