A problem of alienation

Latheef Farook

A small group of Muslims, some of them Pakistanis, some of Pakistani origin and few from the poor localities in Colombo, supported Pakistan during the one-day cricket match at the Premadasa Stadium last week. This was unfortunate incident at a time when every effort need to be made to bring all the communities together. However, this has nothing to do with the community as a whole.

There is no doubt, that Pakistan has been one of Sri Lanka’s best friends especially in times of crisis - from during the armed JVP uprisings in April 1971 to the defeating of the LTTE. Besides, Pakistan never had a hidden agenda for political purposes or territorial ambitions in the island and the friendly ties have flourished despite conspiracies to disrupt them.

On the other hand, what have the Muslims in the island got to do with Pakistan or for that matter any other Muslim country in the world? Of course, when there is a common conspiracy against Islam and Muslims such as the so called global “war on terrorism” unleashed by the United States led West killing Muslims, destroying Muslims’ countries and looting their resources, Muslims in Sri Lanka too take them seriously as it targets them too. This is the only binding factor.

I am yet to come across a Muslim who failed to criticize what happened at the Premadasa Stadium and they all emphasized the need to build the community’s relations with both the Sinhalese and Tamil communities.

This also speaks volumes for the bankruptcy of the overall political and religious leaderships and their failure to educate and guide the community of the importance of loyalty to the country where we live in. In fact being loyal to the country is a religious obligation of Muslims as clearly stated in the Holy Quran.

To understand why this small group did, what they did, one needs to understand their mindsets influenced by their endless sufferings in abject poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and related social problems that virtually crippled them. Three times meals remain a luxury for thousands while some sleep in shifts due to lack of living space. Highlighting the danger of poverty Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “extreme poverty could even drive one to defy God”.

The degree of frustration has been such that they have lost confidence in their politicians, Governments and even themselves. Under such circumstances one cannot expect from these people what one could expect from those living in posh villas and mansions in the suburbs and those overlooking Bolgoda Lake. Therefore, it is time that some serious thought is given to address their grievances and make them feel part of the country.

Muslims have lived in harmony and peace with the Sinhalese and Tamils for centuries and they wanted to continue to do so. Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva rightly pointed out that “Muslims have been a peaceful ethnic group interacting with other religious and ethnic groups, cordially interlinking those cultures with their own culture. They never organized themselves for armed insurrection or destruction”.

What many conveniently forget is the crucial role played by the Muslims in preserving the territorial integrity of the island. For example, during the early days, Tamil militants’ call for a separate state had the full backing of India and the island’s Armed forces were not equipped or trained, as they are today, to deal with them. From the very inception, Muslims throughout the country vehemently opposed calls for the division of the country and firmly stood for territorial integrity and unity.

They had never yielded to the LTTE’s intense pressure to join their separatist ranks only to face death, devastation, loss of properties, livelihood and displacement with no appreciation. Around 130,000 Muslims driven out from Jaffna have been still languishing in refugee camps in appalling conditions and their plight is nobody’s business for more than 19 years unlike in the case of 280,000 Tamil IDPs who attracted the attention of the entire West, India and the even the International Monetary Fund.

Had the Muslims joined the Tamil militancy during its early stage, the island’s fate would have been sealed and the history would have projected a new political landscape. It is unfortunate that these sufferings and sacrifices have never been highlighted in its proper perspective. I am sure the Muslim community is prepared to take ten steps if the authorities take one-step to take them into confidence to pave the way for cordiality and communal harmony.