DATE=8/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236810
TITLE=LANKA/US TRAINING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SRI LANKAN POLICEMEN ARE BEING TRAINED BY THE UNITED
STATES IN ADVANCED ANTI-TERRORIST PROGRAMS. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS
THE DETAILS FROM COLOMBO.
TEXT: US EMBASSY OFFICIALS IN COLOMBO SAY THE TRAINING PROGRAM
IS BEING ORGANIZED THROUGH THE ANTI-TERRORIST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
OF THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT.
THE EMBASSY SPOKESPERSON SAID 15 SRI LANKAN POLICEMEN HAVE BEEN
SENT ON A SIX-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM TO THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE
ACADEMY TO LEARN HOW TO DEFUSE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPLOSIVES.
ANOTHER GROUP OF 24 POLICEMEN ARE ON A 3-WEEK COURSE AT A FEDERAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER IN GEORGIA, TO LEARN SKILLS TO
PROTECT VITAL INSTALLATIONS.
IN THE PAST, TAMIL TIGER REBELS, WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE SRI
LANKAN GOVERMENT, HAVE TARGETTED KEY INSTALLATIONS, TRANSMISSION
TOWERS AND TELEPHONE EXCHANGES IN AND AROUND COLOMBO.
POLICE OFFICIALS SAY THE COURSES WILL ENHANCE POLICE CAPABILITY
IN COMBATING THREATS POSED BY BOMBS AND PROTECTING CIVILIANS AND
CIVILIAN-RUN INSTALLATIONS.
US OFFICIALS SAY ADDITIONAL TRAINING COURSES FOR SRI LANKAN
POLICE OFFICIALS ARE BEING PLANNED LATER THIS YEAR.
THE UNITED STATES HAD EARLIER SENT SEVERAL SPECIALIZED UNITS TO
SRI LANKA TO TRAIN MILITARY OFFICERS AND ALSO REGULARLY OFFERS
TRAINING PROGRAMS TO SENIOR OFFICERS IN ITS DEFENSE ACADEMIES.
LAST YEAR, THE UNITED STATES BANNED TAMIL TIGER REBELS AS A
FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE
GUERILLA GROUP TO RAISE FUNDS IN THE UNITED STATES.
SINCE THEN, DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
SRI LANKA HAVE IMPROVED.
TAMIL TIGER REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A SEPERATE HOMELAND FOR
MINORITY TAMILS IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST SINCE 1983.(SIGNED)
NEB/VC/PLM
10-Aug-98 8:37 AM EDT (1237 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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