8 theSun | MONDAY JUNE 1 2009

news without borders

Sri Lanka seeks help in dismantling Tigers’ global network

SINGAPORE: Sri Lanka appealed yester-
day for support in dismantling the Tamil
Tigers’ international support network
after declaring victory over the rebels
following the decades-long conflict.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama
told a high-level security forum in
Singapore that the global organisation
of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) remained “largely intact.”
“Many of the operatives have clearly
cultivated powerful, political lobbies in
certain capitals with a view to resur-
recting the LTTE,” he said.
“It is important for the international
community to take all measures to as-
sist the government of Sri Lanka to track
down the global network of the LTTE,”
he told an annual forum of defence
and military officials organised by the
London-based International Institute for
Strategic Studies.
Sri Lanka’s military claimed com-
plete victory over the separatist Tamil
Tigers after wiping out the guerrillas’
leadership nearly two weeks ago, but
has been dogged by accusations that
thousands of civilians were killed in the
final weeks of the campaign.
The LTTE launched a campaign in
1972 to create a Tamil homeland in the
Sinhalese-majority island. Much of its
funding came from Tamils overseas.
Bogollagama dismissed allegations
that heavy weapons were used by the
military in civilian areas as part of the
“propaganda of genocide against the
Tamil people.”
“This was both fictional and well-
fabricated, with ulterior and sinister
motives in order to discredit the armed
forces as well as to embarrass the
government of Sri Lanka,” he added.
“Sri Lanka will no doubt enter the
annals of history as a classic textbook
example of a nation that successfully
prevailed over the scourge of terrorism,
whilst tenaciously upholding the cher-
ished values of democracy and human
rights that have been deeply engraved
in the psyche of our people,” he said.
“The government is firmly committed
to reaching a political settlement ac-
ceptable to all,” the foreign minister
said. – AFP

briefs
Fiji bans ‘inciteful’
Christian conference
SUVA: The Fiji military regime, in its latest
crackdown, has targeted the most influential
religious group in the Pacific island nation,
ordering the Methodist Church to cancel its
annual conference.
A joint statement issued by the military
and police accused the church of trying to
bring instability to the country.
The crackdown follows information that
“inciteful issues are going to be discussed at
the conference”, police spokeswoman Ema
Mua confirmed to the FijiLive website.
The statement said the Methodist Church
could not hide its involvement in politics and
part of the agenda for the August conference
focused on the current political situation.
Earlier this month, a former Methodist

South Korean police

Church president was detained after deliver-
ing a sermon calling for peaceful protests to
restore democracy to Fiji. – AFP

Ancient pagoda collapse

in Yangon kills two
YANGON: An ancient pagoda that was
damaged by Cyclone Nargis last year col-
break up anti-govt rally

lapsed over the weekend, killing at least
two people and injuring dozens, official
and eyewitness sources said Sunday.
Danok Pagoda, situated in Dalla town-
ship across the Yangon River from the
former capital, collapsed about 4 pm
Saturday, killing at least two people on
the spot and injuring up to 100, military
and eyewitness sources confirmed.
“Many local people including navy
soldiers from nearby navy base had been
attending religious works at the pagoda
when it collapsed.
Hundreds were hit by the debris,” one
eyewitness said, speaking on condition of
anonymity. The pagoda, which stood 35m
high before the collapse, was only 10m
afterward, officials said. – dpa
Death toll rises in
broken dam
SAO PAOLO: At least seven people died last
week when a dam broke in north-eastern
Brazil after heavy rains, civil defence officials
said Saturday. Two people remain missing.
A concrete dam burst late Wednesday
along a 50-metre crack, succumbing to
increased water pressure after the Pirangi
River feeding the dam’s reservoir rose from
weeks of heavy rain, said officials in the state
of Piaui.
About 3,000 people were forced to leave
their homes in Piaui due to the floods. Eighty
people were reported injured in the flood.
North-eastern Brazil has been hit by heavy
rains for several weeks, with the weather
blamed for a death toll of 50 people since
early April. – dpa
Nude painting of Madonna,
ex-hubby flops at auction
LONDON: A painting of pop diva Madonna
in the nude with her ex-husband, film di-
rector Guy Ritchie, flopped at an auction
on Saturday.
Brian Clements, head of the McTear’s
auction house, said there were a few bids
for the oil painting by Scottish artist Peter
Howson, but none that reached the mini-
mum requirement of £15,000 (RM82,500).
The oil painting, from 2005, depicts
Madonna lying naked in the foreground
while Ritchie rests a hand on her thigh.
The two divorced last year. – dpa
REUTERSPIX
Protesters SEOUL: South Korean police fought with Some students and labour activists parliament even though his ruling party
scuffle anti-government protesters overnight to fought with police and attacked police has a majority.
with police break up a rally for former President Roh buses after they were stopped from en- Lee’s government struggled for several
during a rally Moo-hyun, whose suicide a week ago has tering a city plaza that was blocked with months to contain massive street rallies last
mourning triggered growing criticism of his succes- the vehicles. Close to 20,000 police, many year against his decision to open the coun-
Roh in Seoul. sor. in full riot gear, easily outnumbered the try to U.S. beef imports which ballooned
The turnout at the rally late on Saturday, crowd, some of whom stayed on overnight to a wider protest against his policies.
a day after Roh’s funeral, was smaller than to hold a candle-light vigil. Police rounded Analysts said what appears to be growing
expected. It had been closely watched in up more than 70 protesters. friction between the liberal and conserva-
case a massive outpouring of grief for Roh Roh left office 15 months ago, widely tive wings in the wake of Roh’s death could
would translate into large street protests seen as an ineffective leader, with the act as another break on reform.
against President Lee Myung-bak. landslide win of the conservative Lee Next month parliament is due to vote
Roh killed himself after becoming interpreted as a rejection of a decade of on a range of key bills including banking
embroiled in a corruption scandal. Many liberal policies. reform, more flexible employment laws
South Koreans blame Lee’s government But Lee has stumbled almost from the and easing ownership of media compa-
for hounding the former leader with the start, and he has struggled to push a sweep- nies, all of which are fiercely criticised by
graft probe. ing economic reform agenda through the liberal opposition. – AFP
Pakistan sees Swat Myanmar says Suu Kyi
operation over in days trial an internal affair SINGAPORE: Myanmar said on Sun- her health if she is convicted, as is
day that the trial of democracy icon widely expected.
SINGAPORE: Pakistan expects a humanitarian crisis. Aung San Suu Kyi was in line with its The West has condemned the
its military operation to defeat The United States and other laws and was a domestic issue other “show trial” as a ploy to keep the
Taliban militants in the Swat Western allies have been heart- countries should not interfere with. charismatic opposition leader
valley to conclude in two or ened by the army’s show of “The legal action against Aung San detained during the military gov-
three days, a senior army official resolve in Swat. There had been Suu Kyi is merely the internal affairs ernment’s promised elections next
said on Sunday. “Only five to 10 fears for the security of Pakistan’s of Myanmar, taking action through year. “If any country interferes in the
percent of the job is remaining nuclear weapons if the Taliban its legal system in accordance with internal affairs of another country,
and hopefully within two to three threat had been allowed to spread domestic law,” said Major General that particular act may possibly
days, the pockets of resistance any closer to the capital. Aye Myint, Myanmar’s Deputy Min- affect the mutual understanding
will be cleared,” Syed Athar Ali,
secretary of defence for Pakistan,
Around 300,000 people lived ister of Defence, at the Asia Security and friendly relationship between
in Mingora until the Taliban Conference in Singapore. countries,” said Myint.
said at a regional defence meeting occupied the town in early May Myanmar opposition leader Aung Earlier at the meeting in Singa-
in Singapore. when the army first launched an San Suu Kyi is on trial on charges of pore, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert
His comments came after the offensive in Swat, an alpine valley violating her house arrest by allow- Gates repeated Washington’s call for
military said on Saturday that in the country’s northwest. ing an American intruder to stay for the release of Suu Kyi and more than
Pakistani forces had regained full Islamist militants have carried two days after he swam to her home 2,000 other political prisoners in the
control of Mingora, a week after out a series of bomb and gun at- in early May. former Burma, where the military
re-entering the main town in the tacks in Pakistani cities during the The Nobel laureate may be jailed has ruled for nearly half a century.
Swat valley to dislodge thousands last few days, in a bid to take the for three to five years if found guilty Britain’s minister for international
of Taliban fighters. heat off their comrades retreating of breaking the terms of her house defence and security Ann Taylor also
Recapturing Mingora, 130km in Swat. arrest. called for political freedom in Myan-
northwest of Islamabad, would There are expectations the She has spent more than 13 mar at the meeting on Sunday.
raise the prospect that some of army will turn its focus on the of the past 19 years in some form “We say to the generals, now
more than 2 million people who South Waziristan tribal region, of detention, much of it a virtual is the time for democracy, starting
have fled the conflict zone could bordering Afghanistan, once Swat prisoner inside her home on Yan- with the release of Aung San Suu
soon begin to go home, alleviating has been pacified. – Reuters gon’s Inya Lake. Activists fear for Kyi,” she said. – Reuters