Action Alert ArchiveMassacre of NGO workers incites fear in SL tsunami relief areasAugust 10, 2006 The humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka has become horrific. On August 5, fifteen workers for the NGO Action Contre La Faim (ACF) were shot and killed at point blank range, and two others were shot dead while attempting to escape in a car. This is the worst toll of aid workers in a single incident since the deaths of twenty four from the bombing of the UN's Baghdad office in 2003. The fifteen workers killed in the office of ACF, which does tsunami relief work, were all Tamil. After identifying the bodies, relatives of the victims blamed the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) for the executions. "We believe it was the army," said Richard Arulrajah, whose son was among the dead. This claim comes after some members of the Sri Lankan government accused aid groups of being pro-Tamil and other aid workers were attacked by Sinhalese mobs a few days earlier. The SLA responded to the claim by accusing the LTTE, but diplomats are skeptical. One diplomat explained, "All of our initial information suggests the government was involved." Unfortunately, injustice did not end with the killings: Tamil reporters were not allowed to approach the bodies. Testimonies suggested that security forces had photographed the journalists and threatened to kill them if the massacre was publicized. International outcry, in response to the killings, has been strong. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy called the executions "appalling and cowardly murders", while the ICRC delegation in Trincomalee "appalled at what happened to the ACF staff." European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner proclaimed, "We are deeply shocked by the spate of violent attacks on civilians and humanitarian aid personnel in Sri Lanka," and demanded an immediate investigation. This was echoed by the Consortium of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Trincomalee district, which bade the SL government to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers. Sri Lanka is a country that has been plagued with a 20-year civil war, a devastating tsunami, and economic sanctions on the Northeast. This has led, undoubtedly, to a horrifying humanitarian situation that affects women and children disproportionately. What the country needs least in these times of suffering is an environment where aid workers fear for their safety. NGOs have been traditionally viewed as neutral parties, but recent events are changing that status. If the SL government seeks to fulfill its obligation of protecting civilians, it must not allow a situation where agencies committed to helping those civilians hesitate to work. In light of the deplorable humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and the importance of aid workers who can alleviate the suffering, we urge you to push the Sri Lankan government to have an independent investigation into the ACF killings and ensure the future safety of other workers. |
|
Jun 20, 2008 - Aftenposten
Peace brokers from around the world will once again gather for the annual Oslo Forum next week, to swap experience in conflict mediation. Participants include Mohammad Khatami, former president of Iran; Jonathan Powell, former chief of staff for ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Gareth Evans, president of the International Crisis Group. Read this article
As Sri Lanka's civil war escalates, so do attacks on its journalists
Jun 19, 2008 - AP
With civil war raging in Sri Lanka, the journalists trying to cover the conflict find themselves increasingly under siege. They have been hounded by the government, attacked by unknown assailants and accused of aiding the rebels. Many reporters have been arrested or fled the country, while others have resorted to self-censorship, journalists said.Read this article
Review of Sri Lanka under the Universal Periodic Review
Jun 14, 2008 - Amnesty International
Themes raised by member states participating in the review of Sri Lanka under the UPR dialogue included concerns related to the lack of protection of civilians caught in the internal conflict; enforced disappearances, unlawful/extrajudicial killings; torture and other forms of ill treatment, threats to freedom of expression, the need to strengthen national human rights institutions, attacks on dissent and ongoing impunity for human rights violations.
Read this article
Press freedom in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate
Jun 13, 2008 - CPJ
The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by government’s policies toward journalists who write critically about the conflict between Sri Lanka’s military forces and Tamil secessionists. We have seen an increase in harassment, intimidation, and detention of reporters, many of whom are columnists in senior positions with well-established careers.
Read this article
S.Lanka says peace brokers can't visit rebel area
Jun 12, 2008 - Reuters
Sri Lanka has refused requests by Norwegian peace mediators to visit rebel territory, and said fresh peace talks hinged on Tamil Tiger guarantees to lay down arms and stick to a negotiation timetable. Nordic ceasefire monitors quit the country this year after the six-year Norway brokered truce disintegrated.
Read this article