DATE=5/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA SOLDIERS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262266
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The 17 year ethnic war is heating up today
(Friday) in Sri Lanka. Heavy fighting for control of
the northern city of Jaffna continues as Sri Lankan
President Chandrika Kumaratunga urged government
soldiers to wipe out the menace of Tamil Tiger rebel
terrorism. Vandana Chopra has more from Colombo.
TEXT: The rebels say they are very close to retaking
their former stronghold of Jaffna but the Sri Lankan
government says the rebel advance has been stopped on
the Jaffna peninsula.
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga said, in a
message to government troops, that they should learn
from past lessons and move forward and wipe out the
threat of rebel terrorism for good. In a stirring call
to the soldiers, President Kumaratunga says steps
have been taken to procure modern arms, equipment and
technology which will reach them within the next few
weeks.
A government statement says the Tamil rebels have
fired heavy volumes of mortar fire on government
troops just ten kilometers southeast of Jaffna. The
statement says government troops counterattacked
causing casualties among the rebel forces.
The director of information for Sri Lanka says
government troops were supported by warplanes,
helicopter gunships and artillery. The confrontation
lasted for more than five hours and the wounded from
the battle have been taken to Palaly base hospital and
the Colombo National hospital.
The Red Cross has urged both the government and the
Tamil rebels to comply with international humanitarian
laws and provide for the protection of the civilian
population in the Jaffna area.
Fierce fighting between the government and the rebels
broke out on Wednesday after the government rejected
the rebel offer for a ceasefire to enable the
temporary evacuation of troops from Jaffna.
President Kumaratunga has pledged the government will
never give up Jaffna.
Independent confirmation of events is not possible as
journalists are not allowed in the combat areas. The
government has introduced censorship on foreign media
and invoked the Public Security Act, which gives
sweeping
powers to the military, police and government.
Tamil rebels are fighting for autonomy for the
minority Tamil community in Sri Lanka's north and
east. (Signed)
NEB/VC/PLM
TEXT:
NEB/WTW/
12-May-2000 06:30 AM EDT (12-May-2000 1030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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