The clergy of the North-East have written to the UN Human Rights Council, calling for stronger action against Sri Lanka and also pointing out the systematic destruction of the Tamil nation by the government.

The letter, signed by 133 priests, is the first of its kind to be signed by so many of the clergy, and was published on http://www.stillcountingthedead.com/wp/?p=7381 on 18th February. It has been reproduced in full below:

18th February 2013

To: The President and all members of the UN Human Rights Council

Call for a strong and action oriented resolution on Sri Lanka at the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council

As a group of concerned Christian clergy living and serving in North and East of Sri Lanka, we are writing to appeal for a strong and action oriented resolution in relation to accountability, reconciliation and human rights in Sri Lanka, which will go beyond the resolution adopted at the 19th session of the Council.

As noted by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in her report to the Council, what we have seen since the rather weak resolution adopted at the 19th session of the Council is a total lack of political will on the part of the government to implement recommendations therein, such as the call for investigations into allegations of international law during the final stages of the conflict and cooperation with the UN Special Procedures, as evident by the lack of response to requests for country visits by 8 thematic UN Special Procedures for a number of years.

We had also witnessed continuing ignorance and violations of the key LLRC recommendations, related to political solution to the ethnic conflict, release of political prisoners, appointment of a Commissioner to look into disappearances, reparations, release of land occupied illegally by the military, restrictions on media, commemorating those dead and disappeared, use of both national languages etc.
In the last year, those criticising and challenging the government in peaceful ways including by engagement with the UN, have been assaulted, questioned, arrested, threatened, discredited and intimidated by government ministers, officials, military and police. Victims include some of us and fellow clergy who are not signing this letter due to fear of reprisals.

We feel that the killing and disappearance of tens of thousands of Tamil people and actions that are supressing the Tamil people and community, our culture, religions, language, land in a systematic way before, during and after the war, appears to be done with an intent to destroy us in whole or part, and thus, it is imperative that the international community addresses this seriously even at this late stage. We fear that at the pace these oppressive methods are carried out after the war, our identity as a people will be destroyed in the near future. Hence there is an exigency to arrive at a political solution which acknowledges the internal self-determination of the Tamil People.

While we have focussed on issues confronting the Tamil people, particularly in the North and East, we also remain deeply concerned about increasing authoritarianism all over Sri Lanka, such as the recent attacks against Muslims, killing of 27 Sinhalese prisoners in November last year, lack of investigation into discovery of skeletal remains in Matale of those suspected to have been tortured and killed, threats, attacks and intimidations of journalists, human rights defenders, student leaders, trade unionists and religious clergy who criticize the government. We remain in solidarity with victims, their families and those who struggle for justice. The most recent impeachment of the Chief Justice bypassing Court decisions and due process, attacks and threats on judges and lawyers, as well as inaction of statutory bodies such as the Police, National Human Rights Commission and Attorney General’s Department reinforces our long held view that justice for Tamils through domestic processes is not realistic, despite our own engagement with several such bodies in good faith.

We are attaching a letter written by the Catholic Bishop of Mannar to the President in August 2012 and a letter to the Catholic Bishops Conference by the Justice and Peace Commission of Jaffna Diocese in January 2013, giving details of our concerns and also serve as examples of the numerous unsuccessful domestic efforts we have undertaken.

We are convinced that the root cause of these problems is a lack of political will, than the capacity. Hence, it is our firm conviction that technical assistance from the UN in the form of training, advice, financial and material support will not suffice, and may even serve as red herring if not accompanied by more substantive investigative, monitoring and reporting role.

Thus, we appeal for a strong and action oriented resolution, which will:

Note the lack of progress on human rights and reconciliation since the last year’s resolution, the continuing repression of minorities and those with dissenting views and unwillingness of the Sri Lankan government to address allegations of past violations

Establish an international and independent commission of inquiry to look into allegations of violations of international law by all sides during the war, with a proper witness protection mechanism and including with specific reference to findings and recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts report.

Appoint a Special Representative / Rapporteur on Sri Lanka with a broad mandate to address the past and on-going violations and assist and advice the government on future reconciliation initiatives

Identify a team of thematic UN Special Procedures to visit SriLanka considering pending requests for visits

Set up an accountability mechanism for UN officials implicated in the failure of the UN’s protection mandate in relation to last stages of war in Sri Lanka as identified in the UN’s own Internal Review

Welcome the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the 22nd session of the Council and request her to report back to the Council’s 25th session her observations on progress of the above and recommendations.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,

1. Most Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar

Rev. Sr. Immaculate Joseph H.C.
Rev. Bro. Lawrence Leon, Mannar
Rev. Fr. S.V.B. Mangalaraja. President, Justice and Peace Commission, Jaffna
Rev. Fr. M.V.E. Ravichandran, Director, Laity council, Jaffna
Rev. I.D. Dixon, Anglican Church, Nallur
Rev. Sujithar Sivanayagam, Methodist Church, Trincomalee
Rev. N. Pirabhakaran, Anglican Church, Trincomalee

9. Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos, Vankalai, Mannar

10.
Rev. Fr. Gerard Rosairo, Colombo
Rev. Fr. Elil Rajendram SJ, Trincomalee

12.
Rev. Fr. V. Yogeswaran SJ, Trincomalee
Rev. Fr. C. P. Rajendram SJ, Trincomalee
Rev. Sr. Jeyam, Vavuniya

15.
Rev. Sr. M. Boneventine H.F
Rev. Sr. Mariamalar H.F.
Rev. Sr. Nirmala H.F.
Rev. Sr. Grace H.F.
Rev. Sr. M. Pushpam Gnanapragasam H. F.
Rev. Sr. Thayanayagi H.F.
Rev. Fr. Siluvairajah Arul Sutharsan O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. S. M. Sebastian O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. S. A. Sebastian Ravel O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. C. S. Croos O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. S. Anpurasa O.M.I
Rev. Fr. A. Celestine O.M.I
Rev. Fr. Peter Arulnathan O.M.I.
Rev. Sr. M. Elizebeth H. F.
Rev. Sr. Glory H.F.
Rev. Sr. Mary Yvone Simeon H.F.
Rev. Sr. Salami Sosai H.F.
Rev. Sr. Delicia H. F.
Rev. Sr. Cypirian Varapragasam H.F.
Rev. Sr. Justina kanapathi H.F.
Rev. Sr. Shamini Sebastiampillai H.F.
Rev. Sr. Jothinayaki H.F.
Rev. Sr. Sybil Theresa H. F.
Rev. Sr. Vasantha H.F.
Rev. Sr. Josephine Rajani H.F.
Rev. Sr. Dunstan Pathinathar H.F.
Rev. Fr. T. Navaratnam, Vavuniya
Rev. Fr. F. J. Gnanaraj Croos, Thoddaveli
Rev. Fr. Gnanathicam, Vanchiankulam
Rev. Fr. A. Rayappu, Mannar
Rev. Fr. S. Mariathasan Leon
Rev. Fr. Francis Assisi, Omanthai
Rev. Fr. A. J. Muralitharan, Mannar
Rev. Sr. Anitta Antony H.F.
Rev. Sr. M. James A.C.
Rev. Sr. M. Gnanatharshi A.C
Rev. Sr. M. Parames A.C.
Rev. Sr. M. Arulini A.C.
Rev. Sr. Sumithira RG
Rev. Sr. Jesy RGS
Rev. Sr. Nijanthini RGS
Rev. Sr. Anthonipillai Mary Rita H.C.
Rev. Sr. Judith Rayappu H.C.
Rev. Sr. Jeyaseeli H.C.
Rev. Sr. Rina Rasiah H.C.
Rev. Sr. Maria Gorettee H.C.
Rev. Sr. Emerita Saverimuthu H.C.
Rev. Sr. Hilda Croos H.C
Rev. Sr. Sylvia Sebastiampillai H.C.
Rev. Sr. Vinci H.C.
Rev. Sr. Virginy Edwardrajah H.C.
Rev. Sr. Anushia Alexander H.C.
Rev. Sr. Rojini Figirado H.C.
Rev. Sr. Sebamalar Patrick Grace H.C.
Rev. Sr. Manuela Michale H.C.
Rev. Fr. Thevathasan Edwin O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. Augustine Confucious O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. Vincent Jerome O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. Jeyanthan Pachek O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. Vijeyendiran O.M.I.
Rev. Fr. A. Nesan Kulas CMF
Rev. Fr. Rev. Fr. J. Jeyaseelan CMF
Rev. Fr. Rajeswaran C.R.
Rev. Fr. Rex Saundara
Rev. Fr. A. J. Yavis
Rev. Fr. S.M.P. Ananthakumar
Rev. Fr. A. C. Christopher, Chundukuli
Rev. Fr. R.C.X. Nesarajah, Gurunagar
Rev. Fr. J.C. Paul Rohan, S.F.X.S. Jaffna
Rev. Fr. S.A. Roshan, S.P.C. Jaffna
Rev. Fr. T.J. Kirubaharan, S.F.X.S. Jaffna
Rev. Fr. T. Raviraj, S.F.X.S. Jaffna
Rev. Sr. N. Emmanuel, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Hilary, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Genita, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Dharshini Perera, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Helen Lambert, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Oscar Lambert, Vavuniya

93.
Rev. Sr. Angelita Joseph, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Christine Fernando, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Naomie, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Laurine, Vavuniya
Rev. Sr. Tharini, Vavuniya
Rev. Fr. A. Rajani Kanth, Veppankulam, Vavuniya
Rev. Fr. Christhu Nesaratnam, Mannar
Rev.Fr.StephenRajah, Thalvupadu
Rev.Fr.M.Jeyabalan,Bishop’s House, Mannar
Rev.Fr.G.A.Arulraj Croos, Murunkan
Rev.Fr.Sugunaraj Croos
Rev.Fr.Denny Calistus, Pampaimadhu, Vavuniya
Rev.Fr.Arokiam, Pandiviruchchan
Rev.Fr.S.Jeyabalan, Mannar
Rev.Fr.P.Jesurajah
Rev.Fr.Jesley Jegananthan
Rev.Fr.M.P.Peter Manohar
Rev.Fr.S.Vasanthakumar, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Desmond Kulas, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Douglas Milton Logu, Mannar
Rev.Fr.S.V.Avithappar, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Yogaraj Peries, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Arudkumaran, Mannar
Rev.Fr.A.Luckston De Silva
Rev.Fr.S.Anton, Mannar
Rev.Bro.Terrance, Mannar
Rev.Fr.S.Rajanayagam, Chilavathurai
Rev.Fr.Desmond Angelo, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Laconz Figurado, Mannar
Rev.Fr.G.Arulpragasam, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Ruban Fernando, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Rocksan Croos, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Emil Elil raj, Vankalai
Rev.Fr.Suresh Ravel, Alawakkai
Rev.Fr.Rayappu Augustine
Rev.Fr.E.Sebamalai, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Devarajah Koduthore, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Newton Devarajah, Mannar
Rev.Fr.Peppi Sosai, Vavuniya
Rev.Fr.S.Anton Thavarajah, Mannar
Rev.Fr.A.Jude Croos, Mannar

The group can be contacted at [email protected]