HRC attends problems of Thenmaradchchi fishermen

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 July 2004, 17:11 GMT]
The Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Monday invited the Jaffna area commander of the Sri Lanka Army Major General Susil Chandrapala for a discussion on the problems confronted by fishermen of Kohilakandy in Thenamaradchchi south division in Jaffna district, fisheries societies sources said.
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SLA objects to hoisting Tiger flag

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 13 July 2004, 12:05 GMT]
Tension prevailed between the soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army and members of the public Monday evening in Vathiri area in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district over the question of hoisting Tiger flag in a public function when organizers refused to bring down the flag, residents said.
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Claymore mine recovered near Jaffna secretariat

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 July 2004, 17:21 GMT]
A live claymore mine was discovered by members of public Saturday afternoon near an abandoned Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp situated near the Jaffna district Secretariat. On receipt of information the SLA bomb disposal squad rushed to the site and removed the explosive, civil group sources said.
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HRC commences investigation into SLA harassment

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 July 2004, 18:13 GMT]
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Thursday commenced inquiry into complaints made by resident-fishermen of Kovilakandy in Thenmaradchchi division in Jaffna district against the harassment by Sri Lanka Army soldiers (SLA) located in the area, civil sources said.


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Court issues notice to SLA official

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 July 2004, 16:57 GMT]
The Chavakachcheri Magistrate Mr.P.Subramaniam Friday issued notice on the first respondent, Sri Lanka Army official Dumminda Keppetipola, in a Habeas Corpus application through SLA counsel to appear on the next date without fail. The Magistrate made this order when it was brought to his notice Mr. Dumminda Keppetipola had failed to appear in court for the last six months, legal sources said.
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LTTE releases surrendered SLA soldier in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 July 2004, 03:09 GMT]
A soldier of the Sri Lanka Army who surrendered to the Liberation Tigers in Jaffna on Tuesday was handed back to the SLA by the LTTE through the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the Human Rights Commission, reports from Jaffna said.
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Fishermen say soldiers stealing catch

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 July 2004, 19:34 GMT]
Fishermen in the garrisoned coast of Jaffna's Thenmaradchi division Tuesday complained to Jaffna Sri Lankan security forces commander that his soldiers were stealing valuable lobsters and cuttlefish from traps they lay near the shore in the shallow waters of the lagoon. The Jaffna SF commander Maj. Gen. Susil Chandrapala visited some garrisoned coastal villages of Thenmaradchi Tuesday morning.
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Talks prospect dim, sustaining CFA uncertain - Elilan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 04 July 2004, 15:54 GMT]
Mr.C. Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Saturday that recent talks between Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Norwegian facilitator Mr. Erik Solheim gave no indication that the stalled peace process would resume in the near future. "Instead sustaining the current envioronment of peace is becoming uncertain," said Mr.Elilan addressing the 'Sangamam' event organized by the Thamileelam Resurgence Forum in Nilaveli, about 8 km off north of eastern port town Saturday.
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MP highlights woes of garrisoned island

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 July 2004, 10:32 GMT]
Three hundred families living in Mandaitheevu are still suffering without basic ameneties and ready access to drinking water despite two years of peace and promises by Sri Lankan military authorities to ease their burden, an MP who visited the area told TamilNet Friday. Mandaitheevu is an island south of Jaffna town heavily garrisoned by the Sri Lanka Navy since 1990.
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SLA stops Elilan at checkpoint from visiting Pulmoddai

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 July 2004, 10:14 GMT]
Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Friday lodged a complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in the east port town that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers stationed at the north of the district had prevented him from going to Pulmoddai village to carryout political work on Thursday, sources said.


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The cease-fire’s weakest link: Tamil paramilitaries

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 17:50 GMT]
When Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim flew into Sri Lanka this week, he was well aware that the problems that have bedeviled his government’s peace process thus far have now been eclipsed by new and far more severe one: a weak link in the formal ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers has finally snapped.
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Seven Karuna-cadres apprehended

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 June 2004, 02:05 GMT]
Batticaloa-Amparai district secretariat of the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) said today that they have arrested seven cadres belonging to renegade Karuna group who were working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Intelligence, media sources said.
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Major fire at Sri Lanka govt. press

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 2004, 13:27 GMT]
A major fire broke out at the Sri Lanka Government Printers in Colombo Saturday evening. Fire fighters were struggling to put out the fire and bring the situation under control, Police said. "We are not sure whether it is sabotage or an accident," a Police source in Colombo said.
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Batticaloa turns nightmare for local journalists

[TamilNet, Saturday, 26 June 2004, 10:28 GMT]
A journalist in Batticaloa went into hiding Friday, fearing for his life after persons suspected to be members of a paramilitary group working with the Sri Lankan military intelligence threatened him with death, family members told TamilNet. The journalist, Mr. Thanthiyan Vedanayagam, was working as the Batticaloa correspondent for the independent Tamil daily ‘Thinakkural’. Two journalists fled the eastern town earlier this month after they too were threatened with death by persons suspected to be members of a paramilitary group working with the Sri Lankan military intelligence.
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Norway persists as stalemate deepens

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 June 2004, 01:04 GMT]
The stalemate in Sri Lanka’s peace process continued this week, and even as Norwegian diplomats vowed to continue their shuttle diplomacy, President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government hardened its stance on the agenda for talks.


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Mannar town paralyzed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 June 2004, 04:54 GMT]
Normal life of Mannar town was completely paralyzed Tuesday when civil groups launched one day general shut down (hartal) protesting against the assault on civilians by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Monday evening.
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Mannar tense following SLA interrogation of LTTE activists

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 June 2004, 13:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army soldiers manning the checkpoint at the entrance to the Mannar town Monday afternoon at about 1.30 p.m. stopped two leading political activists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Ms V.Nilavarasi, Mannar District Political Head of Women's wing and her deputy Ms Kavimani and subjected them to severe interrogation when they arrived from LTTE controlled Vattakandal area.
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SLA - fishermen clash in Katkovalam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 June 2004, 14:41 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Saturday did not allow hundreds of fishermen of coastal village, Katkovalam in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district to go for fishing following an altercation between a soldier and a fisherman, civil sources said.
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LTTE Senior political cadre assaulted by SLA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 June 2004, 15:33 GMT]
Head of the LTTE’s political wing for the Puthukkulam area in Vavuniya district, Mr. Alakarasan , was assaulted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, Wednesday morning , sources in Vavuniya said.
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Donors warn Sri Lanka on peace process, economic reforms

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 June 2004, 11:06 GMT]
Following their meeting in Brussels Tuesday, the co-chairs of aid donors to Sri Lanka issued a statement warning the Colombo government that there should be "no drift and no delay in resuming and taking forward the peace process" and pointing out that "the peace process and the development process are mutually reinforcing and interlinked." The co-chairs called for "the establishment of effective delivery mechanisms for donor-financed development activities in the North and East."
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