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| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
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Security |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Haukland urges release of policemen in LTTE custody by Ranga Jayasuriya Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission chief Hagrup Haukland has told the LTTE political leader S.P.Thamilselvan to release the three policemen held in LTTE custody on December 20, when they are expected to be produced before an LTTE court. "I strongly recommended to him to release the policemen when they are produced before the LTTE court on December 20," Haukland told the Sunday Observer. On Thursday, Haukland met Thamilselvan in Kilinochchi, his first after the Tiger supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran's Heroes Day speech. The SLMM chief said the continuance of the detention of the policemen was "not in the spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement." "...and the release of the policemen would be viewed as a goodwill gesture and help rebuild trust between the two parties," he said. An LTTE court in Kilinochchi rejected bail for the policemen and adjourned hearing for December 20, when their case was taken up on November 28. The three policemen, K.A.D.Sarath, B.W.Bopetigoda and W.G.D.S.Hemantha, attached to the National Child Protection Authority were arrested by the LTTE when they entered the uncleared area in Mannar to arrest an alleged British paedophile on September 10. Despite lobbying by the Church for the release of the policemen, the LTTE has refused, arguing that the policemen were a part of a deep penetration unit and sharp shooters of the security forces sent to hunt key LTTE activists. |
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