Daily News Editorial

A timely decision

21 November 2016

The decision by the government to get tough with unruly Buddhist monks, though long overdue, no doubt will be welcomed by a majority of Buddhists in this country. Speaking in Parliament on Friday Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the government will henceforth come down hard against Buddhist monks, some of whom, he said, were acting like thugs tucking up their saffron robes and running on the streets. He said no Buddhist will condone the behaviour by these monks who only cause harm to the religion.

As Minister of Buddha Sasana, Rajapakshe is duty bound to put matters right in this respect. It is no secret that Buddhist monks are being used today by political parties to achieve their narrow ends. These monks make statements and act in a way that would make any true Buddhist cringe. There is one monk whose conduct is scandalous, to say the least. He once misbehaved in a courtroom, of all places, and went onto hector the presiding judge interrupting court proceedings.

Today, certain monks have become the storm troopers of the Joint Opposition and do the bidding of the Rajapaksas at every turn. Their temples are being used for political meetings where supporters of the JO are brought in their droves to lustily cheer Mahinda Rajapaksa in full flight. Minister Rajapakshe should put to an end to the practise of temple premises being used for political gatherings. It is no secret that, some, if not all, of these monks are on the payroll of the Rajapaksas and would not hesitate to act in a manner that even harm the sanctity of the religion they have vowed to uphold.

Sri Lanka is perhaps the only country where its clergy gets actively involved in politics that is the antithesis to Buddhism, particularly the kind of politics practised in this country. Both major parties are guilty of engaging Buddhist monks to boost the electoral fortunes of their parties. It has to be said though that the involvement of Buddhist clergy in politics in this country is not a recent phenomenon. Buddhist monks formed one of the tiers of the pancha maha balavegaya that brought Bandaranaike to power. There were radicalized monks even at that time and a sizable segment of monks were involved in the 1971 JVP uprising. However, the hostility and hatred that we see today among a section of the Bikkhu community is no doubt a novel experience and would not synchronize with the teachings of the compassionate one.

Some Bikkhus today make rabid nationalist comments and express virulent anti-minority sentiments, quite at variance with the Buddha's teachings that centres on love and kindness to all, shunning differences based on race, caste and creed. True, the Buddhist clergy has a right and duty to take a stand and express their views when rulers take decisions that may imperil the country. History too records instances where Bikkhus came to the forefront to protect the nation when under threat. But what is observed here is monks directly engaging in politics and in the process sowing hatred, causing division among the communities and raising communal tensions. One recalls reading about a monk notorious for his violent anti-minority tirades leading the mob, with petrol can in hand, to set fire to Tamil shops during the Black July rampage. No wonder the Bikkhus supporting the JO has taken the cue to make racists comments.

Be that as it may, the decision by the Minister to even use the Prevention of Terrorism Act to curb the activities of extremist groups which also includes Buddhist monks, as stated by him, is indeed timely and would be welcomed by all genuine Buddhists in this country. It is paradoxical indeed that Buddhism which essentially preaches non-violence is being distorted by the acts of some of our Bikkhus who are beholden to uphold the vinaya rules. The sight of Buddhist monks, in the company of protesting mobs, breaking down iron barriers, being tear gassed and running amok on the roads is certainly not what Buddhists of this country wishes to see of their Bikkhus. Nor, Bikkhus conducting raids on government institutions and ministries in search of a Bikkhu colleague, to cause harm to the latter.

The Minister, while putting the brakes on rampaging Buddhist monks should also take action to put a halt to hate speech by certain Bikkhus that arouse communal passions. Ideally the media should not give coverage to such hate speech. Already incendiary speeches are being made by some monks on the new constitution to the effect that the country was on the threshold of being divided. This, despite the allaying of fears in this regard by the Mahanayake. It is hoped that some sanity will prevail at least now, with the Minister reading the riot act, and Bikkhus will conduct themselves in exemplary fashion that befits honour and sanctity of the saffron robe.