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LTTE members assault temple official in Melbourne- Island : 23 March 2001
A group of five persons believed to be members of the LTTE had assaulted the former secretary of the Siva Vishnu Temple in Carom Dover, Melbourne, Mr. Ganeshalingam on February 23, 2001 when he had insisted that the policy of the temple was not to sell any LTTE related publications, the Information Department said yesterday.
Thereafter the youth (including one Udayan who was originally with TELO but now with the LTTE and one Moorthy who runs a business of window blinds) had already used abusive language and tried to assault the present secretary Kumudini within the temple premises itself.
However, other Hindu devotees who were in the temple premises had intervened and brought the situation under control.
An LTTE activist by the name of Jeyakumar is believed to be the strong man in the area who employs these youth periodically to threaten Tamils who are not supportive of the LTTE.
LTTE intimidating Tamils in Australia- Daily News : Saturday, 24 March 2001
In the wake of increasing international pressure on the Tigers, their cadres in Australia are employing bullies to periodically intimidate Tamils who are not supportive of the LTTE. Among the latest victims of these bullying tactics is Ganeshalingam, Former Secretary of the Siva Vishnu Temple in Carom Dover, Melbourne.
Five Tiger cadres assaulted him when he flatly refused to sell pro-LTTE publications at the temple premises, recently. He had told the terrorists that the sale of such publications there was a violation of temple policy. According to reliable sources, ex-TELO member Udayan, now with the LTTE and a businessman named Moorthy has abused Ganeshalingam, while assaulting him and had attempted to assault the temple's present Secretary Kumudini.
However, Hindu devotees at the temple had intervened and brought the situation under control. Jayekumar, the leading Tiger thug in the area is believed to be behind this incident.
US Envoy says . . . . . . .
Tigers not Tamils' sole representatives:
LTTE goal cannot be realised, says U.S. Envoy
The LTTE must accept that the goal of Tamil Eelam cannot be achieved and should give up
violence if it really cares for the
Tamil people. The United States rejects the idea of an independent Tamil state carved out
of Sri Lankan territory; regards the
LTTE as a terrorist organization, and does not believe it is the sole representative of
Sri Lanka's Tamil people.
United States Ambassador in Sri Lanka E. Ashley Wills conveyed this message to the Jaffna
people on Wednesday. Mr.Wills
who is on a two-day visit to the peninsula, was delivering an address on the topic,
"Observations on Sri Lanka's conflict," at the
Jaffna Public Library.
"We do not believe Sri Lanka, or any part of it, is the special preserve of any one
ethnic group; indeed we regard Sri Lanka as
a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-cultural state," he stressed.
The U.S. Ambassador also noted: "Those in Sri Lanka who advocate separation of the
state long for ethnic purity, a genetic
and geographical impossibility. Worse than that, it is an atavism, a denial of the
harmonizing, connecting forces at work in the
modern world. These ethnic hygienists, or separatists, are about the past, not the future
- or at least not a future that we should
wish for our children."
Following are excerpts from the Ambassador's speech:
The United States and South Asia are closely connected, despite the geographic distance
that separates us. Family ties are
strong; almost two million Americans are of South Asian descent. Trade between us is
growing; we are already South Asia's,
and Sri Lanka's biggest export market. And ideas link us, including the idea of human
rights.
This latter idea arises often when US policy-makers regard South Asia. This region has
several flourishing democracies and yet
these democracies are being tested and torn by conflict, in particular ethnic conflict.
The United States - a nation committed to
equality, the rule of law and human rights - wants to be helpful in resolving these
conflicts. But we must be careful about how
we do so. We know the limits of our power and wisdom. We do not believe that the planet
comprises the United States and
countries aspiring to be the United States. In devising policy toward this region of
ancient cultures, we know that a rounded
historical perspective and due regard for South Asian attitudes are needed.
And so is humility! As an American diplomat who has lived five years in India and about
six months here in Sri Lanka, I
appreciate the need for humility in approaching South Asia. Sometimes, frankly, it seems
to me that this region produces more
history than it can consume. So complex are the various religious, ethnic and political
relationships in South Asia that I often
think one needs a degree in higher match to make sense of it all.
Forgive me for whining for a moment. One of the afflictions of being a super power is that
in most cases the actual leverage the
United States can bring to bear is perpetually overestimated. Nowhere is this true than in
Sri Lanka. Many of the letters I have
received from concerned Americans regarding Sri Lanka are permeated with the notion that,
if only we wanted to, we could
right all the wrongs in Sri Lanka, a country half a world away from us. Some write to me
intones that suggest I am the Governor
of the 51st state. Their underlying assumption seems to be that American power must match
the level of their personal concern.
The problem, of course, is that it doesn't and never will. The only puzzling aspect of
this is that this kind of thinking prevails
among those who are often the first to bemoan American interventionism elsewhere.
Another aspect of these letters is their frequent use of simple syllogisms. One kind of
letter argues thusly: the USA has declared
war against terrorism worldwide; Sri Lanka is being attacked by terrorists, the LTTE;
therefore the Untied States should
declare war against the LTTE. Another kind takes this tack; the United States opposes
discrimination; Tamils are discriminated
against in Sri Lanka; therefore the United States should support the creation of Tamil
Eelam.
If arguments acquired cogency from vehemence, then these cases would be made. But the
cases are not compelling because
the logic breaks down even if the emotion is understandable. Of course we acknowledge that
terrorism is an ugly feature of Sri
Lankan life, and of course we are aware of the deprivations visited on Sri Lanka's people,
notably the people of Jaffna, and the
northeast, by this conflict. To be fair, I must also point out that this ugly war has
affected tens of thousand of Sinhala families
too. The point is we do not see solutions in simplifications of Sri Lanka's complexity.
What does our moral reasoning tell us about Sri Lanka, and how does this translate into
policy? Our approach to Sri Lanka
proceeds from the following official US opinions:
(1) this war must end, the sooner the better;
(2) we reject the idea that there is a military solution to this conflict and favour
a negotiated outcome (all that is needed is the
political will to negotiate; we are also convinced that in these negotiations neither side
need be the loser, both can win);
(3) the opportunity cost of the war in economic terms, and the human cost in deaths,
injuries displaced persons and dysfunctional
families, are staggering and no longer tolerable;
(4) that is why me, India, the EU, Japan and many other nations support the noble
effort of the Norwegians to facilitate direct
talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE;
(5) we reject the idea of an independent Tamil state carved out of Sri Lankan
territory;
(6) we regard the LTTE as a terrorist organization and do not believe it is the sole
representative of the Tamil people of Sri
Lanka; we also are for Tamil rights; the Tamil people must be treated equally,
respectfully and with dignity within a democratic Sri Lankan state whose exact political
form should be determined by the people of this country;
(7) we do not believe Sri Lanka, or any part of it, is the special preserve of any
one ethnic group; indeed, we regard Sri Lanka
as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-cultural state;
(8) and although we are convinced that the solution to this conflict can and must be
negotiated by Sri Lankans, we stand ready to
assist in ways the principal parties find appropriate.
These then are the essential views of the US Government regarding Sri Lanka's conflict.
Please take them for what they are
worth. This is your country, your future and you, Sri Lankans, must decide in which
direction to go. But as a friend of
longstanding, the United States offers these views for your consideration.
Within these broad official US parameters, there are of course many nuances. One of these
regards our view of the LTTE. The
French have a wonderful word, lucidite, whose metaphorical meaning is the ability to face
facts. One of the facts we must face
is that although we regard the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and do not believe it is
the sole representative of the Tamil
people, we accept that the leaders of the Tigers will be involved in the negotiations.
This is because of the LTTE's military
standing.
Let me also say a word about the wish for separation. Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict in a
sense is a planetary drama. As Salman
Rushdie has written, cultures collide constantly in the modern world, crisscrossing at
high velocity; one moment we are in a
village with a charming sense of remoteness; in the next, we turn on TV and are connected
instantly to a global village. In this
confusion, it is entirely understandable that some people want to retreat into a community
where everyone believes the same
thing.
But as I said at the outset, such a retreat was possible for Odysseus. It is not possible,
or even desirable now. My father used
to say that we find comfort from those who agree with us - growth from those who don't.
Diversity, having to cope with
differences, tolerating the points of view of others, and accepting that all of us have
multiple identities - ethnic, racial, religious
linguistic, sexual, professional and, yes, geographical - this is the normal state
globally, including here in Sri Lanka.
In the years before the American Civil War, "abolitionists" wanted slavery
abolished. But that could not be done immediately,
so some of them favoured abolishing the American nation lest they be sullied by further
association with the slave states. That
would not have helped the slaves, but helping slaves was not their primary concern. A
sense of purity - rightmindedness - was.
Those in Sri Lanka who advocate separation of the state long for ethnic purity, a genetic
and geographical impossibility. Worse
than that, it is an atavism, a denial of the harmonising, connecting forces at work in the
modern world. These ethnic hygienists,
or separatists, are about the past, not the future - or at least not a future that we
should wish for our children.
As I reflect upon the prospects for peace in Sri Lanka, I must say that I regard the
coming months hopefully. I have lived in
several ethnically diverse nations and regions - Romania, South Africa, the West Indies,
Yugoslavia, Belgium, India and of
course the United States - and I am struck not by the hopelessness of Sri Lanka's dilemma
but by how tractable and soluble it
is. The differences - believe it or not - are not all that great. Sri Lanka's various
ethnic groups have lived together on this lovely
island, mainly peacefully, for many centuries. All that is needed is to find a mutually
satisfactory, contemporary political system
to accommodate the island's diversity.
In making this perhaps surprising assertion, I do not minimise the difficulties. Among the
Sinhala and the Tamils, there are ethnic
supremacists to be sure. Certain people in Colombo and Kandy have told me Sri Lanka is for
the Sinhala; in Trincomalee and
Batticaloa and here in Jaffna, I have heard that North Eastern Sri Lanka is Tamil terrain.
Such views are extreme. They remind
me of the man who regards the American flag and only sees the colour red; he is not
describing the American flag in all its
multi-coloured glory. I am by no means an expert on your country, but it seems to me
obvious that Sri Lanka -= north, south,
east and west - is a diverse nation.
Perhaps I am wrong, but I believe most Sri Lankans accept that this is a complex nation
and that they also believe its people
can live together peacefully. Serious thinking about how to get from here to there is in
order. Among other challenges, the Sri
Lankan Government must find a way to make the Tamils and other minorities feel welcome and
secure in Sri Lanka while
assuring those who are worried about secession that the territorial integrity of the state
is inviolable. In this part of Sri Lanka,
meanwhile, I have heard some people, who tell me they support democracy, express support
for the LTTE, an essentially
military entity with an ugly past of killing those who disagree with its leadership. Can
the LTTE be transformed into a
democratic, political, non-violent organisation? If it can, those who have seen it at its
ugliest and those who are opposed to its
tactics, including the United States, will be obligated to reconsider how they regard the
LTTE. Certainly, we can even today
acknowledge that there are encouraging indications in the LTTE's recent conduct. We hope
that the LTTE will continue to
refrain from attacking civilian targets and respect the other basic rules of conflict.
If anyone in this audience has contact with the LTTE leadership, please convey two
messages from the US Government;
A. If the LTTE is still fighting for Tamil Eelam, please accept that the goal cannot be
achieved; and,
B. If the LTTE really cares about the Tamil people and about assuring their rights, giving
up violence and negotiating are the
way to go.
A new world is developing in Sri Lanka, like a Polaroid photograph, a vivid surreal
awakening. The effect is contradictory: a
sense of sunlight and elegy at the same time, of glasnost and claustrophobia. The reality
of the last nearly 18 years - conflict and
hardship - could be giving way to something new, something more tranquil. "All
changed, changed utterly" in W. B. Yeats'
smitten lines about the Irish rebellion of Easter, 1916. Eighty-five years later, the
Irish troubles proceed but there is hope. The
eczema of violence in Ireland fades and peace is at hand.
Perhaps the same is true in Sri Lanka. The heroes of the coming months will be those who
advocate tolerance, not violence,
those who see the need for compromise and moderation rather than those who wish to push
ahead toward unattainable visions
of separation and exclusivity.
As I said at the beginning, we are all subject to the inter connectedness of things in
this modern world. This includes Sinhala,
Tamils, Muslims, Burghers and all other Sri Lankans, who have more in common with each
other than the extremists suggest.
On the Great seal of the United States you will find the Latin phrase, "E Pluribus
Unun," which means, of course, "Out of Many,
One." Even more than two centuries ago, the founders of the United States saw that
our country would be diverse and we
should reject efforts to stress differences among its people. The idea was and is that
diverse people can come together and
build one country, one nation. I think Sri Lanka can do it, too. The United States
fervently hopes that you all can come together
again and live in peace. Pluralism and prosperity, as with other diverse societies, will
then keep you united.
- Conference on Tamil Tiger Terrorism and the threats to security in the Asia Pacific Region
Friday 2 March 2001 - Melbourne Central Conference Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sponsored and organised by
- Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri
Lanka (SPUR)
Reg No. A 003 07777 M
P.O. Box 4066
Mulgrave, Victoria, VIC 3170, Australia
Phone: 0411 287 434 , +61 2 9682 7864 and +61 3 9548 0276
Fax: +61 3 9548 0276 and +61 2 9682 7864 - Emails : Spokesperson, Public Officer, Webmaster
 |
Dr Peter Chalk (Dr Peter Chalk is a Policy Analyst working in the Project Airforce and National Security divisions of the RAND Corporation, Washington DC. During the past year he has worked on projects examining unconventional security threats in South East Asia, new strategic challenges for the US Airforce (USAF) in Latin America and evolving trends in national and international terrorism. He was also a major contributor to the First Annual Report of the Gillmore Commision, a Congressionally mandated advisory panel established to assess US domestic response capabilities for terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction. Prior to joining RAND, Dr Chalk was an Assistant Professor of Politics at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, and a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University, Canberra. In addition to his academic posts, Dr Chalk has acted as a research consultant in the UK, Canada and Australia and has experience with the UK Armed Forces. He is author of Non-Military Security and Global Disorde, The Impact of Extremism, Violence and Chaos on National and International Securiry (McMillan, 2000) and West European Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism, The Evolving Dynamic (McMillan, 1996), in addition to numerous journal articles and other scholarly publications in the security studies field. Dr Chalk has lectured widely on terrorism, piracy and "grey area phenomena" before government, intelligence, police and military audiances in North America, Europe, Sri Lanka and Australia. He is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the Washington based International Research Group on Political Violence (IRGPV) and serves as Associate Editor of Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, one of the foremost international journals in the area of low intensity conflict). |
Click here for the transcript of Dr Chalk's talk
Subject: Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers banned in Britain
amid Oslo peace
bid
----------------------------------------------------------
Britain Wednesday banned Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels as a
"terrorist organisation" along with 20 other foreign organisations
recommended for proscription, the British High Commission (embassy) here said.
British Home Secretary Jack Straw asked for the outlawing of Sri Lanka's separatist
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who maintain a key office in London, the
statement said."The list will now have to be approved by the two houses of
parliament," a diplomat here said adding that the banning was under the new
anti-terrorism laws that went into effect from February 19.
Anti-Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers Protesters Show Banner
from Old Dutch Fort during Fifth Day's Play in the
First Test Sri Lanka and England in Galle.
England's Alec Stewart (L) plays a shot as a group opposing
the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers display their banner from the old Dutch fort during the fifth
day's play in the first test at the Galle International cricket stadium February 26, 2001.
Sri Lanka defeated England by an innings and 28 runs after dismissing them for 189 runs in
their second innings, giving them a 1-0 lead in the best of three test-match series./David
Gray (Reuters)
Taleban dismiss statue outcry.
Afghanistan's ruling Taleban have dismissed an international
outcry over an order to destroy the country's statues, including priceless archaeological
treasures.
The edict by the hardline Islamic militia has drawn protests from historical, cultural and
religious groups around the world. Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar gave the
order on Monday, declaring the statues were insulting to Islam and should be destroyed.
The ultra-conservative Taleban believe depiction of any human figure is blasphemous.
 |
Blasphemy "All we are breaking are stones," Mullah Omar was quoted as saying by the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press. "According to Islam, I don't worry about anything. My job is the implementation of Islamic order," he said. The figures marked for destruction include two massive ancient Buddhas carved into a cliff face in the central town of Bamiyan. Afghanistan was a Buddhist centre before the arrival of Islam in the ninth century. But some mullahs believe, mistakenly, that Buddhists worship the Buddha and that the statues are therefore idols. |
'Tragedy'
The country's museums contain numerous Buddhas and other figures of priceless
historical value.
There are also a number of Hindu shrines in Bakhtiar province. "It is a great
loss, a tragedy for the Afghan people and for the world," said Italy's ambassador to
Pakistan, Angelo Gabriele de Ceglie.
Mr de Ceglie was in Kabul representing an Italian-funded organization dedicated to
preserving what is left of Afghanistan's rich past. The head of one of the two Bamiyan
Buddhas was blown off during the Taleban's capture of the city in 1998.
The other statue, at 53 metres, is the world's tallest standing Buddha.
SL Gunasekara booms against ceasefire
The Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya, giving details of how the LTTE used previous ceasefires
to commit
atrocities, has warned the Government not to enter into any further ceasefires with the
LTTE.
A ceasefire will be a "death-trap for our forces" and it would only lead to
an aggravated repetition of
the Tigers treachery in respect of past ceasefires, the group's leader S.L. Gunasekera
said.
"In such event, the blood of those innocents will surely be on the hands of the
Government and those
credulous cretins and malevolent scoundrels who seek to pressurize our Government into
declaring a
ceasefire," Mr. Gunasekera added.
He said the group was glad that this time the Government had not fallen prey to the
machinations of
the LTTE.
The group gave a list of instances where the LTTE had used ceasefire periods from 1987
to
re-group and carry out bloody attacks on the troops and massacre innocent civilians.
The violations of ceasefires by the LTTE began with the violation of a ceasefire during
the
Sinhala/Tamil New Year in 1987.
"Lalith Athulathmudali, the then Minister of National Security announced a
unilateral ceasefire
between the 11th and the 21st April 1987 for the Sinhalese/Tamil New Year as a gesture of
goodwill to the Tigers in the hope, no doubt, of commencing negotiations to achieve peace.
The
Tigers reciprocated that gesture not with a corresponding ceasefire nor even with
hostilities against
our armed forces who were capable of fighting back but by stopping three buses at
Kituluttuwa on
the Habarana-Trincomalee Road on the 17th April 1987, separating the Sinhalese passengers
from
the Tamils and Muslims and murdering every one of them, men women, children and babies in
arms,
all numbering 127.
Just two days later they exploded a bomb at Colombo's Central Bus Terminus at Pettah
during rush
hour murdering 107 and injuring 287 of all races, mostly Sinhalese.
After the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed on the 29th July 1987 Prabhakaran announced to a
vast
crowd at a meeting on the 4th August 1987 that the Tigers had decided to hand over all
their arms
and ammunitions and the Tigers surrendered 4 truck loads of their unusable and discarded
arms and
ammunitions on the following day. Thereafter Anton Balasingham solemnly told journalists
Jehan
Haniff that the Tigers had surrendered all the weapons they had in their possession in an
interview
which was published in the 'Island' of the 27th September 1987. Four days later hordes of
Tigers,
armed to the teeth descended on the Sinhalese and Muslim civilians from Trincomalee to
Chenkaladi
and murdered over 200 helpless men, women children and infants in a program that lasted
from
October 1st - 9th 1987. While the 'Premadasa Peace Talks' and the resultant 'ceasefire'
were 'on',
the Tigers suddenly surrounded and attacked 10 police stations in the Batticaloa and
Ampara
Districts on the 11th June 1990. Thereafter, upon the UNP Government of the day ordering
the
Police Officers in those stations to lay down their arms and surrender consequent to a
promise given
by the Tigers to give those who surrendered safe conduct to and release at Ampara Town,
the
Tigers separated the Sinhalese and the Muslim Police Officers who surrendered from the
Tamils and
murdered them , about 677 in all, with assembly line efficiency. Within one week of
unilaterally and
suddenly breaking that ceasefire the Tigers attacked 20 Police Stations and causing the
vacation of 4
Army Camps. Within one month of their breaking that ceasefire, the toll of casualties of
our Security
Forces was 1120 dead and 412 wounded.
While the 'Kumaratunga Peace Talks' and 'ceasefire' occasioned thereby were in
progress, on the
19th April 1995, the Tigers sank two Naval Gunboats at Trincomalee Harbour murdering 12
Naval
personnel on Board and there after shot down two Avro Aircraft with missiles (which they
had never
been able to do before those 'Talks') on the 28th and 29th April 1995 murdering 48
soldiers, 24
sailors, 23 airmen, 2 policemen and 2 journalists. The number of casualties in the first
39 days after
the Tigers broke that ceasefire was 321 dead and 134 wounded.
The bombing of the Dalada Maligawa with its resultant carnage, the indiscriminate
murders of
helpless civilians of both sexes and all ages and races by the bombs at Orugodawatte, the
Central
Bank, the Dehiwela Railway Station, the Galadari Hotel, the SLFP procession at Ratmalana
(where
Mr. and Mrs. C.V. Gooneratne were murdered) the UNP meeting at Ja-Ela (where general Lucky
Algama was murdered), the PA meeting at the Town Hall (where President Kumaratunga lost
her
eye and narrowly escaped death) as well as by the stealthy attack on the helpless
Sinhalese villagers
of Gonagala.
NGO's are Working Hard .......
The Humanitarian Federation consisting of 47 NGOs have sent a fax to the British High
Commissioner that any attempt to proscribe the LTTE will result in escalated arms
confrontation and affect the peace process of the govt eventually. They have
insisted that the LTTE should not be proscribed in England under any
circumstances. A certain number of London based organizations convened a
parliamentary campaign meeting at Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, on the theme of
"Peace in Sri Lanka" on January 22. Nine British parliamentarians attended the
event
Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim, who left Colombo Friday after a three-day visit, came under attack in the legislature on Thursday with the right-wing Sihala Urumaya (Sinhalese Heritage) accusing him of being "a flamboyant playboy as well as a rogue."
Revealing details of Solheim's personal life, Member of Parliament Tilak Karunaratne said: "We are opposed to any intervention by any foreign party, and more so in the case of Solheim." He accused the emissary of "having admitted (to) being with prostitutes in the Czech republic" and of profiting from his divorce by selling his story to a newspaper.
Karunaratne added that Solheim, the former leader of an opposition political party in Oslo, had inflated the number of members in the party to obtain increased funds from the state.
The envoy's 10-month long shuttle diplomacy has provoked marches and demonstrations and several effigies of him have been set alight by radical activists before this torrid turn in the anti-Norway campaign.
Solheim wound up his trip, which came amid a government and Tamil rebel standoff over observing a pre-negotiation truce, having met President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Despite optimism that Oslo would suggest fresh proposals to break the deadlock and nudge the antagonists to open peace talks, opposition leader Wickremesinghe said Thursday no new suggestions were put forward.
As Solheim came under fire, the recently appointed US ambassador to Colombo Ashley Wills was virtually dealt a snub by a top Buddhist monk when he paid a courtesy call on him on Thursday.
Rebuking the diplomat for his country's "meddling in Sri Lanka's affairs," Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Thera, the leader of the Malwatte sect, told Wills that Sri Lankans could not live according to the dictates of ambassadors or those living abroad, the Daily Mirror said Friday.
The US has been a strong supporter of the Norwegian peace bid, along with Britain and other European countries, and has in recent months stepped up pressure on Colombo to reach a political solution to the Tamil rebels' separatist demand.
The monk refused to accede to Wills' request to disallow reporters from covering their encounter. "The Mahanayake (monk) said he did not have anything to discuss in secret and the public should know what they discussed," the newspaper said.
The powerful clergy, like hardline political parties, has largely advocated crushing the rebels with military might and voiced fears that a political settlement would in time result in the dismemberment of the country.
- LTTE activities in Thailand
- A very significant favourable development
- A Sri Lankan-born LTTE member, found guilty of manufacturing a submarine for the Tamil rebels in Thailand, has been deported by Thai authorities to Norway, the country of his residence.
- For details see : LTTE Activities in Thailand.
- New Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has appointed Vice Admiral Daya Wickrema Kumara Sandagiri as the Commander of the Navy with effect from January 1, 2001. With his 34 years Naval career he will become the most experienced officer ever to assume the high Command of the Navy in its 50 year history. Besides all this, Vice Admiral Sandagiri, is said to have something more than his 34 years Naval career experience. His humane touch and his ability to reach out to every rank and file in the organisation, his ability to withstand all pressures with confidence makes him stand above as a top Naval military officer in Sri Lanka. Vice Admiral Sandagiri is the kind of officer the country needs in these times - for he is said to be ridiculously honest. Some say that Sandagiri's obsession with honesty may sound extreme. But it is definitely for these present times. The military establishment of the country, could surely do well with an officer like Vice Admiral Sandagiri in its network. He is also the first Lankan Naval Officer to attend Post Graduate Studies at the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. The Vice Admiral holds a masters Degree in Defence Studies. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Management, United Kingdom. Vice Admiral Sandagiri was awarded the prestigious Vishista Seva Vibhushanya in 1999. Among the other medals awarded are Utthama Seva Padakkama, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, President's Inauguration Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Purna Bhoomi Padakkama, Vadamarachchi Operation Medal and Riviresa Campaign Service Medal. He is the President of the Sri Lanka Navy Buddihist Society. It seems that Sandagiri's unwritten motto seems to be that it is great to be great, but greater to be human. Vice Admiral Sandagiri’s ascent to the top post was marred by a needless controversy that was totally the fault of the Ministry of Defence. It is indeed a pity that an officer with such an unblemished record, had to go through such an unnecessary controversy. Strangely, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga waited until only a few days before he was to retire, before granting him an extension. Incredibly, the length of the extension was given as indefinite. (Compiled from various newspaper reports)
- Vice Admiral Sandagiri takes over as navy chief tomorrow - Government finally ends nine months of controversy in Sri
Lanka Navy (Sunday Island : 31 Dec 2000)- Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri appointed Navy chief (Sunday Observer : 31 Dec 2000)
- New Navy Commander (Daily News : 30 Dec 2000)
- Navy chief-of-staff Daya Sandagiri - An officer and a gentleman (Sunday Observer : 12 November 2000)
- Media Release - (SPUR : 29 Dec 2000)
The rejection of the Tigers’ demand on this occasion is a welcome sign that at least one powerful section of the Sri Lankan Government led by the Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka have learnt from past mistakes of various Sri Lankan leaders. Only obstinate idiocy would allow democratically elected national leaders to repeatedly give the world’s most brutal terrorists the upper hand by way of a cease-fire that they long for. SPUR wholeheartedly thank the Government of Sri Lanka for having taken the right decision at a very crucial moment in the country's history.
Click here for details : Tamil Tigers (LTTE) shatter their own bogus peace offer
- For further information, please read :
- (1) Sri Lanka rebels attack troops despite ceasefire (ABC News Australia : 25 Dec 2000),
- URL : http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20001225_127.html
- (2) Tigers violate own truce: Ministry (Times of India : 26 Dec 2000),
- URL : http://www.timesofindia.com/today/26nbrs3.htm
- (3) LTTE punctures own truce by an attack on Army (Yahoo : 26 Dec 2000)
- URL : http://in.news.yahoo.com/001225/56/fjjh.html
- (4) Tigers shatter self-imposed truce with mortars (Indian Express : 28 Dec 2000),
- URL : http://www.indian-express.com/ie/daily/20001228/iin28009.html
- TAMILS WHO SUPPORT THE TIGERS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT THE SRI LANKAN SECURITY FORCES ARE INHUMANE AND RACIST. YET, TIME AFTER TIME WE HEAR OF STORIES OF SOLDIERS GIVING UP THEIR OWN RATIONS TO STARVED TAMILS WHOSE FOOD SUPPLIES HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE TIGERS.
SOLDIERS HELP A OLD TAMIL 'AMMA' TO ESCAPE THE RAVAGING FLOODS SOMEWHERE IN THE TAMIL DOMINATED EASTERN PROVINCE.
CLUTCHING HIS RIFLE AND KEEPING A KEEN EYE OUT FOR TAMIL TIGER MANIACS, THIS SOLDIER RISKS HIS LIFE TO ENSURE THAT A TAMIL CHILD MAKES IT TO SCHOOL, SOMEWHERE IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE.
- We are ready to sacrifice our lives to defeat the so-called peace talks, says JVP Gen. Secy.
"We are ready to sacrifice our lives to defeat the so-called peace talks brokered by the imperialistic Yankees and Britishers," General Secretary of the JVP Tilwin Silva said."This mass rally is not to frighten Chandrika or Ranil who are trapped in imperialistic strategies. This is the first step of the JVP’s next fight against the capitalist and imperialistic forces. We will walk from village to village and house to house canvassing people to stand against the ongoing false peace process by USA, UK and Norway." he said.
Masses of this country have lot of experiences about the peace talks and their results. Each peace talk ended by worsening the crisis. "The LTTE which started with AK47s and T56s have now evolved into one of the most dangerous terrorist organisations in the world using artilleries and Rocket launchers thanks to the peace talks. Each peace talk gave time for the terrorists to become more powerful and dangerous. At the end of each peace talk, a large number of innocent people died. Thus, we don’t need foreign agents to broker peace between the terrorists and the government," he emphasized.
The JVP could line up people and win against the divisional planned and advocated by the imperialists in the name of constitutional reforms. Similarly, these strategies will also definitely be defeated, he said.
Mr. Silva further pointed out that the Norwegian government is not on a genuine effort to solve the long standing crisis. "Norway is just the cat’s paw used by the USA and UK to divide our country. In simple words, its just a ‘Kapuwa’ (matchmaker). In its false peace process, the Norwegian emb-assy cheated us. They had invited us to forward our standpoint on the issue. We wanted to change the date and extend it as we had earlier scheduled events. But the embassy insisted that our representatives must meet the ambassador prior to his departure to Norway. So, we visited him and explained that we are against the so called dividend peace process. Following day, he did not go to Norway but to Wanni with Eric Soleheim to tell LTTE leader Prabhakaran what we had said. Thereafter, we refused to talk with the Norwegian agents who cheated us," he said.
A message faxed by the JVP leader Somawansa Amera-singhe was read out to the gathering, and it said that the JVP must defeat the plans of imperialistic USA and the UK. JVP leader in his message emphasized the fact that Sri Lanka can solve its own problems and asked why the Britishers who have their own troubles with Irish people worry to interfere in others problems. Peace brokering history of Norway indicates that they put others from the prying pan to the fire.
"Sinhalese, Tam-ils and Muslims must unite to defeat these imperialists and their supportive locals in order to solve the North East crisis," the message said.
- The ultimate dream ....
- LTTE's Anton Balasingham threaten UK
THE TAMIL TIGERS TRY VERY HARD CONVINCE THE WORLD OF THE SO CALLED BRUTALITY AND VIOLENCE
BROUGHT UPON THE TAMILS IN ORDER TO RAISE FUDNS HERE IN THE WEST, BUT THE TRUE PICTURE IS
WORTH A THOUSAND TAMIL LIES.
The People’s Liberation Front (JVP) at its mass rally held at Hyde Park pledged on
Thursday to line up Sri Lankans to fight against the "on going attempt by imperialist
foreign forces to divide the country under the guise of finding a solution to the North
East crisis.
Wanted by Interpol
- VELUPILLAI, Prabhakaran (from Interpol Web Page)
- POTTU AMMAN, Sivershankar (from Interpol Web Page)
- RAJADORAI, Sathukulasingham (from Interpol Web Page)
- CHARLES, (from Imterpol Web Page)
- KANDIAH, Sri Ganesh (from Interpol Web Page)
- KARUPPIAH, Kamalanathan (from Interpol Web Page)
- RAMAIAH, Papathy (from Interpol Web Page)
- SELLAIAH, Navaratnam (from Interpol Web Page)
- NALLATHAMBY, Nadesalingam Selvam (from Interpol Web Page)
Interpol wants the LTTE supremo
Interpol issued wanted notices yesterday (4 December 2000), on the LTTE leader,
Velupillai Prabakaran and several other senior LTTE cadres including Pottu Amman, Selliah
and Charles. These persons are accused been involved in mass killings, terrorism and
terrorism conspiracy. According to Interpol sources, arrests warrants have been issued
from Colombo, Sri Lanka and Chennai, India. The Interpol appeals to all who have
information to contact the respective national police or the General Secretariat of
Interpol. The LTTE mastermind and his ‘Heroes’ also wanted for trafficking
of children, drugs and vehicle crime offences. Today, Prabakaran is the most wanted man in
India as well as in Sri Lanka. He and his organisation has caused death to thousands of
innocent civilians in Sri Lanka including late President R. Premadasa and late minister C.
V. Goonaratne. Prabakaran has directed an LTTE female suicide cadre to kill late Indian
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Another LTTE female assassin killed Sri Lankan Presidential
candidate Gamini Dissanayake in 1994. On another occasion, the LTTE attempted on life of
President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge during last Presidential elections.
| The LTTE's Blood Sacrifice
The LTTE continued claiming blood sacrificers during the commemoration of its Hero’s week as well as the birthday of its leader V. Prabhakaran, by killing B M Chandrasiri ( 46 ) of Padaviya, Parakramapura, L A Sumanadasa (60 ) of Sripura Padaviya, and W M Ranasinghe (42 ) of Yaya – A Padaviya Parakramapura, Deepika Samanthi (32) of Palugashandiya, Padaviya Shripura, D A Leelawathie (62) of Renuka Traders Palugashandiya Padaviya, Nayana Nandani (32) of Renuka Traders Palugashandiya Padaviya and Niranjala Ilangakoon (19) student of Niwaththakachethiya school of Padaviya Sripura, and injuring 26 others when the bus they were travelling was hit by a LTTE land mine, on 28 November 2000, a day after the hero’s day celebrations. For details, please click, The LTTE's Blood Sacrifice (Reality : 1 Dec 2000) |
Lanka Navy on lookout for ship with arms for LTTE
State intelligence officers have alerted the Sri Lankan Air Force
and Navy to be on the lookout for a ship carrying arms for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE), local media reported quoting highly-placed sources. The vessel, containing
latest weapons including anti-aircraft missiles, is said to be 400 nautical miles
north-east of the island nation, the sources said.
| US warns Tigers to abandon
'terrorism' amid blast, Oslo peace moves The United States Tuesday warned Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels that they will face further international condemnation unless they "abandoned terrorism" and entered Norwegian-backed peace talks. The visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian affairs, Karl Inderfurth, said here Tuesday that he was advising Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to pursue their political objectives peacefully. "We call upon the LTTE to abandon terrorism and, instead pursue its political aims through peaceful means," Inderfurth said at the end of a two-day visit to Sri Lanka. "Continued acts of terrorism will only result in the deaths of more innocent people and greater international condemnation of the LTTE." |
Prabhakaran’s annual ‘National Heroes Day’ speech awaited Norway’s claim contradicts LTTE’s stand on Jaffna
Norway’s claim that the LTTE was willing to resume negotiations with the Sri Lankan government without any preconditions to resolve the North-East crisis has contradicted Velupillai Prabakaran’s earlier position that there would not be any peace as long as the armed forces remain in control of Jaffna.
- LTTE Dentist in Kandy
| Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake was on Friday sworn in as Acting Minister of Defence, Finance and Planning. Mr. Wickremenayake took his oaths before Speaker Anura Bandaranaike. Mr. Wickremenayake would act as Minister of Defence until President Chandrika Kumaratunga returns from a tour of Europe. President Kumratunga left the country on Friday and scheduled to take part in the World Aid Group Meeting in Paris. |
25 Nov. 2000, The Kandy Chief Magistrate Friday ordered a dentist who is alleged to be a
LTTE intelligence wing member, to be remanded until the conclusion of the case. The Police
report had said that the dentist has been a member of the LTTE over 9 years and while
being a graduan at the Predeniya University had provided accommodation to the LTTE cadres.
He is being charged under prevention of terrorism act for trying to assassinate the
President and minister Ratwatte. He had earlier served a remand term at Batticaloa.
 |
LTTE Attacks Muslims andKilled 3 Students in Muttur
One of the students injured in Thursday's LTTE mortar attack on the Al Mannar government school and Muttur post office being taken to hospital. Three students were killed and ten wounded. See how they killed 172 Muslims - Kattankudi Muslim Mosque Massacre |
Patriots, For the past few months, this type of very casual notices changing names into Singhala, appeared several times. Above is just one of them. May be above lady wants to become a Singhalese genuinely. All legal requirements in Grama Sevaka (GS) level would have been met. But I smell a rat. There were many recent attempts by LTTE to show the world that even Singhalese are helping them for suicide attacks. Not only for suiciding, but also for spying, above is thy key, she will carry a valid Singhala Identity Card in future. This bloodsucker (LTTE) is desperately trying to modify the suicide belt so that the head of the suicider will get smashed instead of bumping off and landing several mtrs away in a recognizable state. This is by extending a slab of explosives up near the neck or chin. But this leaves more room for detection before explosion. When this proves difficult, they are trying many other mothers, above is certainly one. The moment we buy, we start reading cricket, political dramas and SU clash. But, yet another suicider is bracing underneath our newspapers. |
Terrorists fundraise in schools in the UK
Two schools hosted the fundraising efforts of an organisation linked to a Sri Lankan terrorist group.
Two schools hosted the fundraising efforts of an organisation linked to a Sri Lankan terrorist group.
Nower Hill High School in George V Avenue, Pinner and Copland Community School in Cecil Avenue, Wembley, were hired last weekend by London-based Eelam House, an alleged front for the LTTE ,, the Liberation Tigers Tamil Eelam ,, condemned by the United Nations for the use of child soldiers. The American Embassy also confirmed that LTTE is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation.
Click
"This is HARROW in UK" or details
| Can we trust .......... ? | |
| Before the General Election | After the General Election |
