Demining suspended following killing of NGO staffer

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 00:16 GMT]
Unidentified gunmen chased two staffers of Danish Demining Group (DDG) along Kasthooriyaar road in Jaffna Monday morning and opened fire on them, killing one and seriously injuring the other. Mr. Steen Wetlesen, Country Programme Manager, DDG, expressing his shock in a statement released Monday. He confirmed that all demining activities in Jaffna were being suspended.

The DDG staffer shot killed was Sivasamy Sritharan, 31, a resident of Pu'liyangkoodal in Kayts. His fellow worker was seriously injured in the shooting is Vijeyenthiran.

The full text of the DDG statement is as follows:

DANISH DEMINING GROUP SRI LANKA

Statement from Danish Demining Group.

Danish Demining Group in Sri Lanka deeply regrets to announce that a member of its Jaffna Field staff was tragically shot dead this morning, the 20 th August, whilst on his way to work, by unknown gunmen. In the same incident another DDG staff member was also wounded.

All DDG staff are deeply shocked by this terrible incident and DDG, Jaffna has immediately suspended all Demining activities to evaluate the security situation and safety of its staff.

We know that all DDG staff and the whole aid community would want to pass on their deepest sympathies to the family of the killed staff member and are hoping for the speedy recovery of the wounded staff member.

Steen Wetlesen
Country Programme Manager
Danish Demining Group


Chronology:


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