Marking this week the ten anniversary of the killing of 17 aid workers from Action Contre La Faim in Muttur, Trincomalee, Human Rights Watch reiterated the call for justice and said the massacre underscored the need for an international role in any accountability mechanism by Sri Lanka as the only means to ensuring justice.
“The failure to provide justice for the ACF massacre is Exhibit A in the breakdown of accountability for serious crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war,” HRW's legal and policy director, James Ross said.
“The mishandling of the ACF case shows why a war crimes court needs international involvement to shield it from political pressures.”
On August 4th, 2006 masked gunmen executed the 17 local staff of the Paris based aid group who had been involved in a post-tsunami rebuilding project. No one has been brought to justice.
“The government should honor its international pledge and move forward with a tribunal with foreign judges and other international participation,” Mr Ross added. “The families of the 17 ACF aid workers and other victims need full confidence in the court to bring about genuine justice.”
See full statement by HRW here.
“The failure to provide justice for the ACF massacre is Exhibit A in the breakdown of accountability for serious crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war,” HRW's legal and policy director, James Ross said.
“The mishandling of the ACF case shows why a war crimes court needs international involvement to shield it from political pressures.”
On August 4th, 2006 masked gunmen executed the 17 local staff of the Paris based aid group who had been involved in a post-tsunami rebuilding project. No one has been brought to justice.
“The government should honor its international pledge and move forward with a tribunal with foreign judges and other international participation,” Mr Ross added. “The families of the 17 ACF aid workers and other victims need full confidence in the court to bring about genuine justice.”
See full statement by HRW here.
