News
Failure of Government to provide security compel ministers to resign
View(s):
On May 12 and 13, the relative calm in the country was broken, when gangs of thugs roamed various villages in the Kurunegala District, as well as Minuwangoda, torching Muslim business premises, as well as mosques
The unexpected happened last week. All Muslim MPs holding Cabinet, non-Cabinet, State as well as Deputy Ministerships, resigned from their ministerial positions, consequent to a collective decision taken by them at the residence of former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie.
The decision was unexpected because, never before had Muslim ministers resigned en masse. Yet, their decision to do so was inevitable, with the Muslim community facing growing threats and feeling insecure, in the wake of Government failure to ensure the security of the Muslims.
Following the devastating terrorist acts of April 21, 2019, the Christian and Catholic communities showed remarkable restraint and composure, largely due to the leadership given by Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Christian clergy. The Security Forces (SF), with the support and active cooperation of the Muslim community, moved fast to apprehend those involved in the heinous attacks.
Consequently, the President was able to announce within three weeks of the incidents, that the terrorist network had been dismantled and 99% of the suspects apprehended.
On May 12 and 13, the relative calm in the country was broken, when gangs of thugs on motorbikes roamed various villages in the Kurunegala District, as well as Minuwangoda, torching Muslim business premises, as well as mosques, in an organised and premeditated attack. The SF did pretty little to protect the Muslims, who were the victims of the attacks, which often took place during curfew hours.
Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chairperson Dr. Deepika Udugama, in a written communication to the Police, after a visit by the HRC to the affected areas, drew the attention of the Police high-ups to the failure of the Police to act.
In the meantime, individuals and organisations that had been targeting the Muslim community since 2012, got activated and continued their hate campaign, creating a toxic environment that made Muslims islandwide vulnerable and susceptible to various forms of intimidation and attacks.
Once again, the HRC had to draw the attention of the authorities to the harassment of Muslim women on the streets and public places.
While the tempo of hate speech was increased by the usual suspects, the Ven. Athureliya Ratna Thera commenced a fast unto death, demanding the removal of Minister Rishad Badiuddin and Governors Azath Sally and M.L.A.M. Hisbullah. With the media greatly contributing to the hype, which saw rising tensions, the Ven. Galabodathe Gnanasara Thera also joined the fray opposite the Dalada Maligawa, and warned that, unless the Minister and the two Governors were removed by 12 noon the following day, there would be Senakeli (fireworks) in the country.
MP Udaya Gammanpila, who once predicted that the 1915 anti Muslim riots would be repeated in 2015 (fortunately averted by the change of Government in January 2015), made an inflammatory statement by the bedside of the fasting monk. He warned that, if the lion (meaning the Sinhalese) woke up, the camel (meaning the Muslims) would have nowhere to go.
In the meantime, mobs were marching through various villages and townships, in clear violation of the Emergency Regulations (ER), shouting slogans against the Muslims and threatening to burn down Muslim shops and businesses which did not shut down in support of the fasting Monk’s demands.
During these violations of the ER, the SF were conspicuous by their absence, with no action taken to restrain these mobs, thus putting the safety of the Muslims at risk.
It is in this environment of escalating tensions and vitriolic attacks on Muslims, and governmental inaction, that the Muslim MPs took the decision to give up their Ministerial portfolios. This collective action of the Muslim MPs has given rise to misinterpretations and misconceptions, which attempt to paint the MPs in a bad light.
The first misconception is that the decision to forego the Ministerial portfolios was taken to express solidarity with Rishard Badiuddin and the two Governors. This is furthest from the truth. During the discussions at Minister Fowzie’s residence, it was pointed out that no complaints had been made against the three of them to the Police and only allegations had been made on political platforms, and there was not even a suggestion of expressing solidarity with them.
Another allegation made against the Muslim MPs is that, this was an attempt to flex their muscles and browbeat the Government. This again is disproved by the fact that the Muslim MPs have made no threat to topple the Government. In fact, on the contrary, they have assured their continued support to the Government.
Another spin given to the Ministers’ actions is that, it was engineered by Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe. Again, this is not consistent with the facts. When the Muslim MPs met the PM to appraise him of their decision, he indicated to them that he would not accept their resignations. Only after prolonged discussions with the PM, where the MPs lamented on the failure of the Government to ensure the security of the Muslims, that the PM allowed the MPs to take a final decision.
In deciding on this course of action, the Muslim MPs were also influenced by the fact that the Law & Order Ministry was not under the purview of the PM and therefore, he was unable to assure them of necessary action to protect the Muslims.
Another allegation made against MP Kabir Hashim, by the Ven. Athureliya Rathana Thera is that, by his actions, he has forgotten the Sinhala voters who voted for him at the last elections. Since Kabir Hashim’s action is a cry for justice for the Muslim community, it is unlikely that the Sinhalese community, with the exception of a few communal elements, would object to his decision. It is all the more commendable that Kabir Hashim was willing to risk losing support from Sinhala voters, in the cause of pursuing justice. In fact, it would have been a great gesture towards reconciliation, if a few Sinhala ministers too had resigned in protest, over the failure of the Government to provide security to the Muslims.
In short, the decision of the Muslim ministers to give up their portfolios was purely and simply to express their protest, disgust and disappointment at the Government’s failure to provide security to the Muslim community. Their action greatly contributed to diffusing the situation and prevented the country going up in flames, due to the actions of racist elements, who were only interested in their parochial objectives, with no regard to the welfare and good name of the country.
The resignation of the two Governors was totally unconnected to the resignation of the Ministers. At the meeting at Mr. Fowzie’s residence, at which the two Governors were present, it was revealed that the President was unwilling to remove them from office, clearly in the belief that there was no reason to do so. The decision by the two Governors to resign was taken by them individually, and had no connection with the resignation of the Ministers.
Thus, notwithstanding all the misinformation regarding the decision of the Muslim ministers to resign, it is clear that they had only used a time tested method used by politicians in Sri Lanka, as well as other parts of the democratic world, to highlight or draw attention to an important issue affecting the country.
(javidyusuf@gmail.com)