Dear Friends
Two weeks without food are beginning to pay a toll on Fr. Pallath’s health, but he remains committed to continuing his action until he finds justice. It is difficult to comprehend that the Jesuit leaders of Kerala are refusing to give anything in the face of this strong moral protest. Perhaps they think they are beyond things like human rights; that they don’t have to live by the morality they espouse in their words. So many have recognised the injustice – the priests of Kerala, the religious of Kerala, the cultural community, the ordinary people, and many of you, yet still they feel they are above reproach.
We urge you to write again to the Jesuit Superior General to ensure that we don’t lose the life of this man needlessly. His contact details are:
Rev. Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach
Superior General
Curia Generalizia
Compagnia di Gesu
C.P.6139
00195 Roma Prati
Fax: (390) 6686 8214
E-mail: curia@sjcuria.org
An update for Day 14 is provided below.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
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DAY 14 – Jesuits belligerent in the face of moral hunger fast
Fr. Pallath’s indefinite hunger strike against his unjust expulsion and the inhuman treatment meted out to him has entered the 14th day today. His action is against the backdrop of the adamant stand adopted by the Jesuit authorities in showing him not even a semblance of human kindness. The doctor who examined Fr. Pallath has reported low blood pressure and his urine samples have shown traces of blood indicating his far deteriorating health condition. On his part, Fr. Pallath reiterated his determination to continue the struggle till justice is met.
Meanwhile efforts by the Mayor of Calicut and Mr. M.P. Veerendrakumar, a respected cultural leader, to effect a conciliation and end the hunger strike are proving futile against the adamant stand of the Jesuits. Fervent pleas to at least make some arrangement for the livelihood of Fr. Pallath are being resisted by the Jesuits mercilessly. In fact they had gone on the offensive filing seven false police complaints of wholly unsubstantiated grounds against the supporters of Fr. Pallath.
In the meantime a meeting of the residents of the locality has decided to petition the newly anointed bishop of Calicut, seeking his intervention to end the strike conceding Fr. Pallath’s just demands. A procession attended by well over one hundred of Fr. Pallath’s supporters also voiced the same demand.
While several efforts continue to resolve amicably the issue amidst growing concern about Fr. Pallath’s deteriorating health, the Jesuits are unwilling to show even a modicum human kindness in dealing with someone who was a colleague of theirs for as much as 35 years. Pointed reference to the terms of the two agreements signed earlier which have been violated by the Jesuits has also evoked no response. It is imperative that people concerned about natural justice and human rights raise their voice urgently to ensure that justice is done and a valuable human life is preserved.
EE services
