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by Ranil Wijayapala

The LTTE courts postponed the hearing in the case against the soldier who is now under LTTE custody, till January 23 after producing him at the LTTE courts in Kilinochchi yesterday, SLMM Deputy Chief Hagrup Haukland told the Daily News. The LTTE took this soldier into their custody ahead of the Forward Defence Line in Welioya two weeks ago and wanted legal representation at the LTTE court in Kilinochchi to get him released. The intervention of the SLMM to get this soldier released from the LTTE was reported futile as the LTTE insisted that the dispute should be settled at the LTTE courts in Kilinochchi.

The SLMM explained this act as a retaliatory one against the arrest of LTTE cadres by the Police. "The soldier will be kept under LTTE detention till January 23 at Kilinochchi LTTE Police", Haukland added.

The ICRC facilitated the exchange of letters between the two parties and the family members of the soldier to visit him in Kilinochchi.

Military Spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said the Sri Lanka Army has already informed the SLMM and the ICRC regarding the incident, but cannot make legal representation at court which had not been accepted by the Sri Lankan Constitution. Meanwhile, the SLMM Deputy Chief also said that they are inquiring into the incident where one LTTE suspect was hijacked allegedly by the LTTE in the Mankulam area when he was being taken to the Anuradhapura courts from Jaffna by prison guards.

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