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Easter attacks part of ‘political plot’, Cardinal tells UN

08 Mar 2022

 
  • Archbishop addresses UNHRC’s 49th session 
  • Urges UNHRC/Member States to devise mechanism to unravel truth
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera  Claiming that there are attempts to harass and intimidate those who demand justice for the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 21 April 2019, Colombo Archbishop His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday (7) told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that the attacks were a part of a grand political plot. Making a statement at the 49th session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday, the Archbishop said: “The first impression of this massacre was that it was purely the work of a few Islamist extremists. However, subsequent investigations indicate that this massacre was a part of a grand political plot. Despite our repeated requests and those of civil organisations pursuing the truth, the incumbent Government of Sri Lanka has failed to mete out justice to the victims. Instead of uncovering the truth behind the terror attacks and prosecuting those responsible, there are attempts to harass and intimidate those who clamour for justice. 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.” The Colombo Archbishop called on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and its Member States to devise a means to ensure that the truth behind the said terror attacks would be uncovered. “As this is a case of a serious violation of the fundamental rights of the aggrieved victims, we earnestly call upon the UNHRC and all its Member States to support the continuation of evidence gathering initiated by the UNHRC last year and to devise a means to ensure an investigation to unravel the truth behind this massacre.”  The Colombo Archbishop met with His Holiness Pope Francis on 28 February at the Vatican, and the Easter Sunday terror attacks and related investigations were discussed during the said meeting. “The Archbishop is especially focusing on informing him that we need help from the international community to seek justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday terror attacks,” National Catholic Social Communication Centre Director Rev. Cyril Gamini Fernando said at a press conference held on the same day.  Following the meeting with the Pope, Cardinal Ranjith met UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in Geneva, on 2 March, and discussed revealing the truth behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks and bringing justice to the victims.  “As we have informed earlier, we have tried all possible options to reveal the truth behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks and failing that, we have gone to the international community to request help from them to reveal the truth. Therefore, as a first step, the Archbishop met with the Pope and told him all about the attacks. He requested him to mediate in order to get the truth revealed. As a second step, the Archbishop met Bachelet and held discussions on revealing the truth behind the terror attacks and bringing justice to the victims,” Colombo Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop Rev. J.D. Anthony said in a statement issued on 2 March. Meanwhile, The Morning reported yesterday that a large meeting would be held soon in the Vatican City with the participation of Pope Francis, Cardinal Ranjith, and Sri Lankans living in European countries, where bringing justice to the victims of the said terror attacks would be discussed. 


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