COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CWNews.com)

    A Catholic bishop in Sri Lanka has issued an appeal to the international community, asking for help in protecting innocent civilians who have been caught between combatants in that country's civil war.

    Bishop Rayappu Joseph reported that there have been at least 500 civilian casualties in the area of Jaffna, where the Sri Lankan army is conducting artillery bombardments against positions held by the Tamil Tiger (LTTE) rebel group. The bishop said that thousands of civilians have been pinned down by the shelling-- unable to move to a safer location, and unable to obtain food while living in bunkers. "Since they are trapped, they have no way of escaping from this plight," he said.

    Bishop Joseph said that the government army appeared to be indifferent to the fate of the civilians. "I am given to understand that the attitude of the armed forces is that it is better to kill the people than allow them to go into the LTTE-controlled areas," he said.

    Bishop Joseph appealed for international help in assuring that the shelling would stop, relief supplies would be delivered, and civilians would be given an opportunity to move away from the battle zone.

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