4 October 2012
The High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka
High Commission of Bangladesh
Ward Place
Colombo 07
Your Excellency,
We, the Buddhists in Sri Lanka register our strong protest
on the brutal attacks on the Buddhist communities and Buddhist temples in
Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh by Islamic extremists in
that country.
During the violence over the last several days, 19 Buddhist
temples, some of which were 300-500 years old, and about 100 Buddha images have
been burnt down; the 83 year old Venerable Satyapriya Mohathero, the second
highest monk of the Buddhist community in Bangladesh and several other monks in
Ramu Sima Vihara in Coz’s Bazar district were seriously injured and are
undergoing treatment in hospital. In fear of being killed, Buddhist monks are
deserting temples. Over 250 Buddhist houses have been vandalised, and thousands
of Buddhist men, women and children have fled their homes in the wake of
attacks by Muslims to live in jungles. Bangladesh is the latest example of
Islamic extremism that has plagued several parts of Asia. We have witnessed,
over the years with growing concern, the destruction of ancient Buddha images
in Afghanistan, the display of deep disrespect for people of non-Islamic faith
in Pakistan and the recent sectarian violence in Myanmar. In Thailand, we have
witnessed since 2004, the death of nearly 6,000 Thais, both Buddhist and
Muslim, as a result of an insurgency by Muslim militants seeking an independent
Muslim state in southern Thailand, a country with a majority of nearly 95%
Buddhists. Recently, a spectacular event was the burning of the consulate and
the killing of the US ambassador to Libya.
Buddhists by nature have always been tolerant. The
Bangladesh Buddhist community has been practising their religion peacefully,
and they have not been in a position to defend themselves against mob action.
Amidst the attacks, we made a special effort to be patient because we had
shared a common heritage with all these countries for centuries. We recognize
that these attacks are not only on Buddhist communities in these countries; but
on their own Buddhist civilisation. It is also important to note here that
Muslim extremists have destroyed historical Buddhist monuments in the Maldives.
Enough is enough. We cannot tolerate the situation any more.
We condemn the inability of the Bangladesh authorities to
protect her innocent citizens and to bring the situation to normalcy. We demand
the Bangladesh authorities to take strong, punitive action against the men
behind the violence, and to ensure that such attacks would not occur again.
We further request the Government of Bangladesh to rebuild
all temples and houses destroyed by extremists and protect human rights of
Buddhists in Bangladesh.
Sincerely,
Ven. Kirama Wimalajothy Nayaka Thera
President, Bodu Bala Sena
Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera
Secretary General, Bodu Bala Sena
cc: All Heads of Foreign Missions in Sri Lanka
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