5 February 2007 - On 6th August 2006, seventeen employees of Action against Hunger were found massacred at the organisation’s base in Muttur. This massacre is unprecedented in the history of NGO’s. Six months later, Action against Hunger assesses the situation.

At what stage is the investigation?

From the outset, Action against Hunger has done its utmost to bring the truth about what really happened in Muttur to light and to ensure that those responsible for the massacre are identified and brought to justice. The Sri Lankan justice system launched an investigation, which is unusual in the context of human rights violations. As part of the investigation, post-mortem reports were submitted to the magistrate in charge of the case during two hearings held in November. The items found in the victims’ bodies during the post-mortem - carried out in October in the presence of an Australian observer - were also submitted to the magistrate under seal. A date must now be set to examine this evidence which should be carried out by Sri Lankan experts in presence of Australian observers.

Meanwhile, the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka, M. Mahinda Rajapakse, has set up an official commission including 8 Sri Lankan representatives and 12 international observers to investigate the serious human rights violations committed in Sri Lanka. The commission will investigate fifteen serious human rights violations committed since August 2005 – including the massacre of ACF staff in Muttur – and is due to start its activities in Mid-February.

Absence of witness protection programme impedes the investigation

Evidence including autopsy reports and ballistic analysis was provided to the court. However, after several months of investigation, those responsible for the massacre have still not been identified and brought to justice. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that the witnesses have not spoken out yet due to the absence of a witness protection programme in Sri Lanka. This is impeding the investigation.

This is also true for the presidential investigation: despite providing a great opportunity to uncover the truth, the investigators have still no potential witnesses due to the absence of a witness protection programme.

Action against Hunger considers that the establishment of a witness protection programme is imperative if we are to find out exactly what happened.

However, six months after the massacre, Action against Hunger continues its commitment to discover the truth.

-ENDS- 5 January 2007: What is the future for humanitarian assistance (Read more) 4 December 2006: Four months after the Muttur Masacre Action Against Hunger resumes its operations in the country (Read more...) 3 November 2006: Sri Lanka - Three months after the massacre, Action Against Hunger remains mobilised (Read more...) 17 October 2006: Bodies of 15 Action Against Hunger staff to be exhumed (Read more) 6 October 2006: International Statement: Call for Access to Populations Trapped by War And Respect of Humanitarian Aid Workers in Sri Lanka (Read more) 30 August 2006: ACF International Network takes note of SLMM declarations (Read more) 10 August 2006: ACF International Network mourns and demands full inquiry into Muttur "war crime" (Read more) 8 August 2006: All of Action Against Hunger's (ACFIN) national employees from Sri Lanka were killed in Muttur (Read more) 7 August 2006: 15 of Action Against Hunger's (ACFIN) national employees from Sri Lanka were killed in Muttur (Read more) For more information on our programmes in Sri Lanka, click here. DONATE ONLINE: Our Action Against Hunger starts with you. To help people in their struggle to feed themselves and their families, your support makes a difference. Click here...