UNOPS suspends post tsunami school reconstruction projects in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 December 2007, 18:35 GMT]
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) suspended its construction works in two schools in Vaveddiththu'rai (VVT) in Vadamaraadchi that were affected by Tsunami, due to the prevailing unstable condition in Jaffna peninsula besides encountering difficulties in procuring construction materials for its school building projects, education officials in Vadamaraadchi said. The latest suspension of Tsunami projects in VVT comes as many International NGOs and local agencies, which had engaged in Tusnami relief and rehabilitation projects in the peninsula, had already stopped their work due to the abnormal atmosphere prevailing in the Sri Lanka Army controlled Jaffna.
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TamilNadu leaders urge Indian PM not to visit Sri Lanka on independence Day

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 December 2007, 18:03 GMT]
Several Tamilnadu leaders, including K. Veeramani, President, Dravidar Kazhagam; Thol.Thirumavalavan, President, Viduthalaich Chi'ruththaika'l Kadchi; Suba. Veerapandiyan of Dravidar Iyakka Thamizhar Pearavai and Era. Janardhanan, President, Ulakath Thamizhar Pearavai took part in a demonstration opposite Chennai's Memorial Hall Monday to protest the Indian Prime Minister's proposed participation in Sri Lankan Independence Day celebrations in February 2008.
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3 civilians seek protection at Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 December 2007, 12:08 GMT]
Three civilians from Valigaamam and Thenmaraadchi districts in Jaffna surrendered at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) offices Monday seeking safety against threat to their lives from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries, sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA lifts curfew on New Year eve

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 20:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) high command in Palaali announced Sunday that the daily curfew which lasts from 9:00 p.m to 4:30 a.m. every night in Jaffna will be lifted Monday night to allow Jaffna residents to celebrate the arrival of new year, sources in Jaffna said. The curfew will again be reinstated from Tuesday, the new year, the announcement said.
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Mahinda Rajapaksa has won the confidence of India- Gotabhaya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 15:19 GMT]
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan defence secretary and the brother of SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an exclusive interview to state owned Sunday Observer, claimed that the relationship between Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in an all-time high, and has reached the same level of trusted relationship that marked Srima-Shastri period. While, Rajapaksa, in 2006, demerged the NorthEast Province, breaching the Indo-Lanka accord, Gotabhaya has recently posted the U.S. trained Director of Military Intelligence as the Eastern Commander, expressing confidence that Colombo would be successful in holding elections in the East.
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Mano Ganeshan to leave Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 14:14 GMT]
Mano Ganeshan, the leader of Western People's Front(WPF) and Colombo district parliamentarian speaking to media said that he has decided to leave Sri lanka due to security reasons. Mr.Ganeshan said that the decision to go abroad was due to the recent withdrawal by Government of Sri Lanka (GOSl) the 10 security personnel and the security back up vehicle provided to him.
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French FM Bernard Kouchner postpones Sri Lanka visit

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 11:55 GMT]
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka between Christmas and New Year has put off his visit indefinitely, the Sunday Times said. Mr.Kouchner, prior to being appointed FM, was a member of the International Independent Group of Eminent persons (IIGEP) headed by former Chief Justice of India P.N.Bagawathi. The IIGEP concluded, in a meeting held in November, that the "persistent disregard for its observations and recommendations by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Commission of Inquiry tends to render the IIGEP’s continued role irrelevant."
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Jaffna residents face long-term power cut

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 11:38 GMT]
Electricity to Jaffna peninsula supplied by the private firm Agrico through Sri Lanka Electricity Board (SLEB) may stop completely or be affected seriously as the contract of Agrico terminates Monday. The Chinese firm Euro Asia which was to take over the electricity supply from January has advanced no preparatory work to takeover the responsibility, SLEB sources in Jaffna said.
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Civilian shot dead, Karuna group member injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 10:48 GMT]
Unidentified armed men storming into a tea stall opened fire killing a civilian and injuring a member of Karuna group Sunday around 9:35 a.m in the tea stall located around 200 meters from the police post along Batticalao-Kalmunai Main Road in Batticaloa.
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VoT bombing victims remembered in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 03:40 GMT]
A memorial event was held Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in Ki’linochchi Cultural Centre to pay homage to the three editorial staff workers at the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio station and eight civilians, residents and travelers who lost their lives when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers attacked VoT, LTTE’s official broadcasting corporation located at 155 Mile Post, 3.5 km south of Ki'linochchi November 27th afternoon.
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TamilNadu leaders protest against Indian PM's participation in SL Independence Day

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 17:37 GMT]
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reported intention to participate as the Chief Guest in the Sri Lankan Government's Independence Day Celebrations on February 4, 2008 has sparked large-scale dissent from political leaders in Tamilnadu. K. Veeramani, President of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), on Friday announced his organization's decision to demonstrate against the proposed visit and called upon the Tamilnadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to intervene in this regard. Meanwhile, Thol.Thirumavalavan, President, Viduthalaich Chi'ruththaika'l Kadchi and Suba. Veerapandiyan of Dravidar Iyakka Thamizhar Pearavai have pledged their organizational support and participation to the demonstration.
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Elangko appointed new Head of Tamileelam Police

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 16:38 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Pirapaharan has appointed K. Elangko (I'langkoa), a senior LTTE official as the Head of Tamileelam Police, succeeding B. Nadesan. Mr. Elangko who joined the LTTE in 1983 and received military training in LTTE's 4th training camp in India has earlier served as the deputy of the Police between 1993 and 1996. Later, he was in charge of Policy Dissemination Unit of the LTTE.
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GoSL to ban Tigers, abrogate CFA, says Gotabhaya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 15:10 GMT]
Misquoting the failed talks between a delegation of Tamil Liberation Movements and Sri Lanka Government in August 1985 as "Thimpu Agreement," Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's Defense Secretary and brother of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an interview to state owned Daily News said that the Sri Lankan government would "give a solution" to the Tamil people after proscribing the LTTE, abolishing the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's statement comes as Sri Lankan forces were preparing for an all out war with the Tigers in the North.
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20 SLA soldiers killed, 40 wounded in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 14:46 GMT]
At least 20 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 40 wounded Saturday morning when heavy fighting broke out in Uyilangku'lam - Parappaangka'ndal area between the SLA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), Tiger officials told media in Ki'linochchi. Three LTTE fighters were killed in action. Meanwhile, an infiltration attempt by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) was thwarted by the Tigers at LTTE Forward Defence Line at Mukamaalai, the Tigers said.
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Jaffna passengers question safety of air travel

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 01:50 GMT]
Increasing number of technical problems that have plagued air crafts belonging to the local air lines that fly between Jaffna and Colombo, has raised concern among Jaffna travellers about the safety of their flights, sources in Jaffna said. Jaffna residents and few foreigners patronizing Expo Air and Aero Lanka have expressed fears of ageing unsafe air crafts that are over-used without adequate maintenance.
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U.K. group urges protection for Sri Lanka's rights defenders

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 19:49 GMT]
A U.K-based Rights Group, Tamil Information Center (TIC), in a report released this week expressed serious concern "over the plight of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, who are facing persecution and threats to life from [Sri Lanka] government authorities," and said the situation requires "urgent intervention by the International Community." The report urged the "Government of Sri Lanka to bring to an end a cycle of cumulative disregard for human rights in general and for abuses against human rights defenders in particular and to accept the offer of the international community to establish a human rights monitoring mechanism."
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Court releases 60 Tamils detained in Boosa

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 16:40 GMT]
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Friday released sixty Tamil civilians detained at Boosa detention camp in the south of the island following a report by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police that there was no evidence against them to charge for any crime connected with terrorist activities, legal sources in Colombo said.
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Paramilitary inmates attack detainees in Batticaloa prison

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 08:50 GMT]
A group of paramilitary remand prisoners in Batticaloa jail on Friday morning attacked alleged Tiger cadres who were being detained in the same ward of the prison, Police said. Two persons were wounded in the clash.
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SLA infiltration teams repulsed in Mukamaalai - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 08:02 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army team that attempted to infiltrate Liberation Tigers Forward Defence Line in Mukamaalai in the Northern Front was repulsed Friday morning, LTTE's front line sources told media in Ki'linochchi. Two ground operations by the SLA at Mukamaalai were defeated Thursday, the Tigers said claiming at least four SLA soldiers were killed.
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Woman gang raped in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 03:48 GMT]
Armed men in military uniform abducted a woman Saturday early morning from her house in Imaiyaa’nan close to the Jaffna-Point Pedro road at in Vadamaraadchi, Jaffna, and gang raped her in a shrub land near her house, according to a Women Welfare volunteer Organization. The woman was found lying unconscious by relatives, and was rushed to Manthikai hospital first and later transferred to Jaffna Teaching hospital for further treatment, sources in Jaffna said.
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Minister's hooliganism reflects breakdown of law in Sri Lanka- FMM

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 21:36 GMT]
Free Media Movement (FMM), the Colombo-based media watchdog, in a press release issued Thursday condemned Sri Lanka Cabinet Minister, Mervyn Silva's "wanton act of violence" against Sri Lanka Rupavahini News Director, Mr. T.M.G. Chandrasekara, and said the "unprecedented attack against a journalist in Sri Lanka by a politician of the ruling party is deeply indicative of the desultory attitude of the government towards media freedom," and noted that when "such hooliganism is allowed to persist in general, clearly demonstrates the significant breakdown of law and order in Sri Lanka."
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Children in Jaffna protective custody to attend schools

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 17:09 GMT]
Jaffna district magistrate Mr. R. T. Vicknarajah issued directive to Education authorities in Jaffna Thursday to make arrangements for the children and youths less than 18-years old, placed in the protective custody in the Rehabilitation Centre in Jaffna due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries, to attend schools located close the Rehabilitation Centre.
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Inefficient relief action adds to refugees woes in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 16:35 GMT]
More than twelve thousand people in Verukal and Eachchilampattu areas in Trincomalee are undergoing immense suffering due to the negligence of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Government Agent (GA) for Trincomalee, Maj. Gen. T. T. R. D. E. Silva, in carrying out flood relief work. The GA is insisting on employing the service of SLA troops and police to carry out the relief work, normally done by civil administrative officials, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian K. Thurairatnasingam accused Thursday.
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SLAF bombs Tsunami settlements in Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 15:34 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir bombers Thursday morning dropped at least 8 bombs near Tsunami settlements in Mu'l'livaaykkaal in Mullaiththeevu district between 5:50 a.m. and 6:15 a.m., Tamileelam Police officials said. There were no human casualties reported in the air attack that was carried out twice in the early morning.
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Benazir Bhutto killed in bomb blast in Pakistan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 13:23 GMT]
Pakistan's Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, who was campaigning at Rawalpindi in Pakistan, was killed in a suicide bomb blast Thursday evening, according to media reports from Rawalpindi. Ms. Benazir Bhutto, succumbed to her injuries around 6:15 p.m. at the general hospital of the city.
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Tsunami victims remembered in Batticaloa, Ampaa’rai districts

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 10:59 GMT]
Black and white flags were flown and a general shut down was observed Wednesday in the districts of Batticaloa and Ampaa’rai marking the third-year remembrance of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami which had killed thousands of people besides devastating the entire coastal areas. Tsunami affected persons who still remain homeless staged a protest demonstration in front of Kalmunai Regional Secretariat and handed over an appeal to the Regional Secretary. Lamps were lit and flags were hung at the memorial sites for Tsunami vicitims in several coastal villages stretching from Vaakarai to Kallaa'ru.
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Shanmugalingan appointed new Vice-Chancellor of Jaffna University

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 10:46 GMT]
Prof. Nagalingam Shanmugalingan assumed duties as the new Vice-Chancellor of Jaffna University Wednesday on being appointed for the post by University Grants Commission (UGC). The new Vice-Chancellor took part in prayers offered at the Parameswara Saiva temple located in Jaffna university environs along with several deans, lecturers, staff and hundreds of undergraduates, sources in Jaffna said.
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3 EPDP paramilitaries, girl killed in Claymore ambush

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 09:36 GMT]
A Claymore attached to a bicycle, parked by a woman in Kuruma'nkaadu in Vavuniyaa exploded targeting an EPDP paramilitary vehicle at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, killing three paramilitary men and a girl. The ambush has taken place 200 meters from the paramilitary camp, Police said.
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Media workers attack Sri Lankan minister Mervyn Silva

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 07:50 GMT]
Mervyn Silva, the Sri Lankan Minister of Labour and a thug leader in the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapkasa's government, was held captive and attacked by media workers Thursday. He was surrounded when he reportedly went amok against a news editor, T.M.G Chandrasekara, of the state owned Rupawahini cooperation, for "failing to broadcast" a video footage of his appearance in a meeting in Matara on Wednesday. Mr. Mervyn Silva, beaten by the media workers, was later freed by the Police security out of the Rupawahini premises located in the high security Bauddhaloka Mawatha after a mediation attempt by non-cabinet minister of media, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, failed.
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Claymore ambush in Batticaloa kills STF commando

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 06:16 GMT]
A Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) commando was killed and a policeman wounded in a Claymore ambush, 29 km southeast of Batticaloa at Ka'luvaagnchchikkudi Thursday morning around 7:45, Police said. A youth was wounded in the attack on the STF foot patrol unit engaged in checking persons passing through the area.
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Tigers recover 2 SLA dead bodies in FDL clashes in Jaffna, Mannaar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 05:09 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and many wounded Thursday morning when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam repulsed a SLA unit that attempted break the Tiger Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Mukamaalai in Jaffna, LTTE officials in Vanni said. Dead body of a SLA soldier was recovered by the Tigers after the clash with a T-56 assault rifle and other military accessories. Meanwhile, another SLA dead body was recovered in a clearing mission in Mannaar on Wednesday after an SLA attempt to advance towards Paalaikkuzhi was spoiled by the Tigers.
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Mass held in memory of Tsunami victims in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 05:04 GMT]
Hundreds of families gathered together Wednesday morning at the graves in Ma’natkaadu area in Vadamaraadchi in a commemoration event held in remembrance of more than 73 civilians killed in 2004 December Tsunami disaster, organized by Ma’natkaadu parish priest Rev. Nirupan. Point Pedro parish priest Rev. Bernard Reginald conducted the mass. The memorial event which was held in a calm and emotional atmosphere despite the area being situated in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) zone.
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Tsunami third anniversary memorial events held in Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 00:22 GMT]
Memorial functions to mark the third anniversary of the civilians killed by 2004 December Tsunami disaster were held in various parts of Vanni including Mullaiththeevu, Vadamaraadchi East and Puthukudiyiruppu, with thousands of civilians taking part in the events.
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Karuna group office in Aalayadiveampu destroyed in bomb blast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 19:16 GMT]
Unidentified armed men burst into a recently abandoned camp of Karuna group located on Chaakaamam road, Aalayadiveampu in Akkaraippattu police division in Ampaa'rai district Wednesday early morning at 3:30 a.m, and blasted the building by detonators after destroying the contents. The armed men fled from the scene after leveling the building, Police said.
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5 SLA troops killed, 11 injured in clashes in Vanni - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 18:48 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) thwarted an advance attempt by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Wednesday around 7:20 a.m through Paalaikuzhi in Mannaar, killing five troops and injuring eleven, LTTE Mannaar Operations Command officials told media in Ki'linochchi. Meanwhile, similar SLA attempts at Mukamaalai Wednesday around 11:00 a.m, at Ma'nalaa'ru Ma'nki'ndimalai area Wednesday around 10:40 a.m. and at Ma'nalaa'ru Ceylon Theatres area around 12.10 a.m, have been successfully repulsed by LTTE combatants, LTTE sources added.
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Paramilitary person shot dead in Chanthive'li

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 18:41 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a young man attached to Karuna group Tuesday around 7:45 p.m as he was having dinner in front of his house at Chanthive'li in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa district, Ea'raavoor police said. The young man was rushed to Chengkaladi hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
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3 bodies bearing torture marks washed ashore in December

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 14:38 GMT]
Three corpses with signs of severe torture and in a decomposed state found washed ashore during December alone along the coasts of Vadamaraadchi east and Mullaiththeevu areas have created a climate of fear among the fishermen and residents of littoral villages in Vadamaraadchy east, the General Manger of Vadamaraadchi east Fisheries Societies Federation said.
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Tsunami victims remembered in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 13:50 GMT]
A commemoration event was held to remember those who lost their lives in the December 2004 tsunami in Uduththu’rai area in Vadamaraadchi Tuesday 9:00 a.m, sources in Jaffna said. The relatives of the victims lit flames of remembrance and offered flowers and garlands as a mark of respect to the victims.
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Black Sea Tigers sink SLN Dvora attack craft in the seas off Delft island

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 08:07 GMT]
At least ten Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) sailors were killed, including a commanding officer, when a SLN vessel was sunk by Sea Tigers, the Liberation Tigers naval wing Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. in the seas off Delft (Neduntheevu) island in Jaffna, informed sources in Colombo said. Meanwhile, according to LTTE claims, a Dvora Fast Attack (FAC) craft was sunk and two more Dvora FACs sustained damage and retreated to Kaankeasanthu'rai (KKS) port, one of them damaged beyond repair. The clash that began at 11:00 a.m. lasted till 1:50 p.m. Four Black Sea Tigers were killed in action, according to LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan.
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Anton Balasingham memorial in London

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 01:05 GMT]
Expatriate Tamils in London held a one year memorial event Sunday for Mr. Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s former theoretician and Chief Negotiator, who passed away in December 2006 after a brief battle with cancer.
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Subdued celebrations mark Christmas in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 00:05 GMT]
Heeding the call from Bishop of Jaffna Rt.Rev.Dr.Thomas Savundranayagam and various religious groups in the North, the christian community and people of other faiths joining the festivities in the peninsula observed very low key Christmas celebrations devoid of the usual pomp and glitter, sources said.
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Trinco Urban Council to be upgraded to Municipal status

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 16:21 GMT]
Ministry of Local Authorities and Provincial Council has appointed a three-member committee to report on the upgrading of the Trincomalee Urban Council to Municipal Council, sources in Trincomalee said. Mr.K.Godage, the chairman of the committee, is currently the Chairman of the East Provincial Public Service Commission.
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Court releases 17 Tamil civilians arrested in Puththa'lam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 16:19 GMT]
Seventeen Tamil civilians, arrested a month ago at Munthal and Puththa'lam in the north-western province and kept in detention in the police stations of Munthal and Puththa'lam, were released Monday on the orders of the courts, legal sources said.
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Let Christmas bring consolation to people in "tortured regions" - Pope

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 14:10 GMT]
Pope Benedict XVI, in his Christmas Day appeal to political leaders around the world asked them to draw on their "wisdom and courage" to end bloody conflicts in the world. The Pope said he hoped Christmas would bring consolation to all people "who live in the darkness of poverty, injustice and war," in particular those living in the "tortured regions" of the world including Sri Lanka.
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Sri Lankan military detains French TV crew

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 13:31 GMT]
Two French journalists, Capucine Henri and cameraman C. Siomon of France 24 news channel, were detained by the Sri Lankan police Christmas night for video-taping a Tamil family while being questioned by the Sri Lankan military at a road block near Boosa detention camp in Rathgama in Galle district. Expressing serious concern on the conduct of the Sri Lankan security establishment, the Free Media Movement (FMM), a Colombo based media watchdog, Tuesday said videoing a road block was not a national security issue. The FMM urged the police authorities to expedite the investigation and release the journalists in detention without further delay.
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Woman raped, killed, 3 men slain in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 12:55 GMT]
Unidentified armed men waylaid and shot dead two wood cutters Monday around 10:00 p.m at Raseanthiraku'lam tank bund area in Vavuniyaa while an an armed man in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) uniform and another in civil clothes shot dead a family man calling him out of his house at Chekkaddippi'lavu in Vavuniyaa around 8:30 p.m Monday, Vavuniyaa police said. Meanwhile, a woman reported missing since Friday from Suntharapuram area in Vavuniyaa, was recovered dead Saturday evening at Katku'lam jungle close to her village, and later found to have been raped and strangled to death in the postmortem examination held in Anuradapura hospital.
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Decapitated body washed ashore in Vadamaraadchi East

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 21:29 GMT]
A decapitated body in a highly decomposed state was found washed ashore Friday in Maamunai area in Vadamaraadchi east, fishermen in the area said. The body is likely have been dumped in the areas controlled by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) further north of Maamunai, according to the fishermen.
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2 SLA soldiers killed, 17 injured in Mannaar clashes

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 21:03 GMT]
In three separate incidents in the North, at least 17 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers have been injured and two killed Sunday and Monday, according to reports received from Mannaar Operations Command of the LTTE. No casualties among LTTE cadres were reported.
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Four surrender at Jaffna HRC seeking safety

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 19:56 GMT]
Four civilians from Thenmaraadchy and Valikaamam in Jaffna sought safety at the offices of the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) Sunday, fearing for their lives from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Human Rights Watch (HRW), a human rights organization based in New York, told a public radio in Chicago saturday that in the last 18 months more than 1000 Tamils between ages 18 and 35 have disappeared, or tortured and killed, mainly in Jaffna. HRW added that on the average 4 persons are abducted or killed every day in Jaffna.
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Election to 9 local bodies in Batticaloa to be held

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 18:06 GMT]
Nominations to nine local authorities in the Batticaloa district are to be called between January 11 and 21 next year and elections would be held between five and seven weeks from the last date of nominations. Official communiqué in this regard would be issued on January 4, Provincial Councils and Local Authorities Ministry said in a statement released on Monday.
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Tamil girl abducted in Ka'n'niyaa, Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 16:00 GMT]
Unidentified armed persons came in a vehicle had abducted an eighteen year old Tamil girl while she was staying with her relatives at Ka'n'niyaa, a Tamil village located in Uppuve'li police division, Sunday night according to a complaint lodged with the Uppuve'li police.
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Protecting Rights defenders, a challenge to Diplomatic missions- Ganesan

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 15:01 GMT]
In an appeal addressed to all Diplomatic Missions in Colombo, Mano Ganesan, Leader of Western People’s Front and Convener of Civil Monitoring Commission, said Friday, that it is a challenge Western Democratic Governments which have expressed "human rights as the most core issue" in Sri Lanka, to urgently move to protect defenders of human rights and humanitarian workers. Ganesan recently charged that Colombo, by withdrawing his security personnel, is creating a climate for getting him assassinated.
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Celebrate Christmas with spirituality and faith, shun glitter- Bishop

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 14:24 GMT]
Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Dr Thomas Savundaranayagam, in a Christmas message delivered Monday, appealed to the devotees of his diocease, to "celebrate Christmas this year as a deeply spiritual, solemn, and meaningful festivity, reflecting and drawing on their deep faith to help fellowmen, and to avoid all external glitter and ostentatiousness normally associated with such festivals." The Bishop also called upon the warring parties to seek reconciliation and peace, and urged them to lay to rest all weapons of war.
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Crisis looms as milk food prices soar in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 December 2007, 09:29 GMT]
A serious humanitarian crisis is developinging in Jaffna due to the acute shortage of infant milk food, and the resulting doubling of prices in black market. The high prices have made the essential commodity out of reach to many mothers with infants, consumer groups in Jaffna reported. The groups urged Government authorities to take urgent action to rectify the situation and protect the welfare of peninsula infants, especially those under 3 years of age.
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Batticaloa flood victims need urgent help - MP

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 December 2007, 19:49 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Batticaloa District. S. Jeyananthamoorthy, appealed to the Batticaloa Aditional Government Agent, K Maheshan, to immediately take all necessary steps to provide relief assistance to the flood victims in the Batticaloa district. Continued torrential rain is falling in Batticaloa, Amparai and Polannaruwa districts for more than 24 hours, and most of the low lying areas in Batticaloa have become submerged resulting in a large number of civilians becoming displaced from their residences, sources in the region said.
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Kinniya-Moothoor land route re-opened

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 December 2007, 17:11 GMT]
Kinniya-Moothoor road along Trincomalee-Batticaloa A 15 highway was reopened last Friday for public transport after seventeen years by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). Ferries have been put on service to connect the three causeways, Upparu, Gangai and I'raalku'li that separate Moothoor and Kinniya along A 15 highway. The strip of road was closed since 1990 due to security reasons by the SLA, sources said.
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Grenade attack on World Vision Batticaloa office

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 December 2007, 10:07 GMT]
Unidentified persons lobbed a hand grenade Friday around 7:30 p.m on World Vision (WV) Batticaloa Office at Rosairo Lane causing damage to three vehicles of the organization, Batticaloa Police Head Quarter sources said. Investigation into the attack is being conducted but no one has been arrested so far, the sources added.
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Sri Lanka Army, Police smash pavement shops in Mannaar bazaar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 December 2007, 07:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers and policemen who went amok in Mannaar bazaar Sunday morning around 7:00 a.m. smashed around 100 pavement shops, beat the petty shop owners, and arrested at least 80 Tamils and Muslims. The police razzia has taken place following the killing of a Sinhala police constable Saturday night when he went to buy cigarette in the bazaar. Parents and relatives of the persons arrested, most of them petty shop owners and three-wheeler drivers, have gathered at Mannaar police station. Tension prevails in the city and the streets were deserted although shops remained open for Christmas shopping.
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U.N. mission imperative to curb rights violations in Sri Lanka- HRW

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 21:17 GMT]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) officials currently touring the U.S. lobbying for a U.N. mission to monitor human rights violations in Sri Lanka, told the Chicago Public Radio that their current focus is on the "shocking" disappearances and killing in Sri Lanka where the Sri Lanka Government has done "shamefully little" to investigate the cases. They added that Democratic Institutions that would otherwise be capable of highlighting human right abuses, infringements to freedom of speech, and erosion in independence of judiciary in Sri Lanka, have collapsed under an ineffective Parliament.
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Raviraj murder inquiry fixed for January 2

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 19:24 GMT]
The Colombo Additional Magistrate Sujatha Alahakoon Friday fixed the inquiry into the murder of Nadarajah Raviraj, Jaffna district parliamentarian, for January 2, legal sources in Colombo said. Mr.Raviraj was killed on November 10, 2006 at Naharenpitya in Colombo. The police took two suspects, Nalaka Mathan Veera and Anura Shantha, into custody on suspicion.
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Police constable shot, killed in Mannaar city

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 19:23 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a Sri Lankan police constable, Jayasinghe, in front of Mannaar bus stand at 7:35 p.m. Saturday, Police said. Tension prevailed in the city which was crowded with Christmas-shoppers as Sri Lanka Army cordoned off many places and launched a search for pistol group (intelligence wing) members of the LTTE.
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17 SLA killed, 54 wounded, two-pronged SL operation thwarted in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 16:33 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) on Saturday thwarted a two-pronged Sri Lanka Army (SLA) movement towards Uyilangku'lam in Mannaar, Tiger officials at Mannaar Operations Command told media in Ki'linochchi. Backed with heavy artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher fire, the SLA troops attempted to enter LTTE controlled area on two fronts, but were defeated after 12 hours of stiff resistance in which 17 SLA troopers were killed and 54 wounded. 3 LTTE fighters were killed in action, according to the Tigers.
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Body of Sinhala youth found with gunshot wounds in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 12:57 GMT]
The body of a 30-year old Sinhala youth who disappeared on the 19th December after travelling to Vaa'rikuddi area, 15 km northwest of Vavuniyaa, to transport sand, was found with gunshot wounds and partially buried Saturday, sources in Vavuniyaa said.
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4 SLA troops killed, 9 injured in Ma’nalaa’ru

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 09:38 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) thwarted an attempt made by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops to enter LTTE Forward Defence Lines(FDLs) at Kokkuthoduvaai in Ma’nalaa’ru in Vanni Friday around 5:30 p.m, killing four troops and injuring more than nine, according Ma'nalaa'ru Operations Command of the LTTE.
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SLA lifts curfew in Jaffna for Christmas celebrations

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 05:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Palaali High Command has announced the lifting of curfew on Monday and Tuesday to allow Jaffna residents to celebrate Christmas and to attend churches, sources in Jaffna said. Currently the SLA strictly enforces curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
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Youth shot dead in Koandaavil, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 December 2007, 03:39 GMT]
A 21-year old youth was shot dead by unknown gunmen near his home in Premakrishnan Road in Koandaavil East, Jaffna at 4:30 p.m. Friday, sources in Jaffna said. Kopaay police recovered the body midnight Friday and tranferred the body to Jaffna Teachining Hospital for postmortem examinations. Jaffna residents say that they are witnessing a marked increase in number of killings in the Koandaavil area.
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Artillery duel continues in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 17:41 GMT]
The heavy artillery and rocket fire exchanges between the Sri Lanka Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the Foward Defence Line areas in Mukamaalai and Nakarkoayil Thursday night which let-up Friday morning began with equal vehemence Friday evening.
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UNP candidate in Jaffna shot dead

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 17:20 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen following a prominent member of United National Party (UNP), shot him dead Friday around 5:30 p.m as he was riding on his motor cycle in Chuzhipuram area in Valikaamam. Muthukumar Sivapalan, was rushed to Moo’laay hospital with serious injuries and later transferred to Jaffna Teaching Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, sources in Jaffna said. During the last election campaign, Mr. Sivapalan had strongly worked against the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) led by Douglas Devananda, a cabinet minister in the present Sri Lanka government, Tholpu’ram residents said.
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Court rejects police request to remand, releases suspect on bail

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 16:22 GMT]
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Mackie Mohamed Thursday refused an application by the Cinnamons Garden Police to remand a Muslim resident of Sammanthurai who was arrested by a mobile squad of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on suspicion that he was a terrorist suspect. The court ordered the release of the suspect on personal bail in a sum of Rs: 50,000/= with two sureties.
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IDPs in flood-hit Trinco, Batticaloa struggle to cope- ICRC

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 15:33 GMT]
Displaced families sheltered in temporary structures in the districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa are facing a grave situation without enough food, health and sanitation facilities due to flood following heavy monsoon rains inundating their dwellings, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) said in a field report for the period 20 November-December 20.
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ICRC officials meet Boosa detainees

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 14:28 GMT]
The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) said in a press release issued Thursday evening that representatives of the ICRC visited the Boosa detention centre and inspected the condition of 469 detainees who were arrested by the government security forces following two bomb blasts that took place in Colombo on November 28. Nearly 2000 civilians were arrested and most of them were released later, the press release said.
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Karunanidhi calls for protection of fishermen, urges Delhi to assist Tamil refugees

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 08:59 GMT]
Tamilnadu Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi raised the issue of Indian fishermen being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) in his speech at the Internal Security Meeting at New Delhi Thursday and appealed to the Indian Prime Minister to ensure that Tamil fishermen were protected by the Indian Navy without any kind of interference from the Sri Lankan forces. He also drew attention to the refugee influx in Tamilnadu due to escalating military oppression in Sri Lanka and requested the Indian Government to provide financial aid to ensure the smooth continuation of refugee rehabilitation activities.
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Mannaar Bishop meets Nadesan in Ki’linochchi

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 December 2007, 03:40 GMT]
Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannaar Diocese, discussed humanitarian problems faced by the Tamil people with B. Nadesan, the political head of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a meeting Thursday around 1:00 p.m in Ki’linochchi.
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UN envoy meets displaced in Eachchilampattu, Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2007, 17:55 GMT]
United Nations Special Commissioner for Human Rights Tuesday and Wednesday inspected the situation in the districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa where hundreds of displaced Tamil families fled from their own villages and sheltered in transit centres awaiting for resettlement.
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SLA artillery injured Mannar IDP, dies

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2007, 17:19 GMT]
An Internally Displaced Person (IDP), who was injured in the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) artillery fire on 26.10.2007 on the IDP camp at Periyamadu in Mannaar, succumbed to the wounds Thursday early morning in Muzhangkaavil hospital, hospital sources said.
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LTTE attacks SLA infiltration unit in Ma’nalaa’ru

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2007, 16:54 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) waylaid and attacked an infiltration unit of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday around 1:45 p.m in Ceylon Theatre area in Ma’nalaa’ru in Vanni, inflicting heavy injuries to the SLA troops. The SLA group retreated carrying the injured, sources in Ki’linochchi said.
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India offers joint air-defence exercise to Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2007, 16:46 GMT]
The top-level visiting Indian defence delegation to Sri Lanka to review the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation has offered assistance in the form of "joint air-defence exercises" to face any threats posed by the aerial capability of the Tigers, according to highly placed sources in Colombo. Indian Defence Secretary Vijay Singh who called on Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in Colombo early this week has made the offer. The delegation arrived in Colombo last Sunday and left the island Wednesday after meeting with the Commanders of the Sri Lankan Army, Air Force and Navy.
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SLA, LTTE artillery duels intensify in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2007, 10:35 GMT]
Heavy artillery duel between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) beginning Thursday morning continued even after midday while unrelenting rain poured down in the peninsula, sources in Jaffna said. Residents in the peninsula are apprehensive of an impending offensive operation by the SLA as intensive artillery fire both on land and sea reverberates amidst pouring rain. Meanwhile, the Tigers said an attempt by the SLA to advance towards their Forward Defence Line in Naakarkoayil was thwarted, killing two SLA soldiers and recovering the dead body of a SLA soldier with an assault rifle.
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Colombo reduces security of two more Tamil MPs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2007, 10:08 GMT]
The security provided to T. Maheswaran, the Colombo district parliamentarian of the opposition United National Party (UNP) and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP N. Srikantha, has been reduced by the Government of Sri Lanka Thursday despite the parliamentarians calling for additional protection under the present volatile situation. Mr. Srikantha's Ministerial Security Division (MSD) guards were reduced to four from nine, meanwhile Mr. Maheswaran's MSD security was reduced to two from Eighteen.
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2 SLA killed in Naakarkoayil FDL clash - LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2007, 09:35 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and a fresh attempt by the SLA to advance towards the Forward Defence Line of the Liberation Tigers at Naakarkoayil in Vadamaraadchi East was thwarted Thursday around 1:00 p.m., according to the Northern Front Operations Command of the LTTE. The Tigers recovered a SLA dead body. One T-56-2 rifle was among the military accessories seized in the counter-attack, the LTTE said.
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Police instructs Tamils in Moneragala to register details

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 16:19 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Police has instructed all Tamil residents above the age of ten in estates Muppanavalli, Maragala, Kumarathola and Ulaanthawa in Moneragala district to register themselves with their photographs with the respective police stations immediately. Those who fail to comply with the directive would be punished, the police has warned, residents said.
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Ki'n'niyaa Muslims under pressure to leave their lands

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 16:10 GMT]
Muslim settlers in several villages in Ki'n'niya division in Trincomalee district are being threatened by the Sri Lankan police to vacate their lands they cultivate since the year 1971. Dr.A.M.Thoufeek, former parliamentarian of the Trincomalee district in a statement to media, alleged that "a hidden hand is actively working behind the move to oust Muslims from their lands."
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EU condemns abduction, murder of Red Cross volunteer in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 16:05 GMT]
The European Union on Wednesday, condemned the abduction and murder of a Sri Lankan Red Cross volunteer, Thavarajah, in Jaffna last Friday. "The European Union urges the Government of Sri Lanka to do everything possible to protect humanitarian workers, investigate fully these killings and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice."
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CoI's murder inquiries lack transparency, fall short of international norms- IIGEP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 11:49 GMT]
In a public statement made by the International Independant Group of Eminent Persons (IIEGP), monitoring Sri Lanka's Commission of Inquiries (CoI's) investigation into the killing of the 17 Action Contre La Faim aid workers in Muttur and the killing of 5 youths in Trincomalee, the IIEGP said the CoI's work "lacks transparency," and the process "falls short of international norms and standards."
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Four shops robbed in Kalmunai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 01:05 GMT]
Four business establishments located in the heart of Kalmunai city, in Amparai District, were broken into, and the contents and cash looted by unidentified robbers at 3:30 am Tuesday, police said.
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Colombo withdraws security, Mano Ganesan fears for his life

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 December 2007, 01:04 GMT]
Mano Ganesan, founder of Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC) and a Rights award winner from the U.S. Government, in a press release issued Wednesday said that Sri Lanka Government has withdrawn eight of the ten Security personnel, and that he fears Sri Lanka Government is creating a climate for getting him assassinated. Pointing out that the official organ of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), has described him "as an arms supplier to the LTTE, drug trafficker and collaborator with the under world criminals," Ganesan said, Colombo is orchestrating attacks against him from communal elements.
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U.S. links Colombo’s rights record to military sales

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 22:32 GMT]
H.R.2764 bill of the 110th Congress of U.S.A., Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 barred sales of military equipment to Sri Lanka saying: “no defense export license may be issued, and no military equipment or technology shall be sold or transferred,” until conditions related to improved Human Rights record are met by the Government of Sri Lanka. The bill passed the House in June, and is voted on for amendments in the Senate Tuesday. An amendment to the bill, however, allowed equipment sales for the “limited purposes of maritime and air surveillance and communications.”
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Claymore attack targets train engine in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 19:22 GMT]
Unidentified attackers triggered a Claymore mine targeting the engine of the Trincomalee - Colombo night mail train Tuesday night at 8:45 p.m. at Kanthalaay in Trincomalee district, Police said.
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Decomposed body of young woman found in Neduntheevu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 17:56 GMT]
Neduntheevu (Delft) police recovered, on information given by local residents Tuesday, the headless body of a young woman in a highly decomposed state, washed ashore along Ve’l’lai Kadatkarai in Neduntheevu, an islet of Jaffna under total control of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), sources in Jaffna said.
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Sri Lanka ranked third in murders of journalists

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 16:49 GMT]
Press Emblem Campaign, an independent media watchdog based in Geneva, in a press release issued Monday said, Sri Lanka ranked third worldwide in number of journalists killed in 2007 in line of duty, behind Iraq and Somalia. "Sri Lanka ranks third, seven journalists killed this year against four last year due to the intensity of the civil war," the press release said.
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Home guards to protect key highways in border villages

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 15:41 GMT]
More than one thousand Sinhalese youths are to be recruited as home guards to protect key highways in the north central province. Habarana- Minneriya, Polonnaruwa-Punaani, Polonnaruwa- Alangahavilla, Habarana- Kanthalaai and Kebittigollwa- Padaviya roads, are included in the list of high priority highways to be safeguarded in the first phase of the new security measures taken by Sri Lanka Government, sources said.
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Withdraw Indian defence delegation to SL: Thirumavalavan, Vaiko

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 15:39 GMT]
The Indian Government should revive the stalled peace talks in the island instead of extending defence cooperation to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), said Thol. Thirumavalavan, General Secretary of the Tamilnadu-based Viduthalai Chiruthhaika'l Kadchi (VCK, the Liberation Panthers party) during a press meet in Chennai, Monday that was reported in sections of the Indian media. Meanwhile, Vaiko, leader of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) wrote a letter to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday urging him "to stop forthwith any form of military assistance or guidance to Sri Lanka."
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Floods in Ampaa'rai, Batticaloa displace families

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 14:41 GMT]
8300 families in Chengkaladi, Kiraan in Batticaloa district and Aalayadiveampu area in Ampaa’rai district were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in schools, after rising floods due to the persisting down pour of monsoon rains threatened to engulf their homes, Batticaloa Additional Government Agent K. Mahesan said.
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5 killed in attack on SLA outpost in Vavuniyaa - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 09:54 GMT]
Liberation Tigers on Tuesday said they attacked an outpost of the Sri Lankan forces at Veerapuram in Vavuniyaa at 1:30 a.m., killing five members of the armed forces of Sri Lanka. Tigers have seized a Light Machine Gun (LMG), a 40 mm Grenade Launcher and ammunitons, according to a Tiger military situation report issued to media.
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Sri Lanka Millennium funding on hold

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 05:54 GMT]
In a curt statement displayed in Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) website, the message for Sri Lanka dated November 2007 said, "In light of the ongoing security concerns in Sri Lanka, MCC will consider a resumption of compact due diligence activities when there is a greater prospect for success of our mission," indicating that the proposed funding of nearly $590million is on hold pending improvement in security situation.
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English proficiency vital for success in global world: LTTE Political Head

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 December 2007, 20:52 GMT]
"Eelam Tamils have excelled in military science and geo-political affairs at an International level. For our people to acquire skills and knowlege to succeed at the global level, opportunity and facilities to attain high levels of proficiency in English is critical," said B. Nadesan, the political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in his commencement address at the English Language College (ELC) in Ki'linochchi, on Saturday. The ELC, a Tamils' Rehabilitation Organization (TRO)-funded college, was established on September 13, 2004 to produce educators to fulfill the shortage of competent of English teachers in the NorthEast.
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Elders' Home inaugurated in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 December 2007, 19:36 GMT]
In a simple yet emotionally-charged ceremony of significance, Mathivathani Pirapaharan, wife of LTTE leader Velupillai Pirapaharan, inaugurated the new hostel block of the Anpuchchoalai Elders' Home in Ki'linochchi A'riviyal Nakar this Sunday. In one of her rare public appearances, she cut the ribbon and declared open the new wing of the Elders' Home. The event was well-attended by key Tamil Tiger functionaries.
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Inter-religious summit calls for power-sharing constitutional framework in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 December 2007, 17:06 GMT]
Religious leaders from Sri Lanka and a multi-religious delegation from six countries of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, who met in Jaffna last Wednesday and Thursday, said the decision to make Jaffna the location of the summit was to express solidarity with all those who continue to live in situations of violence and despair due to the conflict. "We saw the massive destruction of infrastructure and housing that occurred in previous phases of fighting, the loss of villages and fertile agricultural lands to High Security Zones, and the fear and insecurity in the lives of the people, especially youth, which is dehumanizing to all those affected."
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Moral support to Tigers not a crime –Thirumavalavan

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 December 2007, 16:49 GMT]
Extending moral support to the Liberation Tigers, on seeing the Tamils' sufferings in Sri Lanka was not a crime in any way, said Thol. Thirumavalavan, General Secretary of the Tamilnadu-based Viduthalai Chiruthhaika'l Kadchi (VCK, the Liberation Panthers party) according to news reports published in The New Indian Express, Monday. He added that providing moral support to the Tamil Tigers was not an offence even in countries like the UK, the US and Canada, where the organization is banned. "Tamils in these countries are conducting rallies, unveiling Pirapaharan's portrait and also running a radio service in their favour," he said.
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Flooding worsens IDPs' woes in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 December 2007, 16:22 GMT]
Temporary structures located at Killiveddy and Iruthayapuram in Moothoor division sheltering displaced Tamil families have been inundated with floodwater due to heavy rain with gale force winds in Trincomalee district since Sunday. Families are now living with great difficulties under leaking roofs without enough food and other essential needs, civil sources said.
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Kaithadi body identified as belonging to Red Cross employee

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 December 2007, 11:51 GMT]
One of the two bodies recovered with severe cut wounds in Kaithadi in Thenmaraadchy Sunday was identified as belonging to Point Pedro Head of Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC), Mr Sooriyakaanthi Thavarasa, 43, by his wife Monday at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, hospital sources said.
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SLA collects information on Jaffna Saiva priests

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 December 2007, 00:09 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has begun collecting detailed information about all Saiva priests in Jaffna peninsula effective immediately. In a recent directive issued by SLA high command, all priests in the North have been instructed to report at the nearest SLA camp and provide personal details, and details of their family members, civil sources in Jaffna said.
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VoT will rebounce from attack -Thamizhanpan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 December 2007, 22:43 GMT]
“Belligerent statements by close associates of Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa, threats against media personnel, and press censorship in the South, forewarned us of a possible attack on our media facilities. Fortunately, we took precautions against this, and our successful completion of the Heroes day program, inspite of Colombo violating international laws bombing our facility, is a testimony to the resilience of our staff,” said Thamizhanpan, director of Voice of Tigers, LTTE’s official broadcasting corporation, in an interview with a Australian Tamil Broadcasting Corporation, Tuesday.
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SLN conducts war-exercise in northern seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 December 2007, 13:48 GMT]
More than 1500 Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and Army (SLA) troopers participated in a war exercise along northern seas and land from Katkoava'lam to Manatkaadu Friday, Saturday mornings, and again on Sunday morning from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., sources in Jaffna said.
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Two bodies with cut wounds recovered in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 December 2007, 13:06 GMT]
Bodies of two youths, estimated to be between ages 25 and 30, were recovered Sunday morning in Poakaththai area in Kaithadi, Thenmaraadchi, Jaffna, with severe cut wounds to the body, including deep wounds to the neck inflicted by a sharp instrument, sources in Jaffna said. Chaavakachcheari Police transferred the bodies to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Sunday noon for identification and postmortem examinations.
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CID enter house of Reuters photo journalist as telephone repairmen - FMM

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 December 2007, 10:24 GMT]
Colombo based media watchdog, the Free Media Movement, on Sunday said it was disturbed to learn that officers of Criminal Investigation Division (CID) had entered the house of senior Reuters photojournalist Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi at Sarojinee Watta, Ratmalana at 11am on 11th December and questioned his wife at length about his activities in the manner that they would interrogate a suspect of a serious crime. The episode was aimed at instilling fear and anxiety in the mind of not just Mr. Lokuhapuarachchi but all journalists who investigate and report on the conflict in Sri Lanka, the FMM said.
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Indian military delegation to arrive in Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 December 2007, 10:14 GMT]
A high-powered Indian defence delegation is to arrive in Colombo Monday on a three-day visit. The delegation, comprising experts in air defence, would review matters relating to ongoing bi-lateral defence co-operation, with a special focus on air-defence, between the two countries, according to Colombo weekly Sunday Times.
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Colombo's anti-terror laws assist killings, abductions, torture- MRG

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 19:32 GMT]
Minority Rights Groups International (MRG), an accredited non Governmental organization with the United Nations, in a report released Thursday said, after the promulgation of broad anti-terror laws in December 2006, Sri Lanka "has not hesitated to use these laws, and the country's human rights situation deteriorated. Under a general climate of impunity, 2007 has largely been marked by intense warfare, mass displacement, killings, abductions and torture in Sri Lanka."
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Eelaventhan loses membership in SL parliament

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 18:55 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) national list parliamentarian M.K. Eelaventhan was not allowed to take part in the third voting of the 2008 Budget in the Sri Lankan parliament Friday. Sergeant At Arms at the Sri Lankan parliament asked the senior Tamil MP to leave the parliament as he had lost his membership in the House due to his nonattendance for more than three months, parliamentary sources said.
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Paramilitary releases Batticaloa TNA MPs relatives, secretary

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 18:46 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army operated paramilitary Pillayan Group Saturday night released P. Sriskandaseya, the brother of Batticaloa Tamil National Alliance MP P. Ariyanethran, Arunasalam Sivapalan, the nephew-in-law of parliamentarian S. Jeyanandamoorthy and Ira. Nagalingam, the secretary of the parliamentarian K. Thangeswari.
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India armed rival groups as Tigers disarmed – IPKF General

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 18:39 GMT]
Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, ordered an Indian General to kill LTTE leader Vellupillai Pirapaharan in cold blood when the latter attended a meeting under a white flag in September 1987. In a new book, the then chief of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), Major General (retd.) Harkirat Singh, says he refused to carry out the order as “good soldiers do not shoot an adversary in the back.” He also says that as the Tigers began disarming in 1987, but India’s intelligence service, RAW, on Rajiv Gandhi’s orders, began arming anti-LTTE militant groups, triggering inter-Tamil violence.
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SLMC suspends two dissident deputy ministers

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 17:27 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Saturday decided to suspend the membership of Messrs K.Faiz and S.Nijamudeen, both deputy ministers in the the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, for voting in support of the budget, violating the party decision. The politburo of the SLMC met Saturday morning and took this decision, SLMC general secretary Hassan Ali said.
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Court directs IGP to expedite release of Tamil detainees

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 13:19 GMT]
The Supreme Court Friday directed the Inspector General of Police to take immediate steps to release all Tamil civilians detained in police stations and Boosa detention centre found not involved in any crime after inquiry and to produce others in courts. The three-member bench of the Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice Sarath Silva issued this directive in a Fundamental Rights Violation petition filed by the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) against the mass arrest of Tamil civilians soon after the Nugegoda bomb blast, legal sources in Colombo said.
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2 SLAF airmen killed, 14 wounded in accident

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 10:10 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) airmen were killed and fourteen wounded when their truck skidded off the road at Namalgama in Morawewa in Trincomalee Saturday around 8:30 a.m., Police said.
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FARC, PFLP 'not terrorists', Danish judges rule

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 05:09 GMT]
Seven Danes who sold T-shirts with the logos of Colombian and Palestinian militants have been acquitted of supporting terrorist groups, the BBC reported Thursday. They had pledged five Euros from each sale to the FARC in Colombia or the PFLP, both of which are classified as terrorist groups by the European Union. But Danish judges ruled that while the groups took part in murders and kidnappings, they were not guilty of terrorism. The company said it would seek the return of its confiscated funds so that it could send the money to a FARC radio station and Palestinian poster shop.
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SLA soldier killed, 11 wounded in artillery attack in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 04:43 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier was killed and 11 troopers were seriously wounded Friday night when artillery shells fired by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) hit a Forward Defence Line post of the SLA at Nochchikku'lam located in Mannaar Town division around 8:45 p.m., Police said.
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Court allows Police to investigate youth in protective custody

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 04:32 GMT]
A youth seeking protection with the Jaffna office of Human Rights commission (HRC) and kept in protective custody has been ordered to be temporarily handed over to Jaffna police for criminal investigation by Acting Magistrate of Jaffna T.Kesavan, legal sources in Jaffna said.
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14-year old missing, 3 family men seek protection with HRC

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 02:56 GMT]
Koa’ndaavil Orphanage authorities made representation in Jaffna Courts Friday that a 14-year-old boy from their institution had gone missing since 6 December. Meanwhile, three family men from various places in Jaffna peninsula sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitaries.
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Eelam demand came well before LTTE - paper

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 16:41 GMT]
The international community’s continued insistence on reinforcing the state in Sri Lanka is intensifying the cycle of Sinhala oppression and, thus, Tamil resistance, the Tamil Guardian newspaper said this week in an editorial subtitled “the international community mistakenly hopes war [against the LTTE] will bring peace to Sri Lanka.” Pointing out that that Tamil demand for Eelam emerged in the seventies through the TULF, well before the LTTE’s armed struggle escalated, the paper said the Tamils’ “insistence on Eelam is not some romantic whim, but a longstanding expression of rejection of Sinhala rule.”
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Stung by rights criticism, Sri Lanka summons US, UK, EU and other ambassadors

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 16:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka's militaristic government said Friday it had hauled in the envoys of countries calling for UN human rights monitoring of the island's dirty war against the Tamil Tigers, AFP reported. The ambassadors of the United States, the European Union, France, Korea and Sweden were summoned for a dressing down by foreign ministry secretary Palitha Kohona, AFP quoted the ministry as saying. Diplomats from Canada and the Netherlands will also be summoned Friday, the ministry said, adding a complaint over remarks made at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this week will be forwarded to New Zealand's Delhi-based envoy.
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Pirapaharan pays homage to Anton Balasingham

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 14:13 GMT]
Velupillai Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam, Friday payed homage to late Anton Balasingham, the theoretician and political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commemorating the first death anniversary of the former chief negotiator and political advisor.
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SLMC decides to withdraw support for UPFA in provincial councils

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 12:41 GMT]
The high command of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to withdraw its support to the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) administrations in the provincial councils. The decision was taken at its politburo meeting held following the cross over SLMC parliamentarians to the opposition side in the parliament Tuesday, SLMC sources said.
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UPFA budget passed by 47-vote majority

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 12:17 GMT]
Third reading of the 2008 budget was passed by 47 majority votes Friday evening in Sri Lankan Parliament. 114 members voted for the budget and 67 voted against. 37 JVP members and SLFP parliamentarian Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa abstained from voting. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) voted against the Budget of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Soon after the voting was over there was a pandemonium in the House as SLFP parliamentarians Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Jagath Pushpakumara placed a wreath in front of the opposition leader's chair, antagonizing the UNP.
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Anura Bandaranaike crosses over to opposition

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 10:51 GMT]
Anura Bandaranaike, Sri Lankan Minister of National Heritage and the brother of former SL President Chandrika Kumaratunge crossed over to opposition in Sri Lanka's parliament, ahead of the final vote on budget 2008.
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Police constable wounded in accidental gunfire

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 03:35 GMT]
A thirty eight old police constable, Chandana of Ea’raavoor police, was seriously injured when his gun accidentally went off while cleaning it Thursday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. within Ea’raavoor police station, in Batticaloa District, Officer in charge (OIC) of Ea’raavoor police said
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Heavy rain causes flooding in Eastern Province

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 01:37 GMT]
Torrential rain in the past twenty four hours in the Eastern province has created the fear of severe flooding in various parts of Batticaloa district and the heavy rain is still continuing Thursday. Low - lying lands in areas under the administration of the District Secretaries (DS) of Manmunai North, Aarayampathi, Kiraan, Chengkaladi, Vaazhaichcheanai, and Kaaththaankudi, are reported to be worst affected.
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Florida terror case: One acquitted, mistrial declared for six

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 22:37 GMT]
One of seven defendants was acquitted and a mistrial was declared Thursday for the other six defendants accused of of plotting to destroy Chicago's Sears Tower, local reports of proceedings of the South Florida district court said. Defense lawyers contended that the informant and an overzealous FBI were responsible for pushing the alleged conspiracy along. "This was all written, directed and produced by the FBI,'' defense attorney Albert Levin was quoted as saying by Florida daily, Sun-sentinel. The Federal Prosecutor said the U.S. Government plans to retry the six defendants next year.
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SLA delays plague Vanni patients travelling to Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 19:13 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and Intelligence personnel at Oamanthai check point stop ambulances carrying patients from Vanni to Vavuniya hospital and force them to get down, subject them to rigorous checking, and then transport in SLA- operated ambulances to Vavuniyaa. Several pregnant women going for confinement have had to wait for hours before they had space allocated in the SLA ambulance, civil society sources in Vanni said.
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3 Tamil civilians arrested in Uddapu, Gampaha

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 19:06 GMT]
The Police took into custody three Tamil civilians in two separate cordon and search operations conducted at Uddapu in Chilaw district and Gampaha town in Colombo district Wednesday. Police said they were detained in police stations as they failed to prove their identity and valid reason for the their stay in the locality.
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SLN attacks fisherman in northern seas

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 17:06 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Dvora gunboats opened fire Wednesday around 10:00 p.m and again around 4:30 a.m Thursday on fishermen fishing in Vadmaraadchi eastern sea, destroying a boat completely, while the two fishermen in the boat jumped into the sea to save their lives, sources in Vadamaraadchi said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched heavy artillery fire Wednesday and Thursday on civilian settlements in Vadamaraadchi east, Pa’lai and Iyakkachchi areas causing damage to houses and shops.
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No Tiger threat in Tamil Nadu - Indian Army officer

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 16:51 GMT]
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army Southern Command Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj on Wednesday categorically denied that the Tigers pose any specific threat to the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
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Bomb explosion kills 2 youths, injures 6 civilians in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 16:02 GMT]
A bomb exploding in Viyaapaarimoolai area in Point Pedro, Vadamaraadchi Thursday around 6:00 a.m killed two youths and injured six civilians, sources in Point Pedro said. The bomb exploded with a deafening noise when a large contingent of Sri Lanka Amy (SLA) troops were engaged in a cordon off and search operation in the area, the sources added.
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UNICEF-Sri Lanka Head meets LTTE Political Head

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 14:53 GMT]
Philippe Duamelle, the Head of UNICEF-Sri Lanka called upon the Liberation Tigers Political Head B. Nadesan Thursday morning at LTTE's Political Headquarters, Tiger officials in Ki'linochchi told media. The introductory meeting was described by both sides as "very constructive".
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Jaffna passenger aircraft crash lands in Ratmalana

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 11:51 GMT]
A passenger flight with 50 Tamil passengers from Ratmalana airport to Jaffna, unable to land at Palaali due to technical failure, had to fly back to Colombo Thursday morning. But, Ratmalana refused landing permission to the aircraft and diverted it to Katunayake International Airport. The authorities at Katunayaka, fearing it might crash land, asked the pilots of the Expo limited aircraft to return to Ratmalana. The pilots finally managed to safely land the aircraft at Ratmalana airport.
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EU Condemns abductions of parliamentarians' relatives

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 11:14 GMT]
Following reports of abductions of two relatives and a secretary of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians in Batticaloa, by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated paramilitary Pillayan Group, the European Union, on Thursday, condemning abductions said it was deeply concerned by disturbing reports of abductions of a number of civilians connected to members of the Sri Lankan parliament. Kidnapping is the behaviour of terrorists and the EU condemns it without reservation, said a press release issued by the British High Commission, acting as local EU Presidency on behalf of Portugal.
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Bishops' delegation visits Moothoor, meets IDPs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 02:03 GMT]
A delegation of Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka led by Rt.Rev.Dr.Harold Antony Perera, Bishop of Galle Diocese, Tuesday visited Moothoor, Eachchilampathu and other villages where displaced Tamil villagers from Batticaloa district are sheltered in temporary structures. They conversed with the IDPs waiting for resettlement in their own villages in Eachchilampathu and Moothoor division, and found out their needs and shortcomings, sources said.
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Florida terror case jury deadlocked, defense requests mistrial

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 21:29 GMT]
Jurors deliberating at the trial of seven South Florida men accused of plotting terrorist attacks are still deadlocked, and the defense lawyers requested a mistrial Monday, a Florida daily said. U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard rejected the motion and read the 12-member jury a formal charge, known as an Allen charge, instructing the panel to continue deliberating.
Full story >>

World Religious Conference begins in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 16:14 GMT]
The World Religious Conference promoting peace organized by National Peace Council (NPC) began Wednesday around 9:00 a.m in Jaffna Public library attended by International religious dignitaries of various faiths and local personages representing Hindu, Buddhist, Islam and Christian religions, Jaffna sources said. Participants in the conference laid emphasis on peace through negotiation instead of war, in a unanimous voice. Japan Special Peace Envoy for Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi arrived in the afternoon and participated in the event.
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SLAF bombers attack civilian settlements in Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 15:52 GMT]
Two civilians were wounded Wednesday noon when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers attacked civilian settlements in Mulllaiththeevu district, at A'lampil and Chemmalai. A 19-year-old youth and a 33-year-old man were wounded in the attacks. Students attending GCE Ordinary Level exams were disturbed by the air attacks as they were forced to leave the examination hall and seek shelter inside bunkers. There were a number of students who were unable to continue with the exams due to trauma from the air raids, an official at Mullaiththeevu Zonal Education Office told media.
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Tigers repel SLA's attempt to advance in Mukamalai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 15:01 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Northern Front Operations Command said an attempt by a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) unit to advance towards their Forward Defence Line (FDL) positions at Ka’ndal in Mukamaalai Wednesday from 8:00 a.m to 8:50 a.m was successfully repulsed by LTTE fighters. One SLA trooper was killed and many injured in the fight.
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SLMC resigns from Rajapaksa government

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 09:22 GMT]
Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Sri Lanka's main Muslim party, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Wednesday resigned his minister post in SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa government and vowed to vote against Rajapaksa government's budget together with three other SLMC parliamentarians who sat in the opposition in the SL parliament.
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SLA slaps restrictions on use of telephones in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 00:47 GMT]
While cellular services to Jaffna remain suspended, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Palaly high command has issued directives to all communication centers in Jaffna to record the identity and other personal details of telephone customers before allowing calls to other districts in Sri Lanka or to foreign countries, civil society sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA restricts bus services in Mannaar district

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 December 2007, 00:32 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Tuesday instructed the state owned Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) and the private sector bus association not to run daily bus services to other districts after 4.30 p.m. and local services after 5.30 p.m. from Mannaar district. The SLA told the authorities concerned that the restriction has been imposed due to security reason, and the restrictions will be in effect until further notice.
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TNA MPs warned to abstain on budget vote, relatives abducted

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 19:16 GMT]
Paramilitary Pillayan Group on Tuesday abducted the brother of Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance MP P. Ariyanethran, P. Sriskandaseya, 54, secretary of TNA MP K. Thangeswari, Ira Nagalingam and the son-in-law of TNA MP S. Jeyanandamoorthy's sister, Arunasalam Sivapalan, 28. The paramilitary has warned the family members of the three abducted victims that the TNA MPs should refrain from voting against the Budget of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Friday, if they wished to see them live on Saturday.
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Youth succumbs to injuries, man found dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 15:55 GMT]
The youth shot and injured at New Chemma’ni Veethi in Kalviyangkaasu Thursday succumbed to his injuries at Jaffna Teaching hospital Monday, and a civilian who went missing Wednesday was found dead Monday, with assault injuries on his body near the well of the Heroes’ Resting Home at Ellangku’lam, Uddupiddy in Vadamaraadchi. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen shot dead an elderly trader in Chaavakachcheari Saturday around 7:30 a.m., sources in Jaffna said.
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SLA advance thwarted in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 15:49 GMT]
At least 20 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and more than 75 wounded when Liberation Tigers repulsed a two-pronged ground movement Tuesday in Mannnaar, according to LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan. After heavy fighting that lasted from 12:30 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, the SLA began retreating in two fronts in Adampan and Paalaikkuzhi. At 6:00 p.m. the SLA was pushed back to its original Forward Defence Line (FDL) position. Tigers have seized Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers, assault rifles and explosives, he said. Three fighters of the LTTE were killed in action.
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Nadesan calls for attitudinal shift in rights approach

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 13:17 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka remained unperturbed despite severe criticism from U.N representatives who had visited the island and confirmed the large-scale violation of human rights against Tamils, because it continued to receive military and monetary aid from those who actually condemn the human rights violations, charged Liberation Tigers Political Head B. Nadesan, Monday, on the International Human Rights Day. Declaring that the human rights violations by the GoSL in SLA-controlled areas was nothing short of a "systematic genocide of the Tamils," he called upon the International Community to use "severe pressure" against Colombo to put an end to the flagrant violation of human rights.
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Mano Ganesan, first runner-up for U.S. Human Rights Award - US Embassy

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 12:06 GMT]
The leader of Western Province People's Front (WPPF), Member of Parliament and the Convener of the Civil Monitoring Commission on Extra-Judicial killings and Disappearances (CMC), was the first runner-up for U.S. Human Rights Award, the first Freedom Defender's Award, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo Tuesday. Mr. Ganesan has been in the forefront of those seeking an end to the abductions, disappearances and extrajudicial killings that afflict Sri Lanka, the U.S. Embassy said adding that he has demonstrated commendable integrity in combating the climate of impunity for human rights violators. The award went to the NGO Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
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Court orders release of all Tamil detainees

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 04:53 GMT]
The Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Monday directed the Attorney General (AG) to release all 361 Tamil civilians detained in Boosa detention camp on bail immediately. The court further instructed the AG to make arrangement to release all Tamil civilians now in remand on personal bail instead of cash bail, legal sources said.
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Media organizations protest on IHR Day in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 December 2007, 16:21 GMT]
Five media movements including Free Media Movement (FMM), Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Movement and Working Journalists Association staged Monday, International Human Righs (IHR) day, a protest demonstration march from Narahenpittya junction to the Sri Lanka Media Ministry located in Narahenpittiya in Colombo where they handed over a memorandum to a ministry official, sources in Colombo said.
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Man missing, 3 seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 December 2007, 15:35 GMT]
A 25-year-old mother with her child from Thenmaraadchi, and two youths from Cha’ndilippaay and Maanipaay, sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna Monday due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries. Meanwhile, a mason from Oaddumadam in Jaffna is reported missing since Wednesday after leaving work in the morning, according to complaint made with HRC Monday.
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American Tamils observe Tamils Memorial Day

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 December 2007, 11:53 GMT]
Several hundred expatriate American Tamils from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut attended the Tamils Memorial Day was held in Edison, New Jersey on Sunday December 9th to pay tribute to those Tamils who gave their lives in the struggle for Tamils national self determination.
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Paramilitary marches civilians in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 December 2007, 11:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated paramilitary Pillyan Group Monday noon forced hundreds of civilians from Kathirave'li and Vaakarai areas that were recently captured by the SLA in the East, into government operated buses, taken from depots in Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Vaazhaichchenai, to forcibly participate in a march held at Batticaloa city with the protection of SLA, Special Task Force (STF) and the Police. Meanwhile, the federation of non governmental organisations in Batticaloa was instructed by the paramilitary to call its members to march against the lack of humanitarian assistance by the GoSL. But, the motive of the march was changed by the paramilitary at the last moment.
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Video shop owner shot dead in Eazhaalai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 December 2007, 21:21 GMT]
The 25-year old owner of a video store in Eazhaalai in Valikaamam was shot dead by unknown gunmen at 10:30 a.m. Monday at his home, sources in Jaffna said. The gunmen entered the victim's house called out for the youth, and shot him at point blank range.
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Vaiko writes to Indian PM, alleges SLN - Indian Navy nexus

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 December 2007, 19:10 GMT]
Vaiko, General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in India dashed off a letter to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alleging "a nefarious nexus between Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) and Indian Navy" after an Indian naval official declared that SLN was not guilty of deliberately killing Indian fishermen. Mr Vaiko also appealed to Mr Singh to "stop forthwith the supply of arms to Sri Lanka and withdraw the radars already supplied and give instructions to the officers of the Indian Navy not to pursue the nefarious game" of collaborating with the SLN. His three-page letter was released to the media on Sunday.
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122 Tamils arrested in Kaduruvwela

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 December 2007, 11:04 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police, in a combined cordon and search operation conducted at Kaduruvwela in Pollonarruwa Sunday morning from 9 a.m. till noon, took into custody about 122 Tamil residents. They are being detained in Pollonaruwa police station and being interrogated by the Terrorist Intelligence Division, according to sources in Pollannaruwa.
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Disparity in condemning attacks on civilian targets, counterproductive - TNA MPs in Oslo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 December 2007, 13:49 GMT]
"The recent condemnations on the attacks of civilian targets in Sri Lanka came only after witnessing attacks on a civilian target in the South. There was no condemnation by the International Community when Mannaar Coordinator of an International NGO, Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Pakiyaranjith, was slain in a Claymore attack in Vanni by the Sri Lankan DPU team. Why did the IC fail in condemning the indiscriminate air-attacks on civilian targets in Vanni?," asked the Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian S. Jeyanandamoorthy and Jaffna district MP K. Sivanesan while talking to media in Oslo on Friday after a meeting with the Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer.
Full story >>

Mahinda Rajapaksa leaves for Japan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 December 2007, 09:16 GMT]
After his recent visit to Iran seeking support to his war efforts back home, the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Saturday left Colombo on a four-day official visit to Japan to hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Japan. Mr. Rajapaksa is also scheduled to meet the Emperor of Japan, Akihito, the head of the Japanese imperial family, during his stay there, Sri Lankan presidential secretariat sources said. Japan is the largest donor to Sri Lanka.
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Tigers repel SLA attack in Ma'nalaa'ru

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 December 2007, 08:35 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters on Friday thwarted an attempt made by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to advance into LTTE territory in Ma'nalaa'ru, Kokkuththoduvaay around 9:30 a.m, sources at Liberation Tigers Ma'nalaa'ru Operations Command said.
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3 students, family man seek protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 December 2007, 04:32 GMT]
Three students and a family man from different places in Jaffna peninsula Friday sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitary men. Meanwhile, a family man from Valveddiththu’rai in Vadmaraadchi is reported missing since Wednesday, according to complaint by his family members to Jaffna HRC Friday.
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LTTE thwarts SLA advance attempt in Adampan, Mannaar

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 December 2007, 18:16 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) thwarted an attempt made by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) to advance from Maanthai into Adampan Friday morning in a fierce fight against the SLA which lasted from 9:00 a.m until 3:00 p.m, sources in Mannaar said. Both sides have not released any information.
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Jury deadlocked in Florida terror case

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 December 2007, 17:03 GMT]
A federal jury was reported deadlocked during deliberations to convict seven South Florida men accused of plotting terrorist attacks, and charged with conspiring to bomb the Sears Tower in Chicago and the FBI headquarters in North Miami Beach, reports from Florida said. U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard had instructed the jurors on the fourth day of deliberations, Thursday, they must continue trying for a unanimous verdict, after receiving written notification from the jury foreman that deliberation has reached an "impasse."
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3 returning expatriates reported missing from Katunayake

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 December 2007, 16:13 GMT]
Three Tamil men, returning from Saudi Arabia after two years employment, are reported missing after leaving Kattunayake International Airport Sunday, according to a complaint made to P. Rathakrishnan, Deputy minister and Upcountry Peoples’ Front parliamentarian for Colombo district by Mannaar district Peoples’ Association Coordinating Officer, Mohamed Fowmi, civil sources in Mannar said.
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Court allows inquiry into CWC's FR petition against mass arrests

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 December 2007, 12:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Friday granted permission to the Ceylon Workers Congress to proceed with its Fundamental Rights Violation petition against the alleged illegal arrest and detention of thousands of Tamil citizens without valid reason and reasonable suspicion recently carried out in Colombo and its suburbs by the law enforcement authorities.
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2 civilians shot dead in Valikaamam

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 December 2007, 11:22 GMT]
Two unidentified armed men on motorcycle shot and killed two civilians, Thursday around 7:00 p.m, two hours before the beginning of curfew, at Aalangkuzhaay area in Cha’ndilippay in Valikaamam, sources in Jaffna said. The victims were on their way to a shop in the area to buy provisions.
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Youth shot dead, another injured in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 December 2007, 04:00 GMT]
Unidentified armed men on motorcycles forcibly entering into a house during curfew hours at Kalviyangkaddu in Jaffna Wednesday around 9:00 p.m opened fire on a family watching television, killing a youth and seriously injuring another youth, sources in Jaffna said.
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CWC files FR petition against mass arrest, detention of Tamils

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 19:43 GMT]
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) Thursday filed a Fundamental Rights Violation petition in the Supreme Court seeking the court to prevent further arrest and detention of Tamil people without any valid reason and reasonable suspicion. This is the second FR violation petition filed in the Supreme Court against the mass arrest and detention of Tamil residents. The first FR petition was filed Tuesday by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), sources said.
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Sri Lanka extends State of Emergency

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 19:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday adopted a motion to extend the State of Emergency for another month by a majority of 126 votes. 141 parliamentarians from the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its constituent parties Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) voted for the motion. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) also voted with the government, parliamentary sources said.
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School girl missing in Jaffna, 3 seek protection

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 15:34 GMT]
A ten-year-old girl student of Changkaanai Hindu Primary School was reported missing since Tuesday after leaving to attend school in the morning, according to complaints registered with the Jaffna office of the Human Rights Commision (JHRC) by her family members Thursday. Meanwhile, three family men from different places in Jaffna peninsula sought protection with JHRC Thursday due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitary men.
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Medical staff in Vanni protest against DPU Claymore attacks on ambulances

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 11:50 GMT]
More than 700 medical staff in Vanni, including doctors, nurses, technical staff, midwives and minor staff from K'ilinochchi and Mullaiththeevu districts, Thursday morning staged a protest against targeted Claymore attacks by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) on ambulances and humanitarian vehicles. In August last year, a DPU attack on the ambulance of Nedungkea'ni claimed the lives of the doctor of Nedungkea'ni hospital, his wife, two nurses and the driver of the ambulance. On 25 November, the driver of the ambulance of Muzhangkaavil hospital was seriously wounded in a Claymore attack at Mudkompan in Poonakari (Pooneryn).
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Security tightened around Buddha statue in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 10:28 GMT]
The security around the controversial Buddha statue erected close to the Trincomalee bus stand has been strengthened following the bomb attacks in Colombo recently. The road that goes along Buddha statue site has been again closed for traffic, and public movement blocked along the road, due to security reasons, sources said.
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Paramilitary person shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 09:39 GMT]
Gunmen alleged to be paramilitary men belonging to Pillayan group shot and killed an operative of its rival Karuna group Thursday around 8:30 a.m in Aaraiyampathi in Batticaloa district, Police said.
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LTTE to handover bodies of 4 SLA killed in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 07:01 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in Ki'linochchi told media Thursday that arrangements were underway to handover corpses of four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers to the SLA through the ICRC. The soldiers were killed in a clash that erupted between the Tigers and a SLA unit that attempted to advance towards Ku'risuddaku'lam in Mannaar.
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Rehabilitation Centre for Women, Children established in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 00:58 GMT]
Women and children seeking protection with Jaffna office of Human Rights Commission (JHRC) will be housed in the vacant Appeal Courts building in Kurugar effective Wednesday, civil society sources in Jaffna said. This centre will be looked after by the Child Protection Group operating in Jaffna peninsula.
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Youth reported missing in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 17:18 GMT]
A youth from Kodikaamam in Thenmaraadchi taking his heard of cattle for grazing Monday morning had not returned home though the cattle had, according to complaints registered by his family members with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) Wednesady.
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Youth shot, killed in Maanipaay, seven seek Humanitarian protection

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 16:48 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen on motorcycle shot dead Wednesday around 10:45 a.m, a youth at Changkuveali in Maanippaay who was returning home from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) civil administration office in Maanippaay where he had gone to obtain the ‘Clearance Pass’ to travel abroad, sources in Jaffna said.
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14 civilians, 2 SLA killed in Kebitigollawe Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 15:54 GMT]
Fourteen civilians and two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 23 wounded when a Sri Lanka Transport Board bus was caught in a Claymore explosion Wednesday around 8:00 p.m. at Abimanagama near Dhammanawa in Kebitigollawe division in the Anuradhapura district, 23 km southeast of Vavuniyaa, police said. The explosion comes amid tightened security in the area after a Claymore attack in June 2006 claimed the lives of 64 civilians.
Full story >>

LTTE ambush kills SLA soldiers in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 14:25 GMT]
At least three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed when a ambush unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam engaged in a clash with SLA road patrol at Chinnachchitpikku'lam located southwest of Vavuniyaa around 7:00 a.m. Informed military sources put the SLA casualty figure at 5 killed.
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Claymore ambush in Anuradhapura kills 4 SLA soldiers

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 14:12 GMT]
Unidentified attackers triggered a Claymore mine, killing four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and wounding two at Thanthirimalai in Anurdhapura district Wednesday around 12:50 p.m.
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Thissamaharama villagers locate skeletons

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 13:54 GMT]
Bendawewa villagers in Thissamaharama, Wednesday morning, located two skeletons of Sinhalese cattle herders who were reported missing in October, Police said.
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FR petition filed against illegal arrest, detention of Tamils

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 13:30 GMT]
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) based in Colombo Tuesday filed a Fundamental Rights Violation petition in the Sri Lanka's Supreme Court seeking to prevent Tamil citizens being arrested without any valid reason and reasonable suspicion. The petition has also sought the Supreme Court to formulate a set of guidelines directing the law enforcement authorities in how to deal with the arrest and detention of persons, legal sources said.
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Civilian feared abducted in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 01:43 GMT]
A mason from Koaddaikkaadu in Koandaavil, Jaffna has failed to return home after leaving for work on Sunday morning, and is feared abducted, according to complains registered by his family members with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC), Tuesday.
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SLA forces Vanni patients to switch ambulances in Oamanthai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 01:25 GMT]
A recent Claymore attack carried out by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) at Mudkompan, Pooneryn, that seriously injured the driver of the Mu'langkaavil hospital ambulance has resulted in the SLA introducing new regulations limiting the transport of patients by ambulance from Vanni only up to Omanthai.
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Body of male washed ashore in Chempiyanpattu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 19:05 GMT]
The highly mutilated body of a male, estimated to be 35-years old, was recovered by Tamil Eelam police (TEP) Tuesday morning 6:00 a.m. along the coast of Chempiyanpattu seas, in Vadamaraadchchi East, sources said.
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Pregnant woman injured in SLAF bombing dies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 18:05 GMT]
An eighteen-year-old pregnant mother, seriously injured in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) aerial bombing on civilian settlements in Tharmapuram on 25 November 2007, succumbed to her injuries Monday night in Ki’linochchi district hospital, sources in Ki’linochchi said.
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3 SLA troops dead, several injured in LTTE retaliation in Ki'laali

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 17:20 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) thwarted an attempted advance operation of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) into LTTE held Ki’laalii area Tuesday around 1:00 p.m, killing three SLA troops and injuring many, LTTE sources said. SLA began the operation with artillery, mortar and Multi-Barrel Racket fire from 4:30 a.m in preparation for the advance operation launched at midday, the sources said.
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Rights groups condemn "Collective Punishment"

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 16:25 GMT]
Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a Colombo-based think-tank, and the Free Media Movement (FMM), a media watch group in Colombo, are considering taking legal action against Sri Lanka authorities for the mass arrest of more than 2000 Tamils in suburbs of Colombo this week, media reports in Colombo said. The arrests were made after the Government of Sri Lanka accused the Liberation Tigers of carrying out the two bomb attacks that killed 21 people and injured more than 40 in Colombo.
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Fisherman shot dead in Kurunakar, 3 seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 10:19 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle shot dead a fisherman Tuesday around 11:45 a.m, on Water Tank Road in Kurnakar, Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, three family men from three different regions in Jaffna peninsula sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitaries.
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A5 route in Batticaloa district reopened

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 08:00 GMT]
Chengkaladi-Badulla A5 route in Batticaloa connecting the districts of Badulla and Batticaola, which had been closed 12 August 2006 due to the war between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was opened Monday for public use, sources in Batticaloa said.
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Young man shot, killed in Valikaamam

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 December 2007, 15:04 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike shot and killed a young man in front of Vazhakampparai Amman temple in Valikaamam when he came to worship at the temple Monday morning around 10:30 a.m., sources in Jaffna said.
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NPC condemns mass arrests in Colombo

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 December 2007, 14:42 GMT]
"Hundreds of Tamils residing in Colombo have been arrested in a crackdown reminiscent of the attempt to evict temporary Tamil residents from Colombo in June this year," said National Peace Council, a Colombo based peace group, in a press release issued on Monday. "The people who have been arrested include women with children. Some of them are Tamil workers from the central hills who have been living in Colombo for many years. When they are arrested in this manner, they stand to lose their livelihoods for which they do not obtain compensation. Others are people who have left the north and east where they cannot live peacefully and safely due to the war conditions in that part of the country."
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UN body condemns Sri Lankan airstrike on VoT

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 December 2007, 14:21 GMT]
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, has condemned the air strike on the Voice of Tigers radio station that killed five of the station’s staff. A total of more than ten people are reported to have been killed in the attack. “I condemn the bombing of the Voice of Tigers radio station,” the Director-General declared, “regardless of the content of the broadcasts aired by the Voice of Tigers, there can be no excuse for military strikes on civilian media."
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Colombo lacks sincerity in investigating Fr. Jim Brown's disappearance - Jaffna Bishop

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 December 2007, 12:05 GMT]
The Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundranayagam, who is on a mission to Vanni, on Sunday said that the manner in which Colombo was handling the investigation on the disappearance of Rev. Fr. Jim Brown, seemed like an eyewash exercise without any sincerity, being conducted to "hoodwink the International Community" into believing that investigation was continuing. "Two weeks ago, a CID officer from Colombo came to meet me. He only knew Sinhala. I was shocked to realize how he could conduct investigations without working knowledge in Tamil and English to collect evidence on the disappearance of Fr. Brown," the Bishop said while briefing media on the prevailing situation in Jaffna.
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Six Tamils arrested in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 December 2007, 10:19 GMT]
Mannaar Police Monday around 7:00 a.m. took six Tamils including two women into custody in the bazaar area of the Mannaar town. Police alleged that the women, being detained in Mannaar police station, were members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE).
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Claymore attack kills SLA trooper, injures 2 in Vadamaraadchchi

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 December 2007, 05:23 GMT]
Unidentified persons triggered a Claymore device Saturday around 8:00 p.m at Oo’ra’ni area in Valveddiththu’rai killing one Sri Lanka Army (SLA) trooper and seriously injuring two in an attack on a convoy of SLA vehicles passing through. The device, hidden along the route to Palaali SLA Head Quarters through Valvai and Achchuveali near an SLA camp, was activated by the attackers.
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Armed robberies escalate in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 December 2007, 01:21 GMT]
Armed robberies of homes in Tamil areas of Naavatkudaa and Aarayampathi in Kaaththaankudi police division by unidentified gangs have escalated according to the number of complaints lodged by the village residents at Kaaththaankudi Police station, police said.
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Moothoor aid workers massacre inquiry put off for January 23

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 December 2007, 18:22 GMT]
The Anuradhapura Magistrate Wasantha Jinadasa Wednesday directed the Criminal Investigation Department of the Sri Lankan Police to send the T-56 assault rifles of five home guards, who were in the Moothoor police station on the day when seventeen aid workers of the French NGO Internationale Contre la Faim (ACF) were shot dead last year, to be sent to the Government Analyst for examination. Earlier, the International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) and the ACF had questioned the credibility of ballistic examinations without an international observer.
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Central Bank instructs banks to monitor withdrawals

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 December 2007, 17:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Central Bank has instructed all state and private banks to maintain strict monitoring on persons withdrawing large sums of money or receiving large deposits from overseas. The Central Bank has issued this directive under the Suppression of Terrorism Financing, Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Transaction Reporting Acts.
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No military solution to Sri Lanka's conflict, say India-EU

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 December 2007, 13:49 GMT]
"There is no military solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. A negotiated, political settlement, acceptable to all communities within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, is the goal that all international efforts should encourage," said a joint statement issued after the eighth India-European Union Summit held in Delhi on 30 November 2007.
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SLA, SLN conduct joint war rehearsals in Jaffna seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 December 2007, 01:56 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) sailors from Karaingar Naval base and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers stationed along the coastal areas, jointly conducted war exercises in the seas off the coast of Jaffna peninsula in Pannai, Araalai, and Karainagar areas since Saturday night up to Sunday morning, civil sources in Jaffna said. However, the SLA dismissed the threats insisting that the military activities were routine exercises.
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Muslims appeal to Rajapaksa to address community grievances

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 December 2007, 00:02 GMT]
Mosques Federation of Eastern province, during a meeting held by the Federation in Polannaruwa Friday, appealed to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take immediate steps to address dangers faced by the Muslim community, sources in the eastern province said.
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Youth shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 December 2007, 17:14 GMT]
Two unidentified men riding a motorcycle shot at a youth riding a bicycle along Ka'luthaavalai Koyil road, Ka'luthaavalai in Batticaloa District, Saturday afternoon 12:30 p.m., and fled from the scene. The critically wounded youth was rushed to Ka’luvaagnchikkudi District hospital where he llater succumbed to the injuries, Ka’luvaagnchikkudi police said.
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SL Supreme Court fixes inquiry into petitions challenging the CFA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 December 2007, 13:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court Friday fixed the inquiry for March 10 next year into the petitions filed by the Sinhala extreme nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya (SJS) challenging the legality of the ceasefire agreement signed by the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremasinghe and Velupillai Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on 22 February 2002.
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Sri Lankan forces arrest 1,500 Tamils in South, detention camps overcrowded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 December 2007, 12:25 GMT]
Sri Lankan armed forces have arrested around 1,500 Tamil men and women in wide scale cordon and search operations within the last 48 hours in Colombo and other districts in South, Tamil parliamentarians told media in Colombo on Sunday. 351 of the arrested persons in Colombo, currently detained at Boosa detention camp, complained that many of them were arrested despite documenting their identity and that they have not been provided proper food and drink for the last 48 hours. 51 of the detainees, at Boosa, were females.
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Inquiry into FR petition against forceful eviction fixed for March 10

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 December 2007, 10:13 GMT]
Three-member bench of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court this week fixed the inquiry into the fundamental rights petition filed in the forceful eviction of Tamils from lodges in Colombo for March 10 as the counsel for the petitioner agreed to consider the suggestion by the court to come to a compromise as the Sri Lankan Prime Minister had tendered an apology, legal sources said.
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SC fixes inquiry into Sunday Leader journalist FR petition

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 December 2007, 10:09 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court Thursday granted leave to Tamil journalist Arthur Wamanan to proceed with his fundamental rights violation petition filed last week against his arrest and illegal detention by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police on a verbal complaint by a minister in the government led by SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Arthur Wamanan is a journalist working in the Sunday Leader, English Weekly.
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Police arrests 4 Up-Country Tamil women

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 December 2007, 08:19 GMT]
Sri Lankan police took into custody four young women, all natives of Hatton town in the Nuwara Eliya district of Central Province, at a suburb of Matale district, located in the same province, Thursday morning. The Police alleged that the Tamil women had failed to provide valid reason for their stay at Ukuwela in Matale and that they had failed to prove their identity.
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