Other mass graves in Jaffna -TCHR

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 18:19 GMT]
The Tamil Centre for Human Rights said that it believes that there are mass graves of Tamil people murdered by Sri Lankan troops in areas of the Jaffna peninsula other than Chemmani. The TCHR also said it was concerned the evidence at Chemmani was being destroyed.
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Uthayan journalist assaulted over report

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 18:02 GMT]
A Tamil journalist in Jaffna was severely assaulted by unidentified persons, suspected to be members of the local council (Pradeshiya Sabha) on Saturday night at his residence in Sembianpattu in Vadamaradchi east said his colleagues in Jaffna.
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Torture victim pursued into church

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 17:54 GMT]
A severely tortured Tamil youth who sought asylum in the Rambaikulam St. Anthony's church in Vavuniya while a mass was in progress was taken away by the Sri Lankan Police who were threatened by his captors - a Tamil paramilitary group operating with the SLA. Rambaikulam is a suburb of Vavuniya town.
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Village quack's actions kill woman

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 17:49 GMT]
The Batticaloa district judge today remanded Kanapathipillai Rasamma, a village quack, for allegedly causing the death of a woman who had given birth, by ripping out the woman's womb while attempting to pull out and cut her umbilical cord.
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No increase in flights to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 17:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence (MoD) told the Anti-Harassment Committee today that it cannot increase the number of civilian flights to the northern Jaffna peninsula to help ease the hardships faced by travellers in securing seats.
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SLA operation in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 17:39 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) launched an operation code named Ran Handa (Golden Voice) in Mutur, in the southern part of Trincomalee, this morning. Troops from the SLA's base in the large interior Tamil village of Kattaiparichchan south east of Mutur moved into Samboor three kilometers further east in the same region.
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Vanni Cooperative unions appeal for food

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 17:33 GMT]
The Union of Co-operatives in Kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu districts have issued a statement appealing for help to avert the possibility of large-scale deaths by starvation in the Vanni as a result of the Sri Lankan government's embargo on food into the region.
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Tamil family from Canada arrested

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 13:03 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police arrested a Tamil family from Canada this morning in the island's northwestern town of Puttalam, allegedly for video photographing the telecommunications tower in the area.
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UNP's legal challenge over polls

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 12:44 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition party, the UNP, will begin legal proceedings against the PA government this week to challenge the constitutional validity of postponing elections to the provincial councils said party sources today.
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LTTE's US Court hearing scheduled

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 August 1998, 03:20 GMT]
The briefing schedule for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit case between Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Petitioner) and the US Department of State (Respondent) has been set according to legal sources close to the case. The 'merits panel' comprising of Judges Hon. Steven F. Williams, Hon. A. Raymond Randolph and Hon. James L. Buckley will preside the case.
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Two SLA soldiers killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 August 1998, 18:56 GMT]
Two SLA soldiers were killed in a confrontation with the Liberation Tigers at Nelliady in Jaffna around 9.35 a.m yesterday.
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Police suspects sabotage in train derailment

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 August 1998, 18:54 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police in Sri Lanka's southwestern district of Kurunagala said today that they suspected sabotage in the train derailment and collision this morning.
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G.L Pieris to hold meeting with Tamil groups

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 August 1998, 18:52 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government's Minister for Constitutional Affairs Prof. G.L Pieris will hold a meeting with all the non-LTTE groups on September 10 to discuss the issues which are delaying the implementation of PA's devolution package, said sources close to the Minister today.
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Fuel restrictions affect civilians - Delegation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 August 1998, 14:03 GMT]
A large delegation representing various organizations in Vavuniya met the SLA's commander for the district Brigadier Seevali Wanigasekera this afternoon to discuss the question of the severe restrictions on fuel imposed in the region by the Sri Lankan government (SLG).
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Jaffna robbers using army uniforms

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 19:09 GMT]
The SLA in Jaffna said that it has caught two robbers who were looting a house around 6.30 a.m. in the morning yesterday. The SLA said that the robbers were civilians dressed in army uniforms. The army statement said that investigations are underway.
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Fighting in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 18:51 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army and the LTTE engaged in a fire fight last night at Irupalai in Jaffna said informed sources in the north this evening. They said that it was not possible to confirm the casualties on either side.
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Unconditional talks, within unitary state

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 18:49 GMT]
The leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition party Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe told the Jaffna weekly Sanjeevi in an extensive interview published in the paper today that his party, the UNP, is prepared to hold unconditional talks with the Liberation Tigers if it comes to power.
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Jaffna human rights investigators transferred

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 18:46 GMT]
The co-ordinator, Mr. Senaka Dhisanayake and his associate Mr. Lohan Chandrasekare, of the Jaffna office of the Sri Lankan government appointed Human Rights Commission have been transferred. The transfer order, issued by the Commission's head-office in Colombo, asked the two to cease their activities in Jaffna and report for duty in their previous working places.
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Civilians caught in retaliatory shelling

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 18:42 GMT]
Two infants, aged one and two years, were killed and seven people were injured when the Special Task Force (STF) based at the Kalavanchikudi camp, shelled the villages of Poraitheevu, Munaitheevu and Palukamam, 20 km south-west of Batticaloa, on Thursday around 8:00 p.m., said sources in Batticaloa. The mother of dead infants was among the injured.
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New deadline for 'Jayasikirui'

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 August 1998, 18:39 GMT]
Operation Jayasikirui, the Sri Lankan military's offensive to open the A9 highway to the Jaffna peninsula needs to completed within three to four months, said Mr. G. L. Peiris , Sri Lanka's minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
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Journalist abducted on Gale Road

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 August 1998, 10:53 GMT]
A prominent journalist and author, Mr. Mathusoothanan, is reported to have been abducted by unidentified persons on August 26 at around 6.00 p.m. The incident happened while he was walking along the Gale road in Bampalapittiye with his two friends, Dr. Arasu and Dr.Rasanayagam, both visiting professors from Tamil Nadu.
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MoD firm on ration cuts

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 August 1998, 10:27 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Defence ministry has ordered the Government Agents (senior civil servants) of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts not to distribute the rations that are yet to be delivered for the current period and next month's quota as well, said sources.
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New Sri Lankan officer academy

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 August 1998, 08:28 GMT]
A new officer training academy for Sri Lanka's military is expected to be opened today, by the Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Mr. A. S. D. Vijeyendre, is expected to be commander in charge the academy, located in Mahagola Sapuskantha.
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Amnesty concern for prisoner's safety

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 August 1998, 01:15 GMT]
Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog has expressed concern for the safety of former Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse, the soldier who revealed the existence of mass graves in Jaffna.
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Two soldiers surrender

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 August 1998, 01:12 GMT]
Two soldiers from the Vavunatheevu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, 4 km west of Batticaloa, went across to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lines and surrendered with their weapons on Tuesday night, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Residents find abandoned munitions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 August 1998, 01:10 GMT]
Residents in the Kokkadicholai area handed over to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Tuesday, arms and other munitions which the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had left behind during its single day operation there on August 19, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Police fire wounds child

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 August 1998, 00:56 GMT]
A nine year old child was injured when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police fired blindly in retaliation for an attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on a police checkpoint at Punaikudah Veedhi (Road) at Eravur, 8 km north of Batticaloa around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Amnesty slams governments over refugees

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 August 1998, 00:54 GMT]
Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog has criticised the governments of Guinea Conakry, Sri Lanka, Canada and the United States for their roles in the deportation of 192 Tamil refugees seekers whose boat was intercepted by the Senegalese navy on 24 February. The refugees "were all returned to Sri Lanka where they were arrested and held in detention for several weeks" said Amnesty.
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New vehicle registration regulations - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 August 1998, 13:37 GMT]
The LTTE's civil administration has issued new regulations with regards to the registration of motor vehicles, said sources close to the LTTE in Europe today when contacted by TamilNet. The regulations cover all motorised vehicles, including cars,lorries, auto-rickshaws and motor-cycles said the sources, adding that vehicles that are inoperable are also to be registered.
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Most Jaffna food never arrived

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 August 1998, 10:17 GMT]
Evidence has newly emerged that most of last year's food consignments originally destined for Jaffna had never reached the shores of the peninsula.
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'Soldiers shot my children' - father

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 August 1998, 07:03 GMT]
"Both of my children, Kokularajani (09) and Anurajani (10), went for special church service on the evening of August 21. I learnt at around 5:30 p.m. that my children had been shot while returning home, and since it was dark and a state of tension prevailed in the area, I was only able reach the spot the following morning. I identified my daughter, Kokularajani's dead-body", narrated the father, Mr. I. Somarathinam, in his testimony during an inquiry on the death of Kokularajani at Valachenai Karuvankerney.
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SLA captain wounded in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 13:07 GMT]
Captain Wickramaratne of the Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) Armoured Corps and ADC to Major General Neil Dias, was shot and severely wounded at Bambalapitiya, in the heart of Colombo, around 4:30 p.m. today, said sources in Colombo, when contacted by TamilNet's European correspondent.
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Civic groups warn of starvation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:34 GMT]
An umbrella organisation representing various civic groups in the Vanni region has issued an appeal to major media organisations to highlight the difficulties faced by residents in the area.
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Jaffna traders list losses

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:31 GMT]
A list detailing the items that were lost with the sunken ship, Princes Kash, has been despatched to the Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, opposition leader Ranil Wikramasinghe and various Tamil parliamentarians, said sources.
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Anti harassment group 'seeks advice'

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 10:05 GMT]
A representative of the anti-harassment group, Mr. M. Suhair, MP, told the Thinakaran newspaper that his organisation is "seeking helpful advice and comments" from intellectuals, human rights groups and NGOs.
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'Chemmani graves' soldier treated

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 1998, 09:26 GMT]
The former Sri Lankan soldier, who said he could identify the Chemmani mass graves is expected to be released from hospital today following treatment for injuries he sustained when his prison guards attacked him.
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Large scale projects cut - President

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 August 1998, 23:13 GMT]
Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has ordered her ministers not to initiate any large-scale development projects said sources. The President made this declaration at a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday August 19, they said.
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UNESCO expresses concern

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 August 1998, 13:00 GMT]
UNESCO expressed its concern over reports that food distribution to Vanni by the Sri Lankan government (SLG) has been deliberately reduced. The organisation also urged the SLG to provide unhindered humanitarian assistance to the people of Vanni.
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UNP-era abuses probed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 12:16 GMT]
Five Sri Lankan police officers have been sent on compulsory leave on the orders of Chandrananda De silva, Defence Secretary. The five men are suspected to have been involved in the running of a torture and death camp at Pattandhala during the UNP's rule said sources.
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Mannar policemen shot

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 12:12 GMT]
Two policemen were shot at by a suspected member of the LTTE. in Mannar town at 4:30pm on Wednesday August 19, said sources. The constables were at a tailoring shop when their attacker approached, shot them with a pistol and made his good escape they said.
Full story >>

Indian fishermen arrested

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 12:07 GMT]
Two Indian fishermen were severely beaten and arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) in the vicinity of the disputed Kachatheevu island, said sources. Meanwhile, the Gurunagar fishermen's union has issued a report criticising the government's ban on fishing.
Full story >>

Displaced' roofing held up

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 10:07 GMT]
Fifteen thousand, one hundred and fifty (15,150) roofing sheets earmarked for the camps of the displaced persons in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held areas, are lying at the Vavuniya District Secretary's office for the past three months awaiting clearance for transport by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), said sources in Trincomalee.
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Abduction attempted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 10:02 GMT]
A bodyguard of N. R. Rameswaran MP, (Independent Member - Jaffna District) and former member of the Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP), was nearly abducted by the EPDP while he was mingling with the crowds at the Thiruvizha of the Nallur Kandasamy kovil in Jaffna town on Thursday evening, said sources in Jaffna.
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Special ID cards in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 10:00 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) is issuing special identity cards to the residents of the Vadamaradchi region in the Jaffna peninsula from this week, on which not only is the photograph of holder affixed, but physical details noted too, said sources in Jaffna
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British High Commissioner visits Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 August 1998, 09:57 GMT]
The Mayor and the Members of the Jaffna Municipal Council (MMCs) requested the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, David Tatham, to persuade the British Government to intervene to resolve Sri Lanka's ethnic problem, said sources in Jaffna.
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Minneriya SLA return to camp

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 August 1998, 23:14 GMT]
Around 20 busloads of soldiers from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp at Minneriya in the Pollonaruwa District, who were brought to Batticaloa to take part in the offensive into the Kokkadicholai area, 20 km southwest of Batticaloa on Wednesday, were seen returning to their base in a convoy on Friday, said informed sources in Europe when contacted by TamilNet
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Vavuniya fuel protest concludes

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 August 1998, 12:47 GMT]
The 5-day long public protest against the Sri Lankan government's permitsystem for fuel sales in Vavuniya, concluded today said sources. Apart froma short period on Wednesday, shops and businesses in Vavuniya remainedclosed and transport was severely reduced they said.
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Food is 'weapon of war' - UNP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 August 1998, 22:58 GMT]
Ranil Wickramasinghe, Leader of the Sri Lankan Parliamentary Opposition and the United National Party (UNP) said that the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) was using food as weapon on civilians living in areas controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), according to Parliamentary sources.
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Tigers shell Batticaloa SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 August 1998, 22:54 GMT]
Accurate artillery shelling by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) hit the Sri Lankan Army's 233 Brigade Headquarters at Batticaloa and the Batticaloa airbase at around 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, said informed sources in Europe when contacted by TamilNet tonight.
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SLA withdraws from Kokkadicholai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 August 1998, 22:51 GMT]
The joint Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Special Task Force (STF) and police operation at Kokkadicholai, 20 km southwest of Batticaloa, in an Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held area, came to a halt at around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday said informed sources in Europe when contacted by TamilNet.
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Fighting reported at Kokkadicholai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 August 1998, 23:32 GMT]
Twelve Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers and two civilians have been admitted with injuries to the Batticaloa hospital by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) engaged the SLA at Kokkadicholai, 20 km southwest of Batticaloa, for the first time since "Eelam War III" began, said informed sources in Europe when contacted by TamilNet on Wednesday evening.
Full story >>

Military operation in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 August 1998, 10:51 GMT]
A joint operation by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Special Task Force (STF), police and Tamil para-military groups to advance into areas held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) west of Batticaloa town began in the early hours on Wednesday, said informed sources in Europe when contacted by TamilNet. No fighting has been reported as yet, they added.
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'Hindrances' triggered censorship - Ratwatte

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 August 1998, 09:59 GMT]
2050 soldiers of the Sri Lankan Army's Sinha Regiment have died in military action, since the beginning of the war, up to the 31st of July this year, said Deputy Defence Minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, at a press conference held at the Ambepussa Sinha Regiment Military Headquarters on 16 August.
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Recycled Beef?

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 August 1998, 09:28 GMT]
A Sunday feast turned sour for members of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) when they were ordered to hand over the 10 kilos of beef which they had purchased in Velanai, an island off the Jaffna peninsula.
Full story >>

Homeguards critically wound civilian

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 23:12 GMT]
Kanthiah Kulanthaivel (45), was critically injured when homeguards at a on a small by road at Ariyampathy, eight km south of Batticaloa, opened fire as he stepped out of his home around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Two casualties in Batticaloa clash

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 23:12 GMT]
Two soldiers were killed when a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) patrol clashed with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Sittandy, 20 km north of Batticaloa, around 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, said sources in Batticaloa.
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President informed of mysterious killings

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 13:23 GMT]
Joseph Parajasingham MP (Tamil United Liberation Front Batticaloa District) has brought to the notice of Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the increase in the number of mysterious killings in Batticaloa District which he says "points the finger at one of the armed groups working along with the law abiding forces in Batticaloa."
Full story >>

Jaffna traders urge SLG to compensate losses

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 10:36 GMT]
Around 600 persons, including 450 traders, staged a token fast in front of the Jaffna Kachcheri, in Jaffna town, on Monday from 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. protesting against the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) for bombing the cargo vessel Princess Kash on Friday, and demanding that the SLG pay compensation for the loss, said sources in Jaffna.
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Aggressive search operation in Vakarai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 10:29 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) rattled doors, smashed window panes and broke electric light bulbs fixed outside houses to terrorise the public at Vakarai, 32 km north of Batticaloa, during a cordon and search operation on Friday night between 11:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., said sources in Valaichenai.
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Two assaulted during search operation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 10:20 GMT]
Two boys were severely assaulted when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Police and a Tamil para-military group working with the SLA, cordoned off and searched the Iruthayapuram, Mamangam, and Tissaveerasingham Square areas in the north of Batticaloa town between 5:00 and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Five soldiers injured in explosion

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 August 1998, 10:11 GMT]
Five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) personnel were injured when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) detonated a landmine at Sirrupitty, in Neerveli, 15-km northeast of Jaffna at 12:20 p.m. on Friday, said sources in Jaffna.
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Investigation into Airforce bombing

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 August 1998, 21:47 GMT]
At a press conference held in the Ambebussa Sinha Regiment military camp, the secretary of defence Mr. Anurutha Ratwatte said that an investigation was being launched into the controversy surrounding the ship, "Princess Kash".
Full story >>

Parents of Disappeared Demand Investigation

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 August 1998, 13:16 GMT]
The body 'Parents of Disappeared Persons' has collected 10,000 signatures backing its petition to the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) demanding that the alleged mass graves at Chemmani be excavated, said sources in Jaffna.
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70 arrested in combined search

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 August 1998, 08:06 GMT]
More than 75 Tamil youths were arrested in a combined Sri Lanka police and army search in the Vaththalai Police district on the night of the 14 of August and were taken to Valaichenai police station for inquiry.
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Counterclaims over 'Princess Kash' bombing

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 August 1998, 12:14 GMT]
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has secured the consent of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the handover of the 17 Indian nationals on board the cargo vessel Princess Kash, reported Radio Sri Lanka (RSL) in its evening news broadcast yesterday.
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Mother's dismembered body found

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 August 1998, 12:07 GMT]
The body of a 35 year old mother of six children, Gopalan Emilinona, was found concealed in bushes at Kachchai on 14 August. The decomposed body was found by her husband and other villagers, 500 meters from her house.
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Ration distribution in chaos

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 August 1998, 12:00 GMT]
Families in Jaffna are forced to be on short rations due to the 50% reduction in rehabilitationary allowances imposed by Sri Lankan authorities recently, say sources in Jaffna. The Grama Sevakas (local village authorities) are less willing to face the population with reduced ration cards, they said.
Full story >>

President told of 'mysterious killings'

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 August 1998, 11:17 GMT]
Joseph Parajasingham MP (Tamil United Liberation Front - Batticaloa District) has brought to the notice of Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the increase in the number of mysterious killings in Batticaloa District which he says "points the finger at one of the armed groups working along with the security forces in Batticaloa."
Full story >>

Five soldiers injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 August 1998, 07:17 GMT]
Five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) personnel were injured when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) detonated a landmine at Sirrupitty, in Neerveli, 15 km northeast of Jaffna at 12:20 p.m. on Friday, said sources in Jaffna.
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Fisherman shot dead

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 August 1998, 03:24 GMT]
Unidentified persons, wearing black masks, shot dead Inniyas Francis (39), on Monday at around 11:00 p.m., at Karuveppamkerni, 3 km north of Batticaloa, said sources. Mr. Francis, a fisherman, was shot at point blank range.
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Official vehicle hijacked

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 August 1998, 03:18 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) hijacked the official vehicle of the Divisional Secretary (DS) of Kaluwanchikudy, at Kaluthavalai, 15 km south of Batticaloa, on Thursday around 8:45 a.m. and transported it across the lagoon in a makeshift ferry made by fastening two rafts, said Sri Lankan police.
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Bomb fears in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 August 1998, 03:09 GMT]
A bomb fixed to a bicycle was defused by the bomb disposal squad near a sentry point close to the Batticaloa police station on Bar Road, at Arasady, around 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Heavy fighting near Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 August 1998, 23:56 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported to have taken place near Kilinochchi in the northern Vanni region. Forty Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and many were wounded when their column was encircled and ambushed there, said the Liberation Tigers, in a statement issued Thursday from their London offices. The bodies of 10 SLA troops have been recovered said the LTTE.
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Body found in school Toilet

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 August 1998, 13:38 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Police while clearing the compound of Vasavilan Mahavidyalayam School, 8 km north-east of Jaffna Town, found a skeleton in the toilet on August 11 said sources.
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Impunity for x-ray Technician

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 August 1998, 02:59 GMT]
An X - Ray technician at the Batticaloa Hospital, Mr Ibrahim, has been using his connections with the powerful Sri Lanka Muslim Congress an excuse for unprofessional behaviour, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Akkaraipattu security tightened

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 August 1998, 16:44 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF) has taken special measures in the area around Akkaraipattu, 55 km south of Batticaloa, to stop reported Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) infiltration into the area, said sources.
Full story >>

Fifteen injured in brawl

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 August 1998, 16:41 GMT]
Fifteen persons were injured when two factions clashed late evening on Sunday after the Nallur Kandasamy festival celebrations over a dispute involving the molestation of a young woman, said sources in Jaffna.
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Unemployed graduates Protest

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 August 1998, 16:39 GMT]
Around 200 members of the Jaffna District Graduates Union held a token fast within the Kachcheri premises from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Monday, protesting that they be given suitable employment, said sources in Jaffna.
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Assault complaint brings retribution

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 August 1998, 23:00 GMT]
Two people were arrested during a cordon and search operation, on Sunday morning between 7.00 a.m and 11.00 a.m, in the Navakudah area, 5 km south of Batticaloa. The operation, carried out by a joint Sri Lanka Army - Police team, follows a fortnight of harassment of the Kallady public by the security forces, said sources.
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Army burns roofing material

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 August 1998, 18:21 GMT]
The Sri Lanka army set fire to roofing material of Tamil homes in Linganagar, 1 km from Trincomalee, on Sunday, said sources in Trincomalee. The material had been forcibly removed from the homes in order to evict the residents from the Tamil area.
Full story >>

Tamil refugees reach India

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 August 1998, 16:19 GMT]
Twenty-three Tamil refugees, including 6 women and 7 children arrived in the south Indian coastal town of Thanushkody by boat on morning of 9 August said sources.
Full story >>

Security guard arrested

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Vignarajah Suntharamoorthy, 23, employed as a security guard at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital was arrested by the Sri Lankan Army on August 6 during a search operation in Kokuvil, north of Jaffna Town, said sources.
Full story >>

Arrested journalist files case

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Journalist from the Tamil daily 'Veerakesari', Mr. Sri Gajan, filed a case against senior inspectors of the Terrorist Investigation Department on Wednesday claiming that his arrest and detention were unlawfull.
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Passport applicants face delays

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ask anyone who has applied for a passport from Batticaloa, and they will tell you that if the Peoples Alliance (PA) Government wants to reach out to the Tamil people through a benign system of public administration, it has to think again.
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Emergency regulations to be challenged

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Vimal Weeravansa, the propaganda secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, JVP, (People's Liberation Front), said that his party would legally challenge the government's decision to postpone the Provincial Council Elections.
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Concern for tortured detainee - Amnesty

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Amnesty International, the London based human right watchdog said that "there are serious concerns" for Thambirajah Kamalathasan, a Tamil man from Chunnakam, Jaffna, who was subjected to torture for several days following his arrest by police on 15 July 1998 in the capital, Colombo.
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Goldsmiths threaten security

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Sixty goldsmiths working in jewellery shops in Colombo who were detained as a security precaution before the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) summit held between July 29 - 31, are yet to be released, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Military convoys stop traffic

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The public, travelling from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa, is caused great inconvenience when military convoys take the road during 'picketing' days, which occur four or five times a week, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Special stickers for Batticaloa vehicles

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Indelible and un-removable stickers are to be affixed on all motor vehicles coming from Batticaloa to identify them easily, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Villagers harassed into leaving

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A barbed wire fence and a 'no entry' signboard put up by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Linganagar, 1 km from Trincomalee, has prompted five civic organisations to voice their concern in public.
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Presidential order on colonists

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An order by K. Balapatabendi, Secretary to the President, issued yesterday to the District Secretary (DS) Trincomalee, is expected to see the Sinhala settlement at Kappalthurai, 8 km south of Trincomalee town, removed soon, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Courts seen preventing divorces

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Of the 120 divorce cases filed in the Jaffna Courts since the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) took control of the area in late 1995, only three have been concluded, said sources in Jaffna.
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Search operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) conducted a cordon and search operation in the Manipay, Kokkuvil and Thavady areas, suburbs of Jaffna town, between 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon on Thursday, said sources in Jaffna.
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Media minister faces confidence test

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A motion of no confidence brought against the media minister Mr. Mangala Samaraweere by the main opposition party, the Unite National Prty (UNP) was rejected in the Sri Lankan Parliament today. One hundred and twenty two members voted against the motion and eighty voted for it.
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Policeman killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A policeman was killed and another critically wounded when the suspected member of the Liberation Tigers attacked them near Sambaltheevu, 5 km north of Batticaloa, yesterday around 8:15 a.m., said sources.
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Emergency Regulations passed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government has postponed the Provincial Council (PC) Elections scheduled to be held August 28 for an indefinite period.
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Jaffna couple missing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. S. Nadarajah, 55, and his wife, Vannakkili, have been reported missing. They had gone to the islands off the Jaffna Peninsula to see the bodies of the refugees drowned in the boat accident on July 25.
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Refugees stranded in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Approximately 200 Tamil refugees in Trincomalee awaiting transport by sea to Jaffna, will have to wait longer as a ship chartered by Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) for this purpose, will not arrive in Trincomalee, said sources in Trincomalee.
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Island-wide state of emergency announced

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government is expected to announce postponement of the forthcoming Provincial Council (PC) Elections due on August 28 following the announcement of island-wide emergency regulations today, said sources in Colombo.
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Exhume Chemmani graves - Amnesty

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Amnesty International, the London based human rights watchdog, appealed today to the Attorney General of Sri Lanka "to allow the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC) to jointly carry out preliminary investigations of the site at Chemmani, Jaffna with the help of leading forensic experts in the country".
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Fifteen said held without charge

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fifteen persons from Kilinochchi are detained in a house near the Jaffna Kachcheri for no known offence, said sources in Jaffna. They are said to be workers from a coconut estate in Kilinochchi who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and brought to Jaffna four months ago.
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SLA positions captured - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
At least 30 Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and several others wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked their positions in Moonrumurippu, south-west of the strategic town of Mankulam, around midnight yesterday said LTTE sources in Europe.
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Mass graves road closed

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"Why is the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) keeping the Kaithady-Nallur Road passing through Chemmani closed? This has led to suspicion and unease in the Jaffna public, and the SLA should take steps to open it as early as possible" said a resolution passed by People's Power Forum (PPF), a civic organisation in Jaffna, headed by former Jaffna Municipal Commissioner, Mr. C. V. K. Sivagnanam, when it met on Sunday.
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Vakarai houses being stripped

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Soldiers from the newly established Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Vakarai camp are removing timber from deserted houses in the town Vakarai, 60 km north of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Bombs hit Batticaloa diary

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A boy and eight cows were killed when bombs dropped by Kfir jets of the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) hit a diary at Sothiyanvettai in Paduvankarai, 6 km west of Batticaloa, on Saturday between 8:00 - 8:30 a.m., said sources in Batticaloa.
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Two killed in firefight

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
At least two persons were killed and two injured when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) clashed with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the Batticaloa -Valaichenai Road at Sittandy, 15 km north of Batticaloa, , around 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, said sources.
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Jaffna Mayor calls for talks

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Jaffna Mayor K. Sivapalan (Tamil United Liberation Front), told an international group of journalists that talks to end the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka should involve all parties, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said sources in Jaffna.
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Tension in Vavunatheevu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Tension is high and continuous vigilance is being maintained in the area surrounding the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) camp near Vavunatheevu, two km west of Batticaloa, because it is suspected that two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members have infiltrated the area, said sources.
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Fourteen held in Pt. Pedro

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fourteen persons from Nelliyadi, near Pt. Pedro, 27 km from Jaffna, have been held since Friday by troops of the Pt. Pedro brigade of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), for allegedly harbouring two female members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said sources in Jaffna.
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Armed gang snatch gold chain

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Audacious thieves siezed an expensive gold chain which was worn by an elderly woman living down Barathi Lane, in an area under the control of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Batticaloa town, on Sunday around 4:00 p.m., said sources in Batticaloa.
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Hospital money diverted to MoD

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A sum of 3.5 million rupees earmarked for the rehabilitation of hospitals in the Northeast has been channeled to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), said sources in Jaffna.
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Forced labour at STF camps

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Local males, both adults and school going boys, are being forced to carry out hard labour by members of the Special Task Force (STF) based at the Kittangi STF camp, near Kalmunai 30 km south of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa. A similar situation prevails at Veppaiyadi, 7 km south of Kittangi.
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Refugees bodies identified

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Fifteen bodies, believed to be refugees who drowned when their boat capsized in the Palk Straits near Rameswaram on the South Indian coast, have been washed ashore at Delft and Kaytes, islands off the Jaffna Peninsula, said sources in Jaffna.
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Agenda for development confused

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five chairpersons elected to head local bodies in Jaffna in the January polls have yet to take oaths, said sources there.
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Police to investigate mass graves

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 August 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Police officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will visit the alleged 'Chemmani mass graves' on August 4 along with Sri Lankan Army copral Somaratne Rajapakse, the first accused in the rape and murder case of Krishanthi Kumaraswamy said sources.
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