Lanka aid killings probe 'flawed'

The aid workers' bodies were exhumed

An investigation by Sri Lankan police into the killing of 17 local aid workers last year is seriously flawed, independent legal experts have said.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) report says there has been "a disturbing lack of impartiality and transparency in the investigation".

The bodies of the Action Against Hunger workers were found in the north-eastern town of Muttur last August.

Truce monitors blamed security forces, who denied carrying out the killings.

Heavy fighting had been going on in the area between troops and Tamil rebels.

'Inadequate'

The ICJ report, compiled by senior British barrister Michael Birnbaum QC, was highly critical of the authorities.

The Sri Lankan government has yet to give an official response to the report.

However, the spokesman on defence matters, Kehaliya Rambukewelle, told the BBC's Tamil service that the killings at Muttur were a high priority for a presidential commission examining a number of incidents.

"It is premature for anyone to come to a conclusion," about Muttur, Mr Rambukewelle said.

The report said official reports indicated that police had decided from the outset that Tamil rebels were responsible for the killing of the aid workers, all but one of whom were ethnic Tamils.

"Collection of evidence has been incomplete and inadequate. In particular, the CID has not interviewed any member of the Sri Lankan security forces, nor any Tamil, apart from the family members of those killed," the report said.

It referred to "a number of unanswered questions" in connection with ballistic exhibits in the case.

"The observer made a detailed analysis of the relevant documents and reports and found many apparent inconsistencies," it said.

Mr Birnbaum called for the establishment of an independent team to investigate the deaths and a witness protection programme.

He urged the authorities to seriously consider reforms to the criminal justice system "to ensure impartial and effective investigations and independent decisions as to prosecution".