Sri Lankan warships kill 21 guerrillas in sea battle
January 2nd, 2009 From
>Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 10:52:27 -0700
>From: Mike Potter
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>Subject: Sri Lankan warships kill 21 guerrillas in sea battle
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>Sri Lankan warships kill 21 guerrillas in sea battle
>____________________________________________________
> Copyright © 1997 Nando.net
> Copyright © 1997 The Associated Press
>
> COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (May 28, 1997 07:25 a.m. EDT) — Sri Lankan
>warships and planes sank seven gunboats today in a Tamil rebel convoy
>carrying reinforcements against a major army offensive. At least 21
>guerrillas were killed, military officials said.
> Another 16 rebels were killed on the ground in areas recently
>captured by the government, they said.
> The gunboats — which were protecting other ships carrying troops
>– were destroyed in a battle off the Kokkilai beach in the northeastern
>district of Mullaittivu, the military officials said, speaking on
>condition of anonymity.
> There were no casualties on the government side in the clash 155
>miles northeast of Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, according to the
>officials.
> The rebels are fighting for a homeland for minority Tamils, who
>make up 18 percent of Sri Lanka’s 18 million people. They accuse the
>majority Sinhalese of widespread discrimination in education and jobs.
> The fighting has killed more than 48,000 people since 1983.
> Currently, about 20,000 Sri Lankan soldiers are fighting for
>control of the 55-mile highway from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi, which would
>open a land route from the government-held south through rebel territory
>to the northern tip of Sri Lanka on the Jaffna Peninsula.
> Tanks, jet bombers, helicopter gunships and artillery are
>supporting the army’s advance.
> The military says it has lost 89 soldiers since the offensive began
>May 13. The military claims at least 230 rebels have been killed, a
>figure the guerrillas say is inflated.
>
>By NIRESH ELIATAMBY, The Associated Press