A statement
on the brutal arson attacks on Buddhist minority villages in Ramu, Cox’sbazaar,
Bangladesh
5th October
2012
Dear Prime Minister David Cameron
The
Bangladesh Buddhist Association, UK is deeply concerned about the physical security
and well-being of Buddhists, Hindus and Christians minorities living in
Bangladesh. Although Bangladesh is known to the world as a Muslim-majority
country, for centuries there have been many diverse ethnic minorities and
religions co-existing in the country and recognising each other’s
values, cultures and customs. However, the beauty of such a peaceful
coexistence based upon human rights and dignity is increasingly
being damaged and undermined by certain radical Muslim groups whose
attitudes are not appreciated by the majority and, indeed, pose a
threat to the diversity of social and religious belief in the
country. Some attacks on minority interests are being r reported by
the local and national media, while many other outlets have remained
silent due to fear of retribution.
There was an
arson attack on Buddhist villages, religious buildings and Buddhist monasteries
in the middle of the night on 29th October 2012 in Ramu,Cox bazaar District,
Chittagong, Bangladesh. This shocking atrocity is one of many that have
been carried out against Buddhists and other minorities in Bangladesh.
According to our local account, a rumour spread across the region the day
before the attack suggesting that a group of radical Muslims were planning to
act against Buddhist and other minority interests there. The rumour
became reality as people started to rally at the junction of Ramu on
29th October 2012 at around 10pm. Eye witnesses have reported
that many cars, buses and trucks transported a large number of people to the
Ramu junction and that the crowd quickly amounted to many
thousands. As soon as Buddhist villagers received the news of possible attack
by this angry rally, they called both the police and security forces to protect
them. However, the security forces arrived at the scene five hours later, when
their houses and monasteries were already burnt to the ground.
Government
secret service agencies or government intelligent branches knew about this
intentional plan many days before the attacks. They, however, failed to protect
innocent Buddhist minorities. Our
question is: why did the security forces and police deliberately ignore the
request? Why could they not have prevented the attacks, given
that the distance between the Border Guards Bangladesh (security camp) and
the Buddhist villages in question is only a 15- minute drive? The violence
could have been prevented if the security forces had responded immediately to
the phone calls. As a result of this intentional attack, more than 50 houses
were completely reduced to ashes, including 22 Buddhist
monasteries and 2 Hindu temples in different locations. Four monasteries lost
buildings that were over 300 years old, along with more than a thousand ancient
Buddhist manuscripts and artefacts. About 450 Buddhist families deserted or
fled their homes during or before the midnight attacks. Their houses are
damaged, and all valuable items inside them were looted.
These
attacks suggest that some radical Muslim groups in the country have become
sophisticated and capable of premeditated inflammatory action, more effectively
than was previously thought. Increasing numbers of ordinary Muslims are
now becoming radicalised. These organised attacks on innocent Buddhists, Hindus
and Christians seem to be related to this increasing proportion of
radicalised hardliners in the country.
The
motivation for this atrocity is blamed on a Buddhist boy who,
according to these radical Muslim groups, posted an insulting item on his
Facebook page. However, this whole atrocity took place as a result of
premeditated action against innocent Buddhist villagers. According to the local
and national media reports, including eye-witness accounts, it was not in fact
Uttamkumar Barua, the above-mentioned boy, who posted the insulting picture on
Facebook: they were intentionally and deliberately tagged on his
Facebook page by those who intended to carry out this immoral and criminal
act. The Facebook story was merely a tool to agitate the local Muslim majority
and seek to justify this criminal action. If we look at the scale of
organisation behind the act, the timing of the event and the security
conditions, it becomes clear that this attack must have been sponsored by some
highly-trained and sophisticated group.
There are no
reports of Buddhists or other minorities retaliating in response to this
brutal attack, and further attacks on Buddhist minorities are reported to
have subsequently taken place in different locations across the Chittagong
and Chittagong Hill Tracts. All minorities in Bangladesh, including Buddhists,
have been living under immense tension, anxiety and fear. The on-going
attacks on Buddhists, Hindu and other minorities are completely
unacceptable, unjustifiable and, indeed, intolerable. Our peaceful coexistence
in the country is now under threat. As a result, mistrust between the
communities will increase, which in turn could lead to yet more violence
in the region - even in the entire country.
We, all
members of the Bangladesh Buddhist Association, UK and our supporters, strongly
condemn these arson attacks carried out in the name of religion. We all,
with one voice, would like to request that you, the Prime Minister of the
UK, and all other EU countries’ leaders, put immediate and
appropriate pressure on the Bangladeshi government to prevent future attacks.
We also
request that the Bangladesh Government take the following actions:
1. Conduct a
neutral and thorough investigation of the incident and put
those responsible on trial
2. Provide full
compensation for the physical, mental and property damage of the villagers as a
result of the brutal arson attack, including rebuilding houses and monasteries
3. Ensure
guaranteed protection against future attacks on Buddhists and other minorities
in the country
4. Provide a
transparent and public account of the persons or groups that were the
master minds behind this atrocity
5. Promote
religious tolerance in Bangladeshi society and include strategies for
developing mutual respect in the country’s education system
6. Fund and
carry out systematic research for the reestablishment of mutual trust
among the communities
Copy to:
1. Prime
Minister Sheik Hasina
2. Foreign
office UK
3. Bangladesh
embassy, UK
4. Amnesty
international, UK
5. Foreign
Offices, EU
6. Human Right
Watch, UK
7. Japanese
Embassy, UK
8. Chinese
Embassy, UK
9. American
Embassy, UK
http://www.narinjara.com/main/index.php/buddhist-temples-homes-burned-looted-in-ramu/
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=252147
http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=233691&cid=2
http://www.weeklyblitz.net/2617/isi-behind-attack-on-buddhist-temples-in