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Forces` success in the East to influence further military action
Thursday, 25 January 2007 - 7:32 AM SL Time
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Defence Secretary Colonel (retd) Gotabhaya Rajapakse yesterday said that the success of the ongoing security forces operations in the East would influence further action.
Speaking to The Island immediately after his return from the recently captured Vakarai region, Rajapakse asserted that the enemy suffered sizeable losses due to security forces action spearheaded by Special Forces and Commandos.
`What we have achieved in the East is significant,` the retired infantryman said. Fielding questions, he said that a change of tactics was crucial to forces` unprecedented success. `We adopted a strategy to suit the terrain and in the end it facilitated a successful assault on key LTTE bases,` he said, adding that the LTTE was on the run.
Dismissing claims of indiscriminate military action, the veteran soldier emphasised that the forces took every possible measure to minimize losses among the civilians as well as the fighting units. `We were not in an indecent hurry to smash their bases,`he said.
Unlike in previous occasions, the LTTE, he said had failed to carry out a phased out withdrawal. `They fled in disarray, leaving behind a large quantity of arms, ammunition, explosives and vehicles. They simply didn`t have the time and they may have expected us to call off the action,` he said. The army denied them the opportunity to remove some of their precious armaments including two 152 mm artillery, one 120 mm mortar, two 12.7 mm anti-aircraft weapons and two 30mm weapons. The recovered armaments were among the largest single recovery made in the eastern theatre.
The Defence Secretary said that the army and the Special Task Force (STF) conducted operations under extremely difficult conditions. Inclement weather had seriously affected the progress. In some instances troops had been forced to delay their push, he said. But troops fought vigorously to overcome obstacles, he said.
He acknowledged that one of the biggest impediments was the presence of large groups of civilians in the midst of the battle-field. The forces had been also concerned about the possibility of an accidental artillery strike on Vakarai hospital, he said.
The LTTE had a major base adjoining the hospital, he said. He accused the Scandinavian truce monitors, the ICRC and other international organisations of turning a blind eye to the LTTE activity near the hospital. Contrary to reports and statements issued by various interested parties, there had been ample food stocks and medicine in the area. According to Rajapakse, the LTTE had used sacks of rice to reinforce their strong points. Troops had also recovered sizeable stocks of fuel.
He slammed a section of the media for being biased. The same could be said about some of the international organisations. They desperately sought to impede military operations by shedding crocodile tears over the suffering of the civilian population. In fact, they prolonged the suffering of the masses by shielding a ruthless terrorist group which unashamedly manipulated the international opinion with the help of a set of crooked people.
In the Ampara District the STF had forced the LTTE to vacate over a dozen of its bases. The STF offensive had coincided with the army action directed against the LTTE in the Vakarai region. The STF operation, the biggest STF offensive carried out since the Oslo-arranged ceasefire agreement came into being in February 2002 had virtually forced the LTTE out of their permanent bases. Although the LTTE side-stepped the STF offensive thereby avoided heavy casualties, commandos destroyed their facilities that included a sizeable stock of arms, ammunition, explosives and vehicles.
Rajapakse said that the LTTE`s presence in the East had been considerably weakened. He admitted that Kockadicholai in the Batticaloa district remained under LTTE control. He indicated that security forces would go all out to wipe out the remaining groups. For them there was no option. They must either surrender of face the consequences, he said, sounding a warning to the LTTE based in the Vanni.
He explained the action initiated by the navy with the support of the Airforce to prevent the LTTE from bringing in fresh consignments of arms, ammunition and equipment. They played a crucial role in facilitating the ground offensive, he said. Israeli-built Kfirs launched from Katunayake inflicted sizeable losses on the enemy, he said. In fact, a direct air strike on a major LTTE base at Verugal believed to be occupied by self-styled Colonel Swarnam hastened their collapse. He also acknowledged that due to successful naval action the LTTE had failed to replenish units deployed in the East. He pointed out that the Sea Tigers too suffered substantial losses. They had been also evicted from their bases on the Batticaloa-Trincomalee coast.
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FreeThinker
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25 Jan 2007 01:40:26 GMT Report for Abuse
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I saw you doing that colonel ;-)
Edited By - FreeThinker - 25 Jan 2007 01:41:32 GM |
Thambi
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25 Jan 2007 01:47:09 GMT Report for Abuse
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North East de-merger could be lodged in the World Courts
TAMIL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - TCHR/CTDH
CENTRE TAMOUL POUR LES DROITS DE L'HOMME
(Established in 1990)
(UN accredited NGO to the World Summit on Information Society and the Warsaw Conference)
www.tchr.net
Ref : CD025/PR/2007
24 January 2007
The bloody conflict in the island of Sri Lanka is an ongoing agony. Since independence from the British (1948), the reluctance of successive Sri Lankan governments to accept the political rights of Tamils, set in motion 35 years of non-violent struggle. As this non-violent struggle was continuously suppressed by the security forces, militancy and armed struggle were born. This eventually led to a conventional war between the Tamil national liberation movement, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ? LTTE and the Sri Lankan security forces.
When one analyses the political scenario and the realities in this island - it is evident that since independence, the legislation passed by the Sri Lankan parliament was always in favour of the numerical majority - the Singhalese. Also, five well- documented racial or communal riots are proof of the agenda of 'Ethnic cleansing'. However the Tamils NEVER EVER retaliated violently against the Sinhala mobs who carried out those racial attacks. Unequivocal evidence proved that those riots were instigated and bolstered by the security forces and the Sinhala politicians. It is blatantly clear that ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka has been to some hideous extent successful. Today, there are about 500,000 Tamils from the North East in Western countries and 153,000 are in neighbouring India, (103,000 housed in refugee camps and another 50,000 live with relatives or on their own - permitted under Indian laws so long as they register with local police.). In the mean time there are more than 500,000 internally displaced people in the North East. It is obvious that since independence the Tamil population has been drastically reduced.
It is not widely known to the outside world that the Tamil national liberation movement, the LTTE, was born only in the 70s and commenced its resistance towards the end of 1983. Until this period there had been no defensive measures taken by the Tamils.
During the five communal riots ? thousands of Tamils were killed, billions worth of wealth was looted and properties were burned down by the Sinhala mobs and the Tamils living outside the North East were transported to the Tamil hereditary land - the North East, for their safety. However the North East is no exception to this well-planned ethnic cleansing. Sinhala colonisation is in progress there. (Refer to Colonisation report of the TCHR ? http://www.tchr.net/colanization.htm)
Even though the Tamil resistance had its repercussions - unlike the outcome of those five riots, they were able to defend their hereditary land and have eventually established a de-facto government with responsible systems and structures. In the 1977 general elections, the people in the North East overwhelmingly voted for their right to self-determination. But this democratic mandate of the Tamil people, was deliberately ignored by the Sri Lankan government.
Sri Lankan governments have failed to negotiate a peaceful political settlement to the Ethnic issue, and have continued to maintain a policy of violent suppression. Due to the extent of the failures and the lack of success in military operations - the Sri Lankan government changed its strategy. They made use of the International community to support their ethnic cleansing and genocidal policies. Sri Lankan missions in Western countries started to supply fabricated and exaggerated information on the ethnic issues, to the International community. Some countries went to the extent of banning the LTTE. Also a few countries supplied modern weapons to Sri Lanka.
But all this has changed to a certain extent in recent years, especially after Mahinda Rajapaksa became President. The international community which observed the dictatorial and genocidal policy of Sri Lanka, started to raise their concerns. For example, in the last session of the UN Human Rights Council ? seven countries, the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights and many International Human Rights NGOs expressed their disquiet.
This expression of deep concern by the international community, alarmed Sri Lanka and their think tank changed its strategy. They advised the government to instigate local judicial processes on matters regarding the recognition of the Tamils and their hereditary land. This motivated various Sinhala political parties and Lawyers to file cases in the Supreme Court.
From time to time, the Sri Lankan judiciary staged its political dramas to serve the needs of the government. It is well known that the judicial system in Sri Lanka is biased and it is the mouth piece of the government. More than 95% of the judges of the Supreme Court are Singhalese, planted in this top organ of the judiciary and known for their one-sided views.
The judgement of the Supreme Court in 2005, on the illegally erected statue of Buddha in the Eastern town of Trincomalee is a perfect example of this. It clearly shows ethnic bias. Then a case was filed against the Tsunami agreement ? PTOMS, which aimed to ensure equal distribution of Tsunami aid to the worst affected North East. This case too, received a biased judgement from the Supreme Court. Both cases denied justice to the Tamils.
After the successful staging of these two dramas by the Supreme Court, the case on the de-merger of the North East was filed by the same petitioners who had filed the case on the PTOMS.
For more than a few millennia, predominantly Tamils have lived in the North and East ? their hereditary land. The merger of the North Eastern province took place on 8 September 1988, under an international agreement, signed between India and Sri Lanka on 29 July 1987. Under this agreement, the North and East were merged by a special decree of the Executive President of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan constitution does not require any parliamentary endorsement to any decision made by the Executive President.
Eighteen years after this merger, after preparing the ground for this case to be heard in the Supreme Court - last year the demand for the de-merging of these two provinces was filed. The Supreme Court delivered its 'political decision' on this case on 16 October 2006, stating that the merger of these two provinces by the then President was invalid. The current President is deafeningly silent about the judgement of the Supreme Court.
Of course, the International community including India was not happy about this decision. As usual, some Sinhala politicians and a few Ministers expressed their displeasure. This is to balance the outcry of the international community.
The late J. R. Jeyawardena who introduced the Executive Presidency, once said that there is only one thing the Executive President in Sri Lanka cannot do - 'it is unable to convert a man as woman and vice versa'. The powers of the Executive President in Sri Lanka are so wide that he or she can settle affairs and implement decisions without depending on any parliamentary majority or any other legislation. But here the man with Executive powers is silent on the question about the de-merging of the North East.
The Indo-Sri Lankan accord may have its failures, but it is a significant international treaty signed between states. Some important clauses in this accord were implemented with much bloodshed and loss of life. In such a situation, is it possible to accept a de-merger through a biased political decision in the name of a judgement of the Supreme Court? In this case, as in the other cases, the Supreme Court bench comprised only Sinhala judges, patently ignoring the ethnic dimension and the proportions of the case.
If this judgement is acceptable to the people and the Executive President of Sri Lanka, then what would happen if some political party in India, challenged in the Indian courts that the Indian authority is under obligation to demand that the Sri Lankan government returns the Arms which were surrendered by the LTTE, under the Indo-Sri Lanka accord?
Also what would happen if a Political party in India challenged in the Indian Supreme court, the pact signed by Indira Gandhi in 1974 on 'Kachchathivu', stating that it is null and void and the island (Kachchathivu) should be returned to India? 'Kachchathivu' is an island between India and Sri Lanka which was handed over to Sri Lanka during Indira Gandhi's premiership. This is still a burning issue in Tamil Nadhu. The people of Tamil Nadhu never agreed that this island be handed over to Sri Lanka.
All these relevant facts, may lead to international friction, and could endanger the maintenance of international peace and security in this region. Therefore, the Indian authorities could report this breach of International agreement to the United Nations Security Council - under Chapter VI of the UN Charter, articles 34, 35 and 36. If the Indian authorities could make this complaint to the United Nations Security Council, eventually this complaint would lead to a hearing in the International Court of Justice ? ICJ (Hague), which is also known as the World Courts.
Peace-loving citizens of this world should appeal to India requesting that the matter be reported to the United Nations Security Council.
Now it is apparent to the International Community that the Tamils will never get any political rights or justice regarding the systematic human rights violations that they have been undergoing for decades. The Sri Lankan security forces enjoy maximum impunity. There is not a single case where the judgement has been based on law which meets the minimum international human rights standards, rather than ethnic identity. Even in the few cases where security personnel were found guilty in the High court, judgements have been reversed by Sinhala judges in the Supreme Court. Anything good for the Tamils has no place either in Parliament or in the Courts. We could quote hundreds of well documented examples.
Reflecting on the way in which the Sri Lankan judiciary is staging dramas, we presume that the next pending case to be filed in the Supreme Court will be that 'the Tamil people have no claim to this island'. As soon as this case is filed, they will have a positive political decision in the name of judgement from the Supreme Court. Then ALL THE TAMILS in the Island, irrespective of whether they are Ministers or lobbyists ? and mercenaries too, will be compelled to become Singhalese. Then it will simply be a matter of changing the last letter of their names, which mostly end in 'N', 'M' and 'H' to 'A' and 'E'.
Edited By - Thambi - 25 Jan 2007 01:53:52 GMT |
Thambi
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25 Jan 2007 01:47:48 GMT Report for Abuse
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COLOMBO (AFP) - A leading human rights group has slammed Sri Lanka for conscripting hundreds of child soldiers to fight against Tamil rebels, saying the police had turned a blind eye to the practice for years.
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New-York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the government of 'hypocrisy', saying in a 100-page report that Colombo was guilty of the same practice for which it had denounced the Tamil Tigers.
'After years of condemning child recruitment by the Tamil Tigers, the (the Sri Lankan) government is now complicit in the same crimes,' said HRW child rights advocate Jo Becker in a statement.
The rights group confirmed a
United Nations charge in November that Sri Lankan forces were collaborating with a breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers known as the 'Karuna group' in rounding up youngsters to be enlisted.
'The governmentÂ-146;s collusion on child abductions by the Karuna group highlights its hypocrisy,' Becker said.
HRW said its charges were backed with case studies, maps and photographs showing how government forces helped the Karuna faction recruit boys as combatants.
'It (the evidence) shows how Karuna cadres operate with impunity in government-controlled areas, abducting boys and young men, training them in camps, and deploying them for combat,' the report said.
The report said the government was fully aware of the abductions, but allowed them to happen because it was eager for an ally against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The LTTE's de facto deputy, V. Muralitharan, better known as Colonel Karuna, led a split in March 2004 and has since allied himself with government forces in his stronghold of the island's east.
The latest HRW report follows allegations by senior UN official Allan Rock, who first drew attention to Colombo's alleged complicity in child recruitment.
The HRW said Karuna loyalists forcibly took away children from their homes, temples, play grounds, public roads, and even from a wedding reception.
The United Nations ChildrenÂ-146;s Fund (
UNICEF) has documented more than 200 cases of child recruitment by the Karuna group.
But the real number is certainly much higher due to under-reporting, UNICEF has said.
The HRW also slammed Sri Lanka's police for indifference to complaints of child recruitment.
In some cases, police reportedly refused to register parentsÂ-146; complaints, the HRW said, adding that in other cases, the police accepted the allegation but failed to undertake a proper investigation.
Police are not known to have secured the release of a single child, the report said.
Both Karuna and the Sri Lankan government have denied that they were involved in enlisting underage combatants.
The Karuna group late last year promised the UN to issue policy statements banning child recruitment, to release any child found among cadres and to provide UNICEF with access to their camps, the HRW noted.
There is no sign yet that these commitments are being honored, the report said, adding that the Karuna group continued to abduct boys and young men in November and December 2006.
Responding to Rock's findings, Sri Lanka promised an investigation, but also used state machinery and military officials to question his credibility and motives.
The LTTE has a long history of abducting children into its forces, to use them as infantry soldiers, intelligence officers, medics, and even suicide bombers, according to the HRW.
A UN Security Council working group on children and armed conflict is to meet next month to consider violations against children by all parties to Sri LankaÂ-146;s conflict which has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.
Edited By - Thambi - 25 Jan 2007 01:49:00 GMT |
Swathi
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25 Jan 2007 01:48:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Can the forces liberate all areas whether North or East? Thats crucial...if can't then all these operations are futile! |
Thambi
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25 Jan 2007 01:49:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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Well,
did you notice your animalism in upcountry ?
Five Tamil civilians beaten-up in Matale
Five upcountry Tamil civilian passengers were injured when a group of Sinhalese hoodlums attacked a State owned passenger bus in Udathanna in Matale Monday evening, while the funeral of a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier killed in Vaharai military operation against the LTTE was taking place, sources in Matale said.
The attackers ordered the Tamil passengers to get down from the bus, and beat them with with poles seriously injuring two of the passengers.
SLA soldiers on security duty closeby stood by.
At least two female passengers were injured, media sources said.
The injured had lodged complaints with the Matale Police, sources said.
Edited By - Thambi - 25 Jan 2007 01:50:28 GMT |
Thambi
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25 Jan 2007 01:52:48 GMT Report for Abuse
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Colong
North East de-merger could be lodged in the World Courts |
FreeThinker
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25 Jan 2007 01:53:57 GMT Report for Abuse
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I'm just counting the days until the peace(piece) brigade intervens and call a time out (on humanitarian grounds - of cause)and stop the current offencives.
And start preaching how this war can never be won and how civilians get killed and how strong the ltte, blah blah blah...
then we can all enjoy the all new season of 'piece talks comedy'
And this time we can have 'Aunty' as the new show host!
in the absense of Bala
Edited By - FreeThinker - 25 Jan 2007 01:56:37 GM |
Ragu2006
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25 Jan 2007 01:56:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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National Leader East Tamil Eelam Col. Karuna amman:
Thank you so much for liberating our people from Vanni LTTE terrorists. Now support to liberate North East people from Vanni LTTE terrorists. We give full of our support. Couple of Vanni LTTE terrorists supporters are dreaming their dream eelam. Everyday each one get killed. Their leader fisherman is our next target |
Thambi
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25 Jan 2007 01:56:38 GMT Report for Abuse
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And start preaching how this war can never be won and how civilians get killed and how strong the ltte, blah blah blah...
teh D-DAY is not that far , the sinhala rasim did not use the opportunity to end the war and fine peace , instead looking for more and more blood bath , poor creatures . |
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