Monthly archive

A Farewell MeetingLibya has come forward to give US $ 500 million as a financial co-operation package for development projects in Sri Lanka. This Libyan support was anounced sequel to Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s successful three-day state visit, from 8th – 10th April to Libya. According to a Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry Press Relaese, "The Libyan government will also assist in granting development assistance for the Hambantota Airport, infrastructure development projects in the North and Eastern Provinces, development of highways, communications and tourism."

By Henry Sathananthan from Australia

Twenty one of us went to Colombo to get help for our refugees (IDPs) in the North by invitation of the foreign minister, the Hon. Mr. Bogalagama. This was the first time a foreign minister invited the Tamil Diaspora for direct talks in a 2 day conference organized in Colombo, for which we are very thankful. The Government listened to us, one to one, each with diverse opinions and we initiated a constructive dialogue. This should have been done a long time ago and would have saved thousands of lives. We opened the door for further negotiation for anyone who wants to go and we will facilitate this to the best of our ability. The talks were cordial and various matters were discussed including the rehabilitation of the IDPs, devolution, discrimination of Tamils by successive governments, safety of the people in the war zone, resettlement, medical aid etc., focussing on the immediate future of the Tamils.

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Pakistan

Pakistani police on Friday arrested six people including an Indian spy who were planning an attack on a police college near Rawalpindi. An Indian was arrested in the jurisdiction of Police College Sihala, near Rawalpindi. He was arrested on suspicion after being seen in the area, officials said. Sources said the alleged Indian spy admitted that he and others were planning terror attacks on Police College Sihala.

Wajid Ali Syed - Washington Correspondent

Pakistan has urged the United States to foster the anti-terrorism partnership on the basis of trust and sovereign equality, with its top diplomat in Washington cautioning against the notion of attaching ‘intrusive’ conditions to American assistance for his nation. Talking to American and South Asian intelligentsia, Pakistan's Ambassador Husain Haqqani emphasized respect for Pakistan’s sovereignty and its state institutions saying, Pakistan’s concerns on the issue of US drone attacks should be addressed sooner rather than later. The early, both allies, resolve their mutual issues, the more concentration on the anti-terrorism efforts would be possible.

Daya Gamage – US Bureau Asian Tribune

Representatives of the Tokyo Co-Chairs (U.S., European Union, Norway and Japan) convened a conference call April 9 to discuss the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher participated for the United States. Co-Chair members expressed urgent concern for the safety of more than a hundred thousand people trapped by the conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a narrow strip of land in northern Sri Lanka

The Chennai City police have registered a sedition case against MDMK General Secretary V. Gopalasawmy (Vaiko) for his speech warning that India would not remain one country, if the war against the LTTE in Sri Lanka was not stopped. In the meantime MDMK leader warning of a "bloodbath" in Tamil Nadu over the Sri Lankan Tamil tangle has brought out fissures in the AIADMK-led Third Front with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) demanding an explanation from him. The Chennai City police have registered the case against Vaiko under 13 (1) b of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004 (advocating, abetting, advising or inciting the commission of any unlawful activity) and also under Section 124 -A and Section 505 (1) (b) of the Indian Penal Code.