Colombo, May 14 (newsin.asia): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) says in a press release on Tuesday that it has been closely monitoring the attacks that have taken place in various locations in the Democratic Socialist Republic of SriLanka, including Kiniyama, Bingiriya, Hettipola, Kottambapitya, Chilaw, Nikeweratiya, Negombo, Millegoda, Galapitiyagama, and Minuwangoda.
“The OIC calls on the authorities in #SriLanka to ensure the safety and security of the Muslim community in the country and combat the rising tide of violence, extremism and hate speech, which is spreading fear, and mistrust among the communities,” the statement said.
“The OIC reiterates its firm stance against terrorism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations. It strongly condemned the multiple cowardly attacks carried out last month on churches and hotels across SriLanka, noting that terrorism has no religion.”
Wigneswaran’s Take
In his statement, the former Chief Minister of the Northern Province, C.V.Wigneswaran, said that the on-going violence against the Muslims takes him back to the July 1983 anti-Tamil riots when the Sinhala majority attacked the properties of the Tamils to destroy them economically.
At that time, the powers-that-be representing the majority used the Muslims to subjugate the Tamils and drove a wedge between the Muslims and the Tamils.
Having subjected the Tamils to “genocide”, the majority community is now trying to annihilate the Muslims.
Just as in the past when international powers were used to weaken the Tamils, now too international forces are being used to subjugate the Muslims, Wigneswaran alleged.
Wigneswaran then went on to call upon intellectuals from among the Tamils, Muslims and progressive sections of the Sinhala community to unite and stop the nefarious plans of the forces of domination. He also warned against the re-militarization of the country using the present terrorist threat as a convenient excuse.
Canadian Tamil Congress
The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) unequivocally and strongly condemned the targeted anti-Muslim violence being instigated by extremist groups in Kurunegala, Gampaha, Puttalam districts and several other parts of Sri Lanka.
Since the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, the Muslim community had been targeted and their homes, business, and mosques have been attacked by violent mobs.
The Tamil community went through during the seventies and eighties similar mob violence in Sri Lanka.
“Tamil Canadians are deeply troubled by the recent violence directed at Muslim communities throughout Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka must take immediate and decisive action to stop these targeted attacks and protect Muslim communities across the entire island from extremist violence and threats to their safety” said Danton Thurairajah, Executive Director of the Canadian Tamil Congress.
The Canadian Tamil Congress calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to take strong and immediate action to prevent the violence from spreading, and to hold perpetrators and instigators of these targeted campaigns of the violence accountable through the legal channels.
The Canadian Tamil Congress also urges the Canadian government to pressure the Government of Sri Lanka to take swift action to end the targeted violence against ethnic and religious groups and ensure their safety and protection.
