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By D.B.S Jeyaraj
Trincomalee with its mixed population and conflict - ridden history remains a powder keg of
trouble. The latest crisis over a statue is all about a "little" Buddha turning overnight into a
"Big" Buddha. The small Buddha statue at the three - wheeler stand near the Central bus
stand transformed overnight into a four and a half foot statue on a three ft tall concrete
pedestal . The driving force behind this miracle is Ambalangoda Keerthi Premalal the
General - secretary of the Trinco Auto - driver welfare association. Backing Premalal is the
North - East Sinhala organization.
The reason for this sudden enlargement of piety is is puzzling. There is another large
Buddha statue within 100 metres of the new one. The Sangamitha Pansala with its Buddha
statues is very close in proximity.. So too is Fort Frederick where another Buddhist place of
worship was established. Proximity to the Fish market and two liquour bars are not conducive
for Buddhist worship either. But that is where the new Buddha is.
There are 14 Buddhist Priests chanting pirith in front of the new Buddha. The outer perimeter
is manned by a circle of Sinhala Buddhist youth armed with clubs and knives. Needless to say
the khakied guardians of law and order are there maintaining "peace". The Police is
determined to prevent anyone trying to remove the statue. Some people in yellow robes have
threatened self - immolation if the new Buddha statue is moved even an inch.
The emergence or enlargement of a statue is usually not reason for alarm. Recent history
however is replete with instances where Bo trees and Buddha statues were used as pretext to
encroach and acquire Tamil - Muslim lands in the North - East for exclusive Sinhala Buddhist
use. Moreover Tincomalee town is being quietly taken over by this creeping Sinhalaisation.
The old market is dominated by Sinhla anti - social elements who got their toehold decades
ago through the fish stall. Gradally Tamils were squeezed out of the market. When The
Trincomalee UC under Suriyamoorthy its chairman built a new market elsewhere the North -
Eastern Governor himself saw to it that it was never pened to the public.
Given the history of "Buddhist expansionism" through Budha statues and Bo trees the
Trincomalee district Tamil peoples front sees a sinister design behind the "statutory" act. It
was only a few weeks ago that crude attempts to convert MacHeyzer Stadium into a
residential"Sinhala" settlement were foiled. The same forces are at work again.The "Pancha
Balavegaya" that backs enterprises of this sort in minority community strongholds are minions
of the state, security apparatus, religious leaders, business people and political rabble -
rousers. They are all at work here.
Whenever Tamils feel beleaguered they seek tiger intervention. The LTTE' s hand is not
overtly visible here but it is widely believed that they provide support and strength to Tamil
opposition. If majoritarian hegemonism is achieved often through peaceful means because
they are the official majority then minority resistance is often compelled to turn violent
because they are after all a minority. A grenade was lobbed at a Madathadi junction Sinhala
boutique killing a native of Dambulla and injuring four others. Some other handbombs were
also thrown elsewhere to scare Sinhala people. When a bomb exploded near the vegetable
market Policemen caught three Tamils and handed them over to a Sinhala mob which
assaulted them mercilessly.
The inevitable response was dynamite sticks and handbombs being flung at Tamil places
including the TRO office at Rajavarothayam street and MPCS building on Main street. The
fisheries coperative building at the 10th ward was also damaged.A total of eleven explosions
was recorded by Thursday evening.Tamil and Muslim employees at Trincomalee Harbour
were assaulted by the Sinhala Market place thugs at Mudcove. To their credit many Sinhala
co - workers rushed to their defence and have provided security. Tamil women have
commenced a Satyagraha campaign.
The matter went to courts where the Police pointed out that two illegal Hindu places of
worship had also been constructed in the past within this vicinity. The Trincomalee Magistrate
and Additional District Judge M. Ganesharajah decreed pridently that the Police negotiate
with the parties concerned and get the new statue removed temporarily. He also instructed
the Urban Council authorities to take further action to remove all illegally constructed places
of worship. The Police have started "talking" but meaningful progress is yet to be made.
Meanwhile a Tamil call for a "Hartal" has paralysed the town and suburbs for more than five
days. While Tamil businesses are closed some Sinhala and Muslim places are open. Schools
and offices are affeted. Transport is at a standstill.LTTE Political commissar for Trincomalee -
Elilan - has warned of serious consequences if the statue is not removed as ordered by the
Courts. Meanwhile A group named after Kulakkottan the ancient king of Thirukonamalai has
issued leaflets threatening drastic action if the situation continues. This is suspected to be a
tiger front.In what appears to be an unrelated development a former UC chairman
Sooriyamoorthy was shot and seriously injured.He was flown to Colombo for treatment.
While Trincomalee remained tense amidst all the trouble rable - rousers in Buddhist priest
garb were busy aggravating the situation in Colombo. The Jathika Hela Urumaya
Parliamentarian Ven Athureliya Rathane Thero raised the issue in Parliament. He accused
the LTTE of plotting to drive the Sinhala people out of Trinco. He charged that eight Hindu
temples had been built in the UC area illegally. He also departed from Parliamentary norms
and criticised the court decision to remove the Buddha statue calling the Magistrate a tiger
stooge.
The speaker intervened and said that a court decision cannot be criticised in Parliament.
Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarians R. Sambandan . S. thurairatnasingham and MK
Sivajilingam responded to Rathana Thero and charged the Bhikkus with inciting violence. The
JHU MP's then walked out and tried to go in procession to Pettah. But it started raining and
the patriots who were supposedly ready to sacrifice their lives for the Country did not want to
get wet. They boarded vehicles and made their way to the Pettah Bo tree junction. A protest
meeting commenced. Ellawela Mettananda Thero charged that the tigers will chase Sinhalese
away from Pettah if the Buddha statue was removed in Trincomalee. Unfortunately only about
150 people were listening. The Saffron brigade then retreated no doubt meaning to fight
another battle another day.
Meanwhile Prsident Kumaratunga has begun sending additional Policemen to Trincomalee to
maintain peace. The outcome of all this is highly unpredictable. It remains to be seen whether
the Court order is followed or not. In the late fifties Catholics were all set to erect a bust of
former St. Josephs Rector Fr. Le Goc at the MCcallum rd - Darley rd roundabout. Suddenly a
Buddha statue usurped that place overnight. SWRD Bandaranaike caved in to the racial
rabble and Buddha sits there still. Let us see whether the daughter is made of sterner stuff or
whether the Bus stand Buddha will continue to foment trouble in Trincomalee.