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Buddha statue violence - is it an oxymoron?

Photo: Tamilnet

The reaction of the other communities in Trincomalee must also be understood in the historic context. This context includes the five decades long history of Sinhalisation of Trincomalee. This context also includes the recent hive of activities in building Buddha statues in provocative fashion. The crowning of these activities was the sudden appearance of one near the bus stand that sparked off protest by Tamils. The context is more vividly exposed by the violence and the ensuing fear among Tamils in Trincomalee.

Trincomalee is the capital of Northeast, the Tamil homeland. It was populated mainly by Tamils and Muslims who made up more than 90% of the population in the 1950s. Planned Sinhala settlements intended to disturb this demography was carried out initially by the government and later during the war by the security forces. There is ample evidence to prove this.

Since the ceasefire an increased activity in building Buddhist viharas have been taking place in Tamil villages in Trincomalee. A Buddhist vihara is being built in the Tamil village of Vilankulam. Efforts to stop the building of this Buddhist vihara have failed. People of this village were displaced during the war and have not returned to resettle. Thus a vihara is being built in a Tamil village against the wishes of the residents who have been displaced and are unable to return. Another Buddha statue was built near a very famous Paththiniamman temple in Palampoddaru. Tamils protested about this as well to no avail. Another Buddhist temple is being built near the entrance to another historic temple, Koneswaram that is also provocative. It is this continuous string of building Buddhist viharas in a provocative fashion that lead to the call for mass protest following the sudden appearance of a huge statue in the middle of town.

Photo: Tamilnet

This 12 feet statue appeared overnight on May 15th. Yet again it appeared in a Tamil majority area without any prior warning and in crown land without permission from council. Given the historic context, and the recent hive of Buddhist vihara building activity Tamils called for a “hartal” or mass protest on May 18th. The leader of the movement for Tamil uprising calling the hartal, V.Vigneswaran, in his statement said that the chauvinistic JVP is behind these and added that Tamils are not anti-Buddhist.

On May 18th the town shut down in response to the call for hartal. The issue was taken to the courts because the statue was built without permission on crown land. Judge Ganesarajah ordered the temporary removal of the statue pending approval from council. In the courts police argued on the side of the auto drivers society that lead the move to set up the statue. Police also presented cases of Hindu temples built without permission from councils. Judge ruled that these cases must also be brought to the courts and resolved through law. Police ignored the court ruling for the temporary removal of the Buddha statue and protected the statue instead.

Hartal continued for five days with increasing violent incidents mainly against Tamils. Grenade attack on a shop on 18th killed one person and injured five. Victims were Sinhalese in a Sinhala shop that remained open during the Hartal. Two young Tamil men were arrested by the police on suspicion for a grenade attack and later released. These men were later assaulted by Sinhala mob and the men were admitted to hospital. Three grenades were thrown into a cooperative commerce building that day, no one was hurt and glasses in the building was broken. There was a shooting incident in Paththamkurichchi and another grenade attack in Maraththady. On the 20th a bomb exploded near the market in town. A Tamil man who came into Srimavopuar from Nilaveli was attacked with sword and admitted to hospital. As violence continued new Buddha statues started relentlessly appearing around town. A head of a Buddhist statue was thrown into a police station.

The movement for Tamil uprising called a three day halt to the protests to allow peaceful celebration of the Vesak the most important days in the Buddhist calendar. Then on May 25th judge issued another order to remove the Buddha statue. The hartal has been further postponed for one week until June 2nd to give time to the police to remove the statue.

Police have restricted movements near the statue. Security personal have been brought into Trincomalee. Army in field motorbikes with their faces covered with black scarf were seen patrolling the streets. This has heightened the fear of Tamils. On May 26th following the second court ruling the town came to a standstill as the shops were closed in expectation of continuing hartal. Only 25% of students attended school.

SLMM, LTTE political wing leader Tamilselvan and NESOHR (Northeast Secretariat for Human Rights) expressed fears that the issue has the potential to lead to violence throughout the island. Tamilselvan accused the security forces and chauvinistic elements for trying to create communal violence. There is widespread fear among Tamils that this issue is being used as a catalyst by these forces to resume war.

27 May 2005

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