22nd  June,  2003  Volume 9, Issue 49

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Why this deafening silence of the TCHR?

IN a letter to The Sunday Leader recently I commended the Tamil Centre for Human Rights (TCHR) writing through its general secretary, S.V. Kirubaharan for bringing to the PM's notice matters connected with the restoration of normalcy after the MoU, human rights, and the investigation of the 'brutal' murder of Kumar Ponnambalam.

To briefly summarise the TCHR's concerns thereon, it had brought to the PM's attention the need for resettlement of civilians in the army's HSZs in furtherance of "normalcy" under the MoU, the need for the government to take four measures in regard to the investigations of KP's "brutal" murder, and the need generally to maintain human rights.

While agreeing with these concerns of the TCHR, I asked Kirubaharan whether in pursuit of these noble, humanistic ideals, and in consistency therewith, he had firstly also brought the following to the PM's attention, and secondly, if he had not, why he had not. What I asked him were:

(1)        In quest of restoration of "normalcy" under the MoU, apart from the army's HSZ matter whether the PM's attention was drawn to the need for calling also the LTTE to account in regard to the continuing extortions, abductions, taxing,  murders, child recruitment etc, as 'normalcy' must mean the total stoppage of these activities too by the LTTE, and normalcy cannot mean only the army having to comply while the LTTE is permitted not to comply.

SVK might notice the PM also as regards the LTTE needing to permit civilian resettlements in its own HSZs in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in order to further "normalcy;"

(2)            Regarding KP's "brutal" murder and its alleged defective investigations and the need for four further measures in regard there to as set out by SVK I asked him whether he noticed the PM about other 'brutal' (perhaps more brutal) murders by the LTTE as regards which too no proper investigations were carried out by the PA government and even by the present government. Apart from KP's murder which only SVK had noticed the PM, I referred him to the murders of others like A. Amirthalingam, Mr and Mrs. Yogarajan, Thambimudali, Neelan Tiruchelvam, R. Premadasa, Lalith Athulathmudali, C.V. Gooneratne, the 600 odd policemen killed in cold blood despite a safety guarantee given by the LTTE to the PM, the border village massacres etc. Were their cases also noticed to the PM by the TCHR as was Ponnambalam's?

(3)        Finally I asked SVK whether it is the TCHR's policy to be selective in its noble, humanistic ideal of furthering 'normalcy' and human rights.

An early response from the TCHR was expected, considering that its concerns were certainly noble and idealistic as they appeared to be from its own letter to your paper of February 9, which set out the matters it had raised with the PM. My letter was in support of these ideals with a request for the clarifications set out above. It is nearly three months since my letter appeared. No following-up, clarification or elucidation of the matters I raised (which too were in the same humanistic mould as the TCHR had seemed to show in its letter to the PM) has come from the TCHR or SVK.

The silence is indeed deafening and is bound to split the ears of those who like the TCHR are concerned with restoration of 'normalcy' and regard for human rights.

Could the TCHR via SVK or other office-bearer kindly respond to the clarifications sought in my letter of March 9, as summarised above? We all support the TCHR in its noble quest for normalcy and human rights, but on a non-selective, non-discriminatory basis please.

PROLANKA
Colombo 5

Educate people on peace process 

IT'S not the President or the parliamentarians who will decide the fate of the country but the ordinary people. At a referendum it is they who will accept or reject the solution arrived at through months or years of negotiation. Therefore, it is crucial that the people should be educated on the peace process that is expected to go on. They have to be emotionally and psychologically prepared to accept a negotiated settlement, be it federalism or some other structure of government to accommodate our multi ethnic, multi cultural and multi religious society.

In a recent TV discussion Wickremabahu Karunaratne stressed the need for such peace education and was very critical of the UNF government for not taking adequate steps to counter the anti peace propaganda that is being relentlessly carried on by extremist groups like the JVP, Sihala Urumaya and the Anura group of the PA.

Taking part in the same discussion was Tissa Vitharana whose main concern was that the President and the PA had been left out of the peace talks. He stressed the point that whatever solution that is arrived at would have to be approved by a two third majority in parliament. If parliament refuses to pass it, that would be the end of the matter, there would be no referendum, he maintained.

But the truth is that our parliamentarians are well known for their opportunism. They will first test the mood of the people before they vote against the solution in parliament. If they feel that the whole country enthusiastically welcomes the proposed solutions, they will not vote against it (not even the JVP), keeping an eye on the votes at the next general election. So really the Prime Minister and the government should work on educating the people and winning their approval rather than waste time on planning 'number games' in parliament.

Educating the people is a long process and it must begin now. If the government fails to tell the people clearly what it plans to do and waits until the solution is drafted and presented at a referendum, it may be too late. Not clearly understanding what they are in for, the people may even vote against it on the basis that the known devil is better. That would be a disaster for the country. The LTTE could then go back to war claiming "The Sinhala people are not willing to accept us as equals. Therefore, we are forced to take up arms again to fight for a separate state."

When one of the panelists pointed out that the President herself doesn't help in promoting peace among the people, Wickremabahu spoke in her defence. He said that on important occasions, she has always spoken in favour of the peace process and her "Mahiyangana" type of speeches are not important, and those utterances should not be taken seriously. But it is those very Mahiyangana type of speeches that will shape and mould the opinion of the ordinary Sinhalese villagers in those areas and not those lofty, pious sentiments  expressed by the President on occasions, when she knows, she is being heard by the international community. How is the villager to know that she does not mean what she says to them? Surely they do not have the ability that Wickremabahu seems to have to read her innermost thoughts.

Those speeches she makes when addressing the villagers are so full of fire and passion that they could easily influence the voters to reject the Prime Minister's peace solution in order to bring back the President's PA-JVP alliance "to save the country." What she tells the international community is not what she tells her party supporters and what she tells them is certainly not helping to promote peace. And the government too is doing precious little to promote its own peace process and make it acceptable to the people.

Leela Isaac
Colombo

Time to take the lid off the DLB 'gold mine'

THE people were made aware of the much highlighted President's Fund only when the media reported the granting of money to a patient who had to seek urgent medical attention abroad, which was acclaimed as a personal benevolent gesture from the President. We were not told that this fund derived funds from the DLB 'gold mine,' and that it had been abused to grant donations to political cronies for trips abroad, facelifts and routine medical check-ups.

Why is it not possible for parliament to monitor and correct such gross violations? Why not rename it as the People's Fund and lay down stipulations on how monies from this fund could be granted to those in dire need and publish all such grants annually?

Why is there so much official secrecy about this fund? Where is the transparency all political parties cry for? I think it is time to take the lid off and reveal to the people all grants awarded from this fund from its very inception to date and if necessary amend the relevant Act of Parliament by which it was created.

Truth Finder
Matale

Residential area used as garbage dump

IF you take the road right opposite the Election Commissioner's office and come down Rajagiriya Road about half a kilometre and look out for Madinnagoda Road right opposite a red post office box, just before the bridge, there is certainly a sight for sore eyes. Just next to the river there was only a house but now there is a road full of garbage between the river and the house.

Garbage trucks brought in garbage about two years ago during the PA regime and started filling the bank and narrowing the pathway of the river. It was said that the road was being constructed for the then defence secretary to obtain a road towards his ancestral property. What was there was only a footpath. When the neightbours who had lived in the area for so many years rightly complained it was said that they should perhaps go away if they could not cope with the stench. I suppose they are small fry and considered expendable. Minister Ravi Karunanayake made a big noise about it and came and inspected it but it all came to nought.

With the shift of power, construction came to a halt. Now there is a resurgence of activity. The road is being widened and the stench is unbearable. There is garbage falling into the river that is being used for fishing. There are people who come and pick the garbage, which includes polythene, paper and plastics. There are storks and cattle scavenging.

The people in the neighbourhood have to put up with this for what purpose? They have been asked not to complain and not to report the matter to the newspapers. Why is this road being built? Who authorised it? And does it matter to anyone especially the high and mighty that the people in the vicinity have to put up with this unsightly sight, the unbearable stench and the fear that they too would be prone to a flood, if there is a deluge?

A residential area such as this should not be used as a garbage dump and the fact that a road is being constructed with the river being polluted by garbage is highly unethical.

Resident
Rajagiriya

Sinhalese and that Aryan myth

I REFER to your editorial dated May 4, and the subsequent letter to the editor by Ramani Gunatilleke. I was shocked by the nonsensical claim that the Sinhalese are fairer than the Tamils. The Aryan myth of the Sinhalese has been completely discredited by social scientists such as Prof. Gananath Obeysekera and Prof. Bruce Kapferer. It stems from the 19th century racial classification of the British.

The source of the misunderstanding is confusion between Indo-Aryan language and Indo-Aryan race. Though the Sinhalese language is derived from Sanskrit, it does not follow that the Sinhalese belong to this mythical Aryan race.

During the 1983 riots there were numerous examples of dark-skinned Sinhalese being targeted as Tamils, and many fair-skinned Tamils escaping death. In fact, the brother of a UNP member of parliament, Asoka Somaratne was mercilessly thrashed because of his chocolate-coloured skin. Many Sinhalese can trace a direct lineage to South India.

There is a huge diversity of features and skin tones among all the ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. The actions of the 1983 rioters and their perpetuation through editorials such as yours, give credence to Jonathan Spencers' claim that the 'Sinhalese are committing atrocities because they believe in such absurdity.'

Rifat Halim
Colombo 5

Appalled by Chandrika's first 
TV interview over ABC

I WAS appalled at the content, delivery and body language that Chandrika Kumaratunga displayed on her first TV interview over Australia Broadcasting Corporation which went over the air a few days ago. As an Australian citizen I have no political affiliations with my country of birth, Sri Lanka. However, I do feel for my land of birth, and hence this letter.

The points that have to be considered by her, if there is to be a second interview are as follows:

1. Have a more positive body language, and a more relaxed expression. This comes with inner peace, harmony and compassion, devoid of vindictiveness.

2. Make sure you speak the truth. She mentioned that Ranil Wickremesinghe's party assassinated her father and husband. This is not true, and does not win her any sympathy or mileage for her, the party or the country.

3. If she has forgiven  Prabhakaran, why not extend this spirit of forgiveness to all whom she thinks have wronged her?

4. Never wash dirty linen in public, think of your country rather than your own thirst for power.

5. We have forgiven the SLFP of 1956 which denied us access to English and thus to the international arena of learning. So Madam President, why not ride high on the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness? Be a leader.

6. You mentioned that you have a degree in political science? Is it a degree or a diploma? Please at TV interviews never plug one's academic achievements. These are not destructive comments but constructive, to give Sri Lanka a better chance to come out of its web of disaster, personal vendettas and selfish motives, all at the expense of the poor voter.

We Australian Sri Lankans expect a more honest and a higher standard of presentation next time she is interviewed for ABC.

Rohan De Silva 
Australia

Massacre of the strays

INTERIOR and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga has threatened to issue a "shoot to kill" order to the police targeting stray dogs in the Colombo city. He says he will carry out this threat if the CMC continues to ignore his warning that stray dogs are a danger to the public and should be destroyed. He also says that rabies is on the increase and the state must take proper care to prevent it.

According to him, the Mayor of Colombo has failed to take up his request to destroy stray dogs, because the latter is under pressure by animal rights activists. The Minister's threat to order the police to 'shoot to kill' dogs after one week's notice is a threat to the dog population and a violation of animal rights. It should be seen as a threat to human safety and human rights as well. The human rights lobby should oppose the Minister's threat as much as animal rights groups.

Apart from the Minister's ruthless proposal, what is the justification for the practice by the state of the indiscriminate destruction of dogs purportedly for the control of dog populations and the eradication of rabies? It is an increasingly recognised fact acknowledged by the WHO too that eliminating stray dogs does not lead to the control of dog populations or rabies in the long run.

While Minister Amaratunga is threatening to shoot all dogs unless the CMC resumes dog killings, it would surprise the Minister to know that in Kandy the mayor has stopped the indiscriminate killing of dogs. Stray dogs are brought to the KMC dog pound, sterilised, vaccinated and re - homed or returned to the places they were brought from. At a seminar held recently in Kandy the minister for health and indigenous medicine, the chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, mayor of Kandy, and the WHO representative in Sri Lanka, among others present condemned the practice of inhumane treatment and elimination of dogs and welcomed the introduction of humane and scientific methods of dog population control and rabies elimination.

Sagarica Rajakarunanayake
Sathva Mithra

IT is nearly one year since the passing away of my beloved uncle and mentor, a former municipal commissioner. Uncle Felix to many of us, was a colossus during his lifetime, but passed away as an unsung hero. I could still remember nostalgically, how he encouraged me to join the Sri Lanka Navy way back in 1956. Then, I did not know the difference between the stem or the stern of a ship but uncle Felix encouraged me a great deal to join as he knew that we Negombians have a life at sea and he who dares the waves, wins.

His publication, titled Catholicism In Negombo is a treatise that traces the advent of the Christian religion in 1505 by the Portugeese into Negombo. Negombo is still the cradle of Catholicism in Sri Lanka which is dubbed "Little Rome." Negombo, to its credit, has produced the largest number of priests and religious dignitaries to date.

Uncle Felix was a pioneer in doing away with the "tithe" system which required the poor fishermen to contribute ten per cent of their daily earnings for the maintenance of the Grand Street Church, Negombo. This is now being done directly by the Archbishop.

I could vividly remember the comment made by another member of the community praising the pandal erected opposite the Grand Street Church for their feast day to which a poor fisherman standing next to him retorted "you are praising the magnificent pandal without looking at the brilliant church we have put up behind it with our bare hands."

Uncle Felix, you were not only a guiding light to your children and grand children but also to several of your nephews and nieces and I consider it to be privileged to be one of them. May your road to paradise be strewn with flowers like Paradise Road, Negombo where you lived. May the turf rest lightly over you till 'Thy Kingdom Come.'

Commander A.R. Cyril Fernando SLN (rtd).
Colombo 13