srilanka1998
Member
- Registriert
- 26. Juli 2005
- Beiträge
- 511
UNICEF denies SLA charge
[ Morning Leader ] [ 01:55 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
UNICEF has come down hard on the military for stating that the number of child recruitment cases quoted by the organisation were incorrect.UNICEF has also opted to take action against the state media for publishing an article indicating that the number of child recruitment cases made public by UNICEF was false.UNICEF Spokesperson, Junko Mitani told The Morning Leader the military had quoted figures well above 1,358 since January alone, but the numbers were lower as only 25 cases were reported in January.The number of recruitment cases for February is yet to be released.She added that UNICEF was also shocked over the mis-reported article in the state media claiming that child recruitment cases were understated by UNICEF."We have contacted the state media over this issue and action will be taken," Mitani said.
Sri Lankan pressure group urges govt to end Norwegian role
[ Xinhua ] [ 12:16 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
A Sinhalese majority pressure group Wednesday urged the Sri Lankan government to order Norway out of the peace facilitation role with the Tamil Tigers. Gunadasa Amarasekera, secretary to the Patriotic National Movement (PNM), told reporters that "Norway has once again showed its bias towards the Tigers," referring to a visit made to Oslo by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after last month's Geneva talks with the government. Amarasekera's remark was supported by the country's main left party the JVP or the People's Liberation Front.
Old British cars keep war-hit Sri Lanka on the road
[ Reuters ] [ 12:17 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
If war returns to northern Sri Lanka, garage owner Raja Durai says it might be too much for the new Japanese-built cars he repairs. He'd rather trust veteran British cars half a century old. When two decades of civil war ended in 2002, the only vehicles left on the Jaffna peninsula were old British cars and Sri Lankan army vehicles and trucks. "The British-made cars have been very strong," Durai, 53, told Reuters in his garage, wiping his hands on oil-soaked rags. "The bodywork is very strong. The iron is genuine iron. When they break down, we can turn out a new part. The Japanese cars are not so good."
HRW Missing an Opportunity
[ Illangai Thamizh Sangam ] [ 15:27 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
The Association of Sri Lankan Tamils in the USA wishes to express its regret concerning the report Human Rights Watch (HRW) released today asserting that Western governments are failing to protect the Tamil community from LTTE fundraising. We believe that HRW is missing an opportunity to bring real problems to the attention of the American people. The Tamil American community is spread widely thoughout the US and have become integral members of their neighborhoods.The Tamil community in the US is living with a "culture of fear" from actions of the Sri Lankan government, not the LTTE. It is the government that has failed the Tamils so egregiously that such a large number have been (and still are) compelled to flee.
A Canadian Tamil Community response to Allegations by Human Rights Watch on Extortion
[ CTC ] [ 15:31 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
A report to be released by New York based Human Rights Watch on March 15, 2006, entitled "Tamil Tigers Extort Diaspora for 'Final War' Funds" indicts the entire Tamil Canadian community by allegations that in effect portrays the entire community as complicit in illegal activities. The author, Ms. Jo Becker, alleges that Tamil community members are being extorted and intimidated, thereby challenging "an entire community's right to live without fear." Ms. Becker concludes that the Canadian legal system as a whole has failed to protect the rights of the Tamil community. Leading members of Tamil community organizations assert that the reports conclusions potentially place Tamil Canadians at great risk of racial discrimination and harassment. "The report makes disparaging conclusions about our community’s ability to report extortion and casts doubts about our integrity as law abiding citizens.
LTTE deny extortion claims
[ BBC ] [ 15:40 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
The Tamil Tiger rebels have denied the accusations that they exert pressure on Tamil Diaspora to collect funds for the “final phase” of the war against the Sri Lankan government. LTTE political wing leader, SP Thamilselvan, said the report by Human Rights Watch with eyewitness accounts from the Tamils in UK and Canada was an attempt to “discredit” their organisation.He said the LTTE does not have any agents to collect money, anywhere in the world.“What happens is the Tamils living overseas collect money because they know that these people are affected by war and therefore deserve assistance by their own brethren,” he told the BBC.In an interview with BBC Colombo correspondent John Sudworth in rebel-held Kilinochchi, Thamilselvan said the report is based upon “false” information.
40 Muslims turned back at Muhamalai by SLA
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 15:50 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
40 Muslims traveling from Jaffna crossing SLA Muhamalai checkpoint were turned back by SLA at the Muhamalai border point on Monday. The Muslims were traveling to meet Ilamparuthi, Head of Political Division for Jaffna, at Palai in LTTE administered area. By turning back the Muslims the SLA prevented them from proceeding to attend the meeting. The 40 Muslims were kept at the Muhamalai border checkpoint for more than three hours and interrogated in a threatening manner. Eventually, denied permission to go to Palai the Muslims returned to Jaffna.
Sri Lankan children protest against abductions
[ AP ] [ 16:08 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
Hundreds of children left their classes in parts of eastern Sri Lanka on Wednesday to protest the abductions of three teenagers blamed by the military on Tamil Tiger rebels, police said. The rebels have denied responsibility, saying witnesses told them that a van used to abduct two of the teenagers on Monday sped toward a Sri Lankan military camp."The incident took place during a time when there was heavy Sri Lankan army patrolling on the street," the rebels said on their Web site, accusing a rival rebel faction of being behind the abductions.The rebel movement split in 2004 and the mainstream group accuses the army of backing the breakaway faction, a charge the army denies.
Oslo would jeopardize political stability: Wimal
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 22:19 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa yesterday warned the government against undiplomatic activities carried out by Norway saying it will create a ‘storm’ that would jeopardize political stability of the country. Mr. Weerawansa who is also the Co-president of the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) addressing a press conference said that Norway welcomed the LTTE delegation in their country after the Geneva talks instead of sending them back to the country, has lead to this accusation. “Norway ushered a red carpet welcome for the LTTE delegation in their country and had diplomatic level discussions with them apart from giving weapons. Moreover, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was also invited to hold secret discussions in Norway. All these are enough reasons to be suspicious that there would be a political storm in the country,” he said.
It’s decision time for President Mahinda Rajapakse
[ Morning Leader ] [ 22:28 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
With the heat being turned on by the JVP both in relation to the government’s handling of the LTTE as well as the Norwegian facilitators, President Rajapakse has to bite the bullet sooner than later and decide between war and peace talks but either decision would come at a cost both politically as well as economically. What the JVP is hoping for is a strong showing by the party at the local authority elections and thereafter twist Rajapakse’s presidential arm to dump the Norwegians and the peace talks, precipitating a war which will plunge the country into deeper chaos from which the Marxists hope to rise like the phoenix over the political embers of the SLFP and Rajapakse.
'Constitutional Council' - A Contrary View
[ TamilCanadian ] [ 02:47 GMT, Mar. 16, 2006 ]
The demand from some civic groups to reconstitute the ‘Constitutional Council’ (CC) would give the impression that it would make a substantial contribution to good governance which this country so desperately needs. There is no doubt that the objectives of the 17th Amendment which creates the CC are most relevant particularly in regard to depoliticizing appointments to key institutions of government. Under the 17th Amendment, all appointments to critical state institutions statutorily require the concurrence of the CC. These include the elections, bribery & corruption, public service, police, human rights and judicial service commissions as well as the chief justice and the judges of the Supreme Court, the president and judges of the Court of Appeal, attorney-general, auditor-general and the IGP.
[ Morning Leader ] [ 01:55 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
UNICEF has come down hard on the military for stating that the number of child recruitment cases quoted by the organisation were incorrect.UNICEF has also opted to take action against the state media for publishing an article indicating that the number of child recruitment cases made public by UNICEF was false.UNICEF Spokesperson, Junko Mitani told The Morning Leader the military had quoted figures well above 1,358 since January alone, but the numbers were lower as only 25 cases were reported in January.The number of recruitment cases for February is yet to be released.She added that UNICEF was also shocked over the mis-reported article in the state media claiming that child recruitment cases were understated by UNICEF."We have contacted the state media over this issue and action will be taken," Mitani said.
Sri Lankan pressure group urges govt to end Norwegian role
[ Xinhua ] [ 12:16 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
A Sinhalese majority pressure group Wednesday urged the Sri Lankan government to order Norway out of the peace facilitation role with the Tamil Tigers. Gunadasa Amarasekera, secretary to the Patriotic National Movement (PNM), told reporters that "Norway has once again showed its bias towards the Tigers," referring to a visit made to Oslo by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after last month's Geneva talks with the government. Amarasekera's remark was supported by the country's main left party the JVP or the People's Liberation Front.
Old British cars keep war-hit Sri Lanka on the road
[ Reuters ] [ 12:17 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
If war returns to northern Sri Lanka, garage owner Raja Durai says it might be too much for the new Japanese-built cars he repairs. He'd rather trust veteran British cars half a century old. When two decades of civil war ended in 2002, the only vehicles left on the Jaffna peninsula were old British cars and Sri Lankan army vehicles and trucks. "The British-made cars have been very strong," Durai, 53, told Reuters in his garage, wiping his hands on oil-soaked rags. "The bodywork is very strong. The iron is genuine iron. When they break down, we can turn out a new part. The Japanese cars are not so good."
HRW Missing an Opportunity
[ Illangai Thamizh Sangam ] [ 15:27 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
The Association of Sri Lankan Tamils in the USA wishes to express its regret concerning the report Human Rights Watch (HRW) released today asserting that Western governments are failing to protect the Tamil community from LTTE fundraising. We believe that HRW is missing an opportunity to bring real problems to the attention of the American people. The Tamil American community is spread widely thoughout the US and have become integral members of their neighborhoods.The Tamil community in the US is living with a "culture of fear" from actions of the Sri Lankan government, not the LTTE. It is the government that has failed the Tamils so egregiously that such a large number have been (and still are) compelled to flee.
A Canadian Tamil Community response to Allegations by Human Rights Watch on Extortion
[ CTC ] [ 15:31 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
A report to be released by New York based Human Rights Watch on March 15, 2006, entitled "Tamil Tigers Extort Diaspora for 'Final War' Funds" indicts the entire Tamil Canadian community by allegations that in effect portrays the entire community as complicit in illegal activities. The author, Ms. Jo Becker, alleges that Tamil community members are being extorted and intimidated, thereby challenging "an entire community's right to live without fear." Ms. Becker concludes that the Canadian legal system as a whole has failed to protect the rights of the Tamil community. Leading members of Tamil community organizations assert that the reports conclusions potentially place Tamil Canadians at great risk of racial discrimination and harassment. "The report makes disparaging conclusions about our community’s ability to report extortion and casts doubts about our integrity as law abiding citizens.
LTTE deny extortion claims
[ BBC ] [ 15:40 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
The Tamil Tiger rebels have denied the accusations that they exert pressure on Tamil Diaspora to collect funds for the “final phase” of the war against the Sri Lankan government. LTTE political wing leader, SP Thamilselvan, said the report by Human Rights Watch with eyewitness accounts from the Tamils in UK and Canada was an attempt to “discredit” their organisation.He said the LTTE does not have any agents to collect money, anywhere in the world.“What happens is the Tamils living overseas collect money because they know that these people are affected by war and therefore deserve assistance by their own brethren,” he told the BBC.In an interview with BBC Colombo correspondent John Sudworth in rebel-held Kilinochchi, Thamilselvan said the report is based upon “false” information.
40 Muslims turned back at Muhamalai by SLA
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 15:50 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
40 Muslims traveling from Jaffna crossing SLA Muhamalai checkpoint were turned back by SLA at the Muhamalai border point on Monday. The Muslims were traveling to meet Ilamparuthi, Head of Political Division for Jaffna, at Palai in LTTE administered area. By turning back the Muslims the SLA prevented them from proceeding to attend the meeting. The 40 Muslims were kept at the Muhamalai border checkpoint for more than three hours and interrogated in a threatening manner. Eventually, denied permission to go to Palai the Muslims returned to Jaffna.
Sri Lankan children protest against abductions
[ AP ] [ 16:08 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
Hundreds of children left their classes in parts of eastern Sri Lanka on Wednesday to protest the abductions of three teenagers blamed by the military on Tamil Tiger rebels, police said. The rebels have denied responsibility, saying witnesses told them that a van used to abduct two of the teenagers on Monday sped toward a Sri Lankan military camp."The incident took place during a time when there was heavy Sri Lankan army patrolling on the street," the rebels said on their Web site, accusing a rival rebel faction of being behind the abductions.The rebel movement split in 2004 and the mainstream group accuses the army of backing the breakaway faction, a charge the army denies.
Oslo would jeopardize political stability: Wimal
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 22:19 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa yesterday warned the government against undiplomatic activities carried out by Norway saying it will create a ‘storm’ that would jeopardize political stability of the country. Mr. Weerawansa who is also the Co-president of the Patriotic National Movement (PNM) addressing a press conference said that Norway welcomed the LTTE delegation in their country after the Geneva talks instead of sending them back to the country, has lead to this accusation. “Norway ushered a red carpet welcome for the LTTE delegation in their country and had diplomatic level discussions with them apart from giving weapons. Moreover, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was also invited to hold secret discussions in Norway. All these are enough reasons to be suspicious that there would be a political storm in the country,” he said.
It’s decision time for President Mahinda Rajapakse
[ Morning Leader ] [ 22:28 GMT, Mar. 15, 2006 ]
With the heat being turned on by the JVP both in relation to the government’s handling of the LTTE as well as the Norwegian facilitators, President Rajapakse has to bite the bullet sooner than later and decide between war and peace talks but either decision would come at a cost both politically as well as economically. What the JVP is hoping for is a strong showing by the party at the local authority elections and thereafter twist Rajapakse’s presidential arm to dump the Norwegians and the peace talks, precipitating a war which will plunge the country into deeper chaos from which the Marxists hope to rise like the phoenix over the political embers of the SLFP and Rajapakse.
'Constitutional Council' - A Contrary View
[ TamilCanadian ] [ 02:47 GMT, Mar. 16, 2006 ]
The demand from some civic groups to reconstitute the ‘Constitutional Council’ (CC) would give the impression that it would make a substantial contribution to good governance which this country so desperately needs. There is no doubt that the objectives of the 17th Amendment which creates the CC are most relevant particularly in regard to depoliticizing appointments to key institutions of government. Under the 17th Amendment, all appointments to critical state institutions statutorily require the concurrence of the CC. These include the elections, bribery & corruption, public service, police, human rights and judicial service commissions as well as the chief justice and the judges of the Supreme Court, the president and judges of the Court of Appeal, attorney-general, auditor-general and the IGP.