Massive search operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 1500 soldiers from the SLA camps which dot the strategic Valaichenai junction, 30 k.m north of Batticaloa, launched a massive search operation in five Tamil villages in the area.
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LTTE condemns use of its name

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
"Some Tamil parties contesting the local government polls in Jaffna are using our name to their advantage to woo the people. We strongly condemn this. We have nothing to do with anyone contesting this election" said Veeman, the deputy leader of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers for the Jaffna district during an interview with the TamilNet correspondent.
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Civilian areas being shelled at night

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) keeps on firing mortars into the densely populated areas of Valaichenai 30 km north of Batticaloa almost every night despite the mounting civilian toll, said sources in Valaichenai.
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Government restricting medical supplies - Jaffna hospital

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The callousness of both the Sri Lankan Government and the army, has contributed to the rise in the incidence of Malaria in the Jaffna Peninsula, said hospital sources in Jaffna.
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Civilians wounded by SLA shelling

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three civilians were wounded in Valaichenai 30 km north of Batticaloa when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelled the densely populated Tamil areas of the town from the Fisheries Harbour Camp around 10 p.m. last night.
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Government cuts off Valaichenai refugee aid

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Government has stopped supplying emergency relief and food stamps to Tamil refugee families settled at Vinayagapuram in Valaichenai 30 km north of Batticaloa, said Kachcheri sources in Batticaloa.
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Batticaloa youth shot dead

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army at Morakottanchenai, about 22 kilometers north of Batticaloa, shot dead a youth this morning around 10 a.m. whom it claimed was a member of the Liberation Tigers.
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Jaffna polls to influence asylum applications - paper

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Uthayan, the only daily news paper published in Jaffna, citing embassy sources in Colombo, said that western countries are likely to expedite the processes relating to the repatriation of Tamil asylums seekers there.
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PLOTE condemns planned deportation

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The PLOTE issued a statement this weekend in Jaffna strongly opposing the deportation of Suresh manickavasagam to Sri Lanka from Canada.
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EPRLF procession draws interest

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The EPRLF went on a propaganda procession this morning around 9 a.m. with about three hundred people on bicycles in the Jaffna municipality limits. The procession was led by the EPRLF's mayoral candidate Robert who was accompanied by the group's leader Suresh Premachandran.
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Suresh's deportation postponed

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The planned deportation of the Tamil activist, Mr. Suresh Manickavasagam was postponed today following a stay order issued by the Ontario Provincial Court. The stay order was issued following last minute hearing. Mr. Suresh's deportation was scheduled for this evening.
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SLA operation in Valaichenai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army from the Valaichenai paper mill camp and the near by Naavaladi SLA camp went on a special operation Saturday morning around 6 a.m. in to the island of Naasivanthivu, Raalodai and Vettuvan, about 30 km north of Batticaloa.
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SLA strips election posters

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army cordoned and searched the Kovilkandy and Navatkuli area in Jaffna early this morning. All males between the age of 12 and 40 were taken to Navakuli church where they were screened.
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Vanni returnee shot dead

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The SLA claimed today that they shot dead a LTTE suspect and arrested another near Perumal Kovil (temple), in Jaffna, last night between 10.30 and 11.00 p.m. But sources in Jaffna said that the dead person has been identified as Velupillai Pavananthan, 27, father of 3 children.
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Tamil groups step up campaigning

[TamilNet, Sunday, 18 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A handbill asking the people to reject the Local government elections in Jaffna was widely distributed there. The handbill was issued in the name of patriots (Thesapakthar).
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Canadian court rejects stay order request

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Canadian Federal Court rejected today the appeal filed by the Lawyers acting for Suresh Manickavasagam, a tamil activist, against his planned deportation to Sri Lanka from Canada on January 19.
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Planned deportation takes toll on family, friends

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The planned deportation of Mr. Manickavasagam Suresh, a Tamil activist from Canada, is taking its toll on his friends and a family. A Catholic priest who visited Mr. Suresh suffered a heart attack whilst talking to him Thursday evening. In Britain, Suresh's family are becoming increasingly concerned as the planned date, January 19, nears.
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STF warns village residents

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil village of Puthukkudiyiruppu, about 10 kilometers south of Batticaloa was rounded up this morning by the Special Task Force.
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Candidates can't carry weapons - SLA commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Security Forces Commander for Jaffna, Major General Lionel Balagalle informed representatives of political parties fighting the forthcoming local government elections in the Jaffna Peninsula today, that no one would be allowed to carry weapons in the Peninsula till the elections are concluded, said sources in Jaffna.
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Poster pasters panic

[TamilNet, Friday, 16 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An unidentified Tamil group attempting to paste election posters at Kalvayal on the Perunkulam Road in the Chavakachcheri area in Jaffna, was chased away by armed persons suspected to be members of the Liberation Tigers this afternoon around 4.00 p.m.
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