Lanka urged to seek international help in investigating killings

New York, Aug 11 (UNI) The Sri Lankan government should appoint an independent commission with international participants to investigate the brutal killing of 17 aid workers in the northeast town of Mutur, Human Rights Watch has urged.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the government's decision to allow an Australian forensic expert to take part in the investigation, but urged that the expert be empowered to present findings to an independent commission.

''While government condemnation of the killing of the aid workers is welcome, the true test will be whether it brings those responsible to justice,'' Brad Adams, Asia director at the New York-based rights group, said yesterday.

''There have been far too many cases where the government said it would bring perpetrators to justice and then the process stalled. This time it must be different.'' The aid workers were Sri Lankan staff of the French humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger, or ACF, which has been providing post-tsunami relief and reconstruction assistance.

The bodies of 15 of the aid workers, including four women, were discovered on August 5. Most were reportedly found with gunshot wounds to the head, suggesting execution-style murders. All victims were found wearing ACF T-shirts. The bodies of two additional workers were reportedly found in a car nearby. Sixteen of those killed were ethnic Tamil, one was a Muslim.

The killings occurred during a lull in the fighting between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the armed opposition Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the northeastern district of Trincomalee.

According to local sources, about two dozen LTTE fighters who were seen moving about Mutur left around noon on August 4. Sri Lankan army forces entered the town that evening. Local residents reportedly saw the ACF workers alive before they were killed.

Under international humanitarian law applicable in the current hostilities in the country the summary execution of any person is a war crime. Humanitarian relief workers and their facilities are entitled to special protections against attack.

''The horrific killing of the aid workers will inflict harm far beyond the town of Mutur,'' Mr Adams said. ''With more people at risk each day, this attack on the humanitarian community will make survival more difficult for an untold number of people.'' Human Rights Watch called for an independent investigation into the killings of the ACF relief workers that includes impartial international participants of high standing. A successful prosecution of the ACF killings will also require meaningful and proactive witness protection measures, Human Rights Watch said. The government must take necessary steps both to protect people and their families who have agreed to testify, and to create an environment where other witnesses will be willing to come forward.

''International participation is crucial for the investigation to be considered credible,'' Mr Adams said. ''If the Sri Lankan government is serious, it will establish an independent commission to make sure such atrocities don't happen again.'' UNI XC PR ht1942