Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Wanni battle continues; more terror defences fall to Army

Heavy clashes between army and LTTE continued yesterday (February 24) in the Northern battlefronts as army launched several successful attacks at fortified terror positions. According to the military reports over 40 terrorist were killed and 38 suffered injuries during the confrontations that took place in both Wanni and Jaffna defences. Also, 6 soldiers were killed and 20 others sustained injuries during the same incidents.

On the Mannar battlefront, in the Wanni Theater of battle, heavy clashes continued from morning to noon in the Parayanakulama area as troops ran at LTTE bunkers and trench defences. Ground troops confirmed that at least 30 terrorists were killed and 15 others were either killed or wounded in four separate incidents. Also, the military reports indicate that 6 soldiers were killed and 16 sustained injuries during the same clashes.

Meanwhile, troops engaged in clearing operations in Chavalkadu, in Mannar, uncovered 220 liters of diesel contained in two barrels and 180 liters of Patrol contained in 3 barrels that had been made ready to be transported to LTTE dominated areas last afternoon.

On the Vavuniya front, several confrontations, exchange of artillery and mortars and sniper shootings were reported in the Periyapantrichurichchan, Chinnaralayankaddu and Periyavalayankaddukulam areas during the day. Military reports indicate that terrorists numbering 5 were killed and 15 were injured while 4 own soldiers sustained injuries during these incidents.

On the Welioya front, 3 clashes were reported in the Andankulama area during the daytime yesterday. Ground troops confirmed that 6 terrorists were killed, 2 injured and, 6 others were either killed or wounded during these clashes. No casualties to own troops, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the army snipers deployed at the Nagarkovil defence claimed that a terrorist was shot down around 3, last evening.

Responses to Concerns of International Community on Sri Lanka

At a recent briefing for 16 EU Ambassadors based in New Delhi, concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka, a Senior Minister of Sri Lanka addressed some issues of recent concerns of the international community. SPUR New Zealand believes that he has clarified the thinking of the Government of Sri Lanka on several important issues and decided to reproduce the news reports for the benefit of those who are interested in the current political developments in Sri Lanka.

Excerpts of the briefing made by Prof G L Piers, the Minister for Export Development and International Trade, who was a Professor of Law before he accepted the invitation of a previous Head of State to become a Minister, taken from Sri Lankan News papers are quoted below.

Sri Lanka Government did not believe in a military solution to the conflict, but terrorism required a military response. There would be a military response to the terror perpetrated by the LTTE and a political process to address the problems of the minorities. The basic characteristic of a political solution would be the devolution of power subject to the protection of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Peiris who had led the GoSL delegation for talks with the LTTE from Sept. 2002 to March 2003 offered the following thoughts on why attempts by successive governments had not yielded a favorable result. There is a disconnect between the proposed measures and the thoughts and feelings of the public of Sri Lanka mainly due to some aspects of the behaviour of the LTTE that are quoted below.

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For success, one had to inspire the confidence of the majority. The LTTE was never prepared to discuss the decommissioning of arms as was the case of in successful peace processes in other parts of the world such as Northern Ireland.
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The LTTE insisted that it was the sole representatives of the Tamils. This claim involved a conflict with basic democratic values and assumptions.
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The LTTE did not want to participate at elections and subject themselves to the people's mandate.

Looking for options to generate political momentum, GoSL felt that it should not engage in discussions regarding futile arrangements, which cannot be implemented, such as changing the Constitution which required a two thirds majority in parliament. Given Sri Lanka's electoral system, (Note: Which is similar to MMP system in New Zealand) it is unlikely that any government in the foreseeable future would command such a 2/3 majority. Moreover, far-reaching statutory changes may not be immediately needed, because implementation of the laws that exist through political will and sincerity would enable considerable progress to be made.

UNP's fullest support for 13th Amendment

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday extended the UNP's fullest cooperation to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which has been proposed by the APRC proposals. The Opposition Leader gave this assurance following an extensive discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa held at Temple Trees yesterday.

During the discussion, President Rajapaksa briefed the Opposition Leader on the implementation of the 13th Amendment proposed by the APRC proposals.

In addition, the discussions also centred on the 17th Amendment, a media release issued by the President's Media Unit said yesterday. The UNP's representation for the next rounds of the APRC discussions was also discussed.

The discussions were conducted in a very cordial manner. SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Prof. Vishwa Warnapala represented the SLFP while the UNP Chairman MP Rukman Senanayake and MP K.N. Choksy represented the UNP, the release added.

Courtesy : Daily News

Earthquake felt across much of UK

The biggest earthquake in the UK for nearly 25 years has shaken homes across large parts of the country.

People in Newcastle, Yorkshire, London, Cumbria, the Midlands, Norfolk and also parts of Wales, felt the tremor just before 0100 GMT.

A man suffered a broken pelvis when a chimney collapsed in South Yorkshire.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) said the epicentre of the 5.3 magnitude quake was near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire.

The tremor was felt in north, mid and south Wales although staff at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said they felt the earthquake but were not called to any related incidents.

Student David Bates, 19, suffered a broken pelvis when he was pinned under masonry in his attic bedroom in Barnsley Road, Wombwell, South Yorks.

His father Paul Bates said: "There was a rumble and then we heard a bang and my son screaming 'Dad'."

His son was taken to hospital and was due to undergo surgery later.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Sri Lanka government to open an escape route for civilians fleeing from Wanni

go to LankaPage.com

Sri Lanka::
* Sri Lanka government to open an escape route for civilians fleeing from Wanni
Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 5:04 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Feb 19, Colombo: As heavy fighting continue to escalate in the northern region, the Sri Lankan government said that it would open a 'gateway' for trapped civilians in the Wanni area to crossover to the government controlled areas, media reports said.

“We would open an escape rout for civilians in the Wanni area and would give necessary accommodation,” government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukkwella told media.

He said that the government would create a ‘no war zone’ to facilitate the civilian movements. “We will drop leaflets to educate the public on our strategy which includes escape routes for them like we did when liberating Sampur,” the Minister has said.

Defence spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said some 100 civilians had already crossed over to cleared areas in Mannar and Vavuniya and they have been provided with food and shelter.

He said civilians could cross over to cleared areas using the Omanthai entry/exit point as well as by the sea route in Mannar.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka military said the Army had captured an LTTE bunker line in the Mannar battlefront following heavy clashes killing 10 Tigers and injuring another 20 cadres. Two soldiers were also killed and four were wounded from the fighting on Monday.

"Troops backed by artillery fire captured 600m of the LTTE's bunker line in Mannar," military spokesman Brigadier Nanayakkara said.

Australia being urged to ban LTTE

Prabhakaran is surrounded and has a back to the wall fight. India wants him extradited no sooner we capture him.

He also has the Idi Amin option of leaving Sri Lanka-like Idi Amin who took money and some women with him-he might be able to fade into the sunset. Some say that even Norway might provide him a safe haven. Some want us to encourage Prabhakaran to leave Sri Lanka.

We are now in a position to bring about finality to this crisis. It is also good to know that Australia is thinking seriously about banning the LTTE. Those were some of the thoughts Dr. Palitha Kohona Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs expressed when Asian Tribune interviewed him.

The excerpts of the interview with Dr. Palitha Kohona:

Q: It is said that so far no action has been taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the appointment of nine new Consular Generals ?

A: Regarding this problem you should not blame the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry has done everything. Now the papers are with the Minister.

In fact I reminded them even on Friday. Furthermore it is not nine consuls but it is the appointment of 12 new consuls. I can't remember the name and other details of the 12 appointees right now, but I know there are persons appointed for Poland, Germany and a few other places.

The Minister has with him now 12 documents in his possession. The Ministry has done all its work. Got the clearance, done the recommendations and finally the Minister has to sign them.

Q : After signing, it has to be sent to the High Post Committee for clearance ?

A: No, appointments of Consuls are not sent to High Posts Committee, only Ambassadors go to that Committee.

Q: Is there any move, by the Sri Lankan Government to urge the government of Australia to ban the LTTE ? As you were also earlier a diplomat from the foreign ministry of Australia and the present Australian prime minister was also a diplomat from the ministry. I think it will be easy for you pursue this matter and to explain Sri Lanka's position.

A: We are working on it , in fact I was there in January, and I worked very hard on that subject. Although I was there in January, it was a private visit, but as a Foreign Secretary there is no privacy. People talk to you all the time, especially when they know you. This is the campaign I have been carrying on for some time. And I think we will succeed one of these days.

Q: But so far what are the indications?

A: Indications are good. You know that three Tigers in Australia are now prosecuted in Melbourne ? And if those prosecution succeed and it is quite likely they will prosecute some more. So once that happens, it will be only a matter of time before they are banned.

There was earlier a reason for delaying the banning. It was due to their Parliamentary elections.

The Tigers made it known that if they are banned they threatened the then Government that they will vote for the Labour Party. However the Labour Party has won anyway. I know there is lot of anti-Tigers that worked for the Labour Party. The Tiger influence may have diminished some what.

Q: We learnt that there is a move an international Non-government is trying to open fronts to provide space for LTTE in Australia ?

A: We have to be careful with organisations like this. Sometimes this people promote ideas which are not necessarily anti-Sri Lankan, but if you think in a global sense it is a good idea.

Corporate sector responsibilities are very broad concept. Environmental responsibilities, Labour responsibility, human rights responsibility, I mean it is a very huge and wide concept. So it is not necessarily anti- Sri Lankan.

So what we need to do is, we must make sure that these concepts are not hijacked by the anti-Sri Lankans elements. So we have to participate in conferences like this. Make sure that our views are expressed.

Q: Who is going to participate in these conferences. Some one should come forward ?

A: You are right. It is the very International Alert that funded the rebel movement in Sierra Leone. Not actually funded the rebel movement, but they gave a lot of money to them.

Due to, may be out of sympathy, but then it turned out that they were a bunch of thugs like the LTTE. But on the other hand, International Alert is also very much involved in highlighting corruption in this country. There are good sides to their existence, we should not forget that.

Q: It was said that it was Kumar Rupasinghe was the first Secretary General of the International Alert and he started this organisation ?

A: With the backing of Norway.

Q: There is another story to stay that Norway is making arrangements to provide safe havens to Tiger leader Prabhakaran in Eritrea ?

A: That is a good idea no?

Q: Is it true?

A: We must encourage it. I think it is a solution that I have been proposing for sometime and which is referred internationally as the Idi Amin Solution. You give a lot of money to a guy like that and send him to a country where he can live happily ever after.

Former Uganda's Dictator Idi Amin was given lot of money and was sent to Saudi Arabia with his wives and children.

Q: Sri Lanka has established diplomatic relationship with Eritrea. Is it not possible to find out from them whether it is true that they are going to provide safe haven to Prabhakaran?

A: We have, it does not mean that we are going to send an ambassador there. It means that we have established a diplomatic relationship. It is very hard and very difficult country, the conditions are similar to living in Killinochchi.

Q: If he leaves Sri Lanka to any other country, then he faces the danger of being apprehended by India?

A: Yes, that is his problem. If he leaves Killinochchi, then India will get him for sure.

Q: But if he stays somewhere, keeping a low profile, then he will not have any problem? Is it possible that Sri Lanka encourages him to leave the country by having an agreement with India not to touch him after that?

A: It will be difficult. You know that an Indian court wants him. India is a very legalistic country.

They are not going to ignore their courts. You know they regularly send us notes for Prabhakarn's extradition. And they keep on reminding us to extradite Prabhakaran to India to face charges in the India's Supreme Courts, as he is a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi's murder case.

Q: When was the last time you got the note from India for the extradition of Prabhakaran?

A: About three or four months ago. If we catch him, we will send him as the President said, but we have not been able to catch him so far.

Q: Have you responded to them back ?

A: No, we did not, because we don't have the man with us.

Q: Any attempts to catch him with the help of the Indian Army ?

A: I mean there is no formal request as such, but everyone is trying. As a sovereign State we can't do that.

Q: With the help of a group of a 1000 or 2000 commando force from India, and jointly attack and catch him?

A: It is difficult because you know he is well guarded, well surrounded and I think we will need a lot more force than that. That is my assessment.

Animal rights group protests LTTE attack on zoo

An international animal rights organisation has protested the bombing of a zoo in Dehiwela in Sri Lanka, allegedly by Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this month.

'In addition to injuring several human beings - which was no doubt its intent - the explosive device that was set off near the zoo's birds enclosure terrified many animals in the zoo,' said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a letter to the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

At least seven people, including two children, were injured, when a grenade kept near the birds' enclosure went off Feb 3.

Newkirk said that animals got caught in the cross fire of wars all over the world and countless animals were being killed either intentionally or accidentally in bomb attacks worldwide.

Monday, February 11, 2008

US lawmakers - Tiger lobby links exposed

US: The US Treasury Department's recent clampdown on the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) accusing it of raising funds on behalf of the designated terrorist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has once again thrown the spotlight on the shadowy 'LTTE lobby' whose access to powerful US lawmakers helped to legitimise this and other Tiger fronts allowing them to operate without let or hindrance for almost a decade, according to the US based Sri Lankan Express.

Investigations show that TRO operatives and individuals whose addresses or phone numbers are linked to the TRO, regularly made contributions to the campaign funds of the very legislators who have actively promoted the separatist cause and been harshly critical of Sri Lanka's war on the Tigers.

"TRO passed off its operations as charitable, when in fact it was raising money for a designated terrorist group responsible for heinous acts of terrorism," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), explaining the action taken November 15 to freeze the US held assets of the TRO.

The Treasury said the TRO has raised funds on behalf of the LTTE through a network of "individual representatives" and that it was the preferred conduit of funds from the US to the LTTE.

Since the TRO 'hung its shingles' in the US, almost 10 years ago, these individual representatives, many of them successful Tamil professionals, have been the LTTE's foot soldiers, active in several states, raising funds while establishing and developing political contacts.

As reported by the Associated Press some time ago, the Chicago Tribune had faxed three pages from a federal indictment involving money laundering to a US Congressman's office which indicated that the trips of two unidentified individuals to Sri Lanka in 2005 were paid with $13,150 laundered through a US bank.

The source of those funds - whether they were raised for 'charity' or extorted from the Tamil diaspora - is not known.

Petty Officer Bandara commended by Navy

The brave act and vigilance of Petty Officer NWSI Bandara of the Sri Lanka Navy, had averted a large-scale carnage and mayhem at the Sunday fair in Anuradhapura yesterday (10th February 2008). PO Bandara was commended by the Commander of the Navy for his brave act.

Petty Officer Bandara had made use of the expertise knowledge imparted to him by the Sri Lanka Navy during his qualifying courses leading to his present rank to perform his brave act. Armed with the expertise knowledge and the discipline and self-confidence instilled in him by the Navy instructors, he had carried out the delicate operation of defusing the deadly time bomb with meticulous attention to detail and patient adherence to procedure.

Spotting a time bomb planted by the terrorists at the Sunday fair, Petty Officer Bandara had swiftly cut off the two detonator cords fitted to the bomb seizing a pair of scissors lying near by. The improvised bomb, made with 1.5 kilograms of lethal C 4 explosives and 350 steel balls, was packed in to a plastic can and was wrapped in a shopping bag. It had been placed in between a fruit stall and a bags stall located inside the fair. The bomb was to explode within 05 minutes before its deactivation by the sailor.

The incident happened around 11.30 a.m. yesterday and approximately 4000 people had gathered at the fair to do their Sunday shopping. Petty Officer Bandra, who is attached to the Kondachchikudah Naval Sub Unit in Silawathura, had been at the fair with his wife shopping while on leave.

Tigers exploit Madhu No Fire Zone

The LTTE has reverted to the tactic of taking cover of the 'No Fire Zone' in the holy Madhu shrine area as they got a heavy beating in the Vavuniya and Mannar fronts losing a large number of their cadres, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday.

The LTTE resorted to this tactic on Saturday afternoon directing 81 mm mortar fire towards the troops in the Mannar sector taking the cover of the Madhu shrine area at 4.47 p.m. and 4.49 p.m.

However, troops refrained from retaliating in honour of their commitment to protect religious places during these confrontations.

This was amidst the LTTE was getting heavy beatings at the hand of the troops in Vavuniya, Mannar, Weli Oya and Jaffna battlefronts on Saturday.

"More than 15 Tiger cadres were killed on Saturday morning as troops were advancing toward Periyapandivirichchan," Brigadier Nanayakkara added.

The LTTE fired mortar at the troops hours after the heavy losses in Periyapandivirichchan close to Madhu area. Three soldiers were killed and seven were wounded in action during this fierce battle in Periyapandivirichchan which is located some three kilometres south of Madhu shrine.

Tiger cadres operating in Periyapandivirichchan had withdrawn from the area along with their casualties after this fierce battle.

According to military sources the LTTE seems to have been highly disturbed by this situation as the advancing troops are poised to take full control of the Madhu area after they capture Periyapandivirichchan area.

The troops in Mullikulam area also confronted with Tiger cadres in three different incidents killing at least nine Tiger cadres.

Six soldiers also sustained injuries due to LTTE anti-personnel mines LTTE in Mullikulam and Thalayankulam. Meanwhile, heavy fighting erupted in Mannar sector too on Saturday as troops attached to Task Force-1 continued their advance in the Adampan area.

The troops in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil in the Jaffna battle front also killed seven LTTE cadres after confronting them in three separate incidents on Saturday, Brigadier Nanayakkara added

When will Prabhakaran understand human sorrow?

M. Wasantha faints ... murmurs ...cries and looks at the main door. She does not care about flashing cameras or microphones and journalists or TV crews, who time to time try to get her views. She is in the news. Her son who was her pet has made her prominent at the cost of his life.

Still unable to believe that her son is no more, she waits untill he comes running asking for his favourite dish which he did not eat that Friday, the day he worshipped and hugged her last.

Wasantha's 17-year-old son Rajarathnem Radeeswaran did not know any difference between Sinhalese and Tamils but knew that both were having red blood. Being the only Tamil member of the D.S. Senanayake baseball team he knew the warmth of friendship but not the enmity.

On that fateful day, this sportsman who brought to the family many hopes of a better future, breath his last when a suicide female bomber blew herself in front of him and his base ball buddies, at the Colombo railway station last Sunday. Proving that there are no differences between humanity, Radeeswaran played together with the Sinhala dominated base ball team of the school while so-called saviours of his own nationality blast bombs, attacking innocent children and also using children younger to him as human shields and soldiers in a desperate attempt to fence a piece of land in this country.

The LTTE terrorists, yes of course, do not care for their own people, whom they claim that the outfit is taking care of. Radeeswaran's family which mourns with their Sinhalese friends poses a question where the whole conflict will take a new dimension if the LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabakaran can understand.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Eight civilians killed and over 100 injured in LTTE bomb blast- Colombo

LTTE terrorists carried out cowardly bomb blast targeting innocent civilians at the Fort Railway station this afternoon (February 3). Eight people have been killed and over 100 others suffered injuries as a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up on the third platform of the railway station around 2.10 p.m, said the defence sources.

According to the sources in the Colombo National Hospital, eight bodies are lying at the hospital and 95 are presently under going treatment at the hospital. 10 of the injured are in critical conditions while four of them have been already taken to the theatre for immediate surgeries, the sources added.

According to the available information the explosion was carried out by a female suicide bomber who had get down from a train reached to the Fort railway station.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit that fights for a mono ethnic separate homeland for the Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. It operates on an ideology based on extreme tribalism and carries out genocides against Sri Lankan citizens by way of bomb blasts, ethnic cleansing raids, suicide attacks, assassinations etc. However, the outfit as a policy never claim responsibility for any of its egregious crimes and also uses its agents in media to turn the blame of the crimes towards some other party.

Defence observers say that the recent attacks by LTTE terrorist in the South bear clear indications of the outfit's desperation over the ignominious defeats that it is presently encountering at the Northern battlefronts. They also highlight the need of national solidarity at this crucial moment to bring an end this brutal terrorism.

Speaking to the defence.lk a senior defence official said that several thousand lives have already been saved due to the unstinting support given by the civilians to the security forces to discover huge amount of bombs that the terrorists tried to emplace in the South during last few years. Had it not for the vigilance of the civilians and for the stern measures that has been taken by the security forces to curb terrorism, the LTTE must have already massacred several thousands of civilians in the South, he added.

Speaking further he said that, it is so unfortunate that some terrorists' sympathisers were given the opportunity to restrict security forces' counter terrorists operations positing bogus fundamental right issues. He said that it is high time for the public to understand that it is the future of their nation and their lives that have been put at stake by these bogus "rights" activists who thrive on "blood money".