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http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s06110133.htm

Monday, November 27, 2006

Christians Targeted By Mobs As Violence Escalates In Sri Lanka

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

SRI LANKA (ANS) -- As fighting between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil rebels continues, Sri Lankan Christians have faced a recent trend of mob violence against Churches and individuals.

According to a news release from Christianity Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the Lighthouse Church, Mawatura, Gompola in Kandy District was attacked on November 22, 2006, while the Pastor and a Church worker were inside. Rocks were thrown at the building, shattering the front window, and the Church worker was seriously injured when a rock hit him on the head.
“Ten days earlier, on November 12, 2006, members of the congregation of the Assemblies of God Church in Yakkala, Gampaha District, were prevented from attending a church service by a mob of over 100 people, some of whom were armed with clubs,” continued the CSW release. “Four Buddhist monks accompanied the crowd of attackers and anti-Christian posters had appeared on the walls. Only two policemen were sent to the scene initially, but they were unable to control the crowd. They had to ask for re-enforcements twice before twelve other officers arrived.

“Four days later, a young woman from the congregation had a container of black oil thrown over her as she traveled to the Pastor and his wife’s home.

“The Church had been threatened in a similar manner two weeks earlier. However, police protection was not provided despite previous assurances. The church has temporarily stopped holding services.”

The CSW release went on to say, “In Kandy District on 12 November, the Sunday service at Mizpah Prayer Ministry was disrupted by a crowd of 35 people who were accompanied by 12 Buddhist monks and a Provincial Council member. The church’s Pastor reported that the mob threatened to flatten the building if the congregation gathered together to worship again.

“On the same day, four members of the Prayer Tower, Anamaduwa in Puttlam District, were threatened by a group of men as they returned from a funeral. They were told not to return to the village and were hit with fists and rocks.”

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, says: “At a time when ethnic violence is escalating in Sri Lanka, this recent spate of religiously motivated attacks is particularly discouraging. We call upon the authorities in Sri Lanka to ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to practice their chosen religion with out fear of harassment by mobs and urge all faith communities to show tolerance and respect for one another.”

For more information, please contact Penny Hollings, Campaigns and Media Manager at Christian Solidarity Worldwide by email at: pennyhollings@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com. danjuma1@aol.com.

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