Sri Lanka and a Tale of Two Clashes

  • Upload
    thavam

  • View
    213

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 7/27/2019 Sri Lanka and a Tale of Two Clashes

    1/3

    Sri Lanka and a tale of two clashes

    by Dinouk Colombage - on 08/13/2013

    In the space of a week Sri Lankas freedoms of speech and religion wereoverridden by acts of violence and intolerance. A heavy handed responseby the government towards protesters in Weliweriya was followed up bytheir inability to safeguard a mosque from the rampaging mobs of SinhalaBuddhist extremists.Weliweriya, a peaceful protest that turned violent with the deployment ofarmed soldiers, was but an example of a regime operating on thefoundations of mistrust and insecurity. The sight of people taking to thestreets in the thousands demanding action from their government no doubtreflected the regime changing protests that we have all witnessed in theMiddle East.Unfortunately women, children and the elderly were not spared when thefighting between protesters and the security forces erupted. Two of thethree fatalities that were suffered were those of students, both of whomhad been observing rather than participating. The indiscriminate shootingby the armed forces, which according to officials was in response to them

    being fired upon, targeted all, including journalists, who were on the scene.The fighting continued while those injured were rushed to the nearbyhospitals. Many of the protesters were forced in to hiding, with numerouspeople telling journalists that they chose to hide in shops out of fear ofreturning to their homes.

    http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/http://groundviews.org/author/dinouk-colombage/http://i2.wp.com/groundviews.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Header-DC.jpg?resize=800%2C529http://groundviews.org/author/dinouk-colombage/http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/
  • 7/27/2019 Sri Lanka and a Tale of Two Clashes

    2/3

    The overly aggressive route taken by the government in dispersing thedemonstrators was clearly an intrusion in to the populaces right for freespeech. In a further erosion of this fundamental right, media personnelwere prevented from entering the town of Weliweriya while the clashes

    were ongoing. Police and military persons were quick to bar journalists fromentering, and in some instances confiscated cameras of those who wereable to photograph the ongoing battles.While the clashes in Weliweriya, between the protesters and security forces,were sporadic it highlighted the fears of a government that is failing toaddress the numerous concerns of its people. Two weeks prior to theeruption of violence, the residents of the villages of Weliweriya andRathupaswela had been complaining of a contamination to their drinkingwater. The people had simple demands; investigate Dipped Products PLC (asubsidiary of the Hayleys Group) and if found guilty of contaminating the

    water shut them down.These pleas fell on deaf ears. With tensions simmering amongst the locals,it was only a matter of time before a public figure came to the forefront. Inwhat turned out to be the catalyst Minister of Public Relations, Mervyn Silva,and the Buddhist monks of the region looked to force the hand of thegovernment.However, while both parties tried to garner the support of the villagers inactions they considered protecting the voiceless, it was clear the religiouscard trumped that of politics. Silvas attempt to shut the plant down wasshort lived and eventually unsuccessful. Yet the Chief Incumbent of the

    Galoluwa Sri Sambudijayanthi temple, Venerable Theripaha SiridhammaThero, quickly rallied the local masses and drove them forward. His pledgeto fast unto death unless the situation with the water supply was resolvedwon him admiration from his newfound supporters.Despite the people being energised by the head priests apparentdedication to the cause, his supposed religious leanings were not enough toensure the peaceful nature of the protest remained. The demonstrations,which bgean under peaceful conditions, quickly deteriorated with both sides

    http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/walking-away/http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/down-the-alleyway_/http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/watching-from-a-distance_/http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/patrolling-the-backroads-2/http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/1-6/http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/patrolling-the-backroads_/http://groundviews.org/2013/08/13/sri-lanka-and-a-tale-of-two-clashes/mobs-and-cops/
  • 7/27/2019 Sri Lanka and a Tale of Two Clashes

    3/3

    resorting to violence.While the Weliweriya clashes were, as many believe, a case of an overdominant government looking to crack down on freedom of expression; theassault by mobs led by Buddhist monks on the Grandpass mosque was anindicator of a breakdown in religious freedom.Unfortunately, once again reporting by media was limited with journalists

    being forced to resort to social networks in providing live updates. A weekon from a demonstration of the governments unwillingness to toleratemass protests, mobs descended upon a mosque in Grandpass looking toburn it down.Beginning on Saturday night and progressing through Sunday, mobs led byBuddhist monks and subsequently crowds of Muslim men roamed the backlanes of Grandpass attacking homes and innocent bystanders. Many peoplewere forced to stay locked up in the houses throughout Sunday as riotpolice and armed STF personnel patrolled the streets.

    The idea of members of the clergy encouraging a peaceful demonstration

    had clearly been abandoned. Buddhist monks were seen with the crowdsinciting them to continue their assault on the mosque and its occupants. Ina startling revelation, on scene journalists were told that families living inthe area had sent their children away to spend the night in safer suburbs.

    They feared that once the darkness of the night descended, their safetywould no longer be guaranteed.Contrary to the reports reaching the public, journalists and residents wereforced indoors as clashes sporadically erupted amongst the various groups.

    The fear and trauma residents underwent had been fuelled, ironically, bysupposed members of the clergy. It was just a week prior to this that monks

    had been looking to safeguard its people from the neglect of a government.Incidentally the government, who had received widespread criticism for itshandling of the Weliweriya incident, had chosen to take a step back indealing with the roaming mobs. Despite the presence of armed STF, therewas a noticeable decline in intensity on the part of the security forces incontrolling the situation.

    The two clashes have shown us that the religious groups of Sri Lanka aregrowing in extremism, able to muster the masses on to the streets andthreaten the law and order of society. The governments see-sawingreaction to these outcries of the populace leaves many questioning their

    commitment to upholding any semblance of democracy.With the country having just marked its 30th anniversary of the Black Julyriots, the communal clashes in Grandpass was a hideous reminder of whatwe are capable of.