srilanka1998
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UNESCO to host World Press Freedom Day meet in Sri Lanka
[ One World ] [ 11:05 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will be hosting its annual World Press Freedom Day conference in Sri Lanka on 1-3 May 2006, which will focus on the link between freedom of the media and poverty eradication. Held in Colombo, the conference will explore the independent media's role in fighting poverty through the empowerment of disadvantaged peoples and groups, its contribution to sustainable economic development through improved communication between different stakeholders, and the impact of transparency, accountability and good governance on poverty eradication efforts.
Conflict still dominates life in rebel-run Sri Lanka
[ Reuters ] [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
Residents of this thin strip of rebel territory look across to government-held land, just a few hundred meters away across a no-man's land of mined scrub and lagoons, and regard it with a mixture of envy and fear. Fishing and farming are the only significant industry in rebel territory, which the Tigers hope will one day be the economic foundation of a separate Tamil homeland.But in Karakadaichani, fishermen say they dare not take out large new fishing boats donated by aid agencies after the tsunami for fear of arrest or harassment by the Navy, and some have temporarily given up fishing for manual work.In January, five young men were found dead on the beach in Trincomalee. The army initially said they were Tiger sympathizers who accidentally blew themselves up, but truce monitors found they had all been shot in the head.
Monks flay Sri Lankan Govt over Swiss talks outcome
[ PTI ] [ 11:14 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka's influential Buddhist clergy on Tuesday flayed the government over a pledge to neutralise anti-Tiger Tamil militants during talks in Switzerland.The all-Buddhist monk party known as the JHU, or national Heritage Party, said the outcome of last week's talks with the Tamil Tiger guerrillas went against President Mahinda Rajapaksa's election promises.The JHU said the Colombo government had also agreed to replace the Norwegian head of the truce monitoring panel with a Swedish national and the move could help the Tigers gain recognition among European Member states where they currently face strictures."Having a Swede is worse because this gives them de facto recognition in the European Union because Sweden is a member of the EU," JHU spokesman Champaka Ranawaka said."The government must not only disarm other militant groups, but must start the process from the LTTE. They must start before the next round of talks."
US Welcomes Sri Lankan, Tamil Tiger Commitment to Cease-fire
[ U.S. Department of State ] [ 11:25 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
The United States joined Japan, Norway and the European Union (together known as the Co-chairs of the Tokyo Donors’ Conference) in welcoming the renewed commitment by the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to their 2002 cease-fire agreement.Representatives of the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE met for discussions in Geneva February 22-23 and agreed to halt all violence, killings and activities by armed groups in accordance with the cease-fire agreement.In a February 28 statement, the co-chairs stressed “the importance of the parties implementing these commitments on the ground so as to build confidence and a conducive environment for progressing towards lasting peace for all peoples of Sri Lanka.” The two parties have asked the Swiss government to host further peace discussions in Geneva April 19-21. They welcome the renewed commitment from the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to respect and uphold the Ceasefire Agreement, as well as the reconfirmation of their commitment to cooperate fully with and respect the rulings of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
No end to military excesses even after Geneva talks
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 11:37 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
SL Navy is extending its barbed wire fences further into lands belonging civilians in Ponnalai and Moolai areas in Jaffna. People in proximity have also accused the Navy of behaving in a threatening manner towards them.SL Navy’s excessive checking at Allaipiddy checkpoint, near Velanai harbour, near Madaththuveli Pillaiyar temple, and near Kurikadduvan harbour is causing the travelers through these places a lot of hardship. People also view these checking as threats rather than any genuine security checks and thus have expressed opposition and frustration towards it. About 20 SLA men and Police have permanently rounded up the office of TNA parliamentarian Gajendran which is located on Palay road at the Jaffna University junction.
Tamil Tiger rebels say 20 child soldiers released
[ AP ] [ 16:02 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said Wednesday they have released 20 combatants who had lied about their ages in order to join the insurgency, hoping to ease U.N. criticism that they forcibly recruit children under 18 to fight in their war."This release is part of a process taken up by us to ensure that underage youths who voluntarily join the LTTE are sent back to their parents," Daya Master told The Associated Press by phone from Kilinochchi, a stronghold of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.Master said the children were handed over to their parents at a ceremony in the rebel-held area on Tuesday after a three-member committee had singled out members from the group who are under age.
SLMM tells military to be truthful
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 16:08 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) yesterday urged the military to be truthful on the issue of armed groups operating in the east with outgoing SLMM head Hagrup Haukland insisting “there is no doubt that such groups do exist.” Mr. Haukland’s hard-hitting statement follows comments reportedly made by top army brass in the local media after the Geneva talks. The military officials reportedly said there was no evidence to prove that such armed groups operated in the east.“There is no doubt that such groups do exist. The army should be truthful about this issue,” Mr. Haukland said. In Geneva, the government gave a commitment to the LTTE that it would ensure no group other than the government security forces would be allowed to carry arms after the LTTE claimed that there were at least five armed groups in operation in the North and East.
[ One World ] [ 11:05 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will be hosting its annual World Press Freedom Day conference in Sri Lanka on 1-3 May 2006, which will focus on the link between freedom of the media and poverty eradication. Held in Colombo, the conference will explore the independent media's role in fighting poverty through the empowerment of disadvantaged peoples and groups, its contribution to sustainable economic development through improved communication between different stakeholders, and the impact of transparency, accountability and good governance on poverty eradication efforts.
Conflict still dominates life in rebel-run Sri Lanka
[ Reuters ] [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
Residents of this thin strip of rebel territory look across to government-held land, just a few hundred meters away across a no-man's land of mined scrub and lagoons, and regard it with a mixture of envy and fear. Fishing and farming are the only significant industry in rebel territory, which the Tigers hope will one day be the economic foundation of a separate Tamil homeland.But in Karakadaichani, fishermen say they dare not take out large new fishing boats donated by aid agencies after the tsunami for fear of arrest or harassment by the Navy, and some have temporarily given up fishing for manual work.In January, five young men were found dead on the beach in Trincomalee. The army initially said they were Tiger sympathizers who accidentally blew themselves up, but truce monitors found they had all been shot in the head.
Monks flay Sri Lankan Govt over Swiss talks outcome
[ PTI ] [ 11:14 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka's influential Buddhist clergy on Tuesday flayed the government over a pledge to neutralise anti-Tiger Tamil militants during talks in Switzerland.The all-Buddhist monk party known as the JHU, or national Heritage Party, said the outcome of last week's talks with the Tamil Tiger guerrillas went against President Mahinda Rajapaksa's election promises.The JHU said the Colombo government had also agreed to replace the Norwegian head of the truce monitoring panel with a Swedish national and the move could help the Tigers gain recognition among European Member states where they currently face strictures."Having a Swede is worse because this gives them de facto recognition in the European Union because Sweden is a member of the EU," JHU spokesman Champaka Ranawaka said."The government must not only disarm other militant groups, but must start the process from the LTTE. They must start before the next round of talks."
US Welcomes Sri Lankan, Tamil Tiger Commitment to Cease-fire
[ U.S. Department of State ] [ 11:25 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
The United States joined Japan, Norway and the European Union (together known as the Co-chairs of the Tokyo Donors’ Conference) in welcoming the renewed commitment by the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to their 2002 cease-fire agreement.Representatives of the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE met for discussions in Geneva February 22-23 and agreed to halt all violence, killings and activities by armed groups in accordance with the cease-fire agreement.In a February 28 statement, the co-chairs stressed “the importance of the parties implementing these commitments on the ground so as to build confidence and a conducive environment for progressing towards lasting peace for all peoples of Sri Lanka.” The two parties have asked the Swiss government to host further peace discussions in Geneva April 19-21. They welcome the renewed commitment from the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to respect and uphold the Ceasefire Agreement, as well as the reconfirmation of their commitment to cooperate fully with and respect the rulings of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
No end to military excesses even after Geneva talks
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 11:37 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
SL Navy is extending its barbed wire fences further into lands belonging civilians in Ponnalai and Moolai areas in Jaffna. People in proximity have also accused the Navy of behaving in a threatening manner towards them.SL Navy’s excessive checking at Allaipiddy checkpoint, near Velanai harbour, near Madaththuveli Pillaiyar temple, and near Kurikadduvan harbour is causing the travelers through these places a lot of hardship. People also view these checking as threats rather than any genuine security checks and thus have expressed opposition and frustration towards it. About 20 SLA men and Police have permanently rounded up the office of TNA parliamentarian Gajendran which is located on Palay road at the Jaffna University junction.
Tamil Tiger rebels say 20 child soldiers released
[ AP ] [ 16:02 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said Wednesday they have released 20 combatants who had lied about their ages in order to join the insurgency, hoping to ease U.N. criticism that they forcibly recruit children under 18 to fight in their war."This release is part of a process taken up by us to ensure that underage youths who voluntarily join the LTTE are sent back to their parents," Daya Master told The Associated Press by phone from Kilinochchi, a stronghold of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.Master said the children were handed over to their parents at a ceremony in the rebel-held area on Tuesday after a three-member committee had singled out members from the group who are under age.
SLMM tells military to be truthful
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 16:08 GMT, Mar. 1, 2006 ]
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) yesterday urged the military to be truthful on the issue of armed groups operating in the east with outgoing SLMM head Hagrup Haukland insisting “there is no doubt that such groups do exist.” Mr. Haukland’s hard-hitting statement follows comments reportedly made by top army brass in the local media after the Geneva talks. The military officials reportedly said there was no evidence to prove that such armed groups operated in the east.“There is no doubt that such groups do exist. The army should be truthful about this issue,” Mr. Haukland said. In Geneva, the government gave a commitment to the LTTE that it would ensure no group other than the government security forces would be allowed to carry arms after the LTTE claimed that there were at least five armed groups in operation in the North and East.