Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sri Lanka threatens to expel German ambassador
Sri Lanka threatens to expel German ambassador
Sri Lanka has threatened to expel the German ambassador due to criticism over the war with Tamil Tiger rebels. Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also singled out the television networks CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera for what he called bias in favour of the rebels. Rajapaksa said certain foreign media reports were damaging the security forces just as they stood poised to end the nearly four-decade conflict with the separatists and added that foreigners who favoured the rebels would be “chased” from the country. Meanwhile, a hospital in Sri Lanka's war zone has been hit twice by artillery attacks within hours, killing at least nine civilians and wounding many others. It is not clear which side was responsible for the attacks.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/function/0,,12215_cid_3995218,00.html
Sri Lanka has threatened to expel the German ambassador due to criticism over the war with Tamil Tiger rebels. Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also singled out the television networks CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera for what he called bias in favour of the rebels. Rajapaksa said certain foreign media reports were damaging the security forces just as they stood poised to end the nearly four-decade conflict with the separatists and added that foreigners who favoured the rebels would be “chased” from the country. Meanwhile, a hospital in Sri Lanka's war zone has been hit twice by artillery attacks within hours, killing at least nine civilians and wounding many others. It is not clear which side was responsible for the attacks.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/function/0,,12215_cid_3995218,00.html
Two different news One point of departure !
Both the news copied from http://www.swissinfo.ch/
1
Sri Lanka threatens to expel Swiss ambassador
February 1, 2009 - 5:54 PM
The Sri Lankan government has hit out at the Swiss ambassador to Colombo over criticism she made of the country's conflict with Tamil rebels.
Sri Lankan Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the Sunday Island newspaper that his government had had enough of international criticism.
He said the Swiss ambassador, Ruth Flint, her German counterpart and international media outlets were acting irresponsibly and spreading panic about the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"They will be chased away [if they try] to give a second wind to the LTTE terrorists at a time the security forces, at heavy cost, are dealing them the final death blow," Rajapaksa warned.
Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Philippe Jutzi said Bern was not officially aware of the interview and had no comment on the criticism.
Sri Lanka was condemned last week after the ongoing civil war in the country's north claimed more lives.
The government of President Mahinda Rajapakse has banned independent reporting in the region.
2.
Sri Lanka hospital shelling kills 2 in north
February 2, 2009 - 5:27 AM By Ranga Sirilal
COLOMBO (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and many more injured when a hospital in Sri Lanka's northern war zone was shelled, aid agencies said on Monday.
The shelling of the hospital on Sunday evening, which the agencies said violated humanitarian law, came as the military said it would move in to free thousands of people trapped by fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels after a government-declared 48-hour truce lapsed.
Sri Lanka's army has surrounded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a 300 sq km (115 sq mile) slice of jungle in the Indian Ocean island's northeast, aiming to end a war that began in 1983 and is one of Asia's longest-running conflicts.
Concern has grown for the safety of 250,000 people aid agencies say are trapped inside the battle zone, although the government describes those numbers as overblown.
"We're shocked that the hospital was hit, and this for the second time in recent weeks," Paul Castella, head of the Colombo delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said in a statement.
The ICRC had earlier said hundreds had been killed or wounded in fighting since mid-January. Colombo disputes the number of civilian casualties but has not provided exact figures of its own.
The United Nations also said the hospital was shelled on late Sunday evening and many casualties reported as the hospital was overcrowded at the time of the attack.
"There were shells (striking) before midnight, It seems to have struck the paediatric ward (of Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital), We don't know how many killed or wounded but we know there were many casualties," U.N. spokesman Gordon Weiss said.
The military said it had not fired shells at the hospital and blamed the rebels.
"We don't fire shells on that area. There is no requirement for us to fire into there ... it must be LTTE shells as they are desperately firing," said military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
The Tigers were not immediately available for comment but the pro-rebel www.tamilnet.com website blamed the firing on the Sri Lankan military.
"Sri Lanka Army shelled Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK) hospital Sunday night killing six civilians, including patients and their family members in the ward. More than 15 civilians were injured," the website said.
On Sunday Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella had said the military would have no option other than moving in and saving the civilians as President Mahinda Rajapaksa's call for the LTTE to let them leave under safe passage within 48 hours had lapsed.
The rebels rejected Rajapaksa's offer, saying only an internationally brokered cease-fire would resolve the conflict.
The government and human rights watchdogs have accused the Tamil Tigers of blocking civilians from leaving, forcing them to stay as human shields or using them as fighters or as labourers to build defences.
The LTTE denies the claims and says people are staying because they fear abuse by the military. The military rejects that accusation and says more than 2,000 people fled to safety behind army lines last month.
The military says the Tigers are firing artillery from populated areas inside an army-declared no-fire zone with the hope of creating a crisis to build pressure for a truce.
The Tigers in turn accuse the military of firing into the no-fire zone. The military says it has a policy of zero civilian casualties.
It is nearly impossible to verify accounts from the war zone, off-limits for journalists except on carefully guided tours by the military.
(Editing by Jerry Norton)
1
Sri Lanka threatens to expel Swiss ambassador
February 1, 2009 - 5:54 PM
The Sri Lankan government has hit out at the Swiss ambassador to Colombo over criticism she made of the country's conflict with Tamil rebels.
Sri Lankan Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa told the Sunday Island newspaper that his government had had enough of international criticism.
He said the Swiss ambassador, Ruth Flint, her German counterpart and international media outlets were acting irresponsibly and spreading panic about the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"They will be chased away [if they try] to give a second wind to the LTTE terrorists at a time the security forces, at heavy cost, are dealing them the final death blow," Rajapaksa warned.
Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Philippe Jutzi said Bern was not officially aware of the interview and had no comment on the criticism.
Sri Lanka was condemned last week after the ongoing civil war in the country's north claimed more lives.
The government of President Mahinda Rajapakse has banned independent reporting in the region.
2.
Sri Lanka hospital shelling kills 2 in north
February 2, 2009 - 5:27 AM By Ranga Sirilal
COLOMBO (Reuters) - At least two people were killed and many more injured when a hospital in Sri Lanka's northern war zone was shelled, aid agencies said on Monday.
The shelling of the hospital on Sunday evening, which the agencies said violated humanitarian law, came as the military said it would move in to free thousands of people trapped by fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels after a government-declared 48-hour truce lapsed.
Sri Lanka's army has surrounded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a 300 sq km (115 sq mile) slice of jungle in the Indian Ocean island's northeast, aiming to end a war that began in 1983 and is one of Asia's longest-running conflicts.
Concern has grown for the safety of 250,000 people aid agencies say are trapped inside the battle zone, although the government describes those numbers as overblown.
"We're shocked that the hospital was hit, and this for the second time in recent weeks," Paul Castella, head of the Colombo delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said in a statement.
The ICRC had earlier said hundreds had been killed or wounded in fighting since mid-January. Colombo disputes the number of civilian casualties but has not provided exact figures of its own.
The United Nations also said the hospital was shelled on late Sunday evening and many casualties reported as the hospital was overcrowded at the time of the attack.
"There were shells (striking) before midnight, It seems to have struck the paediatric ward (of Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital), We don't know how many killed or wounded but we know there were many casualties," U.N. spokesman Gordon Weiss said.
The military said it had not fired shells at the hospital and blamed the rebels.
"We don't fire shells on that area. There is no requirement for us to fire into there ... it must be LTTE shells as they are desperately firing," said military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
The Tigers were not immediately available for comment but the pro-rebel www.tamilnet.com website blamed the firing on the Sri Lankan military.
"Sri Lanka Army shelled Puthukkudiyiruppu (PTK) hospital Sunday night killing six civilians, including patients and their family members in the ward. More than 15 civilians were injured," the website said.
On Sunday Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella had said the military would have no option other than moving in and saving the civilians as President Mahinda Rajapaksa's call for the LTTE to let them leave under safe passage within 48 hours had lapsed.
The rebels rejected Rajapaksa's offer, saying only an internationally brokered cease-fire would resolve the conflict.
The government and human rights watchdogs have accused the Tamil Tigers of blocking civilians from leaving, forcing them to stay as human shields or using them as fighters or as labourers to build defences.
The LTTE denies the claims and says people are staying because they fear abuse by the military. The military rejects that accusation and says more than 2,000 people fled to safety behind army lines last month.
The military says the Tigers are firing artillery from populated areas inside an army-declared no-fire zone with the hope of creating a crisis to build pressure for a truce.
The Tigers in turn accuse the military of firing into the no-fire zone. The military says it has a policy of zero civilian casualties.
It is nearly impossible to verify accounts from the war zone, off-limits for journalists except on carefully guided tours by the military.
(Editing by Jerry Norton)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
9 journalists killed in Sri Lanka
In such a small country, Sri Lanka, since 2006 January 9 journalists and other media persons killed. In addition to that 27 media persons attacked and injured. Five abductions reported so far and four of them returned safely.
This is a statement given by a minister from Sri Lanka government given at parliament. The minister Dinesh Gunavartane refused to release the names and culprits behind the abduction, killing and attacks.
This is a statement given by a minister from Sri Lanka government given at parliament. The minister Dinesh Gunavartane refused to release the names and culprits behind the abduction, killing and attacks.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
WAR on medicine - a new genocidal weapon!
Government of Sri Lanka has taken the medical facilities at Tamil speaking areas for its target of aerial bombardment and artillery. The victims are mostly from the IDP's.
The injured victims are in a medically abandoned situation. Neither they have enough medicine in war turned Vanni region nor they are not allowed to go out of the Vanni region to seek treatment, especially to the near by Vavunia town.
At present 65 victims injured from the SL military areal and artillery attack still in waiting to get the permission to move to Vavunia. They have been waiting for the past six days.
In the hospital at the war zone, there are 130 victims, out of which 40 of them are seriously wounded. They are badly in need of penicillin and tetanus injections. For any emergency surgeries there is no availability of 'Katamine'.
There are 450 people under treatment at the hospital of war zone which has facility only for 150 people.
Scarcity of medicine of any kind is the main cause of many premature deaths.
We request the world to give the voice to save our people. Sri Lanka government is in the process of false propaganda. Hiding facts and the genocide inside.
There are no neutral news agencies exist or will not be allowed to exist in Sri Lanka. Apparently, many renowned journalists running on exile after the assassination of Lasantha Wikramathunge, the senior editor of Sunday leader.
The injured victims are in a medically abandoned situation. Neither they have enough medicine in war turned Vanni region nor they are not allowed to go out of the Vanni region to seek treatment, especially to the near by Vavunia town.
At present 65 victims injured from the SL military areal and artillery attack still in waiting to get the permission to move to Vavunia. They have been waiting for the past six days.
In the hospital at the war zone, there are 130 victims, out of which 40 of them are seriously wounded. They are badly in need of penicillin and tetanus injections. For any emergency surgeries there is no availability of 'Katamine'.
There are 450 people under treatment at the hospital of war zone which has facility only for 150 people.
Scarcity of medicine of any kind is the main cause of many premature deaths.
We request the world to give the voice to save our people. Sri Lanka government is in the process of false propaganda. Hiding facts and the genocide inside.
There are no neutral news agencies exist or will not be allowed to exist in Sri Lanka. Apparently, many renowned journalists running on exile after the assassination of Lasantha Wikramathunge, the senior editor of Sunday leader.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
State Organized Pogrom in Sri Lanka
State Organized Pogrom in
Sri Lanka
A tear drop in Indian Ocean called Sri Lanka is now in the Ocean of tears of Tamil minority.
COLONIAL SIDE EFFECT:
Tamils are systematically discriminated and marginalized in Sri Lanka by the Sri Lankan governments through out the history after the end of colonial period.
Colonial cohabitants, the Tamil and Singhalese, became one country after the independence from British. The governments of Sri Lanka there after formed always by majority Singhalese language speaking representatives which is the reason behind the sufferings of minority Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka till now.
POGROM STATE:
Planned new colonies in Tamil speaking regions, atrocities by the Police and military, genocidal murders organized by Singhalese majorities and orchestrated by the Sri Lankan government and discriminative regulations to the students of minorities and many more after colonial effects fueled the discrimination.
The 1983 riots started in the capitol of Sri Lanka and spread to peripheries killed 3000 Tamil speaking minorities and thousands of properties destroyed, in the vicinity of government forces.
World came to know the year as a starting point of the struggle for freedom despite the fact that it had been started since 1956 riots.
BROKEN PEACE BY SRI LANKA:
After many years of peace talk in 2003 the unilateral breakaway of Sri Lankan government from the peace process and pulled out the international agencies such as UN, UNICEF, Medicine Sans Frontiers and peace keeping mission run by Nordic countries such as Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden.
WAR ON PEOPLE:
Now, for the past 12 consecutive month the government doing war against Tamil rebels in which half a million people displaced and entrapped. Cluster bombing, artillery shell and Arial bombing are the main weapons of Sri Lankan government. IDP's are the victims.
Government occupied areas have the record number of abduction, killing and disappearing of public in past years.
War, discrimination, Arial bombing against its own citizens! The only country of its kind in the globe !
HELL OF MEDIA:
No international media allowed in the scene to report. No neutral forces, peace keepers allowed watching the situation. No NGO's allowed to do humanitarian aid.
The press and media in the country are in predicament. Reporters Sans frontiers records the first killing of media person in 2009 happened in Sri Lanka. Three days before this incident a total demolition of independent TV station and Radio station by government orchestrated 'devil force'.
THE APPEAL:
MINORITY TAMILS OF SRI LANKA IN WRETCHED CONDITION!
NEEDS YOUR VOICE!
JUST TO STOP THE WAR AND DISCRIMINATIONS!
CEASEFIRE!
CONTACT:
A coalition for warless Sri Lanka
zerozoneantiwar@gmail.com
647 878 0439
RESOURCES OF MORE INFORMATION:
www.tamilnet.com
www.blackjuly83.com
www.lankawin.com
www.tamilcanadian.com
warzerozone.blogspot.com
We condemn the merciless murder of Journalist Lasantha Wikremtunge
Stop the media killing! Let media to be free!
HALL MEETING
In Memory of Lasantha Wikrematunge
Saturday, January 31 2009, 3:00 to 6:00 pm
Scarborough Civic Center
Scarborough (Public Transit: subway to Kennedy, then L.R.T. to Scarborough Town Centre)
The Zero Zone, a coalition for stop the war in Sri Lanka have called on community media and all supporters to support the meeting to demand that the Canadian government call for an immediate end to the media massacre in Sri Lanka.
This meeting organized in memorization of late Lasantha Wikrematunge, the Chief Editor of the well known Sri Lankan News Paper Sunday Leader. He, couple of weeks ago in the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo assassinated by suspected underground groups. In his aftermath editorial says "When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me."
The ‘Reporters Without Borders’ said about the murder, "President Mahinda Rajapakshe, his associates and the government media are directly to blame because they incited hatred against him and allowed an outrageous level of impunity to develop as regards violence against the press." He received numerous death threats through the past years and once machine gun bullets were sprayed at his home.
We request the community media to express their gratitude and homage in this meeting to Lasantha who died for the cause.
If your media wants to have time to say your say at the meeting please confirm it through the email as a help to prepare the event.
We ask the Tamil community media and other organizations with social concern to endorse this event.
To endorse, please e-mail zerozonewar@gmail.com
HALL MEETING
In Memory of Lasantha Wikrematunge
Saturday, January 31 2009, 3:00 to 6:00 pm
Scarborough Civic Center
Scarborough (Public Transit: subway to Kennedy, then L.R.T. to Scarborough Town Centre)
The Zero Zone, a coalition for stop the war in Sri Lanka have called on community media and all supporters to support the meeting to demand that the Canadian government call for an immediate end to the media massacre in Sri Lanka.
This meeting organized in memorization of late Lasantha Wikrematunge, the Chief Editor of the well known Sri Lankan News Paper Sunday Leader. He, couple of weeks ago in the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo assassinated by suspected underground groups. In his aftermath editorial says "When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me."
The ‘Reporters Without Borders’ said about the murder, "President Mahinda Rajapakshe, his associates and the government media are directly to blame because they incited hatred against him and allowed an outrageous level of impunity to develop as regards violence against the press." He received numerous death threats through the past years and once machine gun bullets were sprayed at his home.
We request the community media to express their gratitude and homage in this meeting to Lasantha who died for the cause.
If your media wants to have time to say your say at the meeting please confirm it through the email as a help to prepare the event.
We ask the Tamil community media and other organizations with social concern to endorse this event.
To endorse, please e-mail zerozonewar@gmail.com
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