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Sri Lanka’s “premeditated” death sentence for 5 Indian fishermen?

Mumbai, Nov, 2014: A “premeditated” death sentence: This is how Fr. Santhanam, SJ, a Jesuit priest and lawyer in the court of Madurai, comments to AsiaNews on the verdict issued by a Sri Lankan court, yesterday against five Indian fishermen.

The defendants, Christians from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, had been arrested for drug trafficking in 2011 by the Sri Lankan Navy. The courts have given them until the end of November 2014 to appeal to the Supreme Court.

According to the Indian Jesuit, who provides legal assistance to the poor, marginalized and dalits, the ruling “is the result of the ongoing dispute between India and Sri Lanka” over encroachment of fishermen in “each other’s territorial waters”. These men, adds Fr. Santhanam, “said they went out to go fishing and they have anchored their boat near Neduntheevu to solve technical problems. There is no doubt that drug trafficking is a serious crime, but this is not the case”.

“The killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy – underlines the lawyer – has always attracted criticism. Now this killing has been sanctioned by a court, it is a judicial murder.”

For the priest, “the death penalty will always be a fierce and primitive form of barbarism. Recently, Pope Francis urged the abolition of the death penalty and even life in prison. His visit to the island is eagerly awaited, but this verdict contradicts the spirit the words of the Holy See”.

- asianews

Karnataka: Hindu fundamentalists attack Christians again

Karnataka, November , 2014: Believers Basavaraj, Damanappa and Girijamma were attacked by a group of Hindu fundamentalists led by Palakshappa, Shekarappa, Venkatesh, Ravi and Yellappa on Monday, 27th October at 7.30 p.m. when they were participating in their daily evening prayers. The culprits broke open the door and forced themselves into the house and also destroyed household articles and Christian literature including the bibles in addition to physical attacking them.

All of them were badly beaten and were also not allowed to get any medical assistance during the whole night. It was only on the next day that the three of them were able to reach Shimoga Town and where they were admitted to the District Government Hospital and were given the necessary treatment as in-patients. All the injured belong to the Immanuel Fellowship Church.

Immanuel Fellowship Church is a House Church situated in Ittigehalli Camp at Shimoga District. Pastor Mallesh has been in charge of the church. This church has been in existence during the last 7 years and they have a congregation of about 20 believers. Every evening they have their common prayer and as usual on October 27th Monday also they were conducting their prayer when the attack took place. Basavaraj’s face was cut with a blade just below the eye and Damanappa was beaten on his head. Girijamma was badly kicked at her stomach.

It is learnt that they were able to lodge a complaint to the police at Holehonnur Police Station only on the 28th of Oct against the 6 culprits – Palakshappa, Pithresh, Yellappa, Jayappa, Venkatesh and Ravi who attacked and terrorized them on the previous night. The police have already arrested Pithresh and are on the look out for the others. Subsequently Pastor Mallesh and some believers also met the District Superintendent of Police and lodged a complaint, who, we understand, assured them that he would do his best to get justice done for them.

- persecution.in

Nigeria: Boko Haram not to free abducted schoolgirls

Nigeria, November 6, 2014: On Friday (31 October) the leader of Islamist group Boko Haram announced that more than 200 mainly Christian schoolgirls abducted by the group from Chibok, in Borno state, Nigeria on the night of 14-15 April will not be freed, as they have converted to Islam and have been married off.

In a video, Abubakar Shekau confirmed that the abducted girls are in various “marital homes” and denied that Boko Haram has agreed to a ceasefire, despite the Nigerian government’s claim on 17 October that it has reached an agreement with the Islamist militants.

Kidnappings and violent attacks by the brutal group have continued. On 18 October, Boko Haram abducted 60 young women and girls from the Christian villages of Wagga and Gwarta in Adamawa state – only a day after the Nigerian government declared the supposed ceasefire. The militants left 1,500 naira (£5.67; $9.04; €7.22) and kola nuts as a bride price for each girl seized. It is thought that those kidnapped will be used as sex slaves.

Elsewhere, Boko Haram overran Uba town in Borno state and the commercial town of Mubi, in Adamawa state, on 29 October, forcing thousands of people to flee from their homes. The militant group used various types of weapons during the siege, including rocket-propelled grenades.

A recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) uncovered the heinous conditions enforced by Boko Haram on its captives. Those who had escaped abduction recounted horrendous suffering including forced labour and military participation, forced conversions, forced marriages and rape. Many of those interviewed showed signs of post-traumatic stress and anguish.

According to HART (Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust), an estimated 1,800 individuals are thought to have been abducted by Boko Haram before the girls from Chibok were taken this April and at least 91 boys and girls have been abducted since. The HRW report revealed that 90% of Boko Haram’s kidnap victims are Christians.

- barnabas team