DATE=8/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237102
TITLE=LANKA / SUNK SHIP (L ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE SRI LANKAN AIR FORCE HAS BOMBED AND DESTROYED A CARGO
SHIP THA WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN HIJACKED BY TAMIL TIGER REBELS
EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS THE DETAILS FROM
COLOMBO.
TEXT: DEFENCE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE SHIP, THE "PRINCESS
KASH," WAS SUSPECTED OF SMUGGLING RESTRICTED ITEMS INCLUDING
CONSUMER GOODS TO TAMIL TIGER REBELS.
THE SHIP WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO MULLAITIVU, THE MAIN
TIGER REBEL BASE, WHEN THE SRI LANKAN NAVY FIRED WARNING SHOTS IN
ITS DIRECTION.
NAVAL OFFICIALS SAY THE SHIP FIRED BACK AT THE NAVAL BOATS AND
LAUNCHED MISSILES AT THE SRI LANKAN AIRFORCE PLANES THAT WERE
FOLLOWING THE SHIP'S MOVEMENTS.
SECURITY OFFICIALS SAY THAT, BEFORE FIRING ON THE SHIP, THE NAVY
INSTRUCTED THE 21 PEOPLE ON BOARD TO ABANDON THE VESSEL. THE FATE
OF THE CREW WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOWN.
MILITARY AND SHIPPING OFFICIALS EARLIER SAID THE VESSEL, WHICH
WAS FERRYING CEMENT, HARDWARE, AND FOOD SUPPLIES FOR PRIVATE
TRADERS TO THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA HAD BEEN HIJACKED.
CURRENTLY, THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT HAS TO AIRLIFT FOOD AND
OTHER SUPPLIES TO THE JAFFNA REGION AS PARTS OF THE ROAD LEADING
TO THE PENINSULA ARE STILL UNDER REBEL CONTROL.
DEFENCE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE SHIP WAS FIRST OBSERVED BY
NAVAL VESSELS LATE THURSDAY BECAUSE IT WAS SAILING CLOSER TO THE
MULLAITIVU COAST THAN ALLOWED.
THE GOVERNMENT STATEMENT SAID THE LOCATION OF THE SHIP AND
CONDUCT OF THE CAPTAIN CAUSED DEFENCE AUTHORITIES TO SUSPECT THAT
THE SHIP WAS TRANSPORTING GOODS TO TIGER REBELS.
FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, THE REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING A WAR FOR
AUTONOMY IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST, WHERE THE MINORITY TAMIL
COMMUNITY IS CONCENTRATED. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/KL
14-Aug-98 2:36 PM EDT (1836 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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