Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madurai (Agenzia Fides) – Protect human rights, save innocent civilians, stop the massacre of human beings in North Sri Lanka: these were the petitions contained in the Memorandum sent to the government in Colombo, from the Ecumenical Christian Forum, headquartered in Madurai, formed by all the Churches of various confessions present in South India.
The Forum expressed their growing concern for the civilian victims of the conflict in Sri Lanka: their conditions continue to worsen, given the intensification of the war that prevents families living in war zones from escaping. They also observe that neither of the two sides involved in the conflict seem concerned for their safety and “no-fire zones” have been determined to facilitate humanitarian aid.
The Forum echoes the appeals launched in recent weeks by the Bishops of Jaffna, Mannar, Trincomalee-Batticaloa, in spite of the alerts that have been made on several occasions by various international organizations like Caritas and the Red Cross, that try to operate in the area, but do not have access to the conflict zones and cannot help the civilians in flight. The text recalls that Christians of various denominations are working on an international level in a solidarity campaign for the victims of the war, which are mainly Tamil civilians.
In the Memorandum – sent to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Indian Government, and the UN – the Forum reminds them that human life is a gift from God and that treating it with utmost disrespect as is the case in this war, is a sin against the Almighty. The text calls for an immediate end to the hostilities and for the possibility of humanitarian organizations to be able to work in the area, to provide emergency assistance to the population caught up in the cross-fire and who are experiencing great suffering as a result of the conflict.
“We firmly believe that the issue at stake in Sri Lanka cannot be resolved with the use of force, but only through political instruments, through dialogue between the two parts. Thus, we encourage the Sri Lankan Government to immediately reopen negotiations,” the document affirms.
The Forum has also asked the Indian Government to stop military support to Colombo and encourages the UN to address the question of the war in Sri Lanka on the international agenda, as it is strongly affecting the Tamil minority. An on-site observation team, they say, should be sent in to analyze the situation and visit the areas affected by the conflict, where fundamental international laws for protecting civilians in time of war, are not being fully respected. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 9/3/2009)
