Vavuniya pilgrim and child detained by Police

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 July 2001, 21:01 GMT]
A Hindu pilgrim and his five year old child who were on their way to Kathirgamam were arrested and detained by the Police on 27 July at Nittambuwa, relatives told the Human Rights Commission office in Vavuniya Tuesday. Kathirgamam (Kataragama in Sinhala) is a pilgrimage centre in the in Sri Lankaís southern province. The shrine of the god Murugan here draws thousands of Tamil and Sinhala devotees.
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Five home guards, policeman killed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 July 2001, 10:21 GMT]
Five home guards were killed in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Nugathenna in the Welikanda police area, about 65 km. north west of Batticaloa on the Valaichenai-Colombo trunk road around 9 a.m. Tuesday, police sources said.
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Tamil Congress to oppose Chandrika, TULF divided

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 July 2001, 20:50 GMT]
The All Ceylon Tamil Congress Monday rejected the invitation by the Sri Lankan President to discuss the political situation and said that it would categorically oppose the referendum for a new constitution scheduled to be held on 21 August. In a letter to the Sri Lankan President, the party leader Mr. Appappillai Vinyagamoorthy said that changing the constitution is futile when the Parliament has been suspended and democracy has been suppressed.
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S.L President briefs diplomats

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 July 2001, 20:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga met diplomats in Colombo Monday to brief them about the referendum for a new constitution and the security situation following the attack on the island's only international airport by the Liberation Tigers. More than 30 ambassadors took part in the briefing Monday evening in Colombo, Sri Lankan government sources said.
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SLA shelling kills two, injures eight

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 July 2001, 07:37 GMT]
Two civilians were killed and 8 others were wounded when a shell fired by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers hit Kinnaiyadi, a hamlet in Valaichenai, 30 km. north of Batticaloa around 7.30 a.m. Saturday, civilian and hospital sources said. Villagers said the shell was fired by troops stationed at the nearby camp at Kumburumoolai.
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CWC undecided on Referendum

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 July 2001, 21:42 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC), a constituent party in the ruling People's Alliance is to make a decision on the proposed referendum after meeting President Chandrika Kumaratunge next Monday, a leading member of the CWC said. He made this announcement soon after a delegation from the CWC, headed by Mr. Arumugam Thondaman, met with the President Friday morning.
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'Tigers should fight on until liberation'- TULF MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 July 2001, 19:10 GMT]
"The Liberation Tigers are fighting for the freedom of the Tamil people. They should continue their armed struggle until the Tamil people are liberated," said Mr. Mavai Senathirajah, Tamil United Liberation Front MP for Jaffna, addressing a meeting by the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) in Vavuniya Friday to commemorate its leaders who were massacred in the Welikada jail in Colombo in July 1983.
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Judge orders CID inquiry into students' killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 July 2001, 19:07 GMT]
"Taking into consideration the contradictory evidence given by two police officers and the evidence of the parents of the dead students that they believe their sons were shot and killed by police officials, I direct the C.I.D to take over the investigations into these deaths and submit a report," said Mr. Anton Balasingham in his order delivered Friday at the conclusion of the magisterial inquest. Protests erupted in the town of Kalmunai, 40 kilometres south of Batticaloa, when Muslims angered by the killing of two school students on 13 July in a Police shootout took to the streets. The Special Task Force declared unofficial curfew to quell the protests.
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Tigers attack Weli Oya FDL -radio

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 July 2001, 17:36 GMT]
The Voice of Tigers said in its night news broadcast that the Liberation Tigers attacked and destroyed the Forward Defence Lines of the Sri Lanka army between Mankindi Malai and Akkarai Weli in the Weli Oya region in the early hours of Friday morning around 2.30 a.m. The radio said ten bunkers on the FDL were overrun by Tiger troops and that four SLA soldiers were killed.
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Vanni schools make do with fewer teachers

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 July 2001, 15:03 GMT]
There are only 2079 teachers to teach 86177 school children in the Vanni, according to officials of the Northeast Provincial Ministry of Education. “The shortage is more than 52 percent. There should be at least 4020 teachers for this number of children as stipulated by the Ministry of Education. The actual shortage is much higher when we take into account the number that is at Teachers’ Training Colleges,” an official said. “This puts tremendous pressure on children and teachers alike as the education system in the Vanni is struggling hard to survive under the economic embargo,” he added.
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Policeman shot dead

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 July 2001, 09:59 GMT]
A police constable was shot dead by an unidentified armed youth, believed to be a member of the Liberation Tigers at Valaichenai, 32 km. north of Batticaloa, around 7.30 a.m. Friday. The incident occurred about 100 metres from the Valaichenai police station.
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President requests opposition support

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 July 2001, 05:43 GMT]
The appeal by President Chandrika Kumaratunge Wednesday night over the state television to opposition parties including United National Party "to put aside all political and other petty differences and join her government to rebuild the nation" has received mixed responses in political circles. UNP sources said, "if the government needs the co-operation of opposition at this critical juncture, it should prove its bona fide by reconvening the prorogued parliament and cancelling the 'mock' referendum".
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Opposition slams government over attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 July 2001, 22:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have appealed to President Chandrika Kumaratunge to reconvene the prorogued parliament immediately. Both parties made this appeal in the wake of Liberation Tigers’ dawn attack on Katunayake airbase in the early hours of Tuesday morning. " The government is in breach of its duty to protect Katunayake international airport," said the UNP leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe, addressing a press conference Tuesday evening.
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Tension after dawn raid

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 July 2001, 08:47 GMT]
Thirteen air crafts including two Kfir jet fighters, one MI-24 Helicopter gun ship and one MIG-27- jet fighter were destroyed in the predawn attack on the Katunayake air base, about 35 km. north of Colombo, by members of the Liberation Tigers, according to official military sources in Colombo.
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Katunayake shut after attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 July 2001, 00:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s only international airport, Katunayake ,was closed by the military early morning Tuesday after air force planes at an adjoining airbase came under attack from suspected members of the Liberation Tigers, officials said. A number of aircraft were on fire, they said. Fuel dumps in the base were also ablaze, they added.A number of the Sri Lanka Air Force’s Israeli made Kfir and Mig-27 jet bombers are stationed at the airbase. Military sources said six aircraft were ablaze, but could not confirm the types.
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STF forces villagers into hard labour

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 July 2001, 15:40 GMT]
Villagers of Puthukudiyiruppu, about 12 km. south of Batticaloa, are being forced to carry out hard labour by the elite Special Task Force troops stationed in the village. The troops summoned 25 villagers to the camp on Sunday and ordered them to clear jungles and shrubs along Manmunai lagoon, said sources in the eastern town.
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President outlines "Constitutional Revolution"

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 July 2001, 15:34 GMT]
President Chandrika Kumaratunge said Sunday that the present Constitution could be amended even without a two-thirds majority in parliament if the government obtained a clear mandate at next month's referendum. "How this could be done would be revealed in due course," she told activists and representatives of the ruling People's Alliance who attended a special meeting at the racecourse in Colombo.
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Policeman shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 July 2001, 17:11 GMT]
A military trained policeman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen believed to be members of the Liberation Tigers at Kallady, 3 km. south of Batticaloa town, around 12 noon Saturday. The incident took place about 200 metres from Manchaththoduvaai police sentry post.
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Govt. not to re-table last year's draft Constitution -President

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 July 2001, 22:53 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge said Friday that the draft Constitution tabled in parliament in August last year and later withdrawn will not be considered in preparing the new constitution. The President told a group of special representatives of the Joint Trade Unions' Federation that the new constitution will be presented within a short period, after seeking opinions of the clergy -including the Mahasangha, minorities, minor political parties and intellectuals.
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Army's Intimidation of Tamil journalists condemned

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 July 2001, 22:50 GMT]
Aiyathurai Nadesan, a prize winning Tamil journalist in the eastern Town of Batticaloa, was threatened by the coordinating officer of the Sri Lanka Army's 23-3 brigade last week. The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) and the Eastern Lanka Journalists' Association (ELJA) issued statements Friday condemning the intimidation.
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Stand of all parties on Referendum revealed

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 July 2001, 22:46 GMT]
Thirty-three recognized political parties have intimated to the Department of Elections, whether they are for or against the referendum scheduled to be held on August 21, according to a press release by the Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake. "Political parties that have not intimated their stand to the Department of Elections will be treated as neutral parties," the press release added.
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Army kills man crossing sentry post

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 July 2001, 20:05 GMT]
A 35 year old man was shot and killed by Sri Lanka Army soldiers manning a sentry post at Siththaandy, 22 km. north of Batticaloa, around 5 p.m. Friday, local residents said.
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Amnesty condemns police killings, ban on demonstrations

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 July 2001, 19:55 GMT]
"The death of at least two people from bullet wounds and the injuring of well over 30 more as a result of police action against a predominantly peaceful demonstration in Colombo on Thursday constituted the use of excessive force on the part of the police," Amnesty International said in a press release today.
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Opposition parties condemn attack on demonstrators

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 July 2001, 20:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka's opposition parties condemned the police attack on anti-government demonstrators that left two people dead and about 70 wounded. UNP sources said the police attacked demonstrators led by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. The UNP Leader escaped unhurt due to the prompt action of his bodyguards. Mr.Wickremesinghe accused the police of trying to assassinate him.
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Four home guards killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 July 2001, 20:33 GMT]
Four women security personnel (home guards) were killed in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Sithamaparapuram, about 12 km. south-east of Vavuniya, around 4.45 p.m. Thursday, police sources said.
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Massive opposition protest in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 July 2001, 06:57 GMT]

A Sri Lankan policeman swings his baton at a protester in Colombo, Thursday. Sri Lankan police fired teargas and rubber bullets on Thursday to try to enforce a ban on rallies and force back thousands pouring into the capital for a huge opposition protest against the suspension of parliament.(Photo: Reuters)

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Army suspect assaults journalist

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 20:48 GMT]
A journalist was assaulted in court premises by a suspect in the Mirusuvil massacre case Wednesday morning. The suspect is one of fourteen soldiers accused of massacring civilians in Mirusuvil. The incident took place when the accused were brought to the court in Point Pedro, where the Chavakachcheri Magistrate's Court is sitting under heavy security.
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Grenade attack on SLMC MP's house

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 20:36 GMT]
The house of Mr.U.L.M.Mohideen, Ampara District SLMC Parliamentarian, was attacked with grenades around 7 p.m. Wednesday evening. Three policemen guarding the MP's house in Samanthurai were injured. The MP was away in Colombo when the attack took place, police sources said.
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Two soldiers wounded in LTTE ambush

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 20:33 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Vaarikuddiyoor, 16 km. northwest of Vavuniya, around 5.15 p.m. Wednesday, army sources in the northern town said.
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"Opposition processions illegal" -IGP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 16:04 GMT]
Sri Lankan police Wednesday banned protest rally by the joint opposition against the prorogation of parliament by President Kumaratunga. The rally had been planned for Thursday in Colombo.
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Two SLA soldiers wounded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 16:02 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were wounded and another was reported missing when the Liberation Tigers attacked an army detachment at Mahindapura, at about 10.30 a.m. Wednesday morning, local army sources said.
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APC damaged in claymore blast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 12:27 GMT]
A Special Task Force (STF) elite soldier was seriously wounded when an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was hit by a claymore mine blast at Thetraathivu, about 20 km. south of Batticaloa. The attack took place around 10 a.m. Wednesday, police sources said.
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Grenade attack on SLMC office

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 July 2001, 06:39 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress office at Kalmunai about 40 km. south of Batticaloa was damaged in a grenade attack around 4.15 a.m. Wednesday morning, police said.
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Journalists demand action against PSD

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 July 2001, 15:50 GMT]
Journalists and opposition parliamentarians Tuesday demonstrated in front of the Fort Railway station in downtown Colombo, urging the Government to act against "intimidation" from the Presidential Security Division (PSD).
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Jaffna Univ. student produced in court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 July 2001, 14:26 GMT]
The Jaffna University Undergraduate detained by the Sri Lanka army and Police since 2 July was produced before a judge in the northern town Tuesday. The student, Krishnasamy Thivviyan, told the judge in open court that he bled from his nose and mouth when he was severely assaulted in detention. The judge remanded the student until 24 July.
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Three SLA soldiers killed -VoT

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 July 2001, 18:37 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers attacked a sentry post in the Manal Aaru region in the north-east of the island, killing three government troops, the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said in its night news bulletin Monday.
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Impeachment of the President considered

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 July 2001, 18:09 GMT]
The opposition parties Monday decided to bring an impeachment motion against President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge. Briefing the press on Monday, Mr. Ranil Wicremasinghe (UNP), the Leader of the Opposition, said that constitutional experts are studying the charges and an impeachment motion will be filed with the Speaker within two weeks.
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Claymore blast in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 July 2001, 08:49 GMT]
Ten Sri Lanka Army soldiers were wounded, four of them seriously when Liberation Tigers set off a powerful claymore mine in Jaffna town around 8.30 a.m. Monday, army sources said.
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No power to summon parliament -speaker

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 July 2001, 15:49 GMT]
The Speaker announced Sunday that he has no power or authority to inquire into the validity of the prorogation of parliament by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge. "There was no sufficient reasons for me to review the decision of the President to prorogue parliament" Speaker Anura Bandaranaike said in a letter to the Leader of the Opposition Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe.
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Police officer shot dead

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 July 2001, 09:10 GMT]
A Sri Lankan police officer was shot dead Sunday by unidentified attackers, believed to be members of the Liberation Tigers, at Aalankerni, a suburb in Kinniya, about 10 km. north west of Trincomalee town, said police sources.
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"Colombo's embargo targets schoolchildren"- official

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 July 2001, 19:09 GMT]
More than a thousand students in a Vanni school were found to be suffering from malnutrition, an official in the department of education in the northern region said Saturday. He said many students in the Vallipunam high school were also diagnosed for acute malnutrition.
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Kalmunai Muslims protest police killings

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 July 2001, 08:29 GMT]
Two Muslim youths were shot dead by Sri Lankan policemen in Kalmunai in the south eastern district of Ampara, around 6.30 p.m. Friday. Sources said the police fired at random after one of their colleagues was shot and wounded by unidentified gunmen. Meanwhile a hartal is being observed in Kalmunai town and its suburbs protesting at the killings.
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Staff protest at Eastern University

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 July 2001, 21:36 GMT]
Academic and non-academic staff of the Eastern University picketed the campus at Vanthaarumoolai in Batticaloa on Friday morning. The picketing, held for an hour, was in protest of the closure of the University of Jaffna and the arrest by government soldiers of student leader, Mr.Thivyan.
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Two SLA soldiers killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 July 2001, 08:55 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and three wounded in an ambush by the Liberation Tigers at Siththaandy, about 20 km. north of Batticaloa, around 9.30 a.m. Friday, local army sources said.
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Protest shuts Trincomalee down

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 July 2001, 08:47 GMT]
Tamil medium schools and several government and provincial offices in Trincomalee district were closed Friday in protest to the closure of Jaffna University and the detention of the undergraduate Krishnasamy Thiviyan.
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Students criticise Jaffna VC as protests mount

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 21:10 GMT]
Schools in the Jaffna peninsula were closed Thursday in protest against the closure of the Jaffna University and the detention of the undergraduate Krishnasami Thivyan. Groups of protesting students who gathered near their schools in Jaffna town were assaulted by Sri Lanka army and police personnel who have stepped up security here since early this week.
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One killed in SLN attack on Mannar fishermen

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 19:42 GMT]
A fisherman was killed when Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft opened fire on local fishing boats in the seas off Silavathurai on the southern coast of the Mannar district around 7.30 a.m. Thursday morning. Josephthaasan Cruz, 36, father of four, was shot dead in his boat. His colleague, Soosaithasan Mary Alphonse, 25, escaped the attack.
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Kumaratunga seeks 'unequivocal' mandate

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 19:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunga Thursday blamed the island's constitution for the ills besetting her country and called for unequivocal mandate for a new constitution in an address to the 'nation' on state run television. The speech focused primarily on the need to do away with the proportional representation system of elections introduced under the 1978 constitution.
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No division in cabinet - media minister

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 16:13 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government Thursday refuted media reports that the cabinet was divided over the proroguing of Parliament and the referendum. Mr.Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Media and Information said in a press release, "no minister walked out of the Cabinet meeting held Wednesday, in protest against the President's decision to prorogue parliament and to hold a referendum on August 21.
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PA to expel SLMC rebel MPs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 12:36 GMT]
The People's' Alliance (PA) high command has decided to expel rebel Sri Muslim Congress (SLMC) MPs from parliament. Mr.D.M.Jayaratne, Secretary General of the PA Thursday said," I will send show cause notices to rebel SLMC parliamentarians why they should not be removed from parliament."
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Constitutional stratagems key to S.L crisis

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 03:50 GMT]
"Asking us whether we are in agreement with the proposal that the 'country needs a new Constitution?' is akin to asking a person whether he wants to marry or not marry a woman whom he does not know at all. How can they ask us to vote for something when we do not know whether it is black or white," asked Mr. Wimal Weerawansa, MP, the propaganda secretary and senior leader of the radical Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (People's Liberation Front), condemning the Sri Lankan President's decision to suspend parliament and hold a referendum in August.
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Arrested student leader said being tortured

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 July 2001, 02:06 GMT]
(News Feature) Krishnasamy Thivyan, the former secretary of the Jaffna University Students Union who was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army has been tortured in military custody, fellow students said Wednesday. In a statement published in Jaffna's Tamil Daily, the Uthayan, the students also said that Thivyan, who is being held by the SLA at its Kankesanthurai, had survived earlier attempts on his life by the security forces.
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CTTU to protest closure of Jaffna University

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 July 2001, 20:29 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) has strongly condemned the closure of Jaffna University. "We request the Govt. to reopen the University of Jaffna immediately" said Mr. Mahasivam, General Secretary of the CTTU.
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Tamil student protests spread

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 July 2001, 19:42 GMT]
The Sri Lanka army and Police tightened security around the Jaffna University Wednesday. Soldiers and Police personnel were deployed on the roads in the environs of the campus and near its main entrance. The security forces set up roadblocks and checked civilians. Students of the Jaffna Technical College boycotted classes in protest against the closing down of the Jaffna University. Undergraduates of the Eastern University and the Vavuniya campus of the Jaffna University continued their protest boycott Wednesday. "The University is under siege by the army and Police," a spokesman for the undergraduates said.
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PA says cabinet with President amid dispute reports

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 July 2001, 15:45 GMT]
The government Parliamentary group and the cabinet Wednesday unanimously expressed "their fullest support and confidence on President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge and her on-going program in tackling the present political crisis developed following the submission of a no-confidence motion by the opposition against her government," according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Sri Lankan government amid reports that some senior ministers in the cabinet were in disagreement with the President over her decision to prorogue parliament and to hold a referendum on a new constitution in August.
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Parliament prorogued until September

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 July 2001, 22:14 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government prorogued Parliament until September. An official statement issued late Tuesday said the legislature was "prorogued with effect from midnight July 10 until September 7". The statement said that the President would call a referendum on a new constitution on August 21.
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"PA can still form the Govt." D.M. Jayaratne

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 July 2001, 17:49 GMT]
"As the single largest party in Parliament, the People's Alliance (PA) can be invited to form the Government again even if it is defeated in the no-confidence motion," said D.M. Jayaratne, the General Secretary of the PA.
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Tamil learning in NE said wanting

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 July 2001, 13:33 GMT]
"About ten percent of Tamil medium students failed in their mother tongue at the 1998 G.C.E. ordinary level examination. This trend still prevails among students in northeast. To arrest this trend, teachers and principals should take firm steps to develop the teaching of the mother tongue," said Mr. Mr. K. Parameswaran, Secretary, Northeast Provincial Ministry of Education while speaking at Tamil day celebrations held Monday at Trincomalee St. Mary's Girls College.
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Jaffna University shut down

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 July 2001, 10:07 GMT]
Jaffna University has been closed for an indefinite period following a week long protest by students against the arrest of their colleague by Sri Lanka Army soldiers on 2 July.
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Joint opposition wants debate on July 18

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 July 2001, 09:47 GMT]
The no-confidence motion against the People's Alliance (PA) Government is likely to be taken up for debate on July 18. This is in consequent of the written request by 115 opposition parliamentarians submitted Tuesday to the Secretary of the Speaker. "The entire opposition has requested the Speaker that the no confidence be taken up for debate on July 18. A certified copy the request was also handed over to the Secretary General of the parliament," Mr.Mahinda Samarasinghe, a UNP parliamentarian said.
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Woman gang raped, mother assaulted

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 July 2001, 05:25 GMT]
A woman allegedly gang raped by Sri Lanka army soldiers in Meesalai on Saturday night was admitted to the Manthikai hospital in Jaffna Sunday. Hospital sources said that the woman has been raped brutally. The women's mother who had attempted to stop the soldiers from molesting her daughter was severely assaulted and has also been admitted to the hospital for treatment, sources said.
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HRC records bizarre torture by Ampara Police

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 July 2001, 13:46 GMT]
The Investigation Officer of the Human Rights Commission, Mr.S.Sritharan, visited Boossa camp recently and recorded evidence from four persons who were detained and tortured by the Counter Subversive Unit of the Police in Amparai. He said the suspects bore clear marks of torture on their bodies.
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Deep penetration group ambush wounds 4 civilians

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 July 2001, 08:52 GMT]
Four civilians were wounded when the tractor in which they were travelling was hit by claymore mine triggered by a Sri Lanka Army deep penetration team in the Vaakarai region, about 75 km. north of Batticaloa local residents said. The incident occurred at Kathiraveli-Kattumurivu Kulam road, in the LTTE held area, around 3 p.m. Saturday.
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SLA stipulates fishing restriction

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 July 2001, 18:05 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy imposed new restriction on fishing in the seas off Mannar from Saturday. The SLN Saturday banned fishermen from using 15 horsepower out board motors and reduced the time permitted for fishing out at sea to six hours.
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High security zones declared in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 July 2001, 16:56 GMT]
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge Saturday proclaimed some parts of the Colombo City as high security zones. "This proclamation has been made under Section 27 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act No.48 of 1979" a presidential secretariat release said.
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MOD clearance stipulated for Vanni travel

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 July 2001, 15:54 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government introduced new regulations this week stipulating that civilians should obtain permission from the Ministry of Defence to travel to the Vanni. The regulation, which came into effect from 5 July, was criticized by Parliamentarians for the Vanni Saturday.
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Rape protest shuts down North and East

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 July 2001, 09:47 GMT]
Shops, schools, offices, courts and banks were closed and streets were mostly deserted in Sri Lanka's northern province, in the Tamil, Muslim majority areas of the eastern province and in the Tamil towns of the central province Friday in response to a call for a general shut down by the alliance of eleven Tamil parties and by Tamil trade unions to protest against the rape of Tamil women by Sri Lankan security forces. The Tamil parties held a protest demonstration in downtown Colombo Friday.
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Tamil parties criticize Colombo for re-imposing ban

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 July 2001, 05:45 GMT]
Tamil parties Thursday criticized the Sri Lankan government for re-imposing the ban on the Liberation Tigers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The legislation proscribing the Liberation Tigers lapsed Wednesday with the Emergency Regulations.
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Opposition conspiracy thwarted -president

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 July 2001, 04:42 GMT]
"The government has been able to abort the conspiracy by the United National Party and Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to get the State of Emergency removed in the bid to serve the needs of the LTTE" claimed President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge in a special statement Thursday evening, which followed her decree extending the proscription of Liberation Tigers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
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PM calls for inter party unity for "nation"

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 20:51 GMT]
Prime Minister Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said that "discussions are now underway with main opposition, United National Party, JVP and other political parties in a bid to agree a common strategy for the welfare of the country and the nation." In an interview with ITN Television he said, "the debate on the no-confidence motion has also been postponed to continue these discussions in a conducive atmosphere".
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Ban on LTTE extended by Presidential decree

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 16:37 GMT]
The proscription of the Liberation Tigers has been further extended according to a new order issued by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge Thursday. "The new order has been issued under Section 27 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act No: 48 in 1979" said the Presidential Secretariat.
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SLMC, NUA clash at Samanthurai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 16:35 GMT]
At least twenty two persons were injured and 10 vehicles were damaged in violence that broke between the supporters of the National Unity Alliance (NUA) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) at Samanthurai, 46 kilometers southwest of Batticaloa, Thursday afternoon.
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Security stepped up for Black Tigers day

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 16:29 GMT]
Government troops stepped up security measures in towns in the north and east of the island as Liberation Tigers observed Black Tigers day Thursday. In Mannar Sri Lanka Army soldiers announced over loud hailers that stern action would be taken against businessmen who closed their establishments to mark the day. "Shops that remain closed would be forcibly opened, and they would not be allowed to open for the next eight days" the army announced, according to residents in the town.
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Police fire wounds two

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 11:32 GMT]
Two people were wounded when Sri Lankan police personnel lying in ambush near Kadalaachi Amman temple at Naavalady in Batticaloa, opened fire at devotees who had gathered for the temple festival in the early hours of Thursday.
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SLA arrests University student

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 11:19 GMT]
Former secretary of Science Faculty, Jaffna University, was arrested by Sri Lanka Army in Kokuvil Jaffna on Monday, 2 July, and is being detained at the detention center in Kankesanthurai, sources said. University students and staff boycotted classes yesterday, July 4th, in protest.
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PM's statement to reveal new strategy for ER extension

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 July 2001, 11:03 GMT]
The Government announced Thursday that the Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake will issue a special statement in the parliament tomorrow morning about the extension of State of Emergency in the country, amidst speculation in Colombo political circles that Attorney General Department is very busy in drafting alternate legislation instead of Emergency Regulations (ER), to give more teeth to the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to deal with Liberation Tigers.
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PA sees 'capitalist conspiracy' in no-faith motion

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 July 2001, 11:36 GMT]
Hundreds of workers of pro-government trade unions demonstrated at the Lipton's circus roundabout near downtown Colombo Wednesday. "The working classes have confidence in the PA government. Businessmen and millionaires cannot be allowed to overthrow the present government which came to power with the support of working community", demonstrators told state media units covering the protest.
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New dates for no-confidence motion debate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 July 2001, 09:50 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government Wednesday said that the opposition's no confidence motion against it would be debated in the parliament for four days from 7 August. "The government's decision was announced at the party leaders' meeting held this morning" Mr.Richard Pathirana, Leader of the House told Parliament.
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Undergrads exhort MPs to oppose Emergency

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 July 2001, 09:14 GMT]
Students of the Eastern University in Batticaloa held a protest demonstration Wednesday calling on all Tamil Parliamentarians to vote against the extension of the Emergency on 6 July. The protesting students held placards and shouted slogans condemning the rape of Tamil women by Sri Lankan security forces under powers granted them by the Emergency and urging the Tamil people in the northeast to support the protest Hartal called by the Alliance of Ten Tamil Parties on 6 July.
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Govt. must investigate paramilitary group violations -Amnesty

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2001, 21:20 GMT]
An upsurge in arrests, "disappearances" and torture linked to paramilitary activity in the Vavuniya area must be urgently addressed by the Sri Lankan government, Amnesty International said today in a letter to President Kumaratunga. "The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), paid and armed by the government, has been perpetuating a pattern of systematic abuses," the organization said.
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Tamil teachers join protest against rape

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2001, 18:57 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU) has appealed to its members and Tamil school children throughout the island to boycott schools on Friday 6 July to protest against the rape of a Tamil woman by policemen at a check post in Maradana, in capital Colombo on 24 June. A coalition of ten Tamil political parties and trade unions are planning to hold a protest rally in Colombo, and a general strike in the Northeast and the hill towns of the island. The twenty thousand member strong CTTU will be one of the trade unions joining the protest.
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Tigers release MV Missen crewmember

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2001, 13:28 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers Tuesday released one crewmember of the vessel MV “Missen” who has been in their custody since 1 July 1997 to the representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross at Killinochchi. The sailor was identified as Jayantha Jayakody.
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UNP, JVP to vote against extension of emergency

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2001, 10:52 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition, the United National Party Tuesday decided to vote against the motion on extending state of emergency which will be taken up for voting on Friday. "If the government holds the majority power in Parliament as repeatedly claimed by the Prime Minister, this is the best opportunity to prove it and show the strength of the government by ensuring the passage of the Emergency Regulations through Parliament" the parliamentary group of the UNP said in statement issued in this regard. Meanwhile the radical Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna that has 10 MPs in the parliament said it will also vote against the motion.
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PA denies LTTE banned under PTA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 July 2001, 02:37 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Government categorically stated Monday that “the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was banned under the Emergency Regulations (ER) on January 27, 1998”. The SL Government denied news reports that “LTTE was banned under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)”. The Peoples Alliance Government argues that if the State of Emergency were allowed to lapse, the ban on the LTTE would automatically be revoked and that the Sri Lankan security forces would be deprived of the legal basis for carrying out their duties in the course of war.
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SLA shelling kills fisherman, wounds 3

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 July 2001, 09:58 GMT]
A fisherman was killed and three others were seriously wounded when Sri Lanka Army soldiers shelled the seas off Gurunagar on the south-western coast of Jaffna around 10 a.m. Monday said sources.
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Air strikes will "irreparably damage" peace process -LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 July 2001, 08:29 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in an official statement issued from its headquarters in Vanni, northern Sri Lanka today, warned the Government of Sri Lanka that peace initiatives would be irreparably damaged if it continued with its intense aerial and artillery bombardment against the LTTE positions in Jaffna. Describing the air strikes as 'provocative aggression and calculated escalation', the LTTE accused the Kumaratunga regime of seeking desperate measures to mobilise the support of Sinhala nationalist forces with the purpose of overcoming the crisis brought by the no-confidence motion.
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