Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Click here to watch a video on Article 18, Freedom of Thought
Everyone has the freedom of thought; the freedom to believe in a religion included. The Tamils, made of both Hindu, Christian and Muslim believers, have been forced to live a under Sinhalese-Buddhist Government. Buddhism has been given importance by the Sri-Lankan Government, its followers are given space in political spheres to voice their opinions and partake in governance. Also, while the majority of politicians are Sinhalese, and many have run on a Sinhalese-Buddhist platform, creates an atmosphere that rejects others thoughts of religion – whether it is Hinduism, Christianity, or Islam. Buddhist monks remain one of the most influential people to the Sri-Lankan Government in terms of ‘public’ opinion, because Sri-Lanka has constructed Sri-Lankan nationalism as being viewed as being of the Buddhist religion and being a Sinhalese.
Here are some quotes that further illustrate the power Buddhism has in Sri-Lanka:
“As of 1988, the sangha controlled extensive estates in the interior of Sri Lanka and retained an independent power base that, combined with high status in the eyes of the Sinhalese population, gave the Buddhist orders influence as molders of public opinion.” (U.S. Library of Congress)
“One of the recurring problems in the history of Sri Lanka has been a definition of the state as the official supporter of Buddhism, which in turn has been the religion of the ethnic Sinhalese. To be successful among the Sinhalese, a government must provide visible signs of its allegiance to the sangha by building or maintaining dagoba, judging disputes among the orders of monks, and fostering education in the Pali Buddhist tradition.” (U.S. Library of Congress)
“The 1970s constitution enshrining the position of Sinhala as the language of administration, placing Buddhism in the “foremost place” among religions which the state would “protect and foster” while rejecting any federalism increased communal tensions.” (Huffington Post)
Earlier this year, as reported by Tamilnet, new Buddhist temples built by armed forces and militant monks are being built on Tamil land occupied by Colombo, Hindu temples and Catholic Churches that have been in place in these area previously, have been ruined and destroyed. By sponsoring a religion followed by the majority of Sri-Lanka, and thereby not respecting the religions believed by minority groups, the Sri-Lankan Government is not validating the freedom of thought of minorities to believe in their preferred religions. Regardless of one’s belief in religion, everyone must respect one another’s belief, and not treat another’s belief in their religion with disrespect, by replacing existing places of worship and building Buddhist temples in Tamil lands, the Sri-Lankan government is not letting the minority groups practice their belief in their religion. Many have regarded this revamping of Tamil land as a way of colonialization by the Sri-Lankan Government.
Credits:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=31131
Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction, Adam Jones
Huffington Post
U.S. Library of Congress
Tags: Speak Out
