Similar to how the United States nurtured Taliban, which later targeted strategic locations in New York, US Ambassador Michele J. Sison is nurturing the Sri Lankan Jihadist groups thus jeopardizing the security of not only Sri Lanka and the US but of the entire world, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.
“The US is repeating the mistakes it made in Afghanistan by distorting the Aluthgama incidents and very soon will suffer dire consequences. By nurturing and fostering militant Muslim groups against a democratically elected government instead of helping to hunt down the militant elements within the Muslim community, the US has only strengthened the global Taliban movement,” said the minister who is also the General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU).
He said there was a conspiracy behind attempts at taking this matter to an international forum without resolving it at Pathirajagoda in Dharga Town where the incidents began.
“Jihadist groups and some Muslim politicians are attempting to internationalize this issue. The trouble broke out at Pathirajagoda which has a Sinhala majority. Muslim extremists are trying to show the world that Muslims are being prevented from living a peaceful life. We request the Muslims not to be misled by those who are trying to provoke them,” the minister said. “We, as the JHU is ready to help resolve this matter as we did in the past. People must get together and act against extremism which is raising its ugly head in our country.”
He said the authorities did not reveal the damage done to the Buddhists because it might have led to a more disastrous situation but Jihadist groups were having Hartal throughout the country making use of this opportunity.
The minister said the security forces had allowed these Muslim extremists to gather in their thousands but arrested the Buddhists who attended a gathering.
“The security forces allowed some 3,000 Muslims to gather in Aluthgama but disrupted the Aluthgama rally organized by the Buddhists. The law should be equal to everyone,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana
DM