14 UN Staff detained behind barbed wires in Sri Lanka – UN lost control over War Savvy Sri Lankan Government
(War Without Witness, Thu, Apr 23, 2009) – Independent investigations completed by War Without Witness confirms the below,
* 14 UN Staff are currently detained in Sri Lankan Government barbed wire detention camps in Vavuniya for more than 2 months ( ~ since 20th Feb 2009 )
* All the below powerful UN Senior Management were well aware of this situation, but lacked will & courage to save their colleagues from this misery, despite multiple plea from detained staff, their family members & colleagues. All the detained staff are minority ethnic tamils and allege this as a racial discrimination by the UN Country Office in Colombo, Sri Lanka and UN Head Quarters.
o OCHA Chief – Mr John Holmes
o UN expert on Internally Displaced – Mr Walter Kaelin,
o UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Sri Lanka – Mr Neil Buhne
o UN Secretary General Bani Ki-moon’s Chief of Staff – Mr Vijay Nambiar
# Detaining UN Staff for more than 2 months “without freedom of movement” is a violation of international law as UN staff have functional immunity. UN under the leadership of Ban Ki-moon lacks the will & courage to take action against Government of Sri Lanka against this injustice at least for the sake of their colleagues.
Copy of UN Issued Identity Card of a Staff detained by Sri Lankan Government.
”The person to whom this card is an employee of … and has the status of an United Nations Official. It is requested that he/she be afforded all possible assistance in the performance of his/her duties. “
* List of UN Staff detained by Sri Lankan Government behind barbed wire detention camps in Vavuniya
No
Name of the UN staff
Name of the Agency
1
S.Suthaparan
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security – UNDSS
2
S.Elilkumaran
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security – UNDSS
3
G.Ramanan
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security – UNDSS
4
A.Visuvalingam
The United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF
5
S.Elenkeshwaran
The United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF
6
S.Balamohan
The United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF
7
R.Varatharajahan
The United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF
8
S.Genka
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – UNOCHA
9
P.Mohan
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – UNOCHA
10
R.Viyarajakirshnan
The United Nations Office for Project Services – UNOPS
11
T.Ranjanthiran
The United Nations Office for Project Services – UNOPS
12
T.Thillaikkumaran
The United Nations Office for Project Services – UNOPS
13
S.Thavarasha
International Organization for Migration – IOM
14
S. Sivasundaram
The United Nations World Food Programme – UN WFP
“War Without Witness” will continue to report on the Genocide in Sri Lanka and if you have any evidences etc please email them to WitnessDesk at WarWithoutWitness.com
Executive Director,
War Without Witness
http://www.warwithoutwitness.com
