650 civilians caught in military travel arrangement

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 September 2006, 09:17 GMT]
Around 650 civilians, out of 7000 persons, who rushed to Sinhala Mahavidyalayam site in Jaffna Friday, following announcement by the civil authorities of the Sri Lankan government in local media that a travel arrangement was made for 650 persons to be selected on a first priority basis, are being held inside buses without notifying the travellers on the mode of travel. Meanwhile, NGO sources in Jaffna expressed fear that Sri Lanka Navy was about to use the civilians as human shields to undertake a ship movement from Kankesanthurai.
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International jurists question Sri Lanka’s moves on NGOs

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 September 2006, 12:42 GMT]
The Commission of Jurists (ICJ) this week raised questions about the sweeping mandate of the Sri Lankan government’s Select Committee to investigate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to root out activities "inimical to the sovereignty and integrity of Sri Lanka" and "detrimental to the national and social well being of the country", and that adversely affect "national security." The ICJ expression of concern about Sri Lanka’s handling of NGOs comes days after Colombo moved to block the funds of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) under the mandate of investigating terrorism financing – but without charging the TRO or setting out the allegations.
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Emergency extended for another month in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 21:46 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday adopted a motion of extending the State of Emergency for another month by a majority of 99 votes. 108 members including the ruling United peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), main opposition United National Party (UNP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), all monks' party Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and other constituent parties of the government voted for the motion. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians voted against.
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Colombo transfers NGO massacre investigation to Anuradhapura

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 18:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has instructed that the inquest proceedings in the Muthur Magistrate's Court in the Trincomalee district regarding the killing of seventeen workers of the French non-governmental organization, Action Faim, Action against Hunger (ACF) in Muthur town during the first week of August, to be held before the Anuradhapura Magistrate, legal sources said.
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Women protestors in Jaffna urge re-opening of A9

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 17:41 GMT]
More than 600 women gathered in front of the main entrance to the Government Secretariat in Jaffna Wednesday morning at 10:30 demanding immediate action to arrange safe passage out of Jaffna for over 11,000 persons from other districts and foreign countries trapped in the peninsula.
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Food situation critical, NGO consortium in Jaffna warns

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 16:57 GMT]
The consortium of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Jaffna Tuesday urged the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to re-open the A9 road without delay and allow the transportation of the essential items to Jaffna as officials of the Jaffna Secretariat had announced last week that the food brought in by the cargo ship Ruhunu was adequate only for one week and the bakery owners association has complained that the stock of flour is enough to meet their needs only for the next three days.
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"UNP will be in power in 90 days"-Wickremasinghe

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 16:47 GMT]
"The United National Party (UNP) will be in power within ninety days," declared Ranil Wickremasinghe, Leader of the Opposition and the main opposition UNP Tuesday when addressing the sixtieth anniversary of the party held at Sri Kotha, party headquarters in Colombo.


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STF offensive in Amparai thwarted - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 15:32 GMT]
An offensive launched by the Sri Lanka Special Task Force (STF) troopers Wednesday morning from Kanjirankudah STF camp in Amparai district towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled Kanchikudicharu area, was repulsed by the Tigers, said LTTE's Military Spokesman I. Ilanthirayan. According to medical sources in Amparai, at least 18 STF and paramilitary men were killed, and more than 25 wounded in the STF offensive.
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No peace moves until Colombo respects CFA borders - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 11:52 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government’s aggression on LTTE-controlled territory has blocked progress towards peace, the Liberation Tigers told Norwegian facilitators Wednesday. The LTTE’s Political Head, S. P. Thamilchelvan, told Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar that Colombo’s invasion and occupation of LTTE-held territory has put an end to peaceful ways of stabilising the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). Sri Lankan jets overflew Kilinochchi as Mr. Brattskar met Mr. Thamilchelvan.
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Two Tamil civilians shot dead in Valaichchenai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 September 2006, 06:56 GMT]
Two Tamil persons said to be supporters of para military Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) were shot dead Tuesday night between 8 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. in Valaichchenai area in Batticaloa district. A message saying "death for traitors," was written in posters signed by Ellalan Brigade found near the bodies, sources said.
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Humanitarian crisis precipitated by twin-track strategy

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 September 2006, 22:03 GMT]
An estimated 60,000 Tamils displaced by Sri Lankan military attacks in the eastern province are caught in a humanitarian crisis which aid workers say is being deliberately deepened by the Colombo government. The most recent displacements in the east join tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes by military attacks in Wanni and the northern Jaffna.
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3 killed, 9 injured, multi-barrel rockets hit Kathiraveli

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 September 2006, 15:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army fired Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher shells hit Kathiraveli, 10 km north of Vaharai, where Internally Displaced People from Muthur East and Eacchilampatru have sought refuge. 3 civilians were killed, 9 wounded, according to LTTE officials in Kathiraveli. Medical sources in Batticaloa reported that ICRC personnel transported at least 2 wounded civlians to Valaichenai hospital. The MBRL attack on Tuesday on Kathiramalai in Batticaloa district's north, comes amid speculation by analysts in Colombo that Sri Lankan military was planning another offensive towards southern Trincomalee and northern Batticaloa areas where thousands of IDP's have taken refuge.
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Food cargo to INGO workers in Jaffna arrives by air

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 September 2006, 12:46 GMT]
A private aircraft with a consignment of food cargo assigned for workers of international non governmental organizations arrived in Palaly military airbase in Jaffna district from Ratmalana in Colombo Monday morning. Basic supplies to the INGO offices and tents for IDP camps were transported to Jaffna. A group of INGO officials were scheduled to leave Jaffna in the aircraft, NGO sources said.
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Rajapakse, Wikremasinghe expected to discuss common agenda

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 September 2006, 12:20 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and Ranil Wickremasinghe, the leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), are expected to meet coming weekend to hold discussions on Rajapakse's invitation to UNP to join the ruling alliance. The meeting between the two leaders would take place after the conclusion of the annual conventions of the two main political parties Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and UNP, political sources in Colombo said.
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Rajapakse hails Sampoor ‘capture’

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 September 2006, 08:20 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops have advanced into Sampur village in the LTTE-controlled part of the eastern Trincomalee district and are consolidating their positions, the government said Monday in Colombo. LTTE political officials in Trincomalee said fighting was ongoing in the Sampoor region. “This is a severe breach of the ceasefire agreement with the Sri Lankan military taking LTTE-controlled areas,” S. Puleedevan, head of the LTTE peace secretariat, told Reuters. “They are not honoring the ceasefire agreement. They are forcing it to the brink of collapse,” he added. “On our side we are fully committed to it.”
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TRO warns of ‘desperate humanitarian crisis’

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 September 2006, 18:40 GMT]
The TRO protested the freezing of its accounts in Sri Lanka Sunday, saying the Colombo government had made no communication with the NGO, which has been registered as a charity there since 1985. Warning that “the current humanitarian situation in the NorthEast of Sri Lanka is reaching a critical stage,” the TRO said “there is a desperate need, recognized by all who are involved in humanitarian work, which the international community is being prevented from responding to effectively.” TRO appealed to international institutions, human right bodies and humanitarian organizations to make representations to the Sri Lanka Government and intimate the importance the continued functioning of TRO.
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UNP parliamentary group to meet Monday to discuss President's invitation

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 September 2006, 10:35 GMT]
The parliamentary group of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) is scheduled to meet Monday evening to take a final decision on matters to be discussed with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse following the invitation sent by the latter last week to join his United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, political sources said in Colombo.
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Sri Lanka seizes TRO funds

[TamilNet, Sunday, 03 September 2006, 07:00 GMT]
The Sri Lankan government has frozen the funds of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) with immediate effect, the Sunday Times reported. The directive has been given by the Central Bank on the basis of combating the financing of terrorism, the paper said.
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Abductee found dead in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 September 2006, 23:21 GMT]
An Actuarial Manager of Union Assurance in Colombo was found dead Saturday morning at Thotalanga, Grand Pass in Colombo. The victm, Reginald Jesudasan, 31, son of a retired Tamil Inspector of Police, was abducted Friday around 7:20 p.m. when he left the office.
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Tamil parties protest against abductions in Colombo

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 September 2006, 18:05 GMT]
Representatives of Tamil political parties addressing a press briefing held Friday in Colombo Holiday-In-Hotel said they are going to hold awareness meetings among Tamil people in Colombo from next week against the increase of abduction by the intelligence service of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). They stressed that several Tamil youths in Colombo had been abducted by SLA intelligence unit in past and immediate action should be taken to stop this.
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