IGP orders probe of Jaffna journalist torture complaint

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 14:10 GMT]
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered an inquiry into the complaint of torture by a Jaffna based Tamil journalist Mr.A. N .S. Thiruchelvam when he was under detention at the Terrorist Prevention Division of the police during the year 2001. The Inspector of Point Pedro Police Mr.K.Sihappu Arachchi Sunday conveyed the decision of the IGP to Mr. Thiruchelvam, sources in Jaffna said.
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Minister addresses Security forces in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 13:54 GMT]
"Our government is committed to and working hard to finding a political solution through peace talks. Every citizen of this country should be able to live with dignity and freedom and enjoy equality of status. Based on this premise, we are engaged in talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, to find a solution that provides extensive devolution of political powers within a united Sri Lanka," said Prof. G.L.Peiris, Minister of Political Affairs, Government of SriLanka, while addressing security forces in Vavuniya, Sunday, sources said.
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Modern equipment assists Swiss Organization to demine NE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 12:41 GMT]
The Swiss Demining Federation (FSD) is currently clearing mines in Thallaimannar and in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas surrounding villages of Pallamadu, Paapamoddai, and Periya Madhu, with a view of preparing these areas ready for resettlement, said a spokesperson for FSD, a Switzerland-based organization currently involved in demining operations in different war affected areas of NorthEast.
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Foundation stone laid for Kilinochchi hospital building

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 05:39 GMT]
Mr. Tadoa Chino, the president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), laid the foundation stone for a new hospital building in Kilinochchi Friday during a ceremony organized by the Government Agent (GA) of Kilinochchi, T. Rasanayagam and the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East (SIHRN), sources said.
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Batticaloa-Amparai women stage protest meetings on Women’s day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 March 2003, 00:05 GMT]
Thousands of young women, widows and elderly mothers participated in a large protest march followed by a general meeting organized by Batticaloa-Amparai Women’s Social Foundation on Women’s day March 8 in Batticaloa town, sources said.
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Film on Women's sacrifice to Tamil struggle released

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 18:02 GMT]
In commemoration of the International Women Day, the Nitharsanam women film unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released a film named “Uppil Uraintha Uthirangal” (Blood stained sea) in all the districts of northeast province Saturday evening . Ms Kuyili who produced the film released the first copy at the event held at Trincomalee Koneswara Hindu College Saturday evening, sources said.
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Kalutara fast draws more prisoner support

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 17:56 GMT]
The protest fast by Tamil inmates entering its eigth day at Kalutara prison, appealing to the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) for their release, drew support from Tamil prisoners in Batticaloa, Bogambara, Welikada and Negombo jails who have also started hunger strike, sources in Batticaloa said.


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SLN encourages poaching by Indian fishermen - Adaikalanathan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 16:50 GMT]
The Vanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan in a letter to the Prime Minister Saturday blamed the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) for causing rift between Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian fishermen. "I strongly condemn the SLN for purposely allowing Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters as a ploy to create ill feeling between fishermen of Mannar and India," said Mr.Adaikalanathan.


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Resettlement to begin in Omanthai-Thandikulam HSZ

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 16:44 GMT]
In a meeting at the Government Secretariat presided by the Vavuniya Government Agent (GA), K. Ganesh, it was decided to resettle former residents of selected areas within the High Security Zone (HSZ) between Thandikulam and Omanthai centered around the A9 highway in Vavuniya district, starting from coming Monday, sources in Vavuniya said.


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GOSL, LTTE gender issues meeting said constructive

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 12:00 GMT]
The Sub-Committee on Gender Issues (SGI), established by agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE during the third round of negotiations in December 2002, held its first stage of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in Kilinochchi, and in positive and constructive talks between delegates from both parties, agreed to secure“ active participation of women and the effective inclusion of gender issues in the peace process,” said a press release by the Sub-Committee.
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Tamil women's contribution to liberation struggle lauded

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 01:14 GMT]
The women's wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Ms Thamilini, addressing a workshop on women rights held Friday at Nallur Young Artists' Forum(Ilankalaignar Mantram) in Jaffna said that Tamil women have proved that they are not second to men in contributing to the armed liberation struggle, sources in Jaffna said.
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NE Education officials meet LTTE in Vakarai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 March 2003, 01:10 GMT]
Officials from the NorthEast Provincial Education Department met with members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam political division, Friday morning, in Pannichangkerni School, Vakarai, Batticaloa district for detailed discussions related to educational development in the Vakarai region, sources said.
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LTTE-TNA agree to take forward peace process

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 18:22 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil National Alliance Friday agreed to work jointly to take forward the present peace process strengthening the relationship between Tamils and Muslims, TNA sources said.
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ADB President visits Killinochchi, holds talks with LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 18:21 GMT]
The President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr.Tadao Chino, Friday reaffirmed ADB's commitment to supporting the peace process with rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance, during a meeting with representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Killinochchi, northern Sri Lanka, a press release issued by the Sri Lanka Resident Mission of the ADB said.
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Fighters killed in Vavunathivu SLA camp attack remembered

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 03:35 GMT]
The last day events of the sixth year memorial ceremony for the 103 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters, including Lt. Colonel Balendra and Lt.Colonel Mathana, who died during the attack on the Vavunathivu Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, began at 6am Thursday at the Tharavai grounds in Batticaloa district, sources said.
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Canadian Foreign Minister to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 01:34 GMT]
Among several foreign envoys are to visit Sri Lanka next week to assess the progress of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are Canadian Foreign Minister Mr. Bill Graham, Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Peterson, and his deputy Mr. Vidar Helgessen, said Minister and leader of GOSL negotiating team, Professor G.L.Peiris at a press conference held Thursday.


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Judge returns homicide verdict in Trinco hartal killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 March 2003, 01:11 GMT]
The Trincomalee Magistrate and Additional District Judge Mr.S.Thiagendran Thursday returned a verdict of homicide at the conclusion of the inquest held into the deaths of three Tamil civilians who were killed in a grenade attack on October 11 hartal (general shutdown), legal sources said. The Judge ordered police personnel who were on duty at the scene on the day of the incident to appear in an identification parade.


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Opposition parties plan protests against Ceasefire Agreement

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 16:57 GMT]
The Opposition Alliance, formed by the main opposition party in Sri Lanka’s parliament, the Sri Lanka Fredom Party (SLFP), in an alliance with the Jantha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), the Mahajana Eaksath Peramuna (MEP), the National Unity Alliance (NUA), and the Sri Lanka Mahajana Paksaya (SLMP), said in a press conference in Colombo Thursday that it wants to “save the country” and has planned to conduct massive protests on March 10 against the UNF Government’s Ceasefire agreement with the LTTE and its economic policies of the past year.
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NE Music, Dance, Drama festival to be held in Trinco

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 16:56 GMT]
A five day North East Tamil Music, Dance and Drama festival is to commence on March 20 in Trincomalee. Around four hundred artists are expected to participate in the festival.
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Sub committee for women, children's welfare meet in Kilinochchi

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 March 2003, 12:00 GMT]
First meeting of the Subcommittee for the welfare and rehabilitation of war affected women and children took place in Kilinochchi on Wednesday, and Thursday at the Peace Secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), sources said.
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