Political activism Vs Human rights activism

By Michael Hardy 

Nandita Haksar is an Indian lawyer, journalist and civil rights activist. She delivered the Rajani Thiranagama Memorial Lecture on September 25 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Thiranagama’s assassination by the LTTE. Haksar’s most recent book is Rogue Agent: How India’s Military Intelligence Betrayed The Burmese Resistance (Penguin 2009). 

Q: I was wondering if you could apply the lessons you’ve learned as an activist in India to the current situation in Sri Lanka.

A: That I do not wish to do, because I don’t really know the situation here. I think there are two big differences. The first is that in India we have 30 or 40 national minorities, whereas here there are two. Second, the history of the struggle between the Sinhala government and the Trotskyites, and so on. One lesson is about the role of the Indian state. Unfortunately, the Indian intellectuals have this tendency to romanticise or sanitise Indian democracy.

We have a democracy, but we also have a growing authoritarian structure. The army rules large parts of our country. I think whatever solution the Sri Lankans find for their own society, because of globalisation India and Sri Lanka will have to make an alliance. Not just statements of solidarity — those make no difference.

Q: In light of this need for new alliances, what do you think about the growing nationalism of both India and Sri Lanka?

A: First of all, it’s nationalism-driven imperialism. It’s American interests, British interests, transnational corporations’ interests. Nationalism is not something that is a part of the third world. It’s an ideology which has played a negative role because of its association with imperialism. Imperialism is a form of nationalism — think of the Nazis or the British. Nationalism is also promoted by the British. Even today those interests operate.

 India doesn’t acknowledge that it’s a multi-national state. The official stand of the government is that we don’t recognise the right to internal self-determination. I think that we have to account both the nationality question and the religion question. We have 150 million Muslims, and they are the targets of the war against terror. Both the international war and the local war. Today, Muslims have their own human rights groups because our secular human rights groups didn’t meet their needs.

Q: Do human rights always need to be particularised and contextualised in that way?

A: No, I’m from a background that believes in universal human rights. But when Muslims were being persecuted, the human rights groups weren’t helping. Universalising has its strengths, but on the other hand it delegitimises local issues.

Q: India seems to be much more aligned with Western interests and aspirations than Sri Lanka.

A: I feel like India doesn’t define its own interests. China is very clear about its interests, whether or not we agree with them. India just reacts. I think India has to decide on its own foreign policy, based on its national interest.

Q: You’ve written about the struggles of various ethnic minorities in India to achieve recognition by the state. Do you see ethnic conflict as inevitable?

A: I don’t think it’s the minorities who have been unsuccessful. It’s the Indian state’s inability to respond adequately to their legitimate demands. So for instance the state didn’t recognise the language of the Boros, who are a banned group, until 1990. Activists have been calling for a national debate on the ethnic question.

Q: You’ve talked about how your generation of leftist activists was too idealistic, and had to come to terms with the question of ethnic difference.

A: I think we have a universal vision. Liberalism, humanism, Marxism, Socialism — these are all universal systems. I’m not a postmodernist, but it’s true that we didn’t look at difference. That’s a trap of all these ideologies. You can be a very good liberal humanist and be racist and Eurocentric.

 We didn’t recognise that people on different economic levels are different. We had these very noble ideas of changing the world. I haven’t given those values, but I would say that in a particular situation some rights may be more important or may need to be redefined. Article 29 of the Declaration of Human Rights says that each individual can only achieve freedom through the community. That part of the Declaration is suppressed. Nobody talks about it. You can’t suppress every other language in favour of having a single language.

Q: You were the lawyer for Mohammad Afzal, an Indian Muslim convicted of conspiring to attack the Indian Parliament. You’ve admitted that if your roles were reversed he would probably not be representing you.

A: Well, we’ve had those discussions. I know that I’m defending him, but that he wouldn’t defend my values. But I think at the level of human rights everyone has a right to a fair trial and to free speech. As a human rights activist, I have no regrets about defending him. But as a political activist I would oppose everything that he stands for, and I do. Politically, I oppose fundamentalism.

Q: What about the roles of NGOs in India and Sri Lanka?

A: As an individual activist, I am accountable for my actions. An NGO is not accountable to the people for whom it works; it’s accountable to its donors. And the donors are usually Western funding agencies. The agenda is set by someone else. I once did a study of a Dutch funding agency, and I found a clear pattern: wherever there’s a local people’s movement, that’s where the NGO moves in. And they take the best cadres and leaders into their NGO and undermine the movement. If they don’t destroy the movement, they depoliticise it. A large number of people who would have been activists and politicians have been co-opted by the NGO, and that’s very serious.

Russel’s takes to chairs

Russel’s have taken to chairs under the brand name ‘St. Joseph.’  Banquet chairs are to be initially introduced to hotels and banquet halls. “They will be sold at competitive prices and we plan to introduce modern furniture too,” said Russel Perera. Photos shows the first banquet chair produced by Russel’s being presented to Rev. Fr. Prasad by Mr and Mrs. Bernard Perera as Berny Perera looks on.

Dimitri excels... 

Nawalage Dimitri  Cooray (17) of Lyceum  International School, Panadura was selected by his school and country to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference (GYLC) held in Washington D.C. and New York recently.

Participants from 50 countries attended this conference with 150 lecturers.

The participants were taken to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, briefed on the IMF and given a lecture on ‘The Global Village Peace and Security and the Global Summit.’ Dimitri was appointed Ambassador of his country group.  The group was also taken on visits to the United Nations,  US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Museum of Natural History.

In  August 2007 Dimitri Cooray was selected to tour Japan for a karate tournament. He was awarded a black belt in Karate in October 2006. Dimitri is also an excellent swimmer and represents his alma mater and the Panadura Aquatic Club. He is the son of Adrian and Neliya Cooray of Panadura and the grandson of Leslie and Celine Cooray of Pagoda, Nugegoda.

Reunion of Ex-Zambia expatriates

The Earl’s Court at the newly refurbished and upgraded Cinnamon Lakeside will be in full swing on the evening of October 10, when the Sri  Lankans who worked in Zambia gather to reminisce old times, swap yarns and trip the light fantastic in the way it used to be.

These ex-Zambia expats who are reputed to be getting younger at heart despite the passage of time and increasing age will be entertained by the music provided by C & C and performances by Ronnie and Corrine.

If one was to go by the terrific time they had four years ago…this will surely be an event to remember.

Call 0777 562555 or  0773 070338 for details.

Picture shows a flashback to 2005.

By Ranee Mohamed 

With a young and ritzy general manager, a smiling staff and a host of happy guests, the Galadari Hotel this week celebrates its 25th birthday. What puts the icing on the cake is the fact that the vibrant General Manager, Sampath Siriwardene has allowed a good portion of the merriment to spill out to an orphanage for homeless children and women in distress.

October 6 is a day of celebration for the celebrated Galadari Hotel which has had the strength to withstand the most devastating blows during the era of turmoil in Sri Lanka. The ballroom was badly damaged as was the lobby area of the hotel. They say it is hard to put a good man down, but it seems that it is harder to put a good hotel down.

Today Galadari Hotel’s grandeur is dazzling. Its sparkling ballroom which is the venue for a countless fairy tale weddings looks like the master bedroom of heaven.

“Our ballroom is perhaps the largest,” said the modest General Manager Siriwardene, referring to Galadari’s ballroom which is the largest in the city — with a ceiling height of 23 1/2 feet and six breathtaking Italian Chandeliers.

The mellow lights

The soft, new refurbishment has been finely blended into this 25 year old majestic hotel. As its mellow lighting reflect on the marble floors it is the hospitality that takes the spotlight at the Galadari.

The refurbishments to the rooms of the Galadari Hotel has been minimal. The over 400 rooms have a close view of the sea and General Manager Siriwardene is eager to bet that it is his hotel, the Galadari that has the largest beds in the city. Obviously, Siriwardene and his staff have not been sleeping at their jobs.  Big beds, bigger breakfast and a sea of food at their buffets make this hotel by the sea an oasis in the city. Its view of the sea and the rippling waters far beyond is perhaps the closest marriage made between the businessman and nature.

Situated in the commercial capital, close to banks, the World Trade Centre and in the heart of the businesses, the Galadari Hotel seems to change face in the evenings as everyone packs up to go home. For this is the time the hotel too changes its business suit and gets into the mood to dine and party.

Intoxicating factors

The Margarita Blue opens its doors daily for dinner too as it does for lunch with a variety of appetisers, snacks, main dishes and desserts. A breathtaking view of the sunset from its terrace, delicious barbecues to rekindle more senses and the silver jubilee cocktail created by their own barman are all intoxicating factors here at the Margarita Blue.

The Lobby Bar with its soft lighting and mellow music is where stress takes a nosedive. Open from 7 a.m till midnight it can lead one to the Coffee Shop which believes in large portions and generosity. The buffets are lavish, the a la carte is value for money. There are no little bits and pieces here at the Coffee Shop as it remains open through the night. The a la  carte is geared to not only win the taste buds but also the hearts and minds.

The California Grill is more than wine and roses. It is  fine dining at its finest and pampering and care as best as they can get.  Three course menus and a dessert are at a fine, reasonable cost.

The Sheherezade Arabic Restaurant serves Middle Eastern delicacies and has a Arabian dinner buffet which is sought after.

For lunch and dinner

The Stix is Galadari Hotel going Chinese, open for lunch and dinner.

The Café 64 of Galadari  Hotel has won the hearts of the tired office workers. Sandwiches, cakes, pastries, juices, ice cream, biryani, fried rice, sea food rice, koththu are available at affordable prices and is open from 7 a.m. to midnight.

Behind all this wonderful food are a group of star class chefs who have put this five star hotel in the culinary map of the world.

The Karaoke Lounge, the launderette, the florists and body care and massage therapy centres are all other flowers in the bouquet that is the Galadari Hotel.

The Galadari Hotel has been offering a special room package for Sri Lankans too. “It was amazing to see those repeat  guests,” said Siriwardene, the brainchild behind the package which catered to Sri Lankans who came to Colombo, be it to see a doctor, have fun or for an anniversary celebration. Inclusive of breakfast with great discounts on meals at the restaurants, the package for Sri Lankans shows that Galadari Hotel has truly opened its doors to fellow feeling.

“It is our profits that have gone into the refurbishment of the hotel. It is the profits we have converted to refurbishment,” said Siriwardene, speaking to The Sunday Leader  from the Executive Offices of the Hotel. Just after a meeting, and with another coming up in an hour, the smiling Sampath Siriwardene was indeed the swan who is fastidious about the elegance, hospitality and the quality at his hotel.

Food and Hygiene Award

Thus it comes as no surprise that the Galadari Hotel has been honoured with the HACCP Food and Hygiene Award to acknowledge their quality.

“This is team work. Our department heads are very experienced and dedicated, ” said Siriwardene, speaking to The Sunday Leader. We are blessed with  this wonderful, caring staff and it has made the job of the General Manager easier. Their hospitality is inherent. Warmth, caring and hospitality are not attributes one can learn. One has to be born with these qualities. And we have the correct people with the right attitudes,” said the smiling. Siriwardene.

And with his over three decades of experience in five star hotels at the then Oberoi and Hilton, Siriwardene seems to know the art of customer satisfaction, genuine hospitality and star class quality like the back of his hand.

Happy Birthday Galadari Hotel — Many Happy Returns and may good luck go with you.  

raneemoham@hotmail.com

On Saturday, September 8, 1934, as the last speck of gold had dipped into the horizon and a grey film of dusk had enveloped the sky, a group of enthusiastic men and women, in faith and understanding assembled unostentatiously in a little church hall to make history.

This meeting was convened by Shelton Schokman Snr.— the purpose, to form the Dematagoda Christian Guild, the first interdenominational organisation in the area.

The meeting took place at the Ranasinghe Memorial Hall, situated down Albion Road (now Sri Dharmarama Road) in Dematagoda and was presided over by the late Dr. Sir Frank Gunasekeran OBE.

Influenced by the simplicity of this man of vision, the Dematagoda Christian Guild was inaugurated on this day. Its objectives were:

“To remember God and praise him and always in thought, word and deed and by example work for His Glory and Name.”

The Guild started a Sunday school that attracted children from all denominations. On Saturday evenings, meetings were held for the benefit of the parents and ministers from all denominations were invited to give a message. It also catered to the welfare of the sick, the elderly and the destitute and regular visits were paid to the General Hospital, the Khan Memorial Hall, the Home for the Aged, Darley Road, the Home for the Aged, Campbell Park and the City Refuge, Wanathamulla.

In 1950, the Guild founded its Recreation Club to provide sporting and social activities among its younger members and senior citizens.

In 1972 the founder at the age of 81 decided to migrate to Australia to be with his family. However, he made doubly sure that the Guild continues to exist. He handed over the Guild to the Salvation Army to be run as a separate entity and set up a Trust Fund to finance its welfare work.

In Australia he continued to help the needy in Sri Lanka until his demise in 1978.

Operation Hope

In July 2005 the administrators of the Guild visited Sri Lanka and signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the Salvation Army changing its name to Operation Hope. On  October 8, 2005 it was officially registered in Melbourne as a non profit Christian organisation, run by a board of directors and volunteers.

Operation Hope exists to advocate on behalf of the poor and marginalised by speaking on their behalf and by meeting their physical, social, economical, educational and spiritual needs.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, the directors of Operation Hope visited Sri Lanka. The response from Melbourne was so overwhelming that they were able to help those affected, especially in the Galle and Batticaloa areas, coordinating supplies personally.

We have partnered with some wonderful organisations already doing great work. One such organisation is the Australia/Sri Lanka Medical Aid team (AusLMAT) who distributed 500 soft toys on behalf of Operation Hope. Two members of the OH team came to Sri Lanka with AusLMAT and visited some of the hospitals as well as a remote school in Tissamaharama that had many educational needs.

OH has also given financial help to Caleb Alexander of Spirit Mission in building an Orphanage in Hanwella and will meet the needs of the orphans once accommodated.

In Melbourne senior citizens, who are often a forgotten part of our society, are taken on day trips and weekend outings. Many of these folk are widows and this provides a much needed social link.

More  recently OH  has partnered with Micah Challenge to advocate on behalf of the poor to our politicians. It is believed that together we can make poverty history. The President, Fiona Grech annually visits politicians in Canberra campaigning to reduce child and maternal deaths in the Asia Pacific region and in fact had the opportunity to have a one to one meeting with the Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to discuss these matters.

We can choose to look at life like Edward Everett when he said….

“I am only one, but still I am one I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

Our most vulnerable citizens have become the world’s most disposable commodity. The worst part of poverty is not the physical conditions but the erosion of hopes and dreams.

Thanksgiving service

To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Dematagoda  Christian Guild a joyful ecumenical Thanksgiving Service was held at the Christian Reformed (formerly DRC) Church, Wellawatte on Friday, September 4, at 11am. This event was organised by its energetic coordinator in Sri Lanka, Aloma Cramer.

The directors, Charles and Claudette Schokman flew to Sri Lanka specifically for this event. There was a good gathering of past members and friends associated with the Guild in its heyday — and their descendants. Some grandchildren of Sir Frank Gunasekera who had continued as president of the Guild during his lifetime, graced the occasion. It was fitting that the representatives of different church denominations and of the Salvation Army participated. Some of them spoke of their recollections of attending the ecumenical Sunday School at the Ranasinghe Hall as young children. Pastor Colton Wickremaratne of the Assemblies of God was one such and he gave an inspiring message.

Charles Schokman too addressed the gathering, recalling that he was only five years old when his father realised his passionate dream of an ecumenical centre that would serve not only the Christian community in Dematagoda, but the poor of the area as well. “We have opened a new chapter in this Guild through Operation Hope and as we continue the good work of those who have gone before us, let us rededicate our lives for the greater Glory of God,” he concluded.

The birthday cake was cut by the oldest member — Dorris Vannithamby and the grand son of Sir Frank Gunasekeran, Nalin.

 A very happy time of fellowship in the church hall followed the service that had obviously stirred the memories of all.

By Dr. Harold Gunatillake
FRCS., FICS., FIACS., AM (Sing)
Cosmetic Surgeon

Continued from last week

The presence of DHT in the balding hair follicles destroys the follicles, and contrary to the DHT has no sensitivity on the hair follicles on the sides and the back of the scalp. Hence the hair grows uninterruptedly.

This is referred to as male pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia, or genetic hair loss in men. It is believed that those men who develop early thickening of body hair are bound to grow prematurely bald later in life.

A significant difference in the pattern of hair loss in androgenic alopecia between the genders is that women do not become completely bald. Instead, they show patterns of diffuse thinning, often worse centrally. This difference is mainly due to the influence of the female hormone, oestrogen a stimulating factor for hair growth.

Androgenic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in men, and women. Women too manufacture androgen — the dominant male hormone in their ovaries and adrenal glands. In most situations the dominantly present female hormone subdues this effect during the child-bearing period. Thinning and loss of hair prominently is more common during the post-menopausal period among women. Oestrogen depletion in the shrinking ovaries and increased production of the male hormones in adrenal glands may be responsible for this change.

Women are recommended to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during their pre and post-menopausal period for their well-being, and prevent early loss of hair.

It is also an observation that teenage girls and young women in Western countries do not complain loss of excessive hair on the scalp, although they indulge in more salon treatments like hot stretching, permanent waving, straightening, bleaching, tinting, and what not. It is possible the hormones in their contraceptive pill may favour growth of healthy hair. Likewise, the elderly ladies too retain their hair, in spite of the processes they indulge in the hair salons regularly.

Again HRT may be responsible for such continuation of having healthy, strong hair. Another reason why ladies should be on HRT is that their hormones become more androgenic (male like) at menopause. Menopausal women having a history of cancer in the immediate family are cautioned to have mammograms and pap smears regularly. There are certain gene tests also to be done.

Diagnostic blood tests for women’s hair loss

Your doctor will order certain blood tests to check whether your hair loss is due to certain hormones. The blood tests are testosterone, androstenedione, prolactin, follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, serum iron, serum ferritin, thyroid function tests and a full blood count.

Hirsutism in teenage girls

In Sri Lanka it is quite an observable feature that many young girls suffer thick and black hair distributions, like the male counterparts, on the upper lips, chin, side burns, chest, and exposed extremities. These unfortunate teenagers may also suffer from face scars, secondary to rosacea vulgaris (acne), oily skins, and black and white heads, associated with menstrual irregularity. It is a most embarrassing situation, and stressful to spend lots of money for temporary hair removing methods and creams to clean the face skin.

Using home made hot wax and threading are most popular, and cheap. Electrolysis, which is a technique to burn the roots through a fine filament by passing an electric current, is a permanent exacting method. This method has to be practised by qualified doctors, as the technique involves local anaesthesia and training to perform confidently and skillfully. Plucking facial hair with pincers is another past time. In Western countries dry shaving with electric shavers specially made for ladies is quite popular, cheap and convenient.

Whilst practising these temporary techniques, changing the hormone distribution biochemically through the blood stream is the permanent solution for these girls. Today there are medications to suppress the androgenic effects of hormones, and enhance the female oestrogen levels. If one has these problems, one must consult a doctor for the right specific medication. Such medication should be taken at least for a year to visualise results. The doctor will also do blood tests, and other tests, to find out the causes of the problem. Vast majority of women with excessive hair in the said areas are perfectly normal in the hormone levels. It is possible that the hair follicles are overly sensitive to androgen hormones.

Most men and women at some stage in their lives seek professional services for these problems, but it is advised that they should seek these services early, rather than delaying.

Temporary hair loss in women

 After pregnancy it is common to lose hair. Starting or stopping the contraceptive pill may also cause temporary loss of hair. Crash dieting, chronic nutritional deprivations, alcoholism, zinc or iron deficiency can all be causes of temporary hair loss. These conditions can be well treated with hair stimulating hair lotions available in the market.

Alopecia areata

This is a condition where there is total loss of scalp hair in discrete areas. This is considered as an auto immune phenomenon caused by one’s own disease fighting white cells. Stress has been blamed for this state. The condition is reversible with medication, especially when the hair loss is confined to one discrete area.

When the whole scalp is affected the condition is called alopecia totalis, and if the body  is also involved, it is called alopecia universalis. The doctors prescribe cortisone injections into these areas weekly, until visible results appear.

Other causes

There are many other factors that cause loss of hair. Sometimes the word non-scarring alopecia is used to denote that there is no actual destruction of follicles, and no scar tissue formation. Your physician will look through a magnifying lens to detect the presence or absence of hair follicles. The presence of hair follicles is an excellent signal for remedial measures.

Some of these causes are associated with medical conditions, including infections, auto immune diseases, and thyroid and kidney diseases. In these diseases hair loss forms a minor symptom.

Many drugs and chemotherapy can cause loss of hair. Medications such as statins given to lower cholesterol level in blood, is one such culprit.  Medications given for stomach ulcers, arthritis, heart disease, may cause hair loss.

Dandruff, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stress are contributing factors for hair loss. Once the drugs are stopped the hair follicles will recover and the hair will re-grow.

Some nutritional deficiencies can also cause non-scarring hair loss, i.e. protein deficiency, anaemia, and zinc deficiency. Vegetarians can lose hair, and nutritional supplementation may be required.

When primary causes for hair loss are ruled out, Minoxidil (2% or 5%), Propecia, and Folligro, are worth a try during the early stages of hair loss. These medications need to be tried long term for adequate response. Folligro was originally developed in Germany and has been slowly gaining popularity in Europe.

For male type of balding today, there are experienced surgeons who can restore hairs surgically. The techniques practised are hair transplants, scalp reduction, strip grafts, Yuri flaps, among others.

Hair transplant techniques are most popular in affluent countries, and our interested clients had to go abroad for such surgery. Today, this sort of surgery is available at your doorstep, performed by surgeons experienced in this field abroad for many years, and the price you pay is affordable, compared to what is paid abroad.

The key to hair transplants is the concept of donor area dominance. The men who require such restoration should have sufficient hair follicles on the back and sides of their heads. These hair follicles have no genetic instructions to be sensitive to DHT, and hence are most suitable to be transferred to bald areas of the head. A strip of hair bearing skin, 9mm width, a length extending from one ear lobe to the other, is harvested under local anaesthesia. The gap is approximated straight away with fine dissolving sutures. The flaps containing hair remaining above and below on either side fill the gap, or no visible scar is seen.

This harvested strip is sliced into strips, ultimately to obtain single or double hair follicle units. After the follicular units are carefully prepared under magnification, they are strategically placed into the balding scalp through minute stab incisions.

The whole procedure done under local anaesthesia takes five hours. A fixative solution is sprayed to the recipient site at the end of the procedure, and the person is sent home without hospitalisation or wrapped up dressings.

The whole process is so simplified, that you may be able to go for your usual occupation about the third day. Bleeding after this surgery is a rarity, and mild analgesics are sufficient for night pain.

This technique is mainly for males, but can be done for ladies if the balding is severe. Scalp reduction may be more suitable for women who suffer from crown loss of hair.

The question is asked whether there is a connection between heart disease and hair loss. Two recent studies in the USA have shown that bald men have a greater incidence of heart disease. It has also been shown that bald men have higher cholesterol levels than non-bald.

Recent studies also suggest that food choices influence the hormones that lead to hair loss, and so you may be able to postpone balding by modifying your diet.

High fat foods increase testosterone production and reduce the amount of sex hormone binding globulin that keeps it in check. As a result, there is more testosterone available to enter the hair follicles and cause hair loss. In contrast, low fat high fibre foods slow down hormone production and speed up hormone elimination.

Recent studies have shown that caffeine can help stimulate hair growth.  The new study, published in the International Journal of Dermatology, found that caffeine works by blocking the effects of a chemical known to damage hair follicles. You can make your own concentrated caffeine lotions and scalp massaging shampoos from tea or coffee.

Mix two tablespoonful of black tea in a half cup of hot water. You could add a bit of sugar to extract the caffeine maximally. Apply this warm tea before having a shower and massage into the scalp so that the caffeine will reach the hair follicles, and wash your head with shampoo 15 minutes later. You may prepare a similar lotion with coffee, too. In some countries like U.S. caffeine shampoos are available in the market.

Remember there is a solution for your hair loss problem.