4 PoWs released

By V.S.Sambandan

COLOMBO, FEB. 28. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) today released four Sri Lankan security force personnel who were under their custody since 1993.

The Tigers set four of their 15 captives free after granting permission to 28 relatives of the prisoners to visit them last week. Today's released personnel were handed over at the LTTE's political office at Mallavi. Those released include three soldiers who were arrested by the LTTE at Pooneryn in 1993 and a sailor who was arrested off Mannar in 1994.

The 15 POWs had commenced a hunger strike on February 10 demanding that the Government start a process to secure their release. The strike has since been withdrawn.

The hunger strike, the visit of the relatives and today's release comes in the backdrop of fresh initiatives at forging a solution to the decades-long separatist conflict. At the national level, the efforts are to arrive at a southern consensus on the Government's proposals to devolve greater powers to the regions through a new constitution, while at the international level, Norway would play the role of a facilitator to initiate direct talks between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government.

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Section  : International
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