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Pesalai church attack: Charges this week? The Attorney General's Department is expected to make known this week if indictments should be served on suspects involved in an attack on civilians in Pesalai. President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a high-level military committee with representatives from the Army, Navy and Air Force to probe the incident amid local and international outcry against the attack on civilians who had sought refuge in the Our Lady of Victories Church at Pesalai. The wrongdoers had been identified, Minister Keheliya Rabukwella, the Government's chief defence spokesman said, declining to disclose the identity of the perpetrators. At least six Tamil people were killed in bomb explosions and shootings on June 17, in Pesalai, Mannar, hours after a fierce sea-battle between the Sri Lanka Navy and the LTTE, off the same coast. A 75-year-old woman was killed when attackers lobbed grenades inside the church, and opened fire indiscriminately injuring at least 47 others. Subsequently, five fishermen were shot dead through their mouth, while another was burnt and his body flung into a boat on the nearby shore. Eye-witnesses have identified Navy personnel as responsible for the attack, a charge they deny and have blamed the LTTE for the violence. "The AG's department is expected to give us its advice this week, and if there is a need to indict," Mr. Rambukwella said. He said details of the investigation will also be released this week. The AG's department was in the process of going through the case to ascertain if there was sufficient evidence to initiate prosecution and maintain a trial, a senior department official said. |
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