wfn.org | Adventist Church Protests Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

December 23, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Adventist Church Protests Human Rights Violations of Pastor 
and Member in Sri Lanka
[98/36/02]

Columbo, Sri Lanka [ANN/APD] The arrest of Seventh-day 
Adventist Church member Elkins Thurairajah of Jaffna, Sri 
Lanka, on October 27, accused of terrorist involvement has 
highlighted on-going concerns about human rights violations 
in the country. Manickam Anthony Alexander, a Seventh-day 
Adventist pastor and principal of the Adventist International 
School in Vavuniya was arrested in March this year. He 
continues to be held in detention accused of aiding terrorists 
but still has not been charged or tried.

Thurairajah, 25, and the son of a pastor, was arrested during 
a dawn raid at his parents' home. Despite their conviction that 
their son is completely innocent of any charges, they fear for 
his safety in the volatile situation. Both arrested Adventists 
come from the minority Tamil group.

"We have tried to get him out, but every person that went to 
talk with the authorities was told that he is a terrorist and he 
is involved so that they cannot release him," said Pastor K. 
Thurairajah. "We know that our son is innocent. He was an 
active member in the church, and never had any free time to 
spend on such activities. We have entrusted him to God and 
left the rest in His hands."

Dr. Bert Beach, secretary of the Council on Inter-Church 
Relations at the Seventh-day Adventist Church World 
Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, has written to 
the Sri Lankan Minister of Justice.

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters was 
shocked to learn that a pastor and the son of a pastor from 
your country have been arrested and are still in jail," says 
Beach. "Our pastors are not allowed to engage in political 
activities. In addition, our members know that no terrorism or 
violence of any kind are tolerated."