TAMIL CONDEMN : 14-06-2005

- Manitham Condemns Grenade Attack on TRO Batticaloa Branch Office [Manitham]

Manitham condemns the dastardly act done with the intention of disrupting Tamil Rehabilitation Organization's [TRO] humanitarian activities.

TRO branch office in Batticaloa town was attacked at 8.50 PM today (13-06-2005) first by gunfire and then by grenades by unidentified gunmen who came on a motorbike. In this incident two of office assistants of TRO namely Mr.T.Danapal and Mr. Piraba had been injured seriously and admitted to hospital.

This attack happens to be the third attack on TRO office in Batticaloa after ceasefire agreement. Persons assuming that the planned attack is perpetrated with the objective of putting obstacles on rapid, effective, and impartial humanitarian services rendered to all the communities in the region.

Persons further presume that the attack on a charity organization registered under Sri Lankan Social Services Act and also functioning in the government controlled areas as a grave challenge to all humanitarian organizations operating in Sri Lanka.

Whoever had done the nasty crime, everybody feels that those selfish and unscrupulous persons who work against humanity and against the welfare of the affected people.

It is said that at the time of the attack TRO's high officials were engaged inside in discussions on post Tsunami recovery programmes. TRO's office building, a one motor bike and a bicycle have been damaged.

Members of ceasefire monitoring mission (SLMM) have arrived immediately to TRO office and inspected the damages. Sri Lankan police too has arrived at the spot and has initiated investigations.

Though it is the third attack on TRO Batticaloa office, Sri Lankan Police had not made a determined and thorough investigation so far. They have never apprehended any culprits. Manitham strongly demand that a fair and impartial inquiry should be immediately started by the Sri Lankan Police.

Sri Lankan Government should provide adequate protection to TRO offices round the clock in the government controlled areas. And also should guarantee the security of offices working there. TRO is engaged in various humanitarian activities by having close working relationship with government departments and ministries. Particularly TRO providing very effective and efficient assistance in the Tsunami affected areas. Manitham request the government to provide necessary assistance and protection for TRO to do humanitarian work. [THE END]

TAMIL SETHUSAMUDRAM PROJECT : 14-06-2005

- Response on Prof. Balasunderam Pillai's article on Sethu Samudram - By: Expert in Shipping & Defence [Manitham]

I know Prof. Balasunderam Pillai  personally and have very good relationship. I need to meet him and personally discuss this matter with him since he seems to be totally mislead and misguided. That is sad and very disappointing.

What he says about Trincomalee Port and KKS Port is correct. But both ports can be developed and will be very successful with or wi! thout the Canal. What he says about Hambantota is totally wrong. That is why for 500 years nobody developed that non existing port which remains a coastline and a saltern. No Porthugese, Dutch, British, French, American, Indian or Chinese develop the Port. They can give to the Indians or Chinese it does not matter. They can build the coal power project that is no problem either. He has no idea of Shipping or Fishing.

But a proper refinery which can produce Aviation Fuel, Diesel, Petrol, Kerosene and other bi products should be in Trinco and cost of fuel will be cheaper than Singapore since the cost of real estate and port as well as labor is much cheaper. Cost of overall living would be cheaper, and the ISGA or Provincial Council of Eelam will charge less taxes than India, Singapore or Sri Lanka. It can be a BOOT project.

But KKS is a military base with limited access. It will be and should be reconverted to a commercial port with proper Tamil defense before anyone can ! dream again about Trincomalee. In 1982 with Cement Corporation in building the Port, and I know very well how it was developed and built. Most of them have no idea.

Fishing will get bad and not better with the Canal. The SSCP will be the proverbial straw which broke the camel's back as far as fishing is concerned. No Northern port will improve because of the SSCP. It is utter nonsense. He should see the Port Suez and Port Said region before he opens his mouth. Unfortunately this is the DMK and TPT line he is mouthing off. The same with Panama Canal.

Submerging of the Islands - Dhanuskodi is a perfect example without the canal it got submerged.

Pollution and Erosion, Sedimentation and silting is uncontestable. Salinity and salinization of course is questionable but can we take chances ?

Either there are solid compensation plans for the farmers and fisherman and the environment or the SSCP should be on hold. What we expect is international experts should! conduct proper investigation without bias or prejudices. There should not be hurry before that.

Yes, India has the money to spend 2, 500 Crores. This is a tiny amount compared to their budget and GDP. But Tamils need not be trampled. Trincomalee has it's own advantages and do not need the canal to promote it since the container ships won't sail through the canal for two reasons.

1. The ships are too expensive and too big.
2. There is no saving of time or fuel.

If that is so, why the India is building the Canal and risk the environment, Fauna and Flora, Beaches, Fishing and Farming as well as submerging the Islands.

The same reason India Navy need not need the canal to become a blue navy. Naval Ships do 25-30 knots now and in 10 hours will cover 300 NM. The canal transit speed is only 7-8 knots and delay for pilot will further delay the Naval Ships. Also in the canal with pilot on board the naval ships will be more exposed for attack than in the open s! ea where they are moving fast and there is no cover for the attacker.

There are enough Indian Naval ships in the west coast and east coast to seperately handle any emergencies. There are no criminal activities in the palk straight as suggested by the author for GOI to deepen the canal with so much money being spent, and so much of risk to fishing, fisherman and the environment. Once the canal kills the fishing, flora and fauna, marine habitat at, expose the entire palk straight region to tidal waves, ocean warming, silting, sedimentation, turbity, etc the damages are irreversible. The biggest danger is the fresh water resources, in the Jaffna peninsula and the agriculture. Is the risk necessary and worth it? Let the experts provide public report after proper investigations and not India.

So his article is nothing but GOI, DMK propaganda to win votes in the State elections as well as store Nuclear missiles and weapons in Ramanathapuram district, and build the Submarine ! and other military bases. That is very dangerous to the Jaffna peninsula if and when India goes to war in the next 50 years. Missiles could accidentally fall in Jaffna from all directions missing the actual target in Ramanathapuram. Missiles travel at high speeds both horizontally and vertically and exposes civilian Tamil population a great deal.

As per UNCLOS, (Law of the convention rules), no nation should take actions which could hurt the other neighbor. ( Rights and abuses article 300). Article 300. Good faith and abuse of rights
Article 301. Peaceful uses of the seas
Article 302. Disclosure of information

India would be violating several articles in UNCLOS. [THE END] [Related Manitham Exclusive]

- Sethusamudram project: Dredging to be telecast live [Manitham]

The commencement of dredging operation for Sethusamudram project in Palk Strait area will be telecast live. A trial run of the telcast was held yesterday from offshore waters of Chennai port, which was supervised by the Union Minister.

T R Baalu. A helicopter of Indian Navy along with a team of Doordarshan organised the trial run, an official press release said. Baalu appreciated the efforts of Indian Navy and Doordarshan in extending their support for the project by way of providing the live telecast.

TAMIL EELAM : 14-06-2005

- Gnanam of USA Comments on "SRI LANKA- Time Of Reckoning For SLFP Coalition Politics", published in SAAG [TIS Exclusive]

1. Ananda Sangaree is not a member of Parliament. His party did not even collect or receive 0.5 percent of the Tamil Vote, and he himself lost his deposit in the elections. TULF is non existent now. He is nothing but History, and a bad dream for the Tamils. He is only supported and kept alive by the --- and GOSL to be a irritant to the sole representative of the Tamils.

2. The ground realities demand that LTTE are with their own Army, Police, Navy, possibly their own air force, Judicial Courts, Humanitarian agencies and administration. The TNA the elected MP's have given all authority to negotiate the Tamil Rights to the LTTE. So it is sour grapes for --- and GOI. They need to accept what GOSL has decid! ed to in the interest of Peace in the Island. Any deviation from that fundamental principle and reality will only lead to war. The LTTE is not a terrorist organisation in Sri Lanka. Tamils cannot live in fear or fear to live.

3. You are right about the JVP. I doubt them quitting the government. UNP will never give Chandrika unconditional support. The UNP in my opinion won't defeat the GOSL on this issue next month. They will abstain without providing support. TNA will vote for the JM to show that the TAMILS approve what the world bank and other International bodies have demanded Chandrika to perform. NO JM NO MONEY for GOSL.

If there is no JM the international donors, INGO's, and the International Banks will be forced to create their own channels to aid the tsunami victims as they choose best. The whole 3-4 Billions will not come into Sri Lanka. This will only create a good excuse for the donors to pocket the money already collected and earmarked for Tsunami in the pa! st 6 months from their budget. GOSL will earn a very bad name and it would legitimize the Tamil fight for self determination, since Sri Lanka has already lost 5 Billion dollars pledged for the civil war reconstruction in 2002-2006.

The problem now is Chandrika and not the JHU or JVP. It is she who dragged this process and incited the buddhist monks and the JVP. She is really not keen on the JM, and like her father would abrogate the JM or not perform after signing it. Most likely it would be the later. Either way her goose is cooked and she is running out of time. Now she is fixed right royally. She is dammed if she does, and dammed if she doesn't. It is time to say good bye to Power after 11 years.

4. Presidential Elections - Her 6 year mandate ends at the end of 2005 and not in 2006. So she has to have the elections in December or January 2006 not any time later as she desperately hangs on to power. She doesn't want to loose all the authority she had and all the opportunity to make money. Her brother Anura doesn't have the charisma to carry on the family tradition. He has no respect like Rodney Dangerfield.

That is her biggest dilemma. HO HO SRI LANKA, CHANDRIKA GOT TO GO.

Then Peace might have a chance to dawn if --- doesn't pull any dirty tricks. Otherwise there will be a bloody war, and it would be fought in Colombo, Trincomalee, and Kandy and not in Jaffna.

It is in everybody's interest that there is peace in Sri Lanka. Other wise all of India's commercial investment would be always in danger and doubts of uncertainty. India could become a big partner in trade and have a healthy relationship for the future like China and Hongkong. Big economies like India needs small nations like Srilanka to perform certain functions which Indian ports and Airports cannot do especially on the entrepot trade. Like Rotterdam, Switzerland in Europe, Beirut and Dubai in the middle east, Mexico in North America, Singapore, Ho! ngkong, and Taiwan in South East Asia, SriLanka with it's Ports and Airports in Colombo and Trincomalee can be very useful for India, Bangla Desh, and Burma, and even possibly Indonesia. But India cannot own Srilanka or the Tamils because we are a sovereign nation (only with 20 Million people in 2005) and not a Bhutan, Sikkim or Nepal. [THE END] [Read : SRI LANKA- Time Of Reckoning For SLFP Coalition Politics - By: Col. Hari [SAAG]

- Three day fast in Thenmaradchi against the SLA [LTTEPS]

Under the cover of ceasefire the security forces are denying the basic rights of Tamil people. The three day fast will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday the fast will take place in the Chavakachcheri bus stand from 9.00 am till 2.00 pm. On Thursday it will be held at the Kaithady junction. On Friday the fast will take place at the Kodikamam bus stand. MORE...

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