Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
Posted on 02/22/2006 10:13:45 AM PST by freepatriot32
Sri Lanka has recently witnessed an increase in attacks and threats against the Christian community there. The increase has led to fears that a new wave of anti-Christian violence is about to begin, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).
According to the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) "there is a visible increase in the number of attacks on Christian places of worship and acts of intimidation during the past two months."
A report from NCEASL claimed that the pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in Galle was subject to a host of virulent threats on 6th February. He was warned that his limbs would be “torn off” and that he would be killed if he visited Hikkaduwa, another town in the district.
A few weeks before the pastor had received more death threats, as had local Christians in Werellana village, Hikkaduwa. The death threats were aimed at keeping the pastor away from Hikkaduwa.
Threats have also been made against Assemblies of God (AOG) churches in Gampaha District. A group of fifteen people gathered outside an AOG church in the village of Bolatha.
As church-goers arrived for the Sunday Service on 12th February, the group questioned them, asking them which village they came from. Those who were not from Bolatha village were chased away by the group.
The church had received threats on previous occasions and even had a service disrupted on 22nd January. On 6th February the pastor of the church was summoned by the police for an inquiry and was coerced into agreeing only to hold services for people from Bolatha, report CSW.
The pastor said that the decision was not his choice and that he had acted under duress. He continued by pointing out that the Sri Lankan Constitution guarantees the right of every person to worship at the church or temple of their choice, and so he could not turn people away.
Another incident in Sri Lanka, involved the beating of a pastor in Yakkala on 8th February. He was admitted to hospital for minor injuries, explain CSW.
The Chief Executive of CSW, Mervyn Thomas said that: "These threats and attacks are a cause for grave concern. We urge the Sri Lankan police to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and the violence ceases. We encourage the new Sri Lankan President to do all he can to protect religious freedom and human rights in his country."
William Dove william@christiantoday.com
Yeah, my question is who is doing this? Any guesses???
According to the CIA world factbook, Sri Lanka is:
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
So it must be the Buddhists!
Could be, I suppose. There are many people who don't like "outside" religions coming into their neck of the woods.
If I was a betting man, I would probably not bet on the Buddhists here. Can't really tell from the article, though.
Sarcasm, though I suppose it could be, too. Doesn't seem their style. So let's see - who does that leave?
The 10% of Sri Lankans who have an "unspecified" religion :-)
bump
It is the bhuddists who are attacking the lankan christians.I am not joking. The bhudist preists are threatended as christianity is growing on full swing there and they are the ones burning churches and stonning priests.
Buddhism went through its violence phase centuries ago.I cannot imagine Buddhists as Buddhists threatening anybody like that. The Hindus get themselves aroused to such fervor from time to time and the Mohammedans, well they are always on. The pugnaciousness of Hinduism is the reason India is not a Mohammedan entity.
The Unspecified Messiah is expected to return from the Volcano soon.
However if the muzzies wanted to attack an enemy and still stay in business there...it would be wiser for them to attack a minority that not particularly in favor..then it would for them to attack the majority.
imo
It is possible but that is something I would have to see considerable confirmation of. Buddhists are more apt to self-immolate. Their whole world view just does not promote violence against others. Even the basically pagan cultures that have the Buddhist overlay just don't jump into the attachments that threats and violence occasion.
In Viet Nam Buddhists as Buddhists self immolated. They passively resisted. Those who positively attacked others were Communists and their success at promoting that sort of thing was limited in the temples and gained by extortion and hostages.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.