- Hundreds of Christian Churches
vandalised in Sri Lanka
Tamil Centre for Human Rights, Press Release, 11 February 2004:
Ref: A05/UA/2004
Gautama Buddha who at birth was known as Siddharthar, was the
founder of Buddhism. He was born in the year 563 B.C. in the village
of Lumbini near Kapila Vastu, within the present borders of Nepal.
At the age of 29 Gautama Buddha gave up a life of luxury, renouncing
the world after seeing the human suffering around him.
The four noble truths of Gautama Buddha are: “There is suffering and
misery in life’’, “The cause of this suffering and misery is
desire’’, “Suffering and misery can be removed by removing desire’’
and “Desire can be removed by following the eight fold path’’. The
Noble Eight Fold Path consists of: right views, right thoughts,
right speech, right actions, right livelihood, right efforts, right
mindfulness and right meditation.
Unfortunately in Sri Lanka, a country that prides itself as the
custodian of Buddhism, Buddha’s preaching is being abused by some of
its followers! Power hungry politicians and Buddhist monks who are
the “king-makers” in Sri Lanka, are influencing Buddhist followers
to go against the other religions.
Since independence in 1948, the Sinhala numerical majority in
(Ceylon) Sri Lanka, has claimed this island as a Buddhist country.
In 1972, in Sri Lanka, Buddhism was constitutionally (Chapter II, 6)
given a “foremost place”. Accordingly it shall be the duty of the
State to protect and foster Buddhism’’, even though the
constitution, “(assures) to all religions the rights granted by
section 18(l) (d)’’.
In the recent past, attacks and vandalism against Christian Churches
in Sri Lanka have intensified. Christian Churches have been stoned,
burned and vandalised by mobs led by Buddhist monks. Also Pastors’
residences has been attacked and worshippers have been beaten. In
one incident in Kotadeniyawa, attackers attempted to rape four women
Church workers!
In many parts of Sri Lanka, anti-Christian demonstrations have been
organised by Buddhist Monks and handbills against the Christian
Churches have been distributed. Demonstrators have issued an
ultimatum to the Churches to cease their activities in those areas.
TCHR has collected information on 89 attacks and arson attacks on
Christian Churches in Sri Lanka. (List attached) These attacks on
Christian Churches and worshippers were well organised by
politicised Buddhist Monks. The Police and other government security
forces are turning a blind eye. There have been occasions when
attacks have even taken place in the presence of Police and Army
personnel. There have been very few incidents where the Police have
taken action against mobs and Buddhist Monks.
Attacks on Christian Churches and
Hindu
Temples are nothing new in Sri Lanka. They have been taking
place for decades.
According to the statistics collected by TCHR, during the twenty
years of bloody war in the North-East, 2076 Hindu Temples and 299
Christian churches in the North (
http://www.tchr.net/religion.html ) were damaged and destroyed
in Aerial bombings and shelling. Also many killings and massacres
have taken place in Churches, Temples and Schools.
It is deplorable that these attacks and arson attacks on Christian
Churches and Temples have neither been investigated, nor even
recorded, in the government books !
In vivid comparison, Buddhism and Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka are
expanding with the full backing of the State. New Buddhist temples
are being erected not only on government-owned land but also on
privately-owned land! In war-ravaged Jaffna for example, which is
now under army rule, the only reconstruction done was to renovate
the sole Buddhist vihare in the town.
We, the TCHR along with several other international Human rights
organisations, strongly condemn the attacks on Christian Churches
and other religious shrines in Sri Lanka. We appeal to the
Government of Sri Lanka to take action to halt these attacks and to
bring the perpetuators to justice.
We appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance to
take cognisance of the above facts and to take immediate action on
this urgent and serious matter.
Please send your protests to the following address:
Thank you.
Mr. Abdelfattah Amor
Petitions Team
Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - OHCHR
Palais Wilson
United Nations
Geneva 10, SWIZERLAND
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax : 00-41-22-9170000
Fax : 00-41-22-9179022
Email : tb-petitions.hchr@unog.ch
