TamilNet-LTTE Press Release 9/23/97 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. 23. September 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM THILEEPAN COMMEMORATIONS ENTER 7th DAY Sea sports took place yesterday at Nachchikuda harbour (Mulankavil) under the patronage of the Pooneryn fishermen's union, in what was the 7th day of celebrations marking the memory of Lt. Col. Thileepan. Boating and rowing competitions featured prominently, while swimming races were the main event at Vallaipadu harbour. Competitors came from various parts of Vanni. Meanwhile, a dress-cutting and sewing competition was held in the Church of South India under the patronage of the Pungudutivu Nainativu multi-purpose co-op societies. In Mulankavil, farmers took part in a ploughing competition, bringing their own bulls and ploughs to prove their skills. Prizes were also awarded to winners of weaving, spinning and broomstick-making contests. Similar events marking Lt. Col. Thileepan's death anniversary were held in Naddankandal, Mallavi, Pandiankulam, Vavunikulam and Thunukai. SCIENTIFIC AND PRODUCTS EXHIBITION IN THILEEPAN'S MEMORY Exhibitions of interest to students and the public alike are being held in two schools in connection with the Thileepan commemorations. Today and tomorrow from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM one exhibition will be held in the Puthukudiyiruppu maha vidyalam, and tomorrow another exhibition will be held in Udayarkaddu maha vidyalam hall. It will be ceremonially opened at 8:30 AM by Ms. Sarvatha, head of the LTTE's political division in the Visvamadu area. SELFLESS GIVING IN THILEEPAN'S MEMORY A massive Shramadana (or selfless giving) campaign was launched by the Mannar north and east rehabilitation and development society in memory of Lt. Col. Thileepan. Members of the education service, teachers, students and employees took part in massive clean-up projects in the education service centre and the typing school premises. Parents of students also participated voluntarily in this campaign. A similar offer of free labour for public causes took place in Thatchana Maruthamaddu on the same day. LTTE COUNTER-ATTACK AT PUTHUR PULIYANKULAM LTTE forces thwarted a Sri Lankan army ambush attempt on Sunday at Puthur Puliyankulam, killing two members of Sri Lanka's special forces. The LTTE counter-attack took place at 11:30 AM. One LTTE fighter was killed in the incident, in which arms and ammunition was captured by the LTTE. BODY FISHED OUT OF A DRINKING WELL A Tamil man arrested by the Sinhalese armed forces on the 5th September has been found dead in a drinking well close to the Siththandy army camp (Batticaloa). His wife had regularly gone to the army camp to plead for his release, and had been told he would be released shortly. Residents who discovered the body said they were alerted by the dreadful smell that was coming from the well. When the man's body was fished out it was found to be headless, but his wife was able to identify it as him. The area's former army commander Gerry de Silva had once remarked that the army collects heads for the purpose of identification. 30,000 PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS IN JAFFNA Since 1990, Valigamam north from Telippalai to Kankesanthurai has been made out of bounds to the indigenous Tamil people by the Sinhala army. Likewise, Palali, Maviddapuram, Keerimalai, Myliddy and Mallakam are not open to their former inhabitants. Similarly in Jaffna town the coastal belt from Columbuthurai to Navanthurai - inclusive of Passaiyoor and Gurunagar - are occupied only by Sinhalese soldiers. This has left more than 30,000 displaced Tamil people homeless, putting up wherever they can. JAFFNA VILLAGE HEADS TOLD NOT TO MOVE FROM WHERE THEY WORK The lowest rung of the administrative service - the grama sevakas, or village headmen - have been warned by the Sinhalese occupation forces in Jaffna not to travel to a separate workplace. The military says these grama sevakas have to live and work under the same roof, since travel to and from work will no longer be permitted. Jaffna's so-called civil administration is entirely under the overall command of the occupying Sinhalese military. All civil officers have to attend weekly conferences held by the Jaffna town army commander and the peninsula's martial law administrator. 100 WOMEN A DAY COME FOR TREATMENT IN VERAVIL MATERNITY HOME In Veravil's small, outdated hospital more than 100 pregnant Tamil women a day come for treatment, but with accommodation limited many patients cannot be kept there. Even the very sick are compelled to go home. 3,377 patients were treated in August alone. Most who arrive are suffering from malaria, respiratory complications, stomach complaints and diseases connected with malnutrition. For many years the Sri Lankan government has blocked medicines from entering Vanni, to make it difficult for hospitals to function in Tamil areas. 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-09.24.97-15:53:18-9162