Ever since the Sinhala State took power from Britain, it has controlled the Tamil affairs by maintaining military checkpoints into Tamil areas. As the Tamils began demanding their rights to govern themselves the ferocity of these Sinhala checkpoints increased. These checkpoints became places for regular threats and humiliation for the Tamils. It also has and continues to be a place for more sinister activities and many Tamils have gone missing after inquiries at these checkpoints.

Are you a recreational fisher? If so, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries wants to hear from you. DPI&F is holding a series of think tanks throughout Queensland in April to discuss how to communicate more effectively with recreational fishers. Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin encouraged fishers to take part in the think tanks to help DPI&F better target its communication and education activities. "The focus groups will discuss what sort of information recreational fishers want and where they access it," Mr Mulherin said.

GUANGZHOU: Queensland Minister for Trade John Mickel yesterday witnessed the signing of a A$1 million export contract for a Smart State business. Mr Mickel is leading his first international trade and investment mission as Minister for Trade to Southern China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. The mission focuses on advancing Queensland exports in knowledge-intensive sectors including education and training, professional services, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and the marine industry.

200 South Indian film persons to be deported from US, face charges. Actor Asha Saini arrested
The great fake visa racket involving South Indian film personalities came to light when Telugu and Tamil actor Asha Saini nee Flora Saini tried to take one Srilatha as her make-up woman to the US with fake papers. The matter was reported to the police by the consulate officials and the actor was arrested along with her manager Venkat Reddy and Srilatha. In the wake of the arrests, U.S. Consulate-General in Chennai David Hopper disclosed that the racket involving South Indian film personalities transporting people to the U.S.A with false documents was first unearthed in May 2007.

The Sri Lankan terror state left only three choices for an average Tamil: (1) be a Tamil freedom fighter and fight against the state terror well armed military, (2) be a soft target to state terrorism and accept whatever happens, including intermitted organized riots and arbitrary killings, or (3) be a refugee and leave the county. In reality, majority of the Tamils fall under the second category and they have no choice other than living under state terror forces and be continuously terrorized by the Sinhala military.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko Tuesday said that the present attitude of the Indian Government amounted to assistance in Sri Lanka's genocide of Tamils. He sought the withdrawal of the radars supplied to Sri Lanka and an end to all forms of military assistance from India to the Sri Lankan government. Accusing the Indian Government of "betraying the Tamils," the veteran leader in his reply to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's letter, pointed out that no sovereign nation would tolerate the dangerous action of a neighbouring country planting mines in the bordering seas.

A recently retired Army major general, Major General Sunil Silva, has been appointed to take charge of the administration of the state controlled Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) television, according to informed sources in the government.It’s also reliably learnt that the Presidents’ brother and the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is behind the latest move as well. Major General Sunil Silva has been appointed to the newly created post of Additional Deputy Director General, Administration, of the SLRC. Reporters Without Borders Tuesday called for an explanation from President Mahinda Rajapakse after the army took control of public Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) television on Monday.

The International Red Cross has angrily accused Sri Lanka's government of releasing confidential communications and manipulating information from the organisation to defend its rights record.In rare public criticism of a government, the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Colombo has been "misrepresenting its findings" to stave off allegations it was behind abductions and disappearances. The row surrounds Sri Lanka's use of a confidential report by the ICRC, which did not give a figure for disappearances on the war-torn island, to dispute ongoing allegations that hundreds of people had gone missing on the island.The Sri Lankan government is locked in a bitter war with Tamil Tiger separatist rebels, and is under increasing international criticism over a spate of murders, abductions and disappearances.

Motorists travelling along the Bruce Highway and Pacific Motorway this Easter will be able to get more than fuel and food when they stop at the BP travel centres at Coomera and Caboolture. Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said Queensland Motorways would establish "InfoPoints" at the two centres from Thursday (20 March) to give motorists the latest information on E toll, the Gateway Upgrade Project and free-flow tolling.

They are some of Queensland's fittest police officers - and Police Minister Judy Spence has revealed, the Brisbane Central District Bike Squad is making real headway in fighting crime. Ms Spence today commended the squad of 15 fulltime officers, for their commitment to keeping the city's streets and pathways safe.

In the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, the race is on to award Queensland's top high school sporting achievers who exemplify the Olympic ideals of sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play.Education and Training Minister Rod Welford today announced the opening of nominations for the national 2008 Pierre de Coubertin Awards for Secondary Schools, with the official launch at Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School on the Gold Coast.

Trinco slaying: Survivor implicates STF, By Poornima Weerasekera
A key eyewitness yesterday implicated the Special Task Force (STF) in the killing of five youth in Trincomalee and claimed that the doctors who treated him and the only other survivor had identified the STF as the perpetrators of the crime in January 2006 .The witness Kokularaj Pararajasingham was earlier scheduled to give evidence at the public hearing of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (COI) via video conferencing but failed to appear in person citing security concerns and a statement was read on his behalf by David Savage a member of the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP).

SUN TV plans to produce at least 10 feature films each in three languages - Tamil, Telugu and Kannada annually through Sun Pictures, a soon-to-be-floated unit. Sun TV is also preparing to launch its ‘home entertainment division’, to launch DVDs of the collection of regional films in its library. It also plans to tap the growing online movie download market across the globe, currently dominated by illegal initiatives. Sun TV Network has signed up with all leading players, including stars, directors and music directors in the Tamil film industry.