The chief monk of the Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in
Sentul, Malaysia was assaulted by a small group among demonstrators conducting
a protest against former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is visiting
Malaysia.
The
group of about 50 people had gathered opposite Putra World Trade Centre to
protest against Rajapaksa’s attendance at an international conference of Asian
political parties.
The
protesters went to the Sentul temple when rumours of Rajapaksa’s supposed visit
began to spread. The group comprised members of the Malaysian Indian
Progressive Association, Malaysian Tamilan, and the Malaysian Indian Education
Transformation Association. They began to burn an effigy of Rajapaksa in front
of the temple.
When
chief priest Ven. Sri Saranan came out of the temple, some unknown individuals
went to question him about Rajapaksa’s arrival. They then abused him with
vulgarities and obscenities.
The
assault began after one person touched the monk’s face, prompting another to
punch Sri Saranan in the face. Two members of the crowd also kicked the monk,
forcing Sri Saranan to retreat into the temple.
Sentul
Police prevented the crowd from further attacking the monk, and MIETA chairman
A. Elangovan entered the temple together with the police to apologise to the
monk.
He
said his group had gathered at the temple “because we want to give a stern
warning to all Buddhist temples not to allow the mass murderer here.”
Elangovan
agreed it was wrong to assault anyone at a protest and said he did not know who
the attackers were. Several people had just joined the crowd to protest. “They
are a bit emotional. But still, we can’t beat them up because this is a religious
place.”
He
said he had agreed with the chief monk that no one should be restricted from
coming into a temple. “This is a religious place. We have no right to dictate
who should come here and not.”
He
said that if Rajapaksa came to the temple “to seek forgiveness from God, then
it is fine. We have no say in who should come or not”.
FMT
was prevented from contacting members of the temple.
When
asked if his group would turn up tomorrow, Elangovan said they would only carry
out a protest if Rajapaksa made an appearance. “We do not want to destroy the
sanctity of a holy place”.
Police
later told reporters that members of the Light Strike Force and some officers
might be stationed at the temple to ensure peace as certain people might turn
up with sticks and stones.
M
Shammuga, leader of another group, said that they would keep vigil to make sure
that Rajapaksa did not make an appearance. “Once he (Rajapaksa) comes here, we
are going to demonstrate against him so that he will not enter the temple,” he
said. - Free Malaysia Today