With the human rights situation in Sri Lanka worsening in 2005 according a recently released report by Human Rights Watch, World Council of Churches General Secretary the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia addressed a letter to the Sri Lankan president on Friday, expressing "grave concern" over the deepening crisis.
A 2002 cease-fire agreement and peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had ended over two decades of conflict that killed over 64,000 people. However, while the agreement had provided joy and hope to the people of Sri Lanka and the international community, Kobia wrote that the WCC was “dismayed and concerned with the recent lethal escalation of armed violence particularly in the North and the East."According to reports, violence has escalated with the 2004 tsunami creating further displacement and destruction and 149 more deaths caused since December.
"It is feared if the rapidly deteriorating situation is not brought under immediate control, it is likely to result in another long drawn war in which many more people may perish and hopes of peace and development suffer a major setback detrimental to the people of Sri Lanka," Kobia wrote.
The 2006 Human Rights Watch World Report released last Wednesday cited killings – particularly of Tamils in opposition to the LTTE, an armed group advocating a separate homeland for Tamils – having reached a rate of one per day by June 2005. Torture and mistreatment by police also continues to be a problem.
Recent reports showed suspected Tamil Tiger rebels killed three soldiers in a mine attack Monday, following a similar attack on Thursday that killed four and wounded 23.Church heads in Sri Lanka, leaders of political parties and the leader of the LTTE have joined in a call to immediately stop the increasing violence "in the name of our common humanity," wrote Kobia.
"Since this will only bring interim relief we also urge them (the leaders) to address the location stalemate and sit at the peace talks without delay," the WCC head quoted the call.
"The World Council of Churches supports the call of the heads of churches and the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and appeals to Your Excellency to urgently respond to the desire of the majority of the people of Sri Lanka who long for an effective cease-fire and a just and lasting peace," he added.
Lillian Kwon
Christian Today Correspondent
