State of emergency in Sri Lanka

[Felix The Assassin]

Here we go again.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapc...nka/index.html


Hard-line official gunned down; Tamil Tigers deny involvement
By Journalist Iqbal Athas for CNN
Saturday, August 13, 2005; Posted: 8:15 a.m. EDT (12:15 GMT)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- Sri Lanka's government has declared a state of emergency hours after Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was killed outside his home by sniper fire.

Kadirgamar had just returned to his home for a swim after attending a function for the release of a book he edited, police said.

As he walked toward the house from the pool about 11 p.m. Friday (1 p.m. ET), three shots were fired, striking Kadirgamar in the head and chest.

Police launched a massive manhunt for the killers, sealing off the capital Colombo and conducting house-to-house searches.

In a statement issued Saturday, President Chandrika Kumaratunga appealed for calm and restraint and said the government would not be cowed by acts of violence.

Although she stopped short of laying blame on any person or group, Kumaratunga said authorities would spare no effort to bring those responsible to justice.

The Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) were immediately suspected in the shooting, but a statement on a pro-rebel Web site denied the group was involved and said the Sri Lankan government should "look inwards" for the assassins.

In the statement, the political head of the Tamil Tigers, S. P. Thamilchelvan, condemned officials for "hastily" blaming the rebels, citing a "growing trend in the South to blame the Liberation Tigers for all killings."

"We also know that there are sections within the Sri Lankan armed forces operating with a hidden agenda to sabotage the (cease-fire agreement between the government and rebels)," he said, urging Colombo to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the assassins.

The Web site is known as a Tamil Tigers mouthpiece and has been used to transmit messages from the group.

The government did not immediately respond to the statement, as it was planning Kadirgamar's state funeral, scheduled for Monday in Colombo's Independence Square.

But a military spokesman told CNN after the statement that authorities still believe the group was involved, saying Kadirgamar's death had the hallmarks of a rebel assassination.

Earlier this month, two LTTE members were arrested outside Kadirgamar's official residence after allegedly conducting surveillance and videotaping the area.

Police said Kadirgamar's movements had been followed from the bathroom of an abandoned neighboring home. Police found the tripod used in the shooting inside the home, military and police sources added.

They said the snipers appeared to have been in the home for several days, monitoring the foreign minister's comings and goings.

Military sources said there had been repeated intelligence warnings about Kadirgamar's life being in danger, including one issued just last week. His security detail is the second largest in the nation, behind only the president's contingent.

An investigation was under way into how the assassination could have happened, given Kadirgamar's security detail. A senior security officer told CNN there had been a security lapse but would not elaborate.

Kadirgamar, 73, had successfully campaigned for countries, including the United States and Britain, to recognize the LTTE as a terrorist organization.

Although he vehemently opposed negotiations with the group at one point, he participated in recent peace talks. He continued to oppose a number of key issues, however, including a separate Tamil homeland.

He was considered a close adviser to Kumaratunga.

He was rushed to the National Hospital in Colombo for emergency surgery but died an hour later, according to hospital and police sources.

The assassination is bound to further strain the shaky cease-fire agreement between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The truce, in place since February 2002, has been threatened by recent violence and the suspension of talks in 2003.

World leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, were quick to condemn the killing.

"Sri Lanka has lost a deeply respected statesman dedicated to peace and national unity," Annan's spokesman said in a statement.

"The secretary-general hopes that this tragedy will not weaken the commitment of the people of Sri Lanka to achieve a durable peace in the country."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Kadirgamar "a man of dignity, honor and integrity, who devoted his life to bringing peace to Sri Lanka."

"This senseless murder was a vicious act of terror, which the United States strongly condemns. Those responsible must be brought to justice," she said in a written statement.

Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Nations, Bernard Goonetilleke, said, "His contribution (to Sri Lanka) was immense."

[Sir Degrader]

I wonder why SL hasn't recieved more military aid from western nations.

[Morgeruat]

Last time I checked Canada didn't consider the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization.

[a_decent_1]

Well,

SL really need some real help Against TAMIL TIGERS.

I being an INDIAN am sure about it.

[Dreamer128]

Hm.. many African nations (including Sudan - don't know if it has been ever been offered to SL) don't seem to be interested in 'military aid' from the west, which includes UN peacekeepers.