Associated Press,  Thu Jan 26 08:33:33 EST 2006

    DILIP GANGULY  -   Associated Press Writer  -              COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -  (AP)  A Sri Lankan navy patrol boat detained a privately owned Indian vessel attempting to smuggle tens of thousands of detonators for anti-personnel mines, a weapon often used by Tamil Tiger rebels, the navy spokesman said Thursday.        The navy took into custody the five Indian crew members of the vessel, which was detained late Wednesday off northern Sri Lanka - , an area under rebel control, Commander D.K.B. Dassanayake said.
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- The Academic

Off Topic

If LTTE does not negotiate in good faith and carries on smuggling weapons and killing people and deploying paramilitaries, it will lose the last chance for the peace

This clearly shows LTTE lack of committment to peace process / desire for war..and it's lack of control over the paramilitaries. This comes only hours after LTTE claims they are ready for peace talks

THIS="Detaining Indian vessel allegedly carrying ........" ?

I don't see any problem with the US and co-chairs w.r.t. this type of action by the GOSL to protect the territorial integrity of the country. Though the CFA was not drafted with a lot of clear thinking at least it has the provision for this type of action. This is a clear indication of the direction the new GOSL. It is not going to repeat the mistakes done previously by intentionally ignoring arms shipments to keep the peace while leading the country to pieces.


NOTE: I was responding to THE_ACA_USRs comment w.r.t US/Co-chairs which  was removed by the mod. later as off topic...... I do agree with the mod.

Proximus, the LTTE does not negotiate it merely plans for Eelam.  When the average Sinhalese reads an article like this is it any wonder that he feels the Sinhalese are the minority?

Lets go to Swiss and see what happens?
4 years were not enough to impliment the MOU, Lets hope the GOSL will impliment ,and send the troops to the camp in 30 days. It will never happen.


Please consider sticking to the topic. Mod

Veritas wrote:

Proximus, the LTTE does not negotiate it merely plans for Eelam.  When the average Sinhalese reads an article like this is it any wonder that he feels the Sinhalese are the minority?

Hi Veritas., You're correct, of course...

My reply was a somewhat tongue-in-cheek response to THE_ACA_USR's now-deleted post.,  

Best wishes

THE CFA clearly says that THE GOSL is the Sovereign authority over the oceanic borders.   It has every right seek, search and destroy enemy vessels.  The appeasers in the RAnil Wicks govt turned the other cheek.

It takes two to tango. Both sides have overlooked the CFA

'Army kills' senior Tiger rebel
Tamil Tiger rebels say one of their senior officers has been killed after the Sri Lankan army shelled one their camps in the east of the country.
An army officer said several rebels had died in the clash in Batticaloa, but he did not say if the army was involved.

The incident comes a day after the government and the rebels agreed to hold talks in Switzerland to shore up a shaky truce.

A recent surge in violence have raised fears of a return to all-out war.

Both sides have accused each other of violating a ceasefire deal struck in 2002.

The Tigers allege that the government is backing paramilitary groups, while Colombo is demanding the rebels end attacks on its soldiers.

The rebels say that in the latest incident in the Vadamunai area in Batticaloa district, the military entered into a Tamil-Tiger controlled area to attack them.

They say that one of their senior officers, Major Kavilan, died in the attack.

A local army officer told the BBC Sinhala service that seven rebels had died in a clash in the rebel-held area and a vehicle carrying some wounded rebels had also been attacked.

He did not make it clear who was involved in the incident.

In Colombo an army spokesman denied the army had entered Tiger-controlled territory.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) says it is investigating the incident.

'No acts of violence'

The United States has welcomed the agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels to hold peace talks in Geneva in February.

A rebel spokesman said on Wednesday that the forthcoming talks would focus only on strengthening the existing ceasefire.

"On our part we have pledged that there will be no acts of violence," the Tigers' chief negotiator Anton Balasingham said.

But he warned Colombo must do likewise if the Tigers' promise is to hold, reports said.

Mr Balasingham said the Tigers had been involved in some "military action" but he blamed most recent violence on "peoples' militias".

In a separate development, a police officer detained by the rebels was released on Thursday morning, a statement by the SLMM said.

These are no surprises to the general right thinking masses. It's a general help from the brotherhood. No wonder why the Central government (India) backed off on the defence pact with SL.

No wonder that Kashmir is at the same state to them. Tigers are nothing but pawns of a international political game.

"These are no surprises to the general right thinking masses. It's a general help from the brotherhood. No wonder why the Central government (India) backed off on the defence pact with SL. No wonder that Kashmir is at the same state to them. Tigers are nothing but pawns of a international political game."
I dont think the Indian government had anything to do with the shipment.  Besides the Indian government is not so foolish to send a shipment of detonators across a few miles and have it intercepted by the SLN patrol. If at all this shipment is of Indian origin (which itself is unlikely), it would have been engineered by LTTE sympathisers. It is most likely to be a transhipment via India.

The Kashmir problem was created entirely by the ISI from across the border.  Pakistan fought 2 wars trying to usurp Kashmir.  India is probably the only country in the world to have fought and won 2 wars and lost territory. That was the naivity Nehru. In spite of that, Kashmir was a thriving state till the early 80s. Rock musicians have written songs about life in Kashmir. The problem in SL has been created entirely locally by foolish polititians who have done nothing other than bring ruin to a promising country.  India did support the Tamil cause intially but that is hardly surprising considering the number of Tamil refugees in India and the SL goverment's active overtures to other governments.

There is so much of distorted news in the SL media that its hardly surprising that the common man can be led easily to believe something.

proximus wrote:

If LTTE does not negotiate in good faith and carries on smuggling weapons and killing people and deploying paramilitaries, it will lose the last chance for the peace

This clearly shows LTTE lack of committment to peace process / desire for war..and it's lack of control over the paramilitaries. This comes only hours after LTTE claims they are ready for peace talks

Dear Proximus,

Still we do not know the validity of this arrest.  Nevertheless, I am not surprised, this the LTTE's Modus Operandi. If you study the pattern of peace talks and unilaterally breaking of the peace talks, stock piling weaponry, etc. One shouldn't have to be surprised.

SANSPACE wrote:

"These are no surprises to the general right thinking masses. It's a general help from the brotherhood. No wonder why the Central government (India) backed off on the defence pact with SL. No wonder that Kashmir is at the same state to them. Tigers are nothing but pawns of a international political game."
I dont think the Indian government had anything to do with the shipment.  Besides the Indian government is not so foolish to send a shipment of detonators across a few miles and have it intercepted by the SLN patrol. If at all this shipment is of Indian origin (which itself is unlikely), it would have been engineered by LTTE sympathisers. It is most likely to be a transhipment via India.

The Kashmir problem was created entirely by the ISI from across the border.  Pakistan fought 2 wars trying to usurp Kashmir.  India is probably the only country in the world to have fought and won 2 wars and lost territory. That was the naivity Nehru. In spite of that, Kashmir was a thriving state till the early 80s. Rock musicians have written songs about life in Kashmir. The problem in SL has been created entirely locally by foolish polititians who have done nothing other than bring ruin to a promising country.  India did support the Tamil cause intially but that is hardly surprising considering the number of Tamil refugees in India and the SL goverment's active overtures to other governments.

There is so much of distorted news in the SL media that its hardly surprising that the common man can be led easily to believe something.

Dear SANSPACE,

India is a Super Power and has an advanced Navy and coastal guards. For example if Sri Lankan fisherman drifted into Indian international waters they arrest them.  As you say, this can be done by LTTE sympathizers, nevertheless, my question is, were the Indian Coastal guards sleeping when this shipment slipped through??  The second question is this kind of shipments should be well coordinated.  Is this is a one of such or are there are many.
Is Geneva Peace Talk is a Smoke Screen??

You guys are getting excited with the discovery of detonators.

After all they are simply detonators! That's all SL navy could find.

What about the rest of the stuff that LTTE gets into Vanni by sea?
They import new vehicles, Pajeros, other heavy arms and what not. How do they do it?

You guys are living in cookoo land.

You guys are wondering how these slipped through Indian Coastal Guards.
Remember South Indian Coastal Guards are also LTTE supporters.

How about those items that get through Sri Lankan Port and Customs, for some wealthy Sinhala businessmen and politicians? How?

Geneva is simply another example of the tried-and-true LTTE stalling tactic. Talk for sometime, then unilaterally walk out of the talks.

Buy some more time, fool the diaspora into thinking that something is actually happening and that contributions should continue... - meanwhile, live it up and let the good times roll