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Monday, June 21, 2010
Soldier transferred for saluting Anoma Fonseka
US upholds LTTE aid ban
The US Supreme Court has upheld a ban on aid to designated terrorist groups including the LTTE, even when that support is intended to steer the groups toward peaceful and legal activities, the US media reported.
According to US media reports the US court, Monday, left intact a federal law that the Obama administration considers an important tool against terrorism. But human rights organizations say the law's ban on providing training and advice to nearly four dozen organizations on a State Department list squanders a chance to persuade people to renounce extremism.
The justices voted 6-3 to reject a free-speech challenge from humanitarian aid groups to the law that bars "material support" -- everything from money to technical know-how to legal advice -- to foreign terrorist organizations.
The aid groups were only challenging provisions that put them at risk of being prosecuted for talking to terrorist organizations about nonviolent activities.
But Chief Justice John Roberts said in his opinion for the court that material support intended even for benign purposes can help a terrorist group in other ways.
In this case, the Humanitarian Law Project, civil rights lawyer Ralph Fertig and physician Nagalingam Jeyalingam, among others, wanted to offer assistance to the Kurdish or Tamil groups.
The government says the PKK has been involved in a violent insurgency that has claimed 22,000 lives while the LTTE waged a civil war for more than 30 years before their defeat last year.
According to US media reports the US court, Monday, left intact a federal law that the Obama administration considers an important tool against terrorism. But human rights organizations say the law's ban on providing training and advice to nearly four dozen organizations on a State Department list squanders a chance to persuade people to renounce extremism.
The justices voted 6-3 to reject a free-speech challenge from humanitarian aid groups to the law that bars "material support" -- everything from money to technical know-how to legal advice -- to foreign terrorist organizations.
The aid groups were only challenging provisions that put them at risk of being prosecuted for talking to terrorist organizations about nonviolent activities.
But Chief Justice John Roberts said in his opinion for the court that material support intended even for benign purposes can help a terrorist group in other ways.
In this case, the Humanitarian Law Project, civil rights lawyer Ralph Fertig and physician Nagalingam Jeyalingam, among others, wanted to offer assistance to the Kurdish or Tamil groups.
The government says the PKK has been involved in a violent insurgency that has claimed 22,000 lives while the LTTE waged a civil war for more than 30 years before their defeat last year.
LTTE network still active (By Gandhya Senanayake in Mullaitivu)
Defense Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that although the LTTE has been eliminated in Sri Lanka, the international web of the Tigers is still active but yet they do not have the capabilities to wage a war.
He made this statement when he addressed the security forces after opening the first Security Forces headquarters in Mullaitivua this morning.
The Defense Secretary added that organizations such as the Global Tamil Forum in the UK, the transnational government in the US and groups in Norway still carry the ideology of the LTTE and therefore the intelligent units of the army and all other security services have to be vigilant.
The Defense Secretary also said that the navy has a special role to play and that they need to protect the country from rebels who arrive in the country subsequent to receiving military training from other countries.
He added that the army should play a different role and should build a relationship with the public.
“Soldiers should know the intelligent capabilities of the LTTE and they should concentrate on sustaining the peace they achieved after hardships and many sacrifices. Security forces have an important role to play to prevent Sri Lanka from going back to the dark Age,” he said.
He also added that they will look into facilities when they set up camps for soldiers although it was not done so in earlier occasion.
“We will look into facilities before setting up camps unlike in the past so that soldiers can perform their duties well,” he said.
Meanwhile the Security Forces Headquarters Commander for Mullaitivu Major General Prasana deSilva, speaking to Daily Mirror online said that the army presence in Mullaitivu will be curtailed once civil administration is fully established in the area.
He said that following discussions with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya and Defence Secretary Gotabahya Rajapaksa 5 to 6 police stations will be established in the area soon and once that is done the army presence will be reduced.
He also said that Mullaitivu, which is now operating on generators, will be connected to the main power grid by the end of this month. Public transport will be increased to the area and job opportunities will also be provided to the resettled families.
He made this statement when he addressed the security forces after opening the first Security Forces headquarters in Mullaitivua this morning.
The Defense Secretary added that organizations such as the Global Tamil Forum in the UK, the transnational government in the US and groups in Norway still carry the ideology of the LTTE and therefore the intelligent units of the army and all other security services have to be vigilant.
The Defense Secretary also said that the navy has a special role to play and that they need to protect the country from rebels who arrive in the country subsequent to receiving military training from other countries.
He added that the army should play a different role and should build a relationship with the public.
“Soldiers should know the intelligent capabilities of the LTTE and they should concentrate on sustaining the peace they achieved after hardships and many sacrifices. Security forces have an important role to play to prevent Sri Lanka from going back to the dark Age,” he said.
He also added that they will look into facilities when they set up camps for soldiers although it was not done so in earlier occasion.
“We will look into facilities before setting up camps unlike in the past so that soldiers can perform their duties well,” he said.
Meanwhile the Security Forces Headquarters Commander for Mullaitivu Major General Prasana deSilva, speaking to Daily Mirror online said that the army presence in Mullaitivu will be curtailed once civil administration is fully established in the area.
He said that following discussions with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya and Defence Secretary Gotabahya Rajapaksa 5 to 6 police stations will be established in the area soon and once that is done the army presence will be reduced.
He also said that Mullaitivu, which is now operating on generators, will be connected to the main power grid by the end of this month. Public transport will be increased to the area and job opportunities will also be provided to the resettled families.
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