Sri Lanka polls: Choice becomes harder for minorities

By Munza Mushtaq

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AA) - On eve of Nov. 16 presidential election, Sri Lankan minority communities, particularly Tamils and Muslims are confused and feel betrayed by the successive governments, for not attending to their issues.

For Tamils, who are 12.6% of the 21 million population in the Buddhist majority island nation, the wounds of civil war are still fresh. In 2009, the Sri Lankan military defeated the separatist armed group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), bringing the 26-year-long civil war to an end.

They believe that neither former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, nor the incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena have addressed their grievances, that included an investigation into the enforced disappearance of innocent Tamils, as well as demilitarization of the North.

The Muslims, who constitute 9.7% of the population, also complain harassment at the hands of hardline Buddhist groups. Muslims are under attack since 2013, when a campaign against halal food was launched by the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), a Buddhist monk-led Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist organization.

The BBS was also found leading attacks against Muslims in 2014 in the coastal town of Aluthgama and then again in 2018 in Kandy district, resulting in the loss of several lives and destruction of properties.

A total of 35 candidates are contesting for Saturday’s presidential election. But the actual race is between former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 70, of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party and deputy leader of the ruling United National Party Sajith Premadasa, 52. Rajapaksa, is also the younger brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksas have long been accused of backing the BBS and despite openly leading the 2014 attacks they never took action against the leader of the group. Gotabaya was also invited as the chief guest for several BBS events.

For minorities, the upcoming election is a choice between a hardline nationalist and a less harmful one. Leading Muslim groups like the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), have, therefore, put their weight behind Premadasa. These parties have a sizeable support in the country’s north and the east.

Rajapaksa is appealing to the majority Buddhist population, claiming credit for defeating the LTTE. His party is promising to maintain Sinhala Buddhist character of Sri Lanka. His tenure as defense secretary of the country, having scant regard for human rights and dissent, is keeping most of minority groups away from him.

- Choice between extremism and ineffective government

Talking to Anadolu Agency, Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran, an MP representing the TNA, said that Rajapaksa was never an option for Tamils, due to his past record. Tamils would back any candidate contesting against him,” he added.

Sumanthiran also said that the "blatant racism" is still apparent in Rajapaksa’s campaign. “They do not hide it, so no minority will ever vote for them,” he said.

While agreeing that it was difficult to vote for Rajapaksa, Reshzan Thayaparan, an activist from Colombo’s Tamil community, said the irony for the minorities is that they do not find even Premadasa suitable.

In 2015, election, Tamil provinces had played a major role in tilting scales, in favor of Sirisena. In the Tamil dominated northern and the eastern part of the country, Sirisena polled 978,111 votes against Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 323,600 votes.

Hilmy Ahamed, vice president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, an umbrella organization of Muslim civil society groups, said that seeking peace and justice was on top of the agenda for his community.

“We want an end to the hate campaign and seek justice for all citizens. We notice a blatant disregard of law and order, where members of one community involved in crimes are let off,” he told Anadolu Agency.

According to him the biggest threat for the Muslim community is the growing "Buddhist extremism" and "hate campaign".

Ahmed said that there is an utter dissatisfaction against the current government also, for not taking legal action against rioters.

Leader of the ACMC, Rishad Bathiudeen, who is also a minister in the current government, said his party is rooting for the unity of Sri Lanka across race and religion.

“Some people are trying to create problems by using hate and racism as their electoral issues. Premadasa in his election manifesto has clearly stated that he will not accommodate people who carry out such acts. He has promised to take action against these people,” he told Anadolu Agency.

There are, however, many Muslims rooting for Rajapaksa as well. An opposition lawmaker Faiszer Musthapha said the current government had failed to prevent attacks against Muslims, after the Easter bombing. "The hate against the community has increased during the Sirisena government," said Musthapha who supports Rajapaksa.

“The government has failed to defend the Muslim community and the country’s security at large. Rajapaksa has assured that all communities will be allowed to live in peace without any fear under his presidency,” Musthapha told Anadolu Agency.