LTTE could gain from Tamil Nadu realignments
   [ 14:41 GMT, Mar. 11, 2006 ] [ IANS ]

    Tamil Nadu's close race for power might prove a mixed bag for Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas, rather than the windfall it could have been for the insurgent group outlawed in India. The moves by Vaiko's MDMK and T Tirumavalavan's Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) to contest the May assembly elections with Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK may provide the Tigers political access to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa they lacked - if she retains power. But if India's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ousts the MDMK for aligning with its foe in Tamil Nadu, it could be a setback for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) whose cause Vaiko advocated with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
- Vaiko's Vote-Face - Outlook


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   The EU Contribution to the Peace Process in Sri Lanka
   [ 04:41 GMT, Mar. 11, 2006 ] [ TCHR ]

    Indeed it really does seem very bizarre that there has been no Resolution in either the UN Commission on Human Rights or the Sub-Commission for nearly twenty years. This is due to the heavy lobby conducted by the Sri Lankan state. What happens to all the facts documented in the UN system? They do not appear in the international media, due to this heavy lobbying. For instance, take the Sri Lankan media, such as the English media in Colombo, all the newspapers (except one, which also has reservations) do not publish much on these facts and figures concerning the reality of the conflict in Sri Lanka.When we come to the news agencies based in Sri Lanka, and look at the people responsible for them, the vast majority of the international correspondents are Sinhalese. In other words, the same as the journalists of the Colombo papers. Therefore the international media coming from Colombo is not independent, it is not unbiased.

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   LTTE could gain from Tamil Nadu realignments
   [ 04:33 GMT, Mar. 11, 2006 ] [ IANS ]

    Tamil Nadu's close race for power might prove a mixed bag for Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas, rather than the windfall it could have been for the insurgent group outlawed in India. Some gains are already visible.The Indian state keeps a close watch on the LTTE although it does not see the Tigers with the same prism it looks at Islamists and Maoists. A recent meeting in New Delhi on threats to India did not even discuss the LTTE.In the opinion of one Indian official, if the AIADMK wins the elections and if Vaiko enjoys a close working relationship with the chief minister, the Tigers might slowly start laying support networks in Tamil Nadu in six months or so.However, that would only happen if Jayalalitha wins and leans on Vaiko to govern. If and when the LTTE decides to resume its war in Sri Lanka or get out of the Western-brokered peace process, Tamil Nadu's politicians will be expected to speak - in India and abroad - in favour of the Tigers.

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   Media evicted from SLFP conference
   [ 22:43 GMT, Mar. 11, 2005 ] [ BBC ]

    All local and foreign media were removed by Presidential Security Unit during the 15th annual Conference of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party [SLFP]. The journalists were bundled out of National youth Services centre in Maharagama. President Chandrika Kumaratunge chaired the annual meeting of the party members. The journalists were removed saying the president was not going to speak. Media personal were removed without giving any valid explanation just half an hour in to the Conference proceedings. Presidential Security officials told the journalists to go out of the building saying, “the president is not going to speak today, so there is no point of being here.”

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   Civilians clash with Sri Lankan army
   [ 22:35 GMT, Mar. 11, 2005 ] [ XinhuaNet ]

    Minority Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka's northern province clashed with the government troops Friday following a motor accident involving the army, defense officials said. Rioting civilians hurled stones at the police at the Chavakachcheri town in the northern Jaffna peninsula. An army truck had run over a motor cyclist who was badly injured in the accident. The truck driver fled the scene fearing attack by the irate civilians and they attempted to set the truck on fire. It was the second such incident in seven days. Last Friday, civilians clashed with armymen when a 12 years old school girl wasrun over by a speeding military vehicle in Jaffna peninsula.

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   Media personnel come under attack in Jaffna
   [ 22:26 GMT, Mar. 11, 2005 ] [ IFEX ]

    The Free Media Movement (FMM) is concerned about a reported assault on a journalist, and the damage caused to a motorcycle belonging to another journalist, by state security forces in the city of Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka. The incident took place while the journalists were covering a mass protest. Journalist Vincent Jeyan, of the Lake House Group's Thinakaran newspaper, was injured in the assault. He was admitted to Jaffna hospital and discharged after being treated the same day. A motorcycle belonging to journalist Ratnam Dayaparam, of Thinakkural, the Jaffna provincial edition of a national newspaper, was also damaged in the incident. The media personnel were covering a public protest against the government of Sri Lanka in Jaffna on 4 March. They came under attack when security forces used force to disperse the crowd. According to reports, Jeyan was assaulted even after he identified himself as an accredited journalist.

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   Sri Lanka wants Paris Club debt freeze extended
   [ 12:07 GMT, Mar. 11, 2005 ] [ Reuters ]

    Tsunami-hit Sri Lanka has accepted a Paris Club offer to freeze its debt payments until the end of 2005, but plans to press lenders to extend the moratorium to the end of 2007, the island's finance minister said on Friday. The Paris Club grouping of the world's richest creditor nations offered on Thursday to freeze payments of tsunami-hit countries until the end of 2005 and allow deferred payments to be repaid over five years, with one year's grace. "Of course, while we are very grateful for this decision, which will help us to tide over the immediate difficulty ... we would like to lobby with the G8 to extend this to even 2006 and 2007," Amunugama told Reuters in a telephone interview.

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   Crisis in LTTE not to impact peace process:UNF
   [ 23:05 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ UNI ]

    Sri Lanka's ruling United National Front (UNF) government today affirmed that the peace process would not be affected by the spiralling crisis in the LTTE since the recent expulsion of a eastern military leader by the rebel outfit. Tension has been running high in the eastern part of Sri Lanka since the regional rebel leader, V Muralitharan, better known as Karuna, was sacked from the outfit on Saturday and replaced by a loyalist of Tiger Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran. Infact, the LTTE has decided to formally request the Sri Lankan Government ''not to have any talks or links with Colonel Karuna saying it was ''ridiculous for Karuna to demand a separate truce pact with him.'' Referring to the 'crisis' in the Tiger outfit, Government Spokesman, Prof. G L Peiris told reporters here today, -- ''We have no reason to believe that it will have serious implications on the peace process as the concerned parties are committed to the ceasefire and the peace process.''

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   European Union voices concern over pre-election violence in Sri Lanka
   [ 15:02 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ EU Business ]

    The European Union (EU) on Thursday launched its monitoring mission for Sri Lanka's April 2 parliamentary elections by expressing concern over campaign violence that has already claimed two lives. "I am very concerned about the violence and killings that have already taken place during the election campaign," EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said in a statement. "I call on all political leaders to ensure that the rest of the campaign is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and refrain from any rhetoric which risks stirring up religious or ethnic intolerance or undermining the important gains that have been made in the peace process." Tamil Tiger rebels have been accused of killing a ruling party candidate and another rival in the east of the country. But private monitors have reported a dip in violence since a regional commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last week led an unprecedented breakaway from the guerrilla group, which has been fighting for a separate homeland for three decades.

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   Norwegians facilitators and the German Ambassador in separate meetings with LTTE
   [ 13:47 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ LTTE PS ]

    Norwegian Special peace envoy Erik Solheim and H.E. the Ambassador for Norway in Sri Lanka Mr. Hans Brattskar, along with the Norwegian team members, met with Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan, Head of the LTTE Political Wing in its Head Quarters today the 11th March 2004. Discussions centered round the situation in Batticaloa-Amparai consequent to Karuna's discharge from the LTTE, the role of the facilitators and the SLMM in this context, polling arrangements for the people in the Vanni, the role of the EU monitors and the humanitarian assistance to the war affected people in the NorthEast vis-à-vis the mechanism for funds. Mr. Tamilselvan assured that the LTTE stands ready to be accommodative in providing all the facilities to the voters to exercise their franchise.

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   EU Blasts Sri Lanka For Ignoring Electoral Reforms
   [ 12:12 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ AP ]

    The European Union blasted the Sri Lankan government for failing to reform its electoral system, saying such inaction hampered the island's democracy. "The major recommendations that we made for strengthening the electoral process after both the 2000 and the 2001 election have not been implemented," said John Cushnahan, who heads a group of 70 EU election monitors overseeing April 2 parliamentary polls here. "This does not help to further democracy," he told reporters, calling the lack of reform "unacceptable." Cushnahan said the EU had recommended setting up an independent election commission, a code of conduct for political parties and tougher action to stop election-related violence.

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   Norway will not interfere in LTTE's internal matters
   [ 12:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ TamilNet ]

    Norway will not interfere in the internal matters of the Liberation Tigers said Mr. Erik Soheim speaking to the press at the conclusion of his meeting with Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan Thursday in Kilinochchi. “We did not involve ourselves in the discussion between the President and the Prime Minister and exactly in the same manner we will not take any part in the discussion between the LTTE leadership and Mr. Karuna. The first is an internal matter for the south and the second is an internal matter for the northeast”, Mr. Solheim said.

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   Sri Lanka govt plays down threats from rebel split
   [ 12:10 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ Reuters ]

    Sri Lanka's government on Thursday played down the effect a split among Tamil Tiger rebels may have on the peace process, saying the important thing was all sides remained committed to a truce that has lasted two years. The Tigers' eastern commander -- who goes by the nom de guerre Karuna -- broke from the rebels last week, creating an unprecedented rift in a movement known for its strict discipline. "We have no reason to believe it will have a serious effect on the peace process. All of the relevant parties have said they will honour the ceasefire agreement," cabinet spokesman G.L. Peiris told a news conference.

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   FEATURE-Tamileelam Bank symbol of Sri Lankan rebel autonomy
   [ 02:26 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ Reuters ]

    There's no marble in the lobby, no computer on the counter and no air-conditioning for the customers. The risk of robbery is also very small. Welcome to the Bank of Tamileelam, the world's only rebel-held bank, and a symbol of autonomy for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who run a semi-independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. "Our bank was set up so that money deposited by Tamil people will be reinvested in the north and east," Amalan Rasanayagam, chief loan officer at the Kilinochchi branch, told Reuters. He added that funds gathered by Sri Lankan banks in the north and east are never used for development in these areas.

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   Show of strength by the rebels' rebel
   [ 02:24 GMT, Mar. 11, 2004 ] [ BBC ]

    I travelled 15 hours in a van to territory held by the Tamil Tigers in eastern Sri Lanka only to have Wordsworth quoted at me by the rebels. It ranks as one of the most surreal moments of my life. There we were surrounded by men armed to the teeth in a vast rebel military camp. A man who had never seen a daffodil in his life was reciting "I wandered lonely as a cloud" and telling me how "a host of golden daffodils" evoked for him the beauty of his native landscape in eastern Sri Lanka.

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   Naval incident exposes deep rift in Sri Lankan ruling circles
   [ 13:59 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ WSWS ]

    As the fifth round of peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was about to begin in Berlin last month, a naval incident involving the tragic death of three LTTE cadres revealed the deep-going political division wracking ruling circles in Colombo. The ceasefire agreement makes no reference to the right of the Sri Lankan navy to intercept LTTE craft. It prohibits the LTTE from moving arms into areas under government control. While the LTTE’s vessels are being searched and its arms threatened with seizure, the government is continuing to spend billions of rupees on procuring sophisticated weaponry to strengthen its armed forces.

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   Canadian Foreign Minister postpones visit
   [ 11:28 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ Daily Mirror ]

    Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham who was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on March 11 has postponed his South Asian visit due to the continuing uncertainty in the Middle east region, Canadian Diplomatic Sources said. The Diplomatic sources said that Graham's South Asian tour was postponed as next week would be a critical week in the light of the developments in the middle east. His stay. in Canada would be very important. Mr. Graham is really looking forward to reschedule his South Asian tour at the earliest, he said.

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   Germany to help Sri Lankan displaced people
   [ 11:26 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ Xinhua ]

    Germany will provide Sri Lanka a total of 400,000 Euro (about 416,660 US dollars) for a project to help the return of the country's war-displaced people in the north and east, The Island newspaper said on Tuesday. The contribution consists of 320,000 Euro (about 333,330 dollars) for humanitarian assistance and 80,000 Euro (about 83,330 dollars) for international protection.

Saudi Arabia to donate food items for Sri Lanka's displaced Muslims


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   Diplomatic efforts to salvage Sri Lanka peace bid after ship sink
   [ 11:23 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ AFP ]

    Diplomatic moves were underway in Sri Lanka to keep a Norwegian-backed peace bid afloat after Tamil Tiger rebels warned of "far reaching consequences" following the sinking of one of theri vessels by the Navy. A Scandinavian team monitoring a truce between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government lined up meetings with both sides to ensure that the bloodiest incident since the ceasefire began in February last year did not escalate."We consider the incident a grave violation of the ceasefire agreement as our vessel was not involved in any illegal action..." Thamilselvan said

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   Sri Lanka talks tackle nitty gritty
   [ 11:15 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ CNN ]

    It is difficult to imagine that any Sri Lankan -- Sinhalese or Tamil -- would want the peace process to fail and the bad days of the civil war to return. Don't expect huge breakthoughs in the latest round of talks. The Sinhalese opposition politicians have a similar responsibility too. If they take political advantage of the inevitable setbacks which will occur during the peace process, Sri Lanka could be plunged back into civil war.

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   Sri Lanka Peace Deal Opens Investment Gateway To Jaffna
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ Dow Jones ]

    Largely cut off from the rest of Sri Lanka until the government and Tamil Tiger rebels embarked on a peace settlement early last year, Krishnarajah had no investment alternatives but to plow these deposits into the peninsula's small rural banking system. Spotting an investment opportunity top officials of the Colombo Stock Exchange hosted their first ever roadshow in Jaffna earlier this month to drum up interest in the local equities market. "Before the peace process, most things from the south were treated with suspicion," said Krishnarajah. "But Jaffna's people are now actively willing to participate in economic development,"

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   Sri Lanka peace protest
   [ 11:06 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ BBC ]

    Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, on Monday calling for the government to be replaced. It was the biggest protest yet against the government's handling of the peace process and the economy since a ceasefire with the rebels was signed a year ago. While people in the rest of the world are marching against war in the Middle East, in Sri Lanka opposition supporters are protesting against their government's peace initiative.

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   Sri Lankan opposition urges president to exercise powers
   [ 05:01 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ Xinhua ]

    Sri Lanka's main opposition groups in a massive joint anti-government demonstration Monday urged President Chandrika Kumaratunga to exercise her authority against what they termed action to divide the nation through the ongoing peace bid with the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. Around 100,000 activists of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the dominant party of the main opposition People's Alliance (PA), and the leftist JVP or People's Liberation Front took to the streets in capital Colombo in a massive show of strength against the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

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   No immediate return to war: LTTE
   [ 19:51 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ The Hindu ]

    The LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton S. Balasingham, made this position after he inaugurated a `courts complex' in rebel-held Kilinochchi town this morning. Recalling that the LTTE was blamed for breaking the past negotiations, Mr. Balasingham said, "yesterday's incident was reason enough for us to start a major war. But we have to be patient. We will prove that we are for peace and wait till we reach the limits of patience. As people prefer peace, we will not resume war immediately. We will be as patient as possible,'' Mr. Balasingham is reported to have told journalists.

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   Sinking of LTTE vessel: SLMM seeks details
   [ 19:49 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ The Hindu ]

    The clarifications were sought as the SLMM had received varying accounts of the exact position of yesterday's incident. The first information from the Navy was that it was 240 nautical miles (nm) east of Sri Lankan shores. This was later mentioned as 220 nm and then 185 nm, SLMM sources said. Sri Lanka's territorial waters extend up to 12 nm, and its Exclusive Economic Zone up to 200 nm. The provisions on the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Seas and the right to hot pursuit are also being studied, the sources said.

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   Clash tests Tigers' patience
   [ 19:45 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ BBC ]

    Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have called for their supporters to be patient, a day after the navy sank one of their vessels. Chief rebel negotiator Anton Balasingham said there was no need to return to war immediately. He said the Tigers were committed to peace because that was what the people wanted. Eleven rebels died in Monday's clash - the worst ceasefire violation since a truce took effect a year ago. It came a week before the next round of peace talks, due to be held in Japan.

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   Norwegian Foreign Minister postpones Sri Lanka visit
   [ 19:44 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ TamilNet ]

    Jan Pettersen's scheduled visit to Sri Lanka today has been postponed indefinitely, reports Norsk Riks Kringkasting (NRK). Cancellation comes as the UN Security Council is preparing to debate Iraqi-crisis during this week. In the meantime, the spokesperson for SLMM, Teitur Torkelsson, said that the yesterday's sinking of the LTTE ship is a serious incident. However, he hopes that the parties would remain committed to the peace process, reports NRK.

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   Sri Lanka's Tiger rebels open 'appeal court'
   [ 14:46 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ AFP ]

    Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas said they had opened a "court of appeal" Tuesday in the northern rebel-held town of Kilinochchi. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) inaugurated their higher courts at a new building in the battle-scarred town, 330 kilometres (206 miles) north of here. Residents contacted by telephone said the LTTE's London-based chief peace negotiator, Anton Balasingham, was the chief guest at Tuesday's court opening ceremony.

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   Teachers protest against army occupation in Northeast
   [ 14:45 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ TamilNet ]

    Tamil and Muslim Teachers in Northeast organized a symbolic strike by calling in sick demanding the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) vacate the schools, places of worship, private residences and public buildings which have been converted to SLA camps, sources in Batticaloa said."Government should ask the security forces to leave schools, temples, private and public builds immediately as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Palali Teacher Training center and other schools which are currently closed as they fall within the High Security Zones (HSZ) should be immediately reopened facilitating progress in education in Northeast. Students are psychologically impacted by the camps located in populated areas as they face harassment from the soldiers. These camps have to be immediately removed,"

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   Sri Lanka monitors investigate rebel-navy clash
   [ 14:41 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ Reuters ]

    Truce monitors said they would meet the rebel leadership on Wednesday to get their side of the story. "The aim with these meetings is to get more accurate information from both sides on what actually happened, and encourage them to show restraint and not engage in hostile acts," Torkelsson said. "Our legal adviser is going through international maritime law and United Nations conventions to find out what were the rights of the navy to intercept this vessel," Torkelsson said. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, neither side is allowed to move military equipment into areas controlled by the other, although they are allowed to maintain their armed forces.

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   Tight security at Norwegian embassy in Sri Lanka
   [ 04:59 GMT, Mar. 11, 2003 ] [ AFP ]

    Elite police commandos were deployed outside the Norwegian embassy here Monday as opposition demonstrators denounced Oslo's role in brokering peace on the island. Dozens of Special Task Force commandos were seen deployed outside the embassy located a stone's throw away from the Town Hall where tens of thousands of opposition activists staged a rally. A local police official said there were no demonstrations outside the embassy itself, but security had been strengthened as a precautionary measure.

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   Tamil Tigers rebels deny U.S. charges
   [ 18:25 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ Reuters ]

    Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers denied a U.S. charge on Monday that they were trying to undermine a Norwegian-brokered truce with the government, saying they were committed to talks to end nearly two-decades of ethnic war. The U.S. Embassy in Colombo had issued a warning saying the United States would tighten the noose around the group already listed by Washington as a terrorist body if the Tigers did not observe the terms of the indefinite truce signed last month.

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   CanWest censorship is shameful - Are media living up to their mission?
   [ 16:06 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ The Star ]

    The four Cs of Canadian journalism — Corporatization, Concentration, Convergence and creeping Censorship. The point is best made in the Prairies, the cradle of immigration and multiculturalism. Canada today is more immigrant than the United States. Yet you would not know that from our media. An anti-immigrant narrative continues to dominate their content. There are about 4.5 million visible minorities in Canada. That's larger than the population of Atlantic Canada. Yet these visible minorities are largely invisible in our media.

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   CBK laments smear effort
   [ 15:15 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ Sunday Times - SL ]

    Despite minor hiccups, the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE appears to be holding. LTTE leader Prabhakaran hailed the truce agreement as a historical achievement that laid a strong foundation for the peace process and negotiated political settlement. His statement, which he made during his meeting with the ceasefire monitoring mission chief, Trond Furuhovede, offered a bright spark in what has been a murky horizon. The Ranil Wickremesinghe government is working hard ensuring that the present truce will lead to lasting peace. It reacts promptly whenever it sees a simmering issue that threatens to torpedo the peace process. Though the Government-LTTE détente is holding, there is an urgent need for a ceasefire between the President and the Wickremesinghe administration. The PA-UNF relationship takes different shapes at different levels. The Kumaratunga-Wickremesinghe relationship is relatively cordial but the relationship between the President and some UNF ministers is conflict prone, while there are also ministers who have earned presidential respect.

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   Within Vanni's desolate walls
   [ 14:46 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ Sunday Observer ]

    "For over ten years there were only mobile clinics conducted by Medicine Sans Frontiers and the ICRC, once a week. This hospital, like all the other hospitals in the area was abandoned due to the conflict situation over the years"..."Although medical practitioners have been appointed to most of the rural hospitals in the area, there are only the basic of facilities available as yet",

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   European Union (EU) to Reduce Tariff on Sri Lankan Exports
   [ 14:38 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ XINHUA ]

    The European Union (EU) has decided to substantially reduce tariff barriers on Sri Lankan exports from May this year following successful negotiations between Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Ravi Karunanayake and senior EU members last week. The state-owned Daily News quoted Karunanayake as saying on Sunday that the decision was based on the government's peace initiatives and the confidence the EU has in the present United National Front government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

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   Kachchativu flares up
   [ 12:15 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ Daily Mirror ]

    The Indian fishermen who had proceeded to the Kachchativu St. Anthony's Church feast after a long lapse have reportedly been fired at by the Sri Lanka Navy. The Tamil Nadu newspaper "Dinakaran" reported that the fate of the Indian Christian fishermen who set out in fleet of 40 boats from Rameswaram was not known although two or three boats managed to limp back to Rameswaram. Indian authorities are conducting investi-gations on the missing fishermen. It is also reported that Indian fishermen ventured to the feast which was held on Saturday and yesterday in the backdrop of the recent ceasefire agreement reached between Sri Lankan government and the LTTE.

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   Sri Lanka weapons handover begins
   [ 12:12 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ BBC ]

    The de-commissioning of weapons in line with a Norwegian-brokered ceasefire has begun in Sri Lanka. A former Tamil militant group, the Democratic People's Liberation Front (DPLF), has started returning its weapons to government forces ahead of a deadline to disarm paramilitary groups.

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   LTTE denies accusations of truce violations
   [ 12:05 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ TamilNet ]

    The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Monday denied categorically the accusations levelled against the organisation that it is involved in activities that could jeopardise the permanent truce reached between the Sri Lankan government and itself and which came into effect on February 22.

U.S. warns Sri Lanka rebels against breaking truce

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   Tamil National Alliance's (TNA) meets Premier
   [ 21:22 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ CDN ]

    A Tamil National Alliance's (TNA) delegation which met Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during the weekend demanded the release or legal action for Tamil political prisoners taken into custody under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, TULF Parliamentarian and Senior Vice President Ananda Sangaree told the Daily News, yesterday. "The Prime Minister informed us that the matter had already been taken up by Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana and the Attorney General and the cases have been categorised according to their seriousness," Sangaree said.

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   Home Office and BRC differ on Lanka
   [ 18:30 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ Sunday Leader(SLK) ]

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the government and the LTTE is expected to herald the restoration of normalcy in the war zone of the north-east as well as in other areas of the country. It is expected to bring in its train a return of refugees from asylum overseas as well as a resettlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs). At the press conference two Sundays ago, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe too mentioned there would be resettlement of IDPs, while stating that he was not aware of plans for the return of overseas refugees. But did not dismiss it.

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   Power of a phone call
   [ 01:09 GMT, Mar. 11, 2002 ] [ Sunday Times - SL ]

    I thought of writing to you when I heard that you said that you need only one telephone call to cancel all what the Green man is doing with the Norwegians and Tigers and to declare war-again. I know, Satellite that you are not in the best of moods these days after missing a visit Down Under to meet the Queen and what with Seeni Bola joining the Cabinet and all. But really, Satellite, saying that you can declare war or peace with one telephone call, despite the best efforts of the Green man is baffling. After all, how many telephone calls did you make to prevent your uncle from being detained? And how many telephone calls did you make to prevent the swearing-in of Seeni Bola as the Samurdhi minister?

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   Remembering Prof. C. J. Eliezer: An icon of Tamil voice
   [ 16:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2001 ] [ TamilCanadian ]

    Professor Eliezer, a Mamanithar, should be remembered and respected ever as a martyr of Tamil rights and an icon of Tamil voice. He should be remembered for his indelible imprint on voice for the plights of Tamil people. He believed in “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” On I January 1998, Professor Eliezer picked my family and me from the Tallamarine Airport, Melbourne. On the way to Melbourne, our conversation was about the Tamils, Tamil’s freedom fight and Tamil unity. As I noted in my diary, Prof. Eliezer was talking about the problems facing the Tamil freedom fight, ways of solving it, and what will happen in the future. Professor said ‘ I am mindful that our freedom fight is answered with violence by the Sri Lankan government and even death. I am mindful that the Tamil people are brutalised and murdered. We must have our freedom now. We must have our rights back. We must have protection. I could never adjust to discrimination and violence because discrimination is always unequal and it did something to my sense of dignity and self-respect. Discrimination not only harms one mentally but also injures one spiritually. It scars the soul. It is a system that forever stares the Tamils in the face, saying ‘You are less than …’ ‘You are not equal.’

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   Mamanithar Professor C J Eliezer AM has passed away in Melbourne Australia
   [ 16:00 GMT, Mar. 11, 2001 ] [ Tamil Australian ]

    Professor C J Eliezer is a welknown Mathematician, a philosopher and a man of great vision, His life's creed is based on a few words from the rich, ancient and his beloved Tamil language. "Every country is my homeland Every man is my kinsman" This evolves from the fact that this Doctor of Science in Mathematics and Barrister of Law, London has held the same three positions, Professor of Mathematics, Dean of the faculty of Science and Acting Vice Chancellor at three different Universities in three different Countries (last being Australia).

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   Taliban like destruction of temples
   [ 13:50 GMT, Mar. 11, 2001 ] [ Sunday Leader ]

    There is nothing wrong if Sri Lanka's primary identity is that of a Buddhist country. But having said this, we have to consider another fact. In a country of diverse religions and ethnic groups, it has to act evenhandedly when dealing with issues regarding other religions and inter-religious confrontation. And it is here that the record of the Sri Lankan state seems very suspect. The largely untold story of the atrocities and destruction perpetrated by sections of the Sri Lankan government and the armed forces on the Hindu temples in the Tamil majority areas are a scar both on the part of the perpetrators for their guilt, and on the part of the victims for the trauma and frustration and sense of loss they have suffered.

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   Will Prabhakaran take the peace path?
   [ 13:14 GMT, Mar. 11, 2001 ] [ Sunday Times - SL ]

    There has been no other leader who has been so respected by the Tamil people and who has so inspired them as Prabhakaran. At the same time, there has been no other person who has frightened the Sinhalese and has been so hated by them as Prabhakaran. If he had not allowed his struggle for the liberation of his people to go beyond a war against an official army, that is to say if he had refrained from attacking unarmed Sinhalese, then he would have undoubtedly become a person respected by the Sinhalese.

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   Us and the US - A view point
   [ 13:00 GMT, Mar. 11, 2001 ] [ TamilCircle ]

    The State run Daily News published excerpts of the speech given by the US ambassador on his recent visit to Jaffna. As expected, the portions of the sermon that suited the Sinhala point of view were presented. Now that the ambassador has spoken, let us now respond.Tamil Eelam is not for you, or the Sinhala people, or the 3-member international committee to give. It belongs to the Tamil people in land and soul to chart their own destiny.There will always be a Tamil Eelam! Thank you for your concern and god bless America.

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   Government to jettison Memorandum of Understanding
   [ 12:50 GMT, Mar. 11, 2001 ] [ Sunday Leader ]

    It is learnt that India while expressing full support for the peace process had raised specific misgivings about the concept of third party mediation in the Lankan crisis.India had asserted its objections to any precedent being set in the South Asian region that would encourage external involvement in internal issues. India was clearly opposed to any third party involvement in the Kashmir issue and likewise " advised" its Island neighbour because "third party's have their own agendas".

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   Giant Buddha statues blown up
   [ 12:31 GMT, Mar. 11, 2001 ] [ BBC ]

    Afghanistan's ruling Taleban have completely destroyed the two giant Buddha statues which the international community has been trying to save, independent reports say. The Taleban's foreign minister, Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, confirmed this at a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

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   Wife identifies Trinco shooting victim
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ TamilNet ]

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   Remove security posts near schools - CTTU
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ TamilNet ]

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   Five Tiger rebels kill themselves in Colombo apartment block blast
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ Yahoo - News ]

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   Tamil rebels commit suicide
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ BBC ]

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   Canada: March of Women 2000
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ WTMWO ]

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   CanTYD Awards of Excellence
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ CanTYD ]

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   Sri Lanka hunts for rebels after Colombo bomb
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ Reuters ]

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   21 dead, 50 hurt in Colombo carnage
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ SCMP ]

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   UN gives land mine lessons
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ National Post ]

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   Sri Lanka Attempts to Lay Foundations for Peace Talks
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ CNS News ]

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   More explosions in Colombo after blasts, gun battles kill 21
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ Thunder Stone ]

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   Rebel attack in Sri Lanka
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 2000 ] [ BBC ]

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   Police demand UNP MP's surrender
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ TamilNet ]

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   Plans to settle Sinhalese in Jaffna
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ TamilNet ]

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   Sri Lankan Democracy in Shambles
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ TamilCanadian ]

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   Students go back to school
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ The Star Online ]

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   Tougher young offenders act coming
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ CBC ]

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   The greatest Puppet show - in the Wayamba
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ TamilCanadian ]

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   Mine detection again runs into trouble
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ The Hindu ]

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   Sri Lanka sets fresh dates for provincial polls
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ Reuters ]

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   New date set for PC polls
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1999 ] [ TamilNet ]

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   Sri Lanka opposition likens president to Goebbels
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Reuters ]

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   UNHCR unveils assistance plan for S.Lanka displace
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Reuters ]

    No details available.

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   The UNP, the Sinhalese and the Tamil problem
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Midweek Mirror ]

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   S.Lanka navy foils rebel suicide attack in east
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Reuters ]

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   Sea tigers sink SLN boat
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ TamilNet ]

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   Sri Lanka opposition likens president to Goebbels
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Reuters ]

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   UNHCR unveils assistance plan for S.Lanka displace
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Reuters ]

    No details available.

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   The UNP, the Sinhalese and the Tamil problem
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Midweek Mirror ]

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   S.Lanka navy foils rebel suicide attack in east
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ Reuters ]

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   Sea tigers sink SLN boat
   [ 11:11 GMT, Mar. 11, 1998 ] [ TamilNet ]

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