ID :
193431
Thu, 07/07/2011 - 08:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/193431
The shortlink copeid
REMAINS OF IRAQI SOLDIERS KILLED DURING GULF WAR REPATRIATED AFTER 20 YEARS
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The remains of 32 Iraqi soldiers killed
during the 1990-1991 Gulf War were repatriated Monday, after 20 years, under the
auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the
Abdaly/Safwan (Kuwait/Iraq) border crossing.
"It is essential that the families finally experience closure, even if they
have to wait 20 years," said Gerard Peytrignet, head of ICRC regional delegation
in Kuwait.
"Mothers, fathers, wives and other family members will finally be able to at
least grieve at a tomb. The terrible uncertainty will finally be over," he said
in a press release posted on the ICRC website.
The remains were exhumed from a burial site on Kuwaiti soil near Abdaly by
forensic technicians led by specialists from the Kuwait Crime Evidence
Department.
Officials representing Iraq's Ministry of Human Rights, Kuwait's National
Committee for the Missing and Prisoner of War Affairs, and the embassies of the
United States and the United Kingdom in Kuwait witnessed the exhumation, as did
delegates of the ICRC.
"This operation demonstrates the commitment of the parties concerned to do
everything in their power to determine what happened to the people still
unaccounted for, and to share the information obtained with the families,"
Peytrignet said.
The members of the Tripartite Commission, set up in 1991 under ICRC auspices
and composed of representatives of Iraq, Kuwait and the 1990-1991 Coalition (the
US, the UK, France and Saudi Arabia) have committed themselves to reinforcing
joint search and recovery activities for people who went missing in connection
with the 1990-1991 war.
According to the ICRC, the Kuwaiti and Iraqi authorities cooperated fully in
the repatriation operation.
In its role as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC placed delegates on both
sides of the border to ensure that the handover proceeded smoothly.
Under international humanitarian law, the families have a right to know what
happened to their missing relatives. The parties to the conflict must search for
persons reported missing and provide information for the families.
during the 1990-1991 Gulf War were repatriated Monday, after 20 years, under the
auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at the
Abdaly/Safwan (Kuwait/Iraq) border crossing.
"It is essential that the families finally experience closure, even if they
have to wait 20 years," said Gerard Peytrignet, head of ICRC regional delegation
in Kuwait.
"Mothers, fathers, wives and other family members will finally be able to at
least grieve at a tomb. The terrible uncertainty will finally be over," he said
in a press release posted on the ICRC website.
The remains were exhumed from a burial site on Kuwaiti soil near Abdaly by
forensic technicians led by specialists from the Kuwait Crime Evidence
Department.
Officials representing Iraq's Ministry of Human Rights, Kuwait's National
Committee for the Missing and Prisoner of War Affairs, and the embassies of the
United States and the United Kingdom in Kuwait witnessed the exhumation, as did
delegates of the ICRC.
"This operation demonstrates the commitment of the parties concerned to do
everything in their power to determine what happened to the people still
unaccounted for, and to share the information obtained with the families,"
Peytrignet said.
The members of the Tripartite Commission, set up in 1991 under ICRC auspices
and composed of representatives of Iraq, Kuwait and the 1990-1991 Coalition (the
US, the UK, France and Saudi Arabia) have committed themselves to reinforcing
joint search and recovery activities for people who went missing in connection
with the 1990-1991 war.
According to the ICRC, the Kuwaiti and Iraqi authorities cooperated fully in
the repatriation operation.
In its role as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC placed delegates on both
sides of the border to ensure that the handover proceeded smoothly.
Under international humanitarian law, the families have a right to know what
happened to their missing relatives. The parties to the conflict must search for
persons reported missing and provide information for the families.
