VoT bombing victims remembered in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 30 December 2007, 03:40 GMT]
A memorial event was held Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in Ki’linochchi Cultural Centre to pay homage to the three editorial staff workers at the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio station and eight civilians, residents and travelers who lost their lives when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers attacked VoT, LTTE’s official broadcasting corporation located at 155 Mile Post, 3.5 km south of Ki'linochchi November 27th afternoon.
Full story >>

TamilNadu leaders protest against Indian PM's participation in SL Independence Day

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 17:37 GMT]
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reported intention to participate as the Chief Guest in the Sri Lankan Government's Independence Day Celebrations on February 4, 2008 has sparked large-scale dissent from political leaders in Tamilnadu. K. Veeramani, President of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), on Friday announced his organization's decision to demonstrate against the proposed visit and called upon the Tamilnadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to intervene in this regard. Meanwhile, Thol.Thirumavalavan, President, Viduthalaich Chi'ruththaika'l Kadchi and Suba. Veerapandiyan of Dravidar Iyakka Thamizhar Pearavai have pledged their organizational support and participation to the demonstration.
Full story >>

Elangko appointed new Head of Tamileelam Police

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 16:38 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Velupillai Pirapaharan has appointed K. Elangko (I'langkoa), a senior LTTE official as the Head of Tamileelam Police, succeeding B. Nadesan. Mr. Elangko who joined the LTTE in 1983 and received military training in LTTE's 4th training camp in India has earlier served as the deputy of the Police between 1993 and 1996. Later, he was in charge of Policy Dissemination Unit of the LTTE.
Full story >>

GoSL to ban Tigers, abrogate CFA, says Gotabhaya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 15:10 GMT]
Misquoting the failed talks between a delegation of Tamil Liberation Movements and Sri Lanka Government in August 1985 as "Thimpu Agreement," Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's Defense Secretary and brother of Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an interview to state owned Daily News said that the Sri Lankan government would "give a solution" to the Tamil people after proscribing the LTTE, abolishing the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's statement comes as Sri Lankan forces were preparing for an all out war with the Tigers in the North.
Full story >>

20 SLA soldiers killed, 40 wounded in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 14:46 GMT]
At least 20 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 40 wounded Saturday morning when heavy fighting broke out in Uyilangku'lam - Parappaangka'ndal area between the SLA and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), Tiger officials told media in Ki'linochchi. Three LTTE fighters were killed in action. Meanwhile, an infiltration attempt by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) was thwarted by the Tigers at LTTE Forward Defence Line at Mukamaalai, the Tigers said.
Full story >>

Jaffna passengers question safety of air travel

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 December 2007, 01:50 GMT]
Increasing number of technical problems that have plagued air crafts belonging to the local air lines that fly between Jaffna and Colombo, has raised concern among Jaffna travellers about the safety of their flights, sources in Jaffna said. Jaffna residents and few foreigners patronizing Expo Air and Aero Lanka have expressed fears of ageing unsafe air crafts that are over-used without adequate maintenance.
Full story >>

U.K. group urges protection for Sri Lanka's rights defenders

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 19:49 GMT]
A U.K-based Rights Group, Tamil Information Center (TIC), in a report released this week expressed serious concern "over the plight of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, who are facing persecution and threats to life from [Sri Lanka] government authorities," and said the situation requires "urgent intervention by the International Community." The report urged the "Government of Sri Lanka to bring to an end a cycle of cumulative disregard for human rights in general and for abuses against human rights defenders in particular and to accept the offer of the international community to establish a human rights monitoring mechanism."
Full story >>

Court releases 60 Tamils detained in Boosa

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 16:40 GMT]
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Friday released sixty Tamil civilians detained at Boosa detention camp in the south of the island following a report by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police that there was no evidence against them to charge for any crime connected with terrorist activities, legal sources in Colombo said.
Full story >>

Inefficient relief action adds to refugees woes in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 16:35 GMT]
More than twelve thousand people in Verukal and Eachchilampattu areas in Trincomalee are undergoing immense suffering due to the negligence of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Government Agent (GA) for Trincomalee, Maj. Gen. T. T. R. D. E. Silva, in carrying out flood relief work. The GA is insisting on employing the service of SLA troops and police to carry out the relief work, normally done by civil administrative officials, Trincomalee district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian K. Thurairatnasingam accused Thursday.
Full story >>

SLAF bombs Tsunami settlements in Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 15:34 GMT]
Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir bombers Thursday morning dropped at least 8 bombs near Tsunami settlements in Mu'l'livaaykkaal in Mullaiththeevu district between 5:50 a.m. and 6:15 a.m., Tamileelam Police officials said. There were no human casualties reported in the air attack that was carried out twice in the early morning.
Full story >>

Media workers attack Sri Lankan minister Mervyn Silva

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 07:50 GMT]
Mervyn Silva, the Sri Lankan Minister of Labour and a thug leader in the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapkasa's government, was held captive and attacked by media workers Thursday. He was surrounded when he reportedly went amok against a news editor, T.M.G Chandrasekara, of the state owned Rupawahini cooperation, for "failing to broadcast" a video footage of his appearance in a meeting in Matara on Wednesday. Mr. Mervyn Silva, beaten by the media workers, was later freed by the Police security out of the Rupawahini premises located in the high security Bauddhaloka Mawatha after a mediation attempt by non-cabinet minister of media, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, failed.
Full story >>

Tigers recover 2 SLA dead bodies in FDL clashes in Jaffna, Mannaar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 05:09 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Army soldiers were killed and many wounded Thursday morning when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam repulsed a SLA unit that attempted break the Tiger Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Mukamaalai in Jaffna, LTTE officials in Vanni said. Dead body of a SLA soldier was recovered by the Tigers after the clash with a T-56 assault rifle and other military accessories. Meanwhile, another SLA dead body was recovered in a clearing mission in Mannaar on Wednesday after an SLA attempt to advance towards Paalaikkuzhi was spoiled by the Tigers.
Full story >>

Tsunami third anniversary memorial events held in Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 00:22 GMT]
Memorial functions to mark the third anniversary of the civilians killed by 2004 December Tsunami disaster were held in various parts of Vanni including Mullaiththeevu, Vadamaraadchi East and Puthukudiyiruppu, with thousands of civilians taking part in the events.
Full story >>

5 SLA troops killed, 11 injured in clashes in Vanni - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 18:48 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) thwarted an advance attempt by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Wednesday around 7:20 a.m through Paalaikuzhi in Mannaar, killing five troops and injuring eleven, LTTE Mannaar Operations Command officials told media in Ki'linochchi. Meanwhile, similar SLA attempts at Mukamaalai Wednesday around 11:00 a.m, at Ma'nalaa'ru Ma'nki'ndimalai area Wednesday around 10:40 a.m. and at Ma'nalaa'ru Ceylon Theatres area around 12.10 a.m, have been successfully repulsed by LTTE combatants, LTTE sources added.
Full story >>

3 bodies bearing torture marks washed ashore in December

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 14:38 GMT]
Three corpses with signs of severe torture and in a decomposed state found washed ashore during December alone along the coasts of Vadamaraadchi east and Mullaiththeevu areas have created a climate of fear among the fishermen and residents of littoral villages in Vadamaraadchy east, the General Manger of Vadamaraadchi east Fisheries Societies Federation said.
Full story >>

Tsunami victims remembered in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 13:50 GMT]
A commemoration event was held to remember those who lost their lives in the December 2004 tsunami in Uduththu’rai area in Vadamaraadchi Tuesday 9:00 a.m, sources in Jaffna said. The relatives of the victims lit flames of remembrance and offered flowers and garlands as a mark of respect to the victims.
Full story >>

Anton Balasingham memorial in London

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 01:05 GMT]
Expatriate Tamils in London held a one year memorial event Sunday for Mr. Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s former theoretician and Chief Negotiator, who passed away in December 2006 after a brief battle with cancer.
Full story >>

Court releases 17 Tamil civilians arrested in Puththa'lam

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 16:19 GMT]
Seventeen Tamil civilians, arrested a month ago at Munthal and Puththa'lam in the north-western province and kept in detention in the police stations of Munthal and Puththa'lam, were released Monday on the orders of the courts, legal sources said.
Full story >>

Sri Lankan military detains French TV crew

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 13:31 GMT]
Two French journalists, Capucine Henri and cameraman C. Siomon of France 24 news channel, were detained by the Sri Lankan police Christmas night for video-taping a Tamil family while being questioned by the Sri Lankan military at a road block near Boosa detention camp in Rathgama in Galle district. Expressing serious concern on the conduct of the Sri Lankan security establishment, the Free Media Movement (FMM), a Colombo based media watchdog, Tuesday said videoing a road block was not a national security issue. The FMM urged the police authorities to expedite the investigation and release the journalists in detention without further delay.
Full story >>

Woman raped, killed, 3 men slain in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 December 2007, 12:55 GMT]
Unidentified armed men waylaid and shot dead two wood cutters Monday around 10:00 p.m at Raseanthiraku'lam tank bund area in Vavuniyaa while an an armed man in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) uniform and another in civil clothes shot dead a family man calling him out of his house at Chekkaddippi'lavu in Vavuniyaa around 8:30 p.m Monday, Vavuniyaa police said. Meanwhile, a woman reported missing since Friday from Suntharapuram area in Vavuniyaa, was recovered dead Saturday evening at Katku'lam jungle close to her village, and later found to have been raped and strangled to death in the postmortem examination held in Anuradapura hospital.
Full story >>