“Stop the promotion of hatred and faith-based violence” – UN rights experts urge Sri Lanka

GENEVA (2 July 2014) – Three United Nations experts on freedom of religion, minority issues, and summary executions today called on Sri Lanka to adopt urgent measures to stop the promotion of racial and faith-based hatred, and violence against Muslim and Christian communities by Buddhist groups with extremist views, and bring perpetrators of this violence to justice.
More than 350 violent attacks against Muslims and over 150 attacks against Christians have been reported in Sri Lanka in the last two years. Muslim and Christian communities are reportedly subjected to hate speech, discrimination, attacks and acts of violence throughout Sri Lanka frequently.
On 15 June 2014, a local group promoting extremist Sinhalese nationalist views, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS – The Buddhist Power Force), staged a large protest rally in Aluthgama that resulted in inter-communal violence, during which four people lost their lives and about 80 were injured. Homes and shops owned by Muslims, as well as mosques were vandalized and some set ablaze.
“This violence is fueled by the atmosphere of impunity in Sri Lanka,” the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Heiner Bielefeldt, said. “Impunity and inadequate response from the police and judicial authorities aimed at protecting the lives, physical security, the property and places of worship of these communities may encourage further attacks and a risk of spiralling violence.”
Mr. Bielefeldt urged Sri Lanka to guarantee the right to freedom of religion or belief of members of minority religious communities and stop any advocacy of racial and religious hatred.
“The Government must end the violence and put in place urgent protective measures to ensure the personal security of all individuals belonging to religious minority communities living in the country,” the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák, stressed.
“The full range of rights of religious minorities must be guaranteed in law and protected in practice,” she noted welcoming the President’s announcement of the appointment of a high level panel to investigate those incidents.
The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, called on the Sri Lankan authorities “to take urgent and firm measures to bring the perpetrators of killings to justice, and ensure the immediate adoption of robust protective measures.”
“Showing determination to ensure accountability in such cases must be a key element of the Government’s efforts to prevent the attacks and guarantee the safety of the members of religious minority communities” Mr. Heyns said.
Alongside BBS, other groups promoting extremist views in Sri Lanka, such as the Sinhala Ravaya and the Hela Bodu Powura, purport to be the protectors of Sinhala Buddhism, which they claim is being threatened by Muslim and Christian religious minorities.
These extremist groups reportedly proclaim the racial superiority of Sinhala Buddhists and spread fear among local population, for example, through allegations that Buddha statues are being bulldozed by religious minorities, or that evangelical Christians are forcibly converting youths and sick patients in their hospital beds, or that Muslims are smuggling drugs and birth control pills in order to destroy Sinhalese people and prevent their reproduction.
“These statements contribute to spread a climate of fear among Sinhala Buddhists, who constitute the majority population in Sri Lanka, and resentment towards minorities,” the UN human rights experts said.
The United Nations human rights experts are part of what it is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights, is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.
They are charged by the Human Rights Council to monitor, report and advise on human rights issues. Currently, there are 38 thematic mandates and 14 mandates related to countries and territories, with 73 mandate holders. The experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. Log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/Welcomepage.aspx 

We were attacked, while police looked on -Thevarapperuma

Armed mobs ruled the roost before the eyes of the police

By Subhashini Gunarathna-June 28, 2014


Kalutara District, United National Party (UNP), Member of Parliament, Palitha Thevarapperuma in an interview with Ceylon Today said that he was attacked at the Aluthgama mayhem when he went to rescue a family.
Excerpts:

We Were Attacked, While Police Looked on -Thevarapperuma by Maria Anderson

Gnanasara Is Not The Disease, He Is A Viral Symptom!

By Vishwamithra1984 -July 2, 2014

“Once you’ve built the big machinery of political power, remember you won’t always be the one to run it.” ~P. J. O’Rourke

Galagodaaththe Gnanasara, who is alleged to have been indicted in the past on four cases of DUI (driving under the influence), whose regular vocabulary is sometimes more disgusting than that of an uneducated petty thug in a street corner and whose fiery speeches have engulfed a naïve and susceptible ethnic group into violent, virulent and vituperative politicking has single-handedly managed to inflame hatred, jealousy and vengeance, three human qualities the Great Teacher, Gautama Buddha asked his devotees to discard as venomous human qualities from their day-to-day lives. The emergence of Gnanasara is directly correlated to the meteoric ascendance of the Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS), somewhat similar to that of the Taliban or Al Qaida of the Arab/Muslim world. As much as these Muslim fundamentalist organizations operate- desecrating the teachings of Islam and selling the Quran to suit their political goals, BBS and their propagandists garbed in saffron robes, too are engaged in that dishonorable and despicable act of debasing the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and painting an ominous picture for the susceptible consumer, Sinhalese Buddhists, of a declining trend in Buddhism due to the imaginary vagaries of Islam.                                                 Read More

Two More US Firms To White-Wash Rajapaka Regime

July 2, 2014

Despite bragging about their disregard for US policies and its hypocrisy, Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry has hired two more firms specialising in government relations to white-wash its image in the US.

Rajapaksa

According to reports by Kevin Mccauley, the External Affairs Minister has signed Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) contracts with the ‘Madison Group’ and ‘Beltway Government Strategies’.

The contract with Madison Group, on which the Sri Lankan government will spend a whopping $18,000 worth of public money per annum as well as expenses and bonuses for their performance, has been signed to assist the EAM in ‘creating a situational awareness of current affairs’ in the country.

Beltway Government Strategies based in Los-Angeles has been hired to ‘retain and manage firms to engage in government relations activities’ on Sri Lanka’s behalf, according to its FARA contract. It has been reported that the firm may also participate in lobbying or other political activity on behalf of Sri Lanka’s EAM Monitoring Unit.

However, the specific issues have not yet been ironed out. The contracts are said to have been signed about a week ago.

According to news reports, Sri Lanka already has two other active FARA contracts with Thompson Advisory Group and the Majority Group – a boutique lobbying firm.

These new agencies are hired in the wake of the probe in alleged war crimes during the final years of Sri Lanka’s war with the LTTE, led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as it has been anticipated that the international inquiry would intensify international pressure on the government.

The Aluthgama Atrocities: Lessons for Religion-engagement or estrangement

by Bishop Duleep de Chickera 

- on 07/02/2014 

The recent spate of senseless attacks on the Muslim community was brought about by the convergence of a chronic breakdown of law and order, manipulative politics and the sinister provocation of religious intolerance. It is to our collective shame that these trends were allowed to fester into violence and death in a land of religions.

The Aluthgama Atrocities Lessons for Religion-Engagement or Estrangement by Maria Anderson

Battaramulla inocent Pathima attack

Tuesday, 01 July 2014 

A Muslim Lady attack last sunday(29) 10.00pm at Battarmulla Junction 

 

Her Name Ms. Pathima has a small shop at Battramulla some elements thrown a stone she said she has narrowely escaped her face and eyesided affected this lady very innocent very poor. She every day selling Bettel (Buleth) this laday staying here last 65 years.

Her father from Beruwela he started this blath kadde he died. After that pathima doing this small boutigque. Now Koswatha police given protection her shop after treatment she has return to home.Doing her bussiness.

Muslim Council Wants Rajapaksa To Implement LLRC Recommendations

July 2, 2014 

The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka has today urged the President Mahinda Rajapaksa to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

Sending a letter to Rajapaksa, the Muslim Council said; “Religious intolerance and racial hatred needs to be dealt with immediately and effective mechanisms should be established so that grievances of all communities could be addressed. Towards this end, we, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka request your kind intervention in implementing the clauses 9.218, 219 of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.”

We publish below the letter in full;

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa

Hilmy Ahamed

President,

Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Presidential Secretariat

Colombo 1

Your Excellency,

VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORITY COMMUNTIES

As you are aware, the progress made in all spheres since the end of the war by Sri Lanka under your leadership was seriously undermined in the two days of violence in Aluthgama, Beruwela and surrounding villages. This has cast a dark shadow on Sri Lanka’s image with almost the entire international community condemning it. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other countries who have been great friends and supported Sri Lanka against the resolutions brought at the United Nations Human Rights Council too have condemned this racial riots that was set in motion by the Bodu Bala Sena with their two year long hate campaign against Muslims and other minority groups as its backdrop.

The international condemnation and the negative publicity that has destroyed the country’s image should be addressed as a priority. Towards this end, all Sri Lankans belonging to all communities need to stand together and find ways to rebuild the confidence lost in Sri Lanka by investors, tourists and nations. At the same time we need to restore Sri Lankan citizens’ own confidence in the future of the country.

Religious intolerance and racial hatred needs to be dealt with immediately and effective mechanisms should be established so that grievances of all communities could be addressed. Towards this end, we, the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka request your kind intervention in implementing the clauses 9.218, 219 of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. Such a measure if done immediately will lead to the re-establishing of confidence amongst all Sri Lankans to work towards the progress and prosperity of the country.

I have attached below the clauses 9.218, 219 of LLRC recommendations for your easy reference.

We thank you, Your Excellency for your kind consideration and look forward to the implementation of clause 9.218, 219 of LLRC recommendations.

Yours sincerely

Hilmy Ahamed

Vice President
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka

Fort Mosque Receives Threatening Letter With Raw Pieces Of Pork

Tuesday, 01 July 2014

A mosque in Colombo Fort received a threatening letter on Saturday with raw pieces of pork ordering the Mosque authorities to halt the reconstruction of the mosque.

A priest attached to the  Mosque who was present at the time had opened the threatening letter. Eye witnesses said he was disturbed after seeing the letter and the raw pieces of pork which were sent to him by an unidentified person.

Hearing of this incident the local police authorities had visited the mosque, but it was learned that the mosque authorities had not lodged a complaint with the police.

However, speaking to Tamil media the mosque authorities had expressed their utmost displeasure and disappointment with this act.

Watareka Vijitha Thero further remanded

July 2, 2014 

Watareka Vijitha thero who was arrested June 25 has been further remanded until July 7 by the Panadura Magistrate Court.  He was taken into custody by the Colombo Crimes Division after he was released from the Colombo National Hospital for allegedly making a false complaint to police.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Ajith Rohana speaking at a media briefing on June 22 said following inquiries a relative had revealed that the thero had requested him to be dropped at the said location in Panadura. Further he added that the injuries sustained by the monk were self inflicted.

Watareka Vijitha Thero, a member of the Mahiyanganaya Pradeshiya Sabha, was found lying on the roadside in Bandaragama on June 19.

CID Questions Gnanasara And Dayarathana

Dayarathana

July 2, 2014

Just a few hours after three UN experts called upon the Government of Sri Lanka to implement swift measures to bring perpetrators of the recent anti-Muslim violence to justice, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena(BBS) Galagoda Attte Gnanasara – whose speech is widely considered the catalyst that led to the brutal violence in Aluthgama – has been questioned by the Crime Investigation Division (CID) this afternoon.

The CID inquiry takes place after a challenge made by Gnanasara to the law enforcement authorities during a media briefing yesterday to prove that he or the BBS was involved in the brutal violence that erupted in Aluthgama and later spilled over to Beruwala and few other parts of the country resulting in four deaths.

Despite Gnanasara’s repeated rejection concerning his role in the recent anti-Muslim violence, a majority in the public sphere hold him directly responsible for inciting racial hatred. This fact was illustrated clearly by former diplomat and political analyst Dayan Jayathilleka, in his piece published in Colombo Telegraph today.

The Police had stated that as investigations proceed, statements will be obtained from all the speakers who made statements at the BBS rally on June 15. Akmeemana Dayarathana – a radical monk and President ofSinhala Ravaya (another hardline organisation) had also been questioned by the CID.

However, delivery of justice at the end of the investigations remains a faint hope as clear links between the BBS and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa have surfaced. Former Ravaya editor Victor Ivan writing in last week’s Ravaya edition had written extensively on the facts that indicate clear connections between Gotabaya and the BBS; a fact that was further proven by the outright lies uttered by Gotabaya during his interview with Daily Mirror on the Aluthgama violence and BBS’ role in it.

Gnanasara Challenges Police To Take Him Into Custody

July 2, 2014 |

General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Galagoda Atte Gnanasara has threatened put an end to the political careers of politicians who condone their campaign.

Gnanasara who is infamous for remarks that incite racial hatred and was in fact recently held directly responsible for making statements that led to anti-Muslim violence in Southern Sri Lanka, had made this warning at a press conference held at their headquarters located in Colombo 6, Sri Lanka.

He had issued the warning to both government Ministers as well as opposition MPs, demanding them to be wary in their criticisms towards the BBS while asserting that their failure to do so would lead to their end.

“So far we are patiently observing, keeping mum to the way we in which we are are being demeaned. But we will be compelled to take action if they do not heed our warning,” the radical monk had asserted.

Gnanasara had challenged the Police to take him into custody if any accusations against him can be proven. He had also heavily criticised the arrests made by the Police so far with links to the brutal violence that broke out in Aluthgama and Beruwala, describing it as an act that is carried out to mollify Muslims and the international community.

To listen the BBS Gnasara’s press conference click here

Read More

It Is Very Difficult To Identify What Hate Speech Is – Gota

I will resign if my links with BBS are proven.

| by Hafeel Farisz

Courtesy: Daily Mirror, Colombo

( July 2, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday denied any involvement with the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), or any fringe organisations as alleged.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror during an exclusive interview Rajapaksa asserted that he would resign from his post if any connection with these organizations was proved.

It is Very Difficult to Identify What Hate Speech is – Gota by Maria Anderson

Charitha Herath to lead mud-slinging campaign against Maithri!

Wednesday, 02 July 2014 

Minister Basil Rajapaksa has entrusted the task, to media ministry secretary Charitha Herath, of politically destroying SLFP general secretary, minister Maithripala Sirisena.

This campaign is part of the struggle to secure the position of prime minister of the UPFA regime. Both are exerting pressure on the president with the intention of becoming the PM.

Basil has entrusted the task to Charitha because the latter is having specific abilities and powers to fulfill it. A descendent of the Iriyagolla family, he is a brother-in-law of petroleum minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. He had graduated from Peradeniya University as a monk of Malwatte Chapter, by the name Kamburugoda Soratha. He had departed Katunayake International Airport as the monk Kamburugoda Soratha, and landed at Washington Airport as Charitha Herath.

Charitha last week held a meeting at Abhayarama temple at Narahenpita to discuss the mud-slinging campaign against minister Sirisena. The chief incumbent of the temple, United Nurses Union president Muruttettuwe Ananda Thera and health ministry’s former secretary Nihal Jayatilake, presently economic development ministry secretary, were in attendance.

Several national newspapers last week published interviews given by Muruttettuwe Thera, in which he questions as to how minister Sirisena could serve as the PM when he cannot at least fulfill his responsibilities as the health minister. In addition, a mud-slinging article claiming the treasury has sought the return of the balance 95 per cent of the Rs. 02 billion allocation for kidney disease prevention, as only five pc had been utilized.

State Bank Jobs For Baby Brigade – Election Campaigning To Qualify Others For Permanency

Namal with “We Hambantota baby brigade”

Some 380 Rajapaksa henchmen have been recruited as clerks in the state-owned financial institution – the National Savings Bank last week.

The appointments that had been made on Saturday have raised an outcry due to the non-transparent and irregular manner through which they had been processed. The usual protocols that are followed when recruiting staff into the state sector had been completely overlooked during these appointments, without so much as even a paper advertisement calling for eligible applicants to fill in such a considerable number of vacancies.

Colombo Telegraph learns these recruits have been channelled by the Nil Balakaya (Blue Brigade) also called as “Namal Baby Brigade”– the brainchild of President’s son Namal Rajapaksa, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s inner circle to which includes Shashindra Rajapaksa and  President’s personal astrologer, Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena.

Close to 80% of the new appointees are females and are residents of Hambantota.

Allegations of accepting heavy bribes from these new recruits have also been surfaced due to the absence of a selection process such as a competitive examination (as recommended by the Premadasa-appointed Youth Commission in their report as a recommendation to prevent another youth revolt in the country). Some of the recruits had paid as high as Rs. 500,000 to their ‘brokers’ in the Rajapaksa inner-circle while the mothers of some of the female recruits had been compelled to offer sexual bribes to several top officials of the Nil Balakaya to include their children in the appointee list.

Presently, the new recruits are said to be undergoing a three-day residential induction program at the Central Bank Training Institute in Rajagiriya.

Presently some 500 agency-hired employees (recruited through manpower agencies) are working in the NSB as clerks, customer relations assistants, data-entry operators etc. Some of them have been employed with the bank for nearly seven years.

Recently, a group of these employees had visited the presidential astrologer who is also working as a Director in NSB, at his office located in the 7th floor, with a request to absorb them into the permanent cadre considering their years of service in the institution. However in response, Sumanadasa had stated they should expect their request to be considered only if they agree to campaign for the UPFA at the upcoming Uva elections.

Disappointed by his response, the group had left frustrated.