TamilNet LTTE Report 10/2/97 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. 02. October 1997 LTTE PRESS RELEASE NEWS FROM TAMIL EELAM CATHOLIC PRIESTS DEMAND ENQUIRY INTO MURDER OF REVEREND In a letter to the Sinhalese president, the catholic priests of Vavuniya have demanded an impartial inquiry into the murder of Reverend Arulpalan and his two companions recently in Kilinochchi. The dead priest was a member of the Church of South India. He and his colleagues were killed by the Sinhalese army while they were visiting a model farm owned and managed by the church. Reverend Arulpalan's body bore knife-cut and gunshot injuries while the bodies of his two companions (who were father and son) were found sliced to pieces. The body parts of the father and son were so difficult to identify - owing to their injuries - that their dismembered parts were placed in a single coffin and buried as one. EYE-WITNESS DETAILS OF AMPARAI POLICE MASSACRE 46 year old Velantham Perinparasa of Amparai's 4th colony - an eye-witness to the Sinhalese police massacre of Tamils there last week - has described the events of that day. He said Amparai police in uniform and homeguards wearing black shirts stormed into the Tamil village firing their guns indiscriminately at people. When their bullets were exhausted, they began cutting up civilians with big knives, Mr. Perinparasa said. Two gangs of policemen came from opposite directions, making the chances of escape for the Tamil villagers minimal. Some of the policemen were carrying petrol in cans, which they threw upon Tamil houses and created fires. The entire inhabitants of 4th colony were forced flee to other towns. RELATIVES OF DISAPPEARED WARN OF DEATH-FAST A spokesman for the parents and relatives of the 750 Tamil civilians who are now missing after arrest by the occupying Sinhalese military in Jaffna has given an unambiguous warning to the Sinhalese government. He says that a fast unto death will be performed by the relatives if the government does not take meaningful action to trace their loved ones and punish those responsible for atrocities. The warning came as relatives staged a symbolic day-long fast at St. John's church (Jaffna town). It was the third such protest to take place in recent weeks. SINHALESE MILITARY DENIES BUS SERVICES TO JAFFNA RESIDENTS The Sinhalese military occupying Tamil-inhabited Jaffna have taken virtually all civilian buses for their own use. The ones that they have left behind for civilians are largely in a state of disrepair. Troops engaged in "cordon and search" operations against Tamils are making use of these buses. Five buses from the Kondavil central bus depot are now permanently with the occupying military. The long-distance buses plying between Jaffna town and Point Pedro have been reduced in number and frequency due to the shortage of military personnel whom the army insists on placing on board civilian buses. TRO CONTINUES DEVELOPMENT PLANS The TRO Vanni administration has opened a brick factory in Pali-Aru Manthai West at the cost of 43,380 rupees. It has also opened self-employment centres in Vanneri, Kandawalai, Puthukudiyiruppu and Udayarkaddu. Also, the TRO-managed home for the aged in Vanneri is celebrating International Day. These celebrations will last for one week beginning 1 October. MADHU REFUGEE CENTRE CELEBRATES THILEEPAN DAY Tamil people who have been turned into refugees by Sinhalese military operations took part in this year's Thileepan Day celebrations with due solemnity in Madu Refugee camp, Mannar district. The chief of the Madhu refugee centre presided over the celebrations, in which school children and local business people participated in large numbers. YOUNG TAMIL WOMAN "ARRESTED" IN VAVUNIYA Fears are growing for the safety of Yogewary, who is the latest young Tamil woman to be abducted by the Sinhalese military's so-called intelligence division. She is a married woman and was with her family during the time of "arrest". Many Tamil women face rape and torture in the custody of Sinhalese police. TAMIL CIVILIAN SHOT DEAD BY SINHALESE ARMY LAST WEEK A 45-year old resident of Pampaimadu (Vavuniya) district who went into the jungles in search of wild animals for food was shot dead by the Sinhalese army on 24 September. The deceased was the father of four children. 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-10.08.97-17:57:12-8308