{"id":25731,"date":"2013-09-14T18:31:17","date_gmt":"2013-09-14T22:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=25731"},"modified":"2013-09-14T18:31:17","modified_gmt":"2013-09-14T22:31:17","slug":"northern-election-nationalist-rhetoric-and-the-threat-to-communal-harmony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=25731","title":{"rendered":"Northern election, Nationalist rhetoric and the threat to Communal harmony"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the Northern Provincial Council election draws nearer many contradictions appear in the heavy rhetoric used by major players in the campaign, in relation to the circumstances they refer to. The TNA is seen as the frontrunner in the five Northern districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar, having presented a manifesto full of nationalist rhetoric. There seems to be a disconnect between the authors of this document and the real issues faced by the people whose votes are being solicited. One of the loudest complaints of the TNA has been in relation to military presence in the North. Another charge relates to people\u2019s alleged lack of confidence in the police.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

People\u2019s perceptions<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the call to reduce the visible military presence at election time may be justified, it\u2019s important to consider whether the TNA\u2019s representations accurately reflect people\u2019s perceptions. A recent survey carried out by the UN High Commission for Refugees, of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the five districts of the Northern Province plus Trincomalee, seems to suggest otherwise.<\/p>\n

The survey was carried out between Nov 2012 and March 2013 and published in June 2013. One of the questions the respondents were asked in the study was \u201cHow do you feel about the military presence in your village\/area?\u201d The IDPs\u2019 responses showed that while 43% had \u2018No problem,\u2019 16% of the responses were \u2018Generally positive.\u2019 Twenty nine percent were \u2018Generally negative\u2019 and 12% had \u2018No opinion.\u2019 The negative feeling towards military presence was mostly in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. It was noted that \u201cAlmost no respondents (1%) reported experiencing a serious security incident against a member of their family since arrival at the place of return, relocation or local integration.\u201d<\/p>\n

The TNA manifesto was also critical of the police in the North. It said \u201cThe People have no confidence in their police officers and are often afraid to approach the police with concerns about crime and conflict in their communities.\u201d The UNHCR survey would seem to contradict this claim when it says that respondents showed \u201ca high level of confidence in local civilian law enforcement, with a significant majority of respondents (89%) saying that if a serious crime was committed against their family, they would report it to the police (65%) or local civilian government (24%)\u2026\u201d Furthermore, out of those respondents who reported having visited a police station in the past year, 75% were \u2018Satisfied\u2019 or \u2018Highly Satisfied\u2019 with the police response, the study said.<\/p>\n

Communal tensions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is leading a vigorous campaign on behalf of UPFA candidates in the three provincial elections. In Vavuniya and Mannar he spoke partly in Tamil. Both districts have over 80% Tamil populations. In Mannar 16% of the population is Muslim.<\/p>\n

The President with characteristic popular appeal has fashioned his speeches to reassure communities that he will preserve the country\u2019s unity and protect all ethnic groups, and is seen to enjoy resounding endorsement from ethnically mixed audiences. However, the President\u2019s brother Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapksa at a recent conference attended by a large number of foreign delegates seems to have struck a somewhat different note.<\/p>\n

On 3rd Sept in his keynote address at a Defence Seminar in Colombo he drew attention to what he called \u201cthe possibility that extremists elements may try to promote Muslim extremism in Sri Lanka.\u201d He said \u201cIt is a well known fact that Muslim fundamentalism is spreading all over the world and in the region as well. This is a situation that our law enforcement agencies and security forces are concerned about.\u201d He went on to observe that \u201cone of the consequences of the increasing insularity among minority ethnic groups is the emergence of hardline ethnic groups within the majority community.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Defence Secretary\u2019s remarks, in contrast with those of the President, caused considerable concern within a key minority group within the government. Minister Rauff Hakeem who leads the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and minister Rishad Bathiudeen on behalf of the All Ceylon Muslim Congress, both partners of the UPFA, challenged his claims. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka issued a statement categorically denying that there were any armed groups or \u2018other forms of extremism\u2019 amongst the Muslim community.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s relevant to note that less than two weeks earlier, Military Spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasuriya, in the process of rejecting Indian media reports about an alleged plot by Pakistani militants planning an attack on India from Sri Lanka, also categorically denied the existence of Muslim extremists anywhere in the country. There are \u201cno Muslim extremist groups that are active in Sri Lanka\u201d he said, and \u201cThere is no location in North or East of Sri Lanka suitable to have the kind of training camps or attack base that they are talking about.\u201d (Sirasa TV news 22.08.13).<\/p>\n

Two sets of contradictions<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are two sets of contradictions here. One is regarding the level of concern among law enforcement authorities over the alleged threat posed by Muslim extremists, and the other relates to the very existence of the alleged Muslim extremists.
\nThe rhetoric relating to this entire \u2018Alice in Wonderland\u2019 type episode, would seem to suggest that Sri Lanka\u2019s Muslim extremists appear and disappear from the country\u2019s political landscape at the government\u2019s pleasure. When the Defence Secretary wants to rationalise the emergence of hardline Sinhala Buddhist groups, they appear. But when the Military Spokesman wants to deny irresponsible Indian media reports, they disappear.<\/p>\n

Against the backdrop of an ongoing hate campaign against Muslims spearheaded by Buddhist extremist groups, which threatens to disrupt a precarious, hard won peace, it would seem vital to examine these developments in the cold clear light of reason, in order to dispel the unease caused at a crucial phase in Sri Lanka\u2019s reconciliation process.
\nCOURTESY:Sunday Times<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya As the Northern Provincial Council election draws nearer many contradictions appear in the heavy rhetoric used by major players in the campaign, in relation to the circumstances they refer to. The TNA is seen as the frontrunner in the five Northern districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar, having presented a …<\/p>\n

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