Reply to the malicious and defamatory article published on online daily Asian Tribune on 28th Aug 2007I have read the article titled “Militant Wahabism beats other Islamic Fundamentalists in Sri Lanka” published in your online newspaper Asian Tribune edition of 28th August 2007 and am flabbergasted at the baseless and defamatory references about me and the establishment I am chairman of – British College of Applied Studies.
I vehemently deny the baseless, false and fabricated remarks in the said article linking me and my company with the so-called fundamentalist/extremist elements that are said to be operating in the Eastern Province.
I must emphasize that these totally fabricated allegations are the work of malicious elements who are unable to bear my rise in business and society have sought to damage my personal reputation and business image, and expose me to the danger of being labeled an extremist and destroy all that I have worked so hard to achieve.
I still am unable to come to terms as to why the Asian Tribune ,which is regarded as a reliable and credible online source of information, did not check the veracity of the information it had received, based on which it claims to have published this article. The Asian Tribune has thus failed in its basic duty of checking the veracity and dependability of the information and giving the party about whom the allegation is made to give their explanations before the report is compiled and published,
I take this opportunity to put the record straight and let the readers form their own opinion on the two accusations made against me and my friend Mr.Falulul Haq;
“It is learnt that presently two qualified Muslim engineers from the East are involved in the promotion of Wahabists militant movement in the east. They are: Mustapah Abdul Rehaman, a qualified Production Engineer and Falul Haque, a qualified Chemical Engineer, and both are from the Paradeniya University Falul Haque is now away in Qatar and according to an intelligence report he is said to be in Qatar to run a hotel over there.”
“Asian Tribune also learnt that Abdul Rehaman runs the ‘British College of Applied Studies,’ head quartered in Dehiwela and with a branch in Kandy. So far through this institution he has managed to send about 200 young Muslim youths to United Kingdom to work with the fundamentalists group in the UK. According to reports received by Asian Tribune, these Muslims sent to UK went on forged names. They have managed to obtain Sri Lankan Passports, National Identity Cards, Bank statements and all other documents needed to obtain visas in the British High Commission in Colombo in different names.”
“Furthermore, more than 40 percent of those sent from Colombo to London are actually Bangladeshis.” While I categorically deny the false and baseless references and accusations made against me in the article, let me give you a pen sketch of my business background and socio-political activities.
Business Background
Having realized significance of possessing international qualifications to get better careers in today’s competitive job market and the practical difficulties (especially heavy expenditure involved) in achieving them I founded the BCAS in early 1999 with the sole objective of providing higher educational and vocational training opportunities for international qualifications to local students at affordable prices.
My vision, courage and sheer hard work made BCAS see success after success. It is now one of the few leading higher educational institutions in Sri Lanka with collaborations with international examination bodies and universities.
Started as an IT and English Centre, BCAS has now blossomed into a fully fledged higher education provider with strong faculty of more than 100 highly qualified academic and professional staff of various disciplines like Engineering, Computing, Quantity surveying, Management etc. They include holders of doctorates and Masters degrees. It offers courses in various fields and streams. The External Verifiers of the internationally recognized Examining Body Edexcel UK has commended BCAS recently as the best in Asia for HND level studies in computing.
There are about 750 full time Sri Lankan students and a handful of Maldivians (about 15) on roll at BCAS currently.
It openly advertises its courses and recruit students. The student and staff profile at BCAS reflects a real ethnic diversity and BCAS is following the equal opportunity policy in all aspect of its operations .
BCAS facilitates the transfer of students to overseas institutions for further studies and there are two separate placement divisions to handle it – one exclusively for UK and the other for rest of the countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc. Students are transferred to reputed universities in these countries after they complete significant part of their degree studies at BCAS.
There is not an iota of truth that BCAS has sent a good number of Bangladeshi students to the UK on forged documents. I categorically deny this and challenge the AT to prove that at least one Bangladeshi student has either studied with us or has sent to the UK by my company. I am surprised to see how naïve, ignorant AT is to believe in the fabricated stories fed by its so called “reliable sources” that more than 200 Mulsim youths have been sent to UK by us to work with fundamentalist in UK without understanding the stringent screening procedures applied by the British High Commission and embassies in issuing student visas.
I believe AT has been influenced or misled by interested parties jealous of BCAS and who could not face and stand up to the ethical competitions we have creating in the market.
Socio-political activities
I have been a social justice activist who gives the highest respect for impartiality, human rights, democratic values, social harmony, coexistence and good governance. In my social or private life, those who associate with me know that I have never aligned with any individual or forces that promotes violence and extremism.
My track record in social life starting from my student days at school in 1986 proves this beyond any doubt. I have known Mr. Faleel ul Haq since 1989 as a school mate and have studied together at University of Peradeniya and worked in several social forums together ever since.
I have been working in various social institutions, literary associations, educational development societies, student movements, political awareness groups etc.
I have made public speeches at seminars and workshops and expressed views. They reflect my strong belief and respect for non-violence,and democratic values.
I have always, as a true Muslim, advocated and promoted non-violent methods of achieving the needs in the face of oppressions and discriminations against the Muslim community by the majority communities.
I have been one of the few individuals who took pain and effort to promote coexistence of all three communities - Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese in the east which is as the only way of achieving the permanent peace in the country.
Though I had opportunities to involve myself in active politics by joining a Muslim or National party, I have always avoided this as I am a firm practitioner of the deeds I preach - non-violence, coexistence and good governance. As all of these so called democratic parties do promote and indulge in violence, corruption and abuse of power to be in the power continuously or grab the power, I joined hands with like minded people in my home town and formed an independent political group by the name of People Movement for Good Governance (PMGG) and contested the last local government elections in my home town, Kattankudy.
We campaigned absolutely peacefully through disciplined public meetings, workshops and decent publications etc. Our campaign was based on three principled slogans namely green city, quality life and peaceful coexistence. Probably we are the only political group in the history of Sri Lanka that honestly promoted brotherhood even amongst the contesting parties, respecting alternative views, good governance practices, respecting privacy of all individuals etc., and we are the only group who practiced these norms in active politics.
Due to the impact of the campaign, the rival political parties too were compelled to give up their usual violent tactics and adopted peaceful ways. As a result Kattankudy made a history of seeing the most peaceful election ever held so far in the history of Kathankudy politics.
I request the AT to contact the Kattankudy police to verify the facts I have referred to here regarding our campaign method and positive impacts we created.
Recognizing the achievement we made in promoting these valuable norms (non violence, good governance etc), I was invited by GTZ and International Alert to make a presentation on “Practicing Good Governance in Active Politics” at the international conference on Governance and Development held from 16 to 19th August 2007 in Kandy which was attended by academics and activists from around the world.
Even after the election, our political group has been working relentlessly for building consensus among disagreeing groups. Mr Falul Haq is PMGG representative in the Urban council leading the opposition and is regarded as the most reliable and supportive member to the ruling party because of our policy of consensual approach. Mr Haq had been known as a moderate Muslim and an intellectual who always works for the improvement of living standard of the people in a better peaceful and harmonious environment.
In addition these,.. I am a moderate Muslim who upholds honesty, credibility and integrity in my private and social life.
A. I never hesitate to help the humanity in times of crisis and commotion irrespective of cast, creed, race, religion, affiliations or culture.
B. I have never had any association or contacts with the so called Muslim factions such as Washbasin, Sunnis, Shiites or Sufis. Nor do I entertain or endorse the actions of extreme elements however justifiable their cause may be. I always condemned and will not hesitate to condemn violence of whatever forms – religious, political.
C. I have protested against such violence in several forums and discussions. This is the reason why I formed along with like minded friends the People’s Movement for Good Governance (PMGG) as “isms” or doctrines will have no solution for social ills.
At this point let me point out to you that I served in the SLMM at the start of the ceasefire agreement in 2002 and resigned in the face of violence that erupted in certain areas and when my protests to those violence were not heeded. A perusal of my report during my short tenure with SLMM which should be available with the mission will prove this.
Emphasizing once again my categorical denial of the malicious and baseless accusation against me and my institution, I request the Asian Tribune which I believe respects and practices ethical journalistic standards will withdraw the said article and publish an apology for the defamation and damage it caused to me and my business. I would like the Asian Tribune to give equal prominence to this letter as it did to the said article.
The letter writing by A.Rahman, a chairman of the BCAS, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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