Army chief rings alarm bells in LTTE camps

Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, whose service was extended recently, in an interview told the 'Sunday Observer' that he wants to eradicate terrorism once and for all during his term of office.

The veteran battlefield Commander observed it is only a question of survival for the terrorist as many of their cadres have started abandoning the ship. Following are the excerpts of the interview:

Q: It was reported that the LTTE has strengthened its surveillance in the North by deploying more civilians. Are these civilians paid by the LTTE ?

A: No. They are not paid much but one member from each family have been asked to come forward and may be they are given food and accommodation, because the LTTE does not have money to pay them. The civilians, of course were well paid when the A9 road was opened, as the LTTE earned over Rs. 10 to 15 million a week.

Q: How many LTTE cadres are escaping or abandoning the LTTE now ?

A: Three or four cadres desert the LTTE but they do not come to our side due to difficulties to cross LTTE lines and mine fields. I think if they can cross safely more LTTE cadres would desert the organisation. But everyday more than four terrorists abandon the LTTE.

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http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/09/30/fea01.asp

120 Tamil youth surrender: Sri Lankan army

Around 120 Tamil youths, including several LTTE militants, have "surrendered" to the authorities, the Sri Lankan Army said here today amid raging fighting in the country's restive north.

"Some 42 LTTE cadres have surrendered to the Jaffna Human Rights Commission during the past few weeks," military spokesman, Udaya Nanayakkara, told PTI adding that reports suggested that in all about 120 tamil youth have "surrendered" during the period in northern Sri Lanka.

The spokesman claimed that some "surrenders" also took place due to fears of forced induction into the LTTE forces.

"Many who give themselves up or are handed over by their parents are those who fear the LTTE. We hand them over, who in turn produce them before the magistrate," the official said.

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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200709291223.htm

Lanka minister slams Govt for silence on Myanmar

The Sri Lankan Minister for National Heritage, Anura Bandaranaike, has lambasted the government and the Buddhists in the island for their silence on the developments in Myanmar, where a military government is ruthlessly crushing a pro-democracy movement spearheaded by Buddhist monks and the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi.

"What do our self-appointed custodians of Buddhism in parliament have to say? Not a word about the attacks on fellow Buddhist priests in Yangon, who took to the streets in utter desperation. Silence is the finest form cowardice. The silence of our Buddhists is deafening, especially the self-appointed custodians of the Dhamma and of course our Foreign Ministry," Bandaranaike said in a statement in Colombo on Friday.

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id