DATE=1/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243932
TITLE=LANKA/REBELS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AT LEAST 18 TAMIL TIGER REBELS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN FRESH
CONFRONTATIONS IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS THE
DETAILS FROM COLOMBO.
TEXT: DEFENSE MINISTRY STATEMENT SAYS TROOPS RECOVERED A LARGE
AMOUNT OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION AFTER FIERCE FIGHTING AROUND THE
NORTHERN TOWN OF ODDUSUDAN, CAPTURED BY THE MILITARY IN DECEMBER.
IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT, NAVY OFFICIALS SAY A NAVAL PATROL
DETECTED SIX REBEL BOATS AND CONFRONTED THEM NEAR THE EASTERN
PORT CITY OF TRINCOMALEE.
/// OPT /// TEN REBELS WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED AND TWO NAVAL
GUNBOATS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED IN THE CONFRONTATION. /// END OPT ///
THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMENT FROM TAMIL TIGER REBELS ON THE LATEST
ATTACK BY SECURITY FORCES.
THE MILITARY LATE LAST YEAR CALLED OFF ONE OF ITS BLOODIEST
CAMPAIGNS IN THE 15-YEAR-OLD ETHNIC WAR AFTER THOUSANDS OF REBELS
AND SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN FIERCE FIGHTING . THE OPERATION THAT
WAS LAUNCHED IN MAY 1997 CAPTURED A KEY NORTHERN HIGHWAY AND
LASTED FOR NEARLY 18 MONTHS.
SINCE THEN THE MILITARY HAS LAUNCHED SEVERAL SMALLER OPERATIONS
TO RECLAIM TERRITORY IN THE NORTHERN WANNI REGION.
INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF EVENTS IS NOT POSSIBLE AS
JOURNALISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE WAR TORN AREAS.
TAMIL TIGER SEPARATISTS ARE WAGING A WAR FOR A SEPARATE HOMELAND
FOR THE MINORITY TAMIL COMMUNITY IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST
SINCE 1983. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/GE
08-Jan-99 7:57 AM EST (1257 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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