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Uzbeks, Afghans, Nigerians suspected in terror attack on
cricketers
By
Aslam Khan in
Lahore
Commenting after the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket
team, the Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy in
Kabul,
Christopher Dell, said Pakistan posed a bigger security
challenge to
America
and the world than Afghanistan. The Pakistan Army's
demoralisation and unwillingness to fight its citizens
involved in terrorism is part of the problem as some of
its own officers are deeply involved in raising,
training and directing the terrorist outfits, he said.
Dell's
comments followed in the wake of Pakistani Security
Services having announced the arrest of nine persons,
who are Afghans, Nigerians and Uzbeks, for their
suspected role in the attack on Sri Lanka's cricket
team. The arrests have yielded little but adverse
publicity. Adding to the woes of the Security Services,
the Lahore High Court, has given a 24 hour deadline for
completing investigations, which has lapsed as of March
4, and petitions have poured into the High Court
demanding a judicial commission into the attack and
security lapses.
The
Lahore Police Commissioner, Khusro Parvez, has admitted
that huge security failures led to the attack on the Sri
Lankan team in the city's busy Gulberg area. He said
that
Lahore's
biggest police station is located just 200 yards away
from the place of the attack and there is another one
just a kilometre away. The assault lasted 20-30 minutes
but no reinforcements came. The Commissioner said, "The
gunmen were meant to be combated by a back-up police
support which did not arrive. All convoys are provided
outer cordons but in this case the outer cordon did not
respond or it was not enough."
Video
shots of close circuit TV cameras, which recorded the
movements of the terrorists while attacking the Sri
Lankan convoy, showed eight of the terrorists, well
dressed and trained to use AK-47s, using rocket
propelled grenades and assault rifles. They appeared to
be familiar with the area, and sauntered off from the
scene of the bombing with confidence and ‚lan. Four
other terrorists were said to be involved, and the scope
and timing of the operations give rise to strong
suspicions that the terrorists had some linkage with
some elements of the local security, which is what gave
them the confidence to act with such impunity.
Speaking to the BBC, Chris Broad, the British umpire,
who had been travelling with the Sri Lankan team,
slammed the Pakistani authorities saying police melted
away as the attackers opened fire. "There was not a sign
of a policeman anywhere. They had gone, and left us to
be sitting ducks." He said that Pakistan had promised
"Presidential style security but it was not there when
we needed it."
The
visiting American FBI team headed by its chief, Robert
Mueller, met President Zardari on Wednesday and offered
the agency's assistance in investigating into the attack
on the Sri Lankans. However, a security official, who
did not want to be identified, disclosed that Pakistan
declined the offer and the FBI team's request to visit
the site of the attack, saying that local investigators
were capable of carrying out investigations and finding
the perpetrators.
Reports indicate that just minutes before the Sri Lankan
team was to leave the hotel, its security officer
received a tip-off urging him to alter the route from
the hotel to the stadium. The security team had
apparently heeded the warning, but the question of how
the terrorists came to know of the alternate route
remains unanswered.
Pakistan
daily, The Dawn, also questioned the sudden decision by
Pakistan Captain Younus Khan to delay the departure of
his team, which on previous days had left the hotel
before the Sri Lankan convoy. The paper further revealed
that police seized three grenades, a timing device and a
Kalashnikov from the backyard of a retired army officer,
whose house is located close to the site of the attack.
While the army officer reportedly denied any knowledge
of the recoveries, his persistent questioning might
disclose whether the terrorists hid themselves in the
house and came out in the morning to carry out the
heinous attack.
It is
no secret that Pakistani military and its Inter-Services
Intelligence have long-standing links with a number of
Islamist and Jihadi groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed,
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Saheba, Taliban etc., whom
they have used as proxies to wage war in India and
Afghanistan.
Reduce call charges, Telecom union
demands
By Nirmala Kannangara
Sri
Lanka Telecom (SLT) may lose some of its subscribers due
to the recent imposition of a tax on telephone bills,
alleged Lanka Telecom Services Union (LTSU).
The
newly introduced 10% fixed line subscriber levy on calls
with affect from January 1, 2009 and the 1% nation
building tax with affect from February 1, 2009 has
burdened SLT subscribers according to LTSU sources.
Chief
Secretary, LTSU, P.S.B. Jayasundera told The Sunday
Leader that unless the SLT call charges are reduced
immediately in keeping with the other telephone services
it would be impossible to retain their subscribers any
longer.
"Now
there are many service providers in the
telecommunication industry who are offering cheaper
rates to attract customers. In that scenario unless the
SLT reduces its call charges, a decline in SLT
subscribers in future would be inevitable," Jayasundera
said.
According to Jayasundera, the trade unions and the SLT
management had recently discussed the possibility of
reducing the call charges, but the Telecommunication
Regulation Commission (TRC) that decides on the charges
had opposed the idea.
"At a
time when the SLT management has decided to reduce the
charges in order to retain their subscribers the TRC's
decision to oppose the suggestion would be futile. When
the electricity and water tariffs go up there is no
other option but for the consumers to bear the cost as
they have to get these services from the National Water
Supply and Drainage Board and from the Ceylon
Electricity Board. But since there are many service
providers in the telecommunication industry whenever the
telephone charges are increased we have noticed that we
have lost a considerable amount of our subscribers. If
this trend is allowed to continue, the SLT employees too
would have to face the consequences and the fall of the
SLT cannot be prevented," added Jayasundera.
Withdraw electricity reform law -
LVSS
By Nirmala Kannangara
The
JVP affiliated Lanka Viduli Sevaka Sangamaya (LVSS) is
to launch a protest campaign to urge the government to
withdraw the controversial Lanka Electricity Bill or
face serious consequences, Convener, LVSS, Ranjan
Jayalal told The Sunday Leader.
The
final decision on the proposed protest is to be taken
today (8) and according to Jayalal they will enlist the
public's support to urge the government to withdraw the
electricity bill.
The
government on Tuesday (3) was able to secure
parliamentary approval for the Lanka Electricity Act and
the JVP affiliated LVSS has now decided to launch a
protest against the implementation of the bill.
"This
controversial act would not only affect the Ceylon
Electricity Board (CEB) employees but also the general
public at large. If this law is implemented, power
generation, transmission and distribution will be
privatised and the CEB would not have the authority to
control the electricity tariffs. As such we want the
support of the general public and once we edify them of
the consequences, we are positive that we will receive
public support for our struggle," added Jayalal.
According to Jayalal the trade unions will not launch a
strike against the implementation of the act as it would
only affect the general public. "If we discontinue the
power supply in order to urge the government to withdraw
the act none of the ministers would feel the
inconvenience but only the general public. That is why
we decided not to resort to a disruption of electricity
and launch a strong protest details of which will be
decided today," said Jayalal.
Jayalalithaa to observe
day-long fast
AIADMK
General Secretary Jayalalithaa Jeyaram will observe a
day-long fast on Tuesday, March 10 demanding the
centre's intervention in the current Sri Lankan issue.
She
will observe the fast in order to call upon the centre
to press the Sri Lankan government for an immediate
ceasefire.
Jayalalithaa, the former Tamil Nadu chief minister, in a
statement on Thursday (5) said that other prominent
leaders of the party would lead the fast at the district
headquarters.
This
is the first time that Jayalalithaa has come out openly
in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
The
current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had
continuously called on the centre to intervene in the
Sri Lankan issue for a ceasefire. Jayalalithaa however
had refrained from supporting Karunanidhi's campaigns on
behalf of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Boucher blames Tigers for
the suffering civilians in SL
Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama had urged the
US
to use its considerable influence on the Sri Lankan
Tamil diaspora to exert pressure on the LTTE to free the
innocent civilians, in line with similar demands on the
LTTE by other quarters of the international community.
Bogollagama had made this request from US Assistant
Secretary of State for South Asian and Central Asian
Affairs, Richard Boucher when the latter telephoned him
in
Colombo on Friday (6), in response to Boucher’s concern
over the fate of the civilian population being held
hostage by the LTTE in the Mullaitivu district.
According to the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, Boucher had
responded positively to the suggestion and had further
said that the US Government was aware that the LTTE was
firing at Sri Lankan security forces from among the
civilians, and hoped that the latter would exercise
restraint and not take retaliatory action.
Bogollagama according to the Foreign Ministry had assured
him that the security forces have always respected the
sanctity of safe zones designated by the Government,
where the civilian population has been herded into by
the LTTE, and will continue to desist from directing
retaliatory fire at such areas, notwithstanding the
repeated provocations by the LTTE against them, using
the hapless civilians as human shields.
Boucher during the conversation had also expressed
concerned over wider implications for Sri Lanka’s
security, especially in the light of the terrorist
attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore
last Tuesday (3).
Bogollagama had briefed Boucher on the discussions he had
held with Pakistani leaders in
Islamabad, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime
Minister Yosouf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah
Mehmood Qureshi, during his brief visit to Pakistan in
the aftermath of the incident.
Bogollagama has also said that it was not possible to rule
out the role of the LTTE in the terror attack, given the
high degree of sophistication of the planning and the
evidence of a nexus between terrorist groups worldwide.
Meanwhile, in
Washington, Boucher while holding the Tamil Tigers
responsible for the “increasing sufferings” of civilians
in Sri Lanka’s embattled north, had asked the outlawed
LTTE to stop lobbying shells and shooting guns out of
the safe zone declared by the government.
Boucher had also called on the LTTE to stop the violence
and allow the innocent Tamil civilians to flee the
shrinking war zone.
“Tigers have been shooting shells out of the safe zone. We
call upon the government not to shoot back, but first
and foremost the Tamil Tigers have to stop shooting.
“That is where we are asking to stop the violence, let the
people find safety, and then talk about how to end
hostilities,” Boucher had reportedly said.
Talking to a group of South Asian journalists, Boucher had
insisted that the
US
call to stop fighting is to both the LTTE and Sri Lankan
Government.
“The Tamil Tigers by trapping them (civilians), by
continuing the conflict are just increasing the
sufferings of the Tamil people. So it is very much time
for them to allow safe passage for them to allow these
people to leave,” Boucher had said.
“We are glad to see that the government managing to get
some additional food supply to these areas this
weekend,” Boucher had added.
But that could not be the case with the Tamil Tigers. “We
have seen the Tamil Tigers shelling out of that safe
zone. We have seen them continuing hostilities in other
places. So we believe that it is time for them to stop
fighting and allow these people to go safely to other
parts of safe places,” Boucher had said.
It is only then there could be discussions on how to end
hostilities.
“Making political calls and statements, does not really
count when you are still lobbying shells and shooting
guns. It is time to stop shooting guns,” he had also
said.
TMVP officially disarms military wing
By Arthur Wamanan in Batticaloa
The
TMVP
yesterday officially disarmed its military wing and
handed over the weapons to the security forces.
TMVP Leader and Eastern Province Chief Minister
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan at the Webber Stadium in
Batticaloa officially handed over the weapons to the
security forces.
The TMVP from its inception in 2004 has been carrying arms
and was continuously called upon by local and foreign
activists to disarm to maintain democracy in the region.
Chandrakanthan during the press briefing following the
handing over of weapons told reporters that other armed
groups should also follow its example by handing over
all its weapons to the military.
“All our weapons have been given to the security forces
now,” he said.
“The other groups operating with arms should take this as
an example and lay down their arms. It is the only way
to ensure democracy in the region,” Chandrakanthan said.
He said that no problems could be solved through military
means and that issues could only be solved through
negotiations and added that the TMVP would not go back
to carry arms in the future.
“The weapon culture in the north and east increased after
1983. It gradually grew into terrorism and now it is
very difficult to solve the issue. The only way to solve
the issues faced by the Tamils is through negotiations.
We have come to realise that and therefore we have
decided to disarm,” Chandrakanthan said.
The TMVP continued to carry arms after its split from the
LTTE. The party said that it was forced to carry arms
for the protection of the party members.
“The only reason why we decided to carry arms was for our
own safety. We said that we would disarm only if
terrorism was eradicated. Today terrorism is in the last
stages of being wiped out. Therefore, we have decided to
lay down our arms and completely join the democratic
mainstream,” Chandrakanthan added.
He
also noted that the TMVP was currently holding
discussions with the International Organisation for
Migration (IOM) to provide assistance to the cadres in
their future activities.
Children most affected by
conflict
More
than 60,000 children have been left out of their primary
education system due to the conflict, UNICEF has said.
UNICEF
in its humanitarian update last week said that children
were vulnerable to harm due to the conflict and added
that hundreds of children have been already killed or
injured due to the fighting.
"The
conflict has further left more than 60,000 children of
primary school age out of the education system. Many of
these children have been displaced up to 12 times over
the past year and have been living in bunkers and
trenches for weeks on end."
"Children are being killed, and have witnessed their
family and parents being killed, being separated, and
suffering injuries including burns, fractures, shrapnel
and bullet wounds," the UNICEF report said.
It
said that children in the LTTE areas faced the threat of
being forcibly recruited by the Tigers. "Recruitment of
children by armed groups continues to be reported and is
assumed to have increased over the past months in the
North," the update said. (AW)
Celebrations to mark
International Women's Day
The
United Nations office of the Resident and Humanitarian
Co-ordinator has organised a series of programmes to
celebrate International Women's Day.
The
International Women's Day is celebrated in the country
and the world over today (8).
The
United Nations Office in Sri Lanka will celebrate
International Women's Day this year with a panel
discussion and the launch of a docu-drama Beating
Violence: Making A Difference and with songs on the 2009
global theme "Women and Men United to End Violence
against Women and Girls.
"The
songs Bruises and No One Would Believe which will be
launched at the event, as well as the docu-drama, will
be broadcast on selected radio and TV channels from
today.
An
awareness campaign on mobile phones will also take place
through by using missed call alerts and budget SMS among
others. As part of this campaign, messages to end
violence against women as well as the Women-In-Need
(WIN) Help Line number will be displayed on all mobile
phones users who have activated these special features,"
the Resident and Humanitarian Co-ordinator said.
International Women's Day has been celebrated since
1911, and was the outcome of labour movements in Europe
and North America in the early 1900s that saw women
agitating over working conditions in clothing and
textile factories in the face of rapid industrialisation.
These agitations led to demands being made for better
pay, shorter hours and voting rights for women.
According to the Resident and Humanitarian Co-ordinator
during International Women's Year in 1975, the United
Nations began celebrating March 8 as International
Women's Day.
LTTE infiltrators beaten back
The
security forces are carrying out search operations
hunting for LTTE infiltrators, the Defence Ministry
said.
The
Ministry said that the LTTE had attempted to breach the
defences on Friday (6) but had not succeeded.
"LTTE
terrorists of 'Radha' band attempted to breach the
security forces defences linking 55 and 58 Divisions
south of Chalai."
The
Ministry said the Tigers had suffered heavy casualties
in their attempt to breach the defence lines.
The so
called LTTE 'top level' commanders Swarnam and Lawrence
commanded the LTTE terrorists in this failed attempt
losing over 35 LTTE cadres," the Ministry further said.
"LTTE
terrorists were totally disorganised as troops launched
an effective counter push on the terrorist infiltrators
following early detection of enemy movements."
Meanwhile, the Ministry added that troops of the 55
Division had discovered three bodies of LTTE cadres
following confrontations on Thursday (5).
Troops
had recovered five T-56 weapons, two T-81 assault
riffles, one 60mm mortar bomb, three I-Com sets and
ration packets during the search operation.
Engineering students irked by
decision to start a parallel course
By Risidra Mendis
A
decision taken by authorities of the Sri Lanka Institute
of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) to commence
a new Engineering course in Labuduwa, has come under
severe criticism by students already following the
course at SLIATE.
Students following the Higher National Diploma in
Engineering (HNDE) course at the SLIATE have alleged
that the authorities while failing to address their
grievances are planning to commence a new engineering
course at Labuduwa.
President HNDE students Union Thisara Jayawickrema told
The Sunday Leader that the SLIATE was planning to start
the new engineering course as they were getting foreign
funds from
Australia
and the Netherlands.
"It
was brought to our notice that the SLIATE is now trying
to start another Engineering course in Labuduwa. They
cannot solve the problems of the present engineering
students but are trying to start another course with
foreign funding from Netherlands and Australia
amounting to Rs. 21 million," Jayawickrema said.
He
added that at a time when the SLIATE authorities were
unable to solve the grievances faced by the students
currently following the HNDE course it was difficult to
imagine how the authorities could think of starting a
second course in the same field.
Police playing hide and seek in
Lasantha probe
By Nirmala Kannangara
Government Analyst (GA) T.R.N.M. Liyanarachchi on Friday
(8) told The Sunday Leader that his report on the murder
of the late Editor-in-Chief of The Sunday Leader
Lasantha Wickrematunge was handed over to the police a
few weeks back.
The
GA's revelation stands in stark contradiction of the
position taken by the police that they have not yet
received the GA report and hence the investigation is at
a standstill. When The Sunday Leader spoke to Police
Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekera on Friday (8), he
once again stated that the police were awaiting the GA's
report for 'scientific evidence.'
Wickrematunge was brutally murdered by unidentified
gunmen on January 8 at Attidiya in the high security
zone in close proximity to the Ratmalana Airport and Air
Force Base, while on his way to office.
Although the police appointed four investigation teams
to investigate into the killing of Wickrematunge, the
police are yet to make a breakthrough for the past two
months.
When
asked as to what the latest progress into the killing of
Wickrematunge was, SSP Gunasekera said that the police
teams are still investigating into the telephone calls
received by Wickrematunge and nothing else.
"I was
not told as to what is happening and still the police
are awaiting the GA report for a breakthrough," SSP
said.
However GA, Liyanarachchi and his deputy W.D.G.S.
Gunathilake confirmed to The Sunday Leader that they had
sent the report to the Mount Lavinia Police a few weeks
ago.
"Copies of the report have been sent to SSP Mount
Lavinia, Hemantha Adikari and to the HQI Mount Lavinia a
few weeks back. So how could the police say that they
have not yet received the report," queried Deputy GA,
Gunathilake. All attempts to contact SSP Adikari for a
comment failed.
India to set up hospital at Pulmodai
An
Indian medical team will arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow
(9) to establish an emergency medical unit in Pulmodai.
A
statement by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka
said that the team is being sent to the country based on
an agreement reached between the two countries.
"The
team will establish an emergency medical unit including
a hospital at Pulmodai, in order to supplement the
existing medical facilities of the Health Ministry in
that area," the statement said.
The
team will also provide humanitarian relief and emergency
medical care to IDPs from the north.
"The
medical team will comprise of eight experienced
physicians and surgeons as well as para-medical staff
and technical staff.
ICRC to continue in Mullaithivu
By Raisa Wickrematunge
The
ICRC last week said that it would continue its
operations in Mullaithivu following the killing of one
of its workers.
S.
Vijayarasa, an ICRC worker was killed due to artillery
fire last Thursday.
ICRC
Media Coordinator Sarasi Wijeratne on Friday (6) said
that the ferry 'Green Ocean' had already left
Puthumathalan with patients and accompanying relatives.
"These
people left Puthumathalan a short while ago. The 406
people on board include the sick, wounded and their
carers. The carers are mainly family members who are
caring for their sick relatives," Wijeratne said.
This
was the ninth sea evacuation operation by the ICRC since
February 10.
Two
thousand seven hundred and sixty nine patients and their
relatives have been transported to Trincomalee from
Puthumathalan, according to Wijeratne.
Meanwhile the military said that civilians continue to
flee the LTTE controlled areas. Military Spokesperson,
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told The Sunday Leader that
as of Friday (6), a total of 37,589 civilians had
managed to move into government-held areas.
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