Lankan fighter jets on Monday pounded a jungle base used by the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Velupillai Prabhakaran. Government troops continued to push forth in decisive action against Tiger rebels after capturing its political base earlier this month.
Prabhakaran is “running short of safe houses and escape routes,” the Defense Ministry said on its Web site. Soldiers are closing in on the last LTTE bastions, it said.
The air force targeted the hideout frequented by Prabhakaran in raids on jungle bases, said the ministry.
LTTE fighters moved into jungle areas of Mullaitivu after losing control of their headquarters at Kilinochchi on Jan. 2. While the military estimates the group has between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters left, some analysts say there may be as many as 10,000 who will now conduct a guerrilla war.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government last year scrapped a six-year truce with the LTTE and vowed military victory in the 26-year conflict that has killed at least 70,000 people. The Tamil Tigers, who are fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of the country, lost control of the eastern region 18 months ago and were driven from territory in the northwest by army advances last year.
Over 230 civilians in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu liberated by the army are seeking refuge in centers for displaced people, the ministry said on its Web site.
Meanwhile some 200 civilians trying to escape the fighting by sea were detained by the navy.
The LTTE’s Peace Secretariat, in a statement issued yesterday, accused the army of shelling civilian areas in the north, saying the artillery fire on Jan. 11 was the “worst in recent times.”
The LTTE is fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
Prabhakaran is “running short of safe houses and escape routes,” the Defense Ministry said on its Web site. Soldiers are closing in on the last LTTE bastions, it said.
The air force targeted the hideout frequented by Prabhakaran in raids on jungle bases, said the ministry.
LTTE fighters moved into jungle areas of Mullaitivu after losing control of their headquarters at Kilinochchi on Jan. 2. While the military estimates the group has between 3,000 and 5,000 fighters left, some analysts say there may be as many as 10,000 who will now conduct a guerrilla war.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government last year scrapped a six-year truce with the LTTE and vowed military victory in the 26-year conflict that has killed at least 70,000 people. The Tamil Tigers, who are fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of the country, lost control of the eastern region 18 months ago and were driven from territory in the northwest by army advances last year.
Over 230 civilians in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu liberated by the army are seeking refuge in centers for displaced people, the ministry said on its Web site.
Meanwhile some 200 civilians trying to escape the fighting by sea were detained by the navy.
The LTTE’s Peace Secretariat, in a statement issued yesterday, accused the army of shelling civilian areas in the north, saying the artillery fire on Jan. 11 was the “worst in recent times.”
The LTTE is fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
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