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Sri Lankan troops killed 17 aid workers: Peace monitors

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Aug 30, IRNA
Sri Lanka-Air Workers-Killed
Nordic ceasefire monitors on Wednesday accused Sri Lankan security forces of killing 17 aid workers in the northeast of the island earlier this month and subsequently covering up the incident.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) claimed that there was also an attempt to prevent investigations by them following the August 4 massacre of the 17 local employees of a French charity in the northeastern town of Muttur, PTI report said here.

The Swedish-led monitors of the February 2002 ceasefire also ruled that the killings were a 'gross violation' of the ceasefire by government forces.

"The killing of the 17 civilian aid workers in Muttur on August 4, 2006 is ruled as a gross violation of the ceasefire agreement by the Security Forces of Sri Lanka," the monitors said.

In a statement, they said chief monitor Ulf Henricsson had confidential discussions with 'highly reliable sources' about those responsible for the killings.

"The views have not proved contradictory and the security forces of Sri Lanka are widely and consistently deemed to be responsible for the incident.

"Taking into consideration the fact that the security forces had been present in Muttur at the time of the incident, it appears highly unlikely to blame other groups for the killings."

The killing of the aid workers in Muttur in northeast Sri Lanka came amid heavy fighting between the rebels and the government.

At least 1,500 people have been killed in fighting since December.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) blamed the government for the killings while government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella denied that troops were involved and in turn blamed the Tigers.

Meanwhile, the monitors also held the Tigers responsible for the June 15 Claymore mine attack that killed at least 64 bus passengers and wounded 80 in the north-central village of Kebithigollewa.

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