Battles on Jaffna doorstep

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, MAY 10. Pitched battles raged on the doorstep of Jaffna town today, with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam denting Sri Lankan Army defences close to the town. Curfew was imposed in Jaffna, which is home to about five lakh civilians.

Resuming Operation Ceaseless Waves III, (Oyatha Alaigal), the Tigers breached gaps in the Ariyalai defence lines, on a crucial highway. Reverting to human wave tactics, the rebels sent confusing signals to military observers while opening a gap in the three-km Navatkuli-Ariyalai sector.

``Right now it is still appears difficult,'' an analyst said asked about the possibility of the Tigers proceeding towards Jaffna town, which is manned by less than 10,000 soldiers. With access available to roads leading to the town, several advances are possible after today's attacks. If the LTTE moved north, it would take it towards Palaly, bringing the airbase under threat. An eastern move would take it to Chavakachcheri, while to the west lies Jaffna and to the northeast, Point Pedro.

While the Tigers claimed to have taken control over sections of the Navatkuli bridge, sources in the Sri Lankan army refuted it this evening saying that while there were ``gaps in the Navatkuli-Ariyalai sector, the bridge is still with us''.

Terming today's resumption of fighting ``serious'', military observers opine that ``right now it is still difficult'' to say which way the northern battles over Jaffna would move. Ranging from ``very serious fighting'' in the morning to a few ``skirmishes'' towards the evening, the course of the battle would depend on the Tigers' ability to advance their field guns further into the Peninsula. As of now, there appears to be no indication of such a move. ``They would like to gain considerable territory before they attempt such a move,'' observers said adding a mortar presence in Ariyalai town was a possibility.

The unfolding scenario in the next few hours would depend on the manpower position and the movement of artillery by the rebels. While an estimated 25,000 troops are spread over the peninsula, the Jaffna-Palali sector is manned by around 10,000 soldiers.

``It is a serious setback,`` military observers said, while the Government in its daily situation report conceded that the defence lines at Ariyalai had been breached in a ``major attack'' by the Tigers on troops at Ariyalai and Tanankillappu.

The Tigers, in a statement, said the operation was resumed along three fronts and said ``fierce fighting is continuing in Ariyalai, Tanankilappu and Navatkuli.''

UNP for debate on Indian offer

In Parliament, the Opposition United National Party pressed for a debate on the Indian Government's offer to negotiate in the crisis, if invited by the Government and the LTTE.

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