LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                15. February 1997


PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

DISPLACED CIVILIANS COME UNDER FIRE
        Sri Lankan warplanes are targeting refugee camps where Tamils
        have gathered after being displaced by Operation Edibala.
        Families forced from their homes by the army operation are
        presently huddled together in shelters in a variety of nearby
        areas. Refugees at Periamadu (Mannar) yesterday witnessed
        fighter-jets screeching overhead and dropping bombs. This
        occurred around midday and lasted for over an hour. There are
        known to be civilian casualties further details of which are
        awaited. Attacks like this on Tamil civilians are the reason why
        Sri Lanka stops journalists entering the north and east.

SCHOOL RE-OPENS NOW THAT ARMY HAS GONE
        Mullaitivu's main school (Maha Vidyalayam) was finally ready to
        re-open yesterday now that the district is safely in the hands of
        the indigenous LTTE-administration. The school had been closed by
        the Sri Lankan army which earlier set up a military base in
        Mullaitivu taking possession of many public buildings and causing
        Tamil residents to flee further afield. The LTTE re-took control
        of Mullaitivu last year to the relief of former residents who
        have now  largely returned. The re-opening ceremony of the school
        was a very moving event attended by the head of the LTTE's
        education service.  Mr Anbu, raised Tamil Eelam's national flag.
        School children and parents of Mullaitivu attended the event in
        large numbers delighted to finally have the school back in their
        own hands.

NEW PROJECT TO DEVELOP TAMIL EELAM
        The Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation (TEEDOR) in
        collaboration with the LTTE civil administration in Vanni has
        distributed credit to 349 farmers in the region to  develop
        agriculture. Each farmer has received Rs. 8000 to carry out an
        intensive cultivation programme aimed at benefiting people living
        in the Vanni. People of the Vanni have suffered considerably due
        to Sri Lanka's embargo on food to the region and therefore
        home-grown schemes like this TEEDOR venture with LTTE's
        assistance are designed to ease people's burdens. The grants have
        been distributed to farmers as far afield as Thunukkai,
        Pandiankulam, Nannattan, Adampan and Pallamadu.

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)