The Sri Lankan air force has bombed targets in Tamil Tiger-held areas in the north and north-west for a second day, military and rebel officials say.
The rebels say that five civilians were killed in the town of Kilinochchi.
But the army says the planes were attacking two military targets viewed as "threats to national security".
The air raids are the first since weekend peace talks broke down on the issue of the main road linking Jaffna with the rest of the country.
Both sides accuse each other of restarting the fighting.
The Tamil Tigers say that four bombs landed near a hospital about 3km (two miles) from the rebels' political offices in Kilinochchi, destroying a house and killing its five civilian occupants.
'State terrorism'
"The house was smashed. A mother, a father, two children and a grandmother were all killed," Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan told the Associated Press news agency from Kilinochchi.
"Fragments flew as far as a hospital 500 metres away and smashed windows. Patients fled - one woman was in labour and you could see her trail of blood as far as the road.
"This is state terrorism."
But the military insists it was attacking legitimate targets.
"We have taken two targets. One is a Sea Tiger base in Mannar [in the north-west], and the other is a military training camp 10km south-east of Kilinochchi," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.
The air raids came as the two sides continued artillery exchanges in the north and east for a fourth day.
On Wednesday jets pounded the restive eastern district of Batticaloa.
"The situation is discouraging and the talks in Geneva did not have any positive impact on the ground situation," Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir told AP.
The violence has claimed more than 3,000 lives since the end of last year, the government says, although the rebels dispute the number of their fighters killed.
Despite the bloodshed, both sides maintain that they are committed to a 2002 ceasefire which now exists only in name.
At least 65,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight more than 20 years ago for a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east.
The rebels say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's majority Sinhalese community.
-bbc
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Low-caste Hindus adopt new faith
Thousands of people have been attending mass ceremonies in India at which hundreds of low-caste Hindus (Dalits) converted to Buddhism and Christianity.
The events in the central city of Nagpur are part of a protest against the injustices of India's caste system.
By converting, Dalits - once known as Untouchables - can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face.
The ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Buddhism by the scholar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
He was the first prominent Dalit to urge low-caste Indians to embrace Buddhism.
As the chief architect of India's constitution, he wrote anti-discrimination provisions and quota systems into the country's law.
But four-fifths of India's Dalits live in often isolated rural areas, and traditional prejudice has persisted in spite of official laws.
'Cry for dignity'
The Dalits arrived by the truckload at a public park in Nagpur for ceremonies, which began with religious leaders giving fiery speeches against the treatment of lower castes.
Reuters reported that dozens of riot policemen had turned out at the sprawling park.
Udit Raj, a Dalit leader, told the BBC that around 2,500 people converted to Christianity and Buddhism.
Joseph D'Souza, the president of the Dalit Freedom Network and a Christian convert, described the conversions as a "celebratory occasion".
"I think it's important to understand that this is a cry for human dignity, it's a cry for human worth," he told the BBC.
He said that Dalits could seek dignity by converting to Christianity, Jainism or Sikhism as well as Buddhism.
Buddhist convert Dhammachari Manidhamma told the BBC that social equality was impossible within Hinduism.
"Buddha's teaching was for the humanity, and Buddha believed in equality.
"And Hindu religion, Hindu teaching is nothing but inequality.
Laws against conversion
Similar mass conversions are taking place this month in many other parts of India.
Several states governed by the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, have introduced laws to make such conversions more difficult.
The states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have all passed laws restricting conversions.
Gujarat has reclassified Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu religion, in an attempt to prevent conversions away from Hinduism eroding the BJP's bedrock support.
Hinduism teaches that most humans were created from parts of the body of the divinity Purusha.
According to which body parts they were created from, humans fall into four basic castes which define their social standing, who they can marry, and what jobs they can do.
But Dalits fall outside this system and are traditionally prevented from doing all but the most menial jobs or even drinking from the same water sources as other castes.
Thanks:-B.B.C
The events in the central city of Nagpur are part of a protest against the injustices of India's caste system.
By converting, Dalits - once known as Untouchables - can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face.
The ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Buddhism by the scholar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
He was the first prominent Dalit to urge low-caste Indians to embrace Buddhism.
As the chief architect of India's constitution, he wrote anti-discrimination provisions and quota systems into the country's law.
But four-fifths of India's Dalits live in often isolated rural areas, and traditional prejudice has persisted in spite of official laws.
'Cry for dignity'
The Dalits arrived by the truckload at a public park in Nagpur for ceremonies, which began with religious leaders giving fiery speeches against the treatment of lower castes.
Reuters reported that dozens of riot policemen had turned out at the sprawling park.
Udit Raj, a Dalit leader, told the BBC that around 2,500 people converted to Christianity and Buddhism.
Joseph D'Souza, the president of the Dalit Freedom Network and a Christian convert, described the conversions as a "celebratory occasion".
"I think it's important to understand that this is a cry for human dignity, it's a cry for human worth," he told the BBC.
He said that Dalits could seek dignity by converting to Christianity, Jainism or Sikhism as well as Buddhism.
Buddhist convert Dhammachari Manidhamma told the BBC that social equality was impossible within Hinduism.
"Buddha's teaching was for the humanity, and Buddha believed in equality.
"And Hindu religion, Hindu teaching is nothing but inequality.
Laws against conversion
Similar mass conversions are taking place this month in many other parts of India.
Several states governed by the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, have introduced laws to make such conversions more difficult.
The states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have all passed laws restricting conversions.
Gujarat has reclassified Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu religion, in an attempt to prevent conversions away from Hinduism eroding the BJP's bedrock support.
Hinduism teaches that most humans were created from parts of the body of the divinity Purusha.
According to which body parts they were created from, humans fall into four basic castes which define their social standing, who they can marry, and what jobs they can do.
But Dalits fall outside this system and are traditionally prevented from doing all but the most menial jobs or even drinking from the same water sources as other castes.
Thanks:-B.B.C
Monday, September 18, 2006
Muslim protestors stone STF over Pottuvil massacre
Special Task Force (STF) personnel and Policemen who were deployed in Pottuvil fired several shots into the air to disperse the angry Muslim protestors who stoned STF and Police vehicles around 11:30 a.m. Monday following the massacre of 10 Muslim youths. All the slain Muslims were youths below 25 years. Two of the victims are 15-year-old boys. The bodies of the victims were taken to Periya Pallivasal Mosque in Pottuvil. Tension had re-surfaced in the area, a few days ago, when the dead body of a Sinhala person was brought to burial inside a Muslim cemetery, according to the sources at the Mosque.
The victims were identified as M. Anurdeen, 15, M. Nafar, 15, M. Samsudeen, 18, A.M. Faizal, 19, L. Anees, 19, M. Jauffer, 20, and S. L. Rizard from Pottuvil and A. M. Ajmeer, 18, M. Fairooz, 19 and M. I. Shiyam, 20, from Akkaraipattu.
The wounded Muslim civilian, admitted to Amparai Hospital was identified as M. Meeramuhaideen, 55.
Rattal Kulam, located 9 km southwest of Pottuvil, is located in Lahugala division, a predominant Sinhala division, which was carved out of Pottuvil, a Muslim dominated division.
Earlier, in 2005, a move by Sinhala ultranationalists to install Buddha statue in Muslim post-Tsunami resettlement was opposed by the local Muslim residents.
A training base of the Sri Lankan elite counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) at Sasthiraveli is located in the area.
The STF has been blamed the last phase of the war in the late nineties for a large number of disappearances in Amparai district. During the eighties it was blamed for several massacres in Batticaloa district also.
In the past the Tigers were also blamed for targeting Muslim homeguards who were supporting the Sri Lankan forces’ counter-insrugency efforts. The Tigers were also blamed for reprisal massacres against Muslims after Home Guards massacred Tamil villagers.
Previous articles:
18.09.06 Tigers blame Sri Lanka for Pottuvil killings
18.09.06 10 Muslims massacred, one wounded, one missing in ..
Follow-ups:
18.09.06 Muslims want STF out of Pottuvil
Related articles:
12.04.05 Sinhala nationalists urge crack down on Muslim groups
Reproduction of this news item is allowed when used without
any alterations to the contents and the source, TamilNet, is mentioned
The victims were identified as M. Anurdeen, 15, M. Nafar, 15, M. Samsudeen, 18, A.M. Faizal, 19, L. Anees, 19, M. Jauffer, 20, and S. L. Rizard from Pottuvil and A. M. Ajmeer, 18, M. Fairooz, 19 and M. I. Shiyam, 20, from Akkaraipattu.
The wounded Muslim civilian, admitted to Amparai Hospital was identified as M. Meeramuhaideen, 55.
Rattal Kulam, located 9 km southwest of Pottuvil, is located in Lahugala division, a predominant Sinhala division, which was carved out of Pottuvil, a Muslim dominated division.
Earlier, in 2005, a move by Sinhala ultranationalists to install Buddha statue in Muslim post-Tsunami resettlement was opposed by the local Muslim residents.
A training base of the Sri Lankan elite counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) at Sasthiraveli is located in the area.
The STF has been blamed the last phase of the war in the late nineties for a large number of disappearances in Amparai district. During the eighties it was blamed for several massacres in Batticaloa district also.
In the past the Tigers were also blamed for targeting Muslim homeguards who were supporting the Sri Lankan forces’ counter-insrugency efforts. The Tigers were also blamed for reprisal massacres against Muslims after Home Guards massacred Tamil villagers.
Previous articles:
18.09.06 Tigers blame Sri Lanka for Pottuvil killings
18.09.06 10 Muslims massacred, one wounded, one missing in ..
Follow-ups:
18.09.06 Muslims want STF out of Pottuvil
Related articles:
12.04.05 Sinhala nationalists urge crack down on Muslim groups
Reproduction of this news item is allowed when used without
any alterations to the contents and the source, TamilNet, is mentioned
Saturday, September 09, 2006
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CALGARY -- This week's arrest of six Canadians of Tamil origin on terrorism charges reminds me of Sir Peter Ustinov's brilliant maxim: "Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich." In an apparent rush to U.S. President George Bush's ideology and policies, the Harper government recently added Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers guerillas to its terrorism list. The U.S. added the group last year. In 1983, civil war erupted in Sri Lanka after decades of growing strife between majority Sinhalese Buddhists and minority Hindu Tamils. Tamil Tigers guerillas have waged a ferocious, bloody struggle against the Sinhalese government for an independent Tamil state. Over 65,000 Sri Lankans have died. The war continues in spite of foreign mediation.
Sri Lanka's Sinhalese control the army, navy and air force. The Tigers have only small arms, in large part purchased with money raised by Canada's 250,000 Tamils.
Canada's Irish did the same for the IRA. Canadian Jews raised funds to buy arms for Israel's independence struggle from Britain. Sikh separatists in Punjab were funded by Canadian Sikhs.
The Tigers are courageous, highly effective fighters -- call them the Hezbollah of South Asia. They used their bodies as human bombs to fight first the government army, then India when it invaded Sri Lanka in the 1980s in an effort to annex the island. A female Tiger blew up Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
The Tigers are exceedingly brutal and often murderous. They are a fanatical, highly dangerous totalitarian organization. But they are not "terrorists," as the U.S. and now Canada claim.
Terrorism is generally defined as "attacks on civilians for political purposes." Mad dogs who blow up airliners, trains and schools are terrorists, no question. But under this definition, then what do we call the Allied mass slaughter of civilians in Dresden, Hamburg, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
Or Russia's massacre of 100,000 Muslim Chechens a decade ago; Israel's 1982 bombardment of Beirut that killed 18,000 civilians; U.S. destruction in 1991 of Iraq's water treatment plants, creating an epidemic that killed hundreds of thousands of children?
What about the indiscriminate bombing of Afghan villages by U.S., Canadian and NATO forces? Or the recent killing of over 1,000 Lebanese and Israeli civilians, denounced by Amnesty International as a war crime?
Those accusing others of terrorism are often far more guilty of it themselves.
Tamil Tigers ably govern a third of Sri Lanka. Dismissing them as "terrorists" is as meaningless and misleading as calling Hezbollah, which is Lebanon's only effective, non-corrupt government, "terrorist thugs."
Enough with propaganda labels. I detest this deceitful, poisonous term, "terrorism," which has become a propaganda weapon to demonize political opponents.
Canada has recently made itself an enemy of the Muslim world and now faces attacks on its citizens and business interests abroad. This is not a good time to kick the Tamil Tigers hornet's nest. Sometimes it's better to avert your gaze, as previous Canadian governments did, and not seek trouble -- particularly when the Tigers have committed no hostile acts against Canada or the U.S.
Terrorism is a tactic, not a thing. Tamil Tigers are fighting for independence after decades of oppression. We westerners have forgotten that armed resistance to intolerable oppression is a legitimate right of all peoples.
One really must ask why Ottawa is sticking its nose into another remote, bloody foreign war and creating new security problems for Canadians when it can't provide even Second World health care to its own people.
margolis@foreigncorrespondent.com
Note This Points too....
It is highly saddening to read some misinformation campaign against our website. On several occasions its have also accused Nitarsanam.comof being operated by the LTTE. Its is completely untrue. We note that LTTE's official media network bears the name of "Nidharsanam" which may have caused confusion to you. NiTharsanam and NiDharsanam are two different organisations, two different Logo, two different Banners, two different Meaning, operated by two different groups of people for two completely different purposes. NiTharsanam.com's one and only mission are to provide honest and reliable information to the Tamil people at a pace suitable for the information era.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
ACF Notes Initial Report on Sri Lankan Massacre, Awaits Official Investigation
International cease-fire monitors, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), made a declaration earlier today about the slaughter of the 17 Action Against Hunger (ACF) staff in Muthur, northeast Sri Lanka, in early August.
In its statement to the secretary of the Sri Lankan government, the SLMM clearly denounced the Sri Lankan special forces with the responsibility for the executions.
ACF has taken note of this initial declaration by the SLMM.
ACF reaffirms its desire that all evidence is brought to light about the circumstances surrounding the slaughter of its aid workers in Muttur. To this end, the findings of independent groups like the SLMM and the Group of Tokyo (USA, EU, Japan, Norway) can contribute to the government’s official investigation currently underway.
ACF has reduced its humanitarian activities in Sri Lanka, but the organization is still present in the field to assist the people displaced by the conflict.
Press Conference, Wednesday, September 6th:
Press Conference, Wednesday, September 6th: ACF will organize a press conference about the situation in Sri Lanka, the first results of the investigation and its intentions concerning its operations in the country. This press conference will take place in the headquarters of the organization on Wednesday September 6th at 11h00.
http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/news/press/release_aug30_06.html
In its statement to the secretary of the Sri Lankan government, the SLMM clearly denounced the Sri Lankan special forces with the responsibility for the executions.
ACF has taken note of this initial declaration by the SLMM.
ACF reaffirms its desire that all evidence is brought to light about the circumstances surrounding the slaughter of its aid workers in Muttur. To this end, the findings of independent groups like the SLMM and the Group of Tokyo (USA, EU, Japan, Norway) can contribute to the government’s official investigation currently underway.
ACF has reduced its humanitarian activities in Sri Lanka, but the organization is still present in the field to assist the people displaced by the conflict.
Press Conference, Wednesday, September 6th:
Press Conference, Wednesday, September 6th: ACF will organize a press conference about the situation in Sri Lanka, the first results of the investigation and its intentions concerning its operations in the country. This press conference will take place in the headquarters of the organization on Wednesday September 6th at 11h00.
http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/news/press/release_aug30_06.html
Friday, August 18, 2006
Sencholai air-strike killed 55, details released
Director of Education for Kilinochchi district, T Kurukularaja, and Director of Education for Mullaitivu district, P Ariyaradnam, have informed their respective Government Agents the details of the 55 victims killed in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing on Sencholai campus in Vallipunam Monday.
On Thursday, Mullaithivu Principals Association and Kandavalai Principals Association, the organisors of the ten-day program, condemned the aerial bombardment that killed 55 schoolchildren and staffers.
"The residential course progressed to its fourth day, when on 14 August at 7:00 a.m the students were getting ready for the day's program when four Sri Lankan government Kfir jets started showering the area with bombs," the organisors said in a joint press release.
The final tally of those killed in the Vallipunam school camp aerial bombing (55 killed of which 51 are students and four are staff)
Names of students killed and the school they were attending from Mullaitivu district compiled by the Director of Education for Mullaitivu district, P Ariyaradnam, and sent to the Government Agent for Mullaitivu:
School: Puthukkudiyiruppu Mahavidhyalayam
Thambirasa Lakiya DOB: 26-03-89, Mullivaikal west
Mahalingam Vensidiyoola DOB: 07-10-89, Mullivaikal west
Thuraisingam Sutharsini DOB: 28-07-89, Ward 10, PKT
School: Visuvamadu Mahavidhyalayam
Nagalingam Theepa DOB: 29-03-87, Puthadi, Visuvamadu
Thambirasa Theepa DOB: 07-02-87, Valluvarpuram, Redbarna
Thirunavukkarasu Niranjini DOB: 29-11-88, Puthadi, Visuvamadu
Raveenthirarasa Ramya DOB: 14-11-88, Thoddiyadi, V. madu
Kanapathipillai Nanthini DOB: 05-10-88, Koddiyadi, Visuvamadu
Vijayabavan Sinthuja DOB: 24-05-88, Koddiyadi, Visuvamadu
Naguleswaran Nishanthini DOB: 11-04-89, Thoddiyadi, V.madu
Tharmakulasingam Kemala DOB: 09-09-87, Kannakinagar,
Arulampalam Yasothini DBO: 18-01-88, Puththadi, Visuvamadu
School: Udayarkaddu Mahavidhyalayam
Muthaih Indra DOB: 08-08-88, Suthanthirapuram centre
Murugaiah Arulselvi DOB: 14-07-88, Suthanthirapuram centre
Sivamoorthy Karthikayini DOB: 13-02-88, Vallipunam
Santhanam Sathyakala DOB: 20-08-86, Vallipunam
Kanagalingam Nirupa DOB: 11-02-89, Visuvamadu
Kanagalingam Nirusa DOB: 11-02-89, Vallipunam
Navaratnam Santhakumari DOB: 28-05-88, Kaiveli
Nagalingam Kokila DOB: 12-02-87, Vallipunam
Sivamayajeyam Kokila DOB: Kuravil
Shanmugarasa Paventhini DOB:
Balakrishnan Mathani DOB: 09-05-88, Vallipunam
School: Mullaitivu Mahavidhyalayam
Sivanantham Thivya DOB: 30-05-88, Vannankulam
Thambirasa Suganthini DOB: 18-02-88, Alampil,
S Vathsalamary DOB: 20-11-86, Manatkudiyiruppu
Thanabalasingam Bakeerathy DOB: 03-02-87, Mullivaikal west
Thanikasalam Thanusa DOB: 02-12-87, Kallappadu
Pathmanathan Kalaipriya DOB: 23-09-88, Kovilkudiyiruppu
Markupillai Kelansuthayini DOB: 14-07-88, Vannankulam
Rasamohan Hamsana DOB: 29-05-87, Alampil
School: Kumulamunai Mahavidhyalayam
Vivekanantham Thadchayini DOB: 31-01-88, W 10, PTK
Santhakumar Sukirtha DOB: 08-08-87, Ward 7, Kumulamunai
Uthayakumaran Kousika DOB: 22-08-87, Kumulamunai
Nallapillai Ninthija DOB: 03-03-88, Ward 6, Kumulamunai
Veerasingam Rajitha DOB: 28-02-88, Ward 5, Kumulamunai
School: Vidhyananda College, Mulliyavalai
Thamilvasan Nivethika DOB: 02-12-88, Ward 2, Mulliyavalai
Suntharam Anoja DOB: 12-09-89, Kumulamunai
Puvanasekaram Puvaneswari DOB: 06-06-89, W 4, Mulliyavalai
Kiritharan Thayani DOB: 28-12-89, Thannerutru, Mulliyavalai
School: Chemmalai Mahavidhyalayam
Mahalingam Vasantharani DOB: 23-03-88, Alampil, Chemmalai
Thuraisingam Thisani DOB: 06-12-88, Alampil, Chemmalai
Vairavamoorthy Kirithika DOB: 12-07-87, Alampil, Chemmalai
Chandramohan Nivethika DOB: 04-01-89, Alampil, Chemmalai
School: Oddusuddan Mahavidhyalayam
Sellam Nirojini DOB: Koolamurippu, Oddusuddan
Names of students killed and the school they were attending from Kilinochchi district compiled by the Director of Education for Kilinochchi district, T Kurukularaja, and sent to the Government Agent for Kilinochchi.
School: Muruhananda Mahavidhyalayam
Tharmarasa Brintha DOB: 06-01-89, 189/1 Visuvamadu
Thevarasa Sharmini DOB: 09-03-89, 90, Periyakulam, Kandavalai
School: Tharmapuram Mahavidhyalayam
Varatharaja Mangaleswari DOB: 24-07-89, 577, 13 U, T.puram
Rasenthiraselvam Mahilvathani DOB: 04-12-88, Tharmapuram
Nilayinar Nivakini DOB: 04-04-89, Kaddakkadu, Tharmapuram
School: Piramanthanaru Mahavidhyalayam
Kubenthiraselvam Lihitha DOB: 05-02-87, Kalaveddithidal, Puliyampokanai
Names of staff killed
Chandrasekaran Vijayakumari (Age 27)
Kandasamy Kumarasamy (Age 48)
Solomon Singarasa (Age 65)
S Jeyarubi (Age 20)
Reproduction of this news item is allowed when used without
any alterations to the contents and the source, TamilNet, is mentioned
On Thursday, Mullaithivu Principals Association and Kandavalai Principals Association, the organisors of the ten-day program, condemned the aerial bombardment that killed 55 schoolchildren and staffers.
"The residential course progressed to its fourth day, when on 14 August at 7:00 a.m the students were getting ready for the day's program when four Sri Lankan government Kfir jets started showering the area with bombs," the organisors said in a joint press release.
The final tally of those killed in the Vallipunam school camp aerial bombing (55 killed of which 51 are students and four are staff)
Names of students killed and the school they were attending from Mullaitivu district compiled by the Director of Education for Mullaitivu district, P Ariyaradnam, and sent to the Government Agent for Mullaitivu:
School: Puthukkudiyiruppu Mahavidhyalayam
Thambirasa Lakiya DOB: 26-03-89, Mullivaikal west
Mahalingam Vensidiyoola DOB: 07-10-89, Mullivaikal west
Thuraisingam Sutharsini DOB: 28-07-89, Ward 10, PKT
School: Visuvamadu Mahavidhyalayam
Nagalingam Theepa DOB: 29-03-87, Puthadi, Visuvamadu
Thambirasa Theepa DOB: 07-02-87, Valluvarpuram, Redbarna
Thirunavukkarasu Niranjini DOB: 29-11-88, Puthadi, Visuvamadu
Raveenthirarasa Ramya DOB: 14-11-88, Thoddiyadi, V. madu
Kanapathipillai Nanthini DOB: 05-10-88, Koddiyadi, Visuvamadu
Vijayabavan Sinthuja DOB: 24-05-88, Koddiyadi, Visuvamadu
Naguleswaran Nishanthini DOB: 11-04-89, Thoddiyadi, V.madu
Tharmakulasingam Kemala DOB: 09-09-87, Kannakinagar,
Arulampalam Yasothini DBO: 18-01-88, Puththadi, Visuvamadu
School: Udayarkaddu Mahavidhyalayam
Muthaih Indra DOB: 08-08-88, Suthanthirapuram centre
Murugaiah Arulselvi DOB: 14-07-88, Suthanthirapuram centre
Sivamoorthy Karthikayini DOB: 13-02-88, Vallipunam
Santhanam Sathyakala DOB: 20-08-86, Vallipunam
Kanagalingam Nirupa DOB: 11-02-89, Visuvamadu
Kanagalingam Nirusa DOB: 11-02-89, Vallipunam
Navaratnam Santhakumari DOB: 28-05-88, Kaiveli
Nagalingam Kokila DOB: 12-02-87, Vallipunam
Sivamayajeyam Kokila DOB: Kuravil
Shanmugarasa Paventhini DOB:
Balakrishnan Mathani DOB: 09-05-88, Vallipunam
School: Mullaitivu Mahavidhyalayam
Sivanantham Thivya DOB: 30-05-88, Vannankulam
Thambirasa Suganthini DOB: 18-02-88, Alampil,
S Vathsalamary DOB: 20-11-86, Manatkudiyiruppu
Thanabalasingam Bakeerathy DOB: 03-02-87, Mullivaikal west
Thanikasalam Thanusa DOB: 02-12-87, Kallappadu
Pathmanathan Kalaipriya DOB: 23-09-88, Kovilkudiyiruppu
Markupillai Kelansuthayini DOB: 14-07-88, Vannankulam
Rasamohan Hamsana DOB: 29-05-87, Alampil
School: Kumulamunai Mahavidhyalayam
Vivekanantham Thadchayini DOB: 31-01-88, W 10, PTK
Santhakumar Sukirtha DOB: 08-08-87, Ward 7, Kumulamunai
Uthayakumaran Kousika DOB: 22-08-87, Kumulamunai
Nallapillai Ninthija DOB: 03-03-88, Ward 6, Kumulamunai
Veerasingam Rajitha DOB: 28-02-88, Ward 5, Kumulamunai
School: Vidhyananda College, Mulliyavalai
Thamilvasan Nivethika DOB: 02-12-88, Ward 2, Mulliyavalai
Suntharam Anoja DOB: 12-09-89, Kumulamunai
Puvanasekaram Puvaneswari DOB: 06-06-89, W 4, Mulliyavalai
Kiritharan Thayani DOB: 28-12-89, Thannerutru, Mulliyavalai
School: Chemmalai Mahavidhyalayam
Mahalingam Vasantharani DOB: 23-03-88, Alampil, Chemmalai
Thuraisingam Thisani DOB: 06-12-88, Alampil, Chemmalai
Vairavamoorthy Kirithika DOB: 12-07-87, Alampil, Chemmalai
Chandramohan Nivethika DOB: 04-01-89, Alampil, Chemmalai
School: Oddusuddan Mahavidhyalayam
Sellam Nirojini DOB: Koolamurippu, Oddusuddan
Names of students killed and the school they were attending from Kilinochchi district compiled by the Director of Education for Kilinochchi district, T Kurukularaja, and sent to the Government Agent for Kilinochchi.
School: Muruhananda Mahavidhyalayam
Tharmarasa Brintha DOB: 06-01-89, 189/1 Visuvamadu
Thevarasa Sharmini DOB: 09-03-89, 90, Periyakulam, Kandavalai
School: Tharmapuram Mahavidhyalayam
Varatharaja Mangaleswari DOB: 24-07-89, 577, 13 U, T.puram
Rasenthiraselvam Mahilvathani DOB: 04-12-88, Tharmapuram
Nilayinar Nivakini DOB: 04-04-89, Kaddakkadu, Tharmapuram
School: Piramanthanaru Mahavidhyalayam
Kubenthiraselvam Lihitha DOB: 05-02-87, Kalaveddithidal, Puliyampokanai
Names of staff killed
Chandrasekaran Vijayakumari (Age 27)
Kandasamy Kumarasamy (Age 48)
Solomon Singarasa (Age 65)
S Jeyarubi (Age 20)
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any alterations to the contents and the source, TamilNet, is mentioned
Monday, July 31, 2006
Three pronged SLA movement thwarted - LTTE
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18994
Three pronged SLA movement thwarted - LTTE
[TamilNet, July 31, 2006 07:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) began moving grond troops through three fronts from two SLA bases towards Mavil Aaru sluice gate Monday morning, supported by Multi - Barrel Rocket Launcher, artillery fire and aerial bombardment from Kfir and MIG jets towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam controlled area in Mavil Aaru. The SLA troops were defeated by the Tigers, according to Ilanthirayan, the military spokesman of the Tigers. Three LTTE cadres were killed and two wounded, Mr. Ilanthirayan said. Meanwhile SL military sources in Colombo said two SLA troopers were kiled and six wounded. The SLA initiated operation has threatened the Ceasefire Agreement.
LTTE defence was being carried out under the supervision of LTTE's Trincomalee District Special Commander Col. Sornam, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
SLA troopers launched a troop movement from Thirumangalam SLA camp towards Ankodai in LTTE controlled area, but the move was defeated at Valkottu by the Tigers, amidst indiscrimate bombing by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets and MIG bombers.
"They [the SLA] could not move far, even a kilometer from Thirumangalam camp," Ilanthirayan said confirming intensive clash between ground troops from the both sides.
In the meantime, another move, made from Kallaru SLA camp eastwards in the direction of Eachilampattu, was also defeated, he said.
A third move through a jungle area was also defeated by the Tigers.
"Heavy resistance was yielded by the defence forces of the Tigers under the supervision of Col. Sornam," Ilanthirayan said.
Meanwhile, Colombo military sources said in Monday's fight two SLA soldiers were killed and six others were injured.
The injured were first admitted to the Serunuwara government hospital and later transferred to the Polonnaruwa hospital.
Schools in the Serunuwara division were closed and shops were shut down as tension prevails in the area, police sources said.
Keheliya Rambukwella, the Sri Lankan Minister and Defence Ministry spokesman in Colombo said that SLA troops were advancing towards Mavil Aaru.
"The movement of troops is reportedly slow due to mines and attack of the LTTE," Mr. Rambukwella told media Monday.
Three pronged SLA movement thwarted - LTTE
[TamilNet, July 31, 2006 07:05 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) began moving grond troops through three fronts from two SLA bases towards Mavil Aaru sluice gate Monday morning, supported by Multi - Barrel Rocket Launcher, artillery fire and aerial bombardment from Kfir and MIG jets towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam controlled area in Mavil Aaru. The SLA troops were defeated by the Tigers, according to Ilanthirayan, the military spokesman of the Tigers. Three LTTE cadres were killed and two wounded, Mr. Ilanthirayan said. Meanwhile SL military sources in Colombo said two SLA troopers were kiled and six wounded. The SLA initiated operation has threatened the Ceasefire Agreement.
LTTE defence was being carried out under the supervision of LTTE's Trincomalee District Special Commander Col. Sornam, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
SLA troopers launched a troop movement from Thirumangalam SLA camp towards Ankodai in LTTE controlled area, but the move was defeated at Valkottu by the Tigers, amidst indiscrimate bombing by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets and MIG bombers.
"They [the SLA] could not move far, even a kilometer from Thirumangalam camp," Ilanthirayan said confirming intensive clash between ground troops from the both sides.
In the meantime, another move, made from Kallaru SLA camp eastwards in the direction of Eachilampattu, was also defeated, he said.
A third move through a jungle area was also defeated by the Tigers.
"Heavy resistance was yielded by the defence forces of the Tigers under the supervision of Col. Sornam," Ilanthirayan said.
Meanwhile, Colombo military sources said in Monday's fight two SLA soldiers were killed and six others were injured.
The injured were first admitted to the Serunuwara government hospital and later transferred to the Polonnaruwa hospital.
Schools in the Serunuwara division were closed and shops were shut down as tension prevails in the area, police sources said.
Keheliya Rambukwella, the Sri Lankan Minister and Defence Ministry spokesman in Colombo said that SLA troops were advancing towards Mavil Aaru.
"The movement of troops is reportedly slow due to mines and attack of the LTTE," Mr. Rambukwella told media Monday.
Monday, July 24, 2006
"Death Won't Deter Us," - Diaspora Tamils mark 83 Black July Genocide
The 1983 Black July anti-Tamil pogroms in which more than 3000 Tamils were killed and billions of rupees worth of property were destroyed by Sinhala thugs, sections of Sri Lankan armed forces, and ruling UNP party cadres, fuelled the Tamil armed struggle towards a defensible Tamil homeland. Thousands of Tamils fled the island to Tamil Nadu state in India, Europe and elsewhere. The recent extra-judicial killings in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas in the NorthEast, during the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), have added significance to the widespread observance by the Tamil diaspora of the 23rd year remembrance of the anti-Tamil pogroms.
Black July 83 anti-Tamil pogroms in Southern Sri Lanka, that shocked the world, were the biggest of politically orgnised anti-Tamil riots of 1956, 1961, 1977 and 1983.
In the July 83 anti-Tamil pogrom Sinhala thugs, ruling UNP party cadres, sections of Sri Lankan troopers, and Sri Lanka Police killed more than 3000 Tamils and destroyed property worth billions of rupees.
53 Tamil political prisoners in the Welikade prison in the South were killed by armed Sinhala inmates, on the 25th and 27th of July 1983.
Although the Sri Lankan authorities have attempted to describe the July 1983 anti-Tamil pogroms as Sinhala backlash to 13 SLA soldiers death on 23 July landmine attack by the Tigers, records later exposed that the 83 riots displayed a preplanned, organised pogroms rather than spontaneous upsurge of violence against Tamils.
Paul Sieghart, the then chariman of the British section of International Commission of Jurists, in a report titled "Sri Lanka: A Mounting Tragedy of Errors, noted that the 83 July riots were "a series of deliberate acts, executed in accordance with a concerted plan, conceived and organized well in advance."
"Clearly this [83 riots] was no spontaneous upsurge of communal hatred among the Sinhala people - nor was it as has been suggested in some quarters, a popular response to the killing of 13 soldiers in an ambush the previous day by Tamil Tigers, which was not even reported in the newspapers until the riots began," the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) report said.
One of the first accounts of the July 83 anti-Tamil pogroms, "Sri Lanka: the Holocaust and After," revealed details on UNP led goon squads who went searching for Tamils with electoral lists containinng details of Tamils in Colombo. The book gives details how the then Sri Lankan Industries Minister Cyril Mathew organised the pogroms in Kelaniya and Kandy and notes that the preparations to attack Tamils had been made in advance.
In 2004, 21 years after 1983, a token apology was issued by Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Again, in 1998 and onwards, mass graves, came to be known as Chemmani graves, were exposed in Jaffna. Hundreds of Tamil civilians who were abducted by the Sri Lanka Army after 1996, were reported missing. Amnesty International reported that the organisation estimated as many 540 people as disappeared in Jaffna in mid-1996.
On October 25, 2000, Twenty-eight Tamil inmates, between the ages of 14-23 years, in Sri Lankan detention centre jail Bindunuwewa, were massacred while 14 other Tamil youths were seriously injured by Sinhala mobs and Sri Lanka Police.
The recent outburst of extra-judicial killings against Tamil media personnel, parliamentarians, traders, auto-rickshaw drivers and ordinary Tamils in an alleged campaign of terror, have caused an emotional sense of unity among the Tamil diaspora, supporting the Tamil cause for a contiguous defensible homeland.
Country Date Time Location
Canada 24,25 18:00
USA 29 18:00 Texas
Belgium 25 14:00-17:00 Shuman Place
New Zealand 25,27,29 15:00 Auckland Normal Inter- mediate School
Denmark 25 12:00-17:00 in 4 cities
Finland 25 09:00-19:00
Australia,
Melbourne 24,25 08:00-20:00 Federation Square
Australia,
Sydney 25 12:00-19:00 Martin Place
Swiss 23 and
onwards in 26 locations
Sweden 25-28 Sergel Torg
Norway 25 11:00-15:00 in 3 cities
Germany 25 09:00-17:00 in 15 cities
UK 25 12:30-15:30 Hyde Park
Netherlands 25 09:00-19:00 Dam Amsterdam
France 25 15:00-18:00 Mur de la paix
Italy 25 09:00 in two cities
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=18908
Black July 83 anti-Tamil pogroms in Southern Sri Lanka, that shocked the world, were the biggest of politically orgnised anti-Tamil riots of 1956, 1961, 1977 and 1983.
In the July 83 anti-Tamil pogrom Sinhala thugs, ruling UNP party cadres, sections of Sri Lankan troopers, and Sri Lanka Police killed more than 3000 Tamils and destroyed property worth billions of rupees.
53 Tamil political prisoners in the Welikade prison in the South were killed by armed Sinhala inmates, on the 25th and 27th of July 1983.
Although the Sri Lankan authorities have attempted to describe the July 1983 anti-Tamil pogroms as Sinhala backlash to 13 SLA soldiers death on 23 July landmine attack by the Tigers, records later exposed that the 83 riots displayed a preplanned, organised pogroms rather than spontaneous upsurge of violence against Tamils.
Paul Sieghart, the then chariman of the British section of International Commission of Jurists, in a report titled "Sri Lanka: A Mounting Tragedy of Errors, noted that the 83 July riots were "a series of deliberate acts, executed in accordance with a concerted plan, conceived and organized well in advance."
"Clearly this [83 riots] was no spontaneous upsurge of communal hatred among the Sinhala people - nor was it as has been suggested in some quarters, a popular response to the killing of 13 soldiers in an ambush the previous day by Tamil Tigers, which was not even reported in the newspapers until the riots began," the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) report said.
One of the first accounts of the July 83 anti-Tamil pogroms, "Sri Lanka: the Holocaust and After," revealed details on UNP led goon squads who went searching for Tamils with electoral lists containinng details of Tamils in Colombo. The book gives details how the then Sri Lankan Industries Minister Cyril Mathew organised the pogroms in Kelaniya and Kandy and notes that the preparations to attack Tamils had been made in advance.
In 2004, 21 years after 1983, a token apology was issued by Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Again, in 1998 and onwards, mass graves, came to be known as Chemmani graves, were exposed in Jaffna. Hundreds of Tamil civilians who were abducted by the Sri Lanka Army after 1996, were reported missing. Amnesty International reported that the organisation estimated as many 540 people as disappeared in Jaffna in mid-1996.
On October 25, 2000, Twenty-eight Tamil inmates, between the ages of 14-23 years, in Sri Lankan detention centre jail Bindunuwewa, were massacred while 14 other Tamil youths were seriously injured by Sinhala mobs and Sri Lanka Police.
The recent outburst of extra-judicial killings against Tamil media personnel, parliamentarians, traders, auto-rickshaw drivers and ordinary Tamils in an alleged campaign of terror, have caused an emotional sense of unity among the Tamil diaspora, supporting the Tamil cause for a contiguous defensible homeland.
Country Date Time Location
Canada 24,25 18:00
USA 29 18:00 Texas
Belgium 25 14:00-17:00 Shuman Place
New Zealand 25,27,29 15:00 Auckland Normal Inter- mediate School
Denmark 25 12:00-17:00 in 4 cities
Finland 25 09:00-19:00
Australia,
Melbourne 24,25 08:00-20:00 Federation Square
Australia,
Sydney 25 12:00-19:00 Martin Place
Swiss 23 and
onwards in 26 locations
Sweden 25-28 Sergel Torg
Norway 25 11:00-15:00 in 3 cities
Germany 25 09:00-17:00 in 15 cities
UK 25 12:30-15:30 Hyde Park
Netherlands 25 09:00-19:00 Dam Amsterdam
France 25 15:00-18:00 Mur de la paix
Italy 25 09:00 in two cities
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=18908
Saturday, July 22, 2006
INDICTMENT AGAINST SRI LANKA
INDICTMENT AGAINST SRI LANKA
Genocide '83
'A tourist told yesterday how she watched in horror as a Sinhala mob deliberately burned alive a bus load of Tamils... A mini bus full of Tamils were forced to stop in front of us in Colombo' she said. A Sinhalese mob poured petrol over the bus and set it on fire. They blocked the car door and prevented the Tamils from leaving the vehicle. 'Hundreds of spectators watched as about 20 Tamils were burned to death'."
On 24 July 1983, and in the succeeding weeks, around two thousand Tamils were killed - some were burnt alive - over a hundred thousand were rendered homeless
Sinhala mob dancing around a Tamil youth, stripped naked, before pouring petrol and burning him to death, Colombo, 23 July 1983
On 24 July 1983, and in the succeeding weeks, around two thousand Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka were killed. Some were burnt alive. Over a hundred thousand were rendered homeless.
''Considerably more people died during the recent violence in Sri Lanka than the 380 deaths the government there has admitted to, according to an aid organization. Dr.Sjef Teuns, General Secretary of Novib, the leading private development aid organization in the Netherlands, said between 1000 and 2000 people lost their lives. He returned to Netherland on Saturday. He accused the Sri Lanka government of serious human rights violations against the Tamil population and called the Dutch government to reconsider its development aid policy towards the country.'' (London Times, 22 August 1983)
''Estimates of the number of persons killed in the week of violence vary. Official estimates are just under 400 killed. These estimates are conservative. Unofficial estimates are as high as 1500 to 2000. It is probable that many bodies were not at first discovered because they were burned in houses. Also some bodies were hidden and buried privately by people who were frightened by the prospect of further reprisals should the bodies be discovered, or scared to attract attention to themselves by reporting the deaths. At the date of our departure from Sri Lanka, September 1st, there were many people still missing or not accounted for.'' (Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee Report -Democracy in Peril, June 1985)
''The police and the government made no attempt to stop or hinder small gangs of men who went about with lists, burning the houses and flats (in Sinhala owned dwellings only the contents), grocery stores, pharmacies, textile shops, tailoring establishments, restaurants, bookshops, hardware shops, lawyers offices, studios... as well as tourist hotels. They also burnt trucks, vans and cars. They went for only those things which were owned by (Tamils)... They did this expertly.... within sight of President's House in the administrative and business centre, a few yards away from the Prime Minister's official residence, near the UNP headquarters, in blocks immediately adjacent to or opposite major police stations - taking care, on a hot, dry morning, not to start fires which would spread to adjacent Sinhalese owned or state property. Accidents and violations of 'discipline' were few.'' (Sri Lanka - The Unfinished Quest for Peace - L.Piyadasa, Marram Books, 1988)
"Motorists were dragged from their cars to be stoned and beaten with sticks during racial violence in Colombo, the Sri Lanka capital yesterday (24 July). Others were cut down with knifes and axes. Mobs of Sinhala youth rampaged through the streets, ransacking homes, shops and offices, looting them and setting them ablaze, as they sought out members of the Tamil ethnic minority... A Sri Lankan friend told me by telephone last night how he had watched horrified earlier in the day as a mob attacked a Tamil cyclist riding near Colombo's eye hospital, a few hundred yards from the home of Junius Jayawardene, the nations 76 year old President. The cyclist was hauled from his bike, drenched with petrol and set alight. As he ran screaming down the street, the mob set on him again and hacked him down with jungle knifes.." (London Daily Telegraph, 26 July 1983)
''Pillars of smoke and flame rose over the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo yesterday as mobs attacked the minority Tamil community and looted their homes and stores...Some of the worst rioting erupted in the morning only 200 yards away from President Jayawardene's house... All over the city by mid-morning lorries jammed with young men shouting anti Tamil slogans, were moving into Tamil areas and into shopping centres picking out Tamil shops... Petrol was siphoned from cars into buckets and plastic bowls to speed the work of arson.. By noon Colombo resembled a city after a bombing raid. Smoke obscured the sun, main roads were blocked by burnt out vehicles. The rioting surged into the heart of the city. In area after area Sinhalese rioters systematically picked out Tamil homes and shops, whether occupied or empty, and looted and destroyed them...'' (Guardian, 26 July 1983)
''A tourist told yesterday how she watched in horror as a Sinhala mob deliberately burned alive a bus load of Tamils... Mrs.Eli Skarstein, back home in Stavanger, Norway, told how she and her 15 year old daughter, Kristin, witnessed one massacre. 'A mini bus full of Tamils were forced to stop in front of us in Colombo' she said. A Sinhalese mob poured petrol over the bus and set it on fire. They blocked the car door and prevented the Tamils from leaving the vehicle. 'Hundreds of spectators watched as about 20 Tamils were burned to death'. Mrs. Skarstein added: 'We can't believe the official casualty figures. Hundreds may be thousands must have been killed already." (London Daily Express, 29th August 1983)
''Eye witnesses and victims reported that on the streets cars were stopped by gangs and the people inside were asked whether they were Sinhalese or Tamil. Some Sinhalese words are extremely difficult for people who do not speak the language fluently to pronounce, people were tested by being made to pronounce these words. The mobs were also demanding to see identity cards to establish whether or not people were Tamils... People identified as Tamils as a result of the questioning were told to get out of their cars and their cars were set alight... In cases where any resistance was offered, killings were likely to take place... It was reported by many people that in some instances students from Buddhist schools followed on behind the first rioters and that some Buddhist monks were seen amongst the gangs'' (Patricia Hyndman, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of New South Wales and Secretary, Lawasia Human Rights Standing Committee Report -Democracy in Peril, June 1985)
Monday, July 10, 2006
Narayanasamy urges Centre to ban parties supporting LTTE
AICC General Secretary V Narayanasamy on Sunday, urged the Centre to impose a ban on political parties and groups supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Addressing a press conference here, Mr Narayanasamy said though the LTTE was banned in India and some other countries, certain movements under the cover of "Eelam Tamils Protection groups" were supporting the cause of the LTTE. He said these groups should be severely dealt with. "The LTTE, which assassinated former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi should never be forgiven and its Leader V Prabhakaran, the prime accused, must be punished as per law." Mr Narayanasamy urged the Centre to take immediate steps to protect the Tamil Nadu fishermen from the "atrocities of the Sri Lankan Navy." Referring to the Centre's decsion to drop the disinvestment in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), Mr Narayansami said the BJP's criticism on the issue cannot be accepted and the plan to drop the divest plan was taken in view of the sentiments of the alliance partners. Everyone should cooperate with the Centre to implement the new economic policy instead of criticising the Centre on the NLC issue, he added.
Monday, July 03, 2006
End killings of innocent Tamils, India tells Lanka
Rants + Raves Print Email
Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
New Delhi - India Thursday politely but firmly made it clear to Sri Lanka that its security forces must stop killing innocent Tamils in the name of combating the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samraweera was conveyed the message by India’s political leadership which while being firmly committed to the island’s unity is bothered by increasing reports of attacks on innocent Tamils.
An informed source told IANS: ‘The minister was told that civilian casualties should be avoided… and we hope that Sri Lankan security forces will not respond to provocations and be restrained.’
Samaraweera, who flew in Wednesday night from London on a previously unscheduled trip, first met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan exclusively and then had an extended meeting along with officials. Before flying to Colombo he met Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed at the Indira Gandhi international airport.
India’s concern follows rapidly worsening situation in Sri Lanka where more than 800 people have been killed since December.
The cycle of killings and counter-killings, for which blame has fallen on the security forces, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and anti-LTTE Tamil groups, has made a mockery of the 2002 Norway-brokered ceasefire between Colombo and the Tigers.
The violence has led to a panic run of distraught Tamil civilians to Tamil Nadu, the Indian state separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow strip of sea.
This in turn has generated a lot of heat in Tamil Nadu, where both the ruling DMK and opposition parties have pressed New Delhi to take steps to try to bring peace in the island nation.
Samaraweera, who was also in New Delhi last month, told Manmohan Singh that President Mahinda Rajapakse was committed to peace no matter what stand the LTTE took.
Samaraweera quoted Rajapakse as saying that ‘war is not an option’ for Sri Lanka.
‘We are committed to a political solution and want to go in for devolution of powers based on discussions at the all party conference (in Sri Lanka),’ he told the Indian premier and Narayanan.
Colombo, the minister went on, wanted to talk to the LTTE to resolve the decades-long ethnic conflict. ‘For this government and for our president, war is not an option,’ Samaraweera insisted.
Manmohan Singh heard out Samaraweera and expressed happiness over the minister’s assurances that Sri Lanka was not readying for war.
Narayanan is expected to fly to Tamil Nadu shortly to appraise Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi about the discussions with Samaraweera.
Among other things Karunanidhi is seriously concerned over continuing attacks by Sri Lankan security forces on fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
In a statement here, the Sri Lankan high commission said Samaraweera told Manmohan Singh that Colombo ‘remains committed to the ceasefire agreement despite the grave provocations and violations by the LTTE’.
It added: ‘The president has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a negotiated political solution based on democracy and human rights t
hat meets the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka and will preserve the territorial integrity of the country.’
The president, the statement said, stood for ‘a negotiated political solution based on maximum devolution of power in an undivided Sri Lanka’.
Diplomats in Colombo, however, fear that both Colombo and LTTE appear to be inching towards a full-fledged conflict although neither side wants to earn flak from the international community by provoking a war.
India follows the Sri Lanka situation closely and is in touch with Norway, which is engaged in desperate efforts to rescue the derailed peace process.
http://indiaenews.com/2006-06/12314-killings-innocent-tamils-india-lanka.htm
Rants + Raves Print Email
Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
New Delhi - India Thursday politely but firmly made it clear to Sri Lanka that its security forces must stop killing innocent Tamils in the name of combating the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samraweera was conveyed the message by India’s political leadership which while being firmly committed to the island’s unity is bothered by increasing reports of attacks on innocent Tamils.
An informed source told IANS: ‘The minister was told that civilian casualties should be avoided… and we hope that Sri Lankan security forces will not respond to provocations and be restrained.’
Samaraweera, who flew in Wednesday night from London on a previously unscheduled trip, first met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan exclusively and then had an extended meeting along with officials. Before flying to Colombo he met Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed at the Indira Gandhi international airport.
India’s concern follows rapidly worsening situation in Sri Lanka where more than 800 people have been killed since December.
The cycle of killings and counter-killings, for which blame has fallen on the security forces, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and anti-LTTE Tamil groups, has made a mockery of the 2002 Norway-brokered ceasefire between Colombo and the Tigers.
The violence has led to a panic run of distraught Tamil civilians to Tamil Nadu, the Indian state separated from Sri Lanka by a narrow strip of sea.
This in turn has generated a lot of heat in Tamil Nadu, where both the ruling DMK and opposition parties have pressed New Delhi to take steps to try to bring peace in the island nation.
Samaraweera, who was also in New Delhi last month, told Manmohan Singh that President Mahinda Rajapakse was committed to peace no matter what stand the LTTE took.
Samaraweera quoted Rajapakse as saying that ‘war is not an option’ for Sri Lanka.
‘We are committed to a political solution and want to go in for devolution of powers based on discussions at the all party conference (in Sri Lanka),’ he told the Indian premier and Narayanan.
Colombo, the minister went on, wanted to talk to the LTTE to resolve the decades-long ethnic conflict. ‘For this government and for our president, war is not an option,’ Samaraweera insisted.
Manmohan Singh heard out Samaraweera and expressed happiness over the minister’s assurances that Sri Lanka was not readying for war.
Narayanan is expected to fly to Tamil Nadu shortly to appraise Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi about the discussions with Samaraweera.
Among other things Karunanidhi is seriously concerned over continuing attacks by Sri Lankan security forces on fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
In a statement here, the Sri Lankan high commission said Samaraweera told Manmohan Singh that Colombo ‘remains committed to the ceasefire agreement despite the grave provocations and violations by the LTTE’.
It added: ‘The president has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a negotiated political solution based on democracy and human rights t
hat meets the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka and will preserve the territorial integrity of the country.’
The president, the statement said, stood for ‘a negotiated political solution based on maximum devolution of power in an undivided Sri Lanka’.
Diplomats in Colombo, however, fear that both Colombo and LTTE appear to be inching towards a full-fledged conflict although neither side wants to earn flak from the international community by provoking a war.
India follows the Sri Lanka situation closely and is in touch with Norway, which is engaged in desperate efforts to rescue the derailed peace process.
http://indiaenews.com/2006-06/12314-killings-innocent-tamils-india-lanka.htm
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Rights group says Lanka has fallen short
A human rights group in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Sri Lanka had fallen short of its commitment to safeguard human rights.
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA) said Sri Lankas pledges fell short of substantive steps to ensure effective promotion and protection of human rights domestically and internationally.
In addition, we note that many of the pledges are vague and general, without specific information as to how they will be implemented in practice, FORUM-ASIA Executive Director Anselmo Lee said
In its letter the FORUM has included a list of pledges omitted by Sri Lanka and a set of questions that needed clarification by the Government.
We would be grateful if you could respond to these questions through an informal consultation with NGOs, or via e-mail at unadvocacy@forum-asia.org or via fax at +66 2 391 8801, the FORUM ASIA said.
It said though pledges were not legally binding, the Government had a moral obligation to implement them and to be held accountable to the people and the international community.
The FORUM insisted on an early response and an opportunity for consultation and dialogue with the civil society to demonstrate in practice Sri Lankas suitability as a possible member of the Human Rights Council.
Daily Mirror
A human rights group in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Sri Lanka had fallen short of its commitment to safeguard human rights.
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA) said Sri Lankas pledges fell short of substantive steps to ensure effective promotion and protection of human rights domestically and internationally.
In addition, we note that many of the pledges are vague and general, without specific information as to how they will be implemented in practice, FORUM-ASIA Executive Director Anselmo Lee said
In its letter the FORUM has included a list of pledges omitted by Sri Lanka and a set of questions that needed clarification by the Government.
We would be grateful if you could respond to these questions through an informal consultation with NGOs, or via e-mail at unadvocacy@forum-asia.org or via fax at +66 2 391 8801, the FORUM ASIA said.
It said though pledges were not legally binding, the Government had a moral obligation to implement them and to be held accountable to the people and the international community.
The FORUM insisted on an early response and an opportunity for consultation and dialogue with the civil society to demonstrate in practice Sri Lankas suitability as a possible member of the Human Rights Council.
Daily Mirror
The US is losing the propaganda war against al-Qaeda and other enemies, defence chief Donald Rumsfeld has said. It must modernise its methods to win the minds of Muslims in the "war on terror", as "enemies had skilfully adapted" to the media age, he said. Washington and the army must respond faster to events and learn to exploit the internet and satellite TV, he said. Separately, President Bush said the US should not be discouraged by setbacks in Iraq and must realise it is at war. "We shouldn't be discouraged... because we've seen democracy change the world in the past," George W Bush said. However, he also used his speech in Florida to claim progress in the war on al-Qaeda. Mr Bush said that slowly but surely the US was finding terrorists where they hid. 'Newsroom battles' Correspondents say that in recent months victory in the battle for public opinion has become a new front for the Bush administration. In a speech to the Council of Foreign Relations, Mr Rumsfeld said some of the US' most critical battles were now in the "newsrooms". "Our enemies have skilfully adapted to fighting wars in today's media age, but... our country has not," he said. Mr Rumsfeld said al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremists were bombarding Muslims with negative images of the West, which had poisoned the public view of the US. The US must fight back by operating a more effective, 24-hour propaganda machine, or risk a "dangerous deficiency," he said. Government communications planning must be "a central component of every aspect of this struggle", he added. "The longer it takes to put a strategic communications framework into place, the more we can be certain that the vacuum will be filled by the enemy."
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