LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                19. January 1997


PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

LTTE OVERRUNS MINI-CAMP - ANURADHAPURA
        Over 23 Sri Lankan military and police personnel were killed and
        20 others severely injured when the LTTE yesterday morning
        attacked a mini-camp in Kepittikolawa (Anuradhapura district).
        The LTTE was in complete control of the Kalugaswewe camp for more
        than 90 minutes during which time they captured a large haul of
        arms and ammunition after which the whole camp was destroyed. The
        captured items include many light machine guns, rifles, shells
        and mortars. Six LTTE fighters died in the attack.

AMBULANCE HELD BACK IN VAVUNIYA
        The Sri Lankan military in Vavuniya has blocked an ambulance's
        passage to Mullaitivu district, part of the large Tamil Vanni
        region which remains free from Sri Lankan occupation. Sri Lanka
        already stops food and medicine entering Vanni, which has led to
        the outbreak of many deadly diseases among the Tamil population
        there. Numerous appeals have been made by hospital doctors to
        allow the detained ambulance to leave but the military
        authorities remain adamant. Mullaitivu hospital is already facing
        dire shortages of medical equipment and supplies. It has been
        forced to make do with a vehicle belonging to the Red Cross while
        the army withholds their ambulance. Military tactics like this
        make hollow Sri Lanka's claim to be "liberating" the Tamils in
        the north and east.

CIVILIANS RETURNING HOME ARE SHOT
        Tamils returning to homes which they were earlier forced to
        abandon due to military assaults have been fired upon by Sri
        Lankan soldiers. The civilians had come to inspect the condition
        of their houses in Thiruvai Aru, an area of Kilinochchi which Sri
        Lankan troops recently invaded causing families to flee. When
        these people arrived back, soldiers shot at them relentlessly.
        One man is now critically wounded in Akkarayan hospital.

DISPLACED PEOPLE FACE CONSTANT DANGERS
        A Tamil woman and her daughter have been attacked in the Vanni
        jungles by a wild boar. The mother and child were walking near
        their temporary dwellings at Ampalaperumal when the animal mauled
        them. Both were people displaced by earlier Sri Lankan military
        operations and forced to take refuge in dense jungle. The dangers
        in such regions are many and varied leaving people in constant
        fear for their safety. The mother and daughter remain in
        hospital.

LATEST 'DISAPPEARED' TAMILS
        A further five Tamil civilians have disappeared from Jaffna. They
        are listed below:

        Poopalasingam Sukumar (22) of Madduvil South (Chavakachcheri)
        Anthonipillai Napolean of Power Station Road (Pallai)
        Kanakasooriyar Sasikaran (24) of Kaithady (Chavakachcheri)
        Thirugnasambanthar (40) of 165 Seeniar Lane (Vannarpannai)
        Kandiah Srigaran (22) of Odduveli (Mirusuvil)


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)