Pastor shot dead by security forces in Sri Lanka

The ongoing conflict between Sri Lankan security forces and the militant outfit Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has claimed the innocent life of a pastor, World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has reported, January 13.

According to information obtained by Christian Today, security forces opened fire on the Rev. Nallathamby Gnanaseelan, killing him instantly.

Rev. Gnanaseelan of Tamil Mission Church in war–torn Jaffna was heading to his Church in Chapel Street to conduct a fasting and prayer event.

The security forces have claimed that they mistook Pastor Gnanaseelan for a militant and suspected that he was carrying explosives and hence, presented a security risk.

Pastor Gnanaseelan was shot in the stomach and in the head by the police and died instantly. The police also took his Bible, bag, identity card and motorcycle, leaving him lying on the road.

Government authorities later justified the shooting, saying that Pastor Gnanaseelan was shot because he did not stop when ordered by the security forces to do so.

WEA has condemned the killing, saying that the explanation was a deliberate attempt to frame Pastor Gnanaseelan and justify the shooting.

"Rev.Gnanaseelan was a member of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance Clergy Fellowship in Jaffna and was not involved in any political activity. He was a law abiding citizen and a Pastor to his congregation," WEA said.

"His death is not an isolated incident, but one of many, which takes place in the North East of Sri Lanka, daily," the evangelical body said.

"Jaffna recently has been the scene of extra judicial killings, abductions and disappearances. The civilian population has been facing a severe shortage of food and medicine, enduring immense hardship and suffering. All this is in the backdrop to human rights violations continuing in full force in Sri Lanka. Thousands of people are arbitrarily arrested, tortured or ill treated. There are continued reports of extra judicial executions and forced 'disappearances,' with abuses by paramilitary forces, the LTTE and the government security forces," it added.

WEA has called upon the international community to "raise their voices and prevent the massacre of the innocents in Sri Lanka. "The establishing of a United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Sri Lanka is an urgent need. The world cannot stand by and watch as this situation deteriorates, while every day, people pay with their lives," it said.