Modern laws of war,
such as the 1949 Geneva Conventions,
also include prohibitions on attacking doctors, ambulances or hospital ships displaying a Red Cross, a Red Crescent or other emblem related to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
It is also prohibited to fire
at a person or vehicle bearing a white flag,
since that indicates an intent
to surrender
or a desire to communicate.
The government’s point man in the negotiations appears to have been former foreign secretary Palitha Kohona who is now Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the United nations He was quoted by news agencies saying that in the days leading up to Sunday evening, he had received a number of messages indicating from Mr. Nadesan and Mr Pulidevan – whom he has met at various peace talks – wanting a way out.
In one interview with ‘SiberNews’ Mr. Kohona said that his response had been that
“there was only one way to surrender that is recognised by military practice”.
He said they should obtain a white flag and give themselves up.
“I kept saying this for three days,” he added.
But General Fonseka maintains that Nadesan, Ramesh and Pulidevan
had been shot dead by government troops
as they advanced towards them carrying a white flag,
as they had been instructed to do.
Fonseka said he later learnt about what exactly had taken place
as a result of journalists who had been entrenched at the time
with General Shavendra Silva’s brigade command.
These reporter’s according to Fonseka were privy to
the telephone call received
by the Army’s 58th Brigade Commander
from the Defence Secretary –
“telling him to not accommodate
any LTTE surrenders but to simply go ahead and kill them.” –
“These journalists later told me what exactly took place,” Fonseka said.
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