Maldives Update: May 30, 2007.

The Maldives government had proposed three women as judges or magistrates, as there are no women judges in the Maldives. The Justice Minister has nominated three women as judges last week. The Adhaalath Party has strongly opposed the proposal saying female judges are against the sharia and women cannot hold the position of judges.
Ajay Makan, Female Judges "Against Sharia" Warns Adhaalath, Minivan News, May 28, 2007.

The MDP has claimed that the government and police has been obstructing the party's upcoming Presidential election.

Meanwhile the Maldivian government has called for international help for people displaced in the worst flooding in the Maldives since the deadly 2004 tsunami. The Maldives government also made a formal appeal to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help.
Maldives in need of help following severe flooding, Taipei Times, May 24, 2007.

The Maldivian President is to deliver regular monthly radio addresses to the people.

The Maldives is a Muslim country—exclusively so, since the practice of other religions is illegal—and has been so since 1153.
John Lancaster, Islamism Comes to Paradise, Slate, May 28, 2007.

Also See:

In Indian Ocean, only one fifth of the total trade is conducted amongst the countries of the Indian Ocean themselves, whereas 80 per cent of the trade is extra-regional. Isn’t it time for the ‘owners’ of the Indian Ocean to get together to protect their own interests?

Atul Dev, The Indian Ocean – Current Security Environment, Mauritius Times.

Sri Lanka Update: May 27, 2007.

The incident in Delft, according to the government, clearly indicates that the LTTE has not given up their idea of capturing Jaffna, which is considered the nerve centre of their activities.
Delft plan goes awry as Security Forces enhance vigilance, Daily News, May 25, 2007.

The LTTE account of the Delft confrontation was completely different.
Roland Buerk , Who is winning Sri Lanka's war? BBC, May 25, 2007.

LTTE attack on an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hut in no-man’s has shattered the hope of re-opening of the Omanthai and Uyilankulam entry/exit points.
Eelam War IV’ steadily spreads North, Nation on Sunday, May 27, 2007.

The LTTE which claimed to be the sole representative of the Tamil population now turned their role to the suppressor of the Tamil community as they are fast losing control over the Tamil community.
Destiny of Wanni civilians bleak, Sunday Observer, May 27, 2007.

In an era where communications have advanced and the flow of information cannot be forever curtailed, news management by those spearheading the "war on terror" is only bringing the Government's credibility into further question.
Iqbal Athas, Ground battle and media battle, Sunday Times, May 27, 2007.

While it is true that the proposals of the SLFP will not result in a restoration of peace, it is equally true that no proposals for constitutional reform even in the form of proposals for a federal constitution will result in the restoration of peace. Accordingly, setting up the APRC and considering proposals for constitutional reform as a means of restoring peace is a futile exercise.

S L Gunasekara, The charade of constitutional reforms, Sunday Times, May 27, 2007.

British Parliamentarian and ruling Labour party member Keith Vaz has said that he would personally like to see more international attention on the current situation in Sri Lanka and added that the country should benefit from any assistance the international community can provide.
Easwaran Rutnam, British MPs defend action on Lanka, Daily Mirror, May 26, 2007.

Also See:

In the late Eighties, when Indian forces were battling the LTTE in Sri Lanka, Tamil politicians, ignored the activities of the terrorist outfit which was at the time obtaining fuel and funds, and even running grenade factories in the state.

Manoj Joshi, Secret service, Hindustan Times, May 27, 2007.

John Ruwitch, Caught in an air raid scare in Sri Lanka, Reuters, May 27, 2007.

"The innocent lives of the Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims are killed because of this. We must find a political solution", says Major General Sarath Munasinghe.
Wilson Gnanadass, Karuna faction must be enlisted into the army, Nation on Sunday.

Southern States Update: May 26, 2007.

The Blast at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad has rocked the nation and been on the headlines this week. The recent terrorist incidents establish the intention of terror masterminds to establish Islamist terrorist network beyond Kashmir, a strategic move considering the international focus and the dialogue.
Wilson John, Hyderabad blasts: The ISI hand, Rediff, May 25, 2007.

Blast in Hyderabad has revealed that the terrorists have found yet another locally available explosive — picric acid — a shock-sensitive liquid explosive capable of creating a huge impact.
Vishwa Mohan, Liquid bomb is new terror device, Times of India, May 26, 2007.

The IAF is zeroing on three places in Tamil Nadu for its possible deployment of indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) named Tejas, highlighting the new strategic concerns in Indian establishment 's regarding country's security, particularly with the growing importance of Indian Ocean region and the maritime security.
Air Force To Deploy First LCA Tejas Squadron in Tamil Nadu By 2010, India Defense, May 23, 2007.

Meanwhile a permanent base of the Border Security Force (BSF) would become operational in Coimbatore by October this year to cater to the emergency security needs of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: Permanent BSF Base To Be Operations By 2007 End, India Defense, May 20, 2007.

Sri Lankan parliament has been debating the issue of granting Sri Lankan citizenship to over 28,500 refugees living in Tamil Nadu.
Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera, UNP, JVP voice concern for Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu, Daily Mirror, May 26, 2007.

Kerala's proposal to construct a new dam to resolve the Mullaperiyar issue with Tamil Nadu has received national acceptance.
New dam has received acceptance, Times of India, May 26, 2007.

Sixty years after Independence, the monsoons still play a decisive role in determining how well the economy performs any year.

Also See:
Sankara Mahadevan, Ram Sethu campaign gains momentum, Organiser, May 27, 2007.

Lucien Rajakaraunanayake, The tolerance of terror, Daily News, May 26, 2007.

V. Sundaram, Suppressed marine, maritime, nautical aspects-II, News Today.

Maldives Update: May 22, 2007.

The witnesses have refused to confirm the accuracy of witness statements given to police almost four years ago in the famous trial of Ziya Abbas.
Ajay Makan, Witnesses Silent At Ziya Trial, Minivan News, May 20, 2007.

Maldives Government claimed that a coastguard vessel has opened fire on a boat carrying suspected Tamil Tiger rebels from Sri Lanka. Maldives is investigating whether a trawler sunk by its coastguard was carrying weapons for LTTE.
Anusha Ondaatjie and Paul Tighe, Maldives Probes Sinking of Possible Tamil Rebel Boat, Bloomberg, May 18, 2007.

Finance Minister of Maldives, was elected to fill the post of the President of the Special Majlis, left empty by the resignation of Abbas Ibrahim.
Ali Rasheed, Gasim's Test, Minivan News, May 10, 2007.

The Government has postponed planned elections for the Island Development Committee.
Government postpones Island Development Committee Elections indefinitely , MDP, May 20, 2007.

Meanwhile "the drafting of Constitution is taking place at a faster pace", says Ibra.
Draft ready for decision on system–Ibra, Miadhu Online, May 22, 2007.

Sri Lanka Update: May 20, 2007.

New Delhi is caught in a dilemma in trying to balance its interests in protecting minority rights on the one hand and providing military assistance to the Government to take on the Tigers on the other.
B. Muralidhar Reddy, Uneasy lies the island, The Hindu, May 20, 2007.

The Lankan Tamil militant group finds itself damned all over again for abducting Indian fishermen and their vessels, besides the horrific incident of March 29 when five fishermen of Kanyakumari were gunned down by the Tigers suspecting that they were spying on their sea sorties to transfer weapons from the 'mother' ship to the land base in north Lanka.
R. Bhagwan Singh, LTTE is getting damned, for the second time after Rajiv assassination, India Interacts, May 20, 2007.

The cost of the ongoing undeclared Eelam War IV, for which the public will be compelled to pay more, is rising equally faster. This is despite the new policy of fight now with foreign equipment and pay later - a burden that will fall on the next Government, whichever that may be.
Iqbal Athas, Fight now and pay later, Sunday Times, May 20, 2007.

Though some people were critical of the decision to acquire Russian made MiG 29 fighter jets to face the challenge posed by the LTTE saying that the Government is going for more expensive means to counter the threat, the decision has been taken considering all aspects, not just the LTTE air threat.
Ranil Wijayapala, Speedy acquisition of air threat negation systems builds people’s confidence, Daily News, May 18, 2007.

Sri Lanka is a developing country centrally and ideally situated with a highly developed and educated work force too struggling for more and more resources for development. Therefore obviously there are agitations within in various forms.
Sarath Wijesinghe, Concern about concerns of Human Right violations, Sunday Observer, May 20, 2007.

LTTE's focus is on developing an ambitious capability in space, using it to best effect in its communications offensive against Sri Lanka, and it aims of being a dominant force in the South Asia region.
Tigers take terror ops to space, Daily News, May 19, 2007.

"A large majority of the island's Tamil minority would like to have a solution based on federalism and a decentralization of power", says Kadirgamar.
Nora Boustany, Moves by Sri Lanka Military Worry Human Rights Group, Washington Post, May 18, 2007.

Most foreign governments that are playing an important role in Sri Lanka are subject to democratic pressures from their constituents. They have a problem when they are seen as giving public funds to governments that are violating human rights.
Dr. Jehan Perera, Confronting The International Community Is Not In Sri Lanka’s Interest, NPC, May 14, 2007.

While India has not been unduly concerned about Sri Lanka's arms acquisitions from China and Pakistan, it will have to keep a close watch on agreements Sri Lanka has reached with China for the development of the Hambantota Port, for which Beijing has extended Colombo a loan of $375 million.
G. Parthasarathy, Rising tensions in Sri Lanka, Business Line, May 17, 2007.

Also See:
There is a need to examine all the related issues with out emotionalising and politicising either the fishing or the security issues in Tamil Nadu coast line.

Major incidents involving the LTTE outside Sri Lanka, SATP.

Southern States Update: May 18, 2007.

Five people were arrested after the vessel was fired on and sunk by the coastguards of Maldives. It is believed that the trawler was carrying weapons for LTTE.
Anusha Ondaatjie and Paul Tighe, Maldives Probes Sinking of Possible Tamil Rebel Boat, Bloomberg, May 18, 2007.

The DMK hss revamped its team in New Delhi with Radhika Selvi joining the central council of ministers. The party is also planning its moves to get two names into the Rajya Sabha.
DMK begins changing team in New Delhi, India eNews, May 18, 2007.

The residents of Gulbarga city have remained indifferent to the efforts being made to stamp out the dreaded polio virus from the Indian soil. This has been the major cause of concern for people involved in enmasse polio vaccination.
Urbanites remain indifferent to drive against polio, Deccan Herald, May 18, 2007.

French Journalist Francois Gautier, who has spent nearly two decades in India has pointed out how much ill-found are the facts about the ‘prosperity’ of Hindus, especially, the Brahmins in today’s India.
Francois Gautier, The myth of Mayawati's success, Rediff News, May 16, 2007.

Also See:
Jaya Menon, Stalin: Fourth in party, first in line for throne, Indian Express, May 15, 2007.

57 old Dalit brutally persecuted by the Police in Kerala, le Journal Chrétien.

Maldives Update: May 15, 2007.

Adam Cooper, the political consultant of MDP faces a two-year ban from the Maldives following an alleged violation of immigration rules and regulations.
Will Jordan, MDP Consultant Faces Two-Year Maldives Ban, Maldives, May 10, 2007.

Reporters without Borders (RSF) has listed Star Force, an elite unit of Maldives Police Service, as a predator of press freedom.

The member of the Special Majlis, Ibrahim Ismail, has proposed amending the clause on the election of the president to enable the people to elect the president among candidates contesting in a public vote.
Presidential election by public vote proposed, Miadhu News, May 15, 2007.

The US has called on the Maldivian government to hold free and fair elections so that the people can decide on their government in 2008.
Ajay Makan, America Urges More Democratic Reform, Minivan News, May 8, 2007.

Also See:
Ali Rasheed, A legal conundrum, Bahabaru.

Human Rights Report, Friends of Maldives.

Sri Lanka Update: May 13, 2007.

The United States government has shown interest in playing an active role in the Lankan Peace Process. The US has urged the Sri Lankan government and LTTE to restart peace talks as soon as possible.
Mendaka Abeysekera, US to actively take part in Sri Lankan peace process, Nation on Sunday, May 13, 2007.

The United States has halted some aid to Sri Lanka following a steep rise in human rights abuses in the country.
Simon Gardner, US concerned at Sri Lanka abuses, halts some aid, Reuters, May 10, 2007.
Meanwhile US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs has confirmed that assistance to combat LTTE terrorism will be continued.
Deepal Warnakulasuriya, US pledges continued assistance to combat terrorism, Sunday Observer, May 13, 2007.

Terrorist and insurgency organisations thrive on myths and legends built around them and their larger-than-life leaders. The LTTE is no exception.
Col. R Hariharan, Sri Lanka: Winged terror – Hariharan, IPKF, Siber News, May 10, 2007.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has increased spending on the Army, Navy and Air Force by 44 percent this year to a record 139 billion rupees ($1.3 billion).
Ed Johnson and Anusha Ondaatjie, Sri Lankan Economy Threatened by Tamil Rebel Air Wing, Bloomberg, May 11, 2007.
US military sales to Sri Lanka up from $1.4m to $60.8m, Tamil Net, May 12, 2007.

Sympathy for the Tigers in Tamil Nadu, which had once prompted the fisher families to offer prayers for LTTE’s victory in the war for Eelam and ‘freedom’ for their brethren in Sri Lanka, is being changing into resentment.
Jaya Menon, A Sympathy wave turns to anger, Indian Express, May 13, 2007.

United Nations Security Council has warned the LTTE of an unspecified punitive action for continued recruiting of children for its fighting units.
PK Balachandran, UNSC warns LTTE of punishment, but is softer on Karuna, Hindustan Times, May 12, 2007.

Also See:
The idea that the state is prejudiced against a particular ethnic group, in Sri Lanka, is used by non-state actors to justify the continuation of conflict in which children are inevitably targeted.
Child recruitment in South Asian conflicts: A Comparative analysis of Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, Peace Journalism.

Iqbal Athas, Four air raids worse than four wars, Sunday times, May 13, 2007.

Southern States Update: May 11, 2007.

Three press workers were killed and a press office was set ablaze in Madurai. The act was an episode of the violent protests carried out by the supporters of MK Azhagiri who were angered by a survey in Dinakaran claiming that Karunandihi's second son M.K. Stalin was most suited to succeed his father as political heir.
GC Shekhar, Karunanidhi family feud claims 3 lives, Hindustan Times, May 09, 2007.

Police have arrested 12 people in connection with the attack.
12 arrested for attack on Indian paper, Business Week, May 10, 2007.

Tamil Nadu is not the only state in India where ugly sides of dynastic politics result in bloody street battles. Family wrangles and public fights marked the politics of Andhra Pradesh following the death of N.T. Rama Rao.
An Odd World, The Telegraph, May 11, 2007.

Also See:
The attacks on Sun TV-Dinakaran expose the vulnerability of the media in Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lanka Update: May 9, 2007.

The following is a reports by human rights groups highlighting the human rights and humanitarian issues arising out of the upsurge in violence during 2006-7. The report highlights the humanitarian situation in parts of the Trincomalee district, with the absence of a systematic disaster response structure resulting in affected communities not having the most basic of services.
Trincomalee Fact-Finding Mission, Center for Policy Alternatives.

Child Abuse: May 9, 2007.

More children are sexually abused in India than anywhere else in the world. Study on Child Abuse reveals that a shocking 53.22 per cent of all Indian children are sexually abused and 70 per cent keep silent about what happens to them.
Nishi Malhotra, Sex, lies and children, Hard News.

Ingrid Srinath, CEO of Child Rights and You (CRY), a child rights organisation, discusses the entire gamut of issues pertaining to child abuse and rights violation and suggests possible ways of fighting the scourge.
Supriya Mishra, Children are also sexual beings, Hindustan Times, May 08, 2007.

Apart from sexual abuse every second Indian child is a victim of some kind of abuse — physical or emotional.
Child, interrupted, Times of India, May 3, 2007.

Southern States Update: May 9, 2007.

The death of 38 newborns in a state-run hospital has rocked the state of Kerala and its government. According to blood tests the deaths were due to infection the infants contracted in the labour room. The Kerala Police have registered a case against Health Minister.
Gilvester, Nandagopal, Kerala minister charged in homicide case, NDTV, May 4, 2007.

The central ministry expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the state government and has discounted the possibility of sending a team to probe the issue.
The state health minister has clarified her stand stating that she viewed the incident of infant deaths due to infection as a very serious matter.
Kerala health minister clarifies, Times Now, May 5, 2007.

Besides providing the LTTE with finance, the small business ventures in Tamil Nadu played an important role in building the organization's logistics in the 1980s.
Sudha Ramachandran, The business end of terror, Asia Times, May 8, 2007.

In the last three months, 52 Indian hospitals have come under investigation in one of the country's broadest crackdowns yet on illegal organ sales. Of those facilities, two have had their licenses revoked, and 13 remain under investigation.
Scott Carney, Black-Market Scandal Shakes India's Ban on Organ Sales, Wired, May 8, 2007.

Sri Lanka Update: May 8, 2007.

Five years after a cease-fire, a ferocious ethnic war is again raging between the government dominated by the Buddhist Sinhalese majority and the Tamil Tigers, separatists seeking a homeland for the largely Hindu Tamil minority.
Matthew Rosenberg, Sri Lanka Heads Into New War, Guardian, May 5, 2007.

Nordic truce monitoring mission has said that the Sri Lankan military had recently increased the number of airstrikes and assaults on the northern heartland of the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Bharatha Mallawarachi, Sri Lankan Jets Strike Rebel Targets, Guardian, May 5, 2007.
Easwaran Rutnam, SLMM notes increased Govt. spy plane activity over Wanni, Daily Mirror, May 07, 2007.

The suspension of night-time operations at the BIA and the closure of A9 together mark a virtual acknowledgment that the undeclared low-intensity war between the government and the Tigers has escalated into a full-fledged, undeclared war.
B. Muralidhar Reddy, Undeclared war, Frontline, May 5, 2007.

The recent spate of seizures of arms, weapons, ammunition, explosives and umpteen consignments of deadly raw materials for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by the Tigers have added to the fears of the public.
V. Jayanth, Alarm bells, Frontline, May 5, 2007.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka government has warned Indian on the capability of LTTE to strike India’s nuclear installations at any time.

There are indications that the Rajapaksa government will eventually bow to nationalist pressure and keep the British at bay in a diplomatic way.
PK Balachandran, British mediation bid runs into stormy weather, Hindustan Times, May 08, 2007.

Also See:
Dr. Jehan Perera, A TURNING POINT IS BEING REACHED FOR PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA, NPC, May 5, 2007.

Maldives Update: May 7, 2007.

The polarised media environment in Maldives, has denied the public a true account on the death of Hussein Salah. On one side, websites screamed blue murder, and on the other, state media withheld information and allowed the police exclusive access to TV Maldives.
Will Jordan, The Salah Saga: The Use And Abuse Of The Media, Minivan News, May 7, 2007.

International Federation for Journalist’s director for Asia-Pacific has described South Asia as being one of the most dangerous places for journalists to work in the world. The IFJ report, claims that the Maldives press freedom record was dismal with constant harassment of journalists.
Kalinga Seneviratne, Media experts criticise “one-sided” Media Freedom Report on South Asia, Daily News, May 7, 2007.

The information minister of Maldives countered the argument saying that he has 6 bills in parliament designed to liberalise the media environment in this far-stretched archipelago of 240,000 people.

“Over the past several years, a modest expansion of media diversity has been met by official crackdowns and harassment of journalists. Freedom of expression and of the press is not provided for in the constitution and are generally not respected by the government in practice,” said Freedom House in its Global Press Freedom Survey released on May 2.
Will Jordan, Press Freedom Day: Opposing Views, Minivan News, May 5, 2007.

On the press freedom day, Aishath Aniya, a journalist was arrested and lifted into the back of a police van in connection with an article she wrote in the paper published March 20, which was seen to be "against Islam.
Ajay Makan, World Press Freedom Day: Protest, Walkout, Arrest And A Possible Deportation, Minivan News, May 3, 2007.

Meanwhile Cartoonist and opposition activist Ahmed Abbas was released from Maafushi prison on 3 May on completing a six-month sentence for saying in Minivan Daily that opposition activists should resist police violence.

Also See:
Kalinga Seneviratne, Report on Media Freedom Under Flak, Inter Press Service, May 7, 2007.

Sri Lanka Update: May 6, 2007.

Air attacks by the LTTE and retaliation from the security forces have dimmed hopes of the government and the terrorists returning to the negotiating table.
Ravana, World focus on Sri Lanka heightens as conflict intensifies, Nation on Sunday, May 6, 2007.

The Foreign Office estimates that, since that conflict began, nearly 70,000 people have been killed and perhaps more than a million people have been displaced. It is a major conflict in any terms. In recent times, the conflict and death rates have escalated.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, The conflict comes to the Commons, Sunday Times, May 6, 2007.

"The fighting in the north is going to be more intense and the (rebels) probably won't withdraw as they did in the east", says Jehan Perera of Sri Lanka's National Peace Council, a think tank.
Sri Lanka seen heading back to civil war — on an even larger scale, IHT, May 5, 2007.

The ground situation, cultural and religious realities practical difficulties and the honesty and genuineness of the Government are the factors to be considered in harnessing all efforts in the direction of an ever lasting solution for Proposals of the all party representatives committee.
Sarath Wijesinghe, Lasting solutions for North and East issue, Sunday Observer, May 6, 2007.

"Attitude of showing a blind eye to the activities of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) on the part of the Australian Federal government has contributed to the build up of the Air Wing of the terrorist group in Sri Lanka", says Singapore based terrorism expert.
Walter Jayawardhana, Federal Govt.'s silence helped terrorist air wing, Sunday Observer, 6 May 2007.

Also See:
B. Raman, COUNTERING LTTE'S AIR CAPABILITY---AN INTERESTING FEED-BACK- INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR, South Asia Analysis Group.

N Manoharan , Air Tigers' Maiden Attack: Motives and Implications, IPCS.

Maldives Update: Amin Faizal

Amin Faizal was sent home. This press statement from his family:

PRESS RELEASE

Firstly, let me thank the Almighty Allah for saving me from Dhoonidhoo where I spent the past 18 days. Secondly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those people who have campaigned selflessly to secure my release.

Although this regime may continuously persecute me, detain me, may bring ridiculous charges against me and may even throw me into long-term imprisonment, my determination to work peacefully to establish proper democracy in the Maldives is not going to diminish. The more they persecute me, the harder is my resolve to ensure that one day there will be a Maldives where all our people would be able to express themselves freely, assemble together freely and to travel freely without harassment from the authorities. To this end, I am dedicating my life. I know the road ahead could be a rocky one. But with the blessings of the Almighty we will achieve our goals.

Thank you once again for all your kindness and support. I would particularly like to thank my lawyer Mariya Didi for all her dedicated efforts and to the MDP leadership for their hard work to secure my release. I would also like to thank Mr. Mohamed Falah, the Vice-President of Male’ Dhaaira and the rest of my fellow MDP members for their unwavering support. To all those people who campaigned for my release here in the Maldives and abroad, friends and strangers alike, I am truly indebted to each and every one of you.


THANK YOU

Amin Faisal & family

3 May 2007

Sri Lanka: New Proposals for a Peace Settlement, May 5, 2007

SLFP presents proposals on devolution, Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka, May 2, 2007.

Responses and critiques by key commentators:
Rohan Edrisinha, The Sri Lanka Freedom Party's Breathtaking Proposals on Constitutional Reform, May 5, 2007. (Also in the Daily Mirror.)
Sumanasiri Liyanage, From a Tragedy to a Farce: Comments on the SLFP Proposals, May 1, 2007 .

Others:
Kasun Ubayasiri, The SLFP proposal for peace and turning the clock back, South Asia Analysis Group, May 3, 2007.
M.S.M. Ayub, It’s all about leaders and their decisions, Daily Mirror, May 5, 2007.
N Sathiya Moorthy, Four -Tier Unit for Power Devolution? Daily Mirror, May 5, 2007.

See also the National Peace Council's Media Release:
04.05.07

Warning Signs that Democratic Space is Threatened

The deterioration in the security situation has had a catastrophic impact on substantial sections of the civilian population, especially those living in the north and east. In this context the government has recently decided to vest powers of the police with the military.President Mahinda Rajapaksa has issued a gazette notification that the armed forces are expected to perform the functions of the police. The National Peace Council is extremely concerned with this latest development. We are apprehensive that this government decision will send wrong signals and lead to an aggravation of the hardships faced by the civilian population.

The new regulations come at a time when there are reports of violations of human rights by both police and military personnel. According to preliminary findings announced by a civic group, PAFFREL, which is working together with the Human Rights Commission and the Police, about 30 police and military personnel are among 452 persons arrested in connection with human rights abuses, including abduction, disappearances and murders. The National Peace Council believes that these findings reiterate the importance of restoring the integrity of law and order processes in the country.

One positive initiative by the government that we welcome has been the order of the Defence Secretary to the security forces that they should strictly follow guidelines that respect human rights in making arrests and detentions. However, the vesting of police functions in the armed forces can negate this positive order. The police function is a civilian one, and the military is not trained in police methods of dealing with disturbances to law and order. This decision can also send wrong signals to the security forces, and to local and international society regarding the direction of the government.

There is an urgent need for the government to demonstrate clear political will in regard to law and order processes if it is to retain the confidence of the civilian population that it is not taking the country on a journey to anarchy and to the breakdown of democratic governance. This past week has seen the assassination of yet another journalist in Jaffna, belonging to the Uthayan newspaper and threats to stop work that are being levelled against NGOs in the name of the TMVP (Karuna group), which TMVP spokespersons deny making. It is incumbent on the government to take these complaints seriously and to take measures to apprehend the culprits so that faith in the democratic institutions of the country may be on the path to restoration.

Executive Director
On behalf of the Governing Council

Southern States Update: May 5, 2007.

Tamil Nadu is in the midst of a threatening water crisis. Proposal of Andhra Pradesh government to build dam over Palar river has added a new angle to the water conflict.
TN to seek stay on Palar dam project, Chennai Online, May 3, 2007.

Meanwhile a team of technical experts constituted by the Tamil Nadu government inspected the Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala on Saturday to check its strength and unique features.
Experts inspects Mullaperiyar dam, NDTV, April 28, 2007.

Jayalalithaa has asked Karunanidhi to announce as to when the suggestions of the Tribunal would be implemented. History shows that no tribunal has ever come out with an award satisfying all parties to a dispute. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which gave its final verdict last month after 16 years of deliberations, is no exception.
Sam Rajappa, Cauvery cantata, The Statesman, May 4,2007.

River linking project would hamper drinking water and irrigation facilities required for the southern parts of Kerala says the Kerala government.
Kerala wants river-linking project dropped, Economic Times, May 1, 2007.

Tamil Nadu has been touted as a success story in the achievement of demographic goals.The state has shown, over the last two decades, faster reduction in population growth rate when compared to all other states, except Kerala.
Sukanya Srinivasan, Planning for the future, Sunday Express, April 27, 2007.

Arms Trail: May 5, 2007.

CM of Tamil Nadu has made it clear that any harm or threat to India’s security will not be taken lightly by the government.
Jaya Menon, Karunanidhi warns LTTE to keep off Tamil coast, Indian Express, April 27, 2007.

The shooting and abducting of the Indian fishermen has become a serious issue and LTTE leadership summoned Manaalan and questioned him.

Meanwhile Chief Minister had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to secure the release of the fishermen and to direct the Indian High Commission in Colombo to do the needful.
'TN taking all steps to rescue fishermen', Times of India, May 4, 2007.

The state government also said that it was making all efforts to secure the release of 12 fishermen abducted by the LTTE.
Tamil Nadu taking all steps to release fishermen: CM, The HIndu, April 4, 2007.

AIADMK supremo has pointed out that the policy note for police tabled recently in the assembly stated that Sri Lankan Tamils were behind the smuggling of arms from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka. But not a word was there on the LTTE's involvement, she said.

Also See:
M.R. Narayan Swamy, LTTE suffers major blow in Tamil Nadu, Daily Mirror, April 30, 2007.

Sri Lanka Update: May 1, 2007.

LTTE launched its third air strike on Sunday. The rebel planes bombed two oil facilities, causing minor damage and tripping air defenses that plunged the city into darkness.
Ranga Sirilal, Sri Lanka rebels launch air raid on oil targets, Reuters, April 29, 2007.

The Air strike should be a cause of concern in New Delhi and Washington also, since India and the US had taken the initiative in alerting the Sri Lankans about the potential threat from the skies.

PK Balachandran, Tigers exploit flaws in Lankan air defence, Hindustan Times, April 30, 2007.

Meanwhile the Sri Lankan forces raided the naval base of LTTE killing five cadres including a Tiger leader in the Kayts Islands. The Naval troops also for the first time recovered an Improvised Suicide Device of the LTTE.
Rafik Jalaldeen, Jaffna islands LTTE leader killed, Daily news, May 1, 2007.

Paul Tighe, Sri Lanka Raids Naval Base After Rebel Air Strike, Bloomberg, April 30, 2007.

UNICEF says Karuna faction is not taking seriously its public assurances that it is not recruiting child soldiers. UNICEF spokesman characterized the current level of cooperation with the faction as “stalemated.”
UNICEF says Karuna faction “not serious” about child releases, UNICEF, April 27, 2007.

Tamil Eelam Air Force’s entry into the undeclared war, quite literally “below the radar” is not just a new addition but, it is certainly a worrying development for the Sri Lankan state. For the Tamil Tigers, it has opened up a new dimension of strategy and tactic in terms of conventional warfare.
Chandi Sinnathurai, The Status Of Tamil Statehood, Countercurrents.org, April 30, 2007.

The most worrisome aspect is that the LTTE has been able to acquire even the limited capability of Air Force without being countered by the intelligence and security agencies of Sri Lanka, India and many other countries.
B. Raman, Countering LTTE’s air capability, Daily Mirror, April 28, 2007.

The two aerial raids by the Tigers — targeting the SLAF's main base at Katunayake and the Palali air base — can, in fact, be interpreted as symptoms of desperation.

The LTTE bombing raid on Colombo was unsuccessful in destroying their targets. However, they have once again been successful in demonstrating their ability to engage in unconventional warfare.
Dr. Jehan Perera, Escalating a War Without Conscience, NPC, April 30, 2007.

Also See:
Iqbal Athas, Situation Report, Sunday Times, April 29, 2007.

Maldives Update: May 1, 2007.

What can be the excuse for detaining Ameen Faizal indefinitely? This is one of many questions that Maldivians are asking. Salah's death in mysterious circumstances, news of attempted suicide by an opposition activist, and the MDP call for civil disobedience contribute to the climate of dissatisfaction that appears to be brewing in the atoll-state.
Ajay Makan, Police Delaying Ameen Faisal Investigation: Lawyer, Minivan News, April 30, 2007.

Meanwhile Hussein Salah’s death has exposed many negative aspects of the Maldivian system; a lack of trust, political and media polarisation, the epidemic of drug addiction and more.
Will Jordan, As Salah Is Buried, A Dire Need For Independent Institutions, Minivan News, April 29, 2007.

The President of the Human Rights Commission (HRCM) has challenged President Gayoom to come up with “a clear policy statement” condemning torture.

Meanwhile Three journalists were arrested at Malé’s Asahara cemetery on 27 April while covering the funeral of Hussein Salah, a government opponent whose body was found on 15 April with his face and body swollen, although the official autopsy said he died of drowning. Police accused the three journalists - Zeena Zahir of the pro-government newspaper Miadhu, e-Sandhaanu website editor Adam Miqdad, and Minivan Daily photographer Mohamed Nasheed - of being demonstrators and not reporters. Zahir was freed a few hours later but the other two have been taken to Dhoonidhoo island prison, near the capital.