Editorial

23rd August 1988

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The future of Lanka

Ugly American

The future of Lanka

While hailing the legislation for the setting up of a national authority to protect and foster the rights of children, we have to nevertheless issue a word of caution. We must not let the euphoria cloud the reality. We must ensure these laws are fully implemented and enforced.

We also urge that the thrust of the new child protection authority which will coordinate the work of various state and private agencies in the field must relate to the realities of an economically poor country. We cannot base our approach on Western standards where paedophiles run riot and children shoot children not with water pistols but with real ones. We do not want their withering values or their double standards. For instance, the American establishment feels it is okay for children to deliver newspapers at 5 a.m. in the bitter cold, but not so for children of the same age to make footballs in Pakistan.

In supporting children's rights, we must give teeth to investigating agencies. We need to change the attitude of a police force that gives character certificates to foreigners saying they are not indulging in child sex as is done now.

Child sex is one of the uglier sides of tourism here. Old cads from Europe prey on our hospitality and our economic crisis. It is one thing to introduce laws in parliament, another thing to implement them.

The other aspect is the planning of our families, especially among the poorer people. We need more effective family planning methods. Those in charge are no doubt doing a yeoman service, but the government must assist them more. Essentially, it is abject poverty that drives most children into the crises that the new laws are trying to address.

We need to take the timely and appropriate step to make education mandatory. Can children who are not sent to school, be it by their parents, guardians or those who employ them — albeit illegally — complain against adults? Even if they could, how will they do it? To whom can they complain?

We know the general environment of a police station is not very welcoming even for adults. How will children muster enough courage to enter this "alien" place manned by uniformed personnel? Maybe a section or unit of the police station should be made child-friendly.

Shouting from the rooftop about historic legislation with regard to children's rights is not adequate. The emphasis should be on action and follow-up.

Making adult society aware of its responsibilities and obligations towards children is also of paramount importance. Running parallel should be extensive programmes to educate the Sri Lankan child on his or her rights and how to seek justice in cases of violation.

Children should know that they have a voice of their own. A voice that will be heard.

Ugly American

It was only last Sunday that we called upon the Western world to become aware of the realities of the war in Sri Lanka, in the aftermath of the Kenyan and Tanzanian bombings. That day, the Real IRA bombed men, women and children indiscriminately in Northern Ireland.

Now comes the news that Clinton has ordered air strikes on alleged terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan.

Apart from substantial evidence to indicate that Mr. Clinton is trying to shift public radar screens from his own presidential peccadillos with all the presidential women, the superpower principle of might being right must be condemned by countries that wish the elimination of terrorism, which includes state terrorism.

If the world is to impeach Mr. Clinton, it ought not to be for lying on a couch with a White House intern or lying to the American people, but for his gringo cowboy style approach towards sovereign nations. It was Reagan in Libya yesterday, Clinton in Afghanistan and Sudan today. Who tomorrow?

Without any Security Council resolution or approval, without any by your leave, the US bombs targets wherever it likes. Are UN resolutions necessary only when these mighty Americans want to combat Iraq through inhumane embargoes? Are we seeing the 1998 edition of the Ugly American? This time with hi-tech push button scenarios.

Political Column

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