Surrendered LTTE militants want to leave country

The LTTE militants and sympathisers who have surrendered are putting pressure on the Sri Lankan government to arrange for overseas jobs for them, fearing assassination at the hands of the Tamil Tigers for having deserted the outfit.

"We always fear for our life by the LTTE though we have been put up in well guarded buildings," the former LTTE activists told a group of journalists here recently.

One of them even threatened to commit suicide if he was not sent out of the camp soon for a job abroad.

"My family is managing by selling our remaining ornaments. We cannot last long. I have seven dependents. If I am not given an overseas job along with a air ticket you may find me hanging," a former Tiger rebel said.

According to officials some of them were in a mentally disturbed state, after having worked under tough and hostile conditions for the Tigers.

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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804131551.htm

Lanka eyes countries other than India for importing rice

With ballooning inflation in India and the government banning export of non-basmati rice, Sri Lankan importers are now looking for other options to bridge the island country's demand-supply gap for the grain.

"Despite the positive developments regarding importing rice from India, our traders have been told by their Indian counterparts that they have not yet received the clearance for rice exports," the spokesman for a leading importing body said here.

The Sri Lankan government is now working to get one lakh metric tonnes of rice from Myanmar with 30,000 tonnes of the consignment expected to arrive here next month, Old Moor Street Traders Association, President, K Palaniandy, said.

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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/International_Business/

Sri Lankan rebel's defense line captured by gov't troops

A rebel's defense line in the north western district of Mannar was captured by the Sri Lankan government troops in a battle with the Tamil Tigers, a military spokesman said on Sunday.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the military spokesman said the troops launched a 4-pronged offensive at the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forward defense line at Mannar on Saturday.

"We attacked them from 4 different positions north of Yodawewa (giant tank) and Adampan. The LTTE fled the area as we kept on firing them", Nanayakkara said.

He said that 36 rebels were killed and 56 others were injured in Mannar and another clash in the northern Vavuniya on Sunday. The Army lost 6 soldiers and 25 others were injured.

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/13/content_7968004.htm

Norwegian Government Funding for LTTE Film - My Daughter the Terrorist

The 50 minute documentary Min Datter Terroristen (my Daughter the Terrorist) attempts to glorify the motivations of two Black Tiger women. The documentary follows the training and indoctrination of Dharsika and Puhalchudar (possibly not the real names) for a suicide mission against the Sri Lankan state.

The main emphasis of the documentary is to give some pseudo-justification to the act of suicide terrorism by the LTTE. Sections of the documentary are narrated by Maria (actor playing the role of Mother).

The documentary has been produced/co-directed by two Norwegian nationals Mr.Morten Daae and Ms. Beate Arnestad. Interestingly, Ms Arnestad states that she used a false name Ms Smith when she traveled to Sri Lanka to make the film. Ms. Arnestad has blatantly breached Sri Lankan immigration regulations and also media guidelines for visiting journalists as prescribed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The camera crew was led by Norwegian Frank Alvegg. The Production Company is Snitt Film Production based in Oslo , Norway .

The international rights for the documentary is managed by TV2 World ( Denmark ), Rugaardsvej 25, 5100 Odense , Denmark . As at December 2006, the broadcasting rights to the documentary have been purchased by Radio-Canada Television ( Canada ), TV2 ( Denmark ), Al-Arabia (Satellite Television covering the Middle East), NHK-BS1 ( Japan ) and TV2 ( Norway ).

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http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/10537

Pro-LTTE movie screened in US

Sri Lankan Ambassador in the United States Bernard Goonetilleke has lodged a strong protest over the screening of the film My Daughter The Terrorist at a premier US film festival recently.

The film, a documentary on the lives and faiths of two female Black Tigers produced by Norwegian filmmaker Beate Arnestad, was featured in a documentary film festival in Durham, North Carolina on April 4.

Over 100 documentaries were screened during the four day film festival held from April 3 to 6.
Ambassador Goonetilleke has lodged Sri Lanka’s strong protest over the screening of the film in a letter addressed to both the US State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Extracted from,
http://www.nation.lk/2008/04/13/news3.htm

JVP split could bring greater Indian involvement in Sri Lanka: Expert

The split in the anti-Indian political party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), may pave the way for greater Indian involvement in finding a solution to the vexed ethnic question in Sri Lanka, says Sri Lankan researcher Anupama M. Ranawana.

Writing in the latest issue of Groundviews Ranawana points out that the majority Sinhalese community have been very wary and disapproving of Western mediation, but have consistently welcomed Indian initiatives.

“The situation has become more conducive to Indian involvement in the wake of the fractious split in the JVP, which has always been a strong critic of India, ” the author, who is attached to Colombo’s Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), says.

With 11 of the 37 MPs of the JVP taking a moderate stance, the party’s anti-Indian plank is bound to be weakened. The JVP has consistently opposed India’s efforts to encourage the Rajapaksa government to devolve power to the minority Tamils. With the JVP’s voice weakened, the Sri Lankan public will take kindly to an Indian face on a foreign mediator, says Ranawana.

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http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

Story behind the Army's new rockets

Some international organizations have charged that the Sri Lanka Army bought 10,000 missiles from Slovakia against European Union laws. This is completely false. The procurement and storage of these weapons occurred outside of Slovakia, in a non EU country.

The weapons procured were 122mm Rockets for the Army's RM-70 (RaketoMet 1970) Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers bought at $180 a piece. They are military surplus and are not missiles in the sense that they are unguided rockets.

The country formerly known as Czechoslovakia split into two countries in 1993. One country is now known as the Czech Republic while the other is known as Slovakia.

With the breakdown of the Warsaw Pact, armies of the former Communist Block were downsized. These countries had to conform to NATO regulations in order to join the European Union, hence they commenced what is called a 'Liquidation program'.

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http://defencewire.blogspot.com/

Vatican informed of LTTE presence in Madhu church

The Mannar diocese has expressed concern over the heavy LTTE presence in the Madhu church sanctuary and the church premises and brought to the notice of the Vatican the overall situation in the sacred area, Vicar General of the Mannar diocese Rev. Fr. Victor Sosai said.

Commenting on the present situation in the Madhu church premises Rev. Victor Sosai told the Sunday Observer since the statue of Our Lady of Madhu was removed for safety to St. Francis Xavier’s Church in Thevanpiddy in the Mannar region, the church zone was more like a battle zone with the heavy presence of LTTE cadres.

“The Mannar diocese has even informed the LTTE hierarchy in Killinochchi over the presence of LTTE cadres with heavy weapons in the church premises.

However, there was hardly any sign of armed cadres leaving the premises. Almost all the important buildings including the meditation centre which is currently being built with around sixty rooms with assistance from the Vatican and Germany has also been occupied by the cadres.

The Mannar diocese has also asked the Security Forces to keep away from the church region as much as possible.

“We do not want a chaotic situation in the sacred area with a big human disaster. The response from the Armed Forces so far is positive,” Rev. Victor Sosai said.

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http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/04/13/sec01.asp

India intensifies air and sea surveillances along southern coast

India has intensified air and sea surveillance along its southern coastline to prevent infiltration of LTTE cadres into Indian territorial waters as well as smuggling activities.

Indian Media reports said that the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has taken this decision at a high-level Special Coastal Meeting held in Tamil Nadu following increase in smuggling activities to Sri Lanka from the coastal villages of Tamil Nadu.

It was decided to intensify surveillance in 21 unmanned islands between Sri Lanka and India to prevent the activities of anti-social elements and also over the 591 coastal villages and hamlets in Tamil Nadu, reports added. According to the reports India will take necessary steps to prevent Indian fishermen from crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters resulting in the firing by the Lankan navy.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April11162338JV.html

No Pakistani Change in helping against LTTE

Despite recent changes in the Pakistani government following elections there will be no changes of policy in the country’s attitude towards Sri Lanka’s problem of terrorism said Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf.

He asserted to his Sri Lankan counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sanya in Hainang island that Pakistan will stand by its South Asian friend, Sri Lanka in its struggle to eradicate terrorism.
Pervez told Rajapaksa, “There will be absolutely no change in our attitude towards Sri Lanka.”

President Rajapaks is in China for the second time in 14 months at the invitation of the Chinese President Hu Jintao to participate in the Boao Forum to which the Pakistani President also came to participate.
The new Pakistani Foreign Minister Sha Mahmud and and Defense Minister Ahamad Mukthar joined the Pakistani President in his discussions with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Pakistan President during the course of the discussions said there is an immediate need to expand the scope of the Free Trade Agreement between both countries. The two countries have doubled their trade within one year since the inception of the trade agreement.

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http://www.sinhalaya.com/news/english/wmview.php?ArtID=15115

JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe alleges Govt. backing dissident group

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) dissident faction led by its parliamentary group chief, Wimal Weerawansa, has mooted the formation of a Deshapremi Peramuna (Patriotic Front) and pledged to work under that banner. They have vowed to take this action if their disputes with the party leadership are not amicably settled.

The decision by Mr. Weerawansa and ten dissident MPs to form such a front, with the backing of a number of civil society organisations and trade unions was taken at a meeting the dissident group held on Thursday at the Patriotic National Front office in Borella.

Political observers point out that the fact that like the PNM, the new political group also is being formed with a similar name suggests a link between the two. This development came as the crisis within the JVP worsened. Police have begun investigations into several incidents involving the forcible removal of vehicles belonging to JVP dissident MPs with one JVP MP and another JVP cadre being remanded.

The JVP’s Trincomalee district MP Jayantha Wijesekera who had allegedly gone into the Parliament car park along with another man on Wednesday afternoon, and removed two vehicles belonging to two JVP dissident MPs, surrendered to the Police on Friday.

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http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080413/News/news001.html

Vaiko asks EU to press Sri Lanka on Tamil ethnic issue

MDMK chief Vaiko has asked the European Union not to turn a blind eye to the "sufferings of Tamils" in Sri Lanka and to pressure Colombo to end its offensive against the LTTE so that an "ancient race" could be prevented from being "totally wiped out".

"The situation today is very bad. A whole ancient race is about to be wiped out. I would appeal to the European Union to put pressure on the Sinhalese government {to end its military offensive on the LTTE}," he said.

The firebrand Tamil politician, who was speaking at a conference organised by the Art of Living foundation of Indian spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar here, asked European nations to "not turn a blind eye to sufferings of Tamils in Sri Lanka" and also urged more active intervention by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) in the nation.

The government had formally scrapped the four-year long tattered ceasefire with the LTTE in January this year, also thereby terminating the role played by Norway, the main facilitator for talks from the side of the EU, to mediate between the warring groups.

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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804111161.htm

LTTE loose respect from Catholics

MINISTER JEYARAJ Fernandopulle’s untimely death has convinced many hristians living outside Sri Lanka that LTTE has no respect for religion and religious places. They are also completely baffled by the nonchalant attitude of the Catholic Bishop Conference in Sri Lanka on LTTE’s guile masquerading as defenders of the sacred Madhu premises.

I read the Asian Tribune reader from LA, Stephen Long’s article yesterday posing the question why the spiritual leadership of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka got duped by the LTTE to push through their evil designs. Many others I know have voiced their disbelief at the inaction of the Sri Lankan Catholic Bishop Conference. Their neutrality in the midst of an openly treacherous path taken by the LTTE is completely inexplicable.

In a nutshell these are the issues now confronting the Catholic Bishops: They cannot take the side of the LTTE terrorists. They should seriously re-think their role in the civil conflict, and decide once and for all which side they are morally bound to take. The Bishop of Mannar by allowing the LTTE to continuously act with impunity has made the Tamils in the North pawns in this apparent and dubious scheme of the LTTE trying to make the Christians look completely unpatriotic.

The LTTE had moved the statue of Madhu to a church well inside their lines of control. A neutral place would have been the ideal thing to do. Declaring protective motives, they moved the sacred statue of the Virgin Mary from the shrine at Madhu to the church at Thevanpitti, which is in the LTTE zone. By choosing this site rather than someplace in an area, they have made the statue a symbol and rallying point for the LTTE.

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http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?

Tamil Tigers And Ethnic Cleansing of Sinhalese & Muslims in Sri Lanka-Kusum

Sri Lanka’s top diplomat in the Pacific region Mr. Kusum Balapatabendi paid a visit to New Zealand recently on the occasion of Sri Lanka’s 60 years of independence. Incidentally it was his first trip to Auckland at the invitation of New Zealand Sri Lanka Foundation.

The celebrations were unique with participants drawn from Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist & Christian communities coming together to form a fusion of cohesiveness and understanding.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island country located in the Indian Ocean, a little bigger than our own North Island and the population is about 20 million people. The majority of the people in the country are Sinhalese, mostly Buddhists, consisting of 73% of the population. The rest of the population consists of Tamils and Muslims.

Since time immemorial, they have lived in harmony, embracing each other’s cultures and religions. According to the last census the total Sri Lankan population in New Zealand stood at 8,542.

Sri Lanka’s pristine beauty with natural surroundings makes it an international tourist attraction with ocean waters, breathtaking scenery and smiling people. This beautiful island famous for its hospitality and laid back attitude with children running care free and bare foot in paddy fields personifies the true meaning of a simple way of life in harmony with nature.

Read more,
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0804/S00159.htm