DATE=5/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA/CEASEFIRE/ L-O
NUMBER=2-262095
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lanka has rejected a rebel call for a
ceasefire to enable the evacuation of government
troops from Jaffna, the former Tamil rebel stronghold.
Vandana Chopra has the details from Colombo.
TEXT: Government officials say the evacuation of Sri
Lankan troops from Jaffna is most unlikely. Sri
Lanka's Media Minister (Mangala Samaraweera) says
there will not be a troop withdrawal, but the doors
are still open for peace talks.
The government was responding to a Tamil rebel
statement saying they were prepared to declare a
temporary ceasefire and suspend all armed hostilities
so government troops could be evacuated safely from
the Jaffna peninsula.
In a statement from its London headquarters, Tamil
separatists say they will call for the Red Cross to
supervise and assist the orderly evacuation of troops.
The rebel statement added that in case the Sri Lankan
government rejected its offer it would bear total
responsibility for heavy military casualties. There
are estimated to be about 27-thousand government
troops stationed in Jaffna.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan troops continue to attack rebel
positions in and around the key Elephant Pass military
complex. The rebels captured the position last month.
Security officials say troops are strengthening their
positions. They say all precautions are being taken
to ensure that the key Palaly airport on the northern
tip of Jaffna peninsula did not come within rebel
firing range.
Soon after the fall of Elephant Pass, the government
introduced censorship on foreign media and invoked the
Public Security Act, which gives sweeping powers to
the military, police and government.
Meanwhile, independent newspaper reports say a large
number of arms and ammunition have been sent to
Jaffna.
The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland
for the minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka's north
and east since 1983. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/LTD/RAE
08-May-2000 09:18 AM EDT (08-May-2000 1318 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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