{"id":72540,"date":"2021-04-18T01:11:28","date_gmt":"2021-04-18T06:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=72540"},"modified":"2021-04-18T01:12:27","modified_gmt":"2021-04-18T06:12:27","slug":"bishop-rayappu-joseph-like-cardinal-malcolm-ranjith-sought-justice-for-victimised-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=72540","title":{"rendered":"Bishop Rayappu Joseph like Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Sought Justice for Victimised People"},"content":{"rendered":"

By
\nD.B.S.Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Easter Sunday bombings of April 21st 2019 and its consequences have caused a profound impact on the body politic of Sri Lanka. A significant feature of his fall-out has been the bold initiative taken by the Catholic Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. Immensely disappointed by the slow and tardy progress shown by the State in taking legal action against those allegedly responsible for the explosions that killed over 250 and injured over 500 on Easter Sunday, the Catholic prelate has been pressuring the Government in several ways to enact legal proceedings speedily against those perceived as being responsible. Since a very large number of the victims were Christians worshipping at the Catholic St. Anthony\u2019s Shrine in Kochikade,Colombo and St. Sebastian\u2019s Chuch in Katuwapitiya, Negombo, Cardinal Ranjith\u2019s demands are seen as valid and reasonable.(the third Church attacked was the Evangelical Christian Zion Church in Batticaloa).<\/p>\n

\"\"

From left seated – Bishop Winston Fernand SSS, Bishop Vianney Fernando, His Excellency Archbishop Joseph Spiteri Apostolic Nuncio, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Bishop Thomas Suvndranayagam, Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Bishop Kingsley Swampillai ;
From left standing – Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Bishop Marius Peiris, Bishop Joseph Ponniah, Bishop Cletus Perera OSB, Bishop Valence Mendis, Bishop Norbert Andradi OMI and Very Rev. Fr. Nihal Nanayakkara-Pic: Sri Lanka Catholic Bishops Conference ~ 2010<\/p><\/div>\n

In his zealous bid to seek justice for members of the Catholic flock who were affected victims of horrendous attacks Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has upset quite a few including former President Maithripala Sirisena.
\n<\/p>\n

Some have even overtly and covertly criticized the Cardinal for some of his controversial utterances. This however has not deterred the Cardinal from speaking out openly. The Catholic Archbishop of Colombo has not hesitated to speak truth to power in his bid to avert injustice befalling victims of his flock. Even though some of his words and deeds in this regard may be unorthodox and controversial, it is widely accepted that Cardinal Ranjith has a legitimate right to voice his concerns , remedy injustice and seek justice in this grave issue. Even President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara have openly acknowledged that Cardinal Ranjith is justified in demanding justice for his people or flock.<\/p>\n

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Sadly this was not the case when a Tamil -speaking Catholic Bishop of a pre-dominantly Tamil speaking Diocese in the Tamil -majority Northern province spoke out for his flock against injustice and demanded justice for his people. I am of course referring to the former Catholic Bishop of Mannar, the Most Rev Rayappu Joseph who passed away on the first of this month. The Emeritus Bishop had served as the Mannar Bishop for over 23 years from 1992 to 2016. The terrible war between the Sri Lankan Armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) raged on for over 17 years during this period. The Catholic Archbishop of Colombo is only dealing with incidents occurring on a single day but in the case of the Former Mannar Bishop, he had to deal with a continual series of incidents affecting the people. Also Cardinal Ranjith\u2019s concern is over terrorism on one single day but Bishop Joseph had to cope with multiple human rights violations occurring over many years in his Diocese.<\/p>\n

The Catholic Diocese of Mannar consists of the administrative districts of Mannar and Vavuniya in the Northern province. The area under the purview of this Diocese particularly regions in Mannar was severely affected during the conflict. In such a situation it was but natural for affected parishioners to turn to their Bishop for relief, succour, solace and guidance. To his credit Bishop Rayappu Joseph rose to the occasion with commendable courage. As the premier shepherd of the flock in Mannar, the prelate spoke truth to power with formidable temerity. He incurred the wrath of \u201cpower\u201d by speaking the truth. Orchestrated media attacks were launched accusing him of being a \u201cKoti Bishop\u201d (Tiger Bishop). Rayappu Joseph was frequently described as being a controversial bishop. He was often accused unfairly of being a Tiger sympathiser sympathiser and a cassock-wearing feline.<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

Newspaper Interview<\/strong><\/p>\n

In an interview with the \u201cCeylon Today\u201dnewspaper some years ago the Most Rev Rayappu Joseph was posed the following compounded question.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the allegations against you are that you did not condemn the LTTE for abducting children from schools, homes and orphanages to train as child soldiers and suicide bombers; did not condemn the LTTE for herding 300,000 civilians like cattle to use as a human shield to protect the terrorist leaders; removed the Virgin Mary\u2019s statue from Madhu and took it to the LTTE controlled area, preventing other Catholics from praying to Her; did not condemn the attacks and killing of Buddhist clergy and pilgrims or Muslims worshiping inside mosques. It is also said that you have fabricated stories to slander the Sri Lankan armed forces and the government. \u201cEither this Bishop or Father Emanuel insulted Jesus Christ by stating Jesus was like Prabhakaran,\u201d some say. What is your reply to these allegations?<\/p>\n

Bishop Rayappu Joseph\u2019s response was \u2013<\/p>\n

\u201c I state categorically that I have never said Jesus is like Prabhakaran. I have always condemned violence and abuses by the LTTE. Even in my submission to the LLRC, there is a paragraph about Muslims who were evicted by the LTTE. My position and that of the Tamils in general, has been to examine the conduct of all sides to the conflict. I have previously clarified about the circumstances that led to the temporary removal of the miraculous Statue of Our Lady of Madhu, when the priests and others were hiding in bunkers amidst shelling. I\u2019m also the Bishop of one diocese, the diocese of Mannar, comprising districts of Mannar and Vavuniya. I have taken as my primary role as speaking on behalf of the people of the diocese, particularly as they were facing severe repression. Other Bishops do the same about their Dioceses. But, I do care about all others in Sri Lanka and beyond, even though what I have been able to do and say may have been limited, being preoccupied with the suffering of the people where I have been made the Chief Shepherd.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emeritus Bishop Rayappu Joseph\u2019s position therefore is clearly articulated in the excerpt from the interview. \u201cI\u2019m also the Bishop of the diocese of Mannar, comprising districts of Mannar and Vavuniya. I have taken as my primary role as speaking on behalf of the people of the diocese, particularly as they were facing severe repression. I do care about all others in Sri Lanka and beyond, even though what I have been able to do and say may have been limited, being preoccupied with the suffering of the people where I have been made the Chief Shepherd.\u201d Bishop Rayappu Joseph was the voice of the voiceless of the Mannar Diocese.<\/p>\n

Mannar Diocese<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Roman Catholic diocese of Mannar encompasses the Northern Province Districts of Mannar and Vavuniya which formed part of the Jaffna diocese earlier. According to the 2012 Census , Christians numbering 56,932 comprise 57.48 % of the Mannar administrative district population. It is the only district in Sri Lanka that has a Christian majority. Vavuniya administrative district has 22,820 Christians or 13.31% of the population,according to the 2012 Census. Catholics are over 90% of the Christians in the two districts.<\/p>\n

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The Mannar diocese came into being on January 24th 1981. The diocese comprises an area of 3,998 sq km. According to Church estimates updated in 2018, the Mannar Diocese has 88,112 Catholics. There are 46 parishes ,100 priests (65 diocesan, 35 religious), 214 lay religious (52 brothers, 162 sisters) and 28 seminarians .There are seminaries, convents, elders\u2019 homes and children\u2019s homes in the diocese. Above all, the Mannar diocese is home to the renowned Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu with a history of over 400 years. The Marian shrine situated in Marudhamadhu known as Madhu is regarded as the holiest Catholic shrine in the Island.<\/p>\n

Bishop Rayappu Joseph faced many problems in Mannar caused by the war .There were many incidents demonstrative of his predicament.One such incident was the bombing that occurred at Padahuthurai\/Iluppaikkadavai in Mannar on the second day of January in 2007.I have written about this incident in detail in \u201cThe Sunday Leader\u201d when it happened. I shall therefore briefly recount the incident and its aftermath here as it sheds much light on the circumstances in which Bishop Joseph functioned during those dark days of the war. It also indicates as to how and why the Mannar Bishop incurred the wrath of \u201cpower\u201d by speaking the truth then.<\/p>\n

Iluppaikkadavai\/Padaguthurai<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIluppaikkadavai in the North \u2013 Western district of Mannar is a village along the Mannar \u2013 Pooneryn road coming under the Manthai West AGA division. The village is about 25 km to the north of Mannar town.In 2007 Illuppaikkadavai was within the area in Mannar district controlled by the LTTE.The place along the sea shore where fisherfolk beach and launch their boats and rafts is generally known as Padaguthurai. Such places known as Padaguthurai are widely prevalent in coastal areas with a fishing tradition. The padaguthurai in Iluppaikkadavai had become a dwelling place over the years for many displaced families from Naavaanthurai in Jaffna.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cOn January 2nd 2007, four planes all of them Israeli K-fir jet bombers swooped down from the skies at 9. 35 am on Iluppaikkadavai\/Padaguthurai .Three planes dropped four bombs each.The fourth dropped only two. There were twelve explosions with two bombs failing to explode.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople screamed and ran in search of elusive safety. It was all over in ten minutes.Around 25 of the Padaguthurai dwellings were destroyed and damaged. The thatched cadjan roofs caught fire in many instances. About 50 people were injured. Some of them succumbed to injuries. There were people whose bodies were blown to pieces. Others were maimed losing limbs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bombing at Iluppaikkadavai\/Padaguthurai and the damage inflicted on civilians caused shock tremors as details began to emerge. A Press Release on the incident was issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs .\u201cAt least 14 civilians, including children, were killed this morning in north-western Sri Lanka during the aerial bombardment of the coastal village of Illupaikadavai, in Mannar District by the Sri Lankan Air Force. At least 35 additional civilian casualties have also been reported\u201d the UN press release said. It went on to state \u201cSri Lankans continue to suffer deeply due to this conflict, and today\u2019s loss of life is a source of deepest concern,\u201d said Margareta Wahlstrom, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInitially the Govt had only claimed that a sea tiger base north of Mannar had been bombed. As the truth behind the Padaguthurai bombing began to get revealed the Media centre for National Security issued a press release. It stated as follows -\u201d The Air Force denied bombing civilian settlements in Illuppaikadavai, north of Mannr this morning as alleged by pro LTTE media groups.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAir Force Kfir jets carried out air strikes on an identified sea tiger base in Illuppaikadavai, north of Mannar this morning. The sea tiger base in Illuppaikadavai was a well identified target which was under constant monitoring by the SLAF. Intercepted Tiger communication revealed that the tigers were in need of urgent medical supplies.The LTTE is currently spreading false information that the SLAF has bombed a civilian settlement in an attempt to discredit the Security Forces and to win the sympathy of the International Community. The Air Force categorically denies bombing a civilian settlement north of Mannar\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

The Govt claim was effectively refuted by the Most Rev Joseph Rayappu who visited Iluppaikkadavai at 12. 45 pm on the day of the bombing. He inspected Padaguthurai and spoke with survivors. He also made detailed inquiries about the alleged presence of an LTTE sea tiger base in the vicinity. The prelate also went to Pallamadhu hospital.Thereafter Bishop Rayappu wrote a letter to Mahinda Rajapaksa who was then the President on the bombing incident. He also released the letter to the media. Bishop Rayappu also held a media conference and spoke about the actualities at Iluppaikkadavai. An interview to the BBC was also given.<\/p>\n

Missive to Mahinda<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bishop Joseph Rayappu\u2019s epistle to President Mahinda Rajapakse encapsuled all what happened precisely. Excerpts from that missive are re-produced here \u2013 :<\/p>\n

\u201d Your Excellency,<\/p>\n

Aerial bombing that took place at Padahu Thurai near Illupaikadavai, in the un-cleared area of the District of Mannar at 9.35 am Today the 02nd of January, 2007.Three Kfir bombers aided by an aircraft that is said to be supplying information to them, had been bombing the above small settlement of displaced people consisting of 35 families from Navanthurai, Jaffna.<\/p>\n

This aerial bombing took place today the 2nd of January, 2007 at 9.35 in the morning. I saw 12 spots where the bombs had struck and two of these bombs remain unexploded. The area of this attack is just within a radius of 100 meters close to the sea shores. This settlement consisted of 35 Catholic families who were all very poor fisher-folk.<\/p>\n

There is a Catholic church on this very spot in clear sight. They were living in small cadjan sheds. The Parish priest of this locality in the person of Fr. P. Arulnathan OMI and most of the priests and religious working in this area are very familiar with this location, the people and their day to day life.<\/p>\n

I visited this very spot today at 12.45 Noon and the ICRC came there fifteen minutes later. Tomorrow morning i.e. on the third of January 2007, the SLMM is expected to visit this locality. After listening to the people and to the priests and religious working in the area and from my personal inspection, I wish to convey to you that there were no LTTE bunkers nor could we see any sign of their camps nor any individual residence of possible LTTE cadre in or in the vicinity of this area. This attack is clearly on a civilian target which, as far as I had witnessed, has blown to pieces 13 innocent civilians on the very dawn of the New Year 2007. It is feared that many more of the wounded would succumb to their injuries.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I, in the presence of the Catholic priest of this area saw eight civilian bodies of the above tragedy at the Pallamadhu hospital out of whom three were children of 2, 6 & 11 years old. They were all limbless and three of them headless. The parish Priest of this area had seen five bodies of civilians known to him who succumbed to death at Mulankavil hospital, this morning. I was told by the Doctor of the Pallamadhu hospital that more than 35 wounded people had been dispatched to Mulankavil hospital and from there, nearly 25 serious cases had been sent to Kilinochchi hospital most of whom are, I was told children and women. A good number of these may not survive, I was told by a doctor. There were no LTTE killed in this incident except one who was on leave and had come in civil, minutes before the attack to this place to pay New Year visit to his mother-in-law, as I came to know from my inquires. \u201d<\/p>\n

Hostile Response<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bishop\u2019s revelations evoked a hostile response from the state. The Media Centre issued a diatribe against the Bishop in very harsh language. This writer was critical of the way in which Bishop Rayappu Joseph was being attacked by the media centre. I wrote then \u2013 \u201cA senior priest from a \u201cminority\u201d religion was unfairly condemned for voicing the suffering of a section of his flock. One wonders whether the media centre would have the temerity to issue such a statement against a Buddhist prelate or even a Sinhala Catholic Bishop? The silence of the Sinhala Catholics on matters like this is truly deafening!\u201d<\/p>\n

Another major crisis faced by the Mannar Bishop was regarding Madhu.Events pertaining to the Madhu shrine where even the statue of our lady of the rosary got temporarily displaced were testing times for Bishop Rayappu Joseph. Since I have focused on The Madhu Church crisis in another article on Bishop Joseph appearing in our sister paper \u201cDaily FT\u201d I Shall refrain from writing on that here.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

There are many many experiences and events during Bishop Rayappu Joseph\u2019s lengthy record of service that are worthy of detailed re-telling. Time and space constrain this column from doing so.However I have devoted much of this column to focus on the Iluppaikkadavai bombing in a bid to highlight the extremely difficult environment and times during which Rayappu Joseph discharged his duties as the Catholic Bishop of Mannar diocese. The incident is a striking examples of the unenviable situation faced by Bishop Rayappu Joseph and the courage shown by him then.<\/p>\n

Neduntheevu\/Delft<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emeritus Bishop Rayappu Joseph was born in the northern island of Neduntheevu known as Delft on 16 April 1940. His family later relocated to Ilavaalai in the Jaffna peninsula and subsequently to Cheddikulam in Vavuniya District. Rayappu Joseph studied at St. Patrick\u2019s College in Jaffna and St. Joseph\u2019s College in Anuradhapura. After entering priesthood he was enrolled at St. Martin\u2019s Seminary in Jaffna and later the National Seminary in Ampitiya, Kandy.<\/p>\n

Rayappu Joseph was ordained as a priest on 13 th December 1967. He obtained a Doctorate in Canon law from the Pontificial Urban University in Rome. This resulted in him being appointed as a professor at the St. Francis Xavier Seminary in Colombothurai, Jaffna. Rayappu Joseph was consecrated as Bishop of the Mannar diocese at St. Sebastian\u2019s Cathedral on 20th October 1992.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bishop Joseph celebrated his 75th birth anniversary on 16 April 2015. Thereby he reached the retiring age of 75 for a Catholic Bishop. On January 14th 2016, Bishop Rayappu Joseph stepped down from the pastoral care of the diocese of Mannar.Emeritus Bishop Rayappu Joseph entered a state of blissful retirement after many years of dedicated service to God, Church and Humanity. He took up residence as Emeritus Bishop in a section of Bishop\u2019s House, Mannar. Even as the retired Bishop reflected on his life and times, he received a steady stream of visitors over the years who were appreciative of his dedicated priesthood and service.<\/p>\n

Breathed his Last<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to failing health, the Emeritus Bishop was taken early this year to the Holy Cross Health and Wellbeing centre run by the Catholic Church in Colombothurai, Jaffna. He passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning on 1 April 2021 just 15 days before his 81st birthday. There was spontaneous grief and widespread mourning. Having served as Bishop for over two decades in Mannar from 1992 to 2016, the prelate was immensely popular with his flock and fellow shepherds. Moreover the outspoken Bishop had endeared himself to the Tamil people at large by speaking out courageously on issues affecting the community. Thousands paid their respects to Bishop Joseph lying in repose at the chapel adjoining the Jaffna Bishops House. The respected and much loved Bishop\u2019s body was brought in procession from Jaffna to Mannar. Thousands paid their respects when it lay in repose at the Mannar chapel and later the Cathedral.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Mannar Emeritus Bishop\u2019s funeral was held on Monday 5 April, at the St. Sebastian\u2019s Cathedral in Mannar. Almost all the Sri Lankan Catholic Bishops including Colombo Arch Bishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith participated in the requiem mass. The remains of the former Mannar Bishop was laid to rest within the hallowed precincts of the St. Sebastians Cathedral. The entire Mannar district observed Monday as a day of mourning. Black and white flags were flown all over.In Mannar town all businesses remained closed. A statue of Bishop Joseph was unveiled in the heart of Mannar town.<\/p>\n

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me conclude with an excerpt from an article in \u201cUCAnews\u201d about Emeritus Bishop Rayappu Joseph where Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith is quoted. Here is Cardinal Ranjith\u2019s observation on Bishop Joseph – \u201c Bishop Joseph was committed to the cause of peace in Sri Lanka and greater understanding between the various ethnic and religious groups.I remember how he insisted on a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the issues concerning the conflict and encouraged civil society leaders to actively engage. Unfortunately, those efforts did not succeed. I wish to remember him as a zealous advocate of peace and intercultural understanding among all communities in this country.”<\/p>\n

DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/font> <\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is an Updated Version of an Article written for the \u201cDBS Jeyaraj \u201d Column in the \u201cDaily Mirror \u201d of Apr 10th 2021. It can be accessed here:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/opinion\/Mannar-Bishop-Rayappu-Joseph-was-the-Voice-of-the-Voiceless\/172-209780<\/a><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Easter Sunday bombings of April 21st 2019 and its consequences have caused a profound impact on the body politic of Sri Lanka. A significant feature of his fall-out has been the bold initiative taken by the Catholic Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. Immensely disappointed by the slow and tardy …<\/p>\n

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