Chapter 2 The Final Battle One

  The organization has strict requirements for its members, who are not allowed to smoke or drink alcohol. Marriage is also prohibited without permission, and typically, women can only get married at the age of 24 while men have to wait until they are 28 years old.

  The LTTE has over 15,000 members, about half of whom are women; they join the guerrilla forces without pay, purely on conviction.

  Black Tiger Commandos are an elite special forces unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that conducts intelligence gathering and special operations.

  All members of the Tigers, even those in the upper echelons of the organization, wore a cyanide capsule around their necks. They knew that if they were caught, they would be subjected to torture and therefore preferred death rather than exposing the secrets of the organization.

  Each Tiger member carries a cyanide capsule with them at all times to ingest in the event of capture, which is one of the main distinguishing features of the organization from others around the world.

  From "Ji Shi Bao" war correspondent Li Ying's report.

  When the 55th Division of Sri Lanka, led by Major General Prasanna de Silva, advanced to about 1.5 kilometers from the first line of defense of the LTTE, Major General de Silva was busier than usual.

  General Silva's troops were tasked with the area from Nagarkovil to Muhamalai and Chavakachcheri.

  On 27 February and 1 March 1963 alone, the troops successfully repelled over a dozen counter-attacks by the Tigers. In addition, the Tigers also launched four suicidal attacks on General Silva's troops in Chalai, but the Sri Lankan military still destroyed the last stronghold of the Sea Tigers in Chalai.

  General Silva said that after five days of fierce fighting, the unit had completely taken control of the Shala area and also killed several leaders of the Sea Tigers.

  According to General Silva, fighting along the coast is different from fighting in other areas and it's more difficult because troops have to march on beaches and face many suicidal attacks.

  General Silva recalled details of his encounter with Sea Tiger leader Soosai - on March 1, Soosai was only six kilometers away from his troops.

  General Silva pointed out that at the time no troops were organized to launch a single-wheel charge, and all soldiers received instructions to minimize casualties.

  General Silva also pointed out that his troops were still searching for armed members of the LTTE in the jungle.

  There are always some sparrows near the headquarters, they keep chirping, maybe they make us feel safe.

  As the troops advanced towards the beach, the Tiger Organisation sent out 10 explosive boats in an attempt to retake the fringes of Salé and Pusman's Arlan.

  "General Silva said, "My soldiers successfully repelled all these suicide attacks."

  The Engineer Corps established the 55th Division Headquarters, where General Silva and ordinary soldiers lived in the same barracks and received the same protection.

  A few kilometers away from us, the 12th Artillery Regiment was providing artillery cover, while soldiers from the 55th Division Command set out towards Pusmanskas Alan, an officially recognized safe zone, but we remained on high alert after leaving ?al?.

  All the military vehicles have entered the jungle for camouflage, and the soldiers are busy with maintenance and maintenance. This has become their mobile repair factory.

  Shortly thereafter, we also received assurance of mobile hospital support, with Army Captain Mohammed Nifra indicating that the 55th Brigade's doctors and nurses were deployed nearby and could quickly airlift casualties to the rear.

  "Captain Nefla said, "This will give the soldiers courage." Captain Nefla also revealed that he and his colleagues can handle various injury situations - from landmine injuries to gunshot wounds."

  Mobile hospitals are equipped with necessary medicines, ventilators and blood transfusion equipment. After receiving treatment, wounded soldiers will be sent to the rear for medical treatment, and about 95% of soldiers can survive after being injured.

  In addition, the logistics support troops also set up a pontoon bridge. The 6th and 8th Field Engineering Troops used 35 ships to build a floating bridge for transporting food, medicine and soldiers.

  When the troops advanced to the northern coastal area, almost no one could bear the scorching weather, and only coconut trees could block a little sunlight for you.

  Captain Lakshman-Bharosa of the mechanized troops pointed out that infantry encountered resistance in open areas and when breaking through embankment fortifications, while tanks manufactured by the Huaxia Federation had a speed of up to 55 kilometers per hour, these tanks easily broke through the 15-foot-high embankment fortifications built by the Tiger Organization.

  As we marched along the shores of Salé, it was a somber reflection, with mangled limbs, tattered uniforms of the Tigres and abandoned ammunition scattered all over the beach.

  Suddenly, a fierce explosion came from the front of the team, and a cow was blown off its legs in front of us. It had walked into a minefield.

  A soldier poured a bucket of water on the buffalo, which might alleviate its suffering. "We can't treat them or feed them," he said. "Everyone is very sad."

  On the beach, there were at least 20 animal carcasses, with at least two cows still alive but badly injured. These innocent animals had been blown to pieces, but the soldiers were powerless to help because the area was a minefield and they couldn't get close.

  We see that on the orders of the Sri Lankan military, it is clearly written, "If you want to go back to Colombo with both legs intact, you must strictly follow the rules of engagement."

  Major Summan-E-Martial pointed out that the Tiger organization often uses their naval and ground forces to launch attacks during this time period of midnight and dawn.

  "We launched 13 counter-attacks and destroyed 10 LTTE boats, and found 50 bodies," said Colonel Emaralda Tan.

  Lt. Col. Emarat Khan said his troops repelled the attack by the Tigers without naval support.

  His soldiers also stormed the base of the Tiger Organization, engaging in fierce battles with members of the organization, seizing a large number of weapons, including: Soviet-style assault rifles, rocket launchers, light machine guns, mortars, anti-aircraft guns and various suicide attack tools.

  Although these soldiers knew they were in a precarious situation, especially towards the end of the war when the Tiger Organisation recruited more human torpedoes, all of them showed great bravery.

  "They said, 'We are ready to sacrifice ourselves. We will see the end of the Tigers. The Tigers can no longer stop us. The Tiger leaders are forcing their men to go to the battlefield, otherwise they would run away.'"

  Colonel Pusira of the 55th Division brought us to his residence, a hideout in the forest. Colonel Pusira asked us, "Are you hungry?" And so we had a buffet meal accompanied by the rumble of cannons and continuous gunfire around us.

  Here, the aroma of cooking curry shrimp makes one's mouth water, and this smell also includes the stench of dead dogs and cow carcasses.

  Pusila stopped in front of a small shed and asked a soldier who was cooking, "Kid, are you boiling big shrimp?"

  "Yes, sir." The soldier replied bluntly.

  Here is an open kitchen where soldiers cook rice and curry fish.

  "Sometimes they make great food and I often eat with them," said Posila. Any actual action by the commanders would give courage to the soldiers, enabling them to defeat the Tiger organization.

  In addition, we also discovered a hobby of Pu Xi La Zhong Xiao, that is, he brought his aquarium wherever he went, even on the front line. He said, "They (fish) can make me relax."

  Colonel Kapila Udualiyage of the 552 Brigade of the 55th Division said, "A female LTTE cadre had blown herself up when she was surrounded by many people."

  Colonel Uddip Rai sighed and said, "The Tigers have been operating in the Jaffna-Kilinochchi area for years to achieve their ambitions. The government forces will destroy them. The Tigers misused their navy and army near the coast, built ordinary boats and combat vessels in their lair, trained sea tigers, and this place also became an important place for arms smuggling."

  Although the LTTE considered Chalai as its naval base, 551 Brigade of Sri Lankan Army had already driven out LTTE from north of Chalai and Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara's 552 Brigade had captured areas south of Chalai.

  The 552 Brigade's target is now pointed at Puthukkudiyiruppu, Colonel Udaiya said. "The morale of the soldiers is higher than in the early days. They know this is their final battle with the Tigers."

  Around 6 pm, a patrol boat squadron consisting of six small boats loaded with soldiers began night patrols. Snipers and patrollers struck the Tiger organization around the clock for 24 hours.

  Groups of 4 and 8 people disappeared into the jungle, they began to carry out night missions, while armored vehicles also headed in the same direction.

  Latest news reveals that at 5:30 and 7:30 in the morning, soldiers of the 552 Brigade again clashed fiercely with infiltrators.

  The leader of the Tiger Organisation has suffered a major defeat, and the 55th Division is about to launch a new offensive, which will rescue thousands of civilians held captive by the Tigers.

  "Hopefully when we get to the safe zone there will be more civilians coming this way," said Brigadier Silva.

  This is not just a hope, General Silva has already ordered soldiers not to fire a single bullet at any civilian.

  It is undeniable that the regular Sri Lankan army we trained not only equipped with our weapons, but also deeply understood our understanding and ideas of human beings.

  I believe that in the near future, the Sri Lankan army will become a truly powerful force.

  From "Ji Shi Bao" chief war correspondent Li Qiang's report.