‘Whether they are Tamil, Sinhala or Muslim, it’s our children we lost from the war, so we do not want war, we want peace’
Sri Lankan mother of two Chandi Rajamanthree says she would rather see her two young sons starve to death than fight in an ethnic conflict that left their father disabled.
Her husband has made a partial recovery since he was badly injured in one arm and one leg when the feared sea arm of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sank his Israeli-made naval fast attack boat in 2000. A ceasefire two years later still holds, on paper, but the military and rebels are now embroiled in a low intensity conflict that many fear could reignite a two decade war that has killed over 64,000 people.
“I’m fortunate. At least my husband is alive, even as a disabled sailor,” Rajamanthreeshe said on Wednesday night as she waited with her sons - aged four and eight - to commemorate the more than 22,000 servicemen killed in the protracted conflict.
“I don’t accept war and I will never send any of my children to war, even if they died from starving,” she added, dressed in a white saree of mourning. “I will give them a good education and a good future.” She joined thousands of war widows and relatives of fallen servicemen who gathered at this memorial park near the ancient hill capital of Kandy in Sri Lanka’s tea growing central hills to light oil lamps and offer flowers to the dead.
Many of them have not been as fortunate as Rajamanthree. “I’m still awaiting the arrival of my son, who went missing in the battlefield eight years ago,” said 65-year-old NG Bissomanike, tears falling from her eyes. “Whether they are Tamil, Sinhala or Muslim, it’s our children we lost from the war, so we do not want war, we want peace,” she said.
More than 400 soldiers, sailors, civilians and rebels have been killed since early April in a quickening pace of tit-for-tat attacks, ambushes and shootings between the foes.
Several ethnic Tamil children, including a four-month-old child and a four-year-old boy has been shot dead in attacks. The military and the rebels each blame on the other side. Sri Lanka’s military says more than 82,500 servicemen have deserted the armed forces since the war began in 1983. Around 30,000 have been pardoned, but the remainders are still on the run, scared to go up against one of the most feared rebel groups in the world.
Some relatives of the fallen think it is time to wage war on the Tigers and their demands for a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the north and east, where the rebels already run a de facto state. “The only solution is war,” said police constable GA Wenura Perera, wearing a camouflage uniform and carrying an automatic rifle as he lit a clay lamp in remembrance of his elder brother, who was killed in action in 1995. “If they hit us we should hit them back,” the father-of-two said.
(http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp?page=2006\06\09\story_9-6-2006_pg4_26)
Friday, June 09, 2006
Army penetration attack wounds four health officials in Sri Lanka by Anne Stanley
On Thursday, the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) exploded a claymore mine and three explosives in Akkarayan- 20 km from Kilinochchi, the rebel capital. In the attack, four health officials from the Tamil Tiger operated Mobile Medical Services were wounded.
As the health officials were traveling back to Kilinochchi following a routine visit to rural villages in Mannar, the claymore mine hit the vehicle and damaged it while severely wounding a nurse and the driver, says local officials to TNS.
This attack comes shortly after yesterday's pressure mine explosion in the east by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) where nine civilians, including three children, were killed and fourteen were wounded. In that explosion, rebel sources said that the SLA troopers moved beyond the Forward Defense Line of the LTTE controlled area to administer the attack.
Through such attacks, SLA is trying to penetrate LTTE controlled areas by tactically forcing civilians to flee the borders of LTTE controlled areas, the sources further said. In addition, a similar attack took place in Thikiliveddai, another LTTE controlled border area, where two young boys were killed in ambush on farmers traveling in a tractor.
Even though the military has denied that its forces had been operating behind rebel lines, few diplomats and journalists in the capital Colombo believe them.
Low Expectations as Violence Rises
Despite the rising violence, the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE have begun talks separately with the Norwegian facilitators in Oslo regarding the safety of the SLMM monitors. Following repeated broken promises by successive Sri Lankan Governments in a series of peace talks over the last 20 years, civic leaders in the North and East of Sri Lanka are not placing any expectations of returning to normalcy following current talks.
Both parties last met in February where they agreed to de-escalate violence. However, a covert war continues as innocent civilians are frequently affected by the violence. This is pushing the country onto the brink of re-entering into a war that has killed more than 80,000 people.
(http://www.tamileelamnews.com/news/publish/printer_5422.shtml)
Two workers killed in SLA deep penetration attack
A trainee caretaker and a Sinhalese driver of a water supply contractor, Thummara Enterprises, were killed in a Claymore attack carried out by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit attack in LTTE controlled Mannar district Thursday at 12:50 p.m., Tamileelam Police officials said.
The victims were identified as Alocious Rex Sasiharan, 24, the trainee caretaker and H.M.Amarasekara, 45, the Sinhala driver of the blue color pickup vehicle with registration number CPHF 5832, Police officials said.
Mannar district field commander of the LTTE was travelling in another vehicle on Periayamadu - Pallamadu Road, 5 minutes behind the civilian vehicle that was ambushed by the deep penetration unit, Police officials further said.
The DPU ambush has taken place 4 km from Periyamadu.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18438)
The trainee caretaker was on his way to inspect a water supply project that supplies water to Vidthaltheevu island.
The bodies were handed over to Adampan District Hospital.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
4 health officials wounded in deep penetration attack in Vanni
Four health officials of Tamileelam Health Service Mobile Medical Service were wounded when Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) exploded a Claymore mine together with three explosives. A nurse and the driver of the vehicle were seriously wounded in the attack that took place at Akkarayan, 20 km from Kilinochchi around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Police officials in Kilinochchi said. Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials visited the attack site.
The vehicle belonging to the Tamileelam Health Service was damaged in the attack that took place, west of Akkarayan junction towards Mulankavil, at 9th Mile Post.
The doctor, Ms. Theva, is from LTTE's Medical Unit. Two women nurses and the driver were civilian workers employed in Tamil Eelam Health Services.
The Claymore mine was detonated from 60 meters distance. Three other explosives were planted in 3 meters distance to explode jointly with the Claymore mine, Police officials who inspected the site explained.
The Claymore mine hit the vehicle which was returning to Kilinochchi after a routine visit to rural villages in Mannar providing medical services, according to Tamileelam Police officials.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18436)
Two Sinhala workers killed in SLA deep penetration attack
Two Sinhala workers of Thuppara Enterprise, a water supply company, were killed in a Claymore attack at Sannar in Periyamadu, an LTTE controlled area, in Mannar district around 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Tamileelam Police officials said.
One of the victims was identified as H. M. Amarasekara, 45. The other victim is yet to be identified. They were riding in a vehicle, with registration number CPHF 5832, Police officials said.
A vehicle with a Mannar district field commander of the LTTE was riding 5 minutes behind the civilian vehicle that was ambushed by the deep penetration unit, Police officials further said.
The DPU ambush has taken place 4 km from Periyamadu on Periayamadu - Pallamadu road.
Further details are not available at the moment.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18438)
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Civilian killed in Claymore attack in LTTE controlled territory
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troopers who penetrated 4 kilometers into the LTTE controlled Vilathikulam from the SLA camp in Iranai Iuppaikkulam, 20 km northwest of Vavuniya, exploded a Claymore mine killing a civilian who was cycling Monday morning, LTTE officials in Vavuniya said.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18326)
The civilian was identified as Subramaniam Jeyarooban, 24.
Further details are not available at the moment.(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18326)
Tamil auxiliary, SLA penetration team clash in Madhu, 1 dead
One Tamil auxiliary cadre was killed and another rushed to Kilinochchi hospital when Tamil auxiliary cadres who were on a road clearing mission in Madhu area on Parappukadanthan Road confronted a group of 15 Sri Lanka Army personnel who were hiding with a Claymore mine attached to a tree in the area, Mannar Political Wing Head of the Tigers, S. Iniyavan said. The penetration group, spotted by the auxiliary cadres of the road clearing patrol around 3:30 p.m., Saturday, exploded the Claymore and fled the scene after exchanging gunfire with the auxiliary cadres. The clash was reported inside the holy zone of the historic Madu church, Mr. Iniyavan further said.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18309)
The auxiliary cadres recovered 2 bags with instant food packs and 470 rounds, 7.62 mm, from the bags, Iniyavan added.
The area sourrounding the historic church of Madhu has bee declared a holy site by the Government of Sri Lanka.
The engagement of Sri Lanka Army penetration squads and the Claymore attacks where civilians were being killed, have angered the Catholic church in Mannar.(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18309)
'KARUPPU RAVI' and 2 paramilitary cadres killed , 2 captured in Trincomalee
A counter-ambush commando unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), killed 3 Karuna group paramilitary cadres and captured two cadres alive Friday morning around 7.30 a.m. when it launched an attack on the infiltrating five-member paramilitary group from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp located in Pattiaddy, about 200 meters into the no-man zone from the SLA controlled area in the Trincomalee district, LTTE officials in Sampoor said.
Thereafter a group of SLA soldiers had rushed to the site to rescue the captured Karuna cadres. The confrontation between the LTTE and SLA went on for few minutes. SLA soldiers retreated to their camp with the bodies of three Karuna cadres, sources said.
LTTE commandos captured two Karuna cadres who have admitted the presence of additional paramilitary cadres in the SLA camp, claimed LTTE officials in Sampoor.
(http://www.sibernews.com/the-news/tamileelam/%27karuppu-ravi%27-and-2-paramilitary-cadres-killed-%2C-2-captured-in-trincomalee-200605264443/&cid=0)
3 paramilitary cadres killed, 2 captured in Trincomalee - LTTE
A counter-ambush commando unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), killed 3 Karuna group paramilitary cadres and captured two cadres alive Friday morning around 7.30 a.m. when it launched an attack on the infiltrating five-member paramilitary group from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp located in Pattiaddy, about 200 meters into the no-man zone from the SLA controlled area in the Trincomalee district, LTTE officials in Sampoor said.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18288)
Thereafter a group of SLA soldiers had rushed to the site to rescue the captured Karuna cadres. The confrontation between the LTTE and SLA went on for few minutes.
SLA soldiers retreated to their camp with the bodies of three Karuna cadres, sources said.
LTTE commandos captured two Karuna cadres who have admitted the presence of additional paramilitary cadres in the SLA camp, claimed LTTE officials in Sampoor.(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18288)
Monday, June 05, 2006
8 wanni tigers killed in Trinco
8 members of wanni tiger organization have been killed by members of Karuna faction of the tiger organization in an un-cleared area in Trincomalee. Wanni tigers were ambushed by members of Karuna faction while they were traveling in a tractor.
After killing the tigers the two tractors too had been set on fire and destroyed. This has been confirmed by security forces by listening to tiger communications.
(http://www.lankatruth.com/)
Sunday, June 04, 2006
EU to ban renegade Sri Lanka rebel faction too-diplomat By Simon Gardner
COLOMBO (Reuters) - The European Union is poised to blacklist a group of breakaway rebels locked in a bitter feud with the island's Tamil Tigers, a senior diplomat said on Sunday, similar to a new terror ban against the mainstream group.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were banned by the 25-nation bloc last week amid a rash of violence that many fear could rekindle a two-decade civil war, accuse the military of helping a band of former comrades led by a commander called Karuna.
The feud is seen as the biggest obstacle to jumpstarting stalled peace talks, which the Tigers have pulled out of indefinitely, and averting a slide back to full-blown war.
"The EU member states have requested the investigation and preparation of a dossier with the intention of listing the former part of the LTTE now known as the Karuna group," the diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The EU ban on the mainstream group froze the LTTE's funds and assets in member states and prohibited the provision of financial services to them.
Nordic truce monitors say they suspect some parts of Sri Lanka's military are involved in extrajudicial killings of ethnic Tamils and at the very least are turning a blind eye to Karuna men operating from government-controlled territory.
The international community has called on the government to rein in Karuna's group as pledged at peace talks earlier this year, but officials say they cannot find anyone to disarm and that it is not their responsibility anyway.
The government denies any collusion with Karuna, who split from the Tigers in 2004 and is seeking to supplant the rebels' northern leadership.
More than 290 soldiers, police, civilians and rebels have been killed in a rash of attacks from suicide bombings to naval clashes since February in what the truce monitors and Tigers now call a "low-intensity war" between the state and the rebels.
Sri Lanka's main political parties agreed on Friday to work on a new power-sharing offer for the Tigers, while the rebels agreed to talks in Oslo on June 8-9 on how to ensure truce monitor safety.
But the foes are still poles apart over the Tigers' central demand that their de facto state in the island's north and east be recognised as a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils, and many anticipate a return to a war that killed more than 64,000 people before a 2002 truce.
(http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-06-
04T052254Z_01_SP334498_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SRILANKA-RENEGADES.xml&archived
=False)
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were banned by the 25-nation bloc last week amid a rash of violence that many fear could rekindle a two-decade civil war, accuse the military of helping a band of former comrades led by a commander called Karuna.
The feud is seen as the biggest obstacle to jumpstarting stalled peace talks, which the Tigers have pulled out of indefinitely, and averting a slide back to full-blown war.
"The EU member states have requested the investigation and preparation of a dossier with the intention of listing the former part of the LTTE now known as the Karuna group," the diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The EU ban on the mainstream group froze the LTTE's funds and assets in member states and prohibited the provision of financial services to them.
Nordic truce monitors say they suspect some parts of Sri Lanka's military are involved in extrajudicial killings of ethnic Tamils and at the very least are turning a blind eye to Karuna men operating from government-controlled territory.
The international community has called on the government to rein in Karuna's group as pledged at peace talks earlier this year, but officials say they cannot find anyone to disarm and that it is not their responsibility anyway.
The government denies any collusion with Karuna, who split from the Tigers in 2004 and is seeking to supplant the rebels' northern leadership.
More than 290 soldiers, police, civilians and rebels have been killed in a rash of attacks from suicide bombings to naval clashes since February in what the truce monitors and Tigers now call a "low-intensity war" between the state and the rebels.
Sri Lanka's main political parties agreed on Friday to work on a new power-sharing offer for the Tigers, while the rebels agreed to talks in Oslo on June 8-9 on how to ensure truce monitor safety.
But the foes are still poles apart over the Tigers' central demand that their de facto state in the island's north and east be recognised as a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils, and many anticipate a return to a war that killed more than 64,000 people before a 2002 truce.
(http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-06-
04T052254Z_01_SP334498_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SRILANKA-RENEGADES.xml&archived
=False)
Friday, June 02, 2006
Auxilliary Force member, LTTE cadre killed in Vavuniya
A member of Tamileelam auxilliary Force, Varothayan Sritharan, was killed, and another member injured in a claymore attack by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the LTTE controlled Nedunkerny area in Vavuniya, Thursday morning, sources in Vavuniya said.
Meanwhile, on Friday morning 7:30 a.m., a Liberation Tiger cadre was killed in an attack by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) on the Forward Defence Line (FDL) at Kaakaiyan Kulam, Vavuniya, LTTE sources said.
No additional details of the Kaakiyan Kulam attack are known.
LTTE officials have registered complaints with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Vavuniya on both killings.
(www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18370)
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Stop Madhu attacks - Mannar Bishop
The Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph has expressed his concerns over the killings taking place in the Madhu area.
Bishop Rayappu Joseph has written to Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksha that claymore mine attacks have been made from the jungle areas killing civilians.
The Bishop said that six civilians have been killed by claymore mines attacks within the last few weeks
“I have requested the Defence Secretary to take care that no military attacks happen in the reservation area said Bishop Rayappu Joseph.
Deep penetration
The Bishop explained that Madhu is considered a sacred area and many pilgrims visit the place thruought the year.
When questioned why the bishop wrote to the Defence Secretary when it is well known that the LTTE is responsible for claymore mine attacks he said that it is the deep penetration units of the army that were responsible for these attacks.
“The local army commanders have informed me that these attacks are not conducted by them and it's the rapid deployment forces roaming in the jungles which are under direct instruction from the Defence Ministry that are conducting these attacks”
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/05/060525_joseph.shtml)
Tiger leaders attacked in Batticaloa
Two claymore bombs have been exploded in an un-cleared area in Batticaloa by members of Karuna faction of the tiger organization targeting members of wanni tiger organization.
Several senior leaders of wanni tiger organization were killed in the blasts say unconfirmed reports.
One attack had been in Karadiyanaru area in Batticaloa. The attack had been carried out on a double cab traveling with an escort of two motor bikes.
The other attack had been launched on a luxury type jeep at an un-cleared area in Wadumunai.
Details about those who were killed in the two attacks have not been revealed yet.
(http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2006/May/20060529/20060529_2.htm)
Captured Karuna cadres meet SLMM, ICRC
Two cadres of Karuna paramilitary group who were captured by the fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on May 26th briefed the representatives of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and the media Tuesday morning at the Trincomalee district political secretariat in Sampoor located in Muttur east. Mr.S.Elilan, LTTE district political secretariat was also present at the briefing, LTTE sources said.
Five cadres of the Karuna group from the Pattiaddy SLA camp had entered into the no-man zone located between the LTTE and government held territories in Muttur division to attack the LTTE camp on May 26th morning. Three of the Karuna group were killed on the spot in the attack launched by the LTTE.
Five cadres of the Karuna group from the Pattiaddy SLA camp had entered into the no-man zone located between the LTTE and government held territories in Muttur division to attack the LTTE camp on May 26th morning. Three of the Karuna group were killed on the spot in the attack launched by the LTTE.
Two of them Mr.P.Wijendran (25) of Mathurankuli and S.Gunarajan (22) of Panichchankerni were captured by the LTTE fighters, LTTE sources said.
Both Karuna cadres Mr.Wijendran and Mr.Gunarajan at the briefing said that about ten including them were brought to Trincomalee in a Dolphin van from Thivuchenai in Welikanda recently and were kept at a Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp in the Trincomalee town close to sea shore.
Five of the cadres including them were later taken in a vehicle to Pattiaddy SLA camp in Thoppur in Muttur division. They were later asked by the SLA personnel to enter into the no-man zone and to attack the LTTE camp. Both of them were captured by the LTTE and three others in their group including the group leader Karuththa Ravi were killed in the attack by the LTTE, Wijendran told the SLMM.
Both cadres said at the briefing that there were four Karuna group camps in Thivuchenai.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18343)
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Tamil auxiliary, SLA penetration team clash in Madhu, 1 dead
One Tamil auxiliary cadre was killed and another rushed to Kilinochchi hospital when Tamil auxiliary cadres who were on a road clearing mission in Madhu area on Parappukadanthan Road confronted a group of 15 Sri Lanka Army personnel who were hiding with a Claymore mine attached to a tree in the area, Mannar Political Wing Head of the Tigers, S. Iniyavan said. The penetration group, spotted by the auxiliary cadres of the road clearing patrol around 3:30 p.m., Saturday, exploded the Claymore and fled the scene after exchanging gunfire with the auxiliary cadres. The clash was reported inside the holy zone of the historic Madu church, Mr. Iniyavan further said.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18309)
The auxiliary cadres recovered 2 bags with instant food packs and 470 rounds, 7.62 mm, from the bags, Iniyavan added.
The area sourrounding the historic church of Madhu has bee declared a holy site by the Government of Sri Lanka.
The engagement of Sri Lanka Army penetration squads and the Claymore attacks where civilians were being killed, have angered the Catholic church in Mannar.(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18309)
Two young boys killed in SLA attack on civilian tractor
A 12 and a 15-year-old boys were killed when Sri Lanka Army soldiers, who had moved into Thikiliveddai, an LTTE controlled border area, beyond the Kinnayadi lagoon, Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., ambushed a tractor with farmers. Three civilians were wounded, Daya Mohan, Head of Batticaloa Political Wing of the LTTE said.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18310)
The victims were identified, Kanapathy Balu, 12, and Vinayagamoorthy Nanthan, 15.
The wounded were admitted to LTTE's paramedical unit and later transferred to Chenkalady hospital in SLA controlled Eravur.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission officials inspected the explosion site around 6:15 p.m.(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18310)
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
S.Lanka suspects troop, renegade contact by Simon Gardner
Some low-ranking Sri Lankan troops may be in contact with renegades opposed to the island's Tamil Tiger rebels, but there is no evidence of collusion, the head of the government's peace secretariat said on Tuesday.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have said they will not resume peace talks until the government makes good on a pledge to rein in such groups -- in particular breakaway rebels led by a former Tiger commander called Karuna.
Truce monitors say the military is at least turning a blind eye to Karuna followers in military-controlled territory, but the government says it cannot find anyone to disarm and that anyway hunting them down could risk escalating violence.
"There is no doubt that the military at the highest levels has discouraged any contacts (or) any assistance to the Karuna group," Palitha Kohona, head of the secretariat, told Reuters.
"But at the lowest rank and levels ... human contacts that were established during the three years of ceasefire may have continued. I don't have any evidence as to whether they are continuing or not, but we suspect there might be," he added.
The Tigers accuse the military of helping Karuna's men kill their fighters, and say continued attacks are the single biggest hurdle to resuming peace talks aimed at permanently ending a two-decade civil war that killed over 64,000 people.
The Tigers have pulled out of talks indefinitely, and have warned a low intensity conflict raging despite a 2002 truce could spiral into a full-blown war.
"It is not going to be an easy task to ensure that government soldiers break off all their contacts that existed previously with now Karuna's men," said Kohona, formerly head of the United Nations treaty section in New York.
"The government is determined to ensure that armed groups are not assisted or facilitated in any way by the security forces of the country. There may be lapses in the message going down through the rank and file, but this is only to be expected in any military," he added, citing abuses by U.S. troops in Iraq.
Any soldiers found helping Karuna's group would be prosecuted, Kohona said.
"It is definitely not the type of relationship the government encourages," he added. "But given human nature, I wouldn't be surprised that people fraternise with each other ... They fraternise, they drink with each other, they visit each others' homes. As to what happens beyond that I do not know."
LOW INTENSITY WAR
The Tigers and Nordic truce monitors both now say Sri Lanka is locked in a "low intensity war", though the government disagrees and says it is only retaliating in limited bursts.
And while analysts say the Tigers -- who want to carve out a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the island's north and east -- are spoiling for a full-fledged war, Kohona says war is not an option.
He said he was disappointed the Tigers warn talks are unlikely this year given escalating clashes, but hopes a visit this week by Norwegian envoys Erik Solheim and Jon Hanssen-Bauer will help bring both sides back to talks.
"I hope that there are some new ideas that they will be able to come and discuss with both the government and the LTTE and the sincere hope of the government is that they will be able to persuade the LTTE at this stage to come back to the negotiating table," he said.
"If we don't have talks, we are condemning ourselves to an eternity of conflict."
The ceasefire is still technically holding.
But more than 270 troops and civilians have been killed since early April and the rebels and the military are fighting increasingly frequent skirmishes with mortars and rocket propelled grenades near their forward defence lines in the north and east.
(http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP144925.htm)
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have said they will not resume peace talks until the government makes good on a pledge to rein in such groups -- in particular breakaway rebels led by a former Tiger commander called Karuna.
Truce monitors say the military is at least turning a blind eye to Karuna followers in military-controlled territory, but the government says it cannot find anyone to disarm and that anyway hunting them down could risk escalating violence.
"There is no doubt that the military at the highest levels has discouraged any contacts (or) any assistance to the Karuna group," Palitha Kohona, head of the secretariat, told Reuters.
"But at the lowest rank and levels ... human contacts that were established during the three years of ceasefire may have continued. I don't have any evidence as to whether they are continuing or not, but we suspect there might be," he added.
The Tigers accuse the military of helping Karuna's men kill their fighters, and say continued attacks are the single biggest hurdle to resuming peace talks aimed at permanently ending a two-decade civil war that killed over 64,000 people.
The Tigers have pulled out of talks indefinitely, and have warned a low intensity conflict raging despite a 2002 truce could spiral into a full-blown war.
"It is not going to be an easy task to ensure that government soldiers break off all their contacts that existed previously with now Karuna's men," said Kohona, formerly head of the United Nations treaty section in New York.
"The government is determined to ensure that armed groups are not assisted or facilitated in any way by the security forces of the country. There may be lapses in the message going down through the rank and file, but this is only to be expected in any military," he added, citing abuses by U.S. troops in Iraq.
Any soldiers found helping Karuna's group would be prosecuted, Kohona said.
"It is definitely not the type of relationship the government encourages," he added. "But given human nature, I wouldn't be surprised that people fraternise with each other ... They fraternise, they drink with each other, they visit each others' homes. As to what happens beyond that I do not know."
LOW INTENSITY WAR
The Tigers and Nordic truce monitors both now say Sri Lanka is locked in a "low intensity war", though the government disagrees and says it is only retaliating in limited bursts.
And while analysts say the Tigers -- who want to carve out a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the island's north and east -- are spoiling for a full-fledged war, Kohona says war is not an option.
He said he was disappointed the Tigers warn talks are unlikely this year given escalating clashes, but hopes a visit this week by Norwegian envoys Erik Solheim and Jon Hanssen-Bauer will help bring both sides back to talks.
"I hope that there are some new ideas that they will be able to come and discuss with both the government and the LTTE and the sincere hope of the government is that they will be able to persuade the LTTE at this stage to come back to the negotiating table," he said.
"If we don't have talks, we are condemning ourselves to an eternity of conflict."
The ceasefire is still technically holding.
But more than 270 troops and civilians have been killed since early April and the rebels and the military are fighting increasingly frequent skirmishes with mortars and rocket propelled grenades near their forward defence lines in the north and east.
(http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP144925.htm)
Prabhkaran’s days are numbered – Pilliyan
Pilliyan, Special Commander of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, told that Prabhakaran is now engaged in battle for his survival and not that of the Tamil people.
Prabhkaran exploits the suffering of the Tamils for his own political ends, he said. Citing an example he said: “Recently, when the Government closed entry to the A9 road, Praba group shed crocodile tears over the death of a child who died, according to a report, without proper medical facilities. But from the date of opening the A-9 road, Prabah Group has collected huge sums of money in the form taxes imposed on the passengers.
They haven’t made use of the money collected so far even to build one hospital. They have made use of those monies to line their pockets and to protect their political power. They grieve only because the revenue generated from road taxes is stopped. But the fact remains that they were unable to provide the necessary medical facilities and safeguard a child’s life.
Then what is all this talk about his Separate Administration serving the Tamil people? Separate Government? If even half of the monies received from the people at home and abroad have been utilized productively, many hospitals with modern facilities would have been constructed and no child would have died,” said Kuperan nom de guerre Pilliyan, Special Commander of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
The full text of the interview with the TMVP special commander Kuperan alias Pilliyan is given below:
Question: Your Leader Karuna Amman declared a unilateral Ceasefire against the Praba Group prior to the Geneva Talks. But in the last two weeks your special commando attack force penetrated into Muthur region attacked Prabah group and inflicted serious damages. After declaring ceasefire, why did you suddenly change tack and launch attacks on the Prabah group?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We didn’t declare ceasefire just for the sake of Praba Group. We knew well that they will not take it seriously. We declared ceasefire because we did not want to obstruct the efforts undertaken by the Mahinda Rajapakse’s Government and because we were keen that his peace efforts should succeed. Unfortunately during that period our members as well as our supporters were attacked by the Prabah Group. We categorically announced earlier that if in case our people were attacked by the Praba Group, we will attack them. During that said period, three of our members and our three supporters, a total of 6 people were shot and killed by Prabah Group. On 30 May they attacked our Kanthakadu camp. These attacks forced us to take retaliatory measures against them.
Question : So are you saying that the ceasefire declaration made by you earlier is now no more?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We announced a Ceasefire for a trial period of one month. Now the ceasefire has expired.
Question: Praba Group has come up saying that by attacking your Kanthakadu Camp, many truths have been exposed. One of them was the confirmation of your group functioning along with the Sri Lanka Army. What is your comment about this allegation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Kanthakadu camp is not located either in the Government controlled area or in the Tiger controlled area. This is located in the no man’s land. This camp is located 9 kilometers away from Kaddumurichchan. You must understand one thing: if we were with the Sri Lanka Army, then the Army should be waging a war against the LTTE. On the contrary, they are keen on distancing themselves from us. This is a false propaganda let loose by them. Even Praba group know very well that we are not associated with the Sri Lanka Army. But they keep on repeating it because it is good propaganda for them. .
Question: After attacking Kanthakadu, the Tigers alleged that it was your group that abducted the members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: Praba Group is leveling this false allegation after seeing our vehicles in the camp. They earlier announced that only one van belonging to the TRO was hijacked. After attacking our camp, now they come up with a new story that, two TRO Vans were hijacked. They keep on changing their stories which reveals their lies. Earlier they lied by alleging that it was we who hijacked van. Now to prove their lies they are coming up with another lie.
Question: Recently in an interview with the Reuters news agency, Anton Balasingham of the Praba Group has complained that the Government has failed to disarm the paramilitary groups as agreed in the peace talks. He went on to say that they have decided penetrate into the Government-controlled areas and personally take steps to disarm especially the arms belonging to the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal. Do you have any comments regarding this?
Special Commander Pilliyan: In fact we are not functioning within the Government controlled areas with arms. After we split from the Tigers they have been targeting us with false propaganda. They first said that the split was an internal matter and told no one should interfere, but now they are begging the Government to disarm us. Those who dare to do it let them come forward. They know well that this is not possible.
Question: Now you have opened up a head office called ‘Meenaham’ in the Eastern Province and is involved in political activities. After the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002 Praba Group opened up many offices and declared that they were involved in political activities. How do you describe the differences between your political office and the political offices earlier opened up by the Praba Group.
Special Commander Pilliyan: I can’t accept the statement made by you whether Praba Group was involved in political activities. As far as we are aware, their activities were all about collecting ransoms and abducting people. But we are not going to be ever involved in such criminal acts. We are not acting against the people. We have come forward to work truly and passionately for the Tamil people. This is only the beginning and soon we are going to dedicate ourselves completely to work for the basic needs and rights of our people.
Question: We learn that your ‘Meenaham’ Secretariat is located in the high security zone and it is given security by the Army?
Special Commander Pilliyan: If the lives of those working in an organization is threatened, then according to the law of the land, it is the foremost duty of the Government to provide security, Even if Prabakaran comes forward to the democratic mainstream of politics and open an office, then the Government forces would provide security. Who is providing security to the MPs and the cadres of the Tamil National Alliance? It is only the Government security forces.
Question : What has been the response of the people after the opening up of your political office and were you able to perceive any foreseeable changes in the people’s mindset ?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We have seen a noticeable change in the attitude of the people towards us. Their confidence in us is growing daily. We are now very near to them. We will not forsake them. This is a basic change. We will lead our people in the due and correct path. We are receiving enormous amount of support from the people. We receive a large number of people in our office. You can witness this personally if you visit our office.
Question: The last SLMM chief has said that he has seen your cadres in the Government controlled area with arms and because of this people’s normal life is disturbed. Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: The armed persons supposed to have been seen by him was said to be not wearing any uniform or any special kit. They were in normal civilian dress and were carrying weapons he said. Based on this statement how can you say that they are our members. It could be also possible for the Praba’s cadres to come in this area with arms and introduced themselves as our members. That is what would have happened. Even today if you go to Valaichenai, you can see Praba group people roaming with weapons. We have never moved in the Government controlled area with arms. We have never functioned in any way to disturb the normal life of the civilians.
Question: There are several anti-Prabah political parties. Are you going to work with them? Or else are you planning to work alone?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this, we already released a statement after our split. We invited all the anti-Prabakaran forces to come and work together. At this juncture you have to take into consideration an important factor. To fight against Prabakaran is not our only aim.
After getting rid of Prabakaran the right solutions has to be placed on behalf of the Tamil people. Prabakaran is not important to us. Prabakaran, is only a temporary road bloc to achieving our reasonable solutions which have to be obtained honorably.
A sustainable peace has to be achieved. These are our cherished aims and objectives. To achieve these noble goals Prabakaran remains a stumbling block. Because of this we are ready to have common working program and work with all the political parties. While working together we should carefully avoid unnecessary power struggles and the competition for superiority over others in the group. Each group has to work without loosing their own identity for the benefit of our people. We are always prepared to cooperate with any alliance when they come forward to work for the welfare of the people without sacrificing the people for their personal power an authority,
Question : In the beginning, Muslims too were involved in Tamils’ struggle. But after 1990, when so many bitter incidents occurred, Muslims gradually withdrew their participation and retreated. Even now it is clearly evident that Muslims fear that they would be ignored in case the Tamils were able to achieve favorable solutions for their grievances. As a responsible people’s organization, what is your comments regarding the Muslims reasonable fear in this case?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We have a clear position regarding the Muslim people. We have taken up the position that Tamils and Muslim must live together peacefully without interfering in the other’s rights. At the same time, we should also address the rights of the Sinhala people living in our midst.
We are putting forward a working program and work in such a way so that the other brotherly ethnic groups may have confidence in us.
By crushing or suppressing other communities none of the communities could survive. Our intention is that the three ethnic groups that live in the East must live together with understanding of each others needs and with mutual trust on each others. When a sustainable peace is achieved it should reflect the reasonable aspirations and the rights of all the three ethnic groups.
If we have a solution acceptable to all, then only we will be able to move forward towards a sustainable peace. It must be understood clearly that the ethnic issues became so complex because of the rejection numerous reasonable aspirations of the Muslim community. Due to an individual’s greed power – Prabakaran, he undertook ethnic cleansing of the Muslims in 1990. Now we are determined that such ethnic cleansing should never occur in the future of the history of Tamils and Muslims relationship.
Question: Since of late, it is said that in the East, your organization is making use of your name and the stationeries of your organization to threaten and demand money as ransom and warning those working in the non-government organizations to leave their employment.
Special Commander Pilliyan : We are not involved in any of these activities. Thos who demand ransom, I am sure will not make use of names and stationeries of an organization which will be easily exposed. We are not going to repeat the same mistakes which are being committed by the Praba group.
This is the handy work of the Praba Group. I think I can tell you two examples regarding matter.
Recently, some one living in Kalladi in Batticaloa received a letter in my name demanding money. In that letter the name of the Bank as well as the Bank account numbers were given. When we received details about this threat, we hastened to investigate and found out the Bank account given in the letter belongs to the Praba Group.
In Kalmunai, making use of something similar to our stationery, a letter was sent demanding office space to open up an office or else to give rupees five lakhs. When we investigated, we came to know that it was the work of the Praba Group.
We possess arms only to safeguard our people as well as us from the Praba Group. With our weapons we will not at any given circumstances, try either to harass or threaten our people. We believe that these type deceptive activities are carried on by Praba Group and by a few individual miscreants.
Our letter heads are used to threaten those working in the non-government organizations. Regarding this issue a meeting was recently held in our ‘Meernaham’ office with the representatives of the NGOs’ and our position was very clearly explained to them by our representatives at the meeting.
At the same time I wish to emphasize that those working in the non-government organization must understand one thing very clearly. They must be determined to uphold our traditions, values and customs while discharging their duties.
Question: The main accusation against the Praba group is the forceful recruitment and abduction of the underage children. Recently Tamilselvan in the last meeting held at Geneva has alleged that your organization is responsible for the forceful recruitment and for the abduction of the underage children. Is Tamilselvan right?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Leader was the one who sent back the children abducted by the Tigers to their homes. There were 6000 cadres who remained under his command. We are never involved in forceful recruitments. Praba Group had many press conferences to criticize us. In those press conferences they made similar accusations against us. But many knew how those press conferences were organized and conducted. In our organizations we only accept those who come forward to enroll with us willingly and voluntarily.
When ever school students come forward to join us, we advise them to continue with their studies and face their educational examinations successfully.
Question: Since of late, in the North and East, killings have increased and the normal lives of the peoples are disrupted. People are living in the midst with fear and uncertainty. After your split, it is commonly believed that the killing spree has increased. What in your opinion is the real situation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this Praba Group have to take the full responsibility. The killings are going on unabated and with impunity. The armed groups of youth are created by them. Sadly, it is our Tamil Teachers, loyal to the Praba group, are in a big way responsible for the creations of these armed cadres.
What they do is, they take the students in the upper classes such as in the GCE Ordinary Levels and Advance Levels to Wanni in the guise of study tours. In Wanni these school children are given a 9-day crash training on handling arms and other lethal weapons. They are being trained to handle claymore mines and grenades. These students trained in Wanni are then used to launch attacks in public places. Their new name is ‘Tamil People Upsurge Group.’
Nearly 10 percent of this so called People’s Upsurge armed group operate in the East and 90 percent operate in the North.
I feel sorry for the parents of these students. Parents send their children to schools for studies, but Praba group not only make use of them for their terrorists activities, ruining their future but also they are sent to killing fields to perpetrate serious criminal offences. In some cases they pay few others to kill the people. Killings are increasing because of the genocidal activities of the so-called Tamil People’s Upsurge group.
Kindly take a note of an important factor that the killing spree escalated only after the killing of Vigneswaran in Trincomalee. Once those loyal to Praba Groups are killed, the killings increases automatically following attacks on the Sri Lanka Military Commander and subsequently with the bombing of the Tamils and Muslims. These cannot be condoned or excused.
Not only that, Praba group has shot and killed many innocent youths accusing them of being our supporters. In fact we never have anything to do with those youths who were killed by the Praba Group.
Praba Group is forcefully giving arms training to government servants. If Praba Group is really genuine in waging a war, let them declare a war and see whether that all those trained by them would join them in their war and support them. They are with them because of fear.
At the end of such a war, I am certain only the children of the leaders of the Praba group are likely to survive, because those children are safely away and are studying in the foreign countries. Sooner or later the Tamil people will rise against the Praba’s leadership and kill him. This is a certainty. At present those people living in Wanni are living in the open prison of Prabakaran.
The Praba Group claims that they are protecting our people. That does not really mean the average Tamil person. What they mean is safeguarding their own children by sending them to foreign countries for their safety and security.
Where is Prabakaran’s wife and two children? Where are the children’s of B. Nadesan , Puthuvai Rasathurai, Tamilselvan , Balakumar? .. the list is very long.
Prabakaran is now engaged in a struggle to hold on to power for his own survival. This is Prabhkaran’s war and not the war of the Tamil people. But the tide has turned against him. His days are numbered. The international community, and the Tamil people are now fully behind the campaign to get rid of him. Now it’s a matter of time before he goes.
(http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/240)
Prabhkaran exploits the suffering of the Tamils for his own political ends, he said. Citing an example he said: “Recently, when the Government closed entry to the A9 road, Praba group shed crocodile tears over the death of a child who died, according to a report, without proper medical facilities. But from the date of opening the A-9 road, Prabah Group has collected huge sums of money in the form taxes imposed on the passengers.
They haven’t made use of the money collected so far even to build one hospital. They have made use of those monies to line their pockets and to protect their political power. They grieve only because the revenue generated from road taxes is stopped. But the fact remains that they were unable to provide the necessary medical facilities and safeguard a child’s life.
Then what is all this talk about his Separate Administration serving the Tamil people? Separate Government? If even half of the monies received from the people at home and abroad have been utilized productively, many hospitals with modern facilities would have been constructed and no child would have died,” said Kuperan nom de guerre Pilliyan, Special Commander of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
The full text of the interview with the TMVP special commander Kuperan alias Pilliyan is given below:
Question: Your Leader Karuna Amman declared a unilateral Ceasefire against the Praba Group prior to the Geneva Talks. But in the last two weeks your special commando attack force penetrated into Muthur region attacked Prabah group and inflicted serious damages. After declaring ceasefire, why did you suddenly change tack and launch attacks on the Prabah group?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We didn’t declare ceasefire just for the sake of Praba Group. We knew well that they will not take it seriously. We declared ceasefire because we did not want to obstruct the efforts undertaken by the Mahinda Rajapakse’s Government and because we were keen that his peace efforts should succeed. Unfortunately during that period our members as well as our supporters were attacked by the Prabah Group. We categorically announced earlier that if in case our people were attacked by the Praba Group, we will attack them. During that said period, three of our members and our three supporters, a total of 6 people were shot and killed by Prabah Group. On 30 May they attacked our Kanthakadu camp. These attacks forced us to take retaliatory measures against them.
Question : So are you saying that the ceasefire declaration made by you earlier is now no more?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We announced a Ceasefire for a trial period of one month. Now the ceasefire has expired.
Question: Praba Group has come up saying that by attacking your Kanthakadu Camp, many truths have been exposed. One of them was the confirmation of your group functioning along with the Sri Lanka Army. What is your comment about this allegation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Kanthakadu camp is not located either in the Government controlled area or in the Tiger controlled area. This is located in the no man’s land. This camp is located 9 kilometers away from Kaddumurichchan. You must understand one thing: if we were with the Sri Lanka Army, then the Army should be waging a war against the LTTE. On the contrary, they are keen on distancing themselves from us. This is a false propaganda let loose by them. Even Praba group know very well that we are not associated with the Sri Lanka Army. But they keep on repeating it because it is good propaganda for them. .
Question: After attacking Kanthakadu, the Tigers alleged that it was your group that abducted the members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: Praba Group is leveling this false allegation after seeing our vehicles in the camp. They earlier announced that only one van belonging to the TRO was hijacked. After attacking our camp, now they come up with a new story that, two TRO Vans were hijacked. They keep on changing their stories which reveals their lies. Earlier they lied by alleging that it was we who hijacked van. Now to prove their lies they are coming up with another lie.
Question: Recently in an interview with the Reuters news agency, Anton Balasingham of the Praba Group has complained that the Government has failed to disarm the paramilitary groups as agreed in the peace talks. He went on to say that they have decided penetrate into the Government-controlled areas and personally take steps to disarm especially the arms belonging to the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal. Do you have any comments regarding this?
Special Commander Pilliyan: In fact we are not functioning within the Government controlled areas with arms. After we split from the Tigers they have been targeting us with false propaganda. They first said that the split was an internal matter and told no one should interfere, but now they are begging the Government to disarm us. Those who dare to do it let them come forward. They know well that this is not possible.
Question: Now you have opened up a head office called ‘Meenaham’ in the Eastern Province and is involved in political activities. After the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002 Praba Group opened up many offices and declared that they were involved in political activities. How do you describe the differences between your political office and the political offices earlier opened up by the Praba Group.
Special Commander Pilliyan: I can’t accept the statement made by you whether Praba Group was involved in political activities. As far as we are aware, their activities were all about collecting ransoms and abducting people. But we are not going to be ever involved in such criminal acts. We are not acting against the people. We have come forward to work truly and passionately for the Tamil people. This is only the beginning and soon we are going to dedicate ourselves completely to work for the basic needs and rights of our people.
Question: We learn that your ‘Meenaham’ Secretariat is located in the high security zone and it is given security by the Army?
Special Commander Pilliyan: If the lives of those working in an organization is threatened, then according to the law of the land, it is the foremost duty of the Government to provide security, Even if Prabakaran comes forward to the democratic mainstream of politics and open an office, then the Government forces would provide security. Who is providing security to the MPs and the cadres of the Tamil National Alliance? It is only the Government security forces.
Question : What has been the response of the people after the opening up of your political office and were you able to perceive any foreseeable changes in the people’s mindset ?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We have seen a noticeable change in the attitude of the people towards us. Their confidence in us is growing daily. We are now very near to them. We will not forsake them. This is a basic change. We will lead our people in the due and correct path. We are receiving enormous amount of support from the people. We receive a large number of people in our office. You can witness this personally if you visit our office.
Question: The last SLMM chief has said that he has seen your cadres in the Government controlled area with arms and because of this people’s normal life is disturbed. Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: The armed persons supposed to have been seen by him was said to be not wearing any uniform or any special kit. They were in normal civilian dress and were carrying weapons he said. Based on this statement how can you say that they are our members. It could be also possible for the Praba’s cadres to come in this area with arms and introduced themselves as our members. That is what would have happened. Even today if you go to Valaichenai, you can see Praba group people roaming with weapons. We have never moved in the Government controlled area with arms. We have never functioned in any way to disturb the normal life of the civilians.
Question: There are several anti-Prabah political parties. Are you going to work with them? Or else are you planning to work alone?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this, we already released a statement after our split. We invited all the anti-Prabakaran forces to come and work together. At this juncture you have to take into consideration an important factor. To fight against Prabakaran is not our only aim.
After getting rid of Prabakaran the right solutions has to be placed on behalf of the Tamil people. Prabakaran is not important to us. Prabakaran, is only a temporary road bloc to achieving our reasonable solutions which have to be obtained honorably.
A sustainable peace has to be achieved. These are our cherished aims and objectives. To achieve these noble goals Prabakaran remains a stumbling block. Because of this we are ready to have common working program and work with all the political parties. While working together we should carefully avoid unnecessary power struggles and the competition for superiority over others in the group. Each group has to work without loosing their own identity for the benefit of our people. We are always prepared to cooperate with any alliance when they come forward to work for the welfare of the people without sacrificing the people for their personal power an authority,
Question : In the beginning, Muslims too were involved in Tamils’ struggle. But after 1990, when so many bitter incidents occurred, Muslims gradually withdrew their participation and retreated. Even now it is clearly evident that Muslims fear that they would be ignored in case the Tamils were able to achieve favorable solutions for their grievances. As a responsible people’s organization, what is your comments regarding the Muslims reasonable fear in this case?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We have a clear position regarding the Muslim people. We have taken up the position that Tamils and Muslim must live together peacefully without interfering in the other’s rights. At the same time, we should also address the rights of the Sinhala people living in our midst.
We are putting forward a working program and work in such a way so that the other brotherly ethnic groups may have confidence in us.
By crushing or suppressing other communities none of the communities could survive. Our intention is that the three ethnic groups that live in the East must live together with understanding of each others needs and with mutual trust on each others. When a sustainable peace is achieved it should reflect the reasonable aspirations and the rights of all the three ethnic groups.
If we have a solution acceptable to all, then only we will be able to move forward towards a sustainable peace. It must be understood clearly that the ethnic issues became so complex because of the rejection numerous reasonable aspirations of the Muslim community. Due to an individual’s greed power – Prabakaran, he undertook ethnic cleansing of the Muslims in 1990. Now we are determined that such ethnic cleansing should never occur in the future of the history of Tamils and Muslims relationship.
Question: Since of late, it is said that in the East, your organization is making use of your name and the stationeries of your organization to threaten and demand money as ransom and warning those working in the non-government organizations to leave their employment.
Special Commander Pilliyan : We are not involved in any of these activities. Thos who demand ransom, I am sure will not make use of names and stationeries of an organization which will be easily exposed. We are not going to repeat the same mistakes which are being committed by the Praba group.
This is the handy work of the Praba Group. I think I can tell you two examples regarding matter.
Recently, some one living in Kalladi in Batticaloa received a letter in my name demanding money. In that letter the name of the Bank as well as the Bank account numbers were given. When we received details about this threat, we hastened to investigate and found out the Bank account given in the letter belongs to the Praba Group.
In Kalmunai, making use of something similar to our stationery, a letter was sent demanding office space to open up an office or else to give rupees five lakhs. When we investigated, we came to know that it was the work of the Praba Group.
We possess arms only to safeguard our people as well as us from the Praba Group. With our weapons we will not at any given circumstances, try either to harass or threaten our people. We believe that these type deceptive activities are carried on by Praba Group and by a few individual miscreants.
Our letter heads are used to threaten those working in the non-government organizations. Regarding this issue a meeting was recently held in our ‘Meernaham’ office with the representatives of the NGOs’ and our position was very clearly explained to them by our representatives at the meeting.
At the same time I wish to emphasize that those working in the non-government organization must understand one thing very clearly. They must be determined to uphold our traditions, values and customs while discharging their duties.
Question: The main accusation against the Praba group is the forceful recruitment and abduction of the underage children. Recently Tamilselvan in the last meeting held at Geneva has alleged that your organization is responsible for the forceful recruitment and for the abduction of the underage children. Is Tamilselvan right?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Leader was the one who sent back the children abducted by the Tigers to their homes. There were 6000 cadres who remained under his command. We are never involved in forceful recruitments. Praba Group had many press conferences to criticize us. In those press conferences they made similar accusations against us. But many knew how those press conferences were organized and conducted. In our organizations we only accept those who come forward to enroll with us willingly and voluntarily.
When ever school students come forward to join us, we advise them to continue with their studies and face their educational examinations successfully.
Question: Since of late, in the North and East, killings have increased and the normal lives of the peoples are disrupted. People are living in the midst with fear and uncertainty. After your split, it is commonly believed that the killing spree has increased. What in your opinion is the real situation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this Praba Group have to take the full responsibility. The killings are going on unabated and with impunity. The armed groups of youth are created by them. Sadly, it is our Tamil Teachers, loyal to the Praba group, are in a big way responsible for the creations of these armed cadres.
What they do is, they take the students in the upper classes such as in the GCE Ordinary Levels and Advance Levels to Wanni in the guise of study tours. In Wanni these school children are given a 9-day crash training on handling arms and other lethal weapons. They are being trained to handle claymore mines and grenades. These students trained in Wanni are then used to launch attacks in public places. Their new name is ‘Tamil People Upsurge Group.’
Nearly 10 percent of this so called People’s Upsurge armed group operate in the East and 90 percent operate in the North.
I feel sorry for the parents of these students. Parents send their children to schools for studies, but Praba group not only make use of them for their terrorists activities, ruining their future but also they are sent to killing fields to perpetrate serious criminal offences. In some cases they pay few others to kill the people. Killings are increasing because of the genocidal activities of the so-called Tamil People’s Upsurge group.
Kindly take a note of an important factor that the killing spree escalated only after the killing of Vigneswaran in Trincomalee. Once those loyal to Praba Groups are killed, the killings increases automatically following attacks on the Sri Lanka Military Commander and subsequently with the bombing of the Tamils and Muslims. These cannot be condoned or excused.
Not only that, Praba group has shot and killed many innocent youths accusing them of being our supporters. In fact we never have anything to do with those youths who were killed by the Praba Group.
Praba Group is forcefully giving arms training to government servants. If Praba Group is really genuine in waging a war, let them declare a war and see whether that all those trained by them would join them in their war and support them. They are with them because of fear.
At the end of such a war, I am certain only the children of the leaders of the Praba group are likely to survive, because those children are safely away and are studying in the foreign countries. Sooner or later the Tamil people will rise against the Praba’s leadership and kill him. This is a certainty. At present those people living in Wanni are living in the open prison of Prabakaran.
The Praba Group claims that they are protecting our people. That does not really mean the average Tamil person. What they mean is safeguarding their own children by sending them to foreign countries for their safety and security.
Where is Prabakaran’s wife and two children? Where are the children’s of B. Nadesan , Puthuvai Rasathurai, Tamilselvan , Balakumar? .. the list is very long.
Prabakaran is now engaged in a struggle to hold on to power for his own survival. This is Prabhkaran’s war and not the war of the Tamil people. But the tide has turned against him. His days are numbered. The international community, and the Tamil people are now fully behind the campaign to get rid of him. Now it’s a matter of time before he goes.
(http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/240)
SLA troopers on paramilitary rescue mission killed
The Liberation Tigers commando unit that returned to LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) Sunday after completing the attack on three paramilitary camps in Welikande area, has claimed that 5 Sri Lanka Army troopers, including a Captain rank officer, who took part in a paramilitary rescue operation, were killed in confrontation with the Tigers. Informed defence circles in Colombo said that the SLA deaths were not revealed to avoid reports of SLA complicity in paramilitary issue.
The LTTE sources in Kokkaddicholai in Batticaloa district identified the Sri Lankan captain killed in action as LLoyd Fernando (5VIR RSP) from Kalwatte, Kurunegala.
The other soldiers killed in the confrontation were identified as Upul, Jeyakody, Tissanayake and Anura.
Four SLA troopers escaped with wounds, according to LTTE sources.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17977)
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