Bishop Rayappu Cautions Gothabaya about Civilians Casualties
March 15th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Catholic Bishop of Mannar most Rev. Joseph Rayappu met Gotabhaya Rajapakse on Thursday March 15th and cautioned the Defence secretary about the need to avoid civilian casualties during military operations.
Bishop Rayappu also pointed out to the defence secretary who is also President Mahinda Rajapakse’s sibling that more than 10, 000 displaced persons had taken refuge at the well – known Madhu Church premises and outlying precincts. As such it was necessary to maintain the area as a “conflict free zone” and avoid military actions that could harm the Church or people the Bishop requested.
Bishop Rayappu was in Colombo on the eve of his departure to Jaffna on a peacebuilding goodwill mission. Three Catholic Bishops from dioceses in the South were scheduled to accompany him on this mission.
“Thousands of people have been gathering at the Church over the past months. They are fearful of escalating military hostilities on both sides. They feel that Madhu Church and its environs would provide them safety and refuge.The number now exceeds 10, 000 ” Bishop Rayappu said.
“The Mannar diocese is looking after them with the help of Catholic agencies like SEDEC and CARITAS” said the Bishop. “We also get some limited assistance from UNHCR, ICRC and WFP” he said.
“The people are mainly from villages in the LTTE controlled areas in Mannar and Vavuniya districts” said the Bishop. ” They worry about bombing and shelling by the armed forces. They can also see that both sides are making military preparations and are concerned that they would be affected in the hostilities.” explained the Bishop .
The Chutch is offering refuge not only to Catholics but to Protestants and to people of all faiths including Hindus” he added.
“It is important for military authorities to adopt caution and be careful in taking military action that may affect innocent civilians”, Bishop Rayappu said. “If Madhu Church gets caught up in the middle of militay action thousands of people could be harmed” he further said.
“That is why I met the defence secretary who listened carefully to what I had to say and stated that my cautionary views will be taken full note of ” the Mannar Bishop said.
Bishop Rayappu said that Church leaders had cautioned the LTTE also of the need to avoid harm to civilians and also to treat Madhu Church and environs as a no – war zone” he said.
“While unarmed LTTE cadres were allowed to visit Madhu precincts no armed persons were allowed in now” The Mannar Bishop said.
The Madhu Church was shelled some years ago and there was much controversy about who was responsible as both the GOSL and LTTE blamed each other.
Bishop Rayappu’s meeting with the Defence secretary comes in the wake of reports that military activities have escalated in Mannar.
LTTE spokesman on military affairs Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan claimed that a military offensive was resisted on THursday )Mar 15th) at Mullikulam village on the Mannar – Vavuniya border. “More than 600 soldiers were involved in the push and were beaten back” he claimed.
The military drive was preceded by intensive shelling of places like Mullikulam, Keerisuddaan and Periyapandivirichaan.Many civilians were injured and dwellings destroyed in the shelling.
Artillery fire from Peyaadikoolaankulam was also directed against the villages of Pandrikkeithakulam, Mariyadichakulam and Puliyankulam. Likewise the villages of Paalamottai and Semamadhu were shelled from Omanthai.
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