Sri Lanka: UNICEF staffs expelled for protesting against Sri Lankan military

Saturday, 24 November 2007

At least two international workers of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have been expelled from Sri Lanka for their part in a protest against the country's military. UNICEF Country Chief Phillipe Duamelle was called to the foreign ministry on Thursday, where officials "expressed serious concern" over the agency's participation at the public protest held in June. "The Country Representative was requested to take appropriate action against the staff members who participated in the demonstration including the withdrawal of the concerned international staff," the foreign ministry said.

The government also asked UNICEF to dismiss its local UNICEF staff who joined the demonstration outside the main railway station in Colombo, the ministry said.

A local human rights group had organized the peaceful protest to condemn the killing of two Red Cross workers, allegedly by the country's military.

The murdered Red Cross workers were from the country's minority Tamil community which is often subjected to unexplained deaths and disappearances.

UN officials have said that Sri Lanka was among the most dangerous places for aid workers to work in the world.

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