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S Lanka army in ghost 'Tiger' town | S Lanka army in ghost 'Tiger' town |
(about 11 hours later) | |
By Chris Morris BBC News, Mullaitivu The troops are pushing the Tigers into a shrinking territory | By Chris Morris BBC News, Mullaitivu The troops are pushing the Tigers into a shrinking territory |
Heavy monsoon rains were falling as we approached the outskirts of Mullaitivu in a Sri Lankan armoured personnel carrier. | Heavy monsoon rains were falling as we approached the outskirts of Mullaitivu in a Sri Lankan armoured personnel carrier. |
"We had to fight here for one week or so," said Colonel Arun Aryasinghe, as he showed us a huge earthen defence line constructed by the Tamil Tigers. "It was a very hard battle." | "We had to fight here for one week or so," said Colonel Arun Aryasinghe, as he showed us a huge earthen defence line constructed by the Tamil Tigers. "It was a very hard battle." |
Mullaitivu used to be one of the Tigers' most important bases. Now the Sri Lankan flag flies overhead, and government troops are in complete control. | Mullaitivu used to be one of the Tigers' most important bases. Now the Sri Lankan flag flies overhead, and government troops are in complete control. |
But they have inherited a ghost town, full of broken buildings. Apart from men in uniform, a stray dog wandering through a burnt-out shop was one of the only signs of life. | But they have inherited a ghost town, full of broken buildings. Apart from men in uniform, a stray dog wandering through a burnt-out shop was one of the only signs of life. |
When the Tamil Tigers were forced out, they took Mullaitivu's civilian population with them into the surrounding jungles. | When the Tamil Tigers were forced out, they took Mullaitivu's civilian population with them into the surrounding jungles. |
Guerrilla tactics | Guerrilla tactics |
For almost a year, as Sri Lankan troops have advanced from the south, the story has been the same. They have taken territory, boosted by better weapons and weight of numbers. | For almost a year, as Sri Lankan troops have advanced from the south, the story has been the same. They have taken territory, boosted by better weapons and weight of numbers. |
But the local population has melted away in front of them. | But the local population has melted away in front of them. |
Why has the army suddenly had such striking military success? | Why has the army suddenly had such striking military success? |
It is partly because they have taken on the Tigers at their own game - guerrilla warfare. | It is partly because they have taken on the Tigers at their own game - guerrilla warfare. |
The army has changed tactics - and those tactics have been working | The army has changed tactics - and those tactics have been working |
They have deployed small teams of fighters deep in the jungle, and sent out highly manoeuvrable boats to take on the Tigers' fledgling navy. | They have deployed small teams of fighters deep in the jungle, and sent out highly manoeuvrable boats to take on the Tigers' fledgling navy. |
Now the rebels have their backs to the wall, holding a shrinking but still significant piece of land. Estimates of their remaining strength vary, but they are unlikely to go down without a fight. | Now the rebels have their backs to the wall, holding a shrinking but still significant piece of land. Estimates of their remaining strength vary, but they are unlikely to go down without a fight. |
Some of the fighting is pretty close to Mullaitivu. The sound of shell fire echoes through the empty streets. | Some of the fighting is pretty close to Mullaitivu. The sound of shell fire echoes through the empty streets. |
Just to the north is the final stretch of Sri Lankan coastline under rebel control. If - and they will say when - government forces reclaim it, the Tigers will be surrounded and cut off from the sea. | Just to the north is the final stretch of Sri Lankan coastline under rebel control. If - and they will say when - government forces reclaim it, the Tigers will be surrounded and cut off from the sea. |
'Exaggerated' numbers | 'Exaggerated' numbers |
International aid agencies say a quarter-of-a-million civilians are already trapped in the war zone, and hundreds of people have been killed and injured. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has spoken of a major humanitarian crisis. | International aid agencies say a quarter-of-a-million civilians are already trapped in the war zone, and hundreds of people have been killed and injured. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has spoken of a major humanitarian crisis. |
But the man running this war, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, told me that the numbers were exaggerated. | But the man running this war, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, told me that the numbers were exaggerated. |
"It's wrong information," he said, "it is all propaganda. I'm not saying the Red Cross is lying but they are exaggerating." | "It's wrong information," he said, "it is all propaganda. I'm not saying the Red Cross is lying but they are exaggerating." |
People who have been into rebel-held territory paint a very different picture, of traumatised civilians moving from place to place with little shelter and no security. | People who have been into rebel-held territory paint a very different picture, of traumatised civilians moving from place to place with little shelter and no security. |
There is little sign of life in the town | There is little sign of life in the town |
A United Nations spokesman told me that UN staff had seen dozens of people killed by shell fire. | A United Nations spokesman told me that UN staff had seen dozens of people killed by shell fire. |
But with his troops patrolling the streets of Mullaitivu, and other towns which had previously been under rebel control, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is scenting victory. | But with his troops patrolling the streets of Mullaitivu, and other towns which had previously been under rebel control, Gotabaya Rajapaksa is scenting victory. |
The defence secretary categorically ruled out the prospect of any kind of ceasefire for humanitarian reasons. | The defence secretary categorically ruled out the prospect of any kind of ceasefire for humanitarian reasons. |
"No ceasefire," he said. "Why should we? | |
"Every time there is a ceasefire, the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] use that to their own advantage. That's why this war has been dragging on for 30 years." | |
And his aim now? | And his aim now? |
"The mission is... eradicating terrorism and destroying the LTTE completely." | "The mission is... eradicating terrorism and destroying the LTTE completely." |
But once again - away from the eyes of the world - it is the civilians of northern Sri Lanka who are suffering. | But once again - away from the eyes of the world - it is the civilians of northern Sri Lanka who are suffering. |
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