TamilNet

Indian espionage aircraft on recce mission over Sri Lanka - Paper

[Wed, 07 Jan 2009, 09:01 GMT]

A day after Sri Lanka Army occupied the town of Ki'linochchi, India's foreign intelligence agency and crucial adviser to the Government on foreign policy-making, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was engaged in a "secret aerial surveillance mission across the Palk Straits" on Saturday according to a report in the Indian media. The report quoted sources who claimed that an aircraft "with high-tech espionage equipment" belonging to the RAW's top-secret wing Air Research Centre (ARC) had taken off from the Chennai airport around 3:00 a.m., on Saturday. The report filed by India's largest selling English daily has buttressed the claims of Tamil Nadu politicians who have accused New Delhi of providing several kinds of strategic military help to the Government of Sri Lanka.

Full story >>

2ND LEAD

Britain says Ki'linochchi's fall calls for progress on political solution

[Wed, 07 Jan 2009, 08:06 GMT]

The capture of the former administrative capital of the LTTE by Sri Lankan armed forces makes it even more urgent that all parties achieve progress on setting out a political solution that addresses the "legitimate concerns of all communities," said a statement issued by the British High Commission on January 06. Tamil political observers note that the statement has come after two noteworthy observations in December: the British Defence Attache in Colombo taking part in a trip to Sri Lankan military command in Vanni on 15 December, and the British Minister of State at the Foreign Commonwealth Office, at an adjournment debate in British Parliament, exposing the fact that his government still had faith in the APRC myth created by the Rajapaksa regime. Full story >>

3RD LEAD

53 SLA killed, 80 wounded, arms seized in Paranthan - LTTE

[Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 14:09 GMT]

At least 53 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed, more than 80 sustained injuries and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) recovered 2 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers in heavy fighting that erupted Sunday when the SLA launched an offensive push through 2nd Mile Post on Paranthan Mullaiththeevu Road on two fronts. LTTE officials further said they seized arms including AK-LMGs, PK-LMGs, Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers (RPGs) and at least ten T-56 assault rifles. Full story >>

Civilian wounded in shelling, air strike victim succumbs to injuries

[Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 13:10 GMT]

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shell caused injuries to a 34-year-old female at Ramanathapuram in Vaddakkachchi Tuesday at 12:45 p.m., while she was fleeing from the area, initial reports from Vanni said. Meanwhle, a female wounded in the air strike on January 01 at Murasumoaddai succumbed to her injuries at Tharmapuram hospital Monday night. Full story >>

Lift ban on the LTTE: Tamil Nadu BJP

[Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 19:11 GMT]

The Tamil Nadu unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the principal opposition party in India, has given clear indications of the necessity for lifting the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam according to news reports in the Indian media. Vaithiyalingam, a senior BJP leader and member of the party's national general council, proposed this idea. In an exclusive interview to a Tamil biweekly, he said that although his party did not believe in violent measures, it was unfair to impose the ideas of a Gandhian struggle on the people of Tamil Eelam. Full story >>

SLA, LTTE clashes continue in Mukamaalai FDL

[Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 19:07 GMT]

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) suffered setbacks Tuesday in an attempt to enter Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Front Defence Line (DFL) areas in Mukamaalai while Jaffna-Kandy road was blocked for public transport for more than three and a half hours enabling ambulances to transport injured soldiers from Mukkamaalai FDL positions, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. Defence Ministry in Colombo, however, claimed that the SLA had advanced in Mukamaalai. Full story >>

Artillery shelling continues in Vanni, civilian wounded, hospital full of wounded

[Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 17:35 GMT]

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling continued to target densely populated civilian area in Pu'liaympokka'nai in Vanni on Saturday. A 61-year-old civilian was wounded at Karaveddiththidal in Pu'liyampokka'nai around 5:30 p.m. when at least 6 shells hit the settlement. Meanwhile hospital in Tharmapuram was full of injured civilians. Transport of seriously wounded patients for further treatment at Vavuniyaa hospital was blocked for the third day due to artillery shelling by the SLA, according to medical authorities. Full story >>

3RD LEAD (PHOTOS UPDATED)

4 civilians killed, SLAF bombs petrol station, bus depot in Mullaiththeevu

[Fri, 02 Jan 2009, 14:53 GMT]

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a petrol station and a bus depot killing four civilians and causing injuries to 8 close to Mullaiththevu hospital, 1 km away from the town. 8 buses were destroyed, the depot building damaged and the petrol station completely destroyed, initial reports from Mullaiththeevu said. The indiscriminate bombardment by the SLAF has taken place at 5:00 a.m. Friday. Full story >>

North and South cannot remain separate, Rajapaksa tells Jaffna people

[Wed, 31 Dec 2008, 08:57 GMT]

“The people of Jaffna peninsula should forget the tragic past and all people of the north and south should live as one people”, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, said in a special satellite television broadcast Monday night for the people of Jaffna peninsula, which has become an open prison under Sri Lanka Army (SLA) control. Another message, delivered by Mr. Rajapaksa to the people of Jaffna, was that he has taken steps to 'liberate' Ki’linochchi and Mullaiththeevu and very soon the people there will 'live like' the people of Jaffna. Full story >>

Tamil Nadu signals protests against New Delhi's inaction

[Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 15:58 GMT]

Condemning the inaction by the Indian Central Government, even after the unanimous declaration by the State Assembly of Tamil Nadu to demand immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, the Communist Party of India Tamil Nadu branch on Saturday announced it would launch a protest on January 06 in Tamil Nadu's capital city Chennai. Meanwhile, Pazha. Nedumaran, the leader of the Tamil National Movement has called for black flag protest against the Indian Prime Minister who is scheduled to visit the annual congregation of Non Resident Indians (NRI) on January 08. Meanwhile, the leader of VCK, Tholmavazhavan has said New Delhi's ignorance stands exposed as it failed to satisfy even the simplest demand to send its foreign minister to Colombo to stop the war. Full story >>

Peoples support will help surmount challenges: LTTE Political Head

[Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 08:23 GMT]

Pointing out that Ki'linochchi was where Sri Lanka military has suffered previous historic debacles, LTTE Political Head B. Nadesan, in an interview with TamilNet on Monday dismissed the occupation of the town as an insignificant setback in the context of a liberation struggle, and said, Tamil people’s support has always been LTTE’s strength, and with the moral backing of the global Tamil community the movement will surmount current and future challenges. "We have taken forward our struggle for more than 30 years, solely relying on the support of our people," and reiterated that the Tigers were spearheading the Tamil struggle, which was based on legitimate political aspirations as defined by the democratic mandate in the elections of 1977. Full story >>

Indian Naval Personnel to Mullaiththeevu: Thirumavalavan lambasts New Delhi

[Mon, 05 Jan 2009, 18:08 GMT]

Thirumavalavan, a Tamil nationalist leader and the president of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) in Tamil Nadu, on Monday condemned the Indian Government for "betraying the entire Tamil people" by sending civil clothed Indian naval personnel to Mullaiththeevu through the Chennai international airport. Addressing the media in Chennai, he said that New Delhi was "totally responsible" for the "ruthless genocide" of Tamils in Sri Lanka. "Even the future generations of Tamils will never forgive the Indian Government for disrespecting the sentiments of 100 million Tamil people," he warned. Full story >>

TNA accuses Colombo of war crimes

[Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 21:06 GMT]

Describing several recent escalation in incidents where Sri Lanka Armed Forces have targetted Tamil civilian during festive days between Christmas and Thaipongal, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a press release issued today, said that the "stringent economic, food and medical embargos on the war affected areas," ..."are not only War Crimes in contravention of the Geneva Conventions but are also a part of a policy of Genocide that the Sri Lankan State has been carrying out against the Tamil people." The release also noted with disappointment of the silence of the international community "whilst the Genocide of the Tamil people is taking place," and continuing military assistance of the international states to the Sri Lankan State "using various pretexts." Full story >>

'Annals of history'

[Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 19:44 GMT]

The message of "veiled racism" in Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s remarks Friday in his telecast address announcing the capture of Ki'linochchi town, betrayed the true intentions of him and his ilk, camouflaged in saintly wordings against separatism, terrorism, racism, North-South war etc, to hoodwink the outside world, writes a regular academic commentator to TamilNet from Colombo. "Unfortunately, those who claim to be at the helm of the international community, even though very well aware of the impossibility of the Sri Lankan state to satisfy Tamil aspirations, refuse to acknowledge the logic and legitimacy behind the ethnonational demand of Tamils to have political sovereignty to save themselves from genocide," he further writes. Full story >>

Mano Ganesan: Political solution after 'military victory' not acceptable to Tamils

[Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 10:02 GMT]

Responding to the mood of "celebration" in South over the Sri Lankan military occupation of Ki'linochchi, Mano Ganesan, parliamentarian and the leader of Democratic Peoples Front (former WPPF), in a statement issued on Saturday said political solution after "total military victory" of the Sri Lankan state was not acceptable to the Tamils. He added: "If the north today is a military battle field, the government has a political battle field in the east. You have your own provincial council. It is not the solution. But it is part of the constitutional law. You are not even implementing what is law." Full story >>

2ND LEAD

13 civilians wounded in SLA artillery barrage

[Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 14:13 GMT]

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stepped up artillery shelling towards Murasumoaddai, Pu'liyampokka'nai, Vaddakkachchi and Tharmapuram, east of Paranthan and Ki'ilnochchi Sunday after 3:00 p.m., causing injuries to at least 13 civilians, according to medical sources at Tharmapuram hospital. Full story >>

7TH LEAD

5 civilians killed, 16 wounded in air strikes, hospital reports blood shortage

[Wed, 31 Dec 2008, 04:26 GMT]

SLAF bombardment on Murasumoaddai on 31.12.2008

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement near Murugananda school in Murasumoaddai on Paranthan - Mullaiththeevu Road killing two females of a family and a male on the spot. Another man, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 16 civilians, including a couple, were wounded. The attack has targeted three civilian settlements in Murasumoaddai Wednesday around 8:00 a.m. The indiscriminate bombardment on fleeing civilians, Internally Displaced Person's huts, close to the ICRC Karaichchi branch office, a school, temple and agricultural lands aims at instilling fear at the minds of the civilians in Vanni, observers said. Full story >>

SLA shelling kills civilian, 10 wounded in Vanni

[Fri, 02 Jan 2009, 12:34 GMT]

Artillery shelling by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) killed a civilian and at least 10 wounded at 3rd Mile Post in Murasumoaddai Friday around 12:45 p.m., initial reports from Vanni said. Another civilian was wounded at Pannangka'ndi in SLA shelling. Full story >>

RSF condemns attack on Tamil-owned TV station

[Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 20:37 GMT]

Reporters sans frontiers (RSF), a Paris-based media watchdog, in a press release issued today, condemned the attack on Maharajah Televsions Network (MTV) near Colombo by heavily armed men early morning Tuesday. "Violence and threats against such privately-owned media outlets and journalists trying to impartially report on the conflict must stop," the RSF release said, adding , "[t]he network is one of the country's few, and very popular, independent news sources." Several Sri Lanka Government Ministers and Government owned media have previously charged the network for being not "patriotic" enough in reporting the war between Sri Lanka military and the Liberation Tigers. Full story >>

Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain

- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
35th US President (1961-63),
1917-1963

[18.12.08]
Eezham Tamils' development: myths and realities "It is utter ignorance of history, lack of serious research and wrong application of analytical tools in judging development on the part of the intelligentsia outside, in creating a misleading picture of the crisis in Sri Lanka through their 'model-based' approaches," writes Opinion Columnist Chivanadi in the second part of the article, 'Development, Multiculturalism and Ethnonationalism in Sri Lanka.'
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[18.12.08]
Development, Multiculturalism and Ethnonationalism in Sri Lanka - Part I: What is perhaps needed as a prerequisite for development in the context of the island of Sri Lanka is only a bold solution providing outlets to the national questions of the Tamils and the Sinhalese. But in their arrogance and greed, the international development enthusiasts are in such a hurry that they think of thrusting upon ‘development’ from the above, bulldozing the national question militarily. In the process they invite unwanted deep antagonism of a people who in fact are prepared in all other respects to welcome the development ventures of them, writes opinion columnist Chivanadi, in the first part of an article, Development, Multiculturalism and Ethnonationalism in Sri Lanka.
Related Story >>

[17.12.08]
Fein: Genocide charges against Sri Lanka officials ready: Bruce Fein, a former U.S. Deputy Associate Attorney General and currently Counsel for a U.S. Tamil Group said in an interview this week that a 400+ page model indictment charging Sri Lanka officials for genocide against Tamils will be ready to be submitted to the U.S. Justice Department first week of January. He added that the document describes the motivational context, catalogues crimes, and constructs legal arguments establishing culpability of a U.S. citizen and a U.S. greencard holder for the crime of genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka under the U.S. Genocide Accountability Act (18 U.S.C. 1091).
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[02.12.08]
Knowing friends and enemies: “Exploiting the Mumbai carnage and the mood of indignation in India, the Colombo government is calling for the collaboration of India in labeling and isolating all Tamils as terrorists, just because they demand for their rights. Mr. P. Chidambaram, the new Home Minister of India, carrying Indian as well as Tamil identities needs to be additionally alert in what has to be done”, read Tuesday’s editorial of Janasakti, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of India.
Related Story >>

Mother and child: victims of cluster bombardment by Sri Lanka Air Force

[01.12.08]
Eyewitness accounts of cluster bombardment: If not for the fast action of Ketheeswaran, the head of the Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp at Uzhavanoor in Vanni, that came under indiscriminate attack by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in the early hours of Saturday, and Pulendran, an intrepid IDP, in escorting and moving the civilians away from the refugee camp, the cluster bombs would have wrought havoc killing many, according to the refugees who escaped.
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[29.11.08]
International media, human rights watchdogs lopsided - Jaffna MP "The Colombo government is embarked upon a killing spree of children and women in refugee camps who are already victims of war, displacement, cyclone and floods. This act of 'state terrorism' is in what way less deplorable than the Mumbai killings, for failing to attract condemnation and action from the International Community," asks Padmini Sithamparanathan, Tamil National Alliance MP for Jaffna.
Related Story >>

[28.11.08]
US development aims integrating East with Sinhala provinces: Based on their firm conviction that development disparity is the root cause of the conflict in Sri Lanka, the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka is busy in recent times in promoting a number ‘development’ programmes, especially in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Related Story >>

[27.11.08]
LTTE leader pays homage on Heroes Day: Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) payed homage to 22,390 fighters who have lost their lives in the armed struggle since 27 November 1982, the day when the first LTTE fighter Lt. Sankar lost his life. The Heroes Day remembrance event was held at 6:03 p.m. at an undisclosed location in Vanni on Thursday, LTTE officials told TamilNet. 2,239 LTTE fighters have been killed in action in a largely defensive war of the Tigers in 2008.
Related Story >>

[27.11.08]
India is our friend, we are not against any country, remove the hindrance of ban: Pirapaharan: While conveying his love and gratitude to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu and leaders of India who have grasped the heartbeat of Eezham Tamils and have come forward with timely support, the LTTE leader V.Pirapaharan in his Hero’s Day speech on Thursday requested them to voice firmly for Tamil Eelam and to undertake conducive measures to remove the ban, a great hindrance to amicable relationship between India and the LTTE.
Related Story >>

[26.11.08]
Vaiko, the general secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetta Kazhakam (MDMK) from Tamil Nadu, while addressing British parliamentarians of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Tamils on Wednesday in the British Parliament, said that the British Parliament has a moral responsibility to rectify the historic injustice caused on to the Eezham Tamils during the colonial rule.
Related Story >>

News 2009 January 2008 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2007 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2006 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2005 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2004 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2003 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2002 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2001 December November October September August July June May April March February January 2000 December November October September August July June May April March February January 1999 December November October September August July June May April March February January 1998 December November October September August July June May April March February January 1997 December November October September August July June Features Photo Features Opinion Development TN Transcription Web feeds Feedback About us Home	Indian espionage aircraft on recce mission over Sri Lanka - Paper [Wed, 07 Jan 2009, 09:01 GMT] A day after Sri Lanka Army occupied the town of Ki'linochchi, India's foreign intelligence agency and crucial adviser to the Government on foreign policy-making, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was engaged in a "secret aerial surveillance mission across the Palk Straits" on Saturday according to a report in the Indian media. The report quoted sources who claimed that an aircraft "with high-tech espionage equipment" belonging to the RAW's top-secret wing Air Research Centre (ARC) had taken off from the Chennai airport around 3:00 a.m., on Saturday. The report filed by India's largest selling English daily has buttressed the claims of Tamil Nadu politicians who have accused New Delhi of providing several kinds of strategic military help to the Government of Sri Lanka. Full story >> Latest 15 Reports: Jan 07 09:01 Indian espionage aircraft on recce mission over Sr.. Jan 07 08:06 Britain says Ki'linochchi's fall calls for progres.. Jan 06 20:37 RSF condemns attack on Tamil-owned TV station Jan 06 19:21 GA to discuss resumption of demining in Jaffna dis.. Jan 06 19:07 SLA, LTTE clashes continue in Mukamaalai FDL Jan 06 13:10 Civilian wounded in shelling, air strike victim su.. Jan 06 11:16 Tamil family man shot dead in Vavuniyaa Jan 06 09:53 White van armed men abduct two Tamil youths in Amp.. Jan 06 09:32 STF commandos abduct 2 youths in Batticaloa Jan 06 08:23 Peoples support will help surmount challenges: LTT.. Jan 06 01:42 Grenade attack on SLA sentry post in Thirunelveali.. Jan 05 18:08 Indian Naval Personnel to Mullaiththeevu: Thirumav.. Jan 05 16:43 SLA imposes new restriction on fishing in Jaffna p.. Jan 05 15:49 80-year-old woman reported missing with Jaffna HRC Jan 04 21:06 TNA accuses Colombo of war crimes << Flashback More Reports >> 2ND LEAD Britain says Ki'linochchi's fall calls for progress on political solution [Wed, 07 Jan 2009, 08:06 GMT] The capture of the former administrative capital of the LTTE by Sri Lankan armed forces makes it even more urgent that all parties achieve progress on setting out a political solution that addresses the "legitimate concerns of all communities," said a statement issued by the British High Commission on January 06. Tamil political observers note that the statement has come after two noteworthy observations in December: the British Defence Attache in Colombo taking part in a trip to Sri Lankan military command in Vanni on 15 December, and the British Minister of State at the Foreign Commonwealth Office, at an adjournment debate in British Parliament, exposing the fact that his government still had faith in the APRC myth created by the Rajapaksa regime. Full story >> 3RD LEAD 53 SLA killed, 80 wounded, arms seized in Paranthan - LTTE [Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 14:09 GMT] At least 53 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed, more than 80 sustained injuries and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) recovered 2 dead bodies of the SLA soldiers in heavy fighting that erupted Sunday when the SLA launched an offensive push through 2nd Mile Post on Paranthan Mullaiththeevu Road on two fronts. LTTE officials further said they seized arms including AK-LMGs, PK-LMGs, Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers (RPGs) and at least ten T-56 assault rifles. Full story >> Civilian wounded in shelling, air strike victim succumbs to injuries [Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 13:10 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shell caused injuries to a 34-year-old female at Ramanathapuram in Vaddakkachchi Tuesday at 12:45 p.m., while she was fleeing from the area, initial reports from Vanni said. Meanwhle, a female wounded in the air strike on January 01 at Murasumoaddai succumbed to her injuries at Tharmapuram hospital Monday night. Full story >> Lift ban on the LTTE: Tamil Nadu BJP [Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 19:11 GMT] The Tamil Nadu unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the principal opposition party in India, has given clear indications of the necessity for lifting the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam according to news reports in the Indian media. Vaithiyalingam, a senior BJP leader and member of the party's national general council, proposed this idea. In an exclusive interview to a Tamil biweekly, he said that although his party did not believe in violent measures, it was unfair to impose the ideas of a Gandhian struggle on the people of Tamil Eelam. Full story >> SLA, LTTE clashes continue in Mukamaalai FDL [Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 19:07 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) suffered setbacks Tuesday in an attempt to enter Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Front Defence Line (DFL) areas in Mukamaalai while Jaffna-Kandy road was blocked for public transport for more than three and a half hours enabling ambulances to transport injured soldiers from Mukkamaalai FDL positions, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. Defence Ministry in Colombo, however, claimed that the SLA had advanced in Mukamaalai. Full story >> Artillery shelling continues in Vanni, civilian wounded, hospital full of wounded [Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 17:35 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling continued to target densely populated civilian area in Pu'liaympokka'nai in Vanni on Saturday. A 61-year-old civilian was wounded at Karaveddiththidal in Pu'liyampokka'nai around 5:30 p.m. when at least 6 shells hit the settlement. Meanwhile hospital in Tharmapuram was full of injured civilians. Transport of seriously wounded patients for further treatment at Vavuniyaa hospital was blocked for the third day due to artillery shelling by the SLA, according to medical authorities. Full story >> 3RD LEAD (PHOTOS UPDATED) 4 civilians killed, SLAF bombs petrol station, bus depot in Mullaiththeevu [Fri, 02 Jan 2009, 14:53 GMT] Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a petrol station and a bus depot killing four civilians and causing injuries to 8 close to Mullaiththevu hospital, 1 km away from the town. 8 buses were destroyed, the depot building damaged and the petrol station completely destroyed, initial reports from Mullaiththeevu said. The indiscriminate bombardment by the SLAF has taken place at 5:00 a.m. Friday. Full story >> North and South cannot remain separate, Rajapaksa tells Jaffna people [Wed, 31 Dec 2008, 08:57 GMT] “The people of Jaffna peninsula should forget the tragic past and all people of the north and south should live as one people”, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, said in a special satellite television broadcast Monday night for the people of Jaffna peninsula, which has become an open prison under Sri Lanka Army (SLA) control. Another message, delivered by Mr. Rajapaksa to the people of Jaffna, was that he has taken steps to 'liberate' Ki’linochchi and Mullaiththeevu and very soon the people there will 'live like' the people of Jaffna. Full story >> Tamil Nadu signals protests against New Delhi's inaction [Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 15:58 GMT] Condemning the inaction by the Indian Central Government, even after the unanimous declaration by the State Assembly of Tamil Nadu to demand immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, the Communist Party of India Tamil Nadu branch on Saturday announced it would launch a protest on January 06 in Tamil Nadu's capital city Chennai. Meanwhile, Pazha. Nedumaran, the leader of the Tamil National Movement has called for black flag protest against the Indian Prime Minister who is scheduled to visit the annual congregation of Non Resident Indians (NRI) on January 08. Meanwhile, the leader of VCK, Tholmavazhavan has said New Delhi's ignorance stands exposed as it failed to satisfy even the simplest demand to send its foreign minister to Colombo to stop the war. Full story >> Peoples support will help surmount challenges: LTTE Political Head [Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 08:23 GMT] Pointing out that Ki'linochchi was where Sri Lanka military has suffered previous historic debacles, LTTE Political Head B. Nadesan, in an interview with TamilNet on Monday dismissed the occupation of the town as an insignificant setback in the context of a liberation struggle, and said, Tamil people’s support has always been LTTE’s strength, and with the moral backing of the global Tamil community the movement will surmount current and future challenges. "We have taken forward our struggle for more than 30 years, solely relying on the support of our people," and reiterated that the Tigers were spearheading the Tamil struggle, which was based on legitimate political aspirations as defined by the democratic mandate in the elections of 1977. Full story >> Indian Naval Personnel to Mullaiththeevu: Thirumavalavan lambasts New Delhi [Mon, 05 Jan 2009, 18:08 GMT] Thirumavalavan, a Tamil nationalist leader and the president of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) in Tamil Nadu, on Monday condemned the Indian Government for "betraying the entire Tamil people" by sending civil clothed Indian naval personnel to Mullaiththeevu through the Chennai international airport. Addressing the media in Chennai, he said that New Delhi was "totally responsible" for the "ruthless genocide" of Tamils in Sri Lanka. "Even the future generations of Tamils will never forgive the Indian Government for disrespecting the sentiments of 100 million Tamil people," he warned. Full story >> TNA accuses Colombo of war crimes [Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 21:06 GMT] Describing several recent escalation in incidents where Sri Lanka Armed Forces have targetted Tamil civilian during festive days between Christmas and Thaipongal, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a press release issued today, said that the "stringent economic, food and medical embargos on the war affected areas," ..."are not only War Crimes in contravention of the Geneva Conventions but are also a part of a policy of Genocide that the Sri Lankan State has been carrying out against the Tamil people." The release also noted with disappointment of the silence of the international community "whilst the Genocide of the Tamil people is taking place," and continuing military assistance of the international states to the Sri Lankan State "using various pretexts." Full story >> 'Annals of history' [Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 19:44 GMT] The message of "veiled racism" in Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s remarks Friday in his telecast address announcing the capture of Ki'linochchi town, betrayed the true intentions of him and his ilk, camouflaged in saintly wordings against separatism, terrorism, racism, North-South war etc, to hoodwink the outside world, writes a regular academic commentator to TamilNet from Colombo. "Unfortunately, those who claim to be at the helm of the international community, even though very well aware of the impossibility of the Sri Lankan state to satisfy Tamil aspirations, refuse to acknowledge the logic and legitimacy behind the ethnonational demand of Tamils to have political sovereignty to save themselves from genocide," he further writes. Full story >> Mano Ganesan: Political solution after 'military victory' not acceptable to Tamils [Sat, 03 Jan 2009, 10:02 GMT] Responding to the mood of "celebration" in South over the Sri Lankan military occupation of Ki'linochchi, Mano Ganesan, parliamentarian and the leader of Democratic Peoples Front (former WPPF), in a statement issued on Saturday said political solution after "total military victory" of the Sri Lankan state was not acceptable to the Tamils. He added: "If the north today is a military battle field, the government has a political battle field in the east. You have your own provincial council. It is not the solution. But it is part of the constitutional law. You are not even implementing what is law." Full story >> 2ND LEAD 13 civilians wounded in SLA artillery barrage [Sun, 04 Jan 2009, 14:13 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stepped up artillery shelling towards Murasumoaddai, Pu'liyampokka'nai, Vaddakkachchi and Tharmapuram, east of Paranthan and Ki'ilnochchi Sunday after 3:00 p.m., causing injuries to at least 13 civilians, according to medical sources at Tharmapuram hospital. Full story >> 7TH LEAD 5 civilians killed, 16 wounded in air strikes, hospital reports blood shortage [Wed, 31 Dec 2008, 04:26 GMT] Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked a civilian settlement near Murugananda school in Murasumoaddai on Paranthan - Mullaiththeevu Road killing two females of a family and a male on the spot. Another man, who was seriously wounded, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 16 civilians, including a couple, were wounded. The attack has targeted three civilian settlements in Murasumoaddai Wednesday around 8:00 a.m. The indiscriminate bombardment on fleeing civilians, Internally Displaced Person's huts, close to the ICRC Karaichchi branch office, a school, temple and agricultural lands aims at instilling fear at the minds of the civilians in Vanni, observers said. Full story >> SLA shelling kills civilian, 10 wounded in Vanni [Fri, 02 Jan 2009, 12:34 GMT] Artillery shelling by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) killed a civilian and at least 10 wounded at 3rd Mile Post in Murasumoaddai Friday around 12:45 p.m., initial reports from Vanni said. Another civilian was wounded at Pannangka'ndi in SLA shelling. Full story >> RSF condemns attack on Tamil-owned TV station [Tue, 06 Jan 2009, 20:37 GMT] Reporters sans frontiers (RSF), a Paris-based media watchdog, in a press release issued today, condemned the attack on Maharajah Televsions Network (MTV) near Colombo by heavily armed men early morning Tuesday. "Violence and threats against such privately-owned media outlets and journalists trying to impartially report on the conflict must stop," the RSF release said, adding , "[t]he network is one of the country's few, and very popular, independent news sources." Several Sri Lanka Government Ministers and Government owned media have previously charged the network for being not "patriotic" enough in reporting the war between Sri Lanka military and the Liberation Tigers. Full story >> Top Flashback: 2008: 2008 Jan 07 22:05 Eligible voter details for Batticaloa district ... 2008 Jan 07 18:46 Jaffna University undergrad released in torture... 2008 Jan 07 15:03 30,000 Ampaa'rai families affected by floods 2008 Jan 07 14:38 SLA, police intensifiy search, checking in Jaff... 2008 Jan 07 14:18 Jaffna VC appeals to SLA to release arrested un... 2008 Jan 07 00:24 Colombo removing witnesses to impending carnage... 2008 Jan 07 00:02 Jaffna GSs released after interrogation in Colombo 2007: 2007 Jan 07 22:43 Negotiate a new ceasefire, UNP tells Rajapakse ... 2007 Jan 07 21:53 Fisherman's body found with gunshot injuries in... 2007 Jan 07 13:49 SOS from Vaharai 2007 Jan 07 11:34 Two youths strangled to death in Vavuniya 2007 Jan 07 11:30 One youth killed, two SLA troopers seriously in... 2007 Jan 07 10:42 Six civilians injured in bomb blast in Amparai 2006: 2006 Jan 07 15:14 Doyenne of Hindu scholars, Thangamma Appakuti, ... 2006 Jan 07 14:57 CTTU demands withdrawal of SLA troops from Trin... 2006 Jan 07 14:49 Explosives found in bus, Murunkan Police detain... 2006 Jan 07 13:01 Grenade attack in Point Pedro 2006 Jan 07 12:21 TamilNadu parties ready to lend support to Tami... 2006 Jan 07 06:25 SL Police arrests 30 Tamil youths in Puttalam 2006 Jan 07 06:21 TRO's Travelling photo exhibit to continue into... 2006 Jan 07 05:58 Two LTTE cadres die in SLA's claymore attack in... 2006 Jan 07 05:46 LTTE supporter shot dead in Point Pedro 2006 Jan 07 05:31 Sri Lanka's President meets TNA delegation 2006 Jan 07 05:25 General shut down cripples Trincomalee fourth day 2006 Jan 07 05:17 Senior PLOTE cadre shot, injured in Jaffna 2006 Jan 07 02:06 Halo Trust to resume Jaffna demining operations... 2005: 2005 Jan 07 15:50 Tsunami ravaged community in northeast pleads w... 2005 Jan 07 14:30 Denmark donates water purification units to TRO 2005 Jan 07 12:16 Expatriate Tamils urge Kofi Annan to visit Mull... 2005 Jan 07 11:40 US military presence will not affect Peace Proc... 2005 Jan 07 08:38 Powell and Lee see damages in the South 2004: 2004 Jan 07 18:05 Lankan embassy keen to witness 'retail US polit... 2004 Jan 07 17:00 PTA detainee released 2004 Jan 07 13:56 "NorthEast deprived of ceasefire benefits" - Tr... 2004 Jan 07 12:44 Armed Muslim youths attack Amparai factory workers 2004 Jan 07 11:27 Norwegian Ambassador visits Trincomalee 2004 Jan 07 07:53 Sri Lanka's PM tells Kumaratunga to handle truc... 2004 Jan 07 00:06 Pro-Peace, United Sinhala leadership unlikely t... 2003: 2003 Jan 07 17:56 ‘Defunct’ SDN is shut down 2003 Jan 07 17:52 400 more schools to be under BOBLEP project in NE 2003 Jan 07 16:32 Parliament debates labour bills amidst oppositi... 2003 Jan 07 12:11 Picketing in Tellipallai continues 2003 Jan 07 12:03 Father of sixteen identifies headless body as m... 2003 Jan 07 00:16 NE education development action plan underway 2002: 2002 Jan 07 19:59 Nine FR cases against SLA for barring voters 2002 Jan 07 19:56 EPDP MP wanted for murder surrenders 2002 Jan 07 19:39 SC dismisses application by Gen.Ratwatte's sons 2000: 2000 Jan 07 19:09 Pararajasingham urges end to prison attacks 2000 Jan 07 18:55 Daily News article deemed defamatory 2000 Jan 07 13:36 Second Kalutara prisoner dies 2000 Jan 07 11:21 TULF calls for Kalutara inquiry 2000 Jan 07 09:54 Further violence at Kalutara prison 2000 Jan 07 00:23 1000 arrests in Colombo 1999: 1999 Jan 07 23:46 Council protests SLA influence 1999 Jan 07 18:24 Rain displaced 25,000 in Vavuniya 1999 Jan 07 17:19 MoD spells out JOB mandate 1999 Jan 07 17:06 Razeek cadres on assault charge 1999 Jan 07 10:23 Peace through war continues 1999 Jan 07 10:14 Floods recede 1998: 1998 Jan 07 23:59 Sinhala doctors complete northern tour 1998 Jan 07 23:59 Vavuniya military policeman shot dead 1998 Jan 07 23:59 SLA positions prevent return of Kayts displaced 1998 Jan 07 23:59 Transit clearance arrangements changed 1998 Jan 07 23:59 EPDP undemocratic - EPRLF, DPLF 1998 Jan 07 23:59 Search operation after Eravur bomb Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain - John Fitzgerald Kennedy 35th US President (1961-63), 1917-1963	Know the Etymology: 118 Place Name of the Day: Uyirththa Raasan Ku'lam The tank of Our Lord of the Resurrection Read more >> [18.12.08] Eezham Tamils' development: myths and realities "It is utter ignorance of history, lack of serious research and wrong application of analytical tools in judging development on the part of the intelligentsia outside, in creating a misleading picture of the crisis in Sri Lanka through their 'model-based' approaches," writes Opinion Columnist Chivanadi in the second part of the article, 'Development, Multiculturalism and Ethnonationalism in Sri Lanka.' Related Story >> [18.12.08] Development, Multiculturalism and Ethnonationalism in Sri Lanka - Part I: What is perhaps needed as a prerequisite for development in the context of the island of Sri Lanka is only a bold solution providing outlets to the national questions of the Tamils and the Sinhalese. But in their arrogance and greed, the international development enthusiasts are in such a hurry that they think of thrusting upon ‘development’ from the above, bulldozing the national question militarily. In the process they invite unwanted deep antagonism of a people who in fact are prepared in all other respects to welcome the development ventures of them, writes opinion columnist Chivanadi, in the first part of an article, Development, Multiculturalism and Ethnonationalism in Sri Lanka. Related Story >> [17.12.08] Fein: Genocide charges against Sri Lanka officials ready: Bruce Fein, a former U.S. Deputy Associate Attorney General and currently Counsel for a U.S. Tamil Group said in an interview this week that a 400+ page model indictment charging Sri Lanka officials for genocide against Tamils will be ready to be submitted to the U.S. Justice Department first week of January. He added that the document describes the motivational context, catalogues crimes, and constructs legal arguments establishing culpability of a U.S. citizen and a U.S. greencard holder for the crime of genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka under the U.S. Genocide Accountability Act (18 U.S.C. 1091). Related Story >> [02.12.08] Knowing friends and enemies: “Exploiting the Mumbai carnage and the mood of indignation in India, the Colombo government is calling for the collaboration of India in labeling and isolating all Tamils as terrorists, just because they demand for their rights. Mr. P. Chidambaram, the new Home Minister of India, carrying Indian as well as Tamil identities needs to be additionally alert in what has to be done”, read Tuesday’s editorial of Janasakti, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of India. Related Story >> [01.12.08] Eyewitness accounts of cluster bombardment: If not for the fast action of Ketheeswaran, the head of the Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp at Uzhavanoor in Vanni, that came under indiscriminate attack by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in the early hours of Saturday, and Pulendran, an intrepid IDP, in escorting and moving the civilians away from the refugee camp, the cluster bombs would have wrought havoc killing many, according to the refugees who escaped. Related Story >> [29.11.08] International media, human rights watchdogs lopsided - Jaffna MP "The Colombo government is embarked upon a killing spree of children and women in refugee camps who are already victims of war, displacement, cyclone and floods. This act of 'state terrorism' is in what way less deplorable than the Mumbai killings, for failing to attract condemnation and action from the International Community," asks Padmini Sithamparanathan, Tamil National Alliance MP for Jaffna. Related Story >> [28.11.08] US development aims integrating East with Sinhala provinces: Based on their firm conviction that development disparity is the root cause of the conflict in Sri Lanka, the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka is busy in recent times in promoting a number ‘development’ programmes, especially in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Related Story >> [27.11.08] LTTE leader pays homage on Heroes Day: Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) payed homage to 22,390 fighters who have lost their lives in the armed struggle since 27 November 1982, the day when the first LTTE fighter Lt. Sankar lost his life. The Heroes Day remembrance event was held at 6:03 p.m. at an undisclosed location in Vanni on Thursday, LTTE officials told TamilNet. 2,239 LTTE fighters have been killed in action in a largely defensive war of the Tigers in 2008. Related Story >> [27.11.08] India is our friend, we are not against any country, remove the hindrance of ban: Pirapaharan: While conveying his love and gratitude to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu and leaders of India who have grasped the heartbeat of Eezham Tamils and have come forward with timely support, the LTTE leader V.Pirapaharan in his Hero’s Day speech on Thursday requested them to voice firmly for Tamil Eelam and to undertake conducive measures to remove the ban, a great hindrance to amicable relationship between India and the LTTE. Related Story >> [26.11.08] Vaiko, the general secretary of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetta Kazhakam (MDMK) from Tamil Nadu, while addressing British parliamentarians of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Tamils on Wednesday in the British Parliament, said that the British Parliament has a moral responsibility to rectify the historic injustice caused on to the Eezham Tamils during the colonial rule. Related Story >>
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