Three Muslims were shot dead amidst clashes with hard-line Buddhists, as the BBC's Charles Haviland reports
At least three Muslims have been killed in overnight clashes with hardline Buddhists in southern Sri Lanka.
The men died of gunshot wounds near a mosque in the town of Aluthgama in what is seen as Sri Lanka's worst outbreak of sectarian violence in years.
More than 78 others have been seriously injured in the violence, justice minister Rauf Hakeem said.
A curfew is in place in Aluthgama and nearby Beruwala. Muslims make up 10% of Sri Lanka's mainly Buddhist population.
The men who were killed were shot after midnight following several hours of clashes between two factions in which stones and bottles were lobbed, reports the BBC's Charles Haviland in Aluthgama.
Mr Hakeem, a Muslim, said he was "outraged" at the police failure to keep law and order and that the authorities had allowed Buddhists to demonstrate three days after a smaller sectarian clash in the area, involving Muslim youths and a Buddhist monk's driver.
He said he was "ashamed" to be part of the government. He made his remarks as he visited areas which have been caught up in the violence.
The authorities imposed a curfew after clashes began following a rally by the BBS, the Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Brigade in Aluthgama on Sunday.
Eyewitness accounts tell of Muslims being pulled off local buses and beaten. There are also reports of looting as well as shops being burned.
Muslim shops were burned and looted in the town
Clashes broke out as Buddhists marched into Muslim populated areas
The rally by the Buddhist BBS took place when tensions were already highAfter its rally, the BBS marched into Muslim areas chanting anti-Muslim slogans, reports say, and the police used tear gas to quell the violence. Unconfirmed reports say security forces also used gunfire.
Witnesses say Muslim homes and a mosque were stoned.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has announced an investigation.
"The government will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands. I urge all parties concerned to act in restraint," he tweeted.
Correspondents say tension has recently been high between the two sides, with Muslims calling on the government to protect them from hate attacks by Buddhists, and Buddhists accusing minorities of enjoying too much influence.
For the past couple of years, Sinhalese Buddhist revivalist groups have been staging demonstrations heavily laden with anti-Muslim rhetoric, usually led by monks, our correspondent reports.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27864716
Sinhala Buddhist monks accused of leading attacks in coastal towns of Aluthgama and Beruwala.Last updated: 16 Jun 2014 19:51
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At least three people have been killed and more than 80 people injured in overnight mob attacks led by Sinhala Buddhist monks in two coastal Sri Lankan towns, according to medics.
Over 1,000 Sri Lankan army have been deployed on Monday in the popular resort towns of Aluthgama and Beruwala, and police extended a curfew after Muslim properties and mosques came under attack. Violence also spread to Lathugana town. Police said they fired tear gas and widened the curfew to Beruwala, a predominantly Muslim area, after initial violence broke out in Aluthgama, 60km south of the capital Colombo. Both areas are popular beach resorts frequented by international tourists, but there were no reports of any foreigners caught up in the violence. Hilmy Ahmed, the spokesman of Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, told Al Jazeera that the situation was calmer now, but there was large-scale destruction of property. "At least nine shops and up to 40 houses have been gutted in Aluthgama, while three mosques were attacked," Ahmed said over phone from southern Sri Lanka. The army has been brought in to control the situation, while the injured have been admitted to hospitals. Escalating clashes A police spokesman said trouble began on Sunday evening when members of Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Force tried to march in an area with a sizeable population of Muslims. Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem accused his own government of failing to protect Muslims from the mob led by monks from BBBS, which has been engaged in an anti-Muslim campaign in recent years. Hakeem urged "all relevant parties to remain calm and not to instigate further violence". "Please let the police do their job. The attacks last night will not be tolerated and we will prosecute any and all responsible," he told Al Jazeera. At one point elite police commandos were called upon to rescue a deputy minister, Faiser Mustapha, who was trapped inside a school along with dozens of Muslims who fled their homes fearing attacks from angry Buddhist mobs. "Some Buddhists are deliberately targeting Muslims. But unfortunately police have not been able to protect the minorities," the Muslim Council's Ahmed earlier told Al Jazeera. "A petty feud between two individuals has been allowed to take a religious tone. The extremist Buddhists led by BBS attacked Muslims and are still in the area despite the curfew." President's appeal A spokesman for Bodu Bala Sena could not immediately be reached for comment. The group said representatives would meet with reporters later on Monday to clarify its position.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is currently visiting Bolivia, said he would not allow "anyone to take the law into their own hands". "An investigation will be held for ... to bring to book those responsible for incidents in Alutgama," he said on Twitter . "I urge all parties concerned to act with restraint." There were no reports of arrests, as people in the riot-hit areas said Muslims were leaving their homes and seeking shelter in community centres as fears of more violence lurked. The latest unrest came just weeks after Muslim politicians asked Rajapaksa to protect their minority community from "Buddhist extremist elements" blamed for a recent spate of hate attacks. Nationalist Buddhist groups have in turn accused religious minorities of wielding undue political and economic influence on the island. Additional reporting by Saif Khalid and Dinouk Colombage |
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Al Jazeera and agencies
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http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/06/muslims-killed-sri-lanka-mob-attacks-201461663841177637.html
