LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                17. March 1997


PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

LADIES' COLLEGE CONDEMNS ARMY'S USE OF HUMAN SHIELDS
	A Tamil girls' college in Batticaloa has strongly condemned the
	Sri Lankan army's use of its students and teachers as human
	shields. The St Vincent's Ladies' College Development Society
	passed a resolution condemning the widespread practice of seizing
	Tamils to use them as protective shields against possible
	military attacks. Male and female students as well as teachers
	are being taken routinely. They are placed strategically around
	army checkpoints to provide cover to soldiers. The practice has
	created much distress amongst the student population.

DISTANCE BETWEEN IMAGE AND REALITY OF JAFFNA REVEALED
	Returning from a visit to army-held Jaffna the government agent
	for Kilinochchi, Mr Thillainadarasa, has spoken honestly about
	his experiences. Nothing at all moves, he said, without the
	army's permission. The military dominates the scene. "Their
	presence is overwhelming," he continued, adding that people's
	mobility is severely curtailed by networks of checkpoints and
	high earth-walls which trail for miles sealing off one area from
	another. According to Mr Thillainadarasa entry into Jaffna town
	is possible only through one point - Thattatheru junction - since
	an army-erected wall completely encircles the ancient Tamil city.
	A strict curfew has been imposed since the army occupation, Mr
	Thillainadarasa admits. It begins at 7pm and ends at 6 the next
	morning.

	Jaffna - the government told the world one and a half years ago -
	has been liberated by the Sinhala armed forces. The evident
	reality is that Tamil people have become imprisoned in their own
	land by a foreign army.

MORE OF TAMIL EELAM HONOURS ITS WAR HEROES
	Memorial processions for three LTTE members - Major Sittampalam,
	Captain Nivethan and Captain Vijayaruban - who died in the China
	Bay military operation have taken place in some more Vanni areas.
	Mallavi and Illupaikadavai both hosted massive ceremonies each
	attended by enormous crowds paying their respects.
	
	The level of public Tamil support for the LTTE is plainly evident
	in mass outpourings of this kind. But this vital truth Sri Lanka
	meticulously screens from the eyes of the diplomatic community.
	The Sri Lankan government is all too aware that the Tamil
	nation's claim to self-determination would receive international
	sympathy were it understood that the LTTE represents a mass Tamil
	independence movement.
	
	The government's non-admission of journalists to northeastern
	territories is just one mechanism for ensuring the LTTE's real
	status among the Tamil people remains obscured. 
	
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)