With the publishing of the ruling party proposals the President would be in better position to deflect international pressure for his government to pursue a political solution.

The international community is backing Rajapkse’s war against the LTTE while loudly endorsing the manifestly ineffectual APRC.

Many Tamils see the French arrests as part of effort by Sri Lanka's allies to weaken the LTTE and help Colombo win the war.

Just as all cricket teams need an independent umpire to make objective decisions, so too does Sri Lanka need independent human rights monitors.

The levels of killings, disappearances and abductions make clear there is a growing climate of impunity'

The Sri Lankan government has reached a state of paranoid disorder.'

This is an escalation in a war that has seen mostly Tamil civilians targeted.

Summary of incidents – apart from major clashes – since 2 April

Summary of incidents – apart from major clashes – since 26 March

The killings and abductions were carried out during curfew hours in the nights, as well as in broad day light by armed men in white van, gunmen in military uniforms and men on motorcycles.

Lack of facilities in the makeshift shelters, growing shortage of food, torrential rain and over-crowding are making living conditions unbearable and has turned the refugee camps into breeding ground for disease.

Rights monitoring is pointless without firm international action

LTTE confers Maamanithar award on Thillainadarajah Jeyakumar.

Urgent appeals fall on deaf ears as hundreds of thousands of displaced Tamils face growing shortages of food and shelter.