TamilNet LTTE Press release 9/24/97 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. 24.September1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM THILEEPAN DAY SHRAMADANA OBSERVED IN VANNI A day of selfless giving (Shramadana) was observed yesterday in many parts of Vanni in memory of the greatly revered LTTE Lt. Col. Thileepan. Water tanks, canals and drains in Valijanmadam Pokkanai, Mullivaikal, Pavankudiyiruppu and Kaiveli (all in Puthukudiyiruppu) were cleaned and repaired by groups of Tamil people freely offering their labour as part of the Thileepan commemorations. The Puthukudiyiruppu Social Development Society has meanwhile undertaken a programme of road repairing, shrub cleaning, disused well dredging and constructing homes for the displaced. The TRO and Refugees Development Council is also greatly assisting in these projects. ONE DAY FASTS HELD IN SEVERAL AREAS IN MEMORY OF THILEEPAN The last three days of the Thileepan commemorations are marked for symbolic fasting, a gesture of gratitude to Lt. Col. Thileepan for his sacrifice. Lt. Col. Thileepan devoted his life to the cause of Tamil freedom and his fast was a protest against IPKF forces who committed grave atrocities against the Tamil people. JAFFNA CIVILIANS TREATED WITH CONTEMPT Displaced people sheltering in the buildings of KKS-Anna Saththira junction (Jaffna) have been ordered out of the buildings by Jaffna town's military commander, in a typical demonstration of the Sinhala army's contempt for Tamil people. No alternative accommodation has been offered to the people, who are homeless. The inhabitants of Jaffna are fast realising that the assurance the Sinhalese government gave about resettlement and rehabilitation were propaganda ploys to attract the gullible to accept Sinhalese military rule. TALK OF RESTORING JAFFNA LIBRARY HAS COME TO NOTHING There has been no progress at all on the president's much-hyped "restoration of Jaffna library", but instead the government is managing quite effectively to construct Buddhist edifices all over the army occupied peninsula. The rate at which these edifices are being installed is remarkable, showing that if the government had real intentions of restoring the Jaffna library it would have made at least some progress by now. But it is evident that the government's intentions in the occupied peninsula are more sinister. While showing mock concern about the library -- using cheap propaganda tricks like asking the Sinhalese people to donate "a book and a brick" -- the government is using this as a cover to step up its programme of Sinhalese-Buddhist expansionism. The Jaffna public library was one of the finest in Asia. It was burnt to the ground by Sinhalese armed forces under the personal instructions of two Sinhalese cabinet ministers in Jawawardene's 1982 regime. JAFFNA'S RELIGIOUS PILGRIMS HARASSED BY SINHALA MILITARY The Thondamanaru Murugan Temple -- which in the past attracted saintly figures and acolytes like "German Swami" from Germany and Gowribala (son of Lord Soulbury, Ceylon's last governer) -- is now under Sinhalese military rule. Tamil pilgrims who went recently to visit this historic temple for its annual festival were all harassed and body-checked by troops. All gifts for Lord Murugan were examined and some confiscated. Some years back the Sinhalese military deliberately set fire to the huge wooden chariot used to carry the Lord around the temple's perimeter during festivals. HOUR-LONG ARTILLERY ATTACK ON CIVILIANS An hour-long artillery bombardment was fired by occupying Sinhalese troops encamped at Elephant Pass at the Tamil civilian areas of Vattakachchi, Ramanathapuram, Periakulam and Kalmadu Nagar. The shelling started 7:30 PM and lasted till 8:30 PM. Men, women and children living within firing range of these shells fled to relatively safer areas, but tension still prevails. LTTE FIGHTER RECEIVES FULL MILITARY HONOURS The mortal remains of 2nd Lt. Kalavenkai, who died last Sunday in a confrontation with invading Sinhalese forces, was given full military honours and was laid to rest in the Adkkattiveli national heroes' burial grounds yesterday. Lt. Kalavenkai's body was earlier displayed in the Kathankulam martyrs' hall and in the LTTE's political office, where members of the grieving public paid their respects. A public meeting followed which was addressed by Mr. Pathmanathan of the education department and Mr. Stanislas, head of the Martyrs' Office, who addressed the large crowd that had gathered. Accompanying music during the proceedings was played by local students. 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-09.24.97-18:08:25-28865