International terrorism suffers huge blow after LTTE defeat
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Sri Lanka 'cements' LTTE defeat
Rajapakse said he would return home as leader of a 'nation that crushed terrorism' [AFP]
The Sri Lankan army says at least 70 Tamil Tiger fighters have been killed just hours after the country's president declared victory over the separatist movement.
The group were killed on Sunday morning as they tried to leave the pocket of land in the northeast of the country, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a military spokesman, said.
"Troops observed the six boats in the lagoon and destroyed them," he said. "We recovered 70 bodies and an identification process is under way."
He said the Libertain Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, still controlled a "small patch of jungle".
Thousands of civilians have also been flooding out of the area during the past 72 hours, and on Sunday the government declared that all non-combatants had been able to escape.
On Saturday, Mahinda Rajapakse, the Sri Lankan president, had declared that the Tigers had been "defeated," after the military said it had captured an area of coastline held by them.
"I am proud to announce ... that my government, with the total commitment of our armed forces, has, in an unprecedented humanitarian operation, finally defeated the LTTE," he told a summit in Jordan.
He returned to the capital, Colombo, on Sunday to street celebrations.
The Tamil Tigers on Sunday conceded their war with the government had reached its "bitter end" and said they had decided to "silence their guns".
"This battle has reached its bitter end," said Selvarajah Pathmanathan in statement on TamilNet, the pro-rebel website.
"We remain with one last choice - to remove the last weak excuse of the enemy for killing our people. We have decided to silence our guns."
Civilian rescue
Despite the claim of victory, the whereabouts of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of Tigers, remain unknown, and hundreds of thousands of civilians are still either on the move or in camps for the internally displaced.
Focus: Sri Lanka
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The Sri Lankan ministry of disaster management and human rights said on Sunday it was continuing to process civilians rescued from the fighting.
Rajiva Wijesinha, a secretary at the ministry, told Al Jazeera from Colombo: "We heard that the last of them [civilians] had been saved. This was one of our great priorities in the last couple of weeks to make sure we got the civilians safely away."
Amin Awad, a UNHCR representative in Sri Lanka, told Al Jazeera "almost all the population in the conflict zone, which has now shrank to less than one sq km, up to 60,000 people" had left.
He said they were being "processed at the Omanthai crossing point. That leaves very few, if any, people in the conflict zone".
Both the government and the Tamil Tigers have been criticised for not allowing civilians safe exit from the area and for precipitating a humanitarian disaster.
Wijesinha said that just over 30,000 people had left the area of fighting over the past few days.
"These are our people. We were committed to their safety and I think we have achieved it much more sensibly and carefully than any other country in the world could have done," he said.
"We managed to airlift 12 or 14 people who had been injured. I believe some of the younger members of the Tamil Tigers just refused to listen to the disgusting orders of their seniors."
The Tamil Tigers had been fighting for more than 25 years for a homeland for ethnic Tamils in the north and east of the country, arguing that they were marginalised by the ruling majority Sinhalese government.
James Elder, a spokesman for Unicef, told Al Jazeera that civilians were arriving "sick and hungry" and that women and children were malnourished.
"This latest massive influx of people who have endured those extreme conditions is going to put even greater strain on those camps," he said.
'Non-combatants'
"These camps are being created by the government, which argues they are on the basis of state security and the time needed for mines to be cleared before resettlement can occur.
A Sri Lankan man waves his national flag as he celebrates in the capital [Reuters]
"At the same time, it is urgent that the government comes out with very clear screening and separation policies and a timeline so those who are termed non-combatants are allowed freedom of movement and are allowed to resettle."
Government forces continue to hunt for Prabhakaran and his deputies, but it is unclear if they have already fled overseas.
Defence officials told news agencies that sporadic fighting was continuing in a number of pockets across the small strip of land in the northeast of the country.
Reports are impossible to independently verify as the government has barred most journalists and aid workers from the conflict zone.
Jan Jananayagam, from a group called Tamils Against Genocide who has spoken to the LTTE, told Al Jazeera: "The Tamil Tigers have called for international intervention.
"They have said they are willing to co-operate with the UN and America. They do so because the people are suffering in the most enormous way," she said.
Palitha Kohona, secretary of the Sri Lankan ministry of foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera that though the Tamil Tigers had been "defeated comprehensively", achieving peace would take longer.
"You don't have peace the day after winning the war," he said.
'Time and effort'
"It takes time ... patience ... effort. The Sri Lankan government and people who have endured the nightmare of the LTTE's terrorism have all of those in plenty. I am very confident we will win the peace."
About 200,000 civilians have escaped the war zone in recent months and are being held in crowded displacement camps.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that there still remains the possibility of "an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe" for the hundreds of wounded.
"No humanitarian organisation can help them in the current circumstances. People are left to their own devices," Pierre Krahenbuhl, the ICRC's director of operations, said.
Up to 7,000 civilians were killed and 16,700 wounded in the fighting from January 20 until May 7, according to a UN document given to The Associated Press by a senior diplomat.
Since then, doctors in the war zone say that more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in a week of heavy shelling that rights groups and foreign governments have blamed on Sri Lankan forces. -
Wait...have they actually conducted any terrorist acts outside of Sri Lanka? Just curious on this point.
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Originally posted by Stevenson101:
Wait...have they actually conducted any terrorist acts outside of Sri Lanka? Just curious on this point.
Yep, they assasinated then PM of India Rajiv Gandhi using a female suicide bomber during a rally of some sorts.
Saw on CNN Sri Lankan civilians celebrating on the streets, a bit premature to so considering they have not caught Prabhakan or confirmed his death
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International terrorism suffers huge blow after LTTE defeat
LTTE agenda is a narrow and local one of pushing for independent Tamil state. I don't think they have an international agenda.
I don't consider them "international terrorists".
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
LTTE agenda is a narrow and local one of pushing for independent Tamil state. I don't think they have an international agenda.
I don't consider them "international terrorists".
but they do have connections in most parts of the world?
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but they do have connections in most parts of the world?
But no internationalist agenda to push or conduct attacks in foreign states, although there was the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, but that was in retaliation to the indian attacks against the LTTE.
Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War
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Haiz, next time, hv to go zoo then can see a Tamil Tiger.
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finally they're dead
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the legends will live on. Bengal Tigers near extinction.
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LTE does not do terrorist attacks on other countries, but do transational crimes like piracy , looting, extortion, drugs in the interntional scene. They also do have affiliations with AL Qaeda.
They are also the masters of terrorism in the world with their own handbook.
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but do transational crimes like piracy , looting, extortion, drugs in the interntional scene.
That is more like organised crime than terrorism.
They also do have affiliations with AL Qaeda.
USA also have connections with the so called Al Qaeda.
But that is another story.
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Next Prime Time Show is currently ongoing in North-West Pakistan.
The Pakistan military action to wipe out the Pakistani copy-cat Talibans and the original Talibans from the North-west Pakistan province will see these Talibans types wiped out.
In the process, Osama bin Laden will be smoked out of his hiding in this safe haven in Pakistan and the US drones will see and take aim at Osama and his leadership team.
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Originally posted by Atobe:
Next Prime Time Show is currently ongoing in North-West Pakistan.
The Pakistan military action to wipe out the Pakistani copy-cat Talibans and the original Talibans from the North-west Pakistan province will see these Talibans types wiped out.
In the process, Osama bin Laden will be smoked out of his hiding in this safe haven in Pakistan and the US drones will see and take aim at Osama and his leadership team.
i don't share the optismism about the Swat Valley and the pashtun tribes. But i don't want to hijack this thread.
Now we need a Nelson Mandela type of healing for Sri Langka and hopefully the govt will create a multi ethnic states. Fighting a war is one thing. Winning the peace is another.
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This USA really a fucking hypocrite bastard.
Sri Lanka attack Tamil Tiger they talk loudy about humanitarian needs, civilians etc, but come to Israel attack Hamas, Pakistan attack "taliban" or USA itself attack "taliban", they just KILL KILL KILL.
Typical bastards.
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
This USA really a fucking hypocrite bastard.
Sri Lanka attack Tamil Tiger they talk loudy about humanitarian needs, civilians etc, but come to Israel attack Hamas, Pakistan attack "taliban" or USA itself attack "taliban", they just KILL KILL KILL.
Typical bastards.
yeah u fucking bastard so why are you still here. Go and joint the LITE. -
Originally posted by Arapahoe:
yeah u fucking bastard so why are you still here. Go and joint the LITE.why so worked up?
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
This USA really a fucking hypocrite bastard.
Sri Lanka attack Tamil Tiger they talk loudy about humanitarian needs, civilians etc, but come to Israel attack Hamas, Pakistan attack "taliban" or USA itself attack "taliban", they just KILL KILL KILL.
Typical bastards.
It is not only the USA, but the same condescending "holier than thou" attitude that the European Union will selectively adopt in their proposal to institute War Crimes Investigation in Sri Lanka - against the Sri Lankan government and the largely dead LTTE Leadership.
The European Union should have a more even handed policy if they intend to impose their War Crime Standards on the Third World, and stop ignoring the same to be applied on the USA, UK, or towards their own European member countries - while avoiding to offend Israel.
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Last time, i went to serangoon, i got help to give $10 by putting it on a tin to help the LTTE, wonder where these money go to?? Now they lost, can i get back.
Howcome tamil tiger leaders all fat fat one ar??
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Originally posted by Arapahoe:
yeah u fucking bastard so why are you still here. Go and joint the LITE.wha, so serious ar?? u scold my Uncle Chia ar??? he said me this and that, i also tarhan, respect Uncle ya
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Originally posted by Atobe:
It is not only the USA, but the same condescending "holier than thou" attitude that the European Union will selectively adopt in their proposal to institute War Crimes Investigation in Sri Lanka - against the Sri Lankan government and the largely dead LTTE Leadership.
The European Union should have a more even handed policy if they intend to impose their War Crime Standards on the Third World, and stop ignoring the same to be applied on the USA, UK, or towards their own European member countries - while avoiding to offend Israel.
You want to talk about war crime ar??? then why LKY is still around. -
yeah u fucking bastard so why are you still here. Go and joint the LITE.
Arapahoe, you american?
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Originally posted by Arapahoe:
i don't share the optismism about the Swat Valley and the pashtun tribes. But i don't want to hijack this thread.
Now we need a Nelson Mandela type of healing for Sri Langka and hopefully the govt will create a multi ethnic states. Fighting a war is one thing. Winning the peace is another.
Earlier this Tuesday morning - the present Sri Lankan President has already announced in a live broadcast that it is now time for healing, and to bring the Tamils residing in Sri Lanka into the national process.
Can there be a Sri Lankan equivalent to Nelson Mandela - when Nelson Mandela was a prisoner of conscience in his own homeland, even as he was imprisoned on terrorism charges for fighting against South African Apartheid Laws ?
There is no such figure from the Tamil side in Sri Lanka.
It will require the present Singhalese political leadership to provide the political will to include the Tamils into Sri Lanka political process.
In the Swat Valley - only the rebel Pashtun tribesmen that embraced the Taliban way of live have remained to fight the Pakistan Government to regain control of this lawless territory - while the bulk of the Pashtun population has become internal refugees fleeing from the battle area.
The Pakistani Military far outnumber the remaining Pashtun rebels and the assorted Taliban fighters from various Muslim countries that include the crowd from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda.
With the Afghan, ISAF and US military on one side of the border, and the US Air Force drones fighting alongside the Pakistan Military - the death knell will soon sound for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda crowd.
Like it was in Sri Lanka, it was money, determination and sheer numbers that helped the present Sri Lanka political leadership to focus the military to win the fight against the LTTE.
The same is happening in Pakistan, with political encouragement and incentives - as well as military aid - from the USA and her allies that include EU and Japan.
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The Dead Body of Velupillai Prabhakaran Leader of the LTTE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pIaQy0e8IY
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Originally posted by Atobe:
Earlier this Tuesday morning - the present Sri Lankan President has already announced in a live broadcast that it is now time for healing, and to bring the Tamils residing in Sri Lanka into the national process.
Can there be a Sri Lankan equivalent to Nelson Mandela - when Nelson Mandela was a prisoner of conscience in his own homeland, even as he was imprisoned on terrorism charges for fighting against South African Apartheid Laws ?
There is no such figure from the Tamil side in Sri Lanka.
It will require the present Singhalese political leadership to provide the political will to include the Tamils into Sri Lanka political process.
In the Swat Valley - only the rebel Pashtun tribesmen that embraced the Taliban way of live have remained to fight the Pakistan Government to regain control of this lawless territory - while the bulk of the Pashtun population has become internal refugees fleeing from the battle area.
The Pakistani Military far outnumber the remaining Pashtun rebels and the assorted Taliban fighters from various Muslim countries that include the crowd from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda.
With the Afghan, ISAF and US military on one side of the border, and the US Air Force drones fighting alongside the Pakistan Military - the death knell will soon sound for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda crowd.
Like it was in Sri Lanka, it was money, determination and sheer numbers that helped the present Sri Lanka political leadership to focus the military to win the fight against the LTTE.
The same is happening in Pakistan, with political encouragement and incentives - as well as military aid - from the USA and her allies that include EU and Japan.
Nelson is a negro, Tamil Tiger are Tamil, how can it be the same.Of course everything must have sponsorship and supporters, if not, how to wins, in reverse, the USA and its allies can also support the LTTE (tiger) to fight against the singha (Lion), sure the Tiger will wins, but they choose to support and sponsor the Lion, so, that is it.
Therefore connection and shoulder rubbing is very important, u dun hv the right connection, that's it folks
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Originally posted by Ah Chia:
The Dead Body of Velupillai Prabhakaran Leader of the LTTE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pIaQy0e8IY
ah fat, give me back my $10!!!