A French aid group accused Sri Lankan security forces on Tuesday of executing 17 of its employees in 2006 during the country’s civil war, and said the government had protected the killers. The group, Action Against Hunger, said it had information implicating the army, navy and police personnel. It said they lined up the victims at their office in Muttur, forced them to their knees and shot them in their heads. The group said its information came from witnesses, confidential documents and diplomatic contacts. The organization said it had been awaiting the outcome of a local investigation, but decided to publicly denounce the forces because “relevant domestic mechanisms have been exhausted, witnesses have been silenced and the internal Sri Lankan investigation has become a farce.” The group called for an international investigation into the massacre. A military spokesman, Brig. Ruwan Wanigasooriya, said the government “remains committed” to investigate any “alleged perpetration of crimes” by the armed forces and the police.
Source: NYTimes
