Buddhist extremists group in Sri Lanka overpower evangelical Christians
Sun, Jun 16, 2013, 07:35 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 16, Colombo: Ravana Balaya organization, a Buddhist extremist group in Sri Lanka, today manhandled a group of evangelical Christians who were distributing a religious magazine in the outskirts of Colombo city and handed over them to the police.
A group of people belonging to Jehovah's Witnesses who were distributing the Sinhala version of an international magazine called Awaken! came under the threat of the Buddhist monks of the Ravana Balaya today in Mulleriyawa.
The leader of the Ravana Balaya Ittekande Saddhatissa Thero and other monks and laymen overpowered the group and handed over them to Mulleriyawa police station.
TV news videos on the incident showed the leader of the Ravana Balaya, Ittekande Saddhatissa Thero severely warning the evangelicals right inside the police station.
They were released after the involvement of officials from the headquarters of the religious organization.
Sun, Jun 16, 2013, 07:35 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
EU condemns Myanmar for violence against Rohingya
Posted
European Union lawmakers have condemned violence against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority and called on authorities to protect them.
Scores of people have been killed in two waves of sectarian unrest between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine last year.
Thousands fled the country in overcrowded boats but many died making the journey south towards Thailand and Malaysia.
The European Parliament said it "deplores ... the failure of the government to protect the Rohingya from organised violence".
It passed a motion that "condemns the grave violations of human rights" and has called on authorities to do "everything in their power to protect Rohingya Muslims from violent actions".
Myanmar views its population of 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
The United Nations considers them to be one of the world's most persecuted minorities.
A return to sectarian unrest has tempered international optimism about reforms in the country after decades of military rule.
Just two months ago, the EU lifted sanctions on Myanmar, and two days ago the European Commission readmitted Myanmar to a trade pact.
The EU parliament expressed "deep concerns" over allegations that security forces have taken part in the violence.
EU supports Suu Kyi's policy
The EU motion welcomed pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition to a two-child policy for the Rohingya.
The controversial two-child rule was imposed by the previous junta and reaffirmed recently by local authorities in the wake of unrest in the country.
"It is not good to have such discrimination," Ms Suu Kyi said.
"It is not in line with human rights."
Ms Suu Kyi had previously been facing criticism for failing to speak out about the violence.
The European parliament also urged Thailand to end the "inhumane detention" of at least 1,700 Rohingya asylum seekers.
AFP
