Racial strife today and during 20th century

BY Kumari-2017-10-28

The way it is

Racial and religious disharmony proceeding to violence is prevalent in most parts of the world; worse in the Middle East with the militant ISIS there, the Taliban still causing trouble in Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan and now flared up in Myanmar. And all these trouble spots are churned up by Islamist. The Rohingya are native Burmese and have been discriminated against by the Burmans and other sub-races in Myanmar.

Recently, the Rohingya attacked a Burmese police post and so the military still ruling the land ordered countermeasures which turned violent and caused the Rohingya to flee their homes and land in the thousands, most across the border to Bangladesh and others by sea. Some were rescued in the seas off Sri Lanka, brought safely ashore by the Sri Lankan Navy and taken charge of by the UN Refugee organization. While detained in a safe house, some militant Sri Lankans led by those in yellow robes, attacked them. This was totally reprehensible. Police intervened and nothing much came of it.

The world condemns the Burmese Buddhists and government and calls for stripping State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kye of her Noble Peace prize; but her hands are tied. Even she, though winning elections hands down, is still under military rule and so cannot do much to help the Rohingya. In fact it looks as if she is anti-them, like her father.

The riots of 1915

Kumari goes far back to much before she was born - to 1915. Yes, almost a century ago a conflagration occurred between Muslims and Buddhists. A historian tells me that the enmity smouldered as the coast Muslims who were really trading Moors, settled down in this fair island and became prosperous businessmen. The simmering heat was encouraged to flame by the ruling Britons at the time – true to their political dictum of 'divide and rule'. A case had gone up to the District Court, in Colombo over these clashes. Judge Paul E. Peiris gave judgment in favour of the Sinhalese.
He quoted Clause 5 of the Kandyan Convention that gave protection to Buddhism. An appeal was made to the Supreme Court which overturned the earlier judgment on the premise that the Kandyan Convention was no longer in effect. Of course, the Brits reneged on their promises. Hence further trouble was expected, and brewing.

Carol cart

In Kandy on 29 May 1915, Vesak Day, against warnings, a carol cart proceeded near the mosque that is at the far end of Kandy town where the Kachcheri is located now. (A much used approach road to Anniewatte starts here). When the carol cart came opposite the mosque, jeering and stone throwing ensued. Clashes broke out and the hate and fire of torching spread to Matale, Gampola and along the Kandy-Colombo Road. Mercifully by 6 June that year the British, though they initially sparked the clashes, doused them very soon and peace settled back in the land, at least peace among the different religions. It was unity that was called for to resist the foreign power in the land, with religious amity promoted.

We do hope and pray our own leaders will clamp down most forcefully on anyone and everyone who instigates religious antipathy which can just burst into flames of conflict. We do not condone the actions of certain Buddhist monks who are fundamentalists.

Buddhism is best protected by living according to the Buddha's teaching with the four excellent qualities of loving kindness, sympathy, joy in other's well-being and equanimity promoted. The Muslims too need to give up fundamentalism on their part. We have too many economic problems to tackle without having religious turmoil and misguided patriotism intruding to make matters worse.