Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Jaffna (Agenzia Fides) - Every effort must be made to guarantee instruction for Tamil children and young people despite the present situation of violence and conflict. Both parties, government troops and Tamil separatist forces must ensure that children do not suffer the consequences of war and that they are guaranteed instruction. This statement was part of an appeal sent to Fides by Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam, Catholic Bishop of Jaffna, in northern Sri Lanka.
“Conflict has robbed our people of their land, homes, parents, young people, health and dignity, -the Bishop writes in the appeal - . Freedom of thought and expression is also lost. Parents have to struggle against displacements, severe economic difficulties and danger for the lives of the children from aerial bombings. But the Tamil people never lost sight of the precious education of their children. They rightly recognise that education is the gateway to every progress”.
Educationists in the north, bemoaning the fact that the first victim of the ethnic conflict is quality of education, staged a boycott of schools, calling on children not to go to school. The Bishop says the point has been made and now it is time to allow the children to return to school and he calls on the authorities put an end to activities of war, to lift the curfew. Observers say the quality of education is the ‘first victim’ of the civil strife in Sri Lanka which resumed with intensity in recent months:
“We strongly appeal to the Student Union which had requested the children not to attend schools, to change their stand and allow the schools to function - the Bishop writes - We also request the government to reduce further the curfew hours of lift it altogether”.
In the meantime fighting continues in the north and east of the Island between regular army troops and Tamil separatists. Violence started again at the beginning of the year with isolated episodes and has recently become more intense - despite efforts by the international community and Norwegian mediation. Local Church leaders, deeply concerned for the great suffering caused to the people, have called repeatedly on the warring parties to declare a cease fire and resume peace talks, suspended in April 2003. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/10/2006 righe 28 parole 282)
