Soldier kills two but Sri Lankan ceasefire holds

Press, 23 November 1987, Page 8

Soldier kills two but Sri Lankan ceasefire holds

NZPA-Reuter Colombo India’s 20,000 troops in Sri Lanka began a 48-hour ceasefire on Saturday in an effort to persuade separatist Tamil guerrillas to opt for peace and hand in their weapons. Initial reports said the ceasefire was holding, except for one incident in the eastern port town of Trincomalee, where an Indian soldier on patrol in the bazaar opened fire, killing two people and wounding seven, military sources said. The soldier was arrested by Indian troops. "We are not sure why he opened fire but the situation is under control,” the sources said. The two killed were described as Muslim civilians.

Sri Lankan journalists flown to the battle-scarred former guerrilla stronghold of Jaffna before the ceasefire began said a big relief operation was under way to bring in food and medicines, and restore water and electricity supplies. White flags fluttered from houses and shops, and long lines of people queued for food and medical treatment In New Delhi, the Indian Minister of State for External. Affairs, K. Natwar Singh, said he hoped the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) guerrillas would use the ceasefire to lay down their arms and join the peace process. Clashes continued right

up until the unilateral ceasefire went into force at 7 a.m. At least nine Indian soldiers and 14 guerrillas were reported to have been killed in fighting in the Mullaittivu district south of Jaffna, in the 48 hours before the ceasefire started, military sources said.

Natwar Singh announced the ceasefire on Friday after the LTTE freed 18 Indian soldiers who had been held captive in the northern Jaffna peninsula for more than a month.

“It is hoped that the LTTE will use this opportunity to hand over their arms and unequivocally support the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement in the

larger interest of the Tamils of Sri Lanka, and to do so during this period,” he told the Indian Parliament More than 250 Indian troops have died in fighting to enforce the Indo-Sri Lankan peace pact designed to end four years of ethnic bloodshed on the island and meet the aspirations of the minority Tamils for limited autonomy.

The . guerrillas, who have been fighting for a separate State, rejected the autonomy deal, but the Madras newspaper, "The Hindu,” said the LTTE were now searching for a way back into the political process and the ceasefire could provide the time for negotiations.