Online edition of Daily News

The Rt. Rev. Dr. S. Jebanesan is the Bishop of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India. A versatile scholar (7 books and many papers) with a string of earned degrees (history, theology, languages), he has served in Jaffna through its most difficult times, taking pains to visit all his parishes in the Northeast and South regularly. Presently he is on leave on a teaching fellowship at Princeton and was back in the island to attend to Church matters. Professor S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole of Peradeniya interviews Dr. Jebanesan for his views on the peace process and related matters.

What are the chances of permanent peace? Very bright. It is mainly because the US is behind the process.

Is that involvement good, particularly with the US's seeming hostility to Islamic interests? The entire West is behind it. When the US takes the initiative, the others simply fall in line.

Is India, the regional power, not pleased with the negotiations and this US involvement? It is unfortunate that India was not clear on its assignment in Sri Lanka when it intervened unilaterally in 1987. The people in the North hugged and kissed Indian soldiers when they came in first. Indeed, people who could not get close enough to kiss Mr. Puri, the senior Indian diplomat who came with IPKF, kissed the wheels of his jeep. They truly believed that he was the Messiah who would lead them to the promised land.

Are you saying that India is responsible for the IPKF debacle? India was outwitted by Sri Lankan politicians. This is what IPKF officers told me when they were winding up. The vast majority of Tamils feel sad that India's attitude to them is that of a man who has divorced his wife.

Will a Nobel Prize come out of these talks? Many have contributed, risking their lives - Eric Solheim, G.L. Peiris, Ashley Wills, Ranil Wickremesinghe and others. Even Prabhakaran and Mahattaya who were described to me by the IPKF's Sikh Jaffna Commandant, General Carlon, as excellent soldiers who shun the conference table. So many have been brave in reversing long-held positions and warring parties are today into serious negotiations.

Did the previous regime not play a serious role in making all this come to be? Yes, true but they sent only bank managers, journalists and priests. How could the LTTE take them seriously?

What of the LTTE's killings? When I was a student at Peradeniya, my economics lecturer H.A. de S. Gunasekera used to say "Any intelligent man would say that there is a great deal of truth in what Marx says." I suppose we could say the same of Prabhakaran. The ultimate criterion is success. Once you are successful, all past sins are forgotten. This is politics. Look at what George Washington, Jomo Kenyatta and other African leaders did before gaining independence.

Do I hear a man of God condoning murder? Definitely not! The killings were tragic. Every human life, however low, is precious to God. That is the message of the Church. Some of the people killed by the LTTE have done much for the Tamil community and the people of Sri Lanka.

I am simply describing the process as a historian. Every independent movement has a sinful past. In many cases, once in power, a ruthless movement matures into a well disciplined, orderly and dedicated movement.

The LTTE has matured. In recent times its record has been commendable. It has come out of its days of immaturity and ruthlessness. We as Church encourage that process. To harp on its past ruthless record would abort that civilizing process. We believe that God has his ways. He will ensure that the deaths are not in vain and that we will learn from our past. Personally as a Tamil, I feel that the LTTE is the only horse we have to back. Weakening the LTTE can be disastrous for us.

Will the current euphoria continue? It has to. The pre-MoU days were a nightmare to us Tamils and we must never return to them. De escalation is the only answer. Both parties must adhere to it

For this to be and continue to be, a federal solution is necessary, but is it acceptable to the Sinhalese and the Muslims? If they don't accept it, the country would plunge back into civil war. It seems that the Sinhalese are willing and the Muslims are only asking for safeguards. I do not see anything wrong or insurmountable in their demands.

Any advice to the LTTE and the Government? Please continue the good work you have begun, remembering that the peace process has brought sunshine into the hearts of millions in Sri Lanka and aborad. Is it right for the Church, a Catholic institution, to speak of Tamil and Sinhalese? The Christian faith is one.

Disunity in the body of the faithful is a sin against God. True, mine is a Tamil Church. But the wounds inflicted by communal politics are sill unhealed. Once the prejudices are forgotten, union with southern Churches will be a matter of time. Hopefully the fear of the majority in the church will disappear once devolution of power is effected.

And on indigenization against the universality of the Church? Only a firm believer in the revelation of Jesus Christ can afford to experiment with indigenization. Indigenization is relevant only when people are clear about their faith.

How is the Church fairing as the beacon of light it is meant to be? In some fields we have failed. But in speaking up for and improving the lot of the downtrodden, orphans, outcasts, women and the poor, we continue as a beacon and the Northeast would be in much worse plight without our work and witness.

But there are reports of misappropriation by priests and Churchmen, in the northeast as well as the rest of Sri Lanka? Corrupt priests have been there from the time of our Lord Jesus. People have amassed wealth with positions in the Church. But do we stop all our work and abandon the weak because of a few corrupt men? I do not think so.

It has been wisely said "If only the good were clever and the cleaver good." It is very hard to find clever people who are also good.

But the Church goes on with people of varied qualities. Jesus said, "The poor are always with you." As Church leaders we are forced to lament "The corrupt are always with you." We carry on with God's work putting in safeguards against corruption as we discover new loopholes.

Are clergymen not up to old standards? Not only priests, but also teachers, politicians and all kinds of leaders have dropped in standards. There is not the slightest doubt that intelligent and accomplished men do not offer themselves for service-oriented work today. The Church in the Northeast is not only the Church for the poor, but it is also the Church of the poor. I wish that Christians would not go after paying prestigious work and heed the call of our Lord.

Have we Christians failed in being the fist to flee the Country? We had more contacts with the outside and had a catholic, multicultural upbringing so it was easier for us to leave. After all, everybody who can is emigrating today. Like the Burghers, I suppose, many of us left because the opportunity was there. But we Tamils have hope.

It is said that while 14% of Tamils are Christian, only 4% of the Sinhalese are, perhaps because of re-conversion and state patronage. We Tamils therefore have much to offer our neighbours if only we have the will with God's help.

As a result of Christian numbers in Sri Lanka dropping, does the Church have a future here? Numbers in the mainline churches are dropping. In fact they are worse than reflected because even those who leave do not ask for their names to be deleted from the records.

But numbers in the new Churches - call them fundamentalist, or charismatic or evangelical or what you will - are increasing. Soon we mainline Protestant Churches will be overtaken by these new Churches, if it has not already happened. We can only repeat what Gamaliel said to the Sanhedrin: "If it is by God, we cannot do anything." But God's Church in whatever form always has a future. As the social strata of our membership change, God will teach us new ways in which we can serve people.

In the Northeast there are charges against Christians for effecting conversions and this is wearing the social fabric thin. What do you say? The Great Commission by our Lord is "Go therefore to all nations and make them my disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." So it is my duty to share the Good News that has given me peace and solace.

It is for those who listen to accept it or reject it. I do not pass judgement on others. I am simply a witness to Christ's redeeming love. By seeing the Church living among the people and serving them, the people know that we are no alien threat and that Church is God's agency on earth.

As a member of Jaffna University's Council, how do you think the University can help the peace process? By teaching the students and the public the harsh realities of Sri Lanka's history. It is unfortunate that many Tamils do not have a sense of history. The few good social scientists we had, have emigrated. It is important to create a society that will love the country and not be crazy about the wealth and comforts of affluent societies. An articulate, well-informed and dedicated group of intellectuals is the need of the hour.

Your reaction to the criticism in the South that Jaffna University is mono-ethnic and Sinhalese and Muslims cannot study there? Our Prime Minister's uncle, the late Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe once said that the task of the private schools is to create multiethnic communities like that of Peradeniya of the fifties and sixties.

I think it was the golden age of Peradeniya. My roommate at Wijewardene Hall was a Muslim and most of my teachers were Sinhalese. Jaffna University has to be multiethnic. Multiculturalism makes life a rich and pleasant experience. I am certain that once the national problem is solved we will have many talented boys and girls from the South studying for their degrees from Jaffna. Once young people of different communities live together, many prejudices will disappear.

What are you working on now? I am writing on a relevant theology for the people of the Northeast of Sri Lanka. It is important that every nation has its own theology.

Translations of theology books by western scholars have little impacton the peoples of eastern societies. The people of the Northeast have undergone very valuable experiences. In that context I am trying to find the Christian answer to the problem of pain and the task of an innocent believer in the midst of death and devastation.

What after retirement in 2 years? I started life as a teacher and will be going back to teaching and research. I found teaching to be the most rewarding experience. It can be in a seminary, university or high school. But God will lead me and have His way as He always has.