Operation Definite Victory

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Operation Niyathai Jaya
Part of Sri Lankan Civil War

STF commandos on Operation Niyathai Jaya
Date January 4, 2007 - Ongoing
Location Ampara District, Sri Lanka
Result Retreat of the LTTE from Kanchikudichcharu, fall of 20 bases to the STF[1][2][3]
Belligerents
Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Special Task Force Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Commanders
DIG Nimal Lewke
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Sri Lankan

Civil War engagements

Operation Definite Victory (Sinhala: නියතයිි ජය) was a military operation launched by Sri Lankan Special Task Force commandos on January 04, 2007 to evict LTTE rebels from the Kanchikudichcharu and Thoppigala regions of the Ampara District of Sri Lanka. The army had accused the LTTE of carrying out the child abductions in Bakmitiyawa and Ampara, including the abduction of two teachers and 23 Tamil children in December by LTTE cadres when they were returning from extra classes to their homes.[1][4][5]

As a result of this offensive, elite police commandos were able to overrun twenty (20) rebel camps including the Stanley Base, which was the main LTTE camp in the Amparai District[6] and a regional intelligence and supply camp,[7] Bagayadi Base, where local and foreign foodstuffs and sanitary material was stored, Janak Base, which made clothing identical to Sri Lanka Army and Special Task Force uniforms,[8] Jeewan Base, which was another supply camp from which the STF was able to recover four vehicles and the Diana Base where LTTE leaders meet. A statement issued by the ministry of defence said the camp was furnished with luxury items.[9]

After the fall of Stanley Base, STF troops were able to find an explosive laden truck and a motor cycle that the rebels were planning to use to carry out suicide attacks in the capital of Colombo. It was reported that LTTE was housing a large number of child soldiers conscripted by them in this camp.[10][11] Other than that, STF troops were able to recover a large quantity of arms and ammunition, coffins, a large number of anti-personnel mines,[7] satellite and radio receivers, global positioning systems, power generators, boats with name and logo of the NGO "Save the Children", tents with the logo of "UNHCR" and a fully equipped hospital donated to the militants by a Dutch INGO named ZOA Refugee Care[12] This NGO donated hospital is named by the Tigers as Thileepan Memorial Hospital. STF also said that they also found a water tanker truck donated by, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) which is an affiliated organization of the LTTE.[7][13]

The STF offensive in the Kanchikudichchiaru forest reserve has brought to light many illegal activities of the LTTE, which include engaging in illegal timber, ivory, torture chambers, lockups, and cannabis trade.[14] The STF had come across a large plantation of cannabis grown by the LTTE deep inside the Kanchikudichchiaru forest reserve. STF troops also detected carcasses of elephants dumped in swamps which indicate that they may have been killed for their tusks. They reported torture chambers allegedly used by Tamil Tigers to punish escaping rebels and informers, including women fighters[citation needed]. LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan denied the allegations. The Associated Press reported that the military had "provided no proof" of the claims, and that the SLMM monitors had not visited the area.[15][16][17]

As a result of this mission STF troops were able to kill four rebels. The STF commented that the militants were fleeing from the area without retaliating against their troops.[18][19] The government called for the surrender of fleeing LTTE cadres[20] and offered overseas jobs after a rehabilitation programme.[21]

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "MCNS - PRESS BRIEFING", Media Center for National Security, 17 January 2007. 
  2. ^ "Two more LTTE camps fall to STF - Kangikadaichi Aru", Ministry of Defence, 31 January 2007. 
  3. ^ "STF "Niyathai Jaya" Glory Continues - Jeewananda Base Captured", Media Center for National Security, 1 February 2007. 
  4. ^ "Commandos take eight Tiger bases in Sri Lanka", Zee News, 13 January 2007. 
  5. ^ "Torture chambers used by Tamil LTTE found: Defense Ministry", Lankaeverything, 16 January 2007. 
  6. ^ "Sri Lankan military seizes more camps of rebel LTTE", Kuwait News Agency, 14 January 2007. 
  7. ^ a b c "Elite commando forces of the police over runs a large Tamil Tiger base in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka", To The Center, 8 January 2007. 
  8. ^ "Tamil Tigers in a death groan in the East of Sri Lanka, after the STF capture of Janak Camp in Amparai", Asian Tribune, 12 January 2007. 
  9. ^ "Three LTTE camps tumble as STF advances in the East", Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka, 13 January 2007. 
  10. ^ "Sri Lanka commandos capture truck packed with Tamil explosives", The China Post, 12 January 2007. 
  11. ^ "Rebel base falls in east Sri Lanka", United Press International, 12 January 2007. 
  12. ^ "Sri Lanka probes aid groups for suspected rebel links", Reuters, 11 January 2007. 
  13. ^ "Colombo tightens transport security", Gulf Times Newspaper, 10 January 2007. 
  14. ^ DNA India.
  15. ^ "Torture chambers used by Tamil Tigers found in eastern Sri Lanka, defense ministry says", The International Herald Tribune, 15 January 2007. 
  16. ^ "STF Consolidating Their Positions in Kanchikudichchiaru", Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka, 16 January 2007. 
  17. ^ "Sri Lanka says captures Tiger lines, kills 30 rebels", REUTERS, Union-Tribune Publishing Co., 16 January 2007. 
  18. ^ "MCNS - PRESS BRIEFING", Media Center for National Security, 17 January 2007. 
  19. ^ "Elite police overrun top rebel base in east Sri Lanka, says military", The International Herald Tribune, 8 January 2007. 
  20. ^ "Call to Surrender to Fleeing LTTE Cadres", Media Center for National Security, 13 January 2007. 
  21. ^ "Overseas jobs for Surrendered LTTE cadres", Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka, 16 January 2007. 
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