News from Tamil Eelam - 22 December 1997

4 SOLDIERS KILLED IN LTTE AMBUSH
	On Saturday, LTTE forces launched an attack on Sinhalese armed forces
	who had ventured out of their 6th Mile Post army camp in Batticaloa.
	Soldiers were 200 metres outside their camp when the ambush took
	place. The incident happened at 9:40 AM and some arms and ammunition
	were captured from the occupying armed forces. 4 Sri Lankan soldiers
	were killed for the loss of no LTTE casualties. The 6th Mile Post army
	camp is situated in Batticaloa town's main street

3 SOLDIERS DIE IN ELEPHANT PASS ATTACK
	LTTE forces last Friday ambushed a Sri Lankan army truck at Elephant
	Pass in Jaffna, killing 3 Sinhalese soldiers and wounding ten. There
	were no LTTE casualties in this attack.

JAFFNA RETURNEES DUMPED INTO ARMY CAMPS
	Tamil civilians belonging to 693 families trying to return to their
	homes in Myliddy, Tellipalai and Kankesanthurai (towns around Palali
	air-base) have been placed by Sinhalese soldiers into 13 refugee camps
	in Valigamam South. These camps are just a few of the increasing
	number of camps springing up all over Jaffna. The so-called Tamil
	refugees are subsequently unable to participate in normal economic
	life and are subjected to undue hardship at the hands of the occupying
	army.

MAN FOUND HANGED IN ARMY-RUN CAMP
	Last Friday, a 26-year old Tamil man detained in a Vavuniya
	school-turned refugee camp has been found hanged on the premises. His
	death is being viewed as extremely suspicious as he had severe
	injuries on his body. The story issued by the camp's Sinhalese
	security personnel - that the man died after drinking poison - is
	being viewed with cynicism.

LTTE CASUALTIES AND BURIALS
	On December 4, LTTE Major Sivaraman died in a clash with the occupying
	Sinhalese armed forces at Kudarappu (Jaffna peninsula).
	
	LTTE fighters Kulaseelan and Sathijan died in an attack on Sinhalese
	armed forces in Batticaloa town on 18 December.
	
	On December 1, LTTE Lt. Seran died in an attack on Sinhalese forces at
	Karipattamuripu (Vanni).
	
	The body of LTTE Major Pallavan was buried in the National Heroes
	Burial Grounds at Artkaddivali (Mannar). He died while confronting
	Jeya Sikurui forces at Kanakarayankulam.
	
	Memorial stones were erected in memory of Sea Tiger captain
	
	Suthakaran and Sea Tiger major Elamahan who died at sea in May 1997.
	The stones were laid at Visvamadu's National Heroes Burial Grounds
	(Vanni) with full military honours.
	
ARMY TURNS RECENTLY-OCCUPIED TOWNS INTO 'SECURITY ZONES'
	The Sinhalese army has declared recently-occupied Tamil towns
	extending from Valaichchenai to Peyathalai as "security zones",
	imposing severe restrictions on Tamil inhabitants. The army has said
	civilians can only leave the town via one road -
	Valaichchenai-Vipulanantha street - while all other roads have been
	totally closed to traffic.
	
JAFFNA ARMED ROBBERIES ON THE INCREASE
	Chaos in army-occupied Jaffna is escalating, with an increasing number
	of Hindu temples and Hindu priests' houses being robbed at night by
	armed robbers. Such robberies are rampant in Moolai, Vaddukoddai and
	Eechamoddai areas.
	
(English translation of the news released by LTTE International Secretariat,
211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom.Tel:0181- 503 4294)