LTTE PRESS RELEASE 03.09.1997-1 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit via news@tamilnet.com (TamilNet mailing list) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Following Press Release is sent for distribution through TamilNet , by the LTTE international secretariat, 211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom, Tel/fax: 0181-470 8593. ----------------------------------------------------------------- LTTE Headquarters, Tamil Eelam. 03.September1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM =46REE CLINIC TREATS SKIN DISORDERS IN LTTE-RUN VANNI The TRO in Skanthapuram is helping treat skin diseases in a free Ayurvedic medical centre which was opened last weekend in the Subahs housing colony. The clinic was set up by TRO with the active participation of the LTTE's administration. SRI LANKA'S DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER INTENSIFIES SINHALISATION Virulent Sinhala-chauvinist general Anuruddha Ratwatte has ceremonially opened a radio station in Vavuniya.Though the station is allegedly for the benefit of the Tamil people, the entire ceremony was conducted in Sinhala only. The nameboard of the new station is also in Sinhala only. The deputy minister of defence's attitude in relation to this radio station clearly reveals his true racist colours and the sinister agenda which underlies his military strategy in the Tamil homeland. The deputy minister is also the man behind renaming Jaffna as the Sinhala "Yapa Patuna" and renaming the Tamil town of Parayanalamkulam as the Sinhala "Supumelpura". "YOU'RE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE," SINHALA OFFICER TELLS TAMIL VILLAGERS Recently, we reported the random killing of a Tamil boy during an army round-up of the Tamil village of Thirukadaloor (Trincomalee) on the 18th of August. The family of the boy were asked by Sinhala troops to sign documents saying he was an LTTE member. The parents refused. But agitation from the rest of the villagers forced the troops to leave in a hurry after releasing the dead body. Subsequently, on the 22nd of August, the entire village was summoned to the Thirukadaloor reading room where a senior Sinhala military officer abused the people with filthy language. He then said words typical of the Sinhala military's mentality towards the Tamil people. "You should consider yourselves lucky that I was not present on that day," he said, "if I had been, then none of you would be alive today..." SRI LANKAN ARMY LANDMINES CAUSING HAVOC IN JAFFNA A young boy lost his right foot after stepping accidentally on a landmine left by the Sri Lankan army at Jaffna railway station. A cow lost one of its hind legs stepping on a landmine on the same day. MILITARY IN JAFFNA PUTS LANDMINES IN HOSPITAL Hospital staff in Jaffna hospital recently discovered a cloth bag containing landmines in one of their wards. A mortar shell which was still active was also discovered a week ago in the hospital. It is believed the army uses such devices to scare off civilians from using the hospital. More than six wards in Jaffna hospital are reserved for the exclusive use of the Sinhala military. MILITARY THEFTS ON THE RISE IN JAFFNA Houses close to Sinhala military camps in occupied Jaffna are being robbed by Sinhala soldiers with increasing frequency as time passes, say Tamil locals. The people who are robbed can do little about it. Tentative complaints to military officials have met with laughter. 31 TAMILS DEATH-FAST IN SINHALA PRISON A death-fast by 31 Tamil prisoners which began on the 30th of last month is still continuing as they protest against their indefinite detention without charge nor trial. Hundreds of Tamils are detained in the same prison at Bandarawela under the government's draconian prevention of terrorism act. TAMIL MERCENARIES KILL TWO CIVILIANS Government-hired Tamil mercenaries operating in Kalmunai have killed two Tamil civilians. The bodies of Ariyanayagam Rupakanth and Sathis, both young men, were found in a secluded part of the town. The Sri Lankan military pays a monthly wage to certain undesirable elements within Tamil society to carry out such operations. MILITARY ARRESTS SCHOOL TEACHER A Tamil school teacher in Santhiveli (Batticaloa) was recently arrested by Sinhala troops manning Kiran bridge. The innocent teacher's name is Kirupakaran. He is 23 years old and taught at the Santhiveli Sidthi Vinayagar Vidyalam. THREE FARMERS ARRESTED - BATTICALOA The government of Sri Lanka is trying to disrupt any Tamil attempts at self-sufficiency by arbitrarily arresting Tamil farmers. Recently three more farmers - Nallathamby Kirupakaran (21), his brother Nallathamby Kunaratnam (19) and another person Navaratnam (21) - were at work on rice fields when Sinhala police from the Central Camp rounded them up and took them away. The men have not been seen since. 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) ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-09.11.97-19:30:38-1036