Sri Lanka's 'forgotten war': A call for global church advocacy
by Annegret Kapp, World Council of Churches
Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 16:07 (GMT)
In Sri Lanka, the conflict between the army and Tamil rebels has caught the civilian population between a rock and a hard place. Although the world turns a blind eye, Christian global advocates say churches should insist that attention be paid to victims caught in the violence.
For several years, a civil war in Sri Lanka has placed in opposition a government dominated by the Sinhalese majority population and rebels who claim to defend the rights of the Tamil minority. Defenders of human rights protest that this war is being fought at the expense of the civilian population, with displaced people detained in camps that fail to provide for their basic needs, children abducted for recruitment as soldiers, and other inhabitants of combat zones being used as human shields by the rebels.
Representatives of churches, ecumenical groupings and non-governmental organisations discussed Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict at a session of the 4th annual United Nations Advocacy Week sponsored by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and held in New York City this week.
Rohan Edirisinha, a Sri Lankan Anglican layman, presented prospects for a negotiated political settlement. According to Edirisinha, who is a former chairperson of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the National Christian Council in Sri Lanka, the militaristic approach of the current government, focusing on a defeat of Tamil rebel forces on the battlefield, creates doubts regarding the actual chances for a settlement.
The domestic political discourse, Edirisinha said, glorifies the military and centres on the defeat of rebel forces and the reconquest of areas controlled by them. As a constitutional law expert, he argued that "a federal constitution with [safeguards for] devolution of power, and which combines shared rule with self-rule, should be the basis of a just political solution to Sri Lanka's current war".
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Bondevik, who moderated the session, affirmed the churches' responsibility in advocating for a negotiated solution. Bondevik's government brokered a ceasefire in Sri Lanka in 2002, which was completely abandoned last January after repeated violations by both parties. Currently, Bondevik is the moderator of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs.
Christians make up 9 per cent of Sri Lanka's 19 million population. They are the only religious community which bridges the ethnic divide between the Sinhalese-speaking, predominantly Buddhist majority and the predominantly Hindu Tamils.
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Friday, November 21, 2008, 8:00 (GMT)
Rohan Edirisinghe is a paid vassel of a INGO. He will only utter words that are in keeping with terror dogs supported by these INGO's. Ask Rohan and the heads of christian churches like Rayappu Joseph, Chikera and others to go the areas under terrorist control and lead the Tamil people held hostage out of these areas. Where were there voices for the past 20/30 years!
lanka peiris, Kent, UK
Added: Friday, November 21, 2008, 3:16 (GMT)
The Christian Club is still unable to take her hands off the Sri Lanka Tigers.
To use the Tiger influence to evangelise and create a christianisation of the 50M people in Tamil Nadu, they overlook the blood shed, misery, brutality and the presrishing of the Tamil Youth & to SL due to the hidden hand of the christian club & their affiliated NGOs support to the Tamil Tigers.
This is very evident and nothing new to the Countries affiliated to the Christian Club (CCC) as history is tainted with blood related to church expansionism and dominance.
This is the very thing I see in Sri Lanka today. Though I, being a Christian One thing is for sure the actions of the Christian Club which attempts to force their thinkig on the SL Govt in Sri Lanka can never alter the course
It could not be for 30 years nor will it be for the next 30 years..
In addition to the misery for the Tamils living in SL, extinction of the Tamil Youth population, ruination of the Economy and creating of christian matyers due to the hidden hand of the CCC.
This truth will never prevail like the Holy Mysteries.
Appuami, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Added: Friday, November 21, 2008, 1:42 (GMT)
Churches, why do you want to support terrorism in Sri lanka or is it because the definition of terrorism only applies to non-christians. For the last 20 odd years, the majority of Churches in the north of Sri lanka has been a haven for terrorists. Enough is enough and the war on terror should be applied to everybody whether they be Buddhists, Hindus, Christians or Muslims. SO SHUT UP and let the democratically elected government of SRI LANKA do it's duty for the people of SRI LANKA. Please deal with your own issues first before "sermonising" from your holy art thou pulpits. SHAME ON YOU'LL
Nasser, kandy
Added: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 23:55 (GMT)
I find it ridiculous the that the world council of churches wants a democratically elected and extremely popular government of Sri Lanka (they would win a general election if they had one today) to neogiotiate with the most ruthless terrorist orgnaiozation in the world, as stated in a FBI report on gkloabl terrorism in 2008.
Do they espouse the same of the US and UK governemnts in their dealings with Al Quaeda? Is a Sri Lankan life worth less than that of an American or a Westerner.
Why is this document not mentioning that the entire civilian population under tamil tiger territory is subject to supplying one child per family towards fighting the Sri Lankan government?
Why does the WCC not report that out of the 4000 violations of the peace treaty 3800 were committed by Tamil tigers including the assasination of a tamil christian statesman, Ranjan Kadiragamar, as well as an assasination attempt via a pregnant suicide bomber (hall mark if tamil tigers) on the commander of the army, General Sarath Fonseka.
Also, you do realize that more than 80% of the christians in Sri Labnka are Singhalese and that 51% of all tamils living in Sri Lanka live peacably in the South and do not want to live in tamil tiger controller territory with a despotic, facist and ruthless leader.
As a christian, I am ashamed of the biased slant the WCC is taking. I thought the WCC stood up for justice, freedom and truth, but I am afraid that last pillar is looking rather shaky based on the article I just read.
Ari DeAndrado, Phoenix, Arizona
Added: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 20:42 (GMT)
The royal Norwegian government provide arms and all the new state of the art technology to a band terrorist out fit most parts of the world including USA and European union. Do they have a right to talk about peace in Sri Lanka? LTTE is a terrorist outfit who utilizes child soldiers and pregnant mothers as Suicide bombers. They are using civilians as a shield against advancing forces. Why they don't allow these people to leave to government control ares? Talk about these issues
Apsara, New york, USA
Added: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 19:11 (GMT)
These Christian organizations have their own agenda in a predominantly Buddhist country and they want it to be converted a Christian state. Many of the Christian clergymen have been helping terrorists with transporting explosives and recruiting children for the LTTE terrorist group. One clergyman was recently arrested in illegally bringing communication equipment from Singapore for the terrorists. Have these Christian organizations ever condemned the recruitment of under-aged children for the armed group? Norway is rogue state that collude with the Church group to promote suicide bombers in Sri Lanka that every nation must condemn. For Edirisinghe, the Christian lackey, is a paid agent of the LTTE terrorists.
Hewage, Montreal, Canada
Added: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 18:20 (GMT)
I totally denounce this bias article that white wash a terorist group. LTTE is the ONLY barrier for racial harmony and well being of poor tamils in Sri Lanka. They murdered many moderate and progressive tamil leaders and continue to do so. Cristian Church should put pressure on LTTE to lay down arms and free the innocent tamil people to live their lives peacefully as the tamils in Colombo and other parts do.
Prasa, Colombo, Sri lanka
