LTTE Headquarters,
                                                Tamil Eelam.
                                                09. May 1997
PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM

PULIYANKULAM HOSPITAL BOMBED TO A HALT
        Sri Lankan forces on Sunday morning bombed Puliyankulam hospital
        and surrounding homes killing at least three Tamil civilians. Two
        MI24 helicopter gunships arrived in the morning and targeted
        shops, homes and other residential buildings. The hospital has
        been badly damaged to the point where it cannot function. Beds,
        medicines and other facilities have been destroyed. This is the
        second Tamil hospital to be targeted by the Sri Lankan military
        this month. The hospital's director, Mrs Thilakavathi
        Gopalaratnam, has pleaded with the Vanni government agent to
        urgently relocate the hospital but nothing has resulted. The
        routine terrorising of Tamils in their own homeland continues
        unabated - and on a daily basis - despite the government's
        attempt to imply a lull in military activities. With a government
        ban on journalists to the northeast still in place the full
        extent of the suffering being inflicted against the Tamils goes
        unreported. The three civilians killed are - Arumugam Karupiah,
        Panchalingam (45) and Thirunavkarasu (45).

SRI LANKA BOMBS TAMIL REFUGEE CAMP - 4 DIE
        Four Tamil civilians were killed by Sri Lankan army shells which
        two weeks ago rained on Kalmadu refugee camp in Valaichchenai
        (Batticaloa). The sustained mortar fire also wounded several
        other Tamils, including a 5-month old baby. The mother of the
        baby died while still holding the child in her arms.

KONAVIL UNDER SHELLFIRE - TAMIL RESIDENTS UPROOTED
        The densely-populated Kilinochchi village of Konavil is bearing
        the brunt of artillery shells fired from Sri Lanka's Elephant
        Pass army base. As a result of the past 48 hours of non-stop
        shelling more than half the residents have now vacated the area.
        The ecology of the region has also been badly affected with many
        trees demolished and cattle killed.

TAMILS STILL BANNED FROM FISHING AROUND JAFFNA PENINSULA
        Sri Lanka has kept in place a ban preventing Tamils from fishing
        in the waters surrounding Jaffna peninsula. The seas between
        Mathagal and Point Pedro have since early 1996 been designated
        out of bounds, plunging many Tamil fishermen into desperation.
        The waters around the peninsula's seven islands - Karaitivu,
        Pungudutivu, Nainativu, Eluvaitivu, Velanai, Analaitivu and
        Nedunthivu - are open only to day-time coastal fishing and, even
        then, fisherman are not allowed to use boats and must wade in
        full view of the army. The situation in the east is even worse.
        Trincomallee is witnessing a renewed wave of Sinhala colonisation
        where Tamil fishing families are being driven out and Sinhala
        fishing families brought in by the government to dilute the Tamil
        majority there.

TAMILS KEPT AWAY FROM THEIR OWN LANDS
        Two thirds of the land in Palai (Thenmaradchy) has been deemed
        out of bounds to Tamil residents. Entry is prohibited and any
        violation of this order is punished with severity. The army
        operates a shoot-to-kill policy in these areas, which includes
        Kovil Vayal, Yakadchi and two other divisions. Sri Lanka's
        pretence that it is rehabilitating the peninsula is a far cry
        from the reality where Tamils are being dispossessed of their
        rightful lands.

MILITARY ACTIVITIES DESTROYING ENVIRONMENT
        The Tamil homeland's environment is coming under threat due to
        the thoughtless activities of the Sri Lankan military which is
        occupying parts of it. Soldiers have been removing vast amounts
        of sand and earth in order to erect military installations, such
        as bunkers, defence embankments and earth walls. The erosion of
        the seashore has meant a permanent danger to the environment,
        with the sea already encroaching onto the land surface in several
        places.

DOCTOR SHORTAGE DUE TO FEAR OF ARMY
        There exists a dire shortage of competent medical staff in
        army-occupied Jaffna peninsula, particularly in the Jaffna
        hospital. The shortage is due to fear of the military authorities
        among medical personnel. The situation is so bad that the
        military has ordered retired medical personnel to return to
        duties. The following positions remain vacant all over the
        peninsula:  registered medical practitioners, medical assistants,
        family consultants and lab technicians.

LTTE ADMINISTRATION STEPS UP WELFARE PROGRAMMES
        The Pooneryn Development Society along with the LTTE
        administration has built a rice mill in Pooneryn creating
        employment for many people in the area. The opening ceremony of
        the new mill will take place at 10am Saturday. Meanwhile, the TRO
        has opened a development bank under the accelerated development
        scheme to help generate growth in Tamil Eelam's economy.
        
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)