A South East Asian Solution for the Muslims - IIA South East Asian Solution for the Muslims - II
Kalpitiya Fisheries Harbour
Izeth by Hussain- April 18, 2014,-HDA.jpg)
I now approach the question of why the SL Muslims should emulate the example set by the Chinese in South East Asia, particularly in the Philippines. First of all I must draw attention to the significance of the fact that the protracted anti-Muslim hate campaign and demonstrations failed to ignite mass Sinhalese action against the Muslims, as I noted earlier in this article. It is worth recounting my first-hand experience at Kalpitiya fishing harbor last year. I went there with the Muslim owner-driver of a van, whose family were native inhabitants of the place and were thoroughly familiar with it. It was sunset and the fishing boats were coming in, and in the absence of ethnic markers in the clothing all the fishermen looked alike to me. I was told that they consisted of all three ethnic groups, Sinhalese, Tamils, and Muslims. How were they getting on with each other? Quite well, no problems. But just a few days earlier there had been an impressive BBS anti-Muslim demonstration in Kalpitiya, with the usual bellowing, bawling, yelling, screeching, screaming fury against the Muslims. The next day the Sinhalese and the Muslims continued to live together in peace, amity, and co-operation.