Rapport ACF 2013 Muttur.pdf

8/13/2019 Rapport ACF 2013 Muttur.pdf

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Muttur truth report

In tribute to

Sri Lanka map

Executive Summary

On 4th August 2006, 17 humanitarian aid workers of Action contre la Faim (ACF were !rutall"

assassinated in the #ri $ankan town of %uttur & the aid workers were lined u' and summaril"

eecuted on the organisation)s 'remises* +he %uttur massacre is one of the most atrocious

war crimes eer committed against humanitarian 'ersonnel*

ACF has closel" followed the domestic inestigation onl" to !ecome coninced that the #ri$ankan -ustice s"stem is inca'a!le of inestigating the case* #eeral domestic mechanisms

1



dealing with the %uttur massacre arried at no conclusion. the %agistrate Court (from 2006

to 200/, the ational Commission of uman ights (from 2006 to 200/, the 3residential

Commission of n5uir" (Co (from 2007 to 2010 and the $essons $earnt and econciliation

Commission (from 2010 to 2012*

%eanwhile, a lot of information has leaked into the 'u!lic domain, u' to the names of the

alleged murderers* ACF has also collected information which reeals that the 17

humanitarian aid workers were likely assassinated by members of Sri Lankan security

forces and the criminals must have been covered up by Sri Lankan top authorities*

+his re'ort !rings together 'u!licl" aaila!le information on the %uttur case and com'letes

it with information o!tained !" ACF directl" from witnesses, di'lomatic contacts and other

sources close to the matter, and offers seeral arguments in su''ort of this allegation*

+he re'ort !egins with the results of inde'endent inestigations and indiidual testimonies

which reeal im'lication of Arm", a" and 3olice 'ersonnel in the killings and continues

with a descri'tion of how the securit" forces attem'ted to destro" the eidence during the

first da"s after the massacre* +he re'ort then e'lores the multi'le irregularities of the

official inestigation which hae hel'ed the killers aoid -ustice and the role that the to' #ri

$ankan authorities hae 'la"ed in 'roiding im'unit"*

Facing growing 'ressure !" the international communit" for an effectie inestigation, #ri

$ankan authorities are attem'ting to aert 'u!lic attention !" claiming that another

inestigation into the %uttur massacre has !een o'ened* oweer, deli!erate su!ersion of

the inestigatie 'rocess oer the 'ast 7 "ears and continuous harassment of witnesses and

-ournalists who hae raised the case hae demonstrated that no effectie legal action can !e

taken in toda")s #ri $anka in relation to the %uttur massacre* ACF !eliees that only an

independent international investigation can effectively lead to prosecution of the killers*

ith no 'ros'ects of an effectie domestic inestigation toda", ACF has decided to 'u!licl"

sa" who, according to the 'roof it holds and its firm coniction, is res'onsi!le for the killings*

2



Table of contentsn tri!ute to ******************************************************************************************************************************************** 1

#ri $anka ma' ***************************************************************************************************************************************** 1

ecutie #ummar" ******************************************************************************************************************************** 1

+a!le of contents ************************************************************************************************************************************ 2

%ethodolog" ****************************************************************************************************************************************** 2

3rologue. +raged" of 4 August 2006 ******************************************************************************************************* 8

*ho killed 17 humanitarian workers9 ************************************************************************************************** 4

1*:id the murderers !elong to the securit" forces9 *************************************************************************** 4

2*:id securit" forces tr" to conceal the truth !" closing access to %uttur9 *************************************** 4

2*1*Access was denied to ACF, the CC and the #$%% under a 'retet of lack of securit" ****** *** ** 4

2*2*;et other actors were assured that the town was safe ************************************************************** 4

8*:id the 3olice tr" to make an inestigation im'ossi!le9 ****************************************************************** <

8*1*+he 3olice did not react for seeral da"s, 'retending the" were unaware of the crime ************ <

8*2*+he 3olice continued to neglect its duties een after the official discoer" of the !odies ******** <

8*8*+he 3olice did not 'resere the crime scene and eidence ****************************************************** <

*:id the #ri $ankan -ustice s"stem hel' the killers aoid 'unishment9 ************************************************* <

1*+he inestigators 'resumed that the securit" forces could not !e res'onsi!le for the killings ******* * 6

1*1*First stage of the inestigation. !ias of the 'olice ********************************************************************* 6

1*2*#econd stage of the inestigation. !ias of the 3residential Commission of n5uir" *************** ** 6

2*ntimidated witnesses were denied 'rotection ******************************************************************************* 6

*:id to' #ri $ankan authorities coer u' for the criminals9 ***************************************************************** 7

1*From the outset, authorities knew who the killers were and decided not to 'rosecute them ******** 7

2*Authorities interfered with all stages of inestigation ********************************************************************* 7

2*1*First stage of the inestigation. the %agistrate Court *************************************************************** 7

2*2*#econd stage of the inestigation. 3residential Commission of n5uir" ************************************ 7

8*+he #ri $ankan =oernment wants to aoid an international inestigation ************************************ /

'ilogue ************************************************************************************************************************************************** >

?i!liogra'h" ****************************************************************************************************************************************** 10

1*3u!licl" aaila!le sources ************************************************************************************************************* 10

2*:ocuments from ACF archies and witness testimonies *************************************************************** 14

A!!reiations *************************************************************************************************************************************** 1<

8



Methodology

+he 'resent re'ort is !ased on information collected !" ACF in relation to the assassination

of its 17 humanitarian aid workers on 4th August 2006 in %uttur, #ri $anka*

+he re'ort !rings together 'u!licl" aaila!le sources, a non@ehaustie list of which is

referenced in the ?i!liogra'h", and on confidential documents and witness statements

o!tained !" ACF oer the 'ast 7 "ears from witnesses on the ground and oerseas,

di'lomatic contacts and other sources close to the matter*

+his re'ort does not 'retend to re'lace a -udicial in5uir" and does not include the names of

the alleged killers1, which can !e found in the 'u!lic sources listed in the ?i!liogra'h"*

Disclaimer. For reasons of confidentialit", ACF cannot 'u!licl" cite the names of witnesseswhose testimonies hae !een used in this re'ort* e are read" to 'roide further

information on the eidence in our 'ossession to international e'erts and inde'endent

com'etent !odies that could contri!ute to esta!lishing the truth and !ringing -ustice to the

ictims of the %uttur massacre*

1 here 5uoted, the names are re'laced !" the BBB sign*

4



Prologue: Tragedy of !ugust "##$

On 4 August 2006, around 7 am, ACF lost radio contact with its mission in %uttur, a littletown situated in the orth of #ri $anka* +he staff of 17 'eo'le, 16 ethnic +amil and one

%uslim, had !een tra''ed, caught in the midst of fighting !etween the #ri $ankan arm" and

the +amil armed se'aratist grou' $i!eration +igers of +amil elam ($++*

All 17 were found dead seeral da"s after, following the take@oer of %uttur !" #ri@$ankan

authorities* $ined u' inside the ACF com'ound, the" had !een shot dead at close range*

+he aid workers were in %uttur to hel' the 'o'ulation suffering from conse5uences of the

2004 tsunami and from the intensif"ing armed conflict* As most humanitarian organisationshad left the area, the" were among the few to continue 'roiding im'artial aid !oth in

goernment@ and re!el@controlled areas, des'ite the fact that =Os were un-ustl" accused

!" goernment su''orters of !eing 'ro@re!el*

#ta"ing awa" from direct hostilities, ACF staff were not killed !" stra" !ullets* +he" were

deli!eratel" targeted, des'ite the fact that the" were wearing white ACF +@shirts and were

not armed* +he killers must hae !een a grou' of 'eo'le er" familiar with firearms and

a''arentl" !elonging to one of the 'arties to the #ri $ankan ciil war* +his makes the %uttur

massacre not onl" a crime against humanitarian 'ersonnel of unseen scale !ut also one ofthe graest war crimes committed during the #ri $ankan internal armed conflict*

ACF considered the two h"'otheses e5uall". that the aid workers could hae !een

assassinated !" the $++ or !" the armed forces* oweer, all the direct and indirect

eidence it could collect oer the last 7 "ears une5uiocall" 'ointed to the res'onsi!ilit" of

the latter*

In view of the gravity of the case and with no prospect of an effective domestic

investigation after 7 years of inconclusive legal proceedings, !" has decided to publicly

say that it believes the 17 aid workers to have been assassinated by Sri Lankan securityforces and the criminals to be protected by Sri Lankan authorities#

<



I% &ho killed '( humanitarian )orkers*

ho entered ACF)s %uttur com'ound on 4th August 2006 and killed the 17 defenseless

humanitarian aid workers9 +oda", with all direct and indirect eidence aaila!le, ACF has no

dou!t that the aid workers were murdered !" #ri $ankan securit" forces & those who knew

a!out the 'resence of the humanitarians and were su''osed to 'rotect them*

hat followed, known from arious sources and from ACF)s own shocking e'erience on the

ground, is that after murdering the humanitarian aid workers, the securit" forces a''arentl"

tried to conceal the massacre and make effectie inestigation im'ossi!le* +o this end, the"

'reented international actors from entering the town in the da"s following the killings and

then destro"ed im'ortant eidence*

'% +id the murderers belong to the security forces*

“Those at the ACF were drinking tea and eating biscuits, stuff they had bought a little

while ago” 2.

+he 17 humanitarian aid workers were taking a tea !reak onl" moments !efore the" lost

their lies, according to an inde'endent inestigation conducted !" the Dniersit" +eachers

for uman ights (D+, a Eaffna@!ased non@goernmental organiation (=O 8* +he D+

'roceeds with a gruesome descri'tion of a cold@!looded assassination of the humanitarians

!" 'olice officers and a %uslim ome =uard in the 'resence of the aal #'ecial Forces,

u'on a''roal of their su'eriors in +rincomalee*

“*** got the staff to kneel, and the victims were fired uon as they begged for mercy. !t

was all over within five minutes from the time they arrived. Two were killed away from

the others, aarently trying to run away and their bodies were found searately.$4

2 D+, Dnfinished ?usiness of the Fie #tudents and ACF Cases & A +ime to call the ?luff, s'ecial re'ort o*

80, 1 A'ril 200/, htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsG#'re'ort80*htm

8 +he inestigation lasted three "ears and was descri!ed in seeral re'orts. D+, u!ris and umanitarian

Catastro'he, s'ecial re'ort o* 22, 28 August 2006, htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsGs're'ort22*htmH

D+, From elikade to %utur and 3ottuil. A =eneration of %oral :enudation and the ise of eroes with

Feet of Cla", s'ecial re'ort o* 2<, 81 %a" 2007, htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsGs're'ort2<*htm H D+,

+he choice !etween anarch" and international law, s'ecial re'ort o* 28, 7 oem!er 2006,

htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsGs're'ort28*htm H D+, Dnfinished ?usiness of the Fie #tudents and ACF

Cases & A +ime to call the ?luff, s'ecial re'ort o* 80, 1 A'ril 200/, op. cit. H D+, +hird Anniersar" of the

ACF %assacre, htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsGs're'ort88*htm

6

http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/Spreport30.htm


http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport22.htm













+he to a large etent accurate < account of facts in the D+ re'ort was confirmed !" the

former D# Am!assador to #ri $anka o!ert O* ?lake.

[...] report from April 2008 identified police, Muslim Home Guard, and Special Task

Force memers as t!e likel" perpetrators and corresponded in lar#e part $it! t!e

conclusions of t!e %%G&'6 and ot!er &mass" contacts7*

Another inestigation was undertaken !" two French -ournalists, Anne 3oiret and

=wenlaouen $e =ouil, authors of the documentar" %uttur. un crime contre l)humanitaire

(%uttur. a crime against humanitarianism/* +he -ournalists, who s'ent 8 weeks in #ri

$anka in oem!er and :ecem!er 2006, came across an im'ortant witness who testified

that on the morning of %th ugust around 7&'( am, through a radio communication set

installed in the Muttur police station, a message in Sinhala was conveyed giving an order to

the military stationed in Muttur& )*ill the persons who are in civil and +who speak in

-amil$* +he message came from an officer who is the $eader of the 'articular arm"

o'erational grou' and held a %a-or grade>* n a ideo interiew gien after the release of

the documentar", the -ournalists said that the" had found strong indications that the ACF

staff were murdered !" #ri $ankan securit" forces10*

4 D+, Dnfinished ?usiness of the Fie #tudents and ACF Cases & A +ime to call the ?luff, s'ecial re'ort o*

80, 1 A'ril 200/, op. cit.

< # $AIA. 3O+ ?$A%# =OJ%+ FO K+CO <K, 8 A'ril 200/,

htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200/G04G0/CO$O%?O844*html

6 nternational nde'endent =rou' of minent 3ersons, which o!sered inestigation into the %uttur massacre

at the 3residential Commission of n5uir" (see second 'art of the re'ort

7 # $AIA. D%A =+# LD; (CO :#?A::H O A$ #D$+#, 22 Eul" 200>,

htt's.GGwww*wikileaks*orgG'lusdGca!lesG0>CO$O%?O722Ma*html

/ Aaila!le online. htt'.GGwww*dail"motion*comGideoG1tniMmuttur@un@crime@contre@l@humanitaire@

docuMnews

> %id *, (8< .8/

10 Eulien %artin, N $a tuerie des humanitaires de %uttur reste im'unie , (ue8), 22 %a" 2007,

htt'.GGwww*rue/>*comG2007G0<G22Gla@tuerie@des@humanitaires@de@muttur@reste@im'unie

7

http://wikileaks.org/cable/2008/04/08COLOMBO344.html

https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09COLOMBO722_a.html


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xv1tni_muttur-un-crime-contre-l-humanitaire-docu_news



http://www.rue89.com/2007/05/22/la-tuerie-des-humanitaires-de-muttur-reste-impunie








A considera!le num!er of other indiiduals close to the matter hae testified against securit"

forces !efore -ustice and in confidential conersations with ACF* witness statement from

another source leaked into the press suggests that one of the killers had close links with

the government forces and belonged to a paramilitary group armed by the .avy11*

"% +id security forces try to conceal the truth by closing access to

Muttur*

:uring the three da"s following the killings, from 4th to 7th August, #ri $ankan 3olice and Arm"

im'eded international actors) accessing %uttur, citing lack of securit"* +his seemed like an

attem't to conceal the !lood" massacre 'er'etrated !" them* One 'roof of this is that

com'letel" different information a!out the securit" situation was 'roided to actors which

were less likel" to discoer the !odies*

A source close to the matter told ACF that while 'reenting the association from getting to

%uttur, the criminals were thinking of !urning the !odies !ut eentuall" gae u' on the idea

as the news a!out the killings had s'read outside %uttur and ACF and the ictims) relaties

were insistentl" demanding the !odies12*

"%'% !ccess )as denied to !,-. the I,/, and the SLMM under a pretext of lack of

security

?etween the morning of 4th August and the morning of 7th August, ACF undertook fie

unsuccessful attem'ts to enter the town* A'art from the er" first attem't, when ACF had to

turn !ack !ecause of a sudden out!urst of fighting, all other attem'ts failed due to direct

hindrance !" securit" forces or lack of coo'eration !" them* !" was not allowed to collect

the bodies of its deceased staff until the afternoon of 7 th ugust, three days after the

killings# As access was eentuall" o'ened, the %uttur 3olice o''osed ACF)s !eing

accom'anied to the crime scene !" 'olicemen from +rincomalee*

?etween 4th and 7th August, access was also refused to two international organisations

which, by virtue of their mandates, would have been concerned about the e/tra0udicial

killings, namely the International !ommittee of the ed !ross +I!! and the Sri Lankan

Monitoring Mission +SLMM 18*

+he #$%% had seeral criminalistics e'erts, who could hae 'roceeded to a 'rofessional

anal"sis of the crime scene if the" had managed to enter %uttur* As the #$%% attem'ted to

11 :ilrukshi andunnetti, A!ductions, white ans and ideoing +amils, +he #unda" $eader, / Eul" 200/,

htt'.GGwww*thesunda"leader*lkGarchieG200/0706Gs'otlight*htm

12 t is widel" re'orted that #ri $ankan arm" forces s"stematicall" !urnt dead !odies during the #ri $ankan

internal armed conflict

/

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20080706/spotlight.htm





access the town on the <th and 6th of August, it was sto''ed !" securit" forces on the grounds

of lack of safet" and securit" in the area, in iolation of the #ri $ankan Ceasefire Agreement

(CFA14*

On 2>th August 2006, the head of SLMM, 2eneral 3lf 4enricsson, issued a ruling in which

he e/pressed a conviction that Sri Lankan security forces were responsible for the killings 1<*

+o su''ort this statement, =eneral enricsson referred to confidential conersations with

highl" relia!le sources and to an illogical refusal !" the securit" forces to allow the #$%%

into %uttur while -ournalists were taken there on escorted tours* +he #ri $ankan #ecretariat

for Coordinating the 3eace 3rocess (#CO33 later e'lained the denial of access !" reference

to the =oernment of #ri $anka (=o#$)s res'onsi!ilit" for the safet" and securit" of mem!ers

of the #$%%16* n a conersation with ACF, =eneral Dlf refuted this statement. *ot!in# in

t!e +FA preented me to proceed in an operation i#norin# a $arnin#. T!is $as done seeral

times $it!out an" prolems*

"%"% 0et other actors )ere assured that the to)n )as safe

hile den"ing access to the three international actors who would hae certainl" gone to the

crime scene and 'ushed for and contri!uted to an inestigation of the massacre, #ri $ankan

securit" forces had a com'letel" different discourse a!out the securit" situation for others

actors, which the" must hae considered less dangerous*

5n 6th and th of ugust, the Sri Lankan rmy provided escorted tours to Muttur for

0ournalists, as the goernment was keen to demonstrate its ictor" in taking the control oerthe town* One of the -ournalists recalls that when the" arried to +rincomalee and were

going to cross oer to %uttur, a lot of ine'lica!le dela"s ha''ened* As the tours finall"

18 +he #ri $anka %onitoring %ission (#$%% was an international inde'endent organiation mandated to

monitor the 2002 #ri $ankan Ceasefire Agreement (CFA !etween =o#$ and $++* +he #$%% included

international monitors from ordic countries su''orted !" national staff

14 Article 8*10 of CFA. T!e 'arties a#ree to ensure t!e freedom of moement of t!e S-MM memers in

performin# t!eir tasks. T!e memers of t!e S-MM s!all e #ien immediate access to areas $!ere iolations oft!e A#reement are alle#ed to !ae taken place. T!e 'arties also a#ree to facilitate t!e $idest possile access to

suc! areas for t!e local memers of t!e si aoe/mentioned committees, cf. Article .1.

1< Assassination of 17 ciilian aid workers in %uttur on the 4th of August 2006, ruling addressed !" Dlf

enricsson, ead of #$%%, to #ri $ankan #ecretariat for Coordinating the 3eace 3rocess (#CO33, 2> August

2006, htt'.GGnews*!!c*co*ukG2GhiGsouthMasiaG<2>/74/*stm

16 #CO33, 'ress release in res'onse to the #$%%)s ruling of 2> August 2006,

htt'.GGwww*sunda"o!serer*lkG2006G0>G08Gnews01*as'

>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5298748.stm


http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2006/09/03/news01.asp






!egan, the media were not lead within sight of the ACF com'ound* At the same time, the

military assured the media that the town was safe enough for civilians to return*17

ccess was also allowed to the !onsortium of 4umanitarian gencies +!4, an association

of national and international agencies, whose fact@finding mission went to %uttur on 6 th

August to assess the humanitarian situation* CA was the first to 'u!licl" re'ort haing seen

the dead !odies of ACF aid workers and to 'hotogra'h them* On entering %uttur town, we

were 5uied sus'iciousl" !" #F1/ 'ersonnel, sa"s the CA)s re'ort* Once the CA e'lained

that the" had come on a humanitarian mission, the" were assured that the" were safe and

could go around the town without fear1>*

1% +id the Police try to make an investigation impossible*

+he 3olice, who were su''osed to !e the first to arrie to the crime scene in order to collect

eidence and inestigate the matter, acted as if the" were unaware of the massacre for

seeral da"s* Once the" could no longer kee' u' the 'retense, the 3olice still did not

undertake !asic actions inherent to their mandate and 'racticall" destro"ed the crime scene*

n other words, in the da"s following the massacre, the 3olice did eer"thing to 'reent

further inestigation from identif"ing of the murderers, some of whom were re'ortedl"

'olice officers*

1%'% The Police did not react for several days. pretending they )ere una)are of the

crime

+he %uttur 3olice claims to hae discoered the murdered ACF staff on the eening of 6 th

August20, which means that in the da"s following the killings, the dead !odies were left l"ing

in the ACF com'ound and nothing was done to collect eidence and 'roceed to

inestigation*

17 3eter A''s, #ri $ankan town deserted and deastated !" !attle, (euters, < August 2006 1<.8<,

htt'.GGnews*oneindia*inG2006G0/G06Gsri@lankan@town@deserted@and@deastated@!"@!attle@11<4>8246/*html

1/ #ecurit" forces

1> Consortium of umanitarian Agencies (CA, Fact finding mission & %uttur +rincomalee :istrict & 06 August

2006, htt'.GGwww*humanitarian@srilanka*orgG?ulletinG3:F:ocsGFAC+P20F:=P20%##O*'df

20 es'onse from the =oernment of #ri $anka dated 27 #e'tem!er 2007 to an allegation letter dated 1>

#e'tem!er 2007, in e'ort of the #'ecial a''orteur on etra-udicial, summar" or ar!itrar" eecutions, 3hili'

Alston, 80 %a" 200/, AGCG/G8GAdd*1

10

http://news.oneindia.in/2006/08/06/sri-lankan-town-deserted-and-devastated-by-battle-1154932468.html


http://www.humanitarian-srilanka.org/Bulletin/PDFDocs/FACT%20FINDING%20MISSION.pdf







ACF is coninced that the 3olice lied that the" did not know what had ha''ened* n fact,

from 1st to 7th August, ACF re'eatedl" contacted Arm" officers, a" and the 3olice in

+rincomalee 'roiding them the eact =3# location of the ACF %uttur !ase and re5uesting

hel', first in rescuing the aid workers from %uttur and, when it !ecame too late, in collecting

the dead !odies* On the eening of 8rd

August, ACF was assured !" the +rincomalee 'oliceoffice that the 3olice and the militar" in %uttur had !een informed a!out the 'resence of its

staff*

?" the time the 3olice claim to hae discoered the !odies, news a!out the massacre had

alread" widel" s'read through the media, the CC and ciilians* n fact, in the morning of < th

August, ACF and the ictims) families started receiing information a!out the killings !"

tele'hone from 'eo'le in %uttur and from internall" dis'laced 'ersons* At around 2*80 'm

on the same da", the news a''eared in the media21* n the eening, the news was confirmed

to the families !" the CC

22

* As the CA mission came to %uttur the net da", 6

th

August, itlearnt a!out the massacre from a random ciilian* +he team recalls feeling that other 'eo'le

in the town also knew something28*

1%"% The Police continued to neglect its duties even after the official discovery of the

bodies

en after the 3olice officiall" came to know a!out the crime, the" did not 'erform !asic

necessar" 'rocedures, once again 'roing themseles reluctant to 'roceed to an

inestigation*

+he 3olice did not een re5uest an order from the local magistrate to collect the !odies* s

!" staff finally managed to get to the crime scene on 7 th ugust, the 8olice stayed

watching them load the dead bodies of their colleagues on trucks and refused to provide

any help# As ACF staff recall, the 'olice officers made no attem't to collect eidence*

ACF also had to conduct all the arrangements for the auto'sies at the +rincomalee hos'ital,

where it deliered the dead !odies* +his time, the 3olice were not onl" uncoo'eratie !ut

were een hostile* +he 'olicemen tried to collect the cameras and cell 'hones of ACF local

staff and also attem'ted to hit them and were er!all" aggressie towards them sa"ing that

the deceased aid workers had !een $++ su''orters*

21 uman ights Commission of #ri $anka, %uthur Fact Finding %ission (>th August & 10th August, 2006, 81

August 2006

22 %id.

28 Anne 3oiret and =wenlaouen $e =ouil, N %uttur . un crime contre l)humanitaire , 2007,

htt'.GGwww*dail"motion*comGideoG1tniMmuttur@un@crime@contre@l@humanitaire@docuMnews (11.<2

11






1%1% The Police did not preserve the crime scene and evidence

As the 3olice finall" 'roceeded to collect some eidence at the crime scene, this was done in

a highl" negligent and un'rofessional manner* +he crime scene was not 'resered, o!iousl"

in an attem't to destro" eidence*

"rom a report of the observation mission at Sri Lanka9s 4uman ights !ommission of the

"rench :mbassy in Sri Lanka&

3...4 t!e preseration of t!e crime scene $as particularl" ne#lected, t!e preseration

of eidence $as not done correctl", and forensic oserations and epertise, $!ic!

are normall" done at t!e moment of t!e od" collection and after$ards in a forensic

institution $ere in i# disorder 24*

-he International Independent 2roup of :minent 8ersons +II2:8, which observed the

proceedings of the 8residential !ommission of In;uiry +!oI 2<, noted a blatant failure by the

police to perform elementary investigative proceedings.

T!e %%G&' tec!nical adisors reie$ed t!e Muttur case and identified seeral failures of

Sri -ankan la$ enforcement aut!orities and forensic specialists to undertake man"

elementar" forensic anal"ses suc! as5 fin#erprintin# of t!e crime scene6 a t!orou#!

searc! for and collection of pro7ectiles6 and t!e anal"sis of moile p!one records. [...] T!e

GS-26 police reports s!o$ t!at officers at t!e crime scene conducted an unstructured

searc! " di##in# t!rou#! t!e sand $it! t!eir !ands to recoer pro7ectiles. asic forensics

trainin# or t!e presence of Scene of +rime 9fficers could !ae ensured a more

professional searc! for forensic eidence*27

24 %ission d)o!seration des traau de la Commission d)en5uQte sur les iolations des droits de l)homme R #ri

$anka (Affaires ACF %uttur S +rincomalee, Am!assade de France R #ri $anka et au %aldies, %* Eean@3hili''e

iaud, %igistrat, a''ort d)Tta'e, 1> aoUt 200/, '*> (translated from French

2< +he Co inestigated the %uttur massacre in 2007@2010, following the failure of the inestigation !" the

%agistrate Court

26 =oernment of #ri $anka*

27 # $AIA. LD#+ +O #+A+G:$ A: #+A+G$ FO #D33O+ FO#C %:C A: C%

#C J#+=A+O#, 16 Eul" 2007, ;3$I

Khtt'.GGwww*wikileaks*orgG'lusdGca!lesG07CO$O%?O>/0Ma*html

#ee also #ri $anka. +he inestigation and in5uest into the killing of 17 aid workers in %uttur in August 2006, !"

%ichael ?irn!aum LC, CE in5uest o!serer, A'ril 2007,

htt'.GGreliefwe!*intGsitesGreliefwe!*intGfilesGresourcesG0:66882<C>>42A04>2<72C70006F116@

FullMe'ort*'df , VV162@16>

12

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/0D6E63325C9942A0492572C70006F116-Full_Report.pdf







II% +id the Sri Lankan 2ustice system help the killers avoid

punishment*

All 'hases of the length" domestic inestigatie 'rocess hae !een marred !" irregularities,

as highlighted !" international o!serers, and hae not lead to the 'rosecution of the'er'etrators2/* ACF o!seres that in the %uttur case, the #ri $ankan -ustice s"stem has

deli!eratel" attem'ted to free the criminals from 'ossi!le charges !" conducting the

inestigation in a highl" !iased manner and !" refusing 'rotection to witnesses who could or

did testif" against the securit" forces* +his denial of -ustice feeds ACF)s coniction that the

killers !elonged to the securit" forces*

'% The investigators presumed that the security forces could not be

responsible for the killings

ithout waiting for the outcome of the inestigation, legal !odies inoled in it rushed to

'ut all the !lame on the $++, local %uslims and ACF and isi!l" tried to steer all sus'icion

awa" from securit" forces*

'%'% -irst stage of the investigation: bias of the police

3rior to an" inestigation, official 'olice re'orts indicated that the $++ were res'onsi!le for

the killings* +he C: did not interiew mem!ers of securit" forces, nor an" other witness

other than some of the ictims) relaties2>*

'%"% Second stage of the investigation: bias of the Presidential ,ommission of

In3uiry

+he Co)s inestigation was conducted in two 'hases. closed in@camera hearings, to which

ACF was not allowed to assist, and, from 8rd %arch 200/, 'u!lic hearings* n !oth of these

'hases, the interrogation was done in a wa" to intentionall" diert the sus'icion from

securit" forces*

According to the former D# Am!assador to #ri $anka o!ert O* ?lake, during in@camera

hearings, all of the 5uestioning was done !" the :e'ut" #olicitor =eneral, su!ordinate to theAttorne" =eneral (A=, who was o!iousl" tr"ing to finger the local %uslim )ome =uard) as

2/ #ee ACF nternational, #ri $anka* +he %uttur massacre. a struggle for -ustice, stud" re'ort, Eune 200/,

htt'.GGwww*actionagainsthunger*orgGsitesGdefaultGfilesG'u!licationsGACF@@#ri@$anka@Adocac"@e'ort@6@1/@

0/*'df and ACF nternational, %uttur. #i "ears of m'unit"* +he failure of -ustice in #ri $anka, stud" re'ort,

:ecem!er 2012, htt'.GGwww*actioncontrelafaim*orgGfrGcontentGmuttur@si@"ears@im'unit"@failure@-ustice@sri@

lanka

2> #ri $anka. +he inestigation and in5uest into the killing of 17 aid workers in %uttur in August 2006, op. cit.*H

e'ort of the #'ecial a''orteur on etra-udicial, summar" or ar!itrar" eecutions, op .cit.

18

http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/sites/default/files/publications/ACF-IN-Sri-Lanka-Advocacy-Report-6-18-08.pdf


http://www.actioncontrelafaim.org/fr/content/muttur-six-years-impunity-failure-justice-sri-lanka










the 'er'etrators80 and was asking leading 5uestions that steer awa" from areas the =#$

considers sensitie.81 T!e +ommissioners t!emseles, $it! t!e eception of one, did not

participate in t!e :uestionin#. %%G&' memers also $ere not #ien t!e opportunit" to

:uestion t!e police officers; , states one of ?lake)s ca!les82*

n %arch 200/, the international o!serers from the =3 resigned citing as the reason that

the Co)s in5uest fell short of international norms and standards 88* ?" that time II2:8 had

reportedly revealed Sri Lankan security forces9 responsibility for the killings84*

+he Co)s final re'ort, which has not !een made 'u!lic, was su!mitted to the #ri $ankan

3resident in Eune 200>* According to 'ress accounts, the re'ort eonerated the Arm" and

suggested that the killings could hae !een carried out !" %uslim ome =uards or the

$++8<*

"% Intimidated )itnesses )ere denied protection

itnesses, famil" mem!ers of the deceased aid workers and local ACF staff hae all !een

su!-ected to high 's"chological 'ressure, threats and 'h"sical iolence after the crime,

forcing them to refrain from testif"ing !efore -ustice and to flee to other corners of #ri $anka

80 # $AIA. =3W# F#+ 3D?$C #+A+%+ C+CA$ OF =#$ 3FO%AC, 12 Eune 2007,

htt'.GGwww*wikileaks*orgG'lusdGca!lesG07CO$O%?O/8<Ma*html

81 # $AIA. =3W# F#+ 3D?$C #+A+%+ C+CA$ OF =#$ 3FO%AC, 12 Eune 2007,


82 # $AIA. #CO: K%+ 3#O#K 3$A; =$=+# CA$$=#H %AI# #O% 3O=##, 22

%a" 2007, htt'.GGwww*wikileaks*orgG'lusdGca!lesG07CO$O%?O742Ma*html

88 =3, +he 'residential Commission)s 'u!lic in5uir" 'rocess so far falls short of international norms and

standards, 'u!lic statement, < %arch 200/, htt'.GGwww*hrw*orgGsitesGdefaultGfilesGrelatedMmaterialG=3

P20'u!licP20statement*'df

84 # $AIA. =OJ%+ 3OJ:# AI #3O# +O LD#+ FO J:C OF 3O=## O

D%A =+#, 24 Octo!er 2007, htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG2007G10G07CO$O%?O14<>*html

8< # $AIA. D%A =+# LD; (CO :#?A::H O A$ #D$+#, 22 Eul" 200>,


14

http://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07COLOMBO835_a.html





http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/IIGEP%20public%20statement.pdf
















or a!road* At least one -ournalist who !rought u' the issue of 'ro!a!le dissimulation of

'roof against the armed forces receied a death threat86*

;et at no stage of the domestic inestigation has an effectie 'rotection s"stem !een offered

to witnesses* +he onl" 'rotection scheme 'ro'osed !" the Co)s Jictims and itnesses

Assistance and 3rotection Dnit failed to 'roide a range of s'ecific 'rotection measures and

was criticied !" the =387*

ACF has receied a num!er of testimonies descri!ing how witnesses had been approached

by the 8olice, the rmy and unidentified persons, harassed and compelled not to testify

against government forces, !oth during the initial 'olice inestigation and later during the

Co)s hearings8/* In fact, the witnesses were intimidated even during the !oI9s proceedings#

5ne of them was threatened by police officers assigned to the !oI9s Investigation 3nit 8>#

+he families were also asked to sign letters 'utting the !lame for the killings on ACF in return

of financial su''ort40* Some witnesses were threatened with death and one has reportedly

been killed*

:escri'tions of witness intimidations can also !e found in 'u!lic sources* +hus, in Octo!er

2006 the otham %ission, an Australia@!ased =O, isited %uttur and concluded that the

lies of local ACF staff were in danger, 'articularl" after the #$%% e'licitl" named the

securit" forces as !eing the 'er'etrators of the massacre.

Since t!at time t!e" and t!eir families !ae eperienced deat! t!reats. T!e men

stated t!at < of t!eir friends !ae since een killed, one of t!eir rot!er=s !as een

86 Amnest" nternational, #ri $anka. #ilencing :issent, 7 Fe!ruar" 200/,

htt'.GGwww*amnest"*orgGenGli!rar"GinfoGA#A87G001G200/Gen, '*81

87 =3, +he 'residential Commission)s 'u!lic in5uir" 'rocess so far falls short of international norms and

standards, op. cit.

8/ For 'u!lic sources, see, for eam'le, Amnest" nternational, #ri $anka)s Assault on :issent, Fe!ruar" 2018,

htt'.GGwww*amnest"*orgGfrGli!rar"GassetGA#A87G008G2018GenG88/f>!04@0>7e@48/1@/>08@

1/2>fd24aa!fGasa870082018en*'df , '*16

8> !id*, '* 17 H Amnest" nternational, #ri $anka. +went" "ears of make@!eliee* #ri $anka)s Commissions of

n5uir", 11 Eune 200>, htt'.GGwww*amnest"*orgGenGli!rar"GinfoGA#A87G00<G200>, '* 81

40 ACF holds one of those letters

1<

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA37/001/2008/en

http://www.amnesty.org/fr/library/asset/ASA37/003/2013/en/338f9b04-097e-4381-8903-1829fd24aabf/asa370032013en.pdf



http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA37/005/2009








aducted and >ncle s!ot lookin# for t!em. He is currentl" in !ospital. T!e men $ere

isil" traumatised and asolutel" petrified for t!eir lies.; 41

arassment of witnesses was also descri!ed in ca!les of the former D# Am!assador o!ert

O* ?lake42 and D+ re'orts*

Dntil now, families and witnesses sta"ing on the ground face harassment and those who hae

left the countr" are asked after !" the 3olice 48*

-he denial of protection for witnesses, who were harassed by representatives of the

security forces, leads !" to the conclusion that Sri Lankan authorities were trying by all

means to conceal the truth#

41 otham %ission, otham %ission Field +ri' to #ri $anka, Octo!er 2006. #ecurit", 3rotection and

umanitarian Concerns and m'lications for #ri $ankan As"lum #eekers in Australia,

htt'.GGwww8*s"m'atico*caGmartin-1Gslre'ort*'df , '*2<

42 CJ$ #OC+; $A:# ?A++CA$OA :C; D%A =+# A: D%A+AA #+DA+O, 1 %a"

2007, htt'.GGwww*wikileaks*orgG'lusdGca!lesG07CO$O%?O841Ma*htm H =3 :#3D+ + =#$ :FFD#:

FO O, 10 Eul" 2007, htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG2007G07G07CO$O%?O>66*html

48 According to ACF)s sources* #ee also %ar"am Awer, ACF Famil" %em!ers n Fear, +he #unda" $eader, 27

%a" 2012, htt'.GGwww*thesunda"leader*lkG2012G0<G27Gacf@famil"@mem!ers@in@fearG

16

http://www3.sympatico.ca/martinj1/slreport.pdf


http://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07COLOMBO341_a.htm





http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2012/05/27/acf-family-members-in-fear/







III% +id top Sri Lankan authorities cover up for the criminals*

A num!er of relia!le sources indicate that to' #ri $ankan authorities hae !een o!structing

the inestigation into the assassination of ACF aid workers and 'rotecting the killers from

a''earing !efore -ustice44*

t follows from information o!tained !" ACF that the #ri $ankan goernment decided to coer

u' for the criminals right after the massacre was committed* n order to do that, the

authorities re'ortedl" sent the 'er'etrators a!road, interfered with all stages of the

domestic inestigation and hae !een strongl" o''osing the esta!lishment of an

international inestigation*

'% -rom the outset. authorities kne) )ho the killers )ere and decidednot to prosecute them

Aware of the fact that the killers !elonged to the securit" forces, the #ri $ankan authorities

decided to hel' them aoid -ustice*

n one of his ca!les, the former D# Am!assador to #ri $anka relates a stor" he heard from a

former #ri $ankan Foreign %inister.

" mid/200?, !e recalled, and especiall" after t!e murder of @1 Tamil !umanitarian

aid $orkers in Muttur in Au#ust 200?, !e met t!e 'resident, efense Secretar", Senior

Adisor asil (a7apaksa and 'residential Secretar" -alit! Beeratun#e seeral times

and ar#ued for an inesti#ation and prosecution of t!ose responsile for serious

!uman ri#!ts auses. asil started s!outin# at !im, !e told us, and Got!aa"a4<

insisted t!at to do so C$ould demoraliDe t!e $!ole Arm".;.; 46

ACF confirms that it has heard the same stor" from another source* t demonstrates how

high u' in the hierarch" the coer@u' for the criminals must hae !een mounted*

44 #ee also ACF nternational, #ri $anka* +he %uttur massacre. a struggle for -ustice, op. cit. and ACF

nternational, %uttur. #i "ears of m'unit"* +he failure of -ustice in #ri $anka, op. cit.

4< =otaha!a"a a-a'aksa, #ri $ankan :efense #ecretar"

46# $AIA. FO% FO= %#+ CJ# +A+#, $$ #I +%3OA; AJ A?OA:, 28

Eanuar" 200>, htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200>G01G0>CO$O%?O/2*html

17







Furthermore, a source has told ACF that the 'ersons identified in the D+ re'ort as the

direct perpetrators of the killings have been sent abroad for protection by the order of the

Sri Lankan Defense Secretary*

"% !uthorities interfered )ith all stages of investigation

According to the nternational Commission of Eurists (CE, XtYhere was clear goernment

intent to su!ert the inestigation of the %uttur massacre47* n fact, the authorities

interfered with all stages of the inestigation as if the" did not want to let -ustice 'reail nor

the truth !e esta!lished*

"%'% -irst stage of the investigation: the Magistrate ,ourt

+he first in5uest conducted !" the %agistrate of %uttur was a!ru'tl" sto''ed !" a 'hone

call from the #ecretar" of the %inistr" of Eustice and $aw eforms telling him that the casehad to !e transferred to another court in a far@awa" district* +his interference had no !asis in

#ri $ankan legislation and iolated international standards4/* +he direct conse5uence of the

case transfer was 'reenting the witnesses from 'artici'ating to the hearings*

%ore im'ortantl", Sri Lankan authorities helped to conceal an important piece of evidence

incriminating the security forces* A <*<6 mm cali!er !ullet was recoered from one of the

ictims) !odies* #uch cartridges were generall" used !" #'ecial +ask Force and !" some

#'ecial Forces within the #ri $ankan Arm" and a"*

+he !ullet was first mentioned in a re'ort issued !" :r* %alcolm E* :odd, a 'athologist

a''ointed !" the Australian goernment*4> %ichael ?irn!aum, the CE)s o!serer, reacted to

the re'ort e'ressing a serious concern that.

Csomeone remoed from t!e e!iits a ullet t!at !e t!ou#!t mi#!t e incriminatin#

and sustituted anot!er. !t is my understanding that those who had official access to

47 CE, Authorit" without accounta!ilit". +he crisis of im'unit" in #ri $anka, oem!er 2012,

htt'.GGic-*w'engine*netdna@cdn*comGw'@contentGu'loadsG2012G10G#@$AIA@%3D+;@3O+@OJ@12@

FA$*'df , ''* 11>@122, 142

4/ Sri -anka5 T!e inesti#ation and in:uest into t!e killin# of @1 aid $orkers in Muttur in Au#ust 200?;, op. cit.

4> nde'endent forensic inestigation of the %uttur massacre, #ri $anka, August 2006, :r* %alcolm E* :odd,

Consultant #enior Forensic 3athologist, Jictorian nstitute of Forensic %edicine,

htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsG:oddMre'ortM1*'df , '* 6/

1/

http://icj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SRI-LANKA-IMPUNITY-REPORT-NOV-12-FINAL.pdf



http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/Dodd_report_1.pdf






the e"hibits include# the C!$<0 , the %&'<1 , and the (overnment Analyst

$eartment #<2

Once those sus'icions were 'u!licl" oiced, :r* :odd, a renowned e'ert in gun wounds,

suddenl" came !ack on his statements 'retending he did not hae enough e'ertise to -udge

on the cali!er of the discoered cartridge<8*

n summer 2007, as CE was tr"ing to attract 'u!lic attention to the disa''earance of the

!ullet, the 3resident of #ri $anka himself tried to com'el the international o!serers to

retract their statements* According to a source, the 3resident had a meeting with CE, in

which half of the conersation was turning around the missing !ullet* +he same source sa"s

that soon after the #ri $ankan goernment told CE that the" had to a'ologie and come !ack

on their 'u!lic statements if the" wanted further coo'eration from the =o#$*

"%"% Second stage of the investigation: Presidential ,ommission of In3uiry

+o' #ri $ankan authorities re'eatedl" interfered with the 'roceedings as witnesses were

increasingl" testif"ing against the securit" forces !efore the Co*

For eam'le, a 'residential communi5uT was sent to the Commission in oem!er 2007 asking

it not to inestigate or in5uire into the conduct of the A= and his officers<4, who ham'ered the

initial 'olice inestigation into the case<<*

<0 Criminal nestigation :e'artment

<1 Eudicial %edical Officer

<2 Addendum to re'ort #ri $anka. +he nestigation and in5uest into the killing of 17 aid workers in %uttur in

August 2006, %ichael ?irn!aum LC, CE in5uest o!serer, Eune 2007, htt'.GGic-*w'engine*netdna@cdn*comGw'@

contentGu'loadsG2007G06G#ri@$anka@inestigation@in5uest@addendum@trial@o!seration@re'ort@2007*'df , VV8,

80

<8 #u''lementar" e'ort @ nde'endent Forensic nestigation of the %uttur %assacre #ri $anka August 2006,

:r* %alcolm E* :odd, Eul" 20, 2007, htt'.GGuthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsG:oddMP20re'ortM2*'df

<4 CE, Authorit" without accounta!ilit". +he crisis of im'unit" in #ri $anka, op. cit., '* 114

<< ACF nternational, %uttur. #i "ears of m'unit"* +he failure of -ustice in #ri $anka, op. cit., '*12

1>

http://icj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/Sri-Lanka-investigation-inquest-addendum-trial-observation-report-2007.pdf



http://uthr.org/SpecialReports/Dodd_%20report_2.pdf







n 200/, witnesses who had esca'ed from #ri $anka !egan testif"ing through

ideoconferencing, accusing mem!ers of the securit" forces who occu'ied im'ortant

'ositions<6* +he 3residential #ecretariat immediatel" directed the Co to sus'end further

hearing of ideo testimonies 'retending that witness 'rotection legislation had to !e 'assed

!efore the hearing could continue* +his legislation has neer !een ado'ted*

One of ?lake)s ca!les reads.

'ur imression is that the () is actively attemting to shut down further

testimony because it knows the testimony could imlicate the security forces<7*

n Eul" 200>, the head of the Co told the media that the inestigation could not hae !een

com'leted !ecause of a!sence of ideo conferencing facilit"* According to him, the Co could

hae called other witnesses !ut the 'resident wanted a re'ort !ased on what had !een done

so far</

*

Four mem!ers resigned from the Co, 'resuma!l" due to the =o#$)s unwarranted

interference<>* According to a re'ort drafted !" o!ert ans, Chairman of a uro'ean

3arliamentar" :elegation to #ri $anka in 200/, the Co mem!ers resigned sa"ing that the

=o#$ had shown little willingness to hel' them in their work*60

-hrough systematic interference with the investigation, Sri Lankan authorities succeeded in

preventing indictment of the security forces#

<6 # $AIA. #C#++ FO :A# CA ?AI#@D==$#W J#+, 16 %a" 200/,

htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200/G0<G0/CO$O%?O47/*html

<7 # $AIA. #C#++ FO :A# F=?AD%W# J#+ +O # $AIA A: %A$:J#, 2< Eune 200/,


</ anga #irilal, #ri $anka rights 'ro!e ham'ered, commissionWs head sa"s, (euters, 14 Eul" 200>,

htt'.GGin*reuters*comGarticleG200>G07G14Gidndia@41024<200>0714

<> +Z+ OF +A $A: #A%3A+AW# $++# +O 3#:+ O?A%A A: #C+A; C$+O, 22

Octo!er 200>, htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200>G10G0>CO$O%?O>7>*html

60 %3 o!ert ans attem'ts to sull" #ri $ankaWs good name in the uro'ean e"e@ Am!assador Ar"asinha,

htt'.GGwww*defence*lkGnew*as'9fname[200/100>M06

20



http://in.reuters.com/article/2009/07/14/idINIndia-41024520090714




http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20081009_06









1% The Sri Lankan 4overnment )ants to avoid an international

investigation

Although the #ri $ankan -udicial s"stem has failed to inestigate the %uttur massacre, the #ri

$ankan goernment is firml" o''osing an international in5uir" into the %uttur massacre* ;et

calls for an international inestigation hae !een mounting for the 'ast few "ears following

the failure of the domestic inestigation and reelations made !" the D+*61

+r"ing to deter the attention of the international communit", the =o#$ claims that another

inestigation has !een o'ened into the case* oweer, not much information is aaila!le

a!out it* n %a" 2012, +he #unda" $eader re'orted that the goernment had announced that

fres! inesti#ations into t!ese killin#s !ad een initiated, under t!e directions of t!e

Attorne" General=s department * A 'olice s'okesman told the 'a'er that the C: had

a''ointed teams to carr" out inestigations !ut refused to reeal their 'rogress*62

n #e'tem!er 2018, #ri $ankan authorities 'roided an u'date on the inestigation to the D

uman ights Council.

A team of officers from t!e Attorne" General=s epartment !ae reie$ed material

on t!e A+F case, includin# t!e records of t!e +ommission of %n:uir" as $ell as

arc!ied material. T!e Attorne" General !as #ien directions to t!e 'olice for furt!er

inesti#atin# t!e case follo$in# $!ic! t!e possiilit" of prosecution $ill e considered

if t!e perpetrators can e identified.; 68

t follows from this statement that over at least a year and a half since the opening of the

new investigation, it has merely consisted in reviewing the materials of the previous

inconclusive investigations#

A source has recentl" told ACF that some of the ictims) families had !een a''roached.

61 #ee, for eam'le, uman ights atch, N #ri $anka . Dne en5uQte internationale doit Qtre ouerte 'our

Tlucider l)assassinat de di@se't traailleurs humanitaires , 8 aoUt 200>,

htt'.GGwww*hrw*orgGfrGnewsG200>G0/G07Gsri@lanka@une@en5u@te@internationale@doit@tre@ouerte@'our@lucider@l@assassinat@de@d* ecentl", a call for international inestigation has come from the D igh Commissioner for

uman ights*

62 %ar"am Awer, ACF Famil" %em!ers n Fear, op. cit.

68 D'date of the igh Commissioner for uman ights on her Annual e'ort to the uman ights Council,

#tatement !" ** %r* ainatha 3* Ar"asinha, Am!assador G 3ermanent e'resentatie of #ri $anka and $eader

of the #ri $anka :elegation, > #e'tem!er 2018, htt'.GGwww*dail"news*lkGlocalGdon@t@gie@credence@allegations@

ested@interests@am!assador@ar"asinha@tells@'illai

21

http://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2009/08/07/sri-lanka-une-enqu-te-internationale-doit-tre-ouverte-pour-lucider-l-assassinat-de-d



http://www.dailynews.lk/local/don-t-give-credence-allegations-vested-interests-ambassador-aryasinha-tells-pillai










T!e police claim t!at t!e" !ae reopened t!e inesti#ation and t!e" come and talk to

t!em ut they know that this is +ust another form of harassment and nothing will

haen*

According to a num!er of #ri $ankan and estern actors close to the case who hae recentl"

agreed to talk to ACF, three main reasons would 'reent identification of the 'er'etrators. 1

strong interference from to' to !ottom with the inestigatie 'rocessH 2 man" im'ortant

witnesses haing fled #ri $anka and those sta"ing on the ground !eing afraid to testif" 64H 8

much of the eidence haing !een destro"ed !" 'eo'le inoled in the inestigations*

n fact, the current 'olitical regime is in itself the main factor 'reenting -ustice from !eing

done for the ictims of war crimes* As a former D# Am!assador to #ri $anka 3atricia A*

?utens notes in one of her ca!les.

)There are no e"amles we know of a regime undertaking wholesale investigations ofits own troos or senior officials for war crimes while that regime or government

remained in ower. !n )ri anka this is further comlicated by the fact that

resonsibility for many of the alleged crimes rests with the countrys senior civilian and

military leadershi -/.$6<

64 n one of her ca!les released !" ikileaks, a former D# Am!assador to #ri $anka 3atricia A* ?utenis talks

a!out a conersation she had had with the former 3resident Chandrika Iumaratunga. Amassador raised t!e

issue of international epectations aout accountailit" and reconciliation in reference to t!e release of t!e

epartmentEs $ar crimes report. umaratun#a said t!at t!ere $as a fear ps"c!osis in t!e countr" and t!at

'resident (a7apaksa !ad instilled a fear in t!e people, so no one $as $illin# to talk *, FO% 3#:+

O+# :#+DC+J F$DC OF AEA3AI#A, 17 :ecem!er 200>,

htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200>G12G0>CO$O%?O11<0*html

6< # $AIA A@C%# ACCOD+A?$+;. + +A%$ 3#3C+J, 1< Eanuar" 2010,

htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG2010G01G10CO$O%?O82*html

22







Epilogue

umanitarian 'ersonnel risk their lies deliering assistance in situations of armed conflict

and their res'ect !" !elligerents is the most im'ortant condition for those in need to

continue receiing aid* +his is wh" the im'unit" for the %uttur massacre is not onl" an

eam'le of flagrant in-ustice done to the deceased aid workersH it is also a !rutal sign to the

whole international communit" that humanitarians who work in situations of armed conflict

are far too often no longer 'rotected and res'ected !" warring 'arties*

ACF does not seek to !e or re'lace a -udge* For "ears since the massacre, its firm 'osition

was to refrain from an" 'u!lic -udgment on the case and to wait for the outcome of the

official inestigation* ow that all the releant domestic mechanisms are ehausted and

there is no 'ros'ect for an efficient internal inestigation, ACF is coninced that onl" aninde'endent international inestigation can !ring -ustice for the ictims* +he truth will out*

!" calls upon the international community to seriously consider the arguments presented

in this report and to act to put an end to impunity by conducting an international

independent investigation into the Muttur massacre# If such investigation is opened, !"

stands ready to cooperate with it in full, including by providing it with additional

information in !"9s possession# 5nce again, !" demands 0ustice for the Muttur massacre,

a crime against humanitarianism*

28



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80 %a" 200/, AGCG/G8GAdd*1

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Assasination of 17 ciilian aid workers in %uttur on the 4 th of August 2006, ruling addressed !" Dlf

enricsson, ead of #$%%, to #ri $ankan #ecretariat for Coordinating the 3eace 3rocess (#CO33, 2>August 2006, htt'.GGnews*!!c*co*ukG2GhiGsouthMasiaG<2>/74/*stm

=3, +he 'residential Commission)s 'u!lic in5uir" 'rocess so far falls short of international norms

and standards, 'u!lic statement, < %arch 200/,

htt'.GGwww*hrw*orgGsitesGdefaultGfilesGrelatedMmaterialG=3P20'u!licP20statement*'df

nde'endent forensic inestigation of the %uttur massacre, #ri $anka, August 2006, :r* %alcolm E*

:odd, Consultant #enior Forensic 3athologist, Jictorian nstitute of Forensic %edicine,

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P20re'ortM2*'df

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%ichael ?irn!aum LC, CE in5uest o!serer, A'ril 2007,

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FullMe'ort*'df

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%uttur in August 2006, %ichael ?irn!aum LC, CE in5uest o!serer, Eune 2007,

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addendum@trial@o!seration@re'ort@2007*'df

Zaier, #*, #ri $ankan 3residential Commission of n5uir" (2007. :id it amount to a fair hearing9,

Anuario %eicano de :erecho nternacional,

htt'.GG!i!lio*-uridicas*unam*mGestreGderintGcontG10GcmtGcmt14*htm

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24











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# $AIA. =OJ%+ ?$OCI# J:O +#+%O; +O + CO%%##O OF LD;, < Eune

200/, htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200/G06G0/CO$O%?O<<1*html

2<



http://fr.scribd.com/doc/121943760/FULL-REPORT



















http://fr.scribd.com/doc/121943760/FULL-REPORT
















# $AIA. #C#++ FO :A# F=?AD%W# J#+ +O # $AIA A: %A$:J#, 2< Eune 200/,


# $AIA. FO% FO= %#+ CJ# +A+#, $$ #I +%3OA; AJ

A?OA:, 28 Eanuar" 200>, htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200>G01G0>CO$O%?O/2*html

# $AIA. D%A =+# LD; (CO :#?A::H O A$ #D$+#, 22 Eul" 200>,


+Z+ OF +A $A: #A%3A+AW# $++# +O 3#:+ O?A%A A: #C+A; C$+O, 22

Octo!er 200>, htt'.GGwikileaks*orgGca!leG200>G10G0>CO$O%?O>7>*html

FO% 3#:+ O+# :#+DC+J F$DC OF AEA3AI#A, 17 :ecem!er 200>,

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11 Eune 200>, htt'.GGwww*amnest"*orgGenGli!rar"GinfoGA#A87G00<G200>

Amnest" nternational, #ri $anka)s Assault on :issent, Fe!ruar" 2018,htt'.GGwww*amnest"*orgGfrGli!rar"GassetGA#A87G008G2018GenG88/f>!04@0>7e@48/1@/>08@

1/2>fd24aa!fGasa870082018en*'df

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'df

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e'ort@6@1/@0/*'df

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-ustice@sri@lanka

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P20%##O*'df

uman ights atch, N #ri $anka . Dne en5uQte internationale doit Qtre ouerte 'our Tluciderl)assassinat de di@se't traailleurs humanitaires , 8 aoUt 200>,

26













http://www.acatfrance.fr/medias/files/pages_dynamiques/Rapport_Sri_Lanka_ACAT_Juin_2012_FR.pdf




























htt'.GGwww*hrw*orgGfrGnewsG200>G0/G07Gsri@lanka@une@en5u@te@internationale@doit@tre@ouerte@

'our@lucider@l@assassinat@de@d

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umanitarian Concerns and m'lications for #ri $ankan As"lum #eekers in Australia,

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OJ@12@FA$*'df

nternational Federation of +amils, ecution@st"le killings 17 ACF Aid orkers, case re'ort,

htt'.GGtamilnation*coGtamileelamGiftG17P20AidP20worksP20killed*'df

#outh Asia uman ights :ocumentation Centre (#A:C, KCommission #ri $ankaWs uman ights @

$ack of +rans'arenc" :istur!ingK, uman ights Features, 80 #e'tem!er 2006,

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eroes with Feet of Cla", s'ecial re'ort o* 2<, 81 %a" 2007,

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D+, +he choice !etween anarch" and international law, s'ecial re'ort o* 28, 7 oem!er 2006,htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsGs're'ort28*htm

D+, Dnfinished ?usiness of the Fie #tudents and ACF Cases & A +ime to call the ?luff, s'ecial

re'ort o* 80, 1 A'ril 200/, htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsG#'re'ort80*htmH

D+, +hird Anniersar" of the ACF %assacre, s'ecial re'ort o* 88, 4 August 200>,

htt'.GGwww*uthr*orgG#'eciale'ortsGs're'ort88*htm

8ress articles

:ilrukshi andunnetti, A!ductions, white ans and ideoing +amils, T!e Sunda" -eader , / Eul" 200/,

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%ar"am Awer, ACF Famil" %em!ers n Fear, T!e Sunda" -eader , 27 %a" 2012,

htt'.GGwww*thesunda"leader*lkG2012G0<G27Gacf@famil"@mem!ers@in@fearG

3eter A''s, #ri $ankan town deserted and deastated !" !attle, (euters, < August 2006 1<.8<,

htt'.GGnews*oneindia*inG2006G0/G06Gsri@lankan@town@deserted@and@deastated@!"@!attle@

11<4>8246/*html

27






http://tamilnation.co/tamileelam/ift/17%20Aid%20works%20killed.pdf

http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/hrfeatures/HRF150.htm















http://tamilnation.co/tamileelam/ift/17%20Aid%20works%20killed.pdf

http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/hrfeatures/HRF150.htm












3eter A''s, Families tell of #ri $anka aid staffWs final hours, (euters, / August 2006,

htt'.GGtamilnation*coGindictmentGcontinuingwarG060/04aidMworkers*htm]FamiliesMtellMofM#riM$anka

M

3eter A''s, French aid grou' recoers slain #ri $ankan workers, (euters, / August 2006,

htt'.GGwww*nherald*co*nGworldGnewsGarticle*cfm9cMid[2So!-ectid[108><180

Eulien %artin, N $a tuerie des humanitaires de %uttur reste im'unie , (ue8), 22 %a" 2007,

htt'.GGwww*rue/>*comG2007G0<G22Gla@tuerie@des@humanitaires@de@muttur@reste@im'unie

3eter A''s and #imon =ardner, #ri $anka car!om! kills two !" 3eter A''s and #imon =ardner,

(euters, / August 2006, htt'.GGwww*canada*comGstor"M'rint*html9id[07<!7a<7@<8/!@47/>@/0cc@

0c<!af62c!>8Ss'onsor

3eter A''s, #ri $ankaWs escalating war of words oer aid securit", (euters, 16 Aug 2007,

htt'.GGwww*!lack-ul"*infoGarticlesG3eterA''s*html

anga #irilal, #ri $anka rights 'ro!e ham'ered, commissionWs head sa"s, (euters, 14 Eul" 200>,

htt'.GGin*reuters*comGarticleG200>G07G14Gidndia@41024<200>0714

Documentaries

Anne 3oiret and =wenlaouen $e =ouil, N %uttur . un crime contre l)humanitaire , 2007,

htt'.GGwww*dail"motion*comGideoG1tniMmuttur@un@crime@contre@l@humanitaire@docuMnews

5ther

ACF, Eustice for %uttur, htt'.GGwww*-usticeformuttur*orgG

"% +ocuments from !,- archives and )itness testimonies

%ission d)o!seration des traau de la Commission d)en5uQte sur les iolations des droits de

l)homme R #ri $anka (Affaires ACF %uttur S +rincomalee, Am!assade de France R #ri $anka et au

%aldies, %* Eean@3hili''e iaud, %agistrat, a''ort d)Tta'e, 1> aoUt 200/

uman ights Commission of #ri $anka, %uthur Fact Finding %ission (> th August & 10th August, 2006,

81 August 2006

:ocuments 'ertaining to as"lum re5uests of ACF staff and famil" mem!ers of the ictims

ritten witness statements su!mitted to ACF

2/

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10395130


http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=075b7a57-538b-4789-80cc-0c5baf62cb93&sponsor


http://www.blackjuly.info/articles/PeterApps.html



http://www.justiceformuttur.org/

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10395130




http://www.blackjuly.info/articles/PeterApps.html



http://www.justiceformuttur.org/



!bbreviations

A= Attorne" =eneral

A#3 Assistant #u'erintendent of 3olice

C: Criminal nestigation :e'artment

Co 3residential Commission of n5uir"

:= :e'ut" ns'ector =eneral of 3olice

=o#$ =oernment of #ri $anka

=#$ =oernment of #ri $anka

CE nternational Commission of Eurists

=3 nternational nde'endent =rou' of minent 3ersons

E%O Eudicial %edical Officer

$$C $essons $earnt and econciliation Commission)s

$++ $i!eration +igers of +amil elam

=O on@goernmental organiation

OC Officer in Charge

#CO33 #ri $ankan #ecretariat for Coordinating the 3eace 3rocess

#F #ecurit" forces

#$%% #ri $ankan %onitoring %ission

#$3A #ri $anka 3ort Authorit"

##3 #enior #u'erintendent of 3olice