Christian clergy, LTTE discuss N-E security

by Ananth Palakidnar

A top level clergy delegation comprising Bishops of Catholic and Anglican Churches, heads of the Methodist Church and other Christian institutions have appealed to LTTE political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan to refrain from going for war and to prevent the collapse of the Ceasefire Agreement, sources said.

The meeting between the heads of the Catholic and other Christian Churches and Thamilselvan had taken place at the LTTE's Peace Secretariat in Killinochchi at 11.30 a.m. yesterday.

The current security situation in the North and the East was discussed in detail during the two hour meeting.

During the meeting, the clergy had pointed out the deteriorating state of the Ceasefire Agreement.

They said the Government and the LTTE should resume peace talks without leaving room for further delays.

The clergy also expressed their worries over the recent incidents in the North and the East where several security personnel and civilians including the Batticaloa Tamil National Parliamentarians were killed.

Catholic Bishops Rt. Rev. Thomas Savundaranayagam of Jaffna, Rt. Rev Dr. Rayappu Joseph of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Viyani Fernando of Kandy, Anglican Bishops Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Kumara Illankasinga of Kurunegala, Rt. Rev. Ebanesar Joseph Head of the Methodist Church, Rev. Sathyan Kadirgamar, Chief preacher of the Methodist Church and also a first cousin of late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Rev. Jeyasiri Peiris of the National Christian and other senior Christian clergy were among the delegation which met Thamilselvan.

Thamilselvan responding to the clergy, said the LTTE was for peace and the Government should also take measures to stabilise the peace process with preventing the para military forces engaging in attacks against the LTTE cadres.

He said the LTTE was keen on resuming peace talks once the right climate was created.

The heads of Churches from the South went by land to Killinochchi for the meeting with the LTTE.

This was for the first time a large gathering of a combined delegation of Catholic and Christian Churches met the LTTE since the Ceasefire Agreement was signed in February 2002.