“All the world is my world, all
humanity is my fraternity”
The owls go, "Who? Who? Who?"
The black cats yowl And green ghosts howl,
"Scary Halloween to you!"
- Nina Willis Walter
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
He died as he had lived - by the gun. Koose Munusamy Veerappan alias
"Santhanakkad- athal (sandalwood- smuggler) Veerappan" was shot dead
amid controversial circumstances in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu by
the Special Task Force (STF) of Tamil Nadu state police on October 18.
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Bandit Killed [NPR Audio]
The most wanted man
in India has met his
end. For decades,
Koose Muniswamy
Veerappan eluded
capture in the forests
of southern India as he
smuggled ivory and
sandalwood worth
millions and terrorized
villagers. After a long
undercover operation,
authorities killed him in
a late-night shoot-out.
NPR's Philip Reeves
reports.
The Thinakaran on Monday quoted the Norwegian Embassy and said a
high level Norwegian delegation would arrive in the country in an attempt to
revive the stalled peace talks. In another front page story the paper quoted
LTTE Trincomalee political wing chief Elilan had said Prabhakaran was
keen in giving equal status to the Muslims and added that it was unfortunate
they were evacuated from the North.
Erik Solheim was scheduled to meet LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham
in London on Monday, the Thinakkural said in a front page story.
The Sudaroli said EPDP leader Douglas Devananda who earlier assured
his party's support to Karuna's new political party would not do so. The
paper said Devananda had told this to his party seniors.
The Sudaroli on Tuesday reported the meeting Erik Solheim had with Anton
Balasingham in London and said Norway has assured that government's
alternate proposals would not be submitted to the LTTE before peace talks
recommence.
Thamilselvan has urged the European Union that pressure be brought upon
the government to recommence peace talks since the government has the
unconditional support of the Opposition, the Sudaroli said.
The Virakesari quoted the Petroleum Corporation and said that in the event
of crude oil reach a price of 60 dollars a barrel, local price of petrol would
increase to Rs. 90 a litre, diesel Rs. 65 and kerosene Rs. 55.
listener of BBC
'Tamil Osai' [The Hindu]
- Tamilselvan in Stockholm:
"As a responsible freedom movement of the Tamil people, we wish to assure
the international community that our commitment to the peace process and
the Cease Fire Agreement remains undeterred by any obstacles", said Mr.
S. P. Tamilselvan in the LTTE delegation's meeting with Ms. Annika Bjurner
SODER, State Secretary, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the ministry
complex on 21st October 2004.
The "Karuna crisis" facing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) led
by Velupillai Pirapaharan took a significant turn when Vinayagamoorthy
Muralitharan alias Col. Karuna announced the formation of a new political
party the Tamil Eelam Makkal Viduthalaip Puligal (People's Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam). Karuna was to be its president. This act of defiance
would no doubt have inflicted a serious wound to the Tiger psyche.
October 19 was the 100th birth anniversary of Fr. Peter Pillai:
Fr. Peter Pillai occupies a place in Sri Lanka's history of education as one
of the great Principals of Sri Lanka's schools - Frazer of Trinity, Highfield of
Wesley, Kularatne of Ananda, Stone and de Saram of St. Thomas' and Le
Goc of St. Joseph's, to name only a few. Fr. Peter's contribution to
education spanned the years when free education was introduced, the
introduction of Swabasha as the media of instruction in schools and the
take-over of assisted denominational schools. He is well known for his
forthright views on all these issues.
Sri Lankan films rarely get a theatrical release in this country. That is
reason enough for those interested in world cinema to check out Ira
Madiyama, in which three separate stories unfold over a few hot days in
August, 1996, and, thus, in the midst of the island nation's lengthy civil
conflict.
Sri Lankan cinema is highly acclaimed abroad - its films have won dozens of
awards at international festivals.
Film makers tackle gritty subjects, including family relationships, abortion
and the years of conflict between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels in the
north.
But if you visit a cinema in the capital, Colombo, you will be hard-pushed to
find a local film on show.
With effectively used graphics and a fairly neat storyline, Vishwas Films (P)
Limited's supernatural thriller, "Adhu" (A), does send a chill, slight though it
is, down the spine. Especially the slug at the end that states, "Adhu ... Unnai
Vidadhu" (It will not leave you"). Sneha is the fulcrum around whom the tale
revolves and the actor proves a right choice for the role.
Director, Actor Cheran is an extremely happy man. Back from the Montreal
World Film Festival, where ``Autograph" was received warmly, he is in an
upbeat mood. Participation in an event of that stature is the dream of every
film-maker and it has come true for only a few like Kamal Haasan and
Maniratnam. Cheran enjoyed each and every minute of his stay in Montreal.
``It was a rewarding experience. It was nice to hear other festival directors
asking me to send `Autograph' to their events," says Cheran recollecting
the experience.
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