Sunanda Deshapriya / UN Minority Rights Forum
INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre, Colombo, Sri
Lanka, would like to take this opportunity to
highlight the series of attacks on Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities,
particularly in 2012 and 2013, as highlighted by the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights, after her visit to the country in August this year. 227 attacks
against Muslim places of worship and other institutions[i] have been recorded between January to July 2013 and 64 cases of
attacks on Christian
Churches and Pastors[ii] have been recorded between Januarys to September 2013. During the
same period dozens of Hindu temples were destroyed in the North and Eastern
provinces of Sri Lanka.
The actual number of incidents is much higher, as many incidents remain
unreported, due to fear of reprisals and the lack of confidence in law
enforcement agencies.
In some cases, the Police had watched by as men, including those in
Buddhist Monks robes and identified as Monks, have physically attacked persons
and properties of Muslims and Christians. In several other incidents, Police
have refused to take action against suspects, even when clear evidence such as
video footage and names of perpetrators were available.
The complicity of the state has been clear by their downplaying or
denials of these systematic and widespread attacks, public statements by some
powerful Government officials and Ministers and the absolute impunity as
described above.
In recent incident, a senior Buddhist Monk who had objected to
targeted attacks on Muslims was threatened and attacked by a mob led by a
Buddhist Monk belonging to the Bodu Bala Sena group[iii]. The Police initially refused to take action on the Monks
complaint, and had not provided protection to the Monk to attend to his
official work afterwards despite written requests for protection.
Sri Lanka's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but some Christian,
Muslim and Hindu religious communities
in Sri Lanka
have been compelled to restrict and change their religious practices and even
close down some places of worship.
The state's present policy and practice appears partly, to be based on the constitutional provision
that gives "foremost place" to Buddhism above and over other
religions. This is particularly seen in the post war Northern province where new Buddha statues
and Buddhist places of worship have been installed since the end of war in May
2009, even though there are very few Buddhists in these areas, except the
military.
So far, persecuted religious minorities from Christian, Muslim and Hindu
communities appear to have acted with remarkable restraint, depending on
democratic and peaceful struggles to seek justice, protect themselves and their
rights. However, the continued attacks and impunity points to the danger that
Sri Lanka could once again find itself plunging into a more serious and violent
religious conflict, less than 5 years after a bloody ethnic war had ended.
Decisive and immediate action by the state, particularly the Police
to stop and prevent further attacks and ensuring accountability for past
attacks is key to prevent more serious outbreak of religion based violence. It
is also crucial to ensure all religions enjoy equal status in law, without any
particular religion being given foremost place.
Statement delivered by
Sunanda Deshapriya on behalf of INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre at the Sixth session of the UN
Forum on Minority Issues on "Beyond freedom of religion or belief:
Guaranteeing the rights of religious minorities" on 26th Nov
3013
[iii] [iii]
http://groundviews.org/2013/10/09/buddhist-monk-attacked-by-bodu-bala-sena-and-police-inaction/#comments