LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                25. June 1997

PRESS RELEASE (1)
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM
                                           
GOVERNMENT ABUSE OF UNICEF AID SYSTEMATIC
	The Sri Lankan government is systematically abusing aid given by
	international humanitarian organisations for the purposes of
	development. Yesterday we reported how 3000 UNICEF-donated mats
	for the school children of Tamil Vanni were being kept back at
	government-controlled Vavuniya. Today we point out that UNICEF
	funds allocated as far back as 1996 to build temporary school
	buildings for Tamil children displaced by Sri Lanka's military
	offensives - in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi - are still being
	cruelly withheld by Vavuniya's government agent. Sri Lanka
	withholds these funds and other donated items as part its war
	effort to hurt the Tamil population in the north and east. We
	alert the international aid-giving community to the way their
	generous allocations are consistently being employed by Sri Lanka
	to further its military agenda.
	
SIX CHILDREN WOUNDED BY SHELLS
	Six Tamil children - the youngest 12 years - are seriously
	injured after army shelling of a Hindu temple on Monday. The
	artillery attack came at 8.15 in the evening while the children
	were engaged in devotions. Sri Lanka's assault was launched from
	its military camps at Mankindimalai and targeted at Kumulamunai
	Kottukinattady Nagathambiran temple. The temple itself was badly
	damaged. The children injured are: Koinath (male, 12); S.
	Piratheepan (male, 16); Pirahalathan (male, 14); Sasikumar (male,
	16); Vijitha (female, 16); Menaka (female, 18).
	
GOVT. BLOCKADE ON TAMILS FAILS TO BREAK STUDENTS' SPIRITS
	Despite the long-running Sri Lankan government blockade on Tamil
	regions - which has badly affected living conditions and the
	functioning of schools - the Tamil student population has proved
	itself to be resilient. GCE (O/L) results just released show that
	those privileged enough to sit for exams under these harsh
	conditions have fared remarkably well. In Thiruvaiyaru Maha
	Vidyalayam (school) 40 students qualified for advanced studies.
	Miss Anjala Rajendran received 8 distinctions. Several other
	students of this school obtained 7 distinctions and there were 8
	credit passes.
	
SEVEN TAMIL WOMEN FRAMED BY SINHALA AUTHORITIES
	Sri Lankan authorities on a witch-hunt against Tamils in the
	South of the island have arrested seven innocent Tamil women in
	connection with, they allege, helping members of the LTTE. The
	women stand little chance of a fair hearing and, like countless
	others before them, face the prospect of long periods languishing
	in jails.
	
JETS UNLEASHED ON INNOCENT TAMIL TOWN
	Sri Lankan Kfir bomber-jets have let loose on Sannasi, a
	residential Tamil town in Paranthan, a site miles away from the
	location of the government's current military operation (i.e.,
	Omanthai and Puliyankulam). The attack, like many before, is a
	routine pounding of Tamil civilian centres to inflict terror upon
	the people and force an uprootment. The bombers flew in twice
	dropping powerful explosives on the town. Details of the damage
	are awaited.
	
3 SRI LANKAN PARAMILITARIES KILLED
	An LTTE attack on Eravur's 1st Milepost checkpoint has killed 3
	paramilitary police and injured many more. The attack happened at
	midday yesterday. There were no LTTE casualties.
	
EPDP PLUNDERS CIVILIANS' BELONGINGS
	Homes in Jaffna vacated by fleeing civilians in the wake of the
	Sinhala invasion of the peninsula are being systematically
	plundered by EPDP terror-groups. Both EPDP and the Sinhala
	military co-operate to plunder and sell materials on the open
	market.
	
INSULT ADDED TO INJURY AFTER ARMY KILLS POPULAR TRADER
	A well-loved Tamil businessman in Jaffna was killed by the
	Sinhala occupation forces two weeks ago on the premises of the
	Jaffna model market. Soldiers near Kannathiddy junction shot
	Appaiyah Jeyarasa in the head and hip killing him instantly. The
	army later deposited his body in Jaffna's Teaching Hospital. But
	when relatives went to the hospital's premises soldiers demanded
	they sign papers declaring Mr. Jeyarasa a "terrorist". Refusing
	to comply, they returned home. A message was later received from
	the hospital asking the relatives to collect the body. Black
	flags and funeral decorations were hung in the model market
	premises as the community's mark of respect to Mr. Jeyarasa who
	will be sorely missed.

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)