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W0 MW No 2 ISSN 0265 - 488 FEEE
Erik Solheim meeting President Rajapakse in Col
 

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2 TAMIL TIMES
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FEBRUARY 2006
“I do not agree with a word of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it”
- Voltaire
ISSN 0266 - 44 88 Vol. 25, No.2 FEBRUARY 2006
Published by: TAMIL TIMES LTD PO Box 121, Sutton, Surrey SM13TD United Kingdom Phone: 020 - 8644 0972 Fax: 020-8241 4557
Email: adminGltamiltimes.org editor(a)tamiltimes.org p.rajanayagamobtconnect.com Website: http://www.tamiltimes.org
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION UK/India/Sri Lanka..........E15/US$25 Australia............................. Aus$45 (Australian Bank cheques only) USA........................................ US$35 Canada.............................. CanS40 All other Countries...........E2O.USS35
Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. The publishers assume no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork.
CONTENTS Whither Geneva Talks? 03 Govt-LTTE talks in Geneva 04 NeWS Review O7
Declaration On Federalism 14 Case for NE PrOVincial
Council 15 US position Sri Lanka 18 Readying for war 20 Why donors failed 21
Rethink on paramilitaries 25 Cartoon Connundrum 27
Independence Day 29 Radhika Coomaraswamy 31 NewSTrack 32 Classified 39
Whi
The proposed the LTTE provides parties in over thre incidents during th Country was sliding and resumption of Sincethe Norw Government and th of violent incidents this demonstrates is the Ceasefire and t OCCurrence Of Viole killings and other in Despite the nar faras the overwhell hope and wish tha durable political sol count of the publicly hopes and expectat While the Govel Agreement (CFA) a limited to the issue o to the review of its
During the talks, the part of the Gove Tamil groups" amor LTTE. For the LTTE, representative" of th and his supporters it probably use the op violations by the LT
Any discussion ( question: Why is it ti The CFA was SI process of democra ians in the Northeat freedom and without "in acCordance with population, including assment." italso req sive military operat armed raids, ambus tary property, sabota On the contrary of further militarizati a denial of basic hur five thousand cases child recruitmentant killings of Tamils doc of the CFA to fulfil its Given that the V. against civilians, the tation of the CFAint security and human agree to discuss att sive Human Rights lates specific huma international human and verify such an A
Whether the pa
 

TAMIL TIMES 3
her the Geneva TalkS2
Iks in Geneva on 22-23 February between the Government and he opportunity for the first face-to-face meeting between the years. They take place in the wake of an escalation of violent December-January period amidst widespread fears that the dangerously in the direction of a total collapse of the ceasefire ull scale war. !gian Special Envoy Erik Soheim secured the agreement of the LTTE for talks in Geneva, the reduction in the level and intensity Northeast Sri Lanka has been self evidently remarkable. What that that if the Government and LTTE are genuinely committed to le peace process, they have the capacity not only to deter the ht incidents, but also to bring an end to all politically motivated idents of gross human rights abuses. ow and limited nature of the agenda for the talks in Geneva, as ning majority of the people are concerned, they do entertain the the talks would lead to substantive negotiations towards a ution to the Conflict in the island. However when One takes acexpressed views of the parties in the run-up to the talks, such ions appear to be premature to say the least. nment appears to want to revisit the provisions of the Ceasefire nd its implementation, the LTTE is firm that the talks should be "implementation' of the CFA and has declared its total opposition )rovisions. it is also more than likely that the LTTE will focus on the failure on rnment to comply with the CFA(Art. 1.8) to disarm"paramilitary g which it includes the Karuna group which defected from the its hegemony over the Northeast and its claim to being the "sole e Tamil people has been challenged by the emergence of Karuna n the east of the island. On the other hand, the Government will portunity to concentrate on the thousand cases of ceasefire "Eand recruitment of child Soldiers. on the CFA and its implementation cannot avoid the fundamental hat after four years, the country is teetering on the brink of war? upposed to inaugurate an era of normalcy accompanied by a tisation that would secure the basic rights and dignities of civilit and the restoration of civilian institutions able to function in intimidation. According to the CFA, both parties are expected to, international law abstain from hostile acts against the civilian Such acts as torture, intimidation, abduction, extortion and haruired "total cessation of all military action", and prohibited "offenons", and acts such as "firing of direct or indirect weapons, hes, assassinations, abductions, destruction of civilian or milige, suicide missions, and activities by deep penetration units". the last four years of the ceasefire have witnessed a process in of the Northeast, intensified control over civil institutions, and an and democratic rights of the people of the northeast. Nearly of ceasefire violations by the SLMM, more than 5,000 cases of abduction documented by UNICEF, and more than 300 political mented by human rights groups graphically illustrate the failure intended purpose. st majority of CFAviolations are in fact human rights violations 2 is an urgent need tofocus on the strengthening and implemenis regard. As such, it is imperative that the Centrality of civilian ights of the people is recognised by both parties and that they eforthcoming talks in Geneva and implement (a) a comprehengreement to be negotiated between the two parties that articurights commitments and benchmarks; and (b) an independent ghts monitoring mechanism to be agreed upon that will monitor reement. ies arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement at Geneva in

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4 TAMIL TIMES
regard to the implementation of the CFA or not, what is paramount is that they must recognise that the overwhelming desire of all the Communities in Sri Lanka is that there should not be a return to war. Four years of "negative peace' enabled by the CFA with all its deficiencies has proved to be much better than four years of full scale war that would have inevitably resulted in unmitigated death, displacement and destruction. What the parties should do is, while committing themselves to continued compliance with the CFA, to commence discussions immediately towards a permanent political solution based on a federal
GOVT-LTTE TAL
| CFA IN GENE
Feb 20 - The two days of talks between the Government and the LTTE, facilitated by the Norwegian Government and hosted by the Swiss Government, are to begin on Wednesday, February 22, four years to the date on which the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran signed a Norwegian-brokered Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) which ushered in the longest period of "non-fighting” during the 25-years long armed conflict in Sri Lanka between Government forces and the Tamil Tigers.
These talks will be the first face-toface meeting between the parties in over three years taking place in the wake an escalation of violent incidents during the December-January period amidst widespread fears that the country was sliding dangerously in the direction of a full scale resumption of war. The LTTE pulled out of peace talks in April 2003.
The discussions are expected to centre on the Ceasefire Agreement and its implementation. Both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations and for not observing their obligations under the Agreement. The Government side is bound to point out that the Tamil Tigers have been guilty of a persistent pattern of ceasefire violations invoking the SLMM reports which show that the LTTE had been responsible for more than 90 percent of the violations. On the other hand LTTE will accuse the Government offailing to disarm all paramilitary groups, including the Karuna group, for which provision is made in the CFA. In addition the Tigers are likely to accuse the military of acting in collusion with the Karuna group in targeting the LTTE cadres mainly in the east of the country.
While both parties may indulge in mutual accusations over things that might have happened in the past, the Norwegian facilitators are likely to be more interested in the parties agreeing to measures that will prevent the breakdown of the ceasefire and those that will enable the peace process to be taken forward in
the future.
Commenting on talks, Sri Lanka M chief, Hagrup Hau saying, "The atmo: parties is still not been poisoned. It ha there is a lot more n( fidence between the some recommendati ation can be improv parties to decide on said. Announcement of gian Ministry ofFort the press on Februa to the conflict in Sri ment of Sri Lanka a gers of Tamil Eelam to facilitate talks in 23 February. The a following the meeti wegian Internation ister Mr. Erik Solhe Tigers Chief Nego Strategist Mr. Anton don, and Mr. Solh with the Governm lowing his meeting
The press relea wegian Ministry of “The parties to the the Government of eration Tigers ofTa Norway to facilit from 22 to 23 Feb1 discuss how they plementation of th that was signed o This is the first til the parties meet f high level.
“It is very po have agreed to me cuss how to impr rity situation,' say opment Minister way, in its role as best to help the p solution to relieve fire has come und
 

FEBRUARY2006
model as agreed by both parties in the Oslo Declaration in December 2002 for which there appears now a groundswell of support both from within Sri Lanka and the international community. Though it lamentably failed up to now to bring back the parties to the negotiating table after the LTTE pulled out from peace talks in April 2003, the international community should now apply such pressure and take such steps as are necessary, including appropriate sanctions, to force the Government and the LTTE to return to the negotiating table to discuss and agree on a permanent political solution.
che prospects forthe onitoring Mission land, is quoted as phere between the good as the air has s improved a bit but :eded to restore conparties.” “We have ons on how the situed but it is up to the implementation,' he
talks: The Norwesign Affairs informed ry6 that the parties Lanka, the Governnd the Liberation Tihave asked Norway
Geneva from 22 to nouncement Conles ng between the Nor1 Development Minmand the Liberation tiator and Political Balasingham in Loneim’s consultations nt of Sri Lanka fol'ith Mr. Balasingham. e issued by the NorForeign Affairs said, onflict in Sri Lanka, ri Lanka and the Libnil Eelam, have asked te talks in Geneva lary. The parties will an improve the imceasefire agreement
22 February 2002. e in three years that ce-to-face at such a
tive that the parties : at high level to disve the serious secuInternational Develrik Solheim. “Noracilitator, will do its ties find a practical Le pressure the cease
"The parties are taking a small but very significant step towards putting the peace process back on a positive track. And we expect the negotiations to be tough,” underlined Mr Solheim.
The International Development Minister will lead the Norwegian delegation, which includes Ambassador Hans Brattskar and Vidar Helgesen. The head of the civilian Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Hagrup Haukland, will also be present.
"The parties have chosen Geneva for their meeting because of the very supportive role Switzerland has always played in the peace process,” the Minister added.
LTTE delegation: The 12-member LTTE delegation led by its political chief S.P. Thamilselvan took flight Geneva bound from Colombo airport on Friday, 18 February. They were joined by Mr Anton Balasingham from London who as Chiefnegotiator for the LTTE will lead the team in the discussions. The LTTE team comprises: ChiefNegotiator Anton Balasingham, LTTE Political Head S.P. Thamilselvan, Head of LTTE Police B. Nadesan; Col. Jayam from the military wing, Political Wing leader for Batticaloa Ilenthirayan (Marshall); and Adele Balasingham. Advisers: Director of LTTE Peace Secretariat S. Pulidevan; and Ms. Selvi. It is learnt that there will also be "resource persons' drawn from the expatriate Tamil community.
Unlike on previous occasions, the LTTE delegation was not afforded VIP facilities and had to clear formalities as normal passengers. However, thereafter Chairman of the Sri Lanka Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., Tiran Alles, accommodated them in an upstairs lounge and later escorted them to lunch at the public restaurant.
Gocernment delegation: The Government team is comprised of Main delegation; Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister Ferial Ashraff, Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando, Presidential Peace Advisor Dr. Palitha Kohona and senior lawyer Gomin Dayasiri.
Government advisory team: Peace Secretariat Chief John Gooneratne, Deputy Director Shanaka Jayasekera, Navy commander W.K.J. Karannagoda,

Page 5
FEBRUARY 2006
Brig. M. Samarasinghe, Plan Implementation Ministry Secretary Nivard Cabraal, President's Counsel H. L. de Silva and Sri Lanka’s UN envoys Sarala Fernando (Geneva) and Prasad Kariyawasam (New York). There will be others in the support team, including three representatives from the Ministry of Defence.
As facilitators for the talks, Norwegian special peace envoy Erik Solheim, who is a cabinet minister in the present Government of that country, will be aided by Norway's former deputy foreign minister Vidar Helgesen.who played a crucial role earlier in the peace process will attend the talks with other officials from Notrwegian Foreign Ministry. Also attending the talks will be the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission chief, Hagrup Haukland, and other officials of the mission.
Before leaving for Geneva, Mr Tamilchelvan emphasised that the Geneva talks would address only the proper implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement He ruled out the need for amending the CFA. He said that CFA was drawn with the assistance of the international community and matters related to security, disarming paramilitaries and creating normalcy in Tamil areas are adequately addressed in the existing provisions. He added that proper understanding and implementation of the agreement will put an end to violence and create a
conducive atmosphe
On the Karuna chelvan said, “Karu ternal matter whic solved through disci the Sri Lankan gov Karuna to the LTTE, their intelligence un situation to commit lence against sectio ple. Turning Karuna proper thing to do.'
The Governmen LTTE will respond week’s peace negotia February 22 and 23 sentiments were exp of the Government Nimal Siripala de Sil his departure to S Bandaranaike Intern; have a very clear v approach this proble hopeful that the LTT tive towards these ( are going to Genev And it is our endea peaceful environmen of this negotiations,
It is said that th Sri Lankan military Geneva talks to foc how it was observec the last four years. T fident that if the repc
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re for peace talks.
issue Mr Tamilna affair was an incould have been linary measures had ernment turned in Instead of doing so it has exploited the many acts of vio|s of the Tamil peoto the LTTE is the
is hopeful that the positively at this tions scheduled for in Geneva. These ressed by the head lelegation Minister va, just hours before witzerland at the ational Airport. “We ision as to how to im, we are however E will respond posidiscussions and we a with open minds. for to ensure that a it be build as a result
he added. e higher-ups in the want the proposed us on the CFA and or violated during hey seem to be conorts of the Sri Lanka
, Meopham, Kent DA130JL
TAMIL TIMES 5
Monitoring Mission (SLMM) were taken up for consideration, the LTTE would not be able to justify their often repeated allegation that it was the Government and the military that failed to observe the CFA. The SLMM comprising representatives from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden has ruled that the LTTE violated the CFA on 3,471 occasions during the past four years.
Suggestions for strengthening CFA
In the meantime, a large number of well known civil society organisations and activists have expressed their "concern regarding the escalation of violence, particularly over the last two months that has posed a serious threat to the CFA and the peace process. It has taken a heavy toll of human lives among civilians and combatants alike. If the peace process is to move forward, we believe that it is imperative to build a shared commitment to end the violence and halt the assassinations and abductions immediately.”
They add, “There has been a dramatic reduction of violent incidents since the decision to enter the process of dialogue was taken. This demonstrates that the two parties to the CFA have the capacity to deter violence in the conflictaffected areas.'
In their memorandum the civil society groups say, "The Ceasefire Agree
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6 TAMIL TIMES
ment now in force expresses the desire of both parties to the CFA to "find a negotiated solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict"through bringingan end to hostilities and improving the living conditions of all inhabitants affected by the conflict. We believe that the Geneva talks must reaffirm the commitment of the government and the LTTE to adhere to the spirit of this agreement, thereby providing a positive atmosphere for negotiations in the future as well.
Recognising the complexities of the ground situation, we call for creative and flexible approaches to consolidating the framework of implementation of the existing CFA. This needs to ensure the security of civilians and the improvement of living conditions for all those affected by the conflict.
In order to address the specific problems, civil society calls for the adoption of some broad principles as indicated below:
Commitment to non violence will strengthen existing terms under the CFA that deal with violence (Articles 1.2, 2.1 etc.). Thereby the parties commit to the spirit of the CFA and not undermine each other's political and military position.
Commitment to civilian protection will ensure that the rights of the civilians, referred to in Article 2.1, are safeguarded through devising specific measures to prevent killings, abductions, intimidation and harassment etc. The measures could include improved investigation, monitoring and reporting of these rights and violations. This would require a broad interpretation of the mandate of the SLMM, to strengthen its capacity to monitor Article 2. l. It should, for example, set in place a complaints mechanism accessible to civilians that could respond to the needs of the affected persons, their families and communities. Assistance programmes for the victims of violence will be a critical tool for strengthening the humanitarian aspects of the CFA and peace process.
Commitment to reciprocity will address the critical issue of the High Security Zones in which demilitarisation by one party is reciprocated by the other. Such reciprocity will allow for a process of confidence building and of strengthening the environment in which the negotiations take place. In this spirit of reciprocity the parties should also take into consideration the rights of the Muslim community to equal and non-discriminatory treatment,
Commitment to strengthening the monitoring capacity of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission through reaffirming a broad interpretation of its mandate and allowing for expansion of human andmaterial resources. For example, making provisions for the Head of Mission to be a
rotating position wo confidence in the Sl the local members of are jointly chosen by stead of being appo each side, would also in the SLMM.'
Muslim represental appears certain that rate Muslim represer talks has refused to g the government pea NUA leader Mrs. Fe sisted that Muslims tory party to the ce Ms. Ashraff is expec separate Muslim del ters relating to Musli the talks. The Musli an opportunity to be the Cease-fire agree government and the parties.
Concerns of SriL be voiced at the Ger safety and peaceful other communities, N the media before he neva. Ashraff held d Lanka Muslim Coun issues confronted t Muslims before her Council Members th the safety and peace Muslims. She hopes sue at the talks and betterment of her cc At a recent roun the “Ceasefire Agre Concerns' facilitate retariat for Muslims solved that the Gove wegian facilitators should take necess. ance with the previ memorandum of und tween the governm ensure the participa independent Musl: talks relating to the
Role of other part a few days before his opening staten Conference at the P in Colombo, P Rajapakse express should be room for parties, other than the LTTE, to be at peace process. This parties representil Tamil speaking pe in any peace talks The Presiden peace process stal UNF regime, the into direct negoti

FEBRUARY2006
d increase public MM. Similarly, if emonitoring team the two sides, inted separately by hance public trust
on: Meanwhile, it le issue of a sepaation in the peace away. Member of :e delegation and ial Ashraffhas inhould be a signasefire agreement, ed to appeal for a gation when matms come up during ms also demanded ome a signatory to ment which has the LTTE as the only
ankan Muslims will eva talks to ensure co-existence with finister Ashrafftold ir departure to Geiscussions with Sri cil members on the by North and East departure. She told lat her priority was sful co-existence of i to take up this isdo her best for the immunity. itable discussion on ement and Muslim d by the Peace Sec, the participants rernment, LTTE, Norand the Co-Chairs ry steps in accordius declarations and rstanding signed bent and the LTTE, to ion of a separate and m delegation at all ;easefire agreement.
es: Meanwhile, just he Geneva talks, in nt to the All Party esidential Secretariat esident Mahinda the view that there ther movements and he Government and e to take part in the vill enable even other , the aspirations of ble to be represented
said that since the d during the former overnment entered ions with the LTTE
based on a two-party approach, and that could not be taken forward successfully due to its bipartisan approach. The conflict in the country is apparently between two parties, the Government and the LTTE. Therefore it is important to have discussion between the two stakeholders regard to the ceasefire. “But the these discussion should not be confined to the two parties in our endeavour to find a lasting solution to the problem," he said. "I accept the fact that all the political parties represent aspirations of a section of a society. Those aspirations should be represented in our effort to find a dynamic solution for the problem,” the President remarked. "I don't believe in naming parties as stakeholders and spoilers. This should be applicable to the North too,” he added.
The President explained to the party representatives that he has instructed the Government delegation to engage in the ceasefire talks based on a multi-party approach. He said the Government aims at a meaningful ceasefire at the Geneva talks despite the debate whether the ceasefire should be amended, strengthened, reviewed or revisited during the talks. "All parties can reach a consensus on this idea since all parties are of the opinion that the ceasefire should be continued,' Rajapakse added.
New Head of SLMM: The Norwegian Government has announced the appointment of Brigadier Ulf Hericsson, a Swede, as the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). "It is very positive that another country in the SLMM has produced such an excellent candidate for this important post,” said Mr. Erik Solheim, the Norwegian Minister for International Development, in a press release issued by Norway, w
“Following consultations with both parties to the Ceasefire Agreement, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Norway invited all the countries in the Nordic mission to propose candidates for the post of Head of Mission of the SLMM. The successful candidate, Brigadier Henricsson from Sweden, will assume his duties on 1 April 2006," a press release said.
"Brigadier Henricsson will be succeeding Brigadier Hagrup Haukland from Norway. Brigadier Haukland is leaving the SLMM after four years of service as Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2004, and as Head of Mission from 2005. Mr Solheim commends Brigadier Haukland for his long and dedicated service, saying that "Norway is very grateful to Brigadier Haukland for his commitment and the outstanding performance of his duties in the SLMM," the press release added. Q

Page 7
FEBRUARY 2006
President's rejection of “homeland criticised
Feb 15 - Ruling out
demands by the Tamil Tigers for a separate homeland in the NorthEast, President Mahinda Rajapakse in an interview with Reuters ahead of Geneva talks said, "This is a small country, where you can't have two states. I won't allow the country to be divided," he added. "You have to give up the concept of having two nations, or two countries ... There is no Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka. There cannot be an Eelam.'
On disarming paramilitary cadres, Mr Rajapakse said, "If any group operates in our area, we will stop it. Any groups carrying arms will be brought under control, whether it is the socalled Karuna group or the LTTE,” Reuters report further said. Indicating that Mr Rajapakse is looking at British type models for devolving power, Mr. Rajapakse was as saying, "Take Britain ... it is unitary ... That shows that under a unitary government, you can devolve power,” adding that "This will be a new Sri Lankan model. Both sides will have to sit down and decide what they can give up and what we can give up.”
Analysts expressed the view that the President's statements have effectively put paid to the notions of federalism, which is underpinned by both the homeland concept and the "internal' self-determination principle.
In response to President Rajapakse's rejection of the LTTE's call for a “Tamil homeland' the LTTE in a statement said, "Homeland, nationhood and self-rule are the three basic and cardinal principles,” that have been guiding the LTTE in its struggle to find a peacefully negotiated political arrangement, a statement from the LTTE reiterated. If Colombo adopts a political stand ruling out the Tamil homeland concept and insists on a resolution to conflict within the 'Sinhala' constitution, the LTTE would be left with "no alternative other than to endeavour hard to respond effectively to the Tamil call for self rule," the statement said. "The Sinhala rulers are in a dream-psychosis that makes them wrongly perceive that their success in rejecting the Tamil homeland concept would invariably nullify the concepts of Tamil nationhood and self-rule,” the statement further said.
Protest over abduction of TRO members
The recent abduction often TRO (Tamil Rehabilitation Organization) members, in two separate incidents, by unidentified gunmen has somewhat muddied the waters in the run-sp to the Geneva talks between the Government and the LTTE. The TRO, a registered charity in the island, is generally thought to be an arm of the LTTE involved in rehabilitation and humanitarian work in the North and East.
In the first incident, on January 30 the TRO in a statement said that five of its members had been kidnapped by a paramilitary group at Welikanda in the Polonnaruwa district while they were traveling from Batticaloa to Vavuniya on Sunday 29 Janu
W.
“Fifteen (15) TRO Batticaloa staff members were travelling from Batticaloa. The TRO staff vehicle had registered at the Welikanda army checkpoint and was continuing its journey when a “white van' that had been following them obstructed their path and forced them to stop. Five (5) members were dragged out of the TRO van and forced into the “white van' the others

TAMIL TIMES 7
were assaulted and forced to go back to Batticaloa," the TRO statement said. The TRO identified the abducted persons as: Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam; PSEDC NorthEast Province Secretary; Thangarasa: Driver; Ms. S. Dosini: PSEDC Div. Coordinatpr Mamunai North Division; Ms. Nadeswari: Pre-School Teacher Vavunatheevu Pre School; and Ms. Chithravel Sivamathi: Pre School Teacher Vavunatheevu Pre School.
In the second incident, a TRO statement dated 31 January said that five more of its members had gone missing after being abducted on 30 January and identified the missing as follows: Ms. Thanuskody Premini TRO Batticaloa Chief Accountant; Mr. Shanmuganathan Sujen dram TRO Accountant, Manikkavasahar Children's Home, Santhivelli; Mr. Thambiraja Vasantharajan Accountant, TRO Batticaloa; Mr. Kailayapillai Ravindran Accountant, Vipulananda Children's Home, Palugamam; Mr. Arunesarasa Satheesharan Accounts Trainee, Vellavali;
On February 1, two of the pre-school teachers, Ms Punniyamoorthy Nadeswary and Ms Chitravel Sivamathy, were released by the abductors. "Ms Punniyamoorthy Nadeswary and Ms Chitravel Sivamathy, both pre-school teachers, said that at 8 p.m. on Sunday (29) a white van stopped their vehicle 500 meters from the SLAcheckpoint. Armed men from the van blindfolded five of us and took us to an unknown location. We told the abductors, who spoke Tamil, that we live close to the Vavunathivu SLA camp. After more questioning the gunmen brought us to the Vavunathivu area and released us. We were threatened not to divulge any information on what happened to us. We don't know the whereabouts of the other three teachers and of the vehicle we were travelling,” said the released teachers, according to TRO sources.
The TRO on Friday, 3 February, said in a press release that one of the abudcted TRO officials, Ms. S. Dosini, had returned to her relatives in Chenkalady. "Word has reached TRO through the Non-Violent Peace Force (NVPF) office in Batticaloa that Ms. S. Dosini, PSEDC Divisional Coordinator Mamunai North Division, has returned to the home ofher relatives in Chenkalady, a Government of Sri Lanka controlled area of the Batticaloa District," the press release said.
The abductions had the effect of raising tensions between the LTTE and the government at a time both sides had, following the visit by Eric Solheim, agreed on January 25 to hold talks in Geneva on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The LTTE rejected the government's proposal for talks to commence on February 15 and its spokesman Daya Master warned that the abductions would "affect the atmosphere of the peace process' and accused the Karuna group, a breakaway LTTE faction in the east, of being responsible for the abductions. The LTTE has persistently accused the military intelligence of being in league with the Karuna group. However, this group denied any responsibility for the abductions and accused the LTTE of"staging' the abductions to gain international sympathy and place obstacles in the way of resuming talks at Geneva.
The government initially attempted to throw doubt over whether the abductions had taken place at all. The information department issued a statement on January 31, denying that anything had happened near the Welikanda army checkpoint. The military also denied any involvement.

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8 TAMIL TIMES
However, in an indication of Washington's close involvement in the push for talks, Jeffrey Lunstead, US ambassador in Colombo, issued a statement on the same day, expressing concern over the TRO abductions and asking for the incident to be investigated. The US embassy and UN Resident/Humanitarian Co-coordinators office also called for the immediate release of the abducted persons.
On a directive from President Mahinda Rajapakse, a highlevel team headed by two deputy police inspector generals and including four senior superintendents, 20 investigators and state intelligence officials were detailed to probe the abductions. A reliable news report from Colombo stated that the release oftwo abducted teachers and "related developments prompted state intelligence agencies to report that the complaints of abductions were credible and warranted investigation.'
The fate or whereabouts of the remaining 7 TRO workers remain unknown. Though the Karuna faction of the LTTE has been blamed for the abductions, it has denied any responsibility. There have been several marches and demonstrations in protest against the abductions.
In response to the abductions, the LTTE-front organisation, Makkal Padai (People's Force), issued a statement on February 3 warning that it would resume its attacks and crack down on paramilitary groups in the East. The organisation has previously claimed responsibility for some of the bomb attacks on the military over the past two months.
Many international and local NGOs have appealed for the release of the remaining abducted 7 persons.
Shock over Judges’ resignations
Feb 9-The resignation of two Senior Judges of the threemember Judicial Commission (JSC) of Sri Lanka, has caused shock and alarm within the legal community, civil society and trade unions in Colombo. The resignations were due to the "simmering state of discontent prevailing for some time within the Judicial Service Commission,” said Desmond Fernando, President, Bar Association of Sri Lanka, addressing a press conference in Colombo.
Justice Dr. Shiranee Bandaranayake, the most Senior Judge of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court and Justice T. B. Weerasuriya, the most Senior Career Judge in the Supreme Court, had submitted their resignations the previous week due to them "not being able to hold the posts according to their conscience.'
The JSC, under the Sri Lanka Constitution, is vested with authority over the appointment, transfer, dismissal and discipline of the judiciary. It is headed by the Sri Lankan Chief Justice and two Supreme Court judges, appointed by the SL President.
The JSC which has authority over the appointment, trans fer, dismissal and discipline of the country’s judicial service, ha been rendered non-functional with the resignations of two of it. three members, he added. The third and the only remaining membe is the Chief Justice, Sarath Silva.
“We of the Bar have witnessed with disgust, pain of min and a deep sense of anguish the rapid and continuing erosion C the values of Justice and fair play in the country. To us, th latest development represents the final blow to all the concept that we hold dear in the Administration of Justice," note Desmond Fernando in his address to the press in Colombo.
The resignation of the two senior Judges is the "culminatic of the abuse of power and office,” Fernando said adding th

FEBRUARY 2006
heir resignation has brought into disrepute the working of the sudicial System in Sri Lanka. “We of the Bar believe that the cause for their resignation has arisen from within and not from outside the Judicial System," Fernando noted.
Meanwhile, Karu Jayasuriya, the Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP), the main Opposition in the Sri Lankan Parliament, in a statement to the press said that the Judges, in their own words, had stated that they were "not being able to hold the posts according to their conscience.'
Jayasuriya said the development further confounded the existing problems due to the non functioning of the Constitutional Council, Public Service Commission and the non establishment of the independent Election Commission as stipulated by the constitutional amendment."
The Press Conference, organised by eleven organisations, was chaired by Desmond Fernando, the President of the Bar Association. Six representatives of the organisations addressed the press. The l l organisations that had called on the press briefing were: Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka, Editors' Guild, Free Media Movement, Transparency International, Foundation for Co-existence, Anti War Front, Sri Lanka Railway Trade Union Federation, Sri Lanka Teachers' Association, People's Bank Of. ficers' Association and Health Department Professional Front.
99
Tigers released in return for policeman's release
Feb 17-In what is seen as an exercise in exchange ofprisoners between the Government and LTTE, four LTTE cadres, S.Shanmugaraj, Xavier Ranjit, S.Vijayakumar and Luxmanan Aravinthan, who were arrested in 2005 by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) when they were traveling in a boatin the Trincomalee Sea and kept in remand custody after being produced in court on the allegation that they were engaged in taking photographs and video taping Navy vessel movements, were released on bail on the orders of the Trincomalee Magistrate Mr.V.Ramakamalan on 17 February. Upon their release, they were immediately taken to Wanni under the escort of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).
Mr. Serasinghe, Assistant Superintendent of Police told court when the case was taken up for inquiry that the LTTE suspects were charged at the initial stage under Aquatic Resources Act. Later they were charged afresh under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Now the Attorney General has issued instruction to charge them under the normal law. Hence the Police have no objection to release the suspects on bail, Mr. Serasinghe submitted to court. The Magistrate accepting the submission of the police made order releasing these suspects on cash and surety bail. Each suspect was ordered cash bail of Rs 2500/= and surety bail in a sum of Rs. Twenty Thousand with one surety. Suspects were further ordered to report to the Trincomalee Harbor Police once in a week.
Thereafter the released LTTE cadres were brought to the Trincomalee SLMM office. They were then taken in a van to be handed over to LTTE leadership in Wanni under the escort of SLMM monitor Ms Anna Helena. A team of police officials in two jeeps provided security to the van in which the LTTE cadres were taken. ܫ
Following the Sri Lanka Government facilitated release of four LTTE sea tiger cadres in Trincomalee, theTigers released a

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FEBRUARY 2006
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policeman held in custody for more than five months' as a goodwill gesture” ahead of Geneva Talks, Daya Master from the media section of the LTTE said from Kilinochchi on Saturday, 18 February. Police officer Velangoda Gamage Sri Hamantha, 30, was released in Kilinochchion the following day. Previously the LTTE had released Kariapperuma Aththu Koralake Donsarath (40), another police officer who had been held in similar circumstances on 26 January, following the meeting with the Norwegian Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim. Sub Inspector Bandula Bopitiya still remains in LTTE custody.
Meanwhile, LTTE sources in Kilinochchi said that the LTTE had indicated to the Government of Sri Lanka that LTTE was prepared for a further prisoner swap. It is learnt that that the LTTE has made a request for the release of four more sea tigers arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Mannar seas for the LTTE to release Sub Inspector Bandula Bopetigoda who still remains in Tiger custody.
The Tigers arrested three members of the Sri Lanka Police, K.A.D. Sarath, B. W. Bopetigoda and W.G.D.S. Hemantha, for allegedly trespassing into Tigers held area in Mannar on 11 October last year. The Police officers, all attached to the National Child Protection Agency, after having secured the consent of the Bishop of Bannar and accompanied by a Catholic priest entered into LTTE-held territory in pursuit of a convicted British paedophile who was alleged to have been in the company of two young girls hiding in Mannar. The LTTE arrested and detained the policemen in custody, but the convicted was allowed to go free.
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 9
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Anti-war coalition calls for peace in Sri Lanka
London, Feb 20-The London-based Tamil Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka held a vigil and demonstration in central London on Sunday 19 February called for peace with democracy and justice in Sri Lanka. The rally was held in Trafalgar Square.
Representatives from the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF London), Tamil Democratic Congress, Tamil Women's League, Sri Lanka Muslim Information Centre, Committee for Democracy and Justice in Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Democracy Forum addressed the gathering. The main theme of their speeches was that there should not be a return to war in Sri Lanka.
The demonstrators chanted slogans such as "What do we want? Peace with democracy', "No more child soldiers', "No more unlawful detentions', and "Peace now. Speakers addressed the rally in Tamil and English, urging immediate action to bring about a long-term political solution and an end to the violence which continues to overshadow many lives, especially in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Similar demonstrations have been organised in Stuttgart, New York, Geneva and Toronto this month. The Tamil Forum for Peace urged both parties to the conflict the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to resolve not to threaten or return to war, but instead persevere with talks until a permanent political settlement is achieved. The human rights of civilians should be central to the peace process, and a solution on federal lines should be explored: an interim governance measure is not needed. The Muslim community should be given separate representation at the

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10 TAM TIMES
peace talks as their rights and welfare have been seriously undermined, according to the Forum, and there should be greater transparency in the talks; other parties and organisations should be consulted about the way forward. The demonstrators urged the LTTE to halt the recruitment of child soldiers, while calling on the security forces to end unlawful detentions of Tamil civilians.
UNICEF appeals to LTTE to stop recruiting kids
Feb 14 - UNICEF has said that, in Sri Lanka, since January 2002, UNICEF had recorded 5,368 cases of child recruitment, and has appealed to the LTTE to stop recruiting children for its combat units, and return those already recruited to their parents. In the context of the forthcoming talks in Geneva between the Government and the LTTE, a press statement from the UN children agency said, "UNICEF today (February 14, 2006) calls on the parties to reaffirm their commitment to the Cease-Fire Agreement, and to ensure that the protection of children af. fected by the conflict is at the centre of upcoming talks in Geneva. Of particular importance remains the unresolved situation of child recruitment, which led UNICEF to yet again appeal to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to cease the recruitment of children and to release all children within its ranks."
The UNICEF representative in Sri Lanka, JoaAnna VanGerpen, said in the statement that the LTTE had, in the past six months, recruited, on an average, 43 children a month. She appealed for the release of all the children in its custody.
VanGerpen's appeal assumes importance in the light of the forthcoming talks in Geneva between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and restoration of normalcy in the war-torn island.
VanGerpen said that “While recruitment of children has been reduced, and the average age of recruitment has increased from 14 to 16 over the past 4 years, recruitment of even one child is unacceptable according to the Convention of the Rights of the Child.'
Since January 2002, UNICEF has recorded 5,368 cases of reported child recruitment in Sri Lanka, she said.
As per current international standards, anybody less than 18 years of age is a child and cannot be forced into adult occupations, especially soldiering.
UNICEF is mandated by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to monitor child rights violations under the Action Plan for Children Affected by War. Child recruitment is a serious violation of international law, and UNICEF together with the international community advocates to all the parties to unite against under age recruitment.
According to statistics recorded by Unicef, 83 children were recruited in August, 63 in September, 43 in October, 21 in November, 26 in December 2005 and 25 in January 2006. This amounts to 261 children in 168 days in the last six months. The UNICEF statement noted that since January 2002, UNICEF has recorded 5,368 cases of reported child recruitment in Sri Lanka. That means from January 2002 to January 2006 (49 months), on an average 109 cases of child recruitment each month. Victor Nylund, head of child protection at Unicef, said the child rights agency who continues to have dialogue sessions with the LTTE, said that, without progress in the peace process, the LTTE were "not so keen' to move in the right direction. This was because children were part of the military process and the Tigers needed military forces. The Government of Sri Lanka,

FEBRUARY 2006
owever, was taking a lead role, globally, by not enlisting young ildren.
LA violates rights of detainees
Feb 2.- Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers in Jaffna has grossly iolated the fundamental rights of arrested Tamil youths by 2nding them to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in Colombo for interrogation without adhering to properjudicial rocedures, said Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Jaffna on Wednesday (Feb 1). In the past 45 days five Jaffna youths, resumed disappeared after arrests by the SLA, have been sent ɔ the TID unit in Colombo, according to Jaffna Police.
Jaffna Police told the HRC officials that Murugathas heeparooban, 19, from Kaithady East, Nunaval, who was arested on 22 December at his home by the SLA, and Ratnam Anandarajah, 33, another married man arrested by SLA have een sent to TID in Colombo. Earlier, SLA haddenied arresting tither of the men and Theeparooban's parents had filed a missng report with the HRC office in Jaffna soon after he was urrested. SILA handed over Theeparooban on 15 January to the chavakachcheri Police, after keeping him in detention for nearly 20 days, and the Police later left him in the custody of the Kankesanthurai Police at their Special detention center.
Meanwhile, Packianathan Kamalakannan, a trainee at the Palaly Teachers Training college, who was arrested by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) following the claymore mine attack in Point Pedro that killed twelve SLA soldiers on 27 December, and two other Jaffna youths arrested earlier and presumed disappeared, were already with the TID in Colombo, Jaffna Police told the HRC officials.
HRC condemned the long incarceration of the detainees without adhering to internationally accepted procedures that guarntees safety of life, and said that by sending the detainees to the TID before producing them before a judge, SLA stands accused ofattempting to place false charges on the detainees through forced confessions at the TID.
SLMM ruling against LTTE
The Norwegian led truce monitoring mission has strongly disputed the LTTE's right to conduct sea movements without government approval. Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Hagrup Haukland advised the LTTE against sea movements as it would jeopardise the Cease-Fire Agreement (CFA). Haukland is believed to have warned the LTTE of unspecified consequences if Sea Tigers launched boats in violation of the CFA. It is learnt that the warning was issued after LTTE political chief S. P. Thamilselvan vowed to launch sea movements irrespective of the government's stand. Thamilselvan in his letters dated December 22 and December 25 last year addressed to Haukland, is believed to have stressed their right to movement in northeastern seas. But the monitoring mission has dismissed the LTTE stance.
The mission underlined the navy's right to engage in, what it termed as, the legitimate task of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity, in a letter dated February 7 addressed to the government. The ruling came two weeks before the government and LTTE meet in Geneva for talks aimed at ways and means to strengthen the CFA.
Referring to the unprovoked LTTE attack on two navy operated fibreglass dinghies, off Pallimunai, Mannar on December

Page 11
FEBRUARY 2006
22, the monitoring mission ruled it a gross violation of the CFA. Navy headquarters claimed that the LTTE mounted the attack taking cover of a group of fishing boats. The LTTE disputed this. The LTTE in its representations to the monitoring mission claimed that the navy triggered the confrontation by engaging the Sea Tigers. The monitoring mission in its observations noted that the navy and the LTTE claims were contradictory while dismissing the Tigers' right to carry out sea movements unless they obtained prior approval.
A new Tamil federal party
FEB 11 - A new Tamil political party that was quietly formed recently in Sri Lanka says its aim is to transform the country into a federal republic.
And the All Ceylon Tamil United Front's top functionary, and the only one prepared to reveal his identity for now, is none other than K. Vigneswaran, who had played a key role in setting up a provincial administration in the island's northeast when Indian troops were deployed there almost two decades ago.
Vigneswaran, a former MP, said that the Tamil United Front took a quiet birth last December even as violence escalated in Sri Lanka's north and east"and has just now won the recognition of election authorities'.
Vigneswaran, who has always opposed the LTTE, declined to provide names of other leaders of the new party, citing security reasons. But he said the party counts as members several former MPs as well as professionals both in Sri Lanka and abroad. "Our objective is to work for the rights of the Tamil-speaking people all over Sri Lanka and to transform the country into a federal republic," said Vigneswaran, who was secretary to the northeastern provincial administration that collapsed when Indian troops left the country in March 1990 after battling the LTTE for over two years.
Vigneswaran, who recently quit the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) of Sri Lankan cabinet minister Douglas Devananda, said that the names of other office-bearers would be made public “in due course'.
His comments indicated that the new party was expected to bring together smaller Tamil political groups opposed to the LTTE in Sri Lanka.
About 10 days ago, a Sri Lankan Tamil politician in Colombo had admitted that Tamil groups ranged against the Tigers were indeed planning to form a new political outfit but had politely declined to provide details, again citing security reaSOS.
Sri Lanka's Tamil scene is dominated by the LTTE, one of the world's most formidable insurgent groups and which controls large areas in the country's northeast. The LTTE has been locked in an uneasy peace process with Colombo since February 2002. The LTTE's political arm, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), controls most of the parliamentary seats from the Tamil areas in the northeast.
"We seek devolution of powers to the various provinces in Sri Lanka,"Vigneswaran added, emphasising the importance of federalism as a long-term solution to the country's dragging ethnic conflict. “Besides the Tamil people, we will try to reach out to the Muslims of Sri Lanka and the international community. We stand for human rights, pluralism and democracy.”
He gave no further details and did not explain how a party with a distinctly anti-LTTE flavour would be able to function in Sri Lanka's Tamil areas where the Tigers reign supreme.

TAMILTIMEs 11
Though Mr Vigneswaran did not want to discuss any further details, it is reliably learnt that Coming together to herald this new political venture are V. Anandasangaree of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), once Sri Lanka's main Tamil party but now a poor shadow of its old self, the People's Liberation Organisation ofTamil Eelam (PLOT) and the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front — EPRLF (Varathar faction). But the EPDP led Douglas Devananda, which has one seat in parliament that it won from Jaffna, is itselfunlikely to join the new party.
US Congress urges positive engagement in peace talks
Feb 12, Washington: The United States House of Representatives has passed a resolution stating that "the House of Representatives urges, in the strongest possible terms, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to
(l) engage positively in the forthcoming peace talks and to prevent a return to armed conflict in Sri Lanka,
(2) renegotiate a cease-fire agreement and implement the agreement in a productive and successful manner; and
(3) focus on rebuilding a peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for Sri Lanka.
In adopting the resolution, the US Congress noted the following in its preamble:
* Sri Lanka is Asia's oldest democracy and remains a close friend of the United States; * more than 64,000 civilians have died and 350,000 persons have been internally displaced in Sri Lanka as a result of a 20-year armed conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a group designated by the Department of State as a foreign terrorist organization; * in 2002 the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam signed a cease-fire agreement; * peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been stalled since April 2003; *on August 12, 2005, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, was assassinated in a terroristact that has been attributed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; *December 2005 was the bloodiest month in Sri Lanka since the cease-fire agreement came into effect in 2002 due to a series of Claymore mine and suicide attacks against Security Forces of the Government of Sri Lanka by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; the United States remains deeply concerned about the continued violations of the cease-fire agreement in Sri Lanka, as marked by a recent series of violent incidents involving Claymore mine and suicide attacks; * Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, recently issued an ultimatum to the Government of Sri Lanka to come up with a political settlement within the next year or face an "intensified struggle for self-determination"; “the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has a history of engaging in a campaign of terror and violence; * if hostilities resume in Sri Lanka, the use of unconventional weapons and suicide missions and other terrorist tactics by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam could cause even greater devastation to the country and have implementation on regional security; * to strengthen the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have agreed to commence peace talks at the beginning of February 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland; and * despite the agreement to continue peace talks, a return to armed

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12 TAMIL TIMES
conflict in Sri Lanka is still a very real threat.
*Disappearance’ and “reappearance' of College Principal
Feb 5 - Mystery surrounds the reported recent "disappearance' and "reappearance' of Mr. M. Thavarasa, Valaichenai Hindu college Principal in eastern Sri Lanka. On 2 February, TamilNet quoting sources in Batticaloa reported that unnidentified persons had kidnapped him between 11 a.m. and 12 noon on Thursday (2 Feb) morning, adding that
Mr. M. Thavarasa, 56, and a father of 3 childran was seen working at the school around l l a.m. and had not been seen since then. Valaichenai is located 32 km north of Batticaloa town.
In another report dated the same day, TamilNet report said that, “Mr. Arunkumar, son of Mr. M. Thavarasa, the principal of Valaichenai Hindu College, who was reported kidnapped Thursday noon, denied the reports that his father was kidnapped.' Arunkumar said his father was safe, but declined to confirm the return of his father.
On3 February, in another report TamilNet said, "Valaichenani Hindu College was shut down by the students and fellow teachers on Friday in protest against the alleged kidnapping of their principal Thursday.” The report quoting a school teacher who did not wished as having told TamilNet., "The family of the principal is probably under threat and confusion. The truth is no one knows the fate of Mr. Thavarasa." Unidentified person had visited the school and asked the principal to accompany him to meet “an important person," at the nearby Pechiyappan Temple grounds, the teacher had reportedly said adding, "Our prin
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pal said he was busy at that time but offered to come at a later me," the teacher said, detailing what he has learned from his ollegues.
"Mr Thavarasa, with the help of a new employee at the :hool, went to the temple grounds in a motorbike half an hour ter.Then another motorbike without a licence plate, approached he grounds, the person in the bike talked to the principal and ook him in his motorbike. Later, the principal was taken in anther motorbike via the main road," the teacher reportedly said Idding that no one had since heard anything on the fate of their principal.
In a further report dated 4 February, TamilNet said, "Mr. M. Thavarajah, the principal of Valaichenai Hindu College, has returned home Saturday morning around 9:00 a.m. Denying that any kidnapping was involved in his temporary time away from his family, the principal said: "There is no truth in the reports that I was abducted, he told reporters when contacted over phone. He further said that although he managed to pass information to his family that he will be delayed, confusion arose as he did not contact the family in a timely manner due to the lack of communication facilities, he said adding that he was made aware of the reports late Friday. He was delayed without being able to meet the Education official of the LTTE on time, he said refusing to provide further details. The Principal said he has clarified the complexity of the circumstances involved to the concerned authorities including Valaichenai Police.”
Sources from Batticalo say that the Principal was in fact kidnapped, but hen the news about the kidnap filtered through the media, uproar developed among the students and they started to agitate for the release of their Principal. Unable to confront
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FEBRUARY 2006
the pressures building up, the kidnappers released the Principal on 4 February 2006. The same sources allege that it was the LTTE that was responsible for the abduction of the Principal who has been severely warned by the LTTE to maintain silence and asked not to reveal details about his "disappearance'.
Action and Vigil for Peace in Sri Lanka
New York - On a cold and windy afternoon on Friday, February 17, 2006, activists gathered at the United Nations in New York City to call for peace in Sri Lanka with human rights. The event, "Action and Vigil for a Just Peace in Sri Lanka' was organized by a group of individuals including activists, artists, others concerned about the pending peace talks set to be held in Geneva on February 22, 2006. These individuals, committed to a Sri Lanka free of bigotry, violence and exploitation, gathered to voice demands for a peace with human rights and democracy in the country. More than 30 individuals, including children, came and participated in the event despite low temperatures. The event was composed of street theater, art, and song, concluding with a candlelight vigil to honor the lives of people who have been affected by the ongoing violence.
The chants and songs, repeated in English, Tamil and Sinhala, were produced in collaboration among activists in Sri Lanka and the diaspora. Participants chanted, "Women aren't political props," "We cannot face war anymore,” and "We don't want peace talks, like pouring water in broken pots.” Individuals also chanted that "Muslims should have the right to return to their homes' and that people should "not move for tsunami' nor "move for war," emphasizing the increasing undermining of the rights of Sri Lankan Muslims and others in the aftermath of the tsunami. Signs worn on participants called for peace with justice and an end to war in all three languages and depicted images that evoked the urgency for the upcoming peace talks to focus on the needs of the people and human rights.
The vigil, held in solidarity with other protests around the world, including in London, Toronto, and Geneva, sought to amplify the voices of those in Sri Lanka who have been forced into silence. The violation of human rights not only needs to be recognized, but needs end immediately. The group formally called for the following: *An immediate end to political and extrajudicial killings, abductions, rape, torture, arbitrary arrests, and all actions of violence against civilians;
An immediate end to all forms of child recruitment and a commitment to release all child soldiers;
"An immediate end to violence against women and the use and exploitation of women in wartime;
"An immediate commitment to respect civil society including the safeguarding of minority rights, protection of displaced peoples, women's rights, economic rights and freedom of expression and association;
An immediate end to all acts of violence directed at

TAMIL TIMES 13
one another and a commitment to a peaceful political process to resolve the conflict.
During the event, people passing by and participants engaged in discussion around issues of peace, democracy and human rights in Sri Lanka. Informational flyers were distributed in order to continue a dialogue around the increasing violence and need for justice in Sri Lanka, despite the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement. A participant said, "People of all communities are tired of war. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes -repeatedly- because of the war and the tsunami. Children are forced to take up arms, and abuses against women are rising. These are issues that should concern us all.' Another attendee of the event said, "There is a need for more events, such as this one, to break the silence, raise awareness and voice concerns, despite fear and intimidation.”
Trawler explodes with four onboard
Feb 12 - A suspected LTTE trawler exploded in the seas off Thalaimannar in north-west Sri Lanka on February 11 this evening when the Sri Lankan navy boats on routine patrol approached it, killing four suspected LTTE cadres onboard, military sources said in Colombo.
"A suspected LTTE multi-day boat with four men on board was spotted by naval flotilla on routine patrol in Thalaimannar sea waters this evening. The boat exploded due to self-activation of powerful explosives when the navy boats signaled it to stop, killing all four men onboard,” military sources were quoted as saying adding that one naval sailor onboard of navy vessel sustained minor injuries due to explosion. The injured sailor later died of his injuries at the Anuradhapura hospital.
The navy said four people had been seen on the deck of the trawler before it exploded, but the ship had caught fire before it sank and no bodies had been recovered.
The military sources suspected that the LTTE trawler must have been engaged in transporting explosives between Thalaimannar and Vidataltivu in the north western coast and smuggling weapons at the time of the incident and those on board blew themselves and the boat when stopped by a naval patrol to avoid being searched.
"It seems they blew themselves up,” a naval officer told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "From the fireball, we could see they were carrying weapons or explosives. With the peace talks coming up, they wouldn't have wanted to be caught.'
The incident has taken place at a time when both the government and the LTTE are busy making preparations for direct talks in Geneva on February 22 and 23 on strengthening the shaky ceasefire agreement.
"The report from the navy is that it was a fishing boat and when the Dvora (naval patrol boat) approached, there was an explosion on board,” said Helen Olafsdottir, spokeswoman for the SLMM which monitors a 2002 ceasefire. C

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14 TAM TIMES
Declaration On federalism
Feb 6 - A symposium attended by over one thousand participants has adopted a declaration that "A federal constitution offers a reasonable accommodation in a conflict where one side is committed to a unitary state and the other a separate state.”
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA), on Monday (Feb 6) held a symposium on the subject of "The future of Sri Lanka and the federal idea,” at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Centre, Colombo, engaging more than 500 participants in a discussion on the history of the Sri Lanka's conflict, past attempts at negotiated settlements, and the basic facts about devolution of power and federalism, a press release issued by the US embassy in Colombo said. The US Agency's press release added, "The symposium at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Center represents the culmination of a series of grass roots-level workshops facilitated by CPA that involved more than 25 community groups and was funded through a grant from the USAID Office of Transition Initiatives. Through this activity, USAID hopes to establish a core group of trained and informed key community leaders who can transfer their knowledge to the public at large. Improving community awareness of federalism as a model of power sharing could help provide a solution to the Sri Lankan conflict.
“Information and communication are critical to advancing the peace process in Sri Lanka,” U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jeffrey J. Lunstead said at the opening. "Federalism is one model for a non-violent solution, but the United States has no desire to tell Sri Lanka how to run its country or what kind of model to adopt." The symposium was organized in response to the widely held view that
a dearth of inform levels about the pl ism and its impl Lankans, as well as core issues unde debate.
“Educating an public at large abou allow them to partic edgeably, and conf portant conversatic sion Director Dr. C The USAID/O gram was establish within the USAIL lombo. It aims to support for a nego tlement to end th longstanding intern ating awareness a derstanding on key and supporting inc tion among diver community level ti dress local needs. ible small-grants OTI has awarded more than S14 mill
Declaration on fe "A federal co, reasonable accom flict where one sid unitary state and rate state,” said a at the National Sy by the Centre for (CPA) and U.S. A tional Developme Future of Sri Lan Idea’ held at the E ruary 2006. Over pants agreed to t organizers said. The full text of t follows:
“We, numberi sand and represe organisations isl together at a Nat discuss constitu

FEBRUARY2006
tion exists at all ocess of federalcations for Sri Some of the other
discussion and
d informing the t this concept will pate more knowldently, in this imin,” USAID Misarol Becker said. TI Sri Lanka proed in March 2003 ) mission in Co
generate greater otiated peace sete island nation's al conflict by crend increasing untransition issues, creased collaborase groups at the o identify and adThrough its flexprogram, USAID/ 487 grants worth ion.”
deralism
nstitution offers a nodation in a conis committed to a the other a sepadeclaration passed nposium organised Policy Alternatives gency for Internat(USAID) on “The a and The Federal MICH on 6th Feba thousand particile declaration, the
e declaration is as
g more than a thouting more than 25 nd-wide, gathered inal Symposium to ional reform for
conflict resolution on Monday 6 February 2006 in Colombo, urge all political parties, groups and communities in Sri Lanka to work together to develop a durable political solution that will address the aspirations of all peoples within a uhited and democratic Sri Lanka.
"We have in the past year studied and discussed the evolution of the island's ethnic conflict, past attempts at resolving the conflict, and the federal idea as a possible model for a reasonable and durable political solution to the conflict. We believe that the federal idea suitably adapted to deal with the particular challenges faced by Sri Lanka offers a basis for such a solution. Federalism which seeks to combine self rule and shared rule, unity in diversity, autonomy which is secure and guaranteed within a supreme Constitution which enshrines human rights, pluralism and democracy, is an internationally recognised constitutional / political model for countries that are multi-ethnic and plural in character.
“We believe also that a federal Constitution offers a reasonable accommodation or compromise in a conflict where one side is committed to a unitary state and the other a separate state. The country cannot afford a protracted military conflict where innocent civilians from all communities are displaced, maimed or killed. A reasonable political solution must move beyond the existing, inadequate, maximum devolution of power within a unitary Constitution, as introduced by the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution nearly 20 years ago.
“We recognise that many Sri Lankans have fears and misconceptions as to the meaning of federalism. These should be addressed in an island wide debate that is open, informed, and respectful of dissent. This is what we have done in districts throughout the country over the past year. We urge all Sri Lankans, including our political leaders and civil society groups to participate in such a debate and seriously consider the adoption of a federal Constitution in Sri Lanka.”

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FEBRUARY 2006
The Case for the Return Northeast Provincial GOVe
Nisala Rodrigo
The recent presidential election has brought the topic of federalism and the devolution of power back into the limelight. The winner, Mahinda Rajapakse has abandoned his predecessor Chandrika Kumaratunge's commitment to a new federal constitution in favor of preserving the unitary state. Although this position has been popular with President Rajapakse's JVP and JHU allies, it has not been embraced by the international community and more importantly by the Tamilcommunity in Sri Lanka. However, members of Rajapakse's current coalition have not ruled out the devolution of power under a unitary state; the JVP has expressed a willingness to pursue this option as a compromise, and the EPDP has outlined a three-phase gradual proposal to pursue constitutional reform for a federal settlement, beginning with the reintroduction of the Provincial Councils in the North and East as detailed in the 13th Amendment.
Despite the imperfect nature of the 13th Amendment and the inherent contradictions between pursuing devolution while preserving the unitary state, the return ofa democratically-elected Northeast Provincial Government (NEPG) has the potential to alter the current dynamics of the peace process. In the short term, it would provide a measure of self-government to the people of the North and East who have been demanding it the most, convincing both them as well as the international community that the Rajapakse government is serious about addressing the Tamils' demand for regional, democratic self-rule. It would force both the LTTE and the alternative armed Tamil groups to take into greater consideration the sentiments of the population of the North and East and the effects of their violent policies against noncombatants. The structure of the Provincial Councils and their relationship to the nationalgovernmentare alsonotso radical as to provoke a backlash among sections of the other communities who have concerns that a poorly-contrived and hastily-implemented federal system will provide the institutions and resources for the unstable North and East to secede.
Most importantly, tl rience of a new NEPI valuable lessons whi ute to a permanent also produce a new cl ers and administrator to articulate regiona cerns in concrete an as opposed to ideolo terms.
The Experience of the First NEPG
The 13th Amen Constitution was rat the 1987 Indo-Lank Jayawardene's 5/6ths ment, although many visions for the Provir formulated by Jayav Gandhi through secre fear that the LTTE an disrupt the elections the 22,000 election o theirduties, leaving t the elections as w logistical support an candidates and ove TULF, TELO, PLOT not contest. The EP Jaffna and Mannarar tested in Kilinochch Vavuniya unopposed nation, and the EPRL competed for Eastern due to its military s failed to sabotage eith or polling processes, out of 534,000 eligi pated. The EPRLF. won all 36 seats in t 71 seats in the East, NEPG in December 1 Minister Varathara Sinhala and Muslim Board of Ministers.
Overcoming init NEPG recruited tale crats and took charg efforts in the region graduates and engin for this work. Boa Batticaloa fishermen. college was establish

of the rnment
H
e short-term expei would yield many h will help contribsolution. It would ass of political leadwho would be able interests and coni negotiable terms, gical and Zero-sum
lment to the 1978 ified as a result of Accord and Pres. majority in Parliaof the specific proicial Councils were wardene and Rajiv it negotiations. The d/or the JVP would resulted in none of fficials discharging he IPKF to conduct 'ell as providing d transport for the rall security. The 'E, and EROS did RLF contested in d the ENDLF coni, Mullaitivu, and under ajoint nomiF, SLMC, and UNP Province. Probably tbacks, the LTTE er the campaigning ind almost 400,000 ble voters particiENDLF coalition e North and 36 of and it formed the 88 headed by Chief ah Perumal with 2presentation in its
al difficulties, the ted Tamil bureauof reconstruction
750 unemployed ers were recruited s were given to and an agricultural id in Vavuniya. The
TAMIL TIMES 15
new NEPG planned to open an engineering college in Trincomalee, expand the Trincomalee and Batticaloa hospitals with European aid, repair 3500 km of roads, and build a railway between Vavuniya and Trincomalee. l. Yet the new NEPG clashed with both Colombo politicians and civil servants on many matters, particularly relating to the implementation of the devolution of power. Perumal lobbied President Jayawardene through the Indian government to devolve the subjects of land management and development and financial powers, and to allocate more financial resources for the NEPG.
However, the President-elect Premadasa's relationship with the Indian government led him to regard the NEPG as an Indian fifth column and a threat to Sri Lankan sovereignty. From March 1989, he began to limit the executive and legislative powers of the NEPG while courting the LTTE. In response to Premadasa's hostility and the impending pullout of the IPKF, the EPRLF, ENDLF, and TELO formed the “Tamil National Council" and planned to expand the Citizens Volunteer Force (CVF), the security wing of the Northeast Province into an army to resist both Colombo and the LTTE, trained and armed by RAW and the IPKF. From the middle of 1989 onwards, there were reports that Tamil youth were being forcefully conscripted into this force based in Ampara, and on 4 October Perumal declared that a "Tamil National Army” (TNA) was being established. In November, the LTTE began attacking TNA camps (allegedly with the support of the security forces), and the TNA in turn attacked police stations (allegedly directed by RAW).
On 25 February 1990, the Central Committee of the EPRLF issued a nineteen-point Charter of Demands to the Sri Lankan government: 1) the NEPG will have the same list of devolved powers as in India; it should have the same relationship with Colombo that the Indian States have with New Delhi 2) the Northeast Province will never be bifurcated 3) all land policy in the Northeast will be vested in the NEPG4) all Sinhala settlement after 1977 will be disbanded, and the border areas will be delimited and demarcated for pre-1977 Sinhala settlements to be integrated into other Provinces 5) the security forces will represent the national ethnic ratio 6) the NEPG will have 9500 police personnel by the end of 19907) the armed forces will be confined to 7

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16 TAM TIMES
specifically mentioned bases, and they will not be able to interfere with civil administration in the NEP 8) any person not registered as a resident of the NEP will not be eligible to vote there 9) a second chamber will be established in Parliament providing equal representation to all nationalities to prevent communal legislation from being passed 10) the security forces will vacate Fort Frederick in Trincomalee, Jaffna Fort and Kayts Sea Fort 1 l) the administration of all places of worship will come under the NEPG 12) all international aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction will be placed at the disposal of the NEPG 13) new Provinces will be established for the Upcountry Tamils and the Muslims in the East, and they will be able to form Governments 14) the NEPG will be able to negotiate with foreign governments and NGOs regarding investment and aid 15) the NEPG will have the same rights enjoyed by the private sector for its economic institutions 16) the NEPG will have executive and legislative powers as far as residual matters of the Constitution are concerned 17) all foreign counterinsurgency training missions will be disbanded 18) the STF will be expelled from the NEP and
never allowed to retu Emergency Regulatior
After the Premad jected all these deman Unilateral Declaratio for the “Eelam Dem and the constituent m departed for India in ing the end of the NE
Present Conditions At first glance, th first NEPG would ter all backgrounds at th ing it back. However, that the vast changes gional politics in the vastly changed the pre With the deaths Premadasa, and R. C. and Colombo no lon unpleasant relations during the 1980s, wh ing to use Tamil proxie to advance their inter LTTE has achieved tion vis a vis the Tam the result of a protr terror and murder. W Neelan Thiruchelvam
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FEBRUARY2006
19) the PTA and will be repealed.2 a government re, Perumal made a of Independence ratic Republic,” mbers of the TNC arch 1990, spellG.
experience of the fy Sri Lankans of
thought of bringit is quite obvious domestic and reast 16 years have vailing conditions. f Jayawardene, andhi, New Delhi ger have the same hip that they had en they were willsagainst each other ests. However, the monolithic posiils in Sri Lanka as acted campaign of With the killing of in 1999, the TULF ost whatever indeendence it had with the sole excetion of Anandasanaree) and the intelectual resources to pursue constitutional reform; the EPRLF, which depite its mistakes was committed to lemocratic rule in he North and East, was also diminished by the murders of lmselfish leaders uchas Pathmanaba n 1990 and Subahiran in 2003. The ump sections of the ormerly-independent Tamil parties have either been coopted by the gov:rnment (EPDP) or he LTTE (Tamil National Alliance), argely for their self. breservation and :ontinued existence. However, the Karuna phenomenon has
challenged the LTTE's supremacy in the Batticaloa region, and his alliance with the ENDLF has opened the possibility for Tamil dissent to spread outside the East.
Despite the pro-LTTE media's claim that the Tamils of government-held Jaffna “boycotted" the 2005 Presidential Election, it is an undeniable fact that a large section of the Tamils in Mannar, Vavuniya, and Eastern Province defied the LTTE diktat by voting. Additionally, they ignored Karuna's endorsement of Rajapakse by voting for Ranil Wickremasinghe. The ability for these Tamils to have voted for the candidate of their choice therefore suggests a possible opening for regional democratic government.
Implementation
The great strength of the NEPG option is that the central government could hold provincial elections at any time, without the need for a super majority in Parliament. This feature allows it to be a viable short-term option preceding either constitutional reform or an interim or permanent settlement with the LTTE. Regardless of the change of conditions from 1989 to the present, the lessons of the first NEPG must be learned for a future NEPG to serve its purpose. Probably the most important lesson is that the NEPG must have a healthy relationship with Colombo, with a common interpretation of the powers devolved to the Councils and those retained by Colombo as explained in the three Lists. To avoid confusion and to give a more meaningful of fer of devolution, the powers under the Concurrent List should either be given to the Councils or be eliminated as suggested in the Interim Report of the Moonesinghe Select Committee in 1993. As an alternative for the lack of a second chamber in Parliament representing the Provinces, the President could assemble an advisory council of the Chief Ministers or their representatives. If a conflict remains unresolved between Colombo and the NEPG, the Sri Lankan government could set a precedent of referring the matter to the Supreme Court before taking action.
The NEPG must have adequate security to encourage parties to contest and people to vote in provincial elections. The security apparatuses at both the provincial and national levels must likewise be coordinated, with each level clearly

Page 17
FEBRUARY 2006
understanding and recognizing the jurisdiction and authority of the other. Accountability to human rights and democracy must also be assured to prevent the abuse of power (such as the forced conscription of thousands of young men into the Tamil National Army by the defenders of the first NEPG), and a regional circuit court could be established to ensure that fundamental rights as described in the Constitution will not be violated. There must also be a mechanism to coordinate international investment and aid through the national and provincial governments; a situation should never arise where either level believes its interests are being compromised due to perceived asymmetrical foreign involvement. This last point is extremely relevant to the topic of relief and rehabilitation for the victims of the December 2004 tsunami. The NEPG can facilitate these by drafting a charter or provincial constitution and submitting it to the Supreme Court to determine whether it is consistent with the national Constitution.
The Birth of a Federal Culture
Even in the best-case scenario, it is very unlikely that a new NEPG under the present 1978 Constitution will serve as a long-term solution to the ethnic conflict. The 13th Amendment was added to the Constitution for the sole purpose of serving Indian interests first and resolving the ethnic conflict second. Its drafters had only a crude notion of Indian federalism in that they produced a carbon-copy image of its three Lists while neglecting to provide a second chamber in Parliament to represent the regions, or a judiciary empowered with "judicial review' to rule on the constitutionality of central or provincial law. Essentially there is no mechanism to resolve conflicts between the provincial and central governments; the system is designed so that Parliament will always have the final say. The very predictable outcome of such a system is that when such a conflict arises, the Sinhala-majority Parliament will “win” the argument and the Tamil-majority NEPG will subsequently use its institutions and resources to resist Parliament's position, thus escalating the conflict and
realizing all the fez of devolution.
With its non-ex lution mechanism NEPG under the even with the ab changes can only most. Ideally, it wo at the same time th constitutional refo ated. An operatic help spark the be eral culture' whic in the country; it w cussions and debat retical speculatic with wealthy West wards real conce devolved governa Even the above Ch formulated in the of the impending NEPG with the p demonstrate Col gence was a far cr Principles which w to humiliate the S ment. As extreme would have appeal Sinhalese, they enough to be nego only have been th administrators and 1989, not the ideal enced "boys' of 1
In more imme even the short-ter. of a NEPG will pro both the LTTE and t tant groups active East. The LTTE a tants could either as a threat (as the or as an opportun which accrues from date. The LTTE t National Alliance bly win the NEPG e new page in its his first democraticall ment. However, t legitimacy derived an election would of having to deliv and being accour stituency, running a far more responsi than resting on o winning seats in P closed list. Althoug be in a stronger p

s of the opponents
stent conflict reso
the lifespan of a l3th Amendment, ve-recommended be a few years at ld be implemented at a new attempt at m would be initinal NEPG would inning of a "fedis sorely lacking puld direct the disas away from theon (and analogies 'rn federations) to*ns and issues in nce in Sri Lanka. arter of Demands, pleak environment
collapse of the
robable intent to ombo’s intransif from the Thimpu vere also designed ri Lankan govern
as the Demands red to the average
Were Concrete tiable. They could e products of the elected leaders of istic and inexperi985.
diate terms than m, the possibility vide a challenge to he anti-LTTE miliin the North and nd the other miliinterpret a NEPG TTE did in 1989) ty for legitimacy a democratic manhrough its Tamil roxy could possilection, marking a ory by forming its y-elected governhe resources and rom winning such come at the price r on its promises table to its conNEPG will require bilities and work le's laurels after rliament on a PR the LTTE would sition to take ac
TAMIL TIMES 17
tion against other militant groups in this scenario, it would nevertheless face the vexing problem of dealing with the elected, noncombatant Tamil dissidents and the Sinhala and Muslim minorities in the Opposition.
The LTTE's alternative would be to launch another "boycott," allowing its critics to form the NEPG, gain legitimacy as democratic parties, and lose the stigma of being mere "paramilitaries.” In this scenario, the LTTE could try to undermine the administration of the NEPG through sabotage, intimidation, or murder, or launch another rendition of the Good Friday Offensive against the NEPG. In the case of the latter, it would be very difficult for the SLMM to whitewash such an assault as an "internal affair' of the LTTE, and Colombo would have to respond to this abrogation of the CFA by the LTTE. On the other hand, the dissidents comprising the NEPG would face the same challenge of having to be accountable to the people as described above. If they are unable to develop political maturity and represent the people, their credibility as the representatives of "Tamil democracy' will not hold.
In summary, a new NEPG has the potential to be a more constructive and viable entity today than it was 16 years ago, with the ability to fit into a niche in the present stalemate in the North and East. With Tamilspeakers currently comprising only 8.3% of the public services and a much smaller minority in the Police Service,3 the NEPG could serve as a major source of employment and productive activity for them. The beauty of the NEPG is that it would not be advocated as a permanent solution to the ethnic conflict, as it was presented in 1989. It would not pretend to be an interim or any kind of settlement imposed on the LTTE, and thus it would not require the LTTE's approval for its implementation. It would simply and honestly be a change in the nature of administration in the North and East to serve the people in government-held areas in a more accountable manner, and to pave the way for constitutional reform by creating the space for a culture of federalism in Sri Lanka. O

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18 TAMIL TIMES
“We hope that the LTTE will understand that it will have no relationship with my government and, indeed, no effective relationship with any country in this world as long as it seeks to redress its own grievances through the barrel of a gun. Now, we understand the Tamil community here has legitimate grievances, and legitimate issues that ought to be addressed by the government. And there ought to be a dialogue, a better dialogue, between the government and the Tamil community," said US Undersecretary of Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns, in a press briefing in Colombo on 23 January.
The following are excerpts Mr Nicholas Burns" s briefing:
I had excellent meetings today with the President and with the Foreign Minister. I was able to meet the Opposition Leader, to see a number of ministers and representatives of civil society, and, of course, fellow ambassadors from friendly countries to Sri Lanka. I had a wonderful lunch given by the Foreign Minister. I also was able to meet Minister Eric Solheim, and we compared notes on our mutual goal, and that is to work with the international community, and certainly work with the government, to try to restore peace and maintain the ceasefire here, and resume negotiations.
I want to say, first of all, we're very proud of the efforts of the American Embassy here, of Ambassador Lunstead, who has done such a wonderful job to represent the United States. We are a great friend to this country. We support its territorial integrity. We support the preservation of peace.
We work very closely with the government and we're proud of what the United States has been able to do as a friend to Sri Lanka. I think many of you saw that in the wake of the horrible tragedy of the tsunami. When our military came here, the U.S. Marines gave immediate help to the people who had been affected. We
Burns sets out US pos on war and peace in Sri
are also, in the lol hopeful in 2006 we agreement with the Sri Lanka to provid amount of economi that reconstruction a of the country can cially those areas th badly affected by th In addition to tha the United States peace. We call upon cially, to cease and violence and terroris flicted upon the peo try. The bombing this cost two lives; the over the past severa course the attacks c years upon the pol and the average citiz try, are reprehensib condemned by the ir munity. And we hop will understand that relationship with my indeed, no effective any country in this it seeks to redress it through the barrel o understand the Tami has legitimate griev mate issues that ol essed by the gover out to be a dialogu gue, between the go Tamil community,
But the respon with the LTTE, wh terrorism and viole weapon. So we hop Minister Solheim’s sult in a resumptic on a date certain, a tain. For those ne place, we hope the restored and we h can come to Sri L States wants that we'll support the effort to protect th territorial integrity tions resume.
So I wanted t very brief statemen
 
 
 

ger term, very might reach an Government of a considerable : assistance, so ld rehabilitation continue, espeat have been so 2 tsunami. , I must say that is dedicated to the LTTE, espedesist from the m that it has af. ble of this counmorning, which repeated attacks l weeks; and of ver many, many tical leadership ens of this counle and they are ternational combe that the LTTE t it will have no government and, relationship with world as long as s own grievances f a gun. Now, we community here ances, and legitiight to be addrment. And there e, a better dialovernment and the
ibility here lies ich has taken up ce as its political e very much that visit here will reof negotiations ld in a place cerotiations to take ceasefire can be pe a final peace nka. The United very much, and overnment in its country, and its as these negotia
begin with that I'm happy to take
FEBRUARY 2006
any questions that you might have.
Q: You talked about Tamil Tiger violence. In your meetings with the government, did you address the accusations levelled at the military about violence against Tamil civilians?
A: Yes, we did. In fact, we raised that with the President, and the Foreign Minister, and the other officials“ with whom we met. We Said for Sure that the activities of the paramilitary organizations also ought to be condemned and they ought to be stopped. And if there are allegations of military abuse of Tamil civilians, they ought to be investigated. If there are people found responsible, of course they ought to be dealt with in the justice system here. We raised those issues because they are important issues, and they are important to the Tamil community and we've heard from the Tamil community of how important they are. I must say that the response we received from the government is that the government leaders also believe that those attacks must stop, and they must not be carried out in the future.
Q: If the U.S. will not negotiate with Al Qaeda in its war on terror, why does it support negotiation with the Tamil Tigers on behalf of the government?
A: Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization that has no grievances whatsoever to negotiate with the United States of America or the United Kingdom or any other country in the world. It's a nihilistic terrorist organization that uses terrorism for reprehensible aims. We also condemn the LTTE, and we brand it a terrorist organization. We sanction any individuals or groups of individuals who would seek to give financial support to that organization. But I must say that all of us who are friends with this country understand that this long conflict is only going to come to an end when the LTTE and the government sit down and find a way forward to end the violence and convince the LTTE to stop using violence as a political weapon. That has to happen.
I think any realistic observer of this country's long struggle would say, and agree, that that kind of dia

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FEBRUARY 2006
-logue has to take place. I'm not aware of any government in the world, or any significant NGO in the world, who believes we ought to be sitting down with Al Qaeda given its agenda.
Q: Is there some kind of direct role the U.S. can play in bringing about a final solution to Sri Lanka?
A: We are supporting the core role, the first and foremost role, played by Norway. I had a very good meeting with Minister Eric Solheim this afternoon. I told him that we support his efforts 100 percent and that he can rely on the United States to back him up. We're also part of the Co-chairs group which meets, as you know, regularly to try to provide diplomatic support to those who would want to end this conflict, including the government. I am the American representative to the Co-chairs, and I assume we will be meeting fairly soon to continue the Co-chairs' negotiations.
If there's any weight that America can bring it is to try to convince the LTTE to come in and negotiate, and to try to give advice to our friends in the government that they ought to find a way not to respond to the obvious provocations of the last several weeks. I think that is really what America can do best here. We're a friend of this country. We respect its territorial integrity and want to see it preserved. And the people of this
country ought not to have to live for.
another 15 or 20 years with this reprehensible terrorist group keeping this country verged on the edge of war. What is striking about the situation here, in Sri Lanka, is how so many people are concerned about the possible outbreak of conflict, of armed conflict, of a civil war.
It is incumbent upon all the friends of this country to band together, as we have in the Co-chairs group, to send a message that we support peace, and that we'll do whatever we can diplomatically to help prepare the road for peace. At the same time, we are trying to show our support for the government by providing military assistance and training for its officers, military exercises between our troops and the government's troops, so that the government can be strong and the gov
ernment's forces tacks against the try,
Q: In light of the
if conflict does bri will the U.S. take in the background War on Terrorism
A: We're foc thetical questions at hand this week to give stimulus fort to do three t the ceasefire; to c to agree to resum to see those nego that peace can be immediate diplor our weight is beh
I want to say : believe that the Ta legitimate grievan be respected by th tion, and there ha the Tamils to be those grievances, bility here really l Thatʼs the organi choose peace, ins hensible policies and more. And so peace, and we wil happens here, a fi try, and obviously, ernment of this co
Q: Mr. Under S Rights Watch) in couple of weeks a government for h tions in pursuing
since 2001. If the ment was to purs in prosecuting the tions like the LTT Government endo or would you crac Sri Lanka not to p that you've been War on Terror?
A: You know relationship with t ernment. It's a re ment, and it’s a dealing with eno from rebuilding a the effort to pl growth, but part against terror),

an deter future ateople of this coun
scalating violence, ak out, what moves to assist Sri Lanka of the U.S. Global
ised not on hypo, but on the work - and that is to try o a diplomatic efLings: To reinforce onvince the parties negotiations, and iations succeed so estored. That's the hatic agenda. And nd that agenda. gain: while we do mil population has ces, and they must e majority populais to be a way for able to articulate the full responsiies with the LTTE. zation that has to tead of the repreof the past decade we're working for l remain, whatever 'iend to this couna friend to the govbuntry.
ecretary, Human its annual report a go criticized your uman rights violathe War on Terror Sri Lankan governle similar policies terrorist organizaE, would the U.S. rse such activities : down or pressure ursue the program pursuing in your
ve have a friendly e Sri Lankan govponsible govern(overnment that's mous challenges, ter the tsunami to ovide economic cularly the fight o preserve peace
TAM TIMES 19
here, and so we support that government. If, from time to time, there is evidence of human rights abuses, then the United States, of course, would be concerned and would talk as a friend to that country to try to see if that country could redress those human rights abuses. That is normal in international politics.
But for the most part, if I were focused on human rights in Sri Lanka, in addition to trying to give advice to friends - and for instance, one of the issues that I did raise today in all of my meetings was the need for the government to make sure that there is no official support for the paramilitary groups, that there is no involvement by the military in attacks on Tamils. But the major part of our concern here is not with the government. The government is democratic, the government is composed of people who are responsible, who are good people who want to help this country.
Our major concern is with the LTTE. There is no moral comparison, no moral equivalency, that we see be-, tween the government and the LTTE, and we think the major part of the burden for peace rests on that organization.
Q: Does the United States feel the LTTE is genuinely interested in peace?
A: We don't have direct contact with the LTTE, so we have to judge them by their actions. The actions of the last several weeks would indicate that this is an organization bent on provoking violence, as it commits violence, as it kills innocent people. And so, if we see that kind of terrorism anywhere in the world I think all of us, as democratic citizens, need to reject it and need to call upon those who perpetrate it to stand down. So that's what the United States is saying today.
It's also the message of all the other friends of Sri Lanka, all the other governments that are here trying to support a process of peace in this country. We want to avoid a war, and that is the strong wish of the government, as we heard when we spoke to the President and others today. They wish to avoid war, and so all of us need to be here to help peace prevail.

Page 20
20 TAMIL TIMES
Readying for
DAWN, Kilinochchi, 18 Jan: The time is 7.30 pm. It is an evening with a cup of tea and the television. A group of eager youth affiliated to the LTTE'media unit sit around waiting for the beginning of the transmission.
Talk ceases as the channel begins airing its programmes for the day. Nearly fifteen minutes is devoted to the "Tamil Eelam' theme song that is aired daily at the opening of the transmission which lasts for two hours. Velupillai Prabakaran looms across the screen larger than life.
"Our problems can only be solved through war" says the Tiger uniform clad LTTE war maestro, in a trailer that is carried every fifteen minutes with cuts of the Sea Tigers in action. In colourful attire dances are featured as well as songs that all run into one theme - the boosting ofthe morale ofthe cadres and the preparation for another "liberation war'.
A half an hour “archaeology” programme is featured that is focused on giving "proof that the Tamils occupied Sri Lanka's north east "first'.
The programme is followed by an "arts and culture' programme that shows that exhibition of paintings by youngsters in the LTTE-controlled regions. Paintings of skulls, guns, dead roots and a landscape that has a blood red skyline and a black-red ground is featured.
“We have to die to usher in a new land where we will be free,” injects Niresh, one of the "communication officers' of the LTTE media unit who had earlier been a military trainer. The highlight of the transmission is the news which again begins with a nearly fifteen minute lasting song that depicts the “glory of Tamil Elam', ranging from birds, beasts and the Liberation Tigers.
The news focuses on the events of the day. The blooded and smashed bodies of two army soldiers who were shot dead by the LTTE are displayed across the screen. Three civilians allegedly killed by troops are also portrayed. A detailed interview given to the TV station by the LTTE political wing leader S. P Thamilchelvam is portrayed in which he specifies that the only option is war.
Dayanidi, a former school master who functions as the LTTE spokesperson echoes his leaders. Hours after a Norwegian team headed by Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brakstar flew in to Killinochchi on Tuesday for a crucial
meeting with the L chief, S. P. Thamilch an interview with Da word. War.
"We have had no government stating th our demands. We hav sition to the Norweg them we are on the br the army to withdr east,” says Dayanidi Five youth werek overa weekago allege ent military in a killin series of retaliatory a the chief of which be sea attack on the Na sailors. The suicides the first to be carried five years of the ceas Meanwhile Jaffn of the country and theatre of a 20-year-o submerged in killings A mother and two da in their beds in the J Monday (16) in a killi late to have been ca supporters of the for Karuna. On Tuesda, continued, with tw. down in Kopai, Jaff shot hours later in : LTTE.
"We want normal ings to stop. We will peace envoy to Sri that we are ready spokesperson for th But as Dayanidi will have to be on th in the only venue th: agree to, Oslo. Aske to explain the heavy ried out against the staunchly deny resp the spate of claym the military that kil Nearly five year the ceasefire agreem ernment and the II Tamil Eelam, the L marks the entrance region where there state, is virtually di with construction by foreign non-go tions stand where t winding queues of bringing in visitors

FEBRUARY2006
E political wing vam, Dayanidi in n emphasizes one
message from the y have considered explained ourpoans. We have told nk of war. We want w from the north
led in Trincomalee lly by the governmg that has spurred a tacks by the LTTE, ng the first suicide ry which killed 13 ea tiger attack was out within the past efire. a, the northern tip he former amphild war is once again which occur daily. ughters were killed affna peninsula on ng that some specurried out by Tamil mer LTTE militant, , the killing trend ) brothers gunned na and two soldiers retaliation by the
cy. We want the killtell the Norwegian anka Erik Solhiem or talks,” says the
guerrillas. points out the talks terms of the rebels, t they are willing to by the Norwegians rate of killings carmilitary the Tigers onsibility including re mine attacks on d over 60 soldiers. after the signing of int between the govberation Tigers of TE checkpoint that to the Killinochchi els run their de facto erted. A few lorries laterial transported 'rnmental organizaare were previously hicles, mostly those rom the South.
"The only people who come here are the Tamils fleeing Jaffna. Nearly four thousand families have fled Jaffna for the past three weeks and have sought refuge here," says a young female police officer, Priya, clad in the smart blue LTTE police uniform.
Twenty-one-year-old Priya who is originally from Jaffna had fled to the LTTE-controlled regions 10 years ago in a background of war and had chosen a career with the "Tamil Eelampolice' three years ago. Appearing amiable and friendly, two rare traits in LTTE cadres and police officers especially to the local media, her conversation with the writer is stopped halfway when a male civil clad cadrejoins in and begins interrogating the reasons of why we are here, in a far less friendly manner. As Priya confidently informs, while Jaffna and other northeastern regions which is under government control but with a high level of influence and presence of LTTE cadres have erupted into an unofficial war, the regions of Killinochchi and Mulativu, the two main bases of the LTTE, seem impregnable and paradoxically "peaceful'.
Killinochchi, which seemed an area of shrub and temporary shelters five years ago, has now developed into abustling town that is equipped with many modern facilities, aresultofa large number of foreign non-governmental organizations present in the area.
While armed male and female cadres, clad in the LTTE tiger uniform are busy carrying out war training to the civilians and heavy trucks speed down the narrow roads of Killinochchi carrying heavily armed cadres, Sabha Naganathan, a Tamil architect broods in despair.
“We have planned one thousand one hundred houses, destroyed by the tsunami, to be re-built in Killinochchi. The tidal waves swept away these houses and now it looks like a war will do the same,' says Naganathan who had studied architecture in Norway and lived in the country for 29 years.
Working as an architectural consultant to an integrated group of three foreign humanitarian agencies identified as the Solidar consortium, Naganathan remembers a time when he studied Sinhala, the language spoken by the 74 per cent majority of the country. "I was a student at the Sinhala Madya Maha Vidyalaya in Jaffna. There were many Tamils who studied there along with Sinhalese students,” he says to an audience of captivated foreign NGO workers over dinner, referring to the early 1970's when many Sinhalese lived in Jaffna side by side with their Tamil neighbours. O

Page 21
FEBRUARY 2006
Why donors failed t
peace to Sri La
P.K. Balachandran
In the past four years, the international donor community has pledged billions of dollars to Sri Lanka with the aim of promoting peace and economic reform. And a lot of it has already gone into the country's kitty. Yet, aid has not met its objectives.
The necessary preconditions of peace still do not exist and Sri Lanka continues to be perched precariously on the edge of war.
According to studies sponsored by The Asia Foundation, the reason for this failure is that the donors have not addressed the political issues. The issues, which underlie the conflict are poor governance, an un-accommodative state and political structure, and perceived ethnic and regional grievances. The donors expected economic inputs and macro level economic reform to trigger political change as desired by the Western world. But the changes never happened. In some ways, these external inputs even helped reinforce the existing political divide and accentuate the ethnic conflict.
"The development cart has been put before the political horse,” say Goodhand, Klem et al, in Aid, Conflict and Peace Building in Sri Lanka 2002-2005 (The Asia Foundation, Colombo, 2005).
"Economic imperatives were
never likely to override political and strategic interests in a conflict that is primarily about governance and the nature of the state,” they obSer Ve.
Differences between donors
However, all international donors cannot be put into the same basket. There are crucial differences in the way in which the donors have approached Sri Lanka and the issues in it. And the differences in this regard have impacted the international aid effort and its results
very significant
According Klem, the first tween the Asiar nors, and the sec donors like the I cial Institution smaller bilateral The Asian d Japan and India) rned primarily w strategic objecti ern donors, com and individual E have had a "men cluding democr rights and the li economy.
Unlike the W pan, India and t apolitical, prefer ugh the governn rather than seeki to disburse theil their projects.
The differe large and the sm of importance. T are the largest d According to Anthea Mulaka Peace Building-2. Foundation, Colc large donors acc per cent of the Lanka. And bec donors have bee ent to the conflic its social, econo underpinnings, f had a significant tern of governal process.
It is not den 2000/2001 Sri Li tional scenario change in the ou ously apolitical o aid giving coun tions.
The conflic North and East di
 

y, o Good hand and distinction is beand Western dopnd is between big international Finans (IFIs) and the domors. onors (principally have been conceith trade and geores. But the Westrising the US, EU uropean countries, u of concerns' inatization, human peralisation of the
'estern domors, Jahe IFIs have been ring to work throment of Sri Lanka ng other channels r aid or carry out
nce between the all donors is also he IFIs and Japan OOS
Adam Burke and la (Donors and )00-2005, The Asia mbo, 2005), these ount for 75 to 80 aid flows into Sri ause these large n largely indiffert in the island and mic, and political oreign aid has not impact on the patce and the peace
ed that the postinkan and internalid bring about a look of the previindifferent major tries and institu
-affected Tamil d begin to get sub
TAMILTIMES 21
stantial aid from the IFIs and Japan. Tokyo even appointed a Special Peace Envoy (Yasushi Akashi) to tie economic aid to peace building.
But the impact has not been commensurate with the expectations. According to Burke and Mulakala, this is because the ethnic conflict has only been a "secondary factor' in the process of deciding resource transfers from the development banks and Japan. "Given that these donors represent some 75 to 80 per cent of donor funds, this is significant," they say. Their plans are based on the theory that greater deregulation and economic openness will eventually remove the "impediment' of ethnic conflict. The IFIs did strive to bring about policy changes in the government of Sri Lanka towards this end. But this approach was not founded on a correct appreciation of ground realities and ground level popular concerns.
Oslo and Tokyo conferences
Undoubtedly, there was political awareness among the donors at the top level. And this was reflected in the decisions taken at the Oslo (December 2002) and Tokyo (June 2003) conferences. Oslo got the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to agree to try and find a "federal" solution within a united Sri Lanka. But Tokyo was the "high water mark' in the convergence of aid, security matters, and liberal ideological objectives, observe Goodhand and Klem.
USD 4.5 billion was pledged at Tokyo, with the top most donors being Japan, the ADB and World Bank. And they saw to it that political conditions for the delivery of the whopping aid package were put in place. "Assistance by the donor community must be closely linked to substantial and parallel progress towards fulfillment of the objectives agreed by the parties in Oslo,” paragraph 18 of the celebrated Tokyo Declaration said.
The Declaration called for compliance with the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA); participation of the Muslim minority in the talks; promotion and protection of human

Page 22
22 TAMIL TIMES
rights; gender equality; and progress towards a final political settlement.
Economic reform was another key aim of the major donors. They found the United National Front (UNF) government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, to be attuned to this objective. Both the donors and the UNF believed that economic growth through liberalisation and foreign investment would automatically blunt social, economic, ethnic and regional conflicts.
Donors over play development card
But the UNF regime and the international donors over played the development card. First of all, the Tokyo conference was held without the LTTE. The LTTE had withdrawn from the talks process earlier in April 2003, complaining of slow progress and “over internationalisation' of the peace process. The rebel outfit did not want to give up the option of fighting for total independence,
under internationa It also wanted to Lankan government strategic equality. shielded by a stra nomic Internatio (ISN), which the U ously putting up.
The Sinhala So happy with the inti of the conflict, alb reasons. Here, it w CFA was a Norweg out to the LTTE. T that in its bid to fin lution to the confli ght have no com yielding to the se of the LTTE and di try.
Commenting on laration and its af hand and Klem say was a case of inte pushing ahead with frames and agendas the UNF governme ing into accoun ground situation.”
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A popular mood in the Sinhala South against the peace process as it was going, resulted in the defeat of the pro-peace and pro-donor UNF in a snap election in April 2004. Power went into the hands of the United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA), a Sinhala nationalistic grouping which was opposed to almost everything the peace process stood for, including international involvement and the new economic policy. The UNF government's enthusiasm for radical economic change, as per the Western model, endeared it to the donors no doubt, but it resulted in the government's getting alienated from the masses. A poverty alleviation scheme called "Samurdhi' was denied to 300,000 recipients; fertilizer subsidies were curtailed; electricity charges were hiked; and efforts were made to restructure the public sector.
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Page 23
FEBRUARY 2006
reforms were done by stealth and there was very little public consultation,' observe Good hand and Klem.
As for the LTTE, it too resisted the Western concepts of development administration. While the donors wanted decentralized decision making, the LTTE was "extremely statist' and "hierarchical'. The donors wanted the Tamil North East to enter the globalised market, but there was resistance to this, given its immediate economic costs to the common man there.
Both the Sinhala South and the LTTE felt that the other was getting pampered by the donors. The donors had only exacerbated existing ethnic tensions.
Goodhand and Klem say that policy formulation did not appear to be conflict sensitive and to adequately take into account the need for balanced assistance to the Tamil North East and the Sinhala South. And the attitude remains the same to this day. "In spite of the evidence that shock therapy and a growthfirst model are politically destabilising, donors do not appear to have changed their thinking on this matter,' the authors say.
Fate of SIHRN, NERF and P-TOMS
Between 2002 and 205, the donors, Sri Lankan regimes and the LTTE did put up proposals for institutionalising the new democratic development and aid utilisation strategies. But these did not survive or even come into existence, because of underlying political conflicts.
With the backing of the donors, the government and the LTTE set up the Sub-committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) and the North East Rehabilitation Fund (NERF).
But both SIHRN legal status and pendence, which Ο I) ,
Political op Sinhala South tc recognition of th grant of powers which the LTTE prevented the from going the W menting its age1 LTTE into Sri L. tive structures a from terrorism, armed struggle. SIHIRN and NER side.
Later in mid tionally backed tsunami rehabilit for the North Ea did not come into of political oppos
Conflict over “nd Both the Sri L and the LTTE had malization' of lif was a sine qua no any political or e ment plans and h ingful peace talk tion of normalisat ing to conflict.
For the LTT meant the withdra movement and fi in the North Eas of checkpoints ar rity Zones in Jaff quitting public ai But the state viewed such dem tremely dangerou The impleme good scheme anc mied by underly strategic conside ited baggage of other, and deep a
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position in the any institutional e LTTE or to the p organisations in was represented, sNF government hole hog in impleda to co-opt the nka's administrand wean it away
separatism and Not surprisingly, F fell by the way
2005, the internaand funded postation organisation st (P-TOMS) also existence because ition in the South.
prmalisationo
ankan government agreed that "norin the North East n for carrying out conomic develophaving any means. But the definiion differed, lead
E, normalisation wal of all kinds of shing restrictions ; the dismantling d the High Secuna; and the army's ud private places. had consistently ands as being exs to its security. ntation of every thought got stying political and ations, an inherfears about each Ixieties about sur
TAMIL TIMES 23
vival. Goodhand and Klem wonder if there can be normalisation without addressing the underlying political questions.
“Governance" is key
Good hand, Klem, Burke and Mulakaka, say that the only way out of the current impasse is for the donors to show greater sensitivity to the political dimensions of the Sri Lankan problem and also to see the issues as stemming from poor governance, basically.
"The root cause of problems currently being experienced - such as uneven development patterns, an ethnicised education system, a lack of minority voice in the political process - can be traced back to the political culture and quality of governance in Sri Lanka," Goodhand and Klem say. They also point out that donor policies, instead of helping to change the structures to rid them of their maladies, have only reinforced the existing systems.
In other words, conflicts have been exacerbated by donor policies. Some donors like Japan do not think of systemic changes, while others like USAID do, and are addressing governance issues at the grassroots level, with some success. But again USAID touts the Western model, which may not suit local conditions or meet the requirements in Sri Lanka, the authors argue.
The Asia Foundation researchers also recommend that the donors redefine "civil society' and go beyond interacting with "like-minded" civil society groups mainly located in cosmopolitan Colombo, and include “non-like minded' groups outside the metropolis, so that they get a rounded picture of the ground situation in Sri Lanka. O (Hindustan Times, February 6, 2006)
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Page 24
24, TAMIL TIMES
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Page 25
FEBRUARY 2006
The need for are on “paramilitari
Mirak Raheem
The issue of paramilitaries has been one that has dogged the peace process and is expected to take centre stage at the talks between the Government and the LTTE on reviewing the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) to be held in Geneva this month. In addressing the crisis of violence that threatens to unravel the CFA, the paramilitary issue is fundamental. Given the wide coverage on the paramilitary issue, both in the media and by the parties, this article will focus on looking at a solution to the problems through providing an integrated strategy with a number of components. Each component seeks to respond to specific problems relating to the issue, but given the nature of the problem, implementing just one or two of them as options will not resolve the issue as it requires an integrated approach. The larger question this article raises is how issues such as that on paramilitaries can be dealt with without addressing the fundamental problem of the CFA, ie the lack of an underlying human rights and human security framework.
Components of an integrated solution
The term paramilitary is itself contested, as is the term alternate armed groups. This article does not seek to define which group or which part ofa group would fall into this category. Rather, it calls for the parties to look at the issue broadly, thereby covering all the main actors linked to the problem, including the Government, the LTTE, alternate Tamil political parties, paramilitary units, the Karuna Group and the Makkal Padai or People's Force popularly referred to as the LTTE's auxiliary forces.
In examining the problem it becomes obvious that it is difficult to adopt a simplistic militaristic solution to the “paramilitary' question, given the political and human nature of the issue. The general approach adopted by the parties to the talks and in designing the CFA itself is to protect their basic military and political needs, subordinating concerns of the
populations they a This article argues issue has to be add tegrated approach w ponents that are mut that offer a more s maintaining the CF 1) Disarmament of 2) The parties com such groups and no to function in areas
ՇՈC6 3) Guaranteeing the who are members, ated with the vario the parties 4) Allowingall poli tion and operate fre Government-contro 5) All political grou committing to desis violations, crime a "peace.'
Disarmament
That a disarn paramilitaries will for the CFA talks to What is unclear is Given the problems the lack of monitorir ess of disarmament around, would seem fidence between t option is for all arm integrated into the LTTE to be disarm the provisions as p through. Rather tha the CFA in strictly ties should look at the spirit of the ag Government may I its position that it since the signing of do not strictly ap Group.
Commitment to n or passively suppe
This technical ment has, howeve)

TAMIL TIMES 25
think es”
pparently represent. that the paramilitary essed through an inith a number of comually reinforcing and ustainable means of A.
such groups mitting to not assist t permit such groups they control or influ
2 lives of individuals supporters or associis political forces by
tical groups to func'ely in
illed areas ps and paramilitaries st from human rights nd other breaches of
nament process of have to be conducted be successful is clear. under what terms. of transparency and gin the original proc, doing so, this time inglystrengthen conhe two parties. One ed actors that are not armed forces or the ed immediately and ær 1.8 to be followed un trying to interpret legal terms the parthe issue in terms of greement. Hence the need to look beyond is well past 30 days the CFA, so the terms ply to the Karuna
ot actively
)rt process of disarmato be accompanied
by a commitment by the two parties to ensure that they do not actively or passively support these groups. The government, the security forces, police and the LTTE should ensure that they do not actively assist these groups or individuals associated, for instance, through training or arming individuals who are not part of their institutions, nor passively permit these armed actors to flourish in areas they control or influence. −
Both the Government and the Karuna Group claim that because the group is independent of the state it cannot be a paramilitary. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the Karuna Group does have the support and protection of the armed forces in Batticaloa and Ampara. Given the support and protection provided by these institutions of the state, there is the critical issue of responsibility which places the onus on the state to ensure it conforms to the terms and the spirit of the CFA. While it is well past 30 days since the signing of the CFA the Government has a responsibility in terms of the CFA, to maintain law and order and to protect human rights, especially given the responsibility attributed to and in some cases claimed by the Karuna Group in carrying out attacks and killings.
In the recent violence a new actor has emerged in the form of the Makkal Padai or People's Force which claims to be a self-defence unit to protect the Tamil people against the occupying security forces. While the composition of the group is yet unclear, it has claimed responsibility for attacks against the armed forces, including the claymore mines, and the LTTE has also attributed the attacks on the armed forces to the Makkal Padai. On account of the role played by the LTTE in training, in reportedly arming these auxiliary forces and in having knowledge of this group, the LTTE has a responsibility over the resulting violence and in taking steps to contain the violence. Adopting these two measures would seemingly contain and thwart violence and also act as an important confidence building measure for the peace proc6SS.
Guaranteeing the rights of individuals
Dealing with the issue solely through this dual approach is problematic as it ignores the ground reality of the current situation. The targeting and killing of paramilitants can be seen as part of a wider campaign to eliminate opposition and to

Page 26
26 TAMIL TIMES
stifle dissent. The killings and counterkillings over 2005 and 2006 between the various armed actors in the North-East have claimed victims from across the political spectrum and created an oppressive climate of fear. In order to better contain the violence and ensure a more solid foundation for sustainable peace it requires that the issue of disarmament be dealt with through the larger framework of human rights and security.
Through connecting disarmament with human rights and political rights clauses the CFA could be better strengthened. Groups such as the EPDP, for instance, which had their paramilitary wings disarmed argue that this has resulted in a fundamental security crisis as their cadres and supporters were gunned down from the inception of the CFA. Individuals whose family members were associated with or through their work who had to interact with such groups have also found themselves victims of this violence. Individuals associated with the LTTE or perceived to be close to the LTTE have increasingly been targeted and intimidated, particularly since 2004. Thus, there is a clear need to address this issue by safeguarding the individual rights
of these individuals, safe from assassinatio tortion, harassment ( raises a larger questiol basic right can be s broader human rights ante eS.
Political guarantees The political ide these alleged parami cannot be ignored. W argue that a ceasefir appropriate time for litical dissent, others stating the importan space for dialogu strengthen the politic armed Struggle to der guarantee political r sustainable peace wit expected end result, need to be taken in th to strengthen it. Provi antees for the political paramilitaries are as prove a critical step ir CFA and easing the tr rights of groups su EPRLF (V) to mainta
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to ensure they are ns, abductions, exetc. This, in turn, has to whether this ecured without a agreement or guar
s entity of some of litary groups also While some would e period is not an pluralism and powould contest this, ce of maintaining e which would :al transition from mocracy and better esponsibility. If a h democracy is the then critical steps e transition period ding political guargroups with which sociated with may strengthening the ansition. Thus, the ch as the EPDP, in political offices, lo political work und provide alternaive viewpoints, by means such as hrough their newsbapers, should be ecognized and proected.
This issue of Jolitical space in he North-East is a cey question. The EFA recognizes the ight of the LTTE to arry out political work in areas in the North-East controled by the Government with unarmed LTTE cadres guaranteed right of movement (Article E. 13). The right of bther political parlies is an implicitunillerstanding, and one guaranteed under national and inernational law and principles. There is a clearly apparent need to ensure that
FEBRUARY2006
all political actors should be allowed to operate within the North East, particularly in Government-controlled areas. Recognizing this right, it is assumed, will allow alternate Tamil groups and the LTTE to function within the limits of the law. Over the CFA, the LTTE has had to face a series of constraints and challenges to both the movement of its political cadres and in the operation of its political offices from the state and its security forces. Thus, there is a clear need to take steps to ensure this right is secured and a corollary right for other political actors to carry out their political work needs to be provided for.
Commitment to desist from breaches of the peace
A key complaint made against the paramilitaries during peace times is their association with crime and ilegal activities such as drug sales, prostitution etc. To deal with this the normal law and order institutions of the police and judiciary should be properly activated and they should ensure that complaints are taken up and followed through. These groups should agree to desist from violating human rights. Criticisms have also been made that LTTE political cadres working in uncontrolled areas are involved in a series of human rights abuses including extortion, abductions and harassment, and the political offices have been used for such purposes. There are also charges of the offices being used for military purposes such as storing of arms. The LTTE has to commit to not violating human rights and to avoid using political rights granted under the CFA to commit such violations.
Peculiarities of resolving the Karuna problem
The Karuna Group, in particular, poses a crucial problem with regard to this as the LTTE is unwilling to grant recognition to a breakaway group, let alone allowing such a group to function. If the state was to disarm Karuna cadres and "turn off the tap as it were to the Group and also take measures to prevent the group functioning in governmentcontrolled areas it could have a significant impact in thwarting the group's capacity for violence.
There is a question as to what will happen to the Karuna cadres. In reintegrating them into the Sri Lankan Armed Forces there is a key issue of consent. The Karuna Group may not consent to

Page 27
FEBRUARY 2006
the programme and the government will find itself involved in a policing operation, raising issues with regard to principles of conflict transformation and, more importantly, democratic politics. There is also the possibility of the re-emergence of the Karuna Group in another form as the killing spree of Karuna supporters and ex-members continue.
Also, given the spate of killings of Tamil intelligence operatives in the South over the CFA period and the intimidation and gunning down of Karuna Group members, supporters and suspected supporters, it does not seem a safe option for the individuals concerned. With no state programme to ensure their safety and provide alternative livelihoods or the option of asylum as other countries are extremely wary of offering such programmes to ex-combatants, their future is grim. It is somewhat ironic that on the one hand the international community is espousing principles of conflict transformation demanding that the LTTE enter the democratic process and renounce violence and adopt a more human rights friendly approach, while on the other it demands that the Government disarm the Karuna Group and turn a blind eye to the campaign to eliminate a primarily military formation that is seeking to enter the political mainStream.
It would seem that adopting the wider framework would provide a scenario, which would seemingly better ensure the successful resolution of the Karuna question. The state has to take similar steps as with other paramilitaries detailed above (including disarming and agreeing neither to assist nor to permit them to function). To ensure the personal security of these cadres the LTTE needs to provide guarantees for their safety. This issue of personal safety is inherently linked to the political question of pluralism in the North-East: if no other group can function freely in the North-East, then no individual who is sympathetic to that group or is undertaking political work can survive. Thus, political guarantees that will provide for an alternative Tamil opinion may be necessary. A tool that
Carl
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It has been a d the way. First, a Jyllands Posten, dozen cartoons on appeared to caric Muhammed. One be that of Proph shown with a hea bles a bomb. Ano message that the ning short of virgin ers. The cartoons be part of an on-g Scandinavian cour dom of expressior to offend any reli,
Nearly four mc of European news the cartoons. The amused and conse been violent prote tries. The editor of ish paper expres maintaining that h nothing that wen ish law. The Mus amused and the c acquired the overt
can be used for su
the Government's lary agreement with and the LTTE recc ment in principle.
Conclusion
The main less lutions to the pr ilitaries is that it ca in isolation from rights context oftl It is highly pro realistic or sustaina out taking into acc Vironment in whi tions, especially th ductions and othe There is a fundam it to be grounded and human securi pays heed to the ne this framework.

00n Conundrum
TAMIL TIMES 27
Allbaksh
ownhill journey all Danish newspaper, publishes a set of September 30 that ature the Prophet figure presumed to et Mohammed is ddress that resemther one sends the paradise was runis for suicide bombwere supposed to oing debate in that try about the "freeand not intended gion. inths later a number papers reproduced Muslims were not 'quently there have sts in many counthe offending Dansed regrets while is paper had done t against the Danlims were still not artoon controversy ones of a "clash of
uch an initiative is
signing an ancilthe Karuna Group gnizing the agree
on in devising sooblem of paramannot be dealt with the wider human he CFA.
blematic to devise ble solutions withount the wider ench the CFA funcose ofkilings, abr gross violations.
ental necessity for
in a human rights ty framework that -eds that arise from
O
civilisation': Islani versus the West. The heathen west is revied and denounced by many defenders of the faith in no uncertain terms. In Indonesia, a mob attempts to break into the Danish embassy in Jakarta. In the Palestinian territories foreign journalists and aid workers hurriedly exit fearing attacks on their lives. The majority of media in the Muslim world bays for the blood of the infidels and dubs the publication of the cartoons as yet another example of how the "degenerate and decadent West is out to malign Islam after launching a "crusade” against the believers.
In the UK, British Pakistanis are up in arms and on the streets. The Muslim Association of Britain denounced the publication of the cartoons as "flagrant disregard' for the feelings of the Muslims. While withholding its judgement against the BBC for having partially shown the cartoons, the Association dominated by British Pakistanis warned the British media against reproducing the cartoons. A French newspaper editor was sacked for having committed the sin of reproducing the cartoons. Surprisingly, a Jordanian paper had also reproduced the cartoon ostensibly to show the depth to which the Western media had fallen in running down Islam. But the editor of the paper too was given the boot.
In Pakistan there were demonstrations all over and the country's parliament passed a unanimous resolution condemning the cartoons - as did the military ruler, Gen Pervez
Musharraf, who claims to be steer
ing his countrymen towards 'enlightened moderation even as anti-Americanism is the most palpable sentiment among his masses. In contrast, the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, while condemning the cartoons, asked Muslims to be forgiving. There are some feeble voices of restraint from the liberal Muslims but they cannot reach most ears because they are

Page 28
28 TAMIL TIMES
drowned in the cacophony of anger and hate that has been heard from every corner of the Muslim world.
The generally strong Muslim reaction clearly points to the fact that the cartoons were not only offensive but in poor taste; these are certainly ill-timed in view of the intense antiWest emotions running high in the Muslim world following the US "invasion' in Afghanistan and Iraq. Freedom of speech is a highly valued concept but it does not mean throwing all caution to the wind. In the present state of uneasy relations between the Muslim community and the West, it is hard to imagine that nobody had imagined that the most likely consequence of these cartoons would have been nothing but one of deep anger with all the possibility of ending in violence.
It will be wrong to presume that the present alienation between the Muslim community and the West or any violent manifestation of anger by holders of extreme religious views
among the Musli. phenomenon. Mus of the world had s onstrations after Satanic Verses by Muslim. The latt menie of Iran ha against the India-b as the novel had m mous references. '' hdie's head is still bounty hunters h with him as the W against Osama b head is more "p terms.
In the 1990s, a figures in Egypt fo the wrong side of Nobel Prize winne was attacked with insulting Islam in Another promin Fouda, was gunng tasy.
It will also be Muslims as bein
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ms is a post 9/11 lims in many parts taged violent demhe publication of Salman Rushdie, a 2 Ayatollah Khod passed a fatwa born British author lade some blaspheThe price on Rus
on but the fanatic ad as much luck Western "crusaders' bin Laden whose ecious' in dollar
ut least two literary und themselves on religious zealots. ir Naguib Mahfouz knife for allegedly one of his novels. ent writer, Farag d down for apos
wrong to single out g sensitive about caricature of their religion in the West. The Hindus have been at odds with consumer goods manufacturers in the US and the UK for what they saw as denigration of their gods in items ranging from shoes, toilet seats to underwear. The Sikhs in Britain had violently protested against a drama written by a British Sikh woman as it had shown a priest doing something ungodly in a Gurdwara. Christians in many countries have demanded stern action against attempts to ridicule Jesus Christ in any form.
Two observa
FEBRUARY 2006
tions will be in order. First, the scale of violence and anger among the nonMuslim communities did not reach the feverish level it has after the cartoon incident. Secondly, the extreme reaction in the Muslim community at this juncture when, it suffers from a huge image distortidn, is frankly as unwise as was the publication of the offensive cartoons. Two wrongs cannot make one right.
Many Muslim leaders and commentators have given calls for bloodletting. Our neighbour Pakistan is going to the extreme end of banning imports of medicines from the “ offending” European nations. According to the Danish Prime Minister, Andres Fogh Rasmussen, some Muslim clerics said some soothing things on Danish TV and just the opposite when speaking to AlJazeera about the call for Muslim boycott of Danish dairy products.
Many in the West have said that the extreme Muslim reaction betrayed their ignorance or refusal to live with liberal secular values (of the West). One French commentator described the upheaval as a show of "outrageous intentions of people who wanted to impose their "commandments on those who do not share their views. A British paper (The Telegraph) was unequivocal in telling the country's Muslims that those among them "who cannot tolerate the openness and robustness of intellectual debate in the West have perhaps chosen to live in the wrong country.' A Conservative British MP and former editor of the Spectator, Boris Johnson, was even more candid in saying that the Muslims should expect their religion to be subjected to the same rough and tumble' as other faiths.
As observed at the outset, these reactions are as ill-timed as the outbursts themselves. What is needed is not clash of civilisations but an ability to cool emotions so that a semblance of dialogue can take place for putting a long term corrective in place. This is a task political leadership can handle better. So far political executive, both in the west and the Muslim world, has remained a bystander. That is a pity indeed. O (Syndicate Features)

Page 29
FEBRUARY 2006
Independence D thoughts ofa Tal
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
The agreement to meet in Switzerland to discuss the ceasefire agreement brokered between the GOSL (government of Sri Lanka) and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam) by Norway has been welcomed with the sigh of reliefby all the peoples of Sri Lanka- especially the war weary Tamils and the international community taking an interest in our affairs. The war clouds have given way to some sun shine and a ray of hope that miracles are yet possible. We have to be thankful to our creator that as humans we have been blessed with the ability to forget the past quickly and be always hopeful of the future, regardless how bad our situation is at present. However, it is necessary to view the current situation realistically, while awaiting the hoped for miracles.
On the fifty eighth anniversary of our independence from British colonial rule, which falls on the 4th of February, it is opportune to review the role of the GOSL in the affairs of the Tamils. The GOSL has miserably failed, regardless of the party holding the reins of power, to manage Sri Lanka as a multi-ethnic, multireligious and multi-cultural entity, bearing in mind that every citizen has equal rights and equal claims to protection from the law irrespective of his or her affiliations. Sinhala and subsequently SinhalaBuddhist interests have been given primacy in all aspects of governance in Sri Lanka beginning with the government of D.S.Senanayake to the on-going one of Mahinda Rajapakse. The so-called historical grievances of the Sinhala people, the majority, were addressed at the expense of the minorities in a discriminatory, unjust, brutal and uncivilized manner, unbecoming of a nation claiming to be predominantly Buddhist. The result has been the disappearance of the small, but significant and colourful 'Burgher' (people of European origin) community, through what amounted to forced migration; and the severe depletion of the ranks of the indigenous Tamil community of the northern and eastern provinces, through a mix of brutality, economic strangulation and, political and social discrimination, which could be collectively described as calculated ethnic cleansing. The sense of frustration with ground re
alities and an inabil and decent future in S numbers of Tamils - What has been scribed as the “Dut was very cleverly Sinhala political le their objective of (Sinhala Island), v are unseen, unhear However much the may have differed i developmental stra six decades, the con run through every s nated government Gemunu' strategy. such as those of S.V Bandaranaike were espousing this strat have pursued it in a phisticated mannel unstoppablejuggern to a crawl at times b Indian army and the In these circumstanc problems of the Tam addressed in a sen manner by the gove Rajapakse, given it and composition? anniversary of inde does Sri Lanka hold lims and other mint This should be food Sinhala people atlal On the Tamil sid been genuine and in
they have been driv
back in socio-econo lems of the indige Jaffna peninsula, Va been different in te ties, aspirations and, effects. The Tamils sula were deprived in government emp education, professic industry, on which p was constructed thi ures adopted by the state. The Tamils i dependent on rain
animal husbandry w avenues of progress traditional pursuits.

TAM TIMES 29
ay: mil
ity imagine a secure Sri Lanka forced large to flee the country.
rather astutely deu Gemunu' strategy deployed by the adership to achieve a 'Sinhala Dwipa where the minorities and overwhelmed. Sinhala leadership in the economic and tegies over the past nmon thread that has ingle Sinhala domihas been this “Dutu Some governments W.R.D and Sirimavo overtly and crudely egy, while the others more covert and so. This has been an aut, although slowed y the presence of the actions of the LTTE. res can we expect the ils in Sri Lankato be sible and forthright ernment of Mahinda ts avowed positions On the fifty eighth pendence what hope for the Tamils, Musorities in Sri Lanka? i for thought for the
ge. e the grievances have the past six decades ven almost a century mic terms. The probnous Tamils of the Inni and the easthave rms of ground realiGOSL strategies and of the Jaffna peninof the opportunities loyment, university onal endeavours and billars their economy rough various measSinhala dominated n the Vanni largely fed agriculture and 'ere not provided any and support in their Their lands also be
came targets for government sponsored Sinhala colonization, in the name of agricultural development, but with the covert objective of severing the contiguity of the Tamil dominated north and eastern provinces demographically. In the east, there was a deliberate attempt by the governments to change the ethnic composition and balance in favour of the Sinhalese and grab fertile and irrigable land in the guise of state-sponsored colonization schemes. The Muslims in the east were also the victims of this land grab. While the strategy in the Jaffna peninsula was to break the dominance of the Tamils in higher education, government employment, the professions and trade, in the Vanni and the east the strategy was to grab land, reduce the Tamils to a minority status and subvert the demand for recognition politically of traditional areas of habitation. In the Sinhala majority areas where the economic pie was centered, life for the Tamils was made impossible and unsafe, as part of the overall strategy.
In recent years, the Tamils have been permitted to re-settle in some Sinhala majority provinces, without the recurrence of government-sponsored ethnic riots, because of the threat posed by the LTTE and other Tamil militant groups, and a strategy to show the world that the bad old days are a thing of the past. Every time a war is threatened by the LTTE, the Tamils in the Sinhala dominated provinces have to panic and rue their fate, as there is yet no guarantee that the change of heart is genuine. This phenomenon is also becoming the unfortunate routine in the lives of the Tamils in the north and east. On all fronts the objectives sought as part of the Dutu Gemunu strategy since prior to independence by the Sinhala political leadership have been nearly achieved by the Sri Lankan governments. The demand for self governance and independence from colonial rule was as much that of the Tamil leaders as that of the Sinhala leaders of yester year. The reward of independence for the Tamils has been only ever increasing misery. Is there any hope of reversing the trend and regaining lost time in the coming years and decades, for the Tamils? I do not think so, if affairs are permitted to continue as at present.
What have the Tamils done in the past six decades and what have we achieved as a result? Are we better off or are we worse off now as a result of what we have done? Is there any hope that our present strategies and approaches would make things better for us as a people or make them worse?

Page 30
30 TAMIL TIMES
Have the strategies we have hitherto adopted been appropriate for all the Tamils, considering their geographical distribution and differing aspirations. Have we got to accept that there is no one solution to the problems of the Tamils, considering their dispersion in the Jaffna peninsula, Vanni, eastern province and the rest of Sri Lanka? These are matters that require deep introspection from the Tamil community.
We have pursued in the past the parliamentary and democratic option to solve our problems through discussion, debate and persuasion. It did not work. We thereafter adopted the Gandhian strategy of peaceful public protest and civil disobedience. This too did not work. We thereafter whole-heartedly supported an armed uprising of Tamil youth, which evolved in to a vicious civil war. This too has not worked. However, when viewed as a composite, life has only got progressively worse for us in Sri Lanka since independence. In addition to coping with the evil machinations of the Sri Lankan government, we are now forced to bear the lethal burden of the militancy we emotionally, but irresponsibly succored, without establishing the necessary political controls. We are currently embarked on creating chaos in the Sri Lankan parliament through rowdy behaviour engineered by the LTTE and spearheaded by the TNA (Tamil National Alliance). I hope this is not to convey to the other peoples in Sri Lanka and the world at large that the Tamils are a bunch of unrulyhooligans! We are truly like the monkey that had its tail caught between the halves of the sawed log after thoughtlessly pulling the wedge out (“Aappillutha Kurangu”- Tamil). The Sri Lankan government is in a situation where it can watch with mirth not only the Tamils destroying each other, but also destroying everything that is meant by the identity of being a Tamil. They will appease the LTTE to their hearts content, as long as it does not disturb their peace with a new war, because the LTTE is doing what they would otherwise have to do, very efficiently. What the Sri Lankan governments achieved partially has been taken to near completion in the past twenty odd years by the lack of perspicacity and wisdom in our militancy. We are a forlorn people on the verge of being wiped out of the political map in Sri Lanka. We have been reduced to a state where we have lost control of our affairs as a people and have to hope and pray for miracles to deliver us from our tormentors and sad plight.
In the name of liberation (Viduthalai
Tamil), we have l (Suthanthiram-Tamil cept more profound th tion and cannot be pal gain. There cannot be ple without concomit individual. What is s not achieved liberati where in sight desp misery, bloodshed, go have not been liberate rule, but have been b( serfdom by the wise and other militant gr many Tamils are una current plight. I am re of the live turtles that alive in a cauldron ov cold water gradually were very happy coziness of the warm standing that they we meat Our love affair has been similar.
We cannot any lo or become what we under LTTE control decide this for us. W write of what we th: want, if it is frowne irrespective of where what to listen and wh to retain our right to of our choice matchec the womb from whi tancy was born. How is being thoughtles: LTTE, though its sub the schools and Univ and east. The freed( LTTE and other milit option for most Tam dissent was there du years of Sinhala mis ever benign it may be by death under the ru so-called liberators. sents is a traitor who respective of his orh wise and loyalty to Tamil lives have no Lankan government, erators. Our right to do not matter in the The "Movement has assumed prima The "Movement dot protect the people a ple have to live and ment” to thrive and claimed selfish obje has become the pr trends within the TI takably point that lib misrule, if achieved

ost our freedom |. Freedom is a conlan political liberat ofa Faustian barliberation ofapeoant freedom for the ad is that we have on either. It is noite thirty years of re and mayhem. We d from Sinhala misonded to additional men in the LTTE oups. It is sad that ble to perceive our minded of the story were being cooked 'er a fire. As the ice warmed the turtles and enjoyed the water little underuld soon be boiled with the militancy
nger be what we are want to be in areas or influence. They We cannot speak or ink or do what we d on by the LTTE, we live. We are told at not to. The fight bursue an education l to our abilities was ch the Tamil miliever, that very right sly trashed by the versive activities in ersities in the north »m to question the ants is no longer an ls. This freedom to ring even the worst rule. Dissent, how!, is now punishable les ordained by our Any one who disdeserves death, irær credentials otherthe Tamil cause. meaning for the Sri and to the Tamil liblife and livelihood games they play. (Iyakkam —Tamil)” y over the people. snot live and die to ny more. The peodie for the “Movepursue its self-protives. The liberator edator. The current amil polity unmiseration from Sinhala at all in the near or
FEBRUARY 2006
distant future through the efforts of the LTTE and other militant groups, will deliver the Tamil people lock, stock and barrel in to a serfdom modern man has seen in Pol Pot's Cambodia, the Taliban's Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein's Iraq. What can we as a people do in these circumstances and how should we chart our course in the future. The achievements of the Tamil militancy and the civil war have been:
l. The world has been made aware of the plight of the Tamil people and the injustice meted out to them in Sri Lanka since independence.
2. The unwillingness of the Sinhala polity or more appropriately the Sinhala dominated governments to find permanent political solutions to the Tamil problem have been universally recognized.
3. The hollowness, shallowness, brutality and political incompetence of the Tamil militancy (especially that of the LTTE) have been also universally recognized, although many Tamils are yet to be convinced of this.
4. The need for extensive devolution of power within the Sri Lankan polity has been widely accepted as the most acceptable solution by most Sri Lankans and the world at large, although extreme elements among the Sinhalese and Tamils have yet not accepted this.
5. The reality that Tamil Ealam as an independent nation-state is no longer a viable option in political or economic terms has been understood by most Tamils.
6. A Tamil Diaspora with the financial muscle, competence, vision and the will to invest in and develop the northern and eastern provinces with minimal support from the Sri Lankan government and international community has become a reality.
7. The belated realization that the Tamils in Sri Lanka, although a distinct group, are not homogenous and that this heterogeneity in terms of political, economic and social aspirations have to be recognized in any solution to Sri Lanka's political woes, has dawned.
In view of these realities, it is essential that Tamils forsake the armed militancy and violence as options in the struggle to obtain our rights within Sri Lanka. The federal constitutional option with extensive devolution of power to at least the northern and eastern provinces must be sought with the support of the international community. International and national-principally the Sinhala peoples, support must be actively canvassed in support of the federal option. An in

Page 31
FEBRUARY 2006
tense and conscious effort must be made to cultivate the international community and the right thinking (the majority) Sinhala people in support of our cause. The international community should be made to force the Sri Lankan government however intransigent it may be, to make the necessary constitutional changes promptly. The international community has the necessary leverage to do this at present. The Tamil leadership must be visionary and not shortsighted in their approach. Unrealizable goals, shortsighted responses, cunning and military tactics have to give way for enlightened strategy, farsighted goals and principled politics.
The welfare of the people must hold primacy over the battle for land and the movement must become subordinate to the people. Democratic politics based on the people’s primacy and space for diverse opinion should be permitted without hindrance within the Tamil polity and allowed to assume dominance. The covert pursuit of an independent Tamil Ealam and the trappings there of must be abandoned by the LTTE immediately, The killings of political opponents and dissenters must stop immediately and civility has to return to our political and social life. Bridges have to be built to the Muslim minority and mutual accommodations sought, while past mistakes are apologized for and corrective measures taken. The Sinhala people should not be viewed as enemies but as fellow citizens also demanding their share of sunlight. Their concerns need to be borne in mind while pursuing our demands.
The Tamil Diaspora should be encouraged to investin all aspects of development in the north and east without let or hindrance. The Tamil Diaspora should be encouraged to strengthen and maintain their links with their land of birth, without having to be supportive of the LTTE or its credo. International funds should be sought to develop the infrastructure in the north and east and guide the deployment of appropriate and ecofriendly modern technology in agriculture and industry. LTTE should transform itself gradually into apolitical movement, in response to political changes instituted by the Sri Lankan government and give up its ambitions to become a politico-military- industrial-business conglomerate, ruling the roost undemocratically in a future Tamil Ealam. The LTTE should divest itself of all the legal, semi-legal and illegal fund raising ventures it has built up over several decades immediately. It should refrain from coercive acts to achieve compliance of the
Radh :
Ms. Radhika ( former UN Special lence Against Wome the new UN Specia Children and Arme hold the rank of Ur eral (USG), the third in the UN system.
Coomaraswamy Sham Poo, who hel ily, after Olara Ota eight year stint. Otu north and the east ti cruitment of child sc was the first to hold September 1997.
Coomaraswamy will be to build awar war affected childrer critical stand again: rebel groups recrui which has been rou the United Nations. Sri Lanka has be countries that backe Office of the Spec which was on the ve last year for lack of Jayantha Dhana der-Secretary-Gene Affairs and one of th didates for the job of eral told IPS: “I am appointment ( Coormaraswamy a fe friend as the Specia the United Nations S Children and Armed Sri Lanka must 1 that one of the col
Tamil people and t
sary and unaccounte international comm mechanisms to safe interests of the Tami encouraging the LT groups to disarm. Tl forces presence in th ernprovinces shoul tandem with the di tant groups.
This is the road we are to retrieve li ourheritage and pu and prosperity. Will

TAMIL TIMES 31
ika Coomaraswamy ets top UNpost
Doomaraswamy, a Rapporteur on Viol, has been appointed Representative for i Conflict. She will der-Secretary-Genhighest ranking job
will succeed Karin l the post temporarunnu completed an hnu, who visited the ) investigate the reldiers by the LTTE, the post beginning
's primary mandate eness of the needs of I. She will also take a st governments and |ting child soldiers ndly condemned by
en in the forefront of d the survival of the ial Representative rge of closing down
TCSOl:C:S.
pala, a former Un'al for Disarmament e few declared canUN Secretary-Genhappy to learn of the f Dr. Radhika llow Sri Lankan and l Representative of ecretary General for Conflict'.
ake pride in the fact Intry's outstanding
) fund it's unnecesd for activities. The unity should set up guard the lives and s in Sri Lanka, while TE and other militant e Sri Lankan armed e northern and eastd be scaled down in arming of the mili
map to our future, if 1st ground, preserve sue a future of hope there be any takers?
human rights activists and a leading female professional has been selected for such a high level position in the UN system in an area ofvital national and global interest precisely at this important juncture, he added.
Besides Dhanapala, the only two other Sri Lankans to hold the substantive post of USG were Dr Gamani Corea, head of UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Andrew Joseph, Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Christie Weeramantry, a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague held the rank of USG, although he was elected to office and did not head a UN department and wasn't appointed by the Secretary-General.
According to the UN, the Special Representative is also expected to: Assess progress achieved and difficulties encountered in strengthening the protection of children in situations of armed conflict; raise awareness and promote the collection of information about the plight of children affected by conflict; encourage the development of networking and; foster international cooperation to ensure the protection and rehabilitation of children affected by conflict.
Coomaraswamy is also expected to be a public advocate and a moral voice on behalf of children whose rights and well being have been and are being violated in the context of armed conflicts.
She holds a Bachelor's degree from Yale University and post graduate degrees from Columbia and Harvard. Her late father Raju Coomaraswamy held the post of Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Development Programme when he headed its Asian Bureau in the 1970s. According to UN figures, about six million children have been injured in the last decade due to war. Additionally, there have been about two million child deaths in the last decade due to war, besides 13 million being internally displaced. Currently, there are over 300,000 child soldiers. The two most notorious recruits of child soldiers are the Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). (Source: IPS) O

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32 TAM TIMES
Abducted man found shot dead: Jan 15 - Tharmarasan Tharmaseelan, 37, who was abducted by unidentified men on 14 January night, was found on the
following day shot dead with his O hands tied behind. The body of Tharmarasan, a motorbike mechanic was found on Suruvil road in Kayts north-west of Jaffna. Tharmarasan was visiting his friend when four men entered the
house and took him away. Tharmarasan, father of five, is from Pandaitharippu.
-—
Youth shot dead: Jan 15 - Sellathurai Yogarajah, 26, who was on his way to a Hindu temple in Kodikamam, in Thenmaradchi in Jaffna district, was shot and killed by unidentified men in Thenmaradchi on 15 January, Sunday around 8:30 a.m.. The victim's body was found on Varani North lane near Suttipuram Amman temple located in Kudamiyan. Police in Kodikamam handed over the dead body to the mortuary of Jaffna Hospital.
Colombo security tightened: Jan 15 - Security in Colombo and its suburbs has been strengthened following warning by government intelligence agencies warned of imminent "terrorist' attacks on government strategic installations. Additional Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) soldiers have been deployed at the Katunayake international airport. Two more army sentry points have been set up in the beach road from Bambalapitya to Wellawatte parallel to Galle Road. Vehicles plying through this road are subjected to severe check by armed forces. Road patrols in Colombo and suburbs have been increased.
Three women shot dead: Jan 16 - Two young sisters, Bojan Renuka, 30, and Bojan Shanuka, 23, and their mother Bojan Arthanageswary, 51, residents of a house in Mudaliyar Kanagasabai Road in Manipay, close to the Manipay Hindu College, Jaffna district, were shot dead Sunday (15) night at 11.45 p.m. by gunmen, suspected to be Sri Lanka Army (SLA) intelligence operatives and members of Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) paramilitary, who entered the house and sprayed bullets at the residents, sources said. The father, Nagendran Bojan, 55, and brother Bojan Ullasan, 26, sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. The gunmen shot the victims as they were coming down the stairs from upper floor of a two-storeyed house.
Bojans are said to belong to a "maaveerar family' and Renuka was acted as the main character in a Tamil film "Amma' (Mother) produced by the Liberation Tigers' film division Nitharsanam. Mr Bojan Nagendram worked as the main co-ordinator of Jaffna St John's Ambulance brigade. The family was displaced from Kollan Kalladdi in Valigamam North and were residing in Manipay.
Two civilians, one SLAF soldier injured: Jan 16 - An Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) soldier manning a checkpoint in Anpuvallipuram in Trincomalee district was injured when an unidentified person lobbed a hand grenade around 8.30 p.m. In a separate incident, two Tamil civilians, Selvanayagam Mayooran, 35, and Sabaratnam Mathivathanakumar, 32, were injured when unknown gunmen fired at them at 10.30 p.m. Sunday (15) while they were going to their residences in Pallathoddam in Uppuveli Police division. All three injured were admitted to the Trincomalee general hospital. Mayooran and Mathivathanakumar are employees at a mechanical workshopin Veeranagar in east port town.
Ex-EPDP cadre shot dead: Jan 16 - Navaratnarajah Jegatheeswaran, 26, from Rajakiramam in Karaveddy, Jaffna was shot

FEBRUARY2006
| dead at 8.30 a.m. Sunday (15) allegedly by LTTE gunnen riding in a motorbike along NelliadyKodikamam road in Jaffna. Jagatheeswaran, who was said to | be a former member of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), was a father of four children and earned his living doing manual labor, loading and unloading lorries, aquaintances of the victim said. Nelliady is a thriving town with a bustling market located 5 km southeast of Point Pedro.
Two killed in Akkaraipattu: Jan 16 - Two Tamil youths Chandranathan Sasikumar, 23, also called Appuhami, a resident of Kurukkal Road in Akkaraipattu and Gopalakrishnan Suresh, 16, of RKM Road Akkaraipattu, were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Monday (15) at 12 noon at Deans Road in Akkaraipattu Town. Both victims were said supporters of Liberation Tigers. Both are masons and were going work on motorbike when gunmen following them in another motorbike fired at them at close range and escaped. Akkaraipattu lies in Amparai district, 64 km south of Batticaloa town.
SLA trooper killed in grenade attack: Jan 16 - A soldier of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) was killed Monday (16) night around 8.50 p.m. when suspected Tamil Tigers lobbed a grenade at a sentry located in the premises of Mannar General Hospital. A combined camp of the SLA and Sri Lanka Navy is located close to the Balamurugan Temple in the hospital premises. SLA soldiers fired in retaliation injuring a civilian who was sleeping on the verandah of the Balamurugan temple.
Man found shot dead in Urumpirai: Jan 17 - Body of Suppiah Murugan was found with gunshot wounds Monday (16) night at Urumpiray Junction along Jaffna Palaly road in front of Urumpirai Hindu College. Mr Murugan is from Trincomalee and was a resident of Navatkuly and working as a cook at a resteraunt in Urumpirai at the time of his killing.
Navy convoy attacked in Trinco: Jan 17 - A cycle bomb placed along the Nilaveli-Trincomalee road near a bus depot hit a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) bus convoy carrying soldiers towards east port town at the third mile post junction Tuesday (17) around 10:05 a.m. Initial reports said about eleven soldiers were seriously injured and are admitted to navy hospital, which is located inside the SLN eastern region headquarters in the east port town. The cycle bomb, detonated by remote control, had missed the target, according to Sri Lankan defence sources who blamed the LTTE for the attack. Meanwhile a SLAF helicopter landed in naval headquarters to airlift seriously injured sailors to Colombo. Following the bomb attack, Sri Lanka troops fired in retaliation killing two and injuring several civilians. Four of them were taken to Trincomalee general hospital.
Two SILA soldiers killed, one wounded: Jan 17 - Two soldiers were killed and one soldier sustained serious wounds in a Claymore explosion that took place in Sarasalai, 4 km northeast of Chavakachcheri in Thenmardchi, Jaffna district, around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday (17). The tractor, in which the three soldiers were riding, was hit by a Claymore mine that was fixed at Sarasalai on Kanakanpuliyady - Point Pedro road.
Tuesday morning, two dead bodies of civilians, Sithampari Kanesharatnam, 39, and Visuwar Krishnar, 58, who lived near Kovilarkandy Amman Temple, were recovered in a bylane near Kaithady bridge close to the A9 main road.

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One injured in Trinco grenade attack: Jan 17 - Unidentified person lobbed a grenade inside a Tamil shop located in the Madathady junction in Trincomalee Tuesday (17) morning. Mr.Thevatharsan, 25, an employee of the shop was critically injured in the attack. The shop was also damaged. The shop is located few yards away from the Trincomalee Police Headquarters along the Main Street in the east port town.
Muslim businessman beaten to death: Jan 18 - Mr Ahamedlebby Abthul Bahir, 35, was beaten to death and his friend Nahurthamby Athambaba Lebby, 25, was seriously injured by an unidentified Tamil group on Wednesday (18) evening 3.30 p.m. at Periyakalai in Akkaripattu in eastern Stri Lanka. Bahir and Athambaba came in a motorbike during a protest organised reportedly by the Tigers against the shooting incident in Akkaraipattu two days earlier. Athambaba escaped and took refuge in a closeby Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp. Local Muslim leaders have blamed the Tigers for the killing. Akkaraipattu is located 64 km south of Batticaloa in Ampara district.
Three more grenade attacks: Jan 18 - Four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were injured in three different incidents ofgrenade attacks in Kodikamam along Kodikamam-Point Pedro road, Kunjarkadai along Jaffna-Point Pedro Road and in Chavakachcheri, on Wednesday (18). One SLA soldier was injured when unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at the SLA checkpoint located 200 meters from Kodikamam Junction at 9.30 a.m. Two SILA soldiers were reported injured when gunmen lobbed grenades and opened fire at the SILA checkpoint in Kunjarkadai junction 3 km southeast of Nelliadi junction along the Jaffna Point Pedro Road 12 midnight Tuesday. However, SLA denied any of their troops receiving injuries after the incident. In Chavakachcheri, one SLA soldier was injured when unknown assailants hurled a grenade at an SLA patrol in front of the Chavakachcheri hospital 12.30 a.m. The army has balamed the LTTE for these attacks.
Batticaloa housewife shot: Jan 18 - A housewife in Kali Temple Road in Eravur, Batticaloa was critically injured by an unknown gunman who entered the house and shot her with a pistol while she was talking to her husband on Wednesday (18) at 7.30 p.m. The housewife, Ms Puvanenthiran Punitha, 19, mother of one child, was rushed to Batticaloa hospital and her condition is serious, medical sources said.
Medical officers demand security: Jan 18 - Ten Sinhalese medical officers working in the Mannar general hospital left for Colombo Tuesday (17) evening stating that they would not return for work until their security is guaranteed. About fifteen medical officers work in the Mannar general hospital. Of them ten are Sinhala medical officers, health sources said.Their action followed the grenade attack on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) sentry located in the premises of the hospital which killed a SLA soldier, health department sources said. Meanwhile, top health department officials from Colombo are reported to have contacted the Bishop of Mannar to use his good office to ensure security for these medical officers in the Mannar hospital.
Tamil MPs stage mock funeral in parliament: Jan 19 - Tamil parliamentarians on Thursday (19) continued their sit-in-protest for the third consecutive day in the parliament when it resumed sittings against what they described as killings and harassment of Tamil people by the armed forces under the State of Emergency. In a noisy protest they shouted, "Stop killing Tamil people, Stop genocide of Tamil people," and "Withdraw emergency regulations". When the parliament resumed sittings Thursday at 9.30

TAMIL TIMES 33
a.m. Tamil parliamentarians continued their sit-in-protest in the well of house, holding a mock funeral while Mr.M.K.Eelaventhan lying on the floor acting as a corpse. Several Tamil MPs were seen covering the body of Mr. Eelaventhan with white clothes from head to toes. Thereafter all Tamil MPs sat surrounding Mr. Eelaventhan and held "Oppari" according to Hindu rituals at a funeral.
Tamil MPs blocked the Speaker from going to his Chair through normal way. The Speaker thereafter reached the podium through rear entrance. Mr. Nimal Sripala de Silva immediately moved the extension motion of the State of Emergency for another month. The Speaker promptly announced that the motion was carried unanimously while Tamil MPs were occupying the well of the House with placards and shouting slogans against the government.
Civilians, 3 SLA soldiers, policeman wounded: Jan 19 - Ten civilians were wounded in a bomb attack on a Sri Lanka Navy Jeep and the retaliatory action by the army on Thursday (19) evening in Trincomalee district between Gandhinagar and Anuradhapura junction along the Trincomalee - Kandy Highway, 3 km southwest of east port town. SLA soldiers opened fire wounding civilians following the explosion. The bomb exploded around 4 p.m., according to the Police. Among the injured one is Sinhalese, two Muslims and the rest are Tamils. The names of the injured are:- Benedict (38), Vinotharajah (28) Kamalathas (48), Pakiarajah (24), Nawas (42), Arulraj (30) Ravichandran (37), Jeyachandran (34), Chandrasekara (38) and Mashoor (73).
4 killed, 34 wounded in Claymore attack: Jan 19 - Three police constables and a sixteen-year old boy were killed and 17 Sri Lanka Army soldiers, 9 policemen and 8 civilians, including a woman, were wounded in a Claymore mine attack by suspected Tamil Tigers at Thandavanveli in Batticaloa town around 4:55 p.m. on Thursday (19). Two vehicles, an SLA truck and a bus, carrying soldiers and policemen for a clearing operation were caught in the explosion. The wounded soldiers were airlifted to Polonnaruwa and Colombo hospitals. Around 20 T-56 rifles and ammunitions, blown away from the hands of the troopers in the powerful explosion, were recovered by the SLA soldiers who rushed to the site following the attack. Tension prevailed in Batticaloa town.
Police sources said they suspected two different sources of explosion, an anti-personnel Claymore mine attached to a tree and a bomb placed along the roadside, but said it was early to conclude that there was a combined attack involving two explosives. The attack took place on Batticaloa - Valaichenai Road near the CTB Bus depot at Thandavanveli in Batticaloa town. The three policemen killed in the explosion were identified as A.L. Gaffor, W.Wijeyakoon and M. Peter. The civilian killed in the blast was identified as Thivakaran Kathamuthu, l6, a resident of Kommanthurai, Eravur. Viyadevi, Roshalin, Pujenthiran, Sinnampu, Kamalathasan and Gajendra were the civilians wounded in the explosion. Additional troops and policemen, who rushed to the site, were conducting a cordon and search operation in the
aca.
Grenade attack on STF vehicle: Jan 20 - Suspected Tamil Tigers riding in a motorbike hurled grenades at a Special Task Force's (STF's) Buffel armoured vehicle on Friday (20) night 6.30 p.m. at Pandiruppu in Kalmunai, Kalmunai in eastern Sri lanka. The incident took place while the STF was on road patrol in the vehicle near Arasady Amman kovil in Pandiruppu. The vehicle sustained damages to the frame but no none was injured, according to police. STF soldiers fired at random after the gre

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34 TAMIL TIMES
nade exploded. No details are available on any injuries to civilians.
Man shot dead in Point Pedro: Jan 21 - Thamotharampillai Suntharalingam, 53, was shot dead along Thambachetty Road in Point Pedro in Jaffna on Friday (20) at 8 p.m. Suntharalingam was travelling towards Navalady on a motorbike when gunmen who followed him on another motorbike shot him in front of Mayakkai Pillaiyar Temple. Suntharalingam was from Athai in Karaveddy.
Navy Firefight in northern seas: Jan 21 - Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) patrol boats and two boats suspected to belong to the LTTE exchanged fire in Mathakal, Senthankulam seas west of Kankesanthurai Naval camp between 6.55 p.m. and 7.40 p.m., on Friday (20), SLN sources said. The two boats were moving in a suspicious manner and when the SLN opened fire the boats returned fire, SLNsources added.
Kayts businessman shot dead: Jan 21 - A supporter of Liberation Tigers was shot dead in Kayts, an islet off Jaffna peninsula, by gunmen alleged to be belonging to the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and Sri Lanka Security forces intelligence operatives on Friday at 8 p.m. Thurairajah Ravichandran, 34, a father of four, was shot dead at close range by gunmen who entered the eating house owned by him located in Puliyankudal junction in the islet of Kayts.
Two killed in grenade attack incident: Jan 21 - Two attackers were killed when policemen opened fire following a grenade attack at Chettikulam, where a policeman was wounded. Details of the two civilians in the incident were not available. The injured
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FEBRUARY2006
police constable was immediately admitted to the Chettikulam district hospital. He was later transferred to Anuradhapura hospital in a police ambulance. The sentry point of the Sri Lanka Police is located at Chettikulam junction along MannarMadawachchiya main road.
Home guard, driver shot dead: Jan 21 - Unidentified men shot and killed Nilantha Madugalle aged 26, a home guard and Mahinda Navaretna aged 34, a three wheel driver Saturday (21) around 8.35 a.m. at Serunuwara police division when they were going towards Mavilaru area. The home guard was in civil and was going towards Mavilaru when this attack took place. Serunuwara Police division is located in the down south of Trincomalee district, police said.
Transport operator shot dead: Jan 21 - Unknown gunmen shot dead a Tamil businessman and seriously injured his relative near Puttur junction along A9 road between Kodikamam and Chavakachcheri in Thenmaradchy in northern Jaffna around 4.30 p.m. on Saturday (21). Gunmen entered his business in Puttur junction and escaped after shooting at close range. Nadarajah Yogeswararajah, 30, also known as Indiran, owned an eating house near Veerasingham Maha Vidyalam in Puttur junction and also managed a travel service, was killed and his relative Nanthakumar, 23, was seriously injured in the incident. Reportedly, during the last several days, Indiran was busy organizing transport to Jaffna families attempting to move to Liberation Tigers controlled areas in Vanni through Muhamalai checkpoint in his fleet of Japanese made Cantor open trucks, residents of Puttur who knew Indiran said.
Youth shot dead in Batticaloa: Jan 21 - Subramaniam Kishor, 21, was shot dead by two gunmen riding in a motorbike along Sagaya Matha Temple Road in Mamangam Batticaloa at 6.00 p.m. on Saturday (21). The incident took place infront of Mamangam Pillaiyar temple located 2 km east of Batticaloa town.
Retired technical officer shot dead: Jan 21 - A retired technical officer in Thamaraikulam area Thunnalai Karaveddy in Jaffna was shot to death inside his home by unknown gunmen at 10.50 p.m. on Saturday (21). Gunmen who first asked Ilaiathamby Radakrishnan, 61, to come outside his home, and when he refused, forced themselves inside the house, shot him with a hand pistol at close range and escaped. Thunnalai residents said that Mr Radakrishnan had recently retired from his post as a technical officer at the Jaffna office of the District Government and has been working on contract positions in Liberation Tigers controlled areas.
Four STF soldiers injured in grenade attack: Jan 22 - Four Special Task Force (STF) soldiers were seriously injured in a grenade attack by unknown assailants in Kannagi village in Akkaraipattu at 7.30 p.m. Sunday (22), security sources said. The STF soldeirs were on foot patrol along Akkaraipattu-Sagamam Road when the attack took place. STF soldiers injured in the attack, JAmarasinge, 24, Sugath, 30, Jeyasri, 27, and Jeyasinghe, 27, attached Sagaman STF camp, were rushed to Akkaraipattu Hospital and later transferred to the Ampara hospital. The incident took place near the Hindu cemetary 6 km south of Akkaraipattu town. Akkaraipattu is located south of Batticaloa town 64 km in Amparai district.
Police officer injured in grenade attack: Jan 22 - Mr Karunaratne Ajith, 33, a Sri Lanka Police constable was injured when unknown assailants attacked Sunappodai, Batticaloa police sen

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try at 7.15 p.m. on Sunday (22). The incident took place near the Kallady bridge is located 2 km east of Batticaloa town.
3 SLA troops killed, 4 injured in claymore attack: Jan 23 - Three Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and four soldiers injured in a claymore mine attack on an SLA foot patrol in Urani, along Batticaloa-Valaichenai road Monday (23) morning at 7.45 a.m. Names of those Killed are: Upul Chandana, Tennekoon, and Kulenthirakumar; the injured are: Gamini, Thevarajah, and two army minors injured, names not known. The remotely triggered Claymore mine was fitted to a tree, initial investigations revealed, according to police.
Police officer injured in grenade attack: Jan 23 - M. Ansar, 34, a Sri Lanka Police Constable, was injured in a grenade attack by unknown assailants at Arasady Junction in Batticaloa Town at 10.45 a.m. on Monday (23). The incident happened in front of Peoples Bank, Batticaloa, where Mr Ansar was stationed on security duty. Injured constable was rushed Batticaloa hospital and is receiving treatment there, hospital sources said. Battialoa police sources said two men riding a motorbike men hurled the grenade at the security stand.
Meesalai trader shot dead: Jan 23 - The owner of an eating house in Meesalai, Thenmaradchy district in Jaffna, was shot dead along the A9-highway near the Chavakachcheri market by two men riding in a motorbike at 1.30 p.m. on Monday (23). Chandragajan Krishnagobi, was riding his motorbike from his eatery to Chavakachcheri market to buy provisions when unknown gunmen following him in another motor bike shot him at close range. A young woman was seriously injured when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers fired in retaliation following the shooting incident. Thevarasa Yasotha, 21, a young woman from Trincomalee who was visiting her relatives in Nunavil, was seriously injured by the SLA fire. She was visiting the Chavakachcheri market to buy provisions for her relatives when she was injured.
Teacher shot dead: Jan 23 - An unidentified gunman riding in a motorbike shot and killed a private tutory teacher on Goodshed Road, 1.5 km west of Vavuniya town around 5:00 p.m. on Monday (23). The victim, 35-year-old Kanagalingam Kamalachandran, who received seven 9 mm gunshot wounds, died on the spot. Afriend of the victim, Mr. Jeybathas, was rushed to Vavuniya Hospital with serious wounds, Vavuniya Police said.
Tamil journalist shot dead: Jan 24 - Mr. Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan, popularly known as SSR, a part-time provincial journalist working for the Tamil language daily Sudaroli was shot dead in his house along Church Road in Muttur town in Eastern port city of Trincomalee around 6.00 am on 24 January by two assailants who came on a motorbike and fired at him from close range. The victim was 35 years and farther of two children aged three and two. Sugirdharajan was a Trincomalee port employee as well as a journalist
In condemning the murder of the journalist, Reporters Without Borders said, “We are horrified by the level of violence against Tamil journalists. The impunity enjoyed by the instigators and perpetrators of these murders encourages more violence against the press We urge Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake to do everything possible to ensure that the police identify and arrest Sugirdharajan's murderers, as well as the murderers of Relangi Sevaraja and Dharmeratnam Sivaram, who are still at large."
Co-operative officer shot dead: Jan 24 - Mr. Ramalingam Suntheralingam, 54, a board member in Muttur Co-operative So

TAM TIMES 35
ciety, was shot dead on Tuesday (24) morning around 7.30 a.m. in the premises of his house in Muttur town in eastern Sri Lanka by unidentified gunman. The lone gunman had entered the premises of the victim's house, fired at him at close range and fled the scene. Mr Suntharalingam's wife is a Grama Sevaka (GS). Muttur Co-operative staff expressed shocked at the killing and said they were not aware of any activities by Mr Suntheralingam that would have made him target by any of the groups that are engaged in a killing spree.
Student shot dead: Jan 24 - In the escalating incidents of killings in Thenmaradchy area in Jaffna, a student from Varani Yakkalai area was shot dead by unknown gunmen at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday (24). Kandasamy Vaikunthan, 23, who was returing from classes from a privte tutory in Meesalai was shot dead in front of Kannki Amman Temple Varany Chuttipuram along Kodikamam Point Pedro road by unknown gunmen who followed him from his classes. Reportedly the victim was a member of a Maaveerar family. His brother, a member of Liberation Tigers, had died in combat earlier. The family of the deceased had recently moved to Vanni area seeking safety. Vaikunthan stayed behind to continue to his studies.
Solheim meets LTTE leader: Jan 25 - The meeting between the Norwegian Minister of International Development Mr. Erik Solheim and the Leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, began at 11:25 a.m. in Kilnochchi, LTTE officials said. The LTTE leader was accompanied by LTTE's Chief Negotiator Mr. Balasingham, LTTE's Political Head Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan, Head of Tamileelam Police Mr. B. Nadesan and Mrs Adele Balasingham, in his meeting with Mr. Erik Solheim and the Norwegian delegation.
The Norwegian Minister, upon his arrival at 10:35 a.m., had a meeting with the officials of NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) and a group of parish priests from Jaffna and Mullaithivu districts. Norwegian Minister was briefed on the detoriating humanitarian situation in prevailing in the NorthEast by the NESOHR delegation, according to Dr. Malathy, the Secretary of the Humanitarian Secretariat.
The NESOHR and the priests team comprised of Rev. Fr. M.X. Karunarathnam, the Director of the NESOHR, Dr. Malathy, Secretary of the NESOHR, Rev. Fr. A I Bernard, Rev. Fr.James Pathinathar, Rev. Fr.M. Ravichandran, Rev. Fr. M. Rex Sava, Rev. Fr. S Jude Amalathas, Rev. Fr. A. Jude Nixon, Rev. Fr. A.P Thiramahan, Rev. Fr. Anandakumar and Rev. Fr. Mathy Ilamparuthy.
The Norwegian delegation headed by Mr. Solheim to Kilinochchi comprised of Mr. Hans Brattskar, Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Odd Naustdal Deputy Director from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Mr. Sondre Bjotvedt, an Executive Officier from the Norwegian MFA and Second Seceraty to the Norwegian Ambassador, Mr. Tom Knappskog.
LTTE agrees for talks in Geneva: Jan 25 - The Tamil Tigers said that they had agreed to hold talks in Geneva with the Government of Sri Lanka on “smooth implementation' of the February 2002 Cease Fire Agreement. The announcement of talks came after discussions Mr Slheim had with Government leaders in Colombo and the LTTE leader Mr. Vellupillai Pirapaharan in Kilinochchi. The LTTE and the Norwegian Delegation addressed the reporters in separate press conferences at the Planning and Development Secretariat (PDS) in Kilinochchi.
Chief Negotiator and Political Strategist of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. Anton Balasingham, told reporters that the talks, expected to begin in mid-February, would be limited to the imple

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mentation of the truce which had come under increasing strain recently. Talks on further matters could only take place after complete cessation of the Sri Lankan military's violent repression of the population in Government held areas of the Northeast, he said. Mr. Balasingham pointed out that military repression against Tamil civilians had intensified in recent weeks, sparking the flight of several thousand families from Jaffna and many other government-controlled places.
"We will only talk of the smooth implementation of the CFA," Mr. Balasingham said adding that the talks would concentrate on the implementation of the clauses in the February 2002 agreement. The prevailing situation in Sri Lanka's Northeast had been discussed at length during the meeting. Mr. Pirapaharan had detailed the violence and harassment inflicted on the Tamil people by Sri Lanka's military in recent weeks, Mr. Balasingham said. The modalities of the talks, limited to the implementation of the existing CFA agreement, are to be finalized by both sides through Norwegian facilitators, he said. This new opportunity for peace was, moreover, intended to give the newly elected Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, “another opportunity” to take up the peace process, Mr. Balasingham said.
Two youths shot and killed in Jaffna: Jan 25 - Two youths were shot and killed in Jaffna in two separate incidents in Nallur, Jaffna, Wednesday (25) morning around 11:00. Unidentified gunmen riding in a motorbike shot and killed a youth on Konavalai lane in Kokkuvil East and another youth, around the same time, in Kondavil East on Potpathy lane. The victims are yet to be identified. Both the victims were riding bicycle when they were shot by the motorbike-riding gunmen.
Two UNP parliamentarians cross over: Jan 25 - Two senior opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarians have crossed over to the SL Government. The two Parliamentarians who crossed over from UNP are Chief Whip of the Opposition and Kalutara District MP Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe and Mr. Keheliya Rambukwella, Kandy District MP. Upon joining the Governing party, Mr. Rambukwella was sworn in as the Minister of Planning and Plan Implementation and Mr. Samarasinghe was later sworn in as the cabinet Minister of Natural Disaster Management.
There is much speculation in political circles that many more MPs from the opposition UNP are likely to cross over to the Government prompted by their unhappiness over the refusal of the current party leader, Ranil Wicktremasinghe. It would seem that Prof G L Peiris, who was Minister for Constitutional Affairs in President Kumaratunga's cabinet and later in Ranil Wickremasinghe's cabinet playing the role as Chief Negotiator in the Government delegation in talks with the LTTE, was prepared to cross over to the Government following talks he has had with President Rajapakse. However his move had been thwarted by strong opposition from the JVP which is a constituent of the
governing party.
Tamil civilian shot dead in Muttur: Jan 25 - Mr.Thambipillai Selvarajah (48) a mason by profession was shot dead by unidentified men on Wednesday (25) night around 7.30 p.m. close to the market in Muttur town in Trincomalee district. He was the second Tamil civilian shot dead by unidentified persons in Muttur town since Tuesday (24) morning and the third in the Trincomalee district. Mr. Selvarajah was shot dead in a lane near his house. Muttur Police rushed to the scene and began investigation into the crime.
US welcomes peace talks in Geneva: Jan 26 - United States

FEBRUARY2006
Department of State has welcomed the agreement by the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to hold peace talks in February in Geneva. United States Department of State Spokesman Sean McCormack issued the following statement in Washington, DC on January 25, 2006: “The United States welcomes the agreement by the Sri Lankan government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to hold peace talks in February in Geneva. We commend Special Envoy Erik Solheim for his effort to advance this positive development and fully support Norway's facilitation of the peace process.
As Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns said during his January 23 trip to Sri Lanka, this long conflict will end only when the LTTE and the government resume discussions, and the LTTE are convinced to stop using violence and acts of terror as political weapons. The United States and the other Cochairs of the Tokyo Donors' Conference - the European Union, Japan and Norway - have called repeatedly for a return to the negotiating table to work towards a stable permanent peace. The United States remains fully committed to the Sri Lankan peace process.
The United States commends the Sri Lankan government for its restraint in the face of recent provocative attacks and fully supports its efforts as it advances towards peace. We support the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. We call on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take immediate action to prevent violence and to uphold the terms of the Ceasefire Agree
ment.
We believe that the people of Sri Lanka desperately want to see an end to years of conflict. The United States will continue to support them as they take steps to bring peace and stability to their country."
Vessel with detonators captured in northern seas: Jan 27 - India was the source of tens of thousands of detonators seized by a Sri Lankan navy vessel that were to be delivered to Tamil rebelheld territory, an Indian captain said on Friday 27. The navy detained the five Indian crew members of the vessel, which was seized late Wednesday (25) off northern Sri Lanka, an area under rebel control, Commander D.K.B. Dassanayake said.
Raj, an ethnic Tamil, told Associated Press Television while in navy custody that he received the detonators from a Tamilspeaking Indian man in the southern Indian port city of Rameshwaram. Rajsaid his contact gave him detailed instructions on how to deliver the cargo. "I was told by this gentleman to take this and when we reach a particular destination, give particular light signals and people will come by boats and pick them up," Rajsaid. Raj, 25, said he was given 5,000 Indian rupees (US$160; euro 130) in advance and was promised an additional 15,000 rupees when he returned to India.
On Thursday (26), when the seizure was announced, the Indian embassy in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo declined comment. The seizure came after the rebels agreed on Wednesday to resume peace talks with the government next month after a lapse of nearly four years.
LTTE official killed in ambush: Jan 26 - An LTTE official, Major Kapilan, was killed and at least one cadre was wounded when a LTTE tractor was ambushed in LTTE held area in Vadamunai near Welikande in Batticaloa-Polannaruwa border on (26) Thursday around 9 a.m. The ambush group had used Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) to attack the LTTE tractor, according to LTTE officials in Batticaloa. Vadamunai is located 6.6 km southeast of Welikande.
The LTTE accused Sri Lankan intelligence operatives and "paramilitary cadres' of carrying out the ambush attack. The

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Karuna group in a statement has claimed responsibility for the attack within the LTTE-controlled area. Meanwhile, S. Puleedevan, the Director of LTTE's Peace Secretaraiat, speaking from Kilinochchi, condemned the attack on their cadres in the east and accused Colombo for playing "double game, betraying its pledge to cease the violent campaign." The attack on LTTE cadres within 24 hours of the much publicized agreement between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka, facilitated by Norwegian Minister Eric Solheim, to hold talks in Geneva does not bode well for building of trust between the parties before talks, he added.
Two attacks against troops: Jan 29 - Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops on foot patrol in Irupalai area along Jaffna Point-Pedro came under fire from unknown gunmen Saturday (28) evening, and in another incident in Chulipuram one SLA trooper was injured when unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at a SLA footpatrol. In Irupalai the gunmen hiding behind buildings opened fire and the SILA had returned fire, according to military sources. Areas around Irupalai, Kalviyankadu and Kopay were cordoned off and searched after the incident. Vehicular traffic and civilians using the approach roads to Irupalai were subjected to stringent checks.
Three wounded in grenade attack: Jan 29 - A 13-year-old boy, his 14-year-old sister, and their mother were wounded when unknown attackers lobbed a grenade on Saturday (28) night around 8:40 p.m. on the front-yard of the residence of a reputed trader in Vavuniya. The cause of the attack on the house of the businessman, Chandrakumar, the owner of Gopi Agency, is not known, the Police said. This is the fourth grenade attack to be reported in Vavuniya town within the past 7 days, sources said. A relative of Chandrakumar, J. Sarojinidevi, 36, and her two children, Sureja, 14, and Thamilchelvan, 13, were wounded in the attack in front of the villa of the house located on Kathiresan lane.
Tamil farmer shot dead: Jan 29 - Unidentified persons shot dead Mr.Thambiah Jeyarajah (50), fatherofsix children on Saturday (28) night around 9.30 p.m.while guarding his paddy crop in Lingapuram, a Tamil village in Seruvila division, down south of Trincomalee district. He was the second Tamil farmer killed in Lingapuram within two weeks' period. On 12 January, Mr.Thanabalasingham, another farmer, was beaten to death while he was in his watch-hut, guarding his crops. Thereafter about seventy Tamil families fled from the village through fear to LTTE controlled area in Eachchilampathu division seeking refuge, civil sources said.
CWC, UPF to jointly contest local elections: Jan 30 - Following two rounds of talks between the parties, the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) Monday decided to field candidates in the forthcoming local elections jointly as one group with a common symbol. Both parties have decided to strengthen the unity of all Tamil political parties and also to guarantee the political rights of upcountry Tamils, Mr.Chandrasekaran, UPF leader said "We have also decided to bring all upcountry political and other groups under one roof without weakening the political co-operation and unity with the Tamil political parties of the northeast."
Chulipuram student missing: Jan 31 - Ramanathan Ratheeskumar, 20, from Chulipuram east in Jaffna and a student at the Vaddukoddai Technical College has disappeared after leaving home on Thursday (27) to attend school, said his parents in a complaint registered with the Human Rights Commision in Jaffna on Monday (30). Ratheeskumar's parents also said that they have made

TAM TIMES 37
inquiries and have received confirmation from the Political section of the Tigers in Kilinochchi that Ratheeskumar did not cross the Muhamalai checkpoint into the LTTE controlled areas.
Police constable shot: Jan 31 - Ranjith Ratnayake, 30, a police officer attached to Pachchanoor police, was shot and seriously injured by unknown gunmen at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday (31), while he was duty at the Pachchanoor police post sentry. Mr Ratnayake was rushed to the Trincomalee Hospital and is receiving treat
ment.
Construction of 13,000 houses: Feb 4 - The World Bank funded North East Housing Reconstruction Programme (NEHRP) has commenced the second phase reconstruction of 13000 houses for the war victim families in the North East. NEHRP officials started distributing forms to collect necessary data to select qualified beneficiaries affected by the two decade-old war in the province to be included in the second phase, a press release of the NEHRP said. During the first phase launched in 2005, 3079 were completed of the 4904 houses selected for reconstruction work. (309 in Amparai, 501 in Batticaloa, 666 in Trincomalee 295 in Vavuniya, 484 in Mannar, 501 in Killinochchi, 513 in Mullaitivu and 1635 in Jaffna at district level). The reconstruction of remaining 1195 houses would be completed during February this year, NEHRP added in the press release.
The World Bank has provided financial assistance to reconstruct a portion of the ruined houses in the North East after cease-fire agreement was signed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on 22nd February 2002.
Halo Trust employee missing in Jaffna: Feb 5 - An employee of Halo Trust, an NGO engaged in mine clearing operations in Jaffna, is reported missing from Saturday (4) night. Gunaratnam Logithas, 23, from Kaithady in Jaffna district, was travelling to Chavakachcheri from his home in his motorbike when he was reported missing. Relatives have lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) offices in Jaffna.
Muslim farmer shot: Feb 10 - Mr.W.L.Najeebdeen aged 44 of First Division in Akkaraipattu in the Amparai district was shot and injured on Friday (10) morning around 8.00 a.m. by unidentified person when he was going to see harvesting in his paddy field which is located in Aanaivilunthan in Alankulam area. He was immediately admitted to the Amparai general hospital. The incident took place on Akkaraipattu-Amparai main road about 3 km off Akkaraipattu town in eastern Sri Lanka.
Vavuniya youth reported missing: Feb 10 - Sithamparanathan Thamileesan, 24, from Vavuniya, has been reported missing since his departure to Colombo on December 15th, his relatives said in a complaint to the Vavuniya Human Rights Commission (HRC). The youth had contacted home from Colombo on the 18th but since then there had been no news of him, the relatives said. Relatives added that they have lodged complaints on the disappearance with the International Red Cross (ICRC) and with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission in Vavuniya had informed the complainants, that the CID and the DIG of the police department in Colombo, on being contacted regarding this case, had said they had not arrested any youth named Thamilseelan.
Tamil businessman abducted in Colombo: Feb 1 - Tamil millionaire businessman and jewellery shop owner Vadivel Anandan (54) was abducted by an unknown armed gang on Wednesday (8) night at 11.30 p.m. near his residence at Alexander Road in

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Wellawatte Colombo was released by his kidnappers on Saturday (11). He was brought to Royal Private hospital in Wellawatta by the kidnappers and was admitted by them at the hospital saying that he was unwell and handed over his identitiy card to the hospital staff. The kidnappers, who had earlier demanded Rs 20 million as ransom to release the abductee, seem to have decided to drop the demand, after the news spread about the ransom, family members told media.
Eyewitnesses to the victim's kidnapping had said that men speaking Tamil and armed with handguns came in two vans and forced Mr Vadivel Ananthan Siva from Jaffna, into one of the vans before driving away. Mr Siva had closed his jewellery shop and was going back to his residence when he was abducted. 39 Missing Persons Found In LTTE ranks: Feb 12 - Human Rights Commission's Jaffna district officer Rohitha Priyadharshana said that 39 persons have been found, out of all persons missing in the Jaffna peninsula, from the 15th of December 2005 to 27th January 2006 in various ranks of LTTE. According to information Human Rights Commission had obtained, these 39 persons who were claimed to be abducted by the Armed forces by LTTE proxy media organizations had been recruited LTTE for the next Eelam war against the Sri Lankan security forces. Teenager with AKAMS-rifle caught: Feb 11 - A LTTE teenager, reportedly belonging to the LTTE, who entered the Urani area in Batticaloa for an undisclosed mission with an AKMS-70 rifle was nabbed by the troops Saturday (1 l) evening after his suspicious behaviour was brought to the notice of the troops, the Army Media Unit stated. Troops apprehended 15-year-old LTTE cadre on suspicion while he was loitering near the roadside. On interrogation the LTTE teenager revealed that he had come to the area with the AKMS-70 rifle to carry out a task given by the LTTE and he had kept the weapon hidden inside a roadside scrub. Troops acting on the information took the LTTE teenager into custody and recovered the weapon. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was informed. The LTTE teenager was to be handed over to the Batticaloa police for further investigations. Claymore mine, grenades recovered: Feb 12 - The Army has recovered a powerful claymore mine and five grenades at an abandoned house in Illavalai, Jaffna on 12 February. The mine and the grenades were recovered following a tip-off by a civilian, according to army media unit. Meanwhile, during the period from February 4 to February 10, 2006 a total of 12 anti-personnel mines, one anti-tank mine and two un-exploded ordnance (UXO) have been recovered from the general areas of Puttur, Ariyalai and Thanankilappu, in Jaffna and Kudakachchikudi in Vavuniya and Kokilai, Nilavely in Trincomalee, according to military sources. Grenades attack on TELO office: Feb 13 - Unidentified attackers lobbed grenades into Thamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) Batticaloa office wounding a party official around 7:45 p.m. on Monday (13). TELO officials alleged paramilitary cadres had targeted Indrakumar Prasanna, who is the General Secretary of TELO, a party in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) coalition. Mr. Indrakumar is the Chief Candidate representing the Tamil National Alliance in Batticaloa Municipal Council elections. TELO office is located on Sri Sabaratnam Road in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) High Security area in Batticaloa Town. A TELO official, Thambyappa Loganathan, 40, injured in the attack was rushed to Batticaloa Hospital. Mr. Indrakumar had left the office a few minutes before his office was attacked, according to TELO officials in Batticaloa. Reportedly the attackers lobbed five grenades, only three of the grenades exploaded.
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FEBRUARY2006
State of Emergency extended: Feb 14 - Sri Lankan parliament extended the State of Emergency for another month till March 7. Mr. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Prime Minister and the Deputy Defense Minister moved the extension motion when the parliament resumed its sitting Tuesday (14). The State of Emergency was declared last year on August 13, the day after Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister was assassinated at his residence in Colombo. Since then the State of Emergency has been extended every month with the approval of the parliament. Mr. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake moving the extension motics n said about 38 killings of civilians and security personnel had taken place in January. He recommended to the House to extend the State of Emergency for another month till the tense situation in the country eased. Fifteen-year gone missing; 15 Feb - The sudden disappearance of a teenager, reported to have been working for a leading tourist hotel in Nilaveli, Trincomalee, has been brought to the notice of naval troops by his mother on Tuesday (14) at about 6.45 p.m. Ms. Vela pushpakumari, the mother of 15-year old, Velu Rajan of 11th Mile Post, Nilaveli who approached naval troops has complained that her son who has been working at Nilaveli Beach Garden Hotel has gone missing since 12th February 4.00 p.m. The affected mother has lodged a formal complaint to this effect at Kuchchaveli Police station. Police investigations are in progress.
STF men in suspected killing of students detained: Feb 16 - The weapons used by the 11 Special Task Force (STF) commandos and two policemen, allegedly involved in the killing of five students in Trincomalee on January 2, have been sent to the Government Analyst for examination, police detectives said. The CID had also collected spent bullets and fragments of a hand grenade found in the vicinity of the incident. They said the suspects were being held in custody under detention orders under the emergency regulations. But they have reportedly denied allegations of having opened fire at the students. Three suspects arrested for transporting explosives: Feb 16 - Mannar Police arrested three persons, two Muslims and a Sinhalese, in two separate incidents when they were allegedly transporting dynamite sticks from outstations to Mannar Island. The Police recovered 125 dynamite sticks from one incident and about 100 in the other.
A Mannar bound passenger from Kalpitya was stopped Thursday (16) around 1.25 p.m. at the police check point at the entrance to Mannar town and was checked. Police officers found about 184 dynamite sticks concealed. Two Muslim youths were taken into custody for further interrogation. The second detection took place around three p.m. when a Mannar bound private passenger bus from Colombo at the same police checkpoint. The Police found about 100 dynamite sticks concealed in the bus. They took a Sinhalese person into custody in this regard. All three suspects are being detained in the Mannar Police and they are to be produced in court, police said. Grenade attack on TELO office: Feb 18 - Unidentified attackers hurled grenades at the the Batticaloa Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) offices located at the Sri Sabaratnam Road in Batticaloa town Friday night 9.30 p.m. Explosions destroyed a motorbike parked in front of the building and damaged the front entrance of the building. No one was reported injured. Police security at the office witnessed two attackers who had come in a motorbike. Although the police fired at the attackers they escaped unhurt.
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Eighth Anniversary Remembrance
in loving memory o Mrs Pakiaratnam Kandiah on the eighth anniversary of herpassing away on 3rd February 1998.
Fondly remembered and sadly missed by her only sister Parimalaratnam Thirunavukarasu of Yogarswami Abode, Colombuthurai, Jaffna, children Sivayogaratnam, Sivayoganathan, Sivayogeswary, Sivayogaiswaran and Sivayogan, Sons-in-law Varatharajah and Sivathasan, daughters-in-law Umasakthy, Sivayogi and Amirthavalli; several grandchil
dren and great grandchildren.
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స్క్రిణీ - Mrs. Regina Rajanayagam Sadly missed and fondly remembered by her beloved husband Rajanayagam, brothers Ratnam Jesudasan, Anton James and Prince, Sister Cecilia Lawrence, brothers-inlaw Dr. Arasaratnam and Nadarajah, sisters-in-law Anula Arasaratnam, Mrs Parames Selvaratnam and Mrs Mahes Sivayoganathan, niece Shamini and nephew Anton.
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is published for the benefit of
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ln Ever Lov Thanabalasingham Pararajasingham &
ln everloving memory of our dearest Aiyah and Amma respectively. We are grateful to God Almighty for blessi
Time, they say is a good healer. B.
Memories of the love and care you bestowed on us, wh Your everloving children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
-285 Malden Road, New
The First Year Remembrance
in ever loving memory of Rasamanie Samuel, on the first Anniversary of her passing away on 20th February 2005. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by children Chandra, lindran and Peter, son-in-law Rajeswaran, daughters-in-law Utaiwan, Lalitha and Mercy, grandchildren Nira, Suren, Monti, Manee, Mike, Tanya, Jonathon, Joel and Ezrie, grandmotherin-law of Pradeep and Allan, great-grandmother of Kishan, Prashant, Nicholas and Colin.
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FEBRUARY2006
ving Memory
Sivagamasouundaram Pararajasingham
a who departed this world, four years and eight years ago ng us through the love and affection of the two great souls.
ut the longing and vacuum continues.
ich fill our hearts with pride and gratitude will last forever. nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
/ Malden, Surrey KT36AH.
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Mohanadas, K. Samuel (18.1.35 - 4.2.97) Nothing loved is ever lost
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25, Eekathasi. Feast of the
Annunciation of the Lord, Jesus Christ
27. PirathOSan
28. Anawasai
Advance information
April 8. 11 a.n. Colombuthurai Yoga Swamigal Abhisekham and Guru Poojah at Shree Ganapathy Temple, 123 Effra Road, London SW 19. All Welcone.
At Bhavan Centre, 4A Cas
tletown Road, London W14 9HQ. TeI: 0207 381 3086/ 4608,
March 5, 6 p.m. Flute Recital by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
March 19, 6 p.m. Hindustani Vocal Concert by Sanjeev Abhyankar March 25. 6 p.m. Concert of Haridasa Devotional songs by Raichur Sheshagiridas

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FEBRUARY 2006
Bhushany Kalyanaraman Honoured
The presentation of Narthi Fine ArtSSociety's first "Lakshminarayana Award for Performing Arts" took place on 27th December 2005 during the Marghazhi Music Festival. Dr. VVSrivatsa, an emiment composer, musicologist and secretary of the Madras Music Academy presided as the Chief Guest and is seen presenting the Award to eminent carnatic musician Bhushany Kalyanaraman. Kum Lalitha MuttuSwami, well known violinist who spoke on behalf of Nanthi Fine Arts Society said that they were proud to present their first Lakshminarayana Award for Performing Arts to Smt. Bhusany Kalyanaraman. She hails from a family of musicians and is the daughter of Sangeetha Bhooshanam S.Kulasegarampillai of Sri Lanka. A leading carnatic musician in India today, she is an "A" grade artist performing regularly for All India Radio and Dhoordarshan. She also performs concerts in prestigious venues all over India and particularly in Chennai during the December festival.
The Tamil Nadu government honoured her with the title "Kalaimamani" in the year 2000. She is also a recipient of several coveted awards from leading sabhas in Chennai and other states in India. She is also an excellent teacher having students from abroad who visit and live in Chennai to learn music from her. She is a visiting Professor in Vocal Carnatic Music at the World renowned Kalakshetra Institute in Chennai
The Citation of Nanthi Fine Arts reads as follows. "The president, secretary and members of the Nanthi Fine Arts do hereby confer on Smt. Bhushany Kalyanaraman, The Lakshminarayana Award for Performing Arts in recognition of her outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of carnatic music. We present to her the citation and Gold medal and we pray that Lord Almighty shall bless her with long life and strength to render valuable service to the cause of music."
Australian NeWSletter
Sydney witnessed high pitched religious activities during January when religious personalities, academics and many others who are involved with religious activities or temples around the globe descended for the International Saiva Conference there. There are Hindu temples or places of worship in each state in Australia, even though the number of Hindus in its population is low. In such a backdrop, it was nothing but an honourfor Sydney that presumably has the largest Hindu population, to host such an international gathering.
Memorial meetings for Late Pararajasingamattracted larger than usual participants despite scorching temperatures in Melbourne and Sydney. It was clearly evident that late Pararajasingamhad developeda rapport With a cross section of Tamils in Australia during his uninterrupted parliamentary career. This was manifestly evident from the diverse groups that attended the memorial meetings.
Some parts of Australia experienced scorching temperatures during January and bushfires were rampant in parts of Victoria and New South Wales in the east Coast.
Sydney is back on track after the unusual chain of events that culminated in the race riots during the laterpart of last year and according to the best of indications, the authorities are taking all possible measures to ensure that such a situation
 

TAMIL TIMES 41
Grand Unveiling of Murugan Statue at The Batu Caves Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 29/01/2005
Some 50,000 devotees and tourists thronged to witness the Spiritual unveiling ceremony of world's talest Murugan Statue at the foothill of the Batu Caves Temple in Kuala Цитриr. Flowers from a helicopter Were Showered over the new 140 feet high Lord Murugan statute. The 2.5 M Malaysian dollar statue entered the Malaysian Book of Records as the tallest statue of a Hindu deity in the country.
it was Crafted by 15 Indian sculptors who worked more than 3 years on this project. Temple official are seeking Guiness Book of World Record recognition for the statue as the tallest Murugan statue in the World.
Cultural performance and devotional songs performed greeted the ceremony which ended at night with a stunning Show of fire Works.
“English in Action" Launched in Toronto
English in Action, a book authored by Mr. E. Sangarapillai under the pen name - E.S.P.GodSon-, was launched at an impressive, multicultural function held on 4th DeCenber 2005 at St. George's Manor Auditorium, Brimley Road, Toronto.
It was held also to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Author's career as a Graduate Teacher of English. He was decorated with a Gold Medal by his most distinguished old student, Dr. V. Balasubramaniam, Barrister and Solicitor, Roach Schwartz and Associates. The Chief Guest was Senator Arthur Eggleton, the Guest Speaker Dr. Balasubramaniam and the Hon. Tom Wapper, Member for Scarborough presided over the function.
does not arise again.
Tamil is recognised as a LOTE (Language other then English) subject in Australia and offered in school curriculum. It depends entirely on the number of students choosing Tamil as a subject, for any particular mainstream school, to offer it in its curriculum and therefore majority of students have the opportunity to learn Tamil at ethnic or weekend schools or at institutions like VSL (Victorian School of Languages). Although the number of students offering Tamil as a subject at school final examination is on the decline, controversy surrounding the examinations are for ever on the rise. Some Tamils are yet to be convinced of the fairness in the process, despite the fact that government agencies in respective state or territory are administering the examination in its entirety.
- Sivasupramaniam Sitsabesan
(ito RSenatorArthur Eggleton, Mr. E. Sangarapillai, Dr. V.Balasubramaniam)

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ANY TIME, ANYWHERE-YoU CAN GET THERE FARE, THE OTHERs WON'T COMPARE
SRI LANKAN AIRLINES Sfinkan COLOMBO from £410
NDA from £325 HONGKONG, BANGKOK SINGAPORE
KUALA LUMPUR from £360
Our phone lines AA 7 am to Ipm, Please ring O2O 8
Or book on-line, take your TIME and plan your
Linkair Travels Ltd., 361 London
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 43
παιτεί του Te:08452309262
ಲಿಂಷ್ಟ್ರಾ! Tel:02083402121
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3ist Maros.
cricket Tours 129s
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-- Main Agent For
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SRANKAN QATAR
ARLINES ARWAYS
WITH LINKAlF WECAN GET YoU THE BEST MAKE SURE YOUBOOK WITH LINKAIR
QATAR AIRWAYS COLOMEBO from £390 ధపడి
NDA from 295 GATws DUEBA from £215
SINGAPORE from £390 KUALA LUMPUR from £390
BANGKOKfrom 380 so47
7 days a week Nig BGéSG&S5 CO2COG&S
TRAVEL at your LEISURE www.linkair.co.uk
Road, Croydon, Surrey CR03PB

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