MEDIA RELEASE
Sri Lanka: Caritas grieves murder of Catholic priest; renews calls for
Australian engagement
Sydney, April 21, 2008. Caritas Australia is calling on the international community, including the
Australian Government, to assist the Sri Lankan Government in challenging the culture of impunity
operating throughout Sri Lanka, after the death of Father MX Karunaratnam in a roadside bombing on
Sunday.
AP is reporting ‘a roadside bomb set off by government soldiers in rebel-held territory in Sri Lanka has
killed a Roman Catholic priest who was also a human rights activist’.
“We pray for Fr Karunaratnam, the head of North East Secretariat on Human Rights. We are richer for
his courageous work in maintaining a focus on the rights of the marginalised”, said Caritas Australia’s
Acting CEO Jamie Isbister.
Fr Damian Fernando of Caritas Sri Lanka said, “Caritas Sri Lanka is deeply saddened by the untimely
demise of Fr. Karunaratnam. He was an example of courage and humanity and will be missed by all. As
long as violence prevails in the country, more innocent lives will be lost and this situation has to end. It
is therefore fundamental that the conflicting parties come to some agreement and reach a peaceful
compromise which will bring a lasting solution for Peace in Sri Lanka.”
Mr Isbister said, “the vicious fighting and ongoing human rights violations by all parties are going
unchallenged and uninvestigated and remain a crucial issue to be addressed by the Sri Lankan
Government, the LTTE and the international community. More than 3000 people have died since the
collapse of the ceasefire in January 2008”.
“The cultural of impunity that is operating in Sri Lanka needs to be urgently addressed, as virtually none
of the killings, abductions and human rights abuses that continue to occur in Sri Lanka are ever brought
before the courts”.
“Since the collapse of the peace process earlier this year, the situation has deteriorated for millions
across Sri Lanka. The current threat to the Madhu Shrine and the murder of human rights activists like
Fr Karunaratnam illustrate the need for international pressure to get the parties back to the table”, said
Mr Isbister.
“We saw the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons, formed to observe an inquiry into 16
cases of serious rights violations, (including the August 2006 massacre of 17 local employees of the
French charity, ACF), pulled out in March 2008 because of a lack of political will to investigate and bring
to justice these tragedies”.
“Australia as a regional power and with a growing Sri Lankan diaspora, has a unique opportunity to
build a politically powerful contact group of India, the EU and the USA, to ensure parties return to the
table”, said Mr Isbister.
Caritas Australia continues to work through its local partners with all parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka
supporting grassroots initiatives including trauma counseling, delivering food aid and promoting
sustainable livelihoods.
For more information contact Tim O’Connor 0417 284 831
The Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development
24-32 O’Riordan St, Alexandria, NSW, Australia, 2015 Toll Free 1800 024 413 Facsimile 1800 887 895
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