SRI LANKA: Fighting resumes in Wanni Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - cjepsa@aol.com (CJEPsa) SLA operation towards Pooneryn [TamilNet, June 10, 1999 09:59 GMT] Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Jaffna today confirmed that a military operation has begun in Pooneryn area, in the northwest of the island. SLA troops air lifted from Palaly Air Force (SLAF) base in seven helicopters landed in Kattunallur-Kalmunai and started moving towards Pooneryn area Thursday morning, sources in Jaffna said. Air cover for the advancing troops was provided by supersonic jets of the SLAF they said. Explosions and gunfire were heard as far away as Jaffna town, across the Kilali lagoon, residents said. SLA troops from Elephant Pass camp were also advancing towards Pooneryn through Paranthan, sources said. Security sources in Jaffna confirmed that a military operation in Pooneryn was in progress, but declined to give further details. The SLA had a major SLA base at Pooneryn, which was overrun by the Liberation Tigers in 1993, but later re-established. After the LTTE overran the SLA complex at Mullaitivu in 1996, the SLA closed down the Pooneryn base, moving the troops there into the Elephant Pass-Paranthan-Kilinochchi complex. The Kilinochchi base was overrun by the LTTE in September 1998. The FDLs of both sides are located at Paranthan. [TN/99061004] TamilNet 1999 Reproduction of this news item is allowed when used without any alteration to the contents and the source, TamilNet, is mentioned. www.tamilnet.com Center for Justice, Equality and Peace in South Asia - An advocacy group for Indigenous and Minority Rights. To subscribe, send a message to cjesa-subscribe@egroups.com Go to the e-group's home page at http://www.egroups.com/list/cjesa ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-06.15.99-00:15:07-2637