DATE=5/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA / TAMIL TIGERS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262799
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Tamil Tiger rebels have set a Friday deadline
for Sri Lankan troops in the northern Jaffna peninsula
to surrender or face a bloodbath. Anjana Pasricha
reports from VOA's South Asia Bureau, there is no
immediate comment from the Sri Lankan government which
has been fighting to halt a major rebel offensive in
the north.
Text: The Tamil Tigers say they are poised for a
final assault on Jaffna city, and are giving
government troops a last chance to surrender.
The announcement of a deadline was made in a broadcast
on the Voice of Tigers Radio. The rebels said soldiers
who lay down their arms will be turned over to the
International Committee of the Red Cross.
This is the first time the rebels have set a deadline
for the military to surrender. Analysts say it could
be a ploy to demoralize government troops, who have
suffered several defeats in recent weeks.
The Sri Lankan government has been saying there is no
question of a withdrawal, and the army will defend
Jaffna to the last man. The government also rejected
an earlier offer of safe passage made by rebels
earlier this month.
There are an estimated 30,000 troops in Jaffna, a
former Tamil Tiger stronghold, which the rebels want
to recapture.
The rebels and the government have been making
conflicting claims about the fighting. The rebels say
they have disrupted the main supply routes to the
troops. The government denies this, and says it is in
control of two-thirds of the peninsula.
Independent confirmation of the competing claims has
been impossible because the government has barred
reporters from war areas.
Meanwhile, clashes are reported for the second day in
the east of the island nation where rebels attacked an
army camp and an air force base on Wednesday. The
opening of the new front by rebels will force the
government to spread its soldiers to the east.
Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for an
independent homeland for the minority Tamil community
in the east and north of the nation since 1983.
(signed)
NEB/AP/KBK
25-May-2000 07:56 AM EDT (25-May-2000 1156 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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