"LTTE's ISGA, Govt's interim proposal basis for talks" - Dhanapala

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 August 2004, 12:03 GMT]
"The Sri Lankan Government is also preparing a draft interim proposal like the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Peace talks between the GOSL and LTTE could commence on the basis of the proposals by the parties concerned," said Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Government Peace Secretariat addressing members of the Consortium of Jaffna District Non-Governmental Organizations Monday afternoon.
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Dhanapala appeals to SLA, LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 August 2004, 08:57 GMT]
Sri Lankan government peace secretariat chairman Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala said Monday that the second largest number cease fire violations occured in Jaffna. He appealed to the Sri Lanka army and the Liberation Tigers to reduce the number of violations by sticking to the provisions of the cease fire agreement. He was speaking to the local press in Jaffna town during a fact finding mission to the northern peninsula Monday.
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Tamil-Muslim unity stressed at Kurankupanchchan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 August 2004, 17:31 GMT]
Mr. S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Mr.H.Y.Hithayathulla, and Secretary of the Kinniya Jamiathul Ulama Council (Muslim Theologian Council) Saturday addressing Kurankupanchan Muslim farmers pledged to work for the unity of Tamils and Muslims in the Trincomalee district.
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Sri Lanka renews weapons deal with China

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 August 2004, 14:56 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has renewed an agreement with China to continue to procure military hardware from a bonded warehouse Beijing set up ten years ago in the southern capital Galle, the Sunday Times reported. Sri Lanka’s Army, Navy and Air Force have already drawn up their immediate requirements, the paper said.
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Slain Batticaloa journalist remembered in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 August 2004, 00:12 GMT]
The Listners' Circle of Canadian Tamil Radio based in Toronto Saturday presented three hundred and fifty thousand rupees to the family of slain Batticaloa journalist Mr. Aiyathurai Nadesan at a function held at the Vavuniya Urban Council hall Saturday. Mr. Nadesan, a senior Tamil journalist and the Batticaloa correspondent for the Tamil daily Virakesari and several local and foreign electronic media was shot dead on 31 May by gunmen believed to be associates of renegade LTTE commander 'Karuna'.
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LTTE leader felicitates expatriate language activist

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 August 2004, 21:16 GMT]
The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, Saturday honored 77 year old Mr. Ira. Nagalingam from Germany for his contribution to Tamil language and cultural education among children in the Tamil diaspora in Germany. Mr. Nagalingam received an award embossed with the Tiger emblem from the LTTE leader.
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LTTE allows Kurankupanchan Muslim farmers to cultivate their fields

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 August 2004, 17:39 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Saturday told Muslim farmers that they would be allowed to cultivate their paddy fields in Kurankupanchchan village from the oncoming season freely and without any restriction and they could also renovate the abandoned mosque in the area. Kurankupanchan village is located about 25 km. off Trincomalee town.
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Unfair promotion irks Sri Lanka military intelligence chief

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 August 2004, 02:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka army scources in Colombo Saturday dismissed speculation that head of military intelligence, Brigadier Kapila Hendawitharana, had submitted his retirement papers to army commander Lt. Gen. Shantha Kottegoda over the alleged covert support the spy chief had provided to renegade LTTE commander 'Karuna'. Brigadier Hendawitharana had sent in his retirement papers after his due promotion had been overlooked in favour of a junior who has been given a field promotion, the sources said.
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Passing out parade held for LTTE's special RPG Force units

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 August 2004, 20:24 GMT]
''Liberation Tigers were the first to use Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers (RPG) in the island. Sri Lankan armed forces obtained RPGs after they saw us using the launchers in battles. I created the LTTE's RPG force when I realised that armour was going to be a key component of Op. Jeya Sikurui. Our RPG units were very successful in fighting enemy armour'', said Mr. Velupillai Pirapaharan, leader of the LTTE, addressing the passing out of Special RPG Force units at the Tigers' Military Training College in the Vanni Friday.
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Politicians misleading the South on ISGA issue- Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 August 2004, 17:20 GMT]
The Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals put forward by the Liberation Tigers is to address urgent humanitarian needs of the people in the areas of resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction and it is very unfortunate that politicians are using this issue to mislead the people in the south, Mr. Thamilchelvan, the head of the LTTE’s political wing told a delegation from southern Sri Lanka.
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LTTE hand back under age youth to parents

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 August 2004, 14:41 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers in Batticaloa Thursday handed over to parents fifteen underage youth who had come to join them. A function was held Thursday at Karadiyanaaru, 22 kilometres northwest of Batticaloa, Thursday afternoon around 2.30 p.m. to mark the occasion.
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Calamity in Sri Lanka Parliament following assault attempt on Tamil MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 August 2004, 10:56 GMT]
Proceedings of Sri Lanka's Parliament were suspended Thursday after a ruling party MP triggered pandemonium in the house by attempting to assault Tamil National Alliance MP Mr. M. K Sivajilingam. Ruling party MP Mr. Mervyn de Silva rushed to assault the TNA parliamentarian who had walked up to the speaker's chair urging him to expunge from Hansard a statement by tourism minister Mr. Anura Bandaranaike that Mr. Sivajilingam was elected "by fluke and by accident".
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SLRC's peace building training programme concluded in Trinco

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 13:53 GMT]
USAID supported one month long residential training programme for 90 youth and social animators in the Trincomalee district on the urgent need of promoting peace and harmony which was conducted by the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC) through its Trincomalee district branch concluded during the weekend at Nilaveli SLRC Training Centre.
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Colombo denies it rejected LTTE proposal

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 08:29 GMT]
Minister Maithripala Sirisena, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), has issued a statement Wednesday denying "there is absolutely no truth in the reports" that quoted him as saying that the Sri Lanka government will not recommence peace talks with the LTTE on the basis of the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals.


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Man with alleged link to Karuna Group killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 05:22 GMT]
Mr.Kiruparatnam Vimalethiran, 32, believed to be a Sri Lanka military intelligence informant with links to the paramilitary 'Karuna Group' was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Mavadivembu, 22 kilometres north of Batticaloa Tuesday night. Police in the eastern town said Vimalenthiran was a petty criminal.
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"No talks on the basis of ISGA"-UPFA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 02:15 GMT]
United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge declared Tuesday that the Sri Lanka government will not recommence peace talks with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) on the basis of the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) proposals submitted by the LTTE, State-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) announced in its Wednesday morning news bulletin in English, Sinhala and Tamil quoting Minister Mr.Maithiripala Sirisena, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).


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LTTE returns paddy fields to displaced Muslims

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 August 2004, 09:44 GMT]
Liberation Tigers returned twenty nine paddy fields belonging to Muslims in Thannimurippu in the Mullaithivu District recently, Mr. Sathasivam Kanakaratnam Tamil National Alliance MP for Vanni told TamilNet Tuesday. The MP said all Muslims displaced from the district during the war can reclaim their lands as soon as they produce documents to prove ownership.
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Memorial for VVT massacre opened

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 2004, 19:15 GMT]
"Our leadership and our people have demonstrated that it will not be possible by any power to suppress our freedom struggle", said Mr C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political head speaking at the Valvettithurai massacre memorial meeting held Monday evening.
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Jaffna commemorates "Valvettithurai massacre"

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 August 2004, 10:38 GMT]
People of Jaffna district and residents of Valvettithurai town Monday commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of Valvettithurai massacre of 63 innocent Tamil people the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) which took place on August 2, 1989, civil groups said.


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Seven Tigers remanded in Akkaraipattu

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 August 2004, 16:07 GMT]
Akkaraipattu magistrate Sunday remanded seven Liberation Tigers and three of their civilian supporters until 13 August. Police said Special Task Force commandos arrested the group Saturday afternoon after two T- 56 rifle rounds and two vials of cyanide were found in the bag of an LTTE cadre. Akkaraipattu is 64 kilometres south of Batticaloa.
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