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By  The Nation Sunday, 13 July 2014

A response to article by Chameera Dedduwge’s article “Thank you ‘Thambi’!” published last week

My Dear Sinhala Aiyye, I read your article which was published on 6th July in ‘Nation Newspaper’ under the heading of ‘Thank you My Thambi’. Firstly Aiyye I think you did not have a better and decent heading other than the one you used because your intention was to insult the community which your beloved Thambi belongs to.

Secondly Aiyye when I saw this article I was little disappointed. More than that I was surprised. I was wondering whether that was the same Aiyya who had lived with me for years with cordial relationship and with better understanding. Aiyye to be honest I was observing your behavior since 2005. I saw some changes in your attitude especially after May 2009. Nevertheless my sentiments are not what are important, but I need to respond to your article by which you have insulted the community which I belong to.

The article you had written Aiyye can easily be linked to a famous Sinhala saying of ‘ OLUWA  ATHA- GA-TOKU ANEEMA’. In political term Aiyye it can be described as ‘ Jaathiwadayata Manushika Muhunuwarak’ (human face to racism).Aiyye, you started with Sri Lanka and Pakistan cricket matches. You yourself mentioned it was very few Thambees who were supporting Pakistan. Aiyye you have become so matured and not sure why you worry about handful of people. It is very similar to when cricket matches took place between Ananda and Zahira. One or two Sinhalese students in Zahira College were supporting Ananda College. But we are intelligent enough to ignore such foolishness. It is an individual act and depends on how you were brought up. 

Then Aiyye you talk about my halaal food. I still remember Aiyye the times when you and I happily sat together and took part meals in the same bowl. Do you remember Aiyye you told me ‘machan’ this is chicken and cautioned me from eating meat which we were not sure of. Sometimes you prevented me eating pork when I was trying to have it by mistake. Aiyye, you did not want me to eat pork and later conned me. How nice of you Aiyye. Also Aiyye do you remember some of our Buddhist friends who wanted separate plates and did not eat from the same bowl you and I shared food. This is because they were vegetarians.  I together with you and the rest of the crowd did not mock at them because we respected their beliefs. But Aiyye what happened to you all of a sudden?  You have become so narrow-minded Aiyye. Don’t do this Aiyye.

Aiyye you mentioned that we wanted new mosques and loudspeakers and you allowed us because you also build temples and use loudspeakers. So Aiyye your theory is you will give me only what you have. But Aiyye to take it in that manner I do not follow Buddhism (But respect) but I follow Islam. According to your theory what is not in Buddhism should not be made available for those practicing Islam. Aiyye do you remember one day when we went on a trip, you took me miles away from our guest house for a Friday Prayers? You were blaming the authorities why they couldn’t have a mosque closeby even though you took me by the car and the villages in that area do not have vehicles. What happened to you Aiyye all of a sudden?

Now Aiyye you talk about building Madrasas. Aiyye you send your children to’ Daham paasal’ and you don’t’ want my children to go to their ‘Daham pasal’? When my children go to Sinhalese or Tamil schools, Islamic Daham Paasal are not allowed there (which is fair enough). Tell me Aiyye, what is the alternative for my Children to learn about their religion? So Aiyye is it fair only for your children to learn about religion. Our Proud father especially after May 2009 always says that there are only two ‘jaatheen’ (races) in this country;  one is those who love the country and one who don’t, meaning all have same rights. But I am sure Aiyye you are a follower of our Proud father and why don’t you take good things out of him and leave bad things.

Then Aiyye you talk about our marriages. You say after marrying a Sinhalese girl ‘Thambiyaas’ force the girl to become Muslim. You may be correct Aiyye, but unfortunately you know only such few cases. But Aiyye if you come with me I will show you how nicely Muslim husbands who have married to Sinhalese girls,  are living peacefully by practicing their own religions. Once again Aiyye it is how you were brought up and how best you understand principles of your religion. So Aiyye it is based on individuals. Don’t you think Aiyye even in your community and my community there are husbands who promise a wonderful life before marriage, but become so harsh on their wives due to so many external pressures?. So is it not individual reactions?

Also Aiyye you mentioned that there is law in Islam which allows marriage to marry girls, under age of 16. My dear Aiyye could you please show me where that law is coming from with correct source and quotes?Aiyye you accused us of building Dharga nagars (towns) in your Sinhalese lands. Once again I humbly request you to follow what is our proud father says at every Independence Day and war heroes, celebration day.

Then you talk about Aluthgama. You are trying to prove the first stone came from the mosque. I don’t blame you Aiyye even the entire cabinet including head of the cabinet were debating who threw the first stone, whether a thambiya or Sinhala Aiyya.? They did not query how come so many houses were destroyed and more than 3 lives were lost while thousands of police and STF were being deployed. Childish isn’t it Aiyye? All right Aiyye even if we believe the first stone came from the mosque, how come houses which were 100m to 2km away from the mosque also burnt? When I mocked at you at our class you did not harm every Muslim student in our school?

Aiyye you have accepted your people (Sinhalese) went crazy in Aluthgama. But this is not true Aiyye. It is not Sinhalese people. By making claims about your people don’t put the blame on the entire Sinhalese community. It is very unfair by them and paints a bad image on the Sinhalese, internationally. It was well planned and organized mobs that carried out this attack on thambees.

Now Aiyye you say finally everything was settled. You say the government has paid Rs. 200mn. So you think Aiyye wounds of Muslims can be erased with this Rs. 200mn even though it is not sufficient. Aiyye, looks like you are worried about the ‘Hartaal’. But Aiyye we are in a country where when a private bus driver is being attacked, all private busses go on strike. So Aiyye don’t you think that we have a right to show our displeasure to the Government for their inaction? 
Finally Aiyye you say we have forgotten that we have people like Muthalib and Imtiaz Bakeer marker in our community and also you Aiyye. You have forgotten people like Vijaya Kumarathunga and Wickramabahu Karunarathna who are not racist by any means.  But what you don’t know Aiyye is both Muthalib and Imtiaz are cautious about their halaal food. They went to Madrasas and they follow Islamic law in their personal life. But Aiyye people like you and some others who claim themselves as moderate Buddhists always use the names of Muthalib and Imtiaz and attack rest of the Thambees. This is what you call Aiyye ‘Oluwa Atha Ga Toku Aneema’. PLEASE DON’T DO THIS MY SINHALa AIYYE. THIS IS TOO MUCH. ENOUGH.
Mumtaz Rahman
Colombo 3

http://www.nation.lk/edition/lens/item/31187-from-a-%E2%80%98thambi%E2%80%99-toan-%E2%80%98aiyya%E2%80%99.html