1st Auguat 1999

• Why invite trouble?
• The time is right for the young ones
• National govt. only way out
• Sure path to communal explosion

Why invite trouble?

Teenage Moor girls and boys have found a new pastime and are pre-occupied with the live listeners' request programmes by phone which are broadcast daily in the morning on all the FM transmissions.

These programmes are proving to be disastrous to our younger set. Vital information pertaining to family members is disclosed to the compere, who, incidentally is not the only person listening. Others too listen in.

A little clue for a hardened crook is sufficient to cause havoc in the lives of many. On numerous occasions I have heard the listener disclosing that her husband is abroad and that she is taking part in these programmes due to boredom.

This is sure to invite trouble.

Mohamed Nalim

Kotahena

The time is right for the young ones

However remarkable our individual achievements and contributions to the country in our youth, there comes a time when we should pause and assess our strengths, as we get older. The malaise affecting some of our cricketers is that they believe they are indispensable and try to retain their places in the team. They seem to have forgotten that 'the spirit may be willing but the flesh could be weak.'

If we are to regain our place in the cricketing world, it is imperative that some of the old hands should retire gracefully, giving room for new talent.

An example is Nelson Mandela, remarkable man of our times, who relinquished the office of President of South Africa in favour of a younger man, though the entire nation wanted to re-elect him. "Enough is enough", says this wonderful man as he gracefully bows out with dignity. This should be an example to some of the 'elder statesmen' on our cricket team, who undoubtedly brought honour and fame to the motherland in the 1996 World Cup. But now age has taken its toll and reduced their prowess and agility considerably.

All over the world, youth are forging ahead. Martina Hingis, the Swiss wonder, became the world's youngest woman tennis champion at 16. At home, our own Thilina Piyadasa and Deepika Rodrigo, teenage table tennis champions with their quick reflexes and great mobility were able to trounce their more experienced but older opponents.

Political affiliations and other puerile considerations should be thrown overboard and competent youngsters given a chance, as done all over the world.

Robert Heyn

Rajagiriya

National govt. only way out

There is speculation of a snap election and journalists who participated in a discussion on TV recently, were of the view that a general election will produce a hung Parliament. This will be welcomed only by the small 'broker' parties who will call the tune and dictate terms to the government.

As long as the two major parties, the People's Alliance (PA) and the United National Party (UNP) are at 'war' with each other, no settlement can be achieved. The civil war in the north and the east will also go on and with it the enormous expenditure and the untold suffering of the people. There is also the danger of the civil war spilling over to the hill country. There is another monster raising its ugly head spreading hatred - the campaign urging Sinhala people not to patronise traders and merchants of other communities. It is time for the people to awaken and make themselves heard. What is required is not political debates, but getting down to serious business and setting out priorities.

The formation of a national government has been spoken of, but no sincere or serious effort made to focus attention on the benefits of such a government. The people would welcome a national government, at least for a limited period, where confrontational politics will recede and it would be possible to settle many problems by consensus.

It would be welcome if the media supported this idea or at least aired the views of a cross section of society whether they want another election or would prefer a national government. Business leaders too, should think about this.

S. Thambyrajah

Colombo 3.

Sure path to communal explosion

I refer to Kumbakarana's column in The Sunday Times of July 25.

I have been reading his column for sometime now and recognize the author. I am not surprised at his not wanting to disclose his identity. This shows the lengths to which one's inferiority complex can go! These are the people who want a Sri Lankan identity - those who are afraid to disclose their own identity!

Kumbakarana complains that "when 11 Sinhalese were killed at Kiri Ibbanwewa on 31- 5-99 the publicity that incident received was not even 1/1000 of the publicity received about the Chemmani graves'. Naturally The Chemmani graves are related to the disappearance of over 700 Tamils after a marauding Sinhala Army went into the Tamil homeland. These disappearances occurred between December 1995 and June 1996. There can be no comparison between the Kiri Ibbanwewa incident and the Chemmani graves. Even if the former was done by the LTTE, a group of the 12% Tamils, the latter was done by a conventional national army of the 76% Sinhalese. Which stinks more?

Kumbakarana writes that 'the Kiri Ibbanwewa incident is the 128th massacre of Sinhalese after July 1983'. So what? One has to read 'Inform', the monthly document that carefully chronicles events on a daily basis and other documents, to see the number of Tamil civilians massacred by the Sinhala army.

Kumbakarana writes about "individuals who screamed that the national flag was raised at CWC Headquarters". I am one of them. That only the national flag was raised is a half-truth. The SVV flag was also hoisted, after burning the CWC flag.

Kumbakarana writes about "incidents of ethnic cleansing in the north and the east, Nuwara Eliya and Colombo north." There have been no such incidents. Let him give instances, figures and statistics to substantiate his statement. He writes about "murders of Sinhalese and Muslims in the north- east for the seizure of land". There has been no such thing. Let him give instances and figures. We are all used to such sweeping, empty and false statements. The latest is NMAT's and Sobitha Thero's (both the likes of Kumbakarana) statement that 400,000 Tamils have come into Colombo for reasons of safety. How do these people arrive at such figures? Will they give details or references?

Kumbakarana writes that "3500 Sinhalese have been killed after July 1983". But the government says that over 50,000 Tamils have been killed after July 1983. That makes it a ratio of 1 : 15.

Kumbakarana refers to the memorandum of the Tamils of Jaffna to Earl Crewe dated 13-4-10 where the Tamils have asked for a separate electoral area. But Kumbakarana typically and dishonestly writes: "What this meant was that the north and east should be reserved exclusively for the Tamils." Does that memorandum say so?

Kumbakarana writes about the "present policies of Tamil colonization of Colombo, Kandy and the plantations." Whose policies? I challenge him to give chapter and verse to substantiate this statement.

Kumbakarana writes about "a random survey in 1994 where Tamils lay claim to 40% of the land" of this island. I challenge Kumbakarana to give more details of this so-called survey and where one could have the other findings of this survey.

Kumbakarana writes about "the proportion of land seized by the Tamils". Will he give figures of what proportion of any land has been seized by the Tamils, since when, where, and the acreage in each such area and by whom, and whether the aggrieved party has sought any legal or even extra-legal remedies such as what the NMAT, SVV is doing these days?

In the penultimate paragraph, Kumbakarana gives figures about population density in parts of Tamil Eelam as opposed to two districts in the Western Province. The last census done in this island was in 1981. But Kumbakarana refers to figures as of "today'. Were his figures regarding this aspect also got from some "random" census? I challenge Kumbakarana to state from where he obtained his figures. His point is that whilst the density of population per square kilometre has decreased in certain parts of Tamil Eelam, it has increased in the districts of Gampaha and Colombo and he dishonestly attributes this to "an escalation of Tamil colonization of Colombo and Gampaha". Will he state the areas in Colombo and Gampaha "colonized' by Tamils, and the number of Tamils who have colonized such areas? Has not one heard of natural increase of population? What about the natural increase of the 76% Sinhala nation both contributing to the increase of density in Colombo and Gampaha? What about the thousands of Tamils killed in the war? What about the exodus of Tamils to other countries? Both these factors have contributed to the decrease of density in Tamil Eelam.

What is most sinister is Kumbakarana's last sentence. Please do not threaten or frighten the 12% Tamils about "explosions of communal conflicts." With Kumbakarana's fantasy of "Tamil colonization of Colombo and Gampaha" such threats could be directed only at the Tamils living in Colombo. If such "communal conflicts explode", you will only be bringing the war to Colombo and the likes of Kumbakarana will have to take full responsibility for such an eventuality.

G.G. Ponnambalam

General Secretary

All Ceylon Tamil Congress

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