Italian envoy, nine others injured in LTTE attack on helicopter

Manjula Fernando and Rafik Jalaldeen

BATTICALOA: The LTTE targeted an aircraft carrying six top foreign diplomats, international humanitarian organisations' country coordinators and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe in Batticaloa around 8.15 a.m. yesterday.

The aircraft came under LTTE artillery attack soon after landing at Weber Stadium near the STF base in Batticaloa.

The diplomats were being airlifted to attend a field visit in Vakarai and discuss humanitarian assistance to Vakarai IDPs, chaired by Minister Samarasinghe in Batticaloa.

Italian Ambassador Pio Miriani was slightly injured in the incident but later joined the other members after treatment to continue with the pre-planned discussion on improving the humanitarian situation in the East.

"The Italian Ambassador received injuries to his head and the US ambassador to the back by the flying shrapnel," a Disaster Management Ministry official who accompanied the diplomats in the helicopter told the Daily News.

"It was a narrow escape. It could have been a major disaster," he added. He said the delegates subsequently held their meeting at the Batticaloa Police station before taking off for Colombo around 2.30 p.m. Over 10 people including four policemen, three STF men, two diplomats, one airman, a student and the cameraman of the Disaster Management Ministry media team were injured in the attack.

They were rushed to Batticaloa hospital, where the Italian envoy was given a saline drip after his wounds were dressed.

The delegation comprised US Ambassador Robert Blake, EU Ambassador Julian Wilson, German Ambassador Juregun Weerth, Italian Ambassador Miriani, Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Araki and the newly appointed French Ambassador Michel Lummah. Resident Coordinators of the World Food Programme, UNICEF and FAO were also in the delegation.

An Air Force helicopter MI-17 was deployed to take the foreign envoys to the East. A private passenger carrier of "Daya Aviation Company" which was parked at the Airbase was also slightly damaged.

"The LTTE attacked with artillery from Vaunathivu targeting the aircraft when it was landing at Weber Stadium. Two diplomats sustained minor injuries and both aircraft were slightly damaged," military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

Brigadier Samarasinghe said despite the artillery attack pilots managed to fly both the choppers, a back-up and the MI-17 to a safer place.

"The MI-17 was landing at the Weber stadium near the STF base in Batticaloa when they came under LTTE fire," he added.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the delegation was caught up in the attack and corroborated that the Italian Ambassador was injured in the attack. He was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital upon his return for a neuro-scan.

The reports from Batticaloa earlier said the US ambassador was also injured in the attack but later the Foreign Ministry and the US Embassy corrected saying Blake was safe.

A release from the US embassy quoting Spokesperson Terry White stated: "The US Embassy confirms that Ambassador Robert Blake is in Batticaloa along with some other foreign envoys and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe on a pre-planned visit.

The Embassy also confirms that Ambassador Blake is alright."

The LTTE later admitted carrying out the attack, claiming they were unaware of the presence of diplomats. More >>