Just when Sri Lankans thought we had left all this violence behind them after the civil war.
Sri Lanka was rocked by a series of bombings that killed more than 300 people and injured over 500 people, at churches and big hotels. Most of the victims are believed to be Sri Lankans, but at least 31 foreigners are among the dead too.
Attack Time Line:
The first reports came in at about 8:45 am local time on Sunday morning. Six simultaneous explosions at luxury hotels and churches holding Easter mass. Three were at churches – in Colombo’s Kochchikade district, Negombo north of the capital, and Batticaloa in the east. The other three blasts rocked the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels in Colombo.
Two further explosions were reported later: seventh in Dehiwala in southern Colombo, And the eighth explosion happened near the Colombo district of Dematagoda during a police raid, killing three officers.
Hundreds of Sri Lankan families are in mourning. The confirmed international casualties are from the UK, Denmark, Portugal, India, Turkey, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, the US and China. Among the dead are three children of Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, owner of the Bestseller clothing chain and the largest stakeholder in clothing giant Asos.
The alleged bombers:
National Thowheed Jamath with some international help being suspected behind the little known Islamic group. The group has no history of large-scale attacks but came to prominence last year when it was blamed for damaging Buddhist statues.
Sri Lanka’s history and religion:
Buddhism is Sri Lanka’s biggest religious group, about 70% of the population. Christians form up to 7% of the 21 million population. Sunday’s attacks were the worst ever against Sri Lanka’s small Christian minority. Hindus and Muslims make up around 12% and 10% of the population respectively. The attacks are Sri Lanka’s deadliest act of violence since the end of the country’s 26-year civil war in 2009. The war is thought to have killed between 70,000 and 80,000 people and ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, who had fought for independence for the Tamil minority.
This attack sends a message to everyone around the world that how we are not safe in probably the quietest places in the world. Though I believe terror has no religion, this brings up the issue of Islamic terror to the forefront.
The teardrop-shaped country of Sri Lanka, for now, symbolizes the pain and sorrow of a bloody Easter Sunday. One day, though, it will symbolize the happiness of an island that has rebuilt and come out that much stronger.
Are you also habitual of blaming ISLAM for being under the cloud of terror? Some are losing home and some are losing hope, but at last humanity is in need for some oxygen, urgently! But who should be blamed to leave you in this shit, you are supposed to think about your own family and surrounding [in severe cases] right? And yeah, you are supposed to blame ISLAM also. Enough!
Now let’s throw a bucket of chilled water on your cliché mindset and take you on a ride, full of facts. Are you ready to realize the truth?
Then let’s do it your way! – Divide people on grounds of religion.
#HINDU #1stMythBurst
The most ‘tolerant’ religion with a variety of gods and beliefs, and a lot of conflicts within itself.
LTTE [Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam] – ‘Renowned’ for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, is the militant organization of Sri Lanka, asking for the different state for Tamil minorities. They executed 380 suicide bombing alone till 2008. Bombed 3 world leader [ the only group to do so] i.e. Rajiv Gandhi [1991], Premadasa, SriLankan President [1993] and failed one of Kumaratunga, Srilankan President [1999].
Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj, All Tripura Tiger Force and most famous Sadhvi Pragya bomb blast case are enough examples to make you realize about Saffron Terrorism.
#Buddhism #2ndMythBurst
Buddhism is often taken as most peaceful and calm religion. Wait! Are you sure?
#Myanmar – from 1988 to 2011, they have been consistently oppressing Muslim minorities and various European civilians. Extremist Buddhists have killed scores of Muslim civilians in Burma. Many Muslims, mainly the Rohingyas, had to migrate and seek refuge in other countries. Christians too have been victims of Buddhist terrorism.
Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand are various other examples who have witnessed ‘their’ way to express peace.
#Christian #3rdMythBurst
The religion of sacrifices, love, great quotes and what not, but what if these entire things lie dead on their book? Now face the truth.
NLFT [National Liberation Front of Tripura] – the proscribed terrorist group of North-East India, known for their violent means to force Christianity over the tribal region. They are highly criticized for their behavior toward Hindus and especially Bengali immigrants. They have burnt 22 Hindu temples till now and assassinated more than 10 Hindu priests.
#Ku Klux Klan needs no introduction as every American is aware of this ‘Invisible Empire’.
History has given us various examples to enlighten our mindset like,
– The First World War [17 million deaths]
– The Second World War [53 million deaths]
– Nagasaki bomb attack [0.2 million deaths]
– War in Vietnam [5 million+ deaths]
And all were caused by Non-Muslims.
According to latest statistics, 94% of terror attacks on the USA are NOT carried out by Muslims. All the violence occurring in Chhattisgarh on various names is Naxalism [operates in 60 districts of India] and they are Naxalites, but not terrorist for you. Same agendas, same results, but different words!
We cannot ignore the Islamic terrorism for sure but blaming them only can never be the right game. Al-qaeda, Lashkar-e-taiba, Jaish-e-mohammad and many more may have gained so much hate in your heart but the truth is that they only represent 0.00009% of Islamic population [1.6 billion].
Remember– You are only watching, what they want you to watch. It’s all about the agenda! Let it be your favorite news channel or magazine, they only show you what they want to.
We all can live right now by saying, ‘What do we have to do, with their shit? Let them fight. Let them die. I’m safe at my home.’ but mark my words- one day their war will end, and then guns are going to start revolving again and after a certain time, without warning you, it will pause. Trust me, you will be the next!
Is it the high time that we all should put our religion aside for an era and opt for ‘humanification’? Well, the answer depends on your choices.
Terrorist attacks on army personnel in Jammu Kashmir is not a new phenomenon.
The attack on army base in Uri on Sunday morning shook the nation. Four heavily armed terrorists striked on Army Administrative Unit near its brigade headquarters in Baramulla district’s Uri sector which left 18 soldiers dead and 30 injured. All the four terrorists were killed when army men countered back. Army announced” These terrorists belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad Tanzeem .”
“Since the terrorists had some items with Pakistani markings, I have spoken to the Pakistan DGMO and conveyed our serious concerns on the same” DGMO Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh said in a statement to the media. After this attack Rajnath Singh, Home Minister condemned and postponed his foreign visits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday to notify him about the terror attack.
Officials say the government plans to raise this issue at UN when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addresses the General assembly. The military has increased patrolling across LOC. It has started to strike terror camps and their chiefs in POK and targets Pakistan army post permitting infiltration.
This is not the first time when Indian Army or any Indian Security unit has been targeted by the terrorists. Here is the list of 10 major terrorist attacks on Indian Security forces in last 5 years.
1. Uri Attack – September 18, 2016 This is the most recent attack on Indian Army by four terrorists who killed 18 soldiers and injured 30. The government started conducting high level meetings and many ministers condemned the attack. But no strict action has been taken till now rather than banning soci-economic trade with Pakistan.
2. Nowhatta Attack – August 15, 2016 A CRPF commander was killed in a terror attack in Srinagar Nowhatta area on Monday, two hours before Independence Day parade in the area. The CO Sankalp Kumar lost his life , eight CRPF personnel, and a police constable were injured . The J&K government condemned the attack.
Pampore attack was an attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba militants on 25 June 2016, near the town of Pampore in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This attack killed 8 CRPF personnel and injured 20. Mehboba Mufti , Chief Minister J&K and Home Minister Rajnath Singh Condemned the attack.
Terrorists attacked the Indian Air Force Station at Pathankot. Four attackers, one civilian and seven security personnel were killed while 20 soldiers were injured in the attack that lasted four days.The 2016 Pathankot attack was a terrorist attack committed on 2 January 2016 by a heavily armed group which attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranav Mukherjee and Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack and sweetly warned Pakistan.
On 27 July 2015 three gunmen dressed in army uniforms opened fire on a bus and then attacked the Dina Nagar police station in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, India. The attack resulted in the death of three civilians and four policemen, including a superintendent of police; fifteen others were injured. In addition, five bombs were found planted on the Amritsar–Pathankot line on a rail-bridge near Parmanand railway station, five kilometers from the site of the attack. All three attackers were killed in the operation, which lasted almost 12 hours.The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the attacks were carried out by Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Tayiba.
6. Chandel Attack – June 4, 2015 This was worst attack at that time on army.At least 18 soldiers were killed and 11 others were injured when around 50 militants ambushed an army convoy in Manipur’s Chandel district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned about the attack. Home Minister, Rajnath Singh gave orders to take strongest possible action on militants and the case was handled to National Intelligence Agency(NIA). Five days later, a troop of commando went deep in Myanmar and killed around 20 militants.This was the most quick and effective response to this kind of terrorist activity.
A ‘fidayeen’ squad of militants in Army fatigues stormed a police station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, killing four persons, including three security personnel, and leaving 10 others injured in the wee hours on March 20 2015. Nine person were injured, 7 CRPF personnel one policeman and a civilian.
8. Mohra Attack – December 5, 2014 Militants attacked an army camp at Mohra, in Uri, the regional headquarters of the army’s artillery regiment. Eight soldiers and three policemen were killed and also six militants. The attack came two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srinagar ahead of the third phase of assembly elections in the state. It was also a pre-dawn attack just like the one on September 18.
Srinagar attack was an attack on Indian Army convoy by the militants in Haiderpura area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir in which eight jawans were killed The attack took place in Hyderpura when Army trucks were travelling from Leh on Baramullah-Jammu National highway. The attack came as a day ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visit to the Srinagar.
10. Bemina Attack – March 13, 2013
An attack on a CRPF camp at Bemina, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, occurred on March 13, 2013. It resulted in the death of five CRPF personnel and 2 attackers. 10 others were also injured include security personnel and civilians.The shootout lasted 30 minutes. Five CRPF men died and ten others were injured, including four civilians. The perpetrators were both killed by the CRPF personnel. Two AK-47 rifles, five magazines, two pistols and four grenades were recovered from attackers. A curfew was then imposed in Kashmir.
There have been no war since 1999 but around 4500 army men have lost their lives till now. So is there anyone to appreciate the risk & danger these Jawans go through while guarding the nation. Every time opposition will stand for them not the acting government.
“The city of Nice has been hit by terrorism on the day of our national holiday. Immense pain, the country is in mourning. The French will face it.” – French Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted after the brutal terrorist attack.
On Thursday night, when France was celebrating Bastille Day, a lone driver rammed his truck into a march and killed 84 people in the name of religion. As a nation, this is trying on the morale but the French stand tall.
What Happened?
A fireworks display on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France was attacked when a tractor trailer truck rammed into the crowd watching the event. The terrorist ran the truck in a zig zag way killing all the people he could.
For over two kilometres he speeded the truck and killed dozens of people until finally the Armed Police Officers stopped him. He retaliated to this by firing at the police. The Police Shot him dead.
Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said that “a lorry driver appears to have killed dozens of people”.
French President Francois Hollande said he would return from a trip to Paris to hold emergency meetings in response to the attack.
An eyewitness told BFM TV: “Everyone was calling run, run, run there’s an attack run, run, run. We heard some shots. We thought they were fireworks because it’s the 14th of July.”
People began using the hashtag #PrayForNice to document the attack, share information, and post photos
Image source : theborneopost.com
“Everyone was calling run, run, run there’s an attack run, run, run. We heard some shots. We thought they were fireworks because it’s the 14th of July.”
Death Toll
There were an estimated crowd of more than 30,000 who had gathered for the celebrations when the truck was rammed into them. French officials said that about 84 people died in the attack. More than 200 people are injured and about 50 of them are in a critical condition.
Image source : mirror.co.uk
Who was the Terrorist?
Lahouaiej Bouhlel was a 31-year-old French-Tunisian delivery driver who is also a husband and father of three. He is known to the Police as a violent person and many cases have been filed against him, the recent one as close as March 2016. He has no known terrorist linkages. His neighbours describe him as a rude and lonely person who behaved very weird. His relationship with his wife had broken down recently. Before the attack, he was reportedly selling ice creams.
Image source : s-nbcnews.com
Response To Nice Attack
Response from President Barack Obama to the attack in Nice: “On behalf of the American people, I condemn in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, which killed and wounded dozens of innocent civilians. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and other loved ones of those killed, and we wish a full recovery for the many wounded. I have directed my team to be in touch with French officials, and we have offered any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice. We stand in solidarity and partnership with France, our oldest ally, as they respond to and recover from this attack.
On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French Republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the “is an attack against innocent people on a day that celebrates Liberty, Equality & Fraternity.”
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton phoned in for an interview to CNN about the attack. She said “this is a horrific attack” and said, “I think it’s clear we are at war with these terrorist groups and what they represent.” While Republican candidate Donald Trump stated that “Another horrific attack, this time in Nice, France. Many dead and injured. When will we learn? It is only getting worse.”
It’s time we question the vested interests of people and media who promote ‘Islamophobia’ and say that Muslims are terrorists and that Islam is a terrorist religion.
What a shame it is to live in a world where each bomb that explodes, each fire that burns and each cry that is heard is credited not to a group of heartless hyenas but the followers of a particular religion- a religion that preaches peace – Islam. How do we tell the world that this word, ‘Islamophobia’, that was coined in the United States of America after the 9/11 attack is actually an exaggeration of threats faced in the world today? Two well recognised Islamist groups that are known for terrorising the world in the name of Holy Jihad are Al Qaeda and Taliban. But how many of us are aware that only 6% of the attacks that the world faces today are by Muslims?
Latinos
A minority group in the States named Latino is a major threat to the world. They comprise of Roman Catholics who are descendants of people of Spanish speaking countries of South and Central America and Iberian peninsula. They were responsible for the violence from Puerto Rican separatist groups in 1980.
Image source : wikimedia.org
Zealots
Coming to the followers of Judaism, the Jewish extremists proliferated due to Jewish political and religious movement called Zealotry. This was the 1st example of terrorism. They are the creators of mayhem in the holy lands of Israel and Palestine.
Image source : squarespace.com
Communist Terrorism.
There are some people as well who are in the forefront of establishing a socio-economic order by common ownership of means of production and consumption. They are often referred to as The Communists.
The heart wrenching Cambodian genocide was the deed of Communists. From 1975 to 1979, Khmer Rouge, a heinous Communist regime which came to power due to regional instability, wiped out 21% of Cambodia’s population. S-21, one of the notorious Cambodian prisons was known as a torture and interrogation centre. Also, most Cambodian villages and prisons had a killing field, the place where those who were sentenced to death were taken for execution. They were ruthlessly made to dig their own graves. And do you know what is the most inhumane of this all? Only 5 people have been brought to justice for the Cambodian Genocide.
Now, turning to the Left Wing Extremist Groups who are attributed to the Marxist-Leninist terrorism, we get to see that their actions are meant to overthrow the capitalist systems all over the world and replace them with socialist societies. The Naxalites in India and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (a group of the Sri Lankan Tamils demanding a separate state) are well known examples.
Image sources : wikimedia.org
The Red Army
Could anyone have ever thought in the wildest of their dreams that an army could pose a threat to the wellbeing of the world? The International terrorist group- Red Army Faction was formed in 1970 after breaking away from Japanese Communist League. This group is headed by Fuasko Shigenobu, believed to be in hiding outside Japan. They wish to remove the established Japanese government and monarchy. Shigenobu became close friends with an influential member of the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Leila Ahmed, as reported by The Brown Political Review. The two women together created a strong bond that defined their pure Marxist, anti-imperialist movements. Together, their mission was “to consolidate the international revolutionary alliance against the imperialists of the world.”
Image source : wikimedia.org
Racial Terrorism
Who would have known that a day would come when racist ideology would give birth to the concept of White Supremacy. This view is cornered on the belief that the whites are superior in race and blood, far ahead of the browns and the blacks. A study by The New American Foundation reveals that the White Americans are one of the biggest threats breathing on the US soil. Almost twice as many people have died in attacks by Right Wing groups in America.
Image source : squarespace.com
Animal Lovers
There are enthusiasts all around the globe who are concerned with the health, safety and psychological wellness of animals. They enrol themselves in what are commonly known as ‘Animal Welfare Societies’. These groups can sometimes take violent forms. One such is the Animal Liberation Front- an international, leaderless resistance that engages in illegal direct action in pursuit of animal rights. They pose a threat to the peace of the world.
Image source : ibtimes.co.uk
So do you see? Do you? If you have been a stereotypical critique, it’s time you change your mindset towards people who wake to the melodious sound of the Azaan, the people who abide by the peace keeping principles listed down in the Holy Quran and the Hadith, the ones who believe in a different way to communicate with the Supreme Power.
