Gotabhaya bans transport of livestock from abandoned Tamil homes in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 October 2007, 08:55 GMT]
Acting on a complaint made by Ameer Ali, Sri Lankan minister of disaster relief services, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan defense secretary, has instructed teh Batticaloa district commanding officer of Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Superintendents of Police and officers of Special Task Force (STF) to ban the transport of livestock belonging to Tamils from the areas in Batticaloa district, recently brought under the control of the SLA. Tamils in these areas have repeatedly lodged complaint with Mr. Ameer Ali that cattle from their homes were being systematically stolen out of the district by paramilitaries and Sri Lankan soldiers and sold in Sinhala areas of the Polonnaruwa district.
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IFJ condemns SL defence ministry attack on Journalist Athas

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 October 2007, 14:42 GMT]
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), on Wednesday said it was concerned for the safety of Iqbal Athas, associate editor and defense correspondent for the Sunday Times in Colombo. Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, in a web-posting, on Tuesday alleged that the recent work of Mr. Iqbal Athas, "raised doubts whether he has been assisting in the psy-ops of Liberation Tigers" and warned: "whoever attempts to reduce public support to the security forces or attempts to damage the loyalty of the soldiers towards their commanders at this moment can only be considered as those who serve the cause of the terrorists."
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SLA suffer heavy casualties in Northern Front - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 September 2007, 12:49 GMT]
Heavy fighting ensued between a unit of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and the fighters of Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Monday morning when the SLA unit attempted to move towards LTTE Forward Defence Line in Ki'laali in the Northern Front Monday morning around 5:00 a.m. Liberation Tigers said they inflicted heavy losses to the Sri Lanka Army and four of their fighters were killed in action. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan military officials in Colombo claimed only one soldier was killed in action.
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Naziism, apartheid alive in Sri Lanka- US editorial

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 September 2007, 14:52 GMT]
Comparing the eviction of more than 500 Tamils from Colombo to Naziism and apartheid, and "one part of a long genocidal streak," an editorial that appeared in Cincinnati Enquirer's Tuesday edition, said that inaction on allowing US government's funding the Sri Lankan military, will imply not just neutrality, but complicity.
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Civilian injured following grenade attack on Nelliyadi SLA camp

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 September 2007, 18:56 GMT]
Unknown gunmen hurled a hand grenade inside the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp located in Vathiri junction and opened fire at the camp around 6:50 p.m. Saturday, sources in Point Pedro said. A civilian riding in his bicycle along the main road was injured in the exchange of gunfire
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2 SLA troopers killed, 7 injured in Manthikai claymore attack

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 September 2007, 14:49 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and 7 soldiers seriously injured in a claymore attack targetted at a SLA convoy 300 meters from the Manthikai Government Hospital along Jaffna-Point Pedro road at 9:00 p.m. Friday, military sources in Jaffna said. The convoy was transporting soldiers from the Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) in Naakar Koayil in Thenmaraadchi to the Palaali military base when the attack occurred.
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SLA conducts search operation, youth seeks protection with HRC in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 September 2007, 16:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers conducted a combined cordon and search operation covering Point Pedro and Valveddiththu'rai areas in Vadamaraadchi from Tuesday early morning until evening, ordering young women and men to gather in the temples in their respective areas where they were subjected to thorough investigation, sources in Vadmaraadchi said. Meanwhile, a youth who escaped abduction during the search sought protection with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) Tuesday afternoon.


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SLA said to be behind house burglaries in Nelliyadi

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 September 2007, 01:18 GMT]
Five houses belonging to Tamils inside a high security area fully protected by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentries were burgled during curfew hours at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, civil society sources in Vadamaraadchi said. Two house owners were injured during the burglary, and cash and valuables with an estimated value of more than Rs 5m were stolen during the incident. Local residents accused SLA soldiers and members of the SLA intelligence wing of complicity in the burglaries, sources said.
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STF trooper killed, 5 injured in Thoppigala explosion

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 September 2007, 21:05 GMT]
One Special Task Force (STF) soldier was killed and five others injured when a bomb hidden inside a van exploded while the soldiers were checking the van in Narakamulla area in Thoppigala at 11:05 a.m. Saturday, sources in Batticaloa said. The injured have been air-lifted by helicopters to Ampaa'rai district hospital. The body of the STF trooper also has been transported to the same hospital for postmortem examinations.
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Member of SLA Intelligence wing shot dead in Point Pedro

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 September 2007, 18:44 GMT]
A member of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence wing was shot dead by armed men believed to be from the Liberation Tigers pistol group in Thaddaatheru area in Point Pedro at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, sources from Point Pedro said. The victim was travelling on the main road in Thaddaatheru when he was shot. The body has been taken to Palaly military camp, according to sources.
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4500 civilians displaced from Musali to Naanaaddaan in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 September 2007, 00:54 GMT]
More than 4500 civilians were forced to flee Musali division in Mannnaar district Saturday when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) moved in, without any direct confrontation, into the area located south of Mannaar-Madawachchi Road where Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) were known to have been present in pockets of areas. No Forward Defence Lines (FDLs) were maintained by either warring party in the said areas. The coastal villages located between Mannaar and Puththa'lam. Naanaaddaan MV school and Don Bosco technical college where 1136 IDPs of 327 families were residing have been surrounded by the SLA and the Sri Lankan police.
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SLA, Tigers clash in Vavuniyaa-Mannaar border

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 August 2007, 17:29 GMT]
At least 3 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and five wounded in a fresh offensive lauched by the SLA towards Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa Mannaar border Monday around 4:00 p.m., LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told media in Ki'linochchi.
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Uduppiddi youth surrenders at HRC following abduction attempt

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 August 2007, 11:07 GMT]
A 19-year-old youth from Uduppiddi in Vadamaraadchy surrendered at the Jaffna offices of the Human Rights Commission, after armed men in a white van attempted to abduct him Monday, sources in Jaffna said.
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Western media ignores Sri Lanka State Terror- Aussie doctor

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 August 2007, 13:35 GMT]
Queensland Pediatrician and Director of Townsville Hospital's Neonatal Unit, Dr John Whitehall, talking with Richard Fidler of ABC radio in the program "Conversation hour" early this week, said that in Tamil eelam there "is tremendous commitment from a population of only three million people [for separation]. You can't get 17000 people to take up arms and fight to death unless their hearts are in their cause," and added that "What I have come to be aware [is] you can't understand the situation in Colombo if you only focus on the terror which is coming from one side, and you don't mention the state terror, the terror inflicted by Colombo state."
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Staffer at Danish Demining NGO seeks safety at HRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 10:55 GMT]
Amid rising threats to lives of staffers at the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Jaffna, particularly those at the demining NGOs, allegedly from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and SLA-backed paramilitaries, a 25-year old worker at the Danish Demining Group (DDG) surrendered at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) Wednesday, seeking safety, officials at the HRC said.
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Thenmaraadchi youth seeks protection at HRC

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 17:34 GMT]
Amid escalating numbers of youths, especially high school children, surrendering at the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) offices seeking protective custody through the Jaffna Courts, another youth from Thenmaraadchi was placed in protective custody Sunday, HRC officials said.
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SLN conducts war exercise in Maathakal seas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 13:38 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) conducted a large scale war exercise in the seas between Kaarainkar and KKS along Maathakal seas between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. involving large number of ships and soldiers, sources in Jaffna said. Fishermen along the coastal waters and in mid sea were asked to return to shore before the war-exercise, affected fishemen said.
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Skirmish in Paasaiyoor seas, SLA recovers one body

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2007, 12:35 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and gunmen allegedly belonging to Liberation Tigers exchanged fire Wednesday around 11:30 p.m for more than 15 minutes in Kurunagar and Paasaiyoor waters of Jaffna lagoon, local residents said. SLA, through Jaffna Police, Thursday morning brought to the Jaffna Hospital a severely injured body of an identified youth claiming the body belonged to a suicide cadre of the LTTE who tried to infiltrate the SLA camp Wednesday night. LTTE did not comment on the claim.
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SLA builds bulwark along Jaffna southern coast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 21:08 GMT]
Fearing possible Liberation Tiger infiltration, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers have intensfied construction of a security fence using concertina wires, and additional security posts and bunkers along a 5 km coastal stretch starting from Jaffna Fort including Kaakai theevu, Naavaanthu'rai, Kurunakar and Pommai Ve'li, towns located at the southern underbelly of Jaffna Peninsula, as a protective measure, sources in Jaffna said.
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Youth abducted in Jaffna, two seek protection at HRC

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 August 2007, 11:08 GMT]
A 21-year old youth from Chandilippaay North, Jaffna, who had come to Sinhala Maha Vidiyalayam to travel out of Jaffna to Trincomalee in Sri Lanka Army (SLA)-run passenger ship, was abducted by armed men in motocyles Tuesday morning 10:00 a.m. from Hospital road in the center of Jaffna Town within the Jaffna High Security Zone (HSZ), sources in Jaffna said.
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