Hartal in northeast

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 October 2002, 09:03 GMT]
Shops remained closed and streets were deserted in all the towns in the northeast as a general shut down ('hartal') was observed in protest at the attacks on Tamil civilians in Trincomalee and Kanchirankuda. Black flags were hoisted on shops, houses and at public places. Burning tyres were seen on main roads, sources in several north-eastern towns said.
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Service Chiefs, SLMM visit Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 October 2002, 19:15 GMT]
The heads of three State armed forces and the Inspector General of Police are scheduled to visit Trincomalee Saturday to review the security situation in the wake of Friday violence in which three Tamil civilians were killed and thirty-eight others were wounded, defence ministry sources said. The Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Major General (retd) Trond Furuhovde also is expected to visit the east port town Saturday, SLMM sources said.
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'Armed strength vital for our protection' - Soosai

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 October 2002, 20:08 GMT]
More than hundred thousand people from Vavuniya, Jaffna and many parts of the Vanni thronged the Killinochchi grounds and its surroundings to see the military parade of the LTTE's women fighting forces. The parade was followed by series of floats depicting the women fighting units of the LTTE.
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NE observes fifteenth-death anniversary of 2nd Lt Malathi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 October 2002, 19:48 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Thursday observed the fifteenth death anniversary of 2nd. Lt.Malathi, the first LTTE woman fighter, as the Thamileelam Women Upsurge Day in the Northeast province with rallies, public meetings and other cultural activities.
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TNA condemns Kanchirankuda killings, demands STF withdrawal

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 October 2002, 14:02 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Thursday strongly condemned the attack by the Special Task Force (STF) on unarmed Tamil civilians at Kanchirankuda in Thirukovil area of the Amparai district . “We suspect that this was a deliberate attempt to disrupt the peace process,” said Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance parliamentary group in a statement issued to the press Thursday.
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Monitors urge public restraint after Kanjirankudah deaths

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 October 2002, 13:15 GMT]
International ceasefire monitors Thursday urged public restraint in the wake of a violent demonstration at the Special Task Force (STF) camp in Kanjirankudah at which the police commandos shot dead seven people and wounded fourteen others. Although the STF alleged Liberation Tigers were part of the 500-1000 strong crowd, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said it “has no evidence of this at this time and nothing indicates that the LTTE leadership knew of this attack beforehand.”
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Tigers say assaulted in custody

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 October 2002, 13:00 GMT]
Six Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers being held by the Liberation Tigers were Wednesday released to the International Committee of Red Cross in Trincomalee, while two LTTE members arrested by the SLA were released by the Trincomalee magistrate on as ordered by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday. The SLA soldiers said they had been treated well in custody, but the LTTE cadres said they had been beaten and manacled in police custody.
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STF fire on demonstration - 5 killed, 15 wounded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 October 2002, 18:06 GMT]
Five civilians were killed and fifteen were wounded when commandos of the Special Task Force, an elite wing of the Sri Lankan armed forces, opened fire on a public protest at Kanjirankudah, 84 kilometres south of Batticaloa, around 6.30 p.m. Wednesday. The shooting followed tension in Tamil areas in Sri Lanka’s southeastern coast after word spread that two members of the Liberation Tigers were severely assaulted by the STF and had been admitted to hospital.
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NE protests in support of fasting PTA suspects

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 October 2002, 17:26 GMT]
Token hunger strikes, boycott of classes and rallies were held in Northeast province Tuesday in support of the fast unto death campaign by the Tamil political prisoners now under detention at Kalutara, Welikada and other prisons in the country.
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TNA presses PM for immediate action on prisoner release

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 October 2002, 17:24 GMT]
The adjournment motion moved by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in parliament regarding the hunger strike of Tamil political prisoners that has entered eighth day would be taken up for debate pending on the outcome of the top-level talks the TNA parliamentarians are scheduled to have Wednesday with the Prime Minister (PM) and the Attorney General, sources said. Tamil political prisoners detained at Welikada, Kalutara and other prisons are on hunger strike since October 1 demanding their immediate release.
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CA enlarges LTTE members on bail

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 October 2002, 13:22 GMT]
The Court of Appeal (CA) Tuesday ordered bail for two members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who were arrested by the Kantalai Police and remanded by the Trincomalee Magistrate.
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Minister Morogoda visits Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 October 2002, 11:31 GMT]
The Minister of Economic Reforms, Mr.Milinda Morogoda accompanied by the Commander of Sri Lanka Army Lt.General Lionel Balagalle and Peace Secretariat Secretary General Mr.Bernard Gunatilake visited Trincomalee Sunday morning and attended a top-level conference at the Police Headquarters. Later in the afternoon the party led by Minister Morogoda held talks with the Tamil National Alliance leader Mr.R.Sampanthan at latter's residence regarding the two LTTE members in remand and six SLA soldiers of the SLA in the custody of the LTTE.
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Islanders' woes addressed in LTTE-SLN discussions

[TamilNet, Monday, 07 October 2002, 11:24 GMT]
A three-hour discussion was held Sunday at Velanai office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission between the Sri Lanka Navy officials and area leaders of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to normalize the situation in Delft, Analaitivu, Nainativu and Eluvaitheivu in Jaffna district, sources said.
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NE observes 15th death anniversary of Pulendran and Kumarappa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 October 2002, 20:42 GMT]
The fifteen-death anniversary of senior commanders of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Lt. Colonel Pulendran and Lt. Colonel Kumarappa and ten other cadres was observed at several places in the northeast province Saturday. Remembrance meeting was held at the mausoleum at Theeruvil, Valvettithurai in Jaffna district where their bodies were buried and at LTTE political office in Trincomalee town.
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Jaffna DCC wants North-East governor removed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 October 2002, 20:07 GMT]
The Jaffna District Co-ordinating Committee (JDCC) Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution that the northeast provincial governor Major General (retd) Asoka Jayawardene be removed from the office for failing to co-operate with the local officials in their effort towards development of the district.


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SLA deserter handed back

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 October 2002, 15:11 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army trooper who surrendered Thursday to the Liberation Tigers asking to be sent home was handed over to international ceasefire monitors Friday, officials said.
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Police blamed for inaction as Trinco protest turns unruly

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 October 2002, 20:27 GMT]
A general shut down ('hartal') organised by a group of Sinhalese youths setting up roadblocks and burning tyres disrupted the normal life in Trincomalee and its suburbs this Friday. The Hartal was held in support of a sit-in-protest campaign started by relatives of the six soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army now in the custody of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
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Hope for Children Director visits Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 October 2002, 16:36 GMT]
"The peace process has started. It is not the end. It will take several years to achieve a solution to the conflict and to establish permanent peace. Our partner organizations in Trincomalee should not remain idle. They must continue to cater to the needs of the children affected by the war," said Dr.Robert Parsons, Founder Director of the Hope for Children addressing staffers of several Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) in Trincomalee Thursday evening.
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Second LTTE convoy uses sea route

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 October 2002, 13:12 GMT]
A large number of Liberation Tigers, escorted by international ceasefire monitors, travelled Thursday from Mullaitivu to the eastern province along the sea route agreed by the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE two months ago. This is the second such convoy to use the route.
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LTTE slam new SLN camp

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 October 2002, 06:51 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers Friday lodged a protest with the international ceasefire monitors that the Sri Lanka Navy is preparing to set up a new camp on the coast near the Kuchchaveli divisional secretariat, 34 km. north of Trincomalee. The Navy has formally sought land from the local authorities, sources said.
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