May 29, 2007:
The army believes it has
restricted the LTTE to pockets of rebel control in the east and north. While
there are more rebels in the north, the region is a a hodge podge of pockets
controlled by the government or the LTTE. But at the same time, the government
believes the LTTE is gathering as many fighters as it can, to launch a major
offensive to drive the government out of the Jaffna peninsula in the north. The
LTTE has not got many other options. It's all or nothing time.
May 28, 2007: Outside the capital, near a
military base, a roadside bomb went off, killing seven civilians. The LTTE
denied responsibility. Meanwhile, French police have shared what they know
about the LTTE international fund raising effort, which involves extortion and
criminal activity. As a result, many other countries are identifying and
arresting LTTE supporters involved in criminal activity. This is cutting off
the supply of foreign cash that has long sustained the LTTE.
May 27, 2007: In the last few days, the army
has found two LTTE suicide bomb boats in the east. Tips from locals led the
soldiers to the boats before they could be used.
May 26, 2007: In the east, six teen age girls
(age 14-17) who had been conscripted by the LTTE, escaped from their camp and
made it to a nearby army unit and surrendered.
May 24, 2007: Outside the capital, a roadside
bomb struck a military bus, killing one soldier and wounding four (plus three
civilians.) In the north, LTTE attacked a naval base, killing ten sailors, but
losing 18 of their own, and four boats. The rebels got away with two
anti-aircraft guns.
May 23, 2007: In the east, army sweeps are
uncovering LTTE ammo and weapons storage areas. Three LTTE gunmen were killed,
most have fled by sea (to the northern LTTE areas) or blended into the civilian
population. In the north, there was artillery fire and skirmishing, but only
two LTTE dead, but many wounded on both sides.