LTTE PRESS RELEASE 07.11.1997 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source news@tamilnet.com Sat Nov 8 02:46:34 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. November 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM ARMY FORCES "DONATIONS" FROM TAMIL BUSINESSES The Sinhalese army occupying Jaffna is forcing local Tamil businessmen to give them free goods during Sinhalese festival occassions. The soldiers say they must "donate" their stock during these times. These businesses have complained to senior military officers but these officers are not taking their concerns seriously, while mockingly telling shopkeepers to show special identity cards to the army when they comes for their goods. ARMY SHOOTS DEAD YOUNG TAMIL MAN In the military occupied island of Velanai (off occupied Jaffna), the Sinhalese army has shot and killed a young Tamil man who was the gate-keeper at the Sir Vythialingam Duraisamy Maha Vidyalayam (school). The young man was shot and killed on the 20th of last month, and his name was Nagarajah Anandarajah (aged 22). The armed forces who shot him had occupied the school to oversee a school function. STF EXTORTS MONEY FROM TAMILS IN EAST Sri Lankan STF forces in Rakamam (Amparai) are demanding money from poor local Tamils who gather firewood for a living. The army is extorting 10 rupees from each of these workers. TAMILS ARRESTED IN CINEMAS Young Tamil men and women are frequently being arrested arbitrarily at Colombo theatres. Several Tamil youth who have gone to see films in Tamil cinemas in the capital have been taken away in this manner. Such incidents have been happening on a large scale particularly in the past few days. TWO TAMILS KILLED BY KILINOCHCHI SINHALESE FORCES Two innocent Tamils were killed by the army in Kilinochchi, after an incident taking place on the 31st of last month. Thiruchelavam (42) and Shanmugasundaram (45) were taken by the army to the 7th Channel area, where they were given biscuits and shot while they were eating them. The latter victim died on the spot, while the first man fell unconscious with injuries, but the army thought both had died and dumped their bodies in a pit used for human waste. For two days and nights Thiruchelvam tried desperately to crawl out of the pit and eventually arrived, severely injured, at Puthumurippu (Vanni). He died soon after telling the horrendous tale. DISPLACEMENTS CAUSED BY JAYA SIKURUI As a result of Sri Lanka's Jaya Sikurui military offensive 4,481 displaced Tamils have had to take refuge in Kilinochchi district. Of these 1,057 have taken refuge in Karachchi Division; 356 in Kandawalai; and 3,068 in Pooneryn. LTTE FIGHTERS KILLED One LTTE fighter was killed on 4th November in a confrontation with the Sinhalese forces at Karipattamurippu. On 31st of October in Jaffna, one LTTE fighter was killed at Kaddudai (Valigamam) in an accidental explosion. On 22nd October in Mannar district (in Thaladi) one LTTE fighter was also killed during an attack on Sinhalese armed forces. LTTE VESSEL ATTACKED Off the coast of Mullaitivu last Sunday, 14 LTTE Sea Tigers died when a Sri Lankan Kfir bomber plane bombed a Sea Tiger vessel. The attack happened between 10AM and 11AM. 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-11.08.97-22:30:15-1394