Wednesday, September 9, 2009

ACF Massacre

Sri Lanka government commission investigating the massacre of 17 NGO workers (Muttur massacre) has, without sufficient basis, ruled out the involvement of the Sri Lankan armed forces.

It unfairly and dangerously denounced local human rights organizations participating in the commission.

And government authorities improperly pressured the families of the murdered aid workers to demand that France obtain for them greater compensation from Action Contre La Faim (ACF).

The Sri Lankan government's gross mishandling of the investigation into the execution-style slaying of 17 aid workers in the northeastern town of Mutur three years ago demonstrates the need for an international commission of inquiry.

Government actions in the case - for which no one has been convicted - raised further concerns about an already deeply troubling investigation, Human Rights Watch said.

"For three years since the ACF massacre, the Rajapaksa government has put on an elaborate song and dance to bedazzle the international community into believing justice is being done," said James Ross, legal and policy director at Human Rights Watch.

Instead, the government used the atrocity to threaten local rights groups, intimidate the victims' families, and score political points against the French government."

3 comments:

  1. A light note about Sri Lankan Government greed related to massacre of 17 NGO workers, also known as the Muttur massacre, which took place in Trincomalee.

    17employees of the French NGO Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim, or ACF) were shot at close range by Sri Lankan soldiers. As you can guess it, the massacre was immediately blamed on LTTE. However the bullet, which riddled the dead NGO bodies were issued to Sri Lankan Military. Also, there was an eye witness to Muttur massacre

    Recently, Sri Lanka’s “human rights “panel has cleared the army of killing. As you see there is no justice for the slaughtered. To further aggravate the pain and suffering of the bereaved, Sri Lankan government has given them letters to sign seeking more money from Action Against Hunger.

    The authorities deny the letters exist, but the BBC has seen copies of them.

    The relatives of murdered aid workers say they do not want to press for more compensation and sign the government’s letters. “Money will not help us - we cannot get our relatives back anyway “ one family member of the victims said.

    The letters were handed to the victims’ families on 19 July at a government administration office in the eastern town of Trincomalee. They were due to be signed and handed back by Saturday 25 July.

    One letter was addressed to the French ambassador in Sri Lanka: “We the heirs of the deceased are aware of the interest France and the French government has taken in human rights aspects especially in the… commission of inquiry into the killing in Muttur of 17 aid workers.. Therefore we trust that the French government will take necessary steps to oversee the payment of due compensation to the kinsmen/ women of the deceased. “

    A second to the country’s attorney general: “We agree with the findings of the commission that the deaths were caused by the LTTE and the compensation as determined must be paid by ACF,” it said.

    A third letter seen COMMENDED Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa for investigating the killings!!!!!!! “We are extremely grateful to Your Excellency for appointing a commission of inquiry and ensuring that justice prevailed,” the letter said.

    Rajiva Wijesinghe, secretary to the ministry of human rights and disaster management, denied any knowledge of such letters being issued to BBC Sinhala. He added that the compensation paid by ACF “for their own wrongdoing” was inadequate and that ACF had done a “very bad thing.”

    As you see here , the Sri Lanka government greed is rather obvious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. VaNakkam naNbarkaLE! This night I ahs some time to print few words and this is not to evade my commitment to you in regard to why the Tamils in Tamil Naadu must not or can not ask for sovereign status to them instead of egging their kinsmen in Thamizh Eezham which the Sinhalese has south to destroy in letter and spirit, that is by name in physical form and the humans who support and fight for the said cause of sovereign Thamizh Eezham. I owe my explanation in some details to thiru. you. I began drafting and stopped. In the 24 hrs I could not resume. My social and professional commitment r varied and I would surely present my mind on the two issues raised by thiru. you. BUT I NEEED MORE TIME TO PRESENT MY METHODICAL AND ANALYTICAL REPLY TO thirus. you. I have just finished my supper this night and during my short relaxing before the TV, a channel I just clicked by random showed the cine musical genius thiru. ILAYARAAJA rendering in his own voice a melody which goes by words pcitorial depiction of his song that accompanied on Tv monitor included temple scenes showing his offering worship to Brahnmin priest performing in Sanskrit to which I am opposed and i have done so much in the last 30 years to promote Tamila’s language for worship in temples in TN. But when compared to thiru. ILAYRAAJA’s sweep and reach I am no where. From an untouchable in a dingy village in caste conscious southern district of Tn the musical genius has risen in wealth and fame all due to the political and economic milieu of INDIA in which TN is a part. Whereas even thiru A.R.Rahman (by desisting felicitations due to misery being undergone by the Eezhamite Tamil) and the agri scientist Dr.Swaminathan (by declining to accept Indian government’s request to reach Tamil north in the island to develop agriculture after the ravage of war) have shown their ethnic affinity. BUT ILAYARAAJA is a cruel man and he is fanatically committed to Vedic Hinduism and Indian nationalism.
    According to me, even with one Lakh committed Tamil development workers TAMIL will never be developed and will continue to languish and ultimately wither away fro want of patronage from the people enslaved in Indian polity any economy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aid workers
    Sri Lanka's Dirty War - Sri Lanka
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poYN8ikai60
    Sri Lanka deaths probe demanded
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8183869.stm
    Third Anniversary Action Contre La Faim Murders Marked by Government Inaction
    http://www.examiner.com/x-16503-LA-County-Foreign-Policy-Examiner~y2009m8d3-Third-Anniversary-Action-Contre-La-Faim-Murders-Marked-by-Government-Inaction
    Massacre aid group quits S.Lanka,wants inquiry,
    http://in.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idINL1637767720080617?sp=true
    ACF: Moothoor massacre, a war crime,
    http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25337
    www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=2426
    http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29802
    ACF quits, says no confidence in SL's investigations into massacre
    http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=26051

    ReplyDelete