HSZ in Sampur and Mutur:
TNA calls for withdrawal of regulations

Proposed HSZ covers 50% of Mutur DS including 19 schools, 19 places of religious worship
By Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) urged the government in Parliament yesterday to withdraw the regulations notified by the Gazette to implement a High Security Zone (HSZ) in Sampur and Mutur.
The House debated the issue at an adjournment motion proposed by TNA leader R.Sampanthan who called on the government to refrain from taking any step to implement these regulations.
Starting the debate, Mr.Sampanthan said the proposed Mutur (East) Sampur HSZ would violate the fundamental rights of Tamil people who inhabited the area historically.
He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, had under section five of the Public Security Ordinance, promulgated certain regulations to create the Emergency(Mutur-(East)) Sampur HSZ.
The TNA said Tamils who were displaced due to aerial bombardment and multi barrel rocket launcher attacks, would be denied of their right to resettle on the lands owned by them if these regulations were implemented.
“This decision has been taken capriciously by the Sri Lankan state without any form of consultation with the said Tamil people and their democratically elected representatives. And whereas, this action if pursued will inflict immeasurable and irreparable harm to the thousands of Tamil families and their descendants,” he said.
Mr.Sampanthan said the proposed HSZ covers 50 percent of the Mutur Divisional Secretariat, and encompasses an area of 90 square kilometers including 19 schools, 19 places of religious worship and a grazing land of 200 hectares meant for the livestock belonging to the people.
He said several fishing villages would also be affected, and therefore these regulations would create havoc on the lives of the people.
“There could be security considerations which need to be addressed. It is our contention that such considerations can be addressed without a severe and total denial of the fundamental rights of the Tamil civilian residents of these areas,” he said.UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella joined the debate stressing that this type of decision should be taken only in consultation with the elected public representatives according to a plan.
Mr.Kiriella said there are over 300,000 internally displaced persons in the country today, but it is sad to note the constant absence of Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to brief the House on world opinion in this regard.
“It will not be good for the country to keep these displaced persons in camps. They should be resettled in their original places of living. We get foreign aid only for that purpose. We are in a deep crisis today,” he said.
JVP MP for the Trincomalee district Jayantha Wijesekara said this decision was taken only for the national security and development activities to be launched in the area, such as the proposed coal power plant.
Mr.Wijesekara said there is no sinister plan to resettle Sinhala people in the area while driving away Tamils, as alleged by the TNA during the debate.
“Over 40,000 Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala people were displaced from Mutur due to LTTE atrocities. The government forces had to repulse Tigers. They also liberated areas such as Mahindapura and Verugal. Today, electricity has been provided to these areas,” he said.
Concluding the debate, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said people had not been affected as such due to declaration of HSZs.

Thoppigala fall imminent

Wednesday, 20 June 2007 Reports reaching Colombo from Batticaloa informs that by yesterday afternoon (19) Sri Lanka Army troops have almost reached the Thoppigala area, LTTE’s last stronghold in the Eastern part of the island.
By yesterday, three LTTE camps located in Narakamulla area in the west of Thoppigala were completely destroyed by the troops where a large stock of weapons, ammunition and other military equipment were recovered, Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) states. Troops are conducting on the process of clearing the area. During the clash it is reported 25 – 30 LTTE cardres were killed and two soldiers got wounded.
“When Thoppigala area is rescued the LTTE will not be able to establish camps and they will not have any access to forced recruitment,” Military Spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.
“We could have taken over Thoppigala much faster but due to the military intelligence reports received stating that child soldier brigades were used by the LTTE in this area, Army launched the rescue operation very systematically and strategically to minimize casualties. Before moving in closer we made announcement for the LTTE cardres to surrender to the SL troops and even now we are conveying the same message,” Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said addressing the media.
These details were uncovered at the weekly media briefing on the current security situation held at the MCNS premises in Colombo today (20).
“The operation to liberate the East from the terrorist domination is nearing completion with success,” MCNS states.
In Thrikonamadu, Yakkuray and Kalkuda, fleeing terrorists confronted with troops and seven terrorists were killed while the Army were recovered their weapons.
Confessing that they can not tolerate the harassments in the LTTE camps, seven LTTE cardres have surrendered to the Polwatta Army camp in Batticaloa, bringing the total number of LTTE surrendees to 656.
A Tamil civilian, escaped from Tiger captivity, have disclosed to military personnel that 73 people are under LTTE detention which includes two soldiers, several members of Karuna faction and Muslim civilians. According to this person these people under go torture and harassment and are forced to perform hard labour continuously and some who tried to escape were killed.

India to provide weapons and ammunition to Sri Lanka- Indian Defence Minister

Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Indian Defence Minister A.K. Anthony has stated that the India is ready to provide Sri Lanka with arms and ammunition to help them to fight against terrorism.
According to Indian media reports, Indian Defence Minister said this while addressing a two-day Conference for India’s top military brass. He said that terrorism and non-state armed players are the major challenges for security.
The Minister called for a new ‘security paradigm’ which ideally should be a mix of security cooperation, developing strategic partnerships and deterrence in consonance with India’s security and strategic interests.
“Our strategic policy must reorient our relations with major powers, developing economies and our neighbours,” he said.
The "rise of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) air power in Sri Lanka is of concern to India also," emphasised Minister A.K. Antony
The Minister said that the most crucial challenge facing Indian Armed Forces in the near future is the growing instability in India’s neighbourhood.
Minister. Antony conveyed India's willingness to extend "whatever possible help." He said the message to Sri Lanka was that "we are with you" on the issues of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity of the island-state.
At the same time, India expressed its preference for a "political solution" in Sri Lanka.
Earlier, the Indian Defence Minister AK Anthony on 02nd June, assured Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, that the Indian Government was agreeable to conduct coordinated patrols of the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka in the Palk Straits. Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 June 2007 )

Swiss Tamils protests against hoisting of Eelam flag
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 Geneva, 19 June:

President Mahinda Rajapakse has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge a strong protest to the Government of Switzerland for allowing the agents and supporters of Tamil Tigers to hoist the ‘Tamil Eelam’ flag on Swiss soil.
This flag -- depicting a snarling Tiger putting his head out of ring of 33 bullets and two guns fixed with bayonets crossing overhead -- was hoisted on June 11 opposite the United Nations buildings located in Geneva.
This issue was brought to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapakse on 15June by the Tamils living in Switzerland who are members of the Eelam Peoples’ Democratic Party.
Tamils from Switzerland met the Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse along with Douglas Devananda who is the Minister of Social Service and Social welfare and also the Leader of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party.
At the meeting members of the EPDP pointed out to Sri Lanka President that the Tamil Tiger was raised in Switzerland to indicate that the Tamils have a separate state in Sri Lanka. The participants of the protest rally also shouted slogans calling for the recognition of separate state of Tamil Eelam.
The Tamils who participated in the discussion with Sri Lanka President condemned the action of the Swiss government for allowing the Tamil Tigers to get away acts said that would not be allowed for Al-Qaida agents and supporters. They said that it amounts to Switzerland aiding, abetting and tolerating anti-Sri Lankan activities in their soil.
They added that not all the Tamils in Switzerland would support such anti-national actions.
After making inquiries President Mahinda Rajapakse told Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a protest note to the Swiss Government. (Asian Tribune)


Small clique running SLFP now: Sripathi
By Gagani Weerakoon
Former Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi who crossed over to the Opposition along with Mangala Samaraweera told the Daily Mirror yesterday, the launching of the new political party was only a move aimed at taking the SLFP into the hands of true party members.
“Today the party is in the hands of a small clique. We are attempting to save our party and true SLFPers will join us,” he said.
He said it was unlikely that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga would attend the ceremony at Horagolla on Friday as she was still attending to matters regarding her daughter’s wedding.
On Friday they will spell out the policies of their new party and the future course of action.