Letters to the Editor

NGOs that prey on the misery of victims
The tsunami hit some of the poorest countries in the world. Never in the history of the world, has such a magnanimous response come from all corners of the world, both rich and poor. NGOs like World Vision, Oxfam, Red Cross CARE among others have raised millions of dollars through their worldwide networks to help these tsunami-affected countries. All NGOs should be mindful that every dollar donated came without any strings attached and irrespective of race, religion and caste.

But even in a situation like this, human vultures and dubious organisations are preying on the misery of the victims to achieve their own ends. There is a mechanism in place to monitor government-to-government donor assistance but there is no proper mechanism to monitor the activities of NGOs.

There have been reports that some Christian based NGOs working in Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia have been allegedly involved in unethical conversions. Recently a newspaper in Sri Lanka reported that a certain evangelistic NGO had distributed books on Jesus along with the tsunami-relief items in certain camps. Sri Lanka and Thailand are Buddhist countries while Indonesia and Malaysia are Muslim and India Hindu. If NGO operations are not strictly monitored they will leave behind a legacy of religious conflict in these countries and that will be a bigger disaster than the tsunami.

India and Thailand have been prudent in refusing aid from NGOs because of this fear of religious conflict.

Fighting crime in the face of political pressure
There were newspaper reports that due to intense pressure being exerted by politicians in support of the underworld, Police Headquarters will take a decision whether to disband its Anti-Crime Unit or not. If this is true it will be a sad day for the peace-loving people of Sri Lanka. It is no secret that behind most of the unsolved crimes in this country, there is a politician. What is considered the most effective solution for combating crime is the severance of the link between politicians and the underworld.

The curse of this country has been that the leading political parties have not set any standards for the selection of candidates for nomination for elections. Any thug or hoodlum who can command votes by sheer thuggery and intimidation is given nomination simply for the sake of getting the party in. In the process, what we get is not a representative of the people but a representative of thugs, criminals, dope peddlers and other undesirables. Thus, it is no wonder that these representatives do not want the Anti-Crime Unit to function.

The crying need of today is to enable people to lead their lives without fear of the underworld. Political party leaders should ensure that politicians do not protect the underworld. We hope President Chandrika Kumaratunga will not bow to the demands of politicians who have links with the underworld who want this unit disbanded and that the Inspector General of Police will see that this unit carries on its good work.

CEB dragging feet over pensions
Although the Human Rights Commission has directed the Ceylon Electricity Board management to revise the pensions of its retired staff every five years this has not been implemented.

The HRC decision was published in The Sunday Times of November 28, 2004 headlined ‘Pensioners win battle against CEB’. Enquiries reveal that the CEB General Manager is reluctant to implement this directive. It is alleged that he is hoping to drag this issue until March 2005 in view of reported plans to privatize the CEB.

Thus the matter would die a natural death. The Minister of Power and Energy should direct the CEB to implement this decision, as CEB pensioners are undergoing severe hardships with a meagre payment since March 1, 1994. The irony is that the CEB has revised salaries of employees on numerous occasions.

Blaring horns, they blast pedestrians and other motorists off the road
Private owners operating lease financed buses or those picked up from auctions and junkyards and partially restored, are hellbent on squeezing out as much money as possible from helpless commuters who have no option but to board these cattle conveyances.

Most buses are operated with defective brakes, lights and worn-out tyres with a bare minimum or nothing invested on maintenance, jeopardizing the lives of passengers and other road-users.

Possibly as a precaution against the state of these buses, inexperienced and indisciplined drivers virtually lean on the horn, cutting in and out of traffic in their haste, forcing pedestrians and motorists out of their path. Bus drivers are a law unto themselves, knowing well that the Traffic Police are meek, lethargic or powerless and do not even attempt to halt a recklessly driven bus.

The DIG Traffic should spend a few mornings from about 6.30 observing the manner in which buses are driven on High Level Road, Havelock Road and Galle Road. Buses race and overtake each other at break-neck speed on the wrong side of the road, attempting to pick up as many commuters as possible.

On most days there are no traffic policemen before 7 a.m. Buses roar along, blaring their horns and blasting others off the road with impunity. No minister or politician has had the spunk to ban the use of horns in Colombo or reduce the speed limit for buses considering the inadequate width of our roads and the mechanical condition of the buses.

The chaos created on roads by reckless bus drivers is as bad as the crime wave in Sri Lanka. I am afraid that the DIG Traffic and his men have failed miserably and am certain that most road-users other than bus drivers and traffic policemen share this view.

Lesson from Mother Nature
Peace and joy at the dawning
Of that beautiful poya morning
Verdant hills nature's abundance
Aglow with a gentle radiance.

Christmas joy still in me lingering
How shaken was I on hearing
The news of tsunami's devastation
Mighty waves of great destruction.

Oh tell me why the tidal waves
On our lovely isle lashed their fury?
Is it a way of teaching a lesson
None of us will forget in a hurry?

There is a message loud and clear
Sweep out all the despots so queer
Blind leaders perpetuating power
At the cost of the innocent poor.
How blind to the people's suffering
How deaf to the cry of the poor
How dumb not to heed the teaching
Of religions that bring peace so dear.

Earlier it was the shaky putuwa
"Always break down," a sign of calamity.
Now the betel leaf, colour so contrary
Which has brought about great vipaththi.

Bribery and corruption within galore
Unruly and indecent in the House hallowed
'Liberators' from the north want their ISGA
For 'patriots' from the deep south that means war.

The wave of violence had reached the zenith
With no more law and order in the nation
Bit by bit it had fallen into a pit
Nearing the point of disintegration.
As if this isn't enough provocation
Some zealots started religious persecution

Oh where are all those houses
With carefree children at their games?
They are all swallowed up by raging waters
While pleading for life with helpless eyes.
Mother Lanka we weep for you,
Many a heart is broken, tears are all frozen

Great is the hurt deep within
How long will it take to be whole again?
Forgive us for failing you O Precious Pearl,
For putting into power the powers of evil,

Swallowing lie after lie for our doom
Some wanting rice even from the moon.
Mother Nature thank you for the lesson
The first few steps we've already taken

Helping the victims, rising above prejudice
No matter what party, religion or race.
We'll strive to live in loving kindness
Forgetting many a bitter past experience
As brothers and sisters–one Mother's children
Putting aside self to build up the nation.

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