Sri Lanka: ICRC hands over bodies to armed forces
12-10-2006 News Release
Following clashes between the Sri Lankan Security Forces (SLSF) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the forward defence line on the Jaffna peninsula, the ICRC sub-delegation in Kilinochchi was asked by the LTTE this morning to hand over 74 bodies to the SLSF.
The ICRC sub-delegation in Vavuniya immediately contacted the SLSF to inform them of the LTTE request, expressing the ICRC's willingness to offer its humanitarian services for this handover. With the SLSF's consent, the ICRC used four trucks and one landcruiser for the operation.
The handover took place today at 8.00 p.m. local time at Omanthai checkpoint on the A9 road.
This afternoon, the ICRC also visited one wounded member of the SLSF at Kilinochchi hospital, where he is being held by the LTTE.
For further information, please contact:
Davide Vignati, ICRC Colombo, tel: +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 77 728 96 82
Annick Bouvier, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 24 58 or +41 79 217 32 24