Sri Lankan bishop appeals for end to wave of terror

(January 25, 2011) In Sri Lanka, Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam of Jaffna has appealed to top military in the country’s north to bring an end to what he described as a wave of terror. At a meeting held in Jaffna secretariat with major general Hathuru-singhe, the Jaffna security forces commander, government officials, police and clergy of different religions, the Bishop said: “Violence has become rife at this stage. I kindly request your immediate action. People are numbed by uncertainty and fear.”
It is alleged that government forces are failing to take action against increasing murders, abductions and robberies in the north. Unidentified armed groups roam in the region and reports suggest that violence prevails. The peninsula is under a military blanket with an estimated 50,000 state troops guarding the area. In response to the bishop, Hathurusinghe pledged that his forces would give full cooperation to bring the situation under control. “We will take all possible measures to prevent unauthorized persons carrying arms and ammunition other than security forces and the police,” he promised. Hathurusinghe said that no security personnel were involved in anti-social activities, though some organized groups were trying to tarnish the image of the security forces and the police. If someone was caught in such activities, Hathurusinghe said, he would not hesitate to give the maximum punishment to the person.
Meanwhile, two students from Mannar Seminary, one an ex-seminarian, have been released from their abductors with the intervention of Fr. Anthony Victor Sosai, the vicar general of Mannar.