SLA arrests 15 Tamil youths in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 19:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) arrested fifteen Tamil youths on suspicion following the killing of two TMVP Pillayan group operatives including the deputy chairman of Ma'nmunai South Eruvilpattu Piratheasa Chapai (Pradeshiya Sabah) Monday in Eruvil, 35 km south of Batticaloa, sources in Ka'luvaagnchikkudi said.
Full story >>

Civilian reported missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 19:26 GMT]
A 30-year-old man placed in protective custody in Jaffna prison last year due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated paramilitaries is reported missing since 25 May after having gone home for personal reasons, according to complaint lodged by his father with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Monday. The youth was last seen near SLA High Security Zone (HSZ) in Thellippazhai.
Full story >>

"Plucked peace flower"- Washington Times

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 11:25 GMT]
In a commentary appearing in the Tuesday issue of Washington Times, Bruce Fein, Washington-based attorney for a Tamil Activist Group, and Chairman of the American Freedom Agenda, says that "the peace solution to Sri Lanka's descent into hell was discerned by [Ambassador] Mr. Blake - even if unwittingly - in an interview published in the Sunday Observer on May 25. The subtext affirmed the right of the Tamil people to determine their own political destiny without dictation by Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabharkaran, or by any other person or organization."
Full story >>

6 civilians killed in SLA claymore attack - LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 18:09 GMT]
Six devotees including two children on their way to Naakathampiraan Temple in Maangku'lam were killed and 4 wounded, including 2 children, in a claymore mine explosion in Vanni Monday night. LTTE's Director of Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan blamed the Deep Penetration Unit operated by the Sri Lanka Army for the attack on civilian target.
Full story >>

Youth shot dead, SLA imposes curfew in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 15:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) implemented a sudden curfew Monday afternoon in three coastal towns in the vicinity of Kudaakadal , within the Jaffna municipality area. The announcement of the curfew to be implemented from 5:00 p.m. Monday until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday in Kozhumpuththu’rai, Paasaiyoor and Kurunakar was made Monday noon through loud speakers fixed to three wheelers with the assistance of Fishermen’s Federation, sources said.
Full story >>

Tigers counter-attack SLA ambush unit, seize weapons -LTTE

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 15:30 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials on Monday said their fighters in Vavuniyaa, who launched a counter-attack on a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) ambush unit that attempted to engage in covert operation close to LTTE Forward Defence Line at Kugnchukku'lam, have seized an assault rifle, claymore mines and other military accessories.
Full story >>

Armed gang attacks Saiva priest during robbery attempt

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 09:56 GMT]
An unidentified armed gang during a robbery attempt Sunday in Kokkuvil and Koa’ndaavil areas close Jaffna town at 12:30 a.m. during curfew hours, severely assaulted the priest of a Saiva temple at his house in Pottpathi Veethi in Kokkuvil when the priest tried to confront the robbers, sources in Jaffna said. The armed gang had also tried to rob the house of another Saiva temple priest in Koa’ndaavil and when he refused to come out of the house the gang set fire to his motorcycle and other vehicles parked outside.
Full story >>

Boy killed, 2 injured in bomb blast in Valikaamam

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 09:31 GMT]
A bomb left in an abandoned house in Eazhaalai North, Chunnaakam in Valikaamam exploded Sunday evening killing a 9-year-old school boy and seriously injuring his younger brother and a small boy while they were playing in the abandoned house, sources in Jaffna said. The injured boys were rushed to Jaffna Teaching Hospital and are under treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.
Full story >>

Hartal observed in Kaaththaankudi

[TamilNet, Monday, 02 June 2008, 08:48 GMT]
Kaaththaankudi came to a stand when traders observed a shutdown Monday in protest against the killing of the Muslim vegetable trader from Kaaththaankudi Sunday in Batticaloa. Following the interment of the remains of the victim Monday morning, more than 3000 Muslims protested condemning Pillayan paramilitary group and the government of Sri Lanka, sources in Kaaththaankudi said.
Full story >>

Elderly man knifed to death in Thenmaraadchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 14:27 GMT]
Unidentified intruders knifed to death a 71-year old man living alone in his house in Kudamiyaan, Va’ra’ni Thenmaraadchi, Saturday night during curfew hours, sources in Thenmaraadchi said. Kudamiyaan village is located close to Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security Zone (HSZ) of the 52nd Division of the SLA.
Full story >>

SLA appropriating Tamil IDPs' properties in Ampaa’rai district

[TamilNet, Sunday, 01 June 2008, 09:38 GMT]
The appropriation of the properties of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) and a Non-government organization in the Tamil areas in Ampaa’rai district by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Special Task Force (STF) Friday is a premeditated government plan to prevent the displaced from resettling in their traditional villages, K. Pathmananthan, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Thikaamaduva in Ampaa’rai district, said.
Full story >>

28 SLA killed, 52 wounded in Mannaar, Vavuniyaa - LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 May 2008, 20:56 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) officials on Friday said they confronted Sri Lanka Army in Mannaar and Vavuniyaa fronts throughout the day thwarting the repeated attempts by the SLA to advance into LTTE territory. A ground movement by the SLA from Ma'likaiththidal towards Theanudaiyaan in Mannaar, launched at 5:30 a.m. Friday was defeated around 12:40 p.m. 25 SLA soldiers were killed when they again launched the move at 1:00 p.m. 47 SLA soldiers were wounded in the confrontation that lasted till 6:15 p.m. when the SLA was pushed back, the Tigers said. Meanwhile, 3 SLA soldiers were killed in a confrontation that lasted for 90 minutes from 4:10 p.m.
Full story >>

3 SLA troops killed, 7 injured in clashes in Vavuniyaa FDL

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 May 2008, 16:52 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters repulsed more than eight attempts by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops to advance into LTTE held areas in Paalamoaddai and Kunchchukkulam areas in Vavuniyaa Front Defence Line (FDL) positions from Friday 3:00 a.m until evening, LTTE Vavuniyaa Field Command said. 3 SLA troops were killed and 4 seriously injured in clashes at Kunchchukku’lam between 4:00 p.m and 5:30 p.m, while 3 troops lost their legs in the combat Friday early morning at Paalamoaddai between 3:00 a.m and 3:30 a.m, the source added.
Full story >>

Halo Trust staffer’s sister abducted in Maanippaay

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 May 2008, 15:48 GMT]
Unidentified persons, arriving at the house of a ‘Halo Trust’ demining Non-governmental Organization staffer in Maanippaay 23 May in a three-wheeler, forcibly abducted his sister after blind folding her and tightly binding her mouth, according to complaint lodged with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office.
Full story >>

Development untenable without peace - Nadesan

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 May 2008, 11:42 GMT]
"Development is possible only when there is permanent peace. To achieve peace the International Community (IC) should engage seriously in restoring the status quo which the IC itself has disturbed in recent times, and should pressurise the Sri Lankan government to come to terms with a negotiated settlement," said Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Political Head B. Nadesan, in an exclusive interview to TamilNet on Friday, while responding to a question on LTTE's position on International involvement in Colombo's 'development-agenda'. "Recognition of Tamil sovereignty and right to self-determination are key issues in creating a climate for a negotiated settlement," Nadesan added.
Full story >>

Vavuniyaa Court directs army, police to trace missing civilian

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 May 2008, 03:54 GMT]
Vavuniyaa District Judge and Magistrate M.Ilanchelziayan Thursday directed the Officer Commanding of 211 Division of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Senior Superintendent of Police to take appropriate steps to trace the missing person Sivalingam Sivananthan, legal sources in Vavuniyaa said. According to complaints lodged with the Vavuniyaa Police and magistrate court by the victim's relatives, Sivananthan had been abducted by groups of persons who arrived in auto and motor bikes while he was waiting at Poonthoddam junction in Vavuniya on May 19 Monday night, reports said.
Full story >>

Labourer shot dead in Point Pedro after SLA interrogation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 May 2008, 16:47 GMT]
Two unidentified armed men on motorcycle following a labourer, returning home after being interrogated at the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp in Point Pedro, shot and killed him Thursday morning on Point Pedro-Chaavakachcheari road, 200 m from Manthikai hospital, sources in Point Pedro said. SLA troops had confiscated his National Identity Card (NIC) Wednesday in Point Pedro and had asked him to report at the SLA camp for interrogation Thursday morning, sources added.
Full story >>

Jaffna dailies face closure following slaying of Journalist

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 May 2008, 09:16 GMT]
The killing of the Jaffna correspondent of Sakthi TV Station, Paranirupasingham Thevakumar, has raised fear for their lives of the remaining journalists, the media report released Thursday by North Ceylon Journalists’ Association (NCJA) said. The dailies in Jaffna, faced with the lack of journalists and editors, are being forced to close down, the report warned.
Full story >>

5 Tamils held in Dehiwala train blast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 May 2008, 04:21 GMT]
Five Tamil civilians, including one person who returned from Canada, are being detained in Dehiwala police station in connection with the Dehiwala train blast that killed ten and injured about 70 persons. The police and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers conducted several cordon and search operations from Tuesday till Wednesday evening, detaining twenty Tamil civilians for questioning, police sources said.
Full story >>

Sea Tigers raid SLN camp close to Jaffna city

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 May 2008, 22:02 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Sea Tigers naval wing launched a raid in the early hours of Thursday on the Sri Lanka Navy camp located at Chi'ruththeevu islet, close to Ma'ndaitheevu island and Jaffna city, LTTE officials in Vanni told TamilNet. At least 13 Sri Lanka Navy personnel were killed and many sailors wounded in the raid carried out by a special marine wing of the Sea Tigers, the Tiger officials said adding that they have seized weapons including a 50-caliber machine gun, a mortar, two LMGs and military equipments including a radar from the strategic SLN camp situated at the islet facing Jaffna. 3 SLN bodies were also recovered by the Tigers and they identified one sailor.
Full story >>