Date:15/07/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/07/15/stories/2002071508721100.htm

International

LTTE uses monitors as shields

Colombo July 14. In a major blow to the truce monitors' trust in the LTTE, Tamil Tigers forcibly held two members of the Scandinavian mission on a fishing trawler off the northern Jaffna peninsula to prevent the navy from taking the vessel into custody.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission here today said in a statement, after two of its members suffered an overnight ordeal, that they were held against their will by LTTE cadre and physically hindered from leaving the trawler. They were released after the rebel boats had the safety of the shore. — PTI