Rama Mani, NGOs, and Foreign Relations

The main focus of this article is on the external aspect of the Rama Mani case, more specifically on the damage that it can do to our foreign relations. But it is relevant for my purposes to begin with a brief observation on its internal aspect.

Reportedly Ms Mani had received a letter dismissing her with immediate effect from the post of Director at the ICES. Apparently no opportunity was given to her to defend herself against any charges prior to the issue of that letter, which can therefore be taken as outraging the norms of natural justice. However, she was reinstated in her post by a further letter and asked to continue for the full term for which she had contracted.

Worth emphasising is that she had received strong support from the ICES staff, who had given her a grand send-off even though it was known that she was being ordered out of the country by the Government.

There is in humanity a deep love of justice. There is also in humanity a deep love of injustice. Otherwise we cannot explain why injustices are committed all over the world practically all the time, and at the same time injustices are corrected.

Read more,
http://www.island.lk/2008/02/25/features5.html

The Government turns its’ back on fishermen

Over 10 thousand Sri Lankan fishermen, a large slice of the national economy, are suffering because of Government policies. The warning comes from Premasiri Manage, a member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a party that contributed to the rise to power of current president Mahinda Rajapakse.

The politician, who is also a member of the All Island General Fisheries Federation, explained the problem during a press conference held in Colombo on February 22nd.

“The government – charged Manage – is not paying sufficient attention to this sector of workers”. The Federation is threatening a national protest, if Colombo continues to favour large foreign fishing fleet’s exploitation of Sri Lankan waters and does not block importation of fish products, which has led to the plummeting price of fish and made it impossible for local fishermen to compete. “One fishing trip of medium length – the politician underlined – costs our fisherman up to 1300 Euros”.

Read more,
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=11607&size=A

Indonesia issues tsunami warning after earthquake

INDONESIA issued a tsunami warning today after a powerful quake struck off the western coast of Sumatra island.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 and had the "potential to cause a tsunami," Indonesia's geophysics agency said in a statement.

Extracted from,
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200802/20080225/article_349933.htm
Tsunami Messages for the Indian Ocean here,
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/messages/indian/2008/indian.2008.02.25.085024.txt

Anandasangaree deplores aerial attack on civilians at Poonakari

While deploring the aerial attack on Kiranchi, Poonakari, which led to the civilian casualties, V. Anandasangaree, President of the Tamil United Liberation Front pointed out that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was blood thirsty and is all out to shed innocent blood and what they wanted is a “backlash.”

In a statement, Anandasangaree said, I am deeply concerned about the civilian casualties in this aerial attack in which men, women and small children numbering eight were killed and fourteen injured, some of whom are very serious and awaiting at the Kilinochchi Hospital to be transferred for specialized treatment elsewhere.

He said that he did not dispute the fact that there was a Sea Tiger base, may be along the coast. He added, “What I wish to know is whether it is the fault of the innocent civilians if the LTTE cowardly and foolishly locate their base in the midst of civilian population?”

Anandasangaree emphasized in a similar situation it was obligatory on the part of the Government Forces to safeguard the civilians at any cost.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/9739

Air Strike on Sea Tiger Base; 10 cadres killed

Air Force pounded on the Sea Tiger base located in Kilinochchi West in KIRANCHI using fighter jet aircraft on February 22, around 8.15 a.m. Consequently naval intelligence sources revealed that it was a women’s Sea Tiger training camp and that ten terrorists including self-styled Lt. Colonel Kalai Arasi a female Sea tiger instructor Major Thuwarika and Lt. Senthamani were killed and 09 were wounded.

Kalai Arasi is also the custodian of the LTTE Sea Tiger fighter craft called “Surali” to which 02, 200 HP engines are fixed. Many LTTE fighter crafts had been damaged by Air Force bombing.

Further naval intelligence revealed this location covering 2 KM area has been declared by the LTTE as a High Security Zone to which civilians are prohibited from entering.

Extracted from,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=10807

SLAF Bombs Mannar LTTE’s Leaders Camp

SRI LANKA FIR FORCE (SLAF) fighter craft this morning (24) bombed LTTE’s MANNAR area commanders camp in PARAPPAKANDANTHAN, MANNAR five kms north of GIANT TANK at about 9.00 a.m.

Extracted from,
http://army.lk/morenews.php?id=11007

Three die in Sri Lanka suicide bombing

Three people were killed in an apparent suicide attack in Sri Lanka's restive east while security forces threw a security blanket over the capital to prevent new attacks, officials said.

A suspected Tiger suicide bomber riding a motorcycle crashed into another motorbike carrying two rival militants in Batticaloa district 300 kilometres (190 miles) east of Colombo.

"One man detonated the explosive immediately after crashing into the other bike, killing all three of them," a local military official told AFP by telephone.

The two victims were from a Tamil Tiger breakaway faction that is contesting local polls on March 10.

Read more,
http://afp.google.com/article/

Man carrying diesel for LTTE arrested (Rameswaram)

Rameswaram: A 30-year-old man carrying a can of diesel meant for the LTTE, was arrested at a coastal village in the district on Saturday as he was waiting for a Sri Lankan boat to pick him up, police said.

Police said that Mathia Maller (30) was waiting for a boat when he was arrested at Mudalmunai village. A can containing 40 litres of diesel was seized from him, they said

Police said Maller had smuggled diesel for the LTTE several times. He has now been lodged in prison.

Extracted from,
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14609574

Bus Bomb Blast on Mount Lavinia Video (News)

Exrtacted from,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XXYVJdKDlI

Bus Bomb Blast on Mount Lavinia Photos

Extracted from,
http://www.defence.lk/
http://army.lk/
http://www.lankatruth.com/

LTTE violates Children's Rights - Human Rights Watch

International human rights group- Human Rights Watch claim that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam - LTTE has failed to release the children from its ranks by December 31, 2007, the deadline it agreed to under the terms of an action plan signed on October 15, 2007.

“The LTTE has ignored repeated appeals to end its use of child soldiers,” said Joe Becker, children's rights advocate at HRW.

The LTTE, who claims to be the guardians of the entire Tamil community abducted thousands of children from their schools and use them in their war fronts. While doing so, this self-elected Liberator of Tamils could "liberate" hundreds of Tamil children at their front defence lines.

The security forces have found letters written by some of them, in which they have heavily criticized and cursed the LTTE leadership for ruining their lives.

LTTE still maintain several brigades which are totally run by child soldiers. The tragedy here is to see that the children of LTTE leaders are enjoying special privileges while the children of the poor are forced to the war fronts.

Read more,
http://www.sinhalaya.com/news/english/wmview.php?ArtID=14865

Bomb explosion at Mt'Lavinia junction

A bomb has been exploded inside a bus at the Mt'Lavinia junction around 10.55 a.m. today (23 February) injuring seventeen civilians (9 males, 7 females and a child). As per the sources the private bus has been completely destroyed in the explosion and a motor cycle in the vicinity has also been damaged.

Police is conducting further investigations

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080223_04

Bomb explosion at Mt'Lavinia junction

A bomb has been exploded inside a bus at the Mt'Lavinia junction around 10.55 a.m. today (23 February) injuring three civilians. As per the sources the private bus has been completely destroyed from the explosion and a motor cycle has also been damaged.

As per the Police sources, when the conductor has observed an unattended parcel under the back seat of the bus (No. WP NB 5665) plying from Moratuwa to Colombo, they have stopped the bus and evacuate the passengers to safety. As the conductor and driver had gone to inform the police station about the suspicious parcel, the bomb has exploded. Because of the vigilance and the wise action taken by the conductor and the driver, a major tragedy has been averted.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080223_04

Fighter jets pound on LTTE Military base - Oddusudan

Sri Lankan Air force fighter jets pounded on a key LTTE military base 11 Km north east of Oddusudan today (23 February) at about 6.35 a.m.

Pilots have confirmed that the LTTE Military base has been accurately hit and the base is completely destroyed.

Extracted from,
http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080223_03