Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has received one of Bolivia’s highest awards from President Evo Morales and the State Assembly, for the Sri Lankan’s ‘contributions to peace and democracy ‘. Rajapaksa receiving the award is the first time that a foreign Head of State has been awarded the “Parliamentary Order to the Democratic Merit – Deputy Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz”, one of the Bolivian state’s highest awards.
Anti-Muslim violence continued for a second day in Aluthgama, southwestern Sri Lanka, as Sinhala Buddhist mobs torched dozens of Muslim-owned shops and attacked Muslim houses. The violence, which started Sunday in Aluthgama, spread to new areas of the town, with rioters moving around freely despite a government curfew and the deploying of over 1,200 police. On Tuesday Army troops were also deployed. See PTI’s report here . Much of Muslim commerce in Aluthgama has been destroyed with reports of attacks on Muslim businesses in two other towns, the BBC reported . The violence is being orchestrated by the Buddhist group, Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Force Movement, with Buddhist monks amongst the rioters.
Amnesty International has called for those responsible for anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka to be held to account in a statement released earlier on Tuesday. Commenting on the recent attacks, David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia Pacific Director, said, “There has been a disturbing rise in attacks and harassment of religious minorities in Sri Lanka over the two past years, mostly led by groups with a hard-line Buddhist or nationalist agenda, and these groups are reported to have strong links to high-ranking government officials. Rising violence against religious minorities cannot be treated as an isolated issue – stopping it must be a crucial part of the national reconciliation that is so badly needed since the conflict’s end in 2009.”
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has said it could do a “full and thorough investigation”, even though Sri Lanka said it will deny access to the team conducting the probe. OHCHR spokesperson Rupert Colville told the Daily Mirror that the body had developed extensive methodologies to deal with countries which deny access, referring to the Commissions of Inquiries on Syria and North Korea, where they produced detailed reports and were able to gather evidence. “The investigation will take place either way. It will be better to have access, but it is still possible to do a...
Aluthgama earlier today (Picture: @cfhaviland) At least three members of the Muslim community were killed, and over 80 left injured, after Sinhalese mobs went on a rampage in Aluthgama, southern Sri Lanka. Violence erupted on Sunday, after a rally in the town by the Bodu Bala Sena, a Buddhist organisation led by monks, resulted in clashes and attacks on Muslim homes, businesses and mosques. The attacks are reported to have spread to neighbouring towns today, according to Al Jazeera . "At least nine shops and up to 40 houses have been gutted in Aluthgama, while three mosques were attacked," Hilmy Ahmed, the spokesman of Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, told Al Jazeera over the phone. President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the incidents would be investigated. Sri Lanka’s media has been relatively muted on the worst violence, while the Government Information Department has warned media institutions from publishing news that could cause “disharmony”, saying that “rumours and misinterpretations have been spread on an incident occurred in Aluthgama yesterday.”
The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict concluded in London last week, with 155 states endorsing a joint declaration pledging to work to prevent and punish sexual violence. The four-day summit saw countries from across the globe pledge to improve the response and support to victims of sexual violence and their access to justice, as well as exclude such crimes from amnesty provisions. See the full declaration here . As public exhibitions, theatre productions and discussions took place, ministers from around the world gathered to discuss the issue of sexual violence in conflict and measures that could to taken to prevent rape, protect the victims and punish the perpetrators. The key initiative launched by the British government was the 'International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict’.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed her "deep alarm" at attacks against Muslims by Sinhalese mobs in Sri Lanka, which are thought to have killed at least 3 Muslims and left over 80 injured in Aluthgama, a town in the South of the island. “The Government must urgently do everything it can to arrest this violence, curb the incitement and hate speech which is driving it, and protect all religious minorities,” said High Commissioner Pillay.
Cuban President Raul Castro has hailed Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a meeting held on the sidelines of the G77 summit in Bolivia yesterday. The Cuban President was quoted by Sri Lankan media as telling Rajapaksa, "We like to work with leaders like you”, adding “Fidel wants me to convey his regards to all friends of Cuba. You are one of our friends.” Rajapaksa thanked the Cuban President for his support, saying, “We feel comfortable when you are there, we know we have a friend who understands us.”
‘It’s hard to imagine a worse idea,’ said Human Rights Watch Media Director Andre Strehlein, commenting on Nigeria’s announcement to use the ‘Sri Lanka model’ to tackle issues faced with militants in Nigeria . Extracts from his opinion piece reproduced below. But, before opting for “the Sri-Lankan method” to deal with an insurgency, Nigeria would do well to examine what that actually means. Sri Lanka's war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), particularly in its final stages in 2009, caused tremendous and unnecessary human suffering. The military repeatedly and indiscriminately shelled the area, including a government-declared "no-fire zone" and hospitals trying to care for the sick and wounded.
Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Indian government is committed to finding a permanent solution to the issue of attacks and arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. Adding that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is also of the view that the arrests should not be taking place, Sitharaman said , “The Centre is committed to find a permanent solution to the problem. Talks are on with Lankan officials… We are constructively working for a long term solution to the issue.”