Tamil Tigers: 'Battle Has Reached Its End'

Military blamed for death of tens of thousands of civilians in 2009

(NEWSER) - Civilians were slaughtered by Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil Tigers alike in the bloody final phase of the island nation's civil war, according to a hard-hitting report from a United Nations panel. The report accuses the Sri Lankan military of urging civilians in the separatist north to gather in "no-fire zones," which were then shelled extensively by the government, killing tens of thousands of people in early 2009. The Tigers, for their part, used civilians as human shields and shot those who tried to flee, according to the files. The atrocities "would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity," read the report. More»

Mahinda Rajapaksa takes election, Gen. Fonseka vows to contest

(USER SUBMITTED) - President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been declared the winner of Sri Lanka's first presidential election since the Tamil Tigers' 26-year insurgency was defeated, but his opponent immediately vowed to contest the outcome. The BBC reports that the incumbent won 57.8% of votes cast; rival Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who took 40%, told the press there was "obvious rigging" and that irregularities occurred during the race. He also accused Rajapaksa of intimidation after soldiers surrounded his hotel. More»

Donations were funneled to Tamil Tigers

(NEWSER) - A hedge-fund manager busted for insider trading has been contributing money to a Sri Lankan terrorist group, according to FBI agents. Raj Rajaratnam came under scrutiny in a federal probe into the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, a charity which was charged with funneling money to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a violent separatist group defeated by the Sri Lankan government last spring. Rajaratnam donated $2 million to TRO USA, which promptly wired the funds to Sri Lankan accounts, according to authorities. More»

(NEWSER) - He really should have seen this coming. A popular astrologer in Sri Lanka has been arrested after predicting the ouster of the president, the BBC reports. Police took Chandrasiri Bandara into custody this week after he foresaw a bad moon rising for Mahinda Rajapaksa and told opposition leaders they'd be taking over in September—on the 9th, to be exact. Astrology is no laughing matter in the country: Rajapaksa himself consults a seer to schedule trips, notes the Guardian. More»

Ethnic tensions remain as Tamil rebels lay down arms

(NEWSER) - The Sri Lankan government finally prevailed in its 26-year civil war with Tamil rebels with a brutal campaign, leaving thousands dead and 300,000 displaced. Now, reports the Wall Street Journal, the country must try living in peace after years of assassinations and abductions from both sides. Tamils "should be able to live without fear and mistrust," said the country's president—but ethnic tensions are still flaring. More»