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DATE=5/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248976
TITLE=SRI LANKA RECRUITS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO: THE SRI LANKAN ARMY HAS STARTED RECRUITING TAMIL YOUTH TO 
THE ARMED FORCES.  IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE THE SRI LANKAN
GOVERNMENT HAS MADE THIS KIND OF AN EFFORT.   VANDANA CHOPRA HAS 
THE DETAILS  FROM COLOMBO.  
TEXT:  MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE ISLANDWIDE RECRUITMENT DRIVE 
FOR THE ARMY BEGAN MONDAY AND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE FOR TWO 
WEEKS.  
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME TAMIL YOUTH ARE BEING RECRUITED FROM THE 
CLEARED AREAS OF THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE COUNTRY SINCE THE 
ETHNIC CIVIL WAR BROKE OUT IN 1983.  
TWO MILITARY INTERVIEW BOARDS HAVE BEEN SET UP IN THE FORMER 
REBEL STRONGHOLD, JAFFNA, TO RECRUIT MEN.  
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO RULES PREVENTING TAMILS FROM JOINING THE 
SECURITY FORCES, VERY FEW IN THE PAST HAVE JOINED DUE TO THE 
ONGOING ETHNIC CONFLICT THAT HAS CLAIMED THOUSANDS OF LIVES.  
SRI LANKA IS PREDOMINATLY  SINHALESE BUDDHIST AND TAMIL TIGER 
REBELS ACCUSE THE MAJORITY OF DISCRIMINATING AGANIST THE MINORITY
TAMILS.  
HOWEVER,  POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY, AT A TIME WHEN FEW SINHALESE 
MEN ARE KEEN TO JOIN THE SECURITY FORCES, THE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT 
GET A GOOD RESPONSE.  
THE SRI LANKAN ARMY HAS A HIGH DESERTION RATE AND LAST YEAR, SOME
13-THOUSAND DESERTERS RETURNED DURING A GOVERNMENT AMNESTY OR 
WERE ARRESTED.  
IN THE PAST, VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS TO ATTRACT NEW SOLDIERS HAVE MET 
WITH A POOR RESPONSE. THE MILITARY SAYS IT NEEDS MORE RECRUITS TO
FIGHT THE TAMIL TIGER REBELS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/PLM
05-May-99 5:18 AM EDT (0918 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.