The Association for the Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances in Vavuniya held a memorial event today in honour of Pope Francis, amidst intimidation and surveillance by Sri Lankan intelligence officers.
Following the passing of Pope Francis at the Vatican, memorial events have been held across various regions to pay tribute to the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
In Vavuniya, relatives of the disappeared gathered solemnly in front of the shed near the Road Development Authority office. Holding oil lamps and lighting candles before an image of Pope Francis, the families paid their respects in a quiet and dignified ceremony.
However, the event was overshadowed by the presence of Sri Lankan intelligence operatives, who were observed photographing the participants and journalists present at the site. The targeting of relatives of the disappeared and members of the press has been a persistent pattern of harassment across the Tamil homeland, particularly during peaceful gatherings and commemorative events.
Families of the disappeared, many of whom have been campaigning for years for answers regarding their missing loved ones, continue to face heavy surveillance and intimidation by the Sri Lankan state. The harassment of those attending a memorial for a global religious leader has once again underscored the climate of fear and repression that persists in the North-East, despite international scrutiny.
