Remembering the Mutter massacre victims: Image courtesy of Tamil Nation.
Action Against Hunger honors the memory of humanitarian aid workers assassinated in Sri Lanka in 2006 and continues to demand justice for the murders of our staff.
On August 4, 2006, 17 of our colleagues were executed in Muttur, Sri Lanka. These men and women – who were clearly identified as humanitarian workers – were murdered in their offices as they worked to provide assistance to survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Since then, government authorities have not taken any action to bring those responsible for the murders to justice. Action Against Hunger continues to demand the prosecution of the perpetrators.
This assault, led by some members of the Sri Lankan Government forces, constitutes a war crime, as the Geneva Convention rules that, during wartime, civilians and aid workers’ protection remains an uninfringeable principle of international humanitarian law.
For 15 years, Sri Lankan authorities have not taken any action to support the victims or their families, though the gravity of this crime has been recognized by the highest international authorities. The involvement of the Sri Lankan authorities, their efforts to block any real investigations, and the passage of time make the pursuit of justice for our colleagues even more difficult and complex.
Despite the impunity for these assassinations, Action Against Hunger ensured an international investigation was launched in 2014, which resulted in a report on the crimes conducted during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The United Nations Human Rights Council corroborated our conclusion that the Sri Lankan security forces were involved in the attack and that the victims’ families and witnesses were under threat.
The Human Rights Council requested that a Special Tribunal be created, a proposal that was validated by the United Nations and the Sri Lankan Government. However, this Tribunal has been consistently postponed. The Sri Lankan Government opposes the presence of international judges in the country. Last January, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized in a report that: “Sri Lanka remains in a state of denial about the past, with truth-seeking efforts aborted and the highest State officials refusing to make any acknowledgement of past crimes.”
Sadly, the Muttur massacre was not an isolated event. Since the beginning of 2021 alone, nearly 200 aid workers around the world have been killed, injured or kidnapped while helping vulnerable people. These tragedies remind us that the international community must mobilize to ensure that indifference and disregard for international humanitarian law do not prevail.
Today and every day, we remember our 17 colleagues, and all of the other humanitarian workers the world has lost. We demand justice for our staff and their families. More broadly, we call on all parties to armed conflicts—and those who can influence them—to uphold international humanitarian law and to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to communities in need, safely. We also urge the United Nations and other world leaders to do everything possible to meet their duty to protect civilians and aid workers. The safety of humanitarian workers and the people they serve is non-negotiable.
Fifteen years after the massacre, we will never forget and never give up on our search for justice for our staff members and their families. We honor the sacrifice and the memories of:
M. Narmathan, 23 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
R. Arulrajah, 24 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
S. Koneswaran, 24 years old, Driver
M. Rishikesan, 24 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
R. Sivapiragasham, 25 years old, Hygiene Promotion Moderator
G. Kavitha, 27, Hygiene Advisor
T. Pratheeban, 27 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
A. Jaseelan, 27 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
K. Kovarthani, 27 years old, Hygiene Promotion Moderator
V. Kokilavathani, 29 years old, Hygiene Promotion Moderator
Y. Kodeeswaran, 30 years old, Food Security Technician
A.L.M. Jawffar, 31 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
S.P. Anantharajah, 32 years old, Program Manager
I. Muralitharan, 33 years old, Driver
G. Sritharan, 36 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
M. Ketheswaran, 36 years old, Water & Sanitation Technician
S. Ganesh, 54 years old, Driver
