 Does
UNESCO permit personal agendas?
Whether one is the chief minister, president, former president, party
leader or senior advisor of UNESCO, inherent traits do not wither or get
reformed when those individuals are not humble enough to look within
themselves, correct their shortcomings, or if they do not have the
welfare of the country or society at large in their heart. This is very
unfortunate in the case of Chandrika Kumaratunga whose driving force is
vengeance, viciousness, vindictiveness and arrogance. Those qualities
are unfortunately, not leadership qualities –it only exposes a person’s
weakness that she cannot go beyond ‘petty politics’.
After 11 years at the helm, it has yet not seeped into her arrogant
head, that she is no longer ‘The President’ or that she is now yet
another citizen of this country like any of us. Now what she needs to
do, is to live up to the dignity expected of having acquired a senior
advisor post with the UNESCO and conduct her duties to that organisation
with absolute commitment and with a sense of responsibility that
position holds for the Asian Region. Facilitating her to dabble with Sri
Lankan local politics is not the reason why she probably was given the
UNESCO post! Has she forgotten that or typical of her nature, does she
take the UNESCO for ‘ a doormat’ o be trampled and pushed around
according to her whims and fancies?
The recent interview she gave the Sunday Leader shows what principles
she has and also that she is not ashamed to make use of the very people
who were trailing her and criticizing her- if she could use them to hit
out at some of her adversaries! Now her greatest rival is our incumbent
President Mahinda Rajapaksaand officials of this government. Why?
Because she has forgotten that she no longer is wanted in this country
or that the country has no use of such personalities. Her one ambition
right now, is to make every possible effort, to insult the present
government under which her brother Anura Bandaranaike is lucky enough to
be given a ministerial post!
The Sunday newspapers of November 26, both in Sinhala and English, have
been full of her sob stories and her anxiety on a threat to her life,
her charges against the current IGP, ministers, SLFP, and her former
lackeys! What threat to her life when she was instrumental in helping
Prabhakaran the LTTE murderer, to smuggle his wife and children overseas
‘to heavenly life’ as against the hell that he has created for the Tamil
community in the North and East? After having granted ‘a presidential
favour’ to a terrorist leader, do you think that he will try to destroy
her life unless she destroys it herself? In the recent history of this
country, we have not seen anyone as ungrateful as she is.
What is she trying to achieve? Disruption of programmes that the current
president is trying to achieve while making every effort to maintain the
sovereignty of Sri Lanka?
UN organisations have been losing their credibility as being an
impartial body, working for the welfare of nations and if they do not do
anything to control the disciplines expected of their staff, they will
lost whatever respect is left for their organisations, not only in Sri
Lanka but also in other Asian countries! We would hate to see her taking
the UNESCO to the levels that she took Sri Lanka!
Darmitha
Kotte
***
Let the non-terrorists decide
In your Nov. 26 editorial your state: A substantial degree of
devolution for Tamils and Muslims who largely use the Tamil language in
the North and East should not be grudged.
Since we are talking of ONE indivisible country there should be freedom
for movement anywhere in Sri Lanka. In USA or India, one is free to move
from one federating unit to another without restriction. Contrast our
conflict with that of Northern Ireland which had completely segregated
communities whose pavements were painted differently. Not so in Sri
Lanka. At least, not yet.”
However, usage of the Tamil language as a regional language has NOT been
“grudged”... one would have to go back to a span of an year under SWRD
Banadaranaike’s stewardship 1956 to actually use that word with meaning!
In point of fact, not only has Tamil been legally enacted as a regional
language, but Tamil has also been accorded national language status. The
problem is the “merger” of the provinces into a single devolved region
that may down the road secede. Devolution to the North and East would
have no problems if the two provinces were separate, with no provision
for union. This core issue is somehow never made clear.
The Sinhala majority in Sri Lanka has not stood against any Tamils
moving into live among them...as you can see for yourself in the South
and Central regions of Sri Lanka. It is the Tamils who have prevented
any persons other than themselves owning property in Jaffna, through the
Thessavalamai laws. The LTTE has seen to it that any Sinhalese and
Muslims who happened to be living in the North also moved out, under
threat of death from them. Sinhalese understanding through the various
attempts made to resolve this problem, is that the Tamils will never be
satisfied with any solution other than a separate monoethnic region for
themselves, while they can continue to live in a multiethnic Sinhala
region which will inherit all the previous historical problems brought
on by the Tamil ethnic issue. Is that fair and equitable?
Unfortunately, even the most reasonable of Tamils, Mr. Anandasangaree
wants the “Indian model” with the merged provinces! In this backdrop,
should it not be the non-LTTE Tamils who could suggest to the rest of
us, some truly reasonable and equitable way in which they could be
satisfied, so this country’s people could accomodate each other and live
in civilized fashion?
Dr. A. M. Ladduwahetty
Maryland, USA
***
Stop the poster madness
The government of Sri Lanka is spending millions of dollars trying to
attract tourists to Sri Lanka. Local governments are spending millions
of tax payer rupees to keep our cities clean. At the same time, the
President, his pandan karayas, the JVP, the UNP and a whole host of “do
gooding” organisations are spending millions of rupees to desecrate
every available wall space and streets in our cities with ugly posters
and billboards. This is madness. In the case of the President’s posters
and billboards it is public money which is being wasted. Surely, the
President and the leaders of all these political parties and
organisations must show some civic responsibility and put an end to this
poster madness. So how about it Mr. President, you are a common sense
man and, you will win many friends, if you use your leadership to put a
stop to this poster madness.
The Minister for tourism is an outspoken man. Will he join me and show
some leadership in this simple exercise to keep our cities looking good?
N.B.S.C. Silva
***
Commendable budget move
Last week’s budget put a stop to firms lumping together losses of its
life portfolio with general insurance for tax purposes. The Government
has made its first move which should be lauded as one of the best moves
with regard to proper supervision and proper control of the life
portfolio. Enactment and enforcement of further stringent legislation
should follow for the protection and safety of the poor and low wage
earners, who suddenly find themselves unable to continue payment of
their life insurance policies. The text book version of theory and
practice of life assurance could then be implemented, enforced and
followed through for the actual benefit and welfare of the masses.
M.Z.M.Nazim
Colombo 6
***
Murder in the name of religion
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has chapters in 185 countries of the
world and was established in Sri Lanka in 1915. Founded by Hazrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad in 1889, we are a peace-loving, law-abiding community. Our
motto is: Love for All, Hatred for None. We reject as absolutely
un-Islamic and unacceptable the violent concept of Jihad propounded by
other Muslims. For our non-violent beliefs and practices, our members in
Sri Lanka here have, from time to time, been attacked by some Muslim
fanatics and by the Muslim Religious Council (Jam Iyathul Ulama of Sri
Lanka).
Last year, Jam Iyathul Ulema Sri Lanka of 210, Orabi Pasha Mawatha,
Colombo 10, has published 10,000 booklets in Tamil under the title,
‘Qadianis and other infidels’ (they call members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community ‘Qadianis’ as an insult). In this incendiary booklet, they
themselves have declared ‘Qadianis’ as non-Muslim because they don’t
believe as Majority Muslims believe and openly call for the killing of
all Qadianis for the crime of apostasy. Furthermore, they argue, since
Ahmadis are non-Muslims according to their verdict, they are also
‘Murtads’ (who left the religion). Punishment for ‘Murtads’ mentioned in
that book is as follows:-
1) All those who become apostates must be murdered. A repentance period
of three days can be given and if he or she is adamant in his or her
belief they must be killed and the blood be washed thoroughly (because
the blood is also poisonous). Page –19.
2) Their children out in prison and beaten until they renounce their
faith (Page – 30).
3) Their third generation must be considered as infidels
(non-believers). Verdict of infidels will be applied to them (Page –
30).
What a brutal philosophy against human conscience! They have been
preaching this intense hatred now for over a year in Sri Lanka. In
contrast, Allah the Almighty upholds the justice to every human being by
advocating religious freedom in the Holy Quran. It says: “Proclaim, O
Prophet, O mankind the truth has indeed come to you from your Lord. Then
whoso follows the guidance, follows it only for the good of his ownself
and whoso errs does so only to his own detriment. I am not appointed a
keeper over you. (10: 109) These later days Ulemas (religious
theologians) are preaching hatred in the name of religion against the
will of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. This is
un-acceptable for any God-fearing Muslims. According to the recent news
published in the newspapers, the Muslim world leaders have realized this
fact. Pakistan President Parvez Musharaff and Afghanistan President
Hamid Kharzai have both agreed that Madarasas (religious institutions)
in Pakistan are preaching hatred for the rest of the world. This
situation was also foretold by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that the latter
day Ulamas will be the worst of the creatures (MIshkat).
During the month of Ramazan, in Negombo, two Pakistani Ahmadies were
threatened to be killed and US$600 was robbed. They were released after
being slapped. On October 9, another Pakistani Ahmadi, while returning
home from the mosque at night was attacked by unidentified persons with
swords and knives severely injuring him and was treated at Negombo Base
Hospital. The caretaker of Negombo Ahmadiyya Mosque, Abdullah Niyas
Ahmad, was brutally murdered at Periyamulla, Negombo on October 14,
2006, by an organised Jihad group and the Ahmadis face ongoing death
threats. No arrest was made so far. The majority of Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community members live in the Negombo area. In the interest of justice
and in order to uphold the protection guaranteed to all citizens of Sri
Lanka under the Constitution, we earnestly request the Government of Sri
Lanka to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of
our peace-loving and law-abiding Community in Sri Lanka. Fanatics are
preaching lawlessness openly for everyone to hear; they are spreading
hatred, terrorist philosophies and the killing of all those who do not
agree with their beliefs. They must be brought to justice and their hate
mongering stopped immediately before it goes beyond control.
A Abdul Aziz
Negombo
***
Government printed matter in simple language,
please!
It is most surprising why successive governments choose to ignore an
extremely important area that has led to one of the main grievances
shared among all the ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.
A common factor experienced by most is the high flown language in which
all government printed matter is written be it in Sinhala, Tamil or even
English. Sentences are too lengthy and words are difficult to
comprehend. Though Sri Lanka’s literacy rate may be over 80%, most
people today welcome circulars, documents etc which can be easily read,
easily understood without having to refer dictionaries.
Those who wrote the texts in Sinhala, Tamil, English may be commended
for their knowledge of the respective language but it brings to light
whether it adds any value to the reader. As a suggestion, the Government
is urged to reconsider changing the texts of all Government printed
matter that are available for public and to urge that they be written in
easy to understand language.
It is also encouraged that these circulars be in all thee languages so
that people don’t have to end up looking for translators.
Shenali Waduge |
