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DATE=10/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240221
TITLE=SRI LANKA / WAR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: FIERCE FIGHTING BETWEEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND TAMIL TIGER 
REBELS HAS CLAIMED AT LEAST 170 LIVES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. SRI 
LANKA'S POLICE AND ARMY ARE HOLDING JOINT OPERATIONS TO ARREST 
DESERTERS. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS THE DETAILS FROM COLOMBO.  
TEXT:  THE LONG CIVIL WAR IN SRI LANKA CONTINUES.  A MILITARY 
SPOKESPERSON SAYS GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARE IN THE MIDST NOW OF A 
BLOODY MILITARY CAMPAIGN TO WREST CONTROL OF THE VITAL NORTHERN 
HIGHWAY LINKING JAFFNA PENINSULA WITH THE REST OF THE ISLAND.  
THE GOVERNMENT TROOPS HAVE HAD TO RECEIVE HELP FROM ARTILLERY 
UNITS AND AIR FORCES TO OVERCOME POCKETS OF RESISTANCE BY TAMIL 
TIGER GUERILLAS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO ESTABLISH A HOMELAND IN THE 
NORTH.  
THE HIGHWAY,  IF CAPTURED, WILL GIVE THE GOVERNMENT LAND ACCESS 
TO THE NORTHERN JAFFNA REGION. CURRENTLY, ALL SUPPLIES OF MEN AND
MATERIALS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS IN JAFFNA HAVE TO BE 
TRANSPORTED BY SEA OR AIR.  
MEANWHILE, DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND 
800 DESERTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOLLOWING AN ISLAND-WIDE  
OPERATION BY THE ARMY AND POLICE TO APPREHEND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE 
WALKED AWAY FROM THE ARMY.  
ARMY OFFICIALS SAY STRINGENT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE 
INSTITUTIONS WHICH HARBOUR OR PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO DESERTERS.   
THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION DEPARTMENT HAD EARLIER SAID IN A 
STATEMENT THAT THE INCIDENCE OF THEFT, CRIMES AND LOOTING HAS 
INCREASED AS A RESULT OF SUCH PERSONS TRAINED IN ARMS BEING AT 
LARGE.  
SOME 15-THOUSAND GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS ARE LISTED AS DESERTERS . 
LAST MAY, SOME 13-THOUSAND DESERTERS RETURNED DURING A GOVERNMENT
AMNESTY OR WERE ARRESTED.  
MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS TO ATTRACT NEW SOLDIERS 
HAVE MET WITH A POOR RESPONSE. THE MILITARY SAYS IT NEEDS MORE 
RECRUITS TO FIGHT TAMIL TIGER REBELS.  
THE TIGER GEURILLAS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AUTONOMY FOR 15 YEARS 
IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST WHERE THE MINORITY TAMIL COMMUNITY 
IS CONCENTRATED. ( SIGNED)
NEB/VC/PLM 
15-Oct-98 7:12 AM EDT (1112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.