Tamil Tigers prepare for bloody end to ceasefire

A four-month bilateral ceasefire between rebels and the army has been called off

In this story: Full cooperation Fierce sea battles Recruitment drive RELATED STORIES

By Iqbal Athas
Special to CNN

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Tamil Tiger rebels are girding themselves for attacks on Sri Lankan Security forces as they call off their four-month long unilateral ceasefire at midnight Tuesday.

The rebels accuse the government of failing to reciprocate the truce and for intensifying land, sea and air attacks.

It had become impossible to contain the assaults with "self restrained defensive tactics" without resorting to "counter offensive operations," the rebels said in a two page statement.

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The latter course of action clearly signifies that the rebels could resume violent attacks. But there are heightening fears that such attacks would not be confined to combat zones in the north and east of Sri Lanka alone.

Full cooperation

The rebels said they have "co-operated in every possible way with the Norwegian government" in the peace efforts "by suspending all forms of armed operations and violent attacks in Colombo and the southern provinces."

The government has yet to react officially to the rebel announcement.

The Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) -- the joint military apparatus responsible for all counter terrorist operations -- has placed security establishments and police on alert, both in the combat zones and other areas including Colombo.

Sri Lanka's army is on red alert ahead of the ceasefire expiry

The latest rebel move came barely two weeks after they placed two new "prerequisites" for taking part in Norwegian backed peace talks -- the lifting of a government proscription on them and acceptance of their unilateral ceasefire.

Chandrika Kumaratunga's government has, since Norwegian facilitation began, rejected both demands and accused the rebels of re-arming and re-training during a ceasefire.

Fierce sea battles

A string of battles in the northeastern high seas between the Navy and Sea Tigers -- the naval arm of the rebels -- the government says, followed rebel efforts to smuggle military hardware. Only last Friday, the government intercepted a rebel logistics convoy carrying out ship to shore transfer of a shipload of ammunition.

If the rebels were making secret preparations for war whilst talking peace through a Norwegian initiative, the Sri Lanka government was public about its preparations.

The government officially announced it had received a large consignment of Czech built battle tanks, multiple rocket launchers, bridge building tanks and other equipment.

In an unusual move, army headquarters also released video footage of a cargo vessel unloading these military hardware for viewers in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Recruitment drive

Further confirmation of military preparations came as the army made desperate efforts to shore up its manpower by luring in those who deserted ranks.

Hard on the heels of a general amnesty, army advertisements appeared in national newspapers Tuesday warning companies and other institutions employing deserters. The advertisement cited penal code provisions where they could be punished with imprisonment for two years or fined in a court of law.

"The Sri Lanka Army expects all deserters to return to their units to fight alongside their comrades in the nation's effort to eradicate terrorism from Sri Lanka," the advertisement said.

Sri Lanka President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, is also to appear in a public event this week to honour brave soldiers who have died in action in the 18 year long separatist war -- an event which will also be publicised to enhance recruitment.

Heavy fighting in Sri Lanka's Jaffna Peninsula

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