Twenty years after 17 aid workers from the French humanitarian association Action contre la Faim (ACF) were killed in Muttur, eastern Sri Lanka, the authorities must finally deliver truth, justice and reparations, Amnesty International said today.
On 4 August 2006, 17 Sri Lankan employees of ACF – 16 Tamils and one Muslim – were found shot dead at close range at the organization’s office. Despite repeated investigations and commitments by successive governments, no one has been brought to justice for the killings. This prolonged failure has denied victims’ families their right to truth and justice, and undermined confidence in the rule of law and the authorities’ commitment to justice for war crimes.
“Twenty years is far too long for families to wait for justice. For two decades, those who lost their loved ones have carried the burden of grief while the Sri Lankan authorities have failed to deliver accountability,” said Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia.
Twenty years is far too long for families to wait for justice
Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia
“The twentieth anniversary must not become another milestone marked only by remembrance. It should mark the moment when the authorities finally demonstrate that no one is above the law and that crimes under international law and serious human rights violations will no longer be met with impunity.”
The ACF employees had remained in Muttur to provide humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the armed conflict and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, despite escalating hostilities between the Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Over the past two decades, despite repeated official commitments, domestic investigations (which included a magisterial inquiry, a human rights commission probe, and a commission of inquiry), no accountability for the killing has been established.
Amnesty International reiterates calls made by ACF and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure a prompt, independent, impartial and effective criminal investigation into the killings, consistent with international human rights law and standards. Any renewed investigation must be capable of identifying and prosecuting those suspected of criminal responsibility in fair trials before civilian courts. Victims’ families and witnesses must be able to meaningfully participate in the process and must be guaranteed full protection.
The authorities should also publicly explain the steps taken to date and set out how they intend to overcome the long-standing obstacles that have prevented justice up to now.
In 2008, ACF observed that the investigations set up at the time had “little or no chance of establishing officially the persons criminally responsible for this war crime (direct perpetrators and chain of command)” and considered that they “proved ineffective and unproductive.” Afterwards ACF decided to end its mission in Sri Lanka and called for an international investigation. Ending impunity for the Muttur massacre is essential not only for the victims’ families, but also for restoring confidence in Sri Lanka’s justice system and signalling a decisive break from the longstanding impunity for crimes under international law and grave human rights violations.
Background
Ahead of the twentieth anniversary, Action contre la Faim and other human rights organizations renewed calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure an effective investigation into the killings and deliver truth and justice for the victims and their families.