Army launches campaign to thwart LTTE conscription

Appeals to ICRC, principals

By Chris Kamalendran

Security forces have launched a massive campaign in the Eastern province against the LTTE' which is conscripting hundreds of teenage children in the region to build up their depleted cadres.

The military stepped up patrols and appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and school principals to help in preventing conscription in the area which has left parents in the East in a desperate situation.

A senior military officer in the Batticaloa district told 'The Sunday Times' that schools were given instructions not to allow students to leave the premises before they close and to brief parents to prevent conscription taking place.

The anti-conscription drive came in the wake of reports that the LTTE had planned to enlist at least 6000 cadres for the movement from the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

The school attendance in the uncleared areas of the Batticaloa and Ampara districts dropped in the backdrop of the LTTE's ongoing conscription drive.

The Army has requested school authorities to provide lists of students who are absent from school as well as those who are believed to be recruited by the LTTE.

In an effort to prevent conscription parents are reportedly bringing their children to Batticaloa town to be kept in churches and houses of relatives.

Some parents have kept their children in the houses of former militant group members.

Around 500 persons would have been abducted by the LTTE for conscription, one Tamil political party source claimed. Fourteen children who were playing at Arumugathankudiyiruppu were reportedly abducted by the LTTE on October 17. When the parents protested LTTE cadres reportedly flung a grenade at them. At Thalavai in Valachchenai on October 18, a boy named Jeyaraj Kannan was abducted by LTTE cadres.

When the parents opposed the abduction LTTE cadres had reportedly assaulted them. The boy's mother Nageswari was later reported to have consumed poison and subsequently admitted to the the Batticaloa hospital, the sources said.

LTTE cadres are reported to be entering schools and reading out names of students for conscription but school principals are reportedly not giving way to coercion.

Sources said that the LTTE has launched this drive to recruit 5000 persons before December and that each area leader has been requested to recruit 60 persons.

The conscripted youths are reportedly taken to Tharavai beyond the river and then dispatched to other areas for training.

Sources said that parents are reluctant to report abductions to the police fearing the consequences.

Seven persons each from Thirukovil and Thuraineelavanai have been taken by the LTTE, sources said.

According to sources students from schools in Mu-thalaikuda, Kokkaddichcholai, Mun-aikadu, Ayithi-yamalai, Karaveddi, Valaichchenai, Kiran, Peithalai, Kaluthawalai, Mankadu, Chettipalayam and Kurukkalmadam have been reportedly taken in by the LTTE for recruitment.

One minister puts up, the other pulls down

By Chamintha Thilakarathna

A makeshift market place, ceremonially opened by one minister was unceremoniously demolished within a few days by an institution under another minister.

More than 100 sheds were built near the main Koswatte road leading to the Parliamentary complex by Samurdhi workers and opened earlier this month by Trade Minister Kingsley Wickremeratne. But even before the market came into operation, the Road Development Auhtority, which comes under Highways Minister A. H. M. Fowzie, has told the Thalangama police to demolish the makeshift market place immediately.

Traders said there was a lack of coordination or even confusion among government ministries with one minister putting up and the other pulling down.

According to RDA and police officials, the stalls had blocked the road that is used for the ceremonial drive to parliament.

They said that a number of Koswatta residents too had protested that the stalls were restricting their movements and polluting the area.

They said Minister Wickremeratne had opened unauthorised structues on RDA or UDA lands and the demoliton was well within the law.

Absence of peace due to terrorism, NMAT tells business leaders

The National Movement Against Terrorism, in an open letter to business leaders, who organised the all-party meeting aimed at a solution to the North-East conflict, expressed disgust at the way matters were handled.

"The purpose of the round table conference was to get the People's Alliance government, the Opposition and whoever else who wished to put their heads together - to go down on their knees and pray for 'peace' - to love all irrespective of caste, creed, race and religion, and above all to love Prabhakaran and the LTTE, even if they blasted the economic centre of Colombo along with its occupants," NMAT said.

"The theme of the confab which was attended by diplomats etc. was that the villains of the peace were the government and the opposition for fighting the separatist terrorists. In fact , several of the speakers stated that peace can be achieved if the government withdrew its forces from the North and the East and thereby stop the war ! " the statement issued by the NMAT stated.

The National Movement Against Terrorism argued in its letter:

"Before offering any solution to any problem it is imperative that there has to be an intelligent realisation of what the problem is.

The only problem relating to the absence of peace in this country for the last two decades is the LTTE terrorism or whatever they called themselves at the inception of the terror movement. It is in this context that any worthwhile suggestions can be made. What was shocking at this confab was the non-recognition of the fact that absence of peace was due to LTTE terrorism."

It's eerie in the tower

Residents of the Tower Building in Bambalapitiya are complaining about the condition of the premises, listing several basic shortcomings in its maintenance.

This follows The 'Sunday Times' news report of October 18, which said that rents for the building would be increased by 100 percent and service charges by 200 percent.

The occupants of the building, which is used as residences, as well as government and commercial offices, have formed themselves into the Tower Building Occupiers Association, and have complained about the building's shortcomings.

Among those listed, are the unavailability of proper fire fighting equipment which, they say, puts the residents at great risk in case of a fire; the uncleanliness and the poor lighting in certain areas of the building.

The residents say there is a need for a stand-by generator which will take over in case of a power failure, as residents sometimes get stuck in the lifts in such instances.

As of yet there has been one accidental death in the lift.

They say there is only one lift to serve the 21 floors in the Tower, and when the lift is switched off, as it often is for maintenance and repairs, the residents are forced to walk up.

They also complained about the fact that there is a lack of any effective security arrangements and that the basement car park is flooded even when there is no rain.

1m. each for MP families

Families of two MPs killed by terrorists will receive compensation of Rs. 1 million each in addition to a monthly pension, an officials said.

W.P.W. Weerawardana, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said Rs. 600,000 had already been paid and the balance would be presented to the family members of A. Thangathurai and . M.E.H. Maharoof at a ceremony on November 6.

The MPs were killed in terrorist attacks last year.

Top green award for Tharuka

The Sunday Times Deputy Features Editor Tharuka Dissanaike, received the Sri Lanka Green Award for the best environmental journalist for 1998 at the Sixth Annual World Environmental Journalists Forum held this week at Wadduwa. The Sri Lanka Green Award is presented by the Sri Lanka Environmental Journalists Forum (SLEJF) "in recognition of outstanding practical achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment during 1998."

The World Environmental Journalists Forum organised jointly by the SLEJF, the Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists and the International Forum of Environmental Journalists attracted over 70 journalists from 42 countries.

Ms. Dissanaike has contributed dozens of articles to The Sunday Times, Plus section ranging from the plight of elephants to the effects of modern development projects that have a detrimental bearing on the environment.

Other recepients of the Green Award this year are: Vanavasi Ven. Rahula Thera, Sirasa Radio and Sirasa TV, Institute of Intermedia Technology Prof. Mohan Munasinghe, TEC Sri Lanka, Sunil Sarath Perera, Ranweli Hotel, Krishna Wijebandara and A.K. Gnanadasa. Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, Dalas Alahapperuma - initiative in establishing a Lobby of Parliamentarians to Protect Children's Rights.

Upright worthy citizens for national leadership with Sudassanaya

The President of "Sudassanaya" is Mithra Wettimuny.

A new political group has been launched to restore unity and harmony by bringing forward dedicated, compassionate, upright and worthy citizens for national leadership.

"In Sri Lanka today, human values have eroded. Conflict and confrontation are widespread, our cherished national heritage, developed over centuries is being threatened. Today we are a weaker, poorer and a divided nation," said Justin Saparamadu, a spokesman for the new movement.

Mr. Saparamadu, a Vice President of the group known as "Sudassanaya" told The Sunday Times the people would respond once the path was shown.

According to the group's policy document fundamental human rights will be guaranteed to all, both Sinhala and Tamil will be state languages, whilst anyone can request a translation in English and a citizen affected by communal violence will be compensated by the state. Special protection will be given to women and children.

The party also aims at promoting political education of the people and their political, social, economic and cultural advancement. This new organisation's motto is "We must unite around a new vision!"

The party also has decided to limit donations to a maximum of Rs. 100,000/- per person to ensure independence and financial discipline in carrying out its mission.

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