Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith asks the UN to intervene to bring justice to victims of the terror attacks in Sri Lanka. The bombings took place on Easter Sunday 2019 and claimed the lives of 269 people, including 82 children and 47 foreigners, and injured more than 500.
Newsroom (09/03/2022 10:11 AM Gaudium Press) Addressing the ongoing 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on March 7, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said the first impression of the attacks was that they were solely the work of a few Islamic extremists. However, subsequent investigations found that the attacks were part of “a grand political plot.”
The prelate said that despite the repeated requests of the Church and civil organizations pursuing the truth, the incumbent government of Sri Lanka has failed to render justice to the victims. He urged the UN to intervene.
The bombings of three churches and three hotels on April 21, 2019, claimed the lives of 269 people, including 82 children and 47 foreigners, and injured more than 500 on Easter Sunday.
The cardinal said it was a case of a severe violation of the victims’ fundamental rights. He called upon the UNHRC and its member countries to support evidence gathering initiated last year and ensure an impartial investigation to unravel the truth behind the massacre.
“There are attempts to harass and intimidate those who clamour for justice instead of uncovering the truth behind the attacks and prosecuting those responsible,” said Cardinal Ranjith, “As a result, nearly three years after the horrendous crime, we are still in the dark as to what really happened on that Easter Sunday.”
Cardinal Ranjith met Pope Francis in Rome on February 28 and raised concern over the lack of progress in the probe into the Easter bombings.
He also met Michelle Bachelet, UN high commissioner for human rights, on March 2 in Geneva, Switzerland. Bachelet called a full report on the delay in bringing justice and fairness to the victims.
(Via Ucan News)
Compiled by Raju Hasmukh
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