LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                24. June 1997

PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM
                                           
SINHALA INVADERS MEET STIFF RESISTANCE FROM WOMEN FIGHTERS
	LTTE men and women fighters have been strongly resisting the
	invasion forces of the Sinhala military who are trying to occupy
	the Tamil town of Puliyankulam. Heavy damage was inflicted on Sri
	Lankan forces - a battle-tank was reduced to a burning hulk and
	two more were damaged beyond repair. 11 fighters died, including
	ten women. The LTTE's women cadres fight determinedly alongside
	the men. Tamil women have often been at the brunt of the Sinhala
	military's racist brutality and sexual abuse. In all Sinhala
	army-occupied Tamil territory, rape, murder, disappearance and
	molestation of Tamil women is rising.
	
FIVE CIVILIANS KILLED
	Artillery directed by the invading Sinhala forces at
	Puliyankulam's civilian settlements has claimed five lives in
	Paranattakal, the youngest victim being 16 years old. Three of
	the dead are from the same family.
	
	1. Sinnathurai Ponnuthurai (47)
	2. Ponnuthurai Mohanathas (20)
	3. Ponnuthurai Kantharupan (16)
	4. Kopal Sasikumar (20)
	5. Kasinathan Kulanathan (33)
	
GOVT. OFFICIALS ASHAMED TO CARRY OUT GOVT. ORDER
	Government officials in Vanni responsible for distributing food
	stamps to displaced Tamil people have defied a government order
	to reduce the tokens by half, saying the task is too embarrassing
	and distressing to carry out. The government agents of
	Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu have told the commissioner of
	essential services it is impossible to face a constant number of
	displaced people then suddenly hand them half of what they need
	to survive. Both government agents have pleaded with the
	government to reconsider its decision to halve the number of food
	stamps to displaced Tamils. Reports from Colombo say relief and
	rehabilitation activities have been brought under the control of
	Sri Lankan president, Chandrika Kumaratunge.
	
URGENT TALKS TO ALLAY FOOD SHORTAGE
	Talks are underway in Puthukudiyiruppu today aimed at countering
	the effects of the Sri Lankan government's food-embargo. Local
	Tamils have gathered in the Sri Subramania school to devise ways
	of coping with the tragedy that is unfolding behind the
	(unchallenged) Sri Lankan government's screen of censorship.
	
SCHOOL MATS DONATED BY UNICEF STOPPED
	Sri Lanka has halted at Vavuniya 3000 mats donated to Tamil
	school children by the UNICEF. The mats were meant to go to Vanni
	where Tamil school children have been denied any school furniture
	due to government blockades on the Vanni region. The mats were to
	provide the minimum comfort for Tamil children but the defence
	ministry has put a stop to that. Sri Lanka has bombed many Tamil
	schools in its recent offensives in the Tamil homeland.
	
'STRANGULATION' OF TAMIL FISHING COMMUNITIES
	Sri Lankan authorities are progressively threatening Tamils'
	means of survival, especially traditional fishing communities. A
	new army order in Batticaloa states that Tamil fishermen can no
	longer fish in the Vallaiyiravu lagoon at all. No compensation
	has been given for these fishing families in the way of food
	substitutes, which means they have no other means of survival.
	200 families are affected by the army order.
	
MANNAR HOSPITAL'S CHRONIC SHORTAGE
	Injections are out of stock in the Tamil Mannar hospital and
	there is a chronic shortage of all other medical supplies. Nurses
	are having to advise patients to travel to other hospitals for
	treatment or buy medicines on the open market. Sri Lanka stops
	medicines going to the Vanni region as a measure to facilitate
	its overall military strategy. This involves directly targeting
	civilians, which renders the practice a violation of the relevant
	Geneva Conventions to which Sri Lanka is a signatory. No foreign
	government has spoken out against this practice.
	
DISPLACED IN MANNAR TURN BACK TO VANNI
	Water shortages, lack of food and harassment from the Sinhala
	military is inducing displaced Tamils to leave for LTTE-held
	Vanni areas despite the huge shortages being experienced there
	too, due to the government blockade. Those in Mannar camps in
	army-held territory have also experienced a severe outbreak of
	diarrhoea and scabies, which is also prompting the exodus. The
	number of displaced in Vanni continues to swell but Sri Lanka's
	military is hammering on with its military offensive, which it
	knows already will generate many more Tamil refugees in the
	coming period.
	
REVENGE ATTACKS AFTER MILITARY LOSSES
	The Sinhala military is carrying out revenge attacks on Tamil
	civilians immediately following military disasters. Civilians in
	Eravur, Senkallady and Vallaichchenai (all in the island's east)
	have been routinely targeted following LTTE strikes on army
	installations. Three civilians have just been admitted to Eravur
	hospital with severe gunshot wounds caused by the army. One of
	the victims is a four-year old, Nagapiriya.
	
60 CYCLE TRADERS ATTACKED BY SINHALA FORCES
	60 bicycle traders crossing the army-controlled Uyilankulam
	barrier (Mannar) were arrested on Saturday. All were severely
	beaten and locked up for the whole day. This assault gains
	significance as Uyilankulam now - not Thandikulam - is the main
	crossing point between Vanni and army-occupied territory. This
	attack on civilian traders was callous and unprovoked, and was
	presumably seen as a remedy to the army's growing frustrations on
	the military front. It was not until 6pm that the traders were
	released.


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)