A PROTEST FAST UNTO JUSTICE

The Ecumenical Christian Forum for Human Rights (ECFoHR) along with the Churches in India and Tamilnadu Theological College organized a dharna at the Jantar Mantar on April 29, 2009. Bishops, Priests, Nuns, Pastors, Seminarians, Novices and inter faith leaders participated in the protest dharna.

To express solidarity with the Tamil people in Sri Lanka in their struggle to survive, Church of North India under the leadership of The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, participated in the same.

“It is not the region, caste and class that are affected by any struggle in the world. It is the body that is affected. This body is the existence of human being on earth. Today in South Asia it is not issue about the Tamils in Sri Lanka, it is a question of the whole creation. With the world becoming global village, we cannot keep ourselves away from issues that are affecting the people of our neighboring countries’” said The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary, Church of North India.

The horror that is unfolding in Sri Lanka becomes possible because of the silence that surrounds it. There is almost no reporting in the mainstream Indian media – or indeed in the international press – about what is happening there. Why this should be so is a matter of serious concern. From the little information that is filtering through it looks as though the Sri Lankan government is using the propaganda of “the war on terror” as a fig leaf to dismantle any semblance of democracy in the country, and commit unspeakable crimes against the Tamil people. Working on the principle that every Tamil is a terrorist unless he or she can prove otherwise, civilian area, hospitals and shelters are being bombed and turned into a war zone. 

Later a memorandum demanding the following was submitted to the Indian Prime Minister, President of India, United Nations and the Sri Lankan government.

• That the UN and the international community initiate a process of brining a lasting peace through negotiated political settlement to protect the human rights and self determination of the Tamils.

• That the Sri Lankan government announces a unilateral ceasefire in the north-eastern Sr. Lanka to allow thousands of civilians to leave the war zone.

• To hasten the humanitarian assistance to the civilian victims with medicine, food, shelter and other supplies necessary and to initiate the relief and rehabilitation o the affected people.

• To set up an independent international fact finding team to visit the affected areas to asses the real damage and to monitor the humanitarian services to the affected people.

• That the relief camps are run and managed by the international agencies, unhindered by the Sri Lankan government.

• That the Indian government stops all logistical and military support extended to Sri Lankan government, including provision of non-lethal weapons and surveillance machinery.