Jaffna, July 31 – A peaceful protest was held on Thursday in the Semmani area of Jaffna, organized by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Jaffna Diocese, demanding justice for those who were allegedly murdered and buried at the Sithuppathi Hindu Cemetery in Semmani.
The protest, led by the Commission’s Chairperson, Rev. Fr. Anthonippillai Augustine, began in front of the St. Jude Thaddeus Shrine in Ariyalai and proceeded to the Semmani Junction.
At the conclusion of the rally, Rev. Fr. Augustine read out an urgent appeal addressed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for international intervention in the ongoing investigations into the Semmani mass grave.
The appeal outlined three key demands:
- An independent international investigation into the Semmani mass grave, noting that 454 sets of human remains, including those of children and infants, had reportedly been recovered as of June 21, 2026, to ensure truth, justice, and accountability.
- The excavation, identification, and preservation of the remains to be conducted in accordance with international standards, including the Minnesota Protocol, with provisions for independent DNA testing, the participation of victims’ families, and the protection of witnesses.
- Continuous monitoring of the excavation by the UN Human Rights Office to safeguard evidence, along with the establishment of a UN human rights presence in Jaffna to ensure witness protection.
More than 100 people participated in the demonstration, including the Vicar General of the Jaffna Diocese, Rev. Fr. Jebaratnam; the Provincial Superior of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Jaffna Province), Rev. Fr. Paul Jayanthan Pacheck; priests, religious brothers and sisters, and members of the public, all expressing support for the call for justice and accountability.
