M A I N   N E W S

Troops check Tigers’ advance

COLOMBO, May 14 (PTI, UNI, AFP) — Sri Lankan troops, aided by fighter bombers and helicopter gunships, today halted the LTTE’s bid to make further advance into Jaffna town and rushed more troops and weapons to counter the rebels’ onslaught.

The troops repulsed all attempts by the Tigers to make further inroads from Colombathurai in the northern suburbs of Jaffna town, a government press release said.

The Israel-made KFIR fighter bombers and helicopter gunships engaged the rebel troops at Ariyalao and Thanankilappu, near Jaffna town, from where the LTTE had launched its latest attacks on May 10, it said.

Pooneryn, a small town located on the western banks of Jaffna lagoon facing the Jaffna peninsula, was also bombed by fighter bombers to prevent rebels from moving in their reinforcements and weapons.

The release said “monitored LTTE transmissions reveal that terrorists have suffered heavy casualties and their leaders have been requesting for reinforcements.”

It said the LTTE continued to direct heavy artillery and mortar fire on Jaffna town and Lankan troops are taking all possible measures to protect the inhabitants of the town from rebel attacks.

The government said the military authorities in Jaffna have already taken up with the International Committee of Red Cross the issue of long rebel attacks by the LTTE, disregarding thick concentration of civilian population.

The government press release said “Instructions have also gone from the LTTE leadership to political leaders in the east to conscript more children to boost up their depleted strength.”

“In-spite of continuing protests from the parents, 140 school children have been conscripted so far and presently undergoing military training,” it said.

Independent reports from eastern Batticaloa and Trincomalee said the LTTE’s recruitment squads, armed with videos of the capture of the Elephant Pass and other war footage, launched a massive drive to recruit rural school going children and youth. Reports speak of heavy response to the LTTE’s recruitment drive.

On the other hand President Chandrika Kumaratunga held a series of crisis management meetings with the National Security Council which comprised of top defence officials, including the chiefs of the army, navy and air force.

Meanwhile, the government offered to free detained Tamil Tiger suspects in exchange for government soldiers held prisoner by the guerrillas, officials said today.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga said she had asked the authorities to prepare a list of detainees believed to be members of the LTTE.

UNP claim on fall of Jaffna denied

COLOMBO, May 14 (PTI) — The Sri Lankan Government tonight hurriedly denied a reported statement made by the principal opposition United National Party (UNP) leader, Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe, to BBC that the Jaffna town has fallen to the LTTE.

The official television, in its news broadcast tonight first aired a brief interview of Mr Wickramasinghe to BBC followed by comments from Media Minister Managgala Samaraweera, who accused the UNP leader of “committing treason” by making false statements.

Mr Samaraweera said the UNP leader has claimed that Jaffna town has fallen, even though the LTTE itself has not made such a claim so far as the town was well defended by the army. 

Ban on LTTE extended for 2 years

NASIK (Maharashtra), May 14 (PTI)— The Centre has extended the ban on outlawed separatist organisation the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for another two years, Union Home Minister L. K. . Advani announced here today.

“The ban on the LTTE was to expire today and the government has extended it for another two years,” he told newsmen here,

The ban imposed in the aftermath of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was to expire today.

India had on Friday extended the ban, but no time period was fixed. It was extended on the basis of documents that suggested that the concept of Eelam, a separate homeland for the Tamils, being pursued by the LTTE could become a threat to the country also.

The ban extension assumes significance in the wake of intense fighting between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE rebels near northern town of Jaffna and demands from some Tamil Nadu constituents of the NDA like the MDMK and the PMK that it be lifted.

Mr Advani’s announcement today also assumes significance in the wake of the demand by Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, whose party is an ally in the BJP-led government, that the ban be lifted and that the group recognised.

MDMK leader Vaiko had a 90-minute talk with Mr Thackeray in Mumbai on May 9 to discuss the latest situation in Sri Lanka and had said the talks had been “fruitful”.

He had said he chose to meet Mr Thackeray because he was the only leader who had spoken out for the Tamils when there were uprooted from Jaffna by the Sri Lankan army in 1995.

Mr Advani was in Nasik in connection with the 10-day state-level convention of the Maharashtra unit of the BJP.

The Home Minister also said the J and K Government would form an integral part of talks with released Hurriyat leaders and other groups for restoring normalcy in the valley.

On the activities of the ISI in the country, the Home Minister said the “entire nation should remain alert”.

Mr Advani also said the government’s consultative committee meeting had recently concluded its survey of the ISI’s activities in India during the past 27 months.

The West Bengal Home Minister had informed him that the ISI was spreading its tentacles in that state too, he said.

On the fire in the Bharatpur ordnance factory, he said: “It was an accident”.

Mr Advani claimed that the attacks on Christian were “being used by the BJP’s opponents as a weapon against it” and added the recent study by the National Minorities Commission had said the incidents were “purely local and a law and order problem”.