Letters to the Editor

• Rogues, murderers and kalakanniyas
• Peace: Business interest or national interest?
• It's all or nothing
• Terror and Lanka's tears
• Holiday horror for disabled trio in Sri Lanka

Rogues, murderers and kalakanniyas

These words were used before the JVP entered into a memorandum of understanding with the PA. 

A few months before the MoU was signed, in an exhibition supported by photographs and posters held in Homagama, a PA politician portrayed the JVP as thugs and murderers. 

Now we have a "probationary" PA-JVP government. Is it not correct, therefore, to call this a government of rogues and murderers? We as a nation should come up with a suitable Sinhala epithet for voters who elect these self-confessed mankollakarayas and minimaruwas to office. Kalakanniyas maybe soft a word for these mindless voters. 

D. Appuhamy
Negombo

Peace: Business interest or national interest?

Looking at what is happening, one wonders if the war started just a few weeks ago. Or is it that the captains of industry have just woken from a long slumber? Maybe it is neither, but just some other reasons similar to the ones that made them turn a blind eye to the war all this while. 

The private sector is considered the engine of growth. This engine stalled a few years ago with the collapse of the economy. It has never really started since then. But what have the captains of industry done about it other than squeaking in the corners? 

Peace is what we all desire, but has the government managed the war to bring about peace? Mismanagement of the war is a major factor for the current plight of the country. What do the captains of industry do with a government that is solely responsible for it? They play ball with the inefficient and corrupt government, as long as they can benefit and then decide it is time to talk peace.

The business community must, before it decides to present its 'Road Show', apply pressure on the government to deliver what it has promised and create an environment to restart the engine of growth. This should be its cry. 

But then if the captains of industry do so, they may become the bad boys in the eyes of the government. Thus they just want to 'run with the hare and hunt with the hounds'.

S. Peiris
Colombo 4

It's all or nothing

The manner in which the American nation rallied round President George Bush holds many lessons for our politicians and political parties.

However, there is a bigger tragedy facing America and that is that there were very few tears being shed for this nation, at least in this part of the world. The people mourned the loss of life and the wanton and ruthless destruction of property. But I will be less than honest if I say that there was not an underlying 'so it can happen to America too' feeling among the people.

What is the greatness of a nation if the whole world does not weep in its moment of sorrow and rejoice when it is happy? America with its wealth and strength, with its superpower status did not engender any sense of global sympathy at the despicable outrage against humankind.

It is only when the American leadership understands this seeming paradox will America emerge stronger and better after this tragedy.

My mind goes back to the incident that occurred between former Sihala Urumaya President S. L. Gunesekara and the US Deputy Ambassador Andrew Mann.

I can do no better than quote a letter written by Mr. Gunesekara to Ambassador Shaun Donnelly on June 28, 2000: "Finally, Mr. Mann asked me what our party's policy was on the 'ethnic problem'. I told him that we have no 'ethnic problem' but only a 'terrorist problem', and that it being our belief that there was no possibility of settling that problem through negotiations. Our policy was that the problem had necessarily to be solved by crushing the LTTE militarily. Mr. Mann's response was 'Oh! So you intend killing all the Tamils, do you?' 

"That amazing response clearly carried with it, the totally unwarranted and equally insulting innuendo that Sihala Urumaya is a racist party bent on committing genocide of the Tamils. I, therefore, replied that question, saying, 'No, we do not believe in committing genocide like you did when you dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima'.

"Mr. Mann reacted by posing, in evident anger, the question, 'Is this what you have to say about the Allies that protected you?' and all of us (namely, Mr. Karunaratne, Maj. Gen. Paranagama, Mr. Gunaratne and I) burst out in spontaneous laughter at the utter absurdity of the question and pointed out that the Allies were not protecting us but only protecting themselves, and that Japan would not have attacked us but for the British presence in our country. 

"Having so painted himself into a corner, Mr. Mann asked me, 'Are you accusing my country of committing genocide?' I replied truthfully, saying, 'Yes, I am. What else can you call it?' At this stage, Mr. Mann said, 'In that case I cannot stay here any longer. I must go and I responded, 'The choice is yours'. Mr. Mann then stood up, said, 'Thanks for the drink. Good day' and left. Mr. Meglothlin and Ms. Hall were visibly embarrassed and having shaken hands with all of us, said 'we must meet up again' and that they too had to go because they came in Mr. Mann's car and left.

"I was astounded at Mr. Mann taking umbrage at my reference to Hiroshima in response to his utterly disgusting innuendo that Sihala Urumaya consists of a set of racists bent on committing genocide of the Tamils because, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the United States of America more than any other country in the world, prizes, protects and fosters freedom of speech and expression.

"I do not apologize for anything I said because I spoke the truth and neither Sihala Urumaya nor I believe that any useful purpose could be served by calling a spade a heart or a diamond or a club. However both Sihala Urumaya and I are grieved that we could not have a fruitful and cordial discussion as we had with other diplomatic personnel because of the hostile and biased attitude of Mr. Mann."

It is the attitude of the American establishment that has earned for America unfortunate names such as the 'global policeman', 'Ugly American', the 'world's bully', etc.

The attack against America was terrorism which must be crushed militarily. An attack against Sri Lanka is by freedom fighters and can only be settled by negotiations and concessions.

What will the American leaders say if we tell them, 'Please address the grievances of Palestinians who are not terrorists but freedom fighters and grant them concessions that are necessary to restore peace'. What will they say if there is a global outcry to negotiate with the perpetrators of this despicable act of terrorism? 

Who produces the weapons that are responsible for such carnage? Who allows terrorist organisations to collect funds and thrive on their soil, so long as the outlets of terror are not against them? 

We respect America. We mourn with its bereaved people. We feel strongly that terrorism, the scourge of humankind, must be eliminated. You cannot deal with terrorism selectively. It is all or nothing. It is only then that America will have earned the respect of the world. It is only then that the world will mourn with it and join it to rid the globe of international terror.

Malinga H. Gunaratne
Vice President,
Sinhala Jathika Sangamaya

Terror and Lanka's tears

As a poor country, we have faced LTTE terrorism for nearly 20 years. Some of course call them 'boys', freedom fighters, and so forth. 

America, Canada, Britain and many European nations while morally supporting the Tigers allowed them to amass wealth to enable them to buy the most modern arms. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, was made to buy decrepit arms, ships, fighter planes and choppers for hard cash. Friendly nations were prevented from giving urgent military aid till the end user purposes were satisfied. 

Therefore, in sharing the grief of America our own tragedy of being let down by an uncaring friend naturally overcomes us.

Metthananda Wijekulasuriya 
Polgasowita

Holiday horror for disabled trio in Sri Lanka

He got here in mid-July. His friends were to join him later. Then came the dreadful attack on the airport and foreigners were strongly advised not to visit Sri Lanka. We were disappointed since we had planned their holiday for months. However, against everyone's advice three of my son's friends decided to make the trip. Of the three, two were in wheelchairs. Our party of six now included three in wheelchairs.

The big shock came at the Cultural Triangle. At Polonnaruwa, we had to buy tickets to see the ruins. I tried hard to explain to those manning the desk that three of our party were disabled and would not be alighting from the vehicle. The people at the counter were indifferent. A tourist ticket was Rs. 1350, and unless we paid this sum we could not enter. I was willing to pay for the able- bodied, but what of the three disabled people who would only be seated in the vehicle? No one was interested in my story, so I paid up. 

My next request was for a brochure, map or pamphlet that I could give to the ones who could not reach the sites. There too I was told that such maps etc. were available only for foreigners. I flashed the three tourist tickets and was then asked to enter the name and address of the tourists in a book. I was also asked to get the tourists to sign the book. After all the talking I had done about these disabled people, I was taken aback. I told them again that this was ridiculous. Was I being asked to unpack a wheelchair that had been dismantled and put away and get one of them to come up to the counter just to sign this book? 

In a fury, I asked why they were hassling us like this, especially at a time when foreigners were being advised against coming to Sri Lanka? Could I not sign the book on their behalf? Could I perhaps take the book to them? "No" was the hostile reply I got. Someone at the counter cracked a joke about these being the rules laid down by my government. I was furious. I grabbed the book and scribbled a signature. God only knows what I scribbled. I was resolute that as they had paid so much for their tickets I was going to do everything within my power to show them as much as possible. I was determined to do my very best for the threesome. 

As you know, most of the ruins have no wheelchair access. At the Watadage, the steep flight of steps made wheelchair access quite impossible, but round the side we managed to get a vehicle up a slight hill and one person who was keen managed to enter that area. However, it was not long before we got ticked off by the security guard for reversing the vehicle round one side. He too talked about the laws of the country. I drew his attention to the number of Sri Lankans who are disabled and that due to the war those numbers are increasing daily. Was it not about time the government did some re-thinking about these laws, which make it impossible for a disabled person to get around? 

From Polonnaruwa, we went to Sigiriya. Here again the disabled would admire the rock from afar, whilst the others decided to climb it. However, the disabled were informed that they could not sit even in their vehicle in the car park unless they bought the tourist tickets. 

Another major disappointment was that SriLankan Airlines, although being an international carrier, did not have facilities for the disabled. My son being an international paraplegic basketball player travels extensively. When a disabled person travels, his wheelchair is not permitted within the aircraft. It is stored and the disabled passenger is given the use of an 'aisle wheelchair'.

But that was not so on SriLankan Airlines. Despite requesting and being assured by the London office that this facility would be provided, it was not. Though requested, even on their return journey, this facility was not made available to them. This meant that the threesome were immobile for the whole journey back to London. 

Mary Jayaratne
Colombo 5

Return to Plus Contents