Statement of International Catholic Organizations regarding the violent government crackdowns against dissenting citizens of Sri Lanka – 05th August 2022

We, the undersigned International Catholic Organisations, are extremely concerned about the current violent crackdowns by the Sri Lankan government against the citizens of Sri Lanka who are dissenting against corruption and violation of democracy. It has come to our attention that Ranil Wickremasinghe, who succeeded the ousted President Gotabaya Rajapakse over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the economic crisis, has adopted repressive machinery against peaceful protesters who had been occupying Galle Face since April 2022. Ranil Wickremesinghe is also widely perceived to be a protector of the corrupt regime of Rajapakses and he himself has various allegations of mismanaging public resources. 

His government has weaponized the process of law against peaceful protesters with several key activists of the protest movement taken under custody under public property and emergency regulations. Fr. Jeevantha Pieris, Venerable Koswatte Mahanama Thero, Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin, Attorney at Law Nuwan Bopege, Journalist Tharindu Uduwaragedara and Inter-University Students’ Federation Convener Wasantha Mudalige are among the key activists targeted by the government.

Issuing a statement on 31st July 2022, 1640 Sri Lankan Catholic priests, sisters and brothers have already condemned several violations of human rights of the protesters including physical assault, obstruction to receiving legal assistance and raid of Fr. Jeevantha’s church in Rathnapura diocese.

It is distressing to hear that during the past few weeks several unidentified bodies have been washed into the coastal areas of Colombo city, the capital of Sri Lanka. Especially considering the human rights record of the current President who has allegations of administering torture chambers during the late 80s. 

The people of Sri Lanka are going through the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948. Access to food, medicine, schools, livelihoods and basic utilities is severely restricted in the country with no credible financial assistance. It is in this context that people have taken to the streets to demand accountability and justice for the economic crisis. Protests are widespread with massive public participation and approval.

Therefore it is imperative that the government of Sri Lanka abides by the law and respects the human rights protected in the Constitution of the country, including the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Considering the gross violations of human rights by the current government headed by Ranil Wickremasinghe, it is the duty of the international community to stand with the people of Sri Lanka without isolating their demands for democracy and accountability. 

Therefore as concerned international Catholic organisations,

  1. We request our national member movements and individual members to contact their local political representatives and national political/Human Rights bodies and bring their attention to these atrocities and express their dismay to the Sri Lankan embassies/government.
  2. We request the Holy See to convey the concerns to the Sri Lankan government through diplomatic channels.
  3. We request International lending agencies and bilateral development partners to impose conditionalities on human rights violations. 
  4. We request the United Nations Human Rights Council to send a special envoy to investigate the situation and take necessary actions.

Endorsed by,

  • International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS/MIEC) Pax Romana
  • International Young Christian Workers (IYCW/JOCI)
  • International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA/MIIC) Pax Romana
  • World Movement of Christian Workers (WMCW/MMTC)

IMCS PAX ROMANA SOLIDARITY STATEMENT FOR UNITED NATIONS DAY, 2020

IMCS PAX ROMANA SOLIDARITY STATEMENT FOR UNITED NATIONS DAY, 2020

The 24th of October, 1945 signifies the entry into force of the UN Charter. This year we celebrate it as the 75th UN day, marking 75 years of working towards global peace, justice, inclusivity, and sustainable development. We, as IMCS Pax Romana, acknowledge that there is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact as the United Nations, so it’s only natural that we are coherent with the works of the United Nations.

This day is imperative to us because our international student movement has been one of the first youth-led NGOs to obtain consultative status within the UN ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) back in 1949. Ever since, we’ve not only been actively participating, but also empowering our youth to bring forth their innovations, ideas, suggestions, and beliefs to the UN in order to ensure the future of our world is bright.

UN Day this year comes with the theme: “Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice”. Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We recognize the giant roles United Nations are playing to follow through with the theme and ensure a peaceful world for people everywhere. We believe in these core values as well, so we’ve also been following through by acting parallel to the United Nations with our various activities that promote peace and prosperity.

As much as we value this year, we are aware that the 75th anniversary comes in a time of great disruption for the world due to the unprecedented global health crisis; the COVID-19 pandemic. With severe economic, social and political impacts, we’ve been working to create positive changes in the communities we can reach. We urge for countries to unite and cooperate to to minimize the struggle caused by the pandemic and create a positive change and transformation.

We commemorate the 75th year of the United Nations with our optimism and expectations that the United Nations will lead to connect with the grassroots realities, the marginalized, the vulnerable and those living in abject poverty to alleviate their situations. We urge United Nations member states to show sincerity, honesty, cooperativeness and faithful in their commitments to implement the resolutions and treaties they sign each time they gather in UN Headquarters in New York.

We hope that by the year 2045 as United Nations celebrates 100 years anniversary, we must have built a United Nations where every member state is a legitimate member of the security council, a United Nations that is more proactive than reactive in providing peace among nations at war, a United Nations that treats an African and Asian Citizens in the same manner like an American and European Citizens and verse versa.

Let’s work for a greater and inclusive United Nations with equal opportunities for all.