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Local
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31 March 2006 THIRUKKOVIL PRADESHIYA SABHA ILLANKAI TAMIL ARASU KADCHI
(TNA) 8,318 98 .29%- 9 Seats Trinco Urban Council ITAK(TNA) - 10573 No of
Seats - 6 Local Election Polls:President Mahinda Rajapakse's coalition UPFA Leading and TNA leading in Tamil dominated Region The Commissioner of Elections continues to announce the results of yesterday’s Local Government polls. He has said that the elections were mostly peaceful when compared with previous ones. So far, the results of 55 Local Government Institutions have been announced. The United People’s Freedom Alliance has won in most of them. The United National Party was able to win only in six institutions in urban areas. The Tamil Arasu Kachchi (TNA) has won in two local government institutions. The Janatha Vimukti Peramuna has captured the Tissmarama Pradhesiya Sabha. The newly-formed Ceylon Democratic Unity Alliance won un Urban Council in the upcountry. The Special feature of the elections was that not a single vote was rejected to elect representatives to head the Hikkaduwa Urban Council. All the 14,499 votes polled were valid. For the first time, the Government Information Department was given the responsibility of distributing election results to the media. Navy and LTTE accuse
each other He emphasised that the LTTE only retaliated to the Navy attack and stopped soon as they realised that a member of the truce monitors were with the Navy on a boat off shore. Pulidevan also said that they did not fire to any boat in the sea and only fired towards the Navy camp on Norway point.Both parties say that they will take up the incident with the truce monitors. Amnesty for Sri
Lanka Army deserters Individuals who deserted the Army before January 2003 can produce themselves at Bodhirajaramaya, the temple adjacent to the Panagoda Army Base. They have to hand over all Army property before they are dismissed legally. The Army says those who do not present themselves will be arrested and produced in court. There are around 70,000 deserters from the security forces in Sri Lanka. Some of them are involved in criminal activities and have become a nuisance to public peace. Pakistan denies involvement with Muslim armed group in East Pakistan has refuted claims made by the LTTE chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham earlier this week that the Pakistan Secret Service was directly assisting a Muslim Jihad armed group in the east. In a startling revelation over Australian television Mr. Balasingham alleged that the Muslim armed group, details of which was made available to the government during the Geneva talks last month, was being assisted by the Pakistan Intelligence unit.The Pakistan High Commission in Colombo in a statement to the Daily Mirror said “There is not one iota of truth in these allegations. Pakistan is strictly against interfering in the internal matters of other sovereign states.” Spokesperson for the high commission Mr. Zahoor Ahamed Barlas, after referring the matter over to the Pakistani government, said in the statement that his government has always supported Sri Lanka in efforts to safeguard it’s sovereign and territorial integrity. Mr. Balasingham noted the LTTE was concerned over the alleged Pakistan intervention in Sri Lanka adding that it may have serious repercussions if India were to learn more about the Jihad groups. In the Australian television interview Mr. Balasingham had said he has enough proof to substantiate his claims and was ready to furnish it to any Muslim political leader who contacts him. Muslim leaders in Sri Lanka have refuted claims of the existence of a Jihad group in the East while the LTTE as recent as two weeks ago put forward two Muslim youth who shed more light on the so called Muslim Jihad group. Meanwhile, PAFFREL Chairman Kingsley Rodrigo in a letter to the Secretary Jamaate Islam dated March 23 has apologized to the Muslim community for any lapse on his part by way of his statement made to the media on March 15. He said he had been misinformed when he said: “Besides them there are the Muslim fundamentalist groups—Jihad and Jamaate Islam. They also have arms.” He said he never intended to mean Jihad and Jamaate Islam have armed groups operating in the east. “I have no evidence that there are any organized armed Muslim groups in the name of Jamaate Islami, Jihad or any other to the best of my knowledge,” the letter stated. LTTE political office in Arayampathi burnt The Arayampathi political office of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), located in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled area in Kathankudy, Batticaloa, was set on fire Thursaday morning by unidentified persons who had damaged and robbed the things inside the office, said sources from Kathankudy. This office had remained closed since the LTTE cadres of the political wing withdrew from Sri Lanka Government controlled areas.Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Batticaloa has been notifed of the incident, according to sources. Kathankudy Police is investigating the incident, said Kathankudy police.Arayampathi located 6km south of Batticaloa. She was molested, alleges UNPer The UNP Nawalapitiya organiser complained to police that a group had attempted to molest her near the Kadiresan Boys’ College polling booth.Nirupa Karunaratne said while she was walking towards the booth a group had dragged her aside and tried to remove her blouse and the saree. She also said she identified one person in the group as a supporter of a Deputy Minister. 30 March 2006 Norway:
Talks will go ahead The newly appointed Norwegian special envoy for Sri Lanka’s peace process, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, who was in London on Wednesday, did not took part in the discussions. LTTE concerns The new envoy is to meet President Rajapaksa and LTTE representatives on a visit to Sri Lanka next Monday, a statement issued by the Royal Norwegian Embassy said.Minister Erik Solheim is also to visit Colombo on Thursday 06 April.He is to convey LTTE concerns on security and CFA to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.The minister refused to reveal details of the concerns raised by LTTE theoretician. However, he expressed hope that the second round of talks will go ahead as scheduled. Second round The Tamil Tigers have threatened to pull out of talks unless the government live up to the commitments made at Geneva talks.The LTTE accuse the government of colliding with paramilitary groups but the government denies having any links with armed groups apart from the military.The Tigers are accused of arming themselves using fishermen as a cover to smuggle arms.But the LTTE denies charges of attacking a Sri Lanka Navy vessel off Kalpitiya in which six LTTE cadres were dead and eight sailors are still missing. New peace envoy coming on Monday The new Norwegian special Peace Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will arrive in the country on Monday on a four day visit. Mr. Hanssen-Bauer who is making his first visit to Sri Lanka, is scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa, representatives of the Government and the LTTE, the Norwegian Embassy said. Meanwhile, Oslo’s International Development Minister and former peace envoy Erik Solheim will make a brief visit to Sri Lanka on Thursday for a series of meetings in Colombo, it said. Polls for 266 local bodies today A little over 11 million voters will cast their ballot today to elect 3,624 members for 266 local bodies in 19 districts. Polling will start at 7.00 a.m. at 8,829 polling centres and conclude at 4.00 p.m. In all 25,523 candidates are in the fray vying for election to 12 Municipal Councils, 34 Urban Councils and 220 Pradeshiya Sabhas. The total number of registered voters are 11,037,763. Elections for 22 bodies in the North and East have been postponed for September for security reasons and polls for 46 local authorities in the South have been similarly put off due to pending court cases. For the first time since 1931, all eligible voters will be required to produce official documents establishing their identity. These include the National ID, Driving Licence, Postal Identity Card, Passport, IDs issued by Estate Superintendents, Pensioners' ID or the Railway season ticket ID. Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake stated although it would be convenient for voters' to carry their Identity Cards, the absence of the ID or even the polling card would not be a hindrance as long as the Voters' Register contain their names. The main political parties in the fray are the UPFA, UNP, JVP, CWC, SLMC, UPF, JHU, NSSP, TNA and the EPDP. Several minor political parties and independent groups have filed nominations. Responding favourably to Dissanayake's request, officials of the State sector who were planning to stay away from election duty have reversed their decision. Public Salary Review Trade Union Committee (PSSRTUC) members also announced that they had withdrawn the threat to spoil their votes which they earlier planned to go ahead with as a mark of protest to the public service salary issue. Already both major parties have suffered reversals with their nominations lists being rejected in many local bodies. The UNP had its nomination lists rejected in the coveted Colombo Municipal Council while the UPFA list was rejected in the SLFP bastion of Gampaha. Legal battles challenging several rejections including the CMC have caused the postponement of the poll for these bodies. There will be no elections on March 30 in 11 Pradeshiya Sabhas including Sitawaka, Udapalatha, Pathahewaheta, Elpitiya, Kobeigane, Balangoda and five others in the Ampara district. No election will also be held in Werugal Aru Pradeshiya Sabha and Pudukuduirupp Pradeshiya Sabha as they are being declared won uncontested by the TNA and the EPDP. Apart from State officials manning the polling centres, 65,000 policemen have been deployed on election duty from Tuesday and they will conduct regular mobile patrols and seek Army and Security Forces help if necessary. Election Commissioner's Department sources said the first result would be released just after midnight. The election will be monitored by local NGOs, PAFFREL, CMEV and the Diriya Foundation. JHU opposes Muslim brigade The JHU yesterday condemned moves to create a special Muslim brigade in the Sri Lanka Army calling it an attempt to divide the country further on ethnic grounds. Insisting that there is no need for the creation of a regiment purely on ethnic grounds, JHU Leader Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera said there were a large number of Muslim officers and soldiers who made significant contributions to the Army, especially in the intelligence divisions. “The soldiers and officers of the forces should be identified as Sri Lankans and not on ethnic grounds,” the Thera said. Fisherman loses both hands in explosion A fisherman, identified as P. Shanthan Fernando (42), of Mannar, lost both his hands, below the wrists, when a container, he found floating in the Thalvupadu Sea, Mannar on Monday afternoon, exploded while he was trying to open it, police said. He was immediately taken Mannar Hospital and was immediately transferred to Anuradhapura hospital where his condition is reported to be critical, the sources said. Navy headquarters contradicted the victim’s statement, given to local sources. "We believe Fernando was wounded in a blast at his house," a navy official said. There was evidence to suggest that the blast occurred as he was handling some gelignite. British citizens warned to avoid N-E The British government has issued a fresh travel advisory for its citizens visiting Sri Lanka, advising them against all but essential travel to the north and east of the country owing to political violence and civil unrest. The travel advisory states that British citizens should avoid areas north of the A 9 road, including the Jaffna peninsula, the whole of the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee and the coastal areas of Ampara north of Pottuvil. “Ongoing political violence and civil unrest, especially in the north and east, continues to escalate. Since December 2005, the security situation has deteriorated and there have been many fatal attacks. There is a threat from domestic terrorism. Local elections are about to take place in Sri Lanka. The majority of these elections will take place on 30 March 2006. Further polls are likely in May 2006. You should follow local developments closely, be aware of your surroundings and be alert to changing situations. Avoid political gatherings or demonstrations,” the travel advisory from the British Foreign and Commonwealth office said. Dead body found in Kaluwanchchikudi The body of Thambirajah Thankarajah (55), a father of two children, was found in a well in Onthachchimadam village of Kaluwanchchikudi on Tuesday, 28 March. Thankarajah’s body was found with severe wounds from beating and stabbing. Investigations are being conducted by the Kaluwanchchikudi police. This type of killing, when the body has stab wounds and is disposed in this manner, is a similar pattern of killing carried out by paramilitaries in recent times. Dead cranes cause bird-flu scare in Mannar Four cranes found dead in the premises of official bungalow of the Government Agent in Mannar Wednesday afternoon have been sent to Kandy to be examined by veterinary surgeons to determine the cause of death, Mannar hospital sources said. On a report from Mannar Police, the Medical Officer of Health in Mannar Dr. M. Kathirgamanathan immediately contacted the Animal Husbandry Unit in Kandy and had briefed them on the situation. On the instruction he received Dr.Kathirgamanathan with a team of medical specialists rushed to the site and collected the dead birds and packed them in a polythene bag and dispatched it to Kandy, Mannar sources said.Meanwhile, two other birds (cranes) found on the top of the tree in the premises of GA bungalow are also reported to be sick and on the verge of death, sources said. Lack of Delhi's support for Sri Lankan Tamils deplored It is regrettable that the Indian Government, which backs the cause of Palestinians, is not supporting Sri Lankan Tamils who are also fighting for a cause, said speakers at a meeting here on Tuesday. They asked why India, which used to have frequent meetings with Sri Lankan officials, did not call for a meeting with the leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to know their views. They were confident that days were not far off when a free Tamil Eelam would become a reality. Releasing a book written by Tamil Desiya Iyakkam president P. Nedumaran, Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani said the situation in Tamil areas of the island was similar to that of Kashmir and India, which was eager to settle the Kashmir issue by holding talks with them, was not showing interest in the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamils who belonged to the same Tamil race here. K.P. Aravanan, former Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniyam Sundaranar University, who presided, said the LTTE cadres should not be called terrorists as they were fighting for the rights of their people. He congratulated Mr. Nedumaran for steadfastly supporting the cause of Tamil Eelam. Two other books written by Mr. Nedumaran were released. UNP behind Secretary's killing - Minister Maithreepala Agriculture, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithreepala Sirisena says his Private Secretary M.L/Dharmasiri was assassinated by a group of the main opposition from Dimbulagala. At a media briefing held in the Foundation Institute this morning (29), he said this murder should not be credited to the LTTE account. He claimed this murder was not committed by the LTTE or the JVP and reiterated this was totally a politically motivated act of revenge. "The late Mr. Dharmasiri served as my private secretary for 8 years, he was very friendly with people and has never been accused of any wrong doing. He came with me after ending our election propaganda in Dimbulagala area around 10.00 on the 27th and just 10 minutes after he was shot dead", Sirisena said. He dismissed widespread rumours about the assassination and emphasized that it was clearly a political murder. The Minister said a group tried to assassinate him 6 years ago and the case against them was dropped when the UNP assumed office in 2002 and added that he can state with responsibly that the same group is responsible for this murder. Peace still no
certainty for Sri Lanka: Interview with LTTE political advisor, Dr Anton
Balasingham The civil war in Sri Lanka between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) looks set to continue despite upcoming peace talks. Although a ceasefire is in place, violence continues and the LTTE alleges the government is using paramilitary forces in a "shadow war". The LTTE claims that one of the paramilitaries is an Islamic Jihad group with links to Pakistan's security forces. The presence of paramilitaries could derail the peace process. Helen Vatsikopoulos talks to Dr Anton Balasingham, political leader of the LTTE, about these developments. The last thing Sri Lanka needs is an Islamic Jihad. With a death toll of over 60,000 in a decades-long civil war, allegations of an Islamic Jihad paramilitary group operating against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, is causing further fractures in an already tenuous peace. Now, next month's peace talks are in doubt. While the government denies allegations of Islamic paramilitaries, Tamil Tiger leaders say they have the proof. Conference spokesman: The government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure that there will be no intimidation, acts of violence, abductions, or killings. Helen Vatsikopoulos: Geneva last month, the first time in four years the Tigers and the government sat face-to-face. Dr Anton Balasingham, LTTE political advisor: LTTE from now on will cease all forms of violence against the government forces. Helen Vatsikopoulos: The cease-fire was conditional on the government disarming Tamil paramilitary groups, whom the Tigers allege are fighting a shadow war, with government knowledge and support. During talks, the Tigers revealed the group's locations, names and details. The LTTE is still reeling over the defection of their one-time Eastern Commander, Karuna, two years ago. Karuna turned on his former comrades to run a government-sponsored paramilitary group in Tamil country in the east. Karuna, paramilitary leader: The northern leadership is not considered the sole representatives of the Tamils now. They cannot be the representatives of the people living in the east. Helen Vatsikopoulos: The government had succeeded in turning Tamil against Tamil. But the bombshell came with LTTE allegations of a Jihad Muslim paramilitary group operating in the east, with links to Pakistan's Secret Service. The government and Muslim groups have denied the existence of a Jihad group, but the Tigers claim to have the proof. There is a long history of Tamil Tigers killing Muslims, which LTTE now conveniently blames on former Tiger Commander Karuna. But if paramilitaries aren't disarmed, peace talks are in danger. So, why are things so deadlocked? Well, the Tigers are facing a fierce opponent in President Mahinda Rajapakse. The hard-line President won power opposing Tamil demands, something the Tigers helped facilitate by boycotting the elections, and securing the defeat of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was more sympathetic to their cause. So, is Sri Lanka about to plunge into war again? The United States Human Rights Watch group says the Tigers are extorting the Tamil diaspora for money, to fund a final war. And the LTTE says the government is also preparing for war. The man who made the Jihad allegations at the Geneva peace talks is the Tamil Tigers' long-time ideologue. These days, Dr Anton Balasingham is the Tigers' chief negotiator and political advisor. I spoke to him from London, in a rare interview with the western media. Helen Vatsikopoulos: Now, you claim peace talks are in jeopardy because of this "shadow war" also being fought by Tamil paramilitaries controlled by the government. What evidence do you have of this? Anton Balasingham: We have provided quite a lot of evidence documentary evidence, maps and other details to the Sri Lankan government with regard to their existence and functions, with regard to their leadership, their command structure, the location of their camps in the government-controlled areas. And we have submitted ample evidence to substantiate that these groups are actively functioning with the Sri Lankan troops in their offensive military campaigns against the LTTE. Helen Vatsikopoulos: What makes you think the authorities can control them? Because they sound as if they've got a will of their own to fight you. Anton Balasingham: Most of these armed paramilitaries are operating in the government military establishments, in the military camps. So, if Rajapakse government genuinely wants peace, the escalation in normalcy, they can put an end to this violence by disarming these paramilitaries. Helen Vatsikopoulos: One of these paramilitary groups is run by Karuna, your former Eastern Commander. Why did Karuna defect? Anton Balasingham: He has been misbehaving in the sense that there has been a lot of complaints about misappropriation of funds. He has been involved in recruiting underage cadets, and he has been committing serious crimes against the Muslim population in the east. What is disturbing is that the Sri Lankan armed forces are helping him, harbouring him, sustaining him and helping him in this subversive role against the LTTE. That is a most alarming development. Helen Vatsikopoulos: These Tamil paramilitary groups were once your people. They've turned against you, so doesn't that mean you no longer can represent the Tamil community, that it's now Tamil against Tamil? Anton Balasingham: We are not asking the government to disband the political structure of these organisations. Let them function as political organisations. But their armed wings have to be curtailed, and have to be dismantled, because it's posing a serious challenge to the peace process. Helen Vatsikopoulos: You claim that one of these paramilitary groups is a Tamil Muslim Jihad group. What can you tell us about this group? Because the Muslims in the east deny their existence. Anton Balasingham: Yeah, we know why the Muslim political organizations are denying, is the fact that because the international community will be seriously concerned if there is a Muslim terrorist organization functioning in Sri Lanka, with connections. I think we have evidence to prove that this Jihad organization has connections with the Pakistani Military Intelligence. Therefore, they are formally denying it. But we have ample evidence, and we can further submit evidence if the Muslim leaders contact us. Helen Vatsikopoulos: But it beggars belief that any government would allow the growth of a Muslim Jihad group, and one with links to Pakistan, in this current international climate. Anton Balasingham: Yeah, that is a dangerous thing. But the Sri Lankan government has a very good relationship with Pakistan and China, that is our worry. Because Sri Lanka has been getting military assistance and training from Pakistan. And also they have very close relationship with China. So, we are seriously worried whether the intervention of Pakistan in this matter, in training and providing assistance to the Jihad movement, will have serious repercussions. It may have serious repercussions in India, if India comes to know more about these Jihad groups. Helen Vatsikopoulos: Dr Balasingham, is it any wonder that you're having difficulties with this hard-line president? Because by boycotting the elections, you prevented the sympathetic candidate from gaining power. Anton Balasingham: We are prepared to deal with the hard-liners, rather than with the soft-liners who promise certain things and never fulfil anything. So, let us take up this challenge and negotiate with the hard-liners and see how far they will tackle the problem. Our concern is to impress upon the international community that the real problem, the real impediment to the resolution of the Tamil problem are the Sinhalese hard-liners. Helen Vatsikopoulos: So, how can the international community put pressure on this government? Anton Balasingham: I think the international community can assert tremendous influence on the Sri Lankan political system, because the Sri Lankan government is totally depending on the foreign aid that is given by the aid-giving countries. So, these co-chairs of the aid-giving countries of the international community can exert enough pressure on Sri Lankan political leaders to offer something reasonable, something fair to the Tamil people like this, at these last stages. 29 March 2006 Solheim to meet Balasingham in London Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim will meet London-based LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in London today to discuss the facts about the LTTE’s participation in the second round of the Geneva peace talks. The aim of this meeting is to discuss the LTTE’s participation in the upcoming peace talks because it is believed that the LTTE is not going to participate in the forthcoming peace talks. Muslim men to
join battalion. But the officials denied reports that the battalion would be exclusively Muslim. Earlier there'd been a hostile reaction from the Muslim Peace Secretariat. the organisation which represents most Muslim parties in Sri Lanka. It said that recruiting battalions on ethnic lines would aggravate mistrust and undermine security. Muslims form the third largest community in Sri Lanka, after the majority Sinhalese and the Tamils. A leader of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka has criticised government plans to set up a new infantry battalion to protect the Muslim community. A government advert published in a newspaper on Sunday invited Muslim youths to join a new battalion "dedicated to protect the Muslim community living in the east (of the island)." Muslim Peace Secretariat head Javed Yusuf said separating the army along ethnic lines was counterproductive. He said the move would aggravate mistrust among the Tamils and Muslims in a period where we are trying to create national harmony. The government should provide security to every one, he said. Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told Sandesaya that this was not a separate battalion for Muslims. He said the battalion would be deployed in majority Muslim areas. Sri Lanka Air Force unmanned aircraft crashes in Vavuniya A Sri Lanka Air Force miniature unmanned reconnaissance aircraft (UAV) crashed at Maharamba-kulma yesterday (28). Householder Chelliah Rahisnun on whose garden the aircraft had crashed informed the police who called the SLAF. The ‘Super Star N222lk type aircraft however had not caught fire after the crash. Police and SLAF were inquiring into the cause of the crash. In an earlier incident, on October 19, 2005, a similar unmanned aircraft had crashed down in Karrapukuthi Vingnanakulam in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) territory. The SLAF used up to half a dozen Israeli built drones extensively during major military offensives in the Vanni region in the late ninties. Almost all were lost either through LTTE ground fire or accidents. Teachers urge MR to remove Karuna camp in Batti Parents and teachers of a convent in front of the new office opened by the Karuna faction in Batticaloa have written to President Mahinda Rajapakse requesting him to take action to remove it. The office is located at Govinda Road close to St. Cecilia’s Convent. The patents have said in the letter that persons from the office taunted schoolgirls and they feared for their safety. The letter has been copied to foreign missions, the SLMM and the media. Meanwhile, military sources in Batticaloa said that they suspected the Tigers of using the cover of civilian groups to put pressure on the activities of the Karuna group. The office is the first of its kind opened by the Karuna faction since it broke ranks with the LTTE in March 2003. Ranil to meet Indian PM on Sunday UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 2 for bilateral talks. Wickremesinghe’s official visit to India will coincide with President Mahinda Rajapakse’s state visit to Pakistan where he will hold talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff on trade and defence issues. President Rajapakse is due to leave for Pakistan Friday while Wickrem-esinghe will leave for India on Saturday, April 1. Wickremesinghe is expected to discuss Indo-Sri Lanka relations and the peace process with the Indian Prime Minister. Prime Minister Singh informed President Rajapakse during his visit to India in December to arrive at a working arrangement with the UNP on the peace process. Wickremesinghe will be accompanied to India by Colombo District MP Milinda Moragoda. Probe into Navy
procurements President appoints one-man Commission The Commission will also look into other procurement of military materials and services during the period 2001 to 2005 by the Sri Lanka Navy. Sri Lanka Administrative Service retired senior officer Edmund Jayasuriya will serve as the Secretary to the Commission. The Commission invites any person or organization to submit written representations to the Commission in respect of all or any of the above matters and such representations should reach the secretary to the Commission on or before April 17 at No. 2-113, BMICH, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.For further information, the Secretary to the Commission could be contacted on 2673408 during normal office hours TRF threatens to attack Army Pro-LTTE groups in the north east warned on Monday that they will recommence attacks on the security forces if what they allege as ‘harassments’ continue. "Due to the continuing atrocities by the army and the paramilitaries the Tamil Resurgence Force will resume its attacks on the military," the TRF said in a statement that was released in Batticaloa. The TRF claimed responsibility for several attacks during December and January including a claymore attack in Mannar that left more than 10 sailors dead. It said that it had at least 250-armed members in Jaffna ready for attacks during the upsurge in violence three months back. The latest warning is the first since the conclusion of the peace talks in Geneva in January. The TRF statement came in the backdrop of rising tension in Jaffna where once again student groups and military confronted each other last week. Soldiers entered the Jaffna Technical College at Thinuveli last week and removed the LTTE flag hoisted during a pro-LTTE commemoration event. The students said that the army would have to declare war if they were to continue with such actions. They also warned that students would continue with protests. The Jaffna University was a hotbed of protests during December and January and undergraduate groups had once again declared their displeasure at the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor Ratnajeevan Hoole. Undergraduate groups said that they were even prepared to burn the university down rather than allow the new VC to assume office. The situation in Batticaloa is likely to turn violent if the TRF carries out its threats due to the presence of Karuna faction cadres. Indian parliamentary delegation in Sri Lanka A seven-member Indian parliamentary delegation will arrive in the country today. The delegation is headed by Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha, Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal. The delegation also consists of three Indian MPs — Prasanna Acharya, Dr. K. Malaisamy and Dr. Karan Singh Yadav. It also includes Secretary General, Lok Sabha Secretariat, P.D.T. Achary. The delegation will arrive in the country to participate in the fourth conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians, hosted in Colombo by the Sri Lanka parliament. Gang leader deported to Sri Lanka Immigration charges followed years of deadly street fighting
between rival Tamil groups in '90s Known in Toronto's Tamil community as Kailesh, the 36-year-old father was accused of leading the VVT gang, a west Toronto group that was formed in the early 1990s and named for Valvettithurai, a northern Sri Lankan town. Thanabalasingham denied he led the VVT, or that his criminal convictions - possessing a machete in 1996 and a 1998 conspiracy to commit assault for trying to acquire guns for others - were related to gang membership. A January Immigration and Refugee Board decision that cleared the way for his removal classified both convictions as gang-related and also noted Thanabalasingham was known to visit incarcerated gang members. "It's quite instructive that the appellant took it upon himself to attend court when gang members were charged with criminal offences, to assist in preparing their defence and then visit them in jail when incarcerated. He acted like a shepherd tending to his flock," wrote IRB appeal division member Egya Sangmuah in his Jan. 6 decision. Thanabalasingham's lawyer, Barbara Jackman, had argued that as a Tamil, he would be targeted by the Sri Lankan government if returned home due to media reports that have linked the VVT to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, a guerrilla group fighting the Singhalese government for independence. Sangmuah dismissed claims that Thanabalasingham would face danger. "The Minister (of Immigration) does not allege that the appellant or the VVT is connected to the LTTE," he wrote. "(E)ven if the appellant is wrongly perceived as a member of the LTTE, he will likely not face persecution." Jackman said yesterday she believed her client was being punished unfairly since he had already been sentenced for his criminal activity. "If someone commits a criminal offence, they go to trial, they get a sentence, they get punished for it. Are they ever allowed to overcome it? Yes. In Kailesh's case where his family's all here and he has a clean record since 1998, the board and the minister still think he should be effectively punished," she said. Thanabalasingham came to Canada in July 1991 and was granted refugee status, then became a landed immigrant on Aug. 31, 1992. Police believe he became leader of the VVT in 1997, after the two former alleged leaders, Sri Ranjan Rasa and Niranjan Claude Fabian, were arrested (the men remain in Canada fighting their deportation). VVT's primary target was rival AK Kannan, whose stronghold was in Scarborough. Police allege Jothiravi Sittampalam formed that group, naming it after his street name (Kannan, meaning God) and his love for the AK-47 assault weapon. Before his incarceration he had more than one attempt on his life including the incident in April 2001 when his car was surrounded on an off-ramp of Highway 404 and VVT members opened fire, only slightly injuring him. One of the gangs' most high-profile crimes occurred in December 1997, when suspected VVT members shot at a doughnut shop that was a known AK Kannan hangout, killing Kapilan Palasanthiran, an innocent University of Waterloo student, and injuring two others. During a series of retaliatory crimes, a gang member was seriously injured in 2000 after he was run over by a car, followed by an attack on occupants of a car idling at a Kennedy Rd. address in Scarborough. It was again a case of mistaken identity and two Tamil teenagers not connected to the gangs were killed. "For three years the Tamil community was held hostage by two gangs vying for control in Toronto," said Det. Sgt. Greg Getty, head of Project 1050, in an interview yesterday before Thanabalasingham was escorted on a 10:40 p.m. flight out of Toronto. "If he does get deported, it's a great day for the Tamil community." Only 10 of the 51 alleged gang members arrested in 2001 have been deported. They include AK Kannan's reputed senior member, 33-year-old Panchalingam Nagalingam, who was deported in December. Panchan, as he was known in the community, was often referred to as an AK Kannan enforcer. Police sometimes called him "the cat" for his ability to cheat death. Before his arrest in December 2000, bullets narrowly missed his baby son and girlfriend. Through the media, he told the shooters to leave his family alone and to deal with him instead. In March the next year, he was shot six times as he left the Mimico Detention Centre, where he was serving a sentence on weekends. When interviewed by the Star that summer Nagalingam said he had "no idea" why he was targeted. Another senior member associated with the VVT was deported in January. Jeyaseelan Thuraisingam, known on the street as Seelapu, was deported after his final court appeal for protection was thrown out. Sittampalam, the alleged 35-year-old leader of AK Kannan, remains in Canada awaiting a final federal court appeal. Unlike Thanabalasingham, who paid a $55,000 cash bond in January 2004, with a promise of $40,000 more if he violated bail conditions, Sittampalam has remained in custody since his 2001 arrest. "These are largely permanent residents and people whom Canada has granted protection from persecution and the threshold for deportation is much higher," said Canadian Border and Security Agency spokesperson Anna Pape yesterday, explaining the time it takes for these cases to work their way through immigration and court appeals. "Just because it's a lengthy process doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing. The real success of this project lies at the community level. It's meaningful to Canadians because our efforts are resulting in the dismantling of a network of organized criminals and resulting in a large reduction of local crime." After the arrests four and a half years ago, many in Toronto's Tamil community said they breathed a sigh of relief and there was a noticeable dip in crime in Tamil neighbourhoods. But lately some new youths are attempting to fill the void. Police sources say that while the violence has not reached the level it was in the 1990s, Tamil youth groups calling themselves names such as the MCF (Money Comes First), Bravehearts or TBT (True Brown Thugs), are starting to build up their ranks. 28 March 2006 Minister's
secretary shot dead Major fire at UPF leader’s house A major fire broke out at UPF leader P. Chandrasekaran’s Colombo residence in a high security zone last night, completely razing the second floor, while Mr. Chandrasekaran and his family had been asleep, but there were no reports of injuries to them. Police and Fire Brigade sources said the 13 –year-old son of parliamentarian Susantha Punchinilame who lives next door had noticed the fire and alerted the fire brigade. They said Mr. Chandrasekaran, his wife and two daughters escaped without injuries from the residence down Keppetipola Mawatha adjoining Summit flats. Fire fighters were battling to bring the fire under control and stop it from spreading to adjoining buildings.The house was earlier occupied by Samurdhi Affairs Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi. Several Tamil politicians rushed to the scene while Fire Brigade duty officer W.J. Sumathipala said it was too early to assess the damage. Fishing restrictions
re-imposed Military authorities say the move is aimed at stopping Tamil Tigers using fishermen for weapons smuggling. Weapons smuggling Navy spokesman Commander DKP Dassanayake told BBC Sandeshaya that the ban is intended for multi-day fishing trawlers weighing more than three tons and more than 20 feet in length. “This is purely imposed because of the threat posed by the LTTE. Multi-day fishing trawlers being used for transfer of war-like materials, mostly high-tech lethal weapons,” he told bbcsinhala.com. He accused the Tamil Tigers of transporting weapons using fishing boats “under the cover of” ceasefire agreed with the government. Six Tamil Tigers were killed and eight sailors are still missing after a mid-sea explosion off Kalpitiya on Saturday. The LTTE has denied any involvement but the international truce monitors say it is difficult to rule out LTTE hand. Madawala ghost for Ratwatte Former Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte was in for a surprise yesterday when he visited the ghost town of Madawala – site of the Udathalawinna massacre - where factories, schools and shops were shut protesting his visit there.The former Defence Minister was in Madawala to take part in a propaganda campaign of the UPFA. Mr. Ratwatte was acquitted in a case involving the massacre of ten Muslim youth in the Madawala area in 2001.An attempt by the people to hoist black flags protesting against the massacre of ten Muslim youth in Madawala was foiled by the police. Signs of SLFP- JVP marriage breaking up The JVP has communicated to government top rungers that it will take a decision whether to continue its support to the government after the local government elections unless acts of violence unleashed on the JVP by the SLFP were not brought to an immediate end. Attacks on JVP supporters were reported over the past few days from various parts of the island injuring a JVP parliamentarian, a provincial councilor, a former Pradeshiya Sabha member and several party candidates. Some of the injured are still under treateetn in several hospitals. A JVP member who was critically injured in an attack by a group of SLFP supporters at Vijayapura Junction, Anuradhapura recently is still being treated at the intensive care unit of the Colombo National Hospital. The JVP pointed the finger at a group of supporters of Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake for the attack. The Chief Minister while vehemently rejecting the JVP allegations claimed it was he who made arrangements to dispatch the injured person to the Colombo National Hospital. In another incident involving SLFP and JVP supporters at Mapalagama, Nagoda, Galle, JVP parliamentarian Thilakaratne Withanachchi and 15 of his supporters were injured. The JVP charged that the attacks were being carried out by the SLFP in an organized manner especially in areas where the JVP is ahead of the SLFP. At a media briefing convened by the JVP tomorrow, the party is expected to make a statement on these attacks and its future strategy. Meanwhile sources close to the President said that he might call a snap general election if the Freedom Alliance could secure victory in 150 local bodies or more at the mini poll. As the JVP and the SLFP lock horns in this manner, it is reported that President's emissaries are engaged in talks with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe about a possible political partnership. It is also said these unofficial talks have received blessings of the President. At the last cabinet press briefing, Government Spokesman Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa denied reports that claimed talks were underway for a national government. We support Tamil right to self-rule in Sri Lanka’ ….- Erik Solheim Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of International Development in a wide ranging interview to Indian magazine Tehelka has said Norway is supporting Tamil right to self-rule in Sri Lanka. Text of the interview as follows: The Sri Lankan government was against holding the talks in Norway, as demanded by the Tigers. They insisted that talks be held in Sri Lanka or in some Asian country. How did the two parties agree on Geneva finally? The two parties agreed to meet after being convinced that the ceasefire agreement must be upheld to prevent further escalation of the situation. Norway reassured the parties of its readiness to facilitate talks wherever they agree to meet. They agreed on Geneva on a suggestion from the facilitator. Switzerland has always, in their eyes, played a constructive role and maintained an unbiased approach in the peace process. What was the agenda for the talks? Negotiations in Geneva were not means to end the conflict, but it is very positive that the parties agreed to discuss how to improve the serious security situation. You have held talks with both the parties. What are the major complaints and grievances on each side? The main complaints relate to the high level of killings, abductions and violence over the last month. But I cannot paraphrase the parties’ positions on these matters. Do you believe a negotiated solution is possible, given the history of aborted agreements and failure of peace initiatives in the last five decades between the Sinhalese and the Tamils? I sincerely believe in a negotiated political solution. The Norwegian government is committed to actively promoting peace and reconciliation internationally. We will continue to give priority to facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka as long as the parties request our efforts and we see that we can play a constructive role. I hope that the parties gain mutual confidence to take the peace process forward. There is clear pressure on President Mahinda Rajapakse from his allies, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Jathika Hela Urumaya, not to concede even the most basic demands of Tamils. Both parties favour a solution within a unitary state structure, a departure from former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. With Rajapakse dependent on them for survival, how meaningful can talks be? I cannot in my position as third party facilitator involve myself in political issues regarding internal dynamics on either side. Do you think a solution is possible within a unitary state structure? I take the view that the parties should not be blinded by the use of different terms and find a solution acceptable to all Sri Lankans. What in your view are the legitimate grievances of Tamils? There is broad agreement in the international community on support for Tamil rights to some form of self-rule or power sharing within a united Sri Lanka. Do you agree with the view that trouble started with the controversial Ceylon Citizenship Act in 1948 disenfranchising thousands of Tamils, the declaration of Sinhala as official language, and the subsequent laws in education favouring the Sinhalese etc, resulting in the alienation of Tamils? Both parties would have a different take on this issue. Norway is tasked to bring the parties to the table and assist them in finding a durable solution to the conflict. We have to be careful in our comments on historical matters, however important they may be. There is a view that the eu will revoke its travel ban on LTTE cadre post-Geneva talks. Do you see that happening? Norway is not a member of the eu and thus not involved in eu deliberations. We do not have an official stance on this issue. The Sri Lankan government’s proxy war against the LTTE through the Karuna group is said to be the main cause for the escalation in violence. Has the government given any assurance of disarming Karuna?
The parties are committed to end the campaign of violence. What did the LTTE’s Prabhakaran tell you? Prabhakaran promised to do his part to put a stop to the escalating violence. He reaffirmed his commitment to the peace process and a peaceful solution. The US seems to have taken a pro-Sinhala stand. The recent statements of Under Secretary Nicholas Burns and Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead betray their bias. Many governments, including the US, expressed their support to the parties ahead of the talks. We are encouraged by the support of India, US and others to Norway’s involvement as facilitators. What was the outcome of your recent Indian visit and meetings with NSA MK Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran? India has always been supportive of the peace process and of Norway as facilitator, and reiterated its support during the meetings. Norway will continue to keep India informed throughout the process. LTTE no liberator of Tamils - Nirmala Rajasingham The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have murdered all Tamil political leaders with moderate views, Nirmala Rajasingham, sister of Rajini Thiranagama, told the BBC's Carrie Gracie in an interview last week. Thiranagama was shot dead by the LTTE in 1989, at the age of 35. She had been an LTTE activist and later had left the organisation and published a book about human rights violations in Northern Sri Lanka. No more tears sister, a film on her life story is now being screened in London. Rajasingham, who herself had been an LTTE activist and is now living in exile in the UK after being fed up of human rights violations of the LTTE, decided to speak up after nearly 20 years of silence. Excerpts from the interview: "My family members have decided that it was finally time for me to speak the truth. The time has come to express my own political view as to what's happening in Sri Lanka openly and do my duty to my people. The assassination was a very planned and high level decision. My sister was a very outspoken person. She and her close associates were all destroyed. The LTTE has evolved into a very centralised authority and military outlet that doesn't give any importance to democratic forms of resistance. It is purely and simply a military organisation, organised very hierarchically, with one man on the top making all the decisions. They have the principle that they are the sole representatives of the Tamil people. If we accept them, then that means there's no room for any other alternate political opinion or political party. The situation at home is much worse. Most people only open their mouths to eat. They have to speak in coded languages. The LTTE started banning all other Tamil organisations from 1986 and that they had gone on a huge rampage and had literally destroyed one group after another, murdering several hundreds of cadres of those groups each time. The ethnic conflict started with the Sri Lankan state putting pressure on the Tamil areas. My sister and I felt that we needed to fight for the liberation of the Tamils. I was the first female to be imprisoned by the Sri Lankan Government under the 'Prevention of Terrorism Act' for harbouring and giving medical assistance to terrorists. My period in the LTTE was short because every time I turned around I saw something irregular going on and spoke up against it. It was a very oppressing atmosphere. I realised that the dream of liberating the Tamils was not being realised by the LTTE. This was when I decided to run into exile in Britain. Once you leave the Tigers, you could not do any other politics, and that if you did the price would have to be paid with your life. I am trying to be optimistic about the peace talks going on and I hope to come back to the country under a completely democratic set up." 27 March 2006 Capturing Trinco UC, key to scuttle de-merger rhetoric- TNA "Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) must capture the administration of the Trincomalee Urban Council in the local poll to scuttle the campaign by chauvinist elements for a de-merger of the NorthEast province. Tamil speaking people in the Trincomalee district must unequivocally demonstrate that they will not allow such moves to materialize," said Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district ITAK parliamentarian addressing an election meeting Sunday evening at Anpuvallipuram, a suburb that comes within the Trincomalee urban council boundary, sources in Trincomalee said. The ITAK officials in the eastern town said they have begun electioneering with full swing -four days more to go for polls which is to be held 30 March. "We should be prepared to take the challenge to capture more local authorities, especially the Trincomalee Urban Council which is the main target of the chauvinist elements. Every Tamil speaking person in Trincomalee should get out on the polling day to cast his or her vote for the ITAK symbol, HOUSE," Mr.Thurairatnasingham said. The ITAK is contesting 10 out of thirteen local authorities in the Trincomalee district including two urban councils- Trincomalee and Kinniya. The ITAK returned uncontested for Verugal Pradesiya Sabah (PS) located in the LTTE controlled Eachchilampathu division on February 16 when no other political party and independent group submitted nomination lists. The ITAK is not contesting two PSs-one is Gomarankadawela and the other Padavi Siripura in the north of the Trincomalee district. The ITAK has fielded candidates for the PS of Kantalai, Thambalakamam, Kinniya, Trincomalee Town and Gravets, Seruvila, Morawewa, Kuchchaveli and Muttur. Trincomalee district election office has made arrangements to set up cluster polling stations for about 10,000 voters registered in the LTTE held Muttur east villages in the no-man zone located beyond the Kaddaiparichchan bridge which divides the LTTE and SLA controlled territories. At the last presidential poll held in November 2005, election department located cluster polling stations for Muttur east voters into the government-controlled area one km away from the Kaddaiparichchan SLA camp on the direction of the Supreme Court. The Election Department arranged transport for those voters to travel from their villages to the cluster-polling stations to cast their votes. But they boycotted the presidential election.In the 2004 parliamentary election, the election department located cluster-polling station in the no-man zone located between the SLA and LTTE held territories. For the current local election the Election Department has agreed to locate cluster polling stations in the no-man zone between the two borders of the SLA and LTTE like in the last parliamentary poll. The Department has also made arrangement to send about 15 buses to transport voters from the LTTE held villages to no-man zone during the polling day, sources said.Of about 33 thousand registered voters, 16 thousand are Tamils in the Muttur PS area. LTTE 'not fighting'
in GoSL land “Western command of the Sea Tigers confirmed that there was no involvement of the sea Tigers in this incident,” Pulithevan told BBC Sandeshaya. SLMM statement He added that it is the responsibility of the GoSL to investigate the incident happened in area under their control. But the international truce monitors have not accepted the explanation given by the Tigers. Strongly condemning the attack, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), said it is hard to rule out LTTE hand on the incident happened on Saturday, though the Tamil Tigers have denied any involvement. “Based on SLMM’s previous experience during the period of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) we feel that we cannot at this stage rule out their involvement,” a statement issued on Sunday said. Paramilitaries Pulithevan also accused the Sri Lanka Army of not living up to the pledges given to Geneva to disarm paramilitary groups. The LTTE handed over a list of SLA commanders who are collaborating with the paramilitary groups. But the Sri Lanka military denies any involvement with the paramilitaries operating in the north and east. Six Tamil Tiger rebels have died after blowing up their vessel off Sri Lanka's north-west coast, according to the military. The blast came as the navy approached the rebel boat which was suspected of gun-running, a military spokesman said. Eight sailors are missing, while 11 others were rescued. The navy gunboat was also destroyed in the explosion. President to take up Dvora attack at int’l level President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to take up Saturday’s LTTE suicide attack on the Navy’s Dvora at international level, while intelligence reports claimed there were aircraft parts, missiles and explosives on board the blown up LTTE trawler. A high ranking defence official told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the President after a series of meeting with his advisors and defence officials had taken this decision to inform the international community of the attack and pressurise the LTTE. Meanwhile, a military official said the navy was on high alert in the western seas of the country during the last few days as there were intelligence reports that the Tigers were transporting war-like material from a ship in the high seas off the south coast. Intelligence reports also claimed that parts of an aircraft, missiles and explosives were being transported in this particular trawler which had a Sinhala name on its hull, he said. The military believes that the six persons aboard the trawler would have exploded it to prevent it from being captured and its cargo exposed to the world, the official said. He said that an inquiry was underway to establish how the Navy’s Dvora was hit. Initial investigations revealed that the Dvora had gone close to the LTTE craft which was carrying six men on board after detecting it about 17 nautical miles from Kalpitiya and ordered it to stop to check.When the navy spoke to the men aboard the LTTE craft using a mega phone, one of them had replied in broken Sinhala that they were fishermen. Suddenly, the trawler, heavily laden with explosives blew itself seriously damaging the Dvora around 11.00 am. Due to the blast eight sailors were presumed dead. Eleven others were rescued by another Dvora operating in the nearby seas. Six LTTE men also were killed. SLMM condemns attack on Navy The SLMM in a statement said yesterday that it could not rule out the possibility of LTTE’s involvement in Saturday’s attack on a Navy vessel. While strongly condemning the attack, the SLMM said it was still too early to establish exactly the details of the attack and that it was currently conducting investigations. “The LTTE has denied any involvement. However, based on SLMM’s previous experience during the period of the Ceasefire Agreement, we feel that we cannot at this stage rule out its involvement” the SLMM said. The statemenrt said, “The SLMM would like to urge the LTTE to extend its full cooperation to both the Sri Lankan Government and the SLMM on this matter in the hope that we can establish how this attack came about and how such incidents can be avoided in the future. “There has been a dangerous escalation of violence taking place over the last couple of weeks. This trend is extremely worrying as the parties prepare themselves to meet in Geneva for a second round of talks in four weeks time. “Several serious incidents took place in Trincomalee Bay during the last week resulting in exchange of fire between the Sri Lankan Navy and the LTTE. The SLMM would like to stress that both sides have shown lack of commitment and their actions have been provocative and not in line with the spirit of the CFA. “Finally the SLMM would like to urge both parties to refrain from provocative acts and live up to the pledges they made in Geneva by showing their true commitment to the CFA. If the parties do not take responsibility, we fear that the situation could become gradually worse resulting in an escalation beyond what we had in December and January. Confidential report to President says JVP will be defeated A research by a group close to the President has revealed that the JVP will not secure power in any of the local authorities at the local government polls. The research report has been handed over to the President recently. According to the report the JVP will suffer defeat at the only local government body under its control, the Tissamaharama Pradeshiya Sabha. The UNP will emerge victorious in JVP strongholds, the report has said. In areas where the JVP is strong, the Freedom Alliance will obtain 30 % of votes while the JVP will secure 25% and UNP with 40% will gain control in such local bodies, the report has further indicated. At the 2002 local government election, the United National Party swept the board as the anti-UNP vote was divided among the People's Alliance and the JVP. For instance at the Habaraduwa Pradeshiya Sabha, 51,382 voters had cast their votes out of the total of 72354 registered voters,in which the UNP obtained 23,936 votes, the People's Alliance 20650 and the JVP 4102 votes. If the PA and the JVP contested in an Alliance it would have won the Pradeshiya Sabha by 816 votes. Similarly at the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha, the UNP secured 40161 votes. The PA got 33736 votes while the JVP received 8016 votes. Had the PA and the JVP contested under one banner they would have gained control in the Pradeshiya Sabha by a majority of 1591 votes. Te UNP was able to win the majority of the local authorities at the last local government poll, as the anti-UNP vote was divided among the PA and the JVP. At this election in addition to the Freedom Alliance and the JVP, the Hela Urumaya is also in the fray and as a result the anti-UNP vote will be further divided. JVP General Secretary Tylvin Silva has stated that the JVP will gain control in more than 50 local authorities. Meanwhile a confidential report prepared by the Police Intelligence on behalf of the Inspector General has indicated that the JVP is streets ahead in their propaganda campaign over the Freedom Alliance. According to this report the JVP has the edge over the Freedom Alliance in the Hambantota, Matara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Monaragala and Anuradhapura districts. LG polls campaign ends tonight All polls related activities including canvassing and public rallies will end at midnight today, the Elections Department said. According to Commissioner General of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake, police heads had been instructed to remove polls related banners and posters from midnight today. The local government polls will be held on Thursday to elect members to 266 local government bodies in the country. However, the election to 22 councils has been held up on court orders. More than 160,000 officials will be deployed for duty on the polling day. Father of two children knifed to death in Valaichenai Kulathunga Regikanth (26) of Kurinchnagar was abducted by paramilitary group on Saturday morning and his dead body with cut injuries was later found in Valaichenai. According to Regikanth’s relatives, Regikanth, was operating with a paramilitary group and deserted the group four months ago. He has not involved himself in any such activities since and has been living an ordinary life. The paramilitary group which he deserted has been threatening him with death ever since his desertion. On the day of his abduction and murder, a group of 20 armed men were waiting for him near Valaichenai Police station. Regikanth passed the police station on his way to home in Kurinchinagar from Karuvakerni when he was abducted.Relatives of Regikanth suspect, Kathirgamathamby Jeyaseelan (alias Jeyanthan) and Suman (alias Ajith) who are two prominent members of the paramilitary Karuna group for the abduction and murder of Regikanth. JVP victim of UPFA attack air lifted to Colombo Two JVP supporters, who were seriously injured when UPFA supporters attacked them, had been admitted to Anuradhapura hospital. As the condition of one of them, M. Bandula Marambage, was critical, he was airlifted to Colombo on Saturday evening and admitted to the National Hospital, on the orders of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The clash had occurred on Friday night at Wijayapura junction in the East Anuradhapura electorate. UPFA supporter Sanjeewa Kaluarachchi and T.K. Siritilleke alias ‘Pala’ of the JVP were also admitted to Anuradhapura hospital with injuries. According to JVP MP Ranaweera Pathiratne, supporters of North Central Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake had allegedly assaulted the JVPers. President addressing the UPFA candidates recently asked party workers not to engage in clashes with the friendly parties who were contesting the election. The JVP and the JHU are contesting the Local Government polls separately though they support the central government. The parties cncerned specially the JVP cadres worked hard to make Mahinda Rajapaksa the president , when some of the SLFP stalwarts including the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike, were evading the election campaign. There had been clashes reported from several areas where all three major parties were involved. A Muslim unit in the Sri Lanka Army The Sri Lanka Army is going to recruit a batch of Muslim soldiers to safeguard Muslims living in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The interviews will be held at the Konduwatuwana Army Camp in Ampara. The new recruits will be attached to a new unit of the light infantry corps. This is the first time a government military unit is formed on an ethnic basis. The Sri Lanka military does not usually recruit personnel on ethnic lines but the forces are dominated by the majority community, the Sinhalese. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) charged at last month’s Geneva peace talks that there are Muslim militant groups in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Four policemen netted for robbing vehicles Four policemen including an Inspector in charge of a Police Sports Unit in Kurunegala division responsible for a series of vehicle robberies in the area were taken into custody during the weekend. The suspects an Inspector and three Police Constables were arrested on a tip off by a person whose vehicle was robbed by the suspects at gun point recently. HQI Kurunegala police CI Anil Priyantha told the Daily Mirror the suspected policemen had robbed a car recently in the guise of requesting a lift. They had reportedly forcibly got control of the vehicle and dropped the driver on the way and fled the scene. The driver who had gone to the police station attached to the Kurunegala division to lodge a complaint had identified one of the constables present there as one was with the robbers. He had reported the incident to Kurunegala Police Headquarters Station and the suspected policemen were arrested. According to initial investigations the suspects had been responsible for 17 vehicle robberies carried out in and out of the district and believed to have transferred the vehicles to uncleared areas in the East. The suspects were later produced before Kurunegala Magistrate and remanded. The police are continuing investigations. New houses for Sri Lanka's estate workers The Sri Lankan government is going to construct 50,000 new houses for estate worker families currently living in estate line houses. The project's commencement ceremony was held today at Ragala in the Nuwara Eliya district. The project, named ‘Jana Sewana’ (People’s Shelter), was ceremonially inaugurated by Minister of Estate Infrastructure and Veterinary Resources R.M.C.B. Ratnayake. The government has allocated Rs.1.25 billion for this project. A further Rs. 750 million has been allocated for road development in estate areas. The Ministry of Estate Infrastructure and Veterinary Resources recently started a door-to-door mail delivery service for estate workers with the help of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication. Until then, letters addressed to the workers were handed over to the estate office and the workers had to go there to collect them. Estate workers are the first wage labourer class of Sri Lanka. The colonial rulers had to bring these workers from neighbouring South India as Sri Lankans at the time did not offer themselves for state labour. The estate workers went on to contribute immensely to the economic development of the country. But they did not receive proper basic facilities such as housing, sanitation or water. The dwellings in which they have been living for generations are single room line houses with common toilets and minimal other facilities. Army Commander stranded on Dambulla rock Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was stranded on the Dambulla rock for about an hour and a half on Saturday afternoon when he visited the Dambulla Temple. When the convoy carrying the Army Commander entered the Dambulla Temple premises through an alternative route, the gate was locked. But it was alleged that the Commander’s security officers had broken the padlock of the gate and entered the premises. Later the security personnel of the Temple had informed the Chief Priest Ven Inamaluwe Sri Sumangala Thera. He had again locked the gate using a new padlock. As a result the Commander had to stay inside the premises for more than one hour. Later some of the security officers of the Commander had gone to meet the Chief priest and got the gate opened. However, Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe rejected the allegations and said the Commander normally did not inform any other party before visiting any place due to security situation. On that day also the Commander went to the Temple without informing anyone, and the convoy entered the temple premises through a gate, which was closed, but not locked. “As the gate was not locked, Commander’s security men had opened the gate and entered the premises and parked their vehicles”. After spending more than one hour at the Temple, when the Commander returned to his vehicle, he had found that the gate was locked. Later the security officials had met with the Chief Priest of the Temple and got the gate opened, the spokesman said. “We never did any thing wrong thing, and also there
was no sign board near the gate too, that is why the convoy entered the
premises”, the spokesman added. Following complaints registered with the Vavuniya District
Judge M. Ilancheliyan by residents of Sasthrikoolankulam of alleged Sri
Lanka Army (SLA) involvement in the killing of a merchant on Friday, the
Judge ordered the Commanding Officers of Kalmadu, Pampaimadu and Thandikulam
army camps to appear in courts on Monday, legal sources in Vavuniya said.
Following the incident, Vavuniya District Judge visited the site on Saturday and had discussions with residents of the area. Local witnesses had told the Judge: "A white van came to the site of the incident on the previos day, Thursday. The same people who came in the van were the gunmen at Firday's shooting. Two Sinhala letters (U Ha) were inscribed on that white van. On Friday, six men arrived in the van and two remained in the van while the other four got down. Two men stood close to the van while the other two entered Mr. Murugesu's shop and shot him dead." "Twenty minutes before the incident took place, soldiers who came to that area on a motor cycle had a look at the site," eyewitnesses told the Judge. Neighbours who took the dead person and the injured man to the hospital. "An hour after the incident, the SLA soldiers who were at the site demanded a local resident to bring water. When the person showed up, they the soldiers beat him and left the place." "The soldiers returned after 2 hours and asked him whether the injured person would die or survive. They also asked whether he could identify the gunmen." Having listened to these statements, Mr.M . Ilanchelian ordered the Commanding Officers of Kalmadu, Pampaimadu and Thandikulam army camps located around Sasthrikoolankulam to appear in courts on Monday and give their statements. In this connection the order issued to the Vavuniya ASP states "if one is asked to to appear for an inquiry in connection with a crime, under section 307 (05) of the Criminal Act the magistrate can order the said person to appear in courts. At the same time the witness could be ordered to produce to the courts documents and evidences connected with the said incident. But if the order is violated, under section 307 (06) the said person could be brought to courts and his statement taken," legal sources in Vavuniya said. Legal sources added the SLA Commanding officers have to obtain warrants from the court and produce them in the court if they intend to violate Judge's orders. Meanwhile, the District Judge has issued written orders to Vavuniya Police Officer in Charge, Tennekoon, to make arrangements for the injured person to be treated at a hospital in another district and to provide security. He has also issued written orders to Major General Edirisighe to make arrangements for the Commanding Officers to be produced in courts. 26 March 2006 LTTE, TNA discuss Vavuniya violence with SLMM Head of Vavuniya LTTE Political Wing, Mr Gnanam, Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, and several Vavuniya civil society
representatives held discussions with members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring
Mission (SLMM) on escalating violence in Vavuniya targetted against businesspersons,
at the LTTE political office in Puliyankulam at 10.30 a.m. Saturday, sources
from Vavuniya said. Mr Gnanam told the SLMM that violence against traders by paramilitaries operating with the help of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) will create a serious impediment to peace and that proper steps should be taken to stop the violence urgently. He added that the business activity in Vavuniya will be badly affected if this situation is allowed to continue. Mr Kishor expressed concern that the SLMM members have not visited the site in Sasthrikulankulam where Vavuniya trader Mr Murugesu was killed for more than 12 hours after the killing Friday night. Mr Kishor said that he had received information from eye witnesses and local residents that paramilitaries who are involved in demanding extortions from traders are operating from Mundrumurippu and the high security zone in Omanthai with the collaboration of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and that investigations should be initiated to verify the veracity of these allegations. Mr Adaikalanathan said that the civil society is organizing a hartal in Vavuniya on Tuesday and Wednesday protesting against the violence in Vavuniya. All businesses except hospitals will be closed during these two days, the MP said. He added the protests will continue inside the parliament by TNA MPs and outside the parliament by Vavuniya trading community until the Sri Lanka Government brings the violence to an end Meanwhile, legal sources in Vavuniya said, following complaints by residents of Sasthrikoolankulam of alleged Sri Lanka Army (SLA) involvement in the killing of a merchant on Friday, the Vavuniya District Court Judge Mr Ilancheliyan has ordered the Commanding Officers of Kalmadu, Pampaimadu and Thandikulam army camps to appear in courts on Monday. Karuna's visa to India stirs hornet's nest at HC Investigations have revealed that renegade LTTE Eastern Commander, Karuna was smuggled into India in 2005 after obtaining a visa from the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The visa application of Karuna had been forwarded to the Indian High Commission by his handlers through a travel agency in Colombo. It is learnt, Karuna had left Sri Lanka through the Bandaranaike International Airport as a regular passenger. Following Karuna's departure, a separate visa application had been forwarded three days later for his wife but that application had been detected by officials at the Indian High Commission and the visa was refused. Following this detection an inquiry was held at the Indian High Commission to ascertain whether there was collusion between Karuna's handlers in Colombo and High Commission officials in facilitating the renegade LTTE commander's departure to India. An informed source in the Indian High Commission confirmed to The Sunday Leader that Karuna had obtained a visa from the High Commission and travelled to India leading to an internal inquiry in the High Commission. It is learnt, Karuna had subsequently left India and joined his wife in Singapore. President Mahinda Rajapakse who was prime minister at the time Karuna was whisked off to India has not been briefed on this development and is unaware of the whereabouts of Karuna, an informed source said. 28 Govt. conditions for LTTE offices The government laid down a series of conditions for the LTTE to re-open its political offices in government-controlled areas, compelling the Tigers to indefinitely put off the idea, officials said. The 28 conditions were communicated to the LTTE Jaffna leader Ilamparidi in a letter from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission following a separate meeting with the security forces in the area on Tuesday, military officials said on condition of anonymity. Subsequently, the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process also dispatched a communiqué addressed to the SLMM on Monday stating the government's position on the issue. The main conditions spelt out in the three-page letter
included; * Contact details including mobile numbers * No extortion or taxes to be levied * The cadre will conduct themselves according to laws/restrictions
in government-controlled territory On Wednesday, a day after the scheduled opening was called off, LTTE's political wing head S.P. Thamilselvan charged that the conditions violated the spirit of the Geneva agreement reached last month. "We reject the concept of anybody laying down conditions for our members to do political work among our people. The understanding reached at the Geneva talks is being totally nullified by this stance of the Sri Lankan government. If the noble goals of the Geneva talks such as the peace dividend, normalcy and confidence-building are to become a reality, then we are afraid that this posturing by the government and the military is not going to be a step in the right direction," .Thamilselvan was quoted as saying on the Tigers' peace secretariat website. Meanwhile Sri Lanka's Army commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said the conditions were set to prevent the LTTE from abusing the tenets of the ceasefire agreement, which he said were flawed. “One of the weakest areas of the agreement is allowing the LTTE to do political work in government areas," Fonseka told The Sunday Times on the sidelines of re-launching the Army website on Friday. The ceasefire agreement allows the Tigers to engage in political work but there is no mention of setting up offices under the February 2002 truce agreement. Similarly, it permits the travel of unarmed rebels in government-held areas to engage in political activities. Tiger request for airlift turned down The LTTE had made the request through Norwegian peace brokers and wanted its cadre to be transported from Kiliniochchi to Batticaloa and Trincomalee. "Defense authorities have informed that air transport cannot be granted at this moment," the government said in a brief letter to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission. The Tigers were duly informed on Thursday. Army Commander says CFA flawed Army commander, Sarath Fonseka, last week came out strongly against the ceasefire agreement charging it was flawed. Lt. General Fonseka made his comments following the re-launch of the Army website on Friday at Army Headquarters. "The LTTE has exploited CFA's flaws to enter government controlled areas to carry out political activities", the Army commander also said. Fonseka's comments come a month after the government negotiating team which included Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda agreed in Geneva to uphold and respect the CFA in a joint statement with the LTTE issued after the talks. The next round of talks is scheduled to commence on April 19. The Army Commander also charged that no one consulted the Army before the signing of the CFA and that if their opinion was sought they would not have accepted the conditions in the agreement. The JVP and JHU have also stated the CFA was flawed. Former Army Commander, Shantha Kottegoda, while chief of staff participated in the peace talks between the former UNP government and the LTTE from 2002 to May 2003. Postponement unfair - EPDP The EPDP has claimed that the decision to postpone local government elections in the north and the Batticaloa District in the east has undermined the democratic rights of the people. The EPDP has charged that the LTTE and the TNA after failing in every effort taken to put down the party, finally resorted to protesting against the holding of elections in the north and east. EPDP Leader, Minister Douglas Devananda has said that the party would do everything possible to protect the democratic right of the people in the north and east to vote at an election. Vavuniya businessman
shot dead Ramesh has been taken to the Vavuniya General Hospital. His condition is not serious, hospital sources said. Escalation of violence targeted at businessmen in Vavuniya has brought fear and tension within the business community, civil society groups in Vavuniya said. On Wednesday M. Gunaratnam, another Vavuniya businessman who ran a travel business was killed. The killings follow death threats and extortion demands believed to be from paramilitaries operating in the Vavuniya district during the last two months. 25 March 2006 Suicide blast kills six Tamil Tigers, eight Sri Lankan sailors missing Six suspected Tamil Tigers were killed and eight Sri
Lankan sailors were missing after rebels blew themselves up and sank a
navy gunboat that had approached their trawler. "The navy suspected that the trawler was involved in gun running and got near it to carry out a search," a defence official told AFP. "As the FAC (Fast Attack Craft) got near, the six people aboard the trawler blew themselves up." In January, suspected Tamil Tiger rebels blew up a similar gunboat, killing 15 sailors, in a suicide attack outside the northeastern port of Trincomalee. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) deployed a woman cadre to ram an explosives-laden vessel into an Israeli-built gunboat, the navy said at the time. The navy this week detained a fishing trawler operated by suspected Tamil rebels off the island's troubled northern waters while troops and guerrillas exchanged fire in the Jaffna peninsula. The crew of the trawler are still being held by security forces after they were arrested while operating in a restricted zone off the island's north. Sri Lanka has repeatedly accused the Tigers of using the cover of fishermen to launch attacks against the navy. Tension has been rising in the troubled northeast, with the guerrillas accusing the military of building new bunkers in violation of their four-year-old ceasefire. The Tigers accused the navy of attacking villages in the northeast last Monday. The navy said they had fired only in self defence after being attacked by Tigers. There have been sporadic skirmishes despite agreement by both sides last month to scale down violence ahead of another round of talks at a venue in Switzerland next month on saving their troubled truce. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's drawn-out Tamil separatist conflict. Strike grips Trincomalee town amid tension A strike gripped Sri Lanka's restive northeast as Tamil Tiger rebels and the Colombo government traded allegations of reneging on their latest pledges to uphold a troubled truce. Shops and offices shut in the district of Trincomalee in response to the one-day strike called by 'Pongu Tamil Forum' (TDPTF), local residents and officials said on Friday. They said the Pongu Thamil organisation which ordered the strike to protest alleged truce violations by security forces is a front of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Tension has been rising in the troubled region, with the LTTE accusing the military of building new bunkers in violation of their four-year-old truce. The group said the strike is to protest what it claimed are ongoing truce violations by government forces, including the building of bunkers and harassment of civilians by troops. The defence ministry, meanwhile, said Tiger guerrillas fired small arms at a military camp in the area late Thursday, but there were no casualties. The two sides during their talks in Switzerland last month agreed to scale down violence and meet again in April to discuss the implementation of their tenuous truce that has been in place since February 2002. The Swiss talks were held after a spike in violence claimed at least 153 lives between December and January. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Sri Lanka's drawn-out Tamil separatist conflict. UNP loses CMC
petition The judiciary has ruled that the decision by Colombo retaining officer, Mahinda Deshapriya, was legal as the UNP list included a candidate under the qualifying age of 18 years.Justices K Sripavan and Sisira de Abroo decided against the petition by UNP General Secretary NKK Veragoda that argued the 2005 electoral lists should be considered for the 31 March local polls. The UNP has held the power in CMC for decades since independence.Sri Lanka’s ruling alliance, United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), has also lost an appeal against the decision to reject nominations for their stronghold, Gampaha Municipal Council, under the similar grounds.Elections for 261 local government bodies are to be held on 31 March. Polls Chief wants PR system changed Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday called for changes to the electoral system to include both the first past the post and the PR system. Speaking at a news conference Mr. Dissanayake said such a mixed electoral system was widely accepted in the world and that he believed the PR system did not suit the country. “It appears that the candidates are selected not based on academic qualifications but on the strength of their limbs”, the Commissioner said. Mr. Dissanayake ruled out any re-polling in the event of violence at polling booths saying no funds had been allocated for such an exercise. With the country gearing itself for the local polls, the Elections Commissioner said polls for 22 local bodies would not be held since there were petitions against them. The Commissioner said the number of election related incidents were not as much as those reported during the presidential elections. Mr. Dissanayake said voters who do not possess the national identity should have been provided an alternative method of proving their identity when exercising their franchise. US opens first child | ||
