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TAMIL NATIONAL HEROES DAY 25-JULY-2007 |
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24 July 2007 We are unable to update News for a week. We will resume News updates in August 2ndREMEMBRANCE DAY STATE TERROR BLACK JULY OF 1983 REVISITEDThe Madras Hindu of 10th August 1983“Selvaraja Yogachandran (TELO), popularly known as Kuttmuni, a nominated member of the Sri Lankan parliament who was one of the 52 prisoners killed in the maximum security Wellikade prison in Colombo two weeks ago, was forced to kneel in his cell, (where he was under solitary confinement), by his assailants and ordered to pray to them. When he refused, his tormentors taunted him about his last wish, when he was sentenced to death. (He had willed that his eyes be donated to someone so that at least that person would see an independent Tamil Eelam.) The assailants then gouged his eyes. He was then stabbed to death and his testicles were wrenched from his body. That was confirmed by one of the doctors who had conducted the post-mortem on the first group of 35 prisoners. According to S.A David,[iii] the thirty-five Tamils were then heaped in front of the statue of Gautama Buddha in the yard of the Welikade prison and when some yet alive raised their heads they were clubbed to death.The second round of killings on July 27 was lead by Sepala Ekanaike, undergoing life imprisonment for the hijacking of an Alitalia plane on its flight from Delhi to Bangkok a year previously. Sinhalese prisoners convicted of murder, rape and burglary charges were handpicked by the warders, who after plying them with liquor, let them loose on the remaining Tamil political prisoners. Seventeen prisoners were killed on this occasion.London Daily Telegraph, 26 July 1983 "Motorists were dragged from their cars to be stoned and beaten with sticks during racial violence in Colombo, the Sri Lanka capital yesterday (24 July). Others were cut down with knifes and axes. Mobs of Sinhala youth rampaged through the streets, ransacking homes, shops and offices, looting them and setting them ablaze, as they sought out members of the Tamil ethnic minority... A Sri Lankan friend told me by telephone last night how he had watched horrified earlier in the day as a mob attacked a Tamil cyclist riding near Colombo's eye hospital, a few hundred yards from the home of Junius Jayawardene, the nations 76 year old President. The cyclist was hauled from his bike, drenched with petrol and set alight. As he ran screaming down the street, the mob set on him again and hacked him down with jungle knifes.." Guardian, 26 July 1983 ''Pillars of smoke and flame rose over the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo yesterday as mobs attacked the minority Tamil community and looted their homes and stores...Some of the worst rioting erupted in the morning only 200 yards away from President Jayawardene's house... All over the city by mid-morning lorries jammed with young men shouting anti Tamil slogans, were moving into Tamil areas and into shopping centres picking out Tamil shops... Petrol was siphoned from cars into buckets and plastic bowls to speed the work of arson.. By noon Colombo resembled a city after a bombing raid. Smoke obscured the sun, main roads were blocked by burnt out vehicles.. The rioting surged into the heart of the city. In area after area Sinhalese rioters systematically picked out Tamil homes and shops, whether occupied or empty, and looted and destroyed them...'' London Daily Express, 29th August 1983 a tourist told yesterday how she watched in horror as a Sinhala mob deliberately burned alive a bus load of Tamils... Mrs.Eli Skarstein, back home in Stavanger, Norway, told how she and her 15 year old daughter, Kristin, witnessed one massacre. 'A mini bus full of Tamils were forced to stop in front of us in Colombo' she said. A Sinhalese mob poured petrol over the bus and set it on fire. They blocked the car door and prevented the Tamils from leaving the vehicle. 'Hundreds of spectators watched as about 20 Tamils were burned to death'. Mrs. Skarstein added: 'We can't believe the official casualty figures. Hundreds may be thousands must have been killed already." The Guardian, 28 July 1983 "Smoke from hundreds of shops, offices, warehouses and homes blew idly over Colombo yesterday. Any business, any house belonging to or occupied by a Tamil has been attacked by gangs of goondas and the resulting destruction looks like London after a heavy night's attention from the Luftwaffe. The sharp smell of destruction fills the nostrils and the roads beneath the feet crunch with broken glass. Cars and lorries lie at ungainly angles across the footways. In Pettah, the old commercial heart of the city, row after row of sari boutiques, electronic dealers, rice sellers, car parts stores, lie shattered and scarred... government officials yesterday estimated that 20,000 businesses had been attacked in the city." London Times, 22 August 1983 ''Considerably more people died during the recent violence in Sri Lanka than the 380 deaths the government there has admitted to, according to an aid organisation. Dr.Sjef Teuns, General Secretary of Novib, the leading private development aid organisation in the Netherlands, said between 1000 and 2000 people lost their lives. He returned to Netherland on Saturday. He accused the Sri Lanka government of serious human rights violations against the Tamil population and called the Dutch government to reconsider its development aid policy towards the country.'' Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee Report -Democracy in Peril, June 1985 ''Estimates of the number of persons killed in the week of violence vary. Official estimates are just under 400 killed. These estimates are conservative. Unofficial estimates are as high as 1500 to 2000. It is probable that many bodies were not at first discovered because they were burned in houses. Also some bodies were hidden and buried privately by people who were frightened by the prospect of further reprisals should the bodies be discovered, or scared to attract attention to themselves by reporting the deaths. At the date of our departure from Sri Lanka, September 1st, there were many people still missing or not accounted for.'' Sri Lanka - The Unfinished Quest for Peace - L.Piyadasa, Marram Books, 1988 ''The police and the government made no attempt to stop or hinder small gangs of men who went about with lists, burning the houses and flats (in Sinhala owned dwellings only the contents), grocery stores, pharmacies, textile shops, tailoring establishments, restaurants, bookshops, hardware shops, lawyers offices, studios... as well as tourist hotels. They also burnt trucks, vans and cars. They went for only those things which were owned by (Tamils)... They did this expertly.... within sight of President's House in the administrative and business centre, a few yards away from the Prime Minister's official residence, near the UNP headquarters, in blocks immediately adjacent to or opposite major police stations - taking care, on a hot, dry morning, not to start fires which would spread to adjacent Sinhalese owned or state property. Accidents and violations of 'discipline' were few.'' Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee Report -Democracy in Peril, June 1985 eye witnes and victims reported that on the streets cars were stopped by gangs and the people inside were asked whether they were Sinhalese or Tamil. Some Sinhalese words are extremely difficult for people who do not speak the language fluently to pronounce, people were tested by being made to pronounce these words. The mobs were also demanding to see identity cards to establish whether or not people were Tamils... People identified as Tamils as a result of the questioning were told to get out of their cars and their cars were set alight... In cases where any resistance was offered, killings were likely to take place... It was reported by many people that in some instances students from Buddhist schools followed on behind the first rioters and that some Buddhist monks were seen amongst the gangs'' The London Times, 2 August 1983 Tamil owned businesses account for between 50 and 60 percent of the commercial life of the capital and they have been destroyed - scientifically extracted from among their neighbours and burned." Eye witness account, Sri Lanka: Racism and the Authoritarian State - Race and Class, Volume XXVI, A.Sivanandan and Hazel Waters, Institute of Race Relations ''A most distressing aspect of the vandalism was the burning and the destruction of the houses and dispensaries of eminent Tamil doctors - some with over a quarter of a century of service in Sinhala areas...'' The Guardian, 9 August 1983 ''About 100 industrial plants were severly damaged or destroyed, including 20 garment factories. The cost of industrial reconstruction was estimated at 2,000 million rupees (£55 million). This did not include damaged shops.'' The New York Times reported in early August: ''The shells of (Tamil owned) businesses line Galle Road, the main waterfront thoroughfare advertising the names that marked them for destruction. Lakshmi Mahal, pawbroker, or Ram Gram stores and florist.. Damage estimates are uncertain and incomplete, but the total economic loss has been placed at $300 million.'' Eye witness account, Sri Lanka: Racism and the Authoritarian State - Race and Class, Volume XXVI, A.Sivanandan and Hazel Waters, Institute of Race Relations. ''Seventeen industrial complexes belonging to some of the leading Tamil... industrialists were razed to the ground... Several cinemas owned by Tamils were destroyed... Probably the worst affected area was the Pettah, the commercial centre of Colombo, where Tamil and Indian traders played a dominant role. Hardly a single Tamil or Indian establishment was left standing.'' Wide spread attacks in Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and elsewhere The attacks were not confined to Colombo alone. They spread to Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Bandarawela, Negombo, and many other areas where Tamils lived amongst a predominant Sinhala population."Violence also erupted in places such as Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla and Bandarawela. On each of these occasions it followed a similar pattern. The incidents were started off by people coming in from outside the districts, lists were used to identify Tamil property and systematic attacks were made on it: the local people were then encouraged to follow with further depredations..." (Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee - Report on the Communal Violence in Sri Lanka, July 1983) ''(A British tourist) said: 'Last Wednesday a taxi driver took us into Negombo... and the whole town was smouldering. All the Tamil property in the centre of the town had been burnt down. The cigarette factory had gone up together with a cinema and a garage. There was smoke everywhere and the whole area was a burnt out mess. ..there was no sign of any Tamil anywhere. We were told that Tamils were being grabbed off buses by groups of people wielding iron bars. We also saw young Sinhalese stopping cars to siphon out the petrol so they could use it to start fires.'.. '' (London Times, 2 August 1983) ''...the looting burning and killing that began last week end in Colombo spread to the cities of Kandy and Gampola in the central hills... In Kandy, 62 miles northeast of Colombo, mobs burned and sacked at least 55 stores owned by members of the Tamil minority in attacks that began Tuesday night and continued Wednesday...'' (The Guardian, 28 July 1983) "The town (Kandy), which lies at the centre of the tea and rubber plantations of the central highland area of Sri Lanka has witnessed rioting and fire bombing against Tamil owned homes and businesses for the past four nights. And the presence of the rows of burnt out shops and of the 6000 Tamils in five temporary camps shows that the communal terror which has been unleashed in Sri Lanka is much more widespread than at first reported. The testimony of similar outrages in the villages in the steep sided hills and dense green country around Kandy reinforces that impression...The Sinhala District Inspector General of Police for the central range said: 'We usually expect what we call the soda bottle effect in these things. A sudden foaming up and then going flat but that hasn't happened yet.'... Two unidentified bodies were fished from the artificial lake in the centre of Kandy and a third body was found on a railway line close to the town. The body, which had been cut and chopped, was evidently thrown from a train..." (The London Times, 30 July 1983) "...News of the extent of the violence directed at the centre of Nuwara Eliya by Sinhala mobs was somehow contained by the town's remoteness... But no point in Colombo or the surrounding suburbs matches the mess... Whole blocks have been reduced to charred rubble. Only a handful of provision shops belonging to Sinhala traders remained... Remarkably, only sixteen people died in the inferno..." (London Daily Telegraph, 6 August 1983) ''Two weeks ago (Nuwara Eliya).. became the focal point for much of the communal violence that has engulfed the island... We had already been in Sri Lanka for 10 days... before the events of 29 July. We had started in Colombo; we then fled to Kandy to escape the violence; when it followed us there we moved to Nuwara Eliya. Yet subsequent reports confirmed that the damage done to Nuwara Eliya was at least the equal of anything experienced elsewhere.. By dusk on Friday 29 July, not one building in the central street was left standing; fire had spread to the hills too, engulfing shops, homes and buses...''(Peter Hartnell, New Statesman, 12 August 1983) ''In the relatively small town of Lunugala in the Badulla District, 67 houses, 35 business establishments and two vehicles belonging to Tamils were burnt. A leading businessman and a nun were murdered.. In Badulla itself, according to a report in Virakesari of 1 October 1983, quoting the government agent, 127 houses, 252 shops, four Hindu temples, four printing presses, two cinemas, one tavern, three Tamil schools, 79 vehicles and a rural bank were destroyed. There were 20 murders. In the nearby small town of Passara, in the sam district, 63 houses, 21 shops, 16 vehicles and printing press were burnt and destroyed. There were two murders...'' (N.Shanmugathasan,Sri Lanka: Racism and the Authoritarian State - Race and Class, Volume XXVI, A.Sivanandan and Hazel Waters, Institute of Race Relations, London) ''Holiday makers who returned to Dusseldorf said hundreds of Tamils had been murdered and even their hotel waiter told them proudly, 'we have killed several of them." A business consultant said a dozen houses had been burned down near the popular seaside resort of Bentota, among them the local chemist shop...''(Oslo Report dateline 29 July 1983 in Madras Hindu) ''Fearing adverse international reaction to photographs and TV footage depicting the aftermath of the violence, the authorities yesterday imposed strict censorship on all still and moving pictures.'' (London Daily Telegraph, 2 August 1983) David Beresford reporting in the Guardian, 7 August 1983 ''...the latest incident to be reported took place (in Badulla).. The survivor's account was given by Mrs.Sivamany Ganesan, aged 36, a mother of three children who belonged to one of two Tamil families attacked. Mrs.Ganesan said that she was a weaving teacher, married to a used car salesman, living with her family atMuthieyangama Road, Badulla, a well to do street which included three Tamil homes. At about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, a crowd gathered outside a bus depot 100 yards away, attacking passing vehicles. She said that her family telephoned the police to evacuate them but they did not come. The crowd then began to attack the home of a neighbour, Mr.Ramanathan, who had a shotgun and who fired a single round into the air through a window to try to frighten them away. The army then arrived.. and took up positions behind the crowd which began the attack again... 23 July 2007 Hartal in the North-East As a mark of protest to the proposed setting up of new High Security Zones (HSZ) covering the Sampur and Muttur East, and against the human rights abuses, a hartal campaign has been organized in the North and the East to be held on the 25th of July, political sources revealed.According to the source, the hartal is to be launched by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).The International Tamil Diaspora too, is expected to participate.The HSZ set up in the North has been a serious issue whenever the efforts were made to seek a peaceful solution to the Ethnic problem.Large extents of agricultural lands and dwellings belonging to the Tamil residents have come under the HSZ in the North. Sri Lankan Marxists to hold a series of public rallies Sri Lanka Marxist People’s Liberation Front (JVP) has organized a series of public rallies to explain the party position regarding the current political situation. The theme of the series of rallies is “A solution to the crisis, a real national front, a government that build up the country.” The first rally of the series will be held in Colombo on 25 July. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva will preside the meeting. Anuradhapura district rally will be held on 27 July and prominent leaders of the JVP will address the district wise rallies that follow them. Sri Lanka Maintains Key Rate at Highest Level in Asia Sri Lanka's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the highest level in Asia to help bring inflation below 10 percent. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintained its repurchase rate at 10.5 percent for a fifth straight meeting, the Colombo- based bank said in a statement today. Ten out of 11 analysts in a Bloomberg News survey predicted the decision. One expected a 25 basis point cut. ``Inflation still is not under control and it is too early for the central bank to loosen its monetary policy,'' said Yolan Seimon, research manager at John Keells Stock Brokers Ltd. in Colombo, who predicted no change. ``High oil prices will impact inflation, and a decline in interest rates toward the end of the year now seems less likely.'' The central bank's three rate increases between September and February helped slow inflation to 13 percent in June from a decade-high of 20.5 percent in January. Higher borrowing costs and escalating violence between government forces and Tamil rebels have weakened the island's economy, which grew in the first quarter at the slowest pace in two years. Sri Lanka's economy expanded 6.1 percent in the three months to March from a year earlier, the central bank said June 29. The pace of growth slowed for a fourth straight quarter. Citigroup Inc. expects the $26 billion economy to gain 6 percent this year from 7.4 percent in 2006. Tamil Rebels Economic growth is being threatened by an increase in violence between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels, who are fighting for a separate homeland in areas of northern and eastern Sri Lanka. Inflation is slowing as higher borrowing costs damp money- supply and loan growth. The increase in reserve money was below the central bank's targeted limits in both the first and second quarters, according to a July 3 statement by the bank. The central bank today said consumer-price gains in July may accelerate although the ``downward trend in inflation is expected to continue thereafter.''``The tight monetary policy stance adopted by the central bank has been instrumental in yielding the desired results as reflected in the deceleration in the growth in monetary aggregates and inflation,'' it said in the statement. The yield on the 11.75 percent bond due in January 2008 was unchanged at 17.1 percent at 9:55 a.m. in Colombo, according to Commercial Bank of Ceylon Ltd. The Sri Lankan rupee was little changed at 111.78 to the dollar. `Further Deterioration' Inflation will slow to 9 percent by the end of the year, central bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said on April 30. That's higher than a November forecast of between 7 percent and 8 percent by the end of 2007. Fitch Ratings says a return to single-digit inflation is ``essential'' for the government to reduce debt-servicing costs. Fitch in April retained its negative outlook on Sri Lanka's credit rating, warning that a downgrade could result from any ``further deterioration'' in the island's security situation. In the same month, Standard & Poor's cut its credit outlook to negative from stable because of violence. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has increased spending on the army, navy and air force by 44 percent this year to a record 139 billion rupees ($1.2 billion) after the collapse of a 2002 cease-fire. That's likely to further widen a budget deficit that the Asian Development Bank estimates was equivalent to 8.9 percent of gross domestic product last year. The central bank, which raised borrowing costs by 1.25 percentage points in 2006 and by half a point in February, this month said it will continue with steps to cool inflation. Sri Lanka's borrowing costs will decline by the end of the year as inflation slows, Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera said on June 7. Two pronged SLA operation thwarted - LTTE Liberation Tigers put up stiff resistance against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) causing heavy losses to the SLA units that launched a two-pronged offensive near Mu'l'likku'lam along the Forward Defence Line in Mannaar, according to LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Five LTTE fighters were killed in action. The fighting which broke out at 3:00 p.m. was brought to an end around 6:00 p.m. LTTE forces were engaged in a search operation in the area, Mr. Ilanthirayan said. Next parliamentary election in 2010, Presidential in 2011, says Maithri Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that next parliamentary election would be in 2010 and the Presidential in would be in 2011. He said that elections would not be held according to the will of the opposition and the SLFP was ready to face the challenges of the opposition. The SLFP General Secretary Mithripala Sirisena expressed these views addressing the 17th general assembly of the party held at the National Youth Centre in Maharagama. A large crowd participated in the convention. He further said that the Central Committee had decided stern action would be taken against the parliamentarians and the provincial councilors who had violated the party discipline. Addressing the convention President Mahinda Rajapakse said that although an agreement was signed with the United National Party (UNP) to work together, a strong parliament was set up eventually taking in a group of the UNP who were ready to join hands, as the leadership of the UNP could not be trusted. He further said that ironically the people who shouldered to establish a dictatorship in the party were now accusing over an internal dictatorship in the party. NGO staff shot dead in Jaffna Unidentified gunmen shot dead the field officer of Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an International humanitarian organization in Jaffna, at Aanaikoaddai Monday around 8:30 a.m, when the victim was on his way to work at DRC Jaffna office, sources in Jaffna said. The DRC field officer killed was identified as Arumainayagam Alloyisius, 26, from Sillaalai south, Pandaitharippu. Married just ten moths ago, his wife is pregnant with child.Alloysius had been a staff of Halo Trust, another International Humanitarian Organization in Jaffna , and had left when Halo Trust discontinued 17 of its staffers unannounced recently.Besides, more than 13 Halo Trust staffers had been either killed, abducted or gone missing in the past.Alloyisius too had left Halo Trust for fear of being killed.Mallaakam District Magistrate Ms. Sarojini Illankovan conducted the inquest into death.The body is kept at Jaffna Teaching hospital for postmortem examinations. Eight-kilo time-bomb found in Delkanda fair A claymore bomb weighting 8 kg was found at the Delkanda Sunday fair on the 22nd of July, around 1.30 p.m.A civilian had tipped off the Mirihana Police on this suspicious bag. The Media centre for National Security say that the bomb was concealed by a bunch of plantains and wires could be seen after it was opened.Immediately, the bomb disposal unit of the army was summoned to the scene. The army bomb disposal unit defused it preventing a major bloodbath.Security sources relate that the bomb had been made using C4 high explosives and had been timed to blast in 10 minutes. Rizana's case: Govt. recalls its envoy in Riyadh Sri Lanka's Ambassador, A.M.J. Sadiq has been recalled by the Foreign Ministry two months prior to the completion of his tour of duty in Saudi Arabia. He is set to arrive in Colombo later this month.The Sunday Times learns that the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday informed the Ambassador to return without giving reasons for Mr. Sadiq's early removal.The decision to remove him follows the ambassador's failure to obtain any official appointment for the visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila who left on Friday for Riyadh to discuss the possibility of securing a pardon for teenage Sri Lankan housemaid Fathima Rizana Nafeek who has been sentenced to death on charges of killing a four month old infant in her care. As a result of the failure to obtain any official appointments, the deputy minister's trip would be reduced to a private visit and until the time of his departure from Colombo only appointments with two chief priests in Mecca and Medina were confirmed. Mr. Bhaila left for Riyadh on Friday with the parents of Rizana Nafeek, almost a week after they originally planned to leave the country. Foreign Ministry's Regional Director General Ibrahim Ansar is accompanying them. Mr. Bhaila before going to Riyadh said they had not been granted permission to visit Rizana who is in a prison in Diawadami, 400 kilometers off Riyadh and that continuous attempts to get an appointment with the victim's family also had failed. But Mr. Bhaila said they would make another effort to meet the baby's family which had the power to give a pardon. The family has so far not demanded any so-called 'blood money', according to Saudi law to pardon the girl, but two ministers told parliament the the government was ready to pay the money. Fiftieth Anniversary of the Aborted Banda-Chelva Pact-By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The coming week will mark the fiftieth anniversary of a landmark event in the modern, political history of the country. It was on July 26th 1957 that the then Prime Minister Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike and Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayagam, the leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi - known as Federal party in English - signed an agreement that came to be known as the Banda - Chelva or B- C pact. The B- C pact which intended resolving, some of the major grievances facing Sri Lankan Tamils , was the first of its kind , in the post - independence history of the Country. The B- C pact recognized several key elements of the Federal Idea through a scheme of power - sharing. The story of how this aborted pact evolved, deserves to be narrated on its golden jubilee week. The 1956 elections had seen a deep polarisation between the Sinhala and Tamil communities. While the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna joint front headed by SWRD Bandaranaike swept the polls in the South the Federal Party led by SJV Chelvanayakam won six out of nine seats in the North and four out of seven in the East. One of the first acts by the new Govt was the enshrining of Sinhala as the sole official language of the Country .On June 5th Tamil Satyagrahis peacefully protesting at Galle face were beaten up by thugs as the Police did nothing. Anti - Tamil violence resulted in several parts of the Country.On June 15th Sinhala was made the only official language by a vote of 56 to 29. Federal Party convention There was much tension in the Country when the FP held its party convention in Trincomalee during August 17th - 19th 1956. FP members and supporters marched for ten days from Jaffna in the North and Thirukkovil in the South of the Eastern Province to Trincomalee . The FP convention passed a unanimous resolution incorporating four basic demands.They were - 1. The establishment of an autonomous Tamil state or states on a linguistic basis within a Federal union of Ceylon. 2.The restoration of the Tamil language to its rightful place, enjoying absolute parity of status with Sinhalese as an official language of this Country. 3.The restoration of the citizenship and franchise rights to the Tamil workers in the plantation districts by repeal of the present citizenship laws. 4. The immediate cessation of all policies of colonising the traditionally Tamil - speaking areas with Sinhalese people. The convention resolved that one years time be given the Govt to respond positively to these demands. If there was no response the FP was to commence a “direct action” campaign of non - violent protest. The deadline given was August 20th 1957.The new 1957 year dawned with much friction over the issue of “Sri” letter in vehicle number plates. The earlier system was to use English alphabet letters from the Country’s name CEYLON. (CE, Cl , CN, EY, EN etc). Now the new Govt wanted it to begin with the Sinhala “Sri”. The Tamil politicians resented this as a form of Sinhala imposition. They protested and demanded that the Tamil “shree” also be substituted. Ironically there was no letter Shree in theTamil alphabet. The Shree used was derived from Sanskrit.On January 19th the FP began an anti - shree campaign in the North - East. Vehicles began running with Tamil letters. The “Sinhala” Shree was changed into the sanskrit derived “Tamil” shree. ‘Black Day’ On February 4th the FP observed independence day as a “black day”of mourning. A Hartal paralysed normal life in the North - East.A counter - campaign began in the Sinhala majority provinces. Tamil letters were tar - brushed or blacked out on street signs and name boards. There was widespread incidents of communal friction on a minor scale.The FP also called for a boycotting of Govt ministers and deputy - ministers visiting the North - East for “official” purposes.Satyagrahis would surround places where ministers were scheduled to go and curtail movement. Cabinet ministers W. Dahanayake and M. Marikkar were mobbed in Batticaloa. Stanley de Zoysa was treated to a massive show of black flags in Mannar. Deputy minister of Labour M.P de Z Siriwardena who went by the mail train to Jaffna found his path blocked outside the railway station by youths led by the then “enfant terrible” Appapillai Amirthalingam. He returned to Colombo by the next “Yarl Devi”.With increasing communal tensions the Country seemed to be heading for a blood bath. SWRD who was arguably the most intellectual of all Sri Lanka’s prime ministers realised that the situation had to be checked and reversed. He understood that the Tamils had genuine grievances that had to be redressed. Bandaranaike the man who espoused federalism for Sri Lanka in 1926 knew that the federal idea in the form of effective power - sharing was the only solution. He now proposed extensive de - centralisation through the setting up of regional Councils.It is widely believed that the Regional Councils scheme was introduced by Bandaranaike as a result of the B - C pact. Actually, a draft bill for Regional councils was published on May 17th 1957. The B - C pact came later in July. Understanding with Tamil leaders After presenting the Regional councils bill SWRD wanted to arrive at an understanding with the Tamil leaders and modify it further.Meanwhile the FP was getting ready for its “Direct action” campaign scheduled to begin on Aug 20th. 25, 000 volunteers were registered. Some Sinhala leaders began a move to mobilise 100, 000 volunteers to combat the Tamil campaign. A major showdown seemed inevitable.It was then that saner counsel prevailed .. A meeting between SWRD and SJV was mooted. It was done on the personal initiative of the Prime Minister himself.Two Tamil lawyers P. Navaratnarajah QC and AC Nadarajah arranged for the rendezvous. Navaratnarajah was a personal friend of both SWRD and SJV. Nadarajah was a vice - president of the SLFP. From the Govt side Finance minister Stanley de Zoysa played a commendable role in promoting this dialogue. S.W.R.D could not read or write Sinhala The first meeting was held on June 22nd at the Premier’s residence in Horagolla. SWRD himself came up to Chelvanayakam’s car and helped him get out. Both men seemed to realise the gravity of the situation. Those present on this historic occasion were SWRD Bandaranaike and Stanley de Zoysa from the Govt; Navaratnarajah as an intermediary; SJV Chelvanayakam, C. Vanniyasingham, NR. Rajavarothayam, VA. Kandiah, EMV Naganathan and V. Navaratnam from the FP.The first meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.SWRD tried to downplay Tamil fears by saying that it would take many years for Sinhala to become the official language in practice. Bandaranaike himself had given evidence at the Theja Gunawardena case that he could not read or write Sinhala. ” I dont intend making Sinhala the language of administration till I learn it and I must confess that I am a slow learner” he chuckled. He also took a swipe at Sir John Kotelawela by referring to a politician ” who learnt French between bedclothes in Paris”.The FP appreciated Bandaranaike’s position but insisted that provisionary arrangements on the status of Tamil will have to be made. SWRD concurred. When the question of power sharing arose the FP presented its case for a Federal state.The FP pointed out that SWRD’s own viewpoint in the twenties that Federalism was the ideal solution had been a source of inspiration for the party in demanding federalism. SWRD replied by saying that though he espoused federalism then he had subsequently changed his mind. Besides he had no mandate for introducing federalism.”Could not the FP think of an alternative solution short of federalism that would redress Tamil grievances and address aspirations”? he queried.The FP understood the Prime Minister’s situation and agreed not to press for a federal solution.Both parties agreed to seek ways and means of power sharing within the prameters set out by the Choksy Commission report on de - centralisation and the draft bill on Regional Councils The PM then suggested that the FP should come up with alternative proposals envisaging “massive de - centralisation” but not “federal autonomy”. The FP sgreed and departed.The FP consulted former Law College Principal Brito Muthunayagam and Alfred Jeyaratnam Wilson, the son -in - law of Chelvanayakam. Wilson then a university lecturer went on to become Political Science dean at Peradeniya and New Brunswick in Canada. Northern Ireland example Interestingly Muthunayagam felt 50 years ago that the status of Northern Ireland in Britain was the ideal model to follow.The Northern Ireland parliament was subordinate to the British Parliament but retained a lot of powers not amounting to federalism.The FP was given a copy of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Act by the Law College principal. Wilson provided copies of several federal Countries. Former Kopay MP C. Vanniyasingham and ex - Kayts MP V. Navaratnam set about drafting an alternative scheme.The FP leaders accomplished the task in three days and forwarded the draft through Navaratnarajah for SWRD’s perusal.The Ulster model influenced the draft greatly.The north - east was to be a subordinate state with a unicameral legislature and cabinet.External affairs, Defence, Currency, Stamps,Customs,Inter-Regional transport, would remain with the central government. Block grants would be made by Colombo while domestic taxation could also supplement revenue. Policing was a state responsibility. The subordinate state would be represented in Colombo through elected MP’s. There would be a central cabinet minister for Tamil affairs.The second round of talks was at SWRD’s Rosemead place residence. Chelvanayakam, Vanniyasingham, Naganathan and Navaratnam represented the FP.Bandaranaike pointed out that the proposals in essence amounted to federalism. He suggested that the scheme be whittled down in point form to emphasise administrative de - centralisation.He also objected to words like “parliament” and “cabinet” saying they smacked of a separate state. Regional Council concept The FP then returned and revised the document by summarising proposals in point form. Since the regional Council concept was a brainchild of Bandaranaike the FP replaced “Parliament” with “Regional Council”. “Cabinet” was substituted by ” board of directors”. The substance of the original proposals was retained to a great extent.Thereafter a series of discussions took place among Stanley de Zoysa, Navaratnarajah and FP leaders. The PM did not participate but proposed many changes through his representative de Zoysa. The FP was persuaded to accept most of them though they diluted to some extent the original proposals. But on one point the FP remained firm.The FP wanted the North - East to form one single regional council. SWRD was willing to allow the North to be one unit but he wanted the East to be separate with two or more units.The man who was adamant on this issue was FP strategist V. Navaratnam dubbed as the “golden brain” of the FP.Finally AC Nadarajah persuaded Navaratnam to accept a compromise. The North and East were to be separate Councils with the provision to amalmagate if so desired. Finally D - day dawned. The conclusive meeting took place on July 25 th 1957 at the Prime Ministers office in the old Senate building.Several cabinet ministers were in attendance. Many FP leaders also participated.Navaratnarajah the “facilitator” was also there. It began at 7.00 pm.The cabinet ministers were firm that the status of Sinhala as official language should not be eroded. After protracted discussion a compromise was suggested by William Silva that Tamil be recognized as the language of the national minorities.. Tamil was to be language of administration in the N- E.On the unit issue the FP consented to the premier’s stance that the North be one council and the East be divided into two or more councils. The Councils could merge if desired even cutting across provincial boundaries. Existing boundaries could be re- demarcated if necessary.When it came to powers of the council several minsters led by Philip Gunewardena refused to delegate their powers. The FP members retired to another room while cabinet ministers sorted out the issue. Subsequenty “line” ministers agreed to devolve their powers. The PM was willing to stop colonisation and also agreed to land settlement procedures satisfactory to the FP.On the question of citizenship Bandaranaike stated that he would resolve the issue through discussions with Plantation Tamil representatives. He suggested the FP should “leave it at that”. The FP complied.It was well past midnight now and July 26th had dawned. At 2. 00 am on July 26th V. Navaratnam read out in point form the agreement reached. Both sides formally agreed. Break through At 2. 30 am the members of the fourth estate, waiting eagerly for a sensational breakthrough, were called in to the cabinet room. Amid flashing cameras Bandaranaike apologised in his courteous manner “My friends, I am sorry to have kept all of you awake. But it is a historic night for you, for us and for the country”.Ranji Handy was then a Lake House journalist. The irrepressible Ranji who became Mrs. Maithripala Senanayake in later life blurted out “tell us the result please”.Then Stanley de Zoysa announced “We have reached an agreement”.SWRD then turned to SJV and said” Chelva they want to hear from you” Chelvanayakam said an agreement had ben worked out and that the details will be given by the PM.Bandaranaike then asked the press whether there was time to catch the printing deadline. Joe Segera shouted spiritedly that special arrangements had been made to print late and wanted the full details. SWRD then read out from V. Navaratnam’s notes. The press persons asked FP leaders whether they were satisfied. Naganathan, Vanniyasingham, Rajavarothayam and Amirthalingam replied in the affirmative. Chelvanayakam then stated that the FP would postpone its “direct action” campaign scheduled for Aug 20th.The press rushed out and the morning papers came out later than usual with full text of the agreement. The evening papers came out earlier than usual with more details.It may be hard to believe but the funny thing was that no pact had been signed by Bandaranaike or Chelvanayakam at that point. There was no B- C pact. It was like a gentleman’s agreement Chelvanayakam and Navaratnam returned to the FP leader’s residence at Alfred House gardens. It was there that Navaratnam pointed out that there was nothing concrete in writing that an agreement had been entered into. There would only be media reports. SJV then suggested that Navaratnam take some rest and handle the matter in the morning.Getting up early morning, Navaratnam drafted in triplicate, the terms and clauses of what is known as the Banda - Chelva pact now. It was in two parts.Part A was a summary of discussions and agreements reached. Part B was about the structure, powers and composition of proposed Regional Councils. ‘Historic agreement’ Chelvanayakam then took the copies and went at noon on July 26th to the Prime Minister’s office. It was there that the old Thomians - solomon and Samuel - endorsed the historic agreement known as the Bandaranaike - Chelvanayakam pact. It was done quietly away from the media glare.Bandaranaike had one copy and Chelvanayakam the other. Navaratnam the “draftsman” kept the third copy. Years later Navaratnam told this writer in a conversation at his son Mohan’s house in Toronto, the sad tale of how that “historic document” copy was destroyed by EPRLF militants during the Indian Army period.It was at his residence in Jaffna which the EPRLF had taken over then. Navaratnam the driving force behind the B- C pact also told me that the FP was not happy with all aspects of the agreement but compromised in a spirit of pragmatism. The veteran Tamil leader who split from the FP in 1968 and founded the Tamil Self - Rule party passed away some months ago in Montreal.In retrospect the B - C pact seems to have been one signed by leaders who realised that the ethnic problem had to be resolved if the nation was to realise its full potential. There was also a sense of urgency then to arrive at an understanding in order to contain the rising mood pf ethnic confrontation in the Country.Sadly the pact was never implemented. There was much opposition to it. JR Jayewardena and the UNP on the one hand and the Sinhala - Buddhist hardliners on the other whipped up a sustained campaign. Opposition campaign The Tamil Congress on its part also opposed the pact for its own reasons.The provocative act of sending new buses to the north with “sinhala”shree numer plates saw the FP resorting to a tar brush campaign again. This evoked counter measures in the South.200 Budhist priests and 300 others squatted outside Bandaranaike’s house on April 9th 1958 demanding the pact be revoked. Finally SWRD caved in and repudiated the pact unilaterally, tearing up a copy to symbolise it . He blamed the FP tar brush campaign for his action.Both Bandaranaike and Chelvanayakam entered into the agreement to avoid an ethnic conflagration. Yet a month after the BC pact was aborted ethnic violence erupted on a large scale. The ethnic crisis deteriorated into open war and the Country is bleeding fifty years later.The B- C pact was a golden opportunity to resolve the problem at its early stages through a solution comprising elements of the federal idea. Yet it never worked or was allowed to work.How and why the B - C pact ended in failure is a sad story that needs to be related on another occasion. 22 July 2007 APRC rejects SLFP proposals A majority of the parties represented at the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) have rejected the SLFP proposals on the unit of devolution and the nature of the state and decided to drop the word 'unitary' and keep the province as the unit of devolution in the proposed new constitution. This position of the APRC is reflected in a document titled 'Core Issues' which Chairman Tissa Vitharana has circulated among the members. Vitharana in circulating the document has said it was only the SLFP, MEP and JHU that had insisted on the unitary state concept to be included and that he would be meeting with the leaders of those parties to sort out the issue in terms of the majority view. Minister Vitharana has said all other parties including the UNP and the minority parties have accepted the Chairman's report which has specifically excluded the unitary concept and has suggested that the formulation in the Chairman's document stand. It has also been proposed by way of a compromise to replace the word 'unitary' with the word 'united.' Minister Vitharana has further pointed out that only the SLFP and the MEP supported the 'district' as the unit of devolution whereas 11 other parties maintained that it should be the Province. He has said not a single party supported the JHU position of 'local council.' The Vitharana paper also refers to the proposals made by a majority of the minority parties for contiguous provinces to merge and also to create separate units for the Muslims in the north and east and for the Indian origin Tamils in the upcountry. "A compromise solution which takes into consideration the concerns expressed by the SLFP with regard to unfair treatment of certain districts and also secessionist dangers could be achieved, e.g. by having the administrative pyramid beginning with the village instead of ending at the division level, being extended to the district level as suggested by the SLFP. This could be accommodated within the framework of the province as the unit of devolution," Vitharana has said. The Minister has also pointed out that he will hold discussions with the leadership of the SLFP, JHU and MEP on the areas of dispute but that the deliberations of the APRC will continue on the basis of the 'Province' being the unit of devolution. Meanwhile, Vitharana told The Sunday Leader the APRC was doing its best to finalise its proposals before August 15 to keep to the deadline set by the UNP for its participation. Funding cloud over eastern sunrise The government is likely to put on hold a donor forum on funding development projects in the east following a general reluctance particularly by European countries to provide new project aid, diplomatic sources said. Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera with whom some multilateral donors have had initial contact on the convening of a development forum, could not be reached for confirmation as his secretary said he preferred not to speak to the media because he was often misquoted.Diplomatic sources said the government had been considering a donor meeting in September to discuss eastern development but the Rs. 1.8 billion plan was now on hold because many donors had expressed reluctance or reservations.They said European Union countries, especially, were not in favour of getting involved in giving aid now as it might be interpreted as endorsing or condoning the continuing human rights violations and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. But officially the EU is taking up a different position. An official of the European Commission’s Colombo office said they might consider government requests for aid connected to the new development plan for the east.“We are unaware of any development forum being organised but we will consider any request for new funding,” said Guy Platoon, Charge d’Affaires of the Delegation of the European Commission in Colombo.Asked whether EU countries were reluctant to fund new projects in the east, Mr. Platoon said; “I’m afraid I can’t speak for other donor countries. I can only give the EC position.”Earlier in the week the Treasury’s Deputy Secretary, Sumith Abeysinghe said a blueprint for a proposed development forum for the east was being prepared and would be put on a fast track following the military victory in Toppigala. He said Dr. Jayasundera was supervising the development plan including infrastructure and resettlement.Mr. Abeysinghe said he hoped that various projects would be undertaken by donor agencies such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank (WB). The ADB’s Colombo office Deputy Director Laurence Pochard said the bank had regular ongoing programmes in the north-east and he did not think it would be giving any different budgets and programmes for the east. World Bank Country Director Naoko Ishii said the bank had not been informed of a development forum for the east and decisions regarding future assistance to the entire country were being made under a new country assistance strategy (CAS) that would cover the next three to four years. “As part of this programme, we are considering concrete programmes to provide additional support to conflict-affected areas,” she said in email comments sent to The Sunday Times. She said the bank would continue to consult with a wide variety of stakeholders—including the poor and vulnerable in conflict-affected areas—to help ensure that its assistance was appropriately targeted and sufficiently sensitive to the many complexities surrounding the conflict. According to initial estimates, some Rs. 1,800 million was needed for the projects on reconstruction of roads, irrigation schemes and electricity plants among others. President won’t dissolve Parliament President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday declared that he had absolutely no intention to dissolve Parliament and go in for a fresh general election. Delivering a hard hitting speech behind a bullet proof cubicle in Nawalapitiya, Rajapaksa attempted to quell mounting criticism against his administration by launching a scathing attack against the country’s main opposition United National Party (UNP). “Sri Lanka is probably the only country in the world which gifted territory to terrorists. They (UNP) were the ones who sealed shady secret deals with the terrorists, and now they are making absolutely baseless allegations against us saying that we gave money to the LTTE,” the President said. He also called on the opposition to stop betraying the country to foreign elements and instead of attempting to topple the government, join hands with it and work for the betterment of the masses. Rajapaksa also openly challenged opposition criticism over his controversial budget airline Mihin Lanka. “Everyone is saying there is no profit, it has been just a few months since it was launched, give me one year and I will show you the profits the airline has made.” One time UNP stalwart and now an ardent supporter of the Rajapaksa led government, Minister Rajitha Senaratne addressing the meeting claimed that when Ranil Wickremesinghe was in power, not a single project took off under him. “He did not spend even a cent for the development of the country; he did not even give a single job to the unemployed. He existed under the guise of fake peace,” the Minister who was a one time Wickremesinghe loyalist alleged. Karuna to contest Eastern mini polls The political arm of the Karuna faction, the Thamil Makkal. Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) formed by renegade former Eastern Commander of the LTTE, Vinyagamoorthy Muralithan (alias Karun) has announced plans to contest local government elections in the East.The spokesman for the TMVP, Mahesh, said his party would contest elections in the East and was eyeing the Batticaloa Municipal Council and eight other urban councils.The TMVP spokesman further said his party would contest elections islandwide in future general elections. He expressed confidence that the party would bag seats in the Colombo and Polonnaruwa districts in addition to party strongholds in the East. He said the party expected local government elections to be held before March next year. Finger pointed at military over Batticaloa gruesome killing The Honk Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) yesterday alleged that a group dressed in military uniform had stabbed a 27-year old woman to death in Paduwankarai, Batticaloa early this month. “The AHRC has received information about the gruesome stabbing of a 27-year-old woman allegedly by army personnel or members of the Special Task Force (STF) in Paduwankarai, Batticaloa. Accordingly, on July 7, several personnel in military uniform had come to the house she was staying and shouted her name. When she failed to respond they stormed inside, and escorted her out. There, they had brutally stabbed her about 12 times in the presence of her mother. The victim succumbed to her injuries shortly,” the commission said in a release. On July 7, Balasuntharam Thavamani, her mother and about 20 other persons displaced by the ongoing armed conflict were seeking refuge in a single house at Paduwankarai, Batticaloa. This area has been a stronghold of the LTTE until last week when state security forces wrested the area from the rebels.Around 9:30 p.m. that night, several men in military uniform suddenly stormed into the house and shouted for the victim by her name. As the victim failed to respond due to intense fear, the personnel entered the house and forcibly escorted her out.When the victim’s mother followed them wailing and shouting, they stabbed the young woman in the presence of her mother—a distance of about 100 metres from the house. She succumbed to her death on the spot after being stabbed about 12 times.Subsequent to this killing about 35 families in the village, fearing for their lives, fled the village and went to a nearby area. Thereafter they related the ordeal to Batticaloa MP P. Ariyanenthran. They are reluctant to report the incident to the authorities due to fear of reprisals. The AHRC has urged relevant state authorities to conduct an impartial investigation and inquiry into the circumstances of the death—including an identification parade, provide witness protection and security to potential witnesses to enable them to come forward and give evidence and take immediate disciplinary and legal proceedings against the perpetrators. SLFP(M) rejects offer to rejoin govt. The SLFP Mahajana Wing on Friday rejected an appeal by the government to return to the fold and accept ministerial office. The offer was made by Highways Minister and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle minutes after a letter sent by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga endorsing the new alliance between the UNP and SLFP(M) became public. The UNP and the SLFP(M) signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday to work as a broad Alliance to set the country on a path of democracy, peace and economic revival. Minister Fernandopulle told SLFP(M) coordinator Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi in Parliament that the whole country accepts the fact Mangala Samaraweera was the No.2 in the SLFP and that he should return to the party and take his rightful place. The Minister who spoke to Sooriyaarchchi in the presence of Ministers Ferial Ashroff and Anver Ismail also said if they were willing to reconsider their position the President would take them back to government and restore their positions. Fernandopulle also offered to negotiate a possible agreement if Samaraweera and Sooriyaarachchi were prepared to consider the proposal. However Sooriyaarchchi told Fernandopulle they have just embarked on a new journey and would not look back until the Rajapakse administration is defeated. He also said there were many more SLFP MPs waiting in the wings and the July 26 'People Power' campaign will be the beginning of a new era. Sooriyaarachchi also told several other SLFP MPs who wanted to know whether former President Kumaratunga was backing their campaign to observe the up coming developments closely. "When the UNP defectors joined the government and had a meeting they could muster only 300 people in Borella. Just watch us on July 26," he said. LTTE regional leader dies in confrontation with STF Five LTTE cadres including a regional leader were killed yesterday morning in a confrontation with the police Special Task Force. Fighting broke out between the STF personnel and the LTTE at Neriyakanatte in Kanchikudichiaru, west of Batticaloa. STF personnel on a clearing operation were confronted by a group of Tiger cadres lying in ambush. According to STF sources a LTTE regional leader identified as Ravindran was killed in the fighting along with five others. A haul of weapons including four anti personnel mines, five T-56 assault rifles and 56 Magazines were discovered by the STF personnel. “The STF did not suffer any casualties in the confrontation,” stated a news release by the police elite commandos. Meanwhile, an army foot patrol was caught up in a claymore mine explosion yesterday morning at 11 along the Mannar-Vavuniya main road. Two soldiers injured in the incident were later admitted to the Vavuniya Hospital. Ariyanenthiran refutes media speculation Tamil National Alliance’s Batticaloa district parliamentarian P.Ariyanenthiran vehemently denied media speculations that the government had made arrangements to buy over some of the TNA Eastern members of parliament following the Thoppigala victory which is said to have taken control of the entire East. “None of the Eastern TNA MPs were approached by the government with the intention of asking to cross over as reported in some media. Even if someone tried to drag us to the ruling side, they would never succeed” said Ariyanenthiran.“These are just baseless rumours that contain no truth”“We got elected to the parliament on the pledge that we will stand for the Tamil homeland. We are not going to compromise on that” he said. Referring to government’s announcement with regard to developing the East, Ariyanenthiran said, such developments carried out by the present government will only be a military-oriented one. Meanwhile the Eastern district MP said it was most likely that the Tamil National Alliance would boycott the local polls in East if the government were to hold it in the near future as announced.“We have not taken a formal decision as far as this issue is concerned. The final decision will be made once the parliamentary group leader of our party R.Sambanthan and other MPs who are abroad return” he added. Govt. to stop military offensives in the north? The government has decided to stop all offensives in the north in order to facilitate peace moves.The government will only engage in military exercises if there is an attack by the LTTE. Highly placed government sources said that the government is in touch with the Norwegian facilitators to kick start the stalled peace efforts. The government top brass is now in the process of meeting with constituent parties individually in a bid to surmount the stalemate situation. Senior officials attached to the Presidential Secretariat have recently met All Party Representative Committee Chairman Tissa Vitarana to explore possibilities of making way for peace. So far, the government has met with small time Muslim parties and was scheduled to meet with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress last evening. They have also spoken to the Ceylon Workers Congress in unofficial terms and would meet with them next week to elaborate discussions on how to get about the peace process. The officials are also set to meet TULF Leader V. Anandasangaree, PLOTE Leader Dharmalingam Sidharthan and the JHU. The government is however yet to meet with the JVP.Meanwhile, security forces said that the north has to be handled very carefully, and the forces have no plans to acquire lands in the northern area. But what is most important at this point is to usher in peace and to strengthen the economy. “The geography of the north is completely different from the east and the demographic situation of the north is totally different to that of the east,” the source added. SSP’s son-in-law in mystery abduction Mystery surrounds the alleged abduction of a senior police officer’s son-in-law and the demand of half a million rupee ransom – with family members and police telling contradictory stories.According to sources close to family members, Ranga Indika Perera, son-in-law of Senior Superintendent (SSP) Fabian Mitchele, was abducted in Kotahena by three men who came in the now-notorious white van.They say the gang demanded a ransom of half a million rupees while police tried to trace Mr. Perera with his father-in-law alerting all police stations and emergency units. By monitoring mobile phone calls, the police said the victim was eventually traced to Mahabage but the site happened to be a house being built by him – adding a strange twist to the drama.Sources close to family members said the family was compelled by the police to tell this Mahabage house story and not make any other statement, adding more mystery to the puzzle.But, SSP Jayantha Kulathilka charged that Mr. Perera had engineered his own abduction to get media publicity so that he could apply for British citizenship. He said Mr. Perera had been detained along with a relative and a friend who took part in the alleged abduction drama for further questioning.But, the sources close to the family still insisted Mr. Perera, who returned from London recently, was abducted and the abductors demanded Rs. 500,000 for his release. Chandrika advisor to new alliance President Chandrika Kumaratunge will function as an advisor in the newly formed UNP-SLFP(M) National Alliance, according to the party sources of SLFP (M) Wing.The former President has sent a congratulatory message to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU ) signed between the two parties. President Kumaratunga is expected to return to the island next month. Her security has been beefed up following a request by her Secretariat. Sripathi appeals for more security Deposed Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi has again appealed for more protection on grounds that his life continued to be under threat by ‘powerful elements’. The ex-Minister who now represents the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana Wing) levelled allegations of a conspiracy against him by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brothers including Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. “Ever since I was sacked, there were many attempts on my life. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the President removed all my security. I narrowly escaped a claymore mine explosion in the Kadawatha area and there were times when two or three white vans trailed my vehicle. Some even tried to kill me when I was in the prison. They are after my life,” he alleged. He went on to add that since he is provided with minimal security it might be only a matter of time that an attempt on his life would succeed. “I only have limited security. I’m not sure what will happen. But I’m not going to stop my struggle.”Sooriyarachchi said that although the state was doing nothing to protect him, the people will. “People know if I am killed President Rajapaksa is responsible. And the President knows that the public is aware that the Rajapaksa family wants me dead. So he won’t attack me directly,” he claimed. “What I want is proper security. Not only for me but for others whose lives are in danger” he said. “It is the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens but this government is doing a pretty bad job of it,” Sooriyarachchi added. 21 July 2007 Merger of North and East not ruled illegal:TELO JaffnaMP Srikantha TELO MP M. Srikantha told Parliament yesterday the Supreme Court did not rule the merger of the North and East illegal. Joining the debate on an adjournment motion moved by JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa in the House, he said the Supreme Court only held that the procedure which was followed in merging the two provinces was illegal and not the merger. He said the North and East were temporarily merged under the Indo Lanka Peace Accord in 1987 which was a pact between two states. “Therefore, the Sri Lankan government cannot ignore the procedures that have to be implemented under it,” he said.He charged that the government is trying to handover the Eastern Province to Minister Athaullah “He is day dreaming to become the Chief Minister of the East,” he said. Military claims killing five Tamil rebels trying to plant mines in northern Sri Lanka Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's military said Saturday it killed five suspected Tamil Tiger rebels who were trying to plant mines near a defense line in the country's north.Soldiers observed the group on Friday in Eluthumadduval village on the northern Jaffna peninsula and shot at them, an official at the Media Center for National Security said.The soldiers confirmed killing five rebels and recovered 12 anti-personnel mines during a subsequent search, the official said on condition of anonymity in line with policy.There was no immediate comment from the rebels.The incident came after Friday's pre-dawn attack by the rebels on a military post in northern Mannar district, sparking a battle that according to the military killed three soldiers and nine insurgents.Rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said, however, that they killed 10 soldiers and lost four of their fighters in the battle. The toll could not be reconciled because both sides habitually inflate each other's casualty figures and lower their own.Violence in the past 20 months has killed more than 5,000 fighters and civilians, rendering a 2002 Norway-brokered cease-fire meaningless. Neither side has withdrawn from the agreement because such a move could prompt international condemnation.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels have fought the government since 1983 to carve out an independent homeland for the country's ethnic minority Tamils in the north and east who have suffered discrimination at the hands of successive majority Sinhalese-controlled governments.More than 70,000 people have been killed in more than two decades of war. Leading businessman shot dead in Jaffna city Two gunmen, riding a motorbike, shot and killed a leading businessman in Jaffna city Friday around 4:30 p.m., Police said. Tension prevailed among the business community in Jaffna peninsula following the slaying of Sellaththurai Shanmugarajah, 56, the owner of Aldi Electronics. The motive behind the killing is believed to be vengeance for his son's alleged involvement with the Tigers, sources in Jaffna said. Mr. Shanmugarajah was slain while he was going home, towards Aathiyadi, after the day's business. His electronic shop is located at Stanly Road in a tightly guarded area of the Sri Lanka Army.Shanmugarajah died on the spot. His body was taken to the Jaffna Hospital morgue. JVP calls for disarming of paramilitary forces in East The JVP yesterday urged the government to gradually disarm all paramilitary forces operating in the East enabling the people in the area to live without fear. JVP parliamentary group Leader Wimal Weerawansa who moved an adjournment motion in Parliament to pay tribute to the security forces engaged in securing the East, said these paramilitary forces should be disarmed so that the people in the area would be able to enjoy their democratic rights. Mr. Weerawansa said the paramilitary forces had to take up arms because of the LTTE and if they continued to operate in the East even after the Tigers were no longer in existence, it would create other problems.“We call on the government do dismantle these groups gradually because we understand that such a process cannot be done overnight,” he said.While stressing that the government should undertake development work in the East without delay, Mr. Weerawansa said the government should not engage in publicity stunts alone.“This government is good at carrying out publicity stunts but not at implementing development projects,” he claimed. Mr. Weerawansa said it was essential to take the message of love and friendship to the people in the East. He said that proper tribute should be paid to the security forces who fearlessly secured the East from the Tigers who were not an isolated armed gang.“International imperialistic forces who are out to take over the oil wells, in the sea around Sri Lanka is trying to stop the rise in the Asian region. Our brave forces defeated the ideologies of these forces who say there is no solution to the national issue other than a negotiated settlement,” he said calling on the government to secure the North too as it did in the East. War will continue until last Tamil falls dead: Gajendran TNA MP S. Gajendran told Parliament that the war in Sri Lanka would continue till the last Tamil in the country falls dead. He made this point during the debate on Thoppigala in the House yesterday. The TNA MP described the liberation of the East as Sri Lankan forces occupying a foreign country after invading and said if the government thinks they can defeat the Tigers in the East, it is a myth. “We will fight until the last Tamil falls dead and until then the war will continue,” he said He charged that while the President of Sri Lanka is hailed for securing the East, the people in the area are leading a miserable life. Mr. Gajendran charged that paddy harvests of the people in the area have been taken away by the forces.He called on the international community to support the TNA in its endeavour to win their rights. Man abducted in Kotahena A middle aged man was abducted by an unidentified armed gang in Kotahena last evening in the first known case since June, police said.They said the victim identified as a Sinhalese had been forcibly taken away in a van at George R de Silva Mawatha around 5.00 pm. Kotahena police Inspector Neranjan Abeywardena told the Daily Mirror the victim was yet to be identified and a probe was underway to ascertain the motive of the abduction.According to surveys done by the Civil Monitoring Mission about 132 people have gone missing since January 2006 while most of the cases were abductions and some demanding extortions. The spree of abductions and disappearances ceased since the end of June and the authorities attributed it to the capture of two groups believed to have been responsible for the abductions. Police commandos kill 5 Tamil rebels in the east, military says Five ethnic Tamil militants were killed in a clash with police commandos in eastern Sri Lanka - on Saturday, the military said. The clash erupted when the rebels attacked the commandos in Kanchikudichcharu village of Ampara district, 220 kilometers (130 miles) east of the capital, Colombo, an official at the Media Center for National Security said. The commandos recovered assault rifles, explosives and detonators from the site, the official said on condition of anonymity in line with policy. ICRC refuses LTTE bodies in Batticaloa The ICRC yesterday refused to accept bodies alleged to be that of the LTTE from the military in Batticaloa. ICRC spokesman David Vignatti said they had refused to take LTTE bodies from Batticaloa as the LTTE is not operating in the area. The military was to hand over three LTTE bodies to the ICRC yesterday in Batticaloa but the ICRC refused to accept them.The bodies are now lying at the police morgue. “Sack MK Narayanan, the anti-Tamil distortionist,” demands Tamil Nadu Academic Chandrika hits out at Rajapaksa regime The former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, on Friday hit out at the policies of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government as inimical to the interests of the country and said the newly-formed National Congress led by Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mangala Samaraweera was the need of the hour.In a letter to Mr. Samaraweera, the rebel Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader who was ousted from the Government in February, Ms. Kumaratunga said, “The stated objectives of the Alliance seem to reflect the essential need of the hour. I have believed for a long time that the country’s problems can be solved effectively, only through a Grand Alliance of all honest, patriotic forces.” On Thursday, United National Party chief Ranil Wickremesinghe and the rebel faction of the SLFP came under the banner of National Congress with a pledge to work on a common programme and share power in the future. As per the arrangement, in the event of the combine capturing power, Mr. Wickremesinghe would be the Prime Minister and Mr. Samaraweera is to be designated as Deputy Prime Minister. The pact also provides for sharing of ministerial portfolios between the two parties.In her first elaborate public statement through the letter on the Rajapaksa regime, Ms. Kumaratunga complained that the SLFP had changed several important policies which were followed since 1993 and lead the country to “great, new heights”. “This is a style, wholly alien to the SLFP.” She recalled that her Government in 1994 succeeded to a great extent in bringing into the Government or to support the Government, all parties representing the minority groups, and all major parties, except the UNP and the JVP. “I made continued efforts to bring the UNP too, to work with us. So, I am very glad to see that the UNP and an important section of the SLFP, have agreed to work together in a formally constituted Alliance.” Ms. Kumaratunga said the “strange new policies” that were being implemented with regard to the economy, the Tamil question and rampant corruption would not resolve the prevailing problems in any of these spheres and might even worsen the situation to a point of no return. Batticaloa journalist, 2 youths reported missing in Colombo A Tamil journalist from Batticaloa, and two youths disappeared from Colombo last week, sources in Colombo said. P. Rathakrishnan, deputy minister and Upcountry People's Front (UPF) parliamentarian Thursday, meeting with the parents of the missing, said: "abductions and extortion appear to have resumed again in Colombo and this is an issue of great danger to our people."Sakthivel Prakash, 29, a journalist from Batticaloa, Kathiravel Chanthiravel, 23, of Puthuchcheddy street, and Mahenthirarajah Vigneswaran, a student aged 28, of Kotahena were identified as the youths missing.Rathakrishnan also said that he had provided details of the abductions to the Police Commissioner conveying the fear for the safety of the abducted. "I have received 124 complaints on abductions, extortion and persons gone missing. I will not tolerate injustice even if it is my party that is responsible for the governance of Sri Lanka," the junior minister said."Permanent peace can never be achieved by war and it could be reached only through negotiations. This is the stand of the UPF," he added. Ranil should get credit for creating split in LTTE: Lakshman UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne said in Parliament yesterday that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should be held in high esteem for creating a split in the LTTE through peace initiatives. Mr. Seneviratne noted this matter while speaking during the debate to pay tribute to the security forces for the liberation of Thoppigala from the Tigers.He said that Karuna broke away from the organization under these circumstances, and therefore everyone should give credit to Mr. Wickremesinghe.“I would like to request the JVP to keep that in mind before making allegations against him,” he said.He asked as to why the LTTE prevented people from exercising their franchise at the last Presidential Election if there was a deal between the UNP and them as alleged by some elements. He said security forces who have been injured during the operations in the East should realize they were injured by the bullets which were bought with the money given to LTTE by the present government. Mr. Seneviratne charged that the SLFP led PA government of 1994 sacrificed the entire East just to secure 4 percent of the LTTE held area in the North. He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who gave money to the LTTE is considered a hero, while the Opposition leader who did not give a cent to them is considered a traitor. Quoting former Indian Prime Minister Javaharlal Nehru he said ‘the false patriot is more dangerous that any one else’. UNP MP Johnston Fernando said over Rs 40 million had been spent for the ‘Eastern Rising’ programme which was held at Independence Square on Thursday. He said the UNP would come up with all the relevant details of this wastage of public funds soon. The UNP also alleged that officers of the security forces, who were sent to schools to talk about their success, have been instructed not to talk of past military operations in the East. 20 July 2007 Sri Lanka, rebels claim high enemy kills in clash Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers launched a pre-dawn attack on an army detachment in the restive northwestern district of Mannar on Friday, and both sides claimed to have killed nearly a dozen of their foes.The incident came a day after the government staged a show of military might in the capital with a parade of tanks and troops and a fly-past by fighter jets to celebrate the capture of vast swathes of eastern territory from the rebels.It also comes after a rash of land and sea clashes, ambushes and air raids that have killed an estimated 4,500 people since last year alone."There was a confrontation in the early morning in Mannar. The LTTE fired mortars and artillery. We lost three (soldiers), and four were wounded," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe. "Ground troops observed nine LTTE cadres killed, and technical sources say 24 were injured." The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who are fighting for an independent state in north and east Sri Lanka, called their attack a "preemptive strike", and said they had killed 10 soldiers and that four of their own fighters were killed."One of our units raided a mini camp in a pre-emptive strike as it was a source of harassment and shelling of civilian areas," Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said by telephone from the rebels' de facto capital of Kilinochchi."Our men found 10 bodies of Sri Lankan army soldiers and collected military materials such as weapons."Ilanthiraiyan said subsequent army shelling had hit a civilian settlement on the Tigers' side of the front line separating government from rebel territory, wounding a mother and her 11-month-old child.There was no independent confirmation of what had happened or the death toll.Analysts say the foes have tended to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own in a war that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983.And while losing their foothold in the east is a significant military defeat, the rebels have vowed to switch to guerrilla warfare tactics in a bid to cripple the economy with attacks on major military and economic targets. Analysts say there is no clear winner on the horizon. Several partners absent in President's Sunrise Leaders of several major coalition parties of the government were notable absentees at the state ceremony held at the Independence Square to tribute the security forces that liberated the Eastern Province. Despite the special request made at the government parliamentary group meeting from all government MPs to participate in this ceremony Ceylon Workers' Congress leader Arumugam Thonadaman, EPDP leader Douglas Devananda and Upcountry People's Front leader P. Chandrasekaran were absent. UNP and JVP boycotted the ceremony while MP Omalpe Sobhitha Thero represented the JHU. The diplomatic heads of India, Pakistan, Norway and other European Union countries were also invited, but did not take part in the function. The military duty officers represented the countries like USA and Japan. Parliament passes bill enabling Local Council Elections in Eastern Province With tanks, jets, Sri Lanka fetes fall of rebel east State television showed troops in the captured east watching the ceremony live as armored personnel carriers paraded through the square. Western ambassadors were conspicuously absent amid fears triumphalism will further erode any chance of a return to the peace table."The liberation of the Tamils cannot be achieved through weapons, bombs and cyanide capsules. The LTTE should realize that," Rajapaksa added, referring to cyanide vials rebels wear around their necks to commit suicide to avoid capture.Rajapaksa has said it is now up to the Tigers to decide on whether peace or more war will follow.The government plans to spend 6.0 billion rupees ($53.7 million) over the next six months to develop infrastructure like roads, schools and hospitals in a bid to win hearts and minds, a senior government official said. The government has also vowed to hold local elections in the east by the year-end to cement a civil administration there. HEAVY SECURITY Police and troops lined the streets around the square wearing triangular pink identification stickers in a bid to prevent rebel infiltrators from posing as servicemen to mount attacks.An estimated 4,500 people have been killed since last year after a 2002 ceasefire broke down on the ground and civil war resumed, and the fighting has now spread to the north.Rajapaksa this week vowed to wrest control of all terrain held by his Tamil Tiger foes following the assassination of a top government official in the restive east.Analysts say the shooting of Herath Abeyweera, Secretary of the Eastern Province, in the northeastern district of Trincomalee on Monday shows the Tigers are still a force to be reckoned with in the east, and see no clear winner on the horizon.The country's stock market has fallen sharply in recent weeks as fighting erodes investor sentiment and prompts companies to put investments on hold. I strongly believe on a solution based on power sharing within a unified Sri Lanka. Mangala Samaraweera The complete speech of SLFP (Mahajana) Wing Convenor- Mangala Samaraweeera Mangala invites SLFP Ministers and members to join newly formed National Congress Today is a historic day for Sri Lanka as we took the first step in the journey towards a new era.The United National Party, SLFP and their vision and policies and the SLFP (M Wing) _ for a program to build the country, we are joining hands today for a new journey. The convener of the SLFP's (M Wing) Mangala Samaraweera made these remarks after UNP and SLFP(M) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, at the parliament complex on July 19.Samaraweera further said that Sri Lanka marks 60 th anniversary of independence in 7 months time. We celebrate our 60th independence anniversary at a time when the country is facing a very crucial destiny.Although we are a small country, we inherits a very proud history. But our country is engulfed with crisis today and is facing a threat of being rated as a "failed state."The endless war and the ethnic conflict that has killed thousands over decades, the hopes we had at the time independence have been shattered.The country has suffered severe set back in the field of economic and politics and also in the culture and social spheres. The country is stagnating without solving any problem. We have inherited only war flames, hunger and war fear _ without any hopes for future.The situation has turned worse during the last 18 months. A family based shortsighted political culture has put the whole country into a turmoil.All the politicians since independence _ whether in the government or opposition are responsible for this crisis. However, more than any one who governed this country since independence, the family company which has been ruling this country for the last 18 months should take more responsibility for the country's downfall. Though there many reasons could be attributed to this collapse, it is useless to accuse each other as it gives only a temporary satisfaction. It would not severe the country in any way. Today our country does not want such a dishonest political culture. People of this country today are asking for a political culture based on ethics _ irrespective of communal, party and religious differences _ one would crown this country. The need of the era is to create a political culture which could bring all the communities living in this country together and ensure the brotherhood among all.It is in this backdrop, the discussion commenced between UNP and SLFP(M) for a common agreement to rebuild the country. We discussed and argued about our differences. After all, we could come to an agreement to form a broad alliance aimed at building this country We are establishing this National Congress as a broad alliance against the traditional dishonest politics, racism and one man show. We are confident that we can conquer any future challenge.This is not a trick to capture power, but to make a revolution change in Sri Lankan politics.For this, we must have a clear vision and program _ also a political commitment. Through this agreement, we have presented before the country the basic program for making such a change.We have identified that amending of the existing constitution which gives enormous powers to one person, within a stipulated time frame, is an urgent national need.We must accept that a political solution to ethnic conflict should be found. Without such a solution, we can not achieve any economic or social improvement. We must present a solution which guarantees equal human, economic and social rights for all the communities. I believe it would help to defeat terrorism which is deep-rooted in our country. We invite all progressive and political forces that love this country to join with us, at this historical moment. I invite all Sri Lankans to gather around this mass movement.On this occasion, I would like to make an appeal to Ministers and members of the SLFP. Although a majority of SLFP members approve our effort, the present leadership have suppressed their voice through the terror created within the party. I state to them that an environment where they can express their ideas and stance will be created very soon.As we enter into the 60th independence anniversary next year, we are competent that the dawn of a new era will become a reality. As we are dreaming to rebuild this country, with due respect, I invite a majority of our SLFP's Ministers and MPs to join with us. I take this opportunity extend my sincere thanks to opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who made a dedicated and honest effort to build this alliance.I express my sincere gratitude to UNP Chairman Rukman Senanayake, Tissa Attanayake, Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi and Tiran Alles and other officials in both parties. Hakeem condemns ‘Rising of East’ Post and Telecommunication Minister Rauff Hakeem informed Parliament yesterday that he participated at the government’s ‘Rising of the East’ ceremony with much reluctance, as it was a political exercise built on military gains that made the Tamils feel a “conquered people”.Addressing the House just hours after taking part in the ceremony presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and attended by government members, Minister Hakeem, who is also the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said leaders should not seek political mileage and score “brownie points” off military victories.“I attended today’s ceremony with much reluctance as I did not want to be seen as one who is opposed to the security forces”, he said during the debate calling for fresh nominations for Local Government polls in the East.Making a hard-hitting statement, he added, “War rhetoric at such ceremonies will not promote harmony. In fact they only add insult to injury to the Tamils by giving the impression that they are a conquered people. Blowing one’s trumpet to a captive southern audience won’t help unite the country. Why have a national event and choose an address to the nation to score political brownie points? ”He said civilized humans should celebrate the end of wars and not the wars. The Minister noted that he could not say such things without “stepping on toes”, but was doing so as he could not blindly applaud the vanity displayed at the ‘Rising of the East’ ceremony. “The leader of the SLMC does not want to be a cheerleader” he said, adding that when choosing between two evils, one should try and mitigate the harm caused by the chosen alternative. Quoting Ernest Hemingway he said, “The first panacea for a mismanaged country is inflation of currency. The second is war. Both bring temporary prosperity. Both bring temporary ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists”.“The sacrifices by the armed forces are indeed laudable. But we must take note of what lurks behind. Several armed groups are patrolling areas where elections are to be held. Are we able to hold free and fair elections in such a situation? Can we disarm these groups? Can we afford to further sully our already tarnished international image by holding an election that could be rigged and would put the lives of the candidates in jeopardy? ” he asked.Mr. Hakeem noted that the decision to hold elections in the East should come from the representatives of the people in the areas and not from those holding power at the centre. “Elections must be held only when all parties agree that there is sufficient security to hold elections”, he said.He concluded by urging President Mahinda Rajapaksa to purse the path of peace and ensures the safety of liberated areas in the East, so that voters could cast their ballot without fear of intimidation or violence. No polls in the east till normalcy is restored -----TNA MP Thangeswari TNA Batticaloa Parliamentarian Thangeswari, in an interview with Virakesari, told that there should not be any polls in the east until the displaced people are re-settled, until there are no acts of violence and until normalcy is restored. She added that areas in Muthur and Echelampattu have been acquired under the pretext of establishing a high security zone. The displaced people live in Batticaloa without being resettled. How can there be polls in such a situation? she posed. She continued that even the resettled people face numerous problems. Adequate provisions have not reached these people. How can an election be held, when there are high security zones, army camps and security check points all over? Indian Navy Activates Listening Post, Monitoring Station in Madagascar, Indian Ocean India has activated its first listening post on foreign soil that will keep an eye on ship movements in the Indian Ocean. A key monitoring station in northern Madagascar, complete with radars and surveillance gear to intercept maritime communication, was quietly made operational earlier this month as part of Indian Navy’s strategy to protect the country's sea lanes of commerce. The monitoring station, under construction since last year when India took on a lease from Antananarivo, will link up with similar naval facilities in Kochi and Mumbai to gather intelligence on foreign navies operating in the region. "A naval asset with limited anchoring facilities has been activated. It will facilitate possible manoeuvres by the navy in the region," a ministry official said. While the station will also monitor piracy and terrorist activities, its primary aim is to counter the growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean Region. The station is India’s first in southern Indian Ocean that is gaining importance due to increasing oil traffic across the Cape of Good Hope and the Mozambique Channel route preferred by super tankers. The US already has a permanent military base with aerial assets and monitoring facilities in Diego Garcia, 1,400 nautical miles north-east of the Madagascar facility. India is looking at developing another monitoring facility at an atoll it has leased from Mauritius in the near future. While the ministry remains silent, sources say some forward movement has recently been made on the project. With berthing rights in Oman and monitoring stations in Madagascar, Mauritius, Kochi and Mumbai, the navy will effectively box in the region to protect sea lanes right from Mozambique and the Cape of Good Hope to the Gulf of Oman an official said. The navy has already made its presence felt along the African coast with regular warships deployments to monitor piracy and terrorist movements. India also inked an agreement with Mozambique last year to mount periodical maritime patrolling off its vast coast. In 2003, the Indian navy provided seaward protection for the African Union summit at Mozambique. Etihad Airways to pull out of Sri Lanka Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said on Thursday that it was pulling out of Sri Lanka, citing a sharp drop in tourist traffic to the tropical island due to ongoing fighting between government and rebel forces.“After extensive market analysis, we have decided to discontinue our services between Colombo and Abu Dhabi from September 9,” the airline’s manager for Sri Lanka, Kumar de Silva, said in a statement.“Emotionally, this has been a tough decision for us, because Colombo was one of our earliest destinations.”Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka plunged 30 percent to 30,810 in June as compared with 44,066 a year earlier amid heavy fighting between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels.For the six months through June, overall tourist arrivals were down nearly 25 percent to 224,791 visitors, compared to the same period a year earlier, the Sri Lanka tourism board said.Sri Lanka’s 26-billion-dollar economy earned 130.8 million dollars from tourism between January and April, a 15 percent drop over last year. Tourism is one of the main foreign currency earners, along with garments and tea. STF to recruit 1,200 personnel to protect newly captured areas in Eastern Sri Lanka The commander of the Police Special Task Force (STF) Deputy Inspector General Nimal Lewke said that 1.200 new police constables would be recruited to the STF to protect the newly captured areas in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Addressing a passing out ceremony of 270 STF personnel at the Katukurunda STF Training camp Lewke said that around 500 have already recruited and 130 are undergoing training now. He said that all the newly recruited personnel would be deployed in the Eastern Province and would be given a special training to work there. Top Army officers on shaky ground Seven Majors General of the Army are said to be continuing to hold top positions and enjoying perks despite completing maximum term in their ranks nearly three months ago.Informed sources said the top Majors General were due to retire on April 31 this year but were yet to receive extension or termination letters.It is also learnt that Army Commander Sarath Fonseka had submitted the letters to the Defence Ministry a few months ago recommending their extensions but the Ministry had not responded.There is also speculation that the letters might have been sent to the President’s office to seek President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s approval. The seven Majors General are N. Ranasinghe – Commandant Army’s Staff College, Upul Perera – Quarter Master General, Nimal Jayasuriya – Welioya Area Commander, Sanath Karunaratne – General Officer Command - II Division Panagoda, Ashoka Thoradeniya – Master General Ordnance of the Army, L.B. Aluvihare – Adjutant General and Parakrama Pannipitiya – Security Forces Commander Eastern Headquarters. LTTE Political Head and CPA meets UNICEF Head Meeting was held between the Head of UNICEF, Ms JoAnna van Gerpan, and the Head of LTTE Political Division on 19 July morning. This meeting was preceded by a meeting with the Child Protection Authority (CPA) in Kilinochchi. Ms van Gerpan represented the 1612 Task Force monitoring body as well as UNICEF at these meetings. The issues discussed are listed below. Age of recruitment: With respect to the 1612 Action Plan of the LTTE, Tamilselvan reiterated to the Head of UNICEF, LTTE’s commitment to end membership of those under the age of 18 in its organization by end of this year. The 135 cases from the northern districts that remain in the UNICEF database but are not with the LTTE: CPA raised the issue of alleged 135 cases of underage youths in the LTTE from the northern districts that remain in the UNICEF database. CPA has repeatedly requested UNICEF to validate the correctness of these cases because these are not with the LTTE ranks. UNICEF promised to complete such a process soon.Eastern cases: CPA informed UNICEF that a process has been launched to deal with the cases from the east. CPA has informed UNICEF in the past that dealing with the eastern cases has remained problematic due to the attacks by the Sri Lankan military and the resulting massive displacement. CPA said that an undercover process has now been set in motion by the CPA to trace and release these cases if they are found to be with the LTTE.Others quoting UNICEF erroneously: Two very recent biased statements by others quoting UNICEF-Sri Lanka were discussed by CPA with UNICEF at the meeting. One is an article that appeared in the 27 April issue of the Dominion Post of New Zealand. The article was written by someone from UNICEF-New Zealand. Ms van Gerpan said that if the article had been sent to her office for comments it would have been corrected but it was not sent to her. The article quoted unnamed UNICEF officials in Batticaloa but UNICEF asserted that no such communication took place. The second statement was made by Ambassador Rock in New York on 5 June where he erroneously quoted UNICEF about the number of underage recruits by the LTTE. Both were accepted as errors that will be addressed by UNICEF-Sri Lanka.Schools as safe zones for protection from aerial attacks: CPA raised the issue converting schools as safe zones for protection from aerial attacks. UNICEF raised the problem of monitoring the neutrality of areas surrounding schools that are declared as safe zones. It was suggested by CPA that consideration must be given to mark at least schools in the heavily populated areas such as Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu cities as safe zones. This was accepted as a worthy suggestion by UNICEF that could be pursued. USD200 million profit margins maintain sophisticated Tamil Tiger war The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has created one of the most sophisticated insurgencies in the world, largely due to a complex global network of financial resources and weapons that are integral to prolonging its campaign for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka. In a unique report on the financial operations of the LTTE, Jane’s Intelligence Review reports that with financial and procurement structures well organised and strategically positioned around the globe, the group has a profit margin that would be the envy of any multinational corporation – some USD200 to 300 million per year.The Tamil Tigers is consequently the only known insurgent organisation with its own army, navy and now even a rudimentary air force, with access to financial resources and weapons giving it the luxury of introducing bold, new dimensions to the conflict.The report details two overarching financial and procurement bodies that provide the main source of LTTE money, manpower and weapons; the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases (nicknamed the KP Department). The Aiyanna Group functions as the group’s intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organisation’s financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the LTTE’s procurement arm. In addition, the LTTE creates and staffs some charitable organisations, projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and, ultimately, convert the gains into arms.The Jane’s Intelligence Review report says that the system works as an efficient way to move funds wherever investment or procurement opportunities arise while utilising a charitable façade’s tax-free status and legitimacy.Geographically, the LTTE use a myriad of methods to maintain this formidable, non-state support structure. The southern province of Tamil Nadu in India plays a pivotal role in LTTE procurement and has become an essential transit point in the LTTE arms, narcotics, contraband and possibly human smuggling. Beyond Sri Lanka’s neighbour, Cambodia is one of the most significant single sources of weapons for the insurgent group. The remainder of internationally procured weapons are believed to originate from the rest of Southeast Asia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Ukraine.The report adds that the procurement of anti-aircraft technology, given the destruction wrought by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces' aerial assets, will be the primary driver of the LTTE’s continued international fundraising campaign. (ENDS)Editor’s notes: To speak to Jane’s Intelligence Review or for a full copy of the report as it will appear in next month’s edition, please contact Leah Turner, Press and PR Officer, on +44 (0) 208 700 3922 or email leah.turner@janes.com Sri Lanka rebels forcing Tamils to join war effort -Reuters,.By Simon Gardner KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka, July 20 (Reuters) - In Tamil Tiger territory, youths like Rajathurai Ponnambalam are living in hiding to avoid being forcibly recruited by the rebels and sent to fight in a Sri Lankan civil war they don't believe in. Many residents Reuters spoke to during a rare visit to the rebels' heartland in the north said the Tigers are demanding every family contribute at least one member to a movement widely banned as a terrorist organisation by the likes of the United States, Britain and the European Union. They tell of how brothers, sisters, sons and daughters have been taken against their will to camps to be trained as fighters. They say they are helpless to prevent it. "They said: 'Your family does not have an LTTE member, so you must join," said Ponnambalam, who is in his 20s and gave a false name for fear of retribution from the rebels. "I did not agree, so they took me away in a vehicle." "They took me to join the group as a fighter. They showed me about training, about fighting," he added. "I don't want to join. My family depends on me." He managed to get away. Many others have not been so fortunate, or live in constant fear that they will be next. The Tigers deny they insist on recruiting one person from each family, but aid workers say the demand was made earlier this year and that the rebels have promised their staff will be exempt. "There is no strict compulsion as to every family should give a single member," Tiger political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan said in an interview during a visit to the rebel's de facto state. "There are families from which you have two or three members (who have) already opted to serve in the LTTE ... but we are very keen to ensure that not more than one person from one family is in the LTTE, because that would be minimizing their family work." AID STAFF TARGETED Families receive letters from the Tigers with names of members who must join underlined. Most international aid agencies are having to keep some local staff indoors. Some of them have not been able to leave their compounds for months. "All the NGOs in the area have great concerns towards recruitment policy. We do experience that staff of all the different NGOs are getting abducted or have tremendous pressure towards them because they want to recruit them," said Arne Bangstad, programme manager of Nordic aid agency FORUT. "We have been promised by the political wing that such recruitment should not take place and that the humanitarian status of the NGOs would be respected. But in practicality, we find that this is not really the case." Recruitment posters are pasted around Kilinochchi town. Pictures of the rebels' elite Black Tiger suicide wing pepper bus-stands and shop fronts. "Join with us. Protect our land from the Sinhalese army," the posters say next to a photograph of a rebel fighter in characteristic Tiger-striped fatigues taking aim with an assault rifle. A giant billboard in the town shows a montage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa holding a noose around the neck of a child slain in the grisly massacre of a family in the northwestern district of Mannar last year, which the rebels and military each blame on the other. The distant sound of heavy artillery fire across the front lines that separate rebel from government territory serves as a permanent reminder of what awaits those recruited. FAMILIES HELPLESS "One of my sons is in the LTTE. He joined 63 days ago. He did not join voluntarily," one elderly man confided, insisting on anonymity. "His mother is not well. After they took him her sickness got worse. What can I do, even if I get angry?" Another man says his underage daughter joined to meet the quota so that her elder brother could continue to be her family's main bread winner in a district where 70 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, earning less than a dollar a day.Similar stories abound, and fear is palpable as a new chapter in a two-decade civil war that has killed nearly | ||
