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Sri Lanka Christians Flee After Christmas Violence Kills One
[ Bos NewsLife ] [ 01:50 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) told BosNewsLife that it has established that Joseph Pararajasingham, a prominent Tamil and member of parliament for the Tamil National Alliance party, was shot dead "while attending a late night Christmas Eve service at St. Ann's Catholic Cathedral in Batticaloa (Eastern Province)."The attack was followed by violence on Christmas Day when "a mob of about 30 people accosted members of the King's Revival Church in Alawwa [in] Kurunegala District [of] west central Sri Lanka," CSW said. "They threatened the pastor and warned the congregation not to attend the service," during the incident, the group claimed. The militants also "told the pastor not to hold a Christmas service and warned they would attack again on New Year's Eve. Many worshippers fled in fear," said CSW, citing a report by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka.
Media network chairperson allegedly the target of assassination plot
[ IFEX ] [ 02:00 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
There have been reports of an alleged conspiracy to assassinate the chairperson of the MTV-MBC media network. The issue was first reported by The Sunday Leader of 1 January 2006 and followed by the MTV-MBC network, carrying the same story on 3rd January 2006. The network has three popular TV channels and four popular radio channels broadcasting in all three languages used in Sri Lanka. The MTV-MBC network has made complaints to the police and the highest authorities of the country regarding this dangerous situation. FMM expresses serious concern regarding these reports and holds the view that if such an attempt has been made, it is definitely a serious threat to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.Threats and intimidation directed at owners, editors or journalists of any media institution based on their editorial policy are a threat not only to media freedom but also to basic democratic rights.
S.Lanka's Tigers say willing to die, ready for war
[ Reuters ] [ 04:00 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Malathy is around five feet tall, joined Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels a decade ago and says the deaths of her comrades have only strengthened her. She is ready to fight again. Dressed in the distinctive tiger-striped battledress of a movement that fought for two decades for independence until a 2002 truce, the 28-year-old said she and her fellow cadres had hoped the Norwegian-brokered ceasefire would deliver a lasting peace, but it had not. "We were under the impression that peace could be obtained and the freedom of the Tamil people gained through the peace process," she said, speaking through a translator in the northern town of Kilinochchi, the rebel headquarters.
Lanka situation: India not to intervene
[ News Today ] [ 12:51 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that India would not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. His comments come in the context of some UPA constituents (MDMK and the PMK, primarily), opposing to the defence pact with Sri Lanka. 'It is the stated policy of the Union Government not to interfere in the affairs of other countries and the government still stands by it'. Pranab Mukherjee, who was here to launch the UPA's multi-media campaign, allso called on DMK President M Karunanidhi at his residence today. Talking to newsmen after the meeting, he said it was routine meeting 'as he had strong relationship with Karunanidhi for several years.
Sri Lanka soldier ambushed ahead of funerals
[ AFP ] [ 12:52 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Suspected Tamil rebels set off a landmine that wounded a soldier in northern Sri Lanka ahead of the funerals of five students allegedly killed in cold blood by the security forces, officials said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam guerrillas ambushed the soldier travelling in a tractor in the district of Vavuniya by setting off a Claymore mine, a military spokesman said on Thursday. The attack came hours ahead of the funerals in the restive northeastern port town of Trincomalee of five students killed on Monday. Autopsy reports said the students had been shot dead although the military had earlier maintained that they died when an explosive device they carried exploded prematurely.
Sri Lanka on the road back to civil war
[ WSWS ] [ 12:55 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Less than two months after the presidential election, Sri Lanka is slipping towards civil war. Escalating violence has been accompanied by widespread repression by the Sri Lankan security forces against the country's Tamil minority, as well as Sinhala chauvinist agitation by President Mahinda Rajapakse's allies'the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). In December alone, some 90 deaths were reported. These included 46 military personnel killed in a series of ambushes, 10 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members murdered in unexplained circumstances, and several members of paramilitaries connected to the security forces as well as a number of innocent civilians.
MGR fans in LTTE-held area seek Jayalalitha's support
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 12:55 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Fans of matinee idol of yesteryears and AIADMK founder, the late MG Ramachandran (MGR) in an LTTE-held part of Sri Lanka, have appealed to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to support the LTTE. In a memorandum sent to the AIADMK Supremo, the Kilinochchi MGR Munnetra Kazhagam (KMGRMK) has said that she should realise that the Tamil people of Sri Lanka are living in fear of losing their lives. She should recognise their feelings and support the LTTE, it pleads. It is significant that Kilinochchi is the headquarters of the LTTE in Sri Lanka. An appeal of this sort can never be made unless the LTTE itself wanted it.
Tamil Civilians Need Protection Against A Vindictive Armed State
[ IFT ] [ 15:11 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
This is the second urgent appeal the IFT, International Federation of Tamils is making to the IC, International Community within a week, for urgent measures to prevent a total annihilation of Tamils in the government controlled areas of the traditional homeland of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, by the State Armed Forces. Vicious attacks on civilians, growing lists of missing persons, violence on women including rapes and murders, killing of school children and attacks on schools and universities, arson, increased checkpoints and harassing body searches are spiralling to intolerable heights. The IFT considers this a war declared by the Sri Lanka Government on the civilian population in the island. The unarmed civilians need protection against a vindictive armed state. The International Community must respond immediately.
Norway's cooperation with the EU on the fight against terrorism
[ Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Norway ] [ 15:21 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Norway has previously aligned itself with the EU's list of persons, organisations and entities set out in the Common Position on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism. This list is revised by the EU at regular intervals. Following an overall assessment, the government has decided that Norway will no longer align itself with any other list than that published by the UN. The reason for this decision is that a continued alignment with the EU list could cause difficulties for Norway in its role as neutral facilitator in certain peace processes. Norway's role could become difficult if one of the parties involved was included on the EU list, and the opportunities for contact were thus restricted. The Norwegian government wants to intensify international peace processes and Norway must therefore avoid a situation that makes it more difficult for us to have contact with any of the parties to a conflict said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
'No instructions on Chemmani' CID
[ BBC ] [ 15:39 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Police say that they have not received proper instructions from the government on conducting the Chemmani massacre inquiry. In the Colombo Magistrates court on Wednesday, Police Central Investigation Division (CID) revealed that the investigations that commenced six years ago cannot be concluded until the Attorney-General (AG) issues the relevant instructions.Police informed court that they are waiting instructions as the findings of the investigation has been already handed over to the AG. The magistrate who said that it is "unacceptable" that an inquiry takes so long, directed the CID to expedite the conclusion of the investigation.
Tharshini "Your Honour shall be vindicated. Your dignity shall be restored"
By: V. Thangavelu and Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
Source: TamilCanadian - december 28, 2005
The rape and murder of Tharshini is an inhuman act. 19 year old Tharshini's mutilated and lifeless body was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu located close to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) camp insidethe high security zone which is under the control of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces (SLAF). According to postmortem examinations conducted in the Jaffna Teaching Hospital by Judicial Medical Officer Dr Balasubramaniam, she was brutally raped before being strangled to death. The report confirms the brutality of the sexual assault and rape on Tharshini":several injuries were caused by fingernails and biting had been found on several areas of her body. One of her breasts had been severely bitten."
The SLN which has complete control over the islet of Punkuduthivu did not permit the local community to even conduct a decent burial for Tharshinias selected people who were to conduct last rites did not come to the site due to SLN intimidation of civilians in the area.
[color=darkred:bd8565f3e6]Women not safe
The Punguduthivu Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) said in a press release that "the Sri Lanka Navy should take responsibility for the abduction and murder of a young woman Ilayathamby Tharshini as Punguduthivu is under full control of Sri Lanka Navy." The press release further said "the safety of Tamil women is in danger in the presence of SLN personnel who perpetrate crimes with complete impunity." They called upon civil groups and women's rights activists to raise the issue in local and international for and ensure safety and freedom of movement to women in the islets.
This is not the first time women and girls have been subjected to rape,brutality and murder by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
There have been several recorded cases of rape by members of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces albeit many more have gone unreported. The cases of Krishanti, Sarathambaal and a few others have to be recalled to remind usof the grim and gruesome details of such horrendous acts usually typical of psychopaths.
Krishanthi
We know about Krishanti Kumaraswamy (16) who was gang raped by six army personnel and murdered. She was alive when she was buried according to evidence presented in court. Her mother (59) vice principal of Kaithaddy Maha Vidyalayam, her younger brother Pranavan and her neighbour Kirupamoorthy Sithambaranathan (32) were also murdered. The mother who went in search of her daughter never returned. Her brother and Neighbour who went in search of Krishanti and her mother were strangled and their bodies and buried.
Their bodies were discovered 45 days later by sheer accident. The dead bodies of all the four missing persons were found in crudely dug graves at Chemmani. The highly decomposed bodies were exhumed and flown in two coffins for burial in Colombo. A stubborn and insensitive government denied Prashanti (21) her eldest sister to mourn over her family or perform last rites and an ultimatum was given by the army hierarchy that the body should be cremated within two hours.
Amnesty International (AI) and other human rights organizations like Women for peace launched a sustained campaign to pressurise the government of Sri Lanka to arrest and bring to justice the rapist and murderers of Krishanti and her family.
According to AI "For too long the security forces have literally been allowed to get away with murder and a climate of impunity existed at all levels in regard to grave human rights violations committed by them." The UN working group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in its report for 1995 said, "Sri Lanka ranked second highest in the world total number of disappearances." The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) has said "Tortures,deaths in custody and disappearances are wide spread in Sri Lanka. A number of women and children have disappeared after being taken by security forces in the Tamil areas. Tamils continued to be held in secret places of detention especially in the Jaffna peninsula, Colombo and Vavunia."
In Krishanti's rape and murder trial the first accused Lance Corporal Devage Somaratne Rajapakse when asked by the court whether he had anything to say before sentencing said, "We did not kill any one. We only buried bodies that were sent to us by our superior offices."
He went on to drop the bomb shell "We can show you where 300 - 400 bodiesthat have been buried at Chemmani." Other co-accused persons corroborated the statement of the first accused.
AI in its report dated November 27, 1997 stated categorically that "nearly all of them are likely to have died under torture or to have been deliberately killed."
Sarathambaal
It will be recalled that Sarathambaal (29 years) mother of a three year old child, was forcibly dragged out from her home in Punkuduthivu gang raped and murdered. Punguduthivu was one of several islands lying off theJaffna peninsula that was under martial law and night curfews since it was wrested from the LTTE in 1995/96.
Mr V Thangavelu a well known Scholar and Writer in his research paper,Rape and Murder of Sarathambaal - File Closed states: "The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRC) that investigated the rape and murder of Sarathambaal decided to close the file for lack of evidence. Likewise the CID too has thrown in the towel saying there are no suspects. Apparentlyto both the HRC and the CID Sarathambaal was never raped and murdered, she had simply committed suicide!
Contrary to what the HRC and CID say, local residents claim that the naval ratings who raped Sarathambaal have all been transferred from the island to prevent identification, interrogation and arrest. This is a familiar and thinly disguised ploy unashamedly used by the top brass of the armed forces to shelter perpetrators of crimes from the long arm of the law.
Ironically at that point of time the Information Department of the Peoples Alliance government of Sri Lanka released a statement saying that the then President Chandrika had ordered a full inquiry to "report back to herimmediately for deterrent action against the culprits irrespective of theranks or status." As events have now proved, Chandrika's order was only aritual and a camouflage intended to silence international criticism rather than a genuine effort to apprehend perpetrators of the crime, protect human rights and prevent further violations.
At the inquest held subsequently a sobbing Rajasekara Sarma, 19, giving evidence said the deceased was his elder sister. "Suddenly four persons in black uniforms with shoes forced opened the doors of the house andentered. They tied my hands, covered my eyes and assaulted me. They throttled my neck to prevent me from shouting and dragged me behind the house and two of them dragged my sister away to a nearby deserted house."According to the witness, the rapists and murderers spoke in Tamil with heavy Sinhala accents.
The medical report furnished by the Judicial Medical Officer of Colombo(JMO) said that the injuries found on the body of the victim were consistent with rape and murder. Mrs. Ilangovan, Jaffna Acting Magistrateread out the J.M.O's report in open court on January 08, 2000.
Krishanti and Sarathambaal are among scores of Tamil women routinely subjected to sexual violence and murder by the Sri Lankan armed forces.There is a long list of hapless and defenceless Thamil women falling victims to thugs in uniform.
Wijikala and Sivamani
(1) On March 19, 2001 in Mannar, ten Navy personnel arrested two Tamil women Wijikala Nanthakumar (22) an expectant mother and Sivamani Arjunan(24) mother of three children have gone to Mannar on personal errands.On the way to the Counter Insurgency Unit (CIU) in Mannar, the Navy personnel started making sexual advances towards these totally helpless women. On arriving at the CIU at 11.30 p.m. both women were stripped naked, blind-folded and sexually assaulted. Wijikala was brutally and repeatedly raped by two naval ratings. Sivamani was also raped and subjected to several hours of torture while the rest of the men in uniform sadistically relished witnessing the rape through openings in the wall!
Rajani
(2) Rajani Velayuthapillai, aged 23 years was detained by the Sri Lankan army personnel at Kondavil military check-post on her way back from Maanippay on October 03, 1996. She was returning after saying adieu to some of her close relatives prior to flying to Canada to join her fiancée. The soldiers on duty gang raped her and dumped her body in a pit of an abandoned lavatory near the Kondavil military check-post.
Thenuka
(3) Thenuka Selvarajah, a 5th grade student at Atchuvely Mahavidyalayam,was abducted and gang raped by army personnel attached to Puttur army camp on November 2, 1996. Luckily the sexually abused and psychologically tormented child escaped her abductors to tell her story to the school principal.
Koneswary
(4) Mrs. Murugesapillai Koneswary, mother of 4 children, of Central Camp,Amparai District, was passing though the check point at Central Camp on 17 May, 1997 when she was verbally assaulted and sexually harassed by four police officers on duty at that time. Reportedly, Mrs. Koneswary was not one to quietly take the harassment and thus defended herself, shouting at the officers and demanding that they leave her alone. At approximately 11.00 p.m. the same night, an unknown number of armed men in uniform entered Mrs. Koneswary's home. By 11.30 she was dead. She died instantly when a hand grenade was exploded on her genitals. This was apparently done to destroy all evidence of gang rape. Mrs. Koneswary's home, a thatched hut with a concrete floor, bore the marks of the explosion.
Rasamma and Dharshini
(5) Velan Rasammah (38) a widow and her sister Nalliah Dharshini (28) were raped by four army soldiers at Thannamunai, a village 6 km north of Batticaloa. The incident took place on March 17, 1997 at 11.00 p.m. At an identification parade the victims identified only one soldier among a total of 150.
Victims of Rape and Murder by soldiers not meted out justice
Let no one entertain any illusion that the Sinhala racist government will ever punish the perpetrators of these crimes or mete out justice to the Tamil victims of state terrorism.
Sri Lanka has ratified both the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention against Torture. In addition, Sri Lanka has also enacted enabling legislation in the form of the Torture Act to give effect to the Convention against Torture. But inpractice they remain a dead letter.
If anything, the criminals will be rewarded with promotions and high profile diplomatic postings. The accused soldiers in the Krishanti Kumaraswamy rape and murder trial told court that they were only carrying out orders of their commanders to bury dead bodies at Chemmani. One of the commanders in charge of the Jaffna peninsula at that time (1996) was Brigadier Janaka Perera who was later promoted to the post of Deputy Chiefof Staff, and now appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Australia!
The media have reported that the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission had met the relatives of Tharshini. This time with Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy as Chair Woman of HRC the outcome may be different. It is hoped this famous women's rights activist will go for the perpetrators - she has a challenge on her hands and the eyes of the Thamils watching closely.
"Molotov Cocktail" of state "Terror" unleashed by SL Armed Forces
The rape of Tharshini is part of a pattern of disturbing events in the NorthEast. What was before a calculated campaign of violence and incitement by para-military forces operated by the government of Sri Lanka with the Sri Lanka Armed Forces calling the shots from behind the scenes has now turned into a "Molotov Cocktail" of state "Terror" unleashed onthe Thamil civilian population by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and its(para) military minions under the guidance of the new army top brass appointed by the new president Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse. It is against all democratic principles or norms. The Sri Lankan Armed Forces are shooting indiscriminately on people who want to exercise their democratic right to protest or to demonstrate. In fact a protest march that was on their way to file a legitimate complaint with the offices of the 'Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission" about the brutal rape and murder of Tharshini. was blocked by SLAF personnel and when the marchers protested such interference the SLAF personnel opened fire injuring several protesters including the Member of Parliament for Jaffna, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna and other senior members of the Faculty including a Canadian citizen, Professor Perinpanathan and many students injuring many of them.
The CTC condemns the acts of terror perpetrated against the civilian population including amongst others Thamil resurgence activists, students,3 wheeler drivers and journalists. No one is being spared. Whether they are protesting against the intimidating presence of an "alien" army of aggressors occupying the historical and traditional Tamil Homeland or whether they are recording such acts of aggression to inform the rest of the world.
Three SLN personnel lost their lives when SLN fired upon LTTE's Sea Tiger's patrol boat off the coast of Mannar and the LTTE fired back.Thirteen SLN personnel died when their convoy was ambushed in Mannar. The national resurgence movement has taken responsibility for this.
The civilian Thamil Resistance Forces (TRF) a Thamil national "resurgence movement" is showing it is ready to take on the Sri Lankan Army. It wants an end to army occupation. It wants to take to task the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Government of Sri Lanka for flagrantly violating the ceasefire agreement signed by the GOSL and the Liberation Tigers of TamilEelam (LTTE) to end hostilities, to dismantle the high security zones, and to withdraw from areas of civilian habitation such as schools and public buildings. It has no confidence any more in peace negotiations because it has seen it coming to nothing. It is people power taking hold.
The cold blooded shooting death of Mamannithar Joseph Pararajasingham Member of Parliament for Batticaloa and member of the National Tamil Alliance by unknown gun men (but some government para- military called "serum padai" have admitted responsibility) inside the church whilst the MP and his wife were participating in the midnight mass on Christmas eve shows people are being targeted for their nationalist beliefs and the perpetrators would at any time, by any means use any place to achieve there end. The MP's wife and 8 other worshippers were critically injured in the gun blast and admitted to hospital.
Mamannithar Pararajasingham is the second member of the Kilinochchi-based Northeast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) to be killed this year.NESOHR member for Amparai, Mr. A Chandra Nehru was ambushed and shot dead in February by para-military and Sri Lankan army intelligence.
In his life, as a parliamentarian Mamannithar Pararajasingham, documented human rights violations in eastern Sri Lanka during the 1990's and broughtit to the attention of the international community. He persistently challenged the Sri Lankan government on its human rights record. The SriLankan parliament Hansard will contain ample evidence of his brave challenges to the Sri Lankan state on its human rights record. He traveled the world as a member of parliament, representing the Tamils, to meet foreign ministers and foreign affairs officials and brought the humanrights situation in North East to their attention.
The revenge attacks on civilians by the Sri Lanka Navy are increasing. The remains of burnt bodies including a four-year-old boy were discovered in Pesalai at 10:30 a.m. on Christmas day and have been identified as civilians. How many more are going to die before these predators leave?
The Sri Lankan government and its armed forces have declared war on the Tamil people unleashing military terror in order to subjugate them by force. To maintain their oppressive rule over the Tamil people the Sinhala occupation army has committed, and continue to commit, horrendous humanrights violations.
There is a mountain of damning evidence to prove that the Sri Lankan armed forces are using rape as a weapon of war to terrorise and humiliate the Thamil people in to submission. To the Thamils, honouring and defending the chastity of Thamil women is so important a duty. Unfortunately for male chauvinism it is considered an expression of an "article of faith".But to a woman her chastity is sacred - not to be robbed for it's a violation of her being and this is universal. The Thamil women will chose death in preference to losing their chastity. These sexual predators/killers, the so called mercenaries in uniform know these cultural values and feminine sensitivities and use this as a weapon to crush the psyche ofthe Thamil people.
Appeal to the International Community for help
The CTC is behind the people of Thamil Eelam and the Thamil Diaspora inits efforts to bring these most dastardly acts perpetrated against the Thamil people to the urgent attention of the International Community.
The CTC appeals to the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. KoffiAnnan, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), the European Union Commissioner for International Relations, the Co-Chairs Norway Japan, US and EU countries mediating the peace process, the Prime Minister of Canada the Right Hon Paul Martin, the Foreign Affairs Minister the Hon Pierre Pettigrew, the United States Congress, President Bill Clinton, all Foreign Diplomatic Offices in Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and all humanrights organizations for help to bring the alleged perpetrators of the brutal rape and murder of Tharshini to book.
May the Occupation of the Thamil Homeland by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces End Now. May People Power Emerge Victorious! Tharshini your Honour shallbe Vindicated, your Dignity shall be Restored. You shall be the Symbol of Resurgence. The Thamil Nation, the Thamil Diaspora and those Brave and Exceptional Women and Men of the Liberation Army Will not rest until that Happens! It's a Promise they make to you our Daughter Tharshini. [/color:bd8565f3e6]
SLA atrocities continue in Northeast unabated
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 16:23 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Fisherman from Valvettiturai, Aathikovil, Keruvil, Thondamanaru, Akkarai have been banned from fishing by Sri Lankan Navy. Last week the Navy Brigadier invited the President S Suriyakumar of Fisherman Consortium and their representatives for a meeting. Despite the Fisherman Consortium's objection, the Brigadier told them that the Navy planned to ban fishing in these areas. The Brigadier told them that fishing activity in these sea areas poses danger to the Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force. The Brigadier also said there will be a gazette notification issued regarding this plan. The Fisherman Consortium has pointed out to the Navy that such a ban will cause severe difficulties for the fisherman, which the Navy has refused to accept.
[ Bos NewsLife ] [ 01:50 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Human rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) told BosNewsLife that it has established that Joseph Pararajasingham, a prominent Tamil and member of parliament for the Tamil National Alliance party, was shot dead "while attending a late night Christmas Eve service at St. Ann's Catholic Cathedral in Batticaloa (Eastern Province)."The attack was followed by violence on Christmas Day when "a mob of about 30 people accosted members of the King's Revival Church in Alawwa [in] Kurunegala District [of] west central Sri Lanka," CSW said. "They threatened the pastor and warned the congregation not to attend the service," during the incident, the group claimed. The militants also "told the pastor not to hold a Christmas service and warned they would attack again on New Year's Eve. Many worshippers fled in fear," said CSW, citing a report by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka.
Media network chairperson allegedly the target of assassination plot
[ IFEX ] [ 02:00 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
There have been reports of an alleged conspiracy to assassinate the chairperson of the MTV-MBC media network. The issue was first reported by The Sunday Leader of 1 January 2006 and followed by the MTV-MBC network, carrying the same story on 3rd January 2006. The network has three popular TV channels and four popular radio channels broadcasting in all three languages used in Sri Lanka. The MTV-MBC network has made complaints to the police and the highest authorities of the country regarding this dangerous situation. FMM expresses serious concern regarding these reports and holds the view that if such an attempt has been made, it is definitely a serious threat to freedom of expression in Sri Lanka.Threats and intimidation directed at owners, editors or journalists of any media institution based on their editorial policy are a threat not only to media freedom but also to basic democratic rights.
S.Lanka's Tigers say willing to die, ready for war
[ Reuters ] [ 04:00 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Malathy is around five feet tall, joined Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels a decade ago and says the deaths of her comrades have only strengthened her. She is ready to fight again. Dressed in the distinctive tiger-striped battledress of a movement that fought for two decades for independence until a 2002 truce, the 28-year-old said she and her fellow cadres had hoped the Norwegian-brokered ceasefire would deliver a lasting peace, but it had not. "We were under the impression that peace could be obtained and the freedom of the Tamil people gained through the peace process," she said, speaking through a translator in the northern town of Kilinochchi, the rebel headquarters.
Lanka situation: India not to intervene
[ News Today ] [ 12:51 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that India would not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. His comments come in the context of some UPA constituents (MDMK and the PMK, primarily), opposing to the defence pact with Sri Lanka. 'It is the stated policy of the Union Government not to interfere in the affairs of other countries and the government still stands by it'. Pranab Mukherjee, who was here to launch the UPA's multi-media campaign, allso called on DMK President M Karunanidhi at his residence today. Talking to newsmen after the meeting, he said it was routine meeting 'as he had strong relationship with Karunanidhi for several years.
Sri Lanka soldier ambushed ahead of funerals
[ AFP ] [ 12:52 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Suspected Tamil rebels set off a landmine that wounded a soldier in northern Sri Lanka ahead of the funerals of five students allegedly killed in cold blood by the security forces, officials said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam guerrillas ambushed the soldier travelling in a tractor in the district of Vavuniya by setting off a Claymore mine, a military spokesman said on Thursday. The attack came hours ahead of the funerals in the restive northeastern port town of Trincomalee of five students killed on Monday. Autopsy reports said the students had been shot dead although the military had earlier maintained that they died when an explosive device they carried exploded prematurely.
Sri Lanka on the road back to civil war
[ WSWS ] [ 12:55 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Less than two months after the presidential election, Sri Lanka is slipping towards civil war. Escalating violence has been accompanied by widespread repression by the Sri Lankan security forces against the country's Tamil minority, as well as Sinhala chauvinist agitation by President Mahinda Rajapakse's allies'the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). In December alone, some 90 deaths were reported. These included 46 military personnel killed in a series of ambushes, 10 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members murdered in unexplained circumstances, and several members of paramilitaries connected to the security forces as well as a number of innocent civilians.
MGR fans in LTTE-held area seek Jayalalitha's support
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 12:55 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Fans of matinee idol of yesteryears and AIADMK founder, the late MG Ramachandran (MGR) in an LTTE-held part of Sri Lanka, have appealed to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to support the LTTE. In a memorandum sent to the AIADMK Supremo, the Kilinochchi MGR Munnetra Kazhagam (KMGRMK) has said that she should realise that the Tamil people of Sri Lanka are living in fear of losing their lives. She should recognise their feelings and support the LTTE, it pleads. It is significant that Kilinochchi is the headquarters of the LTTE in Sri Lanka. An appeal of this sort can never be made unless the LTTE itself wanted it.
Tamil Civilians Need Protection Against A Vindictive Armed State
[ IFT ] [ 15:11 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
This is the second urgent appeal the IFT, International Federation of Tamils is making to the IC, International Community within a week, for urgent measures to prevent a total annihilation of Tamils in the government controlled areas of the traditional homeland of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, by the State Armed Forces. Vicious attacks on civilians, growing lists of missing persons, violence on women including rapes and murders, killing of school children and attacks on schools and universities, arson, increased checkpoints and harassing body searches are spiralling to intolerable heights. The IFT considers this a war declared by the Sri Lanka Government on the civilian population in the island. The unarmed civilians need protection against a vindictive armed state. The International Community must respond immediately.
Norway's cooperation with the EU on the fight against terrorism
[ Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Norway ] [ 15:21 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Norway has previously aligned itself with the EU's list of persons, organisations and entities set out in the Common Position on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism. This list is revised by the EU at regular intervals. Following an overall assessment, the government has decided that Norway will no longer align itself with any other list than that published by the UN. The reason for this decision is that a continued alignment with the EU list could cause difficulties for Norway in its role as neutral facilitator in certain peace processes. Norway's role could become difficult if one of the parties involved was included on the EU list, and the opportunities for contact were thus restricted. The Norwegian government wants to intensify international peace processes and Norway must therefore avoid a situation that makes it more difficult for us to have contact with any of the parties to a conflict said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
'No instructions on Chemmani' CID
[ BBC ] [ 15:39 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Police say that they have not received proper instructions from the government on conducting the Chemmani massacre inquiry. In the Colombo Magistrates court on Wednesday, Police Central Investigation Division (CID) revealed that the investigations that commenced six years ago cannot be concluded until the Attorney-General (AG) issues the relevant instructions.Police informed court that they are waiting instructions as the findings of the investigation has been already handed over to the AG. The magistrate who said that it is "unacceptable" that an inquiry takes so long, directed the CID to expedite the conclusion of the investigation.
Tharshini "Your Honour shall be vindicated. Your dignity shall be restored"
By: V. Thangavelu and Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
Source: TamilCanadian - december 28, 2005
The rape and murder of Tharshini is an inhuman act. 19 year old Tharshini's mutilated and lifeless body was recovered from an abandoned well in Punguduthivu located close to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) camp insidethe high security zone which is under the control of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces (SLAF). According to postmortem examinations conducted in the Jaffna Teaching Hospital by Judicial Medical Officer Dr Balasubramaniam, she was brutally raped before being strangled to death. The report confirms the brutality of the sexual assault and rape on Tharshini":several injuries were caused by fingernails and biting had been found on several areas of her body. One of her breasts had been severely bitten."
The SLN which has complete control over the islet of Punkuduthivu did not permit the local community to even conduct a decent burial for Tharshinias selected people who were to conduct last rites did not come to the site due to SLN intimidation of civilians in the area.
[color=darkred:bd8565f3e6]Women not safe
The Punguduthivu Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (MPCS) said in a press release that "the Sri Lanka Navy should take responsibility for the abduction and murder of a young woman Ilayathamby Tharshini as Punguduthivu is under full control of Sri Lanka Navy." The press release further said "the safety of Tamil women is in danger in the presence of SLN personnel who perpetrate crimes with complete impunity." They called upon civil groups and women's rights activists to raise the issue in local and international for and ensure safety and freedom of movement to women in the islets.
This is not the first time women and girls have been subjected to rape,brutality and murder by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
There have been several recorded cases of rape by members of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces albeit many more have gone unreported. The cases of Krishanti, Sarathambaal and a few others have to be recalled to remind usof the grim and gruesome details of such horrendous acts usually typical of psychopaths.
Krishanthi
We know about Krishanti Kumaraswamy (16) who was gang raped by six army personnel and murdered. She was alive when she was buried according to evidence presented in court. Her mother (59) vice principal of Kaithaddy Maha Vidyalayam, her younger brother Pranavan and her neighbour Kirupamoorthy Sithambaranathan (32) were also murdered. The mother who went in search of her daughter never returned. Her brother and Neighbour who went in search of Krishanti and her mother were strangled and their bodies and buried.
Their bodies were discovered 45 days later by sheer accident. The dead bodies of all the four missing persons were found in crudely dug graves at Chemmani. The highly decomposed bodies were exhumed and flown in two coffins for burial in Colombo. A stubborn and insensitive government denied Prashanti (21) her eldest sister to mourn over her family or perform last rites and an ultimatum was given by the army hierarchy that the body should be cremated within two hours.
Amnesty International (AI) and other human rights organizations like Women for peace launched a sustained campaign to pressurise the government of Sri Lanka to arrest and bring to justice the rapist and murderers of Krishanti and her family.
According to AI "For too long the security forces have literally been allowed to get away with murder and a climate of impunity existed at all levels in regard to grave human rights violations committed by them." The UN working group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in its report for 1995 said, "Sri Lanka ranked second highest in the world total number of disappearances." The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) has said "Tortures,deaths in custody and disappearances are wide spread in Sri Lanka. A number of women and children have disappeared after being taken by security forces in the Tamil areas. Tamils continued to be held in secret places of detention especially in the Jaffna peninsula, Colombo and Vavunia."
In Krishanti's rape and murder trial the first accused Lance Corporal Devage Somaratne Rajapakse when asked by the court whether he had anything to say before sentencing said, "We did not kill any one. We only buried bodies that were sent to us by our superior offices."
He went on to drop the bomb shell "We can show you where 300 - 400 bodiesthat have been buried at Chemmani." Other co-accused persons corroborated the statement of the first accused.
AI in its report dated November 27, 1997 stated categorically that "nearly all of them are likely to have died under torture or to have been deliberately killed."
Sarathambaal
It will be recalled that Sarathambaal (29 years) mother of a three year old child, was forcibly dragged out from her home in Punkuduthivu gang raped and murdered. Punguduthivu was one of several islands lying off theJaffna peninsula that was under martial law and night curfews since it was wrested from the LTTE in 1995/96.
Mr V Thangavelu a well known Scholar and Writer in his research paper,Rape and Murder of Sarathambaal - File Closed states: "The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (HRC) that investigated the rape and murder of Sarathambaal decided to close the file for lack of evidence. Likewise the CID too has thrown in the towel saying there are no suspects. Apparentlyto both the HRC and the CID Sarathambaal was never raped and murdered, she had simply committed suicide!
Contrary to what the HRC and CID say, local residents claim that the naval ratings who raped Sarathambaal have all been transferred from the island to prevent identification, interrogation and arrest. This is a familiar and thinly disguised ploy unashamedly used by the top brass of the armed forces to shelter perpetrators of crimes from the long arm of the law.
Ironically at that point of time the Information Department of the Peoples Alliance government of Sri Lanka released a statement saying that the then President Chandrika had ordered a full inquiry to "report back to herimmediately for deterrent action against the culprits irrespective of theranks or status." As events have now proved, Chandrika's order was only aritual and a camouflage intended to silence international criticism rather than a genuine effort to apprehend perpetrators of the crime, protect human rights and prevent further violations.
At the inquest held subsequently a sobbing Rajasekara Sarma, 19, giving evidence said the deceased was his elder sister. "Suddenly four persons in black uniforms with shoes forced opened the doors of the house andentered. They tied my hands, covered my eyes and assaulted me. They throttled my neck to prevent me from shouting and dragged me behind the house and two of them dragged my sister away to a nearby deserted house."According to the witness, the rapists and murderers spoke in Tamil with heavy Sinhala accents.
The medical report furnished by the Judicial Medical Officer of Colombo(JMO) said that the injuries found on the body of the victim were consistent with rape and murder. Mrs. Ilangovan, Jaffna Acting Magistrateread out the J.M.O's report in open court on January 08, 2000.
Krishanti and Sarathambaal are among scores of Tamil women routinely subjected to sexual violence and murder by the Sri Lankan armed forces.There is a long list of hapless and defenceless Thamil women falling victims to thugs in uniform.
Wijikala and Sivamani
(1) On March 19, 2001 in Mannar, ten Navy personnel arrested two Tamil women Wijikala Nanthakumar (22) an expectant mother and Sivamani Arjunan(24) mother of three children have gone to Mannar on personal errands.On the way to the Counter Insurgency Unit (CIU) in Mannar, the Navy personnel started making sexual advances towards these totally helpless women. On arriving at the CIU at 11.30 p.m. both women were stripped naked, blind-folded and sexually assaulted. Wijikala was brutally and repeatedly raped by two naval ratings. Sivamani was also raped and subjected to several hours of torture while the rest of the men in uniform sadistically relished witnessing the rape through openings in the wall!
Rajani
(2) Rajani Velayuthapillai, aged 23 years was detained by the Sri Lankan army personnel at Kondavil military check-post on her way back from Maanippay on October 03, 1996. She was returning after saying adieu to some of her close relatives prior to flying to Canada to join her fiancée. The soldiers on duty gang raped her and dumped her body in a pit of an abandoned lavatory near the Kondavil military check-post.
Thenuka
(3) Thenuka Selvarajah, a 5th grade student at Atchuvely Mahavidyalayam,was abducted and gang raped by army personnel attached to Puttur army camp on November 2, 1996. Luckily the sexually abused and psychologically tormented child escaped her abductors to tell her story to the school principal.
Koneswary
(4) Mrs. Murugesapillai Koneswary, mother of 4 children, of Central Camp,Amparai District, was passing though the check point at Central Camp on 17 May, 1997 when she was verbally assaulted and sexually harassed by four police officers on duty at that time. Reportedly, Mrs. Koneswary was not one to quietly take the harassment and thus defended herself, shouting at the officers and demanding that they leave her alone. At approximately 11.00 p.m. the same night, an unknown number of armed men in uniform entered Mrs. Koneswary's home. By 11.30 she was dead. She died instantly when a hand grenade was exploded on her genitals. This was apparently done to destroy all evidence of gang rape. Mrs. Koneswary's home, a thatched hut with a concrete floor, bore the marks of the explosion.
Rasamma and Dharshini
(5) Velan Rasammah (38) a widow and her sister Nalliah Dharshini (28) were raped by four army soldiers at Thannamunai, a village 6 km north of Batticaloa. The incident took place on March 17, 1997 at 11.00 p.m. At an identification parade the victims identified only one soldier among a total of 150.
Victims of Rape and Murder by soldiers not meted out justice
Let no one entertain any illusion that the Sinhala racist government will ever punish the perpetrators of these crimes or mete out justice to the Tamil victims of state terrorism.
Sri Lanka has ratified both the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention against Torture. In addition, Sri Lanka has also enacted enabling legislation in the form of the Torture Act to give effect to the Convention against Torture. But inpractice they remain a dead letter.
If anything, the criminals will be rewarded with promotions and high profile diplomatic postings. The accused soldiers in the Krishanti Kumaraswamy rape and murder trial told court that they were only carrying out orders of their commanders to bury dead bodies at Chemmani. One of the commanders in charge of the Jaffna peninsula at that time (1996) was Brigadier Janaka Perera who was later promoted to the post of Deputy Chiefof Staff, and now appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Australia!
The media have reported that the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission had met the relatives of Tharshini. This time with Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy as Chair Woman of HRC the outcome may be different. It is hoped this famous women's rights activist will go for the perpetrators - she has a challenge on her hands and the eyes of the Thamils watching closely.
"Molotov Cocktail" of state "Terror" unleashed by SL Armed Forces
The rape of Tharshini is part of a pattern of disturbing events in the NorthEast. What was before a calculated campaign of violence and incitement by para-military forces operated by the government of Sri Lanka with the Sri Lanka Armed Forces calling the shots from behind the scenes has now turned into a "Molotov Cocktail" of state "Terror" unleashed onthe Thamil civilian population by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and its(para) military minions under the guidance of the new army top brass appointed by the new president Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse. It is against all democratic principles or norms. The Sri Lankan Armed Forces are shooting indiscriminately on people who want to exercise their democratic right to protest or to demonstrate. In fact a protest march that was on their way to file a legitimate complaint with the offices of the 'Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission" about the brutal rape and murder of Tharshini. was blocked by SLAF personnel and when the marchers protested such interference the SLAF personnel opened fire injuring several protesters including the Member of Parliament for Jaffna, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jaffna and other senior members of the Faculty including a Canadian citizen, Professor Perinpanathan and many students injuring many of them.
The CTC condemns the acts of terror perpetrated against the civilian population including amongst others Thamil resurgence activists, students,3 wheeler drivers and journalists. No one is being spared. Whether they are protesting against the intimidating presence of an "alien" army of aggressors occupying the historical and traditional Tamil Homeland or whether they are recording such acts of aggression to inform the rest of the world.
Three SLN personnel lost their lives when SLN fired upon LTTE's Sea Tiger's patrol boat off the coast of Mannar and the LTTE fired back.Thirteen SLN personnel died when their convoy was ambushed in Mannar. The national resurgence movement has taken responsibility for this.
The civilian Thamil Resistance Forces (TRF) a Thamil national "resurgence movement" is showing it is ready to take on the Sri Lankan Army. It wants an end to army occupation. It wants to take to task the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and the Government of Sri Lanka for flagrantly violating the ceasefire agreement signed by the GOSL and the Liberation Tigers of TamilEelam (LTTE) to end hostilities, to dismantle the high security zones, and to withdraw from areas of civilian habitation such as schools and public buildings. It has no confidence any more in peace negotiations because it has seen it coming to nothing. It is people power taking hold.
The cold blooded shooting death of Mamannithar Joseph Pararajasingham Member of Parliament for Batticaloa and member of the National Tamil Alliance by unknown gun men (but some government para- military called "serum padai" have admitted responsibility) inside the church whilst the MP and his wife were participating in the midnight mass on Christmas eve shows people are being targeted for their nationalist beliefs and the perpetrators would at any time, by any means use any place to achieve there end. The MP's wife and 8 other worshippers were critically injured in the gun blast and admitted to hospital.
Mamannithar Pararajasingham is the second member of the Kilinochchi-based Northeast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) to be killed this year.NESOHR member for Amparai, Mr. A Chandra Nehru was ambushed and shot dead in February by para-military and Sri Lankan army intelligence.
In his life, as a parliamentarian Mamannithar Pararajasingham, documented human rights violations in eastern Sri Lanka during the 1990's and broughtit to the attention of the international community. He persistently challenged the Sri Lankan government on its human rights record. The SriLankan parliament Hansard will contain ample evidence of his brave challenges to the Sri Lankan state on its human rights record. He traveled the world as a member of parliament, representing the Tamils, to meet foreign ministers and foreign affairs officials and brought the humanrights situation in North East to their attention.
The revenge attacks on civilians by the Sri Lanka Navy are increasing. The remains of burnt bodies including a four-year-old boy were discovered in Pesalai at 10:30 a.m. on Christmas day and have been identified as civilians. How many more are going to die before these predators leave?
The Sri Lankan government and its armed forces have declared war on the Tamil people unleashing military terror in order to subjugate them by force. To maintain their oppressive rule over the Tamil people the Sinhala occupation army has committed, and continue to commit, horrendous humanrights violations.
There is a mountain of damning evidence to prove that the Sri Lankan armed forces are using rape as a weapon of war to terrorise and humiliate the Thamil people in to submission. To the Thamils, honouring and defending the chastity of Thamil women is so important a duty. Unfortunately for male chauvinism it is considered an expression of an "article of faith".But to a woman her chastity is sacred - not to be robbed for it's a violation of her being and this is universal. The Thamil women will chose death in preference to losing their chastity. These sexual predators/killers, the so called mercenaries in uniform know these cultural values and feminine sensitivities and use this as a weapon to crush the psyche ofthe Thamil people.
Appeal to the International Community for help
The CTC is behind the people of Thamil Eelam and the Thamil Diaspora inits efforts to bring these most dastardly acts perpetrated against the Thamil people to the urgent attention of the International Community.
The CTC appeals to the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. KoffiAnnan, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), the European Union Commissioner for International Relations, the Co-Chairs Norway Japan, US and EU countries mediating the peace process, the Prime Minister of Canada the Right Hon Paul Martin, the Foreign Affairs Minister the Hon Pierre Pettigrew, the United States Congress, President Bill Clinton, all Foreign Diplomatic Offices in Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and all humanrights organizations for help to bring the alleged perpetrators of the brutal rape and murder of Tharshini to book.
May the Occupation of the Thamil Homeland by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces End Now. May People Power Emerge Victorious! Tharshini your Honour shallbe Vindicated, your Dignity shall be Restored. You shall be the Symbol of Resurgence. The Thamil Nation, the Thamil Diaspora and those Brave and Exceptional Women and Men of the Liberation Army Will not rest until that Happens! It's a Promise they make to you our Daughter Tharshini. [/color:bd8565f3e6]
SLA atrocities continue in Northeast unabated
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 16:23 GMT, Jan. 5, 2006 ]
Fisherman from Valvettiturai, Aathikovil, Keruvil, Thondamanaru, Akkarai have been banned from fishing by Sri Lankan Navy. Last week the Navy Brigadier invited the President S Suriyakumar of Fisherman Consortium and their representatives for a meeting. Despite the Fisherman Consortium's objection, the Brigadier told them that the Navy planned to ban fishing in these areas. The Brigadier told them that fishing activity in these sea areas poses danger to the Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force. The Brigadier also said there will be a gazette notification issued regarding this plan. The Fisherman Consortium has pointed out to the Navy that such a ban will cause severe difficulties for the fisherman, which the Navy has refused to accept.