Action Against Hunger International Network mourns and demands full inquiry into Muttur “war crime”

10th August 2006 - This Friday 11th August in Trincomalee, Paris, London and other cities around the world, memorial ceremonies will be held in remembrance of the 17 Action Against Hunger team members killed in Muttur last week. At 4.30pm (local Sri Lanka time) the Action Against Hunger teams  and other NGO’s members will come together with the family members of the victims on the beach in Trincomalee for a memorial ceremony in honour of those who lost their lives. Benoit Miribel and Florence Daunis, Executive Director and Human Resources Director respectively of Action Against Hunger – France will be present.

In conjunction, at 2pm (UK time), a minute’s silence will be observed at the offices of Action Against Hunger International network around the world. In addition, a memorial ceremony will take place in the Paris head-office, the lead office in charge of  the Sri lanka programme. Action Against Hunger International Network invites all the partners and the NGO community to participate in the minute’s silence.

Action Against Hunger - France organised a press conference in Paris, with Jean-Christophe Rufin (Honorary President), Benoit Miribel (Action Against Hunger - France Executive  Director) and Thomas Gonnet, Head of Operations in the Paris office on Wednesday 9th August.

“The Muttur massacre is a ‘war crime’ that should not be trivialised”

“We remained moderate with our discussions and disclosures on Monday 7th August, given that we still did not have access to the area and could not recover the bodies of the victims,” declared Jean-Christophe Rufin.  “Now the facts have been established - this is an appalling crime, a deliberate murder of employees of Action Against Hunger who have been massacred intentionally. They were victims of a double violation: of their lives and of the “sacred” space that a humanitarian office represents”. The President of Action Against Hunger - France also made clear that “the deaths of our staff members should not allow us  to forget those of the civilians, around 500 people, who died in Muttur last week.”

Above all, Rufin insisted that this horrible act should not be “trivialised”: “The Muttur massacre should not be seen as a “professional risk” or a “humanitarian danger”. This is in fact a turn in the history of humanitarian action, the ‘Oradour-sur-Glane’ episode of the humanitarian world. The values that we uphold have not been respected by the murderers. Action Against Hunger International Network defends a humanitarian approach which is not about sending cash from the West, but rather to work directly with the community.  This is where the challenge lies - some prefer the humanitarian that just pays to the one that also witnesses”.

“We are not making any assumptions nor will we be letting go. We shall get to the bottom of all that has happened. It is also in the interest of Sri Lanka.”

“To all Action Against Hunger teams throughout the world, to all the national and international staff, it is very important to have a complete insight in to what has really happened,” continued Rufin. “We have approached the United Nations for them to be associated with the independent inquiry. We want to know who the killers are. For the time being we do not make any assumptions. We will inform the press on the proceedings of the inquiry every month until we have a complete insight in to what has happened”. 

“It is not going to be straightforward; Sri Lanka is not united, nor are the parties within the conflict. There are some hardline positions, and others that are less. But it is in Sri Lanka’s own interest to succeed in clarifying this matter. The continuity of aid to Sri Lanka may be compromised; it will be all about the survival of humanitarian action in this country”.

“The team was trapped, blocked at the base by the fighting”

Rufin insisted again on the circumstances that are currently known: “It is a trap. The teams were forced into the courtyard and executed in a methodical way. 17 people! This is long and painful! We have seen blunders, the so-called collateral damage, but here, this is a pure and simple execution.”

“Programmes have been suspended, the teams are grieving,” said Benoit Miribel, Executive Director of Action Against Hunger - France, now on his way to the area.

Benoit Miribel, who left Paris for Colombo on Wednesday afternoon, closed by explaining, “our programmes are suspended, the teams are at home, grieving. I am going to the area to meet the Sri Lankan Authorities, to oversee the launch of a transparent and independent inquiry and also to evaluate the continuation of our activities in the area, in light of the current security conditions.”

Jean-Christophe Rufin concluded, “the decision to withdraw or not from the country will not be taken by Action Against Hunger International Network alone. We have to consult the other humanitarian actors present in the country, our partners and major donors, such as the European Commission, who should help us secure a full insight in to what happened and for guaranteeing the security of humanitarian operations.”

A list of all the victims is available on www.actioncontrelafaim.org

                                                           ***ENDS***

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.

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