Arrest Prabhakaran searching for safe haven: Lanka

In the last two weeks, the armed forces have suffered heavy losses in two attacks by the LTTE in the Vanni, both times taking the soldiers by surprise and overpowering them completely before withdrawing.

These attacks have jeopardised the military offensive codenamed Jaya Sekuru launched in May to secure the highway to Jaffna, a vital portion of which is held by the LTTE.

The LTTE is yet to make any statement on the report about its leader and there is no independent confirmation, but from its timing – four days after the LTTE strike on the head quarters of Operation Jaya Sekuru – it appears that the government hopes this will raise the morale of its soldiers which has hit rock bottom at the moment.

Whatever the veracity of the report, Tamil sources here said that if the military, during the course of Operation Jaya Sekuru, somehow manages to wrest the Vavuniya-Killinochchi highway from the LTTE, its present stronghold in Mullaithivu would become vulnerable and would no longer be the best hide-out for its leader. In that case, Prabhakaran may be forced to explore the possibility of fleeing.

While India is ruled out for obvious reasons, particularly after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the LTTE has been regularly using the far-east as a transit point for its arms supplies, particularly Twantay in Myanmar.

Although the military junta there, on request from the Sri Lankan government, is reported to have shut down the facility which included communication links with Mullaithivu, it is learnt that the LTTE ships still use an island off Myanmar on their arms runs.

Kumaran Pathmanabha, or KP as he is better known, the LTTE’s arms arranger, is based in the region and has developed extensive links with various rebel groups as well as governments.

If push comes to shove, Prabhakaran may attempt to use these connections, the Tamil sources predicted.

However, at the moment, it seems very much as if Prabhakaran is planning to stay on. After two successful attacks on the Army, both of which managed to inflict huge damages on manpower, morale and material and delay the advance, Prabhakaran may flee only if he does not manage to put a total stop to the current military offensive.