Year on the Web
Year on the Web
According to media reports the impossible seems to have been achieved. By this I mean the agreement reached between the Government and the Opposition as regards the National problem. This news is certainly an answer to our prayers.
As a citizen of this country and also as a student of the history of our country I believe that this is only the first step. We must not only hear this news but also see in reality the truth of this news. We need a new political culture in our country.
The games our party politicians have been playing for the last sixty odd years must come to an end. The party governing the country must realise that it is the will of the people that keeps them in power and the same people can decide to remove that party from office. The Opposition must realise that they are (to quote an old Parliamentary rule) “Her Majesty’s Opposition”. Some day the people will vote them to power. Therefore, the people of this country do not relish narrow, sectarian, personal party politics from whichever quarter it may come.
It is this type of party politics which has delayed the solution to our problem over the years and also led to many assassinations, the recent one being that of Nalanda Ellawala. So, we hope and pray that this is a new beginning, of the political life in our country, when the two major political groups which have governed this country since Independence now will work together on matters that are National.
We salute both the President and the Leader of the Opposition for this magnanimous decision. We thank all those behind the scenes who have worked hard to make this possible. This is a dream. May we soon see the reality.
Now that the leaders of the two main political parties have agreed to work together to work out and implement a solution to the terrorist problem, it is opportune to consider the effect of the Package (or similar proposal) on the Tamil populace.
The main argument for merging North and East is that these two provinces form a contiguous entity of Tamils (as a majority). What would be the effect of this argument on the Tamils in the other areas? It is natural for non-Tamils to look at Tamils as a favoured group, since the other areas are non-Tamil (considering the majority). This will result in a natural reaction, which will endanger the existence of Tamils in the non-Tamil areas. Thus the Tamils in these areas will have to bear the brunt of this attitude or vacate and go to the North or East, abandoning their employment and other opportunities.
The history of the last two decades clearly shows that the LTTE will not tolerate any other power group in their areas. Hence, the Tamils in the North and East provinces will have to live (or die) under the dictatorship of the LTTE.
The water for cultivation flows mainly through the non-Tamil areas and water will be a scarce commodity within the next five years, for everybody. The non-availability of water will create a lot of problems to the North and East, as the rivers originate in the non-Tamil areas.
The rules governing employment could vary from province to province. There is no assurance that Tamils will get employment (as at present Tamils enjoy a position far above their numerical values) outside the Tamil areas.
Each provinces will decide on the language of administration and instruction. The Tamils in the non-Tamil areas will have to abide by it or vacate.
If Jaffna is to be the capital of the proposed (merged) North-East province (Tamils want it as one and not as North and East) a Tamil in Batticaloa will have to travel a longer distance than to Colombo. (Batticaloa-Colombo 303km; Batticaloa-Jaffna 378km, Batticaloa-Kandy 187km).
Each of these Province or Regions (you may call it by any name) will not be economically viable as studies have clearly shown. Hence those who dream of an economically developed Utopia will end in chaos. This will affect everybody, including the Tamils.
Tamils in other countries will start coming and settling down in this Tamil Province. If foreign economic help is needed this inflow of people will have to be permitted. Hence this area will soon be over-populated and economic upsurge will only be an opiate dream.
The existing road system is based on the foundation of Colombo being the capital. If Jaffna is to be the capital of the North-East Province, a colossal amount of money will be necessary to build a road system connecting the different parts of that province to Jaffna. Till such time, Tamils in this new province will have to undergo a lot of inconvenience.
Whatever be the advantage of having a separate province on an ethnic or language basis, it will have only less than 50 per cent of Tamils. The rest will still have the problems (which are supposed to be there) in a more acute state, since more than 50 per cent of Tamils will live outside the so-called Tamil areas.
The recent local government election shows that Tamils have voted against the PA (as shown clearly in Colombo and up-country areas). This is because the Tamils in the non-Tamil areas realize that if the Package proposals are implemented they will have to pack up and leave the non-Tamil areas.
Some time ago, I had written a lettter under the headline “The Travails of obtaining an Identity Card”, which was published.
In it I had also advocated a new office for the Dehiwela Grama Niladhari in the present Divisional Secretariat building.
Nothing has been done so far and the Grama Niladhari continues to work under the most primitive conditions in a nook of the Bana preaching hall at the very end of Sri Mahabodi Road, Dehiwela.
The Grama Niladhari’s so-called office comprises two tables and four chairs. No cupboard is provided and he has to take away all his office paraphernalia in his suit case after his work and bring it back the following day. I don’t think it is the done thing to treat this important Government official in this off-hand and neglectful manner.
Therefore, as suggested in my letter under reference, I had recommended that a small room be provided as an office for the Grama Niladhari in the present Divisional Secretariat Building, Galle Road, Dehiwela.
All peace-loving Sri Lankans hail President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe, for the statemanly and wise decision taken to adopt a bi-partisan approach towards the resolution of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka which has plagued our Nation for several decades.
As envisaged by both leaders, the resolution of the ethnic conflict will restore peace in Sri Lanka and lead to the development, progress and prosperity of the country and its people.
The people of this country would like to see the People’s Alliance and the United National Party bury their hatchet and work for the common good and welfare of the country and its people, in future.
The blessings of the Nation are with the President and the Leader of the Opposition for the successful completion of this arduous mission without any injustice to either party in conflict in a just and a reasonable manner.
The nation salutes the President and the Leader of the Opposition for having risen above party or personal differences and reached an understanding on a bi-partisan approach in finding a solution to the current ethnic war, even though at this late hour. It is inspiring that these two leaders of two different political camps have risen to such noble statemanship above Party politicas in a true national spirit assigning Priority No. 1 to the country’s burning problem which warrants immediate attention.
We welcome this gesture as the green light for an everlasting solution for peace and await with confidence. It is hoped that the approach would certainly build confidence among the miniority groups as equal citizens of this land thereby wiping away communal and volatile politics from the political arena.
It is true that the community in the North and East of our country has been subjected to untold agony and stress during the past two decades. These areas form part and parcel of one country. Yet it is disheartening how these unfortunate humans suffer without a ray of hope caught in the web of crossfire and violence. Many have evacuated their homesteads and are in displaced positions and their relationship within the family are disturbed.
Apart from the loss of lives and property, the social loss of elementary education in war-torn areas under LTTE control has been drastic, which amounts to a denial of a fundamental right of children. Illegal levying of exorbitant taxes on the community by the LTTE has made the situation even worse. Hundreds of thousands have been physically or emotionally handicapped on both sides. Hence whoever these victims be, we should remember they are none other than the sons of our own land. On the other hand scenes of carnage and destruction and description of such violence in the media have affected others not directly caught up in the crossfire and conflict. These have been affected by the psychological trauma or violence.
Also due to the very heavy military expenditure incurred on war the progress of development projects has been retarded and the cost of living has sky-rocketed. The State has to bear an enormous expenditure for the provision of basic services for those displaced in terms of rehabilitation and help for those physically or emotionally handicapped.
Hence a clear-cut solution for peace and harmony is vital in the interest of our Nation. It is hoped that all national-minded leaders of all parties too would follow suit to rise above self-interest and give their whole-hearted contribution to this earnest and noble endeavour.
Last but not the least, the following points may be given serious consideration prior to any dealings with the LTTE.
1. Laying down of arms.
2. Renunciation of its claim for a separate Eelaam state.
3. LTTE leader, Prabhakaran himself must be present at the negotiating table and not his agents or representatives.
The Arsakularatne saga symbolises the depths to which the Public Service has fallen in our country. We will not climb out of this hole. Not because we cannot. But because as a nation we do not want to.
The facts are simple. The allocating officer Nihal Jayasinghe nominated State Counsel Rajendra Prasad as the action officer and nominated Mr. Arsakularatne as the supervising officer. When the file reached Mr. Arsakularatne he would have immediately realised that his brother-in-law was involved in the case. The only course of action available to Mr. Arsakularatne at this stage was to have sent the file back to Mr. Jayasinghe with a request to change his nomination as the supervising officer. Without following this sensible course of action Mr. Arsaklaratne has initialled the file and sent it down to the action officer Mr. Prasad.
Without reprimanding Mr. Arsakularatne for his apparent lack of professionalism the Attorney General has rushed to his defence. While the Attorney General’s loyalty to a colleague is understandable, the nation expects a greater loyalty from him to the office he holds.
In his misguided defence of Mr. Arsakularatne, the Attorney General has claimed that it is alright for a judge to sit in a case involving his brother-in-law. It is obvious that Mr. Silva is following a system of jurisprudence that is not followed in any other country. As far as I am concerned, justice must not only be done but must also seem to be done. An independent and impartial (not brothers- in-law) judge is the basis of a civilised system of justice.
More letters to the editor * Why this discrimination? * “Sing a song of sixth sense” * Death Anniversaries * The ‘Seshan’ lecture on democracy * Freedom is being what you are
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