Sri Lanka - tsunami aftermath - In Quotes

2005-12-26T14:05:00.000-05:00

Fifty three year old Lily Nona Galmangodaguruge lost her daughter, grand daughter, mother and sister in law last year this day She says that she is not blaming the sea for what has happened, instead she is blessing the sea. More Pictures: humanityashore-rathgama.blogspot.com/

"When the tsunami hit I ran to the church and begged for the life of my son,"

2005-03-27T20:14:00.000-05:00

Tsunami sufferers question faith: Yet this year the throngs are absent. Many thousands are too afraid to travel to this tsunami-affected area, scared off by frenzied rumours that another disaster is about to beset the shores. Perhaps others have cause to question their faith: BBC

"Every day, we were getting 30 to 40 e-mails from Burghers living abroad offering help"

2005-03-27T07:28:00.000-05:00

"Every day, we were getting 30 to 40 e-mails from Burghers living abroad offering help. Suddenly, we feel that we are a bigger community," says Sunny Ockersz, president of the Burgher union in Batticaloa. Earlier, the community was divided as Burghers in Batticaloa, Dutch Burghers and the "affluent" English-speaking Burghers in Colombo, BBC

"It was like someone had dropped an atomic bomb on Sri Lanka's coastline."

2005-03-26T12:13:00.000-05:00

During my three decades in the humanitarian field, I have seen war, famine, and natural disaster wreack unimaginable suffering on innocent civilians on a massive scale. But I had never seen such total destruction before in my life. It was like someone had dropped an atomic bomb on Sri Lanka's coastline: - David Crawford Oxfam Country Programme Manager - Sri Lanka; BBC

"Our needs are greater."

2005-03-21T22:58:00.000-05:00

The Tamil Tigers argue that the area under their control has received almost no government aid and is neglected when compared to the Sinhala-dominated south. "We are happy with the support we are getting from the aid agencies, but not with the government's efforts," Tamil Tiger spokesman Daya Master says. "This is an area which has suffered heavily because of the war and now with the tsunami. So our needs are greater." : BBC

"There is no-one at home to go back to."

2005-03-21T07:08:00.000-05:00

Antony had been married for 17 years and still struggles to come to terms with his loss. "My wife used to wait for me every day with a cup of tea when I would come in from the sea," he says, his eyes brimming with tears. Observers say the trauma of losing their wives has left a deep psychological scar on these men, and many of them are quite simply unable to cope. "The question of family formation has been deeply affected. In these social set ups, it is the woman who runs the family as a unit," says Professor Sivathambi, a Tamil scholar at Colombo University: Loss of women haunts fishermen: BBC Dilemma of the disproportionately high percentage tsunami widowers: "How do we face the future?"

"We are pleasantly surprised and greatly relieved that they have done so"

2005-03-19T17:58:00.000-05:00

"Given the LTTE inflexibility on the Interim Self - Government issue few expected the tigers to agree on a watered down version of what the organization originally demanded", Western diplomatic circles told "TamilWeek". "We are pleasantly surprised and greatly relieved that they have done so" the sources added.

"Not seen any promissed foreign government money yet.."

2005-03-19T17:55:00.000-05:00

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, has told the BBC that his country has not yet received any of the money promised by governments - although people all over the world had been generous in their contributions: BBC

"Things don't look very good for Sri Lanka at the present moment."

2005-03-17T12:55:00.001-05:00

"Things don't look very good for Sri Lanka at the present moment." Rohan Edrisinha, a law professor at the University of Colombo and director of the Centre of Policy Alternatives said. Bob Rae, president of the Forum of Federations, which sponsored Edrisinha's talks, said one of the barriers delaying a federal solution to the conflict was LTTE's difficulty in transforming itself from a guerrilla operation to a political party.

"Wife plays an important role in the life of fisheries workers..",

2005-03-13T18:41:00.000-05:00

A High percentage of tsunami deaths were among children and women, leaving behind widowers such as Anthony Benedict of Mullaitivu. Photo by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai "The wife plays an important role in the life of fisheries workers...she makes all the endeavors to sell that day's catch that were brought ashore. In the meantime she takes care of all the household chores as well..Its very appalling to see so many widowers in the fishing communities," - Professor K. Sivathamby, in Thinakkural

"what is left?'"

2005-03-12T21:46:00.000-05:00

"People directly impacted by the tsunami lived by the sea and thought they knew it. They had felt the effects of conflict but discovered they are not safe from nature either. They now are asking,`what is left?'" In terms of psychological and physical health, some of the significant issues now threatening the communities of the north in the aftermath of the tsunami are an increase in depression, sleeping disorders, suicide, and alcoholism. Women and children constituted a large number of those killed and in many cases men witnessed their demise, helpless to save them. In a society where gender roles are clearly defined, men now find themselves confronting a double burden as heads of single parent households. Their personal loss, combined with the destruction of their boats and livelihoods, leaves them at greater risk of suffering from the psychological impact of the disaster. Dr. Daya Somasundaram of Jaffna University confirms that psychosocial assistance is a priority need for people impacted by the tsunami. He notes that children and youth are also suffering, as shown by nightmares, fears and heightened emotions. But the head of the psychology department for the faculty of medicine stresses that well-meaning organisations must take into account the type of psychological assistance required as well as the cultural context in which it is delivered; reported in The Toronto Star

"Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Thank you for all that you do,:

2005-03-11T21:40:00.000-05:00

Former President Bill Clinton Recovering from Successful Surgery [VOA News] Doctors in New York say they expect former U.S. President Bill Clinton to make a full recovery from a surgical procedure, lasting almost four hours, to drain fluid from his left lung and remove scar tissue. The doctors expect Mr. Clinton to be walking within 24 hours. President Clinton while visiting Sri Lanka with President Bush Sr. in Sri Lanka: "There was a lot of emotional damage here that's not visible to the eye, and it's most pronounced for these children."

"A climate like this can open the door to sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse,”

2005-03-09T21:48:00.000-05:00

"A climate like this can open the door to sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse,” she said. “Exploitation of women and children can include trafficking. Fortunately, incidents of trafficking following the tsunami did not occur in hard-hit areas of Indonesia because of the great attention paid to the issue and the efforts that were quickly put in place by the media and organizations like Save the Children. The time is now. These legislative efforts must be passed. The lives of women and children depend on it." Sri Lankan Tsunami Family, Baby, Visit US Congress: VOA News

“Mr. Solheim was optimistic a joint mechanism for aid distribution could be established soon,”

2005-03-09T21:14:00.000-05:00

Mr. Solheim, accompanied by Ms. Solfried Lien, an Executive Office at the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, met with Mr. Balasingham at the latter’s London residence Wednesday for two hours of discussions on the political situation in Sri Lanka and the outlook for Oslo’s long-running peace effort in Sri Lanka, the LTTE Chief Negotiator told TamilNet. “Mr. Solheim was optimistic a joint mechanism for aid distribution could be established soon,” Mr. Balasingham said.

"The lifestyle and customs of the residents of this village markedly differs from those of other traditional Tamil villages,"

2005-03-07T20:37:00.000-05:00

Residents of Alikambai, an ancient tribal village in Amparai coast, from a community of 231 families were delivered relief supplies including clothing Sunday by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), a Sri Lanka Government registered NGO which works exclusively in the NorthEast, sources said. The Grama Sevaka of the district assisted in distributing the supplies to the villagers. Head of the Amparai district TRO, P Aathavan and Special co-ordinator Mr Selvarajah participated in the delivery of supplies to the residents. The lifestyle and customs of the residents of this village markedly differs from those of other traditional Tamil villages, officials said: TamilNet

"..hope president Bill Clinton will be able to bring the two sides together to work towards rebuilding of the devastated areas,"

2005-03-06T21:57:00.000-05:00

While stressing the importance of "the Norwegian effort to create a joint government-LTTE mechanism to be successful" for Sri Lanka to recover from the tsunami disaster, and expressing hope that "UN special ambassador and former U.S. president Bill Clinton will be able to bring the two sides together to work towards rebuilding of the devastated areas," Professor Oberst pointed out that "[The] sad reality of the Sri Lankan conflict has been the remarkable ability of both sides to allow opportunities for peace and reconciliation to slip away from their grasp," when he talked to TamilNet this week commenting on post-tsunami development in Sri Lanka: TamilNet

"This natural disaster has made all of us even more committed to our goal,”

2005-03-05T17:44:00.000-05:00

“We could have protected our people more effectively if we had had the necessary resources and, mainly, the sovereignty in our own hands. This natural disaster has made all of us even more committed to our goal,” - SP Thamilselvan, on CBC

"No proposal from GOSL regarding the matter of establishing a joint mechanism to implement tsunami relief yet,"

2005-03-05T09:45:00.000-05:00

Talking to the journalists after the meeting, Mr Brattsakar said that he had not brought any proposal from the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the matter of establishing a joint mechanism to implement tsunami relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in the northeast: TamilNet _____________________________ Clinton expresses hope on joint mechanism for Tsunami reconstruction: Expressing hope on a joint mechanism for reconstruction of Sri Lanka's tsunami-shattered coastal areas, US ex-president Bill Clinton Monday said that he was informed Sunday night that the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Government were working together to create such a mechanism for tsunami relief: TamilNet

"Somewhere, in the long forgotten histories of the human race, we know there have been previous tsunamis."

2005-03-02T21:56:00.000-05:00

Fishermen at beach during sunset in Galle: Photo by by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai "Somewhere, in the long forgotten histories of the human race, we know there have been previous tsunamis. Maybe, this was how ancient civilisations suddenly vanished — on a similar, idyllic Sunday morning. And yet, those of our early ancestors, who survived that manifestation of the ocean's wrath, went on with their lives." - Nirupama Menon Rao, High Commisioner of India writing in The Hindu.

"He's a very good boy"

2005-03-02T09:17:00.000-05:00

It just makes us feel that there's hope, and there's hope for everyone," the infant's father, Murugupillai Jeyarajah, told ABC News through a translator. Surrounding us, everyone's lost people," Murugupillai told ABC News' Charles Gibson. "It is hard to have joy, because there is sadness all around us." "The baby is basically asleep," said Lisa Sharkey, a "Good Morning America" senior producer who met them as they landed. "He's a very good boy."

"Both establishments (Tamil and Sinhalese) do not reflect the views of ordinary people,"

2005-03-01T13:50:00.000-05:00

Sunset in Galle: Photo by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai "Both establishments (Tamil and Sinhalese) do not reflect the views of ordinary people," Post-tsunami, Sri Lanka will never be the same again, says filmmaker and writer Tissa Abeysekara from the island country. "I am too close to the tragedy to write about it. The wounds are still raw and the scars are fresh in memory," said the author of the novel "Bringing Tony Home", of the havoc wreaked by the Dec 26 tsunami." Writing a novel was like coming home for me as I have always felt creatively renewed by the process of writing. Myths and legends have always inspired me and influenced my narrative style," Abeysekara told IANS in an interview here. Here to attend the South Asian literary conference, Abeysekara sees himself as first and foremost a storyteller for it is the sorcery of the written word that mesmerises him. His autobiographical "Bringing Tony Home" elicited lavish praise from celebrated writer Michael Ondaatje who described it as a "lost classic". A distrust of power is another defining feature of his writing. Wary of all power structures, Abeysekara prefers to speak for the common man."Both establishments (Tamil and Sinhalese) do not reflect the views of ordinary people," he added: IANS Links about "Bringing Tony Home": Guardian, Barnes & Noble, & NorthWest Passages.

"We take the incident very seriously, it just shows how vulnerable the eastern situation is,"

2005-03-01T09:26:00.000-05:00

"[The] attack took place in an area very close to a Sri Lankan army checkpoint, so there is no doubt in our mind that it is the Sri Lankan military," S Puleedevan, head of the Tiger's peace secretariat, told Reuters. "If these attacks continue, it will be very difficult for us to remain patient," he added: BBC

"It's a disgrace,"

2005-03-01T09:17:00.000-05:00

A shipment of aid, bound for Sri Lanka's tsunami victims, will be subject to a 30% import tax, according to the founder of a Guernsey charity. Linda Garnham from Aid Reaching Children says the Sri Lankan government is making delivery difficult: BBC "Purifiers were finally cleared Saturday after a payment of $10,000 to the Government of Sri Lanka Customs".: TamilNet

"Karuna is now a brand name taken under a bizarre franchise by loyalists."

2005-02-28T13:41:00.000-05:00

The hapless Eastern Tamils have suffered a military tsunami and a natural tsunami. Now they are in for a third tsunami of intra - tiger violence: D.B.S. Jeyaraj, in Sunday Leader Tamilnet: A senior political official and two of her colleagues were shot and seriously wounded around 6 p.m.Monday near Akkaraipattu by gunmen suspected to be from a paramilitary working with the Sri Lankan armed forces, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. "This could not have happened without the knowledge of the Sri Lankan armed forces in that area", charged an LTTE commander in Batticaloa.

"95% of the relief we have passed out have been to hindu people..."

2005-02-27T22:25:00.000-05:00

A Missouri pastor who has spent the last year in Sri Lanka trying to spread Christianity, until the tsunami happened over this past Christmas weekend. Villages originally did not receive him well, but since the tsunami, as he helps to recover, he's also been developing a new relationship with the village: NPR Weekend Edition

"Lengthy debate at every juncture is as certain in Sri Lanka as rice is at every meal,"

2005-02-25T22:20:00.000-05:00

The deadly tsunami sparked by a massive Dec. 26 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra killed nearly 300,000 people and displaced countless more along Indian Ocean shores far removed from the quake's epicenter. Relief efforts have focused on the human tragedy -- but now, scientists are starting to examine the ecological consequences, and the role of natural systems in mitigating damage. In a two-part series of reports for the NPR/National Geographic co-production Radio Expeditions, Elizabeth Arnold journeys to the island nation of Sri Lanka with one of the first teams to assess the environmental aftermath: NPR Morning Edition

"I am planning to launch a scholarship program for helping the school children affected by the tsunami,"

2005-02-25T21:23:00.000-05:00

Thillairajah Kukendran, a chartered engineer now domiciled in Canada has come forward to help the people affected by the tsunami waves. During his stay in Sri Lanka, Kukendran has distributed cash donations and other assistance amounting to Rupees one million for the tsunami victims in the South. He plans to launch a long-term project to help the tsunami victims. "I am planning to launch a scholarship program for helping the school children affected by the tsunami," said Kukendran: Daily News

"he keeps repeating three words...,"

2005-02-23T11:53:00.000-05:00

International tsunami relief efforts have helped supply the material needs of residents of Sri Lanka's east coast. Two American men, in the region to help, say the biggest problems they are finding among Sri Lankans are psychological: NPR Morning Edition

"It is positive that there has been no counter-retaliation."

2005-02-22T08:48:00.000-05:00

"It is of course a setback for the ceasefire," Solheim said after the meeting. "It is positive that there has been no counter-retaliation."

"when people are working together on specific projects a lot of differences can be resolved,"

2005-02-21T10:08:00.000-05:00

"It is my experience whether it is in the Middle East or Northern Ireland, when people are working together on specific projects a lot of differences can be resolved," - President Clinton, in Sri Lanka

"People are going to get angry...how long can we live like this",

2005-02-20T14:06:00.000-05:00

NPR's Philip Reeves reports that Sri Lankans are still coping with frustrations and inconveniences after a deadly tsunami struck in Southeast Asia nearly two months ago: NPR Weekend Edition

"At more than 150,000 people, Toronto's Tamils are the largest urban community of Tamils in the world."

2005-02-16T11:54:00.000-05:00

In our series, Whose Truth?, we look at the ties between Tamils in Toronto and their homeland. Ties that include support for the Tamil Tigers: CBC - Toronto

"The Sri Lankan government needs to contribute to a conducive and congenial climate for the resumption of peace talks,"

2005-02-15T22:11:00.000-05:00

Anton Balasingham, during a meeting with a Norwegian peace envoy in London.

"In two days we will go home my darling... do not worry. We will soon go home,"

2005-02-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

"In two days we will go home my darling... do not worry. We will soon go home," Jenita said, kissing her child's hands, cheeks and forehead, Abilash making news on Valentine's Day around the world.

"when they see people coming out of Sri Lanka to help them, it gives them some kind of hope..because they have lost everything."

2005-02-13T21:27:00.000-05:00

All Things Considered, Host Jennifer Ludden checks in with Maryland doctor Sinnarajah Raguraj, who has just returned from a mission to help tsunami victims in his native Sri Lanka. Dr. Sinnarajah Raguraj, is with IMHO.

"They are more interested in getting rid of me than doing away with Pirapaharan".

2005-02-13T11:22:00.000-05:00

"If they want to leave, let them leave. I cannot rule like this. They threaten to leave the government even over paltry issues. They are more interested in getting rid of me than doing away with Pirapaharan". - Sri Lanka President warns main coalition partner: Tamilnet

"Mother Country" or "Devilish Country"?

2005-02-12T19:47:00.000-05:00

When the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution calling for Pirapakaran's arrest and deportation to India Nehru lost his temper. He described India not as "Thainadu"(Mother Country) of the Tamils but a "Pei Nadu" (Devilish Country). He also threatened to bring Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha Jayaram to trial under the Tamil Eelam penal code. Chandranehru: Patriotic son of the Eastern Soil By D.B.S. Jeyaraj

''He represented a brighter future for the LTTE and the Tamil people because he was so eager to learn and to adapt to acceptable ways,''

2005-02-09T20:38:00.000-05:00

''He represented a brighter future for the LTTE and the Tamil people because he was so eager to learn and to adapt to acceptable ways,'' said a source with a multi-national agency working in Batticaloa. ''Kausalyan was a decent and soft-spoken man who was tired of war''. -IPS

''Kaushalyan is not an ordinary man, he was an emerging leader,''

2005-02-09T20:22:00.000-05:00

''Kaushalyan is not an ordinary man, he was an emerging leader,'' M K Eleventhan, Member of Parliament, told IPS. At the time of his death Kaushalyan was coordinating the tsunami relief work in areas under Tiger control in the two districts. The Amapara and Batticaloa Districts were the two worst affected areas in the country with more than 15,000 deaths, when killer waves on Dec. 26 lashed the coastlines of Sri Lanka and a dozen other countries in the Indian Ocean rim.

"We have always provided them helicopters when they request it.''

2005-02-08T14:35:00.000-05:00

``I don't understand why such a senior leader was traveling this way,'' said Ratnayake, ``We have always provided them helicopters when they request it.'' - …not without any bureaucratic and political bungling, even in the recent past there were problems with providing helicopters!

"The Tamil people world over, humanitarian workers and the international community..."

2005-02-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

"The Tamil people world over, humanitarian workers and the international community should now recognise the elements that are working hard to weaken Tamil unity," Killing of LTTE members engaged in political and humanitarian relief work, travelling across a Government Military controlled area, is a serious violation of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) that provides for the travel of unarmed LTTE members. The location, its proximity to two SL military check - points and the uniformed position of the attackers are indicators to the nexus the assailants have with the military. - LTTEPS.org

``It is a military-supported group, the Karuna faction,''

2005-02-08T09:24:00.000-05:00

Daya Master, the Tamil Tiger spokesman, said today in a phone interview from Kilinochchi in rebel-held territory. ``They have been attacking us even after the tsunami.'' - From Bloomberg Kousalyan was killed when his vehicle carrying nine people was attacked at about 7:45 p.m. local time on the road to Batticaloa in government-controlled territory, the army said in a statement. The ambush took place between two army posts. Kousalyan was returning from a meeting in the town of Vanni on expanding the aid program for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami that devastated two-thirds of Sri Lanka's eastern and southern coastline, the rebels said. .....some websites demonstrate that many (Sinhala) hardliners under the pretext of opposing the Tigers are trying to restrict aid reaching the affected Tamil people. -Sri Lanka: The State that failed its people

"Kaushalyan came under attack about five or six kilometres from the nearest army checkpoint."

2005-02-07T17:22:00.000-05:00

- It is unclear who carried out the attack, which took place about 40km (25 miles) north-east of Batticaloa, BBC - Mr. Kousalyan is the most senior LTTE official to be killed after Colombo and Tigers signed a cease fire in February 2002. He was returning from Vanni after discussing the expansion plans for Tsunami rehabiltation in the east, LTTE sources said, reports Tamilnet

"The buck starts here."

2005-02-06T08:05:00.000-05:00

If only 30% of affected people were getting state aid after five weeks then that blame or responsibility has to be borne by none other than the President who was in overall charge of the relief work and is also head of government. Former US President Harry Truman had a sign plaque on his table in the White House oval office "The buck stops here." If the game of deflecting blame or passing the buck stopped with the White House in Washington the situation in Colombo is the reverse. "The buck starts here" is more appropriate at Janadhipathy Mandhiraya. - DBS Jeyaraj, in Sri Lanka, The state that failed its people

"This is a practice, which needs to stop and needs to stop now."

2005-02-04T15:41:00.000-05:00

"Since the tsunami struck on 26th of December we have confirmed 52 cases of recruitment of children," he said. "So we are very pleased that 23 children have been released this weekend. But there are still 1400 children with the L.T.T.E. and this is a practice, which needs to stop and needs to stop now." Reports VOA

"After what happened yesterday we are not taking any chances."

2005-02-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

"Baby 81" has become the visible face of the tsunami, Reports BBC - Showing a face for all other lives of children the sea took away? - In ushering the call of humanity? - As hopeful face needing lasting peace? "Baby 81" is so named because he was the 81st patient to be admitted to the hospital on the day the tsunami struck, BBC "The baby is currently under tight police protection at the (Kalmunai) hospital," Dr K Muhunthan told the AFP news agency, "After what happened yesterday we are not taking any chances."

"It's my home."

2005-02-02T13:34:00.000-05:00

Smell the “kuzhal Puttu” - while the smoke rising from the wood burnt clay stove “aduppu”, make curls of gray clusters - that are visible through the white light beaming through the exterior made from strips of palmyrah leaf stems ; “kuzhal Puttu” the best, tastiest and loving breakfast one could ever ask for. Ideal seating to have the breakfast is crossed legged pretzel posture. Somini Sengupta may have been fortunate enough to be treated with Tamil hospitality; She reports for NY Times: Mr. Vairavamoorthy, 38, was taken to Britain when he was 2 years old. He raised money for the Tamil movement as a teenager in Britain, considered (but ultimately resisted) joining the Tigers and came here, to the Tiger capital, to volunteer with the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, officially an independent charity but closely allied to the rebels. He brooked no criticism of the Tigers. Asked about the widespread reports of the rebel recruitment of child soldiers - Unicef has said 40 children have been drafted since the tsunami alone, a charge the Tigers have denied - Mr. Vairavamoorthy said he was unaware of such allegations. "There's a pride, you know," he said over dinner at the rebel guesthouse where he was staying. "It's my home." Being displaced again – now by the tsunami; contrary to some reports, Selama seem to be holding onto her faith, with “thiru-neeru” (holy-ash) on her forehead….thousands of Tamil diaspora hearts responding to the call of humanity - also may be longing for such a breakfast; tsunami - finally bring us all – not just humanity, but also lasting peace!

"Under Bill Clinton, we started to get a sense of a community of man,"

2005-02-01T21:17:00.000-05:00

Boca doctor's ideals bring him to refugee camp in Sri Lanka: - Dr. Mitchell Schuster of Boca Raton, Florida, where he practices general medicine spoke to Palm Beach Post, while volunteering in Thirukovil, Sri Lanka. - Former US President Bill Clinton has been chosen to be the UN's special envoy for tsunami relief in South Asia. Secretary General Kofi Annan selected him because of the "energy, dynamism and focus" he would bring to the job, a UN spokesman said. - Reports the BBC

"One should avoid sinful act"

2005-01-30T21:46:00.000-05:00

Writing on the wall? Misuse and playing politics with relief and aid intended for the needy - and affected by tsunami, is a sinful act! "Theevinai ahattru" - One should avoid sinful act, is what is written on the board in this school in Cheddi Palayan. "Theevinai Ahattru", One should avoid sinful act, is in Aathchoodi, by Avvaiyar - The lady legend amidst Siddhars

"it fundamentally transformed the character of the war."

2005-01-29T08:53:00.000-05:00

Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately free a single slave, it fundamentally transformed the character of the war. After January 1, 1863, every advance of federal troops expanded the domain of freedom. - President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

"a struggle for economic emancipation that differs from our political freedom struggle at least for the time being,”

2005-01-28T11:07:00.000-05:00

“What we are engaged in now ... is a struggle for economic emancipation that differs from our political freedom struggle at least for the time being,” - LTTE Peace negotiator, Anton Balasingham.

"I have come here as our leader's representative to tell you the amount of help our Tamil expatriates have extended to their people here at home."

2005-01-28T09:36:00.000-05:00

"The main objective of my visit is to identify the barriers the Sri Lanka government is placing in the way of aid reaching our people and inform these details to the international community." - Anton Balasingham, in Mullaithivu

"more Tamils are questioning the LTTE, while the Sinhalese-dominated government needs to do a better job,"

2005-01-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

"In some ways, it's the kind of classic minority-majority relationship," Webb said of the linguistic, cultural and religious differences between the predominantly Buddhist Sinhalese and Hindu Tamils. Her impression is that more Tamils are questioning the LTTE, while the Sinhalese-dominated government needs to do a better job of treating ethnic minorities in a "just and equitable way," she said. - Rita Webb, is a field team member for the Minneapolis-based Nonviolent Peaceforce. The aim of the nonprofit organization in Sri Lanka is to help strengthen civic society at the grass-roots level. - Reported in Facing a sudden disaster, Twin Cities.com

"If the government had been efficient enough to inform the people through loudspeakers,"

2005-01-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

"If the government had been efficient enough to inform the people through loudspeakers or stopped the train in time, my wife would still be alive," Mr Perera, a radio presenter, told Reuters news agency. Mr Perera has filed his case with the supreme court, accusing authorities of failing to issue an early warning, not responding after the initial tsunami wave and, later, for failing to send rescuers immediately. His lawyer, Mr Tambiah, said Mr Perera phoned the police and other government bodies after the first wave hit but received no assistance. - Sri Lanka survivor to sue state , Reports BBC

"But they all smiled."

2005-01-27T12:37:00.000-05:00

"I brought Disney Band-Aids and used them when the kids were crying. They brought the biggest smiles out of the kids." - Betsy Egan of Frankfort IL and her sister-in-law, Jackie Carey, of New Jersey, helping in Sri Lanka's east coast, as reported in The Star, IL

“This is God’s punishment for the profanations which tourism brought to this village."

2005-01-27T10:54:00.000-05:00

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has been plagued by charges that it is lenient on the large number of pedophiles from Europe, Australia and North America who visit operate with impunity in remote sea side resorts amidst genuine tourists. - Tamilnet from Arugambay

"Will we still care when media leave?"

2005-01-26T22:45:00.000-05:00

When the tide of journalists now in Asia inevitably recedes, and the normal news cycle churns again, will media interest dry up? Or can we hope that lives and deaths in hellish and dark places, now unrecorded by Western cameras, rise to the top of media attention so that the milk of human kindness never again dries up? - Antonia Zerbisias in Toronto Star Jan 6, 2005

"Think globally, act locally"

2005-01-26T15:31:00.000-05:00

Aid agencies are also urged to do more to consult with the communities they are there to help. A lack of consultation has meant that some of the aid delivered is not what is most needed. For example, in Sri Lanka some of the houses are being built without consultation and are not appropriate. Donors and those co-ordinating the response need to ensure that all agencies are working to meet the internationally accepted 'Sphere' standards for disaster relief. - Oxfam Press Release - Jan 26, 2005

I'm most sad:...."When I'm alone, and asleep."

2005-01-25T22:15:00.000-05:00

Work never stops to make life better for the children at the Tender Sprout home at its temporary base in Kilinochchi in Sri Lanka. - By Jeremy Bowen BBC News, Mullaitivu, Cruel blow for Sri Lanka orphans

"If you fall 10 times down it is harder to get up the 11th time,"

2005-01-25T21:26:00.000-05:00

"I basically see two populations in Sri Lanka -- one that had a natural disaster that hit them, but then there is another population that had a disaster upon disaster. The concern is that this is the population that is at a higher risk of developing psychological problems," - Dr. Paramjit Joshi, a Washington-based child psychiatrist, speaking to Tyson Trish of Daily Record, NJ about her recent visit to Matara, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa.

"Through relief work we can build up a relationship for any future peace talks,''

2005-01-25T08:53:00.000-05:00

"Through relief work we can build up a relationship for any future peace talks.........we still see that relief is not being distributed equally in the region.'' - LTTE's Daya Master, speaking to Bloomberg

"It would take me 25 years to get enough money to have the house I have lost."

2005-01-25T08:44:00.000-05:00

"We will never recover this loss. Before this we were happy and we enjoyed our life, now life is terrible. - Rajan, 30, in Photojournal: Tsunami family goes home

How many patients we see? "Depends on the availability of Tamil interpreters"

2005-01-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

"We came here when we heard that people in the camps needed some medical assistance. We started setting up a medical facility here today. Our team can see about three hundred patients a day depending on the availability of Tamil interpreters", - Captain Scott Malcom of the Canadian army, Speaking to TamilNet

"They need our attention, they need our love."

2005-01-23T20:22:00.000-05:00

"Given what these people have been through, they need us....they need our attention, they need our love," says Dr. Mitchell Schuster, of the tsunami survivors in Thirukovil. Dr. Schuster is there for two weeks to alleviate their discomfort to the degree he can while the people recover their spirit. He was able to convince some of his well-to-do patients in Boca to help him. "One wrote a check for $10,000, two others for $5,000, and others contributed as well," he said. With that money, Schuster purchased medicines and other medical supplies in the U.S. Once in Sri Lanka, he bought books, notebooks and pens, which he has passed out to schoolchildren in refugee camps and in surrounding towns, students who lost everything in the tsunami. He has found universal vitamin and protein deficiencies in camp residents and is trying to fight them. This past week, he inquired about buying a herd of goats to make an enormous stew and feed the entire Tent City to boost the protein level. It was a quirky idea that appealed to Schuster despite the doubts of those around him. - Reported by John Lantigua for Palm Beach Post from Thirukovil.

"The army is filling trucks with food meant for the refugees and driving that food out of the camp,"

2005-01-23T20:18:00.000-05:00

"The army is filling trucks with food meant for the refugees and driving that food out of the camp," says Schuster, who believes ethnic prejudice may be affecting distribution of aid all over the country. He has been outspoken in saying so. At times, he has shared the medical tent with representatives of the Tamil Tigers, a guerrilla group that has fought the government sporadically since 1983 in a war that has claimed thousands of lives. At the moment there is a cease-fire, and the Tigers are passing out food to the refugees. But there is fear that if the alleged inequities in aid distribution continue, fighting could break out again. - Reported by John Lantigua Palm Beach Post from Thirukovil

"Thank you, Canada"

2005-01-23T19:58:00.000-05:00

Bumper stickers to thank the overwhelming generosity of the Canadian public in response to the Tsunami disaster is being displayed throughout GTA. "In light of the personal interest the Canadians took in our country and community, we felt that it was important that we show them our gratitude", says a group of Tamil Canadian business associates who sponsored the project.

"We have been very careful,"

2005-01-23T13:54:00.000-05:00

"There is definitely no truth to the statement that the government has not been delivering aid to the north and the east......we have been very careful.......It would be foolish for us not to distribute food and medical aid equitably." - Niranjan De Soysa, spokesman for the Sri Lanka Center for National Operations (CNO), which oversees the relief effort.

"These are the kind of things you never think of."

2005-01-23T13:49:00.000-05:00

S.A. Miller in Wahington Times: Abigail Thomas, a graduate student from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore, escorts a 14-year-old girl named Sindu to the clinic for counseling. Sindu had begun menstruating for the first time and had no female relatives left to guide her. According to local custom, a young girl's first menstruation is cause for a monthlong celebration, with cleaning rituals and special foods prepared by the girl's mother. "None of that is happening," says Mrs. Thomas, 28. "These are the kind of things you never think of."

"Such terrible lies can come only from them''

2005-01-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Sri Lanka military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake reacting furiously to LTTE concerns that the armed forces planning to go on a weapons buying spree amidst tsunami relief.

" I am not saying that they are utilizing aid devoted to tsunami for military purposes."

2005-01-22T17:53:00.000-05:00

" What I have said is it is a monumental tragedy that people are facing - both the Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims.....so it is not the time for the government to spend an enormous amount of money to purchase military hardware. That is giving us concern." - Anton Balasingham, Chief negotiator of LTTE at the Peace Process.

"As a priest, I was really upset."

2005-01-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

The Rev. Sarangika Fernando, a Sri Lankan Methodist minister, witnessed one of the prayer sessions in Sri Lanka by Antioch Community Church members of Waco, Texas and accused them of acting unethically with traumatized people. "They said, 'In the name of Jesus, she must be cured!' " he said. "As a priest, I was really upset."

"For the Tamil people tragedy that struck on 26 December is the 2nd tsunami"

2005-01-17T22:18:00.000-05:00

"The international community was kept away from the truth, if the subtle destruction of our homeland prior to 26 December 2004 could be defined as tsunami one, for the Tamil people the tragedy that struck on 26 December is, the second tsunami," - LTTE leader V. Prabakaran at the meeting with disaster management planners

"Countries affected by the tsunami are going to have to pay all that money eventually, starting in 12 months,"

2005-01-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

BBC: Oxfam warns of tsunami cash delay Oxfam praised the response of governments in the aftermath of the tsunami as "admirable". But it warned that rich country governments were "dragging their feet" on trade and debt reforms to help relieve poverty in the long term.

"I believe I was blessed,"

2005-01-17T19:54:00.000-05:00

Bangkok Post: Fate intervenes A missed flight turns into a fortunate opportunity to help Sri Lankan tsunami victims L. Leland ``Skip'' Whitney, an American property developer, and his family had planned to celebrate Christmas in Sri Lanka. The schedule was to arrive at Galle, the city in the South, on the morning of December 26 as it turned out, right before the killer waves hit the country.But when he arrived at Don Muang Airport on Christmas to catch a flight to Colombo, he found that he had missed his flight. Whitney had remembered the departure time incorrectly _ he thought the plane departed at 11:45pm, but in fact, that was actually the arrival time in Sri Lanka.``I felt so lucky that we had missed the flight that I felt compelled to help,'' said Whitney, who is on the Board of Directors of Operation USA, an organisation founded in 1979 with the aim of sending relief flights and sea and land shipments throughout the world. The organisation works with nonprofit partners in each country or through international organisations. In Sri Lanka, Operation USA works with Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), a local relief group active in the devastated areas of Trincomalee and Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. In addition to providing medical aid, the group provides water, hygiene and food.

"You get more humble with this,"

2005-01-17T19:50:00.000-05:00

The News-Press: Fort Myers couple helps homeland: "We are getting great support. Really, it is heartwarming," Deva Caanthan said.

"one had to be a stone not to be moved by something like this".

2005-01-17T18:03:00.000-05:00

- Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, speaking in Colombo upon returning from tsunami devastated Kalmunai-Amparai.

"These people - these are truly gentle people,"

2005-01-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

The Capital Online: Locals travel to tsunami-hit areas to provide relief Though large relief organizations including the American Red Cross, Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders are not accepting new volunteers in the devastated areas of Southeast Asia, some locals have found other ways to get there. J. Thomas Giunta, an Annapolis lawyer, traveled to Sri Lanka last week after his vacation plans fell through.Stunned by the mounting death toll of more than 150,000, including 30,000 in Sri Lanka, he left on Jan. 3 after hearing about Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation. It was founded in 1985 to provide relief and rehabilitation for people in northeast Sri Lanka. Now back in Annapolis, Mr. Giunta described the Sri Lankans as the "lotus flowers of the Earth.""These people - these are truly gentle people," he said. "I've never felt more comfortable anywhere I've traveled, and I've traveled all over the world. I've never felt so safe."

"Nothing like a giant tsunami to ruin a good rebellion".

2005-01-11T20:31:00.000-05:00

At this hour of national and regional tragedy, one could detect among sections of the Sinhalese signs of malign glee ( As seen by: saag.org: THE TSUNAMI & THE LTTE ) not only over the damage suffered by the LTTE, but also over the fatalities suffered by the Tamil civilians. One only has to visit the Internet chat rooms of many Sinhalese groups to have an idea of their mind-set. I am giving below random examples of the comments of the Sinhalese: " If we let them alone, disease will wipe them out. Sounds like the seven plagues in Egypt to me. Let God do what man has been unwilling to do; " "Nothing like a giant Tsunami to ruin a good rebellion;" "Those kids (children who were killed by the Tsunami) would have ended up as child soldiers of the LTTE anyway;" "Let them (the Tamils) rot. Perfect opportunity to go in and wipe out what's left of them;" "Have their leaders strap on MEGA-bomb vests, then explode themselves. I'm sure they'll leave behind a crater large enough to bury quite a few bodies."

"not just to visit but to celebrate peace."

2005-01-09T22:55:00.000-05:00

"hoping to be able to come back and visit all parts of Sri Lanka, not just to visit but to celebrate peace." "So the ordinary people of Sri Lanka have come together on an extraordinary scale to meet the needs created by the emergency. I fervently hope that their political leaders would do the same in joined hands," - Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan in Colmbo.

"This is not only a natural disaster but a man-made disaster."

2004-12-31T09:53:00.000-05:00

"The army confiscates these things and brings them to Buddhist temples, or brings them to welfare centres without co-ordinating with us.........this is not only a natural disaster but a man-made disaster....The government has not issued anything, not even one rupee of food....Everything we're giving out is from our own local fundraising and collections." - Kirupa Sivam, TRO co-ordinator for Batticaloa - Speaking to Martin Regg Cohn, of Torornto Star.

" I thought, 'This is how you die'."

2004-12-30T18:48:00.000-05:00

" It was so quick, it washed us so far away - the carriage kept filling up with water. I was telling my friend to run to the front of the carriage, the windows there were still above the water. I pushed my friend through the window to get her up out of the carriage. There was a woman next to me holding her baby trying to hold the window open with the other hand. As I tried to help her the carriage filled completely, the water pushing the window shut...Only my friend managed to get out... Back at the other end of the carriage it was dark, I held my breath, I thought, 'This is how you die'." Tourist Danny Shahaf, an Israeli living in London, was on the "Samudra Devi"

" My condolences also go to our Muslim and Sinhala brethren in southern coastal areas.."

2004-12-29T19:41:00.000-05:00

"I convey my feeling of attachment, consolation and deepest condolences to our people who have lost their beloved and dearest, and undergoing unbearable sorrow and pain. My condolences also go to our Muslim and Sinhala brethren in the southern coastal areas, who have lost their kith and kin, and in deep sorrow. I also take this opportunity to express my condolences and share the grief of all the people in the South Asian nations, India and Tamil Nadu in particular, on whom had befallen this disaster " - V.Prabakaran, LTTE leader.

"The dead are the lucky ones."

2004-12-29T14:21:00.000-05:00

"Unawatuna has been massacred," he said. "The dead are the lucky ones". Winton, an-Policeman from Unawatuna, getting angry; he could not understand why the helicopters were hovering but no one had come to help on the ground - and he did not know where to bury his mother.

"It is too early for us to state what our financial burden will be."

2004-12-29T14:16:00.000-05:00

"This is primarily a human tragedy. It is too early for us to state what our financial burden will be." - Munich Re, the world's biggest reinsurer.

"We need help and we need it now."

2004-12-28T23:01:00.000-05:00

"We are getting close to desperation," warns Sumantha, a school teacher in Galle. "We need help and we need it now."

"We are a family of eight,"

2004-12-28T22:57:00.000-05:00

"My children haven't eaten in three days. We need milk, cereals and water. There is no sign of the government or of any food aid." - Ramaya, a fisherman in Galle.

"It was absolute and uncomplicated grief."

2004-12-28T21:09:00.000-05:00

" The family of my sister's maid have been struck hard. The brother-in-law was in the bus that was taken out to sea, and a son who was driving a taxi has not contacted them since the tsunami. I had never seen a woman cry like her before. It was absolute and uncomplicated grief." Graeme Pietersz lives in Sri Lanka with his wife and two year-old daughter, telling BBC News about his experiences during and aftermath.

"Sri Lankans, they have troubles. But they're always smiling."

2004-12-28T18:19:00.000-05:00

That was Madeline Drexler, a Boston-based journalist and author quoting of what she knew of Sri Lanka pre-tsunami, in a Boston Globe Op-Ed. She ends the piece by saying, "Perhaps not now that their lullaby of an ocean has become a dirge."

"Kohl intends to complete his holiday,"

2004-12-28T17:52:00.000-05:00

A spokesman for Mr Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl said the 74-year-old had been staying at a coastal resort in Sri Lanka, where he was undergoing heath spa treatments, and was not hurt. "Kohl intends to complete his holiday," he added. It was also reported that former Chancellor was airlifted to a safe area by Sri Lankan air force.

"This may be the worst natural disaster in recent history."

2004-12-27T13:46:00.000-05:00

"This may be the worst natural disaster in recent history because it is affecting so many heavily populated coastal areas... so many vulnerable communities," - UN emergency relief co-ordinator Jan Egeland speaking to CNN.

" We are piling up bodies outside the hospital "

2004-12-27T13:01:00.000-05:00

“The wave would have sucked homes and people back into the sea. Few could have resisted its force. We think that whole areas have been buried under sand dug up by the wave’s power.......the hospital mortuary is full. We are piling up bodies outside the hospital” - Dr. M. Baghavan, Kalmunai Base Hospital