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Talks on re-locating Madu statue

Photo: AFP

The Madu Church on Friday.

MADU (Mannar): An eerie silence prevails in the precincts of the centuries-old Madu Church, a revered shrine for the Catholics, even as the military keeps a close vigil from outside at the complex “liberated” from the clutches of the LTTE three days ago.

A group of Colombo-based journalists, who were flown in there for a first hand look at the place that had become a battle zone for several weeks now, on Sunday saw the scars in the complex in the prolonged fight.

The church is intact barring a gaping hole in the roof. The military said it was caused by mortar used by the Tigers at the advancing troops. However, it is difficult to verify the claim especially as there is no sign of damage to the sprawling prayer hall containing the statue of Lady Madu .

As the fight between intensified around the church complex, the authorities on instructions from the Bishop of Mannar on April 3 shifted the statue to an undisclosed destination. The statute is not expected to be back at least before July as according to the military the area around the complex and possibility the complex itself is heavily mined by the fleeing Tigers.

During the hour plus we spent in the premises, there was not a single civilian soul. A representative of the Bishop is believed to have visited the area on Saturday and initiated talks with the military on the possibility of re-locating the statute.

Several small structures in the complex bear testimony to use of arms and ammunition. A hall adjacent to the church is a shambles. The military claimed that the wreckage was caused by the Tigers.

“We are going to hand over the Church soon to the priests after removing booby traps and mines,” Lt. Colonel Bandara, who led the operations, told journalists. He said it was an ordeal for the soldiers to capture it without firing a single shot.

The shrine, where thousands of pilgrims gather during the August church feast, had been within the vicinity of the LTTE-controlled area in the district since 1999. The military claims that it was left with no option but to oust the Tigers from the area after the LTTE used the shrine as a “shield” and periodically attacked military targets in the vicinity.

“This is certainly not our last stop. Troops have already advanced further into another kilometre ahead of the church. We intend to move further into the Tiger held territory,” said Major Bandara.

In a related development, the pro-LTTE TamilNet quoted the Bishop of Mannaar, Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, as saying the warring parties should declare the shrine and its environs as Peace Zone to enable the church authorities to bring back the statue to the shrine.

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