Sri Lankan election – ‘The tighter the race, the more violent it threatens to be’
Say No to Hatred
Dec 13, 2014 — Bodu Bala Sena, or BBS, is widely believed to have the backing of the current government and has endorsed Rajapaksa’s re-election. Over the past two years BBS has been involved in many attacks on religious minorities and dissenting civil society groups. While the group has been relatively quiet the past few months, many believe it may return to action either before or after the election, perhaps to intimidate or complicate campaigning by the opposition, or to reduce turnout in Muslim-majority areas..
Say No to HatredDec 13, 2014 — Bodu Bala Sena, or BBS, is widely believed to have the backing of the current government and has endorsed Rajapaksa’s re-election. Over the past two years BBS has been involved in many attacks on religious minorities and dissenting civil society groups. While the group has been relatively quiet the past few months, many believe it may return to action either before or after the election, perhaps to intimidate or complicate campaigning by the opposition, or to reduce turnout in Muslim-majority areas..
Sri Lankan election – ‘The tighter the race, the more violent it threatens to be’
President Mahinda Rajapaksa presents World No Tobacco Day Award to his former ally Maithripala Sirisena, 31 May 2013. FLICKR/Sudath Silva
This interview with Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for Sri Lanka, Alan Keenan, is republished here with permission from Deutsche Welle.
