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 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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