{"id":126700,"date":"2014-06-23T00:10:59","date_gmt":"2014-06-22T18:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=126700"},"modified":"2014-06-29T13:06:02","modified_gmt":"2014-06-29T07:36:02","slug":"will-sri-lanka-become-a-killing-field-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/will-sri-lanka-become-a-killing-field-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Sri Lanka Become A Killing Field Again?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By P. Bertie Ranaweerage<\/span><\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Bertie<\/a>

Bertie Ranaweerage<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Karuna Amman there had been only 80 LTTE<\/span><\/a> \u00a0armed cadres by July 1983<\/span><\/a>. JR who did almost nothing to protect the Tamils and their properties during the Black July Days in 1983 had no alternative but to send\u00a0 those who managed to save their lives to the Northern and Eastern provinces. It is in the public domain that a large number of\u00a0 Tamil youths who were sent to the North and East willingly joined the LTTE either to get revenge on the Sinhalese or on the belief that Eelam<\/span><\/a> was the only remaining panacea \u00a0for all the problems \u00a0the Tamils. Karuna further said that \u00a0the number of \u00a0armed cadres of the LTTE had gone up to 40000 by the time he left the LTTE.<\/p>\n

The Sinhala extremists and their leaders such as Elle Gunawansa<\/span><\/a>, and Cyril Mathew<\/span><\/a> who plotted and launched the Tamil pogrom in 1983 never in their wildest dreams \u00a0did think that the terror they unleashed on the Tamils would result in a 26 year disastrous internal war. Hence we have to ask ourselves now whether the terrorism of the blood thirsty BBS<\/span><\/a> would \u00a0push the Moor \/Muslims to extremism which may result in more destruction more violence and more bloodbaths .<\/p>\n

Nobody never ever thought that this government would\u00a0 do what \u00a0JR and Premadasa did\u00a0 during the Black July days in 1983. We do remember that JR<\/span><\/a> did not utter a single word against massacring of Tamils until the thugs and murderers had finished their job. Like wise the MR<\/span><\/a> government took no meaningful measures to stop the Aluthgama<\/span><\/a> mayhem and the President waited from June 15 to June 21 to make an appeal to the public to desist from attacking the others on the grounds of religion or ethnicity.<\/p>\n

\"Aluthgama<\/a>The recent \u00a0brutal attack on Watareka Vijitha<\/span><\/a> Thera, after kidnapping him at night allegedly by the BBS thugs, has once again proved that the BBS is a fascist<\/span><\/a> organization which does not tolerate those who speak \u00a0for inter ethnic harmony. It incidentally reminds us of \u00a0the cruelty\u00a0 of the \u2018 Patriotic Army \u2018 of the JVP that \u00a0killed those stood for the 13th\u00a0amendment \u00a0from 1987 to 1990. \u00a0Unless the BBS is stopped immediately by proscribing it and \u00a0incarcerating its junta \u00a0for years \u00a0there is no doubt that it will continue its terror against minorities. We can expect more attacks on Muslims\u2019 property and more Muslim deaths. Not only they will attack the minorities but also the Sinhalese who are against them.<\/p>\n

As the rulers continue its mollycoddling of the BBS it is continuing its attack on Muslims. The latest news is that they had attacked\u00a0 \u2018NOLIMIT<\/span><\/a>‘ textile shop in Panadura owned by Muslims. And it will not be the last attack against Muslims and nobody will be amazed if they hear of another attack tomorrow morning.<\/p>\n

It is tragic for the entire nation because the government has not understood the gravity of BBS\u2019 fascism and its consequences. When\u00a0 Muslims are continually attacked it may \u00a0push the Muslim youths to take up arms for the \u00a0protection of its community. Muslim extremism which has turned Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Nigeria to a living hell will definitely extend its tentacles to Sri Lanka taking the advantage of the present situation here. Though killing others or committing suicide is a sin that opens the path to the hell for Buddhists, it is said that killing in the name of Islam is a sure path to the heaven where beautiful\u00a0virgins, delicious foods ,drinks\u00a0 and mansions\u00a0 are in abundance .It may well could be one of the incentives that drives Muslims to kill enemies and \u2018heretics\u2019. Hence pushing Muslims to arm themselves will culminate in unimaginable tragedies for Sri Lanka. Not only it will be disastrous for both the Sinhalese and the Muslims but also for the economy of the country. In the event that the Middle East countries decide to limit the recruitment of workers from Sri Lanka the impact on the economy will be catastrophic.<\/p>\n

Yet it is only a day dream if we expect the government to ban the BBS as it is an invisible ally of it. The President has already said that the BBS would not be proscribed in response to the requests made by Ministers Hakeem and Rishard Bathiudeen. In future elections the BBS probably field a few candidates under the UPFA and will do whatever possible to bring the UPFA and the incumbent President back to power as its future depends on the generosity of the Rajapaksa government.<\/p>\n

The UNP has not so far understood that the BBS will be a major threat to it during future election campaigns. My belief is that the BBS will be used by some leaders of the government to attack the UNP election rallies and disrupt them. They will not hesitate to use petrol bombs and guns to attack the UNP rallies. Without understanding the gravity of the threat they are living in a utopian world dreaming that Ranil<\/span><\/a> or Karu<\/span><\/a> would be elected or would be allowed to be elected for the office of the Presidency next year.<\/p>\n

As fascist BBS\u2019 popularity is increasing among the extremist Sinhala Buddhists who are ready to kill in the name of Buddhism, it has posed a threat to the future of the Jathika Hela Urumaya and Wimal Weerawansa\u2019s National Freedom Front. That is why Wimal Weerawansa threatens the government that he would resign unless his 12 resolutions are implemented. \u00a0They have already been forced to resort to various politrics in order to prevent their voters from deserting them and turning to BBS in case the BBS contest. Hence we can expect blood curdling \u00a0‘patriotic \u2018 speeches from both groups in future as Parliamentary elections and the Presidential election are to be held in 2015.<\/p>\n

Mr. Hakeem, Minister of Justice and\u00a0 senior Minister Mr. Dew Gunasekara have asked why the government failed to stop the mayhem in \u00a0Dharga Town, Beruwala, Welipenna and Aluthgama<\/span><\/a>. It is pity that\u00a0 they \u00a0have forgotten that they themselves area \u00a0part of the government. \u00a0They surely must know that the Rajapaksa government did not want to prevent it as its power is based on Sinhala Buddhists<\/span><\/a> and it has to please its voter base to remain in power and regain power.<\/p>\n

The violence against the Muslims could have been prevented not only by the government but also the parties of the Opposition , particularly \u00a0the UNP and the JVP. They could have launched an effective\u00a0 propaganda campaign against the BBS\u2019 fascism \u00a0to convince the public its destructive agenda and\u00a0 rally people against the BBS\u2019 madness. But the UNP failed to do so as\u00a0 it has become a confused \u00a0and stranded political party in the political wilderness sans a road map .With regard to the JVP it\u00a0 was not interested in\u00a0 launching a campaign against its erstwhile comrades \u00a0as it feared that it would erode its\u00a0 Sinhala Buddhist vote base.<\/p>\n

The Muslim Congress and the Muslim Ministers too could have prevented the onslaught against the Muslims to a certain \u00a0extent had it acted decisively at the right time. it is not wrong to assume that they hesitated to act decisively simply because Muslim Ministers did not want to say good bye to the privileges they have been enjoying\u00a0 being a part of the Rajapaksa government.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now Sri Lanka has arrived at a critical juncture. Another civil war is being prepared by the BBS, Sinhala Ravaya and Rawana balaya By not condemning this extremists, Chief Priests of Malwatta and Asgiriya and prominent Buddhist priests such as Maduluwawe Sobhtha Thera are contributing to a future civil war here. Unless the government \u00a0understand that the BBS\u2019 non-stop attacks on Muslims will force Muslims to arm themselves and retaliate, nobody will be able to prevent\u00a0 this land becoming a killing field once again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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