Grim battle on, Colombo denies reports of exodus

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, MAY. 13. Barring attempts by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to breach Sri Lankan defence lines near Jaffna town, it was a day of relative low-intensity warfare in the island's northern peninsula, as the latest rebel offensive to retake Jaffna entered the fourth day.

The Government, in its situation report said, ``troops repulsed the attack'' by the LTTE at Colombuthurai, in coastal Jaffna, in which three soldiers were killed and 38 injured.

Conservative estimates put the total human loss during the last four days of fighting at the 200-mark - the number of Sri Lankan soldiers killed rose to 45 and that of the Tigers, according to the Government, to 167.

Meanwhile, there are reports of an exodus from Jaffna, which the Government has denied, saying: ``Despite fighting between security forces and terrorists in Ariyalai area, life in Jaffna goes on as usual. Residents are not showing any sign of panic and continue their day-to-day activities.''

Telecommunication links to the Jaffna peninsula remain severed since the end-April Iyakachchi-Elephant Pass runovers, resulting in several conflicting versions in Colombo about the condition of the five lakh northern residents.

On reports that patients were leaving the Jaffna Hospital, military sources said when the curfew was lifted for a few hours those who did not require continued hospitalisation ``returned home''. With the security forces destroying the Sanguppidy jetty and an LTTE communication tower on Friday, ``a bit of the problem'' has been warded off ``at least temporarily'', military sources said. However, the military balance between the security forces and the Tigers remains largely unchanged. ``Unless the rebels are pushed back, the danger is not over,'' sources said.

Military experts see ``the next week to 10 days'' as the most critical in the fight for Jaffna, with the situation prone to drastic changes by the hour.

The Jaffna offensive is crucial politically and symbolically for the Tigers who have vowed to retake the northern town. Militarily, the greatest significance would be the ability of the Tigers to move in their heavy guns which require holding of adequate territory.

Control over Jaffna would enable the Tigers direct artillery fire at the Palaly airbase. Though ``not a large presence'', the rebel offensive during the last few days has seen a mix of conventional and guerrilla tactics. ``It is a combination of close combat and mortar attacks,'' war-watchers said, adding such a combination ``weighs very much in their favour''.

With the conflict crucially poised, the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, has convened an all-party meeting on Monday to ``discuss the current situation and the measures taken by the Government''. Two representatives from all registered parties have been invited.

Pak. denies report

AFP reports from Islamabad:

Pakistan today rejected reports that it was sending arms to Sri Lanka for Colombo's battle against the LTTE. ``It is baseless,'' a Foreign Office spokesperson told the official Associated Press of Pakistan.

Local press quoted an Indian newspaper as saying, ``A Pakistani ship, with multi-barrel rocket launchers and 1,600 rockets was on its way to Sri Lanka,'' the agency said.

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