Sri Lanka: NESoHR Chairman Fr. Karunaratnam killed in DPU attack

Rev. Father M X Karunaratnam, the chairman of the NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR), was killed in a Claymore attack carried out by a Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of the Sri Lanka Army on Sunday, according to initial reports from Tamileelam Police. The attack took place on Mallaavi - Vavunikku'lam Road in Vanni around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, according to initial reports.

Fr. Karunaratnam frequently uses the road as his residential prayer and counseling center is located in Vavunikku'lam. His vehicle is known to everyone in the area, residents said implying that the Claymore attack has specifically targeted him.

Fr. Karunartnam was the foremost Human Rights activist in Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam controlled Vanni. NESoHR was the only body in Vanni to report and voice for the Human Rights of the Tamil people in the NorthEast.

Fondly called as 'Ki'li Father,' he also played a key role in providing psychological support for those in the NorthEast affected by the war and the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami disaster.

NESoHR was launched, in July 2004, as part of the Norwegian-facilitated 2002 Peace Process to strengthen the human rights protection mechanisms in the NorthEast of Sri Lanka.

Karunaratnam led a HESoHR delegation to Geneva in October 2004 and met with several European organizations involved in rights issues. Officials and diplomats visiting Ki'linochchi had also made it a practice to meet Fr. Karunaratnam to discuss the humanitarian situation during their missions to Vanni.