SLN shoots dead Hindu priest in Velanai

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 20:34 GMT]
The chief priest of Mudippi'l'laiyaar Hindu Temple in Velanai west was shot dead in the firefight between Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and a group of youths during a cordon and search operation Sunday around 10:00 a.m in Velanai, in the islets of Jaffna, sources in Kayts said. Meanwhile, unidentified armed men shot and killed a tailor shop owner at Naaranthanai in Kayts Tuesday evening, the sources added.
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Three Tamils arrested in Morawewa

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 20:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka Security forces arrested three Tamil civilians in Gomarankadawela village in Morawewa division in Trincomalee district during a cordon and search operation Monday morning. Police sources said they three were taken into custody on suspicion, as they failed to provide satisfactory explanation for their stay in the area.
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Thousands attend journalist Rajivarman's funeral

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 18:01 GMT]
Majority of the residents of the home town of the young journalist Rajivarman, killed by unknown gunmen Sunday in Jaffna, paid their last respects to his remains kept at his house in Aavarangkaal, Puththoor in Valikaamam Monday. Media persons, religious dignitaries, and civil society leaders spoke at the event.
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LTTE: Sri Lankan MIG-27 jet fighter shot down

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 14:38 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jet fighter was shot down by Liberation Tigers air-defense system when the bomber approached the airfield of the Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) in Ira'naimadu Monday around 2:30 p.m., LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. The SLAF bomber, following a loud explosion, went down into the sea, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
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SLAF bomber shot over Ira'naimadu

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 11:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force's (SLAF's) aircraft on a bombing raid south of Ira'naimadu in Vannai around 2:45 p.m. spewed large cloud of smoke after a explosion and the jet suspended the bombing raid struggling to maintain height, traders in Kilinochchi who saw the troubled aircraft said. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports from Colombo said a Israeli-built fast attack Kfir which took off from Katunayake Air Force base Monday has failed to return to the base.
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Sooriyarachchi released on bail

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2007, 08:33 GMT]
Avissawella High Court Monday allowed the bail application filed by Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, sacked minister of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government and instructed the Kaduwela Magistrate to release him on cash and surety bail. Mr.Nihal Silva, High Court Judge said in his order that no substantial evidence had been submitted to Kaduwela magistrate court under the Section 381 of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) to remand Mr.Sooriayarachchi, legal sources said.
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SLTMA urges action on Journalist's killing

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 April 2007, 20:37 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA ) in a communique issued Sunday appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to take immediate action to find those involved in the killing of Uthayan journalist Selvarajah Rajivarman in Jaffna Sunday morning, sources in Jaffna said.
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6 youths die in firefight with SLN in Velanai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 April 2007, 14:56 GMT]
Six youths were killed in a firefight with the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. during a cordon and search operation in Velani in the islets of Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. The incident occured close to the Mudippillaiyar Temple in Velanai west.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Moothoor

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 April 2007, 10:54 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons shot dead a Tamil civilian in Pattithidal in Moothoor south division in Trincomalee district Saturday night around 10 p.m. A group of armed men had dragged the victim out of his house and fired at him, sources said.
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Youth abducted, another shot injured in Karaveddy

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 April 2007, 10:38 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van following a youth Saturday around 7:30 a.m, along Point Pedro-Jaffna road, opened rapid fire on him near Karaveddi Kunchar Kadai junction in Vadama'raadchchi and forcibly carried the seriously injured youth away in the van. Meanwhile, in a separate shooting at Ka'raveddi Saturday afternoon, unknown armed men shot a youth at his house, causing him serious injury.
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Young journalist shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 April 2007, 08:42 GMT]
Selvarajah Rajivarman, 25, a young journalist working at Jaffna's Uthayan newspaper was shot and killed Sunday by gunmen riding in a motorbike at Naavalar Road, Rasaavin Thoaddam junction around 10:00 a.m. The journalist was on duty collecting news in Jaffna town, according to the Uthayan officials. Mr. Rajivarman was a talented and energic newsreporter who was also attending an external degree course at Jaffna Univeristy according to North Sri Lanka Journalists Association (NSLJA).
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Air Tigers attack 2 targets in Colombo - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 22:33 GMT]
Two oil storages that supply fuel to Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers were attacked by the Tamileelam Air Force, Tiger Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told TamilNet. Oil and fuel storages in Kolonnawa and Muththuraajawala were attacked by the TAF at 1:50 a.m. Sunday and at 2:05 a.m. after Sri Lanka Air Force bombers attacked a suburb of Kilinochchi town in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam administered territory, Mr. Ilanthirayan said adding that the Tiger bombers had safely returned to their airbase in Vanni.
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TamilNet introduces computer-friendly transcription

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 21:12 GMT]
Near accurate Tamil pronunciation is a challenge to English news reporting. Tamil words and place names have long been misspelt due to ambiguity in transcription. Conventional transliteration symbols are difficult to compose, store and retrieve. Known transcription systems are unaesthetic to look at and tiresome to compose due to mix-up of lowercase and uppercase characters. The TamilNet aims at presenting a standard transcription system to face the existing challenges and to cater to contemporary social and cyber needs.
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Colombo in dark following airstrike alarm

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 20:11 GMT]
Power supply was cut off in Colombo at 1:10 a.m. Sunday when the city was watching the Cricket world cup final match. Sri Lanka Air Force personnel opened fire in the air and Sri Lankan armed forces from their positions in Colombo, Ratmalana, Wattala, Negombo, Kolonnawa, Rajagiriya and other suburbs of the city began firing tracer bullets into the air. Chaos and pandemonium prevail in Sri Lanka's capital.
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Government officials visit Paduvankarai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 18:58 GMT]
A team of government officials visited Paduvankarai region in Batticaloa district Friday, for the first time after residents had fled the region due to the offensive by the Sri Lankan armed forces in March, sources in Batticaloa said. The team consisting of officials from the Departments of Education, Health, Electricity, Highways, Irrigation, Cooperatives and Agrarian Services were joined by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commanders and Senior Superintendent of Police, Batticaloa.
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16 civilians arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 17:57 GMT]
Sixteen civilians, majority of them Tamils, were arrested in a four-hour cordon and search operation conducted in Colombo city by Sri Lanka's security forces Saturday. Twelve of them were taken into custody for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, police sources said.
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Two fishermen reported missing in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 17:23 GMT]
Two fishermen from Vankaalai, stopped at a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpost at Thomaspuri on Vankaalai - Naanaaddaan Road Friday around 3:00 p.m., were taken blindfolded to Na'ruvilikkulam coast around 6:00 p.m., residents said. The families of the fishermen have complained to the ICRC and the Police Saturday. Meanwhile Na'ruvilikkulam villagers who heard unusual vehicle movement during the early hours of Saturday, have witnessed footprints of military boots at the coastal site of Thomaspuri.
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Fisherman killed in SLA artillery fire in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 15:00 GMT]
A fisherman was killed in the Jaffna lagoon within the perimeters of Jaffna Municipality when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers fired artillery from the shores towards waters of the lagoon, sources in Jaffna said. The incident happened soon after SLA relaxed fishing along Paashaiyoor and Columbuthurai, and allowed fishermen to use paddle boats to go fishing in the lagoon. Gurunagar ban was not lifted.
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Detained Jaffna undergrad files FR petition

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 13:31 GMT]
Sivaraj Paheerathan, Jaffna university undergrad, currently being detained after the arrest by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on August 18, 2006 under the Emergency Regulations (ER), filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Friday seeking to declare that his fundamental rights have been violated as his arrest and detention are illegal. The petition requested the Court to order the State to pay compensation of Rs.150,000 as relief, legal sources in Colombo said.
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SLA checks villagers' identities in Thampalakamam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 12:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) ordered families residing in Potkerni and other suburbs in Thampalakamam, a traditional Tamil village in Trincomalee district, to be present at Kulakoddan Tamil Vidiyalayam Saturday morning to check their identities and to explain the purpose of their stay in the location, civil sources said.
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Taraki Sivaram remembered

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 10:14 GMT]
"We once again remember with pride the service rendered to the media by Taraki Sivaram. He exercised his right to freedom of expression without fear. We bear this in our minds as we take it among the people on his second death anniversary," the statement issued by North Sri Lanka Journalists Association (NSLJA) Friday said. Members of NSLJA and Jaffna University Media Research & Training Centre (MRTC) jointly took part in the first event of a programme launched to remember Taraki Sivaram, the well-known, political analyst and senior editor of TamilNet, on the second anniversary of his assassination on 28 April 2005.
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3 youths reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 07:08 GMT]
Two youths have gone missing at Sathira Junction along Hospital Road, Jaffna Friday at different times in broad daylight, according to complaints registered by their relatives with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Friday. Meanwhile, a student of Jaffna Technical College (JTC) was reported missing from Monday, HRC sources in Jaffna said.
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Military clad men rob houses in Eravur

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 03:10 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in military fatigues wearing masks robbed cash, jewels and household things in Thamaraikkerny- Hisbullah village, a Muslim resettlement village situated in the border of Tamil area in Eravur town, in Batticaloa district, around 7:45 p.m. Thursday.
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IDP shot dead in Kaluthavalai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2007, 02:14 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons wearing masks abducted an Internally Displaced Person (IDP), a father of a child, from his temporary dwelling in Seddipalayam and shot him dead around 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Kaluthavalai, a neighboring village 2 km south, in Kaluwanchchikkudy Police division in Batticaloa district.
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3 SLN troopers killed in gunfire ambush in East

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 11:07 GMT]
A group of armed men waiting in ambush Friday morning shot and killed three Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) troopers who were on a road patrol in Kuchchaveli in Trincomalee, according to Sri Lankan military officials in Colombo.
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‘Come on you Sri Lankan Lions!’ – UK

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 10:40 GMT]
The British diplomatic mission in Colombo shed diplomatic neutrality on Friday to support Sri Lanka's cricket team in their World Cup final against Australia, AFP reported. "We're hoping for a repeat of the 1996 World Cup final result. Come on you Sri Lankan Lions. Let's hear you roar," a message from the UK High Commission said.
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CID requests Allaipiddy identification parade moved out of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 09:24 GMT]
Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials investigating into the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Allaipiddy killing of August 2006 in which 11 civilians were killed, submitted a petition Thursday to Kayts Magistrate Mr. Jeyaraman Trostky, saying they had sought advice from the Attorney General to conduct the identification parade either in Trincomalee or Amparai areas, as it was not possible to organize a parade involving many soldiers in Kayts, due to the current extraordinary situation, legal sources in Jaffna said.
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Fisheries society member abducted in Valigamam

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 09:21 GMT]
More than ten masked armed men in civil clothes abducted a fisheries society member Wednesday around 10:00 p.m from his house at Kerniyady, Mathagal in Valigamam, according to complaints registered by his wife with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Thursday.
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Civilian found dead in Thenmaradchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 09:15 GMT]
Kodikamam police recovered the body of a family man Thursday morning at Yathali, Thavalai area in Varani, Thenmaradchy and handed it over to Jaffna Teaching hospital. The victim lived within the demarcated boundary of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security Zone, an area where the 52nd SLA division and SLA camps are located.
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SLAF MI24 crashes in Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 05:58 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter gunship, MI 24, that took off from Anurdhapura airbase following the reports of unidentified aircraft over Puttalam sea Thursday night, crashed into a private land adjoining the airforce base at 10:55 p.m.
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Citing child soldiers, HRW urges cut in military aid to Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 03:18 GMT]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) this week called on the United States to curtail military assistance to Sri Lanka, along with other countries whose armed forces recruit youngsters into the military. The New York based rights group, which has long been critical of the Liberation Tigers for recruiting fighters under the age of 18 said “US military assistance should not go to finance the use and exploitation of children in armed conflict” and called for support for a bill tabled in the senate to cut military aid to such countries.
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Labourer abducted, shot dead in Eravur

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 02:17 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen abducted a young Tamil family man from his residence in Vipulanthapuram, Mylampaveli in Eravur police division in Batticaloa District Wednesday night around 7:00 p.m., and shot him dead, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Civilian killed, 2 injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 01:20 GMT]
A Tamil family man was killed and two, including a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper, were injured in an attack Wednesday around 7:10 p.m on a SLA sentry unit posted near a lake at Sithandy, Morokodanchenai in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district, Eravur police said. The attack was launched from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held area across the lake and the civilians were caught in the attack, the police claimed.
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SLA arrests two Tamil girls in Siththandy

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2007, 00:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers arrested a teenage girl and a woman at Siththandy in Eravur Police division in Batticaloa district on Tuesday and Wednesday and handed them to Eravur Police for further inquiries, police sources said. The arrested girls were later produced before Batticaloa District Judge, M. H. M. Ajmeer, who directed the police to hand over the girls to their parents.
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Court releases 8 Tamil youths, orders detention of one woman

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 21:01 GMT]
Colombo Chief Magistrate Wednesday ordered the release of six Tamil civilians and detention of one Tamil woman to a Rehabilitation Centre in the south. They were arrested in a cordon and search operation in Moratuwa in western province two months ago and detained in the Boosa detention centre in Galle.
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Attack alarm sparks airport panic, Colombo in dark

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 17:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) personnel at Katunayake airbase fired precautionary shots into the air as an alarm was issued in Colombo that two unidentified aircrafts were observed over Puttalam sea Thursday around 11:00 p.m. All flights were grounded and power supply in Colombo city was cut off. The situation resumed normal Thursday midnight.
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Funeral of engineer killed in claymore explosion held in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 15:10 GMT]
The funeral of the Mr. Lourdunayagam Princely, 27 year-old Mannar District Project Engineer of the World Bank (WB) funded North East Housing Reconstruction Programme (NEHRP), one of the five civilians killed in the Monday's midnight claymore mine explosion which targeted a private passenger bus bound for Colombo was held Thursday around five p.m. in the Mannar general cemetery amid large crowd of people of all walks of life, sources said.
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High Court reserves order on Sooriyarachchi bail application

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 10:56 GMT]
The Avissawella High Court Thursday reserved its order for Monday April 30 on a bail application filed by Mr.Sripathi Sooriyarachchi who has been kept in remand since his arrest three months ago for allegedly misusing a state vehicle after being dismissed from the minister post.
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Batticaloa displaced students' education in disarray

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 10:47 GMT]
58 schools in Batticaloa district have been closed due to the extraordinary conditions prevailing in the district, affecting 17,000 students, Batticaloa Regional Director of Education, Mr. A. M. E. Paul said Thursday. Students displaced from Muthur region due to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) offensives have been admitted to schools in Batticaloa district and 18 schools are temporarily functioning in public places and in temples or churches, he added.
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Police powers to military, licence to torture, says Rights Group

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 08:49 GMT]
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Thursday warned that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's recent declaration of delegating police powers to the Sri Lanka military would pave the way for the re-emergence of torture chambers inside Sri Lankan military camps similar to those of late 1980s when more than 30,000 persons disappeared. "The re-emergence of such a situation should be frightening to the citizens of a country which has seen such a situation in the past. Under the present circumstances the emerging situation can be even worse," the AHRC said.
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Paris Tamils in walking vigil, urge release of Tamil activists

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 05:28 GMT]
Around 2000 French Tamils marched in Paris Wednesday afternon in a silent walking vigil, organized by French Tamil Students Forum. Demonstrants carrying placards stating "we are not terrorists," gathered at place de la République at 3:00 p.m. and walked towards Place de Bastille where a meeting was held.
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6 infected with Chickenpox in Jaffna prison

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 03:20 GMT]
Due to lack of basic facilities, six youths placed in the protective custody of Jaffna prison, a private house with a capacity to hold less than 100 but packed with more than 200 inmates, have been infected with Chickenpox, according to Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) officials who visited the prison Wednesday.
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SLAF bombs Kilinochchi suburb, civilians wounded

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 03:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force bombers attacked Thiruvaiyaaru, 2 km east of Kilinochchi hospital, Thursday at 7:00 a.m. A 69-year-old man and a 26-year-old man were wounded in the bombardment. Tension prevailed in Kilinochchi hospital and many school children remained at home, sources in Kilinochchi said.
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SLA troopers fail to appear for Court trials in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 02:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) personnel, involved either as the accused or witness in cases of abductions, killings and other such criminal allegations, fail to appear for the scheduled trials in the courts in Jaffna peninsula, causing numerous indefinite postponements of the cases, legal society sources in Jaffna said. The SLA Commander will act in consultation with the Attorney General, in case Magistrates handling such cases resort to punitive measures, SLA legal sources said.
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SLA abducts trader in Valigamam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 00:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers posted near Kantharodai SLA camp stopped a trader at the sentry, led him blindfolded with hands bounds through a paddy field to a Buffel armoured personnel carrier (APC) parked at a distance from the camp, and took him to Uduvil SLA camp Tuesday, his wife said in a complaint to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Wednesday.
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WTCC representative arrested in New York - U.S. Justice Department

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 20:53 GMT]
A senior U.S. representative of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Karunakaran Kandasamy, was arrested in Queens, New York, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Wednesday. The arrest was made on a complaint alleging Mr. Karunakaran, as director of the American branch of the Tigers, for having operated within the United States drawing on America’s financial resources and technological advances. The complaint further said that the LTTE relied on sympathetic Tamil expatriates residing in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and several other countries.
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Buffel APC destroyed in LTTE ambush in Amparai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 20:52 GMT]
A Buffel Armoured Personnel Carrier used by the Sri Lankan Special Task Force in Amparai was destroyed in a combined ambush Wednesday around 9:00 a.m., LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media. The Buffel APC, on its way from Pannalagama to Bakmitiyawa, was rushing to the site of a Claymore attack on a STF Road Patrol, where at least two personnell were killed and 3 wounded, according to the casualty figures provided by the Sri Lankan Police.
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LTTE: Sri Lankan offensive repulsed in Madu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 15:37 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Wednesday said they repulsed a ground offensive by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) at Parisankulam inside LTTE controlled Madu division in Mannar. More than 10 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed and around 50 sustained injuries, said LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. The SLA troopers who moved from Iranai Iluppaikkulam camp were locked in a five-hour jungle clash where Tigers engaged sniper units inflicting casualties on the SLA troopers, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.
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SLA suffers casualties in fresh offensive in Madu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 12:38 GMT]
Twelve Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and 33 wounded when a special unit of the SLA launched a fresh offensive amid artillery barrage towards Mullikkulam, 12 km northesat of Madu Church in Iranai Illuppaikulam GS division, Mannar, Wednesday evening according to initial reports from the area. 26 wounded soldiers were admitted to Anurdhapura public hospital and 7 more were rushed to military hospital, according to medical sources.
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Sooriyarachchi refused bail for third time

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 11:43 GMT]
The Kaduwela Magistrate Tuesday refused the bail application submitted on behalf of Mr.Sripathi Sooriyarachchi for the third time and ordered further two weeks' remand, legal sources in Colombo said. Mr.Sooriayarachchi was sacked from the non-cabinet minister post. He is a parliamentarian from the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP), main constituent of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government.
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Youth's body with gunshot wounds found in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 10:41 GMT]
Body of a youth, estimated to be about 23 years old, was found near 8th Mile post in Thalikkulam in Vavuniya Wednesday morning, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Mannar Police suspends night bus services from Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 10:34 GMT]
Mannar Police Wednesday ordered suspension of all state and private sector night bus services to and from Mannar other parts of Sri Lanka along Mannar-Madawachchi and Mannar-Vavuniya roads due to security situation, transport service sources in Mannar said. State and private sector bus operators were instructed to reschedule their services between 7.30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
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UNDP funds project in Mannar to prevent salt water incursion

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 03:35 GMT]
The Economic Consultancy House (TECH), an NGO working in NorthEast, is implementing a project funded by UNDP costing Rs.1,530,900 to build earth dams to prevent salt water incursion in two villages in Mannar district under the Assistant Government Agent of Manthai west, sources in Mannar said.
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2 students, family man seek protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 02:32 GMT]
An eighteen year old student from Karaveddy, Vadamaradchy and another 16 year old student from Pokatti, Kodikamam in Thenmaradchy sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Tuesday along with a young family man from Chavakacheri in Thenmaradchy, all fearing death from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and SLA-backed paramilitaries, according to sources in Jaffna. With the Jaffna magistrate have taken leave of absence, HRC officials are facing technical problems in arranging protective custody in Jaffna prisons, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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GoSL denies air transport to Batticaloa MPs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 02:02 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) refused to provide helicopter transport to the four Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian of Batticaloa district, from Colombo to Batticaloa, to attend the District Development Council (DDC) meeting held at Batticaloa Kachcheri Tuesday, TNA sources said. The MPs requested transport help following death threats from Karuna Group. The meeting was organized to explore solutions to the IDP problems and to endorse the other development activities planned for the current year.
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Britain’s Liberal Democrats back Amnesty’s Sri Lanka campaign

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 01:38 GMT]
Britain’s third largest political party, the Liberal Democrats, came out strongly Tuesday in support of Amnesty International’s campaign to promote independent human rights monitors in Sri Lanka and called on all sides to respect international human rights and humanitarian law. The party said one of its MEPs, Saj Karim, Liberal Democrat Member of the Human Rights Committee, has tabled a key amendment to the annual European Parliament report into Human Rights.
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Electronic engineer killed in bomb blast in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 20:39 GMT]
An owner of electronic shop was killed and his associate seriously injured in a bomb blast at his shop situated along Pillayar Kovil road, Kaluwanchikkudy in Batticaloa district, around 10:00 p.m. Monday.
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SLAF bombs Puthukudiyiruppu in Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 17:30 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force bombers dropped bombs in various locations in Puthukkudiyiruppu Tuesday around 4:30 p.m., according to the residents from Kaivaeli village. Four bombers dropped bombs near civilian settlements as people sought refuge in bunkers.
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Tamil fisherman abducted in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 17:09 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted a fisherman at gun point from his house Tuesday around 3:00 p.m at Pesalai in Mannar district, according to complaints lodged by his relatives with Talaimannar police. The armed men who spoke fluent Tamil and Sinhalese had said they were police officials, according to the complaint.
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Sri Lankan military officials meet in Palaali

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 13:42 GMT]
A defence team comprising high level officials of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), were flown to Palaali airbase amid tight security Tuesday morning for an assessment of the air attack carried out by the Tigers on the High Security Zone Palaali garrison in Jaffna. A number of bombs dropped by the LTTE aircrafts had hit the military installations including the ammunition stores and camps along Kadduvan - Kankesanthurai (KKS) Road and in areas surrounding Mayiliddi harbour, according to a military official who did not wished to be named.
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Barrage of gunfire as Tiger aircrafts complete bombing raid, woman wounded

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 13:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers in camps across Jaffna Peninsula emptied bullets in the air in a barrage of gunfire after Tamileelam Air Force (TAF) attacked SLA's main base complex in the Jaffna peninsula in the early hours of Tuesday morning, residents in the peninsula said. A woman was wounded in Eezhaalai, 5 km southwest of Palaali when Sri Lanka Army soldiers opened fire from their positions as the Tiger aircrafts, that completed their mission inside the High Security Zone of the Palaali garrison, flew at low altitude on their way back to Vanni.
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Villagers plead for opening of Puliyadyirakkam Road in Mannar

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 12:24 GMT]
Villagers in the LTTE held Madhu areas in Mannar district have requested the civil and military authorities to re-open the Puliyadyirakkam Road, the gateway to 13 Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions in the LTTE held territory. Madhu Divisional Secretariat area comprises 17 GN divisions of which four are in the government held territory.
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Sri Lanka seeks US petroleum investors

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 10:49 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Minister for Petroleum and Petroleum Resources Development, A. H. M Fowzie, will lead delegation on May 1 to a key meeting in Texas of investors in oil exploration organized by the US embassy in Colombo, reports said. Minister Fowzie and the US ambassador to Sri Lankan Robert O’ Blake are expected to address the breakfast meeting scheduled for May 1 in Houston, the Daily Mirror reported.
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4 civilians killed, 37 injured in claymore attack on bus in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 05:11 GMT]
Four civilians including a women were killed and 37 wounded when the civilian bus carrying Tamil and Muslim passengers from Mannar to Colombo was hit by a Claymore mine around 11:30 p.m. Monday at Andiyapuliayankulam along Mannar-Madawachiya road in Vavuniya. Relatives of the victims have blamed the Sri Lanka Army for the attack on the civilian bus.
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Massive search operations in Jaffna Peninsula

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 03:52 GMT]
Sri Lanka armed forces in large numbers conducted simultaneous cordon and search operations in Vadamaradchy, Thenmaradchy regions and Jaffna, Monday. Key roads were blocked and residents were herded into play grounds and temples in close proximity and interrogated, sources in Jaffna said.
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Tamil businessman abducted in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 01:31 GMT]
A leading Tamil businessman in Colombo was abducted by unidentified armed persons in a white van at Perera Lane junction along Galle road in Wellawatte while he was walking along the road around 8:30 p.m. Monday, his relatives lodged complaint at Wellawatte Police, sources in Colombo said.
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CID searches TNA MP's residence in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 00:53 GMT]
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka police conducted an intensive search in Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian N. Sri Kantha's official residence in Mathivela, Colombo Monday around 5:30 p.m. TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah's secretary Selvarajah Samuel who was at the residence during the search was interrogated for nearly three hours, according to sources in Colombo.
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Firefight near SLA Uduvil camp

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 00:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers on street patrol unit opened fire on unknown persons who refused to obey SLA orders Monday evening, close to the SLA Intelligence unit camp at Uduvil in Valigamam East, sources in Jaffna said. The unknown armed assailants opened fire in retaliation and escaped from the site.
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Tiger aircrafts bomb Palaali military base

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 April 2007, 22:09 GMT]
Two attack aircraft of the Liberation Tigers bombed the Sri Lankan military’s main base complex in the Jaffna peninsula in the early hours of Tuesday morning, inflicting heavy damage and casualties, LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told TamilNet. Tamileelam Air Force bombers had hit an Engineering Unit of the complex and a military storage, the Tigers spokesman claimed. Meanwhile sources said continuous explosions were heard from inside the High Security Zone for five hours after the air raid. Military sources in Colombo confirmed that at least 6 of their personnel were killed. Informed military sources said more than 30 troopers were wounded the attack inside the HSZ.
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EPDP member shot, injured in Kayts

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 April 2007, 18:42 GMT]
Unknown persons shot and seriously injured an Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) member Monday evening in Kayts, an islet of Jaffna. Kayts police took the injured EPDP member to Jaffna Teaching Hospital where he is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.
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Canadian Tamil concludes fast, urges Canada to exert pressure on Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 April 2007, 13:41 GMT]
A Canadian Tamil peace activist in Toronto, Dr. Sri Skanda Rajah, on Saturday concluded a six day Ghandian fast, he undertook to sympathize with the victims in NorthEast Sri Lanka. Urging the Canadian Government to exert pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to help "stop the carnage, starvation and the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Sri Lankan armed forces," Dr. Sri Skanda Rajah said the fast was a spiritual exercise that transcended partisan politics and asked those who attended not to make political capital of the endavour.
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Rajapaksa delegates civil police powers to military

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 April 2007, 11:23 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has delegated civil powers hitherto discharged by the Police to the three armed forces, Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) by a recent Extra-Ordinary Gazette Notification of 1491/18 under Chapter 40 of the Public Security Ordinance dated April 06, 2007. Civil powers entrusted with the police throughout the whole island have been delegated to the military by Mr. Rajapaksa.
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Man strangled to death in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 April 2007, 10:36 GMT]
Unidentified persons strangled to death a man Sunday night at Kovilkulam in Vavuniya district, Vavuniya police said. The victim, around 30, is yet to be identified and the motive of the killing is not known.
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Colombo declines security assurance to Norwegian delegation

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 April 2007, 10:23 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry official who contacted the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar in Colombo Sunday declined to recommend necessary security assurance for the Norwegian delegation to undertake a scheduled diplomatic visit to Kilinochchi Monday to meet with the political leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileealm, Norwegian press reported Monday citing the Ambassador.
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Foreign funds meant for Jaffna diverted to South

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 April 2007, 01:26 GMT]
Funds meant for development projects in Jaffna peninsula set aside by World Bank, World Food Programme (WFP) and other foreign sources are being directed to southern Sri Lanka by the Government ministries handling the funds, civil society sources in Jaffna said. During the past 3 years, less than 15% of the development project targets have been completed in the tsunami affected Vadamaradchy east and north while more than 85% of similar targets in the South have been achieved, Jaffna secretariat sources said.
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Change in Defense Leadership necessary- Wickremesinghe

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 April 2007, 19:14 GMT]
Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) said Sunday that ethnic conflict could be resolved only through negotiations and not by war. However the military establishment of the country should be entrusted in the hands of an efficient administrator to strengthen the government in the negotiation table, added Mr.Wickremasinghe addressing a gathering after he commissioned the official website of the UNP at party headquarters Sunday, media sources said.
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SLA deploys elite forces in Northern Front

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 April 2007, 18:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army has moved more than two thousand heavily armed Special Forces (SF) towards the Forward Defence Line in Thenmaradchi along the Northern Front, military observers in Thenmaradchi said Sunday, speculating a Sri Lankan offensive at any time from Jaffna's FDLs. Sri Lankan troopers were also engaged in intensive night training missions for the last three days in Jaffna's High Security Zone surrounding the SLA's Palaali garrison, in Thondamanaaru and Valalaai areas.
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SL artillery fire wounds child, grandmother in Vadamaradhci East

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 April 2007, 17:45 GMT]
A 6-year-old girl and her 67-year-old grandmother were wounded when Sri Lanka Army fired artillery shells towards Thalayadi in Liberation Tigers controlled Vadamaradchi East Sunday morning around 6:00 a.m.
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2 fishermen feared drowned in SLA mortar fire

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 April 2007, 14:14 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) launched mortar fire on fishermen fishing in Uduthurai seas in Vadamaradchy east Sunday around 4:00 a.m. in which two fishermen are missing and their fishing boat burnt, sources in Vadamaradchy said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched heavy artillery barrage from the Varani artillery base on civilian settlements in Uduthurai, Vettilaikerny, Vatharayan and Maruthankulam in Vadamaradchy east, from Saturday 10:00 p.m to Sunday 4:00 a.m, damaging six houses, the sources added.
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LTTE: Sri Lanka’s accusations of credit card fraud is ‘attempt to distract from rights abuses’

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 April 2007, 09:08 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Political Head, S. P. Thamilchelvan, responding to allegations by the Sri Lankan Embassy in London that the Liberation Tigers were involved in organised crime in Britain involving the cloning of credit cards, dismissed the accusations and slammed them as an attempt by the Colombo government to distract international attention from widespread human rights abuses by its armed forces. Mr. Thamilchelvan said Sri Lanka's accusations which sought to implicate the hardworking and law-abiding Tamil Diaspora, stemmed from the "same chauvinism that caused the island’s protracted ethnic war."
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Bail refused for former East Provincial Secretary

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 April 2007, 08:30 GMT]
Colombo Additional Magistrate Friday refused bail for Mr.L.S.C.Siriwardene, former East Provincial Education Secretary who is on remand in connection with allegedly accepting bribe of fifty thousand rupees from a volunteer teacher to give permanent appointment. The suspect was ordered further two week's remand.
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Tamil youth abducted, shot dead in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 April 2007, 23:31 GMT]
Unidentified armed men abducted Friday a Tamil youth from his residence in School road, Peththalai, took him to Valaichenai, the nearby town 2 km away, and shot him dead around 11.00 p.m. along Vipulanantha Road in Valaichenai police division in Batticaloa district, police said.
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2 SLA troopers killed, 5 wounded in Claymore ambush in Welikanda

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 April 2007, 14:14 GMT]
Gunmen waiting in ambush after penetrating into Sri Lanka Army territory in Welikanda in Batticaloa Polonnaruwa border triggered a Claymore mine and killed two Sri Lanka Army troopers and wounded five Friday around 5:00 p.m. at Thirukonamadu. A SLA tractor transporting sand to fortify bunkers was damaged in the ambush, military sources in Colombo said.
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SLA launches artillery barrage on Vavuniya villages

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 April 2007, 14:03 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army launched artillery barrage on villages Paalamoaddai, Kunchukulam, Navvi, Puliankulam and Semamadu from 6:00 p.m. Saturday.
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Sri Lanka steps up air strikes on Vanni

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 April 2007, 13:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has stepped up bombardment on Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) territory in Mullaitheevu and Kilinochchi districts during the past week. A civilian was wounded Friday, when Sri Lanka Air Force bombers hit Puthukudiyiruppu 9th Division twice Friday. SLAF MiG and Kfir bombers were observed over Kilinochchi Saturday.
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SLFP political package, not of APRC - Tissa Vitarane

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 April 2007, 09:45 GMT]
The proposed devolution proposals to be submitted by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will not be of the United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government or of the All Party Representative Council (APRC). Devolution proposals would be submitted by SLFP, said Tissa Vitarane, Chairman of the APRC. Mr. Vitarane's comment came in the wake of reports that the SLFP, main constituent of the UPFA is to submit its political proposals to the APRC during the first week of May. APRC would formulate a political package based on recommendations submitted by all political parties, he added.
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SLA asks court to transfer Chemmani case to Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 April 2007, 00:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander, Wednesday and Thursday filed two petitions in the Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal asking not to allow the inquiry into the Chemmani graveyard massacre and other related Habeas Corpus applications to be held in Jaffna Magistrate's Court and to transfer those cases to Anuradhapura court for further hearing, legal sources in Jaffna said.
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Abducted youth seen at SLA sentry post in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 20:37 GMT]
Relatives of a youth, reported abducted April 13 by four unidentified men on motor cycles from Columbuthurai, saw the youth detained inside a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry post on Kandy road in Chundukuli, clad in army fatigue, according to complaints made by the youth's parents Friday with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office. The SLA's 51-2 brigade headquarters in Jaffna town, however, told the HRC that they had not detained any such person, when approached by the HRC Friday, Jaffna sources said.
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Respect human rights, resume negotiations, Holy See tells Rajapaksa

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 16:27 GMT]
Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State, held a meeting with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday, after Pope received Mr. Rajapaksa among the audience. Cardinal Secretary of State, conveying the concerns of the Pope, reiterated to Mr. Rajapaksa, the need to respect human rights and resume the path of dialogue and negotiation as the "only way to put an end to the violence," that is bloodying the island of Sri Lanka.
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NPC deplores threats to media freedom

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 11:55 GMT]
The National Peace Council (NPC) of Sri Lanka expressed concerns over reports that high ranking members of the government have pressured editors of national media institutions to avoid criticisms of government policies and actions, in a media release issued Thursday. Undemocratic state pressure on media is unacceptable, the release said.
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SLAF UAV reported missing in Kokkilai

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 09:01 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was reported missing when it was on a reconnaissance mission over Kokkilai Friday noon, according to the SLAF sources in Colombo.
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SLA trooper commits suicide in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 07:07 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier, S.Samankumara, 29, attached to 51-4 Brigade shot himself to death at Ariyalai Forward Defense Line (FDL) Wednesday morning, according to military sources in Jaffna.
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GoSL must pay compensation to Batticaloa IDPs- MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 04:24 GMT]
One third of the Batticaloa Tamil population has been made refugees and, as a result, the educational, social and economical resources and growth of the Tamil people have suffered grave setback, P. Ariyaneththiran, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament for Batticaloa district said in a press communiqué Thursday. He urged the Sri Lanka Government authorities to take steps to pay compensation to those who suffered economic loss due to displacement.
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Five civilians die in Batticaloa boat mishap

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 April 2007, 20:19 GMT]
Five civilians, including a school girl, died when the boat in which they were traveling capsized due to heavy wind in Valaichchenai lagoon near Santhively in Eravur Police division in Batticaloa district, Tuesday afternoon.
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Norway dismisses lone activist’s agitation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 April 2007, 15:23 GMT]
A Norwegian speaker at a symposium organised by Sinhala nationalists as a “public awareness programme on how terrorism is being promoted in Sri Lanka” was dismissed by his government as a lone agitator making wild accusations. The Norwegian, Falk Rune Rovik, who alleges that Norway is financing the LTTE, was a murder convict and has been engaged by Sinhala ultra nationalists and promoted by Sri Lankan government ministries in anti-Norwegian and anti-LTTE propaganda. The activities of Mr. Rovik, who is scheduled to address a conference in Colombo Friday, has antogonized the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, according to Norwegian press reports.
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Muslim trader shot dead in Kinniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 April 2007, 13:19 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a Muslim civilian Wednesday night around 10 p.m.at Poovarasanthivu in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district. The victim has been identified as forty-eight year-old Abdul Hassan, a cattle trader.
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National ID identifies Mannar youth in alleged cyanide incident

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 April 2007, 13:05 GMT]
The Tamil youth who allegedly killed himself taking cyanide after being arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on Wednesday in Mannar has been identified by his National Identity Card (NIC) as Vaithilingam Roshan, 27, of Muttur in Trincomalee district. The acting Mannar Magistrate Mr.M.P.Farook who viewed his body at Mannar hospital Thursday afternoon ordered the hospital authorities to keep the body for three days for his relatives to claim, sources said.
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SLA soldiers gun down fellow soldier in Allaippitti

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 April 2007, 10:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers at a sentry post in Allaipitti area shot dead Tuesday night a fellow trooper, approaching their sentry post, suspecting the soldier as a Tiger fighter on a recon mission, who failed to respond to their queries, SLA sources said.
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Backlog of parcels shipped to Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 April 2007, 08:31 GMT]
The Cargo vessel "Induruwa", carrying nearly 6000 parcels lying in backlog in Trincomalee post office since January, sailed Tuesday evening to Kankesanthurai harbour in Jaffna peninsula, Department of Postal Services (DPS) said. Only parcels containing medicine, weighing up to one kg, would be accepted to Jaffna district, according to an announcement by DPS.
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SLA trooper killed, 3 injured in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 April 2007, 06:45 GMT]
Unidentified persons lobbed three hand grenades Wednesday around 8:45 p.m. on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers posted near a fuel station at Iratperiyakulam in Vavuniya, killing a SLA trooper, injuring two troopers and a home guard, sources in Vavuniya said.
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Fishing ban after sea skirmish between SLN, Sea Tigers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 14:14 GMT]
Following fire fight between Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Sea Tigers in the lagoon seas south of Jaffna Peninsula, Tuesday afternoon, SLN has imposed fishing ban on fishermen from coastal areas of Pashaiyoor, Gurunagar, and Navanthurai Wednesday, sources from Jaffna said. More than 3000 fishermen have been affected by the ban.
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JVP, JHU, SMS file appeals in SC on CFA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 13:10 GMT]
Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Jathika Hela Urumaya, all monks' party and Sinhala Maha Sabha (SMS) have filed appeals in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court challenging the order made by the Court of Appeal (CA) dismissing their petitions filed against the ceasefire agreement seeking it cancellation.
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2 youths, family man abducted in Eravur

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 13:05 GMT]
Armed men in a white van abducted a labourer between Mavadivembu and Kommanthurai in Eravur police division in Batticaloa last week, according to complaints lodged with Eravur police Tuesday. Meanwhile, unknown armed men on a motor cycle had abducted two youths on their way to purchase goods at Eravur public market last week at Arumugathan Kudirruppu Main street, according to complaints made by the youths' mothers Tuesday at Eravur police.
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Motor mechanic shot dead, one abducted in Eravur

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 11:24 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen, shot dead a motor mechanic near his house at Arumgathan Kudirrupu in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district, Tuesday around 7:35 p.m, meanwhile unknown armed men shot injured and abducted his brother-in-law same night at another place in the same village, sources in Eravur said.
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SL President pooh-poohs Gothabaya death threat

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 11:05 GMT]
Before leaving for Italy Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa telephoned Ms. Champika Liyanarachchi, editor of the Daily Mirror, in a bid to defuse the controversy that has erupted over the death threats she received Tuesday from Defence Secretary Gotathabaya Rajapaksa. The President had suggested to Ms. Liyanarachchi that she had overreacted to Mr. Gotabhaya’s “expressions of concern for her safety,” Presidential Secretariat sources said.
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SL President leaves for Italy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 09:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa Wednesday morning around 11:00 a.m. left Colombo on a three-day official visit to Italy. Three Catholic ministers in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government Messrs: Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Milroy Perera and Felix Perera also accompanied Mr.Rajapaksa, Presidential Secretariat sources said.
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HRW urges Pope to discuss human rights with Rajapaksa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 08:48 GMT]
The Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, Brad Adams, Tuesday, urged Pope Benedict XVI, to raise the deteriorating human rights crisis in Sri Lanka with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is visiting Vatican this week. Sri Lankan military and police forces, as well as proxy armed groups, are engaged in serious violations of the laws of war and human rights, reiterated Human Rights Watch in the letter.
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Tamileelam flag on pitch prompts paper’s ire

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 03:26 GMT]
The pitch invasion Monday by a man carrying the Tamileelam flag during the ICC Cricket World Cup Super Eight match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Grenada National Stadium in St. George's, provoked a furious reaction from a Sri Lankan daily Wednesday. Condemning the action as “a dastardly act,” The Island newspaper’s editorial said: “The LTTE has once again demonstrated its capability to gain access anywhere at will.” Sri Lanka’s top cricket body “must take up the issue with the ICC and the West Indies Cricket without taking it lying down in typical Sri Lankan style,” the editorial fumed.
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Gothabaya threatens Mirror editor over Karuna story

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 03:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa threatened the editor of a leading English daily on Tuesday, saying the paper’s coverage of actions of the Karuna Group had angered the Army-backed paramilitaries, a media watchdog said. Mr. Gothabaya, brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had Tuesday morning telephoned Ms. Champika Liyanarachchi, editor of the Daily Mirror to say she should not be surprised if the Karuna Group turned its violence against her and if so, she shouldn’t expect government protection, the Free Media Movement (FMM) said.
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Detained youth's family seeks protection at HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 02:10 GMT]
Parents and two younger brothers of a youth detained at Kankesanthurai Special Police detention camp sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna Tuesday. The HRC, however, took steps to place only the 16 year old brother in the protective custody of Jaffna prison. Parents and the other brother of the detained youth had to return home in Kachai, where the youth was arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers Friday.
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Muslim youth arrested with missing police rifle in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 01:38 GMT]
Kalmunai police arrested Tuesday morning a Muslim youth who had in his possession a T-56 rifle that had gone missing when a police constable was shot dead at Kalmunai by unidentified persons latter part of last year.
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Two students drown in Kaththankudy sea

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2007, 00:48 GMT]
Two students who went swimming in Kaththankudy Sea around 11:00 a.m. Sunday, died and another two were rescued in serious condition, Police said. Seven friends who went together swimming confronted dangerous currents, and five of them were rescued by area fishermen close to the Aeththukkal beach.
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Young father abducted in Chunnakam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 18:00 GMT]
Persons believed to be Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers abducted a family man riding in motor bike, in front of Skanthavarothaya College, Chunnakam in Valikamam North region on 10 April, his wife lodged complaint Tuesday at the Jaffna branch of the Human Rights Commission. Her relatives had witnessed her husband being taken away by SLA soldiers, she said in her statement.
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Killing spree escalates in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 16:06 GMT]
Four armed men, conversing in Sinhala and Tamil, entered the house of a former editor of a Tamil magazine in Vavuniya Monday night, shot and killed the father of one. The killers then instructed the victim's 7-year-old son, at gunpoint, to go to sleep, the grieving child told the district magistrate who conducted the inquest into the death of 32-year-old Chandrabose Suthahar, Tuesday. Killings were escalaing as never before on alarming rate in Vavuniya District, Manickavasagar Ilancheliyan, the district magistrate, told media appealing those concerned to act against the killing spree, after hearing the eyewitness boy.
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Samurthi officer shot dead in Amparai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 15:19 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen waylaid and shot dead a Samurthi Development Officer on duty Tuesday around 11:35 a.m at Urani area in Pothuvil, Amparai district, while riding his motor bike, Pothuvil police said.
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Woman beaten to death in Batticaloa, civilian knocked dead by army vehicle

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 11:23 GMT]
A 22-year-old woman, beaten to death, has been found buried at Paalaiyadiththoni in Santhivelin in Eravur Police division Monday morning. Meanwhile, a pedestrian was killed, knocked down by a speeding Sri Lanka Army (SLA) vehicle along Batticaloa Valiachenai Road at Maavadivaembu Monday. Another civilian was killed in a separate accident on the same road, Eravur Police said.
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Two civilians shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 10:39 GMT]
Four unidentified armed men shot dead a woman and a young man Tuesday around 1:00 a.m. in a house at Kovilkudirruppu in Vaharai police division in Batticaloa district, police said. The armed men who had come to abduct the young man and had shot dead the two when the victims had argued with them, the police added.
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AG urged to release detained Jaffna undergrad

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 10:24 GMT]
An appeal has been made to Sri Lanka's Attorney General to release Selvarajah Paheerathan, 26, an undergrad who was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army eight months ago in a cordon and search operation conducted in the premises of the Jaffna University and later handed over to the Jaffna Police.
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Tamil student abducted in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 April 2007, 10:18 GMT]
Unidentified persons abducted a fifteen year-old student, a member of a resettled family in Thiriyai, a traditional Tamil village located about 42 km off north of Trincomalee town on April 10 night, according to a complaint lodged by his relatives with the Kuchchaveli Police and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
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Armed men in white van abduct 2 civilians in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 April 2007, 20:39 GMT]
Unidentified armed men came in white van abducted a fisherman from Kolumbuththurai, Jaffna and a family man from Navatkuli in Thenmaradchy, their relatives lodged complaints at the Jaffna branch of the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
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13 fishermen missing, one youth abducted in Mannar

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 April 2007, 20:03 GMT]
Thirteen Tamil fishermen left for fishing Monday morning in Mannar Sea went on missing and another youth was abducted at Murunkan the previous night by persons came in a rickshaw.
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Unidentified aircraft over Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 April 2007, 18:23 GMT]
An unidentified aircraft flew over parts of government-controlled Jaffna just after dusk Monday, residents in the northern peninsula said. The aircraft passed low over Jaffna city centre and parts of Vadaramadchchi North and Valikamam sectors. Sri Lankan troops in some areas doused the lights of their camps as the aircraft approached, fuelling suspicions it was one of those operated by the Tamil Tigers, they said.
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Abducted undergrad released after torture in Chavakachcheri

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 April 2007, 11:22 GMT]
A 23-year-old final year arts faculty student of Jaffna University, abducted by alleged Military Intelligence operatives of the Sri Lanka Army, stationed at Post Office Road in Chavakachchaeri was released Monday after severe torture for three days. The tortured victim, Vijayarajah Vijayarooban, was abducted Friday at a private tuition centre located near the A9 road inside the SLA militarized High Security Zone in Chavakacheri town where he was working as a part time teacher.
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Youth shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 April 2007, 10:31 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a youth at point blank range Sunday night at his house at Marakarampaarai in Vavuniya, according to Vavuniya police.
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Tamil youth shot, wounded in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 April 2007, 10:08 GMT]
A group of armed men who came in a vehicle called out a Tamil youth from his house at Anpuvallipuram, a suburb in Trincomalee town Saturday night, and shot the youth. The seriously injured youth was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of Trincomalee general hospital, medical sources said.
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Harper extends greetings on New Year

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 April 2007, 11:55 GMT]
Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, extended his "warmest greetings to all those celebrating the Tamil New Year 'Chithirai Puththandu,' " in a press release issued by the Prime Minister's office Saturday.
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Jaffna residents reluctant to return due to insecurity- Bishop

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 April 2007, 11:02 GMT]
"Of the more than 55,000 residents of Jaffna peninsula who left the peninsula in ships and planes seeking safety and refuge outside the peninsula, nearly 65% of them have not returned because of the escalating number of killings, abductions, forced disappearances, threat to lives, intimidation, harassment and restrictions in the peninsula," Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam said, in a statement to media Sunday, following his participation along with the representatives of the People's Committee for Justice and Peace (PCJP) in meeting with the Jaffna Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander Maj. Gen. Chandrasiri.
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Batticaloa infant succumbs to shelling injuries

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 April 2007, 10:55 GMT]
A six month old infant injured during artillery shelling by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) controlled Paduvankarai area in Batticaloa two weeks ago succumbed to the injuries on Saturday.
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Pirapaharan confers Maamanithar award to Poet Naavannan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 April 2007, 06:27 GMT]
Leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Velupillai Pirapaharan, Saturday bestowed the title Maamanithar (Great Human being) posthumously on poet Naavannan, Marusaleen Soosainayagam, who passed away on April 15 last year in Vanni at the age of 58. Mr. Pirapaharan honoured the late poet, a Catholic who hailed from Mannar, for his literary contribution to the Tamil struggle.
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Karuna cadre shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 April 2007, 22:14 GMT]
A cadre belonging to the paramilitary Karuna group was shot dead Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Aarumukathan Kudiyiruppu in Eravur Batticaloa by unknown gunmen, sources in Batticaloa said. The victim was returning to the office of Karuna group in Chenkaladi after visiting his mother's residence near Kaali temple in Aarumukathan Kudiyiruppu when he was shot dead 50 meters from his mother's house.
Full story >>

23 civilians arrested in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 April 2007, 12:09 GMT]
Twenty-three persons, majority of them Tamils, were taken into custody in a cordon and search operations conducted in Trincomalee town and its suburbs by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Friday evening. The arrested are being detained in police stations and are being interrogated, sources said.
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Sri Lankan soldiers kill 5 in fire ambush in Chenkaladi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 April 2007, 08:16 GMT]
Five persons, including a 3-year-old baby boy, a 15-year-ld girl and another civilian were shot and killed by a group of Sri Lankan troopers at Kanapathipillai village in Chenkaladi division in Eravur Police division around 8:30 p.m. Friday. The Sri Lankan soldiers who had taken cover alongside a road had opened fire on two persons suspected to be carrying weapons, according to civilian sources in the area. The two youths said to be carrying arms were yet to be identified. However, Sri Lankan military sources in Colombo have claimed that all 5 victims were civilians and blamed the Tigers for the killings.
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TRO to assist IDPs in East through International, local NGOs

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 April 2007, 06:14 GMT]
"There is an acute shortage of toilet facilities and 6,000 shelters in the East for Internally Displaced Persons, who languish without adequate food in Sri Lanka Army controlled areas, where the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) was blocked from attending the plight of the refugees," the organisation said a day ahead of the Tamil New Year, resolving to channel the humanitarian assistance through International and local organisations. Several camps lack roofs and 100 persons have to share a single toilet in average, although the NGOs have managed to put up 11,000 shelters and 1,600 toilets for more than 23,000 families that have sought refuge in the service centres.
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"Protect Muslim villages from chauvinists"- Amparai Muslims

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 10:37 GMT]
The Amparai District Muslim Theologian Council, known as Jemiyath Ulama Sabha (JUS), has appealed to the Muslim political leadership to take immediate steps to safeguard the traditional Muslim lands in Pottuvil electorate and other parts in Amparai district from being "swallowed by the chauvinist forces under the guise of tourism, archaeological reserve and environmental protection," sources in Amparai said
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9 Tamil civilians arrested in Muthur

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 10:35 GMT]
Nine Tamil civilians were arrested in Iruthayapuram, a Tamil village in Muthur south division, during a cordon and search operation conducted by combined security forces on Thursday from dawn till evening. All of the arrested were handed over to the Muthur police for further questioning, sources said.
Full story >>

Rajapakse to meet Pope

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 10:33 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse is to pay a three-day official visit to Italy next week and is scheduled to meet Pope at Vatican on Friday during his stay in Rome, according to information released by the President's office.
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2 SLA troopers shot, injured in Thiriyai

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 10:16 GMT]
Unidentified armed men opened fire on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry post in Thiriyai, a resettled Tamil village in Trincomalee district Wednesday evening, injuring two troopers. The injured troopers were rushed to Trincomalee general hospital.
Full story >>

Farmer shot dead in Muthur

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 10:11 GMT]
Unidentified armed men, forcibly entering a house at Sivapuram in Kanguveli village in Muthur south, shot dead the owner the house Thursday night, Serunuwara police said.
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Family man shot dead, friend injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 07:21 GMT]
Unidentified armed men on motor cycles shot dead a young family man and seriously injured his friend at the family man's house at Saanthai area in Chankanai, Thursday around 6:30 p.m,.
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SLA cordons, searches VVT, Udupiddy

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 01:59 GMT]
Following the ambush of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) foot patrol in Sakkotai in Vadamaradchy north on Wednesday, SLA soldiers continued security operations for the second day, cordoning off and searching large areas in Valvettiturai (VVT) and Udupiddy from Thursday morning until noon, sources in Point Pedro said.
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Tamil youth files FR petition in SC

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 00:32 GMT]
A Tamil youth, who earlier served in Iraq with a security firm, filed a Fundamental Rights application in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court challenging the arrest and detention served on him under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He has begged the SC to order for his release and to instruct the State to pay a compensation of 100 million rupees for violating his fundamental rights. He has cited the Director of the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), Officer-in-Charge of the Gampaha Police Station, Deputy Inspector general of Police (DIG), Gampaha region, DIG for the Western province, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Defence Ministry Secretary and Attorney General (AG).
Full story >>

Police arrests twelve civilians in Eravur

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2007, 00:09 GMT]
Eravur Police arrested and detained twelve Tamil youths including a woman in a cordon and search operation conducted at Division No 5 of Eravur in Batticaloa district Thursday morning. Large number of police officers sealed off the entire area and conducted a door to door search for several hours. The Police questioned every individual and scrutinized the identity cards.
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Soldiers abduct youth in Jaffna, family man reported missing

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 18:35 GMT]
A group of four armed men in military fatigue, riding in a white van, Monday midnight forcibly abducted a young labourer at gun point from his residence in Old Park Road in Koyyaththoaddam in Jaffna. The victim's father, in his testimony to the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Jaffna, has said he was prepared to identify the perpetrators if an identity parade is held and alleged that the perpetrators were Sri Lanka Army soldiers.
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‘There is no ceasefire agreement with LTTE’ - Gothabaya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 17:02 GMT]
There is no ceasefire between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan government and the 2002 agreement was only being left in place to satisfy the international community, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said Tuesday. "There is no cease-fire agreement. There is no meaning in that," said Rajapakse, who is the brother and a close-confidant of President Mahinda Rajapakse told the Associated Press. He vowed to attack the LTTE’s northern strongholds, saying “it’s not good for the military to have relaxed periods.”
Full story >>

7 Sinhala civilians shot and killed in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 13:42 GMT]
Seven Sinhala villagers, including a boy and 6 women, all civilians, were shot and killed by unknown gunmen at Awaranthalawa, located 13 km southwest of Vavuniya around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Police said.
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Civilian shot dead in Amparai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 12:58 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a family man Wednesday around 9:30 p.m. in Pandiruppu area in Kalmunai in Amparai district.
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Tigers hand over 7 SLA bodies to ICRC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 12:42 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Liason officer for the NGOs, Thiyagarajah, handed over seven bodies of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers to ICRC Kilinochchi Head Official Katja Loren, Thursday around 2:00 p.m. The eight SLA troopers were killed in the LTTE counter attack against the SLA's attempt to penetrate into LTTE territory through Mullikulam, Mannar. One of the dead bodies was in decomposed state.
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Husband shot dead, wife injured in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 10:47 GMT]
Unidentified armed men forcibly entered a house and shot dead a family man, seriously injuring his wife, Wednesday around 8:00 p.m. at Aathimoddai, Samballthivu, seven km north of Trincomalee town, sources in Sambalthivu said. The victim's wife was rushed to Trincomalee general hospital where she is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.
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Trader killed, youth injured in a shooting in Eravur

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 08:19 GMT]
Unidentified masked armed men opened fire with a T56 rifle, killing a trader and seriously injuring a youth, Wednesday around 9:45 p.m at the trader's house in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district, Eravur police said. The injured youth was rushed to Eravur hospital first and then transferred to Batticaloa Teaching hospital for further treatment.
Full story >>

Tamil trader, his salesman, abducted in Wellawaya

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 08:09 GMT]
Unidentified persons in a white van, posing as officials of Criminal Investigation Department, abducted a Tamil trader and his salesman Sunday night in Wellawaya, in southern province, according to complaints lodged with Wellawaya police.
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UNP Kurunagala MP Fernando complains of death threat

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2007, 00:03 GMT]
The United National Party parliamentarian for Kurunagala district, Johnston Fernando, who has recently criticized Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary and the brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, Wednesday complained to the Police and to the Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament W.J.M Lokubandara that he has received death threats over telephone for having criticized Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse.
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Three Tamil civilians shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 21:16 GMT]
A group of armed men, alleged to be paramilitary cadres working for the Sri Lanka Army, shot dead three persons, a 20-year-old boy, a 48-year-old man and 68-year-old woman, and injured two at Kumankulam in Vavuniya Wednesday evening around 5:45. There have been at least five similar killings where 10 persons have been killed in the villages surrounding Veppankulam military camp.
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Family man abducted, shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 21:09 GMT]
The bullet ridden body of young married man was discovered by his wife Wednesday morning in an abandoned house in a border village located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) under the control of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Ampanai area in Alaveddy in Valigamam North.
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Stop alienating elected representatives from their constituents - TNA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 20:52 GMT]
"Tamil National Alliance (TNA) strongly condemns the sudden postponement of the Batticaloa District Development Committee (DDC) meeting scheduled for Wednesday at parliamentary complex, Colombo, by the President of DDC, Minister Ameer Ali, without informing Batticaloa district parliamentarians," a statement released by TNA Wednesday in Colombo said.
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Cellular link to Jaffna cut, SLA strengthens FDLs

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 17:10 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army on Wednesday was busy deploying military hardware and additional troops towards Forward Defence Line localities in Jaffna. Cell phone link to the peninsula, operated via Palaali base, was also cut off Wednesday.
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Abducted student released after torture in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 16:14 GMT]
An Arts Faculty student of Jaffna University, abducted in Jaffna city Monday, was released Tuesday night along a desolate roadside after severe torture, his relatives said. The abductors traveling in a white van had released the undergrad after severe torture, relatives said. The released student, Nagenthiram Rajaluxman, 25, admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of Jaffna Hospital, has told hospital authorities that he was waylaid outside his home and abducted by military intelligence (MI) section of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and later interrogated and tortured in a military camp before release.
Full story >>

Eastern Provincial Council Education Secretary arrested on bribery charge

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 16:07 GMT]
The Education Ministry Secretary of the de-merged East Provincial Council (EPC), L.S.C.Siriwardene, who was a former Government Agent of Amparai district, was arrested Wednesday around 11:00 a.m. in his office located in Orr's Hill area in Trincomalee town by a team of Bribery and Corruption Commission officials when he was allegedly accepting bribe, commission official Neville Guruge said in Colombo.
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SLA patrol unit ambushed in Vadamaradchy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 13:01 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons opened fire on the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) patrol unit at Sakkottai, Polykandy in Vadamaradchy north Wednesday afternoon, sources in Vadamaradchy said. Following the attack, the dead and injured were air lifted to Palay SLA Base hospital twice in a military helicopter, eye witnesses said.
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SLN orders 33 Tsunami resettler families to vacate homes in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 09:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy, engaged in setting up a large guard post at Point Pedro Munai (light house) to fortify, has ordered 33 resettled families affected by 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, to vacate their new homes, according to the fishermen in the area. Meanwhile, District Secretariat (Kachchaeri) officials coordinating Tsunami resettlement in the peninsula have expressed fear that the move could affect hundreds of resettled families in the area.
Full story >>

SLA disrupts Hindu festival in Thenmaradchy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 08:52 GMT]
The annual Hindu celebrations at the historical Panrithalaichi Amman Temple in Manthuvil along Kanagampuliyady Junction- Jaffna Point Pedro road in Putur area in Thenmaradchy was disrupted when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers conducted a cordon and search operation Moday morning, civil society sources said. Thousands of disappointed devotees who thronged the area were prevented from proceeding towards the temple.
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2 ambulances with 11 patients turned back at Omanthai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 07:40 GMT]
Two ambulances from Kilinochchi district hospital, in need of urgent medical transportation to Vavuniya hospital, were forced on Tuesday to return to Kilinochchi as the ambulances were not allowed to proceed beyond Omanthai SLA checkpost due to the closure of the entry point by the Sri Lanka Army. Exchange of artillery fire following Sri Lankan troops attempt to move into LTTE territory had caused the closure of Omanthai gateway.
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SLA operation in southern front thwarted, 8 SLA bodies recovered - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 06:03 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Wednesday morning said they have repulsed a fresh ground operation by the Sri Lanka Army that attempted to move towards Paalamoddai, northwest of Vavuniya, according to the Military Spokesman of the Tigers, Irasiah Ilanthirayan. SLA troopers, on retreat, have left behind their dead soldiers, arms and ammiunition, including a Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher and 15 automatic guns. Eight bodies of SLA troopers were located by the Tigers who were clearing the area, according to the latest information provided by the LTTE field officials in Vanni. The bodies are to be handed over to the ICRC.
Full story >>

Colombo court releases two Tamil youths

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 05:59 GMT]
Two Tamil youths from Jaffna, arrested and detained in Colombo on suspicion that they were members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were released Tuesday on the instruction of Colombo Chief Magistrate Sarojini Kusala Weerawardene.
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Four Tamil youths in Udappu detained under PTA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 05:51 GMT]
Four Tamil youths arrested along with eight others in combined cordon and search operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police in Tamil villages of Udappu and Munthal, in Chilaw district in north-western province from midnight of Friday till Saturday dawn have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and are subjected to further interrogations, Police said.
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Rajapakse disregards disappearances - Civil Monitoring Committee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 19:54 GMT]
"The President of Sri Lanka has chosen to dismiss the present disappearances as not worthy of local and international attention," said a resolution passed by Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC), which is engaged in monitoring involuntary disappearances, abduction, extra judicial killings and arbitrary arrests and detentions in Sri Lanka. This resolution was passed in an event organized by it in Colombo Monday, where family and friends of the disappeared gathered to express their grief.
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Missing person in Mannar allegedly murdered by fellow fishermen

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 19:36 GMT]
Talaimannar Police arrested a person in connection with the disappearance of a fisherman few days ago in Talaimannar Sea and produced him before the Mannar Magistrate's court Tuesday. Additional Magistrate T.J.Pirapaharan ordered remand for the suspect till April 19. The police made the arrest following a complaint by parents of the missing person that he had been murdered by fellow fishermen and not due to navy firing.
Full story >>

Jaffna University student, a carpenter, reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 14:56 GMT]
An art faculty student of Jaffna University and a young carpenter have gone missing in two separate incidents within Jaffna municipality limits Monday, according to complaints lodged with the Human Rights Commission in Jaffna by the family members of the two gone missing.
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SLA, police, arrest 6 Tamils in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 14:51 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police took away six Tamils in a search conducted Tuesday from morning till evening in 4th, 5th and 6th Unit areas in Pavatkulam in Vavuniya district, in which all males in the areas were transported to Varikuttiyoor junction on Poovarasankulam-Chettikulam road, where they were produced before a person whose face and head were hooded, sources in Pavatkulam said. The hooded person identified five local males and one internally displaced person by nodding his head and the SLA and police brought the six civilians to Vavuniya, relatives of those arrested said.
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Sooriyarachchi further remanded

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 13:40 GMT]
Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, sacked minister and a parliamentarian of the ruling party United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was ordered further remand till April 24 by Kaduwela Magistrate Tuesday. He was produced in court under heavy security. He has been in remand on allegation that he had misused a state vehicle after being dismissed the UPFA cabinet, legal sources said.
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SLA suffers heavy casualties in shelling duel

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 13:28 GMT]
A triangular area covering East Ariyaalai, Naavatkuzhi and Kaeratheevu in Jaffna was targeted by Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) artillery guns Monday morning when exchange of artillery fire was reported along the FDLs in Jaffna and Vavuniya. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has suffered heavy casualties in artillery shelling by the Tigers. Meanwhile, in Vavuniya, one SLA soldier was killed and three others wounded near Omanthai entry - exit point around 7:45 a.m. Omanthai entry point remains closed.
Full story >>

Basil Rajapakse excludes TNA MPs from development conference on East

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 11:53 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother and his senior political advisor, Basil Rajapakse, excluded Eastern province Tamil National parliamentarians representing the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai, from a development conference held in the Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat to discuss the development activities in the East. Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Trincomalee district Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Jayantha Wijesekara were invited to the conference attended by Eastern Provincial Governor and district government officials.
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UNP leader slams Rajapakse regime for "notorious Human Rights record"

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 10:58 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, who attended a confluence of the relatives and friends of the missing persons, held in Colombo Monday, charged that the ruling United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA) regime was responsible for the bad reputation of the Sri Lankan state's Human Rights record. 88 persons have been either abducted or gone missing since August 2006 up to now, according to the records of the Civil Monitoring Committee (CMC), an ongoing initiative by a few involved politicians.
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Resign post, get back to USA, UNP MP tells Gotabhaya

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 09:52 GMT]
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse should immediately accept responsibility for the security fiasco of the Katuayake air base when it was attacked by the Liberation Tigers air wing, and relinquish his post and get back to USA, demanded Johnston Fernando, Kurunagalle district parliamentarian of the opposition United National Party (UNP) at a press meet held Monday noon, in the Sri Lankan Opposition Leaders office in Colombo.
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LTTE urges sports boycott of Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 09:11 GMT]
The Tamil Tigers Tuesday backed an Amnesty International awareness campaign that has embarrassed Sri Lanka's government during the cricket World Cup and urged a full sporting boycott of the country, AFP reported. Amnesty’s campaign to build support for international human rights monitoring in Sri Lanka, using the topical theme of cricket, has drawn the fury of the Colombo government as well as the main opposition Sinhala parties.
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Indian High Commission's vehicle hijacked, driver released after torture

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 06:29 GMT]
A diplomatic van belonging to the Indian High Commission, on it's way to receive a diplomat from the International Airport in Colombo, was hijacked and the driver of the vehicle, S. Vishvanathan, was abducted by two attackers Monday midnight in Seeduwa Police area, southeast of Katunayake International Airport. The driver, badly beaten by the attackers, lost his two teeth and released around 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, Police said.
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30 killed, 41 wounded in bus accident in South

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 02:41 GMT]
Thirty passengers were killed and 41 injured when a passenger bus collided with a container lorry at Induruwa in the Kosgoda police area, Galle district, Tuesday morning around 6:30 a.m., police said. Sixteen passengers, in critical condition, were rushed to the Karapitiya and Balapitiya hospitals.
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Thousands of Tamils defy Paris protest bar

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2007, 22:37 GMT]
Over 2,000 Tamil expatriates gathered in front of the Eiffel Tower Monday, despite the authorities’ cancellation of a planned protest rally to condemn the arrests by French police of several Tamil activists for raising funds for the LTTE. The protestors gathered in nearby public places, blocking traffic. Although the protest’s cancellation had been publicised on Tamil radio and television by the rally’s organisers who told expatriates that permission would be sought anew, several thousand people converged on the city centre, defying orders to disperse, to condemn the arrests on April 1, a week after the LTTE airstrike on Katunayake.
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Torrential rain adds to Batticaloa IDPs woes

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2007, 18:04 GMT]
Nearly 150,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staying in 93 temporary camps in different Divisional Secretary areas in Batticaloa are undergoing immense difficulties due incessent rain and flooding in the east, sources in Batticaloa said. A 66.6 mm rainfall was recorded for the last 24 hours on Monday 8:00 p.m by Batticaloa Weather Observation Centre, sources added.
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Karuna threats prevent Batticaloa MPs from visiting electorates

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2007, 11:57 GMT]
"Due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed Karuna group in Batticaloa district, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians representing constituencies in the district have not been able to go to their electorates for the last six months, affected parliamentarians said. Batticaloa MPs have been unable to even participate in high level planning meetings where the district's urgent needs are discussed and decisions taken,TNA parliamentarians told media Sunday.
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SLA conducts cordon, search in Potpathy road

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2007, 10:58 GMT]
More than 50 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers who arrived in Buffel armoured vehicles cordoned off the area adjoining the former political office of the Liberation Tigers in Potpathy road, Jaffna and searched the houses in the area between 5:00 p.m and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, local residents said.
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Wickremasinghe instructs UNP MPs to cancel foreign trips

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2007, 10:48 GMT]
Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) has instructed his parliamentarians to be in the country during the month of May and to cancel all assignments abroad. Mr.Wickremasinghe has also declined to accept invitation extended by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union to attend an event abroad during this period, according to media reports in Colombo.
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UNP holds awareness meetings on current political, security situation

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2007, 10:40 GMT]
Mr.Tissa Attanayake, parliamentarian and UNP general secretary addressing a meeting held in Colombo New Town Hall Saturday evening, asked the Sri Lanka government why it has not nullified the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) if the Government thinks CFA offers no benefit. UNP has been conducting a series of awareness meetings to brief the people about the current political and security situations in Sri Lanka.
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Mannar district under tight security

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2007, 10:34 GMT]
Security in Mannar district has been tightened and more police personnel and soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) have been deployed for patrollling of key roads, civil sources in Mannar said. Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Police have set up additional roadblocks along Pallimunai-Mannar Road and along Talaimannar-Thalvupadu Road, and are thoroughly checking all vehicles.
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Military fatigue clad armed group robs 7 houses in Eravur

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 16:37 GMT]
A group of armed persons in military uniform robbed million of rupees worth of jewels and cash in 7 houses in Saddam Hussein village and Rugam (Urugamam) resettlement village in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the affected people lodged complaints at Eravur Police.
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Two Tamil youths abducted in Kadawatte, Peliyagoda

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 10:45 GMT]
Unidentified persons who came in white vans abducted two Tamil youths, one at Kadawatte and the other at Peliyagoda on Wednesday last week. Pathmanathan Pratheepan, 23, native of Mattakuliya and a resident of Peliyagoda was abducted at Peliyagoda junction after being assaulted and the other Ramiah Jeyakanthan, 24, resident of Wattala at Kadawatte junction when he was travelling in a bus, parents said in their complaints lodged with the police stations concerned, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).
Full story >>

SLA arrests 31 civilians in Eravur

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 10:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police arrested 29 men and 2 women, in a cordon and search operation conducted Saturday around 4:00 p.m in Palacholai, Kaluvankerny and neighbouring areas in Eravur police division in Batticaloa. The SLA, after interrogating the arrested civilians, handed them over to Eravur police around 7:00 p.m, for further investigation, sources in Eravur said. The arrested are detained at Earvur police station.
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Labourer shot dead in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 10:11 GMT]
Unidentified armed men lying in ambush, shot dead a labourer Saturday around 8:15 p.m in front of his house at Sunkankerny in Valaichenai police division and escaped from the site.
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2 brothers shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 09:56 GMT]
Unidentified armed men coming on motorcycles, a three-wheeler and van opened fire on two brothers Saturday around 9:00 p.m. at Koomankulam in Vavuniya killing both, Vavuniya sources said.
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Claymore ambush kills SLA soldier, wounds 6, soldiers beat civilians in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 08:05 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier was killed and six soldiers were wounded in a Claymore attack Sunday noon when unknown attackers targeted a group of SLA troopers on road patrol near Pandathatharippu in Valikamam region, 12 km northwest of Jaffna city. SLA soldiers who cordoned off the area following the road side blast, beat the civilians in the area, civilian passengers reaching the city said.
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SLA accused of claymore attack on passenger bus

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 03:32 GMT]
Vanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.V.Selvam Adaikalanathan in a statement issued Sunday accused the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) for the claymore mine attack on the passenger bus at Piramanalankulam bound for Vavuniya from Mannar on Saturday. Eight civilians were killed and about 25 injured in the attack.
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Gunfire kills fisherman in Talaimannar sea

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 03:22 GMT]
A fisherman fishing with two others in a fibreglass boat in Talaimannar Sea was reported missing since Thursday after unidentified persons had fired at the boat, according to a complaint lodged with the Talaimannar Police on Saturday.
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Three Tamils detained for questioning in Tangalle

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2007, 03:15 GMT]
Thirty eight persons were arrested on Friday in a cordon and search operations conducted by the combined government armed forces in Tangalle, a town in Matara district in the southern province. Of the arrested nineteen were Tamils, and three Tamil are being detained for further questioning. The Kandy Magistrate released sixteen Tamils when they were produced in court later, sources said
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Tamil trader abducted in Karaveddy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 16:58 GMT]
Unidentified armed men driving a white van abducted a young Tamil trader in Karaveddy, Vadamaradchchi, Friday night at 10:30 p.m. The relatives of the victim have lodged complaint at Nelliady police and at the Jaffna office of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC), sources in Point Pedro said.
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Civilians flee from LTTE-held village in Mannar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 16:50 GMT]
Fifteen persons belonging to four families from Pappamoddai village in the Liberation Tigers controlled territory in Mannar district sought refuge Saturday morning in Sri Lanka government held Pallimunai village. They arrived in a boat at Pallimunai coast and registered their names with the Grama Sevaka Niladhari of the division seeking relief and accommodation, sources said.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 15:14 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a Tamil youth Friday night around 7:30 p.m. in Meeravodai in Valaichenai Police division in Batticaloa district, sources in Batticaloa said. The killers shot the youth at his residence and fled from the scene.
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SLA searches offices of Jaffna daily

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 13:32 GMT]
Administration and Publication offices of Jaffna Tamil daily, Yarl Thinnakkural ("Daily Voice") was cordoned off and searched by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Sunday morning, civil sources in Jaffna said. This is the third time SLA has intruded into the offices of the daily after 11 August when renewed hostilities broke out between SLA and the Liberation Tigers.
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Tamil trader shot dead in Thampalakamam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 13:28 GMT]
A Tamil trader was shot dead Saturday evening around 5.30 p.m. at Puduthukuddiyiruppu in Thampalakamam village by unidentified men. He has been identified as Paramaguru Ramesh aged 36, police sources said.
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More dissidents to rejoin UNP, says party secretary

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 10:05 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said more dissidents who joined Mahinda Rajapakse's ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) are to lend their support to UNP at "an appropriate time," according to UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayake who spoke at a meeting held Friday evening at Minuwangoda in the western province. One of the eighteen dissidents parliamentarians Edward Gunasekara last week returned to the fold of the UNP after relinquishing the Deputy Minister post for Railways.
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Twelve Tamil civilians arrested in Munthal, Uddapu

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 10:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army and Police Saturday morning arrested 12 Tamil civilians in Uddapu and Munthal, Tamil villages in Chilaw division in northwestern province in a cordon and search operation. The arrested Tamils are natives of Trincomalee, Jaffna and Uddapu areas.
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Attacks against civilians devised by Sri Lankan military intelligence - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 04:46 GMT]
Sri Lankan military intelligence has resorted to attacks against Tamil and Sinhala civilians to depict a bad pattern of deliberate attacks against civilians with a "sinister motive" of tarnishing the image of the Liberation Tigers, charged Irasiah Ilanthirayan, military spokesman of the Liberation Tigers, Saturday after the latest Claymore attack that targeted a civilian bus on Vavuniya Mannar Road.
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7 killed, 25 wounded, bomb targets bus carrying Tamil, Muslim civilians

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 04:25 GMT]
A Claymore mine was triggered on Vavuniya Mannar Road, 25 km west of Vavuniya town, killing 7 and wounding 25, including four children, Police said. The bomb attack has targeted a Sri Lanka Transport Board (CTB) bus, carrying Tamil and Muslim civilians, travelling from Mannar to Vavuniya Saturday around 7:40 a.m. between Piramanalankulam and Puthukulam. 19 wounded patients were rushed to Vavuniya hospital, according to medical sources.
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Punguduthivu body may belong to Fr.Brown, say Jaffna clergy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 02:06 GMT]
The Catholic clergy of Jaffna peninsula suspect that the mutilated torso found at Punkuduthivu sea on 14 March 2007 packed in a military sand bag tied with a grindstone by barbed wire, likely belongs to the disappeared Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Jim Brown, sources close to the church in Jaffna said. The church has appealed to the Jaffna Magistrate to facilitate sending blood samples to an authorized lab in Colombo to perform DNA tests to identify the suspect body.
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Jaffna peninsula faces electricity shortage

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 01:04 GMT]
Electricity supply to the Jaffna peninsula is danger of being curtailed severely following the announcements by the two private operators of electric power plants that they will be decreasing production of electricity due to contractural issues and other logistical difficulties, civil sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA soldier killed, civilian injured in Jaffna traffic accident

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2007, 00:05 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier was killed a civilian seriously injured when two motorbikes collided at Kulappiddy junction along KKS road within Jaffna municipal limits, around 8:00 a.m. Friday. The injured soldier, L. Ariyadasa, 30, was rushed to Palaly military hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The injured civilian is treated at Jaffna Teaching hospital.
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Six Tamil civilians arrested in Kandy

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 21:43 GMT]
Six Tamil civilians were arrested in a cordon and search operation conducted in Kandy town in the central province Thursday night by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police. Five of the arrested are natives of Jaffna district and one person is from upcountry, police said.
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Sri Lankan soldiers harass ex-president's grandson

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 16:36 GMT]
Ex-Sri Lankan president and late UNP stalwart J. R. Jayawardene's grandson, Amirith Jayawardene, was chased and harassed by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers Friday night in Colombo for having attempted to overtake a SLA Jeep.
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Torrential rain worsens Batticaloa IDPs woes

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 11:30 GMT]
More than 75 temporary sheds sheltering Internally Displaced People (IDP) in interim camps located in Kaluvanchikudy in Batticaloa district have collapsed due to heavy rain continuing for the third day, causing additional hardships, Kaluvanchikudy Regional Secretary said.
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LTTE, GoSL must work for sustainable peace- Jaffna Bishop

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 10:55 GMT]
Jaffna Bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Savundara- nayagam in his Easter Message delivered Thursday said: "In the perilous climate where abductions, disappearances and killings have become normal occurrences, people in Jaffna are leading a life filled with fear and mental trauma. Many are seeking danger-filled ways to escape from this open prison. The Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers must work with sincerity to arrive at a honourable, sustainable settlement to the conflict."
Full story >>

16 Tamil civilians arrested in Wellawatte, Kataragama

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 10:43 GMT]
Three Tamil civilians including two women were arrested Friday morning in a cordon and search operation conducted in Wellawatte in Colombo by security forces. They are now being detained in the Wellawatte police station and subjected to interrogation, sources said. Meanwhile, thirteen plantation Tamils including two women were arrested in Kataragama in the south in a combined cordon and search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka and Police on Wednesday.
Full story >>

Tamil youth killed in Kelaniya

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 10:40 GMT]
The body of a youth was recovered from the high security zone surrounding the Sapuskanda oil refinery of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation located in the Kelaniya police division in Colombo district Wednesday morning. Sapuskanda Police said the body belonged to a 26-year-old Tamil youth native of Chavakachcheri in Jaffna district but the police declined to give the name of the youth and other details, according to media sources in Colombo.
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Tamil youth shot dead in Palaiyootu

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 10:38 GMT]
One Tamil youth was shot dead by unidentified persons who came in a white colour van at Palaiyootu Friday morning around 11:00 a.m. The body has not been identified yet and is lying at the crime site till afternoon, civil sources said.
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SLN vessel sunk, 7 killed in Mannar seas - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 07:09 GMT]
Seven Sri Lanka Navy personnel were killed and a SLN gunboat was sunk after a naval clash when three Sri Lankan gunboats blocked a Sea Tiger patrol in Mannar waters at 11:15 a.m. Friday, Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo claimed to have sunk a LTTE boat and said one of the SLN Inshore Patrol Crafts was slightly damaged and a sailor had sustained small injuries.
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AG given time to file objections on Sooriyarachchi case

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 02:08 GMT]
Avissawella High Court Thursday gave time till April 9 to the Attorney General (AG) to file objection to the bail application of Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, sacked minister of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government. Mr.Sooriayarachchi, a UPFA parliamentarian has been in remand on an allegation that he had misused a state vehicle after being dismissed from the cabinet, legal sources said.
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Sinhalese appointed East's Chief Secretary

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 02:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed Mr.Herat Abeyeweera as the Chief Secretary of the de-merged Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) on the recommendation of Provincial Governor Rear Admiral (retired) Mohan Wijayawickrema. The new appointment has come into effect from April 1 Sunday to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Mr.R.Thiakalingam who held the post for two months since the de-merger of the North East Provincial Council (NEPC).
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SLA orders Thampalakamam Tamils to register names

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 01:56 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday ordered all residents of Thampalakamam, a traditional Tamil village, located along Trincomalee-Kandy road, about 24 km off southwest of east port town, to register their names with addresses and other related details with the police station located in Kovilady area before Thursday evening, civil sources said.
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Claymore mine found in Wattala, seven persons arrested

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 01:53 GMT]
A claymore mine weighing about 10 kg was recovered from the third floor of a building in Wattala, a town in western province Thursday on information received by the Sri Lanka Police, security sources said.
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Vavuniya hospital MOs protest against death threats

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 01:02 GMT]
Medical officers (MOs) of Vavuniya public hospital abstained from duties, going on medical leave, beginning Wednesday and continued Thursday, in protest against a paramilitary group demanding money, sources in Vavuniya said. The said paramilitaries have issued death threats if the money was not paid. Vavuniya police said they have received no complaints on the matter.
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SLA blocks Maundy Thursday prayer in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2007, 00:37 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers stopped hundreds of Catholic worshippers assembled at St James Church in Sillalai Parish in Jaffna district from celebrating Maundy Thursday, and ordered them to leave the Parish for not obtaining prior permission to hold the ceremony, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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‘Mahinda Chinthana’ to be basis for government’s proposal

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 23:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s government will present its devolution proposals on May 1, the ruling SLFP’s General Secretary and Agriculture Minister, Maithripala Sirisena, was quoted by state media as saying Friday. The government’s proposals will be based on Mahinda Chinthana, the hardline Sinhala nationalist manifesto on which President Mahinda Rajapakse was elected in November 2005, the Daily News quoted him as saying. “Mahinda Chinthana accepts the devolution of power within one country and the proposals will be entirely based on Mahinda Chinthana and formulated within Mahinda Chinthana,” Mr. Sirisena said.
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US envoy meets JVP leader

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 20:26 GMT]
Ambassador Robert O Blake, US envoy in Sri Lanka, Thursday met with Mr.Somawanse Amerasinghe, leader of the Sinhala nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and discussed on the current security and political situation in Sri Lanka. The discussion was held at the US embassy in Colombo, media sources said.
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Family man shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 14:42 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a young married man Tuesday night around 9:30 p.m in Periyaneelavanai in Kalmunai in Amparai district. The killers abducted the young man from his home while he was with his wife and children, led him towards the nearby beach and shot him at point blank range,killing him on the spot, sources in Kalmunai said.
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Mason shot dead in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 12:32 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a mason Wednesday around 8:40 p.m at Sunkankerny in Valaichenai police division in Batticaloa district. The killers stopped him and his friend riding on a motor cycle along School Road, allowed his companion free, and shot the mason dead, killing him on the spot, sources in Valaichenai said.
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SLA fire injures Valaichenai farmer

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 12:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers opened fire on two farmers travelling on a tractor to work in paddy fields, Thursday around 11:00 a.m, at Ottuveli area located behind Valaichenai Paper Factory in Batticaloa district, seriously injuring one of them, sources in Valaichenai said.
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SLAF bombs Vadamaraadchi East villages

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 11:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir bombers flew over Vadamaradchi East Thursday afternoon and bombed Iyakkachchi and Kaddaikkaadu villages in Liberation Tigers controlled Vadamar'aadchi East in Jaffna district. A few houses were damaged in the attack.
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3 killed, 53 wounded in bus accident in Kandy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 11:00 GMT]
Three passengers were killed and 53 injured when a private bus turned turtle at Teldeniya in Kandy Thursday morning around 10:00 a.m., Police said.
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Arrested Muttur youths to appear in Courts

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 10:55 GMT]
Six Tamil youths taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) from the welfare centre located in St.Antony's Church in Muttur division in Trincomalee district on March 31 midnight were handed over to the Muttur Police Wednesday. Muttur Police said they were to be produced before Muttur magistrate's court Thursday evening.
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Husband, wife killed in DPU Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 10:23 GMT]
A 42-year-old woman and her 54-year-old husband, parents of four, recently displaced from Vavuniya, were killed Thursday in Paalampiddi, 38 km northwest of Vavuniya town, when a Sri Lanka Army Deep Penentration Unit (DPU) triggered a Claymore mine targeting the IDP couples' bicycle at 1:45 p.m., according to Tamileelam Police.
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SL parliament begins debate on extending State of Emergency

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 09:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Thursday morning tabled a motion seeking its approval for the extension of the State of Emergency for another month. Speaking on the motion Mr.Joseph Michael Perera, chief Whip of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) announced that his party has decided abstain from voting when the Speaker called for division, parliamentary sources said.
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Four Sinhala farmers shot dead in Polonnaruwa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 08:36 GMT]
Unidentified attackers shot and killed four Sinhalese paddy farmers at Nidanwala in Dimbulagala divisional secretariat in Polonnaruwa District Thursday around 9:30 a.m., Police in Aralaganwila said.
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SLA arrests 6 Tamil youths in Muthur welfare center

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 00:20 GMT]
Six youths staying at the St. Antony's Church Welfare Centre in Muthur in Trincomalee district were arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers on 31 March midnight, civil society sources in Mannar said. Although the SLA told the parents that that the youths are being taken for interrogation, the youths have not been released yet. The parents of the arrested appealed to the human rights organizations to obtain their sons release.
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SLA arrests 15 Tamils in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 00:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) conducted a cordon and search operation in the villages of Siththandy, Morakkoddanchenai and Santhively in Eravur Police division in Batticaloa district around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday and arrested 15 persons, sources in Batticaloa said. After initial interrogation by the Army, all the arrested persons were handed over to the Eravur Police for further investigation at 5:00 p.m.
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Stranded workers demand temporary employment in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2007, 00:00 GMT]
Over one thousand graduates from Jaffna peninsula employed in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)- controlled Wanni district began a protest on Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m outside the premises of Jaffna Education department and the Secretariat of Additional Provincial Director of Education located at Nallur, Muthiraisanthy demanding temporary employment in the peninsula until proper transportation arrangements are made.
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UNP slams Rajapakse ‘single currency’ proposal

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 23:55 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s main opposition party Wednesday attacked President Mahinda Rajapakse’s proposal this week for a common currency for South Asia as not only a breach of Parliamentary privilege but, ironically for a self-described defender of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, a surrender of the independence of the country’s economic policymaking.
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White Pigeon British office condemns Mullaitivu air attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 20:25 GMT]
The United Kingdom branch of White Pigeon condemned the mid-day bombing by the Sri Lanka Air Force MiGs of the Puthukkudiyiruppu office where two civilians were killed and four injured, in a press release issued from UK Wednesday. The NGO highlighted that today is 2nd Annual UN declared "International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action."
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Kondavil youth abducted, shot dead

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 12:04 GMT]
The bullet ridden body of Theivendiran Sasitharan, 20, a resident of Kondavil was discovered Wednesday morning at 8:30a.m near Station Road in Kondavil, Jaffna. The youth had been forcibly abducted by a group of eight unidentified gun men half an hour earlier near Kondavil Hindu Vidyalayam while returning home after transporting his sister to her school.
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Youth's body with gunshot wounds recovered in Meesalai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 11:43 GMT]
The body of an unidentified youth with hands bound and with several gunshot wounds was recovered in shrub jungles between Kanagampuliyadi Junction and Puthur Wednesday morning, sources in Jaffna said. Local residents said there was heavy presence of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in the area Tuesday night and they heard several gun shots during the night.
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UNP MP complains of threat to life

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 10:48 GMT]
Mr.Edward Gunasekara, Gampaha district parliamentarian who rejoined the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Tuesday, complained to the Speaker that his life was under threat and to take steps to provide protection to him. He spoke in parliament when it resumed Wednesday morning with the permission of the Speaker. He said the government should be held responsible if any thing happens to him, parliamentary sources said.
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Mechanic shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 10:42 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen shot dead a motor mechanic Tuesday around 5:00 p.m at Pandiruppu, Kalmunai in Maruthamunai police division in Amparai district. The killers shot the mechanic while he was standing in front of his motor repair garage located near Maruthamunai on Kalmunai main street, sources in Maruthamunai said.
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Labourer shot dead in Eravur

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 10:40 GMT]
Unidentified armed men took away a labourer from his house Tuesday around 9:05 p.m for interrogation and shot him dead at Parathipuram in Aiyankerny, a village in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district, sources in Eravur said. He succumbed to his wounds while being rushed to Eravur hospital.
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One STF trooper, one youth shot dead in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 10:37 GMT]
Two unidentified armed youths riding on a motor cycle opened fire on Karaithivu Special Task force (STF) road patrol unit, killing a STF trooper, Tuesday around 4:10 p.m in Kalmunai town in Amparai district. The STF troopers chased the youths trying to escape and shot dead one of them within a short distance, said Kalmunai police.
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SLA shoots dead 2 youths, 2 home guards shot injured, in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 10:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers shot dead two youths Monday evening at Kurukalputhukulam area on Vavuniya-Manar road. The bodies were handed over to Vavuniya hospital Tuesday evening, sources in Vavuniya said.
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2 killed, 4 wounded in SLAF airstrike in Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 10:34 GMT]
Two civilian passengers were killed and four wounded on Kaivaeli - Puthukkudiyir'uppu Road in Mullaiththeevu district when Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir jets bombed the area Wednesday around 1:00 p.m., LTTE officials in Kilinochchi said. NGO office of the White Pigeon Prosthesis Institute in Puthukkudiyir'uppu was damaged in the aerial attack, the sources added. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan military sources in Colombo claimed that they had attacked a Sea Tiger base in Mullaiththeevu.
Full story >>

IDP child killed in accidental drowning

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 05:44 GMT]
A two-year old Internally Displaced child died at Kaluwanchchikkudy IDP Transit Camp by accidentally falling into a small pond while its mother was bathing in the pond. This tragedy happened around 5:00 p.m. Tuesday while the mother was bathing having placed the child near the pond.
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SLA arrests 35 IDPs in Amparai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 02:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested more than 35 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had gone to 38th Colony, Palayadivettai and Nellikaddu villages, located on the border between Amparai and Batticaloa districts, to inspect their houses which they had fled from, said refugees who escaped from SLA. The detained were taken to Kondaivettuvaan SLA camp in Amparai district, same sources said.
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Amnesty’s Sri Lanka campaign on a sticky wicket

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 01:04 GMT]
Amnesty International’s efforts to build support for international monitoring of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka using the topical theme of cricket drew the fury of the Colombo government this week and, in a rare moment of southern solidarity, the main opposition UNP party joined the Sinhala hardline JVP and the ruling SLFP in denouncing the group’s move.
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Body with torture marks recovered from Kaluvanchikudy well

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 00:35 GMT]
Kalavanchikudy police recovered the body of a family man with hands bound, multiple stab wounds and severe torture marks, dumped into a well in Eruvil in Kaluvanchikudy police division in Batticaloa, Monday around 5:40 p.m, soures said. The police handed over the body to Kalvanchikudy hospital for postmortem examinations.
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Karuna cadres shoot dead refugee in Kaluvankerny

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2007, 00:11 GMT]
Two unidentified armed men, alleged to be Karuna group members, riding a bicycle, shot dead a refugee staying at the Koralankerny refugee camp at Kaluvankerny in Eravur police division in Batticaloa district Tuesday around 7:45 a.m, sources in Eravur said. He was taking a bath at a well near the camp when he was shot
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UN fact-finding team in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 22:38 GMT]
A team of four persons representing UNHCR, UNICEF, Sarvothaya, Human Rights Commission (HRC) of Sri Lanka and Child Protection Authority of Sri Lanka arrived in Jaffna Monday on a fact-finding mission with the aim of submitting a special report to the UN Security Council’s Action Committee regarding the deteriorating child rights situation in the Peninsula, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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Four civilians wounded in SLAF airstrike in Alampil

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 18:11 GMT]
Four civilians were wounded when Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir jets bombed Alampil area in Mullaithivu district Tuesday around 2:00 p.m.
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Two civilian cyclists killed in DPU claymore attack

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 18:04 GMT]
A man and a woman were killed when a Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lanka Army infiltrated into Liberation Tigers controlled territory in Vavuniya North Tuesday around 2:30 p.m., initial reports from Kilinochchi said. The DPU attackers have knifed the victims after the Claymore attacks.
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Panchayat Raj brought back in Rajapakse deliberations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 16:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while on his visit to the 14th SAARC Summit being held at New Delhi had discussions with Mr. Mani Shanakar Ayyar, Indian Central Government Minister on Panchayat Raj system Sunday at the Maurya Sheraton Hotel in New Delhi, a press release from the Presidential office said. In October 2006, when the inclusion of the Indian third tier administrative model was first brought up and touted as “ray of hope” to solve Sri Lanka’s “domestic problems,” Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian dismissed the concept saying "It is foolish to think Panchayat scheme will satisfy Tamil people."
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Colombo battles to sidestep Human Rights focus - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 15:58 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is trying to sidestep International Community's focus on Colombo's worst record of human rights abuses and institutionalized impunity for crimes against the Tamil people, by attempting to use the forum of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit against Tamil people's right to defend themselves, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Political Head S.P. Thamilchelvan told TamilNet when asked to comment on Colombo's focus shift to LTTE's air capability, prior to the 14th SAARC Summit in New Delhi.
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Remove fishing restrictions in Kaluvankerny sea- MP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 14:30 GMT]
"Kaluvankerny Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday directive restricting fishing on Kaluvankerny sea area between 6:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m severely hampers fishermen from earning their livelihood. This restriction should be immediately lifted," Ms. K. Thankeswary, Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian said in an urgent appeal to Batticaloa SLA Civil Administrator, Colombo, Batticaloa officials the Ministry of Fisheries and Baticaloa Government Agent, Tuesday.
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Jaffna 3 month tally: 67 shot dead, 29 abducted, 68 missing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 14:14 GMT]
Sixty-seven persons were killed and twenty-nine abducted by unidentified armed men while sixty-eight had been reported missing in Jaffna peninsula during the period from January to March 2007, according to a report by Human Rights Organisations in Jaffna. Though complaints had been made about these human rights violations to the law enforcing authorities in the peninsula, no one had been arrested by the authorities in connection any of the the complaints, legal sources in Jaffna said.
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POTA accused exonerated by Tamil Nadu Courts

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 11:43 GMT]
Five Tamil Nadu political activists who were arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) on 13 April 2002 for making speeches in Chennai in support of the Liberation Tigers, and later released in bail, were freed by POTA Special Courts from all restrictions imposed on them. The accused were blocked by Courts from giving interviews, speaking in public fora and travelling outside India until today.
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7 Tamil civilians arrested in Kohuwela

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 11:01 GMT]
The Dehiwela Police and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers arrested seven plantation Tamils including two women in a sudden cordon and search operation conducted Sunday night at Kohuwela area, a suburb of Colombo. All of the arrested are natives of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, according to sources in Colombo.
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Peace talks, only path to resolve ethnic conflict-Wickremasinghe

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 10:53 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) said in parliament Tuesday that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has proved its might with recent air strike on Katunayake air base that it has the capability of attacking any target in the country. He said that the ethnic conflict should be resolved through peace talks and not by military means, parliamentary sources said.
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Dissident MP rejoins UNP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 10:47 GMT]
Mr.Edward Gunasekara, one of eighteen dissidents of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) tendered his resignation from the post of Deputy Minister of Railways to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse. Mr.Gunasekara crossed over to the opposition side and took a seat along with UNP loyalist parliamentarians when the parliament resumed Tuesday morning, parliamentary sources said.
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SLA imposes fishing ban in Vadamarachchy seas

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 05:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers extended the temporary ban imposed Saturday indefinitely in Vadamaradchy north affecting more than 4 000 fishing families living along the coastal villages from Valvettiththurai in Vadamarachchy North to Manatkadu in Vadamarachchy East, fisheries sources said.
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2 white van abductions, 3 missing, 1 arrested by SLA in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 21:25 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van abducted two civilians in the early hours of Monday morning while three had gone missing Saturday, one of them not returning after going to the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) civil administration office in Colombuthurai, Jaffna, according to complaints made by their family members with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) office in Jaffna. Meanwhile, three civilians also reported missing in Jaffna, HRC officials said.
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SLN arrests 30 fleeing civilians in Delft seas

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 21:22 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) sea patrol unit arrested Sunday 30 Jaffna peninsula residents in Delft seas trying to flee to Tamil Nadu in South India as refugees. The SLN handed the refugees to Delft police who recorded their statements Monday. Delft police are to hand over the arrested to Kayts police to be produced in Kayts magistrate court, sources in Delft said.
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Tigers condemn Colombo for "disinformation campaign" on civilian killings

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 10:47 GMT]
Liberation Tigers military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan, talking to media from Kilinochchi charged Colombo for carrying out a "planned disinformation campaign," by accusing the Tigers for attacks on civilian targets while encouraging paramilitary elements to carry out such attacks with the "motive of tarnishing the Tiger image."
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Jaffna NGOs threatened to withhold monthly reports

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 10:38 GMT]
Consortium of non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Jaffna, announced Saturday that they will no longer make public the monthly reports to the media as they have been receivng death threats from unknown persons not to publish the reports, civil society sources in Jaffna said. The NGOs monthly reports, regularly released to the media, describe details of human rights violations including killings and abductions, the impact on escalating prices of goods due to shortage and other matters affecting residents' daily life in Jaffna district.
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10 Tamils arrested in Hambantota

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 10:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Police arrested ten Tamil civilians during a cordon and search operation carried out in Thankalai area in Hambantota district between midnight Sunday and early morning Monday, sources in hill country said.
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Two Tamil youths arrested in Kinniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 09:21 GMT]
Two Tamil youths were taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in a cordon and search operations conducted at Eechantivu, a Tamil village in Kinniya division in Trincomalee district Friday nigh.
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Trincomalee Tamil youth succumbs to gunshot injuries

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 09:07 GMT]
Tamil youth injured in the shooting incident that took place on Saturday around 7:00 p.m. in the heart of Trincomalee town had succumbed to injuries Sunday.
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Southern construction workers massacred in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 09:07 GMT]
Six Sinhala construction workers were massacred and one Sinhala and two Tamil workers were seriously wounded when unknown attackers with guns entered a children home under construction and took them 200 meters away and shot the workers, police said. The massacre took place 300 meters from the Sri Lankan counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) camp at Mailampaaveli, 8 km north of Batticaloa city around 7:40 p.m. Sunday.
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Bus bomb kills 16, wounds 27 civilians in Amparai

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 08:43 GMT]
Sixteen civilians including ten women were killed and 27 wounded when a bomb exploded inside a bus at the Sri Lankan military check post at Kondaivedduvaan, as its passengers were getting down to be checked, 4 km west of Amparai town Monday around 12:30 p.m., Police officials in Amparai said. One female police constable and a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper were among those killed.
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US responds to LTTE airstrike

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 08:37 GMT]
Asked for the United States’ reaction to the LTTE airstrike on the military airbase at Katunayake last Monday, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Robert O’ Blake said: “The LTTE’s successful deployment of an offensive air capability is a matter of great concern.” He told Sri Lanka’s state-owned Daily News: “We do not believe there can be a military solution to this conflict. Rather, both sides should cease hostilities so talks can take place on a negotiated settlement.” He also said that the US “does not perceive a specific threat to our citizens who intend to travel to the tourist areas.”
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Two civilians shot dead in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 April 2007, 01:23 GMT]
Unknown gunmen shot dead two men and dumped their bodies in Thirunavatkulam area in Vavuniya Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m., police sources in Vavuniya said. Vavuniya Police has transferred the bodies to Vavuniya General Hospital for postmortem examinations.
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UNP, LSSP oppose referendum move to scrap CFA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 16:49 GMT]
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Chairman of the All Party Representatives Council (APRC) Tissa Vitarane have voiced their opposition for the proposal to hold a referendum to nullify the ceasefire agreement (CFA) signed by Ranil Wickremasinghe, the then Prime Minister and Velupillai Pirapaharan, Leader of the LTTE on 22 February 2002, media sources said.
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SLA troopers loot houses, shops IDPs left behind

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 16:32 GMT]
"Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers, paramilitary members and other local Sinhalese persons have looted the houses, shops, temples and co-operative stores in areas invaded by SLA in the Liberation tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held territories in Paduvankarai and Kokadicholai," S. Seeralan, Batticaloa district LTTE Political Wing Deputy head said Saturday. The SLA troopers are routinely stealing the live stocks left behind by the people and killing them for meat, he said.
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SL President leaves to attend SAARC Summit

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 16:27 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse left Colombo Sunday evening to India to attend the fourteenth SAARC summit to be held on April 3, and 4 in New Delhi, sources in Colombo said. Afghanistan is to be given official recognition as the eighth member of the SAARC at this summit. Other seven member-states are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
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Speaker to give ruling on "Secret deal" motion

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 16:20 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Speaker W.J.M.Lokkubandara is expected to give a ruling this week whether to include the motion submitted by Sripathi Sooriyarachchi in the parliament order book, parliamentary sources said. Mr. Sooriyarachchi has called the Speaker to appoint a parliamentary select committee to probe the alleged secret deal between some leaders of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), main constituent of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the last presidential election period.
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Labourer shot dead in Thenmaradchy

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 15:29 GMT]
A civilian from Kaithady East in Thenmaradchy was abducted by unidentified armed men from his home and shot dead near a cemetary in Kaithady at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, sources from Jaffna said.
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SLA extends curfew in Jaffna by 3 hours

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 14:07 GMT]
Sri Lanka Military High command based in Palaly military base announced using the official military radio Sunday that the curfew across Jaffna district has been extended by three hours to last from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Previously, the designated curfew hours were from 8:00 p.m to 4:00 a.m.
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Body with torture marks, gunshot wounds found in Manthuvil

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 13:45 GMT]
The naked body of a youth, bound in barbed wire, with several gunshot wounds and deep, extensive torture marks, was discovered inside bush jungles in an isolated area near Kerudavil, Manthuvil in Thenmaradchy Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. by local residents, sources in Jaffna said. The residents informed the district Grama Sevakar who then informed the Chavakachcheri Police who recovered the body, according to sources.
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Rajapakse wants referendum on abolishing CFA – state media

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 13:41 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse plans to hold a referendum to decide whether the Sri Lankan government should continue to abide by the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), state media reported Sunday, quoting “a high ranking official of the Presidential Secretariat.” The official was quoted by the Sunday Observer as saying “President Rajapaksa is keen to obtain a fresh mandate from the people on the CFA. The President is interested in looking at the proposed abolition of the CFA in a 'democratic manner', enabling the voters to decide on the fate of the CFA.”
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UNP to hold first rally against HR violations in Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 11:57 GMT]
The first rally in a series of protest demonstrations to be organized by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) against human rights violations, will be held on April 3 at Grandpass Junction in Colombo, said Mr. Ravi Karunanayake, parliamentarian and UNP Colombo district organizer.
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Sooriyarachchi files appeal against remand

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 11:52 GMT]
Sripathi Sooriyarachchi has filed an appeal in the High Court of Avissawella seeking bail and the Court will take the case for hearing on April 3. Mr. Sooriyarachchi, sacked minister from the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) cabinet, is now being kept in remand on a charge that he had misused a state vehicle following his dismissal, legal sources said.
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SLAF attacks civilian lorries at LTTE entry point

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 04:18 GMT]
Fighter helicopters of the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) Saturday night around 11:30 p.m. attacked a Multi Purpose Co-Operative Society (MPCS) lorry and two other lorries belonging to private traders parked near puliyangkulam LTTE checkpoint on A9 road, north of Omanthai Sri Lanka Army entry point in Vavuniya district.
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Katunayake airstrike: human capital, gathered against the odds

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 03:23 GMT]
Asserting that Monday’s airstrike on Katunayake “indicates a quantum leap in the LTTE’s technological base,” Professor Kumar David, an engineering specialist, argues Sunday that “the LTTE’s aviation technology is far behind that of the Sri Lanka Air force..that it has taken the first step is quite telling.” In a op-ed in The Island, he cautions Colombo that the human capital gathered against massive odds by the LTTE renders a military solution unviable. Meanwhile, a columnist in the Tamil Guardian points out the LTTE acquired the know-how and materials for an air force in the harshest international climate for armed movements.
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JVP boycott of APRC helps LTTE- Vitarane

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 April 2007, 00:19 GMT]
Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitarane, chairman of the All Party Representatives' Committee (APRC) appointed by Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse in June 2006 to work out a political package to find a lasting political solution, said Saturday that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is helping the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by not participating and submitting its political proposals to the APRC to solve the ethnic conflict.
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