LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                17. August 1997
PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

WARPLANES STRIKING CIVILIAN TARGETS MILES AWAY FROM WAR-FRONT
	Military planes are attacking Tamil civilians miles away from
	specified areas of military operations, contradicting the Sinhalese
	governmentâs claim that its bombers are being used only at the
	war-front. In truth, warplanes are striking Tamil areas far away from
	the war-front, proving that the governmentâs objective is to
	terrorise, maim and kill Tamil civilians. This has been the case for
	the entire span of the Tamil-Sinhala conflict but the governmentâs
	efforts have intensified in the last ten days. Its Kfirs have been
	engaging in dirty tactics against civilians living in places far away
	from the actual war theatre. Bombing raids by these planes are now
	occurring daily, with many flying several sorties in one day.
	
OVER 1 LAKH OF DISPLACED PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT FOOD
	Sri Lankaâs government agent for Kilinochchi stated on Friday that
	over 100,000 displaced Tamil civilians are without food rations. Mr.
	Thillainadarasa said he was aggrieved that neither the government nor
	NGOs seemed to be concerned about the fate of the displaced people
	living in his area.
	
SINHALESE MILITARY DRIVES OUT 253 TAMIL FAMILIES
	Some 253 Tamil families, including children, have been driven by the
	Sinhalese military from their homes in Navalady junction (Batticaloa,
	on the Colombo to Batticaloa road). They are now homeless in the
	Oddumavaddy area. All the 253 families are without relief rations or
	proper shelter.
	
ENTIRE FAMILY DISAPPEARS IN THENMARADCHY
	The entire Kandasamy family -- who recently returned to their home in
	Mirusuvil (Thenmaradchy, Jaffna) from the Vanni -- has disappeared,
	abducted by the Sinhalese military or Tamil mercenaries in the
	peninsula. Mr. Kandasamy, his wife, his 18-year old daughter and
	16-year old son are all missing. Their next of kin were told by
	dismissive army officials of the nearby Sinhala army camp that one of
	the Tamil groups working for the Sinhala army may have abducted the
	family. The Sinhalese military officers are not taking the relativesâ
	enquiries any further.
	
18 TAMILS ARRESTED -- TRINCOMALEE
	Eighteen young Tamils -- originally from Chavakachcheri, Palai and
	Jaffna town -- were arbitrarily arrested by Sinhalese police who
	occupy Trincomalee district. They were stopped on Customs road in the
	port city.
	
2 KILLED, 3 CRITICAL AFTER SINHALA ARMY SHELLING
	Two Tamil civilians were yesterday killed and 3 more critically
	injured after being hit by artillery fired by the Sinhalese military
	based at Uyilankulam and Kaththankulam (Mannar). The shelling took
	place at noon.
	
NAVY RAKES MULLAITIVU COAST
	The Sinhalese navy on Saturday blasted Tamil-inhabited Mullaitivuâs
	eastern coast with canon-fire. One man, Sritharan (35) from Semmalai
	was severely injured.

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)