(2nd update) More than 125 000 British tamils in a protest against the Sri Lankan State Terror On Tamil Eelam Civilians
More than 125 000 British Tamils marched through central London Saturday condemning Sri Lanka’s war against their people and calling for an independent Tamil Eelam. The unprecedented response on one of the coldest days this year turned out to be the largest ever gathering of the British Tamil community. It seems almost half of the Eezham Tamil community in Britain joined the march Saturday.
Artillery-fired cluster shells, aerial bombing on safety zone, 39 civilians killed
For the first time within the safety zone, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers Saturday attacked Moongkilaa’ru and Chuthanthirapuram. Relentless artillery fire also continued throughout the day on civilian targets. 39 civilians were killed and 128 wounded in the indiscriminate attacks.
Karunanidhi flays attempts to politicise youth’s suicide
Criticising attempts to “politicise” the death of K Muthukumaran, a local youth who committed suicide here to express solidarity with Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday said it could turn the Tamils issue into an instrument of “cheap publicity”.
helping families keep in touch across the front line – ICRC
The conflict in northern Sri Lanka has affected some 200,000 civilians in the Vanni. The majority have fled their homes, while others are at risk of displacement in this volatile situation. Many have not been able to talk to their families in recent days and weeks. Monica Zanarelli, the ICRC’s deputy head of operations for South Asia, explains the organization’s efforts to re-establish family links in an extremely volatile situation.
Allow Sri Lankan and foreign journalists to visit the north of the country freely – RSF
Reporters Without Borders in a press release from its head office in Paris has formally appealed to President Mahindra Rajapaksa to allow Sri Lankan and foreign journalists to visit the north of the country freely. It also calls for an end to the harassment and attacks on news media that refuse to support the government and a military solution.
UN subtly assists Colombo’s genocide – Jeyananthamoorthy MP
Sharply reacting to statement of the United Nations, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian for Batticaloa district, Senathiraja Jeyananthamoorthy, today (Saturday) said that the United Nations has no moral or humanitarian grounds to urge the civilians to submit themselves against their will into the hands of those who commit genocide on them.
Only 26 go to govt. areas following Rajapaksa’s 48-hour ultimatum
Following ultimatum from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, only 26 civilians have gone to Sri Lankan government controlled area crossing through Oamanthai over the last 48 hours, according to sources in District Secretariat in Vavuniya. The Sri Lankan military sources however claimed 65 civilians have crossed Oamanthai at 65 during the time mentioned above.
More than 80 000 Tamil Canadians Protest against the Sri Lankan State Terrorism on Tamil Eelam Tamils
In a show of solidarity with the Northeast Tamils caught up in the war in Sri Lanka, about 45,000 Canadian Tamils people took part in the protest throughout the day Friday, forming a human chain stretching from Bloor St. to University Ave. and Yonge St. and snaked all the way to Front.according to Staff Sgt. Deb Abbott of 52 Division, with about 30,000 on Front St. alone, Toronto Star reported.
No change in our stand on LTTE: Thangkabalu
TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu on Friday asked the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE to make use of the 48-hour deadline given by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and provide a safe passage to innocent Tamils caught in the war. Talking to reporters at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, he said Mr. Rajapaksa had agreed for the ceasefire because of the tough stand of the Indian government.
Pathmanathan will act as news head of international relations – LTTE
The leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) has recently named Selvarasa Pathmanathan, a high profile representative of the movement, as the Head of a newly established Department of International Relations, sources close to the LTTE said on Saturday.
