DATE=9/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238458
TITLE=LANKA BOMB (L)
BYLINE=LEA TERHUNE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ABOUT 19 PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED DEAD AND MORE INJURED IN A
BOMB ATTACK IN NORTHERN SRI LANKA FRIDAY. SO FAR NO ONE HAS
CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLAST. LEA TERHUNE HAS THIS
REPORT FROM VOA'S SOUTH ASIA BUREAU.
TEXT: THE DEAD AND INJURED IN THE BOMB EXPLOSION FRIDAY IN SRI
LANKA'S NORTHERN CITY OF JAFFNA INCLUDE A NUMBER OF SENIOR
GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY OFFICIALS. A MEETING WAS IN PROGRESS AT
A GOVERNMENT OFFICE WHEN THE BOMB WENT OFF. ACCORDING TO
MILITARY SOURCES, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF JAFFNA IS AMONG THE
DEAD. MAYOR PONNUTHURAI SIVAPALAN ASSUMED HIS POSITION IN MAY,
AFTER HIS PREDECESSOR WAS GUNNED DOWN IN FRONT OF HER HOME. TWO
FOREIGN AID WORKERS ARE ALSO BELIEVED DEAD.
THOUGH THE PERPETRATORS HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED, LIKELY SUSPECTS
ARE THE SEPARATIST LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM,OR LTTE.
THEY HAVE BEEN WAGING AN ETHNIC GUERILLA WAR IN SRI LANKA FOR 15
YEARS. THE GROUP CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR KILLING THE
PREVIOUS MAYOR ARE SAID BY THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT TO BE A
FRONT FOR THE LTTE.
JAFFNA WAS ONCE A STRONGHOLD OF THE TAMIL TIGERS WHERE THEY
OPERATED A PARALLEL GOVERNMENT UNTIL 1995. THE SRI LANKAN ARMY
THEN RE-TOOK THE CITY AFTER A CONCERTED, 50-DAY OFFENSIVE. THE
REBELS WERE DRIVEN INTO THE JUNGLE. FROM THERE THEY CARRY ON
THEIR WAR TO WIN AN INDEPENDENT HOMELAND FOR THE TAMIL MINORITY.
MANY TAMILS ALLEGE DISCRIMINATION BY THE NATIVE SINHALESE
MAJORITY. THE REBELS SAY TAMILS CAN ONLY BE HAPPY IN A HOMELAND
SEPARATE FROM THE SINHALESE.
NEB/LB/PLM
11-Sep-98 5:46 AM EDT (0946 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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