Why Father Tom went to Yemen despite India’s travel curbs?

Abu Dhabi - A video released during Christmas by his captors, showing the priest, has renewed their hopes.

On March 4, 2016, gunmen turned Aden Care Home in Yemen into a graveyard by killing 16 people and abducting an Indian priest. Eleven months later and despite numerous appeals by loved ones, Father Tom Uzhunnalil remains in custody of his captors somewhere in the arid lands.
The priest from Kottayam district of Kerala served in Aden since 2010. Father Tom had returned to India for a brief while in 2015 and went back to Yemen despite an Indian government advisory refraining nationals from travelling.
His close relatives reveal details of Father Tom and his reasons for returning to Yemen in 2015. A video released during Christmas by his captors, showing the priest, has renewed their hopes.
"While he was leaving for Yemen, I asked when he will return. Usually, he gives an answer but that time he just walked away," one of his close relatives told Khaleej Times while recollecting the last meeting in 2015. Relatives wished not to be named fearing retribution.
Father Tom comes under the Bangalore diocese of the Salesians of Don Bosco. He had been to Abu Dhabi on numerous occasions as Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia Bishop Paul Hinder is based at St Joseph's Cathedral in the Capital. The UAE, Yemen and Oman come under the territorial jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. The Catholic Church, in a statement, had said the 'features of the person in the video bear a close likeness to Father Tom'.
Father Tom is a 'direct representative' of Bishop Paul Hinder and is the 'only priest working in Yemen on priesthood visa' from his diocese, which according to a relative, is not an ordinary thing to get in a country rife with sectarian conflicts.
"This is no regular job visa. Such a visa shows the Yemeni government had accepted and approved his position. There are many priests working in other countries on different visas but Father Tom is recognised by the Yemeni government. So, he is naturally the responsibility of the Yemeni government. And as he is a citizen on India, the Narendra Modi government should step in," a relative said.
According to relatives, it's the Salesian Missions, which takes call on which priest goes where. The sisters in Aden Care Home belong to the Missionaries of Charity established by Mother Teresa.
Last journey to Yemen
Father Tom's journey to Yemen in October 2015 wasn't an easy one.
Since there were no direct flights to Yemen from Bangalore, he went to Abu Dhabi, then to Kenyan capital of Nairobi and from there to Djibouti. The priest stayed 'close to a month' at the Bishop's house in Djibouti before he got onto a Red Crescent ship to Aden - an arduous travel that shows his determined nature.
A relative was in direct contact with Father Tom but wouldn't risk calling too often. The element of danger was apparent to one and all.
"I had received a message that he wanted to come to Abu Dhabi but since there were no flights at that time, he wasn't sure when he would land here."
Father Tom was also looking for a new priest to take charge in Aden.
"It takes 2-3 months to get a priesthood visa cancelled and issued to a new person. He was seeking to return to Bangalore and awaiting a reliever."
So, how did Father Tom get to Yemen in first place?
"Father Tom took charge in Aden in 2010, replacing Father Mathew Uzhunnalil, who  was based in Yemen for 17 years. He retired due to poor health and returned to the Bangalore diocese," a relative said.
Father Tom always led a simple life. "I don't think apart from the dress he wears, he has any savings. Once I told him to buy clothes and instead he bought a mike set for the church."
He is diabetic and has blood pressure issues too.
"Once he came home with puffy eyes. When asked about it, he said the cook likes more salt in food, so he did eat according to his wishes," a relative said.
He was supposed to land in the UAE Capital in January 2016 to attend a conference, which he couldn't attend.
A man of his word
In April of 2015, Indian Armed Forces had evacuated nationals and foreigners from Yemen as the country crumbled. So, why did Father Tom go there despite the Indian government's travel advisory?
Father Tom was in India in August or September 2015 to attend the first death anniversary of his mother and later, a relative's wedding. It was, however, 'mercy calls' from sisters at the care home that made him return to Aden. He also hadn't cancelled his priesthood visa, which necessitated his return.
"As a catholic believer, we should do whatever is possible to be done as a service towards God. The sisters had asked Father Tom: 'Are you too deserting us. There is none to look after us'. And he had promised them he would return," a relative said.
Among those who made the appeal was Sister Sally, who managed to stay alive and escape the massacre. She has since been moved to a 'safe house'.
"The sisters wouldn't have wanted the Sunday mass to be disrupted as every other priest had left and the prayers were their only hope in darkness," the relative said.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE