One week has passed since Buddhist temples and many houses owned by people in the Buddhist community were burnt down. As the scar takes time to heal, they should feel taken care of with their sense of insecurity dispelled and the homeless sheltered as quickly as possible.
But then, from what our reporters at Ramu in Cox's Bazar have gathered, we cannot but take issue with the way different government agencies and bodies are conducting the probes to get to the bottom of the mayhem. As Buddhist witnesses to the violent incident are being enquired in the 'open' by probe bodies, they have begun to receive threats from different quarters having had direct link, most likely, with the attackers. Resultantly, not only are they hesitant to provide information but also has their fear been intensified. It will neither help reveal the identity of the masterminds and the operatives nor will it ease tension and mistrust between communities unless discretion is applied. Therefore, we urge the government to ensure security of the witnesses at first and then go about collecting information in a way that will be conducive to and effective in unearthing the truth.
As for their rehabilitation, which brooks no delay, we are partly relieved to find the govt. giving minorities compensation to the affected people. But as a photograph carried in yesterday's issue of this newspaper brings to focus, a lot more needs to be done. Many are still living either under the open sky or in make-shift huts with the rains pouring in every now and then. So we demand that the government bring them all under its wings and provide shelter in a way that they can live in the proximity of their religious establishments just like before.
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