50% turnout, paramilitary manipulates voting in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2008, 11:10 GMT]
Voter turnout within Batticaloa municipal council was low till Monday noon, according to the sources in Batticaloa city. However, turnout at rural areas was above 50%. Despite the presence of a reasonable number of monitors, there were reports of fraudulent activities as paramilitary personnel were actively engaged in transporting voters to the booths. The TMVP paramilitary has heaped up anti-Muslim campaign warning Tamils that non-participation in local elections would benefit the Muslims. Paramilitary personnel were also seen visiting households checking civilians' participation in the elections. Violent incidents were low.
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Genocidal policies exposed, Colombo stands weakened - Nadesan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2008, 22:49 GMT]
"Signs of desperation are evident in Sri Lanka’s defense hierarchy as the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) divisions stay bogged down within a few square kilometers in Mannaar, unable to advance for nearly a year. While SLA commanders are on foreign jaunts to build hurried military alliances, Colombo has also suffered politically with its racist policies in governance exposed internationally, and has earned opprobrium from international community for the escalating human rights violations," said B. Nadesan, head of political section of the Liberation Tigers addressing the event held in Ki'linochchi to pay last respects to the slain parliamentarian, K. Sivanesan, Saturday.
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SLA, LTTE clash at Paalamoaddai, Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2008, 17:33 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Operations Command in Vavuniyaa Friday said the Tigers confronted the Sri Lanka Army at Paalamoaddai in Vavuniyaa - Mannaar border, forcing the SLA to withdraw its forces to its FDL Friday afternoon.
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Jaffna TNA MP Sivanesan killed in DPU Claymore attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2008, 09:59 GMT]
Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian, K. Sivanesan, was killed in a Claymore attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit on A-9 road, 30 minutes after he crossed into Vanni through Oamanthai / Pu'liyangku'lam entry point Thursday. The Claymore attack has taken place between Pu'liyangku'lam and Maangku'lam around 1:20 p.m., according to initial reports. The MP's vehicle was targeted when he was returning to his residence in Mallaavi, after attending the parliamentary sessions in Colombo. His driver was also killed in the attack. The DPU attackers have exploded four Claymore mines in a row, Tamileelam Police officials told TamilNet.
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Salesman reported missing in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2008, 12:18 GMT]
A 26-year-old salesman employed in an electronic shop on Mannaar hospital road was reported missing by his colleagues at the Foundation for Co-existence on Tuesday.
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2 policemen injured in claymore explosion in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 March 2008, 08:26 GMT]
Two Sri Lankan police constables were injured in a claymore explosion that took place Wednesday around 7:00 a.m. between Horowopottana and Vavuniyaa. The wounded were rushed to Vavuniyaa hospital.
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10 injured, one SLA killed in two claymore attacks in Vavuniyaa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2008, 16:42 GMT]
Two Sri Lanka Police, two members of the Sri Lanka Government created Civil Defense Group, and six civilians were injured in a claymore attack that took place at Godshed junction in Vavuniyaa town Sunday evening around 4.30 p.m, electronic media said quoting police sources.
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Vavuniyaa court takes action on abduction complaints

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2008, 10:19 GMT]
Vavuniyaa Magistrate M.Ilancheliyan Friday directed the Cheddiku'lam Superintendent of Police to conduct inquiry into the allegations made to him by parents of two Tamil youths who are allegedly "abducted" by soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army at Arasadikku'lam area. The abduction had taken place on February 27, according to complaints by parents to the Magistrate, media sources said.
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Tamil passengers robbed at Fort station

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2008, 10:17 GMT]
Two Tamil civilians who arrived in Colombo-Fort railway station Saturday from Vavuniyaa via Madawachchi were robbed of their cash, gold rings and other belongings by three persons in civil who identified them as CID personnel, according to complaints made to Fort Police Station and the Civil Monitoring Committee (CMC).
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11 SLA killed in Mannaar - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 29 February 2008, 17:41 GMT]
Liberation Tigers Operations Command in Mannaar said Friday that 11 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and many wounded when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) recaptured a position at Pa'ndivirichchaan Friday morning between 5:00 and 6:30 a.m. Meanwhlie, an SLA Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) was confronted by the Tigers at Mu'l'likku'lam around 2:00 p.m. 2 Claymore mines were seized, the Tigers said.
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Court expresses concern over escalating abductions

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 February 2008, 17:11 GMT]
Vavuniyaa District Judge and Magistrate, Mr.M.Ilancheliyan, expressed his serious concern over the increase of abduction of civilians in the district to the army and police top officials in charge of Vavuniyaa and Chettikulam, during a meeting held in the court premises this week. Three women were abducted since February 17 in Vavuniyaa, media reports said.
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MP objects to SLA video-filming residents during cordon, search

[TamilNet, Thursday, 28 February 2008, 16:54 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Ampaa'rai district K. Pathmanathan sent an appeal to Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse and Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse protesting against the video taping of residents by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers during cordon and search operation conducted 20 February in Aalayadiveampu area in Akkaraipattu. People were also harrassed during the interrogation and these are violations of basic human rights, the MP said in the appeal.
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8 civilians killed in SLA DPU attacks in Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 February 2008, 18:01 GMT]
Eight innocent civilians riding in tractors were killed in two different Claymore attacks carried out by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit teams that had infiltrated into Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled areas on either sides of the A9 road, north of Vavuniyaa on Wednesday. The first attack, in which four civilians were killed, was reported at Panangkaamam in Moon'ru Mu'rippu GS area of Maanthai East division in Mullaiththeevu district at 1:50 p.m. The second attack was reported at 8:30 p.m. in which another four civilians were slain while they were riding in a tractor from Maruthoadai to Olumadu.
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3 SLA troops killed, 6 injured in Paalamoaddai - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 February 2008, 16:45 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters killed three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers and injured six in a confrontation at Paalamoaddai in Vavuniya district Wednesday from 11:00 a.m to 11.40 a.m, Vavuniyaa LTTE Operations Command said.
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Jaffna Tamil youth reported missing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 February 2008, 19:09 GMT]
A Tamil youth Sathasivam Yogendran of Ward No: 4, Ve'lanai East in Jaffna district has been reported missing since February 16, according to a complaint lodged with the Jaffna regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) by his mother on Monday.
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Kurunakar parents approach Colombo HRC to file complaints

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 February 2008, 02:51 GMT]
The relatives of the two school students from Kurunagar, Jaffna arrested recently by Jaffna police have lodged a complaint at the National Head office of Human Rights Commission (HRC), Colombo stating that the office of Jaffna HRC has refused to accept their complaint.
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3 SLA killed in Vavuniyaa FDL - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 February 2008, 12:54 GMT]
A 3-member-team of a patrol unit of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in no-go zone between the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) and the SLA at Naavatku'lam in Vavuniyaa were killed in an attack carried out by the Tigers Saturday around 10:15 a.m. The SLA is yet to recover the dead bodies of their soldiers lying near their Forward Defence Line, the Tigers said.
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GoSL imposes restrictions on food supplies to Vanni

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 February 2008, 08:29 GMT]
New restrictions imposed by the Government of Sri Lanka on transport of goods from Vavuniyaa to Ki’linochchi via Oamanthai Sri Lanka Army (SLA) check post will severely hamper distribution of food and other essential commodities to Vanni, Vavuniyaa Secretariat sources said. SLA is directed to allow only 30% of the food supplies required to support Vanni needs, Ki’linochchi district Government Agent, Mr. Vethanayagam said. Meanwhile, a controlled price for bread is to be fixed in Jaffna peninsula with effect from Sunday, Jaffna Government Agent (GA), K. Ganesh said.
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Tamil youth missing in Ea’raavoor

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 February 2008, 08:34 GMT]
A Tamil youth from Mu'rakkoddaagncheanai in Ea’raavoor police division in Batticaloa district has been missing since 11 February after leaving his home around 10:30 a.m, the youth's relatives said. The youth is mentally ill, and his relatives believe that he may have travelled to Vavuniyaa or Colombo.
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Vavuniyaa residents appeal for resumption of train service

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 February 2008, 01:35 GMT]
A memorandum signed by more than one thousand civilians appealing to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to remove the obstacles faced by people in the north at the various check points including the one at Madawaachchi, and to recommence the services up to Vavuniyaa, was forwarded to Colombo Tuesday.
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