Monks Protest at Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon
সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতি বনাম ‘ধর্মীয় অনুভূতি’
Buddhists brace for a backlash
 |
| Buddhists, whose homes were torched a week ago by a mob, are now living in tents in appalling conditions. The weather over the last week has not helped either. The photo was taken from Merong Loa in Ramu of Cox's Bazar.Photo: STAR |
After the irreparable loss of Buddhist heritage in last week's mayhem, the
people of Ramu now fear damage of community relations as time has come to
disclose the names of local instigators and perpetrators.
Several government probe teams are working to unearth the names of
masterminds behind the gruesome attacks on Buddhist temples and houses. They are
taking statements of witnesses.
The witnesses, local attackers and victims have been living together for
generations irrespective of religious belief. But now, mistrust and suspicion
will reign in their neighbourhoods, locals apprehend.
The way the government bodies are conducting probes, it will not be a secret
who is testifying against whom. This places the witnesses in a dilemma, they
added.
An investigator from the police told The Daily Star that most of the
Buddhists are scared to disclose the names of the locals whom they saw among the
miscreants on the night of September 29.
A sense of insecurity is increasing among the Buddhists as some of them have
already been warned by Muslim neighbours not to disclose the names.
Santosh Barua, a former member of Fatekharkul union, gave a statement to the
investigators Thursday morning.
He mentioned some names of Muslim neighbours who incited and helped others to
carry out arson and vandalism.
After giving the statement, while talking to this correspondent, he received
a phone call.
After the conversation, Santosh told this correspondent, “He [the Caller] was
threatening me that the consequences would not be good if I do not withdraw his
brother's name from my statement.”
“I will never withdraw the names as I saw them how they instigated people,”
he added. “That night I saw who came forward to help us and who provoked the
attackers.”
He said many local participants of anti-Buddhist processions are now claiming
they were not there or they were there to prevent the demonstrators from
destroying Buddhist establishments.
All are not as bold as Santosh. Many Buddhists of Ramu told The Daily Star
that they were in fear of further attacks and losses.
“Some of us have been receiving messages from our well-wishers to take care
as we are helping the investigation to the displeasure of neighbours,” said a
Buddhist teacher preferring anonymity.
Yesterday afternoon, a former minister went to visit the ruins of century-old
Sima Bihar. He talked to Buddhist victims in the open and wanted to know about
the rioters.
A local leader told him that nobody would speak the truth in front of
others.
Sectarian violence part of conspiracy: NHRC boss
Saturday, October 6, 2012
 |
| National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman addresses a seminar at Cirdap auditorium in the capital on Saturday. Photo: STAR |
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said on
Saturday that the recent attacks on the Buddhist community were carried out as
part of a conspiracy against the state.
“A section of people launched the attacks on the households and temples of the Buddhist community in a planned way under a blueprint to jeopardise the security of the state, and create anarchy in the country,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a discussion at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
The NHRC chairman said the aim of the well-orchestrated attacks by a motley groups were to spread one kind of hatred among the Buddhist minority against the country.
Referring to his Friday’s visit to the violence-hit areas in Cox’s Bazar, he said the local public representatives spoke at the rallies and joined demonstrations against the Buddhist community before the attacks. “They also brought in armed outsiders to intensify the attacks.”
Mizanur Rahman said local people were directly involved in the violence because they conducted the attacks identifying the Buddhists. “During the attacks, the golden statues of Budda were stolen, and the attackers damaged selected structures. It proves that local people were involved in the attacks.”
After the attacks, he said, the Buddhist countries are showing negative attitude towards Bangladesh. “Sri Lanka has already shown their protest.”
About the role of the law-enforcing agencies, he said when tension was prevailing prior to the attacks, the in-charge of Ramu Police Station told the Buddhist priests that they and their temples were safe and everything was under their control.
“But the police ultimately found reluctant to resist the attacks,” the NHRC chairman said the police put barricades on the roads in the riot-hit areas to help the attackers escape.
Criticising the role of the intelligence, he said if the intelligence agencies had no information about the attacks, “They’ve failed totally. And if they had any information of the possible attacks, why wasn’t action taken? Someone has to take the responsibility.”
Mizanur Rahman said the government must identify those who are behind the attacks. “If the local representatives are quizzed, it is not impossible to identify them,” he said.
He said the NHRC will submit a set of recommendations to the home ministry soon in this regard.
Replying to a query, he said the prime minister will visit the violence-torn areas on Monday and it is necessary.
“A section of people launched the attacks on the households and temples of the Buddhist community in a planned way under a blueprint to jeopardise the security of the state, and create anarchy in the country,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a discussion at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
The NHRC chairman said the aim of the well-orchestrated attacks by a motley groups were to spread one kind of hatred among the Buddhist minority against the country.
Referring to his Friday’s visit to the violence-hit areas in Cox’s Bazar, he said the local public representatives spoke at the rallies and joined demonstrations against the Buddhist community before the attacks. “They also brought in armed outsiders to intensify the attacks.”
Mizanur Rahman said local people were directly involved in the violence because they conducted the attacks identifying the Buddhists. “During the attacks, the golden statues of Budda were stolen, and the attackers damaged selected structures. It proves that local people were involved in the attacks.”
After the attacks, he said, the Buddhist countries are showing negative attitude towards Bangladesh. “Sri Lanka has already shown their protest.”
About the role of the law-enforcing agencies, he said when tension was prevailing prior to the attacks, the in-charge of Ramu Police Station told the Buddhist priests that they and their temples were safe and everything was under their control.
“But the police ultimately found reluctant to resist the attacks,” the NHRC chairman said the police put barricades on the roads in the riot-hit areas to help the attackers escape.
Criticising the role of the intelligence, he said if the intelligence agencies had no information about the attacks, “They’ve failed totally. And if they had any information of the possible attacks, why wasn’t action taken? Someone has to take the responsibility.”
Mizanur Rahman said the government must identify those who are behind the attacks. “If the local representatives are quizzed, it is not impossible to identify them,” he said.
He said the NHRC will submit a set of recommendations to the home ministry soon in this regard.
Replying to a query, he said the prime minister will visit the violence-torn areas on Monday and it is necessary.
Attack planned, police inactive
Questioning the role of police during the attack a week ago, opposition party
BNP's team probing the attack on Buddhists in Ramu yesterday said it was a
premeditated strike.
"…The role of police was not satisfactory during the attack on Buddhist temples,” BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed told reporters after visiting Ramu, Cox's Bazar.
Moudud, who was leading the eight-member team, said it was clear that the law enforcement team was inactive during the incident, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
The team reached Shima Bihar around 10:30am and talked to the monastery authorities and members of the local Buddhist community.
He said they were trying to conduct an impartial probe as it was a sensitive issue.
BNP leaders Abdul Moyeen Khan, Abdullah Al Noman, and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were also present.
Meanwhile, the government yesterday gave money to 85 victims of last Saturday's attack on pagodas and Buddhist homes in Ramu.
Disaster Management Minister AH Mahmood Ali handed over Tk 1 lakh to each of the 24 victims whose homes or pagodas were destroyed. Apart from them, 61 others received Tk 50,000 each as their homes or pagodas were damaged, said Debi Chanda, upazila nirbahi officer of Ramu.
Every victim family got 30kg of rice as well.
A mob destroyed 12 pagodas and more than 50 houses in Ramu on the night of September 29. The violence was apparently triggered by a Facebook posting of a photo derogatory to the holy Quran.
Yesterday, protest and condemnation of Buddhist monks outside the country continued with about 100 monks demonstrating in Myanmar's main city Yangon.
Holding placards saying "The earth is for everyone, not only for Muslims" and "Stop insulting Buddhism", the monks staged a short protest outside the Bangladesh Embassy of the former Myanmarese capital, reports AFP.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman apologised to the Buddhist community yesterday during his visit Shima Bihar at Ramu.
A 14-member delegation of civil society would visit the scenes of violence at Ramu and Ukhia upazilas in Cox's Bazar and Hindu temples in Chittagong's Patiya upazila today.
During the visit, the delegation was expected to mount pressure on local administration to start immediate investigation into the incidents, said columnist Syed Abul Maksud, who would lead the delegation.
TRUCK SEIZED
Chittagong police yesterday morning seized a truck at Sitakunda in Chittagong which was used in last Saturday's violence in Ramu. They also arrested its driver Rafiqul Islam and the driver's assistant Ramzan.
Later, the law enforcers handed them over to Ramu police.
Cox's Bazar police, referring to truck driver Rafiqul Islam's statement, said Ramzan was actually driving the truck last Saturday while Rafiqul was at home sleeping. Despite being the assistant, Ramzan himself drove members of the mob to Ramu, police said.
Rafiqul told police that he had left Ramzan with the truck at a workshop that night.
Meanwhile, AK Nazibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ramu Police Station, who was withdrawn on Tuesday in connection with negligence of duty, was closed to Chittagong police headquarters Thursday night.
"…The role of police was not satisfactory during the attack on Buddhist temples,” BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed told reporters after visiting Ramu, Cox's Bazar.
Moudud, who was leading the eight-member team, said it was clear that the law enforcement team was inactive during the incident, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
The team reached Shima Bihar around 10:30am and talked to the monastery authorities and members of the local Buddhist community.
He said they were trying to conduct an impartial probe as it was a sensitive issue.
BNP leaders Abdul Moyeen Khan, Abdullah Al Noman, and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were also present.
Meanwhile, the government yesterday gave money to 85 victims of last Saturday's attack on pagodas and Buddhist homes in Ramu.
Disaster Management Minister AH Mahmood Ali handed over Tk 1 lakh to each of the 24 victims whose homes or pagodas were destroyed. Apart from them, 61 others received Tk 50,000 each as their homes or pagodas were damaged, said Debi Chanda, upazila nirbahi officer of Ramu.
Every victim family got 30kg of rice as well.
A mob destroyed 12 pagodas and more than 50 houses in Ramu on the night of September 29. The violence was apparently triggered by a Facebook posting of a photo derogatory to the holy Quran.
Yesterday, protest and condemnation of Buddhist monks outside the country continued with about 100 monks demonstrating in Myanmar's main city Yangon.
Holding placards saying "The earth is for everyone, not only for Muslims" and "Stop insulting Buddhism", the monks staged a short protest outside the Bangladesh Embassy of the former Myanmarese capital, reports AFP.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman apologised to the Buddhist community yesterday during his visit Shima Bihar at Ramu.
A 14-member delegation of civil society would visit the scenes of violence at Ramu and Ukhia upazilas in Cox's Bazar and Hindu temples in Chittagong's Patiya upazila today.
During the visit, the delegation was expected to mount pressure on local administration to start immediate investigation into the incidents, said columnist Syed Abul Maksud, who would lead the delegation.
TRUCK SEIZED
Chittagong police yesterday morning seized a truck at Sitakunda in Chittagong which was used in last Saturday's violence in Ramu. They also arrested its driver Rafiqul Islam and the driver's assistant Ramzan.
Later, the law enforcers handed them over to Ramu police.
Cox's Bazar police, referring to truck driver Rafiqul Islam's statement, said Ramzan was actually driving the truck last Saturday while Rafiqul was at home sleeping. Despite being the assistant, Ramzan himself drove members of the mob to Ramu, police said.
Rafiqul told police that he had left Ramzan with the truck at a workshop that night.
Meanwhile, AK Nazibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Ramu Police Station, who was withdrawn on Tuesday in connection with negligence of duty, was closed to Chittagong police headquarters Thursday night.
Editorial Sunday, October 7, 2012
Editorial
The Buddhists' sense of insecurity should be allayed
Help them fully rebuild their lives
One week has passed since Buddhist temples and many houses owned by people in
the Buddhist community were burnt down. As the scar takes time to heal, they
should feel taken care of with their sense of insecurity dispelled and the
homeless sheltered as quickly as possible.
But then, from what our reporters at Ramu in Cox's Bazar have gathered, we cannot but take issue with the way different government agencies and bodies are conducting the probes to get to the bottom of the mayhem. As Buddhist witnesses to the violent incident are being enquired in the 'open' by probe bodies, they have begun to receive threats from different quarters having had direct link, most likely, with the attackers. Resultantly, not only are they hesitant to provide information but also has their fear been intensified. It will neither help reveal the identity of the masterminds and the operatives nor will it ease tension and mistrust between communities unless discretion is applied. Therefore, we urge the government to ensure security of the witnesses at first and then go about collecting information in a way that will be conducive to and effective in unearthing the truth.
As for their rehabilitation, which brooks no delay, we are partly relieved to find the govt. giving minorities compensation to the affected people. But as a photograph carried in yesterday's issue of this newspaper brings to focus, a lot more needs to be done. Many are still living either under the open sky or in make-shift huts with the rains pouring in every now and then. So we demand that the government bring them all under its wings and provide shelter in a way that they can live in the proximity of their religious establishments just like before.
But then, from what our reporters at Ramu in Cox's Bazar have gathered, we cannot but take issue with the way different government agencies and bodies are conducting the probes to get to the bottom of the mayhem. As Buddhist witnesses to the violent incident are being enquired in the 'open' by probe bodies, they have begun to receive threats from different quarters having had direct link, most likely, with the attackers. Resultantly, not only are they hesitant to provide information but also has their fear been intensified. It will neither help reveal the identity of the masterminds and the operatives nor will it ease tension and mistrust between communities unless discretion is applied. Therefore, we urge the government to ensure security of the witnesses at first and then go about collecting information in a way that will be conducive to and effective in unearthing the truth.
As for their rehabilitation, which brooks no delay, we are partly relieved to find the govt. giving minorities compensation to the affected people. But as a photograph carried in yesterday's issue of this newspaper brings to focus, a lot more needs to be done. Many are still living either under the open sky or in make-shift huts with the rains pouring in every now and then. So we demand that the government bring them all under its wings and provide shelter in a way that they can live in the proximity of their religious establishments just like before.
Monks protest B'deshi Buddhist community attacks in Srilanka
No comments:
Post a Comment