Explosion claims life of de-mining worker in Mukamaalai

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 April 2013, 14:09 GMT]
A Halo Trust worker lost his life in a landmine explosion Monday morning, while he was engaged in de-mining at Mukamaalai, a former Forward Defence Line (FDL). The tragic incident, comes at a time when the occupying Colombo is bent on expelling all independent de-mining NGOs and the SL military is poised to take control of even the last-phase quality assurance being carried out by the UN agencies.

The de-mining worker who lost his life was identified as K Murugavel from Ki'linochchi.

The Halo trust is one of the world’s largest demining organisations. It began operating in the country of Eezham Tamils following the 2002 cease-fire between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Approximately, 18 km long FDL-stretch along Naakarkoayil - Ki'laali area is replete with land-mines. The de-mining activity in this area is estimated to continue for 10 years.

De-mining activity in this region has been undertaken without proper location-maps of the landmines field.

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