Thursday, February 12, 2009

Mano Ganesan attacked

(BL)The Leader of the Western People’s Front, MP Mano Ganesan was allegedly attacked by a group of Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) supporters yesterday at Agarapathana. Campaign for Free and Fair Election (CaFFE) Spokesman, Keerthi Tennakoon told The Bottom Line that this has been the latest attack on opposition political parties by CWC supporters. Full Text

How Gandhis and Karunanidhi made use of Lanka’s ethnic conflict

(BL)My colleague P.K. Balachandran, formerly the Colombo representative for the Hindustan Times and now working for the New Indian Express telephoned me on February 2 and asked: “Are the Tamils now weaker than earlier?”

I answered, “Yes” and added that the Tamils were in a strong position when they agitated for their rights non-violently under the leadership of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam. I also told him that Gandhis, RAW and Karunanithi-MGR rivalry were the main causes for Sri Lanka’s present situation. Full Text

For some Sri Lankans, dissonance in M.I.A.'s music







(HT)COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: To many Americans, Maya Arulpragasam, known as M.I.A., is the very pregnant rapper who gyrated across the stage at Sunday's Grammy Awards.Yet in Sri Lanka, where she spent her childhood years, M.I.A. remains virtually unknown. And some who do know her work say she is an apologist for the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels fighting in the country's long-running civil war. Full Text

Devolution of powers in Lanka only way out: Pranab

(yahoo)New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) India today underlined the urgent need for credible devolution of powers in Sri Lanka, saying it is the only way forward to ensure resolution of problems afflicting the island nation. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who received a telephonic call from Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, told him that India remains concerned over the condition of civilian population in northern Sri Lanka. Full Text

Sri Lanka needs to make peace out of military victory

By John Elliott

(ft.com)Will Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse replicate George W.Bush’s famous 2003 “Mission Accomplished” aircraft carrier performance and declare “victory” when his forces finally defeat the last of the Tamil Tiger rebels?

Does he, like Mr Bush after the Iraq invasion, assume that a victory by the military will be the end of the story, and that the great mass of the Tamils will quietly go about their daily lives, causing no problems for the majority Sinhalese who run the government? Full Text

CaTpad strongly condemns the brutal suicide attack on civilians in refugee camp

(February 11, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Canadian Tamils for Peace and Democracy (CaTpad ) denounces to the International community for murderous suicide attack of LTTE against its own Tamil civilians who fled form their clutches of the Wanni, during which more than 28 Srilankans lost their lives and 84 wounded in the Suthanthirapuram Transit camp. Full Text

Are the Sinhalese Buddhist chauvinists any questions?

By Mahinda Weerasinghe

(February 11, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Not by a long shot! In fact the present triumph over the most vicious racist terrorists in the modern times is nothing short of a victory for democracy, tolerance, a pluralistic society, freedom of expression and above all, unrestrained scot-free movement of its citizens in the Island.

Translated into real terms this would mean that, each and every Sri Lankan, be he Tamil, Sinhalese Burger, Malay, Catholic, Hindu Muslim, Buddhist or what have you, would now be in position to reside in any part of the Island without being intimidated by a bunch of racists with an inferiority complex. Full Text

TNA to be invited for APRC

(DN)The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is to be invited to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which is poised to complete their deliberations towards a future power sharing mechanism for Sri Lanka, APRC Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana said.

He said: "I feel that the TNA should now realise the genuine needs and aspirations of Tamils should be expressed, not just the needs of the LTTE. " Full Text

UN Experts on Criticism, Impunity and Suicide Bombing

(PISL)SCOPP Secretary General Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, in his capacity as Secretary to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, replied to a statement issued by ten United Nations experts. His comments are carried in full below.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights regrets very much a recent statement of 10 UN Experts that is supposedly about the ‘suppression of criticism, impunity’, but which deals at length with the current situation in the North of the country, in which government forces are engaged in a struggle against a terrorist movement. An advance version of the release spoke of ‘unabated impunity’, and was sent to the Sri Lankan Mission in Geneva shortly after a LTTE suicide bomber killed civilians trying to escape from LTTE held area to the safety of government areas. Full Text

Situation report (Feb 11) by SLA

Air Force Distributes Snack Packets among Civilians

COLOMBO: SRI LANKA Air Force in liaison with Ministry of Defence this afternoon (11) showed their concern for the plight of displaced civilians in WANNI and handed over some 20,000 snack packets among those in the 58 Division.

The gesture, made by Sri Lanka Air Force was also meant to foster good relations between the south and the north. 58 Division troops took steps to distribute those parcels among the displaced. The stock was airlifted from RATHMALANA airport this afternoon (11). Full Text

'Without Me, They Couldn't Win the War'

Former Tamil Tiger Commander Says His Knowledge, Troops Helped Weaken Rebellion

(WP)COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Feb. 10 -- Dressed in their Sri Lankan army fatigues and clutching automatic assault rifles, a half-dozen bodyguards fanned out over the lawn of a seaside hotel to form a ring of security for their client: Karuna Amman, formerly a top commander in this country's rebel army. Full Text

More civilians killed in Sri Lanka fighting

(AI)More civilians are being killed in north-east Sri Lanka, as the fighting continues between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

A female suicide bomber is reported to have killed 28 people and wounded dozens of others on Monday, when she blew herself up at a checkpoint for civilians fleeing the conflict zone. According to the Sri Lankan military, the woman was dressed as a civilian. Full Text

Sri Lanka govt denies shelling that killed 16 patients

(yahoo)COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka's military Wednesday denied it had shelled a makeshift hospital killing 16 patients, as concern grew for civilians trapped in fighting between government soldiers and Tamil rebels.

"We did not fire at this location on Monday and it is quite possible that the LTTE attacked them," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, referring to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers. Full Text

Prabhakaran will have to pay for attacking temples: Rajapaksa

(TH)Colombo (PTI): With the Sri Lankan troops closing in on the last bastions of LTTE, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said Tiger supremo V. Prabhakaran will soon have to "pay" for attacking various religious places in the island nation in the past 25 years.

"Prabhakaran will have to pay for carrying out attacks on religious places, including Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic," Rajapaksa told an election rally in Kandy, 115 km from Colombo. Full Text

Activists take Lankan issue to Delhi

(EB)CHENNAI: About 150 activists of the “Voice for Lankan Tamils” left for New Delhi on Tuesday morning to protest against the Centre’s “indifference” to the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils and to raise awareness on the issue. The group will also meet MPs of various political parties and urge them to speak in favour of their cause in Parliament.

The group, comprising mostly students, boarded the train from the Egmore railway station with several supporters gathering at the platform to see them off. The activists will stage a rally on February 12 in Delhi. The students from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and Jamia Millia University are expected to join them. The group will meet MPs from various political parties on February 13 and launch an awareness campaign on Feb 14. Full Text

Q+A - What is fate of civilians in Sri Lanka's war?

By C. Bryson Hull

COLOMBO (Reuters) -- At least 30,000 civilians have escaped Sri Lanka's war zone this year, nearly all of them in the last week as the military has surrounded the Tamil Tiger rebels and is trying to deal a death blow to their separatist rebellion.

Here are some questions and answers about their situation:

HOW MANY ARE TRAPPED? Full Text

Lanka Govt clearing 1000 acres of forest for 'relief village'

(newsonair)With reports of more and more people crossing over to the government controlled territory, the issue of their resettlement is now gaining ground. 8000 semi-permanent dwellings are being planned in the first phase of the proposed Vavuniya "Relief Village" to be set up by the Government for the displaced civilians. Talking to AIR, Re-settlement Minister, Mr. Rishard Bathiudeen said around 1000 acres of jungle land is being cleared for the purpose. Full Text

Wounded Sri Lankans describe chaos in north

(yahoo)TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka – Starving and trapped by fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, scores of civilians tried to flee villages in the northeastern war zone. But as they ran, the rebels opened fire, according to survivors' accounts.

Manoharan Mahendran said residents of Vishwamadu village begged to be allowed to cross into government territory last week, but the separatist Tigers blocked their path and fired indiscriminately. Full Text

58 Div locates Huge LTTE printing press - Mullaittivu

(defence.lk)Troops of 58 Division commanded by Brigadier Shavindar Silva have located a huge LTTE printing press while conducting consolidating and search operations in general area Sugandhirapuram, Mullaittivu, this morning, 11 February, military sources said.

A few printing machines were also found inside the printing press premises.Full Text

Snack packets distributed among Tamil civilians in Wanni

(defence.lk)Ministry of Defence collaborating with Sri Lanka Air Force has distributed 20000 snack packets this morning, 11 February, among the Tamil civilians who were able to reach liberated area escaping LTTE clutches during past few days.

SLAF air lifted the snack packets from Rathmanala airport and handed over to the 58 Division to be distributed them among the Tamil civilians, air force sources said. Full Text

784 more Tamil civilians reach troops of 58 Division

(defence.lk)Seven hundred and eighty four Tamil civilians who were kept as hostages by the LTTE terrorists have crossed over to liberated areas from the north of Puthukudiyirippu in Mullaittivu yesterday, 10 February, amidst heavy beating and shooting by the LTTE terrorists, defence sources said.

The innocent Tamil civilians reached troops of 58 Division, defence sources in battlefront said. Full Text

More LTTE military items found

(defence.lk)Troops have found more warlike items, left behind by the fleeing LTTE terrorists, while conducting a search and clear operation in general area Asikulam, Vavuniya yesterday, 10 February.

Following list of items was among the recoveries, defence sources said. Full Text

BJP not for LTTE

(defence.lk)The Party's participation on Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Movement (SLTPM) is based on the understanding of "zero tolerance against violence on innocent Tamil civilians", and the movement will not support for the LTTE, Explaining the party's position on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, stated Mr. Thirunavukkarasar, national secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party .Meanwhile the BJP leader denied that there were political considerations, reported in the "Hindu" editorial today(11).

Here is the full text of the editorial. Full Text

SVU donates wheelchair to handicapped child of a soldier

(defence.lk)The Seva Vanitha Unit (SVU) of the Ministry of Defence yesterday (Feb 10) donated a wheelchair to seven-year-old Naduni Imalka, the only child of a soldier with born disability.

Chairperson of the SVU, Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa made the donation at the Horagasmulla Primary School, Minuwangoda where little Imalka is schooling at present. The SVU also presented a bag of school equipment to Imalka who is very keen in studies despite her disability. Full Text

SVU donates three-wheeler for war hero

(defence.lk)Defence Ministry's Seva Vanitha Unit (SVU) donated a three-wheeler to Private Tissa Kumara, of the Gemunu Watch(GW) who has sacrificed his limbs to defend the motherland while serving in the battlefront.

The occasion was held at the Ministry premises yesterday (Feb 10). Full Text

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

All Sri Lankan citizens are welcome

Graphic1 by you.

Tamil Tigers were never serious about a political solution

(February 10, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The LTTE is also holding the civilians more or less hostage. And in the past, the LTTE has had no concerns about provoking violence on the civilians who have tried to gain legitimacy. At the same time, the military also does not seem to care much about the civilians at all. This war is being fought with much Sinhala nationalist propaganda. So it’s a very serious situation, probably the worst we’ve seen in the last couple decades. Full Text

TN parties shift focus over Lankan issue

(February 10, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Volumes have been spoken by political parties in Tamilnadu requesting the Centre to stop the war in Sri Lanka. Now that reports from the island nation claiming that the government forces are on the verge of ‘finishing off’ the LTTE with ‘the support of India’, it seems that there is a ‘sudden vacuum’ over the issue in the State.

Now, the focus is turned on saving the lives of people, who are caught in the crossfire between the army and LTTE, rather than projecting the Tigers as the ultimate protectors of Lankan Tamils and urging the government to invite them for talks. Full Text

The Vision for a United Sri Lanka

By Prof. Shelton Gunaratne

(February 11, Washington, Sri Lanka Guardian) Now that the Sri Lanka armed forces has brought the ferocious violence of the Tigers under control, prominent expatriates have already come forth to jolt the nation’s conscience into reaching the high axiological ideals that its multi-ethnic community professes as Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, or Christians. Full Text

Prabakaran :The World’s Most Wanted Man

By L. Jayasooriya

(AT)Never in the history of this world have so many nations wanted to save one man whose brutalities against humanity have been far worse than those of either Adolf Hitler or Pol Pot. Hitler killed only Jews for whatever reason, six million of them, men women and children with no mercy on even the most innocent child but he never killed any of his own kind. Pol Pot on the other hand killed one million of his own kind who happened to be educated so that he could re-build his country according to his own ideals. Full Text

The TNA Members of Parliament facing an unpredictable political future

Colombo, 11 February, (Asiantribune.com): Members of Parliament belonging to the Tamil National Alliance are in a big quandary as they are in a nonplus state and remain rudderless, as they face an unpredictable political future in the country.

The TNA, the proxy party of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – a banned entity in Sri Lanka, since of late have failed to receive the usual instructions from the Tiger leadership and are unable to decide about their next course of action. Full Text

Media, Freedom Fighters and Terrorists

(TI)During the last few weeks, the International Media, Human Rights Agencies and some western countries gave ‘slanted’ publicity to the war in Sri Lanka. As usual they showed only one side of the picture and pressured the Govt. to negotiate displaying their partiality towards them. At present , on the verge of imminent defeat the tigers are holding non-combatant civilians as human shields. The above ‘Groups’ are giving prominence to this so that the tigers will have breathing space during negotiations and strengthen themselves as in the past. If they are so concerned about human rights etc., they should call on the LTTE to release the civilians to the safer zones declared by the Govt. Full Text

LTTE’s "mercy killing"

(TI)Another human bomb has blown herself up among the Tamil civilians who had come to the government controlled area against LTTE orders. Will this be brutal enough a crime to give a jolt to those who are unshakeable in their ‘loud thinking’ that their pets are nothing more than a bit naughty? Rather, they must be feeling more upset about their pets’ lack of delicacy in not caring a jot for their frantic efforts to smuggle rapidly depleting international oxygen for their resuscitation. Full Text

When a coward tries to escape death

Prabhakaran's terror campaign has manifestly got into a tailspin. He is now convinced that Eric Solheim, Bruce Fein, Karunanidhi, Keith Vaas, Vaiko and other terror backers won't be able to throw a lifeline in time. Therefore, he does not give a damn about world opinion.

Prabhakaran is stepping up terror attacks on civilians to arrest the rapid disintegration of his human bulwark which has stood in the way of the army's final push the LTTE is not in a position to resist. Yesterday, the LTTE opened fire on a group of civilians while they were crossing over to the government-controlled areas at Puthukudiruppu killing 19 and injuring 69, some of them children. Such dastardly violence against civilians is likely to escalate in the next few days as more and more people try to escape. Full Text

We are on the ‘Path of reason’ - a reply HLS

by C. Wijeyawickrema, USA
(TI)Unless HLS thinks that a national government is not complete without a Ranil Wickremasinghe on the cabinet, Sri Lanka already has a national government with all political parties sharing executive and legislative powers. Only JVP, UNP and Prabakaran’s proxy TNA are out of it. It is not a perfect union, but a president who is a prisoner of MPs under the bahubootha constitution of JRJ has accomplished a miracle by bringing a diverse group under one umbrella. After all, Tamils now have a president who speaks to them in Tamil. This is the first time a village man became the leader of the country by popular vote. Full Text

Inter arma silent leges and Save Prabhakaran campaign – II

by Bandu de Silva
Continued from yesterday

No War mongering

(TI)It is not a story of war mongering to remind ourselves how even super powers reacted in a situation of national emergency caused by perceived threat to their territorial integrity and threat to values they believe in. ‘Democracy’ [the Four Freedoms] is its name though there are many other things hidden in it like perpetual exploitation of the poorer countries. One saw how America reacted to Pearl Harbour bombing; and by dropping Atomic bombs on the crowded cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, even after the Pacific War was almost over with no humanitarian consideration for Japanese civilians; and more recently to revenge the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Full Text

Navy nabs five Indonesians fleeing North

(TI)Five Indonesians who were in the company of the LTTE in the North and aiding and abetting them were nabbed by the Sri Lanka Navy when they were escaping to India in an Indian trawler, Sri Lankan Naval sources said

Along with the Indonesians,two LTTE cadres and two Indians were also taken into custody..Full Text

LTTE cadre discloses weapon store

(DN)A team of officers from the Kalawanchikudi STF camp acting on a tip-off arrested a hardcore terrorist named Udayakumar Kamalan who had deserted LTTE ranks at Eruvil on Friday.

Police Headquarters said following interrogation, the suspect led STF officers to a spot where explosives, firearms and other warlike goods were hidden. Full Text

We are all Sri Lankans

(DN)The 61st Independence Anniversary was commemorated in Los Angeles, USA on February 8. Following is the speech delivered by Ven. Walpola Piyananda thera.

We are here today to celebrate Sri Lanka’s sixty-first year of independence as a sovereign nation. For over four hundred years our country was used as property by European colonial masters as a way to bring their countries wealth, and during this time we suffered greatly as a people; our culture also went into a period of decline. Full Text

The devious self-righteousness of Bobby Rae

Prof. Rajiva WIJESINHA
(DN)The last couple of weeks have seen much attention to Sri Lanka on the part of politicians in the Western world. This attention is based on what they claim to be concern for suffering civilians in the North, and such concern is welcome.

However, it would have been more convincing, and thus more effective, had it not followed on months of neglect, and had it not been accompanied by gross misrepresentations of the situation. Full Text

Myth of LTTE invincibly shattered


Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama

(DN)Q. How do you look at the last phase of the war to end terrorism?

A. The northern war has clearly exposed the contradiction in our society. The UNP, INGOs, NGOs and the diplomatic community together held that war is no solution to the ongoing crisis but only a negotiated settlement could resolve the conflict. Full Text

LTTE clutching at straws

The LTTE is certainly in it’s death throes and as a last throw of the dice it is deploying suicide bombers, the most crudest weapon in it’s armoury, now that it has lost almost all it’s military hardware, Sea Tiger assets and air power to the Security Forces.

Not only that, the Government had rubbed salt to the Tiger’s wounds by displaying all the captured military hardware of the outfit at the Deyata Kirula exhibition. Surely a most rankling experience for the LTTE who made proud boasts earlier of the capture of troops’ weapons caches and armouries. Naturally Prabhakaran’s desperation may have exceeded all bounds. Full Text

Demo urges Canada to take meaningful action against LTTE

Chamikara Weerasinghe

(DN)The Jathika Hela Urumaya yesterday staged an anti-LTTE demonstration in front of the Canadian High Commission in Colombo urging the Canadian Government to take meaningful and effective action against the activities of the LTTE in Canada , with a request to arrest those pro- LTTE groups which have reportedly harassed Sri Lankan Consul General in Toronto after forcibly entering his office.

The protesters complained that LTTE supporters in Canada are conducting fund raising events and protest campaigns against the Sri Lankan Government in spite of the fact that the LTTE is a banned terrorist organisation by the Canadian Government. Full Text

The welfare of IDPs: Problems and views

By Sumaiya Rizvi and Dianne Silva

A Buddhist monk

(DM)“Whenever the terrorists are defeated they try to ride the war at the expense of civilians. That is the nature of terrorists.

The Government has rescued the people and now they have to provide them with equal rights to live as any other Sri Lankan. Although globally our conflict is portrayed as an ethnic conflict it is truly terrorism. Full Text

Has Prabhakaran an option ?

(DM)The Co -chairs of the Sri Lanka’s (SL) peace process had offered an option to Prabhakaran who is now stranded in the Mullaitivu jungles. That is, for him to save at least that small area now under his control by agreeing to peace negotiation after laying down arms. It is clear to the viewers of the Tamilnet web and from the enunciations of the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) M.P.’s that Prabhakaran however is infuriated by this proposition to lay down arms. Full Text

Prabhakaran's swansong

(DM)The megalomaniac nature of LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was demonstrated in the most brutal manner on Monday when he sent a Tiger suicide cadre huddled among the civilians who sought refuge in the government controlled areas. The female suicide cadre brainwashed by the Tigers to carry out one of the most dastardly acts exploded herself among scores of innocent and destitute women and children who had come from the LTTE controlled areas braving the most difficult and dangerous circumstances. Full Text

'Black Tiger' looked composed before wreaking havoc

(DM)COLOMBO: The young LTTE female suicide bomber, who blew herself up killing people in Sri Lanka's embattled north, sported ‘a girl next door look’ and could hardly be distinguished from the hundreds of Tamil civilians who had fled the war zone.

At least 29 people, including 10 civilians, were killed and 64 others including 40 civilians injured when the suicide bomber blew herself up at an IDP rescue centre, north of Vishvamadu in Mullaitivu yesterday. Full Text

Government questions timing of BBC, UN criticism

(DM)COLOMBO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's government on Tuesday questioned the timing of U.N. criticism of the island nation's human rights situation and defended selective use of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) programming on state radio stations.

On Monday, the BBC said it would no longer provide FM radio programming to Sri Lanka's state broadcaster (ID:NL9595891) and a panel of U.N. experts said journalists, rights defenders and lawyers in Sri Lanka lived in a "climate of fear". Full Text

Karuna yet to show cause

By Jamila Najmuddin

(DM)Parliamentarian Karuna Amman has yet to show cause for his comments made to the international media couple of weeks ago, which was critical of Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, General Secretary of the TMVP A. Kailesvararajah said.

Kailesvararajah stressed that the deadline for Mr. Amman to explain his action still remains as February 17 and failure to meet this deadline would result in Mr. Amman being removed from the party as earlier announced. Full Text

Do what I did: Pillayan tells LTTE

(DM)Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivenesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan himself a former terrorist front-liner, said the LTTE should lay down arms and enter the democratic mainstream.

“This is the last chance to show its commitment towards the Tamil people and take an example from the changes that are taking place in the Eastern Province,” he said adding that civilians should not be used as human shields in the Vanni. Full Text

Arrested for bringing suicide cadre

(DM)A 21-year-old person was arrested by the Medawachchiya police for allegedly bringing the suicide cadre responsible for the killing of Rtd. Major General Janaka Perera in October last year, the police said. Full Text

Daring rescue of civilians launched

19 fleeing civilians shot dead, more than 60 injured

By Sunil Jayasiri

(DM)The ICRC yesterday launched what was termed by some as a “daring sea rescue” of injured civilians trapped in Mullaitivu while the military separately attempted to rescue some of the civilians in the safe zone by land.

However the military said the LTTE attempted to thwart the operation by opening fire towards the fleeing civilians killing at least 19 and injuring more than 60. The critically injured were airlifted to hospitals in Anuradhapura and Vavuniya. Full Text

A Political Solution to end the Conflict in Sri Lanka: Symbolism and Substance

By Raj Gonsalkorale

(AT)Victory breeds hatred, the defeated live in pain, happily the calm live, having set victory and defeat aside.” President Mahinda Rajapaksa quoting the Dhammapada during his speech to the UN General Assembly

Often, in conflict resolution, symbolic gestures that build credibility go a long way in preparing the ground for introducing more substantive measures over time. The Sri Lankan conflict has bled the country for so long no one expects or should expect miraculous solutions overnight. However, it is important for people to know that our leaders have a vision as to how appropriate solutions can be found and how serious they are about introducing and implementing them when conditions are right to do it. In the meanwhile, they need to comfort those affected with symbolic gestures that builds trust and gives them hope. Some symbolic gestures suggested are noted below. Full Text

DILEMMA’S AT WAR’S END: THOUGHTS ON HARD REALITIES

(groundviews)With an uncertain number of Tamil ‘civilians’ trapped within the beleaguered and shrinking LTTE territory, Sri Lankan Tamils in the island as well as across the globe are understandably concerned about the fate of their brethren. Even those who are hostile to the LTTE have responded emotionally to this situation. The issue I raise is whether emotion and humanitarian concern have eclipsed realism and factuality. Full Text

India’s Sri Lanka Problem: Keeping the fingers crossed

By B. Raman

(TC)The success of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in inflicting a series of defeats on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since the middle of 2006 and in restoring the writ of the State over 95 per cent of the territory in the Tamil majority Eastern and Northern provinces, which was under the control of the LTTE, has been greeted in India with a mix of satisfaction and concern.

The satisfaction arises from the expected total defeat of the LTTE’s insurgent force, which had succeeded in virtually establishing a State within a State with its paraphernalia of an administrative structure and a so-called Army, Navy and Air Force. Its naval and air capabilities posed a threat not only to the national security of Sri Lanka, but also to the security of India and the region as a whole. Full Text

Indian Tamils safe in Sri Lanka despite war, says visitor

Ignatius Pereira

Indian Tamils have little or no contact with Sri Lankan Tamils, says

Xavier Joseph.

(TH)KOLLAM: The war between Sri Lankan forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has in no way created any problem for the Tamils of Indian origin in that country, says Xavier Joseph, who stayed there for 20 days in January.

Mr. Joseph, 50, belongs to one of the 700 Tamil families from Sri Lanka rehabilitated at Kulathupuzha, near here, under the Sirimavo-Shastri agreement of October 1964. Full Text

Amnesty International forgets that suicide bombers kill people

(PISL)The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process regrets the disregard shown for human life in the press release issued by Amnesty International regarding the suicide bombing that took the lives of 28 Sri Lankans.

The release seems to be largely the work of Yolanda Foster, now described as AI's Sri Lanka expert. Ms Foster's expertise derives from a stint in Colombo as one of the satellites revolving around the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, which was recently in the forefront of presenting Sri Lanka as a country ripe for exercise of Gareth Evans' Responsibility to Protect. Though the old warhorse Evans himself has now decided to retire, Yolanda seems inclined still to flog the R2P in Sri Lanka horse to life again. Full Text

A Rs. 20 Trillion loss due to the prevailing conflict and world recession

(Colombo Lankapuvath February 10) The country had lost Rs. 20 Trillion in its quarter century long struggle against separatist rebels, the LTTE said the Director of Economic Affairs of the Government Peace Secretariat Rohantha Athukorala.

For 35 years Sri Lanka had been fighting terrorism and has lost Rs 20 Trillion and the economy will not be able to handle anymore shocks given the fact that the world is already in recession and 60 percent of our exports go to the US and EU, said the Director. Full Text

The Cluster Bomb Game

(PISL)I was deeply shocked by news on Friday that stones had been thrown at the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The day before it had been the Indian cricketers, an appalling departure from our usual civilised behaviour as spectators. Such violence must stop, and I hope that message will go out loud and clear.

With regard to the ICRC indeed it is suggested that the violence was organised, and connected with criticisms made of the organisation by government. That is even worse - if there are problems, they should be settled through discussions and clear instructions to the ICRC as to the parameters within which they are expected to act. Full Text

The Future of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

By Sankajaya Nanayakkara

(February 10, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Sri Lankan government security forces have struck the Liberation Tigers hard. The Sinhala polity is in a state of euphoria which is rapidly morphing into hysteria. A southern consensus is emerging to sacrifice democracy and freedom for the annihilation of the dreaded Tigers. Ultimately, it is the Sinhala politicians and not the generals who have the power to bring the northern insurgency to an end. Full Text

LTTE woman suicide bomber targeted Brigadier Shavendra Silva, Commander of Sri Lanka Army’s 58 Division

Colombo, 10 February, (Asiantribune.com): It has now become very clear that the LTTE woman suicide bomber targeted Brigadier Shavendra Silva, the Commander of Sri Lanka Army’s 58 Division, but he miraculously escaped.

Brigadier Shavendra Silva subsequently vowed that he will continue with the humanitarian operation and liberate the innocent Tamil civilians languishing as hostages of the LTTE. He added that he would continue with his operation until the last innocent Tamil civilian is released from the grip of the Tiger terrorists. Full Text

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