DATE=5/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA/DEFENSE (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262178
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Fierce fighting has broken out in Sri Lanka's
northern Jaffna peninsula. Military officials say the
rebels breached army defenses in some places. Vandana
Chopra has details from Colombo.
TEXT: Tamil rebels launched a pre-dawn assault on
troops manning defenses at Ariyalai in the northern
Jaffna region.
Military officials say the rebels are using mortars
and artillery in the intense fighting. A defense
ministry statement says its troops are holding, but
the guerrillas breached a few gaps in the army defense
line.
Security officials say both troops and rebels suffered
heavy casualties, though the exact numbers were not
known.
The Tamil rebels have made no statement about the
situation.
The fighting erupted after the government rejected a
rebel ceasefire offer to allow the temporary
withdrawal of troops from the region.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga, said the government
will not allow the rebels to fasten their grip on
Jaffna civilians again. The government took control
of Jaffna from the rebels in 1996.
Last month, the rebels captured the key Elephant Pass
military complex that serves as a gateway to the
Jaffna region.
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, the government has raised taxes on liquor
and cigarettes to help fund the war against the
guerillas.
The rebels have been fighting for autonomy for the
minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka's north and east
since 1983. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/RAE
10-May-2000 07:52 AM EDT (10-May-2000 1152 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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