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Chennai attacks:
Group with vested interests and sinister motives responsible -
Acting Head of Mission, Ameer Ajwad
By Manjula Fernando
Statement issued by the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi
On March 16, 2013, a group of persons had attempted to assault a
bhikkhu, Ven. Pathberiye Gnanaloka Thera, while he was on a study tour
at the Thanjavur Hindu Temple. Ven. Gnanaloka Thera who is pursuing a
Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology of
India has been studying in India in New Delhi for the past 18 months and
has visited several Indian states on study tour. At the time of the
attack, Ven. Gnanaloka Thera had been with a group of 18 students
comprising Indian, Myanmar and other nationals. Ven. Gnanaloka Thera had
not suffered any physical injury as a result of the attack. However,
several Indian students who accompanied him had received injuries as a
result of the attack, in their efforts to protect the priest.
Ven. Gnanaloka Thera and the other students had been escorted to
immediate safety at the Police Station by the Police and arrangements
had been made for all the students including Ven. Gnanaloka Thera to
leave Thanjavur immediately and depart to the Trichy airport under
police protection.
Sri Lanka's Deputy High Commissioner’s Office in Chennai and the Sri
Lanka High Commission in New Delhi made immediate arrangements for the
safe return of Ven. Gnanaloka Thera to New Delhi last evening and Ven.
Thera will continue with the course of study in New Delhi.
The incident has received immediate attention at the highest levels
of the Government of India and the state government of Tamil Nadu.
Police have registered a case in Ariyamangalam and have arrested five
persons belonging to the MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)
and the NTK (Naam Tamilar Katchi) in connection with the incident.
Sri Lanka High Commission
New Delhi
17 March 2013 |
Acting Head of Mission in Chennai Ameer Ajwad speaking to the Sunday
Observer on Friday cautioned against pilgrim travel to Chennai saying
the situation is still far from normal and even on Friday there were
organised protests in Chennai against Sri Lanka. Following the statement
by the Lankan External Affairs Ministry to avoid Chennai when travelling
to India and to keep the Chennai mission informed in advance if visits
are undertaken, Sri Lankan airlines has slashed weekly flights to
Chennai from 28 to 14 effective from March 21.
Excerpts of the interview:
Question: Who is actually behind the attacks on Lankans and
Buddhist monks in Tamil Nadu - Is it the public or organised groups?
Answer: These attacks are being carried out by a small group
of people, with vested interests and sinister motives. I think they are
trying to create a backlash in Sri Lanka, a kind of a communal
retaliation. That is their motive as we understand. The public condemn
these attacks, especially targeting bhikkhus.
Even the Tamils here have condemned these attacks and aired that such
things should be stopped. That is the situation here. I should also tell
you, there were two incidents in Thanjavur and Chennai, where two
bhikkhus were attacked.
In Thanjavur the police had immediately taken action to rescue them
and take the group to the airport. The police have arrested four persons
involved in the attack as the video footage had shown the culprits. They
have been remanded and the police have filed a criminal case against
them.Three more suspects are absconding and the police is on the lookout
for them.
In connection with the attack on Ven.Vangeesha Thera on Monday at
the Central Station in Chennai, the police arrested three people on
Tuesday. They were detained, interrogated and later remanded at the
Puzhal Central Prison. TN police has taken immediate action.
Q: Have they identified the people behind the attacks, if they
are members of any group?
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Ven. Pathberiye Gnanaloka
Thera being attacked in Thanjavur |
A: It has been found after interrogations that small political
parties, sympathetic towards the LTTE were behind these attacks. These
attacks do not express the sentiments of the Tamil Nadu people.
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Ven.Vangeesha Thera was attacked on Monday at the Central
Station in Chennai |
Q: Has there been any provocations on the part of the SL
group?
A: No there has not been any provocation. These are isolated
incidents.
These actions are intended to influence the UN Human Rights Sessions
in Geneva. Such things happened in March last year as well. We believe
that this situation will soon die down with the conclusion of the HRC
sessions. These acts aim to put pressure on the central government.
These are staged as publicity stunts.
Q: What are the diplomatic efforts currently underway to
diffuse the situation?
A: We have taken up this issue with the Central Government as
well as the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the security issues and the
attacks on the Lankan pilgrims.
The Tamil Nadu Police and the Government have assured protection for
Lankans visiting Chennai. We have also asked for protection for the Sri
Lankan establishments located in Chennai. Already armed protection has
been provided to all the Lankan offices, including Bank of Ceylon
branch, Sri Lankan Airlines office and the Mahabodhi Society Pilgrim
rest.
Statement issued by the High Commission of India in Colombo
We have noted with concern the recent incidents involving Sri Lankan
citizens in Tamil Nadu. The Government of India, in consultation with
the concerned state governments, has taken and will continue to take all
measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Sri Lankan
visitors to India, including to Tamil Nadu. The state government of
Tamil Nadu has taken immediate action to identify and prosecute the
miscreants, in respect of the recent incidents.
These isolated incidents do not reflect the strong people-to-people
bonds that have been an integral part of the close historical, cultural
and civilisational ties between India and Sri Lanka.
Both countries consider these age-old bonds and affinities as
strengths in our relations. India has been the leading source of tourist
arrivals in Sri Lanka. Similarly, over 250,000 Sri Lankans visited India
last year. It is this perspective that guides all our actions on such
matters.
Colombo
19 March 2013 |
There are armed guards round the clock at the Deputy High
Commissioner's office which is located on Sterling Road, Nungambakkam
and the official residence of the HC within the compound.
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Bhikkus protest opposite the Indian High
Commission |
We have about 20 home-based staff in our mission, and in the Bank of
Ceylon Branch, a further six Lankans. The SriLankan Airlines office has
its own staff which is not big, and pilgrims stay overnight in the
Mahabodhi Centre. We have asked protection for the pilgrims, and most
Bodhgaya pilgrims travel via Chennai.
Police protection was there for the past two-three weeks, since the
street protests targeting the Geneva Human Rights Sessions were taking
place. After Monday's attack on the bhikkhu at the Central Chennai
Railway Station. the External Affairs Ministry has cautioned in a
statement to avoid Tamil Nadu when visiting India.
We are in touch with the police department and the state government.
Our High Commissioner in Delhi is in touch with the Indian External
Affairs Ministry. The police were extremely cooperative but we are still
concerned about the on-going protests.
Q: People in Sri Lanka were disturbed seeing the footage of
the bhikkhu being physically attacked.
A: We should not fall prey to their sinister motives. These
actions are not done with the blessings of the people of Tamil Nadu.
Small groups of extreme elements who are LTTE sympathisers are
involved in these actions with the intention of tarnishing the image of
Sri Lankans. We enjoy age-old relations with each other, their aim is to
jeopardise this goodwill.
The Ministry of External Affairs has lodged strong protests with the
Indian Government through its High Commission in New Delhi and the
Deputy High Commission in Chennai over the incidents of assaults on Sri
Lankan bhikkhus. Our concerns have been taken up by the authorities.
Pix: Courtesy DBS Jeyaraj .com
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