TAMIL NATIONAL FORUM
Selected Writings -
Fr.
Chandiravarman Sinnathurai
Sri Lanka - A Terror State
22 July 2006
 LTTE
Political Wing Leader “Suna Pana” (Thamil Chelvan) has given a clear-cut
response to the Swedish special envoy Mr Andres Oljelund when he
visited Vanni on Friday 21 July
to discuss about Nordic Monitors September 1st.deadline. Suna Pana requested
both the EU and the international community to out law the Sri Lanka Regime as a
terror state.
One hopes the international community will listen to the cry of the Tamils and
would take necessary action. The religious communities in Sri Lanka – Tamil
Eelam will also be expected not to be silent in this regard.
When the Bus Bombing took place Rt Revd Chickera was prompt in releasing press
statements condemning the attack. The Bishop was implying with out any shred of
evidence that this was the work of Tamil Tigers. More over he also made sure
through ecclesiastical grapevine that the religious bodies in the West not only
hear precisely that message but they do also gobble it up with out any critical
analysis. Such is the “color” of prejudice!
When Tamils were bombed and killed the Bishop observed studied silence.
At a recent international Christian Conference in Britain some senior clerics in
the world ecclesiastical circles brought forth a “Notice of Motion” on Sri
Lanka. The British Media reported as follows: “The Conference noted with concern
the deteriorating situation there, called on the British Government to put
pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka and on the Tamil Tigers…” A clergyman
who introduced himself only as a “Ceylon Tamil” asked for a “Moderate amendment”
to this Notice of Motion on the ground that it was imbalanced and an undue blame
was apportioned to the dispossessed Tamils. He further went on to explain the
effects of Kfir jet bombings, eco terror and the genocide killings including
little children as young as 3years of age. He asked the Conference to amend by
substituting “terror” for fear. Because the Tamils are living in “terror
stalking them day and night.” Killing must stop on both sides. And the State
terror have to stop immediately. That should be the main thrust he emphasised
and called the Church to act with courage and with prophetic insight.
Two senior people from the World Church spoke in response. One person spoke of
her visit to Sri Lanka. “I was given a smiling welcome by a peace-loving
people.” She further added that the Church was composed of members of all
communities. They had “much experience of holding together contradictory
opinions.”
People who know main-line denominational Churches in Sri Lanka will tell this is
simply a bed-time story view. The person who was sent as a delegate representing
Sri Lanka kept silent. The obvious reason being that he is a Tamil!
The principal speaker on the Motion resisting the amendment said: “The Roman
Catholic Church is bringing the same matter to the attention of the Holy See
through the Archbishop of Sydney…” He underscored this amendment is not helpful
as the wording of the Notice of Motion was already agreed by the Bishop – None
other than Chickera!!
The worrying trend is that there is a lop-sided view when it comes to actual
wording of the document and the revealing of subtle pariality. For instance the
first paragraph of "Notice of Motion 1 Sri Lanka" read: "The Conference notes
with urgent concern the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka, particularly the
brutal attack on civilians at Kebthigollewa on 15 June, which killed over sixty,
and the murder, in Mannar District, of five fishermen and a further six people
who had taken refuge in St Mary's Church."
You would have detected the number games. "Over 60 killed in Kebthigollewa and
only 5 fisherman and futher 6 people = 11" The Ceylon Tamil in NM 124 (amendment
to NM 1) asked: "How about the ones who are slaughtered daily? The hundreds who
perished by aerial bombings?" The answer to this query was utterly illogical:
"The LTTE is proscribed by Britain and the EU as a Terrrist organisation!" It is
a play with numbers and words - "words agreed by Bishops and Cardinals" Woe to
these whited-sepulchers!
The Tamil Christians in Sri Lanka – Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans -- all have
to wake up to reality. Of course, this is indeed risky business. None would
underestimate that. Its high time, one would think, for the Tamils to have own
respective autonomous Bodies for their ecclesiastical Governance. Such a move
will make the West to hear the alarm bells go off. Lets face it even within the
Church the Tamils are marginalised and discriminated against – that is the sad
reality. The Tamil Churches ought to exert pressure on their Western
counterparts and counteract the deliberate lies circulated in the name of
fictitious peace. The Church cannot afford to be quiet nor can it avoid the
racist politics of the Terror state. One hopes “Sunna Pana” will initiate a
religious dialogue with Tamil Christian denominational leaders in order for them
to prepare the ground for the future but most importantly and urgently to
counteract the vicious cycle of half-truths recycled by their respective Colombo
head quarters.
Sri Lanka is an out law state. It is highly commendable that “Suna Pana” did not
mince his words with the Special envoy.
State terror is the ground reality in Sri Lanka. The international community
ought not to tolerate it any longer. |
