Monthly archive

By Gopal Ethiraj

A comprehensive community portal for Keralite Christians entitled "www.christianmalayalee.com" was launched on Wednesday, which offers the Christian community in Kerala and elsewhere a number of innovative services, linking them together. For example, if a Christian techie who has migrated to the US wants to trace his roots, there will be an option in the site. If he wants to look for alliance it is there. If he wants to news of his community back home it is there. "A unique feature of our site is that everything will be parish-based. You can register as a member only if you are a member of any of the parishes under the various Christian denominations in Kerala. The name of the parish is a mandatory field to be filled up while registering," said Johny Emmanuel, managing editor, Christianmalayalee.com.

Hilary Rajakarunanayake, Editor – Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune

Sri Lanka Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka said the LTTE can't regroup militarily but remaining LTTE cadres may carry out hit-and-run attacks. "We have destroyed the LTTE leadership's first, second and third rungs. The LTTE is over." he assured. General Fonseka was addressing a ceremony honoring his field commanders on Thursday evening, at the Army headquarters, which was attended by 49 officers and 1201 soldiers. This ceremony is considered first to be held, since such a ceremony was held just after the Second World War. The commands were performed by Major General Kamal Gunaratne.

State Department Press spokesman Ian Kelly confessed today that he did not know how the US voted on the Sri Lanka resolution at the Human Rights Council session which considered the subject on May 27. A diplomatic source commented: "Master Kelly can wait for a 100 years, if that is possible, but he will never know how the US voted. The US is not a member of the Council, ergo, not entitled to vote." Ian Kwelly also reiterated , we welcome the end of the fighting and we look forward to helping, any way we can, building a lasting peace based on national political reconciliation and the full respect of human rights.

By Quintus Perera – Asian Tribune

Sri Lanka Don Bosco Salasians – a Catholic Order – carries a consignment of essential items to the North for the use of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) worth more than Rs 3 million. Rev.Fr.Anthony H.Pinto, Provincial Superior, Don Bosco Salasians, Sri Lanka told the Asian Tribune that these contributions are collected by Don Bosco Salasian Fathers, Sisters and Brothers who work in several provinces in the country. He said that they are taking several truck loads of clothes and other essential items worth over Rs 3 million

By Wajid Ali Syed – Washington Correspondent for Asian Tribune

US President Barack Obama's national security adviser is rejecting recent charges made by ex-Vice President Dick Cheney that Obama's policies have made the nation more vulnerable to terrorists. Speaking in Washington before members of the Atlantic Council, retired Marine General James Jones said the new president's leadership, both at home and abroad, has not only made the United States safer, but more secure. "United States is not only safe, but it will be more secure, and the American people are increasingly safer because of the president's leadership that he's displayed consistently over the last four months, both at home and abroad," he said.

M.A. Qader-Our Correspondent in Bangladesh

At least 16 were killed and 20 injured as a bus and truck collided on Dhaka-Bogra Highway in Sirajganj district on Thursday. Highway police officials said the crash occurred at around 5.00pm in Pachalia at around 6:00 pm after the Natore-bound bus collided head-on with the truck coming from Dhaka to Natore. On the other hand, the bus was coming from Sirajganj.Most of the dead were bus passengers, the police sources said. The Highway police sources said that 13 people died on the spot; two others, the bus driver Reza (40), and his assistant Babu (30), died on the way to hospital and another victim died at Sirajganj Sadar Hospital.

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Pakistan

Security forces on Thursday entered Bahrain area of militancy plagued Malakan division in the northwest province. In lower Dir 13 militants while in Swat seven were killed in the ongoing operation against Taliban. DG ISPR, Major General Athar Abbas said on Thursday that seven militants were killed, while four were apprehended in various areas of Swat. According to ISPR press release, four soldiers martyred and 12 soldiers were injured in last 24 hours. Security forces in Peochar carried out cordon and search operation in village.