Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06COLOMBO1541
2006-09-20 11:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE STRIKES TIGER TARGETS IN
how-toVZCZCXRO4246 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #1541 2631130 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 201130Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4298 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9420 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6320 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4365 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3184 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9953 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 3275 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0374 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2353 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 6877 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4735 RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1353
UNCLAS COLOMBO 001541
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE STRIKES TIGER TARGETS IN
BATTICALOA; JOURNALISTS ESCAPE FIRE AT FDL
REF: COLOMBO 1531 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS COLOMBO 001541
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE STRIKES TIGER TARGETS IN
BATTICALOA; JOURNALISTS ESCAPE FIRE AT FDL
REF: COLOMBO 1531 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) On the afternoon of September 19, the Sri Lanka Air
Force conducted air strikes on Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) artillery targets near the eastern coast of
Batticaloa, Defense spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the
press. The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website reported no casualties,
but claimed the air strikes had caused panic among civilians.
2. (U) In another incident on September 19, 25 journalists -
including BBC correspondent Dumeetha Luthra (British) - who
were escorted by security forces to view the Forward Defense
Line (FDL) at Muhamalai, Jaffna, came under LTTE artillery
fire. None of the journalists were injured, but press
reports indicate that four soldiers were killed while
evacuating the journalists from the site. An LTTE spokesman
claimed that the Tigers had not been informed that press
would be in the area.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PREF MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE STRIKES TIGER TARGETS IN
BATTICALOA; JOURNALISTS ESCAPE FIRE AT FDL
REF: COLOMBO 1531 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) On the afternoon of September 19, the Sri Lanka Air
Force conducted air strikes on Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) artillery targets near the eastern coast of
Batticaloa, Defense spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the
press. The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website reported no casualties,
but claimed the air strikes had caused panic among civilians.
2. (U) In another incident on September 19, 25 journalists -
including BBC correspondent Dumeetha Luthra (British) - who
were escorted by security forces to view the Forward Defense
Line (FDL) at Muhamalai, Jaffna, came under LTTE artillery
fire. None of the journalists were injured, but press
reports indicate that four soldiers were killed while
evacuating the journalists from the site. An LTTE spokesman
claimed that the Tigers had not been informed that press
would be in the area.
BLAKE