Govt protests over LTTE 'arrest' of policemen
 

BY Uditha Kumarasinghe and Manjula Fernando

CABINET Spokesman Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva registering the Government's strong objection to the LTTE's detention of three policemen, said the policemen had entered the LTTE areas with bona fide intent to arrest a suspect wanted in connection with a child abuse case.

The Government has already conveyed its strong objection to the Norwegian facilitators and the SLMM on this incident while urging them to exert strong pressure on the LTTE to immediately release the Policemen, the Minister told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday.

In order to speed up the release of these policemen, the Government will bring this incident to the notice of the international community seeking their assistance, he said.

De Silva said the Government vehemently objected to the LTTE's conduct in this regard.

"The policemen were only engaged in their official duty of arresting a suspect in connection with a child abuse case".

"Therefore the LTTE has no justifiable reason whatsoever to keep these Policemen in their custody," he said.

Meanwhile, a SLMM representative who toured Kilinochchi to look into the welfare of the Policemen have confirmed that the Policemen in LTTE custody were safe and in good health.