By Charles.S.Perera

Today the Catholic Church is very muchƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  alive and awake in Sri Lanka, there is no one to check their uncalled for political missionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in favour of the Tamil Catholic congregation of faithful of the North an East, which makes one wonder whether the objective of the Catholic Church is its own prosperty and power in Sri Lanka rathan the salvation ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  souls.

As it had always been, the Catholic Church does not take an interest in the country where it has built its Cathedral.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Its interest is more forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  its faithful. Because it is on the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ congregation of faithful it exists, like a parasite tick onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a dog.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When the Church smells that there are possibilities of enlarging its congregation of faithful, it goes for their conquest who ever they are, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where ever they are.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In the terroristƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  infestedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  north and eastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of Si Lnka the Catholic Church flourished.

The South of Sri Lank is not fertile ground for the Catholic Church, because it has to compete with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Buddhist Temple of the majority Sinhala, The Church cannot call those in South our people in the same voice it speak of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- our people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- of the North, how divided is it interest.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The CatholicƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  God loves only those who follows him, and to hell with others. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

The latest submission of Bishop Rayappu Joseph of the Catholic Diocese of Mannar is a missive for division rather than unity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Catholicism introduced by the Portuguese Missionaries was to steal away the people of other faiths into its own fold and take their allegiance away from their motherland to the Church and the Colonial Ruler in Portugal and then to Rome. Today 500ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  years after, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, blessed in Rome and deifiedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by the appointment of a Cardinal, continues to divide the Country, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ separate the CommunitiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for the cause of the congregation of the faithful.

In Sri Lanka the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ duty of the Catholic Church goes beyond the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ salvation of souls, to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ chose for its congregation of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  faithful ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the political path it should ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ follow to ensure the power of the Church.

The Catholic Church was imposed on Sri Lanka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by the Portugues conquering forces, through their accompanying Missionaries, to facilitate their task of keeping the colonised people under control andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ establishment of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Portuguese colonial rule in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It was like India imposing on us the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to facilitate the Indian Peace Keeping Force to control terrorism in the Norh and East of Sri Lanka.

Rayappu JosephƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s submission curiously begins with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  same WesternƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  preoccupation with regard to Sri Lanka, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  human rights violations and extra judiciary killing.

In his ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ submission the Bishop ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ refers to only ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ our people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- that is the Catholics. 2006 was a time that the terrorism was at its height and what happened to people and property in the North and the East is no secret. The suffering under, terrorism was not restricted to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ our people or your peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  because all people without an exception sufferd through terrorism.

The actual perpetrators of the crimes of burning Churches, mosques, or killing bus loads of Buddhist monks cannotƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for certain be alluded to any one personƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and the actul killers themselves cannot be found except that the teorrorist were behind those murders and mssacres. An act by any one of the terrorists becomes the responsibility ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the whole group of terrorists.You cannot accuse the Army as going round killing, people and burning Churches and mosques as the Army is not a terror group, but they were also the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ likely victims of the terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Army ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ fought for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the country and its population.

The Government Armed Forces defended all the people without exception , which is evident ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in its remarkable humanitariation evacuation of the innocent Tamil Civilians kept as a human shield by the terrorist. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Bringing these Tamil Civilians to safety risking their own lives was aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  daring act unque in the history of warfare .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The terrorists in the face of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a count down to death and eliminationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  resorted toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ultimate terror, shooting any thing that moved not caring whether it was an escaping civilian or soldiers rescuing the civilians.

Despite all that the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Catholic Clergy want to know ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the truth as to who killed who.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Under the circumstances that prevailed can the Catholic ChurchƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  which is seeking the truth pretend the killers were the Armed Forces and the terroists were ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- innocentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bystandersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  What or for whose agenda is the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka acting posing these absurd questions ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ?

A Cardinal and several ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Bihops of the Catholic Church have already presented several submissions to the LLRCƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  every one of them calls for a negotiated political solution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And they still want more time now ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ our peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚», ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ having ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ already usurped for themselves, the time ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ allocated to the people of the region to mak their submissions.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Rayappu Joseph states in his submission, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦Although LTTE and other Tamil armed groups have caused much suffering, their actions were prompted by the failure of successive governments to respond favorably to TamilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s efforts to resolve their problems through peaceful and political means. While acknowledging the part played by LTTE and other armed groups in the suffering of the people, we wish to point out that the state military and their secret agents are feared more by the people and are held responsible for much of their woes.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»

The Mannar BishopƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s submission was more a pleading to absolve the terroists of the crimes they have committed , and to put the blame on the previous successive govenments. The Mannar Bishop says ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the people fear more Military and the Secret Agent of the government.

The LLRC will be examining submissions made to them to sort out lies, exagerations,and misinformation to establish theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  truth. In that context theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Rayappu JosephƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s contenion ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦Although establishing the truth is not explicitly mentioned in your mandate.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚» is an impertinent uncalled for remark belittling the task entrusted to the Commissioners of the LLRC.

Rayappu Joseph among other mattersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in his submission to LLRC states, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦. It is our belief that this culture of impunity over the years, led to more and more crimes against Tamil civilians during the course of the conflict. Measures such as forgiveness, amnesty are only possible when there is genuine acceptance and repentance of wrongs done and the truth is acknowledged ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»

This is strange as inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  there had been no culture of impunity. These are phrases concocted to mislead situations and discredit the Government. The terrorist had continued their campaign of terror in the North and East .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is not the government that should be held responsible for the crimes committed by the terrorists without leaving incriminating traces of evidence that lead to them, but they signed their crimes from the style and method of their execution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Government did not commit any crimes against the Tamil Civilians during the conflict that require repentance.

Rayappu Joseph seems to be misinterpreting the situation that existed during the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ conflict, in favour of the terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This makesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  one wonder whether it is not the Catholic Church in Rome acting along with the anti Sri Lanka Western Govrnments instigating ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Catholic priests in Sri Lanka, after making one of them a Cardinal, to implicate the Government of Sri Lanka for the crimes committed by the terrorist.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

If not what other ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-truthƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ do the Catholic clergy in Sri Lanka want the government to establishƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Rayappu JosephƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  says, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦It is our earnest appeal that the LLRC will give high priority to establish in public the truth of what has happened in the course of conflict and war.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»

Everybody who was hiding when the terrorists were running riot killing every one they wantedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to kill, when and where they wanted to kill , using pistol gangs, snipers,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  grenard lobbers and claymore bombs were holding the people of the North and East to ransom, not coming ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forward to ask questions ,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ now up in arms against the Government .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Catholic PriestsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  themselvesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  have already made more than threee or four ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ submission to the LLRC against the Government Armed Forces in accusory terms.

TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Bishops and the Clergy of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Catholic Church,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  unlike Ban Ki Moon,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  were not outside Sri Lanka during the period of the terrorism to ask the government to now establish the truth of what happend in the course of the conflict and war.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Priests of the Catholic Church were in fact inside the war Zone with the terrorists and they should know better what went on.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Sri Lanka Armed Forces have nothing to hide. Every thing they did was to eliminate terrorism and bring to safety the Tamil Civilians held by the terrorists as a human shield.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Sri Lanka Army was a disciplined Armed Force and they conducted the military operations against the terrorists avoiding damage to Tamil Civilians.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Under a caption ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Importance of Political SolutionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Mannar Bishops- Joseph, Sousai and Croos say that the Tamils having their own identity, culture, language, religion and trditional habitationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  have to be recognised along with other habitants.

The statementƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  seems to have been made for the outside world to believe that the TamilsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are treated differently.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But the truth isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  that the Tamils , Sinhala and MuslimsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  all of them have their own identity, culture , language, religion and traditional habitations, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ they are all recognised as Sri Lankans.

There is no different political solution to follow, as ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the existing political system has no evident defect. The only problem is that the Catholic Church ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seems to want the Tamils in the North and East treated as aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Community apart from the rest of the Communities.

The Constitution does not treat any Community differently . The Constitution is for all Sri Lankans. If there is a notion that the Tamils as a community is treated differently in the Constitution it is because the Tamils would like to stand out of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lankan National identity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is an attitude ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ created by the Tamil Political leaders and the religious leaders like, Malcolm Ranjith and Rayappu Joseph and the rest.

That is why the Tamils should give up their narrow communal ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ identity to become full fledged Sri Lankans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This is what the Catholic Church should do,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  which is to unite the communities intoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lankans instead of peddling theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  bogus Church made political theories of division, disunity, hatred ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and animosity. Where is th ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-loveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of the Catholic God in all that ?

The Submissions to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  LLRC by the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Catholic Clergy in Sri Lanka beginning fom Malcolm RanjithƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ,Rayappu Joseph to Kingley Swampillai have gone beyond their vocation for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ spiritual dispensation to the congregations of faithful- the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ salvation of souls, to political agitation better left for the politicians.

During the 30 years of war the Terrorists demanded a separate Eelam State, they spread this message in their heroes day speeches and at several negotiations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Norwegian Solheim, American Rober O Blake, and a host of other Western Diplomats and Minsters continued to demand a political solution to the problelm, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and nowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Rayappu Joseph in his submission to LLRC makes the same demand , ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ While a political solution to the conflict is essential, we would like to highlight several immediate issues that need to be addressed to ensure that we move forward on the path to reconciliation. Without addressing these needs, people affected by the war will not be able to move towards reconciliation and neither will they have any confidence or hope in any reconciliation process initiated at macro level.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

He stresses the suspision that the Government is not objective and will withhold redress to the Tamil people affected by terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Rayappu Joseph ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ makes demands which are unfortunately not in the interest of the ordinary Tamil people ,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  but in the Catholic ChurchƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s proper interest pretendingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be the saviors of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Tamil people defending thei interest, inorderƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to win them over to the ChurchƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  through heir innocent gratitude .

Rayappu Joseph then comes to a rather vexing issue which had already been treated by Malcolm Ranjith ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Demographic changes and colonization ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚».ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In Sri Lanka there cannot be colonizations, not any more. Colonization is defined as setting upƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  coloniesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by developped countries.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Rayappu Joseph must have been thinking of his Colonial benefactors of the past who have blessed him with a Bishopry, the result of his forefather conversion to a foreign religion.

In Sri Lanka with the elimination ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  terrorists a new chapter has opened, where the past differences have to be changed to find new avenues for promoting unity, peace and a Sri Lankan Nationhood.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The whole of Sri Lanka belongs to Sri Lankans. In that dawn ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  equality of status of all citizens North and East of sri lanka cannot stand strictly reserved for one community.

Therefore, more Sinhala and Muslim people should be allowed to settle down ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the North and East making these two provinces representative of all Communities, living harmoniously together as it is in the South of Sri Lanka. Rayappu Joseph who repeatsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Malcolm Ranjith is undoubtedly pronouncing a decision taken by the Catholic Church to keep North and East for the Tamils without changing the existing demography.

If the Catholic Church has come forward to oppose any members from the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ other communities settling down in the North and East it is a very un-Christian move and aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  shameless interfernece into the right of the citizens of Sri Lanka, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their freedom to live where ever they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ want to live.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In supporting such a racial view Catholic Church will only be defending today the same objectives for which the terroristsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  created hell on earth for innocent Tamil Civilians in the North and the East.

The Catholic Church instead of being alarmed of the news as Rayappu Joseph says in his submission that, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦. we are alarmed at reports that there are plans to handover land to large number of people from outside the districtƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚», ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should be happy that North and East of Sri Lanka is not going to be isolated any more from the rest of the country, but it would instead be a part and parcel of the whole of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

There isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  no question of historical habitations of Tamil people in the North and the East, that again is a often made declaration of the terrorists that Rayappu JosephƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  seems to have burrowed from them, now claiming, perhaps in memory of the terrorist Prabhakaran, toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  keep the NorthƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and East only for the Tamils.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  There were Sinhala people alreadyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  residing in the North and East before they were made to leave their homes by th terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Rayappu Joseph states that, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦..There is suspicion amongst historical inhabitants in the district that these are part of a government plan to bring about demographic changes in terms of ethnic and religious composition of the districts and the Northern Province as a whole. Such efforts in the past have been a key factor that led to the conflict, war and violenceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»

But contrary to Rayappu JosephƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s above contention, a good mixture of communities with different cultures in the North and East will keep those Provinces free from ethnic conflict and would give an opportunity for all communities to live harmoniously together respecting each others culture, religion and language.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If there would be conflicts it is the duty of Rayappu Joseph and other religious and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political leaders to pacify the people and make them understand the necessity to evolve as a nation togther with other communitie.

About the Military presence of the North and EastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Rayappu Joseph states in his submission that,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Almost 20 months after the end of the war and after more than a year since the resettlement process started, we are disturbed that there is a heavy military presence in Mannar district particularly in recently resettled areas of Manthai West, Madhu and Musali divisions. This is something most Tamil civilians fear and not happy about, due to the many negative experiences they have had in the past. Many activities and decisions that should be attended to by civil authorities are still being handled by the military.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»

This is really an area where the Catholic Church if it has anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  influence over the Tamil people, to inform them that they should be ever grateful to the Sri Lanka Armed Force, as what ever freedom, peace of mind, and tha ability to speak up for their rightsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  they have now, is th result of the immense sacrifice theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Soldiers of the Sri Lanka Armed Force made on their behalf to redeem the land they occupy from theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  cuelty of terrorim, where they were not able to move freely, and assure the safety of their children from being kidnapped toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  swell theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  terrorist cadres.

The Armd Forces should be pemanently based in the North and East, not only to stop any future terrorismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to raise its frightful headƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Provinces but also to defend the North and East from any expansionist move by any foreign county orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by a forced militay occupationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by any powersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  wanting to station themselves in the North to preventƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Chinese, Indian or Russian influence in the Indian Ocean.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka shouldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  establish Army Camps in strategic areas and provide living quarters for the Army personnel with an appropriate housing pojectƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  fo married staff.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Police Force should also be similarly well entrenched, in these areas withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  living qaurters for the Single and Married officers.

That is a necessity about which no body, the Church the Hindu temples or the Interntionl Community should interfere to dictate terms.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Many are the Soldiers who had fertilised the soil of both North an East with their blood and they have therefore a right to be a part of the North and East of Sri Lanka, and through them their fmilies and their children have acquired a right to belong to North and East. And that isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a greater rightƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  than that of those whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  acclaim a religion strange to the Sri Lankan Soil.

Rayappu JosephƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s submission shows the pre-occupation of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Catholic Church in its inability to make martyrs of the dead terrorist, pointing out ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to cancellation of religiousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  services to rememberƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and prey for the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«cƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ivilians killed or missingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚».ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In this respect it is pertinent to ask Rayappu Joseph whether the Catholic Church had any special service in their Churches for the Soldiers who died in liberating theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  people of the North and East from the terrorists, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ povided security to their Church in Madhu andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for repairing it by the army personnelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ?

As far as the Government and the General population is concernedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the North and East should continued to b kept in surveillance not to allow any one trying to make any attemp to separate the Tamil people in the North and East from the rest of the population in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This the Catholic Clergy in the North do not want to understand as they are themelves keen in keeping the North and East ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an enclve of the Tamil people who will be obedient to their religious demands.

Rayappu Joseph also seems to have a desire to have a presence of the NGOs in the area .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The presence of NGOs should be controlled and their activities constantly surveyed as their agendas are quite different from those of the Government of Sri Lanka- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to unite the communities after the elemination of terrorists, and bury for good the North, South, East and WestƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  difference, integrating all into one whole Sri Lanka.

Eventually the Rayappu Joseph comes to the biggest challenge of the Catholic Church- its nightmare the Buddhism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Buddhim is the religion of the Sinhala people of Sri Lanka before the birth of ChristƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the advent of Christinity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is the Buddhism that is the identity of the culture of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  people of Sri Lanka. Other religions such as Christianity and IslamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are recent religious faiths compared to Buddhism and Hinduism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  On he othe hand Catholicism and ChristianityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  have theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  beginning in the Colonialization of our countryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by the Portuguse, the Dutch and the British and it is a religion foreign to our culture.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  There had been Buddhist places of worship in the North and the East long before Catholocism was introduced by the foreign conquerors.

Rayappu Joseph states in his submission that, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.Building a Buddhist place of worship (Pansala) in Murunkan Town where there was a Hindu Kovil is something that has caused a lot of concern, particularly as there is no Buddhist population in this area. Erections of Buddhist statues in prominent public places in many new locations in the North have also made our people fearful of Buddhist domination of majority Hindhu, Christian and Islamic areas.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

Rayappu Joseph should understand ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that, the Budhist temples and Stupas stand for peace an unity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Buddhist priests unlike the Catholic Clergy have always called for the unity of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is the tolerance of the Buddhists that had allowed the Catholic Church to become so voiferous in speaking for th people of the North and East.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Hindu Culture of the Tamil people and Budddhism are closely related and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it will continue to foster unity between the Sinhala and Tamil pople.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Hindu Kovils have a statue of the Buddha and the Buddhist temples often hav statues of Hindu Gods in their temple premises.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Therefore the building new temples and Dagabas in the North and East will bring the two communities together both spiritually in worship, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  physically in the participation in each otherƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s religious ceremonies and festivals.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

It isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the Catholic Church that will stand strangely outside the religious and culturl back ground of the two communities- the Buddhist Sinhala and Hindu Tamil, as it is every where in Sri Lanka.