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| Founded | July 2012 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ven. Kirama Vimalajothi Thera, Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara 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 | Ven. Kirama Vimalajothi Thera, co-founder; Ven. Galagodatthe Gnanasara Theraco, co-founder; Venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara, secretary-general |
| 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 and heritage.
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.
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.
Halal boycott rally: "unofficial police"
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. At a rally in Maharagama, outside of Colombo, thousands listened to nationalistic speeches by the group's leaders, while youths wore t-shirts denouncing the Muslim practice of halal slaughtering of animals for meat. According to BBC News, the secretary-general of the organization, Venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara, claimed that Christian and Muslim extremists were threatening Buddhists. He told the crowds that "only monks can save this race" and that hundreds of monks were ready to fight, stating, "Our country is a Sinhalese one and we are its unofficial police."
Criticism
Although Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has called on monks not to incite religious hatred and violence, opposition party leader Mujeebur Rahuman of the United National Party stated, "Any moment, the ethnic riot will start between Sinhalese and Muslims. They are now working freely. Nobody is talking about this organisation and the government is not trying to stop their activities."
A BBC News crew was stopped by a mob of 20 young men and threatened with violence after filming a rally in the outskrts 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. Muslims and Christians deny promoting extremism in Sri Lanka. Bodu Bala Sena has denied associations with the recent attacks on Muslims and Christians.
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.
- ^ "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.
External links
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