Letters to the Editor
View(s):We are a NATO country!
When Chandrika Kumaratunga came to power her main promise that attracted votes was the abolition of the Presidency. She totally forgot about it after coming to power. What did we, as the citizens do? Talked and talked and talked but did nothing.
Mahinda Rajapaksa came on the same promise. He chose conveniently to forget too, and we talked and talked and talked – and did precious nothing. And time went by 2005 to 2015. Then we came to have another politician elected on the same lie, Maithripala Sirisena and we are still talking!
We have this huge satisfaction that if we express our views on facebook, blog or a WhatsApp group we feel that we have done our part. A heated argument over a coffee or at dinner is sufficient for some. We have ‘spoken’, we have marked the register. Our work is done. Let’s go back to our blissful slumber.
When the matter of Dr. Shafi appeared in the newspapers, all intelligent people, mainly every single medical personnel knew jolly well that it was utterly impossible to be true. We talked and talked – but did precious nothing. Shouldn’t the whole medical community have responded – knowing if this sort of slander can happen to one doctor today, tomorrow it can happen to you?
Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany. He emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. His famous words, can be true at any time, to any one of us.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
This was the same when one single bhikkhu held the whole government to ransom by fasting until death during Emergency in order to remove elected representatives; the same when Muslim dress code was attacked, same when janaposha was slandered; now the lie about interest rates granted to Muslims, removing Arabic name boards but allowing Chinese name boards, even going to the ridiculous level of asking to uproot Date palms because they represent Arab culture – surely the common man knows the truth. But what do we do? Nothing.
True, many meetings are held and brave speeches are made. But what is the plan? What is the action envisaged- if any? We keep saying we don’t want any of the present politicians, but if not them, who ? When? What’s the guarantee they too will not change their “words of honour”?
For the sake of our precious country, for the sake of our future generation, for the sake of ourselves; let’s stop being NATO but be people of action. Don’t we all know very well that “All that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for enough good men to do nothing”?
Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai, Dehiwala
Impunity of our leaders and the fate of our country
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown”:
But not so, for a nodding head.
The quote from Shakespeare, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”, is a universal truth. But smart it is, to nod the head with instinctive craft, dodge the crown, ease the head, yet keep the throne!
The editorial in the Sunday Times of June 23, exhorts the people to, “Break this cycle of political fawning”, and goes on to contend that, “If this cycle isn’t broken at some point of time, future generations will pay dearly for the unpalatable fawning.”
Fawning apart, what right have the two political heads, who the sovereign people have held to blame for the Easter Sunday catastrophe, – to appoint a committee to inquire into it? The mandate of the committee of inquiry, as appears abundantly clear, is (1) To exculpate the appointee, and (2)To implicate the other head – the usual blame game.
Whilst fully endorsing the need to break the cycle of fawning, may I say that the impunity arrogated to themselves by the political heads, is far more detrimental to the people. Hence breaking the cycle of impunity of these political heads, who bear with responsibilities of peace, security and good governance, and taking them to task for the devastating havoc that the people have already paid for dearly, is far more urgent. Nothing will be left to future generations, if this impunity is not stopped now.
Tassie Seneviratne Via email
No one wants telecom towers in Anniewatte
Anniewatte is a residential area, next to the Bahiravakande mountain range, with access through the Anniewatte road tunnel. It is a peaceful neighbourhood, away from the hustle and bustle that is much of Kandy.
About a month ago we were aghast to see two telecommunication towers coming up in very close proximity (a matter of yards) from where we live. Such Base stations, towers and antennae can be established only under strict guidelines, with consent from the residents living within 600 metres of such contraptions. In fact most advanced countries demand that they conform to international standards and best practices of safety when such towers are erected. Strict rules not to establish such towers near kindergartens, schools and playgrounds, hospitals etc are in order. Permission from local councils is mandatory. No consultation with us, the residents of this tight knit community was made.
We would like to express our concern. The reason being that such towers emit radio-frequency radiation as a means of communicating, exposing the people near them to such radiation. There is a raging controversy as to the deleterious effects on health , including cancer, in those who live in close proximity to such foci of emissions.
We the residents suggest that such towers be removed forthwith.
Dr. Channa Ratnatunga Kandy