CID interviews relatives of missing persons

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 April 1999, 15:42 GMT]
Fifteen Police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrived in Jaffna today to interview parents and relatives of missing persons suspected to be buried in the alleged mass graves in Chemmani.

The CID officers will record statements from tomorrow for ten days. Statements will be recorded between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. said Police sources in Jaffna.

The statements of the persons who think that their children or relatives are buried in the alleged mass graves at Chemmani will help the CID identify items that may emerge during the excavation of the site in June said the sources.

The existence of the mass grave was first alleged by a Sri Lankan Army Soldier in July 1998 while on trial for the abduction, rape and murder of Jaffna civilians.

The soldier said that the bodies of civilians who disappeared after the Sri Lankan security forces moved into the peninsula are buried in Chemmani.