A/HRC/25/23 persons. The Government has never published the Commission’s report. The case was also investigated by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka at the time; its report, which concluded that security forces had been involved, first appeared in the public domain in January 2014.32 The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission had expressed dismay at the lack of follow-up to the findings of the Udalagama Commission, and recommended that the Government investigate the killings further. 50. In 2013, the Government informed the Human Rights Council that the AttorneyGeneral had instructed the police to commence a non-summary inquiry before judicial authorities. At the time, the Government noted that the matter “may be brought to a conclusion and is concrete evidence of our commitment to accountability”.33 51. In June 2013, 12 Special Task Force officers were arrested and remanded in connection with the murders. The Senior Superintendent of Police, who was in command at the time, was not among them (he has since been promoted to Deputy Inspector General and returned to Trincomalee). The Attorney-General informed the High Commissioner in August 2013 that the anticipated time frame for proceedings of this kind was three months, but pointed out the difficulties in convincing witnesses to come forward. The officers were released on bail in October 2013. On 20 January 2014, during a meeting with the Secretary to the President, the Attorney-General’s Office informed the High Commissioner that evidence had been recorded from 14 witnesses, and affidavits examined from another seven. The Attorney-General’s Office has summonsed a further 14 witnesses, although had had difficulties contacting those outside the country. After eight years of investigations, commissions of inquiry and repeated commitments by the Government, it is of great concern that this case has not been brought to a conclusion. 2. Action contre la Faim 52. On 4 August 2006, 17 aid workers from Action contre la Faim were executed at their office premises in Muttur, when the Government and LTTE were fighting for control of the town.34 53. An inquest into the killings began in the Muttur Magistrate’s Court on 15 August 2006. In subsequent months, however, the case was transferred to Anuradhapura then to Kantale, and then back to Anuradhapura. In November 2007, the magistrate of Anuradhapura was transferred to another location and the case was sent back to the magistrate in Muttur (a different magistrate to the one who initially heard the case in August 2006), where it has since ground to a halt. Action contre la Faim lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, later complaining of its total ineffectiveness and lack of cooperation.35 54. Credible and independent local and international organizations have conducted substantial inquiries into the case and made serious allegations about its mishandling by the 32 33 34 35 Available from www.colombotelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/report-by-the-HRCappointed-Special-Rapporteur.pdf. Statement by the leader of the Sri Lanka delegation, Mahinda Samarasinghe, at the high-level segment of the twenty-second session of the Human Rights Council, available from https://extranet.ohchr.org/sites/hrc/HRCSessions/RegularSessions/22ndSession/OralStatements/Sri%2 0Lanka%20mtg%206.pdf. In its ruling addressed to the Sri Lankan Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process on 29 August 2006, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission concluded that the Army was in control of the town at the time of the death of the aid workers. Action contre la Faim, The Muttur massacre: a struggle for justice, study report, June 2008, available from www.actionagainsthunger.org/sites/default/files/publications/ACF-IN-Sri-Lanka-AdvocacyReport-6-18-08.pdf. 13