Buddhist monk assaulted at anti-Rajapaksa protest
The chief monk of the Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Sentul was assaulted by a small group among demonstrators conducting a protest against former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa who is visiting Malaysia.
The group of about 50 people had gathered in front of Putra World Trade Centre to protest against Rajapaksa’s attendance at an international conference of Asian political parties.
The protesters went to the Sentul temple when rumours of Rajapaksa’s supposed visit began to spread.
The group comprised members of the Malaysian Indian Progressive Association, Malaysian Tamilan, and the Malaysian Indian Education Transformation Association. They began to burn an effigy of Rajapaksa in front of the temple.
When the chief monk came out of the temple, some unknown individuals went to question him about Rajapaksa’s arrival. They then abused him with vulgarities and obscenities.
The assault began after one person touched the monk’s face, prompting another to punch his in the face. Two members of the crowd also kicked the monk, forcing Sri Saranan thero to retreat inside the temple.
Sentul police prevented the crowd from further attacking the monk, and MIETA chairman A. Elangovan entered the temple together with the police to apologise to the monk.
He said his group had gathered at the temple “because we want to give a stern warning to all Buddhist temples to not allow the mass murderer here.”
Elangovan agreed it was wrong to assault anyone at a protest and said he did not know who the attackers were. Several people had just joined the crowd to protest. “They are a bit emotional. But still, we can’t beat them up because this is a religious place.”
He said he had agreed with the chief monk that no one should be restricted from coming into a temple. “This is a religious place. We have no right to dictate who should come here and not.”
He said that if Rajapaksa came to the temple “to seek forgiveness from God, then it is fine. We have no say in who should come and not”.
(Source: Free Malaysia Today)
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So everyone are happy now!.MRs leader ship is what brought peace to our country no matter what we have to give him the full respect for that and protect him.why these timil rougs are that much angry with former Prez,that is because of their terrorist leader was killed by his army.Our Sinhalese who forget everything over night will soon learn a lesson which they’ve never learned in the name of Sanhindiyaawa.I vote for MS yet i believe MR should have been in power now.
No one should get antagonized over the incident . This is in support of our Yahapalanaya government to oust and erase the remnants of Rajapaksha regime. Mr. Vigneswaran can take over the cue and have a walk around the Naga Deepa ( Nainativu ) and Naga Viharayas and look into the health of resident monks there.
After all He has a duty by his two daughters in law who are Buddhists.
enough is enough time ….to get up and reply to those…..we are trying to forget every things and trying to leave harmony its seems its not going to happen….LTTE …killed sila lankara thera…some orther killed soma thera and ariya damma thera still Buddhist community was able to control there pain …thinking of we are Buddhist …
but now its time fours to raises Buddhist voice ……
There is nothing new or theatrical about this assault. Sri Lankan Buddhist monks have been assaulted in TN India and now in KLP Malaysia. Even in Sri Lanka, in Dargatown, Buddhist monk was assaulted on Poson full-moon day. So what is new?
This is clearly stating that the tigers are still around.
Giving a room will make them spread out again.
Not only this chief priest, even SriLankan High commissioner got attacked in KLIA airport. Few others got injured too.
In few other incidents, around 30 Sri lankan workers attacked by Indian community here and sustained heavy injuries. Some are in critical stage in the hospitals.
If government not takes any actions, this will continue and further more assaults might happen.
We will wait and see how our Yahapalana government going to act upon.
The Yellow Robe is a symbol of oppression to the Tamil speaking people all over the world.
This impression developed as a result of Buddhist Monks leading social uprisings against the Tamil speaking people in SL. Major political concessions that brilliant and progressive Sinhala political leaders were willing to grant to the Tamil speaking people were scuttled by the Buddhist monastery.
Suggest that Buddhist monks, over the next few years, change their mentality and social outlook to be humane persons towards all communities. Mature and younger Buddhist monks should learn the Tamil language. They should be able take a walk down Galle Road, Bambalapitiya, Wellawatte and Dehiwela and converse politely with the Tamil population for a start. I would like to see a Buddhist monk give a helping hand to a Tamil senior in crossing a road and help an elderly Tamil lady load a box of groceries into a tuk-tuk.
The next stage is to visit schools and public places and address cal;classrooms and congregations in Tamil. The Buddhist Monks should outline similarities between Buddhism and Hinduism and praise the virtues of freedom which allows to follow religions and philosophies that we like..
It is all about building bridges and re-fashioning images that are embedded in our minds. The efforts to achieve these ends must be sincere, concerted and well organised.
Mr. Somasundaram you are right and thank you so much for your brilliant suggestions. In fact you are a genius. You already suggested that Buddhist Monks should help Tamil Seniors to cross the road, help Tamil couples to carry groceries to Tuk-Tuks, etc. May I suggest more, go and wash dirty cloths, work in the garden, help in the kitchens of Tamil communities; then learn Tamil Lullabies and help them to fall asleep at night; learn to drive and take them to North & East when they are visiting their homelands from Wellawatta, Dehiwala and Kotahena. Why not? This will help to bridge the gap between Sinhalese and Tamils.
Then you are spot on. We have to get pin-bath eating Buddhist monks out of temples (including two Asgiriya & Malwatta Chief incumbents). They only warming easy chairs and filling ‘padikkams’. They get hundreds of ‘Ata-pirikara’ for a month and sell them to Thambi Mudalalis. They should get out and mix with the communities rather than take sides of politicians. Why they can’t teach Buddha Darma to Tamils in the North & East? Especially to Harijans (untouchables in the North) ? Ambedkar did this in Hindu India.. Why can’t they take Harijans to Hindu kovils like Nallur? Preach bana in Tamil to Tamils of recent Indian origin in Tea estates? Go to North and teach Tamils there to stop animal sacrifices. Open more temples in North & East (I am sure Mr. Somasundaram will support this).
Dear Mr. Amarakoon,
Mr. Somasundaram and his ilk will jump at your generous niceties showered upon him and no doubt would grab with both their hands all your offerings or suggestions as per your first para. But pleased be noticed that you are not to , in any way , suggest to build temples or open any in north or east ,their traditional homeland. After all for Mr. SOMASUNDARAM yellow robe is a sign of oppression..