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DATE=8/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237282
TITLE=LANKA / REBEL RELEASE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN SRI LANKA, TAMIL TIGER REBELS ON TUESDAY FREED 17 
INDIANS WHO WERE IN THE CREW OF A CARGO SHIP THAT WAS HIJACKED BY
THE REBELS LAST WEEK.    BUT VANDANA CHOPRA REPORTS FROM COLOMBO 
THAT REBELS ARE STILL HOLDING FOUR SRI LANKAN CREW MEMBERS.
TEXT:  THE INDIAN CREW MEMBERS OF THE SHIP, "PRINCESS KASH", WERE
ESCORTED BY RED CROSS OFFICIALS FROM THE REBEL-DOMINATED NORTH TO
THE INDIAN EMBASSY IN COLOMBO.
HOWEVER, RED CROSS OFFICIALS SAY, NEGOTIATIONS ARE CONTINUING FOR
THE RELEASE OF THE FOUR SRI LANKAN CREW MEMBERS STILL BEING HELD 
BY THE REBELS.  
LAST WEEK, THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT ORDERED THE "PRINCESS KASH" 
TO BE DESTROYED BECAUSE IT WAS ANCHORED TOO CLOSE TO THE MAIN 
TIGER REBEL BASE. THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT SUSPECTED THE SHIP WAS 
TRANSPORTING RESTRICTED ITEMS TO TAMIL TIGER REBELS.  THE 
GOVERNMENT SAID THAT ITS SHIPS FIRED WARNING SHOTS IN THE 
DIRECTION OF THE VESSEL BEFORE ORDERING THE CREW TO ABANDON SHIP.
AIR FORCE PLANES WERE LATER SENT IN TO BOMB THE VESSEL TO PREVENT
THE GOODS ON BOARD THE SHIP FROM FALLING INTO REBEL HANDS.   
CURRENTLY, FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES ARE AIRLIFTED TO THE JAFFNA 
REGION AS PARTS OF THE ROAD LEADING TO THE REGION ARE STILL UNDER
REBEL CONTROL.
MEANWHILE, DIPLOMATS SAID INDIA HAS SOUGHT CLARIFICATION FROM THE
SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT THE INDIAN CREW 
CONSPIRED WITH THE GEURRILLAS TO TRANSPORT THE CARGO.
THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT HAD EARLIER SAID THE LOCATION OF THE 
SHIP AND THE CONDUCT OF ITS CAPTAIN GAVE SUFFICIENT CAUSE FOR 
GRAVE SUSPICION THAT HE WAS ACTING IN CONNIVANCE WITH THE REBELS.
TAMIL TIGER REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING A WAR FOR A SEPARATE 
HOMELAND IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST WHERE THE MINORITY TAMIL 
COMMUNITY IS CONCENTRATED.  
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS  SAY MORE THAN 50-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED 
IN THE 15-YEAR ETHNIC WAR.  (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/KL
18-Aug-98 1:38 PM EDT (1738 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.