The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) is extremely concerned that the escalating violence may affect the ceasefire and irretrievably damage the peace process in Sri Lanka. The TIC is shocked that the Sri Lankan government took the decision, following the suicide attack at the Army headquarters in Colombo, to launch air strikes on 26 April 2006 on civilian targets in Trincomalee District.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) is extremely concerned over the abduction yesterday (30 January 2006) of five staff members of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), who were travelling to Vavuniya from Batticaloa in Sri Lanka. The abduction took place near Welikande, an area under the control of the government security forces. The offence against civilians involved in relief and rehabilitation is a serious development and the TIC believes that this is a crime against humanity.
The 27 January 2003 report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Continuing Dialogue on the Measures to Promote and Consolidate Democracy, says that the way to build a real participatory democracy is that the system of governance must be characterized by the rule of law in conformity with human rights standards, including the right to development. A strong and independent judiciary is absolutely essential for the protection of basic human rights and, indeed, for the preservation of democracy. States bear ultimate responsibility as guarantors of democracy, human rights and rule of law.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) has urged the British Home Minister to review UK's position on Sri Lanka and stop all involuntary return of the Tamil asylum seekers in view of the human security concerns and the worsening human rights situation in the island.
It is with profound sadness that we record the death of Anton Stanislaus Balasingham, the political advisor and chief negotiator of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who passed away in London this afternoon. He suffered from diabetes for many years and was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and terminal cancer.
After a four-year ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and theLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the failure of the governmentto effectively address the substantive political issues such asdevolution that would smooth the way for a peaceful settlement to theconflict, its preoccupation with retaining power and undermining anymeasure that will recognize the rights of the Tamil people, are leadingthe island dangerously close to resumption of war.
The attack on a bus in Anuradhapura District on 15 June 2006, killing and wounding innocent civilians is a reprehensible crime. In this attack near the town of Kebitigollewa, 64 people are reported killed and over 50 injured. Similar claymore mine attacks have killed civilians in the past in the Kebetigollawe area.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) is distressed by the accounts of ‘disappearances’ it continues to receive. The public security situation in Sri Lanka has deteriorated considerably in recent times with increasing death threats, sinister abductions and disappearances in many parts of the island. Such intimidation by state agencies in the Jaffna peninsula and other areas has led to a heightened sense of fear, frustration and anger.
Several Sri Lankan community and human rights organisations met at the Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) in Colombo on 12 June 2006 and held discussions on the massacre of civilians at Allaipiddi on Kayts Island on 13 May 2006 and the other killings that are continuing unabated.
We are greatly saddened by the death today of Saverimuthu Stanislaus, the Chair of the South London Tamil Welfare Group. The passing away of Mr Stanislaus has deprived the Tamils of a person dedicated to the cause of the refugees and the welfare of the Tamil community in Britain.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse issued directives on 5 July 2006, for the protection of people detained under Emergency Regulations (ERs) of August 2005 or the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
A spirit of traditional tolerance and harmonious coexistence of different ethnic and religious groups existed in the northeast region of Sri Lanka for a very long time. The multicultural, multiethnic heritage has been subjected to severe strain in recent times resulting in breakdown of trust, friendship, solidarity and mutual understanding.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) is shocked and concerned over the gruesome massacre and other killings of civilians on Kayts Island, west of the Jaffna peninsula, on 13 May 2006. Information from TIC sources indicates that the Sri Lankan navy from the naval base on Mandaitivu Island was responsible for the murders.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) welcomes the peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) scheduled to take place in Geneva on 28 and 29 October 2006. The TIC urges the two parties to discuss issues that matter most to the people in the north-east. We believe that without resolving these urgent issues, it would be difficult for both parties to have extensive discussions on the political solution, as these issues would remain as obstacles to fruitful negotiations as experience has shown.
It is with immense sadness we record the death of A J Canagaratna popularly known as AJ, the distinguished Tamil veteran writer, scholar and translator who had done much to bring world literature to a whole range of people and groups in Sri Lanka, including university students, social workers, political activists and militant movements.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) condemns all forms of violence against humanitarian workers and urges the Sri Lankan government and the international community to ensure that perpetrators of crimes against such workers are found and punished.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) condemns the assassination of Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj today. The assassination is another in a series of cold-blooded murders targeting prominent members of the Tamil community who publicize human rights violations against the Tamil people. The assassins wore police uniforms and emptied the entire magazine of a T-56 rifle into the car which he was driving, to make sure that he would not survive.
We are deeply saddened to learn of death of Sithampari Pushparajah on 10 March 2006. Pushparajah was a founder member of Manavar Peravai. He had been a relentless, selfless and vigourous participant all through his life in the struggle for Tamil rights and social justice, in particular for the interests of the exploited, down trodden and the oppressed. He was the author of the book "My Witness on Eelam fight", which he wrote while living in exile in France.
The Tamil Information Centre (TIC) is delighted that Agni Subramaniam, the indefatigable defender of human rights has been acquitted of all charges by a judicial Magistrates Court in Tamil Nadu today. Mr Subramaniam was arrested in January 2000, after he agreed with expatriates Tamils in Canada to distribute humanitarian aid to Tamil refugees.
