ESCALATING VIOLENCE: RENEWED

ASSAULTS ON THE MUSLIM

COMMUNITY
Image: 21st May 2017: A Cosmetic Shop in Elpitiya burned

Hilmy Ahamed.22/05/2017
Post war Sri Lanka saw a wave of attacks targeting the Muslim
community by Buddhist extremist groups. The Mahinda Rajapaksa
government allowed these extremists free rein, which caused
extensive damage, including injuries and the damaging of Muslim-
owned property. This resulted in the Muslims voting en-bloc to
overthrow the once indispensable Rajapaksa regime.
The regime change brought about a lull in Buddhist extremist
activity but tensions restarted with land issues in Musali, when
groups claimed that Muslim IDPs, returning from the 1990 eviction
by the LTTE were being illegally settled within the Wilpattu forest
reserve. President Maithripala Sirisena made public statements
claiming that the former Minister Basil Rajapaksa who headed the
Presidential Task Force for Northern Development had allocated
land within the Wilpattu reserve. Later he retracted this
statement, and said not a single inch of Wilpattu reserve had
been encroached. The groups continued their campaign to
deprive the Muslim IDPs of their right to return.

This led to a build up of campaign by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS),

the Sinhala Ravaya and Ravana Balaya. Soon, they were joined by
a few more Facebook warriors Mahason Balaya, The Sinhale
Jathika Balamuluwa (SJB) and Dan Priyasath who used new media
technology to spread hate and violent messages. Most of these
groups found this an opportunity to hoodwink Buddhist corporates
and the Sinhalese Diaspora in South Korea, Australia, Europe and
America to fund the saviours of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

In the absence of stern action by the Government or the Buddhist

hierarchy of Mahanayakes, Ven. Gnanasara and company went
on a major racist offensive against the minorities. Did
Yahapalanaya consider these racist assaults as freedom of
expression or did the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government of
good governance provide subtle support to these extremists in
the hope that they could break the dominance of the Sinhala
Buddhist vote bank by the Rajapaksas joint opposition? Evidence
points to the latter as no action has been taken despite numerous
police complaints and legal action instituted by Muslims.

The end of Sinhala and Tamil New year celebrations saw renewed
assaults on the Muslim community by extremist Buddhist forces.
Since the dawn of April 16th, there have been at least twenty
incidents of violence or attempted violence, hate, intimidation
and threats to the Muslims, their places of religious worship and
business. These renewed threats are from Bodu Bala Sena,
Sinhala Ravaya, Sinhale, Mahason Balaya to name a few.

The Secretariat for Muslims (SFM) a Muslim civil society

organisation documented 538 incidents against the Muslims from
2013 to 2015. The following is a documentation of the violence
against Muslims during the last 5 weeks:

16th April, 2017: Petrol Bombs thrown at shops in Godapitiya

Four shops owned by Muslims were attacked with petrol Bombs in

Godapitiya, Porruva. This incident went unreported due to the
pressure brought by the local police. This was not even reported
in the social media by local residents, fearing further police
intimidation. Even after a month, the police have still not been
able to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators of this act of
violence.

20th April, 2017 : Land Grab at Irrakamam in Mayakkali

2 1/2 Acres of land owned by Muslims was forcibly taken over in

Irrakamam in Mayakkali. No police action has been taken even
after complaints have been lodged.

25th April 2017 : Incitement by Ven. Gnanasara Thero in

Irrakamam.
Ven. Gnanasara thero visited Irrakamam and made a very
provocative speech violating his bail conditions. Police complaints
have been made and no action has been taken up to to date.

8th May 2017 : Myanmar Boat People

Ven. Gnanasara Thero claimed at a press conference that

refugees from Myanmar had arrived in Sri Lanka with the
intention of invading our land. These refugees were arrested at
sea by the Sri Lankan navy while they were attempting to flee to
Australia by boat due to the atrocities of the racist Myanmar
government. This statement was purely meant to provoke the
Sinhala Buddhists.

10th May 2017: Vesak celebrations

Vesak celebrations with Bodhi pujas were held in Irrakamam in

Mayakkali, a predominantly Muslim area with the intent to
provoke, but the Muslims showed much restraint and no untoward
incidents were reported.

May 14th 2017 : Threatening Muslims in Onegama in

Polonnaruwa

A group of Buddhist monks led by Ven. Galagoda Aththe

Gnanasara Thero threatened Muslims in Onegama in Polonnaruwa
and broke their huts and livelihood means. The Police who were
present did not attempt to stop this mob from causing this
violence. Hiru TV showed the destruction of the huts of the
Muslims. Here again, Ven. Gnanasara Thero insulted Allah
subahanauwa taaala in the most derogatory and inflammatory
way. Defaming of Allah subahanauwa taaala, is the most
blasphemous insult that no Muslim will tolerate. Police complaints
have been made with video evidence and they have failed to take
any action yet.

15th May 2017 : Attack on the Muslim Village of Selvanagar in

the Trincomalee District

The entire Muslim population of Selva Nagar in Thoppur

(Tricomalee District, bordering Seruvila and Muthur electorate)
were threatened by a mob of outsiders, led by Buddhist monks. A
large number of Muslims have fled the area due to this
intimidation. The local temple (Pansala) currently owns six acres
and they are now attempting to claim 49 acres of Muslim lands
insisting that these are archaeological sites. Muslims have been
living and in possession of these lands for over a hundred years.
Residents claim that these extremists are trying to drive them out
as the LTTE did during the ethnic conflict.

15th May 2017 : A fire broke out in Panadura Mosque .

It is suspected that extremist elements may have attempted to

set the mosque on fire using a petrol bomb. This is the second
petrol bomb attack. They had also set alight a garbage dump
close by. No police action has been initiated.

15th May 2017: Masked men attack Kohilawatta Ibrahim Jumma

Mosque
Unidentified men had arrived on motorbikes and attempted to
attack the mosque. When some workers who were doing
renovation had come out, they had left on their bikes.
16th May 2017 :Insults Allah:

Once again, Ven. Gnanasara Thero insults Allah subahanauwa

taaala in the most demeaning way at a press conference.

16th May 2017: Attack on Muslim Selva Nagar in Thoppur

A large group of Buddhist extremists numbering about 200 had

gone to Selva Nagar in Thoppur with clubs and swords and caused
extensive damage to 16 houses and property. No police action has
been taken despite several complaints.

16th May 2017:Gang Attacks Kohilawatte Mosque

The Kohilawatte Mosque, in Sedawatte, was attacked with stones

and clubs, around 1:30 p.m. by an unidentified gang, resulting in
extensive damage. Wellampitiya Police has been provided CCTV
footage of the attack and no arrests have been made as yet.

May 17 2017 :Two Shops In Panadura Attacked

Two Muslim owned shops were attacked in Panadura and

extensive damage caused to its furniture, equipment and fittings.
One was a bakery and the other was a communications facility.

May 18th 2017 :Last Chance Electrical showroom burned

The Last Chance show room in Wennappuwa has been set on fire
and burnt down completely on the night of 17th May. The losses
are estimated at several millions.

21st May 2017: Mallawapitiya mosque in Kurunegala Attacked

A procession led by Ven. Gnanasara, which was going to

Ibbagamuwa, was stopped by police. Thereafter, Ven. Gnanasara
and other Buddhist extremists claimed that they were being
stopped at the call of the Muslims and abused in raw filth. They
called on the crowd that had gathered to attack the Muslims. Six
petrol bombs had been hurled at the Mallawapitiya mosque
causing damage. Police have not arrested anyone yet.

21st May 2017: A Cosmetic Shop in Elpitiya burned

A cosmetic store owned by a Muslim was set on fire causing

extensive damage. Police have still failed to make a
comprehensive investigation.

22nd May 2017: A leather Store in Wijerama Junction,

Maharagama set alight

A leather store belonging to a Muslim at Wijerama Junction,

Maharagama has been set on fire during the night and completely
burned, with heavy losses.

It is very clear that Ven. Gnanasara is attempting to prevent his

arrest over the Homagama magistrates complaint of contempt of
court and intimidation of witnesses. He is attempting to generate
protests from the majority Buddhist community by claiming that
he is being arrested on the charges filed by Muslims.

He has continued to violate his bail conditions, and is aware that

he has very little chances of evading arrest. The majority of
Sinhalese who do not subscribe to Ven. Gnanasaras extremism
will not move a finger if this racist is arrested. It should be noted
that he commanded a mere 27,000 Island wide votes at the last
general elections.

The Government of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil

Wickremesinghe need to deal with this major crisis which will
destabilise their hard earned victory in January 2015. The Muslim
parliamentarians, civil society, business community and academia
have requested the government to act with a strong resolve to
ensure that rule of law prevails. A peaceful environment will
ensure the rapid reconciliation of all peoples of Sri Lanka.

First published by Groundviews

Posted by Thavam