U.N. Urges to Act on Abuses Against Muslims: TGTE
• Anti – Muslim demonstrators, led by Buddhist Monks, carry placards depicting Allah as a pig.
• Attacks and destruction of Mosques.
• Protests against Halal food, Muslim dress, higher education, & attacks on Muslim businesses.
• A Buddhist Monk shot and killed a Prime Minister in 1958 for having dialogue with Tamils.
– In an appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom, Mr. Heiner Bielefelt, the Prime Minister of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, urged the UN Rapporteur to visit Sri Lanka to investigate abuses against Muslims, including attacks on Mosques by groups led by Buddhist monks.
“Abuses against Muslims include protest against Halal food, Muslim dress, admission to higher education, even attacks on Muslim businesses and Mosques” said Mr. Rudrakumaran. “Moreover, no one was arrested or charged for these abuses.”
“Anti-Muslim demonstrators carry placards depicting Allah as a pig and burning effigies marked Allah,” he continued.
“The Government of Sri Lanka has failed to protect religions other than the State religion Buddhism and abuses against Muslims have increased dramatically in recent times” said Mr. Rudrakumaran. “Instead of protecting Muslims, Sri Lankan Government’s senior leaders, including the Defense Secretary, attend events by groups that lead these attacks on Muslims.”
“Buddhist Monks are very powerful in Sri Lanka. A Buddhist Monk shot and killed a Prime Minister in 1958 for having dialogue with Tamils. Buddhist Monks also have a political party called Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), which is part of the Government. One of their representatives is an influential Cabinet Minister,” said Rudrakumaran. “There are also other groups like Bodu Bala Sena (Buddhist Power Force) which are active in anti-Muslim activities.”
Some of the anti-Muslim campaigns include:
1) Anti- Halal food: There were series of demonstrations, led by Buddhist monks, against Halal certification of food. These anti-Halal demonstrators shout anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic slogans. Due to intense pressure, Halal certification was abolished and this announcement was greeted by fire crackers being lit close to Muslim owned businesses.
2) Attack on Mosques: On April 20th, 2012, in a town called Dambulla, a violent a mob of 2,000 led by high ranking Buddhist monks stormed and vandalized a 60 year old mosque during Friday prayer. The Police stood by idly and allowed the attack on the Mosque. To date, no one has been arrested or brought any criminal action against attackers. Later, the Prime Minister’s office released a statement ordering closure of the Mosque. Earlier, in 2011, an Islamic Sufi shrine was destroyed by a mob led by Buddhist monks in a town called Anurathapura. Attacks on Mosques continue in different parts of Sri Lanka.
3) Campaign against Muslim dress: There is a campaign led by Buddhist monks, to stop Muslim women wear Muslim dress. A major rally is being organized in a town called Kandy on March 17th, to increase the pressure to force Muslim women from wearing Muslim dress. Muslim women students were also threatened and intimidated for wearing Muslim dress.
4) Rallies against Muslim owned businesses: There were several rallies protesting outside Muslim owned businesses. Demonstrators shout anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic slogans and carry placards depicting Allah as a pig and burning effigies marked Allah.
5) Protest against Muslim admissions to higher education: Recently there were demonstrations against Sri Lanka Law College for admitting large number of Muslim students. As a result, the admissions were put on hold.
To watch the video click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21495499
About Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE):
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is a new political concept. It is a new political formation based on the principles of nationhood, homeland and self-determination. The raison dâetre for the TGTE is lack of political space inside the island of Sri Lanka for the Tamils to articulate and realize their political aspirations fully due to Constitutional impediments, racist political environment and military strangulation; and the coordination of diaspora political activities based on democratic principles and the rule of law.
TGTE held internationally supervised elections in 12 countries. These elections were held to ensure that core believe of democracy be upheld within the TGTE and to demonstrate TGTE’s belief and reliance upon democratic ideals. TGTE has a bicameral legislature and a Cabinet. Although an elected body, TGTE does not claim to be a government in exile. The Constitution of the TGTE mandates that it should realize its political objective only through peaceful means.
Presently, in addition to the campaign for an international investigation, the TGTE is also campaigning for an International Protection Mechanism and the release of documents pertaining to Tamils prepared by the Office of the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. TGTE is also in the process of preparing the Freedom Charter incorporating the “freedom demands” of Tamils across the globe.
TGTE believes that the referendum among the Tamils inside the island of Sri Lanka and the Tamil diaspora will contribute to the political resolution of the Tamil national conflict. So far, the human cost has reached 100,000 as it grows. There are also 90,000 Tamil war widows, facing sexual abuse by the Sri Lankan security forces.
For information contact:
Web: www.tgte-us.org