<b>Tiger leader ordered Scandinavians to be used as "Human Shields"</b>

The Island - Our Defence Correspondent

The Sea Tiger crew manning the trawler which was intercepted by the Sri Lanka Navy on July 13, were under orders from the LTTE high command to hold the two Scandinavian monitors on board as human shields, to protect vital cargo which was on board the vessel, according to sources in LTTE areas.

The monitors, a man and a woman, suffered bruises when they were held down by the LTTE cadres and prevented from jumping overboard. They were released only after the LTTE boat managed to get to land, and away from the navy gunboats.

Sources told ‘The Island’ that the entire operation was carefully planned, but nearly met with disaster when the navy intercepted the boats. It was out of desperation that the monitors were kidnapped.

Human shields

The order to use the monitors as human shields came from a senior Sea Tiger official in the Pooneryn area, who was controlling the LTTE logistics movement from South India to the LTTE coast between Mannar and Pooneryn, sources said. Such was the importance of the cargo that the LTTE had organized a number of genuine Indian fishing boats to accompany the two Tiger trawlers, making it appear that they were part of a fishing fleet, sources said.

However, the Indian fishermen had not wanted to venture further into Sri Lankan waters when they were sighted by two patrolling Dvoras of the Sri Lanka Navy, and the two LTTE boats were forced to separate from the fishing fleet and try to make a run for shore, sources said.

Naval Intelligence is still at a loss as to what cargo the two LTTE trawlers were carrying when they were intercepted by the navy 15 days ago and then boarded by Scandinavian monitors. Video footage of the incident, taken by the navy, clearly showed that the trawlers were heavily laden. Since naval officers who boarded one trawler did not find anything, it is clear that the boat was equipped with a false bottom.

If the cargo was so vitally important, the armed forces may regret the fact that the navy did not act more decisively, and that the navy top brass had not obtained clear instructions from the government regarding engaging LTTE arms ships which were obviously carrying contraband for the Tigers.

Interestingly Prabhakaran has not voiced his displeasure over the kidnapping of the monitors, which many expected him to do. This is an indication that the boats were carrying some very important cargo. The fact that the LTTE crew held the Scandinavians as human shields clearly shows that the cargo was vitally important. The LTTE crew feared that the navy gunboats would open fire, had the Scandinavians been allowed to jump overboard.

Meanwhile, while many in Sri Lanka watched Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tour of the United States of America, and his meeting with President George W. Bush and other top US officials, few would have watched as closely as the LTTE in the Wanni.

The LTTE high command has ordered its top foreign policy advisors in Europe and North America to evaluate the possible role of the United States in the future of Sri Lanka’s conflict, according to sources in LTTE areas. LTTE Theoretician Anton Balasingham, who has been appointed to head the LTTE’s team for the peace talks in Thailand, will be one of the key players in this evaluation. Others who have been given instructions in this regard include the Tigers most experienced agents in the US, Canada, and Europe.

Orders have also been sent to LTTE field commanders in the east, and to Sea Tiger commanders, to avoid open clashes with the armed forces, or with civilians, for the time being, sources said. However, it is not clear if this was prompted only by the PM’s trip to Washington, or if the recent incident involving the kidnapping of two Scandinavian monitors also caused the order to be sent.

A number of senior diplomats from several Scandinavian countries visited Kilinochchi immediately following the incident, and read the riot act to the LTTE, demanding that their nationals be left alone. The Scandinavians made no bones about the fact that Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark and several other European countries would take drastic action if any more incidents of this nature take place.

Television footage and photos of President Bush and the Prime Minister together have had a very unsettling effect on the LTTE’s top rung, sources said. This was the first visit of a Sri Lankan head of government to the United States in nearly two decades. He was accompanied by the Secretary to the Prime Minister Bradman Weerakoon, and the Secretary to the Foreign Ministry Nihal Rodrigo.

Crucial hand

The LTTE was particularly keen to learn which other top ranking officials the PM had met while in the US, especially the Senators and Congressmen, since they would play a crucial hand in influencing the Bush administration’s role and policy towards Sri Lanka, sources said.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe very correctly impressed upon US officials that their support is vital for Sri Lanka’s peace effort, since it is this pressure that is keeping the LTTE at the negotiating table. The Tigers have been keenly watching the might of the US armed forces unleashed in Afghanistan, and are very keen to ensure that there is no excuse for the US government to target the LTTE. LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran went to great pains during his press conference in April to distance the Tigers from the September 11 attacks by Osama Bin Laden’s followers in New York and Washington, labelling Al Quaeda as "terrorists" and calling the LTTE "freedom fighters".

LTTE propaganda units have also highlighted the recent clashes in Valaichchenai in the east, in a bid to convince the outside world that the Tigers have no links to Muslim extremist groups. Tamilnet, the LTTE’s website, went so far as to say that the clashes were begun by a group calling itself the "Osama Group," although no-one else has ever heard of this organization.

In addition, the LTTE was quick to seize on the fact many Muslims in the east, who have suffered due to the government’s refusal to act on complaints of LTTE persecution of Muslims, have been putting up pictures of Bin Laden in shops and homes.

The United States does not place a high priority on Sri Lanka’s conflict. However, it is well aware of the LTTE capabilities as a worldwide terrorist organization, a fact which automatically means that the US is keeping a sharp eye on the Tigers’ activities.

-The Island -