TRO joins the humanitarian community in the condemnation of the massacre of the 17 Action Contre La Faim staff members in Muthur. This crime must investigated immediately by an impartial party.

This horrific crime has taken the lives of 17 persons who were engaged in bringing relief and humanitarian assistance to those who were suffering as a result of the 2004 tsunami and the ongoing conflict. These 17 persons dedicated their lives to helping others and their lives were taken by the deliberate act of some criminals. This act can not go unpunished.

Since the abduction, and disappearance, of the 7 TRO employees in January 2006 there has been an air of impunity. The investigations produced no results or reports and the criminal acts against humanitarian workers continued. This incident is the end product of this lack of investigation and accountability by the authorities.

It's unfortunate that the myriad of initiatives and appeals undertaken by the TRO (appeals to the International Community, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, President of Sri Lanka, press conferences, etc) to release the abducted TRO humanitarian workers went unheard and remain unsolved, thus reinforcing the deep-rooted culture of impunity that exists in Sri Lanka. The repeated plea of the TRO to provide safety and security for all humanitarian workers in the NE from the GOSL and the International Community was ignored and never given due attention.

This is yet another incident which sadly reflects the indifference and lack of empathy afforded to people working under volatile political conditions. TRO urges that access be granted to recover the bodies and that those affected by the recent fighting be given the relief that they require.

Source: Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation - [TRO] Press Release
Date: 08 August 2006