Peace through war continues

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 January 1999, 10:23 GMT]
Peace will be restored to the country only by defeating the Tigers and therefore it is necessary to extend the state of Emergency in the island, said the Deputy Minister of Defence, Gen. Anurudha Ratwatte, in the Parliament this morning.

He was speaking while moving a motion to extend the state of Emergency by a further month in.

"The government is ready to face any situation in its efforts to restore peace in the country" he said.

"The Government hopes that this year will be a peaceful year" he further said.

He said the government troops are consolidating their positions in newly liberated areas from the grip of the Tigers, while the Tigers are engaged in the destruction of lives and properties of innocent civilians.

The debate on the extension of the Emergency bill is continuing.

Meanwhile the Operational Head Quarters of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a press release issued this morning that 9 LTTE members were killed in clashes with the security forces in the north of the country.

It said that the troops had attacked a group of 15 LTTE members who were engaged in constructing a bunker at Paranthan yesterday killing 8 of them.

Another LTTE member was sniped and killed by the troops operating ahead of their forward defence lines in the north of Oddusuddan, the communiqué said.

Related Articles:
06.01.99   President warns rumour mongers