EPDP leader's condition 'serious'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The condition of Mr. Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and Parliamentarian for the Jaffna district, who was attacked by detainees at the Kalutara prison yesterday is said to be serious, said hospital sources.
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Demonstration over cuts in relief

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Over one thousand people demonstrated in Jaffna today, protesting at the Sri Lankan Government's decision to cut relief for displaced people. The demonstration was organised by an organisation calling itself the 'Movement campaigning for Human Justice'
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Protest Fast in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 26 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A token fast is staged opposite the Nallur Kandasamy temple today protesting at the treatment of prisoners detained without trial and other human rights violations committed by the Sri Lanka Government against the people of Jaffna said sources.
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Para-military soldier killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A member of the Razeek Group, a para-military outfit working with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), was killed in a confrontation with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) near the 10th Mile Post on the Vavunatheevu-Aithiymalai Road, 10 km Northwest of Batticaloa, around 7:00 a.m. yesterday, said sources in Batticaloa.
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EPDP members suspected in abduction

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of unidentified gunmen believed to be members of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) abducted two supporters of a rival parliamentarian, Mr. Ramamoorthy, who represents the Jaffna district, on Friday in Jaffna, said sources close to Mr. Ramamoorthy.
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TULF council members abstain

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
All eleven TULF council members of the Valikamam North Predeshiya Saba have decided to abstain from their functions as council members until the situation in Jaffna has become "normal". This was announced at a council meeting led by the council's chairman, Mr. Baskaran.
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New Jaffna Mayor appointed

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Sivapalan, Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) legal advisor has been appointed as the new mayor of Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC). Sri Lankan Commissioner of Elections confirmed his appointment yesterday.
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Burning of Jaffna Library Remembered

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
People in Jaffna will wear black ribbon today to mark the burning of the Jaffna Public Library 17 years ago, said PLOTE and EPRLF sources in Jaffna. The library, burnt to the ground on the 1st of June 1981 by Sri Lankan Police, contained the largest collection of Tamil literature in Asia, a collection that included many irreplaceable manuscripts.
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TULF advisor mooted as new Mayor

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) legal advisor, Mr. Sivapalan is expected to be nominated as the new Mayor for the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), said TULF sources Thursday evening.
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Muted public response to killing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
While political parties and civic organisations in Colombo issued strident statements of condemnation of the assassination of Jaffna Mayor, Sarojini Yogeswaran, there was muted public reaction to the killing in Jaffna, said sources in Jaffna.
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Mayor's body sent to Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of Sarojini Yogeswaran, covered with TULF flag was kept at the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) office this morning for local people to pay their respect. About one thousand people paid their respects this morning, said sources in Jaffna. Among the mourners who filed past the Mayor's bier today, were many Sri Lanka Government (SLG) officials and members of the local bodies, the sources said.
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Mayor's funeral on Wednesday

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The funeral of Jaffna Mayoress, Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran, who was shot dead yesterday, will be held on Wednesday May 20 in Colombo said a spokesman for the TULF today.
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Indian official refuses to be drawn

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. R K Sachdeva, Political Officer, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, said that the Indian Government was prepared to assist in the rehabilitation of the war torn areas and contribute to improving the health and education services in Jaffna, but declined to comment on whether India would play an active role in bringing about a settlement to the ethnic conflict, said sources in Jaffna.
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Tamil groups seek govt. cease-fire

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP), Peoples' Liberation Organisation Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and EPRLF. are meeting this evening to draft a request to the Sri Lanka Government to reciprocate the cease-fire declared by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Wednesday and Thursday (May 6&7), said sources in Batticaloa.
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Meetings mark Jaffna May Day

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eleven public meetings were held in Jaffna yesterday as part of the May 1 celebrations. Eelam People's Democratic Organisation (EPDP) organised 6 public meetings in Jaffna yesterday. Approximately 40-50 people attended each of these meeting, said sources in Jaffna.
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May Day celebrations muted

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
News Feature"There were so many cops about the place watching your every movement, that you were scared to bend down and pick upsomething you dropped," said a man who had ventured out on to the streets of Colombo on May Day.
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May day rallies in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Numerous rallies, public meetings and processions will be held in the Jaffna peninsula to mark international workers' day on May 1, said sources in Jaffna. Trade unions active in Jaffna will hold a joint rally at the Kailasapathy Hall at the University of Jaffna in Thirunelvely. The meeting will be chaired by S.Sivapalan.
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Acrimony at inaugural JMC meeting

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Today's inaugural meeting of the newly elected Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC), which began with solemn requests for a non-partisan approach to resolve the problems of the people and for Jaffna's long term economic development, soon slipped into an acrimonious trading of words between the party holding office, and the principal party in opposition, said sources in Jaffna.
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Child killed in deadly game

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Weerasingham Selvarajah, 28, a leader in the main para-military group operating with the Sri Lankan army in Batticaloa was killed in his house in Thimilatheevu a suburb of this eastern town this afternoon when a grenade, the clip of which he had playfully removed to amuse his 3 year old daughter, went off. The little girl was also killed on the spot. Weerasingham's wife was seriously wounded in the explosion.
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Tamil gunmen operating with Colombo troops

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Armed men in civilian clothing who accompany uniformed Sri Lankan security forces personnel, including police, during cordon and search operations in Colombo are strongly suspected to be members of certain ex-Tamil militant groups now working with the SLA as para-military units, a human rights lawyer, who was not willing to be identified, told TamilNet.
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