LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                09. August 1997

PRESS RELEASE (2)
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

CITIZENS' COMMITTEE URGES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TO ACT
        The Citizens' Committee of Kilinochchi in a recent letter to
        Amnesty International UK says 73 Tamil civilians of Kilinochchi
        have disappeared at the hands of the Sinhala military since July
        1996. The Tamil town of Kilinochchi was captured last year by
        government forces after a military operation called Sath Jeya.
        From time to time, displaced Tamil residents of the district
        returning to their former homes to collect valuables have been
        killed by Sri Lankan troops waiting to ambush them. Usually, the
        Tamil returnees have been shot or knifed to death by soldiers. A
        few people have also been taken prisoner. The Citizens' Committee
        has called on Amnesty International to help trace the whereabouts
        of the 73 missing persons. An appendix of names, addresses and
        dates relating to the disappearances has been attached to the
        letter.
        
JAFFNA MILITARY EXTORTS MONEY TO BUILD BUDDHIST TEMPLE
        The Colombo government has instructed the Jaffna-based Sinhala
        military to complete as early as possible construction of the
        Ariyakulam Junction Buddhist temple in the Tamil peninsula. A
        team of Sinhala-Buddhist priests have arrived in Jaffna town to
        oversee the project there. Sinhala labourers have also been
        transported here to undertake construction. To finance the
        project, the Sinhala military has ordered contributions or
        "gifts" from Tamil locals. Even street hawkers have been made to
        donate or face the consequences. Meanwhile, a Buddha statue has
        been placed at the Kopay-Irupalai Junction under a Bo-tree and
        the junction has been given a new Sinhalese name. It is clear
        that the Sinhala military is spearheading an attempt to
        assimilate the Tamil nation. The government hopes that by
        imposing Buddhist constructions in the midst of Tamil-inhabited
        territory, it can eventually disclaim the existence of a Tamil
        homeland in the north and east.
        
MAIL-TAMPERING BY ARMY WIDESPREAD
        Sri Lanka's Sinhalese army is regularly interfering with the
        delivery of mail to Tamils in both army-occupied and unoccupied
        areas of the Tamil homeland. Letters sent locally and from abroad
        have been affected, and telephone conversations are also being
        monitored. Letters addressed to Tamil people living in LTTE
        administered areas are tampered with even more frequently.
        Valuables found inside letters, like drafts and cheques are often
        stolen and letters are frequently placed in wrong envelopes after
        being read. These practices of the Sinhala army amount to a
        serious violation of Tamil people's civil liberties, and an
        intolerable interference of their rights to privacy.
        
NERVOUS ARMY CLOSES DOWN EASTERN ROADS
        Sri Lankan troops have sealed off the major
        Batticaloa-Valaichchenai highway, effectively isolating the two
        towns from the outside world and causing huge disruption to
        civilian life. The move follows the recent closures of other
        major roads in Batticaloa, Arayampathy and Valaichchenai,
        including the Batticaloa-Kalmunai main road. These measures are
        indicative of a growing nervousness among Sinhalese troops in the
        face of growing LTTE presence in the east.
        
THREE TROOPS KILLED -- MANNAR
        Three Sinhala soldiers died after an LTTE attack on the
        Silawathai Road (Mannar) between Murunkan and Murunkanpitty. The
        attack took place at 7.15 at night. There were no LTTE casualties.

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)