Foreign Affairs – Buddhists Behaving Badly
Posted on August 27th, 2012

Ralph Saunders-Smith.

Mr. Gideon Rose,
Editor,
Foreign Affairs Magazine.

DearƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr. Rose,

Buddhists Behaving Badly

I was readingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the above-mentioned article in yourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…” Foreign AffairsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ publicationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  regardingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the behaviour of Buddhist monks.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I was somewhat bemused and alsoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  surprised by the inaccuracies contained in it. I have an interest in the Island and have travelled a few times there to assess the situation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Many delegations from different countries includingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Britain, Australia, Canada and also bodies such as the UNICEF,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  OCHA (UN Office for the co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) have made very positive comments and submitted reports of that nature to their respective governments and representative organizationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  regarding the progress of that nation since the end of the 26 year war.

I find your 4th paragraph(stated below) a rather fanciful figment of the authorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s imagination

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Militant Buddhism was a driving force behind the 25-year war between the majority Sinhalese (74 percent of the population) and the minority Tamils (18 percent), who were fighting for an independent state in the island’s north and east. (Muslims, who make up six percent of Sri Lanka’s population, were often caught in the middle.) During the war, monks repeatedly undercut efforts to work out a peace agreementƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

This is completely untrue. [1] It was not ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Militant BuddhismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ that was a driving force behind the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”25-yearƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ war. [2] It was the Terrorist mob,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  LTTE. [3] The war was not between the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-majority Sinhalese (82% and not 74 percent of the population) and the minority Tamils (9.4% and not 18 percent)ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚[Wrong Stats] ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They were not killing each other in the towns and villages in Sri Lanka. It was between the Sri Lankan Security Forces and the LTTE. The civilian Tamil population from the North coast was herded by the Tigers right across the country to the east coast (in open view of the INGOƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s operating in the LTTE controlled areas) to be deliberately used as a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Human ShieldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by the terrorists, to stop the advancing Security Forces. And finally, [4] ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-During the war, monks repeatedly did not undercut efforts to work out a peace agreementƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Every time the two parties went for discussions, the LTTE used this period to re-group, re-arm and attack the Security Forces. These are facts I and a few other visitors collected during my visits to Sri Lanka. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

It is sad ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that you try to portray Theravada Buddhism as a violent philosophy. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Christianity, Islam and Hinduism have all been engaged in so-called religious wars at one time or anotherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  in our history but Buddhism has not been down that path. When the US President commits our Forces to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ invade a country he says ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-God Bless AmericaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Does this not sound like ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Holy WarƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Currently our Forces haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  officially invaded three countries and are teaching the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”nativesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ the finer principles of Democracy!! How good is that old chap?

Anyway getting back to your article, you say thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Over the last decade, there have been nearly 100 cases in which Buddhist monks have been charged with sexual abuse of minors, and …….ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Has it been any different with Christianity? And has it been only in the last decade. I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t think a journalist of your calibre need to briefed on paedophilia in the Christian Church. Regarding ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ our country, the French newsagency ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”France 24ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ writes ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-A 2004 investigation found that some 4,400 priests had engaged in sexual abuse of minors in the country between 1950 and 2002, and that the abuse had affected some 11,000 children. The church in the US has paid out millions of dollars to compensate victims and also to avoid drawn-out trialsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ [and also to avoid publicity] Where were our ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-bleeding-heartƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ journalists when a crime of these proportions was taking place??

Since you are a representative of the Government, I can see the angle from where you view Sri Lanka. Her PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  has been a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”naughty boyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and has to be punished and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”brought into lineƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ for disobeying ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”the all-powerful WestƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and ending the terrorist war.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If not, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there will be other ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”naughty boysƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ who will try to follow him. The ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”War CrimesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ stories donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t seem to be catching on, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ so this attack on Buddhism and the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sinhalese MajorityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is a new line of attack. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In order to maintain the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”American EmpireƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I guess, it is necessary to combat what is sometimes called the “threat of a good example.”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If a section of the empire can break off, becomes independent and prosperous it can potentially be very damaging to the Empire, even if it’s a small unimportant area.

Like our recalcitrant neighbour Cuba, Sri Lanka will progress, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with or without our help.
Many quality-of-life statistics show Cuba is doing slightly better than most of its neighbours and they would probably be higher without US sanctions and hostility.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It shows how much of a hell the US has made the rest of Latin America that a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”police stateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ like Cuba could actually do better!!

In conclusion, may I quote a great scientist of our time, on Buddhism “The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. “Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.”– Albert Einstein

Congratulations, Foreign Affairs, for this most ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”informativeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ article which, as we say here, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-all hat, no cattleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Keep up the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”goodƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ work.

Cheers,

Ralph Saunders-Smith.

11 Responses to “Foreign Affairs – Buddhists Behaving Badly”

  1. S de Silva Says:

    Thanks Ralph Saunders-Smith for your words putting right the ignorance of the Foreign Affairs Magazine.

    Just adding to the words of Einstein, if I may with humility, ” Time creates, changes and destroys everything but time itself needs no creator – it exists and does away with the concept of a ‘creator God’. And the only major religion that for this reasoning has no such God is in fact Buddhism and fits in this respect with accepted scientific knowledge – S de Silva – London

  2. Vijendra Says:

    Thank you very much Mr. Saunders-Smith for setting the score straight. Isn’t it a shame that the most powerful country in the world is bankrupt on any humility, decency, honesty and integrity and hell-bent on ruining any other country that may not take the

  3. Vijendra Says:

    Thank you very much Mr. Saunders-Smith for setting the score straight. Isn’t it a shame that the most powerful country in the world is bankrupt on any humility, decency, honesty and integrity and hell-bent on ruining any other country that may not take theThank you very much Mr. Saunders-Smith for setting the score straight. Isn’t it a shame that the most powerful country in the world is bankrupt on humility, decency, honesty and integrity and hell-bent on ruining any other country that may not take their orders? Shame on them! (Sorry for inadvertently hitting the submit button before completion of the post)

  4. Lorenzo Says:

    Well written.

    “Militant Buddhism was a driving force behind the 25-year war between the majority Sinhalese (74 percent of the population) and the minority Tamils (18 percent), who were fighting for an independent state in the island’s north and east.”

    What total BS.

    IF there was a war between Sinhalas and Tamils it would have been fought in COLOMBO TO A FINISH NOT in north and east !!!

  5. nandimitra Says:

    Militant Buddhism is a response to the immorality that Sri Lanka has been subjugated in the last 200 years of colonialism and neo colonialism of a christian led world order. The problem is that the christians especially the white christians have a selective amnesia to the immorality of this christian dominated empire that pretends to be secular. The Tamils have yet not realised that they are been used for cannon fodder to achieve the geo political aims of the west.

  6. Dilrook Says:

    Thank you Ralph for taking your time to inform the Foreign Affairs magazine for their absurd outburst.

    Foreign Affairs magazine has fallen to the junk category thanks to its racist article targeting a peaceful community for no real reason.

    Mentioning of the word “recalcitrant” in the context is very apt. It is a word used by old and new colonials and their agents to victimise nations and their legitimate rulers for not bowing down to colonial demands.

    In 1998 the Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating infamously called Malaysia and Dr Mahathir Mohommad the legendary Prime Minister of Malaysia “recalcitrant” for not accepting the IMF loan. During this time Malaysia and other regional countries were going through the Asian Currency Crisis created by the West including George Soros (the ‘good hearted’ philanthropist!). Malaysia badly needed the IMF package.

    However, the IMF package had too many political conditions included therein by Western agents (including Australian). Their plan was the dismantle Malaysia and destabilize it by the name of democracy, human rights and good governance. They blamed Malaysia for “crony” capitalism.

    Malaysia rejected the IMF offer. It bounced back in no time and now invests in the West. By rejecting it Malaysia maintained political stability and a level and shape of human rights that suit Malaysia (not the West).

    If someone in the West calls Sri Lanka, “recalcitrant”, it means Sri Lanka is doing the right thing.

    Not all IMF assistance is bad. Loans with political conditions are certainly worthless.

  7. seruvila senarath Says:

    Many thanks and a salute to Mr Ralph Saunders-Smith.

    As a foreigner ,He has clearly noticed what is happening in the Terrorist’s war in SRi Lanka.
    Some foreign interests are keen on destabilizing the sri lankan economy at the same time.giving misinformation to inflame a religious war within .
    there is no ethnic deference in Sri Lanka. but mismanagement of the government and economy as advises by World Bank . I M F and Business Mafia.

  8. Fran Diaz Says:

    Sri Lankans have been FORCED TO FIGHT, over THOUSANDS OF YEARS, IN DEFENSE OF THEIR MOTHERLAND. Also, ALL Sri Lankans, not just Buddhists, are forced to fight off INVADERS, usually Tamils from Tamil Nadu area. It is not a Buddhist Issue. It is a matter of Security and Survival. To practice Buddhism or any other religion, we have to first Survive.

    In the past, Islands such as Britain have had to defend their homeland in similar ways as in Sri Lanka. Why not Sri Lanka ? Of course, we now need to now defend Sri Lanka’s integrity in the ancient way, such as guarding our coastlines against illegal migrants. The practice of guarding our coastlines was discontinued during some 500 yrs of Colonial rule, resulting in the pouring in of Tamil people from Tamil Nadu seeking to get away from Caste/Povety issues.

    Currently, it is the Tamils who flee Tamil Nadu due to Caste/Poverty issues. There are thousands of Tamil illegal migrants in Sri Lanka. Chief Minister Jayalalitha wants to off load many more thousands in the Tamil Nadu refugee camps into Sri Lanka. The Sirima/Shasthri Pact was never honored, and thousands of Tamils stayed on in Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu has enough Resources to take care of all their Tamil people. Tamil Nadu Caste problems can be mitigated by creating CASTE FREE ZONES within Tamil Nadu (e.g. Nilgiri surrounds) which are tri-lingual (Tamil, English, Hindi), with some economic liberty.

    Foreigners rarely understand the complex situation in Sri Lanka. It may be that we will have to write in over a long period of time to show them the truth of the matter. Foreigners are also fodder for Tamils for Ltte Abroad (TLA) as they are bribed with money & votes.

  9. Marco Says:

    William McGowan in his article in Foreign Affairs (now banned in Sri Lankan Consulates) failed to mention that the Sinhala Buddhist majority continue to abdicate their responsibility and “status” by allowing the opportunistic politicians to “hijack” and steal their language and religion for short term political gains.

  10. M.S.MUDALI Says:

    Fran:
    You are barking so much about others. Why cannot you open your mouth against the UNP which gave weapons and carved out an area for LTTE?

    Blaming Jayalalithaa or others is useless while Sinhalese help terror against their own people!

  11. Fran Diaz Says:

    Mudali,

    You are barking up the wrong tree again ! The UNP is not the crux of the problem.

    UNP was FORCED to give weapons & attempt to carve out an area for the ltte. The UNP of the old times was very different and was not swayed by negative forces from outside, very different to the UNP of the Cold War times. It was the Cold War that took away the good in the UNP. We have gone through all these explainations before. It is just that you may never accept the truth of this matter. I am closing this chapter of writing.

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