Siege on ‘Rohingya’ safe house
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan-2017-10-01
The mob wanted the Rohingya to leave the country immediately, labelling them as 'terrorists' who have been offered shelter in Sri Lanka. These Rohingya sought refuge after fleeing violence in their Rakhine State of Myanmar following a military crackdown on suspected Muslim militants.
The group of 31 includes 17 children, seven women and seven men, were rescued by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard while they were adrift in the northern waters.
Following a Court order, they were later housed at the Mirihana Detention Camp and thereafter handed over to the United Nation Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The UNHCR later moved the group to a temporary safe house in Mount Lavinia that was subsequently traced by the monks and their supporters.
The group that gathered at the refugee abode also recorded the incident and it has been passed on to social media.
The monks described the Rohingya as 'pathetic' people who are not wanted in their own country.
They said the government had entertained 'snakes' and kaalakanniyas who have come to destroy the prevailing peace in the country'.
On that morning, a young monk constantly kept calling other 'patriots' over the phone to join him to chase these kaalakanniyas who have murdered Buddhist monks in Myanmar. "India and Bangladesh rejected them but our fellows have given shelter," the monk told the people who gathered around him.
He was also looking for the owner of the house and asked whether he had no shame to house these 'terrorists'.
Some of the nearby residents also joined the monks saying that the Rohingya were brought to Mount Lavinia on the directions of influential persons.
An elderly official attached to the UNHCR arrived at the premises and tried to explain matters to those who had gathered but without success.
The situation worsened after the crowd recognized the UN official to be a local Muslim.
The mob yelled at the UN official saying "if the Muslims in Colombo come under attack it would be because of him as he had helped to shelter the Rohingya."
The monks asked the UNHCR official whether they were ruling the country and how on earth could these people who were without passports be allowed to stay in the country.
Police interference
The monks later called the area Police and complained about the Rohingya.
The Police also queried from the UNHCR official as to why the refugees were housed in a private building when they are supposed to be at the Mirihana Detention Centre. The Police officer also checked the NIC details of the UNHCR official.
The monks then went on to berate the Police accusing them of neglecting their duties.
However, later, a Police jeep arrived at the scene and the Rohingya were taken away to the Mirihana DetentionCamp.
However, hours later, the refugees returned to the same apartment. On hearing the news, the mob re-gathered, this time larger in number and led by several monks. They violently attacked the gates and the windows with stones. They accused the UNHCR of interfering in Sri Lanka's domestic affairs.
The thugs later scaled the walls of the apartment and tried to storm the building only to be prevented with the arrival of the Police.
The siege on the safe house alarmed the UNHCR High Commissioner who emphasized that the refugees are victims of violence and persecution and need international protection.
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka also berated the Government for turning a blind eye on the series of attacks on Muslims. They noted that the attack on the Rohingya led by a prominent monk under the banner of the 'Sinhala National Front' was not probed and urged the Prime Minister to intervene and ensure that this type of vigilante action by Buddhist monks is stopped and the perpetrators brought to justice immediately.
Also, the Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera voiced his concern over the incident calling the perpetrators "a group of thugs in robes".
The Ministry for Law and Order on 28 September said three investigating Police teams have been deployed while the acting IGP said further investigations into the incident has been handed over to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD).
Currently, the Rohingya refugees are being held at the Boossa Camp in Galle until the UNHCR could provide them with a safe passage to another destination that is free of hatred.
