A long year on the road

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Exactly one year ago, the Sri Lankan military began the largest military campaign in its history. Preceded by a massive artillery and aerial bombardment, over 20,000 Sri Lankan troops, led by elite Special Forces, broke out of their fortifications at Vavuniya and Manal Aru and pushed into the LTTE-controlled Vanni. The Sri Lankan government had much riding on the outcome of the operation, optimistically code-named 'Jaya Sikirui' ('Victory Assured' in Sinhala).
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LTTE plans celebrations

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will celebrate the stalling of Operation Jayasikurui, on its first anniversary, on 12, 13 and 14 May at Kokkadichcholai and Iluppadichenai in the LTTE controlled areas west of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Seven killed in Vavuniya blast

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five members of the People's Liberation Orgainsation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), including its military wing leader for the Vavuniya district, Thas, alias Sinnathas, were killed and 6 others wounded, when a claymore mine exploded this afternoon. Two bystanders were also killed and two others were wounded, said police sources in Vavuniya.
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Civilians caught in SLA fire

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A girl was killed and at least two others injured when the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) fired at random, immediately after a claymore mine blast killed five members of the Peoples' Liberation Organisation Tamil Eelam's (PLOTE), including Das, its local military commander in the Vauniya District, said sources.
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Till the other side cracks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan military's widespread and indiscriminate use of artillery and air power is arguably the major cause of civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka. In the past few years, the Sri Lankan military has repeatedly up-gunned its forces with ever larger caliber field guns, with more numerous aircraft that are capable of carrying heavier payloads and more heavily armed naval craft.
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STF restrictions to hit trade

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Special Task Force (STF), of the Sri Lankan Police warned people in the Eastern Batticaloa district, that those who contribute money and render other assistance to the Liberation Tigers would be arrested and severely punished, as the Sri Lankan Government has proscribed the LTTE.
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Youths shot in Pulmoddai

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One Tamil youth was killed and two Muslim youths were wounded when Sri Lankan Army troops opened fire in Pulmoddai, north of Trincomalee, Friday night, said sources.
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Poor response to latest amnesty

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) Commander, Maj. General R.Daluwatte said today that 5000 SLA deserters had accepted the general amnesty and had returned to their duties during the period the amnesty had been offered to SLA deserters. However, SLA sources in Colombo said the actual response was far less than the official figure.
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Detainee gives birth

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mrs.Shyamalawathie Wijesundaram, 25, held in the Welikade prison gave birth to a boy on May 6 at the Colombo General Hospital. She was admitted to the hospital by the prison officials after labour pain started.
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Jaffna detainees held elsewhere

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
According to lists of detainees submitted to the Human Rights Commissionand the Jaffna courts, people arrested in Jaffna are being taken to distantdetention centres, such as in the central province and Colombo.
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Military activity in Mankulam area

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three SLA soldiers were wounded in Mannakulam, southwest of Mankulam, when the Liberation Tigers fired mortars on troops of Operation Jeyasikurui yesterday, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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UN official calls for end to war

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The number of children who are being affected by the war in Sri Lanka is on the increase and all those who are concerned with the welfare of the children must come together and stop this, said visiting UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, Mr. Olara Otunnu, while speaking at a meeting held at Vavuniya Town Council hall, yesterday.
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SLA short of troops - Commander

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Lieutenant General Rohan DeS Daluwatte, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), said at a press conference today, that there was a shortage of security forces personnel to open the road from Vavuniya to Kilinochchi. He said that it was due to this necessity that deserters were being recalled to service.
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Army ignores cease-fire - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Despite the declaration of cease-fire by the Liberation Tigers in order to support the visit of Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, to the Vanni, the Sri Lankan forces have launched a heavy mortar barrage from their positions near Mankulam and Kilinochchi, said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its broadcast this morning.
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UN official meets LTTE delegation

[TamilNet, Thursday, 07 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict met a delegation from the Liberation Tigers today at an unspecified location in Thunukkai in the Vanni, today, said sources in Vavuniya.
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Security tightened after blast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Arms, ammunition and other military hardware worth of more than 10 million Rs. (USD160,000) were destroyed in the explosion in the ammunition dump in the 211 Brigade Headquarters at Thachchankulam, in Vavuniya, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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SCF to study Vanni children's plight

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Ten thousand school children from a total of 66,000 living in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas, are unable go to school due to the war. These statistics were presented at a seminar in Trincomalee organised by the Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports of the Northeast Provincial Council (NEPC), and sponsored by Save the Children Fund (SCF).
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Three Policemen killed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three Sri Lankan Policemen, including one sub-inspector were killed and two injured when the Liberation Tigers attacked Policemen travelling in a tractor, this afternoon in Jeyalathgama in Cheddikkulam, southwest of Vavuniya, said police sources in Vavuniya.
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Otunnu declines calls for UN intervention

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 06 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. Olara Otunnu, UN Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict arrived to Vavuniya this afternoon and met Sri Lanka government officials, said sources. The Sri Lankan officials said that it is the wish of the people that UN should put pressure on both parties in the conflict and to bring about peace.
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SLA thrust ahead of anniversary?

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Large number of troops have been sent to the forward areas of Operation Jayasikurui, north of Kanakarayankulam, to defend the areas captured by the army, as troops stationed in Olumadu, 4 km. east of Mankulam, are preparing to advance towards north, said SLA sources in Vavuniya.
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