UNICEF calls for halt to child recruitment by Karuna Group

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 June 2006, 11:27 GMT]
Following reports from the field in the past week of abductions and forced recruitment of children in the areas of Santhiveli, Kiran, Mankerni, Valaichchenai and Iruthayapuram in Manmunai North, the UNICEF, in a press release issued Thursday, condemned the abductions, and called for an immediate halt to the recruitment of children by Karuna Group.


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Paramilitary cadres abduct Batticaloa youth

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 June 2006, 00:23 GMT]
A group of men driving a white van abducted Thayaparan Subaraj, 18, of Thalankuda in Puthukudiyiruppu in the Batticaloa Kattankudi police division at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Kattankudi police said. Local witnesses said the abductors were paramilitaries belonging to Karuna group.
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Paramilitary Karuna Group abducts 125 children in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 June 2006, 06:30 GMT]
More than 125 underage youths have been abducted by paramilitary Karuna Group in Sri Lanka Army and paramilitry launched cordon and search operations since Tuesday in Batticaloa district. SLA arrested youths were handed over to paramilitary cadres and the paramilitary cadres were allowed to enter houses, beat up the underage youths and to abduct them for training. More than 75 youths were abducted in Valaichenai area, 27 youths were abducted in a cordon and search operation Thursday morning in Kiran. Another 23 youths were abducted at Santhiveli.
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Student abductions terrify Batticaloa parents

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 June 2006, 08:40 GMT]
Unidentified paramilitary gunmen in a white van and riding motor bike chased and abducted 6 students walking along the road in front of Iruthyapuram Sacred Heart Church in Batticaloa Thursday evening around 4.50 p.m, said residents in the area. 30 students in the Batticaloa region have been abducted in the past, civil society sources said.


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Armed men abduct four Batticaloa students, release three

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 May 2006, 16:37 GMT]
Unidentified armed men in a white van abducted a student riding a bicycle near Vantharumoolai University Tuesday around 4.10 p.m. At around 4.50 p.m the van tried to abduct five students standing near the Pethalai Sivan Temple in Valaichenai, but two of the students managed to escape, said sources in Batticaloa. The van with four abducted students sped away in the direction of Welikanda along the Colombo trunk road, in Batticaloa district, sources further said.
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TNA appeals for an even-handed approach

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 May 2006, 13:48 GMT]
Pointing out that the "primary cause of the current violence has been due to the refusal of the Sri Lankan State to implement key provisions of the CFA that obligates the State to disarm and dismantle Paramilitary armed groups in the Northeast of Sri Lanka," the Tamil National Alliance in a press release issued Monday, urged "that no action be taken which casts the blame on one side," cautioning that "such a step can irretrievably harm the legitimate interests of the long-suffering Tamil people," and appealed to the European Union and the International Community for a "more even-handed approach."
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TRO condemns grenade attack, appeals for safety of NGO staffers

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 May 2006, 12:19 GMT]
Condemning the grenade attack on the NGOs in Trincomalee on Sunday, the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) expressed concern over the negative impact the attack will have on humanitarian work, and appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka to "fully investigate this violence and ensure the safety of all humanitarian workers," in a press release issued Monday.
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Stop violence, enter talks, Anti-war group tells GoSL, LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 May 2006, 11:29 GMT]
Condemning the increasing levels of violence committed by Liberation Tigers and by the "armed groups and forces within and outside" Sri Lanka's Military, Kumar Rupesinghe, chairman of National Anti War Front, in a press release issued Thursday in Colombo urged the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka to "implement the agreements reached in the High Table in Geneva," and to "immediately resume the talks which were initiated in Geneva."
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Protest condemning SLA atrocities cripples Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 May 2006, 02:28 GMT]
All government institutions, shops, schools and other institutions remained closed in the Jaffna peninsula Tuesday in response to the call made by the Jaffna district Consortium of public organisations to stage a mass 'Refrain from Duty' protest condemning the atrocities of Sri Lanka government (GoSL) and its armed forces and paramilitaries in the form of abductions, assassinations of innocent civilians and harassment's and restrictions in the Jaffna peninsula, said sources from Jaffna.
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Jaffna Bishop appeals for urgent intervention of International Community

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 May 2006, 19:12 GMT]
"Tamil people are gripped with fear and insecurity due to the alarming escalation in Killings and abductions in NorthEast, including Jaffna, and in the South. People are scared of a major war exploding at any time. I appeal to the International Community to urgently intervene to pressure the parties involved to reduce the threat of war. In particular, the warring parties should be pressured to a implement the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) as agreed by both parties in Geneva," said Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Fr Thomas Soundaranayagam, speaking to press in Colombo, Sunday.
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TNA urges International Community to act

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 April 2006, 15:59 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Wednesday condemned the GoSL and its peace secretariat for "duplicitous behavior" and "carrying on a malicious and false campaign to mislead the international community," and urged the International Community to "realize this reality and take the appropriate action to compel the Sri Lankan State to act in a responsible way in the interest of the peace process," in a press release issued in Colombo Wednesday.
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Onus on Colombo to create cordial atmosphere - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 April 2006, 12:26 GMT]
Accusing Sri Lanka Government of reneging on providing established modes of travel, and proposing impractical travel procedure that showed scant respect for the security of the Senior commanders of the Liberation Tigers, the Head of LTTE Political Wing, S.P. Thamilchelvan in an interview to TamilNet Thursday said that violence is likely to spiral out of control if Sri Lankan forces do not urgently stop killing Tamil civilians in NorthEast.
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Half a century of violence against Tamils still continues, says Nadesan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 April 2006, 16:26 GMT]
"What happens in Trincomalee now is only a continuation of the state terrorism that began fifty years ago. Now it has become customary for the law enforcement arms of the Sri Lankan government to openly assist and join the Sinhala nationalist thugs in the violence against Tamils," said Thamileelam Police Chief Mr. B. Nadesan, participating in a ceremony held Sunday 7. a.m to mark the graduation of a new group of police officers, in an undisclosed venue in Vanni, sources from Kilinochchi said.
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Families of abducted TRO staffers to meet Colombo press

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 April 2006, 02:50 GMT]
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) and the families of seven abducted humanitarian workers, during the past 6 weeks, report no progress despite reduced exposure to media following the messages received through "third parties" that the abducted would be released if TRO and the families "kept quiet and did not to speak to the media," a press release from the TRO said Wednesday. The organisation has called for a press conference Thursday.
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Annai Poopathy, a supreme model for Tamils- Ilamparithi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 April 2006, 14:15 GMT]
"Annai Poopathy who sacrificed her life, in a fast-to-death protest in March 1988 protesting against the Indian peace keeping forces (IPKF) and supporting the Tamils liberation struggle, is an example for all Tamils to emulate. In all key events, like the local council elections, we have to tell the world that we Tamils stand determined and united in achieving our just aspirations," said S. Ilamparithi, Jaffna district head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE political wing, presiding at the 18th anniversary memorial celebration held Saturday 10 a.m, at Palai Maha Vidyalayam.


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New SLMM chief meets Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 March 2006, 10:36 GMT]
Former Swedish Brigadier and the new Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Mr. Ulf Henricsson, met Head of the LTTE Political Wing, S. P. Tamilchelvan, Monday at 11.45 a.m. at the LTTE Peace Secretariet in Kilinochchi, LTTE sources said.
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"Upsurging People's Force" warns of resuming attacks in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 25 March 2006, 18:39 GMT]
A handbill issued in the name of "Upsurging People's Force" in Batticaloa on Saturday warned that the "UPF" would be forced to resume attacks against the paramilitary groups and the Sri Lankan armed forces if abductions and harassments continued to take place in Batticaloa and Amparai districts.
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TNA, LTTE discuss local elections at Kilinochchi meet

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2006, 12:19 GMT]
Selvam Adaikalanathan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Vanni district addressing media in Kilinochchi after a meeting between the Liberation Tigers and the TNA parliamentarians Sunday morning, accused Colombo for delaying making decision on holding local elections in the NorthEast
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Six farm laborers abducted in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 March 2006, 13:17 GMT]
Six workers harvesting paddy in Akkuranai in Batticaloa district were abducted by paramilitary cadres belonging to Karuna group from the Welikande and Thivuchenai area 12 March, Political Section of the Batticaloa LTTE office said in a press release issued Saturday.
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Hartal shuts down Batticaloa district

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 March 2006, 09:05 GMT]
A district-wide hartal, called by the Eastern University society, protesting against the increasing abductions by paramilitary cadres, has paralyzed the entire Batticaloa district Friday. Business establishments, government offices, markets, schools, private and public sector bank branches remain closed.
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