Picture at link, not for the queasyNew Delhi: The face looked like a death mask but the trademark moustache was there and the eyes were unmistaken in the piercing stare with which they transfixed friends and foes alike.
By now it is clear that Velupillai Prabhakaran, one of the world's dreaded guerrilla leaders is indeed dead, but questions abound on how exactly he died. Depends exactly when you were asking the question.
On Monday, soon after President Rajapakse spoke with foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee confirming Prabhakaran's death, the Sri Lankan military claimed that the Tiger chief and his key aides, including intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Sea Tigers chief Soosai were killed while trying to flee in a captured ambulance. The ambulance was fired upon by a barrage of bullets from an armoured personnel carrier, it blew up and most of the three occupants were charred beyond recognition.
Yeah, what gives? The other story said he was burned and had to be DNA identified. Is this a dummy head from the SL government? Was there an info war screwup by releasing two stories on the most important goal of the war?
On Tuesday, hours after President Rajapakse addressed Sri Lanka's Parliament declaring victory, Sri Lanka's army commander General Sarath Fonseka confirmed that the body of Prabhakaran had been recovered. The official Lankan defence website said that the 53 Division commanded had found Prabhakaran's bullet ridden body lying on the bank of the Nanthikadal lagoon.
Notice how he's no longer Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka?
There was no version of exactly how he had died. The international media have so far been barred from the conflict zone and all photographs and footage are being provided by state-owned sources and the media has to so far rely on claims and counter-claims made by the LTTE and the government. On Tuesday, S. Pathmanathan, head of the LTTE's international relations said that Prabhakaran was alive and well. A claim which was by noon apparently revealed as untrue.
There are theories that the entire LTTE leadership had committed suicide as earlier suggested by the wife of a senior commander, when their death at the hands of Lankan forces was a certainty on May 17. Clearly, an authentic account of the final moments of the LTTE leaders within the no-fire zone is yet to be revealed.
And I'm eagerly awaiting it...
