DATE=6/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234313
TITLE=SRI LANKA WAR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SRI LANKAN MILITARY AUTHORITIES SAY FIGHTING ON TWO
FRONTS HAS LED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF A TAMIL TIGER REBEL BASE IN
EASTERN SRI LANKA AND FURTHER GAINS AGAINST THE REBELS IN THE
NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA. CORRESPONDENT JIM TEEPLE REPORTS
THERE HAS BEEN "NO" COMMENT FROM THE REBELS ABOUT THE
GOVERNMENT CLAIMS. THIS REPORT WAS FILED FROM OUR NEW DELHI
BUREAU BECAUSE THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT HAS IMPOSED CENSORSHIP
RULES ON ALL MILITARY NEWS.
TEXT: A STATEMENT FROM SRI LANKA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS AN
ATTACK BY ARMY NAVY AND AIR FORCE UNITS HAS LED TO THE COMPLETE
DESTRUCTION OF PORT FACILITIES USED BY THE TAMIL-TIGER REBELS IN
THE SMALL COASTAL TOWN OF VAKARAI IN THE EASTERN BATTICALOA
DISTRICT. THE TOWN IS LOCATED ABOUT 200-KILOMETERS EAST OF THE
SRI LANKAN CAPITAL, COLOMBO.
THE STATEMENT SAYS 33-REBELS WERE KILLED AND MORE THAN
100-WOUNDED IN THE FIGHTING AND THE REBELS DESTROYED A HOSPITAL
IN THE TOWN BEFORE FLEEING. THE STATEMENT SAYS ONE GOVERNMENT
SOLDIER WAS KILLED AND FOUR OTHERS WOUNDED IN THE OPERATION.
SRI LANKA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS CAPTURE OF VAKARAI WILL HINDER
REBEL SUPPLY OPERATIONS BY SEA BETWEEN NORTHERN AND EASTERN SRI
LANKA.
MEANWHILE IN SRI LANKA'S NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA, THE DEFENSE
MINISTRY SAYS ITS TROOPS ARE CONTINUING TO ADVANCE NORTH FROM
POSITIONS WEST OF THE TOWN OF MANKULAM, WHICH SITS AT A JUNCTION
ALONG THE ONLY HIGHWAY LINKING THE JAFFNA PENINSULA WITH THE REST
OF SRI LANKA.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS ARE BATTLING FOR CONTROL OF THE
LAST 17-KILOMETER STRETCH OF THE HIGHWAY NOT UNDER GOVERNMENT
CONTROL. HEAVY FIGHTING DURING THE PAST MONTH AROUND MANKULAM
HAS CLAIMED MORE THAN 500-LIVES ON BOTH SIDES, WITH MORE THAN
TWO-THOUSAND WOUNDED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JLT/LTD/RAE
22-Jun-98 3:48 PM EDT (1948 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
