TamilNet

Academic exposes habitual collaboration of Chennai in bungling geopolitics

[Tue, 09 Feb 2010, 02:12 GMT]

Writing on the negotiations of 1964 Srimao-Shastri Pact that caused adverse impact on the demography of Tamils in Sri Lanka, Professor V. Suryanarayan says, “The most pathetic member of the Indian team was Ramiah, a Cabinet Minister from Tamil Nadu. According to informed sources, throughout the discussions, Ramiah did not utter a single word on behalf of the Tamil plantation workers, who wanted to remain in Sri Lanka and become Sri Lankan citizens.” Mr. Karunanidhi, for his personal consolidation of power, collaborated with New Delhi in ceding Kachchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974. Had he challenged it in the Supreme Court, the India-Sri Lanka relations might have taken a different turn, the academic said in a paper he read last week.

Full story >>

Sri Lanka, acid test for International Law

[Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 23:15 GMT]

The widespread systematic pattern of crimes committed by the Sri Lankan state against Tamil civilians, particularly during the first five months of 2009 in the Northeast province, constitute violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, legal scholars have said. During this period, indifference exhibited by the international community, including the United Nations, led to the deaths of more than 30,000 Tamils. The strong transnational expatriate Tamil community now has the burden (a) to prevent Sri Lanka from erasing the massacres from historical record, (b) to resist attempts by international powers to persuade Tamils for reconciliation without establishing justice and accountability for the crimes, and (c) to seek justice for tens of thousands of Tamil victims by charging Sri Lanka of war crimes and genocide against Tamils in world courts. Full story >>

Australian MP calls for independent investigations into Sri Lanka violations

[Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 14:48 GMT]

Noting that on Sri Lanka's Independence day "Tamil diaspora around the world mourn as they believe today marks the beginning of national oppression," John Murphy, Australian Member of Parliament, said in a recorded speech in the parliament on 4th February, adding, "[d]espite the Sri Lankan government’s declaration of [military] victory, the international community has expressed its grave concern that this battle will not be won and peace will not prevail until the Sri Lankan government provides essential political reform." The MP called for an independent investigation into the "reports of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Sri Lanka." Full story >>

A language dies in India

[Sat, 06 Feb 2010, 23:39 GMT]

With the death of 85 years old Boa Sr in Andaman Islands of India last week, the Bo language of prehistoric antiquity became extinct once and for all, reports, Survival International, a movement for tribal peoples. The Andaman and Nicobar islands, home of several prehistoric tribes of Austroloid, Negroid and Mongoloid origins, is currently a Union Territory directly administered by the Central Government of India. “The Great Andamanese were first massacred, then all but wiped out by paternalistic policies which left them ravaged by epidemics of disease, and robbed of their land and independence,” says Survival on the modern history of the tribes since British times. Meanwhile, India launched a show off of ‘naval exercise’ in the Andaman Sea Friday, mobilising 13 countries in the region including Sri Lanka, the new 'colonial power' in South Asia. Full story >>

2ND LEAD

Largest possible turnout, 99.33 percent British Tamils aspire Tamil Eelam

[Mon, 01 Feb 2010, 01:09 GMT]

In an unprecedented turnout that brought 64,692 Eezham Tamils to vote in the referendum held last weekend in UK, 64,256 (99.33%) said they aspire to the formation of independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam in the contiguous north and east of the island of Sri Lanka. 185 (0.29%) voted against and 251 (0.39%) votes were spoilt. Polling took place in sixty-five booths across London and in major towns and cities throughout UK. Five days after presidential poll proving sharp and clear divide in outlook between Sinhala and Tamil nations in the island of Sri Lanka, the near-total diaspora verdict in UK for Tamil Eelam gains much significance, observers said. Full story >>

SL Parliament to be dissolved this week: Maithiripala Sirisena

[Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 11:46 GMT]

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa would be dissolving the parliament this week on his return from Russia, said Maithripala Sirisena, a Senior Minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government Sunday to media. The term of office of the current parliament ends on April 22. He further said his government hopes to have a 'closer understanding' with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the forthcoming general election to 'uplift' the Northern and Eastern provinces. However he said that does not mean that the UPFA government would accept any condition by the TNA. Full story >>

Fonseka had plans to stage Russian style coup, says Rajapaksa government

[Fri, 05 Feb 2010, 17:08 GMT]

The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday claimed that there was an attempt to stage a Russian style coup in Sri Lanka on the eve of last presidential election. Thirty seven persons including several retired Major Generals and Colonels and Brigadiers have been held in detention over their alleged involvement in the coup attempt, the government said. Full story >>

SLA constructs Maximum HSZ in Jaffna

[Thu, 04 Feb 2010, 04:35 GMT]

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has begun constructing an earthen dam in an area encompassing Kaangeasanthu’rai and Keerimalai in Valikaamam North as part of the new Maximum High Security Zone (MHSZ) Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. 20 Village Officer (VO) divisions of the 27 VO divisions occupied as SLA High Security Zone (HSZ) in Valikaamam North are to be turned into the new MHSZ, the sources added. Full story >>

Rajapaksa leaves for Russia

[Sat, 06 Feb 2010, 10:15 GMT]

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa left on a three day official visit to Russia Saturday. Mr. Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet his counterpart President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday and is expected to sign an agreement with him, enabling Sri Lanka to receive a USD 300 million loan to buy arms and dual use of equipment from Russia, presidential secretariat sources said. Full story >>

Gotabhaya opens door for UN investigations of Sri Lanka war crimes - Prof. Boyle

[Fri, 05 Feb 2010, 04:51 GMT]

Referring to Gotabhaya Rajapakse's interview to the BBC Tuesday where Mr Rajapakse said that he would not allow any war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka, Professor Francis Boyle, an expert in International Law and a professor of Law at the University of Illinois College of Law said, "Defense Secretary Rajapaksa has now publicly and definitively ruled out any investigation of war crimes by the Government of Sri Lanka. And he is a government official acting within the scope of his official duties so that his statement binds the State of Sri Lanka under international law. Hence the basic requirement of international law mandating "complementarity" has been satisfied. Full story >>

2ND LEAD

SL military police arrests Fonseka

[Mon, 08 Feb 2010, 16:28 GMT]

Sri Lankan military police Monday night arrested former commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and opposition candidate in the recent presidential elections General (retd) Sarath Fonseka, initial reports from sources close to Fonseka said. The arrest comes after he declared that he was prepared to witness against anyone who had committed war crimes. The military personnel ragged away Fonseka in a very disgraceful manner, according to Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Muslim Congress, who was with Fonseka while the arrest took place, told Reuters. Full story >>

"Boycott Sri Lanka goods" campaign spreads to more US cities

[Tue, 09 Feb 2010, 01:25 GMT]

While a few U.S. cities, including Washington postponed the planned Sri Lanka Boycott rallies due to the record-breaking snow storm, in most of the 15 cities Tamil activists held protests urging ethical-minded consumers to boycott Sri Lanka products, especially textiles, as the protesters allege that the profits fund State violence against Tamil civilians, organizers of the protest said. Meanwhile, the organizers of the boycott campaign released a third-video in a planned series of video releases highlighting the need to black-label Sri Lanka products across the world, sources close to the boycott campaign said. Full story >>

Boyle's book added to World Court library

[Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 03:16 GMT]

The Peace Palace Library (PPL), the main library of the World Court, the popular name for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has acquired "The Tamil genocide by Sri Lanka," a recent publication by Clarity press authored by Francis A. Boyle, professor of International Law at University of Illinois College of Law, Marianne Brouwer, principal catalog librarian for the PPL, confirmed. "The book has made it to the World Court. Now we just need to file the lawsuit [against Sri Lanka for Genocide/war-crimes]," commented Boyle. Full story >>

2ND LEAD (Correction, Adds caption)

Ki'linochchi to Mu'rika'ndi: no human beings, ghost buildings, stray cattle

[Thu, 04 Feb 2010, 00:39 GMT]

A travellers view: Kilinochchi to Paranthan

A video footage taken a few days back, while travelling between Ki'linochchi and Mu'rika'ndi, shows the real situation in the heartland of Vanni in Tamil Eelam. The tract bustling with contended people two years back is virtually a no-man zone with ghost buildings and stray cattle today. The landscape is physical evidence to the genocide committed on a nation. The parties responsible for one of the worst crimes against humanity in the 21st century such as this, refuse to accept it, but hide it, coerce the victims not to talk about it and in various nuanced ways want to finish the genocide to its end, is the feeling of Eezham Tamils, both in the island and in the diaspora. Full story >>

2ND LEAD (ADDS NEW VIDEOS)

British Politicians express support to Tamil referendum

[Fri, 29 Jan 2010, 17:16 GMT]

Robert Evans, former Member of European Parliament from Britain and Labour politician, urged the diaspora Tamils in UK to participate in the referendum this weekend, saying that the message should go to Mr. Rajapaksa and the Colombo government should know what the diaspora thinks. Meanwhile, Conservative Parliamentary candidate Andrew Charalambous, strongly supporting the referendum, said: "If I had a chance to vote or I were a Tamil, I would be the first to vote." He called for loud expression and said the referendum should be recognised within Sri Lanka itself. Mr. Charalambous urged the diaspora to vote to show the International Community that Tamil Eelam is alive and is a physical reality. Full story >>

Gotabhaya outbursts against UN, International investigations

[Thu, 04 Feb 2010, 23:01 GMT]

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan defence secretary and the brother of the SL president, in an exclusive interview to the BBC on Tuesday, opposed any international investigation on war crimes during the final stage of the war. Meanwhile, the official news website of the Rajapaksa government in its Sinhala and versions has blamed external forces for rejuvenating the claim of Tamil Eelam by backing Sarath Fonseka, citing the pattern of the results of the recent presidential elections. The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa also warned the politicians not to guide the 'innocent people' in 'wrong path', while he referred to the election participation in North and East in his Tamil version of the February 04 speech. Full story >>

27 Saiva temples, monuments affected by planned road widening, ACHC complains

[Sat, 06 Feb 2010, 12:54 GMT]

All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) expressed deep concern over Sri Lanka's planned widening of the Jaffna-Kankesanthurai high way from Jaffna town to KKS as the plan would lead to the destruction and desecration of twenty seven Saiva temples and several historical cultural monuments along both sides of the highway, sources in Jaffna said. Officials of ACHC have protested the planned road upgrade to Northern Provincial Governor G.A. Chandrasiri. Full story >>

SL parliament extends emergency another month

[Fri, 05 Feb 2010, 16:57 GMT]

Sri Lanka’s parliament Friday adopted a motion by a majority of eighty seven votes to extend the State of Emergency for another month. One hundred and two MPs of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) voted for the motion and fifteen from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the main opposition United National Party (UNP) voted against. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarians did not participate in the voting. Full story >>

2ND LEAD

Perumaa’l temple consecrated in Myanmar

[Sat, 30 Jan 2010, 11:25 GMT]

Tamils in Myanmar impressively consecrated a renovated Perumaa’l temple in Yangon on Wednesday morning. Several thousands of Tamils participated in the ceremonies. A 13th century Tamil inscription in Myanmar records that a Perumaa’l temple patronized by Tamils existed at the earlier capital at Pagan. Full story >>

A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.

-Napoleon Bonaparte [1769 - 1821]

[31.01.10]
Mother country means Tamil Eelam for 90-year-old Sathyabhama: I love my country as I love my mother. That’s why I have come to vote in the referendum, says 90-year-old Sathyabhama Kumaraswamy who came to cast her vote in a booth in London Saturday. For her, who was a teacher for 37 years at Mangkaiyarkkarasi Viththiyaasaalai in Nalloor, Jaffna, country means the country of Tamils in the island.
Related Story >>

[30.01.10]
Eezham artist presents heritage as everybody’s property: An unconventional artwork of diaspora heritage, Imag(in)ing ‘Home’ presented by Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan, Lecturer in Art History of the Fine Arts Department of the University of Jaffna, with the participation of Eezham Tamil community in Vancouver, Canada, is now in display in an Art Exhibition of the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Canada.
Related Story >>

[29.01.10]
British Tamils embark upon significant referendum this weekend: The referendum on Tamil Eelam scheduled to Saturday and Sunday in UK, organized in unison by all main stakeholders of Eezham Tamil nationalism, is going to be very significant, said diaspora circles. After Eezham Tamils in 6 countries endorsing it by overwhelming 99%, the ballot in the country of the former colonial masters fundamentally responsible for the plight of Tamils, has a particular bearing.
Related Story >>

[29.01.10]
Referendum on Eelam is our right and responsibility: "This weekend’s referendum in Britain provides us with a chance to prove that the demand for Tamil Eelam is, as it always was, the well reasoned conclusion of rational, free-thinking, independent individuals," comments Sivakami Rajamanoharan, member of the TYO-UK.
Related Story >>

Voting pattern in SL Presidential Elections 2010

[27.01.10]
Democracy in Sri Lanka: new lessons add to old ones: The voters of Sinhala Nation have very clearly endorsed a regime accused of genocide and war crimes against Tamils. Democracy insisting the need to recognise two Nation States in the island is an old lesson. But the new lesson is to the International Community, especially to the West that is slipping for the third time within one year.
Related Story >>

[25.01.10]
99.2 percent voters consent Tamil Eelam in Holland: In the referendum held in Holland on Sunday on the formation of independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka, 2,750 voters participated and 99.2 percent of them aspired for it. 2,728 said yes, 9 voted no and 13 votes were invalid.
Related Story >>

[25.01.10]
Referendum conducted in exemplary way in Switzerland: 99.49 percent of 16,441 Eezham Tamil voters who participated in the referendum in Switzerland Saturday and Sunday mandated the formation of an independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka.
Related Story >>

[24.01.10]
Overwhelming turnout of voters in Germany, 99% mandate Tamil Eelam: 99.2 percent of voters said yes to Tamil Eelam in an impressive turn out of more than 90% of eligible Eezham Tamil voters for the referendum in Germany on Sunday.
Related Story >>

[24.01.10]
'Conquerors feed language to the conquered' The signboard in the illustration, displayed outside of a newly started food joint along the A9 Highway in the Tamil heartland of Vanni is self-explanatory.
Related Story >>

[21.01.10]
TGTE: 45 degrees polity for Tamils or ramp for powers? “21st century political reality is Transnational,” aptly says the Advisory Committee report for the formation of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), released Friday for public comments. The high ideals in the report were noticeably slipping when it ultimately envisages not a TGTE to politically fight for the cause but a remote controlled transnational corporation for collaboration and ‘step by step’ negotiation. The 45 degrees outlook, not surprising but only anticipated should now prompt the diaspora to respond with appropriate checks and balances.
Related Story >>

News 2010 February January 2009 December November October September August July June May April March February 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	Academic exposes habitual collaboration of Chennai in bungling geopolitics [Tue, 09 Feb 2010, 02:12 GMT] Writing on the negotiations of 1964 Srimao-Shastri Pact that caused adverse impact on the demography of Tamils in Sri Lanka, Professor V. Suryanarayan says, “The most pathetic member of the Indian team was Ramiah, a Cabinet Minister from Tamil Nadu. According to informed sources, throughout the discussions, Ramiah did not utter a single word on behalf of the Tamil plantation workers, who wanted to remain in Sri Lanka and become Sri Lankan citizens.” Mr. Karunanidhi, for his personal consolidation of power, collaborated with New Delhi in ceding Kachchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974. Had he challenged it in the Supreme Court, the India-Sri Lanka relations might have taken a different turn, the academic said in a paper he read last week. Full story >> Latest 15 Reports: Feb 09 02:12 Academic exposes habitual collaboration of Chennai.. Feb 09 02:03 Prasad Samarasinghe appointed as new military spok.. Feb 09 01:25 "Boycott Sri Lanka goods" campaign spreads to more.. Feb 08 16:28 SL military police arrests Fonseka Feb 08 03:20 SLA tightens fishing restrictions in Jaffna penins.. Feb 08 02:50 Jaffna HRC attempts to close files of persons repo.. Feb 08 01:58 New Police media spokesman appointed Feb 07 23:15 Sri Lanka, acid test for International Law Feb 07 14:48 Australian MP calls for independent investigations.. Feb 07 11:46 SL Parliament to be dissolved this week: Maithirip.. Feb 07 03:16 Boyle's book added to World Court library Feb 06 23:39 A language dies in India Feb 06 14:25 Pro-JVP Sinhala weekly recommences publication Feb 06 12:54 27 Saiva temples, monuments affected by planned ro.. Feb 06 10:15 Rajapaksa leaves for Russia << Flashback More Reports >> Sri Lanka, acid test for International Law [Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 23:15 GMT] The widespread systematic pattern of crimes committed by the Sri Lankan state against Tamil civilians, particularly during the first five months of 2009 in the Northeast province, constitute violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, legal scholars have said. During this period, indifference exhibited by the international community, including the United Nations, led to the deaths of more than 30,000 Tamils. The strong transnational expatriate Tamil community now has the burden (a) to prevent Sri Lanka from erasing the massacres from historical record, (b) to resist attempts by international powers to persuade Tamils for reconciliation without establishing justice and accountability for the crimes, and (c) to seek justice for tens of thousands of Tamil victims by charging Sri Lanka of war crimes and genocide against Tamils in world courts. Full story >> Australian MP calls for independent investigations into Sri Lanka violations [Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 14:48 GMT] Noting that on Sri Lanka's Independence day "Tamil diaspora around the world mourn as they believe today marks the beginning of national oppression," John Murphy, Australian Member of Parliament, said in a recorded speech in the parliament on 4th February, adding, "[d]espite the Sri Lankan government’s declaration of [military] victory, the international community has expressed its grave concern that this battle will not be won and peace will not prevail until the Sri Lankan government provides essential political reform." The MP called for an independent investigation into the "reports of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Sri Lanka." Full story >> A language dies in India [Sat, 06 Feb 2010, 23:39 GMT] With the death of 85 years old Boa Sr in Andaman Islands of India last week, the Bo language of prehistoric antiquity became extinct once and for all, reports, Survival International, a movement for tribal peoples. The Andaman and Nicobar islands, home of several prehistoric tribes of Austroloid, Negroid and Mongoloid origins, is currently a Union Territory directly administered by the Central Government of India. “The Great Andamanese were first massacred, then all but wiped out by paternalistic policies which left them ravaged by epidemics of disease, and robbed of their land and independence,” says Survival on the modern history of the tribes since British times. Meanwhile, India launched a show off of ‘naval exercise’ in the Andaman Sea Friday, mobilising 13 countries in the region including Sri Lanka, the new 'colonial power' in South Asia. Full story >> 2ND LEAD Largest possible turnout, 99.33 percent British Tamils aspire Tamil Eelam [Mon, 01 Feb 2010, 01:09 GMT] In an unprecedented turnout that brought 64,692 Eezham Tamils to vote in the referendum held last weekend in UK, 64,256 (99.33%) said they aspire to the formation of independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam in the contiguous north and east of the island of Sri Lanka. 185 (0.29%) voted against and 251 (0.39%) votes were spoilt. Polling took place in sixty-five booths across London and in major towns and cities throughout UK. Five days after presidential poll proving sharp and clear divide in outlook between Sinhala and Tamil nations in the island of Sri Lanka, the near-total diaspora verdict in UK for Tamil Eelam gains much significance, observers said. Full story >> SL Parliament to be dissolved this week: Maithiripala Sirisena [Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 11:46 GMT] Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa would be dissolving the parliament this week on his return from Russia, said Maithripala Sirisena, a Senior Minister in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government Sunday to media. The term of office of the current parliament ends on April 22. He further said his government hopes to have a 'closer understanding' with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the forthcoming general election to 'uplift' the Northern and Eastern provinces. However he said that does not mean that the UPFA government would accept any condition by the TNA. Full story >> Fonseka had plans to stage Russian style coup, says Rajapaksa government [Fri, 05 Feb 2010, 17:08 GMT] The United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday claimed that there was an attempt to stage a Russian style coup in Sri Lanka on the eve of last presidential election. Thirty seven persons including several retired Major Generals and Colonels and Brigadiers have been held in detention over their alleged involvement in the coup attempt, the government said. Full story >> SLA constructs Maximum HSZ in Jaffna [Thu, 04 Feb 2010, 04:35 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has begun constructing an earthen dam in an area encompassing Kaangeasanthu’rai and Keerimalai in Valikaamam North as part of the new Maximum High Security Zone (MHSZ) Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. 20 Village Officer (VO) divisions of the 27 VO divisions occupied as SLA High Security Zone (HSZ) in Valikaamam North are to be turned into the new MHSZ, the sources added. Full story >> Rajapaksa leaves for Russia [Sat, 06 Feb 2010, 10:15 GMT] Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa left on a three day official visit to Russia Saturday. Mr. Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet his counterpart President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday and is expected to sign an agreement with him, enabling Sri Lanka to receive a USD 300 million loan to buy arms and dual use of equipment from Russia, presidential secretariat sources said. Full story >> Gotabhaya opens door for UN investigations of Sri Lanka war crimes - Prof. Boyle [Fri, 05 Feb 2010, 04:51 GMT] Referring to Gotabhaya Rajapakse's interview to the BBC Tuesday where Mr Rajapakse said that he would not allow any war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka, Professor Francis Boyle, an expert in International Law and a professor of Law at the University of Illinois College of Law said, "Defense Secretary Rajapaksa has now publicly and definitively ruled out any investigation of war crimes by the Government of Sri Lanka. And he is a government official acting within the scope of his official duties so that his statement binds the State of Sri Lanka under international law. Hence the basic requirement of international law mandating "complementarity" has been satisfied. Full story >> 2ND LEAD SL military police arrests Fonseka [Mon, 08 Feb 2010, 16:28 GMT] Sri Lankan military police Monday night arrested former commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and opposition candidate in the recent presidential elections General (retd) Sarath Fonseka, initial reports from sources close to Fonseka said. The arrest comes after he declared that he was prepared to witness against anyone who had committed war crimes. The military personnel ragged away Fonseka in a very disgraceful manner, according to Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Muslim Congress, who was with Fonseka while the arrest took place, told Reuters. Full story >> "Boycott Sri Lanka goods" campaign spreads to more US cities [Tue, 09 Feb 2010, 01:25 GMT] While a few U.S. cities, including Washington postponed the planned Sri Lanka Boycott rallies due to the record-breaking snow storm, in most of the 15 cities Tamil activists held protests urging ethical-minded consumers to boycott Sri Lanka products, especially textiles, as the protesters allege that the profits fund State violence against Tamil civilians, organizers of the protest said. Meanwhile, the organizers of the boycott campaign released a third-video in a planned series of video releases highlighting the need to black-label Sri Lanka products across the world, sources close to the boycott campaign said. Full story >> Boyle's book added to World Court library [Sun, 07 Feb 2010, 03:16 GMT] The Peace Palace Library (PPL), the main library of the World Court, the popular name for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has acquired "The Tamil genocide by Sri Lanka," a recent publication by Clarity press authored by Francis A. Boyle, professor of International Law at University of Illinois College of Law, Marianne Brouwer, principal catalog librarian for the PPL, confirmed. "The book has made it to the World Court. Now we just need to file the lawsuit [against Sri Lanka for Genocide/war-crimes]," commented Boyle. Full story >> 2ND LEAD (Correction, Adds caption) Ki'linochchi to Mu'rika'ndi: no human beings, ghost buildings, stray cattle [Thu, 04 Feb 2010, 00:39 GMT] A video footage taken a few days back, while travelling between Ki'linochchi and Mu'rika'ndi, shows the real situation in the heartland of Vanni in Tamil Eelam. The tract bustling with contended people two years back is virtually a no-man zone with ghost buildings and stray cattle today. The landscape is physical evidence to the genocide committed on a nation. The parties responsible for one of the worst crimes against humanity in the 21st century such as this, refuse to accept it, but hide it, coerce the victims not to talk about it and in various nuanced ways want to finish the genocide to its end, is the feeling of Eezham Tamils, both in the island and in the diaspora. Full story >> 2ND LEAD (ADDS NEW VIDEOS) British Politicians express support to Tamil referendum [Fri, 29 Jan 2010, 17:16 GMT] Robert Evans, former Member of European Parliament from Britain and Labour politician, urged the diaspora Tamils in UK to participate in the referendum this weekend, saying that the message should go to Mr. Rajapaksa and the Colombo government should know what the diaspora thinks. Meanwhile, Conservative Parliamentary candidate Andrew Charalambous, strongly supporting the referendum, said: "If I had a chance to vote or I were a Tamil, I would be the first to vote." He called for loud expression and said the referendum should be recognised within Sri Lanka itself. Mr. Charalambous urged the diaspora to vote to show the International Community that Tamil Eelam is alive and is a physical reality. Full story >> Gotabhaya outbursts against UN, International investigations [Thu, 04 Feb 2010, 23:01 GMT] Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan defence secretary and the brother of the SL president, in an exclusive interview to the BBC on Tuesday, opposed any international investigation on war crimes during the final stage of the war. Meanwhile, the official news website of the Rajapaksa government in its Sinhala and versions has blamed external forces for rejuvenating the claim of Tamil Eelam by backing Sarath Fonseka, citing the pattern of the results of the recent presidential elections. The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa also warned the politicians not to guide the 'innocent people' in 'wrong path', while he referred to the election participation in North and East in his Tamil version of the February 04 speech. Full story >> 27 Saiva temples, monuments affected by planned road widening, ACHC complains [Sat, 06 Feb 2010, 12:54 GMT] All Ceylon Hindu Congress (ACHC) expressed deep concern over Sri Lanka's planned widening of the Jaffna-Kankesanthurai high way from Jaffna town to KKS as the plan would lead to the destruction and desecration of twenty seven Saiva temples and several historical cultural monuments along both sides of the highway, sources in Jaffna said. Officials of ACHC have protested the planned road upgrade to Northern Provincial Governor G.A. Chandrasiri. Full story >> SL parliament extends emergency another month [Fri, 05 Feb 2010, 16:57 GMT] Sri Lanka’s parliament Friday adopted a motion by a majority of eighty seven votes to extend the State of Emergency for another month. One hundred and two MPs of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) voted for the motion and fifteen from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the main opposition United National Party (UNP) voted against. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarians did not participate in the voting. Full story >> 2ND LEAD Perumaa’l temple consecrated in Myanmar [Sat, 30 Jan 2010, 11:25 GMT] Tamils in Myanmar impressively consecrated a renovated Perumaa’l temple in Yangon on Wednesday morning. Several thousands of Tamils participated in the ceremonies. A 13th century Tamil inscription in Myanmar records that a Perumaa’l temple patronized by Tamils existed at the earlier capital at Pagan. Full story >> Top Flashback: 2009: 2009 Feb 09 23:42 TRO recovers 15 bodies in Chuthanthirapuram 2009 Feb 09 23:29 ICRC staff escape SLA shelling in Mullaiththeevu 2009 Feb 09 23:21 SLBC jamming FM broadcast prompts BBC to suspen... 2009 Feb 09 22:03 13 Tamil civilians arrested in Chilaapam, Dehiwala 2009 Feb 09 21:58 Nordic foreign ministers call for international... 2009 Feb 09 19:48 Civilians killed by SLA gunfire after bomb blast 2009 Feb 09 12:33 Tragedy of civilians as international mechanism... 2009 Feb 09 12:31 Colombo-Vavuniyaa train service resumes 2009 Feb 09 12:27 Police shoots dead Tamil youth in Colombo 2009 Feb 09 10:31 3 STF killed in mine ambush in Ampaa'rai - LTTE 2009 Feb 09 10:25 Pope’s emissary meets detained IDPs in Jaffna 2008: 2008 Feb 09 16:23 Paramilitary personnel shot dead in Akkaraippattu 2008 Feb 09 15:48 LTTE, STF clash in Ka’luvaagnchchikudi 2008 Feb 09 09:15 79 displaced Tamil families to be resettled in ... 2008 Feb 09 08:38 Sooriyaarachchi killed in accident 2008 Feb 09 04:05 Sinhala officers posted to resettled Tamil vill... 2008 Feb 09 02:00 15 Tamils, 5 Muslims arrested in Gampaha 2007: 2007 Feb 09 17:10 Man shot dead in Madduvil 2007 Feb 09 16:20 UNP decides to boycott APRC 2007 Feb 09 15:29 Rajapakse sacks dissenting SLFP ministers 2007 Feb 09 14:23 Fisherman shot dead in Eravur 2007 Feb 09 12:58 UN urged not to ignore Rajapakse regime 2007 Feb 09 12:06 Two SLA troopers injured in Vavuniya attack 2007 Feb 09 12:00 11 Tamil civilians arrested in Chilaw 2007 Feb 09 10:59 Bomb scare halts train service in Colombo 2007 Feb 09 06:35 Locals flock to witness St.Mary statue miracle ... 2007 Feb 09 04:10 Heavy SLA casualties feared in Jaffna ambush 2007 Feb 09 00:30 Three seek protection at Jaffna HRC 2006: 2006 Feb 09 16:42 SLMM head meets Elilan in Sampoor 2006 Feb 09 16:40 Batticaloa farmers discriminated in compensatio... 2006 Feb 09 16:37 238,755 persons qualified to vote in Trinco loc... 2006 Feb 09 12:21 TRO opens first Sinhala pre-school in Trincomalee 2006 Feb 09 11:41 Missing TRO worker asked to appear at Welikanda... 2006 Feb 09 11:14 GoSL delegation announced for Geneva talks 2006 Feb 09 07:58 Preparations ahead of Geneva talks should focus... 2006 Feb 09 00:01 Abuse of political power led to Judges resignat... 2005: 2005 Feb 09 16:54 LTTE leaders visit Kousalyan's wife, mother 2005 Feb 09 14:47 Prince Charles to visit Sri Lanka 2005 Feb 09 12:37 New offer no match for HSZ lands, say Jaffna Di... 2005 Feb 09 11:41 Colombo cannot disclaim responsibility for Kaus... 2005 Feb 09 10:45 STF bars mourners, assault LTTE activist 2005 Feb 09 09:57 Baby 81 DNA results out in one week 2005 Feb 09 09:33 Batticaloa shuts down for Kousalyan, funeral Th... 2005 Feb 09 06:18 UN Secretary-General condemns the killings of K... 2005 Feb 09 05:11 Trinco shuts down in protest of Kausalyan killing 2005 Feb 09 03:30 Restrictions hinder revival of Jaffna fishing 2004: 2004 Feb 09 18:30 TNA leaders to meet in Colombo over election st... 2004 Feb 09 17:37 New SLMM head begins Northeast evaluation tour 2004 Feb 09 17:07 Trinco Bishop exhorts people to work for peace 2004 Feb 09 15:00 Votes only for policies and symbol - TNA 2004 Feb 09 07:10 Dissolution of Sri Lanka Parliament unethical -... 2004 Feb 09 00:08 Muttur remote schools get computers, band equip... 2003: 2003 Feb 09 16:36 Human Rights Sub Committee formed in Jaffna 2003 Feb 09 16:30 Jaffna remembers late Tamil leader G.G.Ponnambalam 2003 Feb 09 14:01 SLA bans LTTE women cadres from using waist-belts 2003 Feb 09 04:15 War damage to Vavuniya school estimated at Rs.1... 2002: 2002 Feb 09 14:41 CID records statement of General Ratwatte 2001: 2001 Feb 09 22:21 Massive anti-government protest in Colombo 2001 Feb 09 15:23 Jaffna, Batticaloa students lobby against UK ban 2001 Feb 09 15:17 Fishermen arrested in Mannar 2000: 2000 Feb 09 17:28 Emergency Regulations extended 2000 Feb 09 14:12 Issadeen new UNP MP 2000 Feb 09 14:09 Youth arrested 2000 Feb 09 07:10 Claymore blast kills 3 in Jaffna 1999: 1999 Feb 09 22:37 Fishermen shot, refugee disappears 1999 Feb 09 22:32 Lanka Telecom defends monopoly extension 1999 Feb 09 22:29 PA ally calls for fresh elections 1999 Feb 09 20:29 Jaffna Medical Faculty faces uncertain future 1999 Feb 09 13:58 Drivers' strike disrupts traffic 1999 Feb 09 12:13 Five PLOTE members arrested in Vavuniya 1999 Feb 09 11:04 Man killed in para military feud 1999 Feb 09 09:28 Five Tigers killed in STF operation 1999 Feb 09 04:46 Wounded civilian dies at hospital 1999 Feb 09 04:44 Thirteen Tigers killed in sea battle -VoT 1999 Feb 09 00:03 Pandemonium in Sri Lankan Parliament 1998: 1998 Feb 09 23:59 SLA patrol fires on civilians 1998 Feb 09 23:59 Sri Lanka concealing losses - LTTE 1998 Feb 09 23:59 New temples to be built 1998 Feb 09 23:59 Police fire tear gas on procession 1998 Feb 09 23:59 Youth 'disappears' in SLA custody A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets. -Napoleon Bonaparte [1769 - 1821]	Know the Etymology: 143 Place Name of the Day: Malabar, Maabar The hillside, The crossing place Read more >> [31.01.10] Mother country means Tamil Eelam for 90-year-old Sathyabhama: I love my country as I love my mother. That’s why I have come to vote in the referendum, says 90-year-old Sathyabhama Kumaraswamy who came to cast her vote in a booth in London Saturday. For her, who was a teacher for 37 years at Mangkaiyarkkarasi Viththiyaasaalai in Nalloor, Jaffna, country means the country of Tamils in the island. Related Story >> [30.01.10] Eezham artist presents heritage as everybody’s property: An unconventional artwork of diaspora heritage, Imag(in)ing ‘Home’ presented by Thamotharampillai Shanaathanan, Lecturer in Art History of the Fine Arts Department of the University of Jaffna, with the participation of Eezham Tamil community in Vancouver, Canada, is now in display in an Art Exhibition of the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, Canada. Related Story >> [29.01.10] British Tamils embark upon significant referendum this weekend: The referendum on Tamil Eelam scheduled to Saturday and Sunday in UK, organized in unison by all main stakeholders of Eezham Tamil nationalism, is going to be very significant, said diaspora circles. After Eezham Tamils in 6 countries endorsing it by overwhelming 99%, the ballot in the country of the former colonial masters fundamentally responsible for the plight of Tamils, has a particular bearing. Related Story >> [29.01.10] Referendum on Eelam is our right and responsibility: "This weekend’s referendum in Britain provides us with a chance to prove that the demand for Tamil Eelam is, as it always was, the well reasoned conclusion of rational, free-thinking, independent individuals," comments Sivakami Rajamanoharan, member of the TYO-UK. Related Story >> [27.01.10] Democracy in Sri Lanka: new lessons add to old ones: The voters of Sinhala Nation have very clearly endorsed a regime accused of genocide and war crimes against Tamils. Democracy insisting the need to recognise two Nation States in the island is an old lesson. But the new lesson is to the International Community, especially to the West that is slipping for the third time within one year. Related Story >> [25.01.10] 99.2 percent voters consent Tamil Eelam in Holland: In the referendum held in Holland on Sunday on the formation of independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka, 2,750 voters participated and 99.2 percent of them aspired for it. 2,728 said yes, 9 voted no and 13 votes were invalid. Related Story >> [25.01.10] Referendum conducted in exemplary way in Switzerland: 99.49 percent of 16,441 Eezham Tamil voters who participated in the referendum in Switzerland Saturday and Sunday mandated the formation of an independent and sovereign Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka. Related Story >> [24.01.10] Overwhelming turnout of voters in Germany, 99% mandate Tamil Eelam: 99.2 percent of voters said yes to Tamil Eelam in an impressive turn out of more than 90% of eligible Eezham Tamil voters for the referendum in Germany on Sunday. Related Story >> [24.01.10] 'Conquerors feed language to the conquered' The signboard in the illustration, displayed outside of a newly started food joint along the A9 Highway in the Tamil heartland of Vanni is self-explanatory. Related Story >> [21.01.10] TGTE: 45 degrees polity for Tamils or ramp for powers? “21st century political reality is Transnational,” aptly says the Advisory Committee report for the formation of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), released Friday for public comments. The high ideals in the report were noticeably slipping when it ultimately envisages not a TGTE to politically fight for the cause but a remote controlled transnational corporation for collaboration and ‘step by step’ negotiation. The 45 degrees outlook, not surprising but only anticipated should now prompt the diaspora to respond with appropriate checks and balances. Related Story >>
	News \| Features \| Photo Features \| Opinion \| Development \| TN Transcription Web feeds \| Feedback \| About us \| Home