Sri Lanka Update: October 5, 2007.

Even a northern victory, momentous as it would be, would not bring an end to Sri Lanka's conflict.
The northern front, The Economist, October 4, 2007.

There is no doubt that troops manning the Defences in the Wanni, contrary to the position they had taken earlier, have now turned their role into a more active one.
Ranil Wijayapala, LTTE in dire straits as Forces mull Northern advance, Daily News, October 5, 2007.

"In fact, Rajapakse is responsible for effectively tearing up the 2002 ceasefire."
Wije Dias, Sri Lankan president’s speech at the UN: lies in defence of war and human rights abuses, WSW, October 5, 2007.

Maldives Referendum, August 20, 2007

In the referendum on Maldives adopting the presidential or the parliamentary system, the known devil--the presidential system won an endorsement from two-thirds of voters.

President declares victory in referendum, calls for national reconciliation, Haveeru Daily, August 19, 2007.

The validity of the referendum was challenged by not just the opposition parties but also some Maldivian citizens as this report shows.

Some views on what makes an election free and fair:
ACE Electoral Knowledge Network, Guiding Principles of Electoral Integrity.
Common Cause, Election Reform Agenda.
Australian Election Commission, What makes an election free and fair?

Postscript: India is going to give the Maldives anti-terror training. On whom will those guns be trained?