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Wednesday, 30 July 2014 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
US Secretary of State John Kerry, who unveiled the 2013 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report said the freedom to profess and practice one’s faith was a birthright of every human being. These rights were recognised under international law, the US Secretary of State said in his remarks in Washington on Monday.
“In Sri Lanka violent Buddhist nationalist groups destroyed mosques and churches while security forces simply stood by,” the US State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report for 2013 noted in its executive summary.
The report said that the BBS, “Forces of Buddhist Power”, continued to promote views religious and ethnic minorities considered hostile. “Local media and NGOs noted strong linkages between the BBS and the government, particularly Secretary of Defence (and brother of the President) Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who appeared prominently at public BBS events during the year,” the report noted in its Sri Lanka section.
The State Department report said that in response to pressure from this group, municipal councils began passing regulations prohibiting the slaughter of cows, a BBS demand, in their areas. “At times, local Police and Government officials appeared to be acting in concert with Buddhist nationalist organisations,” the report observed.
The Religious Freedom report noted that the BBS had continued to promote its anti-Muslim campaign, which was linked to violent activities during 2013.
“Nationalist groups were allegedly involved in a series of attacks on mosques, protests over animal slaughter, and a sustained attempt to further marginalise Muslims by outlawing the halal system of meat certification. On 1 December, Buddhist monks reportedly led a mob of 200 villagers that destroyed the Methodist Church of Habarana, located in Anuradhapura District. Two Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Police officers arrived at the scene and ordered the church to shut down, saying that it had no legal recognition to operate,” the report notes.
The US Government report said that while laws were in place to protect religious freedom, in practice, local authorities had failed to respond effectively to communal violence and perpetrators were not brought to justice.
The report lists several cases including the Halal certification controversy, the destruction of a Methodist church in the Anuradhapura District, the tearing down of the Hindu temple in Dambulla, the attack on the Grandpass mosque in Colombo and the attacks on a series of Christian and Evangelical churches to illustrate the deteriorating climate for religious minorities in Sri Lanka.
“Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) alleged that senior and local Government officials provided assistance to or, at a minimum, tacit support for the actions of societal groups targeting religious minorities,” the report said.
It also highlights events that unfolded during the Weliweriya water protest, saying that on August 1, while responding to a protest over contaminated water, security forces in Weliweriya, Gampaha District, entered a Catholic church and beat protesters who had entered the church seeking shelter. “Video taken after the incident showed bullet holes in the church walls,” the report said.
The report cited reports by Christian groups that at least 60 violent attacks led by Buddhist monks against Christians or churches during the year.
The report noted that US Embassy officials had urged Government leaders to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of attacks on churches, mosques, and other places of worship.
“The promotion of international religious freedom is a priority for President Obama, and it is a priority for me as Secretary of State. I am making certain, and will continue to, that religious freedom remains an integral part of our global diplomatic engagement,” Secretary Kerry asserted in Washington, as he presented the 2013 State Department report.
