Military strength, vigilance key to our freedom - Pottu Amman

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 November 2005, 16:36 GMT]
"The Tamil people, having dissociated themselves from the political choice of Sri Lankan nationalism, have unequivocally demonstrated their trust in their own leadership. They have categorically told the Sinhala people to take care of their own nationalism. Even this development is a manifestation of the might of the Tamil people," said LTTE senior commander and Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman, in a homage ceremony held at Elephant Pass (EPS), Thursday.

The LTTE Intelligence Chief addressed a mausoleum gallery in Elephant Pass where, more than 3500 photographs of LTTE fighters who died in various battles, were venerated in an exhibition.

“The Tamil nation gained unprecedented strength through our military feats in the series of battles in Vanni against Sri Lankan armed forces who were intent on annihilating us. This success was made possible because our leaders never lost confidence and cadres believed in our ability to confront the enemy even after the occupation of Jaffna by the Sri Lankan Forces and the attempted rout by the Indian army.

"The battle of Elephant Pass was a pointer to the military might of the Tamils,” observed Pottu Amman.

“The sacrifice of the lives of 600 martyrs during the first battle for Elephant Pass in 1991 should be gratefully remembered today, when we are speaking from this redeemed soil. The sacrifices of the 17,000 martyrs will be worth only when we are victorious in achieving unfettered sovereignty,” the senior LTTE commander said.

“Let us remember that we are a nation forsaken by the international community in our struggle for freedom. It is in such situation that the fortitude of our fighters and their sacrifice gather momentous magnitude. When Tamils mature into a formidable military, political and economic force, the value of the lives sacrificed by our martyrs will attain fruition,” Pottu Amman told thousands of people gathered at the ceremony.

“The historical burden of responsibility placed on us dictates that we become powerful. We need to be vigilant not to fall victim to the snares set by either the Sri Lankan government or its surrogates. It is in our vigilance that our freedom survives. And it is from the might of our strength that our heroic history should be chiselled,” he said.

“If we fail, our enemies will be the scribes of our history in which the lives of our martyrs will be tarnished and ridiculed. It becomes incumbent on us to give our martyrs, the glory they deserve,” added Pottu amman.

Five years ago, on April 22nd, the Liberation Tigers hoisted their flag in the heart of what was once one of the most fortified military garrisons in South Asia.

The fall of Elephant Pass, described as "impregnable" by a US army officer who visited the garrison months earlier, established the Tigers as the only non-state military force in the world today capable of complex manoeuvre war fighting.



Col Soosai also spoke at the event.

Enlarged photographs depicting scenaries from the battlefield are also displayed at the venue. Commander of LTTE’s Sea Tigers, Col. Soosai, Commander of the LTTE’s northern front forces, Col. Theepan, LTTE’s Special Commander for Amparai, Col. Ram, Commander T. Ramesh, Commander of Sothiya Regiment Col. Durga, Head of LTTE’s Financial Division, Mr. Thamilkumaran, Senior LTTE member Mr. K. V. Balakumaran, Deputy Head of Political Division , Mr. S. Thangan, LTTE’s Political Head of the Women Wing, Thamilini, and several other commanders, officials, cadres and the public attended the event.

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