Radical cleric, allowed to visit Colombo despite objections, stokes fears of increased repression of minority Christian and Muslim populations
A controversial Buddhist cleric from Myanmar has announced he is linking up with hardline monks in Sri Lanka, alleging that their religion is under threat
from Muslim extremists.
The Mandalay-based monk Wirathu, addressing a convention in Colombo of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or Buddhist Force, said they would work together to protect their common religion.
The BBS has been accused of instigating hate attacks against minority Muslims and Christians in mainly Buddhist Sri Lanka.
"To protect and defend the threatened Buddhist the world over, my 969 movement will join hands with the BBS," the Myanmar monk said at a 5,000-seat stadium packed with monks and their lay supporters.
Three local bodyguards accompanied Wirathu as he walked onstage for his speech.
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Buddhism and violence refers to acts of violence and aggression committed by Buddhists with religious, political, or socio-cultural motivations, as well as self-inflicted violence by ascetics or for religious purposes. Buddhism is generally seen as among the religious traditions least associated
with violence. However, in the history of Buddhism, there have been acts of violence directed, promoted, or inspired by Buddhists.