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Revenge fire, bombing force 5000 to flee
[TamilNet, Monday, 30 April 2001, 20:38 GMT]
More than five thousand civilians fled their homes in Pooneryn north following heavy shelling and bombing, aid agency sources in the north said Monday. They said that Sri Lanka Air Force jets bombed the area since Friday. The Sri Lanka army had fired mortars and artillery on civilian settlements in the northern parts of Pooneryn. The attacks are in retaliation to the heavy losses sustained by the SLA in the Agni Khiela I Operation last week, sources in Jaffna said.
Hartley past principal's funeral held in UK
Mr. K. Pooranampillai, 92, a former principal of Hartley College, Point Pedro (1943-1967), and later at St. Johns College, Jaffna (1967-1976), affectionately known as KP, passed away in UK at his daughter's residence on 22 April. His funeral took place in Falkstone, Kent on Saturday. Many past pupils of Hartley College now resident in UK attended his funeral.
Tigers hand over more SLA bodies
[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 April 2001, 06:12 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers handed over 26 bodies of Sri Lanka army soldiers to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kilinochchi Sunday morning, ICRC spokesman Harasha Gunwardena told Tamilnet. This brings the total bodies of SLA personnel handed over by the Tigers to the ICRC to 56. The Tigers handed over the bodies of 30 government troopers Saturday morning.
Offensive routed, over 2400 SLA casualties - LTTE
[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 April 2001, 11:41 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers in statement issued from their international headquarters in the Vanni Saturday afternoon said that the Sri Lankan army was pushed back to its original position in the early hours of the morning today. The statement said that the SLA's 55, 52 Divisions and the elite 53 special forces Division, suffered more than 2400 casualties in ferocious counter offensives by the combat formations of the Liberation Tigers. "LTTE commando units have started clearing the area, about 2 square kilometres, vacated by the army in the Eluthumadduval sector, in southern Jaffna. Decomposing bodies of soldiers and their weapons are scattered everywhere in the area, according to LTTE field commanders", the statement said.
LTTE hands over bodies of SLA to ICRC
"Thirty bodies of SLA soldiers were handed over to the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross by the Liberation Tigers in the Vanni region Saturday morning", ICRC spokesman Harasha Gunawardene told TamilNet.
SLA artillery attack wounds eight in Batticaloa
Eight civilians, including a 3-month-old infant, were seriously wounded Saturday when the Sri Lanka army's 23-3 Brigade in Batticaloa town fired heavy artillery on villages across the lagoon in the district's western hinterland. The SLA opened up with heavy artillery fire on the villages of Mandapathadi and Kannankudah around 10.30 a.m.
Norway's peace initiative mired in blood
(NEWS FEATURE) The Norwegian peace initiative suffered several body blows this week as amid a bloody Sri Lanka Army offensive in the Jaffna peninsula, the government ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire, saying it was Ïirrelevant" to the Norwegian facilitated peace process, and insisted the Liberation Tigers would remain proscribed until they proved they were "sincere and honest" about negotiations, thereby rejecting two issues the LTTE insists are pre-requisites for succesful negotiations to be held.
Casualties rise as Jaffna battle rages
[TamilNet, Friday, 27 April 2001, 16:05 GMT]
Heavy fighting continued for the third day in the southern Jaffna peninsula, with both the Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka Army troops using heavy artillery, official LTTE sources said Thursday. LTTE casualties on Friday night stood at 48 killed, they said. The SLA continued to suffer casualties as troops attempting to dig into a captured salient 1km inside the LTTE's defence lines near Eluthumadduval, the sources further said.
Vesak should be day of mourning - eastern students
Eastern university undergraduates and teachers demonstrated Friday urging the people of Batticaloa to observe the Buddhist Vesak festival as a day of mourning. Thirteen people, including nine children from an orphanage, were shot dead by Sri Lanka army soldiers in Batticaloa town during the Vesak festival on 17 May last year following a blast. The SLA sought an apology for the massacre from the people of Batticaloa in January this year, blaming a drunken commanding officer for ordering troops to open fire on civilians. Meanwhile, the SLA warned civilians in Batticaloa Friday not to move about near its camps and positions in the district after dark. The army increased search operation in the eastern town this week.
Tigers recover 30 SLA bodies -VOT
The Liberation Tigers recovered the bodies of thirty Sri Lanka army soldiers from the battlefield in Jaffna south, the Voice of Tigers said in its morning news broadcast Friday. The radio denied a report by the Special Media Information Centre of the Sri Lankan government that the Sri Lanka Air Force bombed two busloads of its troopers behind the lines on Thursday. The VOT said that heavy fighting was raging in the southern parts of the peninsula for the third day.
"Fierce fighting continues in southern Jaffna" - LTTE
The Liberation Tigers said in press release issued from their headquarters in the Vanni Thursday evening that fierce fighting continues in southern Jaffna. "More than 300 Sri Lankan army soldiers were killed and over 1200 injured in the ferocious fighting that continues for the second day in the southern sector of the Jaffna peninsula. The Government troops have suffered massive casualties as the combat formations of the Liberation Tigers offered stiff and determined resistance to the offensive assault launched by the Sri Lankan army", the statement said.
Tigers step up counter fire on SLA
The Liberation Tigers directed heavy mortar and artillery counter barrages on the positions the SLA is trying to consolidate in the Muhamalai-Eluthumadduval sector in Jaffna Thursday. Civilian flights from Jaffna to Colombo operated by a company owned by the Sri Lanka Air Force was cancelled Thursday afternoon, sources in Jaffna said. Passengers who went to board the AN-28 at the Palaly military base this afternoon were turned back. "The SLAF is in urgent need of more flights for casualty evacuation and logistical runs", a member of a Tamil group working with the Sri Lanka army in Jaffna said. The state owned Sri Lanka broadcasting corporation called on civilians Thursday morning to donate blood for the wounded soldiers. Hospital sources in Colombo confirmed that at least 1100 wounded SLA soldiers have been flown out of Jaffna for treatment in civilian hospitals in the southern parts of the island, including the capital.
More than 1000 SLA wounded in aborted offensive
At least 1058 Sri Lanka army troops were wounded in Wednesday's massive onslaught against the positions of the Liberation Tigers in the Jaffna peninsulaís southern sector, military sources in Jaffna said. A large number of these were airlifted to government hospitals in Colombo and Anurudhapura. Many of the seriously wounded were also sent to the government general hospitals in Jayawardhanapura and Ragama near Colombo. Others have been admitted to provincial hospitals, according to medical sources. About 100 more are expected to be airlifted to Colombo later today for treatment, the sources added. Casualties started rising when several advancing SLA troop concentrations were hit by heavy artillery fire from the LTTEís gun positions in the rear, military sources in Jaffna said.
SLN, Sea Tigers clash in Mannar
A Sri Lanka Navy sailor was killed and two were wounded in a clash with the Sea Tigers in the sea off Pallimunai, a suburb of Mannar town around 7.20 a.m. Thursday morning. Police sources in the town said that Sea Tiger craft attacked an SLN patrol in the Pallimunai sea that attempted to intercept a group of Liberation Tigers who were headed towards the Mannar town. The wounded SLN personnel were brought to the Mannar base hospital.
Heavy SLA casualties in Jaffna fighting
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2001, 19:11 GMT]
Heavy fighting between the Liberation Tigers and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops continued Wednesday night with both sides using heavy artillery, official LTTE sources said. Over 100 SLA troops have been killed and 400 wounded in 24 hours of pitch battle in the Kilaly-Eluthumadduval-Nagar Kovil axis, the sources said.
ICRC outlines work in war zone
"The present conflict should come to an end if the displaced living in camps and welfare centers in the Trincomalee district to return to their own villages", Mr. Daniel Shriber, Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross in Trincomalee told a press briefing Wednesday. Answering a question he added, "The ICRC is not in a position to provide adequate security for resettled people in Kuchchaveli, Thiriyai villages in the north of Trincomalee district.
Thamil Chelvan, Bishops discuss peace prospects
The leader of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers, Mr.S.P Thamil Chelvan Wednesday welcomed the delegation of Sri Lanka's catholic Bishops who are on a peace mission in the Vanni Wednesday, church sources said. Mr. Thamil Chelvan met the bishops for two hours in Mallavi, they added. The Catholic Bishops are on a mission to the Vanni to discuss prospects for bringing about a peaceful settlement to Sri Lankaís ethnic conflict.
SLA casualties in Jaffna fighting rise
More than 400 Sri Lanka army soldiers were wounded in less than eight hours of fighting with the Liberation Tigers in Eluthumadduval and Kilali in Jaffna, military sources in the north said. Officials at government hospitals in Anuradhapura and Colombo said preparations are underway to receive more later this evening. The SLA spokesman, however, claimed that only 78 soldiers were wounded and 30 were killed. Op. Agni Khela I (Fire Flame), launched in the early hours of Wednesday morning, was the first phase of an ambitious plan by the SLA to retake JaffnaÌs southern sector and Elephant Pass, the strategic gateway to the peninsula which Tigers overran in April 2000.
SLA operation slows as casualties mount
The Sri Lanka Army offensive south of Eluthumadduval and Kilaly slowed down this afternoon amid heavy resistance and counter fire by the Liberation Tigers, sources in Jaffna said. At least 84 SLA troopers were wounded and 28 killed in eight hours of fighting, military sources in the north said. Shelling continued in the Nagar Kovil sector.
Trinco NGOs object to chauvinist official
A spokesman for Non Government Organisations in Trincomalee said Wednesday that the instruction issued by the Governor of the Northeastern province Maj.Gen. (Ret.) Asoka Jayawardena that all NGO in this eastern district should not function without the Government Agent's authority is a step to restrict and interfere in their activities under the guise of monitoring their rehabilitation and development works. "The Sri Lankan government has generally neglected reconstruction, rehabilitation and development work for more than a decade in the Tamil areas of the district. The NGOs have tried to fill this gap in a very limited way despite restrictions on their work. Getting the GA, whose Sinhala chauvinist proclivities are only too well known, to supervise our work is an insidious tactic to further undermine the Tamil areas of Trincomalee", added the spokesman.
SLA offensive in Nagar Kovil, Eluthumadduval
Heavy fighting erupted in Nagar Kovil and the Eluthumadduval area in Jaffna when Sri Lanka army troops attempted to push south along the coast around 11 p.m. Tuesday night, sources in the northern peninsula said. The SLA's thrust towards the coastal villages of Kudrappu and Maamunai and south of Eluthumadduval was met with heavy resistance from the Liberation Tigers, they added. Meanwhile, the army banned on all fishing in the Jaffna lagoon until further notice Tuesday evening.
Sri Lanka vows to continue war
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge Tuesday vowed to defeat the Liberation Tigers and safeguard the territorial integrity of the country, the state-owned Daily News reported Wednesday. Describing the LTTE as an "unprincipled terrorist organisation," she saluted Sri Lanka's military for "continuing to fight tooth and nail to wipe out the LTTE from the face of our dear motherland."
SL Govt. insensitive to Tamil agony - Pararajasingham
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 April 2001, 11:29 GMT]
"The Tamil people have totally lost faith in the Sri Lankan government. The Liberation Tigers observed a ceasefire unilaterally for four months because they felt that the Tamil people should not continue to suffer and to create a climate conducive for Norway's peace efforts. By rashly rejecting their ceasefire and stubbornly refusing to reciprocate it, the government displayed its gross insensitivity to the agony of the Tamil people", said Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, Tamil United Liberation Front MP for Batticaloa, in a comment sent to the Tamil press Tuesday.
Tamil schools don't get computers
"Tamil medium national schools in the northeast province have not been supplied with computers and printers although the Ministry of Education has long since distributed them to national schools in other parts of the country", said the President of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union Mr.S.Thandayuthapani. "The computers and printers were promised last year and teachers were trained for handling them. We have got nothing so far despite several appeals," he added.
Tigers say Colombo bent on war, call off ceasefire
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in an official statement issued from its headquarters in Vanni, northern Sri Lanka, stated that the organisation had decided not to extend its unilaterally declared cease-fire that expires at midnight on the 24th April 2001. "We are compelled to make this painful decision as a consequence of the hard-line, intransigent attitude of the Sri Lankan government which has not only refused to reciprocate positively to our peace gesture but intensified land, sea and air attacks causing heavy casualties on our side. It has become impossible to contain the military assaults of the enemy with our self-restrained defensive tactics without resorting to counter-offensive operations. Under such dangerous conditions we can no longer sustain our self-imposed truce which the enemy has been exploiting to its own military advantage", the LTTE's statement said.
Colombo set on war path say Tamil parties
Tamil party leaders Sunday strongly condemned statements made by Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka, that the war against the Liberation Tigers has begun and that his government will not declare a ceasefire again. " The Prime minister's pronouncement on Friday makes it amply clear that the Sri Lankan government is not interested in peace negotiations at all. The PM is a confidante of the President. His renewed belligerence shows that the government is on the war path again", charged a spokesman for the alliance of ten Tamil parties.
STF assaults widow for reporting sexual harassment
A widow who reported sexual harassment a group Special Task Force (STF) commandos was severely assaulted by them and was admitted to the Batticaloa hospital Sunday morning. The woman, Mahendran Nageswary, 37, Saturday complained to an officer at the STF's main camp at Karaithivu, 46 kilometres south of Batticaloa, that a group of STF commandos from Kaluwanchikudy were harassing her. The woman was beaten up by the STF personnel who had been intimidating when she returned home Saturday evening. The commandos beat up woman's son too when he had tried to help his mother who had fallen on the ground unconscious, hospital sources said.
Little hope for resettling Tamil villages in Trinco
"Wild animals are roaming in many abandoned Tamil villages in the Trincomalee district. Entire populations of these were forced to flee their homes due to military actions more than fifteen years ago. Around five thousand displaced are still living in fifteen welfare centers and the rest are living with their relatives in Trincomalee town. Several Tamil villages in the district, particularly in the Kuchchaveli division, are without basic facilities such as schools, and dispensaries. There is little hope that any funds for development would be allocated to such areas by the District Co-ordinating Committee because there aren't any Tamil MP's on it", said a senior Sri Lankan government official in Trincomalee Sunday.
Heavy shelling in Jaffna
The Sri Lanka Army launched an intense artillery and aerial attack Saturday on the positions of the Liberation Tigers in the southern Jaffna peninsula, sources in Jaffna town said. Heavy artillery and multi-barrelled rocket launchers (MBRLs) targeted LTTE defences in the Eluthumadduval and Pallai areas, they said.
SLA shells Batticaloa villages - residents
Sri Lanka Army soldiers stationed at the 23-3 Brigade HQ in Batticaloa fired several rounds of shells towards the villages of Kannankudah, Thaandiyadi, Arasadithivy and Kokkaddicholai in the western hinterlands of the district Friday night residents said.
Trinco citizens call for UNHRC presence
"The presence of the Geneva based United Nations Human Rights Commission in Sri Lanka should be made a reality to monitor crimes against innocent Tamils, especially women, by members of Armed Forces who are almost 100 percent Sinhalese", states a memorandum sent to several international human rights organizations Friday by leading citizens of Trincomalee.
Four LTTE boats sunk - Navy
Gunboats of the Sri Lanka Navy intercepted and attacked a Sea Tiger supply convoy of the Mullaitivu coast Friday morning and a fierce battle ensued in which four LTTE boats were sunk, military officials said.
US urged to pressure Sri Lanka over talks
The United States should pressure the Sri Lankan government to cease its war and seek negotiations with the Liberation Tigers, the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) urged a visiting senior US official Thursday. "It is impossible to seek peace while the government insists on continuing the war," Mr.Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, Secretary General of the TULF told Mr. Adolfo Franco, Counsel for the International Relations Committee of the US Congress, who is in Colombo meeting political leaders with regards to the Norwegian peace efforts.
Tigers slam wounding of US journalist
The Liberation Tigers Thursday condemned the wounding Monday of an American journalist by Sri Lanka Army troops who opened fire on Marie Colvin's party as "an act of cowardice" and praised the correspondent's bravery in crossing into the Vanni to examine the situation there for herself. Ms. Colvin had crossed the lines back into government-held territory with the hope the SLA would honour its unilateral New-Year truce, the LTTE said in a statement issued in the Vanni.
Batticaloa shuts down for 'Annai' Poopathi anniversary
Shops, government offices and businesses were closed Thursday in the Batticaloa district to mark the 13th anniversary of Poopathy Kanapathipillai, the woman who fasted unto death on 19 April 1988 during a month long mass protest against atrocities committed by the Indian army in the northern and eastern parts of the island at the time. Few people and fewer vehicles were on the roads. Special Task Force (STF) commandos forced shops to open in Kaluwanchikudi, 24 kilometers north of Batticaloa, sources said.
Sinhala nationalists support Mannar rape accused
The former officer in charge of the Mannar Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) N.P.N.Suraweera who is accused of torturing and sexually assaulting two women in custody on 19 March filed a petition Wednesday in the court of appeal that the case against him should be heard in Colombo and not in the district court of Mannar. The Sinhala nationalist politician lawyer Mr. S.L Gunasekera appeared for the Police officer. Suraweera said in his petition that the two women were not raped in custody and that they started saying so only after the Mannar Bishop who, according to him, has close links with the Liberation Tigers visited them on 27 March.
Pt. Pedro UC wants Sihala Urumaya banned
The Pt. Pedro Urban Council passed a resolution Tuesday that the Sinhala extremist party, the Sihala Urumaya (SU) should be banned. Mr.Mark Kumanan of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) proposed the resolution, which was adopted unanimously by the council. The EPDP member said that the Sihala Urumaya should be banned because it is attempting to scuttle peace talks to settle the ethnic conflict. The Sihala Urumaya is a racist anti Tamil group, Mr. Kumanan told the council.
Third party 'crucial' in any peace talks- Balasingham
The Liberation Tigers said this week that the involvement of a third party was crucial in any negotiations between them and the Sri Lankan government, and suggested that Norway might be fill that role as an extension of Oslo's present efforts to bring about talks between the two sides. In an interview to the Tamil Guardian weekly, the latest issue of which hit the newsstands in London Tuesday, the LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham said "In our perspective the third party involvement is crucial even after the commencement of the negotiations."
LTTE to appeal against UK ban
The Liberation Tigers are preparing to appeal against their proscription under Britain's Terrorism Act and were putting together a legal team for this purpose, Tamil media sources said Tuesday, quoting the LTTE's chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham. "We are already in consultation with eminent lawyers in the field of terrorist legislation and we are advised to apply to the Home Secretary for de-proscription," Balasingham was quoted as saying by sources with the Tamil Guardian weekly.
SLN, Sea Tigers clash off Mullaithivu
A Sri Lanka Navy gun boat was damaged and seven sailors were wounded in a sea battle between the Sea Tigers and the Navy off the coast of Chaalai in north-east of the island in the early hours of Monday, military sources said. Voice of Tigers radio said the fighting erupted when the SLN crafts engaged Sea Tiger boats off the coast of Mullaithivu around 1.45 a.m.
Sri Lanka Navy bombards Trinco village
The Sri Lanka Navy bombarded Soodaikkudah, a coastal hamlet south of Trincomalee, Saturday afternoon on Tamil New Year, residents said. Four boats and a house were damaged when the Sri Lanka Navy gunboats shelled the village from 3.30 p.m. Saturday, according to them. People fled the village in November last year following persistent attacks by the SLN. They were sheltered as refugees in a school in Sampoor, a large village west of Soodaikudah until they resettled in February on an assurance the ICRC had obtained from the Navy.
Released prisoners not LTTE members
A senior member of a Tamil paramilitary group working with the Sri Lanka army said Sunday that at least four among the ten purported 'Liberation Tigers' released by Colombo as a good will measure are actually persons closely associated with the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) and the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF). "None of them are members of the Liberation Tigers. They were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) of the Police in September last year because of they are relatives and acquaintances of Jeganahtan Pathmanathan, a senior member of the TELO's Mannar branch who was arrested earlier for allegedly aiding an ex-LTTE member. Jeganathan is still in prison with his wife and two small children. There was no grounds for a case against the others", he said.
Judicial process impaired, scant justice- Bishops
"Ordinary citizens who are suffering have scant hope of obtaining even elementary justice at the hands of the traditional guardians of law and order. People have the perception that the judicial process too has been impaired", said the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka Sunday in a statement issued to the press Sunday.
Tamils observe New Year amid fragile truce
The Tamil New Year begins Friday night at 9.27 p.m. People wear new clothes and visit friends and relatives. During the festive season there is great demand for new bank notes, which are gifted as good will money ('Kai Muluththam') to friends and relatives. Many indigenous festivities traditionally associated with the New Year have greatly diminished due to SLA restrictions and curfews.
SLA sounds alarm on first day of truce
The Sri Lankan security forces high command, in a clear signal that it was not comfortable with the limited ceasefire declared by Colombo for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, charged in a SLA news release Friday that the Liberation Tigers are taking advantage of the army halting offensive operations, barely 12 hours into the truce. The Police, army and the Special Task Force stepped up security in areas controlled by them in the north and east of the island Friday although the ceasefire came into effect from midnight Thursday.
Jaffna Undergrads burn government magazine
The students of the Jaffna University burnt copies of the 'Amuthu', a Tamil magazine published by the state run Lake House news papers Thursday evening as a mark of protest against its anti-Tamil stance, sources said. The 'Amuthu' is dedicated to propaganda aimed at subtly or balatantly promoting the policies of the People's Alliance regime and the activities of the Sri Lanka army. The magazine is edited by Mr. Manoranjan who is a close confidante of the Sri Lankan President and is a director of Rupavahini, the state run TV station.
Maj.Gen. Neil Dias' term extended
The Sri Lankan President extended the service of the Sri Lanka army's Chief of Staff, Major General Neil Dias, who was due to retire Thursday before she left to an undisclosed destination abroad. Maj. Gen. Neil Dias is one of the most battle experienced commanders of the SLA. Sources in the SLA headquarters in Colombo ventured to speculate that he might succeed Lt. Gen.Lionel Balagalle who is due to retire this year as the commander of the SLA. The extension of the battle hardened commander's service was seen by analysts as an indication of Colombo's determination to give optimum priority to prosecuting the war against the Liberation Tigers.
PA budget passed, TULF misses MP for vote
The budget of the People's Alliance was passed in the Sri Lankan Parliament Wednesday by a majority of nine votes amidst speculation that the opposition might woo the government's Tamil and Muslim allies to defeat the ruling party. However, the opposition lost one vote from the minimum it expected to be cast against the budget today when the TULF MP for Batticaloa, Mr. P. Selvarajah left for India amidst charges that he had been inveigled at the eleventh hour to stay away from the crucial vote. Mr. Selvarajah was the only MP who was absent in the Parliament today during the vote. The Sri Lankan legislature has 225 members.
Sri Lanka to observe New Year ceasefire
The Sri Lankan armed forces will cease offensive operations for three days commencing at midnight April 13, to the traditional Tamil and Sinhala New Year, government sources said. The move was not a reciprocation of the Liberation Tigers unilateral ceasefire, now in its fourth month, the sources said.
Black badge protest a success- CTTU
"The protest campaign by Tamil students, teachers and principals condemning the atrocities committed on the two Tamil married women in Mannar in the north eastern province today was a success. Over fifteen thousand teachers and four hundred thousand students participated in the campaign," said Mr.T. Mahasivam, General Secretary of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) Tuesday.
Tamil parties protest in Colombo
More than four hundred Tamils demonstrated against sexual violence by the Sri Lankan security forces in the heart of downtown Colombo Tuesday. The protest was led by an alliance of eleven Tamil political parties, including the Tamil United Liberation Front. " We are not, through this demonstration, making an appeal to the government. We believe that there is no point in appealing to this government about atrocities committed by the security forces against the Tamils. We doing this to impress upon the world our predicament" said the chief organizer of the demonstration, Mr. Mano Ganeshan who is the leader of the Democratic Workers' Congress.
SLA op. scares civilians from Batticaloa interior
People from the interior of the northwestern hinterland of Batticaloa began moving out of their hamlets from early morning Tuesday fearing an operation by the Sri Lanka army against the positions of the Liberation Tigers in Thoppikkal and Tharavai. Families in Miyankalkulam and Tharavai abandoned their homesteads and began arriving Tuesday morning in Thihilivettai, a village close to the SLA controlled main coastal road, 25 kilometers north of Batticaloa with their personal belongings and cattle.
Frustrated carnal marauding provokes assault
Six civilians who were severely assaulted last night by Sri Lanka army soldiers in the village of Korakallimadu, 25 kilometers north of Batticaloa, complained to International Committee of the Red Cross Monday. One of the complainants said that the soldiers had threatened the villagers with dire consequences if the incident were to be reported to anyone. He said that more than ten persons were assaulted for raising the cry when soldiers from the Kiran Bridge camp had entered their houses and attempted to sexually harass young women late Sunday night.
Police seek further imprisonment of Sivamani, Wijikala
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Mannar Police Monday moved in the Mannar district court that Sivamani Weerakon and Nanthakumar Wijikala, the young women who were allegedly raped and brutally tortured in Police custody, be further remanded for fourteen days on grounds that they had confessed to offences under draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act and that they are suicide bombers sent by the LTTE to assassinate important persons. The SIU also stated that it was necessary to keep the women in custody because investigations about them are not yet over. Objecting to the SIU's application, Mr. K.S Ratnavale, the attorney who appeared for the accused, told the court, "this a funny application coming from the prosecution because the B report filed in court by the SIU moving for further remand has been signed by OIC Suraweera who has been accused of committing sexual offences against the two women. He should be the one behind bars".
Mannar women write to President
"There are many laws and schemes for the protection of women. Appropriate action is not taken against those flouting them. On the contrary, at the highest rungs of the Government, such obvious offences are even denied, disowned and covered up. This creates in the public mistrust in the rule of law and becomes an encouragement for the criminals. The Government, instead of ensuring the safety of the public, is interested in protecting the security forces", the Mannar Women's Front said in a memorandum sent to the President Sunday.
Pararajasingham says prisons toll death knell for Tamils
"The prison is said to be a high security, safe place for prisoners. But judging from various attacks on Tamil prisoners detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Regulations during the past eight years, prison has become a death knell for Tamil prisoners", said Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, TULF MP for Batticaloa in a letter faxed to the Sri Lankan President about the brutal attack Saturday on Tamil prisoners held in the Negombo prison under the Immigrants and Emigrants (Amendment) Act No.42 of 1998. Fifteen Tamil prisoners who were on protest fast demanding that they be released on bail were injured when they were brutally attacked by prison guards Saturday. The condition of seven is serious.
LTTE releases four POWs
The Liberation Tigers on Saturday released four prisoners of war who had been held by them for many years. They were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the northern Vanni main land ICRC spokesman Harasha Gunawardene told TamilNet. LTTE sources said the POWs were released to show organisastion's support for the Norwegian facilitated peace talks and as a demonstration of its commitment to future peace talks.
Tamil women have no faith in President - MP
"The Tamil women of this country have no faith in the President or the government because there is no justice when wrongs are perpetrated on them by the armed forces. The recent actions of the President are encouraging the army to further indulge in sexual atrocities against Tamil women. Although she is a woman the President does not bother to take even minimal action against the perpetrators of murder and rape. The President applauds the security forces and does what she can to cover up their heinous activities against the Tamil people. Sexual atrocities have been committed on Tamil women in Mannar many times in the past. But only the 19 March incident has come to light", said Mr. Selvam Adaikkalanathan Member of Parliament for the Vanni, speaking Saturday at the protest fast at the St. MaryÌs Church in Mannar town. More than three thousand people from many parts of the Mannar district took part in the fast to protest against the brutal rape and torture of two Tamil women in custody by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Counter Subversive Unit of the Police on 19 March.
Tigers urge de-proscription and ceasefire for talks
Mr. S.P.Tamil Chelvan, the Head of the Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has called upon the government of Sri Lanka to lift the ban on his organisation and reciprocate positively to the LTTE's unilateral cease-fire as essential pre-requisites for the commencement of political negotiations. This message was conveyed through the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Mr. Jon Westborg when he had lengthy discussions with the political leaders of the LTTE in Mallavi, Vanni, northern Sri Lanka yesterday and today morning, the organisation said in a press release Saturday.
Norway Ambassador, Thamil Chelvan hold talks
Norway's Ambassador in Sri Lanka Jan Westborg and an official of the Norwegian embassy in Colombo, Mr. Tomas Strangland held discussions with Mr. S. Thamil Chelvan, the leader of the Political Wing of the Liberation Tigers, at Pallamadu in the Vanni this afternoon from 4 p.m., Voice of Tigers said in its night news broadcast Friday. The radio did not comment on the content or nature of the discussions between Norway's Ambassador and Mr. Thamil Chelvan.
Ex-SLA commander pays missing youthís parent
Lt. Gen. Cecil Waidyaratne, a former commander of the Sri Lanka army Thursday paid 100,000 rupees as directed by Sri Lankaís court of Appeal to the father of a Tamil youth who went missing after he was arrested by the army in the Ampara district in June 1990. The decision of the court of appeal in the Habeas Corpus application on Kandaiah Yoganayagam, 31, is the first instance in which the Sri Lanka armyís high command has been held responsible by the Court of Appeal for the disappearance of a Tamil youth in the Ampara district. Human rights activists and Peace Committees in the district say that more than six thousand Tamil civilians were massacred or reported missing after being arrested by the Sri Lanka army and the Special Task Force commandos of the Sri Lanka Police in the Tamil villages and hinterland of Ampara between 1990 and 1993.
Sri Lanka Marxists commemorate insurrection
Sri Lanka's radical Marxist party, the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Thursday commemorated its cadres who were killed in the insurrection of 1971. More than ten thousand youth who took part in the JVP's armed insurrection to overthrow the Sri Lankan government and establish a communist regime in Sri Lanka were massacred by the army and Police. The Indian government sent in troops to aid the Sri Lankan security forces quell the rebellion.
Emergency extended
Sri Lanka's Parliament Thursday passed a motion extending the State of Emergency for another month by a majority of 22 votes. The United National Party (UNP), Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Tamil Eelam Organisation (TELO) and All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) voted against the motion. The solitary Parliamentarian of the Sinhala Urumaya was not present at that time of voting. 111 parliamentarians voted for the motion and 89 voted against.
Jaffna MP lambastes Colombo's duplicity
Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Defence, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte, flatly denied that the security forces had raped two women in detention in Mannar, interrupting the All Ceylon Tamil Congress MP for Jaffna, Mr. Vinayagamoorthy, who was on his feet in the Parliament Thursday speaking on the destruction of Tamil temples in the north and east and the rape of women in Mannar. "The statement of the Deputy Minister of Defence is tantamount to a gross intimidation of the judicial process. It shows that the government is more eager to justify such atrocities by its security forces than it is to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to book", Mr. Vinayagamoorthy told TamilNet Thursday evening.
Monks lead Colombo protests over Buddhist shrine
There was tension in the Sri Lankan capitol Colombo Wednesday morning after several unauthorized structures, including a Buddhist shrine were demolished by workers of the city's Urban Development Authority. Thousands of angry protestors led by buddhists monks blocked the traffic through Punchi Borella junction protesting against the destruction of the Buddhist Vihare.
Congressional briefing on SriLanka held
"A true and comprehensive peace cannot be achieved through armed conflict. To be clear -- no one can 'win' the war in Sri Lanka. Rather, the road to a true and genuine peace can only be achieved through good faith negotiations without pre-conditions. As an initial first step of goodwill by both sides to the conflict, an internationally monitored cease fire should be agreed to by the parties to the conflict and unconditional discussions on a comprehensive settlement should begin," said Rep. Gilman at a congressional briefing on Sri Lanka held in the committee room of the House International Relations Committee in Washington D.C. last Thursday. Gilman is Chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.
Trinco lawyers condemn Mannar rape
"Lawyers cannot be mere onlookers when injustices are done to civilians by law enforcement authorities," said the President of the Trincomalee Bar Association Mr.Arumugam Jegasothy presiding over the special meeting convened Tuesday morning to pass a resolution condemning the brutal and beastly crimes committed on two Tamil women in Mannar by law enforcement personnel when the victims were under their custody.
10,000 Tamils rally at UN
Over ten thousand Tamils rallied outside the United Nations building in Geneva on Monday calling for international pressure on Sri Lanka to negotiate with the Liberation Tigers and to support of the Tamil right to self-determination. Tamil expatriates converged from several European cities by special trains and busses to take part in the annual peace march through the main streets of Geneva to coincide with the occasion of the 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), organisers said.
LTTE refutes "child soldiers" accusations
The Liberation Tigers Monday refuted allegations by Amnesty International that they had recruited young children as combatants, describing the accusations as "malicious". The LTTE does not recruit combatants under the age of seventeen, sources close to the Tigers quoting senior LTTE officials as saying Monday.
Jaffna Municipal intrigues spill out
A simmering dispute over the dismissal of 36 employees of the Jaffna Municipal Council's (JMC) Health Department was turned into a political contest and intrigue between the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) and the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Monday in Jaffna town. More than three hundred employees of the JMC went in a procession Monday morning to the Nallur Kandasamy temple in support of the council's administration. Another group of employees, mostly from the JMC's health department, marched through the town against the council's administration. They handed over copies of a memorandum listing their grievances and demands to the Jaffna district judge and the government agent. Later they sat in front of the JMC in a protest fast. The protestors are not demanding their reinstatement but want the TULF administration of the JMC dissolved.
Government attitudes may contribute to rapes -Sampanthan
"It would be pertinent to raise the question as to whether pugnacious statements made by persons in high positions and the expressed determination of the Government to continue with the war, contributes towards the unleashing of brutality such as rape and torture on unarmed Tamil civilians particularly Tamil females. It would appear that some service personnel think that if a Tamil is implicated even falsely with the LTTE any crime can be committed against such Tamil person" said the Secretary General of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Mr.Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, in a letter to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge.
Mannar DMO report confirms torture and rape
The District Medical Officer of Mannar in his medical report to the Mannar court this weekend on Wijikala Nanthakumar, the pregnant woman who were arrested on 19 March by the Counter Subversive Unit, said that there were abrasions on her genitals and that there was bleeding in her vagina during examination. Dr. G.Somasekeram, the Mannar DMO who submitted the report on Saturday after examining Wijikala Nanthakumar on 30 March said, "From the history given by the subject and (from) examination I come to the conclusion that Nanthan Wijikala was tortured and raped".
Bishop protests Police, Navy rapes and murders
"The atrocities of the Sri Lanka Navy personnel in Mannar district are growing bad to worse daily. All my efforts to get the Sri Lanka Navy to respect the basic human rights of the people so affected by the prolonged war are proving futile. I have again appealed to the Commander General of the Sri Lankan Navy for redress in the name of the civil public of Mannar," Rt.Rev. Rayappu Joseph Bishop of Mannar said in a statement issued Saturday.


text:
TPO welcomes new interim Chair
>What's new
>TPO welcomes new interim Chair
Mon 2 Sep 2019
Following recommendations in its Tailored Review, today the DWP announced the appointment of Caroline Rookes as interim Chair of The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO).
Anthony Arter, Pensions Ombudsman said:
"I am delighted to welcome Caroline Rookes to The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) as interim Chair. TPO has undergone an extensive transformation over the last few years. Caroline's breadth of experience will help us to take it to the next level, ensuring we can continue to improve dispute resolution for our customers and the pensions industry."
Read DWP's press statement: TPO welcomes new interim Chair
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Many operational drought indices focus primarily on precipitation and temperature when depicting hydroclimatic anomalies, and this perspective can be augmented by analyses and products that reflect the evaporative dynamics of drought. The linkage between atmospheric evaporative demand E-0 and actual evapotranspiration (ET) is leveraged in a new drought index based solely on E-0-the Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI). EDDI measures the signal of drought through the response of E-0 to surface drying anomalies that result from two distinct land surface-atmosphere interactions: 1) a complementary relationship between E-0 and ET that develops under moisture limitations at the land surface, leading to ET declining and increasing E-0, as in sustained droughts, and 2) parallel ET and E-0 increases arising from increased energy availability that lead to surface moisture limitations, as in flash droughts. To calculate EDDI from E-0, a long-term, daily reanalysis of reference ET estimated from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standardized reference ET equation using radiation and meteorological variables from the North American Land Data Assimilation System phase 2 (NLDAS-2) is used. EDDI is obtained by deriving empirical probabilities of aggregated E-0 depths relative to their climatologic means across a user-specific time period and normalizing these probabilities. Positive EDDI values then indicate drier-than-normal conditions and the potential for drought. EDDI is a physically based, multiscalar drought index that that can serve as an indicator of both flash and sustained droughts, in some hydroclimates offering early warning relative to current operational drought indices. The performance of EDDI is assessed against other commonly used drought metrics across CONUS in Part II.


Introduction. Adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy is widespread in the pediatric population, affecting primarily younger children, aged 3 to 6 years. In 1884, a German pathologist, von Waldeyer-Hartz, first described clusters of lymphoid tissue in mucosa of the throat, which he named facial lymphatic ring, known today as Waldeyer's tonsillar ring. Waldeyer's ring plays a significant role in the development of immune response by allowing the contact of the immune system with multiple antigens and thus, enabling the development of the specific immunological response. The main points of contact of the body with the external environment are the mucous membranes of the digestive and respiratory systems. Waldeyer's ring, being at the opening of both systems, has a particular role in the development of immune response, especially during the first years of life.
Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze the symptoms presented by children hospitalized in the Clinic of Pediatric Otolaryngology of the Medical University of Warsaw that had been qualified for the surgical removal of the adenoid and/or tonsils.
Material and methods. All the patients underwent physical examination, and filled in a survey. The study included 59 hospitalized patients, 2 of which refused to disclose the symptoms associated with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy that was diagnosed in them.
Results. The study involved 59 children aged from 2 to 13 years old. The mean age was 6.2 years. The patients were qualified for adenoidectomy or adenotonsillotomy. In 26 cases, at least one of the parents of the patient smoked in the presence of the child. 28 patients reported nasal obstruction, and 29 denied such symptoms. As many as 41 patients (71.9%) reported snoring during sleep. 45 patients (78.9%) breathed through the mouth. Based on the medical history collected from the parents, 22 patients (37.3%) had upper respiratory tract infection at least once a month, 7 patients – every two weeks, 9 – every two months, 15 – every three months, 5 – every 6 months, and one – once a year.
Conclusions. 1. The most common symptom in pediatric patients with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy is snoring. 2. 1/3 of the children with enlarged tonsils is diagnosed with allergies. 3. Almost 45% of children with hypertrophy of the tonsils are exposed to tobacco smoke. 4. Children with enlarged tonsils have upper respiratory tract infections on average once a month.
Key words: adenoid, tonsils, adenoidectomy, adenotonsillotomy, adenotonsillectomy.
Adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy is widespread in the pediatric population, affecting primarily younger children, aged 3 to 6 years. The symptoms of tonsillar hypertrophy are one of the most common reasons for pediatric or ENT visits in children. Therefore, physicians must be aware of the possible complications of the tonsil hypertrophy and of the indications for surgery. Therefore, the physiology of tonsils, their role for the immune system, as well as the early and late consequences of tonsil hypertrophy must also be known. Multiple diagnostic tests enable the physician to decide between conservative and surgical treatment options (4, 5, 8).
– 1 lingual tonsil. Located on the posterior part of the tongue.
Waldeyer's ring plays a significant role in the development of immune response by allowing the contact of the immune system with multiple antigens and thus, enabling the development of specific immunological response. The main points of contact of the body with the external environment are the mucous membranes of the digestive and respiratory systems. As our organisms are continuously exposed to various infectious agents, many non-specific and specific defense mechanisms have been developed. Lymphoid tissue associated with mucous membranes (MALT) is of primary importance for the immune system. MALT can be further divided into the lymphatic tissue of the digestive system (GALT), of the bronchial tree (BALT), and of the nose and throat (NALT) (6, 8, 9).
During the childhood, an intensive growth of the adenoid and tonsils is observed. The enlargement of tonsils is physiological from the 3rd to the 7th year of age, as they are very immunologically active. From the 8th year of age to the end of the puberty, adenoid gradually reduces its size. Tonsils, on the other hand, start to atrophy at about 17-20 years of age. Pathological hypertrophy affects primarily the adenoid, especially in younger children. Tonsils hypertrophy less frequently and are usually accompanied by adenoid hypertrophy (3, 8, 9).
– the promotion of the development of humoral and cellular immunity.
The role of tonsils is especially big during the first years of life. Infants start to lose passive immunity from their mothers at about 6 months of age and start to develop their own immunological response. Tonsils grow and acquire their proper shape. The physiological growth of tonsils concerns especially adenoid and tonsils. The speed of growth of the tonsils is influenced by infectious agents. Moreover, it is also hypothesized that dietary habits and hormonal status can also affect their growth (5, 8).
The tonsils reach their peak size at about 6-7 years of age and it is also the time of their biggest activity. After the puberty, adenoid and tonsils undergo involution and lymphoid follicles of the back and lateral sides of the throat are in the state of functional hypertrophy until 40 years of age. After that, they undergo involution and lingual tonsil hypertrophies until 60 years of age, when it, in turn, begins its involution (5, 8).
The aim of the study was to analyze the symptoms presented by children hospitalized in the Clinic of Pediatric Otolaryngology of the Medical University of Warsaw that had been qualified for the for the surgical removal of the adenoid and/or tonsils.
The study was based on physical examination, a subjective examination and a written survey of children hospitalized in the Clinic of Pediatric Otolaryngology of the Medical University of Warsaw. The survey consisted of two surveys, once, my authority survey and the second one standardized survey, Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF28). The questionnaires were dedicated to parents of children which were hospitalized due to adenoid hypertrophy and /or palatine tonsils. The study included 59 hospitalized patients, 2 of which refused to disclose the symptoms associated with hypertrophy adenoids and/or tonsils.
The study involved 59 children aged from 2 to 13 years old. The mean age was 6.2 years. The patients were qualified for adenoidectomy or adenotonsillotomy. Parents described health status of their child as good in 33 cases, as very good in 21 cases, as satisfactory in 3 cases, and as excellent in 2 cases. Among all patients, only 2 of the them did not attend to school or to kindergarden. 47 patients (79.7%) had a sibling, whereas 12 (20.3%) did not. In 26 cases (61%), at least one of the parents of the patient smoked in the presence of the child. In our survey, 28 patients (49.2%) reported nasal obstruction, and 29 (50.8%) denied such symptoms. As many as 41 patients (71.9%) reported snoring during sleep. 26 patients (44%) presented with nasal speech and 6 patients (10.5%) – with slurred speech or dental malocclusion. Speech impediment was present in 20 patients (35%). In our survey, 45 patients (78.9%) reported breathing through the mouth. In 20 cases (35%), the parents reported that their child significantly increased the volume of the TV, in 18 cases (31.6%), the parents were frequently being asked to increase the volume, and otitis was present in 21 patients (36%) which coincides with the number of children in whom hearing impairment was diagnosed. Body mass deficiency was present in 9 patients (15.8%), and growth deficiency – in 4 patients (7%). The parents reported concentration difficulties in 19 cases (33.3%). Frequent change of sleeping position was reported in 25 children, and restless sleep – in 15 children (26.3%). 18 patients (31.6%) were diagnosed with allergy. The most common allergens were: grass pollen, tree pollen, milk, dust, nuts, pet dander, feathers, drugs, chocolate, and tomatoes. Based on the medical history collected from the parents, 22 patients (37.3%) had upper respiratory tract infection at least once a month, 7 patients (12.3%) – every two weeks, 9 (15.8%) – every two months, 15 (26.3%) – every three months, 5 (8.8%) – every 6 months, and one (1.7%) – once a year.
– oblong face with possible underdevelopment of sinuses (7).
Breathing through the mouth dries oral mucosa, making it susceptible to infectious agents. Thus, children breathing through the mouth often present with throat infections and tonsillitis. Chronic tonsillitis affects not only the tonsils. For instance, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus group A belongs to the flora of tonsils. The contact with streptococcal antigens triggers the production of antibodies which may form immune complexes, inducing inflammation of distant organs, particularly kidneys, myocardium, pericardium, and iris. It may also be responsible for some forms of psoriasis, polyneuritis and vasculitis (5, 8, 9).
Nasal obstruction in the course of adenoid hypertrophy causes retention of secretions – initially mucus, later pus – in the nasal cavity. Parents of children suffering from tonsil hypertrophy frequently report continuous runny nose that does not respond to treatment with nasal drops, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics. The immunity of the child after several courses of antibiotic treatment frequently decreases and the infection become even more difficult to treat. In the next stage of the infection, the secretion is retained in the sinuses and the child presents with recurrent sinusitis. Moreover, purulent secretions often stream down the back wall of the throat, leading to chronic, productive cough and pulmonary diseases (4).
Characteristic nasal speech develops because of the nasal obstruction. Children with adenoid hypertrophy often have speech impairment that requires ENT care. There are multiple reasons for this: adenoidal face (anomaly in the construction of the palate and jaw), impaired mobility of the tongue, and hearing impairment. Enlarged tonsils limit the mobility of the soft palate, further encouraging the development of speech defects (1-4).
A significantly enlarged adenoid can cause the obstruction of the Eustachian tube, preventing proper ventilation of the middle ear. This results in an accumulation of fluid in the tympanic cavity, periodic ear pain without the symptoms of an inflammation, and cyclic conductive hearing defects. This condition is referred to as otitis media secretoria (OMS). Prolonged OMS can cause irreversible hearing defects, adhesions between auditory ossicles, and retraction pockets of the tympanic membrane, which, in turn, can lead to chronic otitis media. The incidence of recurrent acute otitis, and, consequently, chronic otitis, is high in children with adenoid hypertrophy (1, 4, 5).
Surgical treatment is indicated when conservative treatment has failed and when the symptoms of tonsillar hypertrophy worsen in spite of pharmacological treatment. Conservative treatment includes intranasal corticosteroids, decongestants, mucolytics, antiallergic drugs, immunostimulatory drugs, and antibiotics (during exacerbations). Due to the multifactorial etiology of the tonsillar hypertrophy, the patient's comorbidities must also be taken into account. The management of allergy, elimination diet in younger children, and diagnosis and management of immune deficiency can all alleviate the symptoms of tonsillar hypertrophy (8, 9).
Surgical treatment of adenoid hypertrophy consists of adenoidectomy or the complete removal of tonsillar tissue from the nasopharynx. Surgery should be considered for each patient individually. Absolute indication for surgery is the coexistence of sleep apnea and progressive conductive hearing loss (1, 5).
Numerous studies have shown that adenoidectomy is more effective than conservative treatment in patients with recurrent otitis media, especially exudative otitis media. The size of the adenoid is not so important in the qualification for surgery in case of recurrent otitis media, as even a small adenoid obstructing the opening of the Eustachian tube or narrowing the nasopharynx may be the cause of auricular problems in a patient. Qualification for adenoidectomy in patients with recurrent upper respiratory infections should be carefully considered. In general, adenoidectomy restores the physiological path of breathing through the nose, but, in some patients, e.g. with allergies or immune disorders, the incidence of upper respiratory tract infection does not change after the procedure (1-3).
Adenoidectomy is contraindicated in palatopharyngeal insufficiency, which is present in patients with cleft palate (including submucosal cleft palate), excessively short soft palate, or uvula bifida. In cases in which speech impediment after the surgery cannot be excluded, the patient should be consulted by a phoniatric specialist (1, 4).
There are two surgical treatment options for tonsil hypertrophy in children – partial removal of tonsils (tonsillotomy) or complete removal (tonsillectomy). The aim of leaving some tonsil tissue in tonsillotomy is to enable the proper immunological function of the Waldeyer's ring. It is indicated in uncomplicated tonsil hypertrophy in which tonsils cause obstruction in breathing and swallowing (2, 3). Therefore, children with a significant deficit in weight or height without signs of chronic tonsillitis are qualified for the surgery (tonsillectomy). According to the guidelines, tonsillectomy is indicated if any of Paradise's criteria is fulfilled (2, 3). Tonsillectomy should be performed in patients who had undergone local complications of acute tonsillitis, such as abscess or paratonsillar edema. Unilateral tonsillar hypertrophy should always raise suspicion of a tumor. The most common tonsillar tumor in children is lymphoma (1).
1. The most common symptom in pediatric patients with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy is snoring.
2. 1/3 of the children with enlarged tonsils is diagnosed with allergies.
3. Almost 45% of children with hypertrophy of the tonsils are exposed to tobacco smoke.
4. Children with enlarged tonsils have upper respiratory tract infections on average once a month.
1. Baugh RF, Archer AM, Mitchell RB et al.: Clinical practice guideline: tonsillectomy in children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2011; 144: 1-30. 2. Paradise J, Bluestone C, Bachman R: Efficacy of tonsillectomy for recurrent throat infection in severely affected children. N Engl J Med 1984; 310: 674-683. 3. Paradise J, Bluestone C, Colborn K: Tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy for recurrent throat infection in moderately affected children. Pediatrics 2002; 110: 7-15. 4. Marseglia GL, Caimmi D, Pagella F: Adenoids during childhood: the facts. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2011; 24 (suppl. 4): 1-5. 5. Zautner AE: Adenotonsillar disease. Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov 2012; 6(2): 121-129. 6. Jakóbisiak M: Immunologia. PWN, Warszawa 1995. 7. Goldstein NA, Pugzhendhi V: Clinical assessment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Pediatrics 2004; 114: 33-43. 8. Zawadzka-Głos L, Chmielik M, Wąsik M: Immunological cellular response in hypertrophied palatine tonsil in children. New Med 1997; 1: 9-10. 9. Zawadzka-Głos L, Chmielik M, Wąsik M: Immunological response in hypertrophied palatine tonsils and blood pre- and post adenotonsillotomy. New Med 1999; 3: 72-73.


Terminally ill and elderly people should be given the chance to decide where and how they die, a leading care home boss has said.
Dr Chai Patel, who runs 230 UK care homes, says that while people are currently being given more and more choice about how they live their lives, they are still offered too little choice about how they die.
He believes too many people currently die in 'completely impersonal surroundings'.
In his speech to the National Care Homes Congress today he will say that people should be given the opportunity to draw up a 'living will'.
This would allow them to specify exactly how, where, and when, they want to die.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Dr Patel believes the introduction of 'living wills' could eventually lead to the establishment of euthanasia clinics in the UK.
Dr Patel, who used to head up the Priory Clinics but is now head of HC-One, told the paper that too many elderly people are currently dying on hospital wards rather than in the comfort of their own homes because they are vulnerable to official processes.
He said: 'When you look at severe, chronic conditions like dementia, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, where the progressive nature of it is going to be so dreadful and everyone knows what the natural progression is, then why can't we make a grown-up decision about how we want to go?
Dr Patel's comments come at a time when the number of people in England over the age of 90 is predicted to increase by 146 per cent over the next 20 years.
His views have been supported by the charity Sue Ryder which provides end of life care to terminally ill people.
In a new report, the charity argues that people approaching the end of their lives should not have to face the 'unacceptable trade-off' of choosing whether to die at home without pain medication or in hospital where they can access the drugs.
More than three fifths of people polled by the charity and think tank Demos said they wanted to die at home and 78 per cent said pain relief was a top priority for them.
But only 27 per cent of the 2,000 people across the UK who were questioned felt that home was a place where they could be pain-free during their final days.
Paul Woodward, chief executive of Sue Ryder, said: 'We are concerned that government and decision-makers are using "dying at home" as a proxy for quality. This is not good enough. Dying at home does not always guarantee a good death.
'We need to start talking about how people want to die, not just where. Without a clear understanding of what people really want when it comes to care at the end of their lives, we can't determine whether or not existing support meets their needs.


The Forex market has some of the highest potential for profit in the world. It's also easily accessible – anyone can trade Forex from their laptop or smartphone.
But there is a steep learning curve: on average, private traders lose money for the first two years at least.
Forex is short for Foreign Exchange. Forex trading is the speculative buying and selling of national currency for profit.
Since 1971 currencies have floating values, i.e. their value is relative to other currencies rather than pegged to a tangible asset – how much gold is in the central bank's vault. This means their values go up and down, and these movements can be exploited for profit.
At its simplest, this means trading £65 for $100 and waiting until either the dollar strengthens or the pound weakens, and trading your $100 for £70 at the new rate. The trick is watching economies and predicting whether currencies will strengthen or weaken.
Since currencies are all relative, every trade involves buying one currency and selling another. As such, all currencies are quoted in pairs. For example USD/GBP (US Dollars and British Sterling) and EUR/JPY (Euros and Japanese Yen). These express the value of any given currency.
The first currency in the pair is the 'base currency' or 'long', and is the currency you're buying, and the second is the 'quote currency' or 'short', against which the base is valued, and is what you're selling. So in the USD/GBP example, you're buying US Dollars and selling British Sterling at a rate of £0.65 to the dollar (at the time of writing).
A forward trade is buying currency at a pre-agreed rate on a future date, regardless of what the rate on that day is. By speculating on the future rate, profit can be made. If the currency is worth more on the day of the trade, the buyer wins. If it's worth less, the seller wins.
For example, I agree to buy $100 from you for £65 next Tuesday. On Tuesday the rate is £0.70 to the dollar. I can now sell my $100 that I just bought for £65 elsewhere on the market for the current rate of £70. I made a profit of £5, you made a loss of £5.
Carry trades are one of the most popular Forex trading strategies. In a carry trade, the trader seeks to exploit the interest difference between the two currencies in a pair (the 'yield spread') as well as capital accumulation.
Every currency is pegged to an interest rate set by the national central bank. At the time of writing, the Bank of England base rate is 0.5%. When buying currency, you receive interest payments, when selling, you pay interest. The first goal in a carry trade is to invest in a currency pair with a positive yield spread i.e. buy currency with a higher interest rate, and sell with a lower.
Currently the USD rate is 0.25%. So, if buying GBP/USD, you would have a positive yield of 0.25% – the difference between the two rates. If you were buying USD/GBP you would have a negative yield of 0.25% – you're paying out more interest than you're making.
The second goal is to buy a pair where the yield spread is set to increase. Pick a currency pair where you buy currency with an interest rise, sell an interest rate fall, or ideally both.
The third goal in a carry trade is to successfully predict a rally, so you also experience a capital gain.
For example, between 2003 and 2004, the AUD/USD currency pair offered a positive yield of 2.5%. In the same period, the value of the Australian Dollar rose 56 cents, closing at 80 cents. This represented a 42% appreciation in the currency pair, and meant that traders and hedge funds who were in this currency pair made huge capital gains, as well as profiting from the interest rate differential.
One of the chief reasons Forex trading can be so profitable is that it's a highly leveraged market: ratios of 100:1 are not uncommon i.e. you buy $100 for $1 of capital.
Broadly speaking, leverage is betting against future profits. In its simplest form, you borrow money to make a trade based on your prediction of how that trade will go. If it goes in your favour, you make a much higher return than if you only invest your own capital. If it goes against you, you make a much higher loss. Every transaction is amplified when leveraging.
The returns in Forex trading can be very small without leveraging. Caution should be exercised, but leveraging should be used. Set a rule for how much capital you're willing to risk with each trade. A good rule of thumb is never to risk more than 3% on a single trade.
Forex trading is fast moving and complex. There is a steep learning curve, but the rewards can be enormous.
Penny Atkinson writes about various financial topics including saving money, debt issues and forex education. For more information about forex trading visit http://gomarketsaus.com/.


Oh. My. Goodness! Her new form is amazing!
Agreed- her line breaks and spacing give the poem just the right feel/movement. Love it.
That's my intravista - with the sub poem being "ow!" because that's what my brain screams when I contemplate trying to do what Avis did. That's fabulous!


Plane and train manufacturer Bombardier is (reportedly) leading the pack in a New Jersey Transit (NJT) rail deal. The deal, which is for 999 new multilevel passenger cars "including options", will be one of the largest contracts awarded in years (assuming the options are excised). If it gets the win, that'll be a big boost for Bombardier, which has had a spate of ill fortune when it comes to delivery delays and orders lost to competitors.
NJT is the US's largest state-wide public transportation, and deals with over 900,000 daily passengers. But it's come under fire recently, as an audit published in October concluded that its operations were "inefficient" and "unsustainable".
One of the anonymous sources claimed that Bombardier has the advantage as NJT is a long-term customer, and suggested that a deal could be finalised as early as December. The final value of the deal is unknown as it depends how many options are excised by the agency.
Dominion holds Bombardier in its Global Trends Managed Fund.


text:
What's a beer truck without a great beer story?
by D. Lowe
Within Kia's surprise department lies the perfect way to complete a 'Day at the Races' at SEMA. Beer.
A vehicle designed for today's active lifestyles with more power than the previous Sedona, a longer wheelbase for improved leg room and unique seating configurations, including available 'First Class' second-row seats. Combined with intuitive technology and safety, the Sedona brings new levels of sophistication to a segment that's been filled with bland and predictable practicality.
Kia partnered with L&G Enterprises to design and build a beer truck for Ballast Point brewery from the 2015 Kia Sedona. LGE took out the front passenger seat for extra storage; took off doors and part of the roof, added a wood bar that folds up and out, made room for three 15 gallon kegs (yes, three), a jockey box, beer taps, and 70 feet of copper line for cooling the beer. Complete the look with some really cool graphics, and now Ballast Point is ready to serve up some brews on the go with a knockout new beer truck featuring Ballast Point Pale Ale (the beer that started Ballast Point) and Sculpin IPA.
While in college, Jack White decided to try his hand at making beers. Specifically, ones that were better then those he could find in the stores or at keg parties. He developed a talent for home brewing and soon realized it wasn't easy to get a hold of the various supplies and ingredients he needed. In 1992, Jack opened Home Brew Mart, which he filled with the supplies, ingredients, and conversation every brewer needed to make better beer at home.
Soon he met a fellow home brewer Yuseff Cherney and together, they decided to open a "back room" brewery out of Home Brew Mart, thus in 1996, Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits was born.
Yuseff & Jack, 1992
Today, they have four locations in the San Diego area with a huge 107,000 square foot brewery/restaurant/office/retail complex opening soon in the Miramar neighborhood. This will provide them with an opportunity to quadruple their production over time. Jack and Yuseff's philosophy has always been "doing what [they] love, and making what [they] love to drink".
They both love to fish, almost as much as brewing which is reflected in many of the beers (which there are over 40) being named for fish or fishing terms, serving as a reminder to always do what you love. Even the Ballast Point logo has a nautical theme, the sextant; "it is a reminder for them to keep on their journey, continuing to seek out new ideas, new flavors, and new people to share their beer with."
Creating two unique builds using a Soul EV and a Sedona, Kia continues with "the power to surprise" by being innovative and continuing to push the envelope. Be prepared for more surprises yet to come during Kia's "A Day at the Races" at SEMA. See ya'll there!
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This is stuff that I have made for the Hussite Federation, my main faction.
Luchardsko is one of the countries in the Hussite Federation, and is the main supplier of fleet materials and heavy land units (tanks, mecha) in the HF.
Last edited by Falk on Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:12 pm, edited 7 times in total.
I love the shape and layered effect you did with the plates. Overall, I'd say it's .
Yeah, that's what I wanted it to look like.
These are the normal troops, commanded by Sgt. Codax (no, it's not Commander Cody ) They are supported by two pilots in hardsuits.
A shuttle, commonly used by commandos, smugglers and supply companies, for its large cargo space.
A heavy tank, not quite sure what to call it.
Inside view, there is a pilot and a gunner, they have 2 rocket stiks, 2 electro staffs, 2 smgs, 6 rockets for the stiks, a medikal tool and a box with food.
An anti-tank or artillery cannon, with crew.
More troops, these ones are: Scouts (Johnny Thunder guys), Cold Troopers, armed with Assyrian lsr rifles and walkie-talkies, pilots, Admiral Porcke and Cpt. Johnston.
A patrol speeder, with it's pilot.
An Assyrian Lightfoot, with it's pilot.
Some more speeders, these ones are recon.
A drednut, has 3 sets of weapons.
The drednut also has a missile pack, momentarily it has 2 MkV and 2 MkIV rockets.
Last edited by Falk on Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:31 am, edited 2 times in total.
Nice builds, very brikwarsy. Try to make your units more uniform by using more blue on them though (the blue figs I liked the best and it seems to me they'd go together best with the MOCs). This'll give them more character than just the clones.
Bragallot wrote: Nice builds, very brikwarsy. Try to make your units more uniform by using more blue on them though (the blue figs I liked the best and it seems to me they'd go together best with the MOCs). This'll give them more character than just the clones.
As in the blue pilot guys or the blue clones?
the FBI thinks that I and my brother have too many legos, so we can't buy anymore. And I was kinda obsessed with clone wars legos and star wars legos in general before I found out about brikwars.
I'll try to add more blue.
Pretty cool stuff. There are two things that I especially like here, the patrol speeder, (though it would look much nicer in just one or two colors, it does have a good design) and those tall shields, I really like the design on those.
Just call it a Blue Knight.
Tell her that's impossible. Alternately, tell them about Asterios.
Also you managed to get alot of Assyrian weapons you anti immortal?
Just a quote from spaceballs: "What Colonel Sanders, chicken?
Pwnerade wrote: I love the shape and layered effect you did with the plates.
Anyway, this stuff is pretty good, as Brag said, i would try to stay away from 'clone syndrome', but the vehicles and ideas are very good.


Scroll below for more videos on scorekeeping, correcting scores and more.
Use the Practice League (see picture below) to get comfortable with DartConnect scorekeeping. Play a scrimmage match with your team before the season starts. The practice league button will be available through the first couple weeks of the season only.
Practice League contains dummy teams and players and statistics will not count towards official league season matches. The practice league will be available through the first couple weeks of the season only.
BEFORE GOING TO YOUR MATCH!
Teams are STILL REQUIRED to email the standard match report for each home match.
We recommend at least a 10 inch tablet for DartConnect, but the minimum tablet size is 7 inches. Use DCTV for more scoreboard displays around the room.
You should be comfortable with scoring matches with DartConnect BEFORE using it for a league match. Have you practiced with your team using the practice league feature?
If for any reason you can not use the DartConnect app for scoring, continue your match with manual scorekeeping.
Be patient with teams and players that are new to DartConnect scorekeeping and help coach others with how to use the app properly.
When I download the app, all I see is a big white box? Tap anywhere on the white box to dismiss this message and go to the log in screen.
The app won't work on my Kindle? DartConnect works on Kindle with the Silk browser but they must be the Fire HD model.
What tablets do work for DartConnect? DartConnect is compatible with all Apple (iPad2 and newer), Android (using Chrome or Firefox browsers) and Windows devices (using Chrome or Firefox browsers), including tablets, phones and PCs. For a list of recommended affordable tablets, click here.
This is important for the final match score to be correct by awarding 1 point per set.
A 12 point match has been pre-set inside the app for Season Pass and will automatically end after 12 set points are won showing you the screen above.
If your match ends prematurely (such as if you picked the wrong # of legs by mistake)...To continue playing the match, click "Options" in the red control bar before autosave finishes and then "Reset Match Settings" > "Back" > "Next Player Lineup". To manually end match when finished, click the "Options" menu again.
YOU MUST SAVE THE MATCH for the match to close out and the match recap email sent out. To end and save a match manually, click "Options" in the red control bar and then click the red button labeled "End and Save Match".
If you do not have a wifi connection at your venue, the match will sync once a connection is detected (ex: when you arrive home) - do not close the app until match is synced.
If a game is not played, such as shorthanded singles 301, select the player that is present, leave the other side blank and press the "Forfeit" button to record the winning point for the correct team.
Any and all roster changes are subject to MMDL rules - adding unauthorized players may result in standard league penalties.
You will see a new Post Season button in the app to access playoff team rosters. Do not use the regular season button. At the start of each playoff round, make sure you do a "Check for Updates" on the league page to make sure you have the most up to date playoff rosters loaded.
For playoffs, in the race to 13, play each match as if it were a regular season match, see below for how to end and save the match early .
When you open up "Select Players" you will now have access to ALL playoff teams that you may face. Tap the home team on left and away team on right as usual. Make sure you have connected to wifi and checked for updates to update the team list.
IF YOU DO NOT SEE YOUR OPPONENT LISTED - tap the gray button "Manage League Rosters", find the team you are playing, tap their name to highlight them red and then press "Continue" at the bottom of the screen.
Ending at 13 Points: When a team reaches 13 total points in the second playoff match, manually end the match by tapping "Options" and the red button labeled "End & Save Match".
If Overtime is necessary:... Save the match as usual and start a new match (make sure you put the teams on the correct left/right side as previous match). Continue playing the OT. To manually end match when finished, click the "Options" menu and the red button "End & Save Match". DartConnect will merge the separate matches into a single match report.
You can start using DartConnect at any point in the season, so get started today!
Do you know how to do the following for an official league match?
Looking for affordable tablet suggestions?