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Commission resumes tsunami investigation

TT/The Local
TT/The Local - [email protected]
Commission resumes tsunami investigation

Leading figures from Sweden's seven main parties met on Wednesday to discuss new revelations surrounding the previous government's handling of the 2004 tsunami disaster.

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A decision was made to reestablish the Catastrophe Commission set up to examine the governments actions, and lack thereof, after news of the south Asian tsunami reached Sweden.

Commission chairman Johan Hirschfeldt requested a renewed investigation after security copies of government e-mail traffic from the crucial days following the disaster were found in the cellar of government offices.

"We came to the conclusion that all seven parties support reinstating the commission," said Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

The commission is expected to report its findings at the end of April.

Göran Persson's right-hand man Lars Danielsson was at the centre of an investigation carried out by the Swedish parliament's Constitutional Committee and the Catastrophe Commission. His claims to have been in e-mail and telephone contact with relevant bodies at an early stage were called into question by both investigative organs.

Hirschfeldt's call to reopen the investigation has fuelled speculation that the tapes recovered in October of last year may contradict Danielsson's version of events.

"It's time to get to get to the bottom of this for once and for all. If anybody has done something wrong they need to face the consequences," said former justice minister Thomas Bodström.

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