Easter Sunday Terrorism In Sri Lanka Kills Local Christians And Foreigners

The result of the bomb explosion inside
St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, north of Colombo 

Photo courtesy: Getty images via nhpr.org/

A wave of coordinated terrorist bomb attacks in Sri Lanka on April 21, Easter Sunday, killed 290 people with another 500 injured. Most of the dead were local Sri Lankans, and among the foreigners, mostly tourists, 39 were killed, with some still missing. 

Law enforcement authorities arrested 24 Sri Lankans. National Thowheed Jamath, a local Islamic group with connection with international radical Islamic terrorist organizations is believed to be behind the attacks.  

According to Sri Lanka military spokesman, six suicide bombers caused these explosions in Zion Church in Batticaloa, St. Sebastian's Church in Negombo, and St. Anthony's Shrine in Colombo. Other attacks were in the hotels: The Kingsbury Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, Cinnamon Grand Hotel of Colombo and a hotel in Dehiwala Zoological Garden area.  Another attack was in Mahawila Gardens housing complex. 

Sri Lanka has a population of 21 million -- of whom, 70% are Theravada Buddhists, 13% Hindus, 10% Muslims, and 7% Christians. 

Pope Francis decried the attacks on innocent victims and offered his prayers and sympathy. 

It is noteworthy that the U.S. and India had warned Sri Lanka of the possible terrorist attacks on its soil in early April but the Sri Lankan government did not take the warning seriously. The U.S. embassy in Bangladesh, on April 9, warned U.S. citizens to take precaution in their movements in Bangladesh, too, for possible terrorist attacks. 

• What We Know About the Easter Terrorist Attacks in Sri Lanka (April 2019)
• Police Warned That Sri Lanka Churches Were Bombing Targets (April 21, 2019)
• Authorities warned on April 4 of potential attacks, Sri Lankan minister says -- as it happened (April 22, 2019)
• Terror attacks in Sri Lanka kill more than 200 people (April 21, 2019)
• Number of foreign casualties in yesterday's explosions rises to 30; 17 hospitalised (April 22, 2019)
• Death toll from Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka nears 300 (April 22, 2019)
• 'Easter massacre': How the world reacted to Sri Lanka terror attacks (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka bombings: eight arrests after eight explosions kill 207, injure hundreds in bloody Easter Sunday attacks (April 22, 2019)
• Explosive device disposed at Kochchikade (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka Terrorism Has Hallmarks of Previous Attacks (April 21, 2019)
• The Sri Lanka terror attacks and their global implications (April 22, 2019)
• World Leaders React to Sri Lankan Explosions (April 21, 2019)
• U.S. bishops decry terrorist bombings of Sri Lanka churches, hotels (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka bombings -- a timeline and visual guide (April 22, 2019)
• Sri Lanka bombings: Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks (April  23, 2019)
• Sri Lanka Bombings Live Updates: ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attacks (April 23, 2019)
• Sheikh Selim's grandson among dead in Sri Lanka [Bangladesh Awami League leader Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim's grandson Zayan Chowdhury, aged 8 years, killed] (April 22, 2019)
• 2 Muslim brothers were Sri Lanka hotel suicide bombers: sources (April 23, 2019)

Sunil Gomes, A Catholic Grocer, Killed in His Store in Bonpara, Bangladesh

Sunil Gomes, a village grocer, in his store at Bonpara Bazar of  Natore District

Photo courtesy: The Daily Star (Dhaka)

Sunil Gomes, 71, a Roman Catholic village grocer, was hacked to death recently in broad daylight in his shop at Bonpara Bazar of Natore District, north-west of Bangladesh. The grocery store was near the local Catholic church of Bonpara in the Diocese of Rajshahi. According to news reports, the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for this murder. 

Sunil's younger brother, Father Proshanto Gomes, working in the Diocese of Dinajpur, expressed his surprise and anguish at this brutal killing. He said that his brother was a simple villager with no enemies. 
 
This hacking death resembles the earlier IS-claimed killings in different parts of Bangladesh.


Hours earlier, Islamic militants shot the wife of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Chittagong where he was zealously fighting Islamic terrorism. 

For more, please read the following:

• Christian trader killed in Natore (June 6, 2016)
• Islamic murders in Bangladesh: Catholic slaughtered, policeman's wife killed in front of child (June 6, 2016)
• Catholic hacked to death in Bangladesh (June 6, 2016)
• Who was Sunil Gomes? Christian Rrocer Hacked To Death In Northwest Bangladesh (June 5, 2016)
• ISIS kills Christian grocer in Bangladesh (June 6, 2016)
• Christian murdered in latest Bangladesh attack (June 5, 2016)

Hindu Priest Killed, Devotee Shot In A Temple, Arrest Made in Bangladesh

Jogeswar Roy (50) was brutally killed by assailants on February 21, 2016

Photo courtesy: www.thedailystar.net/

A police guard at the Hindu temple after the murder of the priest

Photo courtesy: AFP

Relatives of the murdered priest mourning his death

Photo courtesy: AFP

A Hindu priest, Jogeswar Roy (also known as Jogeswar Dasadhikari), (50), of the Sri Sri Shanto  Gaurio Mot (Hindu temple-cum-school) of Shonapota village under Debiganj Upazilla of Panchagarh District, Bangladesh, was hacked to death with a chapati (machete) on February 21 early morning. 

When the priest was preparing to lead the morning prayer in the temple, some assailants came and pelted stones on the roof of the temple. Hearing the noise, Jogeswar came out of the temple and  realizing the impending danger, he began to run away. He was caught on his track and slaughtered there. Gopal Chandra Roy, one of the devotees, rushed to the aid of the injured priest but he was wounded with a bullet. Three assailants hurled a crude homemade bomb to scare people around and fled the scene on a motorcycle.

Unmarried Jogeswar Roy had established the temple in 1998 selling his lands and other properties. 

The Islamic State (IS) later in the day claimed responsibility of the murderous attack on the Hindu priest.  

Three persons, belonging to a banned Islamist group, have been arrested so far.

 

For more on the event, please read the following:

• Attack on Hindu temple: Priest killed, devotee shot
• Priest murdered in Panchagarh in northern Bangladesh
• Panchagarh priest brutally murdered
• Banned Islamic Group Suspected Behind slaying of Hindu priest in Bangladesh
• Priest killed, devotee shot
• IS claims Panchagarh priest murder: SITE
• IS Claims Murder of Hindu Priest in Northern Bangladesh
• Bangladesh Arrests Three Men in Priest's Beheading
• Police arrest three over Hindu priest's murder in Panchagarh
• Islamic extremists slit throat of Hindu priest in Bangladesh fuelling religious tensions 
• JMB man confesses to killing Panchagarh Hindu priest
• Human chains demand arrest, capital punishment of killers
• Panchagarh Hindu priest killing protested in 3 districts
• Murder of Hindu priest 'horrifies' British envoy in Dhaka Alison Blake
• EU condemns Panchagarh priest murder  

(Updated on March 4, 2016)

Italian PIME Missionary Priest Receives Bullet Wounds from ISIS Assailants in Bangladesh

Father Piero Parolari, PIME, after initial surgery in Dinajpur, being placed in the helicopter for flying him to Dhaka for further treatment 

Photo courtesy: asianews.it/

Several years ago Father Piero Parolari, PIME, is being greeted by school children in a parish in Bangladesh

Photo courtesy: resegoneonline.it/

Three gunmen on a motorcycle shot at Father Piero Parolari, 64, a PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) missionary bicycling his way to his work at St. Vincent Hospital in Dinajpur, and wounded him seriously on November 18. Initially the identity of the assailants was not known, but later the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Father Parolari, a missionary and a medical doctor, has been working among the poor in Bangladesh since 1985.

With gun-shot wounds on his neck, the priest underwent a surgery in Dinajpur Medical College Hospital and later he was transferred by helicopter to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka further treatment.

Christians, Muslims, and Hindus staged several protest gatherings in different parts of Bangladesh condemning the attack and asked the Government for seeking out the culprits and making them to face justice. 

The UCANews reports, "Over the past two weeks, at least seven Protestants have received death threats in the form of text messages. It comes after violent attacks on a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister. Christian leaders say the attacks and death threats are interlinked."

The Italian PIME missionaries have been working in the north and north-west region of Bangladesh for more than 150 years. During the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971, they gave shelter and food to many Muslim, Hindu, Christian and other internal refugees in their mission and school compounds, and after independence, they did massive relief and rehabilitation work among returning Bangladeshi refugees from camps in India. 

For more details on the attack on Father Parolari, please read the following:

• PIME missionary targeted in Dinajpur gun attack (asianews.it)
• Italian priest shot in northern Bangladesh (ucanews.com)
• Itlian priest attacked in Bangladesh, in critical condition (Vatican Radio)
• Italian priest shot in Bangladesh by gunmen (The Guardian, U.K.) 
• Italian priest Piero Parolari attacked in Bangladesh (BBC, U.K.)
• Gunmen on motorbike shoot Italian priest in latest attack on foreigners in Bangladesh (japantimes.com)
• Italian priest shot in Bangladesh (bdnews24.com)
• ISIS claims responsibility for shooting Italian priest in Bangladesh (ibtimes.com.au)
• Islamic State claims responsibility for shooting priest (ucanews.com)
• ISIS claims attack on Italian priest in Bangladesh (The Times of India)
• Islamic State Claims Attack on Italian priest in Bangladesh (ndtv.com) 
• IS claims attack on Italian priest in Bangladesh (www.news.va)
• Bangladeshi Christians, Muslims and Hindus demand justice for Fr. Parolari (asianews.it) 
• Bangladesh Christians protest against attacks on priests (ucanews.com) 
• A dozen priests get death threat (The Daily Star, Dhaka)
• Priests under threat (Editorial of The Daily Star, Dhaka)
• Christians feeling insecure after attacks on priests (The Daily Star, Dhaka) 
• Christians concerned about safety (Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka)
• Killings, Death Threats Feed Climate of Fear in Bangladesh (voanews.com)
• 10 priests get death threat in Rangpur (Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka)
• 19 noted personalities receive death threat (Dhaka Tribune, Dhaka)
• Two more priests of a church in Khulna receive death threat (bdnews24.com, Dhaka) 
• Three seriously hurt after Catholic family attacked in Dhaka home (ucanews.com)
• Arrest attackers immediately -- Demands Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (The Daily Star, Dhaka) 
• Dr. Mizan finds link between war crimes trial and recent incidents (in Bangladesh) (unb.com.bd) 

(Updated on December 11, 2015)

The Toronto Sun Columnist Terms Pakistan the Ground Zero of International Terrorism

Tarek Fatah's June 26, 2013 column in the Toronto Sun

Image courtesy: Toronto Sun (Toronto, Canada)

Tarek Fatah, a Pakistan-born Canadian and a columnist for the Toronto Sun weekly, in a recent column terms Pakistan as the “ground zero of international terrorism.” 

He writes: “It seems Israel and America are blind beyond Iran. While Iran possesses no nuclear warheads, it is considered the primary threat to world peace. On the other hand, Pakistan, with an arsenal of more than 100 nukes, continues to be fed billions of American dollars while Israel seems oblivious to Islamabad’s threat."

He then enumerates with dates the acts of terrorism perpetrated by Pakistanis in different countries of the world from September, 1986 to May, 2010. 

He usually writes on issues related to Islam and Muslims. There are Muslims and others who support him for his moderate Islamic stance and there are other Muslims who denounce him for not supporting radical Islam.

His full column, “Pakistan: a bigger threat than Iran,” can be read by clicking on the image above and his other columns can be accessed at:Toronto Sun/Tarek Fatah.

Did Bangladesh Remember Its Own Dead In the 9/11 Attack of 2001?

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The Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre
in New York under plane attack on September 11, 2001
Photo courtesy: www.bnp.org.uk/

I didn’t see news of any remembrance or even a public message of the Government of Bangladesh on the tenth anniversary of the deadly plane attacks on the soil of the U.S.A. I even didn’t see any news of Bangladesh paying tribute to its own citizens killed in the same attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on that day. If Bangladesh missed this opportunity to remember its own dead or to speak against terrorism, it speaks volumes about its thoughtfulness and seriousness of its intention for fighting terrorism.

A number of countries around the world officially remembered the dead in New York and paid tribute to them, including their own citizens who had fallen victim to the dastardly plane attack on common people in the twin towers.

Pope Benedict XVI, while in Ancona, Italy, prayed for the 9/11 victims and their families. He also said: “I invite the leaders of nations and men of goodwill to reject violence always as a solution to problems, to resist the temptation to hate and to work within society based on the principles of solidarity, justice and peace.”

In the four plane terrorist attacks on that day, a total of 2,996 people were dead – among them 2,977 were the victims and 19 were jihadist terrorists influenced by Osama bin Laden, the founder-leader of the Al-Qaeda. Citizens of about 80 countries, including the U.S.A., were among the victims. No one is sure about the exact number of Bangladeshis and Bangladeshi-Americans who were killed in the attacks.

Why Bangladesh Should Remember Its Own Dead

• September 11 of every year is a good occasion to pay tribute to the dead, including Bangladeshis.

• It is an occasion to remind the country men and women about the viciousness of terrorism in whatever form it may come.

• It’s a time to express solidarity with the world in fighting terrorism in its own soil.

How Cartoonists See Osama bin Laden's Death

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Cartoon courtesy: Shlomo Cohen (Politicalcartoons.com)

Cartoon courtesy: John Cole (The Scranton Times)

Cartoonists have a way of looking at persons and events which they present in a witty and humorous manner.

We present below some cartoons on the death or assassination of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by the U.S. forces at Abbotabad, Pakistan.

• About.com: Best Cartoons on Osma Bin Laden's Death
• Bin Laden's Death Depicted in Cartoons
• Political Cartoons About Death of Osama Bin Laden
• Msnbc.com: Osama Bin Laden's Death As Explained by Cartoons
  

Why Osama bin Laden Got a Safe Haven in Pakistan

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Osama bin Laden killed
in the U.S. 'Operation Geronimo' in Pakistan
Cartoon (Toronto: May 5, 2011) © Joachim Romeo D'Costa

“You can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” –U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Pakistan high government officials, including Presidents, and intelligence heads have been denying for the last six years or so that they know the whereabouts of the most sought-after terrorist Osama bin Laden and his closest associates. The world was fooled so far, but no longer. The killing of bin Laden in a safe house in the heart of Abbotabad garrison (military) town proved it otherwise.

Americans, in general, are very gullible people. Since they depend on reasoning and proof, they usually see things in black and white only. They fail to see things in the grey area in between the black and white. Many of the high government officials and members of the Congress, after the assassination of Osama bin Laden, were wondering aloud why Pakistan, by vowing to fight terrorism with the USA, was not totally loyal and truthful to the USA when billions of dollars worth of aid and other help have been poured into that country. The Americans took it for granted that the pouring of their money and material would buy the hundred per cent loyalty and allegiance of Pakistan. It didn’t happen. Why? Because of the grey areas.

What Are the Grey Areas?

• Deep in its heart, Pakistan considers Osama bin Laden a comrade and co-fighter during Soviet occupation of Afghanistan: Pakistan army officers and intelligent agents worked shoulder to shoulder with Talibans (Muslim fundamentalist group) of Pakistan and Afghanistan and other Afghan insurgent groups, including bin Laden’s foreign Muslim group, during the war with the Soviet Union in Afghanistan (1979-1988). Since the USA strongly believed in the “domino theory” regarding the spread of communism (that if one country becomes communist, the neighbouring countries will automatically fall to the influence of communism), it was one of the biggest donors and cooperators of Pakistan in funding and supplying funds and war material to these groups. The intention was to drive away the Soviets from Afghanistan so that pro-western neighbouring countries like Pakistan and others might not fall to communism and Soviet influence. During this time, Pakistani army officers and intelligent agents became very friendly and built up a close bond with the leaders of these insurgent groups. As a result, Pakistan had a divided loyalty and allegiance – partly to the USA, partly to these groups -- including Osama bin Laden’s group, and partly to the national interest of Pakistan. Even if the USA demanded full cooperation, Pakistan could not provide it due to these dynamics in the region. Pakistan knows it well that if it antagonizes the Talibans and Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda group, it will face total chaos when the USA and its allies leave Afghanistan.

• Local tribal mentality and culture are favourable to Osama bin Laden: To understand the mind of the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, one needs to understand the local tribal mentality, belief, culture, practice and tradition. Most of these people belong to one ethnic or tribal group or another. Their loyalty and allegiance to their own group is very important. What tribal chiefs say or do, other members have to follow the same. Betrayal is punished severely. The tribal culture demands that anybody or any group accepted as friend or guest must be treated well and, if necessary, must be protected from enemies at the cost of one’s life. Since Osama bin Laden was the guest of the Afghan Talibans when they were in power (1996-2001) in Afghanistan, the Talibans cannot just reject him or Pakistan, which is also friend and facilitator of the Talibans – both in Pakistan and Afghanistan – cannot just dump or throw its friend and guest bin Laden to the hounds.

• Many Muslims consider him a holy man and a hero: As Christians feel a kind of admiration and reverence when they hear the words ‘Jesus Christ,’ ‘Virgin Mary,’ ‘Jerusalem,’ ‘Bethlehem,’ ‘Nazareth,’ ‘Rome,’ ‘Vatican,’ ‘Pope,’ and ‘church,’ so do the Muslims when hear the words ‘Islam,’ ‘Prophet Muhammad,’ ‘Mecca,’ ‘Medina,’ ‘Saudi Arabia,’ and ‘mosque.’ When they know that Osama bin Laden is from Saudi Arabia (considered the holy land because of Prophet Muhammad’s birth and preaching of his religion and the elaborate hajj pilgrimage system) and he wants to fight the Western powers (“infidels” or unbelievers of Islam) to leave their bases from the holy land of Saudi Arabia, they consider him to be a savior of Islam and Muslims. That’s they consider him a ‘hero’ and not a terrorist. So, howsoever the Western countries try to paint bin Laden as a terrorist, many Muslims (fundamentalists, conservatives and blindly devoted ones) in the world consider him a holy man in jihad (holy war). Moreover, in South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh), the whole demeanor of Osama bin Laden, having a tall figure with calm face, soft voice, flowing beard and white turban on his head, gives an impression of a pir (Muslim holy man). As a result, they wouldn’t hesitate to protect him and give him security from U.S. surveillance and capture. This is very much proven by the fact that in spite of $27 million U.S. reward for information and capture of Osama bin Laden, no one among the Talibans and Pakistanis came forward so far to betray his whereabouts and claim the reward.

• In spite of denials, Pakistani armed forces and military intelligence will remain suspects for sheltering Osama bin Laden: Pakistan has one of the most active, efficient, powerful and pervasive military intelligence services in the world. It is said that no foreign ant, fly or mosquito can enter Pakistan without the knowledge of the military. One citizen of Pakistan’s Abbotabad town, where Osama bin Laden’s lair was attacked by the U.S. forces, mentioned in an interview with a foreign TV journalist how strict eyes are kept on persons moving about, or entering and leaving the city. The city security personnel regularly question people, check their ID card and vehicles. He said that there was no way that a foreigner, especially the high-profile personality like Osama bin Laden, could hide in the city without the knowledge of the military. In the early 1990s, a foreign (western) non-government organization (NGO) worker, after his visit to projects in Lahore area of Pakistan, mentioned in Dhaka that wherever he stayed and visited (hotel, NGO offices, village projects and market places), he was stealthily followed by army intelligence agents. All these prove how active Pakistan’s intelligence service is. Moreover, the spacious area with a large building with special security measures, including no telephone or Internet service connections, must have drawn attention of the town officials. Now, everyone is in denial of the knowledge of bin Laden’s presence there.

• It is plausible that the military hid the information of Osama bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan from the elected politicians. From the inception of Pakistan in August, 1947, its military has been running the country from behind elected politicians. Whenever some politicians failed to listen to them, they were brushed aside and the military came to power through coups. From 1947 till 2011, Pakistan experienced military coups in 1958, 1977 and 1999. There were also other unsuccessful coup attempts in the country.

There is nothing surprising or unusual that Osama bin Laden, although considered a deadly terrorist and an enemy by the Western countries, is considered a savior of Islam and a hero by many Muslims of the world. So, giving him a secure shelter from the U.S. or NATO forces is not thought to be a crime, but a duty by devout Muslims.