LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                01. February 1997


PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

INSUFFICIENT MEDICINE TO KILINOCHCHI
        Doctors in Kilinochchi are outraged by Sri Lanka's meagre supply
        of medicines to hospitals in the district. After a long delay,
        Sri Lanka has given only enough supplies which can last only a
        few weeks. Each hospital in the area had made detailed requests
        to the government outlining their needs but these have been
        totally neglected, say hospital authorities. Meanwhile, the
        health of Tamil people in the Vanni region continues to
        deteriorate with malaria and other serious diseases spiralling
        out of control.

MEDICINE BLOCKED TO EASTERN VILLAGE
        Sri Lanka has cut off medical supplies to thousands of Tamils
        living in the Eastern coastal region of Vaharai forcing all
        hospitals there to stop functioning. NGOs trying to get relief to
        residents on humanitarian grounds have also been obstructed by
        military personnel. Vaharai is a Tamil area which remains free
        from Sri Lankan occupation. The government blocks essential items
        to such areas to try and make people capitulate to its military
        forces.       

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 / Fax: 0181-470 8593)