Bangkok Post Editorial –
Distressing news from Sri Lanka last weekend revealed that some Buddhists there have organised an aggressive and offensive anti-Muslim movement. Monks have supposedly been at the forefront of organising the movement, called Bodu Bala Sena _ or Buddhist Power Force. They have attracted thousands of followers who have staged numerous intimidating and provocative acts to harass the island nation’s minority Muslim community.
The Bodu Bala Sena is similar to the 969 movement of Myanmar. Their ideology, actions and speeches are virtually identical. The only real difference is important. The Sri Lankan group has not actually committed violent acts. In Myanmar, the 969 group has been accused of inciting and then supporting attacks which have killed hundreds of Muslims, and burnt down villages and homes across the country.
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Dr. Maverick / January 14, 2014
A majority of BBS members are 3wheel drivers and jobless citizens who had joined this movement intending to loot and make an easy way of living. It is not possible at all to find professionals in this group except for jobless thugs, drug addicts and drug traffickers. Recently many newspapers and monthly magazines have exposed how monks are associated with thugs and drug traffickers also how those monks had molested children, had illicit relationship with women and had made those women bare their children also had raped women as well.
These members will grow and that’s no doubt because BBS encourages demonstrations and looting. So, it is a easy way of living.
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Ben Hurling / January 14, 2014
Dr. Maverick,
I have to disagree with you.
Possible a lot of uneducated, jobless thugs take part in stone throwing at other religious establishments. At he behest of BBS & Ravana Balaya etc.
However, racism and religious intolerance is enjoying a new morning Sri Lanka. Unfortunately.
I have met well travelled, highly educated, professionals who solidly believe in anti-buddhist conspiracy theories. Some believe Sri Lanka’s Muslim population is far higher than 10% and rapidly growing. And that Department of Census is providing false statistics to avoid communal clashes. Truly sad.
We need open, civilized debates on these matters. We must debunk the racists on public stages. There is no other way to deal with racism.
Cheers!
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Dr. Maverick / January 14, 2014
It is your opinion that there are many professional radicals but do those professionals believe that King Vijaya is a Hindu who was expelled from South India. Marrying Quveni and producing the seed that paved the way to Buddhism means that BBS is a goat that is covered with a Lion’s skin?
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Bedrock Barney / January 15, 2014
His opinion is shared. I personally know people in the Colombo English speaking upper middle class people who speak in favour of the BBS, mind you after a few drinks. It is not because they are drunk but buzzed enough to say whats really on their minds. It is more like tacit approval. It borne out of a sense of fear that a minority is punching above their weight class. The bankrupt political classes sometimes rely on our more visceral conceits to garner votes.
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Spring Koha / January 15, 2014
Bedrock Barney: I know the ‘English speaking upper middle class people who speak in favour of the BBS,’ that you talk about and they do this to show ‘solidarity’ with the lower classes. In the morning they are off to do business as usual with Muslim and Christian partners and nary a word is said about religion.
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Bedrock Barney / January 15, 2014
true say.
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Sun / January 15, 2014
I believe the same. All what we need is to open discussion on these topics. I know some European countries recommend more talk shows on particular topics that have a greater impact on their young people. So after some years, they come with the statistics proving that their discussion rounds have contributed to the progress in the those issues. local uni professionals should work to shape up lanken society today than tomorrow. There should be open discussions based on the attacks being made on Christian and Muslim fellow citizens. Damare amila, Sobitha and other highly recognized buddhist monks can achieve a lot if media men, politicians would work on that.
And not to forget that lankens in general are gullible and naively believe anything without proper examine. I have met graduates that argue similar to tutu drivers. Graduates dont seem to read local news regularly. Latter is common to numbers met to me. Alias, this is pathetic. As one who has not lived in the country for the last 2 decades, I notice this very clearly when I travel to the country though 1-2 /year. Opportunists like Rajapakshes seek profits knowing and aiming the weaknesses of the masses. Latter is exactly them to be elected by the mentioned people.
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Rationalist / January 18, 2014
“I have met well travelled, highly educated, professionals who solidly believe in anti-buddhist conspiracy theories.”
Ben Hurling, If Sri Lankans truly practise the Buddha’s Dhamma, there is no reason to fear that any other religion will overtake Buddhism. I too have heard people say that Muslims are ‘Breeding like Flies’ quoting general comments, made without any facts or figures to bear them up.
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Sowden Edward Asange / January 15, 2014
Not forgetting the drunk driving and killing of pedestrians by the so called” Secretary” Galabodaththe..
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Sowden Edward Asange / January 15, 2014
Galabodaththe is supposed to be 37 yrs but looks much older..(after partaking all the FREE rich food dumped at their feet and see his body language..not becoming of a Thero but a thug….
He seems to be the lapdog of the Defense Secretary..Goat-a-baya
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Afzal / January 14, 2014
This one para clearly defines BBS and it’s management team.
“it is a mystery how Sri Lanka’s Galagoda Atte Gnanasara and Myanmar’s Bhikkhu Wirathu, as monks in saffron, came to become so strongly bigoted, racist and confrontational. Their words and their support for violent action certainly are not found in the teachings of the Buddha.”
Notice there is no Tero or Tera after the name
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Thiru / January 14, 2014
Why blame the BBS, it is the government (if it governs!) to be blamed: They don’t enforce all laws; police don’t arrest and prosecute BBS terrorists.
Attacking Muslim, Christian and Hindu places of worship is terrorism against minority faiths.
What are we arguing here about, straighten the government, that is all that is needed.
There is no rule of law in Sri Lanka, it’s Sinhala Buddhist mafia rule.
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Bedrock Barney / January 15, 2014
Exactly it is the GOSL that ought to be blamed. Take the case of Rizana Nafeek. Forget the travel/job agent. The parents knew how old the daughter was, they falsified her age to enable her to travel. They are responsible for daughters safety as she was a minor. They should have been the first to be arrested. Instead they got a house and money, thats justice in Modern SL.
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Sowden Edward Asange / January 15, 2014
well said…cant agree more….its Family dyNASTY….
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crazyoldmansl / January 14, 2014
So it seems as though the mahayana buddhists are not fascists like the sri lankan ones and the ones in Myanmar. Is all theravada buddhism going fascist? Is there reason for this? Does the reason lie in its content or in its structure? Maybe Theravada Buddhism is the new Nazism.
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MNZ / January 14, 2014
The Muslims in SL should not get their intimates in a twist!
All this hullabaloo about Halaal and attacks on mosques is part of the dynastic strategy of the Ruling Family. The BBS and Sinhala Ravaya are mere Running Dogs or Paper Tigers set loose by the regime from time to time.
The real agenda is to create a perceived threat and to cause mental anxiety among the local Muslims. This regime wants the Muslim community to be always on the back foot.
MR, the master strategist, will never ever allow the situation to get out of hand as there is too much at stake.
He will, as he has done in the past, allow matters to escalate and at the critical moment come forth as the Saviour and Great Protector of the Muslims who have been traditionally branded as UNP/SLMC supporters.
This is all about vote-getting.
Besides oil, and SL migrant workers in the Muslim nations (who remit about 6 Billion US dollars annually) there is also need to muster these nations’ support to counter the assault against SL in Geneva. Last time 11 Muslim countries supported SL (7 voted and 4 abstained). This is not lost on the regime which needs every ounce of support internationally.
Muslims should therefore rest assured that by virtue of their strategic importance they will remain sacred cows in Sri Lanka, whatever government comes to power, Everything else is but melodrama!
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aratai / January 14, 2014
.
MNZ,
It may be just the opposite….MaRa is threatening Muslim nations to support SL in Geneva, otherwise there will be riots against Muslims in Lanka.
:-)
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Sowden Edward Asange / January 15, 2014
LMAO…
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JimSofty / January 15, 2014
How Christians are scared of BBS
‘Buddhist nationalism posing major threat to Christians in Sri Lanka
https://barnabasfund.org/…/Editorial-Buddhist-nationalism-posing-major…
Aug 15, 2013 – Buddhist nationalist groups, of which the Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power … hold mass public demonstrations against Christian and Muslims, … ‘
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Tamil from the north / January 15, 2014
@Jimsofty, you are one dumb f&*&. Where is your partner Fathima Fukushima???
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watching with patience / January 15, 2014
Good on you Ben. I support your comments. That’s a reasonable and a fair approach. All the best.
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Spring Koha / January 15, 2014
Nature abhors a vacuum and now that the Tamil Tigers are taking an enforced sabbatical our Saffron Enforcers are identifying those that will pollute the purity of our NEW SINHALA-BUDDHIST paradise i.e. the Muslims, Christians et al. The sadness of it all is that we are told that the BBS and the Sihala Ravaya are ‘small splinter groups’ but the truth is that there is NO matching condemnation from the supposedly large numbers of decent and learned Buddhists in this country and elsewhere.
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shankar / January 15, 2014
BBS-Big Balls Society
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ela kolla / January 15, 2014
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watey ranil / January 15, 2014
In Thailand a few Buddhist priests were found going about in a private jet,using designer sun glasses,bags etc.All were disrobed,shamed and public was asked to henceforth call them Mr Wirapol etc
Here these are thugs masquerading as priests & pol henchemen and few of our younger people are taken in.
This is a country where politicians personal welfare over public welfare is promoted during last few years,where as an example a father killed by the regime,the daughter seeks favours and appointments from same regime !
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Safa / January 15, 2014
Who can blame people for converting when the icons of their faith behave in a disgraceful manner. If a religon or philosophy is to survive there should be people who are an example and role model for others. Thugs and Hooligans need not have any faith or philosophy to survive. Law of the jungle can prevail.
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sham / January 15, 2014
This issue is nothing to do with ordinary citizen of sri lanka either Buddhist or Muslim. This purely the result of organized highly powered peoples drama…. Nothing else at all… period.
BBS has a backing to do things in consultation with high rank of SL.
Then why we call for debate and so on. Educate the masses to know that this is politicized issue, bring the culprit to the front.
We all are sri Lankans and there is no reason for one community to live in fear since they are minority, it never been the case and should not be at all in future.
We have grown enough to tolerate more then this stupidity.
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ravivararo / January 15, 2014
The Bodu Bala Sena is similar to the 969 movement of Myanmar. In Sri Lanka, goatboy made it as 69 movement
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Dan / January 15, 2014
I am a lanken buddhist.
But I would never respect this kind of bonaboo monks.
They should have been born to destroy lanken buddhism.
He is trying to make it an issue out of no issue.
If people would be questioned, not significant numbers will be the turn out that represent the same thoughts that this bonaboo monk and his clan are going to paint.
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ela kolla / January 15, 2014
well done BBS…this is what country needs….we need to eradicate minority scum bags out of this country
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mike / January 15, 2014
We need to [Edited out] you along with Gandesara.
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The Professional / January 15, 2014
All these new religious sects are registered under Company Law. They are supposed to maintain annual audited P&L statements. More conversions means more income for preachers. I do not know whether the new Asapuwa’s of popular Buddhist Monks are also required to be registered under Company Law. Please correct me If I am wrong.
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Fathima Fukushima / January 15, 2014
BBS is still better than TNA.
BBS is still better than SLMC.
At least they are true Mujahids in what they believe. SL Muslims are misled by Hindu rituals.
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NAK / January 18, 2014
It is rather amusing coming from the editor of the Bankok post.
In the south of Thailand Buddhists are going to the temple under military guard. Monks on Pindapatha are doing so with military guard. Buddhists are under such threat in the south of Thailand by Muslim extremists. They even attacked the military in Bankok itself.
But the monks in Thailand are not confronting the terrorist like monks in Sri Lanka did not confront the LTTE terrorists. Terrorists were left to the military.
What the Sri Lankan monks are doing is to arrest an invasion of various Evangelical and Wahabi sects.
I am not aware if Evangelism has reached Myanmar yet but certainly they have problems with Islamists.
Christians, Catholics and Muslims have lived here for centuries without much problem, none of their established Churches or Mosques have been harmed and that will continue.
But the new comers are the problem. Since theses new comers take cover behind established religions and their freedom to practice their religion,it is up to them to see that their name is not allowed to be abused and unethical and confrontational practices shunned.
As the editor pointed out In Sri Lanka the protests are not gone violent as they are meant only to highlight the problems for the authorities to take necessary action.
The followers of BBS may be Tuk tuk drivers and thugs, thousands of them, still,since they are people of this country, they will have to be heard.
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