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
Written on August 31, 2013
Courtesy: South Asia Security Trends, September 2013 issue Vol 7 No 8
www.security-risks.com
No comments:
Post a Comment