News vom 05.11.2005

[srilanka1998]

Grenade attack on Muhamalai LTTE post foiled, attacker shot
[ TamilNet ] [ 21:21 GMT, Nov. 4, 2005 ]

Two men who entered the Liberation Tigers controlled area and attempted to lob grenades at the checkpost were shot while they tried to escape from the Muhamalai checkpoint, civilian sources said. One of the attackers was later rushed to Chavakacheri hospital by the Sri Lanka Army. The incident took place around 1:00 p.m. Friday when the attackers, caught by the personnel manning the checkpoint, tried to escape from the site, sources added. The wounded person, Mr. Vijeyavarman Mathimugarajah, 27, believed to be one of the attackers, was later transferred to Jaffna Hopital from Chavakacheri Hospital, medical sources said. Mr. Vijeyavarman Mathimugarajah, is the son of late Mr. Pon. Mathimugarajah, the former secretary of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Jaffna Branch, sources added.


Jounalist tells story of abuse and assault by Sri Lanka Army
[ TamilCanadian ] [ 02:43 GMT, Nov. 5, 2005 ]

Photographer Berty Mendis and Editor Ms. Ranee Mohamed of the Sunday leader recounted that they experienced the 'fear of death' at the hands of the Sri Lanka Army soldiers when they covered the story of the slain Sri Lankan intelligence officer Rizwi Meedin at his residence Tuesday morning. Mohamed said that looking at her senior photographer taking the merciless beating was too much to bear and as they walked away, a group of 15 soldiers in civilian outfits ran behind them. 'Shouting abuse, they manhandled us, pushing us, hitting Berty Mendis and surrounding us,' Mohamed said. 'For the first time in our lives we experienced the fear of death ' we experienced what it is like to be surrounded, to be on the verge of death. Our cameras were snatched and our tape recorder and our mobile phones were also grabbed by the gang.


Sri Lanka candidate in truce vow
[ BBC ] [ 03:54 GMT, Nov. 5, 2005 ]

Sri Lankan presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapakse has visited the island's north and vowed to review the 2002 ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels. Mr Rajapakse, the ruling party candidate, told government troops in the rebel heartland he was opposed to war but that the truce needed revising. His visit came a day after main opponent Ranil Wickramasinghe made a similar visit to Jaffna. The election to succeed Chandrika Kumaratunga takes place on 17 November. Mr Rajapakse flew to a northern air base and started the day taking breakfast with government troops before visiting an army hospital and a navy base. He told troops: "As prime minister I can go to London and to America... wherever in the world. But I cannot visit some parts of my own country.


Birds of a feather
[ Tamil Guardian ] [ 03:55 GMT, Nov. 5, 2005 ]

With just over two weeks left before Sri Lanka's Presidential elections, hectic campaigning is underway. Both the leading contenders, Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, are stepping up their efforts amid what is widely seen as a close run race. But in contrast to the feverish activity in the south, the selection of Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga's successor is attracting marginal interest in Sri Lanka's Tamil dominated north. It speaks volumes of the southern polity that amidst the acute rivalry between Mr. Rajapakse and Mr. Wickremesinghe, the Tamils argue they cannot discern a distinction between them on the ethnic question.


AP Interview: Norway's new aid minister will continue his Sri Lanka peace effort
[ AP ] [ 03:56 GMT, Nov. 5, 2005 ]

The man who secretly started peace talks in Sri Lanka in 1999 said Friday his new role as Norway's aid minister will not keep him from working to end the bloody conflict. In an interview with The Associated Press, Erik Solheim also vowed to further the Nordic nation's reputation as an international peacemaker and world's top per-capita aid donor. Back from a visit last week to earthquake-ravaged Kashmir, Solheim warned that sluggish aid efforts there could cost more lives than the catastrophe itself. "I was clearly disappointed by the international response," Solheim said. "Winter is impending, it will be cold and to survive without tents or blankets or without reconstructed houses will be impossible.


Realignment of Sinhala Nationalist forces spells trouble for SL Peace- Gajendrakumar
[ TamilNet ] [ 06:28 GMT, Nov. 5, 2005 ]

"Radicalisation of Sri Lanka polity resulting in the realignment of Sinhala Nationalist forces as witnessed by the coalitions for Sri Lanka's presidential elections, raises the spectre of nationlist politics of the 50s and is leading towards imminent collapse of the peace process," said Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, addressing a forum on Sri Lanka's Peace prospects, held in Washington D.C Friday at the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS). The forum on "The Sri Lanka Peace Process: Dead end or is there hope?" organized by CSIS in collaboration with East-West Center (EWC), an education and research organization, was addressed by Hon. Bernard A B Gunatilleke, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the US, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, and Dayan Jayatilleke, Adjunct Professor at The Johns Hopkins University.

 

[srilanka1998]

BBC singhala

Prospects of peaceful presidential election

The presidential campaign is moving forward peacefully says election monitoring organization PAFERAL.
Kingsley Rodrigo, convener of PAFERAL speaking to Sandeshaya said that overall there have been very few incidents.

The police not releasing details of election violence related complaints is a step taken towards the correct direction says Rodrigo.

He said "previously when the police was making public the number of complaints one party tried to out bid the other by the number of complaints made"

commenting on the factors that have so far contributed towards a peaceful presidential election campaign Rodrigo said that the President Kumarathunga and main candidates Rajapaksha and Wickramasinha need to be commended for making there supporters aware of the importance of peaceful campaigning.

He also added that the Police are doing a good job.

How ever things could change cautioned the PAFERAL convener.

He said "we are especially concerned of the Eastern province, in the closing days of the campaign there is a possibility of violence and we have to be watchful"


Mahinda promises compensation for high security zone

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse told soldiers of the Palaly army camp that although he is free to visit the UK or London or wherever he is not free to visit cretin parts of the country.
Rajapaksha met the soldiers at the Palaly army camp and then addressed a public gathering at Nadeshwara College, Thelipalai Jaffna which is also situated in the high security zone.

Addressing the soldiers Rajapaksha said "The cease-fire needs to be revised" say agency reports.

The prime minister was accompanied by Hindu affairs minister Douglas Devananda and was able to talk to a few civilians.

In a broadcast over the state run radio station within the high security zone Rajphsha said" I am willing to make sacrifices for peace but there is one thing I am not willing to sacrifice that's my country"

UNP atrocities

Rajapaksha said that the Opposition UNP has committed many atrocities against the Tamils.

He said that the UNP is responsible for mass scale riots and massacres against the Tamils in 1983, vote rigging in the Northern Development Council elections and burning of the Jaffna library.

Quoting a prominent Tamil poet Rajapksha reminded the audience that burning the Library sacred to the people of Jaffna was similar to shooting down Lord Buddha.

He said that as a cumulative effect of the all these atrocities the peaceful voice of the Tamils is now drowned in the echo of the gun.

Rasjapaksha said that he wants to become President not to fight a war but to restore peace.

He also said that the civilians living in the security zone should be compensated for the hardships they are undergoing.

Meanwhile sources from the area say that there were posters urging voters to abstain from the polls.


Muslim refugees pray for peace

Muslims in the refugee camps in Putalam say their wish is to celebrate the next Ramazan in their own villages in Mannar.
Puttalam Lake House correspondent Prasad Purnimal Jayamanna spoke to refugees who have been chased from their native villages by the Tamil Tigers.

Mohamed Rizvi who lives in the Nagavillu refugee camp in Putlam said that they arrived in the camp 15 years ago.

He said "we are not in a mood to celebrate"

Many of the refugees complain about poor living conditions and lack of quality education.

Mohamed Iqubal said they all prayed for peace at the local Mosque.

He said "we want to return to our villages in Mannar to celebrate next Ramazan"

Meanwhile Prime minister Mahinda Rajpaksha touring Jaffna on Friday said that he wanted to see muslims driven away by Tamil Tigers resettled in their own villages.

 

[srilanka1998]

BBC singhala

Go and Vote - North and East Bishops

The bishops of Jaffna ,Mannar and Trincomalee/Batticaloa have urged the voters of the North and East to cast their vote at the forthcoming presidential polls.
The Bishop of Mannar Rt .Rev Rayappu Joseph said that as lethargy among voters could be seen,he and the Bishop of Jaffna Rt.Rev Thomas Saundranayagam and Bishop of Trincomalee/Batticaloa, Rt.Rev.Kingsley Suwampillai decided to write to the voters and encourage them to exercise their franchise.

He said "we have not only written to the voters but we will actively be involved in facilitating voters to get to the pooling booths and also see that there is no foul play".

Asked about posters appearing in the North asking voters to boycott the elections the Bishop said that the Tamil Tigers don't have a hand in it and it's the work of a private party.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph said that they could not allow the voters to be influenced by such elements.

He also said that in the last parliamentary elections the voters participated with enthusiasm to vote for the Tamil National Alliance and this time there isn't encouragement for voters.

The Bishop urged all candidates to actively campaign in rebel held territory as well as other parts of the north and east.