Police arrests three in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 23:52 GMT]
Three persons who were arrested yesterday by the Sri Lankan Police for loitering suspiciously near the TULF office at Stanley road in Jaffna town were released on bail by the Jaffna magistrate K.Kesavan.
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Alternative supply routes offered

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 19:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Chief of Staff and the Commander of the security Forces in the Vanni, Major General Lionel Balagalle said in Vavuniya yesterday that the SLA is ready to open a new route to the areas held by the Liberation Tigers as an alternative to the current one blocked by the recent fighting south of Vidaththalthivu.
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CTTU to whet new textbooks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 19:24 GMT]
The Minister of Education and Higher Education, Mr.Richard Pathirana, has instructed his officials that Tamil medium textbooks meant for Grade 2,7 and 10 under the new education reforms, should be printed and distributed to schools only after a three-member committee of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union had agreed, said sources.
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President to meet striking doctors

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 19:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka State radio announced today that President Chandrika Kumaratunge was willing to talk directly to the Government Medical Officers' AssociationGMOA at Temple Trees on Friday at 12.45 p.m. The GMOA subsequently held an emergency meeting to discuss the President's offer.
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Closed road hampers relief supplies

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 19:17 GMT]
Sri Lankan Defence Ministry sources were quoted by state radio today saying that it was impossible to open the road from Mannar to Vidaththalthivu road due to heavy fighting there between Sri Lankan troops and the Liberation Tigers.
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Police arrest five Vidaththalthivu refugees

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 19:13 GMT]
The Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of the Sri Lankan Police in Mannar arrested and detained five refugees who arrived by sea from Vidaththalthivu today. More people fleeing the SLA shelling of Vidaththalthivu came by boat to Pallimunai near Mannar town this afternoon. The refugees said that 10 civilians were killed and more than 25 wounded by the army shelling yesterday.
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Tiger ambush kills 5

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 16:40 GMT]
Five Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed in the early hours of the morning today in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Kallar, south of Trincomalee. close to the district’s boarder with Batticaloa and Polannaruwa.
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Three soldiers killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 16:38 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed around 6 a.m. this morning in a claymore mine blast set off by the Liberation Tigers in Jaffna. The soldiers were manning a bunker in a Forward Defence Line (FDL) at Maaseri in Varani in the Vadamaradchi Division of the Jaffna Peninsula.
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Vidaththalthivu refugees arrive by sea

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 07:33 GMT]
Three hundred and sixty four persons belonging to eighty seven families arrived at the Pallimunai beach near Mannar town from Vidaththalthivu early this morning. The refugees said that the Gnahappar Church and St.Mary's Church in Vidaththalthivu where people had sought refuge were hit by SLA artillery fire yesterday. They said that several civilians were wounded and a 10 year old boy was killed in the shelling.
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Heavy fighting in Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 07:15 GMT]
Heavy fighting broke out between the Liberation Tigers and the SLA at Neduvarampu south of the Pallamadu junction last night from 8 p.m. said sources in Mannar. Initial reports indicated that the Tigers had attacked SLA troops consolidating their defences in this area.
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Bodies buried at Mannar cemetery

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 1999, 03:46 GMT]
Thirty-seven bodies which were handed over to the Mannar hospital by the Sri Lanka Army, were buried at Mannar general cemetery about 2 km west of the town along Thalaimannar trunk road, last evening around 5.00 p.m.
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Trade Unions rally to GMOA strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 18:42 GMT]
Twenty six trade unions have given Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunge 24 hours, ending tomorrow afternoon to resolve the issues over which Sri Lankan doctors are striking, after which they will begin also begin trade union action in support of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA).
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Courts clear Mannar burials

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 13:53 GMT]
The Mannar Magistrate, Mr.M.Illancheliyan, today approved an application by the Police to bury the 37 bodies which the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) says were recovered from the battlefront at Periyamadhu and Vidaththaltheevu areas, at the state expense. The SLA says the bodies are those of Liberation Tigers killed in recent fighting.
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Minister intervenes over CTTU action

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 13:49 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Minister of Education and Higher Education, Mr.Richard Pathirana has intervened to settle the proposed trade union action by the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union on July 2 in the North-eastern Province.
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Opposition wants early debate over medical strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 11:48 GMT]
Twenty-five trade unions have organised protest at Lipton Circus near downtown Colombo, tomorrow, in support of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) said union sources. Meanwhile the leader of the main opposition United National Party, Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe has sent a letter to Prime Minister Srimavo Bandaranaike urging her to summon Sri Lanka's Parliament immediately.
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ICRC unable to transport bodies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 08:08 GMT]
The bodies handed over to Mannar hospital by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) yesterday are to be buried in Mannar in the presence of the ICRC, sources said. The SLA says the bodies are those of LTTE fighters killed in recent fighting.
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New travel restrictions

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 07:10 GMT]
Due to the travel restrictions imposed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), people living in areas it does not control, such as Chempianpattu, Thanippanai, Nelliyan and Maamunai are unable to go to hospital, Divisional Secretariat and other government institutions in the SLA-controlled areas in Vadamaradchi East, residents said.
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Five civilians killed-VoT

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 June 1999, 07:08 GMT]
Five civilians were killed and 60 wounded when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells from Thallaady army camp in Mannar yesterday, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) said in its night news bulletin yesterday.
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Protests over doctor's abduction

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 1999, 17:32 GMT]
Medical staff, other employees and resident patients of Vavuniya Base Hospital staged a protest in the afternoon today against the abduction of Consultant Gynecologist & Obstetrician M.S.M.Mohideen. They demanded that he should be released immediately.
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Two troopers succumb to injuries

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 1999, 17:30 GMT]
Two more soldiers, who were wounded in the claymore mine attack at Eratperiyakuluam in Vavuniya last night succumbed to their injuries this morning, said sources at Anuradhapura hospital.
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Doubts over bodies identities

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 1999, 14:05 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) handed over 36 bodies to the Mannar base hospital this afternoon around 3.30 p.m. amidst speculation that at least some of these may belong to civilians. The SLA said the bodies were those of Liberation Tigers killed in the fighting near the Pallamadu junction two days ago.
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SLA to return 36 Tigers' bodies

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 1999, 11:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials said today that arrangements are being made to hand over the bodies of 36 Liberation Tigers killed in recent fighting. The bodies will be handed over to the Tigers through the Sri Lankan Red Cross, they said.
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Six MBTs damaged -VoT

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 1999, 07:50 GMT]
Six SLA Main battle Tanks (MBT) were damaged by the Liberation Tigers in the fighting on Saturday, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its morning news broadcast today.
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Doctors vow to continue strike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 1999, 18:25 GMT]
Officials of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) said this afternoon that they would continue their strike until all their demands have been met. At a press briefing held at Regent Street in Colombo, senior officials of the GMOA said that they were determined to continue with their strike despite the state-sponsored intimidation to which their members had been subjected.
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SLA shells Vidathalthivu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 1999, 17:11 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) stationed at Thallaady has been shelling Vidathalthivu since 6.30 p.m. this evening said sources.
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Claymore hits SLA jeep in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 1999, 17:00 GMT]
Four SLA soldiers were wounded when the jeep in which they were traveling was hit by a claymore mine set off by the Liberation Tigers this evening around 9.45 p.m. at Eeratperiyakulam, 3 kilomters south of Vavuniya town, on the highway to Anuradhapura. One of the soldiers succumbed to his injuries on admission to the Vavuniya hospital and the condition of another is serious said Police sources.
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SLA advance thwarted says radio

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 1999, 14:35 GMT]
The commercial radio service of the Liberation Tigers, Thamileela Vaanoli, said in its news broadcast this evening that 200 SLA soldiers were wounded and more than 100 killed in the heavy fighting yesterday northeast of Mannar. The radio said that the LTTE had stopped a massed advance by the SLA to take the Pallamadu junction and that twenty two Tigers were killed in the fighting. The Fighting continued in the area today, according to the Thamileela Vaanoli.
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Forty LTTE casualties - SLA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 1999, 11:18 GMT]
Sri Lankan army sources said that they have recovered the bodies of 40 Liberation Tigers killed in the fighting yesterday. They said that arrangements are being made to hand over the bodies to the Liberation Tigers, through the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 June 1999, 11:14 GMT]
Workshop planned to explore social harmony through education; Minister Ashraff addresses Amparai Tamils and Northeast Governor to meet Tamil teachers union.
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Casualties mount in fresh fighting

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 16:55 GMT]
According to the latest reports, at least 30 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 187 wounded when government troops tried to advance towards Vidathaltheevu, through Nayaatruveli, north of Paappamoddai.
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Military Police arrest SLA sergeant

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 16:36 GMT]
On Thursday the military police arrested a sergeant from the Sri Lankan army's medical unit who has been working as a defence correspondent for the Sinhala weekly, Ravaya.
Full story >>

Torture victims protest against police

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 14:50 GMT]
The International Day in support of Victims of Torture was observed in Batticaloa town with a cultural pageant. Large numbers of Tamil women, most of whom had been tortured by the security forces, participated in the pageant, said TamilNet's Batticaloa correspondent.
Full story >>

Striking doctors surrender to police

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 14:48 GMT]
Thirteen members of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) including its President, Secretary and Assistant Secretary on whom warrants of arrest were issued by the Colombo District Judge on Friday, surrendered to the Maradana Police this morning through their lawyers.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 14:42 GMT]
Refugee families land at Pallimunai; Bus services suspended following fresh army operations; Children injured by booby trap.
Full story >>

Participant at torture victim support meeting arrested

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 13:42 GMT]
The Counter-Subversive Unit (CSU) of the Batticaloa Police arrested a Tamil youth, T.Gowrithasan, after he concluded his speech at a public meeting held in the William Auld Hall to mark International Day In Support of Victims of Torture.
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Renewed SLA operation in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 1999, 07:50 GMT]
Fighting broke out between SLA soldiers and the Liberation Tigers in the Nayaatruveli area along the Mannar-Pooneryn main road this morning when SLA troops began advancing north from Paappamoddai, said sources in the area. At least 15 SLA soldiers have been reported killed in the fighting today.
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Striking doctors face arrest

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 June 1999, 09:22 GMT]
The Colombo District Judge, A.W.Salam, issued a warrant today for the arrest of the president and committee members of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) for violating a court order by continuing with their strike.
Full story >>

Low grade medical supplies freely available in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 June 1999, 04:32 GMT]
Medical supplies that have not undergone quality control and which have not been approved by the Medical Board can be bought freely in the Jaffna Peninsula, said sources in the Jaffna Health Department.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 1999, 17:17 GMT]
Airforce commander visits Batticaloa; Search operation in Kalmunai bazaar; Two youths arrested in Jaffna and Figures released for Mallavi hospital.
Full story >>

Tamil Teachers' union meets Presidential advisor

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 1999, 17:14 GMT]
During a meeting held in Colombo on Tuesday evening, a delegation from the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) asked Mr. S. Sivathasan, presidential advisor and Chairman of the Official Languages Committee, to establish a Tamil education zone in the Western province to ensure that Tamil students in the area have equal access to education.
Full story >>

Grenade attack in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 1999, 17:11 GMT]
A police officer was wounded when unidentified youth who had arrived in an autorikshaw, lobbed a grenade at a police checkpoint at Lloyds Avenue in Batticaloa this evening around 8.30 p.m.
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Seven SLA soldiers killed -VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 June 1999, 06:48 GMT]
Seven Sri Lanka army soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in the Mannar area, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its morning transmission today.
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Patient dies after doctor's refuse treatment

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 1999, 23:11 GMT]
Ponnuthamby Iruthayamary, 38, of Thannamunai Batticaloa, died of a heart attack this evening after being refused medical treatment at the out patients' department (OPD) of the Batticaloa hospital.
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Parliamentarian takes up Suthaharan case

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 1999, 23:06 GMT]
The member of Parliament for the Batticaloa district, Mr. Pararajasingham, has written to the president asking her to initiate an impartial investigation into the case of Nithiyananthan Suthaharan, a 19 year old youth who was admitted to hospital in an unconscious state after being arrested by Maavadivembu army personnel on June 18.
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Search operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 1999, 23:05 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and the police cordoned off and searched several villages in the Valaichenai area, 32 kilometers north of Batticaloa, from the early hours of the morning until noon today.
Full story >>

Murakoddanchchenai officer released on bail

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 1999, 17:49 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Captain, Gerard Bernard Kelaart, who was remanded in custody for killing a Tamil woman, Kandiah Vigneswary,22, near the Murakoddanchchenai SLA camp, was released on bail by the Batticaloa Additional Magistrate today.
Full story >>

Inadequate medical attention for Kalutura detainees

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 1999, 17:43 GMT]
The Colombo based group, Forum for Human Dignity, has brought the case of Sivarajah Navaretnam before the Anti-Harassment Committee.
Full story >>

Batticaloa marks day against torture

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 1999, 17:41 GMT]
The International Day in support of Victims of Torture is to be observed in the eastern town of Batticaloa on June 26 with a cultural pageant. Four organisations are co-ordinating the pageant and public meeting to be held on the same day.
Full story >>

Four Jaffna fishermen arrested

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 June 1999, 17:40 GMT]
Four fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy personnel yesterday in the seas off Mandaithivu, an island south-east of Jaffna town, said witnesses.
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Five youths arrested in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 17:03 GMT]
The Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of the Sri Lankan Police cordoned off the Mannar town and conducted search operation said sources. Five youths were arrested by the police during the search operation.
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Food convoy to Vanni resumes tomorrow

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 16:54 GMT]
About a thousand civilians from the LTTE held areas of the Vanni were allowed to come into the army held areas of Mannar and Vavuniya today through a new road opened at the 10th mile post along the Mannar - Pooneryn Road in the Paappamoddai area, said government officials in Mannar.
Full story >>

Enjoining order issued on Medical Officers strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 14:57 GMT]
The Colombo District Judge, A.W.Salam, issued an enjoining order today restraining the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) strike. The District Court further ordered the GMOA to take reasonable steps to inform its members who are on strike of the order.
Full story >>

Tension between Batticaloa doctors over strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 14:55 GMT]
Heated arguments ensued between the Tamil and Sinhala medical officers of the Batticaloa hospital today at a hurriedly summoned committee meeting of the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) branch, said sources.
Full story >>

Statements recorded from Chemmani victim's relatives

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 11:38 GMT]
Officials from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday recorded statements from the relatives of the Rasaiah Satheeskumar, 29, and Mahenthiran Babu, 23, whose skeletons were exhumed from the Chemmani gravesite last week, said police sources.
Full story >>

Seven youths arrested in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 11:28 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army has arrested 7 youths from Valvettithurai, north of Jaffna, over the past two days, in connection with the killing of a police officer there on June 5.
Full story >>

PLOTE cadre accused of molesting schoolgirl

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 10:27 GMT]
A member of the paramilitary group, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), who has been accused of molesting a 14 year old school girl in the Vadamaradchi region of the Jaffna peninsula was produced in the courts yesterday.
Full story >>

EPDP sacks Chairman of Vadamaradchi PS

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 10:22 GMT]
The Chairman of the Vadamaradchi Pradeshiya Sabha (local government body), Mr. Chellaiah Sundramoorthy, has been sacked from the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) for violating the party's regulations, party sources said.
Full story >>

LTTE, SLA clash in Paappamoddai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 June 1999, 08:16 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and two Liberation Tigers (LTTE) were killed in a confrontation in the Paappamoddai area of the Mannar district this morning today, said army sources.
Full story >>

More arrests in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 1999, 20:46 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and the Liberation Tigers clashed in Kokkuvil, north of Jaffna town last night said sources in the northern town.
Full story >>

Vavuniya Doctors support strike

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 1999, 08:39 GMT]
Doctors in Vavuniya supported the Medical Officers strike in other parts of the island by refusing to attend the Out Patient Department in the Base Hospital, sources said.
Full story >>

Youth beaten by SLA hospitalized

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 1999, 08:37 GMT]
Suthakaran Nithiyananthan, a ninteen year old youth, has been admitted to the Batticaloa hospital after being severely assaulted by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers guarding a road check post at Vantharumoolai, 22km. north of Batticaloa, on Friday. The youth is still unconscious, said sources.
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Tigers willing to meet relatives of MIAs

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 1999, 04:34 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers has informed that they are willing to meet a delegation consisting of 15 representatives from the Association of Relatives of Servicemen Missing in Action in the northern Vanni, said N.Nanayakara, the leader of the organisation.
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Relatives identify body of killed civilian

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 June 1999, 03:50 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and another was wounded in a confrontation with the Liberation Tigers near Santhiveli SLA camp, 27 km. north of Batticaloa, around 8.30 p.m. yesterday, said army sources.
Full story >>

German team visits Vavuniya and Mannar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 June 1999, 23:04 GMT]
The German government and Agro Action, a German non - governmental organisation, have agreed to provide Rs. 300 m for education, development and the displaced people of Vavuniya and Mannar, said sources in Vavuniya.
Full story >>

Seven Valaichenai refugees arrested

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 June 1999, 11:56 GMT]
Seven refugees from the Valaichenai refugee camp who had gone to collect firewood in Aanaisuddakaddukkulam, north of Vaakarai, were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army last Friday, June 18.
Full story >>

Stadium graves hearing postponed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 June 1999, 06:33 GMT]
The Additional Magistrate of Jaffna Mr. Ekanathan postponed the hearing of the exhumation of Duraiappa stadium grave in the Jaffna town yesterday.
Full story >>

Relatives identify Chemmani skeletons

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 June 1999, 19:54 GMT]
The skeletal remains exhumed from a gravesite in Chemmani were identified by their relatives as those of two motor mechanics who were reported missing after they were arrested by the Sri Lankan Army on August 19, 1996. They were employed at a garage on the Ariyalai-Chemmani road at that time.
Full story >>

SLA-LTTE clash in Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 1999, 23:02 GMT]
Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and two wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked the forward defence lines west of Mankulam, yesterday army sources said.
Full story >>

Journalists taken to Rana Gosa areas

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 1999, 20:36 GMT]
(News Feature) The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) took more than 30 local journalists on a guided tour of the areas captured during the latest phase of Operation Rana Gosa on the northern parts of Mannar mainland on Tuesday, June 15.
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Rights violations continue says Amnesty

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 1999, 18:18 GMT]
(News Feature) The human rights pressure group, Amnesty International, said in the Sri Lanka section of its international review of events in 1998 that human rights violations continued to occur in the of context of ongoing armed conflict between the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Full story >>

Vavuniya Red Cross committee resigns

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 1999, 17:54 GMT]
The committee members of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Vavuniya branch, have resigned from their posts with effect from June 15, said sources. The resignations follow the arrests of: SLRC Vavuniya branch secretary and North - east co-ordinator, Sivanathan Kishore, Ronald Ramesh an office assistant and SLRC driver, Nagamany Easwaranathan.
Full story >>

Skeleton find halts Chemmani exhumation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 1999, 11:44 GMT]
The exhumation of the alleged mass graves at Chemmani in the Jaffna peninsula has been postponed till July 15, to allow forensic experts to submit a report on two skeletons found during today, said sources today.
Full story >>

Police checkpoint attacked

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 1999, 09:25 GMT]
Two policemen were killed and another wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked the Chenkaladi check point, on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee trunk road, 12 km. northwest of Batticaloa, this morning around 8.30 a.m. police sources said.
Full story >>

Chemmani witness speaks of killings, names officers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 1999, 15:17 GMT]
Investigators digging at Chemmani, a location in the Jaffna peninsula, where mass graves of civilians are alleged to be buried have found what appears to be the remains of human knee, said sources. Meanwhile, Somaratne Rajapakse, a key witness has given details of the killings of people who he says were later buried in the graves.
Full story >>

New mass grave claims

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 June 1999, 10:54 GMT]
The inquiry into the alleged Chemmani mass graves in Jaffna took a dramatic turn today when a key witness, former Sri Lanka Army soldier Somaratna Rajapkse told the Special Magistrate, M.Illancheliyan that he could identify more places where bodies of civilians were buried, in addition to his earlier disclosures, court sources said.
Full story >>

Grenade wounds six

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 15:56 GMT]
Six Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded when a grenade exploded in their vehicle this morning. The soldiers were travelling in a tractor in the general area of Nedunkerni area, 33 km. east of Mankulam, sources said.
Full story >>

SLRC officials wife interviewed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 15:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka Red Cross Official, Sivanathan Kishore, who is detained by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lankan Police was brought to Vavuniya today, sources said.
Full story >>

SLA informant shot dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 11:26 GMT]
A former member of the PLOTE and TELO, who was working as an informant for the Sri Lanka Army's intelligence at Patpody Camp in the Batticaloa district was shot dead by unidentified armed men at Navatkuda, about one km. south of Batticaloa Town. Kathankudy police found his body at Kallady this morning.
Full story >>

Stranded civilians to return to Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 11:22 GMT]
Arrangements are underway to transport about one thousand stranded civilians at Kaathankulam, north of Uyilankulam, to the LTTE held areas in the Vanni today, officials in Mannar said.
Full story >>

Torture victim's case dismissed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 10:30 GMT]
A thirty-year old woman, Samithamby Thangaratnam, mother of two, has been discharged by the Batticaloa High Court Judge, after two years in remand. She has a history of loss of memory as a result of severe torture.
Full story >>

Tamils protest over "humiliation"

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 10:10 GMT]
"Tamil passengers on the Kalmunai-Colombo trunk road, are being separated from others at three check points and asked to give their names and addresses to security forces stationed there. This is a humiliating for the Tamil people. This should be stopped forthwith," states a memorandum submitted to the Kalmunai Unit of the government funded Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka by the passengers.
Full story >>

Five LTTE casualties -VoT

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 07:39 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said this morning that five Liberation Tigers were killed on Sunday, June 13, in three separate incidents in the northern Vanni region.
Full story >>

Chemmani survey report submitted

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 03:54 GMT]
The Survey Department officials handed over a survey report of the alleged Chemmani mass grave site to the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday. The survey of 16 hectares of land began last week and the exhumation is scheduled on Wednesday.
Full story >>

GA visits villages north of Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 1999, 02:12 GMT]
The Mannar Government Agent, S.M.Crooz, with the approval of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA), travelled up to Paappamoddai, located 12 km. south of Vidathaltheevu and 8 km north of Mannar, on the Mannar-Pooneryn road yesterday. The GA said that 175 persons belonging to 45 families are currently living there.
Full story >>

News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 June 1999, 11:26 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Deputy Defence Minister Ratwatte visits forward areas of Operation Ranagosa, a time bomb explodes at a Valaichennai checkpoint and Amnesty International's officials to arrive in Jaffna today.
Full story >>

One killed, 90 wounded as wall collapses

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 1999, 16:53 GMT]
At least 90 persons, including 15 children, were wounded and a woman was killed when a wall collapsed during St. Anthony’s Church festival in Colombo this evening around 7 p.m.
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358 sq.km area captured - MoD

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 1999, 21:16 GMT]
The Operational Head Quarters of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a communiqué issued this evening that the areas up to Vidathalthivu in the Mannar district have been captured by the SLA in two days operation which concluded this morning.
Full story >>

Third Red Cross employee arrested

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 1999, 21:04 GMT]
Ronald Ramesh, an employee of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRC), who works as an office assistant in Vavuniya branch office, has been arrested last night by the Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) of Vavuniya Police, his relatives said.
Full story >>

SLA operation to take Vidaththaltheevu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 1999, 18:53 GMT]
The SLA started an operation this morning in the direction of Vidaththaltheevu, on the coast northeast of Mannar, said sources in the north. Troops moved from SLA positions in Thallaady, Uyilankulam and Madhu towards Vidaththaltheevu junction on the coastal road from Mannar to Jaffna. Sources said that today's operation appears to be aimed at gaining a strategic hold on the Mannar - Jaffna highway.
Full story >>

Two arrested in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 1999, 23:00 GMT]
Two persons have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Army in Jaffna during the last two days the Human Rights Commission (HRC) in the northern town said.
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Youth released after evidence of torture

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 1999, 21:57 GMT]
A Tamil youth, Thangarajah Pramanantharajah of Aariampathi, was discharged by the Batticaloa High Court Judge on Thursday when the state counsel withdrew the charges made against him under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
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Clear majority eludes PA

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 1999, 11:34 GMT]
The ruling People's Alliance (PA) failed to secure a clear victory in the elections to the southern provincial council . The party won 25 seats in the 55 member provincial legislature according to results which were announced this morning. The PA was given two bonus seats under Sri Lanka's election system. The main opposition United National Party (UNP), won 21 seats and the radical Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), secured 7.
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SLA Pooneryn thrust repulsed -VoT

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 1999, 07:47 GMT]
At least 25 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and several others wounded when the Liberation Tigers attacked advancing SLA troops in the Pooneryn area with heavy weapons yesterday, forcing them to retreat to their original positions, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said today.
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Teachers Union to launch campaign

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 1999, 06:54 GMT]
The twenty thousand-strong Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union is to launch a trade union type campaign to achieve nine objectives, including the withdrawal of two text books being distributed to Tamil medium students in Sri Lanka, which it says are distorting the islandís history said sources.
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Three Jaffna civilians missing

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 June 1999, 06:51 GMT]
Three Tamil persons have "disappeared" in the Jaffna peninsula on June 9 and 10,according to complaints made to the Human Rights Commission, Jaffna Unit. Relatives of the disappeared persons have made these complaints, Commission sources said.
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Heavy fighting on Paranthan-Pooneryn road

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 16:53 GMT]
Sixteen SLA personnel, including two officers, were killed and 29 wounded in fighting that erupted east of Pooneryn today when the Liberation Tigers attacked troops advancing from the Elephant Pass-Paranthan Base complex today. The SLA said that 45 Tigers were killed in the confrontation and that it has captured 2.5 kilometres on the Paranthan Pooneryn road.
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Protest over woman's killing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 15:40 GMT]
A human rights group in Batticaloa has appealed to the Defense Ministry Secretary and the Anti-Harassment Committee appointed by the President, to take immediate steps to remove the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps from populated areas in the district.
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News In Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 15:38 GMT]
A policeman is killed in Mannar and Batticaloa Special Investigation Unit take a teenager into custody.
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Southern Province polls close

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 15:34 GMT]
Nearly 60 percent of the registered voters cast their votes in Sri Lankaís Southern Provincial Council elections today despite the rain in the region said sources.
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SLA interrogates reporter

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 15:32 GMT]
A reporter for the Tamil dailies, Veerakesai and Thinakkural, working in the Vadamaradchi sector of the Jaffna peninsula was interrogated by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at its Manthikai camp yesterday.
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SLA operation in Moondrumurippu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 10:21 GMT]
Areas from Madhu Road junction up to Madhu Church have been brought under the guard of military trained Police from today, said sources. Earlier, the forward defence lines (FDL's) to guard the road to Madhu Church were manned by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).
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Roundup in Vavuniya town

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 10:15 GMT]
About three hundred civilians in Vavuniya town area were rounded up and taken to the public grounds of the Vavuniya Urban Council this morning by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for security checks, said sources.
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SLA operation towards Pooneryn

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 09:59 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Jaffna today confirmed that a military operation has begun in Pooneryn area, in the northwest of the island. SLA troops air lifted from Palaly Air Force (SLAF) base in seven helicopters landed in Kattunallur-Kalmunai and started moving towards Pooneryn area Thursday morning, sources in Jaffna said.
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New Trinco market remains contested, unopened

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 07:25 GMT]
The former chairman of the Trincomalee Urban Council Mr.P.Sooriyamoorthy has appealed to the Governor of the North East Province to take immediate steps to open the town's recently constructed general market, during the Local Government Week, now being celebrated in Sri Lanka.
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Two civilians shot dead

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 03:15 GMT]
Two Sinhalese villagers who had gone hunting in the Suriyawewa jungles which lie along the border between the Batticaloa and Polannaruwa districts, were shot dead by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers yesterday morning.
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Army weapons said used in robberies

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 June 1999, 03:14 GMT]
The Sri Lankan police produced a Muslim youth in the Batticaloa District Court yesterday, charged with the illegal possession of arms. The police told the court that the youth was working as soldier at the Welikande SLA base. He had been found loitering suspiciously in Eravur, they said.
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SLA removes weapons from PLOTE camp

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 1999, 14:05 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army soldiers removed 18 weapons from the PLOTE's camp at Kovilkulam about three km south-east of Vavuniya town this morning around 10 a.m.
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"Officer test fired weapon at homes"

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 17:11 GMT]
At the conclusion of the inquest into the death of a 22- year old Tamil woman, Kandiah Vigneswary of Murakoddanchchenai, the additional magistrate, Batticaloa Mr.K.Thadchchanamoorthy returned a verdict of murder and ordered the Eravur Police to arrest the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) captain who allegedly test fired a machinegun from his camp on the day of incident.
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Mannar judge probes death in custody

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 14:56 GMT]
The Mannar courts yesterday ordered the Police to produce for an identification parade, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers involved in the arrest of Thiruneelakandan Harikaran who died while in the custody of the SLA at the Southbar detachment in Mannar, on January 2 1997, sources said.
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Pt. Pedro UC Chairman resigns

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 14:42 GMT]
The Chairman of the Pt.Pedro Urban Council, Vadivel Vijeyaratnam, (Sellakkili master), a senior member of the PLOTE, resigned his post today.
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Protection for family of Chemmani witness

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 09:25 GMT]
The chairman of the Sri Lankan government funded Human Rights Commission (HRC) said security will be provided for the family of the key witness in the Chemmani mass grave case, Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse, following death threats sent to his wife.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 09:25 GMT]
Six PLOTE cadres on torture charges abscond, arrest warrant issued for SLA captain over indiscriminate firing incident and a Jaffna student is arrested.
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Tigers shell Manmunaithurai STF camp

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 03:41 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers shelled the Manmunaithurai STF camp, 10 km south of Batticaloa, around 9.30 p.m. yesterday.
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Survey of Chemmani underway

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 01:37 GMT]
A land survey began today of the site at Chemmani in the Jaffna peninsula where the mass graves of hundreds of civilians murdered by Sri Lankan security forces are alleged to be buried said sources.
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Two killed in ambushes

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 01:32 GMT]
Six Tamil youths were arrested by Special Task Force (STF) commandos of the Sri Lankan Police during a cordon and search operation in Natpiddimunai, 2 km. west of Kalmunai in the Ampara district Monday.
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Judge slams statements in Sinhala

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 01:21 GMT]
The Additional Magistrate of Jaffna, Mr. Ekanathan instructed the police that all statements recorded in the region's police stations should be in Tamil.
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Suspension lifted on some DERBA projects

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 June 1999, 01:16 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government is likely to lift the suspension on all NORAD's DERBA development work begun in 1998 in the Tiger-controlled areas of the Batticaloa district, North East Provincial Council sources said.
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Army fire kills woman

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 1999, 14:33 GMT]
A young woman was killed instantly when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at a sentry post at Morakkoddanchenai SLA camp fired indiscriminately yesterday evening around 5.30 p.m. said residents.
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Food supplies may resume today

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 1999, 14:30 GMT]
The officials responsible for co-ordinating essential supplies to the Vanni district will try to send the backlog in the supply of kerosene to the area before June 15, said sources.
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Clashes reported

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 June 1999, 14:27 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) said today that three Liberation Tigers were killed and two SLA soldiers wounded in a skirmish at Thambakaamam in the Jaffna peninsula yesterday. The Liberation Tigers, however, denied they had sustained casualties.
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Detainee dies in custody

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 23:04 GMT]
The Forum for Human Dignity, a human rights organisation, has requested the government funded Anti-Harassment Committee to furnish more information about the death of a prisoner, Marimuttu Balenthiran during his detention in Welikada prison.
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Presidential, Parliamentary elections next year

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 23:04 GMT]
The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunge, said while addressing an election campaign meeting in Mulgirigale in the island's southern province that Parliamentary and the Presidential elections will be held next year.
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Vavuniya power disrupted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 23:04 GMT]
An electricity transformer near the Vavuniya police station was destroyed in a blast this morning around 5.45 a.m. said sources.
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Confession faked says lawyer

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 22:21 GMT]
Copies of a statement taken from a Tamil youth detained under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) which were submitted in Colombo High court today by the prosecution were found to contain many details which were not in the original.
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Students protest over shortage of teachers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 20:27 GMT]
Students of the College of Education at Patana in the hill country, who are protesting against the school´s management for dismissing 8 of their colleagues, have been ordered to vacate the college hostel by tomorrow morning by the Senior Superintendent of Police in Nuwara Eliya, sources said.
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4000 demonstrate in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 18:32 GMT]
Over 4000 school children demonstrated Saturday in Paduvankarai, the western hinterland of the Batticaloa district, demanding that the Sri Lankan Government, among other things, stop the war and lift the economic embargo on this region.
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CID takes MP's statement

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 18:30 GMT]
Following a report about two missing persons made by Batticaloa MP, P.Selvarajah to the police, the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recorded a statement from him today, said police sources.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 June 1999, 03:18 GMT]
Eight reported missing from Jaffna in May; Body washes ashore at Kaytes; Preparations underway for Madhu feast and LTTE attack repulsed say police.
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Details of civilian death revealed

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 June 1999, 09:58 GMT]
A man accused of illicit alcohol brewing told the Mannar court that the Sri Lankan Army had framed the charges against him as revenge for revealing the details of a civilian who died while in SLA custody, said sources.
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SLAF says 3 Tigers killed in air strike

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 June 1999, 07:22 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Air Forces sources said at least three Liberation Tigers were killed in an air attack in Mullaithivu this morning around 10 a.m.
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Razeek cadre, policeman killed in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 June 1999, 07:10 GMT]
A member of the ninth National Guard of the Sri Lanka Army (Razeek Group) and a policeman were shot dead in two separate incidents in Kalmunai area in the south-eastern Ampara district this morning,.
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Railway track damaged in bomb blast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 1999, 16:24 GMT]
A portion of the Railway line at Iratperiyakulam, 4 km south of Vavuniya Railway Station, was damaged in a bomb blast at around 5.00 p.m. this evening. Police suspect that private bus owners who operate an intercity service between Vavuniya and Colombo may be behind the bomb blast.
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Muslim refugees ask to go home

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 1999, 16:13 GMT]
About three hundred Muslim families living at the Love Lane refugee camp in Trincomalee town have asked the Divisional Secretary of Kuchchaveli to take immediate steps to resettle them in the homes.
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Radio Veritas denies VoT link report

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 1999, 14:54 GMT]
Officials of Radio Veritas of the Philippines categorically denied on Monday that their service had any arrangement with the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio, as was reported by TamilNet on May 23, 1999. TamilNet accepted the report was incorrect and published a correction today.
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News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 1999, 13:14 GMT]
Jaffna EPDP councillor resigns; Blast destroys Transformer in Uva and the Sri Lankan Army at Kommanthurai camp collects civilian details.
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Veritas listeners' club formed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 1999, 13:00 GMT]
(CORRECTION) On May 23, 1999 TamilNet reported that the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio was to co-ordinate with Radio Veritas of the Philippines. This report was incorrect and resulted from an error in translation. The VoT report actually stated that a Radio Veritas Listeners club had been formed in the Vanni. A corrected version follows.
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"Military solution not possible"

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 1999, 12:12 GMT]
The government and the opposition should consider the losses caused by the war and work together to implement a political solution to the conflict, said former Air Vice Marshall Harry Goonetileke at a function held at the Royal College in Colombo yesterday.
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Catholics denied burial rights

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 June 1999, 07:40 GMT]
Burial in the cemetery adjoining the Catholic church in Vakarai, Batticaloa district has been banned by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) which has its camp in the central section of the village, said sources. This has forced the Catholic population to use the cemetery traditionally used by the Hindus.
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"Work may resume"

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 1999, 18:39 GMT]
In a letter sent to the Additional Government Agent of Jaffna, Mr.T.Vaithilingam, the Liberation Tigers said that the civil disobedience action they had asked government servants to observe on Tuesdays and Fridays has been relaxed.
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Devotees disappointed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 1999, 18:29 GMT]
Hundreds of devotees returned home disappointed this morning after the SLA refused them permission to attend the annual ‘pongal’ festival of the Iyakkachchi Thiriyai Amman temple, residents said.
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Three arrested in Gurunakar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 1999, 18:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers cordoned off a house at Gurunakar in Jaffna this afternoon and arrested three people, including a father and his son. They are being detained at the Gurunakar SLA camp, said sources.
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Procession and rally in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 1999, 11:32 GMT]
The EPRLF general secretary, Mr. Suresh Premachandran, led a procession in Vavuniya today that started from the Sinthamani Pillayar Kovil and ended at the Urban Council ground where a public meeting was held. The Sri Lankan army and police provided security for the procession and the public meeting was addressed by the EPRLF Vavuniya district secretary, Mr.N. Sivasakthi Ananthan.
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Gandhi appointed as new Razeek group leader

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 1999, 09:22 GMT]
Mr. Sivaguru Navaratnam alias Gandhi, 33, was appointed the new leader of the Razeek group yesterday. He was sworn into his new post in front of the Sri Lankan Army Commander for Batticaloa.
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Torture prevails despite reforms - Amnesty International

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 1999, 15:01 GMT]
In a news release published today titled, " Torture prevails despite reforms", the human rights pressure group Amnesty International said that "despite several positive steps in recent years, torture continues to mar Sri Lanka's human rights record."
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Three remaining Pachchilaippalli councillors resign

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 1999, 13:04 GMT]
The three remaining members of the Pachchilaippalli Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) in the Jaffna Peninsula, representing the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), resigned from their positions today.
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Two arrested from Jaffna refugee camp

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 1999, 12:53 GMT]
Two youths were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army from the Gurunakar transit refugee camp on Thursday. The arrested were displaced from Jaffna and had recently returned from the Vanni.
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Further reports of election related violence

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 1999, 12:49 GMT]
A press statement issued by the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said nine incidents were reported yesterday bringing the total number of election related violence to 109, as recorded as at 6:00 p.m., Monday 31.
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Eleven civilians killed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 June 1999, 07:11 GMT]
Military officials said today that eleven civilians were killed and 6 injured last night, around 8.30 p.m, in an attack by the LTTE at Kiri Ibanwewa a remote settlement in Weli Oya area.
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