UPDATE (INDIA): The latest updates – AHRC visited the Jesuit house in HK and more
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28TH DAY OF THE HUNGER STRIKE
PLEASE VISIT JESUIT HOUSES THROUGHT THE W0RLD AND TELL THEM ABOUT FR. PALLATH¡¯S CASE.
Today, AHRC representatives visited, Rev. Fr. A. Deignan, SJ the local Jesuit superior Ricci Hall, University of Hong Kong to request his intervention on the case of Fr. Pallath, at this crucial stage of the hunger strike.
AHRC made following requests from him.
– For him to express concern to the Jesuit superior general in Rome on the basis of the information made available to you;
– To draw attention to the call by a senior priest in Kerala, Fr. Kottukapilly, who has recently said: ¡°I have been unsuccessfully searching for the last two years for a modicum of justification in the manner in which my superiors have been treating Fr. Pallath. Theologically, canonically, as per Jesuit constitution and as per principles of natural justice, there is absolutely no justification for what we are doing to him. Silence at this juncture, when every effort to make the Jesuit authorities see reason seems to be failing, will be a crime against my Christian faith and against my Jesuit calling. \”My struggle\” he continued, \”is not so much for Fr. Pallath as for the Jesuit order itself, to redeem it from the deep abyss of inhumanness and injustice it has fallen into.\”
– To draw attention to the request by Fr. Pallath for a review of the decision against him;
– To draw attention to the agreement made on Oct. 28, 2000, by the local Jesuit superiors with Fr. Pallath that has been disregarded by them;
– To draw attention to complaints of physical abuse against Fr. Pallath and the arrest of his two sisters;
– To draw attention to the need to provide for a person’s livelihood when that person has been dismissed after being in the order for 35 years.
AHRC letter states that \”we believe that all of these requests can be acceded to without being compromised in any way. We also draw your attention to the fact that the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has written 20 letters to the superior general of the Jesuits in Rome and has sent several other communications to him. Presently, there has not being any reply to any of these letters. We believe that the matters in Fr. Pallath’s case are so basic that there is not only a right but also a duty to help to resolve these matters when they are brought to the notice of any person. These are not just local matters but are basic human issues.
YOU MAY MAKE SIMILAR VISITS TO JESUIT HOUSES IN YOUR COUNTRY AND MAKE SIMILAR REQUESTS. WHERE THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, YOU MAY MAKE THESE REQUESTS IN WRITING. AT THIS CRITICAL STAGE, SUCH INTERVENTIONS CAN BE VERY HELPFUL.
We also reproduce latest update on Fr. Pallath’s hunger strike. For earlier updates kindly see the web-site – http:/jjpallath.ahrchk.net/
YOU CAN ALSO WRITE LETTER TO THE JESUIT SUPERIOR IN KERALA. The suggested letter and address of the Jesuits in Kerala is below.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
I am so shocked and sadden by your treatment of Fr. Pallath. I urge you to honor the agreements you have made with him and to communicate your wish to do so, so that the hunger strike can be brought to end. This way can save yourself from the difficult situation you have placed, the Jesuit order.
AND PLEASE SEND LETTER BY E-MAIL OR FAX TO:
Fr. Provincial John Manipadam
Christ Hall
Malaparamba P.O.
Kozhikode
Kerala, INDIA
Tel: 91-495-370-574
Fax: 91-471-551-760
E-mail: les@md2.vsnl.net.in
UPDATE FROM EE SERVICES
1. Fr. pallath’s sisters arrested
Two sisters of Father Pallath, Mrs. Chinnamma and Mrs. Mary were today arrested amidst high drama, from the visitors’ room at Christ Hall, the Jesuit headquarters of Kerala.
Mrs. Chinnammma and Mrs. Mary went today morning to Christ Hall demanding that they be told what the cause of their brother’s expulsion from the Jesuit order was. “We entrusted him to Jesuit care 35 years ago. To date, no one from the Jesuit society has bothered to tell us why he is being expelled, what his crime was. In any case they did not pick him up from the street, so they have no right to throw him out on to the street.” said Mrs. Chinnamma to the group assembled at the venue of Fr. Pallath’s hunger strike, before proceeding to Christ hall with a social worker Ms. Jameela, who spoke over the phone to this reporter. They were made to sit in the parlor of Christ hall and when they demanded to know why after 33 years of Jesuit life he was manhandled and thrown to the streets, the Jesuits did not offer any explanation. All of a sudden, the police were brought to the scene and they were told that they were being arrested.
Ms. Jameela reminded the police that arrest could not be made without women police personnel. A lone woman police was soon brought in and the three were whisked away to the police station. At the time of reporting, they continue to be in police custody, incommunicado.
(AHRC COMMENT)
Has not the family members of a Jesuit right to ask an explanation as why he is expelled? Is this not a right regarding any human being of any family? Does not the fact, that he was a Jesuit for 35 years add to the right of the family to know what has happened?
If the Jesuits felt they were right in the decisions taken against Fr. Pallath, why could they not explain the reasons, when asked for?
Why arrest the family members? As their brother was almost dying due to hunger strike, they had a good reason to visit the premise to ask for explanation and even to make protest. They owed it to themselves, for otherwise they might feel that at the moment of their brother¡¯s death they did not carry out their family obligations. Was it not the duty of the Jesuits to treat them with respect, respond to them kindly and express their understanding of the emotional situation of the family? Was not that what was required to keep to a minimum level of HUMANITY.
Why was the police called for? And why were they arrested? Is this not a repetition of same situation when the Jesuits physically assaulted Fr. Pallath, physically threw him over wall of their house, to be carried to hospital by a passer by (a good Samaritan), use police to prevent his re-entrance? ARE WE WITNESSING HERE A NEW TYPE OF CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOUR OR THE TOTAL BETRAYAL OF IT.
Question to the superior general of the Jesuits – Do you find all this acceptable?
2. Fr. Pallath continues fast in the hospital and his sisters released on bail – Joins solidarity hunger strike / Cultural leaders appeal – yet again
Fr. Pallath continued his fast for the 28th day today as anxiety mounts about his life. Admitted to the hospital by the Police yesterday, Fr. Pallath has declined to take any medicines too. Mean while the two sisters of Pallath arrested yesterday from the parlor of the Jesuit house have been released on bail. They have since joined the solidarity hunger strike along with Fr. Mani Parambet.
Against the backdrop of Fr. Pallath’s arrest and hospitalization and his alarming health condition, several cultural figures of Calicut yesterday made yet another fervent appeal to the Jesuit authorities to respect principles of natural justice and tenets of basic human rights in responsing to Fr. Pallath’s struggle for Justice. ‘It is not Fr.Pallath that you are trying to defeat, but your own avowed principles of commitment to Justice’ – the statement reminded the Jesuit auhorities of Kerala. Among the signatories to the statement were noted hisotrian Dr. M Gangadharan, literateur Dr. M.N. Karasserry, Poet Mr. Civic Chandran, Vice president of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and noted short stoy writer Mr. U.K Kumaran, Mr. P.K Parakkadvau, Mr. A.P. Kunajmu and Prof.P.Koya.
For detailed information, see the web site – http://jjpallath.ahrchk.net/
