A legal challenge by the Tamil Information Centre (TIC) against two Authorizations issued in April 2001 under the Race Relations Act has benefited Tamils all over the world including British passport holders. The Race Relations Act outlaws discrimination on grounds of color, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin in public functions, such as law enforcement by police, immigration or Home Office officials. But it contains an exclusionary section (Section 19D), which permits the Home Minister to authorize discrimination on grounds of nationality or ethnic or national origin in carrying out immigration and nationality functions. The Secretary of State for the Home Department exercised his powers under this section in April 2001 and issued two Authorizations.
Tamil information centre is concerned at continuing reports of arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and ill-treatment of Tamil detainees, at the prison conditions and the lack of facilities at detention centres. At the beginning of June 1996, there were 658 Tamils under detention orders in various prisons and detention centres throughout the country, some of whom have been held for long periods under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency regulations.
Heavy rain and stiff resistance by the Little are reported to have made army’s advance difficult in Jaffna from 3rd to 9th November. The army resumed operations on 10th and the offensive continues. There has been a temporary halt in the military offensive on 16th November. The troops are now stationed one kilometer away from the northern suburbs of Nallur and Thirunelvely Junction. Reports from the East suggest that LTTE is planning a major offensive on Batticaloa town before the Sri Lankan military enter Jaffna town.
The Sri Lankan government and the military continue to deny food to people affected by the war. Pressure is mounting on the government to allow the NGOs to provide humanitarian aid to the uprooted people from the Jaffna District who have sought refuge in Thenmaradchi and other areas. Reports suggest that nearly 5,000 people are daily crossing the Jaffna lagoon at Kilaly seeking refuge in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts in the mainland. TIC sources say nearly 5,000 families have reached Mullaitivu. One relief worker who had accompanied about 100 people by foot to the Kilali crossing in heavy rains on 5th November said two men died of snakebite and eight children died of fits in the mothers' arms. Reports also say that Jaffna Hospital and the University of Jaffna have been evacuated.
Due to continuing military advance in Jaffna, there is panic among the section of the population in the district which has still not moved out. The shelling and aerial bombing have caused damages to building and infrastructure. The movement of people to Thenmaradchi continue. Over 75,000 people reported to have crossed over to Killinochchi. The situation in Thenmaradchchi is deteriorating due to food shortage, drinking water, medicine and sanitary facilities.
Ninety percent of the population from Valikamam, Jaffna, Nallur, Kopay, Chankanai, Sandilipai and Uduvil have been displaced since 30 October 1995. They have moved to Chavakachcheri. The rest of the population is also moving out. All state and private organisations are closed. The situation is beyond the control of Jaffna Secretariat and the NGOs, according to reports received from Jaffna by the Tamil Information Centre (TIC). Displacement in large number without any basic facilities such as food shelter, Transport and health facilities causing grave concern.
The Sri Lankan Parliament was dissolved by proclamation on 24 June and President DB Wijetunge called for general elections on 16 August. The move took the opposition parties which were expecting presidential elections in November, by complete surprise. Around 1440 candidates representing thirteen political parties and twenty – six independent groups will contest for the 225 seats in Parliament. Nearly 12 million voters are registered and over 9500 polling stations will be set up.
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Tamil Information - issue_no_33 and 34
Uploaded Date: 21/04/2013
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 22 April calling on the European Commission to establish a permanent mission in Colombo immediately to facilitate closer economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and the European Union. The resolution follows a report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security of the European Union, based on a report submitted by the Committee on Development and Cooperation. The resolution also calls on the European Union, as part of its common foreign and security policy, to close all offices of the LTTE in the territory of Member States, alleging that the offices are used to propagate terrorism against a 'friendly country'
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Tamil Information - issue_no_31
Uploaded Date: 21/04/2013
Amnesty International says in a report summarising human rights concerns in 1993, that thousands of Tamil people, including prisoners of conscience, were arbitrarily arrested and detained, solely on account of their ethnicity, especially in Colombo. In both Batticaloa and Trincomalee Districts, hundreds of people were paraded before masked informants, according to Amnesty, to identify suspects and many were arrested for questioning. Others were detained for the sole reason that they were relatives of an alleged LTTE member and some were held in acknowledged detention for long periods
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Tamil Information - issue_no_30
Uploaded Date: 21/04/2013
The governments of Switzerland and Sri Lanka signed an agreement on 12 January for the forcible repatriation of rejected Tamil asylum seekers from the European nation. There are currently over 30,000 Tamil refugees in Switzerland and 16,000 Tamils whose cases remain undecided will be affected by the bilateral agreement. UNHCR which has been instrumental in the signing of the agreement will 'act as a liaison between the returnees and the two parties and assist in meeting particular problems numbered by the returnees'. The agreement, which will remain valid for two years, provides for the appointment of a Sri Lankan government competent authority to liaise with UNHCR the returning refugees may be held in camps until 'conditions permit the returnees to return to their original place of permanent residence.
