16  theSun | MONDAY JANUARY 5 2009

news without borders

Obama considering
expanding jobless
benefits
NEW YORK: President-elect Barack Obama and
Sri Lanka moves in on rebel HQ
COLOMBO:
Lanka’s army said
Sri “We were ordered by the Ti-
gers to leave but our family did
Congressional Democrats are considering a ma- yesterday it was mov- not want to go,” a 17-year-old
jor expansion of government-assisted health care ing in on the jungle girl named Komalasingham
insurance and unemployment benefits as part of stronghold of the Tamil Thurasiha said.
a two-year economic recovery programme, The Tiger rebels, in a final “We fled to the jungles and
New York Times reported in its Sunday editions. assault aimed at end- stayed there for a few days
Proposals included extending unemployment ing the longest-running before returning today.”
compensation to part-time workers, subsidising ethnic war in Asia. Gunfire and artillery bar-
employers who must continue health insurance Flush with confi- rages could be heard nearby
benefits temporarily for laid-off and retired em- dence after retaking during the press visit, but
ployees and allowing workers who lose jobs that their main city two days military officers said it was
did not include insurance to apply for Medicaid, ago, the army vowed safe to travel within the town
the Times said. to capture rebel leader as all Tiger snipers had been
The proposals would be included with other Velupillai Prabhakaran driven away.
economic measures like ramping up spending as troops pushed deeper The rebels, formally
on infrastructure and other public works projects into northern territory known as the Liberation Ti-
meant to stimulate job growth, the Times said. long under the complete gers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),
Democratic aides said the House of Repre- control of the guerillas. had controlled the town
sentatives is not expected to vote until next week Sri Lankan President Sri Lankan police officers
for a decade, but yesterday
at the earliest on any stimulus plan, with final ac- Mahinda Rajapakse said in stand guard at the scene
they lost another settlement
tion now unlikely before February, the newspaper a New Year’s address that of a bomb explosion in
when Oddusuddan – en
reported. 2009 would be the year of Colombo on Saturday.
route to Mullaittivu – fell.
Citing Obama advisers, the newspaper said “heroic victory” over the The LTTE have a record
the package, which could face resistance from Tigers, who have been for hitting back, and hours
Republicans and conservative Democrats, would waging war since 1972 to after losing Kilinochchi a Tamil suicide
cost at least US$775 billion (RM2.8 trillion). establish an independent Kilinochchi for a short and carefully supervised bomber in the capital Colombo killed two
“This has really forced people to think outside homeland for ethnic Tamils. visit to show the city was in army hands. people and wounded 36.
the box,” the Times quoted a House Appropria- Troops captured Kilinochchi, the de facto “We will hunt him down.” Tens of thousands of people have been
tions Committee aide as saying, “because this capital of the rebel state within a state on Fri- Journalists found a desolate town in killed since the conflict began but Rajapakse’s
is more money than anybody expected to be day, and the general leading the assault said which most of the buildings had been badly government pulled out of an on-again, off-
spending.” his forces were now advancing on Mullait- damaged or reduced to rubble by months of again ceasefire last year and launched a new
Obama is also likely to propose a tax credit tivu, their last major centre of control. bombardment. The only remaining residents campaign to crush the Tigers once and for all.
of US$500 (RM1,800) for eligible individuals and “We are taking the offensive to the Mullait- appeared to be a group of 22 Tamil women, “For the last time, I am telling the LTTE to
US$1,000 (RM3,600) for couples, the newspaper tivu jungles where Prabhakaran is hiding,” children and older men sheltering at the lay down arms and surrender,” he said after
said. – Reuters Maj-Gen Jagath Dias told reporters flown into town’s defunct hospital. Kilinochchi was captured. – AFP