மன்னார் ஆயரின் பேட்டி

மடுதேவாலயத்தின் யார் செல் தாக்குதல் மேற்கொண்டார்கள் என்று எங்களுக்கு தெரியாது என்று மன்னார் ஆயர் ராயப்பு ஜோசப்பு அடிகளார் அவரது பேட்டியில் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். தொடர்ந்து வாசிக்கவும்..


We don’t know who shelled the shrine

- Bishop Dr. Rayappu Joseph

Mannar Bishop Reverend Dr. Rayappu Joseph denies claims that the Madhu church had been handed over to the clergy. “Not yet,” he says.
He appeals to the security forces to vacate the church environs and requests the government to declare areas surrounding the holy shrine a zone of peace.
He spoke to LAKBIMAnEWS staffer Ranga Jayasuriya about the aftermath of the military capture of Madhu. Excerpts of the interview:

Q: We were told the army had handed over the holy shrine of Madhu to the Mannar Diocese. Is that correct?

A: Not yet. Nobody (clergy) is in the Madhu church now. Last Saturday, the Vicar General visited the shrine and met with the Security Forces’ Commander. He returned the same day. We have asked permission for three priests to enter the shrine area.

Q: Hasn’t it been handed over yet?

A: Not yet. We have to go and take over the church and then make arrangements to take care of it.

Q: What needs to be done to enable the return of the clergy and for the resumption of religious activities?

A: We want the army to vacate the area. After they took control of the place, the need to conduct security checks may arise. There may be landmines there. Those should be removed.
Once this is complete, we will bring back the holy statue. Before we celebrate the feast, the church reservation area has to be de-militarized and declared as a “no conflict zone”.
This area has been demarcated by a Gazette notification of 1982. Accordingly, the area should be free of military personnel and any military activities.

Q: Is it the same area which is now called a “No Fire Zone”?

A: That is what we wanted. But it has not yet been done. We want it to be a ‘no conflict area’.
People carrying arms should not enter the area. There is a danger of innocent civilians becoming victims as a result of fighting.

Q: Are you optimistic that the feast can be held in the month of August as usual?

A: If there is no danger, the feast will be definitely held. Before that, there should be an assurance by both parties to respect the sanctity of the shrine.

Q: When I visited the shrine last week, I saw bunkers in the close proximity of the holy shrine...

A: When the army was advancing towards Madhu, the LTTE was present in the area. They were in the premises and had put up bunkers, especially in the premises of the Road Development Authority. They did not have artillery positions. They were roaming around in that area.

Q: Do you have any information as to whether the area has been mined by the LTTE?

A: According to the army, some areas are mined.

Q: I saw the main building of the shrine damaged. The roof damaged by shelling.
A: Yes.

Q: Who is responsible?

A: We don’t know. Both parties were shelling. Weren’t they? We were not there. We don’t know who exactly shelled the shrine.

Q: Under normal circumstances how many people would have been living there?

A: This place is a sanctuary for thousands of refugees. This is the place where thousands of people would seek shelter during turbulent times.


Q: How many were living in this area before security forces commenced Madhu operations?

A: At that time, there were nearly 6000 to 8,000 people.

Q: I remember visiting Madhu soon after the ceasefire agreement. The area was flooded with the internally displaced.

A: Those people went back to their villages, during the “peace period”. They were resettled.. They were displaced once again when fighting broke out. When the army began to come to this area, people decided to vacate their villages. Ultimately there were only a few members of the clergy left in the church.

Q: How do you view the military operation to capture or liberate the area of the holy shrine? Is there any strategic importance?

A: The road is there and they (the army) were advancing along the road. They are saying: “We want to rescue the people and liberate Madhu”. However, we don’t see any reason for the military takeover of Madhu church in order to liberate it.

Q: What measures should the government take, to ensure a peaceful environment in the area of the shrine?

A: That is what exactly we have been saying all these days. This area has to be declared a ‘no conflict area’, a zone of “peace”. If the government can ensure that the security forces will abide by it, the LTTE will also respect the peace zone.

Q: Can you guarantee that the LTTE will respect the peace zone?

A: Yes. They have already informed us that they will respect it. It is up to the government to respect it (peace zone). A few days before the withdrawal of the LTTE, the Bishops Conference made an appeal to the LTTE, to vacate the church. They did so. Thereafter, we requested the Army to avoid moving in, once the LTTE moved out. Inspite of this appeal the Army moved in. This area must be legally established as a “zone of peace”. We can’t have armed cadres moving about in the area. Because this can lead to confrontations.