Paramilitary releases 15 young recruits in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 2009, 15:46 GMT]
Due to the pressure exerted by UNICEF on TMVP Pillayan faction (Tamil Makal Viduthalai Pulikal) to release the children abducted and given military training by it, 15 of them were released in the presence of UNICEF officials Thursday in Batticaloa. The released children were produced in Batticaloa magistrate court through Batticaloa police where the magistrate directed the police to place them in the protective care of the ‘Sarvodaya’ in Chaththurukko'ndaan until 29 January, Batticaloa police said.
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Pillayan group men abduct Tamil civilian, in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 January 2009, 15:52 GMT]
Pillayan group TMVP men, led by its main operative Jenthan, arriving in a white pickup vehicle abducted a Tamil civilian Friday around 2:00 p.m in Karuvappangkea’ni in Batticaloa police division, according to complaints lodged with Batticaloa Human Rights Commission (HRC) office. The abducted civilian is being held and tortured in Thaamaraikea’ni TMVP office and his wife who went to see him was assaulted by the men in the office, according to complaint made to Batticaloa police.
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TMVP person killed, another injured, in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 January 2009, 09:52 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched an attack Saturday around 8:45 p.m on the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) office in Ea’raavoor police division killing a TMVP person and seriously injuring another.
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Armed robberies escalate in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 January 2009, 11:08 GMT]
Masked armed men robbed three houses, threatening the owners at gunpoint, at Puthukkudiyiruppu in Vaazhaichcheanai police division Thursday night, according to complaints lodged with the police. One of the houses robbed is located 200 m from the office of TMVP Pillayan paramilitary group, on Vaazhaicheanai Maadi Veethi.
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TMVP person shot dead, another injured, in Ampaa’rai

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 December 2008, 14:30 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen waylaid and opened fire on the person in charge of the TMVP Kaaraitheevu office seriously injuring him and killing the person travelling with him on a motorcycle, along Kaaraitheevu main street, in Kaaraitheevu police division, in Ampaa'rai district, Monday around 7:30 a.m, Kaaraitheevu police said.
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Tamil motor mechanic shot, injured in Ampaa’rai

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 December 2008, 07:24 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen on a motor cycle following a Tamil motor mechanic shot and seriously injured him Friday around 8:30 p.m at Thampiluvil in Thirukkoayil police division in Ampaa’rai district. The injured mechanic was rushed to Thirukkoayil District Hospital first and then transferred to Ampaa’rai Teaching Hospital for further treatment, Thirukkoayil police said.
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Eastern University students clash with police during protest fast

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 December 2008, 13:27 GMT]
Eastern University students observing a protest fast in the university campus Thursday around 9:00 a.m. against the detention of two fellow students, raised strong objections when two Sri Lanka Intelligence officials who had come with the police tried to video film the protesters, sources in Batticaloa said. When the students tried to expel the two officials, police who had accompanied them opened fire on the ground, the protesting students said. The police, however, claimed that one of their men’s gun had accidently gone off.
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Grenade attack on Vaazhaichcheanai TMVP local council member

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 December 2008, 23:28 GMT]
Unidentified persons lobbed a hand grenade Saturday around 7:15 p.m on the house of Thamotharam Jeevathas, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) member of Vaazhaichcheanai Piratheasa Chapai (Pradeshiya Sabah), in Ea'raavoor police division in Batticaloa district. No one was hurt but the front portion of the house was damaged, sources in Batticaloa said.
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TMVP person shot, injured in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 December 2008, 18:57 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a man belonging to Pillayan faction of TMVP office in Velikkanthai in Pollana'ruvai district, in Vaakarai police division in Batticaloa district Thursday around 12:30 p.m, seriously injuring him.
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UNICEF: GoSL, TMVP bound by action plan to end child recruitment

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 December 2008, 16:16 GMT]
The Government of Sri Lanka, the TMVP, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) signed an Action Plan on Monday to ensure that the recruitment and use of children by the TMVP comes to an end, and that all children currently with the TMVP are released and provided with reintegration assistance, UNICEF said in a press statement on Thursday. “This agreement shows a clear political commitment and is a very important step in putting an end to the recruitment and use of children by the TMVP,” said UNICEF’s Representative in Sri Lanka, Mr Philippe Duamelle.
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Colombo's development agenda aggravates factional fight within TMVP

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 December 2008, 00:59 GMT]
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government has sidelined Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, a key paramilitary leader operated by the Sri Lankan government and the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, on the utlisation of funds allocated for 'development'. "Pillayan is being treated almost like a political prisoner by the Rajapaksa government these days, especially after the recent protests against the killings," according to a Colombo based journalist.
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STF shoots dead 3 TMVP deserters in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 November 2008, 17:13 GMT]
Special Task Force (STF) commandos shot and killed three Tamil youths in a joint cordon and search operation Tuesday around 5:00 p.m in Karaveddi area in Batticaloa police division. The youths are said to be a group TMVP deserters, who escaped from from Mangkikkaddu TMVP camp which was attacked by the Tigers two weeks ago. The STF launched a cordon and search operation following the arrest of a person with gun shot wounds Tuesday around 3:30 p.m Tuesday, the sources added.
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Rights watchdog faults Colombo for deteriorating human rights situation in East

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 November 2008, 07:52 GMT]
"Killings and abductions are rife and there is total impunity for horrific abuses," in the eastern province, which the Sri Lankan government claims to have 'liberated' as an example of democracy in action, said the New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW). There have been at least 30 extra-judicial killings and 30 abductions in Eastern Province within the last 60 days, the HRW said blaming the Sri Lankan government for providing unqualified support to TMVP paramilitary factions. The attacks and other threats against journalists have caused the media to curtail reporting on the security situation in the East. Members of civil society organizations have also been subjected to threats, according to the HRW.
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TNA parliamentarians grilled by CID

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 November 2008, 22:15 GMT]
Within the last few days, three Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians, S. Jeyanandamoorthy, P. Ariyanethran and S. Kajendran, were summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police for investigation after getting stipulated permission from the Speaker of the Parliament. The focus of the questioning was their speeches viewed as a breach of the 6th Amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution, which prohibits any opinion expressed inside or outside of the island, in favour of secession in Sri Lanka
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3 Karuna associates in Thirukkoayil disappear with arms

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 18:51 GMT]
Three cadres of the paramilitary group led by Karuna stationed in Thirukkoayil police division in Ampaarai district have gone into hiding with arms since Monday night, according to complaints lodged with the Thirukovil Police. The absconders are said to be close associates of Iniyabarathy, TMVP co-coordinator for Ampaarai district, and the co-ordinating secretary to President Mahinda Rajapakse.
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Paramilitary abducts familes of recruits

[TamilNet, Saturday, 15 November 2008, 14:24 GMT]
Armed men of a TMVP faction have abducted nine members of two families at Pankduaave'li Friday morning following an attack on Pankudaave'li camp of the paramilitary Thursday night. The victims were said to be family members of two of seven paramilitary operatives who disappeared from the mini-camp. Tension prevails in the area following the abductions. At least three children were among the abductees. The abductions come following a joint search by the Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) and the TMVP paramilitary.
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2 TMVP men killed, 7 missing after attack in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 November 2008, 10:43 GMT]
Two TMVP paramilitary personnel, Madan and Mani of Kiraan, were killed inside the Pankudaave'li camp of the paramilitary in Karadiyanaa'ru in Batticaloa Thursday night around 8:30 p.m., Police said. Seven paramilitary personnel were reported missing with weapons, according to the Police.
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Pillayan operative Ragu slain in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 November 2008, 08:59 GMT]
A private secretary of Pillayan and another person were shot dead while they were traveling in former TMVP spokesperson Asad Moulana's car at Oruwala in Athurugiriya in Nugegoda Friday around 11:30 a.m., Police said. The slain key operative, an associate of Pillayan was identified as Kumaraswami Nandagoban alias Ragu. Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna, since his deportation back to Sri Lanka from UK, has been demanding the removal of Ragu from the TMVP.
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Tamil woman abducted in Poththuvil

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 November 2008, 13:41 GMT]
A 36-year-old mother of three children residing in 3rd division , Poththuvil Eaththam in Ampaa'rai district was allegedly abducted by armed men Monday, according to complaints lodged with the police by her relatives. Relatives said no action has been taken by the police regarding their complaint.
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2 killed, 4 wounded, TMVP camp attacked in Vavu'natheevu - LTTE

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 November 2008, 06:44 GMT]
A camp of the TMVP paramilitary at Mangkikkaddu in Vavu'natheevu was attacked Monday night at 10:45 p.m., the LTTE said. Two TMVP personnel were killed and four sustained injuries and fled the camp. Four T56-2 assault rifles, one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and ammunitions were seized in the raid, according to the Tigers.
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