Columnist accuses Christians for Sri Lanka war

Hindu-chauvinist activists have always been good at exploring and institutionalizing senseless notions against the Church. This time, it has found the Sri Lankan war as its platform to malign the Christian community.

Rajeev Srinivasan, an Indian journalist and Hindu rights activist, claims in his May 4 column that church might have had a role in the ongoing brutal fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government.

To substantiate his argument, he says, "It is a curious coincidence that most of the top cadres of the LTTE are Christians (examples Prabhakaran, a Methodist despite the Hindu name, Anton Balasingham and the suicide-bomber Dhanu)."

"Many of the top non-Christians, curiously, have been captured and swallowed cyanide, have died in battle, or been liquidated by the LTTE itself," he adds, indicating that it was a deliberate act by the Christians.

Another article published in a leading Sri Lankan newspaper, says, "The Church had to turn to native converts to carry the flag forward. Prabhakaran is one such native convert."

The author alleges that Christian churches were supporting the LTTE by offering money and arms for indirectly benefiting in the mission.

Many such reports and statements accusing the church have been published on the print as well as online media, which sure might draw severe criticisms, before it snowballs into a controversy.

While the identity of LTTE leader Prabhakaran or the involvement of any Christian groups, is unclear, one can soon expect the church to sternly respond against these baseless allegations.