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Call to probe LTTE's cremation claim

by Manjula Fernando

Parents of missing servicemen have called on the Government to inquire into a claim by the LTTE that it was forced to carry out mass cremations of soldiers' bodies who perished in action due to the refusal of the then Government to accept the bodies.

LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham, in a revelation which stunned the nation, claimed that the former Government's refusal to accept bodies of fallen combatants left his movement with no alternative but to burn the remains.

"During many battles hundreds of soldiers died. When we tried to return the bodies to the Army through the ICRC they refused to accept them lest this creates problems in the South and the soldiers were listed as missing," Balasingham said in Thailand during the fourth round of peace talks.

However, Chairperson of the Association of Parents of Servicemen Missing in Action Vishaka Dharmadasa contacted by the Daily News while agreeing partly with Balasingham refused to accept that there were no captives with the LTTE.

"We are well aware of instances where the then government refused to accept the bodies of soldiers.

"It is a fact and we are very sorry about this revolting conduct of the previous authorities. We leave it to the people to decide and draw their own conclusions whether our heroic soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland should be treated in this manner. We however still feel that there are soldiers held captive by the LTTE," she said.

Dharmadasa said: "We want to put things right.We want the LTTE to identify the exact locations they claim to have disposed of these dead soldiers. We request the Government to carry out DNA tests to confirm the LTTE's claim and also put all our minds at rest".

The Chairperson also thanked the Government and the LTTE for establishing a mechanism to look into the issue of missing soldiers with ICRC help. Balasingham said Southerners have been made to believe that thousands of soldiers were being held captive by the LTTE.

"I am sorry to say these soldiers are not missing in action, but unfortunately they died on the battlefield," he said.

The LTTE theoritician stated it estimates it killed around 25,000 soldiers in the last 15 years.Tigers lost some 17,500 cadres during this period.

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