Defence Ministry blocks ICRC attempts to transfer LTTE bodies

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 June 2007, 19:48 GMT]
The efforts of Jaffna International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to hand over the bodies of the two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) combatants recovered at Katkoava'lam area in Point Pedro Friday and another four bodies recovered Thursday following the recent sea battle at Kaangkeasanthu'rai, to the LTTE, failed due to Sri Lanka Defence Ministry refusal to accommodate ICRC's proposal. The two bodies, recovered at Katkoava'lam and kept at Manthikai hospital unidentified, were interred Tuesday, on Point Pedro magistrate's orders, on State expense.

ICRC had proposed to take the bodies on boats flying Red Cross flags, across the Jaffna lagoon to LTTE positions as was the procedure adopted during the Cease Fire Agreement period.

The remaining four bodies recovered in Kaangkeasanthu'rai area continue to remain unidentified in the Jaffna Teaching hospital mortuary as the Defence Ministry high command in Jaffna is yet to respond to ICRC proposal to hand over the bodies to LTTE, hospital sources said.