DATE=6/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250479
TITLE=LANKA / FIGHTING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MORE THAN 60 TAMIL TIGER REBELS AND GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS
HAVE BEEN KILLED IN FIGHTING IN NORTHERN SRI LANKA. VANDANA
CHOPRA HAS DETAILS FROM COLOMBO.
TEXT: THE DEFENCE MINISTRY SAYS GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS BATTLED WITH
TAMIL TIGER REBELS NEAR THE TOWN OF PARANTHAN, BELOW THE NORTHERN
JAFFNA PENINSULA.
A MINISTRY STATEMENT SAYS TIGER SEPARATISTS USED MORTARS AND
SMALL ARMS AGAINST THE TROOPS.
MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY SECURITY FORCES DESTROYED EIGHT BUNKERS
AND RECOVERED A LARGE AMOUNT OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION IN THE
OPERATION.
THERE HAS BEEN NO IMMEDIATE REACTION FROM TAMIL TIGER REBELS ON
THE FIGHTING.
SPORADIC FIGHTING HAS INCREASED IN SRI LANKA'S NORTH AND EAST
EVER SINCE LAST YEAR, WHEN THE MILITARY CALLED OFF ONE OF ITS
BLOODIEST CAMPAIGNS IN THE 15-YEAR-OLD ETHNIC WAR.
LAUNCHED IN MAY 1997, THE CAMPAIGN WAS DESIGNED TO CAPTURE A KEY
NORTHERN HIGHWAY. THOUSANDS OF REBELS AND SOLDIERS WERE KILLED
IN THE GOVERNMENT OFFENSIVE, WHICH LASTED FOR NEARLY 18 MONTHS.
INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE LATEST ROUND OF FIGHTING 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/KL
10-Jun-99 2:03 PM EDT (1803 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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