ENB TODAY 190308:NATO tightens grip on north Kosovo

March 19, 2008, 5:30- Russia Today
NATO tightens grip on north Kosovo
NATO has placed the Kosovo town of Mitrovica under de facto military law after a UN peacekeeper from Ukraine died of injuries sustained during Monday's
clashes with protesters. Another Polish peacekeeper is in a critical condition. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the violence was not unexpected. He made the comments during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State,
Condoleezza Rice, and Defense Secretary, Robert Gates.
“We believe that the unilateral declaration of independence by Pristina is inadmissible and it's a gross violation of international law. We had warned that this step
would inevitably have negative consequences. And it's actually happened . It's very difficult to drive all those who do not want to live in an illegally proclaimed state
within the framework of this state. You know that in long years following 1999, the rights of the minorities, especially Serbs in Kosovo were not provided for. I'm
talking about their security and the right of movement. Therefore we could see a very bad scenario when minoritites will feel alien in their own country,” Lavrov said.
UN police and NATO-led troops clashed with Serb protesters on the streets of Mitrovica in Kosovo. The security forces were evicting Serb demonstrators from the
UN courthouse they'd occupied since Friday in protest against Kosovo's secession from Serbia.
Following violent clashes with Serb protesters, the UN temporarily withdrew police staff leaving NATO-led KFOR troops to deal with the trouble.
NATO troops secured a hostile area after rioting Serbs forced the withdrawal of UN personnel. Kosovo police say rocks and petrol bombs were thrown at police
cars in the process.
House-by-house searches for weapons were conducted overnight throughout Mitrovica. NATO says they managed to obtain a number of arns and will continue the
searches.
NATO command has asked for reinforcements – a request that has been received favourably by NATO’s North-Atlantic council. The body is holding an emergency
meeting on Wednesday.
At the same time, NATO claims it has been listening in on the radio conversations between local Serbs and police units in Belgrade. These conversations suggest that
violence has been orchestrated from Belgrade.
NATO also says the Serbian army has taken up positions near the Kosovo border. However, it is hard to say whether these units are undergoing training or are
preparing for something more critical.
Violent clashes have left more than 60 UN and KFOR troops and 70 Serb civilians injured in the last few days. The two most seriously injured Serb demonstrators
from yesterday's violence are reported to be in a critical condition. One of them is in coma.
Serbian President Boris Tadich has accused the UN of excessive use of force.
Following the death of the Ukrainian peacekeeper, members of the Ukrainian opposition Party of Regions have criticised the government for sending peacekeeping
troops to the region, saying the policy contradicts national interests.
Giving details of the soldier’s death, Ukraine’s Interior Minister Yaroslav Mazurkevich said he was demanding an inquiry into the incident.
“Igor Kinnel died during surgery. He was born in 1982 and began his career in the Interior Ministry in 2000. Like most of the boys who took part in the operation he
got shrapnel wounds. Many others are suffering from contusions, concussion of the brain and injuries to their arms and legs,” he said.

March 19, 2008, 9:09
Anti-missile defence – further talks on the radar-Russia Today
Poland and the Czech Republic have both echoed an invitation from the United States for Russia to deploy inspectors at planned missile bases on their territory. It
follows talks in Moscow, which ended without an agreement over U.S. plans for a missile defence shield in Europe. Still, both sides expressed hope the meeting was a firm step towards more talks.
The Czech Prime Minister, fresh from talks in Washington, said he would consider allowing Russian inspectors to visit the planned U.S. radar station in his country.
For his part, the Polish PM said Russian military monitoring of the sites is something he would consider. Experts suggest pragmatism may be the final victor.
Western and Russian media coverage was muted, with hardly anything new coming from the high-level talks, though the news agency AFP did call the talks “upbeat”
and Condoleezza Rice seemed to agree.
"U.S. - Russia relations - a complex relationship - are proceeding in such a way that we are able to go forward in various areas of co-operation, so when we have
differences we can talk about them in an atmosphere of mutual respect, and we look forward to future discussions as we seek to flesh out this joint strategic
framework,” said Rice.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was more guarded.
“As far as missile defence is concerned, both Russia and the United States are interested in addressing these problems in a co-operative and equal way within a
framework which will unite us, the United States and Europe. The United States has confirmed its willingness to pursue its plan to set up a third positioning site in
Europe. Russia, while not agreeing with this intention, put forward an alternative,” said the Russian FM.
Tug of war set to continue
One of the main arguments Washington forwards in trying to persuade Moscow of the merits of anti-missile defence is that it will not affect Russia's strategic
capability. It says the planned bases in Eastern Europe are solely intended to defend against so-called rogue states, such as Iran.
The United States is not willing to accept Russia's offer to use the Gabala radar base in Azerbaijan as an alternative, saying it could only be an additional site.
Meanwhile, Washington is in negotiations with Turkey to deploy further missile tracking bases on its territory. Moscow is concerned the deployment of a system so
close to its borders will pose a threat to its national security.
Russia is also concerned about other elements of U.S. defence. In 2007 the U.S. moved its sea-based X-band radar, the largest of its type in the world, to the
Aleutian Islands near Alaska.
The location is believed to be optimal for monitoring potential North Korea missile launches, but its close proximity to Russia means it is possible it could also collect
data on Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website accused the United States of attempting to destroy strategic stability
and keep Russia in an unequal position in global affairs. So, for now, the two sides seem unable to reconcile their differences.

TNA to boycott Eastern PC elections - MP
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 23:35 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will not contest in the forthcoming Provincial Council elections for the Eastern Province as the alliance "steadfastly opposed the de-merger of the North Eastern Provincial Council (NEPC) in January 2007 by the Government of Sri Lanka," Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarian S. Jeyanandamoorthy told TamilNet Tuesday. "We do not want to fall prey to the policy of divide and rule of the Sri Lankan government," the parliamentarian further said.
Batticaloa District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian, S. Jeyananthamoorthy"The unified NorthEast as a single administrative unit is a cornerstone principle," he said. The TNA would soon release an official statement on the decision to boycott the elections, Mr. Jeyanandamoorthy said.
"In this context, contesting in the scheduled Eastern Provincial council election would be an act of giving up our legitimate rights."
Saying that the GoSL has violated the arrangement based on the Indo-Lanka agreement, the Batticaloa MP urged the Indian government to prevail upon Sri Lanka to honour the "aspirations of the Tamil speaking people on the basis of the historical reality that the Northern and Eastern provinces were the areas of historical habitation of the Tamil speaking people."
"When the TNA delegation met the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in December 2006, he expressed commitment to the restoration of the merged North – East," the TNA parliamentarian said.
"India should not allow itself to be manipulated by the Sri Lankan government which wants to proceed with the divide and rule policy against the aspirations of the Tamil speaking people."
He reminded that the Co-Chairs for Sri Lanka peace process, comprising the United States, EU, Japan and Norway, had clearly expressed that there should be no change to the specific arrangements for the North and East which could endanger the achievement of peace.

India installs radar system to curb LTTE infiltration and smugglings Tuesday, 18 March 2008
The Indian Air Force has installed sophisticated radar with all modern systems available for aerial surveillance. It is reported that the main objective of installing this
surveillance system is to prevent smuggling and infiltration operations of the LTTE exploiting the Gulf of Mannar to Sri Lanka.
Southern Air Command, Air Vice-Marshal Y.R. Rane after discussing with the Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard officials addressing the media said that that
the new radar has eight antennae which could cover the entire Gulf of Mannar region. It had the capability to track objects such as ships, barges, trawlers, small boats
and others in the Indian territorial waters off Mandapam coast.
Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police P. Rajendiran stated that the police have set up 60 additional check posts along the coastal areas to intensify
patrolling to check infiltration of the LTTE into the state.
Reports from India said recently that Tamil Nadu Police has now detained an LTTE agent named Abdul Kareem under the National Security Act (NSA) who was
earlier arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police for masterminding a secret plan to smuggle 50,000 batteries from India to the LTTE in Sri Lanka

Tigers strike inside Mannaar HSZ
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 03:27 GMT]
The city of Mannaar was shaken Monday night by outgoing artillery barrage when Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) mounted an attack inside the Sri Lanka
Army (SLA) High Security Zone in Thirukkeatheesvaram area, adjacent to SLA garrison in Tha'l'laadi, breaking the Forward Defence Line (FDL). 14 wounded
SLA soldiers were rushed to the public hospital in Mannaar. Telephone links were disturbed and tension prevailed in the city as fighting raged from Monday 10:50
p.m. till 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The warring parties are yet to release details of the latest confrontation inside the HSZ.
The SLA has deployed soldiers around Mannaar hospital where the wounded soldiers were warded. The soldiers were admitted around 1:30 a.m.
Tension prevailed in Mannaar city where residents, after many years, heard intense exchange of gunfire within a distance of 5 km as crow flies.
Tha'l'laadi garrison of the SLA is located 4 km southwest of Thirukkeatheesvaram.

3 SLA killed in sniper attack - LTTE
[TamilNet, Monday, 17 March 2008, 18:11 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Operations Command in Mannaar told media in Vanni that Tiger snipers gunned down 3 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers at
Iththikka'ndal in Paalaikkuzhi on Sunday between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
Confrontations in Mannaar were reduced due to heavy rain. LTTE Operations Command in Vavuniyaa said an SLA offensive push was defeated at Paalamoaddai on
Sunday following stiff resistance put up by the Tigers from 11:00 a.m. till 1:05 p.m. There were also reports of heavy artillery duel across no-go zone ln Ma'nalaa'ru
on Sunday, according to available information.

LTTE pockets in south Indian states, says Narayanan
[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 March 2008, 23:21 GMT]
Indian National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan on Sunday asked the intelligence agencies of the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to monitor what he
alleged as activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) stating that both these states had "presence of small pockets of the rebel group," according to
reports in Indian media. The Indian intelligence agencies have been systematically releasing reports of increased LTTE activity in Kerala, Tamil Nadu's neighbouring
state. Initial reports charged LTTE with using the coastal areas of Kerala since it was not as heavily monitored as the Tamil Nadu coast.
Narayanan further said that the intelligence bureau had cautioned them that "the LTTE units in Sri Lanka might be getting help from their supporters active in the two
States."
Heavy security arrangements had been made for his visit to the famous Sri Krishna temple at Ampalappuzhaa in Kerala.
Last week, Mr. Narayanan had reportedly told the visiting leader of the paramilitary group EPDP, Douglas Devananda, who is a cabinet minister in the Rajapaksa
government, that "India is expected to play a major role in Sri Lanka's efforts to solve its problems once powers are extensively devolved to the people of the North
and East of the country."

Viktor BoutMarch 19, 2008, 9:39
‘Merchant of Death’ to stay in jail
A Thai court has extended the term suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout can be held in jail without charge by another 12 days. Thai authorities have received
an official request from the U.S. for Bout's extradition, but they say this could only be considered once they've completed their own investigation. The lawyer for the alleged gunrunner has said he will file another request for his release on bail on Wednesday.
Bout was arrested on March 6 in Bangkok. He is suspected of arms trafficking to conflict zones and supplying militants and terrorist organisations with arms.