US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1153

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001153 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIRF, PHUM, CE, Religious Freedom 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: CHRISTIAN PASTOR RECOUNTS JUNE ATTACK 
 
REF: COLOMBO 921 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (U) Poloffs and POL FSN traveled to Ambalangoda in Galle 
district on June 28 to follow up a reported attack on an 
Assembly of God property on June 5 and 6. Pastor Yogesh 
Mudalige of the Assembly of God church complained that 
police, despite being made aware of the June 5 attack, failed 
to prevent the June 6 attack, or to offer adequate protection 
to the pastor and his family from the attackers.  As of the 
date of poloffs' visit to Ambalangoda, the pastor was unable 
to safely occupy or use the new property.  The June 5-6 
attack is one of several dozen against Christian 
organizations that have occurred over the past year. 
Although several arrests were made in this particular case, 
general police reluctance to pursue such cases helps foster 
an atmosphere of impunity for the perpetrators of such 
attacks. END SUMMARY. 
 
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ATTACK ON THE AOG 
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2.    (U) On June 28, poloffs and POL FSN visited Pastor 
Yogesh Mudalige and his brother Suresh, of the Assembly of 
God (AOG) church at their residence in Ambalangoda in Galle 
district.  Pastor Yogesh's current residence also serves as 
the location for AOG church services, where the typical 
congregation size is approximately 100 persons.  Pastor 
Yogesh's new property, which was to serve as a personal 
residence and a non-religious community center, incorporating 
both a preschool and computer training center, was attacked 
on June 5 and 6 by local villagers. 
 
3.    (U) According to Yogesh, on the evening of June 
5--three days after he acquired the property--some villagers 
began throwing bottles at the house.  The pastor informed the 
police and although the police allowed him to file a 
complaint, they did not immediately investigate the 
disturbance. 
 
4.    (U) On the morning of June 6, the pastor and his 
brother were installing a bathroom in the new property when a 
crowd of approximately 30 approached them and began an 
argument.  The villagers reportedly warned the pastor not to 
build a church on the new property and attacked the house, 
breaking the windows and tearing down the fence.  (Comment: 
While no monks were present during the attacks, the pastor 
and his brother allege that the attack was planned at the 
local Buddhist temple and that the local head monk was 
responsible for instigating the mob.  End Comment.)  The mob 
grew larger and assaulted the pastor, his brother, and the 
assistant pastor Suresh Pereira, causing all three men to 
seek medical attention for their injuries. 
 
5.    (U) The pastor's brother told poloffs that while they 
were being assaulted, members of the mob attempted to strip 
Pastor Yogesh, and in the process stole his wallet, which 
contained SLR 27,000 ($270), his mobile phone, and another 
SLR 200,000 ($2,000) from the pastor's vehicle--funds donated 
to the pastor by U.S. based Mercy Works for the new property. 
 By the time the police arrived on the scene, the three men 
had already been taken to the hospital.  The pastor told 
poloffs that they were released from the hospital the next 
day, despite having continued difficulty walking.  The pastor 
filed another formal case against the mob, naming 19 of his 
attackers for the police. 
 
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POLICE ON THE SCENE 
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6.    (U) During a June 28 meeting, Inspector M.C. Herath of 
the Ambalangoda police department told poloffs that the 
pastor and his brother identified only six of their 
attackers.  On June 7, the Ambalangoda police arrested those 
6, all of whom were later released on bail.  Herath told 
poloffs that during the arrest, a mob of 80-100, some of whom 
were members of the local provincial council, urged him not 
to arrest anyone.  Herath also told poloffs that when he went 
to visit the new property he found pro-Buddhist slogans 
written on the door, such as "Buddhism is the true religion," 
damage to the fence and windows, and a Buddha statue, a 
sacred Bo tree sapling, and lamps scattered throughout the 
property. (Comment: Poloffs confirmed the damage and graffiti 
at the new property.  End Comment.)   The pastor told poloffs 
he had to call higher authorities in Colombo in order to get 
the Ambalangoda police to remove the statue, the sapling, and 
the lamps from the grounds.    A hearing on the case is 
scheduled for November 28.  (Comment: Hearings are typically 
scheduled closer to the date of the incident. That the 
hearing is scheduled almost six months from the date of the 
crime could suggest some undue influence on behalf of the 
suspected attackers.  End Comment.) 
 
7.    (U) While the pastor continues to hold church services 
at his home without disturbance, both Inspector Herath and 
the pastor told poloffs it was currently unsafe to return to 
the new property.  Inspector Herath and the pastor are 
attempting to organize an interfaith meeting, which would 
include the other Christian pastors from the district, 
members of the Buddhist community, and the police, so that 
the grievances of all parties can be heard, and so that 
Pastor Yogesh can safely return to the newly-purchased 
property. 
 
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COMMENT 
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8.    (U) This attack is one of several dozen against 
Christian organizations that have occurred in Sri Lanka over 
the past year.  (Reftel describes a May attack in the same 
district). While police made several arrests in this 
particular case, general police unwillingness to pursue these 
cases helps create an atmosphere of impunity for the 
perpetrators of these acts. If the proposed meeting between 
the Buddhists in the village and the Christian pastors 
occurs, it could help to clear the air between the two 
communities in the village, so that both can coexist without 
fear of "unethical" conversion or persecution.  We will 
continue to monitor the progress of this case. END COMMENT. 
LUNSTEAD