CHRAC condemns bombing of UN Headquarters in Iraq
Published on 20 August 2003; Cambodia Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC)
The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC) strongly condemns the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Iraq which killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 100 innocent people.
On this sad day, CHRAC wishes to express its condolences to the families of the victims and its hope that the wounded will fully and quickly recover from their injuries.
"This is a terrible human tragedy and our thoughts are with the many innocent people who suffered in this indefensible attack," said Thun Saray, chairperson of CHRAC, a coalition of 17 Cambodian NGOs working on human rights issues. "We also hope a thorough investigation is begun immediately to identify and prosecute those who were responsible for the bombing."
Among those killed in the August 19 attack was Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Iraq and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mr de Mello's long experience at the UN included serving as Special Envoy of the High Commissioner for Refugees for
Cambodia in the early 1990s and as the UNTAC Director of Repatriation, overseeing the return of refugees to Cambodia during the UN mission there.
"We are dismayed by the loss of Mr de Mello and so many of his colleagues in this senseless and unprecedented violence against the United Nations," said Kek Galabru, President of Licadho, a Cambodian human rights NGO and member of CHRAC.
