SL forces tighten security in government controlled territory in NE

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 November 2008, 12:28 GMT]
Sri Lankan forces have beefed up military deployment in Northern and Eastern provinces controlled by their troops, prior to Tamileelam Heroes Day remembrance by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on November 27. All vehicles passing through the checkpoints of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Mannaar, Vavuniyaa, and Trincomalee are being thoroughly checked and people are questioned on the purpose of their travel.
Full story >>

14 Tamils arrested in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 November 2008, 16:08 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army and police Saturday took fourteen Tamil civilians into custody in a lightning cordon and search operation conducted covering Obeyasekara area in Rajagiriya division in Colombo. The operation commenced early morning around 3:00 a.m. Majority of them arrested are residents of north and east and other upcountry Tamils and had been working several business establishments and staying lodges, according to police sources.
Full story >>

Civilians in Vanni protest against Colombo's use of humanitarian supplies as tool of war

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 November 2008, 16:07 GMT]
People in Vanni marched in thousands towards two Government Agents' offices and two Divisional Secretariat offices in four locations on Friday protesting against Sri Lanka Government's restrictions on food and essential supplies, blaming Colombo for using humanitarian supplies as a tool of war to force civilians to flee against their will into the hands of Sri Lanka Army (SLA). K. Mahethevan, a representative of Vanni Peoples Welfare Organisation (VPWO), addressing more than 5,000 protesters in front of Ki'linochchi Government Agent's office at Tharmapuram described how the supplies were reduced from 600 lorries per month in 2007 to 250 lorries per month in 2008, but only 54 have allowed to cross into Vanni in the recent days.
Full story >>

SLA blocks 200 people, key officials, from entering Vanni at Oamanthai

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 November 2008, 10:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Oamanthai, while allowing 56 lorries carrying humanitarian supplies to enter Vanni, denied entry to more than 200 people including Ki'linochchi Regional Director of Health Services, Zonal Education Directors of Ki'linochchi and Mullaiththeevu, 15 school principals of both districts, Peoples’ Bank manager of Mullaiththeevu and four ambulances carrying 50 patients who were discharged from Vavuniyaa hospital after treatment to enter Vanni. When the stranded officials questioned if people are allowed to enter to Vavuniyaa this week as to why they were not allowed, the ICRC has informed the officials that they have not got clearance to be manned at Oamanthai.
Full story >>

2 STF commandos killed, 2 injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 November 2008, 22:58 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched an attack on the Special Task Force (STF) sentry post located in Koappaave'li in Karadiyanaa'ru police division in Batticaloa district Thursday around 9:30 a.m, killing two STF commandos and seriously injuring two.
Full story >>

11 Tamil civilians arrested in Gampaha

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 November 2008, 17:24 GMT]
The Sri Lankan police assisted by home guards began a dusk to dawn cordon and search operation in Gampaha town on Wednesday, concluding the operation on Thursday arresting 37 persons. Of them eleven were Tamils working in commercial establishments and other institutions. Majority of them were from of north, east and upcountry. About ten thousand persons were subjected to interrogation and about one thousand vehicles were also searched during the operation, civil sources said.
Full story >>

ICRC facilitation of Oamanthai crossing ad-hoc

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 November 2008, 12:39 GMT]
The ICRC's presence at the Oamanthai crossing point has been temporarily suspended since 18 November, as the organization could not obtain all necessary guarantees for the safe passage of civilians and goods, the organisation said in a press statement issued from Colombo. "Despite its lack of sustained presence at Omanthai, on 19 November, the ICRC staff managed to facilitate the ad-hoc passage of 24 patients from the Vanni seeking treatment in Vavuniya General Hospital and the transfer of 18 bodies of fallen fighters," the ICRC said adding that the ICRC was discussing new crossing-point arrangements with government and LTTE.
Full story >>

Rajapaksa's three-pronged strategy

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 November 2008, 01:47 GMT]
While celebrating its military achievements, Colombo is secretly prodded on an alternative game. Mahinda Rajapaksa is upto a three-pronged strategy now: limiting LTTE's jurisdiction with a low-profiled war, coercing Tamil political circles for his plans and conducting snap polls. A superficial solution is on the cards through Mahinda-Manmohan protocol. Unity and vigilance of Tamil Nadu are the need of the hour for countering any sabotage of the national cause of Eezham Tamils, writes TamilNet's Special Correspondent in a Situation Report.
Full story >>

SLN arrests 17 Tamil Nadu fishermen in Analaitheevu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 November 2008, 15:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) arrested 17 Tamil Nadu fishermen in 5 boats Monday night for allegedly trespassing into Sri Lankan waters in the islet of Analaitheevu. Meanwhile, 17 civilians from Paranthan area fleeing from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) artillery attacks and Sri Lanka Air force (SLAF) reached the shore in Thenmaraadchi crossing Jafffna lagoon Monday were arrested by the Sri Lankan troops in the coastal sentry points.
Full story >>

20 civilians arrested in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 November 2008, 14:34 GMT]
Twenty Tamil civilians were arrested in a cordon and search operation conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Sri Lanka Police located in Eechchantheevu area in Vavu'natheevu police division in Batticaloa district on Tuesday from early morning around 5:30 a.m. The arrested are being held in the Vavu'natheevu police station
Full story >>

3 Karuna associates in Thirukkoayil disappear with arms

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 18:51 GMT]
Three cadres of the paramilitary group led by Karuna stationed in Thirukkoayil police division in Ampaarai district have gone into hiding with arms since Monday night, according to complaints lodged with the Thirukovil Police. The absconders are said to be close associates of Iniyabarathy, TMVP co-coordinator for Ampaarai district, and the co-ordinating secretary to President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Full story >>

25 Tamil civilians arrested in Thirukkoayil

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 18:42 GMT]
Twenty five Tamil civilians between the ages 16 to 30 were arrested in a cordon and search operation conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Police stationed in kaagnchirangkudaa camp for about an hour on Monday night from 7:00 p.m. in Vinayakapuram area in Thirukkoayil police division in Ampaarai district.
Full story >>

27 Tamil civilians arrested in Gampaha

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 16:09 GMT]
Twenty seven Tamil civilians, including upcountry and north and east residents, majority of them employed in business establishments and other institutions, were taken into custody in a cordon and search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the police from dusk of Monday dawn on Tuesday in the Gampaha town, according to police sources. The arrested are being held in the Gampaha police station for further inquiry as they failed to prove their identity and provide satisfactory reason for their stay in the location, police said.
Full story >>

SLA Claymore attack kills 3 Tamil civilians in Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 11:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit triggered a Claymore mine targeting a civilian vehicle killing a 12-year-old boy, his 53-year-old father and a 34-year-old man on the spot at Channasip-Paranthan, 5 km north of Pu'liyangku'lam on Pu'liyangku'lam Nedungkea'ni Road Tuesday morning around 8:45, Tamileelam Police said. The mother and the driver of the vehicle were seriously wounded and rushed to Mullaiththeevu hospital. The vehicle was returning to Vavuniyaa after delivering weekly newspapers to Vanni.
Full story >>

Students of JNU voice for Tamil Eelam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 02:14 GMT]
The Democratic Students' Union (DSU), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in a statement on Sunday demanded unconditional declaration of ceasefire from the Sri Lanka government and a stop to the genocide of Tamils. Based on Marxist-Leninist principles of self-determination, it called for support to the Eezham Tamil independence.
Full story >>

2 students, civilian abducted, another reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 November 2008, 21:19 GMT]
Unidentified armed men on motor cycles abducted three persons including two school students Friday and Saturday in three different places in Jaffna peninsula. Meanwhile, a family man living in Ka’ranavaay in Vadamaraadchi is reported missing since 12 November after leaving home, according to the complaint lodged by his wife to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office.
Full story >>

SLA shells hit IDP settlements in Vadamaraadchi East

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 November 2008, 18:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired around 100 artillery shells on IDP settlements of Uduththu'rai, Vaththiraayan, Kaddaikkaadu and Vettilaikkea'ni in Vadamaraadchi East in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Jaffna district Monday from 1:00 p.m. till 6:40 p.m.
Full story >>

SLA artillery barrage kills civilian in Paranthan, 6 wounded

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 November 2008, 14:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched an intensive artillery barrage targeting all the roads from Paranthan junction from 2:35 p.m. on Monday, killing a 24-year-old youth in front of Paranthan St. Antony's Church and causing injuries to six, including two elderly men, in the town. Two sisters were severely wounded and were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of the Tharmapuram hospital. The narrow streets of the town were full of people while the SLA barrage hit the town. More than 750 civilians including school children, government employees, cooperative workers, traders and customers sought refuge on the ground during the attack. A mother who fled the artillery attack with her family narrated the scene to TamilNet correspondent.
Full story >>

Tigers repulse SLA in North, SLA targets Maangku'lam

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 November 2008, 12:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched another offensive push for the third consecutive day from Jaffna Monday morning. 8 SLA soldiers were killed and 29 wounded when the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) put up stiff resistance from 5:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m., thwarting a three frontal attack by the SLA on LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Mukamaalai, Ka'ndal and Ki'laai, the Tigers said. Meanwhile, the SLA which claimed its forces entered Kumizhamunai near Naayaa'ru lagoon south of A'lampil in Mullaiththeevu district, on Monday said its forces from Vannivi'laangkulam were attempting to occupy Maangku'lam on A9.
Full story >>

Medical staff in Batticaloa hospital protest slaying of Sinhala doctor

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 November 2008, 08:35 GMT]
Sri Lankan Police was making arrangements to provide security to the Sinhala doctors at the Batticaloa hospital as medical staff of the hospital took to the streets Monday morning protesting against the killing of a doctor, a Sinhalese, at Naavatkudaa in Vavu'natheevu. Initial reports said 65 Sinhala doctors, including trainees at the Teaching hospital and those who were deployed in RDHS hospitals in recently resettled areas, would be provided security. Meanwhile, all the Sinhala medical staff working in recently resettled remote areas of Batticaloa district, were moving to Batticaloa Teaching hospital until their safety is secured, medical authorities said.
Full story >>