Dec1, 2015
Sinhala-Muslim Communal Clashes at Mawanella
This
is a translation of an investigative article on the incident by one of
the most fearless journalists of Sri Lanka, Kumara Chapa Bandara of the Ravaya, An Alternate Weekly Newspaper (article published on May 13, 2001).
The
situation that resulted in the clashes at Mawanella and in towns
bordering it, resulting in the extensive destruction of property and the
loss of a life, seemed to have calmed down. The explanation given by
the Head of State (President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga), Media
Minister and the State-media was that conspirators against the
government had provoked the racist elements of society and tried to
instigate a communal clash.
What
is the truth\falsity behind this incident? According to the Human
Rights Commission, which visited Mawanella and did there own
investigations, the reason was the incidents of extortion and hoodlums
loyal to political personalities, which resulted in the state media
changing their earlier interpretation. The initial news item on the
Mawanella incident was published last week. This news item is a result
of a study carried out in the area of the incidents.
While
the Sihala Urumaya were pasting posters in Maradana, agitating that the
property of the Sinhalese destroyed by the Muslims thugs in the
incidents be returned forthwith - I was at the ruins of the destroyed
Mawanella Jumma Mosque -peeping in at the burned Qurans scattered
around.
Around
me were Muslim Men and Women walking around the ruins where the glass
made crackling noises on their stepping, I peeped into their eyes. What I
saw filled in them was, anger and desperation, nothing else.
"Let's
say that our generation might have persevered with this.. these are our
children.. how will they understand what they see today ?", a
middle-aged Muslim man said with a heavy heart.
"As
far as I can remember for 30 years nothing like this has happened.. all
because of these politicians.. finally innocent people fight each
other".
Another Muslim said in support of his companion.
In this town Sinhala-Muslim businessmen work together.. something like this has never happened".
A Sinhala businessman from Mawanella explains.
Then what happened?
Maheepala's (a government minister of the PA ruling party) hoodlums extorts money.
The final day of April- i.e. the 30th
April was the Day of Wesak, as the full moon was basking the night, a
gang of political thugs of Maheepala Herath were moving around and
entered into the "Zahira" Hotel (an eating house) which is next to the
Central Bus Stop at the center of the town.
"First
three people came inside.. they asked Rs.100/- from me.. I said no..
Later they threw Rs.20/- on to my face and asked for cigarettes.. when I
said only Bristol was available they scolded me with filth.. I stayed
calm.."
25
year-old Mohamed Isham who was at the counter said. By that time a
relative, 38 year-old Fowsul Ameer who was cleaning the glass racks had
also got involved in the conversation.
"
I just opened my mouth and Millangoda who was there jumped and hit me..
after that the other two also hit me.. Isham came to save me.. they hit
him.. we tried to hit at them.. but couldn't.. I finally escaped and
ran to the next shop where Nissanka was.. Nissanka found me a place to
hide.. but they pursued me and threatened Nissanka- they said don’t be
an ass-hole to the thambinta (a derogatory word used for Muslims similar
to nigar for African Americans)..
Afterwards
that the gang of 10-15 thugs were punching and pushing Fawsul Ameer
towards the clock tower. "If the thambi can, come and save him", they
cried out, says Fowsul. According to his identification, among the gang
of thugs was a brother of Palitha, a foremost loyalist of Maheepala,
named Priyantha, he also is a hoodlum of the Minister.
"They
severely beat me with poles they had and they tied me in the light post
near the R. Premadasa statue and cut my face.. I screamed in anguish..
no one came.. I saw two policemen nearby looking on at the incident..
after a while the Mawanella police jeep came.. the hoodlums who beat me
were still there.. I shouted and told the police.. to arrest those who
hit me.. the police completely ignored me."
Afterwards the gang of hoodlums of the Minister, were sneering and moved away from the area of the incident, unhampered.
The endorsement of thugery by the police.
In that incident the Mawanella Police had endorsed the acts of the hoodlums, who are with political backing. What
resulted was a great opposition to the police from the grieved parties.
Throughout the night they agitated for the arrest of the guilty. By
that time Mohamed Isham who was beaten had made a complaint to the
police stating the names of his attackers. The police ignored the
complaint completely, and avoided the issue. At the least they didn't
make an effort to get a statement about the incident from the cut-wound
injured Fowsul Ameer, who was taken to the police station.
This
state of affairs has become obvious from the information given by some
Muslim-Sinhala businessman who were not inclined in revealing their
names.
The next day, i.e. May 1st
as morning approached, observing the suspects roaming the city freely
doubled and tripled the hostility of the people. Accordingly when night
approached a protest campaign against the police came into being in the
middle of the city. Somewhere around 9.00pm the protest had swelled upto
include about 1000-1500 people, a Muslim youth who participated
explained .
"We
protested against the police…Sinhala people were also with us…", the
youth who requested that his name not be relieved vouched. Almost all
the Muslim and Sinhala men-women who explained the circumstances of the
incident requested Ravaya not to relieve their details. The fear they
display for the hoodlums of the Minister is apparent from this. But it's
the nature of the incidents that occurred apparent is apparent
according to the evidence given by these people and our observations in
the city.
The Thugs order the Police.
While
the people were protesting around the clock tower, a close confidant of
the Minister Maheepala Herath, a person named Palitha who came with his
gang had observed this. The OIC of the police pledged that he would
arrest the suspects before 10 O'clock the following day. He also
challenged the protestors to continue protesting if he was not able to
arrest the suspects and claimed to remove his uniform and retire home in
failing to do so. Though the statement was powerful, the city dwellers
knew that it meant nothing. But the severity of the protest lessened
after those boasts
. At
about 11.30 p.m., Palitha a loyalist of the Minister ventured out. He
had lost his patience. At the center of the city near the Seetha Bakery,
he ordered the police in a loud voice to disperse the crowd by
asaulting and then shooting. The protestors were agitated by these
utterances of his and started attacking him, the few policemen who were
around were not available to control the situation. Thereafter the OIC
with a police team got Palitha into the jeep and sped in the direction
of Rabukkana in high speed. This resulted in the protestors starting to
throw stones, and resultantly damaged the jeep
After
a while a police team from Kagelle tear gassed the protestors and
brought the situation under control, and they also made the claim to
arrest the suspects before 10 O'clock the next day. Afterwards the
situation calmed down to a great extent and it would have fully calmed
down had the police arrested the suspects the next morning. Expecting
such a deed from the police, who are puppets of the Minister, Maheepala
Herath is a futile joke to say the least
Protests against Police increase.
The next day i.e. the 2nd
since Daybreak, Muslims from Mawanella and the suburbs were pouring
into the town. In contrast though in lesser numbers the Sinhalese also
joined. Most of them had posters with them and by the writings on the
posters it was clear that it was a protest against the police and there
was no dispute among the Sinhalese - Muslims. In general it was apparent
that there was a consensus among the Sinhalese and Muslims against the
day-to-day interference's by the political hoodlums of Minister
Maheepala Herath and the police who support them unconditionally. As it
was approaching noon the crowd gathered around "Thalib Drive" which is
near to the road in front of the clock tower. At that moment, from the
opposite direction i.e from the Rabukkana route Maheepala's supporters
with their hoodlum leaders were readying themselves for a confrontation.
Further at a short distance from the famous Mawanella Bridge on the
Colombo-Kandy road, through Nayawella Road which falls to the Rabukkana
Road the supporters of the Aranayake Peoples Alliance Minister Lalith
Disanayake also joined in making a strong contingent. The hoodlum
leaders among them, Palitha, Priyantha, Millangoda, Kithsiri, Maddu and
Ashoka were conspicuous.
Political Hoodlums Arouse Communal Passions.
At
that moment, where the Muslims had gathered, Businessmen, Three-wheel
drivers and various others including Sinhalese were also there. The
hoodlums who interpreted the situation properly started to arouse
communal feelings. The various antics used were proven successful.
Accordingly there was a confrontation where stones were being pelted
between the two groups, while the police were looking on. In a short
while it turned into a serious confrontation. At this moment among the
politicians who came to calm the situation, Minister Lalith Disanayake
of the Peoples Alliance was conspicuous. A petrol bomb also explored
near the market at that time. Although it was assumed that the target
was the UNP Provincial Council Member, Zavahir Hajjiar those who were
injured were the bystanders. The Police who tried to control the
situation only fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the direction of the
Muslims. This resulted in a huge advantage to the hoodlums.
The Arsons Start.
While the
battles were going on, they entered "Ajantha's" shop and broke the
door, took out steel poles, knives and steel buckets, and resultantly
used them in the battle. The steel buckets were used as Helmets. Then
they broke the second door and stole a water motor and other valuable
equipment and burned the shop. The burning which started their spread
throughout the town. Accordingly, the following shops suffered the most
damage due to the attacks and burning:
The
vehicle sale of Faisal Hajjiar which is near the Mawanella Bridge, his
House which is in the left hand side, Noordeen Businessman's shop and
house, Koya Beedi Factory, Munafer's tile shop which is in front of the
Hindu Kovil, in that same line Jayasiri Stores, near that the shop of
Mohanlis, Mubarak stores, Mahakade, Janahitha Stores, Salima Hotel Disna
Studio, all at Disna Building, an unauthorised construction of a Fruit
Shop, the studio, Sadun Enterprises, Bombay Sweet, Nimalsiri Bookshop's
stores, Ajantha Hardware, Hotel of Faroos all at Thalib Drive, the 25-30
shops at Kandappa Building, the shops at the market belonging to the
Provincial Council, the unauthorised construction at he Bus Depot,
Seetha Bakery, the two floor building in front of the Bus Depot housing Emart Stores and the Ice Cream shop, and the Shoe shop, Nafeel Texs, Link
Communications in front. Further 10-15 places also have suffered
various degrees of damage. Eyewitnesses claim that Mega Stores which is
in front of the Courts and next to the Seylan Bank was stoned by the
policemen on duty at the court comlplex, which must be stated, brings
out the reality of this attack.
Further
11 vehicles and 7 motor bikes, which were parked at various parts of
the city, were also burned. Satisfying the desires of the political
hoodlums the glass covering of the Buddhist Statue near the Clock Tower
and the windows at the Muslim Mosque at the center of the city was
broken.
The Army Arrives - the hoodlums retreat while attacking
As
evening was approaching an Army unit had arrived at Mawanella and took
action in dispersing the people who were still involved in fighting.
They were also assisted by a Helicopter, which was flying low. At this
moment the political hoodlums and agitated Sinhalese people who were
retreating through the Colombo-Kandy highway, from Mawanella through the
towns of Beligammana, Nadeniya, Higula to Ganethanna, were attacking
the Muslim Houses and Muslim Business Premises situated beside the road.
Accordingly they had attacked the "Safe Way " textile factory, the
Raliya Hotel subsequent to it and Roja Hotel in front of it. There were
two Weddings going on in both of these Hotels Reception halls and the
participants at these wedding run to various locations. A gang who used
this opportunity for there benefit, enjoyed the wedding food left in the
commotion and planned there next move of attack, which was a highlight.
Afterwards they burned the following Muslim Business establishments,
which are situated, near the city of Higula, a modern shopping complex
named "Efco", a Petrol Shed and Azhar Stores, M.K.M. Stores situated in
the city.
Muslim Mosques are Damaged.
The
hoodlums elevated their attacks to more passionate areas in Higula.
They attacked the Higula Mosque. Afterwards they got their hands on the
Ganethanna "Ziyaram Shrine" alias Small Muslim Mosque. They burned it
and scattered the money in the tills on the road in a manner that would
have aroused the feelings of anger. While we were reaching the area,
Muslims had being arriving in-groups to the area and were looking on,
seeing this spectacle had truly disturbed us. It was such an emotional
moment. The goons who marched forward attacked "Tasir's" and "Appa's"
shops and broke into the Ganethanne Muslim Jumma Mosque. The destruction
caused to this Mosque considering the other was extensive and inhumane.
"We clearly saw that the Mawanella Provincial Council Chairman- Sena Gangodathanna had lead in the attacks on these Mosques... "
a Muslim Youth gave evidence. It was also clear that the majority of
those who involved in these attacks were from the areas of Aranayake,
Mahanthegama, Rabukkana and lower Kadugannawa. The equipment needed for
the attack was transported using the Three Wheel from lower Kadugannawa.
Further, there were clear evidence that among the foremost of the
attackers were Kulasigha, Makadawera-Senawi, Senadeera , Rathnayake , an
army deserter Nimal, Some and Chanaka, all from lower Kadugannewa.
Further
many Muslims under attack were provided shelter by the Sinhalese people
living in the nearby areas, which was confirmed by some Muslim elders.
As
the majority of people who gathered at Mawanella were destroying
Ganethanna, the leading political goons who were left in the city had
avoided the army with the help of the police and burned many other
areas. It was also revealed that many of the establishments which were
burned as mentioned here happened in the above mentioned method. At
those instances, it was revealed that a 350 ELF or a similar looking
lorry belonging to a person called Ashoka was used in the transport of
these goons.
As
we were walking along all these destruction and investigating the
events, the sad complaint made by Faisal Hajjiar whose appeared
destitute among the ruins of his burned house which was situarted near
the Mawanella bridge, was
"
Many politicians like Mr. D.S. Senanayake , Mrs. Sirimavo
Bandaranayake, Mr. Badu-uddeen Mahmoud,.. Sir Razick Fareed .. Mr.
Anurudda Rathwatte's father had dined.. stayed and gone.. we also worked
considerably to bring the Peoples Alliance to power.. Allah finally the gift we got..." While his house was ransacked and burned the house occupants were not at home.
"I stay at Kandy.. As I soon as I got the news I called Fowsi.. and Alavi
Mawlana and told them.. I said that the place where they started their
politics is being burnt, and asked them to do something .. they asked
from me-what can they do.. ".
The daughter of Faisal Hajjiar, Madaniya Bukhari Warshu said with disgust.
What
is apparent from all these experiences is that the attack started by
the political goons of Minister Maheepala Herath and the backing of the
police had created a situation for a nationwide Muslim-Sinhala
confrontation? It's also clearly apparent that the Muslim people living
around Maligawaththa had decided to start to attack the Sinhalese people
without being able to understand the basis of
the attack. Therefore, all Sinhala- Muslim- Tamil people should gather
nation wide and should build a fortress against the political culture of
the country that is building a communal web that would destroy "the strength of a united people".
Therefore the posters of Sihala Urumaya should change as follows :
"Immediately
return property of the people destroyed by the political goons. Let all
people gather together against the violent political culture".
(Translated by: Br. Fahad bin Abdhil Cader )
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