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2006 archives
How the association UNHCR covers the LTTE bunker with their equipment and without assistance from Norway?
UNHCR tents to cover tiger bunkers & heavy guns
[14th December 2006 - 05:00 S.L.T)
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UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) tents brought down to Sri Lanka to be given to tsunami refugees have ended up as shelter for tiger terrorists’ bunkers and camouflage for artillery and mortar positions.
When troops advanced to the tiger held areas in Wakare and Panichchankerny they had noticed tents with the logo of UNHCR being used to cover tiger bunkers and heavy gun positions.
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The friendship between Norway and the Tamils of the LTTE terrorists.
Massive Protest march Organized by the "United Front for the Protection of Motherland" forcing the Government to abolish the CFA and remove Norwegians from peace process![]() |
Effigy of Prabhakaran with Norway trying to cover his nudity with a loincloth
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The Protestors burning the Effigy of Prabhakaran
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Protestors flanked by their leaders arriving at Borella Junction
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JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and General Secretary Tilvin Silva in the March with protestors
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Riot Police in guard at the Norwegian Embassy blocking the marchers from proceeding to the Embassy
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The section of crowed gathered at the Lipton Circus
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Tamil Tigers, Al-Qaeda links emerging-IISS
[20th October 2006 - 12:00 S.L.T]
The London based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in their report “Military Balance 2005/2006” referred to emerging links between the Tamil tigers and the Al-Qaeda movement.
The report was later exposed confidentially, by the editors to diplomatic sources, these links were in terms of commercial transactions including trafficking for financial gain and acquisition of technology rather than any ideological linkage. The anti terror experts are studying with interest links between the Tamil tigers and Al-Qaeda in its financial, commercial and arms dealing.
Moreover experts like Dominic Whiteman say “The funds which have collected by the Tamil tiger terrorists either smuggle into Sri Lanka through human carriers of in the form of weapon purchased in third countries”
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Asst. Secretary of State meets President
[20th October 2006 - 09:20 S.L.T]
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[19th October 2006 - 15:35 S.L.T]
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CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE CONDEMNS THE LTTE FOR ITS SUICIDE ATTACK ON UNARMED SAILORS HEADING FOR VACATION
By Walter Jayawardhana
Democratic Congressman, Frank Pallone Jr. strongly condemned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for its suicide attacks at Habarana in a statement issued to the press.
A much respected and senior Congressman for the 67th District of new Jersey he is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Sri Lanka Caucus.
Very conversant on South Asian Affairs he was once given India’s Padma Bhushan honor for the service he has rendered to India serving in the Indian Congressional Caucus.
The following is the full text of his statement: "I strongly condemn the brutal attack on Monday near Habarana, Sri Lanka that killed more than 90 people, mostly Sri Lankan sailors. The navy personnel were unarmed and heading home for vacation. This act of terrorism is inexcusable. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and to the Government of Sri Lanka."
"The LTTE must denounce terrorism as a means to its political aspirations. Hostilities must end and violence must not be the means for resolving ethnic conflict. All efforts must be focused on restoring and sustaining peace and both parties must return to the negotiation process."
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Four INGOs baned in Sri Lanka over links with Tamil Terrorists
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US charges six with shipping SAM missiles to LTTE
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We'll do military exercise with SL in the near future, but not now - US Asst. Sec. of State
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Geneva talks run into agenda crisis
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TNA Parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj shot dead near Military Police HQ
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35 Soldiers killed over 300 injured - LTTE casualties high
Government would not be strictly directed by CFA -Keheliya Rambukwella
[11th October 2006 - 12:00 S.L.T]
Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday (10) said that the government would not be strictly directed by the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), which was arranged by Norwegian Facilitators. He pointed out that the forthcoming talks could be held outside the CFA.
Answering to the question, the minister said that this should not be considered as an attempt to throw away the CFA.
Addressing the weekly defence press conference at the Media Centre for national Security the Minister Rambukwella said, “The government will not be strictly trapped in the CFA. We do not be 100 percent trapped in it. However, that does not mean that the government will abrogate it. President Mahinda Rajapaksha has indicated this to the peace negotiators.”
He further stressed, “There are seven points listed by President Rajapakse. These core issues are Democracy, Multi party system – the right to engage in politics by other Tamil parties, Pluralism, Human Rights, Child Recruitment, Development of North and East provinces and finally the Devolution of power. If the LTTE fails to respond positively, the Devolution of power will not be a subject in the discussions”
The minister further said that the ICRC was in a way indirectly helping the cause of the Tamil tigers by refusing to fly the ICRC flag on vessels transporting humanitarian aid to Jaffna, after the Tamil tigers refused to guarantee the safety of sea movements. He praised the SLN for carrying out the transportation of food and civilians despite Tamil tigers’ threats and added with effect from today a passenger vessel will operate between Trincomalee and KKS.
Furthermore, he said that the President directed authorities in Jaffna to re-open all school.
It is reported that more than 50percent of students had attend classes despite indirect threats from the Tamil tigers’ to boycott the school.
LTTE hands over 74 bodies
(LeN-Oct 12, 6.45 pm)
139 soldiers killed, 515 wounded
(LeN- Oct. 13, 1.00 pm)
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PAR LANKAENEWS
(Pix: Wasantha Chandrapala-Ampara)
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Government would not be strictly directed by CFA -Keheliya Rambukwella
[11th October 2006 - 12:00 S.L.T]
LTTE hands over 74 bodies
139 soldiers killed, 515 wounded
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PAR LANKAENEWS
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(Pix: Wasantha Chandrapala-Ampara)
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35 Soldiers killed over 300 injured - LTTE casualties high
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October 11th - Actually What Happened in Northern Battle Field ?
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj----------
(LeN- Oct 15, 10.00pm) Last Wednesday was the day of the tiger in the Northern theatre of war!
The "defensive" offensive launched on October 11th by the Sri Lankan armed forces of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) headed by President Mahinda Rajapakse was repulsed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) led by Velupillai Pirapakaran in a day of fierce fighting from dawn to dusk in the Kilaly - Puloppalai region of Jaffna peninsula.The Sri Lankan Army commanded by Lt. Gen Sarath Fonseka suffered what was easily the single biggest debacle in recent times after the GOSL began its series of "Defensive Offensives" against the Liberation Tigers. At least 133 soldiers were killed and 519 wounded while the LTTE suffered 23 deaths and 101 injured cadres. Both sides have now returned to their earlier positions and are engaged in sporadic, low - intensity artillery fire.
The military advance was not unexpected as preceding events pointed to a high military build - up in the area. There had been intermittent exchange of artillery fire for many days between both sides along the Forward Defence Line (FDL) axis of Kilaly - Eluthumattuvaal - Nagar Kovil axis in the lower peninsula. There was also aerial bombardment of areas described as LTTE positions by the GOSL for many days.
The past few days had also seen a massive increase in military preparations by the GOSL.The tigers protested at this visible military build - up to Norway. At the same time the LTTE also began strengthening its defences.The GOSL denied that it was planning an offensive. It re-iterated that the armed forces would only defend themselves or enhance defence by "neutralising" LTTE positions. Since this has been the usual excuse of the GOSL in justifying military operations it was a foregone conclusion that a "defensive offensive" was on the cards.The real aim of the GOSL security forces was Elephant Pass.
Originally the operation was to commence on Monday Oct 11th. Protests made by the LTTE of an imminent offensive were denied by the GOSL. So the planned offensive was delayed by two days to stave off possible international pressure. Another reason was heavy rain on Monday.
The night of Tuesday October 10th saw the intermittent artillery fire escalating. The morning saw military movement on ground. Troops first broke out before dawn from the Nagar Kovil camp in Vadamaratchy East along the Peninsula's eastern coast. Troops from Kilaly along the South - Western coast of the Peninsula commenced moving out at first light. Troops from the Eluthumadduvaal base in the Peninsula's South started out after daybreak. All advancing troops had a pre - dawn breakfast of rice, fish and dhal before breaking out.
By 6. 30 am there was forward movement by troops on all three fronts. K- fir jet bombers and Mi 24 helicopter gunships engaged in aerial bombardment to help facilitate troop movement on ground. The weather however turned nasty with heavy ,dark clouds proliferating. The Air Force could only fly one major sortie that morning due to climatic conditions.
Naval gunboats fired from the sea at coatal points between Nagar Kovil and Thalaiyaddy on the Eastern coastal sector.
The LTTE also began firing their artillery. By 7. 30 am the Nagar Kovil troops called it a day and turned back. It was an apparent manouevre to divide enemy attention. Naval gunboats however continued to patrol the coast along Vadamaratchy east and Pachilaipalli engaging in occasional shelling. The navy aim was to prevent reinforcements from Chundikulam and Challai tiger sea bases from landing inside the peninsula.
Troops moving out from Eluthumadduvaal did not focus on Muhamaalai and Pallai as expected. The army had already advanced about 800 metres into LTTE controlled Muhamaalai and reached the outer perimeter of LTTE lines. Instead of pressing home this advantage further the armed forces veered South - Westwards and continued their march.
The troops moving along the coast from Kilaly also changed course. These personnel moved inwards in a South - Eastern direction.
Both columns were now spreading out and advancing in the Puloppalai region between Muhamaalai and Kilaaly. If this advance was succesful the troops could circumvent Muhamaalai and Pallai . By adopting a semi - circular route they could reach the A- 9 highway or Jaffna - Kandy road at a point close to Puthukkaadu Santhi or junction. An east bound road from the junction through Massar and Soranpattru reaches Thalaiaddy on the east coast.
The Puthukkaadu junction on the A - 9 highway is between Pallai and the Iyakkachi road junction about 3 miles way from Elephant pass. If the troops reached Puthukkadu junction and then the Iyakkachi junction, it would have been only a "short, short way" from there to elephant pass.
There were about 5500 combat and logistical support troops involved.The Air mobile brigade as well as the 3rd infantry brigade of the 55th division (533) comprised the main assault force. The 533 brigade consisted mainly of Gemunu Watch battalions. The mechanized units were also deployed heavily. Troops from the 55th division provided logistical support.
The troops relied heavily on the mechanized personnel and were using a lot of battle tanks, armoured cars, armoured personnel carriers and heavy vehicles like bull dozers to clear the way. Three companies oh highly specialised commandos numbering about 250 - 260 were in the vanguard. They belonged to the Air Mobile brigade and were known as Special Infantry Oriented Teams (SIOT).
The SIOT function was essentially that of pathfinding and trail blazing. Being in the vanguard the SIOT was expected to monito enemy position and gauge artillery and machine gun emplacements. They were required to direct covering artillery and mortar fire extended by personnel to their rear.
After pathfinder troops advanced the tanks , armoured cars andAPC persnnel carriers would follow establishing a safe route through the underbrush . Then troops would dismount from APCs and other armoured vehicles and advance on ground.The main formations of infantry troops then advanced along ground cautiously. Once conditions were comparatively safe bull dozers cleared and flattened the area as far as possible to help consolidate captured areas.
The LTTE resistance to these rapidly advancing columns was carefully calculated. Initially tiger resistanceseemed feeble. The artillery fire seemingly lacked vigour. Earlier attempts to advance through Muhamaalai via the A - 9 axis had seen the LTTE deploying innumerable claymores and anti - personnel mines along the route. This time during the early hours of advance, the mines and booby traps were conspicuously scarce. LTTE cadres from the first and second lines of defence also fell back after a while.The troops were on the upbeat. It looked like the army was going to repeat its Maavilaaru, Muthur, Sampoor, Muhamaalai successes.
8.00 am was the H- hour for the army to commence a heavy onslaught of MBRL's, heavy artillery and field artillery. Even as the armed forces began this tiger artillery across the Jaffna lagoon in Poonagary began firing 122mm and 130mm artillery. There is also suspicion among military circles that 155mm guns were also used.
Despite LTTE artillery counter -fire the troops continued. With the 1st and 2nd LTTE defence lines having fallen back the troops backed by artillery went forward. the advance was slowed down to some extent by tiger artillery as well as mines. Two MBT's were hit by anti - tank "monster" mines. After the first tank was hit the second overtook it and proceeded to be hit in turn. A third moved in a different direction and fell into a well - camoflaged deep, pit. It was a tiger trap.
Despite these difficulties the army continued its advance as the LTTE had not offered stiff resistance, By 9. 30 am the GOSL troops seemed to have penetrated nearly 2 - 3 miles deep into tiger territory in the Puloppallai - Pallai region. Some vanguard SIOT troops were even further up from the main advancing body.
It was around this time (9.30 am) that the tiger roaring tiger pounced. The advancing troop formations were breached in three points.
The vanguard troops were was attacked at a certain point and pressured to retreat sideways. The troops found a chain of deadly mines being triggered like some gigantic firework. LTTE cadres virtually surrounded these troops and intensified firing.. A whole company was virtually wiped out while the other two sustained much damage.
The main advancing body was attacked frontally . Tigers also attacked the military in the rear. It was a virtual encirclement of GOSL troops.
The LTTE's Victor anti - tank and armoured unit went into action. Despite losing its founder - commander Lt. Col Akbar to a random army shell on Oct 7th members of the unit fought fiercely. In addition to the earlier losses of three tanks to 'monster' mines and an ambush a further three Armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) were hit by anti - tank RPG's and destroyed. Six AFV's comprising 5 Czhech built T - 55 's and two Russian built BMPs were put out of action.
The Victor anti - tank and armoured unit also fired at Chinese built Armoured Personnel carriers with success. Three APC's were totally destroyed while another three were partially damaged . The Victor unit had put six armoured fighting vehicles and six armoured personnel carriers out of action within a few hours of fighting.The armed forces have never sustained such massive losses in this manner before.
The infantry troops as well as the SIOT personnel to their credit did not turn around and run at the sight of strong tiger resistance. They tried to both hold on to territory and also advance. The fighting was intense from 9. 30 am to 11. 30 am. Troops found themselves attacked by tiny, mobile tiger groups who closed in and fired ruthlessly.
The LTTE also fired RPG's , mortars and 60mm portable artillery. Troops were forced at times to move sideways. Very opften they found themselves victims to well - laid Johnny anti - personnel and also claymore mines. It appeared that the LTTE had planted them carefully in select locations and allowed troops to advance up to those places easily.
Another problem for troops was the placement of LTTE machine - gunners in well concealed fox holes. Some of these foxholes were behind GOSL column lines. These tigers inflicted much damage from their foxholes. The LTTE also engaged in sniper fire from tree-top positions.
By 11. 30 GOSL troops abandoned the idea of proceeding to Elephant Pass via Puthukaadu and Iyakkachchi junctions. They began withdrawing taking back as many as possible of the dead and injured.The fighting too transformed itself into artillery and mortar firing. The LTTE kept up an intense barrage. The total withdrawal of GOSL troops was complete by 2.00 - 2. 30 pm.
The entire battle was over in about six to six and a half hours. The tigers had triumphed in beating back troops.
The Air Force which flew only one sortie in the morning could not help troops later. Weather conditions were bad for aerial attacks. Also the Pakistani and Ukrainian pilots flying the Air Force planes were unable to engage in customary indiscriminate aerial bombardment due to fear of hitting GOSL troops. Helicopter Gunships could have flown low and targetted tigers but were worried about getting hit by LTTEs surface to air missiles. Naval gumboats were off the peninsulas eastern coast and useless to fighting in the western sector.The army therefore was all alon at its hour of need..
There was practically no close combat or face to face fighting. The bulk of the fighting consisted of tank and anti - tank firing, artillery shelling and mortar fire. The GOSL usually fires artillery barrages indiscriminately and intensely against perceived LTTE positions. Superior firepower is used to its advantage.
This however did not work out in this instance as the GOSL troops had advanced and were widely scattered. It was not possible to fire from Kilaly or Eluthumadduvaal at random for fear of hitting their own troops. The army was therefore restricted intitially to field artillery and mortars. The LTTE apparently advanced to comparatively close quarters and fired RPGs and 60 mm shells from portable artillery.
The LTTE at one point advanced beyond original FDL's into army controlled areas. They turned back after a while and began clearing operations. The heavy fighting subsided after 2. 30 pm. Intermittent artillery fire of low intensity continued throughout the night. It continued even on Thursday 12th.
The armed forces had incurred heavy losses. About 20 privately owned vans and mini - buses were commandeered by the armed forces to supplement army vehicles in transporting dead and injured back from the frontlines. Troops suffering major injuries were taken to the Varany camp in the Thenmaratchy sector. Three helicopters then air lifted them to Palaly . Thereafter they were flown to Colombo and Anuradhapura for treatment. Vehicles also took those with minor injuries and dead bodies along the road in Jaffna to Palaly.
The military hospital in Palaly was already overflowing with patients recovering from injuries sustained in previous rounds of fighting along the Kilaly - Eluthumadduvaal - Nagar Kovil axis. The GOSL had kept as many injured as possible in Palaly to prevent the actual truth about army casualties emerging.
With troops sustaining heavy damage on Oct 11th the military hospital was unable to accommodate all victims. So a hangar at Palaly Airport was converted into a makeshift hospital.
Initially GOSL and defence services spokespersons tried to obscure the truth. They gave ridiculously low casualty figures. Later the various security force websites began increasing casualty figures. Different news agencies quoting unnamed defence sources began giving out comparatively accurate figures. By Oct 12th /13th an accurate picture began emerging.
At least 133 soldiers had been killed.Of these 55 bodies were retrieved by security forces themselves. 75 were retrieved by the LTTE. 74 of these bodies were handed over to the Red Cross at the Kilinochchi playground on Oct 12th by the LTTE's Paavannan who usually interacts with international organizations. One of the bodies retrieved by the LTTE was not given to the Red Cross on time due to a transport problem.
Later the LTTE said it was returning that body along with three other bodies of soldiers they had discovered later. According to LTTE defence affairs spokesperson Ilanthiraiyan there were 43 other bodies the tigers had located later. These were decayed and mangled. They were not in a condition to be transported and returned. The tigers themselves crenated them with military honours claimed Ilanthiraiyan.
The Defence ministry accepted the bodies returned through ICRC red Cross at Omanthai. But they refused to accept the LTTE claim that the 43 bodies found later by the LTTE were those of soldiers. The Defence ministry officially stated that three of the injured soldiers had died later. The official figure therefore was 133 dead.
The Defence ministry also said that all 78 persons first declared as missing in action were accounted for.Yet an internal Defence ministry circular stated that rwo officers and thirty - five men were yet "missing". 12 officers were among the dead.
The official figures for wounded soldiers was 283. Yet the truth was that of 519 soldiers being injured. Of these 323 were brought to Colombo and 54 to Anuradhapura. Colombo residents saw and heard ambulances and sirens throughout night and day. The rest of the injured soldiers, many of them walking wounded, are in the Palaly hospital.
LTTE's Ilanthiraiyan also said that there may be more dead soldiers whose bodies are yet to be located. Some of the injured soldiers also could succumb to their wounds. He said the final tally of dead soldiers could be over 200.
Interestingly enough some GOSL and Defence spokespersons are saying that the LTTE suffered more than 200 deaths. Defence spokesperson Brigadier Samarasinghe said that 196 tigers were killed and 312 wounded.
One newspaper has put the LTTE casualty figure at 400. One journal which usually goes to town with stories of security force victories remained silent. There were no stories from the battlefront. News Agencies which initially wrote about "contradictictory" claims of casualties on both sides had after 48 hours concluded that the armed forces had suffered a major debacle.
According to Ilanthiraiyan there were ten LTTE deaths at the end of October 11th. With some of the seriously injured dying the toll had risen to 22 on 12th and 23 on 13th. . There is a strong possibility that the tiger casualty figure could go up in the coming days. The number of injured LTTE was placed as above "muppathu" (thirty) by Ilanthiraiyan. It is learnt reliably that the number of LTTE injured is 101.
Among those killed the most senior tiger so far is a woman Capt. Isaichelvi. Of those killed at least four were from the auxiliary force known as "Makkal Sirappu padaiani".They are also given Great Hero or "Maaveerar" status. The LTTE's Imran - Pandian regiment. Sothia and Malathy womens brigades, Victor unit and auxiliary forces were engaged in the fighting.
At least one soldier was taken alive by the LTTE. Samantha Weerasinghe of the 4th Gemunu Watch is now undergoing treatment at the Kilinochchi hospital. The ICRC has inspected the 18 year old youth. According to Colombo based diplomatic sources about five to ten soldiers have been taken alive as unacknowledged prisoners of war by the LTTE.
At this point of time it is difficult to assess the exact number of losses and casualties on both sides. Perhaps the actual figures may never be known. There is however no doubt that in a conflict of see-saw fortunes the "victor" on Oct 11rh was the LTTE. It was truly the day of the tiger.
By
DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
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Suicide attack on Navy convoy, 98 killed 116 injured
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After the Suicide attack
(LeN-Dec. 01, 6.30 pm) It is suspected that the suicide bomber who attempted to kill the Defence Secretary. Mr. Ghotabhaya Rajapaksha used a three-wheeler with the vehicle no WPGH 0617
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Students abducted for military training by the LTTE with shaven heads...
(LeN-2006 Dec 22, 5.00pm) Children who said they were abducted by LTTE talk to each other during police investigation at the Special Task Force police commando camp in Kanchanakuda Ampara, Sri Lanka, December 21, 2006. Seven Tamil school boys emerged from Tamil Tiger territory in eastern Sri Lanka on Thursday, saying LTTE threatened them with grenades and cut their hair in apparent preparation for military training.
(Photo Curtesy: Reuter)
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IDPs were relaxing in Serunuwara
(LeN-2006 Dec. 19, 6.30 pm) An army officer talks to a war-displaced ethnic Tamil family, who have fled from the LTTE's village of Vakarai in Batticaloa district, as they seek refuge in the government-controlled area in Serunuwara, Trincomalee December 18, 2006.
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LTTE fires shells at Somadevi School, One teacher killed, 9 students injured
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Slauatering of Action Against Hunger Members at Muttur
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Dividing and hugging of earth
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Guns For Tender Hands
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Prabhakaran burns in Colombo
(LeN- Nov 26, 10.00pm) A disabled Sri Lankan activist, demonstrating against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, burns a billboard featuring his image outside the Fort Railway Station in Colombo, 26 November 2006. Sri Lanka's elusive Tamil Tiger supremo marks his 52nd birthday, which falls on 26 November, with a self-imposed deadline to decide the course of Asia's longest-running ethnic conflict. The security measures come as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) observe "Heroes' Week" from November 21-27, in memory of the men and women who have perished since the first rebel fatality was recorded in November 1982
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How 12 armoured vehicals were crippled by LTTE Victor Unit
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Freelance journalist Sampath Lakmal assassinated
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French pounce on LTTE-linked Tamil Television Network
Sunday, 29 January 2006 - 2:45 AM SL Time
The French governmental TV watchdog authority Conseil superieur de l`audiovisuel (CSA) has revealed in its January 2006 report, published on Thursday that it had asked the French Public prosecutor`s office (the Procureur de la Republique) to look into the activities in France of Tamil Television Network, the Sri Lankan cable TV network broadcasting on French soil. According to French governmental sources familiar with the channel, Tamil Television is considered as close to the LTTE Tamil Tigers.
Although the channel had operated in France for several years, its activities came to light only a year ago when it was revealed, notably on French public television, that`A0 the Tamil Television Network had played an important role in the collection of funds for relief efforts following the Dec. 26, 2004 Tsunami.`A0
The channel is known to have collected significantly more funds than organizations close to the Sri Lankan majority population, the Sinhalese, and even the Sri Lankan embassy in France. According to one of the governmental sources close to the subject, if the CSA chose to bring to the attention of the Public prosecutor`s office the case of Tamil Television Network, it was largely because of a complaint filed by the Sri Lankan government, through its embassy in Paris.
This was a result of the wide publicity the cable channel had obtained last year when it mounted its own drive to raise funding for tsunami-related relief efforts, and, to this end, had repeatedly accused the Sri Lankan government and its embassy in Paris, of making use of funds it collected to fund relief projects on the country`s western and southern coasts, which are largely Sinhalese, and not those parts of the country, notably the Sri Lankan coast in and around Trincomalee in the east, which are dominated by Sri Lankan Tamils including areas largely controlled by the LTTE.
`A0`A0 The CSA`A0said that it had officially conveyed its decision to the Sri Lankan ambassador to France, as well as the French prime minister, justice minister, foreign minister, culture and communication minister, as well as the president of the Globecast France, which carries the Tamil Television Network signal into French, and European homes. According to the official terms of the CSA`s announcement, `The CSA has seized the Procureur de la Republique of the illegal broadcast of the Tamil Television Network, channel established in France but never having received the convention (i.e., authorization) of the CSA, and this contrary to the dispositions of Article 78 of the Law of 30 September 1986 as modified.`
In announcing, though belatedly, its decision to effectively initiate legal proceedings against the channel ' CSA says the channel which apparently has an important following in the country, has been operating illegally.
CSA has in this case used much the same terms utilized when it attempted, eventually successfully, to close down the broadcast activities in France of Al-Manar, the Beirut-based Hezbollah TV channel that was also popular with French cable television audiences but operating without proper authorization. This resulted in Al-Manar being banned in France and all 25 EU member states. This can eventually be the case with regard to the Tamil Television Network which the`A0Sri Lankan ambassador to Paris had also reportedly attempted repeatedly to have banned.
These efforts started to bear fruit only since 2002 with the arrival in power of a Center-Right governmental coalition ready and willing, apparently, to break with the ways of the preceding Left-Center government headed by Socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin, a man who had effectively tolerated the existence in France of the Tamil TV channel, although it was public knowledge that it`A0 had never received the appropriate TV broadcast licence.
As the news article says, it is a belated decision by the French government which is waging a war on terrorism.
It has found that the tigers are bent on unlawful activities within the sovereign state of SRI LANKA, by a deadly & ruthless arms struggle.
All democratic & peace loving states in the world have understood that the tigers were using many different and unlawful fund raising tactics such as money laundering, drug trafficking, extortion of innocent Tamil & non-Tamil in foreign countries.
According to the French government, illegal (clandestine) TV & radio broadcastings have put millions of Euros into the tiger arsenal coffers.
Banning illegal TV broadcasts from the French soil or air space is not all enough!
The French government must also look into the financial activities & banking activities of this ruthless, murderous gang operating in France.
It was reported sometime back that the Head Quarters of the LTTE is also based in Paris.
Let this French decision be an eye opener to the other democratic states of the civilized world, including the staunch supporters of the tiger terrorist outfit, the Norwegian government!!!
Edited By - nandalal - 28 Jan 2006 21:51:40 GMTSource(s)
• Associated Press
• Paul Michaud
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No change in Tiger stance
Anders Oljelund meeting Thamilselven
A Swedish diplomat has failed to persuade Tamil Tiger rebels to drop their demand for the withdrawal of European Union (EU) peace monitors from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) by September 1, 2006.
Anders Oljelund’s visit to Kilinochchi came at a time when there was increasing silence about finding a peaceful solution to the country’s ethnic conflict.
The LTTE wanted EU member states removed from the SLMM following the EU ban on Tamil Tigers in May this year.
Although Oljelund met LTTE leaders including S.P. Thamilselvan, political head of the rebels and Seevaratnam Puleedevan, head of the rebels’ Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi on Friday, he was not available for comment.
But, Thamilselvan told reporters there was no change in the rebels’ position that EU monitors should leave by September 1, 2006.
“There is no change in the stand of the Liberation Tigers, expressed in the post-EU ban scenario, with regards to the engagement of EU member states,” said Thamilselvan, who added that the Sri Lankan government should abstain from what he called as state-sponsored terrorism against Tamil civilians.
It was the LTTE contention that since Finland, Sweden and Denmark listed the LTTE as a terrorist group, monitors from these countries could no longer be neutral
(www.onlanka.com)
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Top Stories
Sri Lanka evacuates 300 from Lebanon -- 92,700 to go
By Reuters
2006 Friday July 21, 12:35 PM
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is facing a logistical nightmare in trying to contact around 93,000 nationals -- mostly housemaids -- working in Lebanon, and has so far managed to evacuate just 300, officials said on Friday.
Around 1.5 million Sri Lankans work abroad, most of them women working in the Middle East as domestic staff, and many are not registered with their local embassies -- which are small anyway and do not have the resources to reach so many people in times of crisis.
There are around 93,000 Sri Lankans currently working in Lebanon, 86,000 of them housemaids, said Jagath Wellawatta, Chairman of Sri Lanka's Foreign Employment Bureau.
"It is logistically very, very difficult to get in contact with that many people. We have under 500 people waiting to be evacuated, but we hope that number will increase," he said.
"We have very few officials in the Lebanon embassy ... We don't know where people are staying or if they are injured or not," Wellawatta added. "If it is necessary, we are ready to evacuate all Sri Lankan workers."
Sri Lanka has advised all of its nationals to leave Lebanon in the face of deepening conflict between Israel and Hizbollah. Aid groups including Caritas and the International Organisation for Migration are helping to evacuate those who have gathered at Sri Lanka's Lebanon mission to Damascus.
Three hundred to fly out
Three hundred Sri Lankans stranded in Lebanon will be airlifted to Colombo, Sri Lankan ambassador to Beirut said on Friday.
A.M. Farook, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Lebanon said six buses transporting 300 displaced Sri Lankans have crossed the Lebanese-Syrian border up to now.
The first three buses, which transported 112 passengers, have left on Thursday and the rest of the displaced Sri Lankans have crossed the Lebanese-Syrian border a while ago.
“They will reach the Damascus International Airport in about two to three hours time and fly to Colombo in a Sri Lankan Airlines flight,” Farook told BBC Sinhala.
There has been a steady stream of Sri Lankans contacting the embassy in the hope of returning to Colombo, since the launch of Israeli air strikes, says the ambassador.
“The number depends on the areas they are coming from. There is an influx of persons from areas facing the most attacks. We are dealing with four to five hundred passport applications at the moment,” Ambassador Farook said.
Reports say travel between southern Lebanon and Beirut is becoming increasingly difficult due to the deteriorating security situation and lack of infrastructure facilities.
“Even Non Governmental organisations like Red Cross find it extremely difficult to reach southern Lebanon. So we are unable to send vehicles there to rescue Sri Lankans,” added Farook.
The Sri Lankan embassy in Lebanon estimates about 3,000 Sri Lankans live in southern Lebanon.
According to the embassy, most of them may have fled the area with their employers.
But the embassy advices those stranded to remain in the area until travel becomes possible.
Meanwhile, the embassy said today that it can only confirm one Sri Lankan death since the beginning of Israeli air strikes against Lebanon.
The last rites of the unnamed woman have been performed along with that of the Lebanese family of four she worked for.
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L'actualité Sri Lankaise par les médias nationaux et internationaux
LTTE refuse to cease violence: outgoing French Ambassador
Mr.Jean Bernard
France Friday asked the government and Tigers to resume peace negotiations amid an escalation of fighting and said a peace deal was still possible.
The outgoing French ambassador Jean Bernard de Vaivre said the LTTE must stop violence and enter negotiations with the government to end decades of ethnic bloodshed, Gulf Times reported on Saturday. "I believe a solution is still possible," the ambassador said in a message marking the French national day. "It is high time that pretexts sought in order to put off dialogue or to reject it are renounced."
"Violence and terrorism cannot solve anything. Those in favour of such an approach will never be supported and will never receive the backing either of France or the international community," the ambassador said. He said the LTTE was eventually added to the list of terrorist organisations because it consistently refused to change its behaviour despite repeated appeals over the years. "Equally, however, the state should not tolerate any reprehensible actions from any members of its representatives," the ambassador said in a reference to allegations of human rights abuses by security forces.
"Sri Lanka possesses so much potential talent, so many skills within each of its large communities that it is high time that they put an end to the quarrels of the past and turn towards the future," he said.
"The Island" Sri-Lanka (17.07.2006 )
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LTTE qui refuse de cesser la violence : Ambassadeur français sortant
Ambassadeur français (sortant) au Sri Lanka a demandé vendredi, au gouvernement sri lankais et aux Tigres du LTTE, de reprendre les négociations de paix, il a indiqué qu'une affaire de paix était encore possible. L'Ambassadeur français sortant Jean Bernard de Vaivre a dit que le LTTE doit arrêter la violence et entrer en négociations avec le gouvernement pour finir des décennies du carnage ethnique, " Gulf Times" a rendu compte samedi. « Je crois qu'une solution est encore possible, » l'ambassadeur dit dans un message marquant le jour national français. « C'est un grand temps qui prétexte cherché afin de reporter le dialogue ou pour le rejeter sont renoncés. » La « violence et le terrorisme ne peuvent résoudre rien. Ceux en faveur d'une telle approche ne seront jamais soutenus et ne recevront jamais le support de la France ou de la communauté internationale, » l'ambassadeur dit. Il a dit que le LTTE a été par la suite ajouté à la liste d'organismes de terroriste parce qu'il a uniformément refusé de changer son comportement en dépit des appels répétés au cours des années. « Également, cependant, l'état ne devrait tolérer aucune actions répréhensibles d'aucun membre de ses représentants, » l'ambassadeur indiqué dans une référence aux allégations des abus de droits de l'homme par des forces de sécurité. Le « Sri Lanka possède tellement le talent potentiel, tant de qualifications chez chacune de ses grandes communautés qu'il est grand temps qu'elles mettent un terme aux querelles du passé et tournent vers le futur, » il a dit.
"The Island" Sri-Lanka (17.07.2006 )
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Sri Lanka Army commander to resume duties soon
Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka is expected to resume his official duties in the coming weeks, Army Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.
"Gen. Fonseka who continues to be treated at the Army Hospital may probably resume duties in another one to two weeks time. But I cannot make a clear indication, but this one to two weeks period is a possibility," Brigadier Samarasinghe noted. Despite his fast recovery, the Army Commander continued to be hospitalised owing to several of his wounds not being completely healed.
A 30-member medical team that comprised Specialists, Surgeons and Anaesthetists, in addition to over twenty nurses and assistants performed a three hour surgery at Colombo's national hospital after Gen. Fonseka was severely injured on April 25th following an attempt on his life by a LTTE female suicide bomber.
LankaEverything News Desk 06-06-2006
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Sri Lankans resident in European countries shouting slogans at a protest demonstration against abduction of children, human rights violations and extortion of money by the Tigers, as Sri Lanka's Government and Tiger delegations commenced their two-day talks in Geneva, Switzerlandon. This protest campaign was staged at 4.00pm Geneva time outside the human rights office downtown in Geneva 22.02.2006 |
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LONDRES/LONDON
A protest demonstration was held opposite the BBC on its jaundiced eye on the Wanni Tigers in which a large number of Sri Lankans living in foreign countries participated. |
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Manifestation contre les terroristes LTTE à Londres |
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CANADA
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Manifestation contre les terroristes "LTTE" en Canada |
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Manifestation contre les terroristes "LTTE" en Canada |
Manifestation contre les terroristes "LTTE" en Canada |
COLOMBO
A section of the large crowd that participated at a demonstration organized by Patriotic National Movement (PNM) under the theme “Norwegians, who sustain tiger terrorists, go home!” on 07.04.2006 opposite Norwegian Embassy in Colombo Manifestation à Colombo Manifestation in Colombo Manifestation à Colombo Manifestation in Colombo
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