BBS can be more dangerous than LTTE – – Rishad Bathiudeen

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen, in an interview with Ceylon Today said, the pathological lies and abusive language used by the monks of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) about him, the Muslims and Islam, have deeply hurt the Muslim community. He also said he is not willing to go for a debate with BBS General Secretary, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, as he calls everyone a pariah, thakkadiya, mottaya, gasballah, halparuwa, musalaya, sakkiliya and nariya. He also warned that if the BBS is allowed to continue their abusive behaviour, it would become more dangerous than the Tamil Tigers.

Excerpts of the Interview

Q: What’s in store for the Muslims of Sri Lanka in the future, given the present tense situation in the country?

A: The Muslims of this land are severely humiliated and they are disheartened and hurt by the BBS and its General Secretary, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who about a year and a half ago began the campaign to attack halal, the Muslim dress code and their religious practices. Our religious sentiments are highly mocked. Now they have started hurting the displaced Muslims, who are living under severe hardships. Gnanasara Thera humiliated the Ulamas. He is calling on all the civilians to ‘act’ as ‘unofficial’ policemen to watch over everyone. Even moderate Sinhala people, who can reason out a situation, are attacked and called pariahs and thakkadiyas. We respect the Quran more than our lives and he says the Quran tells us to rob, cheat and grab lands from others. He also says that we spit three times before serving food to non-Muslims. These are atrocious and dangerous remarks on a faith that people follow. There’s no one to speak against the BBS. Even the exposé they made that the displaced have resettled in the Wilpattu Sanctuary is a total lie and out of context.

Q: Who is the leader or representative of the Muslims of Sri Lanka?

A: I am from the Vanni and I have a party, and I am the leader of that party.

Q: Is there a proper leader to give voice to the Muslims in Sri Lanka?

A: There is a worry among the Muslims about the absence of a proper leader. They are scattered all over the country and have different views and perceptions about politics. However, when it comes to issues pertaining to Islam and slandering, we all raise one voice against it.

Q: Are the Muslim politicians working on different agendas?

A: Each of us have different views. I can only talk about my party. The problems caused by the BBS have been condemned not only by the Muslims, but even by the Sinhalese.

Q: There is an allegation that your ties with Qatar are very strong. Qatar has backed Islamic fundamentalism in several African countries and even in Chechnya. What is your connection with Qatar?
A: Be it Qatar or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), I don’t have any ties with them to promote Muslim fundamentalism. I deny that claim. However, Qatar, Norway or India, if they come forward to help us to build houses for the needy and the displaced, why not accept it? It applies to any community and I have accepted funds to support all communities, not only Muslims.

Q: Who funded the JASIM City Permanent Housing Scheme of 300 houses?

A: It was a Qatar-based NGO.

Q: Did the money come to you directly?

A: No they dealt with a local NGO and the money was sent to them.

Q: Why wasn’t the money sent to the government Treasury?

A: The funds came from a Qatar-based NGO and not from the Government of Qatar.

Q: How much was received?

A: They spent Rs 550,000 for each one of the 300 houses.

Q: What is the name the NGO?

A: The Organization for Habitation and Resource Development (OHRD).

Q: How did this NGO go about building 300 houses?

A: They took permission from the Presidential Task Force and then approached the Divisional Secretariat and the rest. They abided by the rules and regulations of the country.

Q: Will the Muslims support the present regime at the next Presidential Election, as you claim they are hurt more than words can explain?
A: There are three more years until the next election, and by then many good things can take place. We will have to wait and see, and I cannot predict now what we would do.

Q: The President has told Justice Minister, Rauff Hakeem, he can walk out as the doors are open for anyone who does not want to stay with him. Minister Hakeem has also said the Muslims will decide who will be the next President. What is your comment?

A: Muslims are not worried about their status, but insulting their religion is hurtful. It’s not a party-based issue. The 10% Muslim population’s vote is quite strong. By the time the Presidential Election comes, thing could change. The future of the BBS too can be different. Let’s wait and see.

Q: Although the Muslim leadership is attacked by various forces, including the BBS, none of them have left the UPFA. Is there any secret behind that stance?

A: I have been supporting the President ever since he came to power. I speak on issues, be it in Parliament or Cabinet meetings. However, I cannot openly state certain issues because I am part of the government. Yet, I voice against issues when the need arises. Also, just because the BBS is attacking us, I don’t want to stop my service to this government. Each one has disagreements and different views and all that cannot be dumped on the President.

Q: Why is the government silent over the BBS attacks on
others?

A: That is not true. Many senior ministers such as Dilan Perera, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Rajitha Senaratne have voiced against the BBS’ practices. The BBS is a minor group with a handful of people and they are not even a registered body.

Q: Who is backing the BBS, according to your opinion?

A: I don’t know and I don’t care who is backing them. But I warn that the LTTE was backed by India in a similar manner and then ultimately Rajiv Gandhi was killed by them. It looks like a strong backing is there for the BBS and their strength is increasing. Whoever is promoting them I am telling them now, it would be dangerous, and in fact, it’s going to be more fearsome than the LTTE. I fear this will happen.

Q: Why do you think so?

A: The Muslim population is 10% against the 70% Sinhalese population in Sri Lanka. And if the BBS spreads lies and projects wrong beliefs among the majority, it could be dangerous. A communal disturbance is what the BBS is targeting for.

Q: Do you fear the BBS?

A: Why should I be scared of the BBS? There is no reason to be scared of them.

Q: How do you intend on tackling the BBS?

A: I am going to Courts.

Q: When?

A: By tomorrow (Monday) you will know.

Q: Why not face the BBS’ Gnanasara Thera openly and explain where he has gone wrong. Don’t you think having a dialogue can solve a lot of misunderstandings?

A: Communicate with him? Look at the abusive language he uses on the people. To him, everyone is a thakkadiya, mottaya, ballah, yakko, pariah and what not! All these words will be used on me and how can I sit next to him? He even attempted to dash his ipad on Jathika Bala Sena’s Watareka Vijitha Thera’s head, and pulled at the robe of another monk at the Nippon Hotel press conference recently. Just imagine if he could do this to his fellow monk, will he spare us? I am a leader of a political party and I cannot sit next to a monk who has no control of his tongue and self.

Q: So you don’t intend on facing him or challenging him?

A: I will speak to him only in the Courts. Every time he says something insulting about me and my religion, I will take him to Courts.

Q: There is also an allegation that madrasas conducted by various Islamic organizations are very secretive and are teaching fundamentalist Islamic practices. Who are the managers of the madrasas? Is there a proper monitoring?
A: It is pretty sad. Madrasa are like the Dhamma schools for the Buddhists, Sunday schools for the Christians and Araneri classes for the Hindus. There is no secret behind madrasas. It teaches the Quran and good practices like all religions do. They don’t group up and plot against others.

Q: Can you explain the allegation against the resettling of Muslims in the Wilpattu Sanc-
tuary and building a JASIM village, which is also in the vicinity of the Wilpattu reserve?

A: Four weeks ago, 73 families from the Puttalam District arrived at the Wilpattu Sanctuary border. They were earlier from the Marichchikatti village where now a Navy Camp is set up. An alternative 50 acres of government land was released for the displaced, but the Army says they should not be resettled there.

Q: You did not know about it?

A: No, I came to know about it in the second week and I visited them on 4 April along with government and wildlife officials. I told them it was illegal to settle there. They claimed their burial ground was there, but I don’t know whether it is true or false.

Q: Didn’t your party organizers inform you about these families settling there?

A: I don’t keep a track of the displaced persons unless there is an issue. I came to know there is an issue and that is how I came to know. They don’t inform me about their activities. But when I heard about it I visited the place.

Q: So you admit it’s an illegal resettlement?

A: Yes, I know. I was told by the wildlife officials that in the Wilpattu buffer zone cultivation can be done and people can visit, but they cannot have permanent housing there.

Q: Where will they be moved now, as you say it’s illegal to live there?

A: The Government Agent, the Divisional Secretary and myself asked for government land as an alternative.

Q: Where is that alternative land situated?

A: It’s about 1 km outside the sanctuary.

Q: When are they moving there?

A: There is an issue. The Army says not to settle them there. We are in discussion with the officials, and also the Wildlife Department has lodged a complaint against these squatters, asking them to be removed. So, after the Court hearing, these people will move out.

Q: When was the complaint lodged by the Wildlife officials?

A: On 9 April.

Q: If the Army does not allow the families to settle in the alternative place, what do you intend to do?

A: The officials are working on it. The discussion is going on.

Q: Have you conveyed these issues to President Mahinda Rajapaksa?
A: It’s a small issue and I spoke to the Army Commander on Friday regarding this matter.

Q: What about the permanent settlement of 300 families also in that area?
A: That housing scheme is not built inside the Wilpattu National Park or in the sanctuary as claimed by the BBS. It’s far away.

Q: Does that land belong to the Forest Department?
A: Yes, but once upon a time it was a village. Nearly 22 years ago, the Muslims were living in Marichchikatti and they left due to the war. They have now returned and some have deeds too. When they returned it was a fully grown forest. According to a circular issued in 2006 any land that was abandoned and is overgrown with trees automatically belongs to the Forest Department. However, there is a clause that allows you to deforest them and use it with proper channelling, which is what we did.

Q: Who did it?
A: When people wanted to return to their village, I went with the officials and got all clearance to resettle them. It was a village with four schools, post office, mosque and a hospital.

Q: Does the land belong to the Forest Department now?
A: Yes, but we got clearance from them to deforest the land.

Q: How did you deforest an ‘old’ village?
A: When people came and reregistered, their list was checked by the officials and they carefully checked with the voters list. They also brought with them letters from the Puttalam Grama Niladhari that their ration card has been cancelled as they are returning to their ancestral village. Those letters were sent to the Divisional Secretary and from him to the Provincial Land Commissioner, who approved the list and sent to the Colombo Land Commissioner to confirm the list. In the mean time, they also waited for complaints to check whether someone is illegally checking in on the land. So, finally the list came out, and according to that list 280 acres was given for the resettlement programme in Marichchikatti, Palaikuli, and Karadikuli.

All the agreements, feasibility studies and recommendations came from the authorities. The Divisional Secretariat handled everything. The deed was issued through the Land Commissioner in Colombo and distributed to the people.

Q: So, you claim it belongs to the Forest Department but was deforested for resettlement?
A: Yes. The Forest Department gave the clearance because it was a village that was overgrown with trees and shrubs due to the absence of human activities there, and thus the Forest Department took over the land of the people.

Q: Do you have the Forest Department clearance letter to build houses?
A: Yes, I have.

Squatters will be removed soon – DWLC DG

Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC), H.D. Ratnayake, on the Wilpattu housing scheme said, “The JASIM village of 300 houses is neither inside the Wilpattu Sanctuary nor in the National Park.”
He added, “However, there are another 73 families, merely squatters who came in, said to be from Puttalam and put up cadjan huts on the margin of the North of Wilpattu Sanctuary, which is illegal.

“There are 40 such cadjan huts and 18 of them are inside the Sanctuary. When I came to know about this we contacted the officials and visited the place. We have filed a case at the Mannar Magistrate’s Court on 9 April and on 24 April the case will be heard again,” he said.

When Ceylon Today inquired who let these squatters settle inside the Wilpattu Sanctuary, the Director General said, “I don’t know, but it was part of the Ministry of Resettlement programme, I hear.”
He went on to say that they are all Muslims and measures will be taken by the authorities to evacuate them soon.
When asked when the squatters appeared inside the Sanctuary, he revealed it was four weeks ago and he does not know who sent them there.\

To the question on the permanent building found beyond the Sanctuary border, he said that it does not belong to the Sanctuary and probably belongs to the Forest Department.
He also went on to say that people can live in the buffer zone.