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Several patriotic senior citizens, many nationalist organisations, a
section of the Buddhist Monks, a few right thinking Christian
dignitories, some political entities - viz. the JVP and JHU (all of whom
could understand and see reality in its correct perspective - not being
blinded by imaginary illusions, power or money) have, over the years,
expressed their frank opinion and studied views through the mass-media,
specially the local newspapers, at several seminars and Conferences
held, both here and abroad and at several world forums on the raging
LTTE terror unleashed with impunity.
All these expressions had, most unfortunately, fallen on deaf ears of
our rulers and the opposition as well as our top-bureaucracy since 1990.
Two very interesting and pertinent articles appeared in the 'Daily
News of May 5' and 'Sunday Observer of July 23' respectively - both
written by moderate and fair-minded Tamil scholars under the captions
'Are young Tamils aware of Prabha's antecedents?' and 'Prabhakaran leads
Tamils to destruction'.
We salute these two writers for the bold stand taken and the candid
opinion expressed without fear or favour.
The two letters above mentioned must receive the immediate and
top-most priority of our politicians, rulers, Opposition, the so-called
'Peace-Mongers', NGOs, the world community as well as Norway and Japan.
At least then, they will probably descend from the balconies of the
'Ivory Towers' that they so comrfotably live in amidst full security -
whilst the poor soldiers, innocent civilians etc. are at the receiving
end of these blood-thirsty terrorists and come to terms with reality,
not merely by word, but by deed, indeed.
We remember that veteran Tamil Leader V. Anandasangaree once calling
to annihilate the LTTE, Minister Douglas Devananda calling Prabhakaran
an Animal, Col. Karuna Amman calling Prabha a megalomanic Hound who take
sadistic pleasure in seeing 'blood' even of his own men, Rasiyah
Thurairajah of EPRLF calling Prabha a Beast and now T. Ananda
Comaraswamy calling him by all the names he richly deserved to be
called, viz. Bandit, Murderer, Coward.
All these fair-thinking moderate Tamils and many others have
explained in deep and great detail how Prabhakaran gradually and
systematically lead the Tamil community living in Sri Lanka to
destruction. Prabha and his blood-thirsty cohorts of the like of Anton
Balasingham, S. P. Tamilchelvam, Daya Master, Police Chief Nadesan,
Intelligence Chief Pottu Amman, Sea-Tiger Chief, Soosai et al have all
been branded by above Tamil Leaders as uneducated, un-civilized crude
thieves of the first order.
They have time and again reminded one and all that the word 'Peace'
is anathema to Prabha and he will never ever settle for anything less
than a 'separate State of Tamil Eelam' come whatever promises the LTTE
may make amidst heavy pressure from within and outside.
They have repeatedly re-iterated never ever to believe anything
promised by the LTTE leadership afore-mentioned.
Mr. Comaraswamy has, for the first time in the last century, come out
with what others dodged to answer right throughout from the early 20th
century.
They always lamented that the Tamils are being discriminated against
their basic human-rights infringed upon by the majority Sinhala race
from the early 1900s and that is why they have taken to an Armed
struggle in order to win their rights to live honourably.
He has rightly endorsed what the 'Lord Soulbury Commission Report of
1945' said in summing up its chapter VIII titled 'Discrimination' that
it appears the Tamils are a more privileged and favoured community than
the majority race; by asserting that the only discrimination was the
standardization of exams which prevented Tamil children from obtaining
gainful employment opportunities.
He very firmly stresses that in all other spheres, 'Tamils have had
more than their fair share of equality of status'. He had gone on to
name many Tamils who held top-most positions in all sectors of public
life and who still holds same, amdist this allegation of
'discrimination'.
He goes on to strongly and in no uncertain terms condemn the
so-called Tamil Intelligentsia who are living abroad as people without
'intelligence and common sense' for their part in helping the terrorists
amass wealth (whether by force, threats or other means) to destroy the
Sri Lankan Tamil community.
Mr. Siva Pasupathy and the crowd may please take note of this.
He has appealed to the Government to consider the only
'discrimination' and right the wrong forthwith which the Government must
take note of seriously and act upon.
Volumes can be written about LTTE (terrorists) activities as well and
placidly explained by the aforesaid Tamil leaders from time to time over
the years, sadly to no avail.
Those who matter, and those in authority are deaf, dumb and blind to
reality - for their petty personal and political gain by holding a whole
country to ransom with a view to appease a bunch of ruthless terrorists
of the worst order and the so-called International Community - being
afraid to lose billions of dollars aid bait by the IC. Enough is enough!
RANJIT C. DISSANAYAKE,
via email
After the train bombs the Mumbai Share Market returned to normal on
the following day. With a major war on, Lebanese market restarted this
week. In Sri Lanka local investors vanish after just one hand grenade.
Are some interested parties manipulating this situation (to create a bad
impression on the ruling party?)
DESHAPRIYA RAJAPAKSHA,
Colombo 6
The 'International Community' which attacked Afghanistan and Iraqi
and are now threatening Iran and N. Korea, supposedly to make the world
safer, is nowhere to be seen to save Lebanon.
As in the 1982 Israeli invasion, where half of Beirut was destroyed
with US connivance, the US emerges again as the ArchSatan.
The US cast their Veto six times, encouraging the Israeli butchery.
Coverage of the invasion, the destruction and the suffering, by the US
media was low key, to keep the US public in the dark.
The Lebanese PM Rashid Karamic openly blamed the US for their
hypocrisy. But was this a victory for Israel? Lebanese Jews who had
lived there for centuries all fled to Israel. Likewise 10,000 fled yemen
and 5000 Morocco.
Where once they had lived free, from Biblical times, in an area over
millions of sq. miles, from Turkey to N. Africa, now they are not
welcome anymore.
This writer was working for a Lebanese Company, Saudi Oger in 1982.
H. M. DEEN,
Dehiwela
Passenger trains are supposed to run to a strict time schedule. Then
why are they late all the time? What is the logic behind this and why
are the concerned authorities so complacent and perhaps unconcerned over
the fate that has befallen the once efficient Railway Department.
In all probability they do not perhaps wish to disturb the Trade
Unions that rule the roost in this country today. They, the Unions seem
to have the last say on all matters.
This is something serious and needs to be addressed immediately at
higher levels.
Either the trade unions are allowed to have their own way or that the
rule of law takes precedence.
When a train runs late there is bound to be always a chain reaction
which boomerang heavily on the commuter. With the recent time revision
with regard to the working hours both at offices and schools and the
Railway Department adjusting their times accordingly, matters have taken
a turn for the worse particularly for schoolchildren who now spend more
time at railway stations than at schools.
As a case in point, Gampaha has a large concentration of schools and
by about 1.40 in the noon, the station is fully packed with
schoolchildren with a sprinkling of teachers.
The first available down train after schools close has a peculiar
time setting not common among other trains. The departure time of this
train varies by the day. One day the time indicator says 2.19, the next
day it is 2.17 and the days that follow, something like 2.14, 2.08,
2.10, etc., very funny indeed. This means that the students have to
spend more than 3/4 of an hour at the station, many even foregoing their
lunch in the process. In the above circumstances, my suggestion that
this train should arrive at Gampaha at 2 p.m., which I believe is the
most convenient time for all and in particular for those students who
have to continue their journey on the Negombo/Chilaw Line from Ragama
where a train, scheduled time is 2.30 p.m. All will be benefited if this
practical suggestion is implemented, which I believe merits the
consideration of the Minister as well as the authorities of the Railway
Department.
J. I. Rosairo,
Kandana |
