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| Sri Lanka |
| Sri Lanka’s police, politicians accused of joining anti-Muslim riots |
| 2018-03-27 |
| [DAWN] Police and politicians backed by the country’s former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa joined anti-Moslem riots that rocked Sri Lanka’s Kandy district this month, according to witnesses, officials and CCTV footage reviewed by Rooters. Scores of Moslem mosques, homes and businesses were destroyed as mobs ran amok for three days in Kandy, the central highlands district previously known for its diversity and tolerance. The government declared a state of emergency and blocked social media platforms for a week to control the unrest. The role of police and some local Buddhist politicians suggests the Sri Lankan government lost control of elements of its security forces, and that the violence was more than a spontaneous outbreak fuelled by fringe Buddhist forces of Evil and hate-speech spread on social media. Rajapaksa has denied that he or other leaders of his party were involved. Police said the allegations against officers and politicians were being investigated. Victims and witnesses, whose accounts were partly backed by CCTV footage seen by Rooters, described members of an elite paramilitary police unit, the Special Task Force (STF), assaulting Moslem holy man and leaders. Local STF commanders declined to comment. |
| Posted by:Fred |