Ernest Perera

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Look here these Friday Forum fatigue needs a good dosage of ground realities. I am beginning to get sick and tired of these ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚know it allsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ telling us what and how we should behave. We do not need their recipes because the public will beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ appalledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to know exactly what type of track record this Friday Forum leader has. It ainƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t too nice to canvass about.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LetƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s see now. How many in this ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-educatedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ circle are really aware that their leader was the architect of 3 principle documents that virtually handed over Sri Lanka to the LTTE? CanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t guessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ does PTOMS, ISGA and 2002 Ceasefire ring a bell? Well this man who is steering the Friday Forum goes round the world singing hosannaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s for the 2002 ceasefire and we know how detrimental that agreement was to Sri Lanka and he was not a lone ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” who else but our “ready to give Sri Lanka” foreign ministry head joined too. Less said about him the better.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So what right does this Dhanapala have to be giving lessons on peace and harmony? Does he have a consistent clean sheet to project himself as a role model that we humble beings should listen to?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I dare say all the English papers will give full publicity to this statement starting with the Daily Mirror and the Island Newspaper ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” they are ever ready to carry anything that degrades the Buddhists. The Island newspaper in fact has gone to hire the former editor of a state newspaper that held Bible lessons by force for Buddhists and I am told he had got a Buddhist to write as a Muslim scoffing the Buddhists having given an exclusive column for this purpose. I am ashamed he belongs to my faith. We are not brought up to be doing such reprehensible acts. The owners of these newspapers need to seriously evaluate how unbiased these editors are and remove them forthwith for they are doing greater harm than good using their pen.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This Buddhist bashing needs to stop ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” every area of Colombo circles are run by non-Buddhists and just because the cocktail circles do not have Buddhists to counter these open humiliations it does not mean the people outside Colombo give a fig to what these forum fellows (and ladies) say.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Did anyone care to ask how GLP and Dhanapala had their foundations started and who funded them ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ seek the answers and pandoras box will open to a lot of ugly secrets.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why is it that Buddhists are always being blamed. Is it the orders that have been given? Where were these forum people when Buddhists lost everything in Bangladesh. Not a word came from Dhanapala and now he is shedding crocodile tears. Give me a break!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This group represents the social elite of Colombo ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” they move on a selective basis with a selective clan of people and follow a selective theme of topics. Do they vote SLPA/PA ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” I doubt that very much.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For his role in the damage done to the country Jayantha Dhanapala deserves to be considered a person non grata in society because thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s the type of betrayal he has committed to the nation. His education, knowledge and background should have been amply enough to advice the Government not to walk into what it was walking into ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” instead his personal fancies got in the way. This is not a personal attack but to clearly place on record what people like Dhanapala and his forums are doing to Sri Lanka post-conflict.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the Forum learned as they are, wish to project a concern that concern must be advocated in a balanced way. There is no balance in this statement and the signatories themselves should be equally ashamed as to why they have endorsed a biased document.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Are the Buddhists going after the Muslims without a reason ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” do they have nothing else to do but to go after Muslims. I say no. The Buddhists have clearly spelled their grievances and they have done so defining all the points. Why are these points not articulated ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” there is no mention that the Buddhists have raised concerns about Muslims suddenly putting up mosques everywhere even close to Buddhist sacred areas, that Muslims have encroached on temple lands, that halal certificate is only a business farce and ironically it is the people indulging in all sorts of harams that are insisting on halal. Is it so difficult for the forum to understand the logic of why 91% of the population should have to be subject to the religious dictates of 9% of the population. If so the Buddhists who are 70% can demand no animal slaughter and they have every right to do so because the special place for Buddhism is enshrined in the Constitution. What about the public nuisance brought about by loudspeakers and women now dressed covered in black ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the police should put a stop to this asap because any rogue can go dressed like them and get upto mischief. Where are the misdeeds of the Muslims why are they not included into this statement ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” surely that is what is called a balanced argument!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Besides I have no understanding of this Muslim faith ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” they can take haram stuff when they want to and define it as life and death situation and when they want to they can take blood which is also haram ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ and the poor Pentecostals who say they donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t take medicine for medicine is haram according to them will even die because thatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s their belief. Anyhow I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t want to waste my time arguing a religion that is self-seeking, all I want to say is that traitors to the country like Jayantha Dhanapala have no moral right to be telling anyone anything.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A man that supported the LTTE terrorists using his office is a man that deserves no place in our country and I am surprised that none of this forum are aware of the damage Dhanapala has done to the country which the soldiers had to sacrifice their lives to save.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The forum members can move in elite company and think that using their educational and social status they can portray a dignified stance on matters but when their characters and behaviors show otherwise these type of statements end up putting egg on oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s face only.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Poor show Dhanapala ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” try something else next time. Imbalanced, prejudiced point of view in favor of one community with the main intention of humiliating the Buddhists are what we perceive is the objective and it is a crying shame that educated people would stoop this low.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Exactly what number of people do this Forum actually represent is my next question.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ernest Perera

http://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/rajapaksa-should-address-the-nation-denouncing-the-anti-muslim-campaign-and-its-sponsors/

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Rajapaksa Should Address The Nation Denouncing The Anti-Muslim Campaign And Its Sponsors

ByƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Jayantha Dhanapala andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Professor Savitri Goonesekere –

PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mahinda Rajapaksa,

President of Sri Lanka,

Presidential Secretariat,

Janadhipathi Mawatha,

Colombo 1.

7^thƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ March 2013.

Anti-Muslim Hate Campaign: The Government Must Act Decisively

Dear President Rajapaksa,

The Friday ForumƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ urges you to act immediately and decisively to counter the increasingly venomousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and strident anti-Muslim hate campaign launched by a few extremistƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ groups claiming to represent the majority Sinhala community. As you are aware, this campaign has intensified over the past several months. The country has witnessedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ attacks against mosques, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the circulation, on social media, public posters and web-sites, of obscene and vituperative messages that are offensive to religious beliefs.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It has witnessedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ anti-Muslim public rallies and processions,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ including aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ call to boycott Muslim business establishments.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Mahara mosque ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” 03rd March Mahara mosque ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” vandalised

Mahara mosque – vandalised

In any situation in which there are efforts to incite communal tensions, the primary responsibility of removing such threats and reassuring the community under attack is with the government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ people elect the President and other representativesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the expectation that they willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ensure an environment in which all citizens can live assured of their human rights including equality, personal security, dignity and religious freedom. Failure of a government toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ provide thisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is a serious breach of its responsibilities and has, in the past, had tragic consequences for our country and our people.

In a plural society hate campaigns against a specific community must be taken very seriously by the government and the peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and viewed in the wider context of our historical, sociological, economic and foreign policy realities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The possibility of violence against a particular community, and the dangers of ethnic cleansing are very real. The horrors of the 1983 ethnic riots constantly remind us how human life and personal security mean nothing, when there is incitement to communal violence and hatred. Hate campaigns inevitably result in a deep sense of fear and vulnerability among members of the targeted community, giving rise to a fear psychosis. Such a situation not only deeply harms that community, but also imbues a whole society withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ suspicion and propensity to communal violence.

We welcome that you clearly spoke against those who incite communal intolerance at the recent Independence Day celebrations held in Trincomalee. Yet, the government headed by youƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has not up to now taken decisive and concrete measures toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ stemƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the current hate campaign or to reassure the Muslim community of its rightful place inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ our society.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is difficult to understand in light of your own assurances and that of the government on the urgent need to forge a lasting peace after ending theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ destructionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and suffering of thirty years of fratricidalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ war.

The silence of the government, and a mute response in the face of the hate campaignƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  against the Muslim community, particularly though the misuse of mediaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is a violation of both national and international law, Such misuse sometimes justified as respect for freedom of speech and expressionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ only encourages those who incite communal disharmony and violence.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The government has recently decided to prohibit sterilization programmes for consenting adults undermining family planning and reproductive health policies that conform to national public health and treatyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ commitments. This decision,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ while unacceptable in itself, can alsoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ perceived byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the public as concession to the anti-Muslim lobbies.

The aggressive assertion of identity by any community creates tensions in a pluralistic society.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If there are problems over issues related to any religious group, for instance,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the recent ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-halalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ certification issue, these need to be looked into dispassionately and responsibly after careful verification of the facts. The public must also be provided with accurate information with a view to defusing and not exacerbating tensions.

We urgently call on you as elected Head of State to address the nation denouncing the current anti-Muslim campaign and its sponsors and detailing the measures the government will take to deal with the hate campaign against Muslims. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Only such steadfast and resoluteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ action, rising above narrow identity politics, canƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ safeguard the peace and further an environment of communal harmony and security in our country.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Jayantha DhanapalaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Professor Savitri Goonesekere

On behalf of Friday Forum, the Group of Concerned Citizens

Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Professor Savitri Goonesekere, Rt. Reverend Duleep de Chickera, Dr. Deepika Udagama,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Professor Arjuna Aluwihare, Ms. Shanthi Dias, Ms. Anne Abayasekara, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Lanka Nesiah,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr. Faiz-ur.Rahman, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Ahilan Kadirgamar, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. J.C. Weliamuna,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr. Javid Yusuf, Mr. Danesh Casie Chetty, Ms.Damaris Wickremesekera, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Peiris, Dr. A. C. Visvalingam, Professor Camena Guneratne, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Professor Ranjini Obeyesekere,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Dr. Upatissa Pethiyagoda, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr. Chandra Jayaratne,

cc. Secretary to the President,

Secretary Defence & Urban Development,

Inspector General of Police,

Attorney General,

Chairman, Human Rights Commission,