Release joins call for global prayer over humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka

Release International and leading Christian human rights organisations worldwide are launching a global campaign to pray for the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.

More than 50,000 people have been killed in the long-running civil war between the government and Tamil separatists. The latest push by the army to defeat the Tamil Tigers has driven thousands from their homes and trapped some 200,000 civilians in the conflict zone. Relief agencies say it is increasingly difficult to reach civilians displaced by the conflict.

There are fears that even if the Tamil Tigers are driven out they could continue to wage a guerrilla war involving suicide bombers and assassinations.

Religious tensions have also been rising, with attacks on churches by Buddhist militants and calls for anti-conversion laws that would restrict the freedom of Christians to share their faith or undertake charity work.

The Religious Liberty Partnership, which includes the Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (representing 128 countries) has launched ‘The Toronto Statement’ calling on Christians worldwide to pray for the crisis in Sri Lanka.

The Toronto Statement (given in full below):
• Expresses deep concern about the ways humanitarian efforts are being handled
• Calls for support for efforts to end hostilities and seek an enduring peace
• Calls on the worldwide church to pray and work for religious freedom for all Sri Lankans

Release International serves persecuted Christians worldwide. Its CEO, Andy Dipper, said: ‘Sri Lanka needs our prayers right now. The conflict is causing a humanitarian crisis, and the church is suffering as a result of anti-Christian legislation and violent attacks by Buddhist extremists. There is potential for a major loss of life.

‘Pray for justice, freedom for civilians to move to places of safety, and that the Government will resist calls for anti-Christian laws that would restrict human rights and increase tensions.

‘Please also pray for our partners, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, that they would equip the church, show Christ’s love to the victims and perpetrators of violence, and see God’s kingdom extended in Sri Lanka.’

Mervyn Thomas of Christian Solidarity Worldwide who chairs the Religious Liberty Partnership said: ‘This is yet another example of the Christian family worldwide standing together and calling its members to pray into a complex, but very serious political situation.’

Release International is supporting the children of persecuted pastors in rural areas where the persecution of Christians is strongest. Working in predominately Buddhist areas, the difficulties faced by these families range
from people refusing to buy and sell them goods to physical violence and death threats.

Through its international network of missions Release supports Christians imprisoned for their faith and their families in 30 nations. It supports church workers, pastors and their families, and provides training, Bibles, Christian literature and broadcasts. Release is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections, the Evangelical Alliance and the Micah Network.

ENDS

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

Please email for a selection of Sri Lanka stills and captions relating to Christian persecution.

For a country profile on Sri Lanka, please go to: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/sri-lanka.php

For further information please contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org

And for more information on Release International please go to: www.releaseinternational.org

Full text of The Toronto Statement:

Toronto Statement on the Crisis in Sri Lanka
Issued by the Religious Liberty Partnership
April 2009

As members of the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) meeting in Toronto, Canada, we stand with our Christian brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka who seek the restoration of peace and reconciliation within their nation and who uphold fundamental human dignity, justice and rights, including religious freedom.  We specifically call on all Christian denominations and organizations worldwide to take this appeal for prayer to their members in recognition that we are One Body united in Christ.
The RLP acknowledges:
• That the humanitarian crisis resulting from long-term ethnic conflict, heightened by senseless acts of violence, directed against civilian populations and the religious persecution now existing in Sri Lanka have curtailed the full functioning of civil society throughout the country.
• That although extreme elements within religious sectors have called for anti-conversion laws, the Sri Lankan government has taken care to protect the constitutional right to freedom of religious choice by not enacting proposed laws subjecting religious conversion to criminal scrutiny.
• That there are efforts being made by the Sri Lankan government to restore law and order to populations that have been threatened for years.  We hope and pray for the protection of the innocent civilian populations recognizing this as a crucial goal to achieve.  Our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters support efforts to resolve the complex divisions within society.
• That despite intimidations and irregularities, there is a functioning Parliamentary democracy in Sri Lanka with regular elections being held.
• That the Christian Church in Sri Lanka, representing all ethnic communities, is making every effort to care for and meet the humanitarian needs of all religious and ethnic groups.
We call on the worldwide church:
• To pray that no law will be enacted which would inhibit the free exercise of religious conscience and choice.  Religious freedom is never advanced by coercion or compulsion, but by civil society development and the economic prosperity that results from the protection of this fundamental freedom.
• To agree with the church in Sri Lanka that the existing law is sufficient to address any suspicions of forced or of induced conversions.
• To support the Sri Lankan church as it fulfils its mandate to affirm human dignity and to care for and assist the marginalized and hurting people.
• To urge and support our governments to encourage the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) to return to the negotiating table and resolve differences through a negotiated settlement.
• To pray that the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka will cease hostilities, respect international humanitarian norms, safeguard passage for the evacuation of civilians, and take every effort to minimize civilian casualties by making safety zones and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps truly safe and widely known.
• To support humanitarian efforts to ensure that there is food and medical care available to the civilian populations, as well as to support the full provision of comprehensive services wherever civilians are located.
• To pray that internationally accepted standards of protection and care are carried out within IDP camps, including the freedom of movement to civilians and access of outside aid agencies to the civilians in the camps and among other displaced communities. 
• To pray for and support the freedom of worship and access to priests and religious leaders, including allowing them to visit IDP camps, since there are no compelling security or other bases for constraining these fundamental rights.
• To pray for the many churches located within the conflict zones.  These peace loving citizens from all ethnic backgrounds are uniquely placed to assist in restoring peace and rebuilding and reconciling the community.
The Religious Liberty Partnership commits:
• To support work towards the religious rights of all Sri Lankans, including the rights to freely change one’s beliefs and freely propagate those beliefs without governmental interference or permission.
• To support international, regional, and local efforts to end hostilities, resolve the conflict and seek an enduring peace in Sri Lanka. 
• To encourage other likeminded organizations to also promote and support this statement.  We stand in solidarity with the church in Sri Lanka which endeavours to extend prayer, humanitarian assistance, and as loyal citizens of the country, urging their government to abide by international standards for humanitarian assistance and religious freedom for all.
• To call on the worldwide church to partner with the Sri Lankan church in extending its aid in the reconstruction and rebuilding of communities, as well in extending assistance to victims of religiously motivated violence and injustice.
• To call on the international community to renew its efforts to strengthen the governmental ability to affirm human dignity values.
• To call for all our constituencies and the church worldwide to pray for the Sri Lankan church as it seeks to respond in a Christ-like fashion to any religious liberty violations, and to pray until this crisis has been resolved and the freedom of all citizens are fully restored under the rule of law.
Members of the Religious Liberty Partnership (websites are listed for prayer resources and additional information):

• Advocates International, USA:  www.advocatesinternational.org
• All India Christian Council, INDIA:  www.indianchristians.in/news
• China Aid, USA:  www.chinaaid.org
• Christian Solidarity Worldwide, UNITED KINGDOM:  www.csw.org.uk
• Danish European Mission, DENMARK:  www.daneu.dk
• Friends of the Martyred Church, FINLAND:  www.martyredchurch.net
• HMK, SWITZERLAND:  www.hmk-aem.ch
• Hilfsaktion Märtyrer Kirche, GERMANY:  www.h-m-k.org
• International Christian Concern, USA:  www.persecution.org
• International Institute for Religious Freedom, GERMANY, SOUTH AFRICA, SRI LANKA:  www.iirf.eu
• Jubilee Campaign, USA:  www.jubileecampaign.org
• Norwegian Mission to the East, NORWAY:  www.nmio.no
• Middle East Concern, MIDDLE EAST:  www.meconcern.org
• Open Doors International, THE NETHERLANDS:  www.opendoorsuk.org
•  Release International, UNITED KINGDOM:  www.releaseinternational.org
• The Voice of the Martyrs, CANADA:  www.persecution.net
• World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission, GLOBAL:  www.worldevangelicals.org/commissions/rlc

The Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) is a collaborative effort of Christian organizations from around the world focused on religious liberty.  The RLP seeks to more intentionally work together in addressing advocacy and in raising the awareness of religious persecution globally.  Members of the RLP are primarily involved (that is the majority of their time, personnel, and resources) with ministry to persecuted Christians and/or on religious liberty issues in whatever context and strategy. 
For more information on the Toronto Statement or on the Religious Liberty Partnership, contact Brian O’Connell, RLP Facilitator at: Brian@REACTServices.com; +1 425-218-4718.