LTTE PRESS RELEASE 10.09.1997 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. 10.September1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM SEA TIGERS DESTROY 3 NAVY BOATS AND A CARGO SHIP LTTE forces destroyed three navy vessels in a pre-dawn attack yesterday which also sunk a Sri Lankan government-hired cargo ship. The 40,000 ton cargo ship was being used by the Sri Lankan government to plunder valuable Silica and Ilmenite sand from Tamil territory. The ship -- owned by a Chinese organisation and registered in Panama -- was sunk by LTTE Sea Tiger units and commandos of the Leopard Brigade (Chiruththai). The incident took place at Pulmoddai in northeastern Tamil territory, where the ship was loading the above-mentioned minerals. The government regularly plunders these resources from Tamil areas and uses the revenue to buy weapons to further repress the Tamil people in those very areas using its Sinhalese forces. The ship was heavily guarded by special commandos of Sri Lanka's army and navy around the ship (in the sea) as well as on board. The LTTE attack resulted in the death of at least 5 army commandos and 10 navy commandos. The bodies of four were recovered by the LTTE. Three navy vessels were sunk by LTTE fire and another navy vessel was captured intact. Sri Lankan Dvora gunboats which came to the rescue of the armed forces were efficiently put to flight by LTTE forces. The LTTE did not incur any casualties during this mission. Arms and ammunition were captured. The LTTE has already cautioned that any vessels in Tamil territorial waters - foreign-owned or otherwise - engaged in activities associated with the Sri Lankan military will be considered legitimate military targets. MANAL ARU MINI ARMY CAMP DESTROYED LTTE forces on Monday wiped out a mini army camp in army-occupied Kalyanapuram (Manal Aru). The early morning raid was a resounding success, with the entire camp being destroyed along with one Sri Lankan Buffel armoured car. 10 LTTE fighters lost their lives. Arms and ammunition were captured. JAYA SIKURUI TROOPS VENT FRUSTRATION ON CIVILIANS - 2 GIRLS WOUNDED Stalled and demoralised Jaya Sikurui troops have been venting their frustration by a series of cowardly mortar and artillery barrages directed at Tamil settlements in Mankulam, Oddusuddan and Kanakarayankulam. Two young Tamil women in Mankulam - Vigneswaran Gnaeswary (19) and her cousin Tharsini Kumaraswamy (17) - have been critically injured in the attacks. Both were displaced people originally from Tellipallai in occupied Jaffna. Troops launched the heavy raids from positions at Nedunkerni and near Puliyankulam. The raids lasted for over 24 hours. The inhabitants of Kanakarayankulam, Mankulam and Oddusuddan were forced out of their habitats as a result of these barrages. MALLAVI HOSPITAL WITHOUT FACILITIES The Mallavi hospital is without medical supplies due to the government's medical blockade on Tamil areas not under military occupation. The hospital is unable to meet the needs of the population, who are at the receiving end of military attacks and blockades. In addition, a large number of displaced people are entering the area hoping to escape the Sri Lankan military's ground and aerial bombardments. 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-09.12.97-01:32:55-26943