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31 October 2007 UNP calls for ceasefire with Indian help The UNP yesterday called on the government to seek Indian assistance and go for a cessation of hostilities with the LTTE.Briefing the media yesterday UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the government however was unable to enter into a cessation of hostilities because it feared losing the support of its constituent parties. "The government is waging war to the agenda of its constituent parties. That is why the government for the past 24 months could not go for a cessation of hostilities with the LTTE," Kiriella said.According to the parliamentarian, a future UNP government would get Indian support for a cessation of hostilities, as it is the only way to find a solution to the crisis."It is the need of the day and we, as the main opposition believe that there should be a political solution for this two decade old war. Once the UNP comes into power we would go for a referendum for devolution of power and introduce a new constitution. Steps would be taken to bring down the CoL, protect human rights, get the international support and stop the brain drain," Kiriella said.Accusing the government for putting the lives of the security forces into danger by purchasing outdated weapons Kiriella said that the people of this country has a right to know the exact details of the war situation."Defence Secretary Ghotabaya Rajapakse claims that the people of this country do not need to know as to what happens to the war. This is hilarious. Whose money is being spent on the war? Is it from Ghotabaya Rajapakse’s personal account or from the hard earned money of our people? If the people can spend their own money on war the government has a duty to reveal the exact situation," Kiriella further stated.Meanwhile Kiriella also attacked the Defence Secretary for accusing the Opposition Leader over state media. "Post of Defence Secretary is a public post. A person who holds public office cannot accuse a political leader. But we should know that this particular Rajapakse who is a USA citizen got this most important job due to political backing and not through the normal procedure," Kiriella stated. Sri Lanka says kills 7 rebels in northern clashes Sri Lankan troops killed seven Tamil Tiger rebels in the latest fighting in the island's north, the military said on Wednesday.The clashes on Tuesday in the Jaffna peninsula and Vavuniya came just days after the rebels had mounted their biggest suicide operation backed by air strikes.Four rebel bunkers were also destroyed in Jaffna, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.The Tigers were not immediately available for comment.An estimated 5,000 people have been killed since early last year amid near-daily land and sea clashes, ambushes and air strikes. The death toll since the conflict erupted in 1983 stands at about 70,000. Elections Dept. ready for polls in NE The Elections Department is awaiting a response from the Provincial Council and Local Government minister to hold polls to certain local government bodies in the North and East.Elections to 16 Pradeshiya Sabhas, two Urban Councils and two Municipal Councils in the East and one Municipal Council, five Urban Councils and 27 Pradeshiya Sabas in the North could not be held due to security concerns though nominations had been called. The government cancelled the nominations by passing a Local Authorities (special provisions) Bill recently. “Now that the obstacle to holding elections to these local bodies is eliminated, the Elections Department is ready to hold polls when the minister of Provincial Councils and Local Governments decides on the dates of elections. The minister must decide on the dates of elections according to the provisions of the Act,” Deputy Elections Commissioner P.M. Siriwardana told the Daily Mirror yesterday. “However, elections have to be held within six months of the passing of the two Bills and the minister has to decide before that. The 2006 electoral registers will be used for the intended local government elections to these local government bodies,” Mr. Siriwardana said. CWC proposes Hong Kong model for SL The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) has proposed a special administration region in the north and east on the lines of Hong Kong to resolve the ethnic crisis.The CWC position on the ethnic conflict was adopted at the party convention presided by Minister Arumugam Thondaman on Sunday in Chilaw.In adopting the party position, the CWC also recalled the Hong Kong model solution proposed by the former leader Saumyamoorthy Thondaman.In adopting the resolution the CWC recalled that a special administrative region in respect of Hong Kong coming within the purview of the People’s Republic of China shall be an admirable solution that has led to two systems in one nation and that a similar system in Sri Lanka would effectively meet the aspirations of the Tamil people in the north and east."A negotiated settlement in the format of the Hong Kong special administrative region can see an end to the on going shooting war that continues to decimate young lives on both sides of the ethnic divide," the CWC resolved.The CWC also called on both the Government and the LTTE to cease hostilities and enter into meaningful and unreserved negotiations in order to bring peace and spur the economy for the benefit of the people. President promises political solution soon The government will soon bring about a political solution through the APRC, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. He said history had proved that the ethnic conflict could not be solved by terrorism.Delivering the keynote address at the first convocation of Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, at the BMICH, the President said that the commitment of the government to bring lasting peace to the country was neither capricious nor wayward.“Our aim is to achieve lasting peace without giving ransom to terrorists. The people of the country must realise that we do not have narrow political objectives or agendas,” he said at the colourful and dignified ceremony.The armed forces have to adapt to the tactics of internationalized warfare as our forces are fighting against a globalised terrorism. That is why our officers require university education that trains them in the latest war strategies, intelligence and warfare, he said. “The Sir John Kotelawala Defence University marks a special milestone in our higher education. The highest accolade the armed forces can achieve is invincibility. Our security forces have achieved that accolade, not only because they are fighting the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world but because they are fighting a humane war. The government has appointed human rights commissions to check on human rights. We have opened the doors for international human rights monitors to come to Sri Lanka and conduct investigations. We have also have given full freedom to the media to comment and criticise the government on any issue,” he said.Though the government makes every effort to bring about lasting peace through a political solution, it will never sacrifice the victories achieved by the security forces in safeguarding the motherland to reach that objective. A political solution will be based on the policies adopted by the government, he said.Development activities and resettlement have to be expedited in the liberated areas, in order to win the hearts of the people in these areas and emancipate them from the clutches of terrorism.He made an appeal that the military successes not be belittled, as thousands of youth had come forward to enlist in the armed forces and fight for the country. He commended the newly graduated young officers and said they would be the future leaders of the country and that the fate of the country lay in their hands.University Chancellor, General Denis Perera said training was one of the fundamental requirements to build a leader. Leaders were not born but made. He lamented that leadership qualities were lacking in our society today.Graduates who had excelled in their studies and final examinations received their special awards from President Rajapaksa.General Perera conferred 38 M Sc Degrees, 64 B Sc Degrees, 10 B com. Degrees and 5 BA Degrees at the convocation.President’s Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Army Commander, Major General Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, and Air Force Commander Roshan Gunatilake were present at the convocation. Tigers gun down 2 DPU intruders in Mannaar Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Tuesday said a roaming patrol of their border security combatants on Monday evening gunned down two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) intruders inside LTTE controlled Valaignan Kaddu area in Mannaar district. Arrangements were underway to hand over the dead bodies of the SLA soldiers through the ICRC, informed sources in Vanni said. The Tigers have lost a combatant in the counter-ambush.A Claymore mine, two T-56 assault rifles, one remote control for the Claymore mine, one smoke bomb, two holders and two military kit bags were recovered by the LTTE. The SLA operated ambush units known as Deep Penetration Units (DPUs) are officially named Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) units, a borrowed terminology from the LRRP/Ranger detachments deployed for covert operations by the U.S. military during the Vietnam war.The Sri Lankan LRRP units are increasingly deployed to attack civilian vehicles in addition to military targets in the LTTE territory. Sri Lanka and China signs agreement on Hambanthota Port development Sri Lanka government and Exim Bank of China entered into an agreement yesterday pertaining to the construction of Hambanthota harbor. The agreement was signed under the patronage of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. China has agreed to fund 85% of the Rs. 360 million port development project. Exim Bank of China provides a Buyer’s Facility amounting to US $ 307 million with an interest rate of 0.90 per cent. Anybody can wage war, but 98% people wish peaceful solution, says Kiriella United National Party (UNP) media chief Lakshman Kiriella said that the only option before Sri Lanka is going for a cessation of hostilities and finding a political solution.Every survey conducted by government and non-government institutes pointed to that 98% people wish a peaceful solution to the ethnic problem. Saying that the problem can be solved through war is nonsense and any idiot can wage war, he said. War is waged since this government has nothing else to market. Addressing a press conference in Colombo, MP Kiriella said that President Mahinda Rajapakse failed to bring a solution to the ethnic problem even after two years in power and the government's military solution is also delaying. "This government cannot go far like a kite that broke away from the twine'" he said, adding that the government granted no concession to people and time is ripe to evaluate the path anew.MP Kiriella said that contradicting each other, Defense Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwell said that three aircrafts were destroyed, Ministers said that eight were destroyed and the Defense Secretary wqas tight lipped so far. He said that the weekend newspapers gave out various figures such as 23 and 30 as number of aircrafts damaged and the country lost Rs. 6.6 billion due to the attack. The Secretary of the Defense Ministry said at a TV interview that everything about war is not needed to reveal to public, said MP Kiriella adding that people have the right to know the truth since war is waged from public money. He said that the Defense Secretary who is a state official came to the service from back door criticized the UNP and Opposition Leader unethically as he did not know the regulations. Kiriella further stated that the UNP was not against war against terror, but this regime puts the three armed forces in trouble by purchasing low quality military equipment covering to war. He said that the government could not lift the outdated Mig-27 aircrafts until the LTTE's toy aircrafts bombed and fled. The UNP media boss further said that Secretary of the Defense Ministry Gotabhaya Rajapakse acquired outdated aircrafts and put the armed forces in trouble. Shared intelligence accounts for SL Navy's successes The availability of real time maritime intelligence from South and South East Asian countries has been a key factor in the Sri Lankan navy's recent stunning successes against the intrepid and innovative naval wing of the LTTE."Both ASEAN and SAARC are now highly sensitive to maritime terrorism seeing it as a common threat, and intelligence is shared," an informed source told Hindustan Times explaining the Sri Lankan Navy's successful hits against the LTTE's Sea Tigers in the past year.The Sri Lankan naval spokesman, Commodore DKP Dassanayake, had said that in the past 13 months, the Navy has destroyed 8 large LTTE vessels, 11 multi-day trawlers and six to seven small boats off the North, North Western and Southern coasts of the island.Explaining the modus operandi of the LTTE, Com.Dassanayake said that munitions and dual purpose material were smuggled out in small boats and then put on mother ships anchored in mid sea. As these ships near the Sri Lankan coast, the consignments are loaded into multi-day "fishing" trawlers and then again transferred to small "fishing" boats and landed where-ever suitable."The availability of good internal and external real time intelligence and bold and innovative execution of action plans, have enabled the small Sri Lankan Navy to do a good job. They have achieved more than what they have publicly announced," a reliable source said.Most of the multi-day trawlers had been seized in the Gulf of Mannar, between North West Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. But the big ships had been taken hundreds of nautical miles south of Dondra, the southern most Sri Lankan point, Com.Dassanayake said.However, some analysts say that while some of the big ships destroyed ( like the three off Sumatra) were genuine arms smugglers, others might have been pirates roaming in the deep seas looking for prey. Indian connection Asked if there was an "Indian connection" in the illegal activity in the Gulf of Mannar off Siluvathurai and Arippu, an analyst said that many of the items seized were dual purpose goods which were not banned as such. "Take ball bearings for example. They are good if they are used in bicycles but bad when used in mines! There is no law against manufacturing ball bearings and they are readily available commercially in India, as elsewhere. These may be bought and smuggled out. If there is an Indian connection it is just that the goods in question may have been manufactured or bought in India," the analyst said.But there is increasing surveillance by both the Indian and Sri Lankan forces. "There is a lot of policing in the sea between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian and Sri Lankan navies and the Indian Coast Guard are active, but there is no fool proof measure against smuggling," he said. Sinhala journalist shot in Colombo Two armed men who tried to stop the motorbike of the news editor of ethalaya.com, a Sinhala language website attached to the Sisira TV, opened fire on him, around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday in Rajagiriya in Colombo. The journalist, Kumudu Champika Jayawardana, was rushed to Colombo General hospital. The attack on the journalist of the Sisira TV, owned by one of the largest privately-held media corporations, the Maharajah Television (MTV), which runs three stations, comes three days after the Sri Lankan government silenced the five FM radio services operated by the Asian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), another private media corporation in Sri Lanka. The incident took place on Nawala Road. MTV Channel telecasts MTV English, Sirasa TV in Sinhala and Shakthi TV in Tamil with separate channels for each of them. Sinhala language websites have come under fire from the Government ministers. Sri Lankan Air Force pounds rebel base President Mahinda Rajapaksa's UPFA government, which has elaborate plans to rebuild and rehabilitate the East, has not, so far, included the civil society and elected representatives in the development process.Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem has deplored the government's decision to have development projects in the East managed by the security forces and the police. Controversy over the New Flag Soon after the demerger of the East by the Supreme Court and following the take-over of the province by the armed forces, Sri Lanka government has designed a new flag for the Eastern Province. This new flag has caused much misunderstanding and confusion as the flag has failed to represent all the communities living in the East in a just and fair manners.The Muslim community, which is the largest ethnic group in the East now has raised serious concern over the failure of the government to recognize the identity of the Muslim community by not printing any symbols in the flag to represent the Muslims. Para Military Forces - harassing civilians Law enforcement authorities in many parts of the Eastern province are allegedly turning a 'blind eye' to the continuous complaints made against the para military groups. Despite several political parties in the Eastern Province taking up this issue with the law enforcement officers, it remains to be properly addressed.Most victims have now stopped complaining to the police and security forces as the identities of the complaints are leaked out. As a result, these families that are intimidated and harassed are suffering in silence. Muslims discriminated against Serious issues have been raised by Muslims of Batticaloa on the ongoing activities of the several international organizations assisted by the Government and the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) in re-locating displaced Tamils on lands owned by Muslims.After 1985, the LTTE forcibly occupied Muslim residential, agricultural and cattle farming lands – more than 35,000 acres in areas under their control. The GOSL did nothing to restore these properties owned by the Muslims on title deeds, government permits and paddy cultivation register. The displaced Muslims have suffered untold hardships during the last 22 years. After the GOSL cleared these areas from the LTTE, the TMVP with the help of the government security forces and INGO assistance, began putting up permanent houses, churches, temples and schools in the Muslim lands forcibly occupied by the Tamils, without any consideration for the rights of the Muslims who are the lawful owners of these lands. Koralaipaththu Central The Batticaloa District consists of 14 Pradesiya Sabhas and encompasses an extent of 2,633 sq. km. There are four predominant Muslim DS divisions and the land area - Kattankudi 3.4 sq. km. Eravur Town 3.89 sq. km., Koralaipaththu West (Ottamavadi) 6.84 sq. km. Koralaipaththu Central 6.50 sq. km. The total extent of Muslim land area is approximately 20.0 sq., km., which is less than 1.0% of the total area of Batticaloa District, where the Muslim population is nearly 30% today.Although the Local Government Commission declared Koralaipaththu Central - the area of historical habitation of the Muslims, covering more than 240 sq. km., consisting of 11 Grama Sevaka Niladhari divisions, the boundaries have not yet been demarcated. Eravur Most of the agricultural and cattle farm lands owned by the Muslims lie along the Chenkaladi - Badulla (A5) Road. Today, the entire area along this road has come under the control of GOSL. Eravur Muslims owned more than 12,000 acres. Arrangements are being made now to bring back the Tamils who have been unlawfully occupying Muslim lands and settle them permanently by the TMVP and the Government armed forces, without any concern for the displaced Muslims.During the ethnic conflict 1983, 1985, 1990 etc., more than 12,700 Muslim families were chased out by the LTTE and the Tamils forcibly occupied all the Muslim lands that came under LTTE control. The GOSL did nothing to provide any relief or pay compensation for the loss of livelihood of these displaced Muslims.Resettlement of displaced Tamils on Muslim land in, Iyankerni, Meerakerni, Mitchanagar, Hidayathanagar, Thakvanagar and Eravurpathu Pradeshiya Sabha would adversely impact on the peaceful co-existence between the Muslims and the Tamils in Eravur.Further, the Eastern University is making arrangements to acquire nearly 30 acres of land in the Meerakerni Muslim area, which is about 7 km. away from the university. Kattankudi Muslim Border Villages Ollikulam, Sikaram, Karbela, Palamunai, Kankayan Odai, Keechampallam are the Muslim border villages of Kattankudi in the Arayanipathi Pradeshiya Sabha. Displaced Tamils after tsunami and GOSL military operations to flush the LTTE terrorists in the Paduvankarai Tamil villages have been temporarily settled in private lands owned by the Muslims and the Mosques. Now the TMVP with the assistance of Government Armed Forces and help from INGO's are making arrangements to provide accommodation to settle the displaced Tamils who have come from Tamil areas, on land belonging to the Muslims and the Mosques, depriving the Muslims of the lands belonging to them. Kuchchaveli Kuchchaveli in Trincomalee District is a predominant Muslim area. Total population is 29,967 or 8,058 families. Of them 65% are Muslim (19,443) and 31 % Tamils (9,282) and 01 % Sinhalese (337). Of the Kuchchaveli Pradeshiya Sabha members numbering 9, six are Muslims and three Tamils.The Divisional Secretary is a Tamil for the predominant Muslim division. In the appointment of Grama Niladharies. 65% Muslims are given only 7 slots but the balance 17 GS are given to the Tamils and others who are only 35%. The average population of a Tamil GS division is 250 people whereas the population in Muslims GS is around 1,350.Iqbal Nagar is a predominant Muslim area. Due to the ethnic conflict, the Muslims were displaced during 1984, 1990 and 1994. In 2002, the Muslim refugees came back to Iqbal Nagar and are living under abject poverty. In the East of Iqbal Nagar almost 250 acres were forcibly taken over by the Eastern University. 50 acres from Thamraikulam and Muthuraimalai are allocated to and INGO by the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretary for a tsunami Housing Project. 185 Muslims were promised 15 perches each but all all the plots were distributed to the Tamils and Tamil Government officers and nothing was given to the displaced Muslims.Of the 265 Muslim families identified as refugees, only 45 were selected for the NERHP projects. But all the Tamil refugees were settled in the new housing projects in Konespuri, Kopalapuram., Kumpirupity, Iranaikerni and Thriyai. Harassment of Pottuvil Muslims How the security of Muslims had been compromised for a political agenda became evident in the massacre of ten Muslims in Pottuvil in September 2006. The perpetrators of this massacre were well exposed by the public.The area of Radella in Pottuvil has been the bone of contention between the Sinhala and the Muslim communities, both groups accusing each other of encroaching on state land. Radella was abandoned during the conflict and was reclaimed by Muslims farmers. The STF was vehemently opposed to Muslims cultivating the state lands in the Radella area. Muslim tsunami victims It is widely criticized that the government has not treated the Muslim tsunami victims fairly. Ampara, the country's worst affected district is a glaring example of how ineffective institutions, political rivalries and misinformation can make a mockery of disaster management.Mutur, Kinniya, Kuchchaveli, Pulmoddai and Trincomalee town come under the Divisional Secretariat Division in the Trincomalee District, where thousands of Muslims have been affected by tsunami. Political confusion has greatly contributed to the mismanagement of relief. The LTTE held areas in the district have come under INGO relief and resettlement work. But Muslim areas have been neglected.The situation in the South is different. In Hambantota, the need is only 1,057 houses for the tsunami victims. But the donors have built 4,852 houses! Abduction of Muslim Businessman The issue of abduction and extortion of Muslim Businessmen was raised recently in Parliament. The Muslim politicians in the UNP took up the issue and demanded the resignation of Muslim Ministers. The Muslim ministers chose to trade allegations with the UNP saying that when the Northern Muslims were ethnically cleansed in 1990 during the UNP government, the then Muslim ministers did not resign. Wrong Signal Muslim Political leaders who joined the government to look after the interests of Muslims have miserably failed and neglected the issues confronting the Muslim community. They have tackled only Muslim issues that conform to their party politics and ignored others.The Muslim community is beginning to feel that they are discriminated against and the government is not interested in utilising its resources, when it comes to safe-guarding the interests of the Muslims. It is the Muslims who have been at the receiving end of atrocities by the LTTE for not extending support for the creation of a separate state in the North East. If the government and the security forces, too, cause harm, harass and their lives miserable, one wonders whom the Muslims can turn to for protection.Muslims can’t figure out the signals the government is sending. Is it that the government wants the Muslims to think on the lines of protecting themselves?Are the Muslims to believe that if they remained unarmed there would not be any respect or protection for them? What would be the consequences if the Muslims, too, pinned hopes on arms? The Muslims can no longer be at the receiving end losing more and more lives and property for no fault of theirs. It is time for everyone to realize the gravity of the situation. The government and the Muslim ministers must now indicate clearly without any hesitation that they are prepared to stand by the peaceful and unarmed Muslim community to redress their legitimate grievances before it is too late. 30 October 2007 Sri Lankan Tamil leaders call for India's immediate intervention in the Sri Lankan Tamil conflict Sri Lankan Tamil leaders have urged India to immediately intervene in the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict and to bring about an end to the continuing bloodshed in the island nation. Leader of Western People's Front Mr Mano Ganesan has said that if India continued its present non-interference attitude it would result in disaster not just for the Tamils but to India and Sri Lanka too. He said India should look ahead with foresight and intervene in the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict. Mano Ganesan, who represents Colombo Tamils in the Sri Lankan legislature and a leading campaigner against Sri Lankan government's human rights violations, said that when one pointed out Sri Lanka's human rights violations, India speaks about terrorism. He warned that if India takes a wrong decision in relation to the Sri Lankan Tamil problem, it would a leave a permanent blot in India's reputation. Leader of the Hill Country People's Front Mr P Sandirasegaran, who is a Minister in the Rajapakse Cabinet, voicing his concern about the situation in Sri Lanka said that only India possessed the power to avert a disastrous war in Sri Lanka. India, he said, is in a position to exert pressure on Sri Lanka and to bring about a peaceful settlement of the ethnic problem. Mr Sandirasegaran said that when other countries are expressing their concerns about the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka, India merely issues some statements to placate the sentiments of the Tamilnadu leaders and the Sri Lankan Tamils. This Indian attitude, he said, raised serious questions about the weaknesses of India's foreign policy. He warned that if the struggle of the Sri Lankan Tamils is suppressed by the military might of Sri Lanka, it would have disastrous consequences for the Indian origin Tamils in Sri Lanka. National Organiser of the Ceylon Workers Congress Mr R Yogarajan called for India's immediate intervention in order to set in motion peace negotiations. Only India's mediation role, he said, could bring about an acceptable settlement to both parties. India's role in the past might have caused some unpleasant experiences, but he said, everyone should try to forget the past and come forward to make peace if a major disaster is to be averted. He suggested that a negotiated settlement on a basis similar to the "one country two political systems" policy as was adopted between China and Hong Kong could be the necessary answer to Sri Lanka's problem. Meanwhile, members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), who represent the North East Tamils in the Sri Lankan Parliament, are planning an urgent visit to India in order to alert Indian leaders about an impending war in Sri Lanka. Reports indicate the TNA leaders are trying to arrange urgent meetings with the Indian Prime Minister and the Tamilnadu Chief Minister. They are first expected to go to Chennai for meetings with the Tamilnadu leaders. They are planning to meet Chief Minister Karunanithi and PNK leader Dr Ramadas before going to New Delhi to meet with the leaders of the Indian central government. Tamil National Alliance has appealed to India not to provide military assistance to Sri Lanka. TNA leaders are expected to explain in person the disaster facing the Tamils because of the impending major military offensive planned by the Sri Lankan government. 13 Tamil rebels killed in Sri Lanka , military says Sri Lanka Government troops and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels clashed in three areas of northern Sri Lanka - , leaving 13 guerrillas dead, the military said Tuesday. Soldiers on Monday night foiled an attempt by the rebels to breach the defense line in Muhamalai on northern Jaffna peninsula, killing eight guerrillas, an official at the Defense Ministry information center said. Troops killed two more rebels near the defense line of Nagarkovil, also on the peninsula, early Tuesday, the official said on condition of anonymity citing government policy. Soldiers also observed a group of rebels further south in Vavuniya district, and fired artillery killing three more rebels, the official said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for comment. SLN increases troop strength in Veala'nai Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) command has been transporting additional soldiers to the SLN camp in Veala'nai in the islets of Jaffna for the past three days, sources in Jaffna said. Soldiers are arriving in SLN ships from Mannaar to Kayts, and also from Colombo to Palaali by air and transported by road to Veala'nai, according to sources. Security has also been strengthened along the main road to Veala'nai from Jaffna town, and vehicular and pedestrian travels along the road have been restricted, to facilitate troop movement. Tension prevails in islets as residents speculate that SLN may be planning for an offensive towards Pooneryn.Islet residents also inform they have observed increasing air surveillance over the area during the past three days. Remebering Battle for Pooneryn 'Moving towards a military rule'- UNP Sweeping powers to OOC After the attack on Anuradhapura air base by the black tigers, president Rajapaksha appointed Major General Sanath Karunarathne as the overall operations commander (OOC) of Anuradhapura district. According to the Sunday Times news paper, General Karunarathna has sweeping powers in all military and political activity in the Anuradhapura district. He has given powers to command over Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Special Task Force and civil security department personnel tasked for operational duties in the district. Buddhist prelates may visit Wanni Prominent Buddhist prelates may visit the Wanni shortly following an invitation by Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, a Caritas Sri Lanka spokesman told Daily Mirror yesterday. He said as a follow-up to the invitation, plans were underway to invite prominent Buddhist prelates from the South to visit the Wanni. The Bishop who met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees last week had told the President that it was important to start peace negotiations to find a reasonable solution to the national crisis. UN sleuth urges Sri Lanka crack down on torture A U.N. investigator called on the Sri Lankan government on Monday to crack down hard on what he said appeared to be a widespread use of torture by security forces in their battle with Tamil Tiger rebels.Manfred Nowak, special rapporteur on torture for the U.N. Human Rights Council, issued his call along with a list of recommendations following a week-long visit to the country earlier this month on an official invitation.The high number of torture indictments filed by official bodies and the many complaints received by the National Human Rights Commission on the island "indicates that torture is widely practised in Sri Lanka", Nowak said.The practice, he added in a report issued through the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, "is prone to become routine in the context of counter-terrorism operations".Nowak said he appreciated the challenges the government faced in the violent and long-running conflict with the Tigers.But he said that on the basis of his findings, the authorities should investigate torture allegations against the country's Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) and speed up criminal procedures in torture cases.One way to do this would be establishing special courts to deal with torture and ill-treatment of detainees, Nowak argued.The government, he said, should "ensure that all allegations of torture and ill-treatment are promptly and thoroughly investigated by an independent authority" and establish an independent complaints system in prisons for torture and abuse.It should also ensure that confessions made by people in custody without the presence of a lawyer and not confirmed before a judge should not be admissible as evidence against the person making the confession, the investigator added. He also called for the abolition of capital punishment, or at least the commutation of death into prison sentences. Three Lankan refugees escape from camp Three inmates of the Chengalpattu Sri Lankan refugee camp, including two Lankan Tamils, escaped early yesterday. Police said the trio, including a local Tamil, escaped from the camp by scaling the trunk of a tree and jumping out of the 15-foot-high compound wall in the camp. The tree, adjoining the compound wall, had fallen down sunday following heavy rains. They were identified as Pattu alias Yesu Gunaraja (42), Thavaraja alias Suresh Siddhartha (28), the two Sri Lankan Tamils, and Vijayapandi (35) of Vilathikulam in Tuticorin.District Superintendent of Police I Periaiah, who visited the camp along with Q branch Inspector Govindaraj, said three special police teams have been formed to nab the trio.Gunaraja and Siddhartha were initially lodged in the Devakottai and Mandapan refugee camp respectively, before being shifted to Chengalpattu as he was facing several criminal cases. Vijayapandi had made a clandestine visit to Sri Lanka during 1993-94 and married a woman there. He was initially lodged in the Villupuram camp and shifted to Chengalpattu after he murdered a refugee there, police said. 7 drowned, 3 missing, vehicle plunges into Kelani river Seven Tamil civilians were drowned, three reported missing and four wounded when their vehicle returning after sending off a person at Katunayake International Airport, plunged into Kelani river at Kitulgala around 4:30 p.m. Monday, Police said. The passengers had come from Maskeliya in the Up-Country, Police said. The accident has occurred during bad weather at Kitulgala where the Academy Award-winning World War II film, The Bridge on the River Kwai, was filmed. Divers have been sent to the location to locate the drowned and the missing persons. 2 civilians wounded, SLAF attacks Puthukkudiyiruppu Four Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir fighter bombers have attacked Koampaavil, a densely populated residential area in Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaiththeevu district, Monday between 10 and 10:40 a.m., destroying two houses and wounding the owners of the houses, a 43-year-old mother and a 46-year-old man. More than 3800 students, attending the schools in the area, were forced to seek bunkers for safety.The wounded, identified as Yogarajah, 46, and Santhakumari Perinpanayagam, 43, have been admitted at Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital. Their houses were completely destroyed in the attack. Four Kfir bombers have dropped 18 bombs in the area, Tamileelam Police officials in Puthukkuyiruppu told media. Four houses have been damaged. Koampaavil is located 700 meters away from Puthukkudiyiruppu junction. Puthukkudiyiruppu has been continuously targeted by the SLAF. More than 3800 children were at the five schools located in Puthukkudiyirrppu at the time of the bombing and the students were seen scattering in panic when the bombers began the strike on civilian settlements. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was observed above Puthukkudiyiruppu prior to the bombardment Monday. Lanka conscious of Tamil Nadu factor: Defense Secretary The Sri Lanka government is conscious of the Tamil Nadu factor in determining New Delhi's Sri Lanka policy, and it strives to ensure that the war waged in the island's North and East is directed against the LTTE terrorists and not against innocent Tamil civilians, Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapksa, has said.In an interview to the state-owned Rupavahini TV channel on Sunday, Rajapakasa said that India's Central government would be able to help Sri Lanka fight LTTE terrorism only if Tamil civilian casualties were minimal, in view of the fact that Tamil Nadu state was home to 60 million Tamils."We have to make Tamil Nadu comfortable so that the Centre can help us," Rajapaksa said. Being President Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother, the Defense Secretary is one of the three most powerful persons in Sri Lanka."It is to avoid (Tamil) civilian casualties that the armed forces took time to liberate the East," Rajapaksa recalled. "And immediately after the area was cleared, we went about resettling and rehabilitating the displaced civilians. We kept the Indian government briefed about our objectives and strategies.We explained that we were striking terrorism while looking after the interests of the Tamil community," he said.And India understood what the Sri Lankan armed forces were doing. Sri Lanka had gained India's confidence. "India is very helpful to us," Rajapaksa said. The Defense Secretary's comments on state TV were significant in the context of an Indian agency's report quoting India's Army chief, Gen.Deepak Kapoor, as saying that India had supplied air defense guns to Sri Lanka.India had already supplied 2D radars, which, according to the Sri Lankan Air Force chief Air Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke had performed very well doing the recent LTTE air attack on the Anuradhpura air base. GOOD RELATIONS WITH S.E ASIA KEY The Sri Lankan Defense Secretary said that not just India but other countries, big and small, were also helping Sri Lanka. He mentioned Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand in this context and said that Sri Lanka was getting valuable information about the clandestine activities of the LTTE in these countries. "Sri Lanka had for long neglected South East Asia though KP (the LTTE's arms procurer) was living there. But thanks to the visits of our Prime Minister and Foreign Minister we are getting intelligence and we too are sharing intelligence with them," Rajapaksa said.In the past year, the Sri Lankan Navy has sunk eight LTTE arms carrying freighters which has greatly impaired the group's arms smuggling activities and its ability to challenge the Sri Lankan Navy. Experts believe that such a situation would not have been possible if Sri Lanka did not have good intelligence cooperation with South East Asian countries. 29 October 2007 Lanka lost 24 aircraft in rebel attack: Top defence analyst More shocking details of last Monday’s surprise Tamil Tiger attack on a Sri Lankan airbase emerged yesterday with a top Sri Lankan defence analyst saying that up to 24 aircraft were either destroyed or damaged.Iqbal Athas, correspondent for the London-based Jane’s Defence Weekly, in his much-read weekly column to the Colombo-based The Sunday Times newspaper, says only three helicopters survived the attack which was carried out by as many as 27 guerrillas of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, indicating some guerrillas managed to escape. The military said on Monday it found the bodies of 20 guerrillas and claimed that the air force lost only three aircraft in the attack on the airbase in Anuradhapura, some 168 km north of Colombo. However, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, making a statement in parliament, said the country lost eight aircraft – seven in the airbase and one that crashed while on its way to the airbase from an airbase in Vavuniya in the north. But according to Athas, a journalist who is also attached to the CNN, two brand new Israeli-supplied unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), one Mi-17 troop transport helicopter, four Chinese-built PT-6 basic trainers, one US-built Beechcraft 200 aircraft which was equipped with sophisticated surveillance instruments, one Chinese-built K-8 jet trainer and one-Mi-24 gunship were completely destroyed.Aircraft that were damaged in the attack were one UAV, three PT-6 basic trainers, five K-8 jet trainer aircraft, four Italian-built Siai Marchetti propeller-driven bombers and one Mi-24 helicopter gunship. Only three Mi-17 troop transport helicopters that were parked in a distant corner of the airbase escaped guerrilla fire. Athas says his figures were based on interviews he conducted with Air Force officials in Colombo and in Anuradhapura. He says the minimum cost of the losses is estimated to be US$ 30 million. According to him, the guerrillas clad in camouflage uniform worn by security forces, armed with anti-tank weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47s, improvised explosive devices, suicide jackets, and satellite phones among other items, stayed put in a nearby abandoned house on a land belonging to a military officer, before they set out on their mission around 3 am. The infiltration was so easy that the task of penetration by cutting through the chain-link perimeter fence and a second razor-sharp concertina wire fence was achieved in quick time. Please stop your killings and go for talks TULF President V. Anandasangaree while strongly condemning the LTTE terrorist attack on Anuradhapura last Monday, urged LTTE leader V. Prabakaran to stop his senseless murders of innocent people and stop the sacrificing of innocent children and agree for talks accepting a reasonable solution. Anandasangarees letter states: No teacher strike Teacher Trade Unions yesterday decided to terminate the islandwide strike scheduled for today and tomorrow following a discussion with Education Minister Susil Premajayantha. Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said the trade unions were apprised the Government’s stance and the Cabinet of Ministers directives towards the settlement of this issue at this discussion held at the Ministry yesterday. The Cabinet had directed the Salary and Cadre Commission to directly involve in this matter and settle the issue before December 31. The Trade Unions in conformity to this decision agreed to give up their proposed Trade Union action, the minister said. Meanwhile, Mahinda Jayasinghe of Lanka Guruseva Sangamaya said their trade union action scheduled for today and tomorrow had to be cancelled as the Cabinet of Ministers had directed the Salary and Cadre Commission to solve this issue. The Cabinet has given an assurance to the TUs that it would mediate directly in the process of rectifying the salary anomalies of teachers after the consultation with the TUs if any need arises in future. Is LTTE toying with bourse in Colombo? Over a million illegal arms in Sri Lanka: watchdog Work on Sethu will go ahead - Indian Shipping Minister Indian Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu has said that work on the controversial Sethusamudram project will go ahead. “More than 60 per cent work in the Palk Straits, separating India and Sri Lanka, is over while dredging near the Adam’s Bridge, a 48- kilometre chain of limestone shoals that once linked Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Mannar in Sri Lanka, has been stopped following Supreme Court orders,” Baalu said. He said over 60 billion rupees has been spent on the project. “Actually as far as Palk Strait is concerned, it is 65-70 per cent complete. Overall, as of now, we have completed 8-9 million cubic meters in Adam’s bridge,” Baalu added. Earlier, asserting that the project will be completed by November 2008, he said that the first ship that will cross the Adam’s bridge would be flagged off by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Journalist twin brother killed in mistaken identity The killing of Kangarajan Pradeepan on last Friday (26) in Jaffna has given rise to suspicions that he was killed in mistaken identity of his journalist brother. Pradeepan is the twin brother of Kangarajan Prashanthan who worked in Namathu Eelandu newspaper until it was closed in 2006. The news paper had to close down after its managing director Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah was shot dead at his residence Thellippalai Jaffna on 21st August 2006. Selvarahj Rajivarnam (24), another journalist who worked in Namathu Eelanadu news paper was shot dead on 30th April 2007. He was cycling to his work place when he was shod dead by unidentified gunmen on Rasaavin Thoaddam road in Jaffna. He has joined the Uthayan news paper as a crime reporter four months ago.Pradeepan was cycling to Jaffna city to his work place when he was shod dead at Browns road by gunmen on motor cycles around 8.30 am 26th October 2007. His twin brother Prashanthan too used to cycle on the same root to his work daily, but on fatal day he did not go to work. They lived in Kokuvil east, Kokuvil some 2-3 Km form Jaffna city.Jaffna sources told FMM that the twins look very much alike and it was very difficult to recognize them separately for people who do know them personally. Same sources told FMM that they couldn't see any reason for killing Kangarajan Pradeepan. FMM is afraid that Pradeepan was killed in mistaken identity for his journalist brother and journalist Prashanthan maybe in danger. Jaffna city and its environments have been under the Sri Lanka Government for nearly 12 years and all main roads are heavily guarded by armed forces. JMO takes responsibility for burial of LTTE cadres The Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of Anuradhapura Ajith Jayasena yesterday said that he took the responsibility for the burial of 21 LTTE cadres killed in the pre-dawn attack on the Anuradhapura airbase last week. The Anuradhapura JMO said that he took steps in this regard in accordance with the international norms followed in burying decomposed bodies adding that that the bodies were buried in a manner that it could be exhumed for further examination purposes if necessary. Mr. Jayasena added that there were no facilities in the Anuradhapura hospital mortuary to keep the bodies. The bodies of the LTTE cadres killed in the attack on October 22 were brought to the Anuradhapura Hospital the next day and post-mortems were conducted for each of them from 1.00 p.m. till 9.15 p.m. the same day. 28 October 2007 APRC reaches consensus? The All Party Representatives Committee (APRC), which temporarily suspended its sittings last Tuesday has made ‘significant progress’ during the past few weeks, with the Committee reaching consensus on several vital issues such as the form of government, electoral system and the judiciary, The Nation reliably learns. Accordingly, the form of government agreed by the APRC would have a Senate consisting 75 members elected by the provincial legislature and the House of Representatives consisting 225 members, who will be elected by the people. The Prime Minister will be the head of government that will be formed by the party holding the majority in the House of Representatives. A decision has also been taken to restrict Cabinet and deputy ministers, under the new proposed constitution, to around 30 each. There will be a ceremonial president who will be elected by Parliament and there will also be a vice president. “Accordingly, in the event the president is from the majority community, the vice president will be from a different community, both president and vice president can’t be from the same community,” highly placed sources disclosed to The Nation. The parties which have had more than 50 long drawn out meetings on weekly basis have agreed to several of the proposals submitted by Prof. Tissa Vitarana, who is also the Chairman of the Committee. Vitarana’s proposal was drawn up in keeping with the experts’ panel’s majority report. Meanwhile, in several other decisions taken by the Committee, the APRC had rejected the concept of a constitutional court as proposed by the experts’ panel and had instead decided to continue with the present judicial system, which consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, Provincial High Courts and other courts. The Committee had also decided that the electoral system will be a mixture of the First Past the Post system and the proportional representation. The APRC temporarily suspended its sittings due to the impending budget, and as the Chairman of the Committee will be out of the country on an official assignment. PRESIDENT FLIPS, OVERRULES BOGOLS An annoyed President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week overruled a posting made by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and decided to retain Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Belgium, K J Weerasinghe. The Foriegn Minister had also appointed his intended son- in-law for the post of Second Seretary in Washington. Former UNP frontliner (now Presidential adviser) Tyronne Fernando also seems set to lose his new posting to Paris after the President expressed satisfaction over the performance of Sri Lanka’s current Ambassador to Paris, senior career diplomat Chitranganee Wagiswara. Wagiswara had led Sri Lanka’s successful campaign for re-election to the Executive Board of UNESCO. At a poll held on Wednesday, the country retained its seat for a further period of four years, securing 130 votes.President Rajapaksa was told about Sri Lanka’s performance at the UNESCO election during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. He had reportedly said that he had been watching Wagiswara’s performance. “The election was to be an acid test,” revealed an authoritative Cabinet source. “And since she had risen to the challenge, the President said he would consider retaining her in Paris.” Wagiswara was controversially recalled by the Foreign Ministry, three months before her posting was to expire. She was to be replaced by Tyronne Fernando. Fernando was unaware of the new development. “The President first spoke to me and offered me this post,” he asserted. “I haven’t heard a thing about this.” Weerasinghe - the former Director General of Commerce who is not a career diplomat - had also recently been recalled to Colombo from Brussels. He was to be replaced by career diplomat Ravinatha Ariyasinghe. But at the Cabinet meeting, Minister G. L. Peiris told President Rajapaksa that the GSP+ review was scheduled for next year and that it would not be in Sri Lanka’s favour to move Weerasinghe. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, who had just returned from a trip to Brussels, also said that all top officials of the European Commission were appreciative of Ambassador Weerasinghe’s performance. “Sending someone new would not help the situation,” he told the President. “We need to keep people who have the contacts and knowledge on this issue.” This was supported by Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and Karu Jayasuriya. At this point, Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila (who was attending Cabinet in Bogollagama’s absence) said he did not think the new postings could be cancelled because they had been approved by the High Posts Committee of Parliament. The President reportedly responded that he had been in Parliament for 30 years and that he knew that the High Posts Committee only looks at the suitability of a nominee. “It doesn’t decide on a nominee,” he had said. “That’s my prerogative as President.” The President also held that, since a majority of the Cabinet of Ministers were in favour of keeping Weerasinghe, a decision would be recorded in Cabinet that the Ambassador should be kept on. “The President was annoyed and said he had told Rohitha not to change him (Weerasinghe) as he had already decided to retain the Ambassador in Brussels,” the source said. Arbour calls again for UN Rights Mission UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour last week reiterated that the establishment of a presence of her office here would go a long way to understanding the prevalent human rights situation.However, Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that Arbour had not made any request to set up an office under the Office of the UN Human Rights Commissioner in Sri Lanka during her visit earlier in the month. "What the office could contribute would be a presence in Sri Lanka, acting under a full mandate, which could offer some technical assistance whilst filling the information gap. That would go a long way to satisfying the desire of Sri Lankans for a proper understanding of the situation in their country," the UN quoted Arbour telling the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) last week.However, Samarasinghe wrote to the American Ambassador here Robert Blake that Arbour had not made any request for the setting up of an office. "I must point out that the Office of the High Commissioner does not maintain an OHCHR 'office' in Sri Lanka. Any discussion of its 'expansion,' therefore, will be redundant. OHCHR's presence in Sri Lanka consists of a senior human rights advisor and an assistant working under the aegis of the UN Country Team. I would like to reiterate, moreover, that not once in her statement of 13 October did Madame Arbour request the establishment of an 'office' in Sri Lanka," he said in the letter. LTTE attack bursts govt’s bubble After a lull of several weeks, the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) took a dramatic turn last week with the attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force base, ending months of speculation about the striking capabilities of the Tigers.By any yardstick, the attack has had serious consequences. On the one hand, it was the first instance where the terrorists launched a combined ground and air offensive, indicating its strength as a fighting unit. On the other hand, at least eight aircraft have been seriously damaged or destroyed, which must be a severe dent on the capabilities of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), not to mention the huge cost of the attack.The aftermath of the attack has been almost predictable. The government media, as it usually does, when incidents of this nature occur, has been working overtime to question the credibility of anyone querying the preparedness for the assault. It has even gone so far as to say that those who pose such inquiries are traitors attempting to demoralise the armed forces.The main opposition United National Party (UNP) meanwhile, indulges in its favourite past-time of ‘Rajapaksa bashing’, calling for the resignations of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa with Air Force Commander Roshan Gunatilleke, added for good measure. Insecurities None of these postures are, of course, helpful and only indicate the respective political insecurities of the government as well as the opposition. More serious questions, however, loom and need to be addressed by saner counsel.One factor hailed as a strong point of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, was its determined stand against the LTTE vis-a-vis military operations, and its refusal to yield to the many demands of the Tigers, even in the face of serious arm twisting from the international community. Obviously, this was compared to the ‘bend-over-backwards-to-please-the-Tigers policy of the Ranil Wickremesinghe led United National Front regime, and earned brownie points for Rajapaksa from the southern electorate.The government was not shy to crow about its military successes either. It was stating its case, with the southern voter arguing that the war against the Tigers was the reason for the rising cost of living-not corruption, and not the burden of maintaining a humongous Cabinet of ministers either. And as evidence, it was citing first Mavil Aru, then Thoppigala and Silavatura, and finally, what it called the ‘liberation’ of the Eastern Province.The attack on the Yala sanctuary that preceded the attack on the SLAF base, was an indication that the LTTE was not as impotent in the East, as it was made out to be. But, if anyone needed any convincing about the terrorists’ intentions or capabilities, the Anuradhapura attack would have laid any doubts to rest. Bungle When incidents of this nature occur, there has been a tendency for successive governments to bungle, especially, in the publicity war that ensues. And so it did. Initially, the government was to announce that three aircraft were damaged or destroyed, but the Opposition was to counter that by claiming 18 aircraft were affected. Then, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake was to tell parliament that the number was in fact eight.Then, there was the issue of the alleged displaying of the naked bodies of LTTE suicide cadres, who had perished in the attack. The LTTE and its allied media network were accusing the government of parading the bodies of the terrorists naked in a tractor, through the streets of Anuradhapura. The government has responded saying that photographs that depicted such a scene had in fact been doctored. But, the irony must not be lost: here was a blatant act of terrorism by the Tigers, but the LTTE was now scoring points in a propaganda war, and has almost succeeded in putting the government in the dock! Military perspective From a military perspective, the inference from the attack is that the LTTE will use aerial attacks to try and weaken Colombo’s resolve to crush them on the battlefield. This is similar to the previous LTTE tactic of staging suicide bomb attacks in the city, when the ground war in the North entered crucial stages. Of course, aerial attacks would necessarily be fewer and far between, considering the logistics involved, but its impact is also that much more dramatic.For the government though, the more immediate concern would be the political fallout of the attack. It is no secret that the war effort of the Rajapaksa regime, is its saving grace. The masses have been told to grin and bear the burdens of the skyrocketing cost of living, because a war is on. The war is, of course, also a good reason to put other issues-such as media freedom, corruption, and abuse of power-also on the backburner. Promised land The promised land is a land without the scourge of terrorism, and sections of the administration –including those in the highest echelons of power-genuinely believe this is possible. They also believe that if this is achieved, the southern voter will pardon all of their other sins, whatever they may be. Last week’s attack though, burst that bubble a bit. The government would now have to prove that the current setback was just a minor obstacle in the grander scheme of defeating the LTTE. There will always be ‘knee jerk’ bombings of ‘identified targets’, but such announcements will convince few in the long run. If anything, the political tightrope that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his regime are already walking, just got a little bit more difficult to balance. Teachers to go on strike tomorrow All government schools will come to a standstill tomorrow (29) and the day after (30), when teachers and principals resort to trade union action to urge the government to rectify their salary anomalies.In order to urge the government to heed the trade union demands the proposed general strike is to bring all school functions to a complete standstill, said General Secretary, Ceylon Teachers Service Union, Mahinda Jayasinghe."This trade union action is not against the innocent children of this country. The government on several occasions fooled the trade unions promising to rectify the salary anomalies but so far they have failed to do so. This trade union action is launched against the government," Jayasinghe said.Jayasinghe told The Sunday Leader that the trade unions have given enough time to the government to present a favourable answer but said the long spell of silence meant that neither the government nor the Education Ministry was prepared to give a firm solution to the teachers' grievances.Meanwhile, Chairman, National Education Services Union, UNP Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara accused the government of failing to rectify the salary anomalies of the government teachers."They have been agitating for the salary rectification for a long period but the government has so far failed to give a solution," Bandara said.However, Defence Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at a press briefing held in Colombo last week said that the impending two-day strike by government teachers was unethical."Although the teacher trade unions are agitating for a higher salary structure with a salary rectification they draw higher salaries than that of the other public servants. This trade union action is unprincipled as they put the children in difficulty," Rambukwella said. Education Minister Susil Premjayanth was not available for comment. Black Tigers were working at the A’pura air force base? Initial investigations have revealed that one of the Black Tigers who took part in Monday’s pre -dawn LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force base has been working in the camp as a contract labourer under the project to develop the runway of the air force camp.Investigations have revealed that 164 civilian workers have been working inside the air force camp prior to the attack and no one has undergone any type of background investigation by the authorities other than the checking of their Identity Cards whenever they entered the camp.According to initial findings, one of the names in the Black Tiger list issued by the LTTE stating who took part in the attack is similar to the name of a worker who worked in the air force base under the development project. It has also been revealed that several lorries from Batticaloa had transported sand for the development project at the base. The Nation reliably learns that a security person who was apprehended on suspicion and made to retire after he was found guilty of being involved in the Ratmalana bomb blast had rented out his house which is situated in close proximity to the Anuradhapura Air Force base to several Tamil people.So far the investigation teams have questioned some 256 air force personnel including the Commanding Officer of the camp. However, when The Nation contacted Director General of the Media Centre for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle, he refused to give details on the ongoing investigations citing that the report has still not been released yet. “Until the reports are out, we cannot make any comments on rumours as they will hamper the ongoing investigations,” he added. Arthur forced to record statement in Sinhalese The Criminal Investigation Department did not allow The Sunday Leader journalist, Arthur Warmanan to provide his statement in Tamil or English, insisting that his statement be recorded in Sinhalese, it has now been revealed. Warmanan who was arrested on Wednesday (24) night by the CID based on a complaint by Minister Mano Wijeratne, told The Nation that he found it “very difficult” to make his statement and answer questions in Sinhalese.Warmanan, who is an ethnic Tamil, was detained by the CID until the Mount Lavinia Magistrate on Friday (26) granted him bail and reprimanded the officers who had arrested him for making a mountain out of a molehill. The CID’s refusal to allow him to say his piece in his mother-tongue, is a grave violation of Warmanan’s fundamental rights, according to legal experts. Trincomalee celebrates Kumbam festival Houses robbed within curfew hours in Jaffna An unidentified group of armed men dressed in black fatigues with their faces covered with black cloth Friday night at about 8:00 p.m. entered at least three houses located within the boundary of Jaffna Municipal Council robbing the houses of cash and jewelry.The gang speaking fluently in Tamil and Sinhala targeted more than three houses along Navalar Road , Kantharmadam railway station road, and another residence near Jaffna Hindu College.The robbers first forced themselves into a house located on Railway Station road in Kantharmadam, where the inmates were assaulted with swords and gun butts. After looting the valuables including cash and jewelry worth many lakhs of rupees, the occupants were abducted in a car and taken to unknown destination. The armed group then proceeded to a house near Jaffna Hindu College where again the valuables worth many lakhs were robbed. Gun shots were fired during the robbery, neighbours said.The civilians in the area have expressed shock that these robberies occurred while the night time curfew was in force and pointed out that there was a large number of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) mini camps and check points in the areas where the targeted houses are located. The affected residents have already lodged complaints with Jaffna police. Robberies in Jaffna which had decreased in the recent times have a shown a sudden increase causing tension throughout Jaffna peninsula. LTTE weapons concealed in containers The special police team conducting investigations relating to the large haul of weapons, communication equipment and explosives detected recently has been able to elicit information about the LTTE’s method of smuggling such items with the connivance of customs officers. A group of hard core LTTE members who were arrested and under interrogation in connection with this case, has revealed how such contrabands are cleared-out of the Colombo Harbour meticulously concealed in food containers. They have also divulged names of a few customs officials who were helping the LTTE, smuggle arms and ammunition and explosives in this manner. Travellers with forged visas implicate deputy airport chief The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has begun a probe into an incident where Shalitha Wijesundera, Deputy Chairman of Airports and Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, is said to have tried to facilitate the exit of two Sri Lankans on forged visas to the United Kingdom.The matter came to light when airport authorities detained two Tamil nationals after a British official, assigned to the airport to ascertain the authenticity of visas to UK of passengers leaving the airport, discovered that the visas they held had been forged.The incident had taken place on Wednesday. It is alleged that Mr. Wijesundera had escorted the passengers, Balasubramaniam Prasannan, 20, and Ulaganthirajah Manimalar, 22, to the boarding gate. He had earlier had them cleared at the Immigration desk. SriLankan Airlines officials and the British official had examined the passports. It is only then that the detection had been made. The two men are held for questioning. Upon being questioned, they had alleged that Mr. Wijesundera was paid two hundred Sterling Pounds (about Rs. 52,000) for the help he rendered. They have also alleged that Mr. Wijesundera took them to the Lotus Lounge to wait until the departure of the flight was announced. Mr. Wijesundera declined to comment when asked by The Sunday Times. He said he did not wish to make any comments at this moment since an investigation into the matter was already under way, except to say the allegations against him were false. Government sources told The Sunday Times that Mr. Wijesundera is to be called upon to tender his resignation. 23 killed in Sri Lanka clashes At least 20 Tamil Tiger rebels and three soldiers have been killed in a series of clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled north, officials said on Sunday.Troops manning forward defence lines at Mullikulam, 270 kms north of Colombo, confronted a group of LTTE rebels on Saturday killing three of them while the rest fled, security sources said.The security forces also repulsed another rebel attempt to breach the defence lines at Palamoddai, north west of Vavuniya on Saturday evening, killing three guerrillas and inflicting heavy damage on the LTTE. Ground sources confirmed that an LTTE bunker was destroyed in the retaliatory attacks by the troops.Continuing their pre-emptive strikes near the Wanni Forward Defence Lines in the north of Uyilankulam, troops destroyed three LTTE bunkers, killing four rebels and seriously injuring 10 others on Saturday.In a separate incident, ground forces, in retaliation to an LTTE offensive, at Parappakandal in north-western Mannar killed four guerrillas.They also damaged two LTTE heavy guns, thereby dismantling the rebels' attempts to regroup, said military sources."Separately, in a location North West of Giant's Tank in Mannar, troops confronted an LTTE group killing six of them," security sources said. 27 October 2007 FMM calls on Govt. to let ABC go on air again The Free Media Movement says that the arbitrary action of the Government in suspending the five channels of the ABC Radio Network could set a dangerous precedent for undermining the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka and called for an immediate reinstitution of the licences of the ABC radio. Condemning the behaviour of the authorities in this regard the FMM in a statement says that Government should have conducted a proper and independent investigation of the actions of the ABC network with regard to the broadcast in question and taken appropriate corrective action without closing down an entire network depriving the public of information and other programmes offered by these radio stations.At the same time the FMM underlines the principles of social responsibility of the media and urges media personnel and organizations to be more careful and sensitive in publicizing incidents without complete verification. The statement further states, “the FMM is deeply concerned about this drastic action by the government not only because of what it indicates about the state of media freedom in this country, but also because of the impact such a sudden closure can have on the over 300 persons who are employed by the ABC radio network. “The reason given by the government for this drastic action is related to a news item broadcast by the ABC channels regarding a suspected LTTE attack on Ranminitenna, a village in Tissamaharama in the south of Sri Lanka. The ABC network promptly corrected their news story as soon as they learnt that no such attack had transpired. “In its communiqué to the ABC network, the Ministry has said that this action was being taken because the news item broadcast by the network had caused panic in the area. “According to FMM information, a number of other channels too have broadcast similar news items but the government has singled out the ABC net work for punishment. “The radio stations run by the ABC network have a reputation for broadcasting news that is critical of the existing situation. Its Tamil channel Sooriyan FM is one of two privately owned Tamil language radio channels in Sri Lanka . Sooriyan News director N. Kirupharan was abducted and released after 13 hours on 28th Aug 2006. In early 2006 the ABC network was warned by senior members of the government against broadcasting voice cuts of LTTE leaders. “We also call on the Ministry of Media and Information to adopt a more democratic and consultative stand in dealing with media personnel and institutions in the broader interests of democratic practice in Sri Lanka”. Karu Group to register as new party Five radio channels silenced The punishment does not fit the crime As a result of recalling the license Hiru, Sha, Gold, Sun and Surian FM services have had to be taken off air. Speaking to Sandeshaya the convener of free media movement said that the decision to put the ABC network off air is politically motivated.“The punishment does not fit the crime” said Sunanda Deshapriya convener of the free media movement He pointed out that the radio station corrected the news as soon as possible.“This is another act against the freedom of free media in Sri Lanka” added Deshapriya.Delivering a speech in Pollonnaruwa on Thursday President Rajapakse said that he is running out of patience with the sections of the media that are irresponsible. Omanthai opened on Saturdays to allow fertilizer to the Wanni The International Committee of the Red Cross said that at the request of the government and the LTTE, the ICRC agreed to extend its presence at the Omanthai crossing point to six days a week, ICRC Chief Toon Vandenhove said.The request to open the crossing point between government-controlled and LTTE held areas in Vavuniya upto Saturday was mainly to transport more than 3,500 tonnes of fertilizer to the Wanni region during the harvesting season. "The ICRC agreed to extend its presence at Omanthai to help the region's farmers. The extra day will make it easier for both parties to check the hundreds of trucks that transport vital fertilizer in addition to the usual traffic crossing the lines from Monday to Friday," the ICRC Chief said. The parties agreed that only convoys carrying fertilizer would be allowed to cross Omanthai on Saturdays.In August the ICRC agreed to extend its presence at Omanthai to five days a week to facilitate some 50,000 people and 7,000 vehicles on an average to pass through the crossing point each month. 24 youths charged with having LTTE links further remanded The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court has sent 24 Sinhala and Tamil youths into further remand custody on charges of having had links with the LTTE and undergoing arms training and possessing explosives. The suspects were produced before the court today (Oct. 26th) under tight security.The Colombo Terrorist Investigation Division informed the court that advice was being sought from the Attorney General with regard to the suspects. Colombo Chief Magistrate Kusala Sarojani Weerawardena remanded the 24 youths until November 09th. Six soldiers, eight rebels killed in Sri Lanka Six soldiers and eight Tamil rebels were killed in four separate incidents in the northern part of Sri Lanka, a military spokesman said Friday.The six soldiers were killed when they were inspecting mines, which had already been removed from an area where civilians are to be resettled in Vavuniya, 240 km north of the capital.A group of de-mining soldiers had cleared a highly mined civilian area and left them to be inspected and defused when one of the mines exploded, the spokesman said.Earlier, the military reported that eight rebels were killed in three separate clashes in the Vavuniya area Thursday.Sporadic fighting in the north of Sri Lanka has escalated during the past month with more than 500 people dead. Black Tigers buried without court order Registrar of the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court Sujeewa Chithrangani Seneviratne said yesterday (October 25th) that the burial of the LTTE Black Tiger cadres who attacked the Anuradhapura Air Force Base had taken place without a court order.The bodies were displayed to the public at the Kadapanaha Junction while being transported to the Anuradhapura General Hospital for post mortems examinations on October 23rd.The judicial medical officer of the Anuradhapura General Hospital was notified to submit the post mortem reports to the court while the Anuradhapura HQI was ordered to seek instructions from the court regarding the bodies.However, the security forces have buried the bodies, paying no heed to these orders.Ms. Seneviratne confirmed the news reports carried by foreign media regarding this matter.According to international laws of war, dead bodies of combatants should be returned to the party of the dead. On such occasions, the ICRC acts as a mediator. Lanka needs 4 months to replace lost planes Sri Lanka's military will need up to four months to replace aircraft lost in a suicide attack staged by Tamil Tiger rebels, a top official said yesterday. Eight aircraft, including a twin-turbo prop Beechcraft surveillance plane were destroyed when a crack Tamil Tiger suicide squad struck a key air base in Anuradhapura, 210 kilometres (130 miles) north of Colombo, on Monday. "We estimate our loss at about 15 million dollars," air force chief Roshan Goonetileke told reporters here. "The Beechcraft alone costs about three to four million dollars, other ancillary equipment another six million dollars or so.... It should take about three to four months to replace our fleet," Goonetileke said. He said the air force's attack capabilities "have not been reduced in any way" and the fleet of Russian MiG-27 and Israeli Kfir jets remained intact. "The aircraft were hit by LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) ground attacks and not by their planes. There were many more aircraft at the camp and they were not damaged," he said. Goonetileke said the island's Indian-installed radar system had given an early warning. "However, the air defence system has not been installed throughout the country yet... about 70 percent is covered.... Some areas are vulnerable, some not. We can't protect the whole of Sri Lanka right now," he said. Goonetileke said sophisticated air defence systems usually took about five to six years to install, but Sri Lankan authorities are hoping to complete the process within a year. APRC on leave for two months The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which completed its 51st sitting last Tuesday will not meet again for the next two months due to the upcoming Budget and the APRC Chairman Minister Tissa Vitarana going abroad to attend a UNESCO meeting.Despite holding 51 sessions this year, the APRC is yet to accomplish its assigned task of working out a consensual political solution to the national crisis. The Committee which met on Tuesday discussed the criteria for power-sharing with regard to the subject of environment between the centre and the provinces. Political sources told the Daily Mirror yesterday the original set of proposals for power- sharing put forward by Prof. Vitarana had been discussed at length. However committee proceedings faced a snag this year after the JHU and MEP, two parties in the ruling coalition, objected to the APRC opting for a federal structure in devolving power.The main opposition UNP has also suspended its participation in the Committee meetings until the government and its coalition partners came up with a common stance for the resolution of the ethnic conflict. President, Archbishop discuss Madhu Peace Zone proposal Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Oswald Gomis met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday for a discussion on bolstering security measures in the newly liberated Silavathura and also in Mannar. They discussed the welfare of residents of these areas and the problems they face. The resettlement of displaced persons was also taken up. The Archbishop and the President also discussed the possibility of declaring the Madhu Church area as a Peace Zone. Mannar Bishop Rt Rev. Rayappu Joseph and Madhu Church Administrator Rt Rev. Emilus Pillai also participated in the discussion. 26 October 2007 Tamil Tigers claim naval bus hit Tamil Tigers ruin Sri Lanka military plans: observers Sri Lanka prints Rs. 15.9 billion in the first three months of this year Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued new currency to the value of Rs. 15.9 billion within the first three months of this year, said Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle at the parliament answering a question posed by People’s Liberation Front (JVP) MP Anura Kumara Disanayaka. According to the Minister Rs. 24.8 billion was printed last year and Rs. 16.6 billion in 2005. However, the issue of money had decreased by 12.9 percent in the second quarter, as could be expected, the Minister said. Lankan Air Force pounds LTTE position in Vavuniya Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets on Thursday pounded an LTTE base in the island's embattled north as the government vowed to continue operations against the Tamil Tigers following the deadly rebel attack on the Anuradhapura air base that left 33 people dead."The SLAF targeted a LTTE location which was identified as a threat to the Forward Defence Line at Periyathampane in Vavuniya in north," a defence ministry statement said here. "The air sorties were carried out in the morning following information from ground and air surveillances that were conducted for long period," it said, adding the LTTE sustained "severe" damages due to the air strike. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wicramanayake said that two MI-24 helicopters, one beach aircraft, three small PT-6 aircrafts, one K-8 aircraft and One ML helicopter were destroyed by the LTTE during their attack on the Anuradhapura air base on Monday that left 13 soldiers and 20 rebels dead. One Bell 212 aircraft was destroyed by accident near the base in which two army officers and two other officers lost their lives, Wicramanayake told Parliament. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, in a statement, said the attack on the Anuradhapura Camp would not in any way upset planned military operations against the rebel positions. Rajapaksa, the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, asked the main Opposition "not to play politics at the expense of the security forces" as the war enters a decisive stage. The remarks came as the Opposition United National Party claimed that 18 aircraft were lost in the rebel suicide attack against the military's logistics base in Anuradhapura. Vasudeva Nanayakkara calls for resumption of talks The Democratic Left front (DLF) yesterday called for a renewed effort to resume talks aimed at arriving at a fresh ceasefire as a prelude to seeking a lasting solution to the ethnic problem.“There is no need to invite foreign mediation to break the present deadlock. Our party is prepared to present the proposal for a new ceasefire to both parties to the conflict through the Socialist Peoples’ Front, DLF leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara said yesterday. “It may be possible to destroy LTTE’s military clout in certain areas. But there is no realistic basis for the government propaganda that there would be a quick end to the ongoing war.“We should remember what the military experts, political analysts and our Indian friends have said about the ongoing war: that not only neither party would be the final winner, but also one party cannot be decisively defeated. Even if the war comes to an end with a decisive defeat or victory for one party without the prospect of a lasting political solution, breaking out of hostilities again and again cannot be avoided. It may be possible to hold the North-East under the military sway. But such a position runs counter to democracy. Besides that would not be practical,” added Mr. Nanayakkara. 3 civilians killed, 9 wounded in SLA shelling on IDP settlement Three civilians, two of them belonging to a single family and an 8-months pregnant mother, were killed and nine wounded when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells hit a shelter hut in the settlement of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) at Periyamadu in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled Mannaar Thursday around 11:00 a.m. The wounded mother was struggling to give sudden birth to her child killed in her womb and the IDPs who were helping the young mother, became victims of the second wave of artillery shelling. Nine IDPs, including the 3-year-old son of the pregnant mother, a couple, their 13-year-old daughter and two other children, were wounded in the artillery attack. The victims were Internally displaced families who had moved from Adampan due to artillery shelling by the SLA. More than 530 civilians from 42 families displaced from Va'n'naangku'lam in Adampan were living in the temporary huts at Periyamadu. The wounded victims were rushed to Pa'l'lamadu hospital, 18 km away from the IDP settlement, and later transferred to other hospitals. Victims killed were identified as Parimalam Selvanathan, 20, the pregnant mother, Somasundaram Jeyabalasingam, 61, and his 9-year-old girl Kowsalya Jeyabalasingham. Meanwhile, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) in a press release issued Thursday said the IDP facility was run by the TRO. The wounded victims were: Four suspected Sea Tigers nabbed by Indian Navy The Indian Navy arrested four suspected Sea Tigers fleeing in a speed-boat in the Olaikuda waters near Pisasumunai, off the Rameswaram coast. According to Mr. N.K. Singh of the naval detachment in Rameshwaram, the naval patrol boats had stepped up vigil on Monday night following an alert from their ship in deeper waters about a suspect speed-boat in the region. It was, however, not possible to identify it as it was hidden among scores of boats engaged in fishing in the area. But with heavy rain accompanying the break of dawn, the fishing vessels began to return to Rameswaram and it then became possible to locate the speed-boat, Mr. Singh said.A long chase on the high seas followed and the boat was finally stopped by the naval patrol vessels. The four occupants of the speed-boat were picked up for questioning. Initially, they said they were fishermen from Nallur in Jaffna and had drifted towards the Tamil Nadu coast when their boat ran out of fuel. This claim was false since the boat was in full-throttle when challenged by the naval craft and came to a halt only after a chase.They gave their names as Kandeepan (21), Bhuvaneswaran (28), Sudershan (24) and Ilayaraja (29). All four were handed over to the police and detained at the Rameswaram temple police station, where officials of the state ‘Q’ branch police and the Central Intelligence Bureau, besides RAW, are questioning them.“We suspect that the four men could be Tigers,” said Mr. Singh. Police officials are of the same view as well, pointing out that the two onboard engines (Yamaha 25HP and Suzuki 15HP) are not the kind used for fishing. Also, the boat had no fishing gear or nets when apprehended. One of Ilayaraja’s left hand fingers was missing and when questioned, he said he had lost it in an accident while repairing a farm tractor. “It is common for militants to suffer such mishaps during war operations,” an investigating officer said. “With the war escalating in north Lanka, we have stepped up our vigil in the sea on our side,” Mr. Singh said. Vanni commemorate 21 Black Tigers Liberation Tigers have promoted the rank of one the 21 Black Tiger elite commandos who took part in the raid on Sri Lankan airbase in Anuradhapura, posthumously from Major to Lieutenant Colonel, acknowledging his role in the commando operation, sources in Vanni said. Three Lieutenant Colonels, six Majors, 12 Captains and one Lieutenant rank Black Tigers have taken part in the operation. Major Mathivathanan (B. Thayaaseelan) has been promoted to Lt. Col. rank.One of the last letters written by another Black Tiger commander, Lt. Col. Ilangko, who led an attack team into Anuradhapura airbase, was made available to media in Ki'linochchi on Wednesday. In his letter, dated 09 October 2007, probably with instructions to release once they succeed in the mission, Lt. Col. Ilangko writes: "All of you are seeing for yourself what the Sinhala fascists are upto."We will certainly achieve our liberation in the times of our leader. But, it needs the contribution of everybody."We became Black Tigers, with full awareness of everything."We are going to meet the Lions who bomb us from the sky, in their own lair. They should realize our sufferings."We now have all the conventional forces. Hereafter, it is you, who have to continue the struggle ahead."We have proved our capability. We will continue to strike. Tell those chauvinists that we will never stop."Leader is there to guide. Eezham can be expedited if you all mobilize yourself with willpower." 'Sunday Leader' journalist has remanded: Sub Editor to CID A new method of suppressing the media persons who criticize the top to bottom corruption in the government has been commenced.Under the new scheme, 'Sunday Leader' journalist Arthur Vamanan Swarnasingham was taken into custody yesterday (24) evening following a complaint by a government Minister and he was to produce before a magistrate today has remanded. Enterprises Development Minister Mano Wijerathna lodged a complaint at Wellawaththa Police Station last 21 stating that a journalist of Sunday Leader asked him to pay Rs. five million ransom not to publish a news on paying mobile phone bill of the Minister’s wife through Gems and Jewelry Authority funds. Sunday Leader on 21st reported that the phone bill Rs. 80,717 of number 077 7 272326 belonged to the wife of the Minister was paid by the Gems and Jewelry Authority through a voucher numbered 1818 dated September 28 mentioning that the Minister's mobile phone bill is paid. The Sub Editor of the Investigative News Section of Sunday Leader Dilrukshi Handunneththi was also called to CID for interrogation. She is still in CID and the documents pertaining to the news of Minister's wife's mobile phone bill was also taken to CID.'Sunday Leader' Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickramathunga said to 'Lanka-e-News' that this is the newest way of hunting media to cover corruption. He said that the relevant politician could lodge a complaint on asking for a ransom just as a journalist questioned about a malpractice. Rajapakse regime put forward a cabinet paper to enact Criminal Defamation Law through Minister Dilan Perera and the Minister later protested the Ministry Secretary for not making him aware of it in advance. It was taken aback due to protest of local and international media organizations.CID arrested Mawbima journalist Parameswari Munisami on allegations over abetting terrorism and the courts later acquitted and released her. Sunday Times defense columnist iqbal Athas was branded a traitor as he revealed the secrets behind the Mig-27 deal. The three journalists including Vamanan do not belong to the majority community. 25 October 2007 Sri Lanka rejects US call for international rights monitors The Sri Lankan government Wednesday rejected a call by the United States for the United Nations to place a human rights monitoring team in the South Asian country to check on alleged abuses. "The government has on several occasions, made its view clear that an international monitoring mission is unwarranted and unacceptable at present," Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in a letter addressed to Robert Blake, the U.S. ambassador in Sri Lanka. The U.S. urged Sri Lanka on Monday to reconsider its decision not to allow the United Nations to base a human rights monitoring group in this island nation, which has been locked in a more than two-decade-long civil conflict. A 2002 cease-fire with ethnic Tamil rebels collapsed almost two years ago, and more than 5,000 people have died in the renewed fighting. Additionally, U.S.-based Human Rights Watch reports that more than 1,100 abductions or "disappearances" were reported between January 2006 and June 2007, many blamed on the government and its armed allies. Samarasinghe's letter was sent in response to Monday's statement by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack who quoted an assessment by Louise Arbour, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, that Sri Lanka's humanitarian situation is deteriorating. "An international human rights presence in Sri Lanka would be an important step in improving human rights, accountability, and the rule of law, and ultimately resolving the conflict in Sri Lanka," McCormack said. On Oct. 13, Arbour decried "the weakness of the rule of law and prevalence of impunity" in Sri Lanka. She implicitly endorsed the idea of sending a U.N. rights monitoring group, which the Sri Lanka government has rejected. The Sri Lankan government contends it has adequate rights protections in place, including a national rights advisory panel. Four of the 10 members of the panel quit Saturday because they said their advice was ignored, and that the government used the existence of the panel as proof that it cares about its people's human rights. 'Eight Lankan planes' destroyed Credibility 'damaged' Correspondents say that the government's admission comes amid growing accusations from the opposition that officials lied about the scale of destruction resulting from the attack early on Monday morning at the air force base in Anuradhapura. Critics say that the incident is likely further to damage the government's credibility at a time when it comes under increasing pressure over allegations that it has consistently under-reported its casualty figures. It is also accused of under-estimating the financial cost of recent fighting with the rebels in the north and east. Mr Wickremanayake told parliament that three helicopters, four training planes and a surveillance plane were destroyed in the attack. His statement tallies with earlier Tamil Tigers claims of the damage which were denied by the government. The prime minister did not tell parliament why the earlier figures were wrong. But he denied the attack was a defeat for the military and called on all political parties to join together in fighting the rebels. "The attack was an act of desperation by them to build their flagging morale and also to get the attention of the international community," he said. "The forces will not be demoralised by this incident." But opposition MPs described the attack a "major embarrassment" and called on the country's defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa - the civil servant brother of President Rajapaksa - to resign. "The government is not coming out with the truth to the people," opposition parliamentarian Lakshman Senewiratne said. "They have never come out with the truth." Mr Senewiratne says up to 18 planes were hit. Military and government officials said after Monday's attack that only three aircraft were destroyed in the attack, along with a helicopter that crashed - killing four airmen - as it was sent to provide back-up. Meanwhile the military says that 11 Tamil Tigers and one soldier have been killed in fighting on the front lines in the north. The Tigers have complained that the armed forces abused their war dead by displaying the bodies of rebels killed in the raid on the Anuradhapura base. Witnesses said the corpses, some in plastic bags, some naked, were taken to a mortuary in two open trailers pulled by tractors. The convoy stopped for several minutes in a busy part of the town and a crowd gathered. But the military spokesman Brig Nanayakkara denied any of the bodies were uncovered and claimed photographs of the incident had been doctored to tarnish the army's image. The total damage of Anuradhapura LTTE attack Badulla district UNP MP Lakshman Senevirathna revealed the total damage of the LTTE attack at Ahuradhapura airbase at a press briefing held in Colombo today, bearing the responsibility. According to his details, 18 aircrafts of the Air Force were either destroyed or damaged and the total lost to the country is Rs. 6.6 billion. The loss from the Beach Craft and its equipment alone is US $ 28 million (Rs. 119.3 million). Sri Lanka had two such Beach Crafts and only the destroyed one was usable. The damaged aircrafts and their value are as follows: PT6 Trainers K8 Advanced Jet Trainer MI-24 Helicopter Gunships MI-17 Helicopter Troop Carriers Bell 212 Helicopter Beechcraft UAVs Cessna Stating that the Ministry of Defense has gagged the personnel revealing the details, MP Senevirathna said that he has information on the destruction of three more aircrafts and will reveal them as well details were obtained. He warned the boasting Defense Secretary not to play with the lives of the war heroes. Stating that the government is misleading the public through hiding the real facts of the damage, MP Kiriella said that the people have the right to know the truth. He said that they would reveal these facts as a responsible opposition and urged the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and the Air Force Commander to resign. The MP further said that the UNP would thoroughly deny this attack and urged the LTTE to stop them since they would not be allowed to achieve their target. Stating that the damage done by the Rajapakse family is enough, MP Kiriella said that the entire family should go home now. No Crouching Tigers These Embarrassed by the spectacular display of the LTTE's prowess, the Sri Lankan authorities have been trying to play down the successes of the LTTE operation. They claim that only two helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft were damaged and another helicopter was destroyed when it crash-landed due to technical reasons.The Colombo correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" of London has reported that the Black Tigers destroyed an expensive Beechcraft surveillance plane worth £14 million, two Mi17 helicopters, two Mi24 helicopters, three unmanned aerial vehicles, a K-8 jet and eight PD6 propeller trainer aircraft.The Anuradhapura air base was essentially used by the SLAF as a training base. The training command of the SLAF was located there. In addition, it was also providing intelligence support to the SLAF and the Navy through the sophisticated Beechcraft plane fitted with equipment for aerial photography and the collection of electronic and technical intelligence and the unmanned drones.Instructors from Pakistan, China and Israel were periodically attached to the base.The helicopters destroyed by the Black Tigers were being used as helicopter gun ships or for VIP transport. While the damage sustained by the SLAF is considerable in money terms and reduces its capability for intelligence collection for air and naval operations, its impact on the SLAF's capability for air strikes over the LTTE controlled areas would be limited.The successful operation would seem to have been launched by the LTTE in retaliation for the recent operations of the Sri Lankan Navy against the transport ships of the LTTE and the air strikes of the SLAF over LTTE positions in the Northern Province. It once again underlines the LTTE's reputation as an organisation with a tremendous tenacity of purpose, grit and sophistication in thinking and planning. Its recent set-backs have not weakened its morale. They have only redoubled its determination to keep fighting for its political objective unmindful of the losses in the Eastern Province. Rebels slam Sri Lanka for showing naked war dead Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers on Wednesday accused the military of abusing conventions on the treatment of war dead but the military denied it had behaved wrongly and said photos showing naked bodies had been doctored.The Defence Ministry on Tuesday posted pictures on its Web site of clothed rebels slain in the Tigers' biggest ever suicide operation sprawled on tarmac, some charred, one with eyes wide-open and one with a gaping hole in his head.Witnesses said that after the photos were taken some of the dead were stripped, however, and their naked bodies piled into the back of a tractor trailer to be driven to a mortuary in the northern district of Anuradhapura.Several journalists saw the bodies on the way to the mortuary after hearing rumours, and the photographs were widely circulated on Web sites on Tuesday and published in one local newspaper on Wednesday.The military denied any of the bodies were naked, and said the pictures had been doctored."Somebody has taken (those photographs) to tarnish the image of the (armed forces)," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said on Wednesday, without specifying who. "We are professional soldiers. We do not want to do (things) like that."I can assure you we wrapped all those bodies in black polythene bags ... and sent it to the hospital," he added. "Some photographer who is interested in tarnishing the image of the army has done this purposely.""It's not a real photo. It's a made up one."The Tigers sent out a statement on Wednesday condemning the incident as a violation of the Geneva Convention."They have broken not only the Geneva Convention, but also norms observed by decent militaries all over the world," Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said by telephone from the northern rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi.The rebels say 21 Tiger suicide fighters were killed in Monday's pre-dawn assault.Fourteen military personnel were killed, and the government said on Wednesday eight aircraft, including helicopters, a spy plane and training aircraft were destroyed -- far more damage than the military initially reported.Witnesses said the tractor trailers, used normally to collect garbage, were accompanied by military personnel and stopped for several minutes at a junction where a crowd of dozens of people had gathered in the rain as word of the trip to the mortuary got around.The hospital mortuary, where the bodies were being taken, was just 100 metres away. There was no traffic."The bodies were taken from the camp to the mortuary. One tractor trailer contained naked bodies, bodies in the other were in plastic bags," said a journalist known to Reuters who was at the scene and asked to remain unnamed for fear of retribution."I came to a spot along the route where people had congregated to wait for the bodies, and the tractors then came and stopped so the crowd could look," the journalist added.Another journalist witness said: "There were some civilians and other journalists about 500 metres from the mortuary. Two tractors came, one with naked bodies and (the) other with black plastic bags. I presume those are the blown up bodies of suicide cadres."Monday's attack in the north, where renewed civil war is now concentrated after troops captured swathes of Tiger territory in the east of the island, comes after a series of clashes that have killed around 5,000 people since early 2006.Nearly 70,000 people have been killed since the war began in 1983, and while the military has had the upper hand in recent months, analysts see no clear winner on the horizon and say the conflict could rumble on for years. Devananda branded a traitor and bootlicker by TNA The Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill was passed yesterday in Parliament amidst chaos when Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs had a heated argument with Minister Douglas Devananda when the TELO President and TNA MPs questioned the Minister, wanting to know whether he accepts the concept of a unitary Sri Lanka. The TNA MPs called Minister Devananda a “betrayer” and a “bootlicker” of the Rajapaksa brothers, and stated that he “is rejected by the Tamil people and has no future competing on his own.” They went on to call the bill, which calls for fresh nominations and the holding of elections in the Northern Province, unrealistic and stated that only individuals like Devananda can agree upon it.They added that the military and paramilitary organisations are methodically executing members of the TNA who have given nominations for the elections.“In recent weeks, many of our nominees were executed. They include the TNA group leader in Kinniya and Thirukkovil. They were murdered by the Sri Lanka Army and paramilitary groups. They are trying to intimidate us and allow government backed puppets like Devananda get elected,” said TELO Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan.They went on to question whether the government could hold the elections without the cooperation of the LTTE, which controls a significant area in the north.“How can the government conduct elections in areas like Vanni and Kilinochchi, which are under LTTE command? How can the government conduct elections in the east when the LTTE can attack at will?”However, the bill was passed 66 votes to 12. The government MPs and the JVP MPs voted for the bill, while TNA MPs voted against. The UNP abstained from voting. 24 October 2007 TNA wants northern Muslims resettled The TNA said in parliament yesterday that they had discussions with LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran on resettling the Muslim community in the Northern province.Speaking during the debate on the local authorities (special provisions) bill party General Secretary Mavai Senadhiraja said the TNA supports the resettlement of Muslim IDPs in the North and had spoken to Prabhakaran regarding the matter.“We support the resettlement of the Muslims and have spoken to Prabhakaran about it and we are ready to speak to him again about the problem” Mr. Senadhirajah said. The MP said this in response to a call made earlier by resettlement Minister Rishard Bathiudeen from the Tiger Leader to grant land in the North for Muslim who have been displaced for 17 years.“The Tamils are fighting for their homeland but the Muslims also want to go back to their homeland” the Minister said.However Mr. Senadhirajah said that while they support Muslim resettlement, it cannot be carried out properly while war continues and conflict could lead to further displacement. “When there is a war going on, the Muslims would again be “displaced” he noted, adding that the current trend of violence indicated that things would only get worse.The MP accused the government of forcing elections on the Tamils against their will and according to the political agenda of the state. He also questioned how the Government planned holding elections in the Wanni which was under Tiger control.“The Government is talking about democracy while committing Human Rights violations and genocide against the Tamil community” he said. New commander for Anuradhapura Sri Lankan government yesterday appointed a new "Overall Operations Commander" in the north- central region of the Anuradhapura, a day after the deadly attack by LTTE on an airbase in the area that killed 13 soldiers.President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed Major General Sanath Karunaratne as the Overall Operations Commander in the north-central region of the Anuradhapura area and it will be with effect from yesterday, a senior defence ministry official said.In a two-pronged attack on Monday, Tamil Tiger rebels backed by the second-ever aerial bombings attacked on the Air Force base that left 13 soldiers and 20 guerrillas dead.Karunaratne, 53, will be in-charge of all security forces as well as police, including intelligence units in Anuradhapura, the official said.Karunaratne has earlier served as chief military spokesman and has been credited with defending the army's Elephant Pass garrison in the far north of the island against a prolonged Tiger attack in 1990.The post of in-charge of overall operations would also include responsibility of outer perimeter security of all airports in the country, the official said. UNP says 18 aircraft damaged in A’pura attack The main opposition UNP yesterday told Parliament that 18 aircraft worth more than 439 million US dollars had been damaged in Monday’s predawn LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura airbase, despite the government claiming otherwise.Speaking during the debate on the Local Government and Provincial Councils (Amendment) Bill, UNP Anuradhapura District MP P. Harrison said he was making the disclosure to the House with responsibility and challenged the government to prove him wrong.He said the Tigers launched three air strikes against military bases, and returned to the Wanni without being intercepted. “When the LTTE attacked the Katunayake base for the first time, the government blamed it on the poor radar system,” he said accusing defence authorities of not taking proper defensive measures against LTTE attacks.“The LTTE cadres hid behind gravel mounds within the airbase premises to attack. The Airforce chief should resign under these circumstances. If security provided to a city like Anuradapura with its religious and historical significance is thus, can you imagine the situation in other areas?” he asked.Puttalam District UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara said the estimated loss of aircraft was more than 439 million US dollars. He said the Tigers might have taken advantage of the mega party organized the previous night after the Gajaba Super Cross. The event was attended by top defence officials including Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Naked Black Tigers’ bodies displayed in A’pura sacred city 'LTTE could have infiltrated base during motor show' LTTE terrorists, who attacked a Sri Lankan air base near the capital, could have infiltrated the area during the Gajaba Motor racing held in the city, according to intelligence sources. There was suspicion that the LTTE cadres could have infiltrated Anuradhapura area during the annual Gajaba Motor Cross held on Sunday where the army said over one lakh spectators flocked to see the event, the Island Newspaper reported. In a two-pronged attack on Sri Lankan Air Force, LTTE suicide fighters launched a daring pre-dawn strike on the air Force base yesterday, killing 13 soldiers and 20 rebels. Lanka's premier motor racing drivers and riders participated in the coveted event held at the Saliyapura and organised by the Gajaba army Regiment. Asked whether the radars installed at the air base had detected the enemy aircraft moving towards it, Air force spokesman Ajantha Silva said the officers at the base had spotted two enemy jets near the base. Meanwhile, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have attributed yesterday's rebel attack to lapses in the security system. The strike could have been avoided if the authorities concerned had heeded the request made earlier to strengthen air derfence system in Anuradhapura, the UNP Member of Parliament from the city Chandrani Bandara told reporters. "The attack took the bottom out of the propaganda war which was being carried out by the government," she said. JVP member Ranaweera Patirana, who represents one of the constituencies of Anuradhapura, said the government was too complacent after the military victories in the East and "paid scant regard to defence systems". He alleged there had been lapses at the security check points in the city resulting in the Tamil Tigers finding easy access to cause such a massive damage. A senior minister S M Chandrasena, who also represents one of the constituencies of Anuradhapura, said the Tiger attack could not be blamed solely on the shortcomings in security arrangements. The LTTE had always looked for weak spots when launching attacks, he added. SRI LANKA: Tourism industry hit by renewed conflict The drop in Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals, mainly because of security concerns, has been precipitous in recent months, leaving thousands of people on part-time pay or jobless. Between March and June 2007, tourist arrival rates fell by more than 30 percent each month. There was a slight improvement in August, the latest month for which figures are recorded - a 15 percent decline. Tourist arrivals have been in steady decline since early 2006 when renewed violence between government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forces started seeping into southern areas popular with foreigners. Arrivals fell by 22 percent in August 2007 to 313,000 from 405,000 in August 2006, according to the Sri Lankan Tourist Board. The latest fall came just as the industry was recovering from the devastating effects of the tsunami in 2004, when it made US$413 million, dropping to $360 million in 2005 and $410 million in 2006. Daily wage earners and part-time employees are the first to feel the pinch, according to the Tourist Board. They comprised 77,000 of the 133,000 employed in the sector in 2006 and likely support more than 200,000 family members. "Big hotels can downsize and survive, but small timers like us have to cut corners," Thilak Weerasinghe, who runs Lanka Sports Reisen, said. He operates surfing tours in the eastern Arugambay area in Ampara district, 320km from Colombo, the capital. "People who make a living off the beach earn less and hotels will not employ guides if there are no guests. If this continues then lay-offs will increase," he said. The overall impact of the fall has not been fully assessed, but the Department of Census and Statistics said the number of jobs in hotels and restaurants fell by 16,000 in the first quarter of this year alone to 95,000 from 111,000 in 2006. Such a drop could affect as many as 70,000-plus family members The pinch is felt acutely in areas such as Negombo, a beach-fronted tourist haven 35km north of Colombo. "Since last year it has been like a yo-yo, with business going up and down," Ascari Senevirathne, who runs a four-bedroom guesthouse on Negombo beach, told IRIN. The last time a foreign tourist stayed was four months ago and he now makes ends meet by renting rooms to local couples at hourly rates. "Otherwise I would have to close it down." The small kitchen at the guesthouse is already closed and the hired cook was let off months ago. "There is no need for him now," said Senevirathne. Raj Gopal, who runs a small shop in Negombo selling everything from bottled water to trinkets, cannot depend on local customers alone. They are not interested in his wares. "I don't do 10 percent of the business I was doing a year ago," Gopal told IRIN. "If I made Rs1,000 [US$9] a day before, now it is [more] like Rs45 [50 cents]. Soon I will be forced to go sell vegetables in the market." He and Senevirathne say part-time workers have drifted away in search of other lower-paying jobs. "Several small hotels have closed here, no one is even thinking of hiring," Gopal said. "Even large hotels are now down-scaling operations … first the tsunami and now war, we are finished." Airport closure "The drop in tourist arrivals and earnings is due to the intensification of the conflict, particularly due to the air-raids by the LTTE and [the earlier] closure of the airport at night-time," Colombo-based economist Muttukrishna Sarvananthan told IRIN. The Tiger air wing attacked the country's only international airport outside Colombo in March and carried out another attack over the capital in April. The airport was temporarily closed to international flights at night but has since resumed normal operations. Two recent Tamil Tiger attacks - one a ground assault on an army detachment inside Yala wildlife park, on the southeast of the island, the other an air attack on an air-base in central Anuradhapura, famous for its Buddhist ruins, 200km from Colombo - are likely to send new jitters through the tourist industry. Authorities overseeing the industry believe adverse travel advisories prompted by attacks in urban areas seriously undermine tourism. "Early this year there were several travel advisories issued on Sri Lanka in the vital European markets," additional secretary to the Ministry of Tourism George Michael said. "They did have a serious impact." France, Germany and the UK were among the countries that issued warnings against travel to Sri Lanka. Michael expressed confidence that the advisories were being gradually relaxed. However, the US government has recently issued a warning of the possibility of renewed attacks on government, economic and military targets. Those like Senevirathne feel that as long as such attacks continue, so will the downturn in the tourist trade. "However much we try to reason with them [the foreign tourists], if they are nervous, they never come … no-one wants to get killed on holiday, right?" Gang demands Rs. 5 M ransom from Muslim businessman Japan bridges the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Services Maithripala Sirisena will declare open the longest bridge in Sri Lanka, on October 25. The bridge linking the Northern and Eastern Provinces across the ‘Mahaveli River’ at Manampitiya is 302 meters in length and 10.4 meters wide. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aided the construction of the bridge that cost Rs. 1.3 billion. The old Manampitiya Bridge was famous since the rail road and highway overlapped on the bridge. School girl missing in Ariyaalai, Jaffna A 11-year old school girl has been reported missing in Jaffna from Monday after attending an exhibition at the Maruthanaamadam Ramanathan College with her friends, according to a complaint registered at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) offices Tuesday.Shamugalingam Thaneswary is from Mulli Road in Ariyaalai Jaffna.The incident follows the 16th October disappearance of the 21-year-old Thulasika Pathmalingam, a resident of Pungkudutheevu. No details of Thulasika's whereabouts are yet known. Plot to murder President; Sri Lanka's Sinhala nationalist website reveals Based on sources close to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), a pro government Sinhala nationalist website has revealed a plot to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the earliest possible opportunity once the setting has been decided. The website close to the government ally Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) says that the LTTE's Intelligence Wing in Colombo are considering two likely methods either to use a suicide bomber or an elite super sniper to gun down the President. It further said the sources indicated that LTTE is now coming out from a self-imposed non-active period having used this time to draw up various plans to confront the Sri Lankan Forces. “President Rajapaksa will be attending a political rally on the 10th of November at a public meeting in Nittambuwa organized by the ruling SLFP for their political propaganda at which he is expected to make a key address to the nation.” Our sources believe that the LTTE will target the President at this rally. It is important to note that a few LTTE intelligence cadres are located in the area having moved there a few months ago,” the website said. US tells Lanka to reconsider opposition to UN monitors In the wake of the government’s firm refusal to allow UN human rights monitors and the expansion of the UN Human Rights office in Sri Lanka, the United States yesterday called on the government of Sri Lanka to reconsider the move saying such a presence would be an important step in improving human rights in the country.Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour told the Daily Mirror yesterday the high commissioner would report back to the UN Human Rights Council in December on her recent visit to Sri Lanka.“The United States calls on the government of Sri Lanka to reconsider its opposition to the expansion of the UN office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and mandate in Sri Lanka. An international human rights presence in Sri Lanka would be an important step in improving human rights, accountability, and the rule of law,and ultimately resolving the conflict in Sri Lanka,” US State department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.He said the US remained concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, as confirmed by the recent assessment of Ms. Arbour. US Ambassador Robert Blake had also reiterated these views in Colombo recently.At the end of her visit Ms. Arbour said in her view although technical assistance or co-operation was always a good thing it was not sufficient at this particular stage in dealing with the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and hoped to continue her efforts to persuade the government that the presence of the OHCHR would be a great benefit to the people.Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samrasingha however said the government had made it clear to Ms. Arbour that the government was not willing to discuss in any way a UN presence in Sri Lanka for monitoring purposes and neither was it ready to discuss the opening of the OHCHR office in Colombo.When the Daily Mirror what the next step would be, now that Ms. Arbour had already made her assessment on the situation in Sri Lanka Aïda Nejad, the Associate Human Rights Officer for the Asia-Pacific Unit of the Capacity-Building and Field Operations Branch of OHCHR said “The next step will be for the High Commissioner to report back to the Human Rights Council on December 10. This will basically just be in the form of a short update on her visit within her general statement to the Human Rights Council.” Sri Lanka's war drums losing beat When hardliner politician Mahinda Rajapakse became Sri Lanka's president, few believed that the country's peace process would continue unabated. Nevertheless, fewer would have guessed that within two years the Rajapakse government would be pushing for a military solution to the islands 25-year conflict. However, that is the exact scenario that is playing itself out under the current administration. The government's aggressive pursuit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is dividing the public and alienating parts of the international community. After a series of recent gains against the separatists in the east of the country, the military is now bracing for a fresh assault on the rebel-held north. But success in the north is not guaranteed and support for the government is fast fading. As if to emphasize this, the LTTE on Monday launched a coordinated ground and air attack on an airforce base in northern Sri Lanka, killing five servicemen and wounding 22 others, the military said. Rajapakse assumed office in November 2005 during a period of relative peace between the government and the LTTE. However, the president's term of office coincided with a resumption in hostilities between the rebels and the military. Ever since, the northeast has been a virtual conflict zone, with various efforts to restore peace falling by the wayside. The rebels returned to their tried and tested tactic of suicide attacks in the Sinhalese-dominated southwest of the country. They also reinforced their status as one of the world's most innovative separatist groups when they carried out a series of daring air raids in Colombo with the use of modified light aircraft. The rebels, however, did not have it all their own way, particularly in their traditional eastern stronghold where the influential Colonel Karuna - who along with a sizeable group of supporters broke ranks with the Tigers in 2004 - was virtually fighting alongside the government against the rebels. After a number of heavy battles in the east throughout the first half of 2007, the military drove the rebels out of the area in July. Victory has presented the government with an opportunity to secure the east and win over the hearts and minds of its inhabitants. However, laying claim to the east does not seem to be the number one priority. A series of offensives on the fringes of the rebel-held north has increased speculation that the government is seeking a military solution to the conflict. Indeed, if one believes recent statements by army chief, General Sarath Fonseka, the Tigers will be chased from the north in a year or "maybe less". Fighting has been underway in recent weeks around areas which surround the rebel-held territory, including in Mannar, Vavuniya, Weli Oya and Jaffna. There have also been a number of sea battles, and the military claims to have destroyed most if not all of the rebels' seaworthy boats. Defense analysts are divided on whether or not the military can drive the Tigers from their northern stronghold. The proponents of an assault argue that the Tigers are currently weak. There is an element of truth in this, as is seen with the loss of the east and subsequent battles on the northern fringes. In addition, the rebels have failed to carry out a significant terrorist attack or air raid in the Sinhalese-dominated southwest of the island in recent months. However, other defense analysts see this lack of activity as exactly what makes the Tigers even more dangerous. This theory claims that the rebel leadership has dedicated all of its manpower to defending the north. With the Tigers stronghold being heavily fortified, it will not fall easily, and the military is likely to suffer high casualties. Regardless of the military's chances of success in the north, the government would do well to consider the costs of continuing the war. Securing the east and allowing the rebels to fester in the north may seem like the perfect solution for a government fighting an increasingly unpopular war. The conflict is taking its toll on the economy. Since April, when the Tamil Tigers carried out a number of air raids in Colombo, tourist arrivals have dropped significantly. Increased spending on the military and on war ravaged infrastructure has led to near 20% inflation. In addition, the initial budget estimates for 2008 suggests an increase of 20% in overall defense spending, further stoking inflationary concerns. The government is also under pressure from human rights groups and a number of foreign governments. On a recent visit to the island, United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour criticized Sri Lanka's human rights record, and questioned the government's readiness to improve it. Arbour's critique followed recent comments by United States ambassador, Robert Blake, who raised concern over the number of extrajudicial killings in Jaffna. New Delhi may also feel the need to speak out, as an escalation in northern Sri Lanka threatens to send a flood of refugees to the southern shores of India. Rajapakse has come under additional fire for perceived nepotism, with three of his brothers serving in government. The president's plight has not been helped by the August withdrawal of the Ceylon Workers Congress from his United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). This has left the governing alliance with a slim majority of 113 seats in the 225 member Parliament. The ultra slim majority has only increased the alliances dependence on its chief partner, the Marxist- nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Dependence on the JVP has compromised Rajapakse's decision-making powers, particularly on issues related to the war, which the JVP strongly supports. The JVP may still bring down the government by rejecting November's budget and forcing a snap election. In the event of a snap election, the UPFA is likely to lose its parliamentary majority to the pro-peace United National Party. However, Rajapakse's term only expires in 2011, and with the presidency carrying more weight than Parliament, Sri Lanka's fortunes are unlikely to change in the coming years. Hillary says not all terrorists are the same Hillary Clinton, wife of former US President Bill Clinton, says all terrorists cannot be lumped together whether the LTTE or the Basque separatists, and that, though they all may be connected in the tactics they use, the goals they are fighting for are different.In an interview with Guardian News, America, Mrs. Clinton, a US Presidential candidate, says that in her view terrorism is a tool that has been utilized throughout history to achieve certain objectives -- some ideological, others territorial. “The bottom line is: you can't lump all terrorists together. And I think we've got to do a much better job of clarifying what are the motivations, the raisons d'être of terrorists. I mean, what the Tamil Tigers are fighting for in Sri Lanka, or the Basque separatists in Spain, or the insurgents in al-Anbar province may only be connected by tactics. They may not share all that much in terms of what is the philosophical or ideological underpinning. And I think one of our mistakes has been painting with such a broad brush, which has not been particularly helpful in understanding what it is we were up against when it comes to those who pursue terrorism for whichever ends they're seeking,” she said. Sri Lanka, India step up vigil on maritime border 23 October 2007 Latest estimates place 44 m USD loss from A'pura airbase attack Latest estimates place the losses to the Air Force from this morning's LTTE attack on the Saliyapura Air Force Base at more than 44 million US dollars, according to defence sources. This could well be the worst ever damage to hardware in the military history of the country, the sources said, adding that the destruction of several trainer aircraft will be an unbearable loss. The loss of a reconnaissance Beechcraft, costing Rs. 250 million, will be severely felt as the only other such plane available to the Air Force is not in working condition. The Black Tigers' dawn attack by ground and air left two Russian-built MI-24 attack craft, one MI-17, one Cessna, one Chinese-built K8 reconnaissance/trainer craft, one Beechcraft and one Canadian-built Bell 212 helicopter destroyed.The Air Force is investigating to determine as to whether a second Bell 212 crashed at Mihintale, killing all four on board, in an mistaken identity attack by own forces. 13 troops, 20 rebels killed during battle at Sri Lankan air base A group of Tamil Tiger suicide fighters, backed by the rebel group's tiny air wing, carried out a surprise pre-dawn attack on a Sri Lankan air force base Monday, setting off a huge battle that killed nine troops and 20 guerrillas, the military said.Four other airmen were killed when their helicopter suffered mechanical failure and crashed as they were searching the area for rebel fighters, the military said.The fighting at Anuradhapura air base deep inside government-controlled territory was one of the deadliest attacks on the air force in the 24-year-old civil war. It was the second attack on a military target far from the front lines in a week.The raid damaged two helicopters and a training jet and injured 20 other airmen, the military said. It also stunned the Sri Lankan military as it was focused on fighting the rebels near their power base farther to the north.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said 21 members of the Black Tigers, the Tamil Tigers' suicide unit, broke into the base, shot up eight aircraft in a hangar and on the runway and then set them on fire. The rebels lost contact with the assailants after the battle, he said.Speaking by telephone from the base Monday afternoon, Air Marshall Roshan Goonetilleke, the nation's air force chief, said the attack would have no impact on the fight against the rebels."We need to keep our focus on the job that we are doing," he said. "We will get this base back to working tonight, hopefully."The government said the attacks showed that the rebels were having trouble fending off the military along the borders of their de facto state."It's obvious that they are in total desperation from the success we are having in the north," said government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella.The rebels, however, said the assault showed their continued ability to strike at the military at will.The attack began about 3:20 a.m. when a group of rebel fighters created a diversion by firing at the eastern side of the base, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of rebel territory, said air force spokesman Group Capt. Ajantha Silva.Another group of rebels then launched an attack on aircraft hangars at the opposite end of the base, he said.As a huge firefight raged on, two light aircraft, part of the rebels' small air wing, dropped two bombs on the base and flew away unscathed, he said.Residents near the base reported hearing loud explosions throughout the morning and seeing repeated barrages of anti-aircraft fire."We managed to kill all of those terrorists that came into the camp," Goonetilleke said.The fighting ended after about six hours, military officials said. The military recovered the bodies of 20 slain rebels, Rambukwella said. Eight airmen and one soldier were also killed, Goonetilleke said.Fighting in northern Sri Lanka has escalated in recent weeks ahead of what many believe is a planned government offensive to retake the area and crush the rebels.Rambukwella said the attack would have no impact on the fighting.The rebels have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for minority ethnic Tamils after decades of discrimination at the hands of the Sinhalese majority. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting, 5,000 of them since a 2002 cease-fire broke down in late 2005.The Tamil Tigers stunned the military in March when they launched their first-ever air assault, bombing an air force base near Colombo. They carried out several more attacks, including a strike on a fuel refinery and gasoline storage site, but have not waged an air strike in nearly six months.In July, the government declared it had ousted the rebels from eastern Sri Lanka, forcing them to flee to their main base in the north. The rebels vowed to retaliate against military and economic installations throughout the country, but had launched no major assaults outside the main conflict zone since then.However, last week the rebels attacked a military camp in a wildlife park far south of their home base, killing seven soldiers. Flying Tigers' fox Lankans The fledgling air arm of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) comprising two to five single engine, propeller driven Zlin-143s, is up against Sri Lanka's formidable air force comprising MIG-29 and Kfir fighter bombers, K-8 jet trainers, MI-24 helicopter gun ships, Bell-212s choppers, and Antonov troop and material carriers. And yet, the Lankan Goliath has been unable to tame the Tamil David, who has hit and run with impunity four times since March 26 this year.It was on the night of March 26, that the LTTE first sprung a surprise on the Sri Lankans, and indeed the world, when two locally converted Zlin-143 bombers flew over hundreds of kilometers of government-held territory from Iranamadu in the Wanni, dropped two bombs on an engineering facility at the Sri Lankan Air Force's main base at Katunayake, 30 km north of Colombo, and flew back without being detected and challenged.This set off a blame game, in which many Sri Lankans pointed an accusing finger at India. The radars supplied by India were not working at that time and it was also said that while Sri Lanka wanted 3D radars, India had given only 2D radars which did not indicate the height of intruding aircraft. But India pointed out that the radars were shut for routine maintenance and insisted that for Sri Lanka's purpose, 2D was enough.However, the Sri Lankans soon acknowledged that their aircraft had no night flying capability, their pilots had no night vision goggles, and that the MIGs were too fast for the low flying Zlin 143s. LTTE'S abilities In South Asia Analysis Group's Paper No 2193 dated April 3, 2007, Commodore RS Vasan IN, said that the LTTE knew about the night vision incapability of the SLAF and had trained its pilots to fly at night. Given the fact that the Zlin 143 could land and take off even on a rough jungle patch, training could have taken place anywhere and not necessarily in a well made, well recognizable and detectable airfield.Com.Vasan pointed out that the Tiger aircraft had been re-designed by the LTTE's engineers in such a way that it could carry four bombs without infringing its aerodynamic qualities so critically needed for safe flying. They would have had to compromise on the fuel load, and therefore, the aircraft would have had to fly in and fly out using the shortest possible time and route."The LTTE definitely owes this to Colonel Shanker alias Sornalingam who ensured that that the seeds of sound aeronautical practices were imbibed by the team that he headed," Com.Vasan, who is himself an aviator, said.As regards the accuracy of the bombing, he said that the LTTE had hand-held Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The GPS also aided accurate navigation, preventing loss of precious time.On the question of the alleged inadequacy of the Indian 2D radars, Com Vasan said that while 3D radars were better, Sri Lanka could go in for Mobile Observation Posts (MOP) rather than expensive fixtures which advanced countries had. IGLA or Russian-made hand held missiles, would also be of help, once the attacker became visible. However, it should be noted that the intruding Tiger aircraft had been spotted by the Vavuniya police, and Katunayake was told about it, but no action was taken! Second raid Emboldened by the success of the first raid, the LTTE attacked Palaly in the far north on April 24, but it could not strike the intended target, the airfield. It dropped its bombs on an adjacent army camp and fled, but not before killing six soldiers. This time too, the SLAF failed to go in hot pursuit. Then, on the night of April 28 and 29, while Sri Lankans were glued to their TV sets watching Sri Lanka play at the World Cup Cricket finals in Barbados, two Zlin 143s again attacked Colombo, this time, the oil storage tanks at Muthurajawela and Kolonnawa.This time too, the SLAF and the air defense systems were caught napping. Though only minimum damage was inflicted, the intruders managed to escape while tones of anti-aircraft shells were wasted in aimless firing over a 40 km stretch from Katunayake to Ratmalana. The defense mechanism showed the utter weakness of the Anti-Aircraft gun handling capability of the ground forces. The media also reported that LTTE aircraft had tried to bomb the hangars used by the MIGs at Katunayake, but failed. Again the attackers had gone Scot free. Forced to hike defense spending The LTTE's air strikes had made the government go in for MIG 29s in a big way, as the strategic thinking was that the air assets of the LTTE had to be destroyed on the ground itself. But the multi-million dollar deal is mired in controversy. The military budget has gone up from SLRs.139 billion (US$ 1.23 billion ) in 2007 to an estimated SLRs.166 billion (US$ 1.47 billion) in 2008.It is also feared that the government has gone in for US$ 500 million five year sovereign bond issue at a whopping 8.25% interest to finance the rising defense expenditure. Therefore, the Flying Tigers may well be contributing to the parlous state of Sri Lanka's finances. SLAF shot down own Bell 212 in mistaken identity attack Mistaken identity had reportedly led to the Air Force shooting down its own Bell 212 helicopter during the LTTE air and ground attack on the Saliyapura Air Force Base in Anuradhapura today (Oct. 22nd). The helicopter left the airbase to provide backup support as Black Tigers launched the ground assault at around 3.30 am.Mistaking it for an Air Tiger plane, the military had shot it down at Doramadawala, Mihintale, reliable Air Force sources said. An investigation is underway into the incident. SRI LANKA : War Beyond Dramatics ? Col R Hariharan (retd.) Two light aircraft of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)'s air wing in a predawn raid on the Sri Lanka air base at Anuradhapura in north central district dropped two bombs to destroy two Mi-24 gun ships of the air force today. For the first time the LTTE air raid was combined with a ground attack. One airman was killed and 14 others were reported injured in the LTTE raid. The operation lasting from 3 am to 5 am has clearly indicated that the LTTE might be down but not out. A Bell 212 helicopter, that took off from the nearby airbase in Vavuniya to provide follow up action, crash-landed due to a technical failure killing two pilots and the two gunners.The LTTE air raid was not unexpected. The LTTE's past experience has shown that air operations even on a limited scale draw disproportionately high publicity and cause panic in Colombo. With no great successes to boast of in recent times in both ground and sea operations, air operation was the LTTE's ideal choice. However, the LTTE's targeting of Anuradhapura, a religious centre and a 'must visit' point in the international tourism itinerary, close on the heels of sporadic LTTE actions in the less popular tourist spot of Yala National Park in the Deep South is interesting. The LTTE's air assets are qualitatively and quantitatively limited and replacements are dear if not non existent. Active bases like Katunayake though more attractive as targets may not be as vulnerable to sneak raids with better air defence measures in place. Anuradhapura is not a mainline operational base. It has been a training base and used for drone operations in the past. A raid on Anuradhapura has all the dramatics the LTTE wants to catch international headlines. With the adverse publicity mileage gained in the Anuradhapura raid, one can expect the issue of international travel advisories against tourist travel to Sri Lanka, particularly as it comes after attacks in Yala area. Another significant aspect of the air raid on Anuradhapura is combining of the LTTE's ground operations for the first time. In my SAAG Sri Lanka up date No. 117 'LTTE air raid on Katunayake air base' dated March 26, 2007 (available at http://www.saag.org/%5Cnotes4%5Cnote373.html ) I had commented on the advantages of a combined air and ground attack: "It is difficult to believe that LTTE risked their precious aircraft just to lob two bombs that caused little damage to Sri Lanka air force aircraft. There is a strong possibility that LTTE planned to carryout the air raid in coordination with a ground strike on the air base, which did not materialise. If that were so, LTTE's ground support in the vicinity of the airbase could have been in one or more forms: a mole in the airbase, a ground attack force of LTTE commandos, a diversionary effort elsewhere to prevent retaliatory action etc." Though in the two air raids that followed Katunayake attack the LTTE had not used ground forces, in Anuradhapura the LTTE appears to have used the operational logic ofcombining a ground attack in tandem. The ability of the LTTE to sneak in a force large enough to sustain a night operation (and perhaps to indicate the target for the raiding aircraft) in a high security air base shows gross inadequacies in the Sri Lankan ground security measures. [Ideally an area at least within the machine gun range (say 3000 yards) around the perimeter needs to be sanitized and patrolled vigorously particularly at night.] Another aspect is the proximity of Anuradhapura to Wilpattu National Park on the west offering ideal sanctuary for LTTE raiders. For quite sometime in the past, Wilpattu was considered a safe haven for the LTTE though sporadic search operations did not yield results. The air raid is sure to boost the morale of the LTTE cadres and warm the hearts of its support network among the Tamil Diaspora. Its timing, when the LTTE is at the receiving end militarily with its international operations in jeopardy, is perhaps ideal. However, it is time the LTTE comes to terms with the realities of the ground situation and see the air raid in perspective. The loss of two aging Mi-24 gun ships is not going to stop the Kfir and MiG strikes on LTTE strongholds. Nor is the relentless military pressure in Mannar, Omanthai, Muhamalai, Nagarkovil and Pulmoddai areas going recede. In the nearly 22 months of the undeclared Eelam War-4 since December 1, 2005 the LTTE has undoubtedly been weakened. Their losses in terms of territory and war casualties have put the organisation in the most vulnerable position for the first time after the bloodletting undergone in their war with Indian troops (1987-90). The LTTE is hemmed in both on the sea and land. It never enjoyed the freedom of air space in full. In fact it is fighting a desperate defensive battle in the face of the looming threat of full scale northern offensive by the security forces. Its efforts to carry out major guerrilla action or suicide attacks in Colombo and elsewhere in recent times have not succeeded. Similarly its moves to turn the international concerns on human rights and humanitarian issues in Sri Lanka in its favour have not yielded results. It should be clear to the LTTE that international human rights agenda is not a zero sum game. According to the statistics released by the Media Centre for National Security (uncorroborated by any other independent source) up to October 18, 2007 a total of 5791 persons have lost their lives in the war. This figure includes LTTE? 3628, Security Forces? 1304 and civilians (unlucky people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time) - 867. Evidently, the 'killed in action' data does not include hundreds of civilians who have been killed by 'killer squads' of both sides, and others killed or 'disappeared' in fratricidal wars of Tamils. Despite the unreliability of depending solely upon these figures, and in the absence of any other reliable data in the public domain, it is clear the mounting losses are hurting the LTTE more than the security forces. Though the LTTE had been able to tenaciously hold on to its forward defended localities west of Omanthai and in Muhamalai-Nagarkovil area, the security forces operations have kept there has prevented the LTTE from taking any initiative. The security forces tactics is to wear out the LTTE by slow bleeding rather than through dramatic large scale operations as in the past. It seems the security forces have realised that while gaining territory would make headlines in the news media, bleeding the LTTE to death would provide better results in the long run. This has enabled military initiative to rest in the hands of the security forces for some time now. While the security forces have been regularly using air strikes to keep the LTTE force's head down and disrupt its logistic bases, the much vaunted LTTE artillery is being put to restricted use as ammunition supply lines from overseas have become unreliable. The LTTE had also not been able to procure a reliable air defence weapon or missile, for the same reason. The LTTE has been steadily losing men and material in clashes with the security forces almost every day. The 'creeping offensive' tactics of the security forces west of A-9, along the Nagarkovil salient and in Mannar sector are likely to be the order of the day for some time to come. Probably Welioya-Kokkilai region east of Vavuniya also will come under this category in the weeks to come. Last week's LTTE operations in Yala national park area down south in three separate incidents on October 15, 16 and 17, 2007 in which seven soldiers were killed show its efforts of to take the sting out of east. Beyond holding faint hope of reversal of fortune for its cadres operating in the east, the three actions have shown only the LTTE's limited capability. At best strategically it might affect tourism in this region for sometime just as the LTTE attack on the naval station at Galle last year did. It has had some success in Amparai; at the same time its ability to spread is operations further south should not be overestimated. These operations are also not going to ease the security force's pressure in the east or elsewhere because of the sheer lack of numbers with the LTTE. The Sri Lanka Navy's sinking of 'Matsusima' said to be the LTTE's gun running cargo ship in international waters 700 nautical miles off southern coast of Sri Lanka on October 7, 2007 has dramatically illustrated the new reality of Eelam War-4. The 3000-ton ship went down with its cargo like seven other ships of its kind bringing military cargo for the LTTE during the last one year of naval operations targeting LTTE supply ships. An analysis of the reports of naval engagements and successes has some interesting pointers to the improvement in the navy's performance. Till February 2007, the navy engaged four vessels within a radius of 200 nautical miles off southern coast of Sri Lanka. However, in September 2007 it managed to sink three ships in a major engagement in a span of two days operating as far away as 700 nautical miles. The Sri Lanka navy is not exactly designed for such long range operations. The off-shore patrol vessels (OPV) in these operations were dispatched well in advance to intercept the LTTE ships. Thus to take up such a long range operation advance intelligence should be available to the navy from the moment the LTTE ship casts off after lifting the cargo. The navy has said the interrogation of Sea Tigers arrested after the sinking of the Indian trawler (seized by the LTTE) 'Sri Krishna' had provided the intelligence on the LTTE cargo carriers. In a highly secretive organization like the LTTE such information would be available only on a 'need to know' basis. Moreover, the navy had tracked ship movements on a real time basis and engaged them presumably in pre-selected killing zones. All these are point to qualitative improvement not only in the operational competence of the navy but also the inflow of a wide range of information from multiple civil and military sources, particularly from nations with a strategic interest in the region. After every action, the navy has been able to come out with a list of cargo carried by the ship. If such information are correct (in the absence of any LTTE rebuttal, it is presumed to be so) there was advance information on LTTE's procurements, if not the wish list. The losses of such expensive and difficult to procure military cargo have caused not only huge financial loss to the LTTE but also set back to its operational plans.The government and the security forces would like to follow the age-old military wisdom of reinforcing success. The LTTE without politics or ideology never clouding its thoughts, has bigger problems at hand: to keep its powder dry to save its domain when the northern offensive breaks out, and save its international support outfit from international counter terror action. The LTTE's time tested tactics both on land and sea have been failing for sometime now and its operational efficiency is being tested with every victory of the armed forces. While the reasons the falling fortunes of the LTTE are obvious to those outside the confines of the LTTE domain in Wanni, apparently the LTTE is either ignoring them or wishing them away at the policy making level. . The views expressed by the LTTE's Political Head S.P. Thamilchelvan on the current military situation in his interview to TamilNet on September 19, 2007 indicate the LTTE had not come to terms with reality yet. The statement laid heavy emphasis on two things: The government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) was carrying out "its genocidal war against the Tamil people" without caring for the concerns raised by the international community. The LTTE would like "the international community not to be carried away by the deceitful programme of the GoSL and to stop every form of aid, to pressure the government to create an environment for peace efforts" Even after the loss of over 5000 lives in the last two years the international community has shown its inability go beyond renewing the call for peace. The same applies to their human rights concerns not only in Sri Lanka, but in Myanmar and in Darfur as well. International community are the most undependable factor in the whole Eelam equation.The Eelam War -4 has now gone beyond dramatics. Time has come for the LTTE now to think out of the box, think beyond morale boosting dramatic raids, to wage peace using the fastly depleting reserves of international goodwill the Tamil cause has enjoyed all these years. Will those in the bunkers of Wanni listen? It will be sad for Tamils if they don't. Sri Lanka consults India before launching severe retaliation to Tiger Air and ground attacks Sri Lanka was in the receiving end. They are planning their massive air, ground and naval retaliation to wipe out the Tamil Tigers.More than 18 Sri Lankan airmen and 16 Tiger rebels were killed in a coordinated air and ground pre-dawn attack on Monday by the Tamil tigers on an air force base in Anuradhapura situated in North-central Sri Lanka. Tigers used two light aircrafts to drop two bombs. The attack had a surprise and precision element. At the same time close to 20 Tiger commandoes attacked the air base with a suicide mission. The battle was fierce between the Tiger commandoes and the security forces at the air base.Sri Lanka Government is consulting with the Indian counterpart at the highest level before crushing the tiger rebels. Sri Lanka may use precision radar guided missile to target the Tiger rebels. They are in consultation with many countries before introducing high-tech weaponry in the region. Take up the challenge of the attack and march forward with vigor, says Keheliya The media spokesman on national security Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says that the ongoing programme to defeat terrorism will not be taken aback. The challenge of the Anuradhapura attack will be taken up by the three armed forces and they will march forward with added vigor, he says. Addressing the defense press briefing held this morning in Colombo, the Minister said that terrorism should be defeated before negotiating a settlement. Minister Rambukwella said that the LTTE which is under pressure due to government operations to free the Tamil people in the Northern Province might launch similar attacks in future as well. This kind of unpredicted attacks are a part of terrorism, he said. The Minister says that the senseless terrorists have to be defeated since terrorism has become a cancer in the world. Twenty bodies of LTTE cadres were handed over to the Tigers through ICRC in the past few days, he said, vowing that the fight to free the Tamil people from LTTE would never be dropped. Air Farce reflects Government’s ineptitude, incompetence and idiocy Dependency on shoot-outs will never solve the ethnic chaos and crisis. Why is a federal solution – now the only hope left for the country - unacceptable to the tiny minority of racists who are holding Sri Lanka to ransom? And why is President Rajapakse consulting with such elements from his inner circle of governance in respect of the ethnic issue? By Satchi Sithananthan And now Anuradhapura! The same old story re-enacted; sorties and reconnaissance seem all a farce and helter-skelter. This is no comedy hour on TV. This is very serious business. The LTTE is certainly having the Sri Lankan forces in a spin and at what cost? Are there some maneuverings and machinations behind this attack that serve the arms cartels with the support of corrupt elements within the government? Lives perish and very heavy loss of equipment too and there seem no end of this fanatical farce of a government pushing for an end to the country’s ethnic crisis that has virtually broken the guts and grit of the country and the will of the people to be citizens at peace with each other. While the solution is marked and manifest and plainly discernible why has it become essential for successive Sri Lankan governments not to understand the simple truth that every citizen of the country must enjoy rights equal to that of the other whether one is Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Malay or Burgher? In recognizing certain traditional factors, why should the will of the majority have special considerations which should actually be the other way, and why cannot the Tamils be accepted as having rights for special preferences such as their traditional homelands? Unfortunately no such special considerations would be needed if the government accepts the reality that every citizen enjoys equal rights in a country where the state is secular and freedom of faith, thought and democratic political action are entrenched in our constitution. This can be easily enabled through a system of decentralized political and administrative facility which will give people of each province to be fully involved in the country’s development process, each as an interdependent interacting unit for the greater good of the Sri Lankan nation. Why is this impossible? Why is a federal solution that has worldwide acceptance and fully caters to the ideals of a democracy unacceptable for Sri Lanka? Who are the political pundits holding the country to ransom? When it comes to seeking solutions why are rabid racialists given the right and prominence to assert themselves as the ones ordained to help in the solution process? Are they the frontline cover ups – the FDLS – for the corrupt elements to thrive in the chaos that has come to prevail in the country? A perfunctory look at the Rajapakse Government, how it has been constituted with all and sundry that have gathered around him and the prevalence of inevitable corruption shows the destructive spectre that haunts Sri Lanka today. Sri Lanka is a country that should be on the frontline of the developed nations of Asia but the rot began with that nefarious Sinhala Only legislation; it became the foundation of rank racism that never solved anything in the country except to keep the communal fire alive all because certain types of racial and religious bigots kept telling the majority community that they are endangered by the minority Tamils. While no such thing had any credence, it turned out to be in the interests of those seeking political clouts to seed racism and religious intolerance in the country, so much so, even Buddhist monks very much in conflict with Buddhist principles went on the rampage and now even inside the debating chamber of the country’s Parliament. This would be anathema to authentic Buddhism. What is the net result of these today? Thousands of Sinhalese women and girls have to seek slave labour in the Middle East in unbelievable conditions of exploitation by cruel and mean employers and job agents all because the country has not developed economically to provide them with employment opportunities. The blame for this must entirely be on the racist politicians. It is a shame on Sri Lanka that they are the biggest source of foreign exchange earnings for the country that is feeding the armament mills of the developed world to procure weapons that destroy its own people. This is considered essential because the country cannot slake and satiate decision makers especially the politicians who seek only millions for themselves with rights and privileges denied to the common people. Sri Lanka should never forget the southern massacre of the early 1970s when thousands of Sinhala youth were consumed by gunfire. As long as this loathsome and shameful quest continues and presidents and government think that the country can be saved through piling up arms freely unloaded by such powers as the US, UK, Norway, Japan and others, the tragic farce will continue. Sri Lankans, irrespective of which community they belong to have been becoming increasingly destitute across the whole face of the country. Yet the government is bent on fighting a racist war where racism in real sense of the word has no foundation but only in the minds of the wicked and mean who propagate it only for their own good. At this stage and all morals and ethics of politics shattered to shreds, the only solution that is available to the country is a federal system. The Tamils cannot accept anything less than a truly federal system of government. The government must pursue it; not purse against it. LTTE Destroys 8 Air Crafts in Anuradhapura At least 08 air crafts have been destroyed and several were damaged in a combined land and air attack by the Black Tiger suicide squad in the Air Force Base camp in Anuradhapura.American built Beach Super King (CT5748) craft,and 2 Russian built MI24 gunships, a Bell 212 helicopter, a Chinese built K8 trainer air craft and 3 more small crafts have been destroyed by the Tigers,informed sources said.Several other air crafts including MI17 transport helicopters and UnManned Air Vehicles were sustained severe damages and possibly out of operation.Two ZLIN Z 143LSi air crafts bombed over sky of Anuradhapura,while specialy trained tiger guerrilla infiltrated from two different locations in to the camp and attacked the hangers.At least two bombs fell inside the camp. Military fired by anti air craft guns,but air tigers managed to escape over Vauniya officials said. American built Bell 212 helicopter air borne from Vauniya,came under friendly fire and crashed in to Mihinthale killing all 04 on the board. An anti air craft missile hit by the air force fell in to a nearby school premises and killing at least 15 Buffalos,a resident said.LTTE spokesman Rasiah Illanthirian said 21 Black Tigers were taken part the attack.Soon after the LTTE planes left from Anuradhapura Kfir and MiG jets bombed locations near Kilinochchi using para lights,LTTE said.Sri Lankan Air Force Three officers and four men from the Air Force have been killed during this mornings attack. Three were killed during the initial confrontation and another four killed at the Bell-212 crash-site. Eight more have been injured.Members of the Air Force Regimental Special Forces are still hunting for the LTTE unit that launched the attack on the Anuradhapura Airbase. They are being assisted by the Sri Lanka Army. Several sectors have now been cleared inside the base, but several more uncleared areas still remain. The group is thought to be trapped in these sectors. The exact number of fighters in the small unit is unknown but is estimated to be around eight.The most valuable aircraft lost in the attack is the Beach-craft which was provided by the United States government. The craft was used for reconnaissance missions on LTTE targets, including the recent attack on the Vishwamadu LTTE Research and Development Headquarters.Defence analysts observe that the Air Force's security breach may have reversed the psychological advantage achieved by the Army and the Navy over the LTTE in recent months. Terror in Air Base A question mark hung over the extent of the damage caused to the Air Force in the LTTE’s surprise pre-dawn ground and air assault on the heavily fortified Air Force base in Anuradhapura, damaging at least three aircraft including a sophisticated Mi-24 attack craft and a K-8 aircraft, the military said.It said a Bell-212 helicopter was also destroyed when it crashed while pursuing the LTTE attackers. Air Force spokesman Ajantha Silva said thirteen airmen, including four officers were killed and 22 injured. “We found bodies of 20 LTTE cadres within the perimeter of the air force base,” he said.Giving details of the pre dawn attack believed to be the first twin attack on a military base since the Tiger air attack on the Katunayake Air Force base, the spokesman said the attack was launched at about 3.20 am after some 20 cadres had infiltrated the key base. “While the air force and army personnel were engaging the Tiger fighters, two enemy light air craft dropped two bombs on the base,” the spokesman said. He said a Bell 212 helicopter and a K-8 aircraft pursued the LTTE enemy air craft, when the Bell helicopter, which was airborne from Vavuniya, crashed at Doramadalawa in Mihintale due to a technical fault. “Four personnel, including the two pilots were killed in the crash,” Group Captain Silva said.The Daily Mirror however learned the helicopter crashed followed ‘friendly fire’ when ground troops fired at it suspecting it to be a rebel aircraft.Unconfirmed reports said more than three air craft including reconnaissance air craft; training craft and several buildings at the air force base, including the pilot training school were also damaged.Virtually taking control of the base, the Tigers fired Rocket Propelled Grenades and automatic rifles.However the Air Force spokesman said as the clearing operations were not complete, the exact figures of the damage to air craft could not be confirmed. A police curfew was also imposed in the Mihintale and Anuradhapura areas as the security forces launched a search operation for LTTE cadres. The curfew was later lifted around 4 pm yesterday.Earlier, residents living in the vicinity of the air base were evacuated to safety.The Tigers were believed to have entered the premises through the northern edge of the base dressed in Air Force combat uniforms using the cover provided by a nearby jungle patch near the Nuwara Wewa. Initially the Tiger team had captured three guard points and one anti-aircraft gun located near the runway. The LTTE cadres had reportedly used the gun to attack the hangers, in which the air craft and training planes were parked.The Tigers also reportedly destroyed an anti-aircraft gun position located near the air craft hangers. Sources claimed the Tigers damaged and intercepted some of the air craft parked in the hangers, to facilitate the get away of the two rebel air craft.Hours after the LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base, Air Force fighter jets targeted LTTE locations in Iranamadu where the Tiger air planes were believed to have landed after carrying out attack.A senior air force official said around 5 am yesterday, fighter jets bombed the suspected the hangars of the LTTE air wing close to the LTTE’s Iranamadu air strip. Details of LTTE casualties or damages were not immediately known. Two teams conduct probe Two special teams have been appointed by SLAF Commander Roshan Goonatillake to probe the LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura Base and the Bell-212 helicopter crash, spokesman Ajantha Silva saidReferring to claims and counter claims on damage to the Air Force aircraft in the pre-dawn attack, the spokesman said he would have to wait until the inquiries were over before making any definite statement and what has been made public was the immediate ground situation. 22 October 2007 Sri Lanka to bring in political package by year end The Sri Lankan government is to bring in its political package by the end of the year as means to end the island's ethnic separatist conflict, a top official said Sunday. Palitha Kohona, the foreign secretary, told reporters that the government is mindful on the need to address the concerns of the island's minorities, particularly the Tamil community. "The Sri Lankan government is of the view that this sort of problem (conflict with the Tiger rebels) cannot be resolved by military means alone," Kohona said. "The political proposals through the all political party process are expected by December," Dr Kohona said. The foreign secretary in commenting on the 3-day international counter terrorism conference held here from Thursday said that the world stands united against terrorism but still an implementation mechanism for all UN conventions against terrorism may still be needed. Kohona defended the Sri Lankan government's military offensives against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, saying that military action is necessary to convince terrorist groups that their objectives cannot be met through violence.The All Party Conference was convened by President Mahinda Rajapakse in January 2006 to try and achieve consensus among south based political parties to solve the military conflict in the north and east through a political package. The process has been dragging on due to the difficulty of achieving consensus mainly on the subject of the unit of devolution. Military campaign against the rebels however has proved to be successful so far as the government had been able to clear the entire Eastern Province from rebel control. Sri Lanka defies sceptics with benchmark bond Late Wednesday last week Sri Lanka finally issued its maiden sovereign bond (B+, BB-), succeeding in raising $500 million through a five-year 144A, Reg-S bond at a yield of 8.25%, or the equivalent of 397.5bp over five-year Treasuries. The deal was arranged by Barclays, HSBC and JPMorgan and co-managed by the Bank of Ceylon.Executing the bond was no easy task. The main political opposition party in Sri Lanka, the United National Party (UNP), held a number of press conferences and public demonstrations objecting to the offering, and argued that the bond was improperly authorised. The UNP also threatened not to honour payments on the bond, should the party come into power. Legal experts have since certified the bond complies with Sri Lanka’s foreign loan regulations. Investors have also had to contend with the ongoing civil war between government forces and the Tamil Tigers, which led Fitch Ratings to place the sovereign on a negative outlook in 2006. The agency has maintained its stance yet again this year. At 8.25%, one investor believed the deal was expensive compared to Pakistan (B+,B1), which at the time of pricing was trading at 8.04% for its 2016s, and 8.22% for its 2017s. Others say the price reflects the risks in Pakistan. “Benazir Bhutto’s arrival from exile in Pakistan triggered two massive bombs attacks, killing 130 people and causing the sovereign's credit default swap to widen by up to 10bp. In my opinion, the risks of a violent regime change are much higher there than they are in Sri Lanka.” When questioned about the threat of default by Sri Lanka's opposition party, he said: “Opposition parties always make life difficult for the ruling party. It wouldn’t make sense for them to actually carry out that threat since this would be harmful to Sri Lanka, its prospects for growth and attracting foreign investment. Anyway, even if they do, I have time to work my position out if I don’t like it. Elections are in 2010.”He adds: “It’s a credit were there will be continued negative headlines and tension, but I take comfort from the country’s excellent sovereign debt service record.”Economically, the country suffers from weak public finances, high public debt ratios, and a weak financial system. Inflation has risen sharply (averaging 17.3% in 2007), while the fiscal deficit and public debt have remained high in 2006 at 7.3% and 93% of GDP respectively, according to a Fitch report. But Sri Lanka also has some strong cards to play. The country enjoys high levels of human capital development, good governance, reasonably strong institutions and a liberal economic climate, continues the report. Moreover, in 2006, the economy expanded at its fastest rate in 20 years (7.4%) thanks to rising domestic and foreign investments and record inflows of remittances.The bonds are now trading at 99.5 to 99.875, having initially reached a high of 100.75 after issuance. Some sources argue the bonds weren’t placed in safe enough hands, and that the leads may have overstated the levels of subscription. This reportedly gave the fast money accounts that participated in the deal an excellent excuse to sell. “We have seen $33 million of Sri Lanka bonds being sold to this institution, mainly by prop desks and hedge funds,” says one syndicate banker.This statement is supported by a source on the buy-side who states: “I agree the allocations could have been a bit more selective, but if people want a free call by the market, they are in the deal for the wrong reasons. Maybe the leads were economical with the truth, but we all have to decide whether the pricing, the tenor and most importantly the current market sentiment is appealing enough to want to subscribe. I think the bonds will perform fine given time. They came in a pretty weak market sentiment, so they will take a little longer to settle down.”Other accounts that participated in the deal had no complaints regarding the execution of the transaction: “I think if there was that much fast money in this deal, its performance would be worse than it is. It’s the overall market that is weaker. As far as I am concerned, the leads did very well in educating the public, pricing at the right levels, and keeping investors informed about the subscription levels at every step of the way – it was $250 million initially, then moved to $400 million at the announcement. Overnight, it swelled to $1.25 billion, ending up at $1.6 billion at the time of pricing.”“I’d like to see the bonds perform, of course, but there are buyers coming in. This is the country’s first global deal, with representation in the Emerging Market Bond Index and the JPMorgan index. Some of the US investors benchmarked against these indices will be interested in these funds for diversity purposes. Also, given its tenor and yield, some private banks will get involved as well, while some real money accounts that initially stayed out of the trade because of market weakness, are now coming in on the secondary market. So there is a good two-way flow.”In the meantime, the deal has now set Sri Lanka on the international capital map, achieving an impressive US participation, with 40% of the bonds selling to that country alone. A further 30% sold to EMEA, and 30% to Asia. In terms of investor-type, 53% of the bonds sold to asset managers, 25% to banks, 10% to funds, 7% to insurance companies and pension funds, 5% to retail and private banks. As many as 136 investors participated in the deal. Wanni produces wine for the Eucharist The fame of Sri Lanka’s tea is universal, but Anglican Church seems to have unearthed Sri Lanka’s talent to produce a ‘stronger’ drink from the unlikely areas of the rebel-held Wanni.Bishop of the Anglican Church’s Colombo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dulip de Chickera made a startling revelation to the worshippers at yesterday’s morning service at the Church’s cathedral in Colombo. He said the wine used for the Eucharist had come from LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi.He also said the wine was fermented in Kilinochchi from the grapes that were grown in Wanni. “This is the result of challenge thrown to our Archdeacon there a year ago. We hope to distribute the wine from Kilinochchi to our churches throughout the country to be used for the Eucharist, and that is a challenge,” said the Bishop adding that Kilinochchi wine had been used for the first time for three consecutive morning services at the cathedral in the past three days as representatives around the country gathered in Colombo for the annual sessions of the Diocese. Lankan Navy attacks Indian fishermen again Rs. 80 m worth of vehicles for N-E hospitals THE Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry provided Rs.80 million worth of vehicles to uplift the healthcare service of the North and East provinces. The vehicles were donated to the Ministry by UNICEF, a Ministry spokesman said. He said 11 vehicles were provided to North and East hospitals. The vehicles were granted to Batticaloa, Mullaithivu, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Nedunkarni and Trincomalee hospitals. The shipment of vehicles consisted of three vans, seven ambulances and one jeep. The Ministry has implemented a special programme to upgrade free healthcare facilities in the Eastern Province after the Government troops liberated the area. Under this programme, all healthcare facilities will be upgraded and expanded. The Ministry has also made arrangements to send 122 MBBS intern doctors to serve in North and East hospitals according to the merit list to meet the demand for doctors. MR meets Mahanayakes President Mahinda Rajapaksa made a surprise visit to Kandy yesterday and held talks with the Mahanayakes of the Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters on several matters, an informed source revealed.The meeting was held in Kandy,where the President and the Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter, the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera and the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Thera discussed several key issues in the country for over two hours, sources said.The Diyawadana Nilame, Nilanga Dela Bandara and Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa were also present. Eight LTTE militants killed in clashes, says Lankan army At least eight Tamil Tigers have been killed and 20 others injured in pitched battles in Sri Lanka's embattled northern region, the army said on Sunday. Troops manning the Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Wanni's Periyathampanai area retaliated an LTTE attack last evening killing eight militants, they said adding heavy artilleries were exchanged by both sides. "Intercepted LTTE radio communication have revealed eight militants were killed in the army retaliation while four soldiers also suffered injuries and were rushed to Vavuniya General Hospital," the defence ministry said quoting area military sources. Elsewhere, one army soldier was killed and three others injured when militants launched an attack at security forces' FDL in the Thampanai area on Saturday evening. Later, intercepted radio conversations among LTTE cadres have revealed that 20 cadres suffered injuries when artillery shells fired by army nearly hit a tractor carrying them, they said. Meanwhile, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said four suspects, believed to be militants, were arrested in in Mannar last evening in a combined operation by army and navy. Two claymore bombs weighing 5 Kg each were recovered based on the information provided by the suspects, it said adding the suspects have been handed over to Mannar Police for further investigations. The army seized a 40 mm grenade launcher during a search operation in Kanchurakadu area and destroyed two LTTE bunkers when it resisted an attack by the militants on the Muhamalai FDL in Jaffna, both on Sunday morning, MCNS said. 13th amendment will be fully implemented - DEW The Government pledged yesterday to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for the setting up of provincial councils for the resolution of the ethnic conflict. Addressing a ceremony held to mark the 153rd birth anniversary of the Malayalam spiritual Leader Sree Narayana Guru, organized by the Malayalam Society of Sri Lanka, Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister, D. E. W. Gunasekera said that the government’s idea was to implement the existing laws to bring about peace in the country and think up new laws if the existing ones were not sufficient. Mr. Gunasekera said that Sri Lanka had missed many opportunities in the past, as some group or party had objected to something whenever there was consensus on the issue. “However the government has decided to bring about a solution based on the existing laws and bring all communities together,” he said.He explained that the Tamil Language was recognized as a state language under the 13 Amendment but it had never been implemented. However, he said, the present government had already begun to implement it by making it compulsory for public sector workers to learn both Sinhala and Tamil. The Minister said that over 7000 public servants were already learning both languages. He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa would name a board of ministers for a National Language Training Institute. “The lack of bilingual skills is a major problem today, as only 10% of public servants are conversant in both languages; but we have already set about resolving this issue,” he said. Indian-American wins in Lousiana Govt. briefs EU on Human Rights concerns Following the successful attempt by the government to prevent a European Union (EU) resolution being tabled against Sri Lanka at the recent UN Human Rights council session, the government has now embarked on a mission to brief the EU on efforts taken to address human rights concerns in the country.Human Rights Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe flew to Brussels over the weekend for meetings with EU delegates including its presidency from Portugal to discuss persistent concerns raised by the block over Sri Lanka's human rights situation, a spokesman for the Minister told the Daily Mirror."The Minister flew from New York to Brussels to discuss human rights concerns raised by the EU and the recent efforts taken by the government to address and deal with these allegations," the spokesman said. Minister Samarasinghe was earlier in New York to address the UN general assembly on various topics including child soldiers where he had stated that terrorist ‘groups’ in Sri Lanka, a reference to the LTTE and TMVP, were still recruiting children for combat. In Brussels, Minister Samarasinghe is also expected to brief the EU on the outcome of the recent visit to Sri Lanka by the UN High Commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour. At the recent Human Rights Council session presided by Ms. Arbour, EU countries including Portugal and Germany raised serious concerns over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and said they were looking forward to the outcome of Ms. Arbour's visit to the country. Basil Rajapaksa opens police station at Vakarai Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa opening a new police station in Vakarai on Saturday, said security was essential for peace and development in the country. He said the whole world had accepted this theory. Mr. Rajapaksa said since the liberation of the east from the Tigers, government had taken several steps to develop the Province.Minister of Fisheries Felix Perera and Basil Rajapaksa also laid a foundation stone for a new cold storage with a capacity of 5 tons in Panichchankarani and handed over 100 boats and fishing equipment to fishermen.One hundred bank accounts were also opened for children of fisher folk. Ceremonial opening of Jaffna Court complex by Chief Justice The new modern state of the art multi story Court Complex for Jaffna is to be ceremonially opened on October 24, 2007 in the heart of the Jaffna city.Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva will declare open this Court complex which was constructed as part of the infrastructure development programme under the Legal and Judicial Reforms Project of the Government facilitated by the World Bank.The modern three storied building facing the famous Jaffna library was architecturally designed in harmony with the rich traditions and the landscape of Jaffna. The guests of honour at the opening ceremony will be the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms Suhada Gamalath, Secretary to the Judicial Services Commission P.W.D.C. Jayatilaka Ms. Shamalie Gunawardana Project Director of the Legal and Judicial Reforms Project and Ms. Naoko Ishii, Country Director of the World Bank Colombo Office.The Legal and Judicial Reforms Project has spent approximately Rs. 170 million on the construction. The three-storied Court Complex covers an area of approximately 60,000 square feet and includes provisions for a High Court, a Commercial High Court, two District Courts, two Magistrates Courts, two Labour Tribunals and an additional Court Room designed to house a Court of Appeal. The complex also has separate offices, record rooms and reference rooms for each of above court houses, a cafeteria, a separate and secured area for police and the accused, lawyers lounge rooms, a communication centre and a legal aid office, The objective of the government through such infrastructure improvements is to provide modern facilities to the public in the process of administration of justice.Another important feature of this construction program is that it was undertaken with the fullest co-operation and participation of the entire judicial and legal community of Jaffna who have been active participants throughout the design as well as the construction stages of the court complex. This continuous involvement of the Jaffna Bench and the Bar was ensured on a sustainable basis through a development committee established with the judges, lawyers and court officials as its members. The inauguration ceremony is organized and conducted by the Jaffna Judiciary and the Bar.The new Court Complex in Jaffna is one of two new constructions conducted by the Legal and Judicial Reforms Project, the other being the recently opened Court Complex in Trincomalee. In addition the project’s court renovation program consisted of a major initiative to renovate a large number of court houses in different parts of the country. The renovation program is now complete, and 25 courts complexes have being fully refurbished. It has also renovated premises to set up three more Provincial High Courts of Appeal at Kalutara, Matara and Ratnapura.The Legal and Judicial Reforms Project which was steered by a committee headed by the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva P.C. and comprising the Attorney General C. R. De Silva P.C., Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and Law Reform, Suhada Ganalath, Secretary of the Judicial Services Commission P.W.D. C. Jayatilake, Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce R.M.K. Ratnayake and Legal Draftsperson, Therese Perera P.C. Sethusamudram project will be completed by the end of 2008 Delhi: Despite the nation-wide furore caused by the Sethusamudram Project (and later, Tamil Nadu CM Karunaidhi’s remarks on the drinking habits of Lord Ram), the Centre has afforded an excellent example of double-speak and has declared that the project shall be completed by the end of 2008.Union Shipping and Surface Transport Minister T R Balu has also said that the work on the project is continuing in Palk Strait.He added that only the dredging of Adam’s Bridge has been stopped, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders.Balu, however, assured the review committee currently looking into project, that public opinion shall be taken into account before the committee submits its report to the SC.Meanwhile, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa has questioned the credibility of the review committee – she has alleged that the committee is neither impartial enough nor adequately competent to review the project in question. Army to complete Yala search operation The Army yesterday said it hoped to complete their massive search and clear operation to hunt down Tamil Tigers in the Yala Wild Life Sanctuary today claiming that there were no clues about the LTTE cadres by yesterday. “We already cleared three sectors out of four by yesterday and are planning to complete the massive hunt by today,” Military Spokesman, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily Mirror yesterday.He said during the last few days’ military operation, there were no reports about the presence of any LTTE cadres in the searched areas. “We searched but nothing was found, but the search operation is continuing,” he said. The spokesman also said once the clearing operation is over, the National Park would be handed over to the Wild Life Authority. “However we would continue to maintain our security in the park,” he added.Meanwhile, the Special Task Force also launched a massive search operation in the Ampara jungle in order to track down fleeing LTTE cadres following the Yala attack. Comprising a 1000-man police contingent which commenced its operation last week in the jungles bordering Yala, Panama and Ampara areas.Earlier, Environment Minister, Champika Ranawaka said the security had been strengthened in the sanctuary and it would be reopened for visitors as soon as the army provides a security guarantee. However he declined to give any time frame when the park would be re-opened.Meanwhile, a senior Army official in the area told the Daily Mirror that Army personnel, who had been engaged in a security clearance at the Yala Park fired at two suspicious boats in the seas in the deep southeast coast last Friday evening.He also said the two boats were withdrawn from the area, despite the military firing at them. The military launched a massive search operation in the park, following the LTTE’s surprise attack on the Army’s Thalgasmankada detachment on Monday (15) killing six soldiers and injuring one.On the next day morning Tigers also triggered a pressure mine on a military tractor, killing another soldier and wounding three. 21 October 2007 Tamil Tigers invincible, says terror expert There is no way Sri Lanka's government will be able to crush its Tamil Tiger foes, and giving wide political autonomy to minority Tamils is the only answer, a leading European counter-terrorism expert says.With near daily land and sea clashes, ambushes, bombings and air raids amid a new chapter in a two-decade civil war that has killed around 70,000 people, the government is now taking the war to the rebels with offensives to drive them from territory they control.But the tactic is flawed and cannot solve an ethnic conflict that has killed around 5,000 people since early 2006 alone, said Dr. Gerard Chaliand, former director of the European Center for the Study of Conflicts."No way, you can't crush the Tigers," Chaliand told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a counter-terrorism conference in Colombo at which he was a keynote speaker. "Technically speaking they are the most efficient movement at present in the world.""Before them I've seen two others which were outstanding. The Vietnamese, and the EPLF from Eritrea -- they won. (The Tigers) are the third one," he added. "You don't crush those guys with the Sri Lankan army, which by the way is not the best in the world."Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's brother, disagrees, and says Chaliand does not know the ground realities."I don't agree with that at all. I'm sure we are the best when you talk about counter-terrorism, who else has had to do this?" Rajapaksa said. " He can't make a comment like that, it's not logical.""He doesn't know the ground situation, he is looking from far away," he added, saying Chaliand did not know what arms the military are using or about the morale of either side.Chaliand describes the Tigers as a totalitarian killing machine, and says there appears to be little prospect of negotiating a peace deal with the rebels as long as shadowy rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran remains at the helm.Removing Prabhakaran from the equation would help, but the answer is to give significant autonomy to minority Tamils, which the government has so far failed to do, he says.The government has promised widespread autonomy for minority Tamils and has also vowed to destroy all the Tigers' military assets and "liberate" all areas controlled by the Tigers, including in their northern stronghold.But a cross-party drive to come up with a consensus devolution proposal has been aground for months, and even moderate Tamils were unhappy with draft proposals the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -- who are widely banned as a terrorist group -- have already rejected out of hand."The grievances of the Tamils are legitimate, they are part of this country, they should have a place in it as a recognised minority, whether it is in the framework of political autonomy or a federation," Chaliand said."If they want Tamils to join them, they have to make a fair offer," he added. "There is no military solution to this business only."While the government has had the upper hand in recent months, capturing swathes of rebel-held territory in the east, analysts say there is no clear winner on the horizon and fear the conflict could grind on for years.The government has called on the international community to help tackle the Tigers by curbing their fund-raising abroad. Two claymores targeting VIP found from Polonnaruwa Police found two claymores and fire arm equipment buried in a land in the address of No: 65,Muslim Colony, Kaduruwela, following information received from a civilian. Five detonators, one T-56 magazine, 15 numbers of T 56 ammunition and a 25 feet wire were also found from the place. Police suspects that these military gear was hidden there to target a VIP.Meanwhile, the Army retaliated a group of LTTE cadres who came to attack the Forward Defence Line at Nagarkovil. Media Centre for National Security says that one LTTE cadre was killed in the attack UN slams Govt. on human rights, warns of dire consequences The United Nations has issued a scathing political indictment of the government and warned that the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate with possible devastating consequences."Any offensive against the LTTE in northern Sri Lanka would have major humanitarian consequences, including displacement of up to 400,000 civilians," says a confidential note prepared by senior UN officials to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon."The space for UN and NGO humanitarian operations in Sri Lanka is also under continued pressure from the government which seeks to control relief activities through imposition of bureaucratic obstacles." The government is also accused of "helping create a climate of fear among UN and humanitarian staff in Sri Lanka." The note accuses the Foreign Ministry of refusing visas to officials of the UN Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Activities (OCHA) "and demanding that OCHA hire government officials instead of our own international staff in sensitive locations such as Jaffna in the northern Tamil region."A senior UN official told the Sunday Times that visiting Sri Lankan ministers and officials had made promises and pledges but had failed to deliver on them. The note to the secretary-general also blasts the government for "continuing to deny the existence of a humanitarian crisis or human rights violations in Sri Lanka." "Outside comment on the situation in Sri Lanka, however constructively packaged, is usually labelled by the government media as support to the LTTE while international pressure is diverted through such devices as the establishment of commissions of inquiry which have little chance in practice of properly investigating abuses." The meeting between Ban Ki-moon and President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been dismissed as inconsequential because the President's response has been described as "essentially evasive, sheltering behind the difficulties (genuine though these of course are) of dealing with a determined terrorist movement.""The tone of the conversations was warm, but there was no acceptance that the negative statements of his ministers and government-owned newspapers have a serious impact on the safety and effectiveness of UN and NGO operations in Sri Lanka, or that they are systematically reducing our ability to help those in need."Nevertheless, "we should continue to impress on the government the need for them to take proactive steps to improve the working environment, including in practical areas such as visas and the free import of essential security and communications equipment." Foreign Ministry deprives expat Lankans of voting Elections Commissioner, Dayananda Dissanayake castigated the foreign ministry and the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for their sluggish attitudes towards enfranchising Sri Lankan migrants, in violation of their voting rights. Speaking at a workshop on voting rights of Sri Lankan expatriates, organised by the Migrant Services Centre last week, Dissanayake said, “I made my submissions on voting rights for expatriates, to the PSC in 2003. It wasn’t taken seriously. I have tried my best to get information from the Foreign Ministry on how many have got citizenship in other countries. They are not concerned about this and so, thousands of migrant Lankans are losing their right to vote.” The Commissioner revealed that out of the 13.5 million registered in the voters’ list, about 1.5 million people are permanently or temporarily abroad. “It is a great injustice that these people are not franchised,” he added. Due to the politicization of the Foreign Service, Dissanayake emphasized the importance of the Elections Commission controlling the entire process, including the appointment of officials for the management of the polls. “If the embassies and high commissions are allowed to handle elections, everything will be politicised, as the ambassadors are political appointments,” he said. Key LTTE arms agent nabbed in London-Source:Lakbima news After being on the run for nearly two years one of the LTTE’s top arms, narcotics and money laundering agents identified as Kanagalingam Ramanasaijeeswaran a.k.a. “Warren” or “Chooty” has been arrested in London, UK after allegedly making death threats to members of the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation (EROS) a democratic Sri Lankan Tamil political organisation. It is learnt that death threats were made by telephone to senior members of EROS which resulted in Ramanasaijeeswaran’s arrest. It is said that he is presently on bail pending a full investigation by the UK’s Metropolitan Police. Kanagalingam Ramasaijeeswaran is one of the LTTE’s senior arms, narcotics and money laundering agents who is said to be holding a British passport and a fake Liberian Diplomatic passport. He is also said to have residency visas for Singapore and Dubai.Ramanasaijeeswaran who was born in Sri Lanka fled the United Kingdom in 2005/2006 and has been on the run since then. Between 2003 and 2006 Kanagalingam Ramanasaijeeswaran has allegedly extorted over $250,000 for the LTTE. During this period, he has made multiple trips to Sri Lanka and India. He has also made frequent trips to Liberia for arms deals on behalf of the LTTE and was a close associate of the LTTE’s “KP” who was recently arrested in Thailand. He is also said to have been responsible for registering ships indirectly owned by the LTTE in Liberia. Sri Lankan authorities are liasing with the UK’s anti-Terrorist branch of the Metropolitan Police to see if he can be detained under the “Prevention of Terrorism Act”. It is not known why the LTTE dispatched him back to the UK, although it is said that Kanagalingam Ramanasaijeeswaran was in New York, USA a couple of weeks ago before a raid by the NYPD and FBI led to the arrests of key LTTE agents involved in a plot to steal $250,000 from ATMs. Convicts used as cover for Sinhala colonization in East- MP Batticaloa District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian S.Jeyananthamoorthy in a letter addressed to the President of Sri lanka Mahinda Rajapakse condemned the ove by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) to employ Sinhala prisoners at Maangkea'ni cashew plantation owned by Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation(SLCC).Mr.Jeyananthamoorthy pointed out in his letter that the move to bring on Sinhala convicts will result in Sinhala colonization in future and exarcerbate ethnic conflict in the area. The full text of the letter follows: "The cashew plantation located in Maangkea'ni, Batticaloa District has been long abandoned and is in an unusable state. There is a very large SLA camp constructed at that site and as a result the entire plantation has been destroyed. Those previously employed in the plantation are languishing without any income for the past many years. "I now understand that steps are being taken to revamp the entire Cashew plantation at this location. "Though it is not an appropriate step to be taken under the existing conditions, SLCC has decided to reactivate cashew cultivation in that location. At the same time I learn that the cashew corporation has entered into a contract with the Prisons department to employ Sinhala convicts at this location. I also learn that this scheme is being implemented by your advisor and parliamentarian Basil Rajapakse. "In Vaakarai region, there are still a large number of former employees of Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation. Apart from this, when such an employment scheme is implemented, priority should be given to the youths residing in the region. To bring in Sinhala prisoners to be employed here, without taking into consideration these factors is an undemocratic act and should be condemned. "Moreover I suspect that there are some ulterior motives behind bringing in Snhala convicts here under the guise of providing employment. "This move could be a prelude to permanently keep these convicted prisoners here in order to create Sinhala colonization. In addition, allowing these convicts to move around freely in this Tamil area will instill fear among the Tamil population and may lead to ethnic conflicts in the future "In view of the reasons listed above, I wish to appeal to you take necessary steps to drop the idea of bringing in Sinhala convicts into this region and provide employment for people from Vaakarai. In order to implement my request, I wish appeal to you to take the necessary steps to cancel the contract between the cashew corporation and the Prisons department and allow the cashew corporation to function independently," the MP said. Businessman abducted in Wellawatte A Tamil businessman from Jampettah Street, Colombo was reported to have been abducted last week.According to the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC), the businessman, Rajalingam Srikanthan had been reported missing since last Tuesday after he had gone to Wellawatte.This was the first abduction reported since the departure of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, CMC Convener Mano Ganesan said. "Srikanthan was reported to have gone missing when he had gone to meet his friend in Wellawatte. His motorbike was found in a place between Wellawatte and Dehiwela. Investigations are continuing," Ganesan said."This was the first complaint received since Louise Arbour left the country on October 13," he said. There were four abductions when the UN High Commissioner was in the country.Ganesan said two cases were reported from Colombo while the other two were reported from Trincomalee JVP support No-Confidence Govt reaction Minister Rajitha Senaratne reacting to the JVP stand said that they are going to win the no-confidence motion without JVP support.He said there are differences among the UNP MPs and they are still discussing the issue.“JVP is now saying this but JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi has told weekend newspapers that they are not concerned about it. However, having learnt that the government will not take it for debate they have now taken this stand”, Minister Senaratne added. Jaffna HSZ-located phone used for extortion threats Several leading businessmen, editors, and directors of newspapers in Jaffna have made complains to Human Rights Commission (HRC), Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and Jaffna magistrate, of receiving threats from a hand phone located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Jaffna said. The call had warned that failure to pay or reporting the matter to police or the magistrate would result in severe punishment, according to the complaints made, sources in Jaffna said. The anonymous calls demanding money along with death threats were made during the last two days issue from a single hand phone in the SLA High Security Zone in Jaffna, the complainants said. Fear and tension prevail among businessmen, media persons including editors and directors of newspapers in Jaffna peninsula. Similar extortion and intimidation were made earlier in Jaffna peninsula to leading lawyers, doctors and intellectuals by SLA-backed paramilitaries in the peninsula. Jaffna peninsula lawyers launched a peninsula wide boycott resulting in the assurance from the Jaffna SLA commander that he would take necessary action to curb the menace. The affected persons say that the extortion and death threats by paramilitaries are carried out in collaboration of the SLA. The calls of intimidation were made only after the disconnected hand phones in Jaffna peninsula began functioning, they said. However, the SLA, while rejecting this accusation, maintains that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is responsible for the threats. Anandasangaree calls for speedy solution Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Leader V. Anandasangaree yesterday urged the government to submit without delay a ‘reasonable’ proposal as the solution to the ethnic conflict, which will also be acceptable to both minorities and the international community. Speaking at the International Conference on Countering Terrorism held at the BMICH yesterday, he said, “The LTTE is such a ruthless organisation with unyielding character. They will never agree for a solution other than separation. The government, without any delay, should submit a reasonable proposal acceptable to the international community and minorities.” Anandasangaree noted that the government will not have any difficulty in soliciting the support of the entire opposition to solve the problem while noting that it should be left to the international community to pressurise the LTTE to agree with the solution that has been accepted by all concerned parties. “Although certain others project the LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamil people, I will not do so because, the Tamils do not consider the LTTE as their sole representatives. Even Prabahakaran knows very well that he has earned the name as the most ruthless person in the world,” the TULF Leader said. Wellawatte Police:Five suspects arrested in credit card fraud Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers who arrested five suspects involved in an ATM card racket last Wednesday are hunting for more suspects who are believed to have pilfered nearly Rs.1.5 million on three consecutive days from an ATM machine in Wellawatte. The five suspects who are now held in custody had confessed upon interrogation by detectives of their involvement in using foreign credit cards and ATM cards to steal money from overseas bank accounts .Investigations had revealed that the five suspects had been involved in similar operations in France and Britain. The suspects are also reported to have laundered millions of rupees worth of foreign currency into the country. Investigations have revealed that they had used the People’s Bank branches at Kegalle and Wellawatte to commit the crimes. CCD acting director Police Superintendent Palitha Fernando said vital information regarding others involved in the racket have been obtained.“We have gathered vital clues of many others who are involved in stealing money from ATM machines in and around banks in Colombo. Some of the suspects are believed to be operating from abroad. However we have found that the money is going straight to the LTTE,” he said. The five suspects were arrested at around 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday trying to withdraw money from the Wellawatte branch People’s Bank ATM machine. Police sources said the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank had been assisting in the investigation as the places the cards had been used were being monitored by it. Acting on this intelligence the CCD detectives had made the arrest. The five suspects had been regularly coming to the ATM machine of the People’s Bank Wellawatte branch between 4.30 and 5.30 in the mornings to withdraw money. The suspects were reported to have been having 21 credit cards in their possession at the time of their arrest which they used to steal money from many foreign bank accounts. The suspects were identified as Jeganathan Prabunath, Kandasamy Sekar, Nataraja, Theep Suraj and Kulasingham Ramesh. Ramesh is reported to have been wanted by the Malaysian authorities for credit card fraud and several other financial crimes. Ramesh was later reported to have left the country on a fake Malaysian passport along with US $ 200,000 which he had illegally repatriated. Investigations have revealed that a credit card used by one the five suspects was said to have been stolen from a multi-millionaire businessman in London. The suspects had been stealing money regularly from a Lloyds of London Bank account using one of the credit cards which the businessman had reported to his bank as missing. Upon this complaint an investigation had been launched by the bank which eventually traced the money being withdrawn in Colombo. 20 October 2007 U.S. State Department updates travel warning on Sri Lanka after LTTE attack in Yala United States Department of State (DOS) today updated its travel advisory on Sri Lanka specifically warning Americans against travel to northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka. DOS warned the Americans against traveling particularly to LTTE-controlled areas in the north saying they may pose severe hazards. The travel warning said despite the Sri Lankan government’s assurance that it has effectively controlled the eastern part of the country since July 2007 the security is not yet guaranteed. It said that although other parts of the country are mostly safe, the LTTE has conducted attacks outside of the northern and eastern areas citing recent LTTE air attacks on the Katunayake Air Force Base and the oil facilities in Colombo and the October 15th attack on Army camp in the Yala National Park in southeastern Sri Lanka. The advisory restricts official travel by U.S. Government personnel to areas north of a line following the highway from Puttalam through Anuradhapura to Polonaruwa, Bibile, and Pottuvil in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and prohibits unofficial travel. SLAF bombs Puthukkudiyiruppu in Vanni Five Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers dropped more than twenty four bombs in two sorties Friday morning, targeting civilian settlements in Vea'naavil and surrounding areas, sources in Vanni said. The first aerial bombardment involving three aircrafts began at 8.15 am and lasted till 8:35a.m. At least 12 bombs were dropped during the attack and they exploded around the huts in the area causing extensive damages to the residences as well as destroying agricultural lands and a number of trees.No civilian causalities were reported.Within a space of five minutes of the first three aircrafts leaving the air space, two other Kfir jets began circling the skies above Puthukkudiyiruppu and began bombing that lasted from 8:40 a.m. till 8:50 a.m.More than 8 bombs were dropped during this attack, eye witnesses said.After the two air attacks, reconnaissance jets were seen circling above till 10:00 a.m Since Puthukkudiyiruppu is a densely populated area, there were heavy civilian movements at the time of the air attack. More than 3000 students were attending the five schools -Puthukkudiyiruppu Central College, Kaiveali Ganesha Vidyalayam, Vea'naavil Murugananthaa Government mixed school, Sri Subramaniam Vidyalayam, Puthukkudiyiruppu Roman Catholic school-located in the targeted area, at the time of the attack.The students scattered in panic when the bombing began, local residents said.Five civilians including three children were injured when SLAF bombers attacked Puthukkudiyiruppu in Vanni Tuesday, 16 October 2007.On September 21, a copy of an appeal was handed over to Mullaitheevu Zonal Education Director, P. Ariyaratnam, by the Principals Association President, S. Raveenthirarajah, and its Secretary, S. Subramaiyeswaran, stating that the students are fear stricken by continued bombardments in the near vicinity of schools and civilian settlements in Puthukkudiyiruppu during school times. Mr.Ariyaratnam subsequently handed over copies of the appeal at the offices of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) office in Puthukkuddiyiruppu and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR ) requesting them to intervene to stop the indiscriminate bombings by SLAF and ensure that the students continue their studies without interruption.However, the Defence officials of Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) ignoring the appeals of the Non Governmental Organization (NGOs) has increased the frequency of the aerial attacks in close proximity of area schools, concerned residents said.SLAF reconnaissance aircrafts have recently increased their night missions above the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled Vanni region.Tension continues to prevail in Puthukkudiyiruppu due to continued aerial attacks in Vanni Gotabhaya seeks one billion rupees damage from Sunday Leader editor Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse's counsels have sent a letter of request of Rs. one billion as damage from the editor of Sunday Leader. The Defense Secretary mentions in his letter sent through his counsels that a criminal defamation occurred to him through the article published in Sunday Leader on July 15 under the heading 'Mig deal crash lands' which included baseless and misleading facts. The Defense Secretary states in the letter dated October 18 that he will initiate legal action if the said amount of damage was not paid to him within 14 days. Two women shot, injured in Thunnaalai Unknown gunmen riding motorcycles forced their entry into a house in Kudavatthai, Thunnaalai, in Vadamaraadchi at 4:00 a.m. Friday during curfew hours, and shot and seriously injured two women, sources in Point Pedro said. Villagers accuse Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence cadres as responsible for the shooting.Thavarajah Mangaiyatkarasi, 58, was admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital, and Kathiramalai Thangam, 50, who was also staying in the same house was admitted to Manthikai Government Hospital with serious injuries.Local residents said that the SLA suspects infiltration of the Liberation Tigers in Thunnaalai area, and the shooting incident is an attempt to threaten the villagers. Sri Lanka Army fires at suspicious boats off national park A plot to snatch the Asgiri Chapter leadership from bed ridden prelate The Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Nikaya has taken steps to sack two monks from the Chapter accusing that they plotted to snatch the Chapter leadership from the bedridden current Chief Prelate Ven Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Thero. One monk that was sacked is the controller of the Sri Wajira Children's Home Hunupola Sri Wajiragnana. He had led the plot with the connivance of another monk.Several monk and layman elites of Kandy said to Ravaya, remaining anonymous, that a serious disaster was avoided by revealing the plot. They said that the decision of the Chief Prelate and the Sangha Committee of the Asgiriya Chapter to sack these two monks is commendable. Rehabilitate Tamil prisoners in their own areas - CJ Accused Court of Appeal judge refuse to resign A new controversy has erupted in the higher echelon of the judiciary since the Court of Appeal judge Sarath D. Abrew has rejected the plea of the the Judiciary Services Commission including the Chief Justice to retire due to the serious charges against him. The charges against the judge are: influencing the lower courts in the cases of his interest, issuing biased verdicts for those cases at the Court of Appeal and physically assaulting his security guards and other officials of his staff.Ironically, the Judiciary Services Commission is not liable to the control of discipline of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court in accordance with the constitution. Parliament is the only competent authority that can demote the judges of the higher courts through impeachment. 5 no-faith motions to be debated after budget Sri Lanka inflation hurting clothing sector Sri Lanka's clothing and textiles companies are struggling to compete against India and China as inflation runs at its highest level for thirteen years, the island's top apparel exporter warned on Friday."As a result of high costs of some essential goods due to depreciation , there is an increase in the cost of living ... You will have to increase salaries to compensate," said Mahesh Amalean, Chairman of MAS Holdings Private Ltd, Sri Lanka's biggest apparel exporter which produces garments for Nike Inc , Victoria's Secret and Marks & Spencer ."We can't allow our costs to increase too high. We have to be competitive," he told Reuters at the firm's launch of an apparel and textile park at Thulhiriya, 40 miles northeast of the capital, Colombo.Inflation hit 17.5 percent in September as measured on a 12-month moving average, the highest in 13 years, which is putting pressure on wage costs.The textile and apparel sector is Sri Lanka's highest net foreign revenue earner after remittances sent home by expatriate workers, bringing in $3 billion in earnings in 2006 compared with a gross domestic product of $26 billion.The local rupee has depreciated by about 5.0 percent against the dollar so far this year on top of a 5.0 percent depreciation in 2006, in largely import-export driven related trade in an economy that runs a hefty trade deficit due mainly to costly oil imports."Arbitrary increases in wages can destabilize the equilibrium and make us non-competitive. So what is important is to have a stable currency," Amalean said.Amalean sees niche products like lingerie and sports wear as the industry's strongest future prospects.Sri Lanka's apparel and textile industry was hard hit in late 2004 by the end of the multi-fibre agreement, which guaranteed export market quotas.And while the island has benefited from European Union General System Preferences duty concessions, they are due to expire in 2008 in a looming body blow to the industry. The government is scrambling to convince the EU to extend them. 19 October 2007 Two children, grandfather killed, SL Navy attacks refugee-boat in the seas off Mannaar Two children and their grandfather were killed and the remaining two children with their mother were seriously wounded when Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) gunboats opened fire on them, Thursday early morning at 4:30. The fate of the refugee-family from Ira'naimaatha Nakar in Naachchikkudaa, located 40 km northeast of Mannaar, ended in tragedy in the seas off Peasaalai. Whereabouts of the father, Jim Maximus, is not known, although some reports said he has been handed over to the Police in Thalaimannar. Mr. Jim Maximus, whose efforts to notify the attacking SLN that they were innocent civilians ended in vain and he jumped off the boat and swam towards the gunboats in his attempt to save his family, the seriously injured 37-year-old mother told authorities before falling unconscious at the hospital, medical sources said. Pushpamalar Maximus, and her two children, 10-year-old boy Milakshan and 8-year-old girl Mithusini, all of them with serious gunshot wounds, were admitted at Mannaar hospital, at 10:30 a.m., five hours after the attack by the SLN. Dead bodies of Jebmaalai Jesudasan, 55, the grandfather and Mary Milakshani Maximus, 15, and Dilakshan Maximus, 11, have been handed over to the hospital mortuary. The children and their mother were in unconscious state at the hospital.The SLN has claimed that the civilian boat was caught in cross-fire.Naachchikkudaa is a coastal village located 40 km northeast of Mannaar in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled Ki'linochchi district. LTTE, Army call for truce at Omanthai crossing point Following a truce between LTTE and security forces, the International Red Cross has agreed to resume duties from today at the vital Omanthai crossing, thus bringing relief to thousands of Tamils in the tiger rebels dominated Vanni region of Northern Sri Lanka.After a meeting with the LTTE and the army yesterday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) received security guarantees to resume its duties at Omanthai," ICRC spokesman Davide Vignatti said in a statement.LTTE controlled areas in the Vanni were in danger of being completely shut off from the rest of the country, indefinitely, after the ICRC announced it had withdrawn from the Omanthai entry and exit point that links it with the rest of the country.This was as a result of an attempted security breach by the LTTE on Wednesday evening when they attempted to advance past defence lines north of Uyliankulam, in Mannar in North-Western part of the country, the Defence Ministry said.The crossing point, situated along the highway, which was kept open five days a week to facilitate civilian and humanitarian assistance, was the only entry route open to the Vanni, after the closure of the Uyliankulam route in north-west last month and Muhamalai route in Jaffna since fresh fighting erupted in the north.In August, the ICRC agreed to extend its presence at Omanthai crossing point in Vavuniya district to five days a week after it was reduced to three day a week in June following a number of security incidents that jeopardised the safety of civilians crossing the Lines.These incidents had also posed a danger to the ICRC personnel manning the checkpoint. Sri Lanka urged to resume talks with Tigers Katunayake Airport radar antenna damaged The radar antenna in the Katunayake International Airport has been damaged by lightning well informed sources said yesterday. The antenna was damaged on Wednesday. A spokesman from the airport said the one antenna was damaged by lightning while the other one was working as usual. He said quick action has been taken to repair the damaged antenna and new parts for the antenna have already been ordered. “We will receive the new parts today and the repair work would start immediately,” he said. Referring to the radar antenna in Pidurutalagala range which was damaged due to heavy winds he said action has been taken to repair it and the safety of the air crafts have been ensured. SLA cordons off, searches areas west of Jaffna Sri Lanka Army (SLA), deploying large number of troops, launched a cordon and search operation Thursday dawn covering a vast area in Jaffna west, sources in Jaffna said. Youths and young women were rounded up for interrogation and the National Identity Cards of many have been confiscated by the SLA troops. The SLA has directed the victims to claim their ID cards at the SLA camp in their respective areas. Areas searched include Naavanthu'rai, Oaddumadam, Koddadi, Sivan Koayil Veethi, Five Junction area, Kaakkaitheevu and Pommaive'li.Young men and women were brought to places of worship in the areas and were interrogated.During the search which lasted until Thursday afternoon, all vehicular traffic through these areas was stopped and the passengers ordered to alight from the vehicles.SLA troops subjected all to rigorous check.No details are available if anyone was arrested during the search. Sri Lanka opposition MPs to meet on Monday to discuss no confidence motion against Tourism Minister A special meeting of the opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentary group is scheduled to be held on Monday to take a decision to support the no-confidence motion against the UNP dissident and Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda. The General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake said that the meeting would reflect the real sentiments of the UNP MPs over the no-confidence against Moragoda. Pro-government media is reporting a UNP split over the matter. Colombo district UNP MP Mohammed Maharoof has already written a letter to the party leader protesting the no confidence against Moragoda. Sri Lanka Freedom Party – People’s Wing MPs Mangala Samaraweera, Sripathi Suriyaarachchi and Hambanthota district UNP MP Dilip Wedaarachchi handed over a no confidence motion against Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda to the Speaker on October 9th. The no confidence motion accuses Mercantile Credit Ltd, which belongs to the Moragoda family of nonpayment of Rs. 5,071.3 million to the Central Bank. Family man shot dead in Pungkudutheevu Two unknown armed men on a motorcycle shot dead a family man Wednesday around 7:00 p.m during curfew hours in the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Pungkudutheevu, an islet of Jaffna under the exclusive control of the SLN. The victim was identified as Kanapathipillai Pathmanathan, 52.Pathmanathan was shot killed in an area surrounded by SLN camps.A 21-year-old girl student on her way to attend classes in a private educational institute had gone missing since Sunday after going through the SLN camp area to the institute.The killing has further increased the fear and tension in Pungkudutheevu, already affected by the disappearance of the young female student.The disappearance has also raised the spectre of rape and murder of a young wife of a Saiva temple priest, Sarathambal Saravanabavanantha Kurukal, 29, who was gang-raped and murdered near Kannakai Amman Temple in Pungkudutheevu in December 1999.Pungudutheevu SLN camp gained notoriety after the incident as villagers accused the SLN soldiers for Sarathambal's rape and murder, the brutality of which shocked the entire Tamil community. Sri Lankan Troops Kill 34 Tamil Rebels in North, Military Says - Bloomberg Sri Lankan troops killed at least 34 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fighters in two days of clashes along a defense line separating government and rebel-held territory in the country's north, the Defense Ministry said. Soldiers manning the line at Wanni ``engaged two groups of LTTE infiltrators, killing at least 14'' yesterday, the ministry said in a statement on its Web site. A day earlier, at least 20 rebels were killed as both sides exchanged mortar and artillery fire, the army added. A naval patrol pursued boats belonging to the rebel Sea Tigers wing near the northwestern port of Mannar and three people were killed yesterday, the Media Center for National Security said, without elaborating. The LTTE didn't immediately comment on the fighting The 24-year conflict in Sri Lanka has left more than 70,000 people dead, according to the Defense Ministry, and fighting has intensified since two attempts at peace talks in Geneva last year failed. The rebels say any peace settlement must be based on a separate homeland for Tamils, who make up about 8.5 percent of the South Asian island nation's 20 million people. The government has rejected a settlement that divides the country and is offering to devolve power to some provinces. No Victory The Tamil Tigers ``have not demonstrated any interest that they are willing for negotiations,'' Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona said in an interview in the capital, Colombo, this week. The rebels must be convinced they are not going to win on the battlefield, Kohona added. ``Let us not pretend. There is no agreement,'' Irasiah Ilanthirayan, the LTTE's military spokesman, said two days ago by telephone from the rebel headquarters in the northern town of Kilinochchi. The 2002 cease-fire is defunct and peace talks have failed, he added. ``Both sides are mirror images of each other,'' said Sanjana Hattotuwa, senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo-based research unit. ``The solution has to be political and a military offensive will not bring peace. Both sides are not even willing to meet halfway.'' The rebels, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union and India, have an estimated 12,000 fighters. They have a naval force and an air wing that attacked oil and gas plants near Colombo earlier this year. The military says it consists of five propeller-driven aircraft. Rebel Stronghold Troops overran the last rebel stronghold in Eastern Province in July and are stepping up operations against LTTE forces in the north. The LTTE denies its forces have been driven back. Ilanthirayan pointed to an Oct. 15 attack in Yala National Park in the country's southeast which killed seven soldiers. ``We have a responsibility to protect our people and we will take measures,'' he said by telephone from the rebel headquarters in the northern town. ``If it is a prolonged war then let it happen.'' The government denies LTTE allegations it's trying to end the conflict through force rather than reaching a negotiated settlement. An All Party Representative Committee is drawing up a plan to devolve power and a final draft, which will protect the rights of minorities, will be ready soon, Kohona said in the Oct. 16 interview. The LTTE's demand for a separate homeland in the north and east is unacceptable and doesn't reflect where the majority of Tamils now live in the country, Kohona said. `Conflict Zone' ``About 54 percent of the Tamil population in Sri Lanka lives in the south. Almost 1.3 million live in the west, having fled the conflict zones,'' he added. ``The two districts controlled by the LTTE are the two most thinly populated districts of Sri Lanka.'' President Mahinda Rajapaksa has pledged to hold elections in Eastern Province and attract investors and tourists. The government is seeking $1.8 billion worth of overseas aid and investment in the next five years to develop the region, Basil Rajapaksa, senior adviser and younger brother to the president, said in an interview two days ago. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was prime minister when the cease- fire agreement was signed and is now an opposition leader, said fighting will probably intensify. ``A long conflict lies ahead,'' he said in an Oct. 17 interview. ``The government is not serious about the peace process. The conflict will take a toll on the medium and long- term growth of the country.'' . US raps Lanka on human trafficking The United States has rapped Sri Lanka for its lukewarm performance to combat human trafficking, but noted the country was making significant efforts to deal with the issue. Addressing journalists in Colombo, US Ambassador Robert Blake said human trafficking was the third largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Describing human trafficking as the third largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world the Ambassador said this was emerging as one of the most urgent human security issues today. Citing a recent report by the US Attorney General, the Ambassador noted that 600,000-800,000 human beings were trafficked across international borders each year, with 80 per cent being women and girls. In the Sri Lankan scenario, high rates of domestic violence and migration, poverty, sex tourism and destruction due to the ethnic conflict and natural disasters has made the country ripe for human trafficking, he added. “A recent US State Department report found Sri Lanka to be a country of source and origin for men, women and children trafficked for domestic labour and sexual exploitation. But the country is making significant efforts to deal with the issue,” he told journalists at a ceremony held to announce a new Anti-Trafficking Programme with the International Organsiation on Migration (IOM). The US State Department report titled “Victims of trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000: Trafficking in Persons report 2007” said that Sri Lanka was placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address trafficking over the previous year, especially in its efforts to punish trafficking for involuntary servitude.“Moreover, Sri Lanka did not demonstrate adequate efforts to monitor and take law enforcement action against labour recruiters believed to use deception to entice workers into involuntary servitude,” it said.“Though the report said the Sri Lankan government did not fully comply with standards for the elimination of trafficking it said that the government is making significant efforts to do so,” Blake said.Two grants amounting to US$ 500,000 will be provided to the IOM to train 500 law enforcement and government officials on human trafficking, improve methods of data collection and dissemination to track trafficking cases and to enhance coordination among government and non-governmental organisations. The grants are co-funded by the US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The programme also aims to train 50 trainers, who will continue to build police capacity to combat trafficking and to establish a database to help prevent and identify trafficking incidences. The Sri Lankan Penal code was amended in 2006 to criminalise trafficking crimes in compliance with the UN trafficking Protocol standards and has ratified the South Asian regional convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children. The report estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 human beings are trafficked across international borders each year. 80% of them are women and children.Blake noted that the programme would also assist the Government to develop a national policy to combat trafficking in Sri Lanka.The IOM chief of mission Mohammed Abdiker pointed out that migration has become a beneficial component in socio-economic development in Sri Lanka with migrant workers being the second largest foreign exchange earner. However, increased labour migration (internal and external) also leave people vulnerable to trafficking and smuggling rings, transitional crimes and exploitation he pointed out emphasising the need for better awareness and knowledge. According to SLFEB about one million Sri Lankans work abroad, of whom 60 per cent being women out of which 54 per cent being domestic workers with a high risk of being subjected to abuse, sexual harassment and forced labour. The Director of the Sri Lanka Bureau for protection of women and children A.R. Waidyalankara welcoming the move said “this programme will assist us in filling the gaps in knowledge to help us more vigorously identify and prosecute the perpetrators of human trafficking”. He added that properly trained officers were the need of the hour as the law which was amended recently had enough teeth to address the issues. Accidental firing of firearm injures 2 airmen Two Air Force personnel have been hospitalized after the accidental firing of an automatic weapon at the Katunayake Air Force Base today (October 19th). The injured airmen were on duty at the time of the incident, according to AF spokesman Group Captain Ajantha De Silva.A third airman had accidentally fired his service firearm, injuring the two, and he is in custody. An investigation has been launched into the incident, the AF spokesman added. Muralitharan wins cricketer of the year award Sri Lanka's ace spinner Muthiah Muralitharan bagged the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award for 2006-07 while India's veteran leg spinner Anil Kumble and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting bagged the Lifetime Achievement awards at a grand function here on Thursday. Off spinner Muralitharan, who also bagged the International Bowler of the Year award, received in all USD 12,500 while his captain Mahela Jayawardene pocketed USD 5,000 after being named the International Batsman of the Year. Kumble and Ponting received USD 5,000 dollar each for the newly introduced section to celebrate the Diamond Jublilee of the Test contest between the two countries which began in 1947-48. The Australian team that won the World Cup for the third successive time in the West Indies in April clinched the Team of the Year award, carrying a cash prize of USD 10,000. It's the eighth time, and sixth year running, they are winning this honour. The much-feted and rewarded World T 20-winning Indian squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni were given Rs 15 lakh each by the promoters of the award, RPG Group, at the Police Gymkhana in south Mumbai. The Ceat under-19 and T20 ratings were also introduced with a vision to catch and promote young talent, from across the country, especially the talent from small towns, it was stated during the function. "The current year has witnessed two cricket World Cups. While the exuberance of the youth from small towns has led India to the T20 world championship crown, the Australians team have reigned supreme in the 50 over format," Harsh Goenka, RPG Group Chairman, said. 18 October 2007 Four killed in clashes between LTTE and Sri Lankan navy A sea battle erupted between Sri Lanka's navy and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels off the island's northwest coast on Thursday, killing four people, the military said. The clash began about 4:30 a.m. when patrolling naval crafts attempted to check several suspicious boats off the coast of Mannar district, said an officer at the defense ministry's media center. Five rebel boats then attacked, triggering the sea battle, said the officer on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak to the media. Troops later found a damaged boat with four bodies, which had yet to be identified, said the officer. The navy did not suffer any casualties. No immediate comment was available from the Tamil rebels, who maintain a significant naval force that they use for attacks and to smuggle weapons into areas they control in parts of northern Sri Lanka. 3 killed, SL Navy attacks refugee-boat in the seas off Mannaar Sri Lanka Navy gunboats Thursday morning attacked a boat with refugees fleeing from Naachchikkudaa, 55 km north of Mannaar to Tamil Nadu, India, in the seas off Peasaalai. At least three civilians, all belonging to a single family, were believed killed. Two children with serious injuries have been brought to Mannar hospital in unconscious state, 5 hours after the attack.7 civilians were in the boat, according to initial reports. The attack took place around 4:30 a.m. Thursday. Sri Lanka Navy has claimed that the civilian boat was caught in a cross-fire. Naachchikkudaa is a coastal village located 55 km north of Mannaar in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled Ki'linochchi district. Govt. goes ahead with Controversial bond sale The controversial US $ 500 million foreign bond offer by the Government has attracted US $ 1.25 billion of orders, according to an e-mail sent to investors, agency reports said. This is the first sale of debt overseas by the Sri Lankan Government and it offered to pay a yield of 8.25 percent for the five-year bonds, according to the e-mail. Investors are now demanding the same yield on debt sold by Pakistan. The bond issue offering commercial interest rates was highly criticized by the UNP threatening it would not honour the debt commitment under a future government of the party. The Government said the bond issue was to finance development work, but the claim has been disputed by experts and the opposition. The bond is lead-managed by HSBC, JP Morgan Chase and Barclays Capital.According to agency reports investor demand for Asian bonds is rising after the slump in the three months ended September on concerns about losses sparked by defaults on U.S. subprime mortgage securities. Asian bond sales plunged 75 percent in the third quarter, the biggest drop in six years. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has assigned its 'B+' credit rating on the Government’s bond issue. Barriers removed to register new political parties The obstacles to register new political parties will be removed since next week, as the government will bring the Local Government Amendment Draft Bill to the parliament on 23 October. All political parties representing the parliament have agreed to pass the the Bill that will cancel the previously called nominations for the Northern Province local government elections.The nominations for the elections in the Northern Province are a legal obstacle to register new political parties since new political parties are not registered after nominations are called for an election. Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said to media yesterday that the LTTE and the TMVP could make use of this opportunity to enter the political mainstream through registering their parties. Counter-terrorism conference begins Sri Lanka will host a three-day international conference on “Countering Terrorism” from Thursday to enable various countries exchange experiences in tackling the challenge posed by terrorism.Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama told a news conference here on Wednesday that the theme of the conference is “Terrorism: A Challenge to Democratically Elected Governments.” Gerard Chaliand, former director of the European Centre for the Study of Conflicts, would be the principal speaker at the inaugural session focusing on the threat posed by international terrorist networks. The Minister said the need to compare experiences and hold discussions on strategies prompted the decision to hold the conference. Friday’s sessions will be on international and regional response and domestic dimensions to terrorism, combating terrorist financing. Renowned French investigating magistrate in charge of counter-terrorism affairs Jean Louis Bruguiere would be the Guest of Honour. Judge Bruguiere is investigating the LTTE fundraising activities in France and was invited by the U.S. in recent years to assist in the investigations into the 9/11 attacks.The conference is an initiative of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, a body affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Two youth die in police shooting Two youth, who were arrested in connection with the robbery of a filling station, were killed in police shooting in Ingiriya in the early hours of yesterday morning (Oct. 17th). The suspects had accompanied a police team to the area to point out weapons used for the robbery, according to Hector Dharmasena, SP of Horana, when they had snatched a hidden firearm and attempted to shoot at the police. The duo was killed when the police fired back in self defence, he said. Death of suspects while in police custody like this has become a common occurrence. The most recent one was the shooting of a man arrested in connection with the murder of a woman in Modera, Colombo nearly a week ago. SL Army snatches camera of 'Sunday Times' photographer A container transporting weapons and uniform of the Army overturned at Koswatte Junction in Battamulla yesterday morning (Oct. 17th) Media personnel who went to the location to cover the incident were reportedly threatened by army personnel.Photographers were told not to take pictures.Army personnel had allegedly snatched the camera belonging to 'Sunday Times' photographer Bertie Mendis and removed the negative. 7 LTTE bodies handed over Sri Lanka's human rights imbroglio-JEHAN PERERA Sri Lanka's international image with regard to human rights took another beating with the visit of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. In her final media briefing, she made it clear that the absence of the rule of law and the violations of human rights in the country were alarming. The strenuous efforts of government spokespersons to downplay the seriousness of the human rights crisis in the country did not work this time around. In recent weeks, the government claimed to have come out on top in U.N. meetings on human rights in New York and Geneva, where its team of diplomats strongly denied any serious human rights crisis in the country. Their two-fold strategy was to personally attack members of human rights organizations as ill-motivated persons, and to argue that human rights violations in times of the war against terrorism in countries such as Sudan and Iraq were incomparably greater than in Sri Lanka. However, Arbour's visit to Jaffna, her encounter with the families of the disappeared, and meetings with a range of civil society groups seems to have convinced her that the situation in the country was bleak enough to warrant a more active international role. It is hardly a cause for surprise that Arbour ended her five-day visit to Sri Lanka by making a strong call for an U.N. monitoring presence. However, Arbour also admitted that her office could only assist Sri Lanka if the government made a request. This could leave the victims, and victims to be, with no remedy. Tragically, it appears that at this time the government, which scents victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the military battlefield, could not care less. So far, the government's position has been to reject any U.N. field monitoring presence in the country. Instead, the country's minister for human rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, took the position that the government was prepared to accept technical assistance that would strengthen the government's own mechanisms for protecting human rights. The problem, however, is not the lack of capacity of the government's institutions but their lack of credibility. The government's further contention that it will not accept a U.N. office for human rights in the country, which it calls an infringement on the country's sovereignty, can be contested. The government has accepted a host of other U.N. offices in the country, including the United Nations Development Program, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF. They have all played a positive role in providing solace and assistance to war-affected people, as well as assisting in the country's overall human development programs. The same logic that applies to the presence of those U.N. organizations needs to prevail with regard to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. An example of a fellow South Asian country that is equally conscious of sovereignty issues, but which adopted a more accommodating attitude toward U.N. involvement in human rights monitoring due to its own circumstances, is Nepal. The United Nations is playing a major role in supervising the current ceasefire between the government and rebel Maoists. The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal, which is a government agency, is currently working in partnership with the U.N. human rights monitoring system. However, for the present, the scenario in Sri Lanka is very different. There is great resistance on the part of the government to any involvement of the United Nations. Civil society groups are at the other end of the spectrum, calling for an international monitoring presence. In the aftermath of Arbour's visit, four prominent civic activists including U.N. and Human Rights Watch award winner Sunila Abeysekera resigned from an advisory committee of the Ministry of Human Rights to protest the government's lack of seriousness in taking their advice or in protecting human rights and eliminating the culture of impunity. On the other hand, the United Nations itself has said that it would not force its presence on Sri Lanka and would only come in with the assent of the government. The present Sri Lankan government has shown itself to be insensitive to international opinion, and worse still, to the human rights of its citizens. So until the government changes its mind, justice must be sought within the internal framework of the country. It is unacceptable when a government sees its people as statistics and argues that its own situation is not as bad as elsewhere based on mere numbers. When the seriousness of abuses are denied on the ground of relative scale, it becomes necessary to look to institutions that look at human rights abuses as they should be, in absolute terms. This would be the justice system. The Supreme Court, which stopped the eviction of Tamil citizens from Colombo by the government in the recent past, has the potential to hold the light in these times of darkness. In the face of the order of the Supreme Court, the government immediately backed down and apologized to the victims. The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka stands as the last glimmer of hope in these bleak times. National institutions separate from the executive need to step forth to end the impunity. The Supreme Court has stepped in where its mandate has been sought. Now perhaps it needs to look at the broader picture, as in the famous public interest law cases of India, where, on its own volition, the Indian Supreme Court commissioned research on human rights abuses and thereafter ordered action. In one of the Sunday newspapers, there was a photograph of a little girl with tears streaming down her face calling for the release of her father, along with other families of the disappeared. Every day, more fall victim to the assassins and abductors who have claimed at least 1,000 victims so far, and perhaps far more. The light of justice must shine forth to scrutinize the impunities that take place in the capital city and the far corners of the country. SLAF kfirs bomb civilian settlements in Vanni Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) kfir bombers struck civilian settlements in Muththuaiyankaddu in Vanni Wednesday from 7:00 a.m to 7:20 a.m. Eight bombs, dropped in two sorties, fell close to civilian settlements and exploded, sources in Vanni said. No one was hurt as the bombs missed the houses. However, tension and fear prevailed in Muththuaiyankadu area. Attendance at school was very low since the bombing took place before school hours. 17 October 2007 Pressure mine blows up military vehicle in Yala A massive military search operation was launched in Yala sanctuary for the LTTE cadres who carried out Monday night’s surprise attack on an army detachment and killed six soldiers and injured three others. The park remained closed temporarily. Meanwhile a military tractor on its way to pick up the bodies of the six soldiers killed in Thalgasmankada on Monday was caught in a pressure mine explosion and one soldier was killed and three others injured, the military said.“The tractor was proceeding towards the Thalgasmankada area to bring back the bodies when it was hit by a powerful LTTE pressure mine close to the area where the first attack took place,” Military Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily Mirror. The Thalgasmankada detachment was located some 30 to 40 kilometres east of Kataragama.The injured personnel, including the three who were injured on Monday, were rushed to Matara Hospital yesterday and the bodies of the seven dead soldiers sent to Hambantota hospital. According to the military spokesman, a massive search operation was underway throughout the Yala National Park to capture the rebel cadres involved in the attacks. “These cadres had come to the Yala area a few months ago unable to stand heavy attacks by the military in Ampara and Thoppigala,” he said.Brigadier Nanayakkara also claimed security in the nearby villages had been strengthened with additional troops dispatched to the area.Meanwhile the LTTE said they had overrun the army detachment on Monday and claimed it had been under their control for almost three hours during which time they had seized arms and ammunition from the camp. According to the Tamil Net website, the rebels had set the camp ablaze after completing their mission, it added that the raid had coincided with the one month commemoration of three lieutenants colonel who had been killed in action. The LTTE also claimed it had recovered four T-81 automatic rifles, one T-56-Mark 2 rifle, one T-56 -Mark 1 rifle, 2 shortwave communication sets, four military kit-bags, five bulletproof jackets, seventeen T-81 magazines, three T-56 magazines and five-hundred 7.62 mm rounds. Earlier Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka said that although a Wild Life Department vehicle also came under LTTE attack on Monday, there were no injuries to any Wild Life Department officials. He said security had been strengthened in the sanctuary and it would be reopened for visitors as soon as the army provides a security guarantee. Sri Lanka tourism slumps throws thousands out of work Call for media freedom In an unprecedented move, more than 30 leading international media rights organizations have appealed for media freedom and the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka saying it is vital to democracy and a just peace.At the International Freedom of Expression exchange (IFEX) General Meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay 32 international media organizations made an appeal to the government, the LTTE and all paramilitary and armed groups to support media freedom and the freedom of expression in a meaningful and sincere manner.They stressed that the failure to strengthen media freedom would plunge the country into more violence and crisis.The international organizations, including the Freedom House of the United States, World Press Freedom Committee of the United States, the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Index on Censorship of Britain, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Free Media Movement said journalists in Sri Lanka were directly in the line of fire and their safety and security compromised forcing some to flee for their own safety.“Human rights and media freedom activists are the target of death threats, physical harm and subject to a language of hate and harm by government ministers, paramilitary groups and the LTTE. IFEX member the Free Media Movement (FMM) based in Colombo, recently noted that media in Sri Lanka were under incredible pressure to supinely conform and comply with the incumbent government's propaganda on conflict and peace. Any journalist who questions or critiques this official line is immediately the target of hate speech and rabid public condemnation,” the media rights organizations said.The media organizations urged the parties in Sri Lanka to halt all threats, harassment, abductions and attacks against media workers and outlets currently being perpetrated by all parties to the conflict, but in particular on, but not limited to, the Tamil-language media, refrain from all interference in editorial independence, including the use of economic or legal sanctions, such as restrictions on newsprint, the indiscriminate use of search and seizure powers by the tax authorities or the freezing of assets, to interfere in the publication of a newspaper, cease using informal means, such as direct calls to newsrooms and editorial offices, to influence media coverage and editorial lines, desist from the dangerous and irresponsible practice of publicly vilifying media workers in a manner likely to endanger their lives and those of their families and invite the authorities, political parties and community leaders to demonstrate a clear and unambiguous rejection of the targeting of media workers and outlets by incitement and language likely to excite hostility and amend or revoke all Sri Lankan legislation, regulations and powers, particularly the emergency regulations of August 2005, the Prevention of Terrorism and Specified Terrorist Activities Regulations of December 2006, the Official Secrets Act, Press Council Laws and broadcasting laws that fail to meet international standards on press freedom and freedom of expression. 3 children wounded in SLAF airstrike in Vanni Five civilians, including three children, were wounded in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) airstrike on Neasan Kudyiruppu settlement in Puthukkudyiruppu in Mullaiththeevu district, Tuesday around 2:00 p.m. Three of the victims belong to a single family. Five houses were damaged, two of them fully destroyed in the attack, according to initial reports.Two Kfir bombers attacked the settlement twice, dropping four bombs. An 8-year-old girl, R. Sukirtha, from ward 01 in Puthukkudiyiruppu and 6-year-old boy K. Santhiravathanan, and three persons of a single family including 3-year-old girl, S. Meena, her father Suresh, 27 and mother Vinothini, 25, were wounded in the aerial bombardment. The wounded civilians have been rushed to Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital. UL and BA aircraft collide at Heathrow A collision between a SriLankan Airline aircraft and a British Airways aircraft at the Heathrow Airport Monday has resulted in a series of flight delays with the aircraft detained for inspection.The two flights collided when Sri Lankan flight UL 502 was taxiing for take off but no serious damage was reported.However, SriLankan airlines Head of Corporate Communications Chandana de Silva said the British Airways flight that collided with SriLankan Airline UL 502 at Heathrow while taxing on Monday evening has resulted in many inbound and outbound delays. "Although Sri Lankan engineers in their first observation has confirmed that UL 502 flight has received only minor damages it would remain at Heathrow Airport until another assessment is carried out by the British Authorities," De Silva said.He told The Morning Leader yesterday the British authorities had carried out an assessment no sooner the incident occurred but said that since a second evaluation has to be done all 286 passengers had to be housed in a hotel in London."The flight that was scheduled for taxing at 20.44hrs. London time, received minor damages due to the collision and as a result of the long delay we had to house the passengers in London," added De Silva.When asked as to when the flight could take off from Heathrow, De Silva said that it is uncertain but hopefully could take off once the second and final assessment scheduled to be held on Tuesday at 11.00 hrs London time.Meanwhile according to De Silva most of the out bound and inbound flights have been affected due to the collision and stated that since all airlines have a circle of rotation, a delay in one destination mean several delays in certain flights. Sri Lanka on brink of all-out war -BBC News The Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels seem to be gearing up for a major confrontation in the north of the country, stoking fears of more civilian casualties and displacement. Despite losing territory in the east earlier this year, the rebels still control a vast swathe of land in the north of the island. Although sporadic fighting has been going on for months, the intensity of the clashes has recently increased. Fighting is currently taking place around Mannar, Vavuniya, Weli Oya and Jaffna - all areas which surround rebel-held territory. There are intermittent battles at sea as well. "Sri Lankan forces are now focusing on the nerve centre of the rebels. Since their rear base is under threat, the Tigers have to break out militarily at some point," says analyst DBS Jeyaraj. The pattern is clear. Both sides exchange heavy artillery fire in the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs), separating their forces. Heavy aerial bombardment is followed by military incursions. Heavy fighting The government claims that at least 280 rebels have been killed since September and more than 20 soldiers have been killed in various battles over the same period.But the claims of both sides in relation to casualties and what exactly has happened on the battle front can rarely, if ever, be independently confirmed. For its part, the government has denied starting any offensives. "Government forces are only defending their positions and if they are attacked they will counter-attack," Sri Lankan army spokesperson Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the BBC. Earlier attempts by the military to capture the rebel stronghold in Vanni have ended in disaster. But buoyed by recent victories in the east, the army is now confident of recapturing territory in the north as well. Tamil rebels are also gearing up for a major battle. There are already reports of the rebels establishing a three-layered defensive infrastructure inside Vanni region. Troops are likely to suffer casualties while trying to penetrate these heavily fortified defence lines. But the Sri Lankan military claims to have had several morale-boosting successes in recent weeks. They claim that many rebel ships carrying arms have been destroyed recently in the open sea. The military says that it has also moved into certain strategic areas in Mannar district. There is little doubt that their confidence is high. Civilian plight Perhaps the main concern is the fate of thousands of civilians trapped inside rebel-held areas and border regions. Local journalists say that more than 200 civilians have been killed in various incidents since the beginning of August. If full-scale conflict erupts, then civilians will be forced to flee. There are already more than 5,000 civilians displaced in the recent fighting in the north. "We were forced to leave our homes due to heavy shelling. We have been moving from place to place. Life in the refugee camps is miserable," says a displaced Tamil who did not want to be identified. Some of the displaced civilians in the north are afraid that they may not be allowed to go back to their homes even if the fighting ends. They point out that while major clashes ceased in the east some months ago, more than 40,000 civilians are still scattered in various camps for displaced people. The upsurge in fighting has happened despite the Norwegian-brokered ceasefire agreement, signed in 2002. Everyone recognises that it now exists only on paper. The political process is also in limbo. The government had announced the formation of an all-party group last year to discuss a political solution to the war. The final draft of the proposals is still under discussion and the delay is worrying the Tamils. "The government seems to be emboldened by their recent military success in the east. So, they think there is no need to devolve power to the Tamils," says Mr Jeyaraj. Human rights concern Meanwhile, the government is also coming under intense scrutiny from human rights agencies, who accuse the security forces and paramilitary groups of abductions and killings. Officials vehemently deny these charges. Tamil rebels also face similar accusations from human rights groups. But they, too, deny the accusations. United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour spoke out strongly this month against the country's human rights record. "The most serious human rights issue is the lack of credible public information on the large number of unresolved cases of abductions, disappearances and killings... These cases are not properly recorded, investigated and there is no prosecution," Ms Arbour told the BBC's Newshour programme after her recent visit to the island-nation. The international community's plea to both warring parties to refrain from all-out war does not appear to be having any effect. The forthcoming monsoon may delay an imminent major confrontation but analysts say Sri Lanka is on course for a protracted and a bitter conflict in the coming months. In the meantime, displaced civilians are afraid that the lack of international attention to their plight will only add to their misery. Lanka ranked low in Press Freedom Index Sri Lanka has been ranked a poor 156 out of 169 countries in the World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) yesterday. Eritrea is in the last position replacing North Korea from last year’s Index. Of the 20 countries at the bottom of the index, seven are Asian (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam, China, Burma and North Korea), five are African (Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Somalia and Eritrea), four are in the Middle East (Syria, Iraq, Palestinian Territories and Iran), three are former Soviet republics (Belarus, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) and one is in the Americas (Cuba).”War is largely responsible for the low position assigned to some countries. The increase in fighting in Somalia (159th) and Sri Lanka (156th) has made it very hard for journalists to work. Several have been killed and censorship was stepped up as clashes became frequent. The belligerents refuse to recognise journalists' rights and accuse them of supporting the other side,” RSF said.The Internet is occupying more and more space in the breakdown of press freedom violations. Several countries fell in the ranking this year because of serious, repeated violations of the free flow of online news and information.Reporters Without Borders compiled the index by sending a questionnaire to the 15 freedom of expression organisations throughout the world that are its partners, to its network of 130 correspondents, and to journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists. It contained 50 questions about press freedom in their countries RIGHTS-SRI LANKA: Tamils Traumatised by War, Tsunami - Study Residents of war-wracked Jaffna city in northern Sri Lanka are a community on the run; every family has a bag packed with essentials, ready to flee at a moment's notice, a new research study reports. "When displaced to a refugee camp, they are very systematic in getting themselves organised. They immediately find a corner, hang up screens with saris, and start arranging their belongings for an indefinite stay," says Prof. Daya Somasunderam, a well-known Sri Lankan psychiatrist, in a new, path-breaking study on collective trauma. The author, who fled Sri Lanka fearing for his own family's safety and now residing in Adelaide, Australia, says the long-running civil war is causing far more mental health problems and social breakdown than the catastrophic 2004 tsunami. "People have learned to survive under extraordinarily stressful conditions. A UNHCR official observed that in Jaffna people have become professional in dealing with complex emergencies from previous experiences," noted Somasunderam, a clinical associate professor in psychiatry and Australia's first 'refugee scholar' at the University of Adelaide under the Scholar Rescue Fund. Somasunderam's study on ‘Collective trauma in northern Sri Lanka: a qualitative psychosocial-ecological Study,’ recently published in the International Journal of Mental Health Systems, came in for praise by other researchers, some of whom are his students or colleagues. Ananda Galappatti, a medical anthropologist and an editor of ‘Intervention’ (the International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counselling in Areas of Armed Conflict), said Somasunderam's study is a valuable contribution to the discussion of mental health and social suffering in Sri Lanka as it argues that chronic situations of conflict can result in 'collective trauma', serious psycho-social consequences that extend beyond individuals and impact on families and key social relations within affected communities. "He argues for an understanding of suffering that is considerably broader than that allowed by conventional psychiatry, which tends to limit its perspective to psychological disorder or dysfunction in individuals," Galaptti said, adding that Somasunderam built on insights gained through his work in post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Jaffna -- dominated by minority Tamils -- has been the seat of Tamil militancy as well as calls for self-rule by non-violent Tamil political parties. Since the Sri Lankan military wrested the eastern province of Batticaloa from the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in July, fighting has shifted to Jaffna. Last week the LTTE announced that it was preparing for a major offensive by government troops in the north leading to uncertainty amongst the northern population. The LTTE has led the militant campaign against the Sinhala-majority dominated government since the mid-1980s, vowing to establish a separate homeland for the minority Tamils in the north and east. Estimates say that at least 65,000 people have died in a long-festering ethnic war that the government now plans to resolve miliarily. Apart from death and destruction, the psychosocial impact of the war has been severe in the conflict-affected areas in the north and east of the country with the Tamil community being the worst affected. The tsunami that affected more than 200,000 people across the coastline of Sri Lanka in December 2004 added to the woes of conflict-ridden societies. The tsunami was a one-off catastrophic event that left a trail of destruction and loss, says Somasunderam. "But it did not continue to exert a prolonged effect (unlike the war). As a result the severity of the collective trauma was much less. In fact, having lived through a prolonged war situation has meant that Tamil communities have learned skills and strategies that make them better able to cope with disasters." Several surveys of individual level trauma and its effects in the context of war have shown widespread trauma, but this is the first study done of collective trauma. The situation is not easing either going by the daily reports of killings, abductions and robberies in Jaffna. "We are seeing a lot of patients with psychological problems arising out of a situation of helplessness and uncertainty. No one knows what is going on and what would happen," said Dr. S. Sivayokan, a psychiatrist at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Sivayokan, a student of Somasunderam who took over the author's position in this hospital, said a large number of robberies by unknown groups during the nights have resulted in residents being fearful and having sleep problems. "A new (psychosocial) situation is developing. We see more patients, unlike before, who have hallucinations and imaginary situations related to the current context (uncertainty)," he told IPS by telephone from Jaffna, a city where there is night curfew since last year. He said this situation could be the added effect of suffering trauma over and over during more than 20 years of conflict. In the high security zone in Jaffna residents have been displaced over 17 times, while in the city itself, the average family would have been displaced at least twice. Sivayokan said if there was continuous war, things would have been different. "But in this case, there was a period (during the recent ceasefire) where there was peace, cultural exchanges and hope. Now there is uncertainty and worry about families, children," he added. Somasunderam says the phenomena of collective trauma first became very obvious to him when working in the post-war recovery and rehabilitation context in Cambodia. During the Khmer Rouge regime, all social structures, institutions, family, educational and religious orders were razed to 'ground zero' deliberately (so as to rebuild a just society anew), he said. Somasunderam's study deals extensively with the war and tsunami impact on the family unit and traditional cultures which has triggered much of the psychosocial conditions now prevalent. From the loss of one or both parents, separations and traumatisation in one member, pathological family dynamics adversely affected individual family members, particularly the children, he says. The cohesiveness and traditional relationships are no longer the same. Compared to before the war, children no longer respect or listen to their elders, including teachers. "A strong influence has been the contemptuous way elders and community leaders have been treated by the authorities and the submissive way they have responded. Elders are perceived as being powerless and incompetent in dealing with war and its consequences, a point often made by the young militants. Elders have also been traumatised by the war, affecting their functioning, relationships and parenting skills," the report said. Somasunderam said the high incidence of mental health problems, alcohol and drug abuse, physical and sexual violence, child abuse and family disharmony found among indigenous populations around the world can be the result of the break-up of traditional culture, way of life and belief systems. JVP slams UN HR High Commissioner Slamming the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour for ‘attempting to establish a UN Human Rights monitoring field office in Colombo’, JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday asked whether the UN officials were fast asleep during the 1988-89 insurrection when thousands of youth were being killed and made to disappear with the governmenment patronage.Addressing the media in Colombo Mr. Weerawansa who is also the General Secretary of the Patriotic National Movement said that abductions taking place today were ‘nothing’ when compared with incidents that took place in1988-89. “If the country is in a situation similar to that in 87-89 it is reasonable to have a UN monitoring office here in Colombo.”He praised the government for not letting the UN to establish a field office in Sri Lanka and criticized the UNP Leadership for supporting the United Nations to accomplish ‘their hidden agendas’. “They are trying to reduce our country to another Kosovo” said Mr. Weerawansa. “The ongoing war has largely contributed to the survival of the Rajapaksa government. People protest but they are patiently looking at the next step the government is going to take”, he said.While noting that UNP has no moral right to talk about human rights violations, Mr. Weerawansa said: “They are now talking about human rights violations because I think they cannot remember what they did in the late 1980’s and I think Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot remember what he did in Batalanda”.He charged that Ms Arbour was a staunch ally of America and so was the UNP.The recent remarks by UNP Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella that there should be a UN monitoring office, he said, showed that not only Mr. Kiriella but the entire UNP was catering to the needs of the UN.There is speculation, he said, that another UN delegate was expected here to report on the displaced people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces Mr. Weerawansa said . “The only displaced person in the country is former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. There are several thousand Muslims too in the country who have been chased away from the north by the LTTE and are now displaced” 16 October 2007 SLA mini-camp in Yala overrun - LTTE Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) have overrun a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp near Yala sanctuary in southern Sri Lanka, LTTE field officials in Ampaa'rai told TamilNet. 6 SLA troopers were killed, and many were wounded in the raid which took place 40 km south of Poththuvil, according to the Tiger spokesperson. Tigers claimed that the camp was under their control for 3 hours during which time they seized arms and ammunitions from the camp. The Yala sanctuary, one of the island's main tourist attractions, lies on the southern end of the Ampaa'rai district. More than 20 SLA troopers of the Sinha regiment were stationed in the camp at the time of the attack, according to LTTE field officials in Ampaa'rai. Four T-81 automatic rifles, one T-56-2 rifle, one T-56-1 rifle, 2 low band communication sets, four military kit-bags, five bullet-proof jackets, seventeen T-81 magazines, three T-56 magazines and five-hundred 7.62 mm rounds were among the weapons and ammunitions seized by the Tigers. The camp was set ablaze when the Tiger commandos completed their mission, the LTTE officials said, adding that the raid coincided with one month commemoration of three Lieutenant colonels, Lt. Col. Pavamaaran, Lt. Col. Ajoni, Lt. Col. Mithulan and Major Erimalai who were killed in action.Earlier, SLA officials in Colombo told media that a "SLA post" at Thalgasmankada south of Paanama was under attack Monday around 6:30 p.m . 55 SLA troopers were stationed, according to informed military sources in Colombo. Additional troops were rushed to the camp, south of Paanama, military sources in Colombo said. Paanama is located 61 km southeast of Ampa'rai town and 63 km northeast of Kathirkaamam (Kataragama), which is on the southern edge of the Yala national park in the southeast of the island. The southern edge of the Yala park is contiguous with the southern province Sri Lanka says kills dozens of rebels in attacks Dozens of Tamil Tiger rebels and a government soldier were killed in fighting in Sri Lanka's restive north on Monday, while suspected guerrillas launched rare attacks in the south of the island, the military said.The clashes in the north, focus of renewed civil war between the state and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), follow a string of almost daily skirmishes in recent months."A terrorist group... came and attacked the (Forward Defence Line) in Vavuniya," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara. "Ground troops confirmed 30 killed and 15 wounded."He said that, in communications intercepted from the LTTE, the rebels said 20 of their fighters had been killed. One government soldier was killed and seven were wounded.The LTTE, who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, were not immediately available for comment.The military said it had recovered seven bodies and some weapons. In another confrontation in the northern district of Jaffna, government forces killed four rebels the military said.Suspected rebels also attacked a government detachment in the southeastern national wildlife park Yala, a popular tourist destination."There was an attack on an army detachment and reinforcements were sent to the area. No further details are available," Nanayakkara said. Sri Lanka's military said it has killed 137 Tamil Tiger rebels and lost 10 soldiers in the past 12 days of fighting.There has been no independent confirmation of how many people have been killed in the fighting. Military analysts say both sides tend to exaggerate enemy losses and play down their own.The military has launched an offensive to drive the rebels out of Mannar, after forcing them out of jungle terrain they controlled in the east earlier this year.Around 5,000 people have been killed in fighting between the military and the LTTE guerrillas since early 2006.Nearly 70,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war erupted in 1983. Norway to discuss Lankan crisis with India Norway's special envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer, is to visit India soon to explore how to take ahead the fractured peace process in conflict-ridden Sri Lanka. But there seems to be no immediate prospects for fresh peace talks. Mr. Bauer will meet officials of the external affairs ministry and National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan for a personal assessment of what India is thinking about the situation in Sri Lanka. It will be Mr. Bauer’s first trip to New Delhi this year. He was named special envoy in March last year but quickly went off the peace facilitation radar in the wake of escalating violence in Sri Lanka. Indian officials will provide a detailed view of what they feel has gone wrong in Sri Lanka, where fighting between the military and the LTTE has virtually killed the Norway-brokered 2002 ceasefire agreement. Informed sources, however, told IANS there were no prospects of the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE meeting any time soon to resume the stalled peace negotiations. 'The Indian visit is to keep up contacts, spirits and of course hope,” a source said. Mr. Bauer's Indian visit comes just months after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Norwegian Minister Erik Solheim -- the former special envoy who still oversees the peace process.It will also take place shortly after the President’s trip to New Delhi where he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said his government was willing to talk if the Tigers showed interest in 'genuine negotiations'. LTTE chief Velupillai Prabahakaran, who is faced with one of the most serious military challenges since he started his armed campaign for Tamil Eelam, will be making his annual policy statement at the end of November. India is seriously concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka, where the military's success in driving away the LTTE from the eastern province has made it gung-ho about taking on the Tigers entrenched in the north. If that happens, it could be a messy affair. At the same time, the earlier hopeful signs of Colombo unveiling a credible power sharing arrangement have given way to despair following political developments that have disappointed those who still nurture a belief in a negotiated settlement. Tiger ambush wounds 2 STF commandos in Ampaa'rai Two Special Task Force (STF) troopers were injured Monday around 10:00 a.m in Kagnchikudichchaa'ru jungle area in Ampaa'rai district in a bomb explosion while their unit was engaged in a search operation. The injured troopers were rushed to Kandy hospital, medical sources said. A cordon and search operation by the STF commandos was going on in the area for the last four days. Soldiers sick after lunch The military yesterday ruled out sabotage in connection with the food poisoning of 49 soldiers attached to the Giritale Army Camp.The soldiers were admitted to the Polonnaruwa hospital on Sunday night.Military Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily Mirror that after their lunch at the Camp the soldiers had fallen sick with symptoms of vomiting. He said by last afternoon 34 of the soldiers were discharged from hospital and were fit enough to attend to their routine duties. “We hope the others will be discharged soon, as their condition is also improving,” he said.According to the spokesman, hospital authorities had begun testing samples of the food the soldiers ate that day. Ruling out any sabotage, Brigadier Nanayakkara said after the inquiry by the health authorities the army would decide on what needs to be done to prevent a recurrence of this nature. 3 Indian fishermen attacked by Srilankan navy PORAYAR: Three fishermen of a village near Kodiakarai in Nagapattinam district were injured when Sri Lankan naval personnel attacked them on Saturday night while they were fishing at mid sea off the Indian coast, police said.The fishermen had ventured out to sea from Kodiakarai in a fibreglass boat on October 12.Police said the fishermen told them that a fast attack craft of the Sri Lankan navy confronted them on the night of October 13 and that the naval personnel attacked them after taking away their catch, diesel and nets.Since their boat did not have diesel, the three fishermen were left at the mercy of the sea. On October 13 morning, another group of fishermen rescued them and helped them reach Vedaranyam coast, police said.The fishermen have been admitted to the government general hospital at Vedaranyam Sri Lanka backs Iran's N-right TULF condemns the killing of Mahinan "Barbaric acts like murdering an innocent between are ruining our culture and civilization" says Mr. V. Anandasangaree, the president of the TULF issuing a statement condemning the murder of Mr. Mahinan, a lecturer of the Jaffna university. Here is the statement issued by Mr. Anandasangaree is full. Finding of the mutilated body of Mr. Mahinan a Senior lecturer in Mathematics attached to the University of Jaffna, at the Bambalapity beach is shocking. He is neither wealthy for anyone to abduct him to extort money nor one with any Political affiliations for anyone to claim this as a politically motivated murder. Without getting involved in any controversy he had been involved fully in teaching his students mathematics and it is a mistery as to why he was murdered in this brutal manner. The decease of non violence and terror had not spared even the innocent lecturer. This type of incidents cannot be tolerated any more in our country. Those involved in this cruel murder should be arrested and brought before the Law of the land.I hope a least this students will go all out to help the authorities to trace the murderer. This is a challenge entire University of Jaffna should accept.These types of barbaric acts are ruining our culture and civilization. The value of human life has become so cheap that every Tom Dick and Harry can do anything and go Scot free. The elderly lecturer who came to Colombo to mark the scripts of the G.C.E A/L examinations was abducted and murdered when he was preparing to return to his duties at the University for Jaffna where he had been working during the most crucial period.It is a pity that he had met his fate in this cruel manner. Every one of us will have to ask ourselves as to whether the Tamil community has lost its dignity completely? While strongly condemning this barbaric act we express our deepest sympathies to the wife, children and relatives of the late Mr. Mahinan. Two policemen shot dead in Mannaar Unidentified gunmen shot and killed two Sri Lankan policemen who were on a road clearing patrol on Mannaar Thalaimannaar Road Monday at 12:30 p.m., Police said. The two policemen, identified as Ariyadasa and Bandara, were from Mannaar Police. The shooting took place at Oalaiththoduvaay junction, 9 km northwest of Mannaar town. Impeachment against President The United National Party is preparing for a public impeachment against President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “Mahinda Rajapaksa is sitting as President after preventing elections in the North at the last Presidential election. He was elected illegally. Therefore, an impeachment with signatures of the public will be moved against him”, said UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday (October 15th).The UNP is also making arrangements for mobile Pirith Chanting to invoke blessing on the masses who are suffering under the present government.The motorcades that are due to begin from the Deegavapi Stupa in Ampara, Kataragama Kiri Vehera and the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy on the 18th of October, will visit all areas of the island, said MP Kiriella. 15 October 2007 TELO opposes police station in Silaavaththurai No useful purpose would be served in establishing a police station in the deserted village Silaavaththurai in Mannar district without taking immediate steps to resettle them in their traditional habitats, said Mr. Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian and TELO President. Silaavaththurai residents have all been displaced to other areas after the recent offensives by Sri Lanka military on 01 September. About four thousand members 1081 families fled from Silavathurai leaving their properties and livelihood equipments worth several hundred thousand rupees following the offensive.They have been currently staying in welfare centres and public buildings, and some of them with their relatives in villages located in divisional secretariat divisions of Mannaar and Nanattan under immense difficulties without basic facilities. The Sri Lanka government has not taken steps to provide them with necessary relief and assistance and also to resettle them even after one month, said Mr. Adaikalanathan.Establishment of a police station at Silaavaththurai without any residents and where only stray cattle roam clearly indicates the aggressive into Tamil traditional land, he added.Large number of residents of Silavathurai, Arippu, Kokupadaiyan, Mullikulam, Kondachchi, Koolankulam, Musali, Pandaraveli, Puthuveli, Manatkulam, Poonochchikulam, and Ahathimurippu in Musali division had been engaged in agriculture and fishing before displacement, contributing to the economy of the Mannar district. Now these people have been rendered destitute in other villages where they sought refuge, stated Mr. Adaikalanathan.The foremost duty of the government is to resettle the IDPs in their own villages and to provide them with livelihood assistance and not to establish police station in no man's land, he said. Vitarana gives progress report The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) expects to submit its report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa before the end of this year, its Chairman, Minister, Tissa Vitarana told the Daily Mirror yesterday.“Representatives of political parties who participate in the deliberations have been able to come to an agreement on a number of outstanding issues. The deliberations are now focused on the list of devolution of power on the Government, Provincial Councils and Local Government Bodies. The APRC is discussing the list item by item in its weekly deliberations,” Prof. Vitarana said.The subject areas which had not been discussed previously are now being covered and a common position is being worked out, he said.Expressing his confidence in finalizing a common document sooner than later with the agreement of all party representatives, Prof, Vitarana who has been tasked to come up with a set of proposals to end the ethnic problem and establish a lasting peace commended the thirteen-party representatives for their assistance extended to the endeavour of the APRC. Lanka asks UN to emulate India Top Sri Lankan leader, Basil Rajapaksa, had asked the visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to emulate India and stop "policing" Sri Lanka, The Nation reported on Sunday.The second most important man in Sri Lanka after President Mahinda Rajapaksa, told the ranking UN official, that India was not acting as the policeman of the South Asian region, but was helping Sri Lanka solve its problems. For example, India had sent food to tackle shortages in Jaffna, he said."We urge the UN to assist Sri Lanka and refrain from policing human rights in the country," he told Arbour.Earlier, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) leader and Buddhist monk, Venerable Athuraliya Rathana Thero, told her that she should fight for animal rights too. "This is the ideology of Buddhism and the JHU," he said. Charges Exaggerated Sri Lanka's case, as presented by President Rajapaksa and others in the government, is that the country's primary task is to defeat the LTTE, which is described as "the world's most ruthless terrorist group", and that in conflict situations like the one in Sri Lanka, some human rights violations are only to be expected.The government also contends that the international organizations are exaggerating the rights violations. Cabinet minister Rajitha Senaratne even said that Sri Lanka was being pilloried because it was economically weak, without "a big market like India and Iraq." No punitive action So far, Sri Lanka has been able to prevent the international community from taking any action against it, despite a consistent and high voltage campaign by international and domestic rights organisations. The European Union chose not to introduce a resolution against it at the recent Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. Japan, one of Sri Lanka's principal donors, had made it clear that sanctions were not the right way to get a point across.The US periodically expresses concern about the rights situation in the country, but the White House is not contemplating any punitive action. India's Tacit Support India, which wants to build strong economic ties with Sri Lanka, has never made a strident comment on the rights situation in the island, despite a past of supporting the minority Tamils, the victims of rights violations.In fact, today, Colombo enjoys New Delhi's full support. While New Delhi is shy about trumpeting this, powerful elements in the Sri Lankan government like Basil Rajapaksa and the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, make no secret of it. Arbour promises redress for inmates in prisons UN Human Rights Commissioner, Louise Arbour has promised redress to inmates in Boossa, Magazine and Welikada prisons after her visit to Welikada on Saturday. Informed sources said Ms. Arbour has promised that their cases would be resolved within three months. Western People’s Front Leader and Parliamentrain, Mano Ganesan said the Tamil parties who met her last week handed over a report containing details of inmates in Welikada, Anuradhapura, Boossa and Magazine prisons. Ms. Arbour had told them that she was here for a specific purpose and not to find out about the inmates alone. Nevertheless she had however expressed her concern about the inmates and agreed to visit them at Welikada.The detainees of the Welikada had called off their fast unto death campaign after the assurance of Arbour who promised to resolve their cases within three months during her visit on Saturday. They launched the campaign on Wednesday demanding Ms. Arbour to visit Welikada prison. They also made a call to UN to pressurise the Sri Lankan government to expedite their cases which they claimed that have been postponed over and over again. Over 86 prisoners participated in the campaign. She met five prisoners who represented the detainees according to sources Remains of missing Army personnel found in Sri Lanka's northern jungles Troops conducting search and clear operations in the jungles of northern region have found two skeletal remains believed to be of a Sri Lankan army officer and a soldier, defense ministry said yesterday.Troops on a search operation in the Pokkaraverni jungles in Vavuniya recovered both skeletons with all the hallmark of Army personnel, defense reports said. Defense officials believe the remains are of two Army personnel went missing in action in the area on June 5th this year during a confrontation with the Tigers. The remains have been handed over to the Police authorities and Judicial Medical Officer at Anuradhapura general hospital for further investigations to identify the missing soldiers. LTTE hands over 3 SLA bodies to ICRC LTTE's NGO and U.N. Liaison Officer M. Pavarasan handed over 3 bodies of Sri Lanka Army (SLA ) troopers killed during Saturday clashes in Paasaiyoor-Kurunakar seas to Ms.Katja Lawrence, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representative in Kilinochchi, Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.Five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed by the Sea Tigers who sunk a SLA Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) in the seas off Paasaiyoor in Jaffna Saturday around 10:45 a.m. in retaliation against an attack by three SLA vessels that entered the LTTE territorial waters. However only three bodies were recovered, LTTE sources said Ms.Lawrence transported the bodies in an ICRC vehicle, to be handed over to the relatives of the dead soldiers, sources in Vanni said. 14 October 2007 UN concern over Sri Lanka rights UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has criticised Sri Lanka's rights record, questioning the government's readiness to improve it. She was speaking at the end of a visit to the country which is once again in the throes of civil war. The government rejected her call for UN human rights monitors to be deployed. According to New York-based Human Rights Watch, there have been over 1,000 recent abductions. The government says many reported cases are false. "In the context of the armed conflict and the emergency measures taken against terrorism, the weakness of the rule of law and the prevalence of impunity is alarming," Ms Arbour said. Lack of confidence During her visit she met government ministers as well as families who say their loved ones have disappeared. Ms Arbour also said there was a lack of confidence in a presidential commission set up to investigate abuses including the killings of 17 workers for a French charity in August 2006. She also criticised the Tamil Tiger rebels, who are fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority, for using children as combatants, forcibly recruiting adults and killing civilians. The high commissioner said a UN human rights monitoring mission could improve the situation. The government has, however, rejected such a proposal, saying what is needed is more help to increase the capacity of national institutions. "Throughout my discussions, government representatives have insisted that national mechanisms are adequate for the protection of human rights but require capacity-building and further support from the international community," Ms Arbour said. "In contrast, people from across a very broad political spectrum and from various communities have expressed to me a lack of confidence and trust in the ability of existing, relevant institutions to adequately safeguard against the most serious human rights abuses." Vasu calls for immediate ceasefire, resuming talks A veteran politician has called for an unconditional ceasefire, end to hostilities and an immediate resumption of peace talks, saying war was no solution to peace.Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Secretary of the Democratic Left Front and currently opposition leader in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), says his party abhors the escalation of the war and urged the government and all other concerned parties to initiate unconditional talks with the LTTE, first in the attempt of cessation of hostilities and then to go for lasting peace.Nanayakkara said that there would not be any conditions to initiate discussion. He said first it should be unconditional to sit and discuss whether ceasefire is possible, where APRC wants to continue for sometime without any results and whether its proceedings bring in worthwhile. results. There should be proposals to be presented to the Tamils, Muslims as well to other communities as a basis of solving the North and East national question. He said that this is a bigger problem than the ceasing of hostilities and is also more complex.Speaking at the 10th Business for Peace Forum presented by the Business for Peace Initiative of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka in Colombo last week, Nanayakkara speaking on the theme "Maintaining the Balance of Peace Building and Economic Growth; The DLF Standpoint", said that their party is for the devolution of power acceptable for the Tamils, Muslims and other communities in the North and East. He said all hostilities in the conflict should stop immediately to create a stage to achieve peace and noted that his party shared the view that in spite of the conflict and the on-going war and in spite of the reservations of both sides, all the parties should sit down to discuss as how to stop the on-going conflict.He said the All Party Conference is a forum to sit down and discuss such issues but noted that there shouldn't be any conditions to initiate discussion. There should be proposals to be presented to the Tamils, Muslims as well to other communities as a basis of solving the North and East national question, he said adding that this is a bigger problem than the ceasing of hostilities and is also more complex. Comments of his presentation were released this week by the chamber.Nanayakkara said in formulating the devolution package and the structure of the state there is the question of whether unitary or non-unitary. He said that their position has been that they are looking at how and what powers should be devolved and what powers to be preserved for the centre. He said that they have to work out a realistic basis that could reach Tamils and Muslims in the north and east. There should be expansion of powers that they could reasonably accept. "We should have a formal stage of finding out the outline of the kind of constitutions that is envisaged to get a better understanding as to where they go ultimately and where they find major divisions rather than talking in conceptual terms," he said.Discussing the presentation at a panel discussion were Micky Wickramasinha, Chairman, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd and Keerthi Gunawardane, Immediate Past President, Sri Lanka Printers Association and Managing Director, Graphics Systems Group of Companies. Rajapakse meets PM Lanka asks for India's moral rather than military backing Sri Lanka : Rebels destroy army boat, army sinks rebel vessel Sri Lanka - 's Tamil Tiger rebels destroyed an army boat and government troops sank a Tiger vessel in a battle Saturday, an official said, adding that three rebels died and three soldiers were missing. The rebels maintain a significant navy that they use for attacks for smuggling weapons into areas they control in parts of northern Sri Lanka Sri Lanka - 's minority ethnic Tamils, who have suffered decades of discrimination by majority Sinhalese-controlled governments, consider Jaffna their cultural heartland. The military has controlled the region since 1995, but the rebels operate underground and carry out frequent attacks. A Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in 2002 brought relative calm to the country, but a new wave of violence that began in December 2005 has killed more than 5,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. More than 70,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began. Despite the cease-fire's collapse, neither side has officially withdrawn from the pact, fearing international isolation. Welikade detainees call off fast-unto-death campaign Tamil detainees at Welikade remand prison in Colombo have called off their fast-unto-death campaign on Saturday 6.00 p.m, after the visitng UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, assured them that their cases will be resolved within 3 months.The fasting detainees, since Wednesday, have been demanding Ms. Louise Arbour, to visit the Welikade prison, look into their plight and exert pressure on the Sri Lankan government to expedite their cases that have been postponed fortnightly and not been heard for more than a year. She met five of the 86 fasting prisoners.Only two of the detainees would be allowed to meet the UN High Commissioner the Prison officials had told the fasting detainees. The detainees who objected the move, demanded all of them wanted to see her. Finally, five representatives of the detainees were allowed to see Ms. Louise Arbour. When the prisoners met her in Saturday afternoon they wanted her to personally visit to their cell and put an end to their fast campaign. She explained her time limits and the busy schedule and pleaded them call off the fast.Mutthuvel Srikanth,65, from Trincomalee, Mahalingam Sudhakaran, 15, from Tirukkovil, Ampaa'rai, Ravindran Ragu, 25, from Colombo, Balakumar Balaragu, 35, from Trincomalee and Francis Manoharan, 30, from Mannaar met the the visiting UN High Commissioner and handed over a petition to her. The meeting took place at the Prision Head Office. Army Chief pays tribute to troops Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka paid tribute to the soldiers and commended their efforts in liberating a nation scarred by war. “Braving all threats and hurdles, all of you are performing an exemplary task as a disciplined Army in a fearless manner while protecting the masses and the sovereignty of the Motherland. You deserve honour and tribute of all Sri Lankans for that noble task”, he said in a message issued to mark the 58th Army Day on October 10.“All your efforts, meant to liberate people of all ethnicities affected by the barbaric cycle of terrorist attacks while providing those civilians with their humanitarian needs, have no doubt promoted the image and dignity of the Sri Lanka Army. Terrorists have unsuccessfully tried to win us over. Yet the Army realizing its role and responsibilities has acted with restraint, mustering commendation from all quarters of the world,” he said. The Army Commander also paid tribute to the soldiers who have lost their lives, those who went missing and their families and also praised the Army troops now serving UN peace keeping operations. The message further said that the Army was committed to defeating terrorism and would continue to march forward in triumph and dignity. SLA imposes 24-hour curfew in Vadamaraadchy Sri Lanka Army (SLA) military command in Palaly has announced through military radio and media that Vadamaraadchy area will be under a 24-hour curfew the whole of Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. The normal curfew hours which last from 7:00 p.m to 4:30 a.m. will be modified, and the curfew will not be lifted at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, the announcement said. The 24-hour curfew will continue throughout Sunday until it is lifted on Monday morning 4:30 a.m., according to the directive.Vadamaraadchy area covered by the SLA checkpoints in Vallai, Mulli, Aayam and Vallipuram will be affected by the curfew, according to the SLA announcement.SLA has warned residents to stay indoors on Sunday, and has threatened that anyone seen outside their homes in public places will be arrested and prosecuted under Emergency Regulations.Vadamaraadchy residents speculate that the sudden announcement likely indicates that either there is to be a widespread cordon and search operation at several areas of Vadamaraadchy, or that the SLA plans to move heavy war-arsenal towards Vadamaraadchy East Forward Defence Lines (FDLs). 13 October 2007 'No access' to Arbour in Jaffna Protesters chased away However the government security forces dispersed them preventing the High Commissioner meeting them, residents said.A letter addressed to Louise Arbour was collected by the officials but there was no guarantee that it will be handed over to the UN official, they added.The Commissioner met Government Agent and representatives of certain voluntary organisations in Jaffna.Jaffna Bishop Thomas Saudranayagam who met the UN official said she was of the opinion she could open a special UN office or investigate abuses occurred in Jaffna only if the government makes a formal request.Jaffna residents said they expected no progress in human rights situation despite the Commissioner's visit. Mervin out; Basil to Kelaniya Sri Lanka Freedom Party is to appoint President's brother Basil Rajapakse as the electoral organizer for Kelaniya.President Mahinda Rajapakse has put his brother on a fast political track ever since he was appointed to parliament through national list. He was appointed as a member of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday. He is to assume a cabinet portfolio very soon. Current electoral organizer of Kealaniya, Mervin Silva, is under fire from the party leadership due to the unruly behavior of him and his son. SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena recently said that anyone who breached party discipline would be penalized. Karunanidhi urged to send DMK delegation to Lanka COIMBATORE: Dalit Party Puthiya Tamizhakam on Friday appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to send a delegation comprising DMK MPs and MLAs to Sri Lanka to assess the real situation there, amid reports about increased attack on Tamils.A detailed report, based on the findings of the delegation, then can be submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking measures to find a permanent solution to the decades-old conflict in the island nation, party founder-president K Krishnasami told reporters here.Accusing Sri Lankan government and the army of abducting and attacking innocent Tamils, Krishnasami said that in the name of LTTE rebels, the former should not take revenge on Tamils who 'were not at all involved in violence'.The party would also stage a demonstration in front of parliament and PM's residence in Delhi on November 6, he said.The demonstration would be apolitical in nature and the party would urge former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other political leaders to take part in it, Krishnasami said. The members of government human rights advisory committee resign The four members of the government human rights advisory committee have resigned from their posts. The resigned committee members are Dr. Pkyasothi Sarawanamuththu, Rohan Edirisinghe, Sunila Abesekara and Nimalka Fernando. Commenting on the resignation Nimalka Fernando said to Lanka-e-News that they went to the UN Human Rights Council to participate it in constructively and no one should dictate them what to speak there. She said that they would point out the errors to the government too. Ms. Fernando said that they quitted since an opinion was created denying their participation in UNHRC. She said that they would work in any platform if the government would not take heed their advise and would not correct the faults. Stating that no one could shut their mouths, merely because of they were in an advisory committee. She further said that they quitted because being members of an advisory committee that was not listened to was useless. Two Tamil civilians abducted in Colombo Two Tamil civilians were abducted in suburbs of Colombo, one in Wellawatte Tuesday night, and the other Kotahena Friday, according to complaints with the police and the Civil Monitoring Committee on Missing Persons. Sivakadachcham Kamaleswaran, 29, was abducted after he left home in his three-wheeler in Wellawatte to go to a video shop in Pamankade.Ponniah Thangavelu, 49, is a resident of Mullaitivu and had been staying in a lodge located along Vivekananda Road. Unidentified persons abducted him from his lodge according to the complaints with the police. Tamil MP urges India to tell Rajapakse to stop war A prominent Sri Lankan Tamil MP wants India to tell President Mahinda Rajapakse to take urgent steps to end the ethnic conflict which he says lies at the root of galloping human rights abuses in the country.Mano Ganesan of Indian origin, said the international community must realise that human rights would continue to get violated as long as fighting rages between the government and the Tamil Tigers.And Ganesan says India needs to act despite its antipathy towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). India outlawed the LTTE in 1992.'India and Indian political parties hate the LTTE,' Ganesan told IANS in a telephonic interview from Colombo as Rajapakse began a three-day visit to India. 'But it is the ethnic issue that is the mother of LTTE. The LTTE did not create the ethnic issue, the ethnic issue created LTTE.'It is also in the interest of India that there should be a reasonable solution to the ethnic conflict. This can be done only if the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people are met. This is the truth.'Rajapakse, who will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama, is to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi during his trip, his fourth since taking power two years ago. He is expected to discuss the situation in his country with the Indian leaders.Ganesan, 47, whose parents hail from Tamil Nadu, is a leading rights activist in Sri Lanka. On Thursday, he led groups of Tamils whose family members have disappeared or have been killed in recent times to meet UN .'For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, human rights violations have been institutionalized,' he said, alleging that around 1,500 people had disappeared after being taken away by armed men with apparent links to the government.Most victims have been Tamils, and most disappearances have taken place in Colombo. According to Ganesan, some 1,000 people have also been killed 'outside of the war'.'Of course there were worse conditions in Sri Lanka in the 1980s. The irony is the same president (Rajapakse) was then a champion of human rights. But the young victims then were Sinhalese.'Why are human rights violations of various kinds taking place? The reason for this is war. As long as the ethnic conflict continues, as long as no political solution is found, this will be the situation. The government is not honest and sincere in respect of a political solution.'Ganesan said Tamils were disappointed with India's mostly hands off approach to the Sri Lankan problem.'Obviously we are very much disappointed. I have full faith in the Indian high commission. Still I feel I have more support from other diplomatic missions in Colombo (on rights issues).'India can support us to arrive at a reasonable solution. India is always talking about the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka. But there has to be parallel efforts to seek a reasonable power sharing arrangement.'Ganesan went on: 'Let India tell Rajapakse about the concept of linguistic states, as they exist in India. We want a (Tamil) linguistic state in the northeast.'The Sinhalese in the northeast should be given minority rights, just as Tamils elsewhere in Sri Lanka should get minority rights.'Ganesan also cautioned India about the dangers of a prolonged ethnic conflict.'If the conflict goes on and on, it will amount to giving open visa to forces inimical to India to intervene in Sri Lanka. Tomorrow, Pakistan can turn around and help establish a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka if that can cause problems for Tamil Nadu.'I am not saying Pakistan is doing it or LTTE will take such support. But there is always a possibility.' SC approves northern polls bill The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that the proposed Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill which facilitates the holding of elections to the Jaffna Municipal Council, five urban councils and 27 Pradhesiya Sabhas in the Northern Province, was consistent with the Constitution. President Mahinda Rajapaksa referred the Bill for a special determination by the SC in terms of Article 122(b) of the Constitution and the SC ruling was communicated to parliament by Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara.Elections had not been conducted to these local bodies based on the nomination lists received during the period February 6 to 9, 2006 and the election in the Northern Province however had been postponed.The SC ruling said “if the election is held on the nominations that have been received, the voting will have to be on the basis of the 2004 voters’ list. In the currently operative list of 2006, there are 8727 new voters. Some of the ‘youth candidates’ would now be over the upper age limit. These matters justify the enactment of the Bill.” A Bill of similar content was enacted in respect of local bodies in the Eastern Province. The reason given in the determination of this Bill, would apply with equal force to the present one. India seeks change of oil exploration block from Sri Lanka A friction between Sri Lankan and Indian governments is taking place over the allotment of an oil exploration block, Ministry of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources said.Sri Lanka allotted one oil exploration block each to India and China in Mannar basin where oil deposits have been traced through seismic studies. However, the Indian government has sought a change of block while Sri Lanka government is not consenting to it, Ministry sources said. India has already purchased seismic data from Sri Lanka government after paying one million US dollars. Sri Lanka government has called tenders for the other blocks and they are to be closed by the end of January. No prospect for talks, expect major battles - Pulidevan Head of the LTTE Peace Secretariat Pulidevan has ruled out any prospect for negotiations in the foreseeable future, and described the time ahead as very crucial for his organization. The next battle will decide victory or defeat, he said at a recent function to mark the 20th death anniversary of ‘Lieutenant’ Malathi.Referring to statements by UPFA Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa that the armed forces would press on ahead with the major successes they have gained, Pulidevan said the appropriate responses would be forthcoming very soon. The time ahead will be very productive for the organization. Therefore, we should act correctly. There could be major battles, but no possibility of talks, the head of the LTTE Peace Secretariat said. The Tigers are ready to face their enemy in the battlefront, he said, adding that the LTTE leader will make a statement crucial for their future when he addresses the 'Heroes Day' event in November. Tamil telecom engineer arrested in Colombo A young Tamil civilian, telecommunication engineer by profession, was arrested Wednesday night around 10.30 p.m. by the Terrorist Intelligence Division (TID) of the Sri Lanka Police. Ten TID operatives went to his residence located at Rudra Mawatte in Wellawatte and took him for further investigation, according to a complaint lodged by his relatives with the Wellawatte Police Thursday.TID officials searched the house of the engineer and took several articles with them. The name of the engineer has not been revealed, sources said. Lodge owner summoned over Jaffna lecturer death Colombo City Coroner Edward Ahangama gave a special order to the Bambalapitiya Police to summon before courts today (Oct. 12th) the owner of the lodge where Jaffna University lecturer S. Mahinan had stayed before he went missing. The body of S. Mahinan (60), was subsequently found in the Bambalapitiya beach.The lecturer was in Colombo for GCE Advanced Level answer script evaluation, and had stayed at “Sumangali Rest” at Wellawatte.Nothing was heard of him after he had left the lodge at 4.15pm on the 06th of October.The wife of the deceased had said that her husband had phoned her on the 06th saying that he would be home soon. He had not called her later in the night, despite saying he would.However, an unidentified person had phoned her in the night and asked as to whether she recognized him. When she tried to phone back to the anonymous caller, it was found that the number had been disconnected.The Colombo Deputy JMO, who conducted the post mortem examination, requested a thorough investigation into the death, saying that he is unable to give a verdict.Mahinan, a father of one, was a senior Mathematics lecturer at the University of Jaffna. 2 SLA soldiers killed in Claymore ambush in Jaffna Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 3 seriously injured in a Claymore attack in Puloali, 28 km northeast of Jaffna city, on the Main Supply Route of the military between Naakarkoayil Forward Defense Line (FDL) and Palaali military complex in the Jaffna district Thursday night. A truck of a SLA convoy was the target of the second attack to be reported within the last few weeks along this tightly secured access route. Several soldiers have sustained minor injuries, according to the Police.The attack took place at Therumoodi madaththadi around 7:45 p.m.The wounded were rushed to Manthikai hospital and transferred to Palaali military hospital. Tamil detainees continue fast The Tamil Political detainees in the Welikada Prison are continuing their hunger strike, refusing all food provided, reports say. They are currently locked in their cells even though they are usually allowed to be let outside from morning to 4.30 pm.The group began their fast on October 10th, demanding an opportunity to meet with the visiting UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Louise Arbour.They have also handed a written request to the Superintendent of the Welikada Prison.Prison sources say that the letter has been sent to the Justice Ministry and a response is awaited. Sri Lanka country-wide inflation rockets to 21% Military victories at a very high human cost – US envoy US Ambassador Robert Blake says although the Sri Lankan military has achieved important victories in the past year, including the defeat of the LTTE in the east, and the sinking of many LTTE tankers used to deliver military and other supplies to the Tamil Tigers, such victories have come at a very high human cost.Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce lunch this week, according to a transcript on the US embassy website, the US envoy has also said that the US embassy was closely monitoring the freedom of expression in Sri Lanka saying that they believe that the role of the media in all free societies is to act as one of the most important checks on government power.“The Sri Lankan military has achieved important victories in the past year, including the defeat of the LTTE in the east, and the sinking of many LTTE tankers used to deliver military and other supplies to the Tamil Tigers. Such victories and U.S. support for Sri Lanka should demonstrate to the LTTE that they cannot hope to win this conflict,” the US envoy said. Ambassador Blake however also asserted that the government's military victories have come at a very high cost in human lives and suffering. “Thousands have died in the last year alone, adding to the toll of around 70,000 in the quarter-century history of the conflict.Hundreds of thousands more have become homeless and endured severe privation. To help relieve the suffering the U.S. has donated food worth $14 million so far this year, with another shipment valued at an additional US$9 million set to arrive later in the year,” he said. The United States has been a strong and unwavering supporter of Sri Lanka’s fight to defend itself against terrorist attacks from the LTTE. That support takes many forms from military, to law enforcement cooperation, to efforts to help Sri Lanka stop financial flows to the LTTE, to our contributions to enhancing the security of the Colombo Port through the Container Security Initiative of the US Department of Homeland Security and the Megaports Initiative of the Department of Energy.“But both sides must realize there can be no military solution to Sri Lanka's conflict. The U.S. welcomes Foreign Minister Bogollogama’s public statement during his visit to Washington last week that President Rajapaksa’s government agrees the conflict cannot be solved through military means. Without equal and parallel progress on the political track, there cannot be an end to the violence. The continued absence of a viable proposal for sharing of power with the country's minorities is as disappointing to us as it is to most Sri Lankans,” he said.Turning to the sensitive area of human rights, the UN envoy said the United States recognizes that there has been a welcome decline in forced disappearances in Colombo and the Western Province but added that violations in other parts of Sri Lanka remain as serious as ever. 12 October 2007 TNA not a tool of UNP or govt says MP The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said in Parliament yesterday that it would consider supporting the government if it agreed to resume peace talks with the LTTE based on the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.“The government wants our support. We will consider its invitation and lend our support if the government agrees to start peace talks based on the 2002 CFA,” said TNA Batticaloa district MP T. Ariyaneththiran while speaking during the debate on approving finance regulations.The MP also said the TNA would not support the UNP to topple the government at the forthcoming budget as it (the UNP) had rejected a federal solution to the ethnic conflict.“The UNP, which for several years advocated a federal solution to the ethnic conflict, has now dropped the idea. The UNP wants our support to topple the government at the budget. We can consider this request by the UNP only if it agrees to a federal solution”, he said.However the MP asserted that the TNA was a Party that stood by its principals and could not be used by either the government or the UNP as a political tool to topple or prop up governments. Fighting in Sri Lanka kills 5 rebels, 1 soldier Sri Lanka -A series of gunbattles between troops and rebel fighters across Sri Lanka’s volatile northern region killed five rebels and one soldier, the military said Friday.The deaths came amid an increase in violence in recent weeks along the front lines between rebel territory and government-controlled areas.The military has blamed the fighting on the Tamil Tiger rebels, saying they were trying to push back after being driven out of eastern Sri Lanka earlier this year. The rebels have accused the government of exaggerating the new violence.A group of Tamil Tigers tried to sneak across the front lines into the northern Jaffna Peninsula on Thursday, sparking a gunbattle with troops that killed three of the rebels, said Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara, a military spokesman.Two more rebels were killed in separate confrontations in the Mannar and Vavuniya districts south of rebel territory, he said.In another incident near Vavuniya on Thursday afternoon, a soldier was killed in a gunbattle with Tamil Tiger fighters.Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.The latest incidents bring Thursday’s announced death toll to eight, including six rebels and two soldiers.On Thursday, the military said a roadside bomb targeting an army foot patrol killed one soldier in the Jaffna Peninsula, while in another incident, troops opened fire on rebels trying to cross into the area, killing one.The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 to create an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the northeast. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict Louise Arbour's visit a test for Sri Lanka U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour is currently in Sri Lanka for a five-day country visit. In September Manfred Nowak, the U.N. Special Rapporteur against torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment, was also in Sri Lanka for about ten days. Both visits highlight one of the major problems in dealing with the rule of law and human rights in Sri Lanka -- the complete unwillingness of the Sri Lankan state to come to terms with the magnitude of the breakdown of law and the resulting gross abuses of human rights. The government is also completely unwilling to take decisive steps to resolve the abysmal situation that the citizens face. It is a recurrent experience in countries that have allowed themselves to slip into lawlessness -- such as Burma, Cambodia and even some parts of India like the state of Bihar -- that when the rule of law collapses, human rights make little sense.This senselessness was starkly manifest in many of the reactions of the government, as well as some ultra-nationalist elements, to the visit of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights. Government spokesmen are constantly telling the press that they will say no to the high commissioner's request for the establishment of a human rights monitoring mission to investigate human rights abuses by all parties to the present conflict. Such a request, the government spokesmen said, would be resisted as this would be an attack on the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. Some others supporting the same view have described the high commissioner's efforts as diabolical and said she is nothing more than an agent of American and Western imperialism. All such surrealistic comments, which border on political lunacy, are nothing more than attempts to hide the complete lawlessness that is prevalent throughout the entire country. However, the reality of this lawlessness and the resulting abuses of human rights is no secret to ordinary citizens, who today feel utterly helpless in the face of the social conditions that have made their lives miserable. The high commissioner's visit should be an eye opener to the local population as well as to the international community of the problems faced in dealing with human rights in countries where the ruling regimes and even some political groupings claim the denial of the rule of law as an attribute of sovereignty. All the experiences gained from the past in dealing with human rights problems are based on the premise of the willingness of the political authority of a country to accept external assistance to get out of a very bad situation it faces from within In 2005 the Nepalese government accepted the assistance of the United Nations to establish a High Commissioner's Office to monitor human rights in order to deal with the conflict that existed between the authoritarian regime of the king and the Maoist rebels who were locked in a prolonged and bitter crisis that lead to the collapse of the state and society in the country.In the late 1980s Cambodia faced a devastating crisis as four factions were engaged in an armed struggle that lead to the collapse of Cambodian society. By 1989 all the parties had come to the realization that without the mediation of the United Nations they would not be able to normalize the situation in the country. The signing of the Paris agreements, followed by the establishment of the U.N. Transitional Authority, was the result of the political realization of the leaders of the country that there was no other way to return to normalcy In the same way, it was the realization of the East Timorese leaders and also the Indonesian leaders that ended the prolonged civil war in East Timor. This too required some form of mediation from the United Nations that lead to the U.N. mission for that purpose. Dealing with situations of acute crisis requires political realism. Some nations look for the support of the international community because that is the most realistic option in resolving problems that exist due to an impasse within the local political situation. Like in times of physical disaster -- for example a tsunami, flood or other natural disaster that causes one nation to seek the help of others -- sometimes the only way out of political disaster is to seek assistance. Like a sinking ship that has to call for assistance from others, nations facing serious crises have to find assistance if they are not to perish. Unfortunately, at a time when political realism is required, the people of Sri Lanka are getting only romantic rhetoric and the denial of the crisis. Sri Lanka's crisis is essentially a crisis of a political leadership that is unwilling and incapable of dealing with the situation realistically. The political intellect of the country has sunk to its lowest depths. Whatever might happen to the people or to the local institutions, already suffering from a major collapse, as well as the sinking economy, the political intellect remains in a state of stupor. The nation's leaders continue to talk nonsense, quite oblivious of the political situation and its consequences to society.Obviously, the high commissioner has reason to be upset and unhappy. However, the United Nations and the international community, as well as the politically sensible elements of the local population, cannot afford to resign themselves to the situation or to be demoralized. It is time for both the locally politically enlightened and the international community to assess the situation realistically and find ways to deal with the impasse created by the utterly irresponsible attitudes represented by the ruling regime and its supporters. The quality of the enlightened people in local society and the caliber of the international leadership are tested in situations such as the one faced in Sri Lanka. This is the test they are facing now. To fail in this test is to fail the people of Sri Lanka. TNA parliamentarians visit fasting detainees at Colombo prison Three Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, Sivanathan Kishore, P. Ariyanenthran and K.Pathmanathan visited Thursday the Tamil political detainees who have launched a fast-unto-death campaign at the remand prison in Welikada. The prisoners handed over three separate petitions to be forwarded to the visiting UN Human Rights High Commissioner Louise Arbour, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Attorney General C.R.de Silva.The prisoners were fasting for the second successive day demanding the early release or calling the Sri Lankan authorities to expedite their cases. They have stated in the petitions urging Ms Arbour to visit them and to bring pressure on the Sri Lankan government to expedite their cases. LTTE smuggles in aircraft Sri Lankan Defence authorities are disturbed as to how two suspected LTTE boats laden with two modern remote controlled air craft had managed to slip into Sri Lankan waters from the South Indian seas despite heightened sea patrolling by Indian authorities.Early yesterday, the Sri Lankan Navy attacked two LTTE boats carrying a stock of military items including two remote controlled aircraft about five kilometers off Talaimannar. In the ensuing clash four LTTE cadres including two seniors were killed while one of the rebel boats was damaged, the Navy said.A senior naval official told the Daily Mirror, the Navy’s Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) detected the two suspected boats moving towards the shore from the western seas and ordered them to stop.As they failed to respond, the Navy opened fire on the two boats causing severe damages to one of the boats. The navy recovered a six and a half feet long remote control aircraft, a remote control helicopter (Toy), four Communication sets, ten Global Positioning Systems, four satellite mobile phones and 45 Communication set antenna's from the two boats.The Indian naval guard and the Indian Navy stepped up sea patrolling along the Palk Straits to prevent LTTE activities and the smuggling of weapons. However, following the latest incident in the Talaiamannar seas the Sri Lankan defence authorities were probing how the rebels still managed to smuggle the military items using the Palk Straits into the Sri Lankan waters. Meanwhile, Navy Spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake said Sri Lanka Air Force was also called in to assist the Navy in the investigations into the recovery of two remote control air craft.He also said the wing span of the fixed wing type air craft was 13 feet long and could be air borne together with considerable amount of explosives. “These air craft can be used to carry out air attacks with explosives or be used for spying,” the spokesman said.Commander Dassanayake said two senior LTTE cadres killed in the incident were identified as ‘Mani’ and ‘Koonam’. “ Thondaman re-sworn in as Minister The Ceylon Workers' Congress parliamentary group led by Arumugam Thondaman who resigned from the portfolios recently, swore in yesterday (11) before the President Mahinda Rajapakse.Thondaman swore in as cabinet Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development while the others took oaths as Deputy Ministers.Sangaralingam Sellasamy swore in as Deputy Minister of Posts, Muttu Sivanlingam as Deputy Minister of Estate Infrastructure, Murugan Satchithanandan as Deputy Minister of Education and Shanmugam Jegathgeeswaran as Deputy Minister of National Integration.They vacated their posts in protest of an incident of verbal abuse by President's brother cum Senior Adviser Basil Rajapakse at Muththu Sivalingam. Man arrested for smuggling speedboat parts for LTTE The Tamil Nadu police have arrested Jayaraj Rathinam alias Vanniarasu for attempting to smuggle speedboat spare parts for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), officials said Thursday. Ashok Kumar, superintendent of police from the anti-terrorist wing 'Q' Branch, said the material was imported from Oslo and detected by the Revenue Intelligence Directorate during routine checks to trace import duty evasion. 'When we received a tip-off that the consignment was from Oslo and that it concerned boats, we swung into action and secured Rathinam. The material was not cleared from the port. We opened it in the presence of the accused and impounded the whole container,' Kumar said. The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years' simple imprisonment. Kumar, however, indicated that Rathinam, 36, could be released on bail. 'Though we cannot comment on what the defence counsel will do and how the magistrate will react, it is obvious that it is a small offence which does not merit sustained detention,' Kumar said. Director General of Police Rajendran said: 'This is a small incident - one among hundreds that take place in the state. We know that one man has been held. It is up to the investigating team to take the call on whether the man has to be questioned further on the basis of the seriousness of his offence.' Rathinam, who belongs to the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI), was convicted in a murder case in the late 1990s. Though he is out on bail, he suppressed that vital information, got a passport and visited Sri Lanka thrice. Tamil Nadu's main opposition AIADMK has taken the arrest seriously.'This is yet another instance of the DMK government going soft on the LTTE which had assassinated our former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi,' an AIADMK spokesman said.DPI leader Thol Thirumavalavan, a known sympathiser of the LTTE, was not available for comment. "Take us to courts" - say prisoners Punish us "Produce us before courts and punish us if found guilty or release us if there are no charges. Do not keep us just as LTTE suspects", a prisoner who spoke to Sandesaya from inside the prison said outlining their grievances.Eighty six prisoners from Welikada prison, 28 from Anuradhapura prison and 66 from Magazine prison are on the fast. The prisoners said that among them are prisoners between the ages of 15 to 67."There are those who are of school going age and some are there for more than three years", the prisoner said. Attack at prisoners He said on Wednesday a prison guard and Sinhala prisoners attacked some Tamil detainees in Welikada prison when they went to seek medical treatment for sore eyes.The High Commissioner Louise Arbour arrived in the country on Tuesday to assess the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Thirty eight human right organisations have also written to the High Commissioner Louise Arbour giving out areas of human right violations, and background. Mahinda-Devananda plan was intended to boot Karuna out Minister Douglas Devananda has been the force behind the conflict within the Tamil Makkal Viduthalip Pillighal (TMVP) better known as the Karuna faction reliable sources told the Sri Lanka Guardian.Vinyagamurthi Muralidaran alias Karuna Amman was a former military leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the East. He also led the LTTE's powerful ground forces regiment the Jayanthan regiment. However Karuna Amman broke away from the LTTE with more than five thousand cadres including child soldiers in 2004 March. After that he commanded children involved in the Tamil struggle as cadres to home and start their education and enjoy normal life.Following this Karuna came to Colombo and met Minister Devananda at his Dickmans Road residence in Colombo. Both leaders discussed their future plans there.After the meeting Karuna decided go abroad with his few close associates. Bur Devananda rejected this plan and urged Karuna must stay in the country. This was the first indication of the differences between the two, the source told us.Few months later Karuna and his personal associates returned to the country and re-structuralized the TMVP. Karuna spoke freely with some journalists who were his personal friends. Little by little TMVP became politically involved in the east even more than the other Tamil political parties. They were also strongly aligned with the Sri Lanka Forces and were planning military operations.A Sinhala cadre in the TMVP said, "I was asked to attend with the main operations in liberating the east including Wakare, Thoppgala, etc…".He is now with Pradeep who is the former political wing head of the TMVP, also a former top level LTTE cadre. 'The re-structurizing of the TMVP was the main point that crated the conflict within the movement. Lot of top level TMVP cadres were unhappy because of Karuna's new program', te source told the Sri Lanka Guardian.The was used by the EPDP and military intelligence to advantage. EPDP thought it was a good time to manipulate their plans much better than in the past. The military intelligence thought the same way their operations against the LTTE in the east."The Sri Lankan Government used Karuna on the basis of, 'Enemy's enemy is your Friend." The government wouldn't support Karuna politically. They wanted to only use him for military operations," the sources added.According to them, "Time had gone past with old plans and there was now a new phenomenon in the east. It was the conflict between the EPDP and the TMVP. Some EPDP supporters were killed by the TMVP also some TMVP were killed and wounded because of EPDP attacks.Meanwhile top level TMVP military cadre Sindujan was killed by TMVP cadres due to internal conflict, Sidujan was colleague of Karuna from LTTE time.The situation has been watched and analysed by Devananda who is also a good friend of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President accepted Devananda's ideas and plans more than that of the other Tamil politicians."Once Devananda arranged a special meeting with some of the Tamil political activists who live in Switzerland. One of the activists gave him a political proposal for a solution to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. But he turned out to be an LTTE mole", the sources added.Devananda's actions are not clear to the Tamil Diaspora and many are unhapy about his role in the government.We can now see the implementation of Devananda-Mahida plans for the east. There will be no more place for the other Tamil political party in the east, said one of the Central Committee members of the TMVP."The action plan also seems to indicate that Karuna will be wiped politically," he stated.Karuna was golden opportunity for the government to wipe out terrorism from the east and find a sustainable solution for the Tamils and the Tamil-speaking people in that province."But the government booted him and after that Devanada became the new liberation leader without any struggle for the eastern leadership," he said.Devananda knows Pillayan as a better military leader but not a political leader. He can easily dispose of Pillayn politically."But the government continues to propagate its selfish plans and stupor their racist political allies. They want to wipe out the Tamils in the east and establish Sinhala-Buddhist domination there," concluded our source from the east. Jaffna’s children to stay in school At the request of the Ministry of Education, UNICEF has ensured the distribution of school kits to every school student in Sri Lanka's troubled Jaffna Peninsula. Speaking from Colombo the head of UNICEF's Education section in Sri Lanka, Ita Sheehy, said the month-long distribution had reached an estimated 140,000 primary and secondary school children, all of whom are affected by the ongoing conflict. “It was a challenge because Jaffna has been cut-off by the conflict from the rest of Sri Lanka for more than a year,” said Sheehy. “Many communities and schools are in areas considered high security areas by the government and are difficult to access regularly. One benefit was that each of the 404 schools were visited by a team from the Education Ministry together with members of UNICEF, even in the most volatile and remote areas.”In addition to the Ministry of Education, the distribution was carried out with the support of the military, the Government Agent, the Commissioner General for Essential Services, as well as the teachers and students themselves. “Education authorities were concerned that the children’s education was being eroded by the conflict," added Sheehy. "If families are struggling with the impact of isolation and loss of income it was feared that school stationery would become a lower priority as food and prices of essential items rise. Sri Lankans are acutely aware of the value of education. They know that good schooling is a passage to a better life, and we have to support that as best we can.”Many schools have been recycling material in an effort keep children in school. Materials that were distributed include notebooks, drawing pads, pencils and pens, rulers, erasers and sharpeners. 11 October 2007 Recognise self-determination right: TNA The TNA said in Parliament yesterday that the responsibility was cast upon a Government to recognize the right to internal self-determination of a people with a distinct identity, as they have clamoured for it for a long period.TNA leader R. Sampanthan said this right was inalienable because the concept of internal self determination had developed to such a broad extent in the world today.While speaking during the debate on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, he asked what the policy of the Sri Lankan government was regarding the Tamils’ rights for internal self-determination, which has been clamoured for since 1956.He said that Tamil people had supported that idea democratically and overwhelmingly for over four decades. Referring to the clauses of the Bill, Mr. Sampanthan queried is to how High Security Zones could be established in Sampur and Mutur denying people the lands which they had inhabited for generations.He requested the Government to disband these zones immediately. “In recent times, Sri Lanka seems to think that international obligations should be observed only when it suits it,” he said.He said it has been noted how persons holding responsible positions in the Government treated some UN officials who come here. Tamil prisoners on death fast Several Tamil detainees at the Welikada prison, who claimed to be political prisoners, began a fast unto death campaign yesterday demanding a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Louise Arbour to see first hand their plight and grievances.The High Commissioner arrived in the country on Tuesday to assess the human rights situation and is expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa today and also visit Jaffna to meet civil society leaders and rights groups. Welikada prison sources said that 86 Tamil prisoners of cell G in ward 5 commenced the fast yesterday and several others of cells A, B, C and D are expected to extend support to the protest today brining the total number of protestors to more than one hundred.Some 486 Tamil prisoners are at the Welikada prison, most of them among those who have been transferred from the Boossa detention camp. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which was scheduled to meet Ms. Arbour last evening, was also to raise concerns over the plight of the Welikada political detainees.The protestors say they want the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the prison, see the conditions they live in, impress on the Government to expedite some of their legal cases and ensure they get a fair hearing.“They say they would either fast unto death or be rather shot to death if Ms. Arbour or at least one her representatives do not visit them,” a Welikada prison source said.Meanwhile some of the prisoners are said to be suffering from eye-related diseases and have also been involved in frequent brawls with some of the inmates, the source added.The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak also visited the Welikada Prison last week and held talks with the inmates as part of his tour in the country.Mr. Nowak was in Sri Lanka on an eight-day official visit to probe the human rights situation in the country and is expected to submit a report to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on the outcome of his visit.Meanwhile Ms. Arbour paid a courtesy call on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday. Jyoti Sanghera, the Senior Human Rights Advisor to the UN Country Team in Colombo, Rory Mungoven, the Coordinator, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva and Fabrizio Hochschild, the Chief of Branch Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva were also present on the occasion. Rajapakse To Meet PM Amid 'perfect Cordiality' Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is visiting India Friday for the fourth time in two years, with his foreign minister saying bilateral ties are now marked by 'perfect cordiality and understanding'.Although Rajapakse is coming to take part in a leadership summit organised by the Hindustan Times, he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil for talks on bilateral matters and the situation in his island nation.The visit comes at a time when the Sri Lankan military is preparing to take on the Tamil Tigers in their stronghold in the country's north and when his government's human rights record is under scrutiny from international monitors.Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama, who will be accompanying Rajapakse, told IANS that relations between Sri Lanka and India were today in state of 'perfect cordiality and understanding'.'This is a major feat we have accomplished,' he said over the phone from Colombo. 'We have achieved something. This is a major development not seen for a very long time.'Rajapakse will discuss bilateral issues including the ethnic conflict with Manmohan Singh, call on Patil and meet opposition leader L.K. Advani and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi.Rajapakse, who prides himself as a friend of India, will be the lead speaker Saturday at the annual leadership summit, whose theme is 'Imagine the India that can be'.A diplomatic source said that Rajapakse would talk about the complementarities between India and the South Asian neighbourhood, Sri Lanka included.'The president will dwell on the synergies that can be developed between India and the neighbourhood, both external and internal,' the source told IANS. 'He will cover a wide ambit.'Rajapakse was elected president in November 2005 by a narrow margin and flew to India the very next month. He visited India again in November 2006 and in April this year. On all occasions he held bilateral discussions with Indian leaders. He has also met Manmohan Singh in third countries.Rajapakse's latest visit comes when New Delhi is quietly pressing Colombo to come up with a credible political solution to the ethnic conflict. Sri Lanka, however, seems determined to take on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the island's north after ousting the Tigers from the east.The unending fighting has sparked fears of further bloodshed. And Colombo has come under international scrutiny over what activists allege are massive human rights abuses in the northeast. The government denies the charge.Two years of fighting between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military has virtually killed the Norway-brokered ceasefire agreement of 2002 and strangled the international peace process.What worries India is the visible slow progress in government attempts to come up with a framework that would devolve powers to the Tamil regions in Sri Lanka. But Indian officials do not comment on this publicly.And while New Delhi repeatedly urges Colombo to avoid civilian casualties, it is not ready to go with sections of the West in condemning Sri Lanka's human rights record.Douglas Devananda, the most high profile Tamil member of Rajapakse's cabinet, visited New Delhi last week. According to him, the government is being urged to come up with interim councils to govern the north and east and an apex body to oversee the councils.Despite public commitments that it believes in a negotiated settlement, most Tamils are sceptical about the government unveiling a credible political process to end an ethnic conflict that shows no signs of ending. Sri Lanka to display military gear captured from Tigers to public Sri Lanka government has decided to display countrywide the arms and ammunition captured by the security forces in operations in Eastern Province to the public. Sources said that three exhibition vehicles would be deployed to take the apprehended military gear from village to village. Government security forces took into their custody massive hauls of arms and ammunition that were left behind by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam cadres fleeing from the advancing forces. LTTE can’t solve conflict militarily: Army Chief The military says it will continue to crush terrorism to convince the terrorists that the conflict cannot be resolved through military means.“The Army will crush terrorism to convince the terrorists that their problems could not be solved through terrorist acts,” Army Chief Sarath Fonseka said while addressing the 58th Army Day at the Army Headquarters yesterday.The Commander said that all successes starting from the Mavilaru operation up to the liberation of Silavatturai remain concrete evidence in this connection. “In the future too the Army would continue to march forward triumphantly,” he said.The Army chief also said that while engaging in a bout of violent activities for many years on the pretext of abiding by a ceasefire agreement almost for four years, the terrorists have unsuccessfully tried to defeat the security forces. “Yet the Army realizing its role and responsibilities has acted with restraint drawing commendation from all quarters in the world. I feel happy about it,” he said.Praising the soldiers who are now serving in UN peace keeping operations in several countries, the Army commander said corruption should be stopped. “In no manner can any corruption or wastage be tolerated. All of you should work to preserve the dignity of the whole organization,” the Commander added.The Army chief inspected the guard of honour given by the troops.The 58th anniversary was celebrated yesterday with the participation of senior military officials. Point Pedro lawyers protest against death threats, extortion Lawyers in Point Pedro began a token protest Wednesday afternoon, boycotting court sessions at Point Pedro divisional court, demanding protection against the death threats, intimidation and extortion by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed armed Tamil paramilitary groups. The boycott launched by Jaffna peninsula lawyers for the same reason in September was withdrawn on SLA Jaffna Commander's assurance that the menace will be eradicated, but the assurance is yet to be fulfilled, Vadamaraadchi Lawyers Association members said. As the Point Pedro lawyers continued their boycott, Lawyers Associations of Chaavakacheari, Mallakam, Jaffna and Kayts judicial divisions have also announced that they will also start boycott supporting their Point Pedro colleagues.Many attorneys-at-law in Point Pedro, including leading lawyers, are being continually threatened with death, intimidation through phone calls by the Tamil paramilitary men collaborating with SLA, an attorney-at-law who wishes to remain anonymous, said. Besides doctors, high officials in the government, and intellectuals in Vadmaraadchi are also subjected to death threats and intimidation, the sources added. Vadamaraadchi Lawyers Association said that the boycott will continue until they be allowed to function freely without being harassed by death threats and extortion. "No censorship" in Sri Lanka Lack of professionalism Journalists and activists gathered accused Sri Lankan authorities of unofficially imposing a censorship on war-related matters."Every journalist who report Tamil Tigers' point of view is regarded as a terrorist," David Dadge, Deputy Director of International Press Institute (IPI), told the gathering.Polarisation alongside ethnic lines in Sri Lankan media is another major obstacle in objective reported, he added."I think one of the problems is there is a perception that media from the Sinhalese, English, Tamil and Muslim are actually on behalf of and for their communities," he told journalist Poopalaratnam Seevagan.Director of Paris based World Editors Forum (WEF), Bertrand Pecquerie, said Sri Lanka journalists are prevented of being professionals due to climate of fear. Awareness raising "As international media personnel we need to go to Sri Lanka and help them to be more professional," he said.The gathering titled "Professionalism, peace reporting and journalists' safety in Sri Lanka" was attended by international and Sri Lankan media and human rights organisations."Awareness raising on Sri Lankan situation was the key thing discussed," President of National Union of Journalists (NUJ), UK and Ireland, Michelle Stainstreet said. Alleged Sinhala LTTE supporter arrested Wadduwa police arrested a young Sinhalese man alleged to have helped the LTTE to organize terrorist activities in Colombo and its suburbs.These include the attack on the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 1996 that caused the death of several persons including officials of the bank and caused extensive damage to the bank building. The terrorists launched the suicide attack using a lorry loaded with explosives.The suspect is alleged to have smuggled arms, ammunition and explosives to Colombo, Welisara and Divulapitiya. OIC Wadduwa police Nimal Karunaratne said the suspect was running a motor workshop at Piliyandala and had been a member of a leftist political party in the south before he coalesced with the LTTE.The suspect has been handed over to the TID for questioning. Tamil Govt. minister behind Pillayan Minimum Rs 5,000 wage for estate workers The Sri Lanka Employers’ Federation Wednesday signed a two-year Collective Agreement with Plantation Trade Unions, ending a two-week long strike by plantation workers over their demand for increased wages. The new Agreement has placed the minimum wage of a plantation worker at Rs. 5,000. This move follows discussions President Mahinda Rajapaksa had with employers and trade unions. The minimum daily wage of the plantation workers has been increased from Rs. 170 to Rs. 290 with the increased allowances under the Agreement, a Labour Ministry spokesman said. The Agreement was signed before Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne by the officials of the Employers’ Federation and Plantation Trade Unions. The leaders of the plantation Trade Unions, Minister Arumugam Thondaman of Ceylon Workers’ Congress, Welayuthan of Lanka Jathika Estate Trade Union and Chandrasena of Joint Plantation Workers’ Trade Union Centre signed the Agreement with the officials of the Employers’ Federation, S. K. L. Obeysekera, the Chairman of the Plantation Services Group and FED Director General Ravi Peiris. The Employers’ Federation is reported to have agreed to sign the deal with the Plantation Trade Unions on the directions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who met the officials of the Employers’ Federation and the representatives of the Plantation Trade Unions at the Temple Trees on Tuesday. President Rajapaksa had told the Employers’ Federation that it was necessary to treat the plantation workers as an essential sector considering their contribution to the country’s national income. President Rajapaksa had said that it was fair to give the workers a pay hike considering the increasing demand and high rates for tea. Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne maintained that he would always stand for the development of the Plantation Industry and was prepared to give his maximum support to provide the necessary services needed from the Government in this regard. Missing Tamil academic found dead in Colombo A senior lecturer of the Science Faculty of Jaffna University, Ponniah Mahinan, 62, who was reported missing since Saturday evening in Colombo was allegedly abducted and killed. The body of the victim with scratch injuries, located Sunday, was identified by his wife on Tuesday. The lecturer from the Department of Mathematics had come to Colombo from Jaffna to supervise paper corrections of GCE Advanced Level examinations at the end of September and was staying at a lodge on Daya Road in Wellawatte.He was scheduled to reach Jaffna Monday and his belongings were in packed state at the lodge Saturday evening when he was reported missing. Relatives of the academic had lodged a complaint at Wellawatte Police Saturday at 10:00 p.m. Saturday as the family lost telephone contact with the lecturer, Police said. On Sunday, the relatives in Colombo were asked to identify a decomposed dead body with scratch wounds at the National Hospital in Colombo. The body, recovered from Bambalapitiya coast, was identified Tuesday evening by the lecturer's wife who came from Jaffna. The lecturer from Kokkuvil East, Jaffna, leaves behind his wife and two daughters. 10 October 2007 The true aim of the President’s statements on he is prepared for talks is to get aid- S. Adeikalanadan TELO President LTTE disputes Govt. claims of destroying fleet The LTTE yesterday debunked government claims of sinking its last deep sea vessel and said that boasts of wiping out the Tiger deep sea fleet were mere rhetoric aimed at diverting attention from its political woes. LTTE military spokesperson Rasiah Ilanthirayan told The Morning Leader the government’s claim that they had weakened the Sea Tigers by destroying their ships was fiction and not founded on fact.He added the LTTE was not interested in arguing or denying any claims made by the government on its successes in the military front."These are normal things for the government. Their stories are only fiction and do not contain any truth in them. They do this to get political mileage. That’s all I can say. My job is not to deny each and every claim by the government," he said.The government early this week said it had destroyed the last ship of the LTTE ‘Matsushima’ on Sunday (7).The Military said it was the largest ship that smuggled arms to the LTTE."This loss to the LTTE would completely cripple the LTTE’s supply of illegally smuggled weaponry and explosives along international waters," the navy website on Monday said. RAW recalls agent after Lankan powerful foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama landlord complains External intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has recalled the head of its Colombo operations after he ran foul of his landlord, the powerful Sri Lankan foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama.RAW sources say that the feud with his powerful landlord and his indiscreet partying in the Sri Lankan capital may have all resulted in Ravi Nair being recalled a few weeks ago to New Delhi. However, there was no confirmation if the RAW had evidence of spying against Nair, as was being claimed by some sections. A standoff between Nair and his landlord, who happened to be the Sri Lankan foreign minister, had led to an awkward situation with the minister putting pressure through diplomatic channels for Nair’s recall. Though it was unofficial, sources said Bogollagama’s pressure had significantly contributed to the recall of Nair, a Research and Analysis Service officer. A senior official in the Sri Lankan high commission in New Delhi told DNA that they “had no such reports” of their foreign minister’s unhappiness with the officer. Dependable sources say that Nair had gotten into a dispute with the foreign minister over some repairs that he carried out in Bogollagama’s house where the RAW official had been staying. Nair has told his colleagues that landlord Bogollagama had promised to pay him the cost of repairs, running into over a lakh of rupees, but the minister did not keep his word once the work got over. Whatever may be the finer nuances of the dispute, it was clear that the minister was clearly upset with the RAW representative in Colombo, sources here say. This is the second instance of a senior Indian official running foul with the powers that be in Colombo. The last Indian high commissioner Nirupama Rao had to be recalled before she completed her tenure after several allegations were leveled against the IFS officer by local political powers. India appointed her the ambassador to China, and insisted the recall had nothing to do with the allegations. Though not known for his competence, Nair was one of the youngest RAS officers to reach the rank of a joint director, and by his sheer seniority would have been in the running to be the RAW chief in a few years time. Sources in Colombo and the RAW insist that there is no credence to the theory that Nair was involved in Chinese spying with a Chinese woman. Sources say, however, there have been reports in recent times about Nair being seen partying with women in Colombo. But the reports about a “Chinese connection” of his woman friend don’t seem correct, according to information available here. Nair is the son of a former army general. Sources say what may have further weakened Nair’s position and resulted in the humiliating pull out of him from Sri Lanka was the heightening feud between the IPS lobby in the RAW and the RAS officers. RAS officials are not particularly pleased with the way Nair’s recall has been handled, and they believe there has been a deliberate effort to tarnish the image of the senior official. Abductions: Government tells West to heal itself The committee appointed by the President to Investigate Disappearances and Abductions yesterday asked the West and US in particular to first investigate the 600,000 disappearances in Iraq and another 10,000 in Kashmir before coming to Sri Lanka to investigate 1200 of disappearances that had allegedly taken place here.Addressing the media yesterday at the Information Department, member of the Committee and Engineering and Construction Services Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna said the International Community would not initiate an investigation in Iraq or Kashmir as they are big markets.“The US invaded Iraq with the excuse that the country had chemical weapons. But there were no such weapons. In Kashmir 10.000 have already disappeared and nobody talks about it. They want to probe into a disappearance of mere 1200 in Sri Lanka as they do not have a big market in Sri Lanka,” Dr. Senaratna charged.The appointment of the four member committee by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on June 1 has tremendously helped to contain disappearances and abductions. He said while noting that disappearances and killings are common in a war situation. Under former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s regime there were countless abductions, killings and disappearance sans a war. Media personnel were killed and abducted under her with impunity, he said.The committee has visited the Boosa Detention camp recently to investigate the condition of detainees. During the visit the committee has been able to release 45 detainees with the assistance of the police and security forces as there were no charges against them. And another 21 referred to remand custody in order to frame charges against them. Right now there are only 54 detainees at the Boosa detention camp, Dr. Senaratna added. The committee has a list of 141 persons reported missing without a trace. However the government has been able to contain abductions, killings and disappearances with many a remedial measures such as the appointment of committees to look into the disturbing trend. It is pertinent to note that all these violations of Human Rights are taking place at a time the country is going through a war. The motive of a big majority of abductions and killings has been personal and for ransom, Minister Senaratna stressed.The committee will next week go to Jaffna on a fact finding mission on Tamil detainees who have been surrendered to the Red Cross and handed over to prison authorities. The government is keen on their welfare, Dr. Senaratna emphasized. Arbour to meet MR tomorrow UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour will meet President Mahinda Rajapakse tomorrow, October 11 a meeting observers say will set the tone for future action by the international community on Sri Lanka.Arbour arrived in the island yesterday and will be in Jaffna on Friday October 12, and is scheduled to hold a press conference in Colombo before her departure on October 13. Arbour will meet Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the SLFP (M) faction, the JVP and the TNA. She is also slated to meet family members of abductees and civilians who have sought protection with the Jaffna Human Rights Commission during her visit. Families of the victims expressed hope that Arbour would be able to bring pressure on authorities to locate their missing loved ones. "She is an international official, she can put pressure on the President to find out where our relatives are," Daniel Yogarajan, whose father V Yogarajan (52), a pastor from Negombo and two brothers are missing since March 2 this year said.Yogarajan said that he would try to meet with Arbour along with other members of victim families. "We have to try to find out what happened to them, were they arrested, taken away, by whom, all that, we will keep trying to find the truth," he said. Rights activists said that Arbour’s findings at the end of the visit would be closely watched by the international community. "I think most of the delegates (at the UN Human Rights Council) would be watching what she says at the end of the trip. A lot of emphasis has been placed on that," Dulani Kulasinghe, a researcher at Law and Society Trust said. The government last week said that the international community had received the correct picture of the rights situation here after government delegates briefed representatives in Geneva in September before the sixth sessions of the council.Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the European Union sponsored critical resolution on Sri Lanka had been taken out of the agenda altogether. He said the resolution was now a dead letter. TMVP claims Karuna is still leader The TMVP alias the Karuna Group yesterday denied its founder leader Karuna Amman has been ousted but confirmed that he had left the country.It was earlier reported that Karuna had left for the UK with the help of the government, a charge the government is yet to deny. The former LTTE eastern military commander who had led the rebellion against the Wanni leadership was also reportedly taken out of the leadership after a meeting of the party’s top decision making body. TMVP Political Wing Head in Batticaloa V. Thileepan however told The Morning Leader that there was no split in the TMVP but Karuna was overseas on official business.He said that any decision over changing the party leadership has to be taken at the executive committee, which consists of 27 members and added that such a decision has not been made.Thileepan said Karuna was still the overall leader of the party and Pillayan, the man who had reportedly ousted him remained the military commander."The executive committee, which consists of 27 persons including TMVP secretary, the spokesperson and other officials make the decision on changing the leadership. Karuna Amman is still our leader. He might be overseas on official matters, but that does not mean we have ousted him," he said.Thileepan also added there was no internal conflict within the TMVP with regard to money."We don’t know from where these stories originate. However, we wish to clearly state that there is no internal conflict on handling money. We are carrying out our political activities as usual," he said. 6 STF commandos killed, 10 injured in Ampaarai - LTTE Six Special Task Force (STF) elite commandos were killed and 10 others were injured in two separate attacks by the Liberation Tigers in the south-eastern Ampaa'rai district, Monday evening, LTTE's political head for the region, Kaviyarasan told TamilNet.Four STF elite commandos, including an officer were killed and 7 others were injured in the first attack in Kagnchikuddichchaanaar'ru, around 6:40 p.m, the LTTE officer said.In the second attack at Bakmitiyawa, around 8:40 p.m., the LTTE fighters ambused STF commandos killing 2 and injuring another 3, Mr.Kaviyarasan said. Motion to extend State of Emergency passed by 93 votes More food for Jaffna Five thousand tonnes of food commodities are to be dispatched to the Wanni this week through the A9 route, Acting Country Director , World Food Programme (WFP) in Colombo Jean-Yves Lequime said.Speaking to The Morning Leader Lequime said that the WFP had obtained security clearances from the government and the LTTE to transport the provisions donated by the WFP and the Ministry of Nation Building through the Omanthai road on the A9 route.According to Lequime, the 5,000 tonnes of supplies could feed up to 70, 000 displaced and conflict affected people in the area including school children.He further said that a consignment of essential goods weighing up to 3, 800 metric tonnes arrived in Jaffna through vessels provided by the Essential Services Commissioner (ESC) on September 28.Acting Country Director Lequime said that the peninsula welcomed the shipment of these provisions and were distributing it through officials working under the WFP and the government.Lequime said that the continuous shipment of goods would build a stock that could help the displaced during the oncoming rainy season.He also added that the consignments could feed up to 120,000 displaced persons over the next two months.According to Lequime a shipment carrying 1, 500 tonnes is due in the peninsula this week. He said that the shipment would add to the 5, 300 tonnes of supplies sent in two consignments by the WFP and the Ministry of Nation Building.He mentioned that each shipment also included 300 tonnes of non-food-items for implementation of joint Government - WFP emergency and recovery operations in the Jaffna Peninsula. In a statement the WFP has further said it plans to improve the food situation in the affected areas of Jaffna, and to reach out more in terms of restoring women and children’s livelihoods.WFP is also planning on initiating two special operations by increasing the delivery of essential supplies to areas affected by the conflict with the support of UN flagged trucks and the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) from Colombo to Jaffna. 117 personnel for Basil's security: Don't slash my security: A petition from Chandrika Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga filed a petition in the Courts of Appeal today (09) requesting to suspend the slash of rights and privileges. She points out that the Presidential Secretary has informed her on September 20 that her privileges have been slashed following a Supreme Court ruling. She further points out that Basil Rajapakse, an ordinary MP has been provided with a security with 117 Ministerial Security Division (MSD) personnel of whom 72 are in officer ranks. In addition, a 40-member Army Commando platoon and bullet proof vehicles have been deployed for his security. Pointing out that former President D.B. Wijethunga, Ministers Keheliya Rambukwella, Rohitha Bogollagama, Mahinda Samarasinghe and Maithripala Sirisena have also been provided security under a Superintendent of Police with bullet proof vehicles, the former President appeals to suspend the Presidential Secretary's moves to slash her privileges since she is a target of LTTE suicide bombers. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weerathunga, Secretary of the Finance Ministry P.B. Jayasundara and others have been named as the respondents of the petition. Pak trying to palm off substandard military equipment to Lanka There is sustained pressure from Islamabad on Colombo to buy substandard Pakistani military equipment in view of the intensification of the conflict between Sri Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).Pakistan and interested parties in the Sri Lankan army are understood to be pushing for the sale of Al Zarrar tanks, though Colombo had earlier rejected the offer, diplomatic sources told this correspondent yesterday. The Sri Lankan Army preferred to buy T-72 tanks from Belarus , which are technically far superior and nearly 4 times less than the price of Pakistani Al Zarrar. Pakistan offered its tanks at $ 1.6 million each. As Sri Lanka proposed to buy 25 number of tanks, this would cost $ 40 million. While Sri Lanka would save more than $ 20 million if they opt for the T-72, the Pakistani defence establishment has gone into an overdrive to clinch the deal with the help of willing senior defence personnel in Sri Lanka . The two sides are now working to manipulate and arrange a new technical team to inspect the Al Zarrar tank and give a positive report in its favour. While the deal is being worked out, there seems to have been a dispute over the commission to be paid by the Pakistani side to their Sri Lankan “facilitators”. The Pakistani side is prepared to enhance the commission from 2 to 2.5 per cent keeping in view the help rendered by the Sri Lankan side, but the latter has been demanding much more. The Pakistani side also stated that they look at Sri Lanka as a major arms market and several other military equipment is in the pipeline and so there could be more business with more commission. These proposed deals amount to more than $ 200 million. The Pakistani defence establishment has been trying to palm off old and used military equipment to Sri Lanka by paying exorbitant commission to its “facilitators ” there. There is already growing discontent in the lower levels of Sri Lankan army as they had to struggle with substandard military equipment. Some such equipment supplied in August last year include 350 radio sets, supplied by NRTC, Pakistan , 25 battery chargers and tank ammunition. Most of the defence dealers from the two countries are mainly retired armed forces officers, which allowed them easy accessibility to the top-ranking decision makers. This has influenced the decision making officers to bend the rules and allow the deals to go through which benefited their pockets immensely. 08October 2007 S. Asia is India's region, not that of the US: Pentagon A senior Pentagon official has said that India is the "base of stability" in South Asia and "the United States does not want to get involved in any muddling in India's region" .Brigadier General, John A. Toolan, Jr, of the US Marine Corps, the principal director for South and South-east Asia at the Department of Defence, declared, "We want to work together, and that's at the heart of that stakeholder concept and that's at the heart of the whole relationship of the strategic partnership between India and the United States". General Toolan, who was the first speaker at a recent conference titled 'US-India Security Alliance,' hosted by the Indian American Security Leadership Council - one of several Indian-American organisations formed last year to help push through the enabling legislation to facilitate the US-India civilian nuclear agreement - on Capitol Hill, however, said he did not believe the relationship between Washington and New Delhi could be termed an alliance."Alliance is quite a bold word, and I think alliance is probably not quite the right word," he said. "Perhaps, it is more along the lines of a security partnership that allows India to maintain its non-alignment and its independence which they cherish clearly" .The general said what the US and India ‘are forging’ is a strategic partnership "to become much like our relationships with Japan or Australia or other places, and in many ways the US would like to see the relationship grow" ."However, our relationship with India is unique and we really can't put it into any finite definition," he said, but predicted that "the United States is confident that by virtue of its overlapping values and interests that this partnership will deepen over time and without requiring a (defence) treaty" .General Toolan said India is seen "as a regional stakeholder" by the US in South Asia, as much as Washington saw the same stakeholder relationship "as we do with China," in Southeast Asia. "The United States and India have pretty much a convergent view on the region itself and the neighbourhood that India has to operate in," he said. Dismissing the contention in some quarters that last month's Malabar Exercise among India, the US, Australia, Japan, and Singapore is part of a strategy to ultimately contain China, the Pentagon official asserted that "the operation is not to target China, (but) it is designed to shape the strategic choices being made by all of the regional actors in the area". He said the Malabar Exercise is designed "in truth of responsible stakeholders interested in promoting peace and stability through a visible presence". "It is important that we in these exercises make that perfectly clear. Unfortunately, if you look at some of the media today, it is as if it for the containment of China". Earlier, in his remarks, he recalled that in President Bush's inaugural speech, "he talked about his democracy agenda," and said, "The work that is being done between the United States and India is at the heart of the President's democracy agenda" .He acknowledged that "the history books may talk more about Iraq than our development of our strategic relationship with India, but I think it is really a legacy for the President (in terms of the strategic partnership he fostered with India)". The general also spoke of the "great deal of expertise," India has in "counter-insurgency operations in addressing terrorism," and admitted that "the United States can learn a lot from what India has to offer" ."For example, the Indian army has already long ago confronted IEDs in Kashmir, (while) it seemed like it was almost a novelty to our forces when we first arrived in 2003 (in Iraq)." He also lauded India's impeccable track record with regard to non-proliferation and that said "given India's strategic location and capability, we just encourage India to continue its involvement in the Proliferation Security Initiative". "India's participation in PSI would expose it to training and exercise, but more importantly, would serve as an example and a model for the rest of the world in that region. Again, getting back to that regional stakeholder responsibility." He said "with regard to peacekeeping, India is the leader. They've led the efforts and they are key in the instruction and the training of peacekeeping operations and because of its vast experience in this area, the United States looks to India again to contribute to our global peace operation initiative and provide the opportunity for other nations to learn, to train, and contribute to the effort." "Missile defence is the pillar of the next steps in this strategic framework in this strategic partnership," he said. "The US and India maintain an ongoing dialogue in missile defence." He acknowledged that "we don't necessarily agree... and we understand that there is a different approach. But together we can work on missile defence." Police discover 2 bodies on Chilaw beach Sri Lanka to Start Bond Sale in Emerging Market Sri Lanka's government will start its first overseas bond sale, testing investor appetite for emerging-market debt following a global credit-market slump. Barclays Capital, HSBC Holdings Plc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. will market the debt in Asia, Europe and the U.S. today and then start the sale, said W.A. Wijewardena, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo, without disclosing a fundraising target. The central bank said in July it wanted to raise as much as $500 million as soon as September. Losses linked to U.S. subprime mortgages at banks worldwide and escalating conflict between government forces and Tamil rebels prompted authorities to hold off on starting the sale. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is now pushing ahead after Mexico sold $1 billion of dollar-denominated bonds last month and Venezuela completed a $1.2 billion offering earlier in October. ``They are going to learn a lot on the roadshow about current investor risk appetite given the difficult economic and political conditions in Sri Lanka,'' said Jason Noble, a Singapore-based fixed-income analyst at Principal Global Investors, which manages about $1 billion of Asian debt. ``We haven't seen a decisive move for the better in either the economy or the political situation.'' The central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate seven times in the past two years to 10.5 percent, the highest in Asia, from 8.25 percent to battle inflation. Consumer prices rose 17.3 percent in September from a year earlier. Governor Nivard Cabraal on Sept. 14 said he expects the $26 billion economy to expand 7 percent in 2007, slower than 7.5 percent that he forecast earlier in the year. Increased Confidence Asian bond sales declined by 75 percent in the third quarter after mortgage defaults prompted a surge in corporate borrowing costs and sent investors to the relative safety of U.S. government debt. Governments and companies in Asia outside Japan sold $4.4 billion of bonds denominated in dollars, euros and yen in the July-to-September period, compared with a record $17.7 billion the previous period, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Investors became more comfortable holding emerging-market debt in October. The spread, or extra yield, investors demand to own emerging-market bonds instead of U.S. Treasuries narrowed to 1.90 percentage points from 2 percentage points a week ago, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s EMBI Plus index. The difference was as much as 2.50 percentage points on Aug. 16, the highest since 2005. Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that month he would review plans for a $1 billion bond sale based on demand for emerging market debt. Civil War Fitch Ratings gave Sri Lanka a negative outlook in 2006 because of the violence, meaning it is more inclined to reduce the credit ranking. Borrowing costs have surged. The yield on the government 7.6 percent local-currency bond due in August 2009 climbed to 16.2 percent from 11.469 percent a year ago, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. By contrast, similar-maturity bonds from Turkey, the Philippines, Uruguay and Venezuela with the same BB- debt ranking from Fitch Ratings all have yields that are less than half Sri Lanka's. Of the four, Veneuzuela's rate of 7.56 percent is the highest. The government wants the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to return to negotiations after two rounds of talks in Geneva last year failed to make progress. A 2002 cease-fire collapsed after only four years and more than 5,000 people have been killed since December 2005, according to Agence France-Presse. Air Strikes ``A further deterioration in the security situation to the point where it adversely affects Sri Lanka's credit fundamentals could lead to a downgrade,'' Paul Rawkins, a London-based senior director at Fitch Ratings, said in a report released today. Tourist arrivals fell 15 percent to 44,742 in August after rebels launched an air attack on oil and gas facilities near the capital Colombo, closing the international airport for flights at night in May and June. Fitch's BB- ranking on the new bond is three levels below investment grade. Standard & Poor's has a B+ rating for the nation's long-term foreign-currency bonds, four levels below investment grade, with a stable outlook. The debt sale will also serve as a benchmark for Sri Lankan companies raising money in international capital markets, the central bank said on July 13. Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd., the nation's biggest telephone company, raised $100 million in November 2004 in the first overseas debt offering by a company from the South Asian island. Tamil youth reported missing in Dehiwala A Twenty-two year old Tamil youth residing in Dehiwala, a suburb of Colombo, has been reported missing since Thursday morning, according to a complaint lodged with the Dehiwala police on Friday evening by his parents. Thedchanamoorthy Ahilarajah was working in a private sector business establishment in Dehiwala, sources said.He left for work on Thursday morning and failed to return home as usual in the evening. Ahilarajah is a resident of Dehiwala, and is the breadwinner in his family, sources said. Madurai prison guard suspended MADURAI: The security guard who killed the Sri Lankan national, Warnakulasooriya Canicius Fernando, in front of the Madurai Central Prison on Friday, was suspended on Sunday evening. According to jail sources, Additional Director-General of Police (Prisons) R. Sekar ordered the suspension of D. Devaraj, pending enquiry. A magisterial probe by a Revenue Divisional Officer is on into the circumstances that led to the firing. The body of Fernando that was kept in the Government Rajaji Hospital was handed over to his relatives in the presence of a senior official from the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission. It would be taken to Tiruchi by road and flown to Colombo on Monday. Warnakulasooriya Jude Normal Fernando, younger brother of Fernando, broke down on seeing the body at the mortuary.“Besides seeking videography of the post-mortem by an independent agency, we have asked for certain statutory documents, including the First Information Report and inquest particulars. The Sri Lankan High Commission would take a decision on the further course of action,” Balaji, Counsel for the Deputy High Commission said.Meanwhile, the four Sri Lankan prisoners lodged in the prison who went on fast gave up their agitation following an assurance from officials that justice would be done. Jail Superintendent P. Govindarajan said steps were being taken to prevent visitors from gaining access to the sterile zone. A scanning machine to screen baggage would be installed at the entrance. Outer security guards were sensitised to the safety arrangements following the incident, he added.The Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen has appealed to the Centre and the State Government to disburse a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the family of Fernando. Its Tamil Nadu representative U. Arulanandam told The Hindu on Sunday that the Government should respond positively to the demand and ensure that the incident did not affect the Indo-Sri Lankan relationship. “It is a matter of serious concern that an unarmed foreign national with valid travel documents was shot dead on the grounds of suspicion,” he said. Govt is trying to keep away Louise Arbour from meeting the victim families -Mano Ganesan MP Government is putting numerous conditions and pressures on the UN in view of the visit of Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour says Leader of Western Peoples Front and Convener of Civil Monitoring Commission Mano Ganesan MP. Ganesan said further to media.We wanted Commissioner Louise Arbour to personally meet the family members of missing persons in Colombo, Jaffna and other parts of North and East. Such meetings in full sprit were originally arranged and included in the agenda of Louise Arbour as per the understanding we reached with the UN office here. Now, we learn that government is rescheduling her agenda. This is because the government is up to the tactic of keeping the commissioner from the reality. Only two days before two foreign media personnel who went Jaffna with MoD permissions were packed back to Colombo. This visit will not serve the purpose if this visit is going to be a pre determined guided tour of the government. Civil Monitoring Commission is peoples based human rights campaign movement. Therefore we will not restrict ourselves to formal meetings and discussions. We have indicated our position very clearly while expressing our wish to cooperate with the UN during our discussions with the UN officers here. 48 Tamils arrested in Wellampitya Forty-eight Tamil civilians were arrested in a combined cordon and search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police at Wellampitya, a town in Colombo district, from morning till noon Saturday. The Terrist Intelligence Division (TID) is interrogating those arrested at the Wellampitya police station, sources said. The were taken into custody as they failed to prove their identity and provide valid reason for their stay in the locations, police said.All arrested have been staying with their relatives and friends at that time of arrest. Some of the arrested have been working in business establishments, sources said. Tamil civilian abducted in Trincomalee Unidentified armed persons Saturday night abducted a 33-year old Tamil, a father of three children, from his house in Palaiyootu, a suburb located about 2 km off east port town Trincomalee. according to a complaint lodged with the Uppuveli police by his wife Sunday. Armed men who came in a white coloured van entered the house Sebastian Bakeman and took him by force, sources said.The Uppuveli Police has begun inquiry into the complaint.The matter has been brought to the notice of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and the Trincomalee regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, sources said. JVP snubs MR’s plea again The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) snubbed the plea made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to join the government for at least one year to help him in his task of achieving economic stability and to win the war against terrorism. JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake criticising the President’s call made during the vap magul ceremony at Nikaweratiya declared that the JVP would not support the government in any way. “We will not support the government. The President today has realised that the government cannot go forward without the support of the JVP. But we will not support them. We have already supported the government for more than one year. The President said that he needed the support of the majority to make the country better. However, today he has got the support of the JHU, half of the UNP, SLMC, CWC, but still he couldn’t do anything positive,” Dissanayake noted.The JVP MP also lashed out at the President for his statement regarding the 1989 riots where he held the JVP responsible for the hundreds of lives that were destroyed. “The President himself is having those traitors who gave wrong information about the youth and got them killed, inside his government as ministers today. But now, he is pointing fingers at the JVP. This is hilarious. We hope that the President will act in a more responsible manner than this,” he asserted.Party General Secretary Tilvin Silva in a formal letter on Sunday also asked President Mahinda Rajapaksa to correct all the wrong things he had done in defiance of the mandate received at the presidential election before asking the JVP to support the government for one year. “The invitation extended to us asking us to support the government for at least a year shows that the JVP has become an indispensable factor in developing the country. We are humbled and happy about that,” Tilvin Silva said. “Following the victory at the presidential election we said that we were ready to support the government as long as it adhered to the Mahinda Chinthana policy. We acted accordingly. Although I do not want to state examples of such errors the progressive forces in the country remember those instances. “When you invited us to join the government we agreed. We presented 20 proposals that needed implementation to achieve development while bringing peace through the defeat of separatist terrorism. We did not ask for any portfolios for ourselves. “But while discussions were proceeding on the 20 proposals, you initiated discussions with the UNP. Thereafter the government put aside our 20 proposals and came to an agreement with the UNP. We believe that you tried to show by this gesture that you value protecting political power over policies to develop the country. Then the agreement with the UNP was also ignored and you formed a giant cabinet of 107 members with cross overs from the UNP. The government at that time said it was done to stabilize the government. But your statement at the Vap Magul ceremony and the economic crisis in the country only prove that a government cannot be stabilized by just getting the support of those who cross over and a few other groups. For that a committed and exemplary leadership is needed. This is what we do not see in the present government. “It is not the JVP that kicked at the opportunity to work towards the betterment of the country through a proper policy framework, and opted to get the support of a reactionary group. We do not think it would be fruitful to invite the JVP to join the government now after it has been plunged into an economic crisis.” 07October 2007 Senate refuses to withdraw ban on military sales Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama failed in his efforts last week to get the US Senate to withdraw the provision in the Appropriations Act for 2008 preventing the sale and supply of military equipment to the country until the human rights situation improved.The Senate approved Section 690 of the Appropriations Act last month whereby the US government is precluded from providing any military equipment to Sri Lanka until such time the Secretary of State makes a certification that Sri Lanka has taken necessary action to address the human rights issues raised and bring to justice those responsible for extra judicial killings and other human rights violations.The Sunday Leader learns Minister Bogollagama met with the Chairman of the US Foreign Relations Committee Senator Leahy and lobbied for the withdrawal of Section 690 of the Act but failed.Informed sources said Senator Leahy informed the Foreign Minister the Senate can consider the withdrawal of the provision when concrete action is taken on the human rights front. It is learned the minister also failed to get Sri Lanka on the eligibility criteria for the Millennium Challenge Account.The Sunday Leader learns Bogollagama also failed to get any concessions on the trade front with Congressman McDemott informing the minister he ‘will explore..’ ways to add Sri Lanka to the developing countries Bill. Informed sources said the US government also reiterated a strong message on the need to submit a power sharing proposal to resolve the ethnic crisis through Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns to Minister Bogollagama. Burns had also raised human rights concerns and specifically the case of Sunday Times Defence Correspondent Iqbal Athas. It is learned Burns also raised the case of Athas with President Mahinda Rajapakse in New York. Informed sources said the President had retorted angrily that Athas was compromising national security but that Burns did not subscribe to that allegation.The Sunday Leader further learns Minister Bogollagama was not given an appointment with his counterpart Condaleeza Rice but a down graded meeting with an Under Secretary to signify the displeasure of the US on Sri Lanka's human rights record and the failure to submit a viable political package to resolve the ethnic issue.The US State Department after the Burns meeting with Bogollagama also took the unusual step of issuing a statement after the meeting expressing concerns over the human rights situation and the on going threats to freedom of the press.One top source in Washington said the bottom line was the Minister and the government got a public 'slap' from Burns, Sri Lanka is still on hold for the Millennium Challenge Funds, no military sales and transfers and nothing on trade. Sri Lanka says sinks Tamil Tiger arms ship Sri Lankan forces sank a Tamil Tiger arms vessel after a 36-hour deep sea chase south of the island and 10 rebels were killed in ground battles, authorities said on Sunday.The navy said it believed there were no survivors among at least a dozen rebels on board the 70-metre vessel, sunk about 1700 km (1,000 miles) off Sri Lanka."The navy sank a big LTTE vessel caring weapons off the southern sea," said navy spokesman Commander D.K.P Dassanayake. "We believe there were about 12 to 15 on board.When we challenged they gave a false name, and when we asked them to stop they fired at us and we retaliated according to international laws. The ship caught fire when we fired at them and it sank."Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) officials were not immediately available for comment.Last year the rebels renewed their campaign for an independent state for minority ethnic Tamils in the north and east, despite an agreed ceasefire in place for around four years.The military also said that ground battles in northern districts of Vavuniya and northwestern district of Mannr on Saturday had killed 10 Tamil Tiger rebels and one soldier in northern aria of Welioya.The military has launched an offensive to drive out the rebels from Mannar, after evicting them from jungle terrain they controlled in the east earlier this year.Nearly 70,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced since the war erupted in 1983. President asks Milinda to lobby Korea President Mahinda Rajapakse has urged Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda to use his good offices with the international community and get clearance for military equipment blocked overseas due to Sri Lanka's human rights record.The Sunday Leader learns the government has run into difficulties in getting clearance to transport military equipment through several countries due to the conflict in the Sri Lanka and the international pressure on the human rights situation in the country.It is learned a large consignment of equipment for the Navy is currently blocked in South Korea with the country not giving clearance for transportation due to the conflict in Sri Lanka.It is also learned efforts by the President and the Foreign Ministry to get the required clearance has not succeeded prompting the President to request Minister Moragoda to obtain the necessary approvals using his good offices.The Sunday Leader learns Moragoda had agreed to use his good offices with Korea and get the necessary approvals.Informed sources said Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda was directed by the President to provide Moragoda with a briefing note on the shipment to obtain the necessary clearances.The US Senate last month in the Appropriations Bill for 2008 introduced a clause preventing the supply of any military equipment to Sri Lanka until the Secretary of State provides a certification on action taken by the Sri Lankan Government to address the human rights concerns raised by the international community particularly on disappearances and extra judicial killings. No money for DB, CBK next year No allocations have been made for the offices of the former presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and D. B. Wijetunga in the budget for next year.In this year’s budget, Rs 7.3 million in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 100,000 in capital expenditure were allocated for the office of former President Wijetunga while Rs 14.5 million in recurrent expenditure and Rs. 3.4 million in capital expenditure were allocated for the Office of former President Kumaratunga.However these two allocations have been completely slashed in the 2008 Appropriation Bill. Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga wrote to both the ex-Presidents last week asking them to wind up their offices with immediate effect.Meanwhile, “without delay” quit notices issued to former President Kumaratunga’s residence/office at No. 27, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7 and former President Wijetunga’s office at Summit Flats saw a hive of activity at both places this week with nearly all casual and contract employees receiving letters terminating their employment and permanent employees being readied to be transferred to the Public Administration Ministry.The two respective Secretaries also sent written appeals to Presidential Secretary Weeratunga asking more time to settle bills, finalise accounts and to have them audited prior to closing down the offices.Ex-President Kumaratunga’s Secretary P. Dissanayake told The Sunday Times they as public servants were duty bound to carry out orders, especially emanating from the Supreme Court and therefore he had already issued letters terminating employment of 12 casual and contract employees and he was getting the balance15 employees transferred to the Ministry. Senator Leahy slams door on Bogollagama United States Senator Patrick Leahy has refused to meet Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in Washington, The Nation reliably learns. The Minister is reported to have requested a meeting with Senator Leahy while in Washington last week, in an attempt to influence the Senator against his resolution which, if passed, will bring in a military assistance ban from the US, amongst other sanctions. However, despite Bogollagama’s request, the Senator had refused to meet with the Minister.Senator Patrick Leahy, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1974, remains the only Democrat elected to this office from Vermont.During his stay in Washington, Bogollagama had met with Congressman Frank Pallone (Democrat/New Jersey) and Congressman Jerry Weller (Republican/Illinois) who have been the long standing Chairpersons of the Sri Lanka Congressional Caucus, Congressman Jim McDermott (Democrat - WA), Congressman Rush Holt (Democrat/New Jersey), Congressman Scott Garrett (Republican/New Jersey) Congressman Robert Aderholt (Republican/Alabama) and Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns.Two weeks ago, Sri Lankan expatriates in the United States had requested a meeting with Leahy in regard to his recent resolution, but he had refused to meet with the Lankans. The Sri Lankan expatriates living in Capital Hill are of the strong view that the Senator has been significantly influenced by pro LTTE lobby groups in Washington and that had led to his resolution. The expatriates want to explain their side of the story to Senator Patrick Leahy but he had refused to meet with them. The senator’s chief foreign relations advisor Tim Rieser had also refused to meet with the expatriates. He is additionally the Staff Director for the Senate Foreign Aid Subcommittee chaired by Leahy.In a message to the expatriates, Tim Rieser had however noted that, ‘the Senator’s resolution on withholding foreign aid for Sri Lanka has nothing to do with the LTTE and that Sri Lanka has been “utterly unwilling to take responsibility” for its actions.’Tim Rieser had added that neither he nor Senator Leahy has had any contact with any LTTE representatives or LTTE front organisations.This resolution will become law only after it receives the approval of US President George W. Bush.Meanwhile, during a meeting held between Bogollagama and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns on Thursday, the issues raised in the amendment proposed by Senator Leahy to the Department of State Appropriation Bill for FY 2008, to introduce restrictions on defense cooperation with Sri Lanka on account of alleged human rights issues was discussed at length.With regard to the issue of alleged impunity enjoyed by errant personnel of the armed forces and police as raised by the senator in his amendment, the Minister had provided information on indictments served, as well as convictions against such personnel during the past few years. On the issue of unimpeded access to ‘Tamil areas,’ for NGOs and journalists, the Minister said that no less than 21 non-governmental agencies approved by the United Nations are currently providing services to the affected populations in the north and the east. Similarly, he said journalists have access to the conflict areas and that recently a group of journalists including the BBC, Reuters, Reuters TV, AP, APTV, Al Jazeera and Daily Telegraph, visited the Wanni.Referring to the issue of establishment of a field presence of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sri Lanka (OHCHR), the Minister pointed out that many UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations already have a presence in Sri Lanka. He also highlighted the fact that the OHCHR already has a representative in Sri Lanka, whose work is assisted by another officer of that organisation. Pointing out that High Commissioner Louise Arbour is due to visit Colombo next week; the Minister said the visit would provide an opportunity for Sri Lanka to express its views on this issue. British documentary team forced to leave Jaffna The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has forced three female journalists, including two journalists from UK based Quicksilver Media and a Sri Lankan journalist accompanying them, to return to Colombo Friday, canceling their documentary mission in Jaffna for the British Channel 4 Television. On Thursday, an hour after arriving at a hotel in Jaffna city, with military escort, they were taken back to Palaali base where they had to stay overnight before returning to Colombo next day. The SLA officers in Palaali, upon the arrival of the documentary team, had offered accommodation in a military camp, but the journalists had declined to accept the offer, informed media sources in Colombo said. Reporter Sandra Jordan, Director Siobhan Sinnerton of Quicksilver Media and a Sri Lankan journalist, upon their arrival to Jaffna at Palaali airport, were briefed by a SLA Brigade Commander on the security situation in Jaffna before they were allowed to proceed to Jaffna city. However, an hour after they arrived at Thinakkural Rest, the hotel where they were preparing for a documentary work, they were instructed by the SLA soldiers to return to Palaali military base with immediate effect, citing security reasons.The journalists, despite their explanation that they had obtained clearance from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence (MoD), were taken back to the military complex. The documentary team was scheduled to stay in Jaffna till October 7 and to visit various places including the islets. Friday morning, the SLA took the journalists on a guided two-hour trip to Jaffna city, where they were taken to Jaffna hospital and to the Human Rights Commission, before they were returned to Palaali airport canceling their documentary work. Although they were allowed to video record, they were unable to freely interview people without the presence of military personnel. Quicksliver Media has produced powerful documentaries for Channel 4’s award-winning foreign affairs strand "Unreported World" featuring conflicts of Afganistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, South Africa, Nigeria, Guatamala, West Papua and Mexico. It has won the prestigious Royal Television Society Award for International Current Affairs for the documentary "The Death Squads," a hard hitting investigation into Iraq's death squads. Sri Lanka boosts war budget Sri Lanka plans to increase its overall defence spending next year by 20 percent amid an increase in fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, officials figures showed Sunday.The government's initial budget estimates placed before parliament forecast defence spending would rise to 166.4 billion rupees (1.45 billion dollars) from an estimate of 139.4 billion rupees in 2007.The military's capital spending reflects purchases of weapons and other equipment for the army, navy, the airforce and police, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.The government plans to increase its total spending by 15 percent to 1.5 trillion rupees (13.2 billion dollars) next year, of which capital expenditure accounts for 790 billion rupees.The government will present its "appropriation bill" to parliament on October 10, ahead of unveiling new revenue proposals on November 7.Thousands have died and many more have been displaced since the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a campaign for an independent state in 1972.More than 5,400 people have been killed since December 2005, after a 2002 Norwegian brokered truce unravelled. JHU gives ultimatum to govt. The Jathika Hela Urumaya has warned that it will resort to severe action, if the government fails to incorporate the party’s proposals in the forthcoming budget, which is scheduled to be presented in parliament in early November. The party’s legal advisor, Udaya Gammanpila noted that his party has already finalized a set of budget proposals which advises the government to increase direct tax and put an end to the rapid increase of indirect tax that harms the poor people.“According to the Central Bank and the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, out of the one million individuals who should pay tax, only 30% are paying them. This means nearly 700, 000 are avoiding paying tax and these people are rich people who should pay tax,” Gammanpila noted. “We have a set of proposals, and we are holding discussions with the president with regard to incorporating them in the forthcoming budget,” JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana said. “We will take action against the government if it does not comply with our request,” he warned, but quickly added that his party was hopeful that the matter would be worked out with the government, and so, it will be a good budget. President’s 2008 budget doubled The 2008 budgetary allocations for the Office of the President will be doubled to more than Rs 5.75 billion -- with about Rs. 1.43 billion of this going for a new category called ‘development activities’. The Appropriation Bill for next year gives few if any details of new “development activities”.The money will come by way of Rs. 2.54 billion in recurrent expenditure while capital expenditure has been divided into two categories with Rs 1.77 billion for operational activities and Rs 1.43 billion for development activities. In 2007, the total amount allocated to the Office of the President was a little more than Rs 2.07 billion and there was no category called “development activities.’Meanwhile more than Rs. 324.8 billion from next year’s budgetary allocations, more than one fifth of the total budget, will go for ministries coming under the purview of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. These include the Ministries of Defence, Nation Building, Finance and Planning, Plan Implementation and Religious Affairs and Moral Upliftment. Of this amount, the ministries of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order will get over Rs 166.4 billion compared to Rs 139 billion last year. This includes allocations for the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Police and Civil Security Departments.The Finance and Planning Ministry and departments coming under it will get nearly Rs 100 billion, up from 51.48 billion last year while the Ministry of Nation Building which includes the Samurdhi and Upcountry Peasantry Rehabilitation Departments will get nearly Rs. 55 billion.The Religious Affairs and Moral Upliftment Ministry under which the Public Trustee Department as well as the Departments of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim Affairs come will get Rs 1.2 billion slightly up from the Rs 1.07 billion last year. The Ministry of Plan Implementation will get nearly Rs 182 million for 2008 up from around Rs 164 million in 2007. The recurrent expenditure for the Office of the Prime Minister is going up from Rs 123 million in 2007 to around Rs 143 million for 2008 but capital expenditure has come down from Rs 53.4 million this year to Rs 45.3 million for 2008.The government has also allocated separate funds for the north and east provincial councils for 2008 with more Rs. 10 billion for the Eastern PC and Rs 9.8 billion for the Northern PC. Last year about Rs. 17.1 billion was allocated for the single North East PC.The Government is seeking parliamentary approval to raise Rs 925 billion for next year as it has already got approval for Rs 591.3 billion for its estimated total budgetary expenditure of Rs 1,516 billion for 2008. The Appropriation Bill be presented to Parliament on Wednesday and the Budget on November 7. ‘Come back’ President to Rohitha President Mahinda Rajapaksa has directed Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to return immediately, since many unwarranted incidents are taking place in the Sri Lanka political scene – which has relevance to foreign affairs. The request was made by the President when Bogollagama telephoned him while Cabinet was in session on Wednesday, in order to consult the President on appointing a deputy chief of mission in Washington. The President said, “What are you doing over there? A diplomat from Iceland has proceeded to Killinochchi, even without informing the Foreign Ministry, come back as soon as possible” The Minister, in response, had said that he was aware of the incident and had protested to Iceland Foreign Minister urging him to recall the diplomat immediately. The Iceland Foreign Ministry subsequently issued a letter apologising for the incident and had recalled the diplomat who had gone along with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to Killinochchi. Highly placed foreign Ministry sources said that the diplomat, Iceland Minister Counsellor Bjarni Vestmann, had arrived from Delhi on a tourist visa and proceeded to Killinochchi along with the SLMM, since the mission has the authority to travel without any impediment to the Northern territory. It is learnt that even the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process has also lodged their protest to the SLMM over the incident. Meanwhile, The Nation reliably learns that this diplomat had also applied for a job with the SLMM, and was subsequently selected by the mission. However, despite being selected, the diplomat had not taken leave from the Iceland Foreign Ministry. It is learnt that the new Norwegian Ambassador has also protested over the incident and action against the SLMM official, who accompanied the Icelandic diplomat to Kilinochchi, is also contemplated. 'Made in India' rising to challenge China An employee walks out from between parked TATA Magic commercial vehicles, in the company's manufacturing facility at Pimpri of Pune district, some 180 kms north-east of Mumbai, in June. "Made in India" could be the next big economic story with the country challenging China's position as the leading global manufacturing hub within five years, says a new report. "Made in India" could be the next big economic story with the country challenging China's position as the leading global manufacturing hub within five years, says a new report.Right now China is the favourite choice for outsourcing manufacturing while India is preferred for information technology, finance and customer services, said Capgemini, Europe's largest computer consultancy.But "there's a very keen interest in moving more manufacturing to India," said Roy Lenders, vice president at Capgemini Consulting Services and the report's author.In fact, "India could challenge the position of China as the manufacturing centre of the world in the next three to five years," Lenders said, citing a survey of 340 mainly Fortune 500 global manufacturing companies."What surprised us was when we asked about their plans for the next three or four years, they said outsourcing manufacturing (to India) was a higher priority than outsourcing back office work," he told AFP in a telephone interview from Utrecht in the Netherlands."If we look at the respondents' plans for the coming years, manufacturing will become the number one activity to be off-shored to India," Lenders said, with lower costs the key factor driving the trend."The results in favour of India were overwhelming," he said.In fact, manufacturing outsourcing looks set over coming years to surpass India's flagship IT and business process outsourcing activities in importance, he said.Right now, China's share of the world's manufacturing exports is more than eight percent while India stands at just under one percent. But "the interest of global manufacturers in manufacturing in India is very high compared to China. In terms of trend there will definitely be a move. China has a reason to be worried," Lenders said.However, India must improve its infrastructure with nearly half of the firms surveyed that had already outsourced manufacturing to India complaining about a lack of manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure.India's ramshackle infrastructure of potholed roads, dilapidated ports, shabby airports and erratic power is regularly cited as an obstacle to economic growth along with the maze of red tape.It has already taken some steps to promote an export-led manufacturing boom by setting up special economic zones or SEZs -- havens of economic freedom that drove China's industrialisation.But even more "substantial investments" need to be made, Lenders said.The lead factor driving India's new manufacturing popularity is price, he said. Some of the main manufacturing sites in China are becoming too pricey.Chinese manufacturing wages are 250 to 350 dollars a month whereas they average 100 to 200 dollars per month or lower in Thailand and other parts of Asia. In India factory jobs start at 60 dollars a month.Analysts often point to South Korea's Hyundai Motor's one-billion-dollar car plant in the southern city of Chennai which opened in 1998 and turns out thousands of export-bound cars annually as an example of what could be the future for the Indian economy.Hyundai has been moving production of its smallest cars to India to exploit lower costs. Now other firms have followed suit. India's Auto Components Manufacturing Association expects global sourcing of parts from the country will double to 5.9 billion dollars next year and hit 20 billion dollars in seven years.All the international players "are looking at India as the new sourcing hub," said association vice-president J.C. Chopra. Others setting up manufacturing facilities in India include Finnish telecom leader Nokia, South Korean steel heavyweight Posco and US computer giant Dell.And the companies don't only have their eyes on foreign markets. India's huge domestic market of 1.1 billion people is also a draw along with its push to boost infrastructure."India is building like hell, improving its infrastructure, so a lot of suppliers would like to be there," said Lenders. French Tiger funds frozen, activists arrested The French Police have identified more suspects in their crackdown on LTTE activities in Paris while some eight bank accounts believed to be maintained by prominent LTTE operatives have been frozen. A French Police Counter Terrorism Unit spokesperson Edmond Vilford who spoke to The Sunday Times from Paris said more suspects have been identified and investigations are proceeding. “We hope to get the assistance of Interpol to arrest some of the suspects who have left France. We have hit them hard by freezing their accounts,” he said. The crackdown on them widened this week with Interpol assisting the authorities to crack down on those operatives who had fled the country to other European destinations which have a strong Tiger influence. The eight accounts are reported to be holding millions of euros, but the actual amount is yet to be disclosed by the investigators, the French authorities speaking on condition of anonymity told The Sunday Times. An official of the Lyon-based Interpol told The Sunday Times substantial evidence had been gathered of four Sri Lankan Tamils who had been laundering money and had been involved in several activities relating to financing the LTTE and who are said to have fled to Switzerland. “We have gathered intelligence on these four operatives who are the key players in laundering money and who are now hiding in Switzerland. We are also hunting for a few other operatives who are reported to be hiding in Denmark and Norway. Amongst the charges some of these operatives face are credit card fraud,” the Interpol official who spoke on grounds of anonymity told The Sunday Times from his base in Leon. The latest manhunt for these terror suspects by Interpol comes in the wake of the Sous-Directorate Anti-Terroriste (SDAT), the special anti-terrorist directorate of the French Interior Ministry arresting five suspects in a raid carried out at an LTTE office in Paris during the wee hours of September 22. In the raid the SDAT recovered manuals on weapons, CDs of LTTE suicide bombing operations, cheques, 40,000 euros and 14 credit cards which are now known to have been stolen. The SDAT which is continuing its hunt for certain Tiger operatives who own the millions of euros which are now frozen, believe they may have left the country immediately after the recent arrest of the five LTTE operatives in Paris. Amongst the five arrested are the newly appointed LTTE Paris branch head Stalin Saverimuttu alias Ranjan and his second in command Shanthan. The five operatives where arrested on the grounds of abduction, extortion, money laundering and being involved in acts that aid terrorism. These five were reported to have been organizing a ceremony which was held last Sunday in Paris, to promote the suicide culture of the Tigers by paying homage to some of their suicide bombers such as Thileepan, Kumarappa, Pulenthiran, and Colonel Sankar On Friday September 28 the SDAT had carried out raids in identified LTTE neighbourhoods in Paris and had taken in eight people for questioning. The raid was carried out at an area in Paris known as ‘Gare du Nord’, also known as ‘Little Jaffna.’However, all of them who are from the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka were questioned and released. Previously on April 1, 18 members of the LTTE were arrested by the SDAT and 14 of them including chief of the Tigers in France, Parithi alias Nadarajah Mathienthiran and Metha who was in charge of propaganda activities. The 14 persons were produced in a court in Paris on April 5. They have not been released from custody as Police have not completed their investigations. The offices of the Tamil Coordinating Committee, Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Tamil Television Network and the Mariamman Temple and the Makkal Kadai (People's Shop) run by the LTTE in Paris were also raided by SDAT. After the arrest of the Tiger leaders in April, the activities of the Tigers in France were conducted on a very subdued note. Wimal's sexual harassment case to hit Sirasa TV The case of JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa's alleged sexual harassment of a former Lake House employee is set to explode on television shortly.The Lake House employee was transferred to the Anuradhapura branch of the organisation through political interference after the sexual harassment charge first surfaced in parliament and thereafter in the media.The Lake House employee who lived in the Weerawansa house was later found employment by the JVP Propaganda Secretary after the UPFA was elected to office in 2004.It was alleged that Weerawansa had later made improper advances to the young woman who hails from Polonnaruwa, which were spurned.Following the sexual harassment case becoming public and transfer orders being received, the young woman also wrote to President Mahinda Rajapakse appealing for justice but did not elicit a response.The Sunday Leader learns that Sirasa TV is now planning to televise a documentary on the plight of the former Lake House employee including excerpts of an on-camera discussion with the young woman where she details the harassment she was subjected to.It is also learnt that a telephone discussion involving Weerawansa's wife where the issue is spoken of at length is also to be featured. Abductions and killings continue in North-East report SLMM The security situation of civilians in Jaffna remained a concern due to abductions, killings, disappearances and claymore attacks, the SLMM said last week.It also repeated that similar concerns persisted in the east as well. “Three Claymore explosions were reported in the Northern Region this week, resulting in heavy civilian casualties. The security situation for civilians in the Jaffna peninsula remained serious, with continued killings, abductions, and disappearances. Throughout the week 27 civilians surrendered to the police in Jaffna, fearing for their lives,” the monitors said in their latest weekly situation report for the week ending September 30.The SLMM assessment coincides with sentiments expressed by US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns who “noted serious concern over credible reports of continued severe human rights abuses in Jaffna,” during a 45 minute meeting with Foreign Minister Rohitam Bogollagama in Washington DC last week, according to the State Department.The SLMM said of the three claymore attacks recorded in the north, two had been in the Jaffna Peninsula killing six and injuring 26 including 20 civilians. The other attack took place in LTTE controlled areas in Mannar that killed Rev. Nicholaspillai Pakiaranjith and his assistant. “The security situation for civilians on the Jaffna peninsula remained serious, with continued killings, abductions, and disappearances. A civilian male (39) was reportedly assassinated on the 26 September in Nallur, Jaffna. On the 27 September another male civilian (28) was reported killed by an unknown gunman in Point Pedro, Jaffna,” the report said. The SLMM added, “the SLMM continued to receive reports on abductions and/or missing civilians in the Jaffna peninsula. One civilian male (44) was reported abducted on the 27 September in Nallur, Jaffna. The same day another civilian (41) from Point Pedro town, Jaffna, was reported missing.”Meanwhile during a meeting between SLMM and Police in Trincomalee, the latter had informed the monitors that the Karuna group was not allowed to act with impunity. “The SLMM voiced its concern over the reported increase in illicit activities by the TMVP/Karuna group. The police stated that the police follow up all cases they receive information on. The police strongly denied that there are orders that the local police should refrain from taking action against the TMVP/Karuna group,” the report said. It added that police had informed political parties in Trincomalee that armed civilians would be arrested. In the last fortnight the SLMM had raised concerns over the Karuna group indulging in extortion, abductions and under-age recruitment.During last week’s meeting between the SLMM and officials of the government peace secretariat, the government officials had pointed out that the situation report should include details of dangerous trends in the north east like claymore attacks and killings by the Tigers. “The Summary was selective in its highlighting, and this too was taken advantage of by some elements in the media. SLMM mentioned that they were right now concentrating and remaining fully focused on Para Military groups in the Eastern Region. It was pointed out that then the Summary should mention this concern and that the SLMM was also aware of other dangerous trends even though they did not highlight these,” the Peace Secretariat said in a web posting. “Otherwise the omission of concern about the increasing number of claymore attacks, as well as the assassinations by the LTTE, would create the impression that the SLMM was simply concerned with criticizing the Karuna faction and thereby the government, and was ignoring the loss of life which was the consequence of the LTTE actions. SCOPP however acknowledged that the SLMM had noted these killings in the body of the report, though ignored by elements in the media anxious to criticize the government,” it added. Tiger lawyers in move to prove LTTE a liberation force Defence lawyers in the court case against three LTTE activists in Australia, this week cross-examined witnesses in a bid to prove that the LTTE was in fact a liberation movement committed to protecting the rights of Tamils, as opposed to a terrorist organisation. Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka and other high ranking members of the defence and legal establishments were cross-examined via satellite on allegations that the Army was responsible for atrocities against Tamils, including massacring civilians and bombing schools. According to the Australian prosecutor the LTTE activists Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, Sivarajah Yathavan and Arumugam Rajeewan were running a fund raising network using an LTTE front organisation called the Tamil Co-ordinating Committee (TCC). The Director of Public Prosecutions of the State of Victoria has charged the accused for being members of a terrorist organization (LTTE), for providing material support to a terrorist organisation and for funding a terrorist organisation. The Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) commenced covert investigations two years ago into LTTE fund raising activities, as part of its anti-terrorism initiative, The Sunday Times learns. During investigations, the accused and another suspect named Thillaindarajah Jeyakumar were kept under close surveillance by the AFP, with their movements and transactions being closely monitored. Jeyakumar is widely known to be the leading LTTE activist in Australia. One of the charges against the three | ||
