LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                09. March 1997


PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

ARMY REPRISALS AFTER VAVUNATHIVU DEFEAT
        Predictably, Sri Lankan forces are retaliating against Tamil
        civilians after their defeat at Vavunathivu army camp on
        Thursday. Army Brigadier Sarath Munasinghe has ordered troops to
        shell the eastern Tamil villages of Eravur, Aiyankerni,
        Senkalady, Kommanthurai and Vallaieravu. The onslaught is
        continuing and so far four civilians have been killed while eight
        others - including a 3 year old girl - have been critically
        injured. A rice mill has also been obliterated by the barrage.
        People from these villages have shifted to other areas.

TAMIL CIVILIANS BECOME HUMAN SHIELDS FOR EDIBALA TROOPS
        Sri Lankan troops crossing the Vavuniya-Mannar road, which they
        recently occupied, are using Tamil civilians as protective
        shields. Buses are loaded with Tamil men, women and children who
        are made to stand by the windows while soldiers occupy the seats
        for the 45-mile stretch.

HUNDREDS ARRESTED, ONLY 20 RELEASED
        Hundreds of Tamils on Thursday were rounded up by the army in the
        village of Manalthivu (Puttalam). They were made to stand for
        hours in the scorching heat at the St Anthony church grounds
        while soldiers ransacked their homes. Hundreds were later taken
        away for interrogation. Only 20 have been released.

HINDU CELEBRATIONS DISRUPTED BY WARPLANES
        Sri Lankan airforce planes on the 6th and 7th of this month flew
        several sorties over selected Tamil areas where overnight Hindu
        celebrations were taking place. The Maha Sivarathri celebrations
        require Hindus all over the world to stay awake throughout the
        night in temples. Warplanes and helicopter gunships charged over
        Jaffna and parts of the Vanni region with the intention of
        distracting worshippers who were engaged in their devotional
        practices. Tamils in the northeast are mainly Hindus. The Sri
        Lankan military is comprised of Sinhala-Buddhists. 
        
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)