To ensure accountability and justice for the Buddhist mob violence against Muslims this week, Sri Lanka must investigate links between its security forces and extremist Buddhist groups, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement Thursday.
“Sri Lankan authorities need to do more than arrest those carrying out the anti-Muslim violence. They need to investigate and identify any instigators,” said HRW’s Asia Director, Brad Adams.
“That means taking a hard look at the role and relationship between extremist Buddhist groups like the BBS and the Sri Lankan security forces,” he said, referring to the ultranationalist Buddhist movement, Bodhu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Force.
The BBS is said to have close links to senior security officials, including Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“The Rajapaksa government has long been ineffectual in holding those responsible for abuses to account… To end these attacks, the government needs to finally show a willingness to tackle violence against minority populations head on, especially through justice and accountability for the victims.”
Also see our earlier posts:
Anti-Muslim violence ‘underscores majoritarianism in Sri Lanka’ – The Hindu editorial (20 June 2014)
Jaffna Uni protest against anti-Muslim violence (19 June 2014)
Hundreds protest in Tamil Nadu against Sinhala mob attack on Muslims (19 June 2014)
Tamil groups condemn attacks against Muslims, call for justice (18 June 2014)
Over 1,000 Muslim shops close in Colombo to protest attacks (18 June 2014)
49 arrested as Rajapaksa pledges to rebuild property affected by violence (18 June 2014)
Security forces, curfew assist Buddhist mobs attacking Muslims (17 Jun 2014)
'Those responsible for killings must be held to account’ says Amnesty (17 Jun 2014)
OIC: Sri Lanka must bring perpetrators of anti-Islamic violence to justice (17 Jun 2014)
UN rights chief ‘deeply alarmed’ by violence in Sri Lanka (16 Jun 2014)
Sinhalese mob violence leaves three Muslims dead (16 Jun 2014)
Sinhala group attacks Muslim shops, Rajapaksa urges restraint by all parties (15 Jun 2014)
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