Civilian shot dead in Veala'nai, Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 October 2007, 04:19 GMT]
Two unidentified armed men on motor cycle shot dead a civilian at point blank range Monday around 11:00 a.m in Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) controlled Veala'nai islet of Jaffna. The recent Claymore attack in Veala'nai, injuring two men, alleged to be government troops or paramilitary men, may be the cause of this killing, residents in Vela'nai said.
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British oil firms to explore Mannar amid UK ‘worry’ over rights

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 October 2007, 13:10 GMT]
British oil companies are to carry out oil explorations in Sri Lanka, press reports quoted the country’s Development and Investment minister, Sarath Amunagama, as saying. The agreement was reached following a series of high-level discussions he held with leading oil companies during a visit to London, the LankaTribune reported. Meanwhile, describing the human rights situation in Sri Lanka as “deeply worrying”, British Development Trade and Development minister, Gareth Thomas, said his government was pressing Sri Lanka to respect human rights.
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2 injured in Claymore attack in Veala'nai islet

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 October 2007, 13:02 GMT]
Two men, alleged to be members of the Sri Lanka Amy (SLA) Intelligent Unit and SLA-backed paramilitary group, were seriously injured Thursday around 10:00 p.m, during curfew hours, in Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) controlled Veala'nai, when unidentified persons activated a Claymore device hidden along the road, targeting the vehicle they were traveling in, residents in Veala'nai said.
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Death threats to Jaffna university student leaders, faculty heads

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 September 2007, 12:14 GMT]
Pamphlets containing a death-list of thirteen members of Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU) and faculty heads were pasted in the campus walls Friday night, creating fear among the undergraduates, and disrupting normal educational activities, sources in Jaffna said. Unless immediate efforts are taken to stop the death threats, the students will be forced to agitate, JUSU representatives who wish to remain anonymous said to TamilNet Saturday.
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World must rein in Sri Lankan state – TNA

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 September 2007, 11:13 GMT]
Protesting that the Sri Lankan government had discarded negotiating a settlement to the island’s ethnic conflict, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)urged the international community to take a principled stand on the Tamil people’s right to self determination. Outlining the humanitarian and human rights crisis that has emerged in the wake of Colombo’s military project, the TNA also argued: “the Sri Lankan State will not conform to international norms or standards. It is only by the International Community … taking meaningful steps, can the Sri Lankan State be made to realize that it cannot continue with the present disastrous trend.”
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Tamil GS officer shot dead in Moothoor East

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 September 2007, 06:49 GMT]
Armed men shot and killed Paranjothy Muttukumar, 52, the Village Officer of Kaddaipparichchaan GS area in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) held Moothoor East in Trincomalee district Thursday around 8:00 p.m. Mr Paranjothi is the eldest brother of P.Sounthararajan, opposition leader of the Moothoor Pradesya Sabha (PS). Mr.Sounthararajan has been leading a group of four Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members elected last year to the eleven-member Moothoor PS.
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SLMM collects information on Rights violations in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 September 2007, 00:30 GMT]
Officials of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) visited Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna office Wednesday to obtain details of human rights violation in the Jaffna peninsula, HRC sources said. The SLMM officials also visited offices of International and Local NGOs, and media and Volunteer Organizations learning first hand of the rights violations escalating at a rapid rate in the peninsula.
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6 civilians seek protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 September 2007, 17:36 GMT]
One family man from Pungkudutheevu islet of Jaffna and five civilians from Thenmaraadchi sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna, fearing for their lives due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed Tamil paramilitary armed men, Thursday, sources in Jaffna said.
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Tamil youth shot dead at Periyakulam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 September 2007, 16:30 GMT]
A Tamil youth was shot dead by unidentified men on Wednesday night around 8:00 p.m.at Periyakulam in Uppuveli Police division in Trincomalee district. The victim has been identified as 26 year-old Senthooran, police sources said.
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Jaffna lawyers protest against death threats, extortion

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 September 2007, 03:57 GMT]
Lawyers in Jaffna peninsula staged a token protest demonstration Wednesday, refraining from appearing for sessions at the five Divisional courts and the High Court in the peninsula, against the death threats, intimidation and extortion by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed armed Tamil paramilitary groups, an attorney-at-law participating in the protest, said.


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2 civilians seek HRC protection, One missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 September 2007, 02:24 GMT]
A youth and a family man from Thenmaraadchi sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna, Wednesday. Meanwhile, a father of three children from Kurunakar in Jaffna town is reported missing since Tuesday, according to complaints made by his wife to HRC Jaffna Wednesday.
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Jaffna lawyers to protest against death threats

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 19 September 2007, 02:07 GMT]
Lawyers in Jaffna peninsula, will hold a token protest demonstration throughout the peninsula Wednesday in protest against the death threats, intimidation, and extortion by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed armed Tamilparamilitary groups, civil sources in J affna said. The Lawyers will not appear for sessions at the five Divisionalcourts and the High Court in the peninsula, according to an announcement made by the Jaffna Peninsula Attorneys-at-law Association (JPAA), Tuesday.
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Death threats escalate in Jaffna, doctors flee extortion

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 September 2007, 10:25 GMT]
Death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed armed Tamil paramilitary groups, have forced many doctors and medical specialists in Jaffna to complain to Human Rights Commission (HRC) and to leave the peninsula fearing death and abduction of their children and family members while more of them are contemplating flight from the peninsula, civil society sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, an editor of the Jaffna edition of a Colombo based daily has been threatened to death. Paramilitary personnel are targeting the Tamil intellectuals in Jaffna with extortion, abduction and death threats.
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Batticaloa fishermen protest against paramilitary harassment

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 September 2007, 02:50 GMT]
More than 300 fishermen living along the coast of Batticaloa district continued their boycott for the third consecutive day, protesting against the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed paramilitary armed men who forcibly buy their catch at very low prices, seriously affecting their income, the protesting fishermen said. The fishermen also said insecure atmosphere prevails in the coastal areas and that live in constant fear for their lives.
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Sign of the times in Tamil Nadu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 September 2007, 00:40 GMT]
Veteran Tamil Nadu activist Pazha Nedumaran’s attempted crossing of the Palk Straits in a bid to deliver emergency relief to Sri Lanka’s Tamils was thwarted last week when he and hundreds of volunteers were arrested. Whilst the attempted crossing and its ‘failure’ has been dismissed, especially in Sri Lanka’s south, as a stunt by mavericks on the fringe of Tamil Nadu’s politics, the event has both highlighted and boosted resurgent support in the south Indian state for the Sri Lankan Tamils’ cause.
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2 families with children seek protection with HRC Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 September 2007, 21:23 GMT]
Two families from Thenmaraadchi with three children aged under fifteen sought protection with Human Rights Commission (HRC) Monday due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed armed paramilitary men and SLA troops, according to statements given by the two families to HRC.


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2 Thenmaraadchi civilians seek protection with Jaffna HRC

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 September 2007, 18:33 GMT]
Two men sought protection with the Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC), Thursday, due to death threats and several abduction attempts by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and SLA-backed paramilitary.
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Youth seeks protection at Chaavakachcheari court

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 September 2007, 06:10 GMT]
A youth from Kodikaamam appeared directly at Chaavakachcheari Court Tuesday seeking protection to his life due to death threats from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed armed paramilitary men and SLA troops. The magistrate directed the youth to be placed in the protective custody of Jaffna prison with the assistance of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna.


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SLA conducts search operation, youth seeks protection with HRC in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 September 2007, 16:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers conducted a combined cordon and search operation covering Point Pedro and Valveddiththu'rai areas in Vadamaraadchi from Tuesday early morning until evening, ordering young women and men to gather in the temples in their respective areas where they were subjected to thorough investigation, sources in Vadmaraadchi said. Meanwhile, a youth who escaped abduction during the search sought protection with Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) Tuesday afternoon.


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Youth seeks protection with HRC, civilian missing in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 September 2007, 07:19 GMT]
A youth from Nelliadi in Vadamaraadchi, due to death threats allegedly from Sri Lanka Army (SLA) backed armed paramilitary men, surrendered himself directly in Jaffna Court Thursday where the magistrate, Mr. R. T. Vignarajah, directed the youth to be placed in the protective custody of Jaffna Prison. Meanwhile, a civilian from Kodikaamam is reported missing since he left home August 2, according to a complaint by his wife to Human Rights Commission (HRC) Jaffna.


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