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By Camelia Nathaniel

With all the actions of the BBS having been taken lightly by the government in the past, it seems that this time, with the Aluthgama incident which almost led the country back into another ethnic conflict, the government has to take some severe action against them. It is rather alarming though to note that despite the deployment of the large numbers of police and STF personnel, the rioting continued unabated for several hours causing much damage to property, businesses, places of worship, and loss of life.

Furthermore it is ironic that the government of Sri Lanka totally ignores all the insults and actions levelled against them by the Ven. Gnanasara. In the Aluthgama rally last week, the Ven. Gnanasara blatantly insulted the ministers including the president referring to him as a man without brains. “If the president was a man with brains, would he appoint a Muslim as the minister of Justice,” he questioned.

His speech clearly is provocative and incites racial violence, and at a time when the country is just recovering from a war that devastated the country for 30 long years, should these extremists, be it Muslim or Sinhalese, be allowed to once again drag this country into darkness and misery?

However as for the BBS they claim that they had been invited there by the Buddhist temples and organizations in the area to address this meeting, subsequent to the alleged assaulting of a monk on his way to a sermon on Poya Day by two Muslim youths. According to the Ven. Gnanasara, the two Muslim youths had stopped the trishaw in which the monk was travelling and had abused him and even assaulted him, including the driver of the trishaw.

“The monk had then gone to the Kurunduwatta Sri Vijayarama Temple and told the chief monk what had taken place. The monks had then informed Colombo and gone to the police station to lodge a complaint regarding the assault,” he added. But the Ven. Gnanasara said that the police had been indifferent and did not take any action to arrest the perpetrators. Therefore the monks and several other Buddhist organizations in the area had informed the BBS of the situation and called for a meeting to be held in protest of the manner in which the monk was treated.

According to the BBS, the meeting was held peacefully and after the meeting, they had asked the people to remain calm and return to their homes without creating any issues. But the Ven. Gnanasara added that having dispersed the crowds, they had decided to drop the monk who was assaulted to the temple on their way to the highway to return to Colombo. “However in spite of us wanting a peaceful conclusion to the issue, when the convoy of around four vehicles were proceeding toward the temple, the two vehicles that were travelling in front were attacked with stones by persons inside the Mosque premises.

That was when the people got agitated and began attacking the Muslim shops. We wanted a peaceful settlement to the issue but we cannot remain like cowards and run when we are attacked,” retorted the Ven. Gnanasara. “But when the Sinhala mobs began attacking the Muslim shops and were running amok, the Rev. Witharandeniye Nanda Thero intervened and managed to calm the crowds and disperse them. In spite of our attempts, the police simply stood there doing nothing and I blame them for the mayhem that followed as it was their incapability and blatant indifference to the whole issue that let the whole situation went out of control,” added Gnanasara Thero.

However, according to new video footage released by Azath Salley, the BBS monks together with their supporters had in fact not proceeded peacefully as claimed by the BBS in four vehicles, but instead they had been marching in large numbers shouting slogans. The chief priest of the Mohiyadeen Jumma Mosque is seen in the video calming the Muslims within the mosque premises and preventing them from coming out onto the road where the march was taking place. Just then some youth in the procession suddenly starts attacking the mosque with stones taken out of bags they were carrying. If this is what occurred that day that led to the chaos that followed, then the BBS’s claims that they were travelling in a peaceful convoy of just four vehicles will be disproved.

The BBS had been involved in several incidents where Christian churches were attacked in the past too and is known for their intolerance of minority faiths.

However, it seems that the actions of the BBS is getting out of hand and they have in fact simply taken the law into their own hands. In fact they have openly criticized the police force for being inactive and claimed to be the unofficial police force in the country. However, in spite of the insults and accusations levelled against them, the BBS seems to continue to enjoy impunity regardless of their actions. This situation raises questions as to their position within the country and raises the question as to who is protecting them?
Sometime last year the BBS was summoned by the Defence Secretary and the then the Army Commander for a meeting that was held behind closed doors.

At this meeting the BBS was warned to stop their provocative actions that were creating tension among the majority Sinhalese Buddhists and the minority religions. It is believed that the the Ven. Gnanasara Thero was also asked to tone down his manner of speech which is viewed by many as being very aggressive and violent.

Meanwhile, due to the actions of the extremist elements, there have been several incidents taking place throughout the country that is clearly aimed at creating racial tensions and instigating violent clashes.

Last week in Horana, someone had thrown a burning tyre into a mosque and also a Sinhala shop, clearly aimed at instigating clashes between the communities. Further police had also recovered some posters also in Horana that were clearly provocating Sinhalese against the Muslims. A Buddha statue covered in a glass box had also been damaged in a stoning incident in the Kotiyakumbura area. This was clearly to provocate the Buddhists. Then a girls’ hostel in Samanthurei, where Sinhala girls were residing, was also stoned last week. Four Muslim youth were arrested on Wednesday while attempting to burn tyres on the road in the Palamunei area. Two CTB busses were also stoned in the Saindaramadu area last Wednesday as well. Petrol bombs, knives and stones were also recovered from a Buddhist temple and a Muslim shop in Dharga Town also last week. Further the Army had arrested several Sinhala youth while setting a

Sinhala shop ablaze in the Dharga Town as well to instigate clashes.
In analyzing these incidents that took place following the Aluthgama incident, it is evident that certain organized groups are attempting to create clashes between the Muslim and Sinhala communities.

Hence the actions and behavioral mannerisms of the BBS is a clear indication of inciting violence and communal clashes between the communities.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the Ampata District came to a standstill as the people observed a full scale hartal in condemnation of the violence unleashed on Muslims in the Aluthgama, Beruwala, Dhargaha Town and Welippenna areas in the South.
The hartal, observed in Kalmunai, Sammanthurai, Sainthamaruthu, Maruthamunai and Nintavur in the Ampara District was called by the Ampara District All Mosques Federation and Ampara District Jammiyathul Ulama. Normal day-to-day activities came to a standstill in these areas. Schools, banks, all government and private offices were closed and the streets were deserted.

Military does not condone such acts
Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya

Military does not condone such acts and we believe that such activities should not take place in this country which is just emerging out of a conflict and these things will only pave the way for outsiders to start fingering into the internal affairs of the country. I do not know the agendas of these extremist organizations but they should understand the bigger picture and carry out their activities without providing room for the greater common enemy, which is the international pressure, that is placed upon the country, to take advantage of our vulnerability.

These activities and incidents will only provide fertile ground for external elements to exert more pressure on the government and also justify their position in the eyes of the international community. In the wider world there are a large number of countries that do not believe those lies propagated by the Diaspora led elements. But incidents of this nature could provide the fertile ground necessary for the enemies of the country to sow the seeds of suspicion in the eyes of those countries about the actual situation prevailing in Sri Lanka.

This incident that occurred in Aluthgama had in fact been amicably resolved by the parties who were there. Then from outside these other organizations had gone and provocated the people having rallies in a very provocative manner and instigated a certain level of anti Muslim sentiments in the area which led to the mayhem. However, the entire incident cannot be judged on what we see in the media and the police will have to conduct a thorough investigation and deal with those found guilty. However it is evident that all parties involved had acted irresponsibly whether be Muslim or Buddhist, without thinking of the repercussions their action would bring about.

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BBS Did Not Seek Permission
Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana

The BBS did not seek permission to stage a rally but they only requested permission to hold a Sasanarakshaka Bala Mandala meeting, claiming that it would be held to welcome the injured monk who was being discharged from hospital that day and returning to the temple. The BBS had also attended this event but they had not sought our permission to hold any rally.

Hence we spoke to the Muslim community leaders and since they had agreed to take care of their community and prevent any clashes and raised no objections to the BBS meeting we allowed it. The Buddhist clergy too assured us that they would not provocate Muslims and it would be held peacefully, and since it was agreed upon mutual understanding between both parties, we did not prevent it.

However, during the speech by the BBS General Secretary the Ven. Gnanasara Thero, there were certain insults levelled against the government, including the President, but we were not aware of his intentions to hold such a speech and it was a sudden and spontaneous speech that we had no control over. But the CID has commenced investigations regarding that incident and the actions and speech by the Ven. Gnanasara and following completion of the investigation, measures will be taken to bring those responsible to book.

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Attack on Vijitha Thero

By Binoy Suriyaarachchi

There are more questions than answers on the attack on Venerable Watareka Vijitha Thero, as he refuses to talk to the police, sources from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told The Sunday Leader.

An inquiring team attached to the Panadura police is reported to have visited Vijitha Thero at the Colombo General hospital three times, but could not record a statement in connection with the incident.

According to police, the location where the monk resided over night prior to the incident is still unknown. “The monk says that he resided at a house located somewhere in Panadura. But he does not come up with name or address,” a CID officer said. The police investigation teams are yet to reveal whether the monk was abducted while traveling in a vehicle or abducted from the house.

Police sources added that Vijitha Thero tries to get himself discharged from the hospital and walk away. “When a medical officer or a police officer inspects his medical condition, he speaks. But when queried on the assault he remains silent. He doesn’t talk much about the incident. Sooner or later, the Thero will have to give a statement,” said the officer. According to police, Vijitha Thero has stated that a group of persons in robes has assaulted him.

BBS denies allegations

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has come under severe criticism by the civil organisations following the attack on Vijitha Thero.
However Executive Committee Member of the BBS Dilantha Withanage speaking to The Sunday Leader said that the BBS condemns the attack on the Thero. He strongly opposed any involvement by the BBS in this incident.

“It is like commiting suicide, for us to attack Vijitha Thero. This is a conspiracy to damage our image. We believe that whoever attacked the thero wanted to take advantage of the BBS and blame us for the attack on the thero” said Withanage.
He pointed out that the clash that erupted in Aluthgama a few minutes after the BBS meeting on May 15 was a preplanned conspiracy. “The BBS calls the police to conduct an unbiased investigation in to those incidents,” Withanage added.General Secretary of the BBS venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero refused to comet on the incident. The BBS was at the loggerhead with Vijitha Thero as he was a fierce critic of the BBS as the Convener of the Jathika Bala Sena (JBS). The prominent members of the BBS used the name Mohamed Vijitha when referring to the thero during media conferences. The BBS alleged that the monk has links with Islamic fundamentalists.

Vijitha Thero who is also a UPFA member to the Mahiyangana Pradeshiya Sabha was found near the Hirana Bridge in Panadura with his hands and legs tied with saffron robes. The Police suspect that the thero was abducted and later dumped at the location after being beaten.

“He is out of danger” hospital sources.
Sources from the Colombo General Hospital said that the medical condition of the Thero is stable. “He is out of danger. There were minor cut injuries in his face, shoulders, and stomach,” a medical officer said.
Apart from the preliminary medical treatments, Vijitha Thero has undergone a scan test to ascertain whether there are any internal injuries.

Vijitha Thero was initially admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Panadura Base hospital, and later transferred to the Accident Ward of the Colombo General Hospital for further treatment.

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/06/22/bbs-blamed-for-irresponsible-action/