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| Founded | July 2012 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera and Ven. Kirama Vimalajothi Thera |
| Type | Non-political, non-secular, action oriented civil group |
| Focus | Saving Buddhism, Buddhists |
| Location | |
| Area served | Sri Lanka |
| Method | Protests, activism |
| Owner | Ven. Kirama Vimalajothi Thera; |
| Key people | Co-founders: Ven. Kirama Vimalajothi Thera and Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera; Secretary-general: Venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara, |
| Website | bodubalasena.org |
Bodu Bala Sena (බොදු බල සේනා "Buddhist Power Force" in the Sinhala language) is a Buddhist organization based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is a non-political, action oriented civil group that promotes Buddhist philosophy and well-being, as well as Sinhala culture.
Activities
The organization has promoted concerts publicizing Buddhist hunger strikes against Indian artists, a petition against Indian Intervention On Sri Lanka, protest against the Canadian pongu Tamil (Tamil Uprising for independence), protest against the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), and statements by Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Thera, the head of Bodu Bala Sena.
Halal meat boycott
In February of 2013, the group called for a boycott of halal meat, and demanded that shops be cleared of halal meat products by April. Buddhist monk Kirama Wimala Jothi asked the government to outlaw Islamic clerics issuing such certification, saying "More than 90 percent of the population are Buddhists, Hindus and Christian and therefore there is no justification to force them to eat halal products." Halal meat involves slitting the animal's throat. Bodu Bala Sena said that Sinhalese should not be made to pay more for Halal certified meat. The organization that issues such government certifications, the Sri Lanka Muslim clerics' organization All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), suspended issuing the certificates and held discussions with Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and other religious leaders.
A resolution to the issue was announced March 11, 2013 at a join press conference held by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU)—the group of Islamic clerics that certifies the meat—,and a group of senior Buddhist monks. The Halal logo was to be withdrawn from food products sold locally, since such labels are not compulsory but only provided as a service, however the halal logo would still be used on products exported to countries in the Middle East and the Maldives where such labels are compulsory. This was not a objection against the sale of halal products, but against the imposition of halal certification on everything by ACJU which was considered to be excessive. For instance, ACJU went so far as to issue halal certificates for water bottles as well as paint brushes, igniting mass objections against the halal certification process.
Human rights in Saudi Arabia
In July 2012, Bodu Bala Sena took up the cause of religious freedom of Sri Lankan nationals working in Saudi Arabia. They stated that Premanath Pereralage Thungasiri, a Buddhist Sri Lankan working in Saudi Arabia, had been arrested for practicing Buddhism in his employers' home and faced possible beheading over the charges. The Sri Lankan Embassy rejected the reports. In the past, Sri Lankan officials have also dismissed claims of Human Rights Watch regarding the treatment of Sri Lankan nationals in Saudi Arabia. Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, Ven Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera has stated the arrest had nothing to do with idol worship, but was part of a wage dispute, but reiterated that Thungasiri does face execution in Saudi Arabia.
The group also alleged that the Saudis arrested a Sri Lankan woman for witchcraft for looking at a child and wearing a black cord on her wrist, that Sri Lankan female domestic workers were forced to embrace Islam, and wear Islamic attire, and that four Sri Lankan youths had been beheaded in Saudi Arabia.
Criticism
Maharagama rally
In late February 2013, thousands of supporters of Bodu Bala Sena held a rally in the Colombo suburb of Maharagama. The group's secretary-general, Venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara, told the crowd that Christian and Muslim extremists were threatening Buddhists, that hundreds of monks were ready to fight, and that "ur country is a Sinhalese one and we are its unofficial police."
Sri Lanka opposition party leader Mujeebur Rahuman claimed that the government was not trying to stop the activities of the organization and predicted that rioting would break out between Buddhists and Muslims.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has called on monks not to incite religious hatred and violence. Muslims and Christians deny promoting extremism in Sri Lanka. Bodu Bala Sena has denied associations with the recent attacks on Muslims and Christians.
Threats against the press
A BBC News crew was stopped by a mob of 20 young men and threatened with violence after filming a rally in the outskirts of Colombo. The news team was warned that if they returned to the mainly Buddhist suburb, it would "be the end" of them. The rally came at a time of mounting religious tension in the country, with recent attacks on mosques, Muslim-owned businesses, Christian churches, and clergy. During the February 2013 rally, Bodu Bala Sena's secretary-general, Galaboda Aththe Gnanasarahas claimed that Christian and Muslim extremists were threatening Buddhists.
References
- "Sri Lanka Buddhist organization to surround the Ministry unless action taken against alternate Buddhist center : South Asia : Buddhist News : Buddhistdoor". Enews.buddhistdoor.com. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- ^ "Lankan mission slams false report on jailed maid". ArabNews. 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- ^ door bodubalasena (2008-11-06). "bodubalasena". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- "Budu Balu Sena Has Just Woken - Sri Lanka". Lankanewspapers.com. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- "Sri Lanka hardline group calls for halal boycott". BBCNews. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
- "Sri Lankan monks launch halal meat boycott". Australia Network News. Feb 18, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- "Sri Lanka Muslim clerics' organization to decide on Halal certification Monday". ColomboPage. Mar 10, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
- "Sri Lanka withdraws Halal logo from local products". NZWeek. 11/03/2013. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "All Brands". All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU). Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ^ "Ceylon Today | Arrested for idol worship". Ceylontoday.lk. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- "Saudi, Lankan Officials Dismiss HRW Report on Maid Abuse". ArabNews. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- "Sri Lanka SECURITY:: Framed in Saudi?". Lankanewspapers.com. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
- "Sri Lanka hardline group calls for halal boycott". BBCNews. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- "Sri Lanka hardline group calls for halal boycott". BBCNews. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
- "Sri Lanka hardline group calls for halal boycott". BBCNews. 17 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-23.