Missing UN staff in military custody

by admin
Jun 23, 2009

A Tamil staff of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and another Tamil staff of the UNHCR, both attached to the UN offices in Vavuniya, have been reported missing since Thursday June13 after being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities, the UN announced on Sunday June 21.

 

The UNOPS worker reported missing was known as Saunthi and the other was named Charles, according to the sources that alleged the abductions were carried out by the Sri Lankan Military Intelligence operatives at Temple Road in Kurumankaadu.

The two men, both ethnic Sri Lankan Tamils, were reported missing eight days ago and were subsequently discovered to have been taken into custody by Sri Lankan officials, the UN office in Colombo said in a statement.

 

"We are not aware which, if any, charges have been laid, and nor are we aware of the details of any accusations," the statement said.

 

The two men were working for the UN refugee agency and the UN office for Project Services in the northern region of Vavuniya

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