2nd Lt.Malathy Brigade completes 12th anniversary

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 January 2008, 01:30 GMT]
One of the elite battalions of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), 2nd Lt.Malathy Brigade, completed 12th Anniversary of its inauguration Tuesday. Constituted as a fully fledged military battalian within the overall organization of the LTTE, the women fighters of this brigade have carried out several outstanding military feats in the struggle, according to military observers in NorthEast.

The brigade was created in Memory of Malathy (Sahayaseeli Pedrupillai), the first women fighter of LTTE who died in the battlefield when the LTTE women unit confronted the Indian Peace Keeping force (IPKF) troopers at the strategic junction of Koappaay, a village 5 kilometers from the Jaffna city, on 10th October, 1987.

Colonel Vithusa is the Special Commander of Malathy Brigade.

This unit composed entirely of women fighters was created on January 01, 1996 by Velupillai Pirapaharan, the LTTE leader after Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupied Valigaaamam area in Jaffna peninsula in 1995. The unit was formed when the liberation struggle was facing severe military challenges, and has participated in series of victories at the battle front during the past 12 years, including Riveresa-II, Sathjeya, Jayasikuru, Ranagosa and Agnikela.

LTTE leader Pirapaharan commenting on the role of women fighters earlier, had expressed his satisfaction on the progress of the Malathy Brigade, and said the unit possessed "an abundance of endurance, unwavering strength of mind, and dedication for hard work."

Yalini, a Senior Member of Malathy Brigade, speaking to media, said that the various units the brigade are camped at various locations in Tamil Eelam from Amparai district up to Mannaar district.

Additional excerpts from Yalini’s comments follow:

“Number of fighters added to our Brigade has steadily increased, and we have lived under very difficult battle front situations. 2nd lieutenant Malathy brigade in its 12 years in operation has produced a number of women commanders and administrators.

“From Captain Gobi in Vatharavaththai-Jaffna on April 2nd, 1997, including Captain Inpakuyil, Lt.Oviya, 2nd Lt.Alaivaani in Mannaar- Uyilangku'lam on Dec.29, 2007, 1354 women cadres of this brigade has laid down their lives for the struggle.

"Thousands of women cadres are spread out in the Vanni theater.

“Our cadres, specially trained in anti-tank warfare, destroyed several tanks during the course of SLA's ill-fated Jayasikurui operation. In the second phase of Jayasikurui, Captain Thayawathy, destroyed an T-85 type tanker using an RPG while Captain Kalyarasi destroyed an APC-type tank.

“In the confrontation against American trained Special Task Force (STF) in Mannaku'lam battle, our brigade inflicted considerable destruction to the enemy. When the SLA troops attempted to surround our cadres in Mu'langkaavil on Jan 01, 2000, our fighters fought back and brought the situation under control. Again when the enemy attempted to land in Kudaarappu on Mar 27, 2003, our brigade once again successfully fought against a well-armed enemy.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<