Silencing the Church

(April 26, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian) The killing of M.X. Karunaratnam yesterday (April 21) confirms our fear of the systematic attempt of the Government at silencing the leadership of the Catholic Church and debarring her services to the down trodden, the voiceless and those whose rights have been violated or denied, said commission for justice and peace of the Catholic Diocese of Jaffna in a statement.

According to the Statement received the Sri Lanka Guardian, “ Fr. Jimbrown, who after serving in Mannar for many years, had arrived at Allaipiddy only 2 weeks before he was made to disappear. He was targeted because he in spite of the reluctance of the Navy, personally stood for evacuating the beleaguered people of that village to Kayts along with the all the wounded in the previous night’s shelling. He was finally allowed to take them and especially also the youth after long pleading with the Navy on their behalf, begging on his knees and giving an assurance that they were all innocent youth. The area commander had later openly expressed his anger towards him at a meeting with the public. Fr. Jimbrown disappeared a few days later after passing a navy check point on his way towards Allaipiddy.”

“Fr. Pakiaranjith was the District coordinator of the JRS, a social service organization. He was targeted on 26. 09. 2007 while on his way to arrange emergency relief to people displaced by war. That too took place after he had registered his passing through the Omanthai Army check point.”

“It is evident that Fr. Karunaratnam too has been clearly and purposefully targeted while he was returning after Sunday mass along his normal route. Because his car was moving very slowly as it was being towed since it had broken down”

“He volunteered to be a Human rights worker in the LTTE controlled area. Seeing his honesty of purpose and fortitude, he was appointed to be in charge of the Human Rights activities of the whole of North-East.”

“While we are sorry that we have lost another sincere, industrious, and courageous priest, we wish to assure you that we cannot give up serving our people in such dire need as they are in today. This is the calling given by the Lord to us and we will serve Him whatever dangers we may have to face,” the statement added.

On your part, may we entreat you to plead with the Government:

1. To stop its present effort at finding a war solution to the dire problem of the ethic rights of the Tamils and the Muslims and to pursue the path of a negotiated peace as advised by many nations and quarters.

2. Not to target civilians in this war as is done purposely through the claymore mines and especially the aerial bombings taking place almost daily over civilian targets.

3. To stop killing, threatening, demoralizing and pressurizing social and religious leaders and volunteers, and instead,

4. To encourage them and those who serve the war-torn people and to have communication with them so that at least through them the Government comes to know the true position and results of the war instead of depending on only the false information doled out purposely by the security forces as is clearly evident (to us who are here) when listening to the interviews given by them to the media.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Anonymous said...

Whoever posted this article is obviously is a biased LTTE sympathiser who has no concern for the Hindu Tamil race of the North.

Lets closely look at the demands this person has made.

1.Can someone please remind this person how many times the government of Sri Lanka tried to solve it by negotiating with this Psychopathic Killer and his goons since 1984. The present government tried their best to talk with the Killers giving all the support to take them overseas to settle this by negotiating. How many other countries have done this in the world? Who started this round of war, has he forgotten? How come this person who is concern about the Tamils and now adding Muslims also tell this to LTTE? How many Muslims living under LTTE? LTTE have to openly declare that LTTE is ready to negotiate with the government and then if the government does not agree only then you can accuse or make these demand. How many times this so called ceasefire was used to stockpile more arms to kill more innocent people of Sri Lanka by the LTTE? Does this person believe for a minute that the government will get caught again? SO first thing tell the LTTE to stop and declare their willingness to negotiate genuinely? But then what will happen to Prabha? Who is going to hand over him to India and Sri Lanka justice system if the problem is solved by negotiation?

2.What evidence has got to accuse the government of Claymore mines targeting civilians. LTTE has targeted civilians all the time because they are cowards who cannot face the army but innocent civilians. Go and tell Psychopath Prabha to stop it first. How many innocent has he killed so far. How many innocent Tamil leaders he has killed so far in the name of Tamil liberation? If the LTTE says it is the govt. who is responsible for this claymore mine then it is obvious that LTTE is weak and govt. intelligent services are in the LTTE area and that is accepting the defeat by LTTE already.

3. How many innocent Buddhist monks this psychopath has killed? Aren't they important? Ask this psychopath to stop killing Buddhist monks and religious places and putting pressure on the Buddhist first.

4. You probably do not know that the Tamil people living in the South has no problem with the rest of the people or armed forces. This person is unaware or listening only to the LTTE propaganda as it is very obvious that this person is not aware how much people are suffering because of this psychopath? Please listen to real situation in the South and make decisions.

Ask your LTTE to release all the children and release people to leave the area to other areas if they wish instead of using them as shields to protect the killers. What have these innocent people has done to LTTE other than being innocent Tamils by birth. Why is LTTE using innocent Tamil people for their protection instead of protecting the people?

Once you comply with these I believe the government of Sri Lanka will do everything to come to negotiate with LTTE. If the govt. didnot I will join you with my family and friends to pressure on the Govt.