POWs to resume hunger-strike

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 March 2000, 15:42 GMT]
Twenty prisoners of war (POWs), including 11 government troops held by the Liberation Tigers in the Vanni have decided to go on a hunger strike, demanding the government to take steps to secure their release.

The POWs have informed the Association of Relatives of Missing Servicemen, through the International Committee of the Red Cross, sources said.

Fifteen soldiers, including two Sri Lanka Navy personnel began a hunger strike on 10th February.

They called off their protest temporarily, on 25th February, giving two weeks time to secure their release.

Four of them were released by the Liberation Tigers on 28th February.

The Tigers said the four POWs were being released on humanitarian grounds, without any conditions, and handed them to their relatives through the ICRC.

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