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30 June 2006 Supreme Court halts Admiral Sandagiri's Deputy Secretary Post The Supreme Court today orders the government to immediately stop former Chief of Defence Staff, Daya Sandagiri from functioning as Deputy Secretary of the Defence Ministry. of this nature.CJ further said that the petition has been filed with the public well being in mind and added that two commissions had been appointed to probe whether irregularities had taken place and as the matter comes under the purview of the Defence Ministry, it is inappropriate to appoint such a person o a high post in the Defence Ministry. When state counsel Indika Dewamuni De Silva said that she was representing the Attorney General, the Chief Justice pointed out that as these allegations had been made by the Attorney General and are of very serious nature such a thing could not be allowed. Sri Lanka suicide bomber was a waiter Investigations into Monday's bomb attack which killed Lieutenant General Parami Kulatunga has revealed that the suicide bomber had been working at a hotel in Godagama for more than seven months. Police sources claimed that this suicide bomber had joined this hotel as a waiter in November last year, from which point it was likely that he had been monitoring the activities and the whereabouts of the late Lt. Gen. Kulatunga. Police are also investigating to find out whether this LTTE suicide bomber had received any sort of assistance from other hotel employees to carry out his duties. Lt. General Kulatunga and two other army officers were killed on Monday morning at Pannipitiya at around 7.45 a.m., when a LTTE suicide bomber traveling in a motor cycle rammed into the vehicle in which the Army officers were traveling in. General Kulatunga who was also the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army reportedly died instantly following the attack. Kalmunai Municipal Council's first meeting held "We should administer the newly created Kalmunai Municipal Council as an example to show the unity of Muslims and Tamils in the town," said Deputy Mayor Mr.I.L.Kamardeen addressing the first meeting of the council Thursday morning. The Mayor Mr.Abdul Rahim Asmir did not attend the meeting due to illness, sources said. Nine members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), six members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK), two members of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the only member of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) participated in the first meeting, sources said. All councillors were received at the commencement of the meeting. Thereafter the Deputy Mayor hoisted the Sri Lanka national flag. ITAK councillors did not attend the national flag hoisting event. The Deputy Mayor appealed to all councillors to work for the betterment of the town with dedication irrespective of race and religion.The Deputy Mayor at the end of his address submitted a programme for developing Kalmunai town. Mr.Henry Mahendran, TELO Deputy Leader and leader of the ITAK councillors said as far as Tamils are concerned they want to promote harmony and unity between the two communities in the town. He said that one third of the councillors are from the ITAK and the administration should be mindful of the need to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of services to all communities, he added.He said no room should be allowed for political and outside interference in the council administration at any stage.Several other councillors also spoke, sources said. Tamil language made compulsory for public employees A proposal to make Tamil a national language, one of the root causes that gave rise to the protracted ethnic problem, has been presented to the Cabinet by Constitutional Affairs Minister Dew Gunasekara and granted approval by the cabinet.Under the 13th amendment introduced in 1987 the official language should be made trilingual, but the non-implementation of it is a violation of the constitution, Gunasekara told today's Cabinet press briefing. A decision has been taken to implement the proposal from tomorrow itself and making it mandatory for the public sector employee to have knowledge in Tamil, the Minister explained. In the same way Tamil becomes compulsory in government establishments in the South, Sinhala becomes compulsory in the pubic sector institutions in the North and East and special incentives will be paid for public sector employees for learning these languages and this will be a great relief to the Sinhala people living in the North and East and the Tamil people living in the South, who have become oppressed due language related issues. LTTE must reconsider position -Nordic Countries Sri Lanka breakaway ex-rebels vow to keep up attacks- Reuters While Sri Lanka's government and Tamil rebels teeter between war and peace, a deadly conflict is raging in the island's east, where renegade guerrillas are locked in a do-or-die battle with former comrades.Blindfolded bodies are often found dumped by the road, hands tied behind the back, in the eastern "shadow war," which rages alongside naval battles, ambushes and air strikes further north between government forces and mainstream guerrillas.The renegades, who call themselves the TMVP, say they are not party to the fraying 2002 ceasefire between the mainstream Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels and the government. "The ceasefire was between two sides -- the LTTE and the government," Prathep, a senior renegade rebel, told Reuters in the eastern town of Batticaloa late on Wednesday. "To protect our own bases, we must attack them (the LTTE). It is not to destroy the ceasefire agreement or bring war to the country."With more than 700 people dead so far this year, mediators are desperate to restart a peace process between the government and the LTTE.But repeated attacks on the LTTE by the ex-rebels, led by a man named Karuna, are seen making matters worse, and many diplomats suspect the military is backing them. The government denies it, saying Karuna is an internal LTTE problem. In February, they initially promised to disarm armed groups in their territory but truce monitors say they then did nothing. The Tigers pulled out of talks and violence soared.After years as one of their top commanders, Karuna Amman split from the LTTE in 2004. The rebels retook his eastern territory, but he has since rebuilt his forces and started the TMVP, based in the army-held town of Batticaloa.Few in the area talk openly about the internecine Tamil fighting or the government's role in it. But many fear that unless violence is checked, the two-decade civil war that has already killed some 65,000 people will resume in earnest. ENDING TIGER DICTATORSHIP? "We are very afraid. Someone is gunned down but you cannot say who did it," rickshaw driver Thampyiaher Debadass, 48, said standing next to a lamp-post scrawled with the blood-red letters TMVP. "You cannot blame particular groups. All are doing it."The TMVP says that although the Tigers claim to fight for a separate homeland for minority Tamils, rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has turned them into a brutal dictatorship prejudiced against eastern Tamils in favor of their northern brethren.Fighters loyal to Karuna had killed 230 Tiger fighters since 2004, Prathep said, for the loss of 57 of their own men. If the Tigers did not change and pursue peace, the TMVP would destroy them without military help. "If there is no peace then we can bring an end to the dictatorship of Prabhakaran," he said in Tamil as unarmed Karuna loyalists brought cola drinks and cream cakes. "We can, but we go step by step. We have no need of support from the military."But Karuna is seen to have a few hundred fighters at best against an estimated 10,000-20,000 Tigers.The TMVP does not say how many men it has, but admits its members are based in jungle camps between government and Tiger territory. But some residents say they are in reality close to or even part of army camps."Without any doubt there is government support," said Janes' Defense Weekly analyst Iqbal Athas. "Karuna parted company two and a half years ago. How is he managing to maintain himself in terms of ammunition? But I don't know at what level of government they are conscious of that interaction." LTTE denies apologising for Rajiv murder - Ndtv.com A Tamil Tiger spokesperson has been quoted in several Tamil dailies as saying that their chief ideologue Anton Balasingham never really apologised for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination on NDTV or owned responsibility. Balasingham, the group claims, merely regretted the killing. Some pro-LTTE Tamil papers have also claimed that NDTV edited and thereby distorted the interview. However, NDTV would like to clarify that no section of the interview was tampered with. For clarity, this is the text of Balasingham's interview in which he regretted Gandhi's killing. LTTE olive branch to India missed – Tamil Guardian The text of the Tamil Guardian’s editorial follows: The Liberation Tigers’ call this week for India to put the past behind and to take a fresh approach to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka has understandably sparked a frenzy of media interest and not a little controversy in India and elsewhere. The LTTE’s extending of an olive branch to Delhi comes at a crucial time for Sri Lanka and an anxious one for the region; there is little doubt that Sri Lanka is edging towards a resumption of its bloody decades-long war. There were several key messages in the comments by LTTE’s theoretician and chief negotiator, Mr. Anton Balasingham aired on NDTV this week. The first, which has drawn the most media focus, is his characterisation of the 1991 assassination of former Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi as “a great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy.” This has, perhaps understandably, dominated headlines and commentary, both in India and elsewhere. Although a reiteration and elaboration of comments made by the LTTE leader, Vellupillai Pirapaharan, in 2002 during his landmark press conference in Kilinochchi, it has been interpreted and misinterpreted by different observers. Some have characterised it as an admission of responsibility. Others have characterised it as an evasion of responsibility. Still others have said it is neither, but a clever ploy to deliberately confuse. A few astute observers have, however, seen it for what it plainly is: a considered and heartfelt expression of regret for a prominent and devastating moment in a long and traumatic period of Tamil-Indian relations, one characterised by thousands of deaths – including Indian soldiers, LTTE fighters and, especially, large numbers of Tamil civilians. These observers have also grasped the significance of the other messages in Mr. Balasingham’s comments. One is the LTTE’s pledge that “under no circumstances will we act against the interests of the government of India.” The implications of this statement must be considered against a prominent assumption that remains problematically unquestioned: that the LTTE and Tamil political aspirations are inevitably at cross-purposes with India and her national or geopolitical interests. This is not to say that these are identical, but to point out that a just and lasting solution to the Tamil question also equates to regional stability. Another notable LTTE message is for India to get actively involved in resolving the Tamil question. This call for diplomatic and political intervention is a deliberate and radical departure from the uncompromising rejection of Indian involvement that prevailed in the wake of the IPKF fiasco. Some, observing the developments through the distorting prism of political orthodoxy misunderstood the LTTE’s logic, characterising its olive branch as a desperate measure to curry favour in the wake of the European Union’s ban. This not only unjustifiably gives primacy to a desire for international legitimacy over all other considerations; more importantly, it ignores the LTTE’s own history, that the movement has almost always been internationally alienated. Even the limited contacts of the post-2002 era have more to do with realpolitik (the obvious unavoidability of the LTTE) than with any solidarity with it. The point here is, the LTTE has grown from a handful of fighters to the semi-state it is today despite not having a single international sponsor or ally. Save one, briefly: India. But as Mr. Balasingham pointed out this week, India’s preparedness in the early 1980s to train LTTE fighters, stemmed primarily from a desire “to protect our people from [Sri Lankan] state oppression.” Now, twenty years later, India is again intervening (albeit diplomatically this time) to protect the Tamils from the Sri Lankan state. In the wake of the extra-judicial and indiscriminate killings of hundreds of civilians, especially in the past few months, a government in Delhi is again pressuring a government in Colombo to restrain its armed forces. Following the killing of a top Sri Lankan General by a suicide bomber this week, there can be no doubt that President Mahinda Rajapakse’s cotorie of Sinhala ultra-nationalists are straining to lash out again with airstrikes and artillery. But they dare not, for fear of antagonising India, which only last week delivered a blunt warning against such violence. It is in this context, where India again has to increasingly intervene in Sri Lanka to restrain a Sinhala government from savaging the island’s Tamils, that the LTTE, explicitly hailing Delhi’s efforts in this regard, has called for a new beginning, one that can lead to a just and lasting solution and stability in the region. In short, securing the island’s Tamils and ensuring their rights are restored and safeguarded is a goal behind which both the LTTE and India are separately, but simultaneously, once again aligned. Sri Lankan President takes control over ruling party President Mahinda Rajapakse has become the leader of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), taking it over for the first time from the Bandaranaike dynasty. Rajapakse was named the head of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) without a contest, ousting former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the daughter of two Prime Ministers - S W R D Bandaranaike and Sirima Bandaranaike. Earlier, Kumaratunga had resisted moves to oust her from the leadership of the party launched by her late father, but the rank and file at a key meet here yesterday supported replacing her with Rajapakse. Rajapakse is the first from outside the Bandaranaike family to take control over the SLFP. Even though he won the November presidential elections and emerged the most powerful man in the country, Kumaratunga had resisted moves to hand over party leadership to him. Mahinda’s election: Jeyaraj walks out End of Bandaranaike era While President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected the new SLFP leader unanimously, several party stalwarts expressed reservations and some even walked out of Wednesday’s Central Committee meeting in protest, party sources said. Heading the dissenters was Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who said it was not proper to change the leadership when party leader Chandrika Kumaratunga was out of the country. He said it was not good for the party to take an important decision at this time partly because the country was faced with bigger problems and Ms. Kumaratunga was not present for the meeting. Minister Fernandopulle walked out of the meeting around five minutes before the Central Committee met at Temple Trees. Ms. Kumaratunga, celebrating her 61st birthday in London however came to know about Minister Fernandopulle’s walkout no sooner it happened. She telephoned her brother Anura Bandaranaike who was in the dark about what transpired at the meeting and informed him yesterday about Mr. Fernandopulle’s walkout, the sources said. Minister Bandaranaike had skipped Wednesday’s meeting, instead writing to the President saying it was tough for him to choose between the President and his sister. “For me to choose is a Herculean task. Whatever side I take they will say that I betrayed my sister or one of my oldest friends, whose best man I was. No other person had this most difficult choice to make. My deep friendship for you has not lessened anyway, neither has my affection for my sister”, the letter said. Mahinda’s election: Jeyaraj walks out Meanwhile Anuruddha Ratwatte’s objection was hardly noticed during the meeting. Mr. Ratwatte too said this was not the right time yet he seconded the move when Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva proposed Rajapaksa as the new leader. The Daily Mirror learns that Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva who reportedly vowed to go to courts against the change of leadership, during a phone conversation with Ms. Kumaratunga a couple of hours prior to Wednesday’s meeting, vociferously supported Rajapaksa’s leadership at the meeting. With the exception of Minister Fernandopulle, the majority of the members led by Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon supported Rajapaksa’s leadership. Sri Lankan Paramilitary Organizations Accused of Targeting Civilians As Sri Lanka threatens to slide back into all-out civil war, much talk is focused on paramilitaries - armed groups accused of carrying out attacks on civilians. Both the government and the Tamil Tiger separatists deny any links to paramilitary organizations, and blame the other for such groups' actions. Meanwhile, civilians are caught in the middle. Raj Rajarammohan is a Tamil businessman and the head of the Chamber of Commerce in Trincomalee, in eastern Sri Lanka. The town is made up primarily of Tamils, Sri Lanka's largest ethnic minority. But it is also home to Muslims - and to Sinhalese, the largest ethnic group, which dominates the central government in the south. That makes Trincomalee a lightening rod for conflict between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - the Tamil Tiger rebels. Both claim they want to save a 2002 cease-fire, but deadly violence erupts almost daily, and civilians like Rajarammohan are often the ones who suffer. More than 800 Sri Lankans have died of violence in the past six months, many of them in what some call the country's "shadow war" - attacks against civilians that appear to be orchestrated by one side or the other.That is what Rajarammohan says happened in April when a bomb went off in central Trincomalee. The bomb prompted a "riot" - which he says appeared to be very well organized. "Soon after the bomb blast, within five minutes, hundreds of people - a mob - they already had these cans of fuel, and guns, and, you know, swords and clubs," said Raj Rajarammohan. "They just came in. I mean, they were targeting all the Tamil businessmen, that is how we feel. Because all the 32 shops that were gutted down, were Tamils'. And Sinhala shops and the Muslim shops... there was no damage whatsoever." Sri Lanka's civil war dates from 1983, when the Tamil Tigers began their campaign for a separate homeland for the Tamil minority. More than 60,000 died before a cease-fire, brokered by Norway, was signed in 2002. For a time, the violence all but disappeared. Last year, it began again in earnest. There have been several recent clashes that fall into the category of conventional war - battles at sea between the rebels and the Sri Lankan navy, and bombing raids by the Sri Lankan air force in retaliation for suicide bombings attributed to the rebels. The perpetrators of other incidents, like the attack described by Rajarammohan, are more difficult to pin down. The rebels charge that the perpetrators are groups backed by the government. The government denies this, and independent European ceasefire monitors say they are not sure who is telling the truth. One group accused of violence against civilians is a splinter faction of the Tigers. In 2004, the rebel group, which had been known as a highly disciplined organization, split into two factions along geographic lines. Fighters from the east charged that the leadership, based in the north, was using them for the heaviest fighting. The rebel leadership says the government orchestrated the split, and now use the eastern splinter faction to carry out violence against civilians. That way, the rebels argue, the government can claim that the Tamil Tigers are to blame for exacerbating tensions. Ellian is the alias used by the Tamil Tigers' regional political chief outside Trincomalee. He says the rebels recently captured two paramilitary soldiers who confessed that they were trained by the Sri Lankan army, and given safe-haven in government-controlled territory. He says the paramilitaries are undergoing training in an army-controlled area, so how can the government say there are no links? He says the army is keeping its mouth shut, but everybody knows it is only with the connivance of the army that the paramilitaries can operate. Thorfinnur Omarsson is the spokesman for the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, the European ceasefire monitors. He says there is some evidence to support the claim that the paramilitaries have freedom of movement in government territory."There have been some indications, and we've already reported them," he said. "There are indications pointing towards [that], but on the other hand, we hear many stories, and sometimes we are 99 percent sure, but we don't have the complete evidence for it.The Sri Lankan government vehemently denies any links to paramilitary organizations, which they consider to be a tactical ploy by the Tamil Tigers. The peace monitors and other experts also point out that the rebels too, may be using paramilitary organizations in certain circumstances. Again, the goal is to hide the identity of the perpetrators of violence.Rajarammohan, the Trincomalee businessman, says for civilians caught in the cross-fire, who is at fault is beside the point. "It is a cold war, which is very ruthless," he said. "It is much worse than conventional war. Because people who are getting killed are innocent civilians. The people armed are quite safe, very safe."Rajarammohan says he would prefer to see the civil war declared again. Then, he says, the government and the Tamil Tigers could start targeting each other, and maybe leave civilians alone. Millionaire boys in scam Four young Sri Lankans residing in Britain were taken into custody while holidaying at a hotel in Negombo for allegedly misappropriating millions of rupees from state and private banks using bogus credit cards.Three of them are said to be the sons of multi- millionaire businessmen in Sri Lanka. Three suspects are students in Britain. The fourth is a Sri Lankan Tamil residing in Britain.2,700 bogus credit cards and two million rupees were found by the police in their hotel room.In addition a laptop computer in which data relating to 5995 credit cards had been stored.The suspects had come to Sri Lanka in April this year. On questioning it was revealed that they had obtained nearly ten million rupees from state and private banks in the country using bogus credit cards. 29 June 2006 Lanka navy lose patrol craft, five sailors in clash with LTTE "One patrol craft caught fire and the navy requested air force support to beat back the attack," a military official said.The Navy and the Tamil tigers clashed in the same area earlier this month in a major sea battle that killed more than 50 people. In another incident, one soldier was killed and six people, including three civilians, injured when Tigers mortared military positions in the restive Northeastern district of Trincomalee early today, prompting the military to launch retaliatory mortar attacks against the rebel positions, according to the defence ministry. Meanwhile, panic gripped the Sri Lankan capital after threats of bomb attacks against schools in the city. The threats came ahead of the funeral of top Amy General Parami Kulatunga, who was killed in a suicide bomb attack on Monday. General shut down paralyzes Trincomalee The normal life in the Trincomalee town was completely disrupted following a general shut down observed Wednesday in response to an appeal by the Trincomalee District Tamil Resurgence Forum condemning the terror unleashed by the State armed forces on the innocent Tamil civilians in the North East and the militarization of the Trincomalee district civil administration by appointing retired army and navy personnel for the key civil posts such as the Governor of the North East Provincial Council and the District Government Agent, sources said. Rear Admiral (Rtd) Mohan Samarawickrema holds the post of NE Governor and Major General (Rtd) Ranjit Silva has been appoint Government Agent from June 1st, sources said. Offices of the Trincomalee Urban Council (UC), North East Provincial Council, international and national non-governmental organizations, schools, branches of state and private sector banks, shops and markets, sources said.Transport services to and from Trincomalee came to a standstill as passengers did not turn at bus terminals. Roads were deserted without civilian movement, sources said.Security of the town was beefed up by deploying more soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy at strategic points in the east port town, sources said.Meanwhile four Tamil speaking public servants were arrested Tuesday evening by the SLA soldiers for allegedly possessing pamphlets announcing the Wednesday general shut down call and they were later handed over to the Trincomalee Police for further action, sources said. Bomb scares close Sri Lanka's schools Telephone calls to schools and parents about bomb threats in schools triggered panic in the country today as the government had to step up security in schools.The threats came ahead of the funeral for the Sri Lanka Army’s slain Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Parami Kulatunga. Following calls, parents rushed to schools in the Colombo city, Galle and Gampaha areas to bring their children home. An Education Ministry spokesperson said there was a sharp drop in attendance and authorities had to close several schools in Colombo.Meanwhile, the government’s defence spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella called on the public not to panic over rumours. “We have beefed up security at every school with deploying additional troops,” he assured. Claymore explosion kills three Mannar civilians Three Tamil civilians were killed in a claymore explosion Wednesday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. while transporting sand in a tractor from Kallaru located in the Liberation Tigers controlled Musali division in Mannar district, civil sources said.S.Jacob, 51, Suthakar, 22, and Sebamalai Suresh of Kokupadaiyan area in Musali DS division were returing with their loaded tractor to Kokupadaiyan when their tractor hit a claymore mine buried along the road by the Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of the Sri Lanka Army. The tractor was destroyed in the explosion. All three occupants died on the spot, civil society sources said. Their bodies were taken to Silavathurai hospital, hospital sources said.The site where the explosion took place is located about 30 km off Mannar town. Who removed security personnel of assassinated Major General? There is mounting speculation among Army top brass that the assassination of Major General Parami Kulatunga was made possible due to the removal of 30 personnel detailed for his security.A group of 30 body guards deployed for the security of Major General Kulatunga, an officer much loved and respected by the rank and file of the Army for his commitment to service, had been withdrawn last April on a written order. Though serving as Deputy Chief of Staff and the 3rd ranked officer of the army at the time of his demise, he was virtually acting as Army Commander as Army Commander Lieutenant Genera Sarath Fonseka is away in Singapore for medical treatment and Chief of Staff and the 2nd in command, General Nanda Mallawaarachchi was on retirement leave. Even though he was due to retire on 8th October, it is reported that discussions had taken place to grant him a service extension with a view to appoint him the next commander taking into account his 35 year long service following health concerns of the Army Commander and the retirement of Army's Chief of Staff Nanada Mallawaarachchi.Against this backdrop, the reason for the removal of Major General Kulatunga's security has become a hot topic. 3 Tamil youths shot dead in Batticaloa Unknown gunmen who arrived in motorbikes, shot and killed 3 youths, using military-type 9mm pistols, on their way home in Mylambaveli, 7 km, north of Batticaloa town, Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., said Eravur police. The killings took place 250 meters from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at Mylambaveli on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee road.The gunmen after killing the youths poured gasoline and set the bodies alight, local residents said.The victims - Sinnaiyah Mahesh Vasanthakumar, 26, from Puvaththegawittiya, Kegalle, Navaratnam Arunasiri, 22, from Vipulananthapuram, Mylambaveli, and Muththukaruparan Krishnakumar, 21, also from Vipulananthapuram were temporarily residing in the house and were masons by profession.Several Tamil refugees from Pullumalai recently settled down in Mylambaveli fearing army harassment. If war breaks out again no country on earth will bail out Sri Lanka Senior Tamil politician and General Secretary of the Akhila Ilankai Tamil United Front (AITUF) K. Vigneswaran, has emphasized that in the event another war breaks out, no country on earth is going to bail out Sri Lanka. "That is the reality. And, if a war does break out, it is the civilians who would bear the brunt of it," he declared recently. Delivering a speech at the 17th death anniversary ceremony of Dr. Colvin R. de Silva conducted by the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the former Tamil Parliamentarian and ex-advisor to Eelam Peoples Democratic Party leader Douglas Devananda advised the political leadership of this country to adopt a different approach in dealing with the ethnic conflict. "There is indeed a power that could help to bring about permanent peace and to rein in the LTTE. Past Governments of Sri Lanka have overlooked that power. That power is the Tamil people. If the Government would only win the confidence of the Tamil people, the Tamil people would become its best ally in its search for peace," Dr. Vigneswaran noted. While emphasising that despite the Ceasefire Agreement being in place for more than four years and the country facing a 'no war, no peace' situation on ground, the Sri Lankan Government must initiate parallel negotiations with other parties with the intention of arriving at a permanent solution. "In fact, many parties and intellectuals are ready to help the Sri Lankan Government in this matter. What is worked out during such parallel negotiation could be presented to the LTTE to have its say within a specified period of time. Parliament, and probably the country, should thereafter give approval to that solution," he said. Dr. Vigneswaran also stressed that such an initiative will not only win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, but even of the expatriate Tamils who are the main financiers of the LTTE. The AITUF General Secretary did acknowledge the argument of some who claim that the LTTE would not allow any solution to be implemented on the ground. "Yes, I do agree that the LTTE is likely to prevent implementation of the solution on the ground. But, may I ask, wouldn't the LTTE do the same in respect of any solution that is not to its liking? Even in such a situation, the Government's only hope would be the Tamil people. If the Tamil people would consider a solution to be just and fair, then their will would prevail, and not the will of the LTTE. In such a situation, the Tamil people would call the shots, and not the LTTE," Dr. Vigneswaran noted. He concluded his speech by reiterating that permanent peace could be a reality in Sri Lanka, if only the Sri Lankan Government would take a bold initiative to win the confidence of the Tamil people by presenting a political solution to the ethnic problem based on the federal principle. For that, a two-track negotiation has to commence without delay. Killer bike: Who owned it last? Investigations are on to trace the last owner of the motor cycle used by the suicide bomber who assassinated Major General Parami Kulatunge, police sources said. Its original owner had gone abroad.Over 25 persons have been questioned and vital information has been obtained from them, according to SSP Lugoda who said three teams were investigating the killing.He said the information obtained could not be revealed to the media as it would hamper further investigation. The Government Analyst’s report is expected to reveal the type of explosives used to carry out the assassination. ‘We welcome India but...’- MNA In a letter to the Indian Prime Minister released to the media, Secretary-General of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) Nazeer Ahamed said his party would welcome India if it wishes to play a role in bringing about peace in the country.Ahamed said he believed that India’s involvement was vital to settle the ethnic conflict that has plagued Sri Lanka for over two decades. Addressing the Indian Premier, he said, ‘Your country’s possible involvement will give you a historical opportunity to right the wrongs that have been committed in the past and to help find a fair and just solution to the sufferings of the Muslim community.’ He reminded the Indian government, how in the past it gave them (the LTTE) not only a safe haven and succour, but also provided them with arms and ammunition, enabling them to wage a horrible war against a democratically elected government."He also pointed out the plight of Muslims who were subjected to atrocities by the armed militant groups which got worse with the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord which required the merger of the North East, reducing the population of Muslims to a mere 17% from a powerful 37% it enjoyed in the east by before the accord. He added that Muslims were further victimised by the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) who showed no concern for their just political rights.The whole Muslim population in the North and the border villages of the North-East were penalised by all parties to the conflict, including the then J. R. Jayewardene government, for no reasons at all. ‘It seemed that we were an expendable commodity. We were betrayed by all parties and asked to pay a heavy price for our loyalty to the country,’ he lamented. Sri Lanka Inflation Rate Probably Accelerated for Second Month Sri Lanka's inflation rate probably accelerated for a second month in June as higher fuel prices offset lower food costs stemming from increased farm output. The key inflation gauge compiled by the Department of Census and Statistics will show consumer prices rose 9.9 percent in June from a year ago after gaining 9.4 percent in May, according to the median forecast of six analysts in a Bloomberg survey. The report is due tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Colombo. Ceylon Petroleum Corp., Sri Lanka's state oil company, on June 11 raised fuel costs for the second time this year to ease the government's subsidy burden amid rising global oil prices. The inflation rate, which increased for the first month in nine in May, may rise as violence between the military and separatist Tamil rebels threatens a truce in the South Asian island's two- decade civil war in which more than 60,000 people have died. ``The fuel price hikes kept inflation on the rise, but the central bank may not adjust interest rates again immediately as borrowing costs and growth would be affected,'' said Mahinda Godakandaarachchi, assistant general manager at Seylan Bank Asset Management Ltd. in Colombo. The central bank on June 16 unexpectedly increased interest rates for the first time since December to combat inflation fanned by rising fuel costs and an accelerating economy. The Colombo-based bank raised the repurchase rate at which it drains money from the banking system by a quarter point to 9 percent. The monetary board's next review is on July 14. Fuel Imports Sri Lanka, which imports all its oil, is likely to spend almost 38 percent more to buy fuel this year, the finance ministry said May 18. Sri Lanka spent 26.1 billion rupees ($251 million) on fuel subsidies last year, up from 14.7 billion rupees in 2004, according to the finance ministry. The government has said it will limit fuel subsidies this year to 3 billion rupees. The government plans to stop paying Lanka IOC Ltd., the fuel retail unit of Indian Oil Corp., subsidies and allow it to set commercial prices, treasury secretary P.B. Jayasundera said on June 9. Rising fuel prices might push inflation above the central bank's 8 percent forecast for this year, H.N. Thenuwara, director of its economic research department, said on June 12. Sri Lanka's $24 billion economy has recorded uninterrupted expansion since a February 2002 cease-fire halted a two-decade civil war. Sri Lanka is targeting growth of 7 percent in 2006, the fastest in almost 30 years, as the South Asian island's government boosts spending on roads, ports and other infrastructure, incoming central bank governor Nivard Cabraal said on June 22. Tsunami Damage The South Asian economy expanded 7 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, the central bank said on June 16, citing an estimate by the Department of Census and Statistics. Sri Lanka needs to rebuild roads and homes destroyed by the December 2004 tsunami which killed about 35,000 people and left half a million homeless. Growth of 7 percent this year would be the fastest since 1978, when the economy expanded 8.2 percent. Violence in Sri Lanka, including a suicide bombing outside the capital, Colombo, June 26 that killed an army general, is threatening a return to civil war in the South Asian island nation. The violence increased after the government and rebels held their first talks in three years in Geneva in February to boost their 2002 cease-fire. ``If the violence curtails business and affects inflation, the central bank may have to act again soon and raise rates,'' said Vajira Premawardhana, director of research at Lanka Orix Securities Ltd. in Colombo. Table of forecasts ----------------------------------------------------- 28 June 2006 LTTE apologises for Rajiv's assassination In a virtual admission of guilt, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas have expressed "deep regret" over the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and sought a "new relationship" with India so that it plays an "active role" to resolve the island's ethnic conflict.In an interview to a private news channel, Anton Balasingham, the ideologue of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), described the May 21, 1991 killing of Gandhi by a Tiger woman suicide bomber as "a monumental historical tragedy". "As far as that event is concerned ... I would say it is a great tragedy ... a monumental historical tragedy ... for which we deeply regret, and we call upon the Government of India and people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind ... and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective."The LTTE had initially vehemently denied any involvement in the killing of Gandhi, who was blown up at an election rally at Sriperumbudur near Chennai by a LTTE woman strapped with explosives. Once Indian investigating agencies proved that the LTTE was very much involved, the Tigers changed track. At the April 2002 press conference by LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in Kilinochchi, Balasingham called the Gandhi killing a "thunbiyal" (sorrowful event).This is the first time anyone as senior in the LTTE as Balasingham, one of the oldest confidants of Prabhakaran, has virtually admitted the Tigers' role in the killing of Gandhi. Asked if the LTTE could promise that it would not commit such acts again, Balasingham went on: "We have made pledges to the Government of India that under no circumstances we will act against the interest of the Government of India." Tamil Nadu parties slam radar sale to Sri Lanka Political parties in Tamil Nadu Tuesday rapped India's sale of radars to Sri Lanka, saying the government would use them in its crackdown against the country's Tamil population."There are reports that the Indian government is providing radars to the Sri Lankan government, which is waging an undeclared war on Tamils in the island nation and carrying out attacks on civilians," T. Thirumavalavan of the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) said.The DPI, which has called for a protest rally July 8, said several "like-minded organisations" would take part in it. The DPI, an ally of the AIADMK, and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) are known sympathisers of the LTTE and Sri Lankan Tamils. Pattali Makkal Katchi, an ally of the ruling DMK, also criticised the radar sale Tuesday. Its leader S. Ramadoss urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop the sale."This partisan action of the central government is against the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu," Thirumavalavan said, adding that it amounted to "abetting the killing of Sri Lankan Tamils".He alleged the government was "toeing the US line" on the Sri Lankan issue. LTTE extends hand of friendship to Karunanidhi In an effort to mend fences with India in the context of its growing international isolation, the LTTE has not only expressed "deep regret" over the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, but has also extended a "hand of friendship" to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.While the LTTE's chief spokesman Anton Balasingham told NDTV in London on Monday, that India should be "magnanimous", put the past behind, and play an active role in restoring peace in Sri Lanka, the outfit's political commissar, SP Tamilselvan, told the Singapore-based daily Tamil Murasu that it was ready to extend a hand of friendship to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. "If one looks at it from one's individual interest, there will be no close relations between the LTTE and the DMK government in Tamil Nadu. But looking at it from the point of view of the people's welfare, we will surely extend a hand of friendship," Tamilselvan said.The chief of the political wing, said that the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces against the Tamil minority had created a wave of sympathy among Tamils in all parts of the world, including Tamil Nadu. "Conditions have made the Tamil Nadu government join the voices in our support," Tamilselvan said.When Tamil Murasu asked him to comment on LTTE chief Prabhakaran's statement that he was ready to go to India to have peace talks, Tamilselvan said that so long as the LTTE was banned in India, going to that country was not possible."But conditions may change," he added. Tamilselvan pointed out that the media of the majority Sinhala community in Sri Lanka had been saying that the Sri Lankan government was acting against the Tamils with the support of India.He appealed to India to recognise the Tamil liberation struggle led by the LTTE and give it "moral support"."This is the wish of the LTTE and the Tamil people also," he said. Protest fast held in Pesalai church More than five thousand residents participated in the one day fast organized by the Inter-Religious Forum held Monday in the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Pesalai condemning the killing Tamil civilians sought refuge in the church Tuesday, civil society sources from Mannar said. Netherlands Ambassador in Sri Lanka also paid a visit to the site, sources said. About twenty five Parish Priests in the Mannar district and leaders of all religious faiths participated in the protest fast. Monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) visited the church and observed the situation. Mr.V.Visuvalingam, Mannar Government Agent and Ms Stanley de Mel, Mannar District Secretary also attended the concluding event of the fast, sources said.Five civilians including elderly woman were killed in the attack launched by a group of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy following a firefight between the LTTE and SLN in Mannar Sea. UN Special Representative to send adviser to Sri Lanka to look at abuse against children-Source: United Nations News Service Warning that the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are continuing to “recruit and use child soldiers” in Sri Lanka and highlighting allegations of “grave violations” against children by all parties in the conflict, the United Nations Special Representative for Children affected by armed conflict said today she was appointing a Special Adviser to undertake a fact-finding mission to the island. The LTTE militant group “continues to recruit and use child soldiers and the office has also received reports that the Karuna faction has abducted and recruited children under the age of eighteen,” Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN Special Representative said. “Besides recruitment of child soldiers, there are also allegations of other grave violations against children by all parties to the conflict,” she added, expressing deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka, where separatists and Government forces have been fighting for two decades. Ms. Coomaraswamy is appointing Ambassador Alan Rock of Canada as Special Advisor to conduct the fact-finding mission, according to a UN news release that added the dates would be finalized in consultation with Sri Lanka’s Government, UN partners and others. Ambassador Rock has served as the Canadian Ambassador to the UN from 2004 to June 2006. During this period, he was involved in setting up the UN Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. Increasing violence in Sri Lanka has led to repeated calls by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other high-level UN officials for both sides to return to the negotiating table. Yesterday, in response to the killing of four people in a suicide bomb attack, Mr. Annan said that “no cause can justify such acts of violence.” An attack on a bus on 15 June reportedly killed 62 civilians and injured more than 40 others, including school-aged children, while on 13 May, 13 Tamil civilians were killed on the island of Keyts in Jaffna, including an infant and a young child. There have also been other recent incidents despite a ceasefire agreement of February 2002 aimed at ending the fighting between the Government and separatist forces that has claimed some 60,000 lives. Renegade ex-rebels say kill 4 Tamil Tigers : Srilanka Four Tamil Tiger fighters were killed in an attack by a rival group of ex-rebels in Sri Lanka early on Tuesday and a soldier was shot dead overnight, officials said, amid growing fears of renewed civil war. The attack in an area controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the east came a day after a suspected Tiger suicide bomber assassinated the army deputy chief of staff. A wave of attacks on the island has now killed around 700 people so far this year, straining a 2002 ceasefire between the military and the Tigers. Police Deputy Inspector General Nihal Karunaratne and a spokesman for the renegade Karuna group said four Tigers had been killed in the attack on their camp in the Batticaloa district. The Tigers said they lost only one fighter, and blamed the army. Fighters loyal to former Tiger eastern commander Karuna Amman have been clashing with the mainstream rebels in the east since 2004. The government and Karuna deny any links but diplomats and analysts believe there is support. The Karuna group warned of more attacks on the Tigers, whom they accuse of ignoring eastern Tamils. "Wherever their camps are, we will search and attack them," said Karuna group spokesman Thuyawan. "We know the Tiger strategy because we were once part of the Tigers." Thuyawan said Karuna spies had been watching the small Tiger camp for some time. Fighters attacked it at dawn, he said, destroying everything and taking weapons. A military spokesman said a soldier had been shot dead by suspected Tigers in a separate incident in the district of Trincomalee, further north. He also said troops had found three fragmentation mines primed for an ambush. The Tigers, for their part, listed on their official website -- www.ltteps.org -- a series of abductions and killings of Tamil civilians that they blame on the army. Three Thamil civilians missing in Trincomalee Three Thamil farmers of Bharathipuram in Killiveddy village located in the government controlled Serunuwara police division in Trincomalee district have been missing since Monday morning.Their family members said at about 10 a.m. they went to Aathiamankerni area in search of their cattle. Three villagers are Nallathamby Gnaneswaran (46) of Bharathipuram, Paththakutty Thiraviyaraja (40) and Ampalavanapillai Sathisivam (45) of Lingapuram in Killiveddy. Trincomalee district parliamentarian K. Thurairatnasingham has brought this incident of missing to the notice of the Police and Sri Lanka Army officials in Trincomalee district to trace them immediately. These villagers went to elsewhere as refugees two months back leaving their houses because of violence. On Monday they came to Bharathipuram and went to Aathiamankerni in search of their cattle that they left when they moved to other place. All killings cannot be blamed on LTTE - UNP All killings could not be attributed to the LTTE, UNP National Organiser S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday. Addressing a media conference at the Opposition Leader's Office in Colombo, Dissanayake said: "One cannot place all killings at the doorstep of the LTTE. Our side too has weaknesses. President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Government too have weaknesses. In solving the ethnic problem both the President and Prabhakaran should act sincerely," Dissanayake said. While condemning the assassination of Major General Parami Kulatunge the main opposition UNP yesterday called upon the Government to ensure protection of the country's top military leaders. UNP Assistant General Secretary Tissa Attanayake urged the Government to go for a General Election since it has failed to keep the promises made to bring about peace and prosperity. Dissanayake said the time was opportune for the Government to take a direct stand on the National Issue. "The President is saying one thing, the PM is saying something else and the ministers are uttering different versions. Where is the cohesiveness of the Government," Dissanayake queried. "Since independence political parties both in the South and North have used the National issue as a tool for political gain. When one party tried to solve the issue the other engaged in sabotage. In 2002 for the first time both main parties came to an understanding to devolve power within a united country and using this as a catalyst the UNP was able to forge ahead with the peace process bringing peace and stability to the country," Dissanayake said. According to Dissanayake the present Government has got stuck with its rhetoric and is unable to move forward because of divergent stands within its fold. "The President should take a stand without fear or compromise. The UNP has always stood for a peaceful solution and would support any endeavour of the Government without conditions if it helps to bring peace to the country," Dissanayake said. "The Government should have a concrete plan to address the issue. We are ready to help the Government and also assist within the All Party Conference to obtain a viable solution. However the Government should stop passing the buck and assume responsibility to arrest the problem immediately," Dissanayake added. Extradition of Lankan murder suspect to UK Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne ordered the Registrar to take necessary action with the Foreign ministry, to extradite a Sri Lankan, Sivapragasam Rajesh Kanna alias ‘Kanna’ who had fled the United Kingdom (UK) after allegedly committing a murder. The accused was charged with the murder of Maheswaran Ganeshan, killed on January 12, 2004. On behalf of the government of UK, the Crown Prosecution Service of UK, had requested Interpol’s intervention to locate the accused, who had lived in Chilaw, prior to seeking asylum in the UK in 2002 According to Interpol, the murder had taken place at Heighman Road, London, where the accused had allegedly assaulted the victim with a cricket bat. He fled the country when he learnt about the death of the victim. The victim had succumbed to his injuries at the Neurological Hospital in London. The reason for the murder has yet to be ascertained.The accused had entered Sri Lanka and gone into hiding in Mulaitivu, where the police located him. The government of UK had requested the Foreign ministry to extradite the accused in terms of section 6 of the Extradition Law of 1977.Shantha Herath appeared for the accused, Senior State Counsel Parinda Ranasinghe appeared on behalf of the Attorney General. Maj. Gen. Shaman Kulatunga appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Shaman Kulatunga RSP USP ndc psc, Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Forces has been appointed by the Commander of the Army to overlook duties of the Deputy Chief of Staff, who was killed in the suicide bombing on Monday (26). In addition to the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Kulatunga will also overlook duties as Adjutant General until further notice, the Army Headquarters announced yesterday. Enlisted to the Army on 5th April 1973, he was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant on 31st March 1974. He was promoted to the ranks of Captain (1979), Major (1983), Lieutenant Colonel (1990), Colonel (1994), and Brigadier (1995) respectively. He served as Staff Officer, Officiating Commandant (ACSC) in Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Welioya and Anuradhapura before he was appointed as the Commandant, Regimental Centre, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps in 1994. After he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier in 1995, he was appointed as Deputy General Officer Commanding in 21, 55, 11 and 52 Divisions in Pompemadu, Mirusivil, Panagoda and Varani areas respectively. Following his promotion as Major General in 2001, he was posted to the office of the General Officer Commanding for 52 Division in Varani before he was appointed the Security Coordinating Officer at the Presidential Security Unit. Major General Kulatunga served for a brief period as Deputy Commander, Security Forces Headquarters in Jaffna in 2004. On 3rd January 2005 he was appointed as General Officer Commanding the 22 Division in Trincomalee. Major General Kulatunga who has followed several courses in India, Bangladesh, USA and Pakistan was appointed Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Forces on 6th January 2006. He has been serving the Sri Lanka Volunteer Force until he relinquished his duties to take over the Deputy Chief of Staff appointment. Sri Lanka: Protect Witnesses in Trincomalee Killings The Sri Lankan government must ensure the safety of witnesses in the case of five Tamil youths summarily executed in January allegedly by state security forces, Human Rights Watch said today. Tomorrow, a magistrate in the eastern town of Trincomalee will review eyewitness testimony against a dozen security force personnel implicated in the case. An unofficial report by the special investigator for Sri Lanka's National Human Rights Commission alleges that the security forces were responsible for the killings. Human Rights Watch remains deeply concerned that the only prosecution witness willing to testify so far, Dr. Kasippillai Manoharan, has for months been the target of deadly threats. His son Ragihar was among those killed."Dr. Manoharan has courageously come forward to testify about the brutal killings of these five young men," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Sri Lankan government should show a fraction of his courage and take urgent measures to control its security forces and protect the doctor and other witnesses who may wish to testify." On January 2, 2006 at about 7:30 p.m., seven youths, all 20-year-old graduates of Sri Koneswara Hindu College, chatted among themselves near the seafront in Trincomalee. According to eyewitness accounts, a grenade thrown at the youths from a green three-wheeler (or motor trishaw) exploded and injured three of them. Soon thereafter, 10 to 15 uniformed officers allegedly with the elite police Special Task Force arrived in jeeps. The officers put the wounded youth into their jeeps, beat them with rifle butts, and then pushed them onto the road. The officers then allegedly shot the young men, killing five and wounding two. The army commander in Trincomalee initially reported to the media that seven members of the armed opposition Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had been killed or injured when grenades they had been carrying exploded accidentally. The LTTE has been responsible for numerous attacks on military personnel and civilians in the Trincomalee area.A government post mortem later determined that the five had died from gunshot wounds. Three had been shot in the head, while two had died from shots to the chest and abdomen, apparently received while trying to flee. At the time of the incident, Manoharan received a short mobile phone message from his son, who said that he and his friends were pleading with security forces personnel not to shoot them. Manoharan immediately tried to go to the nearby place where he knew his son was, but he was stopped by the security forces at a checkpoint. Manoharan testified at an inquest on January 10 that he heard the young men pleading for their lives and the gunshots. At the same time, the security forces had also briefly detained about 300 people at the seafront and made them kneel or sit, and had shut off all the streetlamps, leaving the area dark. To date, only Manoharan has come forward to testify as a prosecution witness; no one else in the vicinity of the killings has been willing to do so. President Mahinda Rajapakse pledged publicly and to the Donor Co-chairs in Tokyo that the perpetrators would be brought to justice, irrespective of rank. A dozen members of the Special Task Force were placed under restraint pending inquiries; they were effectively discharged in April. Since testifying, Manoharan and his family have been subjected to numerous serious threats. On the evening of the inquest, unidentified persons banged on his door and threw stones at his house. Manoharan also received several anonymous phone calls threatening to kill him and his family because of his testimony. Several days after the inquest, a man on a motorbike who kept his head covered sought medical help at his clinic, but left when only Manoharan's wife, who is also a doctor, agreed to treat him. Human Rights Watch is concerned that the death threats appear to be coming from the security forces, who do not want Manoharan or others to testify in the case. As a result of the threats, he has had to suspend his medical practice and his children's education has been severely disrupted. His friends have been warned not to come to his home. According to Manoharan, two policemen on June 12 stopped one of his surviving sons who was traveling to take an exam. On discovering a photo of his deceased brother, the police questioned who he was and then asked, "Are you Dr. Manoharan's son?" After finding on him the card of an international nongovernmental organization, the police said, "Your father is flashing the whole matter at the international level. That is not good for your family. You are going for the exam. You go now, we will see later." The son was too shaken to complete the exam. On June 21, a policeman who recognized Manoharan detained him for half an hour at a checkpoint for no stated reason. During this time the policeman told him, "You are supporting the LTTE and our high officers are supporting you, so how can we do our duty?" The following evening at around 9 p.m., a group of naval officers came to the Manoharan house and offered to provide "protection." The source of the offer, the late hour and references to armed groups not under control of the security forces raise concerns that this was not a genuine offer of assistance but a thinly veiled threat. To date, almost all security personnel prominently implicated in the case remain in Trincomalee, posing a threat to Manoharan and prospective witnesses. A senior police officer cited in the special investigator's report as allegedly being "behind the shooting incident" remains in Trincomalee and was recently promoted. In Sri Lanka, widespread impunity for serious human rights abuses committed by both the security forces and the LTTE is a major, longstanding problem. A successful prosecution of the Trincomalee killings will require meaningful and proactive witness protection measures, Human Rights Watch said. The government must take necessary steps both to protect persons and their families who have agreed to testify, and to create an environment where other witnesses will be willing to come forward. "Summary executions in Sri Lanka will only stop when those responsible are prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Adams said. "But this rampant impunity will end only when the government takes strong steps to ensure that witnesses can safely come forward." 27 June 2006 War and peace: 'no middle path' “We are a party opposed to the war. If the government can find a solution through war, then please go ahead and do it,” Attanayake said.Commenting on the suicide blast that killed Major General Parami Kulatunga and three others, the MP said many Sri Lankans do not believe the customary denial by the LTTE.However, the UNP says the government should also take the blame as it has showed its inability to bring the Tamil Tigers to the negotiations table. “We have always maintained our policy of finding a solution within the framework of Tokyo declaration. But the government is yet to declare their stand,” Attanayake said. UNP-led government and the LTTE have agreed to find a solution within a federal framework at a summit held in Tokyo in December 2002.But rejecting a federal solution, President Rajapaksa says Sri Lanka should find “its own way of devolution”.Attanayake accused the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA)-led government of having no clear policy on solving the ethnic problem.“You cannot have both war and peace at the same time”. Analysis: Sri Lanka's tattered ceasefire -BBC Cost of war The government has a lot more to lose if there is a full-scale war. It would be an economic disaster and certainly deter the tourists who are returning to Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers may have less to lose. They are already facing international opprobrium - especially since the European Union lists them as a terrorist organisation. Their international image is something they have always held dear, a chance to show themselves as leaders on a world stage. Now that has gone, the reasons for holding back may have disappeared. However they still face the problem of the breakaway Tamil Tiger leader Colonel Karuna. Renegade commander Colonel Karuna has turned the Tigers' tactics against them. Despite government denials, there is little doubt he is being supported to some degree by the Sri Lankan military. Injured Karuna soldiers are protected by the military in hospitals. The government has conceded that there has been low-level contact. Colonel Karuna has been able to garner support in the east, and weaken the Tamil Tiger operations there. Going to war with him still operating would be a problem that might make them hesitate. 'Deterrent' The difficulty for the government is how to respond to the suicide bombings and other attacks against the military and civilians. So far it has carried out air strikes after each major incident. The government says these are to act as a deterrent. But if this is the case, the deterrent is clearly not working. A ground offensive is not a realistic option, so Colonel Karuna may well be their ace of spades. What does that mean for Sri Lanka's conflict? Essentially it looks likely it will continue along the current path, which has been described as "low-level war". Some say the current situation is not so far removed from that before the ceasefire agreement was signed in 2002, although it has not yet reached the same degree of intensity. Analysts here say that, instead of aiming for all-out war, the Tigers seem to be trying to provoke a communal backlash where Sinhalese civilians turn on their Tamil neighbours in scenes reminiscent of the bloody days of the 1980s. The difference now is that neither community wants to retread that path. People have been able to get on with their lives and they want to continue doing so. Where the government has fundamentally failed is in convincing the Tamil minority that as the state operator it can and will give protection to Tamil civilians. Scores have been killed and have disappeared in the recent upsurge of violence. The military has been implicated in some of those killings, although its leaders deny it. But whoever is to blame, the government has signally failed to protect Tamils and so persuade them there is a real alternative to the Tigers for obtaining their rights. Until they address that situation the rebels will always find a community willing to believe safety can only be gained within a separate Tamil homeland - something the government has made clear is not an option. Carrots and sticks The current situation also allows the Tigers to routinely deny involvement in the violence by claiming it is Tamils themselves rising up against state oppression. The international community for its part has done everything it can. Carrots, sticks - everything available has been thrown into the pot. Both sides have been told to address the issues or risk international isolation, but either the message is not getting through or it does not matter at this stage. At any rate, there seems little international leaders can do but watch and wonder where this country will stumble to next. India condemns Lanka killing, but unsure how to deal with crisis As LTTE took out yet another high- profile military target in the Sri Lankan army on Monday, when a suicide bomber killed the third highest-ranking military officer, General Parami Kulatunga, India was swift with its condemnation. Yet, as the situation in the island enters a downward spiral into certain civil war, India shows little leadership about how to deal with the crisis. On Monday, MEA spokesperson said India "unreservedly condemns the terrorist bombing incident outside Colombo." As during the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka in April, this time too, India described it as a "terrorist act" but it hesitated at naming the LTTE, though the Sri Lankan government has officially blamed it. The MEA spokesperson said: "This incident is the latest in a series of recent terrorist attacks which are aimed at undermining the ceasefire and vitiate the environment for a political dialogue." There has been speculation that Monday's attack was a reaction to the Sri Lankan president's offer for direct talks with the rebel group. LTTE spokespersons have refused to enter into direct talks with the government insisting on the presence of Norwegian facilitators. Anonymous call hour before General's death An anonymous telephone call warning that there would be a big attack an hour before the suicide blast in Pannipitiya, was received by the National Hospital, police said.The police said that the caller had phoned the staff of the hospital and said to expect extra work for them and they should expect a superior job to carry out. Soon after the call, the hospital has informed the police about the incident.One hour later, a suspected LTTE cadre rammed into the car of Major General Parami Kulatunga killing him along with three others at Pannipitiya. Secretary-General condemns suicide bomb attack in Sri Lanka The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan: The Secretary-General condemns today’s suicide bomb attack in Sri Lanka which killed Major General Parami Kulatunga, the third-highest ranking officer in the Sri Lanka army, and three other people near the capital, Colombo. He expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved and the Government of Sri Lanka. The Secretary-General reiterates that no cause can justify such acts of violence. The Secretary-General appeals to the parties to redouble their efforts to resume peace talks under the facilitation of the Norwegian Government. EPDP supporter shot dead by unknown men in Jaffna islet A EPDP supporter named Kanthaiya Yogeswaran, 55, was shot dead at about 1.30 p.m. today (Monday) by unidentified men in the Jaffna islet of Velanai.The area where the killing took place is totally under control of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), sources said. The victim was owner of a welding plant in Vankalavadi, Velanai in Jaffna islets.Quoting witness police said the attackers arrived in a motorbike at the garage and shot him. The fled the scene immediately.Yogeswaran, 55, hailing from Nayanmarkattu area in Nallur, was a supporter of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), local people said. LTTE releases 46 under-age youths The Liberation Tigers have released 46 under-age youths, 22 of the youths to their parents and 24 were enrolled with the Education Skills and Development Centre (ESDC) for education. The Tigers, in a new release issued by the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi said that a list containing the names of the youths released was handed over to the UNICEF and the ICRC.The youths, identified as under-age youths upon joining the LTTE between July 2005 and May 2006, were handed over on two occassions, on 18 May and on 03 June, the news release said. Major General Parami Kulatunga Major General Parami Kulatunga was an old boy of the Trinity College Kandy. He joined to the Sri Lanka Army on July 20, 1971 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of the First Battalion, Gemunu Watch on October 14, 1972.General Kulatunga served in a number of staff officer posts - General Staff Officer, Deputy General Officer (Commanding), Director Training at Army Head quarters in 1996 and Head Deputy General Officer for Mirusuvil and Elephant Pass between 1997 and 1998. He also served as General Officer Commanding of 52nd Division at the same time. Kulatunga served as General Officer Commanding for Wanni between 2000 and 2001 and 11th division Panagoda until October 2001 same year.He became the Commander Security Force Headquarters Jaffna in 2003 and served until he took over as Director General (General Staff) Army Headquarters on September 06, 2003.Afterwards he was appointed Commander Security Force Headquarters Wanni effective from August 10, 2004. General Kulatunga was appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army on December 22nd, 2005.He had followed several military education and training programmes in USA and followed Senior Command course in India, Advanced Intensive Course in Singapore and Intelligence Task Course India.Kulatunga has represented several international military conferences including the special operation in the USA. He was a highly decorated officer who was awarded Rana Sura Medal, Riviresa Campaign Medal, Purna Bhumi Medal, North and East Operation Medal, Deshaputhra Medal.General Kulatunga was also the Deputy Commandant of the Kothalawela Defence Academy. MPs, NGOs urge lifting of Batticaloa embargo Batticaloa parliamentarians P Ariyanenthiran, S Jeyananthamoorthy and Ms T Thangeswari, North East Community Restoration and Development Project (NECORD) implementing officer K Sivanantharaja, and other NGOs,Monday at 9:30 a.m., met the Batticaloa's military-civil coordinating officer Maj. Gen. Wetty Perera at a conferenceed by Batticaloa Government agent S Punniyamoorthy held in the Batticaloa Kachcheri, to appeal against the military-imposed economic restrictions in the region. The burdens caused by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) restriction on transport of building materials and the taking of all types of vehicles to non-military controlled areas in Batticaloa, were taken up at the meeting. The NGO delegation complained to Maj.Gen.Perera, that the military has placed severe limitations for the transport of cement and wire fences to build permanent homes, for tsunami affected residents in LTTE controlled Vaharai region. For building hundreds of homes for the tsunami affected coastal villagers, the military only permits 50 bags of cement which is not enough to build even a couple of homes, charged the delegation. Jeyananthamoorthy told the conference that the SLA restrictions have also triggered a dangerous price hike in the region and the building of tsunami homes have been further hampered.The parliamentarian demanded the Major General to lift the economic blockade on the area. Maj. Gen. Wetty Perera told the delegates that he will inform the defence ministry in Colombo and the matter will be taken up at the government's security related meeting on Friday. 26 June 2006 TELO Leader and Vani District MP Mr.Selvam Adikalanathan to visit Norway TELO Leader and Vani District MP Mr.Selvam Adikalanathan will pay a brief visit to Norway June 26-06-2006. The main purpose of the visit to apprise the Norway leadership of the situation in Sri Lanka, said TELO sources. He said, "The peace process will dominate the agenda. The visit may be seen as part of the continuing high level political dialogue between Norway and TNA on matters of mutual interest. Sri Lanka Army’s Deputy Chief of staff killed in bomb explosion Bomb explosion this morning, killed Deputy Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army, Major General Parami Kulkathunga. It was revealed that a suicide car bomb exploded this morning around 8.00 am targeting security personnel.According to reports, the car bomb exploded at Moraketiya junction in Pannapittya,15 km southeast of Colombo. The explosion set the car ablaze also killed three army personnel including Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. Passengers in a pick-up truck, a taxi and a van were also taken to hospital after the explosion, reports said. Sri Lanka has been gripped by growing conflict between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels in recent weeks. Sri Lanka Army suspects it to be the work of the Tamil rebel outfit – Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. LTTE: No direct links with Govt. The history of the peace process in Sri Lanka, says Pulidevan, has proved that the parties lack confidence on each other to bring the process forward.The LTTE categorically denied Sri Lanka media reports that Head of political wing SP Thamilselvan responded to an offer by the President to engage in direct talks.“President Rajapaksa tried, but we informed the Norwegians of our intention to keep them as our official channel,” Pulidevan told bbcsinahala.com. War unavoidable if Norway suspends monitoring function - Thamilchelvan The Liberation Tigers Political Head S.P.Thamilchelvan, when asked what LTTE's reaction would be, if Norway, on 29 June, chose to suspend the monitoring role, responded that a such decision would signal an end to the already fragile ceasefire and plunge the island into war. Mr. Thamilchelvan further said that the Tigers responding to the questions posed by the facilitator Norway, had replied that they were fully prepared to continue providing diplomatic immunity to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) as a mission coordinated, facilitated and led by the Royal Norwegian Government. The LTTE Political Head said that the transition period of six months to replace the monitors from EU Member States, as initially suggested by Norway, was too long considering LTTE's desire to sustain an "absolute neutral" composition of the SLMM.However, the Tigers have agreed that they were prepared to extend their initial suggestion of one month transition period, taking into account the practical difficulties, Mr. Thamilchelvan said. Asked if LTTE had conveyed the consequences of SLMM composition prior to the EU ban, he said that the LTTE had repeatedly conveyed their reservations in advance to the Norwegian facilitators. "The EU countries were well aware that LTTE will not welcome members of EU as part of the SLMM after the ban," Thamilchelvan said.Colombo has been changing their stand every day after they responded with "affirmative" answer to all five questions posed by Norway, Mr. Thamilchelvan said. "Today, they have again changed their stand. The Sri Lankan government is now saying Norway cannot go ahead with the changes in the composition of the SLMM," Mr. Thamilchelvan said adding that the LTTE observed with patience and tolerance when Sri Lankan Government wanted to change a previous SLMM head. "Recognition of the concept of Tamil Homeland is a pre-requisite for any successful engagement between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) that can lead towards peace. Therefore, the Government of Sri Lanka and not the LTTE that needed to change first, the LTTE Political Head said. "When the Southern polity recognizes the concept of homeland and is prepared to recognize the sovereign rights of our people, allowing us to chart our own political destiny, just peace will prevail and the whole island would benefit," Mr. Thamilchelvan said. LTTE-linked soldier names Confirming reports that some government security forces members are believed to be on the LTTE’s payroll, the Military Police arrested a soldier, serving in the Forward Defence Line at Kalyanapura in Welioya for alleged links to the LTTE.A senior military police official told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the soldier was arrested along with a satellite phone, by his colleagues at the Kalyanapura army camp. “Suspicious of his behaviour and his high-tec phone, his colleagues informed the head of the camp, who monitored the soldier’s behaviour for some time and made the arrest”, the official said. Initial investigations revealed that the arrested soldier had been providing information to the LTTE for a long time, using the satellite phone. “It was only after the arrest, that we came to know it was a satellite phone. It is believed to have been provided by the LTTE”, he said. It was also revealed that the soldier, a resident of Gomarankadawala in Trincomalee, had been married to a Tamil woman, who has relatives holding high ranking positions in the LTTE. Soon after the arrest, the soldier pretended to be mentally deranged but later, he admitted that he had links with the LTTE and gave the names of another five army officials with LTTE connections. “We are going to arrest them as soon as possible”, the military official said. The arrested soldier will be handed over to the CID for further interrogation. Anti-rebel party PLOTE member shot dead in northern Sri Lanka A member of a political party that opposes separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka - was shot dead Sunday in the country's troubled north, a party official said. The Tigers later accused PLOTE and other groups of collaborating with Sri Lanka - 's military, calling them ``traitors'' and often attacking their offices and members. At least 65,000 people including security forces, rebels, party members and civilians died in the conflict before a 2002 cease-fire. With peace talks to build on the truce all but abandoned, a wave of violence since April has killed at least 700 people, more than half of them civilians. Switzerland Thamil shot dead in Valaichenai An expatriate Thamil who came to Valaichenai, 29 km northwest of Batticaloa, from Switzerland on a 2-weeks vacation to see his family, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Sunday afternoon at Kannankiramam, Police said. The incident took place at about 3.15 pm when the victim, Vadivel Puvendran, was attending a birth day function of his one relative near 3rd cross junction Kannankiramam.Three unidentified men entered the house and took him away who later shot him to death, according to relatives of the victim who could not say anything about the killing but said a brother of the victim, known as Mama, is a long time cadre of PLOTE. PM urged to withdraw Kachatheevu pact Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT) today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the withdrawal Kachatheevu agreement entered into with Sri Lanka, as recently the island nation had deviated from the agreement and 'arbitrarily' drawn an international border line in the sea restricting the Indian fishermen from fishing. Talking to reporters here, party leader Dr K Krishnasamy said the Indian fishermen, who were not aware of the border line, were harassed and tortured by the Sri Lankan navy. "Why the Sri Lankan government is restricting the Indian fishermen now when fishermen from both the countries were fishing freely in the waters of each others as per the agreement earlier?" he asked.He also wanted to resolve the issue of giving citizenship to 30 lakh Tamils settled in Sri Lanka. The Tamils were fighting for the cause of separate Eelam nation, he said.The party would organise rally and demonstration here on July 1 demanding the Prime Minister to announce withdrawal of the Kachatheevu agreement, he added.During the rally, the PT would also urge the Prime Minister for using international pressure on Sri Lankan government to negotiate and find a solution to the ethnic problem there. Government to oppose Norwegian SLMM head The Government says it will oppose any moves to re-appoint a Norwegian as the head of the SLMM and further raised suspicions over the actual motives behind the LTTE demanding the removal of cease-fire monitors from EU member countries.Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says the appointment of a Norwegian to head the SLMM will be “unethical” as Oslo already acts as peace facilitator between the Government and the LTTE. Former SLMM head Hagrup Haukland, a Norwegian, was replaced by the present Swedish head Ulf Henrikson, after the new government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa strongly opposed Norway playing the dual role of facilitator and heading the monitoring group as well.“It seems that the LTTE wants only Norwegians in the SLMM. If EU monitors are removed, the majority of the monitors will be from Norway and a few from Iceland. Putting a Norwegian as SLMM head will be unethical, as they already are the facilitators,” Minister Rambukwella told the Daily Mirror. Meanwhile, the head of the Government peace secretariat Dr. Palitha Kohona told the Daily Mirror that the Government will not agree to any unilateral changes to the composition of the SLMM, as there are two signatories to the Cease-Fire Agreement (CFA) – the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE.“We have not come to the stage where we think about who heads the SLMM, because, firstly, the changes cannot take place without our consent. We are part of the CFA, so, we have to be consulted as well. That is the international norm,” Dr. Kohona said. The Nordic countries represented in the SLMM will meet in Oslo on Thursday, to decide on the changes to the composition of the SLMM, with the LTTE giving the facilitators time till September, to make the necessary changes.Following disappointment expressed by Oslo, the rebels stepped down from their earlier demand that the changes to the SLMM, including the removal of EU monitors, take place within three weeks.Minister Rambukwella, meanwhile, said it seemed that the LTTE was acting with the “sinister” motive of removing the SLMM as a whole, in order to nullify the CFA and resume hostilities. “We must look at the modus operandi of the LTTE. It seems, they are trying to send a message to the SLMM that they want all the monitors to pack their bags and go, so then, they can resume a war,” the Minister said.He also echoed Dr. Kohona’s views, saying the Government will not entertain any unilateral changes to the SLMM but reiterated President Rajapaksa was still committed to reaching a negotiated settlement to the conflict and will pursue all possible means to achieve peace. CID to grill senior cop on release of Tiger operative The CID will soon question a senior police officer accused of ordering the release of an LTTE operative taken in for questioning immediately after the recent abortive bid to target the Colombo port. The CID is also expected to check on the officer’s finances, amidst allegations that several police officers are on the payroll of the Tigers. The released man was shot dead near St. Jude’s Church, Negombo Wednesday night. He was subsequently identified as the wealthy boat owner taken in for questioning by police, immediately after the recent abortive bid to attack the Colombo port, but given police bail. The killing came in the backdrop of the CID taking over the investigation. 'This is a real poncy government', Mahinda himself is fed up with Mahinda Chintana "As I am President everything is thrust upon me, I cannot do anything I want. This is a poncy government", President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said. The President’s angry outburst has come at a meeting with Electricity Board officials, its trade unions and JVP representatives on the proposed Electricity Board Reforms Bill. When the President made the above remark, JVP representatives and CEB officials had looked at each other. JVP trade union leader parliamentarian K.D.Lalkantha too was present at this meeting. Furthermore the President has now started criticizing Mahinda Chintana too. When a reference was made to development programs initiated under Mahinda Chintana at a recent meeting held at Temple Trees with a group of loyalists Mr. Rajapaksa has quipped that "...people might be saying Mahinda's mother's Chintanaya when prices are mentioned of commodities". "Now they have started saying Mahinda Chintanaya, Mahinda Chintanaya for everything. Nothing is being done. I know what these people are doing". An angry President has said. Another trawler in custody Negombo police on Saturday took into custody a trawler found in the Negombo lagoon believed to have been used by the LTTE to transport explosives and sea tigers to attack the Colombo port.After a joint operation conducted by the CID and the Negombo police, the vessel had been taken into custody.Inquiries have revealed that the 40 foot trawler is owned by Koti Christy of Beach road, Negombo and the LTTE had purchased it for Rs. 6 million.Police say that although the trawler was checked nothing was founding in it. The police have so far taken two trawlers into custody from Negombo.Further inquires are pending. Offer Indian model - V. Anandasangaree Corporal buried with full honours found in jungle The residents gathered at the arms giving ceremony of an army corporal who was buried with full military honours were shocked when they heard that the corporal was still very much alive. On June 15, the Army had informed the wife of Corporal U.G. Senaratne attached to the 2nd Special Battalion in Vavuniya that he was killed on June 13 in a bomb attack by the terrorists. After the wife with family members identified the body, the army had handed it over to them at their Rattota home. On June18, he was buried with full military honours at the Galekotuwa public cemetery, Rattota. After the alms giving was over on June 23, his wife received a telephone call saying that her husband was still alive. Matale police said the corporal believed to be dead was found in a jungle in Vavuniya and is being treated at present at the Anuradhapura hospital. 25 June 2006 Mahinda has no option but Ranil's path-High Commissioner Mangala Munasinghe There is no other option for the LTTE issue other than the path elected by Ranil Wickremesinghe and even though Chandrika Kumaratunga began internationalizing the issue with Norway she was unable to finish it off and when Ranil tried to find a solution Chandrika did not allow him to do it and though Mahinda wants to follow Ranil's path, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the Hela Urumaya and other racist parties are disrupting his efforts, former High Commissioner to India and Great Britain, Mangala Munasinghe said. Munasinghe, a grand child of Anagaraika Dharmapala who is highly appreciated by patriotic and anti terrorist movements began his political career from the Lanka Samasamaja Party and ended up at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and later became a career diplomat and is known for his moderate views. In an interview with a weekend newspaper Munasinghe has explicitly explained how President Rajapaksa has become a prisoner of racist and chauvinist forces and quipped even though the President wants to find a solution to the ethnic issue, there are no brainy persons in the government to be sent to talks. "...who went to Oslo talks? The issue is related to the ethnic problem and those participating should be moderate diplomats who have expertise on the matter. Even if politicians participated they should not be narrow minded who seek to score a few points. But those who went there were racists with war mentality. Others were dim-witted politicians. That's why they promised to disarm paramilitary groups operating in the North and East. "...at the instigation of the JVP and the Hela Urumaya, the government always put forward for talks the people with racist and chauvinist attitudes. What is the meaning of this? No important country is supportive of communalism and militarism. I just can't understand why this is not understood by Mahinda Rajapaksa. "...the JVP and the Hela Urumaya still try to make use of the Kebitigollewa incident to push the people and the government towards war and to instigate people to rise against Tamils as they did in the eighties. Even though they did not directly state this, it is evident from what they say and do". "...posters have come up everywhere saying enough is enough. So what do they ask the people to do? It simply means to attack. That is why I can't understand as to why the President wants to have close relationship with the JVP and the JHU." "...Due to his close contacts with the JVP and the JHU, there is an opinion among international leaders that Mahinda Rajapaksa is a racist who does not want to resolve this problem through negotiations with the LTTE. I still meet a lot of ambassadors and diplomats. They also say the same thing and I had to explain to them that Mahinda is not such a person." "However it is sad that the government lacks a program or individual who could convince the international community that Mahinda is not a racist leader". "What I feel is that there is no other option other than following the path adopted by Ranil. Mahinda and Ranil should get together. Mahinda should be allowed to proceed along his path. There where the answer lies for the North East problem." LTTE extends EU monitors’ deadline The Tigers initially gave peace broker Norway a month to replace the 37 monitors from EU members Sweden, Finland and Denmark, out of a total of 57 — far short of the six months the mediators say they need. The monitors said the deadline had now been pushed back to Sept. 1, which means they now have a little over two months, still less than they need. Sri Lanka government yesterday said the Tamil Tigers had laid down a “hostile deadline” after the rebels said European Union (EU) nations should quit the nation’s truce monitoring mission within one month. The rebel demand, made after the EU officially branded the Tigers a terrorist group, would force out 37 of the 57 monitors now in Sri Lanka to observe the country’s increasingly shaky ceasefire signed in 2002. In a statement the government urged the Swedish-led mission, known by its acronym SLMM, to continue operations. “The government of Sri Lanka urges the SLMM to continue to carry out its mandate despite the unreasonable stance of the LTTE ,” the statement said. “The time period of one month insisted on by the LTTE for effecting changes in the composition of the SLMM is tantamount to the imposition of a hostile deadline by the LTTE,” it said. “The LTTE’s demand that SLMM monitors from EU countries be replaced is deeply regrettable and will weaken the SLMM in a critical period,” Norway’s top peace envoy, Erik Solheim, said earlier in a Norwegian government statement. Colombo on Thursday agreed to a six-month transitional period for monitors suggested by Norway, calling the one-month Tiger demand impractical. But in its new statement the government refused to be left out of negotiations over the composition of the SLMM. “We have extended the period according to a request from the Norwegian facilitators,” S. Puleedevan, head of the Tigers’ peace secretariat, said by telephone from the northern rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi. “Norwegian ambassador Hans Brattskar discussed with us the deadline, saying they needed more time,” he added. “That’s why we extended the period.” Norway has said 20 monitors from non-EU states Norway and Iceland are not enough, and analysts fear it could create a vacuum at a time when increasingly frequent ambushes, shootings and clashes are stretching the 2002 truce to breaking point. Nordic foreign ministers are due to meet in Oslo on June 29 to discuss how to replace the EU monitors. More than 700 people more than half of them civilians have been killed so far this year, and tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes. About 3,000 Tamils have paid smugglers to ferry them to neighbouring India so far this year. Some 200 people fled this week alone after four fishermen in the north-western district of Mannar were shot dead and one woman was killed, and dozens of people were injured when a grenade was thrown into a church, in attacks residents blamed on the military. The violence continued yesterday, when two soldiers were shot dead while they were searching roadside scrub for landmines along the road to Mannar. The military blamed the attack on the Tigers. Further north in the army-held enclave of Jaffna, a suspected rebel group ordered shopkeepers to keep their stores shut in protest at killings of Tamil civilians the Tigers blame on the military and the desecration of an LTTE war memorial in government territory. Public transport was at a standstill, Jaffna’s streets were empty and banks were closed. “Today it’s OK, being a Saturday,” said retired irrigation technician Nawan Kunathasan. “But next week, if there is going to be a boycott, it’s our own people who are going to be badly affected. Jaffna will be crippled.”“It looks as though both parties are provoking each other,” the 61-year-old added. “Before sitting for peace talks, violence must come to an end.” As Sri Lanka boils, India faces daunting challenges Four years after Norway brokered an unprecedented truce, India is battling major strategic and foreign policy challenges, with Sri Lanka seemingly sliding towards an inevitable war.Indian policymakers at various levels are still not sure if a full-scale conflict will break out again between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and are hoping it doesn’t happen.But no one has any doubts that a deadly proxy war is already on, claiming over 800 lives since December, and that an all-round conflict will result in enormous suffering for the island nation, with resultant consequences for India. Faced with the obvious, India shed its inhibitions and did some plain speaking to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera here Thursday as part of not-so-covert pressure building on Colombo by the international community.Samaraweera, who came on a previously unscheduled overnight trip while on his way from London to Colombo, was told that India expected Sri Lanka to rein in its military to stop the killings of innocent Tamils while battling the Tigers and to accelerate plans to devolve autonomy to the island’s minorities. The thrust of the message was: If you cannot do these two things, you can never win the war against the LTTE.It is not the first time New Delhi has referred to devolution of powers. But it was the first time Colombo was told about the urgent need to prevent civilian deaths. In April, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had spoken to President Mahinda Rajapakse on similar lines but with specific reference to the attacks on Tamils in Trincomalee.India also noted Samaraweera’s request for increased Indian naval patrolling in the Palk Strait, a strategic strip of sea dividing the two countries where the LTTE’s naval wing Sea Tigers operates. India’s worry stems not only from the fact that a large part of Sri Lanka is controlled by one of the world’s deadliest insurgent groups but that any renewed fighting would lead to the LTTE possibly extending control over Jaffna peninsula, just across Tamil Nadu.Also, Tamil civilians facing attacks by security forces in Sri Lankan north and east are fleeing to Tamil Nadu, raising emotions there. Tamil groups sympathetic to the LTTE have staged protests in the state. More demonstrations are expected. No one here, however, believes that the LTTE can seize full control of Sri Lanka’s northeast, the sprawling area the Tigers regard as their Tamil Eelam, or that Colombo can reclaim this territory.In other words, the military stalemate Sri Lanka found it impossible to untangle by the 1990s, leading to international intervention, still continues.This has made the task of resolving the long-running conflict all the more difficult for the international community, which does not want to see Sri Lanka being split up, a la the Taliban/Northern Alliance Afghanistan. Canada and the 25-nation European Union outlawed the LTTE this year, joining the ranks of India, the US and Britain. Japan pledged to do so if the LTTE remains wedded to terror tactics. Calls are being made for the LTTE to decommission its weapons. But all this has its limitations. In any case, the Tigers will not demilitarize without a political solution being in sight. After taking steps against the LTTE, the international community feels it is time for Sri Lanka to go beyond platitudes and work for a genuine power sharing arrangement. This is, however, easier said than done. Can Sri Lankan leaders do this? Can the island nation overcome decades of mistrust and bloodshed?Some Western players feel this is possible, despite the many difficulties ahead. And they want India to play a larger, if not key, role in the process. By dramatically escalating violence, Colombo and the Tigers may have inadvertently woken up New Delhi, which after the 1991 assassination of former premier Rajiv Gandhi almost washed its hands off Sri Lanka. Unlike in Nepal where New Delhi does not mind doing indirect business with Maoist guerrillas, it is constrained from dealing with the LTTE for a variety of reasons.However, if the messages given to Samaraweera are any indication, India may be asserting itself, in close touch with Norway the peace facilitator now battling to save a virtually lifeless ceasefire agreement of 2002. President moots secret pact with LTTE President Mahinda Rajapakse has moved to strike a secret deal with the LTTE to halt all violence for a two-week trial period with a pledge to contain the Karuna group.The President has made his move bypassing the Norwegian facilitator and called for absolute secrecy from the intermediaries used.The President sent his proposal to the LTTE through the Editor, Uthayan newspaper, N. Vidyakaran and its Publisher, E. Saravanabhavan. The Sunday Leader learns the President had on Tuesday, June 20, met with Vidyakaran and Saravana-bhavan at Temple Trees and made his proposal.President Rajapakse had told them that both the LTTE and the army were poised for war and that the economy would be severely affected if full-scale war erupts.The President has further said the people too would have to pay a heavy price if war breaks out and it would have far reaching consequences to all communities. President Rajapakse has further said that without depending on Norway, if the two parties could come to an initial agreement to halt all violence for two weeks, they could build on that achievement for further progress.The President had also said he will ensure the Karuna group also does not carry out any attacks during that period.Rajapakse further requested the LTTE to respond with their demands to come to an agreement on the two-week ceasefire proposal. The Sunday Leader learns the President’s proposal was communicated to LTTE Political Wing Leader S. P. Tamilselvan on Wednesday.Tamilselvan, it is learnt, had informed Vidyakaran, the LTTE would make known its reaction to the President’s proposal within a few days.Informed sources said Vidyakaran had communicated Tamilselvan’s response to President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga on Wednesday, June 21. Hartal in Jaffna A Hartal to protest against alleged excesses by the armed forces brought life to a standstill in the Jaffna district yesterday with shops closed and transport paralysed.The A9 highway linking Vavuniya to Jaffna through guerrilla-controlled areas was closed though some vehicles proceeded from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi. The hartal was organised by a group calling itself the National Awakeners’ Organisation—believed to be an LTTE front—to protest alleged attacks by the security forces on LTTE cemeteries in Kopay, Velanai and the destruction of a cut-out of LTTE war hero Thileepan in Nallur.The organisation has asked Jaffna’s public servants to stage a protest tomorrow. SL Police officer shot, injured in Mandur Unidentified gunmen shot and injured Police officer in Mandur, Batticaloa at 7:30 p.m. Saturday near the Batticaloa-Amparai border area, security sources said. The incident took place near the Vellavely Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, according to sources. Two gunmen were involved in the attack, sources said.The injured police officer was admitted to Kalmunai Hospital in critical condition, medical sources said. Two soldiers killed and one injured in Vavuniya Two soldiers were shot dead and one injured in separate shooting incidents carried out by unidentified persons in the Vavuniya-Mannar road yesterday.Military media unit told that the two soldiers were on a road clearing patrol when they were attacked. They succumbed to their injuries after being admitted to Vavuniya hospital.One soldier was injured during the second attack near the Ambasevana police post.According to military sources the injured soldier was taken to Anuradhapura for further treatment. No trump card to keep SLFP leadership The Bandaranaikes have no strategy to prevent President Mahinda Rajapakse from taking over the party leadership. This emerged at a recent family reunion in the UK where Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike met sisters Chandrika and Sunethra. Sunethra was on holiday while Anura was there to participate in a tourism promotion event titled "Refreshingly Sri Lanka" with first lady Shiranthi Rajapakse as the chief guest.Well informed sources said they discussed the overall situation in the party and the ongoing efforts to replace Kumaratunga. She made an initial bid to retain the leadership but intense pressure compelled her to revise her stand with Anura pledging support to Rajapakse.Sunethra had stayed back to celebrate Chandrika’s birthday which falls on June 29.Contrary to expectations, Kumaratunga has failed to win sympathy with several of her former colleagues bluntly asking her to quit the leadership. Among them, former Deputy Minister Sumithra Priyangani Abeyweera recently asked her to quit the leadership without causing chaos. In a letter dated June 22, Abeyweera emphasised that Kumaratunga was no Sirimavo. She claimed that Kumaratunga won the presidency due to the leadership of others, particularly Mahinda Rajapakse and Amarasiri Dodangoda who led the Southern Provincial Council polls campaign in 1993. She also reminded Kumaratunga that she too played a pivotal role in bringing her back to the party at a time the party was sharply divided over her return.Blaming Kumaratunga for giving key cabinet portfolios to henchmen and looking after the interests of people who poisoned her mind against others, the former Kalutara District MP said that none of them stood by her when she needed them most. She also emphasised that she could no longer continue as the party leader. "You have lost your right to lead. SLFPers have no faith in you," she said while pointing out that it would be absurd to run the party from London. She also urged Kumaratunga to cooperate with Rajapakse and share her experiences with him, thereby ending the ongoing tussle for the leadership. Pesalai Families Compensated Fishing ban lifted The ministers also have decided to lift a fishing ban imposed on the fishermen in Mannar except Pesalai and Pallimunai with effect from Sunday.They arrived at this decision following a meeting with officials in the area and commanders of security forces in the district, Minister Badiudeen said. The ministers agreed to appoint a committee to take a decision on the fishing ban with regard to Pesali and Pallimunai areas. The committee comprising of officials of the security forces, fisheries societies, and the GA and officials will take place on Sunday, he said. Two abducted in east Britain issues Sri Lanka travel warning-The Telegraph Reports last week suggested the country was on the brink of civil war after the government accused the Tamils of attacking the Buddhist Somawathi Temple, about 100 miles north-east of Colombo. SP Tamilselvan, the political chief of the Tamil Tiger rebels, said his group would use all means necessary - including suicide bombers - if full-scale civil war broke out in the country.A suicide bombing at Colombo airport in 2001, which destroyed half the Sri Lankan Airlines fleet, resulted in thousands of tourists cancelling trips. There have been more than 60,000 casualties since the rebels began fighting for an independent Tamil homeland more than two decades ago."Fatal incidents occur on an almost daily basis throughout the north and east," says the Foreign Office. "Civilians, including foreigners, have been caught up in the violence."Last week 64 Sri Lankans were killed when their bus was hit by a mine near Vavuniya. In May seven Sri Lankan tourists were killed in an explosion in Wilpattu National Park, two British nationals were injured in a similar incident in Trincomalee district and 12 were killed when the military headquarters in Colombo was bombed. Some 90,000 British nationals visit Sri Lanka each year. Leading tour operators are seeking to reassure worried travellers that the majority of popular tourist destinations lie far from the north and east."Trincomalee is the only affected destination that we send people to," said a spokesman for Cox&Kings. "We will re-route those due to head there, and although bookings are down on last year we have had no cancellations." He added that the increase in violence could not have come at a worse time."It is such a shame for Sri Lanka. Things have been picking up so much since the tsunami. This is the last thing the country needs."A major promotional event, "Refreshingly Sri Lanka", which is currently under way in London, is promoting the country as a destination for tourism and trade investment to coincide with the Sri Lankan cricket team's international matches against England.Jean-Marc Flambert, the UK director for Sri Lankan tourism, said reports fail to mention that foreigners have never been a target for the Tamil Tigers. "In 20 years of trouble not one attack has been aimed at tourists," he said. "It is an internal conflict and although there have been incidents in the past few weeks it is disappointing to read of Sri Lanka being at war, when incidents have been limited to the north and east."The Foreign Office advises all travellers to the country to avoid political gatherings or demonstrations, to follow local developments closely, and be aware of surroundings and alert to changing situations. It adds that anyone visiting for more than a month should register with the British High Commission in Colombo. Youth at Police Training School arrested Durban Tamils protest against Sri Lanka's Rights violations Representatives of the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee of South Africa (TCC), members of organizations supporting human rights in South Africa, and expatriate Tamils staged a peaceful march and placard demonstration in front of the Durban City Hall, South Africa Friday 23rd June 2006. More than 200 people protested the human rights violations of the Sri Lanka Government against Tamil civilians and European Union’s proscription of the LTTE, organizers of the event said. Protesters carried placards and shouted slogans highlighting the human rights violations, including the recent murder of civilians in Mannar and Jaffna, allegedly carried out by the Sri Lankan armed forces. This demonstration was organized by Tamil Co-ordinating Committee of South Africa (TCC). 24 June 2006 Self-determination, Tamils' Birth-right - Sampanthan In Parliament TNA Leader R.Sampanthan told Parliament that the right to self-determination is a birth right of the Tamils and that they have the inalienable right to determine their destiny in their homeland, the North-East. He was addressing the Parliament on the vote of condolence for late Joseph Pararajasinham, former MP for Batticalo.Quoting an example from India he said that people living in Punjab speak Panjab language, in West Bengal, Bengali Language, those in Maharashtra speak Marati, those in Andhra, Telugu, in Karnataka, Kannada while the people in Tamil Nadu Speak Tamil Language. That is a reality we must understand. “Every successive government in Sri Lanka after independence denied Tamils their democratic rights. Didn’t the government deprive the up-country Tamils of their franchise? Didn’t the government deprive the Tamils of their lands through state- sponsored colonization? Didn’t the government deprive the Tamils of their language rights when it imposed Sinhala as the only official language of this country by an Act of Parliament. It is due to these acts of injustice that there is confrontations and calamity in the country," Sampanthan told the Parliament.. "Had the government conducted investigations into the assassination of Josef Pararajasinham who was committed to a peaceful settlement, on the Christmas day in a Church, had the government taken the prompt action to bring the culprits to book, the atrocities that were committed in the church at Pesalai could have been avoided," the leader of the TNA pointed out. North-East is the traditional Homeland of the Tamils. 95% of the people in the North speak Tamil language. 75% to 80% of the people in the East are Tamil speaking. Had there not been state-aided colonization, 95% of the people would still be a Tamil-speaking nation. It is not our position that other communities should not live in the North-East. What we detest is colonization by the government in those areas, with ulterior motives. The concept of the right to self-determination demands that this right is inherent and not handed over by man to man and that the Tamils of the North-East are entitled to determine their political destiny by themselves and to choose the type of political set up they wish to have. "No one from outside has any right to determine on their behalf. Nor can anyone compel the Tamil community to consent to a political settlement through compulsion or coercion," Sampanthan concluded. Britain urges strict discipline for troops Tells LTTE to follow ANC, IRA Britain said yesterday the international community expected highest standards of conduct from the Sri Lankan security forces and insisted that perpetrators of indiscipline be dealt with severely. “No country’s armed forces are perfect. We in Britain know that through bitter experience. But when serious lapses in discipline occur, the important thing is that they should be investigated and the perpetrators dealt with under the law,” British High Commissioner Dominick Chilcott said at a ceremony in Colombo to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth.He insisted that the security forces must stick to high standards despite provocation – because they were “representing and defending democracy”. Welcoming what he described as President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s “statesmanlike call for restraint after the assassination attempt on the Army commander” the diplomat said a tolerant, multicultural society was the “best answer to those who fomented hatred and ethnic division.” Citing the President’s vision for this country, where all its citizens should stand as equals before the law, free from discrimination on the grounds of mother-tongue, ethnicity or religious belief, Mr. Chilcott said “these noble and statesmanlike sentiments are music to the ears of the British government.” The High Commissioner expressed the strongest sense of horror and outrage over attacks on innocent civilians.Condemning the LTTE, he said there was no justification for terrorism in Sri Lanka and reminded the Tigers it was high time that they made the same journey that the ANC made in South Africa and the IRA in Northern Ireland. “The LTTE must put away its weapons and its attachment to violence and join the family of civilised, democratic peoples who sort out their differences through negotiations, not terror,” he said. “”It must try to attain its political aspirations through the democratic institutions of the state, not through bombs and bullets.” He urged Education Minister Susil Premajayantha who was representing the government at the ceremony to take the initiative to make President Rajapaksa’s vision a reality as quickly as possible.Recalling that the Queen had twice visited Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner said "throughout her 54 year reign, the Queen had worked hard and with great dedication to keep the promises she made before she became Queen to devote herself to the Commonwealth." Mechanism needed to solve unsettled problems - Hakeem A well-planned structural mechanism is needed to properly address the unsettled and unattended problems of the Colombo Muslims, said SLMC national leader Rauff Hakeem at party head quarters 'Dharussalam' in Colombo on Wednesday. He said that the Muslim community in Colombo was lagging behind very much in the field of education as well. The SLMC leader was speaking at a special function at which appointment letters were issued to 84 branch organisers who represented a cross section of the Muslim community in the metropolitan. The leader also called upon all Muslim Parliamentarians, Provincial Council members and other local government bodies to join hands with the SLMC in its ongoing efforts to resolve the problems of the Muslim community. The problems of the Colombo Muslims have been segmented into three wide areas. Firstly their educational and cultural problems, secondly their health, housing and recreation problems and lastly their economic problems would be addressed by the SLMC with assistance from experts in the fields, he said, adding that the SLMC would draw out clear and far sighted plans on these. The administration of the Colombo MC is in a mess and both the major political parties are making frantic efforts to form an alliance with the SLMC. A rare inside look at Tamil Tigers AT A TAMIL TIGER REBEL BASE, SRI LANKA - Past the paved road lined by minefields, down a sandy track hemmed in by coconut palms and thatch huts, the gate appears, a metal boom bookended by bunkers made of logs and sandbags.It's not visible until you're on top of it, and the tiger-striped camouflage of the lone sentry is the only sign this is a base of the Tamil Tiger rebels."The people who need to know our soldiers, the villagers who aid us they know we are here," said Muttiah Jayanthy, 33, one of the base's top officers. "If there is war, the government will feel our presence." A surge in violence has left Sri Lanka dangerously close to resuming a war best known for its suicide bombings a vicious conflict that for 18 years pitted rebels from the Hindu Tamil minority against the government dominated by the Buddhist Sinhalese majority.The Tigers agreed to let the Associated Press make a rare visit to a front-line rebel base on the condition that its location not be revealed. The trip was tightly controlled, and only a dozen of the 2,000 fighters said to operate out of the base were made available to speak. But it provided a rare snapshot of how the Tigers think — and what they are preparing for. In interview after interview this week, the fighters talked of their readiness to die for a Tamil homeland. One said she had volunteered to become a suicide bomber, known as a Black Tiger; another admitted she was once a child soldier.Much of what they said was stock rhetoric, with repeated references to "historic responsibility" and "occupation forces." How much they had been ordered to say, how much came from indoctrination and how much was heartfelt was hard to judge.But none showed doubts."Only by war can we get our homeland back, our identity, our dignity," Jayanthy said. Using a Tamil homeland as an inspiration along with a feared intelligence network the Tigers have shaped a cult-like force whose fighters carry cyanide to swallow if they are captured, an agonizing death that hundreds have chosen.Only the top commanders are given ranks; soldiers must wait until death."It is a final judgment on how we lived and fought," Jayanthy said.The rebels' secretive chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, is reverently referred to as "The Leader." He's rarely seen by outsiders, although pictures of the chubby commander are omnipresent in Tiger territory. The Tigers will not say how large their force is, but they are estimated to have 5,000 to 7,000 fighters, and as many as half are thought to be children. Backed by artillery and small naval gunboats, the rebels have waged guerrilla campaigns and have bested Sri Lanka's 66,000-strong army in conventional battles.Their battlefield discipline is matched by a puritanical streak tobacco and alcohol are banned, and they must wait until their mid-20s to marry. The Tigers have turned a half-century of discrimination against Sri Lanka's 3.2 million Tamils into a well-developed narrative of oppression. Nearly all can rattle off the offenses the adoption of Sinhala as the sole national language in 1956; decades of anti-Tamil riots; and the 1981 burning of the Jaffna library that destroyed ancient Tamil manuscripts and modern archives.Discrimination prompted the Tigers to take up arms in 1983. The resulting war left about 65,000 people dead before the 2002 cease-fire. One month for monitors: LTTE The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has set a one-month deadline for the removal of monitors from the European Union, which last month listed the group as a terrorist organisation. The LTTE's position was conveyed by Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar to the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) on Thursday. The deadline started from June 19 — the date set by Norway for the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to respond to the five questions it posed last month on their commitment to the ceasefire agreement and the role played of the SLMM. The LTTE has demanded that the monitors be changed within a month, instead of the six-month transitional period suggested by Norway. The SCOPP termed it "unreasonable demand that ignores the service" provided by the monitors to the peace process and "is oblivious to the realities of international relations." Expressing hope that the LTTE would reconsider its decision, the SCOPP said, "It is highly impractical to expect these changes could be effected within a one-month period as demanded by the LTTE." The Government reiterated its commitment to the peace process and said it had no objection to the composition of the monitoring team. "We have no objections over anyone participating" in the ceasefire monitoring process, Government spokesperson and Media Affairs Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told a press conference. Mr. Yapa denied the LTTE's charges that the Government was behind the recent attacks on civilians. "Why do we want to kill our own people? We have positive identification that the LTTE has done it," he said referring to the June 15 claymore attack on a passenger bus, which killed over 60 persons. "It has been clearly proved. We not only deny this charge, but also condemn the attack." Meeting to decide future of monitors on 29th A special meeting of the five countries representing the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission will be held on the 29th to discuss the new development arisen as a result of the LTTE's call for the removal of representatives in the Monitoring Mission from the European Union countries and the future of the Mission.The five countries are Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland and Finland. The LTTE has argued that it is not proper for the monitors of the EU countries- Sweden, Denmark and Finland, which have banned the LTTE as a terrorist organization, to serve in the Monitoring Mission. The government has raised no objections about the presence of monitors from three countries of the 25 member European Union, which recently formally listed the LTTE as a terrorist organization. The LTTE has expressed the opinion that the integrity of the SLMM at stake when monitors from the EU countries are present.Norwegian ambassador Hans Bradscar told the media on the 21st following a meeting with Tamilselvam in Kilinochchi that the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has carried out duties in a highly responsible manner and that all those who served it in the past four years should be appreciated. He also said that monitors from all 5 Scandinavian countries have performed the monitoring activities extremely well. Mangala calls for global ban on Tigers Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has called for a global ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)."We would like the LTTE to be banned by the whole world so that the Tigers realize that violence does not pay," he told "The Island" here during a half-hour interview on Thursday evening. He was here for a day to brief Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the recent developments in his country."A global ban will dry up their financial resources and bring their war machine to a grinding halt. That will force them to give up violence and bring them to the negotiating table," Samaraweera explained. Asked what impact the European Union’s proscription of May 29 has had on the LTTE, the minister said: "A single month is not enough to gauge the impact. But the EU ban has definitely had a devastating impact on the psyche of the LTTE. Their fund collection has been badly hit."According to a Rand Corporation study five years ago, 90% to 95% of the LTTE’s war budget comes from the nearly one-million-strong Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora living across the globe. The LTTE runs a sophisticated international revenue-generating operation that draws heavily on diaspora contributions. Even eight years ago, the Tigers had representatives collecting funds in 54 countries. A conservative estimate made by the Rand Corporation said the LTTE was collecting at least US$50 million a year from Sri Lankan Tamils living abroad.The EU proscription makes it a crime to collect funds for the LTTE from the nearly 2,50,000 Sri Lankan Tamils living in its 25 member-nations.In April this year, Canada made fund-raising for the LTTE among the nearly half-million Sri Lankan Tamils living there an illegal activity. The 40,000 living in the United States too cannot contribute to the LTTE’s war chest either because the US banned the outfit in 1997. The same is the case with the 100,000 Sri Lankan Tamils living in the United Kingdom since Britain banned the Tigers in 2001.India was the first country to ban the LTTE in May 1992 in the wake of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s brutal assassination by its woman suicide-bomber Dhanu at an election rally near Chennai the previous year. While Australia is home to some 35,000 Sri Lankan Tamils, another 100,000 are scattered in about a dozen other countries.Malaysia has 1.5 million Tamils and Singapore 2,50,000---most of them originally from India. Samaraweera said the Tigers exploit linguistic and cultural ties with these Tamils and use these two Southeast Asian countries as "clearing houses" for the funds they raise through activities such as gun-running, drug-peddling and the like. The Tigers also try to generate sympathy and collect funds from several other countries with large Indian-origin Tamil populations by projecting themselves as an organization fighting for Tamil self-respect and honour and against Sinhala oppression in Sri Lanka. Such countries include South Africa (250,000 Tamils), Myanmar (200,000), La Reunion (1,20,000), Mauritius (100,000), Indonesia (40,000)."Ideally, we would like all these countries to help us restore peace in Sri Lanka by banning the LTTE so that the Tigers’ fund-raising sources dry up completely. That is the most effectively way of forcing them to stop fighting and start talking," Samaraweera declared. Fertilizer for Bogollogama's family tree from President. A round table conference was held on the 22nd at Marlboro House England between Sri Lankan businessmen and their British counterparts to promote investment in Sri Lanka. The event organized by the Commonwealth Business Council was held the entire day. The SriLankan delegation was headed by Investment Promotions Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, However instead of striving to bring down investors to Sri lanka, the Minister has given priority to make it a family trip to London. Along with the Minister, his wife Deepthi Bogollagama, son Lakshitha Bogollagama and daughter Dilshani Bogollagama too joined the London trip. Their names have been included as members of the delegation. Expenses for the Bogollagama's family members such as air fare and hotel facilities have been borne by the government.The other members in the committee are Minister’s media advisor A.B. Lalith de Silva, Media secretary Daya Weerawansa, Asanka yatawara of the Board of Investments and Sri lanakn high commissioner Shenuka Seneviratne. Minister Bogollagama declared open trade fair on the 21st and the exhibition 'Nevum Suwathi Sri Lanka' was opened by the first lady madam Siranthi Rajapaksa. It had been organized by the SriLanka high Commission, board of investments, Ceylon Tourist Board, SriLanka Tourist Board and the national carrier Sri Lankan air. Mannar SLN Commander ordered to appear in Court "Within few minutes after the fire fight between the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was over in Mannar Sea on June 17th morning, four navy soldiers who returned from the shore in motorbikes lobbed grenades through the windows into the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Pesalai and fired at random on the church doors," said five witnesses giving evidence before the Mannar Additional Magistrate Mr.T.J.Pirapaharan Thursday. The Talaimannar Police led the evidence of the witnesses, legal sources said. In the alleged SLN violence a seventy year-old woman was killed and forty others were injured among three thousand Pesalai residents who had sought refuge in the church following the LTTE-SLN fire fight in Mannar Sea. About fifty persons who were present during the church violence were in the court. But the Talaimannar Police called only five persons to give evidence at the inquest proceedings, legal sources said.The Additional Magistrate recorded the evidence of five witnesses from 11 a.m. till 1.15 p.m. Thursday. The Magistrate put off the further inquiry for July 07. The Court further directed the Talaimannar Police to record the statement of Mannar Navy Commander as witnesses had implicated SLN soldiers in the attack on the church. The Court also ordered the Police to produce documents on the details fo motorbikes and the names of navy sailors who used them from the SLN officer in charge of vehicles. The Court also issued notice on the SLN commander in Mannar to appear in court on July 07, legal sources said.Additional Magistrate directed the Registrar of the court to send copies of his directives issued to the Talaimannar Police and the SLN Mannar Commander to the Attorney General, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy and Deputy Inspector General of Police in Wanni region, legal sources said. The Additional Magistrate directed the Talaimannar Police to provide adequate security to witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest. The Court also directed the SLA Commander of Thallady army camp to provide necessary assistance to the Talaimannar Police to conduct further investigation into the incident, legal sources said.The Judge commented after recording the evidence of the witnesses that civilians who sought refuge in the church for safety had been affected due to grenade attack and gunfire. Civilians would lose confidence on the court if it fails to take appropriate steps against persons involved in the attack, legal sources said. Killing of released boat owner under probe A special police intelligence team is investigating the murder of the Negombo businessman who was released on police bail after being arrested for possessing high powered boat engines, police sources said.However, police have not been able to establish the motive for the murder. After the businessman was released, intelligence services were watching his movements. Thus, police are baffled how the gunmen had got close enough to kill him without being spotted.Sources said he had supplied high powered boat engines to the LTTE and he had vital information about them which the police were trying to gather. He may have been killed by the LTTE to prevent him divulging vital information to the authorities but there were other possibilities too, a police officer said.Investigation continue, police said. SLA soldier placed grenade by husband's body, wife tells judge "On the day my husband was killed and his body lay on the ground, I saw SLA soldier hide a hand grenade inside his clothing,” said Sivathesam, 42, in her evidence at the murder inquiry of her husband Kaththamutthu Rasanayagam, 43, shot and killed by SLA soldiers at Santhivelli Main Road, legal sources said. The hearing was held before Judge M.H.M Achmir, Friday morning at the Batticaloa district court. Ms Sivathesam said she was married to the victim and that they lived with their three children in Santhivelli, Vattaiadi Road. Sivathesam told the Judge that on Saturday at about 9:a.m.her husband left the house by bicycle to carryout some personal errands. At about 11:00 a.m she heard gun shots and neighbors told her that her husband had been shot. While she was running towards the crime scene 100 meters away she saw a soldier hide a grenade inside the clothing of her husband, Sivathesam said. M. Anuratne, a soldier from the Santhivelli SLA camp, giving evidence told court that on Saturday 17 June at 6:00 a.m. he and two other soldiers were on road patrol and at 10:a.m. they received a message on the “walkie-talkie” that a SL army convoy traveling from Batticaloa was being targeted for a grenade attack. Around that time when they saw the deceased riding towards them in a bicycle and directed him to stop. The deceased then attempted to hurl a hand grenade and they shot him, Mr Anuratne told the judge. Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigations Division of Eravur police C.M.Chandrabala and two other soldiers also gave evidence.Eravur police sergeant S.M. Rahim recorded the statements of the witnesses. Santhivelli is located 22 kilometers north of Batticaloa. IS RAW BAITING THE TAMIL TIGERS?- Source:Tehelka.com As Sri Lanka slides into war again, PC Vinoj Kumar examines allegations that Indian intelligence agency RAW is propping up an anti-LTTE outfit to neutralise Tiger supremo V. Prabhakaran’s influence War clouds are gathering over Sri Lanka both the Sri Lankan army and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres are mounting attacks on each other with increasing frequency. In Tamil Nadu, the Karunanidhi government is beginning to feel the pinch. The elite ‘Q Branch’ of Chennai police and the Coastal Security Group personnel have stepped up vigil to prevent infiltration of Tamil militants sneaking into the state in the garb of refugees. But there is trouble from unexpected quarters. A group which supports the cause of an independent Tamil Eelam homeland in Sri lanka, created by India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been accused of recruiting cadres for the renegade LTTE leader Karuna from the refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. Grenade attack on civilian house in Chenkalady Unidentified persons lobbed a grenade at the house of Mr.Ilayathamby Indrakumar located in Ellai Veethi Kanapathipillai village at Chenkalady in Eravur Police division in Batticaloa district Thursday night around 10 p.m. The house was severely damaged but the occupants escaped unhurt, police sources said. Mr.Indrakumar, his wife and his two children were staying in the house at that time. He owns a jewellery store.Earlier Indrakumar was living in Ward No: 5 in Eravur. Later he shifted his residence to Chenkalady and was living in a rented house, sources said.Eravur Police is conducting inquiries into this incident, sources said.Chenkalady is located about 13 km off north of Batticaloa town. 23 June 2006 End killings of innocent Tamils, India tells Lanka India Thursday politely but firmly told Sri Lanka to end the killings of innocent Tamils while combating the Tamil Tigers and pressed Colombo to speed up plans to devolve powers to the country's minorities.India's political leadership gave the unambiguous message to Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who flew in overnight from London on a previously unscheduled visit.An informed source told IANS: "The minister was told that civilian casualties should be avoided... and we hope that Sri Lankan security forces will not respond to provocations and be restrained." New Delhi is committed to Sri Lanka's unity but is bothered by increasing reports of attacks on innocent Tamils in the island's north and east, where violence that has claimed over 800 lives since December has been blamed on security forces, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and anti-LTTE Tamil groups.Samaraweera first met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan exclusively and then had an extended meeting along with officials. Before flying to Colombo he also met Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed at the Indira Gandhi international airport. A government statement said Manmohan Singh conveyed to Samaraweera "India's abiding commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka" even while demanding that "the legitimate aspirations of all sections of Sri Lankan society needed to be addressed expeditiously."He emphasized the need to make all possible efforts to strengthen the ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE and to work towards a devolution package that could command consensus among the major political parties and restore ethnic harmony." The cycle of killings and counter-killings in Sri Lanka has made a mockery of the 2002 Norway-brokered ceasefire between Colombo and the Tigers. But Norway is doing its best to resurrect the badly derailed peace process.The violence has led to a panic run of distraught Tamil civilians to Tamil Nadu, the Indian state separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow strip of sea.This in turn has generated a lot of heat in Tamil Nadu, where both the ruling DMK and opposition parties have pressed New Delhi to take steps to try to bring peace in the island nation. Samaraweera, who was also in New Delhi last month, told Manmohan Singh that President Mahinda Rajapakse was committed to peace no matter what stand the LTTE took. He quoted Rajapakse as saying that "war is not an option"."We are committed to a political solution and want to go in for devolution of powers based on discussions at the all party conference (in Sri Lanka)," he told the Indian premier and Narayanan.Colombo, the minister went on, wanted to talk to the LTTE to resolve the decades-long ethnic conflict. "For this government and for our president, war is not an option," Samaraweera insisted. Narayanan is expected to fly to Tamil Nadu shortly to appraise Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi about the discussions with Samaraweera.Among other things Karunanidhi is seriously concerned over continuing attacks by Sri Lankan security forces on fishermen from Tamil Nadu.A statement from the Sri Lankan high commission here said that Samaraweera informed Manmohan Singh that Colombo "remains committed to the ceasefire agreement despite the grave provocations and violations by the LTTE". It said Rajapakse was committed "to a negotiated political solution based on democracy and human rights that meets the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka and will preserve the territorial integrity of the country".Diplomats in Colombo, however, fear that both Colombo and LTTE appear to be inching towards a full-fledged conflict although neither side wants to earn flak from the international community by provoking a war. A blast at Wattala, Uswetakeyyawa A blast has taken place around 10.30 this morning (23) at the beach at Uswetakeyyawa, Wattala. According to the residents with the blast the glass windows of their houses were shattered. Details of the blast is not known as yet. A joint operation is on by the Police, Navy and the Air Force. The security forces revealed there were eight similar bombs in the area of which they recovered seven earlier. It is suspected the other sea-bomb that was missing has blasted, which is not confirmed yet. Govt no to LTTE demand Catholic Bishops of North slam civilian attacks by GoSL armed forces Breaking away from their diplomatic silence the Catholic Bishops of Jaffna and Mannar came down strong in condemning the GoSL armed forces as a terrorist organization. Speaking at a meeting to handover houses to people in Vetrilaikerni in Jaffna, the Jaffna Bishop, Thomas Soundaranayagam, lashed out at the GoSL armed forces and said that the GoSL forces are attacking innocent civilians. He went on to say that the GoSL forces have murdered several civilians, and these forces are attacking even the people who are forced to take refuge in churches as a result of the atrocities by the GoSL forces. He said that the GoSL forces are in fact a murderous terrorist organization. Mannar Bishop, Rayappu Joseph, who wrote to the Vatican in great detail about the attack on the civilians in Pesalai has also come down hard on the GoSL forces. In the letter he directly accused the GoSL forces for attacking the civilians in the church and also shooting dead five fishermen through their mouth. He said that people are unable to find refuge even in their churches which are the people’s traditional refuge. India in a Catch-22 situation over Lanka As the violence in the island escalates, India can do little more than watch helplessly unless it wants to take the political risk of taking an active part in the peace negotiations between the government and the LTTE. For the time being that is not on India’s agenda.Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday. In a statement released by the foreign office after the meeting, New Delhi tried to send a reassuring message to Tamil Nadu. “War is not an option. Sri Lanka remains committed to a political solution to the ethnic issue,” the statement quoted Samaraweera. There is growing concern about the repercussions in Tamil Nadu, now ruled by a member of the UPA coalition, of large numbers of refugees landing up in the state. Of even greater concern is the fear that the aerial bombings on Tamil civilians will evoke an emotive response on Tamils on this side of the Palk Straits. “India wants to make sure that the violence does not escalate to a level when the mood in Tamil Nadu will change. The foreign minister will be told that action against Tamil civilians is not on. Whatever happens there must not be a flow of refugees to India,” says S D Muni of JNU. “It’s important to ensure damage control, make sure that Tamil civilians are unaffected. If there is an influx of refugees, and Tamils in the country, India will have to bear with the repercussions,” said a senior Indian official. “The Norwegian negotiations have not produced desired results. Nor is there an alternative at the moment unless India changes its mind and gets involved,” says Romesh Jayasinghe the Lankan envoy here. The ceasefire is in tatters, and though neither side admit it, the two sides are virtually at war. This is a nightmare for New Delhi. However, there is little India can do apart from advising caution to Colombo. Two civilians shot dead in Batticaloa Two separately abducted Batticaloa residents, Kanthasamy Thavarajah, 20, and Shanmugam Jeyaratnam, 39, were shot and killed by their abductors, in two different locations at Santhiveli, 19 km north of Batticaloa Town, and Vinayagapuram, 32 km north of Batticaloa town, on Thursday police sources said. Rice mill worker Thavarajah, a resident of Palaiyadithorna in Santhiveli, and a father of a 16 day-old-baby, was shot dead early morning, 500 meters from the nearby Jeevapuram railway station. He was abducted at a bus stop, while waiting to catch a bus to take him to work in a rice mill in Akkaraipattu.Thavarajah's body has been transferred to Eravur hospital and police are carrying out investigations.Jeevaratnam, a cow-herder, was shot in the head and killed, Thursady morning at around 7:10 a.m., near the local Vinayakapuram school in Kalmadu Road, police sources said.Jeevaratnam's body has been taken to Valaichchenai hospital and police are investigating.Paramilitaries working with Sri Lanka Army (SLA) forces abducted, around 125 Tamil children in white vans, last week in Santhivali, Kiran, Valaichenai, Pethalai, Vinayakapuram, Kannakipuram, pattiyadichenai, Kalkudah and Mankerny, sources said. Tamil MP tells Sri Lanka Parliament -' Troops Threatened to Kill me and Rape my wife' A TNA Parliamentarian yesterday told parliament that some security personnel had threatened to kill him and rape his wife.Raising an issue of the privilege in the House, Jaffna district TNA MP M.K.Eelaventhan said the incident took place when he was stooped at a military check point at the Thicunanweli junction in the Northern province. The MP alleged the security personnel manning the check point abused him in foul language and ordered him to alight from the vehicle. “They said I was responsible for disrupting parliament and was an LTTEer,” the parliamentarian said adding that the security personnel threatened to kill him on the basis that he was a threat to national security. “They did not pay heed even when I produced my parliament identity card signed by the secretary general of Parliament” he said. The MP alleged that the security personnel had then scolded his wife and threatened to rape her. He said he could identify the security personnel and urged that the matter be taken up before the parliament privilege committee. JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawensa responded saying the TNA MP was making false allegation against the security forces to discredit their image. Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara at this point asked Mr.Weerawensa on what basis he was making such a comment and assured the TNA MP that the incident would be fully probed by the Parliaments privileges committee. JHU demands that parliamentary representation be changed in Sri Lanka The Sinhala Buddhist monk party, the National Heritage Party (JHU), has urged the government to change the proportions of representation in the Sri Lanka Parliament in a way that would reduce Tamil representation and increase Sinhala representation. JHU parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thero made this request in Parliament through a question raised to the Prime Minister. The ultra-nationalist monk said that according to the law of the country, there should be only 10 parliamentary seats for the Northern Province, but as there are 15 seats, the government is infringing the election rights of other areas. He demanded that the representation of other areas be increased proportionately. Using figures from the Election Commissioner’s Department, the monk said there are 644,279 voters in the Jaffna district and nine parliamentary seats have been allocated for them. The number of voters in Vanni district is 226,604 and the number of allocated seats is six. However, if the Sri Lanka security forces are considered separately, the monk said the actual population in the entire Jaffna district is not more than 300,000. The population in Vanni, which is under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), is 150,000. Rathana Thero argued that according to those figures, the number of seats that should be allocated for the whole Northern Province is only six. The JHU demands that the security forces be taken into account when the voters' lists are reformed this year. A proper census was not conducted in the North and East Provinces since 1981 due to the conflict in the area. Sinhala nationalists argue that the calculated figures of the Election Commissioner's Department are wrong as many Tamils have either died, been displaced or migrated out of the country due to the prolonged civil war, which has centred in the North and East of Sri Lanka. The LTTE has been conducting a violent campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the North and East of Sri Lanka since 1983. But moderate Tamils have expressed their willingness for a federal structure. More than 65,000 people have died in Sri Lanka's civil war. Consecutive governments have failed to find a solution to the problem through power-sharing, in part due to the agitations of the Sinhala nationalist sectors who do not want to allow the government to change the state’s unitary structure. UNICEF accuses Karuna faction of child recruitment UNICEF has condemned the alleged abduction and forced recruitment of children by the Karuna faction noting that during the past week alone at least 30 cases were verified by the agency in the Batticaloa district.However a Karuna faction spokesman dismissed the reports saying there are no fighters under the age of 18 and also claimed that LTTE cadres at times identify themselves as Karuna supporters when recruiting children.“UNICEF in Sri Lanka is calling for immediate action to halt the abduction and forced recruitment of children by the Karuna group. Reports of abduction and forced recruitment of boys under the age of 18 from the area have increased since March of this year,” UNICEF said in a statement. Meanwhile the Daily Mirror learns that the police searched the Batticaloa political office of the Karuna faction on Wednesday following a complaint that several under-age cadres were working in the premises.Karuna faction spokesman Mr. Thooyavan said his cadres who were under-age at the time the movement split from the LTTE in 2004 were now well above 18 years and added his movement has not recruited children since then.UNICEF meanwhile called on all armed groups to stop using child soldiers and also urged the Government to investigate all abductions and ensure that children in affected areas were given the full protection of the law. “Recruitment of children often takes place in circumstances designed to add to a climate of fear in communities. This is already seen in falling attendance at schools in the area. These gross violations of their rights will also expose children to brutality and extreme violence with lifelong consequences,” UNICEF said.In the past UNICEF has also noted several instances of child recruitment carried out by the LTTE for combat purposes against Government forces in a possible future war. 22 June 2006 TNA appeals to international community to ensure security to Tamils "We wish to impress upon the International Community that the Sri Lankan State is failing in it duty to give adequate protection to the Tamil civilian population. We wish to impress upon the International Community that it should intercede and compel the Sri Lankan State to fulfil its obligations to the Tamil civilian population. The atmosphere of unbridled impunity now prevalent should be brought to an end," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in statement made in the Sri Lanka's parliament Wednesday on the rapidly deteriorating plight of Tamil civilian population in the North East region of the country, parliamentary sources said. The Speaker Mr.W.J.M.Lokkubandara allowed a request of Mr.Sampanthan to make a statement as a matter of public importance which related on the rapidly deteriorating plight of Tamil civilian population in the North East region in the country, sources said. "It is clear that the security and auxiliary forces are acting with utmost impunity. If the present situation continues the plight of the Tamil civilian population can only get infinitely worse," Mr.Sampanthan said.He added, "If it is the duty of the Government to rein under its control, its security and auxiliary forces. The Tamil civilian population are entitled to live in their homes and villages without being subjected to the harassment, intimidation, sexual assault, destruction and killings that they are presently being subjected to."Mr.Sampanthan in his three-page statement outlined several incidents which have terrorized Tamil civilians and brought about the present situation. He further said: "The Tamil civilian population in the North East were victims of a cruel war for over a period of two decades. Almost a million Tamils were displaced, large numbers were internally displaced, and substantial numbers fled the country. The Tamil speaking people in the North East were also victims of tsunami disaster in December 2004.""No satisfactory arrangements were made by the State, to resettle and rehabilitate the affected Tamil speaking people or to reconstruct the substantial damage caused both by the war and tsunami disaster. Whatever relief was provided came from international bodies and non-governmental organizations. The efforts to set up an Interim Self Governing Authority to resettle and rehabilitate the displaced Tamil people and reconstruct the North East were scuttled. The Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (PTOMS) was aborted. The Tamil speaking suffered much deprivation and substantial numbers continued to languish in refugee camps and welfare centres. It is in this background that substantial numbers of Tamils are once again being dislocated and are compelled to flee their homes and villages. Over three thousand Tamils have fled across the seas to India. The situation is deteriorating rapidly, and it is imperative that further deterioration be arrested," said Mr.Sampanthan in his statement. S.Lanka rebels insist EU truce monitors must quit Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers insisted on Wednesday that Nordic truce monitors from European Union nations must be replaced due to an EU ban against the rebels, Norwegian envoys said after visiting their stronghold. That means that Norway must try to find monitors to replace 37 from EU members Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Analysts say leaving only 20 monitors from Norway and Iceland will create a serious vacuum at a time when attacks and ambushes are soaring. "The (Tigers) have informed us that they stand by what they previously informed us: That they don't accept SLMM members from countries which have proscribed them as a terrorist organisation," said Erik Ivo Nurnberg, first secretary at the Royal Norwegian Embassy. "That is something that we regret," he added on returning from visiting the rebels' northern nerve-centre of Kilinochchi. "We are now in the process of assessing together with other Nordic countries how to replace the monitors." SLMM stands for the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission which oversees a 2002 ceasefire between rebel forces and the Sri Lankan military. The monitors say the Tigers' demand undermines their mission. "If you remove more than half of the monitors ... we cannot operate properly," said SLMM spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson. "This will mean that we cannot fulfil the mandate that the parties of the ceasefire agreement required us to do. This is ridiculous." The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Tuesday vowed to ensure the safety of SLMM monitors, following a close shave in May when the rebels fired at a navy patrol boat with a monitor aboard, and recommitted to the ceasefire. But many fear a rash of escalating violence -- in particular a Tiger feud with a renegade commander called Karuna -- could still spiral into renewed civil war. Sri Lanka's military said eight Tamil Tigers were killed during an overnight clash with a band of breakaway former comrades, but the rebels on Wednesday denied the report and accused the army of shelling their territory. The Tigers warned on Tuesday that attacks by the Karuna, which they accuse of colluding with the military, pose "a big threat to the ceasefire and peace process" amid a rash of violence that has killed more than 700 people so far this year. The Tigers have also warned they would resort to any strategy -- including suicide bombers -- if a conflict that has killed more than 65,000 people resumes all-out. The government is still trying to entice the Tigers back to peace talks, which the rebels have pulled out of indefinitely. "The government has not abandoned the peace process. We are ready to talk to the LTTE and the door is open," Nimal Siripala de Silva, leader of house, told parliament. "The final settlement to the problem can be discussed at the negotiating table." Silence for all in peaceful House Parliament yesterday observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the civilians killed in the recent attacks including those in the North-East. The proposal for a one minute silence for the second consecutive day, was made by TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan. Mr. Sampanthan made this request to the House after he made a statement outlining the killing of Tamil civilians in the North-East allegedly by member of the security forces. In his speech, the TNA leader said the Tamils were victims of the two-decade war and the tsunami disaster. He charged that the Government failed to do anything satisfactory to resettle and rehabilitate the affected Tamils. He said that in this background Tamils had once again been displaced and compelled to flee their homes and villages.“Over 3000 Tamils have fled across the seas to India. The situation is deteriorating rapidly, and it is imperative that further deterioration be arrested,” he said. He referred to several incidents where Tamils had been killed allegedly by members of the security forces, including the massacre of a family in Mannar.“It is clear that the security and auxiliary forces are acting with the utmost impunity. If the present situation continues, the plight of the Tamil civilian population can only get infinitely worse,” he said. He said that it was the duty of the Government to rein those under its control. Following the one-minute silence observed after his speech, JHU Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera said the silence was observed respecting the civilians be they Sinhala, Muslim or Tamil.“I did not observe silence by accepting the allegation that these civilians had been killed in the North-East by the security forces. As a Buddhist monk, I do not accept any form of killing be it Sinhala, Muslim or Tamil. On that ground only, I observed this silence,” he said. Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara said that the House observed silence for two consecutive days. The Speaker said such observances would be allowed in the future only after discussing the matter at a party leaders’ meeting.“Don’t make it a habit,” he said. Karuna Group is also recruiting Sri Lankan children as soldiers Residents of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka complain that the Karuna Group, the breakaway faction of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is also recruiting and training child soldiers. It is reported that the paramilitary group is capitalising on the story of the LTTE training civilians in self-defence and is abducting children from government-controlled areas in the East for recruitment to its ranks on the pretext that they too will be given self-defence training. According to the reports from the Eastern Province, both the LTTE and Karuna Group have abducted hundreds of people from poverty-stricken villages, and the majority of the victims are underaged children Sri Lankan foreign minister to visit India on Thursday Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will pay a brief visit here on June 21-22, 2006. The main purpose of the visit to apprise the Indian leadership of the situation in Sri Lanka, said Navtej Sarna, spokesperson, External Affairs Ministry in a briefing here on Wednesday. He said, "The peace process will dominate the agenda. The visit may be seen as part of the continuing high level political dialogue between India and Sri Lanka on matters of mutual interest," Sarna added. India may intervene in Lanka again India might intervene in the imbroglio between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam (LTTE), if not directly like the last time, but indirectly.Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi late last evening spoke to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and urged him that India must intervene following the massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils inside a church by its armed forces and also Tamil fishermen being shot at by the Sri Lankan navy.A high-level delegation led by National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan will arrive here shortly and take stock of the situation. Dr Singh has assured Mr Karunanidhi when he spoke over telephone of necessary action.Mr Narayanan will discuss the issue with Mr Karunanidhi and later brief the Prime Minister whether India should adopt an active role in Sri Lanka to bring back peace in the island ravaged by more that 25 years of violence. Last month, Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash had said: “The Indian Navy is ready to render its services in Sri Lanka if the Government of India desires. We are watching the situation in Sri Lanka very carefully.”He said: “We have enhanced both naval and air surveillance in the area in view of the situation in Sri Lanka. We are much more vigilant and on a reasonable state of alert. We should be ready to intervene if the need arises.”This is sufficient indication that the DML, being part of the UPW regime at the Centre, India this time might intervene in a much forceful manner and protect the interest of the Tamils, if not the LTTE.Because of the recent violence in Sri Lanka, the situation in Rameswaram, the closest place in India to Sri Lanka, is becoming ugly as hordes of refugees have been arriving following escalating violence between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE. Only two days, back the Sri Lankan armed forces stormed a church where Tamils had taken refugee and killed many of them who were unarmed.The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has adopted a resolution urging the Central Government to intervene and bring back peace in Sri Lanka.After Mr Karunanidhi spoke to the Prime Minister, the latter assured him that he had gone through the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) resolution, which stormed to power in the May state Assembly elections, and would certainly depute a team to study the situation and take adequate action in the interests of Tamils in Sri Lanka and bring back normalcy there. However, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa in a statement, said the people of Tamil Nadu were very much concerned about the sufferings of the general public in the island due to the ongoing attacks by the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE. She urged the Centre to take immediate steps to restore peace in Sri Lanka. 16,000 houses for Lanka refugees 53,000 refugees About 53,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are currently living in 103 refugee camps across Tamil Nadu.With the sudden influx of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu in the recent weeks, media has been highlighting the condition of refugee camps.Most camps have houses without proper roofs or toilets and lack clean drinking water and electricity. Most of the houses in the camp were built in the early 1980's. "The then state government thought these refugees will return to Sri Lanka in two to three years.So they built these houses only for a lifespan of four years. Now they are being used even after 20 years", Minister Thangavelan told the BBC. Returning home Providing free electricity, clean drinking water, toilets at these refugee camps are top priority, the report says.Giving medical assistance, increasing the monthly monitory and dry food grains allowance; easing the vigil on the refugees and allowing them to do jobs outside the camps and helping their children to pursue higher education are other important recommendations.Mr Thangavelan said that majority of the refugees are slowly losing hope of returning their homeland and most are preparing to settle down in Tamil Nadu.He also said that the state government needs federal government's assistance. Pope condoles Pope Benedict XVI has extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the dead victims of the Kebithigollewa massacre and appealed for the renunciation of violence. A statement issued by the Secretary of State of the Vatican Cardinal Angelo Sodano said:“His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was deeply saddened to learn of the great loss of life in the bus explosion in northern Sri Lanka, and he extends heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died and assures them of his prayers during this time of sorrow.In a special way the Holy Father appeals to all in the region to renounce the violence which causes so much suffering to civilian populations, and instead to embrace the way of lasting peace. Praying for those who have been injured and for the eternal repose of the dead, he invokes upon all the afflicted the Almighty’s blessings of comfort and strength.” Arsonists target Kopay Heroes Cemetary Arsonalists alleged to be soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and collaborating paramilitaries set fire to the office building inside the Liberation Tigers' Kopay Heroes Cemetary on Rasa Veethy (road) Tuesday midnight, local residents said. The attackers forced open the main entrance, ransacked the office building, heaped the furniture and other photographs in the building, and set them on fire. The roof of the building sustained serious fire damage. Memorial stones were left undamaged, residents added. SLA soldiers erased to the ground memorial stones in the Heroes Cemetaries at Kopay, Udupiddy Ellankulam, and the Kodikamam when they captured Jaffna in 1996. Liberation Tigers rebuilt the cemetaries with new landscaping, and established well-manicured gardens in the same locations after the Cease Fire Agreement was signed with the Government of Sri Lanka in 2002.Attempts at desecrating Heroes Cemetary by the SLA after the political cadres of the LTTE left Jaffna district has shocked residents in the area, sources said. Three SLA soldiers injured in Point-Pedro attack Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers including a corporal level officer were seriously injured when an SLA road patrol came under grenade attack followed by gunfire by unknown gunmen along the Point Pedro - Chavakachcheri road beween Manthikai junction and Kalikai junction in Vadamaradchy Wednesday afternoon, sources from Point Pedro said. Gunmen escaped after the attack. The attack happened near the Inthira Amman Temple, according to sources.The soldiers wounded in the attack were identified as Corporal Ranjith, 32, Munasinghe, 23, and Bandara, 22, security sources said.The wounded soldiers were immediately admitted to the Manthikai General Hospital and later transferred to the Palaly Military Hospital, hospital sources said. 21 June 2006 Indian PM sending envoy South to discuss Lankan situation Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will soon send his representative to Tamil Nadu capital Chennai to address the southern state’s concerns caused by the volatile situation in neighbouring Sri Lanka.Dr Singh conveyed this to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Dr Muthuvel Karunanidhi during a telephonic conversation on Tuesday morning. Karunanidhi had called up the prime minister and requested him to take urgent and appropriate steps to help restore peace in the troubled island-nation. In a statement issued in Chennai today, Karunanidhi said Dr Singh has assured him that he is contemplating "appropriate steps" in this regard.Asked by reporters what steps the prime minister should take to stop the violence in Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi said: "Let the central government take whatever measures it thinks are appropriate. I think the Norwegian-brokered peace talks (between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE) should resume soon."A journalist asked Karunanidhi: "Are you satisfied with the centre’s handling of the Sri Lankan issue?" He replied: "So far, yes."Karunanidhi’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is a partner in Dr Singh’s ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA). On Monday, the DMK and its own partners in the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu met in Chennai and appealed to the central government here "to do the needful to ensure peace in Sri Lanka." They passed a resolution expressing concern over innocent people being killed in mine blasts and aerial bombings in Sri Lanka. In a separate resolution, the DPA urged both India and Sri Lanka to take steps to stop the indiscriminate firing on Indian fishermen and "ensure safety of their lives, their fishing rights and their belongings." So far, over 4,000 Tamils have fled to Tamil Nadu from the island’s NorthEast to escape from the violence. They are being provided shelter in refugee camps in and around Rameswaram and Mandapam. The state government runs the camps with funds provided by the central government.Karunanidhi said fleeing Sri Lankan Tamils entering his state through Rameswaram will be carefully screened to ensure that no militants gain entry in the guise of refugees. Brawl in House over silence Parliament turned into a mini battle field yesterday, with Tamil and Sinhala legislators coming close to trading blows, as the debate on the Kebethigollawa massacre reached boiling point.The ugly scenes which forced Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara to suspend sittings for more than half an hour erupted moments after parliament observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the June 15 Kebethigollawa claymore mine blast. The moment of silence was observed on a proposal by JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa after he made a special statement to the House on the Kebethigollewa killings.Parliamentarians, journalists, and the public who were in the viewing gallery also joined the MP’s in somber silence in memory of the victims. However TNA MPs, M.K. Eelaventhan and S. Gajendran did not stand, although TNA leader R. Sambandan and other TNA members stood. Before JHU parliamentary group leader Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera rose to make a statement, TNA, MP, N. Raviraj raising a point of order said it was unfair for parliament to observe silence only when Sinhalese civilians were killed. “We are not against observing silence for the Kebethigollewa victims. But what about the Tamil civilians who have been killed,” he asked. Soon after Mr. Raviraj, together with Messrs. Gajendran, Eelaventhan and S. Jeyanandamurthi stormed the Well of the House shouting anti-government and anti-military slogans and this prompted several government and JVP MPs too to come down and confront the TNA MPs. Sergeant-At-Arms Anil Samarasekara and parliament security officials rushed to the scene of the commotion which was almost turning violent, with government MPs trying to push the TNA MPs towards their seats. TNA leader R.Sambanthan was seen trying to calm his party members, but to little avail, while Prime Minister, Ratnasiri Wickremenayake and senior government Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Jeyaraj Fernandopulle remained in their seats, choosing not to get involved in the fracas.Things turned even uglier when an agitated UNP MP, T. Maheshwaran joined in and aimed a kick at JVP, MP Weerakumara Dissanayake and grabbing a head phone flung it at the government MP when UNP MP Hemakumara Nanayakkara intervened to calm his colleague and lead him to his seat. After calm was restored with some difficulty another argument broke out between N. Raviraj and Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera. At this point Deputy Minister, Rohitha Abeygoonawardana and some JVP backbenchers again rushed in, but sanity prevailed at last.Parliament resumed sittings at 10.58 a.m. Wanni District TNA MP and TELO central committee member S. Noharathalingam later in the day accused the JVP and government MPs of conspiring to eliminate TNA MPs. He said the morning’s brawl was a first step towards this conspiracy and warned of serious repercussions if the trend continued. His comments were condemned and asked to be expunged by JVP parliamentarians Dimuthu Bandara Abeykoon. The matter was referred to the Speaker who is yet to make a ruling on the TNA MP’s comments Gunmen attack sentry at Polannaruwa Buddhist temple Two unidentified gunmen fired at the joint Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Police sentry located near the Somawathiya, a historic Buddhist temple in Polonnnaruwa Monday evening at 6:00 p.m., police said. The troops returned fire but gunmen escaped. No one was injured in the incident. Liberation Tigers in a statement at the Peace Secretariat website denied any involvement in the attack and added they believed the attack is by "Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) operated forces aimed at creating ethnic tensions."The website further said that the Somwathiya temple attack follows the same pattern as the attack in Omadiyamadu, on 29 May, claymore attack on a bus in Welisara, on 6 June, and the claymore attack on a bus on June 15 in Kebitigollawe that are aimed at discrediting the LTTE. "LTTE denies involvement in all four of these attacks," the statement said. Sri Lanka raises 250 mln usd via bond issue to finance oil imports Sri Lanka has raised 250 mln dollars by way of a bond issue after the island's sovereign rating was downgraded amid escalating violence, central bank officials said.Yesterday's bond sale forms part of a 300-mln-usd debt issue, which the government hopes to raise on a staggered basis until September, the central bank said, adding that the money will go largely to finance oil imports.The 250 mln usd worth of bonds were issued at an interest rate of about 6.85 pct.In April, ratings agencies Fitch and Standard and Poor's cut Sri Lanka's credit outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the island's worsening security situation amid fighting between government forces and Tamil Tigers despite a truce. Armed group orders villagers to leave People are fleeing their homes in the villages of Vavuniya, Medawachchiya and Kebitigollewa at night, to return at dawn, due to fear of terrorist attacks whilst they sleep.An armed group stormed Etambagaskada, a village bordering Madawachchiya and oirdered the villagers to leave their homes before June 23. Residents of other Sinhala villages have complained to the police that they had observed black clad groups of armed men moving stealthily through their villages at night. They say that some of these men carry parcels too and seem to be in search of something by the way they flash their torches. Meanwhile three armed men had stopped a bus plying between Vavuniya and Mahamailankulama and checked all passengers without causing injury to any. They had then gone into the adjoining jungles. On realising the men were not members of the armed forces villagers in the area complained to the police who along with the Army conducted a search operation in the area. Thani Tamizhar Sena seeks UN force to Lanka The Thani Tamizhar Sena has urged United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to send the UN peace-keeping forces to Sri Lanka and ensure the safety of hundreds of Tamils in the island nation. In a press release, the Thani Tamizhar Sena said that following the stand-off between the Lankan army and the LTTE, the Tamils have either fled the country are living in state of constant fear. Major re-remanded An Army Major who was taken into custody in connection with the possesion of 15kg of heroin was re-remanded yesterday by Colombo Chief Magistrate Kusala Sarojini Weerawardane. The Magistrate discharged the first suspect Janaka Priyashantha. Further hearing of the case was transferred to Murukkan visiting Magistrates Court.Major Kamal Shantha Kariyawasam of the Army Engineers was arrested by the Police Narcotic Bureau with the haul of heroin in his possession. MPs get Rs. 32,000 monthly raise The government has decided to give a minimum salary increment of Rs. 32,000 per month for all parliamentarians, ministers, the Prime Minister and President to meet the rising cost of living.The MPs will also be entitled to back wages effective from December 2005 in two installments of 50% each commencing from January 2006 and January 2007. According to a note submitted to the cabinet of ministers by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prof. Vishva Warnapala on June 1, the President’s salary is to be increased from Rs. 25,000 per month to Rs. 61,250 with effect from January 2006 and a further increase to Rs. 97,500 effective January 2007. It is also proposed to increase the salary of the Prime Minister from Rs. 34,000 to Rs. 53,500 effective January 2006 and a further increase to Rs. 71, 500 from January 2007.The salary of the Speaker is to be increased from Rs. 31,800 to Rs. 50,900 from January 2006 and further increased to Rs. 68,500 from January 2007. A minister’s salary and that of the Opposition Leader will be increased from Rs. 29,815 to Rs. 47,407.50 from January 2006 and increased to Rs. 65,000 from January 2007.A deputy minister’s salary will be increased from Rs. 28,750 to Rs. 46,125 from January 2006 and further increased to Rs. 63,500 from January 2007. The same increment is applicable to the deputy speaker and the deputy chairman of committees. The salary of an MP is to be increased from Rs. 22,100 to Rs. 38,192.50 with effect from January 2006 and further increased to Rs. 54,285 from January 2007.The basis for the increment according to the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry is to bring the salaries of MPs and ministers on par with the Supreme Court judges, Appeal Court Judges, High Court judges and the Attorney General.The MPs will also get a lump sum for the back dated wages from December 2005. New LTTE military spokesperson LTTE’s newly appointed military spokesperson Ilanthirayan alias Marshal would only speak to the media on issues related to attacks and military activities of the organisation.Illanthirayan was appointed as the LTTE’s first military spokesperson early this week and has already assumed duties at the LTTE political headquarters in Kilinochchi.He was also a member of the LTTE delegation which participated in the last round of talks in Geneva in April this year.Ilanthirayan was appointed as the eastern political head after the assassination of Kaushalyan last year and was moved out till his appearance in the peace talks. Sri Lanka says rebel factions clash Sri Lanka's military said eight Tamil Tigers were killed during an overnight clash with a band of breakaway former comrades, but the rebels denied it on Wednesday and accused the army of shelling their territory."There was an incident between the Karuna faction and the LTTE in Trincomalee just after midnight. There was some firing going on from both sides," said a senior military source, asking not to be identified."Ground and technical sources revealed eight Tiger cadres had been killed," he added. "Government forces were not involved." The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Tuesday recommitted to a 2002 ceasefire and vowed to ensure the safety of Nordic truce monitors, but many fear a rash of escalating violence -- in particular a Tiger feud with a renegade commander called Karuna -- could still spiral into renewed civil war.The Tigers warned on Tuesday that attacks by the Karuna group, which they accuse of colluding with the military, pose "a big threat to the ceasefire and peace process" amid a rash of violence that has killed more than 700 people so far this year. "Our forward defense lines were shelled in Trincomalee," Puratchi, head of the Tiger student union there, told Reuters by telephone. "But no-one was killed or injured.""We don't think Karuna was involved. It was military forces," he added. 25% drop in tourism due to N-E violence The tourism sector — one of the worst affected sectors given the ongoing violence in the north and east has taken a turn for the worse with a 25% drop in tourist arrivals in the city.Tour agents have complained of dire consequences if urgent steps are not taken to restore peace in the country, and they have also urged the government to act more responsibly if the country’s tourism industry is to survive. "There is no point conducting advertising campaigns in other countries if the security situation in Sri Lanka is unstable. The recent claymore attack in Kebithigollewa has only aggravated the situation," a tour agent said, speaking on the grounds of anonymity.He added that hotels in Colombo had also seen a few cancellations hours after the news hit international headlines about the Kebithigollewa claymore attack. "The sight of dead children splashed on television screens internationally will only discourage tourists from visiting the country. No tourist will visit a country which is unsafe," the tour agent said.Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) has begun advertising promotions in European countries in a bid to attract more tourists.Director General, SLTB, S. Kalaiselvam said the SLTB was confident it would achieve its target of 800,000 tourist arrivals by the end of the year. Youth shot dead near Urani SLA camp Unidentified armed gunmen riding a motorbike shot and killed Jeyaraj Suthaharan, 24, at Urani within the Batticaloa police division Tuesday afternoon, Batticaloa police said. The youth's body is lying in the Batticalao General Hospital, hospital sources said.Suthaharan was cycling from Batticaloa to his home in Thiraimadu when he was shot close to the Urani SLA camp eye witness said.Batticaloa police are conducting further inquiries. Paramilitary cadres abduct Batticaloa youth A group of men driving a white van abducted Thayaparan Subaraj, 18, of Thalankuda in Puthukudiyiruppu in the Batticaloa Kattankudi police division at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Kattankudi police said. Local witnesses said the abductors were paramilitaries belonging to Karuna group. In a disturbing trend that has terrified parents more than 150 youths have been abducted in the last two weeks in Valaichenai, Mangkerni, Santhivelli, Kiran, Murakkotanchenai, Vandarumulai, Batticaloa and Iruthayapuram in the Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. Most of the youths abducted are under 18 years of age and are alleged to have been taken by Karuna group to their paramilitary camp in Thivichenai for arms training, local residents said.Not all parents have reported the abductions to the Police, Police have not conducted any investigations on the abductions, and there have been no reports of any release, civil society sources said. Tamil businessman shot dead in Batticaloa Two armed men who came in a motorbike entered a crowded liquor restaurant in Kommathurai, 16 km northwest of Batticaloa, shot and killed the business owner, Iyathurai Nirmalakumaran, 55, Tuesday around 7:00 p.m., Eravur Police said. The killers were Karuna Group paramilitary cadres, who had been demanding money from the businessman, according to civilian sources in Kommathurai. 20 June 2006 Do something about Sri Lanka: DPA Tamil Nadu’s ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) on Monday urged the Centre to take ‘necessary steps’ to restore peace in Sri Lanka.All the constituent parties – DMK, Congress, PMK, Dravidar Kazhagam, CPI, CPM and Indian Union Muslim League – expressed concern over the death of innocents in the island nation. It also sought protection for the lives of Indian fishermen venturing into the Gulf of Mannar for their livelihood.Chief Minister M Karunanidhi refused to elaborate on the kind of initiative the DPA expects the Centre to take. “Whatever the Centre does in this regard, will be acceptable to us.”Apparently, he was hesitant to exert any kind of pressure on the UPA government at the Centre in which all the DPA constituents are partners.Earlier, the MDMK and PMK had asked the Centre to send a delegation of MPs to Sri Lanka to study the ground reality. Clash erupts at Nagarkovil FDL Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded in Nagarkovil in a fresh clash between the SLA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Monday, according to SLA sources in Jaffna. The Liberation Tigers said they counter-attacked the SLA after LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) positions were targeted by SLA artillery fire around 5:45 p.m. Monday. Civilian sources in Thenmaradchi, Jaffna, said artillery fire was initiated from SLA 52 Brigade Head Quarters camp located in Varani. SLA artillery fire targeted LTTE cadres who were doing maintanance work of the FDL positions in Nagarkovil. The Tigers said the clash lasted for 30 minutes from 5:45 p.m. New crafts added to Sea Tiger fleet The LTTE's sea-going arm, the Sea Tigers are considered to be there most potent weapon. It was able to destroy navy's Dvora crafts and several other vessels. Last Saturday's attack on Pesalai Navy detachment, Mannar too was carried out by the Sea Tigers. The Sea tiger brigade is equipped with ultra modern attack crafts. Some of them are there own creations. The picture shows some recently added state of the art crafts to the sea Tiger fleet. Tiger suicide bombers at ready if S.Lanka war resumes Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers said on Monday they would resort to any strategy -- including suicide bombers -- if all-out civil war resumes, and that the effects would be felt across the island.The stark Tiger threat comes just days after one of the worst military confrontations since a 2002 ceasefire that many now expect to degenerate into a new chapter of a conflict that has already killed around 65,000 people. “If the Sri Lankan government, instead of bringing an end to the war, force another brutal war on the Tamils ... then the effects of that war will be felt throughout the island,” rebel political wing leader S.P Thamilselvan told Reuters in an email interview. “If the Sri Lankan government unleashes another brutal ethnic war on Tamils, then the Tamils will not hesitate to use any strategy to defend themselves,” he added, when asked if the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would resort to feared Black Tiger suicide bombers. The Tigers and the government each accuse the other of waging war. The government says it remains committed to the truce, but analysts say the rebels are spoiling for war and many diplomats fear a return to all-out hostilities is just a matter of time. More than 700 people -- around half of them civilians -- have been killed in attacks and clashes so far this year, and the government and rebels are poles apart over the Tigers’ demand for a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the north and east. “If the occupying military will vacate (Tamil areas) and our people are able to live in an environment of normalcy and freedom like other people, then neither we nor our people have any need to engage in military clashes,” Thamilselvan said. Threat of force The Tigers have said they will intensify attacks against the military if the government orders further air strikes on their positions in the north and east.The air force bombed targets near the northern rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi last week in retaliation for a deadly ambush of a civilian bus that killed 64 people. The Tigers deny responsibility for the attack, and say civilians are off-limits, but anlaysts say it bore their hallmarks. The Tigers, who want their de facto state in the north and east recognised as a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils, also want to regain control over the army-held northern enclave of Jaffna and the strategic port of Trincomalee in the east -- and some believe the rebels are preparing to take them by force. Thamilselvan said the only way to deescalate tensions was for killings of Tamil civilians to stop and for the government to honour a pledge to disarm armed groups opposed to them -- namely a breakaway faction led by a former Tiger commander called Karuna who they accuse the military of helping kill their fighters. Isolated by the international community after the 25-nation European Union outlawed them as terrorists, the Tigers are even toying with the idea of unilaterally declaring independence.“We are trying through peace talks with the Sri Lankan government and the Sinhala side to win and then to ensure the rights and aspirations of the Tamil people,” Thamilselvan said.“But, if these are denied and another brutal war is forced on the Tamil people, I think we will be forced to come to a firm decision in this regard.” Experiences of a journalist who witnessed Kilinochchi aerial attack In the aftermath of the Kebilthigollewa carnage on the 15th, the Air force carried out an attack on Kilinochchi. A veteran journalist who was in Kilinochchi during the attack recounted his experiences to 'Lanka e News'. We will present in his own words this experience gained for the first time by a Sri Lankan Southern journalist. We truly regret our inability to divulge his name. " Around 6.00 in the evening, something exploded a little distance away from Kilinochchi with a deafening noise. Then the skies of Kilinochchi were filled with sounds of Kfir jets. I've never experienced aerial bombing before. The hotel I was staying Kilinochci shook with the sound of explosion. As the sound of jets came only after bombs had landed there was no way of knowing an aerial attack beforehand. Kilinochchi residents told me that during earlier attacks the sound of jets preceded sound of bombs. But the attacks were more advanced now. Now aerial photographs are used to identify the exact location and direct bomb their using computer technology. That is why the sound of jets was heard after the bombs had exploded. So there is little chance of missing the target. As bombs started landing our hotel owner dragged us into a bunker. They have renovated old bunkers. Poor people were still digging bunkers in the rock hard land. They too ran into bunkers. These bunkers were about 4 feet wide and 10 feet deep. People who are well off have covered them with concrete and got electricity supply as well. Even United Nations offices in Kilinochchi have built bunkers. They have drawn huge letters UN on roof tops of their offices may to prevent a bomb being dropped their accidentally. There were about seven sorties until 6.30 in the evening. The LTTE too had fired six anti-aircraft missiles. Though they said they were missiles I did not think so. When dusk fell we came out of our bunkers. Kilinochci residents told me that aerial attacks do not take place after dark. Air raids began again the following day, 16th around 7.00 in the morning. There were about 5 explosions. Kilinochchi was shaken by each explosion. These attacks had taken place about 6 kilometers away from where I was staying in the Kilinochchi town. After about 30 minutes, the sorties came to an end. The LTTE said that the Air force had dropped bombs to a jungle. But we were not shown the places. Earlier they had shown where the bombs had landed in Sampur. I too witnessed those places and even took a photograph. The crate created by bombs was about the size of small tank. Trees had got uprooted. The damage was huge. Kilinochci attacks would have hit the targets. Otherwise the LTTW wouldn't have been so reluctant to show the places. I visited Kilinochcki to see whether there were any casualties of the bomb attacks. But there was none. It was an indication that bombs had not landed in civilian areas. I thanked god, had the bombs landed in civilian areas the destruction would be unthinkable." UNP partly ungags Maheswaran The UNP yesterday gave the green light to Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran to speak on issues faced by the Tamils and related matters only within the parameters of the party policies.At the UNP Parliamentary Group meeting yesterday, Mr. Maheswaran requested the party hierarchy to allow him to speak on behalf of the Tamil community without party restrictions, as a member representing the Tamils.Mr. Maheswaran is in the practice of acting against UNP policies in Parliament, such as voting against the emergency regulations, despite the party supporting the Bill along with the government. Senior UNP MP Gamini Lokuge expressed reservations on Mr. Maheswaran’s request, saying that he should work according to the final decisions taken by the party in all matters.Mr. Maheswaran was told that he should speak in consultation with leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, as otherwise the party would experience political disadvantages. Kalutara district parliamentarian Dr. Rajitha Senaratne chipped in, insisting on the need to give Mr. Maheswaran some sort of freedom to voice the Tamil perception, as otherwise he would have to sacrifice even his life.Dr. Senaratne pointed out that the LTTE had not unleashed violence against the JVP and the JHU, but against members of its own community working against its ideology.“Given these circumstances, he should be given greater freedom compared to others,” he told the meeting.The meeting also discussed the rampant corruption in the government and decided to raise the issue in Parliament this week. New Delhi must help Sri Lankan Tamils: Vijayakanth Tamil actor and first-time legislator Vijayakanth has urged New Delhi to move Sri Lankan Tamils to safety in India on humanitarian grounds."The Sri Lankan Tamils are orphans," Vijayakanth said in a statement, adding that his Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam would resort to an agitation if the government did not come to their aid.He said India was duty-bound to tell Sri Lanka to stop killing its own people.Vijayakanth's plea comes soon after several Tamil Nadu leaders like Vaiko of the MDMK and Thirumavalavan of the Dalit Panthers of India asked the central government to help the Tamils in northern Lanka, under attack from Sri Lankan forces as the conflict between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) escalates. Vijayakanth recalled in his statement that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who in 1958 sent Indian ships to Sri Lanka to help move Tamils from Colombo to the Jaffna area, when the language policy created the first rifts between the two ethnic groups in the island nation.Again, in 1983, "during the genocide of Tamils" India had sent ships to help move Tamil refugees to safety, Vijayakanth said. "The aerial bombings of Tamil areas without any concern for people living there is an act no civilised state resorts to," the actor-turned-politician said, urging India to again send rescue ships to Sri Lanka "for safe passage of Tamils".He compared the incessant flow of Lankan Tamil refugees to Tamil Nadu's coast to those who came to India from Bangladesh. The Bangladesh refugees walked in, but "the Tamil refugees have to undertake hazardous sea crossings, and facing possible death if they are caught between the navies of the two countries", the statement said."If India has strengthened coastal security, it should be able to filter out the terrorists," he said, adding that the "state should not support an inhuman policy that allows women and children to die at sea". 'No air attacks' Tigers change their mind The Tigers now say, they only saw aircrafts circling around.Pulidevan earlier told BBC Sandeshaya that they have already protested and informed Norwegian facilitators and international truce monitors.But Sri Lankan Air force denied LTTE accusations.Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Ajantha Silva, toldbbcsinhala.com that they had not carried out any air strikes in the last twenty four hours.Tamil Tigers also warned that they would have to retaliate if the attacks happened again."If the air strikes continue the LTTE is forced to take defensive measures" said Pulidevan speaking on satellite phone from Vanni. AI deplores air strikes Amnesty International yesterday expressed concern over the retaliatory air strikes launched by the government on rebel positions in the north and east last week following the suspected LTTE attack on a civilian bus in Kebithigollewa.While condemning the Kebithigollewa incident, AI said the air strikes on LTTE positions in Sampur, Mullaitivu, and near Kilinochchi could cause disproportionate loss of civilian life and in the process violates international humanitarian laws. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission is also expected to rule the air strikes as a violation of the ceasefire agreement but the government said such measures were necessary in the best interest of national security.“AI is concerned that this response by the government may endanger civilians. International humanitarian law prohibits attacks which are indiscriminate or which cause disproportionate loss of civilian life,” AI said on its website. The human rights watchdog said similar retaliatory attacks in Sampur and Trincomalee in April following the attack on Army Commander Sarath Fonseka resulted in the deaths of 15 civilians according to the SLMM, while the UNHCR estimated between 7,000 and 8,000 people fled from the area in the wake of the air strikes. “Increasing numbers of civilians are being caught up in escalating violence sweeping the island. AI fears that a long-simmering, low-intensity conflict now threatens to explode, further exacerbating the human rights crisis in Sri Lanka,” AI added. Responding to the AI concerns government Defense spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said although the retaliatory measures may, at times, not be in keeping with international human rights laws it is deemed necessary for national security.“The LTTE had a plan to hit civilian targets. One way to prevent such attacks is to stop their reinforcements. National security is foremost. The measures we take are to safeguard all communities. Of course we do not question anyone raising concerns about what we do for national security. But at the same time they should question the LTTE when they interfere with the territorial integrity of the country,” the Minister said. Minister Rambukwella assured the government took maximum precautions to ensure the safety of civilians when carrying out retaliatory attacks unlike the LTTE who launched an attack on the Navy in Pesalai on Saturday despite the heavy civilian presence in the vicinity.“The LTTE had a plan to hit civilian targets. One way to prevent such attacks is to stop their reinforcements. National security is foremost. The measures we take is to safeguard all communities. Of course we do not question anyone raising concerns about what we do for national security. But at the same time they should question the LTTE when they interfere with the territorial integrity of the country,” the Minister said.Minister Rambukwella assured the government took maximum precautions to ensure the safety of civilians when carrying out retaliatory attacks unlike the LTTE who launched an attack on the Navy in Pesalai on Saturday despite the heavy civilian presence in the vicinity. Man shot dead in Batticaloa town A male, aged between 45-50, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike between Lloyds Avenue and Arunagiri Road infront of the Vijaya theatre in Batticaloa at 8:45 a.m. Monday, sources from Batticaloa said. The killing took place 25 meters from a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry point. The body of the dead man is not identified but his attire indicated that he could be a beggar or a man with mental illness, sources said.The body has been taken to Batticaloa Teaching Hospital and kept there for identification.Batticaloa police are conducting investigations. Paramilitary group abducts Muslims in Sri Lanka Eleven Muslim dairy farm workers out of a group of 18, who were on their way to work from the Muslim village of Thambalai, were abducted by the Karuna paramilitary group on the Pollonaruwa-Sunkavil road, 10 kilometers east of Pollonaruwa, in Sri Lanka. The abductees were being held in the nearby jungles of Sinnavil on Saturday with a ransom demand of 1 million rupees on their heads, TamilNet reported from Colombo quoting relatives of the farm workers. Thambalai villagers have managed to collect 100,000 rupees, which they paid to the abductors who then released 5 farm workers and demanded 500,000 rupees for the release of the remaining ones.The abductees are detained and guarded by six armed paramilitaries in Sri Lankan Army (SLA) uniform and one in a casual dress, the Thambalai villagers said. The paramilitaries released two of the workers -- a father and his son -- to communicate their one-million-rupee ransom demand on Saturday. Local police, though aware of the incident, are not taking any action, saying no complaints have been made, said village sources. The incident took place in the Bulasthigama police division. The fear-stricken villagers are fleeing the village and staying with friends and relations elsewhere for fear of their safety. Thambalai is located 13 kilometers northeast of Polonnaruwa and 3 kilometers southeast of Thambalai in the Mahaweli river area. Rajiv Gandhi assassins on fast Nalini and her husband Murugan, convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, have been on fast in the Vellore prison for the last six days, demanding that their daughter Arithra, who is in Sri Lanka, be given a visa to pursue studies in Tamil Nadu. Nalini and Murugan wanted their 15-year-old daughter, who has just completed her 10th standard, be allowed to study in Tamil Nadu, but the Indian High Commission in Colombo was yet to give her a student's visa, police sources said. Arithra, who was born in jail and brought up in Sri Lanka by Murugan's family, had visited her parents in the prison in January. The sources said Arithra was likely to be given the visa shortly, but her parents were continuing their fast till she was actually given the visa. Nalini is lodged in the women's wing of the high security prison in Vellore, while Murugan is in an adjacent jail. Arithra is said to be residing in Trincomalee with her paternal grand parents. The two have been in the prison since 1991 after their conviction on charges of conspiring to kill Gandhi. Nalini's death sentence has been commuted while the clemency petition of Murugan, also sentenced to death, is pending with President A P J Abdul Kalam. 19 June 2006 Critics say Sri Lanka targeting civilians Nearly everyone in this seaside hamlet - the old women bent from a lifetime of toil, the fishermen weathered from days at sea, the children in tattered hand-me-downs - fled to the church Sunday as soon as they heard a police patrol was coming."I thought they were going to come to shoot us all," said L.R. Peiris, a 58-year-old woman crying hysterically at the thought of government forces returning a day after five villagers were killed by Sri Lankan troops.Like nearly everyone else in Pesalai, all the dead were Tamils, a minority on this South Asian island nation dominated by Sinhalese. Five deaths are unexceptional these days in a land of seemingly endless ethnic conflict, a land where the use of suicide bombers was pioneered by the insurgents of the Tamil Tiger movement.With violence again surging, the rebels have grabbed headlines for targeting civilians - they allegedly staged their bloodiest attack in years Thursday, detonating land mines next to a packed bus and killing 64 people.Saturday's killings, however, put a rare spotlight on what critics charge is the brutal treatment meted out to Tamil civilians by security forces of the Sinhalese-dominated government, despite official denials. "There is new phase here of both sides targeting civilians," said Jehan Perera of the independent National Peace Council. "The government is now following a strategy of an eye-for-an-eye."War is once again on the horizon in Sri Lanka, where four years of relative calm didn't wash away memories of bitter ethnic conflict that killed more than 65,000 people over the two decades before the 2002 cease-fire. Discrimination against the 3.2 million Tamils, most of whom are Hindu, led the Tigers to take up arms in 1983 in hopes of creating a Tamil homeland. The spark was anti-Tamil riots by Sinhalese, mostly Buddhists who make up nearly three-quarters of the island's 19 million people.Talks to build on the truce faltered, and in the past year sporadic shootings and bombings have escalated into near-daily violence.Since April, nearly 700 people, more than half of them civilians, have been killed, according to a cease-fire monitoring mission from Nordic nations. Violence continued Sunday when an explosion killed three policemen in the northern district of Vavuniya, police said, blaming the rebels.Officials blame nearly all civilian deaths on the rebels, and Saturday's killings in Pesalai were no different. Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake, a navy spokesman, said the deaths occurred when rebels attacked a police station in the hamlet. "We do not target civilians," he said.Witnesses and international aid workers told a very different story."We were packed into the church and all we heard was guns firing right outside," said V.P. Cruz, a 28-year-old fisherman, snapping his fingers rapidly as he spoke of the gunfire. He and numerous others said government forces - a mix of army and navy troopers - then tossed a grenade into the church, killing an elderly woman. Four fishermen were seen shot dead near the boats that line the beach, more than two dozen of which were burned.The belief in Pesalai is they were killed for being Tamils."To the government, we are all" rebels, said Cruz, standing in the shadow of the impressive church, its four-story steeple towering over swaying coconut palms and dwarfing tin- and tiled-roofed homes.Another young fisherman contrasted the government response to the killings here and Thursday's bus bombing, whose victims were largely Sinhalese. "The president went to the scene of the bombing to survey the damage. The government paid for the funerals of the victims. Nobody has come here," said the 24-year-old, who did not want to be quoted by name, fearing government reprisals.Both men were back at the church Sunday, fearing the police patrol. Churches are thought of throughout Sri Lanka as safe havens, and despite Saturday's bloodshed, "this church is still safer than our homes," the 24-year-old said. Talk to Tamils around Sri Lanka, and they all share similar fears. They say there have been attacks on Tamil civilians in government-held towns throughout the Tamil-dominated north and east.But with most killings taking place far from the eyes of outside observers, details are often lost in the fog of charge and countercharge over who was actually responsible.Earlier this month, for instance, a Tamil family of four was found hacked to death in the northwestern village of Vankalai. The government blamed the Tigers, who in turn accused the government.Weeks later, the consensus in Sri Lanka is that soldiers or a militia allied to the government killed the family, said a Western diplomat, who agreed to discuss the case only if not quoted by name because he did not want to harm his relationship with the government. It's an open question whether such attacks bolster Tamil support for the rebels.Many Tamils long ago grew disenchanted with the Tigers' brutality and puritanical rule. In the de-facto mini state the rebels run in areas they control in parts of the north and east, adultery is among the many punishable crimes - as is criticizing the Tigers.Most Pesalai villagers said they want nothing to do with either side."All the people now are only in a mood to flee at the sight of uniforms," said a fisherman, who gave his name only as Raja.The Tigers, he said, "are provoking the army to attack civilians because it is good for publicity." CBK out as Party leader? Come June 29, SLFP Leader Chandrika Kumaratunga will celebrate her 61st birthday in London but, skip a crucial Party meeting at home, the same day, where she will be stripped of the top post.The Central Committee of the SLFP will meet on June 28 and the Executive Committee will sit the following day - coinciding with former President Kumaratunga’s 61st birthday - where the party’s Constitution would be amended, with regard to the leadership.In keeping with the new Constitution, in the event the Executive President is a Party member, he/she will also be Party President as well. The Party is expected to appoint President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Leader and Kumaratunga as a senior advisor to the Party. The letter informing of the Central Committee meeting was handed over to the former President’s Secretary, last Tuesday. Former Presidential sources told the Daily Mirror that she will not attend the meeting and will let go of the top post. However, pro CBK SLFP MPs said that she will not give up the leadership. Last month, Kumaratunga fired a hard-hitting letter, blaming the Party’s General Secretary, Maithripala Sirisena for trying to take away the leadership from her, by changing the Constitution, while she was out of the country. The meeting would put an end to the battle between President Rajapaksa and Kumaratunga for the Party leadership. SLA builds new camp in Mallakam evicting people from their own land Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers over night have set up a new camp in the area between two schools along Jaffna-KKS Road near Mallakam evicting land owners from their own land, Mallakam people said. The camp has been set up in between Chunnakam Nageswary Vidiyalayam and Mallakam High School, nearly two hundred meters from both schools, on nearly half an acre (10 larchams) of land even by blocking roads, residents alleged. Parents in the area have become frightened apprehending that their school going children in Mallakam will be often harassed by SLA soldiers, sources said. Government responds to LTTE communiqué after Oslo fiasco Following the LTTE’s unilateral abortion of the Oslo Meeting scheduled for 8-9 June on frivolous grounds, the LTTE issued a unilateral statement from Oslo on June 9th which was later released to the media. The LTTE’s unreasonable and intransigent position in refusing to sit down with the Government delegation for discussions has placed it in a situation where it could only issue a unilateral statement stating its own position. Further, the statement has gone beyond matters relating to the modalities of operation of the SLMM and the security of the monitors, which were the main items on the agenda of the Oslo Meet, to issues of LTTE’s own choice which could best have been discussed and negotiated either at the next round of talks in Geneva, or preferably in negotiations relating to a permanent political solution to the conflict. The LTTE’s intransigence has forced it to a dark corner of unilateralism. It appears by the failure of the LTTE to present itself for discussions at Oslo and to participate at Geneva 2, it is sending a message to the International Community that discussion is not the medium for finding solution to the on-going problems. Furthermore it continues to rely on violence and terrorism to achieve its political goals. The GoSL, for its part, remains committed and ready for talks on all of the matters mentioned above, humanitarian as well as core political issues.Nevertheless, it is felt that the Preamble to the so-called Communique needs closer scrutiny: 1. “The de facto State of Tamil Eelam exercising jurisdiction over 70 percent of the Tamil Homeland, with control over the seas appurtenant there, with its own laws, independent judiciary, police force and full administrative apparatus”. Neither the GoSL nor any other member of the International Community recognizes a “de facto State of Tamil Eelam”. This remains a myth. The LTTE militarily dominates the Districts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in the Northern Province, as well as pockets of territory elsewhere in the North and the East which are by no means contiguous. These are areas that are also sparsely populated. Further the areas that the LTTE purports to describe as the “Tamil Homeland” in reference to the North and the East, are heavily populated by Muslims as well as Sinhalese and are by no means mono ethnic. The North-East of Sri Lanka is as much multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and multi-religious and multi-cultural. Further, the Tamil population in areas outside the North and the East, exceed those living in the so-called “Tamil Homeland”. (More than 50 %). The claim of the trappings of a State with its own judiciary, police force and administrative mechanism needs imaginative support. The LTTE administration is both rudimentary and despotic, devoid of the rule of law and democracy and monolithic and intolerant of dissent. Furthermore, the writ of the Sri Lankan State runs in the areas that the LTTE claims to control. Without the States’ own provincial and local government institutions and other delivery mechanisms, the Tamil people residing in the purported “de facto State of Tamil Eelam” would have been starved of basic amenities and placed in an even worse humanitarian situation. The Sri Lankan State appoints staff to and funds all institutions such as Government Agencies (Kachcheries), schools, hospitals etc. The main cause for the continuing deprivations suffered by the Tamil people living in LTTE controlled areas is the insistence of the LTTE that it and its frontal organizations should be the sole agency through which relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of these areas are mediated. It is this exclusivist stance of the LTTE that contributed to administrative and constitutional impediments to the formulation of appropriate mechanisms for meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of the area. 2. LTTE is the “authentic representative of the Tamil Nation and its sole interlocutor in the current peace process” as well as the “sole defender and protector of the Tamil Nation, its People and the State institutions with its modern defence forces”. The LTTE is the “sole interlocutor”, not in the peace process, but in the peace talks with the GoSL facilitated by Norway. The peace process, on the other hand, is something wider and deeper that involves all other legitimate stakeholders in the search for a just and durable peace, not to mention reconciliation of all communities and Peoples who inhabit the country. Further, the pre-eminent role given to the LTTE in peace talks does not stem from the recognition that the LTTE is the sole representative or the only authentic representative of the Tamil People. In fact, statements emanating from the European Union as well as other key international actors after the imposition of the ban on the LTTE have clearly emphasized the point that the LTTE and the Tamil People are not one and the same. On the contrary, the LTTE since its very inception has had a history of employing violence to annihilate the leadership, members and sympathizers of other Tamil organizations and parties, especially those which refuse to accept it as the “sole representative” of the Tamil people, in its pursuit of hegemony. Such an organization cannot claim to be the authentic representative of the Tamil people, leave alone claim to be the sole defender and protector of the “Tamil Nation”. The nihilism of the LTTE is one of the primary causes behind the deprivations and sufferings being undergone by the Tamil people. These are not the attributes of the “authentic representative” or the “sole protector” of the Tamil People. Being appreciative of the rule of law, human rights and the democratic framework, the GoSL does not believe in responding to terrorism with terrorism. It seeks to engage the LTTE in talks so as to address the root causes of the conflict that may have contributed to it to take to arms and the path of terrorism. Paradoxically, the LTTE had never in any negotiations with any Government of Sri Lanka agreed to address and redress the roots causes of the conflict. As regards its claim to have a “modern defence forces”, the most recent claymore mine attack by the LTTE on a civilian bus carrying men, women and children on their way to attend a funeral is not modern. It is despicably barbaric. While the military capabilities of the LTTE have been noted, neither can one underestimate the capacity of the LTTE to function as an eternal killing machine that kills innocent civilians without rhyme or reason. Suggestions by some advocates that the LTTE kills only as a retaliation or as tit for tat reveals a lack of understanding of how these so-called “modern defence forces” of the LTTE functions. It appears that the LTTE has decided to exit from the peace process and its strategy appears to be one that aims at an ethnic backlash as a justification for opting out of the peace process. The LTTE can rest assured that the GoSL will not let this happen. Indications of its approach appear from its persistent refusal to resume the Geneva 2 Talks, its refusal to talk to the Government delegation in Oslo, statements in its frontal website “Nitharsanam” warning of an imminent and devastating strike, and war-mongering and jingoism by key LTTE leaders in public meetings. As the Peace Secretariat of the Government, SCOPP urges the LTTE to re-enter negotiations with the GoSL, either directly or through the good offices of the Norwegian facilitator. It also urges the LTTE to commit itself to an inclusive peace process that involves all other legitimate stakeholders and contribute towards the formulation of a truly progressive and democratic consensus that would ensure to the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala of this Island State a just and a durable peace. More high-powered mines discovered The CID and police are conducting special search operations to unearth claymore mines at Wennappuwa, Negombo and Kalpitiya.At Wenappuwa two high-powered 30-kg claymore mines and detonator wires were found at Ulhitiyawa. HQI Wenappuwa police T.D. Somaratne said the mines were recovered on a tip-off from villagers. It is reportedly the first time such large mines which could be operated from a distance were discovered in the country.It is suspected the bombs were unloaded from the boat used by five suspects who were recently arrested by the Pamunugama police at the beach. At Settapaduwa in Negombo two more 30-kg claymore mines were discovered at sea.HQI Negombo police O.W.Silva said the STF defused the bomb.At Kalpitiya a suspicious individual who attempted to buy diesel from fishermen in the area was apprehended and handed over to the police who arrested him. Explosives and two claymore mines with detonators were found in his boat. The suspect is under interrogation. LTTE suspects arrested at Pamunugama Yesterday at Shantha Sirigama in Pamunugama, police arrested five persons who were behaving suspiciously at the Pamunugama beach.Two of the suspects chewed cyanide capsules. While one died, the condition of the other who is warded at the Ragama hospital is reportedly improving.IGP Chandra Fernando said three police teams headed by DIGs were interrogating the suspects.The suspects are reportedly sea tigers from Kilinochchi.They are suspected of planning to attack the Colombo harbour and navy boats patroling between Talaimannar and Colombo. The suspects had been residing at a guest house in Negombo over the past three days.The recently reported explosion at sea is reported to have been the work of this team.According to IGP Chandra Fernando, the suspects will provide more information as the interrogation proceeds. The lGP also thanks the public for information provided which led to the arrest of the suspected terrorists. The arrests of the suspects have led to a beefing up of security both on land and sea at the harbour.Meanwhile at Modera, a navy patrol boat that was caught in rough waters overturned killing one person. Three others are reported missing. Sri Lanka's overseas Tamils fill rebel Tiger coffers It's thanks to Sri Lanka's overseas Tamils – people like engineer S Vijayadeva or accountant Kana Naheerathan – that the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) can afford to keep up its insurgency. For two decades, the Tamil Tigers have fought for an ethnic Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east. They say they are the only legitimate representatives of the Tamil people, but several countries, including Britain, regard them as terrorists. "Tamils have no power in the political system," 69-year-old Vijayadeva said at a protest in London. "The state is supplied with modern weapons. Where can the LTTE go for arms and money? They must go to the people." Diplomats blame the Tigers for a string of recent attacks on the military and majority Sinhalese civilians, including suicide strikes on naval vessels and on army headquarters.A mine blast on Thursday killed 64 civilians on a bus in the worst attack since a 2002 ceasefire, prompting retaliatory air strikes on Tiger territory. Few believe the LTTE's denials of responsibility. Most diplomats expect further escalation. Around 600 people have been killed this year as the violence intensified, leading the European Union to follow Britain, the US, India and Canada in listing the rebels as terrorists. The Tigers say the Tamil diaspora of an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people – many of whom are professionals such as doctors, engineers, and accountants now living in Canada, Scandanavia, and Northern Europe – only give money for development in rebel areas, funding the Tigers' police force, courts, banking system and political offices, but not its weapons. "WE NEED WAR" The Tigers say taxes from rebel areas are used to fund their military, consisting of an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 fighters – including some child soldiers, according to the United Nations – as well as a navy and fledgling air force. Analysts say the rebels have spent $US30 ($NZ49.21) million to $US40 million on weaponry since 2002, but figures are hard to come by. Sri Lanka's government says drug and arms smuggling also play a role in the funding – a charge the rebels deny. But most analysts say they believe the bulk of the money comes from expatriate Tamils, many of whom fled discrimination under the majority Sinhalese following independence from Britain in 1948. Others left after brutal anti-Tamil riots in the 1980s. "We need war," said Naheerathan, 39, who left the northern Tamil-dominated city of Jaffna in 1994 just before it fell to government forces. "Otherwise we cannot get independence." Some overseas Tamils say they no longer dare visit the country of their birth. Their only contact is through family, news reports, and Tiger-made DVDs which show alleged military atrocities and skirt the issue of suspected Tiger attacks. Others do visit rebel territory, where they are shown demonstrations of the Tigers' military might and are put up at the rebels' finest guesthouse in their headquarters Kilinochchi. No one doubts that some expatriate Tamils enthusiastically support the idea of a new war for a separate state. One said that with some 64,000 dead in the war so far, another 10,000 or so new deaths would make little or no difference. BACKSTREET EXTORTION? US-based Human Rights Watch says not everyone gives voluntarily and that the LTTE has used extortion and threats to raise funds for a "Final War". The Tigers deny the charge."Some families have received as many as three visits in a single week," the rights group said in a report this year. "Fundraisers may refuse to leave the house without a pledge of money, and have told individuals who claim not to have funds available to borrow" on their credit cards or by re-mortgaging their homes, the report said. Tamil families and businesses in Britain might be asked to pay STG2000 ($NZ6084.57) to STG100,000 pounds, the report said. Overseas Tamils who visit rebel-held areas can be detained and their passports confiscated if they don't pay up. Others disagree. "I know several people who refused to pay, and nothing happened to them," said Tamil accountant and British councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, who went on a five-day hunger strike to draw attention to alleged government abuses in Sri Lanka. Analysts say it is hard to know just how much of the money is given freely, but many believe that some or most overseas Tamils, who feel guilty about leaving their homeland, give voluntarily. The European Union's listing of the LTTE as a banned terrorist group alongside al Qaeda theoretically makes funding them illegal. "We cannot get every penny, but we are making it more expensive and difficult for them to raise funds," said one Western official. But Sri Lankan officials say that as the Tigers do not pose a direct threat to Western nations, countries such as Britain are unlikely to take police or intelligence resources off investigating possible Islamist bomb attacks to hunt LTTE money. Sri Lanka's government says stopping the transfer of Tiger funds could help end the conflict permanently, but the Tigers say the EU ban will simply encourage the government to act against both civilian Tamils and the rebels. And few expatriate Tamils say the ban will be effective. "It's like abortion," said councillor Idaikkadar. "If you ban it, it will just go on to the back streets. If people want to do something, they will still do it." Round-Ups And House-To-House Searches In Jaffna; 18 Youths Taken away Sri Lanka army and the Police combined in a cordoned-off search in Jaffna in a wide range of villages and took away a number of youths on Sunday. The operation started around 4.00am and the army pounded on the doors waking up people for the search.In Thenmaradchi, 4 large villages in Varany were subject to house-to-house search. Army men entered Chuttipuram, Naavatkaadu, Idaik Kurichchi and Ammaa Kadai and scrutinised personal documents of each inmate in every house. Identity cards were taken away and the villagers were asked to queue at the army camp, where after a scrutiny, the cards were returned. In Vadamaradchi, 6 villages in Karaveddy were subject to same type of search. The Army searched all the houses in Kotraavaththai, Karanavaay North-West, Maniyam Thottam, Navindil, Pallam Thottam and Appaa Pallikkoodam.In the Jaffna Divisoin, Kokkuvil West was subject to a similar search.From Thenmaraadchi area, 15 youths were taken away.From Vadamaraadchi, 3 youths were taken away. Everyone knows the LTTE’s character -Kumar Rupesinghe (Daily Mirror HARD TALK) Q: You announced last week that the LTTE will declare war on June 17. The prediction has been pretty accurate. How did you know? A: It was clear from the LTTE decision to refrain from supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe that they had a clear agenda also indicated in their Heroes’ Day speech. They wanted to project to the world that the Rajapaksa Presidency was a Sinhala government and not of all the people. It was also clear to me that the LTTE had a war agenda, but we also failed to create a process to bring them back to serious negotiations. One of the key issues was that of parity of status. They felt that after the CFA there was a symmetrical relationship between, which is always what a guerilla aspires. And there were attempts to reduce that balance. At various issues some of the privileges they enjoyed under the Wickremesinghe regime were questioned and refused. Then the issue of armed groups where the Presidency faced the problem if they were going to face a civil war with the Karuna group or not? But then they could have said that in Geneva. But by giving in to the LTTE there, meant that the government. couldn’t implement it. And the subsequent killings meant that we lost our moral high ground. This impunity created a problem for the international community which expects a democracy to behave unlike a terrorist organization. Everyone knows the LTTE’s character. As a result of all this and Soosai’s speech I could see that they were going for war. Then the Tamil resurgent; who I believe are an arm of the LTTE, statement that they will start war after the AL exam. Then Tamilchelvan’s unconfirmed statement that they will declare self-governing authority and a resumption of hostilities. I felt as a theoretician that all indicators directed towards war. I felt it my duty to warn especially the people in those areas. I will repeat that we are very close to a major confrontation. Q: So who should take the bigger share of responsibility if and when the war breaks out? A: I think the major responsibility lies with the LTTE, because it was clear to them that after they got out of talks with Ranil Wickremesinghe, they were trapped within a peace trap. They said that. There they had to fulfill many obligations. They felt the use of a safety net that was encircling them. I must say that LTTE didn’t give the President a chance. From day one claymore attacks started, to provoke and send signals to the government. Fortunately the President didn’t respond to these to some extent. But we also lost the moral high ground by tolerating impunity. The Co-chairs and EU, while condemning the LTTE did criticize the government as well. There’s the inability to present a political solution as well. Q: Isn’t that what the President is trying to do with the All Party Conference in trying to seek a Southern consensus to a Federal solution? A: All this is true, but it’s too late. There is the lack of a road map. Where are we going as a nation? What is the vision? Is it going to be a multi ethnic or a Sinhala society. These needed to have been clarified much earlier. Q: But doesn’t the Mahinda Chintana provide for this? A:The Mahinda Chintana provides part of it, but I think the unfortunate alliance with the JVP and JHU made him lose his flexibility. They are an anchor on him; who I think is a pragmatic leader. Q: You asked that a special commission be appointed to look in to the Kebethigollawa massacre, comparing situations in South Africa. We see continued attempts to draw comparisons between here and SA. Are the two situations really similar? A:In South Africa there were various third forces engaged in extra judicial killings. They appointed a Commission with very wide powers to address the problem of impunity and third force killings. This was because existing laws were not adequate to get the evidence. And the killings dropped dramatically. What I say is that our laws are not sufficient to address the political issue of killings. I’m recommending a Commission with a mandate of giving witness protection. Q: Do you still believe LTTE to be freedom fighters? A: The LTTE were at one time. There was a great amount of sympathy for them. But as I have asked of them at conferences, why is it that all the western democracies have banned you? Have they somehow lost the plot? Why? because they have violated fundamental principles of human rights and international law. But I’m not here to judge if they are terrorists or not. That is not my job. They have been accepted by the international community as the legitimate party to the conflict, whether we like it or not. Q: But not sole representative? A: No, but as a party to the conflict. I think they have to re-examine themselves, whether in the pursuit of freedom they have used practices which deny freedom of pluralism of other minorities etc. Q: One of the main allegations against you is that your work threatens the sovereignty of the country. Do you? A: I think it is the JVP that threatens sovereignty. In 1971 they seriously did so by attacking Mrs. Bandaranaike government. In 1989 they seriously threatened sovereignty, and when a friendly nation like India comes here at our request the JVP were responsible for the attack on Premier Gandhi, and 6,000 deaths of people who supported the Indo-Lanka accord. They have to date not apologized to the people. They talk about dollar ‘kaakkas’. Who funds them? The Japanese and Chinese communist parties. While NGOs have to account for donors, they don’t have to account to anyone. It is the JVP that is preventing a power sharing arrangement with the minorities, because they stand for an extreme Sinhala position, represented by 10% of the population. Ranil Wickraemesinghe and Chandrika Kumaratunga advocated a Federal solution that represents a 90% of the country. They are using this to come to power. Q: You speak of the threat posed by JVP to Mrs. Bandaraniake’s government, when you stood accused of doing the same with your Janavegaya movement? A: The Janavegaya group was a part of the SLFP, which advocated the release of 20,000 political prisoners and achieved that. We argued for land reform, but when our influence with SLFP became very strong, there were allegations by President Jayewardene of a coup against my own mother in law! This is absurd. Dr. N.M. Perera challenged JR to provide proof, he couldn’t. He couldn’t provide evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee. I was exonerated. Q: You accuse the JVP on the IPKF issue. One allegation against you, was advocating bringing down UN forces when the government forces were close to capturing Jaffna in 1995? A: What I said, when the troops were marching in and ready to put a flag there, that I was saddened that a civilization of over 2000 years have to raise our flag in our own land. My other point was that the Sinhalese and Tamils were the same, if we ill treat the other we get a return. I said was concerned about the mass exodus of the people, and that there should be international pressure on both sides to bring them to the table. I never mentioned UN troops. Even today I won’t advocate that. I’m glad you gave me the opportunity to explain myself. Q: In Sierra Leone you stood accused of arms and diamond smuggling and a coup attempt against President Kabbah’s government when you were Secretary General of International Alert? Q: This is based on the letter written by President Kabbah to UN Chief Kofi Annan, on these allegations. He did write such a letter but what has not been said is the reply to that. AI had a very distinguished Board. Neither the UN nor the Commonwealth could get in touch with the rebels in Sierra Leone for three years and we were invited by the UN to intervene. We did and got in touch with the rebels and negotiated a peace deal. After President Kabbah came to power we disengaged and the peace process broke down. Again we were asked to intervene and we sent an agent, but things were murky, and we could do little. That is when he issued this letter to discredit us. We responded to him and asked for evidence, but he didn’t answer. IA did an internal inquiry and found we were not responsible for any of the allegations. Q: At the time you were Secy. Gen. of IA, you have been accused of being the architect of a map where a large chunk of Sri Lanka’s North and East are depicted as being future states of the LTTE? A:That was not during my time but that of Martin’s. As an introductory for Sri Lanka he did produce a map and I was very concerned when I was shown this, because people told me this was a wrong map. The publication was immediately withdrawn. That was a mistake, in that he had wanted to use a map and this was the map that was given to him. These mistakes happen. Q: But wasn’t it a grave mistake to happen? A: It was the greatest mistake and immediately this happened the Board instructed him to withdraw the publication and it was done. That’s all we can do. We can make it clear that we do not support the division of this country, nor any form of terrorism in this country, and categorically denounce LTTE and state terrorism. My inspiration is human rights. My entire upbringing was human rights and peace, which means we don’t support terror in any form. Q: There is a lot of funding that is circulating within the NGO community, but very little work in comparison. Why the imbalance? A: If it’s the Tsunami then we are committed to making 85% of the money goes to the beneficiaries. You can look at our budgets. Q: But what is it like in general without a Tsunami? A: Most of the donors are very strict about core money and project money. Though present our returns to the company registrar annually, the donors have auditors who come and do audits. There is no way in which we can fool all of them. We believe in paying good salaries, in line with the private sector. Q: How much are you paid? A: Me? Q: Yes. A: That’s confidential. I can’t say. That’s a rule we have. But donors do audits. Q: You once advertised for an intelligence officer and subsequently reportedly employed an ex-defence attaché to the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK. Why would an NGO need an intelligence man? A: No. That’s incorrect, but we have a former DIG. We advertised for a person to be director of our relief and rehab program and look after security, particularly in the East, look after our staff. Q: The allegation is that such intelligence officers would be mobilized for gathering information that threatens national security? A: It’s absurd! Whatever we do is public information. But we are concerned about the security of the staff, because when they work in the East they are constantly in danger. 18 June 2006 Sri Lankan troops stormed a church and kill 5 Tamil Civilian Sri Lankan troops stormed a church yesterday where 200 civilians were seeking shelter and opened fire, and then rampaged in the surrounding village, killing five people and wounding dozens more, witnesses said.The military denied involvement and blamed the killings on Tamil Tiger rebels, who hours earlier attacked a navy base in the same remote northwestern fishing village, Pesalai, triggering a naval and helicopter battle.The surging violence - which included the arrest elsewhere of two suspected Tamil Tiger rebels, who tried to kill themselves by swallowing cyanide - heightened fears that Sri Lanka was returning to all-out civil war. The past several days have seen the worst violence since a cease-fire was signed in 2002 by the government and the Tamil Tigers, who control much of Sri Lanka's north and east.In a hospital in Mannar, near Pesalai, many injured villagers gave near-identical accounts of government security forces indiscriminately shooting into the Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church and then around the village."We were all inside the church when the navy and army broke in and opened fire. A grenade was thrown inside through a window," said Mariyadas Loggu, 46, who was being treated for hand injuries.One person died in the church yesterday and four others were shot and killed while returning from fishing, Loggu and other hospitalized villagers said. The military denied targeting civilians and blamed the latest violence on the rebels, known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam."The LTTE has done it. We do not target civilians," said Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake, a navy spokesman.He said the Tigers had stormed the village in 12 boats, firing grenade launchers at a police station near a navy base and the church.There were conflicting claims of casualties.The rebels have been fighting since 1983 to create an independent homeland for the country's ethnic Tamil minority, claiming discrimination by the country's majority Sinhalese.The 2002 truce has often been violated, but the past week has seen particularly severe violence, with military air strikes pounding rebel positions after a bus bombing killed 64 people. Three Sri Lankan policemen killed in anti-personnel mine attack Japan to reconsider aid commitment Japan will reconsider its commitment of development aid to Sri Lanka if the security situation deteriorates and full-scale war erupts, diplomatic sources said Friday. Japan is the largest single donor to Sri Lanka. The government has, The Sunday Leader learns, already been unofficially informed of Japan having to reconsider its development aid to Sri Lanka if violence escalates. Japan will in such a situation also stop all funding to the UN family agencies in Sri Lanka, the sources said. Diplomatic sources also said Japan draws a distinction between the LTTE and the Tamil people and expect the government to address the legitimate grievances of the Tamil people including their political rights and in that context was fully committed to the statement of the Tokyo Co-Chairs, which calls for a recommitment to the Tokyo Declaration and the Oslo Communiqu. Japan and the international community also do not accept government denials of having any links with paramilitary groups including the Karuna faction and the violent elements of the EPDP, diplomatic sources told The Sunday Leader. Last week, the Chief of the Swedish mission in Colombo stated publicly that his government would halt all development aid to Sri Lanka unless the government proceeds to show a genuine commitment to move the peace process forward. Army chief flown to Singapore fore more treatment Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka has left for Singapore for further medical attention.He was airlifted from the Army Headquarters on Friday night under tight security in an Air Force helicopter to the Bandaranaike International Airport. From there he boarded a Singapore-bound flight. He was accompanied by his wife Anoma, a doctor and an Army officer.Lt. Gen. Fonseka who was wounded during a suicide bomb attack inside Army Headquarters on April 25 was at the Intensive Care Unit of the National Hospital. Upon recovery, he was later transferred to the Army Hospital where he remained. Early this week, he underwent surgery. According to medical sources, he was in good health but needed further medical attention.President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered arrangements for his visit to Singapore for treatment. Following Government to Government level consultations, the Singapore authorities are to provide him high security. Tigers warn on air raids Chandrika-Anura confab in UK Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike, now in London on a controversial tourism promotional event, is expected to spend time with his sister Chandrika who is now in the UK.Political sources said that they would discuss the current political scene, particularly in the backdrop of the JVP refusing to rejoin the ruling coalition and the further deterioration of the Oslo-arranged Ceasefire Agreement.Although Bandaranaike pledged his support to President Mahinda Rajapakse following the presidential poll last November, the political heavyweight is believed to be disappointed over the situation he is in.The Sunday Island learns that they were expected to discuss ways and means to stage a comeback. The ongoing efforts made by Rajapakse to secure the party leadership, thereby effectively neutralising a possible challenge would be on top of the agenda. Bandaranaike flew to London from Macau to join Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Investment Promotion Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister Ferial Ashraff and Cultural Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene now in London, for the promotion. The sources said that Deputy Tourism Minister Arjuna Ranatunga was among a dozen ruling party politicians and several other officials in the government delegation. Mrs. Ashraff and several other politicians arrived in London via Oslo where their focus was on current crisis triggered by stepped up LTTE attacks and their refusal to return to the negotiating table.In fact both Anura Bandaranaike and Arjuna Ranatunga missed the country’s main tourism promotion event at the BMICH late last week to be in London. A well informed political source said that the former President would be keen to meet some of the visitors to London. "It all depends whether they were ready to meet her," he said. The fact that Kumaratunga was in touch with some of the MPs as part of her strategy to keep control of the situation is not news to the president, the sources said. UK Tamils Stage Ghandian Type Satayagraha Demanding Ban of Lankan Cricket Team The British consortium of Tamil Schools and all the British Tamil Religious organizations from the Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities have decided to stage a Ghandian type non-violent protest demonstration at the Lord’s Cricket grounds in London, England when Britain will be playing a one day match against Sri Lanka on Saturday June 17th. Stating that the government of Sri Lanka has persistently violated the Human rights of the Tamils that is not too dissimilar to the policy of the apartheid in South Africa in the 1990s, the protestors are advancing the demand that a ban akin to the one placed on the South African cricket team in the 1980s and 1990s, be also imposed on the “Sinhala only” Sri Lankan team. South Africa was barred from the Olympics from 1964-1992 and was permitted participation following the repeal of all apartheid laws the in 1991. In October 1964, it was also suspended indefinitely by FIFA, football's international governing body. South Africa's apartheid policy also led to trade sanctions and a ban on cricket and rugby tours during the 1970s and 1980s. Accusing the international community of employing double standards in dealing with the abject and banal violations of the human rights of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, the protestors are urging that the Sri Lankan cricket team should be banned by those countries that are genuinely committed to the fundamental principles of Human rights and particularly the rights of children. In the past four weeks more than ten children and their families have been hacked and shot to death or maimed and mutilated by the Sri Lankan armed forces with the connivance and approval of the higher echelons of the government of Sri Lanka. The Scandinavian Monitoring Mission and the International Committee of the Red Cross have incontrovertible evidence to prove the fact that the Sri Lankan military is engaged in a systematic scheme of genocide to decimate the Tamil population in that island nation. The international Commission of Jurists and Amnesty International have documented some of the most recent atrocities perpetrated byte Sri Lankan military against the Tamil civilian population in Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Explosion off Negombo seas: LTTE targets vessel carrying choppers Military officials investigating yesterday's incident near Negombo believe that three suspects who were caught after an explosion in the seas off Bopitiya were on a mission to target a vessel transporting two MI 17 helicopters.A ship transporting two MI 17 helicopters after overhaul repairs in Ukraine was expected to reach Colombo yesterday. Suspicion was rife after three diving kits were found along with the suspects who were arrested by the police following a tip off from local civilian fishermen. Two bombs each weighing 35 Kgs were later found washed ashore in Wennappuwa. The three suspects were caught after they swam ashore following loud explosions which came from the sea. Two of them swallowed cyanide capsules and were admitted to the Negombo hospital. The suspects were later taken into police custody after doctors ruled they were out of danger. Security sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the three suspects would have been tasked with blowing up the ship. "There is also a possibility that the suspects were targeting a Dvora FAC which was on routine sea patrol in the North Western waters," the military official said. The three suspects were believed to be transporting explosives when one of the bombs went off which shattered windows of some houses on the sea front. S.Lanka Tigers say attacked in east, no casualties Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers said security forces and renegade ex-rebels fired on them in the island's east on Sunday, but no one was hurt, although fears of full-scale war continued to mount.If government estimates are correct that 25-30 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels were killed in a naval clash on Saturday, more than 100 people have died since Thursday, the worst violence since a 2002 ceasefire halted two decades of war.The Tigers accuse the government of backing fighters led by former eastern rebel commander Karuna Amman and using them to mount attacks on the mainstream rebels. The government denies it, but some diplomats are increasingly sceptical.A defence spokesman said he had no news of any incident. Tiger eastern political leader Daya Mohan said Karuna fighters and police Special Task Force troopers fired four or five shells and small-arms across the front line."We retaliated with heavy fire and they vanished from the scene," he told Reuters. There were no casualties, he said. A suspected Tiger mine attack on a civilian bus in north central Sri Lanka on Thursday killed 64 people from the island's Sinhalese majority, prompting the heaviest government air strikes since the truce on rebel areas in the north and east.The rebels threatened retaliation if the attacks continued, but the government said they ceased on Friday night. On Saturday, the government said a Tiger naval and ground attack in the northwest left more than 40 dead or missing, half of them rebels. OTHER FRONTS QUIET Violence between government and rebel forces, who have controlled a seventh of the island since the ceasefire, appeared to have largely ceased by Sunday morning. But the rebels have previously retaliated for Karuna attacks by attacking the army.The rebels deny responsibility for most recent attacks, particularly the bus bomb -- by far the most serious attack since the ceasefire. But analysts and diplomats say that they remain the most likely suspects. If violence continues, many fear attacks could come to the capital Colombo, sending investors fleeing from a $20 billion economy also affected by the 2004 tsunami.Both sides say they want to return to talks and each blames the other for frustrating the Norwegian-mediated peace process. Earlier this month, the Tigers walked out of talks in Oslo without even meeting the government delegation. Diplomats say neither side has shown enough flexibility for peace. The Tigers are angry the government seems to have done nothing to disarm Karuna fighters despite a pledge at talks in Geneva in February to stop armed groups in their territory.But some analysts and diplomats say they have simply grown frustrated with the peace process and believe they are more likely to win their goal of a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east on the battlefield. Do not send delegation to Sri Lanka: Swamy Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Saturday expressed opposition to any move to send a Parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka to assess the "ground situation" there. Reacting to the demand made by the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko, he said no country could send a Parliamentary delegation to another country without an invitation. In a statement, Mr. Swamy said: "The whole world knows that the ground situation has deteriorated because of the inane obstructionist attitude of the Sinhala majority to adoption of a federal constitution, and the LTTE being a part of the problem instead of the solution." Sending a Parliamentary delegation, therefore, was useless. 17 June 2006 Kalmunai Council ITAK members take oath All six councillors elected on Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK) ticket for the newly created Kalmunai Municipal Council took oaths before Mr.Kanagasabai Pathmanathan, Amparai district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian at an event specially held at Brothers' House Hall in Paandiruppu, Tamil sources in Trincomalee said. Mr. Y.L.Saleem, Kalmunai MC Commissioner, Mr.P.S.Peermohamed Thamby, Assistant Commissioner of Local Government, and Rev Fr.Dr.S.A.Mathew, leading educationist also participated in the event. Mr.K.Ehambaram, central committee of the TNA presided. ITAK councillors taking oath were Henry Mahendran (Deputy Leader Of TELO), Kaathamuthu Ganesh, Tharmalingam Nesarajah, Weerasingham Ilayendrarajah, Arulnayagam Amirthalingam and Vadivelu Gopal.Mr. Mahendran Deputy Leader Of TELO said he and other members of the ITAK would work for promoting better understanding between Muslim and Tamil people in Kalmunai. At the same time the councillors would also pursue a programme designed to develop the Tamil areas that come under the municipal council administration, he said. Mr. Mahendran Deputy Leader Of TELO assured unconditional support and co-operation of the ITAK for the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) administration in the council to take forward a development programme.Mr.Kanagasabai Pathmanathan, parliamentarian said the Tamil people of the Amparai district have clearly endorsed LTTE as their sole representatives in the recently held local council elections. Kalmunai MC ITAK councillors have taken oaths on a day when traditional homeland of Tamil people in the North East have been subjected to aerial and artillery attack by the State armed forces, said Mr.Pathmanathan.At the recent election, the SLMC captured ten out of 19 seats of the Kalmunai MC. Six were won by ITAK, two by United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and one by an independent group. Ten SLMC councillors with the Mayor and his deputy took oaths Thursday. Heavy fighting between Sri Lanka govt forces and LTTE Sri Lanka's military said at least 25 people were killed in a sea and land battle with Tamil Tiger rebels on Saturday, and there was an underwater explosion at a beach near the capital as three divers were seized.Sri Lankan government jets hit targets near the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stronghold Kilinochchi overnight in retaliation for an attack on a bus earlier this week that killed 64, the worst incident since a 2002 truce halted two decades of war. The Tigers deny the bus attack."Eight LTTE boats destroyed by naval fire," a military spokesman said, revising down an earlier figure of 11. "They attacked the navy and police. LTTE cadres we think 20-25 dead, four navy sailors were also killed and one civilian succumbed to his wounds. Three naval craft slightly damaged."But another military source said the government death toll could be higher, with eight naval special forces troops missing. Death tolls could not be independently confirmed. International truce monitors in the northwest Mannar district said they heard heavy firing, much more serious than the hit-and-run attacks that have become commonplace in the last two months as the truce collapsed into low intensity conflict. Each side blamed the other for hitting a church that was sheltering civilians. The military said rebels had thrown grenades into it as they withdrew, wounding civilians. But rebel media coordinator Daya Master said the military had shelled the church.There has been a sharp increase in violence since early April and almost 700 people have died this year. So far trouble has largely been confined to the north and east, where the Tigers want a separate Tamil homeland. UNDERWATER BLAST A military source said air support had been called in at Mannar and might be used to hunt down three surviving Sea Tiger craft which the navy could not follow as the water was too shallow.The defence spokesman said three suspected rebels in diving gear were seized in Pamunugama, some 18 km (10 miles) north of Colombo near the resort town of Negombo. They were about 10 km (6 miles) from the international airport.All were arrested, but two took cyanide capsules and were taken to hospital, he said. As the third diver was seized, a large underwater explosion took place a few metres off the beach, a witness said, shattering some nearby windows. "It was just off the reef," he told Reuters from the scene. He did not give his name. "It was a massive explosion. It sprayed water for a 50-metre (yard) radius." Analysts fear attacks on civilian or military targets, trying to pressure the government into concessions.A 2001 suicide attack on the airport destroyed half the Sri Lankan Airlines fleet on the ground, smashing tourism and economic confidence.Both sides have repeatedly said they want peace, but diplomats say neither has shown the flexibility needed to make concessions. Earlier in the month, the Tigers walked out of talks in Norway without even meeting the government delegation.The bus attack on Thursday provoked the government into launching its heaviest air raids on rebel territory since the cease-fire. Analysts had worried that would provoke a heavy Tiger retaliation that could escalate to full-scale war. Arbour condemns attack on bus in Sri Lanka United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has called on the Sri Lankan Government to investigate yesterday's attack on a bus, which reportedly killed 62 civilians and injured more than 40 others, including school-aged children, in a country wracked by a conflict with Tamil separatists."This attack is much more than a ceasefire violation, it is a grave breach of the most fundamental tenets of humanity," she said in a statement. "The Government must urgently investigate this case, so that those responsible not only face justice, but the full censure of the international community." She urged the Government to ensure effective measures are in place to prevent any communal backlash and protect civilian life and property for all communities, including those displaced from their homes.Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday deplored the attack, saying it was "wholly irresponsible and unjustifiable for combatants in any cause to plant mines that can have this kind of tragic result."Ms. Arbour recalled that it came against a backdrop of an alarming trend in recent months in which civilians, including children, are increasingly becoming the targets of escalating violence in Sri Lanka between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Just last month she urged the parties to take immediate steps to defuse the violence, resume dialogue and strengthen measures to protect against human rights abuses.She noted that on 13 May, 13 Tamil civilians were killed on the island of Keyts in Jaffna, including an infant and a young child. On 29 May, 12 Sinhalese construction workers were killed execution-style near Welikanda in Batticaloa. On 9 June, a Tamil family of four including two children, were brutally murdered near Mannar. To date, investigations into these attacks on civilians have yet to produce results, she said. Heroin Major: Murukkan IP gets death threats Murukkan police Inspector Upul Seneviratne who arrested the army major allegedly carrying drugs this week, has been receiving death threats, police sources said.The Murukkan police and Colombo Narcotic Bureau officers are questioning several people after the arrest of the Major. According to Narcotics Bureau SSP D.M.Sugathadasa the Major had sought a vehicle from the Mannar army camp to proceed to Pesalai. He had got a motorcycle and come in uniform to the Murukkan Kovil where he allegedly received a parcel of drugs from suspected LTTE cadres. He had then changed his clothes at the Kaladdi army camp and proceeded to Colombo by bus when he was arrested.He had allegedly confessed that he had brought the drugs to be handed to underworld gang leader Sanjeeva.A trap laid to track down Sanjeeva had failed after the arrest of the Major was announced over television, the SSP said. Srilanka Interest rates raised The Central Bank raised its key interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Friday to their highest levels since 2003 to control excessive growth in money supply and rein in oil-fired inflation. It increased the repurchase rate to 9 percent and the reverse repurchase rate to 10.50 percent. The previous rate hike was a quarter point increase in December. "In view of the continuing high oil prices over which Sri Lanka has no control, there is an urgent need to respond effectively to these new developments," the Central Bank said in a statement. Analysts had predicted the central bank would raise interest rates following an increase in domestic fuel prices last weekend. "This was expected with inflation on the increase again," said Eranjan Kulatunga, economist for C.T. Smith Stockbrokers in Colombo. "But 25 basis points is not a huge increase, and if inflation continues the government may have to do more." Last weekend, Sri Lanka reduced its fuel subsidy, raising petrol and diesel prices 5 percent and kerosene prices 12 percent. Arms haul in Kantale Police yesterday recovered a haul of firearms and other explosive devices hidden in the jungle off the Kantale tank. Police said among those found were two T 56 guns, 3 magazines, 56 rounds of ammunition, 12 batteries and two wire rolls packed inside two bags. Mangala wants rebel leader tried for war crimes Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Thursday said Tamil Tiger rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran should be tried for war crimes, Norwegian news agency NTB reported. "There is a great obstacle to peace in Sri Lanka, and it's not the (rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) LTTE, it's the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran," Samaraweera told NTB in an interview during a visit to Oslo. "The question is how we can remove this man. Maybe the international community could look into the possibility of charging him," he said. "Of course he has some loyal supporters but he doesn't represent the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. The majority of them want to live in peace with us, and do it as well," he said. The Tigers have been fighting for autonomy in the northeast for three decades in a conflict that has claimed more than 60,000 lives and has escalated in recent months. Since December at least 650 people have been killed. On Thursday, a powerful landmine attack on a packed Sri Lankan bus killed at least 64 people, the deadliest attack on civilians in the country in 10 years. The government blamed the attack on the LTTE rebels. The European Union last month decided to place the LTTE on its list of terrorist organisations. Colombo warns foreign INGO officials, journalists in Vanni Sri Lankan military authorities in Colombo asked the foreign nationals working in International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and journalists residing in Vanni to remain inside UN and INGO offices, NGO officials in Kilinochchi said Friday. Foreign journalists visiting Vanni have sought refuge in UNICEF and ICRC offices in Kiinochchi, sources said. Sri Lankan attacks violate CFA, SLMM officials agree with LTTE in Trincomalee The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials in Trincomalee have explained to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) officials in the district that the aerial bombing and artillery fire, carried out by the Sri Lankan armed forces towards the LTTE controlled territory were considered "clear violations" of the ceasefire agreement, S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the LTTE, told media Friday after concluding a meeting with Ove Jensen, Trincomalee district head of the SLMM. "The SLMM Trincomalee head agreed with me that the so-called retaliatory military attacks on our territory were cear violations of the ceasefire," LTTE's Trincomalee district political head said. Three civilians were wounded and at least 10 civilian houses were damaged in the multi-barrel artillery attack that took place Thursday, according to Mr. Elilan.The discussion with the SLMM officials was held at the Trincomalee district LTTE political secretariat located in Sampoor in the Muttur east.Elilan said he pointed out to the SLMM Trincomalee head that the LTTE has severely condemned the Kebbitigollawa killings as senseless violence used for political ends. "Indiscriminate acts of violence targeting civilians cannot be justified under any circumstances," Elilan said. The SLMM monitors led by Ove Jensen inspected the civilian houses destroyed by SLA's multi-barrel artillery fire in LTTE controlled areas in Muttur East Friday morning.Again, on Friday evening, the SLA troopers launched artillery fire on the villages located in the LTTE held Muttur east. Vaiko wants all-party delegation to visit Sri Lanka "What is going on in Sri lanka is not an internal matter. We should extend our moral support to the Tamils like we support the Palestinians. Even the Communists who are supporting Palestinians should support the Tamils," Vaiko said. "The Union Government should send an all-party MPs' delegation to Sri Lanka to assess the situation prevailing in the war-torn areas, where the Tamil population had been affected," MDMK leader Vaiko said here on Friday night. Inaugurating a demonstration organised by the Tamil Eelam Liberation Supporters Coordination Council here, Vaiko said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should take steps to meet the Sri Lankan Tamil MPs to get their views. He said that there was the possibility of the Tamils being attacked by the Sri Lankan army, after a mine blast killed dozens of people in the island nation on Thursday. The LTTE has denied involvement in the blast and the Indian Government should raise its voice strongly, if the Tamil population was targetted by the Lankan army, he said. "The Indian Government should extend support to them (Tamils) as they were blood brothers. We should sympathise with their cause," Vaiko, who was once jailed for openly supporting the banned LTTE, said. "What is going on in Sri lanka is not an internal matter. We should extend our moral support to the Tamils like we support the Palestinians. Even the Communists who are supporting Palestinians should support the Tamils," he said. He recalled Prime Minister's assurance that the arms and ammunitions supplied by India, would not be used against the Tamils. "Now that the Sri Lankan army is using our arms against the Tamils, the Government should withdraw them". Vaiko pointed out that it was the LTTE, which first called for truce and it was the army, which broke the peace. About 100 volunteers took part in the demonstration India should play its role in Sri Lanka” - Pakistan (Daily Mirror Interview) The High Commissioner For Pakistan in Colombo says that India, having created the LTTE and having influence on both sides, should be able to play a role in solving the national problem in Sri Lanka. As for Pakistan, it supports the sovereign state of Sri Lanka, it would assist in whatever form if asked to. Q: India has continued to exercise a ‘no-hands’ approach to Sri Lanka’s military situation this time around. How do you see this approach? A: I think the best judges will be the Indians themselves as to why they are taking this approach. They maybe having their own agenda or line of thinking, but I think that they have influence on both sides, as Sri Lanka’s big neighbour. Both countries have gone through this crisis together. When I’m asked if India can play a role, my answer is that one can only play a role if you have influence on both sides. Otherwise you can’t play a role. If you asked me if Pakistan can play a role, my answer would be ‘no’ because we have never engaged in a dialog with the LTTE. But India has been engaging in this problem for quite some time. As a matter of fact, newspapers have categorically said that they are the creators. They created the LTTE. How far they can control them is a different question. India also has the 60 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu factor as well. Still since they are the creators, regardless of the degree of influence (that only the Indians would know) they definitely have a role to play. In the greater interest of the region they should come up and do that. They have been asked by the co-chairs to do so, but they are following a hands-off approach. They can contribute as they have influence on both sides, and they should in the larger interest of peace in the region. The peace process seems like going towards a dark tunnel, and India can play a role. They keep saying they are your good friend, and believe in all international norms, so such a role will save the bloodshed. Already the country has lost 60,000 people, so it is good if anybody who can help, helps. Why they are not playing a role I think only they will be able to answer! Q: Looking at your own experiences with the on-going peace process with India, where do you see failure in the Sri Lankan context? A: The Sri Lankan government would be the best judge of this but, I see a lot of problem areas in the Ceasefire agreement. A paper was signed but no effort was made to implement those aspects where you could build the trust. The LTTE may be having some genuine grievances so if they were addressed during this period, maybe there would have been changes. There are a lot of problem areas in Sri Lanka’s Ceasefire Agreement. Q: There are local reports that the LTTE would officially declare war on the 17th and in fact the massacre of Thursday proves the greater possibility of this. Where would your own country’s support be , if the war did break out? A: It will be very unfortunate if that happens. War is not the solution to any problem. Their acts of violence will be met with definite retaliations by the government. In the process, again the same civilian killings will take place and their lives affected. As far as we are concerned we believe that they should avoid getting into that situation. If the military solution is the real solution will only be seen once that happens. You can’t predict on that. Ordinarily one should be able to predict that looking at the size of the Sri Lankan Army and the strength of the LTTE. But at the end of the day, again you will be at talks. I don’t know if this is only a threat or will materialize. As far as we are concerned we fully support the sovereign state of Sri Lanka. We don’t believe in interfering in the internal affairs of any country, particularly a friendly one. We don’t indulge in interference, but we will support in what ever form, if we are asked to. But we would still urge that both sides talk and avoid this unnecessary bloodshed. Q: How do you see the report that appeared in the pro- LTTE website, Tamil net about a defense assistance made by Pakistan to Sri Lanka to the tune of $ 250 million for the purchase of tanks etc.? A: This is rubbish. We have a $ 20 million assistance line since 1999. It is there but not been utilized now. There have been routine training sessions between army, navy and air force. But it is not only done on the military side. We are also trying to support the community in what ever manner we can. Karuna blames Tigers for bus blast -BBC When questioned about their armed activities, he said that they only carry out attacks for self-defense.The former senior leader of the LTTE who used to be a close associate of Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran also refused accusations that his group now operates together with the Sri Lanka military."We are trying to evolve as a political organisation. We have a political office in Batticaloa.. Government knows this.. Everyone knows that we opened this office with government permission. But we have no connection with the army. As far as military campaign we receive no help". Rejecting war as the solution for Sri Lanka's troubles, Karuna Amman agreed that it is the civilians who ultimately suffer because of increasing violence. "As soon as we left that Terrorist organisation, large number of our people and supporters were killed by the orders of the Vanni leader Pirabakaran.. When we react to this people suffer.. But when we have to come out of this situation we have no option but to fight".Answering a question whether the Sri Lanka government urged him to keep a low-profile so that the parties could go ahed with the peace talks, he said: "These ideas have been put forward.. I don't deny that.. But LTTE is not keen on this process..."His group is working on, says Karuna, to find a solution for Sri Lanka's national question within "united Sri Lanka".LTTE leader is a "wanted criminal" and the LTTE is banned terrorist organisation, Karuna said.But Ethirajana Anbarasan pointed out that he was also accused of some of the worst violence while he was with the LTTE. "I was one of the main person who has contributed to the growth of the LTTE. But when I realised that we cannot achieve our aims by the arms struggle. then I quit that organisation.. But when I was in LTTE, I told Prabhakaran, several times that the peace environment is good for a political solution. I told him to use the peace talks to get a political solution. But he was not keen on that.. He rejected the idea.. He used the cease fire period to kill people belonging to other groups". One DPU cadre killed, another captured, two hiding in Batticaloa jungle -LTTE LTTE cadres killed one and captured another member of Sri Lankan Deep Penetration Unit in the early hours yesterday (Friday) who came to rescue their two members who have gone into hiding into the Pankudaveli jungle close to the Batticaloa lagoon after bring chased by LTTE cadres on Thursday night, at about 9.30 p.m. Two DPU attackers who fled Illuppadichenai, a LTTE controlled territory 17 km west off Batticaloa, after carrying out a Claymore attack at 9.30 p.m. on Thursday as LTTE cadres chased them.Finding no other way, the DPU men went into hiding into the Pankudaveli jungle close to the Batticaloa lagoon. Later, Sri Lanka Army sent a two-member DPU team to rescue them from the jungle by boat. Batticaloa District Political Head Daya Mohan said LTTE cadres gunned down one of the two rescue DPU team members and captured the other alive at about 2:20 a.m. today (Friday).He also said Tiger cadres are extensively searching the jungle as the two DPU attackers were still hiding there. The rescue team of the DPU was attacked as they crossed the Batticaloa lagoon.Mr. Mohon said the captive DPU member has confessed that they were instructed to attack civilians in the area. The DPU attacker also said in LTTE custody that their team was behind the two Claymore attacks, one in Pattipalai and another at Thandiyadi Maveerar cemetary in Batticaloa took place last week.He also revealed that the DPU rescue team had gone to the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) office in Batticaloa on Thursday and robbed the office. Daya Mohon also said SLMM officials will be informed of all information that have been extracted from the mouth of the captive DPU cadre. 16 June 2006 India prepares for possible Sri Lanka war Ruling out the possibility of a military intervention, India has said it is studying a number of scenarios as Sri Lanka inches closer to war. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also been engaged in some of the strategic exercises, and is aware that India would be the country most affected by any escalation of the ethnic conflict in its southern neighbour, the Asian Age newspaper reported Thursday. Analysts assert that a full-fledged war between Sri Lankan forces and Tamil rebels is bound to have far reaching economic, strategic and diplomatic implications on India due to a huge influx of Tamil refugees into southern India. Meanwhile, frustrated Sri Lankan truce broker Norway has asked the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to state in writing whether or not they still adhere to the 2002 cease-fire agreement. There are indications in Indian diplomatic circles that the European Union may stay away from the peace process if the situation deteriorates further. The rebels, a media report said, are of the view that if Norway walks out, no other international player would like to be associated with the conflict and its resolution. "The situation in Sri Lanka is very serious. If war breaks out, Norway's image as a peace broker would be tarnished," said an Indian security official. "For us it will be much more than that, as we are resolutely opposed to the military intervention." India has no contact with the LTTE, which it outlawed as a terrorist organization after the Indian Peace Keeping Force, which was responsible for overseeing the 1987 peace accord between India and Sri Lanka, left the island country in 1990. Tamil political groupings in southern India have suggested that the federal government establish indirect contact with the LTTE rebels. The government has refused to oblige them thus far. Sri Lanka Kfir bombers hits Tigers after bus blast kills 64 Sri Lanka launched air strikes against Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday in retaliation for an attack on a bus that killed 64 people, the bloodiest violence by far since a 2002 ceasefire. Bombs targeted by Kfir bombers of Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) at a tsunami refugee camp with 300 refugees in Selvapuram on Mullaithivu Paranthan Road Thursday noon missed the target, sources in Mullaitivu said. Refugees have fled their temporary huts in Selvalpuram escaped injuries from the indiscriminate bombing from high altitude by the supersonic jets. Sri Lankan Dvora Fast Attack Crafts were observed 3 nautical miles from the shore while the bombing was going on, civilian’s said.At least 6 bombs were dropped near the refugee camp. Two of the bombs did not explode. The bombs were dropped in 10 minutes interval from 11:30 a.m. Thursday.A bomb caused about 4 meter deep crater. Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets bombed LTTE controlled Tharavai and Pulipaynthakal area around 3:15 p.m. Thursday. At least four bombs were dropped, LTTE's Batticaloa District Political Head Daya Mohan said. Mortar shells were fired towards LTTE controlled territory in Batticaloa from Vavunathivu SLA camp. Shells were fired from Vavunathivu camp towards LTTE territory from 8:00 a.m. till noon, Thursday.In the early evening, the raids shifted to the town of Kilinochchi, headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The ground shook and jet aircraft could be heard overhead, while the Tigers warned once again of a new civil war. "If they are attacking Kilinochchi, they are showing they are ready for war," head of the Tiger peace secretariat S. Puleedevan told Reuters. The area south of the town was hit in a May air raid following an attack on the Sri Lankan Navy. A military source said air force jets were aiming for a Tiger airstrip south of Kilinochchi that houses their fledgling air force -- around three light aircraft smuggled into the country in pieces. The Tigers did not comment on damage. 64 Civilians Killed By Mine Blast In Sri Lanka At least 64 civilians were killed and more than 70 wounded in a claymore mine attack carried out by suspected Tamil rebels Thursday on a passenger bus in north-central Sri Lanka prompting the government to carry out air strikes on rebel targets. Two claymore mines were set off simultaneously as the overcrowded bus carrying mostly majority Sinahala civilians was passing the Thalgaswewa area in Kebithigollewa, 200 kilometres north-east of the capital on Thursday morning.Chief military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said that 58 persons including eight children were killed instantly while the others had succumbed to injuries at hospitals. Government blamed the Tamil rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the attack saying that their main aim was to instigate a backlash. "It is very clear that the LTTE carried out the attack as they want to create communal tension. We are taking all steps to inform the international community about this brutal attack," government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. But, rebels in an unusual statement condemned the incident and accused what it called the "Sri Lankan armed elements" for the incident saying targeting civilians "cannot be justified under any circumstances."Rebels usually do not issue any statements or comment after any major incidents. Military officials and police investigating the incident said that they believe that the rebels carried out the attack. They said it was unlikely that they mistook the bus as carrying military personnel and triggered the mine as the bus was overcrowded and travelling in the morning when visibility was good. Tamil rebels have been carrying out attacks on buses carrying security personnel during the past few months and accidentally hit some of the civilian vehicles. In Washington, the US State Department condemned the attack, blaming the Tamil Tigers. "This vicious attack bears all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam," spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement. "It is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement that the Tamil Tigers claim to uphold." The Japanese Ambassador in Colombo, Akio Suda, also condemned the incident, saying his government was deeply concerned about the recent increase of incidents of violence. Only hours after the incident Sri Lanka's air force bombed rebel strongholds in the area of Mullaitivu and Sampoor, 360 and 260 kilometres north-east of the capital respectively. No details of the damages caused by the air strikes were known immediately. Residents in the area confirmed that in addition to the air strikes there were reports of mortar and artillery attacks. Residents claimed that five civilians were injured in the air strikes. More than 70 people injured in the mine attack on the bus were rushed to a hospital in Anuradhapura, while 20 of people in serious condition were transferred to the capital for treatment. The incident was the worst since the government and the Tamil rebels signed a ceasefire agreement under a Norwegian-backed peace process in February 2002. The peace process is running into further problems amidst escalation of violence in the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. During the past six months more than 700 persons - civilians, soldiers and rebels - have been killed in incidents in the north and eastern province, where the LTTE has stepped up attacks. Peace talks due to be held between the government and the LTTE in April have been postponed indefinitely while representatives of the two sides were due to meet in Oslo last week to discuss issues connected with the ceasefire, but rebels who arrived in Oslo refused to have face-to-face talks with the government delegation. The Norwegians have asked both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to declare whether they were committed to the cease-fire agreement and whether they wanted the presence of the Scandinavian monitors led by the Norwegians. With the escalation of violence and issues related to the ceasefire monitoring process Sri Lanka was running the risk of sliding to a full scale war as the country has been experiencing during regular intervals. Over the past 22 years the country has experienced three full scale battles between security forces and the LTTE. More than 70,000 persons have been killed during the period. LTTE condemned the attack LTTE issuing a press release strongly condemned the attack on civilian bus in Kebitigollawe, saying directly targeting civilians, as the Kebitigollawe claymore attack has, cannot be justified under any circumstances. Following is the full text of the press release: The following is a full copy of a press release by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in relation to the mine attack on a passenger bus this morning: The claymore attack on a civilian bus in Kebitigollawe, 23 km from Vavuniya, that has killed more than 40 civilians and injured scores more is a mindless use of civilian life for political end. The GoSL operated forces is continuing to take civilian life with total impunity in the Northeast. Since Geneva talks in February 250 civilians including 24 children have been murdered by GoSL operative forces in the NorthEast. It has now spread its tactic of using civilian life for political end beyond the Northeast. The attack in Kebitigollawe timed to occur immediately after the arrival of the LTTE delegation from Europe is a reprehensible act of murders with the sole aim of blaming the LTTE for the attack. Not only that the SL Air Force bombed the LTTE controlled Mullativu area immediately after the above Claymore attack. Further information about the damages is awaited. The GoSL is going to justify the air attack as retaliation for the claymore attack which was also in fact carried out by them. Unfortunately the international media is easy prey for this reprehensible propaganda tactic. We call upon the international media to exercise caution and use high standards in their reporting. LTTE condemns this attack on the civilian bus. Directly targeting civilians, as the Kebitigollawe claymore attack has, cannot be justified under any circumstances. Switzerland condemn claymore attack on passenger bus Full text of the press release from the Swiss Embassy follows: Switzerland strongly condemns the attack in Sri Lanka The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was shocked to learn of the attack perpetrated on Thursday morning against a bus in the region of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, which killed several dozen people, including a large number of children. The DFA very strongly condemns this attack which has plunged the population of the entire region into mourning and which endangers a fragile ceasefire. Switzerland expresses its condolences to the Sri Lankan population and authorities. It hopes that the perpetrators of this act will be rapidly identified and brought to justice. Switzerland is worried by the progressive deterioration of the situation in Sri Lanka, which is making the ceasefire between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) increasingly fragile. The terrorist attack on a civilian bus perpetrated this Thursday is unjustifiable. As well as being a personal tragedy for many families, it is a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs calls on the parties to take urgent action to avoid an escalation that could have tragic results for the future of Sri Lanka and first and foremost for the civilian population, which is already severely affected. In this context, the DFA deplores that the LTTE's and the Sri Lankan Government's delegations did not meet in Oslo last week. The DFA reiterates its support for the Norwegian facilitator and expects the parties to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible to save the ceasefire, as this is an indispensable prerequisite for any peace talks. Japan condemn claymore attack on passenger bus Full text of the press release from Japanese Embassy follows: Japan strongly condemns terrorist claymore attack on civilian bus On behalf of the Government of Japan, Ambassador Akio Suda expressed his strongest condemnation of the terrorist claymore attack on a civilian bus on the morning of 15th June 2006 at Kebitigollewa in the Anuradhapura District, deliberately targeting common people. Such dastardly terrorist attacks particularly targeting innocent common people are never accepted by any community in this country or the international community. Japan is deeply concerned about the recent increase in the incidents of violence and terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka and rejects any form of violence particularly acts of terrorism.While condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms Japan hopes that despite this provocative terrorist attack a further deterioration of the situation would be avoided by all peace loving people of Sri Lanka. Norway condemns the gruesome attack on civilians in Sri Lanka today Norway condemns in the strongest terms the most recent incidents of violence in Sri Lanka. Altogether 519 people have been killed since December 2005. These include Muslims, Singhalese and Tamils. The continual attacks on civilians are exacerbating the already critical situation in Sri Lanka.Today’s attack brings the violence in Sri Lanka to a new level. A busload of civilians was the target of a mine attack that was ruthlessly planned and carried out. So far, 63 people are reported to have been killed and 45 injured. This is the bloodiest attack on civilians since the parties to the peace process in Sri Lanka signed the ceasefire agreement in 2002. “This is a gruesome attack on innocent civilians, including children. We send our deepest condolences to their families and to the wounded,” says Minister for International Development Mr Erik Solheim.“We are witnessing a spiral of worsening violence, which is bringing Sri Lanka towards full civil war. Norway requests an immediate halt of all violence in Sri Lanka,” says Minister Solheim. US hits out at Tamil Tiger rebels The United States today urged the LTTE to renounce terror and enter into direct negotiations with the Sri Lankan Government. Issuing a statement in reaction to the incident that occurred at Kabithigollewa today morning, the US Government strongly condemned the attack on the bus, which killed 63 civilians including some 15 children. "This vicious attack bears all the hallmarks of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. It is a clear violation of the Ceasefire Agreement that the Tamil Tigers claim to uphold," the statement said. "The United States calls for an end to the violence that is causing so much suffering for the people of Sri Lanka and resumption of negotiations to bring peace to the country. The Tamil Tigers must renounce terror and enter into direct negotiations with the Sri Lankan government," the US Government added. Karuna tells troops: Don’t attack innocent Tamils The breakaway LTTE eastern commander and Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP) leader Karuna Amman in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror lashed out at the post Geneva SLMM report which suggests some elements within the government security forces are collaborating with Karuna cadres to attack the LTTE.Karuna, while claiming that he is at an undisclosed location in Sri Lanka, further called on the security forces to act with responsibility following attacks by the LTTE and urged them to desist from taking out their anger on innocent Tamils. “I must say the government forces must act with responsibility. They should not get provoked by the actions of Prabhakaran. The innocent Tamils are not responsible for the cowardly acts of Prabhakaran who attacks the security forces and then hides. The forces must safeguard all communities devoid of any differences. They should act in a way that gains the respect of the Tamils. The Tamils and Prabhakaran have no connections. The people have rejected Prabhakaran’s violent ways. I should also say the government should inquire and bring to book those responsible for the Tamil civilian killings who ever the perpetrators may be,” Mr. Amman said. Commenting on the allegations that his men are working with army assistance Mr. Amman says he operates independently and does not require assistance from anyone.“The army has killed many of our fighters while there are some in prison. If what you allege is true then why are these things happening? If we were operating with the army then we would have chased the LTTE out of the East by now. We are independent. The soil we are on belongs to us. We know the surroundings well and we have the full backing of the people here. Our strength does not lie or depend on anyone. The people are our strength. We are not dependent on anyone. We will not depend on anyone even in the future,” he said. Mr. Amman also hit out at the Co-chairs for calling at the disarmament of his group and a possible EU ban in the lines of the action taken on the LTTE saying there is no basis for such a move.He also claims to be in Sri Lanka and forwarded two photos which he claims were taken some 10 days ago at an undisclosed location in the country. Ban the LTTE and de-merge the North & East JVP urges Govt. The Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna yesterday urged the government to ban the LTTE and take well planned strategies to defeat terrorism without holding onto ‘foolish’ hopes of false negotiations.JVP Politburo yesterday said government should not limit its actions to retaliatory attacks, but should go for a strongly planned one from beginning to the end as a reply to the barbaric terrorist activities.The JVP said this while condemning the Kebithigollewa massacre by the LTTE bringing death to more than 60 civilians.“However, any step against terrorism should be taken by the government and not civilians. The LTTE is trying its best to put Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims at each others throat. No one should fall into this trap as it would help the ‘dark picture’ LTTE is trying to paint internationally,” the Politburo said while noting that the LTTE is trying to project Sri Lanka as a state that does not have law and order.It also noted that public should not forget there were forces to put the country under the control of foreign troops, if this situation leads to communal riots.While noting that government should ban the LTTE like many other countries, the JVP urged that all organizations that support Tiger terrorism by any way should also be banned.“Government should have a direct approach to a programme to defeat the LTTE,” the Politburo said.It said as an initiative, the government should de-merge the East from the North. India names Shashi for UN’s top job India yesterday named senior UN official Shashi Tharoor as its candidate for the world body's top job.Indian-born Tharoor currently serves the United Nations as undersecretary general for communications and public information. He has been with the world body since 1978.''India has informed other countries about its choice of Mr. Tharoor and requested their support,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.The second and final term of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan ends on Dec. 31. Second SLA soldier killed in LTTE area while trying to lay claymore mine-LTTE For the second time in three days, on 15 June, a gun battle ensued between the LTTE and an SLA Deep Penetration Unit that was attempting to lay claymore in LTTE area between Mathiyamadi and Nayinamadu on the Puliyankulam-Nedunkerni road in Vavuniya district. One SLA soldier was killed. His body is presently in Kilinochchi in preparation for handing over to the SLA tomorrow. The dead soldier was wearing striped LTTE uniform like the other SLA soldier killed two days ago in LTTE area of Vavuniya district.In the meantime a claymore attack by the SLA DPU in Kanagarayankulam in Vavuniya did not cause any damage. Several items left behind by the SLA team were found near the site. Three policemen wounded in grenade attack in Pesalai Three policemen were wounded when unidentified men lobbed a grenade at the police sentry located in Pesalai in Mannar district Thursday night around 7.40 p.m. The injured were identified as Bandara, 44, Wijewickrema, 41 and Abeyaratne, 32, police sources said. Police thereafter fired at random for about fifteen minutes. Wounded policemen were first taken to Mannar hospital and later airlifted to Colombo from Thallady army camp, sources said.Fearing reprisals from Sri Lanka security forces Pesalai families fled from their houses and sought refuge in Pesalai Our Lady of Victory Church, sources said. 15 June 2006 Sri Lanka, LTTE urged to work for peace A peace body has urged the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers to heed the call of the international community and resume the country’s stalled peace process. ‘The National Peace Council calls on the government and LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) to heed the view of the international community, including India, that affirms that the only way forward for Sri Lanka is through a revival of the peace process,’ the council said in a statement here. ‘We fear that if either party seeks to defy this international consensus, not only they, but the whole country will be called upon to pay a very heavy price. ‘We appeal to the two parties to keep the best interests of the peace loving people of Sri Lanka in mind when making their far reaching decisions on war and peace and not to abdicate their primary responsibility to the welfare of the people.’ The council said the collapse of the Oslo talks where the LTTE refused to meet the Sri Lankan delegation was ‘a major blow to the peace process’.It said the most important challenge now was for the government and LTTE to respond to Norway’s letter asking President Mahinda Rajapakse and rebel leader Velupillai Pirapaharan if they were still committed to the peace process.‘The National Peace Council calls on the two leaders to make a principled response that corresponds to the needs of peaceful conflict resolution,’ the statement said. JVP asks government to withdraw from peace negotiations The Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna yesterday urged the government to withdraw from peace negotiations without falling into the trap laid by Norway.The JVP politburo opined that the government should understand that it cannot find a solution by continuing negotiations with separatist Tigers and imperialist Norway. It however noted that the party did not consider the whole of the Norwegian community as imperials. “The President and the government should do their duty to safeguard the unitary state, territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the country at the moment. The ‘time of truth’ has arrived and we should not betray ourselves,” the politburo maintained. The JVP also noted that Mr. Eric Solheim should have posed the five questions only to the LTTE as it was the party which violated the ceasefire agreement and risked the lives of truce monitors. “If he expects answers from the government too to those five questions he is only trying to prove h that he is the ‘knight of the Sri Lankan colony’. The public also have the right to know what the UNP leader has to say to this behaviour of Norway and that party should respect that rights of the people,” the Politburo added. The intention of the LTTE was also very clear in the statement the Tiger delegation issued from Oslo.“It said the Sri Lankan government could not find a justifiable negotiated solution to the national problem as it had become the 25th failed state in the world. This clearly shows that both the LTTE and Norway share similar ideologies,” the JVP noted. Samaraweera receives "unusually high-level" reception in Norway Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has received a high-level reception, unusual for a Foreign Minister, according to International Development Minister Erik Solheim, who said Wednesday that Norway has to maintain close relationship with the parties to the conflict if it was to achieve any progress in the peace process. Mangala Samaraweera, once an opponent of Norwegian facilitation in Sri Lanka, was received by His Majesty King Harald V while Norwegian Tamil activists protested outside the Royal Palace in Oslo. The Norwegian Minister Erik Solheim, who is responsible for the Sri Lankan Peace Process told the Norwegian National television NRK, that His Majesty King, Prime Minister of Norway, Foreign Minister and the President of the Norwegian Stortinget (parliament), had received the Sri Lankan FM. Solheim further told NRK that he could understood that if Tamils feel that it is unfair, but if Norway was to achieve anything meaningful, it needed to maintain close relationship with both parties.Around 200 Norwegian Tamil activists, carrying placards accusing the "failed" Sri Lankan state for "state terror" against Tamil civililans in the NorthEast, protested against SL Minister Samaraweera.Norwegian Tamils protested from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. outside the Royal Norwegian Palace, accusing the Sri Lankan state for the brutal violence against Tamil civilians as part of terror campaign against the Tamils.Samaraweera's visit to the Royal Norwegian palace lasted for half an hour. Declare Norway an enemy state:PNM The Patriotic National Movement (PNM) yesterday called upon the Government to declare Norway as an enemy state and take into its hands the entire control of the North-East issue. PNM General Secretary Wimal Weerawansa told a press conference that Norway is definitely helping the LTTE rather than playing the role of a facilitator and therefore it should be declared an enemy state. “The Government should take a tough decision and act accordingly,” he said. Mr. Weerawansa said Norway should have sent the LTTE delegation back to Sri Lanka when it refused to hold talks, rather than allow its members to hold meetings with its international agents and help them to plan their future actions to establish a state of Eelam. “The LTTE knew who was going to participate in the talks from the Government side and should have reacted then,” he said “Norway knew what was going to happen and therefore it is a conspiracy from the beginning” Mr. Weerawansa said. PNM President Gunadasa Amarasekera said Norway and the international community are planning to bring in a peace keeping force to Sri Lanka and thereby fulfil the aspirations of the LTTE. One-sided pressure will not work - Thamilchelvan The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is prepared to demonstrate the power of balance and the parity of status beyond any doubt to the Sinhala polity, if the the deteriorating relationship between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE forces us to do so, said LTTE's Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan in Kilinochchi responding to a question on Oslo meeting, sources in Kilinochchi said. The Sri Lankan delegation walked out from the Oslo meeting on a dispute on parity of status. Mr. Thamilchelvan further said an important aim of the LTTE delegation's trip to Oslo was to clarify the Tamil leadership's stand to the facilitators and to the International Community. We wanted to convey the message that the Tamil leadership will not give-in to one-sided pressure. "Only neutral, reasonable, fair and responsible actions by the International Community, will help the Tamil leadership to engage in talks."Conducive environment must be created on the ground if the CFA is to succeed," Thamilchelvan said. "We have pointed out that the thinking is misplaced if anyone thought that Tigers can be pressured after the EU proscription. Instead, the international community should tell Sri Lanka in unequivocal terms that if Sri Lanka is interested in peace Colombo should work towards radically reconfiguring Sri Lanka's polity with innovative constitutional changes that satisfy the aspirations of Tamils," LTTE's Political Head said. LTTE's Political Head, Tamileelam Police Chief B. Nadesan and the Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan, arrived in Kilinochchi Wednesday in a Norwegian facilitated Sri Lankan Airforce Helicopter around 2:15 p.m. Sri Lanka airport officials caused unnecessary delays to the arriving LTTE delegation at the airport, LTTE officials said. No special airport perks to LTTE No special treatment was given to the arriving LTTE Oslo team led by S.P. Thamilselvam at the Bandaranaike International Airport, yesterday. Customs sources said the six member team were checked out from the normal passenger channel without any VIP courtesies after checking their baggages as is the case with any other regular passenger. Customs detected a weapons catalog, a telescope and two pistol pouches brought by the LTTE delegation. The Customs seized these prohibited items when they searched the baggages of these LTTE members who arrived at the BIA around 10 a.m. yesterday on board an Emirates flight from Dubai where they transited en route from Switzerland. The LTTE team left Colombo on June 4 to attend the Oslo meeting on the invitation of the peace broker Norway. After their unilateral boycott of the important meeting which intended to discuss SLMM's future and commitments to ensure security for its monitors, the LTTE team proceeded to Switzerland for an unannounced programme there. They were taken to the VIP waiting area of the BIA after Customs clearance and from there to a waiting helicopter, around 1.00 p.m. to be airlifted to Kilinochchi. Earlier, Customs seized some prohibited items brought to Sri Lanka by the LTTE delegation after attending the Geneva talks. Sri Lanka Army Major arrested with heroin worth Rs. 50 million An Army Major was arrested along with heroin worth 50 million rupees as he was traveling to Colombo from Mannar yesterday morning. Police said the Major, who works in an Army camp near Colombo, had taken the 15 kilogram heron stock from a businessman in Pesalai, Mannar, and planned to hand it over to an underworld drug kingpin in Colombo. Police said he was arrested at a police road block at Murunkan junction on the Mannar-Madawachchiya road. UN says 3,000 flee Sri Lanka war Almost 3,000 people have fled Sri Lanka for India since the start of this year, the United Nations refugee agency says. The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra at Mannar in the north says it has become a transit point for Tamils fleeing the conflict. Escalating violence has left hundreds of people dead. At least eight people were reported killed on Wednesday in a spate of attacks across the north. Our correspondent says security forces are now in an undeclared war with the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. Bomb found in a passenger bus in Colombo A bomb was found in a passenger bus in the Sri Lankan capital, police said today, the same day three people were killed in violence in the rebel-held north The army's bomb disposal squad defused the bomb concealed under a seat of a bus with 25 passengers, police spokesman, Rienzie Perera said. "No harm came, as the driver after being alerted by some passengers drove his vehicle to a nearest police station where the bomb disposal squad defused it," Perera said. Ex-Private, Secy’s car allegedly taken fraudently Police seize car worth 1.5 mn from Mahroof Police yesterday seized a car, valued at 1.5 million rupees, belonging to the former private secretary to Colombo District UNP Parliamentarian Mohamed Mahroof from his premises.The former private secretary had resigned from the post about an year ago and the car was acquired him on the basis that he would repay the cost of the car in monthly instalments. According a statement made by the former private secretary, Mahroof is alleged to have forcibly taken the car from him and kept it hidden in his Colombo 8 residence. Though the former private secretary had been requesting Mahroof to return the car for a number of months, the latter had allegedly refused give the car back. The private secretary had made a complaint to the IGP Chandra Fernando and the Colombo Fraud Bureau was directed to investigate the complaint. Police raided the Parliamentarian’s residence on a search warrant. Two Sri Lanka Police injured in Batticaloa attack Unidentified armed men lobbed hand grenades at Arumuhaththan Kudiyiruppu police sentry post, 16 km north of Batticaloa, in the Tamil-Muslim border area of Eravur, at around 7:15 p.m, Tuesday, seriously injuring two police officers, Eravur police said. The injured officers, M Vilanthalava, 35, and R Ranjith, 40, were first admitted to Eravur hospital, and later were rushed to Batticaloa hospital for treatment, police sources said.Following the incident, the Sri Lanka police indiscriminately fired at residential homes, civil sources said. 2 killed, 3 injured in Jaffna attacks One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper and one civilian supporter of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) were killed, and one SLA soldier and two Sri Lanka Police officers were injured in continuing violence across Jaffna district Wednesday, sources from Jaffna said.Two Police constables attached to Ilavalai Police were injured when the pickup vehicle they were travelling in came under claymore attack along the Periyavilan-Pandatharippu Road at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. At 11:45 a.m. an SLA trooper who was on security duty at the Jaffna-Palaly road near Urumpirai junction came under grenade attack by unknown gunmen. The trooper was seriously injured and was taken to Palaly Military Hospital for treatment. Details of his condition are not available. Meanwhile, unknown gunmen shot dead Philip Mariyanayagam, 56, near Kottady junction in the center of Jaffna town at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. Mariyanayagam, alleged to be a supporter, and who worked for the Sri Lanka Government's trading establishment SATHOSA was riding a bicycle towards Jaffna town when the gunmen struck from behind and escaped, according to sources in Jaffna. An SLA soldier engaged in security duties was shot dead by unknown gunmen near Sattanathar temple Kalviyankadu junction along Jaffna-Point Pedro road at 1:35 p.m.. His body has been taken to the Palay Military Hospital, sources in Jaffna said. ‘Corrupt arms deal’ probe Presidential Commission seeks assistance from squealers In an unprecedented move, a Presidential Commission, probing corrupt arms deals, is urging serving and retired security forces officers to facilitate the inquiry by passing pertinent information to Commissioners or the Attorney General’s Department. This comes in the backdrop of the Commission receiving some vital information. The Island learns that about half a dozen serving and retired officers appeared before the Commission in camera. The Commission targets corrupt deals between 2000 and 2005. Chairperson of the Commission Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane (Tel. 2325760) and members Nimal Edward Dissanayake (Tel.2437537), Justice Nissanka Kumara Udalagama (Tel.2326230) will receive information. The Attorney General Department’s representative, Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Nawaratna Bandara, too can be contacted on 2424893. The Commission is confident that the public would take advantage of the opportunity to establish direct contact with the Commission. This would allow serving officers to contact the Commission anonymously.The Island learns that the Commission, although empowered to investigate the three services, would leave the probe on an alleged attempt to acquire discarded 30mm British naval guns to the one-man Commission.Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga, a serving Supreme Court Judge is investigating the alleged deal. Already about ten serving and retired officers had appeared before Justice Amaratunga. Both Commissions sit in camera with Edmund Jayasuriya functioning as the Secretary to both. The probe on the Navy is believed to be half way through with the Commission receiving adequate information to go ahead with the investigation. The recently appointed Deputy Defence Secretary Admiral Daya Sandagiri, at the centre of the controversy over the cannon deal is expected to be summoned by the Commission. Sandagiri, a former Navy Chief is under investigation over the alleged deal which was revealed by UNP MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the Premier. Senaratne’s accusation triggered a major clash with the then Defence Minister Tilak Marapone. Home Guard shot dead in Vavuniya Unidentified persons shot and killed homeguard, Vasantha Chandana Seneviratne, 22, at 6:15 a.m, on Wednesday in Mamaduwa, 10 km South East of Vavuniya, and robbed his T56 assault rifle and bullets, Vavuniya police said.Seneviratne joined the armed home guard forces only 4 days ago, said Police sources. 14 June 2006 No further peace initiative from Norway Norway will present no new mediation or peace initiative in the Sri Lanka conflict. This was the statement made by Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere after talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera, who has been on an official visit to Norway. At a press conference following the meeting between the two, Stoere said there would be no new mediation or peace initiative from Norway. The Norwegian Foreign Minister underlined that Norway was no part in the conflict, but only a facilitator for negotiations. Foreign Minister Samaraweera for his part confirmed that the Government of Sri Lanka continues to support the process which aims to achieve a permanent peace treaty for the island state. - But we have achieved nothing. And there are no simple answers, Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister said. He blamed the Tamils and pointed to the fact that the LTTE representatives did not even want to meet with the delegation of the central government in Norway last week. Last week the LTTE broke off a two-day meeting in Oslo which was to have discussed the security of the Nordic Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) which is overseeing the fragile cease fire treaty.Norway has therefore sent a letter to the two sides, where they are asked to in writing to clarify whether or not they stand by the cease fire agreement, and if they want to guarantee security for the Nordic SLMM observers. Foreign Minister Samaraweera on Monday only said that Sri Lanka still wants Norway's help. Where are the eight Tamils from the temple, AI asks Amnesty International has called for urgent action to locate the eight Tamils who went missing on May 6 from a Jaffna Hindu temple where they were spending the night and it has expressed grave concern for their safety.The whereabouts of Rasanayagampillai Sivananthamoorthy, Markandu Pushpakanthan, Kandasamy Parimelalakan, Vaikundavasan Vikunthakumar, Ratnam Thayaruban, Ponnambalam Partheepan, Selvaratnam Sivanantham and Ramachandran Rasakumar still remains a mystery.Following complaints by relatives, members of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Jaffna visited the temple and interviewed more than 50 people living nearby. “More than 25 army personnel had come to the temple for no apparent reason and then left. Later that night, at around 1 am, the residents reported that a vehicle came to the temple and they heard gunshots. Soon afterwards they reportedly saw two army vehicles leaving the temple. At about 4.30 am, two more vehicles arrived and the frightened local people were afraid, and waited until daylight before they went to the temple to see what had happened. When they arrived at the temple at 6 am, they found some army personnel there, who when they saw the villagers left immediately in an army truck and an armoured vehicle. They drove in the direction of Varany army camp, the headquarters of 52 Brigade, which is 3 km from the Seerani Kelakkai temple,” AI quoted witnesses as saying. Amnesty said local residents had alleged that the eight young men were taken away by the army while the HRC team who inspected the site found bloodstains; several spent cartridges, some identity cards and discarded clothes lying on the ground. One of the men, Rasanyagampillai Sivananthamoorthy, is the general secretary of the Temple Trustee Management Board, while Markandu Pushpakanthan is a member of the Board. After their relatives complained, the local magistrate reportedly told the police at Kodikamam, a town near Chavakachcheri, to conduct investigations into the "disappearance" of the eight men, Amnesty added. Government response to five questions today - Rambukwella The Government will hand over its response to Norway's five questions today, Plan Implementation Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. The questions sought clarification vis-a-vis matters relating to the Ceasefire Agreement and modalities of monitoring activities.The Minister asserted that the responses to the five questions will most likely be positive. "We have no reason to disagree or to object to any of the issues the facilitator has raised," he said, Asked to comment on a Defence Ministry website report on the Government's invitation to the LTTE for direct talks he said the invitation shows the Government's willingness to have negotiations option open. "We are even willing to have direct talks with the LTTE, or even to get assistance form the other member of Co-Chairs to get the talks started," he said. "The Government is ready to have direct talks with LTTE despite the unpleasant experience in Oslo last week," the website quoted Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Peace Secretariat chief as saying.Rambukwella added that the Government has another issue to raise with Norway. "What we are concerned about is the facilitator's request to grant diplomatic immunity to the truce monitors. The request went both to the Government and to the LTTE. It is only a sovereign Government that can provide diplomatic immunity and not the LTTE," he said. However Keheliya stressed the issue of national security was non- negotiable. "The option of negotiations is still open, but even for the sake of resuming talks we are not going to undertake any action that might be detrimental to national security," the Minister said. Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry website threw suspicions over the LTTE's motives behind the Norwegian tour in Europe. "It might have been for other reasons the LTTE wanted to visit Oslo," the website said Sri Lanka appoints think tank to draft final solution to separatist conflict Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed a think tank to assist him in formulating a draft framework towards a final solution to the country's long drawn-out separatist armed conflict, presidential secretariat sources said Monday. A 12-member think tank comprising of constitutional legal experts are to draw from the outcomes of the deliberations of an all political party parley convened by the president, the sources added. The think tank is to be headed by H. L. De Silva, an eminent civil and constitutional lawyer with wide experience in dealing with the separatist armed conflict waged by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels. Rajapakse from the inception of his presidential term has strived to reach an all political party consensus on the final outcome of the Norwegian backed peace process with the Tiger rebels. The appointment of the legal think tank comes amid the breakdown of last week's Oslo talks between the Tigers and the government. The Tigers for the second time within six weeks refused to engage the government in direct talks throwing into uncertainty the ongoing ceasefire and the fragile peace process.An upsurge of violence since December last year has accounted for deaths of over 700 people. Both sides accuse the other of perpetrating violence. The international community has faulted both sides for the violence and urges quick return to the negotiating table. Claymore attack averted in Vanni, 3 dead in gunfire Members of Tamil auxilliary brigade on a road clearing patrol on Nedunkerni road, between Nainamadu and Puliyankulam, inside the Liberation Tigers controlled area intercepted a team of Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) troopers of the Sri Lanka Army, who were fixing 3 Claymore mines. Two Tamil auxilliaries and an SLA soldier were killed when both exchanged gunfire. At least one bag with "SLA" mark was recovered from the attackers, according to the video footage released by the National Television of Tamileelam (NTT). The SLA soldier killed was clad in LTTE uniform. The clash took place around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials inspected the clash site and the body of the DPU trooper who was killed in the firefight. Commander Velevan of the LTTE explained the details of the DPU planned Claymore attack that was averted. The auxilliaries seized tools and ammunition used by the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) troops of the the Sri Lanka Army. LRRP is also known as Deep Penetration Unit. Bomb hoax shuts down Colombo roads A section of Colombo city was closed down for some time following a bomb hoax at a state bank in Kollupitiya. Police said that traffic was held up along the Galle road after an anonymous caller had warned of a bomb at the National Savings Bank in the heart of Kollupitiya junction. Explosives experts searched the entire building for a possible bomb but found nothing, police said. Last month the authorities shut down the central section of Colombo city following similar fears of a car bomb attack. 2 Trains Collide in Sri Lanka ; 42 Hurt Two trains collided in southern Sri Lanka on Tuesday, leaving at least 42 passengers injured, police and hospital officials said. The accident occurred at a railroad station in Kalutara, a town about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the capital, Colombo, said police spokesman Rienzie Perera. Perera said a passenger train had crashed into back of another commuter train halted at the station during busy office hours. Some 42 passengers were taken to the region's main government hospital, and many of them had suffered minor injuries, a spokesman said on condition of anonymity due to policy. Sri Lanka's aging railway system, introduced by its former British colonial rulers, is used daily by tens of thousands of office workers and tourists. The service has become largely inefficient without proper maintenance and management, and due to frequent strikes by railway employees. Two SLA soldiers injured in grenade attack in Trincomalee Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured when unidentified men lobbed a grenade at a sentry post at Bharathipuram, a suburb of Trincomalee town, aroun 8 a.m., Tuesday morning, police sources said. The injured soldiers were admitted at the Trincomalee general hospital, the sources said.SLA soldiers fired random after the grenade attack. The troops conducted a cordon and search operation in the surrounding area. Tamils residing near the blast site and those who were travelling through Bharathipuram were assaulted by SLA soldiers, civil sources in the area said.Bharathipuram is a Tamil settlement along the Trincomalee-Anuradhapuram road. It borders Mihindupura, a Sinhalese settlement. SLMC slams Fowzie The Sri Lanka Mulsim Congress (SLMC) slammed Minister A.H.M. Fowzie for his recent statement accusing SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem of trying to join the Government, to destabilize it, as he did in 2001. SLMC Colombo District Organizer and Provincial Councillor Shafeek Rajabdeen said the Minister was making these statements to gain popularity among the Sinhalese. Mr. Rajabdeen said it was President Rajapaksa who had invited Mr. Hakeem to join the Government. Hence, the Minister should take the matter up with him. Mr. Rajabdeen stressed this point during the swearing-in ceremony of four SLMC members elected to the Colombo Municipal Council. UNP opts out of APC advisory comm The fate of the All Party Conference (APC) hung in the balance yesterday with the UNP deciding not to appoint a representative to the committee tasked with formulating proposals for the devolution of power.The UNP has decided instead to ask President Mahinda Rajapakse to set out the position of his government first including the position on the Oslo Communiqué and the Tokyo Declaration.President Mahinda Rajapakse at the last session of the APC announced the appointment of a committee representing all parties to draft a devolution package as a solution to the ethnic crisis.Head, Government Peace Secretariat, Palitha Kohona last week wrote to all political parties represented at the APC to nominate one member to the committee. The President also appointed an advisory team for the committee comprising H. L. De Silva, Faiz Mustapha, R.K.W. Goonasekera, Gomin Dayasiri, Sivaji Felix, T.R. Perera, Jayampathi Wickremaratne, Ashok Gunawardene, K.H.J. Wijedasa, Dharmasiri Peiris, Malkanthi Wickremesinghe and Rohana Perera.The UNP political affairs committee, which met yesterday, however decided not to participate in the committee on the basis the party’s position has already been announced.The UNP is to also inform the President, the party is ready to participate in any discussion on the devolution of power once he sets out the government position. Tamil youth shot dead in Chenkalady Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a Tamil youth, Ponniah Pulendiran, 20, around 9.30 p.m, Monday at Ammanpuram in Kumaraveliyar village, Chenkalady, 15 km Northwest of Batticaloa, Eravur Police said. Pulendtran was with his parents when the gunmen entered the house, forced him out of the house before shooting him in close range, his parents said.An armed group previously abducted Pulendran and held him for around 7 months before releasing him 3 months ago. After release the Pulendran was working as a mason, sources said.Police took the body to Eravur Hospital for post-mortem examination and after inquires has released the body to his relatives. TRF renews threat of attacks The Tamil Resurgence Force last week warned that it would intensify attacks against the armed forces and the EPDP."We reduced our actions and our attacks due to the GCE A-Level examinations.Now that the exams are coming to an end, we would be intensifying our attacks on the military and EPDP in a few days’ time.And we request the public not to unnecessarily move around on the roads and also to avoid any movements close to military installations," the TRF said in a statement released over the weekend in Jaffna. The shadowy TRF has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the past and says that it consists of armed civilians and has no affiliations to the LTTE.In December it wrote to the SLMM stating that it had 250 armed members in the Jaffna peninsula. The LTTE too claimed that it does not have any direct links with the TRF.However the Tigers continue to give basic military training to civilians in areas under their control. Two weeks ago 10,000 civilians received training in Mullaitivu.The military maintains that the TRF is a Tiger front and consists of LTTE cadres.Meanwhile as the talks in Oslo collapsed, Tiger rhetoric heightened in the north-east. LTTE Trincomalee military leader Sornam said last week that the Tigers were awaiting their leader’s signal to launch attacks. President should take the plunge-The Daily Mirror(opinion) If President Mahinda Rajapaksa is genuinely interested in bringing in a new Constitution with adequate powers of devolution, then he better make sure that the legal team tasked with the job of drafting the document comprises individuals who are for a solution accepted to all communities.The composition of the twelve member committee casts doubts over the seriousness of the exercise and gives rise to fears whether this too is just another futile move that would fall very short of addressing the grievances of the minorities.Of course the list includes persons like Jayampathy Wickramaratne who was very much involved in the work of the 1997 and 2000 draft Constitutions which had quasi federal features. The likes of R.K.W. Gunasekara, Faiz Musthapha and several others on the team too are known as moderates. But it is likely that those who are strongly holding on to the unitary character of the State, dominating the discussions given their preeminence and the respect they command as a result. They are of course fine lawyers, the best we have in the legal sphere.But the question is how prudent is the decision to have them on a team that is supposed to draft a framework that demands a dilution of unitary features in order to address the core issues of the conflict?At least three names in the team are identified as ones who passionately believe that the centre should not concede powers beyond the 13th amendment and chances are that this die-hard pro-unitary group dominating the Constitution making process. What is ironical about the whole episode is that, it had come at a time when the war-weary Sinhala Buddhist constituency is gradually making up its mind to give up the unitary character and adopt semi-federal features. Of course not necessarily out of conviction but largely with the intention of seeing an end to the conflict.While the local issues ruled the local polls, still, the resounding mandate for Rajapaksa, despite war fears and the mediocre performance of the JVP, are largely read as signs of an electorate that is tilting towards moderation.Even otherwise the change in the mindset of the average Sinhala-Buddhist has become quite obvious especially with the realization the degree of damage that another war can bring to life and property. With this being the case what the President would really have done was to exploit the opportunity to include more moderates in the team to make sure that the draft would not be a one that would be out rightly rejected by even moderate politicians of minority communities.After all the President has been assured of some breathing space by the voters who brought him into power and the United National Party (UNP) which sat for some 43 meetings with the People’s Alliance in 2000 will find it difficult to back track on what they had already agreed upon. In the absence of the need for a preposterous transitional provision clause which spoiled the prospects of the 2000 draft Constitution evolving into a by-partisan product, President Rajapaksa is likely to get the support of the main opposition at least as long as Ranil Wickremesinghe remains the leader of the UNP.And this is notwithstanding the bad blood over the CMC and the acrimony over the moves to fish MPs.The twelve member committee appointed by the President is supposed to work with the representatives nominated by the parties that attend the All Party Conference (APC). It is on record that the purpose is to make the process more inclusive with the participation and inputs from other parties. Just before leaving for the Oslo talks which turned out to be a non-starter, LTTE Peace Secretariat Chief S. Pulithevan declared that the All Party Conference initiative by President Mahinda Rajapakse was a futile exercise.History, Pulithevan maintained, shows that APCs produce “zero results”. All Party Conferences in the past have produced little results. However past records do not necessarily predict future and one cannot rule out that Pulithevan made the statement with an ulterior motive – to discourage the government from going ahead with the APC proceedings.His comments came at a time when there is a general consensus within the government ranks that bringing in a new constitution with quasi or full federal features and getting it endorsed by India, US, EU and Japan, is the best option available for President Rajapakse. A southern consensus, in the form of an agreement on a new Constitution with wide ranging devolution powers, will definitely put the LTTE - which has been questioning government’s commitment on assuring on minority rights - on the guard. So will be Norway, which through its last week’s diatribes on the EU for the LTTE ban, has confirmed initial doubts of its strategies to block the ban while projecting itself as the most pacifist nation on earth.The European Union which banned the LTTE after a careful monitoring of the latter’s acts of violence, including suicide missions, surely must be embarrassed by Norway’s outburst. The unexpected tirade against EU has gone to question Norway’s bona fides as a democracy and its sense of collective responsibility as a peace co-chair which also includes EU and also the US which played a pivotal role in pushing for the ban.Given the rather apathetic attitude most parties have towards on-again off again APC deliberations, whether President’s move to set up an advisory council to draft a new Constitution would work out the way the optimists want, is largely dependent on the enthusiasm of president himself has on the move.How keen is President Rajapakse in introducing a more minority-friendly Constitution which will definitely see a dilution of many powers which are now with the centre? The President’s attribution of the failure of the previous attempts to the failure to make the Constitution making process an inclusive one, indicates, that he is alive to the inherent dangers that threaten to jeopardize prospects of peace.But the President’s declaration that he is not bound by the agreements reached during the previous regimes as to what exactly the Constitutional model should be, one may say denotes a degree of political immaturity. The President’s indecisiveness as to what exactly the model should be has been read by many, especially by a section of the international community, as a reluctance to budge an inch from the unitary model. It is likely that this totally unwarranted rhetoric was made with the intention of appeasing a nationalist constituency and the JVP, whose support the president still thinks he badly needs.If the Constitution making process takes the right turn there would definitely come a time that the government has to lock horns with the JVP, unless the latter changes its stand on the character of State.The JVP sources confirm reports of a gradual transformation in the party hierarchy on the model of the Constitution. But this still would be inadequate to meet the demands of the conflict.On the other hand, if president’s worry is numbers in parliament he can always go back to the electorate and get a fresh mandate for the government. Going by the JVP performance at the local polls- the first election it contested on its own after some time - whipping up nationalism and sabotaging the attempts to address the North and East conflict as it did in 2000, would not be easy for the JVP this time.Therefore even if he may be tempted, President Rajapakse should not attempt a balancing act - to appease the minorities as a minority-friendly leader through the All Party initiative while trying to appeal to the majority by not claiming ownership to the final document.The majority surely has made up its mind and the minorities have waited for too long.It is time for the President to make up his mind and take the plunge. 13 June 2006 'No talks' on self-determination Oslo Communiqué Samaraweera’s visit comes days after the LTTE refused to speak to the government delegation, on the grounds that they were not informed of tripartite talks.He was responding to the Oslo Communiqué issued on Friday by the LTTE reaffirming its policy of finding a solution “based on their right to self-determination”.The Tigers also questioned the government's committment to negoatiations in Oslo as the delegation was described as "third -level" by the government itself.But the minister accused the Tigers of deliberately trying not to engage in talks. “The LTTE themselves are the main impediment for the progress of the peace process. For decades, LTTE has repeatedly indicated that they are not willing to find a negotiated settlement,” he told bbcsinhala.com.He rejected accusations by the international community that the Government is also responsible by not living up to the pledge to disarm paramilitary groups including Karuna group.“Karuna faction is an internal matter of the LTTE. If Mr. Thamilselvan breaks away the LTTE would then ask us to disarm Thamilselvan, too”.He stressed that the Government has no dealings with the Karuna faction. Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka prepare for war Tamil rebels are preparing for a war with the Sri Lankan government, insisting that the stalled peace process cannot solve ethnicity-based differences. The Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam are beefing up bunkers and check points in areas under their control, The Asian Age newspaper reported Monday."People coming from LTTE areas have seen sandbags being piled up and frontline positions being strengthened," said a news report quoting a resident of rebel-controlled Batticaloa. He said Tigers are telling people that the internationally brokered peace process would not achieve anything and that war is the only solution."The fear is real. Everyone here thinks there is going to be a war," said another resident. Following the collapse of peace talks last week on the issue of the role of Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission, many residents of rebel-held regions anticipate a possible war. The chances of an imminent war gained ground after Norway, the facilitator of the Sri Lankan peace process, blamed Tigers for the impasse and asked the government to clarify if they wanted to abide by a 2002 truce or not. Families in the northern district of Jaffna have started hoarding essential commodities such as sugar and fuel to survive during conflict. PMK wants MP's team to visit Sri Lanka PMK, a constituent of the ruling UPA at the Centre, today demanded that the government should depute an all-party MPs team to Sri Lanka to have a 'first hand knowledge' of the situation in the island republic.Blaming the Sri Lankan government for the failure of the Norwegian-brokered peace talks with LTTE, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, in a statement, said "the people here are in dark about the things happening there". The team should also visit North-eastern Sri Lanka to know the plight of Tamils there, he said. He said it was 'unfortunate' that countries, which were making a hue and cry over human rights violations else where, were "silent on such violations in Sri Lanka". "India cannot be like that countries. It should help Sri Lankan Tamils, by stopping the human rights violations. India should take intiative to fulfill aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils, like it did in Nepal", he said. Tamil Nadu Government should take efforts to provide all facilities in refugee camps, besides increasing the substenance allowance given to the refugees, he urged. JVP pushes for Norway’s ouster The JVP is to intensify its pressure on the government to remove Norway from its role as peace facilitator, following the recent failed talks in Oslo.Party’s Gampaha district MP Vijitha Herath said yesterday that the Norwegians should apologise to the Sri Lankan government for what happened in Oslo recently, where the LTTE delegation refused to talk to a lower-rank government delegation.Mr. Herath said they would criticize Norway’s presence in the country’s peace process in their series of seminars ‘Maubima Anature’, meaning ‘motherland in danger’. The party has already conducted a few seminars, and will continue with the programme at district level this month. The last seminar is expected to be held on June 29. “The Tiger delegation had gone to Oslo with a prepared document to be release after the talks. That is to attribute the present fragile situation in the peace process to the government’s failure,” he said. One killed in attack in Sri Lanka Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels detonated an anti-personnel mine near the northern town of Vavuniya on Monday, killing one soldier and wounding three civilians.The Claymore mine attack targeted a group of soldiers on foot patrol informed Gamini Silva, Deputy Inspector General of Police. A civilian bus that was passing by was also hit by the blast, and three of the civilian passengers were wounded.Silva said that the attack bore the hallmark of the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. Vavuniya North DS wounded, driver killed in Claymore attack Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit exploded a Claymore mine seriously wounding the driver of the vehicle in which Vavuniya North Divisional Secretary was riding in the LTTE controlled Mathiyamadu village. The driver, N. Balasingam, seriously wounded in the attack and rushed to Vavuniya hospital, succumbed to his wounds while being transferred to Anuradhapura hospital, medical sources said. The Divisional Secretary, Mr. Pathmanathan, was wounded.Meanwhile, a Claymore attack targeted devotees traveling to Vatrapalai temple festival on Nedunkerny Mulliavalai Road around 12:50 p.m. Monday. No casualties were reported.The escalating Sri Lankan penetration attacks have targeted civilian travellers inside LTTE controlled territory. EU slams LTTE demand for removal of SLMM monitors The European Union yesterday expressed disappointment over the LTTE using the EU ban as an excuse to disrupt the Oslo talks despite the 25-member block assuring continued dialogue and assistance on the peace front.“We expected at least some dialogue, but by saying it doesn’t want to talk, the LTTE is not looking to the future. We are interested in maintaining a dialogue. We told this to the LTTE peace secretariat prior to the EU ban and even after the ban was imposed,” the Netherlands Ambassador Reynout S. Van Dijk told the Daily Mirror. “The EU ban is not for the two parties to play table tennis,” the Ambassador stressed. “We hoped the EU would be judged on its merits. We acknowledged Tamil grievances would be addressed. Our policy is clear on the government as well,” Mr. van Dijk said.The Netherlands currently holds the rotating Presidency of the EU and speaking on behalf of the EU, Mr. van Dijk noted the ban did not prevent direct contacts with the LTTE, stressing that the banning of the LTTE is not a “dead end treaty.” As a co-chair to the peace process the US has no direct contacts with the rebels but Mr. Van Dijk explained that the EU ban does not severe contacts with the LTTE.“There are different grounds how the listing is executed. The EU ban falls under the UN resolution. It curtails financing but does not hamper positive steps. We are interested continuing dialogue for aid and by way of support in the SLMM,” he added. LTTE delegation arrives in Switzerland More than two hundred Swiss Tamils carrying Tamileelam National flag and flags of their adopted country Switzerland, welcomed the Liberation Tigers delegation at the Zurich Airport at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, Tamil sources in Swiss capital said. The LTTE delegation completed discussions with the Norwegian facilitators and with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Friday and met with the LTTE's Constitutional Affairs Committee Saturday. The non-cabinet level Sri Lanka delegation left Oslo mid-day Thursday after refusing to meet with a similar level group from the LTTE delegation. Members of the Swiss Tamil Youth Organization presented bouquet of flowers to the Senior LTTE leaders led by Head of LTTE Political Wing, S.P. Thamilchelvan. Head of Tamileelam Police, P Nadesan, Director of LTTE Peace Secretariat, Puleedevan and Translator George accompanied Mr Thamilchelvan. Legal Advisor, V Rudrakumar returned to the US Sunday.The Swiss Tamils at the airport told the LTTE members that they share in the suffering and misery of NorthEast Tamils, and asked the delegation to carry their messages of support and affection to the people in the NorthEast. Govt undecided on transport to Kilinochchi for returning Tiger team Villagers flee as SLA erects camp in Sirukandal, Mannar More than one hundred Tamil families fled from the village of Pariharakandal when more than five hundred soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) entered the village of Sirukandal, located a mile away from Pariharakandal, Monday morning and established a camp inside an area used as cemetery, civil society sources in Mannar said. By noon the entire village of Sirukandal was deserted and all small shops in the village closed, sources said. Sirukandal village is located along Murunkan-Arippu road, about 3 km from Mannar town, sources said. Meanwhile, another group of SLA soldiers entered Arippu village through Nanattan-Achchankulam road along the banks of Aruvi Aru Monday morning. About two hundred families in the village fled and sought refuge in the St.Mary's Church in the area. Later around 11 a.m. the villagers returned to their houses. However heads of the fisher families stayed behind without going out to sea being afraid to leave their families alone, sources said. Mr.Iruthayarajah alias Kannan, 34, and father of one child is reported missing since June 7 after he left his village Pallimunai to Mannar town to buy his provision, according to a complaint lodged with the Mannar regional Office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka by his relatives on Monday morning, sources said. NGO official shot, injured in Jaffna A senior member of the Jaffna branch of the White Pigeon, a non government organization, was shot and seriously injured by unidentified armed men at his house in Moolai in the Jaffna peninsula, around 7 p.m., Monday. Thangarasa Mukunthan, 41, was former member of the Jaffna Municipal Council. He was rushed to Jaffna teaching hospital.White Pigeon is an organization which conducts awareness programmes among the masses about landmine danger, and assists the disabled by supplying tools and materials needed for them to sustain themselves on their own by designing self employed projects. LTTE political official sniped and killed in Batticaloa A Sri Lanka Army sniper shot and killed Batticaloa Kudumbimalai Political Coordinator Ramanitharan in Murakkoddanchenai Saturday morning around 9:45 a.m., LTTE's Batticaloa District Political Head Daya Mohan said. The incident took place at Thihiliveddai, a hamlet across the lagoon from Santhiveli, about 24 kilometers north of Batticaloa. The Sri Lanka Army sniper had targeted the LTTE official from the SLA controlled area beyond the lagoon, from Murakkoddanchenai.Captian Ramanitharan (Vadivel Kangatharan), 28, is from Thihiliveddai.Ramanitharan's body was taken in procession from Thihiliveddai to the burial site at Tharavai Heroes' cemetary and burried with military honours Sunday evening, Daya Mohan said. 12 June 2006 More killings in the NE A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier has been shot dead in the eastern district of Batticaloa. The soldier was killed in a sniper attack on Sunday evening at Vavunatheevu forward defence line.Monitors from Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) have begun investigations after receiving a formal complaint from the SLA.In a separate incident, police said soldiers shot dead a member of Tamil Tigers in a shooting incident at Bandarikulam, Vavuniya.They said the soldiers have retaliated as two LTTE members tried to open fire at them. The other LTTE cadre has fled away. Violence in the North Police found a hand grenade, a 9mm pistol, live bullets and a national identity card at the scene of the shooting.International truce monitors were present while police searched the body.Vavuniya district judge M Ilanchelian conducted the magistrate investigation.LTTE said two civilians were killed in a claymore bomb attack in Paleipanai in rebel-held territory.In Jaffna, police said nine civilians sustained injuries in a hand grenade attack in Thirulaveli. Kantale In Kantale, officials said two Muslim youths killed on Saturday in Sumbiyaru jungle were shot at close range by a T56 machine gun.The youths were shot at the jungle as they went to sketch firewood in an area considered to be a hideout for Tamil Tigers.Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Kalinga Silva, conducted the post-mortem.Police said the Tamil Tigers might have suspected youths were members of the rival group as they have entered the jungle few yards ahead of the bull carts. LTTE's Constitutional Affairs Committee meets in Oslo The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegation led by its Political Head, S.P. Thamilchelvan met in Oslo with legal experts from the Tamil diaspora, Saturday, Tamil sources from Oslo said. The discussions focussed on the status quo between the Sri Lankan and the LTTE forces, including the territorial sea rights, and formulated recommendations to the LTTE leadership on the future course of action on these matters. Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) during Friday's meeting had confirmed SLMM's position on sea-activities that officials of the SLMM will not travel on board the Sri Lankan vessels until the sea dispute is resolved between the parties. Liberation Tigers Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan, chaired the sessions that began at 9:30 a.m. and concluded at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.Asked to comment on the outcome of the Jevnaker meetings on Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission related issues, the LTTE Political Head said that the truce monitors will not travel on board the Sri Lankan vessels till the dispute related to sea rights is resolved between the parties to the Ceasefire Agreement.Commenting further, Mr. Thamilchelvan said that the Tamil leadership was firm on "principled issues.""Status quo between the Sri Lankan and our forces on all levels must be maintained as of the date we entered the Ceasefire Agreement," Thamilchelvan said. "Similarly, on the political front and in any engagement between the parties to the CFA, the parity of status has to be respected and maintained," he said."We have also communicated our position with regards to the officials of EU Member States participating in any formal engagement that affects the Liberation Tigers," LTTE's Political Head added.Asked about the moves to strengthen the SLMM, Thamilchelvan said, "LTTE leadership is of the view that the key issues I articulated above need to be addressed and fundamentals that form the basis for these disputes need to be established before we takeup other secondary issues."Director of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat, S. Puleedevan said that "we have to first set a fundamentally correct framework for the monitoring effort before we discuss the numbers of monitors." "You have to look at the pattern of violence." "If we look at the graph of number of civilian casualties, LTTE casualties and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces casulties, and observe the pattern of escalation after Geneva I, numbers have already exceeded the resources currently available with the SLMM monitors. More importantly, increasing the numbers of Monitors is unlikely to result in reduction of violence," LTTE's Director of Peace Secretariat said.Mr. V. Rudrakumaran, the New York based attorney, said the Constitutional Affairs Committee "explored future course of actions." He did not reveal details to the media. The Constitutional affairs committee includes Mr. Siva Pasupathy, former Attorney General of Sri Lanka, Prof. Ramasamy Palanisamy, former professor of politics at the University of Malaysia, currently visiting academic at the University of Kassel in Germany and at the Institute for South-east Asian Studies in Singapore and Dr. Manuelpillai Paul Dominic, Professor of Law, University of Sydney, Australia.Several Tamil Diaspora experts took part in sessions of the Constititutional Affairs Committee meetings at Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel Conference hall in Oslo, Saturday.LTTE's Constitutional Affairs Committee was instrumental in working out the blueprint of the LTTE's proposals for an Interim Administration for the Northeast, the ISGA, submitted by the Liberation Tigers on November 01 2003.The Tigers Saturday released "Oslo Communique," stating their political stand. Sri Lankan military recovers powerful anti-personnel mine in Tamil north Sri Lanka's military said it averted a deadly strike on its forces Sunday when a team recovered a powerful anti-personnel mine from a road in the Tamil-majority Jaffna Peninsula that was to be used by a military convoy."Our advanced patrol team found this Claymore mine which was very powerful," military spokesman, Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. The mine, which could have been detonated by remote control, weighed 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and was capable of inflicting damage and deaths, he said. Samarasinghe did not speculate on who may have planted the mine, but the explosive devices are a favored weapon of Tamil Tiger separatist rebels, who have been fighting the government for over 20 years for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east.The mine was planted in northern Jaffna Peninsula, Samarasinghe said.Jaffna is the cultural and traditional home of Sri Lanka's minority Tamils. The military holds towns in the peninsula while the rebels are in control of villages and jungles.Separately, the rebels accused the military of exploding a Claymore mine early Sunday that killed two Tamil civilians inside rebel-controlled areas in northern Vavuniya, south of Jaffna, according to the pro-rebel TamilNet Web site. Samarasinghe denied the army's involvement.Several civilians have recently been killed in unexplained circumstances with the government and the rebels blaming each other.Sri Lanka's civil war received a respite in 2002 when Norway brokered a cease-fire. But the truce has come under serious strain in recent months because of increasing violence.On Thursday, proposed direct talks in Oslo, Norway between government and rebel representatives failed after the insurgents refused to meet with government officials.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels have fought the government since 1983 to create a separate state for Tamils, accusing the majority Sinhalese of discrimination.More than 65,000 people were killed in the conflict before the truce. Foreign Minister on official visit to Europe Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will visit Norway and Finland for bilateral meeting a next week. In Norway, the Minister will meet his counterpart, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stor. Meetings are also likely to be held with other Ministers of the Norwegian government where issues of varying bilateral interest to the two countries will be discussed. Minister Samaraweera will also receive an audience with the King of Norway, King Harald V, at the Royal Palace, and call on Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. A business/investment promotion seminar is scheduled at Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). The Foreign Minister will thereafter visit Finland, where he will meet with the Foreign Minister Erkki Tumioja of Finland, and hold bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest to the two countries. The visit to Finland becomes important in the context of Finland assuming presidency of the EU from the 1st of July this year. Minister Samaraweera is also expected to interact with sections of the Sri Lankan disapora in both Norway and Finland. These are the first visits by a Foreign Minister under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government to the Nordic countries. It is expected that these visits will give new impetus to Sri Lanka's bilateral relations with Norway and Finland. In between the two visits, Minister Samaraweera will be in London to participate in a series of promotional events titled "Refreshingly Sri Lanka", commencing on 17th June.These promotional events are part of the cultural diplomacy initiative of the Government to showcase Sri Lanka overseas, in all its aspects. Senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ports and Aviation and the Board of Investment will accompany the Foreign Minister. Shortage of Tamil officers at Education Ministry Sri Lanka has 40,000 child prostitutes The National Child Protection Authority revealed shocking statistics, quoting the UNICEF and ILO, that Sri Lanka has nearly 40,000 child prostitutes in the country while 5,000 to 30,000 Sri Lankan boys are used by Western paedophile sex tourists, as the world celebrates day against child labour today.Nearly 10,000 to 12,000 children from rural areas are trafficked and prostituted to paedophiles by organised crime groups, according to the statistics of UNICEF and the ILO.Though exact numbers are not available with any of the local organisations which function for the protection of child rights, ILO indicates that Sri Lanka has more than 100,000 children working as domestic aids. The government celebrating the Day on June 7, five days in advance, admitted that no nationwide surveys on child labour had been done in Sri Lanka since 1999 and said some qualitative research points to the fact that there are children trapped in hazardous forms of child labour such as child domestic labour, the fireworks industry, in the informal sector construction industry, motor garages, small business establishments, shops, etc. “Parliament has passed legislation to give effect to immediately eliminate the worst forms of child labour in keeping with commitments made to implement ILO Convention 182 on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour,” it said in the message issued on June 7 marking the World Day Against Child Labour. Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Padmini Wetthawa, said the plight of Sri Lankan children was in a dire situation as the number of children being trafficked and being forcibly recruited as child soldiers to the LTTE was rising rapidly despite having various awareness programmes.“This year which was marked as the Children’s Year by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, both Governmental and Non Governmental Organisations should genuinely pay their attention to address the child soldiers’ issue when the whole world is concentrating on combating child labour,” she noted. “Children are often employed and exploited because, compared to adults, they are more vulnerable, cheaper to hire and are less likely to demand higher wages or better working conditions. Some employers falsely argue that children are particularly suited to certain types of work because of their small size and "nimble fingers",” said Ms. Wetthawa.The use of children for alcohol and drug trafficking is a serious problem while the authorities are yet to crack the countrywide network, which deals with child trafficking and prostitution. "No one actually knows the correct number of child prostitutes and children involved in trafficking," said NCPA official adding that ground research was yet to be done on these subjects. The NCPA records a reduction in child labour of 10 to 15 fold following the intensified action by authorities and a wide media campaign against domestic child labour. "Using children as domestic servants has become a taboo today following the media awareness campaign," he added. Accordingly, an unofficial survey conducted by the ILO, showed that nearly 35,000 children were now employed mainly at shops and small factories. The situation has reached a climax today where the world identifies Sri Lanka as a paedophiles' paradise. Although the government estimates that there are 2,000 active child prostitutes in the country, private groups claim the number is as high as 40,000. Most of these children, 80% of whom are boys, are sexually exploited in tourist centres and are trafficked around the country to serve the tourists. According to the NCPA, many steps such as improvement of public awareness, poverty elimination among sensitive social groups, strict implementation of legal regulations and training of officials and police officers are essential to eliminate sexual exploitation of children. ‘The End of Child Labour: Together We Can Make It’, the International Labour Organisation made it the theme of this year as the World Day Against Child Labour, 2006 falls today, as a part of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) despite having more than 200 million child labourers all over the world. The World Day against Child Labour was established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2002 to pay more attention to global and local efforts against child labour and highlight the global movement to eliminate the practice, particularly its worst forms. According to the latest report the actual number of child labourers worldwide fell by 11 per cent between 2000 and 2004, from 246 million to 218 million. The report attributed the reduction in child labour to increased political will and awareness and concrete action, particularly in the field of poverty reduction and mass education that has led to a "worldwide movement against child labour".Sri Lanka has ratified all eight human rights conventions of the ILO, including the two-core conventions on Child Labour. The main aim of Convention 182 is to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. It stresses that immediate action is needed to tackle the worst exploitation of children, and that measures taken by the authorities should start as soon as the government is able to follow the ratification. some of the circumstances faced by child labourers are full time work at a very early age, dangerous workplaces, excessive working hours, subjection to psychological, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, obliged to work by circumstances or individuals, limited or no pay, work and life on the streets in bad conditions and inability to escape from the poverty cycle with no access to education. The ILO says that most children work because their families are poor and their labour is necessary for their survival. Discrimination on grounds including gender, race or religion also plays its part in why some children work.Ethnic conflicts too have left many children displaced and abandoned. They are easy prey for 'job placement agents' who pick them up on the streets in villages or even from within the refugee camps, and then sell them for employment, most commonly for domestic work.As well as being a result of poverty, child labour also perpetuates poverty. Many working children do not have the opportunity to go to school and often grow up to be unskilled adults trapped in poorly paid jobs, and in turn will look to their own children to supplement the family's income, the ILO says. Group captain reported over forced kiss An air force medical officer, holding the rank of Group Captain, has been accused of kissing a colleague against her will. The lady officer lodged a complaint with air force authorities and law enforcement officers, security sources said. The suspect kissed her after calling her to his office at the Ratmalana air base on the false pretext of inquiring into a complaint made by a senior officer.The complainant, identified as an Indian national serving the Sri Lankan air force, resisted triggering an attack on her. The suspect grabbed her from her neck and tried to push her out of his office, the sources said.Air force headquarters confirmed the incident. Southern Development Authority Chairman shot dead Southern Development Authority Chairman Danny Hiththetiya was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, in Maakadura, Kamburupitiya, last evening. Mr. Hiththetiya, a former provincial council minister was with some of his friends at the Kamburupitiya junction around 4.50 pm when two gunmen who came on two trail bikes shot at him and fled. He was admitted to Kamburupitiya hospital and later transferred to Matara hospital where he succumbed to his injuries following a surgery. Police believe personal rivalry may have been the cause for the shooting.No one has been arrested over the killing. Kamburupitiya police are investigating. Police responsible for Nawala Nihal’s disappearance - Brother A finger has been pointed at the police over the abduction and disappearance of underworld gang leader Nawala Nihal. Noel, the elder brother of the mobster, who went missing late last month while returning home from Courts, accused the police over the disappearance, a charge vehemently denied by police. The law enforcement officers claimed that Nihal had several powerful enemies and anyone of them could have carried out the hit. In an interview with The Island, Noel accused the police of abducting his brother and several of his colleagues. "They are executing people in Mafia-style operations," he said, while accusing a section of the media of slandering his brother. The media destroyed him, he said. According to police headquarters, Nihal had run the Colombo underworld with an iron fist and is widely believed to be responsible for manipulating other gangs. Noel said that his brother studied at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitya and it was the media that joined hands with the police to write slanderous untruths and paint a dark picture of his deeds."We challenge the police to prove that my brother was involved with the drug trade or carried out any hired killings. I do not know if the police have any complaint, that would stand in any court of law, that he had extorted money. Our’s is a respectable family, my father is a Wickremasinghe hailing from Dadalla in Galle and mother a Miss Fonseka. They brought us up well and educated us in leading schools in Colombo and we never expected to be victimised under Mahinda Chinthanaya. My brother Donald (Nihal) used to help people who had been cheated of large amounts of money, where the police were unable to help. At times he used to use his persuasive power to negotiate and bring an amicable settlement and relief to the victims. At times, some family members of very senior officers in the police department had approached my brother for assistance in recovering such money which led to my brother Nihal being popularly known as ‘God father’ of the poor and downtrodden," he said. He challenged anyone to prove his brother had dealt in drugs or hired killings at any time. Noel said that on May 29, 2006, which was a Monday, his brother Nihal boarded his blue Coloured Suzuki four-wheel drive jeep and a friend named friend Ranjith Gallage, who was a Seaman without a single complaint against him anywhere took the wheel, while one Rohana from Piliyandala sat in the back, at around 1.00 pm they left Hulftsdorph after presenting themselves for a case at the Magistrate Courts. "On their way to our Ancesteral home in Nawala, at Thimbirigasyaya Road my brother had purchased two shirts and come to Narahenpita Junction where he purchased some bottled water, at which time some eyewitness had observed two extra occupants who had got into the vehicle on the way from the courts. Around 2.30 p.m. when they were proceeding along the Nawala Road, adjoining Nawala Bridge on the Narahenpita side, opposite Lanka Tiles, a Defender jeep had cut across the path of the Suzuki Jeep my brother travelled in and before one could say Jack Robinson guntoting persons clad in civils had forcibly taken away Nihal. When my brother was getting late to come home, I made several attempts to contact him on his cellular phone but failed. Around 7 p.m. that same night we received information from reliable sources that Nihal was in the company of the Colombo Crime Division at Dematagoda and we all were relieved by this information, as we believed he was in the safe hands of the police, but subsequently we learnt that this information was false and that Nihal had gone mysteriously missing that was when the abandoned vehicle was recovered around 3 p.m. the next day minus the occupants and now lying at Narahenpita police for release to the owner who was a friend of ours’." Noel said they had nothing against the police or the government and their family had appealed toP Mahinda Rajapakse to grant them justice and have Nihal released.He said they complained to the Welikada police on June 3, 2006. Noel asked why such extra judicial abductions and killings are taking place under a President who formerly carried out campaigns against such killings including the finding of skeletons in the Suriyakanda killings. He said if there were no known persons whom his brother could trust his life with, among the armed abductees riding the Defender Jeep, Nihal would not have surrendered by getting off vehicle and going off with them. "So we believe this to be a job of ‘Police Mafia’ which carried out the killings where headless bodies of youths were recovered from rubber estates and the killings of Police Inspector Nimal Douglas and his wife. He said his brother nor any of the family had ever dealt or dabbled in the drug trade or carried out hired killings, "Pease grant us justice and release them so that the judiciary could deal with them, " he pleaded. Indo-Lanka trade relations slip on oily issues Away from the center stage another controversial drama – Sri Lanka's growing shipments of vanaspati oil to India – has earned nasty reviews with New Delhi taking the unusual step of limiting imports last week, despite a free trade pact between both nations. Vanaspati, a hydrogenated vegetable oil similar to ghee, is a cheaper form of butter fat that was developed in India in the 1930s to use for cooking purposes. This grain-like substance, which looks a bit like an off-white facial scrub, is made out palm oil extracts and is sometimes substituted by a similar product called 'bakery shortening' that is used in the confectionery industry. "While trade between both countries have gone up, there are some bad experiences for Indian companies here like Lanka IOC, then there is the vanaspati issue, which has destabilised domestic industries in India with imports flooding from Sri Lanka," Indian High Commission's First Secretary (Commercial & Economics), Sunjay Sudhir told businessmen at a seminar late May. "Sounds of such news (LIOC) going back to India are scaring other investors," says Sudhir.Despite a free trade pact, Sri Lanka had voluntarily capped exports at 250,000 metric tonnes and restricted the quota to 10 factories. Sudhir says India wants Sri Lanka to cap her vanaspati and bakery shortening exports to 100,000 metric tones. While Sri Lanka was not keen to toe the line, India's sudden import restrictions last week, forced all vanaspati factories – ironically largely Indian owned – to stop production. "It has been decided by all ten units to stop all exports and production with immediate effect until the government of India removes the imposed notification," the Vanaspati Manufacturers Association of Sri Lanka informed Colombo on June 4. Sri Lanka will voice her concerns through its High Commission in New Delhi on the vanaspati issue, Nimal Karunatilake, Deputy Director of Commerce said adding that oily rows are also expected to feature at secretary-level talks under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), scheduled for June 26 to June in Colombo. On the LIOC front, it remains to be seen how the government tackles the problem of pricing retail fuels. "The treasury has said they won't subsidise retail fuel prices anymore, but we are still a state corporation and need government consent to align retail prices with global crude prices," says CPC chief Jaliya Medagama, which controls nearly 70 percent of the local market. CPC Saturday raised retail prices by 5-percent, far below 13.6 percent increase they sought, Medagama said. "It will be interesting to see how LIOC prices their products from next month," muses Medagama, "LIOC will not be competitive if they sell at prices above Ceypetco." Despite all these misgivings India is currently Sri Lanka's third largest export market, with around two billion dollars in bilateral trade, with a trade balance tipped in India's favour. India is also the island's second largest investor, with investments of over 500 million dollars in the island. SLMC Leader, Rauf Hakeem. In an interview with The Sunday Leader Q: What are your reasons for wanting to join the government? A: We are currently holding discussions with the President on how best we could assist in settling the national issue. We have been invited to join the government. We would like to supplement any effort to resolve the conflict undertaken by any government. If we decide to support the government, it would be solely for the purpose of solving the ethnic conflict. That’s the only reason for us. Q: Is the SLMC political leadership yet to reach a final decision in this regard? A: We are still considering the offer. The SLMC’s decision-making body should decide finally, and that decision abides. Q: What specific demands are you making of the government to extend support? A: We have nothing to demand. We have not discussed parochial issues like portfolios. This country is going through a very bad time. Every sector is on the decline and there is civil unrest caused by the prevailing tension. We are sitting on a simmering political volcano. Our wish is to prevent the eruption. Q: The incumbent government is viewed as a nationalistic one. Both the JVP and the JHU would not agree to some of the SLMC demands such as a separate Muslim administrative unit and to make a future settlement to the conflict a tripartite one. How confident are you of making a union with the government beneficial to the Muslim community? A: There are serious political contradictions within the government that they must first resolve before getting the main opposition to agree on any formula. Hostile political actions by the government and the LTTE have also caused serious erosion in confidence both in the local and international spheres. To gain trust, the government should look at a broad consensus. Healthy cohabitation by political parties is a must at this critical juncture. The time calls for serious work based on a national consensus. All parties in the south should try to reach this consensus. The internal contradictions should be done away with first to work out something. Speaking of nationalism, serious ideological impediments to the government are apparent. The President may not have publicly expressed his unhappiness about the JVP’s policies and programmes — yet, he must be wanting to be assisted in some way by the moderate political forces in this country to take the peace making effort forward. This is when moderate political parties could help reduce the political leverage of certain parties that insist on adopting ultra nationalistic stances that prevent progress of talks. Perhaps one reason for the Rajapakse administration to seek support of parties like the SLMC may be this. The SLMC of course cannot be a substitute for the JVP with regard to the numbers in parliament. But it could strengthen the government in a deeper political way. The local authorities elections this April transmitted a significant message in this regard. If the President so wishes, he could go for a general election to improve on his recent local polls victory and the public will that was expressed. In such an event, a grand coalition could be formed to work out a peace formula. The SLFP could also increase the number of seats and thereby be less dependent on other political parties. On the other hand, the President might face the dilemma that in doing so, he would lose credibility as such a course of action would alienate the political allies who assisted him during his presidential campaign and saw to his victory. Yet, the overwhelming mandate received from the south makes President Rajapakse a very attractive preposition to market a compromise formula. It would be the duty of constituent partners like us, if we join forces, to ensure an autonomous arrangement for the community. It is the foremost issue on our agenda — the recognition of a separate Muslim political identity. Q: In the event of joining the government, what assurances could you give the Muslim community of protecting their rights, their distinct political identity and significantly — the right of representation at future rounds of peace talks? A: We would seek utmost assurances in this regard. We are a liberation movement committed to the protection of the Muslim political identity. The government has Muslim allies already and they too have extracted certain pledges from the government in this regard. Therefore, President Rajapakse’s mandate to an extent incorporates some of these commitments. The government is duty bound to respect them. We have already been assured of a separate Muslim delegation in the future. Q: The assurances have been given to the Muslim politicians within the government. You head a separate Muslim political party? A: True. It is of paramount importance that I secure certain positions on behalf of the community if I wish to extend support. This is the foremost Muslim political party here and its identity and responsibility to the community therefore are undisputed. When the President was elected, the SLMC was not in his bandwagon. The benefit of the party’s voter base was therefore lost to the President. The substantial political comfort of having the SLMC with him was also absent. Today, this could be altered. He could seek our help to strengthen his position to move towards a political solution to the ethnic conflict, and having the foremost Muslim political party with him would be an added strength. However, if the assurances that we specifically speak to ensure that Muslim interests are protected are overlooked or compromised for various parochial reasons, joining hands with the government would be a futile exercise. Q: There has been an escalation of violence since the November presidential election particularly in the east, which had even led to clashes between communities. What do you attribute the increasing violence to? A: The escalation of violence is attributed to insincerity on both sides. Admonitions by the Co-Chairs have been ignored and there is patent loss of confidence of the international community. The CFA violations have not only affected the security forces or the LTTE, but the number of civilians killed is twice the number of servicemen killed according to the statement made by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake last Wednesday while extending the state of emergency. It is important to remember that Muslims as a community suffered the most in this conflict. Among the killed or affected civilians, the majority are often Muslims. Displacements, loss of income due to the prevailing security situation and the misery caused by the tsunami have compounded matters for them. Not only us, every community living in the north-east would want to witness the resumption of peace talks- without preconditions. We all know that this is the only way out as we are the ones who have suffered the most. Q: Minister A. H. M. Fowzie has strongly opposed your possible joining of the government calling you a bankrupt politician who will join hands with the UNP on the eve of an election. He has further said that the SLMC dissidents in the government also oppose your entry. It appears that the government’s Muslim leadership is strongly against your joining the government? A: To put the record straight, we have not asked for portfolios. We have not discussed perks and privileges at all. We have only discussed ways of solving the national question. As for Minister Fowzie’s utterances, I do not wish to descend to that level and reply. I choose to ignore the snide remarks. However this needs to be said. As the leader of the Muslim Parliamentarians Forum, he has made a mockery of the Muslim unity we often take pride in. In my humble opinion, he is jeopardising his own exalted position amongst the Muslim community and political leadership by unwarranted outbursts. As for our own community members in government not willing to accept the SLMC within their fold, I can assure them that the government is actively seeking our support. We have been requested to join hands. We are the foremost Muslim political party in the island and provide leadership to the community. We won 11 out of 13 local authorities in Muslim majority areas on our own or in coalition with the UNP and others. However, Minister Fowzie in his own backyard — the CMC could not defeat the UNP despite a large concentration of Muslim voters. The SLMC, which contested independently managed to return four members. These facts should speak for themselves. However if the government doesn’t wish for our support, so be it. We are quite comfortable where we are. We don’t hanker after power or position. If we are to get involved in any administration, such administration should be willing to settle some outstanding issues concerning the community. That we will insist on. The other Muslim political leaders should not stand in our way. Q: What is the possibility of a separate Muslim delegation at a future round of peace talks? A: If we work with the government, this will be a non-negotiable position. It is the government’s call and they should make it good. As for us, we would not mind working with other Muslim political organisations, politicians and activists. That would bring in a better consensus. We are moderates. We believe in dissenting opinions. There is another factor I must mention here. There are 10 Muslim government ministers at present. They have miserably failed to deliver the Muslim votes in their specific electorates in favour of the government. If the SLMC joins, the government will have more credibility in the eyes of the Muslim community. Q: In the event of a resumption of peace talks, in what ways would you like to see the CFA amended? Is it flawed and not catering to the needs of the Muslim Community as your detractors claim? A: There is some lacuna in the CFA. Some provisions are disadvantageous to the Muslim community at large. Those issues were at that time brought to the notice of the facilitators and relevant others by us. In the future, we could aspire to have the anomalies addressed. Q: If the CFA is indeed flawed, weren’t you in a much better position to rectify the anomalies while you served as a member of the UNF government delegation? Why weren’t these interests addressed then? In a sense, aren’t you admitting to your failure to cater to Muslim needs and now attempting to rectify them from a weaker position? A: I agitated those issues at the relevant fora. They have been included in the minutes of the six rounds of peace talks held during the UNP regime. The issues were raised. Because of our efforts only that there was a final Tokyo Declaration which also incorporated some concerns of the Muslims. We also got the opportunity to submit our own proposals. Those critics have overlooked these facts when they move quickly to tongue lash us. Q: How hopeful are you of a resumption of peace talks at this juncture? You just stated that your desire to join the government singularly stems from a need to seek a solution to the conflict? A: I believe that the parties remain uncommitted despite the increasing violence. Whether we could sustain this interest is a different matter. There are problems always and the path to peace is always thorny. Despite everything, I feel all opportunities for peace should be pursued, especially when people feel there is no hope. Q: Following the EU ban, the LTTE has threatened to resume war. Do you think the EU ban would affect the LTTE’s fund raising activities in real terms and that the government would stand to gain from the ban? A: I have always maintained that while US, UK, Canada, India and several other countries have banned the LTTE, the EU countries should be lenient in attitude. This is for no other reason but to keep the doors for peace open. To entice the LTTE for a dialogue by using the diplomatic advantages. On the other hand, the LTTE has continued to engage in violence and blissfully ignored the admonitions of the international community. As for the disadvantages, only the government has a formal economy to deal with. It would lose out on revenue in every sector, mainly tourism and foreign direct investment. These are concerns that do not affect the LTTE, as it has no formal economy to protect. I feel the EU ban has come too early. It should have been an absolute last resort. The EU should have used sharp diplomacy to handle the LTTE generated violence than banning it which firmly shuts the door in more ways than one. 11 June 2006 Norway gives Srilanka and LTTE June 20 deadline Norway last week gave President Mahinda Rajapakse and LTTE Leader Velupillai Pirapaharan two weeks time to respond to five questions on the peace process in writing based on which the international community will decide their future course of action in Sri Lanka. Rajapakse and Pirapaharan were given time until June 20 to respond to the questions which include a written commitment to the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA). The two weeks notice came in a letter written by the Royal Government of Norway to both Rajapakse and Pirapaharan after talks between the government and the LTTE failed to get underway in Oslo on Thursday. The talks to salvage operations of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) failed to get underway after the LTTE insisted on a ministerial delegation from the government side with the government team headed by Peace Secretariat Chief Palitha Kohona refusing to parley with the LTTE if the Tiger delegation was to be headed by his counterpart, S. Puleedevan. The LTTE also refused to permit any monitors from EU member nations to operate in the LTTE-controlled areas in the north east. The SLMM team in Sri Lanka comprises 57 members of whom 37 are from Denmark, Finland and Sweden while only 20 monitors are from the non-EU states of Norway and Iceland. Following this impasse, Norway handed over letters to the government and LTTE delegations seeking written responses from Rajapakse and Pirapaharan to their questions on the peace process. The questions posed are whether the parties stand committed to the CFA, want the SLMM to continue operations under Norwegian facilitation, willingness of the parties to guarantee full security of all monitors, acceptance of an amendment to the CFA dealing with the provision of Nordic monitors and security guarantees for the current SLMM personnel during a six month transition period in the event there is agreement to amend the CFA on the composition of the monitors. Norway's Ambassador in Colombo Hans Brattskar told The Sunday Leader from Oslo on Friday that the decision to seek a written commitment from President Rajapakse and LTTE Leader Pirapaharan was taken to enable the facilitators to make an assessment of the situation. Norway has said the response by the parties to the five questions will determine 'what steps will next have to be taken by the Royal Norwegian Government and the SLMM in close partnership with other actors in the international community.' A diplomatic source told The Sunday Leader on Friday that the letter was the last chance given by the international community to both parties to respond positively if their continued engagement in Sri Lanka was required. Solution to conflict should be based on "right to self-determination": LTTE Here is the full text LTTE’s communiqué in the aftermath of the Oslo meetings The de facto State of Tamil Eelam exercising jurisdiction over 70 percent of the Tamil Homeland, with control over the seas appurtenant there, with its own laws, independent judiciary, police force and full administrative apparatus; the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), being the authentic representative of the Tamil Nation and its sole interlocutor in the current peace process facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government; the LTTE acting as the sole defender and protector of the Tamil Nation, its People and the State institutions with its modern defence forces; Noting that the Tamil Nation's peaceful resistances over a period of three decades by non-violent means were brutally crushed by the Sinhala Nation; Noting that such brutal crushing was due primarily to the absence of balance of power; Noting the reality that in international relations, it is the balance of power which would ensure a democratic relationship between parties to the conflict that would ensure a just and equitable resolution of national conflicts; Noting that the LTTE wants just peace and normalcy for the suffering People of the Tamil Nation declared a unilateral ceasefire December 2000; Noting that when the GoSL dismissed the LTTE's positive gesture in declaring a unilateral ceasefire and initiated the Agnikela battle, the LTTE again demonstrated the balance of power and opened the door for peace once again by declaring a unilateral ceasefire in December 2001, which with the facilitation of the Royal Norwegian Government resulted in the Ceasefire Agreement signed on February 22, 2002; Noting that the Ceasefire Agreement was entered into outside the scope of the Constitution of the Sinhala Nation; Noting that prior to the commencement of peace talks the LTTE repeatedly stated that the immediate goal of the talks was the establishment of an interim administration for the purpose of addressing the urgent humanitarian problems of the people of the northeast, including displaced persons from the High Security Zones; Noting that during the war children were traumatized with the presence of the army in schools and the Ceasefire Agreement required their removal from schools; Noting that the Sinhala political party that won the parliamentary election in 2002 ran on a platform of establishing an interim administration in the northeast; Noting that when the Sinhala political party that represented the GoSL at that time indicated that if it entered into talks on the proposed interim administration it would be removed from power by the Sri Lankan President, the LTTE showed flexibility and dropped its call for an interim administration, because it did not want the negotiating process to break down; Noting that the mechanisms agreed on by the GoSL and the LTTE in lieu of the interim administration of a joint task force and subcommittees did not materialize due to delays and obstruction by the GoSL; Noting that even though the purview of the above mentioned mechanism was the northeast, the LTTE accommodated an equal membership of the GoSL and thereby gave the GoSL veto power on the affairs of the northeast; Noting the reneging of the GoSL pledge to seek funds for the development as equal partner with the LTTE by convening a donor conference in Washington prior to the Tokyo conference, without the participation of the Tamil Nation, and attempting to isolate it in the international arena resulting in the non- participation of the Tamil Nation at the Tokyo Conference of donor countries; Noting the failure of the GoSL armed forces to vacate civilian homes, schools and places of worship in accordance with the CFA and humanitarian laws, thereby preventing many thousands of Tamil refugees and internally displaced persons from returning to their homes in the High Security Zones; Noting the failure of the GoSL to avoid traumatization and mental torture of children in schools by not removing their armed forces' presence from the schools and in fact by increasing their presence in schools with combat-ready weapons and body searches including girls in the presence of male armed personnel; Noting that the objective of the CFA is to preserve the status-quo and the balance of power, and donor countries including the Co-Chairs have assisted the government in providing military equipment and assistance that could result in a shift in the balance of military power; Noting the repeated assertions of the GoSL that it has established a "international safety net" against the LTTE and the International Community's failure to repudiate them; Noting that in view of the above developments, the LTTE suspended talks to make the GoSL move on to the next stage in a meaningful manner and to exert pressure on the GoSL to fulfill the pledges it made; Noting that in three separate incidents at sea in 2003 the lives of 26 LTTE members were taken and the LTTE's merchant vessels were sunk in international waters, and the restraint shown by the LTTE; Noting that several proposals for interim administration made by the GoSL did not meet the legitimate expectations of the Tamil Nation and would have resulted in the same ineffectiveness of the previous mechanisms; Noting the submission of the Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA) by the LTTE incorporating democratic principles, elections, independent judiciary, independent human rights commission, transparency and accountability; Noting that the representatives of the Muslim Community have the right to participate in formulation of their role in the ISGA and protection of the interest of northeastern Muslims in accordance with international human rights norms; Noting that when the GoSL agreed to recommence talks on the basis of the ISGA, the President at the time dissolved parliament on February 7, 2004; Noting the landslide victory of the Tamil National Alliance comprising TULF, ACTC, TELO and EPRLF(Suresh faction), which contended in general election on the mandate that LTTE was the sole representative of the Tamils; Noting the suspension of the facilitation by the Norwegian government due to the confusion and lack of clarity created by the GoSL; Noting the devastation of the island by the tsunami irrespective of race or religion; Noting the international community's commitment to provide relief in a just and equitable manner to the victims of the tsunami in the northeast and south; Noting that the tsunami washed away the livelihood of the Tamils already devastated by the 20-year war; Noting the GoSL's prevention of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's planned humanitarian visit to the tsunami-affected areas in the northeast; Noting the proposal for establishment of a post-tsunami operational management structure (P-TOMS) by the Royal Norwegian Government; Noting the LTTE's flexibility in accepting the P-TOMS and its hopes that the spirit of cooperation would compensate the lack of political power and structural infirmity of the P-TOMS; Noting the scuttling of the P-TOMS by the judicial branch of the GoSL; Noting that as a result of the scuttling by the judiciary, the massive aid pledged by the international community did not reach the tsunami victims of the northeast; Noting that in the island of Sri Lanka, due to pervasive racism, the ethnic majority always constitutes a political majority and has acted in denying the fundamental rights and legitimate aspirations of Tamils; Noting the presidential election held in 2005 between the candidates who ran on the platform of negation of the accepted fundamental principles and the other who failed to implement the pledges made during the peace process and who campaigned on the basis of having engineered a division of the Tamil Nation, as a consequence of which the Tamils exercised their democratic right and boycotted the election; Noting the victory of the candidate who espoused the Sinhala Buddhist hegemony and rejected any kind of power sharing outside the unitary framework; Noting the present president of Sri Lanka's duplicity, for while airing policies of peace to the international community, he has adopted policies moving towards a military solution on the other side by engaging in a shadow war using various paramilitary groups directed by the Sri Lankan army and its intelligence unit with a intention of weakening the Tamil Nation, in violation of Article 1.8 of the CFA; Noting that these paramilitaries and the Sinhala armed forces are behind the killing of Tamil parliamentary leaders, intellectuals, journalists, students and innocent civilians and thereby have made the Tamil Homeland into a killing field; Noting that the present GoSL is amassing troops in the Tamil Homeland and is rehearsing for a major war, placing embargoes on fuel and building materials, restricting the freedom of movement of the people and intensifying existing restrictions on fishing; Noting the refusal to make travel arrangements as agreed in the CFA and the obstruction of the LTTE political cadres in the SLA-controlled territory in Tamil Homeland attacks on the LTTE front defence lines and the indiscriminate aerial bombing and shelling of civilian settlements; Noting the rapidly detoriating situation while the Geneva talks were held to examine the proper implementation of the CFA and the agreement of the GoSL to disarm the paramilitaries and the halting of violence against Tamil civilians; Noting the killing of 207 civilians and 20 LTTE members since the Geneva talks; Noting the failure to comply with the most important agreement in the Geneva Talks to disarm the paramilitary groups and now the denial of their very existence despite confirmation by the international community, the SLMM and international media; Noting the false propaganda by the GoSL that LTTE attacked a passenger ship carrying unarmed troops while the SLMM monitor was present on the ship, but in reality the LTTE while carrying on its naval exercises was attacked by four Dvora gunboats. LTTE retaliated in self-defence, resulting in the sinking of one Dvora boat without being aware of the presence of another SLMM member in one of the Dvora boats. Immediately upon receiving notification from the Kilinochi SLMM office of the presence of an SLMM member in one of the Dora boats, LTTE ceased retaliation and allowed the Dvora boats to leave the area; the LTTE neither intended to attack the ship carrying the troops nor to endanger the lives of SLMM members; Noting the existence of Sea Tigers, which was acknowledged by the SLMM as the LTTE's de facto naval force on April 24, 2003; Noting that in the CFA the LTTE and the GoSL are treated in an identical fashion with equal rights and responsibilities consistent with the overall principle of parity, reflecting a common guiding principle in the foundation of many other ceasefire agreements; Noting that the GoSL's armed forces should not and cannot be allowed to realize military objectives that they were unable to achieve during times of war; Noting that based on law and fact, sovereignty over and under the sea appurtenant to the northeast and over the air belongs to the people of the northeast; Noting the creation of a situation obstructing the LTTE's Eastern Commanders meeting in the Vanni to decide on important matters pertaining to Geneva–II, and thereby derailing it; Noting that while unleashing violence and creating an atmosphere of war, the GoSL placed the entire blame on the LTTE as war mongers and terrorists and continued the GoSL's long-standing foreign policy of isolating them within the international community; Noting that the European Union, accepting this false propaganda, punished the victims of state terror and branded the LTTE as a "terrorist organisation" without considering the realities of the ground situation; Noting that the LTTE has always accepted the nomination of SLMM monitors by the Royal Norwegian Government; Noting that the European Union's recent actions taken with respect to the LTTE have regrettably created serious apprehension regarding the impartiality, or at least a perception of the lack of impartiality, of the representatives from those countries that are members of the EU: "Justice must not only be done but also seem to be done;" Noting that the CFA need not be amended to address the LTTE's concerns; Noting that the LTTE accepted the Royal Norwegian Government's invitation and came to Oslo in good faith to discuss ways and means to ensure the safety and security of the SLMM monitors; Noting that the team sent by the GoSL to Oslo was described by the GoSL itself as "third-level"; Noting that the SLMM's monitors' safety and the LTTE's concerns could be met without amending the CFA coupled with the proper protocol of the level of the negotiating teams, the LTTE's proposed bilateral talks with the SLMM and the facilitators in Oslo; Noting that when the GoSL opposed the modalities of talks suggested by the LTTE, the LTTE proposed negotiations between the secretary general of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat and his counterpart of similar status, following the proper protocol for negotiations; Noting that the talks agreed on in Oslo are not to be Geneva Talks II, which require a prior meeting of the central committee of the LTTE and compliance with the Geneva I agreements; these prerequisites have not been satisfied due to the continued intransigence of the GoSL; Noting that the international community's insistence that the solution should be found within a united Sri Lanka coupled with the military threat against the LTTE will not only disrupt the power equilibrium but also remove the incentive for the GoSL to seek a negotiated settlement; Noting that the International Community's recent misguided attempt to differentiate the Tamil Nation from the LTTE, the sole interlocutor of the former in the negotiations, is injurious to the peace process; Noting that Sri Lanka has achieved the status of being 25th in the index of failed states, and is demonstrating its lack of will and ability to enter into a just and equitable negotiated settlement; Reaffirms its policy of finding a solution to the Tamil national question based on the realisation of its right to self-determination. Mannar District Commander of the LTTE, Killed in Claymore Attack Lt. Col. Mahenthi, a district commander in the Mannar district was killed in a claymore attack by the SL army. Three other LTTE cadres also lost their lives in this attack.The incident took place on Vellaankulam-Thunukkai Road around 6am, Saturday.The cadres who lost their lives were, Kalai Maaran, originally from Vellaankulam in Mannar, Elango, from Kaithady, Chavakachcheri and Kutti Mani from Mallavi.Lt. Col. Mahendhi joined the LTTE during mid eighties and originally from Kerudavil Chavakachcheri,had participated in many a battle.Mahendhi won fame in 1996 when he led a number of penetration units against the occupying Sri Lanka army in Jaffna scoring success after success.His contribution during the Oyaatha Alaikal-3 battles in recovering areas within the peninsula was highly appreciated.Mahendhi's brother, Lt. Col. Chooty had died in the battle for Elephant Pass in 1991. 'US grooming India as junior partner to annoy China, Pakistan' The United States is grooming India into a junior partner in a bid to make New Delhi break out of its shell and exert enough influence in the Indian Ocean region to at least annoy China and a recalcitrant Pakistan, a US think tank has suggested. Such a strategic partnership would not only protect US interests in the region, but could also powerfully demonstrate to Islamabad that it would not stop a resurgent India from attacking Pakistan, intelligence think tank Stratfor said. Though the self-styled 'shadow CIA' itself considers such a scenario unlikely, it suggested that development of a strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi would also help take India out of Iran's orbit.Analysing the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace's recent visit to New Delhi, it suggested that as part of this developing strategic partnership he had given India the green signal to test its Agni III missile in August with the assurance that it would not affect the US-India nuclear deal.Indian officials have dismissed the Stratfor suggestion that the US had given its nod for test firing the nuclear-capable Agni-III intercontinental ballistic missile, maintaining this was only the interpretation of the US think tank. 'India has made it amply clear that we have imposed a voluntary ban on testing and that is where the matter stands,' a defence ministry official said in New Delhi on Friday.Apart from its suggestion about Agni, Stratfor considered the evolving relationship between India and US as a potentially deep one.'The United States will provide India with nuclear technology, development capital, and military hardware and training; in return, India will help safeguard US interests in the Indian Ocean region. 'The partnership could also powerfully demonstrate to Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf that the United States would not act to block a resurgent India from attacking Pakistan (not that such a scenario is likely) and also help take New Delhi out of Iran's orbit,' it said.'A formal alliance it is not; India does not want to be seen as being anti-Moscow or anti-Beijing, even as it develops stronger ties with the United States. 'Geopolitically, China and India have been off of each other's radar screens, as they are geographically sealed from each other by the natural wall of the Himalayas and jungle,' Stratfor said.India wants to continue to buy arms from Russia, such as parts for the MiG-29Ks that will be flying off the deck of the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, which is to be handed over after a Russian refit in 2008. New Delhi wants the US to continue to train the pilots of those MiGs for carrier operations. The US has also agreed in principle to sell India an Austin-class Landing Platform Dock, the USS Trenton, significantly enhancing New Delhi's maritime power-projection capabilities.In return, Washington would like India to do exactly what it wants to anyway: shoulder responsibility and become a powerhouse in the Indian Ocean, second only to the US Navy, Stratfor said. The United States hopes that an India more involved in the Malacca Strait and with an improved navy will make China nervous.As Malacca is a chokepoint for Chinese trade and energy supplies, the naval frontier is essentially the only potential conflict point between New Delhi and Beijing, which otherwise are for all intents and purposes a continent away from one another. Pace's visit merely formalised what has already been occurring: a coming together of Indian and American interests in a confederation of convenience, the US think tank said.Washington would like New Delhi to break out of its shell and exert enough influence in the region to at least annoy China and a recalcitrant Pakistan, and 'India would like to get whatever it can from its latest patron, the United States, in order to help alleviate its massive infrastructure problems, which are preventing India from becoming a major world power,' Stratfor concluded. Tamil businessman shot dead in Wellawatte, Colombo A 67-year old Tamil businessman, riding in a car, was shot near Vihara lane in Wellawate, around 7:00 p.m. Saturday. The victim, who received five gunshot wounds, succumbed to his wounds on the way to hospital, Police said. A gunman shot the victim, Ramachandran, five times and escaped from the site, police said. Further details were not available at the moment. 'Want nothing if port portfolio removed' - threat from Mangala Minister Mangala Samaraweera who currently holds ports portfolio has told his close aides he would step down from all portfolios and serve as a backbencher, if Muslim Congress leader Rauf Hakeem who is widely tipped to join he government, was offered the ports portfolio.Minister Mangala Samaraweera played a key role in Rajapaksa's presidential election battle as campaign manager and also served as the Freedom Alliance spokesman during the election campaign. But above all it was Samaraweera who first said that Rajapaksa should be the Sri Lanka Freedom Party presidential candidate when party leader ChandrikaKumaratunga was biding her time. When Samaraweera made this proposal, Rajapaksa was also there and he was so thrilled he is reported to have said "Malli, you rescued me." But when the Prime Minister was appointed, Samaraweera's political dream was shattered. Samaraweera continues to have close relationship with party Chairman Kumaratunga and the President was not happy when he sided with Kumaratunga at the internal conflicts of the party.Samaraweera also played a prominent role in getting the European Union to proscribe the LTTE and was engaged in an attempt to depict it as a personal victory of him and the JVP and the Hela Urumaya paid glowing tributes to Samarweera for his achievement.However at a recent ceremony to commemorate war heroes, the President emphatically stated that the EU ban was a personal victory for the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar. Political analysts identified this as an indirect political attack on Samaraweera. It has now been revealed that the President had made this remark on a note of his closest ally Dulles Alahapperuma. As Hakeem insists on the ports portfolio if he is to join the government and the strong opposition from the senior-most Muslim leader in the government, Minister A.H.M.Fowzie against Hakeem's joining the government coupled with Minister Samaraweera's remarks have compelled the President to think twice about inviting the SLMC leader to join the government and to offer the portfolio he is asking for.Minister Mangala Samaraweera is scheduled to leave for Oslo on the 23rd to sign a bilateral agreement on ports development. Three bodies with severe facial burns found in Anuradhapura Three bodies, beyond recognition due to severely burnt faces, were recovered by the police this evening near Malwatu Oya bridge, Wijyapura, Anuradhapura. All three victims were males. Police are conducting investigations at the crime scene and the bodies are yet to be identified.This was the first time such bodies were found in the South after five headless corpses were recovered from Awissawella the day after the suicide attack on the Army Commander. The bodies were found on the eve of Poson Full Moon Poya Day, the day sanctified by the visit of Arahat Mihindu thero to Mihintale to establish Buddhism in Sri Lanka. 10 June 2006 Norway Reconsiders Role in Sri Lanka Peace Process Norwegian mediators say they are pondering their future role in Sri Lanka's peace process, and have asked the government and Tamil Tiger rebels to clarify if they remain committed to a four-year truce that halted ethnic fighting in the country. While the Sri Lanka government says it is committed to peace efforts, the rebels have yet to respond to Norway's demand.The talks in Oslo between Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers were to be held Thursday to discuss the safety of the monitors who oversee a fragile truce. But in a surprise move, the rebels refused to meet the government delegates. Instead, the rebels informed Norwegian mediators they would not accept cease-fire monitors from countries that are members of the European Union, which recently listed the rebels as terrorists. Two-thirds of the monitors come from EU countries, and will not be easy to replace.Norway helped mediate the 2002 truce that halted ethnic fighting in the country, and has been on the frontlines of trying to keep the faltering peace process from falling apart. But after the breakdown of Thursday's talks, Norwegian mediators are pondering their role in the peace process. They have asked the Tamil rebels and the government if they remain committed to the cease-fire, whether they want international truce monitors, and if they can guarantee the monitors' safety. The Sri Lankan government says it is committed to the truce, and wants EU monitors to continue, despite objections from the Tamil Tigers, also known as the L.T.T.E. "The European Union, despite the imposition of the ban, has taken the position that they will continue to engage with the L.T.T.E. as far as the peace process is concerned," said Ketesh Loganathan, the deputy head of the government peace secretariat. "So, we see this as no reason as to why the monitors who are from the EU countries cannot function." The Norwegians have blamed the Tamil rebels for the collapse of the talks, which were called after an attack last month on a navy convoy carrying the truce observers. Several political analysts have expressed fears that the refusal of the rebels to meet the government and accept EU monitors signals that the rebels are no longer committed to the peace process.The truce is already under extreme strain. Daily attacks by both sides have killed more than 650 people since December. The Tamil Tigers waged a deadly war for a homeland in the north and east of the country for the Tamil minority community until the 2002 truce. Nadesan blames govt. Asked why LTTE was playing double standards once saying they did not come to Oslo to talk with the Sri Lankan government officials and now saying they wanted to talk, Nadesan said that LTTE requested that representatives from both peace secretariats should meet for discussions but was rejected.Norway has blamed the LTTE for refusing to participate in talks with the government delegation.Nadesan said that they are concerned about and surprised to hear Norway putting the blame on them. Asked if the LTTE has not betrayed the Tamil population by making lame excuses Nadesen said that not only the Tamils but also the Sinhalese will be disappointed with what has happened.When questioned regarding the future of the peace process Nadesen said that the LTTE is committed to finding a solution through talks.Further probed on the LTTE reluctance to sit at the negotiating table Nadesan said that the LTTE has never refused talks and it is unfortunate that avenues for talks are being obstructed .Commenting on allegations that the LTTE is responsible for obstructing the peace process Nadesan said though both parties should take the responsibility it's mainly the fault of the government. SLA soldiers massacre family of four in Vankalai, Mannar SLA soldiers armed with bayonets and knives entered the house of a family of four and slaughtered 35-year-old father, 27-year-old mother, 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son Thursday midnight in Vankalai, 12 km southeast of Mannar. Eyewitnesses in the area, Thomaspuri Ward No 10 in Vankalai, have told Mannar Additional Magistrate that they could identify the soldiers involved in the massacre. Villagers alleged the mother was raped before the massacre. Tension prevails in Vankalai. Religious leaders including the Bishop of Mannar, parliamentarians and civil society members in Mannar have rushed to site. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials have visited the massacre site. The vicitms killed were: Mary Medaline (Chitra), 27, the mother, Moorthy Martin, 35, the father, Ann Nilxon, 7, the son and Ann Luxica, 9, the daughter. Martin was a carpenter by profession. Soldiers have also used the carpenter tools to kill the victims. Bootprints and a miltary badge with star were found at the massacre site. Bodies were discovered by fellow residents of the area, around 5.30 a.m., Friday morning, police sources said.The family, once displaced as refugees in India, had returned during the Ceasefire and resettled in the village, the residents said. Mannar Additional Magistrate T.J. Prabakaran visited the massacre site and ordered the Police to carry out investigations into the massacre.Villagers from Thomaspuri, Sukanthapuri and Bastipuri have started to flee from their villages. India expresses deep concern over the failure of Oslo meeting The Government of India, in a press release issued from the High Commission in Sri Lanka, said it was deeply concerned over the failure of the proposed meeting between the Government of Sri Lanka and representatives of the LTTE, aimed at strengthening the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and ensuring the security of its members. Government of India expresses deep concern over the failure of the proposed meeting between Government of Sri Lanka and the representatives of the LTTE The following is the text of the Press Release issued by the Government of India on this subject today: The Government of India is deeply concerned over the failure of the proposed meeting between the Government of Sri Lanka and representatives of the LTTE, aimed at strengthening the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and ensuring the security of its members. India has supported the role of the monitoring mission and believes it has made a significant contribution to the maintenance of the ceasefire and in preventing and limiting the violations of the ceasefire, which have, unfortunately, become more frequent in the recent past. It remains our conviction that the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka must be resolved through peaceful dialogue and, in this context, any weakening of the role of the SLMM is likely to have adverse consequences. The Government of India appreciate the willingness of the Government of Sri Lanka to engage in the talks in Oslo facilitated by Norway and express the hope that the dialogue process would be resumed at the earliest in order to avoid any further worsening of the situation. 09 June 2006 Norway writes to Rajapakse, Prabhakaran Expressing concern over the grave situation in Sri Lanka, the Royal Norwegian Government said in a statement, Friday, that it has taken "the unprecedented step of requesting both parties, through letters to President Mahinda Rajapakse and the LTTE leader Mr Vellupilai Prabhakaran, to provide responses in writing to five critical questions". "The responses by the parties to these questions will determine which steps will next have to be taken by the Royal Norwegian Government and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, in close partnership with other actors in the international community," the statement further said. Norway profoundly concerned with grave situation in Sri Lanka The grave situation in Sri Lanka, with escalating violence in breach of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), is intolerable for the civilian population and a cause of great concern to the international community. As expressed in no uncertain terms by the Tokyo Co-Chairs in their statement of 30 May, the full responsibility for halting violence and giving the peace process a new start, rests with the parties. The Royal Norwegian Government regrets that it was not possible to hold the foreseen and much needed meeting between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to assess the difficult situation in Sri Lanka and to address the safety and security of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). After having accepted the Norwegian invitation, and after having arrived in Norway, the LTTE raised objections to the previously communicated intentions and modalities for the meeting. This was the reason for the meeting not being held. By this a critical opportunity has been lost for the peoples of Sri Lanka who so desperately need their leaders on both sides to renew their obligation to uphold the CFA and other CFA-related commitments and to improve security. The Royal Norwegian Government has been informed that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is not ready to accept SLMM monitors originating from states which separately or by membership in international organisations have included the LTTE on lists for the application of specific measures to combat terrorism. At present, 37 out of 57 monitors originate from these countries. By not being able to address this urgent issue in the presence of both parties, the Royal Norwegian Government and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission have been seriously hampered in their efforts to find a future solution for the SLMM and thereby encourage respect for the CFA and its effective monitoring. The Royal Norwegian Government is profoundly concerned with the gravity of the situation on the ground, the objection by the LTTE to collaborate with the SLMM with its present composition, the lack of dialogue between the parties, and the doubts voiced by many about the continued full commitment of the parties to the Ceasefire Agreement. On this background the Royal Norwegian Government have deemed it necessary to take the unprecedented step of requesting both parties, through letters to President Mahinda Rajapakse and the LTTE leader Mr Vellupilai Prabhakaran, to provide responses in writing to five critical questions. 1.Will the parties stand committed to the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) of 22 February 2002? 2. Do the parties want the continued existence and operation of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission as a mission coordinated, facilitated and led by the Royal Norwegian Government with diplomatic immunity to ensure its impartial operation? 3. Are the parties able to provide full security guarantees for all monitors, employees and physical assets of the SLMM in all situations, in accordance with CFA Article 3.9? 4. Will the parties accept amendments to CFA Article 3.5 in order to enable the continued functioning of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission at its current operational levels and with the necessary security guarantees? 5. In the event that amendments to Article 3.5 are made, will the parties provide full security guarantees for current SLMM personnel and assets during a six-month transition phase until an amended solution has been identified, decided and fully implemented? The responses by the parties to these questions will determine which steps will next have to be taken by the Royal Norwegian Government and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, in close partnership with other actors in the international community. Sri Lanka govt asks delegation to return from Oslo The Sri Lankan government has asked its delegation, currently in Oslo for talks on the safety of truce monitors, to come home after the LTTE refused to take part in the talks. A spokesperson for the Sri Lankan government said the government has already informed the Norwegian facilitators as well as the Sri Lankan delegation about their latest decision. The LTTE refused to meet with the Sri Lankan government delegation after arriving at the conference venue in Norway. The government delegation was also informed that the LTTE had indicated that the presence of nationals from Sweden, Denmark and Finland as members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was objectionable as they are nationals of European Union (EU) member countries. The EU last week listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. “The Norwegian government representatives themselves expressed complete surprise at the stance taken by the LTTE despite all the background preparations made by the Norwegian facilitators,” the Sri Lankan government said in a statement earlier today. It had been widely hoped that two days of talks between the government and the LTTE would lead to an affirmation from both sides on their continued commitment to the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. The planned talks had been the result of a LTTE attack on a Sri Lanka Navy convoy at sea last month, in which international monitors had been traveling with Sri Lankan troops. Peace talks have not been held since February this year. Clashes in Sri Lanka over the last two months alone have reportedly killed over 300 people. Tigers want EU out of S.Lanka monitors -Norway Sri Lankan rebel Tamil Tigers want European Union members withdrawn from a five-nation truce monitoring mission, mediator Norway said on Thursday.The EU last month listed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a banned terrorist organisation after an upsurge in violence on the Indian Ocean island. "The LTTE has informed us that individual members of the EU cannot be members of the Nordic monitoring mission," Erik Solheim, Norway's minister for international development who brokered a 2002 truce, told a news conference.The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) is an unarmed 60-person mission, made up of staff from EU members Sweden, Denmark and Finland and non-EU states Norway and Iceland. Solheim urged the LTTE to reconsider their demand, saying it would leave only 20 monitors from Iceland and Norway."Norway cannot fill the vacancies," he said.The remarks came after Tamil Tiger representatives refused to meet Sri Lankan government officials at talks in Oslo, though Norwegian officials met separately with both sides. Lanka ask Pakistan for swift military assistance: Jane's Sri Lanka is looking to Pakistan for help to bolster its military capabilities as the ceasefire between the government and rebels appears increasingly fragile, specialist publication Jane's Defence Weekly said Thursday.Sri Lanka has asked Pakistan to facilitate the purchase of military equipment worth around 60 million dollars (47 million euros), according to high-level discussions detailed in documents seen by the defence magazine. Jane's Defence Weekly said Sri Lanka had asked that their requests be treated with the "utmost priority" given the deteriorating security situation. The report was published as violence surged on the island, with at least 16 people reported killed, hours before talks opened in Oslo between the Colombo government and Tamil Tiger rebels on ensuring protection for ceasefire monitors. According to the magazine, the Sri Lankan Army's shopping list has a combined value of 20 million dollars, while the Air Force's requirements are worth a further 38.1 million dollars.The weekly said Sri Lanka was looking to build up its military capacity and had also issued a plea to Pakistan to provide swift technical assistance for its T-55 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) and C-130 transport aircraft.In a document dated March 1, Sri Lanka wrote: "It would be greatly appreciated if arrangement could be made to invite a technical team to Colombo to carry out an immediate survey of T-55 main battle tanks and C-130 aircraft." The Army's extensive wish list includes ten Baktar Shikan anti-tank guided missile weapon systems, 300 standard/tandem warheads and two training simulators, respectively worth 1.5 million dollars, 4.5 million dollars and 120,000 dollars. Tamils harassed in Colombo-UNP MP Maheswaren in Parliament The government is accountable to the abductions of Tamil traders and the arrests and detention of innocent Tamil civilians in Colombo.Thus observed Colombo UNP Parliamentarian T.Maheswaren speaking on the debate on the Extension of Emergency in Parliament . He further said as follows:- “Tamil traders in Colombo are abducted and released after getting large sums of money as ransom. The security forces are responsible for these acts of violence. The Prime Minister has not referred to the violence on the Tamils in his address on the extension of emergency on the floor of the House.Even while detailing the incidents of violence in the north and east , the Prime Minister was not impartial. He did not refer to the violence against Tamils in the north east and south. The government has not initiated any inquiries into the complaints of violence against Tamils. The perpetrators of violence roam about freely with out any fear . Some Tamil traders have been abducted from Sea Street and Slave Island. But their whereabouts are still unknown. Human rights are violated blatantly under this government .We have no faith in this government,”e concluded, Four health officials injured in deep penetration attack in Vanni The vehicle belonging to the Tamileelam Health Service was damaged in the attack. The vehicle came under attack which it was returning to Kilinochchi after a routine visit to rural villages in Mannar providing medical services, according to Tamileelam Police officials. The doctor, Ms. Theva, is from LTTE's Medical Unit. Two women nurses and the driver were civilian workers employed in Tamil Eelam Health Services. Sources said the claymore mine was detonated from 60 meters distance. Three other explosives were planted in 3 meters distance which also exploded simultaneously at the time of explosion of the claymore mine. Two bodies exhumed from Kaithady site Two bodies that were suspected to be buried in Kaithady site were exhumed from the shallow grave near Kaithady bridge Thursday in decomposed state, civil society sources from Jaffna said. A wrist watch was found from one of the bodies. One body was recovered Wednesday near the site where the body of the disappeared Hindu priest was discovered by workers who went for sand mining in the area earlier this week. The area behind the 600 meter long salt-water preventive bund is being checked for further graves. According to Survey officials who measured the area, the grave was found between a Sri Lanka Army checkpost 300 meters west of Kaithadi bridge and an SLA minicamp located 300 meters east.Jaffna Government Agent, K. Ganesh, Human Rights Commission Jaffna Co-ordinator T. Surendran, Lawyer M. Remedius, SLMM officials, Divisional Secretaries from Kopay and Chavakacheri, gramasevakas from the area were present at the site being protected by the Military Police. Lankan-born among suspects nabbed in Canada? A Lankan born Muslim convert was yesterday reported to be among the suspects arrested in Canada for planning attacks on key locations in Canada including a plot to kill the Prime Minister of the country.Steven Vikash Chand a resident of Toronto had reportedly worked at a restaurant in Scarborough and had allegedly discussed beheading Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Chand was born to a Hindu family from Sri Lanka but had later converted to Islam and is now known as Abdul Shakur and was said to have served in the Toronto-based Royal Regiment of Canada, a military reserve unit. According to court documents the alleged plot by the 17 suspects taken into custody recently envisioned bombings of targets in Ontario, storming of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. headquarters, and capturing and possibly beheading the prime minister and other politicians to enforce a demand for the release of Muslim prisoners. However, Canadian embassy officials in Colombo said they were unable to confirm if there was a a man of Sri Lanka origin among the arrested Air Chief appointed Chief of Defence Staff Air Force Commander Donald Perera has been appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff, as current CDS Admiral Daya Sandagiri is to step down from today, military sources said.They said that Air Marshal Perera would assum duties in the new post next Monday and would be promoted to Air Chief Marshal. Meanwhile, current Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Roshan Goonethilleke will assume duties as the new Air Force Commander and would be promoted to the rank of Air Marshal. He would be the youngest officer to head the Air Force.Air Marshal Goonethilleke’s is the son of retired Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonethilleke who was the Commander of the Air Force a few years ago.Meanwhile, current Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Daya Sandagiri is to be appointed as the Deputy Defence Ministry Secretary, a newly created post in the ministry. Two SLA troopers injured in mortar attack in Kiran Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in a mortar attack on the Kiran camp by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thursday between 5.30 a.m and 6.00 a.m, SLA sources from Kiran Bridge camp in Batticaloa district said. SLA added that they retailated with mortar fire on LTTE positions. However, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said that SLA had first attacked their positions forcing them the LTTE gunners to retaliate. The Kiran Bridge SLA camp is located 22 km north of Batticaloa on the edge of the boundary drawn in the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) between the LTTE territory and the SLA controlled region.The SLA cordoned off and searched in the Kiran region, said sources from Batticaloa. Meanwhile, unidentified men on a motorbike lobbed a hand grenade on the Valaichenai police sentry post Thursday early morning around 1.00 a.m and had escaped without being caught, said Valaichenai police.No one was injured on their side, added the police. Valaichenai is located 28 km north of Batticaloa. Two workers killed in SLA deep penetration attack A trainee caretaker and a Sinhalese driver of a water supply contractor, Thummara Enterprises, were killed in a Claymore attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit attack in LTTE controlled Mannar district Thursday at 12:50 p.m., Tamileelam Police officials said. The victims were identified as Alocious Rex Sasiharan, 24, the trainee caretaker and H.M.Amarasekara, 45, the Sinhala driver of the blue color pickup vehicle with registration number CPHF 5832, Police officials said. Mannar district field commander of the LTTE was travelling in another vehicle on Periayamadu - Pallamadu Road, 5 minutes behind the civilian vehicle that was ambushed by the deep penetration unit, Police officials further said.The DPU ambush has taken place 4 km from Periyamadu.The trainee caretaker was on his way to inspect a water supply project that supplies water to Vidthaltheevu island.The bodies were handed over to Adampan District Hospital. 08 June 2006 Sri Lanka talks on the SLMM in Oslo on 8–9 June The parties to the peace process in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan authorities and the Tamil Tigers, have come to Norway for talks in Oslo on 8–9 June 2006. The parties will discuss the security situation and role of the Nordic Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). These talks are not aimed at finding a political solution to the armed conflict and do not substitute the Geneva talks aimed at strengthening the implementation of the ceasefire agreement of 2002. “The situation in Sri Lanka is extremely serious. It is positive that the parties have come to Oslo to discuss the situation of the SLMM. As facilitators we will do our utmost to enable the parties to find practical solutions to ease the pressure on the SLMM,” said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.“The agenda for the meeting is limited to the SLMM, and we haven’t got any further expectations. We will, of course, urge the parties to continue the peace process and find their way back to the platform for the talks that they agreed on in 2002-2003,” Mr Solheim added. “I am very impressed by and grateful for the excellent job the SLMM observers are doing in these difficult times. They play an important role in preventing civilian suffering,” said Mr Solheim.Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will head the Norwegian delegation together with Ambassador Hans Brattskar and Mr Vidar Helgesen. The SLMM will be represented by the Head of Mission, Ulf Henricsson.There will be a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday 9 June at 18.00. We are totally against a federal system that would divide the country: Tilvin Silva The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna yesterday said that they do not accept power devolution as the solution for the national problem and are totally against a federal system that would divide the country.JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva addressing a public rally at Maharagama Youth Centre said even a dialogue to power devolution was a joke itself and the JVP has not agreed to power devolution anyway.He said that there are series of events taking place risking the sovereignty of the country as the LTTE has intensified its fourth Eelam war under Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration. “The ongoing Oslo talks are meant to bring both LTTE and the Government to an equal state. Now every body is talking about devolution of power without having any idea what are the limitations or how it should be done. In fact there is no need of a power devolution as it has already done through Provincial Councils system,” he said.“In fact the LTTE has said that they did not accept power devolution and they are continuing their terrorist activities. Because they want some thing more and that is an Eelam,” he said. Mr. Silva maintained though the present person who is holding the responsibility for the national problem is Prabhakaran, the creator of this separatism was not him.“It was started by Chelvanayagam in 1949 by forming the Federal Party who for the first time spread the idea of a separate state. Since then all the successive governments could not find a solution to this matter as they kept on bribing Tamil separatist leaders instead of giving Tamil people’s rights,” he added. Mr. Silva said the national problem is absolutely an internal matter and our leaders have ‘internationalized’ it. “Even the international community now behaves as if this is their own matter for vested interests.They do not want to solve the matter but want to invade our resources. They make their intervention to get their regional economical needs fulfilled, especially now that it was confirmed we have oil deposits,” he said. 9 killed in Sri Lanka when landmine explodes in Tamil rebel-controlled area At least nine people were killed and 14 wounded by a landmine Wednesday in an area controlled by Tamil rebels in northeastern Sri Lanka. The guerrillas blamed the military.The rebels said the victims were civilians and seven of the wounded were in serious condition. The incident took place in Vadamunai village in eastern Batticaloa when a tractor carrying the victims exploded after hitting the mine, the rebels said. Military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe denied the army was involved. "We are not involved in any way and also we do not enter" areas under rebel control, Samarasinghe said.The area's police chief, Deputy Insp. General Nihal Karunaratne, said he was told of the incident but had no details.Maxi Procter, a senior police officer in the area, said six wounded and the body of one victim had been brought to a hospital in Batticaloa district, 225 kilometres east of Colombo. A breakaway faction of the rebels, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for the attack.T. Thuyavan, a spokesman for the renegades, said they targeted insurgents and denied the victims were civilians. The mainstream rebels accuse the military of helping the renegades, a charge the army denies.The Tamil Tigers split in 2004 when a powerful leader from the east, known as Karuna, broke away from the northern group with about 6,000 fighters. The uprising was suppressed later by the main rebel group, but sympathy for the breakaway leader remains strong among some Tamils in the east.The violence came as government and rebel officials prepared to meet in the Norwegian capital Thursday and Friday to review the 2002 ceasefire, which appears increasingly tenuous. At least 375 people have been killed since the start of April.The Oslo talks are aimed at reviewing the Norway-brokered ceasefire.Tamil Tigers began fighting the government in 1983 to create a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils, accusing the majority Sinhalese of discrimination. At least 65,000 people died before the truce. Parliament extends Emergency by one more month The government extended the state of emergency for one month in Parliament yesterday with all the parties except the TNA and the Western Province People’s Front voting for it. The main Opposition UNP, the JVP, the JHU and the SLMC voted for the Bill and the total number of votes for the Bill was 102. Only 18 members voted against it.A slight commotion took place in the House when the Bill was taken up for vote, as TNA MPs including M.K. Ealaventhan and S. Gajendran rushed into the Well of the House to distribute copies of a newspaper article regarding the harassment to a Tamil pregnant woman allegedly by army personnel using powers vested under the emergency regulations. Deputy Sergeant at Arms Narendra Fernando unsuccessfully attempted to prevent MP Gajendran from going to Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara.The Speaker requested the Tamil legislators not to distribute leaflets, but they were successful in handing over copies to certain government and opposition members including Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera and Minister Prof. Wishva Warnapala. However, Deputy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage threw the copy given to him by Mr. Gajendran. UNP MP T. Maheshwaran was not present at the time of voting despite his claim to vote against the Bill in his four-minute speech.He said Tamil people had been kidnapped for ransom under emergency regulations.Presenting the Bill to the House in the morning, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake noted that 98 civilians and 43 members of the security forces had been killed by the LTTE and other terrorist groups, during last month. “They had caused injuries to 66 people. There were 102 cases of intimidation in the country during the said period. Therefore, we want to extend the state of emergency by a further period of one month in this context,” said Mr. Wickramanayake who is also the Minister of Public Security. Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera began the debate on behalf of the Opposition saying that it was important for the government to classify the perpetrators of criminal acts committed in the country despite the emergency regulations in place. He said that it was dangerous to find beheaded bodies in the country. “There are cases of robberies and burglaries. Therefore, the government must inform whether the perpetrators of these crimes are the LTTE or any other group for these crimes,” he said. Chief Minister Karunanithy and Sri Lankan Tamils-Virakesari What is Dr.Karunanithy’s response to the Sri Lankan Tamils who seek refuge! That really is the question that is uppermost in every body's mind.Due to the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka, a large number of Tamils flee to Tamil Nadu seeking refuge. Yet India maintains a calculated silence over the tribulations of the Tamils, despite the expectations by the co-chair countries and the EU that India should play a key role. This stoic silence by India gives room for rumours. There is a clamour in Tamil Nadu that India must raise its voice for Sri Lankan Tamils . BJP has blamed that the central government in New Delhi and the state government in Tamil Nadu are insensitive to the sufferings of the Sri Lankan Tamils. BJP has urged the Indian government to take urgent steps to ensure the safety and security of the Lankan Tamils. This appeal by the BJP is a great solace to the Tamils in anguish. Civilians in Tamil Nadu has always raised their collective voice in favour of the Sri Lankan Tamils whenever they encountered pogroms. But it is the Tamil Nadu leadership that sometimes falters. Meanwhile, the Marxist Communist Party has called for demonstration all over Tamil Nadu to protest against the atrocities against the Lankan Tamils by the government of Sri Lanka. There has been a lot of hope among the Tamils since Karunanithy assumed office as chief minister of Tamil Nadu. But that hope is now shattered by his recent statement. Karunanithy’s statement at New Delhi was that the policy of Tamil Nadu state government conforms with that of the Centre on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. This statement makes one to wonder whether the chief minister has let down the Lankan Tamils. The expectation and belief of the Sri Lankan Tamils is that Karunanithy has an obligation by them to ensure them justice, fair play and security, in his capacity as chief minister. UK Councillor hunger strike ends The text of Mr. Idaikader’s appeal follows: As you know, the security situation in Sri Lanka, particularly for the people of the Northeast, has been deteriorating rapidly since the shadow war between Army-backed paramilitaries and the Liberation Tigers and Tamil Eelam (LTTE) escalated late last year. Despite the international focus on Sri Lanka due to the Norwegian-facilitated peace process, Sri Lanka’s Sinhala-dominated armed forces are, as always, enjoying total impunity whilst unleashing a campaign of murderous violence, intimidation and terror on the Tamils. Tamil hopes that the promises given by the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) during talks with the LTTE in Geneva in February 2006 would be implemented were dashed soon after those negotiations concluded. The killing of a prominent and much-respected community leader who had been nominated to take the seat of Tamil MP Joseph Pararajasingham – himself gunned down at Christmas Mass by a suspected Army-backed paramilitary – triggered a new and even more bloody cycle of violence than before the talks. In particular, Tamil civilians have become the targets of cold-blooded killings and intimidatory practices – cordon and search, mass or arbitrary arrests, assault, etc by Sri Lanka’s armed forces. People have been shot out of hand on the street or have disappeared after being arrested in all five districts of the Tamil homeland. The main international actors – the United States, European Union, Japan and Norway – have last week acknowledged that the situation has deteriorated alarmingly. They have called for specific steps from both the LTTE and GoSL to curtail the violence. However, apart from the vocal admonishments, nothing is being done to actually compel the state of Sri Lanka to honour its moral and legal obligations with respect the rights of the Tamils. In 2003, the Co-Chairs of the donors community said that $4.5bn of aid they were pledging to Sri Lanka would be conditional on ‘progress in the peace process.’ There has been no progress, only a slide back towards war. But the Co-Chairs say they have released over 75% of this pledged aid anyway. The European Union, as a Co-Chair, and the United Kingdom, as a key member of the EU – and as a country with a lengthy his | ||
