Leicester’s Sri Lankan Community Calls for An End to Anti-Muslim Riots in Sri Lanka

Islamophobia is on the rise all over the world, and it has once again made headlines in Britain as Muslims living in Sri Lanka are facing racist attacks that have been fuelled by their government’s relentless and divisive hate-speech. The Guardian reported:

“At least two people have been killed and eight others injured in anti-Muslim riots in a popular tourist district in central Sri Lanka…

“Supporters of radical Buddhist nationalist groups have been blamed for days of arson attacks and vandalism against Muslim-owned properties in Kandy which have prompted the government to declare its first state of emergency since the end of the civil war era.” (“Sri Lanka blocks social media as deadly violence continues,” Guardian, March 7, 2018)

As ever, the mainstream media are unwilling to lay any blame for this murderous state of affairs upon the Sri Lankan government or their capitalist cronies. Tamil Solidarity activists, who are members of the Socialist Party (of which I am a member), however have been clear in stating where the blame lies, pointing out that it is the Sinhala nationalist “government who should take full responsibility for the brutality which was unleashed on the Muslim Community.”

“The government was aware that religious leaders and mobs were spreading lies and violent rhetoric, but failed to take action. The government is incapable of protecting the community and allowed the attacked to carry on. And no perpetrators have been brought to justice. As was in the case during the 1956 mob attack against Tamils – or like during the ‘83 Black July days, it is the Sinhala nationalist government who should take the blame both for causing this and for protecting the perpetrators.”

In terms of putting forward a socialist response to such violence, Tamil Solidarity writers made it clear that:

“What is urgently needed is a mass party that will stand for improving the conditions for Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim workers and young people. Such a party must also organise to oppose neoliberal policies such as the privatisation of health and education. Only the building of such a working class force can push back the chauvinist and racist forces. Trade unions, socialists, and all other progressive sections in the society should come forward to build such a force.”

Protests against the Sri Lankan government and their role in facilitating the ongoing riots are now taking place all over the world, and on Thursday, here in Leicester, more than a hundred members of the city’s Sri Lankan community led a loud protest on Humberstone Gate.

Speaking to the Leicester Mercury (March 9), Mohamad Ismail of the Leicester Sri Lankan Muslim Society said:

“We have all been watching the footage with great concern. I have had three sleepless night. In my home town a young boy has been killed and businesses have been burned. We feel the Government needs to do much more to restore peace. That is why we have come out here today – to raise awareness.”

This protest in Leicester of course succeeded in raising awareness of this critically important issue, but one could hardly expect the local newspaper to talk about how ordinary people might go about ending such violence. Thus, here we might turn to an article published earlier this week by Tamil Solidarity (“End all attacks on the Muslim community immediately” — http://www.tamilsolidarity.org) wherein socialist campaigners issued the following demands which are critical to bring a peaceful resolution to the ongoing bloodbath engulfing Sri Lanka. These were:

1. End all attacks on the Muslim community immediately
2. Build a mass anti-racist movement appealing to young people, trade unionists, workers and the poor
3. Support the building of multi-ethnic democratic defence bodies involving trade unions, local communities and student organisations against the mob attacks provoked and perpetrated by the Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS). We also need defence against state repression, especially in the areas where Muslim communities live
4. The right of an individual to practice any religion or none must be respected, with protection for minority rights in all areas
5. We demand compensation and justice for all victims of mob attacks. We demand a public inquiry – to be conducted by democratically elected and accountable representatives that should include the victimised people and trade unions
6. Lift the ban on all social media.
7. End all cuts and privatisation. For a decent living wage for all.

JOIN THE PROTEST IN LONDON ON MARCH 10, 2018; THEN JOIN THE MARCH AGAINST RACISM THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.