Nedumaran releases book on LTTE leader

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 April 2012, 18:30 GMT]
The much anticipated ‘Pirapaharan – Tamizhar Ezhuchchiyin Vadivam’ (Pirapaharan - The Embodiment of Tamils’ Struggle) written by veteran Tamil Nadu political activist Pazha Nedumaran was released in Chennai on Friday at PT Thiyagaraja Hall. Published by Tamizhk-kulam Pathippaalayam, this book, of 1223 pages and illustrated with 32 pages of photographs some of which are hitherto unpublished, contains handwritten letters of Mr. Pirapaharan and includes important personal conversations with the author, that throw light on the deep philosophy of the LTTE leader. Along with CPI stalwart Mahendran’s book ‘Veezhveanen’ru ninaiththaayoa’, this book written by a long time supporter of the Eezham Tamils’ struggle will join the series of must-read literature written by Tamil Nadu activists on the struggle for Tamil Eelam, for Tamils everywhere, Tamil literary circles in Chennai said.
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MIA writes theme music for Assange's Russian talk show

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 April 2012, 01:58 GMT]
Music industry reports say Maya Arulpragasam (popularly known as MIA), the Jaffna born music phenom, has written the theme music for the new talk show hosted by Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder to debut on Tuesday on the Russian network. "Mr. Assange has taped 12 episodes of the show, “The World Tomorrow,” according to the statement, with “an eclectic range of guests, who are stamping their mark on the future: politicians, revolutionaries, intellectuals, artists and visionaries,” according to the press release posted in the Wikileaks website.
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Rajapaksa's blithe contempt for world opinion: Paper

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2012, 21:48 GMT]
Pointing out that in Sri Lanka "[t]he rule of law continues to be set aside. A huge military machine is yet to be stood down. Glaring war crimes remain to be investigated. Tamils are treated as a subjugated people. Emergency security measures continue, turned against Rajapaksa's critics even among the Sinhala majority," Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) wondered that, "if Sinhala majority are not protected by law, what hope do Tamils have?"
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Resettled Tamils threatened in Ampaa'rai - Batticaloa border, girl kidnapped

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 April 2012, 18:25 GMT]
Around one hundred and fifty uprooted Tamil families of Chinna-vaddai, a village situated in the Poara-theevup-pattu division of Batticaloa district, bordering Uhuna village of Ampaa'rai district, complain that they are being harassed by the Sinhala paramilitary personnel and settlers, who have occupied their village for 22 years, since 1990. A Sinhala electricity worker, who came to the village from Kurunegala two weeks ago, abducted a 17-year-old Tamil girl forcing her to marry him, complain the family of the girl and her relatives. In the meantime, the Sinhala paramilitary men of the ‘Civil Defence Force’ have been harassing the Tamil families, who have recently resettled in the village. The CDF men are plundering fish and vegetables belonging to returnees at gunpoint and are warning the Tamils to vacate the village.
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SL military steps up harassment on resettled Tamils in Poonakari

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2012, 16:29 GMT]
The occupying Sri Lankan military in Vanni has stepped up harassment on resettled civilians in Poonakari and in the adjoining coastal areas, news sources in Poonakari told TamilNet Thursday. Recently, Sri Lanka Navy has taken over the occupation of the strategically located coastal stretch from the SL Army and has imposed strict ‘pass’ regulations on fishing in the seas, Tamil fishermen complain. Southern intruders with the backing of occupying military are also forcing people to sell their lands following recent reports that the Colombo establishment was planning to invite China to build an airport of international standard at Poonakari to balance India’s projects centring around KKS harbour and Palaali airport in the northern coast of Jaffna Peninsula.
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Tamil Nadu ruling party withdraws from Delhi's Sri Lanka tour

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2012, 09:28 GMT]
Preempting the joint agenda of Colombo and New Delhi that seek to project a positive image of Genocidal Colombo among the Indian public, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday pulled out AIADMK Rajya Sabha parliamentarian Rabi Bernard who was to take part in a parliamentary delegation, scheduled to visit the island in the coming week to inspect the condition of Eezham Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka after the war. The reaction from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister comes following the itinerary of the visit has been produced by the Indian External Affairs Ministry in collusion with the Sri Lankan counter-part, favoring the Sri Lankan State and excluding a free and fair way of inspecting and debating the post-war policies of the SL state. Ms. Jayalalithaa also blamed the Centre for having watered down the US resolution at the recent UNHRC sessions in Geneva.
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GTYL Conference calls for international mechanism to secure justice for Tamils

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2012, 04:52 GMT]
The second annual conference of the Global Tamil Youth League held on 7th and 8th April in the UK passed resolutions calling for an independent, international accountability mechanism into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Sri Lankan state and to advocate against the genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation. Emphasising that Tamil sovereignty is the only meaningful expression of self-determination for the Tamil nation in their historic homeland and the only guarantee against genocide, Krisna Saravanamuttu of the NCCT, a participant in the conference, told TamilNet "At a time when powers are trying to manipulate the diaspora to arrive at a settlement within a unitary Sri Lanka, the Tamil Sovereignty Cognition declaration provides a principled ideological and conceptual reference point for Eezham Tamil youth across the world in our struggle for national liberation."
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The Hindu envisages India building business over Tamil genocide

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 April 2012, 03:59 GMT]
“Sri Lanka's desire to stamp out separatism is more than understandable, it is welcome,” even though its approach results in “undesirable, though unintended, side effects,” said The Hindu’s Business Line, Monday. Debating whether or not Indian vote at UNHRC would end ethnic discrimination achieves nothing. The key take away is that there is at least a perception of ethnic discrimination. “The [SL] government seems to be diverting all its energy and resources to economic development. This, from India's perspective, is great, because 20 million prosperous people in the neighbourhood is a big market for India […] There is only way for India to make use of Sri Lanka's economic development and also exert influence over it to end any ethnic discrimination” the feature said ignoring the gravity of genocide committed with Indian complicity and the on-going structural genocide in full swing.
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State pays remuneration to monks in select areas of North and East

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 10 April 2012, 23:15 GMT]
Buddhist monks in select temples facing economic difficulties in the North and East and in other areas are paid a subsistence amount by the state in Sri Lanka, revealed The Sunday Times last Sunday, in the context of a question put in Colombo’s parliament by a UNP member and the reply of Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and Buddha Sasana Minister, DM Jayaratna. The UNP member for Kurunegala, Jayawickrema Perera wanted to increase the amount to Rs 5000 per month to temples facing hardships. Sri Lanka has 42,803 novices and 16,538 higher monks registered under its Buddhist Affairs department, while the number of registered Buddhist temples stand at 9,654.
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Colonial Governor closes down computer section of Jaffna Public Library

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2012, 23:48 GMT]
Occupying Sri Lanka's Governor of North and war crimes accused former SL commander of Jaffna, Major General (retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri, has instructed the Jaffna Municipal Council administration to immediately remove the computer section at the Jaffna Public Library, used by the readers of the library for viewing electronic documents, to construct a modern toilet there for the benefit of the visitors from the South. CVK Sivagnanam of the Council of NGOs in Jaffna District has sent an urgent letter to SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene and stop the destructive move. Talking to media, Mr. Sivagnanam on Monday warned to wage a campaign if the move is not abandoned by timely intervention. The news has already upset the wider community of the Eezham Tamils in the district, the veteran civil and political activist further said.
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Colombo builds Sinhala cantonment in Maathakal

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 April 2012, 05:15 GMT]
Genocidal Sri Lanka, which poses Thiruvadi-nilai area of Maathakal, the north-western tip of the Jaffna Peninsula as a ‘Sacred Zone’ of the Sinhala-Buddhists, is now engaged in constructing permanent quarters for the occupying Sri Lanka Navy in the lands of uprooted Tamils who are denied access to their land that had gone under SL military declared High Security Zone 20 years back, news sources in Jaffna said. The families of SL Navy personnel will be provided these quarters, establishing a permanent Sinhala military colony 200 meters from Thiruvadi-nilai in the close vicinity of the Buddhist Stupa erected in 2009. The way the structural genocide is escalating, especially after the Geneva resolution, has made many Eezham Tamils to lose faith in the intentions of the USA and India that have never done anything to check the post-war crimes of the Sri Lankan state.
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ACF plaintiff encouraged by French Embassy's push for probe

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 April 2012, 18:02 GMT]
Kalaichelvi Lavan, whose ex-husband was killed in the execution-style slaying of 17 aid workers from the French NGO, Ac in the northeastern town of Moothoor on August 4, 2006, and who is currently settled in Florida, said she was encouraged by the French Ambassador's meeting with Sri Lanka's Attorney General to discuss the status of the investigations into the crime, and that she hopes the French officials follow the investigations in every step to ensure that the investigations comply with international standards and the killers of her ex-husband are identified.
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SL military conducts search operations in Trincomalee, 10 Tamils detained

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2012, 09:52 GMT]
At least ten Tamils have been taken into custody by the occupying Sri Lanka Army and SL Police in cordon and search operations in Trincomalee district on Friday. The victims, detained by the SL Army include uprooted persons recently returned from Tamil Nadu and former LTTE cadres ‘rehabilitated’ and released by the SLA. Villagers from remote areas of the district said that around 600 to 700 members of SL Army and SL Police were involved the house-to-house search operations and that they took the males for interrogation to their camps in the presence of their wives and children.
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U.S. report: a contradicting confluence of politics, international law

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 April 2012, 08:02 GMT]
In the recently released factual supplement on the violations of international law in Sri Lanka's conflict, the US State Department Office of Global Criminal Justice (GCJ) exposes the defects in the investigations into the crimes reported by the Sri Lanka's President appointed LLRC and the deviations in the LLRC report with reference to the report by the UN's Panel of Experts (PoE). However, Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), an activist group in the US, expressing concern for the damaging impact of the report to Tamil justice, said, "the deficiency in the fundamental framework of reference articulated in the key sections of "accountability" and the "legal framework" will seriously undermine justice for the victims who were subjected to the 'crime of the 21st century' where the Sri Lanka state stands accused of killing more than 40,000 Tamil civilians."
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Boyle compares Syria action, dismisses UNHRC resolution as a "fraud"

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2012, 23:53 GMT]
Dismissing the US sponsored United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution as "a fraud," Professor Francis Boyle, an expert in international law, said, "if the US were serious about Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Tamils, US would have done something like it did to Syria this week." The U.S. State Department established a Clearinghouse on Syria and provided $1.25m to assist to "collect, collate, analyze, and securely store evidence, documentation, and other information concerning human rights abuses and violations, while protecting witnesses and sources."
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Gandhi, Vipulananda, Poet Periyathampi, Baden-Powell desecrated in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2012, 07:27 GMT]
The statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vipulananda, Pulavarma'ni Periyathampi-pi'l'lai and Baden-Powell revered by Eezham Tamils in the heart of Batticaloa city have been desecrated and destroyed in the early hours of Friday. The statues of Gandhi and the founder of Scout Movement Robert Baden-Powell are located near the clock tower in the city centre. Renowned Tamil scholar and Hindu reformer Swami Vipulananda and Tamil Poet Pulavarma'ni Periyathampi Pi'l'lai, both were born in the Eastern Province. All the four statues are located within the perimeters of the high security area manned by the SL Police and the SL Army in the city. The latest desecration of statues comes as a result of anti-Indian and anti-western sentiments shown by the occupying Sinhala forces in the East, political observers said.
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UK accused of permitting alleged war-criminal to escape prosecution

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 April 2012, 03:02 GMT]
Questions have been raised over the failure of the British Foreign Office to investigate Prasanna de Silva, ex-Sri Lanka army general alleged to be complicit in war-crimes, as reports emerged that the Mr Silva's return to Sri Lanka is imminent, sources in London said. European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) assisted by Society for Threatened Peoples Switzerland, and TRIAL, submitted to the British Foreign Office in January 2012, a 28-page dossier on the alleged involvement of De Silva in war crimes committed during the last months of the Sri Lankan civil war. The dossier is widely believed to be the reason for De Silva's war crimes predicament, according to political observers in UK.
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Buddhist Stupa to become ‘cultural landmark’ of Jaffna harbour

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2012, 21:30 GMT]
A massive Buddhist Stupa that is being constructed at the Beach Road of Jaffna harbour by the occupying Sinhala military will be the new ‘cultural landmark’ of Jaffna city for vessels coming towards its harbour. The Stupa with pre-fabricated parts and statues, brought from the South, is being built day and night by the Sinhala soldiers. The Stupa is built in the locality of a Saivite Amman temple, between Jaffna Fort and Kurunakar, known as Aluppaanthi, meaning the wharf of the harbour. Many more Buddhist Stupas are hurriedly constructed by the SL military and one of them with extensive residential facilities is going to be just in front of the Jaffna Railway Station. During the liberation war, colonial Sri Lanka constructed a huge Buddha statue overlooking Trincomalee to give a Sinhala Buddhist cultural image to the world-renowned harbour of Eezham Tamils in the East.
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Kohona under AFP spotlight over war-crime charges

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 April 2012, 00:11 GMT]
Australian Federal Police (AFP) have said that they will evaluate a document submitted by the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations (AFTA) charging Palitha Kohona, an Australian citizen and currently Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, over alleged war-crimes. AFP said in a letter AFTA that the referral was from the Minister for Justice, Jason Clare as a result of a correspondence to Michele Rowland, MP by AFTA.
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SL Army restricts NGO movement in Batticaloa district

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 April 2012, 18:57 GMT]
The occupying Sri Lanka Army has imposed restrictions on the movement of Non Governmental Organizations to Paduvaankarai from Batticaloa via Kiraan Bridge, civil sources in Batticaloa city told TamilNet Wednesday. The SLA soldiers at Kiraan Bridge are reported to have refused permission to several NGOs in recent days to travel beyond the bridge without SL Defense ministry authority. The NGO officials have been asked to obtain ‘pass’ from Welikanda SLA camp. The travel-ban on NGOs comes as SL military backed encroachment of Sinhalese is reported in the border areas of the Piratheasa Chapai (PS) divisions of Koa'ra'laip-pattu South, Vavu'na-theevu, Ea'raavoor-pattu and Chengkaladi.
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