Tag: lbo
Sri Lanka media rights body slams moves to block internet
June 20, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Free Media Movement (FMM) has slammed a move to block access to a Tamil news internet website , saying that the country was on a “slippery slope of web and internet censorship”. . The full statement from FMM is reproduced below: The Free Media Movement is deeply disturbed […]
Sri Lanka says capture of remaining Tiger base in east imminent
June 20, 2007 (AFP) – The Sri Lankan army said Wednesday that two months of fighting aimed at ousting Tamil Tiger rebels from jungles in the east of the island has left 197 dead, the vast majority of them guerrillas. The island’s security forces have been trying to remove pockets of rebels from the Thoppigala […]
Nordic monitors to stop Sri Lanka truce violation rulings
June 20, 2007 (AFP) – Nordic monitors in Sri Lanka said Wednesday they would stop issuing rulings on government or Tamil Tiger violations of a 2002 truce that is no longer being respected.The decision comes after more than a year of escalating fighting between Sri Lankan government troops and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil […]
Sri Lanka says it can shoot down rebel aircraft
June 20, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military now has the capacity to shoot down Tamil Tiger light airplanes which have bombed four targets on the island this year, the government said Wednesday. The enhanced capability means the island’s only international airport will soon reopen for night flights after its closure earlier this year as […]
Two Sri Lanka former ministers join opposition ranks
June 19, 2007 (LBO) – Two former Sri Lankan government ministers crossed to the opposition benches of the parliament Tuesday, deepening divisions in the ruling coalition. Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, who were sacked from their portfolios after differences with President Mahinda Rajapakse, took their seats on the opposition benches on Friday morning. Samaraweera explained […]
Sri Lanka Freedom Party strongman forms new political wing
June 19, 2007 (LBO) – Two former ministers of the main ruling party in Sri Lanka said they are forming a new political wing, after crossing over to sit in opposition benches Tuesday, deepening divisions in the ruling coalition. . The Sri Lanka Freedom Party- Mahajana Wing or ‘Peoples’ Wing’ would be formally launched Friday, […]
Erosion of media freedom and human rights in Sri Lanka under watchdog eye
June 18, 2007 (LBO) – An international mission by rights bodies will take place later this month to asses the deteriorating media freedoms and human rights in Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement (FMM) said Monday. FMM said the mission made up of 11 bodies including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Media Support […]
‘s Tamil Tigers make fresh pledge to free child soldiers
June 18, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels on Monday made a fresh pledge to rid their ranks of child soldiers by the end of the year.The rebels, classified as one of the worst offenders in the world for the recruitment of children to fight, made the same promise in 1998 but have […]
Sri Lanka facing attacks, international isolation: analysts
June 17, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka has vowed to wage more attacks against Tamil rebels but analysts warn it faces the prospect of devastating retaliation and risks international isolation over rising rights abuses.State-run media said last week that Tamil Tiger rebels were preparing for attacks on the capital’s harbour, oil storage complex and electricity […]
Synthetic Fuel
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2007 (AFP) – A fiery debate has been rekindled in Washington as US lawmakers mull proposed incentives to produce diesel fuel from coal.“By using one of our nation’s most abundant natural resources, coal, to produce transportation fuels, we can address fuel cost concerns, make our nation less reliant on imports from politically […]
Heaven Sent
June 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s power utility has increased its hydro storage after heavy rains in the last three days, and if the trend continues it may be able to avoid power cuts in the immediate future, LBO learns. The Ceylon Electricity Board warned that power cuts were imminent after monsoon rains were […]
Sri Lanka urged to invite UN monitors to probe rights abuses
GENEVA, June 15, 2007 (AFP) – Amnesty International urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to invite UN monitors to verify claims of human rights violations by both sides in the country’s bitter ethnic civil war.After meeting the president here Thursday, the watchdog group’s Secretary General Irene Khan said an escalation of rights abuses over the […]