Sinhalese majority rejoices; military chiefs promoted
May 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese majority danced in the streets and set off firecrackers as the teardrop-shaped island savoured the prospect of peace after nearly three decades of ethnic conflict.
People poured out of their homes throughout the country’s populous south to cheer the military’s victory over the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
In towns like Galle, Hambantota and Matara, they fed rice cakes – a traditional celebration – to women widowed by war and those who had lost sons in the fighting. Others went to open water tanks near Buddhist temples to feed the fish as a token of thanksgiving.
UN calls for war crimes probe into casualties
May 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
BRUSSELS: While Sri Lanka is celebrating success in its decades-long conflict with the Tamil Tigers, the international community wants answers about how victory was achieved.
According to the United Nations, the Sri Lankan government’s moment of triumph has come at the cost of thousands of innocent lives lost in indiscriminate shelling, and the UN’s rights body now wants a war crimes probe.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, the only neutral organisation that has been allowed to work in the war zone, has described ‘an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe’.
Tigers sowed seeds of their own destruction
May 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
NEW DELHI: In early 2006, shortly after he took charge as Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary in his brother’s Cabinet, Mr Gotabhaya Rajapakse submitted a long list of expensive war equipment he wanted to purchase.
Many, including newly installed President Mahinda Rajapakse, were surprised.
‘All of you will start with hopes of talking peace with the Tigers and when you realise it is futile, you will come to me,’ the Defence Secretary responded, referring to the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Tamil Tigers routed; leader killed
May 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Sri Lanka ends military offensive, declares all rebel commanders dead
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s military yesterday declared final victory in its decades-old conflict with the Tamil Tigers, after routing the remnants of the rebel army and killing its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.
And in a nationally televised ceremony, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse told the island’s President that the war has ‘ended successfully’.
Tigers give in after last-ditch suicide attacks
May 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
COLOMBO: – The Tamil Tigers conceded defeat in Sri Lanka’s 25-year civil war yesterday, after launching waves of suicide attacks to repel a final assault by troops determined to annihilate them.
President Mahinda Rajapakse had declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the day before, even as combat raged in the island’s north-east and the military said it was freeing the last of thousands of trapped civilians.
By midday yesterday, the military said troops had freed all the civilians being held by the LTTE inside an area that was less than 1 sq km. A total of 72,000 had fled since Thursday, it said.
Barisan Nasional loses badly in key by-elections
April 10, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Sarawak seat retained but Najib’s leadership fails to sway most voters
By Hazlin Hassan & Elizabeth Looi
TAIPING/ALOR STAR: The momentum that Malaysia’s new Premier Najib Razak had hoped to create came to an abrupt halt last night, after the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) suffered two heavy defeats in three by-elections.
At both Bukit Gantang in Perak and Bukit Selambau in Kedah, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) increased its majorities over the BN.
The only silver lining for a dismal night for the BN was the fact that it easily retained control of its stronghold of Batang Ai in Sarawak, in effect meaning that the opposition had failed to live up to its boast to make inroads into East Malaysia.
Singapore sends autopsy report to David’s family
April 5, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Singapore’s Nanyang Technology University (NTU) has finally sent the autopsy report of David Hartanto Widjaja, an Indonesian student who died on its campus last month, to his family.
“We have received a scanned copy of the report by e-mail,” William Hartanto, David’s older brother, told The Jakarta Post on Friday by telephone.
He added that at first the university had offered to send the report by a courier service.
Najib sworn in, frees 13 ISA detainees
April 5, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak was sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister yesterday and, in his first act in office, ordered the release of 13 Internal Security Act detainees and a review of the controversial law.
He also lifted a three-month ban on two opposition newsletters, Harakah and Suara Keadilan.
‘These decisions are timely as we move to enhance the confidence of our citizens in those entrusted with maintaining peace, law and order,’ he said in a televised address to the nation.
