Mullaitivu documents lead to listing of pro-LTTE groups

Sunday, April 06, 2014

Intelligence authorities used information extracted from sheaves of Tamil Tiger documents recovered from the battlefield in Mullaitivu to compile a 39-page list of designated persons, groups and entities "suspected of financing terrorism", a senior official said.

Listing of Mullaitivu Documents Lead to Pro-LTTE Groups by nelvely

விசாரணைக்குழு முன்பாக சாட்சியமளிப்போர் நான்காம் மாடிக்கு செல்வர்?!

There cannot be any minorities in the country – MR-President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that there cannot be any minorities in the country and that it was his policy.-He has noted that it was his policy that is enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthana.

07/04/2014

ஐ.நா மனிதஉரிமைகள் ஆணையாளர் நவநீதம்பிள்ளை நியமிக்கும் விசாரணைக்குழு முன்பாக சாட்சியமளிப்போருக்கு எதிராக சட்டநடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்று சிறிலங்கா அரசாங்கம் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளது. இதுதொடர்பாக சிறிலங்கா அமைச்சரவைப் பேச்சாளரான அமைச்சர் கெஹலிய ரம்புக்வெல தகவல் வெளியிடுகையில்,

“சாட்சியமளிக்கும் தனிநபர்கள் நாட்டின் அரசியலமைப்பை மீறும் வகையில், செயற்படுவது கண்டறியப்பட்டால் மட்டும், அவர்களுக்கு எதிராக, சட்டநடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்படும்.

விசாரணைக் குழு முன்பாக சாட்சியமளிக்கும் எவரேனும், சமர்ப்பிக்கும் சான்றுகள் நாட்டின் அரசியலமைப்பை மீறுவதாக இருந்தால், நாம் அவருக்கு எதிராக சட்ட நடவடிக்கை எடுப்போம்.

அனைத்துலக விசாரணையை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியாதென்று சிறிலங்கா உறுதியாக அறிவித்து விட்டது.

எந்வொரு விவகாரமும் உள்நாட்டு பொறிமுறைகளின் ஊடாகவே தீர்க்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்று அண்மையில் ஜெனிவாவில் நடந்த கூட்டத்தொடரில் சிறிலங்கா அரசாங்கம் வலியுறுத்திக் கூறியிருந்தது.

அனைத்துலக விசாரணைக்கு நாம் அனுமதி அளித்தால், அது நாட்டின் இறைமைக்குப் பெரும் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தும்.

ஐ.நா விசாரணைக் குழு முன்பாக, நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் ஒருவர் சாட்சியமளிக்க முடியாது. ஏனென்றால், அவர்கள், நாட்டின் இறைமையை பாதுகாப்பதாக உறுதிப்பிரமாணம் எடுத்த பின்னரே, பதவியேற்றுள்ளனர்.” என்றும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

அதேவேளை, அனைத்துலக விசாரணைக் குழு முன்பாக, சாட்சியமளிப்பது தேசத்துரோகம் என்றும், அவ்வாறு சாட்சியமளிப்பவர்களுக்கு எதிராக அரசாங்க இரகசிய சட்டத்தின் கீழ் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்று சில ஊடகங்கள் நேற்று செய்தி வெளியிட்டுள்ளதும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

தற்போது பயங்கரவாதத் தடுப்புப் பிரிவினரால் கைது செய்யப்படுபவர்கள் நான்காம் மாடிக்கு கொண்டுசெல்லப்பட்டே விசாரணைக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்டுவருகின்றமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

Tamil Perspective: Dangerous And Genocidal Dayange Chinthanaya

By Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah -April 7, 2014

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah

Refuting Dayan’s narcissistic theories!

“As to the qualification required in the knowledge of the native languages, the Portuguese and Sinhalese only being mentioned excludes one which is fully necessary in the Northern Districts as the Sinhalese in the South. I mean the Tamil language, commonly called the Malabar language, which with a mixture of Portuguese in use through all the provinces is the proper native tongue of the inhabitants from Puttalam to Batticaloa northward inclusive of both these districts.. Your Lordship will therefore, I hope have no objection to my putting Tamil on an equal footing of encouragement with the Sinhalese” - Sir Robert Brownrigg, Governor of Ceylon, 1813 Dispatch to the British Colonial Secretary of State, Reported in the Tribune, 12 January 1956) – Courtesy www.tamilnation.com

A Sinhalese soldier threatens protesting Tamil student, S.T. Arasu, who replied, “shoot me if you must, I am ready to die”. Photograph and source – ‘Satyagraha and the Freedom Movement of Tamils in Ceylon’ by S. Ponniah, 1963/ Tamil Guardian

Beware of the dangerous and genocidal Dayange Chinthanaya.

Dayan Jayatilleka would sweet talk us into believing we are something whilst reducing  us to nothing.

He is relegating us to mere second class “national minorities”,  because of his benevolent nature???

Let me shut him up with one example, that is the UK – the Northern Irish, the Welsh or the Scots are not called minorities even as, out of the 650 constituencies in the UK,  533 are in England, 59 in Scotland, 40 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland.

What a shrewd operator!

His attitude is no different from and is reflective of the typical genocidal nature of the supremacist Sinhala mindset who want to see the Tamil Nation destroyed and its legitimate aspirations crushed.

                                                                                                 Read More 

Too Old To Be A Terrorist

| By NILANTHA ILANGAMUWA

(April 6, 2014, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian)  We came to know about the News of the President Rajapaksa's new Move pinili Associated Banning them with organizations and people who are. Around 16 groups were banned and over four hundred people, almost every one of them of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, were black listed.

Too Old to Be a Terrorist by nelvely

Gammanpila wants TNA banned

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Monday, April 7, 2014

Reacting to the call by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to lift the government’s ban on some 15 Tamil Diaspora organisations, Western Provincial Council Minister and Jathika Hela Urumaya legal adviser Udaya Gammanpila yesterday said the political philosophy of the LTTE and its resurgence should be countered far more aggressively by the government.

The government has so far done only a fraction of what the other countries have done to minimise the risk of terrorism, after defeating the LTTE, he said and added that if the TNA demands that the government lifts the ban on Tamil Diaspora organisations that have been supporting the LTTE, the TNA too must be subjected to the ban.

“Sri Lanka has done only a fraction of what other countries had done to immobilise the political will and functions of terrorist organisations who have been defeated, ” Gammanpila said.

“After the defeat of Adolf Hitler, his political philosophy was outlawed. Not only was the Nazi party banned internationally, steps were also taken to purge the Nazi influence from every aspect of German life,” he pointed out.

“After the defeat of dictator Saddam Hussein, his Baath party political philosophy was banned together with every link. After the defeat of Colonel Gaddafi, his political party was banned. A new law banning Gaddafi-era officials from public office was introduced by the Libyan Parliament,” he said.

“The TNA’s call on the government to lift the ban on the proscribed Tamil Diaspora organisations show to what extent they are dependent on these organisations to finance their political operations. They want the ban lifted because of its impact on their economic welfare,” Gammanpila said.

Meanwhile, TNA Northern Provincial Councillor M.K. Sivalingam had told the media that the banned Diaspora organisations have not aided terrorist organisations in Sri Lanka or elsewhere and that they were based outside the country.

National Language and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the government proscribed these Tamil Diaspora organisations not only because they are suspected to have connections with the LTTE but also because it has evidence that some of these organisations have been trying to revive LTTE terrorism.

“Even though they are based in foreign lands their activities are directed into Sri Lanka. The government decided to proscribe these Tamil Diaspora organisations after much deliberation. Most of these organisations supported the LTTE with funds and other means and are apparently supporting the political project of the LTTE,” Nanayakkara said. 

- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=political/gammanpila-wants-tna-banned#sthash.yIM5VQdH.dpuf

Transcending Terror

07 April 2014
The Sri Lankan government's proscription last week of 15 Tamil diaspora organisations and over 400 individuals was a brazen attempt to instil fear into the Tamil people. Over and beyond those specifically named or officially affiliated to the organisations, given the organisations' wide based support, the proscription effectively target all politically active Tamils within the diaspora, and moreover, any Tamils living on the island who engage with them. Compounded with the obvious threat of arrest and freezing of assets, the publishing of home addresses, disturbingly reminiscent of the electoral lists carried by Sinhala mobs during the pogrom of 1983, is an incitement to violence, not only on the island, but around the world. Ultimately and entirely in keeping with the Sri Lankan state's overarching and long-standing project of consolidating Sinhala Buddhist hegemony, the proscription - ironically only made significant by virtue of the nation's very inextricable connectedness - is an attempt to dismantle the Tamil nation and thereby seek to extinguish the nation's political aspirations. 

In part a reactionary retaliation against the prominent role played by diaspora groups in securing an international inquiry at the UN Human Rights Council last month, the proscription is also a deliberate attempt to stop the outflow of information regarding on-going atrocities in the Tamil areas, to the international community via diaspora networks, precisely at a time when it is critical. Indeed in 2009, as the mass civilian slaughter ensued, it was the diaspora, not international bodies such as the UN, that provided the most accurate portrayal of events on the ground. It is no coincidence the proscription comes at a time of escalating and intensifying military repression of the Tamil people in the North-East through on-going abuses, large scale search operations and mass arrests. Moreover, given the Sri Lankan government's categorical refusal to cooperate with the upcoming investigation by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the proscription is undoubtedly calculated to disrupt and de-legitimise efforts to obtain evidence from the ground via diaspora networks, and record witness testimonies from Tamils who having sought asylum abroad since 2009, who are now themselves 'diaspora'. It is thus imperative that the international community ensure the immediate security of, not only Tamil political figures who have engaged closely with the now banned organisations, but also witnesses to Sri Lanka's atrocities. Meanwhile the continued deportation of Tamil asylum seekers is now without question particularly irresponsible. 

Effectively criminalising any political engagement between Tamils in the homeland and diaspora, the proscription is aimed not only at curtailing public events such as conferences and fund raising activities, but insidiously de-constructing the powerful network of Tamil political activists. The overarching goal of the proscription is to sever the nation, and in doing so, undermine its collective resolve and strength to work towards fulfilling its political aspirations. The intended exclusion of the diaspora by the Sri Lankan government from any dialogue on a political solution to the ethnic conflict, is to ensure that the expression of these aspirations is kept within the confines of its draconian legislation -  the Sixth Amendment and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which criminalise the very legitimate desire, shared by peoples the world over, for independence. That some Tamil representatives have responded to the proscription by retorting not all of the banned organisations advocate for an independent state of Tamil Eelam, displays a disappointing level of short-sightedness. 

It is wryly apt that the proscription the key diaspora groups, comes almost five years to the day that tens of thousands of Tamils in the UK, outraged by the escalating slaughter of Tamils, blockaded Parliament Square and demanded international action. The protest, which continued for an unprecedented 72 days, triggered identical protests in capital cities across the world. At that moment, though not immediately apparent, the Tamil struggle for freedom became internationalised in a way it had not been previously, and the diaspora's role became central. The government's current attack on the diaspora therefore, particularly given its history of systematic, criminalisation of Tamil resistance to oppression even through non-violent means, comes as little surprise. Indeed this latest act of Sri Lankan state terror, is only unprecedented in its envisioned cross-border reach. Equally unsurprising meanwhile, is the immediate and unanimous resolve expressed by diaspora groups to resist. Tamils in the diaspora have vowed to continue the fight against Sri Lankan oppression, with outrage over the proscription fueling renewed vigour. The struggle continues.

The Post-Election Scenario: Lessons And Options For Govt And Opposition

By Dr Dayan Jayatilleka

 Monday, April 07, 2014

Famous in a moment in the History of Hollywood  movies, Don begins with Dirty Harry Clint Eastwood SIEGEL's iconic film, playing Inspector Harry Callahan saying, "I know what You're thinking - did he fire six Shots Five or only ..." In similar vein I can tell what the strategists of the Opposition are thinking after the Provincial Council (PC) election: "When we add the total vote of the ethnic and religious minorities to the 25% plus that the UNP has got, we can get the 50.1% we need to beat Mahinda Rajapaksa ".

Lessons and Options for the Post-Election Scenario Govt and Opposition by nelvely

There cannot be any minorities in the country – MR

Monday, 07 April 2014 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that there cannot be any minorities in the country and that it was his policy.

He has noted that it was his policy that is enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthana.

Addressing the National Unity Convention at the BMICH this morning, the President said that all citizens in Sri Lanka have equal rights to live as one nation and one people with same laws and facilities, without any discrimination.

“This is my policy. That is the policy enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthana. There cannot be any minorities. We all are Sri Lankans who love the Motherland. That is the reality and nobody can deny that. For us what is most important thing, is the Motherland First, Second and Third. We have protected the cultures of every community. Some people attempt to divide the people by raising differences between communities, religions, races and caste. But fear not, these attempts will never succeed. Let us live together as one. Let us live with affection,” the President was quoted as saying.
He has observed that travelling to any part of the country was possible and people could settle down anywhere without any problems because of the peace in the country.

According to Rajapaksa, the government’s concept of human rights is far richer than any charter of human rights that exists today.

Gamani Corea’s Noble Mission: Unfinished Then But May Be Irrelevant Now

By W.A. Wijewardena –April 7, 2014 

Dr. W.A. Wijewardena

An economist with a noble mission

Gamani Corea, by any comparison, Sri Lanka’s most respected economist of international renown, embarked on a noble mission when he assumed the post of Secretary General of UNCTAD – United Nations Conference on Trade and Development – in 1973. That was to uplift the conditions of hundreds of poor countries in the world which had been mercilessly hit by markets by depressing the prices of primary commodities they had been supplying to the rest of the world. The result was for them as a group to undergo economic hardships and unexpected losses in welfare whenever the prices fell in the market. In the opposite, they had a good time when they went up.

International division of labour

Dr. Gamani Corea
It was a time when the world had been divided into two groups which economists call ‘international division of labour’.
According to this division, one group produced manufactured products and supplied them to the rest of the world. This group comprised the rich world. The other group produced primary commodities – ranging from cereals to agricultural produce to minerals – and supplied them to the rest of the world. This latter group consisted of poor countries in the world. What was observed in the global markets was that while the prices of manufactured products continued to rise or remained stable, the prices of primary commodities had been depressed or had undergone frequent changes from increases to decreases showing a high degree of volatility.

Unfavourable terms of trade for poor countries

Sri Lanka, victim of unfavourable TOT Read More

How Much Is That Bottle Of Water?

By Thahira Cader -April 7, 2014

Thahira Cader

“Water promises to be to the 21st century what oil was to the 20th century: the precious commodity that determines the wealth of nations” -New York Press[i]

It is the 21^stcentury and according to UNICEF statistics[ii] 783 million people do not have access to safe drinking water. Each day at least 5,000 children die from preventable water and sanitation-related diseases. The world is plummeting towards a situation of extreme water scarcity. Indeed, between now and 2025, it is expected that we will need 17% more water to produce food for the swelling populace of developing countries. Meanwhile, total water consumption will increase disproportionately by some 40%. In optimal conditions, the average human being can survive up to a maximum of six days without drinking water. The rising levels of pollution, steadily expanding populations and unprecedented climate change, however, have combined to make the conditions we thrive in far from optimal. The odds are daunting. And as we summersault into a future in which access to clean drinking water promises to be uncertain, new talking points are developing. Among the many intriguing questions that are being asked today, one, “Is drinking water a commodity or a human right?” takes centre stage.

The fundamental role played by water in the sustenance of all life forms is obvious: water is life. Thus, it is natural to assume that people shouldn’t have to pay a price for this basic right. Unfortunately, the real state of affairs is far from the ideal, which is that clean drinking water should not have to be bought under any circumstances.

The United Nations (UN) sustained a series of dialogues spanning multiple decades on this issue. The result was that binding resolutions were passed in 2010 declaring, “the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living and inextricably related to the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as the right to life and human dignity.” [iii]  Water facilitates the provision of other fundamental human rights, thus to deprive people of access to clean water is to impose limitations on their right to live.

                                                                                   Read More

Doctors threaten strike in 250 MOH areas

By Don Asoka Wijewardena-April 6, 2014

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) President Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya yesterday urged Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena to immediately intervene to halt the tug of war between the nurses and midwives. If he failed to intervene from today all the doctors serving in 250 MOH areas would keep away from work.

He pointed out that the College of Surgeons, National Institute of Health Sciences and the GMOA yesterday unanimously agreed to request Minister Maithripala Sirisena, Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka and Director General Health Services Dr.Palitha Maheepala to immediately intervene to settle the conflict between the nurses and the midwives as the Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU) President Ven. Muruttetuwe Ananda Thera had made a statement that the PSUNU would detail trainee nurses to the MOH offices to work with the doctors in immunization, ante-natal, post partum clinics.

Dr. Padeniya said that no doctor would be working with the nursing trainees at the MOH offices. The GMOA General Committee yesterday took a strong decision not to work with the nursing trainees at the MOH areas and offices. Because the doctors did not depend on the services provided by the trainee nurses. The PSUNU President was a law unto himself. In accordance with the Sri Lanka Medical Ordinance section 54 clearly mentioned that there could not be nurse/midwife. Only midwives could attend to deliveries. The President of the PSUNU had better see the Ordinance before instigating the nurses to launch baseless trade union action.

Health Minister and Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka were only listening to PSUNU President. They were reluctant to take a straightforward decision on the burning issue. When the public health services in Sri Lanka collapsed the image of Sri Lanka would be tarnished. The GMOA had received a call from the Geneva Human Rights Commission yesterday about the destruction of the maternity care services in Sri Lanka. The GMOA had told them that the GMOA had officially requested Minister Sirisena, Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka and Director General of Health Services Dr. Palitha Maheepala to immediately intervene into settle the matter. But their approach was not encouraging whatsoever, the GMOA President charged.

PSUNU Vice President D. Boralessa when contacted for comment accused the GMOA for taking decisions in favour of the midwives. In fact the PSUNU would be willing to see the Medical Ordinance which contained section 54 that there could not be ‘nurse/midwife’. The PSUNU did not believe in the authenticity of the GMOA any longer. The PSUNU was aware of the ulterior motives of the GMOA.

He pointed out that PSUNU had never made any statements that it would detail trainee nurses to MOH offices to work with doctors. The PSUNU had assured the services of qualified nurses to work in MOH offices. "We have decided to detail qualified nurses from Karapitiya, Kandy, Anuradapura and Kurunegala hospitals to all the MOH areas to replace the midwives who were refusing to work until their demands were fulfilled.

Rajapaksa government gives Norochcholai to the Chinese

 Monday, 07 April 2014 

The Mahinda Rajapaksa government has officially permitted the Chinese to intervene in Sri Lanka’s power sector.

Although a Chinese construction company was assigned to construct the country’s first coal power plant in Norochcholai, it was operated by the Ceylon Electricity Board.

However, the Rajapaksa government has now taken steps to hand over all operations at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) to China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for three years.

CEB sources have been quoted in the local media as saying that the Cabinet approved its paper on handing over the power plant to the Chinese on March 27.

An engineer attached to the power plant, on condition of anonymity, has said that although the usual process is signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) after receiving Cabinet approval, in this instance the MOU was signed before Cabinet approval was received.

Minister obtains direct donation from Pakistan

By Namini Wijedasa-Sunday, April 06, 2014

Officials express concern over bypassing of rules and procedures

The Government of Pakistan has responded to a direct call for funding from Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiudeen by pledging to give him US$ 1 million or Rs. 130 million outside of established rules and procedures.

The contribution was made bypassing the External Resources Department (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance and sets a precedent for ministers to independently canvass foreign governments and other entities for international aid. Political observers pointed out that, by the same standards, the Northern Provincial Council should also be able to conduct dealings with donors for projects of its preference.

As the Sunday Times exclusively reported in December 2013, Minister Bathiudeen approached Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to secure assistance for a housing scheme for Muslims in the North. He got the help of Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne to forward a written appeal to Premier Sharif through Pakistan’s High Commissioner Qasim Quereshi.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna were among those that objected to the violation of protocol and standard procedure. But now, the Pakistan High Commission has delivered a letter to Prime Minister Jayaratne, thanking him for his letter of January 19, 2014. The PM’s note was a covering document to Minister Bathiudeen’s letter requesting financial assistance for Muslim IDPs.

The response, signed by Premier Sharif, states that he is pleased to make a contribution of US$ 1 million or Rs. 130 million. He has, in effect, acceded to Minister Bathiudeen’s request for financial assistance. The money has been pledged notwithstanding the fact that neither the Prime Minister nor any Cabinet Minister is entitled to write directly to a foreign source seeking financial assistance.

An ERD spokesman said there were two ways to secure funding for projects. One was by export credit which is channeled through Exim Banks in various countries and requires Cabinet approval. The other is for ministries to seek funds through the ERD.

“The whole mandate for engaging with development partners lies with the Finance Ministry, especially the External Resources Department,” the spokesman said. “An annual needs assessment is done. Based on that, line ministries forward their project proposals to the Department of National Planning which evaluates them. Once the projects are approved, the Department of National Planning assesses whether local or foreign funding is required for implementation. If there is a foreign component, it submits the proposals to the External Resources Department.” The ERD then forwards the approved projects to various development partners forconsideration. Funding is dependent on the interest and financing capacity of the partners. “Everybody must follow these procedures,” the spokesman said. “But what happens, practically, is that some agencies and development partners directly fund NGOs. That is not correct procedure because no one knows how many dollars come into the country through direct payments.”

Asked if, for instance, the Northern Provincial Council can secure grants directly from international donors, he replied: “It can get grants, but through the ERD. It can submit proposals to the National Planning Department through the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government.”

It is not yet clear how the US$1 million of Pakistani funds will be channelled to Minister Bathiudeen. It is likely that a cheque will be handed over by the Pakistan High Commissioner.

Company manager arrested over Rs.270mil fraud remanded

April 7, 2014 

The manager of a private financial institution, who was arrested on charges of defrauding around Rs 270 million from customers, has been remanded by the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court today. 

 The suspect was produced before Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate and Additional District Jude Ruwandika Marasinghe who ordered that he be remanded until April 09.

The manager was arrested recently in connection with the organized swindling of cash amounting around Rs 270 million belonging to clients of a prominent financial institution located on Maithripala Senanayake Mawatha in Anuradhapura.

The magistrate ordered the special crimes unit of the Anuradhapura Police to continue further investigations into the fraud and submit a report on their progress. 

MH370 hunt finds signals 'consistent' with black boxes

Signals picked up by a ship searching for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are consistent with aircraft flight recorders, Australian officials say.

MONDAY 07 APRIL 2014

On Sunday, Chinese and Australian search teams were scouring the southern Indian Ocean to try and verify if any one of three "acoustic events" may have come from the missing plane.

'Consistent'

On Monday, Angus Houston, head of the Australian agency coordinating the search, told a news conference in Perth that they had come across a "most promising lead" after two signals were detected off Australia's northwest coast.

"On this occasion two distinct pinger returns were audible," he said. "Significantly, this would be consistent with transmissions from both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder."

The first detection held for 2.5 hours before the ship lost contact. After turning around, the ship picked up the signal for around 13 minutes, he said.

A Chinese vessel, the Haixun 01, has also detected a fleeting "ping" twice in recent days – around 300 nautical miles away from where the Australian ship, the HMAS Ocean Shield, is searching.

Haixun 01 has now been accompanied by British survey ship the HMS Echo.

Confirmation of whether the signals were emitted from MH370, which has been missing for almost a month with 239 people on board, could take several days, Mr Houston said.

'Nothing happens fast'

The plane's black boxes are equipped with locator beacons that send out “pings”. However, the battery life on the black boxes is running out, intensifying the need for some positive news in the search.

If the signals can be narrowed further, an unmanned underwater vehicle, Bluefin 21, will be sent to attempt to locate wreckage on the sea floor to verify the signals, said Mr Houston.

At the location where the signals have been detected the water in 2.8 miles deep – just within the dive range of the submarine.

"We are right on the edge of capability and we might be limited on capability if the aircraft ended up in deeper water," Mr Houston said. "In very deep oceanic water, nothing happens fast."

Ukraine: pro-Russia activists proclaim independent republic in Donetsk

Protesters occupying government building in eastern city vow to follow Crimea in holding referendum on joining Russia

A masked man holds Russian flag above a barricade at the regional administration building in in Donetsk. Photograph: Alexander Ermochenko/AP

Agencies in Kiev

Monday 7 April 2014 09

Pro-Russian activists occupying a government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk have proclaimed the creation of a sovereign "people's republic" independent of the capital, Kiev.

The announcement, which was posted on YouTube, was delivered by aprotest spokesperson outside a building currently occupied by several thousand Russia supporters, some of them armed.

"Seeking to create a popular, legitimate, sovereign state, I proclaim the creation for the sovereign state of the People's Republic of Donetsk," the spokesperson said to cheers from the gathered crowd.

The Interfax news agency reported that the self-proclaimed leaders of Donetsk had vowed to hold a referendum on regional sovereignty no later than 11 May. Ukrainian presidential elections have been set for 25 May.

The regional news website Ostrov said the activists wanted to join the Russian Federation in a similar way to the Crimean peninsula.

Ukraine's acting president, Olexander Turchynov, said the separatist call in Donetsk and pro-Russian protests in two other cities in the east of the country was evidence of a "second stage" of Russian operations "playing out the Crimean scenario".

The acting prime minister, Arseny Yatseniuk, told a cabinet meeting in Kiev: "An anti-Ukrainian plan is being put into operation ... under which foreign troops will cross the border and seize the territory of the country."

Pro-Russian protesters remain in control of security service headquarters in the eastern Ukrainian region of Lugansk. Activists vacated an administration building in Kharkiv on Monday after occupying it overnight.

On Sunday, a Russian soldier shot dead a Ukrainian naval officer in eastern Crimea, one of the few fatalities reported since Russia took control of the Black Sea peninsula in March.

The shooting was announced by Ukraine's defence ministry. Russian media said a group of Ukrainian soldiers in the village of Novofedorivka had been drinking and were on their way home when they passed Russian soldiers guarding an entry to the military base where they previously worked, and an argument broke out between the two groups.

"We confirm the death of a Ukrainian officer in the village of Novofedorivka in Crimea," the ministry's press service told Interfax-Ukraine. According to the news agency, the Russian serviceman shot dead the Ukrainian officer near the hostel where the latter lived.

Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade outside the security service building in Donetsk.de Photograph: Alexander Khudoteply/AFP/Getty Images

Dmytro Tymchuk, director of the Centre for Military and Political Studies, said on Facebook on Monday that Russian junior sergeant Ye S Zaitsevv shot a Ukrainian serviceman – whom he named as Major K of military unit No 1100 – twice in the head at point-blank range.

He said Captain A Yermolenko, who was sharing a hostel room with the murdered Ukrainian, was beaten and abducted by Russian troops. Tymchuk said Russian servicemen had also taken the body of the Ukrainian major. A criminal investigation has been opened.

Ukraine's prime minister accused Russia of sowing unrest in his country's eastern provinces as a pretext for dispatching troops across the border.

Speaking at an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Russia was behind the seizure of several government buildings in eastern regions, which had led to an increase in secessionist sentiment.

"The plan is to destabilise the situation, the plan is for foreign troops to cross the border and seize the country's territory, which we will not allow," he said, adding that people engaged in the unrest had Russian accents.

Yatsenyuk said Russian troops remained stationed within 19 miles (30km) of the frontier.

Earlier in the day, the interior ministry reported that armed gunmen had occupied a security services building in Luhansk, 15 miles west of the Russian border and scene of frequent protests since Ukraine's pro-Moscow president was ousted in February.

Police in Luhansk say they had been put on alert and had blocked all entrances to the city.

A crowd of pro-Russian activists stormed the building on Sunday. Local media reported that demonstrators pelted the building with eggs, and then stones, a smoke grenade and finally a firebomb. The flames were reportedly quickly extinguished. Police said nine people were injured during the assault on the building.

Eastern Ukraine was the heartland of support for Viktor Yanukovych, the president who fled to Russia in February after months of protests. About half of the region's residents are ethnic Russians, many of whom believe Ukraine's acting authorities are Ukrainian nationalists who will oppress Russians.

Ukraine's interim authorities deny they are infringing the rights of the ethnic Russian population. Russia has moved large contingents of troops near the Ukrainian border, amid speculation that unrest in eastern Ukraine could be used as a pretext for a Russian incursion.

Since Crimea held a secession referendum and was annexed by Russia in March, calls for similar votes in Ukraine's east have emerged.