Sri Lanka

Last Tiger stronghold falls to government forces

Article published on the 2009-01-25 Latest update 2009-01-26 08:35 TU

A Sri Lankan soldier and police officer in an internally-displaced people camp.
(Photo: Reuters)

Sri Lankan troops Sunday pushed their way into Mullaittivu, the last town held by the Tamil Tiger rebels, a government official said. The rebels have faced a heavy government offensive since the beginning of the year.

"We have completely captured Mullaittivu," said army chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka.

Rebels fighting for the LTTE – the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam - blew up a dam Saturday in a bid to stall advancing government soldiers, but it did not prevent them from entering the town Sunday in small boats.

The defence ministry said that the soldiers faced strong resistance but that civilians had been cleared out of the areas affected by the fighting. This claim was dismissed by The Northeastern Secretariat for Human Rights, operating in the region, which told RFI that 300,000-350,000 people remain in the area, with only a small Red Cross contingent to evacuate the wounded.

After taking the Tiger’s main stronghold in Kilinochchi earlier this month, the army vowed to continue its offensive until it captured rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and routed his forces.

Sri Lankan President Mahina Rajapakse said in a New Year’s address that 2009 would be a year of “historic victory” over the Tigers, who have been waging a war of independence for ethnic Tamils since 1972.

Military officials say that only 2,000 Tigers remain, faced with over 50,000 government forces.