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Letters to the Editor
25th October 1998 |
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Contents
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Arms factory: not a wise moveThe proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture for the establishment of a gun factory in Sri Lanka, as reported in the Sunday Times of October 4, is an ill-conceived one. The rationale behind this proposal seems to be the production of small arms for our war efforts and more importantly to provide our farmers with cheap guns for the protection of their crops from the depredations of wild animals. It may even be from the two legged species. Whatever arguments are advanced in its favor, establishing an arms factory in Sri Lanka is not a wise move. It would pose a security threat, in that arms manufactured there could find their way into the hands of subversive elements both in the north and south. Issuing guns to peasant farmers is also a matter which should be very carefully considered. We are aware how the JVP subversives collected guns from the villagers during the insurrection of the late eighties. Issuing a gun licence is a very tricky affair done after careful and meticulous investigations by the police and the Divisional Secretaries/Government Agents. They are not issued to all and sundry simply because one says that his small plot of manioc or other cultivation is occasionally destroyed by wild animals. If such is going to be the case, it would only result in more crime and violence in our society. Let us therefore not attempt to arm the peasants under whatever excuses. The argument that crop damages by wild animals warrant the issue of cheap guns to farmers is a flimsy one. In the first place there had not been any quantitative assessment of the extent of such damages in the past, by the Ministry of Agriculture or any other authority. To my belief such damages must be very small and negligible. They cannot make any adverse impact on the general food situation in the country. On the contrary, our crop damages due to natural disasters like floods and droughts and post-harvest handling are very large. If we could take some effective action to reduce these losses, it would far out-weigh the losses inflicted by wild animals. By adopting a policy of issuing gun licences liberally we would be hastening the destruction of our wild life. Let us preserve them and not do anything that would endanger their existence even remotely. If only the humans would learn to keep out of the way of wild animals without invading their habitat, confrontations between man and animals could be largely avoided. Henry Gallage
Act now, for tomorrow will be too lateSri Lanka's top business leaders and Trade Chambers have recently made an unprecedented joint appeal to the government to take effective steps to solve the ethnic conflict and formulate a national economic policy above party politics. This appeal comes from top businessmen at a time when this country is being bled to poverty and misery. It is heartening and augurs well for the country. Their main demands from the government are to ensure that there is no discrimination, there is equality for all Sri Lankans, irrespective of race, gender and political affiliations or religion with personal security and peace for all Sri Lankans. They also advocate introduction of English as an Official or link language, an independent Public Service, Judicial Service and Police Service. They have also demanded a common policy for agriculture, trade and commerce, to remain unchanged for 15 years and labour laws to conform to current business needs. Undoubtedly the business section is the engine of economic growth in a country, providing employment, opening new industries etc. It is accepted that businessmen want to amass wealth, which could not be done without having a stable government, a contented nation. To have a contented nation, the government must support the businessmen and in turn the businessmen should support the government with reasonable requests. In order to achieve this objective, the proposals put forward by these top businessmen, need immediate attention of the government. It is the private sector which could ease the unemployment problem when business flourishes and more new ventures are started. It is an accepted fact that the essential requirement is the language required for easy communication within the country, among different communities and internationally for business to prosper. Therefore it is imperative that English should be made the medium of instruction in schools from the lower classes, where children of various ethnic groups will sit side by side under one roof in one class room and build up everlasting comradeship. As earnestly laid before the government by these top businessmen, it is for the government to take meaningful steps to implement these proposals, keeping politics out, for the welfare and prosperity of this country. I would go one step further and request the government to hold a referendum, if necessary, to choose the language, and it will definitely be a resounding call for English from the remotest village from all corners of the island. With this move, other problems will automatically be solved. It is time we take a right about turn and say 'sorry' to the nation for past mistakes committed in the name of politics. Act now, for tomorrow is late. G. A. D. Sirimal.
Picture of Lord Buddha'The Sunday Times' recently carried a letter by Jayalath Wickramasinghe to say that he had failed in his search to purchase a picture of Lord Buddha. If Mr Wickramasinghe or any other person in the same plight will send a self addressed envelope to the Dharmavijaya Foundation, 380/7, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo7, we will send him a seven inch square colour picture of Lord Buddha. Vice President
Death penalty - a mustWe have witnessed yet another gruesome crime a few days ago. the victim, an Indian national - a girl married to a Sri Lankan. The couple had come to 'Paradise' to celebrate their honeymoon and everybody knows what followed thereafter. Did the girl deserve such an ignominous death? Only the criminals can provide the answer. We have seen enough of kidnappings, gang raping and brutal murders. Therefore, to arrest this rather dangerous trend that is now sweeping the country, the death penalty must be enforced forthwith. J.I.Rosairo
Closing the stable doorIt is most unfortunate that many societies and cultures have shifted themselves into the shameful position of initiating action after the event. In other words, closing the stable door after the mare has bolted. The situation in Sri Lanka is no different. Young, innocent, newly weds have to be raped and slaughtered for the people to wake up and scream for the death penalty to be re-imposed strictly, for action to be taken against the abuse of women, children etc. In other times, they stay quiet, accepting the so-called "freedom" and "human rights" situation of the individual's right to do as he pleases, as brainwashed by western society and their "modern" cultures. Even a simple cut in a particular indecent scene in a movie can cause tremendous protest and upheaval. Women, throughout the ages, have always been the target of abuse. Whether it be in the home, in the office, on the sidewalk, in buses and trains and even aeroplanes, and other public places, man has always been chasing them and abusing them, sexually. Western culture and modernistic thinking have prevented women from adopting a more modest code of dress, behaviour and conduct in public places. Even the need for them to go out and work to pay for their families' subsistence has become a fashionable thing to do in these times apart from those who purely work for necessity. The problem is not only of simply enforcing the law to prevent the crime. No doubt that is a necessity. Yet, that is only one aspect of the whole situation. There are the many other effects of character on society that is created by movies, TV, soap operas, tele dramas, and even advertisments that violate all forms of human decency misusing women and portraying them as sex symbols as if they were mere playthings that are disposable. Unless and until the leaders, elders, and religious authorities and the law take suitable action to prevent the proliferation of such indecency within the homes of the individual citizen we will simply move into the same league as many western nations have in terms of crime, sexual abuse and immorality. Do we want be closing the stable door after the mare has bolted, forever? Fazli Sameer Riyadh, |
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