NEWS

LTTE leader calls for Norwegian engagement

Mr Velupillai Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in a letter addressed to the Norwegian Prime Minister Mr Kjell Magne Bondevik, called for Oslo's continuous engagement as the facilitator between the LTTE and the new Sri Lanka government to find a peaceful settlement to the ethnic conflict.

The Tamil Tiger leader has also complimented the Royal Norwegian Governm-ent for its impartial and neutral approach in the facilitatory process. The following is the text of the letter addressed to Mr Bondevik on the 1 January 2002

"Dear Prime Minister, To begin with, allow me to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation of the indefatigable effort and valuable assistance provided by the Royal Norwegian government over the past two and a half years to promote a negotiated political settlement to the Tamil national question in Sri Lanka. I also wish to commend the Norwegian government for its impartiality and objective neutrality shown in the delicate practice of facilitation. Such a noble approach is widely appreciated by the Tamils in Tamil Eelam as well as by the Tamils living throughout the world.

"I am writing this letter to you to seek your government's continuous engagement as the facilitator to help to find a stable peace and a permanent settlement to the ethnic conflict".
The Tamil Guardian learns from the sources close to the LTTE that the Tamil Tigers have agreed to work out modalities and mechanisms with the new Sri Lanka government to bring the unilaterally declared cessation of hostilities to a stable cease-fire. The LTTE leadership, these sources said, has instructed its political cadres not to embark on unauthorised visits to the army controlled areas in the Tamil homeland until mutually agreed ground rules for a stable cease-fire are hammered out between the parties in conflict.

These sources further said that the LTTE leadership has urged the Prime Minister Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe through the Norwegians to lift the economic embargo fully, except for military materials, to improve the economic conditions of the people and to develop the infrastructure in Vanni, which was totally devastated by the war.

Mr. Wickremesinghe this week also wrote to Mr. Bondevik, thanking Norway for its assistance and urging Oslo to keep Sri Lanka's main opposition and the Indian government informed.
"I wish to thank the Royal Norwegian Government for the assistance provided so far to Sri Lanka in our search for a political solution. I need not emphasise the fact that my Government appreciates fully the assistance provided by your Government in the past. … We would very much like to have the continued assistance of the RNG in a similar capacity to carry on the task embarked upon by the previous Sri Lankan Governme-nt," Wickremesinghe said in his letter, published in the state-owned Daily News Monday. "It is understood that the RNG will keep India and other relevant parties inform-ed of the developments on a need to know basis," he added.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he had formed a committee consisting of Prof. G.L. Pieris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promo-tion and Minister of Constit-utional Affairs and Mr. Milinda Moragoda, Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology "which has been mandated to function as the political focal point for the peace process."

"Given the sensitive nature of the peace process and the history of suspicion between the two parties, this committee will also be solely responsible for public interface and the dissemination of information under my guidance. This committee will also keep in close contact with your Ambassador in Colombo," the Sri Lankan PM wrote to Mr. Bondevik.

Meanwhile, supporting Mr Pirapaharan's call for a full ceasefire, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said that if the government doesn't declare a ceasefire immediately and commence negotiations with the LTTE, that it would instigate widespread public protest, bringing the North and East to a standstill. The TNA further accused the government of failing to reciprocate the LTTE's ceasefire and merely practising a cessation of hostilities instead. The TNA spokesmen called for the Sri Lankan government to keep its election promise and immediately declare a ceasefire and begin peace talks.

Oslo has been trying for nearly three years to broker peace in Sri Lanka, but the process was put on hold in June when the then Colombo government, lead by President Chandrika Kumar-atunga, unilaterally downgraded Norway's peace envoy, Erik Solheim accusing him of bias. The LTTE says it is yet to receive sufficient clarification on Oslo action at Sri Lanka's behest.

Norwegian team to meet Balasingham

A Norwegian delegation headed by Mr Helgeson, the Deputy Foreign Minister will meet Mr Anton Balasingham, the official spokesman and chief negotiator for the LTTE in London on the 4 January, Tamil Guardian learns. Mr Erik Solheim and Ms Kjersti Tromsdal will also participate at the meeting. The Norwegian delegation will discuss the latest political developments in Sri Lanka and explore the ways and means of advancing the peace process. Mr. Solhem and Ms. Tromsdal, along with Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Jon Westborg formed the Norwegian delegation that met with the LTTE leader Mr. Pirapaharan in the Vanni in November 2000.

Tamil Tigers slam new Defence Minister’s threats

The Liberation Tigers this week registered a strong protest to the Sri Lankan government over a statement made by Defence Minister Tilak Marapana over the weekend, vowing his government would do its utmost wipe out the LTTE.

The LTTE has expressed its "strong displeasure" to the United National Front (UNF) government through the Norwegian government over Mr. Marapana's "bellicose" statements, sources close to the LTTE told Tamil Guardian. Norway is playing the role of facilitator in efforts to resolve the ethnic conflict.

"This kind of rhetoric will not help instill confidence in [Sri Lanka Premier] Ranil Wickremesinghe's government," the sources quoted the LTTE as saying. The Tigers had also said the warnings were particularly controversial coming "at this juncture, when tentative steps to de-escalate the conflict were being taken."

Defence Minister Marapana had said that his government would provide the Sri Lankan armed forces with "all the necessary assistance by way of weapons and other means to wipe out the LTTE terrorism from this land," the state-owned Daily News reported Monday.

"We assure the Government's steadfast support and backing by way of military knowhow and weapons to all the security forces to wage this war and establish peace and prosperity in the country" Minister Tilak Marapana told the the 59th passing out parade of cadets attached to the Sri Lanka Military Academy at Diyathalawa last Saturday morning. Marapana was speaking as the Chief Guest at the event which was also attended by Army Commander Maj. General Lionel Balagalle.

"Today the country is faced with a critical situation as regards to the North East conflict. … "Therefore it is the duty of all the cadets who have received their awards and who successfully pass out after going through a thorough training in all military aspects to do their duty by the country and the people to the best of their abilities," he said.

Marapana had said the Sri Lanka Premier "will also uplift the present living conditions of poor families of the scores of soldiers who come forward to lay down their lives for the cause of their motherland," the Daily News added.

“Lift the ban before talks,” says TNA

Sri Lanka's Tamil parties this week called for India to lift its ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Sunday Leader newspaper said. A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Wanni district MP, A. Adaikalanathan told The Sunday Leader that any Indian involvement in efforts to solve the conflict would be futile if that country fails to de-proscribe LTTE.

He told the weekly newspaper that if India kept the proscription on the LTTE, it would reflect India's bias on this issue of resolving the ethnic conflict, in Sri Lanka. He also indicated that Nor-way's role would be more meaningful and acceptable by Sri Lanka.

"If India intervenes without lifting the ban on the LTTE, it would simply earn the wrath of the Tamil people. On the other hand, if it lifts the ban, India would be put in a spot and suspected by the Sinhalese as facilitating the spread of terrorism in their land. Therefore, we feel, more than India's role, which is important no doubt, Norway's could be more effective," Adaikalanathan said.

He also pointed out that the TNA will not allow the new government to resume talks with the LTTE without lifting the existing ban on the group.
The Tamil National Alliance, a coalition of the main Tamil parties on the island won a spectacular sixteen seats in the newly formed parliament after running a campaign based on supporting Tamil self determination and backing the LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamil people.

Adaikalanathan said the ban should be lifted and the group should be given rec-ognition commensurate to its status for it to come to the negotiating table. "If not, the Tigers cannot represent the interests of the majority of the Tamils," he pointed out.

Prior to the elections the Tamil parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining their agenda to the Tamil people. The signatories were Tamil Unit-ed Liberation Front (TULF) leader R Sampanthan, All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) general secretary N Kumarakurubaran, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisat-ion (TELO) leader N Srikantha and Eelam People Revolutionary Liberation Front (Suresh faction, EPRLF) secretary general K Premachandran.

Any solution to Sri Lanka's conflict should fulfil "in its entirety" the national aspirations of the Tamil people, said the Memorandum of Understanding.

A peaceful political solution to the Tamil national problem cannot be reached unless meaningful dialogue is undertaken with the Liberation Tigers, the parties said. "It is imperative that such a dialogue is begun with the Tigers without delay. If talks are to be meaningful and their successful outcome is to be ensured, then no other Tamil party should be spoken to simultaneously", the MOU states.

Military preparations continue

As the ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers continues into its second week, Sri Lanka's military stepped up recruitment and training, press reports said. The military also expanded its supply lines in the northern Jaffna peninsula and the eastern province.

Sri Lankan forces have resumed construction of a new road through residential areas in Thellipalai, the Uthyan quoted local residents as saying. Houses and other building are being removed over the past few weeks they say. The military had initially started bulldozing buildings to the south of the Ilavalai-Thellipalai road last year but work was halted after the intervention of the former MP Sivamaharajah and other senior administrative officials in Valigamam.

Also, the Pattiruppu Bridge check point, which separates the Tamil Tiger controlled areas from those under miltiary control, has now been occupied by the Special Task Force (STF) since 28 December, reported Uthayan.

"Despite [the ceasefire] both sides conventional recruitment to the forces is underway," the Island newspaper said. Last week a passing out parade (pictured) was held by the Wijeyabahu Infantry Regiment. Its present head Udeni Munasinghe RWP RSP was the chief guest.

Inaugurating a degree scheme for naval cadets from the Kelani University, Sri Lanka navy commander Daya Sandagiri declared that his "nation's single rule and integrity can never be given up." The link between the University of Kelani and the naval & maritime academy was established in 1997. "The navy should pay foremost attention to the security of the nation. The war weighing down this country. Separatists are striving to divide this country. Protecting the integrity and honour of the nation is the duty of the navy," he said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan police are to pick three groups of officers to take part in US-sponsored security related programmes early next year. Five officers were to take part in the Senior Crisis Management Seminar next month. Seventeen officers were to participate in just over a two-week long course on Anti-Terrorist Instructor Training scheduled in January. The rest were to take part in an advanced VIP Protection Programme scheduled to begin in February.

The police, who participate in counter-insurgency operations against the LTTE have been regularly included in security programmes conducted by the US while groups of security forces have been benefited by US sponsored training conducted both in Sri Lanka and America. Under their Extended Relations Programme [ERP] Sri Lanka was among the countries selected to receive instructors from the US forces including special forces such as US Navy SEALS and Green Berets.

Sri Lanka seeks economic integration with India

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe returned to Colombo after his trip to India with the satisfaction that his plans for a fast track economic integration had been well received. In talks with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Cabinet colleagues in New Delhi, Mr Wickremesinghe had won unstinting support for the initiatives taken back home both on the political and economic fronts. The move to closer economic integration comes at a time when there are close ties between both countries, and even a personal friendship between Mr Wickremasinghe and Mr Vajpayee.

There was general backing from the Indian leadership for his Government's efforts at making peace in the north with the LTTE, and even more specific and pointed response on the economic plane. Mr Wickremesinghe told Business Line that he wanted the two countries to "take the fast track to economic integration." Mr Wickremesinghe announced last Wednesday that New Delhi was going to help Indian companies invest in Sri Lanka's faltering energy sector, which suffers daily blackouts due to a severe power shortage. "India will provide assistance to energy sector power generation companies to invest in Sri Lanka," Wickremesinghe said, but gave no further details.

The State-owned electricity board is losing money and is also short of capacity. Power cuts of about one hour each day in the island represent the Government's embarrassment. Having exhausted its hydro-electric potential, Sri Lanka would like help from the Indian private sector to help build new generation capacity with fossil fuel, and the Indian Government has offered to facilitate the effort.

The prime minister also said more cooperation between the countries in the fields of trade and finance was planned reported Reuters. "We are looking at allowing double listings of companies on both the Bombay and Colombo stock exchanges," he said. The Colombo market, which dropped to a seven-year low in August, is currently enjoying renewed local optimism after the Wickremesinghe's pro-business government came into power in a general election this month. Mr Milinda Moragoda, Minister for Economic Reforms, told Business Line that a memorandum of understanding had been signed earlier between the two institutions but now the Government favoured some concrete steps be taken on this route. Assurances of cooperation in the fields of agriculture and information technology were also obtained during his visit, Wickremasinghe said. "Dr Swaminathan, responsible for the green revolution in India, will also visit Sri Lanka to help revitalise the paddy sector," he said of agriculture expert M.S. Swaminathan.

India also already agreed to provide 25,000 tonnes of wheat each month for the next 12 months on concessional price and credit terms. The price of wheat is politically sensitive in the island, and Mr Wickremesinghe was pleased he had won a good deal. The consignment of 300,000 tonnes represents about a third of the island's needs, which hitherto were met largely by Australian and US suppliers. India's offer of easy credit terms will help the island's bid to ride out a balance of payments crunch. From India's standpoint, it represents a breakthrough into a market close home, and an opportunity to disgorge a part of the huge stocks of wheat with the Food Corporation of India.Hurt by falling tourist traffic from the West, Sri Lanka would like to widen the avenue for Indian tourists. Mr Wickremesinghe would welcome a second airline from India to fly into Sri Lanka. "I would like to promote an open skies policy," he told Business Line. Sri Lanka is hoping Indian companies will bid for some of the large Government-owned companies such as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation that are slated for disinvestment.

Sri Lanka seeking to build bridge to India

India has agreed to a feasibility study on building a bridge across the Indian ocean to Sri Lanka, Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said last Wednesday. He said New Delhi would join the studies on his proposal for linking the two South Asian neighbours with a 30-mile bridge reported AFP. Wickremesinghe said the bridge link could benefit both nations.

Wickremesinghe is proposing a bridge linking the north-western town of Talai-mannar and Rameswaram in south India over the legendary Adam's Bridge, which can be seen from the air as a chain of small islets in shallow waters. No vessel can navigate the waters because the water is only about four feet deep in most places along the cluster of sandbanks.
Sri Lanka argues that south India could use a land route to Sri Lanka and make use of the island's main sea port of Colombo where larger post panamax ships of more than 5,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent units can enter.

Wickremesinghe said his proposal for a bridge to India was well received by Indian authorities and both countries were keen to further strengthen their ties and improve trade and economic cooperation. Talks will also be held to arrange cooperation between the two countries in marketing tea as India and Sri Lanka together ac-count for about two thirds of the world's black tea market.

Central Bank cuts lending rates

The Central Bank has reduced its lending rate to commercial banks (Bank Rate) from 23 percent to 18 per cent with effect from last Thursday reported the Daily Mirror newspaper. The margin between the Bank's Discount and Rediscount rates has also been reduced, to make them compatible with the reductions in other interest rates used by the Central Bank for monetary policy purposes and facilitate the currently declining trend in the market, interest rates, the Central Bank said Thursday.

The Bank Rate is the rate at which the Central Bank grants advances to commercial banks to enable them to overcome their temporary liquidity purposes. Discount and Rediscount rates are the rates applicable for the outright purchases and sales of Treasury Bills by commercial banks and primary dealers from the Central Bank's secondary market window. The secondary market window is used by the Central Bank to regulate the liquidity level in the financial system.

The Central Bank's key interest rates applicable for open market operations, the Repurchase and the Reverse Repurchase rates, were reduced substantially (by 800-900 basis points), particularly during the second half of the year, with the stabilisation of the money and foreign exchange markets.

However, the Bank Rate has been kept at 23 percent since its last reduction by 200 basis points on July 2, 2001. Therefore, the CB has decided to reduce the Bank Rate to 18 per cent to keep this rate in line with the reduction in other policy rates and declining market rates.
The decision to bring down the margin between the Discount and the Rediscount rates was taken to keep it in line with the Central Bank's other policy driven interest rates. Further, a lower margin would give an assurance to investors in government paper that they could rediscount in an emergency without incurring a large loss and thus would help to develop the market for government paper.

The Central Bank will continue to monitor the interest rate structure in the country and make appropriate changes as required, the release added.

Bread prices to go up

With the Prima company raising the price of flour by Rs. 3 to 18 rupees a kilo, the prices of bread and other flour-based products are likely to be increased from next month, bakers warned. Leading bakers told the Daily Mirror the prices of flour-based products would definitely increase. An official of top bakers Perera and Sons said they would be increasing the price of a loaf of bread by Rs.1.50 from January 1. He said other products including short eats would also go up.

A spokesman for the Little Lion Associates Pvt. Limited said they would decide on new prices after existing stocks were sold. An official of the Sumanadisi Bakers Pvt Limited said they had sufficient stocks for a week and the new prices would be decided on later. The new prices would be announced early next month. The price increase follows the withdrawal of the subsidy on flour by the government.

More troops held over killing of Muslims

Sri Lankan police last Wednesday arrested 16 soldiers for alleged involvement in the massacre of 10 Muslim youths during parliamentary elections earlier this month, officials said. The victims aged between 20 and 27, who included three brothers, were gunned down just after voting finished on December 5 in the worst case of violence on polling day reports AFP.

Police officials said the soldiers arrested Wednesday were members of a unit that provided security to former junior defence minister Anurudha Ratwatte. The then opposition United National Party (UNP), which won the elections, has asked police to arrest Ratwatte after accusing him of masterminding the murders. Ratwatte has denied the allegations. Five more men from Ratwatte's security unit surendered earlier. However, eight more soldiers were still on the run, police said, adding that a search for them was underway.

The victims were supporters of the minority Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the UNP and were travelling in a van following election officials who were taking the ballot box from a polling station to the counting centre. The killing was condemned by the US State Department, which called for an impartial probe.

Meanwhile, the incidents of election related violence totalled 2955 by last weekend reported The Island newspaper. The complaints received by police stations island-wide since October 10, the day of nominations for the general election, continued to flow in even after the election concluded on December 5. However, the Police Elections Secretariat said that no complaints have been received since December 24.

Prior to the election the Police Elections Secretariat reported a total 2132 complaints. The number of post-election violence incidents amounted to 447. While on the day of the election the incidents of violence was a massive 376. The total number of deaths during this period was 58, making it the bloodiest campaign in Sri Lankan history.

Ministers clash over canned fish

New Fisheries Minister Mahinda Wijesekera - a controversial figure in the former PA government - appears to have plunged into troubled waters within weeks of his new job by reportedly saying he hoped to ban the import of canned fish, dried fish and Maldive fish in a bid to boost the local fishing industry reported the Daily Mirror newspaper.

An immediate response came from Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake who said he was not aware of such a report but in any event would oppose any such ban. Mr. Karunanayake said free competition was essential for the market economy and any ban or restriction could not be imposed by individual ministers but must be a Cabinet decision. He said the policy of his ministry would be to provide a variety of products to the consumer.

A Fisheries Ministry official who did not wish to be identified said Mr. Wijesekera hoped to encourage the local fisheries industry by reducing imports. He said there would be proposals to expand the fresh fish market and also to export fish. According to him, total domestic fish production up to August was 12,169 tons worth Rs. 7168 million. Imported fish products during that period included 2035 tons of dried fish worth Rs. 2213 million and 1081 tons of canned fish worth Rs. 1114 million and 3815 tons of Maldive fish worth Rs. 675 million.

New Indian High Commissioner

Amidst the Indian backed Norwegian bid to bring the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE back to the negotiating table, a senior Indian diplomat who had been based in Colombo during the deployment of the IPKF in the north-east is expected to return again - this time as the High Commissioner, informed sources told The Island Saturday.

Nirupam Sen, the then deputy to High Commissioner J. N. Dixit who played a pivotal role in the events leading to the signing of the Indo-Lanka accord on July 29, 1987, is expected to replace Gopalkrishna Gandhi in February, the sources said.

Gandhi would be moving to London, the sources said adding that Deputy High Commissioner S. Tripathi has been already replaced by Mohan Kumar. He arrived in Colombo a few days ago, the sources said, adding that his previous assignment has been in Geneva.

Interestingly, the then Deputy High Commissioner Sen was believed to have been recalled by Foreign Office before his term ended following a dispute with Dixit. "They clashed over the way to handle the JVP," the source said claiming that Dixit did not want to be in touch with the JVP but his deputy disagreed. Sen wanted to maintain contacts with all parties including the anti-Indian JVP.

Record haul of heroin captured in Sri Lanka

The Police Narcotic Bureau and Terrorist Investigation Unit (TID) have recorded the biggest haul of heroin detections valued at Rs. 82 million for the first time in history carried out within a year reported The Island newspaper. Of them 42 kilograms of heroin have been detected by PNB while TID had detected 40 kilograms in this year.

In the most recent raid carried out by the TID officers, they were able to detect six kilos of heroin worth Rs.60 million where police arrested the leading drug distributor to Colombo, Kudu Noor and five of his associates in Chilaw in last October. Police also took into custody a luxury vehicle belonging to the suspect.

The main suspect was identified as the sole drug distributor to Colombo and its suburbs. Though the suspect had been arrested in several occasions he had been released on bail due to the lack of evidence. Investigations revealed that the suspect was wanted for a spate of drug smuggling from India.Meanwhile the IGP last Wednesday appointed a Special Instigation Unit (SIU) to proe into the said detection on the contradictory evidence given by the main suspect that there had been a consignment of heroin of 10 kilograms instead of six according to the police officials who made the detection.

Colombo plans audits to tackle corruption

Sri Lanka's new government said on Thursday it planned to carry out more audits in ministries in a bid to tackle large-scale corruption and wastage reported Reuters. "We want to set up committees in every ministry to look into corruption and wastage," W.J.M Lokubandara, the new minister for justice and law reform, told a news conference.

The United National Party led government came into power after being in opposition for seven years, during which it constantly accused the previous government of high levels of graft.
State finances have deteriorated sharply this year with the economy not growing for the first time in 50 years and government revenues falling far short of expenditure. "The President's Fund has not been audited since 1995 and that disburses millions," Lokubandara said, referring to a fund available to the president for emergency use and for making donations.

State institutions such as the Ceylon Petroleum Corp-oration and the Ceylon Electricity Board have accumulated huge losses and together with corporations such as the state railway are in the red by about 50 billion rupees, or 3.5 percent of the country's national income. The petroleum corporation and the electricity board have al-so been accused of high levels of corruption and waste.

LTTE leader calls for Norwegian engagement

The Tamil Tiger leader has also complimented the Royal Norwegian Government for its impartial and neutral approach in the facilitatory process. The following is the text of the letter address-ed to Mr Bondevik on the 1 January 2002

Mr. Wickremesinghe this week also wrote to Mr. Bondevik, thanking Norway for its assistance and urging Oslo to keep Sri Lanka's main opposition and the Indian government informed.
"I wish to thank the Royal Norwegian Government for the assistance provided so far to Sri Lanka in our search for a political solution. I need not emphasise the fact that my Government appreciates fully the assistance provided by your Government in the past. … We would very much like to have the continued assistance of the RNG in a similar capacity to carry on the task embarked upon by the previous Sri Lankan Government," Wickremesinghe said in his letter, published in the state-owned Daily News Monday. "It is understood that the RNG will keep India and other relevant parties inform-ed of the developments on a need to know basis," he added.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he had formed a committee consisting of Prof. G.L. Pieris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Mr. Milinda Moragoda, Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology "which has been mandated to function as the political focal point for the peace process."

Oslo has been trying for nearly three years to broker peace in Sri Lanka, but the process was put on hold in June when the then Colombo government, lead by President Chandrika Kumar-atunga, unilaterally downgra-ded Norway's peace envoy, Erik Solheim accusing him of bias. The LTTE says it is yet to receive sufficient clarification on Oslo action at Sri Lanka's behest.

Ceasefire holds amidst tensions

The month long ceasefire between the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), which commenced on the eve of December 24, 2001 and is intended to last for a month, has so far passed unbroken despite some anxious moments.

Last Wednesday an official of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) visited areas held by the Sri Lankan security forces in Batticaloa south. 'Thurai', the official in charge of the LTTE's dissemination division for the Batticaloa and Ampara districts had discussions with an officer of the Special Task Force (STF) at the Paddiruppu Bridge, a main entry point to the town.

Thurai was accompanied by nineteen cadres of the LTTE in a visit to several villages in SLA controlled areas. The Tigers were unarmed but carried their cyanide capsules, dog tags and walkie talkies. The group visited the town of Kaluwanchikudy, and villages of Kaluthawalai, Theththathivu, Kuru-kkalm-adam and Kirankulam.

The LTTE cadres were given a rapturous welcome by large crowds, who gave them sweets and soft drinks and were greeted by community leaders. "Tigers who visited the Kathaankudy area, including some female cadres according to witnesses, purchased a large amount of goods," the Uthayan newspaper reported. "Large number of Tigers who visited Kaluthavalai, Thaethath-eevu, Kurukkal Madam and Kirankulam were greeted enthusiastically by the locals with soft drinks."

However, on their return they were detained by SLA soldiers and asked to wait at the Ghandhi statue, the Uthayan reported. The SLA soldiers were apparently annoyed at the welcome they had received from the Tamil villagers. It required the intervention of Batticaloa MP Joseph Pararajasingham and senior officials within the LTTE to ensure their cadres were not held further and ensure the event passed without serious incident.

"These are teething troubles. In the next few days, we are going to come across such situations again and again, but I am sure we will be able to sort them out soon," said the SLA military spokesperson, Brig. Sanath Karunaratne.

Subsequently, the LTTE ordered its cadres to avoid visiting SLA controlled areas, after a request from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence. The Sri Lanka Army said on Thursday that while they would not launch offensive operations but "the status quo with regard to ground deployment will remain unchanged."

Meanwhile a fisherman was shot dead in Kalladi on Christmas day by unknown assailants. The victim, T Thurairajah, had been arrested last month by the intelligence wing of the Sri Lanka army on suspicion of aiding the Liberation Tigers, the Uthayan newspaper said. He was released after a fortnight in custody.

The Liberation Tigers announced through the Voice of Tigers radio that he was a supporter of theirs. "His was the first death after the commencement of the current ceasefire", said the radio.

132,328 mines and shells recovered

The de-mining division of the Liberation Tigers has removed 132,328 anti-personnel land mines (APLM), artillery shells and booby traps left behind by the Sri Lanka army in the villages and towns of the Vanni region in northern Sri Lanka according to the Voice of Tigers news broadcast Tuesday. Amongst the recovered ordinance were almost two thousand 152mm artillery rounds.

The SLA captured the so-uthern sector of the Vanni region in the largest military operation ever undertaken by the Sri Lankan government against the LTTE and established scores of large garrisons and thousands of defence positions from 1997 to 1999.
The LTTE routed the SLA in November 1999. They have been de-mining hundreds of villages and several main towns since then with a view to resettling civilians who fled the SLA operations. The Tigers are also de-mining thousands of acres of farmland as part of the program to resettle the thousands displaced by the SLA.

The 132328 APLMS and booby traps left behind by the SLA were removed from 20 April 2000 to 31 Decemb-er 2001, the VOT said. Among the mines and booby traps removed by the demining division of the Tigers were: APLMs (82000), 152mm artillery shells (1956), 130 mm artillery shells (2131), 122 mm howitzer shells (4618), 81mm mortar shells (11400), 82mm mortar shells (3740), grenades (8388), jumping mines (360), claymore mines (929).

Students want gunmen disarmed

The Jaffna University Students' Union (JUSU) Friday requested the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to disarm all paramilitary Tamil groups including the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) in areas held by government troops, reported TamilNet on Friday.
"The retention of arms by such para military groups, including EPDP constitutes imminent danger to Tamil civilians and journalists in the Jaffna district," the JUSU said in a memorandum sent Friday to the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe.

The JUSU further expressed its dissatisfaction over the manner the United National Front (UNF) government is having talks with the EPDP to come to an understanding, after the general election.

"We are thoroughly dissatisfied to note that the UNF government's talks with the EPDP, is contrary to its assurance given in its election manifesto that it (UNF) would not have any dealings with the EPDP". EPDP had been an ally of the People's Alliance when it was in power.

"The para military groups including the EPDP have been allowed to possess arms by the last PA government in the name of self-defense. But these groups use arms against Tamil civilians and journalists to meet their own ends," states JUSU in its memorandum.

It may be recalled that the Tamil National Alliance in a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister last week called for the total disarming of all Tamil paramilitary groups, which yet continue to retain arms, the student organisation said.

The memorandum said, "the retention of arms by such Tamil paramilitary groups constitutes grave and imminent danger to unarmed Tamil political parties and the fundamental rights of the Tamil civilian population, in the northeast province particularly in areas such as the Islands off the Jaffna peninsula."

The EPDP has been attempting to court the UNF government since it came to power.
Douglas Devananda, leader of the EPDP, issued a statement pledging to co-operate with Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe in finding a lasting solution to the ethnic problem. Devananda, a hitherto staunch ally of President Kumaratunga, conveyed to the Prime Minister that he "would support his efforts to settle the ethnic issue, improve the economy and introduce constitutional reforms."

He also stated his appreciation at the appointment of Dr. Jayalath Jayewardena to his (Devananda's) former job as minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees. "Jayawardena is the most suited for the job," he said.

"The EPDP has been militarily active in support of successive governments since 1990," a senior party official said expressing confidence that the parties would be able to iron out whatever differences over existing security arrangements involving the EPDP in the northeast.

EPDP attacks TNA office

A grenade was lobbed on the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) office for the Vadamaradchi division of Jaffna last week, damaging the buiding. The TNA's chief organiser for the Vadamaradchi division, Mr. S. Aravindan told Tamilnet that he was the target of the grenade attack.

He said that gunmen from the Eelam People's Demoratic Party (EPDP), a key coalition partner of the President Chandrika Kumaratunga's defeated People's Alliance, had lobbed the grenade. The TNA's Vadamaradchi regional office is located in the Nelliyadi town.

Aravindan said that the assailants had come on a motorbike as he was entering the office last night. The TNA official lodged a complaint with the Police in Nelliyadi about the attack. "The EPDP is unable to bear the ignominy of their defeat. They sulking, but are angry that the Tamils have rejected them. They are out for revenge. There are rogue Sinhala chauvinist elements in the Sri Lankan security forces who still back them to create mischief. The EPDP still poses a serious threat to our lives", Mr. Aaravindan said.

The EPDP managed to win only two seats in the general elections, both of which were on the Kayts isles, which they militarily control and are alleged to have tampered with the ballot boxes

Senior Tamil journalists assaulted in Batticaloa

The international media watchdog, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF - Reporters without Borders) last week urged the Sri Lankan government to investigate the assault on two Tamil journalists in Batticoloa.

Mr.D.Sivaram, a leading Tamil journalist and defence analyst, and Mr.Wijetharan, of the Thinakathir newspaper, were wounded when they were attacked by unidentified men last Wednesday. Mr Sivaram is a leading defence columnist for various newspapers on the island and contributor to the Tamil news agency, Tamilnet, whilst Mr.Wijetharan is the editor of an independent Tamil language newspaper that has been the subject of threats by government affiliated paramilitary group the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP). Men armed with clubs who had arrived in a van to the Thinakathir newpaper's office attacked the journalists. The Thinakathir office was also damaged, sources said.

"RSF has requested the minister to do all in his power to identify and punish the authors of this cowardly attack," the organisations statement said, referring to the attack on two Tamil journalists in Batticoloa. The organisation had addressed a letter to the Sri Lankan Interior Minister, John Amaratunga, to show its indignation at the attack.

"While the idea of a truce is becoming vital in your country, the Tamil journalists should also be able to carry out their work in all security" declared Robert Ménard, secretary general of the organization.

In a letter to the Sri Lanka's Ministry of Mass Communication, the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA) urged the government to bring the attackers to justice. "The attack is part of a pattern of intimidation directed at the Thinakathir," the SLTMA statement said.

"The gang prevented the staff from leaving the newspaper office premises to the hospital for over one hour. Though repeated telephone calls were made to the Batticaloa Hospital to send an ambulance to dispatch the wounded, the hospital declined to do so," the SLTMA letter revealed.

This is not the first attack on the newspaper the organisation said. "On November 18, 2001, a grenade explosion occurred near the Thinakkathir office. Following this, the police shot indiscriminately and damaged houses and other buildings nearby.

When Mr. Rushangan and another journalist wanted to photograph the incident, their camera was forcibly taken away and the film confiscated," the media organisation said.

"Finally, there have been many occasions when the brigade commander, 233 Brigade, Batticaloa, has called up the editor and members of staff of Thinakathir and warned them against publishing news, which the army held was inimical to its interests," it added.
"These incidents demonstrate a trend of intimidation aimed at preventing the Thinakathir from expressing its views and publishing news with freedom," the media organisation said.

The leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party, Mr. Douglas Devenanda, demanded 50 million rupees in damages from Thinakathir newspaper in October 2001, for printing a story alleging the EPDP was planning a violent political campaign. Mr. Douglas Devanada had also made a similar demand to the Uthayan, the Jaffna Tamil daily for the same reasons.

TNA says lift Indian ban

He also pointed out that the TNA will not allow the new government to resume talks with the LTTE without lifting the existing ban on the group.

The Tamil National Alliance, a coalition of the main Tamil parties on the island won a spectacular sixteen seats in the newly formed parliament after running a campaign based on supporting Tamil self determination and backing the LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamil people.

Adaikalanathan said the ban should be lifted and the group should be given recognition commensurate to its status for it to come to the negotiating table. "If not, the Tigers cannot represent the interests of the majority of the Tamils," he pointed out.

Prior to the elections the Tamil parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining their agenda to the Tamil people. The signatories were Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader R Sampanthan, All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) general secretary N Kumarakurubaran, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) leader N Srikantha and Eelam People Revolutionary Liberation Front (Suresh faction, EPRLF) secretary general K Premac-handran.

Any solution to Sri Lanka's conflict should fulfil "in its entirety" the national aspirations of the Tamil people, said the Memorandum of Understanding.

Heavy flooding in Mullaitivu

Residents living on the Mullaitivu coast, from Maththaalan to Chemmailai, have been forced to flee their homes due to heavy rain and flooding and have taken refugee in schools and temples, reported Tamilnet last week. The flooding is the worst to hit the North and East of the island in many years. The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation says it is struggling to get supplies to the region as much of the road network, which is in a poor condition anyway, has been flooded.

Another 97 families from the village of Kallappadu have taken refuge in the local school, even though its walls have collapsed from the rain and high winds. The Mullai People's Welfare Organisation and the Fishe-rmen's Cooperative Society are providing them with cooked food.

Another 17 families from Manatrkudiyiruppu and 30 from Vannaankulam have also taken refuge in local schools. More than a hundred houses are said to be under water, leaving their residents dependent on the generosity of the residents of surrounding villages.

Five primary schools from the coastal areas have also been completely swept away. Faced by overwhelming demand, the Mullai People's Welfare Organization has appealed for foreign NGOs to help.

Meanwhile, of the 225 displaced families in Kumuthan housing development in Mallavi, 150 have been forced to leave their huts that suffered leaking roofs. Locals said the roofs weren't properly thatched for the lack of material. 55 of these huts have also suffered from collapsed walls. The development's manager Mr Yogaratnam has appealed for external agencies to offer aid in their time of need.

Large numbers of people have also been forced out of their homes by the flood in the Vattahachchi region of the Wanni. Sixty-two of these families have sought shelter in Kilinochi West School. Having lost most of their belongings, they are being cared for with cooked food and other essentials by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation.

The main road to the uncleared areas of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu are being renovated immediately to streamline relief supplies to the people there, Minister Jayalath Jayawardena announced yesterday.

He said about Rs. 40 million had been released to district secretaries of Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu to renovate the roads as plans went ahead for the removal of the economic embargo.

Dr. Jayawardena who is in charge of Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Displaced people said he had also directed the Northern Rehabilitation Authority to release money for the payment of compensation to nearly 600 families, which had been worst affected by the war.

Mutur medical services scarce

No proper medical and health service has been provided to Tamil villages in Mutur east areas which are controlled by the Liberation Tigers in the Trincomalee district, said a report issued Thursday by the Trincomalee regional office of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCS), reported TamilNet. "83 percent of the would be mothers in LTTE held villages in Trincomalee district deliver their babies in their homes without the assistance of trained midwives due to transport problems", said the report compiled by the regional office of the HRCS.

"This leads to deaths of newly born babies and mothers without proper medical assistance," several non-governmental organizations working in LTTE held villages point out. In areas controlled by State armed forces about 90 percent of would be mothers deliver their babies in government hospitals, the HR-CS report adds.

"In areas held by LTTE malnutrition has become a major problem amongst school children. School authorities report those children frequently faint in classrooms. They are unable to concentrate on their studies. Students do not attend schools regularly as they have been forced to help their parents in doing cultivation to enhance their daily income," the report points out.

The report further states that "a mobile medical service is urgently needed to transport patients from areas held by LTTE in the Muttur to hospitals in areas held by the State armed forces. An ambulance motor boat service should be conducted between Muttur and Trincomalee. It would greatly benefit the sick people to obtain medical assistance in emergency. Now it takes more than three hours to transport a patient from Muttur to Trincomalee by road. If a motor boat ambulance service is provided it would take about forty five minutes to transport a patient from Muttur to Trincomalee."

The government maintains a strict blockade on medical and other essential supplies on the Tamil areas not controlled by the Army.

Jaffna short of vaccine

The Jaffna peninsula is suffering a vaccine shortage, especially those required for young children, the Uthayan reported Sunday. The shortage of childhood vaccines MMR and Polio are worrying health officials. "These need to be administered to infants and babies at strict intervals as injections and orally. Failure to do so may affect their futures severely," one doctor told the paper.

The vaccinations used to be given at a village-by-village basis and at hospitals weekly. The normal routine, however, has been severely disturbed this month, with many centres not having any. Many mothers are leaving medical centres without being unable to get their children inoculated, even after long waits.

Sri Lanka pressed to lift fishing ban

Sri Lanka's Minister for rehabilitation and resettlement, Dr Jayalath Jayawardana, has been asked in a letter by Appathurai Vinayagamoorthy MP to lift the ban on fishing in Tamil areas, reported the Thinakkural newspaper last week. The Tamil National Alliance MP pointed to the fisherfolk being thrust towards poverty by the army's ban on their profession in many coastal areas.

Last month the Feder-ation of Vadamaradchi fishermen's co-operative societies said that it intends to begin demonstrations and sit in protests soon if the new government does not take meaningful steps to lift the total ban on fishing in the seas off coast between Thikkam and Thondmanar and the five-hour restriction along the Katkovalam coast in Pt. Pedro, TamilNet reported. A spokesman for the federation said that Sri Lanka army soldiers assaulted the secretary and treasurer of the Munai Fishermen's Cooperative Society Sunday for setting out to sea before the stipulated time.

"The United National Party promised fishermen on the west coast that it would lift restrictions on Out Board Motors during the election campaign. It should consider the plight of all fishermen equally, regardless of whet-her they are Sinhala or Tamil", the spokesman told TamilNet.

Mr Vinayagamoorthy also asked the minister to that the Sri Lanka Army currently based in many northern Schools to vacate them.

Meanwhile, Thigamadu-alle MP A Chandrneru wrote to Sri Lankan military's Special Task Force commander for the Thirukkovil region to lift the ban on fishing, agriculture and animal husbandry in the area.

The ban imposed on uncleared areas is ruing the livelihoods of 90% of the locals there, he said. Over 4000 acres of paddy field lie empty while hundreds of livestock have died through neglect as a result of the ban. Further, hundreds of agricultural vehicles have been confiscated by the STF and are held outside the military base in the rain and sun.

"I call upon you to let these people earn their living in peace and by their own effort in today's situation where similar bans against Tamils are being lifted. I hope these people will be allowed to resume their livelihoods by the New Year", the letter concluded.

Slain Tamil leader’s son calls for probe

The new Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Jaffna, Gajendrakumar, has called for a new probe into the murder of his father, the former leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress Mr Kumar Ponnambalam.

Mr Gajendrakumar has asked the new government to order the new probe, as the previous PA government did not allow the police to conduct proper investigations, reported the Thinakkural newspaper last week.

"The murder took place under the auspices of senior figures in the PA government. My father was a major obstacle for their government. The then foreign minister falsely portrayed the suffering of the Tamil people to the outside world. But, my father told the true story to the international community, which is why he was murdered," the TNA MP said

"My party doesn't wish to politicize this matter. But the new government should find the murderers and those behind them and bring them to justice " said the Jaffna MP.

Torture on the rise in Mannar - Bishop

Mannar bishop Rt rev Rajappu Joseph told the visiting minister Maheswaran last week of the increase in torture and other human rights abuses by Sri Lanka police in the region, reported TamilNet. Police are also proving to be very obstructive in issuing travel passes, which are essential to travelling through Sri Lanka government controlled areas with out Sri Lanka Army harassment, Bishop Rajappu said.

The minister met the bishop and held discussions for about an hour. The minister was told of 70 to 80 incidents a month of torture and extra judicial killings. The bishop said the culprits were the Sri Lanka police and security forces indulging in wanton acts of random violence and revenge attacks on civilians. He also said many murders by unknown persons had taken place. In a recent incident, assailants had shot a man dead at his home while asleep. The victim's wife was also shot while trying to defend her husband.

International human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, last week called upon the new United National Front government to curb the human rights abuses by Sri Lanka's security forces and to take measures against the impunity the security forces enjoy in carrying out such abuses. The organisation has protested torture by pro-government paramilitary groups also.

Scores languish under PTA

Forty-one Tamil political prisoners have been languishing in the Batticaloa prison for many years with no solution in sight under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Mr. 'Vellimalai' Kirushnapillai, Tamil National Alliance MP for Batticaloa, told TamilNet last week. Their detention is unduly prolonged because the Batticaloa District Medical Officer is refusing to issue them medical legal certificates required by the courts to proceed with their cases, according to Mr. Vellimalai who visited the prisoners in the Batticaloa jail Tuesday.

Several prisoners told him that they have been detained for many years because Policemen who recorded their 'confessions' in detention were transferred out of Batticaloa and hence do not appear in court on the dates each case is taken up for hearing.

The only witnesses permitted in cases under PTA are the Police officer to whom the suspect made the confession, the Policeman who recorded it and the one who typed it. The only production allowed in a PTA case is the 'confession' of the accused.

Some of the detainees told Mr. Vellimalai that the Attorney General's Department has not initiated any legal proceedings against them although they have been in prison for 3-5 years. Others said that they do not have any lawyers to argue their cases.

Mr. Vellimalai said that he would be formulating a comprehensive plan of action to deal with the plight of the Tamil political prisoners in Batticaloa.

Trinco Tamils appeal to UN

The Tamil community in Trincomalee last week appealed to the United Nations secretary general, to exert pressure on the new government to seek a genuine peace reported TamilNet.

"Successive Sri Lankan governments have repeatedly disregarded the request for peace talks put forward by the LTTE by adducing various motives while it continued the pernicious war against the Tamils by using all state resources. At the last parliamentary general elections, the entire Tamil community in the northeast province overwhelmingly supported the Tamil National Alliance which stood for accepting the LTTE as the sole representative of the Tamils in Sri Lanka", states a memorandum sent Mon-day by community leaders, civil society groups NGOs and trade unions in Trincomalee to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

The memorandum urges the UN secretary general "to exert pressure on the new Sri Lankan government not to delay the peace process but to embark on a programme to talk to the Liberation Tigers accepting them as the sole representative of Tamils of Sri Lanka".

The memorandum further states "according to a UNHCR report, more than 75 thousand Tamils have been killed or maimed for life and more than sixty percent of the properties of Tamils in the northeast have been destroyed due to the ongoing war ... The Sinhala governments continue the war to make Tamils a minority in their traditional homeland in northeast province of Sri Lanka."

Honoured curator passes away

The Jaffna peninsula's foremost Tamil artifacts collector, Kalaignani A Selvaratnam, passed away in hospital 22 December, Tamil press reports said last week. Mr Selvaratnam had spent 55 long years collecting, documenting and archiving historical antiques and archeological finds throughout Jaffna. His single-handed effort at saving icons of Jaffna's rich culture and heritage for the future generations earned him the highest civilian honour from the Tamil national leader Mr V Pirabakaran. Mr Selvaratnam was officially bestowed the 'Maamanithar' status by leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr V.Pirabakaran, in 1991.

Born in Kurumbechitty, Maamanithar Selvaratnam used a house in Thirunelvelli as his archive. Suffering from chronic diabetes, he was admitted to the Jaffna teaching hospital on 8 December and passed away aged 69. 'Maamanithar' is the highest award the LTTE bestows upon a civilian for service to his or her community. Leading Tamil academic, Professor Eliezer and human rights activist Kumar Ponnambalam are amongst the other recipients of this title.
Mr. Selvaratnam's funeral service saw many eulogies from well-known Tamils.

Aru Thirumurugan praised Mr Selvaratnam as a true 'Thamilan' who devoted his life for the safe keep of valuable cultural and historic icons. Speaking in Nallur where the body was kept for people to pay their last respects, Mr Thirumurugan said, "Kalaignani's loss is that of the Tamil nation itself. A great friend of historic artifacts has now gone.

"Only a small number took part even in Parathiyar's final service. Only after his death did the great Tamil poet's fame spread the world. Likewise, only a not able few are here today. These people should work tirelessly to ensure that the fruits of Kalaignani Selvaratnam's work are realised and his name recognized," he said. "He was a leading historian at the Jaffna University; and spent his life documenting and archiving examples of ancient Tamil history.

Even through difficulties caused by his collection, both for himself and the Tamil people, he didn't tire. Instead he expressed his thoughts and views through newspapers."
Curator of Maamanithar Kalaignani museum, Mr M Shanthan said in his eulogy, "Kalaignani, who safeguarded the history of Tamils was a great asset of this land. The nation will not easily forget someone who never lived for him but for others. His service will be remembered for as long as this land exists."

Jaffna students appeal for Thivyan

The Jaffna University Students Union (JUSU) has called on the new Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe to allow the incarcerated student Thivyan continue his studies. In a fax to the PM, the union has pointed to the fact that Thivyan, a science faculty undergraduate, has been in custody without adequate ground for a long time, reported the Thinakkural newspaper last week.

"Thivyan was arrested on 2nd July 2001, under the previous government's rule. He was confronted by army personnel on his way back from visiting a relative and attack-ed severely before being arrested. To justify the arrest he was then falsely accused of having links with the Tamil Tigers and being in possess-ion of weapons," the JUSU said "After more torture while in detention, he was produced before a court on false charges. When a major rank-ed army official met us in this period he admitted that Thivyan wasn't connected to the Tigers, nor was he carrying any weapons," the student body said. The Sri Lanka Army official told the JUSU that Thivyan was only arrested on the suspicion of links with the Liberation Tiger, which has yet to be proven. "Through this deliberate breach of his rights Thivyan's education has been impeded," the JUSU protested.

"We appeal for him to be allowed to carry on with his studies. We bring this matter to your attention in your capacity as a responsible leader and prime minister," the statement said.

South Asia’s nuclear rivals mobilise along frontier

India said Saturday it would continue to mass tens of thousands of troops at its border until Pakistan cracks down on Islamic militants, rejecting a Pakistani call for the two nations' leaders to meet to try to defuse the crisis, the Associated Press reported.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said his government would do its best to avert war, but Pakistan warned that the tensions at the border - where the two sides traded fire again Saturday - could trigger a full-fledged conflict between the nuclear-armed nations.
India has cautiously embraced the arrests of several Islamic militants by Pakistan in the first sign that the current tension between the two nuclear powers may be easing, the BBC reported.

Pakistan says it has taken action against two key militant groups - both fighting Indian rule in Kashmir - which India holds responsible for the attack on the New Delhi parliament in mid-December. Pakistan's action, which included the arrest of a key separatist leader - Hafiz Mohammed Saeed of the Lashkare-Toiba group and at least 50 other members of militant groups - has been praised by the United States and the United Nations.
"If this information is correct, this is certainly a step forward in the right direction," said Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, adding that he hoped such steps would be "pursued vigorously".

But BBC correspondents say many Indians remain sceptical about Pakistan's sincerity in curbing the activities of militant groups, demanding more radical action such as the closure of militant training camps and the banning of militant organisations.

India had earlier dismissed Pakistan's steps as cosmetic and on Saturday demanded tougher action. Pakistan has said it needs proof for India's claims that two Islamic militant groups based on its soil conducted the Parliament attack, which killed nine Indians and the five attackers. India claims Pakistan's spy agency sponsored the attack, an accusation Islamabad denies.

In a phone conversation Saturday, President Bush urged Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to "take additional strong and decisive measures to eliminate the extremists who seek to harm India," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. Bush also spoke with Vajpayee and said the United States is "determined to cooperate with India in the fight against terrorism." McClellan said.

The dozen or so Islamic militant groups based in Pakistan that are battling Indian rule in Kashmir enjoy support among a vocal sector of the public and within segments of the military, making it difficult for Musharraf to carry out a crackdown. Indian National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra said Saturday that India will not pull troops from the border until Pakistan takes "credible, firm, substantive and visible act-ion" against militants operating in Kashmir. Vajpayee insisted "no means shall be spared" in putting a stop to what he called "Pakistan-sponsored terrorism."

Indian and Pakistani soldiers - only 100 yards apart in some places - traded fire over the "Line of Control" dividing the disputed Kashmir region, as civilians on both sides of the border were evacuated. India says 20,000 civilians are being moved from homes near the Kashmir frontier.
"The possibility of a small action could trigger a chain of action and reaction that neither side desires. The propensity for such an outcome is very, very high," Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said in Islamabad.

Musharraf on Friday offered to meet Vajpayee on the sidelines of a Jan. 4-6 gathering of South Asian leaders both are attending in Nepal's capital, Katmandu. But India turned down the offer. "Until Pakistan creates a conducive climate by acting resolutely and meaningfully against terrorism, the outlook for such a dialogue cannot be promising," Nirupama Rao, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said Saturday.

India accuses Islamabad of waging a "proxy war" by supporting Islamic militants in Kashmir, where tens of thousands have died in a 12-year insurgency. Pakistan says it gives only political support to militant groups. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since 1947, two of them over Kashmir.

The Indian Government says all political parties have offered their support if India goes to war against Pakistan again.

Taj Mahal to be camouflaged

The Taj Mahal, one of India's most famous landmarks, is to be covered with dark cloth as protection against possible bombing raids in the event of war with neighbouring Pakistan, officials told the BBC. Local tailors in Agra were reported to be stitching more than 400 metres of khaki, black and green cloth, to be strung across the celebrated monument to love.

Officials said they would try to hide the 17th century mausoleum's dome and four minarets and dome from any Pakistani airstrike. An Indian air force base is located in the city.

"The Taj shines as far as 40 kilometre (24 miles) away, and is visible especially on moonlit nights. It could be a target," tourism official MS Juyal was quoted as saying by Associated Press.

Workers also have started building five bunkers to house armed guards around the monument, the agency reported. A source from the Archaeological Survey of India told French news agency AFP that ladders had already been arranged around the monument and special ropes were being brought in. "These are precautionary steps being taken to meet the situation in case it arises," the source said.

The Taj Mahal is revered as one of the world's most beautiful buildings. Resting on the bank of the Yamuna River in northern India, it was built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, princess Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. Construction began in 1631 and took 22 years to be fully completed.

Indonesia’s demoralised troops are told “not to worry about human rights”

Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri called on her country's military not to worry about violating human rights and to act "without any doubts" to protect the sprawling nation from separatist campaigns, the Associated Press reported. "Suddenly we are aware ... of the need of a force to protect our beloved nation and motherland from breaking up," Megawati, a nationalist who rose to power in July with the backing of the military, said Saturday.

She told top commanders and thousands of troops at a military parade in Jakarta to respect the law in the course of their duties. "With that as your guide, you can do your duty without worrying about being involved in human rights abuses," she said. "Do everything without any doubts."

Despite accusations that the army has staged political killings and run death squads, military chiefs say fear of violating human rights has prevented soldiers from cracking down on troublemakers in Indonesia's many conflict zones. Bloodshed in 1999 in East Timor - blamed on the Indonesian army - prompted the United States to sever its relationship with Indonesia's armed forces. Congress outlawed the resumption of ties until those responsible for the violence that followed East Timor's vote for independence were brought to justice.

Megawati, however, has backed the US' war against terrorism and was one of the first foreign leaders to visit Washington following the Sept. 11 attacks. Last week, the US partially sidestepped its ban by including Indonesia on a list of Southeast Asian countries to take part in its counter-terrorism training programs.

Indonesia's army was a pillar of former dictator Suharto's 32-year reign, and he used it to crush any opposition to his regime. Since Suharto was forced from office in 1998, commanders have acknowledged on numerous occasions that soldiers have committed human rights abuses. Rights activists say little has changed in three years. The army is accused of committing widespread abuses in the provinces of Irian Jaya and Aceh, where separatists are fighting to break away from Indonesia. Army commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said his men's morale was low because of media attention on their alleged abuses.

First East Timor convictions

An East Timor court sentenced 10 pro-Jakarta militia men to jail earlier this month for crimes against humanity in 1999, the first convictions for the violence that marred the territory's break from Indonesia, reported Reuters. The case concerned five incidents, among them 12 murders that included the killings of two nuns and three priests.

The sentences for crimes ranging from torture to murder could increase pressure on Indonesia to prosecute members of its military who actively backed and encouraged the militia.
The Special Panel of Serious Crimes in Dili gave Joni Marques the longest sentence of 33 years and four months for his part in the carnage that followed the tiny territory's overwhelming vote to end Indonesian rule.

A United Nations press release said the court had established beyond doubt there was an "extensive attack by pro-autonomy armed groups supported by the Indonesian authorities targeting the civilian population." The special panel, set up in June last year, can try cases of genocide, war crimes and other serious offences between January 1 and October 25, 1999.

Nine of Marques's accomplices were also given sentences for their part in the violence, which the United Nations estimates killed mo-re than 1,000 people before an Australian-led intervention force restored order.

Despite the acknowledged role of some Indonesian military units and men in inspiring and supporting the pro-Jakarta militia, Indonesia has not prosecuted anyone for crimes committed in East Timor.

European Union publishes first list of terrorist organisations

The European Union on Fri-day expanded its list of terrorist organizations to include Irish, Basque, Greek and Middle Eastern extremist groups, a move that requires all EU countries to freeze the groups' assets and seek to arrest members, the International Herald Tribune reported.

Following the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, the 15-member bloc had already labeled as terrorists several groups linked to Qaida and the Taliban. Now, after some domestic political wrangling, the Union has added the Basque separatist group ETA, organizations from both sides of the Northern Ireland conflict, such as the Real IRA and the Loyalist Volunteer Force, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Izz al-Din al-Qassam, the military wing of Hamas.

Political parties are not included on the list. The Irish Republican Army, which the British labeled terrorist but which is now in peace talks, is not listed, for example, nor is Herri Batasuna, the political wing of ETA. Nor is the Lebanese group Hezbollah, though one of its leaders is on a list of individuals whose assets are to be frozen. That second list of 29 individuals includes mostly Basques, along with some Saudis, Lebanese and Kuwaitis.

There are two practical effects of listing an organization, a Union spokesman said. First, every EU member state is obliged to freeze any assets of that group within its borders. Second, any person whose name even appears on a membership list may be jailed under the new pan-European definitions of terrorism.

A charge of "aiding and abetting terrorism," a crime punishable by up to eight years in prison, could probably be applied based on mere membership in one of the groups, the spokesman said.

Washington seemed pleased by the EU action. "We warmly welcome it," a U.S. government official said. "We see it as an important contribution to the fight against terrorism."

The new list particularly pleased Spain, which has long sought to convince other countries to condemn ETA, or Basque Homeland and Liberty, which has killed about 800 people over the last 33 years. Spain takes over the rotating EU presidency on Jan. 1, and has said it will make terrorism its chief priority.

All 15 countries are adopting a common definition of terrorist acts, a list of terrorist organizations and a Europe-wide arrest warrant. Meanwhile, different governments have been eager to have their domestic terrorist groups put on the common list. The list includes three far-left Greek groups - November 17, Revolutionary Cells and Revolutionary Popular Struggle.
New lists of groups proposed by EU candidate countries are apparently also being considered.