A push by Indonesia to dramatically toughen its approach to fighting Islamist militants has come under fire as a threat to human rights that could ultimately reverse gains in tackling extremists. The security ministry has asked lawmakers for sweeping amendments to strengthen the hand of the state under the country's 2002 anti-terror law, rushed into effect after bombings in Bali that year that killed 202 people. The proposed amendments would allow detention of anyone believed to be involved in terrorism for at least 30 days - up from a current seven - without declaring them a suspect, anti-terror chief Ansyaad Mbai told AFP. The changes would also boost from 120 days to two years the time a suspect can be held before they see the inside of a courtroom and encompass bans on glorifying or inciting terrorism, as well as outlawing terrorist recruitment. "Terrorism (relies on) networks. It is an extraordinary crime, it needs extraordinary measures," Mbai said.

July 6, 2009 (YAMBIO) – Residents of Dimbiro village near Yambio continue to flee their homes following last week reprisal attacks by the Ugandan rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The attacks have been provoked by ongoing anti-LRA operations by the Ugandan army and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in the region.

HE President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament, Sri Jayawardhanapura - Kotte, May 19, 2009, address to the nation on the historic occasion when the hopes and expectations of the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay and all people of our country for several decades, to see a Sri Lanka that is free of murderous terrorism, have been realized.

PARIS (AFP)--France on Monday called on Sri Lanka to seek a lasting peace after its military declared victory in the decades-old conflict with the Tamil Tigers. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who spoke by phone with his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama, said fighting must come to an end after the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam admitted defeat. "Today, it is up to the Sri Lankan government to act responsibly toward civilians and build conditions for a lasting peace that will benefit all of the population of Sri Lanka," said Kouchner. France is ready to "contribute to the consolidation of this process that will shape the future of the country," he said. Rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and some 250 holdout fighters were killed in the final battle.

The Health Ministry has taken steps to conduct Special eye clinics for the inmates at the welfare centres in Vavuniya and Chettikulam, The Sri Lanka Eye Surgeons Association is organizing these clinics with the assistance of the vision 20-20 office of the Ministry of Health, Media Secretary to the Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition W.M.D Wanninayake told www.news.lk today (26). He pointed out that the first eye camp will be conducted at the Menik Farm in Vavuniya on June8 and nearly 1,500 patients had came daily to the eye clinics conducted in Vavuniya this month.