Sri Lanka’s decision to establish a Muslim battalion in its Sinhala-dominated Army has drawn mixed reactions from the Muslim community, with many arguing the move will deepen tensions between them and the Tamils.
A government advert published in a state-owned newspaper invited Muslim youths to join a new Army battalion “dedicated to protect the Muslim community living in the east (of the island).”
Muslims are Sri Lanka ‘s second-largest ethnic minority after the Tamils. Most Muslims speak the Tamil language.
The All Ceylon Moors Association, in a letter addressed to Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse, said “members of our community are disinclined for the Sri Lanka Army to recruit Muslims youths to protect the Muslim community.” It said its position was taken “after having obtained views of the cross section of our community.”
Several speakers at the Muslim Council’s Eastern Conference held Saturday said the government is launching the Muslim regiment to “widen the split between Muslims and Tamils” and the Muslim community “should not fall prey to this scheme.”
More than 300 people consisting of Members of Eastern province Muslim organisations, Ullamas, educationists and political leaders participated in the conference.
But this week Islamic clerics gave Muslim women permission to join the exclusively Muslim infantry battalion.
Currently, the 100,000-strong Sri Lankan military is almost exclusively Sinhalese and has been engaged in two decades of warfare against Tamil independence fighters. Muslim paramilitaries – ‘Home Guards’ – raised by the military have been involved in atrocity ridden fighting in the eastern provinces.
Muslim Peace Secretariat head Javid Yusuf told The Island newspaper he had “absolutely no idea” where the proposal had originated but stressed that it had serious implications.
“We don’t need an exclusive Sinhala regiment, a Tamil regiment or a Muslim regiment,” Javed, described by The Island newspaper as ‘a prominent member of the Muslim community and a strong supporter of the government,’ explained. “In principle, it is a dangerous development.”
“We must encourage communities to interact with each other, Yusuf emphasised. “We need structures that make them interdependent. By forming a Muslim regiment for the Muslim community, we are adopting the position that Muslims can only trust Muslims, Tamils can only trust Tamils and the Sinhalese can only trust Sinhalese. It is totally unacceptable.”
A government advert published in a state-owned newspaper invited Muslim youths to join a new Army battalion “dedicated to protect the Muslim community living in the east (of the island).”
Muslims are Sri Lanka ‘s second-largest ethnic minority after the Tamils. Most Muslims speak the Tamil language.
The All Ceylon Moors Association, in a letter addressed to Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse, said “members of our community are disinclined for the Sri Lanka Army to recruit Muslims youths to protect the Muslim community.” It said its position was taken “after having obtained views of the cross section of our community.”
Several speakers at the Muslim Council’s Eastern Conference held Saturday said the government is launching the Muslim regiment to “widen the split between Muslims and Tamils” and the Muslim community “should not fall prey to this scheme.”
More than 300 people consisting of Members of Eastern province Muslim organisations, Ullamas, educationists and political leaders participated in the conference.
But this week Islamic clerics gave Muslim women permission to join the exclusively Muslim infantry battalion.
Currently, the 100,000-strong Sri Lankan military is almost exclusively Sinhalese and has been engaged in two decades of warfare against Tamil independence fighters. Muslim paramilitaries – ‘Home Guards’ – raised by the military have been involved in atrocity ridden fighting in the eastern provinces.
Muslim Peace Secretariat head Javid Yusuf told The Island newspaper he had “absolutely no idea” where the proposal had originated but stressed that it had serious implications.
“We don’t need an exclusive Sinhala regiment, a Tamil regiment or a Muslim regiment,” Javed, described by The Island newspaper as ‘a prominent member of the Muslim community and a strong supporter of the government,’ explained. “In principle, it is a dangerous development.”
“We must encourage communities to interact with each other, Yusuf emphasised. “We need structures that make them interdependent. By forming a Muslim regiment for the Muslim community, we are adopting the position that Muslims can only trust Muslims, Tamils can only trust Tamils and the Sinhalese can only trust Sinhalese. It is totally unacceptable.”
