Prayers for Peace

We are just ending the advent season which celebrates the birth of the Prince of Peace, and moving into a new year full of hope and potential. This is the time of year when all things seem possible, when we are reminded of the power of God to defy expectations.

This is also a time of year when I remember with great joy my time living in northern Sri Lanka, where the Christmas season was full of carol singing and community events, lots of time spent with friends and in church. Things in Sri Lanka are not going so well now, with the conflict going full-force again. After around 25 years of on-and-off fighting, many wonder if they will ever see peace.

The following letter was written by Dan Muthuveloe, a Sri Lankan expatriate living in England, who recently spent some time in Jaffna (northern Sri Lanka) in the midst of the current conflict. Following his letter describing the situation for people living in Jaffna is an excellent prayer guide, both for this particular conflict or for other places in our world that face ongoing violence. As we start a new year, I am hopeful that peace really is possible. I pray it will come soon.

Diane
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My experiences in Jaffna - Summer 2007

I would like to share with you my experiences of Jaffna from a Tamil point of view. I am sure what I have to say could be matched by equally harrowing stories from other parts of North and East such as the Vanni, Mannar, Sampoor, Vaharai etc, and perhaps from the South by Sinhalese and Muslims who have also suffered pain and loss.

During the three months I spent in Jaffna recently, I met with many ordinary people. Many of them related to me their harrowing experiences and tales, which made me listen to them spell bound, speechless with no words of comfort or encouragement to give in return. I could only sigh. I was amazed at the capacity of people to cope with tremendous anxiety, fear, deprivation and the dehumanising infringement of their right to the pursuit of happiness and a quiet life.

After my return from Jaffna I have been pondering about the dire situation I left behind. I vowed to return. Not because I am able to do something for them, but purely because I wanted to be there and be with them and feel the fear and anxiety and humiliation they feel day in and day out. They have no advocate. They have no political voice.

There were days when I could not eat. Not because the food was not palatable. On the contrary the food was delicious as only the Jaffna cuisine could be. I had no appetite after hearing sad story after story of pain from crushed hearts.

Killings and abductions occurred daily. I have seen dead bodies by the road side. They were mostly young men who have been shot and killed. It is usually reported the next day in the Uthayan News paper that persons of unknown identity are thought to have been the killers. Friends and neighbours are scared to befriend the bereaved family for fear of their lives in case they also become victims of the killers. I was told that the victims were young men who were active politically, either when in University or as journalists or as activists during ‘Pongu Thamil’ celebrations and other political demonstrations. The killings did not appear to be random but targeted. Many of the abducted are given up for dead because so few of them return alive. The killings of these young men have left a growing number of young widows and fatherless children. The ‘recent’ widows number over a thousand. Last month alone 57 men were killed in the Jaffna peninsula. Wives and mothers are anxious each morning when their husbands and children leave home until they return in the evening.

The sound of gunfire, shells and aerial bombing can be heard daily. It is not only a constant reminder of the ongoing conflict but causes our hearts to sink. The children are petrified. Some shake with fear. Scattered through out the main trunk roads are sentry points where one is checked for identity cards. If you are riding a motorcycle or scooter, the army may take your bike from you for their use. You will be very thankful when the bike is returned without damage.

Cordon and search operations occur at any time of day or night. The trunk roads [Palaly Road, KKS Road, Pt.Pedro Road and the A9] are closed to civilian traffic twice a day for three to four hours. While I was there the nightly curfew was from 7 pm to 4 am. People are at home by 6 pm and do not venture out. Killings, abductions and robberies take place under cover of the curfew.

The people in Jaffna have no dignity or self worth or confidence as evidenced by the cringing posture and body language and the gibbering apology for their existence when stopped by the army.

The A 9, the only road to the rest of the country, has been closed for over a year. This has caused great hardship to the people. Food and essential items have to be shipped to the peninsula. While I did not see starvation I certainly saw malnutrition and failure to thrive and growth retardation in young children. Cement was four times the price in Colombo. There is hardly any construction work going on in Jaffna.

The declaration of High Security Zones by the army has resulted in several communities being evacuated from their homes and villages. They have been languishing in temporary housing for the last 14 years. They are referred to as I.D.Ps- Internally Displaced People. They are the forgotten people of this prolonged conflict.

The people in Jaffna are indeed subjugated and held captive in what amounts to an open prison. They cannot leave the peninsula unless they have an exit permit from the Grama Sevaka and the Army. Hundreds could be seen at the different army camps trying to obtain their permits to get to Colombo to find a new life.

The population of Jaffna in 1981 was 800 thousand people. Today it has drastically dwindled to 250 thousand persons and the numbers are continuing to haemorrhage. The number of army personnel in Jaffna is 60 thousand. Hence for every four civilian persons in Jaffna, there is an armed soldier with an automatic gun or machine gun.

The recurrent heartfelt cry that I heard in Jaffna was the sense of hopelessness and the feeling of desolation. Hopelessness because the people of Jaffna had put hope in their politicians through the democratic process. They had hoped in the freedom struggle through the efforts of the ‘boys’- the freedom fighters to some but terrorists to others. They had hoped in every new Prime Minister and President for an equitable solution for all time. They had hoped in the IPKF. They had hoped in the CFA. They had hoped the Norwegians would broker a deal for all time. The International community, the United Nations, the European Union and the Co-Chairs have not done enough to stop the genocide.

I could sense a feeling of desolation, a feeling of being abandoned and lonely and forlorn without friends. A feeling of utter hopelessness filled my heart as well. We have put our trust in men and horses and chariots with no avail. Our hopes have been dashed time and again. We as Tamils and as Sri Lankans as peace loving people have stood back in horror, feeling utterly helpless and alienated.


Our Response

A call to Prayer and Intercession - for Peace with Justice and Reconciliation

Though the Call to Prayer is from a Tamil Christian perspective, because that is what I am, the Call does not exclude any one. The problems in Sri Lanka transcend race and religion. We are all affected one way or another, some more than others. We, what ever our background, have a common interest and a common burden for our country. We are all children of God, we could all cry to God. Our God hears and responds to all our prayers. You are welcome to join us what ever your faith is, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Catholic or Muslim.

1] Pray for the cessation of hostilities.
Pray for Peace diplomats.
Pray for the defusing of anger and revenge.

2] Pray for the return of the sanctity of life.
Pray that killings and abductions will cease.
Pray that there will be no need for any more violent deaths

3] Pray for the return of civil rule and democracy.
Pray for the return of dialogue.
Pray for tolerance and respect of other points of view.
Pray for the spirit of generosity, to live and let live

4] Pray for Just Peace.
Pray that fear and apprehension and anxiety will be no more.
Pray for the Liberty and the Freedoms of each person in equal measure.

5] Pray for ALL aid workers, politicians and journalists.
Pray for their safety.
Pray for their important work.

6] Pray for ALL war widows and their dependants
Pray for ALL orphans.
Pray for ALL the war disabled and maimed

7] Pray for ALL Refugees- Internally Displaced People

Pray for Ourselves

We all have a High Calling. It is a duty and obligation that is expected of us. We cannot shun it. We are called to stand in the gap and intercede and pray for the world around us. We need to pray as though we ourselves are in trouble and are part of the problem- the terrible situation that continues to prevail in Sri Lanka. That will be true intercession.

Oh, that God may grant each of us a heart felt heart cry that will flow to heaven’s throne. Let us ask God to first change our own hearts and attitudes so that we can respond to His Call to Prayer.

Pray for Peace and Goodwill

The Christmas message is ‘Peace on earth and good will to man’
It’s a message that heralded the birth of Christ who was described as the Prince of Peace. Christ himself said that the peace he gives is not as the world gives.

Peace is a fundamental human right. Every human born on this planet has a right to a peaceful existence. Yet we rob each other of peace by our own actions that stems from a heart that is uncaring.

Oh! That God will change our uncaring attitudes to our fellow humans.
Let us in this season of peace, pray for peace and good will among all in Sri Lanka.
May God help us and the people of Sri Lanka to empty ourselves of all the distrust and fear of each other and once again believe in each other’s good will. God can restore this in all our hearts as we pray earnestly.


Pray for Human Rights

The 10th of December was the World Human Rights Day. Sri Lanka has the highest incidence in the world of killings and abductions that go uninvestigated. Yet Sri Lanka has declined to allow the UN body to have an office in Colombo, claiming that it has its own mechanisms to monitor Human Rights violations.

Let us pray for the integrity, honesty and duty of care of all the agents of the State of Sri Lanka that they may exercise righteous governance.

Let us remember and pray for the following people who have suffered.

1] Over 3000 Tamil people were arbitrarily arrested and sent to Boossa Detention Camp near Galle. Several have been released. There are still many kept incommunicado under the PTA laws.
Pray for the frightened Tamil people.

2] Pray for the open prison – the Jaffna peninsula –the subjugation of the innocent people by military rule. The ordinary civilian population is subjected to very harsh conditions- restriction of movement, curfew, lack of food and essentials, indiscriminate stops and searches, abductions and killings.

3] Pray for the Internally Displaced People [IDP] evacuated from their homes and agricultural lands by the army in the so-called recently liberated areas of Mannar, Sampoor Vaharai and Batticoloa. Let us not forget the I.D.P.s following the creation of the High Security Zones and the Muslims displaced from Jaffna.

Our God is one whose heart is for the poor and disadvantaged. We could call on Him to have mercy in our time of need. He will heal the broken hearted. He will set the captives free and set at liberty them that are bruised.


Pray for the Sanctity of Life

Kfir planes have been continuing to bomb towns and villages in Vanni – Mullai- tivu, Puthukudiyirruppu, Alampil, Killinochi, Tharmapuram indiscriminately causing death, destruction and disruption of the lives of ordinary people. Students sitting for public exams last week had to rush out to get into bunkers and bomb shelters while doing public exams.
In the month of November 2007–
27 Tamil persons were killed in the Vanni by Claymore mines by the Deep Penetration Unit of the Sri Lankan Army and by bombings by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
21 Tamil persons were shot and killed in the Jaffna peninsula.

The following incidents are examples of what is happening on a daily basis in the army occupied Jaffna peninsula.

A youth, S. Inthirakanthan aged 23, shot and injured at home during curfew hours by armed men on motor bikes, in Kalviyangkaddu, while watching TV with his family, succumbed to his injuries at Jaffna Teaching hospital on Monday 10th December.

A civilian, Velupillai Sivayoham who went missing was found dead on Monday10th December, with assault injuries on his body near the well of the Heroes’ Resting Home at Ellangkulam, Uddupiddy..

Sivayogarasa, a father of two and a resident of Polikandi went missing at 6.30 am after leaving home. He was beaten to death and his body was found dumped.

On Saturday 8th December gunmen shot dead Singham aged 70,an elderly trader, at his house, in Chaavakachcheri around 7:30 a.m.

The body of Sooriyakanthy Thavarasa a Red Cross worker, who was abducted on Friday 14th December was found on Sunday the 16th. He was the third Red Cross worker to be killed this year.

In the recent bombings in Colombo, 20 innocent people lost their lives. A further 16 people were killed when a bomb exploded in a bus with civilian passengers in Kebithegollewa.

In the battlefields around Vanni, in this undeclared civil war, both warring sides claim killings on a daily basis.

Oh that we may all feel the value and preciousness of each life whether Sinhala or Tamil, whether soldier, para-military or terrorist or freedom fighter. A life that is so easily snuffed out but none of us could give back. Oh Lord, give us back the respect and sanctity for each other’s life.
Please pray for the family and friends of the victims of all those who lost their lives in the recent weeks. May the God of all comfort, comfort the bereaved and bereft and bring a speedy end to the callous and wanton destruction of lives.

Pray for the freedom of the Press & the Media

Seven media organisations including Free Media Movement (FMM), Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Movement and Working Journalists Association staged a protest demonstration and march on Monday 10th December. Eleven journalists and media personnel have been killed in recent times.

Let us remember the assassinated journalists Taraki Sivaram, Mylvaganam Nirmalarajan and Nadesan.

Pray for the safety of all journalists.
Pray that the people in the south will not be kept in the dark about the oppression of the Tamils in the North and East. . Pray for the freedom of the press. Pray that the media will be responsible and truthful and play an important role in national reconciliation and peace with justice for all.

We invite you to join the Call to Prayer and pray with us for a speedy resolution to the conflict and for Peace with Justice and Reconciliation