Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Condemns Murder Of Sri Lanka Red Cross Volunteer

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17-12-2007 -- The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement strongly condemns the abduction and murder of a volunteer of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society in Jaffna on 14 December.

Sooriyakanthy Thavarajah (43) worked for the Jaffna branch of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS). He was abducted by unidentified gunmen from his home in Kalviwan Kadu, Jaffna, in the presence of his family. His body was found on 16 December at Kaithady.

Mr Thavarajah had been an active member of the Red Cross for many years and served as chairman of the Point Pedro Division for the past three years. In 2005, he received an award for ‘Best Volunteer’ from the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society in recognition of his contribution during the tsunami tragedy.

"We are shocked by another senseless and brutal murder of one of our volunteers and wish
to convey our sincere condolences to his family and colleagues", said Jagath Abeysinghe, President of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement calls upon the Sri Lankan authorities to carry out an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the killing.

Earlier this year on 1 June, two SLRCS workers from Batticaloa were abducted from the Fort Railway station in Colombo and murdered. They were in Colombo to attend a disaster management training workshop organized by the SLRCS.

The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement reminds all parties to the conflict that they must respect the work of humanitarian agencies and refrain from any acts that might jeopardize humanitarian workers or activities. It also urges them to take all necessary measures to ensure that aid workers assisting the civilian population and other persons not or no longer taking part in the hostilities are spared from attack and can move freely and safely.

Despite this murder, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society together with its partners from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement will continue its efforts to help victims of the conflict and the Tsunami.

Source: Red Cross