WITH YOU IN YOUR SORROW

Dear Rev. Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam,

 What can we say but that we are very much with you in sadness, pain and grief at the death our dear Father Karunaratnam  We are thinking of you and praying for you constantly. We hope that it will give you some comfort to know that our thoughts are with you and all the priests, religious and everyone in the Diocese during this trying time.

May God bless you and may the Risen Christ who knew the sorrow that death brings comfort and console you.

May His Soul Rest In Peace !

With love and prayerful support,

North East Tamil Association (NETA)

NETA vehemently condemns the killing of Rev. Fr. M. X. Karunaratnam

The members of the North East Tamil Association (NETA) of Great Britain, who are saddened and distressed at the news of the untimely demise of Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam, unreservedly condemn the dastardly execution to silence yet another voice of dissent against the human rights violations of Sri Lanka. He, as the Chairman of the Northeast Secretariat on human Rights has been a prime target with politically motivated assassinations with total impunity while the spiritual and the secular world, both equally remain silent and walk by looking the other way.

As a layman, he had once cheated death by playing possum during a shoot-to-kill rampage in Jaffna during the early 80’s. It was his conviction in the heavenly intervention to save his life, that he committed himself to the service of God and human beings.

We will remember him as a man of deep conviction in human values and his unselfish albeit incomplete mission of sacrificing his entire life in alleviating the sufferings of the down trodden and the neglected. As an outspoken man he championed and fought against human rights violations and the consequential psychological effects of trauma and mental health, especially among women and children in a war perpetuated by regular aerial sorties of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

We extend our condolences to all the members of his immediate families and all those who had been closely associated with his charitable works which they do in the knowledge that it will only be amply rewarded in the next life in which all Christians believe with invincible conviction. In this way, at least we will continue to find solace in this tragedy and carry on with renewed determination.

Heartfelt sympathy to the members of the family, friends, fellow Priests, and parishioners of Fr. Karunaratnam.

We are very close to the whole Diocese of and the people of Vanni. He was loved by all. May he Rest in Peace. We have lost a great man who worked so tirelessly  and courageously for the human rights like His Master Jesus.
He is surely welcomed in heaven where we can count on him to intercede for our beloved Motherland longing for peace and harmony.

We celebrated the Holy sacrifice of the Mass for our Dear Fr. Karuraratnam in United Kingdom with his relatives.

MANITHAM  is totally condemning the assasination of a well known Human Rights activist Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam.

He has service in good faith to the Tamil Community and exposed the human Rights violations.
His loss is a big blow to the Tamil Community living in Vanni region.

Since his inception to Vanni, he started his good service till his last day.

MANITHAM condole and pays tribute to Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam.

This news brought tears into my eyes. Fr. Killy was a good friend and a brave  pastor to his suffering people. I am not sure what those who killed him stand to gain, except of course to silence him. I am sure this won’t be the first and the last time priests and religious are targeted. This is one way of internationalizing the issue and drawing in the international community.

Keep up the good work. We are praying for you in these difficult times.

We  know well the service and the good faith he had in the tamil community and has exposed the human  rights violations against the tamils. His loss is a big blow to tamil community. He has served since his inseption in Vanni, to  the last day. We condole and pay our tribute to Fr. Karunaratnam and his family.                                                                

Norway condemns killing of NESoHR Chairman

Rev. Father M. X. Karunaratnam, Chairman of NESoHR, was killed Sunday 20 April by an explosive devise targeting his vehicle.

Norway condemns the killing which further adds to the already far too high civilian toll of the ongoing conflict.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Rev. Father Karunaratnam.

We are shocked and saddened by the news of Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam's death.  The situation in some parts of the country is really bad and the rapid escalation of living cost is also startling all over the island.

Rev. Fr.A.C.Inpanathan and
Tamil Catholic Community in Norway

We, Tamil Catholics of Norway are deeply saddened by the brutal killing of Rev. Fr. Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam. It has shaken the soul of our people. We strongly condemn this cowardly act of killing Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam.

There are continuous reports of aerial bombing and shelling of civilian targets in our Tamil land by the Government forces. Many Tamils including members of the clergy, specially Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam, Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith and Rev Fr Jim Brown, parliamentarians, journalists, civil society leaders and aid workers were assassinated by the security forces. Also, over a thousand people have disappeared, several women raped and hundreds abducted.

Today, as military operations are taking place very close to the MadhuShrine, we are compelled to make an urgent appeal the international community to use their diplomatic channels to demand the Government of Sri Lanka to respect human rights of our Tamil people and the religious places like Madhu Shrine, the area mentioned above as a Zone of Peace, keep away from the Shrine areas and to ensure that the area remains completely and solely under the administration of the Church.

Rev. Fr. Damian Fernando
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Caritas Sri Lanka- SEDEC

“Caritas Sri Lanka is deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam. He was an example of courage and humanity and will be missed by all.

This is the second killing of a priest in the North East in the recent past.

As long as violence prevails in the country, more innocent lives will be lost and this situation has to end.

It is therefore fundamental that the conflicting parties come to some agreement and reach a peaceful compromise which will bring a lasting solution for Peace in Sri Lanka.

We pray that God will Grant eternal rest to Rev. Fr. Karunaratnam and offer our deepest condolences to his family and parishioners.”

National Peace Council of Sri Lanka
Colombo 06.

A Lamentable Loss to Civil Society and to the Country

The assassination of Rev. Father M X Karunaratnam, Chairman of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR), who succumbed to injuries sustained in a remote controlled claymore mine attack that had targeted him within the LTTE controlled territory where he lived and worked is a shocking and callous act. Fr Karunaratnam died in close proximity to his residential prayer and counselling centre which was a haven to those who suffered the travails of the ongoing war.

The killing of Fr Karunaratnam adds to the heavy toll of humanitarian, human rights and religious workers killed in the course of the ethnic conflict. The National Peace Council condemns this targeted killing of a senior Catholic priest and human rights worker.  In addition to his many contributions to society, Fr Karunaratnam helped to facilitate some of NPC’s own peace programmes and study tours in the Wanni and Jaffna.

As head of NESoHR which was set up in July 2004, as part of the 2002 Peace Process, Fr Karunaratnam worked tirelessly to strengthen the human rights protection mechanisms in the North East of Sri Lanka. He was active in highlighting recruitment of children by the LTTE and worked tirelessly for their release. Fr Karunaratnam also sought to publicise the human rights violations to which the people living in the north east, particularly the Wanni region, were subjected to. He publicly criticised the government for many of the sufferings inflicted upon the Tamil people and challenged the national human rights institutions to live up to their mandates.

Fr. Karunaratnam entered the priesthood relatively late in life having started his career with Bank of Ceylon before opting to become a priest. He had many friends among the majority Sinhala community. He was fluent in the Sinhala language and saw the whole country as his home.

The LTTE has accused the deep penetration unit of the Sri Lankan military for the killing of Fr Karunaratnam. Whoever perpetrated this evil act has taken away yet another bridge builder who loved the whole country. While it may never be known who was responsible for his assassination we are convinced that another moderate voice has been stilled. Fr Kili, as he was popularly known, had a deep love and commitment to build bridges between ethnic and religious communities in Sri Lanka. The National Peace Council laments his loss.

TCHR, along with many representatives of other solidarity organisations, is shocked and appalled by the assassination of the Chairperson of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR), Rev. Father M X Karunaratnam today.

We strongly condemn the killing of this courageous Human rights defender and Catholic Parish Priest, who worked tirelessly to raise concerns about human rights violations and to bring peace in Sri Lanka. TCHR members have worked closely with Father Karunaratnam, and are deeply saddened by the loss of this remarkable and immensely compassionate man.

Father Karunaratnam is the 3rd founder member of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) to have been brutally killed, Mr Chandra Nehru of Amparai (February 2005) and senior Batticaloa Parliamentarian Mr Joseph Pararajasingam (December 2005) were also assassinated.

It came as no surprise, that Sri Lanka rejected UN moves to establish an international human rights monitoring body in Sri Lanka, and also that the international community JUST WATCHES these brutal killings of human rights defenders and civilians in Sri Lanka.

Fr Karunaratnam visited the USA and several European countries including Switzerland to explain the human rights situation in Sri Lanka to dignitaries.

On a local level, he worked to support victims of human rights violations and the 2004 tsunami, through psychological help and counselling. His loss will be felt deeply by many.

TCHR would like to express heartfelt condolences to members of NESOHR, Father Karunaratnam’s family and friends, and his parishioners.

“Great people never die, they always live in the hearts and minds of the people”

K.Mylvaganam
Kilinochchi.

May I join you in sharing the sorrows of loosing a great soul like that of Rt.Rev.Fr. Karunaratnam/ affectionately called as Kili Father. I was blessed not only to have known him but also with the unique privilege of working with him in his untiring efforts on Human Rights. I am thankful to the Lord for having made me a tool to serve him in his great endeavour to uplift the downtrodden masses and the redemption of the oppressed whom he was working for.

 A Norwegian friend of mine told me that he was honoured by the Rev Fathaer who invited him for a meal at his farm. And the third person who occupied the dinner table was none other than the driver of Kili Father. My Norwegian friend said that normally the drivers are treated as part of the vehicle. But Kili Father treated people as they should be. This small incident speaks volumes of the Golden qualities of our dear Kili Father.

May his soul rest in Peace.