Probe into `LTTE role' in plane crash

By V. S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, APRIL 1. Investigators probing Thursday's AN-26 aircrash in north-central Sri Lanka are to look at the possibility of sabotage in the incident which claimed the lives of 36 Government troopers and four Ukrainian crew members.

Media reports here hinted at the possibility of the aircraft being brought down by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). While the Weekend Express said a pilot engineer ``who visited the site was reported to have found part of the wreckage with six bullet- holes,'' the Island quoted a senior Air Force officer as saying that the probe, would look into ``all aspects of the crash, including whether the plane was shot by the LTTE on its way to Anuradhapura''.

Defence Ministry reports said the cause was due to ``technical failure''. Newspaper reports today said the plane's right engine developed a snag two minutes before the crash.

Military observers point out that while anti-aircraft guns would require ground installations, for a bullet fired from an AK-47 to be effective, the flying target would have to be at a relatively close range.

The Sri Lankan air force charters Ukrainian-built Antonov aircraft to ferry troops, especially to the northern Jaffna Peninsula, cut-off from the rest of the island by the on- going battles between the LTTE and the Government along the Kandy- Jaffna (A-9) highway. The Government's control over the highway is presently upto Omanthai, beyond Vavuniya town, some 264 km north-east of Colombo. On the sea-front, ferry services are resorted to between Trincomalee port in the east and Point Pedro in the northern Jaffna Peninsula.

Direct travel between Colombo and Jaffna, hence, is restricted to the air services operated by Lionair which also flies chartered flight for the Army.

Behind the speculation of the rebel involvement in downing of the aircraft is an as yet unconfirmed report of the air-capability of the Tigers, who already have a formidable sea presence. Frequent reports surface in the media and military circles on the LTTE's air-power, especially after its major military successes. One instance was the setting up of anti- aircraft guns in the Sri Lankan Parliament and the putting up of public posters with pictures of ``possible LTTE aircraft'' last year.

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Section  : International
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