Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Consulting Parliament the govt. way

Editorial-June 16, 2014

The government wants Parliament to oppose a UNHRC war crimes probe against Sri Lanka. What it really seeks is parliamentary endorsement for a fait accompli in the form of a resolution, according to its critics.

The UNP and the JVP are in a dilemma. They are wary of antagonising the countries bent on taming the Rajapaksa government they themselves are striving to topple. At the same time, they know it is political hara-kiri to oppose the UPFA’s resolution against the UNHRC move and be seen to be supporting a war crimes probe against the armed forces. They have sought to wriggle out of this difficult situation by highlighting the human rights violations by the UPFA during the last few years and calling upon the government to investigate them before seeking the Opposition’s support for its resolution.

Speculation is rife in parliamentary circles that the JVP and the UNP may take part in the debate on the government resolution, castigate the ruling coalition for its human rights violations, hold it responsible for creating conditions for an international probe at issue and skip the vote so as to remain non-committal where the UNHRC move is concerned. The UNP has already gone on record as saying that the UNHRC will go ahead with its probe regardless of parliamentary resolutions here and consulting Parliament at this juncture is an exercise in futility.

Some of the prominent Opposition politicians are of the view that the government ought to face the UNHRC probe and present its case without running away again. The UPFA with a two-thirds majority in Parliament can easily ensure the passage of its resolution with or without the Opposition support, they argue. The government’s problem is that having resisted a war crimes probe so fiercely in Geneva all these years it cannot opt for a volte-face. It has crossed the Rubicon and there is no going back. It will be able to have its resolution ratified with ease, but that will lack weight without the backing of at least the main Opposition party, the UNP.

Meanwhile, UNP Sajith Premadasa has warned that the UNHRC probe will lead to economic sanctions on Sri Lanka. But, why should the western powers behind that investigation resort to such extreme measures? The current dispensation is as malleable as its predecessors though its leaders bellow anti-western rhetoric from time to time for the consumption of their supporters. It has watered down the national medicinal drug policy which, in its original form, would have adversely impacted the interests of the western-dominated pharmaceutical industry, and suspended a ban on harmful agro chemicals manufactured by transnational companies. Moreover, it follows open market policies. Instead of using sanctions, those members of the international community not so well disposed towards it may consider taming it because that way they could advance their not-so-hidden agenda better.

If the western governments really want to impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka they do not have to take the trouble of manipulating the UNHRC and having war crimes probe conducted. They could do so straightaway and nobody is going to stop them. Their priorities are different and they have bigger issues to contend with. In Iraq, their regime change strategy has boomeranged with an al-Qaeda offshoot planning to march on Baghdad. Libya is in utter chaos. So is Egypt. The Arab Spring has given way to a winter of despair. Therefore, they may not want to plunge another country into crisis by making its economy scream.

The government’s concerns about the UNHRC war crimes probe need to be appreciated. The UN investigators are bound to come out with the same conclusions as the UNSG’s panel of experts who put out the controversial Darusman Report. But, why the Opposition is not willing to support the resolution in question is understandable. The government consults Parliament selectively to further its interests while doing everything in its power to undermine its authority at other times without caring two hoots about the Opposition’s opinion.

From Na-Mo to P.M.O.

The Modi Aandhi (Storm)-Tuesday 17th June 2014

The resounding chant by the massive crowds who gathered at BJP rallies in Northern India’s ‘Cow Belt,’ the Hindutva conservative base, ranging on a north-south axis from the states of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, parts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, parts of Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka, which greeted the arrival of the helicopter carrying BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to rallies, there and throughout India, was ‘Na Mo-Na Mo,’ an acronym for Narendranath Damodardas Modi.

From Na-Mo to P.M.O. by nelvely

A high profile world’s leading US Co. decides to leave vis a vis ominous signs of sanctions

(Lanka-e-News- 17.June.2014, 9.30PM) A world’s most leading high profile American Co. has decided to put up shutters , close all its businesses and leave the shores of Sri Lanka after having perceived that Sri Lanka is headed for serious trouble, in view of the ever building ominous signs of imposition of sanctions on Sri Lanka- a necessary corollary, due to the stupid arrogance of the Medamulana backwoods Rajapakse land crocodiles , and their barbaric conduct.

This company was engaged in the sphere of insurance business since 2000 in Sri Lanka (SL) and was operating under the name of ‘American International group’ – A .I .G . The Co. had notified the SL Insurance Industry regulatory council last Wednesday that they are closing down business , and leaving SL.

They had explained that when planning their future in order to be in conformity with the sphere of international insurance , it is their perception that SL is wobbly and does not fit into that vision. Hence they have taken this decision ,and they will be leaving the Sri Lankan shores after its employees’ issues and insurance covers already given out are ironed out .

The employees of the Institution that was housed in the Bank of Ceylon tower , Colombo say this is a sudden decision taken by the Co. Though there were no business problems , the Co. had yet decided to halt the issue of insurance covers .

Though officials say , it will be no issue if this company exits because it was collecting a 1 % premium on its insurance covers , sources who know the inside out reveal a different story. They state when America is about to impose sanctions on a country its companies that have invested in those countries are apprised of it , in order that those companies withdraw their investments ahead.

America followed the same procedure before it imposed sanctions on Iran. The investment of AIG Co. in SL is insignificant , and the premium was as small as 1 %. Yet AIG Co. is among the largest business companies in the world. It has 88 branches worldwide having invested US. Dollars 69 billion , and employs 64000 workers.

The Fortune magazine which publishes business information and data world wide revealed 98 % of the 500 companies named as the best in the world in 2014 have chosen AIG Co. for their insurance purposes. Moreover ,40 % of the 400 most wealthy companies in America have entrusted their insurance to AIG Co.Such a most sought after and leading insurance Co. deciding to reject its business interests in toto in SL holds out ominous portents for SL, business experts say.

The agony of Aluthgama

By Dharisha Bastians in Aluthgama-Tuesday 17th June 2014

Everything smells smoky in Dharga Town, Aluthgama, the morning after.
Dozens of Special Task Force personnel stand guard on the edges of the Muslim settlement, separated from the Sinhalese village by a few metres. On doorsteps and street corners, people huddle in little groups, speaking in whispers and shooting wary looks at outsiders flocking to the village at dawn, many of them lugging camera equipment.

The Agony of Aluthgama by nelvely

Is The President Acting “Against The Country”

By R. Sampanthan -June 17, 2014

R Sampanthan MP

I wish to make a statement to place on record the position of the Tamil National Alliance regarding the Motion that has been put forward for debate and related matters of public importance. It is indeed ironic that the government now at this late stage seeks the imprimatur of Parliament for its own dire failings. This government, which has so brazenly turned Parliament into an object of ridicule – by enticing unscrupulous members of the opposition to cross over for personal gain and by providing executive posts to almost half the members of the house – now turns to Parliament on a question of fundamental importance to the country. It is plainly clear to the entire country that this turn to Parliament is nothing but a cheap political sleight of hand, and it is a great misfortune to the people of this country that their government is more interested in playing immature political tricks than in dealing with important matters of national reconciliation and foreign policy with sobriety and wisdom.

Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva has already announced the country’s “non-cooperation” with the envisaged investigation. What then is the point of this exercise in Parliament? Is the government so insecure with its isolationist policy that it wishes to share the blame with Parliament and use Parliament to rubber stamp the obnoxious pronouncement by the government’s representative abroad?

By Darshanie Ratnawalli -June 15, 2014

Darshanie Ratnawalli

I had a dream. Professor K. Indrapala was standing before me in a supplicating attitude. I asked him sternly “Are you perhaps a Naga?”, whereupon a bashful, almost hunted look flitted across his face and in the fraction of the second it took me to flick my eyelids over my stern eyes, he turned into a snake and disappeared through a crack in the floor. “Wait a minute”, I said to myself, for I was still in the dream and in the grip of fantastic logic, “that was all wrong! A Naga who has taken human form transforms back on two occasions; neither of which arose just now. Why did he transform?”

Let me explain. My dream was weaved from the Indo Aryan myth pool[i], the Buddhist portion of it. Deep in its most ancient recesses lives a disrobed Buddhist monk, who got himself ordained without disclosing that he was a Naga. He was expelled by the Buddha when disclosure came accidently. His story is told in the Pali Vinaya Pitaka. In his human form, the Naga asked for and received ordination (from the fraternity of monks) with the aim of obtaining a human birth through adherence to the noble precepts. One night in the Jetavana Monastery, when his cell mate had stepped out, the Naga fell asleep. The other monk came back to find the whole cell bulging with snake coils. Later, in front of the customary assembly of monks, Lord Buddha said to the Naga;“Ye Nagas are not capable of spiritual growth in this doctrine and discipline”. After the Naga had gone away, all sad and sorrowful, the Lord declared; “There are two occasions, O Bhikshus, whereon a Naga, having assumed human shape, shewth his true nature; when he hath sexual intercourse with a female of his species, and if he thinketh himself safe from discovery. Let an animal, O Bhikshus, that hath not received the ordination not receive it; if it hath received it, let it be expelled”- (p110/111, Jean Philippe Vogel:1926[ii] –full text). To insure against this contingency an entrant into the Order is asked even today, “Are you perhaps a Naga?”- (p4, M. W. De Visser: 1913[iii] - read page)Read More

Sri Lanka: Act now to prevent further bloodshed in anti-Muslim violence

17 June 2014

Sri Lankan authorities must act immediately to end anti-Muslim violence in the country, and to rein in groups that violently target religious minorities, Amnesty International said.
At least four people have been reported killed and scores injured in the southern coastal towns of Aluthgama and Beruwala since an anti-Muslim riot broke out following a rally organized by the hard-line Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) on Sunday. Violent incidents have also been reported in other towns since Sunday.
“This is the worst outbreak of communal violence in Sri Lanka in years and there is a real risk of it spreading further. The government must do everything in its power to end it immediately, while respecting the human rights of all concerned. Those responsible for killings and other acts of violence must be held to account, and at-risk Muslim communities given the protection they need,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director.
“Eyewitness reports that police have stood by and refused to intervene in the violence are very troubling and must also be investigated. Security forces have a duty to protect the right of everyone to life and security regardless of their beliefs or identity.”
Despite police imposing a curfew, anti-Muslim mob violence continued over Monday and Tuesday, resulting in widespread destruction of property, with Muslims’ homes and shops burned and looted. Tensions had been rising in Aluthgama for days following an alleged fight between Muslim youths and a Buddhist monk’s driver.
But despite Muslim community leaders warning that the situation could escalate, the government granted BBS permission to stage the rally on Sunday that sparked the violence, apparently without putting in place the means to prevent or stop it.
“There has been a disturbing rise in attacks and harassment of religious minorities in Sri Lanka over the two past years, mostly led by groups with a hard-line Buddhist or nationalist agenda, and these groups are reported to have strong links to high-ranking government officials. Rising violence against religious minorities cannot be treated as an isolated issue – stopping it must be a crucial part of the national reconciliation that is so badly needed since the conflict’s end in 2009,” said David Griffiths.
Amnesty International received hundreds of reports of harassment, threats and attacks on Muslims and Christians and their places of worship in 2013.
After her August 2013 visit to Sri Lanka, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed concern at the “recent surge in incitement of hatred and violence against religious minorities”. These concerns were echoed by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2014 in the resolution that established an inquiry into alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka’s armed conflict.

BBS terrorism claims 7 lives including an infant; 91 others injured; Badulla, Yatiyanota, Mawanella also tense; arrest Gnanassara

(Lanka-e-News-16.June.2014,11.30PM) While Mahinda Rajapakse is out of the country , the criminal defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse via the terrorist organization , Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) his paramilitary group has taken upon himself the task of creating mayhem and committing murder in Dharga town , Alutgama while the security divisions are made silent ,by wantonly stoking communal riots , with the result , 7 Muslims have been killed and about 91 others are injured. The number of victims who have gone missing are yet not known. Among the dead is weeks old infant , according to reports.

When Gnanassara the demonic terrorist monk of the BBS was attacking a Muslim house the window pane of the house had fallen on an infant claiming his life. The funerals of the infant and two others who died owing to the murderous violence unleashed are to take place this evening at Alutgama. Though it is rumored that a monk also is among the dead ( this rumor is being circulated in order to provoke the Sinhalese ) , this as been proved untrue. The IGP and the BBS have refuted this story.

Based on reports reaching Lanka e news , two monks who tried to attack a mosque in Dharga town were injured , and are hospitalized. Later that mosque was set on fire and destroyed.

After the BBS concluded the awakening conference at 5.00 in the evening , the group had straight gone to the front side of the mosque . At that time about 2000 Muslims had congregated in the mosque for their prayers as well as for protection. The riots had begun only then. Azath Salley the leader of the National United Alliance who convened a media briefing this noon questioned why the police sought this direction for the BBS where the situation was volatile when there were so many alternative routes for them to travel.

Salley pointed out if the letters addressed by him to the IGP and the headquarters in the morning had been paid attention , this violence could have been averted.

The IGP should hold himself fully responsible for this wanton violence , and within two weeks a commission shall be appointed to inquire into this , Salley emphasized.

Though police and STF soldiers were deployed yesterday around Dharga town and a security ring was provided , the first individual to break that security ring and go in was the BBS main terrorist leader , Gnanassara. Initially when he was obstructed he had spoken to the criminal defense secretary Gotabaya via his mobile phone and made Gota to speak to the police security officers . Gota had told the police officers not to hinder the activities of the monk. At that moment , Kalutara SSP Roshan Silva who was present had helped Gnanassara.

Thereafter the BBS terrorists had got on to vehicles and gone on a rampage of destruction damaging property and attacking persons on the roads with complete impunity using clubs and rods. Following the clamping of curfew the situation has turned for the worse. Not a single business place of a Muslim in Dharga town and Beruwala was spared. Even the houses and the vehicles in garages were set on fire. They had also broken into a gem center at Alutgama and looted gems worth many millions of rupees . The gem cutting center had been burnt down subsequently.

A car and motor cycle sales center had also been reduced to ashes causing losses to the tune of billions of rupees , while the whole of Kalutara was subject to violence at various areas.

The BBS terrorists who went from Colombo, while returning had attacked a Muslim shop at Kalutara and set fire to a Muslim pharmacy at Dehiwala , reports say.

Low rung police officers point out, if the police had real need to avert this conflict , that could have been done. In any event , it was possible to bring this under control at least now even after this amount of damage and destruction , because there were a number of police officers among them who were not racial , they added.

In Beruwala a number of shops were put to torch at dawn today. In Badulla , Yatiyantota , and Mawanella too there are reports of several attacks on Muslims. In those areas feelings are running high between the two groups of people , according to our correspondent .

It is sad to note that despite 24 hours having elapsed since this conflict sparked , and it has deepened with so many deaths and casualties , no one has been arrested. This is clearly emboldening and encouraging the terrorist monks and the goons indulging in violence to carry on regardless. It is the view of the people that Gnanassara ought to be taken into custody first , and next the criminal defense secretary of SL.

The government has still not expressed its concern or its regret over this violence targeting its own citizens for which the BBS terrorists are responsible . Neither has it condemned the terrorism of the BBS.

The President who is abroad also has sent only a twitter message in this connection .

In President’s message he had stated, an investigation shall be conducted with a view to arrest those responsible for the devastation wrought in Alutgama. Room should not be allowed for nobody to take the law into their hands, and has urged all to act together.

Rauf Hakeem , leader of Muslim Congress a constituent party of the government had stated , he is ashamed that such violence and destruction are being inflicted while he is a Minister of the government . A decision will be made today at party leaders’ meeting to decide whether they are to continue with the government or not. In any case when Hakeem visited Alutgama to assess the situation he became the object of bitter criticism and condemnation of the people. Hakeem had no option but remain crestfallen and listen when one youth took him to task and berated him furiously ,‘ nothing of yours was lost. It was everything of ours that were destroyed and deprived’, the youth said.

At a press briefing held today with the participation of Azath Salley , UNP provincial council member Mujibur Rahman and Mano Ganeshan , they said , the government did this to bring self destruction upon itself. This racial riots were initiated by the government and it is the main cause .Therefore they are not fools to ask the government to hold an investigation. They will seek international assistance , they added.

Meanwhile Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne and a group of senior Ministers held special discussions at Kalutara in regard to this volatile situation . At this discussion , one Minister had condemned the BBS as a terrorist organization that has exceeded the LTTE in its terror activities going by yesterday’s violence and wanton destruction they inflicted .

Even Prabhakaran had not spoken this amount of brutal and criminal racism as Gnanassara , he added.

The curfew that is now in force in Alutgama and Beruwala have been extended until dawn of the following day .Residents of Alutgama told Lanka e news , since the Muslim women and children are in fear that in the night they may fall victims to attacks , the Muslims living along the borders of Alutgama are moving towards the center where the security positions are.

With You, Without You: The Reality Of Ethno-Religious Relations In Sri Lanka Today

By Nimanthi Perera-Rajasingham - June 17, 2014

Dr. Nimanthi Perera-Rajasingham

On the weekend of June 14th and 15th 2014, new attacks against minoritieswere successfully mobilized in Sri Lanka. This time it was not against Tamils, but against Muslims in the Aluthgama and then Beruwala areas in the South-West coastal areas. The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), a right wing, racist, nationalist group has claimed and used the tired but ever-effective rhetoric of Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism: Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhala Buddhists; all minorities must know their place or else.

Five years after Eelam War IV and the end of ethnic war between the Government of Sri Lanka and the separatist Tamil Tigers, another round of minority mongering has occurred. While the state and many sections of Sinhala society celebrate the glorious end of war and the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and its foot soldiers continue to claim victims. The state’s refusal to arrest members of the BBS, despite their racist hateful speeches, reminds us of 1983 when the state allowed the pogrom against Tamils to occur. Read More

Violence, Media Blackout Continues

June 17, 2014

Tensions have continued throughout the night spilling over to the Welipenna area with 12 houses reportedly burnt by Sinhalese mobs, according to reports from the ground.

Confirmed reports now say that 3 houses were burnt while several others were attacked by goons rnumbering around 500, who were armed with petrol bombs and swords.

The mobs have torched the houses completely with the people feeling to the nearby mosques as a result of the violence.

Although last nights the situation was brought under control sporadic violence has continued throughout the night despite the heavy Military presence, the Colombo Telegraph learns.

Yesterday ended with Politicians of all parties swarming in toAluthgama and adjoining areas.

by T. Aruna

- on 06/17/2014

There is a limit to tolerance, and this is it

In its short history as an independent republic, Sri Lanka has seen more bloodshed than seems fair. Many of our citizens have been active participants in the bombing, burning, shooting, hacking and torturing of each other, and many more have supported this both actively and tacitly. And yet, without diminishing their culpability for these violent acts, it is necessary that we apportion even greater responsibility to those who led, commanded, instigated and provoked these. We cannot forget that the violent actions of the militants like Velupillai Prabaharan and Rohana Wijeweera set off processes that led to the deaths of tens and tens of thousands (on their sides and others). Nor that the actions of the likes of Cyril Matthew and inaction of J.R. Jayawardena contributed in equal part to this, through their orchestration of the riots of ’83. Other leaders bear responsibility for escalating and continuing the violence, but these individuals set the charges and lit the fuses.

Just like every act of communal violence in Sri Lanka’s history, the recent ‘riots’ in Aluthgama against Muslims were in no way spontaneous expressions of ethnic or religious grievance. Rather they were the inevitable outcome of an all too transparent process of scapegoating, grooming, incitement and instigation that has taken place over several years. Just as the groundwork for ‘Black July’ was laid by anti-Tamil rhetoric and lesser known violence in more rural areas of Sri Lanka, ‘Aluthgama’ has been a long time in the making. Incidents such as those in Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Dehiwela, Pavvakodichchenai, Wellampitiya, Sinha Hanuwa, Ridheegama, and Pepiliyana were dress-rehearsals for what was to come, and also allowed for testing of public tolerance of this violence and the refinement of the media propaganda that would justify it. The once-tiny groups like the Bodu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya were able to swell the ranks of their cadres and supporters, with the help of political patrons who tacitly endorsed them, secretly bankrolled them or who simply looked the other way. In place of a crackdown and criminal charges, there has been a public spectacle of appeasement – of concessions and placations being offered to the aggressors to ask them nicely not to do it again.

This will simply not do anymore.

If the events of the past days signify anything, it is that the loony fringe of militant Buddhism is truly capable of plunging Sri Lanka back into a hell of civil ethnic (and religious) war. The leaders of this movement are truly without restraint or indeed reason – some of the noble qualities espoused by the teachings that they have utterly betrayed. They have no qualms about the consequences of what they do. The political and religious leaders of Sri Lanka now no longer exert control over these extremists – if they ever really did – and will soon be unable to put the genie back in the bottle. A new Buddhist and/or Muslim holy war is something that this country may never recover from, as there is no telling where or when it may end or how it will transform this island. What is certain is that no good could possibly come from this, for the Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Christians or atheists of Sri Lanka.

There has to be a limit. To tolerance of hate and the spread of this evil that threatens the current and future generations of Sri Lanka. There can be no more appeasement of the architects of religious violence. Those who are wilfully driving this country to the brink must be stopped.

The key extremist groups like BBS and Sinhala Ravaya must be proscribed with immediate effect, under existing laws.
Persons responsible for inciting or perpetrating hate crimes and communal violence must be arrested and charged to the full extent of the law.
New laws to limit hate crimes and communal violence should be enacted and enforced.
An inclusive process must be undertaken to secure the dignity and safety of every ethnic and religious group in Sri Lanka.

If this is not done, and done soon, there is a pretty good chance that within a few years either you or I will be mourning the completely unnecessary death of someone we love as a result of utterly meaningless ‘religious’ violence.

And this goes for the Rajapakses and the Mahanayakes too.

3 Muslims killed in Buddhist mob attacks in Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan Muslim woman carries her daughter outside her burnt house after at least three Muslims were killed and 80 injured in clashes with Buddhists on Sunday night. The sectarian riots in and around the town of Aluthgama, in southern Sri Lanka, followed demonstrations by the hardline Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena, police said. Homes and shops were looted and burned, and a curfew remains in place.

By Tim Hume, CNN and Iqbal Athas, for CNN-Tue June 17, 2014

A Sri Lankan Muslim woman carries her daughter outside her burnt house after at least three Muslims were killed and 80 injured in clashes with Buddhists on Sunday night. The sectarian riots in and around the town of Aluthgama, in southern Sri Lanka, followed demonstrations by the hardline Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena, police said. Homes and shops were looted and burned, and a curfew remains in place.

Colombo (CNN) — At least three people have been killed and 52 injured after Buddhist mobs rampaged through Muslim areas in southwest Sri Lanka, police say.

3 Muslims Killed in Buddhist Mob Attacks in Sri Lanka by nelvely

Dissolve The Impotent SLMC

By Ameer Ali -June 17, 2014

Dr. Ameer Ali

I wrote this before (Colombo Telegraph, 10 September 2013) and I am writing it again that the Muslim politicians in Sri Lanka, particularly of the SLMC variety are a bane and shame to their community. There is a limit even for an abject slave to bear physical torture and mental humiliation from the master, but this bunch of slaves seems to have limitless power of endurance. Otherwise how does one explain their continued partnership with a government that remains totally immune to all the torture, destruction and humiliation brought upon the Muslim community by a gang of BBS thugs clad in saffron robes? Of what use is the SLMC stalwarts’ muted protest if the President continues to ignore them? It is obvious that in the interest of their own positions, prestige and perks and in order to protect themselves from the wrath of the President and possible prosecution against corruption and illegitimate wealth these guys will continue to hang on until the entire government is thrown out by the people.

Hakeem
It is in the interest of the nation and the Muslim community to dissolve and deregister the SLMC as a political party and for Muslims to look for an alternative path to choose their parliamentary leaders. The country has still not lost all its talented and unbiased politicians who can work for the welfare of their voters and nation at large irrespective of cast, creed or language. At the next possible opportunity of electing their representatives Muslim voters should totally shun SLMC candidates.Muslims of Sri Lanka have been betrayed by these nincompoops. Because the SLMC claims to represent the Muslim community non-Muslim parliamentarians have conveniently and understandably passed the buck of voicing Muslim concern to the SLMC bunch. A Buddhist Sinhalese or even a Tamil parliamentarian had he or she been elected by Muslim voters would have, in the current circumstances, confronted the government more forcefully and publicly rallied the support of Buddhists and Tamils on behalf of Muslims than what the SLMC gang has done so far. What a tragedy! Muslim voters have been fooled by the SLMC business-politicians. By bringing in ethnicity and religion into Muslim politics and by arrogating to themselves the monopoly of representing the Muslims SLMC has wantonly damaged the community’s historic political image of pragmatism.

*Ameer Ali, Murdoch University, Western Australia

Incidents of Violence against Muslims in Sri Lanka

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Date: 17/06/2014

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani has expressed serious concern at the recent incidents of violence by extremist individuals against Muslims in the towns of Aluthgama, Beruwala and Draga Nagar in Sri Lanka. The reports of several fatalities and dozens injured as well as attacks on homes, businesses and mosques are deeply regrettable.

He noted that the Muslim community in Sri Lanka has a long standing presence in the country and a tradition of living in peace and harmony with their compatriots. Muslims represents an important and active community which contributes to the cultural and economic life of Sri Lanka as a whole. The recent attacks appear to follow a rising trend of violence instigated by extremists which is spreading fear and mistrust among the population.

While appealing for calm and peaceful relations between the communities, Mr Madani urged the authorities to enforce the rule of law, investigate the incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Secretary General expressed the hope that every possible effort would be exerted by the Sri Lankan authorities to prevent further escalation of violence.

Check also

Sectarian Violence In Sri Lanka: A Balance Report

| by Nilantha Ilangamuwa

( June 17, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Many stories revealing many different opinions are coming out. The writers are screaming, refuting, condemning and justifying what has been and their articles show the concerns of many people. Meanwhile, the social media has played a huge role and shared both sides of the story more freely than might have been done some years ago.

Sectarian Violence in Sri Lanka a Balance Report by nelvely