Srisaba's 22nd anniversary Day - 06/05/06
We’ll NEVER FORGET THE FORGOTTEN
Twohundred of our fellow members were killed or wounded
we will never, ever forget them or the sacrifices they made.

TAMIL UNITED DAY

31 May 2008

Sri Lanka rebels reject devolution plan, kill 31 troops: report

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels condemned government moves to devolve more power to the north and east as they reported killing 31 troops in fresh fighting, according to a pro-rebel website Saturday.The head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) political wing, B. Nadesan, said the plan under which the government recently held local elections in former rebel-held areas contained "no basis for a settlement.""Recognition of Tamil sovereignty and right to self-determination are key issues in creating a climate for a negotiated settlement," he told Tamilnet.com in interview.He also accused Colombo of blocking peacebroker Norway from meeting LTTE leaders by refusing to provide access to rebel-held areas. The defence ministry bars media, aid workers and diplomats from travelling to rebel-held areas, citing safety concerns.Sri Lanka's main financial backers -- the United States, Japan, the European Union and Norway -- should keep up their peace-building work, Nadesan said, urging Colombo to allow diplomats to meet LTTE representatives.His statements came as a senior Sri Lankan official accused the LTTE of showing no signs of genuinely wanting peace."We are looking for a negotiated end to this conflict... so far they have shown no inclination to enter into any constructive dialogue," Palitha Kohona, secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on the sidelines of a security summit in Singapore."The LTTE is free to come back to the negotiating table but... must do so genuinely with a commitment to negotiating a sustainable peace and for that it must also leave aside its weaponry," he said.Despite rebel opposition, the Colombo-based government has been moving ahead to devolve more power to Tamil regions in the Sinhalese-majority island.The Tigers launched their battle for a separate Tamil state in 1972 in the north and east and the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people.Fighting has escalated sharply since Colombo exited from a Norwegian brokered ceasefire in January, believing it could crush the rebels militarily.After ejecting the LTTE from its eastern bastion last July, the government held polls earlier this month to allow residents to elect their own representatives to run the local administration.Campaigning on a government ticket, the former rebel breakaway TMVP won a majority to run the multi-ethnic eastern province made up of Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese.The LTTE political chief said, however, that the Tamils have "no interest in it (Colombo's devolution plans)" and accused President Mahinda Rajapakse of "paying lip service" to a political solution while pursuing a "war against the Tamil nation."He also dismissed Colombo's charges that the LTTE were behind a string of bomb attacks that killed at least 32 people and injured over 100 this month."The LTTE categorically denies responsibility for the attacks on civilians," he said, accusing the military of setting off mines targeting Tamil civilians. Meanwhile, the Tigers said they repelled an army advance into rebel-held areas of Vavuniya and Mannar on Friday, killing 31 troops and wounding at least 52 in several clashes, Tamilnet.com said said.The army "pulled back after sustaining casualties," the rebels said, without giving details of any of their own casualties. There was no comment from the defence ministry.Fighting is now centred around the north as government troops try to regain vast swathes of land under rebel control.Rajapakse has said he plans to conduct local polls and devolve power to people in the north once troops regain control of that region.

Reggie Ranatunga passes away           
  
Gampaha District Parliamentarian Reggie Ranatunga passed away at Nawaloka Private Hospital in Colombo this morning (May 31st).He suddenly fell ill on May 23rd and underwent several surgeries at the hospital.Mr. Ranatunga held several ministerial portfolios during the People's Alliance regime, and was one-time governor of the Sabaragamuwa Province.He was the father of Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee Chairman and former Test cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga.

'Food shortage' to Kilinochchi IDPs
 
Government officials in LTTE-held Kilinochchi say Internally Displaced People (IDP) are starving following restrictions on food transport in the area.Kilinochchi Government Agent (GA) Rasalingam Vedanayagam says "the area is suffering from a severe food shortage after transport of goods and food into the area has been cut by 80 percent." Mr. Vedanayagam further said that despite the shortage, 12,000 are still being provided food under the World Food Programme and a further 17,000 by the Sri Lanka Government Rehabilitation Programme. "Following the transport restrictions introduced by the government and the ministry of defence, transport of goods into the area has drastically decreased. Before the restrictions, around 200 to 300 trucks carrying food would come this way, but now there aren't even 50." Mr. Vedanayagam also added that the trucks that are permitted to transport have to also distribute food to the cooperatives.

Government denies

"There isn't enough for the people. The rations the people used to get for a week, they only now get for a month." The GA further said that over the past three months, the government has still not responded to the requests by him to take off the restrictions on the transport of food. The Sri Lanka government says they are yet to get reports on any food shortage in Kilinochchi.“These accusations against the government are complete false,” Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister Risath Badiudeen told BBC Sandeshaya. The GA is yet to inform the government of any such shortage, the minister said, and the government will take steps to provide enough food supplies if needed.

Sri Lanka's inflation rate rises to 19.8%

Reporting the highest level in over five years, Sri Lanka's annual inflation rate rose to 19.8 percent in May. The Census and Statistics Department said this is because of the rising prices of food including vegetables, which puts pressure on the Central Bank to raise rates. “Consumer prices in May jumped 26.2 percent from a year earlier, outpacing 25 percent in April's data,” it said. “Prices of vegetables, fish and dhal shot up sharply,” the Department said. The latest index, introduced in December, goes back to 2003.

Displaced families in Eravur return
   
The families displaced due to the recent violence in Eravur returned to their homes yesterday with additional police and army personnel being deployed in vulnerable areas to prevent further tension.Following tit-for tat attacks triggered by the killing of a  TMVP political cadre Shanthan and the subsequent disappearance of two Muslim youth, around 2000 families in areas like Pudukuduirruppu, Sauvukkady and Iyankerny were displaced. Most of the families took refuge at St. Joseph’s Church, Thannimunai and Sri Vigneswara Vidyalaya, Mylampaveli in the Eravur division. St. Joseph’s Church Priest Fr. Brinner Sellar told the Daily Mirror that all the families who were staying in his church, left for their villages after security was guaranteed.  An official of the Chenkaladi Divisional Secretariat also confirmed that all the displaced families had now resumed normal life in the area.Meanwhile, Batticaloa DIG H.M.D. Herath said an additional police force of more than 200 had been deployed in vulnerable areas along with 500 army personnel.

Sri Lankan held with fake visa

CHENNAI: Immigration authorities at the Anna international terminal early on Friday arrested a 21-year-old Sri Lankan national when he attempted to board a Paris-bound flight using a fake visa.The authorities said Jeyakumar Pranavan was holding a genuine Sri Lankan passport. He came from Colombo and was on his way to London via Paris. He came to complete the immigration formalities and the U.K. visa he had was fake. He was arrested and handed over to local police for further investigation.

Sri Lanka military captures main LTTE base in Welioya

Sri Lankan Army troops captured one of main LTTE bases in the Welioya area known as 'Munagam Base' on Thuresday(29) evening after three days of fierce fighting, the military said.The critical Tiger base situated nearly six kilo meters ahead of the North Janakapura, Welioya Forward Defense Lines had been used by the Tigers as a back up to launch attacks on troops, defense officials said.“The LTTE base, half a square acre in size consisted of three permanent buildings, three command 'bunkers' each of which was 15 feet x 10 feet x 8 feet and two observations turrets. The other facilities consisted of a large kitchen, storage rooms and complete with an underground trench system linking each other,” Media Center for National Security said. A power generator has supplied electricity to the base while a massive reinforced concrete well, ten feet square and thirty feet deep with two water towers provided a secure source of water for the needs of the entire base, MCNS added.

Sunday Times journalist further detained

Journalist J.S.Tissanayagam, Vettivel Yaseeharan and Vadivel Valarmathi were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Kapuarachchi Wednesday for the first time after their arrest. They were ordered further detention with the Terrorist Investigation Unit (TID) till June 6 on an application made the TID that the inquiry conducted so far against the suspects had revealed that the suspects were involved in LTTE activities and that the TID needed more time to conduct further investigations, legal sources said. The court ordered the TID to produce the suspect Vettivel Yaseeharan before the Judicial Medical Officer and to report for Court on an application by the senior counsel K. V. Thavarajah that his client had been subjected to torture at the TID. Counsel Thavarajah appeared for suspects Yaseeharan and Valarmathi Counsel Thavarajah further submitted that this was the first time all three suspects had been produced in Court since their arrest. TID did not respond to the Court instruction issued three times earlier to produce the suspects as the TID waited till the injuries sustained by suspect Yaseeharan due to torture and assault to heal. Counsel further submitted to Court that the Officer in Charge of the TID refused to allow counsel to meet the suspect despite permission granted by TID Senior Superintendent of Police. "Hence I beg Court to order that the suspect Yaseeharan be produced before the JMO for medical examination and report," appealed Counsel Thavarajah. He also brought to the notice of the court about the health condition of his second client Valarmathi.Counsel Thavarajah said Valarmathi had been working as a temporary lecturer in the Jaffna University. She had undergone a surgery for her stomach ailment. Now she had been advised to go for further surgery. The Court should direct the TID to take necessary action in this regard.The Court directed the TID to take necessary in regard to the illness of the suspect Valarmathi.Counsel Nihal Kulathunge appearing for journalist Tissanayagam submitted to court that the investigation into his client was over and requested his release on bail. But it was turned down by Court, legal sources said.

Heroin seized, two Sri Lankans held

KARUR: The Narcotics Intelligence Bureau, Chennai detachment, seized 2.5 kg heroin here and arrested two Sri Lankans, who carried the contraband worth Rs.3 crore in the international market.An NIB team was tracking a passenger of the Mumbai CST-Tirunelveli Express from Mumbai, who was suspected of carrying the contraband. When he alighted at the Karur Junction on Thursday night, a friend accosted him and both were about to leave the station when the sleuths surrounded them. They searched the passenger A. Manikandan (28), residing at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district, and his accomplice K. Udayakumar (40), native of Vavuniya in Sri Lanka and now an inmate at the Sri Lankan refugee camp. They planned to hand over the consignment to a person in Karur.

Sri Lanka Air Force jets pound LTTE artillery point at Pooneryn

Air Force fighter jets pound LTTE artillery & mortar launching platforms - Poonaryn Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets pounded on LTTE artillery and mortar launching latforms located at Kalmunai point, in the Poonaryn general area this afternoon (May 30). According to the Air Force sources, to separate sorties were launched around 12 noon and 1.20 pm. The targets were accurately hit, but the exact damages to the enemy are yet to be ascertained, the sources added. There was no independent confirmation of the casualty figures.

Three killed in Anuradhapura   
 
Three people, including a woman, were killed in Anuradhapura district in an attack by the Tamil Tigers, police said.A group of Tamil Tigers have attacked a Civil Defence Force (CDF) post near Wilpattu wildlife sanctuary, journalist Athula Bandara reported. A woman and her husband were killed on the spot and a CDF personnel was shot succumbed to his injuries while taking to the hospital, according to the police. The attack has happened at Yaya18 area in Rajangana police division.Security was tightened in the area after two civilians were killed allegedly by the LTTE some time ago.The CDF post that came under attack on Friday was established after the earlier attack.

Sri Lanka: An analysis of military operations –Col R Hariharan (retd.)

There should be no illusion that despite the flare of success in repelling a division strong security forces offensive at Muhamalai in April 2008, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is fighting a war of survival. The continuing ground and air operations of the security forces after Muhamalai debacle, and the progress they have made during this month in Mannar sector capturing Adampan and other outlying LTTE defences have further constricted the territory under active LTTE control in the Northern Province.The fall of key LTTE defences in Mannar sector indicate that the LTTE probably pulled out some of its forces earlier to reinforce Muhamalai-Kilinochchi. This would enable the LTTE to repel future forays of security forces into the vital heartland of the LTTE from the north. As the troops advance further in Mannar and Vavuniya sectors, and as pressure builds up in Welioya, even without a major offensive along Muhamalai, the LTTE's options would be reduced further. As the war prolongs further, the constraints of conventional warfare dictate that the LTTE has to progressively pull back its defences, and reduce its frontage to conserve its strength to offer better resistance. This would be the long term picture even if the security forces have a few debacles along one or more fronts in their offensive, as long as they do not give up half way. There had been few pro-active LTTE operations after Muhamalai. These were limited to dropping of three bombs on the security forces in Welioya front by two Air Tiger aircraft, and sinking of A 520 (MV Invincible), a naval logistics vessel in a clever underwater suicide operation by the Sea Tigers in Trincomalee harbour during mid May. This would show the LTTE has severe limitations in its conventional operational capability.   The security forces have carried out relentless bombing of suspected LTTE assets. The LTTE has accused the security forces' deep penetration unit of killing 17 people including women and children in a claymore blast well inside the LTTE territory in Vanni. This is the third time the LTTE has accused the security forces of carrying out such clandestine attacks deep inside its territory. The security forces have routinely denied these allegations. These killings targeting civilians are probably retaliatory in nature for settling scores for the LTTE's killings of civilians elsewhere.  While they do not directly impact the current operational situation, they impose caution on movement of cadres and spread insecurity and panic among the population. These could get worse as the war makes further inroads. If the LTTE accusations are true, they show the weakening ability of the LTTE to dominate areas under its control. If it is not the security forces, who are behind these deep penetration operations in depth? Are they the handy work of one of the shadowy "para military" outfits that the LTTE accuses of colluding with the security forces?  These questions are probably being debated within the LTTE and some of its attention would be diverted to prevent such attacks as the war progresses.  

Recourse to unconventional war

LTTE's strong suite had always been its guerrilla capability in areas outside its direct control. Under  present circumstances, to compensate its limitations in conventional operations, the LTTE appears to have stepped up its unconventional actions with a series of bomb blasts in areas outside the battle zones.The LTTE attacks outside the theatre of operations started the day after Muhamalai attack, with the killing of 26 civilians in a bus bomb blast at Piliyandala on April 28, 2008.   This was followed by the Amparai café parcel bomb blast on the eve of the eastern provincial council elections in which 11 people were killed and 29 others wounded. There was a motor cycle-borne suicide attack on a police van in Colombo on May 16, 2008 killing 10 persons including seven policemen. The latest in the series was the bomb blast carried out in a train at Dehiwela near Colombo on May 26, 2008 in which nine people were killed and 73 others were injured. Only two days before the train bombing, three time bombs were defused before they exploded - two on passenger buses near Colombo and one in the Kandy area.   Of course, there was the tragic, gangster style LTTE killing of Ms Maheswary Velayutham, while visiting her ailing mother in her Jaffna home. She was better known for years of yeoman service in the cause of human rights and Tamil refugees than for her later day role as advisor to the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP). And how her killing makes it easier to gain Tamil Eelam is a question only the LTTE's warped logic can answer.  Essentially an insurgent force, the LTTE probably feels more comfortable in carrying out bomb blasts, suicide killings, and other such attacks targeting civilians. Such acts by themselves do not win wars. But they tend to create panic among the population and psychologically pressurise the government to ease military operations if the social and political environments encourage such developments. Whether these happen or not in the current situation in the country, the feeling of insecurity among Tamils living in Sri Lanka will be increased every time the LTTE carries out such strikes due to inherent ethnic overtones of such acts.  In any case President Rajapaksa appears to be undeterred in his intention to crush the LTTE after each bomb blast. In fact, he has reiterated the same sentiment after the May 26 train blast. And after his successful election foray in the east he would have no hesitation to enlarge its scope further. 

Human rights issue

The failure of Sri Lanka's bid for getting elected to the membership of the UN Human Rights Council for a second term was not unexpected. On this count the President had probably underestimated the increasing importance attached to human rights questions in many democracies regardless of their own human rights record. At present no counter insurgency operation can be carried out with utter disregard to human rights issues. And Sri Lanka had continued its war with total indifference to human rights. Moreover, it has not covered itself with glory on this count even on the eve of the UN HRC elections. The international group of eminent persons called upon to advise the commission of inquiry into killings quit in disgust after a long tussle with the bureaucracy. Strong arm tactics have continued to suppress dissonant voices of the media. Reputed international NGOs have been castigated and prevented from entering or working freely in Sri Lanka. And Sri Lanka has persisted in refusing to allow a representative of the UN HRC to be positioned to monitor its human rights performance.  Notwithstanding the rhetoric of Bruce Fein and the detailed reports of Human Rights Watch, even nations which voted against Sri Lanka are unlikely to pressurise Sri Lanka to curb the President's pursuit of war effort immediately. Such pressure is applied in small doses and often gets diffused due to diplomatic and political compulsions of different nations. Moreover, globally counter terrorism and human rights aberrations are far from being equated as a zero sum game. Perhaps, the flow of foreign aid and the vigour of foreign trade would be affected if Sri Lanka persists in errant ways on human rights. But the President retains the option of visibly improving his human rights record, and carry on with the military operations when the chips are down. Though the LTTE propaganda machinery had been harping upon the human rights issue, its own hands are tainted with too many human rights violations to point a finger at others. In fact, its dismal human rights record has been used by Sri Lanka to ward off the flack in international forums on this count.   

Sri Lanka security forces

Muhamalai was undoubtedly a debacle for the security forces in that they suffered probably double the number of casualties suffered by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. And in the operations probably 300 fighters from both the security forces and the LTTE lost their lives. Offensive troops always suffer more casualties in operations. However, the operation should be put in perspective while assessing the future capability of the security forces. The security forces had shown three weaknesses in this operation. The first was not coordinating the Muhamalai offensive with other simulated or actual operations on other fronts. That would have prevented the LTTE from beefing up its Muhamalai defences by milking forces from other sectors on the eve of operations. Though operations have been launched in multiple fronts for some time, the security forces appear to have failed to take advantage of creating confusion in the minds of opposition by coordinating them and fine tuning them to derive maximum advantage. Despite expanding the army, this weakness to coordinate formation level operations on multiple fronts exhibited in earlier Eelam wars has persisted in the higher direction of war.The second relates to tactical intelligence. The security forces probably went in for a silent attack, a very sound proposition if the surprise element was there. But there were enough battle indications in Jaffna peninsula for at least ten days in advance about the impending operation in this front. When surprise was neutralised the silent attack becomes a futile effort. The LTTE is a past master in deception and the offensive troops appear to have been taken by surprise when they ran into unexpected resistance from defences. This would show battlefield intelligence acquisition was not real time. Moreover, silent attack requires accurate real time tactical intelligence and probably this was lacking despite the modern battlefield surveillance equipment available to the security forces.  The third major weakness is strategic. Sri Lankan operations are slow and plodding which fails to take advantage of tactical success in conventional operations. It also gives sufficient time for the opposition to readjust, reinforce or pull out from defences. There could be non military reasons for not pushing through with the offensive for fear of suffering more casualties. According to the figures of the government, since January 3,873 LTTE cadres have been killed as against the loss of 298 soldiers in operations. While these figures might be disputed, there is no doubt the LTTE losses had been heavier. But the operation has gone into the third year, and the indications are that it would be a long haul if present strategies are continued. While tactical weaknesses can be set right, the strategic weakness might continue to dog the Sri Lankan operations. And that could prolong the war and increase its human and material cost to the nation.

Future course

Overall, LTTE actions outside the operational zone are unlikely to discourage President Rajapaksa from his pursuit of military option. And if he stays determined and the security forces do not blink as they did in their infamous Elephant Pass disaster in 2000, the military operations are likely to gobble up further territory in Mannar sector in the coming months. The LTTE attacks on civilians are not going to put a stop to the military operations. They only show that the LTTE for all its pretensions of de facto governance has not changed its Tiger stripes. As the LTTE has little choice, one can expect more LTTE attempts at creating mayhem, chaos and killings as the war intensifies in the coming months. The strong defences of LTTE in Muhamalai axis to Kilinochchi show that it is not going to allow easy passage through. Strategically, the security forces will have to probably consider coordinating the Jaffna offensive along A9 with offensive along A32-Pooneryn to enhance the threat to Kilinochichi and weaken the LTTE defences. Whether the security forces have the wherewithal to carry out such a complex operation is the question only the Army commander can answer best.

30 May 2008

Take to streets to protect media freedom, Ranil tells people

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for the protection of media freedom, describing it as an inalienable part of democracy. Media freedom has been seriously compromised in the country and journalists are in grave danger to their lives, he said at a function in Colombo yesterday (May 29th) to remember his father, senior journalist Esmond Wickremesinghe.He noted that it was the prime responsibility of a government to safeguard democracy. However, the present regime was sending democracy to the grave, and using media curbs to hide its wrongdoings, Mr. Wickremesinghe alleged.A few days ago, 'The Nation' Associate Editor Keith Noyahr was abducted, brutally assaulted and warned against speaking about his harrowing experience. The Jaffna Correspondent for MTV/MBC P. Devakumar was hacked to death in a government-controlled area. The entire media, along with the general public, should unite and rise against these media curbs, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

Journalist Tissanayagam refused bail           
  
Journalist J.S. Tissanayagam and two others were refused bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi on wednesday (May 28th).The editor of 'outreach.com website, along with E-Kwality Printing Press owner V. Jesiharan and his wife V. Valarmathi were produced before the court for the first time after their arrest in March this year. They were ordered further detention with the Terrorist Investigation Unit until June 6th after the TID informed court that the inquiry against them had revealed their involvement in LTTE activities.The Chief Magistrate ordered the TID to produce Jesiharan before the Judicial Medical Officer and to report back following an application that he had been subjected to torture. The court also ordered that necessary action be taken in regard to the illness of Valarmathi.

Abducted child returned

The seven year old child who was abducted in Kotahena on Wednesday was released near his home last evening -- more than twenty four hours after he was reported missing, police said.Seven year old Subasiraveen Ravindrakumar, who was abducted by an unknown man, outside his school Vivekananda College, Kotahena, had been brought back and released near his home at around 5.15 pm yesterday. The child had been reported missing around 1.30 pm on Wednesday after an unidentified man took him away in a trishaw. “The child looked healthy and seemed to be unharmed,” Kotahena Police OIC Niranjan Abeywardena told Daly Mirror minutes after the initial inquires from the child had been concluded.Responding to the questions of the police, the little boy had said that he was dropped off near his house on Maha Vidyalaya Mawatha, Colombo 13, from a trishaw. “He told the police that he was kept in a house and given to eat,” OIC Abeywardena said, adding that the child seemed calm as he ate a bar of chocolate and sipped a cool drink offered by the police officers.The boy was brought to the Kotahena Police Station following his release, by his mother Anusha Ravindrakumar and an uncle. After the initial questioning the child was driven away with his family members in a police van for further investigation in identifying possible suspects, police said.Seated on his mother’s lap, a smiling Subasiraveen waved to the media and area residents who had gathered outside the police station. “We are glad that that the child is safe. We were worried at first as no one contacted us to demand a ransom. The reason for the abduction is still a mystery and police are conducting a very thorough investigation into the matter,” said OIC Abeywardena, adding that they were determined to find the culprit.On an earlier occasion, a gang had attempted to extort money from the family of the child, police told Court.They told Colombo Additional Magistrate Ravindra Premaratna that their investigations had revealed that a gang had earlier demanded Rs 1,000,000 from the child’s father. This demand had caused the father to shut down his business in Colombo and find employment abroad as he feared for his life.The complaint to the Kotahena Police was made by the child’s mother.

Tamil Tigers kill 13 in Sri Lankan navy camp raid: rebels

Separatist Tamil fighters launched a pre-dawn attack early Thursday against a naval camp on an island off northern Sri Lanka, killing at least 13 sailors, a pro-rebel website said.  The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said its Sea Tiger wing also seized weapons, including a radar, from the camp on Chiraththivu islet, close to the Jaffna peninsula."At least 13 Sri Lanka navy personnel were killed and many sailors wounded in the raid carried out by a special marine wing of the Sea Tigers," the Tamilnet.com reported, quoting the LTTE."There were no LTTE casualties in the operation," the report said, adding that the rebels "safely returned to their base" after destroying the navy camp. However, Sri Lanka's defence ministry said army and navy personnel successfully repulsed the rebels, killing at least 16 LTTE cadres and destroying three enemy boats."Troops have also mounted heavy artillery attacks towards the fleeing terrorists as enemy fatalities were expected to soar," the ministry said.Casualty figures given by both sides in the conflict vary wildly and cannot be verified independently.Elsewhere, according to the military, six civilians were killed and 12 others seriously wounded when the LTTE fired 20 rounds of heavy artillery shells towards two densely populated areas of Jaffna peninsula.The military earlier said four civilians were killed and six injured in the pre-dawn "indiscriminate LTTE artillery attack."In the northern town of Vavuniya, three policemen were injured when the LTTE triggered off a roadside mine targeting police vehicles, the ministry said.It said air force planes stepped up attacks against suspected rebel positions in the north, providing air cover for ground troops and bombing a rebel training facility.The LTTE campaign for a separate state for minority Tamils from the majority Sinhalese community has left tens of thousands dead since 1972.

Sea Tiger assault on Jaffna islet triggers artillery battle Six civilians killed, 20 wounded

An LTTE artillery attack on the Jaffna town area yesterday morning killed six civilians and wounded about 20, including two children and a pastor. An army official said the LTTE had fired 20 shells from Pooneryn in the Vanni mainland targeting the Jaffna town as troops battled an LTTE raiding party on Chirutivu an islet in the Jaffna lagoon. Jaffna based SLA artillery also had engaged Sea Tiger speed boats approaching the peninsula during the action on Chirutivu close to Jaffna town.Of the wounded, nine had been operated on at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Navy headquarters said four of the enemy craft had been hit by security forces fire and one of them had been abandoned in the area dominated by the navy. The official said the fibre glass dinghy would be retrieved.A small group of LTTE cadres waded across the lagoon to reach the islet and engaged the joint contingent of army and navy deployed there, another official said. He acknowledged the attackers had hit the base about 1.30 a.m. and after a 30 minute exchange of fire withdrew. Although some attackers were believed to have been wounded in action they had escaped before troops conducted a clearing operation later in the day.Army headquarters said eight LTTE cadres had been killed and several including the operations commander and his deputy had been wounded. The army lost one soldier and three personnel – two navy and one army – were missing in action.Navy headquarters spokesman Commander D.P.K. Dassanayake denied LTTE claims that the raiding party had killed 13 SLN personnel and captured a stock of arms an ammunition including radar. Dassanayake said they never had radar installed on Chirutivu. Fielding questions, he said bodies of three personnel taken to the Vanni by the attackers could of the missing men.Pro-LTTE Tamilnet quoted the LTTE as saying that a special marine wing of the Sea Tigers had seized weapons including a 50-caliber machine gun, a mortar, two light machine guns and radar along with three bodies.Meanwhile, the SLAF launched three separate attacks within one hour in the northern theatre as troops battled the enemy on the Vanni and Weli Oya fronts. SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said Mi 24 helicopter gunships engaged an LTTE gathering point about 2 kms north of Adampan Thursday about 5.45 a.m. He said the strike had been in support of ground troops advancing on the Mannar frontAbout 25 minutes later, jets launched from Katunayake airbase bombed an LTTE facility at Kokavil, about six kms southwest of Mullaitivu. Minutes later, jets attacked an LTTE training facility situated about six kms southwest of Mulliyawalai, Mullaitivu.

Inside story of Jaffna naval attack       

A small outpost manned by Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy personnel was attacked by LTTE sea tigers yesterday (29th) dawn. The outpost, which was located in Chi'ruththeevu island, was overrun by the tigers for a short period of time in the attack. There were only a handful number of security forces personnel deployed in the small outpost at the time of attack. LTTE has used a significant number of fighters in the amphibious attack. Several SLN personnel have gone missing in the incident. It could be that they were either captured by the tigers or were killed in the attack. No information on actual casualty count is available as of now.

Immediate steps needed to save the lives of journalists facing threats in Sri Lanka - Rights Group       

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to bring to your urgent and immediate attention the serious situation faced by journalists in Sri Lanka.  In a letter received by the AHRC addressed to the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksha, it is reported that Mr. Rajapaksha summoned and reprimanded Mr. Sanath Balasooriya and Mr. Poddala Jayantha, the President and General Secretary of Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) over a protest campaign organised by five media organisations against the abduction and brutal assault of Mr. Keith Noyahr, a journalist working for The Nation. Mr. Noyahr was abducted on 22 May 2008 on his way home from work. He returned home the next day after being severely assaulted. Mr. Noyahr is the deputy editor and defense analyst of the English language weekly, The Nation. Mr. Noyahr's reporting was critical of high-ranking military officers and the government's approach to, and the conduct of, the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). According to family sources, threats earlier directed against him had forced him to take precautionary measures.Balasooriya and Jayantha were summoned by the Secretary of Defense on 28 May 2008, through Mr. Bandula Padmakumara, the Chairperson of The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL). The ANCL is commonly referred to as Lake House in Sri Lanka. The Director of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), Mr. Lakshman Hulugalla, who was also present during the meeting of the journalists with the Secretary of Defense later in a press conference on the same day justified the action of the Secretary of Defense and also further reiterated that journalists like Balasooriya and Jayantha have no right to criticise government policies or actions. Freedom of speech, assembly, association and movement are fundamental rights guaranteed in Article 14 (1) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.The Secretary of Defense is the brother of the President of Sri Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha. It is further reported that the Secretary of Defense, while reprimanding the journalists using abusive language, threatened them by saying, repeatedly, that their lives will be in grave danger should they continue to defend the right to independent reporting and criticise the government.The letter received by the Asian Human Rights Commission, dated 28 May 2008, was jointly prepared by Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance (SLTJA) and the Free Media Movement (FMM).Given the fact that such threats in the past have materialised into actual practice, the latest being the abduction and torture of Mr. Noyahr, and the very fact that the Secretary of Defense has threatened two senior journalists of the country, it is imperative that unless a consolidated effort is made from all corners to save the situation, the lives of independent journalists in Sri Lanka are at great risk. It is equally important that international mechanisms like the United Nations and its subsidiary organs engage the Government of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the journalists working in that country. A similar and equally important role is required to be played by the governments who are concerned about the security situation in Sri Lanka, particularly concerning independent journalists who often play the role of the eyes and ears of the world in a situation as it exists in Sri Lanka.A copy of the letter received by the AHRC is annexed for your information and kind perusal.

Yours sincerely
Basil Fernando
Executive Director
Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong 

Defence Secretary tours east

A top defence delegation led by Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, yesterday went on an inspection tour in Ampara in order to gain first hand information on new security developments in the east, in the aftermath of the recent PC polls. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Donald Perera and Army Commander Sarath Fonseka also accompanied the Defence Secretary.

Somawansa Amarasinghe visits Europe to reorganize JVP branches

JVP leader and Secretary for International Affairs Somawansa Amarasinghe will leave tonight on a visit to Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Britain to reorganize the JVP committees in those countries states an announcement released from the JVP. In addition to reorganizing the JVP committees in those countries he will meet Sri Lankans in those countries and will address several meetings of Sri Lankans’ organizations the party has announced. Mr. Amarasinghe will meet leaders of the friendly institutes of the JVP and address Sri Lankans and JVP International Committees during his visit. He will address an international seminar in Sweden and on invitation by investors in Sweden Mr. Amarasinghe will discuss regarding opportunities in Sri Lanka for Swedish investments. The JVP states that Mr. Amarasinghe hopes to meet Lord Naisdy, Member of the Higher House and the group of British Parliamentarians that visited Sri Lanka.

Jaffna schools warned by Sri Lanka military for black band protests

Sri Lanka military entered schools in Jaffna on 27 May to note the names of students and teachers who did not attend on that day. The act is a threat in the continuing climate of death squad activities by the Sri Lankan military. Indeed, it is people identified by such methods who are later targeted by the death squads. On 27 May, Jaffna school students called for and carried out a black band day to express their protest at the killing of civilians including children in a claymore attack near Kilinochchi on 23 May. Senior students also boycotted classes. It is to threaten the students for daring to stage this back band protest that the Sri Lankan military entered schools to collect names.In the meantime Sri Lanka military has refused resettlement of the displaced people back in their own land in the militarized zones of Sri Lanka military inside Jaffna. Following a case filed by a Tamil member of parliament, Mavai Senathiraja, the court had ruled that the resettlement in parts of the militarized zones must be considered. It is in response to this court ruling that the Sri Lanka military has refused resettlement proposals.

"Put Karuna on Trial" - AI
 
Human rights group, Amnesty International (AI) say Sri Lankan government should investigate and prosecute Karuna for crimes committed by him against Sri Lankan citizens.Director General of the Amnesty International, Irene Khan in an interview with Sandesaya said it is an obligation by the Sri Lanka Government to investigate and prosecute Karuna if he returns back to the country.

Test for govt

“This is a test for the Sri Lanka justice system as to whether it can investigate the allegations against him and put him on trail in Sri Lanka”, Khan said. She said the crimes were committed in Sri Lanka and they were committed against Sri Lanka citizens. There are allegations and there is an obligation on the side of the government to investigate and prosecute Karuna. Adding that if the government did not investigate and prosecute, there would be pressure on Karuna whenever he goes abroad but the real problem is for the Sri Lanka Government to acknowledge there are human rights violations, she said. Referring to Sri Lanka losing its membership in the UN Human Rights Council, AI Director General Irene Khan said that AI never oppose or support any state to the Human Rights Council. “We have never campaigned against Sri Lanka”, she said.She said that AI believes that it is important that all governments with a good or bad human rights record to engage with the international community. “There has been an election process but Sri Lanka was not re-elected. We believe that should not affect Sri Lanka’s obligations to respect human rights of its own citizens”, Khan said. She said that there has been high number of civilian targets in recent fighting both by the government forces, LTTE and other armed groups.

Attacks condemned

Amnesty International condemns the ways the LTTE has carried out indiscriminate killings and attack that affect civilians. Similarly, she said, there is enormous obligation on the side of the government to protect civilians but AI has seen an increase on attacks on civilians. “Sri Lanka has the highest rate of disappearances in the world and over five thousand five hundred people have disappeared. These are enormous human rights problems. We would like to see the government of Sri Lanka take them very seriously and address them”, AI Director General Irene Khan added.

29 May 2008

Floating mines off Sri Lanka against norms, says TELO MP

RAMANATHAPURAM: “Floating mines in the fringe areas of the International Maritime Boundary Line by Sri Lankan Navy are against international norms and mutual interest. They will pose danger to fishermen of India and Sri Lanka,” said TELO Leader M.K. Shivaji Lingam, Member of Parliament, Jaffna. Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday after meeting fishermen leaders at Rameswaram, he said, “It is a serious issue. The Sri Lankan Navy claims that it has floated mines inside its waters. But chances are they might drift towards Indian waters due to strong winds and water current, as the reported floating areas are very close to IMBL.” The Government of India should take up the issue with the Sri Lankan Government to impress upon it the need to remove the mines to safeguard both countries’ fishermen, failing which the Court of International Justice should be approached, he added. Referring to the shooting of Tamil Nadu fishermen, Mr. Lingam said that they were at the receiving end due to the ongoing conflict. It was unfortunate that the fishermen, who were in no way connected with the problem, were being victimised. As a Tamil MP, he had taken up the issue with the Sri Lankan Government to stop firing at innocent fishermen. According to available information, he said, nearly 500 fishermen of Tamil Nadu had been killed or injured due to firing since 1983. There might be a few troublemakers here and there. But, targeting the entire community was highly condemnable and unacceptable. “It is not easy to find the maritime line at sea. If the Tamil Nadu fishermen cross the boundary for fishing, there are established legal measures to deal with them. But resorting to the extreme measure of shooting is against human rights,” he added. “There were several instances in which Indian fishermen crossed into Pakistan waters and Sri Lankan fishermen forayed into Indian waters. But, navies of India and Pakistan never fired at them. Instead, they were booked under the existing laws and released later. But, Sri Lanka was, probably, the only country opening fire at innocent fishermen for straying into its waters,” Mr. Lingam said.

Shakthi TV journalist was hacked to death in Jaffna  
   
Shakthi TV, MTV and Sirasa TV Jaffna correspondent P. Devakumaran was hacked to death, along with another person, by an unidentified gang last evening. The 36-year-old victim was reportedly returning home on his motorcycle with a friend when he was hacked to death in Navanthurai last evening. The other person was identified as Mahendran Varadan. Mr. Devakumaran, who was a resident of Kokkuthuduwai, had joined the Maharajah Group in 2005 as the Jaffna correspondent of the three news channels. According to media rights organisations he is the ninth journalist killed since 2006 and probably the last active journalist in the Jaffna peninsula. Police are investigating the killings.

Gotabhaya 'threatened' media leaders   
 
Media watchdogs in Sri Lanka have accused the powerful Defence Secretary of threatening media union leaders.In a letter sent to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the younger brother of Sri Lanka’s executive president, five media organisations have condemned his action to reprimand the journalist leaders.Mr. Rajapaksa has reprimanded Sanath Balasooriya and Poddala Jayantha, the President and General Secretary of Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) for taking part in a protest against abducting and assaulting senior journalist, Keith Noyahr.

'Do not crticise' military

The SLWJA, Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance (SLTJA), and Free Media Movement (FMM) organised a protest march on Friday against the abduction. The Associate editor and the defence columnist of The Nation, Keith Noyahr was abducted and brutally assault on Thurday night.Accusing the government of being responsible for the abduction, media workers voiced strong objections against the conducted by the government against Tamil Tigers. Sanath Balasooriya and Poddala Jayantha, both workers of state run Lake House, were among the leaders who protested the abduction on Friday. Mr. Rajapaksa has warned the two leaders on Monday not to criticize the armed forces whilst working is sate owned newspapers.

'Press freedom predator'

“Lake House, is not State property or your own fiefdom and your assertion that journalists who work in State media cannot engage in the criticism of those in government and the armed forces is particularly revealing ” the statement by five media organizations said. The powerful Defence Secretary was earleir accused of threatening Daily Mirror editor, Champika Liyanaarachchi, with death.He was named, alongside LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, as a 'press freedom predator' by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).Lakshman Hulugalle, the Director of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) has told the journalists on Wednesday that two union leaders have no right to criticise government policy as government workers. “We jointly and unequivocally condemn this statement,” said the statement.

TMVP camp in Eravur to be moved
   
Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan agreed, yesterday, to remove the TMVP camp in Pudukuduiruppu, a village in the border area between the Tamil and Muslim sectors in Eravur, as a measure towards restoring normalcy in the East. Mr. Chandrakanthan gave this assurance at a meeting with Muslim leaders, including UNP Eastern Provincial Councillor Dr. V. Ameerdeen and Minister Amir Ali in Eravur yesterday. “As the chief minister I will serve all communities in the East in a fair manner; I will promote this idea in the Tamil areas as well,” he had told the meeting. He had also assured them that he would take every possible step to ensure that there was peace and harmony in the area.With regard to the abduction of two Muslims on May 22nd, he had said that he would look into the matter. Over 100 Muslim leaders participated in the meeting with the EP chief minister.  Life in Erarvur was far from normal though the curfew was lifted. Most of the shops in the area remained closed. Arrangements are to be made to bring the situation back to normal.

LTTE-held territories captured

COLOMBO: The military on Wednesday claimed it had “captured” 600 km of “LTTE territory,” including Palampiddi, Madu, Vilayathikulam, Kallikulam and Palamodai areas in Mannar district.Army spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nayanakkara said the LTTE has retreated to Mallavi and Tharukkui areas, 45 km behind the Army Defence Lines in Mannar. The military was moving towards Wanni, he added.Brigadier Nayanakkara’s claims suggested that soldiers were engaged in an all-out offensive against the LTTE in the north. In contrast to the military’s high-pitch campaign on the fighting, the LTTE has divulged little information.A report posted on the LTTE website claimed on Monday that rallies were held in Wanni, Vavuniya and Jaffna to protest against a family’s “massacre” on May 24 in a claymore attack, which was allegedly carried out by the military’s Deep Penetration Unit. The military denied the charge of attack. Two days after the incident, nine people were killed in a train blast, allegedly triggered by the LTTE.Brigadier Nayanakkara said since May 22 there have been five air-strikes on LTTE targets. Further, the military claimed at least 26 LTTE cadres were killed and 15 injured in fighting along the Forward Defence Lines in the north. Defense spokesperson and Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, said told the installation of an elected government rattled the LTTE and it was “using disgruntled elements” to incite a violence.“The government will go to any length to preserve the democratic rights of the people and not hesitate to take stern appropriate action to ensure peace,” he said. With regard to the case of abduction and assault on journalist Keith Noyahr, Mr. Rambukwella said “investigations are in progress.” A police spokesperson said they have not been able to make much progress in the case as Mr. Noyahr had not given a detailed statement.

'Impunity' for rights violators   
 
Impunity for serious human rights violators was the main characteristic of Sri Lanka’s rights record during the past year, Amnesty International (AI) said.The AI also criticised Sri Lanka authorities of failing to introduce a witness protections mechanism, an impediment to credibly probe rights violations. In the annual report, the AI accuses Sri Lanka’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) losing credibility “due to the political appointment” of Commissioners. The AI calls on the authorities to appoint an independent NHRC and provide enough resources to the body that was downgraded by an international forum in December, last year. The watchdog recalls that the investigation into killing of two Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers has been stalled despite repeated pledges by the government. As the military engage with the Tamil Tigers in the north, both the government and the LTTE are accused of failing to protect civilians caught in conflict. “Civilians in the north and east faced immense hardship with a significant number being killed in indiscriminate raids. Lack of transport links to Jaffna Peninsula affected food supplies to over 500,000 people there,” the AI annual report said. The rights watchdog reminds that the UNHCR criticised the government for failing to properly record, investigate and prosecute cases of abductions, disappearances and killings.

Child recruitment

Both the LTTE and the political party turned paramilitary group, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) are accused of continuing with child recruitment.“The UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict identified the LTTE as “a repeat offender who has been on the Secretary General’s list of violators for four years””, the report added. 285 children recruited by the LTTE and 195 recruited by the TMVP currently known as Pillayan group are yet to be released, the AI said quoting from UNICEF figures. The Pillayan group is led by newly appointed Chief Minister of the eastern province, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan known as Pillayan.

Freedom of expression

Arrests and arbitrary detention of the civilians, majority of them Tamils, by the Sri Lanka police continues, says AI.“More than 400 of those arrested, including 50 women, were taken to the Boosa Camp near Galle in the south, a facility reputed to be overcrowded, and lacking proper sanitation facilities and adequate drinking water,” the report added. The human rights watchdog says the freedom of expression is also seriously in danger in the island nation.Young journalists Selvaraja Rajivaram and Sahathevan Deluxshan were shot dead in Jaffna during the last year.“The authorities failed to effectively investigate or prosecute those responsible for such unlawful killings,” AI said.Arresting journalists from all communities and removing the personal security provided to Sunday Times columnist Iqbal Athas are cited as clear indications of threats to freedom of expression.

Boy abducted while waiting for trishaw ride home

Seven year old Subasiraveen Ravindrakumar, a Grade-two student at Vivekananda College Kotahena, was abducted after school near the school premises yesterday.Quoting an eyewitness the Civil Monitoring Commission against Extra Judicial Killings and Abductions (CMC) said the boy was waiting for the Trishaw which usually comes to pick him up and take him home, outside the school premises, when an unknown man had persuaded the boy to get into another waiting Trishaw and taken him away.His mother Anusha Ravindrakumar and Mr. Nalliah Umashankar, mother and uncle of the child respectively, have complained to the Civil Monitoring Commission at Colombo District parliamentarian Mano Ganesan’s office as well as the Kotahena police station. The family resides at 189/3/6 Maha Vidyalaya Mawatha Colombo 13, in close proximity to the school. Meanwhile Kotahena police, who confirmed the incident, said they have not found any clues as to the whereabouts of the boy as yet.

US lauds Lanka's commitment to devolution

Acting Ambassador for United States James Moor said that the US Government commends the decision of the President and the APRC to pursue the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution as a first phase in the devolution of power in Sri Lanka. Addressing a National Conference on Provincial Councils held at the BMICH yesterday the Acting Ambassador said "Sri Lanka's minorities need to know that they can have a role in a united Sri Lanka where they can control many of their own affairs on a regional basis". The 13th Amendment to the Constitution had been on the statute books for over 20 years. The Government has made a good start by emphasising the importance of the 13th Amendment to devolve power to the provincial councils, particularly to the East. Moor said that their experience taught them that only a military solution to such conflicts would not achieve the ultimately success. There must be a parallel political strategy to address the underlying factors, circumstances and grievances that have arisen due to the said conflict. As the President's commitment to devolution suggests, Sri Lanka's long running conflict will not be solved on the battlefield alone. Moor said that although the US did not send observers to monitor the Eastern poll, the Sri lankan Government should deal positively with the allegations which have been made by opposition parties and certain groups claiming the that it was not free and fair. He wished that the 13th Amendment and further steps would lead to a brighter future for the country.

Teacher shot dead in Jaffna

Unidentified armed men, following a teacher who was riding on his motorcycle towards Jaffna Railway Station through a small lane near Aariyaku’lam in Jaffna town, gunned him down Wednesday around 1:00 p.m and escaped from the area, sources in Jaffna said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops were present only hundred meters at the main base of SLA 512 Division. The victim was identified as Sinnathurai Velsuthakaran, 32, a teacher at Changkaanai Chaivappirakaasa Viththiyaasaalai and a resident of Uduvil North, Chunnaakam.Jaffna police recovered the body and handed it over to Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary.The killing taking place in broad daylight and in the most guarded place in Jaffna town without the killers being apprehended raises strong suspicion of SLA involvement, residents in Jaffna town said.

Eastern Province CM Chandrakanthan could be next CMC chairman: Reginald

A move to appoint Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan the Chairman of the Chief Ministers Conference is on the cards, Western Province Chief Minister Reginald Cooray said yesterday“Mr, Chandrakanthan is welcome to chair the Chief Ministers Conference and we would support him,” Mr. Cooray said in an interview with the Daily Mirror. Asked whether there is any move to appoint the Eastern Province Chief Minister to the post at the next conference on Friday, he did not rule out such a possibility. However he said no definite decision has been taken up to date as to who is going to be the next Chairman. He said Mr, Chandrakanthan’s consent is needed if he is to be appointed chairman of the Chief Ministers Forum. Elaborating on the conference and the present situation he said the Eastern Province Chief Minister would play an important role in strengthening the provincial council system. He said police powers are to be devolved to all provincial councils so that all provincial councils would be equal institutes. However he said the provincial police would handle civil disputes while the security forces of the central government would take care of security and the integrity of the province especially in the case of Eastern Province. “Giving police powers to the Eastern Province is not a threat to the unity of the country,” he pointed out. Therefore he dismissed the idea that the TMVP Leader would become another Vartharajah Perumal in the future.Commenting on the reports that Mr. Chandrakanthan would be invited to participate in cabinet meetings he said it is a normal procedure as all Chief Ministers are invited to it once a month. With regard to the present violence in the Eastern Province he said it is due to the existence of political parties that are identified by religion or ethnicity or a community. “These kind of political parties are dangerous,” he said. He said clashes between Tamils and Muslims would lead to another tragedy. He said the present developments with regard to provincial councils have been positive as the system has been widely perceived as an effective solution to the national issue for the first time after the system was introduced 20 years ago.Mr. Cooray claimed action taken by the government to appoint the TMVP Leader as the Chief Minister will have a tremendous impact on changing the opinion of the international community for the better.

28 May 2008

Target me, spare innocent people, President tells Prabhakaran

The government would not baulk at anything in its efforts to wipe out LTTE terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday addressing a group newspaper editors and heads of electronic media institutions at Temple Trees.No amount of terror strikes or any other pressure would stand in his way and the on-going military campaign would be conducted to a successful conclusion, he said asking the LTTE to target him and not innocent civilians. "Target me and spare civilians" said the President, "for I am responsible for what is being done to the LTTE." He said his resolve to remove the scourge of terrorism had not been affected at all by the brutal acts of the LTTE had resorted to in a bid to pressure the government to abandon its military offensives. "Tigers have, through such barbarity, only laid bare their true faces to the world," the President said, "and strengthened our position that terrorism needs to be eliminated."However, he said, his government did not believe in a military solution to the conflict and was amenable to a political settlement. "But the LTTE terrorism must be stopped at all cost," he said, ‘if a political solution is to be evolved." The LTTE, he said had scuttled all past peace attempts and, therefore, neutralizing it was a prerequisite for finding and implementing a political solution.President Rajapaksa said by clearing the Eastern Province and conducting a Provincial Council election, the government had sent a strong message to the people of the North and the international community. "We are ready to safeguard the rights of the Tamil people and share power with them, but we won’t give in to terrorism," he said. He said the government was in the process of empowering the Eastern Province people, having handed back civil administration to people’s representatives through an election. Many development projects were on in that part of the country and anyone could visit those areas and see for himself the progress in the developmental work there.President Rajapaksa said in spite of the current military campaign against the LTTE, the government had not failed in its duty by the people trapped in the LTTE-held areas. He said the government was looking after their needs. "Recently, when I was informed that the farmers in those areas could not dispose of their paddy," he said, "I ordered that their produce be purchased immediately." He said the government still fed the people of the Wanni and spent funds on their education, healthcare etc despite the fact that the LTTE, too, benefited from such welfare measures.

Pillayan blames “third force”

Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan has told Muslim leaders that there was a third force behind the violence that gripped Chenkaladi and Kathankudi in the Batticaloa District over the last few days and led to over 500 families being displaced.There had been discussions between the representatives of the Eravur Mosque Federation and the chief minister on Monday, to find ways and means to defuse the violence triggered by the abduction of two Muslim youths on May 22nd in Batticaloa.Secretary of the federation, Mr. C. Assanar, told Daily Mirror, in Eravur, that they had requested the chief minister and other authorities concerned to neutralise this so called “third force” immediately. Mr. Assanar said that Mr. Chandrakanthan had admitted that two other Muslims had been abducted on May 25th and severely beaten and then released.“We are defenceless people. We have no weapons. The TMVP have weapons and power now. So they should be able to identify this third force and bring it to book immediately,” he said.He said that young Muslims were much agitated, and the government should be held responsible for allowing for this incendiary   situation to arise and disrupt day to day life.“We want our youth to remain calm, otherwise it would be disadvantageous for us. Yet no responsible person in the government has given us an assurance that such incidents will not be repeated in the future. No government minister has visited this area since the clashes began,” he said.The federation added that if the two abducted youths had been killed, at least their bodies should be returned, to help bring the situation under control.“If our youths at least see the two bodies, they will remain calm,” he said.The president of the Federation, Mr. Y.M. Abdul Cader, said that they were afraid to speak out against the TMVP and its atrocities as it was an armed group. “The government cleared the ground for this crisis by giving false promises to the Muslims before the elections.  First, they promised the Muslims that the chief minister’s post would be given to their representative. The Tamils were also promised the same. That is the root cause of the problem,” he said.Eravur and Chenkaladi remained ghost towns yesterday, with Police, STF and Army personnel patrolling the streets. Even the entry of vehicles to these two towns had been restricted to a certain extent due to the police curfew clamped down on the area. The police curfews in Eravur and Chenkaladi are to be lifted today to enable public life to return to normal. Local politicians, religious leaders and academics in these areas have agreed to assist the security authorities in maintaining law and order.The Police had a meeting yesterday with representatives of these groups in Eravur. UNP Eastern Provincial Councillor Dr. Vellaithamby Ameerdeen told Daily Mirror yesterday that Police had agreed to provide protection to the area throughout the day.Dr. Ameerdeen said that a public announcement would be made by the Mosques requesting the people to open their shops and government offices and schools from today. "Furthermore, Police and Army will ensure the security of villages on the borders of Tamil and Muslim areas. This is a step forward," he said.He said Muslim leaders wanted the areas that had been gripped by tension during the last few days to return to normal. "We want both the communities to live in peace and harmony," he said.DIG H.M.D. Herath said that Police had arrested ten persons for damaging public property, such as passenger buses, during the clashes. They were now in remand. More than 500 Tamil families have been displaced as a result of the violence. They have been provided shelter at two schools. TMVP spokesman Azarth Maulana said that Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan had visited these welfare centres yesterday .

JVP vows to topple govt
   
JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, who was  reinstated as the party  leader at the fifth national convention held in Colombo  yesterday  vowed to topple the present Mahinda Rajapaksa government alleging it would never come back to the ‘right  track’.He was re-elected despite widespread speculations about an ongoing conspiracy to oust him. Addressing his comradesMr. Amarasinghe assured he would not leave the Party or the motherland under any circumstances.The fifth national convention of the JVP was held shortly after party’s former Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa broke away from the party with a group of several parliamentarians. The Convention decided to expel them from their previous responsibilities and  to elect new persons to those posts.While noting that none could match or be an alternative to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Mr. Amarasinghe said:“I will not leave this country under any circumstances or fearing any threat until my party reaches its victorious destination. Similarly, I will not leave my party until I die no matter whether I would remain the leader of the party or not. I am simply willing to support and share my experience with any new leader in the future.” The convention decided to re-appoint Mr. Amarasinghe as party’s leader and also appointed 24 members to the party’s Central Committee including Lakshman Nipunaarachchi, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Dimuthu Abeykoon, Chameera Koswatte, Duminda Nagamuwa, S.K. Subasinghe, Jinadasa Kitulegoda, Nihal Galappatthi, Pubudu Jagoda, Mahinda Jayasinghe, Ajith Kumara and Nalinda Jayasinghe.The newly appointed Central Committee then appointed the party’s politburo and other office-bearers. The former 12- member politburo was reduced to seven members that includes Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe, Tilvin Silva, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Vijitha Herath, K.D. Lal Kantha,  Chandrasena Wijesinghe and G. Kularatne.Former General Secretary Tilvin Silva too was re-elected to the same post while Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayaka was appointed as the Parliamentary Group Leader and Finance Secretary.The new Propaganda Secretary is Vijitha Herath while K.D. Lal Kantha was appointed as the Administration Secreteray. Organising Secretary (national organiser) is G. Kularatne while Chandrasena Wijesinghe was appointed as the Education Secretary. Party Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has been appointed as the Party’s International Affairs Secretary which was earlier held by MP Vijitha Herath. Addressing the Convention Mr. Amarasinghe noted that the party constitution was drafted in a way that no body was allowed to break discipline. “If one found guilty we will work against him regardless of his background. If anyone feels this constitution or these regulations are too strict, they can leave the party as some did as we want this party to remain the only party who can discipline this country,” he said. Mr. Amarasinghe also noted that the party could not allow ‘Cardboard heroes’ to deceive the  people of the country. “If the need arises we will even publish the much spoken self-criticism (confession) given to us by those so called cardboard heroes and will distribute it among the public,” he added.

SI shoots dead two PCs

A sub inspector of the Special Investigation Service (SIS) of the police Monday night shot dead two constables attached to the same unit and himself at the Mahaoya police station in the Ampara district. According to police sources the Sub Inspector succumbed to the injuries on admission to hospital. He had used his personal weapon for the shooting.The sub inspector had earlier served in the same unit in the Ambalangoda police station. He has been identified as Lakshman. Further investigations are being conducted under the direction of DIG Ampara Shantha Rajapakse.

TULF calls for probe on attacks on civilians in the LTTE areas
   
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) has urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a presidential Commission to find out who is responsible for attacks taking place in the LTTE held areas and how within a few hours the local papers claim that all such attacks are by the deep penetrating unit of the security forces.A claymore mine attack at Murugandy in Kilinochchi on Friday afternoon took the lives of 16 innocent men, women and children and also left 3 seriously injured. A bomb blast in a crowded train on Monday in Dehiwala left 9 dead and 73 injured.TULF leader V. Anandasangaree strongly condemned both incidents and stressed that is not a cricket match for anyone to announce the score and celebrate it with a party.  “How many widows, widowers, orphans and destitute persons, had these two horrible incidents created. One who left home, happily in the morning returns home in a beautiful coffin, some in pieces and some others beyond identification.”The TULF leader reiterated that Human Rights violations continue unabated both in the Government controlled areas and in the LTTE controlled areas and that the only difference is that there is transparency in the former and complete blackout in the latter where people open their mouths only when asked to do so.“I am misunderstood by some for accusing the LTTE and holding them responsible for the claymore mine attacks taking place in their areas. My reasons for doing so are two fold. One is how is it possible for the armed forces to reach areas so close to their Head Quarters? Even if one assumes that it is the work of the paid agents of the armed forces, the LTTE must seriously consider winding up the fighting and come to terms with the Government, since their days are numbered. Secondly even if one accepts that army can reach these areas through their paid agents, it cannot be true all the time,” he said.Anandasangaree said he had strong suspicion the Tamil Media is pressurized by the LTTE to put the blame on the forces soon after some incident takes place, merely to gain sympathy from the International Community after themselves doing it either intentionally or by mistaken identity.“I call upon the President to appoint a presidential Commission to find out who is responsible for such attacks taking place in the LTTE held areas and how within a few hours the local papers claim that all such attacks are by the deep penetrating unit of the forces. The President can refer a few selected cases for a Presidential Commission to inquire into. As one who had represented the Kilinochchi Electorate for over 14 years, I have an interest in knowing whether what the papers say are voluntary or under compulsion,” he said.The TULF leader further noted that the government should come out with a reasonable proposal acceptable to the International Community, not out of fear for the LTTE, but only to give confidence to the International Community to take a bold step forward to help to find a solution.

Bodies of 3 LTTE women found

The Army on Tuesday recovered the bodies of three women LTTE cadres following a clash between the Army and the LTTE at Rasendrakulam in Vavuniya on Monday night. According to the Army, seven LTTE cadres had died in Monday night’s battle. Four T-56 weapons were recovered from the spot where the three bodies were found.Vavuniya District Judge M. Ilancheliyan, who viewed the bodies at the Vavuniya Hospital, directed Police to hand them over to the ICRC to be handed over to the LTTE.

Man charged over stabbing attack 
 
A man has been charged over an attack on two 19-year-old men near an east London Underground station. One of the men suffered a stab wound to the abdomen and was found collapsed at East Ham Tube station on Sunday night. Officers found the other 19-year-old man in nearby Burgess Road suffering from head injuries. Vijitharan Velupillai, of St James Road, Stratford, is accused of two counts of unlawful wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm. Mr Velupillai appeared before Stratford magistrates on Tuesday. He was remanded to custody and will appear next at Inner London Crown Court on 30 July. The 19-year-old who suffered stab wounds remains at an east London hospital in a serious but stable condition. The other injured man, who has been since discharged from hospital, was initially arrested by police but has been released with no further action taken.

Jury trial put off for August 26

Colombo High Court Judge W.A.T. Ratnayake on Monday put off the jury trial of the assassination of Sivaram Dharmaratnam alias Tharaki the Tamilnet website columnist for August 26 since the third witness of the case was abroad. The Court postponed the jury trial when the Senior State Counsel Achala Wengappuli pleaded to put off the case since the first witness P.A. Kusal Perera of Boralesgamuwa had promised to inform the Court of the arrival date of third witness Prasanna Pubudu Ratnayake of Rajagiriya Road, Rajagiriya. The Court observed that a jury trial could not be continued without witnesses. Notices had been issued on Prasanna Pubudu Ratnayake. The Court thanked the jury members for their presence and ordered to be present when informed. The Attorney General's Department has filed a case against Arumugam Sri Scandarajah alias Peter for abduction and committing the murder of Sivaram Dharmaratnam on April 28, 2005 in Rajagiriya. The AG department filed the case with four counts for conspiring to abduct Sivaram and murder him, with others unknown to the prosecution. According to the charges, he had engaged in the conspiracy in Colombo, Bambalapitiya and Maharagama between January 01 and April 28 in 2005. According to the charges, Sivaram was murdered and his mobile phone and SIM card were looted by Scandarajah with the others unknown to the prosecution. Twenty eight productions were included by the prosecution including a revolver, bullets, spent 9 mm bullet cases, two cameras, a cassette recorder, diary, purse, a pair of spectacles and a shirt and a trouser. The prosecution produced 31 witnesses.

Canadian charged in Tiger financing bust –Source: Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER: For the first time in Canadian history, a man in Vancouver has been charged with financing terrorists, for allegedly raising money for the Tigers. "The funds were allegedly raised for the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers) which is a listed terrorist organisation in Canada,'' said RCMP Supt. Lloyde Plante, of B.C.'s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET). Prapaharan (Prapa) Thambithurai, 45, who lives in Toronto but was arrested last Friday in Vancouver, is charged with providing or making available property or services for terrorist purposes. When asked to elaborate on the charge, Plante said: "He was soliciting funding that was to be utilised to support the LTTE, that was the allegation." Police allege the funds were being collected from members of Vancouver's 6, 000- to 8,000-person Sri Lankan community. Plante referred to the people who made the donations as the "victims'' in the case, but wouldn't comment when asked if they knew the money was going to support the Tigers. The police investigation continues, but Plante wouldn't say whether more suspects are being targeted. Plante, who is with INSET's anti-terrorist financial investigation unit, said he could not elaborate further about the case because the charge is now before the courts. Thambithurai was arrested Friday night and was remanded in custody. He will make his first court appearance in Vancouver Provincial Court. Plante wouldn't say how much money was raised or where it was sent. Thambithurai, who is a Canadian citizen, may have been in Vancouver as long ago as August 1996, because a man claiming to live in Vancouver who had the same name as Thambithurai wrote a scathing letter to Maclean's magazine then. The letter said the RCMP and CSIS had "recruited some shady characters living in the murky field of intelligence gathering and crime'' who were "painting a picture of Sri Lankans living in this country as guerrillas engaging in criminal activities.'' Plante said the charges announced on Monday were "not specifically'' related to a police raid in 2005 at the Vancouver office of the World Tamil Movement (WTM), a group the RCMP alleges is financing the Tigers. Last September, the Vancouver Sun reported that there were three investigations across Canada - in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal - to determine whether the Tigers had been illegally raising funds here to help their independence campaign.

SLA soldier injured in grenade attack in Jaffna

Unidentified persons lobbed a hand grenade Monday around 7:00 p.m on a major Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry post located at Hospital Road-Temple Road junction, seriously injuring a SLA soldier. Unconfirmed reports said that the SLA soldier was killed while Sri Lanka Defence Ministry sources said that a soldier was injured in the above grenade attack.The attack took place during the one-hour power cut in the Jaffna peninsula.The SLA troops in the sentry post had opened fire at random on being attacked.SLA launched a large scale cordon and search operation Tuesday early morning in the said area extending beyond Hospital Road to Chu’ndikku’li, Kurunakar and areas close to Jaffna Bishop House.SLA did not permit anyone entering these areas during the search but persons within these places were allowed to go out to attend personal errands.The persons thus allowed to leave these areas, however, were not permitted to return to their places until afternoon.Anyone being arrested in the cordon and search was not known until evening.Kurunakar fishermen were unable to go fishing due to the SLA cordon and search, fisheries society sources said.

Keep up the pressure-Source:UK Guardian

After nearly two years of exhaustive campaigning to expose to the world the seriousness of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, a small step has finally been taken by international governments.Last week the UN general assembly, in a secret ballot, voted out Sri Lanka from its seat in the UN's premier human rights body - the Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Since 2006 Sri Lanka has held membership at the UNHRC, debating issues of human rights but quietly stamping on the rights of its own people, particularly ethnic minority Tamils and Muslims.Since the government and Tamil Tigers, the militant group fighting for a separate state for ethnic Tamils, returned to active warfare in July 2006, the country's human rights situation has been sinking. Thousands are displaced by fighting and in some areas people have limited access to essential food and medicine. Killings, disappearances and abductions are occurring virtually on a daily basis; those targeted are mostly Tamil human rights activists, journalists or aid workers. Para-military groups working with the Sri Lankan government have been responsible for many of the incidents and together they have also been accused of abducting children to fight in the war. The Tamil Tigers are also notorious human rights abusers: they continue recruiting child soldiers and have recently been involved in a spate of suicide bombings killing several innocent civilians.The Sri Lankan government's response to all of this has been to hide behind the rhetoric of a "war on terror" and create a climate of impunity while accusing human rights groups and the UN of exaggerating the story. They have gone as far as to accuse senior UN officials of being terrorists and have made a mockery of UN systems by sitting in the Human Rights Council and covering up their appalling record.These were some of the reasons why Sri Lankan human rights activists argued that their country should be out of the UNHRC. Prominent international figures took up the issue, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu making the case on this website.International governments listened and acted. The message is very clear - the world is telling Sri Lanka it sees the severity of the human rights situation and holds the government responsible. Sri Lanka has previously blamed international opposition on the west, deeming it a neo-colonial project. Sri Lankan diplomats also put in a huge effort to canvas countries to back them at the general assembly. Last Wednesday's vote indicates that not just the west but many African and Asian states are also not buying Sri Lanka's excuses anymore.This will be heartening news to those Sri Lankan human rights activists who live and work in a severe climate of threat and have felt isolated and let down by the lack of international support for their efforts. To them this vote has special significance, but their lives are now under added threat as the Sri Lankan government reels in shame at its international defeat. This victory must not be undermined but it must also not obscure us to what lies ahead.In a protracted conflict and in a crisis such as that in Sri Lanka, one vote in the UN is not going to stop the sight of dead bodies floating in a river or a child being dragged away at gunpoint. It could even result in Sri Lanka refusing to engage with the international community and defiantly taking tougher action against vulnerable groups. While applauding international governments for taking this step they must be urged not to simply pat themselves on the back and leave Sri Lankans stranded. Engagement has to continue and pressure has to be put at different levels. Asian leaders, including China and India, have to put their influence behind western efforts. Iran and Pakistan, close allies of Sri Lanka, are well placed to raise the plight of its Muslim minority. Human rights groups and international governments have to take the process further, to find ways to make international action result in changes on the ground.For those governments that are seriously committed to championing human rights in Sri Lanka, the struggle has just begun.

27 May 2008

CM admits TMVP abductions   
 
Newly appointed Chief Minister of the Eastern Province has admitted that members of his organisation are responsible for the recent kidnappings in Eravur.Speaking to BBC Tamil Service, Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan known as Pillayan admitted that the person accused of abducting two Muslims in Eravur is amember of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP). "The person who was involved in the abduction has been handed over to police," CM Pillayan told LR Jegatheesan of BBC Tamil Service. TMVP leader Pillayan insisted the accused is "not directly involved in this incident" quoting reports received by Chief Minister's office.

Woman shot dead

“However we will not permit anybody from our organisation to take law into their hands and as such we have handed him over to the police” Chief Minister Pillayan said.Two other Muslims have gone missing in Eravur since 22 May.The Chief Minister said that he has no information about the two missing Muslims but expressed hope that they would be found soon. “So far no confirmed news in this regard has been received” added Chief Minister Pillayan. Meanwhile, a woman was shot dead by police on Monday as police and Sri Lanka Army tried to disperse crowds in Eravur who took to the streets to protest as news spread that another person gone missing. The person has reappeared within hours as his bicycle needed to repair but the situation is Eravur is still tense, journalists said.

Hartals in Vavuniya, Eravur

Hartals crippled Vavuniya and Eravur yesterday (26). The hartal in Vavuniya was over the killing of 19 civilians in the Wanni. In Eravur it was over the abduction of two Muslim civilians at Kattankudy.Last Friday too a hartal was organized in Vavuniya over the killing of 19 civilians on two occasions recently in LTTE controlled areas of the Wanni.Even the government offices remained closed on both days severely inconveniencing the publicThe hartal at Eravur was staged by Muslims of the area who alleged that two Muslim youths were abducted by an armed group after two TMVP members were shot dead while passing through the area. The protesters demanded the release of the two youths.In another incident reported at Eravur two other Muslim youths who were abducted Sunday (25) were released the same evening. The Vice Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha Haniffa said three Muslims had been abducted but one of them had escaped and informed the local politicians and the police about the identity of the persons who abducted him and the others and the route they had taken after committing the act. It was after that that the two others who were held by the armed group were released he said.In another incident reported at Akkariapattu a person identified as Fous was shot at on Sunday night while he was taking his two children to a doctor. Fous had returned recently after working in the Middle East and is said to be a supporter of the Karuna Amman Group.Fous was admitted to the Akkaraipattu Hospital and is warded in the Intensive Care Unit, police said.

Somawansa's leader post in jeopardy

JVP internal sources say that the party leader post of Mr. Somawansa Amrasinghe is in jeopardy as the JVP is going to the fifth party congress today (27). Leaders' houses worth over Rs. 20 millionIt is reported that Mr. Amarasinghe who is in the custody of the hardliners, has questioned the way the JVP leaders built luxury houses and it has led to a controversy.The JVP congress which was hurriedly organized after the party split will be held tomorrow at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. JVP internal sources say that the JVP hardliners led by underground leader 'Kumar Mahaththaya' has developed an ideological difference with Mr. Amarasinghe after the Wimal Weerawansa Group left the JVP. Two luxury houses estimated around Rs. 2o million to be built for two hard-line leaders has been behind the controversy.The hardliners have discussed that time is ripe for Mr. Amarasinghe to give up the party leader post. They have decided that his removal will not affect the party since he has already demeaned himself due to his own unwise statements. Accordingly Mr. Amarasinghe is likely to be removed from the party leader post at the congress scheduled for tomorrow. However, he will remain as a politburo and central committee member, said that JVP sources.

Somawansa has become a puppet of JVP’s UNP sympathizers  - Nandana

JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has become a puppet in the hands of a powerful segment within the party which is fast becoming a crutch to the main Opposition UNP, General Secretary of the newly formed National Freedom Front and one time JVP Presidential candidate, parliamentarian Nandana Gunatilake said yesterday."In the issue of ousting Wimal Weerawansa and others, who dissented against this conspiracy, Comrade Amarasinghe was used to the hilt. He, who once led the campaign of rebuilding the party from ruins, came under the pressure of several conspirators and cracked. He let the conspirators take control and is now politically assassinated," Gunatilake told a media conference at the National Library and Documentation Center in Colombo.The conspirators within the party had been bought over by the UNP to destroy the JVP, he said. "Comrade Amarasinghe, by giving into the conspirators is also partially responsible for the crisis the party faces today," he said.Gunatilake said there was speculation in the media recently that Somawansa Amarasinghe would be replaced at the fifth JVP convention scheduled to be held today. "If these reports were true, it indicates that the conspirators had fully used Comrade Amarasinghe and his use has come to an end. For the next step they need a conspirator at the helm and soon Amarasinghe would be sent abroad to spend the rest of his life there. The fifth convention would be made use as a stage to legitimize this conspiracy and that would complete the first phase of the betrayal of the party into the hands of UNP," he said.

Bill Gates to visit Sri Lanka next year         
  
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and one-time richest man on earth, is expected in the island next year, reports say.With the government declaring 2009 as the IT Year, an invitation has been extended to Mr. Gates by Ministers Karu Jayasuriya and Tissa Vitarana.His visit will be of importance to Sri Lanka as Microsoft is presently experimenting on wind energy generation as a possible solution to the global energy crisis.

Was Sri Lanka's Army Commander Sarath Fonseka behind the abduction and beating of senior Sri Lankan journalist?

Nation newspaper has re-published the defence columnist Keith Noyahr who was abducted last Thursday and beaten up. The article written by Keith under pen name "Senpathi" was published on 11 May 2008 with the caption "An army is not its commander's private fiefdom".   The article was highly critical of Sri Lankan Army Commander Sarath Fonseka. Within a week of this publication Keith was abducted in the night in front of his house in Colombo by people who had come in a white van, the vehicle usually associated with abductions in Colombo and other places.  Questions are being asked in Colombo whether Sri Lanka's Army Commander had a hand in this latest abduction which is similar to abductions allegedly carried out by military elements in collaboration with TMVP Group.Writing in Sunday Times, defence columnist Athas gives the following account of Keith's abduction and release: The ordeal of Keith Noyahr, a friend and journalist colleague, is the latest incident to bear stark testimony. There have been many in the past and, no doubt, more to come. The reason is that someone somewhere wants to keep the truth away from the people. That the gruesome incident took place just a day after Sri Lanka was voted out of membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council spoke eloquently about growing concerns.Keith, 21 years a journalist, is now Associate Editor and writer on defence related matters to the Nation. On Thursday night, he drove home around 10. 30 p.m. The engine of his car was still running and the headlights were on. He opened the door and went to see someone unknown near his gate. He went to help. Instead he was bundled into a white van. He was hand-cuffed, blindfolded and taken away. Members of his household were awake throughout the night. They wondered whether he would ever return. Friends and colleagues tried to track him down. What some of them learnt from those in authority was chilling. One from a law enforcement agency said "don't worry. He will return with a severe reprimand. That appears to be the pattern." Not that the official was aware of what had gone on. Rather, he was talking of his experience in such situations."The intense pressure we mounted on Thursday night paid off. Otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable," said a media activist who did not wish to be named. He was among those contacting senior officials in the defence and security establishment.  Some seven hours later, Keith barely managed to walk home after his abductors had dropped him outside. His wife, 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter screamed in utter fright when they saw him. He was bleeding. His lips were swollen and his ear had been torn off. There were many bumps on his head, the result of brutal assault. His legs trembled since he was beaten with an object on his sole and feet. It became clear that his refusal to answer questions on sources meant more and more lethal blows. He stood his ground in the face of brutal thuggery and refused to divulge who gave him which information. He was rushed to the Colombo National Hospital. The Editor of the Nation, Lalith Allahakoon told the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists that Keith was "mercilessly assaulted." According to a written statement by the Krishantha Coooray, Chief Executive Officer, Keith's abduction and brutal assault followed several threats against him. He used the pseudonym "Senpathi" to write on military matters and his report on May 11 had been headlined "An army is not its commander's private fiefdom," the CPJ said in a statement released from New York on Friday. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered a full investigation into the incident.   Only time will tell whether it will go the same way other investigations did or lead to the identification of the suspects and their indictment before a court of law. Whoever was responsible, one thing is patently clear. They moved around in a white van with impunity despite the wide network of checkpoints, troops and policemen dotting every nook and corner of the City of Colombo and suburbs. Keith has insisted that he will not speak about his ordeal to any media for the time being. However, he is to bare details to the investigators.    Nevertheless, The Sunday Times learnt that the abductors had, among other matters, tried to elicit his sources of military information. Authorities in the defence and security establishment had intensified such searches involving a few journalists, including me, particularly after the Muhamali military debacle on April 23. Over a 100 soldiers were killed and more than 350 more were wounded in this military disaster. I have in fact referred to some of these aspects in The Sunday Times (Situation Report - May 4, 2008). Some of the methods used, to say the least, are highly questionable, illegal and even coercive. Keith's mobile phone was seized. Around 2 a.m. on Friday morning, his abductors had switched it on. Anxious callers who dialed the number heard it ring. The signals were later traced to communication towers in Malwana and Dekatana in the Gampaha district. Whether Keith was whisked off to a "safe house" in this general area by his abductors is not clear.

Lankan Tamil second richest man in Malaysia  
   
A Tamil of Sri Lankan origin is the second richest man in Malaysia, while a businessman of Indian origin occupies the 16th place in the list of the 40 wealthiest persons in the Southeast Asian country. T. Ananda Krishnan 70, whose family originates from Jaffna, runs the telecom firm Maxis, with a net worth of $ 7.2 billion. In the lists published by the Forbes magazine, he is behind Robert Kuok, 84, who has diverse business interests and a fortune worth $ 10 billion.Maxis became a private firm in a leveraged buyout in 2007 and has a 74 percent stake in India's telecom operator Aircel.Krishnan is the wealthiest person with a Tamil background, ahead of Shiv Nadar who is the 10th richest man in India.Vinod Sekhar of Indian origin is placed 16th in the Forbes' list and has a net worth of $ 320 million. For its Malaysia list, Forbes set the bar at only $ 100 million, compared to the billionaires list the magazine is known for.Noting that Sekhar, 40, runs Petra Group, named after his daughter, Forbes said the company is best known for its Green Rubber Global, which has a patented process to devulcanise used rubber, which makes it recyclable.Another Tamil of Sri Lankan origin on the list, at No 26, is 63-year-old G. Gnanalingam, whose fortune is to the tune of $ 230 million. The former tobacco executive is executive chairman of Westports Malaysia, the nation's largest privately owned port.According to the magazine, the total net worth of the top 40 people in Malaysia is $ 46 billion, up $ 3 billion from last year.Net worths for people with publicly traded fortunes were calculated with share prices and exchange rates from May 9. For privately held fortunes, the magazine said it used database company BRIS and other sources to estimate what companies and assets were worth if public.

26 May 2008

Air, ground attacks cause heavy displacement in Mullaitivu
 
Humanitarian agencies are reporting heavy displacement of civilians in the Mullaitivu district as fighting continues in the Wanni with air raids and ground attacks.The Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) said in its latest report that residents from the Neddankandal and Panankamam areas of Manthai East in the Mullaitivu district have started to vacate their houses.According to the Mullaitivu Government Agent (GA) around 1,600 families from five villages (Naddankandal, Pandiyankulam, Moonrumurrippu, Panamkamam and Selvapuram) have been displaced; including 545 families in the Thunukkai AGA division, and are being accommodated in nearby villages, An NGO report indicated that 78 families have sought shelter in two welfare centers located in Lyankankulam while 62 families have settled in a school in Therankandal village, both in the Mullaitivu district, IASC said.The UN affiliated agency says the District Secretariat of Kilinochchi had reported on May 22, that nearly 200 IDP families have been settled in Poonakary AGA division in Kilinochchi district during the reporting period. Most of them are displaced from the Manthai West areas.In order to provide urgent assistance to the newly displaced people, ZOA, UNHCR and UNOPS deployed teams to assess the situation in Thunukkai, Mallavi and Poonakary AGA divisions where a number of IDPs have found accommodation. An ad-hoc IDP Emergency Cell meeting is scheduled to discuss the current situation and to coordinate required assistance, IASC added.IASC also notes that the health sector continues to suffer from shortages of essential drug supplies including anesthetics and that the situation is expected to become even more urgent if regularly needed supplies are not resumed.“There were confrontations in the Neddankandal and Panankamam areas of Manthai East in the Mullaitivu district during the reporting period. Civilians from these areas have started to move towards Mallavi (in Mullaitivu) and other more secure places in the north of the Vanni. In addition, populations from the Aathithimoddai and Koorai villages in Manthai West have also started to move further north following shelling in the vicinity of their villages,” IASC said.

Bomb explosion in Dehiwala

An Explosion occurred in side the Colombo-Panadura train while it reaching to the Dehiwala railway station short while ago, 26 May. According to the available information the explosion took place around 4.55 p.m and the victims were being rushed to the hospitals.More information will follow.

Sri Lanka Air Force attacks rebel targets, 21 Tigers killed in ground battles

Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gun ships launched air attacks in Mannar this morning to provide air support to the troops fighting along the frontlines while the ground battles in the conflict areas killed 21 Tiger rebels over the weekend, the military said. Defene reports quoting the Air Force spokesman said the air sorties were launched around 8:30 a.m.targeting LTTE stronghold located in the general area of Andankulam, 1.5 km north of the security forces defence line in Mannar front. Confrontations between the troops and LTTE Tigers ensued at Palampiddi, Periyamadu, Parayakulama and Marathamadu areas in Vavuniya, killed ten Tiger cadres while heavy fighting erupted in Welioya killed 6 Tigers. Three solders were also killed in the battles, the Media Center for National Security (MCNS) said.In Jaffna A Tiger cadre was killed in the general area of Muhamalai while in the Mannar battle fronts, at Karukkandal, Vediyamurippu, Pallaiperumalkaddu and Marithikannadi, four Tigers were reported killed.Independent verification of casualty figures is not possible as the media is not allowed in the conflict areas.

Sri Lanka's Central Bank Holds Interest Rate at 10.5%

Sri Lanka's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the highest level since 2002 to help bolster growth amid the fastest inflation in at least four years. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintained its repurchase rate at 10.5 percent for a 15th straight meeting, the Colombo- based bank said in a statement today. Sixteen out of 17 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News predicted the decision. One analyst expected a 25 basis point increase. Governor Nivard Cabraal joins central bank chiefs in Asia in balancing the threat of slowing growth against accelerating inflation. Consumer prices in the capital Colombo rose 25 percent in April from a year earlier, after gaining 23.8 percent in March, on higher food and energy costs. ``Once again it comes down to the fact of growth versus inflation targeting, with authorities preferring growth,'' said Romesh Gomez, a trader at First Capital Treasuries Ltd. in Colombo. The central bank on April 30 said it was revising down its quarterly targets for reserve money for this year, which would help in ``containing the demand driven component of inflation, ultimately containing further inflationary pressures.'' Central Bank of Sri Lanka has kept monetary policy tight with its daily open-market operations to adjust the amount of cash in the banking system and by controlling credit demand. The yield on the 15.5 percent bond due in January 2010 rose 5 basis points to 17.95 percent at 10:30 a.m. in Colombo, according to First Capital Treasuries Ltd. The rupee was little changed at 107.7 to the dollar, according to First Capital.

Annual Inflation

Sri Lanka's inflation may slow to 14 percent by the end of this year, central bank Deputy Governor W.A. Wijewardena said on May 15. The increase in prices will ease to ``around 8 percent'' by the end of 2009, he said. Annual inflation, or the 12-month moving average increase in prices, jumped to 18.7 percent in April. The central bank said in January it was targeting annual inflation of about 10 percent for 2008. Reducing consumer-price gains to a single digit would be challenging due to rising global commodity prices, the central bank said in its annual report. ``There is a strong likelihood of the actual 2008 inflation being significantly higher than the previous estimates which were computed on the basis of the crude oil prices during the year 2008 being at an annual average of around $90,'' it said in today's statement. Crude oil futures reached $135.09 on May 22, the highest since trading began in 1983, and have gained 25 percent in the past two months.

Fuel Prices

Ceylon Petroleum Corp., Sri Lanka's state oil company, yesterday raised fuel prices for the second time this year to cut losses caused by record crude costs. Costlier military purchases to combat the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels have also fanned price gains. The government on Jan. 16 formally ended its 2002 cease- fire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam saying the rebels had used the accord to re-arm and prepare for further attacks. Gross domestic product may expand 7 percent in 2008, at the lower end of the range estimated in November, and up from 6.8 percent last year, according to the central bank. Growth may slow to 5.8 percent this year amid central bank measures to cool inflation, James McCormack, head of Asia- Pacific sovereign ratings at Fitch Ratings, said April 10. Sri Lanka may need to consider increasing the proportion of deposits that commercial lenders must place with it or let the currency appreciate to cool runaway inflation, McCormack said. The Sri Lankan central bank's cash reserve ratio has stood at 10 percent since October 2001. ``There will be runaway inflation if the central bank is not willing to increase interest rates,'' said Vajira Premawardhana, head of research at Lanka Orix Securities Pvt. in Colombo. ``The government is trying to show good growth numbers.''

Government needs to go beyond the 13th Amendment - US Ambassador

The United States reiterated its willingness to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa to achieve the desired task of the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the President to probe into the killings of 17 aid workers and other human rights violations. In an interview with the Sunday Observer US Ambassador Robert Blake said the US has no intention in interfering with the Commission and the US strongly believed in the independence of the Commission. Blake along with another diplomat was accused of holding a meeting with the commissioners said that the agenda of the meeting was only to discuss the ‘logistic matters’.

Excerpts:

Q: Are you satisfied with the support that the US had offered so far to Sri Lanka and what are the strategic areas where the US and Sri Lanka should work closely?

A: Yes. The US and Sri Lanka are close friends for more than 50 years now. The US is a strong supporter of Sri Lanka’s fight against terrorism. We strongly believe that Sri Lanka like all other countries has an obligation to defend its people against LTTE terrorism.

The US has provided military, law enforcement and other kinds of support to help the government to defend itself while believing that a purely a military solution would not be the correct solution for this conflict.

The US believes that the answer to the conflict lies with a power sharing concept which can respond to the aspirations of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. We also believe that in this very important stage of the conflict, it is very important for the government to address the human rights issues as well.

The US also has concerns about Tamils who suffer disproportionately due to human rights violations. It is important to give them a sense of feeling that they could live with respect and dignity here. So improving the human rights performances is also an important aspect of our dialogue with the government.

Q: The US supports developing countries. Sri Lanka has been battered and bruised by LTTE terrorism and how best the US could support in curbing terrorism?

A: I think I have just answered that question. The US is one of the first countries to declare LTTE as a foreign terrorist organisation in 1997. We have also helped to investigate and prosecute people in the US, who were trying to provide arms to the LTTE.

So, the FBI, for an example, has conducted distinct operations that had resulted in the arrest of many people and those investigations are on-going. We also have a central bank, which improves financial investigations to track down the money flow into the LTTE and help to stop those money from flowing in.

Then the most importantly we work with our friends in the military to help them to stop import of arms into this country.

We gave them a maritime surveillance system last year - a radar system - that will give the Sri Lanka Navy a much better picture of LTTE naval activities in their waters and thereby give them the opportunity to detect LTTE shipments of arms. I must say they have enjoyed considerable success last year in sinking many of these ships.

The ban on LTTE is extremely effective in terms of implementing the American law. People understand that we are very strict about forcing our laws which will prosecute anyone who is believed to be illegally assisting the LTTE.

Q: Criticism had mounted when the East was about to be liberated. Now the Mahinda Rajapaksa government has created the right environment to give more power to the people whereby they can look after their own affairs. What is your comment on restoring democracy in the East?

A: I think President Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan Government made very important progress over the past year. First they have expelled the LTTE from the East. That is a positive development and secondly they have restored government services.

In the East they have reopened schools, hospitals and government institutions. Now there is a greater sense of normalcy in many towns in the East. People are out late at nights, going for movies and for shopping which is a big achievement after 20 years. There is stability now, in that part of the country.

With regard to the election we always support the principle of free elections. It is important to allow the local inhabitants to represent their views. There have been some controversies which were highlighted in the media.

The Opposition parties have alleged that there were many irregularities. The US is not in a position to judge since we did not have observers on the ground. But we think that it is important for the government and the new Provincial Council to look into those charges seriously and act on them.

In the long run it is really important to consider what the people of the East believe. If they believe that it was largely a free and fair election and they support the new council, then the international community should also be prepared to accept their decision in toto.

In terms of what happens after, I think that the new Chief Minister has an important challenge on his hand. First of all, he has to assure security, because on one hand he is the chosen Chief Minister of the Eastern Province and on the other hand he is the head of the TMVP which still has armed cadres.

So, he is in a difficult position where he has to enforce state law as the Chief Minister and on the other hand a fairly large number of armed cadres. I think something must be done and they can not continue to do illegal activities in the East.

Otherwise they would undermine the leadership of Pillaiyan and the transition that the TMVP is trying to make while being a para-military group and a political party. So, we support the idea of them of being a political party. But that transition must be completed and certainly they can not be in both.

Beyond the challenge of security, I think that the new Chief Minister in order to secure the support of the people of the East, it is very important to show that he has been given opportunities to serve all other communities in the East and pursuing development in a neutral way.

And I think that way he can ensure that there is harmony among these communities and also stability in the East, which will automatically reach to a greater development and priority for the people of the East.

Q: Will the US continue with its support to develop the East?

A: Yes, we have quite a number of projects with the assistance of the private sector, for example the vocational training. We have just announced a major project in Batticaloa to develop dairy industry and another to grow vegetables for exports.

We strongly believe that we need to help the people of the East and give them economic opportunities. We believe that there is a big role for the private sector to play. We have proposed to give more assistance for the East and the US government is considering it now.

Q: You have always advocated a credible political package to meet the aspirations of the Tamils. How do you see the APRC proposal to implement the 13th Amendment?

A: The East is a fine laboratory to show that powers within the 13th Amendment be devolved within the Eastern Provincial Council. But I think the government needs to go beyond the 13th Amendment. Implementing the 13th amendment is itself will satisfy the aspirations of the Tamils.

The way they develop must be a significant power sharing proposals through the APRC using some other mechanisms. But I do believe that the APRC has made lots of progress.

According to Prof. Vitharana over 90 percent of their work has been done and I think the APRC has been a useful mechanism to get the Southern consensus to move forward. The most important thing is to come up with an idea which is really welcomed by the Tamils.

I think that it is important for the government to consult a wide range of Tamils. We are not calling for negotiations with the LTTE. That is something that the government has to decide.

It is important to recognize more than half of the Tamils are living outside the Wanni. I think their interests also should be respected as well. So, people like Anandasngaree and other elected representatives in the government controlled areas are needed to be brought into this process and consulted.

Q: You mentioned the solution should be something beyond the 13th Amendment. So what is your proposal to end the national issue?

A: I think we need to distinguish as these are two different things. The President Rajapaksa’s proposal to implement the 13th Amendment is a good idea. But I don’t really want to come up with a proposal because whenever I try to say something I am later accused of trying to dictate to the Sri Lankan people. The US does not have any intention of doing that. It is up to the Sri Lankan people to decide what is best for them.

Q: What do you think that Sri Lanka is facing today - is it a war on terror or an ethnic problem? What sort of a solution do you suggest to end the conflict in the island?

A: I think all these are loaded terms. I am reluctant to say this is an ethnic conflict but it is a civil conflict. I always remind people who are visiting from USA that Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims lived together and continue to live peacefully together. Tamils are living in Colombo peacefully with their Sinhalese and Muslim friends. So there is no ethnic conflict here. And certainly the government is defending itself against terrorism.

Q: It is clearly proven that the LTTE is not the sole representative of the Tamils. And also it has been proved the LTTE’s political agenda is different from the Tamils. What do you have to say?

A: I do actually see there are important differences here. From my discussions with Tamils I know that over 95 percent of them support a solution within a framework of a united Sri Lanka.

They are not seeking an independent Tamil Eelam which Prabhakaran is seeking. I think it would be very useful for Prabhakaran to give up this idea of seeking an independent Tamil State and agreeing to negotiate with a united Sri Lanka.

I think this would give him lots of credibility to respond to lots of scepticism here in the South that the LTTE would never negotiate with the government. The LTTE has a responsibility to show that they are prepared to negotiate in a genuine way.

Q: What is your view about the on-going military operations to liberate Wanni where people are living under severe hardship and the young and the old were being conscripted by the LTTE?

A: With respect to the on-going military campaign, as I said earlier, the US do not believe in purely a military solution is possible. The 25-years long experience of war here has shown that the LTTE is a rather formidable organisation and it is very difficult to defeat them militarily.

So the best way to reach a solution is through a political solution to address the aspirations of the Tamils and all the communities. And again the Tamils in Wanni and rest of the country need sense of dignity and conviction in future that they will be able to have an important say over matters that concern them especially the areas where they are predominant.

They should be able to have a high degree of self governance within a united Sri Lanka. I believe that is really a way forward to achieve a peaceful settlement to this conflict.

Q: You have just mentioned that the military can not defeat LTTE and this was the assumption before the East was liberated by the military. So how can you say that the military cannot defeat the LTTE in North?

A: The East was a different situation and the LTTE was spread out. But Wanni is more in the heartland of the LTTE. Here they have been prepared for many years to face any kind of an attack.

Q: Do you still believe that Sri Lankan Security Forces cannot capture Prabhakaran?

A: I think you have to ask this question from the Forces. What I can say is that the US does not have any love for Prabhakaran. But it is going to be difficult for the government to get him.

Q: He is the ‘Most wanted man’ by the Indian government for the killing of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In which way could the US help the government to bring him to book?

A: I can not really say how, as we are not involved in any military efforts to capture him. We believe that the best way would be, not with the gun but through peaceful means.

Q: Do you think that both Al-Qaeda and the LTTE, are ruthless terrorist organizations and how do you categorise the LTTE?

A: I would not say they are the same at all. I do not want to get into the business of comparing terrorist organisations because every terrorist organization is different. And it is also important to address the LTTE in the Sri Lankan context.

Q: But some countries call the LTTE as freedom fighters?

A: I do not respect the freedom fighter argument. Certainly any group which is working for freedom, they should do it in a peaceful manner. They can not use violence and terror. That is same with the LTTE and we have consistently said they must renounce terrorism and stop using violence.

Q: The US and Sri Lanka are engaged in a common fight - combatting terrorism. But some critics say that the US has double standards when combatting terrorism against the US and dealing with the terrorism in countries like Sri Lanka. What is your comment?

A: I really don’t agree with that. I think we have a very consistent approach and even in places like Iraq where we are confronted with a very serious terrorist problem and we are in favour of a political solution there. The insurgency strategy of the US is based on using a wide range of tools to combat terrorism and it is just not the military strategy.

In Iraq we are engaged in with certain strategies to bring down the levels of killing and violence both against American forces and other coalition forces. The ordinary iraqis have come way down over the last years. Iraq is a major domestic issue an year ago in my country and now people have confidence that Iraqis are in a better track and hopeful about their future.

So the policies are the same that we are advocating here in Sri Lanka and so I can say there would not be any double standards.

Q: In this situation what are the priorities of a country - combatting terror to save lives or safeguarding human rights?

A: Well. I do not think there is contradiction between the two. I think one has to devote. Clearly one has to defend one’s country against terrorism. That is extremely important. For any government the most important priority is to defend its citizens. It is true in the US and it is true in Sri Lanka and every other country in the world. But we also believe that it is possible to preserve human rights.

So, for example, one of the very difficult problems the government faces is to identify suicide bombers. How they find these people before they carry out their murderous acts. And I believe that the way to do that is still to arrest, question in a humane way and if they are suspected of the crime produce them in courts.

But do not use extra judicial killings and other kind of things. And those acts will undermine the long term solutions. So, it is much better to use rule of law to address terrorism. Accountability of rule of law is extremely important.

Q: Do you think that Sri Lanka has violated UN Conventions when strengthening bi-lateral relations with Iran?

A: I do not think so and not to my knowledge. But is up to the government to be aware of those resolutions.

Q: Iran is in rivalry with the US with regard to nuclear issues. Therefore how do you see the recent visit of the Iranian President to Sri Lanka?

A: Our concerns about Iran is well-known. President - Bush, Secretary of State - Rice and many our leaders are concerned about their nuclear capabilities. We acknowledge their right to develop civil nuclear energy for energy purposes. But the US opposes nuclear weapons. Similarly we have expressed our deep concern about the Iranian support for international terrorism particulary in the Middle East, especially the support for groups like Hisbulla.

We always want all our friends to make the same point for Iran. At the same time we understand that Sri Lanka has to develop relationships with Iran and we do not have objections if they donate funds education projects in the South.

Q: We were made to understand that you had met the members of the Commission of Inquiry which probes into 15 cases of killings of Aid workers and other alleged HR cases? What was your area of interest while meeting the commissioners?

A: Yes, we did have a short meeting with them, and the purpose of the meeting as Justice Udalagama has explained was purely a technical matter. The Commission did not get the support of the IIEGPS and the Commission has the problem of how to continue the video conferencing to record testimony of witnesses resident abroad. So the question arose as to whether the international community could continue to fund the video conferencing.

Since the US and the other partners in the IIEGP process happened to fund the process all along, we discussed the matter whether to fund the particular video conferencing. So that was real the purpose of the meeting.

The US do not have any intension of whatsoever in interfering anyway with the Commission of Inquiry. We strongly believe in independence. I really do not share the allegations that we are interfering with the Commission and we simply looked into logistic matters.

We support the Commission appointed by the President. And he has reiterated on many occasions that his commitment in seeing this commission achieve its desired task. So we totally support the President in this regard.

Bharathi, MR’s Co-ordinator
   
TMVP Ampara political head, Bharathi, a controversial figure who was a close ally of Karuna Amman during the initial stages of the TMVP split, has been appointed as a coordinator for President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the district.The appointment documents were handed over at the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday evening by the Presidential Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, Kumaraswamy Pushpakumar alias Bharathi told the Daily Mirror.“I was appointed as the direct coordinator for the Ampara district to the President. My duties basically include discussing development and other related issues of the district with the President,” he said.Last June TNA Ampara district Parliamentarian, Chandra Nehru Chandrakanthan was brought to Colombo under tight police security after he was allegedly threatened at gun point by Bharathi.A heated argument had taken place between the two parties where Bharathi had reportedly asked Chandrakanthan to leave the area. Police and STF personnel had taken Chandrakanthan to Thirukkovil where he had lodged a police complaint.Following the just concluded Eastern polls the UNP alleged that in Ampara, Bharathi was involved in rigging the polls in Tamil areas.

25 May 2008

Resuming talks only a matter of time-TELO Jaffna Parliamentarian N. Sri Kantha
 
Both the government and the LTTE will come to the negotiating table as neither party will win militarily, TNA and TELO Parliamentarian N. Sri Kantha said in an interview with The Sunday Leader. He said that a political solution was still a possibility, as the war would not solve the ethnic conflict.Sri Kantha also stated that India should lift the ban on the LTTE to maintain a neutral stance in the event it plays the role of facilitator to future peace negotiations.He also urged the disarmament of the Pillayan Group in the east, 'as the whole democratic system would be affected due to its presence.' "These armed groups should be disarmed. Otherwise, the entire democratic system of this country will become a mockery. The party in power under the present circumstances can easily manipulate the parliamentary elections in the northeast using their armed groups and succeed in mustering a majority to form the next government. After all, the northeast accounts for 31 elected MPs. This number is significant," he said. Excerpts:

Q: The TNA has been silent during the recent past. Why?

A: We the TNA having decided to boycott the elections have been watching the developments viz a viz the Eastern Provincial Council. The political moves and counter moves centred on the Eastern Provincial Council are not of much interest to us, for we are concerned with the larger and most pressing question of stopping the war and thereby end the untold sufferings of the people that include the terrific human rights violations on the Tamils. This is our priority. But for many others, their priorities are different.

Q: How do you view Pillayan's appointment as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province?

A: As the renegade leader of the splinter group of the LTTE that has become the convenient mercenary of the government, Pillayan has been rewarded with the office of the Chief Minister. Fraud coupled with force has yielded rich dividends for the ruling alliance and its mercenaries, the TMVP.

With the gun in his hands and the blood of innocent civilians on his fingers, Pillayan has taken oaths as Chief Minister. As a nascent politician still wedded to weapons, he is least suited to hold any democratically elected office. Yet, he has been picked to achieve the sinister political goal of dividing the Tamil homeland once and for all. The TNA is determined to resist and defeat this design of the majoritarian racialism.   

Q: The TNA parliamentarians representing the east have continuously faced threats by the TMVP. The MPs have not been in a position to work in areas like Batticaloa for a considerable amount of time. What steps have you taken to make sure that the TNA could go back and work in these areas?

A: I think very soon the MPs concerned would go to their respective districts. It is true that imminent danger awaits them in the east. Yet, duty demands that they take the calculated risk of visiting their districts. It is unavoidable.

Q: There are reports that the role of the peace facilitator would be passed on to India. Which country's role do you prefer? What impact would it make on the whole process given that India has been involved in Sri Lanka's issues?

A: If India wants to play the role of facilitator, it is all the more welcome. But to play the role, it should first lift the ban on the LTTE in order to acquire a neutral position and image. Is India ready to do that?

Q: Balraj was a key member of the LTTE military wing. How would his death affect the Tigers in the future?

A: I don't know much about the internal mechanism of the LTTE military apparatus to talk on this matter. Yet I can say that the demise of Balraj is indeed a big loss to the LTTE. The military capability of any army with a proven track record of its potential and prowess cannot be impaired drastically by the loss of two or three of its top commanders. Ultimately in the battlefield, what matters is the morale of the fighters and the overall leadership that guides them. In this context, LTTE continues to be a terrible fighting machine.

Q: There is also speculation that Balraj died due to an air strike or bombing and not due to a heart attack. How do you respond to this?

A: What you say is news to me. What we understand is that Balraj died of a massive heart attack.

Q: Would you say that with the appointment of Pillayan as Chief Minister, the north-east demerger is permanent?

A: Every politician of this country except a few has been talking about finding a political solution to the ethnic conflict. If the ethnic question is to be resolved politically, then, two matters need to be accepted. One; it has to be within a united island of Sri Lanka. Two;  the solution should provide for a unified northeast autonomous region. Given this reality, the Eastern Provincial Council can only be a temporary one. It has to vanish into thin air in the event of a political resolution of the ethnic conflict.

Q: With the TNA boycotting the EPC and the TMVP asserting their authority, would it not be extremely difficult for the TNA to make a comeback at a general election in the east?

A: There cannot be any free and fair election, not only in the east, but also in the whole of northeast, as long as paramilitary groups, armed to the teeth and operating under the protective wings of the politico military leadership of this country are permitted to have their own way. These armed groups should be disarmed. Otherwise, the entire democratic system of this country will become a mockery.

The party in power under the present circumstances can easily manipulate  parliamentary elections in the northeast using their armed groups and succeed in mustering a majority to form the next government. After all, the northeast accounts for 31 elected MPs. This number is significant.

Q: Given the current state of play, would you say there is no prospect of a negotiated settlement to the ethnic crisis?

A: We don't say that. There is every prospect for a negotiated settlement, for this war cannot be won by either party through the military conflict. The question is when. It is only a matter of time before both parties again meet at the negotiating table. But this time, I do think the talks will be crucial and with more international involvement, including of course, India.

Q: In your view can either the government or the LTTE win militarily and if not how do you see the issue getting resolved given the reluctance of both parties to resume talks?

A: I think time will tire out both parties with the end result of their shaking hands at the negotiating table.

Q: The Prime Minister has announced that there will never be another ceasefire in the country. Can you see the prospect of talks in such a backdrop and does that not leave a military solution as the only option?

A: The Prime Minister is a very good person personally speaking. But, please don't take him seriously on this matter. Very many bigger men have said very many bigger things on the same lines only to swallow their words ultimately.

Q: There is a view that  the LTTE's  campaign is self defeating because over time the Tamil population in the north and east has dwindled rapidly due to migration and other factors and that before long, Tamils will not be the majority in a combined province. How would you respond?

A: Well, it is an alarming situation. But the fact remains that all the Tamils who have been displaced internally and those who have gone to India wish to come back once there is normalcy in the northeast. Apart from that there remains unshaken, the determination of our people to live as equals with their brothers and sisters of the majority community. Given this fact, the struggle is bound to go on unless it is politically resolved. Furthermore, under any circumstances the Tamils will continue to be the majority in the northeast.

Q: It is said that though the Tamils are numerically larger in the east, in reality there are more Muslims living in the province and that the election results reflect that. What do you say?

A: In spite of migration and internal displacement, Tamils continue to be the single largest community in the east, closely followed by the Tamil speaking Muslim community. It is true that at the time of independence, the Tamils constituted 50% in the east with Muslims accounting for 42% and Sinhalese 8%. All that is drastically changed thanks to state-sponsored Sinhalese colonisation and the war.

Yet even now, the Tamils account for more than 40%. The disparity evident in the election results is due to a sizable section of the Tamil voters boycotting the election, more particularly in the Trincomalee District. A comparative analysis of the statistics of the last parliamentary election in the east with that of the latest provincial council election would clearly reveal it.  

Q: Given the fact that the TNA has not called for the disarming of the LTTE, can you justifiably ask for the Pillayan Group to be disarmed?

A: There is a world of difference between the LTTE and the Pillayan Group known as the TMVP as they are now. One is a militant organisation waging war against the state. The other has become a political party, contested elections and assumed office. All of these achievements while clinging onto its guns.

Now Pillayan, sorry, Chandra-kanthan and his comrades have taken their respective oaths under the constitution to uphold and defend the constitution. Does the constitution permit anybody to possess and carry unlicensed weapons? This is totally against the law. If a Appuhamy or Arumugam or Anwer carries an unlicensed gun, he will be arrested and prosecuted.

Then what about Pillayan and his comrades? Are they above the law just because they are former LTTEers? Even if the LTTE enters the democratic mainstream and contests elections, it cannot under the law, keep its weapons. Let there be no mistake about it.

UNP seeks redress on Provincial Council election

The United National Party (UNP) that was narrowly defeated at the May 10 provincial council election has decided to appeal to the Supreme Court to appoint an inquirer at magisterial level to investigate election violence.UNP senior Member of Parliament John Amaratunga told The Nation yesterday that UNP lawyers were working on it and were preparing papers to institute legal action against the government and the elections commissioner.Describing the recently concluded provincial poll as ‘fraudulent,’ the Parliamentarian said the UNP was determined to take the government and the election commissioner to task.Admitting the fact that the UNP has performed better than the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that has been accused of misusing state resources to win the election, Amaratunga said the party will now go all out to seek legal redress.He said while the UNP will file action in the Supreme Court against the government for failure to hold a free and fair election, the party would also appeal to the Supreme Court to appoint an inquirer at magisterial level and give instructions to the said inquirer to visit the east and get first hand information from the people, who he said had been cheated.“What we ask from the Supreme Court is to give the magisterial level inquirer instructions to carry out an independent investigation. He (inquirer) must be able to visit the east and ascertain for himself the real truth. The people are there to speak. We should not be the only sources providing information to the independent inquirer,” he said.He further said that this is the fault of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for not appointing the Constitutional Council (CC). He said failure to appoint the CC has resulted in the government not being able to establish an independent elections commission.“This is ridiculous. We urge that the government should immediately implement the 17th amendment to the constitution and appoint the CC, so that the independent commissions could be appointed without any delay,” he said.

EU may revive anti-Sri Lanka resolution

Emboldened by Sri Lanka’s defeat at UN Human Rights Council elections, some European Union members are expected to try and push through a anti-Sri Lanka resolution which they had previously contemplated but abandoned for want of support. Scandinavian members of the EU along with Germany which had been gunning for Sri Lanka because of its human rights record had been toying with the idea of an anti-Sri Lanka resolution last year.Though a draft resolution was in circulation it was not officially presented. The EU sponsors’ assessment was that it will not pass muster at the 47-member council which they felt was dominated by countries which too had suspect human rights records. They believed such a resolution would be out-voted by like-minded members of the council.Now that the election last week in New York had seen some new members enter the council and Sri Lanka being ousted, the EU members are expected to test the waters for an anti-Sri Lanka resolution. Sri Lanka’s failure to win the support of the requisite votes to gain one of the four places for Asia up for grabs, diplomats feel, would strengthen the case of those in the EU who wish to condemn Colombo on its human rights record.Even if the reconstituted council still does not tilt the balance in favour of a critical EU resolution, it is felt that they will try for a strong condemnation in the European Parliament as a less influential alternative.The EU’s Strategy Paper 2007-2013 on relations with Sri Lanka states: “The human rights and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka deteriorated drastically since April 2006,” and goes on to list several of the growing human rights problems.Diplomats also believe that the recent debacle when Sri Lanka was ousted from the UNHRC when seeking a second term would also be used by European critics of Colombo to argue against extending the GSP Plus concession granted by the EU to Sri Lanka.Since an acceptable human rights record and the adherence to several key UN conventions and treaties are key criteria for the grant of this trade concession first extended to Colombo after the December 2004 tsunami, EU members critical of Sri Lanka are expected to press for its withdrawal.Diplomatic sources however believe that eventually Sri Lanka will have the GPS Plus extended for another period. However they say, the more amenable members of the EU will be under tremendous pressure from other member states and lobby groups to deny this trade concession.As one diplomat said referring to state and non-state critics of Sri Lanka including pro-LTTE lobbyists “they smell blood now after Sri Lanka failed to qualify in New York. They think they have got Sri Lanka on the rack.”The first signs of any moves would be seen in Brussels and when the UNHRC meets again later this year.

TMVP to be included in APRC

The All Party Representative Committee chairman Professor Tissa Vitarana said yesterday that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would soon take a decision on whether or not to incorporate the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulihal party into the APRC. The next round of APRC deliberations is expected to take place during the course of this week. Speaking to Lakbima news Minister Vitarana said it is the President who has the prerogative to decide on the inclusion of the TMVP in the APRC.

SLMC charges TMVP of inciting violence

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) yesterday accused Tamil Makkal Vidulai Pulikal (TMVP) of instigating chaos in Kattankudi.SLMC Deputy General Secretary Nizam Kariapper told The Nation that Pillaiyan and the TMVP were responsible for the clashes which erupted on May 22, following the death of two TMVP cadres.He appealed to the government to disarm the TMVP cadres, if not it would pose dire consequences in the area. “The government should immediately take necessary steps to disarm the TMVP cadres, if not the situation in Kattankudi would spread to other parts of the region,” he said.He further said that if the government failed to disarm the TMVP cadres, they would freely roam around the region, terrorising the people. The Police should also play their part in restoring law and order, he added.Kariapper further said that the SLMC was monitoring the situation and hoped that Kattankudi would return to normalcy soon: “We hope that there would not arise any incidents of ethnic violence because of this situation. We asked Pillaiyan to stop spreading violence in the area and he said that he had nothing to do with it. We only fear that there might be an ethnic clash,” he said.

Kattankudi returns to normal

Kattankudi has gradually returned to normal with the lifting of the police curfew at 6 a.m. yesterday, police sources said.Shops and business houses re-opened with the people going about their business as usual. Vehicular traffic and long-distance buses operated as usual residents said. The situation improved following the sudden visit of the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan to the Meera Jumma mosque during Jumma prayers on Wednesday to appeal for calm.The Chief Minister was welcomed by Provincial Minister M.L.A.M Hisbullah, who was speaking to the people after the conclusion of prayers.It was in this mosque, the LTTE massacred 115 Muslims during prayers in 1990.The Chief Minister expressed his regret over what had happened in the past and asked the people to put the sad events of the past behind them.He assured that law and order would be restored leaving no room for a repetition of any violence in the future.He appealed to the village elders to cooperate with the security forces to maintain law and order.

Dr. JJ wants Madhu shrine handed over to Mannar Bishop

UNP parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena has asked Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse to make arrangements to hand over the possession of The shrine of Our Lady of Madhu to Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, the Bishop of Mannar, who is the rightful custodian of the shrine.In a letter to Rajapakse, Dr. Jayeardena has also requested that permission be granted to the Rev. Fr. Administrator and other Catholic Fathers, Nuns and religious workers to return to the shrine as soon as possible.Whatever repairs which have to be carried out to the shrine will have to be done by the Catholic Church under the spiritual supervision and guidance of the Bishop of Mannar, he said."I trust permission will granted to the Bishop to carry out these repairs accordingly"."I strongly feel that the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Madhu, which has been moved temporarily to a Catholic Church in Thevampiddy with the consent of the Bishop and the Administrator, will be brought back to the sacred shrine at the first opportunity when a religious, spiritual, safe, conducive and conflict-free atmosphere is created", Dr. Jayawardena noted.

Madhu statue to be brought back in July

The return of the Madhu statue to its shrine will only be determined once the military allows church authorities access to the shrine possibly by early July.Vicar General of the Mannar Diocese, Rev. Fr.Victor Soosai told The Sunday Leader last week that the seven volunteers who were to visit the shrine had not left, as the military had not granted permission due to the de-mining activities around the shrine premises.The military earlier said that they could not give a specific time to end the de-mining activities as they had to make sure the shrine area was completely safe for the civilians and the devotees who visit the place.Rev. Fr. Soosai added that the immediate concern is the worshipping area of the shrine, which has been affected due to the artillery firing a few months ago.He added that the military had given a time frame of six weeks for the church authorities to go to the shrine and assess the situation around the shrine.“We have not decided on what to do since the festival is coming up in August. First we have to visit the place and assess the situation. Only then can we decide on bringing the statue down and to have the annual festival,” he said.The Madhu statue was relocated at St. Xavier’s Church in Thevanpitti, 70 km northwest of Madhu on April 3 due to heavy artillery firing in the region.

US raps Lanka for allowing assaults on media persons

The United States on Saturday rapped the Sri Lankan government for allowing goons to assault media persons with impunity.Coming close on the heels of the brutal assault on and the abduction of Keith Noyahr, Associate Editor and Defence Correspondent of 'The Nation weekly by an unidentified gang, the US statement said some of the independent voices in the Sri Lankan media were paying "too high a price for speaking out."The statement was made in Colombo by visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Labour, Erica Barks-Ruggles. The US places a "very high" value on freedom of speech and the press, Barks-Ruggles told Sri Lankan officials.She saluted the "civic courage" demonstrated by independent voices in Sri Lanka's media, some of whom, she noted, "have paid too high a price for speaking out."" Sri Lanka has the necessary institutional framework in place, but it needs to empower its institutions to carry out their work effectively. Human rights protection needs to be applied in fact, not just in law," she pointedout.In a front page editorial on the attack on Noyahr, The Island said: "Noyahr's ordeal has proved once again that the culture of impunity has come to stay in this country. Attacking journalists seems to have become an easier task than throwing stones at stray dogs. Perpetrators of violence against the media are confident of going scot free."Giving a list of ten journalists who were killed in the past two decades, the editorial said the performance of the government in investigating these cases,was "execrable". Not one has been punished for the crimes.Daily Mirror said in its edit that by allowing such attacks to take place with impunity, the government was only giving credence to a widespread feeling in the UN that Sri Lanka had a "serious" humanrights problem.

From terror outfit to mainstream politics

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan had his own way to politics and to become the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council. The very roots of Pillayan lie in the Batticaloa district to which they wanted a separate leadership, distancing from the Northern leadership. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan was born in August 18, 1975 in a small village called Pethalai, in Kalkuda, Batticaloa. His father Sivanesathurai Arumugan (62) and his mother Sivanesan Kamala (52) are still living to see his son’s achievement. Chandrakanthan was the second among the seven children his parents had. Suresh Kumar (35), Sugandhi (32), Chandrakanthi (29), Meena Lakshmi (27), Sugandan (30) and Kumar (28) were the other members of his family. Chandrakanthan had his education at Pethalai Vipulananda Vidyalaya and Valachchenai Hindu College. At the age of 15, as a young boy enjoying his days in the beaches in Kalkuda, Chandrakanthan joined Karuna Amman who was the Eastern LTTE leader in Batticaloa. Having undergone military training under the LTTE, he joined Karuna Amman for the Pooneryn Battle in 1993. Since then he had participated in all the major battles along with Karuna Amman. When Karuna Amman defected from the LTTE on April 3, 2004 Pillayan was also with him. The Tiger leader Prabhakaran declared war against Karuna cadres with the political backing from the South. As the cadres under Karuna Amman were entrapped in the Verugal Aru bordering Trincomalee and Batticaloa district, Karuna Amman summoned all the Tiger cadres under his command to Meenam Base in Thoppigala and allowed them to leave the organisation. But Pillayan did not leave the organisation and continued to work along with Karuna Amman. He became the leader of the Karuna faction’s military wing after Regie was assassinated. In May 2007, Pillayan distanced from Karuna Amman and shifted to the Trincomalee district. On November 2, 2007 a group led by him captured the Batticaloa office of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal and became its leader. Since then he is following the foot steps of democracy with the backing of the present Government and contested the Eastern Provincial Council election held for the first time after 1987 to become the Chief Minister.

US mulls military support to Lanka

Sri Lanka can look forward to US military assistance to crack down on LTTE terrorism as the United States is now considering to lift the arms embargo following the recent release of child soldiers by the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP). The United States which has come down hard on terrorism, suspended air and maritime surveillance assistance to Sri Lanka last year citing two reasons - recruitment of child soldiers by the TMVP and human rights violations. US Ambassador Robert O. Blake told the Sunday Observer that there was a possibility of resuming military assistance to the government to defend the LTTE. “US military assistance is currently suspended due to two provisions in the US law. The first being child soldiers. The TMVP has released over 50 child soldiers and this is a very good sign”, he said. Blake said that the US had welcomed the move publicly and hope they would release more. According to UNICEF figures over 100 child soldiers were still in the custody of the TMVP, he said. “The US believes that we will be able to lift that particular restriction and to continue to provide military assistance if the TMVP releases more children”, he said adding that the United States is working closely with the government to improve its human rights record too. Blake said that US military assistance in the areas of air and maritime surveillance has helped the government to detect LTTE arms shipments in the territorial waters of the country. The American Ambassador is positive that the US Millennium Challenge Corporation, which de-listed Sri Lanka, would also make another decision to consider to fund Sri Lanka again. “Hence that is another reason that we encourage the government to improve its record on human rights. This will enable us to cooperate more with Sri Lanka”, he said. Blake said that LTTE child conscription was done in a greater magnitude and the number of children with the LTTE was 15 times more than those who were in the custody of the TMVP. Quoting UNICEF figures, he said that there would be over 1,600 child soldiers still in the hands of the LTTE. “This is a very serious concern and the US has joined the UNICEF and other agencies urging the LTTE to release these children”, he said. When asked whether there would be any change in Washington’s stand with regard to the support to Sri Lanka if the US Presidency shifts from the Republican to Democratic, he said that the main interest of the US was to see an end to the national problem and the US approach to Sri Lanka would remain unchanged. “The US approach to Sri Lanka is generally a bi-partisan approach and it would not be changed dramatically under Barack Obama or John McCain. Either way the US will continue to have a strong and friendly relationship with Sri Lanka”, he said.

Piliyandala bus bomb suspect escapes

A suspect arrested in connection with the April 25 Piliyandala bus bombing escaped from Police custody on Friday while being taken to the Judicial Medical Officer’s (JMO) office in Colombo for a medical examination, well informed sources said. The suspect was arrested in Wellawatte by the Army a few days after the bombing and was handed over to the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID).On Friday, the man was being taken to the JMO’s office to obtain a medical certificate as he was to be produced before the Magistrate’s Court later that day. As the jeep in which the man was being transported neared the JMO office, he had jumped off and run away.Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said he could not comment on the incident immediately.Meanwhile, 19 of the 27 suspects taken into custody in connection with the Piliyandala blast had been released after they were produced before the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court on Friday.Of the remaining eight, four are being held by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) and the others by the Mount Lavinia police.

24 May 2008

TNA condemns Murukandy killings

Tamil National Alliance (TELO,TULF,EPRLF AND ACTC) in a press release issued Friday condemned the killing of civilians in Murukandy claymeor attack, and urged the International community "to take necessary measures to insist the Sri Lankan Government to stop its terrorist attack on Tamil civilians," and to restore the normalcy by withdrawing the security forces from the NorthEast.

Full text of press release follows:

The Deep Penetrating Unit of Sri Lankan Government attacked a vehicle by claymore in which several civilians were traveling on Akkarayan – Murikandy road on 23.05.2008 at 2.00 pm. In that attack, 16 innocent civilians were killed on the spot and another 4 civilians were seriously injured. The injured persons were rushed to the Ki'linochchi hospital. The killed includes 4 males, 6 females and 6 children and out of the females 5 were mothers.We vehemently condemn the cowardly and brutal attack of the Sri Lankan Government on civilians. Government has again clearly proved that it never gives up its anti democratic violence against Tamils, though it has lost its membership of Human Rights Council of the United Nations yesterday.The Government is trying its best to evacuate the people living in the areas governed by LTTE threatening by military offensives, reckless air and claymore attacks and shelling. The Sri Lankan Government is purposely doing it in order to invade the Tamils Homeland by evacuating them from LTTE controlled areas.We urge the International community to take necessary measures to insist the Sri Lankan Government to stop its terrorist attack on Tamil civilians and restore the normalcy through withdrawal of the forces from our homeland.

Time bomb found in a bus in Sri Lanka defused averting disaster

Sri Lanka police commandos defused a time bomb which was initially found inside a public transport bus in Ganemulla this evening. According to the defence sources, the conductor of the bus had detected a suspicious parcel placed under a passenger seat around 3 pm and thrown it out of the bus at a remote place in the Kossina area. The conductor has then alerted the bomb disposal team who later discovered the parcel to be a time bomb, said the sources. According to the sources the weight of the bomb was 1.25 kg. There were no passengers in the bus which was due to leave Colombo from Parakandeniya at the time of the finding.

Harthal was held in Vavuniya for LTTE Brigadir Balraj funeral Ceramony

Civilian life was disrupted due to a harthal in Vavuniya town yesterday (23). The harthal was launched while the funeral of LTTE senior leader Brigadir Balraj who died of a heart attack was conducted in Vanni. All the shops, government offices and schools were closed in the town and transport was also at a standstill. Organizers informed to conduct the harthal on a working day and many of the heads of the firms had left the area in advance. LTTE harthal was successful in Vavuniya despite the area was in government controlled territory.

Govt. faces foreign aid cut says UNP

The main opposition UNP warned yesterday that by failing to secure a slot in the United Nations Human Rights Council Sri Lanka also risked having its foreign aid cut off or curtailed.UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardane told a news conference that if the continuing trend of human rights violations was not arrested immediately, Sri Lanka could even end up losing its membership in the Commonwealth Association.Dr. Jayawardane charged that government ministers including Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe were unable to convince the international community that Sri Lanka deserved a seat in the UNHRC.“Internationally this can be considered a slap in the face of the Rajapaksa government,” he said.UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said though the government as such was voted out of the Human Rights Council it was nevertheless a victory for the citizens of this country.Mr. Jayasekara said the international community showed its concern for the grave human rights violations, such as abductions, disappearances, intimidation and killings.“The international community has also considered the government’s failure to implement the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and the killing of aid workers when taking this difficult decision. Today, Sri Lanka is ranked as the third most dangerous place for media men in the world,” he said. Mr. Jayasekera said election malpractices committed in the past had contributed towards further demeaning of Sri Lanka in the eyes of the international community. “Sri Lanka should not forget that it is bound by the international covenants to protect human rights,” he said. 

The driver of a Norwegian organization disappeared in Colombo

Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi ordered Cinnamon Gardens police yesterday (23) to submit all the investigation reports pertaining to the disappearance of Mr. Sebastian Goodfellow, a driver of Norway Refugee Council, before May 30.Mr. Goodfellow, an ethnic Tamil, disappeared after arriving in Norway Refugee Council of Horton Place, Colombo in an office vehicle on May 15. An official of the Norway Refugee Council complained to Cinnamon Gardens police that Mr. Goodfellow disappeared after leaving office to go to his residence. However, since the police did not show interest to investigate the complaint, the plaintiff submitted a motion to courts seeking an order to investigate the complaint.  Former Chairman of the International Lawyers’ Association and President's Counsel Desmond Fernando pointing out that Mr. Goodfellow’s mobile phone received calls until May 18, sought an order from courts to submit a description of calls of the relevant telephone. The Magistrate ordered to submit a detailed list of telephone calls and investigation reports before May 30. President’s Counsel Desmond Fernando assisted by Mr. Gunarathna Wanninayaka and Manjula Pathiraja appeared for Mr. Sebastian Goodfellow.

Senior DIG Jayantha Wickremerathne to be appointed as new IGP  
       
It has been decided to appoint Senior DIG Jayantha Wickramarathne as the next IGP with effective from June 01st, police sources say.The decision has been taken in the light of the near approaching retirement of current IGP Victor Perera, after his request for an extension failed.Victor Perera was appointed to the post of IGP under a special direction despite the presence of Senior DIG Bodhi Liyanage, who exceeded Perera in terms of seniority.It was revealed that Senior DIG Jayantha Wickramarathne too, is senior to the current IGP.

'LTTE leaders' released on bail
 
Three men charged in Britain with conspiring to procure equipment for the Tamil Tiger rebel movement in Sri Lanka have been granted bail.The fourth suspect has not applied for bail.The four accused watched the proceedings on a video link from the jail. Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, known as Shanthan, has already been charged with organising meetings to promote the Tamil Tigers who are proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK.

Head of LTTE in UK

Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan, also known as Muralee Tharan, 46, Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan, also known as Vithy Tharan, 39, Murugesu Jegatheeswaran, also known as M Jegan, 33 and Shanthan are charged with conspiring to receive equipment for terrorist purposes between January 2003 and December 2006. The prosecution described Shanthan as the head of the Tamil Tigers in Britain - calling him a very valuable resource for the provision of terrorist equipment for weaponry and bomb making. Shanthan was granted bail with a large financial security and on condition that he contacts the police by phone daily through voice recognition equipment. The prosecution handed the Judge a chart of all the different equipment the accused are alleged to have purchased over several years. It included shock proof lap tops, remote control devices, machetes, high powered magnets that the prosecution said could be used to attach mines to ships, and one hundred thousand pounds worth of printed circuit boards.

'Development projects'

One of the defence lawyers argued that the equipment could have had innocent uses and was purchased for development projects during the cease fire agreement in Sri Lanka. The prosecution said two of the accused conspired to use the technology company they worked for in Wales as a front for buying equipment. It is alleged the men used the firm's headed note paper and its fax machine to place orders but added another phone number for suppliers to contact them on. The allegation is that Shanthan provided the money for the purchases and some of the orders were delivered to the office of the British Tamil Association which a prosecution lawyer said was a Tamil Tiger front organisation headed by Shanthan. Details were also read out in court of a meeting between Shanthann and the British police in July 2004 in which the prosecution said he'd been asked why he appeared to have been very busy shopping.

Trial adjourned

The prosecution said Shanthan had told Special Branch that a bulk purchase of boot and handcuffs he'd made was for the Tamil Tiger's police force in northern Sri Lanka and had mostly been taken there by Tamils travelling to the area. For their part defence lawyers complained they had not received answers to questions they'd posed about what they called "the influence, complicity and collusion" of the Sri Lankan High Commission in London in the case. The prosecution said all questions that could be answered had been addressed but some were unreasonable and unrealistic. A trial date has not yet been set but the prosecution asked for it to be set for January next year; the defence argued it should be sooner.

Mano says losing seat on UN council a strong signal to Sri Lankan govt

The Civil Monitoring Commission on Extra Judicial Killings and Disappearances(CMC) Convenor, MP Mano Ganeshan, said yesterday the voting out of Sri Lanka from the UNHRC was a message to the government to behave itself.“This was on the cards for some time now and is not a conspiracy but a signal,” he said. Mr. Ganeshan said Sri Lanka loved to blame the UN of partiality and double standards by pointing out how foreign governments responded to the Sri Lankan situation and the US allied activities in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said the US allied actions are between two or more nations. “They are very much within the scope of international power politics. Our issue is where members of a minority community are forced to face human rights violations within a culture of impunity. Iraq and Sri Lanka are not the same, he added.He explained that the Government cannot blame the international community saying it is taking the side of LTTE. The International community did not give this signal to the government with any considerations for LTTE he said. “The fact remains that the international community has taken action against the LTTE.It is a banned organization in America, EU, Australia and also in India,” he added. He also noted that rebel fund raising and arms purchasing activities are monitored and crippled while Bank accounts and alleged front organizations are being frozen and closed down.  “It can be said that the international community has done more than enough against the LTTE in the recent past. They have sent enough signals to the LTTE thereby pushing it towards good behaviour. When they took action against LTTE, it was welcomed by the government,” he further pointed out. While stating  there is a solid school of thought among the Tamil community that the international community is not doing enough to improve the human rights situation in Sri Lanka he said the West together with India have failed to stop the wave of killings and abductions taking place here. He charged that India is permitting Pakistan to support the war machine while the West is just looking the other way.   Mr. Ganeshan said the signal against the government has come very much later because this situation. But the government cannot expect the international community to give a blank cheque as there is a code of conduct for governance.

23 May 2008

Sri Lankan journalist abducted, beaten: rights group

A Sri Lanka media rights group Friday condemned the abduction and assault of a senior journalist, saying it was motivated by his criticism of the government's war against Tamil Tiger rebels.  Keith Noyahr, a deputy editor and defence analyst with the English-language weekly The Nation, was abducted on Thursday night, severely beaten and dropped off near his residence early Friday, the Free Media Movement (FMM) said."There is no other reason for this latest attack against a journalist than his independent writing and analysis of the war in the North, if that is reason at all," the media rights group said.Noyahr had been critical of high-ranking military officers and the government's approach to and conduct of the war, the FMM said."This is not just a violation of the freedom of expression and another significant blow to media freedom."It proves, as if more proof was needed, that Sri Lanka is very far from a country that protects fundamental rights," the rights group said, clearly implying that it believed the Sri Lankan state was behind the abduction.The abduction came the day after Sri Lanka was defeated in its bid to be elected to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a major diplomatic blow to the island's hawkish government.The administration pulled out of a Norwegian-brokered truce with the Tamil Tigers in January, and has since claimed battlefield gains and massive rebel casualties.Journalists, however, are barred from visiting front line or rebel-held areas.Earlier this month, Sri Lanka's powerful defence secretary termed as "traitors" any reporters who published reports seen as "harmful towards the security forces," and said the press needed to be "reigned in."Media rights watchdogs have described Sri Lanka as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists after Iraq.At least 10 media workers have been killed over the past two years, while others have been abducted, tortured, or illegally detained, London-based Amnesty International said in a report this year.Most of the victims are Tamil journalists working in the island's embattled north and east. Sinhalese journalists working in the south face intimidation, particularly when reporting cases of graft, Amnesty said.The rights group said those responsible are not punished by the government.

Clashes in Sri Lanka kill 22 Tigers and 2 soldiers, Air Force raids LTTE command centre

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets raided an LTTE command centre in Mannar this morning while ground battles in the northern region killed 22 Tiger rebels and 2 soldiers, the military said. Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said the air raid was carried out to support the advancing troops along the Mannar front. He said that the target was effectively hit but details of damages caused to the Tigers are yet to be verified.Meanwhile an LTTE claymore mine attack targeting troops on a foot patrol in Bakmitiyawa area in Ampara killed a soldier this morning.In ground battles raged in the troubled region of Vavuniya, Mannar, Welioya and Jaffna killed 22 Tamil Tigers. In Vavuniya, 11 Tigers were killed and another 11 were wounded as troops clashed with the LTTE Tigers yesterday. In Mannar, six Tigers were killed and eight were injured in confrontations. Troops have recovered twelve anti-personnel mines from the areas. In the Welioya front four Tigers were killed and another 11 were wounded, the Media Center for National Security said. Two soldiers were also killed in the battles. Meanwhile soldiers killed a Tiger cadre in Muhamalai in Jaffna. Meanwhile the LTTE today claimed a roadside bomb laid by Deep Penetration Unit of the Army killed 17 civilians in Kilinochchi.

Civilians killed in Kilinochchi   
 
Seventeen civilians from an extended family were killed as the vehicle they were travelling came under a claymore attack in the rebel-held Kilinochchi on Friday.Hospital authorities told BBC Sandeshaya that 16 dead bodies were brought to the hospital.The Tamil Tigers accused Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of the Sri Lankan military of carrying out the attack.The military deny any involvement. A Sri Lanka government official and another civilian were killed in a claymore mine explosion at Mankulam-Aellankulam Road on Thursday night. The official was identified as officer in charge of Fisheries Authority in Mannar, JP Julian.Four other people have sustained injuries in the blast, journalist Dinasena Ratugamage reported.

I will support the Chief Minister -- Hisbullah     

M.L.A.M. Hisbullah who was sworn in as a minister in the Eastern Provincial Council yesterday pledged to work in cooperation with Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan for the sake of Tamil-Muslim unity, the security of Muslim community and the development of the Eastern Province.Hisbullah was sworn in as Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Social Welfare, Probation and Child Care Services, Women's Affairs, Youth Affairs, Sports, Information Technology Education, Co-operative Development, Food Supply and Distribution of the Eastern Province, before President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.Addressing the media immediately after taking oaths, Hisbullah said that after a lengthy discussion with Muslim leaders, intellectuals and Ulamas, he had decided to work with the Eastern Province Chief Minister to bring harmony among the Tamil and Muslim community as well as ensure the security of Muslims and the development of the Eastern Province.He pointed out that quibbling over the post of Chief Minister would not any benefits to the Muslim Community in the East, acknowledging that President Rajapaksa had given the CM post to Pillayan due to certain circumstances."To avoid any problem which may arise between the two communities and for upholding the sovereignty of the Eastern Muslims, the three All Ceylon Muslim Congress members elected to the Eastern Provincial Council decided at a special meeting to extend support to the UPFA."Hisbulla further said that he had met with the Chief Minister and that the two had a fruitful discussion: "He also requested my support as he needs an experienced Minister from the area. Therefore, we decided to support Pillayan on his Eastern development programme."

Curfew in Kattankudy after 4 shot dead

Tension prevailed in Kattankudy yesterday following the killing of four youth including two TMVP cadres. The TMVP’s Arayampathy political wing leader Santhan and his bodyguard Arasan were shot dead around 11.50 a.m. near the Seyath Hassan Moulan Mosque in Kattankudy, while they were riding a motor cycle, by two youth in a three wheeler. Minutes after the killing, two others, believed to TMVP cadres, gave chase to the three wheeler and shot dead both killers near the Ariyampathy market. Four others were seriously injured in the shooting.Police immediately imposed a curfew and armed Police and the Army were deployed to prevent further violence. The situation was tense as this edition went to press.TMVP spokesman Azad Moulana said his political party abhorred violence and wanted the Police to bring the culprits to book.

EPC polls far from being free and fair: CAFFE report

The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) which monitored the Eastern Provincial Council Elections, said yesterday the gross violation of laws, blatant use of power by the government and dominance of violence overtaking dominance of rule of law had made the polls one which was far from being free and fair. The CAFFE’s final report on the provincial council polls which was put out yesterday also said “A vast majority of the incidents reported by its election observers indicate the gross violation of election laws or in the very least the procedural rules and regulations enshrined in election laws were violated. Even though our election laws were sufficient to deal with these reported infringements”. “The fact that the aforesaid conditions prevailed in and around the polling booths amply demonstrate the manner in which the enforcement and functioning of these rules and regulations were carried out. CAFFE had observed there had been no encouragement by the state for the state officials to act in due diligent manner to enforce the election laws in a proper manner. The report suggested that it was essential to set up Independent Commissions under the 17th Amendment to the Constitution to ensure conducting free and fair elections in the future.CAFFE questioned whether the fundamental norms in democracy had been fulfiled in this election.Referring to the pre-election violence the report said there had been 136 complaints of violent acts out of which 89 incidents were confirmed. It charged that most incidents reported were not subjected to proper investigation. There have been 2 killings, 6 abductions, 13 assaults and 16 death threats during the pre-election period.CAFFE observations have revealed that 2 FM channels and one TV channel operated within the East during the election without permission from the relevant Telecommunication Regulatory Body. It also reported there were incidents of forgery and impersonation during filling of nominations.  CAFFE had also observed 9 para-military camps being set up in Batticaloa during the election. According to the report, there had been 235 incidents in all three districts on election day. There have been 96 incidents in Batticaloa, 70 in Digamadulla and 69 in Trincomalee. These included assaults, intimidation, voter/polling booth obstructions, impersonation and ballot stuffing. Muslim voters had been obstructed at Eravur Pattu Abdul Cader College and Irankerny polling stations.Ballot paper stuffing was reported from the Thavakkuda Dharmaratnam College polling station in Batticaloa and at Dehiattakandiya Bambarawarana Central College by a minister’s son who was  at the centre of a controversy some time ago after getting involved in a brawl at a night club in Colombo. A UNP member of Western Provincial Council who joined UPFA recently had allegedly chased away the voters of Sadhunioura Central College, the report said.  The report carried information on a host of incidents that had taken place during the election.

Decomposed body of woman found

Kandy - A highly decomposed body of a woman was recovered by Police at Katugastota Wednesday (21) morning.The body was spotted by the police who were inquiring into the bomb explosion at the bridge over Mahaweli River close to Nawayalatenna on the Kandy-Matale railway line.Police believe that the body had floated downstream a few days ago. Katugastota police seek public assistance to identify the corpse.

Top leader of  TMVP gunned down         
  
A key leader of the TMVP and his bodyguard were shot dead by a lone gunman at Kattankudy in Batticaloa yesterday.Ariyampathi area leader Shanthan alias Shashi Kumar was leaving his office when the unidentified assailant struck.Shanthan's wife is the chairperson of the Ariyampathy Pradeshiya Sabha.The TMVP, led by East Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, blamed the LTTE pistol gang and an armed Muslim group for the double murder.

EPDP member shot in Mannar

Mohan, an ardent supporter of Ealam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) was shot yesterday (22) evening in Mannar. He was admitted to hospital with serious injuries. EPDP Media Spokesman Nelson Edirisinghe said to Lanka-e-News that Mr. Mohan was shot while he was selling Thinamurasu, the newspaper of the organization.

22 May 2008

Sri Lanka voted out of UN Human Rights Council           
  
Sri Lanka has been voted out of the United Nations Human Rights Council in a secret ballot for election of members to four Asian seats.Sri Lanka received 101 votes and ranked 5th among the contenders, while Japan received 155 votes, Bahrain 142, South Korea 139, Pakistan 114 and East Timor 92.Sri Lanka's re-election to the UNHRC was opposed by various organizations and individuals internationally.Among them are the Human Rights Watch and Jimmy Carter Centre as well as three Nobel Peace Prize laureates including South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former US President Jimmy Carter.The Geneva-based UNHRC was established in March 2006, replacing the UN Commission on Human Rights, and consists of 47 member states of the United Nations.A key component of the Council is a periodic review of all 192 UN member states, called Universal Periodic Review, a mechanism based on reports from different sources.

Provincial Council for the East considered as a starter for a decentralised state structure - Paul Willms Ex-MP Third Chamber of The Netherlands

I welcome the good intentions for the establishment of a Provincial Council for the Eastern Province in order to address the legitimate political aspirations of the minority communities in Sri Lanka. Though having some reservation regarding the appointment of Mr. Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, I take this opportunity to congratulate him with the appointment as Chief Minister. I expect him to take into account the legitimate concerns of all ethnic communities in the province. It is of utmost importance that the Chief Minister will soon, in cooperation with the Sri Lankan authorities, disarm his cadres and release all child soldiers in order to make this democratic process a sustainable success. If not, there is no chance for a free participation of all groups.The election was crucial to determine the political future for the Eastern Province. It must be noted that only an average of 60% voter turn-out has been registered in all the three districts while I expected at least a 70% voter turn-out, as a symbol of support to the Provincial Council for the Eastern part of the island.  This initiative deserves sincere attention and could be a starter for a democratic framework that is then supported by Sri Lanka's minorities. However I have noticed some reservations from the opposition parties and their concern can be confirmed or rejected once the evaluation by the regional election monitors is concluded and their final report will be issued. The process of reconciliation and decentralization of power continues and I expect great democratic changes to occur in the near future. With the overall support from all ethnic communities the Eastern Province can become a peaceful place with development and equal rights for all. Let this starter hopefully convince others to join the democratic process instead of executing unacceptable violence and tactics of terrorism to pursue their goals. Dialogue and participation of all groups trough an electoral process is the only way to achieve a democratically established framework that can realise a sustainable peace settlement within a maximum decentralised state structure to fulfil the legitimate political aspirations of the Tamil speaking community.

Probe into Kalmunai rape

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has launched a full scale investigation into the rape of two teenage girls and the abduction of one of them a few hours later in Kalmunai on the day of the Eastern Provincial Council Elections.The story which was highlighted in the Daily Mirror on May 14, has led to a special team of NCPA officers travelling to Kalmunai and beginning a full scale probe, the NCPA said.“Investigations are ongoing with the help of our legal officers. We will ensure that the family is well looked after and the abducted daughter is found,” NCPA Media and Information Assistant Ishan Dayapala said.The Police Women’s and Children’s Bureau in Ampara has also begun investigations into the incident and said it is hoped to arrest the perpetrators soon.The Daily Mirror on May 14 had highlighted the story of a mother’s plight in losing her family on the day of the Eastern Provincial Council Election when her two daughters were raped and one of them later abducted. The mother of the victims expressed great grief in being forced to watch her daughters being raped by an unidentified group of men who barged into her house alleging they were from the security forces. One of the daughters was later abducted when a group of five unidentified men dragged her away in a white van.The younger daughter who was raped is still receiving treatment and has remained silent ever since the incident.

JVP’s branch in Japan ceasesfunding,  more to follow

"May have to rob petrol sheds again"by Saman Indrajith The JVP yesterday received a heavy blow to its fund raising on the international front as its branch in Japan, which had poured in billions of rupees, severed all connections with the party over the ousting of Wimal Weerawansa and ten other MPs along with a large number of party members."Our comrades in Japan had directed all money they earned to the party fund. They were under orders to send their pay-packets home and were allowed only to keep a meager sum for subsistence. We funded all elections except for the recent polls to the Eastern Provincial Council. Other than this the Japanese branch had loaned a large sum of money on various occasions at the request of party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe. Not a cent of the loans was repaid and we did not even request that the loans be repaid as we were clear about our priorities. Now we understand that our sacrifices had been misused," organiser of the JVP’s Japan Branch Saman Priyankara said in a letter addressed to JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva.He said party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe had come under the grip of several top rankers acting like frogs in the well and he had mixed up the party’s priorities and had commenced to silence dissent against it. "The leader of the party should have acted prudently and respected the opinion of the majority within the politburo and central committee. Instead he gave into several front liners. The end result was a major split in the party resulting in the loss of eleven MPs including Wimal Weerawansa, a large number of provincial and local government level representatives and full timers in almost all districts." "In a recent TV interview the General Secretary said that there was no JVP branch in Japan. If he could utter those words without shame, disregarding the sacrifices made by our comrades on foreign soil, for petty political mileage, we understand that the remaining leaders would resort to further low levels," he said in the letter.Priyankara accused Tilvin Silva of violating party discipline by publicizing a document carrying a ‘self-criticism’ made by Wimal Weerawansa. "The JVP, as a revolutionary party has a policy of not divulging any matter related to self-criticisms. This sin was committed by the General Secretary himself and such a disgusting tactic would never be pardoned or approved by any member of the party," he said.The Japanese Branch will not fund the JVP anymore and there would be no further connections with the party, he said. The National Freedom Front, formed by Wimal Weerawansa and dissidents, seemed to be fulfilling the need of the hour in Sri Lankan polity and the JVP’s Japan Branch would extend its fullest support to the new party, he said.Priyankara would soon be appointed a central committee member of the NFF, party sources said adding that this would be a major blow to the fund raising activities of the JVP. The party would have to return to the level of manually sketchingposters instead of printing them in the near future as a major source of income has now been terminated once and for all leaving the party to find its funds by robbing petrol sheds, a senior NFF member told The Island. The JVP branches in Norway, Italy and several Middle Eastern countries will follow suit in the near future and all of them will discontinue funding the JVP. The JVP activists who left the country during the UNP led anti-revolutionary crackdown had formed these branches abroad and collected funds for the party. These members are now joining forces with the NFF and soon there would be branches of the NFF in place of JVP branches, he said.JVP’s International Affairs Secretary, MP Vijitha Herath said that there was no committee or branch of the JVP in Japan. "We have friends and activists but there is no committee or branch. Saman Priyankara too was such a friend of the party. Since there was no party branch there we do not think that it would affect us. He is only an individual," Herath told The Island.

Raviraj case to HR commission
   
In a new development in the investigations into the assassination of TNA Parliamentarian Nadarajah  Raviraj, the case files have been referred to the Commission Investigating Serious Violations of Human Rights and to the Attorney General’s Department.Mr. Raviraj was gunned down in Narahenpita on November 10, 2006 by unidentified persons riding a motor cycle. “The case has been listed by the Commission for investigation along with other cases referred to it by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, the CID has not completed investigations into this high profile killing. Two suspects are in custody and the investigations are continuing smoothly,” Director CID, SSP M.G.M.W.Mutubanda said.Meanwhile Attorney General C.R.De Silva told the Daily Mirror that he had instructed the CID regarding its line of investigations and also ordered a DNA test on the suspects. The AG’s Department will also co–operate with the Commission in its investigations.Confirming that the case has been listed for investigation by the Commission its Secretary S.D.Piyadasa said the case was referred to the Commission by President Rajapaksa.However, the late Parliamentarian’s widow Mrs. F. Raviraj said she was not aware of the case being referred to the Commission. She also said that she was not aware of the next date on which the case is to be taken up for hearing.

Health not enough; Hisbullah needs education, too Hisbullah

M. L. A. M. Hisbullah and two other UPFA provincial councilors who decided to remain independent of the ruling coalition in the newly constituted Eastern Provincial Council have agreed to abandon their protest if the government adds education to the ministerial portfolio offered to Hisbulla in addition to Health and Muslim Affairs. Besides, they have asked the post for deputy chairman for one of the other councilors. Should the government agree to this arrangement, Hisbullah would extend support to Chief Minister Pillaiyan, M. S. Suhair, a councilor who sided with him told The Island. The majority of the people in the Eastern Province, he said, were Tamil speaking and the subject of education should be assigned to a minister who was conversant with their problems and needs.Suhair said the Hisbullah group had consulted its supporters in the areas like Valachchnai, Eravur and Kathankudy and the people had asked them to reconsider their decision as their protest could be misconstrued as an attempt to undermine the aspirations of the Tamil people. They had said the rebels must not be seen to be spoiling efforts being made to solve the problems the minorities were faced with.A large number of elderly supporters of Hisbulla, sources said, had pleaded with him to return to the UPFA fold and work for the Eastern Province, which, they told him, had a lot of unsolved problems. All Ceylon Muslim Congress Leader and Minister Rischard Bathiudeen said the rebels had contacted him and he would take up the matter with President Mahinda Rajapaksa after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

Protect dignity of the Judiciary or I resign! – Chief Justice

If the government doesn’t act to protect the dignity of the Judiciary, which is an independent and impartial service, he would resign from the post of Chief Justice says Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva. He said this when a fundamental rights petition stating that salaries of judges had been slashed was heard today. Increasing other allowances without increasing the salaries of judges would amount to bribing the judges said the Chief Justice.

LTTE and TMVP still recruiting children- Report
   
The LTTE continued to recruit and use children, despite repeated commitments not to do so, while in the East children were forcibly recruited and used by the Karuna group, a breakaway group of the LTTE, with the complicity of, and in some instances actively working with, the security forces, a global report on child soldiers released yesterday said.The Global Report by the coalition against the use of child soldiers said that the LTTE, which had recruited under-age fighters for many years, pledged on June 18 2007 to rid its ranks of all under-18s by the end of 2007. However, the report notes that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict reported that although the LTTE had assured her special advisor that the release of all children under the age of 17 would be accelerated it had not committed to the full release of children under 18. The LTTE consistently denied that it knowingly recruited children and it claimed that children sought to join by hiding their age. However, there is overwhelming evidence of recruitment, often forced, throughout areas under LTTE control as well as from Government-controlled areas in the north and east. The recruitment of children typically followed a pattern of increased recruitment during the season of temple festivals and a fall during periods of international condemnation As of September 2007 the total number of children known to have been recruited by the LTTE since January 2002 was well over six thousand, although the real number was thought to be much higher. At a February 2007 ministerial meeting in Paris, Sri Lanka and 58 other states endorsed the Paris Commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups and the Paris Principles and guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups. The documents reaffirmed international standards and operational principles for protecting and assisting child soldiers and followed a wide-ranging global consultation jointly sponsored by the French Government and UNICEF. The report said a small number of states persist not only in recruiting children but also in exposing them to the physical and psychological dangers of combat. “The Government in Sri Lanka cannot escape responsibility for the abduction of children by the Karuna Group, a breakaway group of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that was linked to Government armed forces,” the report added.“In many situations child soldiers associated with armed groups and captured by Government forces have been treated solely as adversaries rather than as children. Contrary to the principle that child soldiers should be treated first and foremost as victims in need of support and assistance for reintegration, some have been detained solely on the basis of their alleged association with armed groups, or for desertion and other military offences while in armed forces. International standards of juvenile justice and the right to fair trial have been violated in situations where child soldiers have been detained for prolonged periods and subjected to torture or ill-treatment,” the report said.

Sri Lanka military: Helicopter gunships attack Tamil rebels as infantry clashes kill 25 rebels

Sri Lanka's air force launched a strike on Tamil Tiger rebels near the front lines in the war-ravaged northern region while infantry clashes killed 25 rebels, the military said Wednesday.Air force helicopter gunships attacked a rebel mortar launching point near the front lines in northern Jaffna peninsula early Wednesday, said air force spokesman Wing Cmdr. Andy Wijesuriya.He said the air attack was carried out in support of army troops fighting the rebels. He did not have details of damage or casualties.Meanwhile, ground battles throughout Tuesday in the Welioya, Vavuniya and Mannar areas bordering the rebels' de facto state in the north killed 25 rebels, according to the military.In the worst fighting, soldiers killed 19 rebels in three separate battles in Vavuniya, said the statement, adding that nine soldiers were also wounded in the same clashes.Scattered battles in Welioya and Mannar killed six rebels and wounded eight soldiers, the statement said.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan was not immediately available for comment. It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because the media are banned from the northern jungles where much of the fighting takes place. Both sides commonly exaggerate their enemy's casualties while underplaying their own.Meanwhile, a top rebel leader died of a heart attack Tuesday in the guerrilla stronghold of Vanni, a pro-rebel Web site reported.The Tamil Tigers declared a three-day mourning period starting Wednesday for Balasegaram Kandiah - known by his nom de guerre, Brig. Balraj - who reportedly led a number of battles against government forces. He was 43.Fighting has escalated along the northern front lines since the government withdrew from a long-ignored cease-fire in January.The government has pledged to capture the rebels' de facto state in the north and crush them by the end of the year. But diplomats and other observers say the army is facing more resistance than expected.The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for minority ethnic Tamils, who have been marginalized for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

JVP seeks opinion of Australian govt.  
   
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna yesterday sought the opinion of the Australian government on their road map created by the Party’s Central Committee in solving the national problem when JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe met Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman at JVP headquarters for a special discussion.During the meeting Mr Amarasinghe noted that those who were talking about power devolution had no idea as to what they talk about. “The administrative powers should be decentralised in order to solve people’s day- to-day problems. When it comes to the subject of power over lands the best option is to give the power to the village council (gamsabha) or a similar institution,” he added.The two parties also discussed issues relating to education, transportation and health.Ms. Klugman while noting she was employed in Sri Lanka even in early 1990s said that she was impressed to see the improvement JVP had made over the past years.This is the first time Ms. Klugman met JVP leaders after taking office as the High Commissioner in Sri Lanka.

21 May 2008

LTTE senior military commander Brigadier Balraj Dies

A senior Tamil Tiger military commander died from a heart attack in Sri Lanka's rebel-held north on Tuesday, pro-rebel websites and radio said."Brigadier Balraj, a senior and special commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) passed away Tuesday at 2 p.m. of a sudden heart attack in Vanni," said pro-rebel website www.tamilnet.com, quoting the LTTE headquarters.The rebels have declared three days of mourning.Balraj was the first commander of the rebels' Charles Anthony special brigade, an elite commando unit established in 1991. He served as a key commander for the LTTE's major operations.He is the most senior figure to die since Tamil Tiger political-wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan was killed in air force bombing raids in November last year.Rebel chief negotiator and ideologue Anton Balasingham died of cancer in London in December 2006.The Tamilnet website and military sources said Balraj was an expert in psychological operations. He had heart surgery in Singapore in 2003 during the last ceasefire with the government and had been hospitalised for three months earlier this year.Fighting between government forces and the LTTE has intensified since the government formally pulled out of a six-year-old ceasefire pact in January, though a renewed civil war has been raging since 2006.The rebels are fighting for an independent state for minority Tamils in north and east and more than 70,000 people have died in the 25-year-old conflict.Charles Anthony died in fighting during the early 1980s and is regarded as a hero to the rebels, so much so that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran named his son after him.

SLMC challenges Muslim ministers to quit

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) General Secretary Hasan Ali, coming down hard on the Muslim ministers who threatened to quit the government, has challenged them to quit if they had any self-dignity.He said that although the Muslim ministers threatened to quit the government, in reality they would not do it. “I challenge them. Since they have no self-respect, they stick with the government and depend on the perks and comforts offered to them by the government,” he alleged.In a scathing attack against the Muslim Ministers who vowed to quit the government if M.L.A.M. Hizbullah was not made the Eastern Province Chief Minister, Ali said all the Muslim ministers including Hizbullah, have been bought over by the government and they would never quit the government.“This is where we prove ourselves different. We quit the government and gave up all our perks and even resigned from Parliament to contest the provincial council election. Though the ministers are shouting and threatening to quit the government, they would not do so. In fact, they can’t do this, because without powers, they are nothing,” he charged.He said appointing Pillaiyan after promising Hizbullah the Chief Minister’s seat was a trick of the trade of the government to win the election and added the SLMC was well aware of the government’s political gimmicks. “This is why we quit the government, at the correct time,” he said.Meanwhile, the SLMC also organised a public meeting under the chairmanship of party leader Rauff Hakeem in Kalmunai yesterday.This was the first public meeting organised by the party after the May 10 poll, where they were defeated by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Decade later, no light on Rajiv killing plot
 
A decade after it began probing if there was a conspiracy behind the killing of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, an official body tasked with the responsibility is still in the dark.The multi-disciplinary monitoring agency (MDMA) was formed in 1998. It has been probing the alleged role of controversial self-styled godman Chandraswami and Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelem (LTTE) in the May 21, 1991 assassination in Tamil Nadu.''We have sent letters rogatory (legal letters of request for help or LRs) to various countries, out of which some have responded and some have not,'' said G. Mohanty, spokesman for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is the Indian affiliate to Interpol.The CBI had probed the Gandhi killing, leading to convictions of those linked to the assassination per se.But the MDMA was set up separately - to find out if organisations other than the LTTE were indeed involved in the killing.The MDMA has sent LRs to 27 countries. Only six have responded. This lack of cooperation is impeding the probe into the conspiracy angle, Mohanty added.''All the investigations have to be done by the countries to which LRs have been sent. We can proceed only after the responses come from them,'' he maintained.The LRs relate to Chandraswami's links with the now defunct Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), where a senior LTTE operative, Kumaran Padmanabhan alias KP, operated accounts. KP is considered the supplier of arms and ammunition to the LTTE.Also being probed are Chandraswami's alleged connections with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel's Mossad and the role of 21 ''suspects'' who were not charged in the Gandhi killing.Unwilling to reveal more details, Mohanty said: ''The investigations are secret and cannot be revealed.''The MDMA came into being on the recommendation of Justice Milap Chand Jain, who was appointed in 1991 to probe Gandhi's assassination independent of the CBI. In his nine-volume report presented in 1998, Jain pointed to the need to probe three elements to uncover the possible conspiracy angle behind the killing.These three aspects form the basis of the LRs the MDMA has sent out.The MDMA has also dispatched its investigators to various countries but has not unearthed anything on the conspiracy angle. ''We have sent people to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Canada and Australia. But the end of the tunnel is still far away,'' an agency official said.Despite its failure to unravel the mystery shrouding Gandhi's killing, the government has extended by another year the term of the MDMA that was to expire May 31.Giving reasons for the delay, one official said the Gandhi assassination had a mystery angle - notwithstanding the proven involvement of the LTTE -- akin to the killing of US president J.F. Kennedy and the accident that killed Britain's Princess Diana.An LTTE human bomber assassinated Gandhi, 46, at an election rally at Sriperumbudur near Chennai. Seventeen other people were also killed in the explosion and 44 injured.A special court set up under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act sentenced 26 accused, including five women, to death in the case. Among them is Nalini, an Indian and the only surviving member of the squad that oversaw Gandhi's killing.Nalini has now sought release from jail. She is now lodged at Vellore in Tamil Nadu.When it was constituted, the MDMA had several officials from the CBI, the Directorate of Military Intelligence, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Directorate of Enforcement. It now has a skeletal staff.

TMVP vows not to disarm

The TMVP yesterday said that it would not disarm itself or dismantle its camps for the time being owing to the continuing threat posed by the LTTE.TMVP Leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan had decided not to lay down arms until the threat posed against them by the Tigers ceased to exist, according to the TMVP eastern co-ordinator J. Jeyaraj.The TMVP however indicated that they would use their own weapons for protection and not that of the State.He did not say when they anticipate the LTTE threat will cease to exist.The Government has claimed that the eastern province was completely liberated from the LTTE last year.Another TMVP official, Naveen told The Morning Leader that every political party and politician depended on weapons for their personal protection.He stated that the TMVP also had to be protected as they faced more threats by the LTTE.He further said that the party was not getting arms from the government but was using its own and added that the arms were used by its cadres for their own protection and not against the civilians."Even Ranil Wickremesinghe depends on weapons carried by his guards to be protected. We also need to be protected from the LTTE. We face more threats than any other politician or political party," Naveen said.Meanwhile, Jeyaraj also said that the TMVP had no intensions of calling back its armed cadres who were sent to the jungle areas in the east due to the local government and provincial council elections, which were held in March and May respectively."We have no intention of calling back our armed cadres from the camps in the jungle areas. We however will not use our arms against the civilians," he said."The TMVP came into the democratic stream as we had lost faith in arms. However, our protection is more important. We will continue to carry arms until the threat posed to us by the LTTE is totally wiped out," he added.

Killings continue in East

Despite Government claims that the Eastern Province has been liberated and a political administration taking root, violence continues.In the first ever incident since the Eastern Provincial Council elections, a home-guard, on duty at the 38th mile post on the Buttala-Katharagama main road in Buttala, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. Police said that Sumith Sanjeewa (26), attached to the Buttala Police, succumbed to his injuries on admission to Buttala hospital.In separate incidents, a PC was shot dead in Batticaloa, while in the Ampara district, LTTE terrorists fired small arms and injured an STF personnel in the Rupaskulam area.

India backs Lanka in UN human rights review

India fully backed Sri Lanka in the just-concluded UN human rights review in Geneva, enabling its troubled neighbour to get a “balanced” appraisal from the world body on Tuesday.The appraisal has raised hopes in Sri Lanka that it will be re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council by the General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.While most of the Western countries attacked Sri Lanka on its rights record, citing arbitrary arrests, abductions, involuntary disappearances, mass displacement and even complicity in child recruitment by a pro-government militia, India mentioned only the positive aspects of the Sri Lankan situation.The Indian delegate, Rajiv Kumar Chander, described Sri Lanka as a “close and friendly neighbour,” which maintained its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and played an “active role” in the Human Rights Council. Ignoring Sri Lanka’s running battle with many UN agencies that it accused of being pro-LTTE, the Indian delegate said Sri Lanka’s cooperation with the UN system had been “noteworthy.” India found Sri Lanka’s argument that its laws were compatible with international conventions in human and labour rights, “useful,” Chander said. He praised Colombo for appointing a steering group to draft a bill of rights, but wanted to know more about what was being done to build bridges across ethnic groups through language teaching.India was silent on the issue of implementing the devolution package envisaged in the 13th amendment of Sri Lanka’s constitution to solve the Tamil-Sinhalese political problem even though it was enacted under Indian pressure in 1987. Interestingly, Pakistan, which is viewed in Sri Lanka as a closer friend, wanted to know whether there was any progress in its implementation.A report from Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission in Geneva said that over half the 56 delegations that participated in the review praised Colombo for protecting human rights while fighting terrorism. They were impressed with Sri Lanka’s frankness about its inadequacies and appreciated its desire to build capacity with UN help. Sri Lanka was even able to justify its rejection of a UN proposal to set up a monitoring station on the island to report to the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights. The Sri Lankan Minister for Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, said the need of the hour was not UN monitoring but indigenous capacity-building with international help.

Pillaiyan joins other Chief Ministers to demand full powers to PCs

All chief ministers of the eight provincial councils including the recently elected chief minister of the Eastern Province Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan have decided to forward a resolution to the Government that they be vested with full powers in accordance with the 13th amendment.These powers hitherto not enjoyed by the seven provincial councils include police, land and judiciary. Government was in favour of granting these powers to the PCs as recommended by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) chaired by Minister Prof.Tissa Witharana The chief ministers conference to be held in Badulla will be presided by Uva Provincial Chief Minister Vijith Wijthamuni Soysa. It is scheduled for May 30 and 31 and is the 24th such meeting of chief ministers.Soysa said even at the previous meetings of the chief ministers they were agitating for the full implementation of powers vested under the 13th amendment.The chief ministers will also request more funds from the central government to rectify shortcomings in administration, filling of vacancies and the full implementation of maga neguma, gama neguma and the apiwavamu ratanagamu programmes.Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga will be chief guest and guest of honour will be Secretary to the Treasury Dr.P.B.Jyasundera..The following chief ministers will grace the occasion, Reginald Cooray( Western Provincial Council), Shan Wijelal Silva (Southern Provincial Council), Sarath Ekanayakae (Central Provincial Council) Shan Wijesinghe (Wayamba Provincial Council), Mahipala Herath (Sabrgamuwa Province), Berty Premlal Dissanayake (North Central Province) Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Eastern Province) and Vijith Wijithamuni Soysa. The chief secretaries of all provincial councils will also participate.

US, Canada, EU pledge to support CoI probe

The United States, Canada and the European Union have come forward to provide funding for the Presidential Commission investigating serious violations of Human Rights to continue with the video conferencing facility to obtain evidence from witnesses now living abroad.The commission’s Chairman Retired Supreme Court Judge Nissanka Udalagama told the Daily Mirror the public inquiry into the massacre of 17 aid workers of a French NGO in Mutur on August 4, 2006 and the killings of five youth in Trincomalee on August 12, 2006 was on the verge of ending in smoke for want of evidence.“After the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP)- wound up its activities a few weeks ago, funding of foreign witnesses through video conferences had ceased. It was through the IIGEP the Commission was able to arrange the video conferencing facility to obtain evidence from witnesses living abroad. The IIGEP did a commendable job by locating eye witnesses to the two massacres from various countries, convincing them the importance of giving evidence, paying for the hotel bills, transport and other expenses and arranging US, Canada,the video conferences.After they left there was no one to fund this exercise and we found there were no longer witnesses to give evidence. The CoI was in a dilemma as to how to proceed from there. It was at this stage that diplomats of the US, Canada and the EU inquired from the CoI whether they could be of any help to continue with the inquiries of the two massacres by resuming recording of evidence through video conferences from three other eye witnesses living abroad. We welcomed this offer,” Justice Udalagama said. If the assistance of the US, Canada and the EU were not forthcoming the CoI had no alternative but to wind up the public inquiry into the two massacres.  If the public inquiries into the two massacres were suspended it would have reflected badly on Sri Lanka’s human rights record. It would not have been augured well for the country either at a time Sri Lanka is vying for a seat in the Human Rights Council of the UNO, he said. The recording of evidence through video conferences linking witnesses in foreign countries with the CoI will resume on June 2 and will continue up to July 5 with the funds provided by the USA, Canada and the EU, Justice Udalagama said.After the completion of the inquiries into the massacres in Muttur and Trincomalee the investigation into the killing of 14 Muslim villagers in Welikanda in early August, 2006 will begin, he added. 

Rajiv killing: Convicts move court seeking early release
 
CHENNAI: Three life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case - S Jayakumar, Robert Payas (both Sri Lankan nationals) and P Ravichandran - have written to special public prosecutor for the Human Rights Court here, seeking his help in obtaining early release. In their latest letter, addressed to special public prosecutor V Kannadasan, the convicts called themselves "political prisoners" and claim that their earlier pleas for premature release had been rejected owing to reasons extraneous to jail rule/manual provisions. Referring to a state government order, dated July 18, 2007, denying early release, the convicts said the order did not specify the jurisdiction of the central government and that it had been passed without consulting the Centre. The convicts appreciated the "constructive efforts" of advocate Kannadasan in highlighting the human rights violations of people in prisons and said he should strive to take their matter to the knowledge of the state and central government authorities through the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). They wondered whether the jail department's concepts of reformation, rehabilitation and 're-socialization' of prisoners were not applicable to "political prisoners" like themselves. Noting that they were in jail for the past 17 years and that their conduct in prison had been good, the convicts requested Kannadasan to do the needful for their early release and welfare. Kannadasan said he would forward the letter to the NHRC and SHRC. The three, along with four others - Nalini, Murugan alias Sriharan, Santhan and A G Perarivalan - were found guilty in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. 

Pillayan will remain CM even if Karuna returns

The TMVP yesterday insisted that its leader Pillayan would remain the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province even if Karuna Amman is deported to Sri Lanka, despite the leadership title still being held by Karuna.Speculation has been rife that Pillayan will step down as Chief Minister if Karuna Amman was deported Sri Lanka, as the TMVP maintains that Karuna Amman still remains the leader of the party and will be invited to take up his responsibilities as soon as he comes back to the country.According to the TMVP, Pillayan has also extended an invitation to Karuna Amman for a discussion if he returns to the country. The party believes Karuna would accept the invitation.“Our leader has always been Karuna Amman. Therefore we hope he will come in for talks with Pillayan if he is deported to Sri Lanka. However Pillayan will not step down as the Chief Minister as he has been elected to this post by the people in the east. Karuna, being our leader will also accept the people’s decision,” TMVP spokesperson Azath Maulana said.Following a decision by Britain not to prosecute Karuna Amman for war crimes, the British Embassy in Colombo said they were unaware if Karuna would be deported to Sri Lanka.He was released from the British prison two weeks ago after serving three months for immigration offences. According to government sources, Karuna has sought asylum in other European countries.

‘Ministerial’ thugs go berserk

A Sirasa TV media team was assaulted, with their camera smashed and vehicle damaged by an identified gang early morning yesterday at Kiribathgoda, whilst covering Vesak celebrations in the area.A spokesman for the TV Channel said that the gang had inquired whether they were from Sirasa and threatened that they cannot film the Vesak pandal at the Kiribathgoda pola. Subsequently, the gang, whilst holding the crew and vehicle under threat, had called whom they described as a “Minister, to get instructions on how to proceed”. Thereafter, the gang had beaten the journalists and smashed the camera as well as windscreen and windows of the vehicle. The journalists had lodged a complaint at the Kiribathgoda police. The Free Media Movement yesterday condemned the attack on journalists. Sirasa TV has come under constant attack by Minister Mervyn Silva, who is from the area.

Red Star Relief Task Force ready to go to China

JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has intimated to the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Mr. Ye Dabo that his party's "Red Star Relief Task Force" was prepared to dispatch a team of relief workers along with doctors to engage in relief activities in the Sichuan earth quake last week.Somawansa said that the JVP's Red Star Relief Task Force gained considerable experience during the tsunami that struck Sri Lanka's coastal areas on December 26, 2004.The Chinese Ambassador has informed the JVP and said that he would contact his Government and would get back to the JVP leader. The latter had also requested the Ambassador to convey his party's deepest condolences to the Government of China and to the Chinese Communist party.JVP Parliamentarians Sunil Handunnetti and Ramalingam Chandrasekeran were associated with Mr. Amarasinghe at the meeting with the Chinese Ambassador.

20 May 2008

Hizbullah see-saws

In a saga of unexpected twists and turns, UPFA Eastern Provincial Councillor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah who earlier threatened rebellion yesterday agreed to accept the portfolio of Provincial Health Minister and remain with the UPFA, informed sources said. He is likely to take his oaths on Wednesday. A highly placed government minister said that after discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees, Mr. Hizbullah had agreed to accept the portfolio and with the other members of his group pledged to support the ruling party led by Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan. The President had assured he would not allow any injustice to the Muslims in the East. Mohamed Subair and Jawahir Mohamed Saly were the other two councillors who joined Mr. Hizbullah in expressing their dissent over Friday’s appointment of Mr. Chandrakanthan as Chief Minister and had informed the Eastern Province Governor that the three councillors had decided to act as an independent group. However, Mr. Hizbullah told the President that he would further consult his supporters in Batticaloa before announcing his decision.The meeting was attended by UPFA General Secretary Susil Premjayantha, Governor Alavi Moulana, Ministers Dulles Allahapperuma and Rishad Badiyudeen. On Saturday Mr. Hizbullah had held talks with Minister Basil Rajapaksa and also held a long telephone conversation with Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan who assured that all work relating to  Muslims will be entrusted to Mr. Hizbullah. Mr. Chandrakanthan had said that there was no need to create a problem at this time and everyone should get together to develop the province. The Chief Minister had also proposed to Mr. Hizbullah that he make a proclamation after taking oaths as a Minister that there were no problems between the two.  “I will take a decision only with the consent of my people in the East. I must consult them and obtain their approval before accepting any post other than that of the Chief Minister. This was what my people expected of me. I have no qualms about sitting as an ordinary member in the council,” he said.

New contender for east CM
 
Another candidate in the eastern Provincial Council elections has claimed the post of Chief Minister (CM).Former Government Agent (GA) in Batticaloa, Ratnam Monagurusamy, told BBC Sandeshaya that he refused a request by the ruling coalition to join the PC as a councillor. The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) led by CM Sivanesathurai Chandrakanth (known as Pillayan) has requested him to accept the post. However, Mr. Monagurusamy said he would only accept the post of the CM.

Controlling armed groups

The former GA unsuccessfully contested the elections from the ruling UPFA.“I am an experienced civil servant. I am the most suitable candidate to set up the new infrastructure in the east,” he told BBC Sinhala.com. Commenting on the TMVP, he added that a person must command a certain authority to control “those who used arms”.The TMVP should have requested the government to appoint him as the CM instead of inexperienced people like Pillayan, he said.President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Pillayan despite strong objections from the Muslim community in the east.MLAM Hisbullah, who contested from the All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC), told BBC Sandeshaya that president betrayed the Muslim community by not appointing him as the CM. He is currently in Batticaloa discussing the future options with his electorate.

First EPC session on May 29

The first session of the newly elected Eastern Provincial Council will be held on May 29 under the chairmanship of EP Governor Mohan Wijewickrama, Chief Secretary V.P. Balasingham said.“On May 29, we hope to swear-in the councillors who did not take their oaths last Friday and also to elect the Council’s Chairman,” Mr. Balasingham said. A source said Rear Admiral Wijewickrama had a lengthy discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday while the Pillayan group led by Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan too convened yesterday in Batticaloa and discussed the current situation.Meanwhile the main opposition UNP said with the UPFA being reduced to a minority, the EPC appeared to have collapsed even before its sessions were inaugurated.‘This is an illegitimate administration as the ruling party now has only 15 elected members except for the two bonus seats. The opposition has 20 members. This is the result of a communal based election campaign carried out by the government. The government incited communal sentiments during the campaigning and now we see the result – three divided communities. The Chief Minister should be a person who can unite all three communities. The government has failed to do that,” UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka told Daily Mirror.

LTTE attacks SLA post in Mukamaalai, 1 SLA killed

Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) fighters on Sunday attacked a Sri Lanka Army post located in Mukamaalai Forward Defence Line of the SLA in the Northern Front, destroying the post, the Tigers said. One SLA soldier was killed and 8 wounded in the attack. The attack was carried out at 5:10 p.m. on Sunday.

Tigers locate 6 SLA bodies, seize weapons, heavy fighting in Mannaar

The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Sunday thwarted a ground movement launched by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from Irungka'ndalku'lam towards Va'n'naaku'lam in Mannaar claiming that at least 26 SLA soldiers were killed in the fighting and that more than 50 SLA soldiers were wounded. The Tigers have located 6 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers in the clearing mission. Two Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers and six T-56 assault rifles were among the weapons seized by the Tigers. Three Tiger fighters were killed in action, according to the LTTE officials in Vanni. The fighting backed by heavy artillery, Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher and mortar fire was launched by the SLA at 5:00 a.m. and lasted till 11:00 a.m.Two RPGs, six T-56 assault rifltes, 8 RPG shells and propellers, sixty-one magazines, forty-eight hand grenades, two RPD LMG barrels, 6,985 rounds, 1,885 RPD linked-rounds, one Claymore mine and several military accessories were seized in the clearing mission that continued until Sunday night. 3 SLA bodies were located in the day time and 3 more during the clearing mission Monday night, the Tigers said. One of the dead soldier was identified as W. Rajan Kumara with the Sri Lankan national identity card number 861552853 V and another identity card with number 870432461 V was identified in photographs released by the Tigers. In the meantime, the SLA has opened another front towards Va'n'naaku'lam from Karungka'ndal Sunday night. Heavy fighting was continuing Monday morning amid artillery and mortar barrage from the SLA, the LTTE officials further said.

Hisbullah group 'assaulted' journalist
 
Media watchdogs in Sri Lanka say a freelance journalist was assaulted by supporters of a provincial councillor in the east.The Free Media Movement (FMM) says journalist JL Jawfarkahn was assaulted in Batticaloa by supporters of MLAM Hisbullah.The journalist has visited Mr. Hisbullah’s office in Batticaloa to get an interview, the FMM said.Mr. Hisbullah told BBC Sandeshaya on Sunday that he would consult his electorate on future course of action after he was denied the Chief Minister (CM) post by the ruling coalition. The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) appointed the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) as the CM in the east despite more Muslim councillors than Tamils were elected to the PC from the ruling coalition.

Three Nobel Peace Laureates Oppose Colombo's Bid for Re-election

Winners of the Nobel Peace Prize from three continents called on UN members to reject Sri Lanka's candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council, the NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council said today. Nobel laureates Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel of Argentina, and Jimmy Carter of the United States each published statements urging opposition to Sri Lanka because of its abusive human rights record. Elections to the 47-member council, the United Nations' leading human rights body, will be held in New York on May 21, 2008. Six candidates -- Bahrain, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste -- are running for four seats allocated to Asian states. Council members are required to "uphold the highest standards" of human rights and "fully cooperate" with the council. In a commentary published by The Guardian in London, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa charged that "the systematic abuses by Sri Lankan government forces are among the most serious imaginable," citing widespread torture and extrajudicial killings. "Governments owe it to Sri Lankan human rights victims -- and to victims of human rights abuses around the world -- to ensure that the Sri Lankan bid fails," Tutu declared. Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his leadership of the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa. In a commentary published by Página 12 in Buenos Aires, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel compared the routine torture and the hundreds of "disappearances" and extrajudicial killings committed by Sri Lankan government forces to the "dirty wars" waged by various Latin American governments against their own citizens in the 1970s and 1980s. "As Latin Americans know all too well, there are few crimes more horrible for a government to commit than summarily removing its own citizens from their homes and families, often late at night, never to be heard from again," declared Esquivel. "Latin American governments can do a great service to the people of Sri Lanka by rejecting their government's candidacy for the Human Rights Council." Esquivel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980 for his opposition to the "disappearances," extrajudicial killings, and torture used by the military government of Argentina in combating domestic terrorists. Former US President Jimmy Carter observed that the UN established membership standards for the Human Rights Council in 2006 so that it would be "led by countries with a greater commitment to human rights." A statement released by the Carter Center in Atlanta "calls on the General Assembly not to re-elect Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council," citing "the country's deteriorating human rights record since its first election to the Council in 2006." Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work to resolve international conflicts, advance democracy and human rights, and promote economic and social development. The Nobel laureates added their voices to the Sri Lankan and international campaigns against the re-election of Sri Lanka to the council. Human rights organizations within Sri Lanka urged UN members to "hold the Sri Lankan government accountable for the grave state of human rights abuse in the country" by rejecting its candidacy, observing it "has used its membership of the Human Rights Council to protect itself from scrutiny." A coalition of more than 20 nongovernmental organizations from all regions of the world wrote to UN members to oppose Sri Lanka's re-election to the council, citing its government for a wide range of serious abuses, including hundreds of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, widespread torture, and arbitrary detention. The website established by the NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council detailed how Sri Lanka rejects the recommendations of UN human rights experts, harshly attacks senior UN officials who report on human rights issues, and has refused to engage in serious discussions to allow international human rights monitoring. The coalition noted in its letter that the armed separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have long been implicated in serious human rights abuses, but says this provides no justification for government abuses. The abuses in Argentina opposed by Esquivel were committed by that government in the name of combating extreme domestic terrorist organizations. In 2007, a coalition of NGOs successfully opposed the candidacy of Belarus for the Human Rights Council. "Cheers went up amongst human rights defenders around the world when Belarus was defeated," said Hassan Shire Sheikh of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project in Uganda. "This year's election provides an opportunity for African states to send a strong signal, following up on the defeat of Belarus. The Human Rights Council must stand with the victims, not become an abusers' club."

3 LTTE supporters arrested in TN
 
Three supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, including two Sri Lankan nationals, have been arrested by the 'Q' Branch of the Tamil Nadu police and an amount of Rs 4.59 lakh and 44 walkie talkies seized from them, the police said on Monday.The 'Q' branch is the intelligence wing of the state police, which deals with the threats posed by militant and extremist organisations.However, three others traveling in a van intercepted during a vehicle check by police early on Sunday morning at the Villapuram area escaped, police said, adding that the van has been seized.Thirty-five litres of resin was also seized from the residence of one of the arrested, police said.   The three were later produced before the Judicial Magistrate's court, which remanded them to 15 days' judicial custody.

Killer motor cycle not TMVP member’s

Chief Minister Sivanesthurai Chandrakanthan of the Eastern Province told The Island yesterday (18) that the owner of the motor cycle taken into custody by the police Janathan in connection with the attack on the Lotus Road was not a member of his group. Chandrakanathan said threats or attempts to assassinate him will not deter him from serving the people and he was not afraid to serve the people who elected him.Leader of the UNP and Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe said there was a doubt whether there was an attempt to suppress the police investigation into the suicide bomb attack at Lotus Road after it became known that the owner of the suicide bomber's motor cycle was the head of the Trincomalee office of the Chief Minister Chandrakanthan.The UNP said the owner of the motor cycle was Wijepala Jinendra alias Jana.Police were continuing their interrogation of Janathan who was arrested in connection with the attack that killed 9 policemen, two civilians and injured a large number of police personnel and civilians.

Sri Lanka extends amnesty for deserters as nearly 4,000 rejoin

The Sri Lankan army has extended an amnesty deadline for its deserters by two more weeks, as nearly 4,000 deserters had reported back during the first two weeks, the military said.The army headquarters said that some 3,709 army deserters had reported back for duty since May 2 under the amnesty period ended May 16 which was extended later.The decision was reportedly taken following requests from several sections, including the deserters urging more time to rejoin the force.

Canadian shooting suspect in Sri Lanka
   
A suspect wanted in connection with the shooting of a woman in Canada is believed to be hiding in Sri Lanka, the Canadian Star newspaper quoted police as saying.The man who supplied the gun used by the suspect to spray a Brampton home with bullets, killing an innocent young woman inside, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.Jeyaganesh Satkuru, on Friday, got a four-year prison term in the death of Amretta Singh, 20, who was shot on March 20, 2004, as she stood in the hall of her family home.Satkuru, 30, of Toronto wasn't present when another man fired at the home. But a few hours earlier he gave the gunman the weapon, which the assailant had previously asked him to hide until he needed it."I want to apologise to the victim's family," Satkuru said in court. Justice Bruce Durno gave Satkuru 18 months credit for pre-trial custody. He must still serve another 2 1/2 years in a federal penitentiary.Even though he didn't participate in the shooting, Durno said Satkuru was guilty of manslaughter because he knew there had been a previous incident, and that the person who picked up the gun from him might use it for "deadly" purposes.The alleged shooter, Vijayarajah (Vijay) Manickavasagar, 26, of Toronto is still being sought. Peel police believe he is hiding in Sri Lanka.Satkuru "tried repeatedly to give the gun back to Manickavasagar," his lawyer, Deepak Paradhkar, told the court. "That caused some heated arguments."Satkuru denied knowing it would be used to shoot Singh.He also wasn't present at the Calypso Hut 2 earlier in the evening where Singh had been with her brother and cousins. One of her brothers had accidentally bumped into one of Manickavasagar's friends and words had been exchanged.Manickavasagar returned with a gun because he felt he had been insulted. He followed the Singhs home where the shots were fired.

Large scale SLA cordon, search in Vadamaraadchi, Thenmaraadchi

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna peninsula deployed more than a thousand soldiers in a large scale cordon and search operations Monday from dawn till 5:00 p.m in areas of Vadamaraadchi and Thenmaraadchi, civil society sources from Jaffna said. Information on anyone being arrested in the search is not known. SLA soldiers, during search in houses, took away the computers saying that the owners can come and get them after investigation from the SLA camps, according to sources. The cordon and search was conducted in areas including Thunnalai, Karaveddi, and Yaakkaru.Similar search operations were launched last three days in Thunnalai and the areas around it.The searches were well planned where soldiers combed the areas, section by section.Meanwhile, SLA celebrated Vesak Festival Monday, erecting Vesak Pandals and Arches near their camps in Jaffna peninsula.SLA soldiers offered sweets to pedestrians and passengers in vehicles passing by the Vesak decorations and motifs.Thousands of soldiers were engaged in the cordon and search operations in Vadamaraadchi and Thenmaraadchi areas despite the day being Vesak Day, celebrated by the Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

China builds submarine base 

Trouble appears to be brewing amongst the Asian nations, including India, with China building a massive strategic underground submarine naval base that could house N-submarines and a host of aircraft carriers on Hainan Island, in South China Sea, south of Hong Kong. The base, being built near the holiday resort of Sanya on Hainan Island's southern tip, was revealed by commercial satellite images on May 3, 2008. According to satellite imagery reported by the Federation of American Scientists and Britain's Daily Telegraph, the base has a sea entrance wide enough to allow submarines to enter the underground facilities with as many as 11 tunnel openings.Beijing seems to have circumspectly designed this new base since it stands at close proximity to vital sea-lanes in the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca. The Chinese are resolute to protect this since 80 per cent of its oil supplies presently move through the channel before traversing the South China Sea to mainland ports. In addition, the location could give China better access to disputed territories, such as the Parcel Islands and Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.Furthermore, the Hainan Island underground base, incidentally, will house the new Shang-class Type 093 nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and the Jin-class Type-094 SSBNs. Moreover, the new Type 094 Jin-class submarines were captured in the images.The Jin-class includes 12 missile silos and will be equipped with Julang-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a reported maximum range of almost 5,000 miles. The location of the base off Hainan are expected to give the submarines access to very deep waters-exceeding 15,000 feet-within a few miles, making them even harder to detect. Refusing to confirm or deny the submarine base, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said, "There is no need for the Western countries to be worried, or concerned, or make any irresponsible accusations. We have a vast territorial sea and it is the sacred duty of the Chinese army to safeguard the sovereignty of our territorial sea and maritime rights and interests. China's national defence and military building will not pose a threat to any country."Palpably, these developments are being monitored minutely in India since New Delhi holds significant security interests in the Indian Ocean. Expressing security concerns at China's nuclear submarine base, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said, "Though India is not worried about Beijing building a strategic naval base on Hainan Island in the South China Sea, it is concerned about the numbers. Nuclear submarines have long legs (traversing anywhere between 7,000-15,000 km) and it is immaterial where they are based." Apparently, unlike conventional (diesel-electric) submarines, nuclear-powered submarines have the ability to remain submerged for long periods of time.Incidentally, India successfully tested its 3,500 km-range nuclear capable intermediate range ballistic missile Agni-III on May 7, 2008. Agni III is capable of reaching targets in Beijing and Shanghai and is ready for induction. Although India possesses air and land-based nuclear delivery platforms in the form of ballistic missiles (Agni and Prithvi), an undersea platform such as a nuclear submarine, the third leg of a nuclear triad, remains deficient.Indian Navy is considered to be the world's fifth largest and New Delhi for years has been pursuing indigenous nuclear-powered submarine capability, under what is known as the ATV (advanced technology vessel) project. Moreover, New Delhi is in discussions with Moscow for a 12,000-ton Akula-II class nuclear submarine. In case it finds success, India would be the sixth country to follow the US, Russia, Britain, France and China to boast of a sea borne nuclear deterrent.Crucially, there is a sizeable section of the strategic community within India that views China as a long-term military threat, surpassing Pakistan. China's 'strategic encirclement strategy of India' is of critical significance for New Delhi where in Beijing it has built the Gwadar port, as an alternative to Karachi, beyond the easy reach of Indian Navy. Similarly, on India's vulnerable northeast, China has a close ally in Myanmar, which will be providing China direct access to the Indian Ocean by passing the Malacca Straits. In the south, Sri Lanka is receiving special attention from China, where Beijing is developing the Hambantota port in the southern tip of the island, which dominates the Indian Ocean shipping lanes.Even though, Chinese nuclear submarines have so far never operated in the Indian Ocean, this latest facility-which is 2,000 nautical miles away from the Andaman Islands-will be its nearest access point to the region. Given the huge volumes of oil movement between the Persian Gulf and the Malacca Straits towards North Asia, the Indian Navy has been looking to plug this deficiency.Significantly, another crucial factor impinging on Asia's strategic paradigm is China's "String of Pearls" phenomenon that describes Beijing's rising geopolitical influence through efforts to increase access to ports and airfields, develop special diplomatic relationships, and modernize military forces that extend from the South China Sea through the Straits of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean, and on to the Arabian Gulf.Militarily, the US too would be intent at maintaining superior military power to guarantee security and serve as a hedge against a possible future "China threat". In the "String of Pearls" region, US efforts are aimed at broadening and deepening American influence among the regional states, including India. There is an emerging sense that the growing defence cooperation between Washington and New Delhi could well be attributed to the commonality of the 'China factor'.The 'Malabar CY 07-2' naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal held in the first week of September last year, precisely demonstrated this and undeniably represented a major shift in India's strategic security perceptions. The exercises were the largest-ever naval exercise in this part of the world, with as many as 30 warships and nearly 200 aircraft from five participating nations comprising Australia, Japan, India, the US, and Singapore. Besides, in a clear departure from the past, it signaled India's entry into the 'quadrilateral initiative', a new strategic security combine in which New Delhi joins as a key member of the security triad of Australia, Japan and the US-developments that add on to Beijing's strategic concern vis-à-vis the emerging Asian security paradigm.Concerns emanating from the Chinese naval build-up appear to have accelerated New Delhi's effort to achieve parity at sea. This is primarily so because it would like to avoid prospects of a number of nuclear submarines in its neighbourhood and concurrently counter China's bid for regional primacy.Beijing's nuclear naval facility is touted to provide it with additional leverage over Taiwan, which could directly affect the US interests in the region. Moreover, the Chinese nuclear harbour, clearly demonstrates Beijing's bid to revamp its operational capabilities It wants to project itself as a formidable naval force in the arena-be perceived as a staid challenge by neighboring countries, including India.

18 May 2008

Abductions and rapes continue regardless

The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on the government to immediately release senior journalist and human rights activist, J S Tissainayagam, who has been in government custody.The NPC in a statement has said that as the country celebrates the day of Vesak, Lord Buddha’s preaching on compassion and respect not only for human life but also for the lives of animals should not be forgotten and added that the government therefore must bring an end to human rights violence. The NPC has further condemned the assassination of Maheswari who the Council says has assisted victims of war.“A tragic example recently highlighted in the media is the rape of two teenage girls and the abduction of one of them in Kalmunai, in the presence of their family on the day of the Eastern Provincial Council elections, when the presence of security personnel in the area on guard duty was very high. “The family alleges that armed men came in a white van who committed the crime on their children. “When the mother went to the police station to make a complaint the police reportedly sent her away on the grounds that most officers were on election duty. “Later that same night the men returned and took the elder girl away. She is missing since then. The fact that the police refused to accept their complaint indicates state culpability in the practice of impunity.“In addition, contradicting the claims that abductions and disappearances of Tamils in Colombo have come to an end is the disappearance and abduction in the heart of Colombo of Sinnathurai Varatharajan, a highly reputed tuition master from Jaffna and his cousin. “The government should do away with the culture of impunity. It is the bounden duty of any state to protect all its citizens,” the NPC statement said.

PLOTE cadre shot, injured in Vavuniyaa

A member of the Peoples Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) was shot and injured Friday morning in front of Uma Maheswaran mausoleum located in Koayilku'lam in Vavuniyaa town. The injured has been identified as Varan, reports from Vavuniyaa said. He was first admitted to the Vavuniyaa general hospital. As his condition became worse he was transferred to Anuradhapura general hospital. A PLOTE member was shot and killed also last week in Vavuniyaa.

Tamil political parties pledge support to EPC

The Tamil political parties which contested the Eastern Provincial polls have hailed President Mahinda Rajapaksa for appointing a Chief Minister for the Eastern Province and called upon the new Chief Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan to work for the unity and integrity of all communities in the East and work hard towards expediting development in the region. The leaders of the Tamil Democratic National Alliance consisting of the TULF, PLOTE, EPRLF (Naba), Eelam People’s Democratic Party and the Eelavar Democratic Front told the Sunday Observer that they were very impressed by the bold decision taken by President Rajapaksa in resolving the crisis situation with regard to the appointment of the Eastern Province Chief Minister. Minister of Social Services and leader of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party Douglas Devananada who is also the Chairman of the Northern Development Task Force Committee said: “Forming of the Eastern Provincial Council gives hope for the Easterners particularly the Tamil and Muslim communities in restoring peace and democracy in the region. President Rajapaksa was tactful in choosing Pillayan as the new Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council. However, now instead of talking about appointments and portfolios all parties should give their fullest support to the newly formed Eastern Provincial Council. Development and peace should be the priority and our party will extend its fullest support in making the Eastern Provincial Council more meaningful and vibrant,” he said. Tamil Democratic National Alliance stalwart and leader, People’s Liberation of Tamil Eelam Dharmalingan Sitharthan said: The Eastern Province consists of all three communities. Therefore, the new Provincial Council should act in an exemplary manner in protecting communal harmony. The Eastern province, what we know is devastated by war and lack of proper political representation for people in the region. Since the region was liberated from the clutches of the LTTE last year, the Government succeeded in restoring local Government administration and now establishing the Provincial Council. We welcome the new Provincial Council in the East and pledge our support to all Councillors. The leader of the Eelavar Democratic Front Rajanathan Prabhakaran said, “We welcome the newly created Eastern Provincial Council. The new Eastern Provincial Councillors took their oaths before President Rajapaksa despite the LTTE’s heinous bomb attack in Fort which claimed the lives of ten persons and injured around eighty. So the swearing in of the Eastern Provincial Councillors shows the determination and boldness they have highlighted in restoring peace and democracy in the East. Several political parties and individuals contested the Eastern Provincial polls. However, the issue of choosing a new Chief Minister and creating the Eastern Provincial Council was well handled by President Rajapaksa. Our party, the EDF is very concerned about the development of the Eastern Province. Without leaving room for petty political differences, the new Eastern Provincial Council administration should concentrate more on the uplift of the socio-economic spheres of the Easterners and its function should be an eye opener for the hard core LTTE.

Muslims to revolt against Pillaiyan?

The simmering crisis over the new Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillaiyan, reached new heights yesterday with several Muslim ministers threatening to revolt against President Mahinda Rajapaksa for allegedly “deceiving them.”Several Muslims Ministers, including Rishard Badiudeen, Ameer Ali and Abdul Majeed, who boycotted Friday’s oath-taking ceremony of the Chief Minister, are contemplating resigning from their ministerial portfolios and sitting independently in Parliament. A dejected sounding Resettlement Minister Rishard Badiudeen told The Nation that they felt “betrayed” by the President’s action and were seriously reconsidering their support to the government. “We will take a decision in the coming days. The President has not only betrayed us, but the entire Muslim community as well. He has not kept his word. He gave us false promises, which is why we boycotted Friday’s ceremony,” the Minister said.Meanwhile, angry Muslim ministers held marathon meetings yesterday to discuss their future course of action.“The ministers are awaiting Housing Minister Ferial Ashraff’s arrival to the island from her overseas visit in order to take a final decision,” sources said. It is learnt that even she had been very irate by the President’s decision to appoint Pillaiyan instead of Hisbullah, who commanded more seats in the council. There is a possibility that a group of ministers might function independently. However, no final decision had been taken at the time this edition went to press.Meanwhile, Hisbullah told The Nation that he was in the process of seeking legal advice to take action against the appointment of Pillaiyan as Chief Minister because the appointment breached Article 154 F of the Constitution. Meanwhile, the total number of councillors supporting Hisbullah increased to four yesterday, with yet another councillor crossing over to his group. “We are also in the process of holding discussions with another councillor to garner his support to our group. If he does join us, then our group will increase to five,” Hisbullah revealed. He added that he had not taken any decision to support the opposition in the eastern council as yet.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem said that it appeared as if Eastern Province Governor Mohan Samarawickrama had intentionally violated Article 154 F of the Constitution by letting the President appoint Pillaiyan as the Chief Minister, despite a letter being sent to him beforehand by the Hisbullah group announcing their decision to withdraw support to Pillaiyan.“The Governor should have rightfully called for an affidavit from the councillors to check whether they all supported Pillaiyan and whether he garnered the necessary support, but he overlooked the letter instead and took no action,” he added.

                                                       Compromise formula mooted                                                     

A compromise formula has been devised to defuse the crisis that has been sparked off following the appointment of Pillaiyan as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC). The government has already appointed a negotiating team comprising an emissary to discuss matters with the irate Muslim ministers who boycotted Friday’s swearing ceremony. Highly-placed government sources said that a final solution would be proposed to share the five-year term of the Chief Minister with the first two years allocated to Pillaiyan, following two years to a Muslim politician and the final year to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Asked whether M.L.A.M Hisbullah, who revolted against the government, would be appointed for the second two-year term, the source said that he should prove that he is a team player during the first two years to make himself eligible for the position.It is likely that Hisbullah and other ministers who supported the UPFA would participate in the discussion and accept the compromise formula to defuse the present impasse, political sources said.It is learnt that Ministers Rishard Badiudeen and Ameer Ali are persuading Hisbullah to accept the compromise formula. Meanwhile, Minister Badiudeen told The Nation last night that they were seriously considering the formula since they wanted to cooperate with the President, who is fighting a terrorist war and striving hard to develop the country.

President restrained Muslim Ministers over East CM           
  
The President had restrained Muslim ministers who had called for the appointment of M.L.A.M. Hizbullah as East Chief Minister by threatening to dissolve Parliament, a senior government minister told 'Lanka Dissent.'According to the senior minister, the president had ignored warnings by these ministers that they would resign and sit as backbenchers in the House, if Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan is given the post.Mr. Rajapaksa had retorted by saying that he would immediately dissolve parliament and announce a general election.Thereafter, National Congress's M.L.M. Athaulla and his three elected East councilors had extended their support to the government.The other Muslim Ministers too, have agreed not to pursue the matter any further, the senior minister added.

Pilleyan’s man owned motorbike used for Fort suicide attack

Police have arrested a close associate of Pilleyan as the owner of the motorbike used by the suicide bomber who rammed a bus carrying police personnel killing 11 and injuring more than 90 in Colombo Fort on Friday (16th). A man named ‘Jana’ was arrested by a special police team in Trincomalee after investigating details on the motorcycle’s registration number with the Department of Motor Traffic.Jana is said to be a prominent member of the TMVP.

Ranil alleges Pillaiyan hand in Friday’s blast

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday accused the Pillaiyan group of masterminding Friday’s bomb blast in Colombo, which killed at least 11 and injured more than 90.Addressing a meeting in Kandy yesterday, Wickremesinghe said that the bomb was transported to Colombo on a bike which belonged to Vijayapalan Jinendran, a member of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), who works in the Trincomalee main office.“Although the government knows that it was done by the Pillaiyan group, they still claimed that the blast was carried out by the LTTE,” Wickremesinghe said.He also claimed that after the Police learnt of this development, the Trincomalee Police had arrested the main suspect but that the Defence Ministry had intervened and instructed the Colombo Detective Bureau to handle the investigations, alleging that plans were already underway to sweep the issue under the carpet.“These investigations too will be buried, similar to that of T. Maheswaran’s case. If they wanted an independent investigation, then they should have allowed the Trincomalee Police to handle the investigations rather than interfere,” Wickremesinghe added.Wickremesinghe also claimed that Pillaiyan was appointed Chief Minister despite his slaying of two Police personnel during the elections. Meanwhile, Police brought in 11 suspects for questioning following the blast at the Sangabodhi Viharaya in Fort on Friday. According to Police Spokesman Senior DIG N.K. Illangakoon, it has been confirmed that the bomb was carried by a suicide cadre who arrived in a motorcycle laden with around four kilogrammes of explosives.DIG Illangakoon further said that several suspects were being questioned with regard to the motorbike that was used by the suicide cadre, after obtaining information from the Registration of Motor Vehicles Department. One person was arrested subsequent to questioning on suspicion.

Troops capture Palampiddy town

Palampiddi, one of LTTE major strongholds in Mannar District was captured by S.L. Army troops yesterday (17th) afternoon amidst stiff resistance from LTTE. The troops had to face severe resistance by the LTTE and inched forward nearly for six days to reach Palampiddy town.Palampiddy junction is about 8 km North of Madhu and its junction which was captured by the Army earlier connects Vedithalathivu in the North West Madhu in the South, Mullikulam in the South East and Nedunkandal in the North East. Hence, the fall of this LTTE stronghold cripples administrative work and supplies to the LTTE. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan was not immediately available for comment.

Army Commander visits Wanni

Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, accompanied by a few Senior Officers at Army Headquarters visited Security Forces Headquarters in Wanni to assess the military successes of troops in the Wanni war fronts yesterday (17th) morning. After Wanni Commander Major General Jagath Jayasuriya welcomed the Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka met Senior Ground Commanders at the SFHQ auditorium where he was briefed on the updated security situation in different fronts.

Pettah Police nab 18 people in connection with taking ransom

 As many as 18 people were arrested by the Pettah Police in connection with obtaining ransom in Pettah, Colombo Central SSP Ajith Fonseka said. Among the arrested suspects was a five member gang. He said that five of the suspects were from Maligawatte. He added that they had been arrested for the alleged abduction of a wealthy businessman and the demanding of one million rupees as ransom for his release. Further investigations are being conducted by the Pettah Police. The police said that they suspect the gang had been involved in many incidents where ransom was demanded in the Pettah area. The law enforcement officers said that those arrested could be underworld characters.Another four suspects, including two Police Constables attached to the Modera Police, had been arrested by the Pettah Police. The arrests had been made when the Police nabbed them trying to obtain Rs. 400,000 as ransom from a jeweler, at Hettiweediya, Pettah. The two police constables along with the other two who were arrested, a three- wheel driver and an employee of a shop, were produced before Court. According to Crime OIC Pettah Police IP Balasooriya, the shop employee, who was involved in obtaining ransom, had arrived at the victim’s shop with the errant police constables in the pretext of searching for drugs in the shop. However, investigations had revealed that the suspects themselves had put some drugs (which were in packets) at the scene of crime.The three racketeers had told the shop owner that he was in the wrong as they had found drugs in his possession. They had then taken the shop owner towards Wellampitiya in a threewheeler. Although the suspects had demanded for two million rupees from the shop owner, he had given them only four hundred thousand rupees. The four suspects will be produced for an identification parade at Magistrate Court , No 1 on May 21.

37 Prado jeeps for East PC members   
       
The government has ordered brand new Prado luxury jeeps for each of the 37 newly-elected councilors in the Eastern Provincial Council, according to government sources.Without taxes, a Prado costs Rs. 2.5 million, but the normal market price is around Rs. 20 million.The new councilors are also getting a new look provincial council building in Trincomalee, refurbished at a cost of more than Rs. 05 million, the sources added.

Pillayan faces defeat at first council meeting

With the UPFA reduced to a minority in the Eastern Provincial Council following the resignation of three Muslim members headed by M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, the opposition was considering the possibility of defeating the administration at the first council meeting.The UNP, SLMC and the three member group led by Hizbullah charged that Friday’s appointment of Pillayan as chief minister for the Eastern Province was unconstitutional since he did not command a majority in the council and that the possibility of defeating the UPFA at the first council meeting was under active consideration.The crisis in the UPFA exploded on Friday when Hizbullah wrote to the Eastern Province Governor, Mohan Wijewickrema stating he along with two other members would function as a separate group in the council under Hizbullah’s leadership.In the letter to Wijewickrema, Hizbullah has stated that the trio had not given their consent to the UPFA to appoint any nominee other than Hizbullah as chief minister and has also drawn attention to the fact that the UPFA did not command the majority in the council without the support of the three members.President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday morning had met Hizbullah to discuss the crisis on the appointment of the chief minister.Rajapakse had informed Hizbullah that Pillayan had to be appointed as the chief minister. Hizbullah after refusing to accept the President’s decision had also turned down Rajapakse’s offer to appoint Pillayan as chief minister for a period of two and a half years and Hizbullah for the remaining two and a half years.Hizbullah told The Sunday Leader that at the meeting with the President he had requested Rajapakse to honour his pre-election pledge of appointing a nominee from the group that returned the highest number of members to the council."We asked him to give the post to us and said it was not right to appoint Pillayan. But the President said he had to appoint Pillayan," he said.Hizbullah said Pillayan’s appointment was unconstitutional, as the UPFA has now been reduced to a minority in the Eastern Provincial Council. "The majority is now with the opposition," he said.Hizbullah also said that they were now discussing the next course of action and said defeating the government at the first council sitting was a possibility.Meanwhile, UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake told The Sunday Leader that the appointment of the chief minister to the Eastern Provincial Council was unconstitutional.Attanayake said that Pillayan’s appointment, as the chief minister was unconstitutional since the opposition held the majority in the council. "As usual, the Mahinda Rajapakse administration has failed to abide by the law and the appointment of the chief minister has been done against the Provincial Councils Act. The UPFA won only 18 seats and since M.L.A.M. Hizbullah has now withdrawn his support to the UPFA with two other members they are not entitled to the two bonus seats. In this backdrop how could the President appoint a minority member as the Chief Minister," Attanayake said.When queried whether there were plans to hold negotiations with Hizbullah, Attanayake said that the party has so far not decided on it.

AI makes fresh appeal on behalf of detained journalist

Amnesty International (AI) has made a fresh appeal on behalf of detained Sunday Times journalist J. S. Tissainayagam, urging the authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally unless he is to be charged with a recognisable criminal offence and remanded by an independent court.AI has requested members of the public to appeal on behalf of Tissainayagam to President Mahinda Rajapaksa as well as the Justice Minister. The AI statement noted that Tissainayagam was granted access to an eye specialist on May 9 and that the specialist had said his condition required monitoring and that he needed new glasses. He was granted access to his lawyer on May 14, for the first time since March 21. However, AI noted that Tissainayagam remained in detention with the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID), and that he was being held without charge.He was due to appear in court on May 12, in compliance with Emergency Regulations that require that a detainee be brought before a court at least once a month. However, the court appearance was postponed and no reason was given for the postponement. The magistrate had reportedly said that Tissainayagam should be produced in court on May 14. However, he was not brought to court that day. Consequently, the magistrate has reportedly ordered that Tissainayagam be produced in court on May 23.

CID to interrogate local drug kingpin caught in India

A team of officials from the Criminal Investigation Department will leave for India to interrogate notorious Sri Lankan drug kingpin, Sinniah Gunasekeran alias Kimbula-ela Guna, who was arrested by the Drugs Control Unit of the Indian Police in Chennai, South India.Guna, who is suspected to have close links with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, fled Sri Lanka when the local police were on the lookout for him over his involvement in a series of crimes including drug trafficking, extortion, bomb blasts and assassinations.He was arrested near his residence in Shivanga, Chennai while he was participating in a football match. At the time of arrest he was in the possession of a large haul of drugs.Sinniah Gunasekeran operated from his headquarters in Kimbula-ela area in Motwal, Colombo. During his hey days, Guna was reported to have senior police officers at his beck and call. He was believed to be leading nearly 100 underworld criminals belonging to 10 underworld gangs, said a senior police officer investigating Guna’s involvement in the underworld. According to Police, Guna is involved in over 50 murders in Colombo. He is alleged to be a leading drug trafficker trading between India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. His residence in Mutwal is said to be very well equipped with hi-tech camera facilities. In addition, he is said to be the owning two other luxury bungalows with swimming pools in Colombo. Meanwhile it has been found that Guna ran his own ‘court’ , ‘police force’ and an underworld ‘jail’ in Kimbula-ela area. The building that housed these institutions was called ‘Le kaamaraya’ (blood room). Guna administered justice and punished offenders within the four walls of this room. The tremendous political influence Guna wielded prevented the police from entering into Guna’s kingdom. There were also the police top brass who received a regular six figure monthly salary from Guna.Police records show that Guna was an influential drug trafficker as far back as1994. Police investigations have revealed that a Mini Ushi Automatic Firearm was locally recovered for the first time in 1997.That was from the Mutwal residence of Guna. In addition, Guna is alleged to be involved in procuring sniper weapons for the underworld through the LTTE. Guna’s name transpired in connection with the bomb blast targeting former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on the eve of 1999 Presidential Election. On that occasion the suicide bomber was alleged to have come from the Kimbula-ela kingdom of Guna. Guna was discharged on that occasion owing to lack of proof. His involvements with the Orugodawatta and Kolonnawa oil refinery attacks too have been revealed but he has escaped the arms of law due to political interference, stated a police chief.On June 16, 2003 Western Provincial Council UPFA member Sunil Mendis was assassinated at the instance of a Chairman of a Pradeshiya Sabha. Kimbula-ela Guna and one of his accomplices Sunil Gamini Fonseka alias Kota Gamini were suspected of this crime and the police was behind them. Both of them, who apprehended the imminent arrest fled to South India, Guna using a forged pass port carrying a Sinhala name. During the intervening period Guna was in hiding in a estate in Kotmale in the house of a politician with security provided by the Ministerial Security personnel.

President due to make a second UK trip

President Mahinda Rajapaksa plans to make a second trip to the UK in early June to attend a Commonwealth meeting, foreign ministry sources said.High Commissioner Kshenuka Senewiratne who was due to return to Colombo at the end of this month has been asked to delay her departure till June in view of the president’s visit.Retired Supreme Court Judge Nihal Jayasinghe has been named High Commissioner to the UK, succeeding Senewiratne who served both as Deputy and High Commissioner for several years.

Omanthei Entry/Exit point opens for religious festival - Vavuniya

Security forces have taken necessary steps to keep the Omanthei Entry/Exit point in Vavuniya opened for northward passage Sunday (18) from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.This special arrangement on Sunday was announced with a view to facilitating the passage of Hindu devotees in cleared areas to attend the annual religious festival at Vattappalai Kannakyabal Hindu temple in un-cleared area of Mullaithivu. The Entry/Exit point is usually remains closed on Sundays.

Bishop Tutu opposes UNHRC seat for Lanka

Nobel peace laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa has said that Sri Lanka does not deserve a seat in the UN Human Rights Council due to its worsening human rights record. "In the entire world, Sri Lanka stands out as the most clearly unqualified state seeking election to the council this year, and the place where things are getting unambiguously worse," he wrote in a opinion column that appeared on the web site of the Guardian Newspaper in UK on May 15.Sri Lanka is heavily canvassing to retain its seat in the 47 member council with Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe leading a high ranking delegation to Geneva recently to lobby other member states. Before Bishop’s Tutu’s opinion piece international human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International too had said that Sri Lanka should not get a seat in the council. The re-election vote will be held on May 21. "Defeating the Sri Lankan candidacy would be a comfort to the people of Sri Lanka. It would place international pressure on the government to respect human rights, and to accept a UN human rights monitoring mission, which it has stubbornly refused. "It would help make the council a place where true human rights leaders in all regions can help lead the world towards greater respect for human life and human dignity. An outcome, in short, that would benefit those who care about human rights in the world. Any other result would be a travesty," Bishop Tutu wrote. He said that the country’s human rights record had worsened after joining the council two years back. "Sri Lanka has failed to honour its pledges of upholding human rights standards and cooperating with the UN since joining the council two years ago. Indeed, its human rights record has worsened during that time. The Sri Lankan idea of cooperation with the UN, meanwhile, has been to condemn senior UN officials (including the high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, and the under secretary general for humanitarian affairs, John Holmes) as "terrorists" or "terrorist sympathisers."He also blamed the government as well as the Tigers for abuses — "The systematic abuses by Sri Lankan government forces are among the most serious imaginable. Government security forces summarily remove their own citizens from their homes and families in the middle of the night, never to be heard from again. Torture and extra judicial killings are widespread. When the Human Rights Council was established, UN members required that states elected must themselves "uphold the highest standards" of human rights. On that count, Sri Lanka is clearly disqualified.The separatist Tamil Tigers have used despicable tactics in their war against the government, including frequent suicide bombings. But that can in no way excuse the scale of government abuses, the Bishop has said.

Ballot boxes stuffed as officials look on

With 15 minutes for voting to close at the polling booth of the Ariyampathi Tamil Maha Vidyalaya last Saturday, a gang stormed the booth and asked as to how many votes were yet to be cast. The officials, obviously through fear, disclosed the figure and were told "our men will be coming to vote do not obstruct them".Minutes later, eyewitnesses said another gang stormed the booth, grabbed the unused ballot papers and stuffed them into the boxes. The eyewitnesses identified the gang as cadres of the TMVP or Pillayan group. No action was taken against them by the officials or by the police officers guarding the booth, they said. At Vakarai, TMVP cadres armed with pistols walked into the polling booth and ordered the UNP polling agent to leave immediately. Though another UNP member from outside the province was present, 500 ballots were grabbed and stuffed into the boxes while the officials just watched on.A lawyer representing the UNP immediately wrote a letter to the senior presiding officer, but it was not accepted, two election monitors said. The UNP polling agent who was chased away had tried to lodge a complaint at the police station but he was turned away and an armed gang was seen following him on motorcycles.At Mahajana College Batticaloa, a candidate detected an impersonator and informed the police and the Senior Presiding officer, but the complaint was ignored. Attempts were made to lodge a complaint at the local police station but the polling agent was turned away, eyewitnesses said.These were just a few of the election malpractices reported by opposition candidates, agents and observers, but many others went officially unreported as presiding officers and police stations refused to record the complaints. Local monitoring groups are expected to come up with their full reports soon. Officials of these groups said action had not yet been taken on most of the cases reported to polling booth officials and police officers. They said the monitors had drawn the attention of the Elections Commissioner to blatant violations of election laws mainly at the polling booths in the Verugal, Kappalthurai and Echampaththu divisional secretariat areas in Trincomalee, the Valaichchenai, Ottamavadi, Porrative, Kokkadichcholai, Kathankudai and Ariyampathi areas in Batticaloa and the Thirukovvil and Akkaraipattu areas in Digamadulla.According to the Centre for Monitoring Elections Violence (CMEV) several serious incidents were reported from Thirukkovil and Alayadivembu in the Pottuvil electorate of the Ampara district. The charges included the presence of armed TMVP cadres outside polling booths, children as young as 13 or 14 distributing polling cards and even casting votes, impersonation and the absence of an official to check the ID cards.Such incidents took place in at least 13 polling booths in Pottuvil, CMEV official Manjula Gajanayake said. He said CMEV monitors had seen polling agents being chased away by gangs from the booths at the Vakarai Maha Vidyalaya. "Some 150 people came in buses went to the polling station around 2 p.m, chased away the polling agents and stuffed the ballot boxes with votes," Mr. Gajanayake claimed. He said people carrying arms were seen travelling in vehicles without number plates in Batticaloa where illegal voting was seen in several areas."People standing outside the polling booth in Kattankudi were seen distributing bogus ID cards or casting illegal votes," Mr. Gajanayake said. The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) reported that armed gangs were seen in areas such Batticaloa and Kalmunai. But they quickly dispersed when they saw the monitors, CaFFE spokesman Kirthi Tennakoon said. He said that in Trincomalee, CaFFE officials observed that internally displaced persons from Puttalam were brought there to cast illegal votes."Around 500 people were brought from IDP camps in Puttalam to Trincomalee. They stood outside the polling stations and chased away the people who were coming in to vote in the morning after their polling cards were grabbed," Mr. Tennakoon said. In addition, people in the Digamadulla district were seriously intimidated by alleged acts of the LTTE such as the hotel bomb explosion on election eve and a mortar attack on a village in Ampara on election day. CaFFE officials also said that about 30 serious incidents of election malpractices and violence were reported from the Trincomalee district on the elections day.They said these included intimidation, threatening with weapons, causing damage to opposition party offices and stuffing ballots. They said rigging took place in Mutur and Kiliveddy in the district. Polling cards of people living in Kiliveddy IDP camps were forcibly grabbed by armed men backed by the ruling party.The officials said they received a complaint that three ballot boxes from a booth close to the camps were forcibly removed by members of the government-backed paramilitary group. Another complaint said the vehicles carrying UNP parliamentarians Ravi Karunanayake and Gayantha Karunathilake were were stoned and damaged by thugs brought from Colombo by a minister.In rural areas government vehicles were seen allegedly transporting persons to polling stations, the officials said. Another monitoring group, the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), said it noted an increased number of incidents during the last few days before the elections.It said more than hundred incidents were reported including some cases of threat and intimidation and 13 instances of misuse of public property, such as the state media. PAFFREL said it observed several key issues which prevented the conducting of a free and fair election. These included the fear psychosis that was spread all over the Eastern Province, the presence of TMVP armed cadres, the launching of development projects to coincide with the polls in apparent violation of election laws and political parties not being able to deploy polling agents to some polling stations due to intimidation.

17 May 2008

Countering unemployment in East is main priority – East CM           
  
After swearing in as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council yesterday (May 16th), Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan said that his main concern was to counter unemployment and develop the East. Noting that he was well aware of the problems that existed in the East, the new Chief Minister of the Eastern PC said that he would do his best to improve the area by adding development plans to those already initiated by the government.Chandrakanthan said that eradicating unemployment in the East as well as improving education and industries in the area are among his priorities.The new Chief Minister was also sworn in as the Minister of Finance and Planning, Law and Order, Provincial Administration, Human Resource Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Rural Development, Tourism and Environment of the Eastern PC.In addition, three Ministers for the East were sworn in together with the provincial chief minister.Meera Saibu Uduma Lebbe was sworn in as the Minister of Road Development, Irrigation, Housing and Construction, Rural Electrification and Water Supply of the Eastern PC.Wimalaweera Dissanayake was sworn in as the Minister of Education, Cultural Affairs, Lands and Land Development and Transport.In addition, Thuraiappah Navaratnarajah was sworn in as the Eastern PC Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Rural Industrial Development and Fisheries.As a rule, a provincial council has four ministers in addition to the chief minister.However, the President has decided to keep one ministerial position vacant in the East.

Pillayan, target of bomb blast near Colombo Hilton  
       
The newly appointed Chief Minister of the East and the Leader of the TMVP, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan was the target of yesterday’s (May 16th) suicide bomb attack near the Colombo Hilton, defence sources reveal.Military intelligence sources say that the target could be either Pillayan or a VVIP who was to attend the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Secretariat.Pillayan has been residing at the Colombo Hilton Hotel since his arrival in Colombo on May 15th.Evidence suggests that the plan of the suicide bomber was to target Pillayan while on his way from the Hilton Hotel to the Presidential Secretariat or to Temple Trees, Defence sources add.Security forces suspect that the suicide bomber, who was on a motorcycle, had rammed himself into a police anti-riot squad bus after failing to penetrate the tight security imposed in the area.

Torture of Boosa Tamil detainees alleged

Colombo High Court Judge Wednesday directed the prison authorities to produce three of the four Tamil suspects in Chandrika Kumaratunga attempted murder case before Colombo Judicial Medical Officer for medical examination when their lawyers submitted to court that they were subjected to torture and inhuman treatment by police officials in Boosa detention camp, legal sources said. On May 10 they were transferred from Colombo Magazine Prison to Boosa detention camp. The fourth suspect Vasanthi Ragupathi Sarma was not produced in court along with three suspects Wednesday as she was kept in Magazine Prison.TELO Jaffna MP and Attorney-at-Law N.Sri Kantha on behalf of two suspects Sellathurai Varatharajan and Sakthivel Ilankeswaran submitted to court that his clients on arrival in Boosa detention camp from Colombo Magazine prisons had been subjected to severe torture and inhuman treatment after being undressed by police officials of the Terrorist Intelligence Division. Three police officers had assaulted the second suspect, legal sources said.K.Jeyakumar, counsel for the third suspect Chandra Ayer Ragupathy Sarma submitted to court that his client was also subjected to torture and inhuman treatment in the hands of TID police officers.Both counsel begged court to order for the transfer of their clients again to Magazine prison from Boosa, to initiate an inquiry into the conduct of TID officials in Boosa, and to seek explanation from the ommissioner of Prisons regarding the conduct of police officials in Boosa, legal sources said.State Counsel Kapila Vaidiayaratne told court that suspects had been transferred to Boosa from Magazine prison for security reason and requested court not to accept defense version without obtaining explanation from the prison authorities.Thereafter, the High Court Judge directed the prison authorities in Boosa and Magazine Prison to submit their stand regarding transferring these suspects again to Magazine Prison from Boosa. The court further directed that these suspects should be kept under the direct supervision of the Officer-in-Charge of Boosa detention camp.Further inquiry in this case was put off for June 9.

Military: Sri Lanka air force bombs rebel air strip; 16 killed in clashes

Sri Lankan air force jets bombed an air strip used by Tamil Tiger rebels, while 16 insurgents were killed in ground clashes in the north, the military said Saturday.The attacks Friday came hours after a suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into a bus carrying riot police in the heart of the capital, killing 10 people.A military statement said pilots confirmed bombing the runway in rebel-held Iranaimadu village. It gave no details of casualties or damage. The air force has claimed to have bombed the same strip several times in the past.Troops killed 16 insurgents during clashes Friday in the Vavuniya district, the statement said.Also, a hand grenade exploded in northern Vavuniya town Saturday, wounding 17 civilians, the military said.It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because reporters are not allowed in the war zone. The two sides are known to exaggerate their enemy's casualties while underreporting their own.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be contacted for comment.The military blamed the Tamil Tigers for Friday's blast in Colombo that killed 10 people, including eight police, and wounded 85.President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the rebel group has "demonstrated to the world its total commitment to violence and terror to achieve its separatist goals in Sri Lanka, and its absolute contempt for democracy and human rights."The rebels, blamed for more than 240 suicide attacks, have been listed as a terror organization by the United States and European Union.

Anti-government website hacked 

A Colombo based news website maintained by a dissident parliamentarian has been hacked. The website, www.lankadissent.com is maintained by former government strongman, Mangala Samaraweera. The website had been hacked into today, it is learnt. Meanwhile, the site in a post stated that, "we have been hacked and disrupted." The site had been unavailable for several hours since the incident. It is still unclear who was behind the act.

Hizbullah to courts against appointing Pillayan as CM         
  
Claiming that Pillayan does not command a majority in the Eastern Provincial Council to be appointed as its’ Chief Minister, member of the Eastern PC, M.L.A.M. Hizbullah has decided to take legal action against the appointment, ‘Lanka Dissent’ reliably learns.In addition, United National Party and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress members of the East PC are planning to bring a no-faith motion against the provincial Chief Minister at the council’s inaugural meeting, sources add.With the faction led by M.L.A.M. Hizbullah deciding to function as an independent entity in the Eastern Provincial Council, a crisis has risen regarding the balance of power in the East PC.Speaking to ‘Lanka Dissent’, a senior Muslim minister said that though the inaugural meeting of the Eastern Provincial Council is to be held on May 21st, it may be postponed due to this imbalance of power.

Maunagurusami appointed to East PC  
       
The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has appointed former Batticaloa District Secretary P. Maunagurusami, to the Eastern Provincial Council.According to the results of the Eastern Provincial Council elections, the UPFA was granted two bonus seats in the council.P. Maunagurusami of the TMVP and K.P. Priyantha Premakumara of the SLFP were appointed for these two bonus seats following their failures to obtain the sufficient number of preferential votes to secure a seat at the Eastern Provincial Council.Following the request of the UPFA secretary, the Elections Commissioner has named P. Maunagurusami and K.P. Priyantha Premakumara as members of the East PC in yesterday’s (May 16th) gazette.

India has interfered in the East – Anura Kumara Dissanayake       
  
India is attempting to set up a provincial council with police and land powers under the administration of a group who will bend to their directions, JVP politburo member, Anura Kumara Dissanayake says in an interview with Sunethra Athugalpura of the ‘Lakbima’ newspaper.Commenting on whether it was wise to vest the East with police and land powers, the JVP MP said, the Eastern PC polls were not called to defeat terrorism or to establish democracy.It was chiefly done on the influence of the Indian government; he said adding that India has already devoured the bulk of Sri Lanka’s economy, he added.Currently, India is preying upon several small, medium and large-scale businesses and has its eyes set on the crude oil deposits as well. To attain their goal, they must intervene and create a suitable political environment in the country, the JVP politburo member said.By means of war, they got involved in the country’s politics by taking measures to secure the East coast as well as by providing arms and technical equipment, he added.Their influence on Sri Lanka’s politics is so vast that they even compelled us not to purchase arms from other countries, Dissanayake said.Now that terrorism in the country has weakened, the possibility of Indian intervention through the war has minimised, the JVP MP said.India has already managed to own a vast amount of land in Sampur, Nilaweli and Pulmudai, abundant in mineral deposits, he added.Police and land powers are to be granted to continue this practice. This is disastrous and must be stopped immediately, he said, adding that the government is attempting to betray the lands that were liberated by the security forces.

Four provincial ministers for East

Four Provincial Ministers including Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat. Apart from the Chief Ministers portfolio, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, also took oaths as the Minister of Finance and Planning, Law and Order, Local Government, Local Administration, Human Resources, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Rural Development and Tourism and Environment. Thuraiappa Navaratna Raja was sworn in as Agriculture, Livestock Development, Rural Industries Development and Fisheries Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council. Wimalaweera Dissanayaka was sworn in as Education, Cultural Affairs, Land and Land Development and Transport Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council. Meera Saibu Uthuma Lebbe was sworn in as the Provincial Minister for Road Development, Irrigation, Housing and Construction, Rural Electricity and Water Supply. A separate Ministerial portfolio has been allocated for the Muslim representatives from the Batticaloa district. The appointment of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Government Whip and the Leader of the House will take place later. The representatives elected to the Eastern Provincial Council Somasuntheram Pushparaja, Sinnathambi Selvaraja, Karunasinghe Thevarapperuma, A. Amir Mohammed Lebbe, Meera Lebbe Thulkar Naeem from the Ampara district, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Nagalingam Thiraviyam, Edwin Silva Krishnanandaraja from the Batticaloa district and M.K.D.S. Gunawardena, Satak Lebbe Mohammed Hassan Moulavi, Ariyawathie Galappatti Ajju Mohammed Faiz from Trincomalee were also sworn in as Members of the Eastern Provincial Council. Apart from them Rasiah Thurai Ratnam who contested the election from the Tamil Democratic National Alliance was also sworn in as a Member, expressing his solidarity with the UPFA.

N-E students shine in O/Ls despite conflict - Minister

Despite the ongoing conflict, students from schools in North and East have performed well at the GCE (O/L) Examination, Education Minister Susil Premjayantha said yesterday. “The parents’ dedication and the teachers’ commitment led to this,” the Minister added. He said Colombo Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya was placed first in the 2007 GCE (O/L) Examination while Jaffna Vembadi Girls High School was placed fifth according to islandwide O/L results. Explaining the performance report of the GCE (O/L) Examination to Provincial and Zonal Education Directors at the Education Ministry Auditorium, the Minister said 51.48 per cent students passed the GCE (O/L) Examination in 2007. “Compared to the previous years, this was a record performance by the students,” the Minister added. He said this was a record after nearly a decade as only 14.06 per cent of candidates passed the GCE (O/L) Examination in 1994. Premajayantha said despite all essential technologies and facilities being available in Western Province schools, 21.09 per cent students numbering 4,421 candidates failed all subjects in the 2007 GCE (O/L) Examination. “This is a huge number when compared to other districts,” the Minister added. Premajayantha said 57.96 per cent school candidates have qualified for the GCE (A/L) out of the 63.88 per cent candidates who passed the examination. The lack of qualified teachers for certain subjects was the main reason for the poor GCE (O/L) results in certain subjects and certain zones. He stressed the necessity of appointing and transferring qualified teachers to schools. Those in the conflict affected areas in the North and East educate their children despite poverty and lack of essential facilities, he said. Moves are under way to hold a two week workshop for Zonal and Provincial Education Directors on proper human management. Such workshops will help to identify weaknesses, the Minister said. Analyzing the GCE (O/L) results, Commissioner General of Examination Anura Edirisinghe said satisfactory progress was achieved in the past few years. He said 44.01 per cent, 45.04 per cent, 47.72 per cent, 48.7 per cent and 49.14 per cent passed the examination from 2002 to 2007. The GCE (O/L) results of certain zones of Central Province, North Central Province and Uva Province are not satisfactory and attention must be drawn to them, he added.

LTTE aircraft sighted

An LTTE air craft was detected by the air defence system yesterday evening over the LTTE built Iranamadu runway, military sources said.A senior Air Force official told media that the air defence system had detected the LTTE aircraft soon after, it was airborne.However it immediately disappeared from the radar system, as it went down, the official said.

Navy, Coast Guard intensify patrol

NAGAPATTINAM: The Navy and Coast Guard have intensified patrolling along the 188-km coast in Nagapattinam district and security has been stepped up following information of possible intrusion of some anti-social elements and also some cadres from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard had been reviewing the security aspects along the Nagapattinam coast and had decided to step up its vigil owing to the continued fighting between the LTTE and Sri Lankan Army in the island nation.Fishermen venturing into the sea from coastal villages in the district had already been warned that they would be taken to task if they did not carry their identity cards. At present, they were venturing into the sea only in fibreglass boats and catamarans as fishing by mechanised boats and trawlers were banned for fishing till May 30.

16 May 2008

Provincial ministers for the Eastern Provincial Council will be sworn in today

The Presidential Secretariat says provincial ministers for the Eastern Provincial Council will be sworn in this evening.The ceremony will be held around 4. 00 pm at the Presidential Secretariat.However there is no news about Chief Ministership , said sources. Yesterday a government spokesman said TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan will be sworn in as chief minister of the Eastern Province .Later the government postponed the swering in ceremony. The latest reports reveal that the new Chief Minister of the Eastern Province will be sworn in today at 4 PM Sri Lanka time. Still Presidential secretariat has not anounced the name of the Chief Minister designate. So who is he?  Sivanesathurai Chanthirakanthan nom de guerre Pillaiyan? or M.L.A.M. Hizbullah?

Seven killed -50 injured

A bomb exploded near Lake House at around 12noon, today (May 16). According to the available information, a motor bike riding LTTE suicide bomber had rammed into a bus carrying Police personnel at the Ceramic Junction, near Lake House.Around fifty people injured and seven were killed due to the bomb blast.

Sri Lanka military: Jets bomb Tamil rebel bases; Fighting kills 27 rebels, 2 soldiers

Sri Lankan fighter jets pounded two Tamil Tiger rebel bases deep in the northern jungles, and infantry clashes killed 27 rebels and two government soldiers, the military said Friday.The planes bombed a base of the Sea Tigers, the rebels' naval wing, in their de facto state in the north early Friday, said air force spokesman Wing Commander Andy Wijesuriya. Another airstrike on a rebel military base in the guerrilla stronghold of Mullaitivu took place overnight, he said.Wijesuriya did not give details of casualties or damage, but said "pilots have confirmed they hit the target accurately.''The latest infantry clashes erupted Thursday in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna regions, bordering the rebels' turf, said a Defense Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.The worst fighting was reported in Vavuniya, where 18 rebels and one soldier were killed. Six guerrillas were killed in the nearby Mannar district while other fighting in Jaffna and Welioya killed three rebels and one soldier, he said.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan was not available for immediate comment.It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because reporters are not allowed in the war zone. The two sides are known to exaggerate their enemies' casualties while underreporting their own.The Tamil Tigers have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for minority ethnic Tamils, who have been marginalized by successive governments controlled by majority Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.

Mastermind behind attack on naval ship killed? 

It is reported that a senior leader of the LTTE’s was killed in what is believed to be an SLAF strike in northern Sri Lanka. Lt. Col. Gadaffi, an experienced sea-tiger leader, who planned and executed LTTE’s attack last week on a navy supply vessel anchored in Trincomale was believed to have been caught up in this air raid. Gadaffi was in charge of training suicide cadres of the sea tigers and was a close confidante of LTTE leader, Pirabakaran. At the funeral ceremony held in Mullaitivu, sea tiger leader Soosai is reported to have stated that Gadaffi was one of the most experienced sea tiger officers and was entrusted with operating boats and logistics for LTTE leader Piarabakaran’s travels. LTTE is reported to have lost another senior leader in an SLAF strike on a training camp in Kilinochchi district. Lt. Col. Vaikunthan, who at one point led the LTTE’s artillery division, was killed in an SLAF strike three days ago. The funeral services were held in Mulliyawalli on Tuesday where several senior LTTE leaders spoke. Although LTTE did not reveal how Vaikunthan and Gadaffi were killed, funeral services for them were held in Mullaitivu on consecutive days. Tamil residents in the area say although several LTTE cadres were killed in the recent weeks, LTTE publicly acknowledges only the deaths of their most senior cadres.

Army Commander visits Jaffna

Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, Commander of the Army flew to Jaffna yesterday morning (15th) with several senior military officers of the Army Headquarters. His aim of visiting Jaffna was to take an overall stock of the latest ground situation in the peninsular. Major General G A Chandrasiri, Commander, Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna received the Army chief. He gave a detailed outline of the security developments under his command. All respective Commanders in Divisions and Brigades joined him afterwards to brief the visiting commander on the current situation. After reviewing the present security situation in the areas under Army chief gave additional instructions to all senior ground commanders on future security arrangements in respective areas.

Centre extends LTTE ban by two more yrs

NEW DELHI: The Centre has extended the ban on Sri Lankan terrorist outfit LTTE for two more years, saying the "Tamil Eelam (separate homeland for all Tamils) concept still remains a goal among pro-LTTE groups in Tamil Nadu". A notification to this effect was issued on Wednesday, the day when the ban — first imposed in 1992 — on the terrorist outfit was supposed to expire. Incidentally, the ban was extended a week after a decision was taken to extend the term of CBI-led Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), which is probing the role of LTTE and others in the assassination of former PM Rajiv Gandhi. The agency's term will soon be extended for one more year till May 31, 2009. The home ministry's notification said, "The LTTE's objective for a separate homeland (Tamil Eelam) for all Tamils threatens the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India and amounts to secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union and thus falls within the ambit of an unlawful activity." Providing the justification for the ban, it mentioned that though most of the criminal cases involving the LTTE and pro-LTTE groups like Tamil National Retrieval Troops (TNRT), Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA) and Tamiliar Pasarai have ended in conviction, the Tamil Eelam concept still remains a goal among pro-LTTE groups in Tamil Nadu. The notification, a copy of which is with TOI , cited a number of reasons why the government extended the ban without giving any break to it since 1992. Indian agencies also found that "the forces (pro-LTTE) are still at work to further its cause thereby contributing to the vulnerable milieu in which the LTTE's free functioning in India as an association, if allowed, would be highly detrimental to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India". It highlighted how the LTTE's strong connections in Tamil Nadu and certain other pockets of southern India were dangerous for the country. The government also admitted that the LTTE continued to use Tamil Nadu as the base for carrying out smuggling of essential items like petrol and diesel, besides drugs to Sri Lanka. The government had discussed the nefarious design of the outfit in a high-level meeting on Monday — two days before the notification — when home ministry officials briefed representatives of public sector undertakings (PSUs) and some leading private companies about the threat posed by LTTE in the coastal region of the country

UNHCR seat for Sri-Lanka-legitimising HR violation?

Even while holding a seat in UN human rights council successive Sinhala regimes of the island of Sri-lanka failed in their duties and obligations particularly in protecting the HR of its minority Tamil citizens. The high handed act of some of its cabinet ministers recently in denouncing highly respected high ranking UN officials as supporters of terrorism and bribe takers was appalling. Late Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, who was also the island's highways minister, told a media briefing in the Sinhalese language "I would say Holmes is completely a terrorist, a terrorist who supports terrorism. We consider people who support terrorists also terrorists,". Fernandopulle gave no proof to back up his assertion. To add insult to injury Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the octogenarian prime minister said “The government of Sri Lanka, in no uncertain terms, rejects John Holmes' assertion that Sri Lanka is not safe for humanitarian workers," "The government cannot but feel that Sir John has contributed to those who seek to discredit the government and tarnish its international image." It showed how arrogant were these thick skinned fellows in being racist, openly flouting international laws and norms to protect only the Sinhala race and Sinhala expansion like Hitler for his German Aryan race. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Noticeably, as revealed by political analysts, the Sinhalese have a misconception that as they would be a numerical majority population wise they would be holding the reigns of government eternally and that they could carry out what they wanted and whenever they wanted. Sinhalese academics and professors such as Professor Uyangoda, Dr Brian Senivirutne, Sarathchandra Gamlath, Dr Nimal Ranjith Devasiri, Professor ALH Gunawardene and western intellectuals John Richardson and David Selbourne had written in depth on this subject.This power drunk attitude had driven them to unjustly trample the Tamil Minority in their Traditional Homeland (TH) of the North and East against all UN rules and conventions. Those countries that liked to have Sri-lanka on their side for political patronage therefore sided the Sinhalese even if the Sri-lankan government neglected the legitimate rights of the Tamil ethnic minorities. In short the Tamils have become an ineffective minority in Sri-Lanka. Consecuently the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (HR) adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948 could therefore be flouted daily in Sri-Lanka by the Sinhalese.Council members are required to “uphold the highest standards” of human rights and “fully cooperate” with the council. Notwithstanding, having ignored UN request to allow the presence of a UN body in Sri-Lanka to monitor progress of HR procedures the chauvinist MR regime is attempting to try for a seat for the oncoming term at the UN. Sri Lanka’s worsening human rights record and failed promises for improvement undermine its claim for a place on the UN Human Rights Council. Elections to the 47-member council, the United Nations’ leading human rights body, would be held in New York on May 21, 2008. Six candidates – Bahrain, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste – would be running for four seats allocated to Asian states. A coalition of more than 20 national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) called Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council had sent a letter to the UN requesting not to give a seat to Sri Lanka at least this time.At this juncture we are reminded of a human rights activist Yang Jianli. Jianli is a expatriate refugee in USA. He is fighting against the Chinese government repression of human rights by organizing a 500 mile march in the USA called ‘GongMin’ in Chinese. This means citizen’s power. He said “I’m walking 500 miles as a free man-for citizen power”. He further stressed though the axiom ‘silence is golden’ is true but when it comes to human rights, silence is not golden. Similarly all of those who are interested in HR must come out of their silence to stop the nasty Sri-Lankan regime getting a seat in the UN human rights body.The coalition of NGOs cited further accusations against GSL “Sri Lankan Government forces have in the past two years been implicated in a wide range of serious abuses, including hundreds of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, widespread torture, and arbitrary detention. Sri Lanka obstructs the work of the council’s own appointed human rights experts, ignores their recommendations, publicly attacks senior UN officials who speak out on human rights issues, and has been unwilling to engage in serious discussions regarding UN human rights monitoring. The coalition noted in the letter that the armed separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have long been implicated in serious human rights abuses, but says this provides no justification for government abuses”. In spite of this incriminating evidence of HR violations, to elect Sri Lanka to the UN would be a travesty, given its appalling rights record over the past two years. The North East Society On Human Rights (NESOHR) in its Human Rights Report for April 2008 gave the following latest depressing statistics. Civilians killed-34, disappeared-21, injured-28, sought protection at the Jaffna human rights commission-7, and arrested-131.“We must become the change we wish to see in the world...” said Mahatma Gandhi, India’s famous politician cum saint who fought for India’s freedom from the British using Truth and Non-violence as his weapons. In keeping to this noble person’s ideals we must keep out racist, neo-Nazi and HR violators out of this respectable UN body. If elected to this august body the Sinhalese government will use its membership as a flag of approval of its deadly, gross HR violation by the world body. As things as they are now the Tamil Diaspora are deeply saddened by the step-motherly treatment meted out by UN organisations to the Tamils in their Traditional Homeland (TH) of North and East (N&E), over Human Rights (HR) violations of the Sinhala government of Sri-Lanka. This is in spite of evidence that substantiate the accusations. Year 2007 had been a tortuous and horrendous year for the Tamils of N&E. Still for all no concrete action was taken by UN to put any sort of apparent coercive measures against the Government of Sri-Lanka (GSL).The GSL violates all HR of the Tamils under the excuse that they are fighting LTTE terrorism. But who is to decide who is a terrorists? Most of the Tamil Diaspora believes that LTTE are freedom fighters. This can be evidenced by the all out positive response of the Diaspora to LTTE request to celebrate Heroes Day. UN Special Rapporteur, Kalliopi K. Koufaonce alleged to have said "The most problematic issue relating to terrorism and armed conflict is distinguishing terrorists from combatants”. From media reports it is apparent that GSL is the terrorist as it carries out genocide and acts of terrorism against the Tamils.First to support this viewpoint is Human Rights Watch researcher Fred Abrahams and Sunila Abeyasekera of the INFORM –a human rights documentation centre in Colombo who told Chicago radio on 22 Saturday December that mainly Tamil men between 18-35 are being abducted or killed at a rate of 4 persons per day. Men are often taken in for questioning. Inhuman methods and torture are used in interrogations. Some are held in uncongenial detentions facilities. The government does not release their names, as they should under law. Under emergency Regulations now in force for last several years they could be held there without charge for long period. They revealed that these abductions are carried out in a way to terrorise the community-armed men in white vans arrive and take people in broad day light without any question asked load the victims in an authoritarian way.Secondly, Freedom House that facilitates the expansion of freedom worldwide while issuing a statement on the situation in Sri Lanka on April 10 2007 at 3.46 GMT (Colombo Page News Desk Sri-Lanka) has recommended removing Sri Lanka from the list of eligible recipients for Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) assistance. FH in its report on ‘Freedom in the World’ by countries for 2007 had the following strictures on Sri Lanka.“Conditions in the north and east dramatically deteriorated during the year, with the rising hostilities creating a humanitarian crisis and leading to a variety of human rights abuses. Largely, indiscriminate aerial shelling by the Sri Lankan military in Tiger-controlled territory, including attacks on a school and a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), led to the death of dozens of people and the displacement of tens of thousands. People’s mobility as well as their commercial and social activities were curtailed by curfews, road closures, and security checkpoints. All parties to the conflict—the security forces, paramilitary groups, the LTTE, the Karuna faction, and other armed groups—engaged in a pattern of human rights violations, including civilian killings; abductions and disappearances; arrests and detentions; political assassinations; child conscription; and extortion. Young Tamil males were most at risk of harassment by all sides. The third organization to contribute to this point of view is the Fund for Peace ( FfP) of 1701 K street, NW, 11th floor, Washington, D.C. 20006 in its third annual Failed States Index Scores for 2007 has included 177 countries in it. 32 countries are in the critical categories. The war torn Sri-Lanka is 25th.Again the Economist did their part of the onerous duty of raising the alarm. The Economist of June 7 2007 published their reflection on the political situation and mind set now prevailing in Sinhalese areas. “In their view the Sinhalese are the sole owners of Sri Lanka, and all minorities are alien to it”. This mentality had driven the Sinhala Presidents to act lawlessly ignoring world opinion. The Economist goes on “The government of President Maninda Rajapakse also uses terrorism. More than 300 Tamil civilians, including many with family links to the Tigers, have been murdered in Jaffna alone. Armed members of a Tamil political party, the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), allegedly with close ties to army spies, have been accused of some of these killings”. The leader of the EPDP is Mr Douglas Devananda who is one of the 91 ministers in Rajapakse government. The magazine concludes “Tamils require an end to the discrimination that has virtually barred them from holding jobs in the army and police”. Further, Sarath Kumara writing in the WSWS on 12 July 2007 under the heading “Sri-Lankan military intensifies offensive in the East” accused Rajapakse of causing aggression against the Tamil Homeland. “The government’s year of open military aggression has resulted in the deaths of at least 1,500 and the displacement of more than 250,000. Hundreds of people have been assassinated or “disappeared” by military-backed death squads”. External vigilance is the watchword of democracy. Hence all who cherish law and order should cry out for the rejection of the Sri-Lankan out of the contest for a seat in UN. “There can be no peace without law” said late US president Dwight D. Eisenhower(1890-1969). To preserve law and order in the world realm law of the jungle as practiced in Sri-lanka should be stopped by rejecting Sri-Lanka in this contest. The world must unite. We must remember what Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) said “The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man or one party or one nation. It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world”. Research also shows that we tend to regret what we did not do. Therefore the world must act now to stop this failed state securing a place in the UN. All organisations and responsible citizens of the world should write to head of all countries to vote Sri-Lanka out of the UN as a warning to other HR violators that the world would not tolerate man’s inhumanity to man that makes countless thousands mourn.

15 May 2008

Pillayan to be CM

TMVP Leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, is tipped to be appointed as the Eastern Province Chief Minister despite requests by Muslim ministers to appoint M.L.A.M. Hizbullah to the post, government sources said.President Mahinda Rajapaksa had, on Tuesday, contacted two senior Muslim ministers and told them that the controversy over demands that Mr. Hizbullah be made the Chief Minister should be resolved before his return to the country from Britain, scheduled for yesterday.President Rajapaksa had also expressed his disappointment to the ministers over comments by Mr. Hizbullah to the effect that he was confident of being appointed to the post. “The President told us to resolve the matter before his return to the country,” one of the ministers said, adding that the President had said he did not want to come home and face a ‘disaster,’ with Hizbullah or the Muslim ministers. He had said that Pillayan was tipped to be appointed to the post.President Rajapaksa had told the Muslim ministers that Pillayan would be the suitable leader for the East, despite the Muslim ministers thinking otherwise, and told them to convey his message to all in the government before his return.The President had contacted the two senior ministers moments after the Muslim ministers had insisted, on Tuesday, that Mr. Hizbullah be appointed to the CM post and warning that they might even leave otherwise. The President had, in his telephone conversation with the two Muslim ministers, dismissed the warning, stating that he would be the final decision maker.Meanwhile, Transport Minister Dulles Alahapperuma, yesterday, iterated that Pillayan was the person most likely to be made the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province according to the agreement reached between the UPFA and its election partners and the pledge given by President Rajapaksa during the election campaign.“At the outset President Rajapaksa had indicated to all groups that supported the UPFA that the Chief Minister’s post would be offered to the group that commanded the confidence of the greatest number of elected members. By this criterion Mr. Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) must become the Chief Minister as he has the support of six members as opposed to five for the UPFA, four for the Hizbullah faction and three for the National Congress headed by A.L.M. Athaulla,” said Mr. Alahapperuma.“This has been the tradition right through. Whether it was Susil Premajayantha, Reginold Cooray or any other, the post of Chief Minister went to the member who could command the confidence of the majority of members of the council,” he said.

President confident of settling 'Chief Minister dispute' amicably

‘It’s up to me to appoint CM; why should others worry?’by The Island News DeskThe UPFA was confident of settling the tussle over the post of chief minister in the Eastern Province, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told The Island from London in a brief telephone conversation. "I am in touch with all the parties concerned and when I return I will settle it amicably," he said.President Rajapaksa said the deserving candidate should get it regardless of his ethnicity, religion, caste or creed. "We have had enough and more problems because of the adaptation of such yardsticks in the past and we must strive to wean ourselves away from that bad practice," he said, "if we are to bring about racial harmony." "I will solve whatever problem there may be, when I return, to the satisfaction of all those concerned," he said. Even those who had gone all out to engineer the downfall of the UPFA and help the LTTE make a comeback, he said, were now shedding crocodile tears for the government and trying to make an issue of the appointment of the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. "It is up to me to make that appointment and no one else should be worried about it unnecessarily," he said adding that all the parties in the UPFA and its well wishers had made the recent electoral victory a reality. "All ethnic communities have reposed their faith in me, our government and our coalition, as evident from the outcome of the PC polls," President Rajapaksa said, "and I will be fair by them all."

Sri Lanka to re-issue forex bonds in US dollars and euros

Sri Lanka has started the process of re-selling a maturing 250 million dollar bond issue targeted at resident investors by calling for agents to market and sell the bond.The government's debt office, which is a unit of the central bank, said in a circular to market participants that the securities would be denominated in US dollars and Euros. Known as Sri Lanka Development Bonds (SLDBs), the bonds were originally issued for two years and mature on June 28. In September, a further 70 million dollar tranche of SLDBs is maturing. The bonds have been popular among qualified local investors who hold dollar assets and the rates have been attractive for the government in the past. But an international credit crunch has pushed up risk premiums and dollar lending rates have also moved up in the domestic market making dollar assets dearer, while tenures have also been narrowing. Sri Lanka is expected to wrap up a 150 million dollar loan arranged by Standard Chartered Bank this month, with a one-year call option. A 50 million US dollar loan for 5 years arranged by Deutsche is also pending.

Law to apply on Karuna: Govt.
 
The law of the land will be applied to former TMVP Leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman if he returns to Sri Lanka, Senior Minister and Government Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.Addressing the media yesterday Minister Rambukwella said that information relating to the extradition of Karuna from Britain has been heard so far only through media reports, but if he does actually returns to the country the law of the land will take effect.When asked whether he will be arrested if he returns to the country the Minister said that he could not comment on that as the decision is not in his hands. Karuna has reportedly been released from a British prison after serving a three month jail sentence for breaching immigration laws while entering the country. He has now been transferred to an immigration detention centre.Informed sources said Karuna will move to another country by applying for political asylum, as soon as he is deported from Britain, instead of returning to Sri Lanka.

SRI LANKA: UK missed chance to charge Sri Lankan rights abuser

The British government’s failure to file criminal charges against a former Tamil Tiger leader for grave human rights abuses in Sri Lanka is a tragic missed opportunity to bring a notorious rights abuser to justice, Human Rights Watch said today.In spite of strong efforts by the Metropolitan Police, on May 9 the United Kingdom  government announced that the Crown Prosecution Service found there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offences in the UK" against Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan, known as Colonel Karuna Amman."Britain is missing a golden opportunity to show that human rights violators like Karuna will be tried for grave abuses, no matter where they took place," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "If he escapes prosecution, it will be a tragedy both for his many victims and for international justice."Karuna was the top commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in eastern Sri Lanka, and the reputed number two in the LTTE hierarchy until he left to form his own armed group in March 2004. Tamil Tiger forces under Karuna's command were directly involved in some of the worst crimes of Sri Lanka’s ongoing civil war, including torture, summary execution, and use of children as soldiers. Because his armed group fought against the LTTE in recent years, the Sri Lankan government did not prosecute him.Immigration authorities in the UK arrested Karuna on November 2, 2007. After a criminal conviction, he served half of a nine-month term for possessing illegal documents. He was transferred on May 9 to immigration custody and now awaits deportation.The British government has frequently raised concerns about Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation with the government and has long criticized the LTTE for serious human rights abuses.Tamil Tiger forces under Karuna's command were directly involved in some of the worst crimes of Sri Lanka’s ongoing civil war. In June 1990, some 400 to 600 police officers who surrendered to the LTTE were bound, gagged, and beaten. The Tamil Tigers, including forces under Karuna's control, then executed the Sinhalese and Muslims among them. In July 1990, Karuna's forces stopped a convoy of Muslims traveling in Batticaloa district and executed about 75 people, including women and children. In August 1990, Karuna’s forces killed more than 200 civilians in two incidents in Batticaloa district.In 2004, Human Rights Watch investigated the Tamil Tigers' recruitment and use of children as soldiers ( http://hrw.org/reports/2004/srilanka1104/ ). Karuna’s forces played a prominent role, routinely visiting Tamil homes to tell parents to provide a child for the "movement." The LTTE harassed and threatened families that resisted, and children were abducted from their homes at night or while walking to school.After Karuna broke away from the Tamil Tigers, his armed group operated with the complicity of the Sri Lankan security forces. The Karuna group, as it was known, engaged in abduction of children for use as soldiers in Sri Lanka’s eastern districts, taking boys from their homes, work places, temples, playgrounds, public roads, camps for the internally displaced, and even a wedding. These abuses are documented in the Human Rights Watch report "Complicit in Crime: State Collusion in Abductions and Child Recruitment by the Karuna Group," published in January 2007 ( http://hrw.org/reports/2007/srilanka0107/).British law permits the prosecution of individuals for serious violations of international law, including torture and war crimes, committed abroad. For example, in 2005, UK courts convicted a former Afghan warlord, Faryadi Sarwar Zardad, for acts of torture and hostage-taking in Afghanistan."British prosecutors should look hard again at the evidence presented by the police before they let Karuna leave British soil,” Adams said. “If he does leave, the Sri Lankan government should be preparing to prosecute Karuna should he return to Sri Lanka. Its failure to do so would only highlight its complicity in his recent crimes."

Several LTTE Trench Lines Caputred; Sri Lanka Military Claims

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops attacked and captured 75m LTTE trench line, North of Adampn, yesterday (14), Media Center for National Security (MCNS) says.Claiming heavy damages to LTTE, MCNS says troops recovered a body of LTTE fighter several war materials.LTTE trench line in Welioya also captured by SLA troops, MCNS claims. LTTE female fighter died in fightings and several war materials were captured, MCNS said. LTTE comments were not available about these incidents.

SRI LANKA: Police officer reportedly rapes a woman while conducting inquiry

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a police officer attached to Hakmana Police Station raped a woman in her house on March 9, 2008. She has complained to the relevant authorities. Please urge them to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation and to provide adequate protection and rehabilitation to her.

CASE DETAILS: (based on the statement submitted by the victim)

On March 9, 2008, at about 11:30am, a police officer attached to the Hakmana Police Station came to Ms. X's house (name withheld for security reasons) to inquire about the complaint she had made earlier regarding a land dispute with her neighbours.The officer entered her house and sat in the hall to take down details of the dispute. She told the officer that as a result of the land dispute her neighbours had damaged her plantation and had thrown stones at her house causing the tiles on her roof to break. The officer recorded all these details and gave her a note instructing her to come to the Hakmana Police Station on March 15 for an inquiry. The officer then walked around the house assessing the damage to the plantation and the roof and observing that there seemed to be some damage to the tiles over the bedroom asked her to show him into the bedroom to see it from inside. When she showed him into the room, the officer suddenly caught her in his arms. Surprised, she tried to get away but he held her tightly and kicked the bedroom door shut. She struggled to get away from him but he then hit her spine hard with his hand and threatened her not to make noise. He then threw her onto the bed. She tried to get up and escape by pushing the officer away from her. However, the officer forcibly raped her and she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, she was so terrified that she was unable to make a move. She saw the officer picking up a used condom from the floor; the officer lingered for some time and then left the house. Even after the officer had left the house, she could not move from the bed. When her mother came that evening, she found her daughter in bed. Her mother asked her why she had not cooked a meal and she said she did not feel well.  On March 15, she went to the Hakmana Police Station for the police inquiry regarding the land dispute where she met the Officer-in-charge (OIC) to report the incident of rape. However, being frightened by the OIC's stern mannerism, she only mentioned the complaint regarding the land dispute. The OIC called another officer told him to look into the matter and put it to court. This officer then took up the inquiry.On March 16, she went to the Deyyandara Hospital to get treatment. She told the doctor who examined her that she had been raped by an officer of the Hakmana Police Station. The doctor advised her to get warded and sent her to meet another doctor. When she went to meet the said doctor, she saw other villagers there. She did not want her situation to be known to them so she left and returned home.Subsequently, she informed her sister-in-law about the incident of rape and went with her to the office of the Assistance Superintendent Police (ASP) in Matara to report it. They made a complaint to an officer of the ASP office since the ASP was not available. The officer who took down the complaint then called the OIC Hakmana Police Station and notified him of the complaint. The officer also instructed her to go and meet the OIC and gave her a note to be given to the OIC.However, she was too sick to go to meet the OIC and got admitted to the Matara General Hospital where she received treatment for ten days (March 17 to 27). The hospital police took a statement from her and a female police officer also came and took down a statement. The Judicial Medical Officer of the hospital also examined her. The victim was discharged from the hospital but she was in still shock and feeling unwell. She did not want to go back to her house and live by herself as she had done earlier so went to live with a relative.She submitted a written complaint on April 1 to the Chairperson of the  Human Rights Commission, National Police Commission, Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, Senior Superintendent of Police Matara and the Deputy Inspector General (Legal).On her request to know if any action had been taken against the police officer, the OIC Hakmana Police Station informed her that the said officer had been suspended. However, no further information on the progress of this case has been reported.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the local authorities listed below and demand urgent intervention in this matter and urge them to ensure thorough and impartial investigation. Please also urge them to provide adequate protection and rehabilitation programme for her. Please be informed that the AHRC has written a letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the violence against women calling for an intervention in this case.

Latest calculations of war deaths in May

436 persons were killed until May 14 in this month due to clashes between security forces and LTTE. According to the figures pointed out by Army Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara at the media conference held in the Media Center for National Security today, 368 of the killed are LTTE cadres while 41 belong to security forces and the rest are civilians. Further 155 security forces personnel and 39 civilians were injured, said the Army Spokesman. He further said that 358 Tamil civilians fled to government controlled territory due to the intimidation of the LTTE.

President at Oxford seeks global help to crush Tigers

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has accused the LTTE of not reciprocating his efforts for a dialogue and sought global support to defeat the rebel outfit. Addressing the Oxford University Student Union at the university on Tuesday, President Rajapaksa said he did not believe in a military solution to the ethnic problem. “We have attempted talks with the LTTE on several occasions - thrice since my election as President - but the LTTE has not reciprocated,” he said. “The LTTE has always walked away from the talks offering lame excuses. We are still ready to talk, once we are certain we see the LTTE has a genuine intent for a political solution and a readiness to give up arms,” Mr. Rajapaksa told a packed house of Britons and expatriate Sri Lankans. Urging global support for his country to deal with the Tamil Tigers, the President said: “If Sri Lanka fails in its war against the LTTE, the world will fail in its fight against terrorism and democracy will be the victim. This is the plain truth”. Terming the LTTE as “the most brutal terror outfit the world has ever seen”, Mr. Rajapaksa said defeating it required global support. “In my opinion what Sri Lanka is doing is fighting this terror outfit single-handedly to ensure that democracy and respect for human life prevails in the world,” he said. Mr. Rajapaksa also said the country's development thrust had its own obstacles because of the continuing three-decade long conflict particularly through the use of suicide bombers. “It is time that the world raises its united voice and expressed its utter revulsion of the barbaric practice of suicide bombings,” he said.The President said that the LTTE, having pioneered the suicide vest, has now freely given this technology to other terror groups in the world which have now become a global menace. “There have been hundreds of innocents - civilians returning home after work, children going to school and young mothers going to their weekly clinics - being maimed or killed by indiscriminately exploded bombs in crowded centres or being targeted by brain-washed suicide bombers. You need to see the carnage caused by shattered limbs and burning human flesh, to understand the sheer brutality that motivates this group of terrorists,” he said. President Rajapaksa recalled that the LTTE had killed Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, and Ranasinghe Premadasa, the former President of Sri Lanka and most recently, a senior Minister of his Government along with a former Olympic athlete among many others participating in a sporting event. “Ladies and gentlemen, it has become incumbent upon us to confront this group to the extent of our ability, deploying all the resources of the State, to protect the people of Sri Lanka and their democratic way of life. I must add that what I am doing is in no way different to what other democracies have done before, and continue to do, in the face of terrorism,” he said.President Rajapaksa says the fear psychosis created by the LTTE terror, may cause some lapses in judgment, but by and large, independent observers have always commended the efficiency, politeness and courtesy of the men in uniform. “We must remember that there are no methods or solutions which are universally applicable to situations of this nature. It is the principal duty of a Government to assure the public of security of life and limb. It is the terrorist group that decides when to strike - the time, the place and the opportunity. The terrorists are in no way constrained by the values and procedures which rightly control the responses of democratic governments. These realities must be taken into account as the basis of a fair and objective assessment of Sri Lanka’s situation.”

14 May 2008

No more ceasefires with LTTE - PM  
       
Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake says the government has taken a firm decision that no more ceasefire agreements will be signed with the LTTE in the future. Speaking at a meeting of the ‘Virumau Surakimu’ organization, the Prime Minister said, 'on an earlier occasion, I said that Prabhakaran was on the verge of a death trap. Now I say that he is inside that death trap”.“The soldiers will decide his doomsday”, he added."Prabhakaran is in a large concrete bunker. According to latest technology, bombs that can detect any target in any populated area have been manufactured," Wickremanayake added, saying that Prabhakaran’s doomsday will come soon.

Maheswari Velayutham shot dead in Jaffna

Unidentified gunmen shot dead Tuesday an advisor to a minority Tamil cabinet minister at her residence in northern Sri Lanka, police said. The advisor Maheshwari Velauthan, was at her residence in Karaveddi, Jaffna, and was shot by three men dressed in military type uniforms. Maheswari left Jaffna in early 80's and worked with TELO and with Mr. Kandasamy, the founder of TRRO. She was working with the Tamil Information Centre from 1983 and became in charge of the Madurai office of the TIC. Velauthan had served as a human rights activist as well as advisor to Minister Douglas Devananda, who heads the Tamil minority party - the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP). Velauthan had come under threat from the LTTE while Minister Devananda has already escaped three attempts on his life. Police said they believe that Tamil rebels, who infiltrated the government controlled area in Jaffna, had posed as security personnel and shot her. A spokesman for the EPDP also said they believed that the LTTE was responsible for the killing. The EPDP has backed the security forces in their military campaign against the rebels and also a partner in the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government.

Election Commissioner ready to provide information on election malpractices to courts

Election Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayaka said yesterday (13) to a group of United National Party (UNP) representatives that he was ready to report the details he had on election malpractices to courts if the UNP would take legal action against the election. He made this statement when UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauf Hakeem, MPs Ravi Karunanayaka and John Amarathunga met the Election Commissioner yesterday. UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka said to Lanka-e-News that UNP met the Election Commissioner to know what happened to the requests made by the party prior to the election and to inform the malpractices took place on the election day. The requests included 10 points including disarming Pillaiyan Group, not removing Special Task Force (STF) from security etc. The Election Commissioner listened to the facts pointed out by the UNP carefully and hinted he was ready to inform the courts the information he had although the election officials had not reported malpractices. MP Aththanayaka said that the Election Commissioner admitted that in some polling centers, the turnout was at an extraordinary level of 95%. He said that the Election Commissioner denied the media reports that he commended holding the election fairly. The Election Commissioner had told only that he was happy the election was held in the Eastern Province, said Mr. Aththanayaka adding that the Commissioner handed over them a copy of his statement as well.

LSSP wants East PC given all powers under 13th Amendment       
  
Government-affiliate Lanka Sama Samaja Party has called for granting all powers under the 13th Constitutional Amendment to the Eastern Provincial Council.Secretary of the LSSP Wimalasiri de Mel says immediate steps should be taken towards that end in accordance with a report by the cabinet sub committee.He was speaking at a new briefing organized by the party yesterday (May 13th) that was also attended by Raja Collure and Vasudeva Nanayakkara.However, the Jathika Hela Urumaya, a key partner of the present government, has vehemently opposed extensively devolving powers to PCs, saying that it was against granting police or land powers to the eastern or any other provincial council.

Patil expresses concern over LTTE’s ‘air capability’

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has expressed concern over the reported air capability of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that could be a threat to the vital installations in South India. Stressing the need to synergise the efforts of all key partners for a safer and more efficient functioning of the installations in various sectors, he said the government would take all steps to protect the atomic energy installations and ports. Inaugurating a “Security of Installations in Key Sectors” conference on Monday, Mr. Patil said the government was aware of the need to provide foolproof, multi-tier security to key atomic plants, establishments of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other set-ups in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The conference was attended by heads of installations along with their security chiefs. “There is a need to pool our efforts, have better coordination and upgrade our technological skills to secure our installations, which are critical to our country,” he said. There was need to protect the supply chain of raw materials to the critical industries, particularly in oil and natural gas sectors, as any disruption would not only impede their functioning but also impact the country’s growing economy. An integrated security system could be the answer to protect the vital installations. Perhaps for the first time, security chiefs and heads of public sector giants such as Indian Oil, ONGC and Oil India, port trusts and private companies such as the Reliance Energy and the GMR attended the conference.

Nedumaran arrested
 
THOOTHUKUDI: Pazha Nedumaran, leader of Tamil Nationalist Movement (TMM), and 350 party workers were arrested for organising a protest in front of the Collectorate here on Monday against the killing of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy.

UNP to submit fresh motions on MiG and Tiger deals

The UNP is to submit fresh motions calling for the appointment of Parliamentary Select Committees to probe the MiG deal and the pre presidential election secret pact with the LTTE when parliament is reconvened on June 5.The select committee motions submitted by the opposition on the MiG deal and the secret pact with the LTTE lapsed with the proroguing of parliament by the President last week.Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told The MorningLeader that the opposition would submit fresh motions calling for the appointment of the select committees when parliament is reconvened."These are national crimes and we will not allow such issues to be swept under the carpet through a prorogation of parliament. The issues will be taken up when parliament is reconvened," he said.

Air Force bombs Tiger training center in Northern Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed a key LTTE training facility at Kollanvillu in Kilinochchi this morning, the military said. According to the Air Force sources, few air sorties were carried out between 7.15 - 7.30 am targeting the LTTE camp.The sources said that the attack was carried out after thorough ground surveillance.

Sri Lanka's Marxist Party office in Eastern capital ransacked

Political office of Sri Lanka's Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) at Palamunai in Batticaloa has been ransacked by a group of thugs yesterday morning. Few motorbikes and the office equipment were damaged but no one has suffered injuries in the incident, police sources said. The office is situated adjacent to a residence of a JVP candidate for the recent provincial council election. According to the police, the group has come around 2.30 am and fled the area after the raid. Fishing gear belonged to the JVP candidate who is also a fisherman have been burnt by the gang, the sources added.

Three ministers back a Tamil CM

Three government ministers have spoken in favour of the appointment of a Tamil as the chief minister of the Eastern Provincial Council.Minister S. M. Chandrasena spoke in favour of a Tamil appointee while Non Cabinet Minister for Power, Mahindananda Aluthgamage said his choice was Pillayan on a private television station's talk show on Monday.Meanwhile, Non-Cabinet Minister for Justice, Dilan Perera too called for the appointment of a Tamil chief minister to the soon to be formed Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) in recognition of the community's 41% majority in the entire province but said the appointee should be nominated by the councilors.Speaking to The Morning Leader, Minister Perera said that it should be borne in mind that while the east is home to all three communities, it should not be forgotten that it is predominately Tamil and the composition of the EPC should reflect that reality."If not, once again Tamils will feel that their political rights were denied," he said.However, he said that nobody should hasten to name chief ministers but invite the newly elected members to nominate their own. " Only, it should be explained that it is only right that a Tamil be appointed as chief minister," he said.Admitting that the Eastern PC poll ran on ethnic lines, he said that this PC should serve as a 'friendship builder' so that in the years to come, the ethnic segregation would be less and voters would not vote simply based on ethnicity. As for the newly emerging claim to appoint SLMC defector, M. L. M. Hizbullah as chief ministerial candidate, he said that while it is obvious that the Moor community had elected more members thus helping the UPFA to capture regional power, he said it couldn't be said that the success was due to Hizbullah alone."We had a lot of SLMC defectors working with us, from Ministers Athaullah, Bathiudeen, Ameer Ali to Mohomed Baiz. The community has spoken on its behalf, but not necessarily for a candidate who joined us only at the last moment," he said.Perera further explained that to give the Tamils the necessary representation and decision-making clout in a region where they form the majority, it is only fair to appoint the chief minister and also to give the two bonus seats to Tamils."To balance things out, more ministries should be given to the Moor community representatives so that they have a role to play," he added. As for a separate Muslim unit, he said the late SLMC Leader, M. H. M. Ahraff proposed that as an alternative to a merged northeast. "Now, the two provinces are de-merged. There is no need for a separate Muslim unit in the east as the Moors largely wanted the two provinces de-merged," he added.He said the EPC should be made an 'inclusive and fair' electoral body that serves all three communities and hailed the voters for out rightly rejecting communal parties as well as candidates.

Muslim ministers to resign if Pillayan appointed CM

All Muslim ministers in government have decided to resign their portfolios if newly elected provincial Councilor M.L.M. Hizbullah is not appointed chief minister of the Eastern Province, The Morning Leader learns.Informed sources said several Muslim ministers in government including those who broke away from the Muslim Congress met yesterday at Resettlement Minister Rishard Bathiudeen's Ministry and arrived at this decision. The Morning Leader learns the decision of the Muslim ministers will be communicated to the government today.Ministers M.H. Mohomad, Rishard Bathiudeen, Ameer Ali, A.L.M. Athaullah, Ferial Ashraff, K. Baiz, M. Nijamudeen, Hussein Bhaila, Faizer Mustapha, Abdul Majeed and Myown Mustapha have signed a letter to be sent to the President requesting him to appoint Hizbullah as the chief minister of the Eastern Province immediately in keeping with the assurance given by him that the community that returns the highest number of members to the council would be given the chance to appoint a chief minister to the province.The Muslim ministers who had several rounds of discussions with Hizbullah on the issue are making their case for a Muslim chief minister on the premise that the President and MP Basil Rajapakse had agreed before the election at a joint meeting with Pillayan and Hizbullah that a member of the community which returns the largest number of members will be appointed chief minister. The UPFA returned eight Muslim members, six Tamils representing the TMVP and four Sinhalese. The Morning Leader also learns that Minister Maithripala Sirisena had contacted the newly elected provincial council member of the UPFA Trincomalee District Hassan Moulavi yesterday and requested for an affidavit recommending Pillayan to be appointed as chief minister. It is learnt Moulavi has refused the request stating he cannot let down his community.Sirisena's call to Hassan Moulavi followed an earlier call by the Governor of the Eastern Province Mohan Wijewickrema. Hassan Moulavi had told the Governor that he was supposed to be independent and should not make such requests.

Good response to Army general amnesty

A large number of Army deserters have reported back to service making use of the general amnesty granted upto May 16 midnight, the Army Headquarters said yesterday. Others who wish to make use of this opportunity should report back to their respective regimental headquarters before the deadline ended, the communique added. Those who deserted the Army while undergoing initial military training should report back to their respective training schools. All returnees should bring along relevant documents to prove their identity. All returnees would be reinstated in their original posts without any punishment for their wrongful act. The communique said this amnesty period would not be extended on any account. A countrywide programme would be launched in association with police to nab deserters who failed to report back to service and punish them after a court martial.

Wimal’s party to join UPFA

The newly formed National Freedom Front (NFF) by the dissident JVP propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa will join the UPFA to contest future elections, The Morning Leader learns.Informed sources told The Morning Leader that the party Weerawansa has formed together with former JVP politburo member and defector Nandana Gunathileka would after a period of campaigning become a constituent member of the UPFA.The source further said that the NFF would be an extremist party that would address the Sinhala majority of the country.Weerawansa on Monday after handing over the registration papers to the Elections Commissioner said that the NFF would function as a new political front with the positive features of the JVP and its 'true principles.'Gunathileka and JVP defector Mohomad Muzammil yesterday met Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake to hand over the necessary documents to register the new party.Weerawansa is named as the party leader while Gunathileka would function as the party secretary, Kamal Deshapriya also known as 'Comrade Senevi' would be the party's national organiser and JVP defector Deepal Gunasekera would function as the party secretary.The symbol of the party is a crown with five stars and the selected colour for the party is gold The NFF is scheduled to hold its inaugural convention today (14) at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS).

13 May 2008

Bullet to ballot

The relatively violence-free conduct of the first ever election to Sri Lanka’s Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) is a feather in the cap of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), which teamed up with the breakaway LTTE group led by Pillayan, has emerged victorious with 20 of the 37 seats. The opposition parties have charged the government with large-scale electoral irregularities. The reports of independent observer groups provide some support to such complaints. However, the fact that the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) combine polled over 42 per cent of the votes cast indicates that the charge of large-scale rigging has no leg to stand on. Quite apart from who won and who lost, the EPC election has far-going political significance. The very fact of an elected council coming into existence, after a gap of two decades, in a province that was the theatre of war between the security forces and the LTTE less than a year ago is cause for cheer to all who believe that democracy and genuine devolution of power are the solution to Sri Lanka’s principal national question. The constitution of a democratically elected government in the Eastern Province will also set at rest the controversy triggered by the October 2006 judgment of the Sri Lanka Supreme Court declaring the merger of north and east, effected after the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, to be illegal.Now that the EPC is a political fait accompli, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the winning alliance must move forward quickly to give meaning to the devolution exercise. They must respect the rights of the democratically elected opposition and accommodate its legitimate demands. The choice of Chief Minister will be watched with keen interest, especially because the Tamil, Muslim, and Sinhala populations are evenly balanced. Given the tensions involved in the past over the demographic change brought about by state-sponsored colonisation, the sound and progressive course will be to go for a rotating arrangement in which the chief ministership will be shared by the Muslim and Tamil groups that have done well at the polls. Providing security to all the displaced people, rehabilitating them, and rebuilding the war-affected areas must be taken up as top priorities. Finally, there is the tricky task of disarming the militant groups, especially the cadres of the breakaway LTTE, and integrating them in civil society and democratic politics. What all this demands is far-sighted political statesmanship by an administration that has proved highly effective in the military field.

Police and Land powers for East PC

The government said yesterday, the new Eastern Provincial Council would be vested with wide powers, including those relating to the subjects of Police Powers and Land envisaged under the 13th Amendment as defined by the interim proposals of the APRC.
SLFP General Secretary and  Minister Mithripala Sirisena told the Daily Mirror, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was determined the Eastern Provincial Council would be an example to the local and international communities on  how a territory held by a terrorist outfit could be developed by restoring peace and democracy.  Addressing the media at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium Minister Sirisena said that the UPFA victory in the east was a victory for all peace loving people of the country and an endorsement of the policies adopted by President Rajapaksa.Mr. Sirisena said the UPFA victory was   a humiliating defeat for the LTTE and separatism. He said it was also a personal defeat for UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. He said the people in the east had rejected separatism, terrorism and upheld peace, democracy and communal harmony. He claimed The UNP had entered the fray reluctantly, like cattle taken to a slaughter house. This victory he said vindicated the policies of President Rajapaksa on the terrorist crisis, the economy and international relations Commenting on allegations leveled against the government by the opposition that the election was won by intimidation, thuggery and impersonation, he said it was the UPFA that suffered most under such malpractices. “Senior Minister and Chief Government Whip, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who had led the UPFA campaign for the eastern election was assassinated at the start of the election campaign. The LTTE terror tactics such as an explosion of a bomb that killed 16 civilians on the day before the election, the sinking of the ship ‘Invincible’ in Trincomalee and the mortar attack on Ampara on election day had affected the UPFA election campaign adversely and prevented many UPFA voters from voting. Do not forget that two TMVP cadres were also killed due to election violence, he said.Leader of the House and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who led the UPFA campaign in the Ampara district said he would challenge the UNP to file a case in the Supreme Court challenging the results of the May 10 polls.  “We are ready to prove that it was the UPFA that suffered most due to intimidation, threats and fear psychosis created among the voters by the LTTE. “We never said this election was free of incidents. But if at all none of them would have affected the final result. The UNP should try to find out where it went wrong and how its future strategies should be planned,” Minister de Silva said. There was a clear collusion between the LTTE and the UNP  during the election campaign. The TNA, the LTTE proxy even went to the extent of demanding Tamil voters to vote to defeat the government. But all three communities voted en-mass for the UPFA and defeated both the LTTE and the UNP, he said.Minister of Construction and Engineering Services, Dr. Rajitha Senarathna said UNP leader Wickremesinghe would not resign from the party leadership with dignity even after his 17th defeat. The UNP did not want to contest the polls but later changed its mind when SLMC leader Mr. Raf Hakeem pledged his support. However, the UNP carried out its election campaign with on a negative note.He pointed out that the UNP had lost its vote base in Ampara, Trincomalee and Batticaloa since the last Presidential election which was also a gain to the UPFA. Minister of Transport, Dulles Alahapperuma, Media and Information Minister Anura Priydharshana Yapa and Minister of Resettlement Rishard Badurdeen also spoke.

Tamil detainees allegedly abused at Boossa  
       
Sixty-eight Tamil detainees, hurriedly transferred from New Magazine Prison in Colombo on the night of May 10th by the Terrorist Investigation Division were subjected to torture as well as verbal and sexual abuse at the Boosa Detention Centre, 'Tamil Net' says.The website cited complaints made by the detainees' parents to Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Chandrakanth Chandranehru.‘TID interrogators stripped the detainees who were brought to Boosa, abused them verbally and subjected many of the victims to torture and sexual harassment, according to reliable allegations, the TNA MP had told the media in Colombo,’ the website adds.Questioning the need for TID intervention while the cases of detainees were being heard at courts, he has expressed shock at the gross violation of human rights and promised the parents to bring the matter to the attention of relevant quarters, the website further reported.Meanwhile, Prisons Commissioner General Vajira Wijegunawardena has rejected the assault allegations and said that the prisoners were temporarily transferred to Boossa and Mahara prisons for security reasons.Tamil detainees in Welikada and Magazine Prison have been repeatedly urging the Tamil politicians to bring their concerns to the international community and exert pressure on the Sri Lankan government to expedite their cases. Last October, detainees in Welikade Prison brought their plight to the attention of visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, who was in the country on a fact-finding mission.At a subsequent media briefing, Ms. Arbour called for the establishment of a UN human rights monitoring unit in Sri Lanka.A couple of months earlier, UN Special Rappoteur on Human Rights Manfred Nowak claimed after a tour of the country that Tamil detainees were subjected to torture at detention centres as well as the TID.

Pillayan has not right to be CM - Hizbullah  
       
The clash between M.L.A.M. Hizbullah and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan over the post of East Chief Minister is intensifying, with the former claiming the latter had no right to the position, as his party had failed to fair well at the May 10th polls.Speaking to 'Lanka Dissent', Mr. Hizbullah noted that Pillayan's TMVP claimed only three seats in Batticaloa and failed in Trincomalee.He also said that the Tamil community was optimistic that the president would appoint him CM soon after returning from his London visit, as he had promised to grant the post to the UPFA affiliate ethnic party that wins the highest number of seats.  The UPFA has eight Muslim and six Tamil councilors appointed from the election, which indicates that the Muslims have the right to the position, Mr. Hizbullah noted with confidence

UNP, SLMC to launch street protestsagainst vote  rigging at EPCE

The UNP and SLMC yesterday promised street protests to highlight "widespread ballot rigging by UPFA gangs comprising ministers, parliamentarians and the TMVP", at Saturday’s Eastern Provincial Council Election (EPCE).Leaders of the UNP and SLMC Ranil Wickremesinghe and Rauff Hakeem told a news conference in Colombo, that the time had come for them to take to the streets and highlight the governments election malpractices, human rights violations and also the unberable cost of living."Government ministers, parliamentarians, TMVP cadres and their goon squads had a field day stuffing ballot boxes to their heart’s content, while presiding officers and the police simply looked on"They said that ballots were stuffed at 99 polling centres and 271 booths did not have Opposition polling agents due to government threats

Policeman shot dead in B’caloa            
  
Two police personnel attached to the Kaththankudi police station were shot by an LTTE pistol man at the Aransadi junction in Batticaloa last night (May 12th), the Defence Ministry website reports.The policemen were returning home from their duties when the incident took place, the website added.They were rushed to the Batticaloa Hospital where one policeman succumbed to his injuries, defence sources add.The government, who claimed that democracy was reinstated in the East by holding the Batticaloa local government polls, re-emphasised that the victory at the Eastern Provincial Council Elections had further enhanced the triumph of liberating the East from the LTTE.

President to address Oxford Union

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to address the Oxford Union today (13) on the invitation of the Union and the Sri Lanka Society of Oxford University, the President’s office said yesterday.The topic of his address will be ‘Strategy towards Empowering the Rural Economy of Sri Lanka’.President Rajapaksa will be the first Head of State of Sri Lanka and a Sri Lankan Statesman who has not previously held office in the Oxford Union to address it as a guest speaker. The last distinguished Sri Lankan who addressed the Oxford Union was former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

2 police arrested on abduction & ransom charges           
  
Two policemen have been arrested on the charge of abducting a Tamil jeweler for a Rs. 01 million ransom and receiving Rs. 400,000 of the sum.Attached to the Mutwal Police, the two were apprehended by the Colombo Fort Police yesterday (May 12th).The suspects in civics had gone to the jewelry shop during their duty hours, identified them as policemen and taken him away, initially investigations have shown.The businessman had been kept in the Wellampitiya area.

Congress calls for ban on pro-LTTE outfits

Congress, a key ally of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, on Monday demanded a ban on pro-LTTE organisations in the state and asked the state government to deal with "scourge of terrorism with iron hand." "Terrorism of any kind, whether it be from Sri Lanka or within the state (Maoists) or communal, should be dealt with an iron hand," senior Congress leader D Sudarshanam told the state assembly while participating in the debate on the demand for grants to the Home Department held by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Without naming any organisation or political party, he demanded a ban on all outfits in the state openly supporting the proscribed LTTE. "The Tamil Nadu Government should also urge the Centre to extend the ban on the LTTE", he said. The Centre had first banned the LTTE in 1992 and last extended it on May 14, 2004. The organisation had been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. On encounter deaths, Sudharshanam said it was not only a mode of self-defence for the police but a way to ensure security for common people from anti-socials. "Mumbai was freed from the grips of various underworld elements by the police only after many anti-socials were killed in such encounters," he said. Meanwhile, opposition AIADMK, alleging "breakdown in law and order" in the state, said there was a "bomb culture" happening in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil national abducted in Vavuniya           
  
An unidentified group in a van has abducted a resident of the Veppamkulam area near the Vavuniya- Mannar road last night (May 12th), reports say.Balakulasingham Balamohan (29) was in his house when the group, which consisted of six persons, had abducted him after ordering to turn off the electricity, his wife said in her complaint to the police.The victim is a staff assistant in a government office in Vavuniya, police say.This incident follows the abductions of two Tamil youths in Wellawatta and of a Tamil lady in Puttalam that were reported the day before (May 11th).

LTTE refutes Adampan capture 

The LTTE denied claims by the military that Adampan had been captured stating that fighting was continuing in the area, killing more than 30 soldiers. Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) stated that the security forces were successful in capturing Adampan last Friday, killing 15 Tigers."Two soldiers laid down their lives while seven others suffered injuries in the confrontations," the MCNS said.LTTE Peace Secretariat Head S. Puleedevan denied the reports stating that fighting was continuing in the area and that the Tigers had killed at least 30 soldiers.He also said the Tigers had captured a large number of weapons and ammunition following the clashes last Friday.
 
Ship blast: Suicide cadre's remains recovered

A piece of torso of a person and diving equipment were found floating near the drowned Naval ship in Trincomalee, suggesting the handiwork of a suicide bomber in destruction of the vessel last week, an official said yesterday. The Navy is currently investigating the Saturday dawn explosion that ripped through a navy logistics ship, A 520 (MV Invincible). Navy divers have recovered body parts of the suspected LTTE suicide cadre from the waters where the Tigers sank a navy cargo ship in the Trincomalee harbour on Saturday, Navy spokesman D K P Dassanayake said. "Our divers found parts of lower portion of the body of the suspected suicide cadre body along with diving equipment from the sea," he said, adding the identity of the suicide bomber has not been established.
The Navy believes the suicide cadre had used a suicide jacket for the blast as only the lower part of the body was recovered.

Multi Millionaire pays kappang to Minister Douglas 

One of the successful Tamil businessmen involved in the Tamil Nadu film distribution industry has paid millions of rupees in ransom to the Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda. The owner of Iynkaran International which has a strong international network was demanded millions of rupees as ransom by Minister Douglas Devananda eighteen months ago.The said Sri Lankan born multi-millionaire in US Dollar term Kumarasamy Karunamoorthy (known as Iynkaran Karuna) was met in the transit lounge by Douglas’s men on the fateful day and the money was taken away. Karunamoorthy proceeded from there to London. According to information the victim has now given up flying on Sri Lankan Airline.Karunamoorthy is said to be targeted by Tamil groups and he has been even creamed by the LTTE. He and his business receive extensive publicity in the LTTE media for the support he gives to the group. He was responsible for producing ‘Oli Veechu’ video cassettes in large scale for the LTTE.It is unclear what made Douglas to demand money from the millionaire. It is believed Karunamoorthy was threatened dire consequence and exposure of his involvement with the LTTE by Douglas.

Rajiv assassination: Probe term extended

The Government has decided to extend the term of the high-profile Multi-Disciplinary Monitoring Agency (MDMA), set up under the CBI in 1998 to probe the conspiracy aspect of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, by another year - till May 31, 2009. The term of MDMA, which is probing the role of controversial godman Chandraswami and others - including some LTTE leaders in the conspiracy - was to expire on May 31, 2008. The decision for extension was taken after reviewing the demand of the CBI in this regard following the meeting of agency chief Vijay Shanker with home minister Shivraj Patil last week. "The home ministry has agreed in principle to give MDMA another extension and a required notification in this regard will be issued shortly," said a senior home ministry official, adding the agency has, however, been asked to speed up its probe as it has already taken a lot of time since 1998. The MDMA, comprising officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), has, on its part, asked the government to use diplomatic channels to ensure help from different countries in locating the conspirators and their financial network. Times of India

Deputy PS Chairman killed

Mr. W. D. Sumith (35) the Deputy Chairman of Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha was shot dead by an unidentified gunman of Friday night.The deceased who was at one of his friend's wedding at Natuwala in Walasmulla had come to the road with his colleagues. Then the gunman had shot him. Two other persons were also injured were admitted to hospital.The cause of the killing has not been revealed yet and no arrest has been made so far. Walasmulla police are conducting investigations in connection with this murder.

JVP alleges polls were rigged

The JVP yesterday alleged that Saturday’s Eastern Provincial Council polls were rigged and marred by fraud and violence. "People now talk of winners and losers. Everybody says the government won. But we know that the losers were the people of the East. First, there was no election at all. What we saw was fraud, rigging and unleashing of violence by government sponsored thugs. The Easterners were deprived of their right to elect the representatives of their choice. It was a serious threat to democracy," JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a press conference at Nawala. The government and the main opposition engaged in promoting racial politics, he said. "When the campaign began there was no question of electing the right persons. The issues such as massive corruption and inefficiency of the Provincial Council system were put away. Priority was sidetracked by the big question of whether they would elect a Muslim or Tamil to the Province’s top seat. This engagement in ethnic politics will result in serious consequences," he said.The government had deployed all its 110 ministers and their goons to win by hook or crook’ and this deprived the Easterners of their franchise. He alleged that impersonation took place on a massive scale. "The government started the campaign by forming an alliance with an armed group. Easterners were intimidated to the level that they would not come to polling centers to cast their votes. Fraudsters sponsored by some ministers got Grama Sevakas to attest pictures of their supporters with the names on the electoral lists. These impersonators were transported by bus loads to polling centers and they stuffed the ballot boxes. This was what the Eastern people, waiting 20 years to enjoy their democratic rights, experienced. They would be now asking themselves whether this was democracy," he said.MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Easterners after being liberated from the clutches of the terrorist should have been given a fairer chance to experience democracy. "Now, the LTTE could come back and ask them about the taste of democracy they enjoyed during the election. The Easterners would definitely prefer to live under the LTTE’s jackboot rather than to witness this broad day light robbery of their rights because in the end there was no big difference," he said. He warned that this widespread violence and intimidation and erosion of democracy would pave the way to least expected ill consequences. He listed a number of electorates where gangs shuttled between polling stations to vote numerous times. JVP observers had been threatened and chased away from many polling stations, he said. ``We cannot in any way accept this as a free and fair election."

12 May 2008

Pillayan, Hizbullah tussle for CM post

The tussle between TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan and UPFA Muslim leader M.L.A.M. Hizbullah for the hotly contested post of the Eastern Provincial Council Chief Minister intensified yesterday after the preference votes were counted and the victorious UPFA council members were named. Sources said the post of Chief Minister depended on the number of Muslim and Tamil members elected from the UPFA to the council. The UPFA leadership had earlier decided that the person who commands the majority support among the government provincial council group would be made the Chief Minister. According to sources, eight Muslims, six Tamils and four Sinhalese had been elected to the council from the UPFA list with two more Pillayan, members to be named for the bonus seats won by the government. TMVP spokesman Azad Maulana insisted that Pillayan should be appointed Chief Minister as 75,000 of the total votes polled by the UPFA were those of Tamils.“The Tamil people in the East have been suffering for the past few years as such they voted for the UPFA expecting a Tamil to be appointed as the Chief Minister. This was the reason why Pillayan got most of the votes in Batticaloa,” Mr. Maulana told Daily Mirror after a TMVP politburo meeting held last evening.Mr. Maulana said he expected a final decision on the UPFA nominee for the post of Chief Minister to be made today. “We will have discussions on this matter today. We hope the final decision is one that favors the Tamil people of the East.”TMVP Ampara district political head Inniya Bharathi echoed the sentiments of Mr. Maulana.“It has now become a political tussle. Let’s wait and see what happens,” Mr. Bharathi said.However of the preferential votes counted in Batticaloa district from which area both Mr. Pillayan and Mr. Hizbullah contested, Mr. Pillayan was leading having polled 41,936 votes while Hizbullah had polled 35,949 votes.  Sources said due to the tussle between Muslim and Tamil UPFA members contesting in Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts there were number of calls for recounts of preferential votes. Meanwhile UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said the person who was to be appointed as the new Eastern Province Chief Minster would be known today. “Mr. Pillayan and Mr. Hizbullah contested under the UPFA betel leaf symbol and the person who is able to command the confidence of the most number of elected members will be appointed as the Chief Minister. That was in line with the agreement we reached at the beginning,” Mr. Premajayantha told Daily Mirror yesterday.He said that after the final results have been declared and the leader who submits a list of the most number of members who have pledged to support him would be appointed to the post. “Those who took part in the election must respect the decision of the UPFA leadership,” Minister Premajayantha one of the main campaign managers of the UPFA said.

EPCE result does not reflect people’s will – UNP

The UNP yesterday rejected the result of the Eastern Provincial Council Election,which the UPFA won by one seat,saying it would legally expose the widespread vote rigging and intimidation of candidates and voters by government goon squads.The party’s media spokesperson Lakshman Kirielle told a news conference in Colombo,that they will prove to the people that the government backed UPFA circumvented the peoples will by resorting to violence and blatant vote rigging."We have already written to the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake listing out the election violations by ministers and UPFA candidates." "Serious malpractices took place especially in the Ampara District.In Pottuvil,Akkaraipattu and Muttur, government goon squads invaded 40 polling booths and stuffed the ballot boxes to their hearts content while the presiding officers and police simply looked on."Kirialle,said that at the last Presidential Election the UNP won the Pottuvil seat by 20,000 votes but on Saturday it lost that seat."Such a thing could not have happened at a free and fair election.All the election monitors are agreed that there were serious election violations.I challenge the government to produce at least one report to the contrary." General Secretary of the UNP,Tissa Attanayake said that the government despite resorting to violence and abusing all the resources at its disposal, was able to get only one seat more than the opposition."Stuffing of ballot boxes were reported from 99 polling stations and in 91 of them the UNP was prevented from having polling agents." Attanayake, called on the Speaker to summon parliament immediately to discuss the serious break down in the law and order situation and also urged the government to immediately disarm all para military groups .

Polls results victory for fraud: TNA
 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said that the results of the Eastern provincial Council election was a victory for the 'fraud and force' perpetrated by the ruling alliance in its shameless campaign to rob the people of their democratic verdict.TELO and TNA MP for the Jaffna district N. Srikantha told the Daily Mirror that they anticipated this situation and  that his separate eastern provincial council would not last long."When the ethnic problem is ultimately resolved it will have to vanish into thin air," he said.

WTM denies supporting LTTE Front
   
The president of the World Tamil Movement's Toronto branch is denying allegations by the Canadian police that his group is a front for the Tamil Tigers, which Canada deems a terrorist organization – though he supports their aim of an independent Tamil homeland.
Sitha Sittampalam (known as Sittampalam Sinnathamby in the RCMP affidavit), the movement's Toronto president since 2004, says that if formal charges are laid he will fight them in court."We do not have any fundraising activities for terrorism," or any connection with the Tigers, Sittampalam told the Star yesterday during an interview in the Tamil movement's Scarborough office.However, he said: "We consider LTTE as a movement to fight and liberate our people. We don't consider the LTTE as a terrorist organization. "We feel that the (Canadian) government is really misplaced in doing this, in listing it as a terrorist organization. "It has the support of the people. It has a cause. It has an objective. It's not violence for the sake of it without any cause."The Tamil Tigers currently control much of North Eastern Sri Lanka around the Jaffna peninsula, an area dominated by Tamils, an ethnic minority among Sri Lanka's mainly Sinhalese population.
The Tigers have waged a war against the government since the '70s in hopes of gaining official recognition for an independent Tamil homeland in the north.When asked about a letter included in the federal document from Tigers' head Velupillai Prabhakaran, requesting that Canadian Tamils raise more than $3 million by the summer of 2003 to help with a major offensive, Sittampalam said he had never heard of such a letter. He acknowledged that his organization, prior to the 2006 raid, received $30,000 to $40,000 a month in donations, but said almost all of it went to a relief organization in Sri Lanka called SEDOT (Social and Economic Development of Tamils). Asked if he knew of any connection between SEDOT and the Tamil Tigers, Sittampalam said he wasn't sure. Later, he said that because SEDOT is a registered non-profit non-governmental organization recognized by the Sri Lankan government, it could not have any ties to the Tigers.The affidavit describes how Tamils in the Toronto area were targeted with the use of Elections Canada voting lists and were then approached to donate to the Tamil Tigers through the World Tamil Movement.

Launch of Wimal Weerawansa's party on May 14           
  
JVP breakaways Wimal Weerawansa and Nandana Gunatilake will launch their political party in Colombo on May 14th, an activist in their political movement told 'Lanka Dissent.There will be 350 invitees when the new movement, which is yet to be given a name, makes its debut at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies at the BMICH.Messrs. Weerawansa and Gunatilake are due to meet the Elections Commissioner on the previous day to register it as a recognized political party.May 14, 2008 is of special significance to the JVP, as the day marks the 43rd anniversary of the leftist party founded by the late Rohana Wijeweera.An events organizing firm has been entrusted with the propaganda and other activities in connection with the occasion, the spokesman said.

11 May 2008

UNP triumphs in Trinco           
  
 Trincomalee district was won by the UNP at the East PC elections.The party polled 70,858 votes, or 51.37 per cent, and claimed five seats in the district.Receiving 59,298 votes (42.99 pc), the UPFA secured four seats.The JVP, which obtained 4,266 votes for a 3.09 pc share, gets one seat.The UNP won the Trincomalee and Mutur seats, while the UPFA was victorious in Seruwila
 
UPFA wins in B’caloa  
       
The UPFA has won a majority of seats in Batticaloa at yesterday’s (May 10th) polls for the Eastern Provincial Council.The party, polling 105,341 votes, secured six seats, results show.With 58,602 votes, the UNP has won four seats.The remaining seat went to the TULF, which polled 7,714 votes.

Eastern Provincial Council Elections final results

The first ever election in the demerged eastern Province was held yesterday (10) to elect 37 members to the provincial Council.The results of the election are displayed as soon as officially announced.

Batticaloa District Polling Divisions
No. of Registered Voters - 330,950

United People's Freedom Alliance - 105,341 (58.09%) SEATS - 06
United National Party - 58,602 (32.31%) SEATS - 04
Tamizh Democratic National Alliance – 7,714 (4.25%) SEATS - 01
------------------------------------
Postal Votes - Batticaloa District-

United People's Freedom Alliance - 2,159 (51.72%)
United National Party - 1,282 (30.71%)
Tamizh Democratic National Alliance – 454 (10.88%)

Valid Votes - 4,174 (95.87%)
Rejected Votes – 180 (4.13 %)
Total Polled - 4,354
Regis. Electors - 4,427

Kalkudah Polling Divisions

United People's Freedom Alliance - 36,731 (66.81%)
United National Party - 15,673 (28.51%)
Eelam People's Democratic Party - 1,421 (2.58%)

Valid Votes - 54,980 (89.32 %)
Rejected Votes – 6,776 (10.68 %)
Total Polled - 61,556
Regis. Electors - 94,359
--------------------------

Padiruppu Polling Divisions

United People's Freedom Alliance - 14,379 (42.89%)
United National Party - 11,829 (35.28%)
TAMIZH DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL ALLIANCE - 3,594 (10.72%)
Eelam People's Democratic Party - 2,612 (7.79%)

Valid Votes - 33,529 (86.37 %)
Rejected Votes – 5,293 (13.60 %)
Total Polled - 38,822
No. of Registered Voters - 81,830
---------------------------------

Batticaloa Polling Divisions

United People's Freedom Alliance - 52,053 (58.78%)
United National Party – 29,770 (33.62%)
Tamizh Democratic National Alliance – 3222 (3.64%)
Eelam People's Democratic Party – 1,199 (1.35%)

Valid Votes – 88,552 (90.76%)
Rejected Votes – 9,011 (9.24%)
Total Polled - 95,563
No. of Registered Voters - 154,761
-----------------------------------------

Trincomalee District Polling Divisions

No. of Registered Voters - 242,463

Postal Votes - Trincomalee District

United People's Freedom Alliance - 4,938 (62.17%)
United National Party - 2,481 (31.24%)
PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT – 411 (5.17%)

Valid Votes - 7,943 (95.08 %)
Rejected Votes – 411 (4.92 %)
Total Polled - 8,354
Regis. Electors - 8,517
-----------------------------

Mutur Polling Divisions

United National Party - 28,233 (59.08%)
United People's Freedom Alliance - 18,451 (38.61%)
UNITED SOCIALIST PARTY - 495 (1.04%)
PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT – 160 (0.33%)

Valid Votes - 47,788 (92.67%)
Rejected Votes – 3,779 (7.33 %)
Total Polled - 51,567
No. of Registered Voters – 84,175
-------------------------------------

Trincomalee Polling Divisions

United National Party - 28,146 (62.26%)
United People's Freedom Alliance - 13,828 (30.59%)
PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT – 1,408 (3.11%)
UNITED SOCIALIST PARTY – 537 (1.19%)

Valid Votes - 45,208 (90.01 %)
Rejected Votes – 5,020 (9.99 %)
Total Polled - 50,228
No. of Registered Voters - 91,598
-----------------------------------------

Seruwila Polling Divisions

United People's Freedom Alliance - 21,915 (61.47%)
United National Party - 10,855 (30.45%)
PEOPLE'S LIBERATION FRONT – 2,286 (6.41%)

Valid Votes - 35,650 (91.80 %)
Rejected Votes – 3,185 (8.20 %)
Total Polled - 38,835
No. of Registered Voters - 66,690
-----------------------------------------

Digamadulla (Ampara) District Polling Divisions

No. of Registered Voters - 409,308

Postal Votes - Ampara District

United People's Freedom Alliance – 4,722 (55.24%)
United National Party - 3,401 (39.79%)
People's Liberation Front – 353 (4.13%)

Valid Votes - 8,548 (93.02%)
Rejected Votes – 641 (6.98 %)
Total Polled - 9,189
Regis. Electors - 9,467
--------------------------

Potuvil Polling Divisions

United People's Freedom Alliance – 54,619 (58.56%)
United National Party – 37,488 (40.19%)
People's Liberation Front – 490 (0.53%)

Valid Votes – 99,610 (93.63 %)
Rejected Votes – 6,344 (6.37%)
Total Polled – 93,266
No. of Registered Voters - 133,765
----------------------------------

Kalmunai Polling Divisions

United National Party - 27,596 (66.46%)
United People's Freedom Alliance – 13,468 (32.44%)
People's Liberation Front – 30 (0.07%)

Valid Votes - 41,522 (93.62 %)
Rejected Votes – 2,832 (6.38 %)
Total Polled - 44,354
No. of Registered Voters - 64,316
---------------------------------

Sammanturai Polling Divisions

United People's Freedom Alliance – 24119 (52.22%)
United National Party – 21401 (46.34%)
People's Liberation Front – 179 (0.39%)

Valid Votes – 46,187 (93.28 %)
Rejected Votes – 3,326 (6.72 %)
Total Polled – 49,513
No. of Registered Voters - 69,051
-----------------------------------

Ampara Polling Divisions

United People's Freedom Alliance – 47,319 (57.10%)
United National Party – 31,386 (37.87%)
People's Liberation Front – 3,693 (4.46%)

Valid Votes – 82,869 (91.34%)
Rejected Votes – 7,854 (8.66%)
Total Polled – 90,723
No. of Registered Voters - 142,170

Mervyn Silva seizes Russian Embassy-owned prime land           
  
Labour Minister Mervyn Silva and his supporters have seized a prime plot of land at Bauddhaloka Mawatha in Colombo owned by the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka, 'Irida Divaina' reports.The newspaper quoted a government spokesman as saying that the seizure was now likely to become a diplomatic issue between the two countries.The four-acre plot close to the BMICH had been purchased in 1986 by the then government of the Soviet Republic.It had been left as a vacant land until last year, when supporters of Mr. Mervyn Silva had opened a public vehicle park there, with the minister holding a rally there on the day of the opening.The Russian government has then requested Sri Lanka to clear up the matter, but no settlement has come about due to the power the minister commands in the government. The newspaper adds that several buildings are presently under construction in this plot of land.

10 May 2008

Polling in Sri Lanka end, over 60 pc turnout
 
The elections for the Eastern Provincial Council held on Saturday after 20 years ended peacefully despite the tensions in the region and the sinking of a Sri Lankan Naval ship this morning by the LTTE.''The elections were largely peaceful and we expect a voter turnout of over 60 per cent going by the enthusiasm of the people,'' an government official said, adding the polling got over around 1600 hours.The elections to the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in the East had begun on a sedate note at 7 am with reports of minor clashes.With over 28,000 security forces manning the polling stations and other locations in eastern Sri Lanka, the law and order situation was under control with the shopping and other gathering places wearing a quite look.Security was tight throughout the Eastern Province on Saturday, with police filtering the movement of people at numerous checkpoints along roads.Postal ballots would be first taken up for counting after the voting ended.As many as 22,412 voters have registered for postal votes from the Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee districts. Bullet proof enclosures for addressing rallies and sophisticated arms wielding security forces had become a common feature during the campaigns. The main battle is between the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its allies among the breakaway rebel faction known as the TMVP, and the opposition United National Party and its allies in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. The Sri Lankan government, which is looking at the successful holding of these elections as a psychological victory over the LTTE, had made elaborate preparation including beefing up of security in the run up to the polls.International observers also monitored the elections. A total of 9,82,721 voters in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara districts will elect 37 candidates among 1,342 contesting from 18 political parties and over 70 independent groups.While 40 per cent of the voters constitute Tamils, about 38 per cent are Muslims and the rest 22 per cent Sinhalas.This was the first major elections in the East after it was fully liberated from the LTTE in July, 2007. Poll monitoring groups have also declared the election process to be largely peaceful in the East.The first elections results are expected around 2100 hours depending on the time the counting is taken up. In a first major incident in an otherwise peaceful poling process, as many as 13 civilians were killed and several injured in a bomb explosion in Ampara district in the region on Friday.Meanwhile, sea tigers of LTTE on Saturday sunk a Sri Lankan naval logistic ship at the Trincomalee harbour this morning at 2:15 am.However, the Sri Lankan Navy said in a statement that no lives were lost due to the explosion.

Sri Lanka Air Force bombs Tiger targets in Mullaitivu

Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets today bombed an LTTE artillery launching pad and an ammunition storage, the military said.Air Force spokesman said fighter jets carried out precision air strikes at the targets located north of Nedunkerni in Mullaithivu today at 12.15 p.m.Citing pilots the defense reports said the Pilots have observed sporadic explosions followed by smoke clouds rising from the targets after the raids.Defense sources said the destroyed Tiger launching pad has been constantly used to mount indiscriminate artillery attacks at civilian settlements bordering Welioya. It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because the media are banned from the LTTE control area.

Tamil Tigers attack as Sri Lanka holds key local polls

Tamil Tiger rebels sank a navy ammunition ship moored in the northeast of Sri Lanka on Saturday in an attack coinciding with key elections in the tense eastern province.The guerrillas said their Sea Tiger commandos managed to infiltrate the tightly guarded port of Trincomalee in the early hours, holing the cargo ship as it was being loaded with ammunition destined for government troops.The navy said the "MV Invincible" sank after the underwater explosion but no lives were lost, with the blast shaking many people in the town from their beds on the same day elections were to take place."Commandos from Kangkai Amaran unit of the Sea Tigers took part in the naval mission in destroying the 80-metre-long (260 feet) vessel," the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said in a statement from their northern mini-state.The explosion came just hours after a bomb ripped through a crowded cafe in Ampara, also in the east, late on Friday, killing 12 people and wounding at least 36. Officials also blamed the LTTE for that attack.Despite the ongoing violence, voting was held on Saturday for the eastern provincial council that the government hopes will boost its fight against the ethnic rebels, who control a large part of the island's north.The polls are the first to be held in the eastern districts of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara in 20 years, and close to a million people are eligible to vote.The eastern region, once home to several LTTE enclaves, was brought under government control after heavy fighting last year and Colombo is determined to show normality has returned.In Trincomalee district, which shares the same name as the port town, voting was low key. People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFRELL), a Sri Lanka rights group, said many locals preferred to stay home after the pre-dawn blast."Turnout in Trincomalee and Ampara is around 50 percent each, and Batticaloa 30 percent. People are really frightened to go out and vote," said PAFRELL chairman Kingsley Rodrigo.The hawkish, ethnic Sinhalese-dominated government of President Mahinda Rajapakse also says the election of a 35-member provincial council is proof it is willing to devolve some power to areas with large Tamil communities.It hopes this will ideologically undercut the LTTE, which is fighting for full independence for Tamils in the north and east, and provide a show of public support for an escalating and bloody offensive in the north.Rajapakse pulled out of a ceasefire with the LTTE in January and has poured 1.5 billion dollars into defeating the rebels.In the east, the president's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance has allied itself with the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), or Tamil People's Liberation Tigers, a controversial militia comprised of LTTE defectors.The TMVP swept a smaller municipal poll virtually unopposed in Batticaloa in March. But although its leaders claim to have embraced the democratic process, they continue to be accused of murder, kidnapping and using child soldiers.The main opposition UNP, which has teamed up with the biggest Muslim party, the SLMC, say the defectors have instilled a climate of fear in the multi-ethnic east."Voting is not peaceful. In Batticaloa there are number of cases where people are being terrorised, chased away by armed gangs," SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said.He is also hoping to be chief minister of the east -- and challenge the government by pushing for a restoration of a truce and resumption of what he says should be "bold" peace talks with the LTTE that address the grievances of both minority Tamils and Muslims."Nobody can win this war, not the government or the LTTE," Trincomalee Muslim community leader Abu Bakr Mahan Anas told AFP in the town's main mosque."Prices are going up, and the government's money should be spent on development and not on war," he said.Analysts say the election is too close to call, with the government and its ex-LTTE allies on the one side and the opposition parties on the other. Results are expected late Sunday.

Voters in eastern Sri Lanka worry about future

A climate of fear hung over elections in Sri Lanka's tumultuous east Saturday following a series of attacks blamed on the rebels and accusations of intimidation against a breakaway rebel group backing the ruling party.The government promised the balloting for a provincial assembly would herald a "new dawn" for the embattled region, which was under rebel control for 13 years, was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami and then suffered through a wide-ranging war before the military ousted the Tamil Tigers last year.But many here were skeptical that the election would change anything."I don't believe it. I've heard that before," Kannahi, an unemployed 50-year-old woman said after voting in the town of Valaichchenai.Kannahi said her husband disappeared at a police checkpoint 18 years ago. She had to pull her two sons out of high school and send them into hiding so they would not be forcibly conscripted by the rebels. She can't afford a house or the dowry needed to marry off her daughter, she said."We need peace. We should be able to sleep without fear our children will be taken away," said Kannahi, who gave only her first name for fear of retribution.When asked for her last name, she laughed nervously. "If I tell, I might disappear in the night. That's how things happen here," she said.A new round of attacks blamed on the Tamil Tigers also cast a cloud over the election.A suspected rebel suicide diver attacked and sank an empty navy cargo ship in the eastern port town of Trincomalee about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, causing no injuries, navy spokesman Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake said.A rebel spokesman was not immediately available for comment, but a pro-rebel Web site reported that suicide attackers from the guerrillas' Sea Tiger wing sank the ship.Rebels fired seven mortar rounds into the village of Pannalgama in the eastern Ampara district Saturday, wounding four civilians — including a 10 year-old, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara.A bomb hidden in a package exploded in a cafe Friday evening in the town of Ampara, killing 11 people.The government said a victory for the ruling party coalition, which includes the former rebels of the breakaway faction known as the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, or TMVP, would bring massive development to the region.The opposition United National Party and its allies in the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress accused the ruling party of misusing state resources in the campaign. They said the TMVP carried weapons during the campaign and used threats and intimidation against voters and candidates.Kingsley Rodrigo, head of the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections, an independent monitoring group, said the TMVP was threatening and intimidating voters across the province Saturday."There are many, many violations taking place," he said.The former rebels have been accused by residents and international rights groups of waging a campaign of terror since the rebels were ousted, killing opponents, extorting money from businessmen and forcibly conscripting new recruits — some of them children.In a sign that the violence cut both ways, a supporter of the ruling coalition was attacked outside a polling station in the town of Eravur by opposition supporters, the supporter's brother-in-law Mustafa Nazir said in an interview at the hospital.Medical workers said the man, identified as S.Tarek, has suffered a broken skull.Despite the threats and violence, 46 percent of the province's nearly 1 million registered voters had cast ballots by noon, Rodrigo said.A win in a credible, violence-free poll would be a big boost for the government's morale as the economic and military toll grows from its ongoing battle with the rebels in the north.The attacks in the eastern areas were carried out despite the presence of 28,000 police officers and an extra 4,000 soldiers — on top of the thousands already on duty — to secure the polls.The Tamil Tigers have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for minority ethnic Tamils, who have been marginalized by successive governments controlled by majority Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed.About 20 police and soldiers stood guard over a polling station in a school in the town of Valaichchenai, frisking voters as they entered. When a man tried to park his bicycle nearby, the police shooed him away.Ending the chaos and violence appeared to be the major concern of many voters here."We need to live in a situation where our kids are not abducted," said one man, a 48-year-old unemployed mason. When asked his name, he responded: "You don't understand what is happening here."

Govt. thugs denying Muslims' voting right - Hakeem           
  
SLMC leader and chief ministerial candidate Rauff Hakeem says groups of thugs in the employ of several government ministers are terrorizing areas with a decisive Muslim voter base.He told 'Lanka Dissent' a short while ago that the government was trying to prevent votes being cast to the SLMC in Mutur, Thambalagamuwa, Thoppur, Jinnarnagar, Asathnagar and Irakkandy areas.Despite complaints by the party and himself that more than 200 thugs are terrorizing the district, police have not taken any action, Mr. Hakeem said.

Thugs of 2 ministers arrested for attempted vote rigging           
  
Police Special Task Force commandos arrested Minister Mervyn Silva's son Malaka Silva and coordinating secretary identified as 'Kudu Lal' at a polling station at Dehiattakandiya in Digamadulla district today (May 10th). The two, accompanied by several persons, had tried to rig votes at the Bambarawana Central College polling centre, Consultant for the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections Shiral Laktilake told 'Lanka Dissent.Still in Dehiattakandiya, police apprehended an armed group that was accompanying the bodyguards of Minister Premalal Jayasekara on similar charges.The UNP's Election Incidents Monitoring Unit said the group had arrived in vehicles JF-3114, KD-3787 and 32-3387.They were arrested by SP Samarasekara, it added.

24 - 50 pc turnout in Trincomalee           
  
The Trincomalee district has returned a turnout of between 24 and 50 per cent so far in elections for the Eastern Provincial Council.The highest voting of 50 per cent has been reported from Muttur.Verugalaru had 48 pc of voters already casting their voters, while the figure for Trincomalee town is 42 per cent.Both Kinniya and Pattirippu had a 40 per cent turnover.Kuchchaveli reported 39 pc of voting, while Kantale and Morawewa had respective 36 pc and 35 pc turnouts so far.

2 claymores found in Valachchena           
  
Defence authorities found two claymore bombs weighing 10 kilogrammes hidden near Pattini Amman Kovil at Vipulananda Mawatha in Valachchena this morning (May 10th). An investigation into the finding of the two bombs is underway. The probe will look into how the claymores came to be hidden there at a time when unprecedented security measures are in place for the East PC polls.

UNP alleges 80 vote-riggings            
  
The UNP has alleged that the UPFA and the armed TMVP have rigged votes at 80 polling centres on Election Day in the east so far.The party said it has lodged a complaint in this regard with the Commissioner of Elections.According to the UNP, most of the incidents have been reported from Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.In Ampara, several government ministers were responsible for perpetrating poll malpractices, the party added.

Group led by Minister attacks UNP MP's supporters           
  
A group accompanied by Minister Risath Bathiudeen has attacked supporters and a vehicle of UNP MP Gayantha Karunatilake.According to reports, the incident occurred at Kinniya in Trincomalee.Several supporters of the parliamentarian were injured in the assault.

India releases 60 Lankan fishermen

Sixty Sri Lankan fishermen along with 12 fishing trawlers arrested for violating Indian territorial waters and detained under the custody of Indian Coastal Protection Force have been released through the diplomatic intervention, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry source said. They were taken into custody on April 27 and 29 by the Indian Coastal Protection Force. The decision to release fishermen was taken following discussions between Indian High Commission and officials of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry. Investigations by Indian authorities clarified that Sri Lankan fishermen had violated Indian territorial waters unknowingly and they were genuine fishermen. Arrangements have been made to bring these fishermen to Sri Lanka from India. They will arrive here today. Minister Felix Perera appealed to the fishing community to refrain from straying from the Sri Lanka territorial waters which could develop into a problem between the two countries.

Sinking of A 520/MV Invincible  -An exclusive analysis by Commodore RS Vasan IN (Retd)

As per the reports received so far it has been confirmed that a SLN logistic support ship was sunk at about 0230 on Saturday 10 May 2008. As per preliminary reports the ship was at anchorage and was being loaded with explosives to be carried to KKS from Trincomalee.The pattern of operations suggests that the tactics adopted may have been similar to the one that was followed during the sinking of a fast attack aircraft on 22nd Mar 2008. Since the ship was at anchorage, it is quite possible that underwater divers detonated some explosive device. Attaching of a limpet mine to the underwater hull of the ship is an option that may have been exercised by the Sea tigers. The depths off Trinco are very much favourable for such attacks. It is clear that there was perhaps that the standard precautions for preventing an underwater attack may have either failed or were not in place. The standard practice for preventing underwater attacks by divers is to have boat patrols and drop random scare charges to deter the divers. Divers also search the bottom of the ships at regular intervals to spot any explosive that may have been attached. . Many navies also use their sonars to cause damage to the eardrums due to the high power of the sonar. In addition it is also a practice to have grapnels towed behind the patrolling boat to cause injury to the saboteurs. Whether all these measures were in place is not known.Sri Lankan Navy has been credited with the sinking of more than a dozen logistic ships of the LTTE, which were employed for carrying the essentials from many parts of the Indian Ocean for sustaining the war effort. The ship that was sunk was apparently also used in the operations against three logistic ships of the Sea Tigers off Coco Island in 2007.This is the second such sinking in the last two months. While in the first attack of sinking the Fast Attack Craft in Mar 2008 the three suicide attackers were identified, it is only the name of the unit involved that has been made public this time by the LTTE. It is again not known if any of the black tigers lost their lives in the operation. In conclusion, it is clear that that the Sea tigers still have the capability to surprise the SL Navy and would like to regain the control of the seas that is so essential for the tigers to replenish from many parts of the world including southern India.

09 May 2008

TNA tells Eastern people to defeat Govt.

The TNA yesterday requested the people in the East to defeat the government and its allies at the Provincial Council election to be held tomorrow.TNA General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah said the merger of the northern and eastern provinces was the corner stone for peace, yet the government breached this very foundation by de-merging the two provinces after 18 years.“At this election, we have to defeat the government’s policies. So, we are asking the people not to support the candidates put forward by the ruling UPFA and the parties supporting it,” Mr. Senathirajah said.Meanwhile, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) said it would deploy more than 2000 election observers to monitor the election.PAFFREL Chairman Kingsley Rodrigo said at least two observers would be attached to each polling booth in addition to mobile monitoring units. He said his organization had also brought in 19 international observers. Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake had also invited 18 South Asian Election Observers to monitor the poll.At this election, 982,721 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. Election is being held to elect 37 members for the Provincial Council and voting will be conducted at 1,022 polling stations in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara. There are 91 political parties and independent groups in the fray this time.

Sri Lanka military says it captures small northern town

Sri Lanka's military announced the capture of a small town in the north after fighting Friday that killed 15 Tamil Tiger rebels and two soldiers, calling it an important step in dismantling guerrilla strongholds in the area.Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said the soldiers took control of Adampan town in northern Mannar district, which could restrict guerrilla movement and transportation of arms.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached immediately for comment.It was not possible to obtain independent confirmation of the military's claims because reporters are not allowed in the war zone. Both sides are known to exaggerate death tolls and damage inflicted upon each other while underreporting their own losses.Troops have battled for months over territory around the rebels' northern strongholds, promising they would crush the insurgents by the end of the year.The rebels have strongly resisted and halted some military advances.Tamil Tigers have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for minority Tamils who have been marginalized by successive governments controlled by majority Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed.

Karuna freed from British prison           
  
Breakaway LTTE strongman Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman was freed yesterday (May 08th) from a British prison, where he had been serving a nine-month jail term for entering the country on a fake passport. He had been released ahead of the scheduled date of discharge due to good conduct in prison, reports said.Britain usually deports foreign nationals who had been sentenced and sent to prison after their release.However, Karuna will be kept at an immigration centre until authorities look into the possibility of filing legal action against him on war crimes committed in Sri Lanka.After leaving the LTTE in 2004, Karuna founded the TMVP, but fled the country due to factional infighting. British authorities arrested him in November 2007, and the Isleworth Courts in London sentenced him two months later.

Tiger Test-Source:WALL STREET JOURNAL

The world's most violent armed group is facing a decisive challenge. For over 30 years, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -- better known as the Tamil Tigers -- have justified their secessionist demands on the basis that they represent all Tamil-speaking people in their "Tamil homelands" of the North and East. This Saturday, that claim will be tested at the ballot box at an election where they will be only onlookers.For the first time in modern Sri Lanka's postcolonial history, the country's Eastern province will hold provincial council elections where 18 political party candidates and 52 independents will vie for 35 seats. The area, formerly known as Kottiar province, consists of three districts: Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.The fate of the Eastern province matters because it has long been an area of severe civil strife. Its multicultural population of 1.3 million is divided between Sinhalese (22%), and two Tamil-speaking communities, the Tamils (45%) and Muslims (32%). The recent past of armed conflict and violence in the province has soured relations between these communities that otherwise have much in common. Tamils in Batticaloa and Ampara districts share with Muslims many cultural traits and are distinct from Tamils in Jaffna, in northern Sri Lanka. The Tamils in the East speak a regional dialect and practice non-Brahminical ritual traditions.The Eastern province was effectively ruled by the Tamil Tiger rebels until last year, when the Sri Lankan armed forces successfully "liberated" the province. This victory would not have been possible were it not for the 2004 defection of a top Tiger commander, known as Colonel Karuna, to the government's side. His deputy leader, Pillayan, is supporting the government and participating in Saturday's elections.The Tamil Tigers still in the jungles thus have everything to lose from these elections. A functioning provincial council in the East headed by a former Tiger commander would blow a hole in the Tiger's cry for a separate state. Furthermore, if a Muslim chief minister is chosen, this would strengthen the Muslim community that has until now felt marginalized. There is a chance this might happen, as both the United People's Freedom Alliance and the opposition United National Party are supporting rival members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. The government has however promised this position to the Pillayan group as well.The government has campaigned relentlessly for these elections, using the state machinery to its best advantage. President Mahinda Rajapakse has launched an ambitious development program, building roads, bridges and -- in the run-up to the elections -- inaugurating new projects such as the Oluvil port. Lamp posts are hastily being fixed in anticipation of future electricity connections. Mr. Rajapakse hosted President Ahmadinejad of Iran in late April to help curry favor with Muslim voters. The government May day rally was held in the Eastern city of Dehiaththakandiya.The President has good reason to care about Saturday's polls. His administration has come under pressure recently, thanks to soaring prices of commodities, heavy army casualties in the North, and increasing allegations of nepotism and corruption. He sorely needs a political victory in the East. Only that, he claims, can usher in an "Eastern resurgence."But if the polls are free and fair, his UPFA faces stiff competition, not least of which from the United National Party and its ally, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. The Muslim Congress, headed by its charismatic leader Rauf Hakeem, is determined to become the voice of the Muslims regionally and nationally. Members of the SLMC gave up their parliamentary seats to contest as candidates at the provincial level. The Janata Vimukti Peramuna (People's Liberation Front), formerly allied with the government, is fielding its own candidates. Many Tamils fear Mr. Pillayan's armed marauding gangs and they might vote against the climate of insecurity that prevails.With only a day to go, the East seems relatively calm. The incidence of election violence has been low, although there are fears of election rigging. The President prorogued parliament for a month to defuse opposition claims of electoral intimidation -- and perhaps to preempt future protest.Voters in the East can only hope that all will go well. The local council polls in the Batticaloa district were held relatively peacefully on March 10 -- but largely because the United National Party and their ally the Tamil National Alliance, often seen as a proxy for the Tigers, boycotted the polls. Still, the government read its "one-horse race" victory at the Batticaloa polls as a sign that Eastern provincial council elections could be held and won.Whoever wins, there is a lot of work ahead. Today, nearly 30,000 displaced persons in refugee camps in the East are waiting to return home to their lands. A free and fair election heralds many promises for these battered peoples. The presence of poll observers will hopefully allow them to choose freely between the promise of a government-backed developmental reawakening, and the distant prospect of a regime complete with rights and freedoms for all.

30 SLA killed, 5 bodies recovered, arms seized in Mannaar - LTTE

30 Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed, five dead bodies of SLA troops were recovered after heavy fighting at Ka'rukkaaykku'lam Friday morning, according to LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Two PK Light Machine Guns, one AK LMG, five T-56 assault rifles and military hardware including ammunitions were seized by the Tigers. The SLA, while pulling back was towing an Armoured Personnel Carrier that had caught fire, the Tigers said. Ka'rukkaaykku'lam is located 2 km east of Adampan. The Tigers had put up heavy resistance confronting the SLA in its attempt to advance with the support of air-attacks by the Sri Lanka Air Force and indirect fire using Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL), artillery and mortar. The fighting which began at 5:30 a.m. ended around 8:00 a.m. when the SLA units were forced to retreat. Arrangements were underway to handover the SLA dead bodies through the ICRC, the Tigers said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army claimed only 2 of their soldiers were killed in action, claiming that Adampan had been brought under their control. 15 Tigers were killed, the SLA claimed.The pass office of the LTTE, during the CFA period, was located at Ka'rukkaaykku'lam.

Army boots seized from bus

The Anuradhapura Police and Military Police personnel in a joint raid seized 113 pairs of Army boots while being transported in a private bus to Anuradhapura from Colombo yesterday.The driver and conductor of the bus were arrested.Acting on a tip off they set up a road block at Pandulagama and stopped the bus carrying the boots packed in fertilizer bags.The crew had told the police that the stock of boots were handed over to them at the Gunasinghepura private bus stand by a person who said the bags would be collected by someone at the old bus stand in Anuradhapura. Investigations are continuing.

Two suspects remanded

Colombo Additional Magistrate Ravindra Premaratne remanded two suspects, who had been detained in connection with the assassination of UNP MP T. Maheswaran, till June 8. Colombo Crime Division (CCD) Director, Senior SP Anura Senanayake who is conducting investigations assisted by Inspector R.M.A. Rajapakse said the dossier of the investigations will be forwarded to the Attorney General for his advice. On an application by the Director (CCD) Senior SP Senanayake, the Magistrate earlier released three suspects including a woman suspect who had been detained in connection with the incident. Senior SP Anura Senanayake said according to the reports before court, the blood stains found at the scene of the incident and on the weapon found near the scene are tallying. The JMO's report submitted to court earlier stated that the deaths of MP Maheswaran and his bodyguard S. Mahinda were due to shooting. CCD Director said that they recorded statements from the widow of Maheswaran and several other family members. President's Counsel M.L.M. Ameen with Niroshan Perera, A.S.M. Misbha, K.S. Ratnavel, Shanaka Ranasinghe, Gunaratne Wanninayake, Nishada Gamage and Sujeewa Senasinghe watched the interest of the members of the late Maheswaran.

LTTE cadre commits suicide

The man who died after swallowing a cyanide capsule when he was arrested in Kotmale was an LTTE cadre who had fled Kandy to evade arrest, Police said.The deceased, Gajendran Kumar was arrested along with another LTTE cadre said to be from Mannar. They had been in Kandy but fled when the police launched a search for Gajendran Kumar to question him about the purpose of his visiting Kandy. Police believe that he and his accomplice, now under interrogation, had been in Kandy to plan an attack on a civilian target or a VIP. A team of NIB personnel left Colombo yesterday for Kotmale to question the other suspect.

Burning Memories: Documentary on Jaffna Library

A 49-minute documentary, titled Burning Memories, featuring the story and the memories of the Jaffna Library, which was burnt down by the Sri Lankan Police in June 01, 1981, has been produced by an audio visual journalist, S. Someetharan. The tri-lingual documentary is scheduled to be released in May by the Nikari, the producers and distributors of the film.  The work by Someetharan is the first of its kind in documenting the story of the Jaffna Library. The burning of the library, widely regarded by the Tamils as an act of cultural vandalism, was a deliberate destruction of 97,000 books, considered as the best collection of Tamil literature in Asia, including many irreplaceable manuscripts. The documentary authored in Tamil, English and French, contains a unique collection of memories in the form of photographs, video footage, paper clippings, speeches, interviews and musical compositions. The 'Nikari' producers described the mission behind the documentary as an effort to transcend the memories of a unique cultural asset into the newer generations. Contact details and further information on the release of the documentary will be provided later, according to the distributors.

Police to grill Guna in India

Police Headquarters yesterday said it would send a team of investigators to Tamil Nadu to question the notorious gangster Kimbula Ele Guna, who was arrested by the police there on charges of drug peddling. Police Headquarters had requested the Tamil Nadu police to send it all details of the gangster’s arrest via e-mail. Tamil Nadu police also had launched an operation to arrest some of Guna’s accomplices who were said to be involved in ‘contract killings’.Guna was known to be one of the top drug peddlers and distributors in Colombo and was known to have used his gang for contract killings. He was also known to have cultivated connections with the LTTE for some years before he skipped to Tamil Nadu to escape imminent arrest.

LD opinion poll indicates close contest in east PC polls           
  
An opinion poll conducted by 'Lanka Dissent' has indicated a close contest at the May 10th elections for the Eastern Provincial Council.It shows that the result in Batticaloa district will have a key impact on the winner.The poll will see the election of 14 members for Digamadulla, 11 for Batticaloa and 10 for Trincomalee, and the winner will secure two bonus seats as well.The 'Lanka Dissent' survey shows that Digamadulla and Trincomalee will go to the Rauff Hakeem-led United National Party, while the United People's Freedom Alliance led by Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan will emerge victorious in Batticaloa.It indicates the UNP obtaining eight seats, UPFA five and JVP one in Digamadulla.For Trincomalee, the projected outcome is that the UNP will get five seats, while the UPFA and the JVP will secure four and one seats respectively. The violence-ridden Batticaloa will see seven seats going to the UPFA, while the UNP is tipped to get three.And, there will be stiff competition between the EROS supporters contesting as an independent group, which is the most likely winner, and Douglas Devananda's EPDP for the remaining seat.The final result is expected to be both the UNP and the UPFA getting 16 seats each, the JVP two seats and EROS-supported independent group one seat, according to the opinion poll.The JVP has created a big impression on the Sinhala-Buddhist vote base in Digamadulla and Trincomalee that is supportive of the government.If the party fails to secure enough votes for a seat, the advantage will go to the UPFA, the survey shows.The UNP has been able to influence, to a certain extent, against violence and malpractices in Digamadulla and Trincomalee.However, the party has shown no such strength in Batticaloa where Pillayan is stronger, the polls shows.In this backdrop, the result in Batticaloa will have the final say in deciding the overall winner. The government-supported and armed Pillayan group's attempt to gain an advantage by the strength of weapons will result in further violence and malpractices in the district.In addition to violence, chauvinism is also raising its ugly head in the east polls, the LD opinion poll indicates.The UNP's naming Hakeem and the UPFA's nomination of Pillayan as their chief ministerial candidates has aggravated the situation.

08 May 2008

Sri Lanka rescinds move to bar foreign media from covering eastern elections

The Sri Lankan government said Thursday it was barring foreign journalists from covering weekend elections in the Eastern Province, but backed off hours later following a wave of protests by journalists and rights groups.The election pits a coalition of the ruling party and former rebels against opposition parties in a region the government said it had freed from the control of Tamil Tiger rebels last year.Opposition officials and rights groups say the former rebels are terrorizing voters and opponents and accuse the ruling party of using state resources to ensure its victory Saturday.On Thursday, an Associated Press reporter and a photographer were stopped at a checkpoint in the eastern town of Valaichchenai and ordered to leave the province and head straight back to the capital, Colombo. Their license plate was then distributed to checkpoints in the area to ensure they complied.Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando, a senior official in the Defense Ministry, said any foreigner not registered as an election observer was barred from the volatile province during the polls.Fernando said the barring of journalists and other foreigners was for their own protection."It could be dangerous. If something happens and a foreigner gets injured it will create problems," Fernando said.Media rights organizations protested the ban."Discouraging foreign media groups from covering the Eastern Province election shows the sorry state of our people's right to information," a coalition of five media rights groups said in a statement."We call for an investigation as to why there was an attempt to keep foreign media away from an election closely followed by the country and which many groups fear could be marred by violence and malpractice," the statement added.Fernando later said there was a misunderstanding, journalists would be allowed to cover the election, and the reporters were allowed to return to the east.Saturday's first-ever elections for the Eastern Provincial Council are seen as a referendum on the government's performance since it drove the Tamil Tigers out of the region, which they had ruled for 13 years.

Four charged in Britain with helping Tamil Tigers: police

British police have charged four men with conspiring to support Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels, Scotland Yard said Thursday.  The four were arrested under anti-terror laws and are accused of owning computers, radio equipment and high-power magnets for terrorist purposes. They were to appear in court in London later in the day, said a spokesman.The men were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 in the last two weeks as part of a long-term police investigation into activities linked to the Tamil Tigers, an organization banned in Britain.Three were detained at the end of April in dawn raids at homes and business addresses in Wales and London. A fourth was arrested this week in the Swindon area of southwest England.All four have been charged with conspiring to receive equipment for terrorist purposes between January 2003 and December 2006.Other items which they are accused of procuring include laptops, head torches, circuit boards, lithium coin cell batteries, GPS (global positioning systems) and antenna equipment, ransceivers, radios and navigation systems.The four men were named as Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, also known as AC Shanthan, 51; Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan, also known as Muralee Tharan, 46; Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan, also known as Vithy Tharan, 39; and Murugesu Jegatheeswaran, also known as M Jegan, 33.The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is fighting for a separate Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka, is designated a proscribed terrorist organisation under Britain's Terrorism Act 2000.The rebels have been fighting to carve out an independent homeland for the Tamil minority since 1972. Tens of thousands have died on both sides in the conflict in the Sinhalese-majority nation.

Dr. JJ calls on Bishop of Mannar

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana, Senior Parliamentarian made a courtesy call on Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar at the Bishop's House in Mannar on May 6, 2008. During this meeting, Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph had briefed him on the present situation of the Madhu Shrine. The Bishop has also said that the Most Miraculous Statue of Our Lady of Madhu is safe at the Thevampiddy Catholic Church and stressed that the Madhu camp be declared a 'Zone of Peace.'Dr. Jayawardana thanked the Bishop of Mannar, the religious custodian of the Madhu Shrine for the steps taken by him to protect the respect the safety of this Most Sacred statue of Our Lady of Madhu. Dr. Jayawardana also thanked the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka for their concern about the sacred statue and the ancient Catholic Shrine in Madhu.

Sri Lanka military captures rebel area north of Mannar

Sri Lanka Defense sources said the military this evening has taken control of the Adampan Tank area in the Island's embattled Mannar. Troops captured an area of 2 sq km after destroying 8 Tamil Tiger bunkers and trench lines located south of Adampan town. According to the sources 9 Tamil Tigers were killed and 6 others suffered injuries in this incident. Also, one soldier was killed and five others suffered injuries due to explosions of anti personnel (AP) mines and trapped mines in the area. Troops are consolidating their defense at present, the sources said. In a separate clash in the morning troops attacked LTTE defences in the Kaddupulan area on the same Mannar front and destroyed an LTTE bunker stretch about 200m in length. Defense sources said 6 Tigers were killed and 5 others were injured. No troops were injured in the clash. During the subsequent search, troops have recovered 500 ammo used for MPMG machine guns, 44 AP mines and 3 booby traps.

07 May 2008

Rajapaksa challenges Prabhakaran to direct clash

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday challenged the elusive leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Velupillai Prabhakaran to 'clash with him directly' and declared that his government would continue in its bid to flush rebels out of their stronghold in the north.'I will challenge Prabhakaran to clash with me directly if possible without engaging in a killing spree of targeting innocent civilians, parliamentarians and ministers,' Rajapaksa said after inaugurating the Oluvil port project in eastern Amparai district Tuesday.Rajapaksa, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has said his ruling coalition 'will never backtrack on its journey to liberate innocent civilians' living in the LTTE-held areas in the north.'As much as the government liberated the people of the east from terrorism and enabled them to enjoy the fruits of freedom, the people of the north would also be given such an opportunity soon,' the state-run Daily News quoted the president as saying in Amparai.The inauguration of the Oluvil port project comes two days before campaigning ends for the provincial council polls on May 10.'Now the people of the east should decide whether they should be governed by their own representatives or according to the dictates originating from (the rebel-held) Kilinochchi. On May 10 the people in the east will decide whether they want the development process to continue or whether go back to the clutches of terrorists,' Rajapaksa said.The main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have urged the government to disarm pro-government Tamil militant groups in the east to ensure a free and fair election.

Parliament prorogued

President Mahinda Rajapaksa ended weeks of speculation by proroguing Parliament with effect from midnight yesterday. The new sessions will commence on June 5, 2008, informed sources said. They said that the President, by the powers vested in him under Article 70 (1) of the Constitution, had prorogued Parliament. The Article in question states, “The President may, from time to time, by Proclamation summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament. A Proclamation proroguing Parliament shall fix a date for the next session, not being more than two months after the date of the Proclamation.” The special Gazette notification announcing the prorogation was issued last night. With the prorogation, all Parliamentary committees and bills presented become null and void and the committees have to be reconstituted and bills presented again once Parliament commences. The UNP, JVP and SLMC reacted strongly to the government’s move to prorogue Parliament. UNP General Secretary and MP Tissa Attanayake told Daily Mirror that the government had prorogued Parliament in order to cover up malpractices at the forthcoming elections. Mr. Attanayake said that the UNP condemned the prorogation which he termed an ‘anti-democratic activity’ which prevented MPs from taking up issues in the House. “The government has already planned various malpractices to be committed during the elections on May 10. It is still common to see state vehicles being used for electioneering,” he said. SLMC leader and Eastern Province Chief Minister hopeful Rauff Hakeem said that one wondered whether the government had plans to resort to undemocratic activities on the day of the elections having suspended the key forum of People’s Representatives.  “This is a very suspicious move, especially given the fact that the prorogation has come just four days before the crucial Eastern Provincial Council Elections. The math and momentum both say we are heading for a landslide victory in the East. It is obvious that the government is feeling jittery,” he said.   JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government should not have closed the doors to public representatives to raise issues regarding the present economic crisis and the upcoming elections. Mr. Dissanayake also said that the government had prorogued Parliament since it wanted to make certain changes in the composition of existing parliamentary committees. “The government is not happy with the composition of members in certain parliamentary committees. By proroguing Parliament, it plans to achieve its aims,” he said.

Reject Sri Lanka's bid for UN Rights Council seat, NGOs urge

A coalition of more than 20 national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) today urged the United nations to reject Sri Lanka's bid for the membership in the U.N. Human Rights Council.In a letter released today the NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council said “We write to urge that your government not vote for Sri Lanka for membership in the U.N. Human Rights Council in the election in the General Assembly on 21 May 2008 because of Sri Lanka’s failure to meet the Council’s membership standards.” The group said in the last two years, Sri Lankan government forces have been directly implicated in a wide range of serious abuses of human rights, and have failed to ensure investigations and bring those responsible to justice.Equally recognizing the abuses by the LTTE rebels, the letter said human rights violations by the rebels do not justify the alleged abuses by the government.“We recognize that that the armed separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have long been responsible for numerous and horrific human rights abuses. However, abuses by non-state armed groups do not justify rights violations by government forces.” On May 21, the United Nations General Assembly will hold elections for 15 of the 47 seats on the new Human Rights Council.

176 were killed and 1090 were injured in war last month

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka says that 120 officials of armed forces and police were killed and 945 were injured during the period between March 31 and April 29. He further said that 56 civilians were also killed and 145 were injured during the same period. The Prime Minister produced these statistics tabling the proposal to extend the emergency regulation by another month in the parliament yesterday (07). Posing a question to the MPs if this loss of lives could be tolerated, he said that the time was ripe to stop this calculating.  The Premier said that explosives were recovered from Aduruppu Weediya in Colombo and Galgaamuwa in Kurunegal district thanks to the vigilance of the public. He said that the state had to fight in several fronts against terrorism and doing its duty as a responsible government elected by people. Emphasizing that lonely struggles would not be successful, the Prime Minister said that the patriotic forces needed to be united at this moment. He said that the political parties hat did not contest to the local government election were contesting the Provincial Council election and it was a dawn of the democracy in the Eastern Province. He further said that the people of the area would defeat the bullet by ballot. The Premier also said that an international struggle was necessary against terrorism and the people who assisted the terrorists were to be defeated.

Reopening of A9 not essential says Douglas

Re-opening of the A9 route is not the immediate necessity for northern development Chairman, Special Task Force to Develop the North and Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda told The Morning Leader yesterday.The Special Task Force was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapakse on April 30 and is headed by Minister Devananda.The other members are Risath Bathiutheen and Basil Rajapakse.The Special Task Force would look into the developments immediately needed to be commenced in the area. Minister Devananda said the force was given a political leadership, as an election could not be held for a politically elected leader, until Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are liberated from the Tigers."It is possible in the east. This force will function until Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are liberated from the LTTE to hold elections," he said.He added that the force was only looking into the developments in the north barring the LTTE areas."We are looking into the possible areas of development. The A9 is not an immediate necessity. It was closed due to the LTTE. Our immediate function is to look into other areas of development in the north," he said.

Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels claim nine soldiers killed

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels Wednesday claimed they had killed nine soldiers and repulsed an army advance in areas controlled by the guerrillas to the north of the island.  The pro-rebel, Tamilnet.com website reported that the army faced stiff resistance when it launched twin attacks to break through guerrilla-held areas in Mannar on Tuesday."An armoured personnel carrier was destroyed by an LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) mine, killing at least nine soldiers and wounding many," the website said, quoting rebel officials.There was no immediate comment from the defence ministry, but the military accused the rebels of setting off a roadside mine in Vavuniya on Tuesday, killing two civilians.Casualty figures cannot be independently verified, as the government prevents journalists and rights groups from travelling into rebel-held areas.Fighting has intensified since the government in January pulled out of a six-year truce with the Tamil Tigers.Tens of thousands have died since the rebels launched an armed struggle in 1972 to carve out an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the island's north and east.

All set for EP elections

Accusations, counter accusations and the rivalry among political parties, independent groups and their supporters campaigning for the first ever polls for the Eastern Provincial Council peaked, as all campaigning halts by midnight today.The Chief Consultant to the Elections Observations Secretariat, based at the Galadhari Hotel, S. Medawewa said that 17 of the 18 election Monitors from the Association of Asian Elections Authorities had arrived in Colomobo and would set out to the East on the morning of May 8th.The security net was further tightened with all those entering the Eastern Province being subject to strict screening with the deployment of several thousand police, STF, Security forces and Civil Defence force personnel and police canines from outside.The Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake gave strict instructions to the Chief Returning officers in the Eastern Province to comply with the Provincial Council Elections Act of 1988 and to direct the police to enforce the law and halt all campaigning by midnight yesterday.The Commissioner made these observations during his final briefing to the three Chief Returning Officials Digamadulla (GA) Sunil Kannangara, Trincomalee (GA) Major (Retd) T. T. R. de Silva and Batticaloa (GA) Sundaram Arumainayagam at the Elections Secreteriat in Rajagiriya on Monday Also present were Additional Commissioner of Elections (Provincial and Local) W. P. Sumanasiri who inquired about arrangements which had been finalized at district level for 16,000 elections staff including 800 senior, Junior Presiding officers and Polls Clerks to man 1070 polling stations by 6.00 a.m. on May 10th.

Emergency further extended
   
The state of Emergency was extended throughout the country for a further one month period by vote in Parliament yesterday.The government and JVP supported the extension, while the TNA and Western Peoples Front opposed it, and the main opposition UNP abstained, resulting in the motion being passed by 76 to 17 votes.The SLMC was absent at the time of the voting, while two JVP MPs supporting rebel MP Wimal Weerawansa voted with the main JVP group.Speaker W.K.M Lokubandara was forced to take a recount of the voting half way through, as several government and JVP MPs trickled into the Parliament Chamber after counting had begun, despite the quorum bell being sounded before voting began.Winding up the Emergency debate on behalf of the government, Leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the very act of having and election in the East was a victory for democracy no matter which Party wins.He added that the UPFA coalition would secure victory at the elections as they had won the trust of the people by ridding the province of terrorism and developing the area.The Minister added that although the opposition parties were accusing the Pillayan group of violence and intimidation, two members of the TMVP had been killed in the run up to the 10 May poll. He said the government hoped to reintroduce democracy to the northern people like it has been done in the east in the near future.

TMVP a tower of strength in East – Dallas

The TMVP Leader Pillaiyan has realized that the liberation of the Tamil communities could be achieved only through democracy and not by the bullet. The different ethnic communities in the East organizing themselves under the betel leaf to strengthen President Rajapaksa’s government and the TMVP leader’s support to the government is clear indication that TMVP will be a tower of strength in the East, Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma told The Island.He said that the government had provided an opportunity to the UNP, JVP and other recognized political parties to contest the provincial council elections in the East. The government would ask contestants to act in accordance with the election rules and regulations and if anyone is found guilty of violation of election rules and regulations, they would be severely dealt with.The people irrespective of cast, creed and religion should be grateful to President Rajapaksa for creating a peaceful atmosphere to hold provincial council elections after 20 years.Minister Alahapperuma added that UNP leader had said that TMVP leader had betrayed the Tamil community but the UNP leader had betrayed North- East people to Prabhakaran. TMVP leader would support the government and the government would assure that it would not pave the way to TMVP leader to return to jungle.

Gajanayake indicted for abduction, extortion

The Attorney General’s Department yesterday indicted retired Squadron Leader of the Sri Lanka Air Force Nishantha Gajanayake and four others on several counts of abduction of Tamils and extortion for their release. Gajanayake had been on the staff of Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera.Among the other accused were two police officers, Chamira Indika Daladawatta and Sampath Preethiviraj. K. A. Jayasiri Kodithuwakku and Prabhapillai Kandarasa are also alleged to have engaged in committing the offence. It was alleged that Nishantha Gajanayake and others had abducted Natarajah Skandharaja on July 20, 2007 at Wellawatta. In the same chain of events they abducted Ramaiah Jeyaraj the driver of the victim. After the abductions, the accused had allegedly asked for six million rupees from Yogaraja Sri Skandharaja in order to release them. The accused were charged on 5 counts. and the case against them will be taken up before the High Court of Colombo soon.

LTTE activist arrested

Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, alias A.C.Shanthan (51) described by Sri Lanka government sources here as the “de-facto leader” of the LTTE in Britain was arrested on Tuesday as part of police investigation into allegations that U.K.-based Tamil groups and individuals are covertly raising funds and providing support to the LTTE which is banned under the terrorism act.Police said he was arrested in an anti-terror operation in the Swindon area, Wiltshire. This is the fourth arrest in a week. Last week, three men were arrested in early morning raids in England and Wales. A Scotland Yard spokesman said the arrests were part of a long-term investigation into support for overseas terrorism.

PLOTE Vavuniyaa district deputy leader shot dead

Vavuniyaa district deputy leader of Peoples’ Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE)  was shot and killed, and another person seriously injured in a shooting incident Tuesday around 5:30 p.m at Poonththoaddam area in Vavuniyaa, sources in Vavuniyaa said. Meanwhile, two civilians were killed in a Claymore attack Tuesday around 6:00 p.m targeting a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) truck, near Vavuniyaa Town Council playground, the sources added. The killed PLOTE member was identified as Selvarasa Pavan, a father of 5 children. The identity of the person injured in the shooting is not known. One of the two civilians killed in the Claymore attack was identified as Suntharalingam, 53, while the other remains unidentified. A third person was also injured in the above attack.

Principal’s visa terminated

The Principal of a leading private school in Kandy, a British National, has been ordered by the defence authorities to leave Sri Lanka with immediate effect.The principal and a section of the management of the school are making an attempt to prevent the principal from being forced to leave, sources said.But Immigration and Emigration Department authorities said that the principal’s visa would not be extended, although there was strong pressure to extend it till May 15.The principal has been issued a resident visa for a period of five years but defence authorities have taken a decision to withdraw the visa facility much earlier than the date of expiry for security reasons, the sources said.Recently a member of the staff of the private school, whose head is the particular principal, was arrested by police on grounds of alleged connections with the LTTE.The school master from the north has been living in the Balagolla sector near Kandy. The school master is detained pending further investigations.

British defence delegation visit Lanka
   
A British defence delegation, led by the Military Advisor to the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Lt. Col. A. S. Gash toured Jaffna peninsula last weekend.The delegation comprising Lt. Col. Dan Rex and Wing Commander Andy Lee, held talks with Jaffna security forces commander, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri on the current security situation.Major General Chandrasiri briefed the visiting delegation regarding humanitarian work carried out so far by the military in the period after August last year. “A detailed report on the conditions prevailing in their areas of responsibility was also given to the visiting delegates,” the army headquarters said.As the last leg of their visit, they visited the Northern Naval command in Kankesanthurai and Palaly air base before they returned to Colombo.

06 May 2008

SLMC tells Muslims to consider May 10 polls a referendum on NE

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has asked the Muslim community in the East to consider the May 10 Eastern Provincial Council polls as a Referendum on the "arbitary demerger" of the NorthEast.SLMC General Secretary M. T. Hassen Ali yesterday said it was only after the Senior advisor to the President (MP) Basil Rajapaksa declared that this election was a Referendum, did the SLMC too decide to request the voters to consider it so.The government had not given any consideration at all or consulted the Muslim community on their longstanding demand since the time of late leader M. H. M. Ashraff for a "non contiguous Muslim majority power sharing unit in the Eastern Province." Hassen Ali, who is also the Chief candidate of the UNP for the Digamadulla district, said "we have been consistently agitating for the last 20 years that the merger or demerger should be conditional as far as the Muslim community was concerned. Without fulfilling that condition the Government has demerged the Province by some means which no one had bothered to do for the last 20 years. We expected the government to give the Muslims a non-contiguous unit." He said merger or demerger was not the SLMC’s concern but the government had agreed that they would do so in consultation with the Muslim community."Now the two communities Tamils and Muslims in the Eastern Province are fighting each other for the Chief Ministerial position," he said.The President and the Government have created conflict between two political entities by stating that whoever obtains the most number of votes would be appointed a chief Minister, he said."This is a very sad plight where the minorities have been pushed into a internal conflict on ethnic lines.This is what the majority community wants and has been doing its best all these years to create a division between the two minority communities," he said."We have clearly shown that when Varatharaja Perumal made an unilateral declaration of Tamil Eelam it was the SLMC that walked out in protest. We are not fighting for Eelam and it is very wrong for the Government to portray us as communalists. We wish to tell the government that if they are going to grant the rights of other communities it is all right but let them be fair and grant Muslims too their equal rights, Hassen Ali said."So let the Tamil speaking minorities, especially the Muslims consider this election as a referendum, to say yes or no to the demerger on May 10.

Military pushes forward on Mannar front

Sri Lanka Army Task Force 1 engaged in counter offensives on the Mannar front gained control over a significant area during yesterday's (May 5) operations according to the Ministry of Defence. According to the report troops had reached Chalampikulam area and had consolidated their hold over 1sqkm area last morning. The offensive was launched before dawn as army infantrymen marched from the recently captured Kaatankulam. After about a 4 hour march, troops reached Chalampikulam without much resistance from the terrorists. At least 5 LTTE were either killed or wounded during initial confrontations. Later in the evening, troops consolidating their positions in the outskirts of Chalampikulam, unleashed battle tanks at the LTTE bunker defences. Ground troops confirmed that LTTE suffered heavy damages in this incident that occurred around 4 pm. It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because the media are banned from the northern jungles where much of the fighting takes place. Both sides commonly exaggerate their enemy's casualties while underplaying their own.

SC bans eviction of Tamils from Colombo   
       
The Supreme Court yesterday (May 05th) declared the eviction of Tamils from Colombo or preventing them from entering and staying in any part of the city were an infringement of fundamental rights and should not be repeated in future unless in accordance with the law and with a judicial order. The SC bench comprising Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Andrew Somawansa and Jagath Balapatabendi heard the FR petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu on the mass scale eviction of Tamils from Colombo that took place on the 7th of June 2007. The petitioners sought relief and effective redress in respect of infringement of the fundamental rights of a large section (Tamils) of the Sri Lankan society who have been and are being further discriminated against and gravely prejudiced. They cited the IGP, the OICs of the Wellawatte, Pettah, Kotahena and Wattala Police as well as the commanders of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, th Defence Secretary and the Attorney General as respondents. Earlier, the court had granted leave to proceed on the question of infringement of freedom from torture, right to equality and equal protection of the law as well as discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, language, place of birth etc., freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention and freedom of movement and of choosing his or her residence within Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court had already issued an interim order directing the IGP not to take any steps to evict Tamils from Colombo or to prevent them from entering and staying in any part of the city. Subsequent to the SC's interim order, many of the people evicted were brought back by the police to their lodging houses.The court restored the status quo and Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando gave an undertaking that no steps of such a nature complained of in the petition would be repeated except strictly in accordance with the law and upon a judicial order. In view of that, the proceeding was terminated. On 10th June 2007 Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake expressed regret to the hundreds of Tamils for their eviction from the city, saying it was a 'big mistake' by the government.

East poll campaigning ends at midnight tomorrow            
  
Campaigning for the forthcoming Eastern Provincial Council Elections is to end by midnight tomorrow (May 07th).As the deadline approaches, campaigning has reached a fevered pitch and main political parties are due to hold their final rallies tomorrow, party sources say.The elections will see the appointment of 37 members representing three districts to the Eastern Provincial Council.One thousand three hundred and forty two candidates from 18 political parties and 56 independent groups will contest the elections where 982,721 voters from Batticaloa, Digamadulla and Trincomalee districts are eligible to exercise their franchise.The number of polling centres in the three districts is 314, 430 and 278 for Batticaloa, Digamadulla and Trincomalee respectively.

Witness 'threatened' by officials
 
The aid workers who were murdered in Muttur were alive in the morning on the fateful day, a witness told the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).A Catholic priest who wished to anonymous told the CoI that he saw the workers in the morning on 04 August, 2006.The CoI has commenced public hearings over the killing of 17 aid workers of Paris based Action Against Hunger (ACF) in Muttur.

LTTE 'in charge'

The witness was cross questioned by counsel appeared for the interests of Sri Lanka Army, Gomin Dayasiri.Mr. Dayasiri told BBC Sandeshaya that the witness appeared to have admitted that Mutur was under LTTE control at the time of the incident. The Catholic priest also admitted, Mr. Dayasiri said, that he only saw LTTE members on the way to Trincomalee with those sought refuge in his church. The witness was threatened by an investigating officer during the tea break; a counsel appeared for the victims said.

Witness 'threatened'

Counsel Priyantha Gamage of Movement for Protecting Civil Rights (MFCR) told journalist KS Udayakumar that the official was identified as Samsudheen. “When the CoI commenced after the tea break the witness started crying. He said two officials started questioning him at the tea break. He told the CoI that he and his family were also threatened before,” he said. The commissioners, headed by retired judge Nissanka Udalagama, have promised to investigate the incident and take further steps. The CoI was appointed by President Rajapaksa to investigate serious incidents rights violations including killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and MP, Joseph Pararajasingham. The hearing was postponed until Tuesday.

Easterners will lose faith in democracy whenGovt-backed armed groups roam

Due to the government’s connections with armed groups, people in the Eastern Province will lose faith in democracy. It would lead them to act out of the democratic process, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Kurunegala District parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at a press conference in Colombo yesterday. After 15 years of undemocratic rule, people in the Eastern province had witnessed democracy. Due to the efforts of the three forces, police and civilians during the last one and half years this area came under the state control and now it is the role of the government to provide better facilities to the area rather than drag them into undemocratic ways, he said."Now what is the government trying to do? Why such a hurried election? Why statements saying that it better to provide arms to certain groups to safeguard them against terrorists? We know that the government is trying to stabilise its position by using petty tactics," he said.Rather than depending on the statements of foreign observers who have no idea about the Sri Lankan scenario, it is the responsibility of the government to conduct a free and fair election.He said according to their information even the government’s coalition partner Douglas Devananda’s Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party is facing threats in the Eastern province.Dissanayake also said that usually all the parties have to stop rallies and campaigns by 6.00 p.m. but government continues their campaigns till 10 p.m.In response to the recent statement by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha that the alleged armed groups don’t carry a stick, Dissanayake said Premajayantha should tell such stories to Montessori children.

FMM protests Gotabhaya's 'threats'
 
The Free Media Movement (FMM) in Sri Lanka has strongly protested threatening remarks by the powerful Defence Secretary.In an interview with a state-run television station, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has called on the government to ban independent media that publish “harmful” stories towards security forces. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s younger brother has described the journalists who report on the casualty figures of war as “traitors” of the nation. Strongly condemning the remarks, the FMM has called for urgent clarification from the President and the government whether it is the official point of view.

Press freedom 'predator'

“A regime that openly calls for censorship, clamps down on critical voices of dissent and is defined by vulturine thugs who prey on independent media is antithetical with the strengthening of media freedom in Sri Lanka,” the FMM statement said. The controversial Defence Secretary is continuously accused of threatening press freedom in Sri Lanka.Paris based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) last week named him as one of the few “predators” of press freedom in the world. LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is the only other Sri Lankan named as a “press freedom predator” in the report issued to mark the World Press Freedom Day. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is also accused of threatening Daily Mirror editor, Champika Liyanaarachchi.He has also threatened to “exterminate” the Daily Mirror journalist Uditha Jayasinghe, for writing articles about the plight of civilian war casualties, the FMM recalled. “Statements such as this must be condemned. The Defence Secretary must be held accountable for his words and reigned in,” the statement issued on Monday added.

Construction of Oluvil  Port begins todayAn artists design of the Oluvil Port

Construction work on the Oluvil Port will commence today, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority announced yesterdy. The SLPA and the Danish contractors signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the Port Project on March 12. The Danish construction company MT Hojgaard will be in charge of construction works while the Danish Government would provide financial assistance for the Project, which is scheduled to be completed within 27 months.The proposed Oluvil Port Development Plan comprises the construction of a commercial port and a basin for fishing crafts. The total project comprises of two stages. Two rubble mound breakwaters, the Northern Breakwater of length of 475m and the Southern Breakwater of 740m would enclose a total water area of around 16ha for the first stage. Around 10ha of the water area would be used for the commercial harbour activities. The balance area would be used for fisheries activities. The SLPA said the main objective of the project is to develop a harbour with appropriate shore facilities to cater to general cargo vessels required to supply the current needs of the area, including costal passenger transport, with provision for expansion into a bigger harbour in the future. The harbour would also cater to the requirements of the current and projected fishing activities and its shore based services and industries.The port is expected to help reduce unemployment by 2010 providing about 1,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and 10,000 employment opportunities by 2015. People in the region will also be benefited by the introduction of industries such as cement, sugar and fertilizer related to the Oluvil port, and also by granting a value added market for the regional industries in the East, the SLPA said.

Sri Lankan general calls on Tariq and Kayani
 
Commander of Sri Lankan Army Lieutenant General G.S.C Fonseka called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Tariq Majid and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, here Monday, says an ISPR press release. He exchanged views with the Joint Chief of Staff Committee chairman on matters of mutual military relations between the two countries and other subjects of common interest during his visit to Joint Staff Headquarters. They also discussed ways of enhance military cooperation between both countries.The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman expressed that Pakistan and Sri Lanka historically enjoyed excellent relations based on mutual trust confidence and commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman reiterated Pakistan’s support towards the capacity building of Sri Lankan army by offering cooperation in military training and in various other fields of common interests.Meanwhile, Commander of Sri Lankan Army Lieutenant General G.S.C. Fonseka, visited General Headquarters and called on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, here Monday. The visiting dignitary remained with the COAS for some time and discussed matters of professional interest. Subsequently Lieutenant General G.S.C. Fonseka was given a detailed briefing by concerned Personal Staff Officers. Earlier, on arrival at the General Headquarters, Lieutenant General G.S.C. Fonseka was presented a guard of honour. He reviewed the parade and took salute from the smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army.Commander of the Sri Lankan Army Lieutenant General G S C Fonseka with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi Monday.

Helicopter carrying Ranil makes emergency landing  
       
A helicopter carrying opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe made an emergency landing at the Police premises in Mahiyangana, while he was making the return trip from electioneering in the east.Mr. Wickremesinghe was returning from Samanturai when the Air Force VIP helicopter developed technical trouble around 5.15 pm yesterday (May 05th).Its pilots failed to rectify the snag, forcing the Opposition Leader to charter another helicopter from Colombo for the journey back from the east.UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, Mr. Wickremesinghe's Media Secretary Saman Athaudahetti and his bodyguard SSP Wickremesinghe were accompanying him in the journey.

05 May 2008

Sri Lankan Tamil Rebels Attack Security Forces on Mannar Coast

Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam attacked army and navy personnel at a coastal base near Mannar in the northeast, the military and rebels said. A flotilla of boats manned by the rebels' Sea Tiger unit raided a security post at Kondampiddy in the early hours of today, the army said on its Web site. The rebels ``fled toward the north with their casualties on board the sea craft'' after coming under fire from the base, it said. LTTE fighters killed three sailors in the attack, TamilNet cited Irasiah Ilanthirayan, the Tamil Tigers' military spokesman, as saying today. The force seized arms and ammunition from the security post, he said. Sri Lanka's army is carrying out almost daily attacks in the north in a bid to capture or destroy the last bases held by the LTTE. The group was driven from the east in July last year in the worst defeat it has suffered it its 25-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland in the South Asian island. At least 39 rebels and eight soldiers were killed in fighting at the weekend in the north, a Defense Ministry spokesman said yesterday. Eleven rebels and seven soldiers died in Welioya, one soldier and 26 rebels were killed in the Mannar region and two rebels in Vavuniya, Udaya Nanayakkara said in a telephone interview from the capital, Colombo. President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government says it wants to reach a political settlement on Tamil separatism while eradicating terrorism in the north. The LTTE is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union and India. The government is seeking $1.8 billion in aid to help rebuild the Eastern Province and bring investment and tourists to the region that has a 426-kilometer (265-mile) coastline. It has set up a Task Force Committee for Northern Development to begin agricultural projects and restructure education, health and transport as well as resettling internally displaced civilians in the northern region, the Sunday Observer newspaper reported yesterday, citing Minister of Social Welfare Douglas Devananda.

Sri Lankan Minister not to attend the Arabian tourism exhibition

Sri Lanka Deputy Minister of Tourism Faiszer Musthapha has decided to cancel his participation at tomorrow’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in United Arab Emirates, due to political requirements seen at the forthcoming Eastern Province elections.In the absence of the Deputy Minister, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau Managing Director, Dileep Mudandeniya is expected to lead the Sri Lankan delegation comprising over 100 travel trade professionals including public and private sector officials.Arabian Travel Market will take place from 6th to 9th May at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.ATM is the industry's leading travel and tourism exhibition dedicated to unlocking the business potential within the Middle East and pan Arab region. The 2008 exhibition is expected to attract over 23,449 attendees from over 100 countries.

UNP Satyagraha against poll-related violence          
  
The United National Party will launch a Satyagraha tomorrow (May 06th), against the government, the Elections Commissioner and the IGP to protest their failure to ensure an environment conducive for fair and free elections in the East.The agitation begins in front of the office of the Elections Commissioner at 2.00 pm, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said.Speaking to ‘Lanka Dissent’, he said the Satyagraha would condemn the conduct of the polls without first disarming the Pillayan-led TMVP.Presently, a spate of election-related violence has been reported from the Batticaloa district where an armed group is intimidating voters and candidates, the UNP General Secretary said.They are also being assaulted by armed groups who arrive in vehicles without number plates, he added.As the day of the election draws near, the situation becomes increasingly grave, Attanayake said, adding that despite the many complaints lodged by the UNP to the police and the Elections Commissioner, the government has failed to take remedial measures.Meanwhile, local election monitor PAFFREL says most of the violence so far targeted UNP candidates.Lanka Polls Watch says it has received 57 incidents of poll-related violence.

12kg explosives found at Ambakote

12 kg of explosives were found from Ambakote area in the Theldeniya Police division during a search operation conducted on yesterday(4), by Theldeniya Police. The explosives were found laden inside an iron box which was wrapped in fabrics and set to be armed and transported to an unknown destination. According to sources the box could be laden with over 20 kg of C-4 explosives. T