Tuesday, 02 November 2004  
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Help end Rajaratnam's ordeal

The hearts of the majority of Sri Lankans are likely to be with the suffering and shattered wife and children of Dinesh Rajaratnam, a Lankan being held by a terror group in Iraq.

Besides conveying the mindless nature of political terrorism and the acute vulnerability of civilians amid the conditions of war, these distressing developments drive home the utter helplessness of many of those who are compelled to leave hearth and home, in the Third World, for the painstaking search for one's economic betterment and that of one's family.

Some of Rajaratnam's relatives were quoted saying that he was compelled by his employers in Kuwait to undertake a risky assignment in Iraq which led to his abduction. Rajaratnam had even reportedly, earlier, written home, expressing eagerness to return to Sri Lanka over a salary grievance.

These reports need to be probed by the Lankan Labour authorities for the purpose of improving the terms and conditions of employment of our migrant workers abroad. Those parties employing our migrant labour shouldn't be allowed to live under the dangerous illusion that Lankans are an exportable commodity.

The terms and conditions of employment of Lankan migrant labour should ensure the recognition of their inherent dignity as human beings. This is a must.

More immediately, every effort must be made by the Lankan authorities to ensure the speedy release of Rajaratnam. We understand that some exertions are being made in this direction but the situation demands stepped up cooperation with Arab countries of the region to highlight the humanitarian dimension of this distressing situation.

We do not see any reason why Rajaratnam, who was compelled by economic constraints to better his life prospects abroad, should be subjected to the present cruel ordeal.

The same goes for very many other abducted civilians, of numerous other nationalities who are languishing silently in inhuman conditions. We too appeal for their release in the name of humanity.

Perhaps, Sri Lanka should take this opportunity to drum-up support internationally for the release of these apprehended civilians in the Iraqi theatre of war.

The Lankan authorities, besides liaising closely with particularly Arab countries which may wield some influence with those holding Rajaratnam hostage, should also work collaboratively with humanitarian organisations, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent organisation, to ensure the safety and emotional and physical comfort of Rajaratnam.

Local religious organisations too need lend their maximum cooperation to the Lankan Government to ensure Rajaratnam's release.

US Election

The whole world will be closely watching the outcome of today's Presidential Election in the United States. The hard-fought campaigns by the incumbent President George W. Bush and aspiring candidate John Kerry have hugged the pages of newspapers worldwide and the air time of television stations.

No recent US election has generated so much interest. Two-thirds of Americans saw the election as one of the most important - if not the most crucial - in their lifetimes, according to a Newsweek poll.

There are several reasons for this intense media and public interest. The US-led invasion of Iraq and the present situation in that country, where US Forces are still battling insurgents and encountering violence on a massive scale, is one.

Bin laden's recent video in which the terrorist mastermind threatens to unleash more attacks on the US has added to the maelstrom. The shift in voter patterns that followed the al-Queda attack in Madrid is still fresh in the voters' minds, after all.

The war on terror, the main campaign plank of President Bush, is dominating the election, leaving domestic issues such as the economy aside.

However, the war on terror itself has become a domestic issue after the traumatic events of September 11, 2001. It is also the first election in 30 years conducted with US troops fighting abroad.

In any case, the anti-terror war has a direct bearing on seemingly domestic issues such as the economy and security. The voters have been offered competing visions of the country's world role in an era of global terrorism.

Both Bush and Kerry, a Vietnam war veteran, agree on the need for a war on terror. Bush has taken a more aggressive stance, as can be seen from the campaign against Iraq, but Kerry espouses an anti-terror campaign that relies on intelligence, diplomacy and economic clout apart from firepower.

Kerry also insists on mending fences with the international community after the contested invasion of Iraq. These different approaches have widely polarised the voters' opinions.

Time, the weekly news magazine said it all: "To the victor goes a nation divided. A nation split over its place in the world, over its basic values, over its future direction."

In the best interests of the US and its people, the winner of today's knife-edge election should heal the wounds that have appeared domestically and internationally.

As former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger explains, "all concerned with the future of the country must find ways to cooperate so that the world will again see Americans working toward a common destiny both at home and in the community of nations".

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