• Hundreds of Christian Churches vandalised in Sri Lanka

Tamil Centre for Human Rights, Press Release, 11 February 2004:
Ref: A05/UA/2004

Gautama Buddha who at birth was known as Siddharthar, was the founder of Buddhism. He was born in the year 563 B.C. in the village of Lumbini near Kapila Vastu, within the present borders of Nepal.

At the age of 29 Gautama Buddha gave up a life of luxury, renouncing the world after seeing the human suffering around him.

The four noble truths of Gautama Buddha are: “There is suffering and misery in life’’, “The cause of this suffering and misery is desire’’, “Suffering and misery can be removed by removing desire’’ and “Desire can be removed by following the eight fold path’’. The Noble Eight Fold Path consists of: right views, right thoughts, right speech, right actions, right livelihood, right efforts, right mindfulness and right meditation.

Unfortunately in Sri Lanka, a country that prides itself as the custodian of Buddhism, Buddha’s preaching is being abused by some of its followers! Power hungry politicians and Buddhist monks who are the “king-makers” in Sri Lanka, are influencing Buddhist followers to go against the other religions.

Since independence in 1948, the Sinhala numerical majority in (Ceylon) Sri Lanka, has claimed this island as a Buddhist country. In 1972, in Sri Lanka, Buddhism was constitutionally (Chapter II, 6) given a “foremost place”. Accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster Buddhism’’, even though the constitution, “(assures) to all religions the rights granted by section 18(l) (d)’’.

In the recent past, attacks and vandalism against Christian Churches in Sri Lanka have intensified. Christian Churches have been stoned, burned and vandalised by mobs led by Buddhist monks. Also Pastors’ residences has been attacked and worshippers have been beaten. In one incident in Kotadeniyawa, attackers attempted to rape four women Church workers!

In many parts of Sri Lanka, anti-Christian demonstrations have been organised by Buddhist Monks and handbills against the Christian Churches have been distributed. Demonstrators have issued an ultimatum to the Churches to cease their activities in those areas.

TCHR has collected information on 89 attacks and arson attacks on Christian Churches in Sri Lanka. (List attached) These attacks on Christian Churches and worshippers were well organised by politicised Buddhist Monks. The Police and other government security forces are turning a blind eye. There have been occasions when attacks have even taken place in the presence of Police and Army personnel. There have been very few incidents where the Police have taken action against mobs and Buddhist Monks.

Attacks on Christian Churches and Hindu Temples are nothing new in Sri Lanka. They have been taking place for decades.

According to the statistics collected by TCHR, during the twenty years of bloody war in the North-East, 2076 Hindu Temples and 299 Christian churches in the North ( http://www.tchr.net/religion.html ) were damaged and destroyed in Aerial bombings and shelling. Also many killings and massacres have taken place in Churches, Temples and Schools.

It is deplorable that these attacks and arson attacks on Christian Churches and Temples have neither been investigated, nor even recorded, in the government books !

In vivid comparison, Buddhism and Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka are expanding with the full backing of the State. New Buddhist temples are being erected not only on government-owned land but also on privately-owned land! In war-ravaged Jaffna for example, which is now under army rule, the only reconstruction done was to renovate the sole Buddhist vihare in the town.

We, the TCHR along with several other international Human rights organisations, strongly condemn the attacks on Christian Churches and other religious shrines in Sri Lanka. We appeal to the Government of Sri Lanka to take action to halt these attacks and to bring the perpetuators to justice.

We appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance to take cognisance of the above facts and to take immediate action on this urgent and serious matter.

Please send your protests to the following address:

Thank you.
Mr. Abdelfattah Amor
Petitions Team
Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - OHCHR
Palais Wilson
United Nations
Geneva 10, SWIZERLAND
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax : 00-41-22-9170000
Fax : 00-41-22-9179022
Email : [email protected]