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Morning Spice by Ginger How much more do we need to defend the realm. A hundred rupees per head would about fill the need for the moment. Every town and hamlet should be asked to set up collecting units comprising professionals and priests and so forth and these funds should be sent directly to an armaments fund. Of course the Grama Sevakaya should submit a list of those who would be too poor to contribute to it. Each adult member of every family should be considered an individual unit for the purpose of the count. This country has more arm chair critics than most other countries or to be precise more than the number of arm chairs there are in the country. The moment some one is asked to do some thing for his country he just turns pale and excuses himself before doing the vanishing trick. The fact is that too many things have been handed over to Citizen Perera on a platter for him to realise that certain goals have to be achieved only after certain sacrifices are made. Anti magnetic watches Researchers had injected tiny quantities of chemotherapy which had bits of iron and carbon into tumours. Then they used magnets to draw the drugs out of the blood vessels and directly onto the cancerous tissue. Since these drugs do not circulate in the body they are likely to cause any side effect like falling hair etc. Christmas Island It set sail from Java in March and has not been seen since. The number of illegal immigrants keep increasing. In the second half of 1999 alone over two thousand five hundred people had been picked up where as only 200 people had been picked up in 1998. The fable of the Dog in the Manger "A reader", bashfully concealing his light of omniscience under the bushel of anonymity, has risen to endorse Mr. B. W. Kithsiri Fernando’s views of 11 April in your columns, reporting a conversation with a certain Theagarajah in Switzerland, to the effect that "Christians" - he does not specify whether Sinhala or Tamil, are the "true enemy of the Sinhalese and Tamils" - presumably, the Buddhists and Hindus, with, however, no mention of the Muslims. As to what are the bona fides of this Theagarajah and what are his credentials to pontificate on such a delicate subject - the whipping up of religious animosity is not a matter to be treated lightly, are left in limbo. I should like to ask Mr. Theagarajah, living it up in the midst of the overwhelming plenty guaranteed by the highest standard of living in the world, unaffected even by the two world wars, but yet said to be pining nostalgically for Sri Lanka - but, surely he is not forbidden the country nor is there a judgement order for his arrest or any other impediment to his returning, as well as Mr. Fernando, and shy "reader", one question. If, as is not unlikely government suspends further issues of rations to the people in the LTTE controlled areas of the North and East, as there are said to be falling into LTTE hands, will these gentlemen and other like Messrs V. Gnanasegaram, Dehiwela and D. Kandiah, Colombo 12 who have written to "The Island" of 24 April in similar vein, or more realistically, any Tamil capitalist or Hindu social organization, take up the burden and feed these people? If not, then, as Kumar used to say when other people made similar outrageous claims, "don’t talk". Why blame the NGOs and the Christian organizations for getting into the act and carrying out such tasks as relieving the displaced of the North and East for whom nobody else, least of all the affluent Tamils in the South and the rest of the world, seems to care? Without stretching the credibility of your readers by representing Tamil nationalism as an extension of Christian evangelism, will Mr. Theagarajah, through one of the NGOs or Christian organizations, adopt just one displaced family and forward regularly from the land of milk and chocolate, if not honey, where he is cosily ensconsed, their requirements of food, clothing and medicines? Without letting his heart run away into print or shedding tears on Mr. Kithsiri Fernando’s receptive shoulder, let him translate his good intentions into solid acts of mercy. Otherwise, it will be just another instance of the fable of the Dog in the Manger. Deportation attempt on Asghar fails Bombay based Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, renowned Islamic scholar, anti communal activist, Dawoodi Bohra reformist was recently in Colombo to deliver a lecture at an international workshop on Governance and Human Rights held at Hotel Tangereen in Kalutara between 19-28th April. He arrived on the April 19 at 2.40 p.m. and while passing through Immigration he was questioned by an officer who asked for his passport. Upon examination, Asghar was informed that he had been declared a persona non grata in 1986 and therefore would not be allowed to enter the country. When protesting against the false allegation, the Immigration detained him to prepare for his deportation. This incident occurred as a result of a misinformation campaign orchestrated by a handful of local Bohra fundamentalists. The Immigration authorities completely ignored his visa cleared by the Foreign Affairs and Cultural Affairs Ministries, his invitation by the organisers and to add insult to injury, denied his right to be heard. Feeling humiliated, Asghar was led to a detention cell to be locked away like a criminal, his passport snatched and made to languish for twelve hours. This campaign of violence against him has been going on in India for sometime as a reaction to his efforts at democratic reforms within the Dawoodi Bohra community. On February 13 this year, Asghar was physically attacked at the Bombay Airport by a group of followers of the Bohra high priest, Syedna Burhanuddin, on his return from Bhopal after delivering a lecture on religious fundamentalism to a group of police officers. Undeterred, he continues his academic work under constant threat of violence and death. He runs a Centre for Study of Society and Secularism in Bombay, which publishes the Quarterly Indian Journal of Secularism. Of late, the academic community in India has come under fierce attack by fundamentalists of all religions for their anti communal activities. Asghar’s arrival at KIA was greeted with abuse and intimidation. He was constantly heckled and harassed by the local Bohras who boarded the same flight from Bombay. It is truly bewildering how his detention was hastened by these intolerant Bohras who, as is evident now, held an entire state bureaucracy under their region of terror by displaying unbridled power and influence to stop a distinguished intellectual’s entry to Sri Lanka, a country which prides over traditions of tolerance and hospitality. Thanks to persistent efforts by conference organisers who intervened, Asghar was later released by the Ministry fearing international outrage. As human rights activists, we unequivocally condemn the degrading treatment meted out to him and call on the Ministries to tender a public apology. A government that endorsed his visa must be made to account for its action of withholding entry to a person of international repute on the basis of false claims made by a group of local Bohras. As Asghar has very rightly pointed out in his own statement to the press, the government must now take the responsibility of clarifying those laws which apply in the country to the public at large. Society for Secularism Education – the law of the jungle? Are private schools which make their students follow the syllabuses laid down by government and present students eventually for government examinations permitted to violate with impunity the basic tenets of government educational policies? The notice calling for new admissions for year 2000 to a leading girl’s school in Colombo, stipulates very clearly that entry levels at the school are predominantly at 3+ and 4+ and not 5+ (The Island of May 6). The age 5 plus has been unambiguously declared by the Department of Education as the entry level to Grade I which is the accepted entry level to any school be it government or private. Schools which have play schools or Montessoris may have them but should not play about with the entry level recognised by government. If lower levels are to be given preference for admission to Grade 1, (as the Notice implies), the very concept of leaving the field open for entry to Grade I is roundly defeated. Public and Private schools cannot have different entry levels. The recent Supreme Court judgement against S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, implies very lucidly that private schools cannot divorce themselves from the basic principles and policies enunciated by government or be a law unto themselves. Can the Government stay aloof and permit the law of the jungle to prevail? Can it permit each head of a private school to act according to his/her own fantasies? Over to you - Mr. Minister and the Bishop of Colombo! Confused parent, Recently there has been much press comment on the coverage of the Sri Lankan conflict on the BBC Sinhala Service’s Sandeshaya programme. The programme has undoubtedly lost much of its authenticity and credibility due to the patently biased coverage as well as the unprofessional conduct of some of its staff whose journalistic credentials have justifiably come under scrutiny. To add to its growing problems one of the staff members who was perhaps the only one known in local journalistic circles was removed. Even the staunch defence of the programme by the supercilious head of BBC’s Asian programmes division was unable to placate the growing number of Sandeshaya critics from among its large local audience, if one is to go by its mailbag segment that broadcasts part of the feedback from its listeners. Apparently all listener opinions are not aired ostensibly due to lack of air time, but it can be surmised that there are other reasons for not doing so. Those who have listened to and analysed the contents of Sandeshaya over a period of time know that it has become extremely selective in the opinions it airs and that it has displayed a knack of dropping commentators whose views do not conform to its editorial line. The programme has also been expedient and opportunistic in interviewing people. There have been recurring complaints of interviews being edited to distort and give spins. The innuendoes of the head of the programme when presenting an issue or after an interview, in particular, are scandalous and unbefitting of an international broadcaster. Besides, there have been several grave inaccuracies in reporting the number of casualties at the war front. The interest in the programme has also waned recently because Sandeshaya has chosen to reduce its coverage of cricket, especially the topical issue involving the betting and match-fixing scandal. It is not only the objectivity of Sandeshaya that has come to be questioned. The BBC World (TV) and World Service (Radio) coverage of the Sri Lankan conflict has been called into question because of its lopsided reports and comments. Long-time listeners and viewers of BBC can easily fathom that the contents of some reports are influenced by a select group from the foreign-funded NGO community. Those who provide analysis and comment in BBC reports are always the same individuals who are well known proponents of the "stop the military campaign" and advocates of "negotiate devolution as the only solution to the crisis". These elitist NGO spin doctors who have built their little think-tank "nests" using their networks of influence with politicians, have rarely condemned the LTTE for its atrocities against humanity or its world-wide web of criminal activities involving smuggling of drugs, arms, people as well as extortion rackets to fund its murderous campaign. Nor have these self-appointed pundits sought to question the LTTE’s sincerity in entering any negotiation or its breaking of promises given to the UN envoy on the recruitment of children for armed combat. BBC reports in recent times have either ignored or dropped those who articulate alternative views to its conventional wisdom of negotiation and devolution for conflict resolution. If the BBC wants its much vaunted credibility restored it must present a cross-section of Sri Lankan opinion in its reports. In fact there are plenty of articulate Sri Lankan intellectuals and professionals, some of who are well qualified to speak on conflict resolution. Media analyst The fable of the dog in the manger "A reader", bashfully concealing his light of omniscience under the bushel of anonymity, has risen to endorse Mr. B. W. Kithsiri Fernando’s views of April 11 in your columns, reporting a conversation with a certain Theagarajah in Switzerland, to the effect that "Christians" - he does not specify whether Sinhala or Tamil, are the "true enemy of the Sinhalese and Tamils" - presumably, the Buddhists and Hindus, with, however, no mention of the Muslims. As to what are the bona fides of this Theagarajah and what are his credentials to pontificate on such a delicate subject - the whipping up of religious animosity is not a matter to be treated lightly, are left in limbo. I should like to ask Mr. Theagarajah, living it up in the midst of the overwhelming plenty guaranteed by the highest standard of living in the world, unaffected even by the two world wars, but yet said to be pining nostalgically for Sri Lanka - but, surely he is not forbidden in the country nor is there a judgement order for his arrest or any other impediment to his returning, as well as Mr. Fernando, and shy "reader", one question. If, as is not unlikely government suspends further issues of rations to the people in the LTTE controlled areas of the north and east, as these are said to be falling into LTTE hands, will these gentlemen and others like Messrs V. Gnanasegaram, Dehiwela and D. Kandiah, Colombo 12 who have written to The Island of April 24 in similar vein, or more realistically, any Tamil capitalist or Hindu social organisation, take up the burden and feed these people? If not, then, as Kumar used to say when other people made similar outrageous claims, "don’t talk". Why blame the NGOs and the Christian organisations for getting into the act and carrying out such tasks as relieving the displaced of the north and east for whom nobody else, least of all the affluent Tamils in the south and the rest of the world, seems to care? Without stretching the credibility of your readers by representing Tamil nationalism as an extension of Christian evangelism, will Mr. Theagarajah, through one of the NGOs or Christian organisations, adopt just one displaced family and forward regularly from the land of milk and chocolate, if not honey, where he is cosily ensconsed, their requirements of food, clothing and medicines? Without letting his heart run away into print or shedding tears on Mr. Kithsiri Fernando’s receptive shoulder, let him translate his good intentions into solid acts of mercy. Otherwise, it will be just another instance of the fable of the dog in the manger. E. A. V. Naganathan Bulldozing Telecom subscribers I wish to refer to the letter captioned, "SLT Bulldozing the customer", published in your issue of April 27. The writer of that letter, A. D. Dharmakirti, is just one of the numerous subscribers of Telecom who has expressed his grievances in the media. Yet SLT seems to insist on subscribers collecting their directories. Presumably, the telephone service was privatised in order to give a better deal to the public and, like all other privatised ventures SLT too is supposed to be under the control of a Regulatory Commission and Mr. Dharmakirti’s contention that the Director General of the Commission is in an embarassing position to enforce his own directive; he is the erstwhile Managing Director of SLT. It would be interesting to know how his appointment came about - something similar to going for clairvoyance to the thief’s mother, as the Sinhala saying goes! Loyalties apart, if one has been appointed to do a job of work, he should do it without fear or favour. So, if the Director General has directed that the directories should be delivered to customers, it is, undoubtedly, the voice of the Commission, and it should be carried out. Otherwise, the existence of such a Commission would be meaningless. Surely, there should be some penalty laid down for failure to comply with the Commission’s directives? Mr. Dharmakirti’s suggestion that, until the SLT has the directories delivered to subscribers, the latter should delay payment of bills seems quite reasonable. For that purpose, one would suggest that subscribers of various areas form themselves into groups and arrive at a common decision; individual action will have little effect. In the undersigned’s area, there is already a Vigilance Committee, under whose aegis the matter is to be taken up. The same could be commended to others affected as well. A. Fernando, Of course, it was thoughtful of Mr. S. A. Fernando (‘The Island’ - 10/04/2000), to have articulated the grievances so silently endured by many a motorist passing Ja-Ela on Fridays especially. His suggestion to conduct the Pola on the neglected playground behind the Police Station is most welcome. Just a couple of days ago, a carnival was held at the very grounds. Unlike the Pola, which is sponsored by only a few hundred, the carnival attracted thousands and thousands even from distant places. In spite of such a vast crowd, the traffic moved gracefully without any snarl-up because the side roads were open for traffic. I fervently hope. the Ja-Ela Urban Council authorities would please make a genuine effort to solve this problem. D. N. Jayasooriya Norochcholai Coal Power Project and protests Many opinions have been expressed about the suitability or unsuitability of the Noorocholai site for the coal gas power station. The Catholic church is vehemently opposing the project as it will oust a few fisher families and damage the Talawila Church and its environment. When Castlereagh Reservoir was constructed, the old Maskeliya Town with its temple and kovils all went under water. But they were shifted to the new town without any fuss from the residents, or the kovil and temple dignitaries. When the Kandalama Hotel project was proposed to be built on the bank of the Kandalama Tank in the North Central Province, there was a host of protests from the residents of the area, that the tank would be polluted, and the villagers would be deprived of their means of livelihood. The priests of Dambulla Rangiri Vihare held a satyagraha protest but it was in vain. But ultimately all these protests miserably failed and Kandalama Hotel was constructed as originally planned. Today it is a Five Star Hotel heavily patronised by foreign and local tourists and has won prestigious awards, as a Super Five Star Hotel. It has given employment for thousands. It will bring in millions of rupees as revenue to the government coffers due to its popularity with local and foreign tourists. The cries of those protesters have now been silenced. The proposed highway from Matara to Colombo and the Expressway from Katunayaka to Colombo are about to commence in spite of public protests because they are positive steps towards development. If the Noorocholai site is the best for a Coal Power Project, the government should go ahead with this project irrespective of the clamour of a microscopic few, as it benefits the majority of the population, who will face a tragic power shortage in the near future. A. N. Samarasinghe Why don’t first Buddhists give up eating meat – a reply I certainly agree with Mr. R. I. Samaraweera that Buddhists should give up eating flesh. I go further and say Buddhists should not even trade in flesh. According to the noble Eight fold Path, dealing in flesh is also not permitted for a Buddhist. I find most of the eating houses, tourist hotels and guest houses have flesh in their menu cards. This is certainly against Buddhist teaching. If all Buddhists stop eating flesh and trading in flesh and if all animal lovers who are of all religions give up eating flesh 90 per cent of this animal slaughter will stop and may be selling meat will become unprofitable in Sri Lanka. We cannot force anyone to not eat flesh. We in our Kandy Humanitarian Society hold propaganda meetings and try to convince people to give up eating flesh. At these meetings we deal with several topics: 1. We show the sufferings of these poor innocent animals in our talks and show films on cruelty to animals. 2. We show medically how harmful the consumption of meat to one’s health is, leading to cancer, high blood pressure, increase in cholesterol strokes etc. These are of high incidence in meat eaters. 3. We convince them of the myth that vegetarians lack protein, and so pulses and cereals have enough proteins, vegetables have plenty of vitamins. 4. A question often asked is whether vegetarian diets have enough vitamin B12 and zinc. B12 is found in milk and milk products, zinc is found in Soya and cucumber seeds which can be roasted and eaten like cadju seeds. Besides, B12 and zinc can be obtained in tablets and we need not kill an animal for it The elephant can carry heavy weights and the horse can run fast, though both are pure vegetarians. 5. We demonstrate how tasty dishes can be turned out by vegetables, pulses and cereals. 6. The vegetarian society will be soon catering to vegetarians by opening ‘Vegan’ eating houses as in Britain and America. I think if all Buddhists and humanitarian societies have such propaganda islandwide more than 90 per cent of meat eating in Sri Lanka will come down so the suffering of these poor dumb animals who can’t plead for themselves will come down appreciatively. Dr. C. Godamunne |
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