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

850 TAMILS IN FAST UNTO DEATH -- TRINCOMALEE DETENTION CENTRE
	850 Tamils in Trincomalee have begun a death-fast demanding to be
	let out of the detention centres in which they are being confined
	like prisoners by the Sinhalese military. These Tamils --
	supposedly "liberated" by the Sinhala military -- have done no
	wrong but have been kept for months in a sordid camp without
	proper food, water or toilet facilities. Many illnesses are
	starting to take root among the people here and conditions are
	described as unbearable. Along with the demand for freedom of
	movement, the hundreds of people engaged in the death-fast are
	asking for the Sinhala official in charge of the centre to be
	removed. This official -- along with others -- is pilfering
	whatever little is allowed to the Tamil detainees. Protesters say
	his animosity to the people is quite evident.
	
TAMIL TEACHERāS UNION (JAFFNA) WARNS TAMILS NOT TO COME TO JAFFNA
	Jaffna's Tamil Teachers' Union reports that rape, torture and
	sexual abuse of Tamil females -- particularly schoolgirls and
	housewives -- by the governmentās Sinhalese military forces in
	Jaffna is rampant. "Rape and torture is continuing unimpeded,"
	the report says, and concludes that "nothing can change" the
	nature of the Sinhala military in relation to its abuse of
	Tamils. The report, signed by the unionās secretary Mr. T.
	Mahasivam, contains an unambiguous message for any Tamils
	thinking of returning to Jaffna: "Think twice before coming
	here," it says.
	
TAMIL MANāS BLOOD EXTRACTED FOR USE BY SINHALA SOLDIERS
	A 26-year old Tamil has died after the Sinhalese army forcibly
	drained him of blood to give it to wounded soldiers. Periathamby
	Kukathasan from Palampasi Nedunkerni was brought by Sri Lankan
	soldiers to Vavuniyaās army camp after being tortured by them.
	But arriving in Vavuniya, instead of being treated for his
	injuries, military doctors extracted huge amounts of the manās
	blood from his body for use by Sinhala soldiers wounded in Jaya
	Sikurui battles. Kukathasan died from the ordeal in the first
	week of June, while in Vavuniya hospital.
	
STOP BOMBING EXAM HALLS, 'A' LEVEL STUDENTS TELL CHANDRIKA
	'A' level students in Tamil Vanni have written to the Sinhalese
	president Chandrika Kumaratunga telling her to stop bombing exam
	halls where she knows Tamil students are sitting for their GCE
	(A/L) exams. The 'A' level Exam Candidates Union points out in
	the letter that exams are unable to function while Sri Lanka's
	Sinhalese armed forces launch mortars and artillery shells at
	selected exam sites in Vanni. This bombing has been going on
	since the exams began on 4th August. The Sinhalese military is
	aware of the precise location of every 'A' level exam being held
	in Vanni which means the repeated bombing of schools which are
	hosting exams cannot be accidental. The Exam Candidates Unionās
	letter to Chandrika states: "As a woman of considerable learning
	who has herself sat exam papers, how can you expect us to answer
	questions satisfactorily under these circumstances?" It is
	unlikely the president will respond to the pleas of these
	students any more than she has responded to any aggrieved Tamil
	organisations in the north/east.
	
CHURCH BOMBING DEATH-COUNT RISES
	An injured victim of last Friday's church bombing -- carried out
	by Sri Lankaās airforce on Vavunikulam Catholic church -- has
	died in hospital, raising the civilian death toll to ten.
	Markandu Rasamalar, who was 55, died from her injuries yesterday
	in Mallavi hospital. She leaves behind three young children. Nine
	civilians -- including a baby -- were killed last Friday in the
	airforce attack on sheltering Tamil refugees. 15 people were
	critically injured.
	
TAMILS ARBITRARILY ARRESTED FOR BOMB BLAST IN JAFFNA
	The Sinhala military occupying Jaffna has arbitrarily arrested
	four Tamils in connection with a bomb blast at Irupalai on the
	4th August -- Mrs. Jecintha Arokianathar of St. Jamesās Lane
	(Irupalai), Poopathy Rajanikanthan and Kandasamy Karunakaran of
	Chankanai, and Krishnan Thavapalan of Main Street (Ilavalai).
        
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)