Sri Lankan suspects bailed as the Shaikh family struggle to deal with
Christmas Day killing of Red Cross worker at resort
The Guardian, Sunday
23 December 2012 14.29 GMT
Simon Danczuk MP says he fears a 'cover-up' over the death of Red Cross
worker Khuram Shaikh killed in Sri Lanka on Christmas Day 2011. Photograph:
guardian.co.uk
Mohammad Shaikh has observed the same ritual almost every day for the
past 11 months. After a short drive to a Rochdale cemetery, he prays and then
checks the flowers on his youngest son's grave. He always brings a fresh bunch.
Since he buried Khuram, a 32-year-old Red Cross worker, on 6 January
this year, Mohammad has interrupted his routine only for the three weeks it
took him and his wife to perform the hajj on their son's behalf.
Twelve months after Khuram was murdered while on holiday in Sri Lanka, his relatives
are far from coming to terms with his death. They still do not know exactly how
or why he died, and are still waiting to see his killers brought to justice.
Khuram, who had just spent months fitting prosthetic limbs in Gaza, was
spending Christmas and the new year in Sri Lanka when, early on Christmas morning last year, he became involved in an
altercation at his hotel in the resort of Tangalle.
Eight men, who are said to have been armed and drunk – and to include a
prominent local politician with ties to the government – are accused of
attacking him. Stabbed and shot, Khuram died; a female colleague who was with
him was assaulted and left badly injured.
Despite assurances from the Sri Lankan government that those responsible
for his murder would "be severely dealt with even if a ruling-party
politician is involved", no charges have been brought. The eight suspects
were recently granted bail.
Khuram's family cannot understand why, now that the police investigation
is complete, things are taking so long.
His brother, Nasir, an NHS project manager, describes the situation as
"disheartening, upsetting" and unacceptable. "It should have
been fast-tracked, and yet 12 months on, we're not at that stage," he
says. "Something that was being pushed so quickly at the beginning is
slowing down."
The Foreign Office, which has been keeping the Shaikhs informed of
developments on the island, is also urging action. It said in a statement:
"The UK cannot interfere in Sri Lanka's legal
system, but we hope that a trial occurs without any undue delay to bring the
perpetrators of this terrible crime to justice."
The family's MP, Simon
Danczuk, fears "political interference" may be responsible for
the lack of progress, and wants David Cameron to consider boycotting the Commonwealth heads of
government meeting in Sri Lanka next year in protest.
"Despite assurances from the government that there would be a swift
and straightforward trial, this is going nowhere and ministers and police are
sitting on their hands," he says.
"David Cameron should think twice about attending this meeting while
British nationals are being brutally murdered in Sri Lanka with local
politicians implicated and their government is not even prepared to investigate
properly."
However, Neville de Silva, Sri Lanka's acting high commissioner to the
UK, dismisses suggestions of government interference or deliberate delay. He
says he had been told by the attorney general's department that
"non-summary inquiries" are due to begin shortly.
After that, he says, the indictment for murder could be served in the
high court.
He adds: "Those who advocate adherence to the rule of law and
proper legal procedures would appreciate that persons cannot be indicted on the
basis of allegations made by others."
The Shaikhs say they have been overwhelmed by tributes paid to Khuram by
those he worked with and helped. His job with the International Committee of the Red
Cross had taken him from North Korea and Ethiopia to Gaza, and he had just
been appointed rehabilitation programme manager.
The room in Gaza where people learn to use their prosthetic limbs and
work to recover mobility has been named in his honour and a plaque in his
memory was unveiled by the mayor.
"He loved his job," says Nasir. "It was a perfect match
for his personality: he put other people before himself and he had a warm,
loving heart."
Although Khuram had been due to take up another field post in Cambodia
when he was murdered, his ambition was to reach the senior ranks of the Red
Cross.
"I remember he showed me a photograph of when he went to the Red
Cross's headquarters in Geneva for his job interview," says his brother.
"He said to me, 'Nass, you know what? One day that's where I'm going to be
working.'"
The family, says Nasir, is dreading this Christmas and the memories it
will bring.
"Reliving that day itself is the bit I'm scared of. I've got a
little girl who's four now. That's the bit I struggle with: as much as I keep a
brave face, I break down when she asks about how Khuram is. She calls him chachoo,
which is uncle in Urdu. When she says, 'I've not seen chachoo in ages',
that just breaks my heart."
When the first anniversary has passed, the Shaikhs will continue their fight for justice for Khuram. Nasir will keep pushing for
progress in Sri Lanka and his parents will keep asking themselves how their
son, who had worked in some of the most dangerous places in the world, came to
die in an apparently random eruption of violence at a tourist resort.
Until the trial comes, and perhaps long after it ends, the family will
continue their visits to Khuram's grave.
"It's just so sad," says Nasir. "I can go to work and
think of Khuram on the way there and on the way back and in the evening. But my
parents think and breathe it every day. I can see them continuing their daily
routine of taking flowers and praying for the rest of their lives."
