LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                02. August 1997

PRESS RELEASE 
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM
                                           
LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO TAMILS' HEALTH DUE TO EMBARGO
	The prolonged Sri Lankan government food embargo on Tamils in
	Vanni risks doing permanent damage to the health of the Tamil
	population. Malnutrition -- which is rife in Vanni -- is the
	direct consequence of the government's food embargo, which
	ensures that less than the bare minimum of food is allowed to
	reach Vanni. The ban prevents Tamils from purchasing food outside
	Vanni while the government's military operations inside Vanni
	make it impossible for people to carry out their own cultivation
	there. If this embargo is not fully lifted soon the long-term
	health of the Tamil people is at risk. There may come a time when
	children here may not be strong enough to digest a normal diet.
	The TRO has shown much foresight and responded to the crisis by
	opening a number of nutrition centres in Vanni catering to the
	dietary needs of the young. But as long as the government's
	embargo remains in place -- and Tamils are stopped from freely
	purchasing food -- people's health will go on deteriorating.
	
FEEDING CENTRE OPENS IN MULLAITIVU
	A new feeding centre has opened in eastern Mullaitivu in the
	presence of CARE director Mr. Mark, who was chief guest. The
	malnourished children of this region -- thanks to the efforts of
	certain NGOs and in spite of the government's food embargo -- are
	receiving temporary nourishment. Others in attendance at the
	opening of the feeding centre were Mrs. Michael Thillimalar (who
	presided); district co-ordinator Selvam, district project
	director Ilanko; livestock improvement officer Xavier; medical
	officer Kunaratnam; and traditional medical practitioner Emilian.
	
SCHOOL CHILDREN GET SOME RELIEF
	Hungry children in Kilinochchi are getting temporary relief with
	the free leafy rice gruel offered to them under a TRO project.
	The project was started to counter-act the devastating effects of
	the Sri Lankan government's food restrictions to ordinary Tamil
	people, which are enforced as part of the government's military
	strategy. School children who come to school unfed -- due to the
	economic poverty imposed by the government -- are at least now
	getting one nutritious drink a day.
	
TRO HOLDS SPORTS DAY
	A sports meet was held last week in the Vasantha memorial housing
	colony grounds. Mr. A. Paul Newman presided over the event.
	Children from a number of elementary schools -- Sithamparam,
	Sittampalam, Thushanth, Anandarasa, Puvanendiran and Michael --
	took part. The event was organised by Mullaitivu's north/east
	development society with the TRO, which runs an accelerated
	development scheme in the area.
	
Political Committee,
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
	
(English translation of the LTTE statement released by LTTE
International Secretariat, 211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU,
United Kingdom.  Tel:0181- 503 4294)