DATE=5/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA/TROOPS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262370
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has
briefed representatives of all political parties on
the military operation against Tamil rebels. Vandana
Chopra reports from Colombo the government is trying
to keep the guerrillas from taking back their former
stronghold on the Jaffna Peninsula.
TEXT: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga,
informed the political parties that her government was
taking all steps to hold Jaffna, after giving them
details of the ground situation.
Meanwhile, the director of information says the
intensity of fighting has dropped drastically during
the past 72-hours. A statement from the special media
information center says Tamil rebels are in a state of
disarray due to the large number of casualties they
have suffered.
There is little first-hand independent information
from the northern Jaffna region. The government has
imposed censorship on foreign media and does not allow
journalists in the war-torn areas.
Amnesty International has asked both sides to ensure
that the fighting did not affect the civilians in the
northern peninsula.
Aid officials have expressed growing concern for the
safety of the 500-thousand civilians on the Jaffna
peninsula. But the government statement says
essential supplies are being transported by air and
sea regularly. There is no land route to Jaffna.
Fierce fighting between the government and Tamil
rebels broke out last Wednesday after the government
rejected a rebel offer for a temporary cease-fire to
evacuate troops from Jaffna.
The government took control of Jaffna, the former
rebel headquarters in 1996.
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
15-May-2000 08:38 AM EDT (15-May-2000 1238 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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