News from Tamil Eelam - 06 December 1997
	
MASS RALLY IN EAST OPPOSES US TERRORIST LIST
	A massive Tamil public rally has taken place in Batticaloa-Vaharai
	areas, condemning America's inclusion of the LTTE in its "terrorist
	list".  The people also stressed the need for negotiations rather than
	tarnishing the image of one party to the conflict. Thousands of Tamil
	people participated in the rally carrying strongly worded placards. 
	At the end of the demo, two petitions were handed over to Vaharai's
	regional secretary S Muraleetharan.  One addressed the UN Secretary
	general, Kofi Annan and the second was to the US President Bill
	Clinton.  The latter stated very clearly that there was no
	justification to outlaw the LTTE, an organisation which is sincerely
	struggling for the democratic rights of the Tamil people.  It said it
	was unreasonable for America - which is going all out to help support
	and strengthen Israel's independence - to outcast the representatives
	of the Tamil people, the LTTE who are resisting Sinhalese colonialism.
	 The people's petition asks America to remove the LTTE from its list
	and to recognise it as the Tamil peoples representative.
	
	In the other petition, to Kofi Annan, the Tamil people have asked him
	to help to stop the war in the North-east, by bringing about a
	peaceful resolution without preconditions placed on the LTTE, and with
	third party mediation. It also urges Mr Annan to help bring about
	Tamil peoples legitimate democratic rights. In this 4 page document
	the people have likewise drawn attention to the suffering being
	inflicted on them by the Sri Lankan government.
	
ARMY REFUSES TO CLEAR LANDMINES
	Sinhalese armed forces occupying Jaffna peninsula have forced Tamil
	civilians to settle in areas where the army earlier buried landmines. 
	No effort has been made to remove these mines and many peoples limbs
	have lately been lost as a result. Grazing cattle have also suffered
	injuries. People have repeatedly complained about the army's refusal
	to remove any land mines, but no action has been taken.
	
ARMY ROUND UP GOES ON TILL EVENING
	The Sri Lankan army based in army camps in Pethalai, Valaichchenai and
	Kalkudah recently surrounded five Tamil villages - Puthukudiyiruppu,
	Kannakikiramam, Pethalai, Pandimadu and Vinayagapuram - and took all
	Tamil residents to their camps for interrogation. The ordeal lasted
	till late evening.

SHELLS FIRED BY SINHALESE FORCES IN BATTICALOA
	Sinhalese armed forces in Batticaloa have directed artillery shells at
	the Tamil town of Kurinchamunai (in Yamunatheevu) last Monday.  Shells
	fell on a Tamil school where children were sitting exams, causing
	students and teachers to flee in panic.
	
AMMUNITION CAPTURED BY LTTE
	In the latest LTTE counter offensive on 4th December, the arms and
	ammunitions captured include the following: 2 - 60 MM mortar,
	1 - 60 MM commando mortar, 20 - 60 MM shell, 5 - GPMG, 3 -PKLMG,
	1915 - PKLMG Bullets in link, 33 - AKLMG, 110 - T56 II, 3 - T56 I and
	4 - G3 Sniper.
	
(English translation of the news released by LTTE International Secretariat,
211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom.Tel:0181- 503 4294)