Action Against Hunger demands justice for Muttur murders

Fri, 5 Oct 2012 10:27 GMT

Source: Member

Action Against Hunger is calling on the United Nations to launch an independent investigation to finally bring those responsible for the murders of 17 aid workers in Sri Lanka in 2006 to justice.

Justice for Muttur - Action Against Hunger by justiceformuttur-ACF

Six years after the humanitarian organisation’s team were executed at their offices in the town of Muttur, investigations in Sri Lanka have been hindered and obstructed, with the perpetrators still not been held to account.

On August 4 2006, armed men stormed Action Against Hunger’s offices in Muttur, forced 17 staff members on to their knees and then executed each of them with a bullet to the back of the head. This is one of the most serious crimes ever committed against humanitarian workers.

Despite three national investigations in Sri Lanka since 2006, none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. The investigations have been plagued with obstruction, interference of politics in the judiciary and a lack of transparency and independence.

After 26 years of war and 100,000 people dead, on November 1st the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva is launching a review of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

Action Against Hunger believes this might be the last chance to ensure this war crime against the aid workers is not forgotten.  Therefore, Action Against Hunger is calling for an international and independent UN investigation, to force the Sri Lankan authorities to finally account for the massacre.

We urge the public to sign our petition for an independent investigation, so the United Nations can end the impunity in Sri Lanka. Our petition will be handed over to the President of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations on 22nd of October.