• India seeks military help from Lanka
• Strikers appeal to Emirates
• More death threats: Susanthika
• AG asked for statement in Ravaya rights case
• Oliver will miss 'Chief'
• Blockade on the east continues

India seeks military help from Lanka

Wants to defuse Naxalite mines in Andhra

By Our Defence Correspondent

India has sought Sri Lanka's military expertise to tackle the scourge of improvised mines in one of its volatile states, Andhra Pradesh, where Maoist "Naxalite" groups have stepped up violence.

The request which arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through diplomatic channels has now been forwarded to the Ministry of Defence, according to a high ranking official.

They are now studying the request and will arrange with Army Headquarters to send a team of qualified officers and men, the official who did not wish to be identified said.

Request for Sri Lankan military expertise to defuse land mines, claymore mines and other improvised explosive devices follows evidence uncovered by the Andhra Pradesh Police that rebels had acquired technology and assistance from the LTTE. Methods of manufacture and use had been similar to those used by the LTTE in the ongoing separatist war in Sri Lanka.

In the past five years, Maoist "Naxalite" groups in the South Indian State of Andhra Pradesh (AP), have been extensively using claymore and land mines in their operations against the Police.

The locally turned out mines have made Police Jeeps and other vehicles easy targets. In hardcore Naxalite areas, Police now go on foot, as much as possible.

There are many Maoist groups, but the main one is the People's War Group (PWG), which uses machine guns and assault rifles.

They are said to acquire weapons by ambushing police patrols or in raids conducted on police stations. Police say money is secured through extortion which is rampant in the affected districts of Karim Nagar, Adilabad and Nalgonda, all north of Hyderabad. The troubled areas are said to be the tri-junction of three states — Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Maoists are thus able to commit crimes in one state and seek sanctuary in another, police say.

They say Maoists endear themselves to the poor by helping them out financially and rendering quick justice through their kangaroo courts.

Strikers appeal to Emirates

Pre-sale of AirLanka

By Frederica Jansz

Striking AirLanka technicians have appealed to Emirates Airlines to intervene in the dispute, amidst growing evidence that the management of the national carrier would be taken over by the Dubai-based company from next month depite continuing official silence.

A spokesman for the the Association of Aircraft Technicians of Air Lanka (AATA) said they had appealed to Emirates Chief Executive Tim Clarke to intervene in the strike they launche on March 2 regarding long stnading salary anamolies.

The union said in a letter it was appealing to Emirates Airlines as AirLanka Chairman Harry Jayawardena and the board of directors had failed to meet the grievances, but Mr. Clarke has reportedly said he could not get involved at this stage and that the matter should be referred to the Public Enterprises Reform Commission (PERC) which is said to be negotiating the agreement for the sale.

However a union spokesman said PERC was still tight-lipped about the whole controversy and there was little purpose in approaching it.

Informed sources said talks between PERC and Emirates for the takeover of the AirLanka management were in the final stages and Mr. Clark was due here next week to wrap up the deal which has been widely challenged by various parties inculding the main opposition UNP.

Spokesmen from Emirates said that it is surprising that after 19 years in AirLanka technicians claim the Airbus Company has detected 42 faults in airbus aircraft used by Air Lanka. However due to financial constraints Air Lanka, they say, can only afford to repair 18 of them. The Airbus Company regularly keeps a tab on aircraft it has sold.

AirLanka Technicians say an A340 is now in Hong Kong undergoing a C-check at an initial cost of US$ 7.5 million.

This is only for labour charges. A C-check is carried out on aircraft that have completed more than 3000 flying hours.

The aircraft is disassembled and the entire plane is checked thoroughly.

Until the tecnicians' striek is resolved, Air Lanka will have to send at least another eight aircraft abroad for C-checks which will cost an estimated 4000 million rupees, technicians say.

Air Lanka ,however, is denying that the C-check of the A340 in Hong Kong has initially cost US$ 7.5 million. The reported price has been highly exaggerated an AirLanka official said.

Meanwhile in a dramatic last minute development yesterday, another foreign airline headed by a Sri Lankan wrote to Presdient Kumaratunga saying it was prepared to offer US $ 55million more than Emirates Airlines is offering for a 40 percent stake in the national carrier AirLanka.

The airline, Peace Air, headed by Sri Lankan Gamini Wetthasinghe had earlier offered US$ 85 million compared to US$ 86 million by Emirates.

More death threats: Susanthika

By M. Ismeth

Sri Lanka's controversial sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe alleged again yesterday that she was receiving death threats -but vowed that no threat, harassment or intimidation could stop her from bringing glory to the country at the coming Olympic and other international games. "The more I receive such threats the more determined would I be to rise to the top of the world. The medals I win for my country in the world scene will be my answer to those who are trying to ruin my career," Susanthika told The Sunday times in an interview. Susanthika earned international fame by winning silver at last year's world games, hit the headlines again when she alleged that a powerful figure at the Sports Ministry was sexually harassing her.

The controversy dominated the media and political scene for several weeks with the issue going to parliament and the cabinet.

"Those who are trying all sorts of dirty tricks could stop me from running only by breaking my legs. These elements have warned other athletes not to have anything to do with me. But most of other athletes still talk to me though secretly," Susanthika said.

Giving details of the threat, Susanthika disclosed that a Toyota car — with the dreadful unregistered sign —had been seen circling Torrington Square and Race Course while she was practising.

Referring to speculation about the coming Grand Prix meet in China, Susanthika said she had contacted the Sports Ministry but officials there claimed that no invitation had yet been received. She charged that someone at the Sports Ministry was playing dirty tricks with the invitation in an obvious bid to prevent her from participating in that international meet.

She said she had also heard that if she was sent to China the Sports Ministry would also send a manager in addition to her coach. Challenging the purpose of sending two officials with one athlete Susanthika said this would be an utter waste of money.

She said that if she went to China she would take part only in the 200 metres.

Susanthika recalled that Sports Minster S. B. Dissanayake had told parliament some time ago that he would soon reveal all regarding the controversy around her. But that soon had still not come, she pointed out while thanking Minster Mahinda Rajapakse for the support he had given her in the time of crisis.

AG asked for statement in Ravaya rights case

The Attorney General has been called upon to make a statement and file objections before March 19 on the issues raised in the fundamental rights petition filed against the Attorney General by Editor of the Ravaya, Victor Ivan.

Further hearing of the petition was postponed for this purpose by the Supreme Court when the matter came up before a Bench comprising Justices Mark Fernando, S. W. B. Wadugodapitiya and Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake on Wednesday.

In his petition, the Editor had accused the AG of violating his constitutional rights to equality, freedom of speech and expression, and the freedom to engage in his lawful profession by prosecuting him indiscriminately for criminal defamation. Accordingly, he has stated that he has been subjected to harassment by the Attorney General who has filed general indictments against him for criminal defamation indiscriminately, arbitrarily and for collateral purposes without proper assessment of the facts.

Mr. Ivan has prayed also to make order suspending two ongoing High Court trials against him until the final determination of the petition. He has also asked for Rupees One million as compensation.

Oliver will miss 'Chief'

Former Air Force Commander, who retired hastily on March 5, has not been promoted to a higher rank like his two predecessors were. He will remain as Air Marshal.

His immediate predecessor, Air Marshal Terrence Gunawardena, was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal when he retired on February 16, 1994. Similarly, Air Marshal Walter Fernando who relinquished office (paving the way for ACM Gunawardena) on February 16, 1990, was also promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal.

In a signal to all stations and formations dated March 10, Air Force Headquarters has said that "Her Excellency the President has granted approval for Air Marshal O.M. Ranasinghe (01175) General Duties Pilot to relinquish duties as Commander, Air Force, with effect from March 5, 1998 and to retire from service with effect from the same date."

A senior SLAF official explained that the signal in effect meant Air Marshal Ranasinghe's retirement (on the same rank he held) had taken effect from March 5. Hence there is no case of going on leave preparatory to retirement or a promotion to a higher rank. "A promotion will have to be announced before the retirement takes effect. There is no promotion of an officer after his retirement has taken effect," the official said.

Blockade on the east continues

By S.S. Selvanayagam and Shelani de Silva

Batticaloa and other eastern areas were yesterday still gripped in a syndrome of sky-rocketing food prices and scarcities, amidst confusion over new security restriction and warnings that Batticaloa might turn into another Jaffna if the virtual siege continued.

In the aftermath of the Maradana tragedy involving a bomb bus that is believed to have come from the east, the government last Wednesday imposed tough travel and goods transport restrictions whereby all vehicles from or to the east were detained at the Manampitiya border checkpoint. This reportedly caused prices of food and essential items to soar and amidst panic, minority party leaders, including Minister M. H. M. Ashraff appealed that the security clampdown be lifted or relaxed.

The Defence Ministry agreed to suspend the clampdown from Friday but said it would be reimposed from March 27 after alternative travel and goods transport arrangements were worked out.

But yesterday morning, the situation in Batticaloa and other eastern areas was still chaotic with hundreds of vehicles and people stranded and food prices rising still further.

Civilians said Army and police officers at the Manampitiya checkpoint were yesterday still refusing to let vehicles pass saying they had not been informed of any suspension of the travel restriction.

Batticaloa officials said that at a meeting with security co-ordinators on Friday an agreement was reached to suspend the restrictions for two weeks but the Defence Ministry was insisting that it must be reimposed for national security reasons.

Parliamentarian Ali Zahir Moulana told The Sunday Times yesterday he met hundreds of people stranded in the Batticaloa area on Friday night and the situation had not changed even yesterday morning.

Residents say the restrictions had caused petrol and gas shortages while prices of vegetables and coconuts skyrocketed.

Batticaloa's Government Agent A K Pathmanathan said vehicles bringing vegetables from Nuwara Eliya were not allowed in and prices have soared by more than 25 percent within a day. Flour transport from Trincomalee was also affected.

TULF MP Joseph Pararajasingham warned that the clampdown was only adding fuel to the fire and creating a situation where Batticaloa was being forced into another Jaffna. He appealed to President Kumaratunga to intervene and work out a security plan that would cause less hardship to already suffering people.