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31 December 2005 SLN's restrictions strip Mannar fishermen of livelihood- TELO Leader Selvam Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Wanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Thursday appealed to Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse by a memorandum to take immediate steps to lift the ban on using boats with 30 HP engines and restrictions in taking kerosene by fishermen of Mannar district. He said the restrictions imposed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) after the violent incidents of December 22 have deprived the livelihood of many local fishermen. "After the abatement of recent harsh weather conditions fishermen were able to return to sea. But unfortunately after the claymore attack on December 22 in the Pallimunai Sea many fishermen's lives have been badly affected. In addition to the restrictions on the use of outboard motors, movement of kerosene, the SLN has ordered these fishermen to return from sea within a stipulated time," Mr. Adaikalanathan said in his memorandum, sources said. Mr Adaikalanathan pointed out that fishermen have little financial resources to buy new outboard motors less than 30 HP, and that the restrictions on kerosene will prevent them from going to deep sea. Mr Adaikalanathan has further brought to the notice of the President that fishermen who are allowed by SLN are harassed and even manhandled by security personnel stationed in other points in the shore when fishermen return. "These fishermen are innocents and they have no hand in recent violent incidents. Wives, children and relatives of these fishermen are spending sleepless nights till they safely return from sea," Mr.Adaikalanathan said in his memorandum. Copies of the memorandum were sent to the Fisheries Minister, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Minister, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Mannar Government Agent, and Mannar Bishop, sources said. Defense Ministry's double talk on ban Despite claims by the Defense Ministry that foreigners and foreign representatives of non-governmental organizations could enter LTTE held areas without Defense Ministry's approval, not a single foreign national had entered Tiger held areas from the Omanthai military checkpoint from Monday (26) to Wednesday (28). During these three days, representatives of the United Nations, International Red Cross and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission have only been permitted to visit LTTE controlled areas. When representatives of non-governmental organizations, already functioning in Tiger held areas, came to the Omanthai checkpoint, they have been told that they cannot be permitted to cross the checkpoint unless they have a letter from the Defense Ministry. These representatives have then brought the matter Tuesday (27) to the attention of the Kilinochchi District Agent since they are representatives of NGOs registered in the Social Services Ministry. However even on the 28th they have not been allowed to
visit areas controlled by the LTTE. It is also reported that NGO representatives have briefed ambassadors from their repective countries on this matter. Six SLA troops injured in attack on Varani 52-4 Brigade HQ Six Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in an attack on 52-4 Brigade Head Quarters in Varani, in the Thenmaradchi sector of the Jaffna Penisula, around 9 p.m., Friday, sources from Jaffna said. An explosion was heard in the area, followed by several gunshots, according to residents in the area. The SLA camp is located on the Kodikamam – Pt.Pedro road, between Varani market and Varani Maha Vidyalayam. The injured SLA troops have been transported to Palaly military hospital, sources said.SLA troops have launched a search operation in the area, civilian sources said. Kodigamam police station attacked Three incidents of violence, by suspected LTTE cadres, were reported from Vavuniya and Kodigamam on Thursday night, police said. They said at Vavuniya in Vettamkulan the house of a Karuna faction cadre was attacked with hand grenades by unknown persons, the house and a van parked outside were damaged. Vavuniya police Headquarters Inspector Abyesinghe Bandara said LTTE suspects had threatened the owner of the house a few days ago. Police said at Vavuniya in Kuruman junction a bomb was thrown at the EPDP office and two Jaffna university students who had allegedly hurled the bomb were injured and they were taken to hospital. At Kodigamam the police station was attacked at about 10 pm and though a joint army-police search was conducted no culprits caught. Apart from the students nobody else was injured in any of the reported incidents.Meanwhile a hartal has been declared today in Batticaloa to protest the killing of Batticaloa district parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham and the incidents of intimidation against the Tamil people, police said. They said most of the shops and government offices were closed and the transport services almost at a standstill but no incidents of violence have been reported. At Batticaloa in Urana two unidentified motorcyclists had allegedly fired at a policeman walking on the road. He sustained injuries and was admitted to hospital. Gunmen fire on SLA patrol in Jaffna Two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were injured when unidentified men fired at an SLA patrol close to the Jaffna Kandarmadam junction and Jaffna Hindu Ladies College Friday around 2.30 p.m, sources said. The firefight lasted for more than 10 minutes, according to the same sources. However, the Sri Lanka military did not confirm of injuries to soldiers. Field Bike Unit of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrived at the site and launched a cordon and search operation. Soldiers stopped all traffic and civilian movements through the area. Several civilians were assaulted during the search, civil sources said. Appointed Chief of Staff, SLN President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed Rear Admiral Sarath Ratnakeerthi, aide PSC as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy. Rear Admiral Ratnakeerthi joined the Sri Lanka Navy as a cadet officer on August 1, 1971 and was commissioned on August 1, 1975. He is an old boy of Nalanda College. Rear Admiral Ratnakeerthi has the unique distinction of serving as the Area Commander of all five Naval Commands of the Sri Lanka Navy, viz., Eastern Naval Command, Northern Naval Command, North-Central Naval Command, Western Naval Command and Southern Naval Command. He has successfully completed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course, India-1975/1980, Gunnery Specialization Course, India-1979/1980, Staff Course, Pakistan-1987/1988, Executive Security Studies Course, USA-1998 and the National Defence College, India-2001. He served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval establishments, SLNS 'Ruhuna', SLNS 'Tissa', SLNS 'Gemunu' and also commanded Naval ships, SLNS 'Weeraya', SLNS. 'Rakshaka', SLNS 'Jayasagara' and SLNS 'Edithara'. In addition, he has served as Master of the Motor Tanker, "Maduruoya" as well as on-board Merchant Vessel 'Lanka Kanthi'. His dates of promotions are Midshipman-August 1, 1972, Sub Lieutenant-August 1, 1975, Lieutenant- December 17, 1975, Lieutenant Commander-December 17, 1983, Commander-April 1, 1988, Captain- January 1, 1993, Commodore–January 1, 1998 and Rear Admiral-January 1, 2002. He is the recipient of the ‘Utthama Seva Padakkama’, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, President's Inauguration Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, North and East Operations Medal, ‘Puma Bhumi Padakkama’ and ‘Riviresa’ Campaign Service Medal in recognition of his invaluable services to the country. SLA imposes restrictions on Thiruketheeswaram residents The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has imposed restriction and close surveillance on the movement of about forty families residing in the surrounding of the historic Thiruketheeswaram Sivan Temple following several explosions and violent incidents in other parts of the Mannar district. These families are among several hundred families displaced in the year 1990 due to violence. They were allowed to resettle to assist reconstruction work on the damaged temple. Thallady main camp of the SLA is located close to the temple and the temple area has been declared by the SLA as high security zone. SLA authorities two days ago confiscated thirty-five bags of cement taken by workers for the construction of the temple, sources said.The residents have been warned not to allow any members of their relatives or friends to stay in their houses without getting permission from the police post is located in the area. Sri Lankan security forces detain 903 people while tracking rebel infiltrators in Colombo Sri Lanka - Police backed by soldiers carrying automatic weapons cordoned off five districts in the Sri Lankan capital and detained 903 people in door-to-door searches Saturday to track down Tamil Tiger rebels, police said. Most were taken for questioning after they failed to produce national identity cards, or did not have a valid reason for staying in the capital, Deputy Inspector General of Police P. Jayasundara said. “Suspects who need further investigation will be kept under detention and the rest will be released,” he said. The operation was “carried out to ensure that there are no infiltrators in our capital,” Jayasundara said. The crackdown in the five predominantly Tamil districts came amid an increase in violence that has threatened to plunge the country back into civil war. The rebels began fighting for a homeland for the country’s 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority in 1983. The Tigers were blamed for several suicide attacks in Colombo before a cease-fire halted the conflict in 2002. Police are worried about the possibility of new attacks amid rising tensions. “I saw soldiers waiting outside my home and then a group of policemen came and asked for my identity,” said Maheswari Nadesan, an ethnic Tamil homemaker. She said the police left after checking her and her husband’s identity cards and ensuring that no one else was living in her home. The recent increase in violence including attacks this month that killed 45 government soldiers and seven guerrillas has raised fears of a return to war. The violence worsened after last month’s election of a new president, Mahinda Rajapakse, who pledged during the campaign to take a tough line toward the rebels. Rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran warned that the Tigers would intensify their struggle if Tamil grievances are not addressed. The Norwegian official who brokered the 2002 cease-fire, Erik Solheim, has urged the government and rebels to resume peace talks immediately. Six rounds of peace talks were held until 2004 but broke down over rebel demands for wide autonomy in the country’s northeast. SLN withdraws passes from Punguduthivu fishermen Angered by the damages to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) building
caused by the residents of Punguduthivu when they protested against the
rape of Tharsini (20), the SLN command has withdrawn fishing passes from
Punguduthivu fishermen, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Tamil National Alliance
(TNA) parliamentarian said Friday. Mr Ponnambalam has written a letter
to Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Deputy Minister of Defence, requesting him
to direct the SLN to immediately reissue the passes. "It has been brought to my notice by the Fisherman’s Union of Punkuduthivu that the Sri Lankan Navy has withdrawn the Fishing Passes issued to the fishermen of Punkuduthiva. When the Union members had sought clarification from the Naval Command of the area, they had been informed that the decision was a considered one. The Navy had further stated that until the building that was damaged in Punkuduthivu by the enraged public over the recent rape and murder of young Miss. Tharshini was rebuilt, passes will not be issued. I am confident that you will agree that this decision by the Navy is completely unacceptable. Not only is it arbitrary, it is also contrary to the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement that you and the Government have expressly committed yourselves to. Accordingly, it would be much appreciated if you would intervene in this matter and get the Navy to co-operate and have the fishing passes issued, so that the fishermen of Punkuduthiva could carry on with their right to their chosen livelihood. As you are no doubt aware, the New Year is only one day away and it is customary for people to usher in the New Year by engaging in their respective professions. Therefore it is all the more important that you treat this appeal as a matter of urgency." Visa given to
Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts’ daughter Prison sources said that Murugan had undertaken a fast-until-death in his prison cell from December 15 in an attempt to pressure the Indian officials to grant his daughter a visa. He ended the fast only when he was informed about the Indian Embassy’s decision, the sources said. Murugan, now on death row for his role in the plot to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi, had secretly married fellow conspirator Nalini while they were on the run. Nalini, also given the death sentence, delivered Arithra while in detention. Four years ago, however, her death sentence was commuted to life in prison. Rajapakse leaves amid Indian vote for federalism Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse flew out from here Friday after hearing from India that the best way to end the bloody ethnic conflict in the island was to embrace federalism - a dirty word for many in his country. In various talks with Rajapakse and his ministers during the state visit, the Indian side sought to underline the need for maximum devolution for Tamil areas -- but outside of a unitary framework. New Delhi, which believes that Tamil aspirations in Sri Lanka can be addressed without confusing them with the long-term aims of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), wants Rajapakse to adopt a more pluralistic stand than he has done so far. But India is very clear that there can be no compromise on Sri Lanka's unity and territorial integrity and any final solution will have to embrace democracy, pluralism and human rights in the island, including in areas held by the Tigers. The two sides reached agreement late Thursday on a joint statement after going back and forth on the draft. But the president gave a guarded response at a reception at the Maurya Sheraton Hotel here when asked if he was happy with his visit. 'It is fine,' Rajapakse told IANS, before quickly adding: 'It has gone off very well. We are happy.' But a senior aide to Rajapakse admitted that Sri Lanka would have been pleased with unreserved Indian backing for Colombo. 'We understand India's reservations,' said the aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 'India has always backed Sri Lanka's unity. But we would have been happy with a stronger and more firm commitment, including a message to the LTTE that it cannot get away if it does anything big.' No one here is sure if Rajapakse and his allies in the JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) and JHU (Jathika Hela Urumaya), two groups widely seen as Sinhalese-Buddhist hardliners, would retreat from their publicly stated insistence on a unitary framework to end the ethnic conflict that has claimed some 65,000 lives and which shows signs of sliding into open war again. The Indian belief is that any hardline and visibly 'Sinhalese approach' - in contrast to a pluralistic stand - can only boomerang and force even those Tamils not supporting the LTTE to do a rethink. Already there is concern here over Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Arumugam Thondaman's dramatic move to align with the Tigers, putting the 'Indian Tamils' employed in tea plantations in the same league as the indigenous Tamils of the island's north and east. The 'Indian Tamils', descendents of indentured workers who hailed mainly from Tamil Nadu, enjoy a close relationship with India. For their benefit, New Delhi has a consulate in Kandy, the main town in the tea plantation areas. A Sri Lankan minister who was part of the negotiating team hinted that Rajapakse could do a rethink when he returns home. 'You may see a changed president after some time,' the minister said. 'After all you say some things when you fight elections. It does not mean you will keep saying the same thing all the time. Let us see.' Not everyone is sure. Said an Indian source: 'It is all a question of mindset. We need to wait and see if our message has gone home.' India also favours Norway's continued role as a facilitator in Sri Lanka's peace process. It wants the existing ceasefire agreement between the LTTE and Colombo to be preserved - and strengthened. The highpoint of Rajapakse's visit was a 40-minute one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This was followed by delegation level talks. Among those he met was Congress president Sonia Gandhi, whose husband and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the LTTE in 1991, prompting New Delhi to outlaw the group the next year. Bilaterally, India and Sri Lanka see eye to eye on most issues. Both sides describe the state of bilateral ties as 'excellent'. India is not averse to helping Sri Lanka military although it is not going to sign a defence pact. Rajapakse cancelled a trip to Tamil Nadu after Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha could not provide an appointment, but will pray at Kerala's Guruvayoor temple on his way home. Claymore discovery, a deception by SLN, SLA, says LTTE The alleged discovery of claymore mines by the Sri Lanka
security forces in Mannar Pattithottam area and along Mannar-Madavachchi
road is a canard concocted by the Security forces to create a war atmosphere
in the area, said the Mannar district Political Wing of the Liberation
Tigers in a press release issued Friday. "We deny any involvement
in the planting of these mines and condemn the Sri Lanka security forces
for creating conditions where Mannar residents can be subjected to further
harassment and indiscriminate attacks," said the release. "SLN, killed four civilians including a four year old child, injured more than twenty residents of Victoria Hundred Houses scheme and looted their property. "Many youths from Mannar district have been arrested under the cover of search operations. Many have disappeared. Their relatives have registered complaints in with Human Rights Organizations. The Security Forces have denied arresting many of the youths, raising the spectre of disappearances of the past," the Mannar political wing of the LTTE said in its release. Is Rajapaksa moving towards federalism? The India-Sri Lanka Joint Statement issued at the end of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's four day visit to India on Friday, hints that Rajapaksa may be moving away from his fixation about finding a solution to the ethnic conflict within a "unitary" state, to considering some federal options. The Joint Statement says that the President of Sri Lanka "briefed the Indian leadership on his approach to the peace process to achieve maximum devolution which preserves the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka." What is noteworthy here is that the term "unitary" is missing. Only a day earlier, Rajapaksa had used the term in his speech at the banquet hosted by his Indian counterpart, APJ Abdul Kalam. "Our end objective will be to develop a broad consensus where maximum power could be devolved within a unitary State," Rajapaksa had said in that speech. India returns to federalism After a long time, India too has returned to federalism, as a possible solution to the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict. The last time, India had proposed a federal solution was under the India-Sri Lanka Accord, way back in July 1987. Until the visit of President Rajapaksa, India's standard formulations on a solution to the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict would scrupulously avoid mentioning the term "federalism" or a "federal solution". In Friday's Joint Statement, however, the Indian side had used the term "devolution" which is a term associated with federal constitutions rather than unitary constitutions. According to the Joint Statement, the Indian side "expressed the hope that a political settlement of the ethnic issue based on devolution, openness, transparency and inclusiveness would emerge through negotiations between the parties concerned, so as to ensure a peaceful and bright future for all Sri Lankans in an undivided and democratic Sri Lanka." Again for the first time, India had officially, and at the highest level, offered intellectual and academic resources to help Sri Lanka find a suitable model of devolution. And Sri Lanka has accepted that offer. "Sri Lanka is appreciative of the Indian offer to provide intellectual and academic resources in support of the peace process. The Sri Lankan side thanked the Indian side for the presentation, during the Presidential state visit, on distribution of powers between Centre, States and local government in India," the Joint Statement said. Earlier, in his banquet speech, President Abdul Kalam had said that he appreciated Rajapaksa's efforts to find a solution within a "united" Sri Lanka on the basis of maximum devolution, and he offered India's help to find a federal solution. " We appreciate your efforts to build a national consensus on a solution within a united Sri Lanka and on the basis of maximum devolution. We are ready to share with you our own experiences in unity and diversity, pluralist traditions in a democracy and devolution within a federal framework," Kalam said. Financial and Technical help from India to rebuild N-E The Government of India has come forward to provide financial and technical assistance to President Mahinda Rajapakse in the reconstruction process of the North and East. India will also help to build a library and a stadium in Jaffna. A joint statement by Governments of Sri Lanka and India has been released at the conclusion of President Rajapakse's four day visit to India yesterday. It highlighted the agreements and consensus reached between President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during the discussions they had in New Delhi. The joint statement released by the Sri Lankan and the Indian Governments :- Mahinda Rajapakse, President of Sri Lanka and Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapakse paid a State Visit to India from December 27-30, 2005, at the invitation of the President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He was accompanied by Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs, A. H. M. Fowzie, Minister of Railways, Transport and Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Marketing Development, Ferial Ashraff, Minister of Housing and Construction, R. Bogollagama, Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Ministers, leaders of political parties and senior officials. President Rajapakse held wide-ranging discussions with President Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath and Shipping Minister T. R. Baalu, and others. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, UPA also called on President Rajapakse. The President also met with several senior personalities from other political parties during his stay in New Delhi. It was noted with satisfaction that Indo-Lanka bilateral relations have continued to be in a state of excellence characterised by political consensus in both countries, understanding, friendship, cooperation and mutual respect and benefit. The two sides reaffirmed their resolve to further consolidate and build on this strong and dynamic relationship. The discussions on international issues reflected the long-standing consonance of views between the two friendly nations. Both sides remain resolutely committed to opposing terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, while reiterating that terrorism can never be justified, either on political, or on religious, or on ideological grounds. The two sides agreed that the current global challenges require the reinvigoration of multilateralism, including through the strengthening of the UN system. In this context, Sri Lanka reiterated her position that the UN Security Council reform process should facilitate India's legitimate claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and reaffirmed her support for the candidature of India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. India and Sri Lanka emphasized their commitment to work for the full realisation of the objectives identified by the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka last November. They were of the view that the South Asian Free Trade Agreement once operationalised should pave the way for the SAARC nations to move towards even closer economic cooperation, with the eventual goal being that of an economic union encompassing the entire region. The Prime Minister of India and the President of Sri Lanka expressed satisfaction at the dynamism of the bilateral economic relationship. They noted the good progress by the two governments in building on the success of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement by negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). They expressed their confidence that the finalisation of CEPA, on the basis of mutual benefit for both sides, would further unleash the inherent synergies between the two countries. It was noted that India has made an initial allocation of a Credit Line of US$ 100 million for the integrated development of the Colombo - Matara rail network. It was agreed at the request of the Sri Lanka side, that India would take this process forward by the extension of concessionary terms to be mutually agreed upon, for the allocated credit of US$ 100 million, and for any additional credit to be made available for the said project. A multi-disciplinary delegation from India has already visited Sri Lanka. A delegation of officials from Sri Lanka representing the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Railways, will visit India in turn to discuss and agree on the technical and engineering aspects of the project, and the terms and conditions of the Credit Line. The two leaders welcomed the bilateral understandings being reached on identifying joint ventures for the development of the eastern Sri Lankan port city of Trincomalee, and its surrounding region. They noted the need to prepare a Master Plan for realizing, including through the building up of the necessary infrastructural support, the full economic potential held out by Trincomalee and its environs. It was agreed in this context that a coal based power project of capacity 2x250 MW will be set up in the Trincomalee region of Sri Lanka, as a joint venture between the National Thermal Power Company Ltd, a Government of India enterprise and the Ceylon Electricity Board, a Government of Sri Lanka entity. The Government of Sri Lanka will have the responsibility of facilitating and extending all necessary help in setting up this project. A detailed Memorandum of Understanding for setting up the Power Project is to be signed separately. The Indian side in recognition of the high priority accorded by the President of Sri Lanka to reconstruction and development in the North and East, offered to support these efforts through technical and financial assistance. The Sri Lanka side welcomed this offer of assistance and agreed to facilitate the related initiatives. The Indian side also announced assistance in constructing a library and a stadium in Jaffna. The two sides agreed that there was great potential for cooperation in the areas of agriculture, IT and renewable energy. Both sides discussed collaboration in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) area, which would include, inter alia, institutional capacity building, training and skills development and technical assistance. In this regard, India and Sri Lanka will collaborate to set up an ICT Park in Sri Lanka. The two sides reiterated their desire to accelerate their co-operation in the field of human resource development, and in the fashioning of educational policies appropriate for developing within the national workforces, the skills and capacities required by the 21st century. Towards this end, it was agreed that the Joint Working Group under the India-Sri Lanka MoU on the Education Exchange Programme would be operationalised at the earliest possible. Several measures funded by India to enhance cooperation in the field of education and training were also agreed upon. These include the Mahatma Gandhi scholarship scheme for 100 deserving Sri Lankan students every year, the upgradation of libraries and science laboratories in the upcountry areas, the setting up of a Chair in Contemporary Indian studies in Peradeniya University and commissioning of a field study on vocational training centers. It was noted that the training of 450 Sri Lankan policemen has already commenced in different institutions in India. Sri Lanka welcomed the donation of medical equipment as tsunami relief to the affected hospitals of Point Pedro and of Hambantota. The Indian side announced that it had initiated action to prepare a detailed project report on the rehabilitation of the tsunami-damaged base hospital in Trincomalee. The Indian side also indicated that construction of the new 150-bed hospital at Dickoya in the Central Province is expected to commence shortly. The Government of India further announced that it would provide equipment to set up a fully-equipped Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit in the existing hospital at Dickoya. Sri Lanka expressed her appreciation for the valuable contribution by the Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo, towards continuing a level of cultural interaction worthy of the longstanding historical and civilisational links between the two nations. President Rajapakse declared the intent of his administration to present in India during the course of next year, the rich and varied cultural heritage of Sri Lanka via a series of exhibitions and events. The Indian side welcomed this endeavour which would further spur people-to-people interaction, and also enhance intellectual and artistic exchanges. India further announced that it would hold an exhibition of contemporary Indian art in Colombo during 2006. Both the Heads of Government noted that a positive collaborative relationship was being established for the study and monitoring of the environmental implications of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel project. They endorse that the outcome of the collaboration must be to reach a common understanding as to whether there are environmental consequences and if so, the action to be taken to mitigate them. They directed towards this end, the continuation of the interaction, as and when necessary, between the concerned technical experts from both sides. They also noted that the project would bring in its wake developmental opportunities. Both sides reiterated the importance of continuing bilateral cooperation in the demarcation of the continental margins of the two countries. The Indian side welcomed the proposal by Sri Lanka for economic cooperation within the Palk Bay area. India looks forward to Sri Lanka presenting her proposals in the form of a paper, which would then be the subject of study by an India-Sri Lanka Expert Group. The report of the Expert Group could be considered during the ongoing CEPA negotiations. The President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India noted that both countries have a record of unbroken commitment to the free and fair exercise of the franchise, and to democratic governance. The two sides were of the view that this common commitment, which is yet another of the many strong bonds between India and Sri Lanka, could be availed of by the establishment of India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Associations in the national legislatures of both countries. They noted with satisfaction the formation of the Sri Lanka-India Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Sri Lankan Parliament on December 22, 2005, and the decision to form an India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament. They envisaged that the Associations once established, would cooperate for the further development of democratic best practice, and for strengthening bilateral relations. They accordingly recommended that the Speakers and the Members of the Parliament of India and of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, may consider expeditiously taking the necessary steps towards this end. The President of Sri Lanka briefed the Indian leadership on his approach to the peace process to achieve maximum devolution which preserves the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The two sides agreed that an enduring solution can emerge only through internal political processes that promote consensus and reconciliation. India reiterated its support for a process of seeking a negotiated political settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society within the framework of an undivided Sri Lanka and consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights. India continues to maintain an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to her unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Indian side expressed the hope that a political settlement of the ethnic issue based on devolution, openness, transparency and inclusivity would emerge through negotiations between the parties concerned, so as to ensure a peaceful and bright future for all Sri Lankans in an undivided and democratic Sri Lanka. The President of Sri Lanka apprised the Prime Minister of India of recent attacks on Sri Lankan security forces and other ceasefire violations. The two leaders deplored violations of the ceasefire, which could undermine the prospects for peace in Sri Lanka. The Indian side welcomed the Sri Lankan Government's offer for early resumption of peace talks. Both sides emphasized the need for the strict observance of the ceasefire and immediate resumption of talks aimed at strengthening the ceasefire. Sri Lanka is appreciative of the Indian offer to provide intellectual and academic resources in support of the peace process. The Sri Lankan side thanked the Indian side for the presentation, during the Presidential State visit, on distribution of powers between Centre, States and local government in India. The state visit by President Rajapakse is testimony to the excellent relations between the two countries. President Rajapakse invited their Excellencies the President and the Prime Minister of India to visit Sri Lanka at mutually convenient times. New Year’s eve vigil today to prevent war The National Anti-War Front yesterday called on the government to invite the Norwegian facilitators immediately to Sri Lanka to resume negotiations so that all attempts to resume hostilities could be defeated. The Front also invited all people to attend a New Year’s eve candle light vigil at Independence Square to prevent war and plead for peace. The Front said: “The ceasefire agreement is in a deep crisis. Although there are continued violations of the ceasefire agreement over the years the current phase of accelerated attacks against the state armed forces in the North and East and the attacks of the para-military groups against the LTTE seem to be pushing the country towards the resumption of hostilities between the government and the LTTE. “We condemn all forms of violations of the ceasefire. We express our condemnation against the increased attacks on state military forces by the LTTE, assassination of the Batticaloa parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham and various attacks of para-military groups acting in connivance of the state. The ceasefire cannot be protected without genuine commitment of the parties to the agreement -- the government and LTTE. Any disputes arising in ensuring their commitment and obligations to the ceasefire have to be resolved only through negotiations. It is immoral to use the means of violence in violation of the ceasefire to address the grievances while the ceasefire is in operation. We call upon the LTTE to stop immediately all forms of violations of the ceasefire, including the attacks on state military forces and attacks on political opponents. In a similar manner, we call upon the government to take every step to prevent any form of violations of the ceasefire either by the state armed forces or the para-military groups. The very purpose of signing the ceasefire is to prevent the destruction of human lives and to create an environment conducive to negotiate a political settlement. Although both parties have been verbally expressing their preparedness and willingness to resume negotiation with the facilitation of the Norwegian Government facilitators, very little has been done for the people to believe their commitment. The majority of the people in the country did not want to see a return to war. We call upon the government and the LTTE to take every step to stop all the violations of ceasefire and to demonstrate their commitments in a visible manner for the ceasefire and their preparedness for unconditional negotiation. “We believe that the sustainable and visible public support for negotiation is indispensable to safeguard the ceasefire”. The Front has invited all to a people’s vigil at 6.00 p.m. today at Independence Square premises. This vigil is organized to express condemnation for the violations of the ceasefire agreement and to call the parties to fulfill their commitment and obligation to the agreement and to call the parties to resume negotiation without further delay. “We call upon the government to invite the Norwegian Facilitators immediately to Sri Lanka to resume negotiations, We demand that the much awaited meeting to discuss the ceasefire agreement be resumed immediately, We urge that the military on both sides through the assistance of the SLMM meet to discuss ways and means of de-escalation of violence, We demand that a mechanism is immediately created to ensure relief and rehabilitation to the North and East”, the Front added 30 December 2005 Pararajasingham slaying has endangered direct talks - TNA MPs at funeral Addressing the mourners who had gathered to pay the last tribute to the slain Tamil National Alliance MP, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, TNA parliamentarians Mavai Senathirajah and TELO Muthavar M.K. Sivajilingam said that the Government of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan President, in his capacity as Defense Minister, are responsible for the continued engagement of paramilitary cadres and for the killing of the MP. "The whole affair of resuming the peace process has been placed at maximum risk by the brutal act," Mr. Sivajilngam told the gathering. During the last ten years of Pararajasingham's life in his 40 years of public career, he was directly threatened several times by the enemy, but despite the continued threats, his commitment to the Tamil cause remained strengthened, Mr. Sivajilingam added. Mavai Senathirajah giving a walk-through of the lenghty political career of Mr. Pararajasingham, which began with "Thanthai" S.J.V.Chelvanayakam, said the loss of Pararajasingham was irreplaceable The funeral of the slain senior Tamil politician was held in Batticaloa Thursday evening. The body of the TNA MP was taken from his house at 4:25 p.m. at Lady Manning Drive to the family's burial grounds at Alayadicholai for burial at 5:00 p.m. United National Party parliamentarians Mr. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, Democratic Left Front Secretary Vasudeva Nanayakara, who is aligned with SL President Mahinda Rajapakse, were among the Sinhalese politicians who attended the funeral services. Tamil National Alliance MPs, Tamil academics, activists and religious leaders attended the funeral. Mrs. Sugunam Pararajasingham, who was severely wounded when she tried to save her husband from the guns of the killers, was informed about her husband's demise early morning Thursday, medical sources said. She attended the funeral with saline injection. The body of Pararajasingham, taken to Vavuniya and Kilinochchi on Tuesday, reached Batticaloa Thursday early morning at 1:15 a.m. Tamil National Alliance MPs Suresh Premachandran,TELO Muthalvar M.K. Sivajilingam, Mavai Senathirajah, K. Thurairatnasingham, P.Kanagasabai and several others including the Ceylon Workers United Front (CWUF) representatives S. Sathasivam and D. V. Sennan took part in the funeral. UNP parliamentarian Gamini Jayawickrama read out the message of tribute from UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe. UNP Deputy Karu Jeyasuriya's message was read out by Dr. Jayalath Jeyawardene. Religious funeral services, scheduled to be held at the church where the MP was slain, were held at home for security reasons, sources added. As Batticaloa mourned the death of Pararajasingham, shops and public places remained closed. Sri Lanka government beefed up security in Batticaloa. End killings, start talks : Bishops The Catholic Bishops' Conference in a message yesterday vehemently condemned the recent brutal killing of the Navy personnel, some civilians at Pesalai and the murder of Joseph Pararajasingham MP, when he was taking part in the Christmas midnight Mass at the Cathedral in Batticaloa. The message said “We view with particular dismay the latter incident on Christmas night in a place of worship. While the killing of any person is a dastardly act doing so in a sacred place of worship on a day which is most sacred to that religion is abominable. We offer our condolences to all the members of the bereaved families and assure them of our prayers. “At a time when a concerted effort is being made to rally support and obtain the collaboration of all parties concerned in the search for peace we fear that such killings will once again damage irreparably the peace process. “We, the Catholic Bishops therefore reiterate our earnest appeal in the name of humanity and the present and future generations in this country to bring to an end all killings and violence and to return to the negotiating table to work out an honourable solution to the ethnic problem in order to usher in lasting peace in our beloved country”. Bishops, clergy to meet LTTE political head Clergy and Bishops from various parts of the island are
scheduled to meet with Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan, the political head of the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, on Friday to discuss the current political
situation following the slaying of senior Tamil politician Joseph Pararajasingam,
sources in Colombo said. Bishops from Colombo, Kandy and Kurunagala were
expected to attend the meeting with the Bishops of Jaffna and Mannar,
the sources said. Red Cross assists Tigers remove their dead –The Daily Mirror Tamil Tigers, on Tuesday night, have taken away the remains of five LTTE gunmen, who were shot dead by the army last Saturday in Jaffna, contrary to the LTTE’s claim earlier that none of their cadres were killed in their confrontation with the Army. Military sources said that after the security forces shot five LTTE gunmen in retaliation last Saturday, when Army personnel on a mobile patrol in the Jaffna Fort came under attack, causing injuries to two soldiers. However, the LTTE cadres, along with Sri Lanka Red Cross officials, had removed the remains of those LTTE gunmen on Tuesday night, into ‘uncleared’ areas across Muhamalai Entry/Exit point. The remains of those LTTE cadres awaiting next of kin, were being kept at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary until the LTTE received them. In the meantime, the LTTE disclaimed identity of those armed men and refused to admit that they were members of the Tamil Tigers until they removed the remains into ‘uncleared’ areas. The troops, after the skirmish, recovered a pistol, a modified mini Uzi rifle and several hand grenades from the scene. 16-years-old boy shot dead in Thenmaradchi, Jaffna Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday midnight shot and killed
Thambirajah Arul Ajanthan, 16, at his house located in Eruvan in Kodikamam.
The gunmen who entered the victim's house premises, following a Sri Lanka
Army patrol in the area, opened fire and killed the victim, the younger
brother of a youth who took part in organising Martyrs day remembrance
events, civilian sources said. Chavakacheri Magistrate K. Ariyanayagam who visited the spot has ordered investigations into the killing. Sonia invited to attend Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Oration in Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse extended an invitation to Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi to attend the first Rajiv Gandhi memorial oration to be held in Sri Lanka next year. He extended the invitation to Sonia Gandhi, when she called on him at the Rashtrapathi Bhawan. Rajapakse will deliver the first Rajiv Gandhi memorial oration. Sri Lanka always wanted to honour the late Indian leader and the invitation has been extended at a time when the relationship between the two countries is at a peak. Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a LTTE suicide cadre in Sriperdumbudur about 30 miles from Chennai in May 1991. Gandhi was only 46 years when he was killed. Rajapakse also told a meeting in New Delhi that he would expedite the building of a memorial for over 1,000 soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) who sacrificed their lives in Sri Lanka, fighting the LTTE. Grenade attack on SLA sentry, soldiers assault civilians in Mannar Unidentified men lobbed a grenade at a Sri Lanka Army sentry, which is located in Mannar playgrounds Wednesday night around 9:30 p.m. No one was injured in the incident. More than hundred SLA soldiers, following the explosion, launched a search operation in areas, Moor Street, Sinnakadai and Uppukulam. The soldiers fired in air at random and assaulted civilian travellers waiting in the Mannar bus stand, sources said. SLA soldiers damaged political and administrative offices of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Mannar. The offices were not occupied by LTTE political activists. Mahinda reaffirms unitary state stand President Mahinda Rajapakse once more reaffirmed that the policy of his government was to devolve the maximum possible power within a unitary state. This reaffirmation was made on Wednesday (28) during his current visit to India, his first official visit abroad since being elected President on November 17. "Sri Lanka attaches the highest priority to reaching a lasting and negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict, that has for so long affected parts of our country. In that regard the immediate and essential measure should be the strengthening of the ceasefire, and raising the level of compliance with the ceasefire agreement," President Rajapakse said at the state banquet given in his honour by the President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on Wednesday (28) at New Delhi. President Rajapakse said the strong ties between India and Sri Lanka have stood the test of time. "My government is determined to take the peace process forward in an inclusive and transparent manner. We will do so through a consultation process involving all concerned parties and stakeholders. Our end objective will be to develop a broad consensus where maximum power could be devolved within a unitary state," he said. Policeman shot, seriously wounded in Batticaloa Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded Alagaratnam Lingarajah,
36, a Sri Lanka Police constable, Wednesday night 8:45 p.m. at Thandawanveli
Telecom Juction in Batticaloa town. Gunmen riding in a motorbike opened
fire on the policeman, who was off-duty and was going to a shop to purchase
food, Batticaloa Police said. The wounded policeman has been admitted
to Batticaloa Hospital. Jaffna Residents Complain Against Army. Several Jaffan residents who spoke to the Jaffna Independent correspondent claimed that the Sri Lankan security forces are playing into the hands of the LTTE by the increasing violence against the civilians. “ After the ceasefire, Army had been very tolerant even when LTTE attacked them. However recently things had changed, the army violence is back again in Peninsular” said an retired government official who spoke with The Independent’s correspondent in Jaffna. Another elderly lady from Point Pedro claimed that the recent aggressive behavior of the Army would affect the army in long run. “Not all Tamils are helping LTTE. They(LTTE supporters) are few but they make a impact. Army must not mix militants with innocent civilians.” she said. Claymore mines detected in Mannar, Kalmunai –Daily News Two powerful claymore mines have been found on a tree near the residence of Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev Dr. Rayappu Joseph yesterday. Military sources said a group of Navy men on a foot patrol had found the two claymore mines tied to a tree near Bishop Joseph's residence in Mannar. The Navy men found the claymore mines following the increase in patrolling in recent days after the massive claymore explosions which killed more than 20 soldiers in the North in the past weeks, sources said. Two other LTTE claymore mines were also found by a police route patrol team in Parayanankulam on the road to the Madhu shrine yesterday, sources said. STF troops on route clearance duties detected a claymore mine on the Sorikalmunai-Kalmunai road yesterday. They initially detected a long wire on the side of the road and later, the side charger. The LTTE had selected an isolated and abandoned work site of the Ceylon Electricity Board to plant the mine. In a separate incident at the 216th milepost on the Akkaraipattu - Potuvil highway, STF troops were fired upon by the LTTE. The troops retaliated and repulsed the attack. The attack had come from the direction of Kanjikudichchiaru jungles. A subsequent search had revealed that the LTTE had withdrawn to Kanjikudichchiaru. Meanwhile, Army Commander Lt.Gen Sarath Fonseka was in Jaffna yesterday to make an assessment of the current situation in the North. General Fonseka who was Northern Commander a few years ago had convened the brigade commanders in the Peninsula and had discussions on stabilising the security in the North, sources said. This is the second visit to the North by Gen. Fonseka since he became the Army commander early this month. Tamil passions build up over Sri Lanka Chennai : Passions are again running high in Tamil Nadu over Sri Lanka, with leading political parties opposing a visit - now cancelled - to the state by President Mahinda Rajapakse. Tamil Nadu parties, including members of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA), are unhappy with Rajapakse's policies towards the country's peace process as well as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The PMK, MDMK, the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) and the Tamil Nationalist Party of P. Nedumaran are meeting under the aegis of the Dravida Kazhagam to extend support to Sri Lankan Tamils who they say are "under attack from the Sinhala government". PMK leader S. Ramadoss has blamed Rajapakse for the "failure" of the peace talks between the LTTE and Colombo. "Whenever there is a crisis, (Sri) Lankan presidents rush to India" to create an impression that New Delhi is supporting their stand, he said in a statement. Rajapakse is now in India. He met Indian leaders Wednesday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha has politely declined to meet Rajapakse, who had wanted to go to Chennai on his way home after ending official talks here. But Jayalalitha's AIADMK and the main opposition DMK have not said anything about Rajapakse. Ramadoss, whose PMK along with MDMK are part of India's ruling coalition, said: "Having sabotaged Norway's negotiations between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government, Rajapakse has come here to sell the idea that India should take up the negotiations, with a view to drag the process for years." "The people of Tamil Nadu expect the central government to ensure that Sri Lankan Tamils get political and economic rights," he said. The DPI has threatened a public demonstration against Rajapakse if he comes to Chennai. DPI posters plastered all over Chennai say: "Anti-Tamil Rajapakse, do not step on to Tamil soil." Tamil sentiments have been further soured with reports that the Sri Lankan navy had seized prawn catch worth Rs.500,000 from Tamil Nadu fishermen after surrounding them in the sea. The Sri Lankan navy allegedly threw equipment including nets and batteries into the sea, the reports said. Tamil Nadu was once a sanctuary for Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups. But the LTTE's assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi near Chennai in 1991 alienated a large section of Tamil Nadu society. Feelings for Sri Lankan Tamils however run strong in the state, although backing for the LTTE is muted. India outlawed the LTTE in 1992. India beefs up Lanka's air defences India has provided Sri Lanka with two indigenously-developed military radars to help improve its airspace coverage just before President Mahinda Rajapakse arrived here on Tuesday on a state visit---his first overseas trip after assuming office on November 19. These radars will enable the Sri Lankan Air Force to detect fighter aircraft and will provide aerial security to the island-nation from any threat from the so called 'LTTE Air Force.' Reporting this today, 'The Hindu' newspaper said the transfer of radars marks the resumption of non-lethal military aid to Sri Lanka after a gap of five years. The transfer adheres to the Indo-Sri Lanka draft Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), which does not encourage Colombo to go for a military solution to the Tamil ethnic problem. The deal has been kept under the wraps. Defence Ministry sources have confirmed the radars' transfer to Sri Lanka, but have refrained from providing any details. At the moment, the LTTE is said to own two microlight aircraft and is believed to have developed two airstrips in areas under its control, including one at Iranmadu in Kilinochchi. But the radars India has given to Sri Lanka may not be able to detect aircraft of such tiny size, sources here say. India did provide non-lethal military equipment, including fast patrol craft, in 2000 in the wake of the LTTE's stepped up activities. Ever since India stopped military hardware supplies to Sri Lanka in the late 1980s, New Delhi has generally refrained from making high-technology supplies to Colombo. 'The Hindu' quoted sources here as pointing out that India agreed to supply the radars after Pakistan began taking interest in filling the void in Sri Lankan military supplies. India felt uncomfortable with the idea of Pakistan-installed surveillance equipment so close to its shores in the south. During a visit to Colombo early this year, the then External Affairs Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh made a formal offer about the radars. On instructions from the Defence Ministry, the state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) manufactured the radars to the Indian Air Force (IAF), which has since handed them over to Sri Lanka. BEL supplies the Indra-II radars to the IAF. Readers will recall that 'The Island' reported on June 4 that the transfer of radars is in the works. Grenade attacks in Inuvil, VVT, Nallur One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was seriously injured when unknown gunmen attacked an SLA foot patrol in Inuvil area, Jaffna, at 6 p.m Thursday. Inuvil has been isolated after the incident as the SLA has cordoned off the area. No other details of the injured soldier are available. Meanwhile, unknown gunmen hurled a grenade and exchanged gunfire with Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers manning the sentry at the Valvettiturai, Vadamaradchy Aathi Kovilady along the beach road, Wednesday 9.20 p.m, source said. No one was injured in the incident. SLA has increased patrols in the area, according to residents. In another grenade attack by unidentified assailants at the Nallur Arasady junction sentry point at 1 p.m Thursday, one Sri Lanka Army soldier was seriously injured. No other details on the incident are available. New Wanni Commander takes over reins MAJOR GENERAL W.U.B EDIRISINGHE, the newly appointed Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni recently assumed duties during a simple ceremony at his office in Vavuniya. He relinquished the appointment of Adjutant General in the Army and succeeds Major General P.S.B Kulathunge who was appointed the new Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. A Guard of Honour welcomed him at the premises where many Senior Officers were present to extend their greetings to the new Commander.. Members of the Maha Sangha on the occasion invoked blessings on the new appointment after chanting Seth Pirith. Afterwards Major General W.U.B Edirisinghe officially initialed a document to signify his acceptance of the duties in the Headquarters. Army on trail of LTTE attackers - Commander Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka following his visit to Jaffna in the wake of the recent claymore mine attack on Army personnel in Puloli West, has strengthened manpower and transport requirements to facilitate clearing operations to round up those responsible for the violent acts in the peninsula. Lt. General Fonseka told the Daily News that the Army has already taken precautionary steps to prevent further occurrence of such incidents in the peninsula. "We are going behind the people responsible for the claymore mine attacks and other violent incidents," the Army Commander said. "We have taken steps to provide manpower requirements and transport facilities for them," General Fonseka added. He said it was impossible for him to say the number of LTTE cadres responsible for the violent acts in Government controlled areas in the peninsula since the LTTE had been given unlimited access to Government controlled areas. However, he ruled out possibilities of discussions with LTTE area leaders in Jaffna to settle the situation. "It is upto the politicians to have discussions with the LTTE. The military has decided not to have talks with the LTTE," he added. The Army Commander said the LTTE was operating in the peninsula under the guise of civilian organisations. "They all are LTTE organisations. There are no civilian organisation as they are claiming," he added. Lt. General Fonseka met all field Commanders in Jaffna peninsula during his visit to Jaffna on Wednesday after the LTTE claymore mine attack on an army truck killed 12 soldiers. STF soldiers fire into LTTE held area in East [Around fifty soldiers of the Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) Thursday morning 11:00 a.m. opened fire at random into paddy fields located inside the LTTE held area, dispersing more than a hundred farmers working in the fields. Only minor injuries were sustained by a few farmers in the gunfire, LTTE's Udumpankulam area Co-ordinator Mr. Veeramani told TamilNet. STF soldiers were riding in in two Buffel Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), Veeramani said. Thamaraikulam is located 13 km south of Akkaraipattu in Amparai district. The South African built mine-protected APC, used by the elite counter insurgency arm of the Sri Lankan armed forces, the STF in Amparai, were deployed by the Sri Lankan military in the late 80's. The Buffel (Afrikaans for Buffalo) APC vehicles were deployed by the then Apartheid South African regime to quell uprisings and to break up the protests. The Black South Africans gave the vehicle a slang term: Sarcens. The hull of the Buffel vehicle is v-shaped, designed to deflect the blast and debris of an exploding landmine. A number of Buffel APCs, described as tree-flattening, mine-resistant, and bullet-proof, were destroyed by improvised explosive devices used by the LTTE in Sri Lanka. Include India, China and Pakistan in the Co-chairs Conference: MNA Hafiz Nazeer Ahamed, leader of the Muslim National Alliance,
(MNA) appeals in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapakse to invite China
and Pakistan to be among the co-chairs conference along with India, Norway,
America, Japan and the European Union. "Over the past few days there have been numerous calls for India to be included in the co-chairs conference comprising Norway, America, European Union and Japan. While we consider this to be a good move’ we suggest that Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan also be incorporated into the co-chairs conference. "The inclusion of China and Pakistan would serve to enhance the Asian participation in the peace process and also be an expression of our nation’s gratitude to these two nations for the friendship they have extended to us in the past. Moreover, these two nations would have our country’s interest at heart and would dedicate themselves to ensure that Sri Lanka’s sovereignty is not jeopardized in any way. "At this juncture we like to recall the strong bonds of friendship that Sri Lanka enjoys with these two countries and also that when we were in dire straits as a nation it were these two countries that came to our rescue." HALO Trust vehicle fleet ordered moved inside HSZ Government of Sri Lanka has ordered all vehicles belonging to HALO Trust, an NGO involved in demining operations in Jaffna, to be moved inside the High Security Zone (HSZ), said a media release issued by HALO Trust in Jaffna Thursday. The release added that the Halo Trust's demining activities would be halted until further notice. This directive follows the recent robbery of two vehicles belonging to the Halo Trust. Officials of the NGO said that although the two stolen vehicles were recovered without any damage, forty three sensor equipments used in demining left inside the vehicles have gone missing. Halo Trust officials accused a small criminal gang consisting of a few current employees and some past employees who were terminated from their jobs at the organization of complicity in the robbery of vehicles and equipments. Halo Trust officials maintained that the SL Government's directive is only a temporary measure and that the vehicle fleet will be inside the HSZ until normalcy returns to Peninsula. Halo Trust, Danish demining group, and the SLA demining groups are the three major demining groups working in Jaffna Peninsula. Halo Trust has a fleet of nearly 65 vehicles, including heavy vehicles, Land Rovers and other vehicles fitted with modern accessories. Observers pointed out this vehicle fleet under the control of SLA will likely enhance the mobility and operational effectiveness of the SLA. The vehicles were moved with heavy SLA escort at 5 p.m. to Palaly Thursday. SLA assumed responsibility for the inventory of Wireless equipment, C-4 based detonators and, mine sensor equipments. Officer admits
using police vehicles to transport heroin The Colombo Crime Division has arrested seven police officers, including an interdicted high level officer, on charges of aiding and abetting drug kingpins, police headquarters sources said on Wednesday. They were arrested from the Dematagoda and Borella police stations. Among the suspects was an officer who had been in charge of the Vice Branch in Borella. He had been interdicted on charges of bribery. The suspect had led the drug distributing cartel in Borella area, police sources said. Information on the policemen affiliated to drug rings was revealed by drug kingpins taken in during the 'Operation Clean Up' over the past few weeks. Some officers had earned millions from the drug dealers in Rajagiriya and Borella areas. They had allowed the dealers to continue with their businesses and in return had been paid large sums of money for official protection the, sources said. Some suspect officers had purchased several luxury houses in Colombo and its suburbs, investigators said. One of the suspect officers had divulged that he was assisted by a former IGP in his associations with drug kingpins. He had used official police vehicles to transport heroin to retail dealers in his area, investigators said. Solheim to Colombo
This follows a statement by the head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Hagrup Haukland who warned that the mission could not operate in an insecure environment. The latest of a series of strong warnings came after a series of violence in the North and the east that has left at least 80, including a member of parliament, dead within a month in the north and east. The Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers blame each other of escalting the violence. SLMM Spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir speaking in London to the BBC Sinhala Service said, "Both parties say that they are committed to peace. Now is the time for the parties to do something to show their commitment". The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Norway has been asked by the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers to continue its role as facilitator in the peace process in Sri Lanka. Two Sinhala nationalist parties who were instrumental in bringing the newly elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa into office had opposed moves to have Solheim in a key role in the peace process. Erik Solheim will visit Sri Lanka from 23 to 26 January 2006, said the Statement from Oslo. "I am deeply concerned about the recent increase in violence in Sri Lanka," said Solheim. "In order to keep the violence from escalating further, it is urgent to get the two parties to sit down together to discuss how to ensure that the Ceasefire Agreement is observed and how the peace process can be advanced." JVP attacks Solheim for placing Govt and LTTE on equal footing The JVP in a press release yesterday condemned the media announcement by Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim on December 27 in which he had given equal emphasis calling for both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to act with restrain to observe the ceasefire agreement between the two parties. The JVP also expressed concern over the Norwegian Facilitator's emphasis to resume peace talks immediately without splitting hairs on the venue claiming the venue is not a matter of importance to the Norwegian Government. The JVP release deplored Solheim's silence on the serious and outright violations of the Ceasefire Agreement by the LTTE. Ever since Velupillai Prabhakaran's Birthday message, the LTTE killed over 50 service personnel including Police Officers. Solheim never uttered a word of condemnation of these killings. Instead he has ventured to enjoin both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to obey the Ceasefire Agreement on an equal footing. The Norwegian facilitator has taken this stance in the face of the glaringly manifest patience and restraint on the part of the Government Security Forces. This situation is a clear demonstration of the Norwegian facilitator's bias in favour of the LTTE, the media release said. It criticised Solheim's warning on the choice of a venue for resumption of peace talks and pointed out that he must understand that he is not a colonial ruler of Sri Lanka to dictate terms to the sovereign State of Sri Lanka. The venue of talks may not be important to Norwegian facilitator, but it is of paramount importance to the Sovereign State of Sri Lanka, specially in view of the assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The JVP called upon the Government to condemn Norwegian facilitator Erik Solheim and make him humble enough to convey his apology to the Sri Lankan Government for his derogatory statement against a sovereign State. 29 December 2005 India
concerned at recent violence President Mahinda Rajapakse began his official visit with a 40-minute one-on-one meeting with the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. Talks centred around the status of the peace process in Sri Lanka. The Indian foreign ministry said the two leaders agreed that the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels must resume peace talks at the earliest. A foreign ministry spokesman, Navtej Sarna, said India was deeply concerned at the recent upsurge of violence and frequent violation of the ceasefire. "This is a trend which can only undermine the search for a negotiated political settlement which is critical for the maintenance of peace and the resumption of talks which are aimed at finding a just solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic problems," Mr Sarna told a news conference. When asked whether Mr Rajapakse sought a more active role of India in the Sri Lankan peace process, the foreign ministry spokesman only said that India's position was well known and that the visiting president welcomed Delhi's commitment to peace. The two sides also discussed measures to enhance economic and commercial co-operation particularly in the field of railways, civil aviation, energy and information technology. General agreements were reached on several bii-lateral issues. These included Indian assistance for infratstructure development in Trincomalee; the development of a power generation plant also in Trinco; the expansion and modernization of the Colombo- Matara railway; the building of a modern hospital facility in the Hatton-Dickoya region, and the setting up of an Information Technology Park in Sri Lanka. Consideration would also be given to reducing the interest on the Indian Credit Line to Sri Lanka. Further improvement of the Indo-Sri Lanka FTA and the establishing of a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were also discussed. Mr Rajapakse is due to meet the chairperson of the governing United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, and senior ministers of the federal cabinet during his stay over the next three days. Jayalalithaa’s no to President Rajapakse flusters Delhi NEW DELHI: It’s a major embarrassment for the government that visiting Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajapakse had to cancel his scheduled visit to Chennai following chief minister Jayalalithaa’s last minute decision not to receive the Sinhala leader. The foreign ministry naturally tried to downplay the incident, saying the programme was tentative. But highly placed sources in the government maintains the Tamil Nadu chief minister had agreed and then changed her mind at the last minute. Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict has in the past often impinged on Tamil Nadu politics, and this time around Jayalaithaa’s refusal to meet with President Rajapakse is believed to be linked with the assembly elections in the state in April next year. The AAIDMK leader would not like to be seen entertaining a hard line Sinhala President, who had based his election campaign on preserving the unitary constitution of the island nation. All Tamils, including those against the LTTE as well as the moderate political parties want devolution of power to the Tamil areas and are not in favour of the unitary constitution. Jayalalithaa has in the past taken a tough stand against the LTTE. Her refusal to meet Rajapakse has little to do with the LTTE, and more to do with his image as a pro-Sinhala Buddhist leader, popular with the chauvinist Buddhist clergy. He fought the presidential elections with the help of the radical Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna (JVP), a party vehemently opposed to devolution of power to Tamil areas. With elections in Tamil Nadu just over four months away, Jayalalithaa does not want to take the risk of meeting Rajapakse. The President was to stop over and meet Jayalaithaa on his way home to Colombo on Saturday. Rajapakse is unfamiliar to the Indian establishment and his first visit abroad since taking office is naturally to New Delhi, where he wants to convince Indian leaders that he is not a unpredictable hardliner but a man of peace. Earlier on Wednesday, President Rajapakse was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, from where he went to Raj Ghat to lay a wreath in the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. During official talks in Hyderabad House with PM Singh, the Sri Lankan leader gave his assessment of the current situation in the island, which has seen an escalation in violence in the last fortnight. On Tuesday, the LTTE again attacked an army unit and killed six Lankan soldiers. Later he had a forty-minute one on one with Singh. Details of that meeting are not known. But Rajapakse would have certainly tried to persuade Singh of the necessity for Indian involvement in the peace talks in Sri Lanka. Colombo is unhappy with the Norwegians believing that despite their good intentions, they are unable to understand the complexities of the ethnic strife in the island. India of course is in no mood to be directly involved having burnt its fingers once. Ministers rebuff President’s orders ? President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday sent a directive from New Delhi informing ministers to visit all houses of service personnel killed on Tuesday’s attack in Jaffna, but some senior ministers have reportedly responded saying JVP and JHU members should attend the funeral instead. The directive was conveyed to the Defence Ministry officials by Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse who telephoned from Delhi and instructed that at least five ministers should attend the funerals of the Army personnel. The Daily Mirror learns that a senior minister, when contacted by a Defence Ministry official, replied that he does not want to get assaulted by people by attending the funeral ceremonies. The minister had reportedly added that the JVP and JHU which took up a hard line position should be held responsible for the mess the country was in and should send their members to attend the funerals, not Government ministers. The Sri Lankan delegation led by President Rajapakse had already left the country on Tuesday when eleven soldiers including two military intelligence men were killed and five soldiers injured in the claymore attack in Jaffna. The bodies of the soldiers are being brought to Colombo and it is learnt that UNP parliamentarians would attend the funeral ceremonies. Two youths shot and killed in Jaffna Sri Lanka Army soldiers manning the checkpoint at Mutthirai Junction, located on Jaffna - Point Pedro Road near Nallur, opened fire on two youths who were riding in a motorbike, killing both of them on the spot. The incident took place Wedensday at 5:00 p.m. Civiian sources in the area said, the youths, who did not stop at the checkpoint when blocked by the soldiers, were unarmed contradictory to the claims made by Jaffna Police that the SLA soldiers had recovered a grenade from the killed youths. Meanwhile, two SLA soldiers were wounded in two different grenade attacks in Jaffna Wednesday. The youths riding in the motorbike with the registration no NPJA 5733 are to be indentified yet.The bodies have been taken to Jaffna hospital by the Police.Acting Judge of Jaffna District Mrs. Sarojini Ilankovan, visited the hospital mortuary to inspect the bodies, medical sources said. Two SLA soldiers were wounded in two different grenade attacks, one in Urumpirai Junction at 1:30 p.m. and another at Punnalaikadduvan at 2:30 p.m., Police sources said. Army Chief visits Jaffna With the death toll in the claymore mine attack on the military in Jaffna on Tuesday increasing to 12, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka yesterday visited the Jaffna peninsula to study at first hand the security situation in the area. Military sources said the Army Chief visited several areas and also held talks with senior and junior commanding officers. Army Headquarters said the twelfth victim of the claymore mine explosion in Nelliyadi in Jaffna succumbed to his injuries at the Colombo National Hospital on Tuesday night. He was identified as R.M.U. Ratnayake of Badulla. The names of the other victims are Sergeant K. Premasiri, Corporal W. Dhanapriyawansa, Corporal B.L.U. Nandana, Lance Corporal K.M.A. Pushpakuamara, Lance Corporal D.M. Dissanayake, Privates Liyanage, K.A.R. Fernando, Wegamatale, J. Gamini, J.M.C. Sandanayake and L.A.Jayaratne. Govt and LTTE Trying To Fool World - Wicramabahu. Dr Vickramabahu Karunarathne, the General Secretary of NSSP said that government and LTTE are trying to mislead the world and the country with the peace process. He mocked the LTTE and government for giving importance for peace talk venue than contents of the talks. "Mahinda needs peace for everything. Especially for foreign aid. And the LTTE wants to get international recognizing as the sole representative of Tamil people." he said. Residents against new SLA camp in Barathipuram People of Barathipuram, a Tamil village between Muttur and Killiveddy, located at 58th milepost, have complained to Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district parliamentarian that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials are preparing to establish a new camp in their village. Mr.Thurairatnasingham promptly has sent his protest to the President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse requesting him to abandon the plan for the new camp, sources said. Villagers told Mr.Thurairatnasingham that army officials have visited Barathipuram and selected a site to set up the new camp. "Peace prevails in the village in spite of several incidents taking place in the adjoining villages. SLA is currently conducting daily patrol in the village without any hindrance. In this circumstance the establishment of a new camp in the village is likely to force the Tamil people to vacate their houses as they are scared of the presence of soldiers," said Mr.Thurairatnasingham in his letter faxed to President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse Tuesday, sources said. Mr.Thurairatnasingham has brought to the notice of the President that there is already an army camp functioning within 1 km in Jinna Nagar. The setting up of a new camp in Barathipuram would disrupt the normal life of Tamil people and would cause immense harm in taking forward the peace process, Mr.Thurairatnasingham said. Solheim rushes to India as attacks continue Norwegian Minister of International Development and special peace envoy Erik Solheim has left for India for urgent talks with the Indian government just a few hours after attacks in Jaffna killed 11 soldiers. “Sri Lanka is being pushed towards resuming hostilities and we urged all parties to be vigilant on this,” the Norwegian embassy here said. The special envoy has requested a meeting with the Sri Lankan President while he visits in India, though Sri Lankan officials had earlier turned down the request. The Norwegian Minister is however scheduled to visit Sri Lanka early next month with the intent to convince both parties to resume peace talks. Lankan Navy attacks fishermen Sri Lankan Naval personnel have assaulted fishermen from this island and snatched their "prawn catch" worth Rs. 5-lakh, fishermen association sources said today. They said the personnel attacked the fishermen who were catching fish near Kachathivu yesterday after firing in the air. They threw their equipment including nets, batteries,etc into the sea.They also took away their catch,the sources said. The fishermen had ventured into the sea with due permission from the fisheries department, the sources said, and charged that they were attacked when they were very much in Indian waters. The Lankan Navy's attack on fishermen comes after a gap of about one month, the sources added. Thamilselvan denies LTTE hand in military killings S.P, Thamilselvan head of the LTTE political wing speaking after paying last respects to the late TNA MP Mr Joseph Pararajasingham, said that it had become the norm for Government to blame the LTTE every time the army came under attack. He denied any involvement in the claymore mine attack on the military in Jaffna on Tuesday in which 12 soldiers were killed and noted that the attacks on the army were a result of the harassment faced by the Tamils in Jaffna at the hands of the military. He added that the LTTE continued to act with restraint and in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). He said the LTTE had a high regard for the CFA and always acted with restraint. He said the army continued to impede on the democratic rights of the Tamils in Jaffna and had created an environment where the people were being forced to act against the military. The military he said was experiencing the results of their own actions. The political head of the LTTE urged the international community to put pressure on the government to desist from blaming the LTTE for all acts of violence . Mr. Thamilselvan emphasised that the only way normality could be restored in the Jaffna peninsula was for the army to show respect to the rights of the Tamil civilian population in the North. Accompanying Mr. Thamilselvan to pay their last respects to the slain TNA MP were CWC leader Mr. Arumugam Thondaman, UPF leader Mr. P. Chandrasekaran and WPF leader Mr. Mano Ganeshan. Mannar observes hartal condemning Pararajasingham killing A general shutdown was observed in the Mannar district Wednesday, condemning the killing of the late Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham. Mannar District Tamil Resurgence Movement organized the hartal. Normal life in Mannar town and its suburbs was completely paralyzed, sources said. Shops were closed down. State and private sector banks did not operate. All government and provincial council offices did not function, as workers did not report for duties. Public markets and local government offices were closed down, the sources said. According to the sources, state and private sector bus services were completely disrupted. More Sri Lanka government troops and policemen were deployed to quell any disturbances during the general shutdown. CP condemns MP's assassination The Communist Party of Sri Lanka condemns the brutal and cowardly act of killing the senior Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham, a message by the Communist Party of Sri Lanka said. It extends its profound condolences to his bereaved family and to the Tamil National Alliance. The message: Twenty-six Parliamentarians have been killed with the eruption of violence in the North and East. Among them were 16 Tamil MPs. They all were eminent educated and popular. There has been a marked increase of violence in the last few weeks causing deaths to a large number of security personnel and non-LTTE political activists. The LTTE cannot abdicate its responsibilities for the escalation of this violence. Continuation of violence is a threat to the Peace Process particularly at a time when the President has expressed his willingness and readiness to commence talks without any pre-conditions. The LTTE has clearly embarked on a strategy to create a war psychosis in the people's minds in the North and East by resorting to a state of senseless killings once again. This trend of violence frustrates the aspirations of the peace-loving people and provokes the security fora for retaliation. The LTTE seems to have been enraged by the high rate of voting at the recent Presidential Election in defiance of its call for boycott and the possible erosion of people's trust in them. It's claim as the sole representative of the Tamil people seems to be in jeopardy. The party reiterates that there is no alternative to a negotiated settlement in the search for a political solution to the ethnic question and calls upon the LTTE to stop forthright this spate of senseless killings and embark upon a strategy of a negotiated settlement. It calls upon the Government not to deviate from the Peace Process, succumbing to the pressure of provocation. No travel blocks for NGO’s The Defence Ministry yesterday categorically denied media reports that travel restriction have been placed on foreign nationals attached to non governmental organisations. A Joint Operations Headquarters in a statement said no travel restrictions have been placed on foreigners accredited to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and working in the northeast whether in cleared or uncleared areas. “It is regretted that certain media organisations are deliberately trying to create embarrassment by distorting and misinterpreting facts related to their travel to un-cleared areas. All those who want assistance in this connection are requested to contact the Defence Ministry for any clarification”, the statement said. Germany says no to ethnic division of Sri Lanka The German Government is not at any rate prepared to serve the interests of the LTTE to divide Sri Lanka on an ethnic basis or upon any other factor. This was revealed by the German Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Jugan Weerth when he addressed the inauguration of construction work at the proposed Maternity Hospital site at Mahamodera, Galle, recently. The proposed hospital is coming up in place of the Maha Modera Government Hospital that was destroyed under tidal waves of December 26, last year. The new construction undertaken by the Helmut Kohl Foundation of Germany is estimated to cost Rs. 1,500 million. Speaking further, the German Ambassador said that the Government of Germany is deeply concerned with the escalation of terrorist activities by the LTTE which should take up the responsibility for the recent spate of attacks in violation of the Cease-fire Agreement. The Sri Lankan Government has already expressed its willingness to re-open peace talks and has presented a programme for that purpose. The escalation of massacres and abductions by the LTTE clearly display their direct opposition to peace. The International Community will never approve this stance. The Government of Germany is expecting to join the international community to intervene to establish peace in Sri Lanka, emphasised the German Ambassador. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and a host of indigenous and foreign delegates attended the occasion. Dalai Lama to visit Sri Lanka? The Mahabodhi Society intends to invite the Dalai Lama for the 2550 Buddha Jayanthi commemoration programme. The exiled Tibetan leader had not previously visited Sri Lanka. Although he is believed to have expressed interest in visiting Sri Lanka it never materialised. Successive Sri Lankan governments are believed to have been reluctant as they did not want to upset China, a close ally. Traffic cops
caught red-handed The raids were carried out in Colombo around midnight on Tuesday, following complaints that errant police officers were raking in tidy sums from motorists, taking advantage of the festive season. Director Investigations of the Bribery Commission SP Neville Guruge told the Daily News that the arrests were made at the Kelani bridge at Peliyagoda on the Kandy road after they deployed investigating officers from the Bribery commission. The Commission was compelled to step in following a huge number of complaints from the public of Traffic Police Officers soliciting bribes from motorists especially at the height of the current festive season. SP Guruge said according to complaints received the Traffic Police officers were in the habit of nabbing errant drivers and charging them for two or three offenses. "They offer three options - the (legal) spot fine ticket, Court action or in the alternative part with the payment of half the spot fine," Guruge added. Since the spot fines are so high according to the new traffic laws drivers invariably settle the matter by going for the third option. "In this way the Government is losing a large amount of money that should accrue to the Treasury as fines," SP Guruge added. The offenders were a Police Constable and two RPCs. They were arrested while accepting Rs.500 from a driver at the Kelani bridge at Peliyagoda on the Kandy road. They were produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate and remanded till January 5. SP Neville Guruge said the public could inform the Bribery Commission regarding such acts over the phone and the Commission is ready to send their investigating officers to arrest such Police officers. 28 December 2005 Sri Lanka's Violence Erodes Truce Accord, U.S. Government Says – Bloomberg Sri Lanka's cease-fire agreement with Tamil Tiger rebels is being eroded by increasing violence, including the deaths of 24 soldiers in the past five days, the U.S. State Department said. The U.S. called on the government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ``to embrace peace and work together to build a future for Sri Lanka,'' the State Department said in an e-mailed statement today from Washington. ``We are deeply concerned about the continued erosion'' of the cease-fire in force since February 2002. Sri Lanka's government accused the LTTE of showing its ``disregard for peace'' by carrying out attacks in the Jaffna Peninsula. Tamil leaders say the army has provoked the violence with its security crackdown on civilians in the region. The U.S. is among the leading donor nations which have pledged $4.5 billion in aid to Sri Lanka on condition there is progress toward a peace settlement in the South Asian island nation. Sri Lanka's economy has expanded every quarter since the cease-fire agreement was signed. The Liberation Tigers should ``engage positively'' with the government in peace talks, the State Department said. A landmine explosion yesterday in Jaffna killed 11 soldiers, the army said in a statement. It came four days after 13 Sri Lankan naval personnel were killed by a landmine in Nadukuda. Attacks on Dec. 4 and 6 in the area killed 15 soldiers. Tamil Group A group called the ``Roaring People's Force'' has said it carried out recent attacks on the army in the Jaffna region in retaliation for the military killing civilians, the TamilNet Web site reported. The group, in a faxed message to local media, warned of escalating operations after the deaths on Dec. 24 of five civilians in Jaffna, the report said. Jaffna is close to rebel-held territory in Sri Lanka's north. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been fighting for a separate homeland in the island's north and east since 1983. Sri Lanka's benchmark stock index had its biggest drop in almost 21 months yesterday after news of the latest attack. The Colombo All-Share Index fell 153.2 points, or 7.5 percent, to 1880.2, the biggest decline since April 6, 2004. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse invited the rebels for talks after his election victory last month. The Tamil Tigers said Rajapakse must produce a political solution to the conflict by next year or the group will intensify its struggle. Visit to India Rajapakse will discuss the increasing violence with government officials in India during a visit that began yesterday. ``There is no change in the stand that India should be more involved in the peace process,'' Lucien Rajakarunanayake, a spokesman for the president's office, said yesterday. ``The new developments in the critical peace process will definitely be taken up for discussion.'' India sent a peacekeeping force to Sri Lanka in 1987 which was drawn into fighting with armed Tamil groups resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The Indian force, which consisted of 7,000 soldiers in 1987, grew to 45,000 personnel before it was withdrawn in 1990. Norway helped broker the February 2002 cease-fire that has brought the longest respite in the two-decade civil war. Rajapakse earlier this month invited Norway to resume its mediation effort and Erik Solheim, Norway's minister for international development, who has been overseeing the peace mission, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka soon. The Tamil rebels said they support Norway continuing its role as a mediator, and consider the Norwegian capital, Oslo, the ideal venue for talks. Rajapakse rejected Oslo as a venue after Japan, among the countries pledging aid to Sri Lanka, offered to host peace talks. Grenade attack kills soldier, injures wife in Trincomalee Mr. Sunil, a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, was killed, and his wife and brother-in-law were injured when unknown assailants hurled a grenade and opened fire inside the soldier's house located in Sangamam, a suburb located about five km northeast of Trincomalee town along Kandy-Trincomalee highway Tuesday night around 9 p.m, sources in Trincomalee said. The injured are warded in the Trincomalee general hospital, sources said. The soldier's death brought the number of killings in a three day period in Trincomalee to four marking an escalation in violence in the district. A Sinhalese trader Mr. Albert Hendric Weerakody was shot dead on December 24th night. Next day night two three-wheeler drivers Tamils were killed in two separate incidents, police said LTTE
pins hope on India’s regional parties This belief was expressed by the LTTE's ideologue, KV Balakumaran, in an interview to the Voice of Tigers radio last week. The interview, subsequently carried by some Tamil newspapers and websites, was given in the context of the visit of the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India, a visit which is making pro-LTTE Tamils fear that India may promise military aid to the Sri Lankan government in case war breaks out. Balakumaran said the Tamils of Sri Lanka need not fear India now. Some Tamils were inclined to think that they would not be able to achieve their objectives unless they kowtowed to India, but these people were wrong because their fears were based on an "exaggerated" notion of India's power, he said. "The Indian government is not like what we think. Today, it is not as strong as it was before," he asserted. Recent Indian governments had been made up of many parties and many of these were regional parties, voicing regional sentiments, he pointed out. And throughout the country, regional parties had come to the fore and were giving expression to regional demands, he said. "The central government has had to accommodate these sentiments and demands. And there are also separatist movements in the North East of India with which New Delhi has been conducting talks outside the country, with quiet, foreign mediation," the LTTE ideologue said. "We welcome these developments," he added. Balakumaran said that the government of India would take note of the warning of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko, that Tamil Nadu could become a "Kashmir" if New Delhi acted against the interests of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Dependence on support from Indian people, especially Tamils "When we talk of India's support, we mean the support of the Indian people, especially the people of Tamil Nadu," Balakumaran said. There were always people in Tamil Nadu who wanted to support the Sri Lankan Tamil struggle led by the LTTE, but they were suppressed by laws like POTA, he said. "Now that POTA has gone, people are beginning to voice their support for us again," he said. No support separatist forces in India Stating the LTTE's position on India, Balakumaran said that the LTTE would not do anything against India's strategic interests in the region by cultivating forces like China and Japan, which were inimical to it. The LTTE would also not support regional forces in India, which demanded separation from the Indian Union, though it would support regional and ethnic groups, which were fighting for their rights within the Indian union. "We are not enemies of the Indian government. But we want India to avoid besmirching the name of our leadership and weakening it. India should see the Tamils' struggle in Sri Lanka as a peoples' struggle. " "Even if India does not support us, it should not weaken us," Balakumaran said. India's Lanka policy has changed According to the LTTE's ideologue, India's stand vis-à-vis Sri Lanka has changed. He added that President Rajapaksa was "in for a shock" in New Delhi. He pointed out that of late, New Delhi had been rejecting the Rajapaksa government's demands in matters relating to the peace process. New Delhi had torpedoed Colombo's bid to jettison Norway from the role of facilitator; showed no interest in the proposal to renegotiate the Ceasefire Agreement; and had refused to support a plan to separate the Eastern districts from the North districts to break the predominantly Tamil-speaking North Eastern Province. Balakumaran pointed out that it was India which had brought the united North Eastern Province into being under the India-Sri Lanka Accord of July 1987. The LTTE's ideologue said that India's foreign policy had kept changing depending on its changing interests, and it was proving the adage that in politics, there were no permanent friends or permanent enemies. Pirapaharan pays tribute to slain TNA MP The leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, on Tuesday, paid tribute to the slain senior Tamil politician Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham in the Vanni. The body of the Tamil National Alliance paraliamentarian, who was shot inside Batticaloa St. Mary's Co-Catherdal during Christmas mass on Sunday, was taken to LTTE controlled Kokkadicholai on Monday and to Kilinochchi on Tuesday. The funeral service of the MP is to take place in the church where he was slain Thursday after receiving Holy Communion from Bishop Kingsley Swampillai. Earlier, Mr Pirapaharan honoured Joseph Pararajasingam with LTTE's highest civilian title "Mamanithar." The body was kept for people to pay tribute at Karadiyanaru in Kokkaddicholai for 3 hours on Monday. LTTE's Special Commander for Batticaloa, Col. Bhanu, Batticaloa Commander Nagesh, Commander Piraba, Government officials, religious leaders and fellow TNA MPs were present at Karadiyanaru. The body was also kept at Ramakrishnan Mission Vidyalayam for public viewing. Later the body was taken to Kaluwanchikudy and Arayampathi, and then taken to the MP's house in Batticaloa. Batticaloa district observed a general shut down, and black and white flags were seen in the town. TNA's Batticaloa district MPs, Mrs. K. Thangeswari and Mr. P.Kanagasabai, joined the escort of the coffin to Kilinochchi from Batticaloa. Sri Lanka Police, Special Task Force soldiers and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials attended the procession. The procession reached Vavuniya at 2:30 p.m and stopped there for more than an hour allowing residents of Vavuniya to pay tribute. Sri Lankan Police and military officials also paid tribute to the slain MP. Vanni district TNA parliamentarians and TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan, Sivasakthi Anandan and Sivanathan Kishore joined the procession towards Kilinochchi with the SLMM facilitation. LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P.Thamilchelvan and the Financial Head of the LTTE Mr. Thamilenthi, senior members and commanders of the Tigers joined the LTTE leader in Vanni to pay tribute to the slain Tamil leader. Military uniforms discovered in Batticaloa church Two pairs of military fatigue jackets and trousers, two
pairs of shoes and a bag were recovered Tuesday morning around 11:00 a.m.
from a rest-room attached to St. Anthony's church located close to the
St. Mary's church where the Tamil National Alliance MP Joseph Pararajasingham
was murdered on Sunday. St. Anthony's church is located 100 meters away from St. Mary's church. SLMM: Jaffna situation
'very dangerous' At least 11 soldiers have been killed in Puloly on Tuesday, 25km (15 miles) north-east of Jaffna town when the vehicle carrying them hit a landmine. LTTE accused Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told bbcsinhala.com that at least three other soldiers were also injured. He accused the Tamil Tiger rebels of carrying out the attack. There has been a sharp increase in violence in the past few weeks and foreign monitors say a four-year-old ceasefire is under severe strain. More than 40 soldiers have been killed this month in northern Sri Lanka. The SLMM, however, denied that the monitors should be responsible to control the escalation of violence. 'No policing' “It is the parties’ responsibility. We are not here to police the country,” Haukland told BBC Sandeshaya (Sinhala Service). He said the truce monitors themselves are in danger. “We have nearly stopped our all operations in the peninsular due to the dangerous situation.” Haukland described the violence in December as “worst since 2002.” MP killed Tamil Tigers were accused in killing 13 Sri Lanka Navy sailors last week in a similar attack, but the LTTE denied any involvement. However, analysts say that few believe LTTE’s denial. Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham was shot dead in Batticaloa on Sunday morning while attending the Christmas Mass. Tamil Tigers accused the military intelligence of carrying
out the assassination but the security forces accused the LTTE. Two special police units have been deployed to arrest ten senior police officers who became millionaires with the assistance of drug kingpins, police headquarters sources said yesterday. During the ‘Operation Clean up’, launched by the police narcotics unit, they found that leading drug peddlers had been backed and protected by ten top senior police officers. The police officers become millionaires with the bribes they received from the drug peddlers, police sources said. Some officers had bought two or three additional luxury houses in Colombo during the past few years, police found. It was further revealed that some officers had aided and abetted the transport of drugs and according to information obtained from drug peddlers. "They evade arrest since they wear the police uniform while transporting drugs," a senior narcotics official said. Following the drug busting operation the retail selling of drugs in Colombo and its suburbs has dropped drastically, police said adding that the two special police units were zeroing on their corrupt colleagues. Armed men drive away two Halo Trust vehicles Unidentified armed men forced into the parking garage
located close to the offices of Halo Trust, located at the junction of
Nallur Cross Street and Navalar Road, and drove away two vehicles belonging
to the NGO after tying the guards Tuesday afternoon, sources in Jaffna
said. Following the robbery of vehicles, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police cordoned and searched the surrounding areas. No one was arrested in the search. Prior to this incident, a computer and land mine clearing equipments were also stolen from the same compound. After an earlier incident of vehicle theft, Halo Trust premises were guarded by police. However, police withdrew from this duty over security concerns for their personnel. Subsequently, the security for the Halo Trust premises were provided by private guards. Halo Trust is an NGO currently involved in demining operations in Jaffna district. JHU To Contest Provincial Council Elections The Jathika Hela Urumaya had decided to contest the Provincial Council Elections which are scheduled to be held early next year, according to sources from JHU. Sources further added that the party is planning extend the participation of more monks in politics with giving nomination to several monks and laymen to contest for the election "We are planning to contest for all districts in the country apart from the Northern Province. But we plan to contest in several districts in Eastern Province." JHU source said. Jaffna University re-opening in the balance The turmoil stricken Jaffna University, currently shutdown to prevent further clashes between undergrads and the army would not re-open as scheduled on January 2 if violence in the peninsula continues to escalate, education sources in the north said. The University was temporarily shut down after violent clashes ensued between protesting students and the army on December 19 and 20, resulting in gunshot and other injuries to several undergrads and some lecturers. A few security forces personnel were also injured in the clashes which were sparked off after the discovery of the body of a 20-year-old girl allegedly raped and dumped in an abandoned well near a Navy camp on December 17. UGC Chairman Prof Ranjith Mendis, Education Minister Susil Premajayanth, Jaffna Commander Major General Chandrasiri and Jaffna GA K. Ganesh have also been briefed on the situation which could affect the education activities of 6,000 undergraduates at the University. Agitation by University student groups has focused mainly on the removal of two army checkpoints in the Parameshwara and Kalladdy junctions near the university. Students allege that army personnel harass students at these checkpoints. The problem was highlighted by the TNA in Parliament as well last week during the budget debate, and President Mahinda Rajapakse who is the Defence Minister assured the House that he had appointed a committee to address the problem. On December 19, the army clashed with undergrads and lecturers at the Parameshwara junction and there were further clashes inside the premises of the university the following day. Several students and journalists were injured and two lecturers, Prof Perinpanathan and Arts Faculty Dean Prof Sivachandran were also injured. However contrary to certain reports Vice Chancellor Prof. K. Mohanadas was not injured in the clash. The Jaffna VC’s term will be ending in March and the post will be falling vacant. There have already been discussions with the army hierarchy in Jaffna for the removal of the two check points with signs of a compromise being reached on the matter. Students have also alleged that they were subject to harassment when army personnel search boarding houses where some of them reside. The Army has reportedly agreed to be more lenient on students when carrying out search operations. Meanwhile the UGC has decided not to include Sinhala and Muslim students for the new intake into the Jaffna University. Earlier this year 59 Muslim and Sinhala students from the Jaffna Medical Faculty were relocated to other universities following harassment by Tamil students. Trincomalee observes hartal in protest against Pararajasingham's killing Trincomalee Tamil speaking people Tuesday observed a general shut down in response to the call by the Trincomalee district Tamil Resurgence Committee condemning the assassination of Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham and killings of Tamil civilians in their homeland, and demanding the withdrawal of government armed forces deployed in Trincomalee violating the Ceasefire Agreement, sources said. Black flags were seen hoisted on houses and other buildings. All roads were deserted with out civilian and vehicular movements except troops of the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy at every junction in the east port city and its suburbs. State and private bus stands are seen deserted without commuters and empty buses parked. General market owned by the Trincomalee Urban Council (UC) and managed by Sinhala vendors against the rules and regulations of the council is deserted. Offices of the North East Provincial Council ministries and departments were closed down as workers failed to report for duty. The office of the Trincomalee UC and Trincomalee Pradesiya Sabah (PS) were closed down. Business establishments of all the three communities were closed down and branches of State and private banks did not operate. Few workers reported for work in the central government controlled government departments, which are located inside the Fort Frederick Offices of the national and international level non-government organizations were also closed down, sources said. Maj. Gen. Tennakoon appointed as vice chairman for Airport & Aviation Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ports and Aviation Mangala Samaraweera has decided to appoint Major General Sunil Tennakoon to the post of vice chairman of Airport and Aviation with immediate effect. Maj. Gen. Tennakoon has had a distinguished career in the Sri Lankan military and served as a military spokesperson and security forces commander in Jaffna. Sirima-Shastri Pact created problems: Ganesan Western People’s Front charged that the Srima – Shastri Pact signed by India was the cause for the present plight of the Tamils of Indian origin living in the plantation areas. WPF leader Mano Ganesan MP was of the opinion that India was helping a certain coterie of leaders, political parties and trade unions but the resultant benefits bestowed to them by India was not reaching the poor estate workers or populace. He made a request to the Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao to help socially and economically the downtrodden Indian plantation Tamils and stressed that it was a cardinal moral responsibility of India. He reiterated that his party and its trade union, the Democratic Workers’ Congress and the Tamil People of Colombo District were not concerned about the personal favours India is rendering to certain entities which were apparently not beneficial to the estate workers. He said it was high time that India looked into the real and direct interests of the Estate Tamils who constituted a populace of 15 lakhs. All five Jaffna vicitims identified as civilians The young woman, who was shot and killed by the SLA soldiers
and dressed up with denim trousers last Saturday, was identified as a
heart patient, Ms Parameswari Somasundaram, 26, who had come to Jaffna
Hospital for treatment from Konavil in Kilinochchi. Two other remaining
bodies were also identified as belonging civilians from Kanakarayankulam
and Pallai. Two bodies were earlier identified as belonging to a night
watcher and a garage worker in Kottady. The Sri Lanka Military spokesman
in Colombo had claimed that the five persons were gunmen who were shot
by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and that troopers had recovered weapons from
the victims. Thirunavukarasu Jeyakanthan, 26, a local businessman from Pallai, Ratnakumar Kunasegar, 19, a carpenter from Kanakarayankulam were identified as the male victims. Parents of the victims identfied the bodies at the presence of Acting Judge of Jaffna District and Mallakam Magistrate Mrs. Sarojini Ilankovan. The ICRC has arranged for the transport of the three bodies to LTTE controlled area, sources added. Earlier, two victims were identified as civilians. Krishnan Vimaleswaran, 39, a night watcher who was in duty at Jaffna Central College was shot inside the school and his body was relocated by the soldiers. The other victim, Palasingham Chandrakumar from Manipay was an employee at a garage in Kottady in Jaffna. Issadeen's plans scuttled An attempt by the Deputy Minister of Media and Highways Segu Issadeen to form the South-East Muslim Nationalist Movement received a severe setback on Sunday. The proposed Movement, aimed at looking after the interests of North-East Muslims, was to be formed at a meeting Issadeen convened at the Town Hall, Samanthurai. The meeting could not be helad as the venue was stormed by a group said to be supporters of his rival politician here. Issadeen's supporters were ejected from the Town Hall and locked out. The police escorted them away safely. Issadeen had promised that he would inaugurate the South East Muslim Nationalist Movement as he believed it was the only option for the oppressed Muslims of North-East. The Governor said the meeting was disturbed not because the people were not interested in the movement but a powerful politician of the area was against it. Former Czech diplomat hides from creditors in Sri Lanka - press PRAGUE- Alexandr Vetengl who was Czech diplomat in Sri
Lanka at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s has been hiding in Sri Lanka
from his family, business partners and debts, the daily the daily Hospodarske
noviny (HN) writes. But several people knew already then that Vetengl wants to travel to Sri Lanka for other reasons as well, the paper says. "We announced a national search for Vetengl. We wanted to start to prosecute him as a fugitive and issue an international arrest warrant on him but a state attorney did not recommend this," Prague police spokeswoman told that paper. Vetengl was to help the Czech Hand for Help NGO's mission communicate with Sri Lankan authorities. However, he withheld from the organisers of the mission that he had legal problems in the Czech Republic. Vetengl received a suspended sentence in 2004 for not paying alimony worth nearly 400,000 crowns for his four children from his two marriages. Moreover, he borrowed 3 million crowns several years ago allegedly to build a factory in Sri Lanka, though he seems to never start any such project, the daily writes. He has not returned the money and is suspected of fraud. When the Hand for Help members learnt of his past, they immediately stopped cooperating with him. However, Vetengl did not return to his home country, but escaped from the mission's base with a satellite phone. Several months ago Vetengl returned the phone through a mediator, but Czech police and his creditors have not heard of him since. The Hand for Help ran a field clinic in southern Sri Lanka. The paper writes that sponsors stopped to support the mission when it had come out that Vetengl was among its volunteers. ($1=24.388 crowns) Colonel Kittu Memorial Park burnt and destroyed by SLA The memorial park in Nallur dedicated to Colonel Kittu
was found destroyed Tuesday morning. It is alleged that the park was destroyed
by Sri Lankan Army (SLA) from members at the SLA camp located at the Mutturai
junction, close to the memorial park. The memorial park, built around 1994, was completely destroyed in 1996 when the SLA captured Jaffna. After the ceasefire, the park was partially renovated only to be destroyed again by this recent incident. Endless Brutality: Killing of Joseph Pararajasingam, MP for Batticaloa, Sri Lanka The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) strongly condemns the escalating political killings in Sri Lanka, which may plunge the country into the abyss of war and chaos. It is deplorable that people of all walks of life are targeted, including members of parliament, journalists, writers, academics, human rights defenders, social and community workers, NGO staff, lawyers, students, women, educators, priests and members of political parties, progressive organizations and trade unions. With them die their dreams, idealism, commitment, courage, youth, love and hope. A part of us perishes with them and the hopes and dreams of communities and the nation they represent are shattered. The TIC is outraged by the brutal and diabolical killing of Batticaloa Member of Parliament Joseph Pararajasingham. With the killing of Mr Pararajasingam, we have once again witnessed the tragedy of a crime motivated by hate and ignorance, striking at the very heart of democracy and freedom. Mr Pararajasingham was closely associated with the TIC since 1985, assisting TIC in the vital task of documentation and has involved in human rights advocacy initiatives. The TIC and the Tamil community have lost a strong defender of human rights of the Tamil people. His loss will be felt by many at the TIC and in the human rights community. The TIC has been increasingly concerned over the widespread and morally reprehensible harassment, intimidation and senseless violence against civilians. The prevalence of armed gangs has contributed to an increasing culture of gun violence in Sri Lanka. Our concern has deepened in the last few months, as the targeting of civilians by all parties with impunity is regarded callously as insignificant or inevitable. Whether it is the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE, or any other militias or paramilitary groups or factions, any party involved in such actions, it is delusional to imagine that such acts would in any way contribute to the cause or for a better society. Nothing can justify these terrible acts of violence and their actions have no place in any struggle for justice. Such acts show the grave danger to democratic traditions and it clearly shows the urgent need for all communities to unite irrespective of ethnicity, religion and political opinion. We call upon the members of the Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim communities of Sri Lanka to stand together against intolerance, prejudice, violence, bigotry and crime and impunity and categorically affirm that “such acts are wrong and unacceptable and we will no longer tolerate such actions”. The Tamil Information Centre also calls on the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to spell out the specific measures they will implement to protect the people who speak out about human rights abuses and express political dissent in the island. Only the government and the LTTE can curb abuses committed by their agents and by armed gangs in the regions under their control. In this moment of immense sadness, our thoughts are with Mrs Sugunam Pararajasingham and the other innocent worshipers who sustained injuries in the attack and their families which have been subjected to the trauma. KFW Bank of Germany
assists to construct The Tsunami devastated 8000 houses in Batticaloa, district and Kalmunai area in Ampara, will be reconstructed with the assistance of KFW Bank of Germany. This programme will be launched within next 03 years at a cost of Euro 10 million (Rs. 1200 million). The KFW Bank of Germany will assist to reconstruct 3800 houses in Batticaloa, district and 4000 houses in Kalmunai area beyond the buffer zone. The progress review meeting of this programme was held at the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) Head Office recently. The representative of the KFW Bank and members of the BGS International Consultancy Agency which provides the consultation service to this programme were present on this occasion. Under this programme the government will provide cash grant of Rs. 250,000/- to construct the fully damaged houses and Rs. 100,000/- for partly damaged houses. The cash grant for this fully damaged houses will be distributed in 04 installments based on the progress of the construction work and partly damaged houses will be paid out their grant in 02 installments. This grants will be disburse to the beneficiaries by the Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank. Under the guidance of Ministry of Finance, this programme will be supervised by the District Secretary of relevant districts’. The NHDA will provide the technical assistance for the construction of these houses. The Consultant of BGS International Consultancy Agency, Mr. Claus Peters expressing his views on this occasion said "The reconstruction of Batticaloa, and Kalmunai areas devastated by Tsunami, will be carried out with the participation of beneficiary families. The participation of the NHDA is important for this programme became their one of the experienced organizations in the housing field. In addition to this programme we can learn many lessons from the Gujarat Construction Programme of India" he said. Mr. Piyal Ganepola, General Manager of NHDA, Mr. Reinhard Dalchou, Director, Information Office of KFW, Colombo, Mr. I. D. Kuruppu of SLHP, Dr. N. Wilhelm of BGS and Deputy General Managers of NHDA, Messrs. Nimal Chandrasiri, Jayantha Domingo, H. S. R. Perera, Jinadasa Amarasinghe and Eric Ediriwickrama, also participated in this discussion. Italian government funds Euro 52 million tsunami rehabilitation projects A high level team from the Italian Government led by a former Prime Minister of Italy Gullano Amato is in Sri Lanka to assess the progress of 42 projects launched with Italian Government assistance for rehabilitation of tsunami affected areas in the Southern and Eastern Provinces. The members of the delegation comprising Italian Members of Parliament and senior officials of Civil Protection Department along with a group of Italian journalists met Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday and explained the details of the projects launched and pledged the Italian Government's commitments to complete these projects soon. Accompanying the delegation was Italian Ambassador in Sri Lanka Pio Mariani. Gullano explained to the Prime Minister that the total Italian aid package amounted to Euro 52 Million and the projects cover mainly in the fields of education, health and environment. Of the 42 projects, 15 are in respect of development of schools in the Galle and Trincomalee districts. The monies for these projects are collected from Italian donors and is channelled through the Italian Civil Protection Department. The former Italian Prime Minister also expressed the profound sorrow of the Italian Government and the people over the tragic loss of lives and property. He recalled the cordial and friendly relations that existed between Sri Lanka and Italy and said the Italian government is ready to assist Sri Lanka in times of need. The delegation also expressed the wish that peace would dawn in Sri Lanka in the near future as a result of the fresh efforts made by the President Mahinda Rajapakse to achieve peace. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake thanked the Italian Government and the donors for the generous assistance which he said was a demonstration of the friendly and cordial relations the two countries had been maintaining. He explained the fresh efforts made by President Mahinda Rajapakse to solve the North East conflict specially his new approach to finding a solution in first arriving at a consensus among all political parties in the South before discussing with the LTTE a solution to the problem. If not it is bound to fail, as had been the previous experience, in view of the fact that any solution require a two third majority approval by Parliament. The Prime Minister said the President had already held a preliminary rounds of talks with the main political parties including the main Tamil Political party, the TULF to arrive at a consensus. He asserted the Government stands firmly committed to arriving at a peaceful solution despite provocative actions of the LTTE in unleashing a wave of violence and violation of the ceasefire agreement. The Italian delegation comprised Former Prime Minister of Italy Amato Gullano (leader of delegation), Beloni Elisabetta, Bertoiaso Guido, Borino Emma, Canale Angelo, Cinti Gluseppe, Maccha Ganmarco Miozzo Agostino, Monorchio Andree, Pacifico Claudia, Spazante Vincenzo and Spoientini Luca. US Tamils call for sanctions against SL Government Expressing anger and sadness at the killing of Senior
Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham, US based Tamil Organizations,
in a press release issued Monday, pointed out that "Tamils killings
are never investigated...and armed forces in Sri Lanka operate with complete
impunity," urged the international community to "show political
and moral courage and impose sanctions on the government of Sri Lanka
in order to put an immediate end of this deliberated and calculated violence." A CALL TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT OF SRI LANKA We, the undersigned organizations in USA are angry and deeply saddened by the brutal murder of Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham, Tamil Parliamentarian and a human rights activist. We are shocked that the murder was carried out in a church and during a midnight mass to celebrate Christmas. St. Mary’s church where Mr. Pararajasingham was murdered is in a Sri Lankan army controlled High Security Zone in the Batticaloa town. Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham was shot, just after he received communion from Bishop Kingsley Swampillai, the Bishop of Batticaloa. Mr. Pararajasingham’s wife, Sugunam was also seriously wounded and is in a critical condition. Seven others including children were also wounded in this barbaric act. The Tamil people all over the world have lost a fearless champion who risked his life to tell the truth of injustice and cruelty to the Tamils by the Sinhala Buddhist controlled Sri Lankan government. The world has lost an honest and decent human being. Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham was a founding member of the NorthEast Human Rights Secretariat [NESHOR]. He was also an Executive Member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the SAARC Parliamentary Association. Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham met various world leaders and officials including the US Department of State and brought to their attention the persecution of Tamils by the successive Sri Lankan government. When the US Congressman Danny K. Davis visited the Tamil areas this year, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham accompanied him. This callous murder should be seen in the context of Sri Lankan government’s efforts to de-link the Tamils from the international community and denying them an opportunity to bring to their attention, the ceasefire violation and the extrajudicial and sexual assaults perpetrated by the Sri Lankan armed forces. The sanctity of a church and the sacredness of the day were not considered in carrying this atrocious act on Christmas day in a Church. This should not be considered in isolation but in the context of recent persecution of Christians and burning of churches in callous disregard for the religious pluralism in the country by the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinistic forces. We are shocked by the cynicism of the Sri Lankan government which by its statements or insinuations by their spokes person, Sinhala correspondents and Sinhala ‘experts’ are trying to blame the LTTE for this murder. These outrageous accusations as usual are done without any investigations or even the apprehension of the assassins who carried out the murder in a High Security Zone controlled by the Sri Lankan army. This insults the intelligence of people. The location of the assassination a “High Security Zone”, which are Tamil areas occupied by the Sinhala armed forces clearly establishes that this atrocious murder was probably done by the Sri Lankan armed forces or by the paramilitary forces acting in collusion with the Sri Lankan military intelligence. This cowardly action is not only violating the Article 2.1 of the ceasefire agreement which prohibits assassination but also the killing of a noncombatant. It is also a violation of Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War. This is nothing but an act of State terrorism in its naked form. We also sadly point out that the action/inaction on the part of the international community contributed to the present climate. When the Sri Lankan leadership repeatedly claimed that they had established an international safety net designed to surround and contain the Tamils struggle for self-determination, the international community’s failure to repudiate these claims and disassociate itself from the stated partisan goals of such a safety net strengthened the hands of the Sinhala armed forces. The Co-Chair’s turning a blind eye towards the failure of the Sri Lankan armed forces to vacate civilian homes, temples, schools in violation of Article 2.2 of the ceasefire agreement and International Humanitarian Laws; the failure of the Sri Lankan government to disarm the paramilitary groups as required by Article 1.8 of the ceasefire agreement and scuttling of the Post-Tsunami Operational Management [PTOMS] to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Tsunami victims embolden the Sinhala chauvinist forces that they can breach the ceasefire agreement with impunity and impose a military solution to the Tamil national question. In addition, while the international community employs concepts such as “earned sovereignty”, “conditional sovereignty” and “phased out sovereignty” in national conflicts in Sudan, Bougenvilla, Montenegro, and Kosovo, its insistence that its solutions to the current conflicts in the island of Sri Lanka should be within the united Sri Lanka creates a perception that the international community is on the side of the Sinhala chauvinistic forces. The international community must take concrete actions to stop the State terrorism. We are aware that when known leaders of the Tamil struggle are killed, such as Mr. Kausalyan, the head of LTTE’s Eastern political wing and the head of the Eastern Tsunami reconstruction efforts, and Mr. Chandra Nehru, the Human Rights activist and journalist Taraki, the international community expressed concerns. However, the assassination of Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham demonstrates that these concerns have not had any effect on the Sri Lankan government. It is appalling that these and other deaths are never investigated fully and brought to any conclusion. The impunity with which Tamils killings are never properly investigated or punished including mass murders are an encouragement for the armed forces to continue with their killings. However the LTTE is blamed without any effective investigation. This is part of the war to marginalize and dehumanize the only force that can effectively speak up for the Tamils. We are also aware that due to the inherent bias in the international system and diplomatic protocols is easy to criticize and take actions against a non-state party. We also would like to point out that given the political history since independence appeasement of the Sinhala Buddhist forces will not change its pervasive and entrenched racism. The international community must show political and moral courage and impose sanctions on the government of Sri Lanka in order to put an immediate end of this deliberated and calculated violence. Such an action would restore confidence of the Tamil people in the peace process. World Tamil Coordinating Committee – USA 27 December 2005 Suspected Sri Lanka rebel attack kills 10 troops- Source: Reuters Violence prompts fears that island nation will be plunged back into civil war Sri Lanka - Fuelling fears of a return to civil war, suspected Tamil Tiger rebels killed 10 soldiers in the island’s far north on Tuesday in the second mine attack in less than a week, the military said. The attack followed a string of guerrilla ambushes on the military and the assassination of a pro-rebel member of parliament at a Christmas mass that are straining a 2002 truce to breaking point. “It was a claymore attack,” said military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe, referring to the claymore fragmentation mine used in the assault near the northern town of Point Pedro. “Definitely the LTTE is behind this attack,” he said, using the initials of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. “No-one else is capable of doing this kind of claymore mine attack in Jaffna except the LTTE.” A military official said four other soldiers were admitted to hospital after the attack, some in critical condition. On Friday, 13 sailors were killed in an ambush by suspected Tiger rebels using claymore mines and rocket-propelled grenades in the island’s northwest. Emergency talks Two days later Joseph Pararajasingam, a member of parliament for the Tamil National Alliance -- the rebels’ proxies in parliament -- was assassinated at a Christmas mass in the restive eastern district of Batticaloa. “We are very concerned about the situation and urge both parties to show restraint,” said Mats Lundstrom, spokesman for the Nordic Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission overseeing the truce. “We are concerned about the future of the ceasefire agreement.” Sri Lanka’s stock market closed nearly 7 percent lower as news of the latest attack compounded earlier losses prompted by the Christmas killing. Ceasefire monitors have stopped patrols in the northern Jaffna peninsula because of the deteriorating security situation. The Tigers threatened in November to resume their armed struggle to carve out a homeland for ethnic Tamils in the north and east unless they were given wide political powers in about 15 percent of the country where they run a de facto state. 'I fear war will start again' Rajapakse headed to India on Tuesday on his first state visit since winning the presidency in November. He aims to seek more Indian involvement in Sri Lanka’s stalled peace process, but officials and analysts in India said he was unlikely to have much success. Streets were deserted in the military-held Jaffna peninsula -- which is hemmed in by rebel lines. Shops and banks were closed on the orders of a suspected rebel front organization and cash dispensing machines were empty. “I have a strong fear in my heart day and night and am very worried about my family,” said 48-year-old Jaffna butcher Solomon Gerald. “Judging by the present happenings, I fear war will start again at any moment but I won’t go anywhere. I will stay here and face it like the rest,” he added. “Where can we go?” Anti-LTTE ‘Sennan Brigade’ claims it killed MP, others warned Amidst contradictory reports as to who was responsible for the assassination of TNA parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham, a militant clandestine outfit “Sennan Brigade” of Eastern Soil has claimed responsibility for the killing. The anti-LTTE website “Thenee” quoted the London-based Tamil Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) as saying that it received a pamphlet from the “Sennan Brigade” claiming responsibility for the killing. The pamphlet in Tamil addressed to “The people of East” said: “A Traitor of our soil of East has now been eliminated, We of the “Sennan Brigade” take responsibility for the killing of Joseph Pararajasingham who is a traitor of our people,” the TBC said. It also said: “The death punishment was meted out by us to Joseph Pararajasingham for his treachery to our Eastern people and its soil as well as his facilitation for the annihilation of Eastern people by causing a war in collaboration with the Wanni Tigers.” The pamphlet has issued a public warning to TNA Parliamentarians of the Eastern Province Jeyanandamoorthy, Ariyenthiran, Sambanthan, Thurairetnasingham, Kanagasabai, Pathmanathan and Thangeswari to resign from their seats in Parliament without engaging in betrayal against the Eastern people. If not, if they partake any role with the collaboration of the Wanni Tigers in strategy to annihilate our people, death punishment would be executed by us very soon, it warned.The pamphlet of the “Sennan Brigade” also warns that the death sentence awaits those who collaborate with Wanni Tigers. Colombo's bona fides on peace, suspect- TNA The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in
a press release issued Monday said the assassination of Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham
raises serious doubts in regard to the genuineness of the Government's
commitment to the honest and purposeful pursuit of the peace process.
"We consider it our duty to point out that the assassination of Mr.
Pararajasingham, a Tamil leader unequivocally committed to the resolution
of the Tamil question by peaceful means is a serious blow to the credibility
of the peace process," the statement said. Slain TNA MP's body to be brought to Killinochchi THE remains of slain Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingam will be brought to Killinochchi tomorrow. Pararajasingam's body was taken in procession to Kokatticholai yesterday and will be placed in Vavuniya for public viewing today. The body will be taken to Killinochchi and Mullaitivu tomorrow. Later, the body will be brought back to Batticaloa for burial end of this week. The LTTE has called for a hartal in the North and East today with the closure of schools and shops. UNP condemns recent killings United National Party Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya yesterday condemned the recent spate of killings in the North and East, including that of the TNA Parliamentarian on Christmas eve. In a statement, he urged the government to bring the deteriorating security in the country under control at this critical juncture. “We vehemently condemn the recent killings by the LTTE of the Navy personnel at Pesalai and the Intelligence Officer in Nuwara Eliya while they were engaged in their legitimate duties without any provocation”, the statement said. Mr. Jayasuriya said it was with deep shock and sorrow that he learnt of the assassination of Batticaloa MP Joseph Pararajasingham and the critical injuries caused to his wife while they were at Holy Mass. “We wish to remind the parties involved in these senseless and brutal killings, that it is not the way to settle problems in a democratic society”, the statement added. “All these victims have been involved in serving the country. Pararajasingham had been a longstanding MP and had served the country and the Tamil community with a sense of dedication and commitment upholding democratic traditions.He had been an ardent proponent of the idea of a negotiated settlement to the national issue and vehemently shunned violence. His assassination certainly creates an unbridgeable void in the democratic process”, the statement added. Mr. Jayasuriya expressed his sympathies to Mr. Pararajasingham's family, the families of the dead soldiers and that of the National Intelligence Service officer. JHU condemns killing of Joseph Pararajasingham THE Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) in a media release under the signature of its General Secretary Ven.Omalpe Sobhitha Thera yesterday condemned the assassination of TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham while he was engaged in prayers at St. Mary's Church, Batticaloa on Christmas Day. It conveyed the JHU's condolences to the late MP's wife who was herself wounded in the course of the same incident and other members of the bereaved family. While condemning the LTTE's low political and military strategy of putting the blame for this brutal act on the Government Military Forces and the Jathika Hela Urumaya, the media release pointed out that this assassination has to be understood by the past history of the LTTE when their ruthless gun was turned against the friend and foe alike as long as the circumstances warranted such targets to achieve their fascist goals. Tamil Arusu Kachchi MP Joseph Pararajasingham was a TNA ally who efficiently defended LTTE terrorism and its military strategy at an international level. He justified the LTTE terrorist goal of dividing the country against the will of the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and other ethnic groups of the island as a liberation struggle. The Fascist thinking of the LTTE did not recognize the sin of dissolving a worthy friend like Joseph Pararajasingham, as long as that decision helped their Fascist course of separation. By this assassination LTTE targeted two ambitions. One is to mitigate the international disrepute they earned as a result of the Lakshman Kadirgamar assassination. The second is the erasing off of international scars caused by their denial of democratic right to the citizens of the North and East at the last Presidential Election. Similarly the persistent continuation of child conscriptions in the North and East and the callous disregard of the ceasefire agreement in the face of President Mahinda Rajapakse's invitation to resume peace talks are other factors that have blighted the international arena against the LTTE. When viewed against such a backdrop, it is not difficult to understand the LTTE motive to eliminate their friend MP Pararajasingham. His name will go down in the LTTE history as a martyr who laid down his life to achieve the LTTE goal, the JHU Media release pointed out. It warned those who bless the LTTE Fascism both here and abroad, to learn a lesson from the assassination of MP Pararajasingham and join hands ignoring all manner of differences to defeat the LTTE who justify injustice to a nation that aspire for peace and harmony. Joseph Pararajasigham's Murderers Deserve Worst Possible Punishment – Hakeem The leader of the SLMC said in his condolence message to the family of slain Joseph Pararajasigham that the death of Joseph Pararajasigham will be a blow to the Muslim - Tamil harmony in the East. “During this difficult period when the gap between ethnic communities is increasing and peace is in question, a person who gave his voice to find a solution through democratic means has been silenced.” “He raised his voice inside and outside of the country for the problems facing the Tamil people. He showed great concern to remove the bitterness that has risen between the Tamil and Muslim people, especially in the east. He was well respected by his people for his steady and calm approach to issues and his ability to find solutions. We remember with gratitude his concerned participation in the meetings between Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and TNA.” “It is very dangerous to see such killings occurring at this time. It is a warning sign not just for the Northeast, but for the entire country. The people behind this cowardly act only deserve the worst possible punishment because they are taking away the chance for peace that the entire country is yearning for.” he said. SLMC leader who had been recently critical of LTTE over the anti Muslim activities said last week that LTTE must ensure the peaceful existence between Muslims and Tamils in the Eastern province. Assassination
of Joseph Pararajasingam - Anandasangaree Condemns He lamented that a new culture that is developing is killing people in places of worship, which should be strongly condemned. He rightly pointed out that other than the creator, no one is empowered to take another person's life, whatever justifiable reasons one may have. "It is very unfortunate that there is no respect or value for human life. Whether the victim is a king or an ordinary person, what is lost is a valuable human life," TULF Leader castigated in his statement. Anandasangaree in his statement emphasized, "Although there is difference of opinion between us, the mutual love and affection between me and his family continued with utmost regard for each other." He added, "The special quality of Joe's family is the hospitality they show in treating their friends and constituents." He urged the Sri Lanka Government that to make use the emergency regulations to demand the surrender of arms from all unauthorized persons and to impose severe penalties for all those possess arms and for all those who have knowledge of such unauthorized possessions. "While conveying my deepest sympathies to the members of his family, I pray for the early recovery of Mrs. Sugunam Joseph and the others injured in this incident," V.Anandasangaree, said in his signed statement. President to visit
India today During his three-day stay in New Delhi, President Rajapakse will meet Indian Premier Manmohan Singh and other leaders, it said. This visit has also become important as the peace process and Ceasefire Agreement have been threatened by recent provocation. On Wednesday, Indian President Dr. Abdul Kalam will host a special banquet in honour of the Sri Lankan President. President Rajapakse will also lay a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi in Rajghat. He will visit the famous Hindu Temple in Cochin, Guruvayur. The President will be accompanied by Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapakse, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Ferial Ashraff, A. H. M. Fowzie, Rohitha Bogollagama and Felix Perera, several Deputy Ministers and Secretaries of relevant ministries. Thonda not going with President CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman who was to accompany President
Mahinda Rajapakse on his maiden tour to India today has dropped plans
at the last moment apparently as a CWC member who joined the government
was sworn-in as a Deputy Minister. 3 SLA, 2 Police officers injured in Jaffna attacks Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and two Sri Lanka
Police officers were injured in three different attacks against security
forces in Jaffna district Monday, sources in Jaffna said. A SLA soldier was injured in a grenade attack followed by gunfire at at the SLA sentry in near Kailasapillaiyar temple in Temple Road where Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) offices are located in Nallur Jaffna at 7.30 p.m Monday. In a third incident, two SLA soldiers were injured when unidentified assailants threw hand grenades into an SLA sentry at Thattatheru junction in Jaffna at 9 p.m. Meanwhile, following unprovoked attack on two traders at the Irupalai junction by the SLA soldiers Monday morning, Irupalai traders union called for a boycott and closed their shops in protest. The Union officials said that the soldiers are acting in revenge for the earlier grenade attacks and they will continue the shop closure unless their safety is guaranteed to their members Sri Lanka wants Solheim out of peace talks The government of Sri Lanka has indicated to the Royal Norwegian government that special peace envoy Erik Solheim should not take part in the next round of peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who met Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre recently in Hong Kong, requested that Norway’s International Development Minister’s name be omitted from the facilitator team because of his allegedly biased reputation towards the LTTE. It is learned that the Norwegian Foreign Minister has agreed to draw his government’s attention to this issue. Meanwhile, in another development, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has turn downed Erik Solheim’s request to meet the President during his three-day visit to India, which is scheduled to begin tomorrow. SLMM member denied entry to tsunami event Soldiers manning the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check point
Monday morning refused permission for a woman monitor of the Sri Lanka
Monitoring Mission (SLMM) based in Mannar to attend the one year tsunami
remembrance religious event held at Madhu church in the LTTE held area,
sources said. Soldiers refused permission to the event as she was not in possession of written permission of the Ministry of Defense, sources said. The SLMM member returned to her office without participating in tsunami religious observance in Madhu church, sources said. President stops Anura's nominee for Tourist Board President Mahinda Rajapaksa has removed Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman Udaya Nanayakkara, who was unlawfully appointed by Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike last week. In a circular, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weerathunga had instructed all Ministers not to fill any high ranks without permission from the President. However, Minister Bandaranaike appointed his ex-brother-in-law to the post of Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board amidst opposition by the Travel Trade Association and Sri Lanka hoteliers. President Rajapaksa appointed former MP and travel trade expert Mr. B. Cooray to the post from today, leaving no room for Udaya Nanayakkara at the Tourist Board. Youth shot, seriously wounded in Akkaraipattu A 24-years-old Tamil youth, Mr. Satheeskumar, was shot
and seriously wounded by unindentified gunmen Monday evening around 5:30
pm. at Pisthar Road in Akkaraipattu, 58 km south of Batticaloa town. Satheeskumar, a resident of Alayadivembu, was rushed to Amparai hospital with serious injuries. Akkaraipattu police is conducting investigations into the incident. Bishop pleads for immediate talks Colombo’s Anglican Bishop Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera yesterday condemned the spree of killing in the North East and urged the government and the LTTE to open up talks soon. A statement issued by the Bishop office insisted that the stalemate over the location for talks should be ended immediately. “Our beloved Sri Lanka is gripped by deep disappointment and sorrow at the rapidly worsening spate of violence that grips the country. In the name of entrenched causes, distorted agendas and ideologies, we are slowly destroying ourse1ves. Yesterdays brutal killing of Joseph Pararajasingham at worship in Church, must be condemned without reservation by all peace loving people of all religions, ethnicities and political parties. He was a senior Tamil Christian parliamentarian, liked and respected by a cross section of people. He served the people of the East in Particular with dedication. His death is a loss to the continuing political discourse In the Country. We offer our condolences to his wife and the children, and indeed our prayers for the recovery of his wife and all others injured in this shooting. It is in this same spirit that we condemn the rape and killing of a young woman at Pungudutivu, the killings of several soldiers and naval personnel, and the violence against the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University. The Committee appointed to probe these incidents must act fast and go public on their findings. Perpetrators must be named and dealt with under the existing law. All killing is wrong and cannot be justified or condoned. These killings violate the basic human rights of people to life. They snatch precious loved ones away from people. They spread fear and anger amongst the people, and reduce whatever chances there are for peace; and prolong suffering and deprivation. It is for these very reasons that it is now imperative for the Government and LTTE to expedite talks. A. compromise on the location stalemate is necessary and possible. Such a compromise need not be seen as weakness or damaging to the stare and image of either side. In fact the people of this country will see it as an expression of strong political character and Intent. Such early talks will also provide the forum for discussing the factors that have provoked the violence and killings, as well as allegations and counter allegations. Such talks inevitably indicate fresh steps towards peace and build some trust. The seriousness of these developments should be seen as a call to prayer by all communities. The beginning of the New Year provides an excellent opportunity for the invocation of Blessings and Grace on our people and land,” the statement said. Two three-wheeler drivers killed in Trincomalee Unidentified men shot dead Mr.Ramanan and knifed Mr.Wijeseelan to death Sunday night in two separate incidents in Trincomalee, security sources said. The body of Mr.Wijeseelan was recovered from the Kanniya-Wilgam Vihare junction, and the body of Mr.Ramanan was recovered near fourth milepost along Trincomalee-Kandy highway with gunshot injuries. Both were three-wheeler drivers, Police said. Unidentified men hired their three-wheelers separately. Mr.Ramanan went with persons hired his three-wheeler towards fourth-mile post at about 7.45 p.m. Sunday.Mr.Wijeseelan went with three-wheeler with hired persons Sunday night around 11.45 p.m.Bodies of both persons were recovered Monday morning, sources said.Trincomalee Police is conducting investigation into these deaths. Two Tamil youths shot and killed by SLA soldiers Sri Lanka Army troopers shot and killed two Tamil youths
at Santhiveli 9 km north of Eravur in Batticaloa district around 10:30
a.m. Monday. The SLA soliders have told Eravur Police that they opened
fire following gunshots fired at their troopers. The youths shot dead
by the Lankan troopers are yet to be indentified, Eravur Police said.
Tigers get a taste of their own medicine-The Daily Mirror The LTTE’s Batticaloa area pistol group leader Vendran alias ‘Sivakumar’ was badly injured at Vavunathivu, when the army shot at him, while fleeing after killing a policeman at the Pudur police checkpoint in Batticaloa. Military sources said that an LTTE group, led by the injured LTTE pistol leader, had attacked the Pudur police checkpoint, killing a policeman, and fled the scene. However, at Vavunathivu, the army was able to block the path of the fleeing LTTE members and attacked them, injuring several of them, including Vendran, who was reportedly admitted to a Karadiyanaru hospital in the LTTE held area. The Military believes that due to the injuries sustained, the legs of the pistol leader would have to be amputated. The deceased policeman has been identified as J.M. Karunaratne of Dedigama. Vendran was accused of killing PLOTE Mohan in Colombo as well as several killings in the Batticaloa area during the recent past. Meanwhile, two LTTE cadres were killed in a confrontation with military personnel on duty at Sittamkandy checkpoint. HQI Batticaloa police Duncan Paul said that when the two LTTE cadres opened fire at the checkpoint last morning, the soldiers shot them in self defence. Police recovered two T.56 rifles and 56 live cartridges near the bodies of the LTTE cadres. Police are conducting further inquiries into the incident. Boycott call cripples administrative services in Jaffna Civil administration in Jaffna district came to a halt Monday following call by the NorthEast Government Services Workers Consortium for Government workers to shun work to protest against Sri Lanka Army (SLA) attacks against civilians and workers. The Consortium warned that the strike will continue until troops are vacated from main roads and Government offices, and their workers' safety is guaranteed. Primary offices of Civil administration including Jaffna Secretariat, Divisional secretariats, Health services department, Department of Education remained closed. Although several hundreds troops were deployed to provide safety around Jaffna Secretariat, only the Government Agent, K Ganesh, reported to work. Judicial establishments including Courts, the five district courts in Kayts, Jaffna, Mallakam, Chavakachcheri and Point Pedro, and the High Court in Jaffna remained closed. However, commercial establishments, public transport and hospitals continued to provide essential services. Checkpost near SLAF airport in Batticaloa attacked, one dead Unidentified gunmen fired at a checkpost at Puthunagar,
near Batticaloa Valaiyiravu Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) airport, 4 km west
of Batticaloa town, wounding a policeman Sunday night around 1:20 a.m.
The policeman, N. Karunaratne, later succumbed to his gunshot wounds at
Batticaloa Hospital, medical sources said. Puthunagar lies in a Sri Lanka Army demarcated high-security area. 26 December 2005 PLOTE
Vavuniya Political Head Thiruppathy Master shot dead Vavuniya Police Officer In-Charge (OIC) Mr. AMC Abeyasinghe Banda is conducting investigations into the incident. LTTE:
MP killed by military intelligence Pararajasingham’s wife and seven others were injured in the shooting. “He was murdered by the Sri Lankan military intelligence wing and the paramilitaries working with them, including the Karuna Group and EPDP,” a statement issued by the LTTE political wing said. LTTE accused The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has denied any involvement in the incident. Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka military spokesman told BBC Sandeshaya (bbcsinhala.com) that the SLA has information to suspect the Tamil Tigers. However, he added that the SLA was not clear why the LTTE would kill a politician close to the LTTE other than to put the blame on the state forces. Condemning the MP’s murder, the Tamil Tigers also alleged that the “chauvinistic forces such as the Jathika Hela Urumaya” is working closely with the military intelligence. Inspector General of Police Chnadra Fernanado alleged that the Tigers may have tried to "divert international attention" focused on killing of more than 30 soldiers by the LTTE during recent weeks. The government, meanwhile, has described the killing as an attack on the heart of Sri Lanka’s democracy. 'Cycle of violenace' “The government condemns this cowardly act in the strongest possible terms,” a statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat said. It said that the “assassination has been carried out to serve a specific agenda" to create an environment to "further escalate the cycle of violence perpetuated by the LTTE". The President has offered to provide additional security to the TNA parliamentarians in consultation with them, the statement added. The killing follows a month of worsening violence which has cast doubt over the continuation of a ceasefire between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government. Co-chairs meeting Shortly before the attack, international mediators warned that the country faced a crucial choice between mounting violence and reinvigorating peace. In other violence on Saturday, the Sri Lankan army said it killed four rebels in Jaffna, and a soldier was shot dead at a checkpoint. The Tamil Tigers were accused of killing more than 30 military personnel since Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s fifth executive president. TNA accused the security forces of harassing the civilians in Jaffna and raping and killing a young woman. LTTE confers "Maamanithar" title to Pararajasingham Full text the letter conferring the Maamanithar title follows: Head Quarters The Tamil Nation has lost today a noble man who sacrificed personal ambitions and set a goal working resolutely for the welfare of his people. Silenced today is a voice that relentlessly resonated the freedom of the Tamil homeland and its people. A great man had fallen victim to the enemy's cowardly act of cruelty. It is a great tragedy in the history of the Tamil Eelam freedom struggle. Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham is a person blessed with rare and incredible qualities. Melodious interaction, simple manners and magnanimity in approach are the hallmarks of his personality. Steadfast and honest, he is an excellent political leader. The Tamil people affectionately hailed him as a formidable fighter for human rights. His extra-ordinary attachment to the Tamil cause gravitated all towards him. The demise of Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham is an irreparable loss to the Tamil Nation. It was never to his liking to live under Sinhala Budhdhist majoritarian oppression. He totally detested the disintegration of the collective Tamil Nation under this oppression and subjugation. Setting as his noble goal absolute freedom from this oppressive state, he worked for the independence, dignity and peaceful life of the Tamil people. Motivated by this noble goal, he steadfastly supported the Tamil National freedom struggle. Respecting and accepting wholeheartedly the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and their goal, he contributed immensely to the liberation struggle of the Tamil people. Complex situations, threats and dangers did not deter him from courageously extending his helping hands to Tamil Nationalism and the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle in many ways. As a Member of Parliament representing the people of Batticaloa and a founder member of the NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights, he worked relentlessly in pursuit of the rights of the people of Tamil Eelam. Presenting the truth and reasonableness of the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle to the world, was a mission he undertook with passion. The yeoman services he rendered are praiseworthy and of historical significance. Respecting Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham's patriotism and love of freedom and to honour his contribution to the freedom struggle, I confer on him with pride the highest National Award of "Great Man". Death never destroys noble men who lived to uphold truthful goals. Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham will live forever in the psyche of the Tamil Nation as an epoch making leader. V.Pirapaharan Profile of Pararajasingham MP Joseph Pararajasingham (Born November 26, 1934) has been a member of the Federal Party since 1956 and of the TULF from its inception. He was a member of the working committee and the action committee of the TULF and was the Joint Secretary of the TULF Batticaloa branch. Mr. Pararajasingham was also a member of the TULF delegation at the TULF-Government dialogue held in July-August 1984. He was nominated to the Batticaloa District in 1990 as a Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Parliamentarian following the killing of Sam Thambimuttu, by suspected LTTE cadres. He was also the Secretary of the Parents Association for the welfare of students of the Batticaloa District and of the Batticaloa Red Cross Society. A well known and successful businessman of Batticaloa, he was the sole owner of the Subaraj Theatre, Subaraj Inn and the Subaraj Shopping Complex. As a cinema owner he was a committee member of the Ceylon Exhibitors Association. Mr. Pararajasingham was also a journalist being Batticaloa Group Correspondent for the Independent Newspapers Ltd. and was the President of the East Ceylon Journalists Association. Mr. Pararajasingham had his education at St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa where he passed his Senior School Certificate Examination (English). He was a licentiate survey draughtsman and had worked as a Kachcheri Tracer of the Land Commissioner’s Department. During 1985-87 he filed two applications with the Advisory Board under the PTA regarding detained persons in Ampara and Batticaloa Districts. He entered Parliament in 1990 in place of Sam Thambimuttu, who was killed by suspected LTTE cadres. He was re-elected in 1994 with the highest number of preferential votes ever received by a Tamil candidate in the North-East. He was again elected on the final count of preferential votes in the October 2,000 elections. He again became an MP under the national list in 2002. The Pararajasinghams have two sons (one deceased) and one daughter. Government condemns killing While condemning the killing of TNA MP Joseph Pararajasingham, the Government is to appoint a special investigation team to conduct a full probe into this assassination and bring to justice the perpetrators. “The Government condemns this cowardly act in the strongest possible terms. The Government also denounces the disrespect shown by the assassins to the sanctity of a church on Christmas day,” said a statement issued by the Government. The assassination of an elected MP is an assault on the very heart of democracy. It is clear that this assassination has been carried out to serve a specific agenda, in that it creates the environment to further escalate the cycle of violence in the North and East perpetuated by the LTTE, the statement added. Did LTTE use ‘thermobaric’ weapons? Suspicions have arisen in police and military circles whether the LTTE had used the banned ‘thermobaric’ weapons to kill the 13 sailors on Friday at Mannar. Mannar Police HQI Sudath Asmadala told the Daily Mirror that considering the initial investigation, the attack had been carried out using ‘thermobaric’ weapon, which can burn everything instantly in the targeted range. “Following this shocking finding, we have asked the Government Analyst to carry out a special investigation into the matter as this type of weapons are banned all over the world,” he said. He also said that soon after the incident, the military personnel who visited the scene were surprised to see the bodies beyond recognition. “Rocket-propelled grenades can not do such harm to the human body and we strongly believe that the attackers had used the world banned ‘thermoberic’ weapon, he said. Thirteen sailors were killed and another two injured, when two claymore mines were exploded targeting a Navy convoy at Pesalai in Mannar on Friday. Soon after the blasts, the LTTE had fired at the damaged vehicles using small arms and heavy weapons. Mannar Army sergeant shot dead by fellow soldier Sergeant Kappukotowa of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed
in the Parapaankandal camp in the Mannar district was shot dead Sunday
morning at about 8.30 a.m by a fellow soldier, security sources said.
Personal enmity between the two was speculated to be the motivation behind
the killing. The incident took place inside the camp, Police sources said.
The acting magistrate ordered the Murunkan Police to produce the suspected soldier in court. The acting Magistrate further ordered the Murunkan Police to hand over the body of the dead army officer to his relatives after postmortem examination.The body is now lying in the Mannar General Hospital, sources said. SLA guns down two civilians in Jaffna Two civilians from Thoppu, in Atchuvely Jaffna, who went
to hunt wild boars in shrub jungles close to the Palaly High Security
Zone (HSZ) armed with shotguns, were shot dead by Sri Lanka Army (SLA)
troops at 12.15 a.m Sunday early morning, sources in Jaffna said. In another incident, Ariyaratnam Kanagarasa (65) from Siththankerny in Jaffna, an employee at a bakery in Navakeeri located along the Punnalaikattuvan- Nilavarai road was found shot to death at 1.45 a.m. Sunday morning. His body was found on Palaly road near Punnalaikattuvan junction and was not removed until noon Sunday as Police in Jaffna have refused carrying out administrative duties. Motive for the killing is not known. Meanwhile, an SLA patrol along the beach road in Urani, Valvettithurai (VVT) came under grenade attack followed by gunfire from three unidentified gunmen at 9 a.m. Sunday. The gunmen escaped and no injuries were reported. SLA soldiers started attacking civilians and fired indiscriminately around the Valvettiturai Government Hospital. Vehicular traffic came to a halt along the Point Pedro-Jaffna road till noon, sources from VVT said. Civilians burnt to death in Pesalai Remains of burnt bodies including a four-year-old boy
were discovered inside a house of the Victoria Hundred Houses resettlement
in Pesalai Sunday at 10:30 a.m. by residents who reached the site for
the first time following Friday's revenge attacks on the civilians by
the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). Soldiers blocked residents from searching for
two other missing persons in parts of surrounding area. Three houses and
a shop were burnt and almost all the houses were found looted. The victims
were burnt using madras, kajan leaves and palmyrah stems, sources said.
The exact number of victims killed in the revenge attacks is not known
yet. Four persons of two neighbouring families, a 43 years-old couple, Mr Emmanuel Cruz and Mrs. Anthonicam Cruz, and Theresa Cruz, a mother and her four-year-old boy Dilakshan Cruz were trapped inside their houses, numbered 44 and 45, located on the right side of the road from Mannar to Talaimannar. The house No. 45 was completely burnt down. Remains of two feet, one of a young boy and another of an adult, a piece of sternum, and an elbow were recovered from the bedroom of house No 45. The civilian settlers who reached the site with Rev. Fr. Wincent Parick from Victoria Church returned to the church and notified the Bishop and the matter was brought to the attention of the Police and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). Two officials from the SLMM, the Bishop of Mannar Most Rev. Rayappu Joseph, Rev. Fr. Wincent Parick, the parish priest of the Victoria church together with Commadore Nihal Chandrasri, the commanding officer of the Mannar Naval Base in the Sunny Village visited the spot following the information from the civilians who returned from the site, sources said. At 1:30 p.m., acting Magistrate of Mannar Mr. A. S. Johndasan, visited the spot and ordered the Mannar Police to conduct investigations into the killings. Mannar Police HQ OIC Sugath Thasmadelle is heading the investigations. Meanwhile, the SLN official Chandrasri said that the ambush site where at least 13 SLN personnel were killed was not cleared yet, and that was the reason for not allowing the civilians to enter the area to search for the missing civilians. Additional SLN personnel and police were deployed in the area. Number of families that have sought refuge at the Victoria Church has increased to 180 as 41 families who were displaced in Kavviyan settlement from Thullukudiyiruppu have also sought refuge at the church, sources added. Lankan military upset on diplomatic visit to Tiger rebels area –The Island The military expressed its disappointment over a high level diplomatic mission visiting Killinochchi, north-east of Sri Lanka in the backdrop of the Tiger rebels stepping up attacks on security forces, particularly Friday’s (Dec 23) ambush that killed 13 sailors and wounded three at Pesalai, on the north-west cost of the island. Although the Sri Lankan government announced Friday night that senior representatives from the co-chairs to the Tokyo donor conference would visit Kilinochchi, the US did not join the delegation. The co-chairs’ group comprises the US, EU, Norway and Japan. On a Defence Ministry directive the Air Force yesterday (Dec 24) morning flew the head of the EU delegation to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Julian Wilson, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans, Japanese Ambassador Akio Suda, and the Norwegian Deputy Ambassador Oddvar L`B5greid to Vavuniya. From there the delegation moved overland to reach the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Peace Secretariat. This was the first high level diplomatic contact with the LTTE by countries other than Norway, since the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar last August. "We have rewarded terrorism again. The Tigers would turn this to a major propaganda event," a senior security forces officer said. "They targeted our convoy with claymore mines and then fired a rocket propelled grenade." "We are making a huge mistake. Now they will start making regular visits to Kilinochchi." The decision on the Kilinochchi meet was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had been associated with the Prime Minister at the hastily arranged meeting with diplomatic representatives. Yesterday’s visit was Ambassador Wilson's first to Kilinochchi. Wilson took over the mission shortly after Kadirgamar’s assassination that prompted the EU to ban LTTE delegates in EU member states. But this would not prevent meetings between EU members and overseas based LTTE representatives. The LTTE carried out two major attacks against the navy in Mannar and a series of hit and run attacks in the Jaffna peninsula, north-east of Sri Lanka despite the co-chairs’ latest warning, an army officer said. "And now the attackers have been rewarded with a visit," he said. A stunned President Friday summoned an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis triggered by terrorists’ attacks at Temple Trees where a section of the top brass suggested that immediate retaliatory action should be considered as part of their strategy. Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka had been summoned from Ambepussa where he was participating at a function of the Sinha Regiment. Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Daya Sandagiri, service commanders and Defence Secretary Colonel (Rtd) Gotabhaya Rajapakse had been present. The Sunday Island learns that the proposal did not receive the required backing. Senior government and military officials accused the Norwegian-led Scandinavian truce monitoring mission of shielding the LTTE. While acting spokesperson Mats Lundstorm Friday night declined to identify the perpetrators, the mission head Hagrup Haukland said, "There are definitely powers in the northeast at the moment who do not want peace. By instigating provocations and violence, they are causing fear and mistrust in the whole of Sri Lanka. Certainly if this is allowed to continue, the (2002) Cease-fire Agreement will be in jeopardy very soon." Meanwhile, LTTE terrorists Friday night attacked an army post at the Northern Regional Bus Depot located at 1 km from Point Pedro town on the Pt Pedro-Jaffna road. There had been no casualties. Troops were deployed at Thavady on the Jaffna-KKS road north of Jaffna town. Army headquarters said that there were no casualties. 25 December 2005 6 SLA soldiers injured in 3 attacks in Jaffna In a firefight between unidentified gunmen and Sri Lanka
Army (SLA) soldiers near Jaffna Fort area at 6.10 p.m. Saturday 3 SLA
soldiers were injured, one of them seriously. The trooper with serious
injuries was air lifted to Palaly military hospital, sources said. Military
command in Colombo has informed that four gunmen have been killed in the
Jaffna Fort attack and their bodies are lying near Jaffna Fort. Since
no reporters are allowed to the area TamilNet is unable to confirm this. In two other incidents, one soldier was injured in a grenade attack in a sentry point in Irupalai, Jaffna around 4.30 p.m. and two SLA soldiers were injured in a grenade attack in Thanlankilappu Road in Thenmaradchy area at 5.30 p.m. Following the Irupalai attack, more than 30 traders in Irupalai were taken to the SLA camp for interrogation. They have not been released when this story was filed. The two soldiers injured in the Thanankilappu attack were also airlifted to Palaly Military Hospital. Five LTTE rebels killed in firefight with military in Jaffna At least five LTTE rebels have been killed in intense fighting with the security forces in the restive northern Jaffna peninsula this evening, military sources here said. ''A group of LTTE cadres had fired at military personnel engaged in a cordon and search operation near the Jaffna fort this evening. During the ensued firefight, five LTTE cadres were killed on the spot,'' Military Spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told UNI over phone. He said ''Their weapons, including hand grenades and pistols have been recovered by the army.'' ''During the gun battle that lasted for at least half and hour, a military officer and a soldier were also injured,'' he added. ''The injured soldiers are rushed to the Palaly military hospital and search operation is still underway and we are waiting for more details,'' Brig Samarasinghe said. The incident has taken place barely a couple of hours after the diplomatic team representing the Co-chairs of Sri Lanka's donor community held discussions with LTTE's political wing head, S P Thamilselvan in the rebel-held Kilinochchi district to discuss the urgent need to resume talks with Colombo on the implementation of the Norwegian-brokered truce, which is under ''grave danger'' following an escalation of violence in the restive Northern Jaffna province. Reiterating its commitment to maintain ceasefire agreement and to resume truce talks with the government, the LTTE, however, has not budged an inch from its position that it should be held in a European venue. Co-Chairs Reps meet with LTTE The diplomatic team representing the Co-chairs for the peace process in Sri Lanka comprising of Head of EU delegation to Sri Lanka, Ambassador Julian Wilson, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans, Japanese Ambassador Akio and the Deputy Ambassador for Norway Mr.Oddvar Laegreid met with the LTTE Head of the Political Division Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan today 24 December 2005 at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi. The delegation briefed Mr.Tamilselvan on the Co-Chairs’ concern over the escalating violence and the necessity to start talks on effective implementation of the CFA since it is felt that the CFA is running into grave risk. On the controversy over the venue for talks, the delegation stressed the necessity for the LTTE to make concessions similar to the government’s concession of agreeing to an Asian location outside Sri Lanka. Mr.Tamilselvan explained to the delegation the continued stand of the LTTE in bringing about effective implementation of the CFA based on the frustration and anguish in the midst of the Tamil people consequent to the failure of the government as one party to the agreement to fulfil its obligations relating to normalcy in the life of the people affected by two decades of war. “Aggravating the situation was the impact of tsunami and the government’s failure to make use of that opportunity in adversity to work jointly and build confidence” remarked Mr.Tamilselvan. Responding to the concern of the Co-chairs on the escalating violence, Mr.Tamilselvan said that the LTTE is totally helpless in the current situation wherein interaction with the people has been completely cut off due to the zero presence of political cadres in the occupied areas and the military’s acceleration of violence against civilians when they peacefully protest against military atrocities. “The Tamil people are angry over the latest incident of a young lady being abducted by SL Navy men, collectively raped and her body dumped into a well and this has a revolting impact with the memory of similar atrocities during 1996, when school girl Krishanthy met with the same fate, her mother, brother and neighbour who went to make enquiries were murdered and buried stealthily and also of the brutal attacks on the University population including the vice-chancellor” said Mr.Tamilselvan. Making a fervent plea to the delegation to take this message to the international community and provide the Tamil people the necessary support to get the CFA effectively implemented, Mr.Tamilselvan assured that the LTTE’s commitment to the peace process and the CFA is in place and the international community should appreciate the position vis-à-vis the venue since the LTTE has not changed its stand and the government’s insistence on an Asian location is premised on its wish to isolate the Tamil people from the international community. The delegation expressed its sympathy to the people affected by tsunami on the eve of completion of one year of the tragedy on 26 December 2005 and assured Co-Chairs’ advocacy of support for reconstruction efforts. Firefights in Point Pedro, Thavady Unknown assailants hurled hand grenades and fired at the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) post guarding the Northern Regional Bus Depot located at 1 km from Point Pedro town on the Pt Pedro-Jaffna road at 9 p.m. Friday. SLA returned fire and the firefight continued for more than five minutes, according to residents. SLA blocked vehicular traffic after the incident, and sources from Point Pedro said that normal bus service has not resumed till 9 a.m. Saturday. SLA has cordoned off the area around the bus depot and conducted searches.A similar grenade attack at the SLA checkpoint and firefight took place around the same time near Thavady. Jaffna along KKS road 4 km north of Jaffna town.No injuries were reported from either incident. Jaffna district was otherwise calm during Friday night, sources said. However, residents in Jaffna fear that with the completion of G,C.E (Ordinary Level) examinations Saturday, clashes may intensify. Truce monitors stop work in Jaffna citing insecurity The Scandinavian truce monitors in Sri Lanka have suspended operations in the Jaffna peninsula citing lack of security. The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Hagrup Haukland told foreign correspondents here on Friday that he had asked his team in Jaffna not to intervene until their security was guaranteed. The SLMM's staff in Jaffna had stopped work on Thursday, he said. Haukland said that during the university students' demonstration in Jaffna town on December 19, the demonstrators not only pelted stones at the security forces, but tried to enter the SLMM's office forcibly. "This could not be called a peaceful demonstration. It was a very dangerous thing," he said. Haukland further said that there were some youngsters who were the principal actors in all demonstrations in Jaffna and these were identifiable. "The security forces should arrest them," he said. Haukland said that the forces creating unrest in the Sri Lankan North East did not seem to care about the safety and security of SLMM personnel. "There were instances when hand grenades had been thrown when SLMM personnel were around. Once our convoy was ambushed," he said. Haukland described the situation in the North East, as "alarming" and the ceasefire had been " jeopardised" he said. "There are forces which are against peace and are saying enough is enough," he said. Haukland described the attack on the Sri Lankan navy bus in Pesalai on Friday in which 13 sailors perished as a "cowardly" one. He commended the Sri Lankan armed forces for showing restraint under the circumstances but warned that their patience might begin to wear thin. Asked if he was thinking of seeking international help to beef up the security of his staff who number only 60, Haukland said that he was not. "I am 100 per cent sure that the Sri Lankan security forces are capable of providing security," he said. But there were circumstances in which no force could provide security. It is the two parties to the conflict, which must guarantee security, he added. Haukland said that he had asked for a meeting between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE at the highest as well as the lowest levels to defuse the situation. The monitor, however, took care not to name the LTTE or any other group for the recent attacks on the security forces and said that this could not be done without conclusive evidence. Even as regards the firing on the air force helicopter
in South East Sri Lanka (the chopper was to carry the Italian Deputy Foreign
Minister) he said that all that one could say was that the shots were
fired from an LTTE controlled area. Ms Markandu Pushpamalar (31), also known as Malar, who
was injured when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired indiscriminately at civilians
following a grenade attack on their checkpost in Chavakachcheri Friday
1.30 p.m, succumbed to injuries at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Saturday
morning, medical sources at the hospital said. Mr Rajathurai, the second civilian injured during the same incident, is still recovering at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. The grenade attack took place on the SLA sentry located near the Multipurpose Cooperative building in Chavakachcheri. SLMM : Navy acted
upon CFA At least 13 sailors have been killed in a mine attack on a convoy in Pesalai ,after a mine was detonated as a navy bus and truck passed by in Mannar district, officials said. LTTE violated CFA The SLMM has ruled that the Sri Lanka Navy has acted upon the framework of the CFA by trying to protect the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The truce monitors themselves are in danger due to increased violence in the north and the east during recent weeks, Haukland has told the journalists that according to the recent rulings and the CFA, the Tigers have clearly violated the CFA and the rulings by firing on sailors. If the LTTE wants to have access to travelling via sea routes, the SLMM has said, that the two parties should return to the negotiating table to discuss required amendments. Security officials blamed Tamil Tiger rebels, but the LTTE has denied responsibility. History of violence The LTTE has, however, never accepted responsibility for their attacks, analysts pointed out. Iqbal Athas, defence analyst of Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) said the rebels denied any involvement after the killing of former Indian Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, but LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham later expressed regret for the incident. Meanwhile, condemning the recent attacks on a bus carrying sailors in Pesalai on Friday, the government of Sri Lanka has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. Government condemns President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called the Security Council and discussed the situation in depth, a statement issued by the Director of Information said. “Planned attacks like this by the LTTE are aimed at disrupting the peace initiatives by the govt,” the statement added. “Such acts can not disrupt the govt's peace efforts. The government is committed to take the peace process in consultation with other parties.” Vigil in memory of the Tsunami Victims Communities to come together to remember and rededicate Tamil Youth Organization of Canada, in partnership with several community organizations, is holding a vigil to remember the one year anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami that killed more than 200,000 in Asia. *The vigil will be held on: The Boxing Day Tsunami left a trail of death and destruction from Indonesia to Somalia. Over 200,000 people died and over 5,000,000 people were displaced in over 11 countries. In the North and East of Sri Lanka, over 18,000 people were killed and 500,000 people were displaced. The disaster also claimed the lives of several Canadians. This human tragedy has left a lasting impact on many communities in Canada. Thirty-one members of the Tamil Youth Organization were in Sri Lanka during the Tsunami and witnessed first-hand the effects it had on the people. 'Over the past year, hundreds of people have joined hands to assist these victims of the Tsunami in many ways. This will be an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to continue to assist the hundreds of thousands of people who lost everything that they had and are still languishing in temporary shelters' said Meera Bala, one of the event coordinators. Representatives of various communities that were affected by the Asian Tsunami will join the Tamil community in Toronto to commemorate the memories of their loved ones. Guest speakers will also share their experiences during and after the Tsunami. Multi-faith prayers will be followed by commemorative songs and speeches. The event is expected to be attended, in addition to general public, by community leaders, leaders of various organizations that have played a significant role in providing relief and rehabilitation assistance,politicians, and representatives of various communities. For more information, contact Meera Bala, Event Cordinator at 647-401-4258. Tamil Youth Organization is a non-profit organization aimed at uniting Tamil Youth nationwide by acting as the central communication link and providing an opportunity for action to serve the Tamil community, both domestically and abroad. For more information, visit our website at www.tyocanada.org* or contact us at 416-841-1013 24 December 2005 Mannar
District Resurgence People force claims responsibility for the killing
of 15 Sri Lanka Navy sailors. The news item claiming responsibility of the attacks was carried in the Tamil news websites – Puthinam.com, Nitharsanam.com, Sangkathi.com, etc. Mannar District Resurgence People Force claimed responsibility for the claymore attacks. It further claimed, that was a revenge killing on the abduction, sexually molesting and killing of Ilayathamby Tharshini (20), by the SL Navy personnel in the High Security Zone, in the ‘Islands region’ and whose body was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu Saturday 17 December. The excerpt of the statement is given below: To the racially inclined occupation forces This revenge attack, a final warning on the Sri Lanka Navy, was an act of revenge for the killing on 17 December of Tharshini, who was sexually assaulted brutally and killed and her body was retrieved from an abandoned well in Punguduthievu. This was done by us to render a helping hand to the Jaffna District Resurgence People Force. We are warning the Sri Lanka armed forces that they may have to encounter similar huge losses for any future atrocities inflicted them on our Tamil people. Indian High Commissioner meets TNA delegation A delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Friday
met with the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ms Nirupama Rao and
discussed at length the current situation, concerns on potential breakdown
of CeaseFire Agreement (CFA), and the urgent need to restart the peace
process. The TNA delegation impressed upon the High Commissioner the need
for peace talks to commence without further delay, Mr.R.Sampanthan, TNA
parliamentary group leader said in a press release Friday. With the Indian High Commissioner, her political secretary, Mr.Amandeep Singh Gill, participated in the discussions. TNA delegation comprised Mr Sampanthan, Joseph Pararajasingham, Mavai Senathirajah, Telo Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Suresh Premachchandran, TNA sources said. SL President met Indian HC. About unrest in North Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao held talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees today about the prevailing unrest in the North. The High Commissioner is reported to have made inquiries from the President regarding the abduction of three naval ratings yesterday off the seas of Talaimannar. The duos have also focused on the forthcoming Indian visit of the President. Sri Lanka President summons National Defense Council for urgent meeting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has summoned the National Defense Council for urgent talks just after the LTTE reportedly attacked Naval officers in Mannar. According to sources, actions that should be taken for the safety of civilians and security forces personnel will be discussed. It is learned that the President is urging all forces commanders to maintain law and order in troubled-hit areas and to be more vigilant about the LTTE’s moves. 28 wounded, 13 hospitalized in SLN revenge attack on IDPs Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers Friday evening around 5:30 p.m. entered the settlement of Internally Displaced People (IDP), the Victoria Hundred Houses scheme, and attacked the civilians with batons, bike-chains and shoes after tying their hands and legs. Eleven persons, 9 males and 2 females, were admitted to the Peripheral Medical unit in Pesalai and two men requiring further medical care were rushed to Mannar General Hospital. Another 15 persons, with minor injuries, have returned after treatment at OPD (Out Patients Department), medical sources said. Meanwhile, more than 100 families living along Talaimannar-Pesalai Road have moved into the Vetrimatha Church in Pesalai for safety. The fate of a few families from the IDP settlement who failed to turnup at the temporary refuge in Vetrimatha Church, was not known, according to families who arrived at the Church. The housing settlement is located at Thullukudiyiruppu in Pesalai, 200 meters from the ambush site where more than 15 SLN personnel were killed in a Claymore explosion Friday afternoon. Many persons from Pesalai, a predominantly catholic middle class population, are employed in the Government sector in Mannar town. More than 800 persons, stranded in Mannar unable to proceed beyond Tharapuram, have sought refuge at St. Sebastian church in Mannar and with their relatives and friends. Many of them had come to Mannar town for Christmas shopping. A few Muslims have taken refuge in the mosques in Mannar, sources added. Co-chairs delegation to meet LTTE in Kilinochchi today A delegation from the Co-chairs will travel to Kilinochchi to meet the LTTE today as the Government yesterday impressed upon the Ambassadors of the Co-chair countries to take specific measures to ensure that the LTTE desists from further escalating violence in the North and East and return to the negotiating table. The decision was taken when Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera met Ambassadors of the Co-chairs countries in the aftermath of the incident in Thalaimannar in which 13 sailors were killed. In a statement issued last night, the Government in the strongest possible terms condemned the LTTE attack. "It is clear that the claymore mine explosion and the PRG fire had been planned in a way to cause maximum casualties among the Security Forces. The LTTE has from the very inception shown scant regard for the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement and these continued attacks raise serious doubts on the LTTE's commitment to a political settlement. This is the second serious attack after the Co-chairs statement of December 19, 2005," it added. The Prime Minister impressed upon the need for the international community to take specific measures to ensure that the LTTE desists from further escalating violence in the North and East and return to the negotiating table. The need to ensure the strict compliance with the ceasefire agreement not only in word, but in deed as well was also highlighted, the release added. As the continued provocations are deliberate attempts to create a back-clash elsewhere in the country, the Government called upon the public to remain calm in the face of such provocations. Meanwhile, in an earlier release, the Government Information Department stated that President Mahinda Rajapakse discussed the incident in detail after convening the Security Council immediately after he was informed of this incident. "The Government conveys its condolences to family members of Navy personnel killed in this incident," the statement added. UNP condemns attacks The main opposition UNP yesterday condemned the landmine attacks on naval personnel and the killing of an intelligence officer in Nuwara Eliya. The party in a statement blamed the government for not
providing adequate measures to curb the continuing violence in the North
and East, and called upon President Mahinda Rajapakse to ensure security
in the country. The UNP also condemned the JVP and the JHU describing
them as the parties which pushed the LTTE towards war. UNP MP leaves for India for Pooja to invoke blessings on President Colombo district UNP parliamentarian T.Maheshwaran was due to leave for India today (23) to organize preliminary activities of two poojas to be held in two well-known kovils in India to invoke blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa. When contacted by Lanka e News about his Indian visit and the two poojas for the President, the parliamentarian only confirmed that he is leaving for India. The President leaves for India on the 27th on a three day state visit and Maheshwaran has received an invitation from the President to join the entourage When Lanka e News queried whether this true, Maheshwaran said he would not go to India with the President and added that the President is a friend of him even before he entered politics. He claimed that there is no connection with his Indian visit and that of the President. Even though Maheshwaran said so, the President had been engaged a long conversation with Maheshwaran for nearly 45 minutes over the phone last Monday and Maheshwarana is reported to have visited Temple Trees after the conversation. Useless talking to ‘animals’ – JHU Having discussions with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is like having discussions with the likes of Kudu Noor, Mora Sunil or Thel Anil, the Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya President S.L. Gunasekara said yesterday. He told a press conference in Colombo, that one must have talks with the human beings and not with Russell's Vipers or Cobras. Gunasekara also termed the LTTE as an underworld group that consists of heartless creatures who kidnap children for their military activities. He also said that there is no point in going for peace talks with the LTTE, "because without a separate state they won't be satisfied." Federation of National Organisations Joint Secretary Gunadasa Amarasekera said that the ban on the LTTE is a must. He said that the activity of the LTTE in the recent past is a clear indication of their brutal ways. Chavakachcheri Police post comes under attack Chavakachcheri police post in Thenmaradchy came under
grenade attack and small-arms fire at 8.30 p.m. Thursday, sources in Jaffna
said. Police returned fire from their positions inside the Police station
premises and the firefight lasted for more than 15 minutes, according
to sources. No injuries were reported. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested a youth in Nunavil along the Kandy-Jaffna Road around 9 p.m. Thursday. He was one of the two riding in a motorbike when they were stopped. Sources said, the other youth escaped in the motorbike amid gunfire from the troops. He may have been seriously injured, according to reports from the area. Further, at around 8.30 p.m. Thursday, the Police Post located in front of the Old Bus Stand at entrance to the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Point Pedro, also came under grenade attack. Further details of this incident are not available at this time. In the general search of houses in Kachchai, Chavakachcheri area Thursday morning, the Kodikamam Police arrested two civilians accused of hiding hand grenades in their homes. The arrested were produced in Chavakachcheri court Thursday afternoon. The Judge has ordered remand till Monday, sources said. India donates medical equipment to Sri Lanka hospitals The Indian government has donated medical equipment worth approximately 30 million Sri Lankan rupees to tsunami-affected base hospitals in Hambantota and Point Pedro. The Indian High Commission in Colombo said High Commissioner Nirupama Rao handed over to Sri Lankan Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva the first consignment of medical equipment required for the upgrade of the base hospitals. The equipment includes a mobile X-ray machine, ECT apparatus, ECG machine, BSER machine, tympanometer, anaesthesia machine, therapeutic ventilators, nebulizers, surgical loop, slit lamp, visual field analyzer, defibrillator with monitor, pulse oxymeters, incubator and ventilators for neonates, mortuary cooler, 2-D Echo machine with Doppler and CD recording facility and rigid nasal endoscope. Twenty six new tsunami houses in Trinco Aitken Spence and Company will unveil 26 houses for tsunami-affected families in Trincomalee in the North and East today. Company Deputy Chairman Rajan Brito said "At Aitken Spence we are strongly committed to fulfilling of our obligating to society in an efficient and enduring manner". Kumpuripiddy Village in the Trincomalee District was relocated by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Aitken Spence and Company. Twenty-six houses were planned to build in a land belonging to the Kuchchuveli Divisional Secretariat costing Rs. 20 million. Aitken Spence's partners TUI- the world's largest tourism group - jointly contributed towards the reconstruction project in the North and East, in addition to the 22 houses already financed in Katuwila, in the South. TUI, registered in Hanover and Berlin, encompasses 79 tour operator brands throughout Europe with around 18 million customers per year. The on-going second phase including a Medical Centre, Pre-school, Community Centre and Playground will span an area of 7.5 acres. Grenade attacks in Puttur, Katkovalam sentry points, 2 soldiers injured Unidentified men Friday morning around 5.30 a.m. lobbed
a grenade at the checkpoint of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) located along
the sea shore near Katkovalam in Vadamarachchi-Point Pedro area in Jaffna
district. One soldier was reported injured, sources said. In another similar
attack one SLA soldier was injured when unidentified persons lobbed a
grenade at the army sentry point located at Ramavil area between Kodikamam
and Puttur in Jaffna district, sources in Jaffna said. Large number of government troops were rushed to the Katkovalam site after the attack. They began search operation blocking all public and traffic movements, sources said. SLA attacks on Jaffna civilians increase, NGO closes office Two civilians, Ms K Malar (31) and K Rajathurai (64)
were seriously injured and were admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital
after Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers fired indiscriminately after the SLA
sentry near the Multipurpose Cooperative building in Chavakachcheri came
under grenade attack at 1.30 p.m. Friday, sources said. Nine civilians have been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Thursday as a result of attacks on civilians by the SLA soldiers. Sources in Jaffna said, that the security forces are targetting civilians mainly in the areas where there were incidents of grenade attacks. LTTE readying for attacks in Colombo-The Island The LTTE has planned to attack a number of targets in Colombo and a group of its cadres has undergone training for this purpose, Intelligence sources said yesterday (23). The Tigers have during recent weeks committed a number of serious ceasefire violations which include attacks on and killing of Armed Forces and Police personnel. They are now planning to attack a number of targets in Colombo, Defence Advisor to the government and former DIG H. M. G. B. Kotakdeniya told The Island. He said security and surveillance had been strictly tightened in and around Colombo with orders given to the Forces and Police to exercise utmost vigilance. This was in addition to search operations being conducted in Colombo and the suburbs. Kotakadeniya requested the public to contact the police in case there was any suspicious movement of strangers in their neigbourhood so that swift action could be taken to pre-empt any acts of violence or sabotage by the LTTE. Woman shot dead, father wounded in Chenkalady Unidentified gunmen who entered a house to abduct a young
man in Chenkalady opened fire inside his house as the family members spoiled
the attempted abduction. The angered gunmen, armed with a T-56 rifle,
shot and killed the sister of the youth, Eravur Police said. The victim's
father was wounded in the incident that took place inside the house located
on Boundary Road in Chenkalady, 13 km north of Batticaloa town, Thursday
around 9:00 p.m. The gunmen were masked and the exact reason for the attempted abduction of the youth was not clear, according to Eravur Police conducting investigations into the incident. Vaiko meets Indian Premier, Defence Minister in New Delhi Vaiko, the General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) from the Tamil Nadu state in India, met Indian
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi Friday at 5 p.m. Following
the meeting with the Indian Premier, Vaiko also met the Indian Defense
Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday evening. When contacted by TamilNet,
the MDMK chief Vaiko described his meetings with Manmohan Singh and Pranab
Mukherjee as cordial and constructive. Sri Lanka was trying to trap India
to get embroiled into Sri Lanka's conflict as it did in the eighties,
Vaiko said, adding that he had cautioned the Indian leaders that Sri Lanka's
moves are inimical to Tamil interests. Dear Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji, Vanakkam. I would like to draw your kind attention to the emerging grave situation in Sri Lanka, which causes serious concern. The most shocking incident took place on 17th December 2005 in Jaffna was the abduction, rape and murder of a teenage girl by name Tharsini by Sri Lankan Naval personnel, whose dead body was found in a well immersed in water with a stone attached. When repressive brutal attacks by the Armed Forces were unleashed in and around Jaffna University against civilian population, the students led by the vice-chancellor and the professors of the University took out at a procession to present a memorandum to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). But they were blocked by soldiers of Sri Lanka Military and brutally attacked in which the vice-chancellor and the Professors were severely beaten to bleed. Though the Sri Lanka Military claimed that they fired only warning shots, the doctors in the Hospital have clarified that the Professors and Students had gunshot injuries. It is a matter of grave concern that after 1995 i.e. ten years after, the Army has entered into the Jaffna University and had opened fire to intimidate and suppress the students. Regarding cease-fire and the violations the Sri Lankan Government is making all out efforts to paint totally a wrong picture to the outside world putting the blame against the Tamils and the LTTE. In the year 1995, when Sri Lanka Government launched military offensive Palaly Air field was fully utilised for the purpose of ariel bombing and strafing in which many innocent Tamil men, women and children were massacred. About 5 lakhs Tamils were uprooted from their homes and had to leave Jaffna about which the then Pope John Paul II and the then U.N. Secretary General Mr. Boutros Boutros Ghali expressed their anguish. When the Sri Lanka Government tried to enter into defence co-operation agreement with India in 2004, you were so kind enough to consider our views against such a proposed agreement and decided not to go for and agreement for which the Tamil race ever obliged. At that time, I pointed out in my letter October 2004 that India should not engage to help the restructuring and repair work of Palaly Air field and runway. But, it was a terrible shock when the UNI News Agency reported the statement of Air Vice Marshal of Sri Lanka Air force Donald Periera on 9th December 2005 that in Jaffna the restructuring and repair works in Palaly runway is being carried out with the financial assistance of India for the past 6 months and a team of experts from India will visit shortly there for Joint discussion. In this situation the full joint Naval exercise (first time) of India and Sri Lanka in the second week of December gains more significance and an impression in favour of Sri Lanka got propagated by the Sri Lanka Government. The escalating situation in Sri Lanka is causing concern regarding the continuation of cease-fire and peace talks. Under these circumstances the Sri Lanka Government is trying to put India in the forefront in peace talks which could be a cunning strategic ploy. It is the Norway Government, which initiated the peace talks in all earnestness and sincerity. In this background I have brought to the kind notice of the Hon’ble Prime Minister the above mentioned facts regarding the tragic sufferings of Tamils in the Island. With warm regards, 23 December 2005 15 Sri Lankan Navy killed in mine blast, Navy says; Tamil rebels suspected Powerful land mine blasts blew up a bus carrying Sri Lankan Navy on Friday, killing 15 and injuring at least four others, the navy said. Tamil Tiger rebels were suspected in the attack amid an escalation of violence that is threatening to return the South Asian country to civil war. 30 sailors were travelling on the bus and truck. Four injured personnel were taken to hospital, the ministry said. Two are reported to be in critical condition. Reports say there were two explosions, one a claymore fragmentation mine and the other either an anti-vehicle mine or a rocket-propelled grenade. International peace monitors said the situation was "alarming" and that the truce was in jeopardy. End volatile situation to resume talks, TELO Muthalvar tells Government TELO MP M.K. Sivajilingam claimed in Parliament yesterday that the government should end the present volatile situation in the north to resume peace talks with the LTTE. The MP made this claim in his speech during the committee stage on the budget debate in the House yesterday. Mr. Sivajilingam said that President Mahinda Rajapkase expressed at a recent meeting with them, his willingness to resume dialogue with the LTTE to solve the problem. “The government can never achieve the expected goals in the budget unless peace is established. People will not tolerate violence unleashed on them any longer. The government is driving the country back to war by acting in this manner,” he said. He also said they feel sorry for soldiers killed in the recent violent incidents, especially during ceasefire. “We saw their funerals on TV. We feel sorry for them. These things could have been avoided,” he said. He also requested the government to confine the army soldiers stationed in the civil areas in the north to barracks and use police personnel instead. New Delhi must aid peace process - President PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapakse, who begins a four-day visit to India on December 27, will ask New Delhi to become a co-chair of the Tokyo conference so that it can "influence" the international community to push forward the peace process. Speaking to representatives of the Indian media on Wednesday, Rajapakse said it was time the Co-chairs took the peace process forward, and by becoming a co-chair, India could exert "influence" on them. In the Sri Lankan peace process, the international community is represented by the co-chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Aid Lanka conference - the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway. "India must get involved in the peace process, at least give its blessings to it. India is our immediate neighbour and we must work closely with it. I mentioned this in my very first policy statement," Rajapakse said. He said that in his view, peace talks with the LTTE should be held in an Asian country and not Oslo, as the LTTE had been demanding. He pointed out that Japan had offered to be the venue and Sri Lanka had accepted the proposal. The President was happy that an Indian representative had met the co-chairs after their meeting in Brussels on December 19. "This shows that India is taking more interest now," he remarked. Asked what he wanted India to do, apart from joining as a co-chair, Rajapakse said India could help develop the North-East. On the possibility of discussing a defence cooperation agreement with India and getting Indian help for repairing and modernising the Palaly Air Force base in Jaffna, the President said that these matters would not be taken up in his talks with Indian leaders. The controversial Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project in the Palk Straits would also not be taken up, he added. On when he expected talks with the LTTE to begin, Rajapakse said: "I am ready when Prabhakaran is ready." Asked to spell out what he could offer the LTTE at the talks, the President said he would propose "maximum devolution possible under a unitary state." He also said that he would look into the various devolution models in Sri Lanka's neighbourhood, especially how the Indian system of devolution had been working. Asked about the recent cases of violence in the North-East, in which many Sri Lankan soldiers and Tamil civilians were killed, Rajapakse said while the army had been very restrained, the LTTE had been violating the ceasefire agreement. On the international community's charge that his Government had not disarmed and removed anti-LTTE Tamil paramilitary groups in the northeast, as per the terms of its ceasefire with the Tigers, Rajapakse said the paramilitaries had been removed and the current fighting was between the Karuna group, a breakaway LTTE group, and the Tigers. Mannar LTTE office burnt down The office of the LTTE Mannar district administrative unit was found Friday early morning burnt and damaged by unidentified persons. This office is located along Moor Street in Mannar town, sources said. The office was in an abandoned state following the withdrawal of LTTE political activists from the government-controlled area few months ago due to security. Three SLN sailors died in Mannar sea - LTTE The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have informed
the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that their cadres had returned
fire for self-protection on Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) boats that intercepted
and attacked three LTTE vessels in the seas of Mannar Thursday morning.
Two SLN sailors were found dead inside a boat that was abandoned by the
SLN fleet, and another sailor, seriously wounded and rescued by the Tigers,
later drowned in a Tiger boat that had sustained extensive damage, the
LTTE said. One LTTE cadre was wounded in the clash, the Tigers said adding
that their cadres were continuing to travel in the seas with arms for
self-defence in accordance with their earlier announcement. Kilinochchi 22 December 2005 Dear Mr.Haukland, Subject: Incident in the seas of Mannar This letter is being addressed to you to provide full details relating to the incident in the Mannar seas in the morning hours today, 22 December 2005. We were unable to provide timely information on this due to the late arrival of our boats attacked by the SL Navy and to ascertain full details from our members who have escaped the attack. When three of our boats were travelling in the Mannar seas, SL Navy intercepted the fleet and started firing attacks. Our members had to return fire for self-protection. When the naval fleet was retreating, our members observed one navy boat left behind. Since that boat was not making any movements, our members approached and inspected it to find that the boat was gradually sinking due to the damage and two sailors were found dead and one alive with serious injuries. Abandoning the sinking boat with two dead bodies our members decided to save the injured sailor by transferring him to our boat already damaged by the naval attack. The damage to our boat was extensive that sea-water entered into the boat rapidly and the boat sank with the injured soldier. Our members managed to swim along with their injured colleague and reached the shores in our area late in the evening. It is after making inquiries from them the above details were obtained. In the meantime, the SL government has hastened to inform the SLMM and the media that the LTTE has abducted three sailors. Our members confirm that all the three sailors in the navy boat were drowned. In this context, it is relevant to refer you to our repeated requests to make arrangements for members' travel in land and sea in terms of the agreed understanding reached earlier. Please be advised that our members would continue this practice of travelling in the seas with arms for self-defence and it is essential that our request be officially responded to formalise travel in the future. Early action in providing the official arrangement in place would avoid recurrence of such incidents. Thank you. Yours sincerely Attacks escalate in Jaffna Unidentified gunmen and Sri Lanka Army soldiers exchanged
gunfire for more than five minutes near Ainthusanthi, a junction in the
outer suburb of Jaffna town around 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Four civilians,
severely beaten up by the soldiers, were rushed to Jaffna Hospital. A
policeman was wounded at Kantharmadam junction, 300 meters away from the
University of Jaffna, around 1:00 p.m., when unidentified attackers launched
an attack on the troopers, Police said. An SLA vehicle narrowly escaped
from a claymore attack at Nelliyadi in Vadamardhci around 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
Grenade attacks were reported in Ariyalai, Kopay, and near Nachimar Temple
in Jaffna. Tension prevails in Jaffna. The persons beaten up by the soldiers, Thevaratnam Maheswaran, 31, Francis Xavier Anustan, 28, I. Nishanthan, 28, and K. Theivendram, 39, were civilian travellers on the KKS Road, sources added. Another grenade attack was reported in Kopay near District Secretariat building at 4:00 p.m. A civilian traveller, Rooban Jeyanthan, 26, was rushed to Jaffna Hospital after being beaten up by the soldiers in Kopay. Earlier, on Wednesday night, four policemen were wounded when unidentified attackers lobbed grenades at the Police station in Kopay, according to the Police. The policeman wounded at Kantharmadam junction, Mr. Kulathunga Banda, was being treated at Palaly Military Hospital, SLA sources said. Soldiers of the SLA and Policemen in large number rushed to the site in Kantharmadam and Arasady junctions following the attack and launched a cordon and search operation closing the roads for public and vehicular use, civilian sources said. Civilian travellers were also beaten up by the soldiers near Kantharmadam and Ainthusanthi junctions Thursday afternoon, the sources added. Sri Lanka Army has intensified its street patrols in Jaffna following the escalation of attacks on Sri Lanka Army. Rajiv case accused
ends fast after visa promised to daughter According to Mr Ramachandran, Murugan broke his fast following a call from Nalini's brother Bhagyanathan who is in Chennai, that the authorities had given an assurance to issue the visa. Chandrika does it again-SriLankan flight delayed A Sri Lankan airlines flight had to be delayed by thirty two minutes to accommodate former President Chandrika Kumaratunge. The former President left for London last morning after returning to the country from a holiday in Australia two days ago. The Sri Lankan airlines flight was due to leave the Katunayake air port at 8.50 am yesterday. Most passengers had arrived at the air port by 5.00 a.m., completed customs and immigration requirements and the flight was ready to take off, when the air port authorities received a message informing them that the former president was likely to get late and ordered to delay the flight until her arrival. VIP’s including foreigners and businessmen were among the passengers bound for London. The air port authorities were seriously embarrassed not being able to give reasons for the delay Ultimately former president arrived at the air port at 9.20 a.m. This is the second occasion during the month when a Sri Lankan airlines flight was delayed to accommodate former President. LTTE urges Norway to initiate steps to restore normalcy Full text of the letter follows: December 21, 2005 Mr. Hans Bratskar Your Excellency, Subject: Escalating Military violence in Jaffna This memorandum is being addressed to you at this difficult time taking into consideration the grave situation that is escalating in the Jaffna peninsula. Violent incidents unfolding in the Tamil homeland since of late testify to intensified attacks on civilians by the military. Climaxing this situation is the incident in which a young lady has been abducted, sexually molested by many according to the medical evidence and testified as having been subject to this brutality by the SL Navy personnel in the High Security Zone in the island region. To cover up this crime the lady has been murdered and the body put into a well immersed deep with a stone attached. This has made the collective Tamil emotions run high with the recalling of the Krishanthy murder in Chemmani. As a nation of people who have serious reservations about the security of females, the Tamil people are highly perturbed over this criminal trespass into the psyche of the Tamil thinking. This cruel pattern during the height of war under military occupation was seen as a crime against a selected nation of people by human rights activists then. At a time the Tamil people are crying for normalcy that had been denied to them even during a cease fire period, military excesses and atrocities of this nature has created a sense of fury in their minds. As a planned continuation, the military has accelerated its pace of harassment and attacks on civilian population. The military has adopted the most indecent pattern of attacking selectively many of the Tamil academics and the education community at large. This, for a people who consider education as the highest and noble goal in life, is a serious blow. In this context, the attack on the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University Dr.S.Mohanadas and the shooting and injuring of professors, lecturers and undergraduates, has created tension, panic and uncontrollable civilian unrest. The SL Military is solely responsible for this sorry state of affairs. We request of you in all earnestness that your effective intervention and pressure to the government must be in place now at this perilous hour to stop forthwith the military violence and atrocities on the civilians. We fear that the military expanding its nefarious activities to public thoroughfares, educational institutions, densely populated residential areas and public places where people congregate would unfortunately lead to serious consequences. Military should stop all its atrocities against the civilians forthwith and help to pacify the people. At this critical juncture when the Tamil people are in the fringe of their patience and subject to military violence let loose on them, the international community has a moral obligation to prevail upon the government to pull back its forces into the barracks and bring about normalcy in the life of the peace loving people. Please treat this as a serious threat to the CFA and initiate meaningful steps to bring about calm and peace in the Tamil homeland. Thank you. Yours sincerely S.P.Tamilselvan Budget passed President Mahinda Rajapakse’s maiden budget for 2006 was passed by a huge majority in Parliament yesterday, after the Committee stage debate, largely due to the main Opposition UNP abstaining from the vote, and only the TNA opposing it. The agriculture friendly Budget drafted on the lines of the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ policies was passed with a majority of 101 votes, the JVP, JHU, CWC and SLMC supporting the government and the TNA opposing it. A total of 119 MPs voted for and 18 against. Yesterday budgetary estimates for 2006 were approved in the House for labour relations and foreign employment, skills development, tourism, foreign affairs, home affairs, public administration, local government and provincial councils, constitutional affairs, regional development, sports, science and technology, education, vocational and technical training, industrial development, rural economic promotion, state banks development, plan implementation and finance and planning. Kotakadeniya accuses CWC leader of blocking Colombo security raids Defence Ministry Advisor H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya has accused CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman of blocking him from carrying out raids on LTTE suspects residing in lodges in Colombo. Kotakadeniya said that whenever he tried to launch raids on reported safe houses, Thondaman telephoned former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and brought pressure on him. He said this prevented him from carrying out his official duties. “Thondaman, under the direction of Velupillai Prabhakaran, wanted the then President to make me powerless in order to allow the LTTE cadres to operate in the city. This was in 1995 and the consequences were seen very well with the bombings that followed in the main economical hubs such as the Central Bank, Petroleum Refinery and the Katunayake Airport, to name a few,” he charged. Navy didn't attack, because 100 fishing vessels were anchored - Govt. The government vehemently condemns the LTTE's abduction of three sailors along with a boat and the shooting incident off Talaimannar this morning, government spokesman Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said. The LTTE has committed 9 such incidents yesterday and today violating the cease-fire agreement, and today's attack was carried in an area where over 100 fishing vessels were anchored and as such the Navy did not retaliate as government forces conduct themselves in a disciplined and responsible manner unlike a terrorist organization like the LTTE and specially human lives are of prime importance to them, the Minister added. The government spokesman added the security forces will strictly comply with the truce and would not retaliate, and the patience displayed by the forces has earned them many international accolades. He further said that the LTTE has carried out this attack barely two days after a strongly worded statement issued by the co-chairs of the peace process and added Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera today briefed the ambassadors of the countries representing the co-chairs regarding today's attack. Press Freedom
Suffers as Violence Accelerates in Jaffna, Sri Lanka “The concern is that these three incidents are just the beginning of the targeting of media and journalists in Jaffna which will result in a total clampdown of freedom of expression and free and independent reporting,” said IFJ president Christopher Warren. The IFJ is concerned over the following incidents in Sri Lanka: Three journalists beaten in Jaffna T. Sabeswaran, reporter, Thinakural; Winston Jeyan, reporter from Thinakaran and G. Jerad, reporter, Namathu Eelanadu were beaten and their cameras damaged when the Sri Lanka Army opened fire during a demonstration march at Jaffna University. Several university lecturers and the vice chancellor were injured in the attack. Journalists arrested The three were arrested despite having produced identity papers and press cards. They were finger printed and photographed with no explanation and were only released after the intervention of a Tamil parliamentarian. Newspaper searched in Jaffna According to an IFJ affiliate in Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement (FMM), the search was a direct result of an escalation in violence in Jaffna in the past few weeks, which has resulted in the deaths of a number of soldiers, citizens and separatists. The FMM and the IFJ fear that the media will become a target as a direct result of the increase in violence due to the four daily Tamil newspapers in Jaffna, including the Namathu Eelanaadu’s editorial support of Tamil nationalism putting them in ideological opposition with the military. “It is essential that the role of journalists and
the media is respected as independent from the conflict,” said Warren.
For more information please contact IFJ Asia-Pacific +61 (2) 9333 0919 JVP won't take part in Sri Lanka President's Indian visit The JVP, a political ally of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's, has rejected his invitation to join the delegation for the state visit to India, scheduled on December 27. The JVP in rejecting the President’s offer said the party was not a part of the government and therefore saw no reason for being part of the President’s delegation. Canadian students express concern over student rights’ violations in Sri Lanka In an urgent letter addressed to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaske, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), a body representing over 250,000 Ontario students, expressed concern regarding the assaults by Sri Lankan army personnel on Jaffna University students, faculty members and administrators. “On behalf of the 250,000 Ontario members of the Canadian Federation of Students, I am writing you to express concern regarding the reported assaults on university students, faculty members, and administrators from Jaffna University during a peaceful protest in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna Peninsula,” Jesse Greener, Ontario Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students said. In an illustration of solidarity with the Students in Northern Sri Lanka, the CFS declared, “Freedom of expression is a fundamental right.” The letter called on the Government to protect students’ rights and called for the removal of military from within and around Jaffna University. “It is incumbent on the government of Sri Lanka to protect students’ right to learn and express their viewpoints in a peaceful and safe environment. This means not only removing the military from within and around Jaffna University campus, but also ensuring that the basic necessities of learning are in place for all students,” the letter said. The CFS said that it opposes any barriers that prevent students from accessing or properly participating in their education and added that, if the allegations of rights abuse were true, they would constitute “egregious violations of the rights of students in the Northern region of Sri Lanka” and be deserving of “international attention.” On Saturday 17th December, the body of Ilayathamby Tharshini (20) was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu, reports said. According to postmortem examination conducted at the Jaffna teaching hospital, she was brutally raped before being strangled to death. Punguduthivu Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) later said in a press release that the Sri Lanka Navy should take the responsibility for the abduction and murder of the young woman as island was under complete control of the Navy. On Monday 19th December, students on a peaceful protest march to the international peace monitoring commission were brutally assaulted and shot at without any warning or provocation by the Sri Lankan security forces, according to reports. Among those injured were several students, student leaders, senior lecturers and the Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University. On Tuesday 20th December, armed forces entered Jaffna University premises and again brutally assaulted students, fired into the air and used tear gas to disrupt student activities, reports said. A senior lecturer and a student were arrested by released later. This is the first time in 10 years the military soldiers had stepped onto University premises. Recalling that it was only four years ago reports of intimidations and torture of a student leader from the same university had surfaced, the CFS said, “Our hope was that in the wake of that incident the Sri Lankan government would move toward reconciliation and that steps would be taken to ensure the safety of students, and indeed, all citizens.” “We are particularly disturbed, therefore, to hear similar stories of organized violence being perpetrated on students just this month,” the CFS said as it called for a “swift condemnation” from Rajapake’s government. A copy of the letter was also forwarded to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg "Tigers take
over newspaper" report wrong –The Island In consequence of representations made by Mr. Reggie Fernando we have made inquires and become aware that the newspaper concerned (Newslanka) which is issued free in the UK and Europe is in fact wholly owned by Mr. and Mrs. Chinthaka (Chin) Fernando, son and daughter-in-law, respectively, of Mr. Reggie Fernando. The statement in the news item that "an LTTE connected party" had acquired the newspaper is entirely without foundation. We are also satisfied that the allegation, that the newspaper had given extensive coverage to news sourced from the Tamilnet, is also equally erroneous. The news drawn from the Tamilnet is minimal and relates to matters of interest to all Sri Lankans across all ethnic backgrounds. In fact, the percentage of news extracted from the Tamilnet compared to the overall news coverage in Newslanka during the period of the last 3 months (October/November/December) is far less than referred to in the news item. Mr. Reggie Fernando informs us that the newspaper continues to command the confidence of all sections of the Sri Lankan community in the UK and Europe and that there is no boycott of the newspaper. In fact the paper has extensive coverage of the events that takes place within all sections of the Sri Lankan expatriate community. We express our apologies to Mr. and Mrs. Fernando of Newslanka Ltd: the proprietors, and Mr. Reggie Fernando, its editor, in this regard." 22 December 2005 SLN boats attacked in Mannar, boat with three troopers missing, one wounded A soldier of the Sri Lanka Navy Mr.S.G.T.Sanjeeva,23, was injured Thursday morning around 7.30 a.m. when unidentified attackers fired at three SLN boats enroute to Pallimunai camp in the Mannar town. The attackers have abducted three SLN soldiers with their patrol boat, Mannar Police said. A Tamil fisherman Mr.P.Rukman, 25, was also injured in the incident. According to police sources, unidentified men had fired at the SLN boats from the shore of Pallimunai when the boats were returning to the SLN camp after night patrol in the Mannar Sea. The boats were 200 meters away from the shore, police said. The two injured were immediately admitted to the Mannar general hospital. Additional troops and police have been deployed in the Mannar town and a cordon and search operation was immediately commenced in the areas Pallimunai, Bazaar, Sinnakadai and Uppukulam in Mannar area. The troopers conducting search operation also attacked the travellers on the streets in Mannar following the incident, civilian sources said. All shops and public institutions were immediately closed down due to the tense situation prevailing in Mannar, the sources added. S Lanka rebels clash with navy, capture three –Source: Reuters Tamil Tiger rebels attacked two Sri Lankan naval craft off the island's northwest coast today, the navy said, opening fire and capturing three sailors in the most violent incident at sea since a 2002 truce. Naval spokesman Commodore Jayantha Perera said Sea Tiger boats that had hidden amongst a fishing fleet were approached by two naval dinghies. The Tigers fired on the dinghies, he said, capturing three sailors who jumped into the water. ''They have come as fishermen and attacked the Navy craft,'' he said. ''In retaliation we have also attacked and we have captured six LTTE cadres. This is the worst incident for the Navy since the ceasefire. This is the first time they have fired on us.'' S.Lankan soldiers killed as peace prospects recede-Source: Reuters Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels killed two Sri Lankan soldiers and wounded nine others in a series of attacks in the government-held north, the army said on Wednesday, as prospects for peace talks looked ever poorer. Protesters from the Tamil minority have clashed repeatedly with troops this week on the Jaffna peninsula, a heavily defended army enclave hemmed in by Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lines. Each side accuses the other of trying to escalate the situation. "LTTE is determined to uphold the cease-fire agreement, but the Sri Lankan Army is continuously ignoring the cease-fire agreement and committing serious violations, such as rapes, violent attacks and humiliating treatment of Tamil civilians," the rebels' official Web site quoted Illamparuthy, the LTTE's political head in Jaffna, as telling Nordic truce monitors. Parliament voted on Wednesday to extend an island-wide state of emergency, imposed after the foreign minister was assassinated by suspected rebels in August, for another month. And suspected Tigers mounted three attacks in and around Jaffna. One soldier was shot dead in a bunker in the town, while a patrol was ambushed with grenades and gunfire on the main road that leads to Tiger-held territory. One soldier died and six others were injured. Earlier this month 14 soldiers were killed in mine attacks in the area -- the biggest breaches so far of a 2002 cease-fire. "This isn't a cease-fire," said one foreign diplomat. "But there's still a big gap between this and a full-scale war." DONOR PRESSURE The rebels deny involvement in the attacks, as well as other recent incidents including an apparent attempt last week to shoot down a military helicopter, but few believe them. At a meeting in Brussels this week, donor powers Japan, the United States, the European Union and Norway told the rebels to halt their campaign of violence or face "serious consequences". The rebels have rejected a Japanese offer to host talks, while officials say the government is unlikely to accept Tiger demands that they be hosted by Norway, broker of the 2002 deal. Diplomats say Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim and Japanese envoy Yasushi Akashi each met rebel negotiator Anton Balasingham in London after the Brussels meeting, but with little progress. Balasingham said the rebels wanted peace, but also accused the army of human rights abuses and wanted troops pulled back, the diplomats say. That demand is repeated by groups in the north who analysts say are almost certainly rebel proxies. "We the Tamil people have decided to take matters into our own hands," the High Security Zone Residents' Liberation Force said in a faxed statement. "We shall in due time make sure that our women can feel safe in their homes and villages by using all means necessary to drive out the criminals who are occupying our homeland." Jaffna district organizer for Tamil Resurgence Task force shot dead in Jaffna Mr K. Navaratnam (47), Jaffna district organizer for Tamil Resurgence Task force, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in front of the Thinakural offices in KKS road in Jaffna town at 5.30 a.m. Thursday, sources from Jaffna said. He worked part-time as news paper distributer and had gone to collect Thinakural edition for delivery to Poopalasingham Book Shop located on the Hospital Road when he was shot. Gunmen escaped after firing at the victim. Additional police and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have been brought to the area to increase security. Kopay district organizer for the Tamil Resurgence Task Force and Principal of Kopay Christian College, Mr Sivakadadcham, was shot dead on 11 October by gunmen alleged to be belonging to Sri Lanka Army intelligence. Alliance between North-South parties a distant dream - Mano Ganesan Describing the so called broad Tamil Alliance between Tamil political parties in the North and South as a distant political dream, Western Peoples' Front Leader Mano Ganesan declared that the WPF would not be a party to any hasty decision to suit any party's private agenda. Issuing a statement yesterday the leader of the WPF which worked in alliance with the CWC and Up-country Peoples' Front in support of the UNP candidate at the last Presidential election stressed that ground realities prevailing in the Northeast,Up-country and the Western region were different to each other. "Unity can be achieved only if commonness, equality and ground realities are also recognized after extensive discussions with all parties concerned " the WPF leader said. "It should be understood that the LTTE and CWC cannot and will not decide for us " Ganesan states. He said he was surprised at the media story of decision to form a broader Tamil Alliance comprising four parties including our Western Peoples' Front being taken during last Saturday's meeting between the LTTE political chief and CWC leader at Killinnochi. He stressed that there were only formal discussions among certain parties and no serious discussions have taken place or have any modalities been finalised."Besides it is our party which decides on any involvement of our party in any such arrangement after holding discussions with all concerned. He said they too were meeting the LTTE political leadership(yesterday) and the meeting was arranged long before."We will discuss this issue too with others". He notes that already the northeast Tamil political parties, IATK, EPRLF, ACTC and TELO are working as one political unit under the active supervision of LTTE. There is no such unity among the southern Tamil parties. There are common Tamil issues. We share the commonness and recognize the issues very much. So we are voting against emergency and other anti-Tamil issues in Parliament along with TNA. We are doing the same outside Parliament too. So the general common unity is already there. President asks
two Ministers to resign from portfolios The two Ministers who resigned from the Muslim Congress joined the Government recently. However the President is scheduled to take action against them for not attending the Parliament without giving any valid reason. Stop harassing civilians: Mahinda tells military President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday vowed to take disciplinary action against any security personnel found guilty of irresponsible actions during recent incidents in Jaffna including charges of rape and killing of a girl in Punkuditivu. The President gave the assurance during a special meeting with a TNA delegation, Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse. TNA Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham who attended the meeting said his party suspected the Navy of being behind the rape and killing of a 20-year girl in Punkudutivu last week. President Rajapakse insisted at the meeting that civilians should not be harassed in anyway. Meanwhile Mr.Pararajasingham also accused the government of passing the state of emergency unanimously in Parliament before the scheduled time. Emergency passed
sans debate The Whips on both sides took this decision as the Committee Stage budget debate ended early yesterday at 5.25 p.m. The extension of the emergency was due to be debated in Parliament from 6 pm to 7.30 p.m. yesterday. MPs from the Tamil National Alliance were not present in the House at the time Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake presented emergency regulations before the House. Deputy Speaker Githanjana Gunawardena presided at the time emergency regulations were presented in the House. SLA assault on VC, Arts Dean worrisome sign - NPC National Peace Council (NPC), a Colombo based NGO, in a Media release issued on Wednesday condemned the security forces for attacking non-violent protests of students and staff of Jaffna campus, including Vice Chancellor and the Dean of Arts. The violence began when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers attacked the students marching to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) offices against the killing of Ilyathamby Tharsini (20) in Punguduthivu near an Sri Lanka Navy post. Postmortem examination has revealed that Tharsini was raped before being strangled to death. Full text of the media release follows: Government and LTTE need to resume local level meetings to stem escalation of violence The assault on the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna, Prof. Mohandas, the Dean of Arts Prof. Sivachandran and senior faculty members of the university staff while leading a student march in Jaffna is a tragic and worrisome sign of the continuing deterioration in the situation that prevails in the north east. The students and faculty were on their way to the office of the international monitors of the SLMM to non-violently hand over a petition protesting against the conduct of the military in recent times. While a state of Emergency prevails in the country, the National Peace Council affirms that civilian protests must not be dealt with in a violent manner in a society that upholds democratic values and seeks to reject violent alternatives. The deterioration in conditions of peaceful life in Jaffna follows several acts of violence that have led to serious loss of life in the last few weeks. These include the killing of two civilians associated with the LTTE‚s Heroes Day celebrations, several incidents of grenade throwing targeting Sri Lankan security personnel, the killing of 15 soldiers through landmines and the recent brutal rape and murder of a young woman in close proximity to a navy camp in Jaffna. These incidents have contributed to and fed into the escalation of tension in Jaffna. The National Peace Council condemns these acts of violence, rape and killings and calls on the government and LTTE to ensure that such actions by their members are stopped forthwith and not tolerated any more. We welcome President Mahinda Rajapakse's appointment of a committee of inquiry to provide a report on the most recent incident, which needs to be followed up and the perpetrators brought to justice expeditiously. There is an immediate need for the government and LTTE to take steps to defuse and de-escalate the growing crisis that is making life harsh, fearful and alienating to the civilian population and to the security forces. We note that the Sri Lankan security forces have entered the University of Jaffna where there have been further clashes and yet another soldier has been shot dead in Jaffna. We urge the government and LTTE to recommence local level meetings that deal with security issues on the ground, with inclusion of other affected parties under the supervision of the international monitors. It is important to work out a system that ensures peaceful life at the community level while the peace process remains on hold. Without such a mechanism there can only be a rise in violence and tensions in the north east, which may lead to renewed armed hostilities that is to the detriment of everyone. A continuation on the present path will only bring more suffering and erode the gains achieved by all Sri Lankans since the 2002 ceasefire agreement. Tamil Tiger suspect in PLOTE abduction arrested A YOUNG MAN, suspected to have been involved in the
recent abduction of a senior party activist of the People’s Liberation
Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) party was taken in for questioning
by the Police, assisted by troops from the general area of SINNAPUTHUKULAM,
VAVUNIYA on Tuesday (20) around 2.30 p.m. Sri Lanka seeks greater Indian role in peace bid Ahead of his three-day India visit, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Wednesday said he will seek greater involvement of New Delhi in the island's faltering peace bid with the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelam when he holds talks with the leadership there. Rajapakse, who leaves for New Delhi on December 27 in his first trip abroad since winning the November 17 Presidential elections, said he expected India to play a "bigger role" in supporting the island's peace efforts to end three decades of ethnic bloodshed. "That is what I want to discuss with them. They are our closest neighbour and it is very important for me to have them involved in the process," he told Colombo-based Indian journalists when asked about what sort of role he wanted India to play. Rajapakse said he expected India to have an involvement similar to what the quartet known as co-chairs - US, European Union, Japan and Norway - has in supporting peace efforts. The quartet has led international efforts to raise money in support of the island's peace efforts. During his India visit, the Sri Lankan President will be accompanied by a bipartisan delegation of legislators from the government as well as opposition in a sign of broad support he enjoys within the legislature despite ideological differences. He is expected to stop over in Chennai on his way back. About a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and a Defence Cooperation pact, the President said there would be no finality on either, but he expected talks to continue. Rajapakse said he was keen to study India's system of devolution, as it could be a model for Sri Lanka to grant extensive devolution without altering the character of the state. "I am for a unitary state with maximum possible devolution." he said, adding, "I want to study the Indian model and I am sure we can learn from that." Also, Rajapakse said he was keen to discuss oil exploration with Indian companies. He has sought a report from the treasury over a controversy over subsidy payments to the Indian Oil Corporation's unit in Sri Lanka. Trading in the shares of IOC's Lanka unit was suspended on Tuesday amid reports that the company was in trouble, as the Sri Lankan government owed it some $71 million (about Rs 32,000 crore). "I have asked for a report, but what I can tell you is that we will honour our commitments," the President said, adding, "If we have to pay, we will pay. That would not be a problem." United States invites Sri Lanka Foreign Minister for official visit Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has been invited by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for an official visit. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister will visit the USA early next year. “At the moment we are preparing his programme for the proposed US visit,” a Foreign Ministry official said.. Rajapakse meets TNA delegation A high level discussion between the Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapakse and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians
led by its parliamentary group leader R.Sampanthan is currently in progress
in the SL President's Office in Colombo. The meeting began around 4:00
p.m. Wednesday at the urgent request of the Tamil National Alliance, political
sources said. The SL Presidential Secretariat has hurriedly arranged the requested discussion with the TNA following the volatile situation in Jaffna district, sources added. 21 December 2005 TNA alleges state terror in Jaffna, parliament sittings suspended The violent incidents in Jaffna on Monday sparked a protest in parliament yesterday by TNA MPs, resulting in parliament sittings being suspended for 20 minutes. A tense situation arose in the House as slogan- shouting TNA MPs stormed the Well of the House, demanding an immediate response from President Mahinda Rajapakse who is also the Defence Minister, to clashes between the armed forces and Jaffna university students. The clashes left more than 15 civilians injured and hospitalized with gun shot and other injuries. Among the injured in Monday’s clashes were the Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University Prof. K. Mohandas, Prof. Perinbanathan and Prof. Sivachandran. Four journalists from the Uthayan, Eelanadu, Thinakural and Thinakaran newspapers were also assaulted and hospitalized in the clashes, while 8 students were also hospitalized. The protesting TNA MPs stormed the Well after leader R. Sampanthan made a statement in parliament calling for the government to take legal and disciplinary action against the soldiers responsible for the attacks. Mr. Sampanthan also demanded that all service officers responsible for the recent spate of violence in Jaffna be removed and that the armed forces be withdrawn from civilian inhabited areas. After Mr. Sampanthan made his statement, Prime Minister and Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake rose from his seat to respond. However, the Premier was unable to speak due to the TNA MPs, including Mr. Sampanthan walking down to the Well and demanding a response from the President himself. The TNA MPs chanted slogans calling for an end to killings and Jaffna District MP N. Raviraj was heard shouting, “We want the President and Defence Minister to reply. This is a serious incident.” Deputy Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Mahinda Amaraweera were seen heckling the protesting TNA MPs, saying the TNA makes no noise when soldiers are killed in the Peninsula. Although the Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara made several requests to the TNA MPs to get back to their seats and allow the Premier to speak, his calls were not heeded, resulting in a suspension of sittings. During the time parliament was suspended, a party leaders’ meeting was held and the Prime Minister assured the TNA he would consult the President and respond. Monday’s clashes took place after a series of protests in Jaffna following the killing of 20 year old student Dayathambi Tharshini who was alleged to have been sexually assaulted and her body dumped in an abandoned well near the Punkuduthivu Navy camp in Jaffna on December 17. Tharshini had gone missing on December 16, and Mr. Sampanthan said in parliament that the circumstances under which her body was discovered clearly indicated that the Navy was responsible for the incident. The TNA ‘vehemently condemned’ the conduct of the Sri Lankan armed forces. “Incidents of this nature have been systematically used by the armed forces against Tamil civilians as a weapon of war,” Mr. Sampanthan said adding that such action amounted to state terror and was also “the brutal suppression of the Tamil peoples’ right to protest against the shameful and despicable sexual assault and murder of an innocent vulnerable young girl.” Mahinda says firm No way to LTTE’s Norway talks demand President Mahinda Rajapakse remains firm on his stand that peace talks can only be held in an Asian country and nowhere else. He informed the JVP that he will not agree to the LTTE’s demand for talks to be held in Norway yesterday. He reiterated his earlier stand of holding talks with the LTTE in an Asian country, party sources said. In a meeting between a JVP delegation and the President, on the resumption of the peace talks, held at the Temple Trees, JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe pointed out that there would be no positive outcome if the talks were to be held in Norway or in another European country and such talks would only be in favour of the LTTE. JVP delegation comprised its leader General Secretary Tilvin Silva and Parliamentary Group leader Wimal Weerawansa. The meeting continued for one hour. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera also participated. ThePresident had outlined a detailed programme to revive the peace process and said that the LTTE’s request to hold discussions in Norway cannot be agreed to. Minister Samaraweera had presented the facts related to his recent meeting with the Norwegian Foreign Minister in Hong Kong. The JVP and the President will meet today (21) or tomorrow (22) for further discussions on the resumption of the peace process, party sources added. Talks venue "shouldn't
be an issue" Speaking with BBC Sandeshaya (bbcsinhala.com) after meeting LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in London, Solheim said they are moving closer to bringing the parties to the negotiation table. Solheim and Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar,
met Balasingham on Tuesday in London. "We believe that the issue of the venue should not be the key issue as any venue acceptable to the parties will be acceptable to the international community. They should stop discussing the venue and finalise to meet as soon as possible" The minister said that they also briefed Balasingham on the outcome of the donor co-chairs meeting. “And most certainly he had read the statement carefully." The co-chairs of the Sri Lanka donor countries urged the Tamil Tigers to commit to Cease Fire Agreement ending a rise in violence in the north and the east. "The co-chairs call on the LTTE to put an immediate end to their ongoing campaign of violence and again urge the LTTE to demonstrate their commitment to the ceasefire agreement and the peace process," a statement after a meeting in Brussels on Monday warned. Tharsini raped before murder- Medical Report Ilayathamby Tharshini (20), whose body was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu Saturday, was brutally raped before being strangled to death, according to postmortem examination conducted in the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Dr.Balasubramaniam, Judicial Medical Officer, who conducted the postmortem examination later handed over the medical report to the Kayts Police. The funeral of Tharshini was held Monday amid intimidation and threat by the Sri Lanka Navy personnel in Punguduthivu, residents said. According to the report several injuries were caused by fingernails and biting had been found on several areas of her body. One of her breasts had been severely bitten. The deceased was reported missing on Friday and on Saturday her naked body tied to a stone was recovered from a well located close to the Sri Lanka Navy ( camp in Punguduthivu. The body was handed over to the mortuary of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.The body was taken to Punguduthivu Monday afternoon in a vehicle by her relatives. In the meantime SLN soldiers conducted search operation in Punguduthivu. SLN personnel assaulted several persons during the search operation.Proper funeral was not accorded to the dead woman, as selected people who were to conduct last rites did not come to site due to SLN intimidation of civilians in the area. Hence the body was taken to Kerativu cemetery in the vehicle which brought her body from Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Thereafter burial took place. Meanwhile, officials of the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka held an inquiry into this incident in the house of the victim, sources said.The Police submitted the medical report to the Magistrate Court Tuesday. Punguduthivu Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS)
Tuesday said in a press release that Sri Lanka Navy should take the responsibility
for the abduction and murder of a young woman Ilayathamby Tharshini as
Punguduthivu is under full control of SLN. The press release further said
the safety of Tamil women is in danger in the presence of SLN personnel
who perpetrate crimes with complete impunity. They called upon civil groups
and women's rights activists to raise the issue in local and international
fora and ensure safety and freedom of movement to women in the islets.
President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday informed Parliament that a two-member committee would be appointed to look into the alleged rape and killing of a 20-year-old girl in Jaffna. The incident led to protests and clashes between the security forces and students in Jaffna on Monday and yesterday. The President’s decision was conveyed to the House by Premier Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. He said the committee would comprise a retired Supreme Court judge and an-ex diplomat. The Daily Mirror learns The President has also directed the police and other defence authorities to take steps to ensure the safety of the civilian population in the North. Jaffna Civilian agitations expected to intensify after 24th Clashes between civilians and security forces are likely to intensify after 24th. Due to the ongoing Ordinary Level examination, Jaffna undergraduates have decided not to involve school children in protest campaigns. The two major demands of university students are that the Army posts located close to the University should be removed and that they should not be subjected to searches by the security forces. Meanwhile the Army fired several shots into the air to disperse a group of protesting students at Manipay junction this evening. As a result many areas of the Jaffna city were shut down and a number of roads were closed. Our special correspondent in Jaffna said students who initially demanded the withdrawal of the security forces from the High Security Zones may call for the total withdrawal of forces from Jaffna after 24th. With the mounting tension, the security has been stepped up and our reporter said representatives of leading Southern business establishments who are now in Jaffna have started returning to Colombo amidst the worsening security situation. Meanwhile unofficial reports said the LTTE has given military training to civilians in the North and East during the ceasefire and claimed 40,000 grenades have been distributed among them Another clash in Jaffna as troops enter campus At least two policemen were injured when a group of Jaffna University students along with some other militant youth attacked a police jeep and tried to set it on fire yesterday in front of the Jaffna University, Police said. They said that around 11.30 a.m. a group of Policemen had gone to the quarters of the University in a Jeep to hand over a document to one of the lecturers over a complaint against him. Soon after the jeep entered the premises, a group of students and some other outsiders with clubs, chains and stones started attacking the vehicle and damaged it badly, police said. The attackers had tried to abduct the policemen and set fire to the jeep, forcing the police to open fire in the air, they said. Later the police riot squad and troops were called to the scene, to disperse the attackers and rescue the policemen, they said. Police said they arrested a lecturer and a student who were to be produced before a magistrate yesterday. Military Spokesman Daya Ratnayake said the military had taken steps to rescue the policemen after a group surrounded the jeep and attacked the policemen. Meanwhile Tamil net reported that hundreds of troops entered the premises of the University of Jaffna yesterday opened fire in the air, fired tear gas and attacked the students. The soldiers arrested Manickavasagar Ilampirayan, the lecturer of physical education and a student, Mr. Gowri Senthooran, university staff said. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials rushed to the site to defuse the tension Tamil net said. The University administration has condemned the conduct of the soldiers, who entered the university premises for the first time since 1995. This came after a police vehicle was stoned and damaged outside the university premises around 11.30 a.m. yesterday, the Tamil net said.The arrested lecturer Mr. Ilampirayan is the brother of Vavuniya District Judge M. Ilanacheliyan. Vavuniya undergrads boycott in support of Jaffna students Undergraduates from Vavuniya campus boycotted classes Tuesday to protesting against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) aggression including physical assault and indiscriminate firing on students at the Jaffna campus, sources in Vavuniya said. Vavuniya students accused the SLA of violating students right to non-violent protest and demanded that SLA immediately withdraw from the Jaffna Campus area. Vavuniya students and Campus lecturers met Tuesday at the Campus Hall located in Garden street to determine the followup action to the boycott, student representatives said. Meanwhile, SLA is rebuilding sentry points in all locations where SLA army was present before the MoU was signed. Additional police have been brought to Vavuniya to strengthen security. Special Task Force and SLA soldiers are conducting more
patrols along Vavuniya streets, residents said. CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman who is in the centre of controversy following his recent meeting with the LTTE, has agreed to accompany President Mahinda Rajapakse on his visit- to India, government sources said yesterday. Mr. Thondaman had initially turned down the invitation when the President made it during the India- brokered crisis talks between the President and the CWC leader at India House on Sunday. However later, after consulting the LTTE, Mr. Thondaman had agreed to join the President on the visit, later this month they said. CWC sources said the LTTE had given the green light to the CWC leader to go to India with the President and explore the possibilities of resuming peace talks soon. The Daily Mirror also learns that during last Sunday’s meeting the CWC leader had also turned down an offer by President Rajapakse to restore his security. The 16-member security contingent given to Mr. Thondaman had been withdrawn three weeks ago provoking angry protests by the CWC and other parties including the UNP and the TNA. When Mr. Thondaman truned down the President’s offer to restore the security Mr. Rajapakse had asked in a lighter vein whether he did not want government security because he was now linked with the enemy. The President also told Mr. Thondaman he could go ahead and take action against CWC parliamentarian Vadivel Suresh who crossed over and was given a deputy minister’s post this week. The President said he would not interfere in this party matter. Mr. Thondaman replied his party would take a decision on this. Meanwhile the CWC parliamentary group led by Mr. Thondaman held discussions with the TNA on Monday and appointed a four-member committee to explore a structure under which the three Tamil parties the TNA, CWC and the Upcountry People’s Front could function as one group in parliament. The decision to form this broader Tamil alliance comprising the three parties and the Western People’s Front of Mano Ganeshan was taken during last Saturday’s talks between the LTTE Political wing chief S.P. Thamilselvan and the CWC leader in Kilinochchi. SLA trooper knifed in Ampan Ajit Kumara, a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier attached
to the Ampan SLA camp located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Vadamarachy
East, received cut injuries from a sharp instrument by unknown attackers
at 10 a.m. Tuesday, security sources said. The injured soldier has been
admitted to Palalay military hospital in serious condition. Remand extended for Sri Lanka policemen Tamil Eelam district court, Kilinochchi ordered further
remand for three Sri Lankan policemen until 3rd January when inquiry into
the case of the policemen accused of illegally crossing into Liberation
Tigers controlled areas was taken up for inquiry Tuesday, legal sources
said. Mr Velavar, attorney representing the defendents, told the Court that the defendents have been held in remand for 112 days without any charges. He pleaded with the judge to limit the period for investigations. He also requested the Judge to grant permission for the defendents to have telephone conversation with their superiors in Colombo. Ms Bhavani requested the Judge to allow Tamileelam Police personnel to be present during the conversation. The Judge after hearing the arguments allowed the defendents to talk to their superiors in the presence of Tamileelam police and fixed the next hearing for 3rd January. K.A.D. Sarath, B.W.Bopetigoda and W.G.D.S. Hemantha, all in their thirties and claiming to belong the Sri Lankan Police, were arrested while in hiding in the LTTE controlled area on 10 September and were charged for entering Tamil Eelam without prior permission. The three policemen from Sri Lanka pleaded they had crossed the border to arrest a culprit absconding justice in sri Lanka. Separation if peace process fails: TNA TNA Leader R. Sampanthan told Parliament yesterday that the collapse of the peace process would inevitably lead to the division of the country. The TNA leader made these remarks during the debate on the committee stage in parliament yesterday. He said that there is an effort on the part of the government to portray the LTTE as a demon to discredit it. “The ceasefire must be sustained. It cannot be broken down. The ceasefire must be followed by immediate peace talks. There is effort on the part of the government to demonize the LTTE,” he said. He said that the LTTE was created by the Sinhala people not by Tamils. “The LTTE was created in defence of Tamils as a result of your conduct,” he said. He said that the government would not be able to vanquish the LTTE by demonizing them, as they failed in their effort to destroy them militarily. He said that some sections of the media also demonize the LTTE and that can create a great deal of prejudice especially among the Sinhala people. He said that the government and the LTTE should discuss the problem on an equal footing. Mr. Sampanthan said that the previous government attempted to subjugate and suppress the Tamil people. “They did their utmost to vanquish the LTTE militarily, but failed in the efforts,” he said. He said that some forces which vehemently opposed the Norwegian facilitator role, were now agreeable to it and they were happy about it. “The Norwegian flag was burnt. They were called white tigers. Now the President had invited Norway to go ahead with the facilitator role after the Foreign Minister’s visit to India,” he said. SLA attacks protesting auto-rickshaw drivers in Jaffna Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Tuesday 3.30 p.m. attacked group of more than one hundred auto-rickshaw drivers and their vehicles who had assembled in Jaffna town in a protest by the Auto-Owners Union in support of a colleague injured by the SLA Monday, sources in Jaffna said. The auto drivers blocked Stanley Road, Kasturiar road and the roads proximity to the SLA camp when the SLA attacked the protesters. Hundreds of additional troops who were brought to the scene in heavy vehicles started attacking the protesters and civilians assembled in the busy shopping area around the protest area.Many auto-rickshaws were damaged in the attack.Near the Windsor theater a standoff between the protesting public on one side and armed SLA troopers prevails.Many business establishments have been closed and there is mounting tension in Jaffna. Office to assist British nationals The British High Commission and the British Red Cross staff will open a temporary office in Galle on December 26 and 27 to provide information and assistance to British nationals visiting Sri Lanka for the tsunami anniversary. The office will be located at 71 Pedlar Street (at the Office of Project Galle 2005) within the Galle Fort. The office can be contacted between 9 am and 6 pm on telephone Number 94 (0) 773 623662 or via the British High Commission in Colombo. Withdraw armed forces from civilian inhabited areas in NE- TNA The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in a statement tabled
in parliament Tuesday demanded the Sri Lanka government to withdraw all
armed forces from all civilian inhabited areas in the North East. TNA
further called the government to take disciplinary and legal action against
all members of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces who are responsible for the
attack on Tamil civilians in Jaffna district in the last several days. I wish to bring to the urgent attention of this House the very grave and volatile situation faced in the North-East and Jaffna in particular, due to the conduct of the Sri Lankan armed forces. On Friday the 16th of December 2005 a young girl by the name of Ilayathamby Tharshini, 20 years of age and a resident of Pungudutheivu went missing. On hearing this disturbing news the local villagers began searching for her whereabouts. On Saturday the 17th of December 2005 her naked was found sexually assaulted in an abandoned well in close vicinity to a Sri Lankan Naval Camp in Pungudutheivu. Her body had been severely mutilated. Circumstances under which the body was recovered clearly indicated the Sri Lankan Navy's hand in this most despicable act of state terror. Consequently on Sunday the 18th of December 2005, the people of the area began to agitate against the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. These protests began to spread spontaneously and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces began to retaliate against the unarmed civilians by firing live ammunition at the crowd and using brute force, during which a postal peon who was also a resident of Pungudutheivu suffered gunshot injuries and is currently hospitalized in a serious condition. On hearing the news of this cruel murder and the subsequent oppressive conduct of the Sri Lankan armed forces towards the protesting crowds, the students of the Jaffna University decided to attend the funeral of young Tharshini. The Jaffna University students were also accompanied by the Mr.Selvarajah Gajendran, Jaffna district TNA parliamentarian. Whilst they attempted to leave for Pungudutheivu from Parameswara Junction in Jaffna, the Sri Lankan armed forces prevented them from proceeding. Consequent to this the students began to agitate against the actions of the armed forces who in turn started using violence against the students including the use of fire arms. On the following day, Monday the 19th December 2005, the Jaffna University community inclusive of the Vice Chancellor, Heads of Departments, Professors, Lecturers, administrative staff embers and students decided to hand over a petition to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission regarding the incidents. While they were proceeding, the Sri Lankan armed forces once again violently prevented the people from proceeding. In this incident many were inured, out of whom over 15 have been admitted to hospital with gunshot injuries and injuries caused by blunt weapons. Included in this list of injured are: -
Immediately remove from service the officers in charge
of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces units when the several incidents referred
to above have occurred. Fire races through shantytown in Sri Lanka capital A fire swept through sections of an ethnic Tamil shantytown in the Sri Lankan capital on Tuesday, destroying at least 100 huts, witnesses and fire officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The fire broke out in the Modara shantytown, made up of about 500 huts made of plywood and tin and home mostly to Tamils. An Associated Press photographer at the scene said at least 100 huts were destroyed before the fire was brought under control by firefighters. Marian Rita, a resident, said the fire was started by a kerosene lamp in one of the huts. "The problem here is that the huts are adjacent to each other and it is very difficult for us to move," said Bimal Roopasinghe, a firefighter. "We have brought the fire under control, but smoke is still coming out," he said. Members concerned about Maoist LTTE claims-Source:web India 123.Com Members of Rajya Sabha today expressed its concern about
the claims of Maoist leaders that they had received training from the
LTTE and made a strong plea to identify the sources of weapons and ammunitions
to the extremist forces in various parts of India and Nepal. Mr S S Ahluwalia (BJP) said that Andhra Pradesh government, when it negotiated with the naxals, did not disarm the extremists even after they drew a corridor starting from Karnataka to Nepal on a map. The recent claim of Maoists that LTTE was giving them training is a matter of concern, he said, adding that they should forget that somebody trained the LTTE and they in turn were training Maoists, pointing an accusing finger towards the Congress. ''These forces are getting sophisticated arms and ammunitions from China and Pakistan, and the government should take note of it,'' he added. Now a liberation
movement for the oppressed Muslims No Muslim political party has a constructive, clean policy regarding North East Muslims and their only goal is political gain. They bargain with majority chauvinistic political parties and sell out the political rights and aspirations of Muslims for petty political gain. To believe in them will be suicidal for Muslims, observed Segu Issadeen, Secretary General of NUA. He said, the TNA is a democratic political party which got the fullest support of the Tamils and it has 22 members. Yet the government is not negotiating with them but with the LTTE. A liberation movement is the only language which can speak for the oppressed Muslims. "We must have a movement which looks after the interests of Muslims. As a senior politician of this area the responsibility of organising such a movement has fallen on me. The major goal of the movement is to create an awareness among the Muslims that North - East Muslims is a nation and everyone living in it is nationalist. Our demands for political rights will be the demand of a nation. This will not simply fall on our lap and we have to make the supreme sacrifice and shed blood. Insha Allah we will lay the foundation for it next Sunday. 20 December 2005 Co-chairs
urge LTTE to end unrest-BBC “However, the co-chairs condemn the LTTE's enforced boycott of the presidential election in parts of the north and east, which deprived Tamil voters of their right to vote," the statement added. "The co-chairs also condemn in the strongest terms the recent escalation in violence in the north and east," it said. It also stated that a representative of the Indian Government met separately with the Co-Chairs for "an exchange of views". Violence in Jaffna 18 soldiers and two policemen were killed and Sri Lanka Airforce helicopter was shot since President Mahinda Rajapaksa took over office on 19 November. "The co-chairs call on the LTTE to put an immediate end to their ongoing campaign of violence and again urge the LTTE to demonstrate their commitment to the ceasefire agreement and the peace process," the statement warned. The donors also warned the government to stop working with Tamil paramilitaries. They urge the Government to "ensure that such groups cease their paramilitary activities, as a demonstration of its commitment to a peaceful way forward". The donors urged both the government and the LTTE to respond to Sri Lankan public’s desire to have peace in the island nation. EU aid package Meanwhile, The European Commission said it intensified its efforts to support Norway's facilitation effort, despite the deteriorating political situation. “The Commission supported efforts to set up a joint
structure for the Government, the LTTE and representatives of the Muslim
community to agree on priorities for reconstruction in the North and East
of the country.” But a further 50 million Euros is held up due to the political gridlock on the "Post-Tsunami Operations Management Structure" (P-TOMS). P-TOMS failure The government led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the LTTE agreed jointly on reconstruction priorities for the North and East of the country after tsunami but the Supreme Court ruled that the part of the agreement violated Sri Lanka’s constitution. “This gridlock has impeded long-term reconstruction work in the North and East of Sri Lanka,” the statement added. The talks were held amid fears that frequent violations are making the four-year ceasefire irrelevant. On Saturday, the Tigers rejected a government offer to hold peace talks at a neutral venue somewhere in Asia. Special meeting Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim, who is attending the meeting in Brussels, told bbcsinahala.com that the minister is to meet LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham on Tuesday. Solheim said that he will be going to Colombo "as soon as a date is fixed". "We will call upon both parties in the strongest possible terms to consolidate the ceasefire," he added. The Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers should "leave aside petty issues" on resuming talks said the special envoy on his way to meet Balasingham in London. “Ceasefire
is dangling on a thin thread” Head of the political section for Jaffna, Mr Ilamparuthy, said in a statement condemning the Sri Lankan Army’s (SLA) ceasefire violations that “the ceasefire is dangling on a thin thread.” The full text of the statement is as follows, “Recently the SLA has been a threatening and harassing presence in people’s lives. In particular, the SLA has been conducting arbitrary round-ups, investigations and cordon and search operations and creating new roadblocks for security checks. People are being attacked without any reason during recent incidents when the SLA opened fire.” “In Eluthumadduval area a 14-year-old girl was grabbed by a SLA soldier on the road and when a nearby civilian shouted, the SLA soldier let her go. Civilian harassment such as this and other serious offenses like rapes are becoming increasingly out of control.” “We reported this civilian harassment and sexual harassment against women and school girls to the SLMM and demanded that this is immediately stopped. We strongly condemn these offenses.” “After we withdrew our members from the Jaffna peninsula, fourteen murders, six rapes and several murder threats have occurred. Now the situation is becoming worse. During these times, the ceasefire agreement is being pushed into a critical state. It is clear that the SLA is taking advantage of the weak ceasefire agreement.” India intervenes, President meets Thondaman talks Amidst moves by the CWC to form an alliance with Tamil parties outside the North east to offer support to the cause of the LTTE, estate party leader Arumugam Thondaman also held extensive talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday evening. The talks, which were described as “cordial and friendly” centred on the problems faced by the estate community and the government’s plans to solve them. Sources said the President during the meeting had assured to restore Mr. Thondaman’s ministerial security which was earlier removed by the government. The meeting between the President and Mr. Thondaman was held at the official residence of Indian High Commissioner Nirupama Rao on her invitation. CWC deputy leader R. Yogarajan said the party leader expressed his displeasure over several allegations levelled against him by the government. The CWC alleged that the government was attempting to create a split within the estate party after the police searched the party’s Badulla office and levelled allegations against Mr. Thondaman. Meanwhile the CWC, the TNA and the Upcountry Peoples Front yesterday formed a broad alliance to work together as a single group in parliament. CWC deputy leader R. Yogarajan said the TNA and the CWC, which met last night, have appointed a four-man committee to explore a structure under which the Tamil party alliance would proceed. “The committee will put forward proposals to the leaders of the parties after which the members will hold further discussions on how to proceed. This is only the beginning. Nothing has been finalised and set in motion”, Mr. Yogarajan told the Daily Mirror last night. The TNA led by R. Sampanthan met a CWC delegation headed by party leader Arumugam Thondaman last evening to discuss the initial modalities of forming the broad alliance. Earlier in the day UPF leader P. Chandrasekaran met the CWC leader and extended his party’s support to the formation of an alliance. Mr. Yogarajan said the Western Province Front led by Mano Ganeshan was also expected to support the alliance. Mr. Ganeshan was due to meet Mr. Thondaman later this week as well as the LTTE political leadership in Killinochi. “As Tamil parties we have a lot of common issues which need to be addressed. We found that by working together these issues can be resolved”, Mr. Yogarajan said. Asked if the Tamil party alliance aims to work against the government, Mr. Yogarajan said the goal of the alliance was to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community. Don’t be a traitor to your people - Anandasangaree writes to Thondaman Mr Arumugam Thondaman’s decision to meet Thamilselvan, leader of the political wing of the LTTE organization would ultimately bring the estate workers also under the domain of the LTTE organization and “that will be the most treacherous thing the leaders would do to them,” states Mr. Anandasangaree in a letter he sent to CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman. “Only by achieving unity among themselves, the leaders of the Upcountry Tamils can solve the problems of the workers and not by allying with the LTTE,” adds Mr. Anandasangaree 'Mahinda Chintana' budget passed by overwhelming majority The maiden budget of the UPFA Government under President Mahinda Rajapakse was passed in the Parliament yesterday with a 104 vote majority at the second reading. President Rajapakse as Finance Minister presented the budget on December 8. Only the Tamil National Alliance opposed the budget based on the Mahinda Chintana aimed at directing the country on a new economic path. Fifteen TNA Mps who were present at the time of voting opposed the budget. The main Opposition United National Party were absent at the time voting took place. The JVP, the main ally of the UPFA now occupying Opposition benches, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and two Members from the Ceylon Workers Congress voted with the Government in favour of the budget. Deputy Minister of Healthcare and rebel CWC member Vadivel Suresh and Faizer Musthapa voted with the Government. However, the other members of the CWC were not present at the time of voting. The Upcountry People's Front were also absent during the voting. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem was also not present in the House at the time of voting. The second reading debate of the budget continued in Parliament for five days marked by poor participation by the main opposition. The committee stage debate of the budget will commence today at 9.30 am and the vote on the third reading will take place Thursday at 6 pm. Dulles sworn in Dulles Alahapperuma was sworn in as a Member of Parliament before Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara this morning. There were serious differences in opinion between between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga over his appointment. Rajapaksa remained adamant that Alahapperuma should fill the vacant national list slot in the SLFP. This clearly is a victory for Rajapaksa and he has a much tougher fight ahead to take over the SLFP leadership. Up until now all retired Presidents quit politics gracefully at the end of their official terms, stepped down from the leadership of their respective parties and handed over the post to their successors. Mahinda looks at Oslo venue With the LTTE insisting on Oslo as the venue for talks with the government, President Mahinda Rajapakse is likely to announce his stand after consultations with his peace advisor Jayantha Dhanapala, Government Spokesman Anura Priayadharshana Yapa said yesterday. Meanwhile a Japanese Embassy spokesperson said Japan was still willing to offer a venue for future talks but it was up to the two parties to decide on it. New military top brass responsible for Jaffna attack - Vice Chancellor Jaffna University Vice Chancellor Professor C. Mohanadas
charged the newly sworn-in top brass of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for unleashing
troopers on a peaceful demonstration. "This is a worst form of politically
motivated military tactic," he said addressing a press meet held
at the Jaffna Campus Student Union offices at 5 p.m. Monday. Professor
Mohanadas condemned the attacks by the SLA on peaceful demonstrators including
the attack on him Monday morning at Parameswara junction in Jaffna. Student Union President said that they have decided to boycott classes Tuesday as a protest against Sri Lanka Army's unlawful suppression of non-violent protests. He added that the students have a fundamental right to free speech and assembly. Following Student Union decision to boycott classes, the Jaffna Campus Workers Union also said that they will support Students' action by an allout strike on Tuesday. FMM condemns SLA attack on Jaffna journalists "Free Media Movement deplores and condemns assault
on journalists covering a peaceful demonstration in Jaffna by government
security forces today. Three journalists- Thinakural staff reporter Mr.
T. Sabeswaran, Thinakaran (Lake House) reporter Wintson Jeyan and Namathu
Eelanadu reporter Mr. J. Jerad – were beaten and their cameras were
damaged," said FMM in a press release issued in Colombo Monday. Free Media Movement deplores and condemns assault on journalists covering a peaceful demonstration in Jaffna by government security forces today. Three journalists- Thinakural staff reporter Mr. T. Sabeswaran, Thinakaran (Lake House) reporter Wintson Jeyan and Namathu Eelanadu reporter Mr. J. Jerad – were beaten and their cameras were damaged. Sri Lanka Army baton charged and opened fire at a demonstration march by Jaffna University students and staff this morning, wounding several university teachers including the vice chancellor. This situation confirms the fear expressed by FMM that escalating violence in Northern Province may hamper people's right to free expression, information and association. FMM urge all parties to practice restrain and sought peaceful solutions to contested issues. Requesting military authorities to respect journalist's right to cover any public event, FMM urge journalists working in war zone areas of Sri Lanka to be mindful of and to take extra care in their safety when covering violent situations. Cyclone threat diminishing Sri Lanka's Metrological Department today said the threat from the cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal is diminishing as it is moving away from the island. The Department said the cyclone is now about 200-250 km northeast of Jaffna. However, the northern deep seas will experience strong winds, rough conditions and intermittent showers. The fishing and naval communities are requested not to venture into the deep seas. There will be showers or thundershowers at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Northwestern Provinces. Thundershowers may develop in the Uva Province during the afternoon, it added. 19 December 2005 SL troops open fire on demonstration in Jaffna, Lecturer shot, VC attacked-Source:Tamilnet Sri Lanka Army troopers opened fire at a peaceful demonstration march by Jaffna University students and staff, wounding at least seven demonstrators including Prof. N. Perinpanathan, a Senior Lecturer, and a student leader of the medical faculty T. Kandeepan. Professor C. Mohanadas, the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, Prof. R. Sivchandran, Dean of Arts, and S. Kajendran, Jaffna MP were severely beaten by the soliders. The demonstration march from Jaffna University towards the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) did not proceed beyond Parameswara Junction where the troopers began firing at the demontrators around 11:00 a.m. Monday. Tension prevails in the area. Sri Lanka Army troops at Parameswara Junction. At least seven people were injured and rushed to Jaffna Hospital. The demonstrators were scheduled to hand over an appeal to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission protesting the increased harassment by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers on the student community in Jaffna and the alleged involvement of Sri Lanka Navy men in the killing of a young woman in Punguduthivu on Saturday. Journalists covering the students demonstration were also attacked by the soldiers at Parameswara junction.Thinakural staff reporter Mr. N. Sabeswaran, Uthayan reporter N. Pradeepan, Thinakaran (Lake House) reporter Wintson Jeyan and Namathu Eelanadu reporter Mr. I. Jerad were beaten up by the troopers. The soldiers also smashed their digital camera equipments, media sources said. The peaceful demonstrators were dispersed by the sudden gunfire and the attacks launched by the soldiers. A three-wheeler was smashed by SLA troops. Mr. T. Rooban, 38, who was driving the three-wheeler leading the march with loudspeakers fixed on his vehicle to broadcast slogans, was also attacked. The three-wheeler was also smashed by the soldiers. The Jaffna University Student’s Union has called for an emergency meeting following the attack on the demonstration. Meanwhile, a large number of autorikshaw drivers gathered in front of the SLMM office at Temple road Monday noon to protest against the recent attacks on their colleagues by SLA soldiers. Troops fire during
Jaffna protest -BBC An army spokesman blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for encouraging protesters to throw stones at army checkpoints. He denied demonstrators had been shot. The incident comes as donors meet in Brussels to review fragile peace moves following a recent upsurge in violence. The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says the talks are taking place amid a growing sense of frustration and fears that frequent violations are making the four-year-old ceasefire increasingly irrelevant. Patrols 'surrounded' The Jaffna peninsula is a stronghold of the country's ethnic Tamil minority, although Jaffna town is held by the military. Reports say the crowd was protesting at alleged harassment by troops. Army spokesman Brig Nalin Witharanage said the demonstrators had surrounded two army patrols. "We had to resort to firing in the air to disperse the crowd," he told the Associated Press. He said none of the injured had received gunshot wounds and that soldiers had not fired at the crowd. On Sunday, the rebels fired at a military check post near the north-eastern port of Trincomalee but caused no casualties, the military said. 'Gross violation' There is growing concern among donor nations and diplomats that Sri Lanka could slip back to conflict if the violence is not brought under control. Last week, international monitors blamed the rebels for a "gross violation" of the ceasefire after an air force helicopter came under fire in eastern Sri Lanka. The rebels denied having had anything to do with the incident. The Sri Lankan government last week gave up its insistence that any resumption of peace talks would have to take place on Sri Lankan territory and said they could take place in any Asian country. But the rebels told the BBC that talks could only be held in Europe. The rebels and the government have observed a truce since February 2002 but talks have been stalled since April 2003. Chaos in Colombo again for Tamils A raid was conducted by the security forces during last night in Gampaha police area. It is reported 54 personnel have been taken into custody. Out of this 32 people had been wanted by the police on whom detention orders had been served. According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Gampaha area, Mr Ashoka Wijetillake this raid was conducted with the assistance of police officers assigned in Gamapaha district police stations. Those who were taken into custody are been interrogated. He added that similar raids will be conducted in the future for the safety of the public in parallel to the raids in Colombo. More than 100 Tamils taken in search operation on ‘Stranger’s Night’ More than 100 suspicious Tamil people were taken into custody following a massive cordon and search operation code-named ‘Strangers Night’ in Wellawatta, Narahenpita, Kirulapone and Bambalapitiya police areas, police said yesterday. Colombo DIG Pujitha Jayasundara said the surprise house-to-house operation was carried out jointly by the police, Army, Navy and the Air Force to track down illegal activities and suspected terrorist members in the area. He said during the operation which started at 11 pm on Saturday and ended at 5 am yesterday, 107 people were taken in on suspicion while five of them had been detained. “We used Tamil speaking officers to explain the people about the search and also used women police officers to check women”, he said adding that the people had cooperated well. Journalist arrested for being Tamil Senior journalist of 'Thinakkural' newspaper and attorney at law, B.Paratheepan has been detained for 24 hours without citing any reason, despite being in possession of the media identity card issued by the government. Two other employees attached to the computer division of 'Thinakkural' , Kulakulan and Prameshwaran too had been detained along with Paratheepan in this unfortunate incident reported last night. The Kirilapana police stopped the three wheeler they were traveling in last night after work at W.A.De Silva Mawatha, Kirilapona. Paratheepan had said that he is a journalist of Tthinakkural and an attorney and produced his media identity card issued by the government. But the policeman said he did not care who he was and took them to the Kirilapona police station and released the Sinhala three wheeler driver. When Paratheepan tried to contact his office through his mobile phone, the policeman had prevented him and seized the phone. Around midnight they were locked up in police cell and taken out at 3.00 early morning and were taken to the Police Sports club at Havelock Place. There were about 100 other Tamil persons in the club who had been arrested in a similar manner. Over 50 CID sleuths had grilled him and then his fingerprints were taken and photographed and was taken back to the Kirilapona police around 6.00 this morning. On being informed of the incident, parliamentarian N.Raviraj and former parliamentarian Vinayagamurthy visited the police station and got hi released on police bail. 'Lanka e News' tried to contact the Media Minster to ask him as to what use of the media identity card, which has been issued to enable media personnel to carry out their work without any hindrance, if this is the way it is being treated. However our efforts to contact the Minsiter was not successful. SLTMA condemns arrest of Tamil journalist The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) Sunday condemned
the arrest and detention of a Tamil senior journalist working in a leading
Colombo based Tamil daily newspaper "Thinakkural"along with
two other employees in the computer unit of the same newspaper in the
Kirulapone Police Station Saturday night. The SLTMA, in a letter sent
to Mr.Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Media Minister, to take immediate steps
to ensure the safety of Tamil journalists from the harassment of government
law enforcement authorities. Excerpts of the SLTMA letter to the Minister follow: - Mr.P.Parthipan, Thinakkural senior journalist and two computer technicians Messrs Kokulan and Sarveswaran who were returning to their house in the company vehicle after night duty were arrested between Wellawatte and Pamankade by the police in their routine search operation around 11.30 p.m. Mr.Parthipan immediately identified himself as a journalist by producing his media accreditation card of the Government Information Department in addition to his National Identity Card and newspaper office identity card. The three being questioned told the Police that they were returning from their night shift in the newspaper office. But the Police disregarded their plea and took them to the Kirulapone Police Station. Later around Saturday midnight they were taken to another place from Kirulapone Police Station where fingerprints of them were taken by a police officer who treated them like criminals. Thereafter the Police took photographs of them and videoed them. The Police did not taken any steps to inform the arrest of these persons to the newspaper company where they are employed and also to their relatives. The SLTMA considers that the Police had arrested the Tamil journalist and employees of the Tamil newspaper because they were Tamils. The SLTMA is of the view that the arbitrary arrest of Tamil journalist and newspaper employees is a serious threat and intimidation to the Tamil journalists in general. Security forces in Jaffna district last week entered the office of "Namathu Eelanadu" a Tamil daily newspaper and conducted search operation and subjected journalists in the office to severe interrogation. Now a Tamil journalist in Colombo had been subjected to arrest and detention without any reason. Hence we appeal to you to take constructive steps to ensure full protection to journalists from being harassed by security forces as criminals. Jaffna Campus area tense, SLA attack injures worker Rasaratnam Puhalasri (33) from Navaly South, an employee
at an ice cream parlor at the Parameswara juntion was severly injured
when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops attacked civilians around the Jaffna
campus areas following altercation between Jaffna campus students at the
International Tamileelam Student Union offices near Parameswara junction
at 5.30 p.m. Sunday. Residents said that troopers forced entry into Student
Union offices to prevent a group of campus students from travelling to
Punguduthivu, triggering confrontation. SLA has completely blocked civilian use of the 1 km stretch of Palaly road between Kantharmadam junction to Thirunelveli junction, sources said. Residents in these areas are confined to their houses and others who had ventured out earlier, unable to return to their residences in the affected areas, had to seek refuge at places of their relatives, sources said. Members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) met with student officials at about 6.30 p.m. when student leaders accused the SLMM of the lack of effort in preventing SLA from attacking students exercising their right to travel and protest against army harassment. SLA resumed attacking students after the SLMM left the Student Union offices, sources said. UK Minister ends visit to Lanka British Cabinet Minister Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, completed a highly successful visit to Sri Lanka on December 9. In meetings with Prime Minister Wickramanayake and Foreign Minister Samaraweera, Ms Jowell’s discussions included the peace process, tsunami reconstruction and the forthcoming tsunami anniversary, a statement issued by the British High Commission said. During her visit, Ms Jowell met Sri Lankan children who will benefit from the UK government-funded project “Youth Rehabilitation & Reconciliation through Community Cricket” run by the North Central Province Cricket Association. In areas affected by the tsunami and conflict, the scheme will establish a network of cricket coaches with trauma management skills, to coach young people and develop a shared experience of sport. The Minister handed over cricket equipment to some of the children and watched them practice their skills. She visited the British Council in Colombo, met with students and discussed their projects. She also visited the Golden Feathers School at Katugoda, built by volunteers from “Project Galle 2005”. Other highlights of Ms Jowell’s visit included a meeting with leading Sri Lankan women and watching a performance of the Edinburgh Festival award-winning production “Children of the Sea” by the tsunami survivors. Thonda-LTTE talks on broad Tamil Alliance successful. Ceylon Workers Congress leader Arumugam Thondaman claims if Sinhala parties and organizations have formed a single alliance, Tamil parties standing for the rights of the Tamil people should also form a single alliance. Speaking to the media following a meeting with he LTTE political wing head Tamil Selvam on this issue, he said the LTTE's response was positive. The talks were held at Kilinochchi and associated with Thondaman at the talks were CWC parliamentarians Muttu Sivalingam and former MP. R.Yogarajan. Punguduthivu erupts in violent protests against SLN Civlians in Punguduthivu Sunday morning protested against
the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Punguduthivu following the discovery of the
body of Ilayathambi Tharsini (20) from an abandoned well near SLN camp
Saturday. A fifty-five years old civilian was rushed to Jaffna Hospital
with serious gunshot wounds. Four more civilians sustained minor injuries.
All traffic beyond Velanai thuraiyoor remains cut, reports from the islet
said. Punguduthivu remains tense. The navy camp, an administrative office
of the SLN, was stoned and later set on fire as the troopers withdrew
from the camp, sources said. Protesters alleged that the Sri Lanka Navy soldiers had abuducted the girl who was on her way to her aunt's house Friday, raped her and dumped her into the abandoned well. The body was discovered by civilians who set out on search inside the no-go HSZ area Saturday and reported troopers shoeprints around the well. The protesters did not allow the troopers or the police to reach the well until acting judges from Kayts Mrs. Linga Thurairasja and Mr. M. Thirunavukarasu, acting judges from Kayts visited the spot and assured the protestors that the body will be safely transport to Jaffna Hospital mortuary for post mortem examinations, sources said. Punguduthivu is an islet located 24 km southwest of Jaffna, next to Kayts.The Kurikattuvan jetty located in Punguduthivu connects Nedunthivu, Nainathivu and Analaithivu. Traffic to these islets also remains cut as tension prevailed in Punguduthivu. Disabled soldier’s wife killed A young mother of two has been mysteriously killed in her home by slitting her throat at Senakudiruppu town, police said. The victim is said to be the wife of a disabled soldier attached to the Pallekelle Rifle Battalion headquarters. Police said according to the victim’s husband, his wife had been killed when he came home with his two children from Puttalam. Police said they believed the woman had been tortured or raped before being killed. Puttalam Acting Magistrate Mohamed Iqbal who visited the scene ordered that the body be sent to the Chilaw hospital for a post mortem. In custody for videoing Colombo harbour A 35-year-old female, whose permanent residence was in Delft, off Jaffna, was yesterday taken into custody by the Crimes Division of the Modera Police while videoing the harbour from the Mutwal beach at the back of the Army’s Rockhouse camp. On questioning, she said that she was filming the sea beach area to show her fiance who is in the Netherlands and whom she will be joining soon, police said. However, when the video film was examined, photographs of combatants in LTTE uniforms were found. She was temporarily residing at a house at Aluth Mawatha Road, Mutwal, police said. The two occupants of this house and the suspect are now in police custody, while investigations are continuing, OIC (Crimes) Priyanka Wijenayake said. Vital STF unit disbanded? The special task unit operated under the police Special Task Force had been reportedly disbanded a few days ago. A member attached to the unit said it was established days after the assassination of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya had served to curb underworld operations including drug trafficking. He claimed the unit had to be disbanded due to pressure from the underworld allegedly through politicians. However, the Police STF Commanding Officer D.I.G. Nimal Lewke said the unit had not been disbanded but the officers of the unit were deployed for duties in operational areas. Sri Lanka President to make his first tour to India Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will make his first official tour as President to neighboring India starting December 27. He will discuss bilateral issues as well as the peace process. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, "Indo-Sri Lanka relations are excellent. “There is very good understanding and interaction at the political level; trade and investment [are] expanding rapidly; the institutional framework linkages are being augmented; and people-to-people contacts have intensified.” During the visit, President Rajapaksa will meet with the President, Vice President and Prime Minister of India and interact with other senior Indian political leaders and “eminent personalities”. SLA attacks Irupalai auto-rickshaw drivers Drivers of auto-rickshaws at Irupalai junction located
on Jaffna-Point Pedro road Irupalai, 5 km North east of Jaffna town, were
attacked again Sunday morning by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers, in
retaliation for complaining to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)
Saturday afternoon when SLA soldiers had attacked them and forced them
away from the junction threatening them not to return. All businesses in Irupalai were closed and the junction was deserted from midday Sunday, sources said. Tension spread to nearby Kalviyankadu and Kopay areas where activity came to a standstill following the Irupalai attacks. The SLA troops involved in the incident are from the same camp from where six soldiers and an SLA official were killed in a Claymore attack on the 4 December. 18 December 2005 Cyclone warning in Jaffna, Trinco The depression in the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm today and is expected to cross the Eastern coast between Jaffna and Trincomalee, causing low-lying coastal areas north of Trincomalee to be inundated by the sea, the Meteorological Department said. The fishing and naval communities were requested not to venture into the seas extending from Mannar to Batticaloa through Jaffna as the seas will experience strong winds from 80 to 1000 kilometres per hour during the next 36 hours. In the event the depression matures into a cyclone heavy damages will be caused to mainly the Tiger held Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts. Heavy intermittent rain or thundershowers at some places and strong winds upto 80 kmph are expected in the Northern, Eastern and North Central Provinces. Western, Central, Uva and Sabaragamuva Provinces are likely to experience fairly strong winds and rain.Occasional thundershowers off the coast from Mannar to Pottuvil via Jaffna can be expected in the next 24 hours. Jaffna Political Wing of the LTTE condemns SLA’s arbitrary search operations throughout Jaffna The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) has recently been conducting
sudden cordon and search operations throughout Jaffna. The Deputy Head
of the Jaffna District LTTE Political Wing, Mr Kannan, reported these
activities to Jaffna District Head of SLMM, Ari Baker at a meeting they
recently held Pallai. Mr Kannan stated the following in the meeting with
SLMM. “The offices of the LTTE Political Wing in Jaffna that have been closed since the withdrawal of LTTE members several weeks ago, were also thoroughly searched by the SLA. The offices were found with the doors broken and furniture missing, and it is reported the SLA confiscated the furniture.” “The SLA is violating the ceasefire agreement and basic human rights by these activities,” Mr Kannan added. Punguduthivu disappeared woman's body found The body of Ilayathambi Tharsini (20), the young woman
from Punguduthivu 7th district, who disappeared on Friday, was found in
an abandoned well near the Sri Lanka Navy (Navy) camp Thursday, sources
from Jaffna said. Postmortem examination is being conducted to determine the cause of death. Villagers said they suspect foulplay by the soldiers of the SLN. Tension prevails in Punguduthivu following the discovery of the body. Lankan Tamil shot dead in UK A 27-year old Sri Lanka Tamil was shot dead last Sunday night as he walked on Queensbury Road in Kingsbury, London, news reports said. The youth, identified as Douglas Yogarasa from Sri Lanka where his immediate family lives, was found by a member of the public who called the police around 9.30 p.m. He was found dead at the scene when police arrived. At the post mortem examination held at Northwick Park Hospital next day the cause of death was given as gunshot wounds to the head and body. Yogarasa was said by the police to be single, unemployed and living alone in Kingsbury. This is another of several killings and grievous crimes in the Tamil community that have shocked the law-abiding members within it and have led the police to set up a special Tamil Crimes Unit inside the Metropolitan Police. Police are calling for witnesses to the killing or those who might have information that would help them in their inquiries. At least 10 killings are said to have taken place in the last four years. According to the Harrow Times a small white van was seen leaving the scene at 9.50 p.m. The van was distinctive as it had tubes fitted to the roof running the length of the vehicle. The tubes were said to be white, around six inches in diameter and of the type commonly used by plumbers to store copper piping. Detective Chief Inspector Dave Cobb of the Specialist Crime Directorate is quoted in the newspaper as saying “We urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information about the white van to contact the police”. Police are said to be keeping an open mind regarding
the motive for the killing. New SLA sentries in Mannar town Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has established several new sentries in Mannar town and its suburbs, and has blocked the road leading to the office of the Superintendent of Police from use by the public as a part of strengthening the security of the district, sources said. New sentries in front of the primary court building on Mannar-Talaimannar road and in front of Telecom office and St.Sebastian Church in Thalvupadu were established Friday afternoon. Barriers have been established at the two ends of the road that leads to the office of the Mannar Police Superintendent, sources said. Meanwhile, the acting Mannar Magistrate Mr.Johnthasan Friday ordered remand for two suspects A.Selvanesan and D.Theiventhiran till December 19 for allegedly extorting money from traders in Mannar. They were arrested and produced in the Mannar court Friday by the Police. The Police requested the court to remand them for two weeks but the court ordered them remand for three days. The suspects were immediately transferred to Anuradhapura remand prison via Vavuniya, sources said. JVP wants 55 slots on UPFA list for general election A key constituent partner of the ruling alliance, the JVP has demanded that nomination be given to 55 of its members at next year's general election. At a meeting of UPFA constituent partners on Thursday (16) to discuss the way forward if a general election is called to maximise the electoral benefits, JVP leaders have told the UPFA decision makers that the JVP has always proved that the majority of its nominees are capable of winning elections, and therefore, 55 JVPers should be accommodated on the UPFA nomination list. They have also cited that out of 40 nominated, 39 returned to parliament in 2004, with only one candidate losing. Further, the JVP had said that they had also given up the promised two national list slots which if taken would have taken the JVP total to 41. JVP sources said they were confident of having at least 50 members returning to the legislature, if given nominations. With regard to an electoral pact to contest the local authority election, the JVP has insisted on going 50-50 on the nominations. The JVP earlier urged the government to hold elections in mid 2006 after allowing some of the benefits of the budget to be felt by the people. However, President Mahinda Rajapakse has shot down this proposal and insisted that March would be a better option as he intends to commence peace negotiations only after a parliamentary election. Meanwhile, with the government keen on a general election, the local authority election that is due next March is likely to be postponed by one year. Thondaman to form an alliance with LTTE 'this is our reply to those who seek to destroy us' The Ceylon Workers Congress is to form a political alliance
with the LTTE. The CWC has decided to form a broad Tamil political alliance by brining together all Tamil parties under one umbrella. A Vice Chairman of the CWC R.Yogarajan told Lanka e News the party has scheduled talks with the Tamil National Alliance on Monday following it talks with the LTTE. When 'Lanka e News'asked as to why the party decided to a sudden political dialogue with the LTTE, he said that this was their reply to those who try to destroy the CWC. Yogarajan added that there is a need for all Tamil parties to work together as a result of the conduct of certain individuals. Meanwhile the party membership of CWC parliamentarian Wadiwel Suresh who crossed over to the government recently has been suspended and Yogarajan added a disciplinary inquiry will be made against him. Suresh has been sworn as Deputy Minister of Health. Tourists avoiding Sri Lanka The hotel trade is disappointed over the lukewarm response received to their heavy advertising in foreign countries inviting tourists to visit Sri Lanka. Industry sources claim they have spent large sums of money on advertising but there has not been any corresponding increase in business. "The tourist arrivals continue to decline due to the tense situation in the north and east. The LTTE's attempt to shoot down a helicopter recently has had a negative impact," they lamented. They said, however much they spent on advertisements, prospective visitors were not receiving favourable news about Sri Lanka. Director Sales and Marketing, Aitken Spence Hotel Management Anil Udawatta said that due to the unstable situation in the country there was a steady decline in tourist arrivals. "Though there have been no cancellations so far, if the situation continues in this manner none of the tour operators will bring tourists to the country. "There is violence in the north and east. So like us, the tourists too will not want to visit a destination infested with violence." However Director Sales and Marketing,Amaya Resorts and Spas, Dinesh Silva is of the view that the decline in tourist arrivals is mainly due to the impact the tsunami created in the island last December 26. "The present security situation has nothing to do with the reduction in tourist arrivals to the country. The killings and other incidents reported from the north and east are not a problem for the tourists as long as their destinations are safe" he said. SLMC, CWC welcome UNP move Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) have welcomed the move by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to support the government's peace attempts. SLMC General Secretary Hasan Ali speaking to The Sunday Leader, said that the UNP's attempt to support the government would dilute the rigid standards on minorities taken by the JVP and JHU, Ali said. "The SLMC has always given priority to the peace process and will continue to do so," Ali further said. Commenting on the recent agreement between the government and the UNP to resume peace talks with the LTTE, CWC Spokesman R.Yogarajan said the CWC is completely supportive of the decision by the two parties. "It is great to see that the government and the UNP working together whole heartedly, in a matter of urgent national priority and the CWC will continue to support such good deeds," Yogarajan said. WAR OR PEACE-The Statesman(Editorial) The only way to prevent war between the armed forces and LTTE is to prevail on the new President to give up his idea of a unitary form of government and work for a confederal IN his annual Heroes’ Day address on 27 November,
the LTTE supremo, Velupillai Pirapaharan, virtually served an ultimatum
on the new President, Mahinda Rajapakse, that if his government did not
come forward with a “reasonable solution” by the end of this
month, his organisation would intensify the struggle for a separate Tamil
Eelam in the New Year. It was the LTTE’s call to the Tamils in the
north-east to boycott the election that enabled Rajapakse to become the
President, albeit by the narrowest margin. Although Rajapakse said his
government was giving the highest priority to the peace process, his options
to find a solution within the unitary form of government are limited.
17 December 2005 S.Lanka Tiger rebels reject Asia peace talks offer-Source: Reuters Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels on Saturday rejected a government offer to hold crunch talks in Asia aimed at averting a return to civil war, insisting any meeting should be hosted by peace broker Norway. New President Mahinda Rajapakse has offered to meet the rebels for immediate talks in any Asian country, but not in Europe. He has also angered the Tigers by rejecting their demand for an ethnic Tamil homeland outright. S.P. Thamilselvan, head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) political wing, accused the government of trying to freeze the group out of Europe and of trying to convince the European Union to list it as a banned terrorist organization. "The first round of talks should be held in Norway," Thamilselvan told reporters in the northern rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi. "The government's position that talks should be held in an Asian country, that European countries should ban the LTTE … we consider a coup attempt." "By living (in Europe), our people have established a certain place and status in those countries," he added, accusing the government of seeking to "sever our relationship with the international community and sideline us." The government, which announced its Asia talks offer on Friday after rowing back on its predecessors' refusal to hold talks outside Sri Lanka, was not immediately available for comment. The Tigers have threatened to resume their two-decade struggle next year unless Colombo comes up with a viable power-sharing blueprint, saying this is its last chance to avert a return to a war in which more than 64,000 people have died. CONSTANT BICKERING But both sides are poles apart, each bickering at the other through the media, and a surge in violence that has sparked fears of a return to war is likely to continue, analysts say. Nordic truce monitors on Saturday blamed the Tigers for shooting at a military helicopter on Wednesday in the first attack on an aircraft since the cease-fire was signed in 2002. a charge the rebels reject. "As the small arms fire against the helicopter originated from an area controlled by the LTTE, the LTTE must bear responsibility," Hagrup Haukland, head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission which over oversees the truce, said in a statement. "The LTTE is urged to do all in its power to avoid similar incidents in future as such incidents can lead to serious consequences jeopardizing the cease-fire." The truce is at its lowest ebb after a rash of killings culminated in two deadly claymore fragmentation mine attacks that killed 14 soldiers earlier this month. Suspected rebel fronts have since emerged, threatening to shoot soldiers. Ordinary Sri Lankans in the northern Jaffna peninsula, which is hemmed in by rebel territory, fear they may have to flee and start their lives over yet again. "We were displaced in 2000 … our house was totally destroyed. We repaired it," said 36-year-old school teacher C. Raju. "The present happenings point toward war," he added. "We have suffered enough, but we are used to this." Maintaining symmetry of power, key to meaningful peace talks- TELO Leader Adaikalanathan “Instead of choosing a constructive political path
setting incremental milestones to monitor progress in addressing the national
crisis, various Sri Lanka governments in power, were preoccupied with
an "oppressive mindset" and have attempted to weaken the Tamil
struggle by purposely dragging out peace processes,” said TNA parliamentarian
and TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan, speaking to TamilNet Friday. He
said that a meaningful peace process is possible only if the prevailing
strategic symmetry of power is maintained between the two parties. “Expectations and hopes of the International community and thousands of tsunami–affected Tamil families were shattered when the Sinhala polity used provisions in the Unitary constitution to derail the Post Tsunami Operations and Management Structure (P-TOMS). Supreme court appears to apply constitutional jurisprudence selectively to cases that benefit Sinhala community. While the court deemed it prudent to defer action on the constitutionality challenge to the MoU which paved the way for three years of peace, it chose to invalidate key provisions of P-TOMS using constitutionality arguments,” he told TamilNet after meeting European Commisssion official, Mr. Herve Jouanjean. TNA Members of Parliament R. Sampanthan, Joseph Pararajasingham, Suresh Premachandran, Selvam Adaikalanathan, and Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam met with the Deputy Director-General for Asia and Latin America of the European Commission, Mr. Herve Jouanjean, at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Jouanjean was sent to Sri Lanka as the personal envoy of the Director General for external relations of the European Commission to study the political situation regarding the peace process, as a precurser to the forthcoming Co-Chairs meeting scheduled for 19th of December. Associated with Jouanjean was the Head of the delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Ambassador Julian Wilson. The meeting lasted for more than an hour, sources added. Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham MP, the leader of the Foreign Relations Committee of the TNA, told TamilNet that the meeting was constructive as many issues pertaining to the ethnic conflict and the current peace process were discussed. "We have clearly identified to the European delegation the issues affecting Tamil people and possible alternative options available to them in resolving these issues, Mr Parajasingham said. "If the peace process is to be saved the International Community should impress on the the Sri Lankan state to deliver quickly proposals that meet Tamil aspirations," he said. Pararajasingham further that the delegation emphasized to the EU official that Sri Lanka military, working with paramilitary forces in violation of the CFA agreement, is the main cause of the violence and tension in NorthEast. Bad weather warning for five provinces The Meteorology Department warned yesterday of heavy rain and strong winds in the Northern, Eastern, Uva, North Central and Southern provinces. The bad weather warning issued at 11 am yesterday and valid for the next 36 hours said, “The low pressure area in Bay of Bengal was near latitude 07.5N longitude 85.0 E at 9 am on December 16. The distance of the system is about 350 km east of Batticaloa. It is likely to move in the west- north-western direction. Strong winds and showers are expected in the Northern, Eastern, Uva and North Central provinces and in the Matale and Hambantota districts and over the seas off the coast extending from Jaffna to Pottuvil via Batticaloa with rough conditions. Fishing and Naval communities are advised not to venture into the said seas. Sri Lanka to hold
general election in March? It is reported that the President plans to hold a general election before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. “The President has decided to go in for a general election to take advantage of his victory and secure a comfortable majority in Parliament,” sources at the President’s Office said. Presently the government is a minority in Parliament. With the support of the JVP and JHU, the government could “safely” move forward, the President’s Office sources said. Paramilitary cadre shot dead in Welikanda Unidentified attackers shot and killed a paramilitary cadre of Karuna Group at Kudapokkuna in Welikanda, Police said. The incident took place around 9:45 p.m. Thursday. The attackers escaped from the area, the police added. The paramilitary cadre was identified as Pulenthiran Sivarasa, 28, according to Welikanda police. Kudapokkuna, a border-village between Batticaloa and Polannaruwa districts, is located 15 km north of Welikanda and 70 km west of Batticaloa. ‘No truth in CBK ‘s mansion story’ The London based ‘Evening Standard’ daily yesterday admitted that there was no truth in its story that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga had bought a property owned by the Duke of Windsor. In a letter addressed to President Kumaratunga’s secretary Piyasena Dissanayake, Evening Standard Managing Editor Doug Wills said the paper expressed its “regret to President Chandrika Kumaratunga for any distress the report had caused her”.He said the newspaper had been informed that “there was no truth in the story”. The Evening Standard story triggered a controversy here while President Kumaratunga immediately dismissed the report as baseless. SLA cordons off, searches Ariyalai village Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and conducted
a house to house search Mulli, a village in Ariyalai in Nalllur Pradeshya
Sabha Friday morning. Villagers who assumed the presence of SLA troopers
as part of intensified patrol of the area were alarmed when troops entered
houses and demanded national identity cards from villagers, residents
said. Tension prevailed in the village as many were subjected to threatening language and were warned of dire consequences for any behavior innimical to SLA interests, sources said. SLA has been systemetically sweeping areas of potential unrest and are conducting cordon and search of several areas of the Jaffna district in the last three days. Jaffna sources say active youth groups in Jaffna have responded with warning messages and have informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission of a developing explosive atmosphere in the district. German assistance to rebuild Jaffna power grid THE German Government has pledged financial assistance to Sri Lanka for rehabilitating the electricity supply to the Jaffna peninsula and for ensuring food security in the Batticaloa district. Cabinet Spokesman Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that Germany has agreed to provide Rs 14 billion as a loan to the Ceylon Electricity Board to reconstruct the 132 KV transmission line from Killinochchi to Jaffna and upgrade the grid station in Chunnakam. Germany has also pledged to grant Rs 301 million to Sri Lanka through the German Government Agency for Technical Corporation (GTZ) for the promotion of food security of persons affected by war. The Minister said that the food security programme will be carried out in selected areas of the Batticaloa district by the newly established Nation Building and Development Ministry. "The project also aims to stabilise the economic and social bases of the war-affected in the long term," he said. Decomposed body found in Valaichenai A decomposed body of a woman, in her twenties, was found at Nasivanthivu, 30 km north of Batticaloa town, Friday morning. Valaichenai Police recovered the body following a tip-off from the civilians in the Sri Lanka Army controlled area. The police handed over the body to Valaichenai Hospital for post mortem.The body will be kept at the hospital mortuary for identification, police said. Nasivanthivu is located 3 km north of Valaichenai. Anandasangaree for solution on Indian pattern TULF President V. Anandasangaree yesterday called on all political parties to support President Mahinda Rajapakse who is due to visit India shortly, to enable him to consent to solve the ethnic conflict based on the Indian pattern. He said this would facilitate the Indian authorities to satisfy the demands of Tamil Nadu Members and prevent them from resorting to unwanted interference. Mr. Anandasangaree in a statement said: “The news that a helicopter belonging to the Sri Lankan Air Force was hit by four rounds of small arms fire comes as a great shock to every right thinking person all over the world. Now that the child has started playing with fire the country can't just look on. This is a matter that the International Community too can't just ignore not merely because the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Margarita Bonvier had a narrow shave with death but also because the repercussions are going to be beyond one’s imagination. “The LTTE leader himself should take this as a warning. Helicopters in our country are used for a number of purposes, apart from defence. “They are used to assess damage caused by cyclone, floods, tsunami, to provide assistance for marooned people, to rescue people in distress and also to provide transport for LTTE leaders to and from the International Airport, to take them from Vanni to the East to attend funerals of their dead cadres and not least in importance, to airlift their injured cadres to Colombo for treatment. “If the LTTE is doing this in spite of the use of helicopters by them, then there is no doubt that the leader of the L'ITE has lost control over the LTTE cadres and if allowed to grow will end up in further chaos“The time has now come for the International Community to take a very serious view of the situation, fast developing in this country and take concerted action against the LTTE without any delay. “Our neighbouring India too cannot take this incident lightly. The Tamil Nadu Members ofParliament, if I am permitted to say although I should not interfere in their matters, should not demand the pound of flesh from the Government to the extent of endangering India's security. They should know of the ground situation in the North and East not only from the LTTE which is running a dictatorial rule, but from other Tamil leaders also, without holding the Indian Government to ransom, with their numerical strength. Tamil Nadu leaders could not now forgotten how the LTTE shot down a passenger plane and killed 44 passengers and the entire crew. At the same time call upon the local political parties too, to loosen their grip on certain issues if there are any, and give a green signal unitedly to the President who is on a state visit to India shortly, to enable him to consent to solve our ethnic issue based on the Indian pattern, which will facilitate the Indian authorities to satisfy the demands of the Tamil Nadu members and to prevent them from unwanted interference. Firing at SLAF chopper a violation - SLMM The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) yesterday ruled that Wednesday’s firing upon an unarmed Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter was a violation of the cease-fire by the LTTE. In a letter to Tiger political chief, S P Thamilselvan, the SLMM underscored that the cease-fire agreement clearly barred all offensive military action including firing of direct and indirect weapons, armed raids and ambushes. "Consequently, the firing upon the unarmed Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter on December 14 is ruled as a gross violation of article 1.2 of the Cease-Fire Agreement," the SLMM’s letter emphasized. "We urge the LTTE to do all in its power to avoid similar incidents in future as such activity can lead to serious consequences, jeopardizing the cease-fire." "What we are saying is that the small arms fire against the helicopter originated from an area controlled by the LTTE, the LTTE must bear the responsibility for the incident," said Mats Lundstrom, acting SLMM spokesman. The letter was handed over to the LTTE peace secretariat at Kilinochchi yesterday but there was no immediate response from the Tigers. Attempts to contact the LTTE’s political headquarters in the Wanni failed due to congestion of lines. The SLMM informed the LTTE that both parties to the truce are responsible for all military activity in areas under their control. This includes avoidance of hostile acts against each other. Under article 1.2 of the agreement, neither party shall engage in any offensive military operation. This requires the total cessation of all offensive military action and includes, but is not limited to, such as firing of direct and indirect weapons, armed raids and ambushes. The MI-17 chopper, which had been on its way to pick up an Italian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Margherita Boniver, had come under gunfire and made an emergency landing at Kumana in Ampara. The incident took place 10 air-miles off Arugambay. TamilNet, citing SLAF sources, specified that the gunfire "did not cause any damage except puncturing a few holes in the frame and the helicopter took off after a brief inspection". Six out of 13 shots had hit the helicopter while it was flying over Arugambay in Pottuvil. Group Captain Ajantha Silva, SLAF spokesman, said that they considered the firing on their chopper as an offensive action. The Air Force has informed the Ministry of Defence, the SLMM, government peace secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the incident and was awaiting instructions on how to proceed. "First and foremost, attacking the helicopter was an offensive action," he stressed. "Secondly, firing on the chopper despite knowing that it was not an offensive helicopter... just a passenger helicopter... is a straightforward violation of the agreement and not in good faith." "We will have to be careful how we operate over this area in future because we must pay attention to our own security," Silva continued. "We have been using this helicopter regularly, especially after the tsunami, for the requirement of ordinary people. Even the media know this helicopter because we have been taking them around in the same craft. It has flown many foreign delegates." On the day of the incident, the chopper had been used exclusively to transport the Italian delegation, he pointed out. "The visit had been given wide publicity by the media," he said. Reports from Europe indicate that officials of the European
Union are meeting to decide whether to issue travel warnings to Sri Lanka.
LTTE leaders met with the Head of Muslim Mosques and his delegation of community leaders at the Sampur LTTE Political Wing office in Trincomalee on 15 December at 2:00 pm. Participants of the meeting reached significant decisions on how they plan to achieve peace between Muslim and Tamil communities. LTTE Special Military Commander of Trincomalee district, Colonel Soornam, LTTE Trincomalee District Political Wing Head, Mr Elilan, and LTTE Military Commander of Trincomalee district, Commander Kunchan represented the LTTE. The Muslim delegation was lead by Harim Moulavi. Head of SLMM of Trincomalee district, Mr Arthur, also attended the meeting. The decisions that the leaders reached are as follows: We will encourage the acceptance of Tamils and Muslims
into each others’ communities. Muslim community leaders have recently written a letter to Mr V Prabhakaran, requesting the prevention of controversial situations between Muslim and Tamil communities. In the letter, they requested that the people involved in disrupting the peace between Muslim and Tamil communities must be identified and have appropriate measures taken against them. Upon receiving this letter, Mr Prabhakaran ordered all LTTE military commanders and LTTE political wing heads to facilitate in solving these issues and strengthen the relationship between Muslim and Tamil communities. Soldier attacks woman with acid A woman, working in a garment factory, who rejected advances by a soldier, was the victim of an acid attack by the soldier, Actg.OIC Seeduwa Police W.C.Dharamadasa said. W .S. Chandarlatha (35), a resident of Deniyaya and a mother of two children was separated from her husband. She was admitted to the Ragama with severe burn injuries on Thursday (15). She told the police that she was boarded at Raddolugama and the suspect soldier had made a proposal to her to start an affair and she had refused him telling him that she was married woman with two children. But he had continued to meet her and persist with his proposal. On the day of the incident she had got into the staff bus to go to her boarding house and the soldier with two other persons had followed her in a three wheeler. He had thrown acid on her when she got off the bus and fled, she told the police. Police said the suspect would be arrested in the next few days. FMM concerned over search on Jaffna press Expressing concern over the search carried out by the
Sri Lanka military at the editorial, administrative and press sections
of the Tamil daily Namathu Eelanaadu in Jaffna Thursday, the Free Media
Movement (FMM), in a press release issued Thursday, urged "both sides
of the conflict to respect the right to freedom of expression and information
and not to target media under any situation that may arise out of developing
military confrontations." Free Media Movement (FMM) is disturbed that government military has searched the editorial, administrative and press sections of the Tamil daily Namathu Eelanaadu in Jaffna today. Namadu Eelanaadu is one of the four daily news papers published in the capital of war ravaged Northern Province, Jaffna. All four dailies in Jaffna take an editorial line that supports Tamil nationalism, which is the ideological basis of separatist armed struggle in north and east of Sri Lanka. FMM views this situation as a direct result of escalation of violence in Jaffna peninsula during the last few weeks. Number of solders, militants and civilians has died as a result of these unfortunate developments. FMM fears that media in Jaffna may become a target of escalating violence again as happened many a times before. In a non- peaceful situation like one prevails in Jaffna today, searching a newspaper office by government military may send a signal that media is under military scrutiny and there by impede the freedom of expression and information. Media and journalists in Jaffna face challenging situation now in gathering and dissemination of information as war clouds are gathering by every passing day. FMM urge both sides of the conflict to respect the right to freedom of expression and information and not to target media under any situation that may arise out of developing military confrontations and mistrust between the parties to the conflict.s Sunanda Deshapriya (+94) 0777 312457 16 December 2005 Letter from President to Prabhakaran President Mahinda Rajapaksa sent a letter to the LTTE leadership today (15) conveying the government's intention to hold peace talks in an Asian country. The President disclosed this during a discussion with a UNP delegation headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe held at Temple Trees this evening. The discussion with the main opposition was consequent to the President's decision to forge a broad consensus among the southern political parties before embarking on talks with the LTTE and the UNP delegation included Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Professor G.L.Pieris and Joseph Michael Perera. Wickremesinghe has reiterated that there is no change in the UNP's original stance that a negotiated settlement should be found for the national problem and added that the UNP will extend its fullest corporation it the government opted for a negotiated settlement and devolving power within a united country. The UNP has urged the President to get the talks of the ground without much delay. EU expresses concern to TNA on N-E situation THE European Union expressing its concerns on the current situation in the North and East at a meeting with the Tamil National Alliance, insisted on stabilising the efforts in finding a political settlement to the ethnic crisis, informed sources said. The Deputy Director-General of Asia and Latin American countries Herve Jonanjean met the Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian at the European Union office in Colombo yesterday. Jonanjean was accompanied by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union Julian Wilson. The European Union office in Colombo invited the Tamil National Alliance to discuss on the current situation in the North and East prior to the Co-Chairs confab in Brussels on December 19, to review the peace process. The Tamil National Alliance was headed by Parliamentarian R. Sambanthan and was accompanied by Parliamentarians Joseph Pararajasingam, Suresh Premachandran and TELO Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan. The TNA Parliamentarians making their views at the meeting with the EU representatives said the TNA was for a negotiated political settlement for the North and East crisis. They also pointed out that the efforts must be taken to stabilise the deteriorating Ceasefire Agreement in the North and East. The TNA members also brought to the notice of the EU representatives that there were six rounds of talks between the Government and the LTTE and there was nothing fruitful. They also said that the previous Government leaders were helpless in resuming the peace process. The TNA also urged the European Union to offer its good offices to find a durable solution to the Sri Lankan crisis. Solheim to initiate
resumption of talks Minister Samaraweera has reiterated the new President’s commitment to the peace process and the role of Norway as the facilitator. The Sri Lankan Minister also discussed operational modalities for the resumption of talks, the Ministry said. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre welcomed the commitment demonstrated by the Sri Lankan government to move the peace process forward. Støre underlined that the new Norwegian Government is fully committed to engage as a facilitator. The Ministers look forward to an early visit by Norwegian Minister of Development Mr Erik Solheim to Sri Lanka, to initiate the resumption of talks with the GOSL and the LTTE. The composition of the Norwegian team, including a Special Envoy, will be announced shortly, the ministry said. The Ministers were optimistic that talks on strengthening the implementation and effective monitoring of the ceasefire can commence early next year the Foreign Ministry added. Jaffna Group warns of attacks if SLA harassment is not stopped If the increasing incidents of rounding up of civilians,
and cordon and search of Tamil areas by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers
continue, campaign of attacks against SLA will intensify in Jaffna, warned
an organization of Tamil youths called "Roaring Tamil Force,"
in a memorandum submitted to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) offices
in Jaffna Thursday. Twenty-five youths identifying themselves as belonging
to the Group delivered the memorandum at the Temple Road offices of the
SLMM, sources said. SLA troops should stop rounding up civilians, Tamil youths
who have been arrested and held without charges should be released immediately,
Security forces must return to their barracks without interfering with
peoples' daily activities and disturbing normalcy of life in the district,
Construction of new SLA checkposts and camps should be stopped, and All
military activities that affect the education of Tamil students should
be stopped immediately. Meanwhile, Jaffna Campus Students Union said that it condemns roundup of students Thursday and accused the SLA of threatening campus students living in outside-campus accomodations. The Student Union officials further said that incidents of harassment of campus students by the SLA troops have markedly increased in the past few days. SLA soldiers search Jaffna press, threaten workers Sri Lanka Army cordoned off the offices of the popular
Tamil daily Namathu Eelanaadu located in Navalar road Jaffna Thursday
6.30 a.m. and searched the editorial, administrative and press sections
of the paper's offices thoroughly for nearly half an hour, workers at
the premises said. SLA soldiers questioned several workers at the daily
and demanded to see workers' national identity cards. Civil groups expressed
alarm at this ominous development to suppress press freedom in Jaffna
district. Officials of daily Valampuri with offices located close to Namathu Eelanaadu said that workers entering the offices were stopped at the entrance to the building and questioned by the SLA soldiers Thursday morning. Several workers were also threatened by the soldiers, according to some employees at the newspaper building. North Sri Lanka Journalists Association condemned the harassment of the journalists and newspaper workers by the SLA troops and demanded that all harassment be stopped, and urged the Sri Lanka Government to take all efforts to safeguard press freedom. CWC MP joins Sri Lanka government, sworn in as Deputy Minister Ending all political speculation, the CWC Badulla district MP Vadivel Suresh joined the government ranks this morning. He took his oaths as the Deputy Minister for Health and Nutrition before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his Temple Trees residence. Earlier, ColomboPage exclusively reported that four CWC MPs are likely to join the government during the budget debate in Parliament. It is learned that other three MPs are scheduled to cross over in the next week. Faizer Musthapa to join SLFP CWC Parliamentarian Faizer Musthapa will join the Sri Lanka Freedom Party soon to extend his support to President Mahinda Rajapakse. Sources close to Musthapa said that the young MP had discussions with the President recently and is expected to look after Muslim Affairs in the Central Province as a co-ordinator without accepting Ministerial Portfolios. Musthapa who resigned as the Vice President of the CWC recently is a former Deputy Minister of Tourism. He is also an Attorney-at-Law and the son of eminent SLFP lawyer President Counsel Faiz Musthapa. Muslim platoon
in the army? "State security forces have proved its ineffectiveness to assure the security of Muslims in the East," said Rahuman pointing out that several Muslims have been killed in the past few weeks. He said, "It is futile trying to find out who is behind these killings, as it won't save Muslim lives". The MULF leader said that Muslims were not enthusiastic about joining the armed forces. This was due to 'an atmosphere that does not fit our culture and religion', he said. However, he said that 'Muslim youth will be prepared to enlist once that problem is addressed and a separate Muslim platoon is set up'. His Highness, are there any other vehicles than this vehicle and that vehicle? A 'Jaguar' full option vehicle for 20 million rupees is to be purchased for President's brother, Deputy Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. It is to be bought under the pretext of buying a vehicle for the official car pool of President's Rajapaksa. Even though the order for the purchase of the vehicle has been placed through President's Coordinating Secretary Sachin Vass, the relevant letter of credit has still not been approved by the Presidential Secretary. The documents for the approval has been forwarded to the Presidential Secretary by Chamal Rajapaksa’s son 'Shashi Rajapaksa' who is a Personal Secretary of the President. Recently Kalutara district parliamentarian Nandana Gunathilake exposed in Parliament that State Bank Development Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wijedasa Rajapaksa has ordered a BMW car worth 14 million rupees as his official vehicle. It is said that the Presidential Secretary was not in much of a hurry to approve the letter of credit for the Jaguar vehicle following this disclosure by Gunathilake. Indian Maoists admit links with LTTE- Indo Asian News Service Indian Maoist guerrillas have admitted for the first time that Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas trained them two decades ago but claimed they have no links with the insurgents now. The disclosure was made by a leader of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) at a press conference called in a village in Bihar's Madhuban block and attended by select journalists. The leader, known by his nom de guerre Azad, said the Maoists 'learnt newer warfare tactics from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in 1986-87'. He said that LTTE gave them training in producing and using landmines. In 1986, the LTTE enjoyed sanctuaries in India but the next year it unleashed a war against the Indian troops deployed in the north and east of Sri Lanka. A Hindi newspaper reported details of Azad's comments. But the central committee member refused to say where the training took place. Azad, however, insisted that the CPI-Maoist had no connections with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). But he admitted they enjoyed 'good and close' ties with Nepalese Maoists. CPI-Maoist leaders who met the journalists also vowed to step up their warfare and threatened to target banks and major industrial houses setting up industries by displacing tribals in mineral rich states. Such actions, Azad said, would take place in Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. This was the first press meet organised by Maoists in recent years. It assumes added significance in view of last month's daring Maoist jail break in Jehanabad district in Bihar. He said the party had also decided to target police armouries and banks. Azad said the guerrillas now operated factories to produce guns and mines in each state. Several Indian states are affected by Maoist violence,
which has shown a sharp increase since last year when the People's War
Group and the Maoist Communist Centre joined hands to set up the CPI-Maoist. An Australian businessman held for 55 days in Sri Lanka over a ministerial assassination is on his way home to Melbourne, his family has announced. Melbourne-based businessman Charles Gnanakone was detained on October 10 on suspicion of involvement in the fatal shooting of Sri Lankan foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. But the Colombo-based court of appeal ruled this week that the 60-year-old, who is of Sri Lankan origin and holds an Australian passport, should be released. His family issued a brief statement on Thursday, saying he would speak at a press conference at his home at Mount Eliza, in Melbourne's south on Sunday, and would make no further comment. A spokesman for the family could not be contacted on Thursday. Two other men have been arrested over the assassination. Mr Gnanakone was detained by Sri Lankan police after Mr Kadirgamar, who was known as a tough opponent of the Tamil Tigers, was shot near his heavily guarded home in Colombo in August and died in hospital. The minister was the most tightly guarded person in the country after President Chandrika Kumaratunga but police admitted serious security breaches by his bodyguard. At the time of Mr Gnanakone's arrest, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were aware an Australian had been detained in Colombo "in relation to his alleged links to the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) and the assassination of the former foreign minister". Asylum betrayed-Source:New
Statesman Britain's asylum system is out of control and ministers preside over a regime of corrupt-ion and inhumanity. I know. Working with asylum applicants, I see the reality of an amoral, bungling policy at first hand. In the past few years, I have helped more than 100 would-be refugees, their cases a snapshot of a national disgrace. In my experience, most assumptions about "failed" asylum-seekers are nonsense. Some cases may be bogus, but many fail because of poor or non-existent legal representation. None of the asylum applicants I have dealt with was fraudulent. All were eventually able to corroborate their harrowing accounts of imprisonment, torture, rape and the murder of their loved ones. The majority of the asylum-seekers who contacted me had no legal help. Only one had a good lawyer, and that was because his family was well-off. The rest were dependent on legal aid solicitors, many of whom do a second-rate job, because they are incompetent, underfunded or overburdened. The Home Office has a list of solicitors it recommends to claimants: it just happens that most of these firms have a high failure rate - which is convenient for a government hell-bent on slashing asylum numbers. The talk on the asylum street is that shoddy solicitors gravitate to asylum work because it provides easy pickings, with little competition. From my experience, it certainly looks that way. Cuts in legal aid funding mean that many reputable solicitors no longer take on such cases. The number of hours paid by legal aid to prepare each application is usually insufficient. The standard contract gives solicitors a mere £286 per asylum client, which covers five hours' work at minimum rates. In five hours, lawyers are expected to take a statement from the applicant, get corroborating affidavits from witnesses (often on the other side of the world), obtain reports from human rights groups, organise medical examinations to confirm torture, and research the legal basis of the claim. Most times it is impossible. This leaves the field open to unscrupulous firms which see these cases as cash cows and are prepared to submit poorly prepared claims. The solicitor for one Palestinian claimant represented her after only a 20-minute interview. This was not long enough even to document her story. At the hearing, key aspects of her persecution were never heard and no corroborating evidence was presented. No wonder she failed. One Iranian I am assisting was represented by a firm of solicitors recommended by the Home Office. He was told that they did not "have time" to record his story of persecution and, anyway, it was "too complicated". The asylum process is rigged to fail as many applicants as possible. Under the "fast-track" system, a solicitor assigned to a new claimant usually gets less than 24 hours' notice of a client's Home Office hearing. If the claim is refused, the appeal is often scheduled a week or so later - rarely enough time to gather sufficient supportive evidence. Another inbuilt bias is the Country Information and Policy Unit (CIPU) at the Home Office, which produces reports on human rights violations in the countries from which asylum-seekers flee. These reports are used by adjudicators to determine whether a person has a well-founded fear of persecution and, in my experience, they are often overly optimistic. For example, I have helped several refugees who fled Islamist state repression in Algeria. The CIPU report on Algeria that was in use until September 2004 played down the abuses and the likelihood of returnees being victimised. It was eventually withdrawn in embarrassment, having been exposed as out-of-date and riddled with unverified information from dubious sources. The notorious "white list" system is another ploy that allows the Home Office to declare that designated countries (currently there are 24) are free from serious human rights violations. The white list currently includes Sri Lanka, where a bloody civil war has led to widespread torture and assassination. Yet the Home Office says all asylum claims from Sri Lanka should be assumed to be bogus and the claimants deported. Applicants who have committed no crimes are held in detention centres such as Colnbrook and Harmondsworth in Middlesex. These are prisons in all but name. People are mostly put there if the Home Office thinks their claims are unfounded and/or if they come from a white-list country deemed to be safe. (In other words, the Home Office prejudges their application.) Minors sometimes get incarcerated, too, and not by accident. One 17-year-old told me that officials confiscated his original Home Office ID and issued him with a new one with a false date of birth, which made him 18, in order to permit his detention in Harmondsworth. Within detention centres, asylum claimants are at the mercy of the guards. In cases brought to my attention, abuse happens in "blind" areas, where there are no CCTV cameras. It also occurs in the internal prisons - the high-security segregation units - where "troublemakers" who try to assert their legal rights are sometimes punished. This abuse echoes the humiliations inflicted in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. As well as racist and homophobic insults, it includes strip searches and internal genital examinations. There are no protections against these violations. Detainees are virtually powerless. In theory, asylum detainees have access to legal representation. In practice, many don't. Some claimants are deported illegally, without removal orders being served. Others get deported even though a judicial review is pending. I know of people served with deportation notices while waiting for medical examinations to confirm their claims of torture. One victim I am supporting was until recently held in detention for six months, without receiving any treatment or counselling. He says requests for medical treatment are frequently ignored and people suffering severe trauma are sometimes fobbed off with aspirin. It is not unknown for the Home Office to serve removal notices with no warning, perhaps an hour before asylum applicants are carted off to the airport. I know of detainees who have had phone access denied when they were due for removal, preventing them from contacting their solicitors. Last month, one applicant in a London detention centre was bussed to Scotland shortly before his order was served. His removal from English legal jurisdiction seemed designed to make it as difficult as possible for his solicitor to take action to halt him being sent back to Uganda. "Failed" asylum-seekers scheduled for deportation can be shackled, bound and forcibly injected with sedating medication, according to eyewitness accounts I have received. To stop them screaming en route to the plane, some escorts apply thumb pressure to the throat and twist handcuffs so tight that they pinch the wrist nerves and cut the flesh, leaving some victims with long-lasting nerve damage. Many human rights advocates working with asylum claimants, such as the Bail Circle and the London Detainee Support Group, tell similar stories. So when the Home Office talks about "failed" asylum-seekers, what this often means is claimants who have not succeeded in surmounting the shameless, devious obstacles - legal and illegal - designed to ensure the deportation of as many applicants as possible. Ministers cannot blithely claim that they are unaware of these abuses. If they don't know, they should. If they do know, why are they allowing it to continue? The abuses cited in this article are taken from the experiences of asylum applicants supported by Peter Tatchell and his human rights group OutRage! Names and other identifying details are withheld. ( [http://www.petertatchell.net]) and ( [http://www.outrage.org.uk]) 15 December 2005 Urgent
talks with Norwegian FM "In keeping with the Government's commitment to commence talks with the LTTE, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will be meeting the Foreign Minister of the Royal Norwegian Government Jonas Gahr Støre in Hong Kong on 15 th December 2005 to discuss modalities", the Ministry said. The Minister will be accompanied by Mr. H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Dr. John Gooneratne, Secretary-General, Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) and Mr. Shanaka Jayasekara, Director(Policy), SCOPP. 'Tamil Tigers'
attack helicopter -BBC The helicopter suffered minor damage but returned to Ampara town safely. The attack is thought to be the first of its kind since the government and the Tigers agreed a truce in 2002. But tension has been rising in recent weeks and the country's army and police have suffered a number of attacks. "The helicopter came under fire - it had two bullet holes and minor damage," air force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha Silva told Reuters. He said the military had been monitoring rebel radio traffic. "We heard high-ranking [rebel] leaders giving the go-ahead to attack the helicopter," he told the BBC Sinhala service. The rebels have made no comment so far. Ms Boniver had been reviewing tsunami reconstruction efforts in the coastal area. Hong Kong talks With violence rising, the relevance of the fragile ceasefire, brokered by Norway in 2002, is being questioned. The government and the rebels maintain a commitment to peace, but are far apart on the issue of self-determination for Tamils. On Thursday, Sri Lanka's foreign minister will meet his Norwegian counterpart on the sidelines of the WTO summit in Hong Kong to discuss attempts to resume direct peace talks with the rebels, which stalled in April 2003. Last week, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse asked Oslo to continue mediating in the peace process - despite an election pledge during his hardline campaign to review its role. Dallas gets the slot Ending the long wait, former Parliamentarian and President Mahinda Rajapakse’s close confidant, Dallas Dahamkumara Alahapperuma was appointed yesterday to the vacant National List slot in Parliament caused after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. The paper approving his nomination was sent by the UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha to the Elections Commissioner and was gazetted yesterday. It has been four months since Minister Kadirgamar was assassinated on August 12, 2005 and the appointment to fill the vacancy was delayed with many names being proposed for the post. At an SLFP office bearers’ meeting on Monday President Mahinda Rajapakse reportedly insisted that Mr. Alahapperuma deserved the post while former President Chandrika Kumaratunga said Reginald Cooray or Chandana Kathriarachchi should be appointed. Mr. Alahapperuma, Matara district Parliamentarian scored over SLFP strongman Mangala Samaraweera in the 1994 general elections. Later he went abroad and only returned to the country before the Presidential election but played a vital role in Mr. Rajapakse’s victory. 'Government breaches people's trust' - JVP JVP parliamentarian Nandana Gunathilake has blasted the government in Parliament, saying the new regime should rethink its strategy of governance if it intends to respect the people's mandate. “It is sad to say that the new government loses the public trust when they [are] appointing a jumbo Cabinet again,” the JVP MP said in Parliament. He pointed out that the present government includes 80 ministers and deputies and said the people do not need such a large government at all. Mr. Gunathilake nevertheless extended his party’s support to President Rajapaksa, saying that his work plan for the country was “realistic”. Abduction of LTTE
woman – Four in police service interdicted Police Sergeant Selvarajah (13828), Reserve who were attached to the Vavunia Headquarters Police stations have been interdicted in this connection. It has been revealed the said police officers were not present when Tiger members entered the hospital ward shooting Reserve Police Constable Manoj Ranasinghe who was on duty at that moment. Chandrika off to Australia Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga left for Australia yesterday on a private visit. The object of her visit is to take part in a function of her personal friend and she will stay in Australia for 6 days. Sources of the ex-President's office said she will leave for England at the end of her Australian tour and will spend about a month there. It is reported that on her return, she has planned to carry out reorganization activities of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Due the late arrival of Kumaratunga, the Air Lankan flight had to be delayed for nearly an hour causing much inconvenience to her fellow travelers. SL Police arrests two Tamils in Mannar Sri Lanka Police took two Tamil youths into custody in
a three-hour cordon and search operation conducted in the bazaar area
of the Mannar town Wednesday morning by combined armed forces. These youths
are now detained in the Mannar Police Station and are being interrogated,
civilian sources said. I won’t
bow down to tiger threats -Athaulla He accuses certain media institutions of spreading false stories that he had close relations with Karuna faction of the tiger organization. Thamilselvan, leader of the political wing of the LTTE organization too had made a similar statement in a media meeting recently said Mr. Athaulla. He emphasized that he had never had any relations with
Tamil armed groups as he was aware that they are a threat to the Muslim
community. The President and the Leaders of the JVP met yesterday night (14th) at 7.30 p.m. to discuss the steps that should be taken to achieve peace and a final political solution. This discussion went on for two hours. Discussed here was about a lasting solution that would pave the way for honourable peace where all communities could live together in harmony. Attention was also focussed here on the obstacles that stand on the way to peace. The JVP leaders stressed that democratic rights of the people living in the North East have been denied to them over a long period of time. They have reportedly proposed to the President that steps should be taken to hold Pradesheeya Sabha and Provincial Council elections in the North and East for people to exercise their franchise without interference. The JVP said that this would give an opportunity for people to elect representatives of their choice and participate in the democratic process. In response to this call the President said he would look into the possibility of holding these elections there JVP Leader Mr. Somawansha Amarasinghe, General Secretary Mr. Tilvin Silva, Information Secretary Mr. Wimal Weerawansa and Political Bureau Member Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake participated at the discussion. UNP leaders meet President tomorrow President Mahinda Rajapaksa will meet United National Party leaders tomorrow as a part of the efforts to forge a consensus among the southern political parties prior to commencing peace talks with the LTTE. The UNP delegation will comprise of party leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Professor G.L.Pieris and
a former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera. Ganja in Parliament premises In a shocking discovery, the Parliament security authorities have detected a Ganja plantation in one of the up stair gardens of the premises. The abundantly growing Cannabis plants were spotted by army Commandos while searching the Parliament premises for security reasons prior to the presentation of the government’s new budget recently. According to parliament security sources, the authorities have found about ten ganja plants among other flower plants in a garden located on the second floor near the “Odeon Hall” where only members of parliament could gain access. Following an immediate probe, parliament staffers have been questioned since no outsiders are allowed to enter the area. Police said it was likely some house keeping employees attached to the Parliament were involved in the incident. Jaffna tense as SLA cordon, searches continue Tension prevailed in Jaffna as Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers
cordoned off and searched several villages in Jaffna district including
Kachchai area in Thenmaradchy, Ariyalai in Jaffna, Myilankadu in Valikamam
North, Erlalai North and Mandan in Vadamaradchy area, Wednesday morning
as the troops continued their security operations for a second day, sources
in Jaffna said. Early reports said seven youths have been detained for
futher questioning by the SLA in Mandan area. However, the SLA has not
officially released any information on the detention. Sriharan Rajagajan (24), a Tamil youth who was arrested by the SLA in Kondavil Tuesday and later released in bail by Jaffna magistrate, had asked for protection from the Jaffna office of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission. Mr Rajagajan noted in his complaint that SLA arrested him in revenge and that he has received death threats after he was released in bail. Meanwhile, in a communique distributed to the Jaffna media and to the SLMM offices in Jaffna, an organzation called "Roaring Peoples Force" claimed responsibility for the recent attacks against SLA troops in Jaffna district. The organization has warned that the attacks will intensify if SLA continues to roundup and harass civilians. Posters condemning the paramilitary Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devananda and demanding Sri Lanka Army to leave Jaffna were pasted overnight on street walls in several parts of Jaffna. Seek solution within a united Lanka or face war warns TNA TNA MP Suresh Premachandran warned that the Tamils would definitely go to war, if the government does not provide a solution to the ethnic problem within the parameters of a united Sri Lanka. Participating in the Budget debate in Parliament yesterday Mr. Premachandran said that all communities will perish if communalism continues in the country. He also said nationalistic forces have stopped the implementation of P-TOMS. Mr. Premachandran said that the ‘Mahinda Chintana’ cannot be implemented if the relief measures listed in it are to be implemented with the tax revenue. “It cannot be implemented on tax revenue alone,” he said. He said that if the government resorted to borrowing from banks and printing money it would definitely lead to galloping inflation. “Government has promised to allocate Rs. 650 million for the development of the North and East. How can you raise such funds in this situation?” he asked. “There is a lot to be done in the North and East; Infrastructure has to be developed. How are you going to do all that?” he asked. He also lashed out at the government stating that it has pumped funds into the sinking state sector. He said the government had not given any concessions to the private sector and it is concentrating only on the sinking state sector. “This government has only short term plans,” he said. He warned that these policies of the UPFA government would lead the country towards the manioc era of the early 1970s. “Government has allocated 15 percent of its total revenue to meet defence expenditure. This shows where it is heading,” he said. “Government has let down the farmers in the North and the East by its failure to provide fertilizer at Rs. 350. Moreover it has discriminated against the people in the North-East by slapping a ban on the transport of fertilizer,” Mr. Premachandran said. He said foreign investment would not come into this country if the government does not change its policies. LTTE and Muslim representatives meet in Trincomalee LTTE leaders and representatives of the Muslim community met on 13 December at 11:30am in Pallikkudiyiruppu, an area designated as no-man’s land in Trincomalee district. LTTE Trincomalee District Political Wing Head, Mr Elilan, LTTE military commander of Trincomalee District, Mr Thevan, and Head of LTTE Trincomalee Head Office, Mr Puthiyevan represaented LTTE at the metting. Muslim delegtion was lead by head of Muslim Mosques, Mr Ladeep. Head Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Trincomalee, Mr Arthur, also attended the meeting. In the meeting, Mr Elilan explained to Muslim representatives that hidden evil forces are involved in the activities to create tension between Tamil and Muslim communities. Mr. Elilan said there is no connection between these cruel activities and the LTTE. Mr Elilan further stated that Muslim and Tamil people who speak the same language must not give in to the goal of the evil forces by mistrusting each other. He added that the LTTE will never disturb the well being of the Muslim community. Representatives from the Muslim community said that we must identify the evil forces that are trying to destroy the Muslim-Tamil relationship and work to strengthen it. Muslim representatives also said that the Muslim people never disrupt the well being of the Tamil community. Meanwhile, it was announced that another meeting will take place today, 14 December, between LTTE leaders and Muslim representatives from twelve large mosques. 14 December 2005 Government provoking war: Tamil National Alliance On the third day of the budget debate, TNA’s Batticloa District MP Ms. Thangeshwari said in Parliament yesterday, that the government was preparing for war because several Navy camps had been established in east. Referring to a statement made by Joint Security Forces Commander Daya Sandagiri which said that the war would soon begin, she said that remarks such as this have made the government’s intentions clear. She queried as to how the government could expect an 8% economic growth rate if it intended provoking a war. She complained that during the past few weeks there had been a series of incidents in the north and the east on a daily basis. Ms. Thangeshwari further complained that the fisheries industry in the east had come to a standstill as a result of high security zones. She also lashed out at the government for neglecting the tsunami affected people in these areas. TELO Leader and TNA MP, M Adikalanathan also lashed out at the government for neglecting the people in the north and the esast. He said that there were severe shortcomings in the education sector, such as shortage of teachers and lack of infrastructure facilities. He also said that the farmers in the north and the east were not getting fertilizer at Rs 350. He challenged members of government to visit the north and east to see what was happening in these areas. Meeravodai army detachment attacked An Army detachment at Meeravodai in the Eastern province came under heavy attack at 2.30 pm yesterday, army sources said. Four rounds were fired from a 40 mm grenade launcher and fortunately the rounds had fallen outside the camp without causing any damage to the camp or the troops, sources said. The Army sources also said the Meeravodai detachment was located 23 km North West of Batticaloa. If the rounds had fallen inside the camp the damages would have been severe. The SLMM has been reported over the incident, sources said. Two Tamils shot dead in Kiran in Batticaloa Unidentified gunmen who entered a house in Kiran in Batticaloa
district Monday night abducted two men at gunpoint, shot and killed them
500 meters away from the house, police said. "Don't say sorry after killing a man" - Chandrika tells President At a special meeting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Central Committee held last evening at the President's House, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has taken President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his close confidantes to task. Kumartunga has berated President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Media Minister Anura Priyadarashana Yapa, national list hopeful Dulles Alahapperuma as well as Chie Justice Sarath N.Silva referring to the mud slinging campaign against her by the state media regarding cheques issued from the President's Fund and the criticism leveled at her for the allocation of staff and vehicles. The ex-President has turned aggressive when the issue of filling the national list vacancy came up for discussion. Kumaratuna displaying her authority as the party president, ha has insisted that senior-most former Ministers Chandana Katriarachchi or Western Province Chief Minister Rejinald Cooray should be appointed for the vacancy. She has further said that Cooray is the senior of the two, and pointed that he resigned from his cabinet portfolio on a request made by her to contest the provincial council election. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa suggested that Dulles Alahapperuma should be appointed from the national list, Kumaratunga really lost her cool and charged " Who is Dulles? That man wrote to newspaper assassinating my character. He used filthy language on me. Wrote about my children, too. Why should a man who left the country claiming that he would never enter politics should be appointed as a National List MP ? He is returning to sling mud at me". While Kumaratunga let herself go, stunned SLFP office bearers watched in silence. "Who leaked information to the media that I wrote cheques before leaving the Presidency? Who helped to carry them in the state media? I know who passed the information to the media. Why? Doesn't the President know about these things?" Kumaratunga snapped. "Newspapers carried reports that I have been given 36 official vehicles, that millions have been allocated to me. I've only been given two vehicles. Does the President know it? Te C.J (Chief Justice) has questioned about the funds set aside from budgetary allocations. They are all in the JR's constitution. Doesn't the CJ aware of the constitution?" the SLFP leader questioned and continued "You all are talking about money. The Presidential Secretary has not even signed for petty cash voucher even to get tea and sugar to my office." No sooner Kumaratunga made this statement, the President phoned his secretary Lalith Weeratunga and instructed him to take necessary action in this connection. She spoke bitterly about the state television's refusal to telecast her farewell address to the nation and put the blame squarely on the President and Media Minister Anura Priyadarashana Yapa for this. "I requested an opportunity from the state television to say farewell to the people. Was it given?" she alleged and then turning to Media Minister she said "Anura,I told you over the phone about the state media's mud slinging at me. I asked them to correct a report that said I had bought a house in England. I asked you to look into this matter. Did you do that? No?" The Minister replied " No, madam. I made inquiries about the matter". Kumaratunga who spared no one during her outburst wound up her speech claiming "Eventually they want to see me dead". When Kumaraunga concluded her speech nobody wanted to return the compliment. President Rajapaksa had cordially said " Madam, I will look into these matters. If there are problems: you, I and the General Secretary can resolve them through discussions". " My character was assassinated. It is like killing
a person and then say, I'm sorry" she retorted. A national committee was appointed to elect candidates for the local government elections on the recommendations made by the district committees. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Maithreepala Sirisena, D.M.Jayaratne, Susil Premajayantha, Mangala Samarawera and Alavi Moulana are the members of the national committee. Security forces cordon, search Potpathi Road area Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has cordoned the area surrounding
the road leading to Potpathi Road Jaffna from Kondavil on Palaly Road
and are conducting house to house searches early morning Tuesday, sources
in Jaffna said. SLA arrested a youth who was involved in brokering motor
bike sales. Youth is still in custody, according to reports. Meanwhile, in Kodikamam area in Thenmaradchy and Kerudavil area in Meesalai also were cordoned and searched by the SLA Tuesday morning. Residents in the areas said that SLA's operation is still continuing after midday. SLA soldiers are conducting house to house searches and occupants are being asked to confirm their identities by producing their national identity cards. Protest in Vavuniya
Dinasena Rathugamage reporting from Vavuniya says that
protesters who blamed the Tamil Tigers for the abduction insisted that
the truce monitors intervene immediately. Sinnathambi Ganeshalingam, Tamil Tiger head of the political division of Vavuniya, denied any involvement in the abduction. The truce monitors assured the demonstrators that they will do everything possible to find out the truth. “We will be talking to all sectors” said the local chief of truce monitoring ,Sunninan Minister Sirisena denies LTTE charges Minister Maithripala Sirisena has denied the LTTE's charge that a senior government politician sought assistance from the breakaway Karuna group during the recent presidential campaign. Two cadres who allegedly deserted the Karuna group had told a LTTE-arranged press conference in LTTE-held Karadiyanaru, Batticaloa, that “the minister requested Mangalan Master to get at least 10,000 votes in favour of Mahinda Rajapaksa.” Minister Sirisena said he will take legal action against a local weekly for leveling similar charges against him. JHU wants Asian
Mediator Venerable Sobitha was referring to the recent visit of Japanese peace envoy Yakushi Akashi. The Japanese envoy did not visit the Tamil Tigers and said that he took into account the wishes of the government. The JHU said that it opposes former US President Bill Clinton or UN officials acting as mediators. Asian mediator JHU national organizer Patali Champika Ranawaka said “we need to find a mediator from Asia” When Elmo Fernando from Sandeshaya pointed out that India has expressed its desire for Norway to continue as facilitator Ranawaka responded “we hope things will change after President Rajapaksha’s visit to India". In response to another question on the commitment given by the Sri Lankan foreign minister while visiting India recently to devolve power within a united Sri lanka Ranawaka said that's not president Rajapaksha’s policy but the policy of India. Ranwaka said that India needs to change its stand or else Sri lanka will have to find other alternative. Two CWC MPs deny reports Two CWC MPs yesterday denied reports that they were quitting the party and joining the government. Parliamentarians V. Puthrasigamani and S. Jegatheeswaran issued statements saying the reports were largely baseless rumours. They said they had reached no deal with anyone in the government and reiterated their loyalty to the CWC leadership and party policies. Soldier deserts with T-56 A soldier attached to the Armed Corps of the Sri Lanka Army camp at Kalaththewa in Anuradhapura has been reported missing since last Sunday (11) with his fire arms and 120 live T-56 ammunitions, police said. Anuradhapura police were told that the soldier was on duty on Sunday night and had gone missing since then. They suspect that he has deserted with his T-56 automatic rifle. Police said that the missing man is a resident of Bakamuna in Elahera, Polonnaruwa and all police stations had been alerted. Road closings in Colombo cause hardship for public The general public including school children experienced difficulties when several of Colombo's roads closed yesterday afternoon for security reasons. Ten main roads from Kollupitiya to Borella were temporarily closed to facilitate President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to BMICH for a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s membership in the United Nations. Police and security forces did not allow any vehicles to enter these roads, where most public offices and popular schools are situated. “This was a terrible experience for us,” a school child who sat for his Ordinary Level Examination at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidayalaya today told ColomboPage. Several important meetings at the Ministry of Public Administration were cancelled due to the travel difficulties. “We are now in a process of rescheduling these meetings,” a senior official at the Ministry said. Angry commuters blasted government security authorities for creating problems for ordinary people and urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa not to rely on their advice. “It is always easy to provide security for VIPs when all the roads were closed. But what about the public?” angry commuter N. Dayapala, who was stuck in traffic for three hours on Duplication Road, said. He added that as a person who voted for President Rajapaksa, he cannot tolerate this kind of situation. “I sincerely hope the President should understand this hardship when all the roads are closed in the heart of Colombo,” he said. India cannot be a card in Colombo’s oppressive politics game - Vaiko Indian Defence Minister Mr Pranab Muhkerjee assured the
Tamil Nadu Politician Mr. Vaiko Monday that he will investigate the press
reports on the reconstruction efforts of Palaly airstrip in the main Sri
Lankan military base in Jaffna. “Earlier Indian political leaders
had acted with great care, and had declined to enter into a defence treaty
or airbase reconstruction projects when I have brought the Tamil concerns
to the Indian leadership’s notice,” Vaiko said. The Defence Minister also assured Vaiko that the joint Naval excercise that begins Tuesday in Sri Lanka was en exercise India undertakes with many South asian countries except Pakistan. Mr Vaiko, the MDMK leader in TamilNadu state in India, when contacted by TamilNet Tuesday, said that he had called on India's Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday to convey his dismay over the reports that appeared in Colombo and Indian press that quoted Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) chief Donald Perera that Indian Government was providing financial assistance to the reconstruction of Palaly airstrip of the SLAF and that a team from India was expected to meet with Sri Lanka representatives to discuss the progress of the reconstruction work. Vaiko said he was closely following the recent developments in Sri Lanka and brought his concerns to his Defence Minister regarding attempts by Sri Lankan Government and its military leadership to show that India was on their side of the Tamil struggle. The publicity efforts intensified following the visit by the General Commanding of Officer (GOC) of the Southern Command of India, Lt. Gen. Takker on December 01 and another visit this week by Vice Admiral Suresh Mehta of Indian Eastern Command with a joint naval exercise, Vaiko told the Indian Defence Minister. The Naval exercises began Tuesday involving the Sri Lankan ships which were involved in NorthEast conflict, and the Indian ships INS Sukanya and INS Kirpan. Vaiko said that he had registered his strong objection already in October 2004 to a planned Indian involvement in the reconstruction of the Palaly runway for use by SLAF to conduct bombing campaign of Tamil areas. Referring to the International reactions including former Pope John Paul II following SLAF bombing of Navaly church that killed several hundred refugees, Vaiko said: "even a little help to Sri Lankan Military who has such a record and has intentions thrust a war on Tamils in Sri Lanka cannot be justified by any means even if Colombo plays the China and Pakistan cards to woo India into its fold". The Indian Premier is a stateman and is aware of the developments, Vaiko remarked. Vaiko said that he discussed the NorthEast Tamil issue in detail with the Indian Premier on November 28 and with the Defence Minister on 29th of November and added that he will be meeting them again before SL President Rajapakse's scheduled visit to India is to take place. "We are concerned and have reservations on the India rhetoric being played by the new President of Sri Lanka and his partners," he added. The Indian political leadership is also aware of the consequences of Colombo's strategy in sidelining Norwegian facilitators by overplaying an India-rhetoric, he added, praising the significance of Norwegian involvement in facilitation and the monitoring of Cease Fire between the parties in Sri Lanka. Vaiko will also meet the top politicians in New Delhi to convey his concerns regarding the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. "There are those who advocate that India should enter into a defence treaty with Sri Lanka based on the Chinese and Pakistani cards. But this will undermine Tamil interests. I have reminded them that the interests of Tamils who have a bond of brotherhood with Tamils in India are at stake here," he said. Colombo's moves displayed an approach that was adopted by the late Lankan President J. R. Jeyawardene in 1986 when he trapped India to act against the Tamils in Sri Lanka, an approach that distanced India from the Tamils in the Northeast, Vaiko said. The open rejection of the fundamental concept of the traditional homeland of Tamils in the Northeast is a sharp contradiction to the firm stand expressed by the Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandi, he observed. "This was also one of the basic principles agreed in Thimpu," noted Vaiko. Stating that Rajapakse's stand expressed during the swearing-in ceremony, reflected the views advanced by his Sinhala extremist allies, the JVP and JHU, and favoured the Sinhala nationalist forces that sought to subjugate the Tamils in their traditional homeland for the past 50 years, Vaiko cautioned the Indian leadership on the pattern of Colombo's thinking, he said. The interpretration of the ground reality behind Lankan President's statement that anyone can settle anywhere in Sri Lanka needs to be viewed as an expression of the dangerous policy applied against the concept of traditional Tamil homeland, Vaiko observed. "This is an expression supportive of historically documented state-aided colonisations that have taken place in the Northeast with a clear agenda of depriving the basic Tamils' rights of the conterminous traditional homeland," he pointed out adding that the Indian leaders will not become pawns in the hands of Colombo. The reputation of Sinhala governments that have abrogated all the agreements reached between the representatives of Tamils and the Sri Lanka governments will be weighed heavily in any future Indian involvement, he said. "Look at what happened to the internationlly mediated humanitarian post-tsunami aid deal," he asked. When such an agreement of momentous humanitarian significance was blocked by the Judiciary of Sri Lanka as unconstitutional, what else are they willing to accede to the Tamils?, the Tamil Nadu politican asked. "I can see war clouds over the island. The keen interest being shown by Colombo to tilt the Indian stand in favour of their policy is a very dangerous ploy," he added. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Minister of Defence Pranav Muharjee, understanding the state of affairs, did not proceed with the scheduled signing of a Defence Pact worked out by the bureacracy of both the countries, Mr. Vaiko noted. He brought the Tamil concerns to the attention of the Indian Premier, Defence Minister when reports appeared in media suggesting the move to sign a Defence deal between the two countries. "Look at what is going in West Bank Jewish settlements, the whole world has witnessed that the policy of occupation of a traditional homeland with an agenda cannot be justified by any means if the conflict is to be resolved," he observed. Colombo, with a documented history of embarking on state-aided colonisation programme in the Tamil homeland, should deal with the Tamils in a constructive manner to resolve the conflict. Instead Colombo has opted to advance a policy that contradicts what was expected by India and the International Community, Vaiko said. 13 December 2005 TELO’s outright rejection of unitary state TELO Muthalvar and parliamentarian M. K. Sivajilingam yesterday said the Tamil community would not agree to a solution within the parameters of a unitary state ‘even if they were destroyed to the ground.’ Speaking during the second day’s debate on the government’s new budget, the TNA parliamentarian said the unitary character of the government had been rejected by the Tamil community since independence, and therefore they would not accept it as a solution to the Tamil National question. He said the LTTE had agreed to a Federal solution, and the government should consider the proposal. Mr. Sivajilingam was responding to a remark made by minister D.E.W. Gunasekara over the TNA’s rejection of talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse. The TNA and TELO parliamentarian however said his party was not invited for talks with the President and hence Mr. Gunasekara’s statement was baseless. “The government has now agreed to hold talks regarding the revision of the ceasefire agreement at a venue located outside Sri Lanka. It has also agreed to continue with Norway’s facilitatory role”, he said stressing it was time for the JVP and JHU to be realistic in their stands towards the ethnic problem. Referring to the new budget, Mr. Sivajilingam said though the government talked about providing relief to farmers and fisherfolk, fishing activities in the seas off the north were restricted leaving Tamil fishermen in the lurch. He said the monthly allowance of Rs. 1260 given to families living in refugee camps was hardly enough to make ends meet. “The plight of these refugees has not been taken into consideration when preparing this budget, because there are no such refugees in the south,” he said. Grenade attack on Pesalai police post, 20 injured Twenty police officers including a sub-inspector were injured when unidentified persons lobbed a grenade into the Pesalai police check post in Mannar district Monday night around 7.30 p.m. At that time of incident police officers were attending a class inside the police post. Pesalai is located about 14 km off Mannar town. A contingent of police party from Mannar on receipt of information rushed to Pesalai and brought all the injured to the Mannar district hospital. They are now warded in the hospital with tight security around the hospital premises and wards, police sources said. Some of the police officers received serious injuries, sources said. Tension prevails in Pesalai and Mannar town after the attack, civil sources said No talks with lower rank Tigers, says Ratnasiri Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said members of the three Forces would not henceforth indulge in talks with the LTTE at lower levels as had happened in the past. Addressing at a meeting at Horana on Sunday, to thank the people of Kalutara District for working towards the victory of President Mahinda Rajapakse, the Premier said, “President Mahinda Rajapakse has decided that the members of the three forces will refrain from engaging in discussions with the LTTE cadres on matters relating to the ceasefire agreement or the peace process. The duty of the Armed Forces would be to concentrate of security matters while matters regarding the peace process will be handled by the Government and the politicians,” he said. Mr. Wickramanayaka said that the national question was one of the most important issues facing the country. The UPFA under Mr. Rajapakse’s leadership at the last elections had advocated the carrying forward of the peace process under an undivided Sri Lanka. The LTTE, by its recent acts of violence, was trying to provoke war indirectly inviting the Government to wage war. Fourteen soldiers had been killed and many wounded. The Tigers were creating unrest elsewhere too by killing administrative officers and inciting the people. The Prime Minister said government would not be provoked by such actions and that it was with great difficulty that they were keeping the forces quiet. The Prime Minister stressed that what they needed to do now was to find pragmatic solutions to the problems. “The President is prepared for talks to achieve peace. But first there should be a consensus by political parties in the south on a solution to the national question”, he added. LTTE asks Norway to renew efforts in Sri Lanka-The Norway Post The LTTE guerrilla group in Sri Lanka has asked Norway
to again attempt to facilitate new peace negotiations, in order to maintain
the nation's present cease fire. Senior PLOTE cadre abducted in Vavuniya, 3 arrested A senior cadre of PLOTE, operating with the Sri Lanka
Army (SLA) in Vavuniya, was reported missing Monday noon. Unidentified
persons riding in a van allegedly abducted the senior cadre, a central
committee member of PLOTE, police said. Meanwhile, three men riding in
a van were arrested by the Police around 1:30 p.m. at Kidacheri in Vavuniya.
The police alleged that the arrested persons were involved in the abduction
of the PLOTE operative. Vavuniya Police Officer In-Charge (OIC) Mr. AMC Abeyasinghe Banda is conducting investigations into the incident. Fort is said to be dangerous for Ministers Intelligence services warned the Ministers today to be extremely careful of their security as the LTTE could carry out a destructive attack targeting a VIP in Colombo. They have specifically informed the ministerial security personnel to instruct Ministers not to visit Colombo Fort area. Intelligence sources have uncovered that suicide bombers along with a large stock of explosives have been brought to Colombo for a possible suicide mission. Two LTTE cadres in custody Kosgoda and Galle police mobile security teams have taken into custody two strong activists of the LTTE. Southern province special C.I.D. unit O.I.C. L. A. Gunarathna said the two youths are 17 and 15 years in age. The 17 year Muslim youth residing at Varakurai in Batticaloa is a member of the LTTE team which, in the attempt to launch an attack on the Valachchenai Telecom Centre, had killed 17 police officers. As investigations revealed he had joined the LTTE cadres in 1999, and in 2000 had military training at the Karadiyan-Aru LTTE camp, O.I.C. Gunarathna said. The other youth is a resident of Vavuniya. Further investigations are being held regarding these two youths. Civilian wounded in grenade attack in Valaichenai A civilian was wounded when two unidentified men riding
in a motorbike lobbed a grenade at a road patrol of Sri Lanka Army soldiers
at Pethalai in Valaichenai around 12:45 p.m. Monday, police said. Valaichenai is located 28 km northwest of Batticaloa town. Sri Lanka call
on UN to ban LTTE "Reject Tiger Fascism", "LTTE lay down arms and come back for peace talks." The demonstrators handed over a petition calling for the UN to force the LTTE to lay down their arms like the IRA and the Free Aceh Movement. This is the first time such a large gathering of Sri Lankan expatriates of all communities gathered to protest at the UN in Geneva which is home to all the humanitarian agencies High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNHCR, ICRC etc. Claymore attack on unmanned SLA post in Vavuniya A claymore mine went off Monday morning around 7:00 a.m.
at an unmanned SLA post on Vavuniya - Mannar road at Varikuddiyoor, 12
km northwest of Vavuniya town, poice said. Additional troopers of the
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Special Task Force (STF) and policemen were deployed
and the security was beefed up in Vavuniya on Monday. Army chief makes new appointments Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka in his capacity as Army Commander made several new appointments, including that of Major General S. Kulatunga’s appointment as Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. The other new appointments are as follows: Director Military Intelligence Brigadier R. Zacky as Brigadier, General Staff Jaffna Security Force Headquarters; Presidential Security Unit Security Coordinator Brigadier T. Liyanage as Director, Military Intelligence; Media Director Brigadier Daya Ratnayake as General Officer Commanding 23 Division; Brigadier S.A.P. Samarasinghe as the Media Director; Brigadier N. Witharanage as Brigadier, General Staff Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna; Major General P. Chandrawansa as Commander, Forward Maintainance Area; Major General T.W. Jayawardane as Director General, General Staff - Army Headquarters. Meanwhile, Majors General N.A. Ranasinghe and P. Pannipitiya are to be attached to Army Headquarters. Claymore attack in East, 2 SLA soldiers wounded Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were seriously injured
when unidentified attackers detonated a claymore mine at a foot patrol
of twelve SLA soldiers in Vantharumoolai, 17 km northwest of Batticaloa
town. The attack took place Monday morning around 7:30 a.m. near the Eastern
University building on Batticaloa - Valaichenai main road, police said.
The soldiers in the patrol opened fire following the attack and attacked two youths in the vicinity, civilian sources said. The foot patrol was heading to Kaluwankerny from Kommanthurai. A convoy of SLA and Police vehicles narrowly escaped from a roadside bomb in Morakoddanchenai, 4 km away from Vantharumoolai, Sunday evening around 5:30 p.m. The bomb missed the target, a bus with 30 policemen, police further said. Local polls at the beginning of 2006 The local Government elections will be held at the beginning of next year according to a decision taken at the SLFP Central Committee meeting last night. The WC also approved a National Committee to pick candidates, which will include the President Mahinda Rajapakse and SLFP leader Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga as the party leader. It was also decided to have two female nominees from the party contesting in each local body. JVP discuss NE violence with TULF and PLOTE The JVP yesterday met TULF President V.Anandasangaree and PLOTE leader D.Siddharthan at the party Head Office in Pelawatte,where the focus of the discussion was on the current wave of assassinations in in the North East. The discussions which lasted for over two hours also explored avenues by which the violence could be brought to an end. Human rights violations by the LTTE also figured prominently at the discussion.They also dwelt on avenues where a permanent solution to the national problem could be reached. The parties decided to continue with these discussions. "STF, SL Ministers complicit in paramilitary operations, Karuna in India" The two paramilitary cadres who surrendered to the Tigers in Amparai disclosed that Karuna operates from India and that Pillayan was leading the Karuna group operating in the east. They also revealed that Sri Lankan Government Ministers A L M Athaullah, Douglas Devananda and Maithripala Sirisena are complicit in helping paramilitaries operating in the east, during a press conference held at Thenakam guest house in LTTE controlled Karadiyanaru Monday. The cadres also said that the paramilitaries were involved in violence against Muslims to create dissension between Tamil and Muslim communities. The cadres said that the group was led by Pillayan. Iniyabarathy was functioning as the head of their team in Amparai. They were told by Pillayan, Mangalan master, Iniyabarathy and other operatives that Karuna was operating from India. "The group of fourty men is headed by Pillayan, and Karuna is in constant communication with Pillayan and other key persons. Karuna talked to me recently before we reneged from the group," Gnanatheepan, who claimed he was second in command next to Iniyabarathy, told the media. The cadres said Sri Lankan Army Intelligence commanders, Capt. Sureshkumara and Capt. Abeyaratne were the ones who dealt with Pillayan and Iniyabarathy directly. "Transport arrangements, arms and ammunition supplies are arranged by the Sri Lanka Army Intelligence," Gnanatheepan said. However, the funding was being provided by an external source through a key operative Uruthira, he said. They were receiving 30 000 rupees as salary, the cadres said adding that the lower ranks were paid at least 10 000 per month. Karuna Group cadres were mainly based in two places, Thivuchenai and Thirukonamadu, according to Puhalventhan and Gnanatheepan. Gnanatheepan further said 22 paramilitary cadres, including Puhalventhan and himself, were recently moved to a safehouse in Manthoddam, an SLA controlled area in Amparai, for instigating violence between Tamil and Muslim communities. Sinhala villagers had protested to their presence in the village. A buddhist monk and a Sri Lankan Military official convinced the villagers and arranged another safe house in the area, he added. Athaulla's close associate, Fowzer, was in regular communication with Iniyabarathy, the cadres claimed. Fowzer was also helping the group to secure a safe house at Pachchilaipalli in Akkaraipattu and to establish direct links between Athaulla and Iniyabarathy, cadres further said. "Creating dissension between the Muslims and the Tigers was key to succesful survival of the Karuna Group," Iniyabarathy had repeatedly told his cadres, Gnanatheepan said. Iniyabarathy communicated with Douglas Devananda every morning, he said adding that Devananda had gifted a computer to Iniyabarathy. The surrendered cadres also said that journalist Nadesan was shot and killed by Iniyabarathy. A direct meeting took place between Sri Lanka Minister Maitripala Sirisena and Mangalan master at Thivuchenai in Welikanda, prior to the recent presidential elections, Gnanatheepan said. Sirisena, according to Gnanatheepan, sought help from the paramilitary to campaign for Mahinda Rajapakse in Polannaruwa and the SLA controlled areas in Batticaloa. Both the cadres were close friends and following a period when they were disturbed by their own conduct, they resolved to deal with their situation and waited for a suitable opportunity to escape from the SLA controlled area, they said. "We wanted to leave, and resolved to do it in a meaningful way," Puhalventhan added. "The opportunity arose when we were taken on a mission in the no man zone area," he added confirming that they shot and killed Iniyabarathy and three other operatives last Monday. The cadres who carefully avoided mentioning specific operations they were directly involved, told the media that they were brought to Palpody Military base in Batticaloa in Buffel RPC vehicles 3 days prior to an ambush on Tigers in Vauvunathivu on October 11 and were taken close to the border area by the Sri Lanka military. The cadres said their real names are Thurasingham Chandrakumar, 21, alias Puhalventhan (from Kaluwankerni), and Samithamby Arunkumar, 26, alias Gnanatheepan (from Vantharumoolai). Chandrakumar's two sisters were shot and killed in revenge last Wednesday by paramilitary cadres. The Tigers on Saturday conferred "Tamil National Patriot" titles to the two sisters, Mrs. Yogarasa Yogeswary, 26, and Thurairasa Vathany, 17, who were buried Saturday. Athaulla is Minister of Fisheries and Housing Development, Douglas Devananda is Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare and the leader of the paramilitary and political party EPDP, and Maithripala Sirisena is Minister of Agriculture, Environment, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development in the cabinet of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. LTTE's Political Head in Batticaloa Mr. Ilanthirayan (Marshall) and Amparai District Political Head Mr Daya Mohan were present at the press conference that began at 11:00 a.m and concluded at 12:30 p.m. CWC accuses Govt. of provoking split The CWC yesterday accused the government of searching leader Arumugam Thondaman’s Kotagala bungalow in a bid to dilute CWC influence in the estate sector and said it was moving into a closer alliance with both the UPF and the TNA. The CWC already in turmoil after four of its MP’s decided to support the Rajapakse government and the withdrawal of Mr. Thondaman’s security, was planning a broad alliance with the Upcountry People’s Front as a means of consolidating its influence in the estate sector. Mr. Thondaman who returned from India last evening held discussions with UPF leader P. Chandrasekaran on forming an alliance between the two parties as a means of offsetting any Government moves to undermine Mr. Thondaman’s authority in the plantation sector after four CWC members were enticed to support the Government. CWC MP’s M.S Sellasamy, P. Jegatheeswaran, Vadivel Suresh and P. Puthrasigamani had earlier announced their support for the Government signalling an imminent split within the CWC ranks. “Breaking up a minority party will not bode well. We have been striving to live in harmony with all communities but by endeavouring to get some MP’s crossover to their side the Government is seeking to make us appear to be of no consequence” , a CWC source said. Political sources revealed the CWC has moved to suspend the Badulla District MP Vadivel Suresh and launch a full scale inquiry shortly. CWC sources said the searching of Mr. Thondaman’s residence was unjustified and full action would be taken to ensure that no such pressure will be applied by the Government. “If misappropriation of any kind has taken place then that had be dealt according to the law. We will get the assistance of the law to secure our position”, a CWC activist told the Daily Mirror adding that political harassment or manoeuvres of this sort will not lessen our resolve in any way. Meanwhile the Daily Mirror learns that the CWC will hand over the entire CWC to the UPF if the government attempts to arrest Mr. Thondaman and take over the estate sector Trade Unions with the help of some Tamil Trade Unionists. Mr. Chandrasekaran is a pro LTTE Trade Union leader in the estate sector and had a series of meetings with the LTTE even before the recently concluded Presidential Elections. It is learnt that if the CWC continues to feel coerced it is bound to declare its unconditional support to the TNA. Prelates willing to grant reasonable rights of N-E Tamils, says Dew The Most Ven. Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Maha Vihara chapters have expressed willingness to grant reasonable and legitimate rights of Tamils in the North and East, said Constitutional Reforms and National Integration Minister D. E. W. Gunasekera. The prelates agreeing to this could be treated as having solved 50 per cent of the Government's efforts to find a solution to the ethnic issue, Gunasekera told the opening of the 'Peace Brigade - Inter Provincial Investment and Trade Exhibition 2005' at Queens Hotel, Kandy. The Minister said, President Mahinda Rajapakse had instructed him to consult religious dignitaries in the South and all political parties on feasibilities of ending the war and achieving honourable peace acceptable to all. Gunasekera said he first consulted the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter and Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkhitha Ratanapala Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Maha Vihara Chapter. The Minister said he had talks with them in Kandy and the Mahanayake Theras agreed that all legitimate and reasonable rights of Tamils in the North and East should be granted to find a solution to the ethnic conflict. The prelates agreeing to that could be treated as having completed 50 per cent of the government's efforts to find a solution to the ethnic issue. It was a significant victory. Political parties and their leaders must be consulted their views and approval must be obtained now. Mahinda, CBK clashes continue The tug-o-war between President Mahinda Rajapakse and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga is continuing over the filling of the national list vacancy following the killing of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. Addressing an SLFP office bearer’s meeting at President’s House yesterday, President Rajapakse insisted that his close confidant Dallas Alahaperuma should fill the vacancy. But Ms. Kumaratunga has overruled it saying either Reginold Cooray or Chandana Kaththriarachchi should be appointed taking into consideration their seniority, sources told the Daily Mirror. Making a strong case in favour of Mr. Alahapperuma, the President insisted that though Mr. Allahapperuma had been out of the country for some time, he had done a lot of work for the SLFP, hence he deserved the position. Ms. Kumaratunga who is still the party leader also complained to President Rajapkse that she was not given fair media coverage and her version of the story was often distorted. She alleged the media were not acting in a responsible manner. Of late the media has gone to town criticizing Ms. Kumaratunga’s request for a large staff of 260, some 36 vehicles and four bullet proof cars saying she was being over-indulged with unprecedented facilities that no other President had ever got after stepping down from office. Moreover, conflicting reports had also emerged over a mansion Ms. Kumaratunga had reportedly purchased in England but this was vehemently denied by the former President. President Rajapakse assured Ms. Kumaratunga she would be given fair publicity saying he would be available at any time, in case of any such complaints. In view of the upcoming local government election, a nomination board was set up comprising President Rajapkse, Ms. Kumaratunga, Ministers DM Jayaratne, Maithripala Sirisena, Susil Premajayantha, Mangala Samaraweera and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana. 12 December 2005 Govt. agrees for talks with LTTE abroad The government has agreed to hold talks with the LTTE at an overseas venue to review the Ceasefire Agreement, thus stepping down from its earlier stand to meet only in Sri Lanka. President Mahinda Rajapakse expressed his government’s change of stand at a meeting with visiting Japanese special envoy Yasushi Akashi. Addressing journalists in Colombo yesterday, Mr. Akashi said Japan had offered to host the talks and was awaiting a response from the government and the LTTE. Talks aimed at reviewing the ceasefire did not get off the ground after the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga insisted to meet the LTTE only at a venue in Sri Lanka while the LTTE had pushed for a venue overseas. Mr. Akashi, who was winding up a 4 day visit to Sri Lanka, noted the stability of the ceasefire was fast failing but stressed it was not in a “hopeless state”. Condemning the recent incidents in the North and East Mr. Akashi said they had caused a major challenge to the stability of the ceasefire. He said if the situation was not arrested soon, the situation would reach dangerous levels. “Sri Lanka is entering a new phase in the peace process and President Rajapakse is giving his utmost priority by formulating a comprehensive approach and not a partial approach. The government has attached its greatest importance to the ceasefire agreement, its operation and implementation,” he said. The Japanese envoy meanwhile commended the efforts of the Norwegian facilitators saying his country had a “high regard” for Oslo for its impartiality. Commenting on the functions of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Mr. Akashi said the government was only keen on changing the chairmanship of the mission which was headed by Norway. Asked if he foresaw Japan playing a future role in the SLMM, Mr. Akashi responded in the negative adding that the current monitoring team was doing a good job. Mr. Akashi said the four co-chairs which are due to meet on December 19, would take stock of the current situation in Sri Lanka and determine the role they could play to strengthen the fragile peace process. Japan ready to host Sri Lanka truce talks Japan on Sunday said it was “ready to host” direct negotiations between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to review the ceasefire agreement (CFA), which has been in force since 2002. Tokyo’s offer follows a change in the Government’s previous position that the CFA review talks should be held in Sri Lanka. “The Government told me that it is willing to have negotiations outside the country, preferably in Asia,” the visiting Japanese special representative, Yasushi Akashi told a press conference on Sunday evening. The Sri Lankan Government’s call for a review of the operational aspects CFA over the past few months, ran into a deadlock as Colombo and the Tigers differed on the venue. While the Government wanted the talks to be held in Government-controlled Sri Lanka, the LTTE had insisted that the talks be held either in rebel-held territory or abroad. A compromise solution proposed by Norway to hold the talks at the international airport was rejected by the Tigers. Akashi, who is Japan’s Representative for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, described the situation for peace and stability in Sri Lanka as “deteriorating” and said it was “cause for considerable concern.” The new Government under the Mahinda Rajapakse Presidency was giving “highest priority” to the peace process and Colombo was “formulating a comprehensive approach” for a solution to the ethnic conflict, he said. In addition to his meeting with Rajapakse, the special envoy discussed the current situation with a cross section of Sri Lanka’s political leadership and NGO representatives. However, he did not meet the LTTE. “I have decided to comply with the wishes of the [Sri Lankan] Government which is engaged in a very comprehensive review of the situation of peace,” Akashi said. Muslim delegation a must for peace talks - Akashi Special Japanese peace envoy on Sri Lanka’s peace process, Yasushi Akashi says a Muslim representation as a third party is compulsory in future peace negotiations. He asserted this when he met Muslim delegates during a visit to Kalmunai today. He pointed out that the Muslim participation in peace talks has been acknowledged by the Tokyo declaration as well. Switzerland’s condemnations on the attacks of soldiers and civilians The full text of the statement issued by the Switzerland Embassy in Colombo is given below: The Embassy of Switzerland strongly condemns the attacks on soldiers and civilians in the North and East of Sri Lanka, in which more than twenty soldiers and civilians have reportedly been killed during the last week, and exhorts the parties to strictly respect the ceasefire. The Embassy of Switzerland was shocked to learn of two attacks in Jaffna, in which 14 soldiers were killed. In the attack on Tuesday on a tractor that caused the deaths of seven soldiers and wounded several others a vehicle of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation was damaged. None of the four persons in the car was hurt. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will continue with its post conflict and post tsunami school rehabilitation programmes in the Jaffna Peninsula, while the security situation is permanently assessed. The Embassy of Switzerland strongly condemns the attacks on soldiers and civilians, in which more than twenty soldiers and civilians have reportedly been killed. It offers its deepest sympathies to the families and nearest ones of the deceased. The Embassy of Switzerland is concerned about the increasing violence in the North and East and calls upon the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka to strictly uphold the Ceasefire Agreement and commence talks as soon as possible. SLA demands people in Jaffna to remove their fences The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) is forcing people living on
the main roads in Jaffna to reduce the height of the fences surrounding
their homes by half for security purposes. The SLA is enforcing this regulation
so they can watch over all activity from their security posts on the road.
SLA has said they are doing it due to recent attacks on SLA personnel.
People have began cutting thatch fences, but are expressing anxiety about how they will cut down the cement fences. The SLA is ordering people to cut fences on Jaffna-Palaly Road, Jaffna-Point Pedro Road and Jaffna-K. K. S. Road, which are the main roads of Jaffna. Cyclone havoc in Jaffna MORE than 2,000 civilians have been displaced and several areas of fertile agricultural lands have been affected when the cyclone 'Fanoos' passed by the Jaffna peninsula on Saturday, Jaffna Government Secretariat sources said. According to sources cyclone 'Fanoos' was expected to cross the peninsula in full force. However, it only touched the coastal areas and went up towards the South Indian region. Heavy showers were experienced in the Jaffna peninsula with severe gales from Friday evening. Coastal areas of Kurunagar, Navanthurai, Passaiyoor, Colombothurai and Pommaiveli in the Peninsula have been badly affected with seawater entering the houses of fisherfolk. A large number of fishing boats and engines have also been damaged, sources said. The tragedy struck one year after the massive tsunami disaster which displaced hundreds of thousands from their habitats in the peninsula. Arrangements have been made by the Government Agent of Jaffna K. Ganesh to provide cooked meals for the displaced civilians who have found shelters in churches, schools and temples in the Peninsula. Sources also said that army personnel manning several sentry points along the coastal areas in the region were also forced to return to their barracks as seawater entered into their sentries. The thunder storm has also devastated several hundred acres of plantain cultivations in the Jaffna mainland. Ganesh held special meetings with the Divisional Secretaries in the peninsula to assess the situation, sources said. Vadamarachchi was also affected by the cyclone. 'Now wimal Werawansa and Rathana thera can go to war' - Hemakumara 'Before the election, the Freedom Alliance did not talk of war. It talked about an honorable peace. But 17 soldiers have been killed in Jaffna. Now they are talking about war. What has JVP's Weerawansa got to say now ? We will make him a four star General. He can join the Army and wage a war. However because of his beard, he is more suited to the Navy' UNP parliamentarian Hemakumara Nanayakkara told a media briefing in Colombo today. 'Hela Urumaya's Rathana thera should disrobe himself and go to war as did by Therapuththabaya thera during the King Dutugemunu's period. He can put the robe back after returning from the battlefield. Without sacrificing innocent youth, I urge these cardboard heroes to go to war' Nanayakkara added. Indian Admiral here for joint exercise CHIEF of the Eastern Naval Command of India Vice Admiral Suresh Mehta will arrive in Colombo today to take part in the joint naval exercise of Indian and Sri Lankan navies. The Indian naval vessels INS Sukanya and INS Kirpan with their supporting fleet will engage in the exercise with Lankan navy vessels to strengthen the ties between the two navies and the countries. Vice Admiral Mehta who will be accompanied by his wife Maria Teresa assumed the command of the premier Eastern Naval command of the Indian Navy on September 30, 2005. He also held various important positions of the Indian Navy such as Assistant Controller of Carrier Projects, Assistant Chief of Personnel and Director General Coast Guard. He is credited for the service he rendered by commencing aircraft acquisition programmes, constructing air defence ships and establishing a strong, vibrant and visible Indian Coast Guard. The joint exercise will continue till December 16. Will Chandrika be fired from SLFP leadership ? A senior vice president of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party told Lanka e News that a decision would be taken at tomorrow's office bearers' meeting whether Chandrika Kumaratunga should be retained as party leader or not. All key decisions of the SLFP on policy matters are first
taken at this office bearers' meeting, he pointed out. It is also expected that Dulles Alahapperuma will be nominated for the vacant national list MP’s post at his meeting. The former President who initially opposed the appointment is now said to have reversed her decision. Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa is reportedly in a spot of bother over the portfolio requested by Alahapperuma. Batticaloa tsunami housing program ready by March 2006 A systematic housing development program was launched in Batticaloa district for 1,000 tsunami displaced families. This program has been implemented by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) with the financial assistance of Government of Sri lanka and German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Corporation. The NHDA provides technical assistance of this housing program and also carry out the construction work of these houses with the participation of the house-holders. This housing development programme was implemented in Kalawanchikudy, Valachenai, Kalkuda and Vaharai divisional secretariat divisions. Under this program the Government of Sri Lanka will provide Rs. 250,000 for each house and GTZ will provide building materials and the technical guidance, worth Rs. 200,000. Every house constructed under this Tsunami Disaster Housing Program will be in extent of 500 sq.ft. The special feature of this program is the building materials for houses are prepared by the house-holders at the construction site. The production of cement blocks and preparation of doors and windows frames for the houses are being carried out by selected youth from house-holder families. The training for the carpenters and masons from among these youth are provided by the GTZ through training centres set up at the work sites. So far nearly 500 masons and carpenters have been trained in the training centres during the past 2 months, says GTZ. The house-holder families have carried out their construction work while residing in their semi-permanent houses. The infrastructure facilities like water supply, electricity, latrine, roads etc. have already been provided to them. The total cost of this project is approximately Rs. 100 million. Out of this, Rs. 60 million will be provided by the Government of Sri Lanka and GTZ will provide Rs. 40 million. Most of these houses in this program have completed its preliminary construction work. It is expected to complete the construction work of these houses before March, 2006. GTZ officials said the Batticaloa Tsunami Disaster Housing Program is one of the most successful tsunami programs in Sri Lanka. Dr. Jayalath in LTTE high security zone Dr.Jayalath Jayawardane, the Rehabilitation Minister of the United National Front government last day (9) visited LTTE held areas in Mullaitivu and attended several opening ceremonies with LTTE leaders. Dr. Jayawardane who visited Tiger controlled areas amidst mounting tension in the North in the wake of the killing of army personnel, was accorded a warm welcome by LTTE Executive Director on Public Relations, Lawrence Thilagar. Commenting on his visit, Dr.Jayawardaane told 'Lanka e News' he proceeded to Tiger held areas from Omanthai, despite been warned by security force officers not to visit Mulliativu as they could not guarantee his safety. Dr. Jayawardane said he took part in the opening of an indoor stadium and a pre school at Muhamalai, Mullaitive for which he had laid the foundation stone some four months ago. The project has been funded by a German NGO 'Peace Village' and the Asian-German Sport Exchange Program. Dr. Jayawardne said he was the only Sinhalese to be invited to the opening ceremony and added he also declared open a teacher training funded by German Voluntary Organization 'the ABC Foundation'. SB to get Presidential pardon? President Mahinda Rajapakse is likely to grant pardon to jailed UNP frontliner S.B.Dissanayake who had been sentenced to two years for contempt of court. A Presidential source said though the President could pardon Mr. Dissanayake by virtue of his executive powers, President Rajapakse was likely to consult the Supreme Court before deciding on the matter. Mr. Dissanayake was sentenced to jail on December 08 last year by a bench of five Supreme Court judges chaired by the Chief justice, Sarath N. Silva. Prisons Commissioner General Rumi Marzook said the term of Mr. Dissanayake’s imprisonment would expire between April 10 and 15 next year. Several opposition party parliamentians had reportedly requested President Rajapakse to grant pardon to Mr. Dissanayake before his prison term ends. 526,629 students for G.C.E. ‘O’ Level The G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examinations will commence today at 3,911 countrywide examination centres with 526,629 students and private candidates sitting for the exam. Commissioner General of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe told the Daily Mirror yesterday, that candidates without identity cards could sit for the exam today by producing their admission cards. Mr.Edirisinghe, however, said that a certified photo from the school Principal and Zonal Education Director should be produced within next two or three days, to be permitted to sit for the exam. Private candidates without national identity cards should get a photo certified by Gramaseva Niladhari, Divisional Secretary and the Zonal Education Director in their respective areas. He said that all the arrangements are in place to conduct the exam. The exams will continue till December 22. The Commissioner General requests that candidates to refrain from attempting to cheat at the exam. He warned that a life-time exam ban could be imposed on candidates found guilty of cheating. Exam malpractices could be reported to the Exam Department hotline 2786214 this time. “We have already received 13 complaints regarding attempts of impersonation and are now vigilant about them,” Mr. Edirisinghe said. Special squads would be deployed from tomorrow in areas like Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Kalmunai and other areas where such cases were reported. Asked about the exam activities in the North-East, he said a separate exam centres had been arranged for candidates at Muttur and Thopur areas because of recent unrest in those areas. Security forces cordon, search Mandaitivu Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers and Sri Lanka Police cordoned
and searched large areas of Mandaitivu, an islet located south west of
Jaffna town, from 9 a.m. and 12 noon Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. Residents also said that they have seen a marked increase in harassment of the locals by the SLN in recent days. 11 December 2005 Policeman killed, LTTE cadre abducted from Vavuniya Hospital Unidentified gunmen shot and killed an armed policeman
inside the Vavuniya Hospital premises and abucted Ms Gunaratnam Puveneswari
who was undergoing treatment at the hospital under police custody. The
incident took place around 2:45 p.m. Sunday at ward no 1. A policeman
was shot and killed at the entrance to the ward while four unarmed policemen
were guarding the patient inside the ward, police said. Puvaneswari, who
took cyanide when Sri Lanka Navy arrested her with four others on board
in a boat in Mannar sea last Tuesday, was taken away by the men who entered
the ward. Following this, few unidentified men entered the ward through backdoor, ordered the remaining policemen to leave the site, took command of the patient, lifted her over the walls of the hospital and fled the site in a van, police said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) solders and Special Task Force (STF) soldiers were rushed to the site soon after the incident. The Vavuniya District Judge, Mr.M. Ilanchelian who visited the site has ordered the police to conduct investigations into the incident, sources said. Massive explosions hit fuel depot north of London A series of massive explosions were reported at a fuel depot north of London by police and witnesses early on Sunday. "There was an explosion in the vicinity of Buncefield depot at about 0604 GMT, a Hertfordshire police spokeswoman said. "We have got no figure for casualties. Obviously we are at the scene but it is difficult to gauge because of all the smoke," she said. Mike Carlish, who lives less than 4 km (3 miles) from the Buncefield depot, near the commuter town of Hemel Hempstead, said he had been woken by a "blinding white flash" that had been powerful enough to knock the plaster off the ceiling in his house a little after 0600 GMT. "Smoke is spiralling over 200 feet into the air. It is not under control," he told Reuters by telephone. Carlish said people lived within two miles of the depot, closer than him. He said police had closed the nearby M1 motorway in both directions. Another witness, identified only as Heather, said she heard a loud blast near Hemel Hempstead and could see sheets of flame soaring into the sky. "There is a fuel depot nearby," she told BBC Television. "There are lots of houses damaged." A Reuters witness said the blast was heard as far away as northwest London, 40 km (25 miles) away. Petrol and fuel oils for a large part of south-east England are traded through the Buncefield Oil Terminal near the Hemel Hempstead M1 motorway junction. An underground pipeline brings the oil directly from tankers unloading at Canvey Island. Mahinda wants talks on final solution President Mahinda Rajapakse last week informed the Co-Chairs to Sri Lanka's peace process that his government will commence negotiations with the LTTE not for an interim arrangement but a framework for a final solution. The President met with the representatives of the Co-Chairs, US Ambassador Jeffrey Lunstead, British High Commissioner Stephen Evans representing the EU as its president, Japanese Ambassador Akio Suda and Norway's Ambassador Hans Brattskar on Wednesday, December 7 at Temple Trees. Associated with the President were Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Secretary S. Palihakkara and Peace Secretariat Chief John Gooneratne. The President told the Co-Chairs, once a framework for a final solution is reached, the government would agree to a time-frame for its implementation. The Co-Chairs were also told that once the framework of a final solution is finalised and a time frame for implementation worked out, the government was prepared to consider a temporary arrangement for the interim period. The President had also told the Co-Chairs he was hopeful a southern consensus on a framework for a final solution could be reached within three to four months. The government has also indicated it wants a new beginning to the peace process, ruling out any prospect of commencing negotiations on the LTTE's ISGA proposals. Meanwhile a Co-Chairs meeting in Brussels is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 19 in Brussels to discuss Sri Lanka's peace process and Norway's role as facilitator. Indian envoy meets
Mahinda No details of the hour-long meeting were available with an high commission spokesman declining to make any comment. "We don’t usually comment on such meetings,’’ he said. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President was associated with Rajapakse at the meeting. Explosion in EPDP
office in Trincomalee The police say that they will be awaiting a report from the Government Analyst before arriving at a final conclusion Four EPDP members including Trincomalee District Leader Andrw Pulogaraja were injured. Pulogaraja was later transferred to the Colombo National Hospital while the others are receiving treatment in the Trincomalee hospital. In the past the EPDP has blamed Tamil Tigers for attacking them, however in this incident EPDP member within the premises said that they did not see any thing suspicious. Two youths shot dead in Valaichenai Unidentified gunmen Friday night shot and killed two Tamil youths in Kiran, 4 km south of Valaichenai. The vicitms were abducted from their houses on Kali Kovil Road around 9:30 p.m. Friday by the gunmen who wanted to "interrogate" the youths for having contacts with the Liberation Tigers, residents said. Valaichenai Police recovered the dead bodies Saturday morning. The victims were identified Jeeva Chandrasegaran, 25, and Sasikumar Krishnapillai,31, police said. Police recovered Jeeva's body on Kiran Road and Sasiskumar's body on Vishnu Temple Road around 10:00 a.m. Saturday. The bodies are kept in the Valaichenai Hospital mortuary. Valaichenai Police is conducting investigations into the killings.Kiran is located 25 km north of Batticaloa town. India-Sri Lanka naval exercise A joint naval exercise held by Navies of India and Sri Lanka will commence tomorrow. Steps have been taken to hold the exercise on five days. Naval crafts and helicopters from India as well as Sri Lanka will be used in the exercise. The aim of the exercise is to halt smuggling activities, transport of arms and other illegal activities. Commander of Eastern Command of the Indian Navy is due to arrive in Sri Lanka to monitor the exercise. Fanoos leaves thousands homeless in Jaffna Effects of cyclonic storm Fanoos which passed throught
Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry coast was felt in Jaffna district, as hurricane
force winds and heavy rains belted Jaffna distric from Friday night leaving
thousands displaced in Vadamaradchy north and east. The storm weakened
into a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal on Saturday morning,
according to weather center in Tamil Nadu. Several coconut and Palmyrah trees also have been felled
by the hurricane force winds, residents said. Sri Lankan family lives in fear of deportation- Belfast Telegraph SRI Lankan family members who were forced to flee their homeland and sought refuge in Northern Ireland are living in dread of being deported. The Somasundrams are desperately appealing to the Government to let them stay after a son was murdered and other family members brutally treated by Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan army. Their local community in Belfast is campaigning for them to be allowed to remain in Northern Ireland. Somasundram Pan Dara Nagarasa (Soma), his wife and three remaining children have been refused asylum after a number of appeals since they arrived in September 2001. They are now awaiting the results of a final appeal regarding their eldest daughter, Sujatha. A campaign organised by churches, other faith groups, charities, local politicians and friends of the family has gathered over 3,000 signatures in support. Hundreds of letters have been written to various home secretaries and ministers and the support group iscalling upon the Government to grant the family indefinite leave to remain in Northern Ireland on compassionate and humanitarian grounds, but despite everything the family has been told to prepare to return to Sri Lanka. During their time in Northern Ireland, the family have integrated into the local community in Belfadt's Ormeau Road area. "We worry about what will happen if we are forced to return," said Soma, "We worry about intimidation and brutal treatment starting over again and we have no life to return to. "We are hearing reports on television of the Tamil Tigers becoming strong again, and there is unrest between them and the military which we also fear." The area that the family came from is struggling to recover from the tsunami which hit last year. More information on the family's appeal can be found at www.somasundram.net Akashi visits Amparai Mr. Yasushi Akashi, representative of the Government
of Japan for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri
Lanka, arrived Saturday morning in Amparai and held separate meetings
with Muslim, Sinhala and Tamil delegations comprising of civil society
members, sources in Amparai said. Following this meeting Akashi met with about ten Sinhala representatives led Grindawela Somaratne at 1.00 p.m. at the Gal Oya rest house premises. Mr Akashi then had discussions with a six member Tamil group led by Assistant Director of Education Mr Sahadeva between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m., slurces said. At the conclusion of the meetings Mr Akashi said: "Japan will work assiduously to help all three communities to live in peace." Earlier, talking to the Muslim representatives, Akashi said, "We regret the violent incidents happening in the east and will increase our focus to the eastern region. In our peace efforts we will ensure that the welfare and security of the Muslim community is given due prominence. We are studying in depth the issues and problems affecting all communities and exploring ways to formulate peace plans that will help all communities."
Four senior members of the CWC have decided to quit the Congress and join the government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse. The senior members of parliament who are to cross over are two national list MPs and two elected members from Nuwara Eliya and Badulla respectively. The intention to join the government by the four members was aired at a meeting chaired by Badulla District MP, Muthu Sivalingam last Wednesday in the absence of CWC Leader Armugam Thondaman who is away in India. The Sunday Leader learns there is growing opinion among some members of the CWC who are under investigation for misappropriation of state property to join the government. The members it is learnt are awaiting the arrival of Thondaman to discuss the issue. According to CWC sources the meeting is expected to take place tomorrow after Thondaman arrives in the country. He is scheduled to arrive today. Meanwhile highly placed sources told The Sunday Leader that Thondaman himself has expressed his desire to join the government to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Thondaman who met Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in India had even volunteered to give in writing that he would support Mahinda Rajapakse. But when this was conveyed to the President subsequently, the President had informed Samaraweera that under no circumstances could a portfolio be given to Thondaman. "He can join the government. But no posts and positions," the President had told Samaraweera. Speaking to The Sunday Leader national list MP, Sigamany confirmed the intention of the congress to join the government but denied reports there were attempts by some in the party to divide the Congress and then join the government. "We understand there is a need to join the government in order to help our community. But not at the expense of splitting the Congress. The CWC is of the opinion that it should work with the government," he said. He said he and the others would discuss with Thonda-man the modalities to work with the government once Thondaman returned to the island today. CID to interrogate Mannar suspects in Colombo Mannar Magistrate Thursday agreed to an application by
Police to send the five Tamil persons arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN)
on Tuesday evening to Colombo for further investigation by the Criminal
Investigation Department (CID). The five, including two women, were arrested
in Pallimunai Sea in Mannar district when they were traveling in a boat,
legal sources said. Other four suspects Arumugam Jeyanthan, Kanthasamy Paheerathan, Antony Sahayanathan and Sivagnanatham Sanjini alias Mathi are in remand in Anuradhapura prison, legal sources said. Suspects were not produced in Mannar court Thursday when the police application for transferring them to Colombo CID was taken up for inquiry, legal sources said. According to Police authorities the suspects are LTTE cadres. However, the wife of one suspect Antony Sahayanathan has made a complaint to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Mannar that her husband was a cultivator and a resident of Mulankavil. “Right to Self-detrmination contributes to global peace” Excerpts from the keynote address delivered by Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan, Head of the LTTE Political Division today, 10 December 2005 in the International Human Rights Day celebrations under the auspices of the NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) held at the Cultural Hall Auditorium in Kilinochchi: “The Tamil liberation struggle for our right to self -determination evolved as a protest against the undemocratic genocidal pattern of governance of the Tamil Nation by successive governments of Sri Lanka from the time the island became independent of colonial rule. Being alienated in power sharing, the Tamil people were motivated to decide for themselves their political destiny through the liberation struggle. Passive and democratic non-violent protests against injustice and discrimination were responded with military oppression, paving way to an armed struggle in the early seventies. The Tamil people have today risen up in unison under a national leadership asserting their distinct identity as a Nation that respects noble human right values and cherish their valued culture and tradition. The concept of self-determination enshrined in the UN Human Rights Charter and other Covenants speaks about the right to life of a distinct nation of people. It is important to have a clear understanding of both, the international and regional laws relating to human rights and how they impact upon our liberation struggle for political rights. Human Rights factor is an impacting element today in international relations. Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism, global warming and connected environmental hazards, widespread epidemic of diseases like AIDS and worldwide poverty can be listed as the serious international problems of the century. Human Rights however tops the agenda in international discussions at the level of Heads of States, United Nations and other International Non-Governmental Organisations. Former UN representative for the United States of America Late Adlai Stevenson said “Human Rights is the focal point of what we are doing and what we are endeavouring to do”. Human Rights is the subject that consumes most of the time of Heads of States and diplomats participating in the UN Assembly and international political conferences. Matters related to Human Rights are not confined to the UN’s Human Rights Commission or its sub-committees rather it extends to the General Assembly and the Security Council. World peace and Human Rights are the two main goals of the August Assembly and hence the importance of Human Rights needs no elaboration. The subject of Human Rights has taken an important position in the international arena for many reasons. Significant among these reasons is the totally changed international political scenario consequent to the terrorist attack of September 11 on the United States and the consequent war against terrorism. Laws enacted to achieve this are seemingly in violation of internationally accepted norms of human rights and have become the subject of criticism in the UN and many other international organisations. In a Tamil perspective, this has provided an opportunity to the government of Sri Lanka to portray our struggle for self-determination as terrorism in the international forums. Another reason that has given the pride of place to Human Rights in international arena is the nation states making use of this as a handy instrument to put forward their stakes. Painful though, ground realities on the application of human rights seem to be of double standards, deviating from justice and fair play in many instances. To expose the violation of our human rights by Sinhala regimes, we need to clearly understand the West European concepts on human rights and the application of international laws on human rights in the context of our liberation struggle. The concepts of today’s international human rights were given shape in the 18th century by thinkers John Lock, Ruso and the like. They emphasised the norms of Natural Rights and Inalienable Rights for every individual. These rights relate to individual right to life and live with liberty. These are rights that are not conferred on man by a government or any other entity rather they are inherent. Today’s international human rights laws are the end products of the gradual evolution and Codification of laws borne out of the Natural and Inalienable Rights. In this context, Self-determination is not just an empty political rhetoric rather it relates to the collective right to life with freedom and in all respects it is a peoples’ right to live as a nation. United States of America derived inspiration from this Natural Rights concept for its declaration of independence. Right to life, Right to Identity and the Right to Homeland form the basic concept of the Hierarchy of Human Rights. Right to Identity in this context is the right to conserve one’s distinct tradition, culture, language, religion etc. Right to Homeland confers on one the right to live in a nation and call it his own where he has freedom of movement and life without foreign interference. This also includes the right to return to ones own nation wherever one happens to reside. Our right to the homeland includes individual rights such as civil, political, economic and social thereby encompassing a wholesome basic human right, i.e. Collective Rights. Inherent in this Collective Right is the right of determining one’s political status without any interference and the right to secede if need be. Today, the Tamil people are living in their homeland deprived of their right to life and the right to live freely threatened. Our homeland is under occupation by the Sinhala military and our people are denied access to their natural habitats and forced to live in refugee centres. Whenever our people express their political aspirations in demonstrations, the military intelligence personnel, in spite of a cease- fire in force, kill them at random. International Human Rights laws were formulated on the basis of man’s Natural Rights and Inalienable Rights. By International Human Rights Laws, we refer mainly to laws framed by the UN. Other laws are mostly regional. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of the UN in 1948 can be considered an important mile- stone in the history of laws relating to Human Rights. The first and the foremost of the clauses in the UDHR is that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’. Evolving consequent to this were seven important Human Rights Treaties and Treaty Bodies to monitor them. There are in addition to this over fifty treaties and declarations on Human Rights. Important among these are the Geneva Conventions and the Nuremberg Statute. These are the statutes that are called as the Human Rights laws today. The UN Charter too contains articles on human rights, especially on the right to self-determination. Let us now look at the various provisions contained in the international human rights laws and the UN Charter justifying our liberation struggle and how successive Sinhala governments have blatantly violated them. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant of Economical, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) are the two important covenants that vouchsafe our basic human rights and the right to self-determination. More important are the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Charter, the latter containing very important provisions on self-determination. Article 1 of the ICCPR defines the right of all peoples for self-determination. In terms of this Article, all peoples have the right to determine their political status and upgrade their social economic, social and cultural affairs independently. Article 1 (3) stipulates that member states shall promote the realisation of the right of self-determination and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the UN Charter. Sri Lanka is a party to this covenant, but successive governments including the incumbent regime have refused to accept the Tamil peoples’ right to self-determination. This is denial of basic rights of the Tamil people. The concept of self-determination was included in the UN Charter in 1945. Chapter I, Art 1 (2) refers to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace. Chapter IX, Article 55 further elaborates on creation of conditions of stability and well being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self -determination of peoples. Successive governments of Sri Lanka continue to militarily oppress the Tamil people from the time they started their struggle to win back lost rights through democratic means up to date. Killings and aggression let loose on the Tamil homeland by state terrorism have deprived the Tamil people of their Natural right to live with freedom. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of December 9, 1948, Article 2 , states inter alias, killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group falls under genocide. Accordingly, the destructive activities of the Sinhala regimes are clearly genocidal. Statutes enacted by the governments in Sri Lanka impacting on our education, economic and cultural activities are clear violations of the various articles of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). These notwithstanding, mass killings of Tamil people, orchestrated communal pogroms, Sexual molestations, disappearances, mass graves, extra judicial killings, detention without trial for indefinite periods of youths, torture and inhuman treatment while in detention violates the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination and Genocide Convention. The Bindunuwewa Detention Centre massacre that was exposed to the world is an indicator to the extent to which Tamil youths suffer in the hands of the Sinhala state and its law enforcement authorities. Nuremberg Statute Article 6 (b) defines expulsion forcibly of people from their habitat as a war crime. Article 6 (c) further includes acts of violence against people before or during war as Crimes against humanity. State aided Sinhala colonisations in the East evicting Tamil people from their ancestral habitats and denying access to the inhabitants in the North of areas that are forcibly held by the military as High Security Zones are blatant violations of this article and are serious war crimes. The Sri Lankan government forces have killed several thousands of Tamil people by indiscriminate aerial bombing and shelling. International organisations have documented these atrocities, but to the dismay of the Tamil people the government of Sri Lanka has not been tasked for its Crimes against Humanity. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and violence perpetrated on the Tamil people during periods declared as ‘Emergency’ are clear violations of articles in ICCPR and ICESCR. No enquiry or effective investigation has been undertaken yet relative to the disappearance of hundreds of Tamil youths in Jaffna immediately after the military occupied the peninsula. The Tamil people feel hurt over the fact that the international community has so far not taken any steps to task the government of Sri Lanka for the mass graves in Chemmani and other places in the Jaffna peninsula. It is the armed violence of the state; its terroristic acts against the Tamil people that made the Tamil people resolve to take up arms against that military oppression. The freedom struggle of the Tamil people under the leadership and guidance of the National Leader has assumed conventional proportions. About 18,000 youths have sacrificed their lives to safeguard the Tamil people from genocide. This sacrifice is the supreme price our people paid for their freedom. While in the struggle for freedom, our leadership is keen in maintaining standards of human rights adherence respecting international human rights laws. Whenever charges are levelled against us for human right violations, we face it with transparency, inviting international organisations to conduct independent enquiries. Allegations continue on the premises of recruiting children. We continue to explain the ground realities pertaining to the children who lost parents in the war and are interacting with Unicef and other relevant agencies. Data and statistics relating to the truth or otherwise of the allegations are provided to the Unicef periodically and the process of dialogue is ongoing in this matter. Our invitation to Unicef and related agencies in this matter is always open for them to institute effective realistic enquiry proceedings into the allegations. We had discussions with the Secretary General of the Amnesty International during last week and invited AI to conduct an independent survey. Our engagement with UN agencies, ICRC and other international organisations for human rights is a process in continuity and the number of joint projects we are working with such agencies is an indicator to the transparency with which we work on this issue. During the peace negotiations too, we had discussions with international human rights organisations and put forward plans for development of human right activities. Article 4 of the proposals we submitted for the formulation of an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) for NorthEast demonstrates our commitment for human rights. We strictly adhered to the norms of the Geneva Convention in treating prisoners of war, demonstrating our commitment to human rights even during the height of war. Many international humanitarian agencies are working in the liberated areas of the Tamil homeland independently without let or hindrance. Our co-operation is always there in place for them to investigate any complaints to ascertain the truth independently. While commemorating the International Human Rights Day today, let us for a moment think of the hundreds of thousands of our brethren killed by state terrorism and the hundreds of youths who disappeared overnight. Let us resolve to be united in achieving the right to our homeland on the basis of self- determination, our homeland where we would cherish our human rights. Let us unite to win the rights to live as dignified citizens with lofty national and cultural traditions and pride ourselves in the same way citizens in the western world are proud of their values.” 10 December 2005 Cyclone ‘Fanoos’ closer to Trinco Cyclone ‘Fanoos’ in the Bay of Bengal was on Thursday closer to Trincomalee, about 600 kilometres North – East and moving westward, K. D. Sujeewa, Meteorologist of the Meteorology Department told The Island. The Met Department storm warning to the fishing community and Navy remained effective. ‘Fanoos’ will churn the Indian ocean and the coast from Jaffna to Batticaloa, via Trincomalee, will experience very rough conditions, strong winds and intermittent rain or thundershowers the, Met Department spokesman said. Inter-Monsoonal conditions will continue. "There will be showers or thundershowers at a few places in the Northern, Eastern and Uva provinces. Thundershowers will also develop in the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces during the afternoon or night," he said. Hartal paralyses
Trincomalee RG Dharmadasa, Lakbima correspondent in Trincomalee told BBC Sandeshaya (bbcsinhala.com) that the hospital, courts and the district administrative office were also paralysed due to lack of staff. The organisation has distributed leaflets on Thursday evening urging the Tamils to observe the Hartal protesting “against the human rights abuses by the Sri Lanka security forces and pro-government paramilitaries”. They also urged the authorities to remove extra security personnel from the north and the east. However, the Sinhala Organisation of the North and East accused the Tamil Tigers of forcefully organising the Hartal. The organisation said the LTTE is “harassing the public and the security forces using pseudo names.” Violence increased in the eastern Sri Lanka since former senior LTTE leader Karuna defected last year. Jaffna tense, Forces on alert Lanka E News special correspondent in Jaffna Jaffna town is reportedly on a war footing amidst assassinations of Army personnel and protests held by students and residents of high security zones demanding the withdrawal of the Army. Our special correspondent said armed soldiers are patrolling public places and busy junctions in Jaffna town. Students of Hartley college and Jaffna Technical College
and people who own lands in high security zones held a protest burning
tyres at the Technical junction and along the Palali road yesterday. Our
reporter said they put up road blocks and closed roads by parking vehicles
across the roads. Residents in Jaffna used to frequent roads freely till
around 10.00 at night. But now the roads are deserted after 7.00 and just
walking about in Jaffna town after 7.00 has become a risky business. It
is also reported that media men are even unable to report on the activities
of the security forces. It is further reported that the situation is volatile
in Jaffna and security forces are bracing themselves for an attack from
the LTTE. The protests are led by an organization called the Jaffna
Students Union and it has warned of a non-stop protest at the conclusion
of the O/L examination on the 24th. Their main demand is the withdrawal
of security forces.
Sri Lanka's defense chief today said the military is prepared to meet any threat from the Tigers, but vowed to continue with the peace process. Speaking at press conferences attended by heads of the Army, Air Force and Police, Chief of Defence Staff Daya Sandagiri said, “All forces in the country are ready to face any terrorist challenge.” He also said that all support will be given to the government to continue with the current peace process. “If we have to decide between maintaining the ceasefire and going into an offensive, we are not thinking of the offensive,” Admiral Sandagiri said. “Though the LTTE wants to provoke us, we will not take the provocation of the terrorists.” Akashi gets no permission to visit Kilinochchi Special envoy of Japanese government Yasushi Akashi has had to cancel his tour to kilinochchi as the government of Sri Lanka has refused him access to Kilinochchi when he made a request from the Sri lanka government to go there on his arrival in the island this time. After the assassination of Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar by the Tigers Organization, the government of Sri Lanka has not given permission to any foreign ambassador or state leader to enter into uncleared areas including Kilinochchi. Only Norway representatives as the facilitator of the peace process will not have this restriction enforced on them. For this reason Yasushi Akashi will leave Sri Lanka this time without consultations with Tiger leaders. We failed in our attempt to contact him to know his reaction to this situation. Raviraj hits out at ‘pack of red jackals’ In a hard-hitting speech, TNA Parliamentarian N. Raviraj
yesterday said a war atmosphere was developing in the Jaffna peninsula
due to the actions of ‘a pack of jackals clad in red’ along
with some in robes . Colombo to build Naval base in Batticaloa Preparations by the Sri Lanka Government to set-up the
first naval base in Batticaloa district close to Eravur was revealed in
a meeting between the Police officers of the Batticaloa district, a Muslim
Minister and Muslim representatives in Eravur. The special meeting which
took place at Eravur Ummah Mosque Friday noon also discussed special security
arrangements for Muslims in Eravur. Punnaikudah beach 4 km northeast of
Saddam Hussain Village was identified as the location for the first Sri
Lankan naval base in Batticaloa district, Muslim attendees to the meeting
told TamilNet. Sri Lankan police officials said they would have a police post at each of the thirteen Mosques in Eravur, Muslim sources added. Night-patrols by Sri Lanka Army and Police would be provided as an additional security measure in and around the Muslim villages, the sources quoted police officials as saying. The annonuncement of the plan to set up a naval base together with the protective security measures to Muslims in the area, was timed to preempt protests from Muslim villages, sources added. Norwegian Premier in India to consolidate support for Sri Lanka peace process Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has arrived in New Delhi to consolidate India's support before continuing his country's facilitation of the next round of talks in the Sri Lankan peace process. The visit follows soon after Sri Lanka’s new President Mahinda Rajapaksa invited Norway to resume its role as peace facilitator. Speaking to media, Mr. Stoltenberg, said, “My visit gives me the opportunity to have direct dialogue with the Indian leadership on the Sri Lankan peace process. It is important that we agree on all matters before we proceed, and more important for India and Norway to continue their close dialogue as far as the peace process is concerned.” Mr. Stoltenberg met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today and will hold another meeting tomorrow as well. Even President cannot bring Mangala under heel A conflict has erupted between the President and Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera over the appointment of the Chairman of the Ports Authority. The extent of the conflict is evident from the Minister's complete disregard for the President's request to appoint Executive Chairman of the Ports, R.M.P.B. Wickrema as the new Chairman of the Ports Authority. Meanwhile Deputy Chairman of the Ports Authority Krishantha Deheragoda has turned down a request made by the Minister to leave his current post and take up an appointment in the Aviation Authority. Samaraweera has made request in order to appoint Wickrema for the vacant post. Despite the insistence of the President that Wickrema should be appointed Chairman of the Ports Authority, Samaraweera is making an all out effort to retain Dileepa Wijesundara as Chairman of the Ports Authority. Meanwhile as Minister Samaraweera failed to obey the request made by the President, he has issued a special circular suspending appointments of chairmen to government corporations. The circular has been circulated to all Ministries by the Presidential Secretary. SLFP trade union headed by Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra have strongly opposed to the moves to retain Wijesundara as the Chairman of the Ports Authority. Premachandra is a lose confidante of the President and serves as an advisor to him. Oslo wants to know stand of JVP and JHU The Norwegian peace facilitators yesterday stressed the importance of President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government obtaining the assurance of its allies if Oslo and the SLMM were to effectively continue their work in Sri Lanka. This was an indirect reference to the allegations levelled against Norway and the SLMM by the JVP and the JHU who supported President Rajapakse at the November 17 polls. A high level Norwegian delegation is expected to visit Sri Lanka soon to receive this assurance from President Mahinda Rajapakse before resuming the peace facilitation between the government and the LTTE. This was indicated during a meeting between the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar and LTTE political head S.P Thamilselvan in Killinochi yesterday. “The Ambassador indicated to us that a high level political delegation from Norway is to visit Sri Lanka to discuss with both the parties the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and acceptance of Norway and the SLMM by all partners within the government, ” Mr. Thamilselvan told the media after the meeting. Mr. Thamilselvan said President Rajapakse in the run up to the presidential elections had stressed the need to find a solution to the ethnic conflict only within a unitary state would have to change as the three-decade long political conflict which arose from the alienation of the Tamils could only be solved through power sharing. He said there was no necessity to review the ceasefire agreement as it was comprehensive and all-encompassing but instead what was needed was the proper implementation of the agreement. Noting that civilian unrest and rise in violence in the North was due to intensified military action carried out together with other armed groups, Mr. Thamilselvan said these groups have a political agenda based on their masters’ interests. Mr. Thamilselvan requested Norway to urgently arrange a high level meeting between the parties to effectively implement the ceasefire agreement as that alone could bring about normalcy and avoid confrontational postures between the civilians and the military. The Ambassador briefed Mr. Thamilselvan on his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government’s invitation for the continuation of Norway’s role as facilitator and his visit to New Delhi with former peace envoy and Norway’s Development Minister Erik Solheim. Mr. Brattskar said India assured it would continue its supportive and complementary role in the peace process. Meanwhile Mr. Thamilselvan told Ambassador Brattskar that the LTTE leader had received a memorandum from Muslim representatives in the East requesting intervention on alleged threats and killings in the area. “Immediate action was taken to address this issue through our District Political Heads to intensify interaction with Muslim community leaders and allay their fears. We fervently request our Muslim brethren to ignore the anonymous threats that tend to create suspicion and fear. These are machinations of mischievous elements that try to create tension between communities and we call upon our Muslim and Tamil people not to fall prey to these political manipulations by interested parties that have a vested interest and to act with restraint”, he said. Mahinda, CBK crash on vehicles In the midst of continuing differences between President Mahinda Rajapakse and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a heated exchange of words had reportedly taken place between the two when officials of the President’s office attempted to take back two state-owned vehicles used by Ms. Kumaratunga’s staff. This incident had taken place in the wake of a number of reports criticising the unusually large staff of 260 and the 32 vehicles including 4 bullet proof cars allocated to the former President on her stepping down from the presidency. The two vehicles had been assigned to the former Presidential Secretary and the Additional Secretary when Ms. Kumaratunga was in office. Ms. Kumaratunga who is now residing at the Horagolla Walauwa had arrived in Colombo for a meeting with the Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi when she came in for a rude shock on being told of the move to take back the two vehicles. An angry Ms. Kumaratunga had grabbed the phone and spoken to President’s Secretary, Lalith Weeratunga and not stopping at that she had then called President Rajapakse when the matter was finally sorted out and the vehicles once again returned to Ms. Kumaratunga’s office. Mr. Weeratunga was not available for comment yesterday but Additional Secretary D.S. Gunaratne said he was not aware as to what exactly happened but Mr. Weeratunga had told him the matter was resolved amicably. Ravaya editor challenges allocation of land to Chandrika Ravaya editor Victor Ivan has filed a petition in the Appeal court urging it to issue a Certiorari order annulling the cabinet decision that allocated a one and half acre land from Madiwela, Kotte to construct a house for former President Chandrika Kuamratunga as the decision was a violation of article 22 of the constitution and the provisions of the Land Act of 1947. The petitioner has cited ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, cabinet of Ministers and the Urban Development Authority. The Presidential Allowance Act No. 6 of 1986 has clearly laid down privileges entitled by a former President, and the Act has no reference whatsoever for an allocation of land and as such the Cabinet has exceeded its powers in donating this land to the former President, the petitioner has pointed out. He has further stated that the provision of100 member staff was also a violation of the above act. Ivan has prayed for a Certiorari order to annul the said Cabinet decision and issue notice on respondents in order to take up the petition for hearing. 09 December 2005 Tamil problems ignored from 1948 - Sampanthan R. Sampanthan TNA Parliamen-tary Group Leader opening the debate on the policy speech of President Mahinda Rajapakse said the problem of the Tamil people in the North and East has not been addressed by successive governments from 1948 onwards. All previous leaders have not been able to even solve the official language problem which has denied the Tamil people of their basic human rights. Sampanthan said that settlement of Sri Lanka people by the governments in the North and East sought to change the demograplic pattern of the North and East. Three governments sought to increase the number of Sinhalese settlers in these regions to gain political power. Tamil people were not opposed to Sinhalese settlers in the North and East on their own but were opposed to the government starting settlement schemes to settle people in these areas. He said the Tamil speaking people of the North and East had expected the resolution of the official language problem and their share in the settlement schemes initiated by the early governments but they were disappointed to find their aspirations not considered by successive governments. When for decades after independence they found their rights were not granted, the Tamil youth were compelled to take up arms against the state especially after the ethnic violence of 1983. The president has to look for a solution to the problem by negotiations so that a durable peace could be achieved. The LTTE too does not want war but are prepared to accept a political solution which would take into consideration the problems of the Tamil people of the North and East. Even if a solution within a unitary state was the aim of the President, it should ensure that Tamil people should have the rights and privileges enjoyed by the majority of the people of the country. Tamil people also love this country as their own and are looking forward to the achievement of their rights as equal citizens of the country. Colombo District UNP MP Prof. G. L. Peiris said: "We have to persuade the international community." He told the government that a step by step approach is needed. "The new government should start with confident building measures." I request President Mahinda Rajapakse not to be intimidated by labels. He also said that peace process must not appear remote and distant from the people. "I suggest way forward not through amendments. He also assured that the United National Party will not play petty politics on the peace process. Minister of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration D. E. W. Gunasekara said President’s new approach is that before discussions with the two concerned parties, he wants to share the views of other parties. We earnestly request the LTTE not to provoke the southern communities. There may be extremists in both sides. President is a person with a clear vision. He wants to see a peaceful solution. we are trying to arrive at some kind of consensus. We must go for a practical solution. Wimal Weerawansa, JVP Parliamentary Group Leader said the past Presidential election mirrored the world dichotomy of one which stood for growth and neo-Liberal policies and the other the forces that espouse social justice. That word division of political policy cannot be ignored in our last Presidential election which clearly gave a mandate to Mahinda Rajapakse who represented the indigenous social forces that sought equity as opposed to extremely capitalised and conservative forces of the world, whose policy is only the production and growth of capital. Weerawansa said that WTO conference will be held at Hong Kong on December 10 and Trade Minister Jeyraj Fernandopulle is to attend it. It should be remembered that WTO conference held at Can Kun, the former minister simply agreed to the proposals of extreme capitalist forces who represent the transnational corporations of industrialized nations who want to hold countries like ours in economic bondage. On the other hand the present Minister will not agree to any move by extreme capitalist forces to hold countries like ours to end up in economic bondage to world capital. Wimal Weerawansa said he disagreed with the TNA leader that certain extremist forces were not allowing a Federal solution to settle the problem in the North and East. The word federal was being flaunted by apologists of the LTTE. The TNA has been swallowed by the LTTE and they are allowed only to say what the LTTE wants. Though the apologists of the LTTE flaunt the word Federal they have forgat that the terrorist LTTE murdered such leaders like Neelan Thiruchelvam and Lakshman Kadirgamar who advocated Federalism. He said the so-called Sinhala extremists may be among the majority in the South, but they are unarmed and are only a small number of persons compared to the materially armed terrorist group in the North the LTTE. Norwegian envoy meets Thamilselvan today Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar will meet LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P.Thamilselvan today at the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochichi to brief him that President Mahinda Rajapakse has invited the Norwegian Government to continue its role as facilitator to the peace process. Following the recent Presidential elections, the Norwegian Government expressed its willingness to continue to facilitate the peace process if both the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE requested them to do so. Brattskar is in Jaffna 'as the Norwegian Ambassador and not as a representative of the facilitator to the peace process. 'If both parties want, Norway is willing to continue its facilitator role', a press statement from the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said referring to the Ambassador's visit to the North on December 8 and 9. 'He would not be carrying messages between the two parties in the peace process, until consultation on the future Norwegian role has taken place', the statement added. This is the first time the Norwegian Ambassador meets the LTTE Political Wing leader after two months and since the election of Rajapakse as the President. Brattskar flew to Jaffna yesterday after meeting the President and while in Jaffna, he held discussions with top officials of the Army and Armed Forces in the district along with the Government Agent, Government officials and members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The Ambassador was to due to discuss the situation in Jaffna with recent incidents since the Presidential election. The Norwegian Ambassador will go to Kilinochchi today by land and when he meets the LTTE Political wing leader, he will express Norway's concern about the violation of Ceasefire Agreement, recent incidents, escalation of violence in the North and the East and will talk with him about the possibilities of resumption of peace talks. He will brief the LTTE top notch the mind of the Rajapakse Administration and the fact that the President had held talks with the four Co-chairs, US, UK (EU Presidency), Japan and Norway to impress upon them on his consultations and preparatory work for the continuation of the peace process. The Norwegian Ambassador is also due to visit a number of post tsunami projects funded by the Norwegian Government. Muslim, Tamil factions clash in Muttur, one critically injured One man was seriously hacked and a motorcycle belonging to another set on fire by angry mobs of two different factions belonging to two communities in Muttur yesterday afternoon. An armed gang had hacked a person with swords in the morning and the victim had been rushed to Trincomalee hospital in a critical condition. A group of associates of the victim had tried to attack a person who was in the rival faction shortly afterwards. The person who had come on a motorcycle had fled abandoning it and the gang had set fire to the motorcycle. The Muttur police had strengthen the security in the area by deploying additional forces. Revenge killing by suspected paramilitaries Two sisters of Puhalventhan, Mrs. Yogarasa Yogeswary,
26, and Thurairasa Vathany, 17, were shot dead, Wednesday night, by suspected
paramilitaries, at Palacholai in Batticaloa. Puhalventhan, a renegade
paramilitary cadre from Karuna Group, had surrendered along with Gnanatheepan,
his colleague, to the LTTE in Amparai, Tuesday. The sisters were shot
as they emerged from their door to greet two callers who had entered the
compound around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. A two years old child was seriously
wounded. Puhalventhan and Gnanatheepan claimed responsibility for the
killing of Iniyabharathy, a senior Karuna operative, allegedly responsible
for a series of recent attacks on Muslims with the intention of provoking
Tamil-Muslim riots and Muslim-LTTE dissension. The assailants had lobbed a grenade into the house before leaving the place, civilian sources said. Seven injured in grenade attack At least three Special Task Force personnel and five civilians were injured when an unidentified person hurled a hand grenade at them at Akkaraipattu in Ampara last night. The injured STF constables attached to the Kanchanakuda STF camp were returning after their duty near a school, when they came under hand grenade attack. The injured STF personnel were admitted to the Ampara hospital. Five civilians who were at the location also sustained injuries and were admitted to the Thirukkovil and Ampara hospitals.
The security forces are likely to take a tougher stand against ongoing LTTE efforts to destabilise government-controlled areas in the northern and eastern provinces.President Mahinda Rajapakse is determined to restore normalcy in areas under security forces’ control, a senior military official said. The military said that there were incidents in Jaffna and Point Pedro Thursday as Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar arrived in Jaffna for consultations with the military.Army headquarters said a group of students had thrown stones at an army point situated near a government Technical College, close to the Jaffna-Kankesanthurai road, around 11 am. "Several shots were fired at the troops," an army spokesman said, adding that troops fired in the air to disperse the violent crowd. According to him several LTTE cadres taking cover behind the students displayed hand grenades. "It was an obvious attempt to provoke the troops," he said. The change in the security forces posture, particularly in the Jaffna peninsula, comes in the backdrop of the recent twin claymore blasts that claimed the lives of 15 soldiers.Despite repeated LTTE provocations, Rajapakse’s predecessor, Chandrika Kumaratunga’s administration adopted a flexible attitude, in one instance transferring Vice Admiral Sarath Weerasekera (COMEAST) out of Trincomalee following a hotly disputed internal inquiry. The transfer came into effect after the Deputy Chief of Staff was falsely accused of playing politics with volatile situation in Trincomalee consequent to the erection of a Buddha statue near the main bus stand. Maj. Gen. Vajira Wijegoonewardene, Overall Operations Commander in charge of Colombo security was unceremoniously transferred after he urged Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Daya Sandagiri to take immediate measures to counter the alarming LTTE threat. This was in the aftermath of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar’s assassination. Wijegoonewardene was denied a new post for about three weeks before Kumaratunga gave him a fresh appointment.Batticaloa Brigade Commander Brig. Jagath Dias was ordered out of his station 24 hours before the November 17 presidential poll. He was falsely accused of collaborating with Karuna loyalists as part of a disputed strategy to facilitate a Rajapakse victory.The newly appointed Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka after visiting the Jaffna peninsula on Tuesday ordered two key changes in the top command structure. Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Sunil Tennakoon has been replaced by Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri (Armoured Corps) who returned from India’s prestigious National Defence College. Tennakoon is going on leave prior to retirement early next year. Brig. Srinath Rajapakse has replaced Maj. Gen. Nimal Jayasuriya, an experienced field commander, as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the elite 53 Division comprising Commandos, Special Forces and Air Mobile troops. Jayasuriya has been directed to take over WeliOya. He replaces Brig. Mahesh Samaraweera.The Island learns that there will be several other transfers with some officers based at the headquarters being moved to operational areas. A warning by High Security Zone Residents' Liberation Force – Tamil Eelam "High Security Zone Residents' Liberation Force will continue its armed campaign until all military personal vacate the High Security Zone." The e-mail concludes by saying: "We would like to reiterate our commitment to the armed struggle by highlighting the fact that in recent days our forces have conducted several successful operations in which at least 15 Sinhala Army soldiers have been killed." For Immediate Release High Security Zone Residents' Liberation Force will continue its armed campaign until all military personal vacate the High Security Zone. We the internally displaced people of Jaffna district have reached the limit of our patience. As a result we have decided to wage an armed campaign against the occupying Sinhala Army to liberate our homes. The Sinhala Army under the pretext of High Security Zone occupies almost 32% of the Jaffna district. Over 300,000 of us have been vacated from our homes to accommodate the existence of this unnecessary zone. It is widely known that subsequent to our displacement from the Valigamam region of Jaffna district in 1989, we have suffered unimaginable hardships as refugees living on roadsides, in schools, churches and cattle sheds while being denied the basic of human rights. During the past 16 years, the successive governments of Sri Lanka, neither the international community nor the 100s of international Non-Governmental Organizations have given the slightest of thought to our plight. On the contrary the international community, diplomats and international press are conducting politics in a manner that suits their interests. After witnessing several political maneuvers during the past 16 years, we have arrived at the conclusion that the Sinhala forces will not withdraw from our homes under any peaceful circumstances. Further, we have come to the realization that the only way to regain our lost homes, businesses and public places is to physically expel the occupying forces. In order to realise our objective of returning to our homes, a decision was made by the suffering people to join hands and form the High Security Zone Residents' Liberation Force and to declared war on the occupying forces. We who are willing to sacrifice our lives for the liberation of our Mother Land would like to kindly request the soldiers who are currently occupying our land to return to their homes and live happily with their families, while allowing us to do the same. Should the occupying forces not heed to our request, we will have no other option but to continue with our armed campaign to liberate our homes. We would like to reiterate our commitment to the armed struggle by highlighting the fact that in recent days our forces have conducted several successful operations in which at least 15 Sinhala Army soldiers have been killed. India, Norway discuss Sri Lanka peace, business ties India and Norway Thursday reviewed the faltering Sri Lankan peace process and explored ways to expand bilateral ties straddling diverse sectors, including business, energy and technology. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chair Sonia Gandhi and discussed an entire spectrum of bilateral, regional and international issues with them. The Sri Lankan peace process figured in their discussions, diplomatic sources said. The two countries are also exploring the possibility of a free trade agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) that includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein - an issue that will come up in talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Norwegian counterpart Stoltenberg Thursday night. Although both leaders will review a wide swathe of bilateral issues, the spotlight is likely to be on the situation in Sri Lanka after the new government headed by President Mahinda Rajapakse, a Sinhala-Buddhist hardliner, took charge there last month. Norway's role as a mediator in the peace process between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is set to dominate the discussions between the two leaders. Rajapakse has not been very enthusiastic about letting Norway continue as a mediator but in a surprise turnaround Wednesday, he met Norwegian ambassador to Colombo Hans Brattskar and told him to continue Norway's peace efforts in the island nation. "If they don't want us to continue as mediator, we won't have any role," a Norwegian diplomat told IANS. "India has been supporting us to continue in this role," he added. Norway wants India to play a more proactive role in Sri Lanka's peace process. Norwegian peace envoy for Sri Lanka Erik Solheim was here recently and indicated that his country would like to continue as a peace facilitator only if both Colombo and the Tamil Tigers promised to faithfully adhere to the 2002 truce and stop all killings.Stoltenberg, who arrived here Wednesday on a three-day visit, attended the third meeting of the Partners of the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI). He announced Wednesday a 66 percent increase in its donation to $75 million to the fund and said that the contribution would be kept at this level till 2015, bringing Norway's total support for global immunisation to about $1 billion. India's bilateral ties with Norway - home to 7,000-strong Indian diaspora - have been steadily growing with the two-way trade estimated to be close to $305 million in 2004. This represents trebling of trade in the last decade. Stoltenberg leaves here for Kabul Friday morning. Mahinda Chinthanaya
given full cry * Salaries of public servants increased by minimum of Rs.1,300 and the cost of living to be tied to the Cost of Living points and payment of unutilized holiday leave – pensioners get increase of Rs. 500 to 1250. * Fertilizer subsidy 8.5 billion – develop/upgrade seed farms 300 million – Paddy Marketing Board purchase of paddy 2,000 million (already available with government agents) * Employment for 10,000 graduates filling vacancies in government service *Meals and medical expenses of expectant mothers in the rural sector, midday meal to school children and 1,500 rupee savings deposits for children who had lost their parents in the tsunami – 1,500 million rupees * Concession for differently able persons, children’s and elderly persons homes to be given tax exemption and 200 million in assistance funds * Samurdhi and Livelihood Programme – Increase the Samurdhi allowance by 50 percent, provide assistance at childbirth, or death and launch island-wide community work livelihood programmes – 6 billion rupees allocated. * Credit scheme for Small and Medium Enterprise Development and 500 SMEs in the Mahaveli Zones. * Excise Duty on liquor and cigarettes increased. * Plantation Community Welfare – 2 billion rupees for roads and housing development * Low income housing development – 500 million for housing units for shanty dwellers of Colombo. * Second International Airport at Weeravila and Development of H’tota harbour * N’cholai and Upper Kothmale projects to be commenced next year * Rs.500,000 tax slab for 30 per cent tax rate – and highest tax rate fixed at 35 percent * Tourism 100 million, printing and packaging industry duty waiver, subsidizing the cost of interest in purchasing new buses for public transport, continued subsidy on fuel for three wheel taxis. Australia condemns ceasefire violations Australia is deeply concerned about the recent escalation in violence in the North and East and condemns in particular the two attacks in Jaffna on December 4 and 6 by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which killed 14 members of the Sri Lanka Army. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in a release, said yesterday. Australia also condemns the recent killings of civilians in eastern coastal areas. The release: "The recent attacks represent the most serious violations of the Ceasefire Agreement since its commencement in February 2002. Australia welcomes the restraint shown by the Government of Sri Lanka in not retaliating against these provocations, but remains concerned about persistent violations of the Ceasefire Agreement. I call upon both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take appropriate steps to bring an end to the current violence and to work towards the implementation of the letter and spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement as a crucial step in seeking a just and sustainable peace settlement." Sri Lankan president installs unstable minority government-Source:WSWS The minority government formed by Sri Lanka’s new president, Mahinda Rajapakse, late last month is a sign of deep political instability. With only 70 seats in a 225-seat parliament, he is completely dependent on the support of the two Sinhala chauvinist parties—the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)—that backed his presidential election campaign. Significantly, the JVP, which had been part of the previous United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, refused to join the cabinet even though it played a key role in electing Rajapakse. The party, which relies on demagogic populist appeals, rapidly lost support after joining a ruling coalition for the first time in 2004 and failing to deliver on its promises. With the support of 39 JVP MPs and 9 of the 10 JHU MPs, the UPFA government has a parliamentary majority, even though a highly unstable one. Rajapakse’s own Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has only 60 parliamentarians. The remaining 10 come from UPFA coalition partners, including the Muslim-based National Unity Alliance, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP). The UPFA also includes a handful of individual MPs who have broken from the opposition United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). The process of “crossing over”, often with financial or political inducements, is a well-worn path in Sri Lanka and Rajapakse is well aware that it can cut both ways. As a result, his cabinet includes just about every MP in the ruling coalition, so that everyone has an incentive to remain on the government side. Rajapakse has appointed 25 cabinet ministers, 26 non-cabinet ministers and another 29 deputy ministers—80 positions in all for the 70 UPFA parliamentarians. Of the 60 SLFP MPs, 58 have a ministerial post of some description—several have more than one. Only two SLFP MPs have no portfolio—the first is yet to be formally appointed to the seat of assassinated foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar; the second is the president’s sister, Nirupama Rajapakse, appointed to his vacant parliamentary seat. As well as hanging onto to UPFA MPs, Rajapakse is clearly on the look out to increase the number. It would be no surprise in the coming weeks and months if Rajapakse creates even more ministerial posts to lure MPs from the opposition UNP or to encourage the JVP to formally join the government. At the same time, the president has kept a firm grip on key cabinet posts. Having campaigned with the backing of the JVP and JHU on a more aggressive stance against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Rajapakse has nominated himself defence minister as well as finance minister. Rajapakse has also appointed his brother Gotabhaya Rajapakse as defence secretary—that is, the administrative head of the defence department. The president has deliberately sidelined prominent supporters of the previous president Chandrika Kumaratunga—most notably her brother Anura Bandaranaike. He publicly criticised Rajapakse’s agreements with the JVP and JHU in the course of the election campaign for being detrimental to the “peace process” advocated by big business and the major powers. Bandaranaike was passed over for the post of prime minister even though the SLFP central committee had earlier nominated him for the post. He was also not reappointed as foreign minister but given the relatively minor position of tourism minister. For similar reasons, Kumaratunga loyalist Sarath Amunugama was removed as finance minister and shifted to public administration. After dithering for days, Rajapakse opted for Ratnasiri Wickramanayake as prime minister in an obvious bid to maintain the support of the JVP and JHU. Wickramanayake is known for his hardline stance against the LTTE and close connections to the Buddhist hierarchy. He was also assigned the important post of deputy defence minister. Having chosen Wickramanayake, the president had to pay off key supporters who wanted the prime ministerial position. Mangala Samaraweera, who ran Rajapakse’s election campaign, was nominated as foreign minister as well as to the ministries of posts and aviation. After D.M. Jayaratna complained that he had been passed over, despite being the most senior SLFP member, he was handed an additional ministry of rural economic development. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, another prominent figure in Rajapakse’s campaign, was given the ministry of highways in addition to the ministry of trade, commerce, consumer affairs and marketing development. No sooner was the new cabinet was sworn in on November 23 than the new skills development and employment promotion minister, Sripathi Suriyaarachchi, resigned. Rajapakse immediately appointed him as deputy minister of enterprise development and investment promotion. There are four cabinet ministers with two portfolios and 12 non-cabinet ministers who have deputy ministerial posts as well. The old, largely defunct “workers” parties—the LSSP and CP—had to be content with their previous posts. The LSSP only has an MP at all because it was granted a position from the UPFA national list after the 2004 general elections. The CP has two MPs—one elected and the other from the national list. Having been part of SLFP alliances for decades, neither party can seriously be considered an independent political entity. Large sums of public money are required to pay for all these ministers. As well as their salaries, each has an official residence, a vehicle, private and official staff and other perks of office. All ministers are eligible for a pension at one third of their current salary. In addition, each has a bodyguard of specially trained commandos from the ministerial security division. In an effort to appeal to popular disgust, the JVP has previously condemned the practice of paying off MPs with ministerial posts. While JVP leaders urged Rajapakse to prune his cabinet, they have quickly shelved their criticisms, not wanting to rock the boat. Periodically the Colombo press bemoans the venal character of MPs and their taste for ministerial posts. But the ruling elite understands that it is the price that has to be paid for a semblance of political stability. A Daily Mirror editorial on December 1st noted: “President Rajapakse has not been able to prune the ministerial positions. His predicament is understandable. He had to satisfy the ambitions and aspirations of a whole range of parties and groups. He cannot afford to displease any of them particularly because it is a delicate balance to maintain his government in parliament.” The fragile character of the government stems not simply from the personal foibles of Rajapakse and his ministers but rather from the intractable political dilemmas confronting the ruling class as a whole. The corporate elite in Colombo wants a negotiated powersharing arrangement with the LTTE to end the island’s 20-year civil war and an accelerated program of economic restructuring. Politically, however, both major bourgeois parties—the SLFP and the UNP—have long relied on stirring up Sinhala chauvinism to divide the working class and maintain their rule. Rajapakse is already walking a fine line: promising peace talks and at the same time, to appease the JVP and JHU, taking a tough stance against the LTTE. The UPFA government is under pressure from business along with the World Bank and IMF to continue its program of privatisation and spending cutbacks, which has already generated widespread hostility. It is unlikely that this large unstable government will be long lived. Mahinda to probe
abuses by security forces The high profile visit follows a research mission by Amnesty International regional team earlier this year to the north and east of the country to look into human rights concerns arising from the security situation and internal displacement due to conflict and the tsunami. Concern about killings The statement points out, “People are being killed nearly every day in attacks that are rarely investigated and almost never prosecuted. The expansion of the range of people being targeted and the geographic spread of killings and attacks to the north are alarming trends. In this climate of fear, the voices of civil society and ordinary people are being stifled.” The Amnesty International delegation also met Muslim groups who expressed concerns about murder, marginalisation and discrimination. As one man interviewed by the Amnesty International team had told them, “The Sinhalese are afraid of the LTTE, the Tamils are afraid of the government, and the Muslims are afraid of both.” New President The delegation also met the newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse. And called on for the President, “To seize the initiative urgently to de-escalate the violence.” The Statement further say that the Organisation has, “Urged the government to be open and flexible on monitoring mechanisms and on establishing effective systems of accountability, including through independent investigations.” They also say that “Without a rapid reduction of human rights abuses, the prognosis for peace is poor.” According the statement, The President had given an assurance to Amnesty International of his readiness to address all allegations of human rights violations by the Sri Lankan security forces. The organisation say, that they welcome his assurances; but they would want to see concrete action on the ground. Child soldiers While expressing concern about the number of attacks and killings happening in government controlled areas, The Director General say, “Although there is confusion as to who is behind these attacks, there can be no doubt about the clear responsibility of the state to investigate and prosecute. There also can be no doubt about the obligations of the LTTE, as an armed group, to respect international human rights and humanitarian law at all times, and to avoid targeting civilians, wherever they may be.” In talks in Kilinochchi with S.P. Thamilchelvan, head of the LTTE political wing, Amnesty International say that they had pressed for accountability and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law by the armed group. The statement points out that the Amnesty International raised concerns about the failure of the LTTE to halt recruitment of children and to release and rehabilitate children within their ranks, as agreed in the Plan of Action with UNICEF. “The recruitment of children must stop,” said Irene Khan. “Attention must also be given to protection of children’s right to education, shelter and non-discrimination.” Killings and the peace “The LTTE and the government must both consider how best to make the human rights guarantees in the Ceasefire Agreement work,” she said. Amnesty International statement says the, “Differences between the parties on whether the Agreement should be revised or more effectively implemented should not in any way be an excuse to avoid or abuse human rights obligations.” The Secretary General also refers to the future of the peace process, “Recent killings and attacks in Jaffna are an indication of the volatility of the current situation.” “Prospects for conflict prevention will depend on how fast and how far the government and the LTTE are willing to address the extremely fragile security situation now in the north and east,” Says the Secretary general of Amnesty International.. 08 December 2005 Sri Lanka in U-turn asks Norway to keep up peace bid Sri Lanka's new President Mahinda Rajapakse has asked Norway to keep trying to broker peace with Tamil Tiger rebels despite an election vow to review Oslo's role, the government said. The president told Norway's ambassador Hans Brattskar to keep up the effort even though two key allies of the government had earlier insisted that Norway should be expelled from the peace process. "President Rajapakse invited the Royal Norwegian government to continue its role as facilitator to the peace process in Sri Lanka," a government statement said. Rajapakse also met envoys of the "co-chairs" -- the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway -- who are leading efforts to raise money in support of peace. "The president met with the four co-chairs and briefed them on his ongoing consultations and preparatory work for the continuation of the peace process," the statement said. It was in sharp contrast to Rajapakse's inaugural policy statement in which he called for a brand-new peace process to replace the one pursued by his predecessor Chandrika Kumaratunga. Rajapakse's main Marxist backer, the JVP, or People's Liberation Front, and the nationalist all-Buddhist monks' party JHU, had demanded Norway be expelled as peace broker after accusing it of siding with the rebels. Norway accepts
president's invitation "We are glad and honoured that the President is putting such a trust on Norway," he said. The minister, who has mediated between the two parties for the last five years, in an interview with BBC Sandeshaya said that he would discuss the conditions with the two parties and that Norway will be get involved as soon as the parties are ready. He said, "the parties are in the driving seat, and Norway will assist if parties want to move towards peace". Erik Solheim added that they have "no time to lose". No mandate for unitary state from NE, says TNA When President Mahinda Rajapakse’s policy statement was taken up for debate in parliament yesterday, TNA leader R. Sambanthan, warned that any moves by the government to resolve the ethnic issue under the concept of a unitary state could take the country back to war. While congratulating the new President on his appointment as head of state, he said his policy statement had been made in the backdrop of a ceasefire that has remained stable despite some short comings. The new President has no mandate from the Tamil-speaking people in the north and east to continue under a unitary state”, he said. Stressing the importance of resolving the ethnic issue through a federal system, the TNA leader provided statistics of a Tamil majority in the north and east and claimed these matters should be taken into consideration. In his statement on the President’s policy speech, JVP propaganda secretary Wimal Weerawansa welcomed President Rajapakse’s intention of resolving the northeast conflict under the concept of a unitary state. He said there was no basis under which a federal solution could be implemented as demanded by the LTTE and reiterated by ITAK. “Do you think the LTTE leader will shake his head and come for peace if a federal solution is given? I do not think so”, he said. Jathika Hela Urumaya parliamentary leader the Venerable Athureliya Ratana Thera echoed Mr. Weerawansa’s statement saying the President through his Mahinda Chintana manifesto had promised a solution to the conflict under a unitary state. The Thera said Mr. Prabhakaran’s insincerity regarding a federal solution was exposed by the attempt on the life of former president Chandrika Kumaratunga who was promoting a federal solution. “UNP MP G. L. Peiris said his party would not play petty politics but instead will co-operate and support the new government to find a final solution to the ethnic conflict. SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem expressed hope that the new
president would overcome all obstacles thrown in his path by those with
vested interests and resolve the ethnic issue. In the past week at least 29 people have died in Sri Lanka's North and East. This includes 16 soldiers killed when two mines thought to have been planted by the rebels exploded and one other soldier killed in a shooting in the North. Other killings happened in the East. The LTTE has denied having anything to do with those attacks. In the wake of the escalating violence the army, navy and air force chiefs held emergency talks with Field Commanders in Jaffna on Wednesday. The UN said that the secretary general is hoping that the violence "will not undermine the commitment of the new Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the peace process." Bombs explode in Vavuniya One person was killed and eight others were injured when a grenade exploded near the Vavuniya bus stand this evening. The bomb flung by an unidentified person exploded inside
a fruit stall. The victim has been identified as Subramanium Yogaratnam
(45), a resident of Olumadu, Mankulam. Red-LTTE pact will be exposed soon- UNP Assistant Secretary The Red-LTTE agreement reached as a result of discussions held in Singapore, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are gradually coming to light and details of this agreement will be disclosed to the country in due course, the Assistant Secretary of the United National Party Tissa Attanayake has stated. He made this disclosure at a media briefing held this
afternoon at the Opposition Leader's office. Commenting on recent violence and killings in the North, Attanayake said it is the responsibility of the government to uphold the cease-fire agreement. In response to claims made in Parliament today by Aturaliye Rathana thera of the Hela Urumaya and Wimal Weerawansa of the JVP who alleged that the prevailing situation in the North is a result of the cease-fire agreement, Attanayake pointed out if the government feels that the cease-fire agreement is unnecessary it could withdraw from it by giving a 14 day notice. It should not be forgotten that the lives of the people could be protected so far thanks to the truce and the credit for that should be given to Ranil Wickremesinghe, Attanayake added. He warned if the government deiced to withdraw from the cease-fire agreement it would be a deadly blow to the peace process and held the government responsible for prevailing insecurity in the country. The UNP Assistant Secretary recalled that JVP had branded Norway as white tigers in the past, but he questioned as to whose assistance would be sought as facilitator instead of Norway. Even though India has been suggested as a possible candidate, Attanayake queried whether India is ready to play the role of a facilitator. During the recent Indian visit of Foreign Minister Mangala
Samaraweera, Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh stated that Norway
should continue as facilitator. He strongly condemned the recent killings of army personnel in Jaffna and other assassinations and extended condolences for the bereaved families. SLA blocks Mannar traders from entering LTTE area Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Uyilankulam camp Wednesday refused
entry into the LTTE held Wanni region for about six hundred traders of
Nanattan division in the government controlled Mannar district to go to
Killinochchi to attend a conference. SLA soldiers manning the checkpoint
had told traders that they could not allow such large gathering to enter
LTTE area, traders' association sources said. Traders waited for about three hours till about noon at the Uyilankulam camp in the hope that they would be allowed to enter LTTE area. But SLA soldiers had told them that higher authorities have not favorably responded to their request. Hence the traders returned to Nanattan and lodged a complaint with the members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), sources said. G.L. Peiris to join President, agrees to lead Sri Lanka peace process On the eve of the new budget in Parliament, UNP strongman Professor G.L. Peiris will extend his support to newly elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Temple Trees sources says. Prof. Peiris, who was actively engaged in the peace process earlier, has met with the President and accepted Mr. Rajapaksa’s invitation to lead the stalled peace process on behalf of the government. It is reported that Prof. Peiris also met with UNP leaders Ranil Wickramasinghe and Karu Jayasuriya and officially informed them of his stance and the details of the discussions he had with President Rajapaksa. “Professor Peiris also conveyed his decision to his inner circle and political supporters yesterday,” his close associate told ColomboPage. Mervyn on cabbages and kings Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva told parliament yesterday that people in this country had seen enough bloodshed. He said they were used to waging wars and history was replete with stories of wars which had been waged against the Cholas, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the Englishmen. Our own people have betrayed the country. We do not fear the Tamils, likewise, we do not fear ourselves, thundered Mr. Silva. The Mahinda Chintanaya Mr. Silva said was prepared not with the idea of taking revenge, but to develop the country under the Bandaranaike vision. Waxing eloquent Mr. Silva said Viharamahadevi was sacrificed to the sea after it invaded the shore and later she gave birth to King Dutugemunu after marrying King Kavantissa. “It was this Dutugemunu who united the country”, Mervyn Silva said. He said likewise the presidential poll was conducted after the country was hit by a natural disaster called the tsunami. Today the country is once more blessed with a leader from the south joining a royal lineage after kings Dutugemunu, Parakrambhau and Wijeyabahu. The country is once again blessed with a leader from Ruhuna”, he said. Mr. Silva said like king Dutugemunu, President Rajapakse
too would unite the country by hoisting the national flag in all four
corners of Sri Lanka. Mr.Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Wednesday 2 p.m. held a two hour discussion with Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at the LTTE political secretariat located in Sampoor in LTTE held Muttur east. The discussion centered on recent developments in Jaffna district, Karuna group activities and violent incidents in Muttur, sources said. Mr.Elilan told SLMM head that the chauvinist groups, which are supporting the Colombo government, are continuing their opposition to any reasonable political solution to the Tamil national question. Hence Tamils have lost confidence on the present government's ability take the peace process forward to find a solution, Mr.Elilan told Mr.Haukland, sources said. Regarding Karuna group, Mr.Elilan said it is the responsibility of the government of Sri Lanka to stop the activities of paramilitary Karuna group which is supported and given protection by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in its controlled areas. The new commander of the SLA had accepted that Karuna group is responsible for the problems in the east. SLA has not taken any steps against Karuna group for any of its violence in the army-controlled areas, sources said. Mr.Elilan said some elements are behind the violent incidence in Muttur to disrupt the cordial relationship between the Muslim and Tamil communities. LTTE should condemn attacks; denials only, lack credibility UN Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killings, Phillip Alston at a media briefing at his Hotel last night said that he told the Tiger rebels that simply denying their involvement in an attack was not acceptable unless they went ahead and also denounced the crimes and urged their supporters to refrain from engaging in such acts. Calling his discussions with the LTTE in Kilinochchi “robust”, he said that he had informed the rebels “Unless they begin to seriously denounce and condemn the attacks, such as the recent brutal attack on a Mosque in Akkaraipattu, their denials lack credibility,” the Special Rapporteur said. Mr. Alston who left Sri Lanka late last night after a 10 day stay in the island said that LTTE political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan had agreed during discussions with him earlier that day that it was time that the role of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was expanded The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam had agreed with him that the time had come for the Scandinavian ceasefire monitors operating in the north and east of the country to be “given teeth” according to UN Special Rapporteur for Extra Judicial Killings, Phillip Alston. . Alston added that in cases where the LTTE points fingers at the Karuna faction, it was imperative that they back up their allegations with a dossier of evidence that could lead the law enforcement authorities to the killers. “The LTTE is a very disciplined and organised group. It is likely that their information would be a major contribution towards apprehending those guilty of the killings,” the UN envoy added. Putting the burden on the Tigers, Mr. Alston claimed that if the LTTE aspired to political respectability, it must first begin to behave respectably, adding that one way to do this was to account for the killings taking place in the north and east. Mr. Alston did not absolve the government side of blame either, saying there was a clear need for improvement on both sides. He said that although there was no official evidence that the security forces were in collusion with the Karuna faction, circumstantial evidence was widespread that there was some form of ‘unofficial’ cooperation between members of the security forces and the renegade Eastern Tiger chief. He said the overall inefficiency of the policing system, the ambiguity of the role of the military, Karuna and the LTTE were all contributing towards creating a ‘zone of impunity’ in the north east which was in turn resulting in major human rights violations. The UN envoy has recommended that an enhanced human rights monitoring body is put in place, but he said the Tigers want the SLMM to remain, albeit with a wider mandate. According to Alston, the government also had agreed to a wider role for the truce monitors. “The LTTE has indicated that it wants to remain within the parameters of the CFA, meaning they want the SLMM to remain. But as an urgent interim measure, we call on the facilitator and the two parties to look seriously at a more extensive role for the SLMM which will lay more emphasis on human rights violations as well,” he said. The final report of the Special Rapporteur along with his recommendations will be presented to the United Nations in February 2006. Overseas travel ban for Sri Lanka MPs President Mahinda Rajapaksa has imposed an overseas travel ban for all ministers and deputy ministers with immediate effect. The Presidential Secretariat issuing a circular says that none of the ruling party MPs are allowed to travel overseas without prior approval from the President. “Due to the present political and security situation,
the President directs all the MPs to stay in touch with their respective
organizations,” the circular said.It is also reported that President
Rajapaksa wants all the ruling party MPs in Parliament during the week-long
budget debate. Police intelligence yesterday took in to custody a communications set, used in ships and a can of aviation fuel, at the Bandaranaike International Airport. According to police these items have been brought to the country by a Tamil businessman from Colombo. He is said to have links with the LTTE. Police said these items had been brought to be used in the fleet ships owned and operated by the LTTE and their newly acquired aircraft now in Iranawila. Student protests to widen Jaffna Student Consortium said Tuesday evening that they
have decided to expand the protests across Jaffna district schools Wednesday
since the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has not met the demands by the protesting
Hartley College students and has continued to use force to suppress student
actions the last two days, sources in Jaffna said. In Valigamam East comprising towns of Nallur, Irupalai, Kopay, Kondavil, Atchuvely and Vadamaradchy region remained deserted and buisnesses closed following the claymore attack in Irupalai and the student unrest near the HSZ in Point Pedro. Since public transport came to a standstilll following the attack people who had travelled in the morning were left stranded and there were reports from Jaffna that people have seen walking in groups from Atchuvely to Point Pedro. Meanwhile, a Police jeep returning to the Police station located 400 meters from Nelliady junction came under grenade attack. No injuries were reported. Residents said that a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter circled the town and surrounding villages for some time after the incident. Mallawarachchi Army’s 2nd in command Maj Gen N. Mallawaarachchi has been appointed Chief of
Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He was born at Anuradhapura on 03rd August
1951. Upon completion of the Officer Cadet training at the Officer Cadet
School Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the
Sri Lanka Light Infantry in 1972. Maj Gen Mallawaarachchi has held a variety of Command appointments including company commander - 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Second in Command 3rd Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Commanding Officer 3rd Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Brigade Commander 7 Brigade in Elephant Pass, GOC 52 Div in Northern area, GOC 23 Div in Eastern area and the 1st Security Forces Commander of Eastern area of operation. Over and above the command appointments he has held various staff appointments including Adjutant of 2nd Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Staff Officer Grade III at Directorate of Personnel Administration in Army Headquarters, General Staff Officer II at Northern Command in Jaffna, Officer Instructor and Academy Adjutant at the Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyatalawa, General Staff Officer Grade 1 at 2 Division responsible for Northern operations, General Staff Officer Grade 1 Task Force Headquarters Welioya responsible for Northern operations, Commandant of the Combat Training School in Ampara, Coordinating Officer in Mullaitivu in the Northern area of operations, Coordinating Officer in Galle in Southern Sri Lanka responsible for Counter Insurgency Operations, Deputy General Officer Commanding of the Special Forces Division responsible for the northern operations. Commandant and the Vice Chancellor of the Kotalawala Defence Academy which is the only Defence Services University. He is the present Regimental Commander of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry. His awards and decorations include Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Uththama Seva Padakkama, Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, Sri Lanka Army twenty fifth Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Army fiftieth Anniversary Medal, fiftieth independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, Presidents Inauguration Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, Vadamarachchi Operation Medal and the Riviresa Campaign Service Medal. Maj Gen N. Mallawarachchi is married to Shari and they are blessed with a son Avishka and daughter Nethmi. Sinhala-Only for President President Mahinda Rajapakse declared last week that as
a matter of policy he will address all important events in Sinhala, the
Sunday Times reported this week. He pointed out that “Sinhala was
his Mother tongue” the paper said. “ At the meeting, he made an important ground-breaking announcement. Something even the former populist peoples President Ranasinghe Premadasa did not do. He said that in the future, when he speaks at such occasions, he would speak in the Sinhala language,” the Times’ political column reported. “He said that Sinhala was his Mother tongue. There would, however, be a translator, he said, who would translate what he says into the English language. He said that he would do this on all important functions, and that he would be doing it as a matter of policy.” “The 1956 S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike 'Sinhala Only' policy, it seems, has now borne fruit,” the Times’ political column also observed. President Rajapakse, elected with the overwhelming backing of the Sinhala people, particularly the nationalist voters, has long nurtured an image as a ‘man of the people’ as had President Premadasa who governed in the late eighties. Cyclonic condition
in Bay of Bengal Meteorologist S.H. Kariyawasam said the cyclonic condition caused by an intensified depression in the Bay of Bengal was 600 kilometres North-East of Trincomalee yesterday. "We cannot predict whether the cyclone would affect Sri Lanka yet. It would depend on the direction the cyclone takes," he said. However the Department has warned people to refrain from activities in the deep sea beyond 300 kilometres off the coast of North-East. Kariyawasam said the cyclonic condition was part of the turbulent weather usually experienced by Sri Lanka from November to January where an environment conducive for tropical cyclones is created in the Bay of Bengal. The Department also predicted thunder showers in the Eastern and Uva provinces and scattered showers in the Central, Sabaragamuva, Western and North Western provinces today. A new duty-free shopping complex for Colombo A UK-based Sri Lankan company, Global Lanka Holdings Ltd (GLH), is currently planning a duty-free shopping mall in Peliyagoda on the Airport-Colombo main road. The proposed shopping mall will be an American style duty-free shopping complex, built at a cost of US$ 30 million to cater to the lucrative Indian tourist market. GLH Managing Director Phylix Selvadurai says the proposed shopping mall's target market would be the Indian tourists coming to Sri Lanka and the project will take the opportunity behind that market by providing duty-free shopping. “This US-style shopping mall would be in a three million square feet area and provide all items under one roof. This is a huge advantage of Sri Lanka with the currency advantage of the Sri Lankan rupee against the Indian currency. GLH being a property developer in UK provides expertise and knowledge to create a big complex with all infrastructure facilities including traffic management and architecturally designed building that suit all purposes,” says Mr. Selvadurai. 07 December 2005 Army fires at protest at Nelliadi, jaffna The Army fired at a group of people this afternoon who staged a protest near the Army camp located near Hartley College, Nelliadi demanding the immediate withdrawal of the security forces from the High Security Zones in Jaffna. However nobody was injured in the incident.A group of school had been brought to the location to take part of the protest. A tense atmosphere erupted in Jaffna in the wake of Heroes Day speech of LTTE leader Pabakaran, and by today the situation is getting more and more tense. SLN arrests five LTTE cadres in Mannar Sea, one takes cyanide Sri Lanka Navy (SLAN) Tuesday evening around 4.30 p.m.arrested five LTTE cadres including two women traveling in fibre glass boat in Pallimunai sea area in Mannar district. One political cadre, Miss Gunaratnam Puvaneswary alias Uthaya, (20), took cyanide and was immediately taken to Mannar hospital. She was later taken to Vavuniya hospital in critical condition, Mannar Police said.Other LTTE cadres arrested are Arumugam Jeyanthan, 23, Kanthasamy Paheerathan, 22, Antony Sahayanathan, 18, and Sivanathagnanam Sanjini alias Mathi,18, Police said.The SLN handed over the four LTTE cadres to Mannar Police around 5.30 p.m. They are now detained in the Mannar Police Station under heavy security and are being interrogated. Mannar Police said LTTE cadres were in possession of hand grenades at the time of their arrest. New Army commander leaves for Palali soon after assuming duties New Army commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka left for Palali army base today in the company of Chief of Defense Staff Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri to oversee security arrangements in Jaffna amidst mounting attacks on the security forces and to look into Tamil-Muslim clashes in the East. This was the first duty of Lt. General Sarath Fonseka since assuming duties as the new Army commander. Matters related to the North East security and operations and maintaining peace without being drawn into confrontations had been discussed at a meeting held at the Palali base and th new commander is reported to have instructed senior officers on the measures that should be adopted in the face of fast deteriorating security situation in Jaffna. Hartal in Muttur and Kalmunai Muttur and Kalmunai were tense yesterday as a hartal was staged in protest over the killing of two fishermen and another unidentified person.Shops and offices in the two towns were closed and transport was at a standstill after two fishermen were killed at Maruthamunai and a third person at Madinagar. The two fishermen who were shot dead have been identified as Mohmed Farook Mohmed Rizwan (19), and Mohmed Ubeiya (30). Their bodies were found at their fishing wadi. Police said LTTE suspects using T-56 weapons were believed to be responsible for the killings and 15 spent cartridges were found. The body of the third person was found in a jungle at Madinagar. Police are seeking public assistance to identify the body.Police and the military are maintaining tight security in these areas. Meanwhile, four LTTE suspects were arrested by the Navy in the seas off Muttur on Monday and handed over to the harbour police in Trincomalee. Police said they had found LTTE identity cards and cyanide capsules in the possession of the suspects who were from Mullaithivu. The suspects were later produced in court and remanded. JHU refuses portfolios but rushes for posts Even though the Jathika Hela Urumaya has refused to accept ministerial portfolios, the party has requested high posts for party members in the government sector and corporations. Reportedly JHU is exerting pressure on the President to appoint party’s legal advisor Udaya Gammanpila as Chairman of Bank of Ceylon and SANASA Chairman Kiriwandeniy as the head of Peoples’ Bank. JHU Treasurer H.M.B.Kotakadeniya has already been appointed as a senior Secretary on Police affairs of the Defence Ministry. Amnesty International urges Sri Lanka govt and LTTE to end human rights violations The Secretary General of Amnesty International Irene Khan has said that the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE must act urgently to stop the "downward spiral of violence and human rights abuses" in the country's north and east. Concluding her four-day visit to Sri Lanka, Ms. Khan said, “Both sides use human rights as a political weapon - each accusing the other of abuses but doing little to stop the spate of killings, abductions and harassment over the past year.” Ms. Khana’s visit follows a research mission by Amnesty International in the north and east earlier this year to look into human rights concerns arising from the security situation as well as internal displacement resulting from the ethnic conflict and the tsunami disaster. Akashi to visit Sri Lanka Embassy of Japan in Colombo said in a press release issued
Tuesday that Mr. Yasushi Akashi, representative of the Government of Japan
for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, will
visit Sri Lanka from Wednesday to Sunday to discuss the current situation
with the Sri Lankan government and other parties concerned. Visit of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of Mr.Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, will visit Sri Lanka from Wednesday 7th December to Sunday 12th December 2005, to discuss with the Government and the parties concerned, the current situation of the peace process. During his visit, he is scheduled to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, and other relevant leaders and officials. British Cabinet Minister due in Sri Lanka British Cabinet Minister for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell will visit Sri Lanka on December 8-9 as part of a five-day tour which also includes India and Thailand. The British High Commission in Colombo said, “During her visit, the Minister will look at reconstruction work that has taken place since the tsunami and meet those working on rehabilitation. In her role as the Minister responsible for the long-term aftercare of UK victims of the tsunami, Ms. Jowell will report back to the Prime Minister on progress when she returns to the UK.” Ms. Jowell will be the first British Minister to visit Sri Lanka since President Rajapaksa was elected. On 8 December, she will hold talks with senior members of the Sri Lankan government. She will also attend a lunch with leading Sri Lankan women in her role as British Minister for Women.
A car carrying three Swiss nationals was hit by the same
land mine blast in northern Sri Lanka Tuesday that killed six soldiers,
the defense ministry and Swiss Embassy said. They were not injured. Their names were not immediately available. "The car was damaged, but no harm has come to people inside the vehicle," said Martin Sturzinger, a spokesman for the Swiss Embassy in Colombo. The agency is part of the Swiss government's development arm and had been involved in post-tsunami development and school reconstruction in the peninsula, which was also hit by the Dec. 26 tsunami. The Defense Ministry confirmed the incident. "The car was traveling near to the tractor in which our troops were in," said army spokesman Brig. Nalin Witharanagee. "The main thrust of the blast came to our soldiers, but the Swiss car was also badly damaged," Witharanagee said. "The occupants managed to crawl out of the vehicle," he said. Jaffna Peninsula is home to most of Sri Lanka's 3.2 million ethnic Tamil minority, a section of whom are campaigning for a separate homeland. Non-Tamil U’grads leave Jaffna Sinhalese and Muslim students, of the University of Jaffna, left the town yesterday (6) due to the prevailing security situation in the North. They will be appealing to the University Grants Commission find them places in other universities, police sources said. Among the 46 students, who had left the campus and Jaffna, were 28 Sinhalese medical students and 18 Muslim students of the Arts Faculty. These Muslim students are from areas other than the north or east and an additional 30 Muslim students who are also not from the north or east, have requested the Dean of the Arts Faculty to leave the campus, for the same reasons. HSBC opens 31 mln usd call centre in Sri Lanka Global banking giant HSBC formally launched a 31 mln usd call centre in Sri Lanka as violence flared in the north of the island, officials said. Sri Lanka beat contenders such as neighbouring India to secure HSBC's 11th call centre, a company official told reporters, adding that they were not too worried about the deadly attacks in the area. "We are not unduly worried about the situation here in Sri Lanka. HSBC has been around in this country for over 100 years," said Alan Burton, managing director of HSBC Electronic Data Processing Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. A total of 26 people have been killed since Saturday in Sri Lanka's northern and eastern regions, where Tamil rebels are demanding a homeland. The HSBC unit is currently the biggest call centre in Sri Lanka in terms of employment, with 1,326 staff. It has 1,666 seats with room to expand to 3,000 staffers. "The Sri Lankan unit is primarily a banking operation to service our operations in the United States and Britain," said Malcolm Wagget, the group's chief operating officer for South Asia. "We don't have plans to add more centres next year, because we have adequate capacity available in Sri Lanka and in India, where we have five such centres," he said. With around 30 operators, Sri Lanka's business process outsourcing (BPO) is worth about 100 mln usd, according to a survey conducted by the local Information Communication and Technology Agency (ICTA). For Sri Lanka, much of the outsourcing business is from Europe, Scandinavia and Australia. Sri Lanka dispenses with minimum investment requirements for BPO operations, with three-year tax holidays thrown in as an added incentive. Gnanakone released Mr. Charles Gnanakone who was detained for the past two
months on alleged charges of involvement in the assassination of late
SL Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, was released by the Colombo High
Court Monday. Gnanakone, a leading bussinessman from Australia, was taken
into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department for "misleading"
the late Mr. Kadirgamar with regard to his security and safety. The CID Director Sarath Lugoda who appeared before the High Court Colombo Monday told that the police investigations have found that Gnanakone CID did not find any evidence supporting his involvement in the assassination of Kadirgamar. The Deputy Solicitor General J.S.Jayasinghe also told the court that from the documents and the reports received by the Attorney-General's department there was no evidence found to accuse Ganakone's involvement in the killing of Kadirgamar. Following the above statements Colombo High Court Judge M.I.Imam directed the police to discharge Charles Gnanakone from the police detention. There were several diplomats from the Australian High Commission present at the court to watch the proceedings. Armed gang in custody Nuwara -eliya police have taken into custody an armed gang alleged to have looted several houses, by intimidating the inmates in Meepilimana and several other villages in Nuwara -eliya. With the arrival of Nuwara- eliya police OIC and his team at the scene, on a phone call tip-off received on November 30 at 2 o’clock in the morning, that a house is being looted at Meepilimana in Nuwara -eliya, the suspects have fled into Kikiliyamana jungles for hiding. The police rounding-up the jungle area have taken into custody two suspects and another person while he was fleeing in a Badulla bound bus, at a check point close to Welimada town. According to police this armed gang is led by an ex-commando of the army STF. Police head quarters, SI, Saman Yatawara said, on investigations held so far reveal that Rs. 25,000 in cash and jewellery have been looted in Matara, Dikwella, Colombo, Badulla and several other areas. This gang includes Nishantha Dhammika residing at Dematapitiya in Walasgala, Kasun Jayasena from Matara area and Rathna Hemal Prasanna. Further investigation are held on the advice of Nuwara- eliya DIG Wimal Ariyarathna SP Mahesh Samaradiwakara and their team. Two paramilitary cadres surrender, say Karuna group responsible for attacks against Muslims Two paramilitary cadres, Mr. Gnanatheepan and Mr. Puhalventhan,
have surrendered to the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) in Amparai following
the counter-attack on Karuna Group cadres where four paramilitary cadres
were killed Tuesday, Mr. Daya Mohan, political head of the LTTE in Amparai
told TamilNet. The surrendered cadres have confirmed the death of the
key operative Iniyabarathy, and have revealed that the paramilitary cadres
led by Iniyabarathy were behind the recent attacks against Muslims in
Amparai district, including the grenade attack on Akkaraipattu Mosque
where four Muslim worshippers were killed, said Daya Mohan. Gnanatheepan and Puhalaventhan will talk to the media in a press conference soon, said LTTE's Amparai political head. Anandasangaree petitions Blair against Bala TULF leader V. Anandasangaree yesterday petitioned British Prime Minister Tony Blair alleging that LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham has made a threat to his life during a Heroes day speech in London recently. Mr. Anandasangaree in his letter gives the English translation of the introductory part of the speech made in Tamil by Mr. Balasingham. “I am very happy for the opportunity I got today to participate and speak at this function to commemorate the death of our great heroes and the people who fought and fell in the struggle to save our soil and our people. When I was coming to the hall a friend of mine told me that Mr. Anandasangaree also has come for the meeting. It is good that he came. But someone must introduce him to us. I feel like hugging him and affectionately kiss him. Mr. Anandasasangaree had said in Colombo, “I am going all over the world but I am unable to go to my own village Kilinochchi”. We know why he is worried that he is unable to go to Kilinochchi. In the village of Puliampokkanai at Kilinochchi there are two elderly women who cook iguana meat for him”. He goes on to say, “Sir you can come to Kilinochchi at any time. Mr. Pottu Amman has a five star Hotel where you can enjoy good food”. Although the text of the speech appears to be harmless, those who heard the speech say that certain references made to me have some hidden meaning in the LTTE’s language and could have been uttered to pass on some coded message to the LTTE cadre all over, especially in Britain. The three references that cause me concern are: 1. “HugAging and kissing” is the code used for suicide bomb by the LTTE. 2. “Iguana meat” served by two elderly women also has some hidden meaning because I am one who had never tasted any meat at any time in my life and am not aware of any one preparing iguana meal. 3. “Five Star Hotel” run by Pottu Amman. The code words for “Torture and annihilation camp” of the LTTE in Vanni is “Five Star Hotel”. Mr. Amman is in charge of it. He and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran are wanted by India and Sri Lanka in connection with a series of killings including those of Rajiv Gandhi and President Premadasa. The crowd gathered at the meeting that appeared to be pro-LTTE greatly applauded him when the said references were made to me. I am compelled to take the above references seriously because they were made at the beginning of his speech and utterly irrelevant on that occasion. Further more I was in Colombo on the day of this meeting. I shall feel much obliged if you would kindly take up this matter with the authorities concerned and direct them to take necessary steps to prevent him from directly or indirectly inciting the LTTE cadres in Britain against me since I am one who travel frequently to Europe. I take my hat off to the high democratic principals of
the United Kingdom, where the spokesmen of a proscribed terrorist organization
could boast of the denial by them of my right to visit my house and my
electorate which I represented for more than 14 years in Parliament. It has still not recovered from the shock of the recent serial bombing in its underground stations and buses. Ironically this meeting was held to glorify the dead LTTE cadres including their suicide bombers.” India takes a more direct hand in Sri Lankan affairs-WSWS New Delhi has responded to last month’s election of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse by stepping up pressure on Colombo to revive the island’s so-called peace process. Amid fears of a breakdown of the current ceasefire, the Indian government is concerned that any return to armed conflict will have a destabilising impact throughout the region. Rajapakse won the November 17 election with the backing of the Sinhala chauvinist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). His electoral pacts with these parties included provocative measures to revise the ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), abolish a joint mechanism for the distribution of tsunami aid and rule out a federated state as part of any peace deal. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally congratulated Rajapakse and invited him to visit New Delhi at an early date for talks. A flurry of diplomatic activity has followed in which India has maintained the pressure on Rajapakse to back away from any aggressive move against the LTTE and to lay the basis for renewed peace talks. India’s High Commissioner to Colombo, Nirupama Rao, met with the new Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake on November 26, stating that, “India would extend its fullest support to Sri Lanka to resolve its ethnic issue”. She reiterated India’s stake in the conflict, declaring: “India considers that the national security of Sri Lanka is a responsibility of India, and India will do everything possible to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.” Rao’s comments not only send a sharp warning to the LTTE against any renewal of war for a separate Tamil state but point to India’s broader ambitions as the main regional powerbroker. While reassuring Colombo of support in any military conflict, New Delhi is also implicitly declaring its right to intervene to safeguard its strategic interests. The first overseas trip by new Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera was to New Delhi on December 1, underscoring the importance for the Colombo government of close relations with India. While the visit came after Rajapakse had reiterated his support for the JVP and JHU demands, Samaraweera reassured India that the new government remained committed to the ceasefire. All that Colombo was seeking, he said, was “a review” to make the ceasefire “more effective”. Samaraweera reflected similar statements by Rajapakse to the diplomatic corps in Colombo. Having won the presidential poll by whipping up Sinhala chauvinist sentiment, Rajapakse, under pressure from local business leaders and the US and EU as well as India, is leaving the door open to a resumption of the peace process. In this precarious balancing act, Rajapakse is looking to India in particular for assistance. Samaraweera met with Prime Minister Singh, who, according to media reports, bluntly told him that India favoured the maintenance of the ceasefire. Singh also held out the prospect of further steps toward finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries. Closer ties with the large, expanding Indian economy would provide a welcome boost for the flagging Sri Lankan economy. Samaraweera’s trip has paved the way for a visit by Rajapakse later this month. The Sri Lankan president is keen to exploit economic opportunities and is also calling on India to play “a major role” in the peace process. Such a step would marginalise Norway, the formal facilitator of peace talks, which has come under fire from Sinhala chauvinists for its alleged pro-LTTE “bias”. If talks take place with the LTTE, Rajapakse calculates that India will be supportive of a deal that accords the LTTE a relatively minor place in any power-sharing arrangement. Indian governments have repeatedly opposed the LTTE’s demand for a separate Tamil state. New Delhi also criticised the LTTE’s proposal in late 2003 for an interim administration with extensive autonomous powers. India is concerned that any peace deal in Sri Lanka will become a precedent for other separatist conflicts on the subcontinent, particularly the long-running dispute with rival Pakistan over Kashmir. India has maintained military pressure on the LTTE through defence arrangements with Colombo, including joint naval patrolling to curb the LTTE’s activities at sea. On December 1, the chief of India’s southern army command, Lieutenant General B. S. Takhar, began a five-day trip to Sri Lanka. He pointedly visited the military complex at Vavuniya in the north of the island close to LTTE-held territory. At the same time, Indian Prime Minister Singh cannot afford to side too openly with Colombo for fear of alienating allies in the southern India state of Tamil Nadu where sympathy for the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka is strong. The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) and Pattali Makkal Kachchi, which are partners in Singh’s United Peoples Alliance (UPA), all exploit the Sri Lankan conflict as a touchstone for their communal politics. In comments to the media on December 4, MDMK general secretary V. Gopalaswamy warned Singh that Rajapakse’s proposal for India to “take the lead” in the peace talks was “a deliberate trap”. He urged Singh to allow and assist Norway to continue in its role as facilitator of the peace process and cautioned against India being drawn into a repetition of the disastrous 1987 Indo-Lankan Accord. Under the accord, India dispatched 100,000 “peace-keeping” troops to the North and East of the island to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE. Bitter fighting soon broke but that resulted in the deaths of 2,000 Indian soldiers. India was finally compelled to withdraw following Sinhala chauvinist agitation by the JVP against “Indian imperialism” and a request by Sri Lankan President R. Premadasa for the troops to leave. Following the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, India blamed the LTTE and listed it as a terrorist organisation. Although reluctant to become directly entangled in the conflict, there have been signs of a shift since the late 1990s. India has provided training and other support for the Sri Lankan military. While not immediately involved in the peace process, New Delhi has backed Norwegian efforts and supported the 2002 ceasefire. India’s developing strategic ties with the US, particularly since September 2001, have also encouraged New Delhi to play a more interventionist role in the region, including in Sri Lanka. At present, US and Indian interests in ending the Sri Lankan conflict coincide quite closely. Both regard the civil war as a danger to the political stability of the broader region, particularly in southern India, where US and other foreign companies have major investments in the burgeoning IT industry. Sections of the Indian ruling elite are pressing for New Delhi to put aside the bitter experience of the Indo-Lankan Accord and take a more direct hand in Sri Lanka affairs. A UPI report last month cited several commentators who warned of Rajapakse’s promotion of “Sinhala nationalism” and urged Singh to take “control the country’s policy toward Sri Lanka before it takes a dangerous turn”. Political analyst A.B. Mahapatra declared: “Sri Lanka could soon join the group of neighbouring countries that have been causing problems for New Delhi”. The obvious implication is that India cannot afford to sit by but must intervene to defend its interests in what the Indian ruling class regards as its sphere of influence. Any intervention, however, could not only compound political instability in Sri Lanka but may also set New Delhi at odds with the major powers. With the potential for Sri Lanka to slide back into civil war, both Singh and Rajapakse will be walking a fine line when they meet later this month. 06December 2005 Second attack on SLA vehicle in Jaffna, Six dead Five Sri Lanka Army soldiers and an SLA official were killed in a Claymore mine attack on a SLA tractor in Irupalai, 5 km North east of Jaffna town Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., police said. At least one soldier was seriously wounded in the attack. The explosion took place 200 meters west of Irupalai junction on Jaffna - Point Pedro road. SLA soldiers at the site opened fire following the attack and cordoned off the site, civilian sources said. Traffic remains blocked and the civilians were seen moving from the area. At least ten soldiers belonging to the SLA Division 51-2 were returning to Irupalai camp in their tractor which was hit by the Claymore mine. They were returning after supplying morning meals to the soldiers stationed along the streets in Kalviyankadu, military sources said. Tension prevails in Irupalai. Irupalai is located 5.2 km southwest of Neerveli. Kaithady-Kopay road which branches off from A9, meets Point Pedro-Jaffna road at the Irupalai junction. More troops rushed to Jaffna In the aftermath of the killing of seven soldiers in Jaffna and the resultant tense situation more troops were rushed to the peninsula yesterday to maintain law and order. A senior Defence Ministry official said a major search operation was aslo under way to track down suspects and weapons. He said the decision to send more troops was taken at a special meeting President Mahinda Rajapakse had with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Commanders of the security forces and Defence Ministry officials on Sunday evening. At the meeting it was disclosed that there were not enough military personnel in Jaffna to carry out major search operations or to be deployed soon after such attacks against the military or civilians. The official said considering these developments the security forces and the police would now intensify security duties to ensure law and order prevailed. President Rajapakse had reportedly ordered defence officials to take whatever steps necessary to minimise violence in the peninsula. He also appointed a three-member committee to inquire into the Jaffna situation. A decision was also taken to strengthen security in other areas of the country. A soldier, who was injured in Sunday’s mine explosion and admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, succumbed to his injuries today raising the death toll to seven. Military is accusing the LTTE of trying to provoke the security forces to retaliate and create a volatile situation in the peninsula. SLMM spokesperson Helen Olaffsdotior told the Daily Mirror the situation in Jaffna yesterday was less tense but they needed time to get a clearer picture. Meanwhile, in Point Pedro, Police used tear gas to disperse some three hundred people backed by suspected LTTE cadres when they threw petrol bombs at the military barrier near Hartley College. The government in a statement said Sunday’s explosion in Jaffna was a ‘pre-planned terrorist attack on army personnel engaged in non-offensive routine activities’. India should insist on Federal solution - Indian Tamil Daily "India should not hesitate to impress on Rajapakse
Government that resolution to Sri Lanka’s ethnic problem should
be based on a Federal solution,” said Tamil daily Dinamani in a
recent editorial commenting on Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s
meeting with India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. “India
should be cognizant that Tamil national question in Sri Lanka determines
the human rights, social justice and political destiny of 3 million Tamils,
and that more than 60 million Tamils in TamilNadu have an emotional stake
in the issue,” said the daily. The paper said that Mr Samaraweera had told the Indian Prime Minister that Rajapakse Government is commited to the provisions of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), his government has called LTTE for talks, and that only if talks are inclusive and transparent that Sri Lankans will accept the results of any peace talks. "This approach is hardly sufficient to make progress when last four years of CFA have not produced discernible changes towards finding a permanent solution. The key obstacle has been the absence of unity within the two major Sinhala parties,” the paper said. "The new President has rejected the fundamental demand by the Tamils for a negotiated solution based on Federal concept. Communique issued jointly by the former Indian premier Mr Vajpayee and the Lankan Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in October 2003 stressed that while preserving unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka is important in any solution, it is equally important to base the solution on a federal structure,” the paper said, urging Dr Manmohan Singh to stand firm on advocating a Federal solution. Kottegoda fires parting shot at LTTE Outgoing Army Commander Shantha Kottegoda yesterday accused the LTTE of trying to provoke the military with a series of truce-breaking attacks that killed 12 people over the weekend.Addressing journalists after being accorded a farewell ceremony at Army headquarters, General Kottegoda warned the LTTE that the army could now defeat it, despite repeated failures in the past. The General who was promoted to this highest rank with his retirement yesterday, said the LTTE had stepped up organised attacks against government forces in the former rebel stronghold of Jaffna in a bid to draw fire from the military. “I am confident that with the training we have done in the past three years we are better prepared today than we were before the ceasefire,” the General said, referring to the February 2002 ceasefire agreement with the rebels. “Our troops will be able to fight and defeat them.” He said the Tigers may resort to more hit-and-run style attacks to minimise losses to their own cadres following a split in the rebel outfit in March last year. “They could resort to more guerrilla tactics because they may want to retain their cadres,” he said. General Kottegoda, who had earlier been an advisor to Sri Lanka's peace negotiators, said the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, which was elected last month, must also push ahead with moves to try to revive direct talks with the Tigers. “We have to make a move. We need to take some steps with regard to the peace process,” he said, adding the two sides should be able to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire. His tough talk came as both the government and the Norwegian-led truce monitoring mission expressed fears for the peace process and efforts to jumpstart talks that have been stalled since April 2003. President Rajapakse's government has said it wants a new peace process and to “revise” the truce, but the Tigers have maintained that any unilateral action on the process is unacceptable. Despite the truce, 12 people including seven soldiers were killed in the North and East over the weekend, a military official said. He said troops in those regions as well as other parts were asked to remain on high alert. A soldier who survived a land-mine attack in the northern Jaffna peninsula on Sunday died yesterday raising the toll among soldiers to seven in the worst attack on the army since the ceasefire went into effect. “It is obvious that through these violent acts, the LTTE is trying all possible means to provoke troops and create a volatile situation in Jaffna,” military spokesman Nalin Witharanage said in a statement. “In the wake of these incidents, the security forces and the police will now intensify security duties to ensure law and order prevailed.” US condemns Jaffna attacks, urges parties to uphold CFA US State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli in a
statement issued on Monday called on the Government of Sri Lanka and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to take immediate action to prevent violence
and to uphold the terms of the Ceasefire Agreement. Sri Lanka - Violations of the Ceasefire Agreement Statement by Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman The United States remains gravely concerned about persistent violations of the Ceasefire Agreement, particularly over the past few weeks. We condemn the December 4 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack in Jaffna on a Sri Lanka Army vehicle that caused the deaths of seven soldiers. Such violence is inconsistent with LTTE claims to be committed to the peace process. We call on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take immediate action to prevent violence and to uphold the terms of the Ceasefire Agreement. Sri Lanka questions Norway's reported funding of LTTE The Sri Lanka government has decided to urge its peace facilitator, Norway, to stop its reported funding of the LTTE. Informed sources revealed that the Sri Lankan government has already raised the issue with Norway. Sources also said the previous government had been aware of the accessibility of Norwegian funds by the LTTE, though it had not acted upon that information. A Norwegian newspaper, the New Times, recently revealed that 25 million kroner had been channeled to the LTTE during the last three and half years. The paper stated that the funding continued though the LTTE suspended its participation in the peace process in April 2003. The Norwegian government has acknowledged the funding but said it could not give details of how the money was used, the paper reported. Key Karuna Group operative, 3 paramilitary cadres killed in East A key operative of the paramilitary Karuna Group, Iniyabarathy
alias Barathy, was killed Monday night when the Liberation Tigers launched
a counter attack on a group of paramilitary cadres who were on an ambush
mission towards Kanjikudichcha Aaru forward defence post of the Tigers,
Mr. Daya Mohan, LTTE's political head in Amparai told TamilNet Tuesday.
Iniyabarathy was killed with three other paramilitary cadres in the no-man
zone between the Sri Lanka Army held Manthoddam and the LTTE held Kanjikudichcha
Aaru, located 5 km east of Siyambalanduwa near the border of the Moneragala
and Amparai Districts. The three paramilitary cadres killed along with Iniyabarathy were identified by the LTTE as Mr. Suman from Sithandy, Eravur Mr. Thevan from Kaluwankerny, Eravur and Mr. Suresh from Vavunatheevu in Batticaloa. The counter attack took place at 2:20 a.m Tuesday when a group of more than ten persons were moving towards the LTTE forward defence posts located around one kilometer from the Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) positions, he added. The paramilitary operative Iniyabarathy was allegedly behind many abductions and killings in the east. He was also known for issuing telephone death threats, sources said. India asks EU to ban LTTE - The Island India has asked the European Union (EU) to ban the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by branding it as a terrorist organization. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent to the EU, through the Ministry of External Affairs, a dossier on the LTTE and three Indian terrorist outfits to be considered for a ban, according to informed sources here. The LTTE has acquired notoriety for being one of the most lethal and well-organised terrorist groups in South Asia. India was the first country to ban the LTTE on May 14, 1992, an year after the outfit’s woman suicide-bomber Dhanu assassinated former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at an election rally on the outskirts of Chennai on the night of May 21, 1991. The outfit has since been banned by Malaysia, Canada, Australia, the United States (in 1997), and Britain (2001). On Sept 26 this year, the EU barred Tamil Tigers from visiting its 25 Member States, and declared that it is actively considering listing the LTTE as a terrorist group. Condemning their "continuous use of violence and terrorism" the EU asked the Tamil Tigers "to take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change." The EU also decided that each of its Member States will, where necessary, take "additional national measures to check and curb illegal or undesirable activities (including issues of funding and propaganda) of the LTTE, its related organizations and known individual supporters." Between May 1976, when Velupillai Prabhakaran floated the LTTE to wage an armed struggle for a separate Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka’s northern and eastern provinces, and February this year, the dreaded outfit carried out 241 suicide bombings -- the most by any terrorist outfit across the globe. Its high-profile victims include India’s Rajiv Gandhi, Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, and a failed attempt on the life of Chandrika Kumaratunga. The Indian dossier sent to the EU says the LTTE runs a wide network of publicity and propaganda activities through bases in at least 54 countries. Financial support comes in the form of donations, forced or otherwise, from expatriate Sri Lankan Tamils across Switzerland, Canada, Australia, the UK, the US and the Scandinavian countries. If and when the EU formally bans the LTTE, that will freeze transfer of funds and financial assets of the outfit across all its 25 member states. In its May 29, 2000 issue, TIME magazine estimated that the LTTE raises US$60 million annually for its "war chest" from an estimated 900,000 Sri Lankan Tamils living in 40 countries. The Economist of London estimated in its July 20, 2002 edition that a sum of US$4 billion was being withheld from the Tamil Tigers in the wake of the ban imposed on it by various countries. Meanwhile, the Indian outfits which New Delhi wants the EU to ban include two Kashmiri militant groups and one Sikh extremist outfit. They are: Harkat-ul-Jehadi-I-Islami (Huji), Jamiat-ul Mujahideen, and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). Huji is a splinter group of the Harkat-ul Ansar, whose Bangladeshi unit was formed in 1992 with Osama bin Laden’s help. Of late, it has been active not only in Bangladesh but also in border districts of Indian states bordering that country, namely: West Bengal and Assam. The KLF, which was active during the militancy in Punjab in north India in the 1980s, claims to have several offices across Europe. The sending of the dossier comes in the week of the EU
recently including Kashmiri outfit Hizbul Mujahideen in its terror black
list. As the majority of the 4.7 people who voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe are Sinhalese their brains should be examined, Jathika Hela Urumaya leader Ellawala Medhananda thera has stated. The thera made this comment at a media conference held in Colombo this afternoon to brief the media on the current political situation. JHU parliamentary group leader Aturaliye Rathana thera warned that there is a growing insecurity in the country and called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take immediate action to counter the situation. The thera noted this situation has arisen as a result of international conspirators and another group are at work against the government. Rathana thera further pointed out that conditions to lay down arms should be imposed before commencing any discussions with the LTTE. SLA fires tear gas at student protest in Point Pedro Hundreds of students of Hartley College and Methodist
Girls High School located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Point Pedro
setup road blocks and protested against the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) attempt
to construct a new checkpoint on College Road leading to both schools,
Monday at 8 a.m., sources said. SLA soldiers fired warning shots into
the air and tear gas to disperse the protesting students. Members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) arrived at the scene to defuse tension in the area. Families living along College road, temporarily moved out of their homes during the morning confrontation. 05December 2005 Firefight near Neervely SLA camp, one soldier killed A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier seriously wounded when unknown gunmen attacked Neervely Jaffna SLA camp at 6.10 p.m. Sunday succumbed to his wounds, military sources in Colombo said. SLA soldiers returned fire and the firefight lasted more than five minutes, sources in Neerveli said. The SLA camp is located near the Kopay junction on Point-Pedro Jaffna A9 highway. Sri Lanka Army deployed soldiers along the coastal suburbs of Jaffna town, Ariyalai and Navanthurai, Jaffna police said adding that a curfew might be imposed in Jaffna. SLA has blocked all vehicular traffic on A9 following the incident.Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the south where funeral of the soldiers killed in Jaffna are to take place, according to military sources in Colombo. SLMC appeals to all Muslims to be calm and vigilant The SLMC appealed to the Muslims to be calm and vigilant of any anti social activity by vested interests and not to be provoked and succumb to the elements that have always wanted disunity and disharmony amongst the Muslims and Tamils. We urge the Government to immediately send in reinforcement of security forces and to provide adequate protection and security to the unarmed Muslim and Tamil civilian population in areas where there is tension and a feeling of insecurity. In a release the SLMC states: Sri Lanka Muslim Congress notes with deep regret the emergence of an uncertain and unstable situation in the Eastern Province particularly in the aftermath of the Presidential Election; - the hurling of grenades at people at prayers in a mosque at Akkaraipathu at 5.30.a.m. on the day preceding the poll and killing scores of people. - killing of two Muslim youths from Eravur and abandoning their bodies at Vallaichchenai. - followed by killing of another Muslim couple at Meeravodai. - Mr.Faleel the Divisional Secretary Kathankudy was shot at while on duty who succumbed to the injuries sustained there today 4th December 2005. -on Saturday 3"' December a Muslim civilian Hajja Mohideen of Thoppur was shot at and has been admitted to hospital in a critical condition. - following the Thoppur incident 3 Tamil civilians were attacked and two of whom succumbed to their injuries. The other lies in hospital with serious injuries. - consequent to this unfortunate incident 04 Muslim civilians of Thoppur had been abducted of whom three had been killed and bodies dumped in the neighbourhood. The other has been hospitalized in a critical state. -the unconfirmed report that further 04 Muslim civilians from Thoppur have been abducted has exacerbated the prevailing tension and trepidation. These Incidents have cumulatively forced a mass scale exodus of Muslim civilians seeking protection. The local population in places where violence has been unleashed unambiguously point the finger at the LTTE as the perpetrators and the LTTE has not done much to allay their involvement. These calculated attacks on the Muslims compel us to view with suspicion that orchestrated attempts are being made to disrupt Tamil - Muslim relationship in the East. Viewed in the backdrop of the fact that the Muslims have overwhelmingly voted and mandated the SLMC to engage in the pursuit of lasting peace and an equitable and acceptable solution to the ongoing ethnic strife within the frame work of a federal structure. One cannot be oblivious to the intention of the hidden hand that is opposed to peace and amity amongst the Muslims and Tamils. This challenge is further compounded with the realisation that the Tamils, particularly in the East who managed to exercise their franchise too have spoken unanimously and unequivocally for the need for a Federal solution where Muslims too would enjoy self rule, respect and dignity. It is pertinent to recall that in the past sinister attempts have been made to portray the Muslims as the spoilers in any attempts at resolving the ethnic issue. This has been disproved at the last Presidential Election where the Muslims have expressed their commitment and unwavering desire for just Peace and a negotiated settlement. At a time when peace loving people and the International community have acknowledged this and begun to place their confidence in the Muslim community for their commitment to peace, we feel these negative and unfortunate acts are being committed to provoke the Muslims against the Tamils in the East and create instability in the region. If this happens it could also help portray the Muslims as spoilers by vested interests. We call upon the LTTE to desist from acts of violence aimed at Muslims and Muslim interests and to actively engage In activities that would promote amity, peace and communal harmony which could eventually be taken forward to achieve the aspirations of the Muslims and the Tamils together with a just and durable peace. It is also time that the L TTE acknowledge its own acceptance that the Muslims as a distinct community with their own political aspirations would be treated with equal respect and dignity in order to achieve durable peace. They should desist from equating the Muslim community to the armed groups opposed to them. LTTE-Muslim leaders meet to diffuse tension in Muttur A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegation
led by Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Elilan and a delegation
of Muslim civil leaders led by Moulavi Careem, President of the Muttur
Mosque Federation, met Sunday evening at Kaddaiparichchan in the presence
of Mr. Arthur Tveiten, head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)
and explored ways to diffuse escalating tension in Muttur division following
several violent incidents which resulted in the death of five persons
from both communities, sources said. Both parties agreed to take urgent efforts to bring normalcy to the area, sources said. Violence in Muttur erupted on Saturday after with the shooting incident in which a Muslim person Haja Mohideen was injured. Thereafter two Tamil civilians were hacked to death and another Tamil civilian was seriously injured when their three-wheeler was stopped and burnt by a mob. Tension increased in Muttur town when the Police recovered three bodies of Muslim persons from an abandoned well Sunday morning, sources said. SLMM immediately rushed to the site and organized the discussion, sources said. Lanka urges international community to condemn LTTE attack-UNI Strongly condemning the claymore mine attack in Jaffna which killed six soldiers, the government of Sri Lanka today urged the international community to condemn such ''provocative acts'' by the LTTE. ''The government condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of six army personnel in the claymore mine attack at Kondavil, in Jaffna...The attack has been carried out in blatant violation of the provisions of the ceasefire agreement. The government calls on the international community to condemn such terrorist acts, which place obstacles in the way of furthering the peace process,'' a government statement said this evening. The statement said the army personnel were '' engaged in non-offensive routine activities'' such as distributing food rations and mail to army detachments and security points in Jaffna at the time of the attack. ''At time when the new President has extended an invitation for the resumption of peace talks, such provocative acts by the LTTE demonstrate a lack of sincerity towards negotiations and political settlement,'' the statement added. The Defence Secretary had already met the head of the Nordic truce monitoring mission to express the government's deep concern and called for immediate measures on preventing similar incidents. Calling it a ''pre-planned terrorist attack'', the statement said the government will take all necessary steps to prevent such killings in the future. ''While the government expresses its sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased army personnel and civilians, his excellency the President will appoint a three-member committee to submit a report on the situation in Jaffna,'' the statement declared. Cease-fire monitors warn of escalating violence in Sri Lanka as 6 soldiers killed in blast The international monitoring mission overseeing Sri Lanka's
uneasy truce with Tamil Tiger rebels warned Sunday that escalating hostilities
could cause a ``irreparable deterioration'' of security in the country.
Earlier, the rebels killed a government soldier near the northern city of Jaffna, as troops in full combat gear patrolled the key port city of Trincomalee after at least two residents died in clashes between Muslims and Tamils, the defense ministry said Sunday. Police also found the bodies of three Muslims allegedly abducted by the rebels. ``The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has observed and witnessed a dangerous trend of violence in the north and the east in the last few days,'' mission chief Hagrup Haukland said in a statement. He noted ``countless attacks'' in Tamil-majority areas and warned that ``there is a real danger that these disturbances and hostilities can spread and result in irreparable deterioration of security and prevent any real restoration of normalcy in the affected communities.'' The mission appealed to the government, the rebels and all community leaders to calm the situation before it escalated further. Tension has been mounting in the country since Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran warned a week ago that the rebels would step up their struggle for an independent Tamil homeland next year if grievances with the government are not resolved. Newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse has said he is committed to ending the violence and resuming the stalled peace process, but has rejected the rebels' core demand for an autonomous homeland. Violence flared in the city of Trincomalee on Saturday when two Tamil men assaulted a Muslim resident, seriously injuring him, military spokesman Brig. Nalin Witharanagee said. Rumors circulated that he had died, and a mob of Muslims fatally beat two Tamil men, he said. A Tamil and a Muslim also were wounded. The port and city areas of Trincomalee, 230 kilometers (140 miles) northeast of Colombo, are controlled by the government, but the rebels hold nearby pockets. Tamils are a majority in the area, which also has a large number of Muslim fishermen and traders. New tension gripped the area Sunday after police in Muttur, near Trincomalee, found the bodies of three of four Muslim cattle grazers who were reported missing a day earlier. The fourth Muslim man was found wounded and abandoned, said Deputy Inspector General of Police Rohan Abahayawardena. The officer declined to comment on the motive, but the rebels, who are mostly Hindus, appeared to have begun a concerted effort to scare away Muslims from Tamil areas. During two decades of civil war, the rebels carried out systematic killings of Muslims while attempting to assert control over eastern Sri Lanka. In a separate incident, Tamil rebels fired late Saturday at a vehicle carrying Sri Lankan soldiers near Jaffna, north of Trincomalee, killing one, Witharanagee said. Earlier in the day, rebels attacked a military post in the same area, wounding five soldiers, Witharanagee said. Three hand grenades were thrown at the soldiers, who were guarding a telecommunications tower, he said. Tens of thousands of Muslims fled the Jaffna Peninsula after the rebels started their separatist campaign in 1983. Fighting was halted after a 2002 cease-fire. The uneasy truce is holding, but peace talks have stalled. French national charged for creating nuisance at BIA Negombo additional Magistrate Ramani Attygala imposed a sentence of six months rigorous imprisonment suspended for 5 years when Swedalo Dennis, a French national pleaded guilty to creating a nuisance at the Bandaranaike International Airport. He was also charged for causing grievous hurt to N.B.K.G Seneviratne, a supervisor of the Investigation Unit of the SriLankan Airlines by biting one of his fingers. In addition the suspect was fined Rs. 2000. The French passenger was in transmit at the BIA. SI Warshaperuma of BIA prosecuted while D.P.Kumarasinghe PC appeared for the defence. CWC angry over removal of Thonda’s security The Ceylon Workers Congress yesterday warned the government would be held responsible for any lapse in the safety of its leader Armugam Thondaman, since it withdrew a special contingent of security personnel leaving him with only five men. The party said Mr. Thondaman was provided 16 men from the army commando unit with a back up vehicle, but the whole contingent and the vehicle was withdrawn. It claimed the party leader’s life was in danger in the current political situation caused by the envy of political forces and the move was a serious breach of his fundamental rights. TNA MP on US visit Ms Pathmini Sithamparanathan, Tamil National Alliance
(TNA) Member of Parliament (MP) for Jaffna district arrived Friday evening
in US for a two week speaking tour. She accepted an invitation by the
Florida Tamil Sangam to speak at the organization's annual event on 11
December, organizers of the event said. Ms Sithamparanathan and Prof Sithamparanathan are scheduled to visit several US cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Ohio and will speak to Tamil dispora on issues affecting Tamils in the NorthEast. Ms Sithamparanathan was a school teacher before emerging as a popular spokesperson for NorthEast Tamils during the Sri Lanka general elections of 2004. Several UNP MPs to cross over to government at budget It is reported that UNP parliamentarians in groups and as individuals are holding talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to join the government. According to sources close to the President three groups have met him. One group has held talks with the President individually. The second group has discussed the possibility of crossing over to the government en bloc and the third group is to support the government under a common understanding. Some of these UNP parliamentarians are likely to cross over to the government during the budget debate, if the UNP is unable to resolve the ongoing leadership crisis. Meanwhile it is understood the President expects to carry out a major cabinet reshuffle after the budget debate. As some of the cabinet and non-cabinet portfolios have been granted on a temporary basis, the President has pledged to offer key portfolios to those who are not so satisfied with their current portfolios after assessing their performance. Karu Jayasuriya takes over as Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader In a compromise solution to the UNP's internal crisis, the main opposition party has unanimously agreed to appoint its Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. “He will take over the new position in Parliament on 8th of this month,” UNP MP Rajitha Senarathna said. It is reported that Ranil Wickramasinghe will remain as the leader of the UNP. The majority of the UNP parliamentary group has asked its losing presidential candidate Mr. Wickramasinghe to resign from his leadership role, but the UNP’s executive committee rejected the proposal. UNP chairman Malik Samarawickrama has already tendered his resignation, accepting responsibility for the party’s defeat at the recently concluded presidential election. M.H. Mohamad for UNP chairmanship Colombo District leader and veteran UNP parliamentarian M.H. Mohamad will be appointed to the post of UNP chairman. “We have already decided to make the appointment and now it’s up to the party executive committee to finalize the decision,” the UNP parliamentary group said in a press release. It is learned that Mr. Mohamad lobbied for the removal of Ranil Wickramasinghe as the party leader and supports Karu Jayasuriya’s camp in the party. When Tamils’ anger bursts out in force traitors will be expelled from our land The Trincomalee Tamil People’s Consortium has accused
that the murders of civilians in Jaffna is an aspect of the continuing
shadow war carried out by the Sri Lankan military and paramilitaries that
work with them. “Two school principals were murdered. In the Nedunthivu area people who took part in the Maveerar Day commemoration were severely attacked. Now two innocent poor farmers have been shot dead in Neerveli.” “Our freedom struggle gained strength following murders like this that were carried out under the command of Brigadier Veerathunghe who was appointed in 1979 by his father in law and the then president Jayawardhena. Now the Sri Lankan military and its paramilitaries have restarted such murders with the view to upset normalcy in Jaffna.” “We have learned that the two innocent civilians shot dead took active part in the Maveerar Day commemoration. They must be assuming that we can be frightened by making us think that if we work with the LTTE we will be punished with death. But, the day when paramilitaries and traitors must run away from our land is not very far.” “When the anger of the Tamil people at these lowly acts bursts out, we warn that the traitors will be forced to run with the Sri Lankan military from our land.” Short fuse in Sri Lanka-source: boston.com WESTERNERS ARE kept aware of postcolonialist conflicts in Kashmir, Israel-Palestine, Rwanda, and Sudan, but the decades-long conflict on the island nation of Sri Lanka between a Sinhalese Buddhist majority and the Tamil minority often seems a tragedy the West would rather ignore. Recent events there suggest, however, that Sri Lanka desperately needs help from international peace brokers if it is to avoid lapsing back into a bloody internecine war that has been suspended since a 2002 ceasefire. The outcome of last month's presidential election has stoked fears that the war between the Sinhalese-dominated government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam will resume in coming months. The new president, Mahinda Rajapakse, won a narrow victory in alliance with two hard-line Sinhala nationalist parties thanks to an election boycott by most Tamils in the north of the island. In Rajapakse's initial address to Parliament Nov. 26, he warned ominously that he will reject self-determination for the Tamils, that he is committed to a ''unitary state" controlled by the Sinhala-Buddhist majority, that he wants to dissolve the current joint Tiger-government administration of post-tsunami relief, and that he plans to terminate a peace process that has been mediated by Norway. Two days later, the Tigers' leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, delivering his annual Heroes' Day speech, restated the Tigers' familiar aim of self-government in a Tamil homeland, noted a ''vast" policy difference between the new president and the Tigers and warned that Tamils are losing patience. ''The new government should come forward soon with a reasonable political framework that will satisfy the political aspirations of the Tamil people," he said. If no such offer is forthcoming, Prabhakaran said, the Tigers will in the next year ''intensify our struggle for self-determination." This either-or threat, seen alongside Rajapakse's own hard-line stance, presages an imminent renewal of civil war. Former President Bill Clinton, who toured government-controlled areas of Sri Lanka Tuesday as a UN special tsunami envoy, grasped the danger looming over the island should the current ceasefire be washed away. ''Any recovery progress achieved this year will be quickly reversed if Sri Lanka returns to civil conflict," Clinton warned. Sri Lanka has limited strategic importance for the United States, but America's new strategic partner, India, has much to fear from a recurrence of warfare between the Tigers and the island's Sinhala-dominated government. India and the United States should bring international pressure to bear on the island's belligerents to sustain the current ceasefire and craft a political resolution that recognizes the Tamil need for self-government. 04December 2005 Six SLA soldiers killed, two wounded in Jaffna Six Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and two wounded when a claymore mine hit their tractor Sunday afternoon in Kondavil in Jaffna, civilian sources said. All traffic was blocked. Civilian travellers were being attacked by the soldiers. Tension prevails in the area, sources added. More than 10 soldiers were travelling in the tractor, civilian sources said.Kondavil is located 6 km north of Jaffna. Further details are not available at the moment. Norway to continue as facilitator President Mahinda Rajapakse has decided to continue with Norway as the facilitator of the peace process and resume talks with the LTTE on the basis of reviewing the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA). The President was expected to communicate his decision on Norway's role at a scheduled meeting with the Co-Chairs at Temple Trees tomorrow (5) but the meeting was called off friday afternoon due to concerns expressed by the JVPand JHU. The official reason given for the cancellation of the meeting was the busy schedule of the President due to the budget presentation on November 8.The meeting is to be rescheduled after the President discusses with the JVP and the JHU the role of Norway in the peace process. The Co-Chairs - Japan, USA, EU and Norway - last week sought an appointment from President Rajapakse to discuss the future of the peace process, which meeting was fixed for tomorrow. President Rajapakse was to be assisted at the meeting by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Head, Peace Secretariat, John Gooneratne. The Co-Chairs were to be represented by Ambassador Akio Suda (Japan), Jeffrey Lunstead (USA), Hans Brattskar (Norway), Julian Wilson (EU) and British High Commissioner, Stephen Evans in his capacity as the current president of the EU. The Sunday Leader learns, the President has however decided to continue with Norway as facilitator to bring the LTTE back to the table given the ultimatums issued by Velupillai Pirapaharan to resume the struggle for Eelam some time next year unless the government forwards a practical solution to the problems of the Tamil people. A top government source said the President would call on the Co-Chairs to arrange with the LTTE talks to review the CFA as an initial confidence building measure. The President is to also explain his plan to develop a southern consensus by holding discussions with the political parties represented in parliament as a first step. The JHU however is opposing Norway continuing as facilitator while the JVP has drawn President Rajapakse's attention to the agreement signed with the party wherein Rajapakse has agreed to examine Norway's role in the peace process. The JVP, the source said, has proposed curtailing Norway's role to merely facilitating the logistics without a mediating role. The Co-Chairs, it is learnt, will not agree to the dilution of their role if they are to continue facilitating the peace process. SLA soldier killed in Chavakacheri, civilians attacked in reprisal One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed when a tractor
carrying SLA soldiers came under gunfire from unknown gunmen near Chavakacheri
Hindu College Saturday evening, sources in Jaffna said. Three SLA soldiers
were injured in three other grenade attacks in Meesalai located 3 km from
Chavakachcheri. The injured soldiers were first taken to Puttur SLA camp
by road and from there they were airlifted to Palaly military hospital.
SLA troopers stationed along the A9 highway between Meesalai and Chavakacheri
attacked civilan travellers with gun butts. Smashed motorbikes were seen
on both sides along the highway, travellers who escaped from the site
told TamilNet. Sri Lankan soldiers attacked the civilian travellers along the A9 highway in Chavakacheri following the incidents. Tension prevailed in the area and the traffic along the A9 remained blocked Saturday night. The incidents mark escalation of violence for the second day in Thenmaradchy where attacks are centered around the A9 highway between Chavakachcheri and Meesalai. JVP opposes general election The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has strongly opposed moves by President Mahinda Rajapakse to call for a snap general election in the wake of his presidential election victory. It is learned that the constituent partners have informed Rajapakse that there is no urgency to hold a general election just yet as the UPFA enjoys a majority in parliament with no possibility of that strength being weakened immediately. Instead, The Sunday Leader learns the JVP is strongly advocating the holding of local government elections that need to be held early next year. It is learned that the JVP is keen on a local poll, which if won would strengthen Rajapakse's mandate and consolidate the UPFA administration at the grassroot level. Presently, the opposition UNP has control over a majority of local government bodies. In the present context, the JVP has argued that a general election is not a necessity but bringing the local bodies under the UPFA control would give the government added strength in the event a parliamentary poll has to be called. It is learned that a general election is likely to be held only mid next year if the political climate is conducive to the ruling alliance. Two killed, two
injured in Muttur The attack was triggered after a regional organiser of the main opposition, United National Party (UNP), was admitted to hospital with serious gunshot injuries. Police said the UNP organiser was shot by the ‘pistol gang’ of the Tamil Tigers. The villagers have told the police that the suspected LTTE cadres fled to the rebel-controlled area after the shooting. Trincomalee Lankadeepa correspondent Amadoru Amarajeeva told BBC Sandeshaya that the authorities have employed extra security personnel. Trincomalee Superintendent of Police (SP) Kapila Jayasekara said the situation is now under control. Two SLA troopers injured in Point Pedro grenade attack Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers providing security
to the Sri Lanka Telecom's Transmission tower based in Malusanthi in Vadamaradchy
were seriously injured when unknown assailants riding in a motorbike hurled
a grenade at the sentry at 6.10 p.m. Saturday, sources said. The injured
soldiers have been taken to Palaly military hospital for treatment. Malusanthi
is a town located 3 km southwest of Point Pedro town and lies between
Manthikai hospital and Nelliady on the Point Pedro Jaffna road. Meanwhile, a bowzer distributing water to SLA troops came under gunfire in Ariyalai, Jaffna along the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road. Although the gunmen aimed at the bowzer driver, no one was injured in the attack, Jaffna military sources said. The vehicle sustained damages, according to eye witnesses. Four traders arrested by the SLA following the attack on a checkpost in Kantharmadam, close to Parameswara Junction at 2:30 p.m Saturday, were released after the intervention of the members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), sources in Jaffna said. One of the traders has sustained injuries to his hand and has been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Security has been strengthened in Kantharmadam areas and SLA has established scheckpoints at several points in the area, sources said. 25 UNP dissident MPs want new leader The United National Party (UNP) dissident group is to forward a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to conform to earlier promised party reforms. The MoU already signed by some 25 UNP MPs lobbying for reforms will be presented to him this week, The Sunday Times learns. Those spearheading the dissident group are former Tourism
Minister, Kesbewa MP and JSS trade unionist Gamini Lokuge, former Lands
Minister and Ex-BNP member Rajitha Senaratne, former Fisheries Minister
Mahinda Wijesekara, former Industries Minister G.L. Peiris, former Speaker
M.H. Mohamed, former Power and Energy Minister P. Dayaratne, Mano Wijeratne,
Dharmadasa Banda, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Neomal Perera and Susantha
Punchinilame. The MoU will propose that Ranil Wickremesinghe continue to hold the leadership of the United National Front (UNF) while Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya will be appointed as both the Leader of the UNP and Opposition Leader. Some of the dissident group members are also advocating a National Government. It further proposes that party posts -- chairman and
general secretary, that are presently held by non-MPs -- be handed over
to active politicians and that the UNP Working Committee also be restricted
to active politicians. The group had also requested the Opposition Leader to
convene the Parliamentary Group Meeting before the presentation of the
revised 2006 Budget on December 8. The group had not met after the presidential
election. The party, however, agreed that it would proceed with an election petition taking up the twin issues of the disenfranchisement of the northern Tamil voters due to the boycott instigated by the LTTE as well as the non-registration of voters. Meanwhile due to the internal rifts, the party convention has been postponed to February next year. Two attacks in Jaffna, civilian wounded in SLA gunfire A civilian traveller was seriously wounded when Sri Lanka
Army (SLA) soldiers opened fire following a grenade attack on their checkpost
in Kantharmadam, close to Parameswara Junction on Palaly Road in Jaffna
around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Normalcy was reported in many areas of Jaffna,
except in Neerveli, where the funeral of the farmers shot and killed on
Thursday took place Saturday. Another SLA checkpost located in Kondavil Junction on Palaly Road came under gunfire by two motorbike-riding gunmen Saturday noon. No casualties were reported. The Jaffna - Point Pedro and Rasaveethy main roads remained blocked for traffic as Neerveli residents mourned the two farmers allegedly killed by paramilitary and intelligence operatives collaborating with SLA Thursday. The funeral of the two victims were held in Neerveli on Saturday. UNP to file election petition The UNP will file an election petition before the Supreme Court next week challenging the results of the November 17 election in which Mahinda Rajapakse was declared victor. The petition would allege that the November 17 presidential poll was not 'free and fair,' and cite President Mahinda Rajapakse, Elections Commissioner, Daya-nanda Dissanayake and the Attorney General, K. C. Kamalasabayson as respondents. UNP Assistant Secretary, Tissa Attanayake told The Sunday Leader that the UNP would cite two reasons for challenging the outcome of the election. First, the inability of the northern people to exercise their franchise and, Second, thousands of eligible voters being struck off from the electoral registers. "Many people lost their fundamental right to vote," said Attanayake. He added that the UNP's official complaint regarding irregularities was rejected by the Elections Commissioner. "We requested for a repoll but was denied," he said. Two other fundamental rights applications by individuals are also to be filed. Attanayake said that the UNP is in the process of gathering names of those struck off electoral registers, and added his party would encourage individuals to file action. Attanayake added, "We want to tell the world, the UN and the European Union that this is not a legitimate government." Under the Presidential Elections Act No. 15 of 1981, all election petitions should be submitted within 21 days from the date of publication of election results in the government gazette. Any fundamental rights application should be filed within a month of the gazette notification of the election results. CFA, key to end Rights violations- Thamilchelvan “Only creating conditions of normalcy will restore the denied human rights to our people. Sincere and committed implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) is necessary in the post-war situation as CFA can bring normalcy to a people affected by two decades of war that resulted in large scale displacement and destroyed the social and economic infrastructure,” said Mr.S.P.Thamilchelvan, Head of the LTTE Political Wing in a meeting with Ms. Irene Zubaida Khan, Director, Amnesty International Saturday, 3 December 2005, at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi. Ms. Irene Khan expressed Amnesty International’s serious concerns over the increasing violence and allegations of underage recruitment by the Liberation Tigers. Ms Khan expressed the need to explore mechanisms to end violence and upgrade human rights standards in conformity with international norms. Thamilchelvan told the Amnesty official the background to LTTE's armed resistance as a response to state violence. He reiterated the importance of bringing normalcy to peoples lives as an urgent condition to prevent rights violations. "Continued occupation of Tamil habitats by the Sri Lankan military, designating productive farm lands and sea coasts as High Security Zones, has deprived the Tamil people their basic human right to live freely earning a livelihood. This and the tsunami devastation coupled with anti-Tamil sentiments prevailing within SriLanka's polity have created a political vacuum for Tamils," Thamilchelvan told Ms Khan. Thamilchelvan expressed LTTE's view that only effective implementation of CFA is necessary and that there is no need for a revision or review of the CFA. He added that strict implementation of Clause 1.8 that prohibits activities of armed groups is imperative to prevent violence, and that the two parties should meet urgently to discuss issues related to commitment and implementation of CFA. Thamilchelvan extended invitation to Amnesty to send a fact finding mission to Tamil homeland to investigate matters related to child recruitment and other rights concerns. Ms Khan also met with NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) to learn about its functions, staff strength, on complaints received and how the complaints are resolved. Irene Zubaida Khan joined Amnesty International as the organization’s seventh Secretary General in August 2001. Ms Khan joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1980, and worked in a variety of positions at Headquarters and in field operations to promote the international protection of refugees. Ms Khan studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School, specialising in public international law and human rights. LTTE claims it has identified mosque bombers The LTTE claims to have found those responsible for bombing the mosque in Akkaraipattu on Election Day, but refuse to divulge the information excepting to Muslim leaders in the area. "The LTTE says they are 75% certain they have caught the culprit, but will only reveal the information to Muslim leaders in Akkaraipattu," TNA Parliamentarian S.Padmanadan said. Four people were killed and over 20 injured when a grenade was thrown into the mosque on November 17. The LTTE denied involvement in the incident. Tension has since prevailed between Muslims and Tamils in the east, with several incidents of violence reported. A procession was held last Thursday(1) by Tamils in the area protesting the lack of doctors at Our Lady of Bembu Hospital situated on the Tamil border. "The doctors are mainly Muslims and refuse to work in the area after dark," Padmanadan said. He said he was trying to make arrangements to either bring in Sinhalese doctors or foreign doctors to work in the hospital. Padmanadan said several attempts were made by him and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to get the two parties to talk and reach a solution, but to no avail. "The Muslim leaders are afraid to go to LTTE controlled areas and the LTTE personnel refuse to come to Muslim areas," Padmanadan said. Govt-LTTE go-between to head tsunami rehab body President Mahinda Rajapakse is to establish a Reconstruction and Development Agency (RDA) to spearhead his Jaya Lanka programme to handle tsunami aid, including aid to areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and has named businessman Tiran Alles, who maintains friendly contacts with the Tiger guerrillas, as the chairman-designate. The move is aimed at channelling foreign aid now stuck
in the pipeline, especially to the LTTE-controlled areas of the Mullaitivu
district and parts of the Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, and to
engage the rebel organisation in the task of reconstruction and rehabilitation
of these areas. Sections of the P-TOMS agreement signed between the Kumaratunga
government and the LTTE were held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
President Rajapakse vowed during his presidential election campaign to
abolish this system and instead introduce the Jaya Lanka Programme. The other members of the new agency are former BOI Chief Saliya Wickramasuriya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, K. Amunugama, B. Abeygunawardene of the Finance and Planning Ministry and Shanthi Fernando The proposed RDA, which will be established through legislation in Parliament, will be the apex body for all tsunami-related activity. Besides overseeing tsunami reconstruction, it will also supervise all other organisations that are entrusted with reconstruction and development in the affected areas. This includes the TAFREN (Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation) and the TAFOR (Task Force for Relief). Mr Alles told The Sunday Times he hoped to meet with the relevant donor agencies associated with all organisations engaged in tsunami work. "I will first see what has been done and take things from there," he said. He declined to give further details of how the proposed RDA would function, and how foreign aid would be channelled to the LTTE -- an issue that was at the root of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leaving the Kumaratunga government in June this year, saying that the government was still studying the measures to be adopted. North, east yet to see tsunami reconstruction Almost a year after the December 26 tsunami which left thousands of people homeless, non governmental organisations have maintained that areas affected by the devastation in the north and east have remained the worst affected with very little construction carried out in order to redevelop the region. Despite the government's repeated assurance in providing land, hundreds of victims continue to languish in makeshift camps and tents and according to information released by non-governmental organisations, more than 250,000 people remain displaced without adequate means of housing. According to a report titled 'Post Tsunami Relief And Rehabilitation - A Violation of Humans Rights' published by Housing and Land Rights Network, Habitat International Coalition, nearly 150,000 houses were completely or partially damaged in Sri Lanka. Most of these were located along the coastal belt. The report states that for people who lost their homes and all their belongings, the allocation of suitable alternate accommodation should be a top priority of all relief agencies. "Despite sufficient funding, the housing needs of the tsunami survivors have not been met. Government officials and politicians have followed a policy of either ignoring the housing issue, evading it, or offering ad hoc solution to their supporters. None of these were acceptable solutions to the massive problems of housing and resettlement created by the tsunami," the report states. The report adds that the major problem in Sri Lanka was that the process for allocating and building temporary housing has been painfully slow and uncoordinated, with people languishing in emergency shelters even after 11 months. The timeframe for both emergency and temporary housing is constantly being extended - flouting all internationally accepted norms - for various reasons ranging from lack of concern and priority, lack of participation and consultation with the affected communities, and lack of coordination and planning. Germany grants euro 36 million The government of the Federal Republic of Germany will make a grant of euro 36 million for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by the tsunami. The cabinet memorandum forwarded by former Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama on the matter was approved last week. Of the total amount, euro 10 million will be allocated for rehabilitation, reconstruction and modernisation of vocational training institutes, euro 10 million for infrastructure development, euro 4 million for housing, euro 3.5 million to strengthen the implementation mechanism, euro 3.5 million to develop education facilities and social care and euro 5 million to develop the micro and small enterprises. However, a total sum of US$ 403 million in foreign aid is expected to be disbursed for the tsunami related projects in 2006. The tsunami rebuilding programmes have received long term pledges made by the donor community. The total amount pledged by the donor community for a three-year period, spanning from 2005-2008 is US$ 2,218.3 million. However, the total commitments for the three-year period stand at US$ 1,504 million. Mahanayake denounces CBK moves to return to Parliament The Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter has disapproved moves by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga to return to Parliament, saying that it would bring dishonour to the office of the President. He made these comments during a meeting with Ministry Secretaries who called on the Mahanayake Thera. Earlier President Kumaratunga reportedly informed the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which she heads that she wanted to enter Parliament through the national list where a vacancy exists following the death of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. But political sources said President Mahinda Rajapakse was keen to name former deputy minister Dallas Alahaperuma who helped him in the presidential campaign as the new MP. SL communities at brink of tragedy- Schaffer "The international friends of the SriLankan peace process need to proceed with bracing realism and appeal to the most urgent self-interest on both sides. Without a new commitment to a real cease-fire and a serious dialogue, all of Sri Lanka’s communities stand at the brink of tragedy. The inclusiveness Rajapakse has promised could stand him in good stead, but the key quality he will need is leadership," says former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Teresita Schaffer. In a publication released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based in Washington D.C., where Ambassador Schaffer heads the South Asia Program, Ms Schaffer further says: "Posturing for international support is no substitute for getting on with that extremely difficult job." Ms Schaffer characterizes the presidential campaign as a polarizing one. Rajapakse had negotiated with two strongly nationalist political parties, JVP, a former insurgent group, and JHU, a party of Buddhist monks which necessitated his jettisoning most of previous government's peace policy, she writes. Ranil Wickremesinghe campaigned for the continuity of peace process launched during his premiership. But the campaign lacked the "fire coming out of SLFP-led camp," Ms Schaffer observes. She notes that LTTE's "boycott was undoubtedly intended to show the LTTE's power," and that the LTTE argued that the boycott was intended to "clarify Sinhalese population's war like attitudes." On the derailing of tsunami rehabilitation mechanism P-TOMS, Ambassador Schaffer says, "the outgoing government was left with the worst possible outcome: an unfunded and unimplementable arrangement, branded as too generous to the LTTE by the political opposition, and a Supreme Court ruling that confirmed the LTTE’s suspicions that the Sri Lankan polity would never agree to give them meaningful participation in running the country." She notes: "Most of the [Pirapaharan's] speech was a carefully crafted argument about how Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese politicians had undermined every chance for peace in the past two decades and more. He declared that the LTTE’s participation in the peace process was intended to show the international community that it stood for peace," and says "his unrelenting argument about how both major Sri Lankan parties had failed to keep their promises offers little optimism that a breakthrough is likely." Noting that "Ethnic question remains the key issue for Sri Lanka's future," she opines that "the outlook is not promising." She warns that "there is no time to waste: violence is already going up, and the LTTE is at least considering whether a military option makes sense." In concluding she stresses the importance of leadership and that both sides should get on with solving the difficult job without "posturing for international support." 03December 2005 Norwegian envoy discusses Sri Lanka's truce Norwegian envoy Eric Solheim met with a top Indian foreign ministry official on Friday and discussed peace prospects in Sri Lanka following the election of hard-liner Mahinda Rajapakse as president, an Indian official said. "We both agreed that it is very important that the cease-fire should be maintained and strengthened and that there should not be any relapse into violence in Sri Lanka," India's Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said after meeting Solheim. "We should facilitate and promote the peace process," he said. The Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in 2002 halted the civil war in Sri Lanka, though sporadic violence continues to threaten the truce. India also emphasized that the economic requirements of the troubled Tamil-dominated north and the east should be met through international efforts, Saran said. Solheim, who has been trying to end the civil conflict in Sri Lanka since 1990s, visited the Indian capital a day after the new Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Peace talks have been stalled between the government and the Tamil Tigers since April 2003 when rebels demanded boosted authority over Tamil-dominated areas of Sri Lanka in the north and the east. The rebels launched a separatist war in 1983, accusing the country's Sinhalese majority of discrimination against Tamils. Fighting has killed about 65,000 people. Kotakadeniya, new Defence Advisor Former Senior DIG and JHU strongman H M G B Kotakadeniya has been appointed as a Senior Advisor to the Defence Ministry. Mr. Kotakadeniya who has been appointed by the Ministry of Defence on the direction of President Mahinda Rajapakse will act as the Secretary in charge of police affairs. The former DIG told the Daily Mirror last night that the police department earlier functioned under the ministry of Public Security, Law and Order but it would now come under the Ministry of Defence in the new government. Mr. Kotakadeniya received the letter of appointment yesterday to assume duties with immediate effect under Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse. Mr. Kotakadeniya retired from the police department as a Senior DIG and entered mainstream politics by joining the Sihala Urumaya which later became the Jathika Hela Urumaya. New Army chief takes over The Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda will retire on December 5 and Maj. General Sarath Fonseka will take over as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, the out going commander said. Major General Sarath Fonseka was born in 1950 and was educated at Dharmasoka College, Ambala-ngoda and at Ananda College Colombo. He joined the Sinha Regiment of the army as an officer cadet in 1970 and is a battle hardened officer and had led his regiment in the Riviresa. The outgoing Army chief said he had no immediate plans on his future endeavour. He thanked both officers and men for all the support extended to him. LTTE naval wing not a major threat: India India is wary of the naval wing of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers but believes it is still not strong enough to play a destabilising role in regional waters, the Navy Chief said on Friday. Admiral Arun Prakash referred to a previous warning about the 'Sea Tigers' made by assassinated Sri Lankan foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, and said: "We are wary of the Sea Tigers but they don't prevent us from doing what we want to do." Pointing to the Setusamudram channel being built to help ships crossing from India's east coast to the west coast to avoid circumnavigating Sri Lanka, Prakash said concerns had been raised about the Sea Tigers hijacking merchant vessels. "There is an apprehension that if more merchant shipping passes through (the Setusamudram channel), the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) might hijack it. But the Indian Navy has no such apprehensions." Prakash also noted that the channel would significantly reduce the time taken by Indian warships travelling from one coast to the other. Such a crossing now takes between 18 and 24 hours. The reduction in time for coast-to-coast crossings would have "excellent operational implications", Prakash told a news conference ahead of Navy Day on Sunday. "It's not quite clear how this will impact on the (situation in) Sri Lanka, but hopefully that will be a deterrent to the LTTE," he said. Prakash also pointed out the Setusamudram channel would be wide but not deep enough for the passage of very large ships. He said ships of about 40,000-50,000 tonnes would be able to use the channel and larger vessels would have to make the longer crossing around Sri Lanka. But the channel would be big enough to accommodate all major Indian warships. The Delhi-class of missile destroyers, the largest warships in service with the Indian Navy, are less than 7,000 tonnes. Jaffna strike over Tamil killings A one-day strike has been observed in the Jaffna peninsula
in northern Sri Lanka in protest at the killing of two Tamil youths. Road transport was effected and some strikers put up road blocks. The two youths were shot dead by unknown assailants on Thursday at Neerveli near Jaffna. Jaffna police are investigating the attack. Divisional secretary shot and wounded Kaththankudi divisional Secretariat A.L.M.Faleel was
shot inside his office this afternoon . Sinhalese fish vendor shot dead in Trincomalee Unidentified men Friday afternoon around 3.30 p.m. shot dead a Sinhala fish vendor, Mr.Hemasiri, alias Lokku Iya (57), in the market located at Anuradhapura junction, about two km off northwest of Trincomalee town, Uppuveli police said. He succumbed to gunshot injuries after admission to the Trincomalee general hospital, police said.Several checkpoints and temporary army camps are located along Trincomalee-Kandy road passing through Gandhinagar, Abeyapura and Anpuvallipuram, suburbs of the east port town. EPDP vehicle hits civilian auto-rickshaw in Jaffna, five wounded Five civilians including women were severely wounded
when a speeding pickup-vehicle belonging to the Eelam Peoples Democratic
Party (EPDP) collided with an auto-trishaw at 5:20 p.m. Friday at Pannai
bridge which links Jaffna mainland with islets. Tension escalated when
villagers shouting against the EPDP cadres were attacked by the Sri Lanka
Army soldiers and policemen escorting the EPDP vehicle, civilian sources
in Navanthurai said. The wounded passengers in the auto-rickshaw, from Navanthurai, a coastal suburb of Jaffna town, were on their way to a funeral home when the pickup vehicle of the EPDP hit their vehicle. EPDP is a paramilitary group and political party. The anti-LTTE group's cadres collaborate with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence in the SLA controlled areas and Colombo. Grenade attacks escalate, Jaffna tense At least seven grenade attacks were reported Friday in
Jaffna. The attacks on Sri Lanka Army (SLA)positions escalated amid total
shutdown in several SLA controlled areas of the Jaffna peninsula following
the Neerveli kilings on Thursday. A handbill issued in the name of "Roaring
People's Force" warned that reprisal attacks on SLA soldiers and
intelligence operatives will escalate if attacks against Tamil activists
and civilians continued. In Valigamam, in Kuppilan, an SLA solder was wounded when unidentified assailants lobbed a grenade into an SLA position at Kuppilan Junction, 10 km north of Jaffna town around 7:00 p.m. A grenade attack was also reported in Jaffna town, at Brown Road - Arasady Road junction, close to the Hindu Ladies College at 7:30 p.m. The grenade exploded outside an SLA checkpost wounding a civilian, Mr. Shanmuganathan Sivaneswaran, 35, from Erlalai, sources said. The wounded civilian was rushed to Jaffna hospital where five civilians hit by an EPDP paramilitary vehicle earlier on the day were being treated. In Vadamardchi, at 7.45 p.m. unidentified attackers lobbed a grenade at the office of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) located in Manthikai. Tension prevailed in the area when Sri Lankan soldiers providing security to the paramilitary office returned fire. Two farmers who decorated the streets in Neerveli during the Heroes Remembrance Week were gunned down Thursday allegedly by the paramilitary cadres and intelligence operatives collaborating with the Sri Lanka Army. Another one was wounded. The unwise decision of giving Douglas the social welfare ministry- Source: Northeastern Monthly EPDP leader, Minister Douglas Devananda has been allocated the portfolio of social services and social welfare by the new president, Mahinda Rajapakse. This ministry is solely in charge of specialised programmes providing government welfare for persons internally displaced by war. These programmes are quite different and specific from those set up for tsunami relief, or for the displaced from other natural disasters. The functions now undertaken by the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare form a vital part of the few services the Sri Lankan state offers the people of the northeast. Under the last president, these services were rendered through the Triple-R ministry that came under the purview of President Chandrika Kumaratunga. When the UNP government was in power (2001-2004) the prime minister’s office was in charge of it. There was considerable heartburn in the past too when Devananda was minister of development, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the north. It was common for people to allege that it was mostly EPDP supporters in the north who were recipients of government reconstruction benefits. But even then welfare services to refugees and IDPs did not come under Devananda’s purview. Devananda’s role in the government is not confined to holding office by virtue of the fact that he is an elected representative of the people of Jaffna. He is also the leader of a party that functions as a paramilitary arm of the army with the goal of militarily vanquishing the LTTE. What we also know is Devananda’s record of support over the years of the SLFP / PA / UPFA and the repressive methods he has used to rig elections, assault and intimidate his political foes, and whose colleagues in the EPDP are accused of murdering a journalist. There is every possibility that Devananda and his cohorts (who will no doubt occupy influential positions in the ministry soon), would begin to use the distribution of welfare for IDPs and other programmes for resettlement and rehabilitation, as counterinsurgency weapons. The threat of withdrawing welfare could be a powerful method of bringing to heel the IDP population of Jaffna and making them support the government and the EPDP. Such fear is all the more palpable because the recent elections saw the people of Jaffna boycotting polls. Though it is the boycott that kept the likes of Devananda in office, the fact remains the act was a strong endorsement that the writ of the LTTE runs in the government-controlled areas of Jaffna. There is every possibility therefore that Devananda could use his influence with the IDPs for the political end of undermining the Tigers in Jaffna. The additional concern is the considerable presence of IDPs in the LTTE-controlled areas. Thus the state’s relief effort has to be coordinated between both the government- and LTTE-controlled areas as well as with the NGOs. The minister could use his office to prevent releasing welfare to the Tiger-controlled areas, creating thereby confrontation and dissent. It is therefore imperative that the president who began
his tenure on an inauspicious note with the Tamils boycotting the elections
does not stray deeper into the morass by distributing ministerial portfolios
unwisely. It could be a very costly mistake. President Mahinda Rajapakse is reportedly keen on securing the required number in Parliament to garner a two thirds majority ahead of landmark constitutional amendments and also move for a Cabinet reshuffle. Sources close to the President told the Daily Mirror yesterday that President Rajapakse was likely to consider a Cabinet reshuffle paving the way for others to join government ranks. The government in parliament now has 118 seats including the JVP and the JHU and is short of 32 seats to obtain a two thirds majority. The President is also likely to bring in amendments to the Constitution making way for the retirement of Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayke who has passed his mandatory retirement age of 60, sources said. Mr. Dissanayake made an appeal for his release from the top job when he declared Mr. Rajapakse as the new President, but according to the Constitution the powers of the polls chief cannot be delegated to any other public servant until a new elections commission is constituted. An amendment to the 1978 statute set up a fully fledged independent Elections Commission in 2001 replacing Mr. Dissanayake's election department, but he can quit only after the new commissioners are appointed. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga delayed to name the three commissioners required to run the independent body. Sources also said President Rajapakse was seeking a two thirds majority in Parliament to ensure a stable peace process and reach a final solution to the ethnic conflict. Army deserter nabbed with miniature gun A small firearm resembling a pen was found on an army deserter by the Thirappane police in a village Ethungama when police on a tip-off raided a house yesterday .OIC Thirappane Kithsiri Herath said the handgun was larger than an ordinary pen and was plated in gold colour. It bore a registration number 2081/80 – 972 and appeared to be one manufactured abroad. It could be used with .22 cartridges and when police questioned the 25 year old deserter, he had said that he had found it on a road, but apparently it was a false statement, IP Herath said. Police were trying to ascertain whether the handgun had been used in any crime. Further investigations are being carried out including a firearms expert’s report. The army deserter was to be produced before the Anuradhapura Magistrate yesterday . Chandrika denies
mansion story It says President Chandrika Kumaratunge has bought the Sunninhill Park mansion belonging to Prince Andrew, the second son of the Queen. The articale says, "Has the Duke of York finally
sold his country mansion, Sunninghill Park? One well-placed source tells
me the property - dubbed The article says that the Prince Andrew has been desperate to sell the mansion since divorcing Sarah, Duchess of York in 1992. Worth £10 million Stating that the mansion has been on the market for more than three years for ten million pounds, says it is not known how much Mrs.Kumaratunge might have paid for the white elephant on the Berkshire-Surrey border. The article also alleges that two flats in Paris have also been bought by President Kumaratunge. The Evening Standard further says that President Kumaratunge
is known to have been keen in buying a house in the UK nearer to her son
who is qualified recently as a veterinary surgeon from the Bristol University
and her daughter who is a doctor in the UK. Denial Considering the extreme damage the said article has done to the reputation of President Kumaratunge, office of the pesident requests the Evening Standard publish the statement issued by them. It also says that legal action will be taken by President Kumaratunge against the newspaper for publishing defamatory article. However, a member of the editorial of the paaper told Sandeshaya that they stand by their report. "We have not received any denial or a formal letter of litigation", the editorial member said. Palace declines to comment When we contacted the Buckingham Palace to verify this information the media unit in the palace said they would not comment on private transactions. The Unit said they reject the article appeared in the Evening Standard. SL Parliament to hold one-day debate on Govt's policy statement One-day debate on the policy statement of the new Sri
Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse is to take place when parliament
meets on December 7 on a request made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
at the leaders of political parties. Mr Rajapakse presented his policy
statement in parliament last Friday. The debate, which is to commence at 9 a.m.Friday, will conclude around 6.30 p.m. on the same day. Mr.Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Chief Whip of the government parliamentary group has been directed to ensure one hundred percent attendance of ruling party parliamentarians at the time of voting on the policy statement to thwart any attempt by the opposition to defeat the Government, United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) sources said. Meanwhile, SL President Mahinda Rajapakse is to present the first budget of his government in parliament on December 8. Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse holds the portfolios of Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Defense. Mr.Siyamabalapitya is the Deputy Minister for Finance, which is a non-cabinet portfolio. Hence President Mr.Rajapakse decided to present the budget himself in the capacity of Minister of Finance on December 8, sources said. Rs.29 million
for CBK Chief Justice aired his views when he took up a petition filed by President Mahinda Rajapakse asking to verify the legality of the supplementary budget with relevance to the budget for 2006. Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva said he was surprised to see Rs.29 million is set a part to former president alone where as only Rs.29 million is allocated for the ten judges of the Supreme Court Chief Justice said he could not approve such a huge amount of money going out from the budget to a single person. Only six million rupees have been allocated for the former president D.B.Wijetunge, the chief justice added. "This is an unequal treatment", he said. The secret decision of the Supreme Court on the legality of the supplementary budget will be conveyed to the President Mahinda Rajapakse and the speaker of parliament. Withdraw troops, lift embargo, demands Trinco Civil group Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Consortium (TDTPC)
Thursday requested Sri Lanka's President Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse to take
immediate steps to remove all temporary camps and checkpoints of the Sri
Lanka Army (SLA) now located in the Trincomalee town following the erection
of Buddha statue in the bus stand vicinity on May 15 midnight this year,
sources said. The Civil group also demanded that the embargo on essential
food and other items to Muttur east be lifted. TDTPC brought to the notice of President Rajapakse the difficulties of people living villages in the Muttur east and Eachchilampathu division located in the LTTE controlled areas in the Trincomalee district due to restriction imposed by the SLA on the transport of essential food items and building materials for the reconstruction of houses in tsunami destroyed areas. "We hope that you would take necessary steps in alleviating the hardships of these people by lifting the restriction on transport of goods through Kaddaiparichchan and Mahindapura SLA camps to their villages,"said the TDTPC in its memorandum. TDTPC added in its memorandum that Tamil people would resort to non-violent direct action if soldiers are not withdrawn from the Trincomalee town and restriction on transporting essential food items to Muttur Tamil villages is not lifted. India must play
more active role in Sri Lanka: Norway At the same time, Norway would like to continue as a peace facilitator only if both Colombo and the Tamil Tigers promise to faithfully adhere to the 2002 truce and stop all killings. In any case, Western diplomatic sources said, Norway will not condone any independent Tamil Eelam state and knows that no solution can be reached in Sri Lanka unless it has the sanction and approval of India. One Indian role would be to push a common understanding between the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the opposition United National Party, whose unending spats have often spiked possible solutions to the dragging ethnic conflict. The sources made the observations a day after Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweea visited New Delhi, and India underlined that a final solution to the conflict can only come essentially through 'internal political processes'. 'We see some hesitation on the part of India (to get involved), for understandable reasons' an informed diplomatic source said. 'The Indian position is understandable.' India has outlawed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Its chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is wanted by New Delhi for the 1991 assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The source said: 'At the end of the day, there can be no peace agreement in Sri Lanka unless India supports it. (Nothing) can be done without India's guarantee. We have not been trying to keep India out. 'India is the most important partner as far as Sri Lanka is concerned.' Norway will decide on continuing as a peace facilitator in Sri Lanka only if both Colombo and the LTTE promise not to violate the Norwegian-brokered 2002 ceasefire agreement, which has come under serious strain in recent times. Norwegian diplomats also want easy access to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran and stop merely talking to his lieutenants who may not be conveying the messages and concerns of Norway to their boss faithfully. 'Based on our discussions (in Sri Lanka), we will draw our conclusions (about our future role),' the source said. 'They (Colombo and LTTE) should be in the drivers' seat (of the ceasefire). It is their country, their peace process. If they don't want to behave, it is up to them,' the diplomatic source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Only if the Sri Lankan government and LTTE seek Norway's continued services visx-a-vis the peace process will Oslo name a new special envoy to Sri Lanka - a post for long held by Erik Solheim, now a Norwegian minister. At the same time, the diplomats believe Sri Lanka is at a critical stage, with new President Mahindra Rajapakse ruling out autonomy based on federalism and the LTTE chief threatening to step up the conflict next year if a reasonable solution acceptable to him was not unveiled. But Oslo is very clear that it does not want to be a midwife to any independent Tamil Eelam state, certainly not one lorded by LTTE, which has been designated a terrorist group in the US, Britain and India. Nor is Norway, the sources said, interested in knowing what kind of an arrangement the LTTE and Colombo eventually come to agree on, assuming they come to a settlement on that issue. 'Whatever is acceptable to Prabhakaran and Rajapakse is fine for Norway. It is their business,' said the source. 'We don't want Norway to be seen as a midwife to a (Tamil Eelam) dictatorship in Sri Lanka's north and east.' Sri Lanka's new president has been critical of Norway, which has been playing a mediator in the ethnic conflict, and his close allies want Oslo out of the peace process. The sources insisted that Sri Lankan leaders would have to stop blaming Norway for whatever goes wrong in the peace process. The Sri Lankan government would also have to stop funding and arming Tamil paramilitary groups. The sources insisted that the LTTE was the main but not the exclusive violator of the ceasefire. 'The LTTE has to stop all assassinations, all killings. Whoever the victim may be... high-level leaders or Tamil cadres of other group.' At the same time, Colombo will have to stop backing 'Tamil paramilitary forces' opposed to the LTTE. 'The paramilitaries are not an independent force, they are on the payroll of Colombo.' Tigers target
Lankans in France The AFP report datelined PARIS, Dec 2 said: " Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels have collected some 100 million euros (120 million dollars) in a sophisticated racket targeting France’s Sri Lankan immigrant community, a French newspaper reported on Friday. Quoting French intelligence officials, Le Figaro reported that around 1,000 members of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam enforce the collection of the so-called "revolutonary tax" among the 70,000-strong community. Using threats and intimidation, they force each family to pay one euro a day for each of its members, who are registered in a computer file to ensure their payments are up to date, the report said. Death threats against family members still in Sri Lanka are commonly used to pressure families to pay up, it said. Le Figaro reported that the Tigers were shortly to demand a 2,000-euro "loan" from each member of the community, including children, in order to replace a flotilla of speedboats destroyed in last December’s tsunami. The report said the funds from the racket were channelled into Swiss banks. A confidential intelligence memo from September, quoted by Le Figaro, says that France has become "an important rear base for the Tamil Tigers and their financing of the armed struggle in Sri Lanka". 02December 2005 LTTE
awaits presidents peace plan “The speech is certainly not a declaration of war but a commitment to discuss” says the head of truce monitoring. Responding to a question on the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) haukland said “the LTTE is committed to abide by the CFA and discuss implementation at any time. However if it needs to be reviewed both parties will have to agree” Addressing Colombo based diplomats earlier this week President Rajapaksa told of his intention of reviewing the CFA over talks. "We can resume work immediately on reviewing the operation of the ceasefire, whilst we prepare ourselves for eventual substantive talks," Rajapaksha said. Commenting on media reports that there is a tense situation in the North and East after Prabakarans speech on Sunday he said “there is no tension on the ground as some media reports suggest” Haukland also visited Jaffna and said that he will brief authorities once in Colombo. Reportedly S P Thamilselvan declined to speak to the media after meeting the truce monitors. Sri Lankan President to visit India on Dec 16 Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse is likely to pay
a three-day official visit to India from December 16. Though no official confirmation was available on Mr Rajapakse's visit, it is understood that the date has been finalised during the visit of Mr Samaraweera, the sources said. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and held discussions with Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed today, apprised the Indian leaders of the policy of President Rajapakse regarding the peace process. Mr Rajapakse was elected the President, succeeding Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga, in the elections held on November 17. India for 'internal solution' to Sri Lankan conflict India on Thursday told Sri Lanka that a solution to its simmering ethnic conflict could "only emerge essentially through internal political processes", ruling out any intervention in the island nation. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed told visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera that India supported "a negotiated settlement" to the conflict and remained committed to a "united Sri Lanka". Samaraweera, making his first visit abroad since Mahindra Rajapakse became president following the Nov 17 elections, also called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But India made it clear that it would continue to keep an eye on the security situation in Sri Lanka, particularly the faltering peace process between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). "India continues to maintain an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to its sovereignty and territorial integrity," said a statement from India's external affairs ministry, referring to Samaraweera's talks with Indian leaders. The statement said Samaraweera apprised the Indian side of the policy to be followed by Rajapakse's government in the peace process. He emphasised the government's continued commitment to maintaining the ceasefire with LTTE, and the desire "for a review of its operations, so that the implementation of the agreement can be made more effective". Samaraweera said his government had extended a "firm invitation" to LTTE to discuss a political solution. "President Rajapakse views the greatest possible degree of openness, transparency and inclusivity in the peace process as being essential for its acceptance and eventual success," Samaraweera was quoted as saying. The foreign minister also spelt out the approach Rajapakse's administration would adopt to arrive "at a broad national consensus. Parallel to this endeavour, reconstruction and development in the north and east (of Sri Lanka) would be accorded the highest priority." He said the Sri Lankan government would continue to apprise the Indian government about "the ways and means by which the peace process could be made more effective". The statement said India supported a negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lanka and "consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights". Other matters of mutual interest, including the further strengthening of economic and commercial cooperation, were addressed during the discussions. Both sides emphasised the need to conclude as soon as possible a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. India reiterated to Samaraweera its invitation to Rajapaksa to pay a state visit to the country. Two farmers shot dead, one wounded in Neerveli, Jaffna Unidentified assailants shot and killed two farmers at
a tea shop close to Athiyar Hindu College in Neerveli at 8 p.m. Thursday.
A youth who was standing inside the tea shop was seriously wounded and
was rushed to Jaffna Hospital, civilian sources said. Tension prevails
in the area. The Tamil National Vigilance Association has called for a
hartal in Jaffna on Friday to protest against the killings. Villagers living close to the shop alleged that the kiillngs were carried out by intelligence operatives working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and said they heard the a sound of speeding three-wheeler after the gun shots were heard. The farmers killed on Thursday were also involved in decorating the streets in Neerveli during the Martyrs remembrance week, residents added. A youth involved in Heroes day decorations was shot at the same spot last week. Sri Lanka rejects Tiger deadline for peace deal -AFP Sri Lanka dismissed a Tamil rebel ultimatum for a political settlement and said no deadline could be imposed to resolve the ethnic conflict that has dragged on for over 50 years. Constitutional affairs minister D.E.W. Gunasekara said: "We don't get excited by these deadlines," set by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the government to come up with a reasonable settlement. "You can't do these things in a hurry. You can't do it in one night," he told reporters Thursday. The LTTE on Sunday told the new government to come up with a "reasonable" political settlement by year end or risk a war that could break up the island. Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in his annual policy statement said hardline President Mahinda Rajapakse should put forward a "reasonable political framework" before next year. "This is our urgent and final appeal," Prabhakaran said. "If the new government rejects our urgent appeal, we will next year ... establish self-government in our homeland." The Tiger leader also noted that the new president was a "pragmatic leader" but with no understanding of the problems of minority Tamils. The LTTE spearheads a struggle for independence for the 12.5 percent Tamil minority. Gunasekara said the Tiger leader's statement was "positive" but that the government did not take the deadline seriously. He said the new government was initiating talks with all political parties represented in parliament before opening direct negotiations with the Tigers. The top Norwegian truce monitor travelled to the island's north Thursday for talks with the LTTE on the ceasefire, which came under renewed pressure following the slaying of foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in mid-August. The government said it was unaware of the talks between the Tigers and the truce monitors, but added that the administration was keen on negotiations with the guerrillas. Prabhakaran has not directly responded to a call by Rajapakse for a fresh peace process and a "revision" of the fragile truce in place since 2002. The guerrilla chief said Norwegian-brokered peace efforts had failed to redress the grievances of minority Tamils living in the island's embattled northern and eastern regions, much of it controlled by the Tigers.
The United States Embassy in Colombo today said Sri Lankan police have arrested 58 people who attempted to obtain US visas using false identities or forged papers this year. In the past eleven months, the US Embassy in Sri Lanka interviewed more than 13,000 applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas to the United States. During this year, 58 individuals were arrested by local authorities and charged with attempting to defraud the US Embassy during the course of their visa application. Four cases were found to have marriage fraud, 12 cases involved employment fraud, 4 cases included student visa applicants, and 6 cases involved violations of Sri Lankan immigration law on the part of the applicant. In 2004, US Embassy investigations resulted in 84 arrests of visa applicants by Sri Lankan anti-fraud law enforcement authorities. “The Consular Section of the US Embassy looks forward to continuing to work together with Sri Lankan law enforcement to combat fraud in the future,” the Embassy said. Indian Commander visits Vavuniya SLA frontlines General Officer Commander-in-Chief of Southern Command
Lt. Gen. B.S. Thakker Thursday visited the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) front
lines in Vavuniya and discussed with SLA Commanders matters related to
security, sources in Vavuniya said. Lt Gen Thakker then met with Army Commander Lt. Gen Kottegoda , Chief of Staff Major General Sarath Fonseka, Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Susil Chandrapala, Director General General Staff, Major General Nanda Mallawaarachchi and Military Secretary Major General D. U Munasinghe at Lt Gen Kottgoda's office and discussed security matters, sources said. Lt Gen Thakker then proceeded to the Omanthai checkpoint where he met with SLA officiers in charge of the checkpoint . Lt Gen Thakker discussed possible changes to security arrangements in Vavuniya, the strategic border town that separates the South of Sri Lanka from Liberation Tigers controlled Vanni region. Lt Gen B.S. Thakker PVSM VSM had his early education at Lawrence School, Sanawar, Shimla Hills. An alumni of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy, he was commissioned into 17 HORSE on 25 December 1965. He later had the honour to command the same Regiment. In recognition of his distinguished services rendered during his career, he was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) and Vishist Seva Medal (VSM). Married to Mrs. Harsimrit Thakker, they have two children, Nimrata and Arjun. SLA camps relocate to prohibited territory, violate ceasefire agreement The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in Mandoor has moved forward
its camps by 500 meters. Member of Parliament for Batticaloa, Ariyanendran,
said that this is a violation of the ceasefire agreement. He condemned
this ceasefire violation and added that he has reported it to the Sri
Lanka Monitoring Mission. Mandoor residents said they are becoming more fearful because of President Mahinda Rajapakse’s hard-line policies against the Tamil population and are afraid of resumption of war. At the same time, civilians traveling through areas where SLA camps are located such as Paddiruppu bridge, Manmunaithurai, Vavunatheivu, Senkaladi black bridge, Kiran, and Pulipainthakal bridge, have been subjected to increased harassment. President consults all parties on peace talks President Mahinda Rajapakse will be consulting political party leaders next week to discuss matters regarding the peace process, prior to resuming direct talks with the LTTE, the government announced yesterday. Addressing a news conference after the Cabinet meeting, Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara said there would be bilateral and joint discussions with the parties in a bid to arrive at a consensus with Southern political parties on the ethnic issue. Asked whether President Rajapakse would keep to his election promise of kicking off the initial round of peace talks within three months, Minister Gunasekara responding in an unconvincing manner said “You know… that was said before the election.” In what could be yet another important move, amidst President Rajapakse’ s specific reference to India as a possible key player in the peace bid, Minister Gunasekara said India was prepared to extend its support and the government was yet to take a final decision on the matter”. “India has always been our closest friend. Let’s wait and see,” the minister said brushing aside speculation about a link between Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s recent visit to India and the peace process. Acknowledging LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s Heroes’ Day speech referring to President Rajapakse as a “pragmatic” leader, Mr. Gunasekara however cautioned that everything said by the rebel leader need not be taken seriously. Commenting on Mr. Prabhakaran’s threat of resuming the armed struggle sometime next year if an early solution was not proposed by the government, the Minister said that there were some undertones in the statement that needed to be analysed deeper. He also said the government was not excited about deadlines set by any party. “We have to read between the lines of the LTTE Leader’s speech. We have to know what his ploys are and get to know him better. We will not react to every sentence. But we will be prepared,” he said. He said it was important to dispel the “mistrust” between the government and the LTTE as a forerunner to peace talks. In response to a query whether the SLMM chief Hagrup Haukland who met the LTTE leadership in Killinochchi, carried a special message by the government, he said in a lighter vein that the question should be posed to the Peace Secretariat Chief. LTTE received
25 million Kroner in four years Norway has acknowledged that it could not give details of how the money has been used. The report revealed that the LTTE received 950,000 kroner in 2002, 7.5 million Kroner in 2003, 9 million Kroner last year and a further 7.5 million Kronor this year. ‘New Times’ said, "According to Norwegian Foreign Ministry, this support was given directly or indirectly to LTTE’s peace secretariat. The Foreign Ministry defends its support to the LTTE by saying that it was given to build the peace process. After the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in February 2002 both parties needed funds to build their peace secretariat. Sri Lankan government requested that aid be given to the LTTE’s peace secretariat and all aid given to the LTTE was with the agreement of the Sri Lankan government, writes Odd Naustdal, the information counsellor of the Foreign Ministry." "According to Norwegian Foreign Ministry, Norway will continue to give assistance to the LTTE this year too." "It has not been easy to get the statistics from the Foreign Ministry. We requested for details of the extent of Norwegian support to the LTTE over a month ago." "The Foreign Ministry came up with several excuses for the delay in revealing the figures. First it said that support to Tamil Tigers has gone through many budget items and it is difficult to get a correct view. Then, it said that it is a sensitive issue in Sri Lanka, and that Foreign Ministry must be hundred percent sure that figures are correct." "Finally Foreign Ministry informed that it wishes to wait till presidential election is over in Sri Lanka. This implies that Norwegian support to the LTTE, if revealed, could result in adverse reaction to some political parties in the election campaign in the war-devastated country." "According to Foreign Ministry, the Norwegian support to LTTE’s peace secretariat was for "establishing and developing peace secretariat, travel expenses to LTTE’s political leaders in connection with the peace process, capacity building and gathering expertise related to peace process and information work on the peace process." "On the initiative of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry,
a visit was arranged for the LTTE representatives to tour the Rena military
camp, as revealed by ‘New Times’ earlier. Foreign Ministry
denies the allegation that Norway has supported Tamil Tigers by supplying
communication equipment." The UNP yesterday charged that the UPFA which misled the people with the canard about an “Ali-Koti Hora Givisuma” had entered into a secret pact with the LTTE to win the Presidential election. Addressing a news conference in Colombo, UNP Assistant Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the election results indicated that the UPFA was the party that had clinched a secret pact with the LTTE and not the UNP. He said the JVP was in the vanguard in the campaign to mislead people in the south saying the UNP was having a secret pact with the LTTE. Mr. Attanayake asked President Rajapakse to at least now reveal his stand on the peace process without further misleading the country. “He should tell the country whether he is looking forward to devolution of power while retaining the unitary status or whether he is going for a federal solution based on the Oslo declaration,”Mr. Attanayake said. LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran hailed President Rajapakse in his Heroes’ Day speech while Tiger Chief negotiator Anton Balasingham said that the movement would support Mr. Rajapakse to create a unitary state in the south with the JVP and JHU while the rebels have a unitary state in the North for the Tamil Speaking People. “The UNP always tried to unite the country and we told the people that we will unite the divided country if we were elected,” Mr. Attanayake said. Mervyn promises to be a ‘good boy’ The Deputy Labour Relations Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva yesterday expressed his regret over an incident where he had entered a newspaper office and had abused and threatened journalists. He assured the Colombo Magistrate that he would never threaten journalists again. The Deputy Minister gave this assurance when he appeared before the Colombo Magistrate on charges of criminal intimidation, death threats and verbally abusing journalists after entering the Divaina newspaper office in 2001. The suspect was charged with being member of an unlawful assembly intent to commit criminal intimidation of journalists. According to the complaint Hewa Koparage Mervyn Silva had entered the Divaina newspaper office on October 22, 2001 and threatened a journalist with death and had scolded him in obscene language. When the case came up before Court yesterday, Attorney at Law Lakshman Ranasinghe appearing for Mervyn Silva informed Court that his client regretted the incident, and made an application to settle the case. Counsel Angelo Benedict appearing for the aggrieved journalist Mr. Janitha Seneviratne and Assistant Manager Upali Newspapers Limited, Mr. Upali Abeygunawardena, stated that the case could be settled if an assurance was given that there would be no repetition of the incident by the suspect, Deputy Minister. Mervyn Silva through his Counsel re-assured Court that he would not threaten journalists and stated that the journalist could complain to Court anytime if he did so. The Additional Magistrate settled the matter after the assurance was given by Mervyn Silva who was present in Court. Along with Mervyn Silva seven others were charged and
later discharged. The Kotahena police informed Court that the first charge
of being a member of an unlawful assembly could also be withdrawn if the
parties agreed to settle the issue. 01December 2005 Sri Lanka minister arrives, will discuss peace with PM Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera arrived here Wednesday evening to discuss the faltering peace process in his country with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This will be Samaraweera's first visit abroad after becoming the foreign minister in the wake of the regime change in Colombo where Mahindra Rajapakse, known as a Sinhala-Buddhist hardliner, became the president Nov 17. Samaraweera's trip is likely to set the stage for a visit later by Rajapakse to India, sometime possibly in the second week of December. Samaraweera will meet Manmohan Singh and Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed Thursday. "Apart from a review of bilateral relations, the visit will provide an opportunity to take stock of the current status of the peace process in Sri Lanka," the external affairs ministry said. Manmohan Singh is expected to repeat India's commitment to Sri Lanka's peace process and convey its concern about the growing belligerence in the country. Rajapakse has urged India and other "friendly countries" to get involved in his country's peace process, but New Delhi holds the view that it is best to keep backing the Norwegian peace facilitator. "Issues of mutual interest will be discussed and ways and means of further strengthening bilateral relations will be identified," the ministry added. Samaraweera comes at a time when the future of the peace process is in a state of flux. Rajapakse has called for direct talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has vowed to intensify their struggle for a separate homeland next year if Colombo failed to come up with a "reasonable political framework". Sri Lanka ceasefire monitoring chief to meet LTTE leadership The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Hagrup Haukland will meet the LTTE's Political Wing leader S.P. Thamilchelvan today in a bid to ease tensions between the two parties since the presidential election earlier this month.SLMM spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir said, “The meeting will take place today at the Kilinochchi LTTE office.” The SLMM has urged the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to meet each other as soon as possible to resume the stalled peace talks. DM wants to meet Prabhakaran Senior Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) member cum Posts and Telecommunications Minister D.M. Jayaratne will shortly write to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eleam (LTTE) leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, requesting for a one to one meeting. He said that that there was a lot of talk that the LTTE leadership is for a divide and rule policy. Jayaratne, who claims to be the founder member of the SLFP, told The Island yesterday: "My intension is to know the true position of the LTTE and who else other than Vellupillai Prabhakaran is the best person to talk about it." The General Secretary of the Peoples' Alliance is confident that the rebel chief will accept his invitation. "After I meet Prabhakaran, I will have a discussion with President Mahinda Rajapakse," he added. Meanwhile, he also expressed confidence that former President Chandrika Kuarartunga will not return to Parliament. However, he said that four or five members of the government are eager to get her back. He said that the vacant National list post of slain former Foreign Affairs Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar will be either given to Mrs. Suganthie Kadirgamar or Matara District SLFPer Dallas Allahaperuma. Jayaratne said that former PA heavyweights were also eyeing this post. Southern India Army Chief visits Sri Lanka Commander of the Indian Army's Southern Command Lt. Gen. V.S. Thakar, who arrived here last Tuesday night, met the heads of Sri Lankan security forces on Wednesday. The senior Indian officer held talks with Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Daya Sandagiri and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda this morning. He is also expected to have discussions with the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence G. Rajapaksa and the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo. He will tour Army Headquarters in Vavuniya and the Forward Defence Lines at Omanthai, as well as visit several religious sites in Anuradhapura and Kandy. Ministers demand a commission to probe Chandrika's corruptions A group of Ministers has appealed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a high powered commission to investigate into corruptions, irregularities and malpractices alleged to have taken place in the Ministries administered by retired President Chandika Kumaratunga. The Ministers have stressed that the commission should probe the issue of cheques to the tune of billions of rupees to several organizations and individuals just days before the presidential election, transactions of the Lotteries Board and the transfer of state lands to various organizations and persons. According to reliable information, an audit is now being carried out by the Auditor General on the President?s Fund. When queried about the audit by 'Lanka e News', Auditor General S.U.Mayadunne said in keeping with internationally accepted norms, he could not divulge anything regard the audit to the media and pointed out that it is illegal to do so. He said that as the reports of the audit would be presented in Parliament and the necessary information could be obtained from those reports. Meanwhile these Ministers have also decided to draw the attention of the President to the ex-President reserving 36 vehicles including bullet proof vehicles and selecting of 62 for her personnel staff. She had got the Cabinet approval for this at the Cabinet meeting held on November 3. Among the vehicles reserved by the retired President are 18 motorcycles and a bus. What's Next? Independence? - by Wakeley Paul Has Mr Piribakaran, by his stern warning in his 2005 Heroes' Day speech, inspired the Sinhalese people to make a stark choice about their future direction? Is Mr Rajapakse, having made democracy the rhetorical centerpiece of his policy, about to focus his attention to solve the ethnic mess that all past Sinhalese leaders helped to create and perpetuate, or is his concept of democracy limited to satisfying only Sinhalese aspirations, at the expense of Tamil hopes and ecpectations? Is Sri Lankan politics about to end the bare knuckles era of the past? Is Mr Rajapakse really ready to map out a detailed map for the future peace of the nation, or is he - like every one of his predecessors - as leader of the Sinhalese people, ready to drown himself in denial and continue to play games with the problem before him? His election pledge was one of no concessions to the Tamils; a commitment not to veer away from his commitment to preserve the Unitary Constitution; while at the same time expressing an equally determined desire to speak to Mr Piribakaran about the problem that divides the nation. Does Rajapakse's pledge make sense, or does it suggest a plan to dance around the problem, while doing everything in his power to impress upon the international community that it is the Tamils who refuse to talk peace? Is not this a policy that has continually teetered off the ledge in the past? The Sinhalese leader makes an Offer to speak, Mr Piribakaran asks about what, Mr Rajapakse says about “ my intractable offer,” Mr Piribakaran says no way, and Mr Rajapakse then blames the LTTE for refusing to talk. Has that not been a familiar and consistent strategy of Sinhalese leaders since the 1950s? This strategy is an ostensible pretense of wishing to solve the problem with not the remotest concept of a serious plan to effectuate it. The Sinhalese leaders make dazzling gestures, with no intention of ever intending to end the crisis. Instead, they divert everyone's attention by resorting to the age-old and outworn tactic of accusing the LTTE of being terrorists who employ child soldiers, and by using any other gimmick to cripple the Tamils' right to express their political dissent. The fact is that the Sinhalese leaders and the Sinhalese people have been in an eternal swoon. They are dazed and disconnected. and seem to have no qualms about liquidating the country in an imagined effort to preserve themselves. They fuel unfounded fears about the possibility of their extinction should they divert an iota of political power to the Tamils. Their inferiority complex makes them unfit to rule themselves, leave alone control the fate and future of others. They are a fundamentally misguided people whose only way of overcoming their inferiority is to believe in the bubble of Sinhala supremacy. They call those who challenge this delusion extremists, when in fact they are the very extremists one has to fight against. The Sinhalese leaders' pretense to wish to heal the divisions that engulf the island is riddled with falsehood, which is why it continues to falter. Their fraudulence has sparked violent discontent in the past and runs the risk of provoking nothing short of a quest to be totally free of their control in the future. The Sinhalese leaders are so shortsighted that they are provoking the very result they hoped, and continue to hope, to avoid. Mr Piribakaran has, with his characteristic honesty, summed up the situation simply and vividly when he says, “The new government should come forward with a reasonable political framework that will satisfy the aspirations of the Tamil people. This is our urgent and final appeal. If the government rejects our urgent appeal, we will, next year, in solidarity with our people, intensify our struggle for SELF DETERMINATION, our struggle for NATIONAL LIBERATION, to establish a government in our own region." Can the International Community find any fault with Mr Piribakaran's statement? Or do they believe in perpetuating the right of the Sinhalese to crush Tamil aspirations, and in letting the warped Sinhalese notion that what is good for the Sinhalese is good for the Tamils as well prevail and prosper? Tamil Tigers illegally fundraising in Toronto: community member- CBC News Members of Toronto's large Tamil community say they're being hit up for money by door-to-door fundraisers for the Tamil Tigers. Community members said they were told to make an immediate cash contribution of $2,500, and that those who didn't contribute would not be allowed to travel in Tamil-controlled parts of Sri Lanka when they returned for visits. "They started giving each family a PIN number, so whenever somebody visited to the LTTE-controlled areas of Sri Lanka, they would be told to provide the PIN number, and only then would they be allowed to go into the territory," said one man who didn't want to be named for fear of retribution. The Tigers, also known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elaam, (LTTE), are listed as a terrorist organization by the United Nations. They are not banned in Canada, but it is illegal to fundraise for them or to give money to them. FEATURE: Whose Truth? The LTTE has been fighting a 20-year war of independence against Sri Lanka's Sinhalese Buddhist government. At times, the Tigers have used suicide bombers and child soldiers. The group relies heavily on fundraising in Tamil communities outside the country. It is estimated that one-third of the Tamil diaspora is in the Toronto area. Many in Toronto's 150,000-strong community support the fight for Tamil independence. In the past, thousands have turned out to commemorate 18,000 Tamil Tiger fighters killed in the civil war. Last January, the Canada Revenue Agency turned down an application by the Tamil Relief Organization to gain charitable status. The organizaton said it was because of assumptions that it's linked to the Tigers. The organization had raised $500,000 for tsunami relief and wanted to be eligible for charitable tax credits. JVP pressure to slash jumbo ministerial team Under pressure from the JVP to slash the jumbo-size Cabinet and non-cabinet ministerial team, President Mahinda Rajapakse is summoning a meeting of all 25 non-cabinet ministers and 30 deputy ministers to request them to voluntarily resign from their posts. Political sources said the Temple Trees meeting comes after the JVP frontliner Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Monday that the JVP was unhappy about the large number of Cabinet, non-Cabinet and deputy ministerial posts given out. Mr. Dissanayake told a TV talk show that the JVP declined portfolios because it wished to see a small Cabinet but what had happened was totally different. Though there were 80 Cabinet ministers, non-Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, it was still a minority government because the JVP and the JHU had still not joined the government, a source close to President Rajapakse said yesterday. He said the President would first seek voluntary resignations before acting to prune down the team. Udathalawinna witness abducted Wattegama police are investigating the alleged abduction of a resident of Madawala by an unidentified gang who shot and injured him on Monday night.The victim Mohamed Safan (34) who had sustained a injury on one of his legs told police that he was pushed out of the vehicle and shot at. The injured was admitted to the Kandy General Hospital the same night. Safan left the Kandy hospital in the fore-noon yesterday (29) the injuries on the victim were not serious, a hospital sources said. Sangaree urges President to go for federal solution Tamil United Liberation Front leader V.Anandasangaree has appealed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to go for a federal solution within a unitary Sri Lanka if he genuinely wants to usher in a lasting peace. Sangaree, who supported Mahinda Rajapaksa at the presidential election made this appeal in a letter directed to him yesterday. The letter stated that 49% of people who voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe at the election had endorsed a federal solution. In addition the Sama Samaja and Communist parties as well as the SLFP would support such a solution and Sangaree expressed hope that even the JVP and the Hela Urumaya would agree to a federal solution. The letter further pointed that a large majority of the people have voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa to find a solution for the national problem based on a federal structure within a unitary Sri Lanka. The TULF leader noted that this may require a two thirds majority for a constitutional amendment as well as a referendum and added even if the President did not condone his views, he (the President) would not be able to disregard the 49% who voted for a federal solution. Sri Lanka foes
rattle sabres - BBC He rejected outright any demands for a separate Tamil homeland and also indicated that he would look to renegotiate a ceasefire that has been in place since February 2002. He also said a previous tsunami aid-sharing deal with the Tigers - currently halted by a Supreme Court order - would be scrapped and a new administrative mechanism introduced. On Sunday, the reclusive leader of the Tigers, Velupillai Prabhakaran, used the occasion of a rebel war memorial day to give the government an ultimatum. He said he would give the new president until next year to frame a political solution to the conflict, failing which the Tamil Tigers would "intensify" their struggle. Although he said this was the rebels final appeal, many observers will be relieved that Prabhakaran stopped short of declaring a return to war. But despite the fact that there is no immediate threat of hostilities, both sides have taken up positions so far from the middle ground that any serious chance of peace must surely be questioned. Tamil boycott Sri Lanka's closely fought presidential election has left the country clearly divided along ethnic lines. Mr Rajapakse, who was backed by the hardline Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a party made up of Buddhist monks, received strong backing from the majority Sinhala-Buddhist community, particularly in the south. His opponent, Ranil Wickramasinghe, was supported by the country's minority Tamils and Muslims. But a vast majority of the Tamils, particularly in the north and east, failed to vote - largely because the Tamil Tiger rebels enforced an unofficial boycott. It is quite apparent that Mr Wickramasinghe, who lost by 180,000 votes, would have easily won the election if the Tamils had voted. Most analysts believe that the rebels' opposition to Tamil participation in the elections was strategic. In the northern town of Jaffna - government-controlled but with a Tamil majority - as well as in the rebel-held Vanni region - the belief is that the rebel leadership wanted it to be clear that the new president was the choice of the Sinhala majority even if that resulted in a president who was clearly opposed to any concessions to the Tigers. But others suggest it was a show of strength, a signal to the Sinhala hardliners that the rebels matter and would have to be reckoned with in any solution whether political or military. As for the new president, there are those who believe that until fresh elections change the composition of parliament, Mr Rajapakse will have to rely on the support of the JVP and JHU - and therefore maintain a hardline position. Certainly, in his first major political speech after winning the elections, the president kept to the script that was evident in his campaign: No self-government or separate homeland for the
Tamils Indian role? He said that the peace talks would be broad-based and not merely be confined to the rebels and the government. It is clear to many that Mr Rajapakse is arguing that the rebels are not the sole representatives of the Tamils. However, this approach fails to address the fact that the rebels are in effective control of parts of the north and east and, short of a military conflict, are unlikely to concede any ground. But the president has also indicated that other international parties, including India and the United Nations, could be drawn into the negotiations. The role of India is something that will also raise eyebrows in Sri Lanka. There are certainly some who believe that the country's influential northern neighbour should be drawn in, especially as it has a large Tamil state itself. But most have very unhappy memories of India's intervention in Sri Lanka in the late 1980s, when the country sent troops into the country in a failed attempt to maintain peace. More importantly, the president's hardline ally, the JVP, has been bitterly opposed to India's role in the past and is likely to look at any new attempt with suspicion. Critical time So where does Sri Lanka go from here? More recently, the assassination of the country's foreign minister has served to remind the government that the threat of suicide bombings has not completely diminished, even though the rebels denied having a hand in the murder. For their part, the Tamil Tigers have signalled their growing frustration at what they see as the attitude of the major parties in the south to the peace process. Tamils, they believe, are unlikely to get their due from the majority Sinhalese and have given up hope. But there are some who question whether the rebels are keen on giving up their fight for self-rule, even though they dropped the demand for a separate Tamil homeland in earlier rounds of peace talks. The next few months are going to be critical for the two major negotiating parties as they gauge each others positions and determine their next move. In the worst possible case, it could signal a return to war. A Book to Honor Pirabhakaran- by Sachi Sri Kantha I have the pleasure in announcing to the readers that my Pirabhakaran Phenomenon series [which appeared in the electronic medium, from 2001 and 2003] has been edited, updated and compiled into a book with physical dimensions. From November 26th, it is being offered as an educational resource for researchers, diplomats, journalists, students and interested well wishers of Eelam Tamils. ‘A writer’s greatest pleasure is revealing to people things they knew but did not know they knew,’ wrote one of my favorite humorists, Andy Rooney, an American icon. In this book, I have tried my best to follow this dictum of Rooney. What I have written about Pirabhakaran is ‘known’ to all Eelam Tamils. But, as Andy Rooney noted, I have tried to shed light on Pirabhakaran’s character and skills, which have escaped the glance of many pundits. Think for a while about the gigantic task Pirabhakaran has performed since 1975. All of us have chased our rainbows to succeed in whatever ventures we planted our feet. Pirabhakaran chased his own rainbow, which for other literate Tamils would have been a crazy dream. Among the over 60 million Tamils living in the world now, who else can claim that ‘I raised a successful Tamil army, which has given jitters to Indian and Sri Lankan ruling elites’ since 1983? And this claim would not be an empty boast for Pirabhakaran. One can also add that Pirabhakaran’s army also has given ‘jobs’ directly and indirectly to hundreds of thousands Sinhalese, arms dealers, academics, journalists and diplomats. Thousands of Tamils have spent their lives raising capital. Hundreds of Tamils have spent their lives raising political parties. Only Pirabhakaran has spent his past 30 years raising a successful army. This stupendous feat deserves admiration. Being a human, Pirabhakaran has his faults. As a Tamilian, I will not deny it. But I wanted to celebrate Pirabhakaran’s great achievement, which has not been matched by any other Tamilian for the past few centuries. Considering the demands in perseverence, intelligence and discipline, raising a successful army is far more difficult than winning a Nobel Prize in science. There are hundreds of Nobelists in science, but none of them raised a succcessful army, though quite a number have contributed handsomely and indirectly to proliferation of all sorts of war weapons. Though the book is entitled ‘Pirabhakaran Phenomenon,’ what I have attempted is also a recent history of Eelam Tamils since 1975. To achieve my aim, I spent countless hours reading, analyzing, collating and thinking on how to present the facts and analyses to complete this work. Ah! – Thinking about writing; I love it. But I struggle hard. Hemingway (another American icon, who practised writing with distinction) anticipated my struggle, even when I was a toddler. In a message delivered on December 10, 1954 [when Pirabhakaran was hardly a two weeks old baby in Eelam] to those who have gathered to honor him in Stockholm at the Nobel awards ceremony, Hemingway wrote: “Writing, at its best, is a lonely life. Organizations for writers palliate the writer’s loneliness but I doubt if they improve his writing. He grows in public stature as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates. For he does his work alone and if he is a good enough writer he must face eternity, or the lack of it, each day. For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed….” In this Pirabhakaran Phenomenon book, I have tried to present Pirabhakaran and Eelam Tamil history of the past 30 years, as none have bothered to attempt. Now the book has been printed, in 53 chapters and 660 pages. Why have I labored with this contribution for four years? Because I subscribe to the dictum, ‘Veritas quae minime defensatur opprimitur; et qui non improbat, approbat’ [Truth which is not sufficiently defended is overpowered; and he who does not disapprove, approves.]. Contact details for receiving copies of this book are as follows: In the USA: WTCC, 170-10 Cedarcroft Road, Suite 1L, Jamaica, New York 11432, [tel: 718-657-9463] [fax: 718-523-7399] In the UK: Gopi [tel: +44 78 1011 6032] In Australia: Param [tel: 03 9802 2089 or 0408 360 865]
and Kumar [tel: 02 9848 9556 or 0413 006 295]
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