The grand unholy alliance: LTTE, "peace" lobby and Christian fundamentalism

Posted September 12, 2003
http://www.island.lk/
by Malinda Seneviratne

The problem of manpower is a vexed one and one which self-styled "peace-workers" have spared no pains to aggravate. The argument, repeated in Goebbelsian proportions is that this war cannot be won. They have gone around the country, discouraging young men and women from joining the armed forces. They have not murmured once by way of guaranteeing "peace" a la negotiations, cease-fires and other such hogwash. Not surprising because they do know what the LTTE's track record on such manoeuvres has been.

One of their favourite lines has been to ask "Are you for peace or for war?" Now who in his/her right mind would prefer the latter? Jehan wants peace, I want peace, we all want peace. I challenge Jehan and his pals in the Eelam Lobby to go around with a questionnaire asking "Would you like Prabhakaran comprehensively defeated, militarily and politically?" I bet the number of people answering "yes" would not be too different from the number preferring "peace" over "war". Provided of course that the question is put to a random sample.

These people are also fond of harking to the PA's campaign promise of bringing about peace in 1994, using it as a blank cheque for their campaign to cover for the LTTE. How about using some of the oodles of cash they seem to be having to make Mrs. Kumaratunge abolish the executive presidency? The cry for "peace" is therefore not just "selective," it is patently mischievous, not least of all because it is specifically aimed at disarming the Sinhalese while one racist Tamil is allowed to roam freely.

Still, Jehan's challenge with respect to conscription is reasonable. The LTTE has to be defeated on all fronts, ideological and military included. This requires concentrated effort and the active participation of the general population. This requires that all LTTE fronts, including its well-funded peace-entrepreneurs, be quickly rounded up. A further condition: the military offensive has to have a political leadership that is savvy to the various strategies adopted by the enemy, including the sporadic waving of the peace flag.

And, since Jehan has issued a challenge to those of us who want real peace, are less swayed by idle rhetoric that refuses to acknowledge the true character and intention of the enemy, and furthermore, do not engage in politics for personal gain, perhaps he and his friends would like to ponder on another challenge, "Go take up permanent residence among the Sinhalese and Muslims who are constantly under the threat of LTTE attack and who have lost their traditional homelands to LTTE terror and Eelamist and Christian fundamentalist machination, and more than all this, convert to Buddhism and experience the travails that Buddhists have to face in practising their faith."

It is relatively easy for those who have chosen to make a business out of marketing Jesus, to pontificate on an abstract notion of peace, while Buddhists who wish to visit their most sacred places of worship such as the Dalada Maligawa and the Sri Maha Bodhi have to wade through check-points and be subjected to searches. A couple of weeks ago I went to Anuradhapura, planning to spent a few quiet hours around the Atamas Stana . The pahan sith that makes for deep reflection eluded me because I was searched no less than 6 times as I made the rounds.

Jehan, let me add, is only part of the problem. The LTTE is not just anti-Sinhala, they are anti-Buddhists as well. And in this, they do seem to have a holy pact with certain sections of the Catholic Church and countless evangelical outfits all over the country.

Which brings us to the attack on an evangelical organisation that had taken up residence in Nuwarawatte, Hingurakgoda on February 18. A group calling itself "Christian Consultation" and claiming that it is the "Religious Liberty Commission" of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance, has condemned the attack.

True to form, fingers were quickly pointed at Sihala Urumaya. Just as they were when the Bindunuwewa attack took place. Talk about trying to kill one bird with two stones! It is interesting to note that several Christian priest have come out in opposition to the activities of these "worship homes". It is a pity that the rest of their brotherhood have kept silent.

These unholy alliances should get into their thick heads not to take the general tolerance of Buddhists as a weakness. I have no problem with Jesus Christ. I do have problems with those who claim to be his priests. I don't have problems with those who believe in the immaculate conception, rising from the dead etc. I do have a problem when people try to stuff fairy stories down my throats, especially when the political intent threatens my heritage.

Bishop Kenneth Fernando, who has got himself into a lot of hot water for his benign view of Velupillai Prabhakaran, in a recent interview has acknowledged that the missionary zeal Christians have caused much damage to the Sinhala Buddhist culture of this country. Would he be kind enough to acknowledge also that a lot of these Christian evangelists are still treading the same path of destruction? He claims that as a religious leader he is not interested in politics, but nevertheless is eminently political when he takes up particular positions with regard to the LTTE and when he calls the current conflict an ethnic issue.

Let me, for the kind political or ecumenical consideration of Bishop Fernando, Jehan Perera, and all those apologists for Christianity Incorporated, make a list.

1) Ganan Farmer's School, Parana Pattiya, Kadugannawa, where Korean evangelists set up a conversion operation under the guise of a BOI project to train agriculturalists.

2) Rajangana: loads of pre-schools and medical clinics set up as front organisations for proselytization.

3) Ratugala, Ampara, where one Milton Joseph was actively converting the Veddah community there, supported by Korean missionaries.

4) Palkumbura, Kandy, where a complex is being built to facilitate conversion.

5) Kankaniyagama, Galgamuwa, where "Born Again" zealots are killing our way of life.

6) Vanatha Villuwa, Puttalam: World Vision God Squads, who were active in helping out the US in capturing Marxist rebels in Hondurus, quietly administering Jesus pills to the poor children of the area.

7) Delmagoda, Horampitiya: a man posing as a mathematics teacher has been quietly converting people. The local monk has been "bribed" to disrobe and pursue his studies in England.

Add to all this the proselytization projects under way in Ingiriya, Dambulla, Akurissa, Mahiyangana, Dharga Town, Girandurukotte, Habarana, Deltota/Galaha and elsewhere, not to mention the fact that one of these rabid Christian fundamentalists claiming that there are 5000 Buddhist priests in and around Anuradhapura who are "ripe for conversion," and what we have is a suspiciously silent Christian community.

In either his capacity as a Christian priest or as a surreptitious dabbler in politics, would the good bishop advise us as to how to deal with these zealots?

Bishop Fernando and all the above mentioned sellers of Jesus and protectors of Prabhakaran, are free to shake this list twice. Or as many times as they like. Or let it be. They can rest assured that these intrusions will be investigated. It is up to the relevant authorities to take appropriate action. The relevant authorities should also keep in mind that they are sitting on a time-bomb and that if swift action is not taken, the process can only snowball into something no one can control.

We do not want to go the way of South Korea in our philosophical approach to life and the world. And this includes economic life as well.

The point is that the missionaries have historically been part and parcel of the colonial project. That project, now called Globalisation, is still incomplete. It includes the erasure of all cultures outside the ambit of Judeo-Christian bigotry. It is in this context that the efforts of Christian Evangelical Alliances or whatever else they may want to call themselves, have to be viewed. And opposed.

To all those who believe there is a serious crisis in this country with respect to cultural identity, let me say this. Yes, we are all rapidly becoming Americans. The Tamils have a problem: Prabhakaran. The Sinhalese and Muslims have a problem: Prabhakaran. The Buddhists have a problem: Christian fundamentalists. Where Christian fundamentalism meets Tamil racism, given historical precedence, the Sinhala Buddhists are definitely under serious threat.

At some point people say "enough". My guess is that as far as the Sinhala Buddhists go, that point has been passed. Sorry.