Day: 15 November 2015

The entire Jaffna Peninsula was crippled yesterday

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BY Manekshaw The entire Jaffna Peninsula was crippled yesterday (12) due to the boycott in support of demanding the release of all Tamil political prisoners. Tamil political parties irrespective of their differences and various civil society organizations participated in the boycott (hartal) which resulted in the closure of business establishments and schools in the North. Nearly 270 Tami political prisoners put behind bars in various prisons throughout the country launched a fast unto death demanding their release last month. One week later they had given up their fast on the…

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Disappearances in Sri Lanka and the visit of the UN Working Group on Disappearances

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In the 35 year history of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (“WGEID”), Sri Lanka ranks number two, shamefully, in the numbers of disappearance cases the WGEID has dealt with.[1] The latest figures from the WGEID are as follows: total cases transmitted to the Government for clarification – 12,341; total cases clarified by the Government – 6,551; total cases clarified by other sources – 40; outstanding cases – 5,750.[2]Further, between 2006 (when disappearances escalated drastically) to date, Sri Lanka has had the largest number of disappearance cases,…

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The Plight Of Tamil POWs

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By Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran – On the 12th of October, nearly 200 Tamil prisoners held in Sri Lanka began a hunger strike calling for their immediate release. It was reported that three of them had been hospitalized because of their deteriorating condition. Following that, the Sri Lankan government gave the hunger strikers an assurance that it would resolve the issue of their continued detention before the 7th of November. The Tamil prisoners suspended their hunger strike relying on this assurance but stated they would resume their fast if they remain detained…

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At least 120 dead in Paris attacks, Hollande declares emergency

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https://news.yahoo.com/video/yahoo-news-special-report-explosion-231421121.html By Ingrid Melander and Marine Pennetie PARIS (Reuters) – Gunmen and bombers attacked restaurants, a concert hall and a sports stadium at locations across Paris on Friday, killing at least 120 people in a deadly rampage that a shaken President Francois Hollande called an unprecedented terrorist attack. A Paris city hall official said four gunmen systematically slaughtered at least 87 young people attending a rock concert at the Bataclan music hall. Anti-terrorist commandos eventually launched an assault on the building. The gunmen detonated explosive belts and dozens of shocked…

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MP Siddharthan vows more hartals

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Jaffna District Parlimentarian Dharmalingam Siddharthan said more hartals will be staged in the future too, until all Tamil political prisoners are released unconditionally. Speaking to the Daily News, MP Siddharthan said President Maithripala Sirisena promised that he will take a strong decision with regard to the issue on November 7, 2015, but, no proper decision has been taken so far. He further said ” The decision has to be taken to release all Tamil political prisoners. On November 9, 32 prisoners were released on bail. That was a legal decision…

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Geneva resolution will have to be taken into consideration

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by Shamindra Ferdinando Retired High Court judge Maxwell Paranagama yesterday said that the implementation of the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons was the prerogative of the government. Paranagama, who headed the investigation, acknowledged that the government would certainly have to take into consideration the Sept. 30 Geneva resolution that dealt with accountability issues when setting up an inquiry. The retired judge was responding to a query by The Island regarding the government’s response to the report on the Second Mandate of the…

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Daylight robberies on the rise, even temple not spared

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Theft and burglary are on the rise with even places of religious worship not being spared. Recently, the Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya was robbed in broad daylight. The suspect had reportedly walked casually into the chief incumbent’s room and walked out with Rs.860, 000. The chief incumbent Rajamaha Viharaya Urulavathethe Dhammarakkitha Thera was on a visit to Thailand with President Maithripala Sirisena. Mahiyangana Chief Inspector Tissa Kumara said the suspect had taken cash, camera and a small clock. Police found the monk’s bank book and camera pouch lying on the floor. The…

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Govt. has deceived Tamils again – Ex TNA MP

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By S.Gurunathan The Maithri government had again deceived Tamil political prisoners and this is the climax of communal politics of good governance, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethran, former Tamil National Alliance Batticaloa District Parliamentarian said recently. Majority of the Tamil political prisoners now in prisons were arrested while returning from Middle East countries after completing their contract. They were arrested at the Katunayake Airport in the year 2013, he added. Those Tamil political prisoners produced in court yesterday were not detained for several years. In the past the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime had stabbed…

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