19 March, 2024

Blog

Anti-Minority Extremism: ‘Addressing The Cause’

By Dayan Jayatilleka

Dr Dayan Jayatilleka

It is not my habit to respond in the press to those critics whose names (or pen-names) are not recognisable from the public domain, but reader D Siriratna’s views are both so outrageous and typical (of Sinhala racism) that I have decided to make an exception.

He writes that “there is no such [anti-Muslim] extremism in Sri Lanka”. I shudder to think of his definitions of “extremism” and “anti-Muslim” and just how extreme hate speech has to get for him to regard it as extreme.

Mr Siriratna goes onto opine that “these July ’83 incidents were only a reaction to an action that took place in Jaffna. Suffice it to say that there would not have been any reaction if there had been no action. So, the blame for the July ’83 incidents should be laid fairly and squarely on those who were responsible for the brutal killing of soldiers.”

This is curious argumentation and demonstrably false several times over.

Firstly, if July ’83 were “only a reaction” to the ambush of the 13 soldiers, how and why were there attacks on unarmed innocent Tamil civilians in 1977, 1979 and 1981?

Secondly, how does one explain the savage racist attacks on Tamils in 1958, amply documented by Tarzie Vittachi in his volume ‘Emergency ’58’?

Thirdly, the sane and justifiable reaction to the ambush of 13 soldiers should have been for the armed forces to hunt down and eliminate the LTTE terrorists responsible, not for Sinhala mobs to lynch innocent unarmed Tamil men, women and children as they did in July ’83. In which civilised society is the burning alive of unarmed civilians a condonable or understandable reaction to the combat deaths of soldiers? What kind of barbarian could even put forward the ambush of soldiers as a justification for the savage slaughter of innocent citizens?

Reader Siriratna then says that “Dr. Jayatillaka (DJ) has referred only to the July ’83 incidents, totally ignoring the very grave incidents which took place during the last 30 years which were thousand and thousand times worse than the July ’83 incidents, details of which would occupy more than one full page of this newspaper. So D. J. why harp on July ‘83. There were attacks on Sri Maha Bodhi, Dalada Maligawa, Arantalawa, Kebitigollewa, numerous bomb explosions, in Colombo and in outstations, killing thousands of innocent civilians etc., etc., All these acts should be taken into consideration, before rushing to conclusions and harping only on July ’83.”

Mr Siriratna is oblivious to the stupidity of his own remarks. Every single one of the massacres he lists of took place AFTER July ’83. Not one of them occurred before July ’83. This does not in any way excuse those fascist atrocities against Sinhala civilians. What it does mean however, is that these subsequent massacres cannot explain the previous one. A cause cannot come after the effect. Therefore any commentator or historian has ample justification to regard July ’83 as a watershed and ‘harp’ on it. Before July’83 the armed separatists numbered only a few dozens, while after July ’83 they grew by the thousands and obtained Indian training as well. Furthermore, my emphasis on July ’83 was because I drew a parallel between the run-up to that dreadful atrocity, for which we are still paying the price, and the current build-up against our citizens who belong to the Muslim minority.

Siriratana goes on to make the point that “DJ refers to 70 million Tamils in Tamil Nadu, Yes, with such a large number of Tamils in India, according to the Indian Constitution, the sole official language of the country is Hindi.” He fails to notice that (a) India has linguistic states, i.e. states in which the regional language is officially recognised, and that (b) in India as a whole, English is designated in the Constitution as an additional language used for official purposes.

The writer says passionately that “DJ appears to be totally ignorant of the great pain of mind which the Buddhists are experiencing for having to consume/use halal certified foods, drinks, butter, cheese, coconut oil and even tooth paste. In fact, a referendum should have been held to ascertain the views of the Buddhists over their being compelled, with no choice, to use halal certified items…”

Well, Mr Siriratana, if you and others like you experience “great pain of mind”, please spare yourselves the agony and just don’t buy or consume such products. How is it that in Sri Lanka, Buddhists or anyone else “are compelled with no choice” to buy halal certified products? In a free country and a free market economy, who compels them and how?

Mr Siriratana concludes by reminding us of the Tamil languages special provisions bill, the DDCs bill and the provincial councils bill, and asks, “so, Dr. Jayatilaka, are we to keep on granting solutions ad infinitum? Where do we stop?”

The answer, my dear Mr Siriratana, is not to “keep on granting solutions ad infinitum” but to actually implement any single one of them in full, at the time of “granting”—for instance, the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact of ’57 (which was supported by Mr DA Rajapaksa).

Mr Siriratana makes much of the J.R. Rajiv-Gandhi Peace Accord, but fails to comprehend that had JR Jayewardene implemented—or been allowed to implement – the Provincial Councils that he agreed to on June 19th 1986 at the Political Parties Conference, there would have been no Accord or IPKF in 1987. There were no Indians at that conference in June ’86, only the UNP and the parties of the Left led by Vijaya, Colvin, et al. A stubby volume of the detailed agreements reached on Provincial level devolution was printed by the Government Press. Much of it was authored by Dr Colvin R de Silva. The conference had been convened in response to letter addressed to President Jayewardene by Vijaya Kumaratunga.

While thanking Mr Siriratna for his kind suggestion as to how I should improve my knowledge, I’m afraid I have no intention of departing from my practice of reading books on specialised subjects only authored by those who have the internationally recognised academic credentials to write them. When I wish to be enlightened on matters of archaeology and/or heritage, I shall read or write to my friends, the credentialed and respected scholars Profs Sudharshan Seneviratne and Nira Wickremasinghe.

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Latest comments

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    The reasoning behind the racist mindset of people like those mentioned above is quite extraordinary. For instance muslims are being blamed for increasing their numbers and one of the covenants ratified at the BBS rally yesterday is to abolish family planning and birh control.

    Then the suggestion that since muslims are permitted to marry four times, buddhist should be allowed five wives. It is a wonder that the priest making this suggestion did not suggest that celibacy for priests be abolished. After all his talents to incraese the race are being wasted.

    One of the accusations made against a retail shop at maharagama was that they were distributing sweets with additives that make the race impotent. This indicates the paronia afflicting these racist who are now struggling in an economic cess pit of their own creation and blaming all and sundry for their plight.

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      DJ is playing a great game – running with the hare (ethnic minorities) and hunting with the hounds (Rajapakse regime and Budhu Bala Sena)!

      In this article, while disingenuously playing to the liberal gallery and international donor community on ethnic politics and acting as if he is the last word in Lankan civil society defending minorities, Dayan acts as if Rajapassa who has provided the necessary and sufficient conditions for the emergence and impunity of Bodu Bala Sena, whose Sinhala Buddhist racist dictatorship is the root cause of the violence against Muslims, Tamil and Christians, is innocent of blame!
      We can see through your game DJ! STOP YOUR DISGRACEFUL CHARADE and SELF-AGGRANDIZING SELF-RIGHTOUSNESS Re. the plight of the minorities in the DOA (Debacle of Asia), DJ.
      THE MINORITIES OF LANKA DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP – go make love to Mahinda Rajapassa for your next foreign ministry posting, with Rajiva and Tamara!

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        Dodo, you are so right!
        Having fallen from Rajapassa’s grace, DJ has suddenly reinvented himself as the defender of minorities in Lanka, after having defended and promoted the regime that has bashed minorities and militarized the northeast all these years– as a “diplomat”.
        DJ is continuing his doublespeak in a different register today – but hey I like his new role as promoter of Diversity and DEFENDER OF MINORITIES in Lanka! Of course others have done this with far more honesty and consistency…
        Let’s wait and see how Dayan morphs.. and where he jumps next.. the guy is a great ETHNIC ENTREPRENEUR -on par with Prabakaran and Rajapassa – peddling his analysis of others work on multiculturalism and co-existence in DOA..

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        DJ while enjoying the GENEVA luxury talk about socialist society. DJ, as his former counter part has done, has forgotten that the problems faced by the sinhala-Buddhist minority since the colonial times. Besides, DJ is hiding that there is a problem of rising of Islamic Fundamentalism in the world.

        In simple words, DJ is dishonest.

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        Guys

        I don’t really see a big problem here.

        Yes, DJ has been very effective in battling LTTE rump overseas and their international agents. It seems to me you are terribly upset about that. Man loves his country and all people in it, including all minorities.

        Attacking LTTE and defending rights of Sri Lanka’s minorities are two different things. Wanting to defeat LTTE does not mean one wants to ruin minorities as well.

        Sri Lanka needs people such as DJ to place groups such as “Balu Sena” in their place as well. Racist, intolerant ideology of “Balu Sena” will always be popular among some in Sri Lanka. But, that ideology can also be defeated. Lets be grateful that DJ contributes to that struggle as well.

        I have no idea about DJ’s personal career ambitions. I am sure he has plans for his life. There is nothing wrong with that. Specially in a country where the uneducated, uncultured and the dishonest rule. If DJ has aspirations, I welcome them.

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          DJ does not love his country. His love is for himself.

          He just writes articles to promotes and protect his own ego.

          Even though he enjoys western luxury and preach socialism in Sri Lanka, his type of people would not be appointed as envoys in the western countries if he were a true westerner.

          Western countries select envoys, even when they select immigrants, only the people who really protect their core values – that is European and Christian values – and not the value system of the immigrants.

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          Ben Hurling,

          Did someone say naivety is a bliss? You are translating Dayan according to what he has written in this particular article which is an intellectual allure to trap people like you. People like Dayan are working in macroscopic level and you cannot analyze them microscopically for “micro” is a notion they exploit for long term plans! But in the process we too have had an analysis into his modus operandi and found out that everything he did was self-centric, ambitious, power hungry, selfish, ignorance prone, destruction bound and resulted in untold suffering for the general masses, the country, the democracy, the ethics and values handed down from generations upon generations. So it is in the best interest of the country and its people that crooks like him, Rajiva, Wasudeva, Nalin, Carlo et al are exposed and “factored out, not in” from the common struggle of the common man!

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            Silva:
            You have hit the nail on its head when you say, “So it is in the best interest of the country and its people that crooks like him, Rajiva, Wasudeva, Nalin, Carlo et al are exposed and “factored out, not in” from the common struggle of the common man!”
            This gang should be sent to the same place as this murderous regime with no possibility of escape because THEY ARE JUST AS GUILTY as their masters!

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          DJ’s love for the country can be seen when he’s given another posting to shut him up.

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          Ben H has it perfectly. ” Wanting to defeat LTTE does not mean one wants to ruin minorities as well.”

          @ Jim: “his type of people would not be appointed as envoys in the western countries if he were a true westerner.” Utter rubbish and completely meaningless.

          The morons in the BBS (with MR’s complicity, no doubt) are set to create a new, non-existent ‘Muslim threat’ which the govt can exploit to its advantage and the country’s ultimate detriment.

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    Dayan,

    I am glad you are here and ready to challenge the extremism that is trying to raise its ugly head once again. This is what I feared most after the war ended and have been warning the Tamil politicians of. The strategy of trying to exploit the real and/ or imagined vulnerability of the government and apply internal and external pressures on it, most times in a dishonest and untruthful manner, has begun to misfire already. The government and those associated with it are encouraging or turning a blind eye to the Sinhala extremism that is trying to creep out from under the rock. What has begun to take form against the Muslims, is also beginning to be directed against the Tamils, at least for now, only in words.

    Unethical and untruthful intentions, words and actions, always lead to negative and unwanted but unpredictable reactions. Reactions in turn become actions that feed further reactions. We have gone through this process once and reaped a harvest of tears , blood and gore. Yet , some people of Sri Lanka, our government and our politicians seem to have not learned our lessons.

    Wise words such as your’s should be heard in increasing numbers, loud and clear. The voices of extremism must be drowned and proponents must be driven back under the rocks or preferably into the sea. There cannot be a comprises with extremism of any sort from whichever quarter it comes from. The government should also put the Genie back in the bottle, cork it tightly and throw it into the deep blue sea. Ignoring such forces at best and using or encouraging such forces as a political tool at worst, will set this country back on a new cycle of crass stupidity and violence.

    Dr. Rajasingham Narendran

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    Dayan,

    One major source of racism was eradicated with the extermination of LTTE-though how it was done and the crimes committed against humanity doing it and the Sinhala chauvinism and racism that patronized the fight against Tamils remains debatable. In an ideal and ideological scenario, what must have happened just after the conclusion of war was contrition, reconstruction, rehabilitation, normalization, reconciliation and accountability-accountability comes into play purely because the Rajapaksha regime committed war crimes otherwise this whole international episode against Sri Lanka would have never arisen! You played a major part for the regime in concept building, national and regime chauvinism image building, ideological leadership, nation guidance and direction and war crime regime protection both locally, internationally and at international forums like UNHRC. Now what? This murderous regime is your creation, Sinhala racism has been kindled, strengthened, sustained and continued by you, you are responsible for what is going on-this rogue regime, the Bodu Bala Sena dog army and other nationalist racist marauding and mad mobs and entities have drawn strength, direction and baptization from you!

    Not only are the racism, chauvinism, impunity and unaccountability happy traits and modus operandi of you in the macroscopic social and nation-soul spheres but you also are now working at a new “political racism” concept building! You ambulated from Premadasa to Karu Jayasuriya to Mahinda to Geneva to this and that all the time creating ideologies! But what outcome have you turned out? Premadasa was a colossal mess and failure and he destroyed UNP-and you were there! You clung on to Karu Jayasuriya and advocated splinter of UNP by a mass exodus of MP to government benches resulting in virtual assassination of UNP-and you were there! You were missionary visionary messiah in Rajapaksha regime but the regime is now like a runaway fugitive convict after whom the world is chasing with an arrest warrant-and you were there too! And now you having been kicked out from Geneva and France silently park and anchor in the “Sinhala” troubled waters and say, “UNP must be factored in, not out, Ranil must be factored out, not in”!!!!!! Do you think Sri Lankans have installed reformatted brains not to understand what you are attempting at? Do you think a national disaster like Karu Jayasuriya can be made the leader of UNP? You are doing all these things due to your hunger wanting to become the Bakery Owner that turns out bread-the political leaders of the country, a failed attempt now bungled several times over and tarnished the so called “political scientist” in you! I am afraid you can only be a Baker who works in the bakery for daily or monthly payment! Ranil is the Master Chef who has at his disposal many to chose from! And your type are rarely in demand-that’s why you want to create your own bakery!

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      Well said Mr. Silva. The so-called SL intelligentsia of the Regime
      led by Dayan, Rajiva, Kohana, Rohan etc. played the part that has
      ruined our Politics. They do not yet see the hidden agenda of the
      Regime.

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        I just would like add this to your comment. I completely agree with you that the educated cant get on with Rajapakshes. But dont you think that Dayan, Rajiva, Kohana and GL are each varied from one another charactorwise. Having read the last article written by Rajiva – I agree with him that the implementation of LLRC recommendations according to him too, painfully slow. And the able diplomats are being chased right at the moment. See the danger before the country not even a week ahead of the UNSCR session – is becoming clear but they are yet to draw conclusion whom to be sent to Geneva – while Mahinda samarasighe is no more on the list. All these prove that the leader and his administration do lack of greater vision as was the case with CBK and JR.
        They just appoint unqualified ones for thepositions, not working for long term plans. Today he comes with we are all srilnaken – i am president for all srilanken regardless of being what ethnic group you the citizen belongs to – but ridiculous droping that could meet with wound points of the minorities on the very day- the country and folks celebrates the 65th independence anniversary – like adding hay to the fire.. since then BBS and all other folks are trying show their colours. That is sad situ in the country today.

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    Doesn’t anybody recognise the unbelievable hypocrisy of this fraudulent academic who, while being an ACTIVE PARTICIPANT and apologist for the most corrupt and racist government that Sri Lanka has ever had, seeks to “spin” reality into some kind of la-la land of the Rajapaksa’s design?

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      well looks like the current breed of racist have gone way more extremist than even the usual government mouthpieces and loyalist. even the malinda types and the jhu are looking moderate next to these bbs nuts. any ways dayan jayathilake maybe many things..academic fraud, opportunist and an egocentric self promoter but for all his support for the regime (for personal gain and glory) he still has some left wing credentials. and that inherently makes him anti nationalist and racist. let’s give the man a break. we are not asking him to criticize the regime or the master..let him salvage some dignity.

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    Posted as received

    Crisis after crisis: C’wealth, Geneva and anti-Muslim campaign

    Human Rights chief takes Lankan issue to UN Security Council, tough US resolution drafted and ready

    External Affairs Ministry mess up CHOGM issue; Ministerial Action Group may reconsider venue

    G.L. Peiris wants Commonwealth SG to use good offices to prevent Lanka going fefore CMAG

    By Our Political Editor

    It was one time Mayor of Colombo and now senior Minister Al Haj Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie who gave an interpretation of the two words that Muslims throughout the world are familiar with in their daily lives. One is Halal or action permissible under Islamic law. The other is Haram, any act or action forbidden by the same law.
    “If I sleep with my wife, it is Halal. However, if I sleep with another woman it is Haram,” he told his cabinet colleagues at last Thursday’s weekly meeting. That discourse on religious jurisprudence evoked laughter to an otherwise serious and sometimes heated discussion. Adding to the humour was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who declared, “Minister Fowzie, I am sure you did not mention this for our benefit. You said it for the Minister of Justice (Rauff Hakeem).” He quickly added that it was not only for him but for many others too. That provoked more laughter.
    Other than those humorous distractions, the issue was one of serious concern. It was over rising tensions between sections of the Sinhala community and the Muslims. A major controversy was the issue of ‘Halal Certificates’ by the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulema (ACJU), a voluntary Islamic organisation in the country. It charges varying fees from the private sector to certify that consumable products conform to Islamic law. Of particular importance locally are meat and poultry products where the certification means that they have been slaughtered according to Islamic law. For the export market, some West Asian countries seek such certification for a variety of consumable items including biscuits. Otherwise, exports are not allowed.
    Ministers divided over Muslim issues
    The discussion in the Cabinet began when Minister Dinesh Gunawardena called for ban on a public event planned to be held in Maharagama today. It was to be part of a campaign against ‘Halal’ certification and other issues relating to the Muslim community. “How can you ban a Budhu Samuluwa? This is a democratic country,” shot back Patali Champika Ranawaka, now Minister of Technology, Research and Atomic Energy. He took up a strong position. “This is not acceptable to Buddhists. Why should they buy ‘Halal’ products? For us it is not relevant. It may be okay for the Muslims. Even packets of milk or cups of yoghurt were sealed whilst Islamic music was played,” he said. Ministers Rishard Bathiuddin who was seated to Ranawaka’s right and Rauff Hakeem to his left objected and declared those statements were wrong.
    Ranawaka then asked why a country with a 91 per cent non-Muslim population should go for these products and added that it was “illegal and unacceptable.” He asked whether Toyota or Tata vehicles also bore the ‘Halal’ certificates in Sri Lanka and accused the All Ceylon Jamiyauthul Ulema of being “social divisionists.” No sooner the cabinet meeting was over, Ranawaka, who is also Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), chaired a news conference. He called for a “total boycott of all Halal certified products in Sri Lanka.” He criticised the All Ceylon Jamiathul Ulema and declared that it had no legal right to provide “Halal” certification for all products. In what seemed one of his strongest public remarks, Ranawaka charged that the ACJU was “trying to ‘Islamify’ the country whilst violating the rights of the people who wish to be able to choose what they want to eat.” He urged Buddhists, Hindus and Christians to join the boycott.
    National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara told ministers he was privy to an instance which showed that there were people trying to take advantage of the situation. “It is simple to say it is not political,” he said citing an instance where he had seen a notice on Facebook. It was an invitation for people to gather at a temple. Some 150 had turned up heeding the notice, he pointed out. In a separate development, State Intelligence Service (SIS), the premier intelligence arm of the Government, had also cited instances where men in three-wheeler scooters in some villages had gone around inviting people to gather at temples. They were being told not to buy ‘Halal’ certified products and to boycott Muslim business houses. SIS also reported this week that notices had been distributed in classrooms in schools in Colombo South requesting students to carry out a similar boycott. The SIS had in this instance identified those behind the move.
    President Mahinda Rajapaksa told ministers that he had discussed the matter earlier with representatives of the Bodu Bala Sena Organisation (BBSO). Members of the Buddhist clergy who were at the helm had assured him that their organisation was not responsible for the campaign against the Muslims. One of them pointed out that the good name of their organisation was being used by other interested parties. Similarly, Rajapaksa said he had occasion recently to speak to a group of Muslim theologians who conduct Friday Jumma prayers in the City and suburbs. This was after he heard reports that some of them had preached that Muslims should be prepared to defend themselves. He had advised the theologians to be careful in the use of words.
    Otherwise, it could only rouse passions. Moreover, such remarks could also be misinterpreted as a call to resort to weapons, he had cautioned. Rajapaksa noted that such references had stopped thereafter. He also said the Muslim community was very supportive of the government’s humanitarian efforts and some had even gone to Geneva to defend Sri Lanka. They spoke in one voice. He said a strategy would have to be devised to prevent people from trying to exploit the situation for their own agendas. Among others who spoke were Dinesh Gunawardena, Rishard Bathiudeen and Rauff Hakeem.
    President Rajapaksa proposed that a committee be appointed under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister and now Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake to study various issues causing tensions. It was unanimously approved. Leaders of all political parties which are partners of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) will serve as members of the committee. They are: a representative of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to be named later, Champika Ranawaka (JHU), Rauff Hakeem (SLMC), Douglas Devananda (EPDP), Dinesh Gunawardena (MEP), Rishard Bathiudeen (ACMC), A.L.M. Athaullah (NMC), Arumugam Thondaman (CWC), V.S. Radhakrishnan (UPF), TissaVitharana (LSSP), D.E.W. Gunasekera (CP), Wimal Weerawansa (NFF) and Prabha Ganeshan (DPF).
    Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzzamil reacted to Ranawaka’s public attack on the ACJU and the boycott of ‘Halal’ certified products. “There is no question of ‘Islamifying’ the country. We have lived for centuries with our Sinhala brethren in peace and harmony in a united Sri Lanka. The ‘Halal’ certification is a voluntary process and there was no compulsion on anyone to obtain it from the ACJU,” he told the Sunday Times. He said eating halal food was a religious requirement for Muslims and this had been practised for years and years. Why is anyone crying foul now, he asked.
    Muzzamil threw a challenge to all Muslim Ministers and MPs in the UPFA Government. “They should either talk to their leaders and resolve this issue or, if they cannot, resign from the Government. After all, most of them won preferential votes from the Muslims in their electorates. Hence, they have vowed to serve the Muslims. If they cannot find an amicable settlement, they should leave honourably than misleading their voters with false promises and assurances,” Muzzamil said. Taking a dig at his political opponents, the United National Party (UNP) mayor said there were some Muslim politicians who were conspicuous by their silence.
    Last Thursday, the main opposition UNP accused the Government of carrying out a hate campaign against the Muslims. The charge came from Mangala Samaraweera, onetime Foreign Minister and now Director of Communications of the party. He told a news conference, “The Bodu Bala Sena is manufacturing problems to create tension between the Sinhala and Muslim people. As a result thousands of innocent Muslim families were living in fear.”
    The remarks drew a sharp retort from the Bodu Bala Sena Organisation (BBSO). At a news conference on Friday afternoon, BBSO Secretary GaladodaAththe Gnanasara Thera said, “Mr Samaraweera has accused us of being funded by the Defence Ministry, the US and Indian organisations. We completely deny these allegations. He should make a public apology on the statements he has made.”The reports of the two events appear elsewhere in this newspaper.

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

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      FOWZIE SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO INTERPRET ISLAMIC LAW. FOWZIE SHOULD KNOW
      THAT YOU COULD SLEEP WITH WIFE NO.2. WHICH IS HALAL.
      MR.FOWZIE KEEP YOUR TRAP SHUT. WHAT ABOUT YOUR PAST!!!!!!!!!!!

      AS MUZAMMIL RIGHTLY SAID IF THESE MUSLIMS IN THE GOVERNMENT HAVE AN ATOM
      OF ISLAM, THEY SHOULD HAVE WALKED OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT LONG AGO.

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    When I read Siriratna’s comments and in particular of his query about
    70 million Tamils in Tamilnadu and Hindi being the official language
    and why not Tamil. It is clear he is more at home with the company of ignoramuses. To start with Tamilnadu’s population is around 63-65 million. And all of it is not Tamil. Former CM MGR was from Kerala and Jayalalitha is identified also with Karnataka. Vaiko is of Andhra origin. There are many milliions of Andhrites, Keralites and tens of thousands of Kannadigas and others as well. UP, before bifurcation, had a population of nearly 100 million. With Hindi-speaking Bihar, Orissa and the new States of Uttaranchal, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand – all of which have much more. So, Siriratna-thuma, where is the justification for Tamil with Hindi being so dominant just in these few States alone.

    In recent times, many from Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta have made their home in Chennai and other TN cities. The anti-Hindi stance of the 1960s is totally absent. It gathered momentum only because Delhi tried to push it down the throat of the Tamils. Many of the younger generation today voluntarily and eagerly learn Hindi – now accepted as the All-India language.

    It may be far too complex to Siriratna’s IQ to learn the hordes who descended on us unsolicited on the morning of late July 1983 came well organised in transport provided (State vehicles mostly) trains and did their business to near perfection with Voters Lists they carried. The logistics for all this must have taken many months to prepare.

    When dozens of soldiers die in action in Ireland the armed forces there do not hunt down civilians in the vicinity and slaughter them.
    As Dayan notes, the practise in the civilised world of today “it should have been for the armed forces to hunt down and eliminate the LTTE terrorists responsible” Does Siriratna know, within minutes after the explosion that killed Sub-Lt. Vaas Gunawardena and 12 others in action the army and the police shot down over 100 innocent civilians in Jaffna, in the streets, in buses, in cars – totally unconnected with the Tinnevely shooting. It certainly is not pleasant to visit that
    gory past this morning.

    Senguttuvan

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    Senguttuvan

    In Tamilnadu Tamil is the official language of the state and all official business with the centre is conducted in English or Hindi.

    Weerawansa once said it was a joke to have national anthem in two different languages and confirmed there is no country in the world would accept multi-lingual national anthem.

    Being ignorant he didn’t he didn’t bother to learn that South Africa on the other hand had ensured that its National Anthem is sung in five different languages.

    Ignorance is bliss.

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      Native Veddah:
      You are wrong. It is not a case of “ignorance being bliss,” it is a case of idiocy and viciousness being very well compensated by one’s “handlers!”

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      The anthem of new Zealand is also bilingual …..but then this is ‘old man and the sea’ weerawansa talking…..!!!!

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    I am a devout Buddhist, yet I will buy halal food if they are cheaper.Further I know that halal food has no power to change my religion.If halal foods are more expensive( as the BBS says) than non halal foods the majority of the Muslims too will not buy them as many of them live a hand to mouth .What the BBS should do now is to ask the Sinhala big entrepreneurs and Mudalalis not to keep a big profit margin and sell consumer items at a cheaper price .Then nobody ,except religious fanatics will buy halal items. My belief is that Sinhala big business owners are behind this anti halal campaign as they know they can get a bigger profit when there is no competition from others.

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    Ayman will not be surprised as I Ministers like Fowzie and
    Hakeem seem to have performed far better sleeping with other women
    than to have done the job allocated to them as Ministers. Both of
    them have been colossal failures – thorough drain in the poor country’s financés. As to visible upward mobility of their unaccounted and inexplicable personal fortunes since they sat in The Chair from zilch – astronomical is an under-statement.

    Senguttuvan

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    I am confused, I thought Buddhist are not suppose to eat meat. If that is the case why are the Buddhist Monks worried about HALAL. Just because the label says its Halal, it does not mean that the animal has become a Muslim! Even if the animal has become a Muslim, as per the thinking of the Buddhist Monks, how can a Buddhist person eating Halal can be converted into a Muslim. I am totally confused. Unless the Halal is a “patented declaration”, a magic statement, that can convert any one eating Halal into a Muslim, why should the Dhamma following Buddhist monks worry. Its time for the Buddhist monks to be “Halal” first in their actions.

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      Actually, all these are common to european countries too. For example, in Germany there are muslims livin as minority folks. Where all these could buy their food items in compliance with Halal regulations, they are available while all others peacefully can buy their materials as they have been familiar with. This is the the same with other grand european nations like Britain and France too. It is obvious that those radical monks interpret these issue not knowing facts.

      I believe if these buddhist monks could better give their service to build up the youth of the country saving them from drugs and all sorta other jawaram – that could be the greatest ever service people could be proud of. As statistics record every 4 th among the youth is caught by drugs trafficking today in the country. And there are also other sorta abuses that youth are easily vulnerable – social values have been diminishing day to another. Buddhists monks are being slaughtered as the butchers do their duties – have we ever had this kind of crimes in the country since independence.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoFKanFaM4Y

      As representatives of the majority buddhist folks in the country, hamuduruwos shoould work hard to get the country back from the MARAYA that her youth are about to be destroyed. Those BBS or the like ones could contribute their sweat to protect the youth than go after petty issues like Halal.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etSL1fm0bEc

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    Bodu Bala Sena -General Secretary Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera declared publicly “Don’t make us take the law into our own hands”. This is a threat on the life of Muslim Civilians. When in the North a peaceful protest was carried out where even the leader of the opposition participated the Police and the Army created trouble. Here the police witnessed the whole event and did nothing. This statement by the Thera is a statement which incites violence and is an act of terrorism. Why then has the forces under the prevention of terrorism act not taken any action against the Thera? Further, above all this is a direct challenge to Gotha as he is the top security person in the country, IGP, Heads of Armed Forces and the Judiciary.

    Buddha said “Holding on to Anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burnt”. I think the Thera has not remembered it or never understood this statement of his Teacher.

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    Dayan, you are suffering the fate of many leaders. Even your very well intentioned article has been screwed up into a harangue against your previous, and probably still, support for an unethical State. Many Nazi leaders after the Nuremburg trials
    were regretful that, knowing that there was something wrong with the entire Nazi establishment, they did not bale out sooner, and little by little got enmeshed in the whole sordid atmosphere. I hope that at least now, (like Rajiv it seems has), realise, that if you sleep with the dogs, you will……….

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    Dayan Jayathileke is a fine intellectual academic an a career diplomat also a fine political analysis, I admire his timely cautious forewarning approach to many of our problems.

    I am an anti Rajapaksa but a spade has to be called spade.

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      Jim Hardy,

      “Dayan Jayathileke is a fine intellectual academic an a career diplomat also a fine political analysis,….”

      What diplomacy is he wielding now except he has been recalled now to sling mud at Ranil and to conspire to create a split in UNP! This man is not an intellectual or a diplomat but a “diplomutt” doing all kinds of unprincipled opportunistic and underhand undermining of anything civilized and decent!

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    We seem to be going downhill faster than what the country can afford.
    Ranil complains in Parliament both the Leader of the House and the IGP
    are lying to the House in stating there are no attacks on Muslims and their mosques anywhere in the island now. Ranil says not only mosques continue to be under attack but in one Buddhist priests with mobs have entered the Mosque and started chanting pirith after throwing everything within. Incidents are reported in places as diverse as Inguruwatte, Hiriyala, Makulewa and other places in the Kurunegala District. Has the Govt lost control of the situation or are they afraid of the JHU/BBS mobs. The Muslims have a right to expect the protection of the State and should not be sacrificed like Tamils were in 7/83. Today, every Muslim in the South lives in fear and uncertainty. They seem to be much safer in the NEP.

    Senguttuvan

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    After going through the above comments see how we have strayed. This is how we always engage in intellectual discourse.

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    msm,

    An intellectual discourse should start with an intellectual discourse and not with the kind of fake crap written by a fake patriot like Dayan whose one and only goal is selfish ambition at the expenses of the future of the country and its people!

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    Amazing ! The wheels of justice turn slowly but they do turn….DJ turns tails and everyone see’s it for what it is..the muslims supported the sinhalese during the war and its come back to bite…sri lankas war crimes have come back to haunt…the wheels of justice turn slowly but they do turn…sri lanka …land of smiling ppl and evil hearts and intentions…truly the buddhas land…

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    Let us assume (only assume) that the Bala Sena ( I cringe to add the term Budhu to this lot) are correct in their accusations against the muslims. What is the Buddhist solution to this.
    – Would Lord Buddha approve the massacre of the minority muslims and the looting of their belongings, like what we did did to the Tamils?
    – am I mistaken in assuming that the Srilankan Muslims (and the Christians) are of mainly Sinhala and Tamil blood, they simply follow another religion?
    Could one of the Bala Sena answer these questions please?!

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    What are we planing ? do we need to go back to 90’s, we are in the process of re building the country. tourist are entering withought fear, middle east tourist is attrected to our nation in this time do we need another issue,

    respectable religest leaders, politetions stop unwanted problems live, let the muzlims follow their religen let hindus do their activities let cristians follow their religen. we as budit teach our people haw to liva life according to budisums teachings,

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    See this video shows that Hamuduruwos have no knowledge about Halal. Why to ask them to remove Halal labels.. in that way he is trying to create communical problems. This kind of monks should be allowed to behave in this way. Buddhism is more into avihinsa, but the manner this safran robed guys are trying to do is new problems. I am a born buddhist as almost 100% of the country´s buddhists. None of them have not chosen it by their own, but all forms of extremisms are not acceptable.

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    I truly believe, if Buddhasasana or any responsible ministries and authorities would make radical monks adequately aware about the facts and the grounds of religious based issues – nothing would come like BBS or Sihala Rawaya or any similar movements in the future. Thailand is a country where buddhist monks behave peacefully. Ours average today seem to use Mervin´s sorta sinhala langauge – how can hamuduruwos speak in this way- he says, un arun mun – jathakaya etc.. how civilized the monks have been. ? I am a born buddhist, I am ashamed of our buddhist monks.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ycIhL_WIg&NR=1&feature=endscreen

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