TamilNet: LTTE Report 10/27/97 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: news@tamilnet.com Mon Oct 27 08:49:01 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. 27 October 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM VAVUNIYA ARMY ATROCITIES CONTINUE In the past ten months, 31 bodies of Tamils slain by the Sinhalese military have been discovered on the roadsides of Vavuniya. The killings usually take place at night, and though the perpetrators are typically referred to in the government media as "unknown persons", locals are well aware that the murderers belong to the Sinhalese military and their hired Tamil mercenaries belonging to the so- called "ex-militant" groups such as PLOTE, TELO and EPDP. The body of the latest Tamil victim was found in Maha Rampaikulam last week. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP'S OFFICE BASED IN ARMY HQ The so-called Human Rights Task Force (HRTF), set up by the government to convince the world it is "investigating" army abuses against Tamils, is based in none other than the military headquarters in Palali. The government's reasoning is clearly to dissuade relatives of the 750 disappeared Tamils of Jaffna from making their complaints to the HRTF. The HRTF's office is located deep within the Palali army camp, making complainants dread to enter, since the perpetrators of the disappearances are members of the Sinhalese army themselves. That a sane person is expected to give evidence against the military while standing in the very place where the military is housed, totally discredits the government's claim to be taking seriously the plight of Tamils at the hands of the military. Not surprisingly, just 12 out of 170 complainants had the guts so far to appear in front of the HRTF. Yet, the HRTF is making no plans to relocate, leading many to conclude that the HRTF is only interested in performing a conjuring trick to get the government off the hook. TEEDOR MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR OCTOBER NOW AVAILABLE TEEDOR's monthly publication, "Atharam", is now out. It contains many articles, from distinguished writers, relating to the economic upliftment of the Tamil people amid the greatest of hardships imposed by the Sinhalese government and military. Particular attention is paid by the journal to the reconstruction and development of Tamil Eelam. This October 1997 issue contains a message from Tamil Eelam's national leader, V. Prabhakaran. TAMIL EELAM'S PEOPLE RISE TO THE CALL OF DUTY New recruits continue to flock to the LTTE's fighting wing from all over the Vanni district of Tamil Eelam. New recruits say they sense the urgency of the times, with the invading Sinhalese forces at their doorsteps. Most citizens of Tamil Eelam are increasingly aware that the intention of the occupying Sinhalese forces is to deprive them of their dignity and independence. Akkarayan (in Vanni) has just taken in a particularly high number of recruits. 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-10.28.97-12:07:40-1018