Northern Sri Lankan bishop wishes his people joy and hope of Easter

(April 11, 2009) While wishing the suffering people of his diocese the joy and hope of the Risen Christ, the Catholic bishop of Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka, has appealed to both the government and the Tamil rebels to relieve the hardship of the people. Speaking to Vatican Radio on the phone on Holy Saturday, Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam wished that the Risen Lord bring the people some joy and hope. He assured the people that they are not forgotten, and that there are people of good will who want their safety and security.
The bishop of Jaffna said that thousands are trapped in the no-fire zone of Mullaitivu which comes under his jurisdiction. He said some 60,000 have gone to Vavuniya in the past 3 months where they are being taken care of in 12 relief camps. Around 6000 have come into the Jaffna peninsula.
Bishop Savundaranayagam said that his priests who have permission to go into these camps to celebrate Easter with Catholics there, are unable to so because heavy rains over the past few day have flooded the camps. As there are no proper structures, they can hold only open-air Masses.
Appealing to the Sri Lankan army, Bishop Savundaranayagam urged them not to shell populated areas. He also urged the Tamil rebels fighting the government not to hold the people hostage but allow them to go to safe places, wherever they want.
Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped inside a 17 square km army-declared no-fire zone on the northeastern coast, held there by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and being killed in shelling. It is on that piece of land where the final act of Sri Lanka's 25-year civil war is expected to play out, and diplomats have been working furiously to negotiate an exit for the people stuck there but have been repeatedly rebuffed by the LTTE. The government has vowed no ceasefire but pledged to stop fighting briefly to let people out as it has done in the past.
Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam also appealed to both the Sri Lankan army and the rebels not to recruit children for their armies.