LTTE PRESS RELEASE 04.09.1997 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 04.September1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM 6-YEAR OLD GIRL GANG-RAPED BY JAFFNA SOLDIERS Sinhalese soldiers have gang-raped a six-year old Tamil girl at an army checkpoint in Atchuveli (Jaffna). The rape was so violent that the girl is currently fighting for her life in Jaffna teaching hospital. Six-year old Palanthi was stopped on her way to school by soldiers of the Kathiripai military checkpoint. She was then dragged into the confines of the checkpoint and raped by one soldier after another, leaving her with severe physical injuries. This is the second incident of its kind within a few months. Recently a twelve-year old girl from the same area was raped in a similar manner by Sri Lankan soldiers. Parents of school children in Jaffna have been compelled to chaperone their children to school and back every day to avoid such happenings. GOVERNMENT TROOPS ATTACK FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS Sinhala troops occupying Batticaloa town last week entered the Welser football grounds and attacked Tamil players and spectators of a local football match using rifle butts and iron rods. Many people had to be taken to hospital with head injuries after the unprovoked incident. The attack took place on the day of the finals of the club-match series, leaving the outcome of the game undecided. The incident had clearly been well-planned, with Sri Lankan troops surrounding the football grounds and blocking all exits before launching into the full-scale attack on the Tamil players and crowds. It is thought the attack was calculated to intimidate the local population. =46OUR SOLDIERS KILLED IN JAFFNA LTTE forces have killed four Sri Lankan soldiers in Urani (occupied Jaffna). The attack took place at 6.30 pm on the 31st of August near the Urani timber depot. There were no LTTE casualties. =46OUR ARMED HOMEGUARDS KILLED Four Sri Lankan armed homeguards in Manthoddam, Theethupathu (Amparai district) were killed on Tuesday 2nd September by LTTE forces. The rest of the armed homeguards fled the scene. An STF commando unit which came to the rescue were also driven away by LTTE forces. STF casualties are not known. The LTTE did not incur any casualties. Some arms and ammunition were captured from the armed homeguards. DIARRHOEA SPREADS FAST IN ALAMPIL A one month old infant died from stomach complications and extensive purging two days ago in Alampil, Mullaitivu. Diarrhoea is spreading fast in this coastal region but no preventative medicines are available in the hospitals here, owing to the government's long-term medical blockade of Tamil-inhabited areas. The government's blockade is meant to engender war-weariness in the Tamil population hoping to break their will to resist military occupation. =46INAL DAY OF DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR It is the final day of the village development seminar in LTTE-administered Nenavil (Puthukudiyiruppu) organised by the Puthukudiyiruppu district development society and other allied organisations. Local cultivators will today compete for prizes after having their knowledge of cultivation methods tested by a TRO panel. Cultural events are also scheduled for the end of the day. 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-09.11.97-20:49:39-24593