Vanni prepares to commemorate 21 Black Tigers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 October 2007, 19:18 GMT]
Liberation Tigers have promoted the rank of one the 21 Black Tiger elite commandos who took part in the raid on Sri Lankan airbase in Anuradhapura, posthumously from Major to Lieutenant Colonel, acknowledging his role in the commando operation, sources in Vanni said. Three Lieutenant Colonels, six Majors, 12 Captains and one Lieutenant rank Black Tigers have taken part in the operation. Vanni prepares to commemorate them on Thursday.



Major Mathivathanan (B. Thayaaseelan) has been promoted to Lt. Col. rank.

One of the last letters written by another Black Tiger commander, Lt. Col. Ilangko, who led an attack team into Anuradhapura airbase, was made available to media in Ki'linochchi on Wednesday.

In his letter, dated 09 October 2007, probably with instructions to release once they succeed in the mission, Lt. Col. Ilangko writes:

"All of you are seeing for yourself what the Sinhala fascists are upto.

"We will certainly achieve our liberation in the times of our leader. But, it needs the contribution of everybody.

"We became Black Tigers, with full awareness of everything.

"We are going to meet the Lions who bomb us from the sky, in their own lair. They should realize our sufferings.

"We now have all the conventional forces. Hereafter, it is you, who have to continue the struggle ahead.

"We have proved our capability. We will continue to strike. Tell those chauvinists that we will never stop.

"Leader is there to guide. Eezham can be expedited if you all mobilize yourself with willpower."

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