14th March,  2004  Volume 10, Issue 35

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Chandrika - a dictator in the mould of Idi Amin?

Violating all norms of decency and democratic procedures, breaking both verbal and written promises at the drop of a hat, proroguing and dissolving parliament as she fancies, acting within and outside the country's constitution, sacking UNF cabinet ministers and non-cabinet ministers while prior to December 2001 she kept their P.A. counterparts until her defeat, wresting three ministries when the Prime Minister was abroad, using all government media (Lake House papers, Rupavahini, ITN and Eye Channel) to edify

her image as a caring President and a philanthropist, highlighting donations made, not out of her purse but government monies chanelled into the President's Fund, to cast aspersions, character assassinate and make false charges against her political opponents, Chandrika Kumaratunga is acting at present as a dictator very much in the mould of Idi Amin of Uganda.

We see today blue posters all over the city requesting her to take over parliamentary powers as well.

Her present bedfellows are the JVP, recalling her mother's coalition with the Left many years ago. The record of the JVP in 1971-72 and from 1987-1992 is one of destruction, mayhem and blood-letting, killing thousands of civilians including 28 Buddhist monks and two Christian priests. They now pose as Sinhala Buddhists. The damage to government property alone ran into billions.

Chandrika fled to the UK with her two children when her husband was killed by the JVP which has at no time asked forgiveness from the nation for their brutality and the atrocities they committed. It is with such a party that Chandrika decided to form an alliance to defeat the UNP.

Chandrika as finance minister left in December 2001 a bankrupt treasury and a zero minus economy. She waged war against the LTTE and lost in battle the entire Wanni and a major part of the Jaffna peninsula. It is she who by her defeat in battle that gave Eelam to the LTTE.

More than 10,000 soldiers lost their lives, many in unmarked graves because the security forces refused to accept their bodies. Commissions made on weapons, air and naval craft were the hot topics of the day.

A senior journalist who was the self-appointed military expert has lost his tongue now. So also the vociferous Sihala Urumaya, Nimal Siripalas and the Mangala Samaraweeras. May I ask whether after Chandrika took over the Defence Ministry (1) was the controversial camp Manirasakulam handed back to the security forces? (2) is child recruitment not taking place since? (3) are kappans not imposed? (4) Has the LTTE left that territory in proximity to the Trincomalee harbour with their cannons? and (5) finally have not the LTTE received shipments of weapons?

Thus there was no need for all this criticism. No. What all these people wanted was an excuse and since what they wanted has been achieved, everybody is quiet. Even the safe house episode was blown out of proportion and the beneficiary was Chandrika, to use it for political gain.

It is a pity that in this country today there is no man or woman, an intellectual, a professional, a free media activist or a member of the clergy, Buddhist clergy in particular, who goes on pagaman, satygraha and upawasa unto death with guts and a backbone to stand up and say that Chandrika today is nothing but a dictator solely driven by lust for power, more power and more power.

Humble though I am, I have the courage to point my finger at Chandrika and say that "you are acting like Idi Amin." To those who vote for the alliance I say that I pity them for before long they will feel the sharp jabs from the alliance jackboots.

Greed begets nothing but sorrow.

An Intellectual
Rajagiriya

Shades of Machiavelli

Whatever her detractors may say, the President has to be given pride of place as the wiliest of schemers. Machiavelli could have picked up a tip or two from the good lady.

We now can see that she had a plan from the very outset of the UNF government to oust it. A plan which was so well disguised that even close associates and relatives were kept in the dark until the election trap was sprung.

With his vacillation and 'we'll see later' attitude, the Prime Minister facilitated her task. He prevented the stronger members of the government, who wanted to get rid of her by impeachment, from doing so. This, along with the Chief Justice's proposed impeachment, were vital election promises which like so many others, went into limbo.

Now, the President holds the whip hand. She and her newest partner, the JVP, accounted to be the murderers of her husband and thousands of innocent women and children, seem to be impervious to the damage some of their actions and statements will do.

To cite a couple. The President relieved John Amaratunga of his cabinet portfolio. He remained as Christian Affairs Minister which would be non-cabinet. By dismissing all non-cabinet and deputy ministers she did away with the Christian Affairs Minister. What the Christians think of her move will be revealed on April 2.

The JVP has categorically stated that they do not recognise the truce and ceasefire. This is, in effect, a declaration of war if the alliance comes into power. No one in his right senses, apart from those who profit financially, will welcome a return to war. This too, should be reflected in the results of the April 2 election.

What is perplexing is that the alliance MoU, the JVP statement and the President's announcement that she will conduct peace talks with the LTTE are all at variance with each other. Can the alliance last in these circumstance? Or has the President another 'goondu' or two up her sleeve?

She seems to harbour a strong belief that the voters can always be hoodwinked. Her latest pronouncement that she will do away with the executive presidency, if the alliance is voted into power, cannot, be taken seriously. Have the JVP and the voters forgotten her signed pledge to the JVP to do away with the executive presidency? Many years have gone by since then but she continues to wreak havoc as executive president. The JVP are not such fools as to be taken in by this pledge again, nor are the voters.

All this makes one wonder if she is expecting a 'fix' on April 2. It was probably with this in view that the three ministries were taken over in November.

The Prime Minister must accept a share of the blame for what has befallen the land. He slumbers on, seemingly unaware of what is happening. Sadly, it seems too late for regrets, now. If he had displayed any of the firmness now being amply demonstrated by the President, we would not be at the mercy of liars, thugs and murderers with only grim prospects ahead.

God save Sri Lanka!

A Sad Citizen
Attidiya

Where are the LTTE camps and naval zone?

Before November 2003, we heard a lot about the LTTE arms/ camps build-up such as:

*     LTTE camp at Manirasakulam
*     LTTE naval zone
*     LTTE camps build-up around Trincomalee
*     LTTE pressure on high security zones

Since November 2003 we have not heard about them. Is it that the security forces under the direct command of the President smashed the LTTE camps and the naval zone? Or, is it that they were either non-existent or a case of making a mountain out of a molehill for political purposes? Or is it that Pirapaharan got the jitters after the Presidential take-over of the Ministry of Defence and therefore quickly removed the camps?

We like to hear the comments of PA spokesman Sarath Amunugama and the JVP spokesman Wimal Weerawansa in this regard. Perhaps they could describe in detail how the security forces under the leadership of the President destroyed the LTTE camps and the naval zone. Or they could describe how Pirapaharan got the camps removed and got his cadres to run for fear of their lives.

We request the President not to hand back the Ministry of Defence to the UNF government, because if she does so, the PA and the JVP (and now the Sandanaya) will 're-create' the camps and the naval zone for the LTTE!

I.B. Panabokke
Kandy

YA TV on language rights

On Wednesday, February 11, YA TV's  programme on TNL emphasised the difficulties of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, especially in the north/east, because of Sinhalese being used as the state language.

We are curious to know whether YA TV, if it operates in Malaysia, France, Italy, Germany, etc. will dare to bemoan the difficulties of the Tamils living in those countries, on account of Malay, French, Italian, German etc. being used as state languages? Is it not a fact that the Tamils who inhabit the entire globe, meekly and obediently learn the language of the majority race, wherever they live - even in India, where they have to learn Hindi to survive?

If it is so abhorrent to the Tamils living in Sri Lanka to learn Sinhalese, the language of the majority, why do they remain here?

Prema Ranawaka-Das
Moratuwa

The JVP is at it again

It is with total disgust that we read once again in the newspapers how fuel stations, banks etc, etc, are once again being robbed at gunpoint. This is typical of how the JVP operated in the years gone by. The collection of funds has started at an alarming rate.

I wish Mahinda Rajapakse will take his mind back to the incident where a close relative of his was killed by the JVP in the days of yore. This shows that politicians exist for personal gain and no one thinks of the nation.

It was hilarious to see the people who were responsible for instigating several strikes, feeding the strikers with thambili water to revive them! Now it is time to vote again, and we can see if truth and honesty will survive or falsehood and treachery. I will vote for truth and honesty any day.

Mrs. M.A.
Colombo 5

Teacher at NYSC complains

I refer to the letter titled "Misappropriation of Funds at NYSC" which appeared in The Sunday Leader recently. What the writer has stated in the letter seems absolutely true and I fully agree with him.

I am one of the unfortunate teachers who have not been paid the dues assured by the NYSC, after they successfully conducted their language programmes. I was the lecturer selected by the NYSC, Mannar to conduct the language programme in Mannar in 2002 and 2003. Although I completed the programme after six months, I was given payment only for a period of four months in 2002.

Again I was selected to conduct the language programme in 2003 from January and I successfully completed it in July this year. Even this time, I was paid only for one and a half months' period at the end of six months.

Numerous appeals from me to pay the balance due have fallen on the deaf ears of the district youth service officer, the regional youth service officer, Vavuniya and some officers of the accounts branch at the NYSC, Maharagama. As such, I was forced to give up the final revision class to prepare the learners to face their final examination and to the disappointment of the latter, the final exam has not yet been held.

Worst of all, the certificates for those who successfully completed the course in 2002 have not yet been given to them. In short, both the teacher and the learners have been left stranded by the mismanagement of the NYSC. And this gives room for suspicion that there can be misappropriation of funds allocated to these language programmes.

S.A. Croos
Mannar

Drag racing horror on Green Path 

I read with alarm an article in a Sunday newspaper that drag racing has become a regular Saturday night feature amongst the rich, young and reckless. As it is, we are nauseated by reading and listening to the horrendous daily accidents taking place, especially involving speeding buses.

Unfortunately, we Sri Lankans are ever eager to follow foreign ways of life, regardless of the consequences. Is Green Path, a public road, a suitable venue for drag racing? How can the participants be sure that there will be no other traffic on this quiet road at night? We all know the reckless behaviour of today's youth, especially with plenty of money, cars, liquor and in some cases VIP protection.

We have read enough about the rowdy behaviour of the sons of politicians, and nothing happens to them. The helpless victims of their crude and vulgar behaviour have to accept in silence and frustration that nothing in fact happens to the miscreants.

If the police permit drag racing to continue, we are waiting for some serious accident to happen. Very often these reckless youths have been to some night spot and consumed hard liquor and just gearing to show off to their peers and girl friends who are so easily impressed. Green Path is not secure for drag racing. There are no safety barriers, no protection for viewers. If the driver of a vehicle, driven at very high speed, loses control and veers into the crowd, can you imagine the carnage?

If young people want to indulge in this sport, they must go to a race track. I appeal to the police and to all sensible people in this country to protest at this new menace. After all, it is well to remember it may be your own family member who could be killed or maimed.

S.R. Perera
Dehiwala

Will Anura be able to make it?

The last two weekends here have been hectic as the old boys of Royal, S. Thomas,' St. Joseph's and St. Peter's have had their day out and limited over matches.

When things "back home" were discussed, the political situation was the main theme. The political alliances and similar high sounding titles given to the groups were also humourously featured on placards of the spectator groups.

The best opinion of the dissolution expressed by a retired Sri Lankan banker gave real food for thought. He said this was Chandrika's last chance to appoint her brother Anura as prime minister and hopefully make him their next presidential candidate.

The million rupee question is will Anura be able to make it before any new constitution is promulgated?

Old Joe
Sharjah, UAE

Watch Re-load on Saturdays on Sirasa 

Re-load on Sirasa TV on Saturday's is most interestingly presented by Joe and Sara around 11 am. Valuable prizes are offered to those who send the most original e-mails.

On Saturday, February 21 there was a song for Sri Lanka to win the five one-dayers by a Sri Lankan expatriate who had come on holiday for two weeks.

The previous Saturday, February 14 being Valentine's Day was even more interesting with love sonnets to those near and dear. Here, too, the original verses recorded won prizes.

Especially on Saturday where these is just nothing to watch other than a few teledramas on Swarna-vahini, Re-load is most entertaining.

Each week Sirasa TV thinks of something new to entertain viewers. And SMS request show on Sundays from 9.3 am to 10.30 is the newest such programme.

Elmo Baldsing
Colombo

Devanesan Nesiah
Colombo 3