Pricking The Conscience On Reminiscences Of ‘Black July’
By Austin Fernando -July 23, 2014
Austin Fernando
Six years back I wrote the article below. The polarization I mentioned then remains more the same between Tamils and Sinhalese, though a little reconciled, even after eliminating the worst adversary- the Tigers.
Instead of the Tamils, Muslims are at the receiving end now, in a miniature size. The complaint by some is that Muslims fault by creating problems. Muslims complain of Sinhala extremist provocations. The venom against Tamils then has been diverted towards Muslims. One Muslim political authority has exceeded the limits by inferring to the internationals of a Muslim genocide. There was suspicion that business interests were behindanti-Tamil riots then, in addition to politicians’ engagement. The same objective is alleged now by Muslims- i.e. to kill Muslim economic prowess.
Black July 83 – Boralla | Photo – Chandraguptha Amarasingha
In turn, instead of domestic terror supported by the Tamil Diaspora then, focus has allegedly shifted now to domesticated international Muslim terror. As in 1983, extremists of both groups exchange allegations of fanning trouble. The government tries pacification, but it is suspected as much as the 1983 government had been for 1983 mayhem. Police were blamed for inaction then and it is repeated this time too. Instead of ethnic violence alone then, now the interpretations are communal plus religious, which is a deviation.
