SLA ban affects cultivation in LTTE held Batticaloa villages

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 23:55 GMT]
Cultivation of paddy in about fifty thousand acres and cash crop in around forty thousand acres in the LTTE controlled areas in Batticaloa district has been completely affected as the farmers are not allowed to enter the government controlled area to buy agro-chemicals, fertilizer for their crops and to purchase petroleum products for the use of tractors via SLA checkpoints located in Vavunativu, Chenkalady and Kiran Bridges and Vaharai road, pointed out Mr. P.Ariyanethran and Miss K.Thangeswary, Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians at a conference held Thursday morning in the Batticaloa District Secretariat Auditorium.
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One soldier injured in Vadamaradchchi, Tamil youth shot dead in Kopay

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 23:43 GMT]
Following a claymore explosion at Idaikkadu in Nelliyadi in Jaffna-Point Pedro Road Thursday soldiers manning the gateways to Vadamaradchchi, Vallai, Mulli in Kodikamam, and Aayam in Chavakachcheri road prevented the movement of about one thousand civilians for about three hours. SLA did not allow the movement of about hundred vehicles. One SLA sodleir was injured in the explosion.
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Army releases mutilated bodies, warns families

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 15:00 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army released the mutilated bodies of 16 Tamil youth in Vavuniya Wednesday, claiming they were Tamil Tiger cadres. The genitals of some of the youth had been hacked off and the faces of some bodies had been burnt off by acid, hospital sources said. The bodies of 10 youths have been claimed by their familes in Vavuniya, who said the youth had gone missing after leaving for work. The LTTE has accepted the bodies of the remaining six to see if they are those of 7 cadres who went missing on patrol earlier this week.
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LTTE seeks road supply to Jaffna civilians

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 14:16 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers are ready to allow food and medicine for the civilians in Jaffna to be transported by road through the Vanni, to ease the difficulties of the population there, LTTE officials told the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Wednesday. Agreement on the use of a sea route to the peninsula is proving problematic as the Sri Lanka military is seeking to resupply its garrison there under the guise of aid for civilians, LTTE officials said.
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SLN arrested fleeing Sri Lankan Tamils in Mannar Sea

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 12:34 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Wednesday night around 11 p.m. arrested 18 Tamil civilians with four Indian boatmen while they were fleeing to seek refuge in Tamilnadu from Talaimannar coast. They were handed over to the Talaimannar Police Thursday morning. SLN has detained the Indian boat in its custody.
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British Tamils protest against Rajapakse’s London visit

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 11:53 GMT]
More than one thousand British Tamils and UK residents, Wednesday held a demonstration in front of the British Parliament in London from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. protesting against the visit of the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to London, and condemning the Sri Lankan Government for violations of the human rights of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, the organizers of the rally said.
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SLA refuses permission for NGO convoys to enter Batticaloa LTTE areas

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 11:19 GMT]
Mr.G.Nagarajah, President of the Consortium brought to the notice of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials in Batticaloa district that local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) have suspended their services following the refusal by the security forces to allow food convoys to enter LTTE held areas through border check points on Wednesday.
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Policeman injured in grenade attack in Chenkalady

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 10:04 GMT]
One police constable was injured when unidentified men lobbed a grenade Thursday morning around 8.50 a.m. This incident took place in front of the Chenkalady Vellimalai Pillayar Temple located in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district.
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Seven Tamil civilians arrested in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 10:00 GMT]
Seven Tamil civilians were arrested Wednesday night during a combined cordon and search operation by SLA troops and Police along Vavuniya-Horowopottana road following the killing of a home guard by unidentified persons. The home guard was shot dead Wednesday evening.
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Fonseka vows to capture Sampur

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 09:25 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka vowed Thursday to take control of Tamil Tiger controlled Sampur in Trincomalee “within days” as a Sri Lankan military offensive against the enclave continued for the fourth day. “We have gone through half way and we will capture the whole area within a few more days,” Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka told The Associated Press. Meanwhile aid workers alleged that Muslim families trying to escape the heavy fighting are being prevented from leaving by Sri Lankan security forces.
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SLAF bombs Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 07:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers dropped at least 3 bombs on the suburbs of Kilinochchi Thursday around 9:45 a.m. Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells hit 5 villages in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Vanni for 6 hours from 3:00 a.m.
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IDPs face food and accommodation problems in Vaharai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 07:45 GMT]
The Internally Displaced People (IDP) staying at the Palsenai Government Tamil Mixed School in Vaharai division in the LTTE controlled area in Batticaloa District have been facing food and accommodation problems, Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), Vaharai branch said on Wednesday.
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Tamil medium education affected in North East-CTTU

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 06:58 GMT]
About two hundred thousand Tamil medium students in the North East have been deprived of their education due to the prevailing tense situation resulted in mass displacement of teachers and students and curfew imposed in the Jaffna peninsula, Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) said in a press release Thursday.
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Jaffna students stranded in Colombo

[TamilNet, Thursday, 31 August 2006, 06:01 GMT]
About thirty Tamil students from Jaffna district who came to attend the All Ceylon English Day contest have been stranded in Colombo with out necessary transport arrangement. However the English Day contest was also cancelled due to the volatile security situation in the capital. These students arrived in Colombo before the war between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) broke out in the first week of August.
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Tamil man shot dead near Vavunatheevu SLA camp

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 22:14 GMT]
A Tamil man was shot dead by Sri Lankan Army (SLA) soldiers near Vavunatheevu camp, 3 km. west of Batticaloa twon, at 7.35 a.m. Wednesday.
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Fisherman shot and hacked to death in Valaichchenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 22:10 GMT]
A Tamil civilian Periyathamby Veluppillai, 27, a fisherman by profession and a father of two children of Kalmadu in Valaichchenai police area, was shot and hacked to death by soldiers of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and paramilitaries on Tuesday night around 8.00 p.m at Koraweli Road, Kannahipuram in Batticaloa district. He had been residing in 50 Housing Scheme in Kalmadu.
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SLMM blames Sri Lanka military for aid workers’ massacre

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 11:15 GMT]
International ceasefire monitors Wednesday blamed the Sri Lankan military for the massacre of 17 local aid workers from international group Action Contre La Faim earlier this month, Reuters reported, quoting Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). Outgoing SLMM head Ulf Henricsson, called the killings a "committed act of assassination" and "one of the most serious recent crimes against humanitarian aid workers worldwide," AP reported.
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Abducted youth being trained in Polannaruwa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 11:05 GMT]
A number of youths from Amparai district abducted by Army-backed anti-LTTE paramilitaries are undergoing weapons training at military bases in Polannaruwa District, LTTE officials who met with the United Nations’ child agency, UNICEF, said this week. Many youth had been brazenly picked up by unmarked ‘white vans’ in Army-controlled parts of the eastern districts, they said, urging UNICEF to visit the training sites.
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Rajapakse seeking UK's help to secure India's support - Norwegian radio

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 09:07 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's meeting Wednesday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair is "presumably an attempt to secure India's support in favour of Sri Lanka's policy" on the ethnic question Norwegian state radio reported, citing Oslo's Special Envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer.
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Abducted Tamil journalist released

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 03:28 GMT]
Nadarajah Kuruparan, News Manager of Sooriyan FM Radio broadcast from Colombo, who was reported missing since Tuesday morning, was released in the early hours of of Wednesday. "I have returned home safely" said Kuruparan to his listners over the radio, with out elaborating further details about the abduction.
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Three men killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 18:10 GMT]
Three men were shot dead in three separate incidents in Jaffna during the last 24 hours, ending at 8 p.m., Tuesday, police in the northern town said.
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Media Organizations demand release of abducted journalist

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 12:51 GMT]
More than hundred journalists from print and electronic media demonstrated in front of in front of the Fort Railway Station, Colombo, condemning the abduction of Nadarajah Kuruparan, a veteran journalist and the News Manager of Suriyan FM Radio broadcast from Colombo, Tuesday noon.
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SLA offensive continues on Sampoor - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 11:22 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasaiah Ilanthirayan Tuesday evening said Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was continuing it's offensive towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Sampoor in Trincomalee district. SLA has intensified artillery and mortar attacks as the two-pronged offensive movement of SLA troops was contained by the Tigers, he said. "If the Sri Lankan military aggression continued, it would set a full stop to the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement," LTTE's military spokesman has commented.
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Priests, public demand release of Allaippiddy Parish Priest

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 09:46 GMT]
A token hunger strike and a special Mass were held Monday from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. at the St. Theresa's Church, Kilinochchi, demanding the release of Allaippiddy Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Jim Brown and his aide Venseslos Vincent Vimalathas who were abducted by the Sri Lanka Forces in Allaippiddy in Jaffna District on 20 August and condemning the killings of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lanka Forces.
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IFJ concerned for safety of news director Kuruparan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 09:24 GMT]
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in a media release issued on Tuesday, said it was shocked by news of the disappearance Nadarajah Kuruparan, the news director of popular Tamil language radio station Sooriyan FM, whose car was found abandoned in Colombo only hours after he was seen leaving for work. Kuruparan's disappearance is "particularly worrying considering the current precarious climate in Sri Lanka," the IFJ President Christopher Warren said. "This is further evidence of the dangerous environment for journalists that has developed in Sri Lanka," IFJ president said.
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Sampoor battle: toll mounts

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 08:18 GMT]
Sri Lankan military Tuesday continued its new offensive for the second day against the Tamil Tiger controlled region of Sampoor in the Trincomalee district. Around 50 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers had been killed and 108 wounded so far, LTTE officials claimed Tuesday afternoon. They said 12 LTTE fighters have been killed and 15 injured. But the military says it has killed 66 Tigers and lost 13 troops. A civilian, wounded on Monday, succumbed to injuries Tuesday. 21 fleeing IDP's have been killed during the past 30 hours in artillery and aerial bombardment, according to LTTE officials.
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Bodies recovered in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 06:03 GMT]
Two bodies with gun shot injuries were found Tuesday morning near Kandaswamy temple, where an attack on Sri Lanka Army left a soldier killed and another injured, around noon, Monday.
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Tamil News Manager abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 August 2006, 02:50 GMT]
Nadarajah Kuruparan, News Manager of Sooriyan FM Radio broadcast from Colombo and the programme leader of popular weekly programme, Viluthukal, in Sooriyan FM, is reported missing since Tuesday morning around 4:30 a.m., Dehiwale Police said. Mr. Nadarajah Kuruparan, a senior Tamil news editor, was on his way to work in his car, when he was reported missing 300 meters away from his house, on Pinthali Road. Journalist associations and Free Media Movement in Colombo held an urgent protest calling for the release of Kuruparan in front of Colombo Fort Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. till 13:30 p.m.
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Clash reported at Vadamaradchi gateway to Palaly

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 August 2006, 18:49 GMT]
A clash was reported Monday night from 11:30 p.m. till midnight in the gateway area between Valalai, 4 km east of Palaly Sri Lanka garrison and Thondaimanaru, 6 km northeast of Palaly. Sri Lanka Army sources in Palaly claimed situation was under control.
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Former president of Supparmadam Fisheries Society killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 August 2006, 15:42 GMT]
Former President of the Supparmadam Fisheries Society was shot dead by unidentfied men, around 3:30 p.m, Monday. Sellathurai Gopalasingham,53, was abducted from his house situated close High Security Zone (HSZ) demarcated by the Sri Lanka Army.
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Dozens killed in new Sri Lankan offensive on Sampoor

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 August 2006, 11:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s military launched a major offensive Monday to capture Tamil Tiger controlled Sampoor in the Trincomalee district. Bombs and shells have killed at least 20 civilians and wounded 26 more, LTTE sources in Sampoor told TamilNet. At least 11 SLA soldiers were killed and 79 wounded, AFP reported. The objective of the offensive was to capture Sampoor and Thoppur area, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka told The Associated Press. The LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasaiah Ilanthirayan told Reuters the Sri Lankan government was trying to resume a full-scale war.
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76 Tamils arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 August 2006, 05:27 GMT]
Seventy-six Tamils, including 8 women were arrested during a combined search operation by Sri Lankan Military troopers and Police in Colombo and its suburbs, Sunday. Road blocks were put up on main roads leading to Colombo centre and all vehicles were throughly checked, police said.
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Armed men set fire abandoned LTTE office

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 August 2006, 05:08 GMT]
Armed men set fire to the building which functioned as the political office of the Liberation Tigers in Jaffna, Sunday night, local residents said. The building is located at Pottpathy in Kokkuvil, near Jaffna University Medical Faculty.
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Sister and brother shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 August 2006, 23:45 GMT]
Armed men shot and killed two members of the same family Saturday 08:15 p.m. on Udhayan Street, Sithandy, in Batticaloa district. The killings have taken place in the wake of two separate shootout incidents, on Friday and Saturday, in the area where 2 Sri Lanka Army troopers were injured when a group of attackers fired at road clearing patrol units of the SLA.
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300 families trapped by SLA camps

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 August 2006, 16:39 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has occupied the village of Manatkadu in the Vadamaradchi East and established a camp in the precincts of St. Anthony’s Church, residents said Sunday. People are being prevented from leaving the village and many fear they are being held as a human shield to protect the SLA base at nearby Nagar Kovil. Manatkaadu is situated between Nagar Kovil and the eastern coastline.
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7 SLA soldiers wounded in Claymore explosion in Muthur

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 August 2006, 08:03 GMT]
At least seven Sri Lanka Army soldiers, wounded in a Claymore attack at Selvanagar, a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled gateway towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Muthur East, Sunday around 9:30 a.m., were rushed to Polonnaruwa hospital, Police sources said.
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Two men killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 August 2006, 07:31 GMT]
To men were shot dead by unidentified men in separate incidents in the Valikamam sector of the Jaffna peninsula, Saturday, police said.
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WFP says food situation ‘critical’ - amid MoD embargo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 August 2006, 06:34 GMT]
The food situation in LTTE-controlled areas is becoming ‘critical’ the World Food Program (WFP) announced Friday, as Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry maintained its blockade. “In spite of high-level negotiations between the UN and the Government, the issue of access to areas not under Government control has not been resolved,” the WFP said. WFP said its staff “are [still] operating inside both the Vanni and Jaffna, but all supplies are running low in these areas due to the closing of the access roads by the Ministry of Defence.”
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SLA shelling injures 5 civilians, damage 10 houses

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 August 2006, 20:44 GMT]
Five civilians, including a 10-year old and a 11-year-old children were injured and at least 10 houses were damaged when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers fired shells from Valaichenai and Komanthurai camps towards LTTE held western hinterlands of Batticaloa, Saturday evening.
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LTTE releases Sri Lankan Policeman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 August 2006, 11:50 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers on Saturday handed over the Sri Lankan Policeman, B.W.Bopetigoda, who was held in LTTE custody since October 2005. The realease was made following a request for goodwill-gesture from the outgoing Head of SLMM Major General Ulf Henricsson, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said.
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INGOs leave Jaffna, ICRC UN Agencies stay

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 August 2006, 11:38 GMT]
Several International Non Government Organizations (INGOs) are pulling out their staff from northern Jaffna peninsula following escalation of fighting between the Liberation Tigers and Sri Lankan government troops. Foreign staffs attached to Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), World Vision, Caritas, PARCK, Danish De-Minning Group and Sewa Lanka staffs left Jaffna by boat flying ICRC flag, sources at the Jaffna Secratariat said.
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6 SLA troopers killed, 4 wounded in Thenmaradchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 August 2006, 09:36 GMT]
Six Sri Lanka Army troopers were killed in a bomb explosion between Eluthumadduval and Muhamalai Saturday around 11:00 a.m. SLA sources said. The SLA troopers were on a road clearing mission when the explosion occurred. Four troopers, wounded in the explosion were rushed to Karainagar Sri Lanka Navy hospital, military sources said.
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ICRC ferry transports 150 passengers from Jaffna to Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 August 2006, 06:54 GMT]
A ferry, Seruwa, flying the flag of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) that left the port of Trincomalee Friday, is transporting 150 of aroud 5000 persons waiting for transport from Jaffna on Saturday. Foreign nationals from the International NGOs, except UN, ICRC, and a few other NGOs, are among the first to be transported from Jaffna, cut off by renewed fighting, sources at Jaffna District Secretariat said.
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LTTE cadre killed, 2 policemen wounded in Amparai

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 22:44 GMT]
A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre was killed and two policemen riding in a three-wheeler were wounded, in a shootout on Thambiluvil Road in Amparai district Friday noon, Thirukkovil Police said. The LTTE cadre was gunned down when the policemen retaliated after an attack, police claimed. Meanwhile, LTTE Political Head in Amparai, Jeya, said the person shot dead was a political cadre of the Tigers.
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Volunteer teachers hold protest march in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 22:39 GMT]
Batticaloa district volunteer teachers who have been on a hunger strike and picketing in front of the zonal education office on rotation basis for the last three weeks demanding permanent appointment held a protest procession Friday to draw the attention of religious leaders of all faiths, politicians, government officers in support of their demands. The agitation campaign, which was earlier called off following the announcement by Colombo, with the promise that interviews would take place between August 1 and August 8, resumed, as there was no interview letter issued by the Sri Lankan Education Ministry.
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LTTE to release Sri Lankan policeman

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 16:08 GMT]
The leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), on Friday, decided to release the third Sri Lankan Policeman held in custody since October 2005. The decision was made following a request for goodwill-gesture from the outgoing Head of SLMM Major General Ulf Henricsson, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said.
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Thamilchelvan thanks Nordic EU Members

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 13:37 GMT]
The outgoing Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Major General Ulf Henricsson and the newly appointed Acting Head of Mission, Major General Lars Johan Sølvberg, met Liberation Tigers Political Head Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan in Kilinochchi Friday evening. Mr. Thamilchelvan, on behalf of the LTTE leadership, thanked Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson for his courageous and determined efforts, at the risk of his own safety, to resolve the Maavilaru dispute and thanked the truce monitors of Nordic EU Member States for their "four and a half year profound service."
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Fish trader shot dead in Manipay, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 12:53 GMT]
Motorbike riding gunmen shot and killed a fish salesman near Kaddudai Junction, in Manipay on Friday, at around 8 a.m., after following the trader as he rode to work in a motorcycle, after the lifting of the curfew.
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Silent protest in Mannar demanding the release of disappeared Allaipiddy Priest

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 12:40 GMT]
A silent protest march was held Friday morning in Mannar town demanding the release of the disappeared Allaipiddy Parish Priest Rev.Nihal Jim Brown. The march began around 10.15 a.m. from Mannar St.Sebastian Church arrived at Mannar District Secretariat building at about 11 a.m. About six thousand people including the Head of the Mannar Diocese and Parish Priests of Pallimunai and Mannar and other several priests, nuns numbering about seventy five and parliamentarian Mr.Vino Noharathalingam and representatives of EPRLF (Suresh Wing) and TELO and other humanitarian and civil rights' groups participated in the march carrying placards with the photograph of missing priest.
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Sri Lankan C-in-C, Rajapakse or Weerawanse, asks UNP MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 11:26 GMT]
UNP Puttalam District parliamentarian Johnston Fernando Thursday told reporters recent developments aimed at motivating armed forces of Sri Lanka had cast doubts on whether the Commander in Chief (C-in-C) of Sri Lanka was Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawanse or Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. Wimal Weerawanse's demeanor during his address to the Sri Lankan soldiers in the recent "Manel Mal" (Water Lily) ceremonies was more like a C-in-C than a party secretary, the UNP MP said.
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Paramilitary detonates explosive laden motorbike with teenager - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 11:01 GMT]
Paramilitary cadres operated by the Sri Lanka Army in Batticaloa district, sent a 19-year-old boy in a motorbike with explosives towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Forward Defence Line (FDL) and detonated the bike Thursday around 1:00 p.m., said LTTE's Batticaloa District Political Head P. Daya Mohan.
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Thondaman, Chandrasekaran join UPFA government

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 10:13 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) led by Mr.Arumugan Thondaman and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) led by Mr.Periyasamy Chandrasekaran Friday joined the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government led by President Mahinda Rajapakse, political sources said.
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3 Tamil youths abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 08:50 GMT]
Unidentified men riding in 3 cars abducted three Tamil youths in a lodge on Grandpass Street in Colombo 14, Wednesday, according to the employees at the lodge. The lodge owners have informed their relatives and police about the abduction. The abdoctors had claimed they were taking the youths for interrogation.
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Karuna Group child recruits, government links worry HRW

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 08:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s government was colluding in the recruitment of children by anti-Tamil Tiger paramilitary groups, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. Warning that the links between the Karuna Group and the government “seem to be very clear,” HRW senior legal adviser James Ross said a new worry for HRW was the abduction of children by the Karuna Group. Ross also condemned the LTTE for recruiting fighters under the age of 18 – a practice the LTTE says has ceased.
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Fresh SLA offensive move from Muhamalai thwarted - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 07:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers two-pronged fresh move to take on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) FDL positions in Muhamalai area, Friday morning, amid bombing by Kfir jets, artillery fire and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire directed towards LTTE territory in the Northern Front, was thwarted by the Tigers, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said. The Kfir bombers also dropped bombs in Mullaithivu Friday.
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STF kills 5 Tamil youths in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 05:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) personnel who came from Navatkerny, a suburb of Batticaloa town, where an STF patrol was targeted in a grenade attack, shot and killed five Tamil youths in the nearby New Muhathuvaram Road Cemetery Junction, 3 km northeast of the town, Thursday night around 7:45 p.m. The killings were carried out by STF men as "revenge killings" for the grenade attack, civilian sources said. The STF has claimed that the killed persons were Tigers carrying weapons. Meanwhile, the STF trooper, wounded in the grenade attack at Navatkerny, later succumbed to his wounds when he was airlifted to Colombo hospital, medical sources said.
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Two men killed in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 05:23 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier in mufti and another person were shot dead in Vavuniya, around 9:15 p.m, Thursday. The soldier was identified by an SLA officer who visited the site, as D.M.Dissanayake, 33.
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Kfir bombers over Vanni, SLA fires MBRL rockets

[TamilNet, Friday, 25 August 2006, 05:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets, for the fourth day, flew over Vanni from 8:10 a.m. Friday. A reconnaissance aircraft was observed from 7:55 a.m. and continued to fly also after the Kfir jets had left the Vanni airspace. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) began firing Mulit-Barrel Rocket Launcher shells towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territory from 8:20 a.m.
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UN worker shot dead in Thambiluvil

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 23:56 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a worker employed by an UN agency UNOPS in Amparai district Thursday morning around 9 a.m. at Munaiyoorkalam in Thambiluvil in Amparai district.The UN workers was identified 29 year-old P.Jestly Julian, a native of Komari and father of two children. Armed men who came in a motor bike took him from his office to a place to Munaiyoorkalam and shot him.
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Another Christian priest reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 23:48 GMT]
A priest of Christian Church of the Apostle has been reported missing in Jaffna since August 11, according to a complaint made by a fellow priest at the Jaffna office of Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission. Rev. Fr. Vincent Vinodharaja, 35, father of one, had left his home at Ellaiththeru village in Meesalai in Thenmaradchi, Jaffna, on August 11. He is the second priest to be reported missing since the fighting broke out in Jaffna.
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Sri Lanka on EU FMs' agenda

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 23:39 GMT]
The situation in Sri Lanka is amongst matters European Union Foreign Ministers will discuss Friday afternoon at a meeting in Brussels, officials said. The 'extraordinary' meeting of EU Foreign ministers is primarily to deal with contributions to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon by the EU member states, but will also consider other international matters, according to Finnish news agency STT.
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Clashes erupt in Vavuniya, A9 Omanthai entry point closed after brief opening

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 17:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) closed the Omanthai entry point from the SLA controlled Vavuniya to Liberation Tigers controlled Vanni, after opening the gates for a while Thursday. SLA soldiers fired mortar shells towards LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) claiming that the Tigers had fired 10 mortar shells towards SLA FDL. Meanwhile, two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres were killed at Semamadu FDL, the SLA sources in Vavuniya claimed to have recovered one body. An SLA trooper was killed at Mamadu FDL, 8 km northeast of Vavuniya, in a clash between the SLA and LTTE cadres, Vavuniya Police said.
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Armed men attack Black Tiger Miller statue in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 17:20 GMT]
Armed men who entered the premises of Nelliaydi Central College, Wednesday night, destroyed the memorial and the statue of the first Black Tiger, Captain Miller. The statue, interpreted as the symbol of the destruction of Nelliyadi Sri Lanka Army camp, located in the SLA captured Vadamaradchi during the Eelam War I, 19 years ago, in 1987, was later hidden and saved by the residents during the Eelam War III SLA occupation of Jaffna in 1996, before being raised again in 2002.
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Policeman, civilian killed, one soldier injured in separate incidents in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 13:38 GMT]
A police constable and a Tamil civilian were killed and a soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was injured in three separate incidents that took place Wednesday evening and Thursday morning in Batticaloa district.
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EU ban gave Sri Lanka Carte Blanche - SLMM Head

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 12:42 GMT]
Major General Ulf Henricsson, the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), in an interview to AFP, Thursday, criticised the European Union for having ignored a "seven-point memo" sent by the SLMM before banning the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The EU ruling meant the Sri Lankan government thought it had "carte blanche" to take on the Tigers, the outgoing Head of Mission said adding that he had become "more convinced than other" that there would be no military solution to the Sri Lankan crisis.
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Education International deplores Sencholai children killing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 11:28 GMT]
“Education International (EI) is of great concern that in the recent escalation of hostilities, children are more often the victims. Education International particularly deplores the death of dozens of teenage school girls in the Sencholai children home in Mullaitivu as a result of bombings,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapakse.
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SLAF Kfir jets bomb Vadamaradchi East

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 10:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers Thursday morning bombed Kattaikadu area in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam controlled Vadamaradchi East twice on Thursday. SLAF bombers dropped three bombs around 8:50 a.m. and at least four, later around 10:50 a.m. at Kattaikadu. Civilians from a Tsunami shelter took refuge at the bunkers. Fishermen's boats took fire in the attack. SLAF sources in Colombo claimed that the Kfir jets hit a Sea Tiger naval camp in the Vadamaradchi East.
Full story >>

Armed men destroy NGO office in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 09:10 GMT]
A group of armed persons, believed to be paramilitary men working with Sri Lanka Army (SLA), entered the Jaffna District Secretariat of the NGO, Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), located on Temple Road, smashed the computers and accessories and set-fire to the building, destroying tools and data inside the office Wednesday night during the curfew hours. The TRO Jaffna office, opposite the UN officials' residence and close to many UN offices including UNHCR, UNICEF and UNDP, and several international organizations, is located 200 meters away from the SLA checkposts at Kailayapillayar temple.
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Claymore mine explosion in Pesalai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 08:12 GMT]
A claymore mine explosion took place Thursday morning around 11.15 a.m.targetting a group of soldiers of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on patrol duty along Talaimannar road near the office of the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) in Pesalai in Mannar district. Four SLN soldiers were also on duty at the site.
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LTTE confers Maamanithar award on Sivamaharaja

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 06:31 GMT]
Leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam, V. Pirapaharan, Tuesday, posthumously conferred Mamanithar (Great human being) award, the highest national honour granted by the LTTE, to Sinnathamby Sivamaharaja. He was the Managing Director of Jaffna Tamil daily "Namathu Eelanadu" until his death on Sunday when he was shot and killed at his residence located inside the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Tellippallai.
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First time aid in ten days to Jaffna-ICRC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 05:35 GMT]
A ship sailing under the flag of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) finally left the port of Colombo Tuesday heading to Jaffna. "The ship contains urgently needed relief to the displaced and resident population of the Jaffna peninsula," said Mr.Vanderhove, ICRC Head of delegation in Colombo, according to a press release issued by the ICRC Wednesday evening.
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Auto-rickshaw driver shot dead in Trinco town

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 05:11 GMT]
Unidentified armed person shot dead a Tamil civilian, along Beach Road in Trincomalee town, around 3.30 p.m., Wednesday, police said. . He was identified as Shanmugarajah Suthakar of Bharathipuram, a suburb located along Trincomalee-Kanniya road.
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Civil and Military officials discuss restoring normalcy in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 August 2006, 04:43 GMT]
Civil and Military Officials in Jaffna District held a discussion Wednesday, evening around 4.00 p.m. in the Palaly Military Base to find ways to restore normalcy in the peninsula where an abnormal atmosphere prevails with the imposition of curfew since the outbreak of fresh fighting between the Sri Lanka forces and LTTE.
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RSF condemns Sivamaharajah assassination

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 20:32 GMT]
"The journalists and employees of Tamil news media continue to be eliminated at a horrific pace," said the France based media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF). The organisation condemned the slaying of Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, the managing director of the Tamil-language daily Namathu Eelanadu Sunday night in Tellippalai.
Full story >>

Woman shot dead in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 19:54 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a forty year old woman along Aboobucker Road close to Vaitheeswara Junction in the heart of Jaffna town Wednesday morning around 9.30 a.m. The woman was identified as Ms Balasingham Puvaneswary.
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SLA directs artillery fire towards LTTE area in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 18:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) from its Vavunativu camp directed artillery fire on Wednesday from morning 7.00 a.m. till evening 5.00 p.m towards the LTTE controlled Vavunativu and Ayiththiyamalai area in Manmunai West Divisional Secretariat Division.
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Jaffna Magistrate, academicians visit undergrad under detention

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 18:40 GMT]
Jaffna Magistrate Mr.R.T.Viknarajah and a group of academicians including Professor Sivachandran, Dean of Art Faculty, and Dr.Sri Satkunarajah of Science Faculty Tuesday visited Mr.Paheerathan, Third Year Art Student who has been kept under detention order in the Special Police Detention Centre located in Kankesnathurai. Mr.Paheerathan is a representative of the Jaffna University Students Union.
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Patients not allowed through Omanthai checkpoint to Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 12:26 GMT]
Seven patients including four children, two pregnant women and an old man sent in an ambulance by Kilinochchi general hospital for emergency treatment in Vavuniya general hospital on August 20 were not allowed to enter government controlled territory through Omanthai SLA checkpoint. SLA soldiers sent them back to Killinochchi hospital, civil sources said.
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Woman shot dead in Vadamaradchchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 12:11 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a forty year old woman Manoharan Rajini, mother of four children Tuesday morning around 7.30 a.m. in front of the welfare centre at Sakkotai in Vadamaradchchi division in Jaffna district where she had been residing on being displaced from Palaly which is located in the high security zone.
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Swiss TRO sends fund for IDPs in Vaharai, Eachchilampathu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 07:05 GMT]
Swiss Tamil Rehabilitation Organization TRO) has donated a sum of Rupees Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand as a first phase to provide urgent food and essential items to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Tamil civilians now sheltered in temporary structures in LTTE held Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district and Vaharai division in Batticaloa district, TRO sources said.
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Jaffna journalists appeal to International Community for help

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 06:58 GMT]
North Sri Lanka Journalists Association (NSLJA), in a press release, issued Tuesday, appealed to the International Community's help to stop the attacks on media persons, media workers and media institutions in Jaffna Peninsula, sources in Jaffna said.
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SL parliament to debate North East situation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 06:50 GMT]
A special debate on the volatile situation in the North East province is to be held in Sri Lanka's Parliament Wednesday. Leaders of political parties represented in parliament Tuesday agreed to the request by Mr.R.Sampanthan, parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), parliamentary sources said.
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Two men killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 18:58 GMT]
A man alleged to be an informant of the Sri Lanka Army was shot dead at Kilavi Thoddam in Karaveddy, around 5 p.m., Tuesday. He was identified as Perumal Chandrakumar,44. Separately, a vegetable vendor was shot dead while he was on his way to Chunnakam public market, around 8 a.m., soon after after the curfew was lifted.
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Tigers compelled to defend against Sri Lanka’s aggression - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 17:20 GMT]
Responding to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s call for the LTTE to declare its commitment to the ceasefire, the head of the LTTE’s Political Wing, Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan said that it was the Colombo government which launched a major military offensive in Trincomalee against the Tigers and thereby triggered defensive measures by the Tigers resulting in an escalation of hostilities. "The Norwegian facilitators and the SLMM monitors are witness to the fact that Colombo deliberately chose to launch an offensive in Maavilaru despite the civil dispute being resolved peacefully," Mr. Thamilchelvan said.
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Three persons shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 16:04 GMT]
Three persons were shot dead by unidentified men Tuesday in separate incidents in Trincomalee. One Tamil civilian was shot dead Tuesday afternoon around 2 p.m. at Murugapuri , a suburb in Uppuveli police division, about five km off north of east port town. He was identified as one Balachchandran, a three-wheeler by profession.
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Civilians cross open lines-ICRC

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 13:21 GMT]
Since Monday, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated a convoy of civilians going from Killinochchi to Vavuniya. The convoy consisted 243 persons, including 61 foreign citizens and 182 Sri Lankan nationals, said the press release of the ICRC Tuesday
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Catholic priest reported missing in Allaipiddy, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 13:17 GMT]
Rev.Fr. Thiruchelvam Nihal Jim Brown, Age 34, Parish Priest Allaippiddy, Jaffna is reported missing since 20 August 2006, according to a news release issued by the NorthEast Secretariat of Human Rights.
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Snake-bitten girl dies, SLA checking delayed treatment

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 11:33 GMT]
A 13-year-old girl, bitten by a poisonous snake Tuesday early morning around 3:00 a.m., died on her way to hospital during the curfew-hours as there was no ambulance available to transport her to the hospital and the three wheeler which brought her to Jaffna Teaching Hospital from Kopay to Jaffna, via Rasa Veethi, was subjected to check and interrogation in every check point and road block by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). The father of the girl said she breathed last in his hands when the three-wheeler reached Jaffna hopital with 3 hour delay.
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Bodies of two women washed ashore in Pungudutivu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 10:51 GMT]
Bodies of two women washed ashore along 29th Road of Ward No: 2 in Pungudutivu in Jaffna district were handed over to the mortuary of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital on Monday around 9.30 p.m.
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Claymore mine recovered in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 09:29 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police Tuesday morning around 9:30 a.m. recovered a "powerful" Claymore mine fitted to a bicycle used for selling vegetables at Borella in Colombo city. The cycle was abandoned in front of a shop along D.S.Senanayake Mawatte, the police said.
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Sampoor threatens Trinco Harbour - Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 09:20 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Monday told the representatives of the Co-Chairs of Tokyo Donors’ Conference for the Sri Lankan Peace Process, that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Sampoor posed a threat to Trincomalee Harbour and justified the Sri Lankan armed forces offensive as "preventing" or "responding" to Tigers. However, informed sources in Colombo said the humanitarian crisis escalated by the Maavilaru offensive, initiated by Colombo and the targeting of civilians in air-strikes and the slaying of NGO workers in Muthur, were discussed at the meeting between the Sri Lankan President and the diplomats representing the Co-Chairs.
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Eight on LTTE-related charges in US

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 07:18 GMT]
US authorities Monday charged eight men with providing material support to the Tamil Tigers the US Justice Department said. Amongst the charges are conspiring to buy surface to air missiles for the Tamil Tigers and bribing US officials to have the LTTE removed from a list of terrorist organizations and to obtain classified intelligence, a statement said. The evidence include consensual recordings of telephone conversations and meetings with US officials, it added. The Tigers deny any involvement in the activities of the arrested individuals whilst Sri Lanka hailed the move.
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SLMM regroups in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 07:07 GMT]
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry Monday announced that the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) overseeing the Ceasefire between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was regrouping it's Scandinavian monitors in Colombo temporarily. 39 of SLMM's 57 members, from Nordic EU Member States, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, were being called home as the Tigers viewed the EU proscription affecting impartiality required from the CFA monitors from the formal engagement of Ceasefire Monitoring between them and the GoSL.
Full story >>

Limited SLAF flights to Palaly

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 22 August 2006, 06:40 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has resumed limited flights between Ratmalana air base in Colombo and the Palaly airbase on the Jaffna peninsula, military sources in Colombo said. Taking off and landing at Palaly is restricted to late evening or night and the number of trips has been limited to two.
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SLA bans Colombo bound heavy vehicles from east

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 19:40 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has imposed a total ban on heavy vehicles transporting cargo such as fish, and other perishable goods from the districts of Amparai and Batticaloa to Colombo. These vehicles are stopped at Welikanda and Ottamavadi and sent back to Batticaloa and Amparai. The ban has come into effect since Saturday, civil sources said.
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SL Navy arrests more Tamil civilians fleeing to Tamilnadu

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 12:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy Sunday night arrested another batch of 76 Tamil civilians in Mannar mid sea when they were fleeing to Tamilnadu in two fibre glass boats. Eleven boatmen were taken into custody by SLN personnel with the two fibre glass boats. All civilians were residents of Pesalai and Vankalai in Mannar district and, Thirukadaloor and Salli in Trincomalee district.
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CHC provides emergency medical treatment for Wanni displaced

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 10:24 GMT]
Centre for Health Care (CHC) mobile medical team, on Saturday and Sunday conducted emergency medical clinics for the recent internally displaced civilians at the Punnaineeravi Mahavidyalayam and Udayarkaddu Mahavidyalayam, in Kilinochchi said health care workers.
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Former Norwegian Army Chief to head SLMM

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 09:55 GMT]
The next head of the international ceasefire monitors in Sri Lanka is former Norwegian Army chief, Maj. Gen. Lars Johan Sølvberg, diplomatic sources said Monday. Maj. Gen. Sølvberg will take over as head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) from Swedish Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson at the end of the month.
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Jaffna bound civilians stranded in Vavuniya for 11 days

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 09:31 GMT]
More than five hundred Tamil civilians bound for Jaffna district stranded in Vavuniya for the last eleven days Monday morning gathered in the Vavuniya district secretariat urging the civil authorities to take steps to send them to the peninsula.
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Police, SLA search operation in Valaichchenai, many detained

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 06:56 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troopers and police cordoned off and searched several villages falling within the Valaichchenai police division Sunday from 5:30 a.m. to 12 noon, arresting more than 200 men. The arrested residents were taken to Kalmadu army camp where they were photographed and interrogated. The Armed forces later released many of the arrested but are still holding an unknown number of residents in their base, said civil sources in Batticaloa.
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Manchcholai hospital quarters attacked

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 06:39 GMT]
Medical officer quarters located in Manchcholai government hospital was damaged when unidentified persons opened fire on the building on Sunday early morning around 1:10 a.m. Employees of the hospital struck work demanding security, police sources said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Valaichchenai

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 04:52 GMT]
Unknown gunmen Sunday night around 8:45 p.m. shot and killed a Tamil youth, Subramaniam Chelvakumar, 18, a day before his wedding was scheduled to take place, Police said.
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SLA directs artillery fire towards Batticaloa LTTE-areas

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 04:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Saturday night around 8:30 p.m. directed artillery and mortar bombs from its military installations in Vavunativu, Kommathurai, Kiran, Pulipainthakal and Meeravodai towards border areas held by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Batticaloa district. The attack continued for about one and a half hours, residents said.
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SLRC worker shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 04:45 GMT]
Gunmen riding motorbike shot and killed a Sri Lanka Red Cross employee, Nagarasa Thavaranjitham, 24, Sunday night around 10:00 p.m. at his residence in Chettikulam, Vavuniya, Police said.
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Sivamaharajah assassinated

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 03:48 GMT]
Managing Director of Jaffna Tamil daily "Namathu Eelanadu" and the veteran chairman of Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) in Tellippalai, Jaffna, Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, 68, was shot and killed at his temporary residence inside the High Security Zone of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Tellippalai Sunday night around 7:20 p.m. Mr. Sivamaharajah is a former parliamentarian (TULF) and a senior member of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
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Eachchilampathu IDPs face dire shortage of food

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 August 2006, 03:18 GMT]
About 12 thousand internally displaced Tamils from 2956 families trapped in LTTE held villages in Eachchilampathu division in the Trincomalee district following continuous aerial bombardment and artillery fire directed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from its military installations in east port town and its suburbs have been facing starvation as food and essential materials are not supplied by non-governmental organizations and the government agencies since the fighting broke out, civil sources said.
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EU ban on LTTE hurt peace efforts – Hanssen-Bauer

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 22:15 GMT]
Norwegian Special Envoy John Hanssen-Bauer has questioned the European Union's decision, taken last May, to classify Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers as terrorists, the BBC reported Sunday. Mr. Hanssen-Bauer told the BBC that the EU move had damaged the chances of renewed talks, aimed at ending the recent upsurge in violence.
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Policemen guarding Karuna group office injured in friendly fire

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 21:05 GMT]
Two policemen guarding the Batticaloa office of paramilitary Karuna group were injured when the gun of a fellow policeman went off accidentally, around 12:15 p.m., Sunday. Both policemen were immediately admitted at the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital.
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SLA arrests 3 brothers in Punkudutheevu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 16:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and arrested three brothers from their house at 10th ward in Punkudutheevu, islet north of Jaffna, around 10:30 p.m., Saturday, according to a complaint made by theie relatives at the Human Rights Commission (HRC). SLA's Civil Adminstration authorities have, however, informed the relatives that they do not have any information about the arrest of the brothers.
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Vallipunam air-strike victims photos released

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 14:23 GMT]
Principals Assocaitions of Mullaitivu and Kandavalai who organized the course for schoolgirls from 18 schools from three educational zones in Vanni released Friday names list. On Saturday, the organisors released the list of victims with photos.
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"Let civilians flee, allow relief through" - UNHCR

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 13:36 GMT]
"Some 15,000 to 20,000 people are now displaced in the Killinochchi area as a result of repeated [Sri Lankan] artillery shelling and air strikes," the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said this week. Calling on the Colombo government and the Liberation Tigers "to urgently allow aid workers free access to all parts of the island so that vital supplies can reach those cut off by fighting," UNHCR appealed for them "to permit freedom of movement to all civilians displaced by their conflict." Since April UNHCR says 162,000 people have become internally displaced, while 7,439 have become refugees in Tamil Nadu.
Full story >>

Mannar Tamil girls arrested in Negombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 13:14 GMT]
Ten Tamil girls who are residents of Mannar district working in a garment factory located in Negombo in the Western Province were arrested by Peliyagoda Police Wednesday. They had been residing in a house when they were taken into custody by the police on suspicion.
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SL Navy arrests Tamils fleeing to Tamil Nadu, Indian trawler seized

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 13:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy Saturday night arrested about 85 Tamil civilians including men, women and children fleeing in an Indian fishing trawler to seek refuge in Tamilnadu in India. The SLN sailors seized the Indian trawler with its three member crew all are Indian nationals in mid sea from the coast of Mannar.
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Uyilankulam, Madhu check points' closure affects Tamil civilians

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 13:06 GMT]
Since the closure of Uyilankulam and Madhu checkpoints in Mannar district by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from August 11 acute shortage for food, fuel and medicine is prevailing in LTTE held villages located in the divisions of Manthai West and Madhu as transport of such items is not allowed through these checkpoints.
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19 detainees released

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 10:18 GMT]
Nineteen Tamil youths who were arrested by Sri Lanka Army soldiers during a search operation in Chavakachcheri on Friday were relesed Saturday, Human Rights Commission officials said.
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LTTE Commander Sornam's brother killed in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 07:20 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen Sunday morning shot and killed Joseph Vasthiampillai Sebarajah, the brother of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Special Commander Col. Sornam in Trincomalee. Mr. Vasthiampillai, also known as Arul, aged about 40, is the eldest brother of Col. Sornam, was a trader, running a video centre and a bookshop in Trincomalee town. The killing took place around 11:00 a.m. in the Grand Bazaar area in Trincomalee town Sunday.
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Claymore blast injures police sergeant

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2006, 06:53 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Police Sergeant was injured in a claymore blast at Saalambaikulam, about 7 k.m., west of Vavuniya on the Mannar road, around 7:30 a.m., Sunday, police in the northern town said.
Full story >>

Uthayan newspaper warehouse burnt down in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 17:10 GMT]
Warehouse of the Uthayan, Tamil daily published from Jaffna district was burnt down by four unidentified armed men, Friday night, while curfew was in force. The warehouse is located along Rasa Veethi in Kopay.
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Colombo aggravates humanitarian crisis in NorthEast – NGO forum head

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 15:32 GMT]
Head of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) forum in Kilinochchi, Mr Ganesapillai, speaking at a press conference Wednesday accused the Sri Lankan government of deliberately blocking food and other supplies to civilians living in Vanni and Jaffna. "The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) is not allowing supply vehicles to pass through the check posts located at the entry points to the Vanni region. Governments agents for Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu have requested the GOSL to instruct the SLA to open the roads so that all supplies can pass through to civilians in Vanni and Jaffna but the Colombo Government has been withholding issueing such directive," said Mr.Ganesapillai.
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Four men killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 15:29 GMT]
Four young men were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Jaffna Peninsula, in separate incidents, after curfew was relaxed in the Valikamam sector at 12 noon, Saturday, police sources said. The curfew was reimposed at 5 p.m.
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Police attacked in Vavuniya, two AK rifles recovered

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 13:04 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen fired at a police party at Kurumankadu in front of Kalaimagal pre-school, about 1 k.m. west of Vavuniya on the Mannar road, around 1 p.m., Saturday. Two AK rifles were recoved during the susequent search operation in the area, police said.
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SLN slaps restrictions on civilian movement from Jaffna Islets

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 11:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has barred all members except one in each family to travel to Jaffna mainland from Jaffna Islets from noon Friday, residents of Kayts said. Hundreds of families who were planning to relocate to areas in Jaffna mainland seeking safety are prevented from relocating even though the Security Forces have lifted the curfew for five hours from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
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Two men shot, killed by SLA in Karaveddy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 11:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers shot and killed two men in early thirties in Vadamaradchy East, Karaveddy at midnight 12:10 a.m Friday, sources in Jaffna said. The bodies of the men, yet to be identified, are still lying in front of a business premises along Sengunthar Road, near Kalikovil.
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Valaichenai civilian shot dead, body of youth found in Kallady

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 07:58 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen Friday night around 8.45 p.m. shot dead a Tamil civilian at Vinayagapuram in Valaichchenai police division about 32 km off north of Batticaloa town. The victim has been identified as Poopalapillai Koneswaran, 45, a father of four children. Meanwhile, a multilated body with stab wounds in the neck and abdomen was found in near clock tower Saturday at 6:00 a.m in Kallady, Batticaloa by kattankudy police division, police sources said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 07:56 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a Tamil youth Saturday morning around 7 a.m at Ellapar Maruthankulam in Vavuniya police division, police sources said. The dead youth was identified as Karuneeswaran Kandeepan, 23, from Asikulam area in Vavuniya.
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SLA troopers enter University premises in Jaffna, arrest student leader

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 07:05 GMT]
Large number of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers rounded up the Jaffna University, broke open the office of the Jaffna University Students Federation, arrested a student activist and took away the computers and documents, Friday, while the curfew was strictly observed, student sources said.
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Vallipunam organisors urge UNICEF to ensure safe learning environment

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 August 2006, 06:13 GMT]
General Secretaries of Principals Association in Mullaithivu District and Kandavalai (Kilinochchi), representing the organisors of the Vallipunam residential training for schoolgirls, handed over an appeal on Friday to Ms. Penny Brune, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Kilinochchi, urging the International Community to take immediate steps to stop Sri Lankan armed forces attacks on Tamil educational institutions.
Full story >>

Thousand civilians enter LTTE held Vanni region

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 15:48 GMT]
Stranded Tamil civilians in Vavuniya town for about six days were allowed to travel through Omanthai check point to the LTTE held districts of Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya North division in the Vavuniya district Friday. The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) reopened the Vavuniya-Omanthai check point Friday afternoon around 2.30 p.m for limited hours due to combined effort taken by Mr.Kishore Sivanathan, Vanni district parliamentarian and officials of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and Vavuniya district secretariat.
Full story >>

US to provide USD 50 000 water, sanitation assistance to Trinco victims

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 14:42 GMT]
United States Embassy in Colombo in a press release issued on Friday said the US released Rs. 5,000,000 to provide water and sanitation services to immediate assistance to people affected by recent fighting in Trincomalee district. "We are providing this assistance to help the displaced from all communities in Sri Lanka," USAID Mission Director Dr. Carol Becker said. "We repeat that there is no possible military solution to this conflict. We urge both sides to cease hostilities immediately to alleviate a yet larger humanitarian crisis."
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SLA fresh offensive thwarted - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 14:29 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers on Friday launched an offensive through Kandalkadu area, located between Nagarkovil Forward Defence Line (FDL) and Muhamalai FDL, inside the Liberaton Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territory, LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media in Kilinochchi.
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SLAF bombers destroy tsunami-boat yard

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 14:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers bombed and destroyed a boat yard, at Nellian in the Vadamaradchi East, around noon, Friday . The boat yard was built in February 2005 under 'Back to Sea' project, a Post Tsunami Rapid Rehabilitation Development Service, to help fishermen affected by 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Two workers were wounded in the attack. The boat yard was funded by the Norwegian and Malaysian branches of Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).
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SLA allows travelling to Batticaloa LTTE areas for limited hours

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 14:08 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Friday agreed to relax the ban on travelling for limited hours to areas held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Batticaloa district following repeated requests made by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to President Mahinda Rajapakse, TNA sources said.
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21 bodies recovered in Kilali

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 13:46 GMT]
Kodikamam Police Friday recovered bodies of 16 men and 5 women in Kilali area where heavy fighting was reported recently. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was making arrangements to bury the bodies as the bodies were in highly decomposed state. Chavakacheri Magistrate A. Premsankar was visiting the area Friday with the Police officials.
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Cash flow low in Jaffna due to closure of banks

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 13:40 GMT]
Cash flow is decreased to minimum among the people in Jaffna district following the continuous closure of branches of state banks for about a week since the outbreak of fresh fight between the Sri Lanka forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters. Customers who have saving and current accounts in state banks are unable to withdraw their money for their immediate use, civil sources said.
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Humanitarian, relief assistance to LTTE held villages in Amparai suspended

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 12:27 GMT]
It has been reported that humanitarian assistance and other relief measures reaching war affected families in areas held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Amparai district has come to a halt due to ban by Special Task Force (STF) deployed at Kanchirankudah on officials engaged in such works visiting these villages." It's a crime against humanity," said Mr.Jeya, Amparai District LTTE political head.
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Trader shot dead in Kattankudy

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 12:21 GMT]
A shop owner was shot and killed Friday at around 2 a.m. in Thalankuda in the Kattankudy PC division, said sources in Batticaloa. The trader was sleeping in his shop at Thalankuda main road when unknown gunmen using a 9mm pistol fired at him and escaped, Batticaloa sources said.
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SLA re-opens Omanthai checkpoint for stranded civilians to travel

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 09:47 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army Friday afternoon around 2 p.m. re-opened the Vavuniya Omanthai check point enabling stranded civilians in Vavuniya town to travel to their areas in the LTTE held Wanni region. About eight hundred Tamil civilians including around 260 public servants had been stranded in Vavuniya since the closure of Vavuniya-Omanthai check point, sources said.
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Sencholai air-strike killed 55, details released

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 09:25 GMT]
Director of Education for Kilinochchi district, T Kurukularaja, and Director of Education for Mullaitivu district, P Ariyaradnam, have informed their respective Government Agents the details of the 55 victims killed in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing on Sencholai campus in Vallipunam Monday.
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SLA arrests 16 Tamil civilians in Chavakachcheri

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 09:20 GMT]
Sixteen Tamil civilians were arrested by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) when they were conducting a cordon and search operation in Chavakachcheri town and its suburbs Allarai, Periyamawadi, Kappachchi Mavadi and Kovilkuddiruppu Thursday afternoon from 12.30 p.m. till 4.30 p.m. About five thousand civilians were taken to Chavakachcheri Hindu College and were produced before a masked man who identified these sixteen civilians. They were detained in the Varani SLA camp. Relations of the arrested civilians immediately lodged complaints with the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), civilians sources said.
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Kfir jets fly over Vanni

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 08:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets were observed at high altitude over Kilinochchi around 1:00 p.m. Friday.
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SLN denies civilian movement to Jaffna Islets

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 August 2006, 07:48 GMT]
Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) guarding the Pannai Causeway, which connects Jaffna town with the islet villages of Mandaithivu, Allaippiddy, Mankumban and Kayts, continued to deny permission to internally displaced people to move to or from Jaffna town, civil society sources said.
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TNA briefs Swiss diplomats on NE situation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 20:04 GMT]
A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary delegation Wednesday briefed Mr.Y.V.E.S. Nicoler, First Secretary and Mr.M.R.C.Mark Andre Vunzely, Assistant Secretary of the Swiss Embassy in Colombo about the massive internal displacement of Tamil people in the North East following indiscriminate aerial and artillery bombardment by the Sri Lanka forces. All land and water routes to the LTTE held areas in the Batticaloa district have been closed by the SLA, TNA delegation told Swiss diplomats, sources said.
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Canada must break silence on atrocities in Sri Lanka - Albina Guarnieri

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 19:12 GMT]
It is time Canada sent a forceful message to the Sri Lankan Government that it must now be held to account for a long series of atrocities by its military, said Albina Guarnieri, Member of Canadian Parliament and a former Minister of Veterans Affairs, in a press statement issued on Tuesday.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister condemns Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 15:42 GMT]
Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister (CM) of the southern Tamil Nadu state of India, has condemned the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing in Vallipunam in Mullaithivu district in NorthEast Sri Lanka, where tens of schoolgirls were killed and more than 100 wounded Monday. Describing the SLAF air-strike as an "atrocious and inhumane act", the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, home to 60 million Tamils in India, has urged the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, to request the Sri Lankan government to hold talks to settle the issue peacefully and stop killing innocent Tamils.
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Hartal in Mannar, demonstration in Musali condemning students' massacre

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 15:06 GMT]
General shut down and demonstration was held in Mannar district Thursday condemning the killing of students in Puthukudiruppu Sencholai children home and Tamil civilians elsewhere in the North East by aerial bombardment carried out by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and artillery fire by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources said.
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Stranded Tamil civilians in Vavuniya demand opening of A9 highway

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 12:30 GMT]
About six hundred Tamil civilians stranded in Vavuniya due to the closure of Vavuniya-Omanthai Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check point Thursday morning held a protest in front of the office of the Vavuniya District Secretariat demanding that they should be sent to their villages and towns in the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Killinochchi, sources said.
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Pandemonium at Colombo peace rally

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 12:18 GMT]
There was pandemonium in the peace rally organized by the National Anti-War Front (NAWF) held Thursday evening at Viharamahadevi Park when a group of members of the Sinhala extreme National Bhikku Front (NBF) arrived at the site carrying a banner asking the organizers of the NAWF to proceed to Killinochchi to preach peace.
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Curfew lifted for 4 hours, no stocks of rice, wheat flour, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 12:03 GMT]
Stocks of rice, wheat flour and sugar have gone empty in private shops in Vadamaradchi and Valikamam sectors of Jaffna where curfew was lifted for 4 hours Thursday, when family members separated since last Friday due to the curfew were able to re-join. 300 meter long queues were seen in front of medical shops. No fuel was available. Curfew was lifted between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in Valikamam and from noon till 4:00 p.m. in Vadamaradchi and Thenmaradchi, according to the announcement from Palaly military base. Curfew was not lifted in Jaffna Islets where residents were forced to bury more than 30 bodies as the region remains under Sri Lankan curfew continuously for 7 days.
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Palaly clash defeated says SLA

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 08:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officials in Palaly Thursday morning, confirmed the civilian accounts of a clash in Palaly area Wednesday night. The SLA sources said the clash took place near Palaly and claimed that the attempt by the Tigers to enter Palaly base was defeated.
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Armed men kill baby boy, injuring parents in Eravur

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 06:53 GMT]
Unidentified armed men forcibly entered a house in Mavadivembu village located in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district around 9.30 p.m., Wednesday and indiscriminately fired at a family killing one and half year old baby boy and injuring his father and mother, police sources said.
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SLMM monitors leave Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 06:36 GMT]
Monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) posted in the Trincomalee district left for Colombo Thursday morning as the ground situation was not conducive for further monitoring. Trincomalee SLMM office located along the Inner Harbour Road in the east port town was closed down Wednesday and all six monitors led by SLMM Head of Trincomalee District Office (DO) Ove Janssen, left by road to Colombo, SLMM sources said.
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Diaspora Tamils condemn Sencholai Attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 06:17 GMT]
Diaspora Tamils around the world held protest marches and vigils to condemn the aerial attack of Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) that reportedly killed 61 schoolgirls in Mullaithivu in Vanni, Tuesday. Participants urged the international community to intervene to stop the atrocities of Sri Lanka armed forces and paramilitaries against Tamils in the Northeast, organizers said.
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Burnt body of youth recovered in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 05:18 GMT]
A body of an unidentified youth, with gun shot wounds, whose face was burnt with tyres to hide his identification, was found by Jaffna Magistrate R.K.Viknarajah at Potpathy Road, Kokkuvil in Valikamam area, in front of the LTTE's former Cultural Wing office, Tuesday morning, sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA denies medical treatment to Jaffna injured civilians

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 03:43 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) blocked attempts by the Government Agent (GA) of Jaffna District, K.Ganesh, to transport injured civilians in Thenmaradchi and in the Islands to the hospitals, and remove the dead bodies from the area, Jaffna Secretariat sources said.
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Eastern Muslims hold peace rally

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 02:10 GMT]
A Peace rally organized by the Eastern Muslim Mosques' Federation (EMMF) expressing solidarity for the Muslims of Muthur and Thoppur who had been displaced in the recent fight between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was held Wednesday morning in the Ashraff Square at Kattaiady in Kalmunai municipal area in the Amparai district, sources in Amparai said.
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Batticaloa protest march condemns Sencholai air raid

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 21:47 GMT]
In protest marches across Batticaloa district organized by the Federation of the Batticaloa District Civilian Organizations, in LTTE controlled Kokkaddichcholai area, hundreds of school children and district residents took part, condemning the Chencholai attack in which 61 school girls were killed in Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombing, Tuesday, sources in Batticaloa said.
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SLTMA condemns SLA search of Tamil daily

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 21:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) in a statement issued Wednesday “condemned the cordon and search operation carried out by the Sri Lankan Armed (SLA) forces on the media office of the Tamil national daily Sudar Oli, Tuesday." The Tamil Media Alliance called upon the Minister to ensure that the "threats posed to the media freedom are stopped and to guarantee the safety and security of Tamil media persons in Sri Lanka."
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Fighting erupts in Trincomalee district

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 20:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army troopers stationed in military installations located in Trincomalee town and its suburbs have been firing artillery shells towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam held positions in Muthur east and Eachchilampathu divisions in support of ground troops in Maavilaru area as fresh fighting was reported in Maavilaru.
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March for Peace campaign to be held in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 19:21 GMT]
A broad coalition of people against violence and war is to participate in a "March for Peace," organized by the National Anti-war Front (NAWF), that will begin at Hyde Park in Colombo at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, culminating in a peace rally at the Viharamahadevi open Air Theatre at 3.00 p.m, said a press release issued by the NAWF Chairman, Dr Kumar Rupesinghe.
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Heavy fighting breaks out in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 18:25 GMT]
Explosions were heard inside Palaly airbase Wednesday night and heavy fighting was reported at many points of Forward Defence Line (FDL) positions in Jaffna from 6:00 p.m. Flares to illuminate the night sky were seen above the Palaly military base area, and Tiger artillery shells began hitting the base Wednesday night after the explosions ceased, according to initial civilian reports.
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STF shot and killed three Tamil youths in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 14:18 GMT]
Three Tamil youths were shot dead Wednesday afternoon around 2.30 p.m. by Special Task Force (STF) personnel in a cordon and search operation conducted in Alayadivembu Ward No: 8 in Akkaraipattu Police division in Amparai district.
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Vavuniya, Trinco observe hartal, mourning day for massacred children

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 08:20 GMT]
General shut down and the day of mourning day was observed in the districts of Vavuniya and Trincomalee Wednesday condemning the massacre of about sixty one children in Puthukudiruppu Sencholai children home in Mullaitivu district by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), killing of seventeen workers of French NGO in Muthur by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and indiscriminate killing of Tamil civilians in the North East by the State armed forces, sources said.
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Sri Lankan Kfir jets bomb Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 07:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir jets Wednesday bombed LTTE controlled Vadamaradchi East . A civilian was wounded when the bombers hit Thattuvankotti, located on A9 road, between Elephant Pass and Paranthan, 6.5 km north of Kilinochchi. The attack took place around 1:00 p.m.
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Canada expresses concern over Escalation of Hostilities in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 August 2006, 05:01 GMT]
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Peter MacKay, in a statement on Tuesday expressed concern regarding the escalation of hostilities in Sri Lanka. Canadian Tamils held a rally in front of his ministry in the capital Ottawa, demanding immediate action by Canada, on Monday, after Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombed the Sencholai children home in Mullaithivu where tens of teenage school girls were killed and more than a hundred wounded.
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Body of Tamil fisherman found in Oddamavadi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 20:42 GMT]
A mutilated body of a fisherman, with stab wounds in neck and abdomen area, was recovered in a stream by the Lagoon near Prawn farm in Veddaththimunai, Oddamavadi by Valaichchenai Police, and was handed over to the Valaichchenai Base Hospital for post mortem examinations at 2.00 p.m. Tuesday, police sources said.
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1 Policeman and 9 Muslims injured in Oddamavadi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 20:28 GMT]
9 Muslim civilians who had come to buy provisions and a Policeman, who was on guard duty near the Oddamavadi Bridge, were injured when two unknown assailants riding a motorbike hurled a hand grenade targeting the Policemen at Oddamavadi Public Market in Valaichchenai Police area in Batticaloa District, at 9.30 a.m. Tuesday.
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Tamils protest against SL Government and SLA

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 20:13 GMT]
Tamil residents of Batticaloa and Amparai districts, observed a one day Hartal (general shutdown) and a day of mourning Monday to condemn the Sri Lanka Government and the Sri Lanka Army for discriminating and repressing the Tamils in the region, civil society sources in Batticaloa said. Hartal was also intended to draw the attention of the international community to the desperate plight of the Tamils in the East, the organisers of the Hartal said.
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Two students shot and killed at Jaffna university

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 13:56 GMT]
A final-year medical student and a passed out student awaiting convocation were gunned down by two unknown motorbike gunmen Tuesday around 12:30 p.m. near the University hostel inside the campus, Jaffna University sources said.
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Newspaper delivery agent shot and killed in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 13:40 GMT]
Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army fired at a delivery van of the Uthayan, the Tamil daily published in Jaffna district, at Puthur junction near Atchchuveli Tuesday around 11:00 a.m, killing the newspaper agent. The delivery van was on it's way after distributing parcels of Uthayan Tuesday issue during the relaxation period of curfew, civil sources said. The curfew in Valikamam sector was relaxed between 10:00 a.m. and 01:00 p.m. In Vadamaradchi sector, the curfew was lifted from noon till 03:00 p.m.
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Tiger artillery hits Palaly control tower

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 13:12 GMT]
At least three Tiger artillery shells have hit the runway and the control tower area at Palaly military airbase Tuesday morning, a military source confirmed on condition of anonymity.
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Vavuniya lawyers boycott courts, protest against killing innocents

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 12:34 GMT]
The District Court of Vavuniya, Magistrates Court of Vavuniya and Vavuniya High Court did not function Tuesday following a boycott campaign carried out lawyers condemning the killings of innocent civilians, children and workers of non-governmental organizations without any reason in the North-East, said the Vavuniya District Bar Association in a statement released Tuesday.
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SLA relaxes ban for government servants to enter Wanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 12:23 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has agreed to open Vavuniya-Omanthai check point for limited hours to enable public servants to report for works in government offices located in LTTE held Wanni, according to Vavuniya Government Mr.C.Shanmugam.
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20 Tamil youths abducted in Eravur Police area

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 12:12 GMT]
At least twenty Tamil youths were abducted Monday evening by unidentified persons who came in a white coloured van. The abduction took place in several villages including Santhiveli, Murakoddanchenai, Sithandy, Mawadivembu, Vantharumoolai and Kaluwankerni in the Eravur police division in Batticaloa district. However only parents of five abducted youths- Giritharan Sulojan, 22, Sinnathurai Siventhran, 15, Ilayathamby Raveendran, 18 and Ramalingam Vethanayagam, 36 of Santhiveli and Krishnapillai Sivamoorthy, 17 of Sithandy have lodged complaints with the Eravur Police Tuesday morning, sources said.
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SL Military had 'precise coordinates' of bombed peace zone

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 11:32 GMT]
The site bombed by Sri Lankan jets on Monday had been designated a humanitarian zone and the LTTE had passed its coordinates on to the military via the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), NGO sources said Tuesday.
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UNICEF: "Bombing of innocent girls, shocking result of violence"

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 11:12 GMT]
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Tuesday said that the bombing on Monday of a Vallipunam Sencholai compound in Mullaithivu district that reportedly killed dozens of girls and wounded many more is a "shocking result of the rising violence," in Sri Lanka and called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure children and the places where they live, study and play are protected from harm. "These children are innocent victims of violence," said Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director.
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Explosions in Palaly military base, SLAF aircrafts grounded

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 10:43 GMT]
Artillery shells from Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam positions continued to hit the Palaly military base with irregular intervals Monday night and Tuesday morning, civilian sources in Valikamam said. Civilians who heard the sound of an aircraft circling above the Palaly airbase Tuesday around 6:00 a.m., said there were no indications of the aircraft landing, as shells began hitting the base simultaneously.
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Day of mourning for teenagers killed in airstrike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 09:50 GMT]
Tamils in the Vanni Tuesday mourned the 61 teenage schoolgirls killed in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing Monday. Urging the international community to condemn the attack, the Tamileelam Students Association (TSA) said “there are no words strong enough to condemn the Sri Lankan government’s pre-meditated massacre of innocent school girls in a peaceful learning environment”
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US expresses sympathies to Colombo victims

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 09:39 GMT]
The United States Embassy in Colombo Tuesday said it condemned the slaying of Ketheshwaran Loganathan, the Deputy Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat of the Government of Sri Lanka, and expressed sympathies to families of those who perished in Monday's attack on the Pakistani High Commissioner's motorcade in Colombo.
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Navy arrests 116 Mannar Tamil civilians fleeing to Tamilnadu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 09:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy arrested Monday night around 11 p.m. about 116 Pesalai civilians fleeing from Mannar coast in two multi-day fishing boats to Tamilnadu. SLN personnel seized the two boats with refugees about five km in the Mannar Sea off Talaimannar Pier, sources said.
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One killed, another injured in Mannar shooting incident

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 09:04 GMT]
Gunmen Monday night around 10.30 p.m. attacked the Special Task Force sentry point at Semmankulam located along Mannar-Madawachchi road. In the retaliatory fire by the STF one person was killed and another injured, Mannar Police said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 00:39 GMT]
An unidentified assailant, using a 9mm pistol, shot dead H Puyalawan, 22, and a resident of Kallady, Uppodai, Monday at 11.55 a.m at Poonochimunai Batticaloa in Kattankudy police area, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Killed students, participants of leadership workshop - Ilankumaran

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 22:33 GMT]
The Director of Tamileelam Educational Board, V. Ilankumaran, in an interview to TamilNet Monday said that the schoolgirls killed and injured in Monday's Kfir attack were participants in a 10-day residential "Leadership, Self-Awareness and First Aid workshop." More than 400 G.C.E. A/L students from 18 different schools in Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu, and Oddusuddan Educational Zones, and selected girls from other educational organisations took part in the annual programme, Mr. Ilankumaran said. According to the timetable of the course, 7:00 a.m. on Monday, the time the air-strike took place, was the time of morning-assembly.
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SLA closing down small camps in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 18:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers are closing down several small camp-houses in the Jaffna peninsula and withdrawing into stronger camps Monday, sources in the northern peninsula said.
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Sri Lankan government orders closure of schools one week ahead

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 18:46 GMT]


Sri Lanka's Education Ministry Monday ordered that all schools in the island should be closed from Tuesday till August 27. The reason given by the ministry for the closure is in connection with the South Asian Games which is to commence on August 18 in Colombo. Schools are to be reopened for the third term on August 28, according to the new directive, Education Ministry sources said.
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Airstrike damaged Palaly communications

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 18:34 GMT]
Communication facilities at the Sri Lankan military base complex at Palaly were damaged when an unidentified aircraft fired rockets at the airbase Friday night, a military source said Monday. LTTE artillery fire has separately damaged the runway at the sprawling base complex and as such "no planes have taken off or landed since Friday," the source added.
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Bombed site ‘not military installation’ - SLMM

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 16:15 GMT]
International ceasefire monitors who visited the site of the Sri Lankan airstrike Monday which killed 61 school girls and wounded 129 said they couldn’t find “any evidence of military installations or weapons.” Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Ulf Henricsson, said monitors who visited Chencholai Valaham after the airstrike said they found at least 10 bomb craters and an unexploded bomb. “It was not a military installation, we can see [that],” Mr. Henricsson told Sri Lanka’s MTV television.
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ITRO condemns SLAF attack on "Peace Village" with 5 orphanages

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 13:42 GMT]
Chencholai Valaham is the campus among the orphanages at the Peace Village of Vallipunam, said the International Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (ITRO London), the representative body of the overseas offices of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation in a press statement condemning the Sri Lanka Air Force bombing that killed 61 schoolchildren and wounded more than 129. "The area is well known by all parties: the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government Agent, ICRC, UNICEF and all those who work in the Vanni," the organisation said urging the international community to condemn the bombing.
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Number of Jaffna civilians injured by SLA shelling rises to 99

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 12:32 GMT]
Additional 41 civilians seriously injured by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling from Palaly military base towards areas in Jaffna islets from Allaipiddy to Mankumban, were taken to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Monday by Jaffna branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC), hospital sources said. 54 injured rescued Sunday and the 4 injured helped by the SLRC on Saturday, bring the total injured admitted to the Jaffna Hospital during the last three days to 99, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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Sencholai attack "pre-meditated, deliberate and vicious"- TNA

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 11:23 GMT]
The parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) condemned Sri Lankan government’s attack on Sencholai childrens' home as "not merely atrocious and inhuman - it clearly has a genocidal intent...The heavy aerial bombardment on the premises clearly indicates that the attack was premeditated, deliberate and vicious," and appealed to the International Community "to take the earliest possible action to stop the Sri Lankan State from proceeding with its genocidal program," in an urgent press release issued in Colombo Monday.
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SLA closes all gateways to LTTE controlled Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 10:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Saturday evening closed all the entry points to and from LTTE controlled areas in Batticaloa District, with the exception of the A-15 highway which links Trincomalee and Batticaloa, sources in Batticaloa said. All civilian traffic has been blocked, said sources.
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Bombed compound, a well-known humanitarian zone - GS

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 10:43 GMT]
The Grama Sevaka (a civil servant) of Vallipunam, Mr. Sivarajah, told reporters Monday that the area around the "Sencholai" home where 61 children were killed and 129 wounded by Sri Lankan bombers Monday morning was a well identified civilian zone with other residential homes, including those for the disabled, sources in Mullaitivu said.
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7 killed as Colombo bomb targets military convoy

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 08:18 GMT]
Seven persons, including four special commandos of Special Diplomatic Security Unit, providing VVIP escort to the vehicle of Pakistani High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, were killed in a three-wheeler explosion that targeted the military convoy in the heart of Colombo city, on Flower Road in Kolpity, Monday around 1:25 p.m. Pakistani Ambassador was unhurt in the explosion, Police said.
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Curfew stays in most of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 05:50 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army, in it's radio broadcast from Palaly, announced Monday morning that the curfew in Jaffna would be lifted for short periods in some sectors of Jaffna. Te military had said the curfew would be eased in Vadamaradchi, Thenmaradchchi and the islets off Jaffna between 1:00 and 3.30 p.m. Monday, but now says the curfew will remain in place. In Valikamam sector, which includes Jaffna town, the curfew will be lifted between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
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61 schoolgirls killed, 129 wounded in airstrike

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 04:15 GMT]
At least 61 schoolgirls were killed and 129 were wounded when Sri Lankan Kfir jets bombed a children's home compound in Mullaithivu district Monday morning where schoolgirls were attending a residential course on first aid, LTTE officials at the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi said. Ambulances were rushing the wounded, many of whom are bleeding badly, to hospitals, sources said. Officials of the LTTE, briefing reporters in Kilinochchi, described the attack as “a horrible act of terror” by the Sri Lankan armed forces. UN’s child agency, UNICEF, and international truce monitors have visited the scene of the carnage.
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Paramilitary abductions continue in Batticaloa, Amparai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 21:44 GMT]
Paramilitary Karuna Group men working with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) abducted 15 Tamil civilians in Batticaloa and Amparai Districts within last two days, said Jeya, the Amparai District LTTE Political Head. He further said the incidents have been reported to the Sri Lanka Monitoring mission(SLMM).
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Tigers repulse SLA counter-thrust

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 16:41 GMT]
A counter-thrust by the Sri Lanka Army’s (SLA) elite 53 division to recapture areas in Jaffna lost to the Liberation Tigers in the past two days was destroyed by LTTE forces using artillery and close quarter fighting, sources in Kilinochchi said. In Colombo, ambulances have been shuttling between Ratmalana and hospitals in the capital since early hours Sunday carrying military wounded, sources said.
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40 civilians feared killed, 100 wounded in SLA shelling

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 15:26 GMT]
At least 15 persons were killed and 20 severely wounded when rockets and artillery shells fired from Palaly military base hit St. Phililp Mary Church in Allaipiddy, Sunday morning, where civilians had sought refuge. Ambulances dispatched from Jaffna hospital Sunday evening brought the wounded to the hospital. 37 wounded civilians were rushed to Jaffna hospital from other areas, Allaipiddy, Mankumban and Mandaithivu. Meanwhile, SLA soldiers resumed firing rockets from a Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) from Duraiappa stadium in Jaffna town, Sunday evening, sources said.
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Tiger marines conclude pre-emptive strike on Mandaithivu - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 13:56 GMT]
Marine Corps of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Saturday midnight destroyed the artillery launch pad in Mandaithivu, and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Army's (SLA) preparations to launch a seaborne offensive towards Elephant Pass, LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasaiah Iltanthiryan told media Sunday. Two Sri Lanka Army tanks were destroyed within the last 48 hours, along A9 between Mirusuvil and Muhamalai, where severe clashes took place. Small clashes were still continuing, he said. Tiger marines returned to their positions from Mandaithivu Sunday early morning, according to LTTE military spokesman.
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Colombo's claim of talks offer false - Puleedevan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 11:42 GMT]
Director of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Peace Secretariat, S. Puleedevan, denied the press reports which said that Tigers have made a fresh offer for talks. "There is absolutely no truth in these reports. Colombo is adamant in finding a military solution, and we are defending to safeguard our people and territory," said Puleedevan.
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SLA blocks 2000 families fleeing Thenmaradchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 11:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, citing the Police curfew in force, blocked nearly two thousand families who were moving north towards safer Vadamaradchy from their houses in Thenmaradchi villages of Varani, Vatralai, Thaavalai, Idaikurichchi and Karambaikurichchi, civil sources in Jaffna said. The families were forced to stay in open terrain in Tharavai, Kapputhu areas bordering Vadamaradchi and Thenmaradchi without food and other basic needs. Water supply was also scarce in the area, according to members of 50 families who managed to escape SLA barrier and enter Vadamaradchi.
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STF, LTTE clash in Batticaloa, Tiger cadre killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 08:34 GMT]
Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) troopers and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres manning the Forward Defence Line (FDL) positions in Vellaveli, clashed Sunday morning around 5:15 a.m. Mortar shells were fired towards LTTE FDL and the surrounding villages as a group of STF troopers attempted to move inside the LTTE territory, said LTTE Batticaloa District Poliitcal Head Daya Mohan. A Liberation Tigers cadre was kiled and two STF troopers were wouned in the clash that lasted for more than 45 minutes. Vellaveli is located 25 km southeast of Batticaloa.
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Sri Lanka says "talks offer" as fighting continues

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 08:11 GMT]
As heavy fighting continued between the Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka’s military in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the government in Colombo claimed Sunday to have received on Friday an offer of talks from the LTTE and that it was accepting it. The government announcement came as press reports said the military’s air bridge to the Jaffna peninsula had been cut as the Palaly airbase continued to remain under LTTE artillery fire. The sea lines to Jaffna were also being disrupted by LTTE shelling of Trincomalee port.
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SLN arrests 95 Pesalai civilians fleeing to Tamilnadu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 07:06 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian trawler with 95 Tamil civilians from Pesalai village in Mannar district while on its way to South Indian coast, Sunday. These villagers following the volatile situation in Mannar decided to seek refuge in Tamilnadu in South India, sources said.
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ICRC convoy reaches Vaharai with relief to Tamil IDPs

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 August 2006, 06:59 GMT]
An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) convoy of 17 trucks and four cars reached the town of Vaharai in the Batticaloa district of eastern Sri Lanka in the early afternoon on Saturday. The convoy brought food, water and other items such as tarpaulins, mats, bed sheets, cooking pots and buckets for distribution to thousands of displaced people fleeing the fighting in the Eachchilampathu area, said press release issued by the ICRC Saturday evening.
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Allow free movement to civilians seeking safety, TNA appeals to Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 20:04 GMT]
Pointing out that the imposition of curfew in Jaffna Peninsula resulting in denial of legitimate right of civilians to move to safer areas is a severe violation of fundamental human rights, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members appealed to Sri Lanka's President Rajapakse to "issue directions that no restriction whatever be imposed on civilians moving to safer and more secure places in order to ensure their personal safety and security," in a letter issued in Colombo Saturday, TNA sources said.
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Kethesh Loganathan shot dead

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 16:21 GMT]
Kethesh Logananathan, Deputy Secretary General of Sri Lanka Government's Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), and a former member of EPRLF, was shot dead by unknown gunmen near Vandervet place in Dehiwela Colombo at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Mr Loganathan received serious gunshot wounds and died on the way to Kalubowila Hospital, sources in Colombo said.
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8 pilgrims killed in Muhamalai, 4 survive, fate of 37 not known

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 14:56 GMT]
Seven Jaffna civilians returning from a religious pilgrimage to Kathirgamam Hindu Temple were killed by artillery fired by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops retreating north from the Muhamalai checkpost, civil society sources in Jaffna said. The SLA had blocked a bus with 48 civilian pilgrims returning from Kathirgamam to Jaffna Friday evening. Four of the passengers survived artillery and gunfire attacks by the SLA troops while withdrawing from their checkposts. The injured were rescued by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres Saturday. Fate of the others is not known.
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37 killed, 93 wounded in Jaffna fighting

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 12:46 GMT]
25 Sri Lankan troopers, including 3 officers, were killed and 70 wounded during the past 24 hours in fighting in the Jaffna peninsula, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Brigadier Ajith Jayawardene, the acting defence spokesman who briefed media in Colombo Saturday. Meanwhile LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said 12 LTTE cadres were killed and 23 were wounded in the clashes.
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SLA closes Vavuniya, Uyilankulam, Madhu checkpoints

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 12:37 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Saturday morning closed the entry points to and from LTTE held areas in Omanthai, Vavuniya, and in the Mannar district at Uyilankulam and Madhu junction until further notice. Madhu church is located in LTTE held area. Madhu junction is the gateway to Madhu Church located in LTTE area. Due to the closure of the Madhu junction entry point about ten thousand pilgrims who have already gone to attend the annual Madhu church festival are unable to leave for their hometowns in the south and elsewhere in the country, sources said.
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Sri Lanka ‘blocking massacre probe’ - SLMM

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 12:13 GMT]
Sri Lankan authorities are deliberately hampering efforts to investigate the murder of 17 aid workers, some of whose relatives blame the military, the island's chief truce monitor said on Saturday. “I have experienced this in the Balkans before. When you're not let in, it's a sign that there's something they want to hide,” retired Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson, who heads the unarmed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) told Reuters.
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Muhamalai overrun, battle on Mandaithivu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 07:11 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported at different locations in the southern Jaffna peninsula between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and the Liberation Tigers. The Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio confirmed that LTTE forces repelling SLA offensive towards Elephant Pass have now broken through SLA forward defence lines (FDLs) at Muhamalai. But Jaffna correspondents quoted military sources as saying that FDLs had been "breached in several locations." SLA artillery and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jets are bombing Mandathivu island, which LTTE officials say had been prepared as a launch pad for another offensive into Vanni.
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Co-chairs call for immediate cessation of hostilities, international investigation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 06:49 GMT]
The Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference for Sri Lanka Peace Process, the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Norway, Saturday called on the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to cease hostilities immediately and return to the negotiation table. The statement has called for independant, international investigations of serious human rights abuses, including the massacre of 16 Tamil and a Muslim NGO workers of the French NGO Action Faim and the alleged killing of Muslims. "Both parties should take immediate action to allow relief agencies to assist victims from all three ethnic groups and to grant access to disputed areas."
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Muhamalai, Pallai residents flee to Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 02:25 GMT]
Residents of Muhamalai, Pallai through Iyakachchi on A9 highway are fleeing for safety towards Kilinochchi. Two elderly refugees, Mrs. Thavamanithevi Mahalingam, 56, mother of 5 children, and Seran Selliah, 85, who trekked, found transport to Kilinochchi under severe duress, detailed their ordeal to TamilNet reporter. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shells were targeted to hit A9, fleeing civilians said.
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Exchange of artillery fire continues in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 01:31 GMT]
Exchange of artillery fire has been going on between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) military installations in Trincomalee town and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Muthur East.
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Fighting in Maavilaru

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 01:18 GMT]
Heavy fighting is reported between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and LTTE fighters near the Maavil Aru sluice gates in southern Trincomalee district. Sources in Trincomalee town said close-quarter battles are raging and that heavy weapons fire has been stopped by both sides to prevent hitting their respective troops.
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LTTE shells Trincomalee navy base

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 00:44 GMT]
LTTE artillery shells are hitting the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) base in the Trincomalee harbour, sources in the eastern port town said. The shelling, which began at 3 a.m. had ceased at 4 a.m., but resumed at 6 a.m. the sources said. Several artillery shells have hit Chinabay SLAF air base in Trincomalee.
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Jaffna curfew, troops block anxious residents

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 00:34 GMT]
Frightened residents of various parts of Jaffna are unable to flee their homes due to a total curfew imposed by Sri Lanka’s military, sources in the northern peninsula said. Amid heavy shelling by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) towards LTTE-controlled Palai and Elephant Pass and warnings by the LTTE last night that it would retaliate against SLA camps in Thenmaradchchi and Jaffna islets, large numbers of people are anxious to move away from SLA positions.
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Tamil youth abducted in Valaichchenai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 00:28 GMT]
Paramilitary Karuna Group abducted a Tamil youth of 4th Division, Vinayagapuram, Valaichchenai in Batticaloa District Thursday night at 8.20, civil sources said. Nesarasa Guruparan, 17, a mason, was resting at home when unidentified gunmen forcibly took him at gunpoint, according a complaint filed by Guruparan's mother with the Valaichenai Police.
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Trincomalee, Batticaloa Health workers protest attacks on health professionals

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 00:23 GMT]
Employees of the North East Provincial Health Ministry and Provincial Department of Health, and Batticaloa Health Service workers held protest demonstrations Friday condemning the attack on hospital ambulance that resulted in killing five staff including the medical officer in Nedunkerni in Vavuniya district, and the attack on two ambulances of the Muthur hospital last week in Trincomalee district killing three persons, civil society sources in the eastern districts said.
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SLA allows food convoy after SL President's intervention

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 00:18 GMT]
Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) manning the checkpoint at Mankerni allowed a convoy of lorries carrying dry ration and other food materials to enter the LTTE held Vaharai area at 5:00 p.m. Friday after Sri Lanka's President intervened on the request of TNA parliamentarian, Mr R Sampanthan, civil society sources said. The relief material was intended for distribution among the thousands of internally displaced Tamil civilians who fled from Muthur east and Eachchilampathu division in Trincomalee district following heavy aerial bombardment and artillery by the SLA, sources said.
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Two youths shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 00:10 GMT]
Two persons were shot dead by unidentified men in two separate incidents in Vavuniya Friday afternoon. In the first incident, unidentified men shot dead Subash Chandrabose Suganthan, 25, a member of the paramilitary PLOTE group, at Ookulankulam around 12.45 p.m., Vavuniya Police said.
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Oslo’s envoy returns as Sri Lanka expands offensives

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 21:03 GMT]
As Sri Lanka’s government widened its onslaught against LTTE held areas, opening new fronts in Batticaloa and Jaffna districts, in addition to its continuing offensive in Trincomalee district, Norwegian Special Envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer return home Friday.
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LTTE shells hit Palaly, civilians urged to move

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 20:13 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopters, an Mi-24 gunship and a Bell 212 transport, were damaged by LTTE shells which hit the base Friday night, military sources said. The LTTE Friday vowed to repel a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) offensive on the Elephant Pass area and warned people living close to SLA positions in Thenmaradchchi and some of the islands off Jaffna, including the troubled Allaipiddy, to move away from Sri Lanka military positions for their own safety.
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Tiger aircraft rockets Palaly base, curfew in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 15:53 GMT]
At least one unidentified aircraft flew over the Sri Lankan military base at Palaly firing rockets at around 9.30 p.m. Friday, sources in Jaffna town said. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) artillery fire being directed from the base stopped after the attack, the sources said. Meanwhile a curfew has been clamped on Jaffna town. The LTTE has vowed to repel the SLA offensive on the Elephant Pass area.
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Four wounded in SLA shelling

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 15:03 GMT]
District Medical Officer (DMO) in Kilinochchi has called ambulance personnel to report to work at Kilinochchi hospital after Sri Lanka Army opened up with heavy artillery bombardment against LTTE controlled Palai and Elephant Pass areas, Friday evening. Hospital sources in Kilinochchi said two children who were injured in the SLA shelling in Pallai were brought to the hospital Friday evening. A father and his son, from Sembiyanpatru in Vadamaradchi East were rushed to Kilinochchi hospital Friday night.
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Civilians flee SLA offensive in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 12:10 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Army (SLA) launched heavy artillery bombardment against LTTE-held Elephant Pass area Friday and at 5.40 p.m. troops began moving towards LTTE frontlines at Muhamalai. The Tigers said they are rushing reinforcements to their northern Vanni defences to confront the SLA advance. Civilians have begun fleeing the southern Jaffna area and the town of Pallai is emptying amid hundreds of SLA shells. Meanwhile LTTE artillery counterfire is hitting SLA positions in Nagerkoil, Jaffna sources said.
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LTTE says "casualties" in Tharavai SLAF bombing

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 11:56 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sources Friday said there were casualties, without specifying figures, in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombing in Tharavai, northwest of Batticaloa. "The GoSL forces are attempting to open another front of offensive towards Batticaloa," said Director of LTTE's Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan. He said the Tigers had called on the Norwegian facilitators and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) to take "immediate steps to cease the Sri Lankan attacks that aimed to put CFA in jeopardy."
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"Restrain armed forces from killing civilians," TNA urges Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 11:26 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Friday wrote to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse urging him to restrain the Sri Lanka armed forces from killing innocent Tamil civilians, and to ensure proper action is taken against those responsible for such crimes.
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Tamil shops in Colombo attacked

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 10:34 GMT]
About nine Tamil shops located in Armour Street in Colombo city were attacked by a group of Muslims during a demonstration held after Jumma prayers condemning the attack on Muslims in Muthur Friday at around 1.35 p.m., police sources in Colombo said. Krishna Vilas and Vaani Vilas, two prominent restaurants were heavily damaged in the attack,
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No military solution to the conflict, says US Embassy

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 10:00 GMT]
The US Embassy in Sri Lanka, in a press release issued on Friday said there can be "no military solution to the conflict that continues to divide Sri Lankans. Without political commitment and a spirit of compromise between both parties, there will be no end to the conflict. "There is no other way forward than through a return to negotiations." The United States is "deeply concerned by the dislocation of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and the killing of NGO personnel in the northeast."
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SLAF bombs Tharavai in Batticaloa, UAV spotted over Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 09:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jets fighters, Friday around 1:00 p.m. bombed residential Tharavai, Miankulam and Iralakulam areas in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Batticaloa. SLAF Kfir bombers dropped at least 16 bombs in four bombing sorties destroying homes and setting fire to the surrounding scrub jungles. Meanwhile, a UAV reconnaissance aircraft was spotted over Kilinochchi at 2:20 p.m.
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Protests in Jaffna Peninsula condemn SLA atrocities

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 08:36 GMT]
Protests against Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the Jaffna Peninsula are becoming widespread with people showing solidarity in their disapproval for the violence on innocent civilians perpetrated by the SLA. Student protests demanding removal of SLA presence near schools and other protests against SLA violence in Muttur and the killing of health care professionals, have increased in the last several days, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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Norway provides credit guarantee fund to South Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 07:26 GMT]
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that has provided Rs 200 million in support for the reconstruction of 32 Buddhist Temples in southern Sri Lanka and 35 religious buildings in the east, said Wednesday that it agreed to provide further Rs. 250 million to establish a credit guarantee fund for the southern region, according to a press release issued by the Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka. Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer and Ambassador Brattskar attended the opening ceremony of two Buddhist Temples damaged by the tsunami in Galle and established the Credit Guarantee Fund for the southern region.
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Sri Lankan soldiers block food supply to Tamil IDPs

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 07:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in the Mankerni army camp in Batticaloa district Thursday refused permission for a food convoy of more than ten vehicles taken to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held Vaharai area by the South Indian Church to be distributed among hundreds of thousands of internally displaced fled from Muthur east and Eachchilampathu due to indiscriminate artillery fire and aerial bombardment in recent days. The IDPs have been staying in temples. Schools and public buildings at Palsenai, Vammivedduwan, Vaharai in the Koralaipathu North Divisional Secretariat division in the Batticaloa district, sources said.
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Peace prayer to be held in Kalmunai for Muthur Muslims

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 02:29 GMT]
Peace demonstration expressing deep concern over the suffering of Muslim people in Muthur following the attack on them and also stressing the urgent need of addressing their legitimate rights and grievances is to be held on August 16th in Kalmunai, in the Amparai district in the eastern province. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held Wednesday evening at Sainthamaruthu Jumma Mosque hall, sources said.
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Swiss Tamils hold month long awareness program of Black July

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 August 2006, 00:01 GMT]
Tamil Forum Swiss, a confederation of 26 Tamil organizations in Switzerland, has been conducting a month long publicity and awareness program in different regions of Switzerland from 24 July, the remembrance day of the July Massacre in 1983, organizers said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Akkaraippattu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 20:26 GMT]
The body of a youth with gun shot wounds was discovered by Akkaraipattu Police at Panankadu junction in Alayadivembu area, 9.30 a.m Thursday, police sources said.
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‘Allow aid to displaced’ - Minority Rights Group

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 16:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s ethnic minorities have been the worst affected in the recent surge in violence and both the Sri Lankan government and LTTE must make a greater commitment to safeguard minority rights in their controlled areas and provide equal access to humanitarian assistance, the Minority Rights Group (MRG) said Thursday. MRG called on both sides to give international and local aid agencies unimpeded access to the affected areas and said the aim should be “to facilitate the free return, in safety, of minority communities to their homes as quickly as possible.”
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Blast destroys SLA ammunition store

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 16:17 GMT]
A massive explosion at a Sri Lanka Army base (SLA) at Allai-Kantalai in the Trincomalee battle area caused severe destruction Thursday, military sources said. The reason for the blast, which destroyed the camp’s main ammunition store, is not known. Military officials, confirming the explosion, refused to comment on casualties. The ammo dump was seen burning till Friday morning. Wounded Sri Lanka Army troopers have been air-lifted to Anuradhapura hospital. Eight of the wounded have been brought to Colombo.
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Allai-Kantalai road closed for civilian traffic

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 15:45 GMT]
Allai-Kantalai highway located south of Trincomalee district has been closed for civil traffic to enable the injured soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to be transported to Kantalai district hospital without delay, civil society sources in Trincomalee said.
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EPDP cadre shot dead in Valaichchenai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 15:39 GMT]
A paramilitary cadre belonging to Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Meeravodai, Valaichchenai, Wednesday night, sources in Batticaloa said. K Rajanikanth, 32, a father of two children, from 18th mile post Sunkankerni, was operating with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops based at the nearby Kommanthurai SLA camp, according to sources.
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JVP: ‘wipe out LTTE and its supporters’

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 14:20 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s ultra-nationalist JVP party has called for the government to “wipe out not ony LTTE but its supporters as well” in a heated debate Thursday over the Trincomalee crisis. Jayantha Wijesekara, JVP MP from Trincomalee district made his comments in support of JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa, who said that the LTTE areas of Sampur and Maavilaru must be captured by the Sri Lankan military. The Trincomalee situation dominated Thursday’s deliberations in Parliament.
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Fighting kills 41 SLA troops, wounds 120

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 13:54 GMT]
Sri Lankan Army advancing into LTTE-controlled areas have lost 41 soldiers killed in Thursday’s heavy fighting around the Maavil Aru sluice gates, military sources said. 22 soldiers have been seriously wounded and 98 others wounded, military officials in Colombo said speaking on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile the LTTE military spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthirayan said ten Tigers had died and 20 were wounded.
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Humanitarian crisis: 42,000 displaced in LTTE areas

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 13:10 GMT]
Close to 42,000 civilians are trapped and displaced, without food, water, or medical assistance in LTTE areas of Eachchilampattu, Sampoor, Verugal, Kathiraveli, Vaharai and surrounding villages, the LTTE Peace Secretariat said Thursday. Sri Lanka’s military is blocking ICRC and UN relief supplies from reaching Vaharai, northern Batticaloa. UNICEF estimated that of the 40,000 civilians displaced half are women and children. The Head of the LTTE’s Peace Secretariat, S. Puleedevan, has contacted the British and Norwegian diplomatic missions in Colombo as well as Oslo’s Special Envoy, Jon Hansen-Bauer, over the humanitarian crisis.
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Vavuniya Hospital staff protest over Claymore attack on doctor and staff

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 10:26 GMT]
Vavuniya General Hospital staff including doctors, nurses, and hospital administration staff Thursday held a token strike on A9 Road for two hours protesting against the claymore attack Tuesday night in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Nedunkerni in which a doctor and four staff were killed, sources in Vavuniya said. Protestors who allowed to proceed a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) ambulance, did not allow a water-bowser to proceed. Nedunkerni hospital comes under Deputy Provincial Directors of Health (DPDH) in Vavuniya.
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Policeman, trader injured in Kattankudy gunfire

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 10:17 GMT]
A policeman and a civilian were injured when unidentified gunmen fired at them inside the public market in Kattankudy in Batticaloa district Thursday morning around 9.30 a.m. Both the injured were immediately taken to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, police sources said.
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SLA trooper killed, two injured in Kokuvil claymore attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 10:03 GMT]
One Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and two seriously injured when a claymore mine placed along the KKS Road between Kokuvil junction and Nachchimar Hindu Temple, targeted at the SLA road patrol exploded at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, sources from Jaffna said.
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Mobilization campaign against Violence and War

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 09:37 GMT]
A series of mass meetings and broad mobilisation of people against violence and war, to be organized by the National Anti-war Front (NAWF) , will be held from the August 17th to 21st September 2006, said NAWF Chairman, Dr Kumar Rupesinghe, in a memorandum circulated to the media in Colombo Thursday. A press conference to publicize this campaign labelled "All-Together," is being held Thursday at 3.30pm at Nippon Hotel, Slave Island, Colombo.
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Fighting rages close to Maavilaru sluice gate, 5 Tigers killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 09:33 GMT]
Heavy fighting continued around 3:00 p.m. in Maavilaru . Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers were close to Maavilaru sluice gates. Five Tigers were killed and 12 wounded, according to LTTE sources. Heavy fighting is reported in Mahindapura and Maavilaru.
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50 civilians killed, 200 wounded, renewed SLA offensive

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 August 2006, 04:59 GMT]
Atleast 50 civilians were killed and more than 200 were injured in Sri Lankan forces aerial bombardment and artillery attacks, Thursday morning, in Kathiraveli and surrounding villages as thousands of civilians were still fleeing the areas. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched a fresh offensive, involving thousands of troopers, from Kallaru SLA camp towards Maavilaru sluice-gate while launching indiscriminate aerial and artillery attacks on Eachilampathu and it's suburbs. Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasaiah Ilanthirayan, speaking from Kilinochchi said: "We can only interpret this as Colombo's declaration of war."
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Police constable injured in Murunkan gunfire

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 20:55 GMT]
A police constable was injured when unidentified men Wednesday evening around 7:10 p.m. fired at police sentries in Murunkan police division, police sources said. The injured officer, identified as Premachchandra, was immediately transferred from Mannar district hospital to Anuradhapura, hospital sources said.
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Government peace secretariat official visits Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 20:54 GMT]
Dr.Palitha Kohone, Director of the Sri Lankan Government Peace Secretariat, Tuesday evening visited Batticaloa district and held discussion with Mr.C.Punnyamoorthy, Government Agent, at the Batticaloa district Secretariat sources, said. He later met with Brigadier Amal Karunaratne, Senior Police Superintendent Maxie Proctor, and several security officials at 223 Brigade Headquarters in Batticaloa.
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SLA blocks food convoy to Vaharai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 20:51 GMT]
S.Jeyananthamoorthy, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament for Batticaloa District, accused the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) for stopping food convey of NGOs to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the LTTE controlled Vaharai area and worsening the already dire situation prevailing in Vaharai for essential supplies for the IDPs. Eight lorries carrying food and other essentials were barred from entering Vaharai by soldiers of the Kajuwatta Camp on the orders from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence (MoD), civil society sources said.
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Fleeing IDPs bombed in Verugal, five killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 16:16 GMT]
Fleeing IDPs from Eachchilampathu and Muthur to Vaharai were caught in aerial attack and SLA artillery fire Wednesday evening when they were ferrying through Verugal River to Vaharai division in Batticaloa district. On Wednesday evening around 6.05 p.m. five IDP persons were killed in bombing by Kfir jets and several others injured at Verugal. About thirty five thousand people of around seven thousand families displaced from Muttur east and Eachchilampathu division seeking refuge in Vaharai division in Batticaloa district till Wednesday.
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Aid massacre ‘result of impunity’ - TRO

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 15:37 GMT]
Joining several humanitarian organizations in condemning the massacre of the 17 ACF staff members in Muthur, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) said the failure to investigate and punish those responsible for attacks on its own aid workers in January 2006 had contributed to a climate of impunity.
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Jaffna students protest SLA presence

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 10:01 GMT]
Students of two of the leading schools in the Jaffna, St Johns College and Chundukuli Girl’s High School, began boycotting classes Monday calling for an end to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupation of their schools, and the immediate removal of SLA guard detachments and sentry posts situated in close proximity to their schools, sources in Jaffna said.
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Paramilitaries kill two Tamil civilians in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 08:58 GMT]
Kandasamy Govindarajah, 25, a resident of Meeravodai and one of the two Tamil civilians who were taken into custody in a cordon and search operation conducted by members of the para military with the security cover by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Police Monday afternoon around 3 p.m., was shot dead the same day night around 10 p.m. at 18th mile post in Kalodavi located about 27 km off north in Batticaloa town along Batticaloa-Valaichchenai main road, civil sources said.
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STF seize farmers' vehicles in Akkaraippattu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 08:55 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) forcibly took away 5 tractors and 2 motorbikes belonging to Tamil farmers Monday around 5.30 p.m., the affected farmers lodged a complaint at the Akkaraippattu Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) office, sources said. The farmers allege that the STF carried this out in retaliation to the hijacking of a tractor belonging to a Sinhalese farmer, Monday morning at Manthottam by unknown persons.
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Four young Tamil pilgrims arrested by SLA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 08:52 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troops at Valliamman Aru camp, Uganthai, in Amparai, arrested four young Tamil pilgrims from Kaluwanchikkudy, Batticaloa who were walking through the jungle paths in a pilgrimage to Kathirkamam Murugan Temple, a sacred Hindu shrine in the South said S.Pathmanathan, the welfare officer for the pilgrims.
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Another SLA move towards Maavilarau thwarted - Elilan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 08:21 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Wednesday morning successfully repulsed another advance made by troopers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) towards the area where Maavilaru sluice gate is located. SLA troopers withdrew to their position amid heavy artillery fire and mortar attack by the LTTE, said S.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head.
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5 killed in DPU Claymore attack on Ambulance

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 August 2006, 03:22 GMT]
A medical doctor, his wife, two nurses and the driver of the ambulance belonging to Nedunkerni hospital, were killed Tuesday night when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attacked the ambulance, medical sources in Puthukudiyiruppu hospital said. Three Claymore mines in a row were exploded. Meanwhile, a cvilian bus with 75 passengers narrowly escaped another Claymore attack around 12:45, ten kilometers from Nedunkerni ambush site. The SLMM monitors, returning from Nedunkerni, were within one kilometers when the second Claymore explosion took place.
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Two Policemen killed in Amparai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 21:28 GMT]
A Special Task Force (STF) soldier and a Police constable were killed when a claymore hit the water carrier truck along the Uganthai Poththuvil road in Amparai District, at 11.30 a.m. Tuesday, sources in Amparai said. The truck was transporting water for the Uganthai Murugan temple festival.
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RSF slams curbs on Trincomalee reporters

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 18:17 GMT]
Sri Lankan security forces prevented journalists, including some from the BBC, from accessing Muttur town Monday amid reports that 17 aid workers had been shot dead, a media watchdog said Tuesday. “One foreign journalist told Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that many Sri lanka army roadblocks also stopped the media getting to places that were far from any fighting,” RSF said. The LTTE has shown “no interest in allowing independent journalists to report from the areas they hold,” RSF also said.
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LTTE cadre shot dead in Santhiveli

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 16:33 GMT]
A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre was shot dead by Sri Lankan Army (SLA) troopers and paramilitaries hiding near the Santhiveli Kannaki Amman Temple, at 10 p.m. on Monday, said Dayamohan, Batticaloa district LTTE political head. LTTE cadre Kaaththamuththu Jeyananthan, 25, from Thikiliveddai, Santhiveli was going to Santhiveli village for political work when he was shot by SLA soldiers and paramilitary Karuna Group men, Dayamohan added.
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Armed men hijack Red Cross ambulance in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 15:08 GMT]
A vehicle of the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) on its return from Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territory Arippu in Musali division in Mannar district was hijacked by a group of armed men Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. The occupants of the vehicle, a medical officer, dispenser and the driver were asked to get down from the vehicle. Thereafter armed men drove the vehicle.
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Amparai Muslims observe general shut down on Muthur issue

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 15:07 GMT]
General shut down was observed in Muslim areas in the Amparai district Tuesday condemning the attack on Muslim people in Muthur and also demanding the government to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people without delay. Amparai District Muslims Students Organization and Social Welfare Organization organized the hartal.
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Mannar civilians again flee to South India

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 15:03 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Navy Monday night around 7:30 p.m. arrested 12 persons of three families including three children who were hiding in a bush along the Mannar sea shore waiting for a boat to leave to Tamilnadu state in South India to seek refuge. All of them were handed to the Talaimannar police Tuesday morning around 11:00 a.m by the Sri Lanka Navy. SL policemen in Pesalai recently warned civilians to leave their houses from Pesalai.
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Trinco NGO Consortium urges probe into Aid workers' killing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 14:57 GMT]
The Consortium of Non-Governmental Organizations of the Trincomalee district in a statement released on Tuesday urged the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) to probe into the killings of 17 innocent field workers of the Action Contre La Faim (ACF) and bring the culprits to book without delay.
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Maavilaru sluice gates opened by LTTE, civil representatives

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 12:11 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) together with civilian representatives in Maavilaru Tuesday evening around 5:00 p.m. opened the sluice gates, said S. Elilan, Trincomalee District Political Head of the Tigers. On Sunday, Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Major General Ulf Henricsson and Trincomalee Head of SLMM came under artillery fire when they went to Maavilaru with Mr. S. Elilan, to open the sluice gates on humanitarian grounds according to the Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim's request.
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Relatives blame SLA for aid workers’ executions

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 11:36 GMT]
Relatives of some of the aid workers shot dead execution-style in Muttur town blamed Sri Lankan security forces Tuesday whilst diplomats were skeptical of government claims the Tamil Tigers were responsible. Correspondents with Reuters news agency interviewed relatives of some of the seventeen staff of international aid group Action Contre La Faim (ACF). The father of one aid worker said another son was amongst five Tamil students shot, also execution-style in Trincomalee earlier this year.
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Thousands flee amid new Sri Lankan bombardment

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 11:20 GMT]
Six hundred Tamil families fled an intense bombardment of villages in LTTE held Eachchilampathu division Tuesday and sought refuge in Vaharai division in Batticaloa district. Continuous artillery fire from Sri Lankan military installations in Trincomalee and its suburbs and from Kallaru Army (SLA) camp drove the four thousand people from their homes. Sri Lankan troops at Kallaru are blocking international and local aid workers from reaching the displaced.
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Bomb wounds EPDP official in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 09:22 GMT]
A senior official of a pro-government paramilitary group and 9 other people were wounded in a bomb explosion in Colombo Tuesday. Sankarapillai Sivathasan, a senior advisor to the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and one its former a parliamentarians, was rushed to hospital. A security personnel and a 3-year old child in the vehicle were killed in the blast.
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Bodies of 17 NGO workers brought to Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 09:01 GMT]
The bodies of 17 persons, 16 Tamils and a Muslim, were brought to the mortuary of the Trincomalee general hospital Tuesday in a lorry from Muthur via Allai-Kantalai road. On the orders of the Sri Lankan authorities, a Sinhalese Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) was brought from Anuradhapura to conduct the post-mortem examinations. One of the victims, Y.Kodeeswaran, was the eldest brother of Y.Hemachchandran, another victim of an execution-style massacre by the Special Task Force (STF), the Sri Lankan counter-insurgency elite force in January this year along the Trincomalee sea beach. A father who was a driver, and his daughter, a hygience promoter, were also among the ACF victims.
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Home guard shot dead in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 08:30 GMT]
Unidentified men riding in a motor bike shot dead a home guard Tuesday morning around 8:30 a.m. at Akkaraipattu in Amparai district. The home guard was identified as Subair (26), a native of Addalaichchenai, police sources said.
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ACF workers, 14 Tamils and a Muslim, lined up and shot - Fact Finding Mission

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 07:26 GMT]
"The bodies [of Muthur massacre victims] were all face downwards on the front lawn [of ACF office], seemingly lined up and shot at very close range. The sight was too much to handle," said a Fact Finding Mission of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) that visited Muthur town Sunday where 14 Tamil and a Muslim worker of Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim, ACF) were allegedly massacred by Sri Lanka Army (SLA). The CHA report further verified that most of the deceased were wearing ACF agency T-shirts. Meanwhile, reports from Trincomalee on Tuesday said 17 bodies of ACF workers, 16 Tamils and a Muslim, were brought to Trincomalee hospital.
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Claymore blast kills two SLA soldiers, injures 3

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 August 2006, 06:02 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 3 others were injured in a claymore mine attack at Velveri, about 20 k.m. north of Trincomalee, around 8 a.m., Tuesday. The SLA soldiers were on a road clearing operation along Trincomalee-Anuradhapura road when they were attacked, police sources in the eastern port town said.
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Two brothers with explosives arrested in Arayampathy

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 18:23 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) arrested two brothers, Mohansunthar Nathees, 19 years, and Mohansunthar Pirabakanth, 24 years, on a tip off in Arayampathy, within Kattankudy Police limits and handed over them to the Kattankudy Police for further investigation Monday.
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Youth shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 18:21 GMT]
A youth who worked in a garage as an auto-mechanic was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Siruppidy, Valigamam East, Jaffna at 7:50 p.m. Monday, sources in Jaffna said. The youth, Tharumu Theesan, 24, was returning home from work along the Sripiddy Cemetary road when he was fired at by two men who followed him, witnesses said.
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TRO assists IDPs in Muttur east, Eachchilampathu division, Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 17:29 GMT]
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), only non-governmental organization in the district has been engaged in providing cooked meals, dry rations, milk food and other related humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of Tamil people in the LTTE held villages in Muthur east, Eachchilampathu divisions who have been displaced due to artillery and aerial attack by the Sri Lankan armed forces and sheltered in school and public buildings since April this year. TRO has been distributing food materials with available stock in LTTE held areas amid continuing artillery fire by the Sri Lanka armed forces and destroyed road network and bridges, sources said.
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ICRC condemns killing of aid workers

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 17:27 GMT]
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) strongly condemns the killing of 15 national employees of the French humanitarian organization Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in the town of Muttur, Trincomalee district, Sri Lanka. "We are appalled at what happened to the ACF staff. This was a deliberate attack on a humanitarian organization that was doing valuable work for the people of Muttur,"said Yvonne Dunton, head of the ICRC's sub-delegation in Trincomalee in a press released issued Monday evening.
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Two houses set ablaze by paramilitaries in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 17:08 GMT]
Two houses located along Batticaloa-Kaluwankerni main road were burnt down by a paramilitary group working with Sri Lanka State security forces around 6.30 a.m., Monday. One house belonged to Mylvaganam Arumugam who is the sister of Gnanatheepan, the paramilitary Karuna group cadre who surrendered to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after killing five Karuna group members, including Iniyabarathy, last year.
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Muslim youth abducted in Meeravodai

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 12:58 GMT]
A 15 year-old Muslim youth was abducted in Meeravodai, 25 km. northwest of Batticaloa by unknown gunmen over a suspected business dispute, sources from the eastern town said.
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ACF workers demand handover of massacred NGO workers' bodies

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 11:39 GMT]
The humanitarian workers of the French NGO, Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger, ACF) have urged the support of all NGO workers to exert pressure to release the bodies of the massacred Tamil workers in Muthur, NGO sources said. Fifteen Tamil NGO workers were allegedly massacred by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who entered Muthur town after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters returned to their original positions Friday midnight after launching a 3-day-long counter offensive against SLA advance towards Maavilaru.
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Abrogate CFA, ally with Asia to defeat LTTE, JVP tells Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 11:31 GMT]
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Sinhala extremist party and a political ally of Sri Lanka's President Rajapakse, said at a press conference Sunday that as conditions for the JVP to formally join the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, the Government should ally with Asian countries, abrogate the Norwegian facilitated Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), and strengthen Sri Lankan military to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
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USAID builds new Arugam Bay bridge

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 11:01 GMT]
The U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) began work on two-span 185 meter bridge at a cost of nearly US$10.6m. The new bridge "will connect the communities of Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Panama to enhance economic expansion of the fishing, agriculture and tourist industries," a press release issued by the US Embassy in Sri Lanka Monday said.
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Bauer, Brattskar, Henricsson visit Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 10:45 GMT]
Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer, Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar and Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Major General Ulf Henricsson left Trincomalee town after meeting the General Officer of Commanding (GOC) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the east port town. Later, they held discussion with Trincomalee district head of the SLMM and monitors based in Trincomalee, SLMM sources said.
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Police constable shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 10:40 GMT]
A police constable was shot and killed by unknown gunmen at 11:00 a.m. Monday about 50 meters from the Batticaloa police station.
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Civilian killed in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 10:36 GMT]
A young family man was shot dead by the paramilitary cadres working with Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at 2 a.m. Monday in Kurinchi Nagar, Valaichchenai, about 3okm.northofBatticaloa, sources in the eastern town said..
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GoSL paying "scant regard" to Norway's peace efforts - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 06:39 GMT]
"It is the plea of the Tamil people to the international community that it understands the stark truth behind these actions of the GoSL," the Peace Secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Monday as Norwegian Special Envoy Jon-Hanssen Bauer was scheduled to visit Trincomalee to meet Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Major General Ulf Henricsson in his final efforts to avert the outbreak of war. The Tigers on Sunday said they considered Sri Lankan forces continued attacks towards the LTTE controlled territory as Declaration of War by Colombo.
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Claymore attack in Kandy, senior counter-insurgency officer killed

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 August 2006, 01:10 GMT]
A senior commander of the Special Task Force (STF), the elite counter-insurgency arm of the Sri Lankan police, was mortally wounded Monday when his vehicle was ambushed by attackers with a claymore mine. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Upul Seneviratne was seriously wounded in the blast at Digana, 10 km southeast of Kandy, around 4:15 a.m. Monday. He succumbed to his wounds at Kandy hospital around 6:20 a.m., medical sources said. SSP Seneviratne had served in the eastern province, including as head of the STF in the region. On Sunday, another explosion was reported at Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nihala Karunaratne's residence in Puttalam killing a police security official.
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Sri Lanka’s shelling ‘declaration of war’ - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 17:26 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers said Sunday that the Sri Lankan government’s artillery bombardment of LTTE-controlled territory as amounting to “declaration of war.” The LTTE has not said if it is going to retaliate. Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer is undertaking hectic diplomatic efforts from Kilinochchi where he had been meeting LTTE officials.
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SLA shelling kills 15 civilians, injures 20

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 16:15 GMT]
At least 15 Tamil civilians were killed and 20 others were seriously injured when artillery shells fired by the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy Sunday hit Nallur and Upooral villages in the Muttur east and Eachchilampathu division in the south of Trincomalee district. This incident took place Sunday night around 7.15 p.m., sources in Muthur said.
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Two men shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 15:54 GMT]
Two young men were shot and killed in separate incidents in Jaffna, Sunday. T.Parthipan, 24, an auto-rickshw driver was shot dead at Koolaavadi in Annaikoddai, around 7:30 p.m., Sunday, police sources said.
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STF infiltration repulsed, one Batticaloa Rural Force Member killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 14:23 GMT]
A member of the LTTE's Rural Force of Kovil Porathivu was killed at 12:20 a.m., Sunday, when the LTTE confronted members of Special Task Force(STF) attempting to infiltrate LTTE Forward Defense Lines (FDL) in Paddiruppu, Batticaloa, P.Thayamohan, the political head of the LTTE, Batticaloa District, said. The LTTE repulsed the attack by the STF. Sangarapillai Rajmohan, 18, died in the confrontation.
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ICRC urged to ensure relief supply reaches IDPs in Muttur east, Eachchilampathu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 13:32 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance has appealed to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to ensure humanitarian relief supply reaches the internally displaced Tamil people numbering more than 30000 in the LTTE held areas in the Muttur east and Eachchilampathu division due to indiscriminate aerial strike and artillery attack since April in the Trincomalee district on par with displaced in the government controlled territory. Meanwhile, the ICRC said Sunday in a press release that it has launched a relief operation in Muthur area in co-ordination with the Red Cross Movement (RCM), local authorities and other humanitarian organizations.
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Muslim massacre accusation, a fabrication - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 13:10 GMT]
Responding to the accusation by Colombo that during the Muthur clashes Liberation Tigers abducted and killed Muslim civilians, Political Head of Liberation Tigers, S.P.Thamilchelvan, in a media interview, said that the accusation is a total fabrication by Colombo which is trying desperately to divert the attention from its tenuous military position in Trincomalee naval base.
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SLA shelling hits ambulance, one killed

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 12:56 GMT]
One person was killed when an ambulance bound for Trincomalee town from Muttur was hit by artillery shell fired by Sri Lanka Army, around 4 p.m., Sunday. The ambulance was badly damaged in the incident which occured at 64th mile-post, near Pachchanoor, along Muttur-Batticaloa road, initial reports from the area said.
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Police order Pesalai civilians to leave their houses

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 12:16 GMT]
All Tamil families residing in Ward No: 01 of Pesalai in Mannar district Sunday sought refuge elsewhere in the area following the instruction of the Pesalai Police that they should leave their houses immediately. The instruction was issued following a grenade attack on the Pesalai Police Station located in Ward No: 01.
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Norway, Iceland to continue Monitoring Mission - Bauer

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 12:08 GMT]
"Norway and Iceland are prepared to continue to secure the existence of SLMM after the 1st of September," said Norwegian Special Envoy Jon-Hanssen Bauer, addressing media in Kilinochchi, after meeting the Liberation Tigers Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan Sunday. Mr. Jon-Hanssen Bauer expressed appreciation to the Liberation Tigers for accepting Norwegian call for re-opening the sluice gate tp de-escalate hostilities. "We hope that the violence will be stopped as soon as absolutely possible. It is paramount now to restore the situation and to try to get out of this violence and escalation of the situation," he told reporters in Kilinochchi after his meeting with the LTTE political head.
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SLA soldier killed in Mannar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 11:11 GMT]
One soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was killed in a fight between SLA and LTTE around midnight on Saturday at Parapankandal in Mannar district. He was identified as Serath Mudiansalage Sisira Premlal aged 39 of Avissawella and military sergeant in rank. His body was handed over to the Mannar general hospital, Murunkan Police said.
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Facilitators to ensure GoSL reciprocate - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 10:56 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Peace Secretariat, in a press release issued after the meeting with the Norwegian facilitators, said that the LTTE wished to reinforce its commitment to the CFA and the peace process while at the same time expecting the GoSL to fulfill its CFA obligations relating to military occupation of a people denying them access to their habitats, farm lands and fishing. "The Special Peace Envoy and the Norwegian Ambassador have fully comprehended the situation from the perspective of the Mavilaru villagers and assured that they would proceed with the arrangement of a committee to look into the grievances of the Mavilaru villagers," the press release said.
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SLA fires MBRL rockets from Trincomalee to Muthur East

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 10:44 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL) rockets at 4:00 p.m. Sunday from Trincomalee base. At least 6 artillery shells and three rounds of rockets were fired till 5:00 p.m.
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Colombo bombards Maavilaru, SLMM Head narrowly escapes

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 09:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials, Liberation Tigers Political Head S. Elilan and civilian representatives who went to Maavilaru site to re-open the closed sluice gates came under Sri Lanka Army artillery attack, initial reports said. Dozens of artillery shells were fired. Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer is in direct contact with Royal Norwegian Government and Colombo discussing the latest hostile attacks. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had ealier assured Norwegian Envoy Jon-Hanssen Bauer that attacks would be ceased. The re-opening of sluice gates is blocked by the new escalation of attacks.
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Facilitator to ensure humanitarian action, sluice gates to be opened

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 06:15 GMT]
Norwegian Special Envoy Jon-Hanssen Bauer has assured the LTTE leadership that the facilitators would act, within three weeks, to ensure equitable humanitarian assistance as the Tiger leadership told the facilitator that the LTTE would convince the Maavilaru Tamils to re-open the closed sluice gates. The Tigers also said that the Sri Lanka's direct military actions such as air-strikes, artillery attacks and "socalled limited operations" would be regarded as Declaration of War.
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Two civilians shot dead in Jaffna district

[TamilNet, Sunday, 06 August 2006, 04:25 GMT]
Two civilians were shot to death by unidentified gunmen in separate killings in Jaffna district Saturday night, sources in Jaffna said. Thiagarajah Rathumilan, 30, from Uduvil Road, Manipay was shot dead at 7:30 p.m. and Arumugam Uthayasooriyan, 43, driver attached to the local Pradeshya Sabah, from Thambachetti in Vadamaradchy was killed at 8:00 p.m.
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UNP accuses Rajapakse Govt for acting on JHU, JVP advice

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 17:38 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) in a statement issued Friday accused the Rajapakse government in Colombo for acting on the advice of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in ordering a military operation to capture LTTE controlled Maavil Aaru area "within 24 hours," disregarding the views of veteran military officers. After six days of fighting and suffering heavy casualties, the army has not yet reached the area, the UNP said. The UNP did not participate in the 6th All Parties Conference (APC) held Friday evening. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse also holds the military portfolio as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Sri Lanka.
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Abducted Tamil youth found dead in Kantalai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 16:41 GMT]
A Tamil youth S.Sriskandarajah aged 35 and a father of three children abducted by unidentified men Friday evening around 7:00 p.m. from his tailor shop located in front of the Kantalai police station was found dead Saturday morning in a paddy field with hands tied and gunshot injuries.
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Shells fired in Pesalai, 4000 civilians flee homes

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 15:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka Police and Army fired shells towards civilian settlements in Pesalai, Mannar Saturday around 7:50 p.m. after a grenade attack that wounded two policemen at the police post in Pesalai. Four thousand persons have sought refuge at Pesalai Our Lady of Victory church.
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Killings take place to intimidate Tamil population - Sampanthan tells Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 14:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army was killing innocent Tamil civilians to intimidate Tamil population said the leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Trincomalee district parliamentarian, R. Sampanthan, in an urgent letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse Saturday. The slaying of a leading Tamil businessman Kaththamuthu Perinaparasa was committed to intimidate the Tamil civilian population who have lived in the area for generations and centuries, said Mr. Sampanthan.
Full story >>

Sri Lanka Army massacres 15 NGO workers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 14:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers who entered the Muthur town in the early morning of Saturday shot and killed 15 Tamil workers from Action Faim NGO. The workers, trapped inside their Muthur branch office residence located close to Muthur Cultural Centre, were shot and killed at point blank range, initial reports from Muthur town said.
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Sri Lankan bombers, artillery target road infrastructure

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 13:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) artillery attacks Saturday have destroyed the road network of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Muthur east and Eachchilampathu division and the ferry over Verugal Aru, according to sources in LTTE controlled Sampur. The bridge over Ilankaithurai Muhathuwaram was damaged.
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Sri Lanka Army kills Tamil businessman in Kiliveddy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 13:42 GMT]
A Tamil businessman in Kiliveddy village in Muttur division was shot and killed by the Sri Lanka Army Friday evening. SLA soldiers shot the businessman around 6:30 p.m. when he closed his business and approached the main road. The victim, Kaththamuthu Perinaparasa, 65, had been a leading businessmen in the village, civil sources said.
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"Expel Norway from Sri Lanka" – JVP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 11:30 GMT]
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the extreme Sinhala nationalist ally of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse, has resumed their demand that the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) must expel Norway from Sri Lanka. Speaking at a Media Conference Thursday, August 3, 2006 convened by the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) held at the Colombo Sri Lanka Assembly College, Sri Lankan parliamentarian and JVP Propaganda Secretary, Wimal Weerawansa called on Norway’s International Development Minister Eric Solheim to withdraw the statement he made last Wednesday. Sri Lanka being a sovereign nation, Solheim has no authority to give orders to GOSL claimed Wimal Weerawansa.
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Paramilitaries set fire to Tamil paper newsstand in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 11:27 GMT]
A paper distributor's shop located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Batticaloa town was completely burnt early morning Saturday, sources from Batticaloa said. Muruges and Son Stores which is on the Batticaloa Central Road was 75 meters from the Special Task Force (STF) troopers camp next to the Batticaloa Clock Tower. Batticaloa residents allege the shop was burnt by paramilitaries working in collaboration with the SLA. Paramilitary cadres have warned paper distributors to cancel two mainstream papers, Sudar Oli and Thinakkural, published in Colombo in Batticaloa Sri Lanka Army controlled areas. Meanwhile, Batticaloa Police said they suspected electric short caused the fire.
Full story >>

"Objective accomplished, forces returned to CFA positions" - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 11:04 GMT]
The militay spokesman of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Irasaiah Ilanthiayan, told TamilNet that the LTTE troops, by midnight Friday, returned to their original positions as per February 22, 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. 32 LTTE fighters, including a Lieutinent Colonel and another senior cadre of the Tigers were killed in the operation that excerted a military pressure to Colombo's military offensive to resolve a civilian dispute, Mr. Ilanthirayan said. Two SLN Dvora Fast Attack Crafts (FACs) were destroyed and sunk, 3 boats were damaged. Mortars, Light Machine Guns and ammunitions were seized.
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SLA shoots dead 5 intruders near Muhamalai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 10:47 GMT]
Five men who attempted to infiltrate from LTTE controlled area into Jaffna district through the Forward Defense Lines (FDLs) near Muhamalai have been shot dead by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Kodikamam Police said.
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Tamil businessman shot dead in Trincomalee town

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 10:42 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen riding in a motorbike shot and killed Mr.T Mayuran, 30, Saturday afternoon around 1.30 p.m. inside a business establishment located along Sea View Road in Trincomalee town, police sources said. Two men covered their faces with black cloths shot Mr.Mayuran in his head at the counter of the business establishment at point blank range before escaping.
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Fighting ceases in Muthur, ICRC resumes food supply

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 08:02 GMT]
Fighting ceased between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Trincomalee and humanitarian agencies resumed food supplies to 18 000 Muslim and Sinhala refugees staying in 5 different schools in Kantalai and 15 000 Tamil refugees staying in Kiliveddy. Initial reports from Muttur said the LTTE fighters returned to their positions Friday. No official comments were available from the LTTE or Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) regarding the military situation. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Head Major General Ulf Henricsson was on his way to Muthur and Norwegian Special Envoy Jon-Hanssen Bauer was en route to Kilinochchi via Jaffna.
Full story >>

15 000 Tamil people stranded in Killiveddy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 07:55 GMT]
About fifteen thousand Tamil people gathered in Killiveddy village along Muttur-Batticaloa road in government controlled area in the Muttur division Friday to seek safer places to escape from aerial strike and artillery fire now being conducted by the Sri Lankan armed forces. The civilians have fled from their villages, Manalsenai, Mallikaitivu, Menkamam, Bharathipuram, Thanganagar, Kanguveli, Palathadichchenai, and Iruthayapuram, civil sources said.
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SLA sergeant injured in Vavunativu

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 18:43 GMT]
M.Jayantha, 35 years, a Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Sergeant on guard duty at the Vavunativu SLA Camp was injured in an attack on the camp by LTTE cadres at the LTTE Forward Defense Lines (FDL) around 7:00 a.m. Friday, Batticaloa Police said. The injured trooper was admitted to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital for treatment.
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SLAF bombs Verukal ferry

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 13:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers Friday evening around 5:00 p.m. bombed and destroyed the ferry linking Liberation Tigers controlled Vakarai mainland with Trincomalee south, civilian sources said.
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Handover of SLA bodies delayed

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 13:22 GMT]
Due to the urgent need of the administrative section of the Liberation Tigers in attending to the developing humanitarian crisis to provide safe passage to more than 10,000 residents of Muttur to safer areas, the transfer of more than 40 bodies of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers has been delayed, local LTTE officials in Sampur said.
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TRO caring 10 000 IDPs, seeks assistance from ICRC, GoSL, SLMM

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 12:35 GMT]
Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) on Thursday said the organisation was taking care of ten thousand IDPs in Trincomalee district. Food and water has been provided by the TRO to the IDPs since 01 August 2006. "Stockpiles of food are running low and TRO is appealing to the ICRC, Government of Sri Lanka, and the SLMM to facilitate the transportation of humanitarian relief to the displaced persons," the organisation said. TRO has also received requests for assistance from the Muslim Council in Kinniya, a community TRO has assisted post-tsunami.
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Shelling, troop movement in Batticaloa, 3 killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 11:32 GMT]
As fighting rages in Trincomalee district, to the south, Sri Lanka Army troops Friday attacked Liberation Tigers’ positions in northern part of Batticaloa district. Following five hours of intense shelling, that killed 3 members of a family, SLA troops and paramilitaries advanced towards LTTE positions in Panichchankerni before being beaten back. Meanwhile, a significant number of Sri Lanka Army troops in Batticaloa town have been withdrawn for deployment in Trincomalee and their duties were being assigned to the troops from the elite Special Task Force (STF). All leave has been cancelled for police forces.
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Sinhala villagers block ICRC food convoy to Muttur

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 11:09 GMT]
A food convoy led by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Friday morning from Trincomalee town to Muttur to supply food materials to civilians displaced due to the fighting between SLA and LTTE was stopped at Kantalai by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Friday afternoon around 1 p.m. The SLA refused permission for the convoy to proceed along Kantalai-Allai road to Muttur citing security reasons, ICRC sources in Colombo said.
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Shell hits fleeing civilians, 5 killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 09:15 GMT]
Five Muslim refugees who were fleeing the fighting in Muttur were killed when a shell fell near them Friday around 2:00 p.m. at 64th mile post, Pachchanoor along the A 15 Main Road, civilian sources said. Hundreds of people, with white flags, were lined up at the 64th mile post when the shell fell near them. 2000 Muslim civilians are already on their way towards Kantalai, civil sources said. More than 30 civilians in Muttur area have been killed during the past 3 days.
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Another 5 civilans killed in artillery fire on Muttur school

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 08:17 GMT]
Five Muslim civilians were killed in artillery fire that hit a school in Thoppur. The civilian victims were about to leave the Al Hamra Muslim Vidyalayam when artillery shells began hitting civilian areas, according to civilians who have fled the area. 22 civilians were killed Thursday in indiscrimate artillery fire.
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Sinhalese settlers demand evacuation from Somapura

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 06:52 GMT]
Thousands of Sinhalese settlers from the southern sectors of Trincomalee district have demanded safe evacuation from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled areas, civil sources in Somapura said. The local authorities have contacted the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to facilitate evacuation from the southern sector where the SLA offensive towards Mavil Aaru was launched. Meanwhile, initial reports reaching from Kiliveddy said Muttur civilians, carrying white flags, have started to reach Kiliveddy area. However, the ICRC coordinator, Davide Vignati, in Colombo has told media that a formal cessation of hostilities for a limited time frame is yet to be established.
Full story >>

Bank Manager shot dead in Jaffna, employees protest

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 05:03 GMT]
A well-known literary figure and General Manager of People's Bank, KKS Branch, was shot at point blank range allegedly by the Intelligence operatives of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), at Thirunelvely, a suburb of Jaffna, around 7:45 a.m., Friday. Pon. Ganeshamoorthy, 56, killed when he was getting ready to go to work from his residence at the Post office junction in Thirunelvely, according to sources in Jaffna.
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Arrangements underway for civilian movement from Muttur - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 04:52 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Friday morning said their cadres were making arrangements to safely transport all civilians out of the Muttur town to remote locations as Sri Lanka Army shells continued to hit civilian refuges in the town. The LTTE has urged the ICRC and other humanitarian agencies to enable humanitarian assistance to the displaced people.
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SLMC accuses SL Army of shelling Muttur civilians

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 00:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s largest Muslim party Thursday accused Sri Lankan security forces of shelling Muslim civilians in embattled Muttur town, killing dozens of people and wounding scores more. As Sri Lanka’s military blamed the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader, Rauf Hakeem told AFP: “the people were killed in attacks carried out by the security forces.”
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Bystanders during attack on SLA, remanded

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 00:12 GMT]
Two men who were brought before the Mallakam Magistrate's Courts Thursday, bearing serious wounds, are innocent civilians, according to legal sources. S Jayakumar, 40, and Thuraisingam Rameshkumar, 22, were arrested following an attack against Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Chunnakam, Wednesday.
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Claymore blast injures 4 policemen in Vavuniya, attacker killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 21:08 GMT]
A police reinforcement team that arrived at Poonthoddam following a sentry in the area came under gunfire was hit by claymore blast, around 1.55 a.m., Friday, injuring four, police in Vavuniya town said. They said the body of a youth was found along with a grenade and a claymore in nearby paddy field when the police searched the area, later in the morning.
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White van abduction triggers student boycott at Hartley College

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 20:06 GMT]
The entire student body of Hartley College, Point Pedro boycotted classes Thursday protesting the the abduction of a senior student of the school, administration officials of the school said. Jegatheswaran Gajendran, 18, a Grade-12 student of the school located inside the High Security Zone, was abducted last Sunday and has not been found since.
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Electricity, telephone service to Muttur cut off

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 17:44 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has cut off the supply of electricity to Muttur town and other villages in the Muttur division from Tuesday since the fighting broke out between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). From Thursday noon telephone service to Muttur town has also been cut off, Muttur civilians arrived in Trincomalee Thursday evening with injured civilians said. Telephone communications were severed after the artillery attack on Muttur Arabic College and Thoppur Al-Noor Mahavidiyalayam where twenty two Muslim civilians who sought refuge were killed, and sixty nine injured, sources there said.
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Wounded civilians transferred, 1 hour cessation of hostilities observed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 14:28 GMT]
Sri Lankan armed forces and Liberation Tigers in Muttur observed one hour cessation of hostilties to enable humanitarian organisations to transfer wounded civilians and policemen from Muttur area Thursday evening, NGO sources said. Sixty nine Muslim civilians among the refugees sought asylum injured in two artillery attacks which hit Muttur Arabic College and Thoppur Al-Noor Mahavidiyalayam in Muttur division Thursday afternoon were admitted to the Trincomalee general hospital Thursday evening. They were brought to navy gun boat to the Trincomalee civilian jetty from Muttur jetty, civil sources said.
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LTTE to hand over bodies of 40 SLA troopers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 14:03 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers were making arrangements to hand over bodies of forty Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers killed in Muttur fight, LTTE's military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. The LTTE would be handing over the bodies through the ICRC. "Twelve Tiger fighters have been killed during the last 48 hours fighting in Muttur area thwarting the Lankan navy and army attempts to land their troops," he said.
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SLA artillery fire kills further 12 Muslim civilians in school refuge

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 13:20 GMT]
Twelve Muslim villagers in Al Nuriah Muslim school in Thoppur were killed Thursday evening when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells hit the school, civilian sources in Thoppur said. At least five persons were wounded. Meanwhile, Police sources in Trincomalee said the policemen entrapped in Muttur town were evacuated to Trincomalee. One policeman was killed and fourteen policemen were wounded, according to initial reports.
Full story >>

Tigers discuss humanitarian measures in Muttur

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 11:32 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Trincomalee District Political Head S. Elilan and the LTTE's Liason officer for UN and NGO affairs, were engaged in discussions related to the urgent humanitarian measures necessary to address the needs of the civilian population that has taken refuge in Mosques and Churches in large numbers in Muttur area that has largely come under the control of the LTTE, according to the Tiger Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. Mr. Ilanthirayan said the SL forces attempt to land in Muttur jetty was thwarted and forty SLA troopers were killed Thursday.
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Explosion injures Mannar civilian

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 11:28 GMT]
Unidentified assailants lobbed explosives, suspected to be dynamite, at the house of Mr.Ignatius, driver employed by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Mannar Thursday early morning around 12.30 a.m. located along Moor Street in Mannar town. Diluxan, son of Mr.Ignatius, was injured in the explosion. Sources said.
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SLAF airstrike injures 2 civilians in Kaddaikkadu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 10:45 GMT]
Two civilians were injured when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jets dropped bombs near a church in Kaddaikkkadu in Vadamaradchy east, where large number of people were taking part in the annual church festival, around 1:30 p.m., Thursday. Kaddaikkkadu is about 40 k.m. southeast of Jaffna, along the eastern coast of the peninsula. A Refugee Camp for Tsunami Victims with 215 families is situated 150 meters away from the scene of the aerial attack.
Full story >>

SLA artillery fire kills 10 Muslim civilians, 40 wounded

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 07:41 GMT]
At least ten Muslim civilians who sought refuge in Arabic College in Muttur town were killed when an SLA fired artillery shell hit the college Thursday around noon. About nine thousand Muslim civilians, men, women and children have sought refuge in the Arabic College and mosques in Muttur town since the fighting between SLA and LTTE broke out in Muttur Tuesday night, civil sources said. Heavy fighting is continuing between SLA and LTTE in the jetty area.
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SLMM Trinco office remains closed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 07:13 GMT]
The main office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), located on Inner Harbour Road, leading to the Trincomalee naval base, remains closed until further notice since Wednesday's artillery shell attack on the east port base. Monitors are now staying in their quarters in a hotel about sixteen km off the town.
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SLA fires on Ambulance, 3 Tamils killed

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 06:56 GMT]
Sri Lankan troopers in Seruvila opened fire on an ambulance of the Muttur district hospital, transferring patients to Trincomalee general hospital, through Allai-Kantalai Road, Wednesday. Two Tamil civilians were killed on the spot. The driver of the ambulance who was critically wounded in the shooting succumbed to injuries while being taken to the Colombo general hospital. Sri Lankan Police on Thursday said the ambulance was caught up in a "cross-fire."
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Kfir bombers observed over Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 06:52 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bomber Kfir jets were observed over Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Vanni territory Thursday around 1:00 p.m.
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Fierce fighting continues third day in Muttur

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 06:14 GMT]
Fierce fighting erupted between the Sri Lanka Army and LTTE fighters in Muttur town Thursday early morning following the deployment of hundreds of SLA troops from Trincomalee town. These troops were brought to Muttur by a landing craft of the Sri Lanka Navy Thursday early morning with air cover amid heavy artillery and mortar fire towards the LTTE territory in Muttur East, civil sources in Muttur said. Fierce fighting began after government troops landed at the Muttur jetty when large number of LTTE fighters in the Muttur started attacking the government troops with artillery and mortar preventing them from entering the town, the sources added.
Full story >>

Claymore attack, artillery fire in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2006, 05:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched artillery fire from Thallady and Uyilankulam camps towards Parappankandal, 16 km southeast of Mannar town, after two SLA troopers were wounded in a Claymore attack around 6:45 a.m. Thursday. SLA troopers exchanged gunfire with the ambush-men and launched mortar and artillery fire. One civilian was wounded in artillery fire in Parappankandal. More than a 100 families from SLA controlled areas moved into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled territories following indiscrimate artillery fire.
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"Hundreds of Tigers" in Muttur - residents

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 19:18 GMT]
Intense fighting is underway in Muttur in Trincomalee district as hundreds of heavily armed LTTE cadres who have taken control of the town centre laid siege to four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps on its periphery, residents said Wednesday evening. An effort by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) to land reinforcements on Muttur jetty was routed by LTTE fighters battling SLN troops at one end, reports said. Sri Lanka’s military insisted however that the Army was in control of the town and that the ‘desperate’ LTTE was retreating before its counter-attack.
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Norway urges ‘cessation of hostilities’ and return to prior positions

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 17:32 GMT]
Peace facilitator Norway Wednesday said that the intensive military operations by the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka had resulted in ‘deadlock’ and could easily escalate the armed conflict. The first statement issued by Oslo comes one week after Sri Lanka’s military began to advance into LTTE controlled areas and on the day the LTTE launched a major counter-offensive. It calls on both sides cease hostilities and withdraw to their prior positions. Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer is to make a pre-scheduled visit to Sri Lanka Thursday despite the outbreak of hostilities, International Development Erik Solheim said.
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Muttur hospital closed down due to artillery fire

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 11:59 GMT]
Muttur district government hospital has been closed down as its maternity ward was hit by artillery fire, Wednesday afternoon. Medical officers, nurses, attendants and health workers fled from the hospital seeking safety, sources in Muttur said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy stationed in Trincomalee base stepped up its artillery and mortar fire towards Muttur east villages, from 4 p.m, Wednesday. The Tigers also reported to have fired artillery shells towards the SLN base in Trincomalee.
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Police constable shot dead in Pesalai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 11:37 GMT]
Unidentified men shot and killed a police constable when he was returning from a shop to report for duty at a sentry point located in the heart of Pesalai town Wednesday evening around 4:00 p.m., police sources in Mannar said. The dead constable was identifed as S.M.Mahinda, 41, of Minuwangoda. The Police fired back but no one was injured.
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Young man shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 11:21 GMT]
A young man was shot dead by motorbike riding gunmen in front of 'Namthu Eelanadu' news paper office at Navalar road in Jaffna, around 1:25 p.m., Wednesday.
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8-year-boy killed in mortar fire in Muttur church, 3 wounded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 10:36 GMT]
An 8-year-old boy was killed on the spot and 3 women were wounded in Muttur town when an artillery fell inside the premises of St. Anthony's Church where more than 600 Tamils have taken refuge since the fighting broke out between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last night. The wounded women, unable to be taken to hospital, were being treated at the church as the fighting resumed after a brief lull, civilian sources said.
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Claymore blast in Mannar kills SLA soldier, injures another

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 09:27 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and another injured in a claymore mine attack on troops engaged road clearing operation at Periyaneelansenai along Uyilankulam-Adamban Old Road, around 7.30 a.m., Wednesday. Following the explosion unidentified men in lying ambush fired at soldiers, police in the northwestern town said.
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LTTE says operations ‘to defend civilians’

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 06:53 GMT]
The LTTE said Wednesday that its recent military activities in Trincomalee, including the operation against Sri Lankan military camps in the early hours were intended to disrupt Sri Lanka’s indiscriminate onslaught against Tamil civilians. The LTTE’s military spokesman, I. Ilanthirayan, said that amid the indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilian areas by the Sri Lankan armed forces as part of their offensive in the Mavil Aru region, there was an "urgent humanitarian need" that had compelled what he described as "defensive actions."
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Raising Tiger flag not illegal in US - Embassy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 03:00 GMT]
Staff at Sri Lanka state-run daily in Colombo, Daily News, were given a civic lesson when they confronted US Embassy's press officer, Evan Owen, on the legality of American Tamils hoisting the Tamileelam flag in a New York sports festival, and diaspora parents teaching their offsprings Tamil. The press officer responded that hoisting of the Tiger flag had not breached US law, and that "the right to assemble and freedom of speech is upheld," by their [US] constitution, the Daily news reported.
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Tigers overrun four SLA camps in Trincomalee, enter Muttur

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 02:35 GMT]
Fighting formations of the Liberation Tigers have overrun four key locations in Trincomalee district after fierce artillery shelling since 2:00 a.m. Wednesday. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camps in Kaddaiparichchan, Palathoppu, Pachchanoor and Mahindapura have been overrun, civilian sources said. Heavily armed LTTE fighters were seen entering Muttur town. Military sources in Colombo remained tightlipped and declined to comment on the ground situation. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets continued to bomb LTTE controlled Sampoor area. Fierce fighting is also reported near Kallaru where attempt by SLA forces to capture the Mavil Aaru sluice gates was averted, according to initial reports.
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Heavy fighting in Muttur, 4 SLA soldiers killed in Mahindapura

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 01:29 GMT]
Four soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were killed when LTTE cadres retaliated the attack from the Mahindapura and Selvanagar SLA camps located in the Serunuwara division, south of Trincomalee district in the early hours of Wednesday, sources said. Heavy fighting is also reported in the vicinity of SLA camps located at Kaddaiparichchan and Thoppur in the Muttur and Serunuwara divisions in the Trincomalee district between the SLA troops and LTTE cadres, both sides using artillery shells and mortar bombs, sources said.
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Soaring fuel prices to impact Sri Lanka's economy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 00:45 GMT]
Second fuel price hike within two months has been effected from midnight Tuesday by the Government owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Price of diesel and petrol has been increased by three rupees and kerosene by two rupees per litre, CPC sources said.
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Batticaloa Volunteer Teachers pledge to continue fast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 00:08 GMT]
Members of the Batticaloa District Volunteer Teacher’s Association (BDVTA) have rejected interview notifications sent out by the Ministry of Education and have Tuesday resumed their fast in front of the Batticaloa Zonal Education Office. Citing fundamental errors and discrepancies in the letters sent to them, the volunteer teachers decided to continue the fast which has disrupted the normal working routine of the office, sources in Batticaloa said.
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SLAF bombing continues in Eachchilampathu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 17:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jets continued to bomb villages in the LTTE controlled Eachchilampathu division in Muttur East on Tuesday. Sri Lankan Minister and Defence Ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella at a press briefing said that SLAF bombing is being done to prepare ground situation for SLA troops to move forward to capture the Mavilaru area.
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Policeman shot dead

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 17:11 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Policeman was shot and killed on the Vavuniya - Horawapotana road, around 6:45 p.m., Monday, police in the northern town said.
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Youth's decapitated body found in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 16:05 GMT]
Siruppiddi petrol station owner, Visvalingam Kauroopan, 24, from Karanavai, missing since Sunday, was found slain with his throat cut and his headless body dumped in the disused Siruppiddi Kannaki Amman temple festival-pool Monday, sources from Jaffna said. Mallakam magistrate Ms Sarojini Ilangovan who visited the crime site directed that his body be released to his relatives.
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SLN ship under siege off Pulmoddai coast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 15:13 GMT]
The Jetliner ship, which escaped Trincomalee attack Tuesday afternoon has come under attack again in the Pulmoddai sea from 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, military sources in Colombo said. Pulmoddai is located 49 km northwest of Trincomalee and 41 km southwest of Mullaithivu.
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SLA soldier injured in Mannar firefight

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 10:48 GMT]
One soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was injured when unidentified men fired at group of soldiers who were engaged in road patrol in the area close Santhipuram Hundred Housing Scheme Tuesday early morning around 2.35 a.m. at South Bar in Mannar town, sources in Mannar said.
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Shells hit Trinco navy base, 14 killed, Dvora destroyed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 09:44 GMT]
Artillery shells began hitting the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Trincomalee Naval base as a ship transporting more than 800 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers approached the naval base around 2:25 p.m. Tuesday. More than 36 shells have hit the naval base. At least 6 naval personnel were killed when the shells hit navy college inside the Naval complex. Five sea-borne LTTE vessels destroyed a Dvora boat killing eight SLN troops, naval sources said. The Trincomalee naval headquarters has sustained heavy damage.
Full story >>

Tamil Americans protest in front of US Capitol

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 09:37 GMT]
More than two hundred American Tamils from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka held a protest in the West Front park of US Capitol building Monday between 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m. urging the US Government to take action against Colombo for its war crimes against the Northeast Tamils. The rally also remembered the civilians killed in the Black July 1983 pogrom against Eelam Tamils.
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SLA artillery fire damages civilian houses in Kaddaiparichchan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 07:34 GMT]
At least four civilian houses were damaged and hundreds of people fled for safety when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells from Kaddaiparichchan army camp towards villages in the Liberation Tigers held Muttur east around midnight Monday till the early morning of Tuesday. Kaddaiparichchan army camp is located on the border of the territory held by LTTE, sources said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 06:51 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed an 18-year-old internally displaced Tamil boy, when he was driving a land master tractor along Akkaraipattu Sagamam road Tuesday around 8:30 a.m.
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No support for anti-trade union government, says JVP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 06:25 GMT]
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Sinhala extreme nationalist party that holds 38 seats in the Sri Lankan parliament, on Manday said it would withdraw its support to the United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government if it suppresses trade union rights.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 06:00 GMT]
Unidentified men Monday night around 10:00 p.m. shot dead a Tamil youth Kaliyuganathan Geethansan, 22, at Abeyapura, suburb in Trincomalee town. Men went in motorbike called him out of the house and shot him in the head, police sources said.
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ICRC war surgery workshops held in North East

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 02:58 GMT]
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) held a series of three war surgery workshops for Sri Lankan doctors during July, in Jaffna, Killinochchi and Batticaloa, sharing the experience the organization acquired in the field of war surgery, the ICRC said in a press release issued Monday evening.
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Canberra Tamils hold remembrance event for Black July 1983 victims

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 August 2006, 00:10 GMT]
Canberra Tamil diaspora, Saturday commemorated the thousands of Tamils who lost their lives and property in the Sri Lankan state sponsored July 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom, by holding a vigil at the Uniting Church auditorium in Canberra, the Australian capital city. The vigil began with the Australian National anthem followed by a one minute silence as a mark of respect for the victims of the massacre and the thousands of Tamil men, women, and children who lost their lives in the Sri Lankan war on the traditional Tamil homelands in the north and east.
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