Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
SRI LANKA: Islamic Convert’s Detention Sparks Debate on Tolerance
Feizal Samath
COLOMBO, Apr 8, 2010 (IPS) – Issues of religious tolerance, the rule of law and freedom of expression in this mainly Buddhist country are being thrown into debate by the detention of a Sri Lankan Buddhist woman who converted to Islam and was writing a book on her conversion.
Sarah Malathi Perera, a 38-year old migrant worker who has lived in Bahrain for 20 years, was detained by police in Colombo under emergency regulations on Mar. 20, ostensibly over a book she had written and published on her conversion to Islam.
But police have since given different versions of the reasons for her detention, saying that the book was offensive to Buddhism or that she was being probed for links to Tamil militants and Musim extremist groups.
On Tuesday, police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody was even more vague. “She has been detained under emergency regulations but I don’t have details as to why she is in detention. Let me check and let you know,” he told IPS. He was the same official who earlier gave different reasons for Perera’s detention. More…
“US says Lashkar in Lanka”- Reply
Latheef Farook
Citing PTI report Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command in his testimony before the US Senate Armed Services Committee, has said, in response to a question from Senator George Lemieux, that the Lasker e Taiba group is expanding and specifically positioning in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
He has also said that “we have certainly knowledge of their influence within the region beyond the countries that I just mentioned. The extent of that influence is what we’re taking under study,”
Now that the government has rejected these reports saying there was no evidence to prove that the group was in the island it is extremely important that the US provide details about this so called LET influence in Sri Lanka right away in view of the serious Implications of this disclosure to Sri Lankan Muslims, more…
Writer Sarah, still in detention
Blow for author
A BAHRAIN-BASED author arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly offending Buddhism suffered a new blow yesterday after she was remanded in custody for another two weeks.
Sarah Malanie Perera, detained in the capital Colombo, had been held without charge since being detained on March 20.
Her family had hoped she would be released after appearing before judges, but was never brought to the Supreme Court.
However, she did speak to Notary Public Licences Company secretary and lawyer Lakshan Dias, who is also a human rights consultant.
The 38-year-old, who earlier converted to Islam, was detained after writing two books in Sinhalese, one of which was allegedly offensive to Lord Buddha.
Ms Perera’s lawyers filed a case at the Supreme Court in Colombo on March 30 demanding her immediate release, but it also stalled after police never brought her to court. more ..
Northern Muslim IDps’ Situation and Case completely different from Tamil IDPs
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By M. Shamil Mohamed
Northern Muslim faced biggest robbery in sri lanka’s history
Northern Muslim faced biggest Ethnic Cleansing in sri lanka’s history
Northern Muslim faced one of biggest robbery in the world’s history
Northern Muslim People who had to undergo living in camps for 20 years not less than one year
the government responsibility to trace and find them all and repay to northern Muslim IDPs the same as government doing for golden credit card investors, plus the government and non government compensations
President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised the Muslim IDPs from the North at the All Ceylon Muslim Congress Northern Convention on December 31, 2009 at Alankuda, Kalpitiy, puttlam
My Government will not let down the innocent Muslim civilians in the North who lost all their belongings at the hands of the LTTE 20 years ago.” “We will ensure that innocent Muslim civilians who had to leave their original places in the North due to LTTE threats will be resettled in their own properties. Their houses, schools and business establishments will be rebuilt with all necessary infrastructure facilities,” the President said.
Resettlement process started for Tamil IDPs successfully going on , about 80000 thousand Tamil IDPs , waiting for the Resettlement there are some big barriers to fast Resettlement process, the main big barrier is screening LTTE suspects, so this is the big blockade for Tamil IDPs resettlement , for muslim IDPs there is no such screening barrier but Muslim resettlement process is in very slow progress , why, the reason for very slow progress in Muslims resettlement process is single resettlement policy for two completely different IDP problems , this is the key reason for dawdling Muslim resettlement in the north More…..
Citizen’s Commission: Expulsion of the Northern Muslims by the LTTE in October 1990
Sri Lanka has been increasingly the scene of much ethnic violence. The Northern Muslims are the victims of the earliest large scale act of ethnic cleansing in our history. Close to 80,000 persons, constituting the entire Muslim population of the five Northern Districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi were summarily expelled from the province by the LTTE on one fateful day in October 1990 at a few hours notice. The details of the constraints imposed on the victims varied from location to location depending on the degree of brutality of the local LTTE leadership, but nowhere were those evicted able to sell, transfer or otherwise secure or dispose of their property or to take with them cash or other moveable possessions. The operation was carried out so quickly and with such ruthless efficiency that there was little or no resistance. The state failed to intervene. Sadly, the protests of the national leadership, Tamil and non-Tamil, and of the national and the international community were muted. more….
Ever memorable and never forgettable painful memory of Jaffna Muslims: M.Shamil mohamed
20 years back Muslims in Jaffna lived a satisfactory life in terms of peace of mind ,wealth, they were well-off in running business and were self sufficient , they were 10 % in Jaffna city limits dominating MC -municipal council sometime as mayor and sometime deputy mayor of Jaffna municipality , According to department of Muslim religious and cultural affairs there were 17 mosques in Jaffna but according to prominent Muslim scholar there were 21 mosques, Muslims were 5% in the Northern Province. They were engaged in trade, teaching and skilled trades like tailoring, etc. The Jaffna Muslims were lived four densely populated wards of the Jaffna Municipality. Moor streets, and New moor streets (Bommaively) ,Town mosque street ( here streets are not justa a street but name of densely populated wards) and bhora place were their areas.
Former civil servant and Zahira Principal AMA Azeez, Supreme Court Judge Andul Cader, Appeal Court Judge MM Jameel. Education Director Munsoor etc being some leading lights of the Jaffna Muslims. There were deputy – mayor , Municipal Councillors and Abusalai hajiyar, MMC Basheer , sulthan ,and were mayor , deputy – mayor and acting mayor of Jaffna. after Ethnic Cleansing of Jaffna Muslims in October 1990 They were reduced to begging Total population of Jaffna Muslims were evicted out of northern Sri Lanka when the LTTE widely started ethnic cleansing of Muslims in north and east of Sri Lanka in 1990, killing scores of Muslims, looting their homes, taking over their farmlands and attacking places of worship.more…
The Muslims of the East should see the reality of contemporary
By Noor Nizam
The announcement made by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa that there is no room for a re-merger of the North and East provinces as a political geographical land mass entity and human settlement in Sri Lanka is a reality of contemporary politics in Sri Lanka . The president said this to editors N Vithiyatharan of Sudar Oli and Devaraj of Virakesari at a breakfast meeting with the heads of media institutions on the 25th., of November, in Colombo this week.
Rajapaksa ruled out north-east re-merger and said the merger of the two provinces had been a demand of the LTTE and there was no question of entertaining it now.
The President Rajapaksa was echoing the same political stand he took while attending the special cabinet meeting at Temple Trees on September 1997 that was called by then president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunghe to discuss the devolution of power proposals.more…
A call to the Muslims of Sri Lanka
By Noor Nizam
Now that there is a presidential election declared, who will win is the question in the minds of the electorate of Sri Lanka , be it the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and or all others who have the right of franchise in Sri Lanka , the right to vote. Respecting the political trend and analysing the build-up of all political/governance issues facing the Nation since the presidential elections of 2005, what ever may come, Mahinda Rajapaksa will win again. Mahinda Rajapaksa has proven himself as a statesman who can withstand and overcome any challenges both nationally and internationally, even in adverse situation and polarize the trust of the people and the Nation. The pity of Sri Lankan politics in the present scenario is just petty selfishness and greed of some of the national politicians, to be dreaming to sit in the chair of President, PM or Executive PM who have now grouped themselves to lead an opposition. They are not the least bothered about the progress and prosperity of the nation at large and the people in general, be they Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burgers or others.More..
Sarath Fonseka Must be Told This Land Belongs to All- Mano Ganesan
By Thava Sajitharan
Democratic Peoples Front leader Mano Ganeshan first wanted to leave the recently formed United National Front (UNF) if they were going to nominate General Sarath Fonseka as the presidential candidate of the UNF. But, later Ganeshan decided to support him.
Excerpts of the interview are as follows:
You have reportedly expressed a willingness to support Gen. Sarath Fonseka in the event the latter is placed as the presidential candidate by the United National Alliance (UNA) of which your party is an ally. It would mean that you are supporting the very same person who led the war which you spoke highly critical of a few months ago. What is the rationale behind your stance…?
My party, DPF is a component of UNF. Neither DPF nor the UNF have made any official announcements. Fonseka has just submitted papers for retirement. Has he officially said that he is contesting? We are only looking at all available options. Fonseka would be also an option. Anyway, I as the leader of my party commenced some discussion with Sarath Fonseka. We have discussions with Tamil and Muslim parties. We are discussing with the parties within UNF. I think this is the sign of a functioning party within the democratic radius.
Some of the minority parties are said to be of the view that support could be offered to Gen Fonseka on the condition that he should abolish the executive presidency. Nonetheless, all the Presidents in the past two decades promised to do away with the existing system but none of them did it in reality. Besides, Gen Fonseka in September 2008 reportedly said `I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese’. He also reportedly said that ‘minorities must not demand undue things’. What makes you think that he would act differently or that he would heed to the minority parties?
Minority parties, you mean the Tamil and Muslim parties? More than the Tamil and Muslim parties, today UNP, SLFP (M) and JVP are asking for the abolishment of the Executive Presidency. Until recently minorities thought that the Executive Presidency is advantageous to the minority interests. Today Parliament has been weakened very much and the real government is run from the Presidential palace. There is a new class of ‘President’s men’ who has arrived in this country today. Pathetic are the cabinet Ministers within the Parliament. It is because they are not in the know of the running of the government. Now within the UNF our party and SLMC have also come to the position for abolishment. I think we as minorities can never go to Presidential palace but only to the Parliament.
Therefore, we cannot just be idle when our Parliament is slowly becoming a mere talk show assembly. Yes, CBK and the incumbent President agreed for the abolishment but did not adhere to the agreements. We need two third numbers in the Parliament and a friendly President who agrees for abolishment. So we are trying all the available avenues. What is the democratic alternative for us? If all the democratic avenues are unsuccessful then it will be an invitation to revolt. People may take to streets. Last part of your question refers to Sarath Fonseka’s comments made in 2008. We can never accept that stand. This country belongs to all of us. Let Sarath Fonseka be told.
But, these types of comments have been made by many in the major parties. If you ask me, I will tell you that a sizable number of politicians harbor such ideas within themselves. Not only in JHU and NFF but there are such persons in SLFP, UNP and JVP. There are Sinhala politicians while in government had said worst things. Some had gone to the level of eating the Tamil flesh. On other hand there had been Tamil counterparts too. Certain Tamil politicians wanted to swim in the Sinhala blood. It is the pathetic reality of our common motherland. We need to rebuild our common motherland for the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and Buddhists, Hindus, Islamists and Christians. Please let me tell you loudly that the Common motherland is more important than a common candidate. We have to work through to achieve. If you have an alternative tell me. The pundits who criticize never come out with any successful alternatives.
A few weeks ago, you stated that you had communicated with a representative of Gen. Fonseka. Is it confirmed that he will be nominated by the UNA as their Presidential candidate?
A representative of Fonseka met me in Colombo. I said that some time before.
It has not been countered. So you know it is correct information. It is not only UNF in the scene but also JVP. This is on one hand. And Tamil and Muslim parties on the other hand. Let the announcement for the Presidential elections come. There will be more surprises for the government. I cannot comment further.
How do you interpret the letter sent to the President by Gen. Fonseka. Does it indicate that he would contest the Presidential elections?
Sarath Fonseka has already removed his uniform unofficially. I think it has a political meaning. He means business. Isn’t he? This is my guess.
The TNA has not ruled out the possibility of fielding a Tamil Presidential candidate. In that event who would you support?
Yes, it is one of the options. Not only the TNA but we as DPF have too pronounced this. President Mahinda, Common Opposition candidate, Common Tamil candidate and boycott are the four options we have. Last time Tamils in the North and East were told to boycott by LTTE. Today it is history. Boycott is the worst. It is against democratic engagement. And also we cannot simply leave it to the people’s private decisions. All Tamil and Muslim parties are to give leadership directions to our peoples.
The government has said that it would allow the opposition Parliamentarians to visit the IDP camps in the future? What is your comment about this new development? Are you planning to visit the IDPs?
Why the sudden announcements after six months? Is it GSP phobia? It is coming after allowing Indian MPs. Yes, we will visit independently. Visiting the camps is just one element of our struggle. We want our people to go home. Their rights to their ancestral land are supreme.
As a human rights campaigner, what are your observations about the resettlement process which is said to have been expedited..?
More than the conditions of the camps, the violation of the rights is my concern. They are being kept there against their will. The barbed wire and military security surrounding the camps are not for the protection against any external invasion. They are to prevent people from going out.
The people should have been given the right to stay with their relatives and friends of their choice long before. In the name of demining and screening, you can’t keep the women, children, sick and aged for months behind barbed wire. Government is expediting the process due to our pressures. Anyway this is what is expected out of a government. They can’t demand credit for this. We legislators have to visit and make our own independent assessment.
We need to know the total numbers of people arrived since May and settled and the numbers that remain. They can’t put them into another transit camp and call it resettlement. The people need to go to their very own villages. Until then this is going be the top priority for us.
COURTESY:LAKBIMA NEWS
WHAT “MUSLIMS” ARE WE? A MOMENT OF TRUTH!
it was published in a website last year but it is suitable even today
S.M.M. BAZEER
“If there is a knower of tongue here, fetch him;
There is a stranger in the city
And he has many things to say”
- Mirza Ghalib ( Urdu poet)
The writer was appalled by the appeal made by Prof. Jawahirullah to the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, M. Karunanithi stating that “he should remember the Muslims in his effort to bring peace to the Tamil regions of Sri Lanka.” He also suggested that “it is the need of hour that both Tamils and Tamil Muslims should join together to fight the Sinhala racism”.
Prof. Jawahirullah, the president of the TMMK ( Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam ) , has come out openly, for the first time with regards to salvaging the “ Tamil Muslims “ of Sri Lanka. (Sri Lanka Guardian -October 24th). The concern of the TMMK is genuine unlike other Tamilnadu Muslim political parties but it is a misguided appeal at the wrong time to the wrong person. It would have been more appropriate for the TMMK to have voiced their concern about the civilian causalities of the war zone rather than seeking help from M. Karunamithi to protect the “Tamil Muslims” or “Tamil speaking Muslims”. As far as the writer is aware the TMMK is the most powerful Muslim people movement in Tamilnadu, and one of its founder members, Moulavi P. Jainulabdeen has always condemned the LTTE for its atrocities against the Muslims. The movement’s newspaper; “Unarvukal” (consciousness) has never failed to reflect their antipathy towards the LTTE. The writer had a brief meeting with PJ in Chennai in January 2000 with regards to the matters of mutual interest.
( Photo: A friend of PJ, writer, PJ and S. Hyder Ali)
Prof. Jawahirullah has also highlighted the “Tamil Muslim” historical contributions to the Tamil struggle in Sri Lanka, dating back to the time of Dr. AMA Azeez. Nonetheless, he has missed the turning points that impacted on the distinctive Muslim Identity, which the Muslim leaders fought tooth and nail for centuries. He has also failed to take note of the fact that two thirds of the Muslims who live in the south of Sri Lanka are not only Tamil speaking but also Sinhala speaking, despite their practical language being Tamil.
“Tamil speaking people” or “Tamil Muslim” is merely a political language that has been adopted by the Tamil politicians to hoodwink the Muslims, who live in the North and the East as they speak Tamil. Prof. Jawahirullah has also referred to the Sri Lankan Muslims as “Tamil Speaking” without delving deeper into the history of the Tamil-Muslim identity confrontation that emerged from the time of Ponnambalam Ramanathan in 1885, who refused to accept that the Muslims were “ Moors” by race, and obstinately argued that they were ethnologically Tamils. This was the onset of an identity crisis between the “Moor” or “Muslims” and the “Eeelam Tamils”. ILM Abdul Azeez vehemently countered Ramantahan’s illogical classification of the Moors to be “Tamils”.
Prof. Jawahirullah was also factually incorrect in his reference to Dr. AMA Azeez that he resigned from the ruling UNP to oppose the enactment of the Sinhalese Language Act in 1956. However, Azeez resigned from the UNP when the UNP parliamentary meeting supported the “Sinhala only” policy, which was enacted by the ruling SLFP Government headed by SWRD Banadaranyake in 1956. Dr.AMA Azeez, being an outstanding educationist and a statesman, looked well ahead of time as to how the long fought distinctive identity of the Muslims would suffer from the implementation of the “Sinhala only” Act. His concern was correctly decoded by Dr. Saleem Marsoof, P.C.
“Senator Azeez’s main misgiving in regard to the ‘Official Language Bill’ was that, he thought that it posed a challenge to the separate identity of the Muslims as an ethnic group distinct from the Tamils, which the Muslims had been trying to preserve even during the pre-independence period.”
His fear later became a reality and indeed posed a threat to the distinctive identity of the Muslims due to their linguistic affiliations, and the consistent manipulation of Tamils.
MUTUR MUSLIMS AND THEIR RECENT AGONY
Prof. Jawahirullah did not categorically say about who forced the Muslims to leave the North or who killed the Muslims in various parts of the East, but illustrated what happened to the Mutur Muslims at the time of the LTTE’s encroachment and the resultant army attack on Mutur. He also arrived at the conclusion that it was an example of how “Tamil Muslims” were attacked by the LTTE and the “Sinhalese racial army”. Nonetheless, He seemed to have missed the fine points of the capture of Mutur by the army and the restoration of peace in Mutur after years of LTTE’s atrocities on the Mutur Muslims. His use of language; “Sinhalese racial army” does appear to be unacceptable to the Muslims of Mutur eventually felt that they would have suffered a similar fate of the Northern Muslims had the Sri Lankan army not valiantly fought against the LTTE and kicked them out of Mutur. His example and concluding remark would not in anyway help the Muslims of the East where the army is still on the defense line to protect the civilians of all ethnic groups from the LTTE.
It was another interesting anecdote that also appeared in the Sri Lankan Guardian on the 8th of October. The news displayed that Kunnamkudi R.M. Haniffa , had observed a token fast in prison , in support of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Muslims of Sri Lanka , especially in the North and the East , have heard or read about Kunnamkudi Masthan , a Sufi Muslim Poet , who followed Hindu tradition of spiritual poetry and lifestyle like that of Patinathar, a Hindu Cittar.(hermit)
Another Muslim who is associated with Kunnamkudi and who drew the attention of the Sri Lankan Muslims recently is Kunnamkudi R. M. Haniffa. He was the founder member of the TMMK along with the famous religious preacher P.Jainulabdeen. He has never played a prominent role in the TMMK as he is involved in religious preachings albeit being a founder member of the TMMK. Kunnamkudi R.M. Haniffa has been languishing in prison for 11 years, as a suspect in a bomb explosion in Kovai and the Indian Police appeared to have associated him with a “Jihad” front of an unnamed organization, despite obviously knowing that he was a member of a socio- religious organization, TMMK.
Tamils and Tamil Muslims
On the one hand, a Tamilnadu TMMK Muslim may well argue that the language can be used to identify with their religion as Professor. Jawahirullah designated the Tamils by their religion, such as “Hindu Tamils”, leaving alone the “Christian Tamils”, but on the other hand, Tamilnadu Muslim League has always used the rhetoric that “ Islam is our path; rejoicing Tamil is our language” ( Islam engal vazhi: inpaththamil engal mozhi” ) ., This tradition has been adopted from the time of Ismail Sahib (Kaithe Millath) whose All India Muslim League, had political alliances with the DMK ( Diravida Munnetra Khazhkam ) on an understanding that the DMK motto “ Onre Kulam Orvane Thevan” ( All are one and the God is one) was very much in line with the basic principle of Islam “ Thowheed” ( Oneness of God). This long political bondage and understanding between the Tamils and the Muslims in Tamilnadu brought them closer together, to a singular racial identity based on their language and region. As time went by the All India Muslim League became confined to party for the Tamilnadu and Kerala Muslims. The Sri Lankan Muslims have always kept a “political distance” from the Tamilnadu Muslims, especially with the Muslim League.
Sheik Dawood ; the Tamilnadu Muslim League leader also applied the same terminology that Muslims are also “ Tamils” , thus ridiculed the history of the Sri Lankan Muslim’s ethnic struggle, against the Tamil dominance, for centuries . He seemed to be the descendant of Ponnambalam Ramanathan., who got in the way of Muslims being appointed to the Legislative Council. Skeik Dawood entered into a controversy when he advised the Sri Lankan Muslims in a meeting in Colombo in August 2004.
“The Muslims living in Sri Lanka should not hesitate to identify themselves as Tamils. I am proud to say I am a Tamil by race”. His declaration made the Sri Lankan Muslims angry and resulted in him leaving the country with an unrelenting farewell. A Muslim journalist, Bathusa (pseudonym of the writer) wrote in a Sri Lankan Muslim weekly, that he (Sheik Dawood) had the right to call himself as he wished but should not enforce his view on the Sri Lankan Muslims. Bathusa also stated that “Sheik Dawood did not know the history of the Muslims who had suffered from domination and atrocities committed on the Muslims by the Tamils.”
He also participated as a guest speaker in a Human rights meeting of the Sri Lankan Tamil community in London in September this year, where he was reported to have made the same blunder that the Sri Lankan Muslims are Tamils. Nevertheless, one of the panel speakers, Mohamed Nishthar confronted him about the imposition of identity on the Sri Lankan Muslims and argued with him that the Muslims were “Soonakars” (Moors). At times, the confrontation initiated by Ponnambalam , is very much enlivened by the South Indian “Tamil-Muslims” like Sheik Dawood. Inkulab (A well-known Tamil poet in South India) and Al- Haj. Abdul Jabbar ( A LTTE sympathiser and a political commentator of the pro LTTE radio in London). The irony is that the LTTE supporter, Kumar Ponnambalam had a different view before he indulged in the ultra Tamil nationalistic terror politics of the LTTE.
The late Kumar Ponnambalam , who was posthumously honoured by Pirabakaran as “ Mamanithar ” (Great man) for his staunch support for the LTTE, acknowledged this in a seminar in Colombo in April 1998 “…It must not be forgotten that the Moors, by and large, resent being lugged together with the Tamils into the category of the Tamil-speaking people and the resentment and objection ahs been there for close on a century. But the Tamils, for reasons of selfishness and convenience still refer to the Moors as belonging to the class of Tamil-speaking people much to the annoyance of the more politically conscious Moors.”
TAMILNADU MUSLIM AND TAMIL STRUGGLE
A section of Tamilnadu Muslims have always been actively supporting the Tamil struggle as they perceive it to be part of their Dravidian political affiliations.
In the early days of the Tamil armed struggle, there were instances where the Tamilnadu Muslims showed their solidarity with the “Eelam Tamils” in highly emotive and insensible way, which exceeded the fundamental principals of their religious belief.
For example, Sajhahan , a Muslim in Tamilnadu doused in petrol and set fire to himself to demonstrate his support to the Tamil victims in Sri Lanka during the time of MGR. Prabakaran was pleased with the act of this “Muslim Tamil” and sent his condolences to his family.
This kind of idiocy was repeated by the action of another Muslim in Tamilnadu , known as “Rahim” who attempted to set himself on fire a few years ago in opposition to the Sri Lankan Army’s excesses.
It is reported that South Indian costal belts were procurement points for the LTTE until recently. It was alleged that Vaiko’s (V. Gopalasamy) deputy, who is a Muslim, had been arrested by the Indian Authorities for his role in smuggling boll bearing to the LTTE, a few months ago. Vaiko is the mouthpiece of the LTTE who was even reported to have justified the expulsion of the Muslims from the North by the LTTE, and unashamedly called them as “traitors” at a recent conference in Norway. It is reported in the Taminadu Legislative council’s proceedings of 23 August 1996 that Karunanithi disclosed the fact that members of Vaiko’s MMDK Youth Front had been arrested when attempted to smuggle goods to the LTTE. M. Karunanithi also admitted that the smugglers in Tamilnadu make use of the LTTE whether or not the LTTE make use of them.
The writer also notes what Thamotharam Sivaram , aka Tharaki wrote in early 1990’s about the Tamilnadu Muslim connection.
“The Tamil nationalist lobby across the Palk Straits is basically postulated on the traditional Muslim Tamil politico-cultural unity. In fact some of the staunch defenders of the LTTE in Tamilnadu are Tamil nationalist Muslims who belong to the secessionist fringe of the Dravidian and Naxalbhari movements.”
Sivaram also wrote “ the south, south-eastern coastal stretch of Tamil Nadu which still functions as LTTE’s lifeline is dominated by a large number of Muslim villages and towns that have been traditionally friendly towards the Tamil groups even at times when the Tamil Nadu police imposed a total ban on all smuggling activities. Some Muslim business men used to allow their vast coconut plantations on this coast for the use of the armed Tamil groups including the LTTE.”
At the time the writer was concluding this article, there was a meeting in Kuwait conducted by the Social Justice Forum of the Kuwait Tamils who comprised of members of Tamilnadu Political parties, in condemnation of the Sri Lankan government and this meeting was chaired by the Muslim League Organizer in Kuwait, Dr. Anvar Batcha and some other “Tamil Muslims” from Tamilnadu. It is no surprise that the Tamilnadu Muslim would prefer to call themselves either “Tamils” or “Tamil Muslims” . Nonetheless, they have no right whatsoever to enforce their identity on the Sri Lankan Muslims.
The writer also noted the reply of what the former leader of the SLMC, MHM Ashroff’s reply to a question posed a journalist in Tamilnadu with regards to the support of the Tamilnadu Muslims to the Sri Lankan Muslims, just about a week before his death in a helicopter crash.
Q: “The Tamils of the Tamilnadu plays a substantive role in the Sri Lankan Tamils’ struggle. The support of the Muslims of Tamilnadu could influence Sri Lankan Muslim politics. Why have u not taken any action concerning this?
A: Insha Allah we have been considering that; we thought about it earlier, when we came to Tamilnadu, some brothers also requested. As far as I’m concerned I believe in Allah’s help without any foreign help”. (Morning Star October 2000)
The writer subscribes to the view of Ashroff but encourages the Tamilnadu Muslims to consult the Muslims of Sri Lanka whether they need their help like what as previously asked of Ashroff, prior to making appeals to anyone or embark on any supportive activities because we are not “Tamil Muslims” but “Muslims who happened to speak Tamil.
The use of the word “Tamil Muslim” has misled a website host, Chidar in Germany, to unwittingly attach the Tiger flag to the Tamil translation of Quran as if the Tamil is the sole or main language of a country which depicted by a “tiger flag”. The irony is that the same web host has correctly attached the Indian flag to the Hindi and Malayala translation of the Quran.
http://rahman.fw.nu/dunya-dillerinde-kurani-kerim.html
QURAN TAMiL MP3 1 - 2
QURAN MALAYALAM MP3 1 – 2
QURAN HiNDi MP3 1 – 2
The writer is aware that Prof A. Marks has acknowledged in his book on the Prophet Mohamed (Sal) that Prof. Jawahirullah had helped him in providing materials in his effort to write the book, “ The Prophet That I saw” ( Naan Kanda Nabikalar”. When the writer held a personal discussion with Prof. A Marks with regards to North and the Eastern Muslims, he admitted the singular identity of the Muslims who can not be lumped together as Tamils, or Tamil speaking. He has also had his point of view published in a website; “The Eela Struggle has left all perception and political philosophies including socialism and democracy; wiping out all other fellow movements; transforming as an authoritarian struggle based in Jaffna. As a result of this, today, Daliths, people of eastern province has not only turned away from the “Tamileela demand” but also stand against it “. My kind appeal to Prof. Jawahirulla and the like to get clarity from people like Prof. A Marks with regards to the Muslims of the so called “Eelam”.
Obama marches on for war with new brand of oratory camouflaging same old war
by Kusal Perera
Its funny in a way, that the Oslo based Nobel Foundation decided to award the Peace Prize 2009 to a President of a country that lives on profits from military hardware sales and services. Its funny too, for them to think, this President, Barak Obama of USA, is making “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples”, when he is heading a State that fuels conflict more than promote freedom.
“For many, war is synonymous with Iraq or Afghanistan, but our research enumerates 25 ongoing conflicts throughout the world. In the last decade, the U.S. has transferred some $8.7 billion in arms and military services to these war zones, $970.5 million in 2003 alone. During that year (the last year for which full data is available) the United States transferred weapons and military hardware into 18 of 25 conflict zones. This is despite the fact that these transfers appear to violate the spirit (if not the letter) of the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act, which bar the transfer of U.S.-origin military equipment into active areas of conflict.”
[U.S. WEAPONS AT WAR 2005: PROMOTING FREEDOM OR FUELING CONFLICT? http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/wawjune2005.html ]
That is reason why the splendid orator he is, Obama sounds aggressive against Pakistan for not waging war against the Talebans. He is consistent with his cold phrased threats against Pakistan, ignoring that Pakistan is an independent and sovereign, foreign country. He said US must be willing to strike Al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan, “with or without approval from Pakistan,”(Reuters – 01 August, 2007) even during his campaign for Democratic presidential nominations.
He did so without Pakistani approval, as US President. US drone attacks inside Pakistan began again, just 03 days after Obama took oaths as President of the USA on 20 January, just the way Bush had ordered them. He thereafter signed orders to send 17,000 US army fighting cadres to Afghanistan on 18 February, within 01 month of being President of the US.
“This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction, and resources it urgently requires,” Mr. Obama was quoted as having said after he signed the order, by the Christian Science Monitor.
He is marching on for war, with a new brand of oratory that can not in any way camouflage the same old war. Barak Obama is meanwhile awarded the world’s most prestigious peace prize by the Nobel Foundation for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples”. That too wouldn’t make any difference to the Afghan and Pakistani tribal people, who would have to duck to save their lives from US drone attacks.
The fact is, no US president could do otherwise, with or without a Nobel Peace prize. Obama as all other US Presidents has to continue SOUTHCOM operations, with a 600 million dollar administrative budget, to service Latin American military assistance, that annually tops over USS $ 120 million. That is not what is more important in Obama being awarded the Peace Prize. It’s the US economy and its heavy dependence on military hardware and armaments. This US economy is an economy that is heavily dependent on waging war, to sustain their heavy armament industry.
According to SIPRI Yearbook 2008, of the TOP 10 military and armaments companies, 06 are US companies and their profits for year 2007 totalled US $ 14,702 million. These companies on the other hand have employed 578,200 Americans, a number that can not be allowed to join the laid off lot in a struggling economy. In this recession or even otherwise, no Obama can forget all of them and decide US foreign policy. Foreign policy for US is simply dealing with conflicts any where in the world, for their own advantage and benefit.
The dilemma of the Head of State of the USA in saving his country’s recession hit economy does not stop with the 06 companies in the Top 10 military hardware manufacturing group. If one goes down the list to the next Top 10 to make it a total of Top 20 in the military hardware and armament industry in the world, one would find 14 US companies slotted in sharing a massive profit of US $ 45,582 million and an employment figure of 1,435,980 persons.
All of it is not the total share of the US economy in waging war. There are 46 top US companies listed among the Top 100 companies in the world, manufacturing military hardware and armaments. These companies no doubt have a very big chunk in the US economy and any blockade to sale of their war products would hit the US economy far worse than any recession or meltdown. A blockade on their war products would mean any peace initiative to on going armed conflicts any where in the world, that would produce positive results in sustaining a “cease fire” leading to a possible sustainable peace process and not necessarily a permanent end to conflict right now.
What it also means is, the US economy is not an economy that could sustain itself in a conflict free, peaceful world. It needs conflicts and big conflicts too. It also needs to now shift its axis of war from the “war weary” Mid East to some where else, to allow some respite to the Israeli – Pan Arab world. This coalition the Obamian regime would try to foster for a respite in Mid East, leaves out Iran. And it drags in Afghanistan too. Thus the Obamian long term commitment from the presidential campaign times, to shift the war from Iraq to Afghanistan.
What it also means is that South Asia, by default could be the next theatre of war, for US companies to sell their destructive military hardware and armaments. Any escalation of the Afghan war will have Pakistan held responsible for Taleban activism. Talebans, as we know are of very many shades and ideologies. They work with very many fundamentalist armed groups in Pakistan, some covertly supported by the Pakistani ISI as well. Between Pakistani ISI and the Indian RAW is another conflict that exports armed conflicts across borders. Not only across Pak – Indo borders but across Afghan borders into Kabul as well. Such rivalry and ideological battles have made cross border conflicts an inherent feature in inter State dealings in South Asian conflicts.
Thus, all manipulations by Obama to have the Afghan war going despite its public statements in bringing democracy to the Afghan people, would have its extension to Pakistan and then into India. The present Indian regime has any way decided to accelerate its war against Maoists and would be militarising the Indian society. There are 03 Indian manufacturers listed among the Top 100 companies that has gained a listed profit of over 500 million US dollars during the year 2007. They would also need more conflicts to grow on their profits.
We in South Asia are thus heading into the future with economies that live on armed conflicts, with Obama heading the biggest such economy and is awarded the Nobel Peace prize, the money he says would go for charity. Charity after all is a by product of all conflicts.
transcurrents
Abandoned Muslim Property in the Northern Province:
The legal consequences- Concerns and Recommendations
By M.H.M. Salman
The process of expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province commenced as early as 1985. Muslims from Mullativu were the first victims. In the latter part of year 1990 a full scale expulsion of Muslims took place. According to a survey conducted by Dr. S.H. Hisbullah Muslim families were expelled from about 70 villages.
According to the national census conducted in 1981 a total of 54,205 Muslims lived in the North. In the absence of official population statistics it is assumed that on the basis of calculation of 2% annual growth of population (from 1982 to 1990) there would have been around 63,000 Muslims in the North at the time of expulsion.
The expulsion was successful in the Jaffna, Mullaitivu, and Kilinochchi Districts. In the Mannar District it was a partial success. About 6,000 Muslims braved threats and intimidation and continued to live there. Records show in Mannar the Muslim population dropped (From 26.81% to 5.14%) drastically to less than 6,000 after the expulsion. In the Vavuniya District the entire Muslim population remained intact. (Statistically)
According to available statistics a total of 20,583 Muslims currently live in the North. The Secretariat for the Northern Muslims estimates that there are 19,314 displaced families living outside the North at present. Another category of the displaced Muslims live outside Sri Lanka. Accurate figures and where they currently live are not available.
According to a survey carried out by the Muslim Rights Organisation an extent in excess of 30,000 acres of land belonging to 11,058 Muslim individuals have been abandoned in the North. Abandoned land is either occupied by third parties or remains unoccupied.
Even after the lapse of nineteen long years and the defeat of the LTTE displaced Muslims are not in a position to take a full stock of the status of their property. Reasons are, inaccessibility due to security, hostile environment and the presence of mines etc. Those who had managed with difficulty to visit and inspect the properties had witnessed that in certain cases third parties are in possession. Abandoned lands have undergone considerable physical changes. Land is either overgrown or the surface has undergone changes rendering identification difficult.
According to surveys 12% houses in the Jaffna district are subject to secondary occupation. Secondary occupation of property is very much prevalent in the other districts in the North too though accurate details are not available. The true extent of the secondary occupation of property will only be known when normalcy is restored and the displaced individuals are permitted to visit the areas without restriction.
Several studies have been conducted to assess the impact of secondary occupation in Sri Lanka by a number of international organisations and policy institutes. However the State policy or the law reforms have not been very responsive to the outcomes or to the actual needs that have been identified. The studies have found that secondary occupation of land and houses raises the following social issues-
Potential to create fresh disputes
Competing claims and protracted legal/administrative procedures
Hindrance to orderly re-settlement of the displaced
The subject of secondary occupation of property has been subjected to extensive discussion and research in other parts of the world. Countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Guatemala have successfully implemented restitution plans.
According to laws of Sri Lanka encroachment or forcible occupation of land and houses are per se unlawful. An aggrieved individual can seek redress through courts of law to have the trespasser or the illegal occupant ejected from the property and gain possession through legal remedies such as possessory action or under section 66 of the Primary Courts Procedure Act.
As much as laws enable individuals to acquire property and assert ownership the laws also provide for the legal basis for loss of ownership to property. The law is found in the Prescription Ordinance which the British enacted more than 100 years ago. Prescription Ordinance governs both acquisitive and extinctive prescription. In layman’s language a person can acquire or lose ownership to property by operation of the law of Prescription.
The basis of extinctive prescription is founded on the principle of negligence on the part of the owner of property. In terms of the law an owner of property is under a legal obligation to assert the legal right of ownership within a stipulated period of time to re-possess property. Should the owner fail or neglect to institute legal action within the stipulated time the secondary occupant acquires ownership provided certain conditions are fulfilled.
Courts of law apply provisions of prescription law in terms of procedures laid down in Statutes. In ordinary circumstances where parties are equally placed application of the law is reasonable and justified. However in conflict environments the parties to a dispute may at times not be equally placed in many respects.
For instance in a lawsuit where a displaced Muslim from the North is challenging a secondary occupant of property in the North, he is at a definite disadvantage vis-a- vis the secondary occupier. a) Northern Muslim lives elseware b) properties are inaccessible c) the environment is hostile d) inability to have access to documents or witnesses etc. on the other hand the secondary occupant is placed in an advantageous position by virtue of his possession and the unrestricted access to witnesses, documents and the friendly environment.
One of the incidental issues arising out of secondary occupation of property is the impact of restitution will have on the secondary occupant. Although the occupation of property belonging to others is an unlawful act, there are other circumstances necessitating a more flexible approach to the resolution of this complex issue.
If a secondary occupant is ejected from the property, more often than not it will give rise to fresh problems. That is because in the North most of the secondary occupants are poor landless and belongs to the Tamil community. In such circumstances the ejectment of a secondary occupier will also lead to more tension in the society.
Successful military operations have paved the way for re-settlement of Muslims of the North. The Government has also taken several positive steps in this regard. However no attention is paid to resolve the issues arising out of secondary occupation of private property in the North. In order to complement the efforts of the government the following broader issues are identified in respect of issues relating to secondary occupation in conflict areas-
-Total inadequacy of laws and policies deal with secondary occupation
-Absence of cost effective and enforceable alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
-Inability of the authorities and the non-state actors to resolve these issues in a just and peaceful manner;
-Potential for future tension between individuals and communities
-Sensitivities and genuine concerns of secondary occupants
Instead of strategies, successive governments were keen to set up multitude of ministries, departments institutions and ad hoc mechanisms creating fresh problems. Issues of co-ordination, overlapping of functions and responsibilities have often created delays, confusion if not conflict among the institutions themselves to the detriment of the displaced people.
Recommendations
In order to address issues arising out of abandonment of property and secondary occupation all parties must think innovatively and also act fast. Following are some thoughts for policy and law reform. For purpose of clarity the envisaged policy and law reforms are set out in three stages, but all stages are interconnected.
Immediate
1.Initiation of a dialogue involving all parties
The government must initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders.
2. Vesting of abandoned land and properties of displaced (Northern) in the State
Enactment of a new legislation or regulations to grant legal protection to abandoned private property in the North and East. Such law or regulation should have the effect of vesting the properties of the displaced automatically (by operation of law) in the State without any encumbrances.
Laws can be enacted through an act of Parliament or under regulations under Public Security Ordinance. Soon after July 1983 riots REPIA was created through regulation and all affected properties were vested in the State by operation of law. Land and properties vested as such were divested to legal owners after inquiry.
3. Preservation of documents of title to property
Immediate action must be taken by the authorities to preserve and protect documents of title to property such as deeds, permits issued by government and also survey plans, agreements, licences and other document relating to approvals issued by local authorities or government institutions. Issue of copies of documents destroyed or lost too should be expedited.
4. Conducting of land survey and photographing of property
Due to abandonment of property for long periods of time all identity marks and other evidence have been lost or destroyed. The original owners will not be able to identify their properties due to lack or non existence of surface marks or signs. Therefore the Government must facilitate displaced persons to obtain ruling on boundaries of their property under relevant law or practice.
A comprehensive report of property of the northern Muslims is available using new and advanced technologies. A survey too should be carried out to obtain details of land ownership of individuals.
5. Creation of awareness among the displaced population
Lack of awareness and ignorance has affected most of the displaced persons. They are not very much aware of their legal rights and entitlements. Most of them have hopes of returning to their homes in unsafe neighbourhoods. Most of them are also unaware of legal consequences arising out of abandonment of property
Intermediate
Law and policy reform
1)Enactment of new laws and amendment to existing legislation
A serious danger is likely that the legal owners losing ownership due to the operations prescription. If a displaced person loses title to property in such circumstance it will be a travesty of justice and will also reflect poorly on all stakeholders.
Therefore the Government must seriously consider introducing necessary amendments to the Prescription Ordinance and other relevant law without further delay.
2. Setting up of special tribunals/courts to inquire in to property claims
The Government should give serious consideration to set up special courts or tribunals to hear and determine applications in areas where the displaced live, on matters relating to land disputes. These courts or tribunals could be set up under special law. The special courts or tribunals must have jurisdiction to hear applications on a wider range of subjects and should also have powers to expeditiously settle disputes relating to property.
Such courts or tribunals must be given jurisdiction to inquire into testamentary cases and disputes relating to land between persons (displaced persons or one party is a displaced person) that were pending at the time of displacement. Similarly pending cases with regard to tenancy rights, servitudes or any right or obligation arising out of land too should be transferred to these special courts or tribunals for determination.
3. Laws to nullify land transfers under questionable circumstances
Several instances have been reported that Muslims of the North had been compelled under coercion or force to dispose land and property at a far lower price than the prevailing market value.
The Government should appoint a committee to investigate such instances and to recommend necessary law and policy changes to grant relief to affected individuals.
Policy reform and executive & administrative action
Sri Lanka Cricket promoting religious discrimination?
Let me first declare my interests. I am a Colombo Tamil with nothing to do with LTTE. My parents and grandparents made Colombo their home long ago during the time of the British.
I am an old boy of St. Thomas’, a prestigious school in Colombo. I always supported the SL cricket team. I now live in South Harrow. I am here on holiday to see my parents who live in Colombo. I shall post this letter on my way to the airport so that I shall be safely in the plane in case you publish the verifiable contents of this letter.
As you may know the Sri Lanka cricket team consists of majority Buddhists, a Hindu, a couple of Muslims and a couple of Christians. In short it is a multi-religious and a multi-racial team and on that score alone it should be admired. Over the last few years the ugly head of religious discrimination has started to emerge from the woodworks of the HQ of the SL Cricket Board. It first appeared positively when Chaminda Vaas, a Catholic, was about to be appointed as Captain of the team. He declined the post due to malicious criticism by some fellow cricketers and a virulent religious press.
Before the above incident the SL Cricket Board has introduced a wholly irrelevant Buddhist religious ceremony before the departure of the team for any international match. If you look at the SL’s national TV footage of 15 Sept.09 you will find a Buddhist monk conducting a Buddhist ceremony for the team, where the non-Buddhists team-mates were forced to partake. According to the Constitution and the President all are supposed to be equal and no minority exists. Yet this blatant disregard to respect the religious beliefs of non- Buddhists in the team is sheer arrogance and chauvinism on the part of the SL Cricket Board and the Minister in Charge.
I have previously written to the authorities concerned. Therefore they cannot pretend ignorance. This is religious discrimination requiring as much publicity as other atrocities you have given current publicity. You know how Britain treated the South African cricket team in the days of apartheid. Sri Lanka by its own arrogance is now a strong candidate for boycott by the ICC and the English Cricket Board.
I hope you will realize the gravity of the situation after having seen the SL state TV (Rupavahini and ITN). At a minimum the ICC and ECB should let the SL Cricket Board know that they are aware of the religious discrimination and the future consequences of such a course of action if persisted by Sri Lanka.
Buddhism has nothing to do with the British invented game of cricket. Further Buddhism has no God or gods to plead for divine intervention in their favour. The Gods in Buddhism are all from the Hindhu pantheon and therefore a Hindhu priest should conduct this ceremony and not a Buddhist monk.
I am for secular cricket with no trappings of any religion. On the other hand if one wants to have religion then they can have it on their own the day previous to their departure in their own temples, kovils, mosques and churches. If religious ceremony is a necessity then all religions should be allowed to conduct their short ceremony in public NOT just one religion (Buddhism) at the deliberate neglect of other religions.
I hope you will give publicity to this matter as just now cricket is still a force that unites the people in this country. If Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists and fanatics are allowed their way, soon there will only be Buddhists in the SL team and division in the country on religious lines. I hope you will kindly consider this earnest request. My home address in South Harrow will be revealed to you once I get home.
V. Seneviratnam
dailymirror
Depositors question role of Muslim clerics
A politician and some Islamic clerics are being accused of having an indirect hand in the mismanagement of a deposit taking financial institution based on Shariah Law where depositors with investments over Rs. 800 million are now being given the cold shoulder by their religious leaders.
Some members of the All Ceylon Jamiath ul Ulama (ACJU), the governing body of Islam in Sri Lanka, are being accused of obtaining loans from Ceylinco Profit Sharing Investment Corporation Ltd, now facing a liquidity crisis, and not paying them back while serving in the company’s Shariah Board.
These members are also accused of approving loans to companies and individuals upon the request of a Muslim Politician in the East without collateral or security.
Depositors accused these members of the ACJU of promoting the Islamic Financial concept in other financial institutions while ignoring the plight faced by depositors of Ceylinco Profit Sharing.
Ceylinco Profit Sharing was incorporated in 1982 and is a part of troubled conglomerate Ceylinco Consolidated. Its core business of accepting deposits and granting loans was governed under the concepts of Islamic Shariah Law.
The ACJU had nominated some of its members to the Shariah Board of Ceylinco Profit Sharing.
Depositors of Ceylinco Profit Sharing said they have not received their profit shares nor have they been able to withdraw their deposits since February of this year.
“Currently there are over 11,000 depositors with investments amounting to over Rs. 800 million,” an action committee of depositors of Ceylinco Profit Sharing said.
These depositors alleged that despite frequent assurances from the management nothing has happened to date.
Depositors have written to the ACJU requesting them to actively participate in finding a solution to the liquidity crisis faced by Ceylinco Profit Sharing but with no response.
“Unfortunately, the ACJU and their members are shying away from depositors and are now busy in promoting the Islamic Financial concept in other institutions,” Mumtaz M. Rahman, President of the depositors’ committee said.
Depositors also alleged that some members of the ACJU in the Shariah Board had obtained loans from Ceylinco Profit Sharing while serving on the board.
“This has led depositors to wonder as to how they could carry out their duties with dignity and independence. It has been revealed that some of the ACJU members had never repaid their loans and that one of them is a well known Moulavi (cleric) often seen and heard in the electronic media,” Rahman said in a letter to the press.
Depositors also said that loans had been channelled through the Shariah Board of Ceylinco Profit Sharing and given to companies and individuals without any collateral or security upon the personal request of a Muslim Politician from the Eastern Province.
“Depositors are of the opinion that apart from mismanagement that may have taken place in the company, the ACJU is also to be blamed and should take responsibility for the present crisis as they openly promoted the company,” Rahman said.
The depositors’ committee pointed out that many of the deposits had been used to invest in other companies of the Ceylinco group.
Audits have also not been done, depositors allege, with the last available audit report of the financial year 2003/04 issued in June of this year! it said.
Depositors said the company does not have money for its day-to-day expenses.
The Island
The Colombo Muslims – the silent minority
by Shyamalee Mahibalan Murugesu
During my recent visit to the island I stumbled upon ‘Nobody’s People’ a book by Latheef Farook that gave an excellent view into the Muslims of north and east. The book prompted me to research on the plight of the Colombo Muslims which I feel is a façade created into thinking that they are a rich business community.
The Colombo Central densely populated, highly congested predominantly Muslim areas of Maligawatte, Aluthkade, Maradana, Grandpass, Modera, Central Road,Bloemendhal Road are a huge voter base used by every political party of all hues to their whims during elections time.
Maligawatte, a marshland was transformed by the then president R Premadasainto a township of apartments and shop houses, recreational facility and a movie theatre. Over the years with the changes of ruling parties in typical Sri Lankan fashion, previous projects were ignored. So Maligawatte, like President Premadasa’s many clock towers stopped with time. It failed to provide education, employment opportunities to the youth; instead what it gave drugs, alcohol, and porn (the Ruby Theatre rolls out enough that the likes not seen in Las Vegas). It became a breeding ground for violence supported and created by politicians. Most dreaded of all places is Applewatte, the Mumbai of Sri Lanka, a haven of contract killers and mobsters. There are reported to be many Jamal’s and Saleem’s with big dreams with less or no opportunities to progress in life thus have become easy targets for politicians.
My quest led me to Rauff Zain a university student who is also an editor of the book ‘Abnormal behavior of Muslim youth’ which was sponsored by the world assembly of Muslim youth(WAMY). Written in Tamil the book sheds a light on the life of Colombo’s Muslim youth.
Prior to 1970 education in the Muslim community was given less preference or scant regard and the most educated Muslims were considered to be the Jaffna Muslims. For the rest, other than a few affluent classes, it was family business. After the 70’s, despite its image of wealthy business, the income of Colombo Muslim householders are relatively less and are under urban poverty. Most of the families are engaged in informal wage work or in self employment. So the image of wealth itself is a façade.
Considering the 21 Muslim schools in Colombo including Zahira and Muslim Ladies the progress is reported to be alarming. The research specifies the following issues as a huge contributor. Lack of permanent teachers, lack of resources, drop outs and students with ODD (Oppositional defiant Disorder) Many Muslim youth in Colombo are reported to be reflecting this behavior.
A further survey carried out by the CMC has identified that a total of 77,612 families are currently living in 1614 low income settlements in the city. And 90% of these slum settlements are in the predominant Muslim areas of Central Colombo.
Specifically, residents in the areas Maligawatte, as Rauff Zain pointed out, the houses are so congested that they take turns to sleep alternatively. Usually it’s the youth who sleep outside. So the youth in these areas reflect the social and psychological factors that have influenced their lives. In 2008 police reported to have arrested 10278, mostly Muslim youth for possession of heroin and the type of heroin that’s popular among the youth of Colombo Central is known as no 3 which originates from south west Asia. According to police narcotics bureau it is mostly Muslim businessmen who have been smuggling drugs in to the country. The latest fad among Muslim teenagers is reported to be MAWA, a beeda type of a drug which is a craze among school teenagers. According to reports the Muslim underworld gangs are reported to be operating from the areas of Applewatte and other Colombo central areas bringing the total number of gangs operating in Colombo to 54. According to Rauff Zain’s research the main causes of criminal activities among the youth are urban poverty, illiteracy, political discrimination and political pressure, childhood experience, social segregation, and lack of moral/cultural based education. Many gang members display ODD (oppositional defiant disorder)
Living in such extreme poverty with less hope or no hopes at all, hidden by the rest of the world these young people are easy prey for violence. The Colombo Muslims are lagging way behind in education and only education without political interference can enrich and transform their lives. It has also been established that this youth suffer from anti social behavior and it is vital that the society does not isolate and segregate these youth, instead there should be a mechanism in place to reach out and rehabilitate.
It is interesting to note that the local media is suddenly buzzing with jihad groups and sectarian violence in the Muslim community. This had outraged many since every Muslim knows that he or she has a personal jihad not the one fought with weapons.
It is paramount to understand that the modern Jihad movements in the world are the work of social disparity in a society and nothing religious about them.
Specifically in Sri Lanka it was politics that separated people not their beliefs. It was Blue, Red and Green that divided people, not ideologies. It was the politicians like the British who divided the people to rule. It seems Sri Lankans have become way too passionate about politics that the people cannot build a country beyond political ideology.
It is interesting to reflect on the history of a country that once idealized Sri Lanka. As Singapore celebrates its 44th national day this week all Singaporeans will recite their national pledge. ” we, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation” in English, Malay, and Tamil. This was one country that was built beyond politics and political interference. If Sri Lanka is to become another Singapore, it has to erase political ideologies and free its citizens from the bondage of politics and provide equal opportunity to all its citizens. Let the youth have dreams irrespective of race and religion since disparity and repression are a breeding ground for violence.
The Island
