Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday Massacre 📖 Ft. Talk with Dr. Rohan Gunaratna
You terrorism and extremist ideologies have consumed the world today. They are one of the biggest threats to the world population and it is high time that we hold conversations about them to hold those who are responsible for this accountable and to protect the world community from a possible danger to all of its peace and security. Good evening everyone. I hope you're having a great start to the week. Tomorrow here on Swell, we will be ftftftft talk Dr
You. Good evening again, everybody. It is time now to conduct our interview with the very ft ft ft ft talk Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, a bit more about his work before we begin. As previously mentioned, Dr Rohan is the author of 30 books, including Inside Al Qaeda Global Network of Terror by the University of Columbia Press. Dr Gunaratna edited the Insurgency and Terrorism series of the Imperial College Press, London
And I have also cited where the material came from because we live in an age of conspiracy where people say what comes to their mind. And I want to be very precise in this book because we are all bound by our duty to provide accurate information about the Easter Sunday attack. Thank you
Is it inika the greatest reward of being a professor is that you raise another generation to fight national security threats. So I'm delighted to say that for 20 years I have taught two courses one in National Security and Intelligence, another in Homeland Security, Counterterrorism and Intelligence, where I have raised very illustrious and highly talented and capable officers. Among my illustrious students, the current Minister of Home Affairs of Indonesia, general Professor Tito Karnavian. And in Sri Lanka at the Sir John Kotalawala Defense University
Thank you for that answer, sir. We're as eager to listen to you as you are to talk with us. So you mentioned that you've spent more than three years researching about Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday massacre. So let us begin with your book. And it will be very beneficial for all the listeners here. If you could please start by giving an introduction of your book, what the readers can expect from it, and, in essence, what is the USP of your book
The second chapter focuses on the life and death of Zahran, who is the leader of the terrorist group. He is a salafi wahabi. In fact, his organization is called National Tawhid Jamaat. And he was deeply inspired by a man called PJ, who is the founder of the Tamil Nadu Tawhid Jamaat. In fact, Zaharan and all these Salafi Wahabis in Sri Lanka started to speak like PJ. Then the third chapter is called the Colombo Team and is Sri Lanka branch
So I believe that we have to make people Sri Lankan, we have to make people Indian. If we allow people to be simply Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, then they'll be vulnerable to these vicious ideologies. So we have to promote the nationalism of various countries. When they're in Britain, be British. When they're in America, be american. When they're in France, be French. When they're in Australia, be Australian
Thanks a lot for that very insightful and detailed answer, sir. The part where you mentioned that we should not be identified by a religious identity and rather should have nationalist feelings is so true. Especially in a global world. Nationalist feelings are very necessary, along with the feeling of being global and a feeling of connectedness so that the peace and the humanity that we have within us keeps alive
Because if you don't have good information, information that is verified and validated, then you can't write authoritative books. About half of those books I've collaborated with my colleagues, so most of them are very young, and I worked with them so that that would give them an opportunity in the future to become sole authors. I, of course, worked with some of the best experts in counterterrorism in the world
You. Your work in Journey is truly inspiring, sir. I believe the way you research, you toured, you wrote extensively, you read extensively, that just goes on to show that success does not come free of cost. One needs to work for it. One needs to go the extra mile to actually attain the level when you can say that I am successful. Now, my next question is about one of the themes that the book talks about that is countering the ongoing threats of radicalization
And it can politicize them and mobilize them and radicalize them and militarize them. So that is why governments should constantly monitor foreign ideologies that come. And when they come, government should promote moderation toleration and coexistence. So I can tell you that Sri Lankan Muslims have been very peaceful for thousand 400 years. But after Sri Lankans went to work in the Middle East and had links with the subcontinent, then we saw Jamati. Islamic ideology came to Sri Lanka and that separated the Muslims from non Muslims
Thank you for that explanation, sir. I'm sure it will help many. Now, in your book, you have given firsthand accounts of those who are affected by catastrophic events. So how do you think this helps give a more sensitive and wider view of the situation? How do you believe that these viewpoints differ from the perspectives of an outsider?
So that those who perpetrated those attacks supported those attacks, supported those ideologies, ran, the institutions that propagated those ideas, they will think twice whether they are doing the right thing. For instance, when Zahran mounted this attack, zahran says he is doing this attack to please Allah. But if you really study Islam, islam doesn't say to go and kill civilians like this. Islam doesn't say to go and kill men, women, children
Thank you, sir, for outlining this very important concept that those who are affected by the catastrophe need to be the first ones to answer the questions regarding it. Now, you talked about how the people need to be more proactive and how governments need to step up and create a more safer environment so that people can actually speak up. But can you please also elaborate on how governments, and even common people, can help reduce extremist ideologies and also dismantle institutions that essentially foster hate and hostility amongst humankind?
So I propose that every country create what you called a Harmony Act to promote moderation toleration and coexistence. Make it mandatory for religious and ethnic leaders to do it. So ethnic and religious Harmony Act is a must for every country, otherwise there is polarization and fragmentation of communities. I would also say that government should ensure that all religious leaders are trained not only in their own religion, but other religions, so they can speak authoritatively about other faiths
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
So I'm sure that this Harmony Act that you proposed, if enacted properly, can actually bring wonders to world peace and security. And I'm sure that in the near future we will see such events happening. We will now be moving towards the end of this conversation. I would like to ask you the last question that is, you have undertaken several projects pertaining to terror and even other political ideas. What is one learning that this activity has instilled in you?
And by writing and by speaking and by raising a new generation of peacemakers, we'll be able to create a more just and a more fair and a world where there is compassion and kindness, not suspicion, prejudice, resentment, hatred, anger and violence. So let me once again thank anurag let me thank you. And I want to say that inika Choudhary, you conducted this event so beautifully
Thank you for your kind wishes, sir. And thank you for being here on Swell, taking out time from your schedule and gracing us with your presence here. I'm sure that all of the listeners who heard you today will have lessons to take home and will definitely promote peace and harmony among their brethren and beyond. Thank you to Swell for making this interview happen. And thank you to all of the listeners who tuned in today and made this conversation even more special