Theatrics opposite the US Embassy

 " Sri Lankans from across the religious and racial divide watch the scenario in some form of confusion. Are the Arabs and Muslims closer to the Libyan desert less Islamic than our lot, is course, the question most in their minds? "

                                                                            

by I. S. Senguttuvan

(March 31, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Predictably, Alalvi Moulana and friends, after last Friday’s prayers in their mosque nearby, did their thing opposite the “Satanic” US Embassy in Colombo. Above all, they wanted to capture the eye and the imagination of fellow Muslims in Sri Lanka – now a tempting political asset. They screamed, printable and unprintable, epithets against Obama (whom many Muslims in the world consider one of their own – for good reason) the US, British and French governments and just about everybody else around. The Agenda for the noon also included burning of effigies, the US flag for good measure. Their message to both local and world Muslims is clear – they are with their Muslim brethren in Libya.

But what does the rest of the Arab world think of their cousin within their fold?

The suave former diplomat and Egyptian Foreign Minister Abu Moussa – days before the UNSC took action – insisted “Gadaffi has lost his legitimacy and must go. He has already killed many Libyan civilian citizens peacefully demonstrating in the street. He must be stopped before he slaughters many thousands more” were the crux of his many public outcries. He was speaking as the Secy-General of the Arab League that represents 22 member States in 5.4 million kilometers and 360 million Muslims. While many Arab States have provided resources to the Coalition against Gadaffi covertly UAE is the 2nd Arab State that has provided till now over 13 jet-fighters to bring him down and save the Libyan people from his four decades of total oppression and familial rule.Today. Gadaffi’s own favoured Foreign Minister Moussa Kussa arrives in London and declares “he is cutting off all ties with the dictator” which can have far reaching consequences to the Libyan regime. Julian Assange vide his celebrated Wikileaks exposes the duplicity of regimes in the region who are privately at each others throats. One major power pleads with the US “to cut the neck of the serpent among us”- referring to another Islamic power.

Sri Lankans from across the religious and racial divide watch the scenario in some form of confusion. Are the Arabs and Muslims closer to the Libyan desert less Islamic than our lot, is course, the question most in their minds?