While this controversy rages on, another aid worker was killed in Jaffna in an area under the control of the security forces. A local staff member of the Danish de-mining group was shot dead in Jaffna and another suffered injuries causing the organization to suspend operations. This took place only after a few days of the views expressed by John Holmes.

It is doubtful whether the culprit will be brought to book. Since the perpetrators of the killings of other aid workers in the past have not been traced or punished.

There are reports that the Danish De-mining Group and the Danish refugee council intends to suspend their operations following this incident.

Meanwhile, the former Indian Prime Minister Gujaral and the human rights organization led by him have exposed the sufferings of the people displaced by war in the east. They have charged that the security forces and the paramilitary groups used the refugees as puppets in their hands.

It has been exposed that the living conditions of the displaced in refugee camps are rather shocking. There is no regular supply of food. They don’t have adequate supply of drinking water and health facilities are poor.

While the living conditions of the refugees are deteriorating, threats to aid workers are increasing bringing the services of humanitarian agencies to a halt.

An English translation of the Editorial in The Sudar Oli, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo.

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