The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press reported that the ruling militia used "explosives" to destroy the head on the 50-metre tall statue, the largest standing Buddha in the world.
Carved into a sandstone mountain near the provincial capital between the second and fifth centuries AD, the two Bamiyan Buddhas are considered masterpieces of Buddhist art. The destruction of the two Bamiyan Buddhas will leave two giant holes in the Bamiyan cliff face which will stand as the universal symbol of Islamic intolerance and fanaticism - a great disservice to the cause of Islam, inter-religious harmony and inter-civilisational dialogue. This is why all religions, and in particular Islamic leaders and scholars, should speak out loud and clear to condemn the cultural vandalism and religious intolerance perpetrated by the Taliban.
It is most tragic that this year's United Nations Year of Inter-Civilisational Dialogue should be marred by the most atrocious crimes against civilisation with the Taliban militias attacking the ancient Buddhist statues with mortar, cannons, tanks and tools such as spades and hammers.
China has joined the international condemnation of the crime against civilisation perpetrated by the Taliban militias and it is time the Malaysian Government take a strong stand to support the condemnation of the Taliban medieval barbarism.
DAP reiterates its call on the Government to convene the nation's second
all-party conference to unanimously give voice to the Malaysian conscience
in the international arena where all political parties and Malaysians,
whether in government or opposition, regardless of race, religion or political
beliefs, could unite to condemn the obscurantist and unIslamic Taliban
vandalism of universal human heritage in destroying ancient Buddhist
statues in Afghanistan.
(10/3/2001)