Trader abducted, goldsmith seeks protection with HRC, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 2008, 12:17 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in civil clothes arriving on motorbikes, forcibly abducted a trader from his shop Tuesday around 11:00 a.m at Navaali in Valikaamam, according to the complaint registered by his wife with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old goldsmith from Kachchaay in Thenmaraadchi sought protection with HRC Jaffna office due to death threat by Sri Lanka Army (SLA), according to his written complaint lodged with HRC.
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British, Norway ambassadors visit Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 09 October 2008, 10:46 GMT]
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr. Peter Hayes, and Norway's Ambassador Tore Hattrem accompanied by UNHCR residential representative in Colombo, were on a visit to Jaffna Wednesday. The emissaries met Jaffna Appeal Court Magistrate R. T.Vignarajah around 4:30 p.m. and discussed the humanitarian as well as the general security concerns of the civilians. Meanwhile, informed sources in Jaffna told TamilNet that the Sri Lankan Defense Ministry had initially declined permission for the delegation to visit Jaffna Prison and Kurunakar Special Rehabilitation Centre where civilians seeking protection from the threat of the SLA and paramilitaries are placed in protective custody.
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Tortured trustee board president, 2 members, admitted to Jaffna Hospital

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 October 2008, 15:32 GMT]
The president and two members of Chee'ra'ni Amman Temple arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, in the cordon and search launched in the temple following the Maasiyappiddi attack seriously injuring three soldiers, have been admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital with injuries due to torture, hospital sources said. The three elderly persons were admitted to the hospital five days ago.
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Eezham Tamils not abandoned by Tamil Nadu, says LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 October 2008, 13:55 GMT]
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Eelam Tamils for the solidarity shown by the leaders and the masses of Tamil Nadu, the Political Division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), in a statement on Wednesday said that Tamils, who are facing an onslaught by the indiscriminate shelling and bombardment by the Sri Lankan forces, are inspired by the expression of solidarity from Tamil Nadu.
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Jaffna court allows bail for University student to sit final exam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 October 2008, 16:10 GMT]
Jaffna magistrate court allowed cash bail for a Jaffna University, Agricultural Final year student arrested by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the search conducted Thursday following the attack on SLA soldiers guarding the electricity transformer in Kokkuvil, Jaffna, so that he could appear for his examination Monday, sources in Jaffna said. The student had filed a petition seeking bail in Jaffna courts, and Jaffna police who produced him and two others before Jaffna magistrate Monday said they have no objection to the three arrestees being granted bail.
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900 million USD in World Bank aid for Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 October 2008, 14:52 GMT]
The World Bank will give Sri Lanka 900 million dollars in aid under its new four-year country assistance strategy aimed at achieving "more balanced and equitable growth" press reports said. World Bank country director Naoko Ishii said one of the aims of the country assistance strategy (CAS) aid to the island riven by protracted ethnic conflict is to expand economic opportunities in "lagging regions" in the interests of "inclusive and equitable" economic development, reports said.
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62 SLA soldiers killed in 3 fronts in Vanni - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 October 2008, 10:45 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials in Vanni told media that their defensive formations put up stiff resistance against the SLA offensive units that attempted to advance on three fronts in southern Ki'linochchi district from 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday. 26 SLA soldiers were killed in Akkaraayan - Mu'rika'ndi sector, 16 in Vanni Vizhaangku'lam and 20 in Vannearikku'lam. The SLA offensive units were pushed back in all three fronts the Tigers said claiming that 49 SLA soldiers were wounded in Akkaraayan and 23 in Vanni Vizhaangku'lam. The Tigers also claimed to have seized arms and ammunition in the clearing mission in the evening.
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Bomb attack on Bus in Vanni, 3 killed, 6 wounded

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 18:27 GMT]
Three civilians were killed and six wounded Monday morning around 10:00 when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) launched a Claymore attack targeting a civilian bus on Pu'liyangku'lam - Puthukkudiyiruppu road in Vanni, Tamileelam Police said.
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2 SLA soldiers killed in accident in Vaazhaichcheanai

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 15:40 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed when the motorbike they were riding in collided with a cow crossing the main road between Vaazhzaichcheanai and Kumpurumulai in Vaazhaichcheanai police division in Batticaloa Sunday around 6:45 p.m, Vaazhaichcheanai police said. One of the soldiers died in Vaazhaichcheanai hospital, and the other in Batticaloa Teaching Hospital where he was earlier transferred for further medical treatment, hospital sources said.
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Ex-Service Commanders elevated in rank with increased pension

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 10:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Government has elevated in rank and increased pension privileges of two former Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), two former Rear Admirals of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), and four former Air-Vice Marshals of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) with effect from October 1, 2008, political sources in Colombo said.
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SLA arrests youth, another reported missing, in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 10:28 GMT]
A 26-year-old Tamil youth from Kaithadi in Jaffna, temporarily staying Colombo, was reported missing after going out on an errand 22nd September, according to a complaint registered by his mother with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) office in Jaffna. Meanwhile, another 24-year-old Tamil youth has disappeared in Cha'ndilippaay Jaffna after being arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers while he was on his way to a closeby Saiva temple, his mother said in a complaint to the HRC.
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Janaka Perera assassinated, blast kills 28 in Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Monday, 06 October 2008, 03:58 GMT]
Opposition Leader of the United National Party in North Central Province, Maj. Gen (retd.) Janaka Perera and his wife, a former Sri Lanka Army officer, were killed in a bomb blast in Anuradhapura Monday morning around 8:45. Around 28 persons were killed and 80 wounded in the blast, Police said. An attacker, strapped with hidden explosives, embraced the former commander killing himself and several others, initial reports said. Janaka Perera was the UNP candidate for the Chief Minister post in 2008 Provincial Elections in North Central Province, which was marred by violence.
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7 Tamil youths arrested in Wellawatte

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 October 2008, 19:48 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and police arrested seven Tamil youths during a cordon and search operation covering all lodges, hotels, houses and business places, conducted from Friday night till Saturday morning in Wellawatte area in Colombo, sources in Colombo said. The arrested are still being detained in the police station for further inquiries.
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2 farmers missing in Yala

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 October 2008, 18:50 GMT]
Two Sinhalese farmers went inside Yala sanctuary for cultivation have been reported missing since October 1st, according to a complaint lodged with the Kotiayagala Police Sunday by the third farmer who accompanied them.
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Jaffna Saiva organizations to discuss SLA searches of Temples

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 October 2008, 09:18 GMT]
Saiva Organizations in Jaffna peninsula has called all the priests of Saiva temples, trustee board members of the temples, and Saiva organizations to attend a meeting Sunday to explore difficulties raised by current SLA searches in the Saiva temples in the peninsula, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna launched a search operation Saturday mornings in the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, hospital sources said. One side of the Hospital boundaries lies behind the SLA's 51-2th division head quarters premises.
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UNP lends support to GoSL's war effort

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 October 2008, 09:02 GMT]
United National Pary (UNP) Senior Party Member and Colombo district parliamentarian, Ravi Karunanayake, accompanied by several of his supporters, visited injured Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officers at the Colombo Jayawardenepura Hospital and wished speedy recovery, political sources in Colombo said. The MP handed over essential goods to the injured, and complemented the officiers for the victories they have accomplished in the NorthEast battlefield, sources added.
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Children, Mentally-handicapped displaced due to artillery, air-attacks

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 October 2008, 08:42 GMT]
Facing imminent danger from Sri Lanka Army's (SLA's) artillery attack, and aerial bombardment, more than ten homes sheltering orphaned children, mentally-handicapped, and elderly persons, located within a few miles radius from Ki'linochchi town, have been hurriedly relocated to interior villages of Vanni, hospital sources from Ki'linochchi said.
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SLA obstructs public entry into Valikaamam HSZ

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 October 2008, 14:36 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna refused to allow students, teachers and workers, to enter the High Security Zone (HSZ) at the Thellippazhai entry point Friday, preventing them from attending schools and work places located within the said HSZ, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, SLA conducted searches in several areas in the HSZ, following the Monday night attack on SLA soldiers at Maasiyappiddi in Jaffna, on suspicion of Liberation Tiger combatant's penetration into the HSZ, sources added.
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SLA compels public to guard electricity transformer

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 October 2008, 14:25 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna imposed a system of compulsory work in Achchuveali Friday where two groups of 10 residents each of the area were assigned to guard the electricity transformer along with the SLA soldiers 24 hours, the groups alternating between day and night duty, local residents said. Meanwhile, SLA after searching the Point Pedro Sri Lanka Transport Board premises Thursday, launched cordon and search operations around the Zonal Education Offices in Puloali and Karaveddi areas in Vadamaraadchi Friday morning.
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Compulsory registration of Tamils, another act of oppression - TNA MP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 October 2008, 13:14 GMT]
Compelling all Tamils from North and East currently residing in Western province to register with police is another act of oppression, and has caused fear and apprehension, stated K.Thurairatnasingham, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian in a media communique released Thursday.
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