LTTE PRESS RELEASE 09.09.1997 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. 09. September 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM LTTE ADMINISTRATION OPENS A NEW SCHOOL A new elementary school has been opened in LTTE-administered Aiyanarpuram, Vannerikulam (Vanni) under a joint venture by the Village Development Society and the LTTE's department of education. The opening ceremony took place last week. SINHALA ARMY HIRES MURDER GANGS IN NORTH/EAST Sinhalese armed forces occupying the Tamil north/east are employing Tamil gangs to carry out murders of innocent people and to act as informants for the army. The presence of such gangs was confirmed in a letter by a Muslim government minister to the president recently in which he said a Tamil gang employed by the army was responsible for burning 47 fishing boats belonging to Muslims in Kaththankudy (Batticaloa). One of the main murder gangs operating in this district is called the Razik Group. In Vavuniya, the main terror-gang carrying out similar functions calls itself the Mohan Group. All are vicious killers who murder for money. Financially, they are closely involved with the Sinhala military, being paid to carry out murders for the army and also expected to give the military a share of their other earnings. RAZIK GROUP KILLS TWO CIVILIANS IN BATTICALOA Razik Group gang members - mercenaries for the Sinhala army - shot dead at point blank range two Tamil civilians in Kommanturai (Batticaloa). K. Tharuman and one other person were killed instantly when they tried to save their houses from being robbed by the Razik Group in late August. The Group has been carrying out a spree of household robberies in order to steal radios, TVs and camcorders in order to supply to the Sinhalese military. ARMY OCCUPIES MOST OF BATTICALOA'S PUBLIC BUILDINGS The Sri Lankan military has taken over nearly all of Batticaloa's important public buildings. The Batticaloa municipal office, the town hall, its employees quarters, the public library and the Weber memorial sports grounds are all being occupied by Sinhalese armed personnel. While the Sinhalese president talks loudly about "rebuilding the Jaffna library" the Sri Lankan military - of which she is commander - refuses to vacate even the premises of the public library in Batticaloa. SRI LANKAN LANDMINE BLASTS CIVILIAN'S LEG Kandiah Perampalam has had his leg blown off by a landmine planted by the Sri Lankan army at the perimeter of Thondamanaru Selva Sannathy temple. Mr. Perampalam was sweeping the temple grounds when the incident happened. He is currently in hospital. ALL PUSH-BIKES MUST BE REGISTERED WITH ARMY CAMP The Sinhalese military commander in Vadamaradchy (occupied Jaffna) has ordered that all vehicles in the district - including push-cycles - must register with the nearest army camp. Life for Tamil civilians in the occupied peninsula is becoming increasingly militarised. There is at least one army round-up a day here causing disarray to residents and disrupting children's school life. TRACTORS TO BE PARKED AT MILITARY CAMP OVERNIGHT The military commander for Alaveddy (occupied Jaffna) has created havoc by his new order that all tractors must be brought to the army camp every evening where they must remain parked until the next morning. This has created huge inconvenience, particularly to the region's farmers. 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-09.12.97-01:17:44-16084