யாழ் திரைகடலோடி

SRI LANKA SCORE SOARS IN `TAMIL BASHING` March fortnight toll: 34 Tamil civilians were killed and 24 were recorded disappeared by GoSL operated forces during the first fortnight of March. No disappearances were recorded in Batticaloa. This highlights the total blackout of information coming out of Batticaloa. This blackout is an extension of the reporting of the refugee crisis there. A Jaffna University student, a Christian pastor and his two adult sons were among those killed and disappeared. A father was shot and killed as he traveled with his wife and young child. The charts below shows the statistics for the fortnight. District …

In 1996 they were preschoolers living in Mankulam. Today Jinoshan and Rushanthini are learning Year-11 at Mankulam Maha Vidhyalayam. Their lives in the intervening decade are by no means typical for 15 year olds anywhere in the world. As four year olds they displaced with their families in 1997 as the Sri Lankan military launched an attack on Mankulam. Their families moved to Mallavi and the two started their schooling at Yohapuram Maha Vidhyalayam in Mallavi. One year later in 1998 they displaced again this time from Mallavi to Akkarayan because Mallavi came within Sri Lankan military artillery shell range. They were studying Year-3. In early 1999 they displaced a…

The tragic fate of TRO employees abducted by Karuna cadres February 3rd, 2007 By D.B.S. Jeyaraj One year has passed since the abductions and resultant disappearances of seven Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) employees took place in Welikande . Five TRO persons travelling from Batticaloa to Kilinochchi were abducted on January 29th Three were released subsequently. On the following day (30th) another TRO vehicle going from B’caloa to Kilinochchi was hi-jacked at Welikande. Five full time TRO employees and ten trainee recruits were on board. The ten rookies were released later but the other five were not. The TRO has been often accused of being a front o…

Whither Karuna, three years on? Tamil Guardian 07 March 2007 Amid changing political and military dynamics, the former LTTE commander contends with his backers´dislliusionment. When Karuna (Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan), then one of the Tamil Tigers’ top commanders, broke away from the LTTE, exactly three years ago, his rebel yell was ‘freeing the east from the domination of the north.’ At the time, the expectation amongst many - not just his fellow rebels - was that Karuna, as leader of a new Tamil outfit in the east, was going to play a role comparable to LTTE leader Veluppillai Pirapaharan. Karuna attempted to gain recognition as another par…

Dayan new Geneva Ambassador Well known political analyst Dayan Jayatilleka is tipped to be appointed as the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Geneva shortly, diplomatic sources said yesterday. Jayatilleka was a lecturer in political science at the Colombo University, a journalist and a maverick politician who was a member of the North-East Provincial Council. He was closely associated with the election campaign of President Mahinda Rajapksa during the last election. Also, Pradeep Gunawardena, the Consul in Los Angeles is nominated to be made the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington. Gunawardena was appointed the Consul in Los Angeles by former Foreign Minister Tyronne Ferna…

IDP’s from Five Camps in B’Caloa Forcibly Removed to Muthur in Thirty Buses. DBS Displaced persons staying at five refugee camps in Batticaloa district were forcibly removed to Trincomalee district in a sudden “operation” masterminded by an Assistant Superintendent of Police around noon on Thursday March 15th. Though exact figures are not known NGO sources said that nearly a thousand people were taken against their will in thirty buses to Trincomalee district. The Batticaloa district Government Agent or divisional secretaries were not informed of this action by the authorities concerned. An NGO official said that civil administration officials in B’ca…

SL Foreign Minister to visit India Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama will be visiting India on Sunday. The two sides are expected to discuss ways for more effective patrolling of the maritime border. Bogollagama’s three-day visit will include talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on a wide range of issues, particularly relating to the security situation in the island nation which has a bearing on India. The Lankan Minister will update India about the steps being taken by his government to ensure survival of the peace process in the face of upsurge in violence by LTTE. Sri Lanka has been concerned over LTTE rebels …

Colombo forcing refugees to return home- Rights Group Sri Lankan authorities are using threats and intimidation to force civilians who fled recent fighting in Sri Lanka’s civil war to return home," Human Rights Watch said today. "To pressure individuals to return home, government officials and military personnel have threatened to withdraw humanitarian aid, food and other essential supplies," the Rights body further said. http://www.tamilnet.com/

Singala military is in serious danger and they don't even know it! All these singala war mongers who are cheering the "victories after victories" in the east are 1/2 drunk and 1/2 mad. Rajapaksa is another singala modaya. These ppl are not understanding how endangered they are. This 'eastern onslought' can easily lead to singala nationalism's downfall. Why? Most of the tigers from the East are now in Wanni leaving behind hit and run groups in the East. Even batticoloa could fall completly - but by then most of the tigers could have gone to the Wanni. Batiicoloa and Amparai are the least stratigical places when we look at the history of this war. Mannar ha…

Displaced persons staying at five refugee camps in Batticaloa district were forcibly removed to Trincomalee district in a sudden “operation” masterminded by an Assistant Superintendent of Police around noon on Thursday March 15th. Though exact figures are not known NGO sources said that nearly a thousand people were taken against their will in thirty buses to Trincomalee district. The Batticaloa district Government Agent or divisional secretaries were not informed of this action by the authorities concerned. An NGO official said that civil administration officials in B’caloa were totally in the dark when informed of the incident. A Sinhala speaking ASP had come …

SLA attacks Vavuniya Mannar border villages [TamilNet, Thursday, 15 March 2007, 11:02 GMT] Sri Lanka Army Thursday morning launched heavy artilery and mortar fire towards Mannar Vavuniya border villages Mullikulam, Keerisuddan and Periya Pandivirichchan causing hundreds of civilian families to flee the villages, according to initial reports in Vanni. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) have carried out three aerial attaks in Mullaithivu district till Thursday noon. Artillery and mortar fire from Iranai Iluppaikulam, 20 km northwest of Vavuniya targeted villages surrounding Mullikulam, 10 km north inside Liberation Tigers controlled territory in Madu DS divisi…

LONDON (AFP) - Amnesty International said on Tuesday that there were armed groups roaming camps for displaced people in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Batticaloa, and kidnapping residents. Citing its own sources, which it did not identify, Amnesty said that some of the groups were part of the Karuna faction -- a breakaway rebel group -- and their presence in the camps were tolerated by Sri Lankan authorities because of the group's help in the military campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels. The London-based human rights group's warning came as government security forces continued their offensive into a Tiger stronghold that extends from Batticaloa to the neigh…

தற்போதைய படை நடவடிக்கைளால் இடம்பெயர்ந்து படைக்கட்டுப்பாட்டுப் பகுதிக்குச் சென்ற மக்கள் தங்கியுள்ள முகாம்களிற்கு ஆயுதங்களுடன் கறுணா கும்பலைச் சேர்ந்தோர் ஊடுருவுவதாக சர்வதேச மன்னிப்புச் சபை தெரிவித்துள்ளது. Sri Lanka: Armed groups infiltrating refugee camps Press release, 03/14/2007 Armed groups, some identified as part of a breakaway group of Tamil Tigers known as the Karuna faction, are infiltrating camps for newly displaced people and abducting residents, according to sources known to Amnesty International. Tens of thousands of people have been fleeing their homes after intense fighting in the eastern region of Batticaloa over the weekend, pushing the n…

Indian military aid condemned "Indian government, or more specifically the Hindi politicians who dominate the Indian parliament and thus control Indian foreign policy and military decisions, is somewhat afraid of Tamil Nadu's reaction to its military aid to Sri Lanka. [Note: Hindi politicians do not have a majority in parliament but have the highest number of members. They are able to astutely control major decisions in alliance with other groups.] So the Indian government provides the military assistance covertly while issuing public statements that it has a hands-off policy towards the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict. If and when such assistance is exposed, India routin…

By Simon Gardner COLOMBO (Reuters) - A Sri Lankan government probe into the massacre last year of 17 aid workers that international truce monitors have blamed on the military is beset with shortcomings, an international rights group cautioned on Friday. Authorities are still probing the execution-style killings of local staff of French aid group Action Contre La Faim -- the worst attack on humanitarian workers since a 2003 suicide bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad killed 22 U.N. staff. But so far police have failed to properly explore the possibility that troops rather than Tamil Tiger rebels could have been responsible and forensic evidence was o…

Anuradhapura SLA commander killed in gunfire ambush [TamilNet, Friday, 09 March 2007, 14:15 GMT] Sri Lanka Army Commander of the Anuradhapura area, Colonel Shurawera and three of his men along with national park wardon Wasantha Pushpananda and 3 employees were killed in a gunfire ambush in inside the Wilpattu wildlife sactuary around 10:30 a.m. Friday, military officials in Colombo said. A group of SLA soldiers who went to search for their missing commander had located 8 dead bodies. Two vehicles, including the vehicle of the SLA commander, were missing. The Wilpattu wildlife sanctuary, which remained closed for nearly 14 years due to the war, was r…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6380817.stm

Maya Arulpragasam known as M.I.A. Biggest thing in Asian Female Hip Hop. Read about her and see her new music video Bird Flu. Click Here To See The Music Video http://www.voicetamil.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122&Itemid=59 Hailing from Sri Lanka via London, M.I.A. is Maya Arulpragasam. Her early underground singles, ‘Galang’ and ‘Sunshowers’, shocked listeners with sharp lyrics about urban unease thrown on top of raw beats you could dance to, and in late 2004, as she finished her debut album for XL Recordings, she released a hip-hop style promotional mixtape showcasing her distinctive vocal style and quirky rapping over dan…

ATTN- Tamil gangs tackled from 'within' ! By Debabani Majumdar BBC News, London Samurai swords are often the weapon of choice for gang members For a 26-year-old, Abhya's face seems to have too many scars. "That was someone trying to take my eye out with a broken beer bottle," he said pointing to the circular scar almost encircling his right eye. "And this here was a cut from a samurai sword," he added, showing a cut which extends from his hairline to his right eyebrow. The scar sent shivers down my spine, but Abhya, who did not want to be identified, describes a confrontation with a rival group at a wedding in 2005 in Ilford, east Lo…

2ND LEAD (Correction) 5 bodies found in Anuradhapura [TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 March 2007, 08:23 GMT] Villagers in Sembukulam Grama Sevaka (GS) division in Anuradhapura District in the North Central Province Tuesday morning found 5 bodies bundled together. The upper parts of the bodies have been burnt in the pyre of tyres, according to Thirappane Police who recovered the bodies around 6:30 a.m. following the information from the villagers. Earlier, on Friday and Saturday, 6 bodies were recovered by the Kandana police from Muthurajawela shrub area in South, and the identities of the deceased is yet to be established. Anuradhapura magistrate Wasantha Jinadasa has …

Sri Lanka-US sign security pact Sri Lanka government expressed optimism that India would support the logistical agreement signed with the United States on Monday. Defence affairs spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told BBC Sandeshaya that the details of the agreement to be revealed “in due course”. “We have informed India about this agreement and they are very supportive,” the minister added. “The agreement will increase interoperability between the two countries” a press release issued by the US embassy in Colombo said. Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake signed The Acquisition and Cross-Ser…

Defence Support 05 March 2007 16:07:01 Sri Lanka and United States sign reciprocal military logistics deal March 05 (LBO) – Sri Lanka and the United States has signed a deal to give reciprocal logistical support for the military forces of the two countries, the US embassy in Colombo said Monday. The 10-year agreement which will provide a framework for increased interoperability of the forces of the two countries has been signed between Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa and U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake. "The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) will allow the United States and Sri Lanka to transfer and excha…

Make money on Internet Dear Friends, I recently joined AGLOCO because of a friend recommended it to me. I am now promoting it to you because I like the idea and I want you to share in what I think will be an exciting new Internet concept. AGLOCO’s story is simple: Do you realize how valuable you are? Advertisers, search providers and online retailers are paying billions to reach you while you surf. How much of that money are you making? NONE! AGLOCO thinks you deserve a piece of the action. AGLOCO collects money from those companies on behalf of its members. (For example, Google currently pays AOL 10 cents for every Google search by an …

In the wake of the heavy defeat to the LTTE terrorism in the North-East Sector LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is to run away from Sri Lanka, Foreign Employment Promotion and welfare Minister, National Security spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said when he called on the Mahanayake Theros of Malwatte and Asgiriya yesterday (08). According to information prabhakaran is to leave for South Africa, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddharatha Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte. Prabhakaran will have refuge or even welcome in South Africa since South African countries supported the international LTTE terrorism, M…

Sri Lanka government gains support of Buddhist monks By Somini Sengupta Published: February 23, 2007 E COLOMBO: With full-scale war blossoming once more in a country beset by a quarter century of ethnic conflict, an ever more assertive government has found a sturdy ally in what might seem an unexpected source: hard-line Buddhist monks. The monks have long been active in Sri Lanka's deeply polarized politics, but for the first time they have joined the governing coalition with their own political party. Called the Jathika Hela Urumaya, or National Heritage Party, they now hold 9 seats in Sri Lanka's 225-member Parliament. The party sits at the extreme …