Of religious tolerance and rationality

Reports of a news conference by Buddhist prelates led by the Ven Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thero, held jointly with the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) on Monday, point to the salutary effects of consultations between religious and other groups in defusing a potentially explosive situation. The participants addressed concerns raised by certain parties over the labelling of 'Halal' food items in the market. It was announced at the conference that the ACJU (council of Muslim theologians) would issue Halal certification free of charge, and that the display of Halal logos on products would be on a 'voluntary basis' by manufacturing companies.

One of the most useful outcomes of the consultations has been that the CCC, representing several chambers of commerce and industrial groups, issued a media statement on the use of this certification by companies with respect to what are known as 'Fast Moving Consumer Goods' (FMCGs) - like groceries and toiletries. The CCC said goods sold in the local market are not required to display the Halal logo. However exporters who wanted it could get the certification free of charge from the ACJU.

Except for the announcement of the feewaiver, which is a new development, it would appear that the CCC is simply articulating a position that has always prevailed. We are not aware that the Halal certification was 'forced' on any company that did not want it. Nor have there been complaints by consumers that they have been 'forced' to buy products with the Halal label. So what exactly is the grievance?

The CCC's Chairman Susantha Rathnayake reportedly said that the cost involved in getting Halal certification is negligible for the companies, and that this cost is not passed on to the consumer. This revelation effectively put paid to the allegation of profiteering by the ACJU. The CCC's statement also revealed that Halal certification for FMCGs never entailed religious activities in the manufacturing process. So it would appear that the source of irritation is nothing more than the appearance of a logo on the packaging of certain goods. The CCC, in what appeared to be a move to humour the agitators, said it would 'ensure that products without the Halal logo are available in the market.'

The assurances by the CCC, which has expertly addressed the concerns of all parties including its membership, and the judicious action by the ACJU in agreeing to waive the fee involved in providing the Halal certification, seem to have taken the wind out of the sails of the anti-Halal agitation, which would more accurately be described as an anti-Muslim agitation.

The developments of recent months point to some characteristics of the extremist organisation known as Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) which is spearheading the anti-Halal campaign, aided and abetted by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a coalition partner of the Government. It would appear that BBS is using the Halal labelling issue as a launching pad for a larger project. Its campaign is laced with militant SinhalaBuddhist nationalist rhetoric. It may be predicted that no sooner the Halal issue is neutralised, the BBS will come up with some other complaint targeting the Muslim community.

Manifestations of this agitation in recent months are instructive of the maverick organisation's modus operandi. The group seems to be in the habit of mak- ing vague, inconsistent and inflammatory statements, appealing to communal passions at the expense of reason. Its supporters feed off an unhealthy cocktail brewed from whisper campaigns, scurrilous websites and general hate-mongering that BBS is quick to deny any hand in, when challenged. While the fuzziness of their logic insults the intelligence of all communities, to many Buddhists the most galling aspect of BBS's pronouncements must surely be that the sentiments expressed are so antithetical to the Buddha's teachings of rationality, tolerance and ahimsa.

The forthrightness of the Buddhist prelates who represented the three Nikayas at the news conference, is significant in this regard, and highly commendable. "Religious tolerance is one of the most important aspects of Buddhism," Prof. Wimalaratana Thera said. "The Bodu Bala Sena is not the sole representative of the Maha Sangha. No respected Buddhist Nikayas have agreed with the views expressed by them."

The thera also hinted at the element of irrationality in the agitation, when he appealed to all stakeholders to 'work more intelligently,' saying "It is with presence of mind, discourse and dialogue that we can move forward."

The true colours of the BBS are revealed in the inconsistent statements reported in the media throughout its campaign. Every move made by the ACJU to defuse tensions was rejected, with new demands being invented at every turn. Having started out as a call to boycott products carrying a logo that they found offensive, it has now escalated to a call to 'abolish' the ACJU itself. The threat to communal harmony from this type of inflammatory talk needs no elaboration.

Here are some examples of contradictions and inconsistencies in BBS statements in news reports of the past several weeks:

* On 13.02.13 BBS was reported as saying it had never campaigned for the banning of Halal certified food but only for a boycott of such products. On 28.02.13 the BBS was reported as saying that Halal certification should not be permitted 'under any circumstances' and should be discontinued immediately (in other words, banned).

* At a rally in Maharagama on 17.02.13, the BBS is reported to have declared that Halal certification was 'forced on the country' by charging a fee for it. The falsity of this claim was exposed at a news conference reported on12.03.13 where it was revealed that the negligible amount paid by companies for Halal certification is not passed on to the consumer.

* A report on 23.02.13 said BBS called for a state run institution to take over the certification process. On 27.02.13 it was reported that the ACJU suggested that the Government take over the job. The very next day it was reported that the BBS had rejected the proposal and called for the certification to be removed altogether.

* At a joint news conference reported on 12.03.13 Buddhist clergy representing the three Nikayas, the ACJU and the CCC announced that Halal certification would be provided free of charge by the ACJU, and that displaying of the Halal logo on products would be 'on a voluntary basis' by companies. The BBS was reported the next day not only calling for a ban on Halal foods and the entire Halal certification process, but calling for the abolition of the ACJU.