In 1991, when the Elephant Pass Army camp came under a LTTE siege the then Divisional Commander of the SL Army, Late General Denzil Kobbekaduwa orchestrated a highly successful Amphibious assault landing at a place called Vettalaikerni in the north-eastern coastline of the Sri Lanka. The Army together with the Navy executed the then largest ever landing at dusk which took troops inland.

Major Anjelo Pieris was one of the officers that were leading men under heavy fire by the enemy. He was a highly reputed field officer and a trusted aide of General Kobbekaduwa.

When his men landed ashore, they faced determined resistance form the enemy. However they inched their way forward towards the Elephant Pass Garrison. In one of the battles, Major Anjelo Peiris was killed. He was killed because he hesitated to fire back at the enemy he met; a child soldier of 14 years! The child soldier never knew who this figure was or how humane this man was. To him, Major Anjelo Pieris was simply another figure to be killed. The Major’s buddy having seen his Officer getting shot at did not hesitate. He promptly returned fire which killed the child soldier.

During the recent LTTE attack on Muttur, a similar incident had taken place. A woman tiger cadre firing a MPMG (Multi Purpose Machine Gun) positioned against her hip was observed by a sailor on the defence line. The sailor returned fire without any hesitation. The women cadre was killed instantly. Had he become compassionate like Major Anjelo Peiris he wouldn’t have lived to tell the story.


So, who’s fault is the very recent air attack which killed a number of child soldiers that were assembled to be sent as re-enforcement to the front line by the LTTE ? Are the security forces to be blamed? Should the Security Forces wait till they came to the front line to be killed or get killed? Or is it the fault of LTTE who now say that these were innocent children undergoing first-aid training at 7 o'clock in the morning at a well known military camp. By the time UN representatives came, all evidence of weapons and other war like material had vanished. The thick jungle area is out-of-bound for ordinary Tamil civilians as well as foreigners.



It is obvious that the LTTE has mastered the art of white washing their crimes. They know how to use opportunities for their advantage. Most importantly they know that their side of the story gets wider publicity through the foreign media.

So wake up world! Do not white wash the LTTE!

Children died innocent in Kebbithigollawa. Can we say the same of LTTE child soldiers in Mullaithivu? The LTTE has crushed their innocence and turned them out to be killers at a very young age. Their masters have successfully brainwashed them to achieve everything with a gun.

So are child soldiers innocent?

Their masters are certainly not!

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