NEED INT’L PROBE ON HUMAN REMAINS IN MANNAR: TNPF
The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) in its report says that an International Investigation is needed regarding the human remains found during the excavations in Mannar.
The report states: “During the excavations conducted at Thiruketheeswaram, Mannar, human remains were found with holes in its skulls. Out of these, 4 skulls belong to children. It has been stated that the teeth found in the excavated human remains seem to be that of 6-year-old children. News has been released to the effect that this particular excavation spot was an Army High Security Zone since 1990 and was commanding HQ of an Army Division.”
we suspect that skulls and the skeletons were that of the Tamil people who were arrested by the Army
“Therefore we suspect that skulls and the skeletons were that of the Tamil people who were arrested by the Army and later said to be missing. This makes it clear that it was a racial murder to exterminate a race totally, since it includes children who cannot carry arms and therefore cannot be called combatants. It has been suspected that recovered human skeletons are about 15 years old.”
“Therefore impartial International investigations should not be restricted to the war-crimes committed during the last three years of the war, but cover the period since the day the British left us up to the present day.”
The report further states: “The investigations undertaken by the Sri Lankan government regarding the excavations will not bring out the truth and punish the culprits. During the past, the Chemmani excavations were conducted before a j udge, but even then the affected ones did not get any relief and the culprits have neither been traced nor punished. The Tamil National People’s Front requests that an International impartial inquiry be made regarding these racial murders evidenced by the humain remains recovered during the excavations in Mannar”.
At Manthai Junction, within the Mannar , Thiruheteeswaram G. S. Division, labourers trying to fix a pipe were digging a spot about 75 metres away from the Manthai Junction – Thiruketheeswaram road, when they came across these skeletal remains on December 20, 2013.
On six occasions, excavations were carried out in front of the Mannar Magistrate and Anandy Kanagaratnam, Legal Expert from Anuradhapura, D. L. Wiadyaratne. During that time, 32 skulls, and skeletons were excavated. It is noteworthy that another excavation is due on January 16.