LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                02. February 1997


PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

CENTRE OPENED FOR MALNOURISHED CHILDREN
        The Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) has opened a
        nutritional centre in LTTE-administered Murunkanpiddy (Mannar)
        for children under five. The move is in response to a marked
        increase in child deaths in the Vanni district which are the
        result of acute malnutrition. The underlying reason for the
        rising rate of infant mortality is Sri Lanka's block on food to
        areas which its military forces do not occupy. It uses food as a
        weapon of war. Many Tamil children in the Vanni have gone without
        a proper diet for nearly two years, since Sri Lanka renewed its
        military campaign to occupy the north-east Tamil territories.

UN AWARD GOES TO TAMIL EELAM FARMER
        The UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), during a
        celebration of its 50th Anniversary, announced the 'Best Paddy
        Cultivator' as Mr Kandiah Muttukumar from Nedunkerni (in Tamil
        Eelam). The award was in recognition of Mr Muttukumar's
        innovative synthesis of traditional and modern methods in paddy
        cultivation. 'Best Fisherman' and 'Best Dairyman' awards went
        respectively to contenders from the Philippines and Thailand. Mr
        Muttakumar's contribution to paddy cultivation had been
        recognised as far back as May 1994 when the national leader of
        Tamil Eelam, Mr V. Prabhakaran, presented him with a gold medal
        for his outstanding talents. 
        
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)