(Cover photo by Steve Punter )
Sri Lanka (MNN) ― At least 100,000 civilians made a harrowing escape from Sri Lanka's war zone Wednesday. Tamil Tiger rebels had been using them as human shields.
A government bent on ending the 25-year civil war has cornered the insurgents but is also trying to protect the civilians.
Paul Estabrooks, minister-at-large with Open Doors, says, "The challenge has been that the church of Sri Lanka is totally prepared to do humanitarian aid for these people, but it has not had the opportunity because it's a closed-off area by government forces."
The humanitarian situation is dire. "Hopefully, ceasefires and ceasing of hostilities will enable humanitarian groups, including Christians, to help everyone that's caught in the middle of this inferno."
In a press release, the Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon is quoted as saying, "The government of Sri Lanka must demonstrate the necessary degree of restraint in order to facilitate the free movement of non-combatants to safety."
Although the Sri Lankan government did declare a two-day humanitarian pause last week, very few civilians came out from the No-Fire Zone (NFZ) during the two days. That led to a second call from Canada for a resumption of the humanitarian pause.
Meanwhile, the Religious Liberty Partnership, a coalition made up of evangelical agencies, launched a global prayer campaign.
In what is being called "The Toronto Statement," the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), with member organizations that include Open Doors International (Holland), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (United Kingdom), The Voice of the Martyrs (Canada), HMK (Switzerland) and the Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance (representing 128 countries), is calling the worldwide Christian community to pray for the crisis in Sri Lanka.
The Toronto Statement acknowledges some positive elements within Sri Lanka, including the role that the church is playing, but expresses deep concern about the ways in which humanitarian efforts are currently being handled.
In addition, the Statement calls on the worldwide church to pray for work toward the religious rights of all Sri Lankans and to support efforts to end hostilities and seek an enduring peace.
"This is yet another example of the Christian family worldwide standing together and calling its members to pray into a complex but very serious political situation," stated Mervyn Thomas, CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, UK and Chairman of the Religious Liberty Partnership. "The Toronto Statement is in full accord with the RLP's reputation for taking a balanced approach in these issues, and we trust that this call to prayer will be heeded by Christians globally."
"I believe this Statement captures the heart of what the RLP is about, "said Floyd Brobbel of The Voice of the Martyrs (Canada) and member of the RLP Leadership Team. "Not only are we able to work together as individual organizations, but with a united voice we speak to the issues that affect religious liberty. We pray that this collective global voice will be able to give clear direction to the government officials we petition and influence positive change in the countries like Sri Lanka where religious liberty is threatened."
Estabrooks says, "They also call on the church worldwide to pray not only for the situation of the people who are caught in the middle of this conflict, but even the potential of anti-conversion laws."
Sri Lankan believers continue to battle legislation outlawing the "inducing of voluntary conversions from Buddhism." The bills in question would punish, with jail terms, those caught 'spreading the faith."
In 2004, the leader of a party of Buddhist monks proposed one such legislation as a private members bill and was met with opposition from The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) and other Christian groups and denominations and civil rights organizations.
The Supreme Court then ruled the bill to be valid except for two clauses which were deemed unconstitutional and taken out of the legislation. In 2008 and early 2009, renewed efforts to implement the revised anti-conversion bill began, heightening concern for Christians in the country.
Pray for boldness for believers and ministries working in Sri Lanka. Also pray that the Gospel message will continue to grow and that many will come to Christ.
