LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                16. June 1997

SPECIAL PRESS RELEASE
                                           
SRI LANKA BLASTS TAMIL MARKET FOR PROPAGANDA
	We predicted last week that Sri Lanka's defence establishment was
	likely to manufacture false stories to deflect attention from its
	worsening military predicament. It has done so today by
	suggesting that the LTTE set off a "parcel bomb" at a crowded
	market in Vavuniya.
	
	The LTTE categorically denies this allegation and we draw
	attention to the fact that it comes at a time when Sri Lanka is
	desperately preoccupied with reviving its bogus depiction of the
	LTTE as a "terrorist" organisation, which all Sri Lankan
	governments of the past have attempted to do.
	
	Any clear-thinking person would appreciate the sheer absurdity of
	the LTTE engaging in activity of this kind against Tamils in
	Vavuniya. Indeed, the accusations emerge while the LTTE has
	proven beyond doubt its military capability against the Sri
	Lankan army.
	
	Therefore we emphasise that this bomb attack has been staged by
	the Sri Lankan establishment with the sinister motive of
	discrediting the LTTE in front of the international community.
	The ability of a recognised government to undertake such callous
	acts against Tamil civilians for the purpose of propaganda
	reveals quite unequivocally its true colours.
	
	The LTTE has no interest in targeting civilians, which is rather
	the trademark of the Sinhala military.
	
19 SRI LANKAN TROOPS DIE IN LTTE ATTACK - EAST
	
	15 "elite" troopers and 4 armed homeguards attached to the Sri
	Lankan army died yesterday in an LTTE attack in Pullumallai
	(Batticaloa). At 8.25am, LTTE forces intercepted one group of Sri
	Lankan armed homeguards moving from the Pullumallai STF camp
	towards Kiddaram Kottam Madhu. 4 guards were killed before a
	larger group of elite STF commandos was sent in. 15 members of
	this second group died in the fighting that followed and the rest
	eventually fled. 3 LTTE soldiers were killed.

	
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)