Category: Politics
Sri Lanka Tamil Tigers tacitly admit losing ground to govt
August 19, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday tacitly admitted that they were losing ground in the face of a major military offensive by warning that thousands of civilians in the north were at risk.In their first public acknowledgement that government forces were moving deeper into areas previously held by them, the […]
Sri Lankan troops capture rebel training base: govt
August 17, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops captured a rebel training base in the war-torn north of the island, as fighting elsewhere killed at least 31 Tamil Tigers and nine soldiers, the defence ministry said Sunday. Troops on Saturday took control of the large rebel complex, which had at least 100 underground bunkers, military […]
Sri Lanka fighting to displace more people: UN
August 18, 2008 (AFP) – Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in northern Sri Lanka, joining thousands of others displaced by a government push into Tamil rebel-held territory, the UN said Monday.The United Nation’s Inter-Agency Standing Committee said they expected more people to flee the ongoing fighting, with security forces attempting […]
Sri Lanka fighting endangering civilians: Amnesty
August 16, 2008 (AFP) – Fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north is endangering the lives of tens of thousands of displaced people, rights group Amnesty International said. Amnesty said it had received reports that the government is housing those who have been able to leave LTTE areas in temporary […]
Sri Lanka fighting forces tens of thousands to flee: ICRC
August 14, 2008 (AFP) – Tens of thousands of people are on the run in northern Sri Lanka where fighting between government troops and Tamil rebels has intensified in recent weeks, the Red Cross said Thursday.Some of the displaced who have headed to the Tamil Tigers’ political capital, Kilinochchi district, had been on the run […]
Sri Lanka warned by India it might not win war with rebels: report
SINGAPORE, August 12, 2008 (AFP) – India has warned neighbouring Sri Lanka that it may not be able to win an ongoing war against separatist Tamil Tiger rebels despite recent military gains, a report said Tuesday. Indian National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan told the Straits Times newspaper that Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam […]
Sri Lanka makes new push into Tiger territory: military
August 10, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops launched a fresh advance into territory held by Tamil rebels Sunday, killing 15 guerrillas while another 27 combatants were killed in other clashes, the defence ministry said.The latest push was in the Jaffna peninsula, parts of which are held by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam […]
Sri Lanka fighting forces thousands to flee: UNHCR
GENEVA, August 8, 2008 (AFP) – Twelve thousand families are reported to have been displaced in July by fierce fighting in Sri Lanka between government troops and Tamil rebels, the United Nations refugee agency said Friday.Many have been forced to move on several occasions ahead of shifting frontlines to avoid crossfire and stay out of […]
” lawmaker
Aug 06, 2008 (LBO) – A Sri Lankan ruling party lawmaker who has earned notoriety for frequent attacks on the media appears to be above the law and police powerless to stop him, a media watch dog has said. The Free Media Movement (FMM) said in a statement that it was “outraged” to record the […]
Sri Lanka minister a challenge to law enforcement: media watchdog
Aug 05, 2008 (LBO) – The culture of impunity and the continued attacks against Sri Lanka’s media were condemned by the watchdog Free Media Movement, after a TV cameraman was assaulted by thugs while covering a state event.Controversial minister Mervyn Silva grabbed the camera of a Sirasa and MTV network cameraman, while goons surrounded him […]
Sri Lanka political parties in joint call for media safeguards
Aug 04, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s major opposition political parties have backed calls for an end to government intimidation of the media and demanded it ensure the safety of journalists. Eleven political parties have signed a joint statement defending media freedom in Sri Lanka and requesting the authorities to safeguard media freedom and guarantee […]
Sri Lanka Tigers offer stiff resistance against army
August 2, 2008 (AFP) – Heavy fighting broke out in northern Sri Lanka on the eve of a South Asian summit in the capital, leaving at least 11 government soldiers and seven rebels killed, a military official said Saturday. The fighting is taking place 250 kilometres (160 miles) north of here, but there has recently […]