Tamil Priest Killed by Sri Lankan Forces/Australian H.Rts Fdtn id RAA25675; Thu, 25 Sep 1997 17:33:43 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: news@tamilnet.com Following Press Release from Australian Human Rights Foundation is distributed through TamilNet Australian Human Rights Foundation 130 Little Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia Phone : + 613 9654 2747 Fax : + 613 9650 7019 PRESS RELEASE = 23.09.1997 TAMIL PRIEST KILLED BY SRI LANKAN ARMED FORCES The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has confirmed the murder of Rev Arulpalan of the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India whose body was found at Puthumurripu on 9 September 1997. Rev Arulpalan was taken into custody by the Sri Lankan army on 25 August 1997 while visiting a church farm. The ministry of defense was contacted on 28 August by Church of South India (CSI) officials. Rev A Jayakumaran, Presbyter and D G Newton, Secretary of the Dioceses have brought this to the attention of the Sri Lankan President and have called for an urgent investigation. This latest atrocity comes in the wake of a bombing on 15 August when two Sri Lankan Kfir bombers attacked a Catholic church killing 9 on the spot (including a 4 year old child) and wounding 15. One of the injured succumbed to the injuries later. According to Asiaweek of 18 April 1997, the fourteen-year-old war claimed 75,000 lives. The Sri Lankan Government, however, only admits to a total of 50,000. The majority of those killed are civilians. In March this year, a group of 53 International NGOs appealed to the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) to pursuade the Sri Lankan Government to cease from the atrocities and human rights abuses of their army. The Rev R F Wootton CEO for the Australian Human Rights Foundation said tonight, that he had spoken with a Tamil priest in Melbourne who spoke of the loving loyal service of the Rev Arulpalan. Mr. Wootton said it is time for the war of genocide by the racist Government of Sri Lanka to end. Also the brutal way that those who oppose this war are silenced should cease. Mr. Wootton said he hoped that Australian churches would join with the Church of South India in protesting at the cruel killing of their faithful pastor the Rev Arulpalan. For further comment, the Rev R.F Wootton may be contacted by telephone (03) 9654 2747 and Fax (03) 9650 7019. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-09.25.97-17:33:45-4072