(May 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I was fortunate to listen to Jatika Hela Urumaya’s Ven. Medananda Thero. Hon Member of Parliament Ven. Thero spoke about the prevailing situation at Madu church in Mannar. He started by saying that Madu Church was once a Buddhist temple later became a Hindu temple. He claimed that the Portuguese demolished the Hindu temple and built this Madu church.
Now the Bishop of Mannar Rev. Rayappu Joseph has called both the government and the LTTE to agree to the proposal of making the Madu church and environment to be declared as a peace zone.
Ven. Thero is calling the Bishop wrong.
We wish to very categorically state that Ven. Thero is making matters worse based on Buddhist fundamentalism. It is further making matters worse and amount to opening up a war front between the Buddhist and Catholics. I can explain.
We have very often heard many frequent voices from the government benches, from the JHU, from the southern polity, from the international community calling upon the Tamil people to ‘advice’ the LTTE to change it’s course from violence to democracy. Yes, it is correct. The interests of the people should prevail over any organisation or government.
Rev. Bishop Rayappu Joseph is the leader of the Catholic population of Mannar. It is what the civil society is. He is the most accepted and respected civil leader in Mannar. He is part of the church. He is addressing both parties of the conflict. He is also placing conditions to the LTTE. He is asking the LTTE to agree and respect the proposal of zone of peace.
Sri Lanka Army is part of the government. LTTE fighting units are not part of government. There is a war. There are two parties. Not only the Rev. Bishop but even the international community would deal with all the parties of the conflict. Humanitarian aids cannot reach the needy and civilian arrangements cannot be formulated unless you accept this ground reality. Therefore please do not find fault with the Rev. Bishop.
Those who demand the Tamil people and civil society leaders to pressurize LTTE should strengthen the hands of the Tamil civil society leaders and respective civil society organizations. But what the Ven. Thero tells is just the opposite. His stand weakens the hands of the Rev. Bishop.
We support Rev. Bishop Rayappu Joseph’s Madu church peace zone proposal. It should be understood in the correct perspective by both the government and the LTTE. It should be accepted by both parties. Once it is accepted there will be a code of conduct in force. If the LTTE violates the code of conduct in respect of the ‘Madu church peace zone’ it would go against its’ own interests. It will be bad for LTTE internationally.
This is what the Tamil Catholics and Tamil civil society can do at the moment. The southern civil society should come forward and join in this campaign. JHU is as usual looking at the things from a Buddhist fundamentalist view point. They begin by saying that Madu church is built on a Buddhist site. We cannot accept any of this. Even if you assume that this information is correct, you cannot demolish down all the catholic churches. This is because Christianity is no more an alien religion. It is very much Sri Lankan now. You cannot seek answers to today’s issues in the history books. Christianity is the only religion which brings Tamils and Sinhalese together. We talk about Tamil Buddhism but in reality there are no Tamil Buddhists. Sinhalese visit Hindu Temples but there are no Sinhala Hindus. But there are Tamil and Sinhala Christians. So let us allow the church to play the natural historical role at this juncture.
Instead of fundamentalist maneuvers the Ven. Thero should look at these positive aspects in the uniqueness of Christianity what can bring Tamils and Sinhalese together. Or it would be helpful if the Church and Christians, Tamils and Sinhalese are allowed to sort out this matter with the government and LTTE without any outside interference.
On the other hand there is another fear prevail among the Tamils. It is a reasonable fear. The Tamil Hindu Keerimalai-Naguleshwaram in the north is now a security zone. So are the Thirukoneshwaram in the east and Thiruketheeswaram in the west. Those who oppose peace zones in the Tamil territory very casually go for declarations of security zones. The fate of Madu will also end up with a security zone proposal. This security zone will pave way for Sinhalisation of the Madu church. It had happened right along the western coastal belt from Negombo to Puttalam. Madu is worshipped by Tamils and Sinhalese. It is good. But it is historically a Tamil dominated Catholic Church. Nothing wrong in this ground reality. Rev. Rayappu Joseph’s sense fear and feeling of insecurity is very much historically justified. The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka has lot of blame on this score. It gave priority to Sinhalisation over Christianity in the past. It should not happen again. It should accommodate this Tamil fear represented by Rev. Bishop Rayappu Joseph.
(Essence of speech made by Mano Ganesan MP in Parliament during the debate of the extension of emergency on 06th May, 2008)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
The only thing that I understand from this article is the Stupidity of the idiot, Mano Ganashan and how bankrupt the Sri Lankan political parties are to choose and elect idiots, racists, thugs and Kudu-mudalalis and dummy to the parliament. So, If the Law makers are that dumb, what is the present and probably future of the country.
There is nothing that Monk says that should make Catholics angry. Catholics are only about 600 years old in Sri Lanka. But, Buddhism is 2600 years old.
If Joseph Rayappu or Mano Ganeshan wants to prove other wise, the best thing is to excavate the place and see the evidence.
How come when Madhu was declared a peace zone by the CBK - govt in 1982, LTTE used it later for war. What was doing Joseph Rayappu at that time ??
Please publish this comment. So that, the Racist - idiot Mano Ganeshan can read my comment.
This article is just a bunch of words. He doesnt has a single fact to prove Madhu was not a Buddhist temple long ago. All know there are so many sacred places of Buddhists were distroyed and converted in to places of other faiths. In the North and East there are so many places like this. Including Koneshwaram where the Historical Bodhi Tree was cut and the anciant Buddhist temple was distroyed and made a KOVIL instead. Buddhists are not asking these places back nor fighting for. But you cant delete true history. Living without fear among Singhalese people in Colombo (since feared to live among Tamils in the North or East) Mano seems to be ignorent about Buddhist tamils in Sri Lanka. There are so many Buddhist Tamils in Sri lanka and India too. I know some of them giving Dana and practicing Buddhism associating Buddhist monks in Up country Tea estates, Trincomalee and Vavunia even today.
I began life as a Catholic and I moved away from it, precisely because I believe that the Catholic church does NOT have the interests of Tamil culture in its heart. If Tamils have to save their culture, they have to find it within modern Hinduism. Hinduism and Buddhism can co-exist. But Catholicism does not co-exist even with other forms of Christianity, let alone Hinduism. It is an intolerant religion.
Mr. Ganesan is a young Tamil politician who can become a statesman if he can see the big picture instead of the narrow, communal picture. Given elementary demographics, even if the Sinhalese remain at 75%, and Tamils at 15 %, we Tamils would be over-run in numbers by the Sinhalese. That is simple arithmetic. Thanks to the stupidity of the LTTE, created by the arrogant confrontational politics launched by the Arasu Kadchchi, our 15% has now declined to about 9%. The LTTE has ensured that the young generation is cannon fodder. So the Sinhlaization is inevitable.
That does not mean that the tamils loose out. They have to stop thinking of "predominantly Tamil zones" etc., and become like the Jews in the USA - a minority dwindling in numbers, but gaining in power! Power does not reside ONLY in politics.
Why do learned Buddhist priests like Ven. Medhananada make such exoplosive speeches? Because they are frightened that their "heritage" would be destroyed by the Tamils, and the Christians. Until we can ally their fears, this kind of unhelpful political speeches would happen. Indeed, even if what Ven. Medhananda says is true, one cannot turn back history. But we can respect history. We can tell Ven. Medhananada that tourist information documentaion can carry all the historical information that he wants.
Why do these people oppose a peace zone, and support a secuity zone? This is because we know that the LTTE will NOT actually respect a peace zone. So I, as Tamil ex-Catholic, can say that I too oppose a peace zone. I support a security zone. Otherwise the LTTE will come back and the Madhu area will continue to smoulder with gun fire. Mr. Ganesan's argument that the LTTE would be worried about international opinion is a nonsensical statement shown to be wrong many times over in the past. Ganesan looses his crdibility if he makes naive statements.
So, let us be realistic and support a security zone. It is ONLY IF Mr. Ganesan could take such "tough" decisions that he can rise in political stature. Of course, Ganesan may be afriad to do so, as the LTTE can always wields a gun.
Sebastian Rasalingam
Why didn't Rev. Bishop Rayappu Joseph bring this proposal for the last 10 years. How did he get this idea soon after Governemnt chased away the LTTE?
But it is a good idea to declare the Madu church area as a peace zone, not because this LTTE agent suggests it, but for the common good.
I'm a Sinhala Catholic with strong catholic background, and it’s a shame in this country to be a Catholic because of the current spineless catholic leadership here. When there is a terrorist group operating in a country and a elected government fighting with terrorists Catholic bishops should have the courage to stand by correct path in the issues like Madhu situation. All I can see his all the Bishops including the Chilaw Bishop for whom I have a great respect dance to the tune of Mannar Bishop. Now we have another actor, the self appointed “civil society leaders”/”Community Leader”, etc… who will ready to speak or send communiqué all-round the world to bring shame to this land
Dear Rev. Bishops I have a great respect for you and your voice should reflect the catholic community of this country. Then only we can live with other communities in harmony. Thank you.
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