Mystery deepens on RPG attack on Jeyananthamoorthy’s house
Sun, 2006-07-23 06:13
 
 
Colombo, 23 July, (Asiantribune.com): Mystery deepens on the Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) attack into the house of Senathirajah Jeyananthamoorthy MP for Batticalao. “It was God’s providence, I survived yesterday from the deadliest attack,“said Jeyananthamoorthy in an interview with Tamil Osai, the Tamil radio service of the BBC. Jeyananthamoorthy, his wife, two children and his relatives who were in the house, survived miraculously when on Friday at 9.15 pm, his house came under RPG attack.
 
According to reports, Jeyananthamoorthy, a Member of Parliament for Batticalao escaped unhurt when suspicious terrorist’s cadres fired twice with powerful RPG into his house. At the time of the attack, according to reports, the MP and his family members were fast asleep."Jayananthamoorthy knows very well that it was the LTTE’s intelligence cadres who fired the RPG to threaten him, but he will not openly disclose it for fear of further reprisal."
The attackers fired two RPG shells into the bedroom where the MP's wife and children were at sleep at the residence of the MP, located on Kannaki Amman Road, in Poompuhar, Batticaloa town, behind Batticaloa bus depot. It is also said that the political office of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) led by Colonel Karuna located on the Govindan Road is about 1 km from Jeyananthamoorthy's house.
 
According to the Sri Lanka Defense sources, unknown terrorist carders have fired twice with RPG into his bedroom. The attack caused extensive damages to a part of the roof and several windows of the house were shattered.  
 
A policeman providing security was wounded.
 
It was earlier alleged that cadres belonging to TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) an outfit led by Colonel Karuna were behind the RPG attack on the Jeyananthamoorthy’s house.
 
It was further alleged that the MP and his family have been under threat from the TMVP for a long time.  
 
In the meantime “Asian Tribune” learnt that Jayananthamoorthy and the elder brother of Pilliyan married two sisters and was closely connected to Pilliyan.  
 
When “Asian Tribune” contacted Pillaiyan, Special Commander of the TMVP, the politico –military organization, he denied of any involvement of the TMVP in the RPG attack.
 
Pilliayan told “Asian Tribune,” that on Saturday morning; the first thing he did was to contact Jeyananthamoorthy over the phone and told him categorically that TMVP was not behind the attack on his house, targeting not only him but also his entire family.
 
Pilliyan said that we have problem only with Jeyananthamoorthy. He became a member of parliament because of Colonel Karuna, who nominated him as a candidate to contest in the last parliamentary election, despite opposition by Vanni Tigers for nominating him as a candidate, as they were not convinced about his loyalty. It is a known fact that Jeyananthamoorthy started his political career as PLOTE activists, said Pilliyan.  
 
He further said that it was Karuna Amman who worked hard for his victory in the last parliamentary elections. Once he was elected as a member of parliament, he became a turncoat and began to show loyalty to the Vanni Tigers. We oppose him only because of his opportunistic political stance.  
 
Pilliyan told “Asian Tribune”; in the morning when I contacted Jeyananthamoorthy, I told him very clearly that TMVP only opposes him for his opportunistic political stance and not his family. We have told Jeyananthamoorthy that TMVP will never under any circumstances be party to any incidents that might cause hurt to members of his family.
 
Pilliyan also said that Jayananthamoorthy knows very well that it was the LTTE’s intelligence cadres who fired the RPG to threaten him, but he will not openly disclose it for fear of further reprisal.
 
Pilliyan said that this was how the LTTE ‘tame’ those whom they doubt were not loyal to them.  
 
“Asian Tribune” learnt that Jeyananthamoorthy though a resident of Kiran is from a family with Jaffna origin.
 
In the eighties, Jeyanathamoorthy was an activist of the People Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam ( PLOTE) and was arrested along with Shanmugam Thavarajah, another journalist and a school teacher. They were held in the Boosa Army camp. Later, J.R.Jayawardene, President of Sri Lanka released him and others detained in the Boosa camp, after he entered into an agreement with India – Indo-Sri lanka Accord in 1987 July.  
 
Subsequently he and his friends managed to get themselves appointed as uncertificated government teachers.
 
While he was a teacher, he was the Valaichannai correspondent for Colombo based Tamil daily Virakesari and later he was also the correspondent of the pro-LTTE news portal TamilNet.
 
Jayananthmoorthy worked very closely with Late Dharmeratnam Sivaram, who was also a trained PLOTE cadre and later the editor of TamilNet. and the founder editor of Nitharsanam.com. During those days, Batticalao was the base for TamilNet news portal’s operations. Jeyananthamoorthy worked closely with Siva ram and helped him in organizing the Eastern Province Journalist Association.  
 
As he worked with Sivaram closely, he came in contact with Colonel Karuna who was at that time LTTE’s the Special Commander for Batticalao – Amparai districts.  
 
In the beginning when Colonel Karuna revolted against the Vanni Tiger leadership and left the outfit, Jaryananthmoorthy supported Karuna and was with him.  
 
Later he left Karuna and joined the LTTE and became an informant of the LTTE.
 
Right from the beginning, it was revealed that, LTTE was not convinced about his loyalty and the outfit’s intelligence Chief Pottu Amman send his special team to monitor his activities.  
 
As he was not convinced of his loyalty to the LTTE, it was revealed that Pottu Amman instructed his cadres to dump Jeyananthamoorthy. But Prabakaran for some reasons ordered Pottu Amman to postpone indefinitely the dumping order.  
 
Thos close associates told “Asian Tribune” that Jayananthamoorthy was well aware that he was viewed with suspicion by the LTTE leadership and he was made use by them to issue press statements attacking colonel Karuna.
 
An associate of Jeyananthamoorthy who lives in Switzerland told “Asian Tribune” at one stage he was making arrangements to seek political asylum in Switzerland as his fellow journalists, Thurairatnam, Shanmugam Thavarajah have already sought asylum in Switzerland and living there.
 
- Asian Tribune -

Let truce monitors stay, Sweden urges S.Lanka rebels
 

COLOMBO,  - A Swedish envoy visited Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels in their northern base on Friday to urge them to reconsider their decision to oust EU truce monitors, amid fears it could destablise the island as war fears grow.  
 
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insist that Nordic monitors from European Union nations Sweden, Denmark and Finland quit the island by Sept. 1 in light of a new EU ban against them, which would remove two thirds of the mission.  
 
Swedish Ambassador-at-Large Anders Oljelund's visit comes against a backdrop of near daily attacks and clashes between the military and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which many fear could spiral out of control and into renewed civil war.  
 
"It is a question of seeing if they (Tigers) can reconsider what they are saying -- that they have to leave," said Lotta Jacobsen, acting head of mission at Sweden's embassy in Colombo.  
 
"The visit is to say: Please let them stay."  
 
The rebels insist 37 monitors from the three countries must leave, which would leave just 20 members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) from Norway and Iceland -- not enough to properly monitor a 2002 truce stretched to breaking point.  
 
That would also mean the ejection of the head of the monitors, retired Swedish Major General Ulf Henricsson.  
 
Rebel political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan told Reuters this month the Tigers would only reconsider their position once the EU removes them from their list of terrorist organisations.  
 
But no-one is clear on what will happen if the unarmed monitors ignore the unilateral Tiger ultimatum and stay on.  
 
"What does the demand mean? Have they threatened the safety of EU nationals or not?" asked SLMM Thorfinnur Omarsson. "We have to get more clarification on what this deadline means."  
 
"If they can't guarantee (our) safety, they are not committed to the ceasefire agreement," he added. "In the end, it's up to the three countries involved to make a decision."  
 
He said opinions ranged from withdrawing the mission to ignoring the LTTE demand and continuing work as normal.  
 
Many ordinary Sri Lankans are sick and tired of continued violence that has killed over 700 people so far this year, and more than 65,000 since the war began in earnest in 1983.  
 
Tens of thousands are still displaced, unable to return to their homes in the north and east which are either in ruins, surrounded by landmines or enveloped by army high security zones.  
 
Minority Tamils continue to suffer most, as their local economy is stifled, their job opportunities are limited and development in their areas is neglected.  
 
Many residents in the army-held, northern Jaffna peninsula -- which analysts say will likely be on the front line of any future resumption of war -- say they will stay put and face the consequences. Others simply cannot afford to move.  
 
"We went through the agony of 1983. I still believe it is safer to leave for Colombo but we are not in a position to do so at the moment (financially)," said 51-year-old housewife Vimaral Sivanayagam as she waited by a Jaffna bus stop.

Quote from Ex Sri lankan on Jul 24^th, 2006, 8:00pm:

Great Joke I ever heard it. Daya master got presidental treatement  at Colombo, by Sri Lankan President while LTTE  -> listed as terrorist Org

De-merge North & East – a letter to President
 
[25th July 2006 -14:00 S.L.T] updated
 
 
A letter has been handed over to President Mahinda Rajapakse requesting that the North and the East should be separated and administered by two separate provincial councils. The letter was handed over by ‘Organization to Defend Rights of People in the East’ to the President at Temple Trees yesterday.  
 
 
 
The North and the East which were temporarily merged in 1987 are administered as one council on a gazette notification issued by the President annually. ‘Organization to Defend Rights of People in the East’ points out that this act too was illegal. The organization points out that merger of the two provinces violates the fundamental rights of the people in the East as the needs of the two provinces are not the same.  
 
 
 
The letter forwarded to the President to de-merge the two provinces is extracted below
 
 
 
His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka,
 
President’s House,  
 
Colombo 01.  
 
 
Your Excellency,  
 
 
 
 
APPEAL FOR THE DE-MERGER OF THE NORTHERN & EASTERN PROVINCES  
 
 
The members of the "Nagenahira Janata Aitheen Rakaganime Sanvidanaya", a group of patriotic citizens of the civil society who are committed to protect the rights of the ordinary civilians in the Eastern Province, respectfully draw your attention to the following matters, which we set out hereinafter in support of our appeal for de-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Our humble request is for Your Excellency, to restore the original status quo that existed in the Eastern Province prior to the merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces in 1987.  
 
 
 
 
As Your Excellency is aware, the ethnic population ratios in the East consisted of 35% Muslims, 32% Sinhalese and 33% Tamils. By the merger of the two Provinces that took place in 1987, the Muslim and Sinhalese communities were unfairly and undemocratically reduced to a minority due to the merger of the 85% Tamil populated Northern Province to the East. The Sinhalese and Muslim populations in the East which together numbered almost twice the Tamil population, was thus reduced to an insignificant minority in the newly merged unit paving way for the administrative units in the merged Province to be dominated by Tamil population which in effect misrepresents the true ethnic composition in the East. The de-merger of the said Provinces will help restore the original status quo which in turn the representatives from all communities will be able to participate adequately in the administration and also help reflect the correct ethnic ratios in the Region.  
 
 
 
 
The merger of the Northern & Eastern Provinces has resulted not only the administration of the Eastern Province being dominated by the Tamil population who only constitute 1/3rd of the population of the Eastern Province, but also supports a false claim of the LTTE that the Tamils were the original settlers of both the Northern and Eastern Provinces. This is completely a fraudulent claim of the LTTE concocted solely for the purpose of substantiating their unjust demand for the control of the Eastern Province. At all times during the country’s ancient history, the territories falling within the Eastern Province remained a part of the Sinhalese Kingdoms. The early Sinhalese rulers constructed monumental structures such as Dheegawapi and Seruwawila Dagabas which remain famous and awe inspiring even to this date. In the Trincomalee district alone, there are more than 80 ruins of Buddhist shrines, in the Batticaloa district over 22 ruins and Ampara district over 42 ruins. Together with the discovery of many monastic caves in this Region, there is ample proof of the strong Sinhalese civilization that existed in the Eastern Province.  
 
 
 
 
The Muslim population in the East too could trace their origin to the settlements created at the time of King Senarath, which were established to help the Muslims avoid persecution by the Portuguese. In 1815, when the Kandyan Kingdom came under the British Rule, the territories of the Eastern Province formed a part of the Kandyan Kingdom. Even the treaties entered into with the Portuguese and the Dutch in the years 1617, 1638 and 1766 acknowledge the fact that almost the entire Eastern Province formed a part of the Kingdom of Kandy. The Eastern Province in particular, has never been under the Rule of the Tamil kings. The de-merger of the Provinces will make it difficult for the LTTE to sustain these false claims.  
 
 
 
 
The merger of the North & East provinces itself was effected in the most undemocratic and unlawful manner. The merger of these two provinces was sought by former President J. R Jayawardane under Article 154(A) (3) of the Constitution which was introduced by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This Article provided for the formation of one administrative unit with one elected Provincial Council by or under a law; the term "law" being defined as "an Act of Parliament". The Provincial Council Act No. 42 of 1987 was accordingly enacted and is the only law under which the merger of the Provinces has been effected.  
 
 
 
 
The Provincial Council Act No.42 of 1987 at the time of enactment contained a specific condition (i.e. Section 37(1) (b)) to be fulfilled for such merger. This section reads as follows;  
 
 
" (b) The President shall not make a Proclamation declaring that the provisions of subsection (1)(a) shall apply to the Northern and Eastern Provinces unless he is satisfied that arms, ammunition weapons, explosives and other military equipment which on 29th July 1989 were held or under the control of a terrorist, militant or other groups having as their objective the establishment of a separate state, have been surrendered to the Government of Sri Lanka or to authorities designated by it and there has been a cessation of hostilities and other acts of violence by such groups on the said Provinces."  
 
 
The LTTE operating in the Northern Region did not surrender their arms or cease hostilities. However, the objective of establishing a separate state remained in their minds. Therefore, as the necessary conditions imposed by law under which the merger of the two Provinces was to be effected, had not been fulfilled, the merger could not have taken place. Nevertheless, former President J.R. Jayawardane without amending this Act in the proper manner (i.e. seeking amendment before Parliament), issued an Emergency Regulation under Section 5 of the Public Security Ordinance. This Regulation stated that it was sufficient for the purpose of merger "if operations had been commenced to secure complete surrender of arms, ammunition weapons explosives and other military equipment by such groups". Thereafter by an Order published in the Gazette Notification under the provisions of the Provincial Council Act No.42 of 1987, the former President temporarily merged the Northern and Eastern provinces forming one North- East Province.
 
 
 
 
This Regulation was in violation of Article 155(2) of the Constitution under which no Emergency Regulation could override or amend or suspend the Articles of the Constitution (i.e. Article 154A (3) which required parliamentary authority). Furthermore, the Regulation itself was ultra vires section 5 of the Public Security Ordinance. Still further, an Emergency Regulation made under the Public Security Ordinance, could only be in operation for a period of one month and an Executive Order made thereunder cannot have any legal effect beyond this period. Therefore, the merger in law was a nullity and the act of merger was unlawful and illegal.  
 
 
Above all, under the provisions of the Provincial Council Act No 42 of 1987 (i.e. Sections 37(2) (a)), it was mandatory for a poll to be held in each of the specified Provinces, the fixed dates no later than 31st December 1988, to enable the voters of each such specified Province to decide whether such Province should remain linked with the other special Province or such Province should constitute a separate administrative unit. The provisions in the Act (i.e. Sections 37(2) (b)) also empowered the President to postpone the poll if necessary. No poll has been held up-to-date to find out from the electors of the Eastern Province whether or not the merger should continue. The de-merger of the North-East Province will undo this unlawful and undemocratic act of merger and restore the original status quo and re-establish the democratic rights of the people of the Eastern Region.  
 
 
 
 
The LTTE, which does not enjoy the support of even 10% of the country’s population (only about 18% of the population is Tamil), is demanding 1/3rd of the Island and 2/3rd of it’s coastline and this unjust and absurd demand is strengthened and supported by the merger of the two Provinces. Their false claims were originally made on the basis of one Province, but in reality it is on the basis of two provinces due to the merger. The de-merger of the North-East Province will prevent further opportunities being given to the LTTE to establish their rule in the Eastern Province.  
 
 
 
 
Furthermore, the de-merger of the North-East Province will help strengthen the security in the said Province as it can then pave way for more effective and efficient administration and to adopt stringent security measures and also to provide a safer and more secure environment to the citizens of the Region. As Your Excellency is aware, the LTTE is engaged in ethnic cleansing operations in the Eastern Region against the Sinhalese and Muslim populations, and also carry out extortion, violation of human rights, recruitment of child soldiers, unlawful taxation etc. which are facilitated by the merger of the two Provinces providing ample opportunities for the LTTE to gain access easily to the Eastern Region. The de-merger can also effectively halt and/or disrupt the smuggling of arms, ammunition and drugs by the LTTE using the sea coast of the Eastern Province, which comprises of many safe landing sites for the sea tiger crafts.  
 
 
 
 
In view of all the issues cited above, we the undersigned, appeal to Your Excellency to take immediate steps to de-merge the North-East Province and establish a separate Provincial Council for the Eastern Province and restore the status quo in the Eastern Province that existed prior to 1987.  
 
 
 
 
1. Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) - Mr. Nawalage Benett Cooray
 
2. People’s Liberation Front (JVP) - Hon. MP. Anura Kumara Dissanayake
 
3. All Ceylon Muslim Congress President, - Mr. N.M. Saheed
 
4. Mahajana Eksath Preramuna (MEP) - PC Member, Mr. Sisira Jayakodi
 
5. Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya President, - Mr. S.L Goonesekara,  
 
    Attorney at Law
 
6. Jathika Hela Urumaya Hon, - MP, Rev. Athuraliye Rathana
 
7. Democratic United Alliance Leader, - Mr. Nazir Ahamad
 
8. National Congress - Dr. Mr. Uduma Lebbe  
 
9. Patriotic National Movement - Dr . Gunadasa Amarasekara
 
 
 
Nagenahira Janata Aitheen Surakeeme Sanvidanaya-
 
(Organization for the protection of the rights of the people in the east)  
 
Date: 17th july 2006  
 

Two Terrorists Killed After Grenade Attack  
 
 
 
 
[COLOMBO, SinhalaNet 2006.07.25 04:48PM] LTTE HURLED A HAND GRENADE at route picket point at URUMPIRAI junction, JAFFNA on July 25 around 2.45 p.m. and fled. Troops retaliated killing two terrorists on the spot.  
No casualties were reported to troops.
This is yet another violation of the CFA.
The SLMM was to be informed.  
 
 
 
 
 

NMAT calls on government to launch decisive military action against the LTTE Terrorist  
 
 
COLOMBO, SinhalaNet 2006.07.25 03:48PM] The National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) calls on government to launch decisive military action against the LTTE instead of operating in a reactive, ad hoc and irresponsible manner. These were elucidated at a media briefing held at National library and documentation services board auditorium, Colombo -07, this morning.      
 
NMAT Leaders, including National Organizer Palitha Wicremarathne, NMAT Spokesmen, Lecturer Anuruddha Pradeep, and NMAT International Secretary Malinda Senevirathne were participated to the Press conference. NMAT leaders also stated that the cease fire agreement has no meaning any more and that it is only a document abused and violated with impunity by the LTTE.  
 
NMAT Leaders, including National Organizer Palitha Wicremarathne, NMAT Spokesmen, Lecturer Anuruddha Pradeep, and NMAT International Secretary Malinda Senevirathne were participated to the Press conference  
 
The full statement of the NMAT is as follows:      
 
“ If the question is 'What of conflict, what of peace?', then a legitimate answer, we believe, would be, 'the Government operates as though the CFA has meaning, the LTTE as though it never existed'. The CFA, or Ceasefire Agreement, does not and cannot lapse based on what is happening on the ground. It ceases to exist only if one of the parties to it releases an official statement of withdrawal.  
 
What has happened and what is happening is simply that the LTTE continues to milk the CFA for its benefits even as it fights.   Civil life, rule of law, normalcy, peace and other things that the CFA was supposed to yield, meanwhile, bleed to death slowly.  
 
There can be no 'ceasefire' when one party violates it over 6000 times, murders ministers, launches suicide attacks, massacres unarmed and innocent civilians in their hundreds. 'War' is the best descriptive; 'peace' a noble aspiration but a misnomer and unemployable term with respect to the current status of the conflict. We firmly believe that it is incumbent on the Government, the international community, political parties and groups and everyone else concerned to recognize this state of affairs and resolve not to indulge in fantasies and day-dreaming.  
 
The first respondent to this situation is naturally the Government. This Government came to power promising peace with dignity or an honourable peace. What was meant by 'honourable peace' can easily be obtained when one peruses the rhetoric of the candidates and the forces arrayed on either side. It was abundantly clear at the time that the LTTE was not interested in peace, was violating the CFA with impunity and with scandalous regularity and increasing audacity. At the time, the then President as well as Ranil Wickremesinghe (one of the signatories to the CFA) had taken a position of ignoring these violations to the point of openly encouraging the same. Mahinda Rajapaksa won the Presidential Election on the platform that this would be arrested and that terrorism will not be encouraged or given breathing space. The people elected him to wipe out the terrorist threat. They did not elect him to mollycoddle Prabhakaran. Today, he has to deliver.  
 
Today, one party fights, the other gropes about in the dark. This is an extremely dangerous situation for the country, the people and even for this government. The LTTE is gathering strength. The regularity of atrocities, we must understand, has the effect of becoming so common as to lull the international community to brush off such acts as 'more of the usual'.  
 
As for the Government, it is fast losing its popular base. Mahinda Rajapaksa stands tall only because he is standing on anti-Tiger public sentiment. His political stability depends on the extent to which he demonstrates strength, farsightedness and tenacity in the face of terrorism. The people did not want another Chandrika Kumaratunga or Ranil Wickremesinghe. Even today they seek the Mahinda Rajapaksa they saw during the election campaign and not someone who slips in the face of terrorism. They are seeking a Mahinda Rajapaksa who would lead the nation against the terrorist with determination.  
 
Unfortunately, as anyone would point out, the President and his Government have clearly chosen the path of defeat. There is nothing to be won by playing the waiting game. Much has been lost and much is being lost even as we speak. Sri Lanka will not get one extra iota of support from the international community. No one will take up arms to fight our fight against terrorism. As for the LTTE, it will not be stopped by actions such as the EU ban. The Government has to understand that international support has reached a ceiling. While it is possible that there could be some censure from the international community, there is nothing to say that even such negatives cannot be managed. In any event slumber and day-dreaming is not the answer.  
 
The National Movement Against Terrorism urges the Government to stop being coy about the threat to national security and civilian life and take on the LTTE in a systematic and comprehensive manner or else embark on a strategy of targetted engagement.  
 
The National Movement Against Terrorism consider the worst possible defeat would be the fall of Jaffna to the hands of the terrorists and that the worst defeat that the LTTE can suffer would be the loss of the Eastern Province. The latter is the more likely, but the former is by no means inconceivable.  
 
The political moment does not spell tragedy. The new leadership of the security forces, a new president with a fresh mandate, if coupled with strategy, determination and the securing of public support, would prove decisive in any engagement with terrorism. It is incumbent on the Government to strike and strike decisively at the proper moment. The National Movement Against Terrorism strongly urges the Government to do so.  
 
The second option is to match the LTTE for strategy; i.e. target and eliminate the high command of the LTTE while destroying through other means their infrastructure.  
 
Whatever option is chosen by the Government, it is very important that the loopholes in the law be shut down forthwith. The law, as it stands, and as subordinate to the dictates of the CFA, is hardly sufficient to deal with terrorism.   The relevant acts should be strengthened and the fight be taken to the LTTE on all its fronts using emergency regulations. Where the existing laws do not constitute sufficient safeguards and do not empower the relevant agencies to effectively take on terrorism, other and necessary legislative enactments should be formulated and ratified in parliament.  
 
 
NMAT Leaders, including National Organizer Palitha Wicremarathne, NMAT Spokesmen, Lecturer Anuruddha Pradeep, and NMAT International Secretary Malinda Senevirathne were participated to the Press conference  
 
What of the international community? India cannot be ignored. India has said that her support is only for a negotiated settlement. If the Government and the LTTE are both agreeable to negotiations then India's support is not necessary. The support of an actor such as India is useful only if one of the parties is not interested in peace. Everyone knows who is against peace.  
 
We have one question for India: 'Are you ready to employ whatever means at your disposal to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table?' If the answer is 'no', then the various statements issued by India have no relevance or political meaning. The reality, one has to conclude, is that India may very well look the other way in the hour of need of its friendly neighbour.  
 
 As mentioned earlier, the EU and other countries have shown what the maximum support they are willing to offer is. No country in the world will step in to settle this problem. The long and short of it is that all matters are now in our own hands. The unnecessary internationalization of the issue thanks to the CFA has to be turned around and brought within our spheres of control. Unfortunately both the Government and the Opposition seem to be doing just the opposite.  
 
Finally we can conclude (generously) that the CFA was a well-intentioned experiment that went wrong. It has brought us to the brink of tragedy. This has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt. Now it is high time to find a way out of the mess. “
 

Rally the Nation to defeat terrorism! – Sri Lankans in USA writes to President
 
[26th July 2006 -05:00 S.L.T]  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sri Lankan Patriots, an organization of Sri Lankans in the USA has sent a letter to President Mahinda Rajapakse appealing him to be dedicated for the sovereignty and protection of the Motherland.    
 
 
 
The letter calls upon the President to take measures to investigate regarding the local and foreign organizations that directly and indirectly sustain tiger terrorism and to take necessary steps to curb their actions, not to act against the so-called ceasefire agreement which has been incapacitated and to stop the unilateral and opportunistic involvement of Norway.
 
 
 
The letter further states that if anyone is flexible enough to break away from terrorism and join democratic process he or she should be given that opportunity. However, the LTTE, which pursue terrorism to harm sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Motherland, should be defeated. The letter further states that Sri Lankan Nation has the determination and courage to defeat terrorism.
 
 
 
‘Sri Lankan Patriots’ appeal to the President to step forward to rally the whole Nation to defeat savage terrorism and states that patriotic Sri Lankans in the USA would make any sacrifice to achieve this.
 

LTTE sinks deeper into crimes against humanity by cutting off water supplies to the Tamils
Wed, 2006-07-26 12:44  
Colombo, 26 July, (Asiantribune.com):The latest move of the LTTE to close the Verugal anicut (irrigation channel) at Mavil aru area in Trincomalee has backfired with farmers staging protests and the Peace Secretariat branding it as a war crime and crime against humanity.  
 
This arbitrary act has cut off water supplies to about 1,500 Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese farmers. The closing of the sluice gates on last Thursday (June 20) will deprive the flow of water to around 30,000 acres of paddy, according to irrigation engineers. Residents in Selvanagar, in Seunuwara, Muttur, Uylankulam, Vilanapattu, Kiliveddy, Kallaru, Dehiwatta, and Neelapola will also be affected by this LTTE move to deprive water to civilians, most of whom are Tamils.
 
Armed LTTE cadres had thrashed and driven away the engineers and the workmen who arrived on the scene to open the sluice gates. The Sri Lankan Peace Secretariat states that the LTTE has even blocked the moves of the Sri Lankan Truce Monitors who had made attempts to restore the supply of water to the people.  
 
The Sri Lankan Peace Secretariat in blunt a statement has accused the LTTE of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by forcibly attempting to prevent the supply of water to the villagers in the affected areas.
.
The Peace Secretariat added: "The people in these villages depend on the supply from the Mawilaru Anicut for drinking purposes and for agriculture. Without this water, the paddy which is now close to maturing will be irretrievably lost. The LTTE's forcible closure of this water supply in an area until recently controlled by the Government, is a hostile act committed against the civilian population in contravention of the Ceasefire Agreement. This act by the LTTE contravenes norms of civilized behavior and is in violation of international law.
 
Under Protocol I to the Geneva Convention, "It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works, for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive." [Protocol I, Geneva Convention (1977), Article 54(2)].
 
It has been clearly accepted under the rules of international law that attacks on water resources and the denial of water to civilian populations constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is noted that under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which substantially reflects international law, the relevant article states that "intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects" is defined as a war crime [Article 8, 2(b) (ii)].
 
- Asian Tribune - [color=#339966][/color]
 

Sri Lanka air force bombs rebels over water spat
27 Jul 2006 06:26:28 GMT
Source: Reuters
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Background
Sri Lanka conflict  
More  COLOMBO, July 27 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's air force bombed Tamil Tiger rebel territory in the island's east for a second day on Thursday amid a spat over water supplies, a military source said, but there were no details on casualties.
 
The government accuses the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of blocking water supplies to farmland in Trincomalee, where the government and rebels both control territory. The LTTE blames the military.
 
The government said it had launched the air strikes in an effort to help irrigation engineers reach the area.
 
"The military is attacking select targets to clear access to a water tank (reservoir)," a military source told Reuters.
 
The aerial bombardment comes as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres is visiting the island to assess the plight of hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans displaced by a two-decade civil war.
 
The bombing raid is the latest in a series of attacks and clashes between the military and the LTTE that many fear could rupture a 2002 ceasefire.
 
More than 800 people have been killed so far this year.
 
The UNHCR estimates there are about 315,000 long-term internally displaced people in Sri Lanka due to the protracted conflict, 67,000 of whom live in camps and around 247,000 of whom live with relatives and friends. There are another 125,000 Sri Lankan refugees abroad, 68,000 of them in neighbouring India.

Air Force resumes air strikes against LTTE terrorists in Verugal aru  
 
 
 
 
[COLOMBO, SinhalaNet 2006.07.26 06:51PM] Airforce resumed strikes against LTTE Terrorist positions today (26th July 2006,) at around 6.32PM. Air attacks are caring out Verugal aru areas selected LTTE targets in the northeastern district of Trincomalee, where the LTTE has denied water to thousands of civilians, in Serunuwara, Muttur and adjoining areas, by preventing the opening of sluice gates of Verugal aru.
Defense sources said the land attacks will also continue for the LTTE targets in the area.  
 
The Sluice gats has been forcibly kept closed by the LTTE since Thursday (20th of July) Morning.  
 
The closure has denied the water supply for several thousands of civilians in SERUNUWARA, MUTTUR, UYLANKULAM, VILANPATTU, KILIWEDDY, KALLAR, DEHIWATTA, SELVANAGAR and NEELAPOLA areas for both domestic and agricultural purposes. Further, it has been reported that over 10000 acres of paddy will be ruined unless the water supply restored immediately.  
 
The civilians of all ethnicities gathered at the protest expressed their utter contempt over the LTTE's shameful tactics for harassing civilians.