V. Anadasangaree, winner of the 2006 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence

12-09-2006 4:00 pm The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura has designated President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Veerasingham Anadasangaree as the laureate of the 2006 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence. The Prize was attributed on the recommendation of an international jury.

The members of the jury are: Andrés Pastrana Arango, former President of Colombia; Bahia Hariri, President of the Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the Lebanese Parliament; Inder Kumar Gujral, former Prime Minister of India; Sergei Markarov and Manu Dibango, both UNESCO Artists for Peace. Born in Sri Lanka in 1933, Mr Anadasangaree became the President of the Tamil United Liberation Front in 2002, after working as a teacher and lawyer.

As an indefatigable advocate of democracy and peaceful conflict resolution, he has contributed to raising awareness of the Tamil cause in a spirit of dialogue, while seeking to promote non-violent solutions to Sri Lanka and opposing terrorism. The $100,000 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize was created in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of the Mahatma Gandhi, thanks to the generosity of the Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh, who is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Dedicated to advancing the spirit of tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communication, the Prize is awarded every two years to an individual or an institution for exceptional contributions in the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.

In 2004, the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence was attributed to the Bangladeshi writer and journalist Taslima Nasreen.

The Prize-giving ceremony will be held on International Day for Tolerance celebrated every year on 16 November.

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JVP sold the house it was allowed to stay and threatens to kill the owners

(AT) A petition has been filed at the National Human Rights Commission by a person complaining against the Kandana Police and several JVP members including the former minister Vijitha Herath for the failure of the Kandana Police to investigate a complaint lodged more..

The Presidential Election and Tamil Democracy

(AT) The LTTE has a history of speaking in parables. When the Tigers say they are willing to talk about the proper implementation of the ceasefire ‘even this minute’ what they mean is that they want to inform the Sri Lankan government what it should do (and must do) to rid Mr. Pirapaharan of his bête-noire, Col. Karuna. more..

Suspect near Minister’s house arrested

• Troops on duty at the LEYARDS roadblock in the general area of BAMBALAPITIYA, COLOMBO 04, arrested another suspicious man on 23 September 2005 around 6.15 p.m. when the person was roaming near Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) leader, Minister DOUGLES DEVANANDA’s residence.

The arrested person was identified as S. SURALIRAJA of No. 81/01, KASHAYAPA Road, COLOMBO 05. He was handed over to the BAMBALAPITIYA Police station. The BAMBALAPITIYA Police are conducting further investigations.

Sri Lanka Tamil party Leader urges international community to take action against LTTE

• 
  “The time has come for the international community to cry halt to the atrocities of the LTTE..." - TULF Leader

Aug 20, Colombo: The next in-line in the LTTE’s assassination list, Leader of TULF, V. Anandasangaree while claiming that LTTE was virtually controlling both the government areas and its own territory urged the international community to play a major role in the eradication of terrorism and refuse to submit to the threats of terrorist groups.

Calling on world leaders to take united action against Sri Lanka’s Tigers he said “Ceasefire Agreement should be replaced with a new one considering the fact that violations have now exceeded 2500 in number. The LTTE was virtually controlling both the government areas and its own territory although the area behind its own iron curtain was out of bounds to everybody, including the facilitators.”

Mr. Anandasangaree, in a letter to the leaders of several countries and copied to President Chandrika Kumaratunga said, despite the lull following the signing of the truce agreement, hardly a day passed without at least one political opponent or an officer of the intelligence unit getting killed.

Citing the murder of SSP Charles Wijewardena in Jaffna last week, Mr. Anandasangaree said although the attack was blamed on a mob it was obvious the LTTE had hacked the officer to death and thrown away the body.
“There had never been a single murder as brutal as this in Jaffna that can be cited as one parallel to this,” the TULF President’s letter said. According to Mr. Anandasangaree, the LTTE encouraged by the freedom it has enjoyed during the period of the ceasefire agreement has been taking the law into its own hands and acting unilaterally.

“It appears as if the LTTE leader has lost control of his cadres. They create trouble and take cover behind ordinary civilians who are generally innocent and god-fearing,” the letter said.
“The time has come for the international community to cry halt to the atrocities of the LTTE which should now agree to release all the prisoners in their custody, stop conscriptions, extortions, killing of rival groups and close down all their torture camps, dark room detention camps and also allow democracy to prevail in all areas under its control,” the hard-hitting missive says. The TULF President said the LTTE must agree or must be compelled to agree by the united action of the international community to lay down arms and accept federalism as a solution to the country’s ethnic problem.

Karuna and assassinations will be key issues in LTTE-Govt talks

The planned direct talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE on properly implementing the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) are expected to revolve around two related issues. One is the continued assassination of government personnel allegedly by the LTTE, and the other is the alleged government support for Karuna, the LTTE renegade, who is killing LTTE cadres in Eastern Sri Lanka. More:

IS CEASEFIRE TALKS AIMED TO MAP OUT ELIMINATION OF KARUNA GROUP?

• Charles Perera

Mr.A.A.M.Nizam Matara, had correctly prophesied, in his article on the above subject, the reason for the sudden change of heart of the terrorists to have direct talks with the Government in Oslo. And his arguments are well worth to be brought to the notice of the Government and published in National media.

There appears to be no real necessity for talks with the terrorists at this moment when the Karuna faction is active in a gradual elimination of the LTTE. Karuna is giving a good challenge to LTTE. The LTTE’s and their Norwegian Champions’ talk about slipping into war is a bluff, that the Government should not fall into. More:

Suspected LTTE gunmen shot at civilians and robbed their motorbike

Two unidentified gunmen, suspected to be LTTE, have shot and injured three civilians including one woman while they were riding on a motorbike in the general area of KATTANKUDY, BATTICALOA on 19 August 2005 around 10.00 p.m.

The three victims, PARIDDIN MOHOMMADU PABRIDIN (17), MEERA SAIBU RAVILAN (60) and LAMILAM SUMEYA (23) were traveling from KATTANKUDY towards Batticaloa on their motorbike when they suddenly came under gunmen’s fire.

According to the victims, the assailants have taken their motorbike away after victims fell off the bike with bleeding injuries due to gunfire. However, some passers by have admitted the injured persons to the BATTICALOA hospital. The BATTICALOA Police are conducting further investigations.

EPDP member shot & killed by LTTE pistol man

An unidentified LTTE pistol man on motorbike shot and killed a member of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) in the general area of SAMANAMKULAM junction, VAVUNIYA Saturday (20) evening around 6.00 p.m.

According to the Police, the victim, NADARAJAH KESAVAWARMA (25) was killed by an LTTE pistol man while he was riding his foot bike near the SAMANAMKULAM junction.This was the forty-nine Tamil political members who fell victim to LTTE killing spree after the Cease-fire Agreement was signed.

The dead body has been taken to the VAVUNIYA Police mortuary on magistrate’s order.The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) was to be informed.The VAVUNIYA Police are conducting investigations.

Four more LTTE cadres surrender

Four LTTE cadres, who were disappointed about their organization have surrendered to the troops on duty at the OMANTHAI Entry/Exit point on 19 August 2005 around 9.45 a.m..

According to surrendees, LTTE had given them training nearly for two months before the victims ran away from the LTTE.

Surrendered LTTE men were handed over to OMANTHAI Police post for further investigations. They were to be produced before the magistrate shortly. The VAVUNIYA Police are conducting further investigations.

Names and particulars of the surrendees are withheld for obvious security reasons and questioned of human rights.

Mahinda plans to lead anti-terrorism forces: Tamil grievances not due to discrimination by the majority Sinhalese – Prime Minister

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse will go all out against terrorism and will make an attempt to obtain all the forces against terrorism under his leadership at the next presidential election. He is expected to call for support from several minor political parties representing the southern Sinhala Buddhist voters and the democratic liberal Tamil and Muslim parties at the battle for the top position of the government. [more]

LTTE MOBS REMOVE UN FLAGS AT HALF-MAST

LTTE mobs numbering over sixty swooped on three major United Nations (UN) compounds at KILINOCHCHI and tried to bring down UN flags flying at half-mast to coincide with the day of National mourning and of the funeral of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mr. LAKSHMAN KADIRGAMAR who was tragically assassinated by LTTE snipers on 12 August 2005.

LTTE mobs in KILINOCHCHI at the very outset demanded the UN agencies not to fly the UN flag at half-mast in the UNHCR,UNDP and UNICEF compounds but the UN staff reportedly refused to comply with the group’s demand and went on raising the UN flags as a sign of respect and solidarity at the Nation’s hour of grief.

Unconfirmed reports further said that those LTTE mobs after forcibly removing the UN flags took them away paying no regard to the mission the UN were fulfilling in Sri Lanka and particularly in KILINOCHCHI.

Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Mr Miguel Bermeo on Tuesday (16) has lodged a strong protest to the LTTE leadership and warned LTTE in the strongest possible terms asking the LTTE to ensure that no such recurrence would occur in the future.

The UN has in a Press Release issued on Tuesday (16) said the UN is disturbed and saddened by the incidents at KILINOCHCHI and reminded the LTTE that they (UN) are here to serve the needs of all the people of Sri Lanka and they (UN) expect that UN staff and property should be respected and protected if they are able to fulfill their mission “In the wake of these incidents, the UN Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka has issued a protest to the LTTE and also requested that the LTTE ensure such incidents do not occur again. The government of Sri Lanka has also been informed accordingly,” the Press Release added.

Ex-LTTE cadre at bus stand arrested

An ex-LTTE cadre on secret mission was arrested on Monday (15) on suspicion around 4.45 p.m. while he was at VAVUNIYA central bus stand.

Suspicious behaviour of U.K. SURESH KUMAR of ELALE CENTRAL, ELALE, CHUNNAKAM, has prompted his Police arrest.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had worked for LTTE nearly for four years before he left the organization in May 2003 for reasons best known only to him.

He was produced before the courts and remanded until 18 August 2005. The VAVUNIYA Police inquiries are on.

Pre-dawn LTTE attack on EPDP office injures one

A pre-dawn LTTE grenade attack on JAFFNA Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) office on Wednesday (17) injured one EPDP member who was asleep inside the office.

The EPDP member, AMBARASAN, who received injuries to his left side of the chest was admitted to the JAFFNA hospital. In the recent past, many EPDP political offices in the north and east came under LTTE grenade attacks causing damages and injuries to political activists.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was to be informed. The JAFFNA Police are conducting investigations.

TRO men & two others with huge sums of money arrested

Four men, said to be connected to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), which is operating as a front Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) on behalf of the LTTE were arrested with a large sum of money when they tried to enter un-cleared areas across the KADDAIPARICHAN Entry/Exit point, TRINCOMALEE on 16 August 2005 around 6.00 p.m.

Troops recovered a sum of Rs. 25 lakhs (US $ 25,000) and two TRO Identity Cards from the possession of W. NAGULESHWARAM and S. WIJEKUMAR of KILINOCHCHI and THOPPUR who were on a private bus heading for SAMPOOR from MUTTUR.

Those suspects have further failed to account for the purpose of taking such a colossal sum of money into the un-cleared areas. At the time of their arrest, two more men, R. RAVICHANDRAN and S. RAJESHKHAN who were near the same bus were also arrested by the troops on suspicion as their Identity Cards indicated that they were also from the TRO.

However, those suspects were handed over to MUTTUR Police, the same evening. Meanwhile, just after an hour of that incident in MUTTUR, another two Tamil men carrying Rs. 175,000/= (US $ 1750) were arrested on suspicion by troops at the same entry/exit point around 7.00 p.m. The suspects, T. KENESWARAM and A. THILAKANANDAN, claimed to be members from an organization called “Village People’s Development Organization” were handed over to MUTTUR Police along with the recoveries. The MUTTUR Police station are conducting investigations.

Men near EPDP Minister’s house arrested!

Two suspicious men, who were loitering near the residence of Hon. Minister DOUGLAS DEVANANDA who is on top of the LTTE hit list were arrested by alert troops on duty at ELIBANK roadblock in the general area of BAMBALAPITIYA, COLOMBO 6 around 1.50 p.m. on Tuesday (16).

Arrested persons, MURUGESU KUMARA and K. PARAMADOSI from JAFFNA were handed over to Police.

The BAMBALAPITIYA Police are conducting investigations.

Killing is a ceasefire violation - Norwegian monitors

President Chandrika kumaratunge had declared a state of emergency after the assasination of the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. the minister had been shot dead in the capital, Colombo.

US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice had condemned the killing of Sri Lankan foreign minister. In a statement issued by the Canadian foreign ministry, the assassination was described as an unconscionable act against a member of the Sri Lankan government.
The acting head of the Sri Lanka ceasefire monitoring commission, Hagrup Haukland, has described the assassination as a ceasefire violation. He also told the BBC the killing would have a heavy impact on Sri Lanka's fragile peace process.

Mr Kadirgamar, 73, underwent emergency surgery after the shooting, but doctors were unable to save him, officials say. Police said the minister was shot near his heavily-guarded home in the city by an unidentified attacker.

There was no early word on the motive for the attack, but correspondents say suspicion is likely to fall on the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels.

Kadirgamar Killing is a heinous act - India

India has expressed its deep sorrow and profound grief on the brutal assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar last night. A statement issued in New Delhi says "India learnt with deep sorrow and profound grief of the brutal assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar a long standing friend of India.

This has been a heinous act and we condemn it unreservedly. We hope the perpetrators of this terrorist crime will be brought to justice"

India also expressed hope that people in Sri Lanka would rise to the occasion to defeat the forces that trying to undermine the unity and the political stability of Sri Lanka. India says the country would stand by Sri Lanka at all times.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expected to call President Kumaratunga at 1.00 p.m Sri Lanka time to express his condolences.

It is a vicious act of terror- US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar is a sensless murder and a vicious act of terror. In a statement issued Secretary Rice says " I am shocked and saddened by the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. This senseless murder was a vicious act of terror, which the United States strongly condemns. Those responsible must be brought to justice.

I offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to Mr. Kadirgamar's family and to his friends and colleagues in Sri Lanka who will miss him greatly. I last met Foreign Minister Kadirgamar this June. He was a man of dignity, honor and integrity, who devoted his life to bringing peace to Sri Lanka. Together, we must honor his memory by re-dedicating ourselves to peace and ensuring that the Cease-Fire remains in force.

Kadirgamar a hero of our times - President Chandrika Kumaratunghe.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga was deeply saddened to learn of the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar late last night. While condemning this act of terror the President states that her Government will not be bowed by such heinous acts of violence and will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.

A state of National Emergency has been declared to facilitate enhanced security measures and effective investigations of this act of wanton terror.

Lakshman Kadirgamar was a national leader who combined intellectual vigour, political courage and personal integrity of the highest calibre. He was deeply committed to a political settlement that upholds pluralism and democracy within a united Sri Lanka. During the eleven year tenure of his leadership of Sri Lankan foreign policy, the nation achieved incomparable success in its international relations, which culminated in the LTTE being proscribed in many foreign countries.

He was a hero of our times. He waged a relentless struggle against terrorism in all its forms, despite continuous threats to his life.

Lakshman Kadirgamar was felled by political foes opposed to the peaceful transformation of conflict and who were determined to undermine attempts towards a negotiated political solution to the ethnic conflict.

President Kumaratunga shares in the sorrow and extends to Ms.Kadirgamar and members of Minister Kadirgamar's family her personal and the nation's deepest sympathies at this time of grief. The President has declared a period of national mourning in honour of the late Minister.

The President today appointed a funeral committee headed by Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. The President appeals for calm and restraint in the face of this grave and cowardly attack on Sri Lanka.

HON. FOREIGN MINISTER KADIRGAMAR SHOT AND KILLED

Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. LAKSHMAN KADIRGAMAR, one of the most illustrious sons of Sri Lanka was seriously wounded and killed after suspected sniper gunman directed fire at his residence from a distance outside his COLOMBO residence late Friday evening at about 10.30 p.m..

Hon. Foreign Minister who has been very outspoken against LTTE terror tactics died in hospital after he was seriously wounded in his chest while he was inside his compound.

For the last several years LTTE terrorists have been targeting the life of Mr. L. KADIRGAMAR because he was vehemently opposed to the division of this island nation. Following the shooting a massive security operation has been launched by the Police and Security Forces in and around COLOMBO with a view to arresting assassins.

All residents in and around COLOMBO are kindly requested to remain indoor unless there is an urgent requirement until the security operation is over.

Early this month two Tamils suspected to be from LTTE were arrested while they were gathering information on movements of the slain Hon. Foreign Minister. As this report was being filed, Security Forces and the Police in COLOMBO have been placed on alert. Special Police teams have been rushed to the scene for investigations.

Top sea tiger brigade retreat in fear of Karuna

[5th Friday 11.45am]

Sea tiger brigade of wanni tiger organization deployed at Werugal in Batticaloa has been withdrawn in fear of an attack from Karuna faction of the tiger organization. Karuna faction launched all out attacks on wanni tiger camps at Aithivil and Wadukmune.

Other than the aforementioned areas Werugal was the only other area where wanni tigers had considerable influence in the Eastern Province. Werugal is an area between Trincomalee and Batticaloa and was important for wanni tigers for their sea undertakings.

After the attacks at Aithivel and Wadukmune, Werugal has become vulnerable and wanni tiger leadership has decided to withdraw the brigade fearing an onslaught by Karuna faction.

Task force’ head, intelligence deputy desert LTTE?

Daily Mirror by Sunil Jayasiri - 04.08.2005

In an apparent setback to the LTTE, a senior LTTE leader and the head of its special task force has reportedly deserted the organization along with deputy LTTE head of the Jaffna intelligence unit, military sources said.

They said senior leader Mahengi who holds the rank of ‘colonel’ in the LTTE had informed the LTTE leadership a few weeks ago that he wanted to get medical treatment from the Apollo Hospital in Colombo. Later it was revealed that he had fled the country deserting the LTTE, making the LTTE vulnerable as he was well informed of almost all important LTTE intelligence matters.

Jaffna’s deputy intelligence head Mudy Arasan has also reportedly deserted the organization and it is believed that he had accompanied Mahengi. Mahengi had deserted at a time when the LTTE had launched a recruitment drive to recruit youth to the LTTE’s elite special task force. More:

Supreitendent of Police hacked to death by LTTE in Jaffna

• The Police Superintendent who went to the scene to negotiate peace with the protesters after the killing of the saloon employee in Jaffna, was forcefully kidnapped by the LTTE and hacked to death by the LTTE around 7 pm today (04-08-05).

Police superintendent Charles Vijayawarthana went to make peace with the LTTE protesters burning tires on the streets and disturbing the normalcy in the area. While he was talking he was quickly kidnapped and taken into a small boutique near by and locked up. The army surrounded the boutique and tried to get the Police Superintendent released. But they were told that Vijayawarthana would be released only after the LTTE in-charge of Jaffna, Ilamparuthy arrives. Therefore the army which was at the scene believed the deceiving LTTE and waited patiently.

In the meantime the LTTE had taken the Police Superintendent out of the boutique through the back door and taken him to a house about 100 yards from the scene. There, the LTTE in charges, Eeswaran, Sutharsan and the others had cut him and killed the Police Supreintendent.
The latest news report says that the forces have recovered the slain body of the Police Superintendent from the house and taken it to the Palaly Hospital.

Once again the Sinhala forces trusted the LTTE’s words and waited for them to act in a humanitarian manner, but the LTTE are inhuman and they have once again proved that they cannot be trusted. Political observers say that the LTTE is trying its very best to provoke the forces and start a war. This has been the trait of the LTTE for decades!

Suspicious movements of tigers in the estates

• Eight suspected Tigers have been taken in to custody by the Badulla police.

These persons have been arrested owing to the suspicious behaviour when they stay in Atampitiya estate near Badulla. When questioned they have not been able to reveal a fair reason for their coming long way from their residing areas as revealed, Kallar and Potuwil. A person called Nadesan who earlier been in custody for the affiliation to blasting a bomb was identified as the leader of this group. Security establishments in the area have revealed that the Wanni tigers are interested in provoking the estate tamil community for the purposes of their cause for a separate Ealam homeland.