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| Sri Lankans march with a portrait of Father Thiruchchelvan Nihal Jim Brown at Allaipitty in Jaffna on the 20th anniversary of his disappearance, on Aug. 20. |
Father Thiruchchelvan Nihal Jim Brown and his companion Wenceslaus Vinces Vimalathas disappeared on Aug. 20, 2006
By Rubatheesan Sandranathan
Catholics in northern Sri Lanka joined a memorial program and demanded truth and justice for a priest and his companion who disappeared during the nation’s civil war twenty years ago.
About 200 people, mostly Catholics, paid tributes to Father Thiruchchelvan Nihal Jim Brown and his companion Wenceslaus Vinces Vimalathas at Allaipitty in Jaffna, Northern Province, on Aug. 20.
The priest served as the parish priest of St. Philip Neri Church in Allaipitty and was engaged in humanitarian work for people displaced by the conflict between the military and Tamil separatist rebels before he disappeared on Aug. 20, 2006.
It was three years before the war officially ended in 2009, leaving more than 100,000 people dead, thousands injured and tens of thousands displaced.
Both sides have been accused of crimes against humanity during the conflict, such as extrajudicial killings, abductions and enforced disappearances, according to rights groups.
Catholic priests were among those disappeared during the conflict, according to Church sources.
The people who joined the commemoration on Aug. 20 also marched on the streets with banners demanding truth and justice for the priest, his companions and others who disappeared during the war.
Father Leo Armstrong, current parish priest of St. Philip Neri Church in Allaipitty, says people deserve to know the truth about the priest and his companion who dedicated their lives to the service of the people.
He also called for the truth about other people who went missing during the conflict.
“In our village [Allaipitty] alone, at least 21 persons have been reported missing since 1990. There are eyewitnesses for such events, including those who had seen Father Brown on his motorcycle going towards the church to help war-affected people. Nobody knows what happened to them,” the priest told UCA News.
He regretted that despite the war ending 17 years ago, successive governments failed to reveal the truth and deliver justice for many people who became victims of enforced disappearance.
The priest was about 33 when he disappeared, which is believed to have taken a toll on his family members.
His mother died as a result of the profound grief caused by her son's disappearance, and his father has since become seriously ill, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Jaffna said in a statement.
Despite repeated requests by the Church, human rights organizations, and concerned individuals, nearly twenty years have passed without a satisfactory investigation or a clear official explanation, it added.
The commission’s director, Father Anthonipillai Augustin, says there has been no accountability process followed over the disappearance of the priest despite the church repeatedly taking up the issue with successive governments.
“We cannot expect justice from those who committed these heinous crimes. However, the government should take responsibility for the crimes allegedly committed by its security forces,” the priest said. (UCAN)
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