Are the Muslims falling asleep ?
Posted on August 27th, 2013
Bisthan Batcha
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The question is being asked in various fora as to whether the Muslims in Sri Lanka, who were subjected to mental trauma and physical harassment in the recent past by the actions of certain racist Groups, have now deemed it to be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”safeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ once again for Sri Lankan Muslims. Have the Muslims slipped into a state of complacency ? Do they believe that it was just a passing storm which has now lost itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sting ?
When the anti-Muslim diatribe of the Bodhu Bala Sena reached itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s zenith, coupled with the apparent apathy on the part of the State,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ many Muslims were of the opinion that there were just two reasonable courses of action that the members of the Community could take.
Option 1 : To maintain a low profile and keep oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s head down until the whole thing blows over
Option 2 : To directly counter the threats and allegations made against the Muslims
The key problem with Option 1 is the complete lack of control over the unfolding events. The Muslims had no idea about the nature, content or duration of the vicious attacks they were subjected to or whether such attacks will ever end or whether the attacks will become a part of the social fabric of this Country in the future. An alarming signal in this regard, which many may have missed due to itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”low noiseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, was that many Buddhists who expressed outrage at the behaviour of the BBS nevertheless ended their criticism by saying ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦. But there is an element of truth in what the BBS are saying, no ?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (Kiyana ekey aththakuth thiyanawa, ne ?)
The main failing of Option 2, which may have escaped even itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s protagonists, is that in attempting to counter the allegations of the BBS, many Commentators were becoming emotional and actually launching tirades against the BBS ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” which after all is an Organization of Buddhist Clergy. When a group of Religious Leaders is under attack, it is almost a reflex action on the part of the Laity to defend the group ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” whether or not they agree with the words and deeds of the members of that religious group. In fact it was reported in one Web article that the BBS felt that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the halaal issue had strengthened the Buddhist communityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Let us not forget that when the ACJU was at the receiving end of various unsubstantiated allegations regarding the halaal issue, most Muslims (including the anti-ACJU groups) found themselves defending the actions of the ACJU. Therefore there is a strong possibility of the anti-Muslim feeling becoming more hardened and more widespread if Option 2 is adopted.
Does this then mean that there is no course of action that the Sri Lankan Muslims could take to overcome the threat to their physical and mental well-being posed by such racist groups as the Bodhu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya ?
Actually, there is a third option ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which, unfortunately, has not received the attention that it deserves. This involves the strategy of Identifying and Neutralizing the Concerns and Apprehensions that the Buddhist CommunityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ may have regarding the Beliefs and Practices of Muslims in Sri Lanka. The most important feature of this Strategy is that it is Proactive (Acting before a situation becomes a source of confrontation or crisis) in nature and therefore very much under the control of the Muslims ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” unlike Option 2 which is of a Reactive (Solving matters as they arise) type.
However, the most regrettable feature of this entire episode is the utter failure on the part of the Sri Lankan Muslims to focus strongly and sharply on what unites them as a Community and not to dwell on their differences. This failure has had many cascading effects – ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the major disappointment being the non-emergence of any kind of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”GroupƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to provide leadership and direction to the Muslims in these times of trials and tribulations. We are told that there is an attempt to form a Consultative Committee. We are told of various informal multi-ethnic Groups that are working ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”quietlyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ behind the scenes to resolve the growing ill-feelings between the two Communities.
When other concerned Muslims hear and read of such developments they are left with a sense of not wanting to upset the apple-cart by initiating some form of action or dialogue of their own. The absence of proper Leadership at this crucial juncture in the history of the Sri Lankan Muslims is the single most important reason for the perceived Inaction and Disinterest on the part of Muslims at this point in time.
My Muslim Brothers and Sisters would do well to take a leaf off the book of the BBS when it comes to goal-setting, planning and implementingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ strategiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for the benefit of their Community. The BBS identified their Target Group, they identified a Single Issue and they successfully sold the benefits of their Idea to large segments of the Buddhist Community. We too need such a Leadership, but consisting not of Politicians or of the Ulemas, but of respected Members of Muslim Civil Society who are capable of winning the trust of the Ummah because of their standing in the Community. We need a Leadership that can persuade the Ummah to look not just at the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”dotsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, but rather at the Big Picture obtaining by connecting the dots.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Are the Muslims of Sri Lanka able to put aside their differences and to focus on the urgent need to introduce measures to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the members of their Community in the years ahead ? ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Are the Muslims able to empathize with their Buddhist Brothers and Sisters to the extent that they of their own volition change patterns of their behavior which cause concern and apprehension to the Majority Community ? Or do the Muslims feel that they alone are entitled to the right of being angry and offended ?
August 27th, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Hopefully the Syria-USA-Saudi-Russia-UK war will escalate and Russia will hammer Saudi (the BIGGEST financier of TERRORISM and Islam).
That will be a HUGE benefit for coutnries like SL suffering Saudi funded terrorism.
Already Saudi prince Bandar has THREATENED to bomb Sochi winter Olympics in Russia in 5 months using Saudi funded Chechnyan terrorists. This is UNACCEPTABLE. Hopefully the Russian cowards will not be threatened by HUMAN LIVER EATING BARBARIANS.
IF Russia wipes out Saudi oil fields (which takes only a couple of minutes), Russian oil will fetch a high price and their prosperity is GUARANTEED. AUTUMN is already here and winter is approaching when Japan, Europe and USA will buy OIL and GAS BIG at ANY price to survive. Oil exporters Iran, Libya and Nigeria are already out of action!!
Saudi will collapse and ALL terrorist and Islamic groups will collapse from within. SL too will suffer economically but will soon recover because Endia, EU, USA will also suffer enormously.
Without busting the HEAD of the octapus of Islam terrorism funding, it cannot be stopped.
It will also collapse the PETRO DOLLAR which will collapse UNHRC terrorists.
August 27th, 2013 at 7:23 pm
99% of muslims can not understand why others are hating muslims if some body tries to understand he will be killed by others.
Islamists! why dont u try to live in the 21st century.
August 27th, 2013 at 7:41 pm
Bodu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya certainly have NOT behaved in a racist manner for Mr Bistahn Batcha to categorised them as such. This is the sort of casual accusation that could provoke unintended and unwanted misunderstandings and conflict between different ethnic and religious groups. However, I agree the BBS and SR are groups which have tried to take the responsibility of law enforcement matters into their own hands, rather than depending on law enforcement authorities to take action against the illegal acts of some extremist groups, in this instance the Muslims. From the reports I have read, any impartial person with common sense would see that the Muslims involved in these events did violate the law such as by constructing an unauthorised shed for prayers in the property of the Dambulla Buddhist Temple and using a warehouse built in Grandpass as a Muslim prayer centre, without proper authority. To make matters worse they broadcasted these events to the world that Muslim Mosques were attacked by Buddhist monks, though these were only prayer centres and that the protesters belonged to only a very minute group of Buddhists monks in BBS and/or SR. They were foolish to act the way they did even though it is crystal clear these Muslims either innocently or arrogantly constructed prayer halls without permission. Nevertheless, what is heartening is the mature way the leaders amongst the Muslims and Buddhist sat together to promptly resolve these issues, without falling victim to hostile forces that want to divide Muslims and Buddhists in many countries around the world.
August 27th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Muslims must have a leadership universally. to unite one body and soul it is needed. As long as this does not happen Muslims will sleep. They will be in slumber. Opponents of Muslims know well about this.
August 27th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
“We too need such a Leadership, but consisting not of Politicians or of the Ulemas, but of respected Members of Muslim Civil Society who are capable of winning the trust of the Ummah because of their standing in the Community. We need a Leadership that can persuade the Ummah to look not just at the ‘dots’, but rather at the Big Picture obtaining by connecting the dots.”
= Muslim Brotherhood ??????
Hope not.
August 27th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Nesta’s reply FURTHER strengthens my suspicions!!
SOME Islamic sections in SL trying to link up with the Muslim Brothelhood terrorist organisation.
There are VIOLENT divisions among them – Shiia, Sunni, Sufi, Salafi, Wahabi, Kurdish, etc. They will NEVER unite. We should NOT allow them to unify. As long as they are divided they kill among themselves, we sell them weapons to do that. IF united they will kill us.
August 27th, 2013 at 8:21 pm
So far the world had 3 chemical attacks.
ALL 3 done by Sunni Muslims ON Muslims!!
WHY?
1. Sunni Saddamn on Shiia Iranians.
2. Sunni Saddamn on Kurdish people.
3. Sunni human liver eaters of FSA on Sunni people.
I’m ONLY stating a FACT anyone can cross check for accuracy. I don’t deserve a chemical attack for telling the truth! :))
August 28th, 2013 at 12:52 am
These mossies live in dark ages with their dark religion.
BREED, BREED, BREED,
MOSQUES, MOSQUES, MOSQUES.
TOWN AFTER TOWN BECOMING MOSSIES.
STILL YOU HAVE TO LOVE THEM.
Typical of these morons. Live in the real world.
Look what you done to the countries you stole by breeding. Afganisthan, pakisthan, iran,
egypt, bangladesh etc.
Look what is happening in syria, saudi, iraq etc.
Dark religion, dark ages.
Stop breeding, stop putting up eye sore mosques in every street corner to drive out Sinhalese and Tamils
from the areas. Be honest for a day!
People might then start liking you.
Mossie being mossies you can never expect these to happen. Crafty sods.
August 28th, 2013 at 5:31 am
I hope Russia will hammer bloody Saudis to dust before Saudi funded Chechnyan terrorists bomb Sochi Olympics in Russia.
Then SL will be on a better footing to dilute them.
“A grim “urgent action memorandum” issued today from the office of President Putin to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is ordering a “massive military strike” against Saudi Arabia in the event that the West attacks Syria.
According to Kremlin sources familiar with this extraordinary “war order,” Putin became “enraged” after his early August meeting with Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan who warned that if Russia did not accept the defeat of Syria, Saudi Arabia would unleash Chechen terrorists under their control to cause mass death and chaos during the Winter Olympics scheduled to be held 7-23 February 2014 in Sochi, Russia.”
-eutimes.com
August 28th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
The threat that the Muslims pose is that they are actively converting Buddhists. That has to stop either by the Muslims or by a government law. The second threat is that they use covert actions to build their mosques. Starting with building so called warehouses which are never used for warehousing anything except their faith. That too has to stop. Regulations stipulating the construction of such buildings would eliminate this avenue to build Mosques. New Zoning laws would limit the number built including where they can be built for the Muslims now have become a threat to Buddhism or the Buddhist clergy would not make it into an issue.
If it is a threat to Buddhism then they must be stopped. Mob rule will never stop them. In fact they will win the sympathy of the public. Only laws and regulations will have the desired effect of keeping Sri Lanka a majority Buddhist nation.
August 28th, 2013 at 1:55 pm
Are Muslims behind this crime?
“A Bangladeshi Buddhist monk who was beaten in Sri Lankan capital city Colombo and has been hospitalized for about a week succumbed to his injuries today.
Colombo National Hospital officials said the Buddhist monk was in Intensive Care Unit of the hospital with severe head injuries.
An unidentified group has beaten the monk with clubs on August 20th when he was in a temple in Rajagiriya, a suburb of Colombo.
Welikada police are investigating the incident. However, no arrest has been made so far for the assault.”
– colombopage