Traffic from Vadamaradchi East restricted

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Civilian traffic from Vadamaradchi east to other parts Jaffna is restricted following the killing of Major General Larry Wijeratne, Brigade Commander 524 Brigade on Thursday, said sources in Jaffna.
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Chavakachcheri mine kills two

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) were killed and four wounded when a claymore mine exploded at Pulliyadi junction, near Nunaavil in Chavakachcheri, 18 km south of Jaffna, this morning at 8:30 a.m., said sources in Jaffna.
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Translation of LTTE Leader's speech (13 May 98)

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The LTTE leader, Mr. Vellupillai Pirabhakaran delivered a speech in Tamil on 13 May 1998, the first anniversary of the launch of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Operation, 'Jaya Sikirui'('Victory Assured' in Sinhala). The following is TamilNet's translation of the speech.
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Protests after policeman's killing

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Activity in Akkaraipattu town, 50 km south of Batticaloa, drew to a halt as Muslims in the area organised a two day hartal today, in protest of the killing of police constable Bahurdeen in a mosque around 10:00 p.m. yesterday, said sources.
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PLOTE military leader promises retaliation

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Some evil force who does not wish the unity among the Tamil groups was behind the attack in which 5 PLOTE members were killed, said Mr. Manikathasan, PLOTEs second in command and the group's military wing leader, speaking at the funeral of the PLOTE members in Vavuniya, yesterday.
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Tigers probe eastern police stations

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A series of attacks were mounted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the towns of Batticaloa, Kalmunai and Akkaripattu in the Batticaloa and Amparai districts last night, said sources in Batticaloa.
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TELO suffers extortion hangover

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Some members of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), who visit taverns in Jaffna and Pt. Pedro towns to extort money, often end up drinking themselves silly instead, said sources in Jaffna.
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EPDP may withdraw support

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Douglas Devananda, Leader of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) told family members of missing persons in Jaffna, that his party will refrain from supporting the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) in Parliament, if the problems of these families are not resolved in six weeks, said sources in Jaffna.
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Crocodiles add to fishermen's problems

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
While mortar shells, mines and bullets make life miserable for the people in the Batticaloa District, fishermen in the area face an occupational hazard as well - killer crocodiles.
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Country dance in celebration

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) celebrated its success in impeding the advance of Operation Jayasikurui, (Victory Assured) in the Vanni, by staging a country dance -'Tholvi Nitchchiyam' (Defeat Assured) - in areas under its control west of Batticaloa, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Victory theme in celebrations - VoT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The theme of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam s (LTTE) celebrations to mark the first anniversary of Operation Jayasikurui was 'Victory will be Ours', said the Voice of Tigers (VoT) in its broadcast last night.
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Indian official refuses to be drawn

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Mr. R K Sachdeva, Political Officer, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, said that the Indian Government was prepared to assist in the rehabilitation of the war torn areas and contribute to improving the health and education services in Jaffna, but declined to comment on whether India would play an active role in bringing about a settlement to the ethnic conflict, said sources in Jaffna.
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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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Security forces celebrate Wesak

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A Wesak lantern competition began last night at Batticaloa's Weber Stadium with the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Sri Lanka AirForce (SLAF) and the Sri Lankan police participating, said sources in Batticaloa.
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Extortionist wounds five

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Five persons were injured when a man, identified by the public as close to the police, threw a grenade to escape capture when his demand for protection money from a shop on Second Cross Street at Mamangam in Batticaloa town, incensed bystanders who tried to apprehend him, 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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Burglars operating during curfew

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The suburbs of Trincomalee town such as Anbuvelipuram, Chelvanayakapuram and Alles Gardens have been terrorised during the past few weeks by an armed gang of burglars who break into houses between 11:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., said sources in Trincomalee.
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Tigers shell Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Areas within the Batticaloa town - the Batticaloa airport, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) headquarters adjacent to it, and the security complex and government buildings at Weber Stadium, were shelled from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled areas today around 6:00 p.m., said sources in Batticaloa. There were no casualties.
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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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