LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                12. January 1997
PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

VANNI PAYS TRIBUTE TO LTTE
	The Tamil nation is paying tribute to its LTTE fighters who lost
	their lives in Thursday's battle while determinedly challenging
	the occupation of Vanni by the Sri Lankan army. The bright
	red-and-yellow Tamil Eelam national flag is being paraded proudly
	from homes, public buildings, streets and lanes. Big crowds are
	attending the funerals of those who died in the fighting at
	Paranthan and Elephant Pass, taking turns to lay flower-garlands
	on them as a token of their deepest gratitude for their
	sacrifice. Vanni district - ancient Tamil land - is holding out
	against Sri Lanka's efforts to invade and occupy Tamil territory.
	The LTTE is relied upon by the Tamil people to defend their
	nation against Sri Lankan occupation. The esteem people hold
	towards the LTTE is evident from the massive show of affection
	witnessed in Vanni over the last few days.

BODIES HANDED OVER TO RED CROSS
	The LTTE yesterday evening handed over to the Sri Lankan Red
	Cross 29 recovered bodies of Sri Lankan troops from Thursday's
	battles at Paranthan and Elephant Pass. The event took place at
	the LTTE's political headquarters and is in accordance with
	international humanitarian law. The bodies will later be given to
	Sri Lankan military authorities for burial.

WARPLANES BOMB TAMIL VILLAGE
	Sri Lankan warplanes have bombed Tamil residential areas within
	24 hours of Sri Lanka's defeat at Paranthan and Elephant Pass.
	Several bombing raids were conducted on Kandawalai at 7am Friday
	morning. The revered Ganesh hindu temple in 2nd Mile Post was
	totally flattened in the heavy retaliation, together with all
	surrounding houses and shops. Sri Lanka is well-known for
	avenging its own military losses by carrying out indiscriminate
	raids on Tamil residential towns and civilians.

TAMIL DIES AFTER PURSUIT BY WARPLANE
	A Tamil man crashed in his van and died after being followed over
	a long distance by a Sri Lankan warplane. The plane closely
	pursued the van causing the driver to panic. He speeded up to
	escape, knowing the Sri Lankan military's hostility towards Tamil
	civilians, but in doing so crashed and died. The incident took
	place on 8th Canal Road, Uruthirapuram (Kilinochchi).

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/ Fax: 0181-470 8593)