News Update - 20060604
*** Topics: EU bans LTTE, Increased attention to extra-judicial killings, Stiffening political positions, News roundup ***** EU bans LTTE:
The European Union decided to fulfill their threat to fully ban the LTTE after putting up the symbolic ban in September on the travel of official LTTE delegations in the EU. The delegation travel ban was enacted upon due to pressure from the government. The current full ban is undoubtedly also at the behest of the SL government, and it was helped the support given to it by the US.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2188529,00.html#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=World
The LTTE has threatened that the EU ban will severly damage the peace process and force them to take a more hardline position with nothing else left to lose. There is no reason to doubt the sincerity of the LTTE's position as bluffing.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18396
The SL government is on a worldwide campaign to ban the LTTE, having been successful in Canada and the EU. They are looking to the Middle East and Singapore and Malaysia next. The irony is that the government's attempt to pressure the LTTE mirrors Israel and Western countries' attempts to constrict Hamas externally and divide it internally. There are many differences in the tactics and ground situation of the LTTE and Hamas, which is why the SL government's current efforts might well backfire instead of be successful.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24180101.htm
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/8d89c782-eb8b-11da-823e-0000779e2340.html
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/060531135720.y589d9ez
** Increased attention to extra-judicial killings:
Thirteen family members were massacred by SL Navy soldiers in Allaippiddy, including a 4-month old and a 4-year old. Gruesome visual proof provided in the Tamilnet report sparked other organizations to take notice and condemn the act.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4772865.stm
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370142006?open&of=ENG-LKA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4990694.stm
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18118
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060516/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrestunicef_060516122110
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_33966.html
The SLMM has come out again to state what they once said and retracted -- paramilitaries are working with SL government.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP326382.htm
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL7157.htm
A huge exodus is occurring following the attacks on civilians in the coastal areas by the SL Navy. Reports indicate that the SL Navy is active in building new outposts and installations, and some of the intimidation might be done for this purpose.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18220
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5000920.stm
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DEL68157.htm
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6PXDKL?OpenDocument
** Stiffening political positions:
The EU ban has already shown a hardening of positions by all sides involved in the peace process.
http://www.eelampage.com/?cn=26263
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18263
http://www.tamilguardian.com/beta/news_details.asp?newsid=652
The US and EU have been stating often that the purpose of the ban is to help the peace processs. This article appears to report some honest thoughts of the countries that are hidden from the public. Western countries may be fearing that they have been taken for a ride by the SL govenrment in supporting the bans on the LTTE, given the SL government's inability to capitalize on the situation.
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=4077&SID=52
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=4129&SID=52
Norway, as the official facilitator of the peace process, has also expressed dissatisfaction in the EU ban for the effects to the peace process overall, as well as the effects it will have on the functioning of the SLMM, whose members come from EU countries.
http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?newsID=84900907&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=33
http://in.news.yahoo.com/060528/43/64lqx.html
The US and the other co-chair countries (EU, Japan, Norway) issued a statement coinciding on the day that the EU ban became official. The statement urged both sides to commit to the process or face the consequences. It was by far the strongest statement issued by the co-chairs, and instead of coming down harder on the LTTE as is usual, the statement was equally intense on both sides. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060530/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrestdonorswarn_060530083828
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18341
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060601/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankausunrest_060601145357
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=18391
** News roundup:
Many news agencies and NGOs have come under increasing attack for their impartiliaty/partiality in their coverage of events.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18145
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4986748.stm
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=4094&SID=421
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/opinion/2006/May/opinion_May56.xml§ion=exclusive&col=
http://www.fundforpeace.org/programs/fsi/fsindex2006.php
Attacks against NGOs were not just verbal but also became violent in nature.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18218
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18348
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=4118&SID=545
Out of deference to Norway, the LTTE is attending the next round of 'talks' in Norway on June 8-9. Although not much is expected from the talks, the urgency is still felt. The government has had go back on its position to provide helicopter transport to the LTTE, despite this being the obstacle preventing the Geneva-II talks from happening.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP281648.htm
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18394