Morning Spice by Ginger
Who is jacking up prices — the producer or seller?

Who is jacking up the prices so much these days, the producer or the seller. There may be a marginal raising of prices these days, but one feels that the middleman is best cushioned against inflationary trends in this country. If fuel goes up, he just sends up the price clean over the increase in fuel. If you look at it proportion wise, just as much as GST is charged but not paid. Now both the producer and seller seem to draw the short straw every time some factor other than the market sources send up prices.

The other day, Ginger went marketing and the humblest of vegetables barring cabbage seemed to cost a shade under Rs. 40. Now what happens to family of four or five where the bread winner earns less than Rs. 10,000 or so? How does he keep the wolf from the door? True, many CWE outlets sell vegetables, but right now they don’t seem to be faring all that well. Besides what per centage of the country can it actually serve. There has to be a concerted drive through consumer societies and housewives associations to organise their own collecting centres and transport and break into this field of activity.

One man’s meat another’s poison
The old theory that one man’s meat may be another’s poison may not hold good where antibiotics are concerned, going by some recent observations. The belief was that antibiotics given to farm animals would not lead to any complications for humans but that belief appears to fading right now.

Now scientists feel that dosing cattle heavily with antibiotics may result in humans carrying super resistant bacteria in them. Now scientists have discovered that some humans living on ranches and farms have been infected with the same germs that their cattle had been infected with.

Banking problems
Armoured car guards evidently perform some unexpected functions as well. They are involved with banking security. These men intently play an important role in the transport of cash and when they get huffed about something and decide to stop work, it can lead to serious banking problems.

When the guards decided to launch a strike, people felt that bank notes would be hard to get and this virtually caused a run on the automatic teller machines as long queues lined up to collect cash from them. The guards are asking for better pay and protection from armed bandits. They are supported by a section of teller machine workers.

Tamil parties and Tamils

No Tamil can be blamed for supporting the LTTE right at the beginning, because the dignity and self respect of the Tamils were greatly undermined and they were humiliated in many ways. However there is a genuine feeling of regret and a sincere attempt at reconciliation. It is therefore in the larger interests of the Tamils to accept the hand of friendship extended by the vast majority of Sinhalese.

The newspapers say that all Tamil parties endorse the rejection of the Devolution Proposals by the LTTE. I have in my earlier letters quite openly stated that there is the ever present danger to the Tamils living outside the North and East, especially people of the Upcountry Tamil Community, who have no ‘traditional homeland’. I have agitated for the provision in the constitution of safeguards, especially the right to receive compensation from the government in the event of communal disturbances, the chances of which are more, when the country is divided community-wise.

As a matter of fact, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, following the communal disturbances of August-September 1977 (Sansoni Commission) has recommended this same constitutional safeguard viz government to pay compensation to victims of communal violence. I like to repeat that a very pertinent question had been raised by the Sinhala Commission viz, ‘How safe are the Tamils outside the North and East in the event of the Devolution package being implemented’. It is a pity - may be due to lack of sincerity that those Tamil parties, who say they represent the Upcountry Tamil Community, have failed to address their minds to this important aspect.

It is quite obvious and often spoken about that the problems that face the Upcountry Tamil Community are quite different to the problems of those in the North and East. This was the reason for the late S. Thondaman to withdraw from the Triumvirate of the T.U.F. when the name was changed to T.U.L.F. The Tamils outside the North and East, as well as the moderate Sinhalese, know only too well that for good or for ill, they have to live together. Solely on my own experience and that of large numbers of others, to whose aid I have gone for the last 20 years, after my retirement from the Local Government Service, I am convinced and have reservations that the remedy to the present ills is the ‘Package’.

Many of us vociferously advocated a National Government. We did not bargain that it would result in the some of the advocates receiving portfolios as Ministers and the matter ending there. Then we agitated that the PA and UNP should join hands and problems will be solved. But there again, it is a disappointment. The on going discussion between these two reminds us of Nero and Rome.

The discussions on the proposed constitution appear to lean more towards a constitution for the politicians and officialdom and less and less for the people. More and more burdens will be heaped on the people by increasing the numbers of parliamentarians. In a small country like ours with an 18 million population, two hundred politicians will be more than enough. Here, I am reminded of the modification, by Herman Finer, in his book ‘The Future of Government’ to Pope’s cynical couplet

For forms of government let fools context, what ever is best administered is best. Herman Finer says, we have validly learnt the answer (as the instrumental techniques are available) and modifies it with the addition of these words. But what is best must free men decide lest leaders gull them and officials ride.

And this leads me on to state that the self respect and dignity of the Tamils are still being undermined and bitterness created because of failure to understand and appreciate problems, e.g. - A few days ago Tamil teacher receives transfer order, with short notice of less than two weeks to a distant area; The letter was in Sinhala only, and to add insult to injury, the letter states that if the teacher does not report at the new station on the due date, the teacher will be treated as having vacated post. Courtesy requires at least a Tamil translation or an English one.

Of course, the Professor will argue that this is in keeping with the language policy. Then can the Tamils be blamed, if they insist that the language of administration in the predominantly Tamil areas should be Tamil. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. This is how problems arise. Corrective measures should be taken at grass route level, in practice, in day to day matters, then there will be no room for complaint and things will go on smoothly and everybody happy.

There is yet another important matter that I wish to raise in this letter. No Tamil party outside the North and East can claim they represent the Tamils. Large numbers of Tamils voted for the PA or UNP or Leftist parties. In fact the Tamil candidates, themselves came on the UNP or PA ticket.

There are many Tamils in Colombo, who are worried and unhappy. what is their future, by the bitterness that is now being created in the on going war and statements made by Tamils in foreign countries. They fear reprisals, to themselves, to their kith and kin, if they raise their voices, so they are compelled to remain silent. The true views of Tamils outside the North and East can be known, only by a referendum and the question to be asked is - Do you wish the country to be divided on the basis of communal representation ? Yes or no.

S. Thambyrajah
Colombo 3

Devolution and ‘cockiness’ of Tamil parties

The final round of the historic talks between the PA and the UNP for constitutional reforms were held last week. The President reiterated that the government would seek the active co-operation of all political parties in Parliament, to pass the new constitution and usher in peace to the Island. She said, "our only aim is to ensure that the future generations do not have to face the scourge of terrorism. Let us all be dedicated to the cause of creating a peaceful and united Sri Lanka..."

The Indian Foreign Minister as well told the special envoy of the Sri Lanka President, that India would support restoration of a lasting peace which would be possible through a political process within the framework of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. And the government with the support of the UNP and others, hope to pass the constitutional reforms aimed at ending the country’s ethnic war.

Despite these, the LTTE had outright rejected the government’s amended devolution proposals without even having seen the final draft. In 1995, the LTTE rejected the original devolution package. Anton Balasingham in an interview with the London based Tamil Guardian had made an unequivocal statement to the effect that the, "Devolution Package fails to address the key demand or the national aspirations of the Tamil people as articulated in the cardinal principles of the Thimpu declarations". The Thimpu declaration was based on separatism and therefore, it was turned down by the government in 1985 on the grounds that it impinged the sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

What is surprising is that the moderate Tamil parties as well had endorsed LTTE’s rejection of devolution proposals while the key player in drafting the package was Mr. Tiruchelvam, who got killed by a suicide bomber. This support is despite the fact that their leaders had been gradually eliminated by the LTTE. The irony is, after all, these years of continuous talks and accommodating all the political parties, the moderate Tamils are now presenting various theorems, basically aligning themselves with the stand taken by the LTTE.

In Anton Balasingham’s statement he had said, "The government is living in a fools’ paradise. The LTTE controls more than seventy per cent of the landmass of the Tamil homeland. We are confident that we will take control of the Jaffna Peninsula in the near future. We have already instituted a de facto state on territories under our control..." This is a clear indication of what the LTTE is fighting for. Because of the recent setbacks suffered by the armed forces the Tigers are talking from a point of strength. Based on the above statement, it appears that the time spent on constitutional reforms had been a waste of time. Moderate Tamil political parties have endorsed LTTE’s rejection of proposals and seem to have rallied with them. Therefore, it is a myth that they value the efforts of the government.

It has to be noted that according to Balasingham what matters is who controls the ground. Therefore, their goal is to win the war at any cost and the rationale appears to be that the moderate Tamils will go with the terrorists. Their request that the PA government should have a meaningful dialogue with the LTTE in bringing forward a peaceful permanent solution looks surprising. Because, such requests to the LTTE in the past had been met with negative response. As it is for them, what matters is, ‘who controls the ground’.

Therefore, based on the tone of Anton Balasingham’s statement, and now that they have lost their dream of regaining Jaffna, the President should stick to the rallying cry made after the failed assassination attempt in December and boost the sagging morale of the people and our valiant troops and urge the Sinhalese, Tamils and the others to join the struggle against terrorism.

Dr. P. A. Samaraweera
Colombo

Re-define ‘Sihala Urumaya’

Much credit is due to you and Mr. C. A. Chandraperuma for the article, published in the mid week Island of July 5 regarding the new party in the name of "Sihala Urumaya". In the hinterland where I come from, the name of the party at least is being spoken about with great interest and curiosity.

The Sabaragamuwa province is an ideal fertile ground to evoke the kind of fervour, of Sinhala Buddhist identity with a plethora of temples and the influence of the Buddhist clergy at it’s best, the heartland of Sinhala Buddhist Legacy. But would it catalyse the population as did SWRD in 1956 with his paradigm shift then of a coat and tie gentry, a typical of British prudery associated with the then UNP and crass capitalism.

The post independent management of our country has been either with the UNP or the SLFP with various appendages of other parties to the latter. And within this period, whilst the two parties and their supporters in the south belted each other for position and power, the Northern and Eastern minorities were left to their own machinations. The result of which is a seventeen year old separatist war and no end in sight.

The separatist war at best was an irritation to the comfort of the ruling body, be it the UNP or the SLFP. The Sinhala Buddhist, or Sinhala Christian, Burghers or the Muslims were taken for granted only useful during election time for their ballot — Bombs go off and people die by the hundreds at a time, but it’s soon forgotten with a one day cricket match in the offing. The bereaved soldiers family grieve in the silence of their homes for ever.

And thus, both these ruling parties lied and deceived the masses with considerable ease with promises never meant to be kept.

The deception and hypocrisy of these two parties, seems however, visible to the warring separatist—the LTTE. The muzzled press of the south kept quiet, and the government media went to town with Gobbelean leis with impunity. The Southerners happily swallowed the rope and was content, until the next bomb explodes.

The LTTE however, except for a brief randezvous with President Premadasa has never publicly accepted that anything short of a separate state is acceptable either nationally or internationally or for that matter come to any negotiating table, other than after a troop withdrawal from these areas in the North and East.

Towards this end, it has spared none that got in their way, Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims in any part of the country or for that matter even Rajiv Gandhi of India.

One cannot, but grudgingly and painfully accept the observations of Mr. Anura Bandaranaike in his speech last week to a luncheon in Colombo, that the war cannot be won. I believe that even the most naive would accept that he has said the truth.

The LTTE is in fact, an international organisation with a myriad of connections all over the world. It’s tentacles have spread to every corner of the globe with over seventy million Tamils. The sympathy generated through clever propaganda is with them as the saviours of an oppressed community from an occupying force deemed, barbaric in their part of the land. And their leader V.P. as the modern day Bonaparte. — Liberator extraordinary. And it seems that cash and goodwill from the Europe and the America flow free with every debacle of the forces in the north.

It’s in this state and predicament that the country looks towards an alternative to the UNP and the SLFP. The cost of living, crime, corruption and the absolute degradation of the country, economically and socially is been witnessed by the public, with resigned apathy. (And pray that another youth insurrection is not in the offing).

The hope of the public would be that a new party would emerge which would fulfil the aspirations of all communities in the economic front. — National development sans, secularism.

I am therefore compelled to believe that the separatist war in the north is all about: economic independence from the South and nothing else.

The "urumites" would therefore be wise to follow a course to appeal to the masses that it would uplift the economy of the country as it’s core policy and the preservations of the rights of the Sinhala Buddhists as the ulterior rather than identify itself as secularists; which is out dated in concept, unacceptable internationally and counterproductive in the long term.

Legal luminaries at the helm of the new party offers no hope in terms of economic upliftment: rather, it requires another kind of intelligence, a different ball game, a shift in paradigm, if the new found party should ever want to strike root as an alternative to the UNP and SLFP. The lessons of history is that a great majority of voters believe that the UNP offers the best prospects of economic development, irrespective of their leaders, and the SLFP the alternative when the former is wayward. Hungry and angry people care for no-nationalism.

G. Mahen P. Siriwardena
Kegalle

Countering Shell Gas tactics

I take my hat off to Mr. Ephrem Fernando of Colombo 4, whose letter under the heading ‘Hell at high noon’ appeared in ‘the Island’ of 6th instant. His example in switching over to a multi-ring clay cooker for his use at home should, I think, be followed by all those, especially, of the middle and lower classes who are groaning under the deadweight of the very high cost of living brought about by the avarice and pure greed for money by multi-national companies like the Shell Gas on the one hand and the callousness and insensivity of the government on the other.

As long as the present government is in power, Shell Gas and other such corrupt companies will continue to hold sway and carry on their avaricious profit increasing activities regardless of the sufferings of the people. They are emboldened to indulge in such activities because they have found their strongest ally in the PA government, even whose so called socialist oriented left partners remain silent when protests are voiced in this regard. It will be only the most foolish of our people who will vainly expect the government to provide them any relief.

it is imperative that we find alternative means to satisfy our needs. Of course it is true that it will not be easy, but it is also true that without making some sacrifice of our comfort and easy living ways, we will not be able to achieve anything.

Ever since Shell Gas effected its price increase of 105 per cylinder, I have also stopped using gas and taken to less expensive ways. I am sure that there would be many others who would have thought on similar lines. However, the success of our efforts depend on our unity and determination.

Once again, I congratulate Mr. Ephrem Fernando for taking up the challenge and appeal to all others who are gravely affected by Shall Gas unjust action to join hands with us.

O. H. Abdeen
Kalpitiya