ASIA/SRI LANKA - Bishop of Jaffna launches appeal to find priest and lay man who disappeared a month ago

Jaffna (Agenzia Fides) - Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam of the diocese of Jaffna, in north of Sri Lanka has launched an appeal for a more thorough investigation into the disappearance of a Catholic priest and lay man last seen on 20 August, he has also asked for more protection for religious minorities and guaranteed freedom of worship.
Fr Jim Brown, aged 34 and Mr Wenceslaus Vimalathas, aged 40, father of five children were last seen in Allapiddy, a part of the country controlled by the Sri Lankan army troops. The area of Jaffna is the scene of fresh fighting between the regular army and separatists Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam” (LTTE) (see Agenzia Fides 5/9/2006).
Bishop Savundaranayagam has written to various political leaders including the president of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse, to report the disappearance of the two men and request an intervention but has received no reply. This is why he has made another appeal calling on parishes and Catholic organisations and human rights activists and groups in Sri Lanka to back his request for more thorough investigation into the case.
The Bishop is concerned for the new wave of Sri Lanka’s years old “civil war” with targeted murders and abductions sowing panic among the people particularly in the north and east of the Island. Catholics are victims of the escalating conflict he says adding that the whole community is praying and hoping that both Fr Jim and Wenceslaus will be found safe and sound.
Bishop Savundaranayagam concludes with an appeal for peace and reconciliation urging the government and rebels to agree to a request by the international community’s request to return to the negotiating table. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2006 righe 27 parole 271)