CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA APPLAUDS UN
RESOLUTION ON WAR-CRIMES IN SRI LANKA, INDIA VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE
RESOLUTION AT UNHRC, GENEVA & INDIAN DELEGATION’S VISIT TO SRI
LANKA, April 19, 2012
The thirty year long civil war in Sri Lanka and especially the last five months of the war is reported to have resulted in massive violence and human-rights violation. Although both sides seem to have committed atrocities throughout the many years of conflict, reports say that the last months of war saw tens of thousands of Tamil civilian men, women, children and the elderly killed, countless more wounded, and hundreds of thousands deprived of adequate food and medical care, resulting in more deaths.
The intentional shelling, shooting and infliction of suffering on civilians, shelling of hospitals and humanitarian operations have created thousands of widows and orphans displaced many more. While many of them are ‘believed’ to be in the detention camps, many others are reported to be still ‘disappearing’. Thousands of trees have been felled, forests were ravaged and even for resettlement acres of virgin forests were cleared. Forests that grew along the sides of roads were scorched lands and paddy fields were mined. Our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, especially in the CSI Diocese of Jaffna have experienced the brutality of the war and continue to undergo the post-war trauma.
In this context, the Church of South India,
The thirty year long civil war in Sri Lanka and especially the last five months of the war is reported to have resulted in massive violence and human-rights violation. Although both sides seem to have committed atrocities throughout the many years of conflict, reports say that the last months of war saw tens of thousands of Tamil civilian men, women, children and the elderly killed, countless more wounded, and hundreds of thousands deprived of adequate food and medical care, resulting in more deaths.
The intentional shelling, shooting and infliction of suffering on civilians, shelling of hospitals and humanitarian operations have created thousands of widows and orphans displaced many more. While many of them are ‘believed’ to be in the detention camps, many others are reported to be still ‘disappearing’. Thousands of trees have been felled, forests were ravaged and even for resettlement acres of virgin forests were cleared. Forests that grew along the sides of roads were scorched lands and paddy fields were mined. Our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, especially in the CSI Diocese of Jaffna have experienced the brutality of the war and continue to undergo the post-war trauma.
In this context, the Church of South India,
- Expresses deep concern over the post-war traumatic situation in Sri Lanka and our disapproval of all forms of human rights violations.
- Stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka, especially the widows and the orphans, irrespective of their identities, who have become victims in the 30 year long civil war.
- Condemns all acts of violence, including the bloodshed, targeting the innocents, violating international norms and common decency, during the war and after the war.
- Endorses the United Nations resolution on war-crimes in Sri Lanka which urges the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report Recommendations.
- Insists that the recommendations made in the LLRC, to be implemented by the Government of Sri Lanka.
- Applauds India for voting in favour of the UN Resolution and the visit of Indian delegation to Sri Lanka, headed by Miss. Sushama Swaraj (Honourable Leader of Opposition), and hopes that this would promote reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka.
- Reinforces our commitment in ensuring justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation, so that the Sri Lankan Tamils can get justice and lead a life of dignity.
- Assures to journey with our brothers and sisters in the north-eastern provinces of Sri Lanka towards re-construction, rehabilitation and reconciliation.
- Calls the Government of India to be actively and politically involved in the peace-making process as an immediate and long time neighbour of Sri Lanka.
- Calls all the religious communities and civil societies in India and Sri Lanka to work together towards the training of grass-root workers, encouraging traditional practices and rituals, promoting positive family and community relationships and processes, rehabilitation, reconstruction and networking.
- Joins with all faith communities around the world, praying and hoping toward the establishment of peace with justice, upholding the aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
1 comment:
Good.come to the right path.Stop supporting the criminal shepherds.Now I feel proud of synod.
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