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| Red Cross Red Crescent Movement condemns murder of Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteer 17 December 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.xxxEarlier 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. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Davide Vignati, ICRC Colombo Tel. +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 77 728 96 82 Merrick Peiris, SLRC Colombo Tel. +94 11 534 70 00 or 0773 68 86 47 Patrick Fuller, International Federation Colombo Tel. +94 11 45 28 698 or 0773 50 21 54 Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva Tel. +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26 Matthew Cochrane, International Federation Geneva Tel. +41 22 730 4426 or +41 79 308 9804 International Federation media service duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 3881 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 186 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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