Maheswaran MP assassinated in Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 January 2008, 04:37 GMT]
Colombo district Tamil parliamentarian of the opposition United National Party, T. Maheswaran, was shot at Ponnambala Va'neasvarar temple at Kochchikkadai in Colombo Tuesday around 10:00 a.m., while he was paying homage at the shrine, and succumbed to his injuries at Colombo hospital. The shooting, which also claimed the live of his bodyguard, comes a few hours after the parliamentarian had said that he would reveal details on how abductions and killings in Jaffna are managed by the Sri Lankan establishment through the EPDP paramilitary, from Colombo. Eleven days ago, the government of Sri Lanka had reduced the Ministerial Security Division guards provided to the MP from Eighteen to two.
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Batticaloa elections: Colombo's rehearsal for paramilitary politics

[TamilNet, Monday, 31 December 2007, 19:55 GMT]
In the backdrop of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government announcing local government elections in the Batticaloa district, three Tamil paramilitary-cum-political parties, the EPDP, PLOTE, EPRLF (Naba wing) and the yet-to-be-registered TMVP of Pillayan's group revealed that they had reached an agreement to form an electoral alliance after a meeting summoned at the Batticaloa office of the EPDP Saturday. A spokesperson of the paramilitary coalition told media that although the four outfits had agreed on principle, the final decision would be taken after consultations with their respective leaders and key operatives.
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U.K. group urges protection for Sri Lanka's rights defenders

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 19:49 GMT]
A U.K-based Rights Group, Tamil Information Center (TIC), in a report released this week expressed serious concern "over the plight of human rights defenders in Sri Lanka, who are facing persecution and threats to life from [Sri Lanka] government authorities," and said the situation requires "urgent intervention by the International Community." The report urged the "Government of Sri Lanka to bring to an end a cycle of cumulative disregard for human rights in general and for abuses against human rights defenders in particular and to accept the offer of the international community to establish a human rights monitoring mechanism."
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Paramilitary inmates attack detainees in Batticaloa prison

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 December 2007, 08:50 GMT]
A group of paramilitary remand prisoners in Batticaloa jail on Friday morning attacked alleged Tiger cadres who were being detained in the same ward of the prison, Police said. Two persons were wounded in the clash.
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3 EPDP paramilitaries, girl killed in Claymore ambush

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2007, 09:36 GMT]
A Claymore attached to a bicycle, parked by a woman in Kuruma'nkaadu in Vavuniyaa exploded targeting an EPDP paramilitary vehicle at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, killing three paramilitary men and a girl. The ambush has taken place 200 meters from the paramilitary camp, Police said.
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Paramilitary person shot dead in Chanthive'li

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2007, 18:41 GMT]
Unidentified armed men shot dead a young man attached to Karuna group Tuesday around 7:45 p.m as he was having dinner in front of his house at Chanthive'li in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa district, Ea'raavoor police said. The young man was rushed to Chengkaladi hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
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Grenade attack on World Vision Batticaloa office

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 December 2007, 10:07 GMT]
Unidentified persons lobbed a hand grenade Friday around 7:30 p.m on World Vision (WV) Batticaloa Office at Rosairo Lane causing damage to three vehicles of the organization, Batticaloa Police Head Quarter sources said. Investigation into the attack is being conducted but no one has been arrested so far, the sources added.
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Paramilitary releases Batticaloa TNA MPs relatives, secretary

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 December 2007, 18:46 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Army operated paramilitary Pillayan Group Saturday night released P. Sriskandaseya, the brother of Batticaloa Tamil National Alliance MP P. Ariyanethran, Arunasalam Sivapalan, the nephew-in-law of parliamentarian S. Jeyanandamoorthy and Ira. Nagalingam, the secretary of the parliamentarian K. Thangeswari.
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UPFA budget passed by 47-vote majority

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 12:17 GMT]
Third reading of the 2008 budget was passed by 47 majority votes Friday evening in Sri Lankan Parliament. 114 members voted for the budget and 67 voted against. 37 JVP members and SLFP parliamentarian Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa abstained from voting. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) voted against the Budget of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Soon after the voting was over there was a pandemonium in the House as SLFP parliamentarians Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Jagath Pushpakumara placed a wreath in front of the opposition leader's chair, antagonizing the UNP.
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EU Condemns abductions of parliamentarians' relatives

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 December 2007, 11:14 GMT]
Following reports of abductions of two relatives and a secretary of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians in Batticaloa, by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated paramilitary Pillayan Group, the European Union, on Thursday, condemning abductions said it was deeply concerned by disturbing reports of abductions of a number of civilians connected to members of the Sri Lankan parliament. Kidnapping is the behaviour of terrorists and the EU condemns it without reservation, said a press release issued by the British High Commission, acting as local EU Presidency on behalf of Portugal.
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TNA MPs warned to abstain on budget vote, relatives abducted

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 December 2007, 19:16 GMT]
Paramilitary Pillayan Group on Tuesday abducted the brother of Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance MP P. Ariyanethran, P. Sriskandaseya, 54, secretary of TNA MP K. Thangeswari, Ira Nagalingam and the son-in-law of TNA MP S. Jeyanandamoorthy's sister, Arunasalam Sivapalan, 28. The paramilitary has warned the family members of the three abducted victims that the TNA MPs should refrain from voting against the Budget of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Friday, if they wished to see them live on Saturday.
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Man missing, 3 seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 December 2007, 15:35 GMT]
A 25-year-old mother with her child from Thenmaraadchi, and two youths from Cha’ndilippaay and Maanipaay, sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna Monday due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitaries. Meanwhile, a mason from Oaddumadam in Jaffna is reported missing since Wednesday after leaving work in the morning, according to complaint made with HRC Monday.
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Paramilitary marches civilians in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 December 2007, 11:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated paramilitary Pillyan Group Monday noon forced hundreds of civilians from Kathirave'li and Vaakarai areas that were recently captured by the SLA in the East, into government operated buses, taken from depots in Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Vaazhaichchenai, to forcibly participate in a march held at Batticaloa city with the protection of SLA, Special Task Force (STF) and the Police. Meanwhile, the federation of non governmental organisations in Batticaloa was instructed by the paramilitary to call its members to march against the lack of humanitarian assistance by the GoSL. But, the motive of the march was changed by the paramilitary at the last moment.
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3 students, family man seek protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Saturday, 08 December 2007, 04:32 GMT]
Three students and a family man from different places in Jaffna peninsula Friday sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitary men. Meanwhile, a family man from Valveddiththu’rai in Vadmaraadchi is reported missing since Wednesday, according to complaint by his family members to Jaffna HRC Friday.
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School girl missing in Jaffna, 3 seek protection

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 15:34 GMT]
A ten-year-old girl student of Changkaanai Hindu Primary School was reported missing since Tuesday after leaving to attend school in the morning, according to complaints registered with the Jaffna office of the Human Rights Commision (JHRC) by her family members Thursday. Meanwhile, three family men from different places in Jaffna peninsula sought protection with JHRC Thursday due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitary men.
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Paramilitary person shot dead in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 09:39 GMT]
Gunmen alleged to be paramilitary men belonging to Pillayan group shot and killed an operative of its rival Karuna group Thursday around 8:30 a.m in Aaraiyampathi in Batticaloa district, Police said.
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Youth shot, killed in Maanipaay, seven seek Humanitarian protection

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 December 2007, 16:48 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen on motorcycle shot dead Wednesday around 10:45 a.m, a youth at Changkuveali in Maanippaay who was returning home from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) civil administration office in Maanippaay where he had gone to obtain the ‘Clearance Pass’ to travel abroad, sources in Jaffna said.
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Fisherman shot dead in Kurunakar, 3 seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 04 December 2007, 10:19 GMT]
Two unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle shot dead a fisherman Tuesday around 11:45 a.m, on Water Tank Road in Kurnakar, Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, three family men from three different regions in Jaffna peninsula sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops and SLA-backed paramilitaries.
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2 civilians shot dead in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 November 2007, 05:43 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen following a youth riding a bicycle from his house Thursday morning at Maasiappiddi, Changkaanai in Valigaamam, opened fire on him causing serious injury. The youth, rushed to Thellippa'lai government hospital, later succumbed to his wounds. Meanwhile, unknown armed men shot and killed an employee of a liquor shop Thursday around 4:30 p.m at Brown Road-Naavalar Road junction, in the centre of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security Zone (HSZ) in Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said.
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EPDP office in Colombo attacked, secretary killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 November 2007, 03:13 GMT]
A bomb exploded inside the Colombo office of pro-government paramilitary group-cum-political party, EPDP, at Isipathana Mawatta in Colombo-05, Wednesday around 8:30 a.m., seriously wounding three persons, including an EPDP cadre, initial reports said. One of the wounded, a coordinating-secretary, succumbed to injuries at Colombo hospital. Police alleged that the attack was carried out by a female suicide bomber who was blown into pieces in the explosion.
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