Sunday, 8 September 2013

Sri Lanka Perspectives - August 2013



Col R Hariharan

Highlights
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanetham Pillay concluding a week-long visit to Sri Lanka has expressed deep concern at the signs of Sri Lanka heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction. She was on “fact finding mission” for assessing the progress made on implementation of LLRC recommendations as per UNHCR resolution.
  • Targeted attacks on Muslims continue as Buddhist extremists’ attack yet another mosque at Grand pass in Colombo while congregation was praying. This has evoked strong reaction from Muslim community. 
  • Allegations of Sinhala colonisation mount as relocation of more Sinhala families in Amparai District in the east and Mannar District in the north have been reported. This has drawn strong protests from Tamil parties.
  • Sri Lanka-India relations turn frosty after Sri Lanka did not respond India’s request to release 114 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested and prosecuted poaching in Sri Lanka waters.
UN representative’s visit

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms Navanetham Pillay at a news conference at the conclusion of her week-long visit to Sri Lanka on August 31 expressed deep concern at Sri Lanka “showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction,” despite the opportunity provided by the end of the war to construct a new, vibrant, all-embracing state.  

Ms Pillay covered every aspect of the Human Rights situation in Sri Lanka, the UN Human Rights that concerned not only the war-related issues but a whole raamge of issues including the Welweriya incident, the militarisation of the North, the Welikada prisons massacre, rising religious tensions and other issues. She condemned the reported surveillance and harassment of those who met her and said the UN considered such reprisals against people because they have talked to UN officials as an extremely serious matter.

Ms Pillay said she was "surprised" by the government 'playing down' growing religious discord by way of attacks on 'churches and mosques' and urged the authorities to take action against the perpetrators.

Striking a personal note, she said that for several years she had been described as a tool of the LTTE because of her Tamil origin and  she found it “deeply offensive.” And this type of abuse had reached “an extraordinary crescendo during this past week, with at least three Government Ministers joining in” she added. Evidently she was referring to mindless remarks of persons like Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva who was reported expression of his willingness to marry her!

Sri Lanka's official statement on her meeting with the President said, "President Rajapaksa told Pillay that the people of the country believe the United Nations is a biased organization...They believe that your report has already prejudged (Sri Lanka)," it quoted. The President described the reported incidents of religious intolerance she referred to as isolated ones and generally Sri Lankans lived amicably.  Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa briefed Ms Pillay on the development programmes launched in the North during and after the war when she met him. During her visit Northern and Eastern provinces and met a wide cross section of people including community leaders, fishermen, political leaders, and civil society members.

Attacks on Muslims 

Muslim youth came out in large numbers to defend themselves when armed Buddhist extremists’ carried out a brazen attack on a mosque in the Grand Pass area of Colombo on August 10, 2013 even as prayers were going on in the mosque. Eruption of violent clash between the two religious groups was avoided when police escorted the Buddhist miscreants to safety. The inaction of the policemen to prevent the attack has raised the level of insecurity among Muslims who have been targeted by Buddhist extremist groups for some time now. Last month, a mob of masked men attacked a well established mosque in Mahiyangana when Ramadan prayers were going on inside. 

Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has written to the Inspector General of Police demanding a high level investigation into the failure of the police to disperse mobs responsible that attacked the mosque and damaged several houses in the area. He has forwarded a DVD containing the video footage of the incident with the letter.  

There appears to be studied indifference in the Administration to take preventive action to restore confidence among minority religious communities in Sri Lanka. This has encouraged the growth Buddhist extremism, and its backlash could provide a fertile ground for the growth of Islamic fundamentalism.  

Sinhala colonisation in Tamil areas

Sinhala colonization in Welioya region in Vanni was one of the issues that triggered Tamil militancy in the 80s. After the Eelam war ended Tamils had been repeatedly complaining of increased number of Sinhalese being settled as relocation of Sinhalese families driven out by the LTTE in the 20s. Headlines Today TV featured what it called an extract of an official letter of Government Agent of Mannar District asking another official to iidentify suitable land and complete survey to relocate 500 Sinhala families in a protected environment in the district. 

In the Eastern Province, TNA parliamentarians in Batticaloa staged a peaceful protest in front of Paddippazhai Divisional Secretariat  against the Sinhalicisation of three Tamil villages. TamilNet reported that the army proposes to build a massive Buddhist complex at the site of an ancient Kali temple at Verukal in Trincomalee district. A five-foot tall Buddha statue is said to have already been installed at the temple site.  

While the increased political emphasis on this issue could be due to the provincial council election, there is definitely an ongoing attempt to settle Sinhalas along communication lines in the North and in Amparai district in the east. Theoretically, there is nothing wrong with it as Tamils who moved out of Northern Province during the LTTE days have settled in Sinhala-dominant towns in the South; but such relocations in large numbers could affect the environment in Tamil areas already charged with complaints of Sinhala triumphalism and militarisation. 

Sri Lanka-India relations 

Sri Lanka-India relations already under stress after India voted for U.S. sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka in the UNHCR meeting last March, dipped further after Sri Lanka did not respond to India’s request to release 114 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested for poaching in Sri Lanka waters. India’s plea that this was contrary to assurances given to the Indian Government, in a joint statement issued after the visit of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to New Delhi on October 26, 2008. The statement said, “Keeping in mind the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of the fishermen issue, India and Sri Lanka have agreed to put in place practical arrangements to deal with bona fide Indian and Sri Lankan fisherman crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).” And such an arrangement has been in force. 

It is significant that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh did not confirm his participation in the CHOGM when Sri Lanka External Affairs Minister Prof Peiris visited New Delhi and delivered the invitation to him. This has given rise to speculation that India might rethink the level of its CHOGM participation. 

Miscellaneous

Journalist’s house ransacked: A gang of five armed men invaded and ransacked the home of Mrs Mandana Ismail Abewickrema Associate Editor of “The Sunday Leader,” a weekly newspaper, and carried away valuables. It was alleged that they were looking for some documents and attempted to kidnap her. However, the timely arrival of policemen drove them out. Police shot and killed one of the intruders and injured two others. The other two members of the gang have been apprehended. The incident has shocked Sri Lankan journalists in Colombo who have been violent retribution for their critical political comments for some time now. The Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickremesinghe was killed in broad daylight and his successor Frederica Jansz was hounded out of the country after they wrote critical articles.  However, army spokesman has denied any involment of the army in the incident at Ms Abewickrema.
 
Written on August 31, 2013
Courtesy: South Asia Security Trends, September 2013 issue Vol 7 No 8
www.security-risks.com


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