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

LTTE PROGRAM TO RESTART EDUCATION OF DISPLACED CHILDREN
	The LTTE administration has made arrangements for a number of schools
	in Vanni to be relocated, in order to 	counter the immense
	disruption caused by the Sinhala government's military operations.
	Many Tamil schools in 	Vavuniya north were dislocated when people
	fled from the advancing Sinhala army but now arrangements have been
	made to resume classes for these displaced children elsewhere. For
	example, the Puliyankulam Tamil mixed school will now function in the
	buildings of the Mallavi central school. Over 25 other schools have
	been relocated to safer parts of Vanni with all efforts being made to
	ensure children's education is not too badly affected.
	
FULL MILITARY HONOURS TO LTTE FIGHTER
	A large crowd of Tamils gathered to pay their respects to LTTE captain
	Sentha who died resisting a  Sinhala military advance on Puliyankulam
	on 26.08.97. His mortal remains were laid to rest on Thursday in the
	Madu Atkaddiveli Heroes Burial Grounds after receiving full military
	honours.
	
YOUNG TAMIL SHOT DEAD IN ROUND-UP
	A young Tamil man was shot dead by Sinhalese troops conducting a
	round-up of Thirukadaloor (Trincomalee) last week. Ledchumykanthan
	Thamayanthan (23) died after being fired at indiscriminately by the
	troops. Several others were also wounded in the unprovoked gunfire at
	the defenceless man. The parents of the deceased were arrested on the
	spot and the officer-in-charge of the round-up operation asked them to
	sign a document saying their son was a member of the LTTE. When the
	parents refused, they were threatened with death. The crowds at this
	point raised cries of protest and soldiers responded by firing several
	shots into the air. But the people refused to budge. Troops became a
	little anxious at this point and left the scene, leaving behind the
	body of the man they had killed.
	
NEW ARMY ORDER IN JAFFNA
	The Sinhalese military in Tamil Jaffna has ruled that persons needing
	to urgently leave their homes during the 6pm to 6am curfew must go to
	the nearest army checkpoint dressed in white holding a lighted lamp in
	their hands, while standing at a distance of 50 metres away from the
	checkpoint. They must then shout for permission. Whether the applicant
	will be shot dead by the notoriously trigger-happy Sinhalese troops is
	another matter. The 6pm to 6am military curfew imposed on the
	peninsula is causing tremendous strain to the population who are
	unable to engage in normal business, cultural or leisure activities.
	The government does not let the international press into the Tamil
	areas.
	
STATE AUTHORITIES PERSECUTING AMPARAI (BATTICALOA) TAMILS
	Amparai's irrigation authority is distributing water only to Sinhalese
	farmers in a move that is typical of the Sinhala state's persecution
	of the Tamil people. Tamils in colony number 11 are the worst affected
	by this. They lack water even for drinking purposes as a result of the
	inhuman new policy, according to which they are also denied drought
	relief. The Sinhala military is in the meantime preventing the people
	from going out and earning money. In efforts to drive these local
	Tamils out from the area, the Sinhala military regularly performs
	house-to-house searches, during which they destroy any household foods
	they come across. 35 Tamil houses here were recently torched and two
	Tamil women grass-cutters were recently abducted by soldiers. The
	latter two women have not been seen since and their captors have
	denied knowledge of their whereabouts.
	
NEW RACIST ORDERS FROM BATTICALOA MILITARY
	Batticaloa's military commander has issued a strict order saying
	householders lists must hereafter be filled in Sinhala only, a
	language which the large majority of Tamils in the area do not know.
	Householders lists written in Tamil are to be considered invalid and
	will not be accepted. The Sinhala commander has also given specific
	orders regarding temporary visitors to Tamil houses - relatives or
	acquaintances who stay in Tamil homes can stay only up to 14 days and
	no more. They must also carry with them certificates of "good conduct"
	obtained from their village headman (Grama Sevaka).
	
TAMIL WOMAN "DISAPPEARS" IN MUTUR
	A 38-year old Tamil woman is missing since the 22nd of this month.
	Sivaloganayaki from Mutur was on her way to her local hospital for
	treatment when Sinhala soldiers stopped her at an army checkpoint. She
	has not been seen since. Enquiries made at Mutur's main army camp by
	concerned relatives have not yielded any further information.

ARMY LAUNCHES ARTILLERY AT MULLAITIVU TOWNS
	The Nedunkerni-based Sinhala military has launched shells at the
	highly concentrated civilian settlements of Katsilamadu and Peraru
	(both in Mullaitivu). The assault took place yesterday at 11.30 am.
	Casualty reports are not yet available.

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)