ASIA/SRI LANKA - “We are against the anti-conversion Bill because we are convinced that the best way to solve the problem is dialogue” President of Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka tells Fides

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The anti-conversion Bill and the Church’s commitment to protecting fundamental human freedoms; devolution and federalism as solutions for decade old civil war in Sri Lanka, were the emerging topics in an interview with Archbishop Vianney Fernando of Kandy, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, who kindly agreed to speak with Fides. The Archbishop is in Rome with a group of Bishops from Sri Lanka for their five yearly ad limina visit which consists of individual and collegial audiences with the Pope and prayers at tombs of St Peter and St Paul

Why does Sri Lanka want to approve the anti-conversion Bill? What lies at the root of this decision?
Over the past thirty years a proliferation of fundamentalist Christian sects in Sri Lanka has irritated the Island’s Buddhist majority. The members of these sects are militant proselytisers who totally ignore the fact that they are in a multi-religious, multicultural, multi-linguistic context. It appears that to swell their numbers these people often resort to questionable methods. This situation has given rise to growing concern particularly among the Buddhist clerics and as a result, to counter Christian fundamentalism we have seen the growth of Buddhist fundamentalism. Now some Buddhist extremists accuse all Christians in general of proselytising and using unethical means to obtain forced conversions. And since last year to give support to legislation against unethical conversions, parliament has nine Buddhist monks as especially appointed members.

How far have they come with the proposed Bill?
The “Anti-conversion Bill” was presented to Parliament last year by a small group of MPs and it immediately aroused concern among all Christian leaders on the Island. With the help of the best lawyers we denounced the Bill as being unconstitutional and we managed to have the it brought before the Supreme Court. The Court ruled that some clauses are contrary to the Constitution and to fundamental human rights and freedoms. If those clauses are not eliminated parliament will have to reach a two thirds majority to approve the Bill because it will mean amending the Constitution.
Now the Bill has been adopted as a government proposal with the title “Protecting religious freedom in our country”. But this text is worse and even more dangerous. If the government insists we will protest vigorously: Christianity’s vision is not only vertical it is also horizontal as we are taught by the commandment “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your neighbour as yourself”. Our duty is to obey God not man. Together with the other Christian communities in Sri Lanka we have decided to issue a statement to say that we too are against ‘unethical conversions’. We strongly condemn people who use fraudulent means or proselytise or offer money etc to convince people to change religion. Every authentic conversion of the heart is a matter between the person and God alone and the Church will always defend and promote total freedom of conscience.
What does the local Catholic Church suggest as a solution?
It is our firm belief that these problems will be solved not with a law to restrict freedom but with dialogue and application of the existing laws. We propose the institution of an Inter-religious Council with members appointed by parliament charged with examining the matter. Our proposal is backed by the most important Buddhist Commission in Sri Lanka. Let us try this path before approving laws of this nature.
The question of conversion is one of the most sensitive for the Church today. In our country the rule is pluralism and we must not allow national harmony to be destroyed. Under three colonial powers, Portuguese, Dutch and British, Buddhists suffered greatly and since the Island gained its independence they have been very determined in these matters. We understand and respect their feelings. But it is necessary to build bridges with dialogue. And this law is an attack on national harmony.
The fact is that with this law the government hopes to win favour with the Buddhist majority. It is not known on what day the bill will be voted and although the President has left the question to freedom of conscience, it is highly probably that the law will be approved by parliament.

Another field in which the local Church is active is promoting national peace. What progress has been made with the peace process?
The cease fire in the civil war which has seen the army fighting Tamil separatists for over 20 years, was signed in 2002; Premier Ranil Wikremesinghe won the elections and he immediately, as promised, signed a cease fire agreement. Successive political events put another coalition in government led by the party of the President Kumaratunga, conditioned by radical Marxists contrary to a definitive solution to the conflict and against power devolution. So after six sessions of talks negotiations came to a halt. Peace was subordinated to political interests. For its part, the Church in Sri Lanka insists firmly that the two main political parties must work together to solve the crisis for the good of the country. There is only one path, and that is dialogue and a move towards a federal state.
In the meantime war fostered a culture of violence: troops and arms everywhere caused increased violence and crime, while growing poverty and hardship aggravated existing social malcontent. It is necessary to build a culture of peace, understanding and reconciliation, starting with young people and in this field Catholics, individuals and organisations, are fully committed.

Can you tells us briefly about the question of the Tamil minority?
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was formed in the early 1980s as a reaction to the policy of the Sri Lanka government which failed to address the legitimate requests and aspirations of the Tamil minority, 13% of the population 74% Sinhalese. Attempts to settle the matter peacefully, were unsuccessful also because of mere political interests. This led to growing frustration and exasperation among the younger Tamil. I do not intend to justify the violence which brought the country to the edge of the precipice, but it must be said that an answer must be given to the requests of the Tamil. It is necessary to build reciprocal trust and credibility or all that remains for the young men is to take up arms, the easiest path. After the cease fire was signed we had three years of peace with only sporadic episodes of violence. The solution now is power devolution in a federal system suited to our multiethnic and multicultural society.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/05/2005 Righe: 75 Parole: 782)