August 24, 2007:
Attacks on
aid workers are a growing problem. In the north, the LTTE will terrorize or
kill aid workers if they believe the relief work is helping the government
cause. In the east, where the government recently regained control, a few
hundred LTTE guerilla fighters, and a few bandit gangs, are attacking aid
workers, mostly to steal valuables. Meanwhile, the fighting is becoming more
intense in the north, as the army shifts more troops up there. Although the
LTTE only has about 6,000 armed fighters, these have a big advantage because
they live among civilians, and cannot be easily found and attacked when they
are off duty. The army, in contrast, must devote a lot of its manpower to
protecting its bases from guerilla attack. But the armed forces have over
200,000 troops, and about half of them will soon be in the north. Already, the
growing number of army patrols are forcing the LTTE to stand and fight (and
usually lose) or abandon control of territory (and villages where their
fighters could live). The LTTE controls territory inhabited by about half a
million Tamil civilians, and the army will have to take this back a village
(with a few hundred people in it) at a time.
August 23, 2007: Air force bombers have been diverted from
their attacks on LTTE naval bases, to search for LTTE artillery that has become
more active in the north. The LTTE don't have much artillery ammunition in the
north, largely because of the navy effort to stop the smuggling boats from
India. Ten shells were fired at a major base in the north. But the LTTE
apparently did not have an observer near the base to adjust the fire, and the
shells hit nothing of value.
August 22, 2007: The law and order situation in the east has
been made worse by the appearance of Moslem death squads, seeking revenge
against Tamils because of previous LTTE violence against Moslem Sri Lankans
(who were forced out of what the LTTE considered Tamil areas.)
August 21, 2007: Troops
discovered a second hidden LTTE hospital in the east. Part of it had been
burned, and medical treatment had been given there until quite recently. Lots
of medical supplies were still there, and many appeared to be foreign aid
stolen by the rebels. Indian police arrested several Indian fishermen, who
admitted they sold fuel to LTTE "Sea Tigers" and weapons smugglers.
August 20, 2007: The air force
announced that its new air defense system, featuring radars purchased from
India, was 80 percent complete. The new radars can spot low flying LTTE single
engine aircraft, which have been used for two ineffective, but embarrassing,
night bombing raids. The LTTE have long used such light aircraft to move
leaders in and out of the country, and to smuggle in vital spare parts and
medicine.