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President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Cabinet that intelligence on the Galle attack by the LTTE had reached defence circles including Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa two days ago and security was stepped up from Pottuvil up to Galle. However he said that according to the intelligence the attack was expected to take place at night and the police were on the lookout till 6.00 a.m on that day. http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/10/20/index.asp

OPINION The Hidden Sea Tigers The LTTE attack at Galle came a few days before the arrival of a fresh consignment of arms and ammunition from Pakistan and seems aimed to demonstrate the continuing naval capability and to scare foreign tourists B. RAMAN | e-mail | one page format | feedback: send - read | The Sea Tigers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) took the Sri Lankan Navy completely by surprise early on the morning of October 18, 2006, by successfully penetrating a naval base and a commercial harbour at Galle in southern Sri Lanka and destroying three naval boats in the base. One sailor and one civilian were killed…

Suicide Raid on Sri Lanka Navy Base Kills 16 Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels attacked a naval base in an apparent suicide mission in the southern city of Galle on Wednesday, leading to at least 16 deaths and triggering brief looting of minority Tamil shops. Wednesday, October 18, 2006 News Photos: See the latest news as it happens with photos on demand! COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels attacked a naval base in an apparent suicide mission in the southern city of Galle on Wednesday, leading to at least 16 deaths and triggering brief looting of minority Tamil shops. It was the latest in a series of blows to an already battered peace proc…

The Rediff Interview | Tamil editor N Vithyatharan October 17, 2006 N Vithyatharan is the editor of Jaffna's largest selling Tamil daily, Uthayan. A few months ago, the man who has met elusive Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supremo V Prabhakaran 'several times' in his jungle hideouts was urged by President Mahinda Rajapakse to convince the LTTE leader to resume the aborted peace talks. Prabhakaran refused. Over 1,500 people have died in the violence that erupted since the talks broke down in April -- on Monday, October 16, an LTTE suicide bomber rammed a truck laden with explosives into a naval convoy, killing 92 sailors, perhaps the worst act of terro…

US condemns Habarana attack on SL Navy Sean McCormack, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State. The United States Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, Sean McCormack, has condemned the "suicide attack" Monday near Habarana in Sri Lanka. "Though there have been no claims of responsibility this attack is in keeping with the tactics of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam," a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka said Tuesday. "Only through the cessation of violence, a renewed commitment to peace talks, and constructive engagement by both sides can a political solution to this conflict b…

Muhamalai debacle: The shocking story President, NSC and JOH were not aware of Wednesday's ill-planned operation Hundreds of soldiers trapped in the killing fields of the LTTE Disastrous operation reverses military successes of recent weeks and embarrasses Govt. By Iqbal Athas A photograph in a Tamil website shows Tiger guerrillas in the process of retrieving one of Army's Main Battle Tanks that was stuck in a soggy ditch. Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar's telephone rang on Wednesday morning. It was a senior member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) complaining that the Security Forces had launched a major military offensive…

Thousands of people have been attending mass ceremonies in India at which hundreds of low-caste Hindus (Dalits) converted to Buddhism and Christianity. The events in the central city of Nagpur are part of a protest against the injustices of India's caste system. By converting, Dalits - once known as Untouchables - can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face. The ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Buddhism by the scholar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. He was the first prominent Dalit to urge low-caste Indians to embrace Buddhism. As the chief architect of India's constitution, he wrote anti-discrimination provisio…

CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, accompanied by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka flew to Jaffna Friday (13) in the aftermath of the confrontations between government forces and LTTE terrorists in MUHAMALE. Both military chiefs met Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, Divisional Commanders, Brigade Commanders and Unit Commanders to review existing contingency plans and other areas that led to high casualty rates among soldiers. தகவல் தந்தது சிறீலங்கா இராணுவ இணையத்தளம்.

Military clears arms export to Lanka SUJAN DUTTA New Delhi, Oct. 10: The Indian armed forces have cleared military hardware for export to Sri Lanka, among other countries, after Colombo requested a number of items. The chief of naval staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, told The Telegraph in an interview here today that military items for export had been “cleared for security”. The clearance is not specifically for items requested by Sri Lanka but also covers them. “The policy so far has been not to give them (Sri Lanka) offensive weapons. But our instructions from the government are we must do everything to protect the sovereignty and integrity …

A mesmerising story of innocence and brutality. Gajaani became an LTTE member at 19, and has spent the last 13 years as one of its official war photographers. Scorching in its simplicity, her highly unusual account tracks the making of a soldier I grew up in the 1970s in Kilinoch-chi, Sri Lanka, where I was born. Kilinochchi was a remote area then, a place with a small population and very poor infrastructure. My parents talk of it as a peaceful time, but the problems in my country were already beginning. During the riots in 1983, we had relatives in Colombo who were taken in by Sinhalese friends. But a mob stormed the house where they were hiding — six of my fam…

Heavy deployment of Sri Lankan armed forces is reported in Thenmaradchi and Vadamaradchi East along the Northern Front Saturday, LTTE sources said. The Peace Secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Saturday night, in an urgent communiqué to the Head of SLMM, informed Sri Lanka's military build-up and urged the monitors to take immediate steps to visit Muhamalai FDL and confirm Sri Lanka's preparations for the offensive. LTTE's Political Head told TamilNet that LTTE is concerned of SLMM's limited access to Muhamalai. An unhindered access is vital for a fair and neutral judgement on the SLA offensive that will likely lead to a full-scale war, Thamilchelv…

2ND LEAD SLA launches new offensive towards Vaharai [TamilNet, Friday, 06 October 2006, 05:21 GMT] Sri Lankan forces have launched a new offensive towards Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Vaharai region Friday morning. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops from Mankerni SLA camp advanced into LTTE controlled territory south of Vaharai with heavy artillery shelling, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombardment and rocket fire from the Sri Lanka Navy gunboats, according to civilian sources. Thousands of civilians, most of them recently displaced from Trincomalee, were struggling to flee to safer areas. Civilian casualty figures are yet to be reported. Heavy f…

Are Sampur Tamils children of a lesser god? By D.B.S. Jeyaraj President Mahendra Percy Rajapakse received thunderous applause from party delegates on September 4th during the 55th session of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in Colombo when he announced that the security forces had re-taken the Tamil majority town of Sampur in the Muttur East division of Trincomalee District. Raja-pakse said: "Our armed forces have captured Sampur for the welfare and benefit of the people living there." While most sections of the media projected the Sampur victory as a militaristic success over theLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) some analysts complimented Rajapakse on …

Accused of supporting Tamil Tigers Faces extradition to the United States Sep. 27, 2006. 01:00 AM THULASI SRIKANTHAN STAFF REPORTER After more than a month in custody, Tamil Tiger suspect Piratheepan Nadarajah was released on nearly $750,000 bail yesterday. "My client feels extremely relieved. It's been an extremely difficult situation for him," said David Berg, a Toronto lawyer who represents Nadarajah. "He's gratified that his family, friends and employer all came to his assistance." Nadarajah, 30, of Brampton still faces extradition to the United States on terrorism charges. U.S. court documents allege he is a "scientist" and a technical …

Some say terror label prolongs Sri Lanka war By jared ferrie Publish Date: 28-Sep-2006 The streets of Jaffna were lined with government soldiers. Posted every 50 metres, leaning up against pockmarked walls, or standing in the thin shadow of a tree in the blazing sun. They rode slowly by on bicycles, in the back of tractor trailers, and cruised past in truck convoys. Within months of this early summer scene, the uneasy calm would erupt into open battle with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the Tamil Tigers, or LTTE). There were checkpoints all the way from Jaffna town southeast to the peninsula’s narrow Elephant Pass. Since 1998, …

US Congressman advocates autonomy for Tamils New Jersey Congressman, Frank Pallone, speaking to the House Wednesday night, supported Norway, Co-chairs' call for unconditional talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers, advocated autonomy for Tamils, and endorsed U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher's statement "though we reject the methods that the Tamil Tigers have used, there are legitimate issues raised by the Tamil community and they have a legitimate desire to control their own lives, to rule their own destinies, and to govern themselves in their homeland.'' Full text of the speech follows: …

Indian and Eelam Tamils are Hindu terrorists: Musharraf. [ Gjd;fpoik, 27 bnrk;gH 2006 ] [ fpU;zg;gps;is ] Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says he is against use of the term Islamist terrorists or "Islamo-fascists" as such labelling can then be used for other terrorist outfits as well, like the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka who are Hindus. "Does one call terrorists in Sri Lanka Hindu terrorists? Why is Pakistan's bomb called an Islamist bomb? Why is India's bomb not called a Hindu bomb and that of Israel as a Jewish bomb?" Musharraf asked. "Pakistani people are certainly for fighting terrorism, but they somehow are not happy with relations with the United S…

Aid workers in Sri Lanka face escalating risk and red tape International NGOs dealing with the tsunami's aftermath and renewed fighting get an increasingly hostile reception. By Anuj Chopra | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor MUTTUR, SRI LANKA – Although the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan government recently expressed interest in renewed negotiations, the specter of brutal killings, abductions, and disappearances continues to hang over the island nation. Just last week, 11 Muslim civilians were killed in the eastern province of Ampara. International and local aid workers dealing with the humanitarian crises created by the conflict as well as the…

Why not call terrorists in Sri Lanka Hindu terrorists? : Musharraf By IANS Tuesday September 26, 01:19 PM Washington, Sep 26 (IANS) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says he is against use of the term Islamist terrorists or 'Islamo-fascists' as such labelling can then be used for other terrorist outfits as well, like the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka who are Hindus. 'Does one call terrorists in Sri Lanka Hindu terrorists? Why is Pakistan's bomb called an Islamist bomb? Why is India's bomb not called a Hindu bomb and that of Israel as a Jewish bomb?' Musharraf asked. 'Pakistani people are certainly for fighting terrorism, but they somehow are not h…

2ND LEAD Sea Tigers battle navy, complete mission - LTTE [TamilNet, Monday, 25 September 2006, 10:23 GMT] A large number of Sea Tiger vessels completed an unspecified mission Sunday night, despite a five hour battle with the Sri Lanka navy (SLN). Liberation Tigers Military Spokesman Irasaiah Ilanthirayan, confirming fierce fighting between 25 boats of a Sea Tiger squadron and more than 20 SLN gunboats in the seas off Pulmoddai, dismissed the SLN claims that it had inflicted "heavy casualties" on the LTTE. Three Sea Tigers were killed. "Sea Tiger squadrons would continue their patrol missions as usual," the military spokesman of the LTTE said. Military Sp…

A law has come into force in India changing the name of the federal territory of Pondicherry - which will now be called Puducherry. Officials say the move is to reflect the indigenous history of the region. Puducherry, which means "new village", was the original Tamil name before it was changed by the French. It was a French colony for more than 200 years, becoming part of the modern Indian state in 1963, 16 years after India's independence. Several Indian cities have been renamed in recent years to reflect local languages and nationalist sentiment - including Mumbai for Bombay and Chennai for Madras. BBC News

2ND LEAD (CORRECTION, UPDATE) "White van" squad kills TNA MP's bodyguard [TamilNet, Sunday, 24 September 2006, 09:21 GMT] Amparai District Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian K. Pathmanathan's security official was shot and killed Sunday morning by gunmen riding in a white van at Vinayagapuram in Thirukkovil in Amparai District, Police said. Sri Lankan counter-insurgency Special Task Force (STF) checkpost is located 100 meters from the site where the bodyguard was slain, according to civilian sources at Vinayakapuaram. The deceased, Kunchithamby Kuvendran, 38, a father of two, has been serving as body guard for the TNA M.P for Amparai district K. Pathmana…

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Tamils stage peace vigil TAMILS in Harrow staged a peaceful vigil outside the Civic Centre yesterday (Thursday) to highlight the plight of Tamils in their native Sri Lanka. Similar protests were held in every London borough. Councillor Thaya Idaikaddar (Labour, Roxeth ward), who staged a five-day fast for peace outside the Houses of Parliament in June, said: "We collected something like 380 signatures and I reckon we had about 700 people throughout the day. continued... "I made a simple speech asking people not to forget those who are suffering in our country just because we have moved here." The event was organised by the North Harrow-based Britis…