29th, September 1996

The Civil Rights Movement has voiced its horror over the spate of deaths resulting from political clashes.

The CRM has documented evidence on the large number of criminal and inhuman activities during this and the past governments. This includes reports of incidents at Anuradhapura, Piliyandala, Matale and Mathugama.

The CRM further calls upon defenders of civil liberties to protest without further delay. They urge all democratic parties to publicly reaffirm their commitment to non-violence.

In addition they have stressed that the police should play an impartial role in maintaining law and order regardless of pressures exerted on them by any party or group.

The CRM statement says:

"There can be no excuse or justification for political thuggery. CRM is aware of and has documented many instances of such violence committed, instigated or condoned by the state during the last regime. The present government pledged to end that era. During recent months CRM has felt increasingly alarmed at a series of violent clashes between UNP and PA supporters and has been seeking more information about them."

"CRM finally emphasizes the particular responsibility that lies upon supporters, members and leaders of those in power, and the Head of State. Sri Lanka's recent political history has regrettably proved again and again that persons who enjoy or think they enjoy political patronage often feel they can break the law with impunity.

"This dangerous mindset has to be eliminated from our political life once and for all. In this context CRM expresses its dismay at the alleged speech of the President as reported in the Lankadipa of 17 September, parts of which could be construed as a condonation of violence.

"In the view of CRM this recent spate of killings and thuggery, though extremely serious, is not irreversible, and a spiral of retaliatory violence still can and must be prevented by prompt and effective measures to restore and protect the right of free and peaceful political expression," says the statement.

The semi-luxury express buses introduced this month could do a greater service if they stop at a few more important crowded halts, commuters say.

In the pelting rain last Wednesday evening hundreds of commuters had to wait on the Galle Road for several hours, while the luxury express buses swept past them, virtually empty. Commuters at the huge Soysapura Complex in Katubedda, where more than 10,000 people live, have appealed the express buses be directed to stop at their crowded halt also.

Telephone lines of the Diyatalawa, Bandarawela and Haputale railway stations have been disconnected by Telecommunications Department for the past one year as these stations failed to settle the bills.

Diyatalawa owes the Department nearly Rs. 40,000, Bandarawela and Haputale owe nearly Rs. 200,000 each..

Health Minister A.H.M. Fowzie has said he has no objection to medical specialists engaging in private practice, once they completed their stipulated hours of work at government hospitals.

The minister made this observation when he opened a new building for the O.P.D. at the Nagoda Kalutara Base Hospital. Mr. Fowzie also said these specialists could use the hospital premises for private practice and in return make some financial donations to the hospitals.

The problem regarding the marking of A/L scripts remained unsolved up to Friday (September 27), with discussions being held between the Ministry of Education and the Trade Unions.

The Graduate teachers have vowed to continue their strike until their demands are met. They are demanding that the salary anomalies be rectified, and the six increments which were reduced to three under the new scheme, restored.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Times learns that the A/L results have been further delayed, with the O/L examination scheduled to be held in December postponed and that the re-opening of schools has also been delayed.

By Kshalini Nonis

The brutal killing of "Golden Glory", an Indian race-horse at the Alpha Romeo riding center at the Colombo Hilton on Monday shocked many, but the owner dismissed rumors that it was done by a business rival.

Riding School Owner Mohan de Lanerolle told The Sunday Times he got a call early on Monday saying the horse had been injured. He called a vet and went there to give all possible treatment but the horse died the next day.

Mr. de Lanerolle also dismissed reports it was done by a business rival.

Meanwhile, Fort Police said, investigations were being held.

Cataract is the greatest single cause of blindness in Sri Lanka, Lions district governor Chitral Amaratunga has said.

He made this observation at a news conference this week in connection with the "Sight Vision" campaign launched by the Lions International.

Mr. Amaratunga said the campaign would attempt to provide surgery to treatable cataract persons over the age of 40 years. An eye care program will also be conducted for school children.

Anura Bandaranaike has left for Europe soon after participating in the Bandaranaike commemoration day events in Horagolla last Thursday. He will visit France, Germany and the Netherlands where Sri Lankan associations have invited him to speak on the topic "Wither Sri Lanka".

Police are on the look out for a man who had allegedly made a series of false complaints to police stations and the police headquarters that his wife and child have been abducted and kidnappers were demanding US dollars 100,000 for their release.

The man, who claims to be a gemmologist, has an open warrant against him for collecting money on the pretext of providing employment in Japan and four more cases against him for similar offenses, in the Gangodawila Magistrate courts.

According to IP Bandara there is an open warrant against the wife as she had appeared on behalf of the husband in one of the cases at the Gangodawila Magistrate's court.

The Muslim United Liberation Front has accused the Government of turning the Haj festival into a useless holiday.

The Government had earlier decided to scrap the public holiday for Haj, as part of a general reduction in holidays. But in view of protests, the Government later agreed that only Muslims could take a holiday for the Haj festival.

MULF political secretary, Mujibar Rahuman told The Sunday Times this would not be pragmatic and they would continue to agitate for the full restoration of the Haj holiday.

Dr. Arthur C. Clarke, recently honored with the Von Karman Award by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), will fly to Japan to receive it next month.

In a message Dr. Clarke said he hoped to meet Dr. Tsien Hsue, who along with Dr. Von Karman had been one of the co-founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

We should not spend time on seeking to evolve a comprehensive definition of "terrorism" lest we become helplessly mired in a semantic minefield. An international consensus against terrorism based on the recognition of stark reality has matured over the years. It is imperative now to implement this consensus," said Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in his address to the 51st Session of the UN General Assembly on September 26.

"The world is aware that Sri Lanka has been racked with the anguish of a violent ethnic conflict which has sapped our energies for almost two decades. We have been dealing for many years with an armed group which seeks to dismember our country by violent means, resorting to terrorism as a means of achieving this illegitimate goal. This group - the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) - has been perpetrating a series of terrorist acts causing death and destruction in many parts of my country.

"We are aware that this group draws support from persons outside our country in terms of finance, equipment and war material, not from other States - for there is not a single State that supports them either by word of deed - but from misguided members of the Tamil community who live and work in the affluent countries or through extortion, drug trafficking, gunrunning, people smuggling and other illegal activities in many developed countries in abuse of the hospitality of the host governments and in violation of their laws.

"The Summit of the Group of Seven and Russia in Lyon and the subsequent ministerial meeting on terrorism in Paris have taken bold initiatives which need to be developed into practical action. The proposals for a Convention on terrorist bombings and the proposals to prevent the abuse of asylum and refugee laws are particularly timely initiatives. Sri Lanka looks forward to their elaboration during this session. Efforts need also to be made to further strengthen and give legal effect to the 1994 declaration on the Elimination of Terrorism. Now we need more than a mere Declaration; we need a Convention on measures to combat terrorism.

The Foreign Minister called for concerted international cooperation to ensure that the terrorist does not enjoy safe havens anywhere in the world. "The territory of any State should not be permitted to be used in any manner which would encourage or sustain terrorist activity in another. Fund raising activity on foreign soil in particular, either directly or indirectly through so-called charitable funds, must be prohibited. Should terrorism be permitted, through international apathy, to fester, it would poison the international body politic, enervating democratic processes - processes the international community is obliged to sustain.

"It would be myopic for a nation to stand aloof or to disown responsibility for combating acts of terrorism which may seem too distant to evoke anything more than curiosity.

Global interdependence is undoubtedly a modern reality. However, opinions vary on the real implications of that phenomenon on the economies of developing countries. In the development debate, globalization and the call for integration into a single global economic grid is held out as the primary, or even sole option for developing countries who seek cooperation with developed countries. But cooperation must not be confused with conformity.

"Despite the pressures and tensions caused by a situation of conflict, we have succeeded in keeping our old democratic institutions and traditions alive and strong. We give our best attention to the protection and promotion of human rights. In furthering an elected government's accountability to its own people, the Government of Sri Lanka has taken several measures to strengthen the legal framework and ensure the effective implementation of human rights standards.

"One of the significant measures we took this year was the establishment of a Human Rights Commission by Act of Parliament. We have ensured that the Act guaranteed independence of action by the Commission. The areas of competence of the Commission include monitoring, investigative and advisory functions. The Act also addresses the question of liability of non-State actors for human rights violations.

Mr. President,

"Looking at the world, we see that in Bosnia, following the Dayton accord, guns have been finally silenced and we are happy to note that the peace agreement is holding up. Sri Lanka has condemned the atrocities committed in Bosnia, particularly the inhuman and cruel treatment of the Muslims. We believe that a settlement will not be complete unless those responsible for the atrocities are brought to justice.

"In the Middle East, we hope the peace process would move on without losing the momentum it had gained despite the changes in the political scene in that area. Sri Lanka reiterates its support for the peace process and the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of conditions of peace and stability for all States in the region to live within secure boundaries.

"We share the concerns of the world community in regard to the crises that have overtaken Liberia and Burundi and express our fervent hope that peace will be restored to these troubled regions," said Mr. Kadirgamar.