Tamil Sydney

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi orders probe into 'export' of explosives to Sri Lankan Army

After the police in Tamil Nadu found a vehicle carrying a huge quantity of explosives meant for Sri Lanka, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today ordered officials to ascertain whether any business house was exporting explosives without the Centre's knowledge. Karunanidhi, who is in New Delhi, issued the order to the police after Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony denied that the Centre had allowed the export of explosives to Sri Lanka.

Cease-fire agreement (CFA) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL)
The ceasefire agreement between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), signed on 23rd February 2002, created confidence among all that it will lead to a lasting solution in the island. The reason for this heightened confidence is the ceasing, sustained for a length of time, of direct clashes between the two parties that were previously engaged in a two decades long war.

Four months after the closure of A9, Jaffna’s economic lifeline, bakeries are closed, and shelves in the co-operatives and private shops are empty, as stocks have depleted and fresh supplies dwindled. Assurances given by the Government of Sri Lanka to provide sufficient food and essentials to Jaffna Peninsula have only brought in supplies of rice and lentils by sea. There's no sugar, oil, milk, the basics. People queue from morning until afternoon by the special military shops run by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) adjoining their camps for a rationed amount of essential commodities. Colombo appears adamant to continue to prosecute the food war with Jaffna residents.

How the Colombo’s media mouthpieces of the Sri Lankan Government try their best to project these collaborators and informers as messiahs of Eelam Tamils is indeed worth a post-graduate dissertation, for any young aspirant. Last month, septugenarian Veerasingham Anandasangari was honored in Paris with the 2006 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh prize. For quite a percent of Eelam Tamils, this so-called 'humanitarian award' to a chameleon politician who isn’t known for any creative output whatsoever for the benefit of his people, and who hasn’t authored a single book in any language (including his own mother tongue Tamil!) on any theme of societal interest, was a supreme puzzle.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse made a televised address to the nation on Wednesday night announcing the reimposition of the country’s notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The PTA, which was revoked after the 2002 ceasefire was signed with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), gives the security forces sweeping powers to detain and interrogate “terrorist suspects” without trial.

I remember my grandfather telling me how in the Second World War on Christmas Day he played cards with the German soldiers on the front line. For one day, there was peace. Surely for one day in Sri Lanka not a bomb could go off, not a bullet could be fired. The United Nations should call on the people of Sri Lanka to demonstrate that goodness does prevail in the world with a day of peace on 26 December 2006.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament Mr K Sivanesan has today sent the Eela Tamils' gratitude to the Honourable Chief Minister, political parties and the 80million people in Tamil Nadu state for their continued support to the Tamils of Eelam. He thanked the political parties that are putting the suffering of the Eelam Tamils at the forefront of Indian politics and working tirelessly to stop India from aiding Sri Lanka in its war against the Tamils.

Prevention of Terrorism Act, suspended for 5 years has again come into force. The Prevention of Terrorism Act, introduced during the J.R,Jayawardene regime, was upheld by every successive Sri Lankan government with amendments. Likewise, President Rajapakse’s government has also brought into force the PTA with certain amendments.
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13 tamil civilians injured in Sri Lankan Army shelling in Vaharai

Sri Lankan military has been shelling from Mahinthapuram and Kallaru military camps towards the Vaharai area from last night. At 11.30am today, Sri Lankan military fired artillery shells fell inside the Patchenai school, converted into refugee camp, in Vaharai, injuring many civilians. So far 10 serious injuries to civilians have been reported. SLMM has been informed of the attack on the refugee camp.

Human Rights in Sri Lanka

Human rights violations are on the increase and humanitarian rules have been violated in Sri Lanka. The situation is worsening in recent times. This is not an accusation made against the government from within Sri Lanka. This is an accusation made by an international expert panel from outside Sri Lanka. This group has appealed to the UNHCR to take these violations into consideration and to take appropriate action against the Lankan government.

Robert O. Blake, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka paid a sudden visit to Jaffna Thursday and met with Jaffna Bishop Rev. Thomas Soundaranayagam at the Bishop's House, and discussed the current situation in the Jaffna peninsula, source in Jaffna said. The Rev. Bishop stressed on the urgent need for the Co-chair countries to exert due pressure on the Sri Lanka government (GoSL) to restore peace in Sri Lanka, Bishop's House sources said.

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