Chinese Arms in LTTE Hands

In a picture released of the latest troupe of young Tamils to sacrifice themselves to the unattainable dream of Tamil Ealam see the Tigers brandishing nothing but Chinese weapons.

In the picture, some Black Tiger cadres carry QBZ 97, export version of QBZ 95, produced for the Republic of China military by Qīng Buqiang-Zidong company, designed by NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation). The weapon is a 5.56mm caliber (NATO-term) weapon.

Members of the group is also shown holding Anti-Tank Weapons, also made in China (Type-69 or RPG7 variation) loaded with Airburst Anti-Personnel HE with HEAT rockets in their back.

The body colour of this weapon seems to indicate it is more a T69. Members of the group also hold 66mm Light Anti-Tank Weapons (LAWs) with disposable rounds and the RPGs are of reusable type.

One Tiger poses with a CIS 40 Singapore made 40mm Grenade Launcher (CIS 40 GL). Tamil Tigers use CIS 40 and Ultimax LMG as weapon of choice in many battles. The Sub Machine Gun held by one Tiger is a T86 silenced version and again 5.56mm.
The LMGs in the picture are Type 88 GPMG (QJY 88 or General Purpose Machine Gun).

Read the full article here,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/2007/10/chinese-arms-in-ltte-hands.html

President, Archbishop discuss Madhu Peace Zone proposal

Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Oswald Gomis met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday for a discussion on bolstering security measures in the newly liberated Silavathura and also in Mannar.

They discussed the welfare of residents of these areas and the problems they face. The resettlement of displaced persons was also taken up.

The Archbishop and the President also discussed the possibility of declaring the Madhu Church area as a Peace Zone.

Mannar Bishop Rt Rev. Rayappu Joseph and Madhu Church Administrator Rt Rev. Emilus Pillai also participated in the discussion.

Extracted from,
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/10/26/front/05.asp

Media is neither Free, nor Independent

As I have pointed out in numerous previous occasions, the concept of “independent media” is an idea that we would like to have, but does not yet exist.

What I mean by this is that media is not free from the point of view of its masters. Let me elaborate my point. To be free of value judgments one has to disassociate from his/her values while interpreting facts.

Although facts themselves are independent from individual observers, they do not speak for themselves; they must be interpreted by those who present them. Therefore, how such facts are interpreted is dependent upon the individual’s own experience, beliefs, and values.

After all, every individual is a member of a society with political, social, and cultural values. People do not live in social vacuums; rather they live in specific social contexts. Every media organization is own and managed by human beings, and they are members of the society.

Read the full article,
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/271007-1.html

Lankan govt. cancels licence of radio station

The Sri Lankan government on Friday cancelled the licence of a radio station here for airing "false" reports, a day after President Mahinda Rajapaksa asked the media to act responsibly.

The ABC radio station was ordered off the air following an investigation into a report about a Tamil Tiger attack which was broadcast by it on Wednesday.

"The temporary licence of ABC has been recalled because of gross violation of freedom of expression," Minister of Media and Information, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, told reporters.

"Because of this false and irresponsible news broadcast we had to engage the policy and army to restore peace in the area," the minister said without elaborating.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200710261755.htm
Images,
http://www.lyngsat-logo.com/radiocountry/lk_1.html