By Arab News – Editorial of the Arab News –
One popular view of Buddhism is of a peaceable religion, some of whose devotees sweep brushes in front of them, so that they do not step on and destroy any living creature. Unfortunately there is another, far from placid side to some Buddhists which the Muslim world has had cause to see in recent years.
Mahinda Rajapaksa
The genocidal attacks in Myanmar on the luckless Muslim Rohingya community by Buddhist fanatics was, until this week, the most high profile example of this bigotry. Now however Buddhist thugs have been at work in Sri Lanka. A mosque in the capital Colombo has been damaged and forced to close after violent attacks by Buddhist rioters.
This ugly outbreak of Islamophobia has been inspired by a shadowy group known as the Bodu Bala Sena, led by extremist Buddhist monks. It is suspected that there are connections between them and the monks who have led the massacres in Myanmar.
Unfortunately, the violence against Sri Lanka’s hapless Muslim minority has to be viewed against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s recent history. More than 20 years of savage conflict ended in 2009 with the utter defeat of the Tamil Tigers and the overrunning of their strongholds in the north of the island. The harshness with which the victorious government treated the Tamils, was initially excused on the basis that it was important that none of the rebel leaders was able to slip away, by hiding among civilians. Nevertheless, there were summary executions and refugees were herded into camps and kept there many months for “processing.”
Such was the bitter nature of the civil war that most Sri Lankans were to some extent or other brutalized. Moreover, an entire generation grew up steeped in conflict and confrontation. With the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, it seems that unfortunately some of the Sinhalese majority feel they need a new enemy, thus the country’s Muslims and indeed Christians are being targeted. The attacks on Muslim property or physical assaults on Muslims are not confined to the capital, but have been occurring with increasing frequency throughout the island. Until recently, the violence and intimidation have been low level and might have been dismissed as the work of mischief-makers. Yet there now seems to be a pattern to these outrages. Even if the sinister Bodu Bala Sena is not behind every criminal act against Muslims, it can be sure that its own thuggish hatred is inspiring others.
It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the government in Colombo must act with the greatest determination and firmness to stamp out this bigotry. The problem is that the police appear markedly reluctant to pursue and prosecute those responsible for these hate crimes. But it is not simply their lack of action and rigor that is the problem. Sri Lanka’s Muslims are seemingly being blamed for inciting the prejudice. How else can one interpret the fact that officials at the Colombo mosque, which has been at the center of this week’s violence, have been persuaded to close the building, at least temporarily?
This is simply unacceptable. There can be nothing provocative about a mosque. It is the job of the police to protect all property and all Sri Lankan citizens. It should also be the job of the government to ensure that aggression and intimidation of the sort that has been seen in Colombo cannot be allowed to succeed. Unfortunately by failing in its duty, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration is sending out entirely the wrong signal.
Diplomatic sources suggest that there is enough evidence to prosecute some members of Bodu Bala Sena for hate crimes. These individuals ought therefore be brought to trial and if convicted given the severest of sentences. The government needs to demonstrate that it will not tolerate these outrages.
Indeed, it could be argued that it is high time that the president looked to his poor reputation for civil liberties and human rights, and cracking down on sectarian bigots would be a fine start.
Unfortunately, Rajapaksa seems to have a thick political skin. He has been accused by the UN Human Rights Council over the conduct of the civil war. And the UN organization was also critical of his administration’s treatment to all the country’s minorities.
This November Rajapaksa is due to host a meeting of what used to be known as the British Commonwealth. Some countries have said they might stay away because of Sri Lanka’s human rights record. They should reconsider. If there has been no improvement, all countries should attend the conference and should use the platform to shame and condemn Rajapaksa in the most detailed terms.
Friday 16 August 2013
Safa / August 21, 2013
Hurrah! at last we have made it to an arab editorial thanks to BBS. Perhaps we can make it to Time magazine as well. Gandasara must emulate Wirahitu better.
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Amarasiri / August 21, 2013
Arab News,
“One popular view of Buddhism is of a peaceable religion, some of whose devotees sweep brushes in front of them, so that they do not step on and destroy any living creature. Unfortunately there is another, far from placid side to some Buddhists which the Muslim world has had cause to see in recent years.”
1. This is actually what the Enlightened Buddha taught and his teachings.
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/5minbud.htm
However,
2. In Sri Lanka Buddhism was mixed with with Sinhala to form the Buddhist Sinhala Racism and keep the Buddhist Monk Hegemony.
3. So in Sri Lanka they follow a version of Buddhism called Mara ism, just like Wahhabism, Deobandism and Talibanism.
4. So the Buddhist monks kill, like a who Monk killed a prime minister, they lead riots against Tamils, even against Buddhist Tamils if they you can find them, and they attack Sinhalese Christian Churches, in addition to Muslims, all to maintain the Monk- Hegemony.
Who said that “Religion is the Opium of the Masses”? Buddha? Another?
5. So do not be fooled by Buddhism, and Sinhala Buddhism. They are as violent as you see on the other religions, and they follow Maraism.
Want Supporting data? Given below.
Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNOfTGSADdY
Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcs2PSze0I
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Marwan / August 21, 2013
Yes, it is about time to rein in this Buddhist bigotry, before if it gets out of hand, it will consumes the government itself. In a strange way, before you know it, it would have gone so far that in trying to rein them in, history may be get repeated in the process.
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The Civilized World / August 21, 2013
WALK-IN DESCRIBES MUSLIM EXTREMIST ACTIVITIES IN SRI LANKA
READ THIS ARTICLE :
http://wikileaks.org/cable/2003/10/03COLOMBO1810.html
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Bruno Umbato / August 21, 2013
The editorial board of the Arab News should read Dr Ameer Ali’s (a prominent Islamic scholar and a former adviser of Muslim Affairs of Australian Prime Minister, John Howard’s Government – an academic at the Faculty of Management and Governance of Murdoch University) ideas on issues of Sri lankan Muslims for a different perspective. Being born and lived in Sri Lanka, he has first hand knowledge about the problems Muslims face or create in the Island ….
dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/22932
“Muslims in Sri Lanka are Self-alienating Themselves From the Mainstream Community
Excerpts:
Q: What is your take on the recent anti-Muslim propaganda? The general, rather liberal interpretation is that a peaceful Muslim minority has come under the threat of hegemonic Sinhala Buddhist nationalism. But, isn’t that a bit too simplistic?
A: There is the revival of religion all over the world. There is the rise of the Christian right in the Bible belt of America, which wields a strong influence on the American legislature. There is the revival of Islam in the Middle East. Hinduism is on the rise in India. We also see the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this is not a unique phenomenon. Religion is coming back after one hundred years of rationalism, during which we thought religion had been forced backstage. We believed that everybody would be happy in a materialistic society. And subsequently, there was the rise of Marxism, which had been dominant in some parts of the world in the past 75 years. But, since the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, religion has made a comeback as a strong force in some of those countries, for instance, in Poland. And even under communism, sects such as the Falun Gong in China are increasingly active below the radar. Therefore, this is a worldwide trend. The emptiness in the people’s minds has been filled by religion. In the same line of events, I see the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Q: However, the revival has led to confrontation between Buddhism and other religions as we see at present.
A: We had more than one millennium of harmony among Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, until 1915. People accepted each other’s culture. Islam is part of that cultural mosaic. Even when the Muslims were chased out by the Portuguese, they were accepted by the Kandyan Kingdom. Of course, there was disturbance in 1915, caused by divisions cultivated by colonialism. But, those differences were resolved soon, and a number of Muslims were among the vocal campaigners for independence from Great Britain, and Muslims were part of Sinhalese- dominated governments since independence.
However, since the 1970s, there has been the development of orthodox Islam, which is something new to this country. And this orthodox brand of Islam is the result of the economic opportunities created in the Middle East. Muslims who went there for job opportunities came back with a different mindset, influenced by the religious perception of the Saudis and other neighbouring countries. Unfortunately, this resulted in Muslims in this country isolating themselves from the mainstream society, in terms of their dress, their values and their practices.
Q: Not only self alienation, this prompts confrontation between communities and their values, don’t you think? ………. “
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I am no muslim / August 21, 2013
Islamophobia is a world phenomenon, not in the sense of ‘unfounded hostility towards Muslims’, but ‘fear of Muslims and Islam by peace-loving people.’
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Patriot / August 21, 2013
Editorial of the Arab News talks about ‘Buddhist fanatics’ of Myanmar Sri Lanka and their attacks on hapless Muslim minority. I suppose it is the editor’s right to examine them.
However, does the editor of ‘Arab News’ know there had been many persecutions against Muslims since 1996. Does he know that a mosque was stormed, its minaret destroyed, over 150 houses of its worshipers burned, body of a dead Mullah exhumed in December 15, 2006 in Kathankudy. And Kathankudy is in Sri Lanka where Muslims were settled by a Sinhala king named Senerath in the 17th century. Mind you none of that violence is by BBS or by any Buddhists clique but by Wahhabi thugs.
A Report issued by the U.S. State Department says “… abuses against the Sufis of Kattankudy have continued, with the Wahhabi Thawheed faction in the forefront of violence. Official ulema and the village authorities attempted unsuccessfully to prevent celebration of a Sufi festival in 2008. That year, a Sri Lanka Supreme Court order, providing that 200 members of Thareekathul Mufliheen be allowed to return to their homes in Kattankudy and practice their beliefs in freedom, was obstructed by armed Jihad members.”
So you wanted to shame and condemn Rajapaksa in the most detailed terms. Go in front of a mirror Mr. Editor and do some soul searching. Leave out Muslim killing Muslims. Over 40 Coptic churches have been burned by your Muslim Brotherhood during the last two weeks in Egypt alone.
I read that you and your elk want BBS to be prosecuted but I do not read they wanted the likes of Muslim Brotherhood that burn churches and other religious institutions the world over punished. That’s the duality of Islam I suppose.
Buddhists are getting sick of Muslims violence and dirty tactic to turn Sri Lanka Muslim. BBS is greatly concerned about it and would stand against it in spite of your unnamed threats.
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Ravana Balaya / August 21, 2013
Well said Patriot. This Editor of the Arab Daily surely have not visited Sri Lanka to verify the truth. In the Dematagoda mosque case, what really happened was the Muslim mosque authorities constructing another mosque in the name of a ‘store’ over a period of time decieving the Buddhists living in the vicinity. Every time the neighbouring Buddhists query about it they were turned away after giving them a lie. when the Store cum mosque was finally ready they started preaching in it with loudspeakers installed during Ramadan. This new mosque is happened to be in the vicinity of the mosque which is well established. So who cheated whom in this case? Muslims cheated Buddhists. That was the start of the so called attack on the Dematagoda mosque. Readers… please visit Google Earth and see for yourself, how many mosques are now functioning in the Buddhist Majority Sri Lanka? You will be amazed to see the number of mosques are almost equal to the number of Buddhist temples. Generally, Buddhists are a very accomodative type of people. muslims in Sri lanka has misused that accomodation to cheat them. This is what is happening in Sri Lanka. Bodu Bala Sena is born as the need of the hour to save Sri Lanka from the muslim religious extremism.
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Alan / August 21, 2013
Ravana Balaya ,
More than 80 Buddhists temples closed due to shortage of monks. More than 80% monks have left Sasana and got married and settled. This report has been told by Buddhists monks in the state media. What measures have you taken as a Buddhists to overcome this problem? It is to destroy the mosques and you will achieve what you want?
I assume it is the Buddhist who don’t respect their religion and don’t practice Lord Buddha’s teachings as they say Buddhist, Buddhist and we are Buddhist……………….I remember monk was telling once, “people are ready die for the religion but they don’t want to practice their religion”! Is it foolishness or ignorance of the people? Think who are failure!!!!!!!!!!!and why?
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Amarasiri / August 21, 2013
Alan,
“More than 80 Buddhists temples closed due to shortage of monks. More than 80% monks have left Sasana and got married and settled. “
1. BBS and Rawana Balaya ( Rawana was a Hindu) are turning Buddhists away from Buddhism. The Children in Daham Pasela, painting books is all confused and leaving Buddhism.
2. They are not teaching Buddhism. They are teaching Maraism and monk Hegemony.
3. Who wants to follow the religion of Mara, disguised as Buddhism?
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Patriot / August 22, 2013
Alan,
Nowhere in Tripitaka says as Buddha said that a monk has to remain a monk throughout his life. Neither Buddha had asked anyone to be a monk. Its something one does on his own will. In Thailand every lay person including the king becomes a monk sometime in life.
Your’s is a ‘One God’ believers point of view. Hence, your media reports and assumptions has no relevance to what Ravana Balaya above said.
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Tony. R / August 21, 2013
Your usual “BABA HUKUM” reply laced with a pack of lies….!
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Tsunami Hora / August 22, 2013
Leela Furzana, Gota, Champika all are paranoid, fearfull, obsessed for just 10 or so %. They formed a rowdy group to intimidate the minoroties. Likes of Gnanasara would hit back at Champika or Mara if you give a crate of Scotch.
So far I havent seen a single Honest Man/Woman support this Mara regime.
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alanp / August 21, 2013
A religion that does not respect other religions cannot afford to make judgements.
A religion that treats Buddhists as kafirs cannot demand quality of status in a predominately Buddhist country.
what Arabian muslim nations do not give to non-muslims they cannot demand of non-muslim nations
there is a reason for people to react – that is because muslims openly profess to taking over the world and carrying placards all over the world depicts this.
therefore what muslims are not prepared to give others they cannot demand.
when muslims adhere to the brutal act of animal slaughter it just shows how brutal they are… inspite of their education and learning no muslim has even advocated to ban such inhuman traits to which child, woman and man participates in glee while an innocent animal bleeds to death… how human are muslims is what I would ask and millions of others too… so we are not prepared to buy this Buddhists are racist argument where muslims are concerned
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mike / August 21, 2013
A little learning is a dangerous thing, alanp!!
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Tony. R / August 21, 2013
You are a Kafir since it is the term in Arabic which is used to identify a person who does not believe in Allah! It is NOT a term of defamation or offending. You are either a Muslim (one who believs in Islam) or a Kafir (who does not believe in Islam). It is so simple!
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Abu Mukarram / August 22, 2013
the word kafir is similar to the usage of the word ‘Abouddha’ If the usage of the Kafir is not good same with the term ‘Abouddha’
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Patriot / August 22, 2013
Oh, come on Abu Mukarram,
Does not Koran 7:176 compares unbelievers (Kafir) to “panting dogs” with regard to their idiocy and worthlessness. And verse 7:179 says they are like “cattle” only worse.Verse 7:176 compares unbelievers to “panting dogs” with regard to their idiocy and worthlessness. Verse 7:179 says they are like “cattle” only worse. Want to know more of such verses, then read Koran 5:60, 7:166, 2:65 and 46:29-35. Wan to find the context then read Bukhari 54:524, Sahih Muslim 7135 and 7136 and many more.
Show us if you can where in Buddhist Tripitaka, or commentaries ‘Abouddha’ people are compared to vile animals, demons etc. What Buddha said was not cast, race or creed etc but action alone will make one a Brahamin (noble). Where in the Koran says such a statement.
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Tony. R / August 21, 2013
Muslims slaughter the animal in the least painful manner only to consume as food, but others who shed crocodile tears for the slaughterd animal never hesitate to enjoy its dish! And what about consuming fish who die after hours of struggle and pain of death? What about plucking flowers only to let them wither on pulpits, whose nectar would have been a food for birds and other insects? Aren’t they too crimes..?
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Jim softy / August 21, 2013
Both Christians and Muslims want to propagate the their foreign cultures and destroy the native – buddhist culture.
It is nothing to do with the religion.
Once Sinhala – BUDDHSITS were total vegetarians. After Christian and Catholic Colonials introduced it, they eat meat now.
All these arab news, Christian – amarasiri and some muslims want that. The Sinhala – buddhist culture destroyed.
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Marwan / August 21, 2013
You don’t need Muslims and Christians to destroy your Buddhist culture, your own BBS/SR/RB and JHU combined will do it in style. Just witnessing Gnaanasaara’s belligerence and sheer arrogance is enough to drive you up a wall. The Sinhalese Buddhist folks who get emboldened by their rhetoric and clap their hands to thrill themselves, fail to understand the truth and fall headlong and believe everything that is uttered in good faith. They have no idea they are being taken for a ride. Why? They have been trained not to question the veracity, and are blinded through monk hegemony, falling down on knees to worship them, and holding them in high esteem.
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Patriot / August 22, 2013
Tony. R, “What about plucking flowers only to let them wither on pulpits ….” It looks as if you have to go a long way to have a basic understanding of the ‘four noble truth’ and ‘eight fold path’ to understand and achieve it.
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James / August 24, 2013
not plucking flowers more like stealing flowers!
I take all the effort to plant, water and grow the plants only to have these theives steal the flowers by sunrise!
steal and offer for prayer!!!!
If they want flowers, plant some and nuture them…….
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Jim softy / August 21, 2013
Mahinda Rajapakse is a former Christian and why did he invite the prominent jesuit priest from the vatican ?
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2013
Jim softy
“Mahinda Rajapakse is a former Christian and why did he invite the prominent jesuit priest from the vatican ?”
To confess his sins.
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I am no muslim / August 22, 2013
This so-called Vedda is no Vedda but a LTTE apologist.
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Tsunami Hora / August 22, 2013
Mahendra Percy’s papa Don Alwin was a convert.
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Fathima Fukushima / August 22, 2013
Saudi government must reign in Islamic bigotry.
Iranian government must reign in Islamic bigotry.
Pakistani government must reign in Islamic bigotry.
Bangladeshi government must reign in Islamic bigotry.
SL eastern province government must reign in Islamic bigotry.
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lal / August 22, 2013
Dear editor, Arab News, and others concerned
I am extremely concerned about the situation the Muslim community is facing currently in Sri Lanka. I am not a Muslim but I believe that the community (or another) must not be subjected to the threat of violence that is prevailing in Sri Lanka. Today, I received via email anti Muslim propaganda material, the sender, requesting me to forward it to my contacts. It is not the first time I received such venomous and disgraceful piece of anti-Muslim propaganda. That sender too had received it via (chain) email with the same request. It was sent to me by a member of a religious community, a non-Buddhist. The intention is clearly to provoke anti Muslim sentiment, and to provoke radical groups in the community. The motive is non other than to create chaos in the country, timed to coincide with impending visits of foreign dignitaries, to embarass the goverment, the Budhist community and force foreign intervention to effect “regime change”. This tactic is being used in the middle east, Turkey and Brazil with the assistance of INGOs and (by) members of the international community. The government has made some mistakes in governance and in maintaining law and order, yet, the tactics in use by the opponents is worthy of further investigation. I continue to receive anti govenrment/Rajapakse propaganda that first surfaced during the presidential election of 2010, and I suspect the same groups are behind the anti-Muslim campaign. To blame the government for anti-Muslim actions is reckless. I believe that the MR government is not anti Muslim/Hindu/Christian as alleged by its opponents and, is stupid to cultivate a situation to bring about its own downfall. A fuller underslanding of prevailing intimidating and provacative climate is urgently needed. And, bring all culprits to task.
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Ravana / August 22, 2013
Most of the people believe that the MR government is directly responsible for anti Muslim/Hindu/Christian as alleged by its opponents and, it is amazingly stupid to cultivate such a situation to bring about its own downfall.
We believe that Mahendra Perci doing this for his own survival.
Sadly, Perci Rajapaksa or his family or all those pro-brother & sons & co. do not understand the damage that they are doing to this country.
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I am no muslim / August 22, 2013
To understand the dept of the Muslim mentality, do some research on why Muslims kill Muslims.
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Tsunami Hora / August 22, 2013
Dear Mr. Lal,
I liked your concern untill I read ‘ I believe that the MR government is not anti Muslim/Hindu/Christian’
I may sound so silly yet, I have a Q for you.
Who made BBS?
What are Champika, Rathana & Gammanpila busy with? Who is their Boss.
Who attacked Kovils/Churches & Mosques?
If you dont know the Answers, please do ask a Grade five student.
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NAK / August 22, 2013
Look who is talking about bigotry! Religious bigotry is pandemic in your part of the world Mr.Editor and you don’t seem to see the rafter in your eye and you are looking for a peck of dust in others eye.
Islamophobia has now advanced to the next level of a desease and many societies are suffering from it’s effects around the world.
The troubles with regard to the Islamists in our part of the world is mainly due to the money that is pumped from countries in your part of the world and the influence that is part and parcel of the money that comes iIt is not only the Buddhists that have issues with some muslims but some muslims themselves.
Every day we see how the sectarians in the islamic world kill each other in their hundreds on a daily basis and there is no Buddhist participation in that.
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