By Mathai Kadavil
Kottayam, Jan 23, 2022: Father Joshua Edakadambil, an Indian Catholic priest serving in Ethiopia as a missionary was kidnapped by rebel soldiers but released him in 24 hours.
The member of the Order of the Imitation of Christ, or Bethany Ashram, has been working in the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte in the east African country. The 32-year-old priest was abducted while going to celebrate Mass in a mission station. They then took him to a forest and kept him in their custody.
Bishop Varghese Thottamkara, Vicar Apostolic of Nekemte, said the rebel soldiers took the Indian priest for mistaken identity. They released the priest after the Church negotiated with the rebels.
Meanwhile, Father Mathew Kadavil, superior general of the Bethany Ashram, shared the following message with Matters India:
“Emergency is declared in Ethiopia due to the domestic conflict between the present regime and the Tigrayans supported by various ethnic groups. The conflict is at the peak in the Oromia region. Christian missionaries are generally protected by the government and the rebels.
However, they are keen on their movements often suspecting possible spying. Father Joshua Edakkadambil working at Sire in the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte for the last three years was captured by the rebels on January 21 afternoon. He was returning after the Holy Mass from Legmare parish which is 35 km from Bethany Gadam (Ashram).
Both the Ashram and the mission are not very far from the Highway and the Highway is generally protected with military patrolling. The interior area of this region is captured by the rebel army. Travelling in this region is dangerous and night curfew is declared in the area. Father Joshua is popular in the region as the bursar of the school and for the medical treatment given in various villages against podoconiosis (a chronic inflammatory, geochemical skin disease caused by prolonged exposure to irritant red clay soils).
His close association with the government authorities in the region seems to be the reason behind capturing him.
At the beginning he could talk with his confreres and informed them of the situation. Immediately the diocesan authorities and U N Peace Keeping groups could negotiate with the leaders of the rebels. Initially they expressed their readiness to release him next morning. Meanwhile on January 22 morning the region witnessed lot of firings between military and the rebel groups and the release was delayed.
The negotiation continued and by evening Father Joshua was brought to a nearby place in a motorbike. The jeep he was driving is captured. He was handed over to three youth leaders deputed by the missionaries. No vehicles were permitted to go to the area and he had to walk on foot through jungles.
Bishop Varghese Thottakara of the Apostolic Vicariate of Nekemte, who was in India, his native country, for a treatment contacted Cardinal Souraphil, the president of the Ethiopian Bishops’ Conference and other authorities in the Ethiopian Bishops Conference and deputed the vicar general and senior priests to negotiate with them.
Their timely intervention and negotiation helped the immediate release of Father Joshua. From the start of the present conflict, the Church is actively engaged in handling the situation. The Christian missionaries while keeping a distance from supporting any ethnic groups raise their voice against all sorts of violence prevailing in the country. Free mobility and their humanitarian works are often blocked due to the internal conflict. Most of the missionaries are in the remote villages and often under great threat.
Father Joshua is a member of the Order of the Imitation of Christ (OIC) which is also known as Bethany Fathers from the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church. The Bethany Fathers have been working in Ethiopia for the past 12 years. Presently eight priests are working in Ethiopia and they have three ashrams one in the diocese of Emdibir and two in the Apostolic Vikariate of Nekemte.
They are mainly working among the Gummus people and engaged in the rural development. They are running two schools and a few clinics for podoconiosis patients. The mission house in Kamakshi is temporarily closed since eight months due to the internal conflict.
Since four months troubles are going on in Sire. Internet connection is cancelled and night curfew is declared in the area. Often travelling to the neighboring place is also under threat.