"We are perturbed over reports that the Sri Lanka government has purchased new infantry weapon system with chemical warheads. This Russian made rocket propelled "thermobaric" weapon is internationally banned for its lethal toxic effects on combatants and civilians. The acquisition of this banned weapon by Sri Lanka marks a new and dangerous escalation of the armed conflict in the island." - LTTE Press Release of 16th August 2001
By: D. B. S. Jeyaraj
Revelations made by The Sunday Leader last week regarding the purchase of RPO, a Shmel Rocket Infantry flame throwers by the Sri Lankan armed forces have enlightened the nation at large about the nefarious deals worked out by the merchants of death, - the new breed of entrepreneurs called arms dealers. It has been common knowledge for quite a while that all was not well in the sphere of arms and armaments acquisition.
Masquerading as persons committed to Sri Lanka's security concerns middlemen have made a lot of money by pushing through arms deals that have not benefitted the national interest in any way. Regrettably many people in the upper echelons of the defence establishment have collaborated with these middlemen and enriched themselves through commissions and bribes. Inferior and inappropriate equipment have often been bought at exorbitant prices as a result.
Thermobaric weapons
The startling disclosures about the Shmel flame throwers focus on the shady aspects of such arms deals. The purchase of outdated weapons allegedly at the behest of top military personnel has raised serious questions about the whole exercise. It is interesting to note that similar armaments were bought through a different firm for US Dollars $ 4, 995, 000. 00 The current deal was cheaper being only US dollars $ 3 , 698 , 000. 00. Yet the agency that sold it to Colombo acquired the same merchandise originally for only US dollars $ 2, 500 , 000 .00.
All these sordid details may not have seen the light of day but for the inter and intra rivalry among persons involved in the exercises. The infighting about issuance of end user certificates between current army commander Lionel Balagalle and his former deputy Janaka Perera; the internal dispute between Upali Gajanayake, director of the British based Gladstone Industrial Holdings Ltd and the former chief executive officer of Gladstone Ameer Temour; the rivalry between the man who put through the previous deal Nalin Fonseka and the man of the moment Upali Gajanayake etc. are but some of these wrangles. The cumulative effect of this strife has helped shed light on some dark areas. Much more information may become available when Gen. . Balagalle breaks his deafening silence about the weapons delivered to Colombo on July 17, this year.
Fighting with chemical weapons
Apart from these valid concerns the entire exercise has to be viewed from a different humanitarian perspective. The use of chemical and thermal weapons banned by the USA and the European Nations in Sri Lanka's domestic conflict is a serious issue. The government has raised the stakes to an unacceptable level by this action. The induction of such terrible weapons into the war arena by one side can only result in the Newtonian law of every action causing an equal and opposite reaction. The reaction of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam towards this move by the government was crystal clear in its statement of Aug 16. The LTTE press release stated as follows -:
"The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a statement issued from its headquarters in Wanni, northern Sri Lanka today, warned the Kumaratunga government of disastrous consequences if it inducted the recently acquired weapons with chemical warheads into the north-eastern theatre of war."
"We are perturbed over reports that the Sri Lanka government has purchased new infantry weapon system with chemical warheads. This Russian made rocket propelled 'thermobaric' weapon is internationally banned for its lethal toxic effects on combatants and civilians. The acquisition of this banned weapon by Sri Lanka marks a new and dangerous escalation of the armed conflict in the island" the LTTE's statement declared.
"The use of this weapon has been eschewed by international militaries except the Russians. The indiscriminate nature of these morally reprehensible arms and the dangerous effects of their use do not seem to have perturbed the Sinhala ruling elites. The decision by the Sri Lankan government to introduce mass destruction technology into the northeast theatre of the conflict reflects its single-minded determination to continue with the military option and escalate the war against the Tamil people.
As a result, this development has seriously undermined efforts to peacefully resolve the Tamil question. Any confidence in such efforts continues to be eroded by the ongoing persistent aerial bombardment on towns and villages in the Tamil homeland."
"In conclusion, the LTTE calls upon the concerned nations of the international community, particularly the United States, Britain, European Union and India to condemn Sri Lanka for the acquisition of weapons with chemical war heads and to impress upon the Sinhala Government the detrimental effects of their use in the Tamil homeland."
Violence begets violence
It is now accepted wisdom that the Katunayake Air Force Base attack by the Tigers on July 24, was a direct consequence of the unwarranted and provocative aerial bombardment of Jaffna Peninsula by the Sri Lankan government on June 30. It may be recalled that a US statement criticising the bombing warned that "violence begets violence." On July 2, the LTTE issued a statement condemning the bombardment.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam warned the government of Sri Lanka then that peace initiatives would be irreparably damaged if it continued with its intense aerial and artillery bombardment against the LTTE positions in Jaffna. Describing the Air Strikes as provocative aggression and calculated escalation the LTTE also accused the Kumaratunga regime of seeking desperate measures to mobilise the support of Sinhala nationalist forces with the purpose of overcoming the crisis brought by the no confidence motion.
Damaging the peace process
The statement went on to warn that the current provocative aerial attacks on the LTTE forces will permanently damage the peace process. In conclusion the statement then warned the Sri Lankan government that "it should bear total responsibility for the adverse consequences that might arise from its misplaced strategy of escalating the conditions of war in the Tamil homeland." The Kumaratunga regime was reprimanded severely by critics for not taking this warning seriously enough then. In that context the LTTE statement of August 16, should be taken careful note of.
It warned the Kumaratunga government "of disastrous consequences if it inducted the recently acquired weapons with chemical warheads into the north-eastern theatre of war." The LTTE reaction is not due to fear of the destruction that these Russian made Thermobaric devices can unleash on its cadres. These flame throwing rockets were used in gay abandon by the former Soviet Union to quell the Mujaheiddeen of Afghanistan.
According to 'Jains' in Afghanistan "the weapon was used to clear Mujaheiddeen from caves." One does not know the extent to which Afghanistan's countryside and mountain ranges were destroyed by the use of thermobaric devices but contemporary history has certainly recorded that the Soviets could not exterminate the Mujaheiddeen and had to retreat ingloriously from the country. One is ignorant about the number of Afghan freedom fighters cleared from the caves but the most fierce segment of the Mujaheiddeen - the Taliban, is controlling Kabul now.
Underestimating the LTTE
The carpet bombing and deployment of even Napalm did not ensure success for the USA in Vietnam or Kampuchea. The wisdom of hindsight in the aftermath of the Indo-China debacle has taught many a western counter insurgency expert that technology alone cannot defeat guerrillas. The deadliest artillery is useless if it fails to specifically target the guerrilla; A powerful aerial bomb could create a deep crater when impacting but may be practically useless if the guerrilla cocooned in a fortified bunker survives it; Aircraft can wreak havoc through bombs and napalm and cause raging forest fires but of what use are these if the targeted guerrillas are not in that area?
The results of recent confrontations between the armed forces and the Tigers demonstrate the comparative ineffectiveness of superior weaponry and technology against committed guerrilla fighters even in terrain hostile to the latter. The acquisition of K-firs, MIG 27s Mi 17s and multi barreled Rocket Launchers etc. have not helped the government to overcome the Tigers. The Agni Kheela debacle bears testimony to this. This is mainly because of three factors. Failure to address the root causes and sustaining factors of the armed insurgency: Inability to comprehend or understand the nature of the conflict: Gross underestimation of the resilience and combative capacity of the LTTE.
Devising a daring manoeuvre
Under these circumstances the government and its security forces can only delude themselves if they consider the LTTE response to the acquisition of thermobaric devices as a sign of weakness. The usage of such devices would certainly make their task harder but it cannot silence the LTTE. If recent events are any indication the LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakharan will not allow the government to define the parameters of conflict. In a move reminiscent of the Katunayake attack the LTTE leader is very likely to devise some other daring manouevre that would deliver a military, political, economic and symbolic blow with far reaching consequences. If the government does not take heed of the LTTE warning and act accordingly the Tiger response can only be ferocious enough to execute the coup d' grace to an already crippled economy.
The LTTE reaction to the acquisition of these destructive and internationally forbidden thermobaric weapons by the Sri Lankan government has to be seen therefore as reflecting the wider concerns of the Tamil people rather than its narrow military interests. The descriptions of thermobaric and flame throwers should not let anyone underestimate the level of destruction these weapons could unleash on civilian habitat. Given the dry climate of the North-Eastern terrain these could function as incendiary devices and cause fires that would virtually scorch the earth. It is no secret that these weapons were banned by the USA and other western nations because of its dangerous anti-humanitarian effect. They have been described as having the effect of a mini-nuclear bomb within a minor area.
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