DATE=2/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245310
TITLE=LANKA/CLASH (L-O)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBOCONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AT LEAST 26 TAMIL-TIGER REBELS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
CLASHES BETWEEN SOLDIERS AND REBELS IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND
EAST. VANDANA CHOPRA HAS DETAILS FROM COLOMBO.
TEXT: DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE REBELS WERE KILLED WHEN
TROOPS USED SMALL ARMS AND MINES TO AMBUSH A GROUP OF GUERRILLAS
IN THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA, A FORMER REBEL STRONGHOLD.
IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT, TIGER SEPARATISTS WERE ALSO KILLED IN A
SEA BATTLE OFF THE NORTHERN JAFFNA PENINSULA. THE DEFENSE
MINISTRY STATEMENT SAYS SRI LANKAN NAVAL GUNBOATS DESTROYED TWO
REBEL CRAFT AND DAMAGED FOUR OTHERS.
A BROADCAST BY THE CLANDESTINE "VOICE OF TIGER RADIO" CONFIRMED
13 SEA-TIGERS WERE KILLED IN THE BATTLE.
SPORADIC FIGHTING HAS BEEN REPORTED IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST
AFTER THE MILITARY LAST YEAR CALLED OFF ONE OF ITS BLOODIEST
CAMPAIGNS IN THE 15-YEAR ETHNIC WAR. THOUSANDS OF REBELS AND
SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN THE 18-MONTH CAMPAIGN THAT WAS LAUNCHED
IN MAY 1997 TO CAPTURE A KEY NORTHERN HIGHWAY.
INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF EVENTS IS NOT POSSIBLE AS JOURNALISTS
ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE WAR-TORN AREAS.
SINCE 1983, TAMIL TIGER REBELS ARE HAVE BEEN WAGING A WAR FOR A
SEPARATE HOMELAND FOR THE MINORITY TAMIL COMMUNITY IN SRI LANKA'S
NORTH AND EAST. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/RAE
09-Feb-99 10:50 AM EST (1550 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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