Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - Fighting continues in Sri Lanka between army and Tamil rebel troops causing ever greater suffering to civilians. The conflict has grown in intensity since the beginning of this year, despite efforts on the part of the international community and mediation on the part of Norway, into all-out war with artillery clashes, bombardments and naval battles in which both the regular army and the troops of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE have had casualties and wounded.
In recent days the army took the town of Sampur used by the LTTE to launch attacks on Trincomalee port. Fighting intensified in the area stopping the return of civilians displaced months ago who were returning home with the assistance of the UN High Commission for Refugees UNHCR.
Since April this year over 200,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes because of increasing violence and insecurity. More than 11,000 Tamil refugees crossed the Palk Straight on all kinds of craft to reach safety in Tamil Nadu in southern India. UNHCR has told the conflicting parties it must be allowed to supply humanitarian aid to desperate families in the north and east of Sri Lanka.
In the past month violence escalated involving also innocent people, the massacre of ly 17 local Tamils co-workers for French NGO “Action Against Hunger” (ACF), involved in a post-tsunami re-building project. According to Norwegian observers of the Sri Lanka Monitor Mission the massacre, which took place in Mutur, was carried out by government troops.
There is great alarm in the diocese of Jaffna where since 20 August nothing has been heard of two local Catholics, a parish priest Rev. Jim Brown, aged 34 and lay Catholic man Wenceslaus Vimalathas, married and father of five children. The two men were last seen at a military checkpoint near the town of Allaipiddy where Fr Brown is in charge of a new Catholic parish. The local Catholic community is very concerned about the men’s disappearance, fearing they may have been kidnapped or killed. Prayer vigils have been held for their safety and speedy return.
The papal nuncio to Sri Lanka Archbishop Mario Zenari called on civil and military authorities to find the missing men. The Catholic Bishop of Jaffna Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam wrote a letter to the president of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse but received no reply. Anxiety grows and hope dwindles with each passing day.
Sri Lanka has experienced more than 20 years of civil war. The most recent cease fire agreement was reached in February 2002. Talks to reach a lasting peace started in September 2002 but stalled in April 2003. Since December 2005 at least 1,500 people have been killed in violence which is increasing although the warring parties say the 2002 truce is still valid. In the conflict which started in 1983 more than 60,000 people have lost their lives. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2006 righe 34 parole 342)
