Rights group launches campaign against attacks on Journalists in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 October 2007, 08:03 GMT]
Expressing concern on the level of prevailing impunity of the killings of media personnel in Sri Lanka, the Asian Human Rights Commission, citing 11 cases where 12 Tamil media personnel were killed since 31 May 2004 till 29 April 2007, on Tuesday urged the public to write letters to the concerned Sri Lankan authorities demanding impartial investigation in order to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. "Not a single person has been brought before the court," in the 11 cases, the AHRC noted and urged the public to forward a copy of their appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
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Torture widespread in Sri Lanka- UN

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 October 2007, 02:50 GMT]
Mr.Manfred Nowak, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Human Rights Abuse, said today that the brutal practice of torture is widespread in Sri Lanka, and “prone to become routine in the context of counter-terrorism operations,” in a press release issued Tuesday by the United Nations. Mr Nowak visited Sri Lanka during the first week of October, and held discussions with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse and other highlevel officials.
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SLA trooper killed, 2 injured in LTTE artillery attack in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 October 2007, 18:00 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched heavy artillery attack Saturday afternoon, amidst continuing rain, on key Sri Lanka Amy (SLA) bases in Va'ra'ni and Kodikaamam in Themaraadchi, killing one SLA trooper and injuring two, SLA sources said. Meanwhile, heavy exchange of gunfire erupted between LTTE and SLA Sunday around 7:45 a.m north of A9 land route at Ki'laali, but none of the their troops were injured, SLA sources added, confirming the clash.
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Did LTTE plane down SLAF helicopter?

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 October 2007, 21:53 GMT]
Whilst the Sri Lankan government has blamed engine failure for the crash of the Bell 212 last Monday, press reports Sunday raised the possibility it had been downed by a Tamil Tiger aircraft. Four airmen, including the pilots and door gunners were killed when the Bell 212, enroute to support the defence of Anuradhapura airbase which was under attack by LTTE commandos.
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Anuradhapura losses worse than Katunayake’s - Athas

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 October 2007, 21:24 GMT]
Two dozen aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) were destroyed or damaged when Black Tiger commandos stormed the Anudradhapura airbase in the early hours last Monday, the Sunday Times reports. Ten aircraft were completely destroyed while fourteen others were damaged, some beyond repair, the paper’s defence correspondent, Iqbal Athas, said in his column this week. All but three of the 27 aircraft in the base were destroyed or damaged, the paper said, publishing pictures of incinerated aircraft on the runway and in the hanger. Meanwhile press reports said India was supplying anti-aircraft guns to Sri Lanka.
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APRC on hiatus

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 October 2007, 12:56 GMT]
Despite claims by Colombo media in early August that the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) formed by Sri Lanka's President Rajapakse has met with "sudden death," amid opposition from SLFP, MEP and the JHU to the "unit of devolution" ahead of the Committee report deadline of 15 August, the APRC discussions were resurrected; the latest on the resilient APRC is that after the 51st sitting on the 23rd October, the APRC is taking a 2 month recess, reports from Colombo said. The current status: APRC is "exploring the possibility of reaching consensus among the political parties on power sharing."
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Sri Lanka knocks ABC's radio services off the air

[TamilNet, Friday, 26 October 2007, 06:31 GMT]
One of the main sources of breaking news in Sri Lanka, five FM Radio services, operated by Asian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), has been silenced by Government of Sri Lanka in the early hours of Friday, following the controversy over a news report that alleged five civilians were gunned down near Wirawila airbase, on Wednesday, in the Southern Province Hambantota district, the electorate of the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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SLA hands over two bodies to Jaffna Hospital

[TamilNet, Friday, 26 October 2007, 05:56 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday handed over two bodies of youths claimed to be Liberation Tigers Tamil Eelam (LTTE) combatants killed in a clash Thursday SLA and the LTTE at Ki'laali to Jaffna Teaching Hospital mortuary for identification by Jaffna police.
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Attack demonstrates determination, bravery, precision- Intel Expert

[TamilNet, Friday, 26 October 2007, 02:36 GMT]
While former head of India's external intelligence agency, B. Raman, described the Anuradhapura Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Camp attack by the Liberation Tigers as an "act of unbelievable determination, bravery and precision," Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror, in the Friday edition, braved the threat to the media from Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to desist from glorifying the Tigers, disclosed the battle scenario in detail, surmised that "the base had no contingency plan," and added that "the attack made mockery of Sri Lanka Government's propaganda war."
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Tributes to Black Tigers draw parallels between Anuradhapura mission and IPKF times

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 October 2007, 22:58 GMT]
While bidding farewell to the 21 Black Tigers before their departure for Anuradhapura mission, the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) leader V. Pirapaharan told them that they will remain in his heart as guiding spirits providing willpower and moral strength in steering the current struggle for liberation. He compared their sacrifices to those of Kumarapppa, Pulendran and Thileepan, which inspired him personally in his determination to face the Indian forces successfully two decades ago, said Kalaikkoan, an instructor of Lt. Col. Rayan Academy for Tiger special forces, addressing a memorial event held at Puthukkudiyiruppu Thursday.
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6 SLN killed in Tiger ambush in Hambantota

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 October 2007, 12:02 GMT]
A guerilla commando unit of Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Thursday evening ambushed a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) vehicle, a bus carrying more than 25 SLN personnel, in Thissamaharama in the Hambantota division of the southern province, killing 6 SLN personnel, LTTE military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told TamilNet. Claiming that the attack was a gunfire ambush, Mr. Ilanthirayan said 12 SLN personnel were wounded in the attack that took place at 16:35 p.m. Thissamaharama division is situated in the constituency of the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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3 civilians killed, 9 wounded in SLA shelling on IDP settlement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 October 2007, 10:07 GMT]
Three civilians, two of them belonging to a single family and an 8-months pregnant mother, were killed and nine wounded when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells hit a shelter hut in the settlement of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) at Periyamadu in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled Mannaar Thursday around 11:00 a.m. The wounded mother was struggling to give sudden birth to her child killed in her womb and the IDPs who were helping the young mother, became victims of the second wave of artillery shelling. Nine IDPs, including the 3-year-old son of the pregnant mother, a couple, their 13-year-old daughter and two other children, were wounded in the artillery attack.
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New Judicial complex opened in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 October 2007, 22:05 GMT]
The World Bank funded newly built five story Judicial Complex located in the central part of Jaffna town was officially opened Wednesday 10:55a.m. by Chief Justice (CJ) Sarath N. Silva. A high level delegation of officials including Minsterial dignitaries, and World Bank Representative in Sri Lanka arrived at Palaali airport, and were then flown by Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter to Duraiappah Stadium for participation in the opening ceremony.
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SLA reinforces security in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 October 2007, 11:39 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna assisted by police, stepped up security measures in Jaffna since Tuesday morning in preparation for the opening of the newly built five story Judicial Complex the central part of town by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva Wednesday, sources in Jaffna said. Mr Silva is to be accompanied by ministerial dignitaries and World Bank Representative in Sri Lanka.
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Sri Lanka parades fallen Tigers’ naked bodies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 October 2007, 16:10 GMT]
Sri Lanka armed forces Tuesday paraded the naked bodies of Tamil Tiger commandos killed during their devastating attack on a key northern airbase in the early hours Monday, agency reports said. Amid media coverage of the grisly scenes, the military Wednesday claimed the LTTE troopers’ bodies were stripped in order to search for “hidden suicide devices.” The Army claimed the bodies were wrapped in polythene, but photographs of the subsequent procession show the naked bodies being exposed for the public to view. The military also said Wednesday it has now buried the LTTE troopers’ bodies.
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Key spy plane amongst SLAF’s $40m losses - reports

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 October 2007, 02:17 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Air Force lost over $40m dollars worth of aircraft and equipment in the Tamil Tiger ground and air attack Monday, international press reports quoting Sri Lankan officials said. Amongst the losses was a specialized surveillance aircraft ordered by the UNP government just before its peace talks with the LTTE, the reports said.
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LTTE releases names of Black Tigers in airbase raid

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 October 2007, 19:15 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Monday night released the details of Black Tiger commandos who took part in the raid on Anuradhapura air base. Two Lieutenant Colonels, six Majors, 12 Captains and one Lieutenant rank Black Tiger members have taken part in the operation. A Lieutenant Colonel who led an attack team was from Trincomalee, two of the members, a Major and a Captain were from Batticaloa, one from Mullaiththeevu, one from Mannaar, three from Ki'linochchi and eleven members from Jaffna which has been under the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) control since 1995. Three Captains were female Black Tigers.
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Tigers claim Anuradhapura air base attack success, say 8 aircrafts destroyed

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 October 2007, 05:55 GMT]
Twenty-one elite Black Tiger commandos penetrated into the heart of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) air base in Anuradhapura at 3:20 a.m. Monday, destroyed and set ablaze eight aircrafts, including helicopter gunships, reconnaissance aircraft and a training aircraft, in a raid code named "Operation Ellaa'lan," Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan said. Air Tiger aircrafts joined the attack at 4:30 a.m., providing support in the destruction of the SLAF base, and safely returned to their bases in Vanni, the Tigers said. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan spokesman Keheliya Rambukwela said 3 helicopters were damaged, 13 airmen were killed and 18 wounded.
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Tigers launch air, ground attack on Anuradhapura air base

[TamilNet, Sunday, 21 October 2007, 23:47 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) launched an air and ground attack on Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) air base at Saliyapura in Anuradhapura in the early hours of Monday, Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told TamilNet. Meanwhile, military sources in Colombo said two Russian built MI-24 helicopter gunships have been destroyed in the attack launched between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. A pilot, his co-pilot and two engineers who took off from the air base, were killed when their Bell 212 helicopter crashed at Doramadalawa, 13 km east of Anuradhapura, in Mihintale area. An indefinite curfew has been clamped in Anuradhapura. Residents have been asked to stay indoors.
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Jaffna HSZ-located phone used for extortion threats

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 October 2007, 05:29 GMT]
Several leading businessmen, editors, and directors of newspapers in Jaffna have made complains to Human Rights Commission (HRC), Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and Jaffna magistrate, of receiving threats from a hand phone located in the High Security Zone (HSZ) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), sources in Jaffna said. The call had warned that failure to pay or reporting the matter to police or the magistrate would result in severe punishment, according to the complaints made, sources in Jaffna said.
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