Sri Lanka monitors blame govt for aid massacre

Colombo, Aug 30: International ceasefire monitors today blamed the Sri Lankan military for the murder of 17 local aid workers from international group Action Contre La Faim earlier this month.

The Nordic-staffed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission ruled the execution-style killings, which took place in the northeastern town of Mutur after days of fighting, were a ceasefire breach by the government. The staff had been working on rebuilding projects after the 2004 tsunami.

''SLMM is, with the obtained findings, convinced that there cannot be any other armed groups than the Security Forces who could actually have been behind the act,'' said the statement. The government has denied the killing and promised an investigation.

SLMM also ruled that a June fragmentation mine attack on a civilian bus that killed almost 70 was a breach of the ceasefire by Tamil Tiger rebels, while blaming the government for a string of similar attacks in rebel areas from April onwards.

REUTERS

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