sri lanka extremist buddhist groups in a rampage against religious minorities –us report

8/12/2019 Sri Lanka Extremist Buddhist Groups in a Rampage Against Religious Minorities US Report

1/10

Sri Lanka: Extremist Buddhist groups in a

rampage against Religious minorities US

report

[REPORT: International Religious Freedom Report for 2013Sri Lana!

2"#0$#201%In Sri Lana& t'e Sin'ala (udd'ist group (odu (ala Sena )((S* +ontinued to promoteits anti,-uslim +ampaign& .'i+' .as lined to /iolent a+ti/ities during t'e ear Lo+almedia and Os noted strong linages 4et.een t'e ((S and t'e go/ernment

5++ording to numerous reports& t'e ((S .as 4e'ind a gro.ing .a/e of anti,-uslima+ti/ities +arried out 4 ot'er /iolent (udd'ist nationalist groups ationalist groups.ere allegedl in/ol/ed in a series of atta+s on mos6ues& protests o/er animalslaug'ter& and a sustained attempt to furt'er marginali7e -uslims 4 outla.ing t'e'alal sstem of meat +ertifi+ation On 8e+em4er 1& (udd'ist mons reportedl led amo4 of 200 /illagers t'at destroed t'e -et'odist 9'ur+' of a4arana& lo+ated in

5nuradapura 8istri+t T.o 9riminal In/estigation 8i/ision )9I8* poli+e offi+ers arri/edat t'e s+ene and ordered t'e +'ur+' to s'ut do.n& saing t'at it 'ad no legalre+ognition to operate

P'oto: ((S leader annasara in /ilonet mood against ;iit' T'ero ) seated*

Statego/ere is t'e Sri Lana se+tion of t'e ReportInternational Religious Freedom Report for 2013Sri Lana
http://srilankabrief.org/2014/07/sri-lanka-extremist-buddhist-groups-in-a-rampage-against-religious-minorities-us-report/http://srilankabrief.org/2014/07/sri-lanka-extremist-buddhist-groups-in-a-rampage-against-religious-minorities-us-report/http://srilankabrief.org/2014/07/sri-lanka-extremist-buddhist-groups-in-a-rampage-against-religious-minorities-us-report/http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapperhttp://srilankabrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/logo.pnghttp://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapperhttp://srilankabrief.org/2014/07/sri-lanka-extremist-buddhist-groups-in-a-rampage-against-religious-minorities-us-report/http://srilankabrief.org/2014/07/sri-lanka-extremist-buddhist-groups-in-a-rampage-against-religious-minorities-us-report/http://srilankabrief.org/2014/07/sri-lanka-extremist-buddhist-groups-in-a-rampage-against-religious-minorities-us-report/


2/10

T'e +onstitution and ot'er la.s and poli+ies prote+t religious freedom In pra+ti+e&'o.e/er& lo+al aut'orities failed to respond effe+ti/el to +ommunal /iolen+e& in+ludingatta+s on mem4ers of minorit religious groups& and perpetrators .ere not 4roug't to


3/10

T'e -inistr of (udd'a Sasana )do+trine and pra+ti+e* and Religious 5ffairs 'as fourdepartments .oring spe+ifi+all .it' (udd'ist& indu& -uslim& and 9'ristian groups( la. ea+' department is mandated to formulate and implement programs toin+ul+ate religious /alues and promote a /irtuous so+iet

Religious groups are not re6uired to register .it' t'e go/ernment& nor is t'ere a

re6uirement to register pla+es of .ors'ip In+orporation 4 a+t of parliament is t'e'ig'est form of legal /alidit& 4ut t'at option is una/aila4le in pra+ti+e for 9'ristian+'ur+'es 9'ristian +'ur+'es are +ompelled to see ot'er forms of registration toesta4lis' a legal status& su+' as esta4lis'ing a trust& so+iet& O& or +ompan undert'e 9ompanies 5+t 5n of t'ese forms of registration allo.s a +'ur+' to engage infinan+ial transa+tions& operate a 4an a++ount& and 'old propert

o/ernment ministries +an also issue +ir+ulars& .'i+' are dire+ti/es t'at do not 'a/et'e for+e of la.

5n instru+tion issued during t'e ear 4 t'e -inistr of (udd'a Sasana and Religious5ffairs to t'e Registrar of 9ompanies mandates t'at t'e ministr must appro/e allappli+ations su4mitted 4 +'ur+'es seeing registration Sin+e Septem4er lo+alaut'orities 'a/e 4een +iting a 200A +ir+ular issued 4 t'e ministr on registration ofne. +'ur+'es to +lose do.n +'ur+'es& in+luding t'ose t'at predate t'e +ir+ular& e/ent'oug' t'e +ir+ular does not 'a/e t'e for+e of la. and its apparent intent is to regulatet'e +onstru+tion of ne. pla+es of religious .ors'ip

-atters related to famil la.& in+luding di/or+e& +'ild +ustod& and in'eritan+e& aread


4/10

deepening +ulture of impunit t'at prote+ted alleged (udd'ist perpetrators

On O+to4er 2"& t'e =r4an 8e/elopment 5ut'orit& 'eeding t'e +alls of area (udd'istsin 8am4ulla& 4ulldo7ed t'e indu 8am4ulla (ad'raaali 5mman Go/il near t'eseparate (udd'ist temple to mae .a for a pond in t'e 8am4ulla (udd'ist sa+red7one 5++ording to /arious sour+es& more t'an %0 Tamil indu families .'o 'ad paid

rent to Sin'alese lando.ners in t'e area surrounding t'e o/il for o/er t'reegenerations .ere e/i+ted .it' t'e promise of alternati/e li/ing arrangements& 4ut lo+alaut'orities did not fulfill t'e promise

(udd'ists in 8am4ulla also demanded t'at a near4 mos6ue 4e remo/ed 4e+ause it.as also lo+ated in t'e sa+red 7one 8isagreements a4out t'e presen+e of t'emos6ue led to +onfrontations 4et.een (udd'ists and -uslims& in+luding a+ts of/andalism against t'e mos6ue T'e mos6ue 'ad 4een slated for destru+tion in 2012 toe?pand t'e ma


5/10

destroed t'e +'ur+' T.o poli+e 9riminal In/estigation 8i/ision )9I8* offi+ers arri/edat t'e s+ene and ordered t'e +'ur+' to s'ut do.n 4e+ause it 'ad no legal re+ognitionto operate& +iting a +ir+ular issued 4 t'e -inistr of (udd'a Sasana and Religious

5ffairs T'e ne?t da& t'e 9I8 offi+ers instru+ted t'e pastor of near4 (elie/ers 9'ur+'to +lose do.n for t'e same reason& e/en t'oug' t'e +'ur+' 'ad 4een fun+tioning int'e /illage for t'e past se/en ears and .as legall in+orporated

T'e pastor of t'e 9'ur+' of ra+e in Daraapola& Gegalle 8istri+t re+ei/ed a letterfrom t'e di/isional se+retariat dated o/em4er 11& instru+ting 'im to stop all religious.ors'ip a+ti/ities T'e letter referen+ed an 5ugust 200" +ir+ular T'e same pastor .as/iolentl atta+ed in 8e+em4er 2012 5 +ase against t'e pastor for allegedl 4reaingt'e pea+e remained unresol/ed at earCs end

On Septem4er A& poli+e pro'i4ited Praise Praer Lana 9'ur+'& .'i+' 'ad 4eenoperating in a 9olom4o su4ur4 for 2% ears& from 'olding ser/i+es .it'out properregistration Poli+e informed +'ur+' offi+ials t'at failing to register +ould open t'e

+'ur+' to atta+s and distur4 t'e pea+e T'e +'ur+' .as +ompelled to suspendser/i+es& 4ut resumed t'em t.o .ees later after sending t'e re6uested registrationappli+ation do+uments T'e +'ur+' 'ad et to re+ei/e a response from t'ego/ernment and at t'e end of t'e ear ser/i+es .ere +ontinuing 9'ur+' offi+ials saidt'e +'ur+' 'ad 4een registered for ears .it' t'e di/isional se+retar and& under t'eformer go/ernment& .it' t'e 9'ristian ministr 4efore it .as su4sumed 4 t'e -inistrof (udd'a Sasana and Religious 5ffairs under t'e +urrent go/ernment

On 5ugust 1& .'ile responding to a protest o/er +ontaminated .ater& se+urit for+es inDeli.eria& ampa'a 8istri+t& entered a 9at'oli+ +'ur+' and 4eat protesters .'o 'ad

entered t'e +'ur+' seeing s'elter ;ideo taen after t'e in+ident s'o.ed 4ullet 'olesin t'e +'ur+' .alls

In -a t'e di/isional se+retar of am4antota 8istri+t issued an ultimatum toe/angeli+al 9'ristian +'ur+'es to s'o. t'eir registration do+uments or fa+e +losure

5++ording to 9E5SL offi+ials& a senior mem4er of t'e (udd'ist +lerg from t'edistri+t pu4li+l stated t'at (udd'ist mons 'ad alread +losed do.n 1$ +'ur+'es T'e9E5SL stated t'ese +losures .ere often +arried out .it' t'e ta+it support and e/en+ooperation of lo+al aut'orities

On Fe4ruar 1$& t.o poli+e offi+ers& t'e /illage offi+er& and fi/e offi+ers of t'e di/isionalse+retariat disrupted a praer meeting in progress at t'e 9'ristian Praer 9entre inIngiria& Galut'ara 8istri+t Poli+e told t'e 1@,20 9'ristians gat'ered for praer t'eirmeeting .as illegal& stating t'e did not 'a/e prior appro/al to 'old praer meetingst'ere T'e di/isional se+retar said a gat'ering for .ors'ip of more t'an 10 persons.ould 4e +onsidered a +'ur+' .'i+' .ould re6uire prior appro/al to 'old su+'gat'erings 5++ording to lo+al 'uman rig'ts groups& t'ere .as no legal 4asis for su+'a +laim


6/10

Some 9'ristian groups& in parti+ular denominations .it' a more re+ent presen+e in t'e+ountr& reported an in+rease in +ompli+ations o4taining lo+al permission to +onstru+t+'ur+' 4uildings E/angeli+al groups reported in+reasing diffi+ult in registering ne.+'ur+'es or reregistering as +orporations Se/eral smaller +ongregations .ere deniedpermission to register .it' t'e -inistr of (udd'a Sasana and Religious 5ffairs as+'ur+'es& reportedl 4e+ause t'e .ere not mem4ers of t'e ational 9'ristian

9oun+il& an um4rella organi7ation representing traditional Protestant +'ur+'esReportedl lo+al aut'orities sometimes did not .ant t'ese groups operating in t'eirdistri+ts due to allegations of unet'i+al +on/ersions and to pressure 4 lo+al (udd'istgroups

Some e/angeli+al 9'ristian groups reported in+idents of go/ernmental dis+riminationin t'e pro/ision of ser/i+es Some go/ernment s+'ools re6uired minorit 9'ristianstudents to attend (udd'ist religion +lasses 4e+ause t'ere .ere no tea+'ers a/aila4leto tea+' +lasses on 9'ristianit T'ere .ere also reports of go/ernment s+'oolsrefusing to enroll 9'ristians 4e+ause of t'eir religion

T'e go/ernment +ontinued to limit t'e issuan+e of temporar .or permits for foreignreligious .orers and +lerg Dor permits for foreign +lerg .ere issued for one ear4ut +ould 4e e?tended

Follo.ing t'e +on+lusion of a 2$,ear +onfli+t 4et.een t'e (udd'ist,ma


7/10

during t'e atta+ 4ut failed to inter/ene to stop t'e /iolen+e and t'e made no arrestsT'e =r4an 8e/elopment 5ut'orit su4se6uentl de+ided to a4andon plans todemolis' t'e old mos6ue and for+ed t'e -uslims to return t'ere T'ere .ere se/eralsimilar mos6ue atta+s during t'e ear& none of .'i+' resulted in prose+utions

On -ar+' 2%& (udd'ist mons led a mo4 of appro?imatel 100 people .'o assaulted

se/eral mem4ers of t'e +ongregation in t'e 5ssem4lies of od +'ur+' in Gotta.a& asu4ur4 of 9olom4o T'e poli+e ordered t'e pastor to stop t'e ser/i+es 4ut did notarrest an of t'e perpetrators

On -ar+' 1A& a mo4 reportedl led 4 (udd'ist mons atta+ed t'e .ife& t.o +'ildren&and residen+e of t'e pastor of t'e >ee/ana 5loaa +'ur+' in Deeraetia&am4ant'ota 8istri+t& +ausing serious in


8/10

.idel reported& (udd'ist mon,led atta+s on t'e randpass -os6ue and t'e-uslim,o.ned Fas'ion (ug +'ain of +lot'ing stores& e/en t'oug' mons asso+iated.it' t'e ((S .ere often present during t'e atta+s T'ere .ere also reports of atta+son -uslim food +arts in Gand

9'ristian groups reported at least H0 /iolent atta+s led 4 (udd'ist mons against

9'ristians or +'ur+'es during t'e ear 9'ristians& parti+ularl t'ose from e/angeli+aldenominations& sometimes en+ountered 'arassment and p'si+al atta+s on propertand pla+es of .ors'ip 4 lo+al (udd'ists .'o .ere opposed to +on/ersion and4elie/ed 9'ristian groups t'reatened t'em T'e num4er and se/erit of t'e atta+sreportedl in+reased modestl T'e 9E5SL reported atta+s on 9'ristian +'ur+'es&organi7ations& religious leaders& and +ongregantsB man of t'e atta+s .ere reportedto t'e poli+e Ot'er sour+es +onfirmed some of t'ese atta+s

In >une a group of >e'o/a'Cs Ditnesses .as engaged in e/angeli+al outrea+' t'roug't'e distri4ution of a mont'l maga7ine in -ulleria.a -em4ers of Ra/ana (alaa

surrounded t'e group and ordered t'em to stop distri4uting t'e maga7ine T'eRa/ana (alaa leader reported t'is in+ident to poli+e and .arned t'e >e'o/a'CsDitnesses to stop /isiting (udd'ist residen+es

5lso in >une a group atta+ed t'e 9at'oli+ 9'ur+' of St Fran+is a/ier in 5ngulanaT'e /andals destroed a statue of t'e ;irgin -ar and t'en demolis'ed t'eta4erna+le In t'e same mont'& a mo4 led 4 a (udd'ist mon assaulted t'e pastor oft'e e. Life 9'ur+' in an.ella& 9olom4o 8istri+t& along .it' 'is sons and mem4ersof t'e +ongregation T'e mon .as not detained

On Septem4er 2& .'en a group of unidentified indi/iduals t're. plasti+ 4ags filled .it'erosene at t'e 'ome of t'e pastor of t'e 5ssem4lies of od 9'ur+' in

5gunuolapalassa& am4ant'ota 8istri+t T'e atta+ers fled .'en t'e pastor a.oeand +ame out of t'e 'ouse Poli+e found e/iden+e of lit mat+'es outside t'e premisesT'e pastor filed a poli+e +omplaint& 4ut t'ere 'ad 4een no progress reported on t'ein/estigation 4 t'e end of t'e ear

On 8e+em4er 21& unidentified assailants t're. t.o gasoline 4om4s at t'e Samaritan9'ur+' premises o++upied 4 t'e pastor and 'is famil in 5'angama& alle 8istri+tOn 8e+em4er 10& an unno.n gunman s'ot at t'e 'ome of a pastor in Destern

Pro/in+e o in


9/10

unidentified assailants t're. stones at t'e Lig't ouse 9'ur+' in iadu.a& alle8istri+t& s'attering .indo.s and +ausing minor damage T'e pastors lodged poli+e+omplaints& 4ut no progress .as reported on t'e in/estigation 4 earCs end

On 8e+em4er 2$& appro?imatel 200 protesters attempted to stop +onstru+tion of ane. -et'odist +'ur+' in (uttala& -onaragala 8istri+t 5lt'oug' poli+e and t'e

di/isional se+retariat inter/ened& t'e situation remained tense and +onstru+tion .astemporaril suspended

5llegations of unet'i+al +on/ersions& impling e+onomi+ indu+ements& 4 e/angeli+almissionaries and +'ur+'es +ontinued to surfa+e during t'e ear Su+' +laims .eremade not onl 4 'ard,line (udd'ists& 4ut .ere also +ommon among moderate(udd'ist& indu& and esta4lis'ed 9'ristian +'ur+' leaders T'e ((S& for e?ample&alleged t'at =S,4ased e/angeli+al 9'ristian groups offered e+onomi+ indu+ementsin e?+'ange for +on/ersion

On -a 2%& a (udd'ist mon self,immolated and later died in Gand& reportedl toprotest t'e -uslim 'alal met'od of slaug'tering +attle and unet'i+al +on/ersions 49'ristians

Os reported se/eral in+idents of dis+rimination against -uslims 5 sur/e 4 t'e5sia Foundation& an international O .oring in t'e +ountr& found t'at religioustension +ontinued to 4e a pro4lem among -uslim& indu& 9'ristian& and (udd'istgroups Si?t,four per+ent of t'ose sur/eed 4elie/ed t'at attempts to +on/ert peoplefrom one religion to anot'er s'ould not 4e tolerated& a per+eption t'at .as relati/el+onsistent a+ross all religious groups T'e sur/e also found t'at most mem4ers of

religious minorities +onsidered t'emsel/es free to e?press religious opinions in t'eirlo+al areasB 'o.e/er& 'ig'er per+entages of -uslims and indus did not feel free toe?press religious opinions in pu4li+

Se+tion I; =S o/ernment Poli+S'are =S em4ass offi+ials regularl +on/eed+on+erns a4out religious freedom& parti+ularl atta+s on +'ur+'es and mos6ues& togo/ernment leaders at t'e most senior le/els and urged t'em to arrest and prose+utet'e perpetrators T'e 5m4assador and ot'er em4ass offi+ials also met fre6uentl .it'representati/es from a 4road spe+trum of religious groups to dis+uss a .ide range ofreligious freedom +on+erns T'e em4ass en+ouraged interfait' efforts 4 religious

leaders to promote re+on+iliation Follo.ing t'e randpass -os6ue atta+& t'e =Sem4ass issued a statement +alling for prose+ution of t'e perpetrators& t'e prote+tionof t'e rig't of all Sri Lanans to pra+ti+e t'e religion of t'eir +'oi+e& and an end toreligiousl,4ased /iolen+e

T'e em4ass also undertoo se/eral pro


10/10

de/elopment in t'e .ar,affe+ted nort' and east T'e 5m4assador and ot'er em4assoffi+ials also regularl parti+ipated in religious +onferen+es& +eremonies& and ot'ere/ents promoting religious freedom around t'e +ountrStatego/
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapperhttp://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapper

sri lanka extremist buddhist groups in a rampage against religious minorities –us report

Documents