EELAM NEWS: 300607

Govt. to celebrate liberation of East
By Kelum Bandara

The government said yesterday it would celebrate the liberation of the entire Eastern Province from the LTTE on a national basis.
Senior minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena told journalists the security forces had inflicted the worst-ever defeats on the LTTE during the ongoing operations in the east.
Mr. Sirisena said the government would launch a programme to pay tribute to soldiers who sacrificed immensely to flush out terrorists and create normalcy in the area so that civilians could resume normal life. “The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is committed to wiping out terrorism in the country. Today, the LTTE has been weakened to a great extent,” the minister said.
The minister charged the UNP was trying to topple the government at this juncture directly and indirectly to the advantage of the Tigers.
“The UNP is trying to create a crisis in the country with the aim of gaining power in the future. There are both local and foreign elements behind this exercise which benefits the LTTE who fear the military will extend their operations to the north after liberating the east,” he said.
Commenting on former Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s move to join forces with the UNP, Mr. Sirisena said the Opposition had become ‘a bundle of contradictions’ today because of this situation.
He said his party would politically counter the UNP propaganda blitz against the government while launching a programme to reduce the cost of living.

Fuel prices up again
The price of petrol was increased by Rs. 5, diesel by Rs. 4 and kerosene by Rs. 16 a litre from midnight yesterday.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Lanka Indian Oil Company said the decision to increase fuel prices had been taken due to rising crude oil prices in the world market.
According to the latest hike the new price of a litre of petrol would be Rs. 111, diesel Rs. 71 and kerosene Rs. 67.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayaka told the media,
the Cabinet Sub Committee on Cost of Living had directed the relevant authorities to decide on a price hike that would have the least impact on the public.
“Price of a crude oil barrel in the world market has doubled and its impact on the local market is unavoidable. Yet, we do not want to put the burden on public. We have recommended that prices should be increased without affecting the ongoing military operations or any of the development projects,” he said.
Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said that the CPC was incurring a loss of Rs 3.5 billion a day now due to escalating oil prices in the world market.
However, the Prime Minister said electricity charges would not be increased.
Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena said changes in the prices of fuel, gas, fertilizer and chemical were beyond the control of the government as they were not produced locally.
“According to the Consumer Protection Authority Act, we are compelled to increase prices whenever the relevant companies make such requests. Gas companies have requested us to allow them an increase of Rs 174 but we hope to reach a compromise on a hike less than that,” he added.

CB optimistic of 7.5% growth
Agriculture revival critical for high forecast
By Sunimalee Dias

The Central Bank is cautiously optimistic of 7.5% growth for 2007 despite a depressing first quarter.
At the beginning of the year the Central Bank estimated a growth of 7.5% for the year with all sectors expected to contribute towards such growth.
It was believed that this rate could be “comfortably” achieved, only if the high growth momentum in the services and industry sectors in the previous two years could be maintained.
However, it has been noted that the recovery in the agriculture sector is “critical” to realize the original growth estimates this points to uncertainty in achieving the set targets by the Central Bank.
“The agriculture sector was unable to record a growth during the quarter as a result of the weak performance of tea and paddy, due to labour unrest in the last quarter of 2006 and unfavourable weather conditions. However, the industry sector grew at a faster rate of 7.0 per cent compared to 6.3 per cent in the same quarter in 2006, mainly due to increased performance in gem mining, food and beverage, and the apparel sectors. The services sector also recorded a healthy growth of 7.1 per cent over a growth of 8.0 per cent recorded last year. On that basis, the non-agriculture sector grew by 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2007,” the bank stated.
The first quarter growth figures indicate a healthy growth in the non- agriculture sector, which is encouraging. There is also potential for this non agriculture sector to improve over the succeeding quarters.
The agriculture sector too, has shown signs of recovery over the second quarter and such trend is expected to continue. Such recovery would be a critical factor in the original growth estimates being realized.
The escalation of oil prices from the second quarter onwards will undoubtedly be a major challenge to the growth momentum.
However, the expected return to normalcy in the Eastern Province shortly could be a platform which could provide a new impetus to growth, especially in the areas of fisheries, animal husbandry, mineral sands and reconstruction activities. The Central Bank will closely monitor the growth figures and trends in the second and third quarters in order to critically review the possible achievement of the projected growth targets, in the light of these new developments.
Officially, the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) is the agency responsible for the compilation and dissemination of National Income Accounts. However, in the past, both the DCS and the Central Bank have been compiling and disseminating national income statistics. This duplication of effort has often caused some confusion in the minds of the public.
Hence, in order to avoid duplication and confusion, the Central Bank has decided to use the statistics compiled by the DCS in the future, while continuing to compile forecasts of GDP and its growth rate, for the purpose of macroeconomic management. Such a practice would be consistent with that adopted in the compilation and forecasting of the general price level and inflation, where too, the DCS compiles the actual price level and inflation, while the Central Bank forecasts inflation for monetary policy purposes.

Sinhala IDPs in northeast Sri Lanka reluctant to return home

Friday, June 29, 2007, 14:09 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

June 29, Colombo: The internally displaced Sinhalese people from Welioya who were residing in the Alikimbulagala school premises in Padavi-Parakramapura have decided reluctantly to return to the Athawetunaweva village.
When the Tamil Tigers fired mortars to the Athawetunaweva village in the Welioya Defense Colony on 31st May, 1,118 individuals belonged to 310 families of the village fled the Sinhala border village in the North Eastern Sri Lanka. Over half of the IDPs had returned to the village now and the rest have decided to return although they were not satisfied over the security provided to them.
Some IDPs said that they were returning due to the lack of facilities in the school premises they were temporarily sheltered. They were removed from school buildings and provided temporary shelters in the school premises few weeks back when the school was reopened.
The IDPs said they lack sanitary facilities as well as cooked food also. The Divisional Secretary of Padaviya said to media that dry rations are provided to the IDPs and they are returning home voluntarily.

ENB: 290607

Occupied Eelam Tamil teritories by Sri Lanka are not available, for any foreign investments!
HANDS OFF!!

ENB

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LTTE shadow over NTPC project

29 Jun, 2007 l 0127 hrs ISTlSanjay Dutta/TIMES NEWS NETWORK NEW DELHI:

State-owned NTPC has expressed apprehensions over the political fallout in India over the choice of site suggested by the Sri Lankan government for setting up a power project by a joint venture between the Indian generation utility and Ceylon Electricity Board. The proposed area, identified as Site 5 in Sampur, was wrested from the LTTE and is approachable only by boats.
NTPC had signed an MoU in December 2006 with the Sri Lankan government and Ceylon Electricity Board for setting up a 500 mw power project in that country. In January, the Sri Lankan government took a visiting NTPC team for inspection to four sites it had earmarked for the power project. These sites were in Tambalgam Bay, two in Clappenburg Bay and one in Sampur area.
The NTPC team recommended that the project be located southwest of Clappenburg Bay. It suggested Tambalgam Bay for the project township and wanted to re-examine the Sampur area as a site for setting up another power project at a later date.
NTPC’s choice of site for the power project, however, ran aground with the Sri Lankan defence ministry on technical ground. Sri Lanka is re-establishing the Air Force Flying Academy in China Bay and southwest Clappenberg Bay falls within the circuit flying area.
Thus, any major construction in the area is seen as hampering pilot training.
Besides, since the suggested project site is within 4,464 metre of the air strip, no structures higher than 45 metre can be constructed. The project site is also adjacent to a Sri Lankan naval dockyard and construction of a power project is seen as hindering naval deployment in the area.
The Sri Lankan government has suggested the Sampur area as an alternative and told NTPC that it has embarked on a project for providing infrastructure facilities such as access roads and jetties in the area. NTPC, however, feels building the power plant on this site could have political fallout in India as this was wrested from the Tamil Tigers.
Besides, the area is accessible only by boats and would require huge investments in building infrastructure such as bridges etc. NTPC has now sought external affairs ministry’s views on the issue.

BBC Sinhala.com 27 June, 2007 - Published 21:33 GMT
Remand for 'London Tigers

'The suspected Tamil Tiger supporters appeared in court today. The main accused Chrishanthakumar was denied bail and remanded to judicial custody until the 5th of July.
Golden Lambert who is only charged with one offence was granted conditional bail but later remanded to custody as the surety was not paid.
The case would be coming up for committal to the Crown Court on August 9th, said a spokesman for the Westminster Magestrate Court.
Two men, Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, (also known as 'AC Shanthan'), 50, of Upwood Rd, Norbury, and Goldan Lambert, 29, of Bramley Hill, South Croydon, will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The two men were charged Wednesday afternoon under the Terrorism Act 2000 for providing support for The Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which is a proscribed organisation in the United Kingdom.
Five charges
The Main accused, Chrisnakumar alias Shanthan is charged for five offences including purchasing equipment that can be used in terrorist activities, fundraising and organising public events to support the Tamil Tigers.
The other suspect named as Golden Lambert, who was arrested at the Heathrow Airport on his return from Dubai last week, is only charged for managing a meeting at Hyde Park in London on 26th of July 2006.
Chrishanthakumar is charged with five counts. Apart from organising and speaking in the rally to support a proscribed organisation, he is also charged for receiving £1500, “intending that it be used or having reasonable cause to suspect that it may be used for the purposes of terrorism”.ballistic body armour
The charges against Shanthan also say that he has possessed “a quantity of literature and manuals including Underwater Warfare Systems, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Naval Weapons Systems”.
The police also say that they have found in his possession, six trenching spades, thirty nine compasses, and a piece of ballistic body armour. Which the police charge as, “intending that they be used or having reasonable cause to suspect that they may be used for the purposes of terrorism Contrary to Section 15(2) and Section 22 of the Terrorism Act 2000”.
was close to Anton Balasingham
Shnathan who was a close associate of the late Tamil Tiger theoretician Anton Balasingham is also charged for “belonging or professed to belong to a proscribed organisation, namely the LTTE”, until the day he was arrested.
Shanthan had been seen with Balasingham and his wife Adel on their trips to Vanni on several occasions. And he was also identified by many as one of the members of the wider LTTE delegation attending the last round of peace talks in Geneva.
Members of the LTTE are also banned from travelling to EU countries.
Tamil Tiger chief peace negotiator Anton Balasingham lived in South London for many years after the proscription of the Tamil Tigers in the UK. He travelled freely in and out of the UK and attended meetings and gatherings representing the LTTE. He even gave interviews to media as the theoretician of the LTTE.
This is the first time a person has been charged by UK authorities for belonging to the LTTE.

Hard times for Lanka’s ruling coalition
The DAWN: By Frances Bulathsinghala

COLOMBO: With his military forces battling the LTTE in the north-east, President Mahinda Rajapakse and his three brothers who are all top government officials are facing a whole new battle — within their own alliance regime, one which could well culminate in another election.
Faced with the prospect of his ministers defecting to the breakaway Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana Wing) founded last week by former foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera, President Mahinda Rajapakse has said he is ready to dissolve parliament and seek a fresh mandate.
According to top political sources Rajapakse had on last Friday told a special meeting of ministers and senior members of the Sri Lanka Freedom party, the key constituent party of the government, that the situation was “worsening” daily with Samaraweera claiming that around 15-20 MPs are ready to join his party.
Adding to President Rajapakse’s worries is the return of his rival, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga to the country following an invitation by Mangala Samaraweera to head the break away SLFP group. Kumaratunga is expected to return to Sri Lanka from Britain shortly. Matters have been further complicated for Rajapakse with the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP) publicly proposing an alliance with the SLFP(MW). Local media reports indicated that Kumaratunga has expressed willingness to help ‘resurrect’ the SLFP founded by her father, the late S. W. R. D Bandaranaike.
While Mahinda Rajapakse is clearly a perturbed man, in comparison Mangala Samaraweera who was sacked from his foreign ministerial post months ago appears confident.
In an interview with Dawn on Wednesday, Mangala Samaraweera said a change of regime was the ‘only alternative’ and claimed he was confident that over 90 per cent in the government were ready to join hands with him to free the country of what he described as a ‘vindictive and petty minded’ political leadership.
Calling upon the international community to introduce ‘some form of sanctions’ on the government for its allegedly gross violations of human rights, Samaraweera pointed out that his immediate goal is to wrest the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) from the ‘Rajapakse brothers’ whom he refers to as the ‘Rajapakse quartet’.
This could be only done by ‘rededicating the SLFP’ with the help of former President Chandrika Kumaratunge, to the ideals for which her late father set it up, he said.
Meanwhile, the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Pramuna (JVP) which strongly campaigned for Rajapakse in the November 2005 Presidential election is now threatening to launch strikes on various issues and is likely to lean towards Samaraweera who has a good relationship with JVP members, political sources said on Wednesday.
Samaraweera acknowledged that he would shortly commence talks with the JVP to discuss among other issues, their stand on the ethnic conflict. Talks with the main opposition, the United National Party (UNP) would commence on Thursday, he said.
In the backdrop of an escalating war, the pro LTTE Tamil National Alliance has openly expressed support to Samaraweera who is said to hold ‘moderate’ views with regard to the Tamil ethnic issue.
Samaraweera has already broached the idea of a common alliance with a limited five point programme with opposition parties. Main among the five points is the restoration of democracy and the resultant re-imposition of the rule of law.
“In a time when abductions and human rights violations are more the rule than the exception, the aim is to unite all opposition forces to avert the rapidly deteriorating situation in the country and restore democracy. When we begin this process, we are confident that even those in the government who are now compelled to be silent would join us”, the former Foreign Minister said.

Dissolve Karuna Group - Richard Boucher

Thu, 2007-06-28 05:16 Oslo, 28 June, (Asiantribune.com):

Richard Boucher has insisted that Karuna Group has to be dissolved. The US Assistant Secretary, for South and Central Asian Affairs urged ‘to dissolve the Karuna group’ as they continue to recruit child soldiers.Richard Boucher : “When it comes to the Karuna group it has to be dissolved.” In an interview with Dagsavisen in Oslo Boucher said, "Both the Tamil Tigers and the Karuna group - who has defected from the Tigers and who today supports the Government forces, continues according to UNICEF to recruit child soldiers."
Boucher said that the USA is aware of Karuna recruiting underage children and involved in other illegal activities.
Richard Boucher was in Oslo to participate in the Co-Chair meeting held on 26 June. After the meeting, he was interviewed by Dagsavisen Norwegian Language news daily.
“In order to get the Tigers to abandon the use of child soldiers there must be pressure from the international community,” Boucher emphasized.
“When it comes to the Karuna group it has to be dissolved,” he emphasized.
“They have been involved in too many unacceptable actions”, says the US Assistant Secretary.
- Asian Tribune -

Vasu files FR petition against LMSL sale
By Susitha R. Fernando

President’s advisor Vasudeva Nanayakkara has filed a fundamental rights petition against the selling of 90% shares of Lanka Marine Services (Pvt) Ltd to John Keells Holdings Private Ltd and the selling of valuable land at Bloemendhal without a valuation and Cabinet approval.
Mr. Nanayakkara has cited 31 respondents, including K.N. Choksy, former Minister of Finance, Karu Jayasuriya, former Minister of Power and Energy, Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Prime Minister, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former President of Sri Lanka, Milinda Moragoda, former Minister of Economic Reforms, Sripathy Sooriyarachchi, former Minister, Public Enterprise Reforms, Charitha Ratwatte, former Secretary to the Treasury, P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Treasury and former Chairman, Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC), John Keels Holdings Ltd. its present Chairman Susantha Ratnayake and former chairman, V. Lintotawela.
In his petition, Mr.Nanayakkara asked court to direct the Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera and other respondents to submit all documents and records pertaining to the transaction to Court, make order declaring that the sale of 90% shares of Lanka Marine Services Ltd., (LMSL) owned by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to
John Keels Holdings Ltd.(JKHL) had been carried out in a wrongful, unlawful and irregular manner, make an order cancelling, annulling and making void the agreement relating to the sale and purchase dated 20.8.2002 and restoring the ownership of all the shares of LMSL to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
The petitioner also asked court to make an order directing the Secretary to the Treasury to obtain a realistic valuation of the assets and liabilities of Lanka Marine Services Ltd. as at August 20, 2002, make order directing the Secretary to the Treasury to obtain a report from the Auditor General of all monies and assets appropriated by JKHL after August 20 2002.
In his application, supported by attorneys-at-law M. A. Sumanthiran and Viran Corea instructed by Razmara Abdeen of Abdeen Associates, Mr. Nanayakkara also asked court to order declaring that the selling of over eight acres of land at Bloemendhal road belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority in the absence of specific and express Cabinet approval has caused loss and damage to the Government and the citizens of Sri Lanka, conferring unjust and unlawful benefit to a few.
Mr. Nanayakkara has complained that the alleged transaction had taken place without the approval of the Cabinet. The government had been misled and taken for a ride with a deliberate intentional pre-designed ‘fix’ causing grave loss and damage and mischief to the government, the public and thereby causing misappropriation of public property.

Tigers raid SLA post in Mannaar border [TamilNet,...

Tigers raid SLA post in Mannaar border

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 June 2007, 02:19 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army Forward Defence post located between the SLA controlled Tha'l'laadi and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) controlled territory in Mannaar was attacked by the Tigers Wednesday early morning around 2:30, Tiger officials told media in Ki'linochchi. Five SLA troopers were killed in the pre-dawn attack, they claimed and said the FDL post, located 500 meters away from the Tha'l'laadi SLA base, was destroyed in the attack. The Tigers seized a Light machine gun, two automatic rifles and a communication equipment in the pre-dawn raid. A PK-LMG, two T-56 type-2 automatic rifles and a communication equipment were captured, LTTE field officials told media.
SLA soldiers operating from the FDL post were attempting to infiltrate the LTTE territory, LTTE officials said.
There were no LTTE casualties.
Tha'l'laadi SLA base is located 17 km southwest of LTTE controlled Vidaththaltheevu.

''சமாதான வழிமுறை ஒன்றினூடாக அமைதி வழியில் எமது உரி...

''சமாதான வழிமுறை ஒன்றினூடாக அமைதி வழியில் எமது உரிமைகளை வென்றெடுக்கலாம் என்று ஐந்து ஆண்டுகள் நாம் பொறுமையுடன் கடைப்பிடித்து வந்த சமாதான முன்னெடுப்புகளை இன்று ஷ்ரீலங்காவின் அரச பயங்கரவாதம் விழுங்கி ஏப்பமிட்டு நிற்கின்றது. அதன் சுவடுகள் தமிழ் மக்களின் குருதி கொண்டே கழுவித் துடைக்கப்பட்டுவிட்டன.''

தமிழ்ச்செல்வன்

Only CFA can save Sri Lanka

Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Monday, 25 June 2007, 16:14 GMT]



S.P Thamilchelvan, head of the Political Division of the LTTE, in an interview with TamilNet on Monday said that to bring peace and pave the way for talks, the international community should come forward to "support the struggle for rights of the Tamil people and force the Sri Lankan Government to implement the ceasefire agreement in full.” Characterizing the "efforts” to bring a united position among the southern parties as the "same old drama," that has gone on throughout the Tamil people’s struggle for their rights, he said only the CFA can save the island from the disaster. Welcoming the timely meeting by the Co-chairs in Oslo, Mr. Thamilchelvan said Tamil people have become suspcious as to why there is no firm united stance even among the members of the Co-chairs. Some members are indirectly encouraging Colombo by giving military and economic aid while some others are attempting to implement practical steps to put pressure on the Sri Lankan Government, LTTE's political head said.
"International community must gain a profound understanding of this long history [of prolonging and time buying tactics by Colombo] and act to end the ethnically biased efforts by the Sinhala leadership. I believe the constructive step by the international community is to accept and support the struggle for rights of the Tamil people and force the Sri Lankan Government to implement the ceasefire agreement 100% to pave the way for peace talks."
On the military situation in the east, Thamilchelvan said, LTTE chooses military strategies to suit the “place, environment and time,” and that Sri Lanka Army (SLA) will soon find out the “trap they have set for themselves.”
TamilNet: What are your views on the Co-chairs meeting in Oslo to discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka?
Thamilchelvan: We welcome the Co-chairs meeting to discuss issues relating to permanent peace and resolution to the ethnic conflict. The International community has reiterated the futility of the military option and the need for the two sides to return to the negotiating table. While welcoming this, we point out that the Tamil people are deeply saddened that the international community has not taken any constructive and concrete measures to end the State-sponsored violence against the Tamil people. In particular, nothing has been done to bring an end to the ethnic cleansing, horrendous human rights violations, and the grave human misery that the Tamil people have been subjected to. Indeed suspicions have arisen among the Tamil people as to why there is no firm united stance even among the Co-chairs. The Tamil people are puzzled as to why some countries are indirectly encouraging the Government by giving military and economic aid while some other countries are pressuring the Government to seek a political solution.
TamilNet: What shifts in policy, perception, and approach do you think the international community should adopt to create a climate conducive to permanent peace ?
Thamilchelvan: The ceasefire agreement brought at least a temporary reprieve to the high intensity war that went on for more than twenty years. This is important because it was the first agreement that came about after a long time with the assistance of the international community. The world supported this agreement unanimously. This brought hope to the communities affected by the conflict. Yet, due to the competition for power among the Sinhala ruling class, the conducive environment that was created for peace was destroyed. By their actions the ruling class has created confusion about the position of the majority Sinhala people and has brought about a dire situation in this island. They rejected the very first proposal put forward by the Tamil people for an interim government, and they also destroyed the agreement, after it was signed by the two sides, on a joint structure put forward by the international community, following the tsunami devastation for humanitarian work. Through these the Sinhala chauvinistic leadership has destroyed any remaining hope among the Tamil people.
International community must seriously view the long history of the Tamil struggle and act to end the ethnically biased efforts by the Sinhala leadership. I believe the constructive step by the international community is to accept and support the struggle for rights of the Tamil people and force the Sri Lankan Government to implement the ceasefire agreement 100% to pave the way for peace talks.
TamilNet: The International community, in particular the USA, thinks that a common agreement must be reached among the Southern political parties and through this form the basis for negotiations with the LTTE. Is this possible? Is this the right strategy?
Thamilchelvan: As far as the southern political parties are concerned there has never been the practice of following party policies. They jump from party to party to seek power and for financial benefits. The current “efforts” to bring a united position among the southern parties is the same drama that has gone on throughout the Tamil people’s struggle for their rights. Finding a solution has never been the motive of these “efforts”. The latest “efforts” too will not produce the desired outcome of a common agreement. When decisions have to be made later, these parties will not cooperate towards it. Agreements or solutions will be reached only when those in power act with honesty to find that solution not otherwise.
In addition, whoever newly takes control of the Sri Lankan Government is always interested in a military solution and they are more bent on exploiting the international community for that end. This has always been the pattern. A point must be emphasized. Sri Lankan Government will never agree to peace talks after strengthening it militarily. On the contrary it will reject peace efforts and ceasefire agreements and will jump into a war saying it is going to bring a resolution through military means. Then after facing heavy losses from which it is unable to pull back it will agree for a peace talks. I do believe that the international community would have understood this pattern of deceptive behaviour of the successive Sinhala Governments. The latest ceasefire agreement, which the international community believed will deliver a solution, was the result of military and economic difficulties faced by the Sinhala Government. Therefore, hopes to find a solution by militarily strengthening the Sri Lankan Government and thus destroy the Tamil collective and thus their struggle for freedom will always remain a daydream.
Firstly, there has never been a history where a Sri Lankan Government has come down and agreed for talks or peace efforts in such a situation. Secondly, a solution found through such a means will not be a just solution to an affected and oppressed people.
TamilNet:Though antithetical to the International Community’s position, sections of Southern leadership and clergy are advancing the idea that peace can be brought about by militarily weakening the LTTE. What is your position on this?
Thamilchelvan: Tamil people have been fighting for their rights for the last 60 years. Initially, Tamil people did not choose military means for their freedom struggle. They took forward their struggle through non-violence for thirty years. Sinhala leadership could have put forward a solution to the ethnic problem during these thirty years. There was never an open minded humanitarian approach to this problem by the Sinhala leadership. On the contrary, ethnic cleansing and ethnic genocide were visited on the people. Many thousands of Tamil people were killed and hundreds of thousands of Tamil were chased from their land, in effect a huge human misery was created. It was in this environment that our freedom movement was born. Only when their struggle by peaceful and democratic means was broken and military violence was let loose to wipe out the people, the people took up armed struggle as self defense. People of Tamil Elam did not wish to create this situation. This was forced by the Sinhala violence. If the issue of the rights of the Tamil people has captured the world attention, it is only because of the dedicated military strength of the Tamil people. Therefore, Tamil people will never allow the military strength that was built up step by step as self defense to be weakened. The Sinhala leadership knowing this well repeats this proposition again and again solely to buy time and opportunity from the international community to intensify their ethnic genocide and destroy the rights of Tamils.
It is only when the Sinhala leadership understands, the true aspirations of the Tamil people, that the military strength of the Tamil people is not against the Sinhala nation or the Sinhala people, that it was built as self defense to protect their homeland, and that only when Tamil people create the environment where they too can live with security, freedom and self respect, this island will become a violence free peaceful place.
TamilNet: Certain countries that are rejecting a military solution and emphasizing a political solution, are also taking actions against representatives of Tamils and the LTTE. As the conflict now plays out on a domestic and international platform, how does this impact the issue of Tamil representation?
Thamilchelvan: Hundreds of thousands of our people chased out from their home are living in several countries. They help their kith and kin in this island who have suffered immense misery. It is a real tragedgy that humanitarian concern and the natural affinity between kith and kin are smeared with labels of assisting ‘terrorism.’ Neither the Tamil people nor their representatives have broken the laws of the countries where they reside when carrying out their political or humanitarian work. They do their work to achieve their aspirations by respecting the people and their governments of these countries. After the tsunami devastation, during the peace efforts, and when an ethnic violence is let loose on their people, expatriate Tamils worked tirelessly for their brethren in the Tamil homeland. Smearing this work they do to help their kith and kin with terrorism is not only distressing the Tamil people, it will also encourage the Sinhala chauvinists to intensify their violence.
TamilNet: How accurate is the claim by the Sri Lankan Army, that the LTTE has been evicted from the East, and this eviction translates into SLA military superiority?
Thamilchelvan: As far as the LTTE is concerned we were never defeated. We adopt military strategies to suit the place, the environment and the time. In particular, in the east it is common for the Sinhala forces to advance and then withdraw when faced with heavy losses following our strong defense. This is the past history. No people will accept the occupation of their land by a foreign force or a force that they detest. They will always seek their own security. Very soon the Sinhala forces will understand the trap they have set for themselves.

India urged to join Sri Lanka group for peace By ...

India urged to join Sri Lanka group for peace

By IANS Monday June 25, 04:02 PM New Delhi, June 25 (IANS)

India has been urged by Tamil activists to join a 'Contact Group' along with other global players to start a political engagement that will help resolve Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict.
The Sri Lanka Democracy Forum (SLDF), made up of Tamil activists settled in several countries, has said that India and Britain should team up with the US, Japan, Norway and the European Union, which form what is known as co-chairs, to set up a new 'Contact Group'.
'The co-chairs and the international community cannot ensure progress towards sustainable peace by relying on donor aid alone, which is determined by various imperatives,' SLDF said ahead of Tuesday's meeting in Oslo of the co-chairs.
SLDF said in a statement e-mailed to IANS from London that intensified political engagement 'that exerts robust pressure on relevant actors will more likely produce results.
'The co-chairs should consider taking the lead in the formation of a Contact Group, which would consist of the co-chairs and countries that have had long-term engagement with Sri Lanka such as India and the UK.
'This Contact Group should set up processes of political engagement with Sri Lanka with the explicit aim of ensuring a political solution to the conflict.'
SLDF also urged India and the co-chairs to intensify their political engagement with Sri Lanka in order 'to urgently address human rights protection and a political solution that meets the aspirations of both Tamil and Muslim communities'.
It warned that Sri Lanka was on the brink of another cycle of protracted war and a political crisis that would jeopardise a possible political solution to the long-running conflict.
The statement criticised the Sri Lankan government, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the breakaway Tiger faction led by Karuna for the brazen human rights violations in the island nation.
'The LTTE continues to systematically practice gross human rights abuses,' it said, and sought 'targeted measures' against the group to end child recruitment.
In Oslo Tuesday, the co-chairs should call on both Colombo and the LTTE to declare a unilateral ceasefire immediately, it added.

All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils hold a pa...

All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils hold a packed
meeting on Ethnic Cleansing of Tamils in Sri Lanka

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG) held a hearing on Thursday 14th June 2007 at the House of Commons, during which the Tamil Writers Guild (TWG) made a presentation on the Ethnic Cleansing of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The evidence included a specially commissioned DVD by Dr Brian Senewiratne (a medical Consultant and Human Rights Activist, Australia) and Arjunan Ethirveerasingam (Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation), as well as contributions from TWG and British Tamil Forum representatives.

The audience included MPs from the APPG and senior representatives from the major embassies, NGOs and Multi-Nationals operating in Sri Lanka, as well as representatives from various UK based Tamil organisations and national/international media.

Dr Brian Senewiratne stated:

Although Sri Lanka has had half a century to sort out its problems, the basic problem was created by the British during 150 years of colonial occupation (1796 – 1948). If Britain was the cause of the problem, it must also play a significant role in its solution.

The Sri Lankan government claims that the problem is ‘Tamil terrorism’. Any government’s condemnation of terror is credible only if it shows itself to be responsive to the reasonable, closely argued, persistent and non-violent dissent. No post independence Sinhala government has been responsive to the Tamil people who form 12.5% of the country, and more than 90% of those in the North and East.

Dr Senewiratne’s specially commissioned DVD on the Ethnic Cleansing of Tamils in Sri Lanka was screened during his presentation and it graphically illustrated the intensification of the Sri Lankan government’s genocidal practices, post Mahinda Rajapakse’s election as President in November 2005. From 2001 for the first three and a half years of the Cease Fire Agreement, about 130 people had been killed but since November 2005 to date, over 4000 people had been killed by Sri Lankan government forces, including 26 identified massacres of unarmed Tamil civilians.

Although Karen Parker (eminent Human Rights lawyer, USA) was unable to attend, her specially prepared statement was read out at the meeting. In it, she stated:

The labelling of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organisation is both legally and factually incorrect. In fact such labelling flies in the face of existing humanitarian law. The fact that the UK and EU have been persuaded by the US and Sri Lankan governments to ‘list’ the LTTE is a major reason that the peace process broke down and that the Tamil people currently face genocidal policies. The label has also served to demonise the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, as well as in the Diaspora.

Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP and Chair of APPG for Tamils stated:

More than 60 MPs have shown an interest in Sri Lankan issues, particularly in what is happening to the Tamil community. British Tamils are constantly aware of what is happening to their friends and relatives in Sri Lanka.

That is why they deserve to hear these issues discussed, and to have them taken forward, rather than just discussed in the usual parliamentary way. It is therefore important that we take a lead.

We have a responsibility, the historical ties with our country are profound and, as we know, this country gave independence to Sri Lanka. We have a special bond and relationship because of the large community living here and because of our previous responsibilities.

Ivan Pedropillai, Chair, TWG stated:

It gets progressively worse in Sri Lanka. The most recent atrocity of the forced removal of over 500 Tamils from Colombo is ethnic cleansing of the worst form by the current Sri Lankan regime. It is akin to the genocidal practices in Europe in the 1930s which resulted in Britain taking the lead on challenging the Nazi regime. This is what the EU fought to stop Milosevic from continuing with his ethnic cleansing of the Bosnian and Kosovan Muslims.
We must make the whole world aware of this abomination and call on the UK MPs to:
to call on the parties to the conflict to seriously sue for peace to actively mediate between the parties to bring about a lasting settlement to advise the Sri Lanka government to refrain from committing further serious human rights violations and ethnic cleansing against the Tamils to accept that because of its historical colonial responsibility and commonwealth leadership, it has an important mediating role to play in helping Norway with the Co-chairs to promote the negotiating process between the protagonists. to recognise that as a necessary corollary to 4 above, that Britain would lift the proscription on the Tamil Tigers in order that they may travel to this country to pursue peace talks and for the UK to be able to influence them (and with the UK’s lifting of the ban, the EU may also be prevailed upon to do the same). The Tigers have never threatened the UK or the EU and to promote talks between the parties, they have to be treated equally. as an interim measure, to immediately cease all arms sales to Sri Lanka and to immediately refrain from deporting Tamil refugees to Sri Lanka to impress on the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK to desist from harassing UK based Tamils and to refrain from engaging in anti Tamil propaganda.

The TWG has made a determined and strong stand on this grave humanitarian crime
at the APPG hearing and with other British based Tamil organisations, we will work closely with the APPG and other bodies to ensure an immediate cessation to the Sri Lankan government’s genocidal policies and a just, equitable and lasting settlement of the Sri Lankan conflict.

Play active role in APRC, Co-chairs tell Ranil ...

Play active role in APRC, Co-chairs tell Ranil

The Co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference who are meeting in Oslo today have also pressurized Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP to be more actively involved in the All Party Conference to come up with a solution to the ethnic conflict, diplomatic sources said.
It is learnt that this was expressed during a meeting between Mr. Wickremesinghe and the donor countries as well as at another separate meeting with foreign ambassadors recently in Colombo.
The donor nations, who already claimed that the ongoing peace process is at a ‘deadlock’ as both the government and the LTTE were not interested in a political solution, is however happy with the setting up of the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC), a top diplomat said.
“The donor nations have expressed their dissatisfaction to Mr. Wickremesinghe for not supporting the APRC, which has been set up to find a solution to the ethnic crisis,” a foreign diplomatic source told the Daily Mirror.
He also said that donor nations had reportedly told Mr. Wickremesinghe that he would lose international support if he maintained the current policy on the ethnic issue.

Political development towards UN intervention- ENB

Peace makers to discuss Lanka after Co-chairs

* Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali to meet
* Akashi to focus attention on displaced
* Working meeting, no public comment

By Sunil Jayasiri

Several prominent international peace envoys, including former UN Secretaries General Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali are expected to meet in Oslo on the sidelines of the Sri Lanka’s Co-chair meeting today and exchange and compare notes on the worldwide peace processes they had been involved in.
“The main focus of their meeting will invariably be on Sri Lanka’s peace process, since the meeting of the envoys coincides with the co-chairs’ meeting,” highly placed diplomatic sources said yesterday. Accordingly, mediator in the Northern Ireland peace process, US Senator George Mitchell, Japanese Peace Envoy Yasushi Akashi and several prominent peace negotiators who had played vital roles in peace processes worldwide, are also to participate at this meeting.

“They will compare techniques, approaches, failures as well as the successes of each and every peace process that they were involved in during this meeting,” he said.
At the same time, Sri Lanka’s main donor nations – the US, Japan, the EU and Norway - will meet in Oslo today to discuss ways to bring the government and the Tamil Tigers back to the negotiating table. Peace broker Norway will host the meeting.
Meanwhile, Mr. Akashi, who visited Sri Lanka recently, is to make a special request from the international community to immediately assist thousands of displaced people in the Eastern Province.
Diplomatic sources said that in a special report on Sri Lanka, Mr. Akashi would focus attention on the displaced civilians in the Batticaloa district following military operations in the area by the government.
“He will submit a comprehensive report on the displacement and at the same time will urge the international community to help as soon as possible as civilians were suffering in the area,” the official said.
Meanwhile, issuing a statement on the Co-chair meeting, Norway’s Minister of International Development Erik Solheim said, “It will be a working meeting and follows several recent high-level visits to Sri Lanka. The purpose of the meeting is to share information and views.”
“They will explore ways and means in which the group, as a whole or as individual countries, can continue helping the parties to cease violence and return to the negotiating table,” the statement added.
The US will be represented by Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, Special Representative Yasushi Akashi will represent Japan, Director-General Andreas Michaelis will represent the EU Presidency and Acting Deputy Director-General James Morran will represent the European Commission.Norway also said that it does not intend to make any public statements after the meeting.

EU agrees mini-treaty as Brown calls on Blair to s...

EU agrees mini-treaty as Brown calls on Blair to stiffen his resolve
By Andrew Grice and John Lichfield in Brussels
Published: 23 June 2007

European Union leaders agreed an outline deal on a new mini-treaty early today after Poland dropped its opposition to a new voting system.
At his last summit, Tony Blair helped to broker an agreement between Poland and the 26 other EU members. But earlier the Prime Minister was forced to stiffen his own negotiating position after his successor, Gordon Brown, intervened directly in a row between Britain and France over the EU's economic policies.
At a heated summit in Brussels, EU leaders eventually settled their differences over the rules under which the club operates. The main stumbling block was Poland's attempt to boost its voting power in the Council of Ministers, the EU's main decision-making body.
In a dramatic move, Germany, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, threatened to press ahead without Poland. The tactic worked as the Poles accepted a compromise under which their voting strength will be reduced in 2017 after a three-year transitional period.
Mr Blair and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, were closely involved in persuading the Poles not to scupper the summit.
As it drew to a close, Mr Blair claimed victory early today after winning amendments to a draft treaty drawn up by Germany ­ including opt-outs for Britain from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights and co-operation on criminal justice matters. His official spokesman said a referendum on the treaty would not be needed because the Prime Minister had secured all his objectives.
An already difficult summit was made even more problematic for Mr Blair when he received a mid-afternoon telephone call from Mr Brown, who was monitoring the talks from London. The Chancellor was concerned when details emerged of a trade-off between Mr Blair and M Sarkozy, who secured the removal of the EU's 50-year commitment to "free and undistorted" competition from a list of values in the "mini-treaty". That could have weakened the EU's internal market and attempts by Brussels to stamp out protectionist measures, illegal state aid and cartels.
In an unusual move, Mr Brown made clear his unhappiness to Mr Blair after being briefed on the negotiations by Jon Cunliffe, the Treasury's second permanent secretary, who was part of the British negotiating team at the summit. Mr Cunliffe will become Mr Brown's European adviser next week.
At lunchtime, Mr Blair was happy with his deal with the French President and his spokesman said French "sensitivities" could be addressed. But Mr Brown's intervention forced him to return to the negotiating table. A legally binding protocol stressing the EU's belief in competition was then added to the "mini-treaty" after talks involving Mr Blair, M Sarkozy and José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president.
Commission sources gave a different version of events, saying Mr Barroso was unhappy with M Sarkozy's proposal and was seeking changes before Mr Brown's involvement.
Last night Mr Blair side-stepped questions on whether the Chancellor was happy with the deal. He admitted he would have preferred the commitment to free competition to remain in the new treaty, but said he had to negotiate to safeguard Britain's four "red lines".
"I am afraid that is what happens when you are in a negotiation," he said. "You can't have it both ways." But he insisted guarantees of a free market in the EU's founding Treaty of Rome will be unaffected.
Mr Blair's other two no-go areas were maintaining the veto on social security and tax matters and limiting the role of the EU's new foreign affairs chief. He will be called the High Representative rather than the Foreign minister, as proposed in the constitution rejected in referendums in France and the Netherlands.
M Sarkozy will return to Paris with either a meaningless, cosmetic change in the language of the EU treaty or a radical shift away from Europe's commitment to free competition and trade, depending on your viewpoint.