Sri Lanka

The attack on a military bus took place one day after the assassination of a Tamil member of parliament, openly critical of the government. The politician was killed inside a Hindu temple. Despite continued threats Colombo had removed his escort weeks ago.

Numbers show that Internet is home to religious and spiritual quests. Burma, Christians in Muslim lands, China and the Vatican are AsiaNews’ top searched words.

In the first Mass of 2008 Benedict XVI refers to his Message for the World Day of peace. He reiterates that a commitment to the family founded on the marriage between a man and a woman is the basis of peace in the world. But such peace must be invoked. In Mary’s school, the school of the Mother of God, we learn to be peace operators and witnesses to the Prince of Peace.

In expressing his best wishes for the New Year, Benedict XVI calls on the world to rediscover God and build solidarity among peoples as one family. He sends special greetings to the Italian president and all Church communities, like Sant’Egidio’s, who have sponsored initiatives for World Day of Peace.

The 2004 tsunami was one of the worst natural disasters of modern times. It killed more that 225,000 people, leaving millions homeless. From India to Thailand prayers are said in memory of those who lost their life. Reminders are voiced that much remains to be done for the tens of thousands of homeless families.

Marking the feast of St. Stephen, Benedict XVI recalls the missionaries priests nuns and lay faithful who still today are persecuted, tortured, imprisoned and denied their freedom because of their faith and their union with the pope. Martyrdom manifests the disarming force of truth and love in the face of brutal enemy violence.

In his Urbi et Orbi, Benedict XVI urges peace for all of those nations wounded by conflict and for all those who suffer. For all mankind Christ’s birth brings the true meaning of hope. Christmas greetings in 63 languages.

The coming of Jesus is stronger than our hoplessness. His life is stronger than the tragedies in our history. The Spirit is stronger than materialism. Our Christmas wishes for AsiaNews readers and the world.

Threats, economic blackmail, cutting power and water supplies are all means by which the government wants to shut down camps for tsunami victims before 26 December in order to be able to say that it solved the problem. Three years since the disaster life in the camps remains precarious, but thousands of families don’t know where to go.

In an interview with AsiaNews, the OMI provincial superior in Sri Lanka, Fr S.M. Selvaratnam, recounts the dramatic situation of the Tamils in the northern part of the country: the widespread culture of war, the paralysis of education, the impossibility even of crossing the street without the permission of the army, the absence of an authority to guarantee the rights of citizens. The general misery compels the suicide of fathers of families who cannot pay for their children's medicines.

In an orphanage in the diocese of Chilaw, run by the Sisters of Perpetual Succour, children of all faiths celebrate the arrival of Christmas with an evening of prayer and song. The young tell of their “joy” at participating in the event and of “finally feeling loved and no longer alone”.

Fishermen’s rights groups complain about the fate of one of the most marginalised social groups in the country. The government’s development policies favour the tourist industry and prefer agreements with large foreign companies to exploit the country’s waters. This is pushing more and more small scale fishermen into utter poverty. Whilst the government is building highways and hotels, thousands of families are still surviving in temporary shelters.