By Colombo Telegraph –
Rev. Duleep De Chickera‘s (Former Bishop of Colombo) presantation at the panel discussion on “Religion, Reconciliation and Future” organised by Sri Lanka Young Journalists Movement on Monday, 8th April, 2013.
Rev. Chickera stressed the need for religious communities and moderates from all communities to speak out when another community comes to harm. “Buddhists must speak out on behalf of the Muslims. Christians must speak out on behalf of the Hindus,” he said. All moderates must transcend ethnic and religious boundaries to speak in one voice against attempts to harm the people of a community. It is the only way to make an impact, he explained.
Ben Hurling / April 11, 2013
Thank you Rev. Duleep De Chickera. A voice of reason.
Many well educated true buddhist monks and millions of Buddhists will agree with him. Many leading monks have already expressed similar views. Though not communiacted on Rupavahini or ITN.
I just wish this message will get through to Sinhalese and Tamil masses in their own language.
Right now, Gota & BBS Balu Sena have monopolised opinion builiding among rural masses.
We need to take the message of peace to the village level. And challenge Balu Sena on hatemongering.
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Jaliya Wickramasinghe / April 12, 2013
My dear
Muslims in Sri Lanka do not have to worry as long as Buddhist are the majority. They would save them from all the types of western attacks as it happened since 16th century to recent west and India supported LTTE ethnic cleansing of Muslims that took place in Northern and Eastern provinces in this 21st century. Therefore the subject dialogue is just an anti-Buddhist media show which has no base at all.
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Ramanan / April 19, 2013
“Muslims in Sri Lanka do not have to worry as long as Buddhist are the majority”
Indeed their treatment of the Tamils is a shining example throughout the world of the Buddha’s non-violent philosophy which makes SL buddhism the envy of everyone than the low-grade buddhism preached by the likes of the Dalai Lama
“west and India supported LTTE ethnic cleansing of Muslims that took place in Northern and Eastern provinces in this 21st century”
Indeed and to add to their deviousness they even pretended to ban LTTE in their countries plus give fake military aid to SL army (who as we know became the first armed forces in the world to defeat terrorism single-handedly with zero civilian casualties).
“anti-Buddhist media show which has no base at all”
Indeed hopefully Gotabhaya can even the score and bash up some of the journalists doing this fake reporting. The way he masterminded the assault on Uthayan is a good start
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ilyas / April 11, 2013
Those who try to dig , holes for others would fall into the same .Hope BBS,stop their games immediately.
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Lanka liar / April 11, 2013
Bishop dont bluff. Call a spade a spade. We can see fear in your face. Where were you when thousands of Catholic Tamils were massacred. Thalking religious history and philosophy. Simply outdated.
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Ben Hurling / April 11, 2013
Where were you Lanka Liar? All this time, while LTTE was destroying Sri Lanka.
Were your busy fundraising and running propaganda for VP’s despicable crimes against all Sri Lankans, including Tamil Catholics?
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Ramanan / April 19, 2013
“All this time, while LTTE was destroying Sri Lanka”
It was a relief for everyone when Mahinda and his brothers took up this arduous task from VP, who sadly could not last the course. The President showed much foresight to seek alliance with VP’s bodyguard Karuna and international fixer KP for they will provide much needed wise counsel for this difficult task.
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Probono Publico / April 11, 2013
hey dont talk bull he is one of the few men who has stood up to whats right for a long time
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malkanthi / April 16, 2013
LOL he is not a christian.
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J muththa / April 11, 2013
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Betsy / April 11, 2013
Ok the sinhalese eradicated terrorism;but why are they not showing an example that we should co exist peacefully now. If they want to deprive all the rights of the muslims;;thats their decision;and Allah is puring patience;tolerance and goodness in our hearts ;we will be rewarded in the hereafter for all the sufferings our muslims are put through;as our faith is very strong and we can overcome any problems theough prayers and reward
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Saman Wijesiri / April 11, 2013
I, as a Sinhala Buddhist ( I was born into a Sinhala Buddhist family, something I could not help) I have always admired your outspokenness. You have always called a spade a spade. Don’t mind the braying of donkeys. I wholeheartedly agree that the Sinhala Buddhist majority should take the lead in defending and protecting the Muslim minority community.
However, the most urgent need of the hour is to restore democracy and law and order in the country.There is no independent judiciary. Police who are expected to enforce the law are used by the powers be to harass and even kill the innocents. Innocents are plucked from their homes in the dead of night, and hammered to death or are hanged in the Police cell. But they passively look on when goons, some in yellow robes vandalize and torch a shop line. Police instead of prosecuting the culprits help them to `reach an amicable settlement.’ Minorities alone are not the victims of the prevailing lawlessness. No one is safe and secure in this country. Therefore, Reverend Sir, throw your weight behind the movement for restoration of democracy in this country.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / April 21, 2013
“Therefore, Reverend Sir, throw your weight behind the movement for restoration of democracy in this country.”
God… a being whose only definition is that he is beyond man’s power to conceive.
Democracy exists only in the dictionary and in the west the practice is Hypocrisy.
Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.
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Safa / April 12, 2013
A good proposal to a complex problem. We claim to be a united Sri Lankan nation. In that case we need to help and support each other. Just as one body is composed of various parts and each complements and supports the rest.
The majority Buddhist Sinhalese must support the minorities, the Muslims must support the Sinhalese and Tamils, the Tamils must support the Sinhalese and Muslims. This will be real litmus test of unity and tolerance.
Finally the rule of law must be upheld by the Govt.
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ain / April 12, 2013
Reverend, I’m a Muslim but I salute and respect you for the good standing you are taking about the current situation in the country with regard to religions. We always expect people of your caliber to come forward and make the efforts to build trust and peace among the people of the country.
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len / April 12, 2013
Still no noise from wanna be Pope Cardinal Ranji.
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MedalankaradeChoppe / April 14, 2013
He is searching for the boot to lick.
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Prabhath Gamalathge / April 12, 2013
I am a Christian.(an Anglican.)I had a great respect for Rev. Duleep but not for Rt.Rev.Duleep, due to following reasons.
[Edited out]
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JP / April 12, 2013
Bishop, you have shared some thought provoking points for refelection and action. You have always expressed an alternate view over the last so many years. We as Sri Lankans are proud of you who has challenged various groups of their stance in the past and calling them to enter the path of ahimsa and non-violence.
JP
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J muththa / April 12, 2013
Rev. Duleep.C…….[Edited out]
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Marwan / April 12, 2013
Rev, Duleep de Chickera, me, being of the Muslim faith, I hardly know you nor have heard of you before, since our faith and trust is only in God’- Allah’s mercy, that no harm should befall us. However, I appreciatively accept your clarion call to all communities to safeguard and protect the interests of Muslims in this country. You have truly earned the respect and recognition to be that of a true leader, for which we Muslims will always remember and be grateful. It is only in times of crisis that true friends and bitter enemies get exposed, and you for one, has clearly showed your allegience.
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Gehan S / April 12, 2013
RT.Rev. Duleep Chickera has stood up and made his stance known to all, and in recent times so have some of the genuinely peace-loving Buddhist clergy. This is looking hopeful, in an otherwise sad and hopeless, and increasingly perilous predicament that has befallen our country due to the senseless and moronic mob called the Bodu Bala sena. They are determined to create a situation from which we will NEVER recover, if we were to allow it to develop any further.
These clowns are a disgrace not just to right-thinking Buddhists, but to us all as Sri Lankans. Let us gather as one, to eradicate and remove the hatred they are preaching against innocent Muslims.
Who will they focus on next? The Christians, and then (God Forbid) the Hindus again, and when no one is left to bully, the right-thinking Buddhists themselves, who by and large think of this lot as nothing more than a bunch of thugs wrapped in saffron robes.
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Jayagath Perera / April 12, 2013
The need of the hour is unity and amity. Division is the last thing we want. Without trying to overawe any party directly or indirectly the concept of mutual respect must be valued and practiced.
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ELMO / April 13, 2013
BISHOP DULEEP HAS SAID A MOUTHFUL IN SUPPORT OF PEACE AND RECONCILLIATION IN OUR DIVIDED NATION. HE SAYS,AMONGST A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, THAT THE SILENT MAJORITY IN OUR LAND MUST NOT REMAIN SILENT ANYMORE. THEY MUST REACH OUT “ACROSS BORDERS” TO PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS, OTHER ETHNICITIES, IN TIMES OF RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC CRISES. PEACE LOVING BUDDHISTS, HINDUS MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS,WHO ARE IN THE VAST MAJORITY, MUST CALL ON OUR GOVT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAW AND ORDER, THROUGH THEIR WORDS AND ACTIONS. I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THIS GOVT HAS BEEN WOEFULLY INACTIVE, MOST TIMES INTENTIONALLY, WHEN VIOLENCE AND AGRESSION HAVE BEEN COMMITTED ON MINORITIES BY RABID AND EXTREMIST ELEMENTS. THE GOVT HAS ALSO CHOSEN TO BLATANTLY IGNORE POLICE PARTISANSHIP AND NON ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, WHEN THERE IS A BREAK DOWN IN THE LAW AND ORDER PROCESS.
BISHOP DULEEP HAS BEEN ONE THEOLOGIAN, AMONGST A FEW OTHERS OF ALL FAITHS, WHO HAS ALWAYS STOOD UP FOR THE AGGRIEVED, THE ABUSED, THE DOWN TRODDEN.HE HAS ALWAYS GONE PUBLIC ON THESE ISSUES AND SPOKEN OUT FEARLESSLY,AND WE NEED TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE OF HIS ILK FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE RALLYING OUR DISTORTED NATION TO PATHS OF RECONCILLIATION AND PEACE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER 30 YEAR WAR.
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crazyoldmansl / April 13, 2013
The conduct of this man towards the minorities under siege in 1983 was quite nauseating ands his flip-flops on Anglican Christian theology and inability to explain his own actions as bishop have been hilarious, but I will leave that for another time since all those who suffered his conduct know very well what he is worth. The interesting issue here is that he has supposedly said, that “Buddhists must speak out on behalf of the Muslims. Christians must speak out on behalf of the Hindus”. This particular formulation speaks volumes to mad people even if it does not to sane ones.
It indicates very clearly that Buddhist extremism will soon grow to inherit its Asokan Imperial Patrimony bestowed upon it many years ago in exchange for the acceptance of suzerainty by non other than his son and daughter and this Patrimony will enable it to seize power of the kautilyan state that is clearly in the making on this island within which kind of state all minorities are strategically oppressed in order to ensure their subordination and collaboration with the interests of the king (and let us remember that there are no majorities in this world and that every majority is a minority in relation to its context). This is the process that we are witnessing. It can be bloody and brutal at times. But it works. What someone in another article referred to as the “Nightclub Buddhists” will play a major role in the balancing act. They will be strengthened to engage “the global cult of human rights and compliance” and will be used to keep the extremists of all minorities in line.
We must also remember that while fascism is viewed with horror in the west, it is treated as a viable option in south Asia and Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf is regularly republished in India though banned in most of the west because after all India is the most populous democracy in the world where many books are banned but not Hitler’s master piece.
Those who sow the seeds must also reap the harvest. When the kingdom is split into a sufficient number of minorities each suspicious and fearful of the other and all seeking alliances to best each other then all minorities will accept the Asokan edict to “accept their place” and the true kings of Lanka will arise.
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MedalankaradeChoppe / April 14, 2013
Crazyoldman is right.Prior to the 2010 Presidential election the Island carried a number of articles by local writers on strong leaders. All those chosen as examples were SE Asian in origin and known to have robbed their country
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ELMO / April 13, 2013
MS YOUR SLIP IS SHOWING, EVEN THOUGH YOU CLAIM TO BE A “CRAZY OLD MAN” WHY WHAT HAPPENED ?
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Peace Wallah / April 13, 2013
Do not blame the Sinhalese Buddhists for everything that is going on now. There must be a cause. That is a major tenet that Buddha himself taught. It is after finding out the cause that the problem can be eliminated.Why did BBS rise suddenly at this juncture? Does not one see the external manipulation to break Sinhalese -Muslim unity locally and support for SL from Muslim countries at Geneva? BBS upped its anti-Muslim campaign right on the eve of Geneva 2013 but it failed to create an impact.The agenda is now the next round. One can see anti SL Muslim demonstrations being organised in London. Do not think this is the usual conspiracy theory.
Who is at the bottom of it? It is one of the greatest destabilsisers in the world, the Norwegians. They first supported the Muslims through former Foreign Minister, ACS Hameed and his brothers, Nhuman and others who ran Arne Fjoroft’s World View Foundation NGO in SL.The Norwegians later supported some Buddhist organisations and set them up against Muslims.Was it because of disappointment that Hameed’s brothers pocketed most of the money from early 1980s.They expanded their father’s old itinerant ‘pottani’ business in Harispattuwa into a Fashion Empire. Hameed used his position as Minister to get important foreign links like franchise for well known brands of garments.
The Norwegians, for some reason shifted emphasis to some Buddhists and temples. They were responsible for setting up the Bodu Bala Sena after an organised visit for six monks and two laymen to Norway, Sweden and France in 2011. (asiatribune.com/node/62223).
It was also linked to Geneva, to deny Islamic country support for SL by creating an anti-Muslim atmosphere in the country.BBS campaign reached its peak on the eve of Geneva 2013.Still 7 Muslim countries voted against the US resolution in favour of SL. The attempt now is to break the link at international level and deny Muslim support to the govt, locally.
The Internet critics should go deep into this history to understand why all this rumpus is created at this particular time. Isn’t the idea to create confusion all round and prepare ground for an Arab Spring like situation here, a regime change?
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MedalankaradeChoppe / April 14, 2013
Peace Wallah, blame somebody else for your mistakes.When your wife takes to sleeping with the neighbouring man you will blame the horoscope, her upbringing etc but not your failure as a man
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Peace Wallah / April 16, 2013
Surely this remark must come from a Pottani man next door who after exposing his ware for sale on the mat says ” Hamineta hinda angal thunak wedipura dannam”.
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