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.

"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

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)

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.

End killings of innocent Tamils, India tells Lanka
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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

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

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."