Pope acting for peace in Sri Lanka

Pope acting for peace in Sri Lanka: Australia can help too

Sydney, 19th April 2007, Pope Benedict XVI will meet tomorrow with the President of the troubled country of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse. The citizens of Sri Lanka are enduring a violent armed conflict, intimidation and harassment as military, police forces and armed opposition groups engage in deadly hostilities. Schools, hospitals and public transport have been targeted in fighting and men, women and children are killed or are 'disappeared', on a daily basis.

"We welcome the opportunity for a return to peace initiated by the Pope, in his meeting with the President of Sri Lanka", says Jack de Groot, Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Australia.

"Where talk of peace in Sri Lanka is seen as grounds for treason amongst some protagonists in the conflict, we see the initiative of the Catholic Church to invite President Rajapakse to meet with the Pope as highly significant", Mr de Groot of Caritas Australia emphasised.

Caritas Australia's partners in Sri Lanka work with all affected communities across the country, to provide refuge and shelter, basic food and water supplies, work opportunities, education and health for displaced families fleeing in fear from fighting. Caritas Australia through its partners Caritas-HUDEC and Caritas EHED are active in assisting more than 10,000 families (over 66,000 people) throughout the country.

More than 40,000 people have been displaced in the North East of the country in the last month alone bringing the total to more than 180,000 that have fled their homes during the past year of the conflict. In some areas, aid agencies are being prevented from assisting displaced people and access and protection for humanitarian support agencies remains a key problem.

Caritas Australia is calling on the Sri Lankan Government to cease the culture of impunity for human rights violations. All parties need to urgently address the issues of child soldiers, disappearances, ongoing armed conflict, intimidation of media, academics and all peace proponents, limits to freedom of expression and religious vilification.

Catholic priest Fr Jim Brown from Allaipady is still missing after disappearing on August 20, 2006. More than 51 further abductions have occurred in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, over the past year, six of those people were found dead and 34 remain unaccounted for.

"All sides involved in the vicious fighting in Sri Lanka show continuing disregard for international humanitarian law. The safety and well-being of all civilians must be a priority throughout Sri Lanka" says Mr de Groot. "The human toll of death, injury and suffering is shameful and the international community needs to act. We greatly appreciate the interest of His Holiness in this matter."

Caritas Australia urges all parties to the Sri Lankan conflict to commit:

1. To immediate and clear de-escalation of the conflict; coupled with progress towards a negotiated political solution;

2. To accept a United Nations-appointed international human rights monitoring mission to effectively monitor abuses by the LTTE, Karuna faction and state security forces.

3. To participate in a serious dialogue on constitutional reform with reference to the All Party Representative Council process and expert recommendations that acknowledge the aspirations of all minorities in Sri Lanka.

"The Australian Government needs to be vigilant as to the outcomes of this papal initiative. A revitalized peace process would be of great benefit. Australia is independent and well regarded and can play a pivotal role in encouraging the Sri Lankan Government to accept a UN auspiced human rights monitoring mission. UN Monitors on the ground in Sri Lanka will affect the behaviour of all parties to the conflict, thereby protecting lives. A number of states already promote the monitoring mission and Australia's active involvement would encourage the USA, India and other key states to support the initiative", said Mr de Groot.

ENDS

© Scoop Media