Role models for peace

Wednesday, 8 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Much praise has been heaped on Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith following the Easter Sunday attacks. Immediately after the blasts and in the subsequent days, he behaved with exemplary restraint, attempting to bring communities together at a time when Sri Lankans were faced with a horrific situation. When clashes erupted in Negombo on Sunday night, he was also quick to visit the community and call for calm. The Cardinal has provided much needed leadership and guidance beyond his flock, at a time when Sri Lanka needed it the most.

Effective leadership is something that many Sri Lankans feel they simply do not have from the Government. The damning lapse of intelligence at the top has left the public bewildered, and seething with frustration. Events since then have not promoted confidence of the President and the Prime Minister working together, though both have released multiple statements calling for calm, and reassuring the public that the situation is well in hand by the security forces. It is fair to say that the public’s faith in security forces is what has held further chaos at bay.

Politicians are usually late to visit affected areas, and even when they do are flanked by a massive security detail that distances them from the people. While top members of the Government called for calm after the attacks, and have insisted that those responsible only make up a part of the Muslim community, it cannot be denied that there has been a steep increase in intolerance. The ugly power of racism is running through the Sri Lankan public, and exhibiting itself in unpredictable ways.

The tensions in Negombo are just one example, and there is a possibility that similar standoffs may flare up in other parts of the country. There are also disturbing reports that some of the vandalising in Muslim shops and houses happened during curfew hours, despite the presence of police and army personnel. This is a worrying factor, and steps have to be taken to address it beyond pledging compensation to those affected. Throwing around taxpayer money is a popular tactic by politicians, but it does little to foster genuine inter-communal relationships.

It is time for religious and political leaders of different faiths to take a leaf out of the Cardinal’s book, and engage more with different communities and provide assistance to those affected by the Easter Sunday attacks. It is imperative that the Ramadan and Vesak festivities be used to spread meaningful messages of coexistence. These celebrations can also be used to build community relations that have been under strain recently. Already there are many calls on social media and elsewhere to hold a Vesak festival that gives emphasis to co-existence, and respecting over 250 people who died in the blasts and hundreds of others that were injured. Collecting funds to support those people and their families so efforts of charity spread across Sri Lanka is an essential part of healing.

The political, social, legal and economic aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks are far from over. There will have to be trials of those linked to the attacks and taken into custody. These would be different from what was experienced during LTTE times, and Sri Lanka has to be vigilant about keeping the worst firmly behind us.