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| Friday, 26 March 2004 |
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Sri Lanka has condemned the assassination of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas in an Israeli missile attack on last Monday, states a Foreign Ministry press release. Addressing the Special Sitting, convened during the ongoing session of the Commission of Human Rights in Geneva to consider the situation in the occupied Palestine territory resulting from the assassination of Sheik Yassin, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ambassador Sarala Fernando stated that "such extra-judicial killings are in contravention to the international law and must be condemned in no uncertain terms by all peace loving countries." Ambassador Fernando further added that: "The menace of terrorism is not new to my country. Sri Lanka has gone through at least two decades of suffering and trauma due to terrorism. Be they attacks on economic or political targets or suicide bombings, terrorism brings immense pain and suffering to innocent civilians, adversely affects social systems and generates hatred among members of the society in which they live. Sri Lanka has been in the vanguard of the campaign against terrorism for many years. As the chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, we have continued to support the moves to strengthen the UN's collective action mechanisms against all forms of violence and terrorism. For a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict, we urge all parties involved to exercise restraint and refrain from any form of violence. Acts of violence will only diminish the hopes for a lasting peace. Sri Lanka hopes that Palestine and Israel will continue to honour their commitments and further the progress for a lasting solution to the conflict based on the relevant UN resolutions and other peace initiatives." Islamic Relief Islamic Relief-Sri Lanka condemned the killing of Hamas spiritual leader Shikh Ahmed Yassin. "This unlawful killing marks the 'climax of the terrorism that Sharon has been continuously practising'. We are also shocked at the US's failure to condemn this dastardly crime by its ally," states an Islamic Relief press release. Islamic Relief called upon all Friday prayer leaders to condemn this crime at today's Jumma sermon and requested Muslims to join in the Janaza prayers in memory of this spiritual leader. JVP The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna expressing its sorrow on the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas Organisation has called upon the world community to create a broad people's unity " to defeat the horrendous invaders and terrorists. Issuing a statement on the assassination the JVP notes that Muslims in Sri Lanka and Muslims around the world were shocked and grief-stricken at the demise of Sheik Ahmed Yassin. "We would like to emphasize that we of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna share our sorrow with them" the statement adds. The JVP notes that Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of Hamas Organisation and a senior leader of Palestinian liberation struggle was assassinated in a rocket attack by the Israelis. He was subjected to this attack while leaving a mosque after prayers. It states that the Hamas Organisation is in the forefront of the Palestinian mass organisations which struggled against the invasions and unlawful grabbing of the Palestinian land and their rights committed by the Israelis with the corroboration of Western powers. Hence, Palestinian people as well as the Muslim masses in Sri Lanka and the Muslims all over the world are grief-stricken at the demise of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. We would like to emphasize that we of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People's Liberation Front) share the sorrow with them. Whether terrorism is set in motion by the states or other organisations the righteous people everywhere rise against them. People of Palestine are being set upon by terrorism set in motion by the state. The need of an alliance of all the people in the world is felt now more than ever before to defeat this state of affairs. While we express our deepest sympathy on the death of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas Organisation, we call upon all people in the whole world to rally to create a broad people's unity to defeat horrendous invaders and terrorists. Sri Lanka Muslim Federation I am bereft of words to express my deepest indignation at the barbaric killing by the Israeli army of Islamic Preacher Sheikh Ahamed Yassin while returning from mosque after dawn prayers. This dastardly action of the Israeli government defies the accepted norms. The continuous defiance makes mockery of the rules of the states followed the entire world other than the USA vehemently condemns Israel, stated the President of the Sri Lanka Muslim Federation, Seyed Alavi Moulana in a press release yesterday. The late Sheikh Yassin was a moderate leader who was able to keep in-check the heterogeneous militants outfits. While the whole world stands for justice and fair play it is impossible to comprehend why the USA should be silent of this heinous crime. It is not ethical to kill an unarmed handicapped elderly religious leader in this brutal manner. The enemies of Islam will have to account for all these misdeeds. Now to turn to our local political scene would our Prime Minister who has been an ardent admirer of the USA join the rest of the world leaders in condemning the USA and Israel? I would only request very humbly the Muslims and the right thinking people of Sri Lanka to watch him out. I earnestly appeal the Muslims to conduct a special 'Janaza' prayers in respect of the late Sheikh Ahamed Yassin soon after Jummah Prayers today. |
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