The Bodhgaya blasts
Posted on July 9th, 2013

Michelle Alexander

On July 07th 8 – 9 low intensity bombs detonated in and around the Mahabodhi Temple. Little damage was caused to the structure and Bo tree, with 5 victims escaping with injuries.

Was this site a target and did the authorities know about it? ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” There have been reports that the Government of Bihar had been warned by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of threats to Bodghaya and the Mahabodhi temple. Similar threats had been issued in 2012 as well. Furthermore, after threats in 2012, CCTV cameras had been installed in and around temple premises. How could it have been possible then that several bombs were planted without anyone picking up on it?

The other possibility we need to consider is that these bombings may have been carried out with the purpose of whipping up tensions and inciting clashes. Calmer heads have prevailed. This is also a testament to the values of Buddhists for not reacting violently and targeting others just because of the actions of a few.

Furthermore, one must ask as to why only the Bishop of Galle, Rt. Rev. Dr. Raymond K. Wickramasinghe, has issued a statement condemning these attacks so far. As the main representative of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith should have been the first to issue a statement.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Further, as Catholics, we should voice our condemnation as well, since what the Vatican and Bethlehem is to Catholics, Bodhgaya is to Buddhists. Loving ones neighbor means speaking up for your fellow man, irrespective of what beliefs they follow.

We should unequivocally condemn these attacks and hope the respective authorities are able to bring the perpetrators to justice.

2 Responses to “The Bodhgaya blasts”

  1. Lorenzo Says:

    No point blaming the Endian authorities and bishops. They didn’t do it.

    It was done INTENTIONALLY by Islamic terrorists to celebrate the start of the Ramadan Bombathlon (The Religion of Peace website contains a track of this year’s and previous years’ scores of the Ramadan Bombathlon).

    These BARBARIANS cannot terrorise BURMA, Thailand or SL to do what they want.

    Already they are biting the dust like dust mites under a vacuum cleaner in Egypt, Syria, Israel, Chechnya, Afghainstan, Iraq, soon Iran, Libya, Pakistan, etc. Our response will NOT and should NOT be any different.

  2. Fran Diaz Says:

    Lax security at Buddhagaya Temple ?

    Statement by Michele : “The other possibility we need to consider is that these bombings may have been carried out with the purpose of whipping up tensions and inciting clashes” – this is probably true.

    The trumped up and artificially created 1983 Riots in Lanka yielded the best results for Exodus of Tamils to the west. The rest is history. Lessons Learnt indeed.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 

 


Copyright © 2024 LankaWeb.com. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Wordpress