DATE=10/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239917
TITLE=LANKA/CASUALTY (L-O)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SRI LANKA'S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS MORE THAN 975 SOLDIERS
WERE KILLED OR MISSING AFTER MAJOR ATTACK BY TIGER REBELS LAST
WEEK IN NORTHERN SRI LANKA. VANDANA CHOPRA REPORTS FROM
COLOMBO.
TEXT: THE DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS 18 OFFICERS AND 771 SOLDIERS
WERE MISSING IN ACTION LAST WEEK AFTER THE BATTLE IN KILINOCHCHI,
SOUTH OF THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA.
THE MILITARY SPOKESMAN HAD EARLIER DESCRIBED THE BATTLE FOR
KILINOCHCHI AS THE ARMY'S BIGGEST SETBACK IN TWO-YEARS.
THE STATEMENT SAYS MORE THAN 717 TAMIL TIGER REBELS WERE ALSO
KILLED AND 11-HUNDRED WERE WOUNDED IN THE THREE-DAY FIGHTING.
REBEL LOSSES HAVE NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED.
HEAVY FIGHTING WAS REPORTED AROUND PARANTHAN AND KILINOCHCHI,
SOUTH OF THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA, AFTER TAMIL TIGERS
LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON ARMY DEFENSE POSITIONS EARLY LAST WEEK.
THIS WAS THEIR FIRST MAJOR CLASH IN SEVERAL WEEKS.
DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS HAD EARLIER SAID THE LOSS OF
KILINOCHCI WAS MADE UP BY THE CAPTURE OF THE NORTHERN TOWN OF
MANKULAM. IT WAS THE LAST MAJOR REBEL-HELD TOWN ON A KEY HIGHWAY
THE MILITARY IS TRYING TO CAPTURE IN A CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED LAST
MAY.
MEANWHILE, THE OPPOSITION "UNITED NATIONAL PARTY" SAYS IT PLANS
TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO APPOINT A PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO
INQUIRE INTO THE LOSS OF KILINOCHCHI.
JOURNALISTS ARE BARRED FROM THE WAR ZONE AND ARE UNABLE TO
INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRM THE BATTLEFIELD ACCOUNTS RELEASED BY THE
GOVERNMENT AND REBELS. THE TIGER GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN WAGING A
WAR FOR A SEPARATE HOMELAND FOR SRI LANKA'S MINORITY TAMIL
COMMUNITY SINCE 1983. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
08-Oct-98 11:23 AM EDT (1523 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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