Christians attacked by Buddhists- NCEASL

Tuesday. !* 6ovember 2 !"

The Christians attacked by buddhists and buddhist monks at several places. See full incidents below Incident Report October / September 2 !" Church services disrupted #olathwaye Church #almuruwa $%uttalam &istrict' !"th October 2 !" (t appro)imately *.+,a.m. whilst the Sunday worship service was in pro-ress. 2 /uddhist monks to-ether with another youth from the villa-e forcibly entered the premises where the worship service was bein- held. The /uddhist monks to-ether with the youth shouted 0Christianity is a western reli-ion. stop all prayer meetin-s1. The /uddhist monk threatened the pastor and the con-re-ation of serious conse2uences which they will face in the event the worship service activities are not stopped with immediate effect. !+th October 2 !" ( police officer visited the pastor3s premises and informed him to meet the Officer in Char-e $OIC' of the area police station. The OIC informed the pastor that a police complaint has been lod-ed a-ainst him claimin- that /uddhist statues have been desecrated by him in the villa-e. The pastor denied the false accusations which were lod-ed a-ainst him and e)plained that he has not done any act of that nature. The OIC informed the pastor that an investi-ation will be conducted lookin- into the complaint filed and instructed the pastor to stop all worship service activities. 4owever. the pastor e)plained to the OIC his 5undamental Ri-hts to practice and observe his belief.

7illa-ers complain a-ainst the Church Church of #lory 8e-alle $8e-alle &istrict' !!th October 2 !" ( complaint a-ainst the pastor was made by a nei-hborin- villa-er to the 9unicipal Council statin- that an unauthorised church had been founded in the villa-e. The mayor informed the pastor that he would be visitin- his premises and to ensure that the church is closed down. %astors premises attacked #ospel %ower 9ission Church 8andalama $9atale &istrict' :th October 2 !" (t appro)imately ! .+,pm. once the pastor and his family had fallen asleep. (n unidentified -roup of persons be-an to pelt stones at the pastors3 residence. Some of the stones caused dama-e to the -lass windows of the premises. ( police complaint was lod-ed. holdin- complaint number :!/;;/CI& 2. +th 6ovember 2 !" (t appro)imately ! .+,pm. a -roup of unidentified persons be-an to attack the pastors3 premises by peltin- stones at his house. The attack continued until !!." pm. the police officers were informed. upon their arrival the attack ceased. The pastor was informed to lod-e a police complaint. Once the police officers left the premises. around !.!,am the attackers once a-ain be-an to pelt stones at the premises which continued until !." am. ( police complaint was lod-ed. holdinnumber CI& !<!+*/=!. The pastor has an on-oin- case filed in the 9a-istrate Courts claiminhis church as an unauthorised place of worship. 5earin- further attacks. the pastor is holdinprayer meetin-s in various different locations. ( con-re-ation of !2= members attend the church. /uddhist monks and villa-ers de-rade a Christian member at a meetin5our S2uare Church Sevana-ala $9onara-ala &istrict' !2th October 2 !" ( meetin- was or-anised by the villa-e /uddhist monks to-ether with the villa-ers of Sevana-ala. The Christian member was informed to be present at the /uddhist temple situated in the villa-e. >pon the pastors arrival. around 2 villa-ers to-ether with the /uddhist monks who were -athered to-ether be-an to use dero-atory lan-ua-e a-ainst the Christian member. The villa-ers shouted 0&on3t brin- Christianity to this villa-e1 and 0This is a /uddhist villa-e? you have no ri-ht to be here? you don3t belon- here1. The Christian member left the meetinstatin- his ri-ht to belief to the villa-es and e)plainin- that he has caused no harm to the villa-e.

!+th October 2 !" Offence of arson committed a-ainst Christian member by unidentified -roup (t appro)imately 2 a.m. the Christian member and his family were awakened by a fire? their tractor had been set on fire by an unidentified -roup of persons. This tractor bein- the only source of the members livelihood. they attempted in vain to save the vehicle. 4owever. it was completely dama-ed by the fire. The police authorities were immediately informed of this incident. @hilst inspectin- the premises. the police officers found a petrol can and traces of petrol within the premises. They further noted that an attempt had also been made to burn down the house with the Christian family. ( police complaint was lod-ed followin- which the police officers warned the villa-ers and spoke a-ainst this offence. 4owever. no arrests have been made to date with re-ard to this offence. /uddhist monks threaten a Christian member to stop prayer meetin-s (nuradhapura $(nuradhapura &istrict' " th September 2 !" (t appro)imately ! a.m. a mob led by !, /uddhist monks and !, other villa-ers forcibly entered a Christian members premises. The mob be-an shoutin- threats statin- 0@e will demolish this house if you don3t stop conductin- prayer meetin-s1. The mob -ave an ultimatum to the Christian member to stop prayer meetin-s conducted in the premises within " days. declarin- that they would destroy the premises if the prayer meetin-s continued. !st October 2 !" The police re2uested the Christian member in a call to be present at the police station for an in2uiry at *." a.m. 4owever. shortly after the call. a police vehicle arrived at the Christian persons premises and without prior notice instructed her to come with them to the police station. (t the police station. = /uddhist monks to-ether with some other villa-ers were also -athered. The police officer instructed her to stop all prayer meetin-s conducted at her premises. The police officer further threatened her of arrest under the Amer-ency Re-ulations in the event more than , people -ather at her premises. The Amer-ency Re-ulations were only in force in Sri Banka durin- the time of the ethnic war and it was used a-ainst possible terrorist suspects. The police officer to-ether with the /uddhist monks forced the Christian person to place her si-nature on a document which stated that she will discontinue all prayer meetin-s held in her premises with immediate effect.