“It is shocking to note that the Government, which was able to deploy the armed forces against the unarmed villagers to safeguard the interest of a corporate entity during the Rathupaswala incident, did not take any emergency measure to protect the Muslims with the same sense of urgency. The recently established special police unit aimed to deal with religious clashes is only a cosmetic measure to appease the international community.” one of the IMADR staff member said on behalf of its president, Dr Nimalka Fernando today.
Dr.Nimalka Fernando
The International Movement Against All Forms Of Discrimination And Racism, said in its oral submission to the 26th session of the Human Rights Council said; “BBS has carried out attacks against mosques and business establishments of Muslims and intensified its campaign against other religious communities including Christians. Government high officials, especially the Defence Secretary, have been directly involved in supporting the BBS through participating in their public events.”
We publish below her submission in full;
Thank you Mr. President,
We strongly condemn the violence unleashed in South Western Sri Lanka which resulted in the death of 3 persons and the serious injury of approximately 80 people. It is outrageous that the Government of Sri Lanka ignored our appeals over the past year and allowed the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) to continue to operate committing hate crimes against Muslims and Christians. In her report to the Council last March, The High Commissioner referred to the emergence of religious extremism and urged the Government to take measures against hate speech and such intolerance. Unfortunately, some member States dismissed our calls by categorising these incidents as sporadic violence.
IMADR, together with other civil society organisations, have consistently taken the position that the failure of the Government to facilitate an environment towards reconciliation and lasting peace based on the LLRC recommendations would lead to intensified tensions again. We have called the Government to take actions against the BBS and promulgate laws to deal with their hate speech and violent activities. BBS has carried out attacks against mosques and business establishments of Muslims and intensified its campaign against other religious communities including Christians. Government high officials, especially the Defence Secretary, have been directly involved in supporting the BBS through participating in their public events.
It is shocking to note that the Government, which was able to deploy the armed forces against the unarmed villagers to safeguard the interest of a corporate entity during the Rathupaswala incident, did not take any emergency measure to protect the Muslims with the same sense of urgency. The recently established special police unit aimed to deal with religious clashes is only a cosmetic measure to appease the international community.
We insist that the Government of Sri Lanka investigates the heinous acts immediately and adopt measures to prevent the repetition of such violence. We call upon the international community to support the human rights defenders in Sri Lanka who are working against religious extremism and assisting victims to achieve justice. We also believe that this is an opportunity for all the Council member States to ensure the effective implementation of the resolution on “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” (A/HRC/25/L.1/Rev.1).
Thank you Mr. President.
justice / June 20, 2014
All beware !!!
Gota is about to enter parliament – through the backdoor – and be officially designated ‘Defence Minister”.
He may even replace the OLevel policeman running parliament.
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Easwaran / June 20, 2014
Bravo Dr. Nimalka Fernando we Salute you. You have exposed the “Dog Handler”. Government has so far not condemn this violence. not a single minister has opened their mouth. Is it because they also know about the dog handler! and fear? At the UNHRC the ambassador was crying-out that if the investigation was to proceed that the “reconciliation process” would be jeopardised. What a big lie! Is there any reconciliation? but this a big con to the International community. Now the whole world even its friends like Pakistan and Malaysia have understood the duplicity. Double game of Srilanka and anti-Muslim inner feeling is exposed by this event. After this incident the Pakistan’s army general who was to visit had cancelled his visit. Biggest joke was the advice to Nigerians on Srilankan style on counter terrorism by Jeggath Jeyasuria head of all armed forces. Nigeria now has flatly refused the Srilankan’s method. Soon Srilanka will be loosing all its close allays, unless some one takes over the governance from the MARA’s clan and turn it around into good governance and democracy. God save the country.
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Ramasamy / June 20, 2014
Whatever happens, Galagoda-Aththe Gnanasara Thero will not be arrested and charged for any offence. That is because he is the most sacred of all the sacred cows in this country.
The fact that he is more like a wounded cape buffalo than a sacred cow is just a technical point.
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Alpenrock / June 20, 2014
Madam: thanks but no thanks. everyone knows who is behind.BBS.say something new.
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Prabuddha Rassagala / June 21, 2014
Everybody has a hunch that there is a link between the BBS and the authorities. But that is not enough. We need very direct proof.
By comparing the differences between Rathupaswala and Aluthgama we are not producing evidence. Under the law, the Police can always call the Army for assistance. Apparently, at least on the book that is what happened in Rathupaswala and the ill effects of it are seen. The presence of the Army was minimal in Aluthgama having learnt the lessons from Rathupaswala.
I, for one am interested in knowing the damning evidence where BBS is a proxy of the authorities so that I can point a finger at the authorities according to my conscience.
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roshan / June 21, 2014
Dear friend, where are you living, what more you need- please see around you or atleast listen/ see the ways he has behaved and why is the govt afraid to stop him……………. Direct proof would come one day ……..
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nimal / June 21, 2014
so. what we are waiting for, we must get together to do something good for our country. otherwise they will make more bad situation between our communities.
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Dr C P Thiagarajah / June 21, 2014
Dr Nimalak have been a strong HR activist in the world and India knows her better than the Sri-Lankan Sinhalese. She will know that this threat and violence against the Muslim is an indirect warning to Tamils not to give evidence in the UNHRC inquiry against unlawful killings during the May 2009 war against the Vanni Tamils when the whole population of Vanni was driven out to the so called “No Fire Zones”, 150000 criminally murdered (genocide because all killed were Tamils) and Vanni was scorched. Will Nimalka take sufficient propganda among the Tamils and Muslims not to be intimidated by Rajapakse’s regime but to nail them in this inquiry. After this inquiry I hope Justice will prevail in Sri-lanka with a new order and possibly a new constitution.
“Old order changes yielding place to new and God fufils wnts in many ways”
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