LTTE PRESS RELEASE 12-14.September.1997 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit -------------------------------------------------------------------- Following Press Releases are sent for distribution through TamilNet , by the LTTE international secretariat, 211 Katherine Road, London E6 1BU, United Kingdom. -------------------------------------------------------------------- LTTE Headquarters, Tamil Eelam. 14. September 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM 17 SOLDIERS HANDED TO ICRC The bodies of 17 Sinhalese troops recovered by the LTTE from the recent battle at Puthur-Puliyankulam were yesterday handed over to the Mallavi office of the resident representative of the ICRC. The bodies had been abandoned by Sinhalese soldiers in their headlong flight from Puthur. MORE SHELL-FIRE ON CIVILIAN SETTLEMENTS In their growing military frustration, Sinhalese troops are continuing to fire haphazardly at Tamil civilian areas causing extensive damage to property and life. The Tamil areas of Puthur, Puthuvilankulam, Kanakarayankulam, Mannakulam, Kollarpuliyankulam are now pock-marked with artillery shells fired by the Sinhalese military. Mankulam town has also been badly affected. Two Sri Lankan Kfir bombers entered Kanakarayankulam and unloaded a series of bombs there. Casualty figures are awaited. GOVT. TROOPS DESTROY 227 CIVILIAN DWELLINGS IN 8 MONTHS In the eastern region of Valaichchenai alone Sri Lankan troops have destroyed vast numbers of Tamil civilian dwellings, a new report says. In just 8 months - between January and August this year - troops have destroyed 227 homes in the region. 96 of these homes are beyond repair, the report says. In addition to houses, troops have scorched 27 grocery stores after misappropriating goods. Troops have put around 55 civilians to death, permanently handicapped 112 and 'disappeared' a fair number. NEW AYUREDIC BUILDING OPENED The LTTE administration in conjunction with TRO declared open a new Ayurvedic treatment centre in Mullaitivu at 9 AM yesterday. TRO's Mr. Ravi ceremonially opened the centre. The opening ceremony is being followed by an exhibition of the uses of Ayurvedic treatment being held in the Sri Subramania Vidyalam Puthukudiyiruppu building. Mr Saravanapavan, the deputy director of education, declared the exhibition open. TEEDOR INTRODUCES NATURAL MANURE USING LOCAL RESOURCES The Sinhala government's blockade on chemical manures to the Vanni has prompted experimentation in the Vanni towards manufacturing natural manures using local materials. These attempts have been highly successful. Cultivators are now extremely satisfied that the new methods - introduced by TEEDOR - are having the desired outcome. EPIDEMICS ARE AT DANGEROUS PROPORTIONS Hospitals in occupied Jaffna are in appalling conditions, with a serious shortage of staff and medicines. No attempts have yet been made by the government to repair buildings which its forces bombed during the conquest of Jaffna. Malnutrition is rife and child deaths are commonplace in paediatric wards. Premature deliveries are also a major problem, as are illnesses connected with the respiratory tract. 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) -------------------------------------------------------------------- LTTE Headquarters, Tamil Eelam. 13. September 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM PULIYANKULAM - LTTE STOPS ARMY'S MOVEMENT Bitter fighting is continuing for the third day between the invading Sinhalese armed forces and the LTTE. The battleground has shifted to jungles northeast of Puliyankulam proper. The LTTE is using mortars to repulse the occupying forces. Sinhalese troops are retaliating with artillery and mortar shell-fire on Tamil civilian settlements located miles away from the battle-scene. TAMIL EELAM PAYS TRIBUTE TO LT. COL PAVARASAN The people of Tamil Eelam have paid homage to the LTTE's Lt. Col. Pavarasan who died last Wednesday (3rd September) on the Puliyankulam battlefield. His passing has left an indelible mark on the times, and one could say as with Victor Hugo, "He was more than a man. He was an age". All schools, commercial establishments and public offices remain closed as a show of respect. The streets have been decorated with traditional symbols of mourning and the red and yellow flag of Tamil Eelam is flying half-mast all over Vanni. There is a air of solemnity around, and his passing away is bound to inspire generations of fighters to rise up and defend the security and freedom of the Tamil nation. LTTE OPENS NEW MATERNITY WARD IN PUTHUKUDIYIRUPPU HOSPITAL The LTTE Vanni administration together with the Mullaitivu hospital authorities yesterday opened a new maternity ward with a post-natal care centre in Puthukudiyiruppu hospital. The new ward caters to a long-felt need in the area. ARMY BRINGS FOOD CULTIVATION TO A STANDSTILL While the Sinhalese armed forces have never been willing to satisfy the food requirements of the Tamil people in occupied Jaffna, they are now taking action to stop any attempts at Tamil self-sufficiency. To this end, the armed forces at Thenmaradchy are disrupting local paddy cultivation on a massive scale - the same policy that the armed forces have been pursuing in Valaichchenai (Batticaloa). Farming activity in Varani, Idaikurichi, Karampaikunchi, Navalkadu, Maseri and Vadavarani has been severely disrupted, with heavy restrictions placed on ploughing time and diesel limitations put on tractors. Permits must be obtained from the army before visiting paddy lands. The end result is that 1000 acres of paddy land is in danger of being abandoned, which will have a serious effect on food production in Jaffna. ARMY RAPES OF TAMIL GIRLS AND WOMEN ON THE INCREASE After a short lull, reported rapes by Sinhalese soldiers on Tamil women and girls have shot up dramatically. The upsurge is clearly related to the government's deliberate leniency in prosecuting offenders, due to its desperation not to lose troops. The military also may be encouraging rapes of local Tamil women to try and wear down people's morale. The government's lip-service to bringing offenders to justice is aimed merely at silencing its European donors and civil rights groups. In practice, instructions are usually sent to the department of prosecution not to attend court, which results in cases being dismissed for want of appearance. The message is unmistakable: rapist soldiers in occupied Jaffna know well they are safe. The judicial officers here are a beleaguered lot and cannot defy the military. They release rapist soldiers on flimsy grounds. The vicious circle goes on without end, with school girls and housewives at greatest risk. SANKILIYAN STATUE REMAINS DAMAGED The statue of the last Jaffna king (1519-1560) installed near his seat of power in Nallur was destroyed by the occupying Sinhalese forces during the conquest of Jaffna (1995). The statue now has its head hanging on its chest. All attempts by the public to repair the statue has been obstructed by the Sinhalese military which has only contempt for Tamil people's culture and history. The disfigured statue is now an eyesore and a source of shame for the Tamil people. 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) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LTTE Headquarters, Tamil Eelam. 12. September 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM ARMY LANDMINES CLAIM ONE LEG PER DAY IN JAFFNA The vast amount of landmines used by the Sinhala military in media-banned occupied Jaffna are causing on average the loss of one leg per day among the Tamil civilian population. The Jaffna teaching hospital is literally overflowing with landmine victims - including many children - who have lost either one or both legs. The invading army has littered the place with these landmines and have taken no steps to remove since the occupation began. As a result, innocent civilians are being ensnared with increasing frequency. Many incidents are occurring in the heart of Jaffna town, a short distance away from the office and residence of the martial law administrator (based in the Gnanam hotel). The old Jaffna railway station with its high-rise lodge for visitors is also a hotbed of landmines buried by the army, as are many agricultural areas of the Valigamam district. ARMY KILLS CHRISTIAN PRIEST Sinhalese armed forces have sliced to death a Christian priest who was gathering roofing leaves in Murippu (Kilinochchi). The parish priest - Arudpalan (42) - formerly from Karainagar (Jaffna) was attacked by soldiers wielding knives. He had been missing since the 25th of August but his mutilated body has now been discovered. Documents of his identity were found by his side. Arudpalan was a priest of the Church of South India which is conducting yeoman service to the displaced persons of Vanni, irrespective of religious affiliations. BATTICALOA UNIVERSITY LECTURER RE-ARRESTED IN COLOMBO The Sinhalese establishment's persecution of ordinary Tamils is continuing. The Colombo magistrate's court recently ordered that Vairamuthu Thivakaran, a lecturer of Batticaloa's East University, be remanded till the 17th September. He had been arrested once before in Trincomalee and released on a bail of 25,000 rupees. No reason for this second arrest has been given. The case is another example of the misuse of Emergency Regulation 17 according to which anybody can be arrested for no reason at all. 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. 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