FM condemns ICJ's stance on French aid worker killings

PARIS: Reiterating the Government's commitment to find the truth behind the killing of local aid workers attached to ACF, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama reproached the use of this incident to tarnish the image of the country.

The Minister who is on an official visit to France, as part of his European tour, met President Denims Metzger and Executive Director Francois Danel of the Paris based aid group, Action Against Hunger (ACF).

The Minister said this tragic issue has been made use of by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) to level unfounded allegations against the Government.

The ICJ which trumpeted accusations based on Australian forensic expert Dr. Malcolm Dodd's contradictory ballistics report casting doubts on the Sri Lankan investigation, however, remained silent when the Australian expert retracted his comments saying the Sri Lankan ballistic expert's findings, in fact, were correct.

The President of the ACF told the Minister that although the case was being used by various parties in various ways, the ACF was concerned only to find the truth about what happened to the victims, out of a sense of responsibility for their families.

The Minister said the inquiry into this matter both through the normal courts, as well as the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which was observed by an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) was proceeding expeditiously.

The Government saw the act as a grave attack against humanitarian aid workers and it was committed to expedite the investigations and bring those responsible for the killing to justice.

The Minister briefed them on the legislation for witness protection and assistance which is to be brought into effect shortly.

Appreciating the work carried out by the ACF in Sri Lanka the minister offered assistance to allay any security concerns the ACF was having in the East. The Minister requested the French aid group to review the possibility of re-opening its office in Batticaloa as foreign government, as well as Non-Governmental Organizations are returning to the area, cleared of LTTE by security forces.

ACF officials also expressed their strong protest at comments made by the Secretary General of SCOPP against the ACF and wanted clarification from the Foreign Minister whether it reflected the Government's position.

Responding Foreign Minister Bogollagama said that it was not within the ambit of the SCOPP Chief to make any comments on such matters.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka in France Chitranganee Wagiswara and Director General Public Communications Ravinatha Aryasinha, Director General/West Rodney Perera, and Counsellor/Head of Chancery of the Embassy in Paris Himalee Arunatilaka.