ASIA/SRI LANKA - More fighting and victims in the North: the Church renews her appeal for an end to the violence

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – While the North of the country continues to face conflict and fighting, resulting in numerous victims, the Church in Sri Lanka is once again calling for an end to the hostility and for reconciliation.
The Sri Lankan army killed 52 Tamil Tigers during the fighting that took place last weekend in the northern part of the island and they themselves lost 7 men, according to a report issued today from the military on the civil war that has caused so much bloodshed in the country, for 25 years now. Fighting is taking place in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, and Mullaitivu, government sources say. On June 16, a suicide bombing took place in the city of Vavuniya, causing 12 deaths among police officers and 40 injured, including children. The bomber was mounted on a motorcycle that crashed into a police station. The Defense Ministry reports that since January, 4,335 guerrillas and 399 military soldiers have died.
In response to the increased violence and victims, Archbishop Oswald Gomis of Colombo, in presiding the Solemn Vespers at the Shrine of Saint Anthony in Kochchikade, asked the faithful and all Sri Lankan citizens to forgive one another and to pray intensely for peace for the afflicted nation: “Look at the violence and hate that is causing so much bloodshed in the country. We cannot pray for peace and continue living with hate and envy in our hearts. We cannot implore mercy and foster feelings of revenge. We cannot ask for God’s love and continue to wish evil and violence on others,” he said, highlighting the responsibility of each person in building peace and reconciliation in the country.
In the meantime, the Catholic faithful continue to hope for the reopening of the Marian shrine at Madhu, in the Diocese of Mannar, after government forces took control of the area.
The Shrine and the area surrounding it are closed to civilians, in order to guarantee safety and to clear the area of mines (cf Fides 4/4/2008 and 15/4/2008). Bishop Joseph Rayappu of Mannar, asked the government in Colombo in April to declare the Shrine a “demilitarized zone” so as to allow for the return of the statue of Our Lady of Madhu, on the occasion of her feast on July 2, and for the feast of the Assumption on August 15. The entire local Church anxiously awaits that this desire may become a reality. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/6/2008)