Sri Lankan authorities were rounding up hundreds of ethnic minority Tamils in the capital of Colombo, forcing them onto buses to destinations unknown. They were allowed to return two days later , after an international uproar , but many Tamils are afraid the expulsions could mark the beginning of a new wave of persecution, and that the next knock on the door might be even more dangerous. "I'm scared about what will happen," said the woman, Sanmugam Rasamma, who came back to Colombo after her expulsion. "I'm scared it could happen again." For two decades, the Tamil Tigers , a highly secretive...
The new capability of the Tamil Tigers to carry out airborne attacks has not only made them a rarity among the world's guerrilla outfits but has also badly shaken an entire country. Sri Lanka's defence ministry has acknowledged that the Tigers may be operating at least five light aircraft, used in three headline-grabbing raids against military and civilian targets over the past month. The Tigers already possess an effective naval unit known as the Sea Tigers. The Tiger air force may be minuscule compared with Sri Lanka's fleet -- which comprises supersonic jets, spy planes and helicopter...
There was not a town in the government-held areas which was not dotted with Karuna's offices or camps, which significantly, were almost always close to the camps of the government forces.
'The attacker can't be seen. There is no warning that he is going to come. There is no escape!'
'The levels of killings, disappearances and abductions make clear there is a growing climate of impunity'
Despite promises to investigate abductions of children by the pro-government Karuna group, Sri Lankan authorities have taken no effective action and abductions continue, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday. “The Karuna group’s use of child soldiers with state complicity is more blatant today than ever before, ” Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW said in a statement. HRW also accused the LTTE of recruiting child soldiers. “The Karuna group is doing the government’s dirty work,” Adams said. “It’s time for authorities in Colombo to stop this group from using children in its forces.” HRW says in...
Over 200,000 people have been displaced by the recent spate of violence in the north and east of the country.
Amid changing political and military dynamics, the former LTTE commander contends with his backers´ dislliusionment.
They spoke fluent Sinhala. That is why I suspect the army of having taken my husband.
'We'd be delighted to become more involved in helping to facilitate the peace process.'