Friedenszentrum in Jaffna / Sri Lanka beklagt das Verschwinden eines Priesters und seines Begleiters
23. Aug 2006
Das auf einer Insel vor Jaffna gelegene Dorf Allaipitty war Anfang Mai diesen Jahres Schauplatz eines Massakers durch die srilankanische Marine, bei dem 9 Zivilisten ermordet wurden.Nach Beginn der neuen kriegerischen Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Armee und der LTTE kamen am 13. August im gleichen Ort 24 Menschen durch eine Granate der Armee ums Leben, 91 Menschen wurden verletzt. Die Toten und Verletzten hatten in der Kirche des Ortes Zuflucht gesucht.
Die Lage der Zivilbevölkerung im Norden des Landes ist insgesamt sehr kritisch. Auf der Halbinsel Jaffna gehen die Nahrungsmittelvoräte zu Ende. Die vom Militär verhängte Ausgangssperre wird nur stundenweise aufgehoben. Etliche Zivilisten sind in den letzten Tagen erschossen worden, darunter der Herausgeber einer tamilischen Zeitung in Jaffna. Die der Stadt Jaffna vorgelagerten Inseln, auf denen auch Allaipitty liegt, werden von der Armee regelmäßig mit Granaten beschossen die genaue Zahl der zivilen Opfer ist unbekannt.
Die internationalen Mitarbeiter verschiedener Organisationen in Jaffna darunter auch die Friedensfachkraft Alfons Schabarum sind gezwungen sich in den Räumen des UNHCR aufzuhalten und sollen dieser Tage aus Jaffna evakuiert werden.
Wir dokumentieren die Meldung des Centres for Peace and Reconciliation über das Verschwinden von Father Jim Brown komplett in englischer Sprache:
The Diocese of Jaffna is mourning over the disappearance of Rev. Fr. Thiruchchelvan Nihal Jim Brown a Catholic priest, born on June 4, 1972 and was ordained in 2003. Rev. Fr. T. N. Jim Brown was assigned as a parish priest of Allaipitty in the month of July. Allaipitty is known all over the world after the massacre of 9 people on May 13, 2006.
On August 12 nearly 24 people were killed by the multi barrel artillery attack of the security forces when LTTE ran over the SLN and infiltrated Allaipitty early in the morning. According to the people who recorded their statements in the court during the inquest they underlined the fact that it is the security forces who launched artillery attack on Allaipitty, killing nearly 24 on the spot and injuring 91 who were taken to the hospital on August 13, 2005 at 1 pm.
The priest who was with the people during the attack ran to an open bunker and saved his life without any injury. On Sunday afternoon he took most of the people of the village to St. Mary's Church, Kayts. He knelt and raised his hands in front of the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) Personnel to save the innocent people. The SLN personnel at last let the people go to Kayts.
When attending a meeting with the commanding officer of the SLN in the Island he shouted at Fr. Jim Brown saying that he helped the LTTE to dig bunkers. When Jim Brown spoke to me during my visit to Kayts he said that they dug bunkers in order to save their lives from shelling and bombing in the Church premises.
On August 20, 2006 around 12:30 pm he left Kayts in his motorbike with Mr. Wenceslaus Vinces Vimalathas born on 1967 and father of five children to go to Mandaithevu to offer the Eucharistic Sacrifice for the people who are displaced and are taking shelter at the Hindu Temple.
The SLN personnel at the entrance to Mandaithevu did not allow him to go to say mass for the people. He proceeded to Jaffna after he was refused to enter Mandaithevu. He wanted to return to Kayts. On his way back to Kayts he met Rev. Fr. Peter Thurairatnam who was riding in his bike between Madaithivu Check point and Allaipitty check point of the SLN personnel. Both Fr. Jim Brown and Fr. Peter Thurairatnam rode abreast up to the check point situated at the entrance to Allipitty. Fr. Peter says that he met him at 2 pm. When they reached the check point it was nearly 2:10 pm. At the check point Fr. Jim Brown told Fr. Peter that he would like to go to Allaipitty. Fr. Peter had observed an abnormal reaction from the SLN personnel when he said that he would like to go Allaipitty. Fr. Peter felt like going with Fr. Jim Brown to Allaipitty. Hoping nothing would happen he proceeded to his parish at Naranthanai. The SLN personnel at the Check point testified that Fr. Jim Brown with the W.V. Vimalathas went to Allipitty. But SLN have different stories about his departure from Allaipitty.
A complaint is lodged with Kayts police. Human Rights Commission has also received a complaint regarding the disappearance of Fr. Jim Brown and W. V. Vimalathas. The Bishop of Jaffna and the Human Rights Commission have contacted the Commander of North, Admiral Ranaweera, and Colonel L.C. Perera. To our shock they washed their hands saying that they do not know anything about the incident.
Fr. Jim Brown and W. V. Vimalathas are missing from August 20, 2006. This is our urgent appeal to all the people to save these two victims, the priest and the father of five children. We need our priest and the layman back. Act in time and save these innocent victims. It is our cry to the international community to pressurize Sri Lankan Government to:
- request the conscience of the world to immediately attend to this Shocking, Terrifying and Disheartening issue.
- request you to write to the Sri Lankan President to attend to this burning issue immediately and help find Rev. Fr. Jim Brown and W. V. Vimalathas.
Centre for Peace and Reconciliation
Fr. J.J.Bernard OMI, Director
8, Grousseault Road
Jaffna / Sri Lanka
jjbernardomi@sltnet.lk