LTTE PRESS RELEASE 07.09.1997 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. 07.September1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM TRO RESETTLES THE DISPLACED OF MULLAITIVU The TRO in Mullaitivu with the help of the LTTE administration is making arrangements to resettle displaced families who had been staying in the Puthukudiyiruppu Vigneswara Maha Vidyalayam school premises. The people - who were uprooted from their original homes due to Sri Lankan military incursions into Tamil territory - will be settled by the TRO in Kumpilikulam, where new cottages have already been built for them. TRO is already supplying these people with food and other vital items, since the government has in place an embargo on essentials to Vanni. UNICEF CONFIRMS ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS IN LTTE AREAS The UNICEF representative has declared that the anti-polio campaign was successfully implemented in the LTTE-administered areas of Mannar, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi. The LTTE has given its full co-operation to the programme and no untoward incidents occurred on the relevant dates. ARMY JAILS 5 GRAMA SEVAKAS The Sri Lankan military has jailed 5 highly respected village leaders (Grama Sevakas) of the Batticaloa district using the draconian provisions of the prevention of terrorism act. The men were arrested for not performing the nefarious functions demanded of them by the Sinhala military. Grama Sevakas had recently been made to assist the military in activities detrimental to the Tamil people, which these Grama Sevakas were not prepared to do. They were subsequently arrested and imprisoned. The union of Grama Sevakas will be taking direct action tomorrow to show their displeasure at the way they are being treated. COLOMBO POLICE SWOOP ON INNOCENT TAMILS The chairman of the board of trustees of the Vavuniya Kovilkulam Sivan temple has been arrested by the Slave Island police (Colombo). He is currently being kept in a police lock-up. In total, seven Vavuniya Tamils have recently been arrested in Colombo under false pretences and blackmailed by Colombo police for money. The detained are usually released only on receipt of the sum of money demanded. All of the seven Tamils who were arrested had earlier received clearance from the Sinhala military to come to Colombo on urgent business. The president, though publicly declaring she will end the practice of blackmail, has taken no action to prevent it, which has left Tamils vulnerable to this sort of injustice. 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-09.12.97-00:48:05-5846