Monday, 29 April 2019

Sri Lanka terrorist attacks: Questions & Answers - April 22, 201

Col R Hariharan April 22, 2019

Following are my answers to the questions from Norwegian newspaper Klassekampen  on April 21, 2019

1. What do you know about the National Thowfeek Jamaath – the organization allegedly responsible for the bombings?

The correct name is National Thowheed Jamaath (and not as you have given). It is  a small radical Islamic outfit which claims to follow “true Islam” – the concept of Tawhid meaning “oneness of God” – monotheism and decries praying at the tomb of Islamic saints (dargah) which is common among more tolerant Sufis, who are more in number. It had no known organisation or capability to carryout serial attacks of the type seen on Easter Sunday by itself.

NTJ came into prominence last year after its leader Hasheem gained notoriety by preaching blasphemy against Buddhism and Buddha followed by majority Sri Lankans. Presumably NTJ’s radical ideology attracted Sri Lankan Muslims returning from IS ranks to their country after IS was defeated during 2017-18. 

The NTJ probably gained traction during the year 2018, which saw anti-Muslim riots of the worst kind carried out by Sinhala Buddhist mobs. It began in Ampara town end February 2018, spread to Kandy district by beginning of March 2018. Buddhist mobs attacked Muslims, mosques and their properties and mobs of Muslims retaliated in kind. The government declared a state of emergency and deployed armed forces to crack down on troublemakers arresting 81people. The government revealed that about 465 houses businesses and vehicles were destroyed.  It left a deep scar in the psyche of Muslim community who had voted President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to power in the hope it would be more equitable in governance, after the Aluthagama anti-Muslim riots in 2014, under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dispensation.

The NTJ should not be confused with Tamil Nadu Towheeth Jamaat (TNTJ) which is a non political Islamic organization based in Tamil Nadu. Founded in 2004, TNTJ claims to preach “true Islam” – the concept of Tawhid meaning “oneness of God” – monotheism.  Its founder Jainulabdeen had been holding peaceful protests on issues affecting Muslims like reservation for Muslims and destruction of Babri Masjid. However, TNTJ’s efforts in Sri Lanka to propagate Towheeth ideology was not popular among Muslims, who are mostly Sufis.  The organization has however gained prominence in Tamil Nadu for its social welfare activities including blood donation and providing disaster relief.  '
2.  What has happened inside the government of Sri Lanka? They had prior warning, but did not act. Why?

Sri Lanka police and security forces have rich experience of fighting the dreaded separatist outfit LTTE. Deputy inspector general Priyalal Dassanayaka sent a letter on April 11 warning that NTJ the radical Islamist outfit, was planning nationwide attacks on churches and on Indian high commission.
However, the security forces seem to have not acted upon it with the seriousness it deserved perhaps because the NTJ is a small radical outfit had gained a lot of notoriety by defacing Buddha statues last year. Unless NTJ had developed close links with Jihadi terrorist groups, it would neither have the resources nor the capability to carry out such coordinated attacks. Evidently, Sri Lanka did not keep track of these developments and take preventive action; so the attacks represent a colossal security failure.

Sri Lankan Muslim community had been generally peacefully coexisting with the majority Buddhist majority and Christian minority. Although majority of Muslims speak Tamil, they have always tried to stand clear during two decades of Tamil separatist war, despite grave provocative actions of the LTTE. Though periodically Sinhala fringe elements had carried out anti-Muslim riots, presumably aided by political vested interests, generally the government had been supportive.  This is probably another reason for police complacency. 

Another reason could be political polemics between President Maithripala Sirisena, who controls defence and public security ministry and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe after the President tried to sack the PM three months back. Their differences seem to have interfered with national security preparedness. The PM admitted to the media that the information about the attacks had been received in advance but denied having direct knowledge himself. “We must look into why adequate precautions were not taken. Neither I nor the ministers were kept informed.” Between the two they seem to have damaged national preparedness against terrorist threat despite getting advance information. 

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