December13, 2006: The LTTE is trying to stop Tamil civilians from fleeing the battle zone. The LTTE needs to control a large portion of the Tamil population, otherwise it will not have enough recruits, or people to tax. But this policy is keeping civilians in a battle zone, where they are exposed to artillery fire and air attacks. In some cases, the LTTE is deliberately placing their artillery among civilians. When the government locates the LTTE guns, and returns fire, the dead civilians become another bit of LTTE propaganda.. The LTTE is also using thousands of land mines to prevent civilians from getting to government controlled territory.

December 12, 2006: The air force is the principal weapon in the hunt for dozens of 122mm and 152mm guns that comprise the LTTE artillery force. Smuggled in by ship over the years, along with thousands of shells, the Russian made guns provide long range firepower for attacks on army bases and front line trenches. The guns are constantly moved, to avoid attacks by army artillery or air force bombers. But, one by one, the guns are getting hit and taken out of action. The naval blockade is cutting off the supply of ammunition.

December 11, 2006: Three days of fighting in the east has left 24 soldiers dead, and over 3,000 Sinhalese refugees.

December 10, 2006: Fighting in the east left several hundred dead or wounded. Many of them were civilians, caught by shelling because the LTTE placed their guns in residential areas. The LTTE hopes to get the government some bad press, and take the pressure off the LTTE. At the moment, the LTTE is widely regarded as a terrorist organization. This is hurting the organization in Europe, where the police in France and Britain are investigating the terrorist tactics of the LTTE among Tamil migrants. The LTTE gets most of its money from the Tamil migrants, and has been come increasingly violent about it.

December 9, 2006: Fighting in the northeast caused several hundred casualties, including at least fifty dead. Thousands of Tamils have fled the area where the fighting is taking place. In retaliation, LTTE artillery has been fired at Sinhalese (native Sri Lankan) villages.

December 7, 2006: The government has implemented more anti-terrorism laws (making it easier to arrest and prosecute terrorist suspects), but refuses to ban the LTTE. This, it is felt, would make it more difficult to negotiate a peace deal with the separatist organization.